S. Korean, Italian FMs hold talks on boosting cooperation in multilateral frameworks

The top diplomats of South Korea and Italy held consultations to reaffirm their shared commitment for cooperation in the multilateral stage and discuss cooperation in other areas of mutual concern, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. In the meeting held in Rome the previous day, Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, agreed on the need to closely cooperate within the multilateral frameworks, including in the United Nations and the Group of 20 meetings. Par

Aug. 1, 2023

US will impose sanctions on N. Korea, Russia when necessary: state dept.

The United States will not hesitate to impose sanctions on North Korea and Russia when necessary, a state department spokesperson said Monday, following the Russian defense minister's trip to Pyongyang that many believe may lead to increased military cooperation between the two countries. The spokesperson, Matthew Miller, also highlighted that the close relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow has "not exactly been productive" to international security. "It certainly did not appe

Aug. 1, 2023

S. Korean FM discusses quake response with Turkish disaster relief chief

Foreign Minister Park Jin has met with the chief of Turkey's disaster management agency and discussed recovery efforts in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that struck the country earlier this year, the foreign ministry said Sunday. The meeting between South Korea's top diplomat and Yunus Sezer, head of Turkey's Disaster And Emergency Management Presidency, on Saturday, came as the South Korean foreign minister is visiting the country as part of his four-nation trip that has

July 30, 2023

Delegations from UK, Turkey honor veterans of Korean War

British Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey paid tribute to soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1950-53 Korean War at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan, where nearly 900 British troops are buried. According to the British Embassy in Seoul, more than 80,000 British military personnel served in Korea, and the United Kingdom suffered over 1,000 casualties during the war. Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Zafer Tarikdaroglu also offered his prayer at the

July 28, 2023

Ukrainian Embassy apologizes for 'distress' over diplomat's alleged assault

The Ukraine Embassy on Thursday apologized for causing concern over an incident involving a Ukrainian diplomat who was accused of assaulting a Korean police officer at a bar in Seoul. A first-secretary Ukrainian diplomat in his 40s was arrested Tuesday evening in Itaewon for allegedly assaulting a bar employee and a police officer while intoxicated, local media reported. The diplomat was later released, according to Yongsan police station. In response to a media inquiry from The Korea Herald, th

July 27, 2023

Pakistan eyes Korean investments, suggests potential sectors

Officials and representatives from Pakistan showcased trade and investment potential at the Pakistan-Korea trade and investment conference seeking Korean investments at the Ambassador Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. Attendees shared diverse ideas and business solutions in energy, construction, minerals, agriculture, food processing, textiles, automobiles, information technology and telecommunications to reach out to investors and key figures taking the lead. Underscoring Pakistan’s economic outl

July 27, 2023

Wang’s return good sign for S. Korea-China ties: experts

The Tuesday reshuffle that put China’s top diplomat Wang Yi back in his old job as foreign minister, a post he had held for almost a decade since 2013, could reinforce South Korea’s push to improve ties with its largest neighbor, experts said Wednesday. According to China’s state media, former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed from the job, marking the shortest-ever tenure for the role. Qin assumed the position in December last year but disappeared from public view in June

July 26, 2023

China, Russia can and must help reduce tensions on Korean Peninsula: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- China and Russia have a role to play in bringing North Korea to the dialogue table, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday, insisting the two countries are also required to do so as members of the United Nations Security Council. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the state department, added the United States remains open to engaging with Pyongyang without any preconditions. "Both Russia and the PRC have a potential role they can play, including through the

July 26, 2023

Latvia hopes for biotech, digital cooperation with Korea: minister

Latvia's precision and telemedicine development, combined with its solid pharmaceuticals sector, offers a promising opportunity for collaboration with South Korea, the country's economy minister said. "Latvia's specialization in precision medicine, telemedicine development and a robust pharmaceutical sector aligns well with South Korea's expertise in genomics and digital health," said Latvian Minister of Economics Ilze Indriksone. "Korea has a large domestic ma

July 25, 2023

Egypt touts growing economic ties, infra projects with Korea

The Egyptian Embassy in Seoul touted the growing economic ties and infrastructure project deals with South Korea, while marking the country's 71st anniversary of the Egyptian revolution in Seoul on Friday. Revolution Day, which falls on July 23, celebrates the 1952 revolution that ended the country’s monarchy and marked the country's founding as a modern republic. Egypt and Korea are leveraging strengths to create opportunities through joint ventures, investments, and knowledge e

