China’s Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the death of a South Korean coast guard officer fatally stabbed by the captain of a Chinese fishing boat when he tried to arrest him for illegal fishing in Korean waters.“The Chinese side regrets that the relevant incident caused the death of an ROK (Republic of Korea) coast guard officer, which is an unfortunate event,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters in Beijing.Liu added that Chinese and South Korean officials are in close com

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has briefed three South Korean firms involved in business with Iran on Washington‘s new set of sanctions against the Islamic state, officials said Tuesday.The U.S. is concurrently seeking support from its allies for sanctions targeting Iran’s financial, petrochemical and energy sectors. The U.S. and several other nations tightened punitive measures against the Islamic state last month following a United Nations report accusing Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons.Embassy of

The upcoming 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit’s agenda will include how to ensure the safety and security of radioactive materials widely used in people’s daily lives, a government official said Tuesday.Korea will host the summit on March 26-27 as a continuation from the first nuclear security summit in April 2010, led by U.S. President Barack Obama, to prevent nuclear materials falling into the hands of terrorists.“Terrorism using nuclear materials such as highly enriched uranium and plutoniu

Celebrations of the Thai king’s birthday got a royal treat thanks to dancers in Seoul. Dec. 5 marks the birthday of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch who ascended to the throne in 1946. While the date known as “Wan Chalerm” is an important public holiday with celebratory fireworks and street parties in Bangkok, Thais in Korea marked the occasion with a reception featuring a traditional dance performance. Thai Ambassador to Korea Chaiyong Satjipanon spoke at the e

A Korean who has helped grow tourism from here to Spain is to be honored with a decoration this week. Chung Tae-wan helped to increase the number of Koreans visiting the European country over the last 17 years from 2,000 to 80,000 annual visitors. He is to be conferred on Tuesday with the Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Catolica for developing friendship and economic relations between the two countries. The Korean representative of the National Office of Tourism of Spain and Air Europa from

The Irish embassy is asking people to help choose a logo to represent its EU presidency. The poll has been launched by the Irish Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton. Go to www.eu2013.ie to find details about the four designs and vote. The winning logo will be featured online and in print when Ireland holds the presidency during the first six months of 2013. Voting is open now unti

New ambassadors and diplomatic staff in Korea have taken part in a program to introduce them to the country. The program run by the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, which is affiliated with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, held cultural and information events for 62 people from 43 countries. Ambassadors to Korea from Belarus, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Gabon, Laos, Norway, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka attended events on Wednesday and Thursday last week. Diplomatic

Fiji is to open a new embassy in South Korea next year, sending an ambassador from Suva to Seoul. The new embassy is expected to open in the first half of 2012 to foster trade and investment between Korea and the archipelago about 2,000 km northeast of New Zealand. It will employ about 5 staff, a Fiji government official said, adding that an ambassador may be selected in the next month. “We want to open an embassy there because Korea is right in the heart of Asia,” he added. “Korea and Fiji have