Trade officials here were perplexed last week by a presidential spokesperson’s remarks dashing the possibility of South Korea taking China to the World Trade Organization for Beijing’s retaliation against Seoul’s hosting of an advanced US missile defense system.The spokesman told a press briefing that South Korea would seek to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation with China to resolve “difficult issues” between the two sides. He said it was important to maintain cooperation with Ch

Weekday mornings in Siem Reap see an exodus of working adults and children set against the idyllic backdrop of rural Cambodia. Many people labor in the fields, as their families have for generations. Amid the peaceful clamor of this weekday morning hubbub, a number of children cycle or ride tuk-tuks to schools, which are part of an effort by the Cambodian government to expand infrastructure and education in rural regions. I was excited to open my eyes to the opportunity to see the state of water

The beauty of this glass rectangle is its ability to connect us to anyone, anywhere and anytime. It has freed us from the physical confinement of geographical space. The problem with this shining gadget is also its ubiquitous connectivity: it has freed others as well to reach us anytime and anywhere. The past 10 years of the smartphone, its cousin tablet and second cousin wrist band have brought about revolutionary changes in our lives. The connectivity has made virtually everything available at

Last week, I attended the third International Congress of Writers Writing in Korea held at Gyeongju under the auspices of the international P.E.N. Korea Centre. The conference, which brought together 50 writers from all over the world, including both Korean-heritage and non-heritage writers, turned out to be a huge success. At the meeting I met professor Kim Jong-hoe who is an expert on Korean Diaspora. Professor Kim has been traveling to many countries on behalf of Kyung Hee University to award

Myanmar is in crisis. The Rohingya -- a Muslim ethnic minority group in a predominantly Buddhist country -- are under attack by the military, with many fleeing for their lives. This escalating conflict is threatening to undermine Myanmar’s ongoing democratic transition -- and to tarnish irrevocably the reputation of the country’s de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.For decades, Myanmar’s government has refused to recognize the Rohingya -- who comprise around 2 percent of the country’s populati

With the latest UN Security Council Resolution 2375 adopted on Sept.12th, it has become clear that China and Russia actually do prefer a nuclear North Korea that can keep the US in check. It’s now time to think of a new option: South Korea’s nuclear armament. Pyongyang’s July intercontinental ballistic missile tests and the September hydrogen bomb test showed North Korea is capable of subjugating South Korea, while holding hostage US cities and millions of Americans. The provocations were also “

Samuel Huntington’s seminal work “Clash of Civilizations” has awaked the world leadership to the new threat to world peace in the post-Cold War period. His study concentrated on the clashes between major civilizations. But the real world is suffering from racial, ethnic and religious sectarian conflicts rather than the conflict of civilizations.During the Cold War, political ideology was the main cause of world conflict, although ethnic conflicts in newly independent countries began to surface.

The Trump administration, already struggling with a big nuclear problem in North Korea, is about to raise another one by questioning the implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran.A senior administration official said that President Trump will share his concerns about Iranian compliance with global leaders gathering next week for the United Nations General Assembly. The official said Trump wants tighter inspection of Iranian facilities and a re-examination of the “sunset clause” that woul