The Korea Herald

Inter-Korean tension worsens in Q1: survey

Apr 28, 2015

Inter-Korean tension has heightened in the first quarter of the year, but local experts anticipate bilateral relations to improve down the road this year, a survey showed Tuesday. According to the survey of 69 experts by Hyundai Research Institute, the peace index measuring Seoul-Pyongyang relations came to 33.6 for the January-March period, compared with the 44.7 tallied in the fourth quarter of 2014. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating better inter-Korean ties. A
S. Korea seeks more assurance in new U.S.-Japan defense rules

Apr 28, 2015

South Korea urged the United States and Japan Tuesday to assure the security of South Korea in implementing the U.S-Japan defense guidelines, which expand Japan's military role abroad against possible threats from China and North Korea. "The government expects the U.S. and Japan to continue close consultations with South Korea on issues related to the security of the Korean Peninsula and our national interests," Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kwang-il said in a statement. Foreign Ministry spoke
U.S. envoy highlights S. Korean role in TPP

Apr 28, 2015

South Korea's global economic network of free trade deals with many other countries will be a strong selling point for participation in a U.S.-led regional trade pact, known as the Trans Pacific Partnership, the top U.S. envoy to Seoul said Tuesday. "We realize (South) Korea plays a role in the regional economy and has free trade agreements with many countries in the Pacific," Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, said in a Seoul forum. "Korea is already a high standard, high perfo
Abe offers no apology for wartime sexual slavery

Apr 28, 2015

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered no clear apology Monday for Japan's wartime sexual enslavement of Korean and other Asian women, sticking to a previous vague statement on the issue that has stymied Tokyo's relations with Seoul. "When it comes to the comfort women issue, my heart aches when I think about those people who were victimized by human trafficking and who were subject to immeasurable pain and suffering beyond description," Abe said during a visit to Harvard University in Bost
AIIB members hold meeting in Beijing

Apr 27, 2015

Senior government officials from 57 members of the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) began a two-day meeting in Beijing on Monday to discuss the articles of agreement and other pending issues, a diplomatic source said. This week's meeting is aimed at finalizing the articles before holding the final round of preparatory meetings in Singapore next month, the source said on the condition of anonymity. South Korea sent a deputy finance minister as a chief negotiator to the meet
Korea sends rescue team, aid to Nepal

Apr 27, 2015

South Korea said Monday it would dispatch search and rescue staff and medical personnel to Nepal as relief assistance pours into the country, following a massive earthquake that has left thousands dead and others injured. An advance team of 10 members from the 119 rescue squad and four government officials were scheduled to fly to the South Asian nation late Monday evening to inspect the situation and help the ongoing rescue efforts for 10 days, alongside a Foreign Ministry official who departed
Upgraded U.S.-Japan ties pose dilemma for Seoul

Apr 27, 2015

Washington, Tokyo revise bilateral defense cooperation guidelines
S. Korea, U.S. to push for 'meaningful' nuke talks: official

Apr 27, 2015

South Korea and the United States agreed Monday to make efforts to resume the multilateral talks on North Korea's denuclearization, which have been stalled for years due to the North's failure to abide by a past nuclear deal, a Seoul official said. Kim Gunn, director-general for North Korean nuclear affairs of the Foreign Ministry, met with Sydney Seiler, U.S. special envoy for the six-party nuclear talks with North Korea. The two had a "in-depth" discussion on the North Korean nuclear issue, i
Korea to offer $1m in relief aid to Nepal

Apr 26, 2015

South Korea said Sunday it will provide $1 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Nepal, which was hit Saturday by a 7.8-magnitude quake that left more than 1,800 people dead and others injured, including at least three South Koreans.Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said that it is also considering offering other assistance, such as sending an emergency relief team. “Our government would like to extend our deep condolences and solace to the Nepali government and the people regarding the loss of many p
Park wraps up four-nation S. America tour

Apr 26, 2015

SAO PAULO ― President Park Geun-hye wrapped up her four-nation tour of South America over the weekend with a handful of deals aimed to boost trade and economic cooperation.Park’s trip to Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil came as South Korea is pushing to expand economic cooperation with the region hailed by Seoul officials as a continent of opportunities.South Korea has signed a set of memorandums of understanding with the four countries that, among other things, call for closer cooperation in th
New evidence of imperial Japan’s atrocities emerges

Apr 26, 2015

Fresh evidence of Japan’s colonial-era atrocities was revealed by Korean media outlets on Sunday, escalating growing pressure on Tokyo to confront history and sincerely apologize for its past wrongdoing. A document, which was recently found in a Korean-American church in Manhattan, New York, revealed that Japanese police sexually tortured young Korean women after the March 1 independence movement in 1919.“Among the tortures and brutalities dwelt on by writers and especially emphasized by the Ame
Canadian embassy hosts Toronto grads

Apr 26, 2015

Korean graduates of the University of Toronto gathered recently at an alumni reception at the Canadian embassy in Seoul to meet fellow alumni and remember their time at the various campuses in Toronto. The University of Toronto has over 540,000 alumni ― one of the largest and most active in the world. Their academic and professional excellence has contributed to the university’s recognition as Canada’s top higher educational institution. Over 1,000 ethnic Korean students and researchers study at
Korean culture program launched for foreigners

Apr 26, 2015

The Korea Foundation has launched a program that connects foreigners and Koreans through language and culture. Foreigners can take part in activities to experience Korean culture, while Koreans can participate in programs to deepen their global knowledge. Foreigners and Koreans have an opportunity to interact through field trips and language studies, as well as at film, art and music venues offered year-round across Korea. The Koreans and Foreigners Together Program was launched at the Korea Fou
‘Ethiopia’s renaissance follows Korean development’

Apr 26, 2015

Korea has been a paragon of progress for Ethiopia, which has developed rapidly since 2000.The Ethiopian economy grew by over 10 percent annually between 2004 and 2009, slowing to nearly 7 percent since 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund.Some political commentators have called Ethiopia the “African Lion,” a term similar to the “Asian Tiger,” which described Korea during its period of speedy development.Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome visited Korea in mid-April to benchmark Kore
S. Korea, Brazil agree to bolster ties

Apr 25, 2015

President Park Geun-hye and her Brazilian counterpart, Dilma Rousseff, agreed Friday to strengthen their countries' partnership by diversifying cooperation."(South Korea and Brazil) can become ideal partners in expanding cooperation in such high value-added areas as infrastructure, smart grids, renewable energy and health care," Park said in a news conference with Rousseff following their summit in Brasilia. Smart grid technology is designed to increase power system efficiency. President Park Ge