South Korea and China on Wednesday reaffirmed their opposition to Japan's plan to release radioactive water without fully consulting with neighboring countries and agreed to consider measures depending on Tokyo's future responses, the foreign ministry said. The two countries shared "strong regrets and serious concerns" over the decision in their inaugural working-level dialogue of related government agencies on maritime cooperation, the ministry said. "The two sides agreed to i

South Korea will provide $100,000 worth of humanitarian assistance to the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines hit by multiple volcano explosions, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Big explosions from the volcano on the eastern island of St. Vincent since last Friday have destroyed communities, forcing nearly 20,000 people to evacuate from their homes, while water and other food supplies are becoming short, according to news reports. The government hopes the assistance will

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday ordered his aides to review possible legal actions that can be taken against Japan’s decision to release wastewater from its Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, including bringing the issue to an international court. “The president ordered to proactively consider taking the issue to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, including provisional measures,” presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok told a press briefing. T

South Korea has expressed concerns to the United States over Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. The move came as the US State Department said Japan "appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards" in apparent support of its decision to release the radioactive water despite opposition from South Korea and other neighboring

South Korea adopted a slogan and key symbols for next month's virtual summit on green growth and sustainable development, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, stepping up publicity efforts for the successful hosting of the event. The Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) summit is scheduled to take place on May 30-31, as Seoul seeks to highlight its commitment to the global fight against climate change. Its preparatory committee adopted "Green We Go, Change We Make"

A former wartime sexual slavery victim pleaded with the South Korean government again on Wednesday for it to bring the issue of forced sexual slavery by Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), two months after she made the first such request. "My wish is that President Moon Jae-in convinces Japan's prime minister to take the issue to the ICJ to reveal the truth," Lee Yong-soo, one of the 15 registered surviving South Korean victims of sexual slavery by Japan during World Wa

WASHINGTON -- US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit China and South Korea this week, the State Department said, ahead of a US-hosted climate summit of world leaders, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kerry plans to travel to Shanghai and Seoul from Wednesday through Saturday on a mission aimed at "raising global climate ambition" ahead of the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate slated to take place on April 22 and 23, the department said. The depar

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong spoke by phone with his Singaporean counterpart on Tuesday and discussed joint efforts to enhance bilateral and regional cooperation, his office said. In the conversation, Chung and Vivian Balakrishnan noted that the two countries have maintained substantive cooperation in such areas as infrastructure and the digital economy, the ministry said in a release. In that vein, the ministers held out hopes that the suspended expedited entry system agreed upon between

South Korea plans to beef up its inspections of radiation levels of local and imported Japanese seafood products, as Japan decided to release massive amounts of radioactive water into the sea, the ocean ministry said Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Japanese government said it will release into the sea the radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years, despite South Korea's repeated protest. An estimated 1.25 million tons of such water a

Seoul should seriously consider legal options in response, environmental groups say

South Korea on Tuesday expressed strong regret over Japan's decision to release contaminated water into the sea from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. Tokyo announced earlier in the day that it plans to start releasing massive amounts of radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years. Koo Yoon-cheol, head of South Korea's Office for Government Policy Coordination, gathered an emergency vice-ministerial meeting at 10 a.m. at the S

South Korea on Tuesday convened a high-level government meeting to discuss measures against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. Tokyo announced earlier in the day that it plans to start releasing massive amounts of radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years. Koo Yoon-cheol, head of South Korea's Office for Government Policy Coordination, gathered an emergency vice

South Korea on Tuesday awarded Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, one of the country's highest medals for his contribution to the alliance and peace on the Korean Peninsula, the defense ministry said. Defense Minister Suh Wook presented the Tongil Medal of the Order of National Security Merit to the outgoing commander on behalf of the government during a ceremony held at the ministry building in Seoul, according to the ministry. Davidson arrived in South Korea on Mon

WASHINGTON -- The United States' position on Iran sanctions remains unchanged, a State Department spokesperson said Monday, amid Iran's continued demand for the release of its money blocked in South Korean banks. "The United States' position on Iran sanctions has not changed," the department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in an email, asking not to be identified. The remarks come after South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun noted the money belongs to Iran. "I have sai

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday named a new official in charge of diversity and inclusion at the State Department, while commending the US embassy in Seoul for setting a good example. Blinken named Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley to fill the newly created post of chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO), who "will be empowered to develop a "robust framework for fostering diversity and inclusion in our workforce." "From Me Too, to Black Lives Mat