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US official dismisses concerns over 'Korea passing' if NK talks resume under Trump
A US State Department official has dismissed concerns that South Korea could be sidelined if the United States resumes nuclear dialogue with North Korea, suggesting Washington remains fully engaged in Korea-related issues at all levels. Kevin Kim, US deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made the remarks as the return of President Donald Trump to the Oval Office has raised the prospect of another summit diplomacy between him and the North's leader Kim Jong-un on Pyongyan
Feb. 27, 2025 -
Senate approves Trump's pick for USTR
The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm US President Donald Trump's pick for US Trade Representative, a position that will lead negotiations over tariffs and other issues with the United States' trading partners. The upper chamber approved Jamieson Greer as Trump's USTR in a 56-43 vote. Greer served as chief of staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer during Trump's first term. He was involved in the renegotiation of the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico and other key trade issues during the fi
Feb. 27, 2025 -
Rubio says US will not 'abandon' relations with S. Korea, Japan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday the United States will not "abandon" relations with its two East Asian treaty allies, South Korea and Japan, as he addressed a question over America's defense commitment to Taiwan. Rubio made the remarks in a Fox News interview, amid lingering concerns that under President Donald Trump's America First credo and his perceived transactional foreign policy approach, the US' security commitments to allies could weaken. "We have to be present in the In
Feb. 27, 2025 -
S. Korea, US agree to use expression, 'denuclearization of N. Korea,' not 'of Korean Peninsula': Seoul envoy
South Korea and the Trump administration have agreed to use the expression, the "denuclearization of North Korea" instead of the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Seoul's top envoy to the United States said Wednesday, as the allies have been pursuing the shared policy objective. Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong made the remarks as the White House has affirmed that President Donald Trump will pursue the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea. "As for the denuclearization expression, the pre
Feb. 27, 2025 -
S. Korea, Australia jointly host business forum on green economy in Seoul
South Korea and Australia hosted a joint forum on green businesses Wednesday in Seoul as part of efforts to bolster bilateral cooperation in clean energy and supply chains, Seoul's industry ministry said. The green economy partnership arrangement business forum took place as a follow-up measure to the EPA signed by the two countries in December, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The EPA is designed to promote cooperation between the two countries in the development of clim
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Vice FM highlights Russia-NK military ties exacerbating N. Korea's human rights situation
A South Korean vice foreign minister has emphasized that growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is further complicating the already dire human rights situation in the reclusive regime, the ministry said Wednesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun made the remarks during the high-level segment of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, amid deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang with North Korea's troop deployment in support of Russia's war in
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Vice FM condemns N. Korea's troop deployment, weapons supply to Russia
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun has denounced North Korea's troop deployment and weapons supply to Russia, stressing that such illegal activities pose a grave security threat to the international community. Kang made the remarks during the high-level session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Monday, noting the North continues to violate UN sanctions with its weapons development against international efforts to promote peace. "Vice Minister Kang condemned North Korea for supp
Feb. 25, 2025 -
Trump says US is 'on time with tariffs' on Canada, Mexico
US President Donald Trump said Monday the United States is "on time" with tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as he repeated his claim that America has been "mistreated" and "taken advantage of" by its trading partners. Trump made the remarks when asked whether tariffs would be imposed on Canadian and Mexican goods when a pause on their implementation ends next month. Early this month, Trump agreed to a 30-day pause after the two countries pledged to step up efforts to prevent drug trafficking at thei
Feb. 25, 2025 -
US general not convinced S. Korea will be more secure with nuclear arms
A former US Forces Korea commander said Monday he is not convinced that South Korea will be more secure if it has its own nuclear arms, amid lingering voices calling for the Asian country to consider its own nuclear option to counter advancing North Korean threats. Vincent Brooks, who led the 28,500-strong USFK from 2016-2018, made the remarks, underscoring that America's extended deterrence commitment is an approach to preventing the use of nuclear weapons as opposed to promoting the use of nuc
Feb. 25, 2025 -
First vice finance minister to attend related G20 meeting in South Africa
First Vice Finance Minister Kim Beom-suk will attend the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 nations in South Africa later this week, the finance ministry said Sunday. Kim is set to depart for Cape Town on Monday to participate in the G20 ministerial meeting, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, on behalf of acting President Choi Sang-mok, the ministry added. This year's ministerial meeting will be held under the theme "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainab
Feb. 23, 2025 -
FM Cho says S. Korea's global strategic value remains intact under acting presidency
South Korea's strategic value in the international community remains unchanged even under the current acting presidency amid ongoing political uncertainties sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, Foreign Minister Cho tae-yul said. Cho made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Johannesburg on Saturday after attending a gathering of foreign ministers of the Group of 20 nations there. "South Korea has sufficient strategic value in the international community, and this r
Feb. 23, 2025 -
FM Cho discusses bilateral cooperation with British, Australian counterparts
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has held talks with his British and Australian counterparts and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties with both countries, his ministry said Friday. The meetings were held on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Cho was visiting to attend the Group of 20 foreign ministers' meeting, the foreign ministry said. During both meetings, Cho exchanged views on relations with the United States under the new administration, the security situation on the Korean P
Feb. 21, 2025 -
S. Korea-led NK sanctions monitoring group commits to full implementation at 1st meeting
South Korea and 10 other countries highlighted their commitment to ensuring the full implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs, a joint statement showed Friday. The 11 participating countries of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) made the pledge after their inaugural meeting of its steering committee in Washington on Thursday. The meeting came about four months after they launched the joint mechanism following the disbandment of the U
Feb. 21, 2025 -
Seoul asks US to exclude S. Korea from new tariff scheme: trade ministry
South Korea's Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won has filed a request with the US government to leave South Korea out of its new import tariff plans, highlighting the Korea-US free trade agreement that has been in place for over a decade, the trade ministry said Friday. Park made the request as he met with officials from the White House, the Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative during his trip to Washington this week, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry a
Feb. 21, 2025 -
S. Korea's declining population biggest concern for investors: Jim Rogers
'Somebody has to do something, or there will not be a Korea in 30-40 years' Renowned US investor Jim Rogers cited South Korea’s declining population as the biggest concern for international investors. Foreseeing a potential long-term economic impact, he said that South Korea's demographic crisis poses a greater risk than geopolitical tensions with North Korea or economic competition with China. “You have a very serious demographic problem," Rogers told reporters at a press briefing on Saturday i
Feb. 19, 2025