Ex-Trump official voices hope for S. Korea to make 'big' contribution for defense

A former US national security advisor said Tuesday he is looking forward to a "big" contribution by South Korea in reference to ongoing negotiations between Seoul and Washington over the cost sharing for stationing the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. Robert O'Brien, who served as national security advisor for then President Donald Trump from 2019-2021, made the remarks as the allies have been engaging in negotiations over a new cost-sharing deal, called the Special Measures Agreeme

July 17, 2024

FM Cho expresses hope for cooperation between S. Korea's new space agency, NASA

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Pamela Melroy, the deputy chief of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, on Tuesday to discuss space cooperation between the two countries, according to the foreign ministry. During the meeting in Seoul, Cho expressed hope for active cooperation between the national space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration, or KASA, and NASA. KASA was launched in Sacheon, approximately 300 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 27. "Space cooperation

July 16, 2024

[Herald Interview] Seoul, Manila must expand economic, maritime partnership: ex-FM

South Korea and the Philippines have enjoyed vibrant cultural exchanges over the years. But now is the time for both countries to expand economic and maritime cooperation, according to a former foreign minister of the Southeast Asian country. "You cannot imagine how many Korean restaurants there are in the Philippines -- on every street corner," said Delia Domingo Albert, the first woman to serve as secretary of foreign affairs in the Philippines, in 2003 and 2004. Not only Korean rest

July 16, 2024

Trump picks Ohio Sen. Vance as vice presidential running mate

Former President Donald Trump on Monday announced Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as his vice presidential running mate, as the Republican Party kicked off a national convention to officially crown Trump as the GOP nominee for the November general election. Trump made the announcement on the 39-year-old critic-turned-supporter in a social media post as GOP delegates and others gathered at the four-day Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, the largest city in the battleground state of Wisconsin. V

July 16, 2024

Trump formally nominated as 2024 Republican presidential nominee

The Republican Party formally nominated former President Donald Trump as the GOP standard-bearer for the Nov. 5 general election on Monday, as a weekend assassination attempt against him has brought more voter attention to his campaign and further cemented his support base. GOP delegates crowned Trump as the presidential nominee for a third time in a roll call vote as the Republican Party Convention kicked off its four-day run in Milwaukee in the battleground state of Wisconsin, two days after h

July 16, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korea- Africa Summit sets pathway for future together: Tanzanian President

Tanzania's 1st female president urges cooperation for green growth, women's health, Korean investment The 2024 Korea-Africa Summit held in June in Seoul was a historic event that would set the stage for stronger bilateral cooperation and bridge the geographical gap in the future, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an interview with The Korea Herald. In a written interview conducted after her trip to Seoul, Hassan, Tanzania‘s first female president said South Korea an

July 15, 2024

Ruling party hails Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact as 'strong deterrent'

The ruling People Power Party on Saturday lauded the joint nuclear deterrence guidelines signed by Seoul and Washington, describing them as a potent deterrent against North Korea's provocations. "Mutual trust between South Korea and the United States, restored under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, has become a strong deterrent against the North Korean regime's reckless provocations," the PPP's spokesperson Ho Jun-seok said. On Thursday (US time) in Washington, DC, th

July 13, 2024

FM Cho meets Blinken to discuss alliance, joint response to N. Korea-Russia cooperation

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit and discussed the two nations' alliance and ways to jointly deal with growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia, Cho's office said Friday. Cho and Blinken held talks in Washington on Thursday (US time) to discuss the latest outcome of the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden, and ways to enhance bilate

July 13, 2024

Yoon returns home from US trip focused on security

President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home Friday from his five-day trip to the United States that was focused on bolstering security against rising threats posed by deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia. Yoon attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday as South Korea was invited to the summit for the third consecutive year as one of four Indo-Pacific partners alongside Japan, Australia and New Zealand. During the main session and

July 12, 2024

Defense chief vows to strengthen solidarity with France

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik vowed Friday to strengthen solidarity with France and other countries that share common values at an event commemorating France's national day, his office said. Shin made the pledge during the Bastille Day ceremony organized by the French Embassy in Seoul and the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Sebitseom artificial islands on the Han River in Seoul, according to the ministry. This year's Bastille Day falls on Sunday. "The Repub

