UN rights chief urges international probe into Israel-Hamas war violations

GENEVA (AFP) - The UN human rights chief on Thursday decried serious allegations of international law violations in the Israel-Hamas war and suggested an international investigation was needed. Volker Turk said, "Extremely serious allegations of multiple and profound breaches of international humanitarian law, whoever commits them, demand rigorous investigation and full accountability." Turk was speaking after a visit last week to the Middle East, where he warned that both sides were c

Nov. 16, 2023

PM envisions Busan World Expo's role in sharing 'rise from ashes' experience

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo highlighted the World Expo's role of sharing the host country's experience of its rise from the ashes of the war, should it take place in Busan in 2030. "We envision the World Expo in Busan that is not just a six-month event, but a forum to share the experience of our rapid development with other BIE members," Han said in a news conference in Seoul on Thursday. The Bureau International des Expositions oversees the international exhibitions. "O

Nov. 16, 2023

[News Analysis] US-China talks leave room for Yoon

The less contentious tone struck at talks Wednesday between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping is a sign South Korea could inject fresh momentum for better Seoul-Beijing ties, experts said as the two Asian neighbors look to move past the US-China rivalry. The four-hour dialogue made “real progress,” Biden said of the meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. The conversation, the first in a year, led to resuming mi

Nov. 16, 2023

Congressional panel official stresses space-based capability to counter threats from N. Korea, China, Russia

A US congressional commission official raised the need Wednesday to leverage more space-based defense capabilities, noting a ground-based interceptor system may have limits in dealing with the growing missile threats from North Korea, China and Russia cost-effectively. During a House Armed Services Committee session, John Kyl, the vice chair of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, made the remarks, saying the US' GBI program is "adequate today&quo

Nov. 16, 2023

UN committee adopts resolution on N. Korean human rights for 19th straight year

A UN General Assembly committee on Wednesday passed a resolution on North Korean human rights for the 19th consecutive year amid growing concerns for the safety of North Korean escapees who were repatriated from China. The Third Committee handling human rights and social affairs adopted by consensus the resolution, which calls on countries to honor the international principle of non-refoulement. The resolution will be sent to a full General Assembly session for approval in December. The passage

Nov. 16, 2023

Biden, Xi to hold summit in California amid hopes for improved ties

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted their shared desire to avoid conflict and pursue cooperation during a high-stakes summit in California on Wednesday, raising hopes for improved ties between the two superpowers. Their first in-person meeting in a year took place at Filoli estate in Woodside south of San Francisco, where South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and other world leaders will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this week. The summit came

Nov. 16, 2023

S. Korea, US, Japan reaffirm cooperation

The top diplomats from South Korea, the US and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to dealing with growing military exchanges between Russia and North Korea, calling them a serious global threat at a gathering on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in San Francisco. Foreign Minister Park Jin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa discussed coordinating policy on North Korea, going over steps taken to deliver on what the three agreed at Camp David in August,

Nov. 15, 2023

Top diplomats of S. Korea, US, Japan hold talks on margins of APEC summit

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan held three-way talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco on Tuesday, as they are stepping up cooperation to address North Korean threats and other regional and global issues. Foreign Minister Park Jin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met trilaterally less than two months after they held brief talks on the margins of the UN General Assembly i

Nov. 15, 2023

Biden says US not trying to 'decouple' from China, but seeks improved ties

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the United States is not trying to "decouple" from China, but pursuing better relations with its assertive rival, as he prepares for a summit with the Chinese leader this week. Biden's remarks apparently set an amicable tone ahead of the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping slated to take place in San Francisco on Wednesday on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. "As I told you, we are not trying to decouple fro

Nov. 15, 2023

[Herald Interview] UAE economy minister urges to expand business partnerships

United Arab Emirates Economy Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri said he hopes to see more partnerships forged between companies from the UAE and South Korea based on the solid ties built between the two governments. "We need to see more work that happens and more announcements of agreements between companies," Al Marri said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Nov. 9. “Now, the government-to-government relationship is at the highest," the minister said, underscoring the

