A delegation of Sudanese diplomats visited Korea last week to participate in the fifth round of policy consultations with Korean counterparts, where they discussed political relations, trade and investment, development cooperation and international collaboration. Daffalla El Haj Ali, the director general of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ bilateral and regional department, reached an agreement with Korea on exchanging ministerial and high-level visits, enhancing mutual support at inter

Syria is a killing field. The conflict that erupted 5 years ago between the people and President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has left over 250,000 people dead and uprooted 12 million more. To survive what has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, over 5 million children need food, water and shelter before the winter.A delegation from the United Nations Children’s Fund visited Korea last week to secure much-needed support from the government, companies and citizens.  Members of UNICEF and

A delegation of top Pakistani military officials came to Korea last week to gauge the country’s defense capacities and potentially procure weapons and technologies. Pakistani Defense Production Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Lt. Gen. Syed Wajid Hussain and private sector representatives came on the invitation of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. They attended the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2015, and visited the Doosan Defense Systems and Technology facilities in Cha

When the Association of Southeast Asian Nations launches its Economic Community in December, the region will boast a single market of $2.4 trillion and 620 million people. In line with the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity that aims to link its 10 member states physically, institutionally and socially, ASEAN needs over $3.3 trillion investment in infrastructure, transport, energy and information communications technology by 2030.Analysts note that the ambitious scheme presents vast opportunities

With risks and challenges faced by refugees across the world having become one of the greatest global issues today, the status and conditions of asylum seekers in South Korea have also been highlighted. The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles shedding light on refugees in Korea, their hardships, the systematic fallout, the country’s own history and ways to go forward. The following is the third installment. - Ed.From late President Kim Dae-jung to conscientious objectors and North Ko

Scholar says China’s society should be understood based on China’s unique historical experiences

Though Seoul had managed to boost prospects for greater U.S. attention to North Korea through last week’s summit, it highlighted an increasingly convoluted dilemma between its traditional ally and a rising China amid their intensifying rivalry for regional supremacy. The Park Geun-hye administration has been boasting that its bilateral relations with the U.S. and China are at their “best-ever.” After appearing alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a massive military parade in Beijing last month

President Park Geun-hye’s surprising personnel shake-up on Monday was widely seen as a move to reprimand her foreign affairs team for its failed mission to persuade the U.S. to transfer fighter jet technology to Korea.Park named Kim Kyou-hyun, the National Security Council secretariat chief, as her new senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security. Kim replaces Ju Chul-ki, who had reportedly offered to resign to take responsibility for Washington’s refusal to transfer f

German President Joachim Gauck urged Korea last week not to relinquish hope for national unification, providing hindsight based on Germany’s transformative developments since the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago.Gauck arrived in Seoul on Oct. 11 for his first presidential trip to East Asia to mark the 25th anniversary of German reunification. He held meetings with Korean diplomatic, political, business and civil communities during his four-day stay. Elected as the 11th head of state in March

“Apartheid,” a system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to 1994, meant “the state of being apart,” literally “apart-hood” in Afrikaans. Following the creed enforced by the country’s then-governing political group the National Party, apartheid separated the multiethnic state, communities and families of South Africa, gating white privilege while downgrading black and minority rights. The South African embassy, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Association, held a film screen

Miryan Kostadinov, 23, is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter and guitarist with ambitions bigger than life. A popular idol singer in his country, he wants to be a global pop star with songs he composed. Last year, he appeared on national television show “X Factor,” a music contest among aspiring artists similar to “American Idol,” where he had already finished sixth place. Capitalizing on the success, he signed a gentlemen’s agreement with indie-pop label Homeovox Music. Bulgarian singer, songwriter

A German mayoral candidate active in helping refugees was seriously wounded on Saturday in what police described as a stabbing with a “racist, political” motive, heaping further pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel over the migrant crisis.　The German leader expressed her “shock” over the attack in the western city of Cologne which left mayoral hopeful Henriette Reker with serious neck wounds.　The stabbing comes as Merkel prepares to travel to Istanbul on Sunday for talks on the crisis with Turki

The Spanish embassy last Monday marked its national day ― “Fiesta Nacional de Espana” ― within a scope of deepening engagement with Korea over trade, tourism, investment and culture. The holiday, which falls on Oct. 12, celebrates Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Americas in 1492. This year is also the 65th anniversary of established ties between Madrid and Seoul in diplomacy. Spanish Ambassador Gonzalo Ortiz (left) raises his glass with his wife Ana Ortiz and daughter Laura Ortiz at the

President Park Geun-hye returned to Seoul on Sunday from her four-day trip to the U.S. with a set of diplomatic achievements such as obtaining Washington’s stronger commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization and its support for her initiatives for unification and regional peace.President Park Geun-hye shakes hands with Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong after her arrival at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Sunday. (Yonhap)Her trip also helped ease the growing impression that Seo