Articles by Park Han-na
Park Han-na
hnpark@heraldcorp.com-
Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic gaffes continue
An incorrect geographic term used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs triggered a complaint from the Latvian Embassy in Seoul last month, in what appears to be the latest in a string of diplomatic blunders. In an English version of its press release published on March 19, the ministry incorrectly referred to the three Baltic States --the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Estonia – as “the Balkan states.” Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (Yonhap)The ministry did not
Foreign Affairs April 3, 2019
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[News Focus] Free Joseon aims to overthrow Kim dynasty
(Free Joseon)The emergence of a North Korea dissident group has raised questions as to whether it could grow into a movement capable of serving as a catalyst to oust the Kim dynasty that has been ruling North Korea for more than 70 years. The Cheollima Civil Defense’s operations captured the attention -- and the imagination -- of the public when it proclaimed the birth of North Korea’s provisional government-in-exile and changed its name to Free Joseon on March 1. A screenshot of a video publish
North Korea April 2, 2019
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[Diplomatic circuit] Korea Foundation hosts environmental program for youths
Some 100 young Korean volunteers participated in a project to help transform the world’s ninth-largest desert in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region into green land, as well as to exchange views regarding environmental problems with Chinese youths, said the Korea Foundation, a nonprofit public diplomacy organization, which hosted the event. During the 2019 Korea-China Green Corps project, held from Wednesday to Tuesday, the participants planted about 800 trees in the Kubuqi Desert in Inner
Diplomatic Circuit April 1, 2019
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Top-down diplomacy necessary to advance progress with North Korea: presidential aide
To advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, it is necessary for Seoul, Washington and Pyongyang to maintain bilateral and trilateral dialogues and to continue to pursue a top-down approach, a presidential aide said Saturday. “Because of the top-down approach, we were able to get results to this point,” Kim Hyun-chong, the new No. 2 deputy chief of Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Office, said upon his arrival at Dulles International Airport in Washington. During his US trip, Kim will
North Korea March 31, 2019
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South Korean nuclear envoy to propose ‘phased denuke approach’ to US counterpart
South Korea affirmed its stance on a comprehensive agreement and step-by-step implementation approach for North Korea’s denuclearization process, ahead of ministerial level talks with the US. Before departing for Washington on Thursday, Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he would discuss ways to rekindle the bilateral dialogue between the US and North Korea with US Special Representative for North Korea Ste
North Korea March 28, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Human rights advocate among NK embassy attack suspects
One of the suspects behind an attack on the North Korean Embassy in Spain has been revealed to be well-known human rights activist Adrian Hong Chang, according to a news outlet that specializes in North Korea issues. Hong, a Mexican passport holder who lives in the US, is believed to be the leader of a 10-member group that broke into the embassy in Madrid on Feb. 22 and tried to persuade a North Korean commercial attache to defect. The group left him tied up in the basement when he refused and t
North Korea March 27, 2019
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North Korea-backed hackers intensify information warfare, financial theft
Cyber spies suspected of working for the North Korean regime have broadened attacks against official and corporate targets in South Korea, at a time of raised attention on nuclear negotiations and as its economy suffers from international sanctions. Early morning on Jan. 7, a group of reporters covering South Korea’s ministry in charge of relations with North Korea received a suspicious email carrying malicious code.The malicious email was disguised as an invitation to a press conference to prev
North Korea March 26, 2019
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[Diplomatic circuit] Belgium king to meet President Moon for bilateral talks
King Philippe of Belgium and his wife Queen Mathilde kicked off their four-day state visit to South Korea on Monday, aimed at boost economic cooperation and cultural ties between the two countries. President Moon Jae-in and King Philippe Leopold Louis Marie will discuss ways to deepen substantive cooperation in diplomatic relations and expand business collaborations, especially in the information and communication technology, chemicals, logistics and food industries. King Philippe and Queen Math
Diplomatic Circuit March 25, 2019
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[Diplomatic circuit] Ethiopia’s peacemaking effort with Eritrea resembles Korea’s initiative
Ethiopia can share its recent experience of ending a 20-year border war with longtime foe Eritrea to encourage South Korea’s initiative to create a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. The border between Ethiopia and Eritrea reopened in September last year following a peace agreement that put an end to what once seemed an irresolvable conflict, having led to war from 1998 to 2000. Shiferaw Shigutie, Ethiopian ambassador to South Korea, poses during an interview with The Korea Herald at the Ethi
Diplomatic Circuit March 25, 2019
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North Korean officials return to inter-Korean liaison office
North Korean officials have returned to the inter-Korean liaison office, according to a Unification Ministry official on Monday, and things appear to be back to business as usual just days after Pyongyang’s abrupt announcement of the withdrawal of all its staff.“The North Koreans said that they came down (to the liaison office) for the shift as usual,” the official said. (Yonhap)He added that the North expressed unchanged commitment to run the office in accordance with the agreement signed by th
North Korea March 25, 2019
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North Korea withdraws from inter-Korea liaison office
North Korea officials have pulled out from the joint liaison office with South Korea, which opened in the North’s border town of Kaesong in September 2018. The order for withdrawal came from superior authorities in the North, according to the Seoul’s Ministry of Unification on Friday. The ministry said South Korean officials will continue to work at the office as the North said it does not care whether they remain or withdraw from the place. The government regrets Pyongyang’s decision to withdra
North Korea March 22, 2019
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Pyongyang urges Seoul to be proactive in inter-Korean relations
North Korea’s propaganda outlets Friday called on the South Korean government to play an active role in implementing measures to improve inter-Korean relations as the US continues to reiterate its stance of keeping sanctions in place. The state-run online publication Meari denounced the South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for holding back from raising inter-Korean issues with the US by labeling itself as a mediator or a facilitator for Washington-Pyongyang dialogue. As a “core party concer
North Korea March 22, 2019
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Diplomatic thaw prompted active inter-Korean exchanges in 2018: ministry
South Korea greatly expanded exchanges and cooperation with North Korea last year, buoyed by a diplomatic thaw following three inter-Korean summits, according to a new white paper published by the Ministry of Unification on Thursday. The number of South Koreans visiting the North and vice versa increased sharply to 7,498 in 2018 from 115 in 2017, the paper said. (Yonhap)The surge was attributed to government initiatives to cooperate with the North on an inter-Korean railway connection project,
North Korea March 21, 2019
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South Korea’s aid agency mulls development support to North Korea
The state-run Korea International Cooperation Agency is considering whether to grant official development assistance to North Korea despite sanctions prohibiting cash transfers, according to an opposition lawmaker Wednesday.KOICA outsourced a study this month regarding grant aid to the North, with the aim of pursuing development cooperation in an effort to ease tensions between the two Koreas and to eliminate military threats, according to Rep. Lee Jong-myeong of the main opposition Liberty Kore
North Korea March 20, 2019
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Sanctions hinder humanitarian efforts in North Korea
Humanitarian activities for millions of hungry and sick people in North Korea are at risk of being scaled back due to economic sanctions and donor fatigue amid nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang that struggle to make tangible progress.One of the world’s poorest countries, with over 43 percent of the population undernourished, the North’s food production touched its lowest point in 10 years last year. A North Korean paediatrician counsels mothers in Jongju City Hospital about care for
North Korea March 18, 2019
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