The Korea Herald

안녕하세요 Shin Hyon-hee 기자입니다.

Articles by Shin Hyon-hee

Korea to open embassy in Madagascar

Foreign affairsJun 19, 2016

South Korea is expected to open an embassy in Madagascar as early as next month, officials said Sunday, as part of Seoul’s move to expand cooperation with the resources-rich continent.The Foreign Ministry has been gearing up for the launch since it secured approval from the southeastern island country last year. An inaugural ceremony might take place in Antananarivo in early July, officials said. The two sides established diplomatic relations in 1962 but Seoul’s mission in South Africa had been
Korean record store attacked in Istanbul

Foreign affairsJun 19, 2016

A record shop run by a South Korean in Istanbul was attacked by some Turkish citizens who harbored resentment against it for serving alcohol during the Ramadan fast period, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday. The incident took place at around 9 p.m. on Friday, Istanbul time, as fans of British rock band Radiohead gathered at the Velvet Indieground store to celebrate the band’s new album. “During the event, an unidentified number of Turkish people spotted patrons drinking alcohol inside, broke
[NEWS FOCUS] Seoul wary of diplomatic spillover from crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing

Foreign affairsJun 19, 2016

South Korea’s clampdown on Chinese boats illegally fishing in neutral waters is seen as a move to protect local fishermen and quell increasingly sour public sentiment, but the diplomatic predicament faced by Seoul remains unchanged, if not more intense.Besides its impact on security and maritime affairs, diplomats also perceive the inevitable impact on diplomacy of the ongoing, unprecedented operation involving military and police officers and U.N. Command monitors. The vessels’ rampant poaching
KOICA helps Myanmar cope with effects of climate change

Foreign affairsJun 15, 2016

BAGAN, Myanmar -- Endless rows of yellow-green, tender young trees soughed in the breeze, churning out rustling sounds across a serene forest in Bagan, Myanmar. A 10-minute walk led to a more exuberant section where taller and lusher eucalyptuses, neems and acacias towered on the backdrop of a mountain. The once barren land is turning into a greener neighborhood for the agrarian residents thanks to assistance from the Korea International Cooperation Agency. A resident waters a tree on June 9 at
‘Korea's tech transfers key to Myanmar's reforms’

Foreign affairsJun 14, 2016

YANGON, Myanmar -- With Myanmar spurring political, economic and administrative reforms, technological assistance coupled with financial aid from Korea and other industrial powerhouses will help expedite the country’s ongoing transformation, according to a senior official at Myanmar’s ruling party. Hantha Myint, chief of the economic committee within the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi, stressed the significance of technology transfers in the Southeast Asian nation’s agricu
Myanmar emulates Korea's rural development model

Foreign affairsJun 13, 2016

NAYPYIDAW -- More than a dozen villagers began to dig in the ground and make a stream in the small town of Kyauncone near the capital of Myanmar, as the signature song of the Saemaul Undong resonated, with the lyrics in Korean calling for diligence and cooperation in refurbishing the rural community. Their task was to open drainage ditches and pave the road that has long prohibited the passage of vehicles in rainy seasons. It was intended to take a page from the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movem
Yun’s Russia visit aimed at pressing N.K.

North KoreaJun 12, 2016

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is set to meet with his Russian counterpart on Monday in Moscow as Seoul seeks to ramp up concerted pressure against North Korea in the wake of its latest nuclear and missile tests. Yun departed for the Russian capital on Sunday afternoon for the first trip by Seoul’s top diplomat in about five years. During his two-day stay, he will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, attend a joint conference on politics and economics and tour South Korean auto
Seoul cautious about THAAD talks

North KoreaJun 3, 2016

Seoul’s defense officials on Friday denied news reports that South Korea and the United States would make an announcement on their plans to deploy advanced U.S. missile defense assets here ahead of their defense ministerial talks in Singapore. Defense Minister Han Min-koo is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with his U.S. counterpart Ash Carter on Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit in Singapore. En route to the Southeast Asian country, Carter said that a stationing of the
U.S. proposes new N.K. sanctions for money laundering

North KoreaJun 2, 2016

The newly proposed U.S. financial restrictions on North Korea are expected to hamper the North’s access to the global banking network by warning the international community against any transactions with the communist regime. Seoul on Thursday “welcomed” the U.S. designation of North Korea as a “primary money laundering concern” overnight, taking note of the Treasury’s portrayal as “the most significant measure available” under Section 311 of the Patriot Act. “The government highly appreciates t
[NEWS FOCUS] ‘Comfort women’ fund faces hurdles

North KoreaMay 31, 2016

With the initiative to set up a foundation for “comfort women” victims being set in motion, the newly created preparation committee appears to be already in the hot seat, fanning controversy over its membership, compensation plans and decision-making processes involving Japan. Tuesday’s launch came in the face of resistance from many victims. Of the surviving 42, 29 filed a constitutional appeal last March, saying their basic rights were violated by the Dec. 28 agreement between Seoul and Tokyo.
EU funds allegedly help bankroll N.K. regime: study

North KoreaMay 30, 2016

More than 30 Polish businesses are likely to have been using European Union subsidies to pay salaries to their North Korean employees totaling up to 800, a research team said Monday, raising the possibility of funds flowing to the communist regime. A group of academics, lawyers and human rights specialists at the Leiden Asia Center within Leiden University in the Netherlands has been delving into the practice of North Korean forced labor within the EU since last December. According to its prelim
‘Comfort women’ fund panel off to rocky start

Foreign affairsMay 30, 2016

Following a months-long tug of war, a public-private committee will be launched Tuesday in Seoul to lay the groundwork for a fund for the victims of Japan’s sex slavery during World War II, the Korean government said Monday. The preparation committee will consist of nine private sector experts and an official each from the foreign and gender equality ministries tasked with drafting articles of association, setting up a secretariat and other administrative affairs for the envisioned organization.
[Herald Interview] Ex-top U.N. official urges tighter sanctions against N.K.

Foreign affairsMay 29, 2016

Despite the recent passage of strengthened sanctions over North Korea’s latest nuclear and missile tests, the United Nations should further tighten its squeeze on Pyongyang’s trade and financial networks to thwart its military ambitions, a former top U.N. official said.Nobuyasu Abe, who served as under-secretary-general for disarmament affairs at the multinational body from 2003-2006, showed regret over past botched efforts to dissuade Pyongyang from building atomic bombs in return for economic
‘Korea, China, Japan committed to three-way cooperation’

Foreign affairsMay 27, 2016

JEJUDO ISLAND -- Despite persistent territorial and historical tension, Korea, China and Japan are committed to deepening three-way cooperation and carrying on with their plans to hold regular summits, the chief of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat said. Shortly after taking office last August, Yang Houlan observed the three nations’ first tripartite summit about two months later, for which the agency played a key facilitating role.Yang Houlan, chief of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretaria
Leaders warn against nationalism

Foreign affairsMay 26, 2016

JEJUDO ISLAND -- With bilateral, territorial and historical tensions threatening to overshadow the broader and indispensable need for regional collaboration, world leaders Thursday at the Jeju Forum warned against brewing nationalism.While raising the need to concede to and apologize for past wrongdoings, they highlighted the significance of reconciliation efforts and a joint response to common challenges such as terrorism, climate change and refugee crises. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, S