Yoon, Ishiba to have summit in Laos next week: NHK

New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to have his first summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the margins of annual regional gatherings in Laos next week, Japan's broadcaster NHK reported Thursday. The two leaders will have their first in-person meeting since Ishiba took office on Tuesday, the Japanese public broadcaster said, as both plan to participate in a series of meetings involving the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos. The plann

Oct. 3, 2024

Senior US diplomats to visit S. Korea next week for workshop on NK human rights violations

Two senior US diplomats will travel to South Korea next week to attend a workshop on human rights violations in North Korea and other events, the State Department said Wednesday. During their trip from Monday to Oct. 11, Special Envoy for North Korean human rights Julie Turner and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack plan to co-host a high-level strategic workshop centering on accountability for human rights violations in the North, according to the department. Organi

Oct. 3, 2024

India’s Sarang Festival kicks off featuring classical Hindu dance

The 10th edition of India’s Sarang Festival in Korea, an annual cultural exchange event hosted by the Indian Embassy in Korea, kicked off Tuesday, featuring an hour long dance performances. The festival's title, "sarang," means "love" in Korean and "diversity" in Hindi, reflecting cultural significance for both nations. This year's Sarang Festival began with a Kuchipudi performance by renowned artist Sreelakshmy Govardhanan, with the group set to per

Oct. 2, 2024

Uttar Pradesh hosts trade show to boost $1tr economy goal

NOIDA, India -- Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, showcased production capabilities and diversity at the second edition of the five-day UP International Trade Show held from September 25 to 29. The show, inaugurated by Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, attracted over 2,500 exhibitors and foreign buyers from more than 60 countries, showcasing traditional handicrafts, technology, organic agricultural items, AI solutions, robotics, and foo

Oct. 1, 2024

Seoul, Beijing pledge stronger ties at Chinese 75th anniversary event

South Korea and China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and communication, highlighting the significance of their partnership during a reception on Thursday celebrating the upcoming 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1. The Chinese Embassy hosted the event at The Shilla Seoul on Thursday, with the attendance of over 800 guests, including South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun, current and former lawmakers

Sept. 29, 2024

S. Korea, Morocco discuss joint economic projects on energy, transportation

South Korea and Morocco have held a policy consultation meeting on envisioned joint economic and industry projects through a cooperation fund, Seoul's finance ministry said Wednesday. During the two-day meeting held in Rabat from Monday, the two nations chose energy, transportation, green growth and digital fields as key cooperation fields under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund framework and discussed candidate projects, according to the finance ministry. The move came as South Kor

Sept. 25, 2024

Malaysia celebrates 67th National Day in Seoul

The Malaysian Embassy in Seoul celebrated the country's 67th National Day Monday, commemorating Malaysia's independence from British Colonial rule in 1957. Celebrating the day, which falls on August 31, Malaysian Ambassador to South Korea Mohd Zamruni Khalid emphasized that the country, surrounded by unprecedented political uncertainties, has remained steadfast and resilient in its quest to move forward. "Over the years, Malaysia has shown that it can overcome the odds. ... Today,

Sept. 24, 2024

Top diplomats of S. Korea, US, Japan to hold talks in New York

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold talks on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly in New York on Monday (local time), according to South Korea's foreign ministry. This will be the first trilateral meeting among South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa since their last talks during the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Brazil in February. The diplomats are expected to d

Sept. 23, 2024

S. Korea, US to hold 8th round of talks on defense cost sharing this week

South Korea and the United States are set to hold another round of negotiations this week to determine Seoul's contribution to the cost of stationing US Forces Korea, a South Korean foreign ministry official said Monday. The eighth round of talks on the Special Measures Agreement will be held from Wednesday to Friday in Seoul, according to the official. The current six-year SMA is scheduled to expire at the end of next year. "The government plans to conduct discussions with the stance

Sept. 23, 2024

S. Korea, US to hold regular defense talks to discuss deterrence against NK threats

South Korea and the United States will hold regular defense talks next week to discuss ways to strengthen security cooperation against North Korean nuclear and missile threats, the South's defense ministry said Friday. The 25th Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) is set to be held in Seoul on Monday and Tuesday for discussions on an array of security alliance issues ahead of the annual Security Consultative Meeting, which takes place annually in the fall. South Korea's Deputy M

Sept. 20, 2024

Biden, Harris offer congratulatory messages at first-ever White House Chuseok reception

