The Korea Herald

Lee says N.K. reaction to invitation not official one

May 12, 2011

COPENHAGEN (Yonhap News) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday he does not expect North Korea to respond quickly to his offer to invite leader Kim Jong-il to an international summit in Seoul next year and even a negative response does not necessarily mean a rejection. Lee made the remark a day after the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland denounced his offer as "r
Seoul to discuss Lee’s overture with N. Korea

May 12, 2011

COPENHAGEN -- An aide to President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday that Seoul may hold working-level talks with Pyongyang to follow up on Lee’s conditional invitation of Kim Jong-il to a global nuclear summit next year.Pyongyang downplayed Lee’s latest overture in Berlin that he would invite the reclusive North Korean leader to the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul next spring if Pyongyang made a firm
[Herald Interview] G20 speakers to gather in Seoul for talks

May 12, 2011

Speaker Park says Korea should take leading role in promoting world peaceFollowing Seoul’s hosting of the Group of 20 summit last year, the National Assembly speaker is set to lead a meeting of G20 parliamentary speakers next week.“We are now living in a global era and the parliament, as the state’s key legislative organ, should keep pace with the changing world,” Park Hee-tae told The Korea Heral
Korea, Denmark ink green growth deal

May 12, 2011

Lee agrees with Danish leader to expand political and economic tiesCOPENHAGEN ― President Lee Myung-bak agreed with Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen during their summit talks here Thursday to reinforce political and economic cooperation as well as technological exchanges for green growth.Korea and Denmark also launched earlier in the day a “Green Growth Alliance,” which includes Copenha
GNP lawmakers seek to recoup depositors’ losses

May 12, 2011

Some Grand National Party lawmakers are considering ways to enable depositors of suspended savings banks to partially recoup lost money, officials said Thursday.They are also mulling giving the state-run Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. the right to independently inspect savings banks to keep the Financial Supervisory Service in check. Critics said the FSS has wielded a “monopolistic” inspection auth
GNP to elect new leader on July 4

May 12, 2011

The Grand National Party will select a new leader on July 4 to take the helm for the general and presidential elections next year.The ruling party’s emergency panel held its first meeting on Thursday, where they scheduled hold a national convention for that date, officials said.The committee was launched after former party leader Ahn Sang-soo and other Supreme Council members stepped down on Sunda
GNP upholds floor leader as interim chief in power strife

May 11, 2011

The power struggle within the ruling Grand National Party escalated as the party secretariat decided that the vacant party leader seat is to be filled by the newly-elected floor leader, instead of the designated emergency panel chairman.“It is best to let the floor leader take over the party leader’s authority and the emergency panel chairman lead the panel,” said the party’s vice secretary-genera
Korean leader touts green diplomacy

May 11, 2011

President Lee opens Global Green Growth Institute in CopenhagenCOPENHAGEN ― Korea’s ambitious Global Green Growth Institute opened its first overseas office here Wednesday in a show of strengthened ties with Denmark.Denmark has vowed to contribute $5 million annually for three years to the international organization launched by the Lee Myung-bak administration last June. President Lee attended Wed
Sohn turns his back on Korea-U.S. FTA bill

May 11, 2011

Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, said on Wednesday that he would object to a bill to ratify the free trade agreement with the United States.His remark, coupled with the Grand National Party floor leader Hwang Woo-yeah’s vow not to run in general elections next year if the ruling party railroads the bill, darkens the prospect for its smooth passage this year.“Damage i
Rules toughened to prevent draft dodging

May 11, 2011

Military manpower chief says measures will close loopholesThe military conscription agency has been implementing or seeking to introduce a series of measures to block those looking to exploit legal loopholes to dodge their compulsory service, the agency chief said Wednesday.They include toughening screening processes, securing an independent investigative authority, allowing elementary-school grad
Lee discusses N. Korea with leaders of German unification

May 10, 2011

President says Pyongyang will seek dialogue with Seoul for stability as it goes through power transition　FRANKFURT -- President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday met with four leaders of the 1990 German reunification in Berlin to share their experiences and advice in preparing for South Korea’s reunification with North Korea.　Lee met with Lothar de Maiziere, the last prime minister of East Germany; Wolfgan
Former and current ambassadors to give lectures on ASEAN

May 10, 2011

Former and current South Korean ambassadors will give a series of lectures in Seoul on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from May 31 through July 5 to enhance understanding of its 10 member countries. The ASEAN-Korea Center has organized the lectures on relations between Korea and ASEAN members and ways to improve them.The center is an international body established in March 2009 under an
Gyeonggi governor eyes GNP leadership

May 10, 2011

Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, one of the ruling camp’s presidential hopefuls, expressed his intention to join the Grand National Party’s leadership contest on Tuesday.The former third-term lawmaker said that should all the other presidential hopefuls join the race, he would throw his hat in the ring to “save the party,” now faltering after its recent by-election defeat. The leadership contest is
GNP seeks to avoid ‘wealthy party’ tag

May 10, 2011

New floor leader Hwang says party will reach out to the people with policiesThe newly elected floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party pledged to rid the party of its reputation as an affluent party remote from the realities of citizens.“Our party will focus on designing customized welfare policies for people of all ages,” said Rep. Hwang Woo-yea in a radio speech on Tuesday.“Our aim is to
Ex-generals to be briefed on reforms

May 10, 2011

Retired officers say plans to revamp military do not go far enoughThe Ministry of National Defense will hold a three-day session next week to outline to retired general-grade officers its military reform efforts, which critics claim will not effectively address problems in the military.About 600 retired general-grade officers are expected to attend the session from Tuesday to Thursday next week, m