[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

S. Korea calls for efforts to strengthen positive cycle of bilateral progress with Japan

A senior South Korean diplomat on Friday called on Japan to work together to strengthen the positive cycle of bilateral relations between the two countries, as they held their first strategic talks in more than a year. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo made the remark during the 16th strategic dialogue with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, stressing the need for the cooperation in a way that would benefit the peoples of the two countries. Park said the two governments should

Nov. 7, 2025

Seoul, Asian partners launch new council to advance regional legal cooperation

South Korea’s Ministry of Government Legislation on Friday launched the Council of Asian Legislative Institutions — a new multilateral platform established with Mongolia, Thailand and Uzbekistan to foster legal cooperation and joint legislative development across Asia. The launch ceremony, held in Seoul, was attended by officials from South Korea and abroad, including Pakorn Nillprapunt, secretary-general of the Thai Cabinet Secretariat, and Ikramov Muzraf, vice minister of justice of Uzbekistan

Nov. 7, 2025

Vice defense ministers of S. Korea, Canada discuss arms cooperation

The vice defense ministers of South Korea and Canada met in Ottawa earlier this week to discuss strengthening their defense and arms industry cooperation, the South's defense ministry said Thursday. Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee and his Canadian counterpart, Stefanie Beck, held talks on Wednesday and held in-depth discussions on such cooperation, according to the ministry. The meeting came after the leaders of South Korea and Canada agreed to bolster security partnership in summit talks last

Nov. 6, 2025

Kenya-Korea partnership to boost green infrastructure: principal secretary

Kenya sees South Korea as a vital partner in driving green growth, clean energy and sustainable development, said Festus K. Ng'eno, principal secretary for Kenya's State Department for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, in an interview with The Korea Herald. Ng'eno was in Seoul to attend the Global Green Growth Week — a conference hosted by the Global Green Growth Institute that brings together policymakers and experts to promote sustainable and inclusive development. Ng’eno said Korea’s

Nov. 5, 2025

Vietnamese president visits ASEAN House in Busan

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong visited ASEAN Culture House, operated by the Korea Foundation, in Busan on Saturday. The house is the only institution outside Southeast Asia promoting the cultures of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Cuong was welcomed by around 100 members of the Vietnamese community in Korea, where he met with Kim Ghee-whan, president of the Korea Foundation, and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon. During the visit, Cuong left a gift of a book on the Dong So

Nov. 4, 2025