The U.S. government will continue efforts to return stolen artifacts from abroad although the process could be quite arduous, the chief of the Seoul regional office of the primary investigative arm for the U.S. customs authorities said."The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations has a commitment between the United States of America and partnering countries like South Korea to combat the illegal trade in stolen art and antiquities," HSI Attache Seoul Cho Taeku

The new Chinese Ambassador here hosted a reception in Seoul on April 17 to officially introduce himself to some 300 guests, including envoys from the foreign diplomatic community, top government officials and the Chinese expatriate community.Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong also took time to express condolences to the families of the more than 300 killed or missing in the tragic sinking of the Sewol passenger ship that occurred on April 16.Qiu lauded how far South Korean-Chinese bil

Envoys from South American nations extended their support for an exhibition that highlights the art and beauty of their region, as well as the importance of protecting the Amazon rainforest, at Oulim Art Gallery in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.Envoys from Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela attended the opening reception for “Amazon Color,” an exhibition that continues through Aug. 17.Organized by Bellarte, a group established in Seoul in 2004 with the aim of promoting Latin American art to the public

Defense ministers of South Korea, the United States and Japan are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit in Singapore late this month, a Seoul official said Sunday, with expected discussions on cooperation in dealing with the North Korean nuclear program."South Korean, U.S. and Japanese defense ministers have met annually during the Asia Security Summit, and this year is expected to be no exception, considering the North's nuclear provocations,"the official said. "Specific

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Thursday backed Washington’s decision to review the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea, slated for 2015. The bipartisan support for the decision, made at a summit between the two countries’ leaders last month, was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, according to Seoul officials and news reports from Washington. The bill was approved unanimously by the panel and will head to the floor of the House later t

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Wednesday that should Pyongyang press ahead with its fourth nuclear test, it would be a “direct challenge” to China.During a press conference in New York, Yun noted that Beijing has made a flurry of efforts to discourage its wayward ally from conducting another test, which would substantially enhance the North’s nuclear capability.Yun was in New York to lead U.N. activities as South Korea holds a one-month presidency at the U.N. Security Council th

A European business delegation plans to visit North Korea in September to explore business opportunities in the isolated country, a U.S. radio report said.The Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported Tuesday that the delegation is set to travel to the North from Sept. 23 to Sept. 28, citing GPI Consultancy, a consulting company in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, that focuses on North Korea and other developing countries.The delegation is also scheduled to attend a trade fair in Pyongyang and

After U.S. President Barack Obama publicly sided with Japan over a territorial dispute between Tokyo and Beijing last Thursday, questions have arisen about his stance on the long-simmering spat between Seoul and Tokyo over Dokdo.Seoul wants Washington to clarify that the allies’ mutual defense treaty applies to its easternmost islets. But experts say that the idea of the U.S. taking the side of either of its core allies regarding Dokdo is out of the question.“It is much easier for the U.S. to ta

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman agreed in talks in Seoul to work together to increase substantial cooperation in all areas, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.The two sides also agreed to resume long-suspended senior-level policy consultation talks this year and seek ways to strengthen cooperation in information and communications technology and other high value-added industries, the ministry said.    Yun asked Anifah for Malaysia's support f