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.

Gov. Bob McDonnell is touting the virtues of Virginia wine on a trade mission in Asia. Virginia wines have been served at dinners with ministers and business executives, while wine events introduced restaurants, merchants and retailers to some of the products from its vineyards.

South Korea on Monday announced sites for its $4.76 billion "science belt" designed to help Asia's fourth-largest economy take the lead in cutting-edge technologies. Daedeok district will become a global hub for basic scientific research and help South Korea become a world technology leader.

As Virginia’s economic development mission to Asia winds down, Gov. Bob McDonnell said that the state trade delegation’s gatherings have resulted in about six business agreements, with a particular focus on agricultural exports including some deals with Virginia ports.