Sheikh Abdullah and Chung discussed the UAE’s organisation of the expo and highlighted its importance to drafting an international action agenda for the coming period, reports Asian Lite News
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on Monday received Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea.
During their meeting, which took place at the Expo 2020 Dubai, the two ministers discussed the friendship and strategic partnership between the UAE and South Korea, and ways of boosting their overall cooperation, most notably in the areas of the economy, investment, culture and energy.
UAE, South Korea Cement Ties
They also talked about their cooperation in the health sector, most notably in terms of addressing COVID-19 pandemic and advancing the process of sustainable recovery.
Sheikh Abdullah and Chung discussed the UAE’s organisation of the expo and highlighted its importance to drafting an international action agenda for the coming period, based on promoting international cooperation and achieving sustainable development in different communities.
Sheikh Abdullah welcomed Chung’s visit and stressed the profound bilateral ties between the UAE and South Korea, and their continued keenness to reinforce their relations.
He also visited the South Korean pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai, located in the Transport Area, and explored its dynamic design as an interactive building that offers visitors an exciting experience in a virtual reality environment.
Sheikh Abdullah commended the contents of the pavilion, which is ranked among the five largest pavilions at the expo, with an area of 4,651-square metres.
UAE, South Korea Cement Ties
Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, and Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, attended the meeting.
On Sunday, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister Chung Eui-yong discussed the prospects of promoting the strategic partnerships between the two nations across the political, economic and investment domains.
UAE, South Korea Cement Ties
Sheikh Mohamed received at Qasr Al Shati Palace the South Korean top diplomat who conveyed the greetings of the President of South Korea Moon Jae-in to President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Mohamed and his sincere wishes for continued prosperity and progress to the UAE.
The two sides exchanged views over the latest regional and international developments and discussed a number of issues of interest.
Attending the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, the Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.
The statement did not detail those thought to be in breach of the sanctions, but said “multiple ships of various nationalities” had been identified…reports Asian Lite News.
Britain said on Sunday it had collected evidence of multiple ships from various nationalities apparently breaching United Nations sanctions against North Korea which ban the sale of fuel to the country.
British frigate HMS Richmond has been taking part in UN sanctions enforcement operations in the region.
“HMS Richmonds deployment in the East China Sea identified ships acting in suspected breach of UN sanctions and tracked vessels which had previously not been flagged to the Enforcement Coordination Cell,” defence minister Ben Wallace said in a statement.
The statement did not detail those thought to be in breach of the sanctions, but said “multiple ships of various nationalities” had been identified.
North Korea is under strict international sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. Talks aimed at persuading Pyongyang to give up those weapons in return for lifting sanctions have been stalled.
Earlier this month, a U.S.-based research group said in a report that smugglers suspected of evading sanctions on North Korea have turned to schemes to create fraudulent identities for sanctioned ships.
A modern and innovative sedan, the K8 combines sportiness and performance with a progressive and sleek exterior design…reports Asian Lite News
Kia Corporation has today announced the arrival of the K8 to the Middle East region, the first model to arrive following the rebirth of the Kia brand and one that exemplifies the automaker’s new purpose and ambitions for the future.
The K8 represents a new model name for Kia and is the first to show the brand’s new design identity as well as the contemporary new Kia logo. The official launch of the K8 in the Middle East region will take place on September 15, 2021. Aside from Korea, the car will be mainly sold in the GCC with KSA being the focus market.
Kia K8 Exterior
With a focus on modern, premium quality and dynamic performance, the K8 moves forward in the sports sedan space and will build on the success of the K7(known as Cadenza in some markets), continuing Kia’s rise towards excellence in the segment later this year.
A modern and innovative sedan, the K8 combines sportiness and performance with a progressive and sleek exterior design.
“Being Kia’s flagship sedan in the MEA region and a representation of our new brand direction, the K8’s launch is a hugely significant moment,” commented Yaser Shabsogh, Chief Operating Officer at Kia Middle East and Africa. “This is the first model to showcase Kia’s latest design identity and new logo, but this is only scratching the surface of what this model is capable of. Every inch of the K8 has been designed to excite, from the striking design to the sophisticated technology and sublime performance.”
Exterior design: embodying an exciting new future
Taking on an all-new name and the first model to be launched following Kia’s recent rebrand, the K8 has been designed with the future in mind.
Kia K8 Interior
At the front sits a new signature frameless ‘tiger nose’ grille that gives the K8 presence and authority. The frameless grille, which is integrated within the front bumper to give a clean yet expansive look, features an intricate diamond lattice designed to express the movement of light. The front lamps include a turn signal that resembles a star could.
Symbolically pointing the way forward – and sitting proudly at the very front of the K8, just above the reimagined ‘tiger nose’ grille – is Kia’s contemporary new logo that expresses ‘symmetry’, ‘rhythm’ and ‘rising’ elements, embodying Kia’s confidence and renewed commitment to customers.
