Most Popular
-
1
[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
-
2
Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
-
3
S. Korea calls on Japan to confront history amid Yasukuni Shrine visit
-
4
Yoon’s jailed mother-in-law excluded from latest parole list
-
5
Hybe and Min Hee-jin, CEO of Hybe sublabel Ador, lock horns
-
6
[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'
-
7
Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
-
8
[Pressure points] Leggings in public: Fashion statement or social faux pas?
-
9
Nicaragua shuts down Seoul embassy
-
10
Rocket engine expert, ex-NASA exec to lead Korea's new space agency
-
N.K. mobile phone rates very low: report
North Korea’s mobile phone users pay about 15 cents a month on average for a basic plan that includes 200 voice minutes, a news report said Tuesday, indicating relatively low prices for the service despite a soaring number of customers. The number of subscribers of Koryolink, the sole telecom provider set up in 2008 as a joint venture with Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, has reportedly topped 2.4 million as of early September. But its basic plan costs only 1,000 North Korean won, which is equivalent to
Nov. 4, 2014
-
Seoul, Shanghai ink MOU to boost cooperation
South Korea's capital signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Chinese business hub of Shanghai on Tuesday to boost bilateral friendship and cooperation, the city government here said. The MOU, signed between Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and his Shanghai counterpart Yang Xiong in Beijing, calls for the two cities to cooperate in six fields: economy and trade, urban planning, urban traffic, culture and arts, tourism and human resources development. On the economic front, the two citie
Nov. 4, 2014
-
U.N., U.S. officials due in Seoul over N. Korea's human rights abuse
Two of the most symbolic figures in the international community's campaign against North Korea's human rights abuse will travel to Seoul next week amid efforts to bring the issue to the International Criminal Court (ICC), diplomatic sources said Tuesday. Marzuki Darusman, U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea, plans to visit Seoul from Monday through Friday, according to the sources. Amb. Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, will make a separate three-day tr
Nov. 4, 2014
-
S. Korea, China eye 11th-hour talks to seek free trade deal
South Korea and China were ready to lock in 11th-hour negotiations this week to wrap up a landmark free trade agreement, a senior Seoul negotiator has said, adding the two nations have intensified efforts to reach a "politically acceptable" deal. Kim Young-moo, director-general for FTA negotiations at South Korea's Trade Ministry who leads the South Korean negotiating team in the free trade talks with China, also called for Beijing on Monday to make a "big compromise" to seal a deal before to
Nov. 4, 2014
-
Korea, China to launch joint crackdown on illegal fishing
South Korea and China have agreed to launch joint efforts before the year’s end to curb illegal fishing in their shared waters, the South Korean government said Monday.“The countries agreed to begin their joint inspection of fishing activities using their surveillance ships in the joint fishing zone at the earliest date possible before the end of the year,” the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said in a press release.The agreement came at the end of four-day talks last week that sought to renew
Nov. 3, 2014
-
No troop control transfer until full deterrence in place: P.M.
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won told lawmakers Monday that the U.S. control of South Korean troops in wartime should continue until Seoul is fully ready to deter the North’s war ambitions. South Korea and the U.S. agreed late last month to a “conditions-based” operational control transition, citing North Korea’s growing military threat. The transfer, previously scheduled for December 2015, is expected to take place in the mid-2020s.With no clear time frame set, opposition lawmakers and activists c
Nov. 3, 2014
-
Korean conscripts for Japanese army seek compensation
Three family members of Koreans who were drafted into Japan’s Imperial Army during World War II said Monday they have filed a lawsuit with a local court to seek compensation from the South Korean government.South Korea and Japan signed a treaty in 1965 in which Japan agreed to pay $800 million as compensation for its 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea under Park Chung-hee’s rule, however, spent most of the payment to revitalize its economy and failed to adequately compe
Nov. 3, 2014
-
S. Korea, Dutch sign US$23 mln deal on upgrading atomic reactor in Netherlands
South Korea and the Netherlands signed a deal Monday to upgrade a Dutch experimental reactor in the first export of the Asian country's nuclear reactor technology to Europe. The signing ceremony took place as South Korean President Park Geun-hye stood side by side with visiting Dutch King Willem-Alexander after a summit at the presidential office in Seoul. A South Korean consortium is set to upgrade the capacity of an atomic reactor at Delft University of Technology to 3 megawatts from the c
Nov. 3, 2014
-
S. Korea, China agree to launch joint crackdown on illegal fishing
South Korea and China have agreed to launch joint efforts before the year's end to curb illegal fishing in their shared waters, the South Korean government said Monday. "The countries agreed to begin their joint inspection of fishing activities using their surveillance ships in the joint fishing zone at the earliest date possible before the end of the year," the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said in a press release. The agreement came at the end of four-day talks last week that sought to
Nov. 3, 2014
-
S. Korea, U.S. eye summit next week