July 25, 2023

[Herald Interview] UN special envoy urges Korea to join Egypt's green initiative

INCHEON -- South Korea can play an important role in Egypt's initiative for green and smart industries, with a shared goal in building a sustainable future for the African country, said UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt Mahmoud Mohieldin. He was referring to Egypt's National Initiative for Green Smart Projects, launched by the Egyptian government in 2022. It is designed to promote participation from various stakeholders to make concerted efforts for climate change. Korea&

July 25, 2023

S. Korea to hold ministerial meeting on veterans affairs with 22 countries in Busan

South Korea will hold a ministerial meeting on veterans affairs this week with 22 countries that supported the country during the 1950-53 Korean War, Seoul's veterans ministry said Tuesday, as Seoul commemorates the 70th anniversary of the signing of the conflict's armistice. The 2023 Ministerial Summit on Veterans Affairs will take place in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Wednesday, a day ahead of the landmark anniversary of the armistice's signing, which ended fight

July 25, 2023

S. Korea, Japan set to hold working-level consultations over Fukushima water

South Korea and Japan are set to hold working-level consultations Tuesday to discuss Seoul's request regarding Tokyo's plan to discharge contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. The director-general-level talks will be held in Japan later in the day, with the South Korean side led by Yun Hyun-soo, head of the foreign ministry's bureau for climate change, energy, environment and scientific affairs, and the Japanese side headed by Atsushi Kaifu, director-g

July 25, 2023

Top Chinese diplomat proposes talks with Japan, South Korea: Kyodo

TOKYO -- Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi proposed high-level talks between China, Japan and South Korea in a meeting with the Japanese foreign minister in Indonesia this month, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday. The proposal is seen as signalling a willingness to resume talks among the three countries and Japan would accelerate preparations to make it happen by the end of the year, Kyodo reported, citing unidentified diplomatic sources. US allies Japan and South Korea are wary of China's in

July 23, 2023

Delegations from 22 countries to take part in Korean War armistice ceremony this week

Government delegations from 22 countries that supported South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War will take part in a ceremony this week to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the conflict's armistice, the veterans ministry said Sunday. The delegations will attend the event in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary of the armistice that ended fighting in the war, according to the ministry. The countries sent troops or other forms of supp

July 23, 2023

Govt. to allow businesspeople to enter Ukraine for reconstruction projects

The government plans to allow businesspeople to enter Ukraine for reconstruction projects by making exceptions to the travel ban on the war-torn country, officials said Sunday. The decision was part of measures that the government is taking after President Yoon Suk Yeol made a surprise visit to Ukraine earlier this month and promised to provide a package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. Since February last year, the government has been maintaining a travel ban for all of

July 23, 2023

N. Korean missile launches only solidify US alliances with S. Korea, Japan: Blinken

North Korea's unprecedented missile provocations have done little but solidify the United States' cooperation with South Korea and Japan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, insisting that US alliances have only grown stronger over the years. The top US diplomat also called on China to help bring North Korea back to the dialogue table, insisting that failure to do so will not benefit anyone, including China. "We have channels of communication. We have used them, and we

July 22, 2023

Cooperation between US, Japan, S. Korea important to maintaining peace in Indo-Pacific: US officials

Trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States is reaching unprecedented levels thanks to the leadership of South Korean and Japanese leaders, a senior US administration official said Friday, calling it a "huge innovation" that helps promote peace and stability in the region. Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, noted the three countries are also seeking to institutionalize their defense cooperation. "I think ... ar

July 22, 2023

Foreign Korean War veterans, families to visit S. Korea on 70th armistice anniversary

The veterans ministry said Friday a large group of foreign Korean War veterans and their family members will visit South Korea next week under a program aimed at commemorating their service during the 1950-53 conflict. Some 200 people from 21 countries, which sent troops or other forms of support to South Korea during the war, will be here from Monday through Saturday, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted the conflict, according to the ministry. Among them are 64

July 21, 2023

Top nuclear envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan denounce N. Korea's latest missile test

The top nuclear negotiators of South Korea, the United States and Japan met in Japan on Thursday and strongly condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi, respectively, delivered the message at a trilateral meeting in Karuizawa, a day after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles

July 20, 2023