The South Korean government Friday vowed to work towards improving relations with China in light of escalating concerns of fraying relations on political, economic and cultural fronts due to an advanced missile defense system deployment here. They also denied news reports that China was possibly taking “retaliatory actions.”“The government is keeping a keen eye on the Chinese media’s reaction and various measures carried out (by the Chinese government). We (the government) will work toward resol

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday stressed the importance of handling historical issues in a way that "promotes healing and reconciliation" after Japan's new defense minister refused to rule out the possibility of paying respect at a Tokyo shrine honoring war criminals.Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said in her first press conference that whether to visit the Yasukuni Shrine is a "matter of the heart," leaving open the possibility of visiting the controversial shrine honoring Japan'

A Chinese visa agency that handled South Korean business travelers was stripped of its business license, a move that could be seen as a retaliatory measure undertaken by Beijing after South Korea's decision to deploy an advanced United States missile defense system on its soil, a local source here said Wednesday. The source said the closed agency handled Chinese letters of invitation for South Koreans, which is a key piece of paperwork needed to get multiple entry visas for business trips and cu

President Park Geun-hye's planned visit to Russia aims to address tensions between Seoul and Moscow over the decision to deploy an advanced U.S. antimissile system to South Korea and further bolster economic ties, analysts here said Wednesday.Park will fly to Vladivostok on Sept. 2 for a two-day visit during which she will attend an annual economic forum on the development of the Russian Far East and hold a summit with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.Her tri

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday denounced the U.S. free trade pact with South Korea as a "disaster" and a "job killing" deal, reinforcing concern about possible negative effects his election could have on the landmark agreement.Trump made the remark during a campaign stop in Ashburn, Virginia, blaming free trade deals for job losses and other U.S. economic woes, and accusing his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, of backing such agreements."So listen, since 2000 the

South Korea will send its first contingent of officials to Rio de Janeiro to help run a temporary consulate office that will be tasked with providing better protection for its citizens and athletes, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.The team consisting of ministry officials and a doctor will leave for the Brazilian city later in the day, according to the ministry.They are an advance team that will help run a temporary consulate office which will operate around the clock from Thursday until Aug.

At around 10 p.m. on Friday, July 15, members of a sleeper cell belonging to a fringe terror cult tried to stage a coup in Turkey, attempting to depose the democratically elected government. This coup was staged by a clique inside the Turkish Armed Forces linked with the Fethullah Gulen terrorist organization. The rogue officers went on to fire at police stations with fighter jets, killing dozens of police officers tasked with protecting the people. The F-16 fighter jets hijacked by members of t

South Korea and Japan will hold a meeting next month to discuss follow-up measures related to a foundation launched to help Korean women sexually abused by Japan during its colonial rule of the peninsula in the first half of the 20th century, government sources said Friday.The meeting is likely to be held in the second week of August, and it will mark the first time for both sides to get together after the foundation kicked off work on Thursday in Seoul.   The Reconciliation and Healing Foundati