July 12, 2024

S. Korea appeals tribunal order to pay $32m to US hedge fund

South Korea has filed an appeal against a ruling by a Hague-based arbitration court ordering it to pay $32 million to a US hedge fund to compensate for its intervention in the merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015, the Justice Ministry said Thursday. The appeal to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration follows the tribunal’s decision in April to side with Mason Capital Management, though the compensation ordered was much less than the $200 million the hedge fund had sought. Ma

July 11, 2024

Yoon arrives in Washington to attend high-stakes NATO Summit

WASHINGTON -- President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Washington on Wednesday to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit with a strong message against North Korea's military cooperation with Russia amid the prolonged war in Ukraine. South Korea was invited to the NATO summit for the third consecutive year as one of the Indo-Pacific partners, alongside Japan, Australia and New Zealand. During his two-day stay, Yoon is expected to have a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from ov

July 10, 2024

'Anything' South Korea can do for Ukraine's defense ability will be 'warmly welcomed': NATO official

"Anything" that South Korea can provide to help strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities will be "warmly welcomed," a senior NATO official said Tuesday, stressing the "strategic" implications of Russia's war in Ukraine for both Europe and Asia. The official made the remarks as Seoul has said it would reconsider its policy ban on the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine following last month's summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North

July 10, 2024

Central Asian envoys mark travel book publication

The ambassadors of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat marked the publication of a travel book titled "Central Asia 3 Countries" on July 2. Authored by Seo Byung-yong and Go Soo-youl, the book comprehensively introduces Islamic architecture, the Silk Road and popular dishes like plov and lagman to Korean travelers. It also provides lists of must-buy items and specialized itineraries, including a travel course for women traveling a

July 9, 2024

[Hello India] India highlights growing defense industry

The Indian Embassy in Seoul highlighted the country’s growing defense sector at a seminar held Thursday to explore defense industry cooperation between the two countries. Indian Ambassador to South Korea Amit Kumar said there has been a steady increase in defense cooperation and such bilateral exchange will be expanded under the common goal of securing peace in the region. At the 10th ROK-India Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in March 2024, India and Korea committed to advancing the second

July 9, 2024

Yoon arrives in Hawaii to begin US trip focused on security

President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Hawaii on Monday to kick off his trip to the United States focused on bolstering South Korea's security against North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. Yoon will stay in Honolulu for two days ahead of his visit to Washington, DC, to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit Wednesday and Thursday. Upon arrival, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and laid wreaths in honor of veter

July 9, 2024

NATO is 'not expanding' into Indo-Pacific: US official

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not expanding into the Indo-Pacific, but it has a "wide" opportunity for greater cooperation with South Korea and other regional partners, a senior US official said Monday. Ambassador Michael Carpenter, senior advisor for Europe at the White House National Security Council, made the remarks as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and the leaders of Japan, Australia and New Zealand have been invited to the NATO summit set to take place in Washin

July 9, 2024

Egypt marks 72nd National Day in Seoul

The Egyptian embassy in Seoul celebrated the country’s 72nd National Day on Friday, commemorating the 1952 Egyptian Revolution that reestablished the country as a modern republic. Celebrating the day which falls on July 23, Egyptian Ambassador to Korea Khaled Abdel Rahman emphasized the potential for synergy between Cairo and Seoul, highlighting the opportunities for collaboration across political, economic and cultural domains, promoting mutual benefits and cooperation. "Together we

July 8, 2024

Oman participates Seoul book fair as country in spotlight

Oman was the "Spotlight Country" at the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) held from June 25-30. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Oman and Korea. Delivering remarks at the event, Omani Ambassador Zakariya Hamed Hilal Al Saadi highlighted the publication of the book "Oman: A Long History of Friendship and Cooperation with Korea," by Lee Hee-soo. The book, written in both Korean and Arabic, underlines Oman-Korea cultural exchanges

July 8, 2024

Expectations grow for S. Korea-US cooperation in military logistics, MRO

Beyond their trade in flashy weapons, South Korea and the United States appear to be headed for close cooperation in a lesser-known, yet crucial defense area: military logistics and maintenance particularly in the event of a regional crisis. Seoul and Washington signed an arrangement in November to prioritize the supply of defense materials and goods to each other. They have also been seeking to ink a reciprocal defense procurement agreement designed to curtail trade barriers. The efforts on suc

July 6, 2024