The Korea Herald

Korea, Thailand urge N.K. to call off rocket plan

Mar 25, 2012

Leaders of South Korea and Thailand urged North Korea on Saturday to call off its plan to launch a long-range rocket, saying the move hurts regional peace and violates a U.N. Security Council resolution.The appeal came after summit talks between President Lee Myung-bak and Thai Prime Minister Yinglu
Korea, Thailand sign defense cooperation accord

Mar 25, 2012

South Korea and Thailand on Saturday signed a defense cooperation agreement, agreed to deepen all-around cooperation and upgrade their relations to a "strategic partnership" in the near future, a joint statement said.The statement came after a summit between South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and
Obama in Seoul for summit with Lee, nuclear conference

Mar 25, 2012

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Seoul on Sunday for talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and a global anti-nuclear terrorism conference amid heightened tensions over North Korea's planned long-range rocket launch.U.S. President Barak Obama (right) waves upon his arrival at Osa
Obama leaves on trip to Asia

Mar 24, 2012

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- U.S. President Barack Obama left for Asia early Saturday, in a trip that will include a visit to the tense and fortified border zone between the two Koreas.Air Force One carrying the president and his aides took off from Andews Air Force Base outside Washington at 00:07 am local
Korean-American physician tapped as World Bank leader

Mar 24, 2012

President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-born physician, to lead the World Bank, citing his tireless efforts to improve the lives of people in developing nations and promote global health."Jim has spent more than two decades working to improve conditions in developing co
After Chernobyl, Ukraine seeks atom’s ‘peaceful service’

Mar 23, 2012

His nation suffered the worst nuclear disaster in history, but the Ukrainian ambassador said his country now wishes to promote the safe use of nuclear power at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. Ambassador Vasyl Marmazov said the catastrophic explosion at Chernobyl nuclear power station’s reactor 4 on April 26, 1986 has well-placed his country to contribute to nuclear security and safety talks at the summit on March 26-27. The United Nations has estimated that 9,000 cancer-related deaths could s
Seoul Nuclear Security Summit to open Monday

Mar 23, 2012

The two-day Nuclear Security Summit kicks off Monday in Seoul, bringing together leaders of 53 countries and four international organizations for discussions on how to combat nuclear threats and enhance nuclear security and safety.Event organizers said Friday they had almost finalized preparations for Korea’s largest-ever diplomatic event, completing the establishment of facilities at COEX in southern Seoul to accommodate some 10,000 summit participants.U.S. President Barack Obama, who initiated
‘Summit will agree on specific actions’

Mar 23, 2012

Minister Kim: North Korean nuclear issue will be raised in bilateral talksParticipatingWith the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit coming up in a few days, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said he expected participating countries to individually announce specific action plans to strengthen nuclear security.“Whereas the Washington Nuclear Security Summit in 2010 served mainly as a venue to proclaim a shared awareness of the need for nuclear security, the upcoming Seoul summit is expected to produce
After Chernobyl, Ukraine seeks atom’s ‘peaceful service of mankind’

Mar 23, 2012

His nation suffered the worst nuclear disaster in history, but the Ukrainian ambassador said his country now wishes to promote the safe use of nuclear power at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. Ambassador Vasyl Marmazov said the catastrophic explosion at Chernobyl nuclear power station’s reactor 4 on April 26, 1986 has well-placed his country to contribute to nuclear security and safety talks at the summit on March 26-27. The United Nations has estimated that 9,000 cancer-related deaths could s
U.N. chief urges ‘new efforts’ on global nuclear security governance

Mar 23, 2012

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday the world should strengthen the rule of law to address challenges of nuclear terrorism, calling for “new efforts” on a global nuclear security governance.Ban, who is on a four-nation tour through Asia that will highlight the second Nuclear Security Summit set for next week in South Korea, made the remarks in a written message for a nuclear academic forum held on Friday in Seoul.　“We know from the tragic events at Fukushima and Chernobyl that nuclear
Lee celebrates 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan

Mar 23, 2012

President Lee Myung-bak and Azerbaijan President exchanged celebratory letters Friday to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, pledging to further improve all-round cooperation, the presidential office said.Both leaders appreciated the steady improvement in relations between the two countries in political, economic, cultural and other sectors since the 1992 establishment of diplomatic ties, and agreed to work together to further boost cooperation, the offic
At Seoul summit, U.S. to prioritize fight against nuclear smuggling

Mar 23, 2012

Leaders of more than 50 nations and international organizations will focus on crafting measures to secure nuclear and radioactive materials that could pose a danger to the world if handled improperly when they meet in Seoul next week, the U.S. said Thursday.The State Department made clear that its main aim is to tackle nuclear smuggling.“The goal of the United States Government’s nuclear security programs is the prevention of the illegal possession, use or transfer of nuclear material or other r
Nuke summit may help stop terrorism: Thai P.M.

Mar 22, 2012

BANGKOK (Yonhap News) ― Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that next week’s nuclear summit to be hosted by South Korea will present a good opportunity to help countries around the world prevent the threats of nuclear terrorism.Yingluck also said that, in a joint interview with Korean correspondents on Wednesday ahead of the second biennial Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Thailand wants to learn South Korea’s know-how and skills on water-management projects following devastating flood
EU chief eyes commitments at Seoul summit

Mar 22, 2012

BRUSSELS (Yonhap News) ― European Council President Herman Van Rompuy called for “concrete commitments” to prevent threats of nuclear terrorism and tighten control of atomic safety at next week’s Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. In a written interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, Van Rompuy also said “synergies” between nuclear security and the safety of atomic energy are important following Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster, backing calls for the United Nations nuclear watchdog to ha
‘Seoul nuke summit to be point where political will turns into practical action’

Mar 22, 2012

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Thursday the upcoming Seoul Nuclear Security Summit will be a major turning point for countries in putting their political aims into action.“To define the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit in a nutshell, it will be an opportunity to develop the political will discussed in the 2010 Washington summit into detailed actions,” Kim told reporters in Seoul.“As host, Korea will put in every effort to make sure that enhancing nuclear security can be established as an inter