The Korea Herald

[Newsmaker] Rape comments make U.S. candidate a party pariah

Aug 22, 2012

U.S. Republican Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin has provided a clear reminder of the effect a few words can have on an individual’s political fate.Akin’s comments during an abortion debate that women’s bodies can prevent pregnancy after a “legitimate rape” have drawn fire from all sides. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney was the latest Republican to call on him to quit his challenge for a senate seat in Missouri. Earlier, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt and four former Republican senators from the stat
FM rejects Japan's proposal over Dokdo as 'not worth consideration'

Aug 21, 2012

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan dismissed a proposal by Japan on Tuesday to jointly refer the issue of Dokdo to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying the proposal is "not worth consideration." Kim made the remarks at a parliamentary session hours after the Japanese government decided to make a formal proposal to South Korea by Tuesday by sending a diplomatic document through
Korea to send response letter to Noda over Dokdo: officials

Aug 19, 2012

South Korea is expected to reiterate its stance on the issue of Dokdo and refute Japan's sovereignty claim in its reply to a letter by Japan's prime minister to President Lee Myung-bak, two government officials said Sunday.Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda sent the letter to Lee via Seoul's Embassy in Tokyo on Friday, describing as regrettable Lee's Aug. 10 visit to Dokdo and his remarks that
Tokyo expected to send diplomatic letter to Seoul over Dokdo

Aug 19, 2012

Japan is expected to deliver a diplomatic letter this week asking South Korea to jointly take the issue of Dokdo, Seoul's easternmost islets claimed by Tokyo as its territory, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a diplomatic source said Sunday. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will hold a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to make a decision on whether to send a "note verbale," a diplom
KEY FIGURES IN THE SERIES

Jul 12, 2012

The following are quotes from experts who contributed to the series on the changing Asia-Pacific security situation — Ed.Nam Chang-hee, Inha University“Now, China is a status-quo power. But as it gets stronger militarily and economically, China could become a revisionist and try to challenge the regional order. To prevent this situation, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan can form a strong network to persuade China to remain as a status-quo power and become a responsible regional stakeholder. It i
Japanese panel calls for collective defense rights

Jul 5, 2012

A Japanese Prime Ministerial committee called for recognition of Japan’s rights to collective defense, adding another variable to Northeast Asia’s regional security issues.According to the Japanese broadcaster NHK, a prime ministerial committee released a report saying that Japan should be allowed to exercise rights of collective defense.This would allow Japan to enter combat to help its allies, even when it is not directly attacked.“Related interpretations (of laws) should be changed to allow c
GUTS: rising powers in the ‘West’

May 28, 2012

Germany is rising up as the locomotive of global growth. The U.S. is recovering and holding onto its global leadership. Turkey is transforming into a regional powerhouse. Korea symbolizes creative economy and multilateral diplomacy. Two U.S. researchers have coined a new word, GUTS, to represent the four powers enjoying a fresh renaissance and propping up the supposedly declining developed world.“(The four countries) are actually increasing their international influence, while the others are stu
FM pledges swift release of S. Korean activists detained in China

May 17, 2012

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan pledged Thursday to make diplomatic efforts to press Beijing to swiftly release four South Korean activists who have been detained in China since late March.The four activists, including Kim Young-hwan, a senior researcher for the Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights, a Seoul-based civic group for North Korean defectors, were arrested by Chinese police
S. Korea toughens penalties for EEZ violation

May 15, 2012

South Korea has toughened penalties for fishing boats that violate its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to better protect its maritime resources, the government said Tuesday.The revised rules, which went into effect Monday, double the fines for illegal fishing to 200 million won (US$173,000) from 100 million won, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.Under the new guidelines
Indonesia jet crash bodies sent for identification

May 12, 2012

CIJERUK, Indonesia (AFP) – Body bags containing the remains of people aboard a Russian jet that smashed into an Indonesian mountain arrived in Jakarta Saturday as Russian investigators landed to join the probe.Rescuers said the bodies of those who perished when Sukhoi's new Superjet 100 hit Mount Salak in western Java on Wednesday, killing all on board, were badly dismembered.Officials said the re
Greek president to set to urge unity government

May 12, 2012

ATHENS (AFP) – Greece's president was set Saturday to call last-ditch talks in a bid to forge an emergency unity government and avoid fresh elections, after the main parties failed to form a working coalition.Highly-indebted Greece is deeply torn over the tough austerity measures imposed as conditions for its IMF-EU bailouts, and the crisis has raised the threat it could default and leave the 17-m
U.S. lawmakers push for tactical nukes in S. Korea

May 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) – A U.S. congressional committee is pressuring the Obama administration to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula.The House Armed Services Committee, dominated by Republicans, approved an amendment to the fiscal 2013 national defense authorization bill Thursday that calls for the re-introduction of the sensitive weapons to South Korea, according to Forei
Lee meets with Danish crown prince couple

May 11, 2012

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak hosted a luncheon for Denmark's crown prince couple Friday and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest, the presidential office said.Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary arrived Thursday for a six-day official visit that includes attending an international conference on green growth, the opening ceremony of the W
U.S. mourns Korean nuke inspector after death in Iran

May 9, 2012

The United States expressed condolences Tuesday over the death of a South Korean nuclear inspector in Iran.Seo Ok-seok, a 58-year-old inspector at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was killed earlier in the day in a car crash near a reactor site in central Iran, according to local media and the South Korean Embassy there."We certainly express our deepest condolences to the family of t
Syria warns of response to 'intensified' rebel attacks

Apr 15, 2012

DAMASCUS(AFP) - Syria warned on Sunday that its forces will respond to "intensified" rebel attacks, even as UN military observers were headed for the unrest-hit country to monitor a shaky ceasefire."Armed terrorist groups have intensified their attacks in a hysterical way against the army, law enforcement forces, and civilians, in conjunction with the approval of the UN Security Council resolution