The Korea Herald

Embassies condemn N.K. test

Jan 10, 2016

Various diplomatic missions in Korea issued statements denouncing North Korea’s fourth nuclear test last Wednesday, indicating their resolve to step up sanctions. Borrowing the U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond’s words, the British Embassy stated: “The nuclear detonation underlines the very real threat that North Korea represents to regional and international security, and is a grave breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions.”“We will be working with other UNSC members to ensure the intern
How to make unification from N.K.’s collapse

Jan 10, 2016

With Pyongyang escalating its nuclear brinksmanship, support for consensual unification between South Korea and North Korea is losing ground, while the belief in absorption is gaining traction. Approaches to the nationally cherished goal have been dichotomized between the country’s liberals and conservatives, with the former advocating cooperation and engagement with the North and the latter backing high-handed diplomatic and military actions. While most experts have preferred gradual unificatio
‘Pyongyang to clutch nuclear weapons, embrace markets’

Jan 10, 2016

North Korea’s impetuous testing of its nuclear arsenal last Wednesday was a sign of a desperately isolated regime that calculates survival ahead of all other factors, experts noted. Known as the “byungjin line,” the dual-track policy aims to bolster deterrence against outside attack while simultaneously developing the economy. Adopted in the early 1960s, the strategy has effectively buffered the sustainability of the regime. The fourth nuclear detonation in North Hamgyeong Province, purported to
‘Ethiopia, the African lion of development’

Jan 10, 2016

Ethiopia is a country with a long history and diverse cultures. We are the oldest independent nation in the world with deep roots in our ancient civilizations. As Africa’s second-most populous country with 90 million people, Ethiopia is becoming a continental hub with capital Addis Ababa housing the African Union. Our government is a federal republic founded in August 1995, following a transitional government that ended 17 years of Marxist dictatorship of the Derg (the Coordinating Committee of
Park, Obama agree to closely work together to adopt strong U.N. sanctions against North

Jan 7, 2016

South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.S. counterpart Barack Obama agreed to work closely together to adopt strong U.N. sanctions against North Korea’s latest nuclear provocation in their telephone conversation Thursday morning, Cheong Wa Dae said.The two leaders shared the gravity of Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test and the need for stern countermeasures in the phone call that was made at 09:55 a.m. and lasted for about 20 minutes, the presidential office said.Obama reportedly said the North
Park, Obama talk over N.K. nuke test

Jan 7, 2016

South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.S. counterpart Barack Obama spoke over the phone about North Korea’s latest nuclear provocation for about 20 minutes Thursday morning, Cheong Wa Dae said.The two leaders shared the gravity of Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test and the need for stern countermeasures in the phone call that was made at 09:55 a.m., sources said. President Park Geun-hye at the meeting of the National Security Council in Seoul on Wednesday. YonhapA day before, defense ministers
Yun, Kerry condemn North Korea's nuclear test as unacceptable

Jan 7, 2016

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed that the North's fourth nuclear test is an unacceptable challenge to the international community, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Thursday.The two top diplomats spoke by phone to discuss responses to the North's claims of an successful H-bomb test, denouncing the detonation as a threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and around the world, the ministry said in a statement.They also agreed to respo
U.S. assures 'ironclad' commitment to defending Korea

Jan 7, 2016

U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter assured South Korea of his country's "ironclad" commitment to defending South Korea from North Korea's nuclear threats, the South Korean defense minister said Thursday following the communist country's nuclear test a day earlier."Secretary Carter reaffirmed the U.S.' ironclad defense commitment to South Korea, and this includes all kinds of extended deterrence assets," Defense Minister Han Min-koo said in a joint press release with Carter.The two defense chie
[Reporter's Column] Abe’s diplomatic coup

Jan 6, 2016

After 24 years of relentless squabbling, Seoul has managed to pull off a compromise to put an end to the issue of Japan’s sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II ― with perhaps the most unlikely leadership of hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But the ongoing furor is showing little sign of abating, chiefly over Seoul’s failure to consult with the aging victims before last week’s surprise announcement. A string of protests have since begun in the capital and are poised to spill ov
FM Yun meets U.S. ambassador, USFK commander over N.K. test

Jan 6, 2016

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met with the U.S. ambassador to Seoul and the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test.Amb. Mark Lippert and USFK commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti arrived at the Foreign Ministry building for talks with Yun hours after the North announced the test had taken place earlier in the day.It is the North's fourth nuclear test following those in 2006, 2009 and 2013.Yun, who attended an emergency secu
Kerry mourns passing of former Amb. Bosworth

Jan 6, 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday mourned the death of former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Stephen Bosworth, calling him "a legend" and "one of our nation's most capable and admired diplomats."Bosworth, a career diplomat who also served as special representative for North Korea policy and ambassador to the Philippines and Tunisia, died at his home in Boston on Sunday after suffering from prostate cancer. "From his tireless efforts as special representative for North Korea policy to
Obama urged Japan to resolve sexual slavery issue: aide

Jan 6, 2016

U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Japan to take steps to resolve tensions with South Korea over its wartime sexual slavery, a senior aide was quoted as saying in the wake of last week's landmark deal between Seoul and Tokyo to resolve the dispute."He has encouraged Japan to take steps to address the legitimate grievances of the comfort women and the Korean people.And he has urged Japan to be mindful of the legacy of history and to take steps to address that legacy," Deputy National Security
U.S. seminar on Japan's wartime sexual slavery to feature controversial scholar

Jan 6, 2016

The U.S. think tank Wilson Center plans to host a discussion about Japan's wartime sexual slavery next week that will feature a South Korean scholar accused of defaming victims of the atrocity.The Jan. 11 event is aimed at discussing how to address issues of historical contention, and what role the United States could play to ensure that historical reconciliation between South Korea and Japan continues to move forward, the Wilson Center said. Participants in the event will include Park Yu-ha, a
Lippert sends out New Year's cards to officials

Jan 6, 2016

Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, sent out New Year's cards to the country's political and governmental officials, sources said Tuesday, which came with a family photo including his son, who was born in Seoul.The card, which had New Year's messages in English and Korean, were sent to local officials. It included a photo of his son, who was born last year.Lippert gave his son the Korean middle name of Sejun, literally meaning "clean and excellent." The move was seen by many as his
Opposition calls for renegotiation of sex slavery deal

Jan 5, 2016

The main opposition party on Tuesday called on the Seoul government to renegotiate last month’s agreement with Tokyo to settle Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women and apologize to victims for the “unilateral” deal.Four senior lawmakers of the Minjoo Party of Korea including its floor leader Rep. Lee Jong-kul made the demands during their hour-long talks with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at his office in Seoul.The lawmakers also said that Seoul should not accept Tokyo’s contributi