S. Korea unlikely to open embassy in Cuba this year

South Korea is unlikely to establish its embassy in Cuba this year due to delays in preparations, pushing back plans for its opening to early next year, officials said. South Korea had planned to open an embassy in Cuba late this year after establishing relations with the Caribbean country in February. A diplomatic official said plans for the embassy's establishment have been pushed back to early next year amid difficulties in sourcing materials needed for its operations. "The overall situation

Dec. 25, 2024

South Korean, Chinese FMs reaffirm ties amid political uncertainties

The top diplomats of South Korea and China reaffirmed efforts to advance bilateral ties in a phone conversation Tuesday, Seoul's foreign ministry said, their first discussion following a botched martial law imposition in South Korea on Dec. 3. The 30-minute talks between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, took place amid concerns over their bilateral ties after Beijing said it was "deeply surprised and dissatisfied" over President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 12 public ad

Dec. 24, 2024

S. Korea can seek Han-Trump call or in-person contact if Trump wants: senior Seoul official

South Korea can pursue phone talks or in-person engagement between acting President Han Duck-soo and US President-elect Donald Trump if Trump wants, a senior Seoul official said Monday, vowing to ensure sufficient communication with the incoming US administration. The official made the remarks amid concerns that in the absence of a fully elected president in Seoul, South Korea might face difficulties in policy coordination with the second Trump administration, which is set to take office Jan. 20

Dec. 24, 2024

S. Korea, US conducting joint research to block NK cryptocurrency heists

South Korea and the United States are conducting joint research to strengthen protection against cryptocurrency heist attempts amid growing concerns of such attacks by North Korea-linked hackers, officials said Sunday. Based on a recently signed technical annex between the South Korean government and the US Department of Homeland Security, the two sides will jointly develop technologies to prevent cryptocurrency-targeted attacks and to track stolen assets, according to authorities and cybersecur

Dec. 22, 2024

Vietnam reiterates ‘Four No’s‘ Commitment in Korea

Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to its “Four No's” defense policy Thursday during a commemoration event in Seoul marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army. The day commemorates the establishment of the Vietnam People’s Army in 1944 by the Communist Party of Vietnam. Speaking at the event, Col. Le Hiep Lam, Vietnam’s defense attache in South Korea, emphasized Vietnam’s national defense philosophy rooted in “all-people defense” and peaceful principles. “We are proactive

Dec. 20, 2024

Acting defense minister, US defense chief reaffirm alliance regardless of politics in phone talks

Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed Friday that the alliance between their nations remains "ironclad" regardless of political situations, Seoul's defense ministry said, in the wake of the short-lived Dec. 3 martial law imposition. During their phone talks, they discussed the security situation, their combined defense posture and policy cooperation against North Korean threats while reaffirming the bilateral alliance is a linchpin fo

Dec. 20, 2024

Qatar recalls 50 years with Korea, marks National Day

The Qatar Embassy in Seoul commemorated 50 years of diplomatic relations with South Korea, celebrating the occasion alongside Qatar’s National Day on Monday. Qatar’s National Day, observed Dec. 18, honors the accession of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani in 1878, who unified the peninsula bordered by Saudi Arabia and surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar established diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1974, with the Qatari Embassy in Seoul opening in 1992. According to the K

Dec. 20, 2024

Clear communication with Trump essential for S. Korea: expert

Ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, it is more crucial than ever for South Korea and the United States to engage in clear and strategic communication, says Ted Gover, director of the Tribal Administration Program at Claremont Graduate University and an expert on US diplomacy in Asia. “If I were the South Korean president, I would take a page from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s playbook,” said Gover, referring to the recent meeting at Mar-a-Lago in

Dec. 17, 2024

Doha Forum urges action, innovation imperative for peacebuilding

Korea Herald correspondent DOHA, Qatar -- Heads of state, United Nations officials, diplomats, and global experts urged for peacebuilding through collective action and innovation at the 22nd Doha Forum from Dec. 7-8. “In an era of major transformations, innovation is no longer a choice; it has become an existential necessity for survival and progress,” underscored Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs during his keynote address

Dec. 15, 2024

Celebrating Kenya's Independence Day, Korea-Kenya ties

This year, Kenya celebrated two special milestones: 61 years of independence and 60 years of Kenya-Korea diplomatic relations. Kenya attained its independence on the Dec. 12, 1963, and weeks later, Kenya and the Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations on Feb. 7, 1964. With Korea having opened a resident mission in Nairobi, Kenya opened its embassy in Seoul in May 2007. Since then, Seoul has been host to four Kenyan ambassadors. I am honored to be the fourth ambassador, having presente

Dec. 15, 2024

Thailand reaffirms tourism, economic ties with S. Korea

The Thai Embassy in Seoul reiterated deepening tourism and economic ties with South Korea, marking the country's National Day. Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat, in his remarks at the event, highlighted renewed momentum in Thailand-South Korea relations, citing high-level visits and the first meeting between Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol at the ASEAN Summit. Sangrat underscored the leaders' commitment to closer

Dec. 13, 2024

Sierra Leonean citizen dies in Ansan, needs urgent funeral support

A Sierra Leonean citizen named Obai Kamara died in Ansan on Wednesday without the resources to provide for a funeral, according to the Embassy of Sierra Leone. Kamara, who came to South Korea in 2022, had been battling serious health challenges. According to his close friends in Ansan, his condition worsened following a recent trip to Sierra Leone, and he returned to South Korea critically ill. Despite receiving medical treatment, Kamara succumbed to complications arising from kidney issues and

Dec. 13, 2024

[Contribution] Kazakh-Korean partnership builds on mutual growth, traditional friendship

By Nurgali Arystanov Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea In 2024, Kazakhstan and South Korea strengthened their strategic partnership, achieving new milestones through key diplomatic events. These developments not only reflect the growing ties between the two countries but also highlight the potential for deeper cooperation across various sectors. Strong political dialogue Political dialogue between Kazakhstan and Korea has been strengthened thanks to the close enga

Dec. 11, 2024

Embassies deny report it will boycott 2025 APEC Summit

The British, U.S., and Australian embassies in Seoul on Wednesday denied claims by a lawmaker, reported by local media, that ambassadors from the Five Eyes countries would boycott the 2025 APEC summit if President Yoon Suk Yeol remains in office. The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Kim Joon-hyung, a first-term lawmaker from the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, claimed during a National Assembly

Dec. 11, 2024

[Contribution] Kazakhstan’s emergence as a middle power

By Nurgali Arystanov Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea According to the latest report by German think tank The German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Kazakhstan has been characterized as a "middle power," a nation with substantial influence on the global political and economic stage. The report highlights a stark contrast between the present and some 30 years ago, when Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and

Dec. 10, 2024