The Korea Herald

Korea ends Afghan mission

Jun 24, 2014

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan ― A sense of pride and accomplishment took hold and gestures of gratitude were traded as Korea marked the official closure of its regional reconstruction task in Afghanistan on Monday. Some 200 government and military officials of Korea, Afghanistan and NATO’s U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force took part in a ceremony at the Bagram Airfield to commemorate four years of work by the Korean Provincial Reconstruction Team in the central province of Parwan a
[Newsmaker] Korean troops bid adieu to Afghanistan

Jun 24, 2014

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan ― Full of vigor yet penniless, Faisal Safi appeared doomed to live a life without a future when he joined a Korean vocational training center in his home province of Parwan in 2010 at age 20. One year of electrician training there “completely changed” his life, he said, enabling him to not only support his family but also open up opportunities. Now at 24, the soft-spoken man nurtures pupils at the academy located in the largest U.S. military base Afghanistan. “I real
Seoul protests Kono statement review

Jun 23, 2014

The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned the Japanese ambassador as the first step in its response to Japan’s review of the 1993 Kono Statement. As part of its multifaceted response to Japan’s review, which Korea sees as an attempt at undermining its significance, Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koro Bessho was summoned to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry on Monday. Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koro Bessho“Only the Abe administration’s credibility and international reputation will be damag
(Photo News) Ukraine peace efforts

Jun 23, 2014

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin lays flowers during a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany in 1941 near memorials by the Kremlin walls in Moscow on Sunday. He publicly expressed support for Ukraine’s declaration of a cease-fire in its battle against pro-Russian separatists and called on both sides to negotiate a compromise. (AP-Yonhap)
China urges wider perspective to resume N. Korea nuke talks

Jun 22, 2014

BEIJING (Yonhap) ― Nations involved in the long-stalled multilateral talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons program must bear in mind a “larger picture” for its resumption, China’s top diplomat said Saturday, as diplomatic efforts to bring new life into the talks have made little headway. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, whose rank is higher than the country’s foreign minister, also vowed to spare no efforts to resume the six-party talks ahead of an upcoming state visit by Chine
Sex slavery victims angry over Japan’s 1993 apology review

Jun 22, 2014

A Seoul civic group representing Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II slammed the Japanese government Saturday for its attempt to undermine the credibility of its 1993 apology, adding the move is clearly a “regression of history.”“(Japan) has undermined (the Kono statement) by saying that it was written upon the request from the South Korean government,” the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery said.“The move is a provocation against the gl
[Herald Interview] UNDP eyes Korea’s expertise in environment, fighting corruption

Jun 22, 2014

This is the ninth installment in a series of interviews with chiefs of United Nations offices in Korea. ― Ed.The U.N. Development Program is looking to deepen its partnership with Korea to help others in need by harnessing the country’s green technologies and know-how in tackling corruption, chief of its Seoul office said. As the Seoul Policy Center is crafting its new three-year work plan, the two areas have emerged as potential catalysts for development in which the UNDP and Korea can join for
Oman guest of honor at 2014 Seoul International Book Fair

Jun 22, 2014

Oman was the guest of honor at this year’s Seoul International Book Fair at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul from June 18-22.A number of receptions and performances were organized last week, including an Omani Pavilion at the book fair. Designed to resemble a medieval Omani castle, the pavilion had subsections for cultural, literary, economic and tourist publications. Visitors got to see traditional Omani outfits and jewelry and have henna ink designs drawn on them by professionals.
ECCK offers ‘foosies’ chance at World Cup glory

Jun 22, 2014

European chamber to host foosball tournament at British Embassy
Trade pitch sign of Korean-Caribbean interest

Jun 22, 2014

Dominican Republic minister says nation good starting place for boosting Caribbean ties
ASEAN-Korea Center starts lecture series

Jun 22, 2014

This year’s ASEAN-Korea Center Southeast Asian Lecture Series starts at ASEAN Hall of the ASEAN-Korea Center on the 8th floor of the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul June 26. Co-organized with the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies at Busan University of Foreign Studies, the subject on the first week of the five-week program is titled, “The ASEAN Community and Acculturation in Southeast Asia” and will be delivered in Korean by professor professor Park Sa-myung.The lectures are free and op
S. Korea, Turkmenistan agree on flagship economic projects

Jun 20, 2014

ASHGABAT (Yonhap) – South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov agreed Friday on a pair of flagship economic projects expected to propel bilateral relations forward.The joint projects are for the construction of a $2 billion gas-chemical plant in the Seydi District of Lebap Province in northeastern Turkmenistan, and a refinery of natural gas to liquid fuels such as kerosene and diesel, officials said. The gas-to-liquids project is worth $3 billion.O
Japan's review of 1993 apology dampens ties

Jun 20, 2014

Relations between Korea and Japan are plunging further after the Shinzo Abe administration on Friday unveiled a report undercutting its watershed 1993 apology for its mobilization of Korean women to frontline brothels in World War II. A five-member panel consisting of legal, women’s rights and media experts has been “reexamining the background” of the Kono Statement since late February, headed by former Prosecutor-General Keiichi Tadaki.Seoul’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret” that Tokyo
Number of refugees in Korea rises 12 percent

Jun 20, 2014

The number of refugees in Korea sharply climbed to 547 last year in line with Seoul’s efforts to support asylum seekers from around the world, a report showed Friday. The figure marks a 12.3 percent yearly increase and a whopping 22-fold growth from 10 years ago, according to an annual Global Trend Report by the U.N. High Commission for Refugees. Seoul began taking asylum claims in 1994. It enacted Asia’s first standalone refugee act in July 2013, which governs the application for refugee status
Abe must not undercut 1993 apology on wartime sex slavery: China

Jun 20, 2014

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be further alienated from his neighbors if Tokyo undermines the credibility of its 1993 apology over wartime sexual enslavement of women during World War II, China's state-run media warned Friday. The China Daily made the comments in its editorial hours before the Japanese government was set to announce the results of its "review" on the 1993 statement issued by then-Japanese cabinet secretary Yohei Kono that acknowledged its forced recruitment of women in