South Korea

China, South Korea meet as North talks tough on rocket launch

China, South Korea meet as North talks tough on rocket launch Beijing - Chinese and South Korean officials met on Tuesday to discuss how to respond to North Korea's planned rocket launch next week, the Chinese government and South Korean media said.

Wi Sung Lac, South Korea's chief envoy at talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

EU, South Korea postpone concluding free trade pact

EU, South Korea postpone concluding free trade pact Seoul - The European Union and South Korea on Tuesday postponed concluding a Free Trade Agreement after reaching a tentative deal on almost all points, officials said.

Talks over the outstanding issues are to continue in early April on ministerial level at the sidelines of the G20 meeting in London, the chief negotiators of both sides said after the end of the formal negotiations in Seoul.

Shares surge 2.4 per cent in Seoul

Shares surge 2.4 per cent in SeoulSeoul - Shares climbed 2.4 per cent

Situation of detained journalists unclear, US envoy says

Situation of detained journalists unclear, US envoy says Seoul - The fate of two US journalists detained by North Korea was still unclear on Friday, a US envoy said.

"We are still trying to get a sense of exactly what the situation is and what happened," said US Ambassador Kathleen Stephens after a meeting with diplomats in Seoul.

The US government and US diplomats were trying to secure the release of the two women, "who do seem to be held in some way," Stephens said. "So we will hope for the best."

North Korea keeps up border block

North Korea keeps up border blockSeoul - North Korea on Friday again stopped border traffic, denying South Koreans access to the Kaesong industrial complex, sparking fears over the future of the joint project.

South Koreans were denied access even after a joint US-South Korean military exercise ended, the Defence Ministry in Seoul said. Pyongyang had originally cut border traffic during the annual military exercise which ended earlier on Friday.

South Korean prime minister holds talks with Jordan's king, premier

South Korean prime minister holds talks with Jordan's king, premier Amman - South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Thursday conducted separate talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on latest political developments in the region and means of boosting bilateral ties particularly in the business sphere, an official statement said.

"There is an opportunity for developing a long-term strategic relationship between Jordan and Korea," a royal court statement quoted the monarch as telling the visiting South Korean premier.

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