By Kurt Achin Seoul 07 June 2008 Senior Japanese and North Korean envoys are seeking to end almost a year of diplomatic silence with each other as they meet this weekend in the Chinese capital. The discussions are partly aimed at facilitating upcomi...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 04 June 2008 South Korea says it is willing to send tens of thousands of tons of immediate food aid to impoverished North Korea. The aid would fulfill a deal made during the previous South Korean administration, but may not ease...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 03 June 2008 South Korea is seeking to ease some domestic irritation, with a move that could complicate American-Korean trade relations. Seoul is amending its promise to resume U.S. beef imports by imposing new trade conditions a...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 24 April 2008 The United States and South Korea are each gearing up for a crucial vote to ratify a major trade liberalization deal. In South Korea, opponents of the pact are trying to block a separate compromise to open up the cou...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 18 April 2008 South Korean officials have publicly announced details of a deal to resume imports of United States beef. South Korea cited health concerns when it banned U.S. beef five years ago. The issue has been a major source o...
By Nancy-Amelia Collins Jakarta 08 April 2008 The top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill has met with his North Korean counterpart in Singapore to end an impasse over talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Colli...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 08 April 2008 South Koreans are celebrating the launch of their country's first space traveler. Yi So-yeon has become the first South Korean woman to blast into orbit on her way to a research mission on the International Space Sta...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 02 April 2008 South Korean officials have issued their first formal response to recent moves by North Korea, labeling some of the North's recent statements inappropriate. The exchange comes as high-level American and South Korean...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 01 April 2008 North Korea has singled out South Korea's president for harsh criticism, for the first time since he took office. Meanwhile, the chief American envoy to talks aimed ending North Korea's nuclear weapons is in Seoul,...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 31 March 2008 South Korea is opting for a low public policy profile amid escalating tensions with North Korea. Seoul officials kept quiet, a day after Pyongyang threatened to turn the South into ashes. VOA's Kurt Achin reports fro...