An American think tank founded by former President Richard Nixon has launched its first-ever Korea program to enhance the public discourse on issues related to the peninsula.    The Center for the National Interest, based in Washington, recently established the Korean Studies program under the leadership of Harry Kazianis, an expert on the Koreas and formerly the think tank's director of defense studies.    "The reason I launched this program is simple," Kazianis told Yonhap News Agency Friday.

The US House Armed Services Committee formerly announced the members for the 116th congress on Wednesday, including second generation Korean-American Rep. Andy Kim (Democrat-New Jersey) in the roster.  Andy Kim (AP)Kim will serve in the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats & Capabilities, responsible for dealing with defense and joint enabling activities, intelligence support and strategic communications, according to committee Chairman Adam Smith.“I’m honored to have been selected to

A South Korean man working in Indonesia was found dead at his home earlier this week, apparently murdered, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.The man in his 50s had participated in the construction of a plant in the southern region of Kalimantan. (Tribun News=Yonhap)When discovered on Monday, his body was dotted with wounds.Given the condition of the site, local police believe he may have been murdered, according to the ministry.The South Korean Embassy in Jakarta has requested that Indones

The South Korean government on Friday strongly denounced the latest terrorist attack in Colombia, reiterating its support for efforts to root out terrorism.In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also sent a message of condolence for the victims and their families. (Yonhap)"Our government's firm stance is that terror should be eradicated as an inhumane crime that can be justified under no circumstances," it said.Seoul will continue to participate in the global fight against terrorism, it

The US President Donald Trump has named Mina Chang, a 32-year-old Korean-American who heads an international relief organization, as the assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.  Mina Chang (right) stands next to former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. This photo was published on Mina Chang`s official Facebook on Nov. 12, 2015.According to a report by a Korea-American media outlet Thursday, Trump has requested the US Senate’s confirmation of the nom

TOKYO -- An earthquake shook southwestern Japan on Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of damage and a tsunami watch was lifted within an hour. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake measured a preliminary magnitude 5.0, rattling the Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kumamoto areas in the southwest of the main island of Kyushu.  A staff of West Japan Railway Company updates the operation information for stranded passengers as an earthquake stopped and delayed some train services at JR Haka

The foreign ministry said Sunday that there have been no reports of South Korean casualties from the tsunami that hit coastal areas of Indonesia around the Sunda Strait a day earlier.Reports said that at least 43 people were dead and another 584 injured due to the tsunami on Saturday night. A local walks near her damaged house hit by tsunami at Tanjung Lesung district in Pandeglang, Banten province, Indonesia, December 23, 2018 (Yonhap)"There were some South Korean travelers who escaped to highe

Municipal governments in Japan are moving forward with legislation to address hate speech. Although the laws protect people of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, it is Koreans in Japan who stand to benefit most as anti-Korean sentiment is prevalent throughout the nation.Tokyo’s Kunitachi City Council approved an ordinance on Wednesday banning discriminatory practices and hate speech.  (Yonhap)The bill specifically prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, occupation and s

An increasing number of Korean-American judges are making their mark in US courts. Eumi K. Lee was appointed as an Alameda County Superior Court judge on Friday (local time), becoming the first Korean-American judge in that California county, which is part of the San Francisco Bay Area.  Eumi K. Lee (UC Hastings College of the Law-Yonhap)Despite their relatively small presence on US benches, Korean-American judges are setting some notable records. In July, Dorothy C. Kim became the first Korean-

 A South Korean official has been named as a vice chair of the OECD Committee for Fisheries, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Friday, in a move that could strengthen Seoul's clout in the fisheries industry. This photo provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries shows Cho Il-hwan, who has been named the vice chair of the OECD Committee for Fisheries. (Yonhap)Cho Il-hwan, an official handling the ministry's fisheries policy, is set to serve as a vice chair of the Paris-based committe

After the starkest warnings yet of the catastrophic threat posed by climate change, nations gathered in Poland on Sunday to chart a way for mankind to avert runaway global warming.The COP24 climate summit comes at a crucial juncture in the battle to rein in the effects of our heating planet. Scientists have warned that we need to cut fossil fuel emissions by half by 2030 to avert disaster. (AFP)The smaller, poorer nations that will bare the devastating brunt of climate change are pushing for ric

A group of South Koreans living in Britain said Thursday that they plan to hold a candlelight vigil in London on Sunday to call for a thorough investigation into recent assaults on South Korean students.One of the Koreans involved in the preparations for the candlelight gathering said that the protest rally will be held in front of Marks & Spencer in London's Oxford Circus. (Yonhap)The person said that the Korean community in Britain has been shocked by a recent instance of mob violence against

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — South Korea’s Kim Jong Yang has been elected as Interpol’s next president, edging out a longtime veteran of Russia’s security services who was strongly opposed by the US, Britain and other European nations.The White House and its European partners had lobbied against Alexander Prokopchuk’s attempts to be named the next president of the policing organization, saying his election would lead to further Russian abuses of Interpol’s red notice system to go after pol

GENEVA -- A South Korean tourist died after being hit by a mountain train in Switzerland earlier this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.  The tragic accident occurred on Monday afternoon (Switzerland time) when the man in his 60s was on a group tour program in Mount Rigi in the central area of the European country, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)Reports said that he had already died by the time a rescue team arrived on the scene."The South Korean embassy in Switzerland sent a con

WASHINGTON -- The United States on Tuesday voiced support for the South Korean candidate to head Interpol amid controversy over his Russian rival.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US "strongly" endorses Kim Jong-yang, who is currently serving as the organization's acting president following the arrest of its former chief in his native China. (Yonhap)"We encourage all nations and organizations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with credibility