The Korea Herald

Korea finds 17th century marine chart depicting Sea of Korea

Apr 15, 2012

South Korea has found a 17th century nautical chart made by a British explorer marking the expanse of water between Korea and Japan as the Sea of Korea. This 17th century nautical chart made by British explorer Sir Robert Dudley describes waters between Korea and Japan as "Mare di Corai(the Sea of Korea). (Yonhap News)The chart drawn by Sir Robert Dudley in 1646 was revealed just a week ahead of a
N.K. long-range rocket crashes shortly after takeoff

Apr 13, 2012

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- Defying international concerns, North Korea fired a long-range rocket early Friday, but it appears to have fallen into the sea, splintering moments after takeoff, South Korean and U.S. officials said.The liftoff took place at 7:39 a.m. (2139 GMT Thursday) from the west coast launch pad in the hamlet of Tongchang-ri, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said,
White House to issue response to N. Korean rocket: source

Apr 13, 2012

White House to issue response to N. Korean rocket: source WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) -- The White House will soon issue a formal response to North Korea's multistage rocket launch, a diplomatic source said Thursday. Officials at both the State Department and the Defense Department said they have nothing to say for now regarding the reports of the North's rocket launch. The White House is in ch
Seoul protests Tokyo gathering on Dokdo

Apr 12, 2012

The South Korean government strongly protested a recent gathering by Japanese senior government officials and lawmakers in Tokyo who claimed the Dokdo islets are Japanese territory.On Wednesday, about 800 right-wing Japanese officials held the event in Tokyo for the first time, calling on the Japanese government to resolve the issue of “Takeshima,” the Japanese name for Dokdo. Dokdo remains a thorny issue between Korea and Japan. Located in the East Sea, the small islets are administered by Kore
Sino-U.S. rivalry to make Seoul walk fine line

Apr 10, 2012

The increasing military rivalry between the U.S. and China may require Seoul to walk more of a fine line between the two powers, experts say.The U.S. administration announced in January a significant shift in its military capability ― especially seaborne firepower ― toward Asia, with Pentagon planners making little secret of their intention to keep China’s rising power in check.The U.S. move, matched with China’s naval build-up, has raised concerns over an arms race in the west Pacific region.Ch
Darkening shadow of giant neighbor

Apr 10, 2012

South Korea needs to grasp China’s tendency to put priority on practical interestsSeoul officials had wished the ceremony would be held with much more fanfare.They had envisioned top leaders from South Korea and China attending the launch of a series of events scheduled throughout this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.To their disappointment, both sides were represented by vice culture ministers at the ceremony in the National Mu
Nordic lyricism to sound in Seoul

Apr 8, 2012

Norway and Korea are set to be married in music at a spring concert in Seoul. The Norwegian Embassy and the Korea Foundation are hosting the classical music performances from prestigious Norwegian violinist Stephan Barratt-Due and his Korean-born wife Chung Soon-mi, who is a renowned violist.The award-winning duo will be joined by Korean pianist Chong Park for the performance titled “The Lyricism of Norway.”The audience will enjoy Mozart’s “Kagelstadt Trio” and “Liszt Specialist,” with Park also
German envoy awarded honorary doctorate

Apr 8, 2012

German Ambassador Hans-Ulrich Seidt has been awarded an honorary degree from a Korean university. Seidt was awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy from Chonnam National University, which previously conferred the same honor on former President Kim Dae-jung. CNU president Kim Yoon-soo presented the honorary degree to Seidt on Friday at a ceremony at the university’s Gwangju campus. “Dr. Seidt has lived an exuberant life as a passionate person devoting his days on aspiration and desire of pea
New ASEAN-Korea chief hails ‘breathtaking’ changes in Myanmar

Apr 8, 2012

The new secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre has hailed Myanmar’s democratic changes and new Southeast Asian opportunities for Korean firms. During his inauguration speech at the ASEAN-Korea Centre in Seoul, Ambassador Chung Hae-Moon said that Southeast Asia was experiencing profound transformations to its political and economic landscape. Democracy fighter Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won by a landslide in Myanmar’s recent by-elections, and the reformist governm
Swiss expert calls for more green innovation

Apr 8, 2012

A visiting Swiss expert has said that Korea could gain an advantage over neighboring countries in the long-run by promoting green growth now. Swiss Cleantech CEO Nick Beglinger said both Switzerland and Korea should use green innovation to gain a competitive edge while here for a symposium at Sungkyunkwan University.“Korea’s case may be similar to Switzerland, which is a market with very high prices,” he said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “We can never beat some of our surrounding marke
Nigerian educators learning from Korean development

Apr 8, 2012

Nigerian teachers are visiting Korea this month to learn how high-tech teaching methods here could translate into better education in their country. The visit to Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, and Inje by 23 teachers from April 1-22 closely follows a trip by education bosses from the African nation. Education Ministry Deputy Director Awofisayo Olufunke said that Korean teaching through information and communications technology was “out of this world” during her visit sponsored by the Korea Internationa
Japan report claims Dokdo as its own

Apr 6, 2012

The government expressed deep regret over Japan’s reiterating of its claims over South Korean islets of Dokdo on Friday.On Friday the Japanese government released a diplomatic report claiming Dokdo as Japanese territory, prompting Seoul to issue a statement refuting the claims. With the development coming days after Japan approved new set of textbooks that claim Dokdo as Japanese territory, Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responded with unusually firm stance. On March 27, new t
Japan again claims Dokdo as its own in diplomatic report

Apr 6, 2012

The Japanese government released a diplomatic report reiterating its claims over South Korean islets of Dokdo on Friday adding further pressure on strained relations.With the development coming days after Japan approved new set of textbooks that claim Dokdo as Japanese territory, Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responded with unusual firm stance. On March 27, new textbooks citing Dokdo as Japanese territory were released, rekindling concerns over Japan’s continued distortion of
U.S. congressmen to visit Seoul ahead of N.K. launch

Apr 5, 2012

A delegation of U.S. Republican congressmen will visit South Korea this week to inspect security conditions, officials said Thursday, as North Korea presses ahead with its plan to launch a long-range rocket. The five U.S. lawmakers, including Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Richard Burr of North Carolina, are scheduled to arrive in Seoul Friday for a three-day visit during which they will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, the ministry said in a statement. They also plan to vi
Japan to approve annual diplomacy report renewing claim to Dokdo

Apr 5, 2012

Japan's cabinet plans to approve an annual foreign policy report Friday that renews Tokyo's territorial claim to Seoul's easternmost islets of Dokdo, a diplomatic source said Thursday. In a move certain to deepen diplomatic tension with South Korea, the Diplomatic Blue Book 2012 will reiterate claims that Dokdo is Japanese territory historically and under international law, the source said on cond