Seoul's top diplomat said Wednesday that North Korea's human rights record is unlikely to be discussed at this month's summit, after Pyongyang denounced the South for supporting a fresh UN resolution against the North. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's president Moon Jae-in are due to meet for a rare inter-Korean summit on April 27. But Pyongyang's state media condemned South Korea Tuesday for its "dubious double dealing," after Seoul welcomed a new United Nations resolution against North Korea's human rights violations. Such action could jeopardize future dialogue, the North warned. "This is an open political provocation to the DPRK and an intolerable act of chilling the atmosphere for dialogue," the North's official KCNA agency said in a commentary, using North Korea's official acronyms. It added: "Whom are they going to hold dialogue with and whom are they going to improve relations with while denying the dignity and social system of the dialogue partner?" South … [Read more...] about North Korea rights record likely off table at Korean summit: Seoul
Presidents summit
Japan to assume G20 Presidency
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (Source: Kyodo/VNA)The G20 summit will open in Osaka on June 28th - 29th, 2019 and it will be the first G20 summit held in Japan. The government selected eight municipalities for the G20 ministerial meeting. Accordingly, the government has also picked the southwestern city of Fukuoka as the venue for the meeting of G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. A Foreign Ministers’ gathering in Aichi Prefecture, an Agricultural Ministers’ meeting in Niigata, a meeting on Renewable Energy in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, and a Ministerial meeting on Trade and the Digital Economy in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture will take place. There will also be a Tourism Ministers’ meeting in the village of Kutchan, Hokkaido, next to Niseko. The 2019 summit is expected to focus on International Finance and Economic issues, and global themes related to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Pressing regional security and … [Read more...] about Japan to assume G20 Presidency
China says it hopes US, N Korea summit can avoid ‘disruptive factors’
China hopes that a planned meeting between the leaders of North Korea and the United States in May can advance smoothly and that all sides maintain focus and avoid “disruptive factors,” a senior Chinese diplomat said on Tuesday. China has traditionally been secretive North Korea’s closest ally but ties have been frayed by Kim’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and missiles and Beijing’s backing of tough U.N. sanctions in response. Wang Yi, a State Councillor and China’s Foreign Minister, said there had been positive changes on the peninsula and that all sides were engaging in “sincere exchanges.” “China hopes all sides can cherish this hard to come by situation, maintain the momentum of contact and dialogue, and create conditions to smoothly restart dialogue,” Wang said during a joint news briefing with visiting Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. Wang said he hoped the meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. … [Read more...] about China says it hopes US, N Korea summit can avoid ‘disruptive factors’
Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AFP/VNA)The 7th session of the Russia - Turkey High Level Cooperation Council will be chaired by President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. In the framework of the visit by President Vladimir Tutin to the Turkey, the ceremony of laying the foundation of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant will be held, which will be built on the southern coast of Turkey. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu held a telephone conversation on March 30th to discuss the Putin-Erdogan meeting, the ministry said in a statement. “The ministers discussed a number of pressing bilateral issues in light of the upcoming Russian - Turkish summit,” the statement said. On April 4th, the Trilateral Summit on Syria will be held in Ankara with the participation of President Erdogan, Russian President Putin and President Hassan Rouhani of Iran./. Compiled by BTA … [Read more...] about Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Turkey
President receives Chinese Foreign Minister
The Vietnamese President congratulated China on successfully holding the first meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (new tenure) following the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China which elected new State and Government leaders for the new tenure. He asked for strengthening political trust and maintaining regular exchanges among high-ranking leaders and stepping up exchanges between the two countries’ ministries, agencies, localities, businesses and people. The host said both sides need to direct departments and agencies to fully implement the two nations’ agreements, promote economic-trade and investment ties up to their political relations, and facilitate exchanges to raise mutual understanding between people of all walks of life. The President suggested ministries, agencies and localities enhance economic connectivity and push forward balanced and sustainable two-way trade, and improve the efficiency of … [Read more...] about President receives Chinese Foreign Minister