By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo At a press conference held at the Embassy of Guatemala in Seoul on Nov. 13, Guatemalan Ambassador to Korea Sara Solis highlighted the excellence of Guatemalan coffee and expressed hopes of attracting more Korean tourists to experience the country’s rich culture and natural beauty. The ambassador emphasized that Guatemalan coffee, grown in volcanic soil at high altitudes above 1,500 meters, offers a rich aroma and balanced acidity that perfectly suit Korean tastes. “Koreans have a deep appreciation for quality coffee, and we believe Guatemala’s beans can bring them an
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Praying for the successful hosting of the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul, the ‘Concert of Love’ commemorating the 78th anniversary of the establishment of Jamwon-dong Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul will be held on the evening of November 15 in the main sanctuary. This concert will be open to all, featuring free admission and open seating, designed as an inclusive festival for both parishioners and local residents. Amidst the gentle melodies enveloping late autumn, the parish community will share a time of faith filled with hope and love. Ahead of the 2027
By UN Journal Lee Gil-ju Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, visiting Canada to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held his first bilateral meeting with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on November 11 (local time). Minister Cho congratulated Minister Cooper on her appointment (September 2025) and expressed hope to deepen practical cooperation between the two countries across various fields, including economy and trade, defense and security, and science and technology. He also expressed hope that the ongoing Korea-UK FTA improvement negotiations would be expedited, thereby further strength
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The 16th Executive Committee meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Asia–Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum was held in Seoul, where participants discussed ways to strengthen partnerships between the countries of the region and the Republic of Korea. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Forum Secretariat, and the Embassies of the Central Asian countries. The agenda covered the 2025 activities of the Secretariat and the main priorities for 2026, including preparations for the first Central Asia
By UN Journal Kayla Lee At the 80th session of the UNGA First Committee, two resolutions submitted by the Republic of Korea (ROK) were adopted on Thursday, November 6, with overwhelming support from UN Member States: “Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security,” co-tabled by the ROK and the Netherlands, and “Youth, Disarmament and Non-proliferation,” tabled solely by the ROK, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The “Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security” resolution
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo A solemn event dedicated to 8 November-Victory Day was held in Seoul, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Korea. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Korea, Ramin Hasanov, delivered a heartfelt speech to those gathered at the event. He began by emphasizing that Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War in 2020 not only ended occupation of Azerbaijani territories after more than 30 years of historical injustice, but also created the conditions necessary for peace in the region. He explained that the end of the occupation
By UN Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first telephone conversation with Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on November 5, exchanging views on bilateral relations and the international situation. Minister Cho noted the strengthening of substantive cooperation between South Korea and Finland in areas such as the defense industry and key minerals, and expressed his hope that they would deepen cooperation across all sectors through active high-level exchanges. Minister Valtonen congratulated Minister Cho on his inauguration and praised South Korea's successful
By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young held a meeting with the new EU Ambassador to South Korea Ugo Astuto on Nov. 5 and requested the EU Ambassador to appoint an EU-level special envoy for the Korean Peninsula. During a meeting with Ambassador Astuto at the Government Complex Seoul that morning, Minister Chung explained the Seoul government's policy initiatives to restore trust and foster a peaceful environment between the two Koreas. He stated, "Dialogue and negotiation are necessary to transform the Korean Peninsula into a peaceful environment," and requested act
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov. 2 and agreed to establish a "strategic partnership" between the two countries, deepening cooperation in the areas of economy and security. Following the summit with Prime Minister Wong at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, President Lee issued a joint press release stating, "We agreed that the international order that has supported global growth and prosperity is being shaken, and that strategic cooperation between our two countries is crucial in the face of global challenge
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah Minsk, the capital of Belarus. For those living here, Lake Zaslavskaye is simply a nearby retreat. However, the lake, nicknamed the "Minsk Sea," has become a magnet for both city dwellers and tourists. Located just 5km from downtown Minsk, the lake offers the perfect escape for those seeking a seaside escape in the city. Lake Zaslavskaye was created in 1956 to prevent flooding and secure water resources. This artificial reservoir, created at the time, has held special significance from its very existence. Covering an area of approximately 31.1 squ
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah The monument, located near the Brest Fortress in Belarus, is a symbolic site of significance and historical importance during World War II. This monument is more than just a stone and iron structure; it serves as an unforgettable reminder of sacrifice and courage for those who love Belarus and its history. The Battle of the Brest Fortress was a fierce battle that took place in 1941 during the Nazi German invasion. Soviet troops and local residents risked their lives to defend the fortress and fight against the invaders. Their indomitable spirit re
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah Every night, a giant diamond shines in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. It is the National Library of Belarus. Founded in 1922, the library was reborn in 2006 with a new, modern building, transforming it into a multi-cultural space where knowledge and art coexist. Designed by architects Viktor Kramarenko and Mikhail Vinogradov, the library is a 23-story polyhedron with a unique shape known as a "rhombicuboctahedron." This symbolizes a "jewel embodying knowledge." The glass exterior sparkles in the sunlight during the day, and at night, over 4,600 LE
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young President Lee Jae-myung held his first summit on Nov. 1 with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was visiting South Korea as a state guest for the first time in 11 years. The summit focused on establishing a direction for the development of South Korea-China relations that would contribute substantially to the livelihoods of the people of both countries, based on the shared understanding between the two leaders that "people's livelihoods are paramount." The South Korea-China summit featured in-depth discussions on a variety of pending issues, including ways to strengt
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah Minsk, Belarus -- On October 30, 2025, the invitational exhibition "Minwha: Искусство Кореи (Korean Beauty, K-Folk Painting)" opened with great fanfare at the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, located in the heart of Minsk, Belarus. This exhibition was co-hosted and sponsored by the World Peace Art Exhibition Organizing Committee (Chairman Lee Jong-young), the Belarusian Ministry of Culture, the Belarusian Embassy in Korea, and Diplomacy Journal. Admission is free and open to the public until November 16. This event, a significant sy
By UN Journal Belarus Correspondent Kim Sun-ah Minsk, Belarus -- A masterclass on traditional (K-Minwha) Korean folk painting was held ahead of the opening of the exhibition "K-Folk Painting: The Art of Korea" at the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, located in the heart of Minsk, Belarus. This program, a special opportunity to experience traditional Korean painting, Minhwa, firsthand, was well-received by approximately 30 local art enthusiasts and citizens. Participants experienced the colors and meaning of K-folk painting through hands-on practice painting traditional Korean fa