Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is walking a tightrope as he continues to play down the country’s historical abuses ahead of his address at U.S. Congress and the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, stymying Seoul’s efforts to defrost bilateral ties. He has been under growing international pressure to tone down his revisionist views and present a more repentant attitude to Japan’s wartime history. But skepticism persists over any sweeping turnaround in his approach in light of his elu

South Korea is forecast to join a China-led investment bank as a founding member this month, despite steadfast U.S. skepticism and following in the steps of European powers, government sources said Wednesday. The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank was set up last October with 21 member states, aimed at spurring the region’s development by financing projects in energy, transportation, telecommunication, agriculture and other key sectors. The $50 billion institution may provide Seoul with a chanc

South Korea’s dilemma over whether to join a China-led development bank is deepening, with the announcement of support for the $50 billion mechanism from the U.K. and other major countries, despite U.S. opposition. Beijing unveiled plans for the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank in October 2013, aiming to shore up the region’s development by financing projects in such sectors as energy, transportation, telecommunication and agriculture. Its establishment was officially announced last October w

Police have launched a probe into allegations by a female official at the Foreign Ministry that she was sexually harassed by her director-level senior during a recent trip to Africa, officials said Wednesday. The victim claimed that she woke up in her single guesthouse room on feeling the accused touching her body and removing her clothes. The two had drinks together previously in the evening with others. She filed a complaint at an internal human resources team and reported the incident to the

Seoul and Washington are seeking to boost high-level exchanges as they strive to turn around the mood and contain the aftermath of a knife attack against the U.S. ambassador here. Mark Lippert received slashes to his face and arm before a seminar in Seoul on Thursday by an ultraleft activist wielding a 25-centimeter knife and calling for a halt to South Korea-U.S. military drills and reunification with North Korea. The incident prompted concerns that it could sour public sentiment in both countr

The U.S. has stepped in to defuse a rising furor after a top official openly expressed frustration over ongoing historical feuds in Northeast Asia, tacitly blaming South Korea and China for exploiting “nationalist feelings” toward Japan for domestic interests. At a seminar in Washington on Friday, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said historical and territorial “disagreements” between the three countries are “understandable, but it can also be frustrating.”“Nation