GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — South Korea held the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit on Tuesday to forge new strategic cooperation with African countries which serve as a cornerstone of the Global South, putting the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's key agenda to become a "global pivotal state" to test. The Korea-Africa summit is seen as a crucial assessment for the Yoon government in realizing the core national security and foreign policy vision of becoming a "global pivotal st

Foreign Affairs June 4, 2024

The South Korean presidential office on Monday decided to propose completely suspending the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, following North Korea floating around 1,000 trash-filled balloons toward South Korea. The National Security Office made this decision after Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo convened a meeting at 11 a.m. Monday to discuss follow-up measures to decisions made at the emergency meeting of the National Securit

North Korea June 3, 2024

JEJU ISLAND -- As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, South Korea is uniquely positioned to address not only North Korean issues but also pressing global challenges, leveraging its strengths — successful experiences and significant global contributions in areas such as food security and peacekeeping operations, senior UN officials and experts emphasized on Thursday. Furthermore, South Korea's direct concern with the impact of human rights violations on security —

Foreign Affairs May 31, 2024

JEJU ISLAND -- South Korea and other Asian countries should take a realistic approach and explore feasible options for de-escalating the conflict in the Gaza Strip, while acknowledging the limitations of their influence on the matter, Asia-based experts said Thursday during the Jeju Forum. "The Korean government should soberly evaluate the extent of its leverage in shaping its stance on the issue," Ma Young-sam, who served as South Korean ambassador to Israel as well as the inaugural h

Foreign Affairs May 31, 2024

JEJU ISLAND -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that the increasing cooperation between the North Atlantic alliance and its Indo-Pacific partners including South Korea, sends a "powerful signal" against active attempts by countries including Russia to "rip up" the rules-based international order. "These ties matter today more than ever. We live in a dangerous world," Stoltenberg stated in a keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the

Foreign Affairs May 30, 2024

South Africa intends to broaden its export horizons with South Korea to include value-added products, a strategic shift deemed by the country essential for enhancing the economic partnership between the two countries, the South African ambassador to South Korea said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Ambassador Zenani Mandela-Dlamini said the bilateral trade relationship spans a diverse range of products, from minerals and semi-finished goods to high-tech electronic products. South Africa fe

Foreign Affairs May 29, 2024

South Korea and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday officially signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement aimed at enhancing trade openness, expanding market access and fostering investment during the first state visit of the UAE president to South Korea. The UAE is the first Arab country to sign such an agreement with South Korea. Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-Geun and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, attend the signing ceremony hel

Foreign Affairs May 29, 2024

The South Korean government on Monday underscored the significance of China's consent to include the phrase "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" in the joint summit declaration released earlier in the day, given the shifts in the geopolitical landscape including growing US-China rivalry and Beijing's deliberate avoidance of explicitly mentioning the phrase. The joint declaration followed the first trilateral summit in around 4 1/2 years, hosted in Seoul, where South Kor

Foreign Affairs May 27, 2024

Exploring the importance of the Korea-Africa partnership amidst global challenges and its potential for mutual prosperity, the African Group of Ambassadors in Seoul and Herald Media Group, co-hosted Africa Day 2024 Korea Business Forum on Thursday. Under the slogan, "When African Possibilities Meet Korean Capabilities," the event was held in anticipation of an inaugural summit that the South Korean government is set to host in June 4-5 with African countries in Seoul, and also to celeb

Foreign Affairs May 26, 2024

The South Korean government announced Friday sanctions against two North Korean individuals and two Russian ships involved in illicit arms and oil trades with Russia, contravening UN Security Council resolutions, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul. Rim Yong-hyok was blacklisted for his involvement in weapons trading between Russia and North Korea while serving as the representative of the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation in Syria, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The

Foreign Affairs May 24, 2024

South Korea has the "potential to be the most trustworthy partner for African countries" by leveraging its unique experience of rapidly transitioning from a developing to an advanced country overcoming historical challenges akin to those faced by the African continent, said Park Jong-dae, a former South Korean ambassador to South Africa and Uganda. "Korea has no history of colonial rule over other countries, and it has navigated a development path similar to what many African nati

Foreign Affairs May 22, 2024

Herald Media Group will co-host "Africa Day 2024 Korea" on Thursday in collaboration with the African Group of Ambassadors representing 20 African countries, under the slogan "When African Possibilities Meet Korean Capabilities." The main aim of the event is to show how South Korea and Africa can chart a path forward in their economic partnership, and pave the way for the successful hosting of the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit on June 4 and 5. The event at the Convention Cen

Foreign Affairs May 22, 2024

The South Korean government expressed condolences on Monday over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the other passengers involved in a helicopter crash. "The government expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families and the people of Iran for the loss of the Iranian president and his entourage in the helicopter crash that occurred on May 19," read a statement issued under the name of South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson. "(The gov

Foreign Affairs May 20, 2024

Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Monday issued a warning of the severe adverse security consequences that South Korea could face if it relies on the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's professed intentions of denuclearization. The minister's remarks directly contradict the memoir of former President Moon Jae-in, in which he wrote that Kim Jong-un "earnestly explained his commitment to denuclearization." "Placing complete trust in North Korea's intentions would only

North Korea May 20, 2024

South Korea and Zimbabwe have the potential to cultivate a mutually enriching "win-win" partnership by enchanting cooperation in developing manufacturing value chains, capitalizing on the unique strengths of each country, Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Korea Stewart Nyakotyo said in his interview with The Korea Herald. "Zimbabwe and Korea have 30 years of relations, and the future we want, which we can make together, is shared prosperity and growth," Ambassador Nyakotyo said

Foreign Affairs May 15, 2024