A group of al-Qaida -linked Uzbeks operating in Syria had been attempting to move to South Korea, according to a United Nations report. Members of Katibat Imam al Bukhari and Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, each of which consists of 200 to 300 militants, have made requests to enter the country via Turkey, according to the report on the Islamic State group and al-Qaida released by the UN Security Council early this month.  (AFP/Yonhap)The report said that the militants chose Korea due to the relativ

Foreign Affairs Feb. 14, 2019

South Korea’s presidential office said Wednesday that Seoul and Washington had not agreed to a possible sharp increase in Seoul’s share of the costs of stationing US Forces Korea here, in response to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump that the cost burden would keep growing.Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said Trump’s statement -- made just days after the two countries signed a preliminary defense cost-sharing deal, raising South Korea’s share by 8.2 percent -- should not be treat

Foreign Affairs Feb. 13, 2019

The Korea Herald Young Diplomats Academy and the Young Opinion Leaders’ Knowledge Forum -- youth camps tailored for interaction with foreign diplomats, business leaders and renowned scholars -- have inspired future generations of leaders. The event at Yonsei International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, from Jan. 25-27 attracted over 100 students from the country’s elementary, middle and high schools, providing a platform for differentiated learning, discussion and communication in English.  For the

Diplomatic Circuit Feb. 13, 2019

Jim Rogers, a renowned investor and chairman of Rogers Holdings, plans to visit North Korea next month at the invitation of Chairman Kim Jong-un, according to sources Tuesday.The Singapore-based investor, who once said he would “put all of my money” in North Korea if he could, received the US government’s approval for the trip with his wife. Jim Rogers (Bloomberg)The billionaire has touted the impoverished country with a gross domestic product per capita of $1,800 as an attractive investment des

North Korea Feb. 12, 2019

The US envoy for North Korea on Saturday cast this week's working-level talks with North Korea to prepare for the two countries' second summit late this month as "productive" but said "some hard work" still remains.US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun flew back to Seoul on Friday evening following a three-day visit to Pyongyang aimed at fine-tuning details for the Feb. 27-28 summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam.South K

North Korea Feb. 9, 2019

US President Donald Trump announced that his second meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will take place in Vietnam's capital city.He made public the summit venue in a Twitter message on Saturday (Seoul time) after Stephen Biegun, the US envoy for North Korea, returned to South Korea following a trip to Pyongyang.Trump earlier said he will meet Kim in the Southeast Asian nation from Feb. 27-28. Traffic ride past a Communist party poster in Hanoi, Vietnam. (AP-Yonhap)"My representatives

North Korea Feb. 9, 2019

The US envoy for North Korea will meet his South Korean counterpart in Seoul on Saturday for a briefing on the results of his visit to the communist state for preparations for a second summit between Washington and Pyongyang slated for late this month.US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun plans to hold talks with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's top nuclear envoy, in the morning after paying a brief courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. US Special Representative for North Kore

North Korea Feb. 9, 2019

Two US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to seek a longer-term cost-sharing agreement for the stationing of American troops in South Korea.In a letter dated Wednesday, Reps. Grace Meng and Norma Torres said a one-year deal does not sufficiently reflect the importance of the US alliance with South Korea. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) looks on as US President Donald J. Trump (right) launches the White House global women initiative by signing a national security memoran

Foreign Affairs Feb. 9, 2019

US and North Korean negotiators concluded their talks in Pyongyang, agreeing to meet again before the second bilateral summit slated for later this month, the State Department said Friday.US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun was in the North Korean capital from Wednesday through Friday for pre-summit talks with his counterpart, Kim Hyok-chol. US and North Korean flags are on display for sale at a flag shop in Hanoi, Vietnam. With the next meeting between US President Donald T

North Korea Feb. 9, 2019

South Korea will ink a provisional agreement with the US for the cost of maintaining US troops here Sunday, wrapping up nearly yearlong negotiations, according to a source Friday. Under the deal, Seoul will pay about 1.03 trillion won ($916.3 million) for costs related to the stationing of 28,500 members of the US Armed Forces in Korea for 2019. The contract is valid only for this year per Washington’s request for annual renewal of the agreement. Chang Won-sam (Left), South Korea`s negotiator in

Foreign Affairs Feb. 8, 2019

The US envoy for North Korea held the second day of talks in Pyongyang on Thursday to finalize details of a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, scheduled to take place in three weeks.  US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun continued working-level negotiations with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Hyok-chol, after arriving in the North Korean capital on Wednesday morning via plane from the US air base in Osan, Gyeonggi Province. US Spe

North Korea Feb. 7, 2019

Over 1,500 people gathered in Seoul on Jan. 25 to celebrate Australia’s national day with an event hosted by the Australian Embassy in South Korea with a theme in recognition of the Australian Open.The annual tennis tournament inspired fans here and abroad alike last year with the memorable sporting achievement made by Korean semifinalist Cheong Hyun.  Australian Ambassador to South Korea James Choi plays an exhibition on a custom-built mini-tennis court during the 2019 Australian Day event, hel

Diplomatic Circuit Feb. 7, 2019

It is a great pleasure to usher in the Year of the Golden Pig, a joyous occasion that also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Korea. And although the diplomatic ties were established in March 11, 1959, the friendly relations between our countries go even further back to 1902, when the Empire of Chosun and the Kingdom of Denmark concluded the “Friendship, Trade, and Sea-trade Treaty.” In more modern years, we can also look back to 1951 when Denmark sent the hos

Diplomatic Circuit Feb. 7, 2019

US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and confirmed the second summit between Pyongyang and Washington will take place in Vietnam on Feb. 27 and 28 during his State of the Union address Wednesday. “As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula,” he said during the speech, which focused on the country’s foreign policy and economic status. US President Donald Trump makes a comment during hi

North Korea Feb. 6, 2019

South Korea’s foreign minister said Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to take concrete steps toward denuclearization in order to keep his pledges concerning economic development, as the leaders of both the US and the North express optimism about their upcoming summit. Closing the Yongbyon nuclear complex and dismantling key missile facilities in the presence of foreign inspectors are measures that Pyongyang might suggest during a second summit between US President Donald

North Korea Jan. 25, 2019