Trump sends 'powerful, unmistakable signal' to N. Korea: senior adviser

US President Donald Trump sent a "powerful and unmistakable" message to North Korea when he held a news conference after the communist nation carried out a surprise ballistic missile launch, a senior presidential aide said Sunday.Trump held the impromptu conference at his Florida resort jointly with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, just hours after the North launched a ballistic missile off its east coast in the first such launch since Trump came into office last month.Trump said the United S

Feb. 13, 2017

Trump reaffirms US security commitment to Japan after N.K. missile launch

US President Donald Trump said Friday the United States stands behind Japan "100 percent" in a previously unscheduled joint news conference he held with Japan's prime minister after North Korea conducted a surprise ballistic missile launch.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened the brief news conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, denouncing the North's missile launch as "absolutely intolerable" and urging the communist nation to comply with all UN Security Council resolutions."D

Feb. 12, 2017

US House lawmakers call for early deployment of THAAD system

A bipartisan group of US House lawmakers has introduced a resolution condemning North Korea's development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and calling for quick deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) brought in the resolution (H.Res.92) on Monday, together with four co-sponsors from both the Democratic and Republican parties, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's threat to test-fire

Feb. 8, 2017

Sri Lanka, Korea celebrate thriving economic ties

The Sri Lankan Embassy on Friday marked the 69th anniversary of independence from colonial Britain as well as thriving ties with Korea officially extending to 40 years.The reception at Millennium Seoul Hilton drew dignitaries from both countries, including Kang Ho-in, Korean minister of land, infrastructure and transport, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Sri Lankan minister of disaster management, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Sri Lankan minister of public administration and management, and Chandrani Bandar

Feb. 6, 2017

Morocco rejoins African Union for regional peace, prosperity

More than 33 years since quitting the African Union, Morocco was readmitted to the continental club of nations, heralding a new era of regional security and economic cooperation, according to the Moroccan Embassy in Seoul.The decision was made at the 28th Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 31, with the support of 39 countries and nine countries opposed in voting. Moroccan King Mohammed VI first signaled the country’s wish to rejoin the institution at the 27th summit in

Feb. 6, 2017

‘Belarus, Korea are partners in cutting-edge innovations’

Emerging from seven decades of Soviet rule, Belarus inherited an institutional legacy of excellence in scientific education and research, highly regarded across Eurasia. Since its independence in 1991, the country has moved toward a market economy, while preserving cardinal instruments in science and engineering. Now marking the silver jubilee of diplomatic relations with Korea on Feb. 10, Belarusian Ambassador to Korea Andrei Popkov believes cooperation in these fields is key to unlocking the t

Feb. 6, 2017

Russia likely to mull action if THAAD deployment goes ahead: envoy

Russia will consider taking countermeasures to protect its own security if the United States pushes ahead with its planned deployment of an advanced anti-missile system on South Korean soil, the country's top envoy in Seoul said Friday.Russian Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Timonin said that the stationing of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system on the Korean Peninsula will have a "dangerous" impact on ongoing efforts to secure regional peace and stability."We will have no choice

Feb. 3, 2017

Elena Ferrante’s neorealist novels translated into Korean

The Italian Embassy in Seoul celebrated the publication of novels in Korean by renowned author Elena Ferrante at a book talk on Jan. 19. The event at the embassy marked last year’s translated release of the first two of “The Neapolitan Novels,” a four-part series comprised of “My Brilliant Friend” (2012), “The Story of a New Name” (2013), “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay” (2014) and “The Story of the Lost Child” (2015). The books are published by Hangilsa Publishing Company Limited, which pri

Jan. 30, 2017

Young Diplomats Academy instills lofty goals in students

The Korea Herald Young Diplomats Academy and the Young Opinion Leaders’ Knowledge Forum -- youth camps providing interaction with foreign diplomats, business leaders, renowned scholars and legal experts -- inspired young generations last week. The event at Yonsei International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, from Jan. 20-22 attracted over 100 students from elementary, middle and high schools across the country. The forum is tailored to middle and high school students, while the academy is designed fo

Jan. 30, 2017

Indonesian envoy wraps up pragmatic tenure

Indonesian Ambassador John Aristianto Prasetio held his last meeting Thursday with Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, wrapping up 4 1/2 years in Korea that culminated in President Joko Widodo’s visit last year amid deepening bilateral ties. The event took place in a “warm environment” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, according to the Indonesian Embassy, with both diplomats taking stock of bilateral progress before and after Widodo’s state visit to Korea last May. 　“This great achi

Jan. 30, 2017

Musical couple rings unchained melodies from yesterday

Before the advent of K-pop, the Kim Sisters rocked America’s postwar music scene with their colorful tunes, zestful tones and exotic eyes. The trio starred on the Ed Sullivan Show more than 22 times with the likes of Elvis Presley, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Poster children of Korea’s postwar pop, they were the first Asian girl group to debut in Las Vegas and introduce the unknown country’s charming voices to American audiences throughout the 1960s and ‘70s.The group comprised of Kim So

Jan. 30, 2017

US entry of NK refugees put on hold by Trump's executive order: report

US President Donald Trump's executive order barring refugees from entering the country also extends to North Koreans fleeing from one of the most repressive regimes in the world, a US media agency said Sunday.The Voice of America said North Korean refugees are not allowed to enter the United States at least for four months as the executive order places a 120-day moratorium on the US Refugee Admissions Program.Under the 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act, North Korean escapees can attain refugee

Jan. 29, 2017

Literature translation bridges ancient Georgia, modern Korea

The Georgian Embassy in Seoul honored a scholar last week for translating a literary masterpiece and smoothing cultural exchanges between Georgia and Korea. Georgian Ambassador to Korea Nikoloz Apkhazava bestowed Thursday the Presidential Order of Honor to Cho Ju-kwan, a professor of Russian language and literature at Yonsei University. Cho adapted into Korean “The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin,” a national treasure written in the 12th century by Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.Rustaveli was a pre-em

Jan. 23, 2017

‘Indonesia is transforming business climate with reforms’

One of the first things Indonesian Ambassador John Aristianto Prasetio did upon starting his post in Korea was streamlining the visa application process at the embassy. Prasetio also talked to his government to make it easy for Korean banks to open branches in Indonesia. “As a businessman, I like competition,” he told The Korea Herald. “These are some of the small steps I have taken as a new ambassador, but which would have big impacts down the road.” Indonesian Ambassador John Aristianto Praset

Jan. 23, 2017

ASEAN, Korea hash over tourism, smart city development

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, the ASEAN-Korea Center in Seoul sent a mission to Singapore and Indonesia last week to strengthen cooperation in tourism and smart city development. Under the theme of “Shaping our tourism journey together,” the event in Singapore from Jan. 16 to Friday brought together tourism professionals, ministers and bureaucrats, as well as dialogue partners from Korea, Japan, China and Russia. Since it was launched in 20

Jan. 23, 2017