Category: Politics

South Korea’s top diplomat has held talks with Zambia’s president over supply chain cooperation for key minerals and other issues, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Saturday.

Foreign Minister Park Jin met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Friday (local time) in the capital of Lusaka and stressed that cooperation between the two countries over the supply chains of cobalt, copper and other key minerals used for electric vehicle batteries will bring about mutual benefits, according to his office.

Minister Park also drummed up support for Seoul’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo, and asked the Zambian president to participate in the South Korea-Africa summit slated to be held here next year.

Park is on an overseas trip that includes visits to Ethiopia, Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates.

Park’s multination trip comes as Seoul is ramping up diplomatic efforts to enlist international support for its bid to host the expo in its southeastern city of Busan. The host nation is slated to be selected in November.

Park is the first South Korean foreign minister to visit Zambia since diplomatic ties between the two nations were established in 1990.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

BANGKOK, Aug 10 (TNA) – No conclusion has been reached during talks between the Pheu Thai party and the Move Forward party on Wednesday.

Head of the Pheu Thai family Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the leaders of the two parties listened to each other and update the ongoing situation during the 90-minute talks.

Asked about the MFP’s stance on the prime minister vote for the Pheu Thai candidate, she said no clear answer was given.

What Pheu Thai is doing is not political maneuvering but trying to form a strong coalition government to solve the problem of the people, she emphasized.

Representatives from the two parties met for the first time after the Pheu Thai party had abandoned the coalition bloc with the MFP in an attempt to form a new coalition which will get enough support from the parliament in the prime minister vote.

Move Forward party leader and prime minister Pita Limjaroenrat was present at the meeting. (TNA)

Source: Thai News Agency

BANGKOK, Aug 9 (TNA) – The Pheu Thai party has announced six more parties to join its coalition alliance besides the Bhumjaithai party.

Additional allies are Chart Pattana Kla, Prachachart, Seri Ruam Thai Party, Peu Thai Ruamphalang, Plung Sungkom Mai, and the Party of Thai Counties.

With additional 16 seats of six parties, the coalition has reached 228 seats including 212 seats of Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai.

Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said that the party has sought support from all parties for the parliamentary vote for prime minister to form a majority government successfully.

The new coaltion will overcome political polarisation between the outgoing military-backed administration and the former opposition camp to work together in order to sail through the political crisis for the utmost benefit of the people.

The delay in forming the government will cause damage to the country, he said.

Under the constitution drafted during the military rule, the joint sitting of the elected lower house and the appointed upper house votes for a prime minister, who will later form a government. A prime ministerial candidate needs to secure more than half suuport from both houses or 375 to become the new prime minister. (TNA)

Source: Thai News Agency

Bangkok, Aug. 9 – Pheu Thai Party issues a statement forming a government of the Pheu Thai Party. and various political parties

Today, the Pheu Thai Party gathered more votes. and supported by 6 political parties consisting of Prachachat Party Thai Liberal Party Chart Pattana Kla Party Pheu Thai Party joins forces New Social Power Party Thai local party and included more than half of the votes

The Pheu Thai Party and all political parties strongly expect that can defuse the situation. Dissolve political poles, all parties move forward, asking for cooperation from all parties. Both members of the House of Representatives from many political parties and support from senators to elect the prime minister and form a government successfully able to manage the country And speed up solving problems for the people of the people as soon as possible. who are currently facing severe hardship Delaying the time out would cause even more damage. The sooner the government is established, the faster the problem can be solved.

We insist on doing creative political work. especially in special political situations in the midst of a constitutional crisis economic crisis People’s stomach problems and the crisis of conflict in society division dividing color dividing polarity

to solve this crisis to break political poles Pulling cooperation from all parties, groups, people to jointly form a government with the Pheu Thai Party. And the Prime Minister from the Pheu Thai Party is the leader to bring the constitution out of the crisis. to bring people out of suffering to create unity and reconciliation, which is considered the most important “country agenda”

We would like to plead Let the people have confidence in the Pheu Thai Party. and political parties that support this time We will help each other through the crisis so that the country can move forward. and the greatest benefit to all people

We hope to see the unity of all parties in the country.-Thai News Agency

Source: Thai News Agency

Bangkok 3 Aug – capital markets await political clarification I believe there is still potential to grow. Accepting that having a fast government is a good thing. But having a fast and good government is difficult.

