South Korea

This week, South Korea’s government announced it will be sending a naval unit to the Middle East. That move has been welcomed by the United States and criticized by Iran. But for South Korea, it’s a form of compromise.

For most Americans, this is a slower than usual week at work. But in the world of diplomacy, this is a busy time — especially in northeast Asia, where the heads of government of Japan, South Korea and China are all meeting this week.

The end of the week brought some troubling economic news for two of Hawaii’s key tourism markets. Both Japan and South Korea have seen slowing business, and policy makers are cautious heading into the end of the year.

Plastic bottles have long been a pollution problem all over the world. But one country in Asia is taking steps this month to clear up some of the issues that have lingered for years.

General Motors and a South Korean company are putting up more than a billion dollars apiece to build a battery factory in Ohio. The plant is a key part of GM’s electric vehicle strategy — and it underlines the presence of South Korean companies in this growing market.

Talks about payment for U.S. forces in South Korea broke down this week. Government teams from the two countries remain far apart on a deal that expires in about six weeks — and the negotiations are drawing attention elsewhere in the region.

Hawaii tourism figures will soon be out for the month of September. So far this year, visitors have been increasing from the United States and dropping from the Asia Pacific. Part of that trend relates to slowing economies overseas. But within Asia, other tourism figures are being hit by political developments.

This is a week of symbolism in Japan — perhaps with some diplomacy in the mix. The country’s new emperor will be at the center of a ceremonial event on Tuesday, and there may be an opening for some diplomatic progress in an entirely different area.

For many Americans across the country and here in Hawaii, fall weekends often include watching sports of some kind. This week on the Korean peninsula, there was a sporting event that took a very different approach with spectators.

Talks are underway between the United States and South Korea about sharing costs for U.S. forces based on the Korean peninsula. This is part of a longer story.

Japan and South Korea will begin discussions about a long-running trade dispute. The talks are part of a process set up by the World Trade Organization — but in South Korea, consumers are taking direct action. 

A continuing dispute between South Korea and Japan has moved from politics and history to business.

The United States is expressing concern about the downward spiral in relations between two of its closest allies in the Asia Pacific. It’s been another week of disputes involving Japan and South Korea — and the concerns are stretching all the way to Hawaii.

This has been a very busy week for diplomacy in Northeast Asia. Some of the talks involve the United States, but the highest level meetings involve three of the largest countries in the region.

Last week, a court in South Korea sentenced the leader of a religious cult to six years in prison for the barbaric treatment of 400 followers who relocated to Fiji. But so far, the case has had no effect on the cult’s operations in Fiji.

North Korean government media say last week’s launch of two short-range missiles was a warning to South Korea not to proceed with military exercises next month. But those actions are on track to continue — while the launches have drawn different reactions in Seoul and Washington.

In the Asia Pacific, China and Russia have held an unusual joint aerial mission. Yesterday, the two countries carried out what they described as their first shared long-range air patrol in Asia — drawing a sharp reaction from two U.S. allies.

An escalating dispute between Japan and South Korea is moving into a new phase this week. South Korean officials are coming to Washington to ask for help from the United States.

Relations between Japan and South Korea have hit another snag. Japan is restricting exports to South Korea of some materials used in the production of smartphones. And the move is part of a much wider dispute.

On this Earth Day, renewable energy is in focus around much of the world. While Hawaii is a leader in some aspects of energy policy, clean energy is also gaining traction on the Korean peninsula in both the south and the north.

The president of South Korea is coming to the White House this week. Moon Jae-in will in Washington for two days, and the focus will be on what comes next with North Korea.

Members of U.S. Forces Korea can now wear masks to guard against air pollution. That’s a new policy, and it shows just how bad conditions have gotten on the Korean peninsula.

South Korea is wrapping up a difficult period for air quality. Earlier this week, some measures of air pollution in the national capital hit their worst levels in several years. And something else is in the air: politics.

There’s a trans-Pacific trade controversy that’s been building for years between the United States and one of its leading trade partners. This one has nothing to do with China, but it does affect a major American company — and shows that international trade rules don’t always keep up with market conditions.