With the pick of Sung Kim, a Korea-born career diplomat, as his new ambassador to Seoul, U.S. President Barack Obama aims to handle the North Korean nuclear issue in a more professional way and step up public diplomacy with South Koreans...

South Korea and Europe appear to be engaged in a bit of mutual admiration musically these days. In both cases, the news stories were about one nation’s culture rubbing off on another. And both got more attention in the country that was proud of its influence and less attention in the place where the action was happening.

To find a nation’s identity, look no further than its historical relics and cultural heritage. For 50 years, Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) has preserved and maintained the country’s cultural remains. And at the core of the foundation was Jung Jae-hoon, a pioneering director who witnessed some of Korea’s most important cultural discoveries.

South Korea said Tuesday it regrets North Korea's announcement that it will cut all ties with its neighbor. The North said it would launch an "all-out offensive" against Seoul for allowing anti-Pyongyang propaganda to be sent by human rights groups and some politicians in balloons across the border.

Korea, China and Japan will establish tourism routes linking the countries, as agreed in a trilateral tourism ministers' meeting. They also agreed to cooperate in minimizing the effects of natural disasters and terrorism, and develop a crisis management manual and tourism promotion programs.

He added that he wants to increase the number of Saudi students in Korea, and wants to see more vocational training programs for Saudi students. Last week, for instance, the Samsung Engineering Association established an engineering center in the Kingdom here to provide training to Saudi students. Likewise, LG has also established an IT academy particularly for women.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak went to Japan's disaster-struck region to express their sympathy to residents and to kick off a new period of cooperation in a region beset with both long-playing historical grievances and recent geopolitical squabbling.

Cabinet ministers of 11 Central and South American nations will arrive in Seoul this week for a two-day investment and trade forum to be held from Wednesday. The business gathering featuring high-profile participants is taking place several months after Seoul unveiled a plan to bolster ties with emerging nations and beef up energy diplomacy.