South Korea and the United States are in talks to arrange a summit between their leaders on the sidelines of a series of regional conferences next week, government sources said Monday. The meeting, if realized, would likely be held during the East Asia Summit in Naypyidaw, Myanmar between Nov. 12 and 13 or during a summit of the Group of 20 advanced and emerging economies in Brisbane, Australia between Nov. 15 and 16, the sources said on condition of anonymity. South Korean President Park Ge
Nov. 3, 2014
-
[Newsmaker] New U.S. envoy faces daunting challenges
Fortified by expertise, experience and the trust of top U.S. leadership, Ambassador Mark Lippert is tasked with helping achieve the strategic refocus toward Asia in the face of daunting foreign policy challenges and volatile security dynamics. The former chief of staff to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel touched down in Seoul last Thursday for a three-year term, succeeding Sung Kim, who is widely expected to soon become new deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs. He w
Nov. 2, 2014
-
Foundation promotes East Asian cooperation with history lessons
Foreign residents are gaining insights into the Korean identity and culture at the Northeast Asian History Foundation’s classes every Wednesday. The Northeast Asian History Academy, a crash course on Korean history, is an eye opener to those who want to deepen and broaden their understanding of Korea in the wider context of East Asia.The participants must be adults and possess certified Korean language level 4 or higher. There are currently 50 students from nine different countries enrolled in t
Nov. 2, 2014
-
‘Korea must not forget Afghanistan in food assistance’
Korea should continue its support for food assistance in Afghanistan, the United Nation’s World Food Program country director Claude Jibidar said, calling on leaders and citizens to uphold their humanitarian commitment to the underprivileged region. Jibidar, the head of the WFP Afghanistan Office in Kabul, visited Korea from Oct. 22-24 to raise awareness about the food shortage problems in Afghanistan, and to make a pitch for more Korean support. He met with officials from Korea’s Ministry of Fo
Nov. 2, 2014
-
Exhibition teaches lessons from 20th-century Europe
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. It has been 75 years since the start of World War II, 24 years since German reunification and 21 years since the launch of the European Union. To commemorate these milestones, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies and the German Embassy are cohosting the exhibition, dubbed the “Dictatorship and democracy in the age of extremes: spotlights on the history of Europe in the 20th century.”The event, which kicked off at the Asan Instit
Nov. 2, 2014
-
Turkish Embassy celebrates 91st anniversary of national foundation
The Turkish embassy hosted a grand reception at a hotel in downtown Seoul last Wednesday to commemorate the 91st anniversary of founding the Republic of Turkey. Over 500 distinguished guests, Korean and international, attended the event.Among the participants were Korea-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Lee Hahn-koo, first vice minister of foreign affairs Cho Tae-yong and Minister of patriots and veterans affairs Park Sung-choon.Turkish ambassador to Korea Arslan Hakan Okcal said in
Nov. 2, 2014
-
Park to visit China, Myanmar, Australia next week
South Korean President Park Geun-hye will visit China, Myanmar and Australia next week to attend a series of regional summits, her senior foreign affairs secretary said Sunday.On the first leg of her trip, Park will visit Beijing for four days starting next Sunday to attend a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Ju Chul-ki said in a press briefing.From Beijing, she will fly to Naypyidaw, Myanmar to attend the East Asia Summit and a summit between member nations of the As
Nov. 2, 2014
-
Seoul, Berlin urge N.K. to abandon nukes
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Germany pressed North Korea on Friday to give up its nuclear weapons development and engage in dialogue to bring peace on the Korean Peninsula.“We shared views that it is important to attract North Korea to take the path of dialogue and cooperation,” said South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at a joint news conference held in Seoul.“To build sustainable peace on the Peninsula, North Korea should stop pursuing economic and nuclear weapons development
Oct. 31, 2014
-
S. Korea, Germany to share experience on unification
Officials from South Korea and Germany will hold a first round of bilateral talks to discuss current geopolitical issues on the Korean Peninsula and share the European country’s experience of achieving peaceful unification, the Seoul government said Friday.Germany’s top diplomat, Frank-Walter Steinmeiser, is currently in Seoul to participate in the talks and to meet President Park Geun-hye in the afternoon. Steinmeiser met South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in the morning and is set to v
Oct. 31, 2014
-
New U.S. envoy vows to 'deepen and broaden' Seoul-Washington ties
New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert on Thursday pledged to make every effort to "deepen and broaden" Seoul-Washington relations, expressing hopes that the ties will be even stronger by the end of his stint.New U.S. ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert waves hand as he arrives at Incheon International Airport, on Thursday afternoon. Yonhap Lippert, 41, arrived in Seoul on Thursday to replace Sung Kim as the top U.S. envoy to South Korea. He was appointed to the post in May and was c
Oct. 30, 2014
-
Park calls for dialogue in Northeast Asia amid tension
President Park Geun-hye called Thursday for dialogue and cooperation in Northeast Asia amid fresh tensions on the Korean Peninsula over high-level talks.The Koreas had agreed to hold high-level talks between late October and early November during a recent surprise visit to South Korea by a high-powered North Korean delegation. South Korea later proposed to hold the talks on Oct. 30 as North Korea had asked the South to set a date.On Wednesday, North Korea rejected South Korea's offer in protest
Oct. 30, 2014