The Korea Herald

Chinese general dismisses South China Sea concerns

Oct 17, 2015

BEIJING (AP) -- A top Chinese general said Saturday that China's newly created islands in the disputed South China Sea are intended mainly to aid shipping and dismissed concerns that Beijing is seeking to strengthen its control over the strategically vital region. General Fan Changlong's remarks came as expectations grow that the U.S. might directly challenge Chinese claims in the South China Sea by sailing a Navy ship inside the 12-nautical mile (21-kilometer) territorial limit surrounding one
Rival parties split over Park-Obama summit results

Oct 17, 2015

South Korea's ruling and opposition parties showed a mixed response Saturday to the outcome of summit talks between President Park Geun-hye and her American counterpart, Barack Obama.At the summit in Washington hours earlier, Park and Obama reaffirmed their willingness to engage North Korea if it moves toward denuclearization.The ruling Saenuri Party noted it was the first adoption of a joint statement exclusively on North Korea between the leaders of the allies."It is a declaration of urgency t
Japan PM offers gift to Tokyo war shrine

Oct 17, 2015

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Saturday made a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine seen by neighbouring countries as a symbol of Tokyo's militarist past.Abe donated a sacred "masakaki" tree bearing his name as prime minister to coincide with the start of the four-day autumn festival at the shrine in central Tokyo, a shrine official said. Visitors look at a "masakaki" tree dedicated by Japanese Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for its autumn f
Korea, U.S. renews alliance to deter NK

Oct 17, 2015

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on Friday adopted a joint statement on North Korea, renewing their strategic alliance to effectively contain its nuclear ambitions and provocations.During a summit held at the White House, the highlight of Park’s four-day trip to Washington, the two leaders also reaffirmed their bilateral partnership and agreed to upgrade their ties for shared economic prosperity and regional peace. Joint efforts, alongside
Park steps closer to meeting Abe

Oct 16, 2015

WASHINGTON ― President Park Geun-hye on her U.S. trip said she deemed it was possible to meet one-on-one with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the occasion of the trilateral summit of South Korea, China and Japan in about two weeks.“I believe the summit can bear substantial meaning if we were to see some progress on pending issues, for instance by soothing the pains of comfort women,” Park said while answering questions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on her third day
TPP would benefit businesses of South Korea, U.S.: Park

Oct 16, 2015

WASHINGTON ― President Park Geun-hye said Thursday that both Korean and U.S. businesses could enjoy benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership if Seoul becomes a part of it.“If South Korea, which established free trade agreements with mega economic blocs like the EU and China, joins the TPP, it could deliver more benefits to companies from both countries,” she said in a speech delivered at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.She was expressing her keen interest in joining the TPP for the f
Park visits Pentagon, hails alliance

Oct 15, 2015

WASHINGTON ― South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s first visit to the Pentagon on Thursday morning underscored her commitment to Seoul’s alliance with the U.S. before she sits down for a summit at the White House.Park’s visit to the military superpower’s core defense organ was seen as a way to show off their bilateral ties and that they remain unshaken by growing concerns over Seoul inclining toward Beijing. President Park Geun-hye and U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter walk down stair at
WFP urges Korea’s continued support in Afghanistan

Oct 15, 2015

The country director of the World Food Program in Afghanistan, Claude Jibidar, visited Korea this week to express appreciation and rally continuing support for humanitarian and food relief programs. During his four-day visit ― from Tuesday to Friday ― Jibidar met officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea International Cooperation Agency and the National Assembly, and updated them on the operational progress.He also attended a photo exhibition titled “Our vision for zero hunger” at th
Park seeks U.S. ties on space industry

Oct 15, 2015

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday visited the Goddard Space Flight Center, a major NASA space research lab in Washington, to seek wider bilateral cooperation in the space industry.The visit, a rare schedule by a foreign leader, was viewed as her attempt to enhance the Korean space technology that still stands far behind other advanced nations. President Park Geun-hye attends a special session demonstrating new satellite-servicing technologies at NASA`s Goddard Space
South Korea, China stand against distortion of history: Chinese ambassador

Oct 14, 2015

South Korea and China won't tolerate any attempts to deny history, Beijing's top envoy to Seoul said Wednesday, in a thinly veiled swipe at Japan. "The people of our two countries will never allow any act that denies and distorts, even beautifies, the history of aggression," Amb. Qiu Guohong said during the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Although he did not mention Japan by name, his remarks were an apparent criticism of the ne
Blue House slams NPAD’s electoral fraud allegations

Oct 14, 2015

WASHINGTON ― Just hours after touching down in Washington for summit talks, a presidential official lambasted an opposition lawmaker Tuesday for alleging fraud in the 2012 presidential election.Chief presidential press secretary Kim Sung-woo, accompanying President Park Geun-hye on her four-day U.S. trip, offered an impromptu briefing to the accompanying media some three hours after arrival.He slammed Rep. Kang Dong-won of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy for suggesting th
On U.S. trip, Park staying at Blair House

Oct 14, 2015

WASHINGTON ― South Korean President Park Geun-hye will stay at the Blair House, a state guest house near the White House in the heart of Washington, during her four-day trip to the U.S., Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.Amid growing interest over how Park will be treated during her “official working visit” ― one level down from a “state visit” ― the presidential office said the South Korean leader was invited to the house, calling it a barometer of how much Washington values having her here. A group
Botswana's president to visit S. Korea next week

Oct 14, 2015

Botswana's President Ian Khama will make a four-day trip to Seoul next week for talks with President Park Geun-hye, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.Khama is set to arrive in Seoul next Wednesday, the first visit by a Botswana president in more than two decades.Park is set to meet with Khama next Friday to discuss ways to boost cooperation in a range of areas, including infrastructure, trade and energy.The presidential office said the southern African country can become an important partner as South K
Park arrives in U.S. for talks with Obama on alliance, N. Korea

Oct 14, 2015

President Park Geun-hye arrived in Washington on Tuesday for talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on how to further boost their countries' bilateral alliance and deal with North Korea's possible provocations. She was greeted by three U.S. officials, including National Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, at a welcoming ceremony at the Andrews Air Force Base before heading to the Blair House, a state guesthouse near the White House.Park is set to hold summit ta
More than 8 in 10 Americans view relations with S. Korea as important: survey

Oct 14, 2015

More than eight in 10 Americans say relations with South Korea are important while American support for the use of U.S. armed forces to defend the Asian ally stands at an all-time high, an opinion poll showed Tuesday.The Chicago Council on Global Affairs released the survey results ahead of South Korean President Park Geun-hye's visit to Washington this week. Park is scheduled to hold talks with President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday."As President Park Geun-hye visits the United Sta