The elongated K8 (5,015mm) features a sporty side profile with a dynamic character line that runs the length of the sedan and takes inspiration from yachts sailing across calm waters. A chrome finish runs along the DLO (Daylight Opening) line and the bottom of the doors, and finishes its journey at the rear lamp – adding confidence and gracefulness to the side of the sports sedan.
Kia K8 Exterior
Completing the progressive yet elegant front and side profile is a dynamic and muscular rear-end that re-interprets the sedan of today as a modern ‘fastback’ passenger car. Strong, dropping shoulders add to the drama of the K8 at the rear, while a clean tailored spoiler beautifully finishes the sporty, low roofline.
Running below the spoiler lip is a futuristic-looking horizontal taillight that carries across the jewel patterned arrangements from the front and side and connects the K8’s next-generation LED rear light clusters.
The 3D vertical clusters hug the corners of the K8, emphasizing clean, angular lines at the rear and further adding depth and width to the rear of the car.
The Kia’s new logo and first-ever K8 badge sit at the rear just below the horizontal light dash.
Kia K8 Interior
All-new car, all-new name
The introduction of an all-new model name – the K8 – is part of Kia’s brand transition and represents the premium space in which the new sports sedan will occupy.
The K8 will offer a comfortable yet high-performance driving experience that will complement the simple, ergonomic ‘first class’ interior. The new model signals an upward journey in design, technology and modernity, delivering a class-leading package that redefines the meaning of sports sedan.
Kim Yong Chol made the remarks one day after Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, issued a similar warning…reports Asian Lite News
North Korea on Wednesday slammed South Korea for pushing ahead with the planned military drills with the US, and warned of “serious security crisis”.
In a press statement published by the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yong Chol, department director of Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), said: “As we have already clarified, we will make them realise by the minute what a dangerous choice they made and what a serious security crisis they will face because of their wrong choice.”
Kim Yong Chol made the remarks one day after Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, issued a similar warning: “the choice of hope or despair is totally up to the South Korean authorities”.
He stressed that the military exercises slated by South Korea with the US “would be an unfavourable prelude further beclouding the future of the inter-Korean relations”.
“But the South Korean authorities have now revealed that peace and trust much touted by them whenever an opportunity presented itself were just a wordplay,” said Kim Yong Chol, who is in charge of South Korea affairs in the country.
South Korea “must be made to clearly understand how dearly they have to pay for answering our good faith with hostile acts after letting go the opportunity for improved inter-Korean relations,” he added.
Despite strong opposition from Pyongyang, South Korea and the US started their four-day preliminary drills on Tuesday and the joint military exercises are expected to run through next week from August 16 to 26.
The leaders of both North Korea and South Korea agreed to resume the inter-Korean hotlines two weeks ago, which was cut off for more than a year.
The North has since demanded that the South suspend drills to accelerate a thaw in the strained inter-Korean relations.
Since the Korean War in 1950, the Korean Peninsula has remained divided at the 38th parallel, and no peace treaty has been signed. 83 prominent figures from the US, Canada, and Central and South America spoke at the virtual International Leadership Conference (ILC) on the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula, reports Anwesha Bhaumik
New pathways rooted in interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values have been discussed by global leaders in an ambitious effort to bring peace and unity to Northeast Asia, according to the speakers who addressed a recent three-day virtual conference on the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
The news agency IANS was provided a detailed briefing by the organisers on the virtual conference, in which 83 prominent figures from the US, Canada, and Central and South America spoke at the virtual International Leadership Conference (ILC) from April 28-30.
“These experts from all disciplines, from heads of state, to diplomacy, media, business, faith, academia, and the arts, combined their expertise to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and address other areas of conflict in the world,” said Michael Jenkins, President of the Universal Peace Federation International (UPF), which sponsors the conference.
The ILC in the Americas was one of four similar programs happening concurrently in Asia, Europe and Africa, each with their own regional experts.
The conference’s 10 sessions highlighted key areas involving the government; media; the business and economic sector; religion; and arts and culture.
Former US Congressman Dan Burton, co-chair of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), was one of the speakers.
The IAPP, comprising current and former MPs from more than 172 countries, “is one of the most effective bodies of influence for peace that I have ever seen”, said Burton, who served 30 years on congressional foreign affairs committees.
In the geopolitical sphere of Northeast Asia, “what happens to one nation affects all the others”, he said.
North Korea’s isolation poses a danger, but “as long as there is talking, there is no fighting”.
“Patience must persist,” said former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“An outreach between regular Korean people and civil society on both sides of the border must take place whenever it is possible.”
Panelists noted that the world’s free media should promote justice, peace, and harmonious alliances while looking for and creating “openings” to closed nations like North Korea and China.