) Referring to the current uncertain political situation and the impact on the capital market, investors like clarity. Whenever there is more clarity will give confidence to invest more If still not sure whether to go heads or tails, they will wait, but when they make progress and gain confidence, they will dare to invest. There are many factors that affect the capital market. both world economy It’s in the Fed interest rate adjustment. Oil prices. Russo-Ukrainian war. Chinese tourists coming to Thailand including politics Therefore, it is necessary to read carefully before making an investment decision. mainly from foreign tourists Including the turnover of many listed companies has returned to be better than before the COVID. In addition, world oil prices and interest rates are in a decelerated direction. against Thailand and a few other countries that the economy is in a recovery direction and is expected to continue to recover next year Inflation and energy prices are not as strong as the world market.

Mr. Sathien Sathirathamma, CEO of Carabao Group Plc., believes that many people are concerned about the establishment of the government at this time. But we must accept the truth of Thai society that There is a context in which one particular angle cannot be discussed. sees that forming a government that is difficult like this Because there are rules that may use the word “distorted” until everything is difficult. Because it’s not what it’s supposed to be. seen as normal at the end of the year The shopping atmosphere will be better than this. But Thailand has been exposed to COVID for more than 3 years, purchasing power across the country has decreased. Businesses in other provinces have closed quite a bit. So we have to adapt.

“In the event that the government may not be established in August seen as normal to affect people’s shopping It’s good to have a fast government. But having a fast and good government is difficult,” said Mr. Sathien. – Thai News Agency

Source: Thai News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Moroccan Ambassador to Indonesia Ouadia Benabdellah has expressed hope that the bilateral relationship between Morocco and Indonesia will continue to improve.”I am optimistic about the improvement in bilateral relations that we have achieved in the last few years,” Ouadia said during an event in Jakarta on Monday to mark the 24th anniversary of the enthronement of the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI. “It is hoped that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Morocco will continue to move forward to achieve a promising partnership, especially in the economic, industrial, and food security sectors,” he added. He said that there are still many opportunities that need to be explored further in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries. “Therefore, I urge both nations to continue working together and provide opportunities for Indonesian and Moroccan entrepreneurs to develop more promising partnerships,” the ambassador said. “We can work together. Yes, we can, and we must work together to benefit both countries,” he said. Regarding the celebration of the 24th anniversary of the enthronement of King Mohammed VI, Ambassador Ouadia said that the Moroccan people really love their king. “As the king, he is the symbol of the nation, the guarantor of its unity, and the designer of the renaissance of modern Morocco,” he said. He also expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian people for establishing friendly relations with Moroccans living in Indonesia. “This unity is reflected by peace, brotherhood, solidarity, and the respect for the principle of unity and the sovereignty and common values that our two countries share and believe in for a more prosperous and peaceful world,” he said.

Source: Antara News Agency

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum called for “unsparing” punishment through an “overwhelming” response in the case of a North Korean provocation during a frontline readiness inspection Monday, his office said.

Kim inspected the Army’s 5th Corps headquarters and a general outpost of its 5th Infantry Division amid concerns that the North could engage in provocations in time for the South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) military exercise expected to take place next month.

At the 5th Corps, Kim warned that the North may ratchet up the threat and intensity of provocations on the pretext of responding to the allies’ upcoming regular exercise as he directed troops to maintain a robust readiness posture.

“An enemy may launch provocations in ways that are deceptive and sudden to take aim at our military’s weak spots,” Kim said, stressing the military should deal a “decisive” blow to the enemy to make it realize the price of a provocation.

During his visit to the general outpost, he instructed frontline troops to “unsparingly” punish the enemy if it undertakes any provocations.

“I call on you to focus on realistic combat preparations and combat execution training based on the thinking that an enemy provocation is a matter of time, and the enemy will definitely appear before you,” Kim said.

Concerns have persisted that Pyongyang could escalate its saber-rattling in response to the UFS exercise, which it decries as a war rehearsal against it.

It may also aggravate tensions as President Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida, are set to meet at Camp David near Washington on Aug. 18, in a move to reiterate their solidarity against growing North Korean threats, observers said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin has met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed improving the two countries’ strategic partner relationship, the ministry said Saturday.

Park met with Erdogan in Turkey on Friday (local time) during his four-nation trip, which will also take him to three European countries, according to the foreign ministry.

