US remains committed to working with acting President Lee for 'stability,' 'continuity' in alliance: State Dept.

A State Department spokesperson on Thursday affirmed the United States' commitment to working with South Korea's new acting President Lee Ju-ho to ensure "stability" and "continuity" in the two countries' longstanding alliance. The spokesperson made the remarks after Lee, the deputy prime minister for social affairs and the education minister, undertook the acting presidency following the resignation of former acting President Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Af

May 2, 2025

US senator stresses S. Korea's capital, expertise for rebuilding US shipbuilding industry

A US senator said Wednesday that South Korea and other allies can help revitalize America's shipbuilding industry with their capital and expertise, as US President Donald Trump's administration is looking to deepen cooperation with the allies in the sector. Republican Senator Todd Young from Indiana made the remarks during a forum hosted by the Washington-based Hudson Institute, noting that the CHIPS and Science Act can serve as a "model" for collaboration with allies to help rebuild the US ship

May 1, 2025

S. Korea, US to launch working-level talks on tariffs this week

South Korea and the United States will hold working-level talks this week to set details of their recent agreement concerning the Donald Trump administration's tariff scheme, Seoul's industry ministry said Wednesday. The two-day "technical discussions" will begin on Wednesday in Washington as a follow-up to last week's agreement to craft a package deal on the new US tariffs and ways of bilateral economic and industrial cooperation before the 90-day pause on the tariff measures expires on July 8,

April 30, 2025

US Navy secretary to visit HD Hyundai Heavy, Hanwha Ocean to explore shipbuilding cooperation

US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was set to visit South Korea's leading shipbuilders, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Hanwha Ocean Co., Wednesday, according to industry sources, as Washington seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector under President Donald Trump. Phelan, on a two-nation Asia trip also involving Japan, plans to visit HD Hyundai Heavy's headquarters in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and Hanwha Ocean's shipyard in Geoje, also in the southern re

April 30, 2025

Senior US diplomat reaffirms US support for Japan's efforts to address NK abduction issue

A top US diplomat on Tuesday reaffirmed the United States' support for Japan's efforts to address the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, a State Department spokesperson said. The reaffirmation came as Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met a visiting Japanese delegation, including Rep. Furuya Keiji, the head of Japan's Parliamentary Association on Abduction Issues, and family members of the abductees. "He reaffirmed US support for Japan in achieving an imm

April 30, 2025

Trump signs proclamation easing impact of auto part tariffs on US-assembled cars

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Tuesday to give two-year auto part tariff relief to companies that assemble cars in the United States, amid the automotive industry's growing concerns over the ramifications of new levies. The proclamation came after the Trump administration started imposing 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles on April 3, with 25 percent duties on certain auto parts set to come no later than Saturday. It outlined a measure to reduce duties on imported auto p

April 30, 2025

Our Ocean Conference kicks off in S. Korea

A major global maritime conference kicked off in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday to provide a platform for international discussions on the sustainable future of the ocean. The 10th Our Ocean Conference set sail under the theme "Our Ocean, Our Action" for a two-day run at BEXCO, about 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Some 2,300 officials, including government delegates from 100 countries and the leaders of international institutions and nongovernmental organizations, h

April 29, 2025

C5 embassies, secretariat highlight Central Asia tourism

Embassies of Central Asia (C5) and the Secretariat of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Cooperation Forum (CARK) highlighted the tourism potential of Central Asia in Seoul on Wednesday. The "C5" countries of Central Asia refer to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The forum, launched in 2007 as a Korean initiative, serves as a dialogue platform to bolster cooperation in economic, cultural and other areas, enhance ties between Central Asian countries and Korea and p

April 28, 2025

[Contribution] Three decades of friendship: Egypt, Korea moving forward together

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Korea — a significant milestone in the history of cooperation between our two friendly nations. This anniversary reflects the enduring strength of our bilateral ties, built on mutual respect, shared interests and a joint commitment to development, regional stability and international peace. This occasion highlights the strong and dynamic partnership that has be

April 28, 2025

N. Korea, others have 'perpetuated' Russia-Ukraine war, bear responsibility: State Dept.

North Korea and other third countries have "perpetuated" the Russia-Ukraine war and "bear responsibility," a State Department spokesperson said Sunday, hours after Pyongyang acknowledged its troop deployment to Russia for the first time. The spokesperson also repeated calls for Pyongyang to stop its troop deployment and Russia to end any support to the North. "Third countries, like the DPRK, that have perpetuated the Russia-Ukraine war, bear responsibility," the spokesperson said in response to

April 28, 2025

Dutch veteran of Korean War to be laid to rest in S. Korea

A late Dutch veteran of the 1950-53 Korean War will be laid to rest in the southeastern city of Busan this week, South Korea's veterans ministry said Monday. The remains of Johannes Horstman will arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Tuesday ahead of a burial ceremony set to take place at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the following day, according to the ministry. The private first class was dispatched to South Korea as part of the Neth

April 28, 2025

Comfort woman's family wins compensation suit against Japan in South Korean court

The family of a late comfort woman has won a damages suit against the Japanese government in South Korea, a local court said Friday. The Cheongju District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Lee Man-young, the son of the late Gil Gap-soon, ordering the Japanese government to pay 200 million won (approximately $139,000) in compensation. This marks the third time a Korean court has issued a ruling recognizing the Japanese government's liability for compensating comfort women victims and their f

April 26, 2025

South Korean assembly speaker Woo heads to Mongolia for parliamentary diplomacy, climate cooperation

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik departed for Mongolia on Saturday to engage in discussions on parliamentary diplomacy and climate cooperation, his office said. During his five-day visit, Woo is scheduled to meet with top Mongolian officials, including President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and his parliamentary counterpart, Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan. The talks will focus on strengthening economic and infrastructure cooperation between South Korea and Mongolia, as well as exploring joint responses

April 26, 2025

Kazakhstan vows stronger interethnic harmony

Korea Herald correspondent ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan vowed stronger interethnic harmony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan on Thursday. Taking place at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, the assembly discussed the nation's statehood and societal cohesion. The APK was established on March 1, 1995, by the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and has evolved from an advisory body into a constitutionally recogniz

April 25, 2025

S. Korea asks for tariff exemptions, offers to help rebuild US shipbuilding industry

South Korea has requested exemptions from country-specific "reciprocal" and sectoral tariffs imposed by the United States during high-level trade talks held in Washington, while offering to boost its energy imports from the US and help rebuild the country's shipbuilding industry, the finance ministry said Friday. The request for tariff exemptions was made during the "2+2" trade dialogue held on Thursday, which brought together South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Du

April 25, 2025