“One of the primary pillars is to promote and maintain awareness that free market democratic societies should tolerate and not be intimidated by the presence of free media spaces that are full of political opposition and critical debate or criticism of government leadership,” said Guy Taylor, national security team leader at The Washington Times.
Taylor, who has reported extensively on Northeast Asia, said newsmakers can and should play a major role in informing the world about the Korean Peninsula and that media can build bridges toward its peaceful reunification.
The session on the International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP) includedMignon Bowen-Phillips, Second Lady of Guyana (2020-present); Maria Fernanda Flores de Aleman, First Lady of Nicaragua (1997-2002); and Emilia Alfaro de Franco, First Lady of Paraguay (2012-2013).
They, and other speakers, noted that since the Korean conflict affects the whole world, all nations must be involved in its peaceful resolution.
Julia Moon, president of the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) and the daughter of UPF co-founders Hak Ja Han Moon and the late Sun Myung Moon, said women greatly influence efforts toward peace due to their “nurturing qualities,” and that world peace can be achieved when society centers on a higher power “as one human family”.
Born in the modern-day North Korea, the Moons had fled the war-torn area to the south.
“(My parents) devoted their entire lives to the cause of world peace,” said Julia Moon.
“Their message is simple and unchanging… We must not repeat our mistakes, but go beyond the self-centeredness of the past and learn to live for the sake of others. Our world needs peacemakers, and women are naturally suited for this effort.”
Speaker James W. Jackson, founder of Project C.U.R.E., one of the largest NGO suppliers of medical equipment in the world, talked about his visit to Pyongyang in 1993 and his views on the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung’s principles for reunification.
Governing bodies must desire change for unity to come about as “economic philosophy determines politics”, he said.
It is important to build strong relationships on the Korean Peninsula and create “examples of working together successfully” and “a working model that could be multiplied”, he added.
Since the Korean War in 1950, the Peninsula has remained divided at the 38th parallel, and no peace treaty has been signed.
George Augustus Stallings, Jr., founder of the Imani Temple in Washington, D.C., said “reconciliation and justice” are instrumental to peace, and, “there can be no peace without the supremacy of love that would bind us together in oneness”.
The elimination of all terrorism and weapons of mass destruction from the world is another important element for peace, said Muzammil Siddiqi, a Harvard Ph.D. in Comparative Religion and president emeritus of the International Islamic Association of America.
“Religious dialogue is very essential to creating solutions and long-term developments,” he said.
Launched in 2007, the ILC series is a call to action largely carried out by the global network of UPF chapters in 150 nations.
Through the four regional ILC 2021 programs, “expert working groups” and a new Alliance for a Unified Korea has been initiated.
ILC 2021 concluded with a global resolution of signatories committed to advancing efforts of reuniting the Korean Peninsula.
The most popular Korean K-POP groups including MAMAMOO, B.I.G, ASTRO, NCT DREAM, THE BOYZ, and aespa and Emirati Opera singer Fatima Al Hashmi performed at the virtual event…reports Asian Lite News.
Festivals in 2021 really calling back the past power packed celebrations before Covid era. The Korea-UAE Festival, which was organised by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in partnership with the Korean Creative Content Agency (KCCA) and the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE), attracted 2.73 million viewers.
The festival celebrated the cultural dialogue between the UAE and South Korea in 2020 and 2021 through various activities, most notably the “Korean Content Festival,” which presented Korean content to the Middle East, as well as K-Pop events that featured six K-Pop stars and Emirati opera singer Fatima Al Hashemi.
Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, stated that the festival highlighted the profound friendship between the two countries, which dates back to over 40 years.
“We are looking forward to a new era of dialogue in the upcoming period, which we aim to reinforce through several initiatives taking place this year that will celebrate our mutual values, such as tolerance, coexistence and openness,” she said.
Hwang Hee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea, said, “There is an Arab proverb stating that those spending time with people for 40 days will become one of them, and now that the friendship between our countries has lasted for over 40 years, we can say that we have become close and loyal friends.”
“We are delighted to gather the peoples of our countries today in a K-Pop performance, in celebration of the cultural exchange year. Music is a common human language that exceeds linguistic and ethnic differences,” he added.
During the Korean Content Festival, virtual seminars were held via video conferencing featuring 24 speakers and suppliers from the Middle East, as well as 28 Korean companies. Some 43 business consultations also took place among the participants.
The most popular Korean K-POP groups including MAMAMOO, B.I.G, ASTRO, NCT DREAM, THE BOYZ, and aespa and Emirati Opera singer Fatima Al Hashmi performed at the virtual event. In particular, a collaboration between the Korean K-POP group and the local singer made the KOREA-UAE K-POP FESTIVAL more spectacular.
