The Korea Herald

Korea, Russia agree to strengthen cooperation in developing Far East

Aug 26, 2016

South Korea and Russia agreed Thursday to cooperate on developing infrastructure in the Russian Far Eastern region, as well as on pushing forward with a free trade pact, Seoul's finance ministry said.The agreements were reached at a South Korea-Russia joint committee meeting on the economy, science and technology held in Seoul. At the meeting, South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Il-ho, who is also double hatted as finance minister, and his Russian counterpart Yuri Trutnev shared their goals
Sex slavery survivors each offered W100m

Aug 25, 2016

The fund for the victims of Japan’s sex slavery during World War II plans to offer each of its survivors some 100 million won ($89,500) and the families of the deceased victims 20 million won in cash benefits, Seoul officials said Thursday. The decision came one day after Japan’s Cabinet approved the transfer of 1 billion yen ($9.9 million) pledged under the two countries’ Dec. 28 settlement intended to end the disputes. Seoul has since set up the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, a public-
Korea, Hawaii sign pact to mutually recognize driver's licenses

Aug 25, 2016

South Korea and Hawaii have signed a pact to recognize the validity of noncommercial driver's licenses issued by each other, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Under the agreement, which went into force Wednesday in the US state after being signed, holders of driver's licenses issued by their own authorities are eligible for a driving permit in the counterpart region without additional training or tests, ministry officials said. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)Hawaii, home to 4,631 South Koreans
Korea, China, Japan kick off trilateral foreign ministers' meeting

Aug 24, 2016

The top diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan began their trilateral meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss ways to expand cooperation and check pending issues of mutual concern.The talks, which started earlier in the day, marked the first time that foreign ministers of the three countries got together following the last such event held in Seoul back in March of 2015.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Japanese and Chinese counterparts, Fumio Kishida and Wang Yi, attended the gathering.T
Top diplomats from Japan, China, S. Korea start meeting

Aug 23, 2016

TOKYO (AFP) -- Foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea began a two-day meeting on Tuesday with their countries at odds over territorial disputes, a US missile defence system and perennial regional problem North Korea.Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Yun Byung-Se met for dinner at a Tokyo hotel before the start of formal talks on Wednesday.The three shook hands and smiled for the cameras without making any remarks.Japanese Foreign Minister Fum
Korea, China, Japan to hold foreign ministers' meeting this week

Aug 22, 2016

Top diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan will hold a meeting this week to discuss cooperation and make preparations for a summit of their heads of state likely to be held this year, the foreign ministry here said Monday.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts, Wang Yi and Fumio Kishida, in Tokyo on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)
Pakistan-Korea ties celebrated on Independence Day

Aug 21, 2016

The independence days of Pakistan and Korea are just one day apart, on Aug. 14 and 15, respectively. The two countries also have in common experiences of colonialism, emancipation and partition, which have inspired their postwar international engagement. The Pakistani Embassy hosted a reception earlier this month to celebrate its 70th Independence Day and expanding ties with Korea, as the two middle power nations seek to cooperate with one other for regional and global initiatives. “The Independ
Singapore lays down sustainable future with Korea

Aug 21, 2016

Over the last few years, Singapore has navigated through a rough sea of global financial unpredictability, making structural reforms to secure its footing. The small island state at the foot of Malaysia, acclaimed for international competitiveness and openness, is moving past nearly six decades of guidance under national founder Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away last year in March. Amid the uncertainties of low growth in economy and population, it is searching for innovative solutions to ensure the
Pakistan bids to join Nuclear Suppliers Group

Aug 21, 2016

Pakistan, one of nine states worldwide to possess nuclear weapons, aspires to be a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an association of 48 nations that oversees the international trade of atomic and atomic-related materials and technologies with a shared commitment to global nonproliferation. Although not a signatory of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the country’s experience in civil nuclear program warrants attention of the NSG, s
Memorial stones to be built in Japan to honor Korean forced laborers

Aug 21, 2016

Memorial stones will be installed in Hokkaido in Japan to honor South Koreans forced to work there during the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), a civic group said Sunday.The group, Steppingstone for Peace, said it is putting the "stepping stones for peace" on various sites where the forced labor took place.The stones will be topped with copperplate, 45 centimeters in width and 35 cm in length, with information like the victims' names, ages, places of birth, dates of birth and death, and the
Korean, Chinese, Japanese foreign ministry officials hold talks in Tokyo

Aug 21, 2016

Senior diplomats from South Korea, China and Japan held a meeting in Tokyo on Sunday to prepare for a foreign ministers' gathering that can help the countries tackle outstanding issues.Kim Hyoung-zhin, deputy foreign minister of South Korea, met with Liu Zhenmin and Takeo Akiba, his Chinese and Japanese counterparts, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. The high-ranking meeting is the 11th of its kind since it was first convened in March 2007 as a major channel to exchange views between the th
Japan's foreign ministry posts controversial remarks on comfort women on website

Aug 20, 2016

Japan's foreign ministry was found to have posted a high-ranking official's comments on its English website Saturday that denies forceful mobilization of comfort women by its military and government authorities during World War II.The posting dated on Aug. 9 was a summary of comments by Shinsuke Sugiyama, Japan's deputy foreign minister, during a United Nations committee meeting held in Geneva back in February. The summarized remarks were first posted on the ministry's official website in March
Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo to hold ranking diplomats’ talks

Aug 19, 2016

South Korea, China and Japan will hold deputy foreign-ministerial level talks Sunday in Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.The 11th trilateral meeting, the first since March 2015, will be attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Hyoung-zhin and his Chinese and Japanese counterparts Liu Zhenmin and Akiba Takeo. Focal point of the meeting is thought to be making preparations for a gathering of the three country's foreign ministers.The meeting comes amid thorny
Fire breaks out at Japanese consulate in Busan

Aug 18, 2016

A fire broke out on the premises of the Japanese Consulate in the southeast coastal city of Busan on Thursday, blackening a wall, with no other damage reported, police said. (Yonhap)The blaze, which erupted around 6:00 a.m. at a spot that is off-limits to the public and where wooden delivery boxes to the consulate are stored, was put out in seven minutes. (Yonhap)The police are investigating what caused the fire, including the possibility of an arson attack. (Yonhap) (Yonhap)
Talks under way to set date for trilateral foreign ministers' meeting

Aug 17, 2016

Negotiations for a meeting of foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan are under way, but the timetable has yet to be determined, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.A Japanese media report earlier said that the three countries are fine-tuning the timetable for the trilateral meeting, saying that it could take place either Tuesday or Wednesday next week in Tokyo. Speculation spread that the three might not be able to get together within this month as territorial disputes between Bei