The Korea Herald

Korea slams Japan's renewed claim to Dokdo

Aug 5, 2014

South Korea denounced Japan's repeated claim to Seoul's easternmost islets of Dokdo on Tuesday, calling it an "unjustifiable" move that would not help improve already chilled bilateral relations.Seoul's criticism came as Japan's Cabinet approved Tokyo's defense white paper for 2014 earlier in the day, in which Japan laid claim to the East Sea islets. Japan has asserted its claim to Dokdo in its defense report for the past 10 years.The Dokdo islets, which lie closer to South Korea than Japan in w
White House officials meet with Korean victims of Japan's sexual slavery

Aug 5, 2014

Officials of the White House and the State Department have met secretly with two elderly Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual enslavement of women, sources said Tuesday, an unprecedented move that suggests Washington's policy on the issue may change.The two -- Lee Ock-sun, 87, and Kang Il-chul, 86 -- met with White House officials last Tuesday before holding a meeting with State Department officials the following day, the sources said. It was the first time that White House and State Departm
State Department calls for Senate confirmation of Mark Lippert as ambassador to Seoul

Aug 5, 2014

Mark Lippert, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea, has excellent qualifications to take up the job and would well serve both nations if the Senate confirms his nomination, the State Department said Monday.Lippert, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, was nominated in early May to replace Sung Kim as the top U.S. envoy to Seoul. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for him on June 18 and approved the nomination on June 24.But his appointment ha
[Herald Interview] U.N. agency warns of weakened climate policy

Aug 3, 2014

This is the last installment in an 11-part series of interviews with chiefs of United Nations offices in Korea. ― Ed.Amid concerns over its dwindling commitment to climate initiatives, South Korea should muster the political will to follow through on its international pledges to curb emissions and the green growth initiative, the chief of the U.N. Office for Sustainable Development said.Seoul has taken credit for promoting “green growth” as a global agenda. In 2009, the country vowed a voluntari
[Weekender] China’s rising clout in Korea

Aug 1, 2014

Historical, cultural bonds undergird intensifying economic, diplomatic ties
[Weekender] Uncertainties linger over future Korea-China relations

Aug 1, 2014

Sino-U.S. rivalry, North Korea’s nuclear ambition cast cloud over ties
[Weekender] Bound by history, cultural, social ties evolve

Aug 1, 2014

Stretching back two millennia, the two countries’ deeply interwoven cultural and social relations have evolved from a geohistorical, Confucianism-based bond into a mutually beneficial partnership. Though China remains a leading player in Asia’s cultural industry, region, Korea’s soft power has grown sharply in recent years thanks to the high popularity of its pop music and dramas. The influence of the world’s second-largest economy in Korea’s industry and society has prompted soaring numbers of
S. Korea, New Zealand to hold 8th round of FTA talks next week

Aug 1, 2014

South Korea and New Zealand will hold a fresh round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in Seoul next week, the South Korean government said Friday, vowing to make "progress" in the talks that began more than five years ago."At the upcoming round of negotiations, the two sides will work to make actual progress by narrowing their differences in the area of market liberalization for products and by resolving other remaining issues, such as the country of origin, customs and
S. Korea imposes travel ban on violence-ravaged Libya

Jul 30, 2014

South Korea on Wednesday imposed a travel ban on Libya again as spiraling violence in the African country has raised security concerns.Seoul's foreign ministry said it decided to raise its travel alert for Libya by one notch to the highest level, citing grave concerns for security in the country. The move will be effective for six months.Since mid-July, South Korea, which has a four-tier travel advisory system, has strongly recommended that local companies withdraw their staff or reduce the numb
Prosecutors continue probe into ferry owner's driver

Jul 30, 2014

Prosecutors continued their investigation Wednesday into the driver of the sunken ferry Sewol's owner over suspicions of helping his employer evade a massive manhunt.Yang Hoe-jeong, 55, the chauffeur of Yoo Byung-eun, turned himself in to the prosecution a day earlier. The surrender came a week after Yoo, a billionaire who owned the Sewol ferry, was confirmed dead.The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office said Yang underwent questioning for the second day mainly over whether he provided a hiding
U.S. House passes tougher sanctions bill on N. Korea

Jul 29, 2014

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill calling for strengthening financial sanctions on North Korea and holding officials of the totalitarian nation accountable for human rights abuses.The legislation -- H.R. 1771 or the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act -- was unanimously approved in a plenary session of the House, Congressional officials said. The bill, introduced last year by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House foreign relations committee, won appr
[Newsmaker] Evidence hints Japan hid Joseon books

Jul 29, 2014

Circumstantial evidence has surfaced that Japan had concealed lists of crucial Korean cultural assets that it smuggled out of the peninsula during the 1910-45 colonial period, when the two countries were engaged in negotiations over their return to Korea in the 1950s-60s. The bilateral talks over the stolen items proceeded as the two countries engaged in negotiations over the normalization of their relationship, which concluded in 1965.According to a recent ruling by an appeals court in Tokyo, t
Africa looks to take page from Saemaul movement

Jul 29, 2014

Nineteen officials from six African countries pledged to spur rural reform and boost their local economies by taking a page from Korea’s development book at a seminar hosted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency on Tuesday. The state grant aid agency has been running the two-week session for officials from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda who are in charge of the Millennium Villages Project, which aims to help rural African communities shake off poverty. Kim Young-m
Korea to boost ties with Mekong nations

Jul 29, 2014

South Korea reached agreement with Thailand and four other Mekong region countries Tuesday to further their diplomatic and economic cooperation, Seoul‘s foreign ministry said.The foreign ministers of South Korea and the five countries met in Seoul to adopt a three-year action plan that calls for expanding cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, green growth, and information and communications technology, according to the ministry.It was the fourth meeting of the top diplomats from South Kor
S. Korea weighs travel ban on violence-ravaged Libya

Jul 29, 2014

South Korea is considering imposing a travel ban on Libya again as spiraling violence in the African country has raised security concerns, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.Seoul's foreign ministry said it plans to hold a meeting as early as Wednesday to decide whether to raise its travel alert for Libya by one notch to the highest level.Since mid-July, South Korea, which has a four-tier travel advisory system, has strongly recommended that local companies withdraw their staffs or reduce the num