Freshly minted Georgian Ambassador Otar Berdzenishvili says his country and Korea are closer in substance than their distance, sharing a common pride of national language and alphabet as well as passion for freedom and democracy.Having assumed his post in late April, the 38-year-old wunderkind from the Caucasus country says he wants to invigorate bilateral ties with his full force, building on the achievements of his predecessor Nikoloz Apkhazava, who has been nominated to serve in Malaysia. Ber

After basking in its peak years, the relationship between South Korea and China has been going downhill rapidly in recent months, as Beijing embarks on economic retaliation over Seoul’s decision to host the US’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile shield. Concerns are growing the diplomatic strains may spill over into sociocultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries despite their deepening economic interdependence. Alarming signs have already surfaced from both sides

Kim Won-soo, a South Korean career diplomat and former under-secretary general at the United Nations, is running for the top position of a global body against chemical weapons, officials said Thursday.Kim has joined the race to become the next director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons with a four-year term, according to the officials. Kim Won-soo, a South Korean career diplomat and former under-secretary general at the United Nations (Yonhap)Voting among the 41

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday warned of stern measures against the ongoing deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea. "China calls for an immediate stop to the THAAD deployment on the Korean Peninsula," China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing. "China will pursue protecting its interests going forward by taking the necessary measures in a stern manner." (Yonhap)He was speaking in response to the US' announcement that the Terminal

South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed its reservations about civic activists' move to erect statues symbolizing Korean victims of forced labor under Japan's colonial rule near its diplomatic missions.A civic group is pushing to install such statues near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and its consulate located in the southeastern port city of Busan. Japan raised strong objections and recently asked the Seoul government to take appropriate action. South Korean foreign ministry spokesm

South Korea's top diplomat will meet with ambassadors of the United States and Japan on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in dealing with North Korea and its growing nuclear threat.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with Marc Knapper, acting US Ambassador to South Korea, and Japanese Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine in his office in the afternoon, according to the ministry.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (Yonhap)The unusual three-way meeting, arranged at the request of the ministry, fol

An international human rights organization has called for the UN Security Council to refer those responsible for infringing on human rights in North Korea to an international court, a US broadcaster reported Tuesday.  The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2321 against North Korea for its fifth nuclear test at a meeting in New York on Nov. 30, 2016. (Yonhap)The UN council should handle an issue to punish the North's human rights violations as well as its nuclear issue in order to realize just

“As there are no clear answers in art, a world full of explanations would be deprived of our imagination and curiosity.”

Uprearing the losses suffered by “mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents and grandchildren,” the envoy said, “in place of their lives there are now quiet graves, memorials and fields.”

Dec. 1 this year marks the 25th anniversary of official ties between Pretoria and Seoul.

Rekindled by his demand for Seoul to pay for the THAAD anti-missile system, US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach centered on unrefined, unilateral remarks and Twitter posts is fanning concerns it may undermine the two countries’ 60-year alliance. On the campaign trail, he repeatedly argued that allies should shoulder a greater share of defense costs and the “job-killing” South Korea-US free trade agreement needs to be negotiated.Just over 100 days into the Trump presidency, signs

South Korea's top diplomat Monday expressed confidence that the United States will respect a bilateral agreement on the cost for the missile defense deployment amid controversy sparked by US President Donald Trump's recent suggestion that Seoul should pay for the $1 billion system. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se dismissed concerns that Washington would seek a renegotiation on the issue as he commented on Trump's security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster's remark that his government respects the current

Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is on an unannounced visit to South Korea for discussions on North Korea, news reports here said Monday.He arrived at the Osan Air Base south of Seoul on Saturday, about 12 hours after the North fired a ballistic missile that apparently broke up in mid-air, according to the Kookmin Ilbo. CIA Director Mike Pompeo (AP-Yonhap)He is scheduled to stay in Seoul until Tuesday, the publication added, citing "key officials in the political c

WASHINGTON -- US Democratic leaders have criticized President Donald Trump for damaging the alliance with South Korea after Trump demanded Seoul should pay for the THAAD missile defense system and he would renegotiate or terminate a free trade pact with the country."President Trump proved once again that he's out of his depth in the White House. The unpredictable bluster and bravado that was a defining characteristic of Trump in the private sector becomes embarrassing and dangerous for the count

WASHINGTON -- The United States will renegotiate the terms of the THAAD missile defense system's deployment to South Korea, and until then, will stick to the existing deal that commits the US to pay for the system, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Sunday.McMaster made the remark during an interview with "Fox News Sunday," rejecting reports that he contradicted President Donald Trump and promised the US will pay for THAAD when he spoke by phone with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kw