It marks the first visit to Turkey by Seoul’s foreign minister in eight years.

In the meeting, Park expressed gratitude to the “brother nation” for dispatching around 20,000 soldiers during the 1950-1953 Korean War, marking the 70th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement, according to the ministry.

Park asked for Turkey’s support for the South Korean government’s “audacious” initiative, which offers massive economic assistance to North Korea in exchange for its denuclearization steps.

Park also called for the development of bilateral economic cooperation in the defense industry, nuclear power plants and infrastructure.

Erdogan said he welcomes South Korean companies’ investment in Turkey and hopes the two countries will improve their economic ties reciprocally, according to the ministry.

The ministry added that Erdogan invited President Yoon Suk Yeol to visit Turkey in the near future, hoping to further facilitate exchanges between the two countries’ high-ranking government officials.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with a Chinese delegation, a day after commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, the North’s state media reported Saturday.

During Friday’s meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing their bilateral relations, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Chinese party-government delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday to attend anniversary celebrations held the following day.

Led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, the delegation was one of the first foreign groups to visit Pyongyang since North Korea implemented border lockdowns due to COVID-19 in early 2020, alongside a Russian delegation.

Kim met with the Russian delegation Wednesday.

On Friday, Kim expressed gratitude to China for its help during the Korean War and said North Korea will always remember the significant contributions made during its “most difficult period,” according to the KCNA.

Kim also voiced his appreciation to Chinese leader Xi Jinping for sending a delegation and a personal letter, hailing that China would achieve “the dream of great prosperity” under Xi’s leadership, the report added. However, the content of the letter was not disclosed.

According to the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship paper, the People’s Daily, Xi wrote in the letter that China and North Korea shared a “comradeship written with blood” during the Korean War and that Beijing will strengthen and develop its relationship with Pyongyang “no matter how the international situation changes.”

The daily said the letter was delivered to Kim through Li.

The KCNA said Pyongyang and Beijing reaffirmed their commitment to improve bilateral cooperation and strengthen their “strategic and tactical collaboration” to cope with the “complicated international situation” through the meeting.

After the meeting, Kim also held a reception with the Chinese delegation, where his powerful sister Yo-jong and Li made speeches, according to the report.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

President Joe Biden will host a three-way summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida here in Washington next month, the White House said Friday.

The trilateral summit will be held at Camp David on Aug. 18.

“At the summit, the leaders will celebrate a new chapter in their trilateral relationship as they reaffirm their strong bonds of friendship and the ironclad alliances between the United States and Japan, and the United States and the Republic of Korea,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a press release, referring to South Korea by its official name.

South Korea’s presidential office also confirmed the trilateral summit will be held at Camp David on Aug. 18.

“This summit will be an important opportunity to elevate the cooperation among the three countries that share core values to a new level,” presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a written press briefing.

“We expect the three nations to enhance the rules-based international order together and to make more active contributions to regional and global security and economic prosperity.”

As for the summit’s agenda, the spokesperson said the three leaders will hold in-depth discussions on policy coordination regarding the North Korean nuclear and missile threats, as well as cooperation on economic security and other major regional and global issues.

The proposed summit will be the first stand-alone trilateral summit to be held as the leaders of the U.S., South Korea and Japan have only held trilateral summits on the sidelines of other gatherings, such as regional meetings, in the past, Seoul officials have noted.

John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said the summit will also mark the first visit to Camp David by a foreign leader since 2015.

“At the summit, the leaders will celebrate a new chapter in their trilateral relationship, and they will reaffirm strong bonds of friendship,” Kirby told a telephonic press briefing.

Particularly, the leaders will discuss threats posed by North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile programs, according to Jean-Pierre.

“The three leaders will discuss expanding trilateral cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and beyond — including to address the continued threat posed by the DPRK and to strengthen ties with ASEAN and the Pacific Islands,” the White House spokesperson said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“The summit will advance a shared trilateral vision for addressing global and regional security challenges, promoting a rules-based international order, and bolstering economic prosperity,” she added.

North Korea staged an unprecedented 69 ballistic missile launches in 2022, marking a new record for the number of ballistic missiles fired in a year.

Pyongyang also launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in late May, marking its 12th ICBM test since the start of last year.

Source: Yonhap News Agency