South Korean President Moon Jae-in will try to use his summit with US President Donald Trump to broker a nuclear deal between the United States and North Korea, a presidential aide said Friday.The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Washington, three weeks before the US president and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il hold their first summit in Singapore."We expect the upcoming summit to play a role as a bridge (between the US and North Korea) that will lead to the success of the North Korea-US sum

For countries faced with a population decline, taking in migrants is not only necessary, but also desirable, provided that creative immigration policies are implemented, says the UN migration agency’s chief. William Lacy Swing, director general of the International Organization for Migration, warned against widespread anti-immigration and anti-refugee sentiment around the world, saying it is based on “false stereotypes and unfounded fear.” “People say … we don’t want any migrants, build a wall a

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon instructed the government Thursday to come up with measures to minimize any negative effects the restoration of US sanctions on Iran could have on South Korea's economy and businesses.US President Donald Trump has declared he's pulling out of the Iranian nuclear deal, and ordered that the sanctions on Iran, which had been lifted under the 2016 deal, be reinstated. That prompted concern the restrictions could negatively affect South Korean trade and businesses.Iranian o

South Korea plans to open a research institute in August to delve into the issue of wartime sexual violence against women as part of efforts to commemorate the Korean women sexually exploited by the imperial Japanese army during World War II, the gender minister has said."South Korea should be the mecca for the issue of wartime suppression of women's rights," Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Hyun-back said in a meeting with journalists Wednesday. "The opening of the research institut

WASHINGTON -- The United States said Tuesday it continues to plan for a historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un despite the regime's threat to withdraw.The State Department's response came shortly after North Korea warned the US to make "careful deliberations about the fate" of the June 12 summit, citing ongoing military exercises between the South and the US."We will continue to plan the meeting," department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at a regu

South Korea and four other middle power states issued a joint statement Tuesday condemning recent deadly terrorist attacks in Indonesia "in the strongest possible terms," another show of global unity against such an atrocious crime.The foreign ministers of South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia expressed their condolences and solidarity with the Indonesian government."We unequivocally condemn all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever

South Korea on Tuesday condemned Japan’s repeated claim to the Dokdo islets in a foreign policy document presented to its cabinet, rekindling territorial and historical tensions between the two countries.　The Japanese government described the islets as “indigenous Japanese territory” in this year’s foreign policy document, known as the Diplomatic Bluebook, reported to its cabinet earlier in the day. 　Seoul’s Foreign Ministry urged Tokyo to immediately retract its claim over the ownership of Dokd

The foreign ministers of South Korea and Singapore vowed Monday to work together to support the upcoming summit between the United States and North Korea in the Southeast Asian country, Seoul's ministry said. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (Yonhap)South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan held phone talks ahead of the June 12 summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.The ministers shared the view that the

A complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea is impossible, unless the regime collapses or changes, a former senior North Korean diplomat said Monday. Given the North’s political system that idolizes its leader, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will never give up the country’s nuclear arsenal, and the only option for the rest of the world is to accept North Korea disguising itself as nuclear-free nation, said Thae Yong-ho, North Korea’s former deputy ambassador to the U

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s mention of “prosperity” for North Korea if it ends its nuclear weapons programs may hint at economic rewards for the cash-strapped regime.  　Pompeo said Friday that his talks with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang had been “warm,” “constructive” and “good,” and he made clear that if North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons in a permanent and verifiable way, the US would be willing to help boost the North’s economy.　“If North Korea takes bold action to quickly denucle

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is set to hold talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday in Washington, D.C., ahead of the historic summit between North Korea and the US, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, left, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (AP)During the meeting, the countries’ top diplomats will exchange views on the outcome of the April 27 inter-Korean summit, ways to enhance policy coordination on achieving den

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to China for the second time in less than two months signals Pyongyang’s desire for Beijing’s involvement in the denuclearization process ahead of his summit with US President Donald Trump, experts say. 　The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday and Tuesday in the northeastern Chinese city of Dailan, where he reiterated his commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 　The summit might

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their second summit in about 40 days in northeast China, the two nations' state media reported Tuesday, ahead of an anticipated summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump. In a dispatch from the Chinese city of Dalian, China's Xinhua news agency reported that Kim and Xi held talks on Monday and Tuesday. The second summit between Kim and Xi appears to highlight efforts by the allies to restore ties that have been chille

A major Chinese city on Saturday lifted its suspension of package tour programs to South Korea, which was imposed amid a diplomatic feud between the two countries, sources said.   The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism held a regional meeting in the southwestern city of Chongqing earlier in the day and approved the move, according to the sources here.   Last week, Wuhan, the sprawling capital of the Hubei province, became the first Chinese city to reopen tour package programs to South Korea

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump will hold a summit meeting in Washington D.C. on May 22.According to Cheong Wa Dae and White House the two leaders will discuss issues surrounding North Korea including Trump’s planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "President Trum and President Moon will continue their close coordination on developments regarding the Korean Peninsula following the April 27 inter-Korean summit," the White House said in a statement."The two leader