The top diplomats of South Korea and the US pledged united efforts to deal with North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, as the allies’ leaders seek another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un amid the stalled nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her US counterpart Mike Pompeo held a meeting in Washington on Thursday, the first since they met in Seoul after Pompeo’s trip to Pyongyang in October. The meeting came amid efforts in Seoul and

President Moon Jae-in held a meeting Thursday with the chairwoman of Vietnam’s National Assembly, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, to discuss ways to further enhance the countries’ bilateral relationship.The meeting was held at Moon‘s presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.　The Vietnamese lawmaker has been on a four-day visit since Tuesday at the invitation of her South Korean counterpart, Moon Hee-sang.　While meeting with the chairwoman, President Moon emphasized the importance of Vietnam to South Kore

The top diplomats from South Korea and the US were set to meet Thursday in Washington amid continued efforts to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea, the Foreign Ministry said. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were scheduled to meet in Washington D.C. at 8:30 a.m., according to the ministry. Kang was in the US to lead South Korea’s delegation to the funeral of former US President George H.W. Bush. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sout

South Korea will hold an annual meeting of its top envoys abroad next week to focus on promoting diplomacy for the people and fostering peace and prosperity on the peninsula, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.A total of 181 ambassadors, consul generals and other heads of diplomatic missions in foreign countries will participate in the five-day session that will open on Monday in Seoul. (Yonhap)Major programs include special lectures by Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential secretary f

US President Donald Trump plans to hold a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un because the North has failed to follow through on its promise to denuclearize, US national security adviser John Bolton said Tuesday (US time), amid North Korea’s continued silence. His remarks came after Trump reaffirmed his wish to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim in January or February. Trump said he could grant Kim his wishes if he delivers on denuclearization, according to South Korean Pre

South Korea, China and Japan will hold their 14th round of negotiations for a free trade agreement to boost trade and investment between the Asian neighbors, Seoul's trade ministry said Wednesday.Senior trade officials of the three nations will gather in Beijing on Thursday and Friday to discuss ways to open goods and services markets and lower other trade barriers, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said. (Yonhap)The talks come at a time when China is seeking to strike trade pacts with

President Moon Jae-in returned home Tuesday after a three-nation tour that began a week earlier in the Czech Republic.In Prague, the president held a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis to discuss ways to improve the countries' ties. (Yonhap)His tour then took him to Argentina, where he was joined by the leaders of 19 other developing and developed nations for the annual Group of 20 Leaders' Summit.The annual meeting, held in Buenos Aires, also provided the venue for a series of bilat

As US President Donald Trump eyes a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a breakthrough in stalled denuclearization talks early next year, Washington faces its own dilemma stemming from a lack of bargaining chips. 　Time may also not be on Trump’s side, with reported cases of sanctions being eased, intelligence reports pointing to North Korea’s continued work on nuclear and missile programs, and a fast-approaching 2020 presidential election.　North Korea has called on the US to t

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will attend the funeral of former President George H.W. Bush this week, her ministry announced Tuesday.Kang is leading South Korea's delegation to the funeral to be held at the Washington National Cathedral in the US capital Wednesday.(Yonhap)The delegation will also include Seoul's Ambassador to the US Cho Yoon-je and Ryu Jin, chairman & CEO of Poongsan Group, a South Korean conglomerate, according to Noh Kyu-duk, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreig

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern agreed Tuesday to further enhance their countries' cooperation in various areas, including trade and Antarctic research.In a summit held in Auckland, the two leaders also agreed to boost their cooperation in the defense industry. (Yonhap)"While noting that the South Korea-New Zealand FTA that went into effect in 2015 is providing a strong institutional foundation to promote trade and investment between the two count

South Korea and Argentina have agreed to exchange visits by their young citizens as part of a work and pay program, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.The two sides signed the "working holiday" agreement last week, which allows South Koreans, aged 18-30, to work, study and travel in Argentina for up to a year. The yearly quote is 200. Argentine youth will be able to do so in South Korea as well. Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie (R) and South Korea's Ambassador to Argentina, Lim Ki-mo, s

South Korean President Moon Jae-in began his state visit to New Zealand on Monday, one day after his arrival here following his participation in the Group of 20 summit in Argentina.A welcome ceremony was set to be held later in the day at the official residence of Governor-General Patsy Reddy, according to Moon's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap)Moon and his wife, Kim Jung-sook, will hold a brief meeting with the governor-general and her husband, David Gascoigne, before attending an of

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has met with the North's ceremonial head of state in Mexico and expressed her hope for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's prompt visit to Seoul, the foreign ministry here said Sunday. Kang's meeting with Kim Yong-nam took place on Saturday while visiting the Latin American country to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. In this photo, provided by Seoul's foreign ministry, S

AUCKLAND, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Auckland on Sunday on a state visit that will include his summit with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. South Korean President Moon Jae-in (Right) shakes hands with Jenny Salesa, minister for building and construction, as well as for ethnic communities, of New Zealand, after arriving in Auckland on Sunday,on a three-day state visit. (Yonhap)New Zealand is the last stop in Moon's three-nation tour that began Tuesday with an u

Cheong Wa Dae says Kim Jong-un is “a man of words” and will keep his promise to visit Seoul