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated Chuseok, the Korean autumn harvest celebration, in a message stressing Korean Americans' cultural heritage and contributions to the United States, as the first-ever White House Chuseok reception took place Tuesday. Some 100 Korean Americans, US officials and others gathered at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for the event that was made possible under an initiative led largely by former and current Korean American White

Sept. 18, 2024

S. Korea to provide $2m to typhoon-hit Vietnam

South Korea will provide Vietnam with $2 million in humanitarian assistance to help cope with the aftermath of a strong typhoon that killed more than 150 people, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The government hopes that the provision will help with the recovery efforts and help the affected residents be able to quickly return to their daily lives, the ministry said in a release. Typhoon Yagi, Asia's most powerful typhoon this year, swept through the northern part of Vietnam, bringing he

Sept. 12, 2024

Germany committed to security in Indo-pacific, says defense chief

German Chief of Defense Gen. Carsten Breuer, reaffirmed Germany’s military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, calling South Korea a crucial partner. “For four years now, we have increased our presence in the Indo-Pacific, and we will continue to consolidate our commitment," he said, adding that Germany’s naval and air forces were being deployed worldwide. “South Korea is once again part of our deployment,” he said appreciating South Korea as a crucial partner, an

Sept. 11, 2024

Kenya studying Korean tech for housing

Kenya is studying South Korea's advanced technology to improve housing infrastructure and address the African country's housing challenges. “Our goal is to build 200,000 housing units annually, and we’ve already started over 100,000 units since July 2023,” Charles Hinga, principal secretary of Kenya's State Department for Housing and Urban Development, said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Saturday. Kenya plans to use Korean technology, such as aluminum f

Sept. 10, 2024

India's Rajasthan government woos Korean investors

The Indian state of Rajasthan sought to encourage Korean companies at the Rising Rajasthan Roadshow event in Seoul on Monday. The roadshow comes in the lead-up the Rajasthan's government's Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit, to be held from Dec. 9-11 in Jaipur, the capital city of the state. Led by Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the roadshow delegation highlighted the state's opportunities in renewable energy and automotive manufacturing, electronics an

Sept. 10, 2024

German frigate visits Incheon on Indo-Pacific mission

The German frigate Baden-Wurttemberg and replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main arrived in Incheon on Friday as part of the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024, a key German maritime defense diplomacy initiative in the region. Before reaching Incheon, the ships played a role in monitoring the United Nations arms embargo against North Korea, said the German Embassy in a press release Friday. The ships leave Incheon on Tuesday, it added. According to the embassy, the deployment aligns with the mission of t

Sept. 8, 2024

Uzbekistan touts deepening ties with S. Korea on Independence Day

Uzbekistan touted deepening ties with South Korea, marking the 33rd anniversary of the country's independence and the 32nd year of their bilateral relations Friday. Uzbekistan, which became part of the Soviet Union in 1924, declared its independence on August 31, 1991. "Today, we celebrate remarkable achievements, including more than a one-and-a-half-fold increase in GDP, a doubling of business entities, and over 40 percent growth in the industry," said Uzbek Ambassador-designate

Sept. 3, 2024

Azerbaijan’s green energy, connectivity vital: presidential envoy

Elchin Amirbayov, special envoy of the president of Azerbaijan, urged Korean companies to participate in Azerbaijan's green energy sector and connectivity projects in an interview with The Korea Herald on Aug. 26. “Korean companies can take part in this green energy zone, which has great potential as it is expected to expand significantly in the near future,” Amirbayov said, pointing to the evolving geopolitical landscape and a growing need for sustainable energy globally. Korea

Sept. 3, 2024

UAE highlights women's empowerment in Seoul

The UAE Embassy in Seoul marked Emirati Women's Day, underscoring the UAE's ongoing commitment to women's empowerment, Wednesday. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as the "Mother of the UAE Nation," established Emirati Women's Day in 2015, to be celebrated annually on Aug. 28, as a testament to the United Arab Emirates' dedication to empowering women across all sectors. The occasion coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the General Women's Uni

Aug. 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Paraguay eyes nuclear power for future energy: minister

Paraguay is committed to diversifying energy and one sector that the country is looking into in the near future is nuclear energy, said Javier Gimenez, Paraguay's minister of industry and commerce, in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul, stressing that the Latin American country is seeking investments from South Korean companies in its energy sector. “Korea is a specialist in nuclear energy,” said Gimenez, pointing to nuclear energy as a promising area for South Korea th

Aug. 30, 2024