The foreign ministers of South Korea and the U.S. on Wednesday agreed to intensify policy coordination to better cope with the growing uncertainty in North Korea in the aftermath of the execution of its leader’s uncle. During their talks in Washington, Yun Byung-se and John Kerry concurred on the need for more systematic and frequent discussions at various levels focusing on North Korea conditions, which would progress to involve China and other neighbors later on. “We decided to intensify our c

South Korea has ordered companies to suspend tear gas exports to Bahrain amid pressure from human rights groups, officials said Wednesday.The state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration instructed two companies not to ship tear gas to the Gulf state after they inquired about possible exports, agency officials said.The two companies exported tear gas to Bahrain in 2011 and 2012, the officials said. Exports of tear gas need government approval because a key ingredient is listed as a strat

South Korea and the United States began their ninth round of talks on Tuesday on whether to allow Seoul to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, the foreign ministry here said.The parties, represented by Ambassador Park Ro-byug and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman, will try to reach a deal to rewrite a civilian nuclear cooperation accord over the course of two days in South Korea’s central city of Daejeon.The 1974 treaty had been due to expire this March but was ext

The U.S. Army will deploy a mechanized infantry battalion made up of advanced battle tanks to South Korea to bolster defense on the peninsula as part of a rotational force, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday.The battalion armed with M1A2 battle tanks and M2A3 armored infantry fighting vehicles will depart their base on Thursday to join the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division stationed in South Korea, military officials said. About 800 American service members will serve in North Gyeonggi Provin

China brushed aside on offer Monday by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to meet the leaders of Seoul and Beijing to explain his visit to a controversial war shrine that has draw scathing criticism from both South Korea and China.China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, made the remarks shortly after Abe expressed the intention during a press conference in Tokyo earlier in the day. On Dec. 26, Abe paid homage at the Yasukuni shrine honoring 14 Class-A war criminals convicted by an Al

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development will formulate a rural development model based on South Korea‘s rags-to-riches growth story to help underdeveloped nations overcome poverty, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Monday.As part of the OECD-Seoul government deal forged last month, Mario Pezzini, director of the OECD Development Centre, will fly to Seoul to deliver an OECD-signed copy of the agreement and hold a seminar on the project Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Japan may designate Japanese history as a compulsory course for its high school students, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported Monday.According to the daily, Tokyo’s Education Ministry is mulling educational reform which would require high schools to make the now-optional history course mandatory. Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura is expected to consult on the matter with the ministry-affiliated Central Council for Education this summer.If approved, the new curriculum will be applied from 2

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se began a three-day trip to Washington Sunday aimed at discussing North Korea, and history and territorial tensions in Northeast Asia.Some of Japan's domestic issues such as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine have "become a matter of worries not only on a bilateral level between South Korea and Japan but also in the international community," Yun said.He was speaking to reporters shortly after laying flowers at the Korean War Vetera

Chinese media over the weekend blasted South Korea's plans to build an ocean research station in the Yellow Sea, claiming it is a thinly disguised move to extend its exclusive economic zone.Huanqiu Shibao, a Chinese tabloid that is a sister company to People's Daily newspaper, said in an article carried on Saturday that Seoul is trying to build another so-called oceanographic station to secure exclusive rights in contested waters.The paper that generally focuses on international issues said Sout

   South Korea's top diplomat plans to visit Washington in early January for talks with U.S. officials on key regional issues, including North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.   Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior U.S. officials, foreign ministry spokesperson Cho Tai-young said.   Yun and Kerry last had a face-to-face meeting in September in New York.   During the upcoming visit, Yun will discuss "such issues as bila

South Korea and Myanmar have agreed to establish a memorial early this year for victims of North Korea’s bombing in Yangon in 1983, Seoul officials said. The monument is to be erected on a 258-square-meter site at Aung San National Cemetery in the former Myanmar capital. “We’re all set for the project, with the statue already completed by our contractor. There will be a launching ceremony next year (2014) with the families of the deceased officials,” the official said last month on condition of