President Moon Jae-in and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Feb. 22 agreed to raise bilateral trade volume to USD 50 billion by 2030.  In a joint news conference after his summit with Modi in Seoul, President Moon said, "Bilateral trade last year reached a record USD 21.5 billion, and both countries will conduct future-oriented cooperation to build a prosperous future for the people." Seoul and Delhi also agreed to complete negotiations for upgrading their comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) and reinforce their special strategic partnership by improving their trade environments such as import deregulation. 

A variety of events this year in 179 countries and with the participation of 7.4 million ethnic Koreans worldwide will mark the centennial anniversary of both the March First Independence Movement of 1919 and the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government in China. These events seek to promote reflection on the spirit of the movement and a look back on the history of the Korean government-in-exile.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Feb. 19 said in a news release that it will host celebratory events and receptions to mark the occasion at Korean embassies and cultural centers overseas. Those to be invited include each area's residents, ethnic Koreans, Korean War veterans and non-Koreans who helped Korea's independence movement.

The country’s five border islands on the Yellow Sea -- Baengnyeongdo, Yeonpyeongdo, Daecheongdo, Socheongdo and Udo -- are quite close to North Korea. Due to national division, residents of these islands have been limited in earning income because of government-designated fishing zones and a ban on night fishing.  Cross-border tension persisted around these islands for a long time as inter-Korean military conflict continued in the form of naval skirmishes or artillery shelling by the North.  Thanks to the thawing atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula, these five islands, once considered a flashpoint in the region, will be reborn as part of sea routes of a “peace economy.”