TOKYO (AP)— U.S. Vice President Joe Biden voiced strong opposition Tuesday to China's new air defense zone above a set of disputed islands, showing a united front with an anxious Japan as tension in the region simmered.Standing side by side in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Biden said the U.S. is  "deeply concerned" about China's attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea."This action has raised regional tensions and increased the risk of accidents and mi

A researcher here said Sunday that she found multiple documents published by China in the 1900s that describe South Korea’s ownership of the easternmost islets of Dokdo, which are also claimed by Japan.Yoo Mi-rim, a researcher at the Korea Dokdo and Marine Territory Research Center under the state-run Korea Maritime Institute, published a book with multiple diplomatic documents she found in the archives of the Chinese foreign ministry.The documents were estimated to be written between Korea’s li

An association of spouses of foreign envoys posted here showcased its unique perspectives of South Korea in a special art exhibition at Raemian Gallery in Seoul through Dec. 1.Sixteen spouses of foreign ambassadors in South Korea shared with the Korean public a unique mix of their perceptions of South Korea and their individual artistic expressions. Organized by the Association of Spouses of Ambassadors in Korea, the exhibition is free and open to the public.“The synthesis of their own cultural

In contrast to fellow Asian capitals Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, Seoul is regarded by many expatriates in South Korea as a food desert of sorts for quality international cuisine.Now, the city is taking one cautious step closer to offering world taste buds food that satisfies. For the first time ever, foodies here will have the chance to taste authentic Malaysian cuisine at Malaysian restaurants headed up by Malaysian chefs.The Malaysian Embassy’s trade arm is now flexing its commercial exper

A presidential official on Thursday expressed displeasure after a Japanese magazine reportedly derided President Park Geun-hye as "imbecile of the week" for taking a tough stance on the former colonial ruler.The latest edition of the weekly Shukan Bunshun carried an article about Park's stance on Tokyo, accusing her of "creating disturbances" with regard to rows over the sovereignty of the South's easternmost islets of Dokdo and Japan's enslavement of Korean women as sex slaves during World War

Indonesia has lodged a protest against South Korea’s alleged support of U.S. interception of undersea telecommunications channels across Asia, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Wednesday. Jakarta’s Vice Foreign Minister Wardana called in Seoul’s ambassador Kim Young-sun on Tuesday at the instruction of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. That was apparently to verify news reports that South Korea and Singapore are key “third parties” helping what is called the “Five Eyes” partners ― the U.S., t

Greek President Karolos Papoulias will visit South Korea next week for talks with President Park Geun-hye about enhancing all-round cooperation, Park's office announced Wednesday.Papoulias, who will arrive Monday, will be the first Greek president ever to visit South Korea.The four-day trip inclues talks with Park set for Tuesday that are expected to center on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, shipbuilding and shipping, infrastructure, defense and tourism, presidential spokeswoman K

China's declaration of its air control zone over the East China Sea has come under strain to counter the "aggressiveness of Japan" amid an increasingly acrimonious dispute over a set of islands claimed by the two nations, a Chinese expert said Wednesday. The territorial dispute between China and Japan has been escalating since China announced Saturday its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the sea that partly overlaps those of South Korea and Japan. Defying the Chinese move, the U.S. on

China's aircraft carrier was set to depart for the South China Sea on Tuesday for a training mission, state media said, amid growing concerns over Beijing's newly declared air defense zone that sparked a war of words with Japan.It is the first time that China sent its sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, to the South China Sea since it was commissioned last year, Xinhua news agency reported.The Liaoning was escorted by two missile destroyers, the Shenyang and Shijiazhuang, and two missile frigat

Seoul appeared to want to avoid a dispute with Beijing over a new air defense zone in East China, according to a diplomatic source in China who said South Korea had been informed in advance. China had told Seoul of the new zone that overlaps with South Korea's own air defense zone days before it publicly declared area, the source said."We had been recently informed of the Chinese side's decision to set up the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)," the source said on the conditio