The Korea Herald

Regional powers up efforts for N.K. talks

Aug 3, 2011

N.K. diplomat heads to China, Seoul’s foreign minister to leave for Russia A flurry of diplomatic efforts have been continuing among regional powers this week, as North Korea shows signs of taking necessary steps toward revival of the stalled multinational nuclear disarmament talks it had walked from more than two years ago. First holding nuclear talks with its rival South Korea on the sideline...
U.S. calls for restraint by Seoul, Tokyo in tensions over Dokdo

Aug 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) -- The U.S. government formally requested Tuesday that South Korea and Japan maintain “restraint” in resolving their latest diplomatic tensions over Dokdo, a set of Seoul-controlled islets claimed by Tokyo. The appeal came after Japan’s publication of a new defense white paper describing Dokdo as its territory. Koreans were already upset over an attempt by three right-wi...
Seoul hits back at Tokyo’s renewed claim to Dokdo

Aug 2, 2011

Japan’s defense white paper lists Korean islets as its territory South Korea strongly protested against Japan’s move to claim Dokdo and will take strong countermeasures against any action to hurt its sovereignty, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Japan described South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo as its territory in a new defense white paper earlier in the day, upping tensions just a da...
Korea turns back Japanese lawmakers

Aug 1, 2011

Criticism mounts over Tokyo’s territorial claim to Dokdo Three Japanese lawmakers were asked to return to their country as soon as they arrived at a South Korean airport on Monday, as Seoul deterred them from visiting an eastern island in protest against Tokyo’s repeated territorial claims. Defying South Korea’s warning made days earlier, the three right wing politicians arrived at Gimpo Intern...
Lawmakers’ visit tied to Japan politics

Aug 1, 2011

Attempt to visit island could chill bilateral ties, damage economic cooperation Three Japanese politicians denying Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo arrived at Gimpo airport Monday for an attempted visit to Ulleungdo near Dokdo, despite the Seoul government’s warning that their entry to the country will be barred. While the South Korean government has tried not to overreact to what is generally vi...
U.S., N.K. dialogue provides optimism over 6-party talks

Jul 31, 2011

Regional powers likely to increase small-scale contact The six partners of the stalled regional dialogue aimed at denuclearizing North Korea are expected increase small-scale contact in the following weeks after Washington and Pyongyang made a breakthrough in their recent talks, analysts and officials here said Sunday. Two days of rare talks between the U.S. and North Korea ― the first in 19 mo...
Japanese lawmakers to leave for Ulleungdo

Jul 31, 2011

Japanese lawmakers are expected to go ahead with their planned trip to an island near South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo on Monday, upping tensions as the Seoul government plans to ban them from entry. Despite South Korea’s official announcement that it will bar the Tokyo politicians from entering its land, three lawmakers of Japan’s opposition Liberal Democratic Party said they would go ...
Danish offshore wind seminar

Jul 31, 2011

The Danish Embassy, in association with Korean Wind Energy Industry Association, is arranging a seminar on Danish competencies in the offshore wind energy area on Oct. 20. Several Danish companies are already present on the Korean wind market. “But the opportunities are there for more to enter,” said Danish Ambassador Peter Lysholt Hansen. “The Danish track record in wind power is acclaimed in...
East Asian art at new center

Jul 31, 2011

The Korea Foundation Cultural Center is holding an art exhibition focusing on East Asian artists. Titled “Nostalgia, East Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition,” the exhibition will run until Aug. 27 at the center’s new location. Under the theme of nostalgia, the exhibition presents the contemporary art of Korea, China and Japan, each of which developed their own spirit. The Korea Foundation Cultur...
Finland at the Cheongju Biennale

Jul 31, 2011

The Cheongju International Craft Biennale has selected Finland to be the theme country for this year’s exhibition, exhibition, the Finnish Embassy announced. Hosted by Cheongju City, the Cheongju International Craft Biennale is one of the largest events in the field of contemporary craft. The biennale, started in 1999, has grown steadily to become an internationally well-known and diverse event...
Czech literary classics translated into Korean

Jul 31, 2011

A Czech literary anthology consisting of 19 short stories by some of the most well-known Czech classic writers from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries has been published in the Korean language. “Short Stories by Czech Classics” was edited by Ivana Bozdechova and Czech Republic Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. The book includes a thorough introduction about the history of early modern Czech li...
U.S. Embassy reaches out through Facebook

Jul 31, 2011

The United States Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit is now on Facebook. The embassy will use this page as a resource for U.S. citizens living in or visiting Korea. To page or post any questions about the embassy’s services, click the “like” button. From there, visitors to the site will get first-hand information about any changes to the embassy’s services anywhere in the country. In the...
Vietnam pop star to push Korea tourism

Jul 31, 2011

Vietnamese pop singer My Linh has been appointed an honorary ambassador for tourism to South Korea, reported Asia News Network. The singer was named an honorary ambassador by the South Korea embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi on Wednesday. The ceremony was held in conjunction with an event to promote Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay and South Korea’s Jeju Island in their bid to be named among the New Seven Wonder...
Argentina decorates local envoy

Jul 31, 2011

State decorations are one of the best ways a country can show appreciation to an individual who has improved ties between two countries. Last week, former Korean Ambassador to Buenos Aires Choe Yang-boo was awarded the Order of Mayo (May) in the rank of Grand Cross in recognition for his “outstanding services in strengthening the traditional ties of friendship between the two countries,” said Ar...
Britain launches one year countdown to Olympics

Jul 31, 2011

To mark one year until the greatest show on earth ― the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics ― the British Embassy and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation held an event July 27 in the Olympic Park in Seoul to countdown to the London Games. British Charge d’Affaires Andrew Dalgleish, unveiled a One Year to Go Omega countdown clock in the Seoul Olympic Museum. World-class British and Korean taekwondo ...