Pompeo says NK denuclearization will only happen with Xi's 'permission,' no carrots to convince it

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that North Korea's denuclearization will happen only with Chinese President Xi Jinping's "permission" and "direction," underlining the need to focus on deterring Beijing from using Pyongyang as a "strategic tool." During a forum, Pompeo, the chief diplomat during President Donald Trump's first administration, recounted his nuclear negotiations with the North in 2018 and 2019, claiming there is not much freedom for North Korean leader Kim Jong-

Nov. 18, 2025

Lee begins UAE state visit with tribute at war memorial

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday visited a United Arab Emirates war memorial to pay tribute to fallen service personnel and public servants, the first stop on his three-day state visit. Lee began his schedule in Abu Dhabi with a stop at Wahat Al Karama, which means "Oasis of Dignity," a site that commemorates all Emiratis who were killed in the line of duty. "In the name of the people of the Republic of Korea, I pay tribute to your noble sacrifice," he wrote in the guest book, referring to Sout

Nov. 18, 2025

Lee set for summit with UAE president, with defense industry ties in focus

President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold summit talks with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday, with discussions expected to focus on cooperation in the defense industry, advanced technologies and energy. Lee arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for a three-day state visit, the first stop of his inaugural Middle East trip since taking office in June, aimed at deepening economic cooperation with the UAE. During the summit, the two leaders are scheduled to attend the sig

Nov. 18, 2025

Busan a model for Rwanda's tourism, smart city vision: Kigali mayor

Busan serves as a model of urban and tourism development for Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, according to Kigali Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva, who visited South Korea last month for a global city tourism summit. “We see a lot of tourism coming to Busan. They are expecting 3.5 million tourists this year, so we can learn from them and see how to make the experience for our tourists much better and more enjoyable,” Dusengiyumva told The Korea Herald in an interview, noting Busan’s urban planning, infrastruc

Nov. 17, 2025

Polish ambassador voices hopes to build on 'exemplary' Korea-Poland ties

Korea and Poland have built "exemplary ties" that will continue to strengthen and expand, Polish ambassador to Korea said during the Nov. 12 celebration of more than a century of Polish independence. Poland regained its sovereignty on Nov. 11, 1918, reappearing on the world map after 123 years of partitions. The day is commemorated annually as a reminder of the nation's restored independence. “Poland learned the hard way that independence is not bestowed upon us forever. And this lesson remains

Nov. 17, 2025

[Contribution] Central Asia, on threshold of a new era

By Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Central Asia is entering a new, historically significant stage of its development. Today, we are moving toward genuine unity. For the first time in many years, an atmosphere of trust, good neighborliness, and mutual respect is taking shape in our region — an atmosphere that serves as a solid foundation for joint progress. This process is not spontaneous. It is the result of purposeful work and the political will of the leaders of our

Nov. 16, 2025

Trump govt. directs visa officers to mull obesity, diabetes, other conditions as reasons to deny visas: report

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told overseas diplomatic missions that the United States will consider obesity, diabetes, cancer and other health conditions as grounds to deny visas, a report said Thursday, as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to reduce immigration. Citing a Nov. 6 State Department cable, The Washington Post reported that Rubio told US consulates and embassies about the directive -- a move expected to toughen screening procedures for visa applicants, including

Nov. 14, 2025

Expert calls S. Korea's nuclear-powered sub acquisition 'possible' but 'long road'

An expert on Wednesday described South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines as a "possible" yet "challenging" undertaking, as he pointed to an array of hurdles, including US licensing procedures, nuclear proliferation concerns and relations with China, to name a few. James Kim, director of the Korea Program at the Stimson Center, touched on potential challenges that Seoul might face on its path to acquiring conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, during a forum hosted by

Nov. 13, 2025

G7 top diplomats reaffirm commitment to 'complete' denuclearization of N. Korea

The top diplomats of the Group of Seven countries Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and denounced the recalcitrant regime's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The chief diplomats of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Japan and the High Representative of the European Union issued a joint statement after they met under Canada's presidency in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, on Tuesday and Wednesday. "We stro

Nov. 13, 2025

Philippine foreign affairs secretary says APEC vital for future ASEAN-Korea cooperation

The Philippines views Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation as a crucial platform to advance ASEAN-Korea shared prosperity, sustainability and inclusive growth, said Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro. “ASEAN is already Korea’s second-largest trading partner, and the Philippines is keen to further strengthen that link,” she said in an interview with The Korea Herald, stressing plans to boost cooperation in AI, digital transformation, green energy and high-value sectors such as

Nov. 12, 2025

Azerbaijan marks Victory Day in Seoul

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul on Nov. 6 commemorated Victory Day, marking the recapture of Shusha in 2020 and Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War. Speaking at the ceremony, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Korea Ramin Hasanov said the 2020 outcome ended decades of contested control over Azerbaijani territories and helped create “conditions for regional peace.” The ambassador also discussed ongoing peace efforts, noting progress following President Ilham Aliyev’s 2023 visit to Washingto

Nov. 12, 2025

Vietnam eyes deeper ties with S. Korea to bolster APEC cooperation

Vietnam is deepening its regional and bilateral engagement within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, identifying South Korea as a crucial partner amid global supply chain disruptions, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang in a written interview with The Korea Herald. Reflecting on Vietnam’s past roles as APEC summit host in 2006 and 2017, Hang emphasized Hanoi’s ongoing “substantive contributions” to the APEC 2025 process through its active participation in ministerial meetings

Nov. 12, 2025

Sudan urges international action, condemns RSF atrocities

The Sudanese Embassy in Seoul called on the international community to act decisively to preserve Sudan’s unity and sovereignty at a press briefing on Wednesday. Intense clashes in central Sudan’s North Kordofan have displaced around 2,000 people in just three days, according to the UN migration agency, as the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues to claim tens of thousands of lives. The conflict, which began in April 2023 over a power s

Nov. 11, 2025

S. Korea to send special envoy to Angola for 50th independence anniv.

South Korea is sending a special envoy to Angola this week to attend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the country's independence, the foreign ministry said Monday. Kim Dong-chan, a retired diplomat and former ambassador to Angola, will take part in the commemorative event Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement. During his visit, Kim will deliver a personal letter from Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to Angolan President Joao Lourenco. South Korea and Angola have strengthened economic co

Nov. 10, 2025

US military calls NK missile launch 'destabilizing,' reaffirms readiness to defend allies

A US military command on Friday reiterated America's readiness to defend its homeland and allies, stressing that North Korea's ballistic missile launch this week underscores the "destabilizing" impact of Pyongyang's actions. The Indo-Pacific Command released a statement after Pyongyang fired one suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday (Korean time). "We are aware of the missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners," the command said. "While

Nov. 8, 2025