Nov. 14, 2023

South Korea's Yoon will warn APEC leaders about the risks of a Russia-North Korea arms deal

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol slammed the purported illicit arms deal between North Korea and Russia, saying he’ll emphasize its far-reaching security implications and discuss international response during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco this week. In written responses to questions from The Associated Press ahead of the APEC meeting, Yoon also said that North Korean provocations will invite immediate retaliation by South Korean and US forces. There are

Nov. 14, 2023

19 S. Koreans held captive in Myanmar freed: ministry

A group of 19 South Koreans held captive by a criminal organization in Myanmar have been freed by local police, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said it had sought to arrange their release after receiving a report early last month that they had been locked up in the border town of Tachileik by what it called an “illegal company.” “We reached out to local police for their immediate release, and authorities raided the firm in late October,” the mini

Nov. 14, 2023

[Photo News] 105th anniversary of WWI armistice in Seoul

French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux (left) and German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt attend a memorial and wreath-laying ceremony marking the 105th anniversary of the end of World War I, known as Armistice Day, on Friday. World War I officially concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. Armistice Day, observed annually on Nov. 11, commemorates the end of hostilities on the Western Front a

Nov. 14, 2023

Greek Embassy marks 70 years of Korean War armistice

The Embassy of Greece and the National Assembly co-hosted an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, a poignant event that symbolized the enduring friendship between Greece and South Korea. The commemoration, held Monday, reflected on the shared commitment to democracy, freedom and values that both nations bravely defended on the battlefield. Greece and Korea's historical ties were vividly showcased during the event, underscoring their mutual dedication to the

Nov. 14, 2023

S. Korea attends APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting to discuss financial health, digital assets

South Korea has attended the Finance Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in San Francisco this week to discuss ways of cooperation with member nations on the global economy, sustainable finance and digital assets, the finance ministry said Tuesday. The South Korean delegation led by Deputy Finance Minister Choi Ji-young attended the two-day meeting that began Sunday (US time), where the 21 member nations agreed upon joint efforts to secure growth momentum while ensur

Nov. 14, 2023

Vice defense chief to join ASEAN-led regional security meeting

South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho will travel to Indonesia this week to attend an annual regional security meeting involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Kim will leave for Jakarta on Wednesday to participate in the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus set to kick off the next day. It will bring together top defense officials from nine ASEAN countries and eight others, including the United States and China. Myanmar will n

Nov. 14, 2023

46 countries, including S. Korea, US, join declaration on 'responsible' AI use

South Korea, the United States and 44 other countries have joined a declaration highlighting the "responsible" use of artificial intelligence in the military domain, the State Department said Monday. Launched in February, the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy aims to build international consensus on responsible behavior and guide countries' development, deployment and use of military AI, according to the department. The declaration came amid grow

Nov. 14, 2023

Ministry to aid S. Koreans facing death penalty for drug trafficking

Two South Korean nationals sentenced to death for drug trafficking by a Vietnamese court will be offered consular services necessary for due process and a fair trial in case of appeal, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Monday. The two Koreans were among 18 defendants found guilty of drug offenses in a trial court ruling last week, according to VnExpress, a Vietnamese online media outlet. Kim, 63, and Kang, 30, were partners who had made ties in a Korean prison for unrelated crimes. A Chinese na

Nov. 13, 2023

Yoon to attend IPEF meeting in San Francisco

President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the meeting of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity in San Francisco on Thursday, Yoon's office confirmed Sunday. The IPEF meeting will be joined by the leaders of 14 member countries, and is aimed at discussing "concrete plans for cooperation" between member states, according to Yoon's office. Participating countries of the United States-led initiative include Korea, Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Nov. 12, 2023

Biden, Xi to hold summit next week on bilateral ties, N. Korea, Taiwan, Middle East: officials

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a much-anticipated summit in the San Francisco Bay Area next week, senior U.S. administration officials have said. Biden and Xi plan to meet bilaterally Wednesday on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering slated to begin its weeklong run in San Francisco on Saturday, the officials said in a telephonic press briefing Thursday. The leaders are expected to discuss a "whole range" of issues, including

Nov. 10, 2023