By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by the Dunyo IA Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Uzebekistan in Seoul. –Ed. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Washington on a working visit to participate in the “C5+1” summit of the leaders of Central Asian countries and the United States and to hold meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as heads of U.S. government departments and agencies. The
By Diplomacy 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 reques
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Kim Dae-sik, Former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Kazakhstan, to the Diplomacy Journal for publication through the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul. –Ed. On November 6, 2025, the C5+1 Summit between the United States and the five Central Asian nations will be held in Washington, D.C. The gathering will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the C5+1 framework and explore new avenues for cooperation. Currently, there are six major countries or regions that maintain similar C5+1 mechanisms with the Cent
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is accelerating efforts to attract global leaders in next-generation industries, such as AI, fintech, semiconductors, and quantum computing, as Seoul emerges as a testbed and investment hub for global strategic industries. After the American AI and data cloud company Snowflake and Swiss quantum security semiconductor developer SEALSQ invested in Seoul earlier this year, French quantum computing leader Pasqal decided to join, marking the city’s third consecutive success in attracting global strategic industry leaders across
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), led by President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg, jointly held the “2026 Ausbildung Information Session” with BMW Group Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea, Porsche Korea, Star Truck Korea, and Volkswagen Group Korea at the ibis Ambassador Suwon on November 4, 2025. The Ausbildung Program is dual vocational training education from Germany, where on-the-job training and theoretical education from school are carried out simultaneously. The training is a 36-month educational progra
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Kangdong University's Startup Education Innovation Center held an event titled "Regional Problem-Solving Project: Global Cultural Convergence and Design Thinking Approach" in the main auditorium on Oct. 29. Laotian Ambassador to Korea Songkane Luangmuninthone delivered a special lecture on the topic of "Global Cooperation for Community Coexistence and Startup Innovation" as an invited speaker. He presented examples of economic and startup cooperation between Laos and Korea, highlighting the impact of global cultural convergence on local startup innovation and s
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Former President of Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Lee Sang-ryul has received the Chevalier rank of the Légion d'honneur medal from the French government in recognition of his contributions to Korea-France space cooperation and the advancement of science and technology, the KARI said on Nov. 4. The Légion d'honneur is the French government's highest honor awarded to individuals with distinguished achievements in various fields, including military, academic, cultural, scientific, and industrial fields. Presenting the award on behalf of the French govern
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The following article was contributed by Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea H.E. Mr. Salohiddin Kirom to the Diplomacy Journal for publication. –Ed. November 6 is celebrated across Tajikistan as Constitution Day of the Republic of Tajikistan., On November 6, 1994, the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan was adopted through a national referendum. Since then, amendments and additions have been introduced via national referendums on September 26, 1999, June 22, 2003, and May 22, 2016. These changes were dictated by the demands
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Cecep Herawan held a meeting at the National Assembly on Nov. 4. Noting that the first bilateral meeting since the inauguration of the two leaders took place in Gyeongju last week, Speaker Woo stated, "The MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia) National Assembly Speakers' Meeting will be held in Seoul next week, and I look forward to the visit of House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani to South Korea." Woo continued, "Indonesia has approximately 2,300 Korean
By Diplomacy 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 ch
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo POSCO Group Chairman Chang In-hwa held a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who visited POSCO's Pohang Steel Mill, which represents economic cooperation between Korea and Australia, on Oct. 30, 2025. Prime Minister Albanese, who came to Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, visited the Pohang Steel Mill's raw material dock, where he observed the actual use of Australian iron ore and coking coal. POSCO Group began purchasing Australian iron ore in 1971 and has used over 1.5 billion tons of Australian i
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The final satellite in the ‘425 Reconnaissance Satellite’ program, which is South Korea's first surveillance and reconnaissance satellite project, have launched on October 2 (US time) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA. Hanwha Systems announced that it supplied the SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) payload for the program’s fifth satellite, following its contributions to satellites No. 2, 3 and 4. While the program is led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Hanwha Sy
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young Prime Minister Kim met with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, who was in Korea for the APEC Summit, and discussed ways to further develop cooperative relations on Oct. 31. During the meeting, Prime Minister Kim stated, "I hope to further develop diplomatic relations between our two countries and strengthen substantive cooperation. Let's discuss various ways to strengthen cooperation, such as at the Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting scheduled for Seoul later this year." Deputy Prime Minister Rosso said, "Korean companies have co
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Latvian Ambassador to Korea Janis Berzins, ambassadors from 13 countries, descendants of independence activists, and Choi Jae-cheon, Chairman of the D.O.F. Organizing Committee, participated in the “2025 DMZ OPEN Peace Walk and Marathon” event on Nov. 1 and 2. The 'DMZ Peace Walk', held on the first day, is an event where participants walk along the Imjin River ecological trail within the Civilian Control Line (CCL) and experience ecological value and the meaning of peace firsthand. At the opening ceremony, six representative participants, including Gyeonggi Prov
By Diplomacy 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 3