By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo South Korean airline Eastar Jet has launched a new direct flight on the Seoul – Almaty route on April 7, marking another step in strengthening ties between Kazakhstan and South Korea. This is the first flight to Kazakhstan operated by Korean low-cost airline (LCC). Speaking at the launch ceremony, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Nurgali Arystanov emphasized that currently there were 11 direct flights per week between the two countries, and the addition of two new flights by Eastar Jet creates a new "aviation bridge", which will further promote business partnerships and incre
By UN Journal Kayla Lee The government of the Republic of Korea welcomed the adoption by consensus at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on April 3 (Geneva time) of a resolution on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which was co-sponsored by 54 countries including the Republic of Korea. The adoption of the resolution by consensus for ten consecutive years testifies to the international community’s concern over the dire human rights situation in the DPRK and sends a united message from the international community cal
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo On April 3, in the city of Samarkand, on the sidelines of the “Central Asia and the European Union” Summit, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, HE. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, met with the President of the European Council, H.E. Mr. Antonio Costa. The two sides discussed issues of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union. The President Emomali Rahmon, emphasized that “we consider the European Union to be one of our important partners in the international arena.” Antonio Costa stressed the importance of resolving border issues between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzst
By UN Journal Kayla Lee United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met on April 3 in Brussels to strengthen trilateral cooperation in advancing the safety, security, and prosperity of our three countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region, while upholding shared principles including the rule of law. The Secretary and Foreign Ministers emphasized the importance of NATO’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific Partners to ensure the ability to swiftly respond to security developments and challenges in the Euro
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The leaders of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan convened for a trilateral summit in the historic city of Khujand on March 31, 2025. President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon welcomed the visiting heads of state, His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In his opening remarks, President Rahmon extended Navruz greetings and highlighted the holiday's enduring significance in promoting human values, mutual respect, and harmony. He
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Obid Khakimov, director of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, to UN Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul. –Ed. On April 3–4, 2025, Samarkand will host a historic event: the first-ever Summit between the European Union and Central Asia. The meeting will be chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and will include the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The EU will be represented by European Council President Antonio Cost
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo George Mason University Korea, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and Coupang announced on March 25 the 2025 Young Trilateral Leaders (YTL) Esports Competition, a U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral initiative aimed at fostering strategic thinking, teamwork, and digital engagement among young gamers. This competition will serve as an educational platform for participants to develop essential cognitive and collaborative skills within a competitive environment while strengthening trilateral relations between the three nations. The YTL Esports Competition provid
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Group announced a significant investment of USD 21 billion in the United States from 2025 to 2028, the group said on March 25. This commitment reflects the Group’s strategic focus on expanding its manufacturing capabilities, advancing future technologies, and enhancing energy infrastructure in America. This latest U.S. investment builds on the Group’s existing allocation of approximately USD 20.5 billion since entering the U.S. market in 1986. “Hyundai Motor Group is deepening its partnership with the United States, reinforcing our shared vision for Amer
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Lee Jooil, Director-General for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who visited Madrid, Spain, held the 5th meeting of the Korean and Spanish Directors-General for Latin American and Caribbean affairs with Francisco Javier Gasso Matoses, Director-General for Ibero-America and the Caribbean at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 19. The two directors-general exchanged views on the rapidly changing global environment and the consequent changes in the Latin American situation. They also discussed foreign policies toward La
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok met with Mongolian Ambassador to Korea Sukhbold Sukhee in the provincial building on March 20 to discuss ways to promote friendly exchanges for mutual prosperity. “Mongolia is a country with vast territory, abundant mineral resources and green energy resources, and we look forward to exchanges in various fields of economy and trade, education, culture and tourism,” Gov. Kim said. He went on to introduce various international events held in Jeonnam and the cultural industries of the province, calling for interest. Major international
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province, met with former Israeli Ambassador to Korea Chaim Choshen, who visited Pohang on March 18, and asked him to help build bridges between Pohang and Israel. Former Ambassador Chaim Choshen, who received an honorary doctorate from Handong University, is one of Israel's leading experts on East Asia and served as the country's ambassador to South Korea from 2016 to 2020. He has been involved with Pohang since the 2017 earthquake, when the Israeli Embassy donated $10,000 worth of supplies to local victims. Recently, he
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation will be held from 29 to 31 May 2025 in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, to highlight the vital role of glaciers in maintaining global ecological balance and addressing water-related challenges, the Embassy of Tajikistan in Seoul said on March 18. This Conference will emphasize the crucial connection between glaciers and sustainable socio-economic development, focusing on how glacier preservation is essential to safeguarding livelihoods, ensuring water availability, minimizing related hazards, recognizing t
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo “Tajikistan stands ready for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Korea in such areas as hydropower, textile, light, chemical and food industries, mining and processing of mineral ore and rare metals, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, transport and tourism,” said Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea Salohiddin Kirom on March 14. In an exclusive interview with Diplomacy Journal held at the Embassy of Tajikistan in Hannan-dong, Seoul, Amb. Salohiddin Kirom said, “Tajikistan is open to conside
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Director-General for International Security Youn Jong-kwon held a meeting with Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defense of the European External Action Service (EEAS), to exchange views on ways to expand ROK-EU security cooperation on March 11. Building upon the agreement to strengthen security partnership reached at the 2023 summit and in line with the ROK-EU Security and Defense Partnership document adopted in November 2024, the two sides agreed on seeking to hold an ROK-EU Security and Defense Dialogue in Seoul in the first half o
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron on March 11-13, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul said. France, a highly developed industrial and agricultural nation, holds a leading global position in industrial output. Its economic prowess places it among the world’s top seven economies. A nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France also plays a pivotal role within the European Union and on the broader international stage. France recognized Uzbekistan’s independen