The Korea Herald

Freedom of navigation should be guaranteed in disputed South China Sea: Korean defense minister

Nov 4, 2015

Freedom of navigation and flight should be guaranteed in the disputed South China Sea, South Korea's Defense Minister Han Min-koo said in a regional security forum held on Wednesday in Malaysia where defense chiefs from the U.S. and China and Asian countries gathered together.Speaking to the general session of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Han said "The stance of the Republic of Korea is that a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute and the freedom of navigat
Korea, France agree to upgrade ties on economy, culture

Nov 4, 2015

The leaders of South Korea and France on Wednesday agreed to upgrade their bilateral ties in politics, security and economy, adopting a set of specified action plans for strengthening comprehensive partnership.Celebrating the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between two countries this year, Presidents Park Geun-hye and Francois Hollande vowed upon their summit talks at Cheong Wa Dae to intensify bilateral consultations on defense and foreign policies, and diversify economic cooperative model
Seoul takes pragmatic tack in diplomacy

Nov 4, 2015

From joining China-led financial and infrastructure initiatives to shunning the U.S-led economic sanctions against Russia, South Korea is taking an increasingly pragmatic foreign policy approach, all the while triggering concerns over the potential impact on its alliance with the U.S.President Park Geun-hye and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pose for a photo before their talks at Cheong Wa Dae last week. (Yonhap)Analysts say that South Korea has secured more “autonomy” in its foreign policy decision
Turkey marks republican anniversary

Nov 3, 2015

At its 92nd republic anniversary last week, Turkey drew on inspirations from the past to confront present and future challenges.The holiday, which falls on Oct. 29, marks the birth of a democratic, secular and constitutional Republic of Turkey, following the victorious war of independence (1919-23) that repelled the Allies of World War I. “The Republic of Turkey is a source of hope for not only its own citizens, but all the victims, oppressed, kin and brother communities in our region and the wo
China reassesses value of N.K. as strategic leverage

Nov 3, 2015

Professor calls China-N.K. ties intricate mixture of love and hatred
S. Korea to hold summit with Iceland

Nov 2, 2015

South Korea plans to hold a summit with Iceland next week, the presidential office said Monday, where the two leaders will discuss ways to forge deeper ties on global issues such as climate change. Under the plan, South Korean President Park Geun-hye will meet Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson on Nov. 9, and share ideas on expanding practical ties regarding the Arctic projects. Iceland is a member of the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental gathering that handles Arctic-related issu
S. Korea mulls travel ban on some Filipino areas

Nov 2, 2015

South Korea is considering imposing a travel ban on some crime-prone Filipino regions, an official here said Monday after a South Korean national was found dead while in captivity by Muslim militants in the Southeast Asian country. The man in his 70s, identified only by his surname Hong, was kidnapped in January in the southern region of Zamboanga in Mindanao Island. His body was found over the weekend and transfered immediately to his family. Local police said Hong seemed to have died due to
Park, Abe break impasse in bilateral ties: experts

Nov 2, 2015

Experts on South Korea-Japan ties welcomed the results of Monday's summit between President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying the meeting paved the way for better bilateral relations even without producing concrete outcomes. Park and Abe held their first bilateral talks in Seoul on the sidelines of a trilateral summit with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.The format was intended to keep the first South Korea-Japan summit in three and a half years as low-key and practical a
China’s proposal for EEZ talks sparks Ieodo concerns

Nov 2, 2015

China urged an early resumption of official maritime demarcation talks with South Korea during a summit in Seoul on Friday, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said Monday, sparking concerns that the talks could rekindle the dispute over Ieodo, a rock in the East China Sea. President Park Geun-hye and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pose for a photo before their talks at Cheong Wa Dae last week. (Yonhap)The ministry revealed its proposal in a press release on its website. Seoul did not mention the proposal in
Cautious hopes raised for Japan ties

Nov 2, 2015

Seoul urged to employ smarter diplomacy
Park, Abe spur sex slavery talks

Nov 2, 2015

The leaders of South Korea and Japan on Monday agreed to accelerate the ongoing negotiations on wartime sexual slavery for an early breakthrough, thawing years of frozen ties in their first-ever summit, but leaving most of the details unresolved.Sitting down for a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered officials to speed up the consultation process for an early finalization without setting a specified deadline.President Park
Norway showcases sustainable Arctic solutions in exhibition

Nov 1, 2015

Those enchanted by the Northern Lights, icy deserts, polar bears, sea voyages or research exploration in the Arctic will have an opportunity to satiate their curiosity at an exhibition in Seoul that runs until Nov. 12. “Explore the Arctic ― Past, Present and Future” at the Korea Foundation Gallery is a collaboration between the Norwegian Embassy, the Fram Museum, the Korea Polar Research Institute and Korea Foundation.The venue displays posters and videos with detailed descriptions of the landsc
Irish peace process offers alternative path to unification

Nov 1, 2015

As a result of united efforts to follow through the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the island of Ireland, by and large, is a separated country at peace now. The agreement ended an ethnoreligious conflict of over 750 years, which had intensified from the late 1960s fueled by Irish independence causes. Violence has withered substantially, after more than 3,000 people were killed along the way. The paramilitary Irish Republican Army was disbanded and transformed into a political party, and cooperat
Polish activist awarded for N.K. human rights

Nov 1, 2015

The Polish Embassy on Thursday awarded two individuals for their contributions to promoting Poland in Korea. The deputy director of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, Joanna Hosaniak, was given the “Bene Merito” honor from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and composer Ryu Jea-joon received the “Gloria Artis” badge from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Ryu is a graduate of the Academy of Music in Krakow, where he studied under the Polish composer Krzy
Regional powers sidestep history, choose 'practical' summit

Nov 1, 2015

The leaders of South Korea, Japan and China failed to produce a dramatic deal Sunday on history or territorial disputes, focusing more on sending a signal that they want to work together on economy and regional security.In their first summit in more than three years, the Northeast Asian powers made the practical choice of keeping the hard-won momentum rather than breaking the mood."We agreed to hold the trilateral summit on a regular basis," President Park Geun-hye told reporters after meeting w