The Korea Herald

Azerbaijan remembers ‘Black January’ massacre

Jan 24, 2016

The Azerbaijani Embassy held a memorial last week to commemorate the massacre that eventually sparked the country’s independence from the Soviet Union.Known as Black January, the event annually marks the martyrdom of 137 Azeri citizens, who were killed by Soviet troops from Jan. 20-21, 1990. Armed with rifles and tanks, some 26,000 soldiers stormed the capital Baku to murder, torture and imprison demonstrators who demanded national freedom.The bloody crackdown, enforced under a martial law decre
FM Yun, Kerry reaffirm strong response to N. Korea's nuke test

Jan 24, 2016

SEOUL (Yonhap) – South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday discussed "specific ways" to enact a strong punishment against North Korea for its recent nuclear test, Yun's ministry said.They spoke on the phone for about 20 minutes, as Kerry plans to visit Beijing later this week.Yun and Kerry "discussed specific ways to push for the strongest and most comprehensive sanctions on North Korea at the U.N. Security Council" to make it pay a price for the
Korea urges Japan to resolve history issues for regional cooperation

Jan 24, 2016

South Korea has urged Japan to work toward resolving historical disputes to further regional cooperation in Asia, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan of the ruling Saenuri Party, a special envoy of President Park Geun-hye, made the remarks at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos that ran through Saturday. Choi said the historical disputes with Japan must be resolved to establish the economic cooperation system of East Asian countries.Choi also called for gl
Korea denounces Japan for Dokdo claim

Jan 22, 2016

South Korea called on Japan Friday to drop its reckless claim to sovereignty over a pair of rocky islets in the East Sea.It was responding to a Tokyo speech by Japan's top diplomat Fumio Kishida. He reiterated that Dokdo belong to Japan and said his government will deliver the position constantly.In a statement, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said it can't help deploring Kishida's repeat of such an "unfair claim.""(We) urge the Japanese government to immediately abandon its reckless claim to Dokdo, wh
Abe says South Korea, Japan share 'strategic interests'

Jan 22, 2016

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described South Korea on Friday as his country's "most important neighbor that shares strategic interests," an expression reflecting the mood of improved bilateral ties.In his annual policy speech in parliament, Abe pointed out that Seoul and Tokyo have put an end to a longstanding source of conflict with a deal on the "comfort women" issue late last month.Under the agreement, Japan admitted that it's responsible for the sexual enslavement of many Korean women
Chinese fishing boats' requests for access to Korea's EEZ dips in 2016

Jan 22, 2016

Chinese fishing boats requesting access to operate in South Korea's exclusive economic zone has dipped in 2016, the government said Friday.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the number of boats that applied for permits stood at 1,502, down 4 percent from 1,564 in 2015.The fishing quota given to these boats also decreased 9 percent to 54,603 tons, from 59,996 tons in the previous year.All ships that want to fish in South Korea's EEZ must get prior permits that they must show to fishery pat
U.N. chief meets with President Park's special envoy

Jan 22, 2016

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with a special envoy of South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Switzerland and discussed ways to increase cooperation between the two sides, Ban's office said Thursday.The meeting with Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the ski resort of Davos and the two sides discussed global issues as well as bilateral cooperation, the office said in a statement.Ban expressed his appreciation for South Korea's support in adva
Ministry says no illicit act by foreign envoys over law firm rules

Jan 19, 2016

South Korea's Foreign Ministry defended foreign envoys here Tuesday from criticism that they are illegitimately seeking to pressure the country's parliament over a bill on law firms.A day earlier, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert met with Rep. Lee Sang-min, head of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee, and delivered a protest statement against the revision bill on the opening of South Korea's legal market.It was also signed by British Amb. Charles Hay, EU Amb. Gerhard
Korea hits back after Abe denies forced nature of sex slavery

Jan 19, 2016

South Korea made clear Tuesday that Korean women were forced against their will to provide sexual services for Japanese soldiers during World War II, rebutting contrary claims by the Japanese prime minister.South Korea and Japan reached a landmark deal last month to resolve the issue of the so-called comfort women through an apology from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and payment of Japanese state-funded reparations to the South Korean victims.Amid controversy over the agreement, Abe told a
Taiwan's new leader wants closer ties with Korea

Jan 19, 2016

Taiwan's President-elect Tsai Ing-wen voiced optimism Tuesday about future relations with South Korea, saying the two sides now have one more thing in common: first-ever female leaders.It's historically meaningful that both countries, which already share democratic values and development experiences, have embraced female presidents, she said.Tsai, an independence-leaning opposition leader, won the Taiwanese presidential polls over the weekend."I cherish the common experiences of South Korea and
China denies reports that it banned JYP singers over flag

Jan 18, 2016

China's culture ministry on Monday denied some South Korean media reports that it has banned singers under JYP Entertainment from performing in mainland China in the wake of a flag row involving a 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop singer. JYP Entertainment is the South Korean management agency for the singer, Chou Tzu-yu, who waved Taiwan's national flag on a South Korean entertainment TV program in November. The image of Chou, who performs under the name Tzuyu as a member of South Korean girl band TW
95-year-old being tried in Germany on Auschwitz allegations

Jan 18, 2016

BERLIN (AP) -- A German court says a 95-year-old man will go on trial next month on 3,681 counts of accessory to murder for allegedly serving in the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp.Hubert Zafke is accused of working as a medic in Auschwitz in an SS hospital. Prosecutors argue that in that role, the former SS sergeant helped the death camp function.An appeals court in December ruled he was fit for trial, though the Neubrandenburg state court said Monday that when his trial opens Feb. 29, judges will
Ukraine marks Orthodox New Year

Jan 17, 2016

The Ukrainian Embassy brought in the new year with a celebration that featured the country’s traditional dress, songs and food. The Orthodox New Year’s Day, observed on the first day of the Julian calendar, is an informal holiday commemorated in Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Greece. People reflect on the previous year’s achievements and pray for meaningful resolutions in the coming months, according to embassy second secretary Yulia Savelieva. Ukrainians celebr
Ambassadors discuss globalizing Korean culture

Jan 17, 2016

At the Corea Image Communications Institute’s annual award ceremony last week, which honored individuals who have popularized Korean culture worldwide, over 60 foreign ambassadors and diplomats engaged in an evening of cultural diplomacy. CICI president and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies professor Choi Jung-wha, in her opening speech, attributed the success of hallyu, or Korean Wave, to “thousands of years of condensed artistry that has ruptured onto the modern world stage.” “It didn’t hap
‘China-Korea-Japan FTA to flesh out cooperation in Asia’

Jan 17, 2016

The prospective trilateral free trade agreement between China, Korea and Japan would open a new chapter of cooperation and prosperity in Northeast Asia, anchoring the three economies at the center of the world’s wealth value chain, a top economist argued. The ambitious trade and investment accord, endorsed during the sixth trilateral summit on Nov. 1 in Seoul ― involving Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo ― aimed for a “comprehensive