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 Lee Jon-young In the spring of 2025, Diplomacy Journal, a diplomacy-specialized publication that has been at the center of Korea's diplomatic history, celebrated its 28th anniversary. In 1997, when diplomacy was still an unfamiliar and distant concept to many Koreans, Diplomacy Journal took its first steps with a single mission: to “record the scene of diplomacy.” From scenes of establishing diplomatic relations to embassy openings, international conferences, diplomats' on-the-ground essays, and the stories of consular officers who work behind the scenes, Diplomacy Journal has fa
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young In the heart of Seoul's Changgyeonggung Palace, Chundangji (春塘池) is a tranquil spot where cherry blossoms bloom in spring and mallards float in the pond. Amidst this peaceful scene, a strangely disparate stone pagoda stands out. It is the seven-story octagonal stone pagoda of Changgyeonggung Palace, Treasure No. 1119. Many visitors pass in front of it. They read the small sign and think, “Since there is a pagoda, it must be an old cultural property,” and they pass it by. However, this stone pagoda is not just an old treasure. It was not built on Korean soil, nor is
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 Fast fashion is accelerating an environmental catastrophe, with the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of clothing either incinerated or sent to landfill every second, the UN chief warned on March 27. Speaking at an event commemorating Sunday’s International Day of Zero Waste, Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to curb the textile industry’s devastating impact on the planet., the UN News reported. “Dressing to kill could kill the planet,” he stressed. The fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, responsible for up to
By UN Journal Kayla Lee UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern on April 2 over the human toll resulting from the intensified hostilities in Gaza, the UN news reported. He condemned the reported killing of more than a thousand people, including women and children, since the collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on 18 March. In his daily press briefing, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that large-scale Israeli shelling and ground operations have resulted in widespread destruction and the displacement of more than 100,000 Palestinians from Rafah in the pa
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 Jon-young Former Constitutional Court Judge Lee Young-jin (64) has been appointed as the new chairman of the Sports Fairness Commission of Korean Sport and Olympic Committee. Korean Sport and Olympic Committee held a board meeting on the afternoon of March 27 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul Grand Ballroom in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The board agreed to appoint former Constitutional Court Justice Lee Young-jin as chairman of the Sports Fairness Commission. Lee will succeed Kim Byung-chul and will begin his two-year term as soon as the appointment process is completed. Lee, a 22nd class of
By UN Journal Kayla Lee The United Nations on March 26 welcomed recent diplomatic talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia, calling an agreement on freedom of navigation and security in the Black Sea a crucial step for global food security, the UN News reported. In a statement, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, said the UN chief’s good offices remain available to support all efforts towards a lasting peace in Ukraine. “Reaching an agreement on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to ensure the protection of civilian vessels a
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