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FMs of S. Korea, China expected to hold talks on sidelines of trilateral meeting in Tokyo
The top diplomats of South Korea and China are expected to hold talks later this month on the sidelines of their trilateral meeting with the Japanese foreign minister, according to sources Sunday. The three neighbors are in the final stages of arranging talks among their foreign ministers on March 22 in Tokyo, the first such meeting in 16 months, according to the diplomatic sources. On the sidelines of the trilateral talks, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Chinese counterpart, W
March 2, 2025 -
Trump orders national security impact probe on lumber imports, could target Korean kitchen cabinets
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Saturday to launch an investigation into the impact of lumber and timber imports on America's national security, a move that could lead to a new tariff imposition. Trump directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to initiate the probe, saying the United States faces "significant" vulnerabilities in the wood supply chain from imported timber, lumber and their derivative products being dumped onto the US market. A White House official mentioned S
March 2, 2025 -
Azerbaijan commemorates Khojaly massacre
The Azerbaijani Embassy in Seoul marked the 33rd anniversary of the Khojaly massacre, hosting a symposium on Wednesday. Remembering the victims, the embassy reiterated that massacre was carried out by Armenian forces, killing 613 Azerbaijani civilians, including 106 women and 63 children, in the tragic event of 1992. Azerbaijan views the attack as a deliberate act of genocide, referencing the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide. The massacre occurred during the 1990s Azerbaijan-Armenia war, with Arme
Feb. 28, 2025 -
S. Korea, Montenegro to enforce economic cooperation pact next month
South Korea and Montenegro will seek to boost their economic cooperation, with a bilateral pact on such cooperation set to take effect in March, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The ministry said the pact, set to go into effect Saturday, will provide the legal foundation for the two nations to bolster practical cooperation in areas including energy, tourism and investment. "Both nations will establish a joint committee for the effective implementation of the agreement and seek ways to boo
Feb. 27, 2025 -
Defense ministry: ‘Nothing confirmed’ on Hegseth’s possible visit to S. Korea
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that “nothing is confirmed” about US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s potential March visit to South Korea. “Nothing is confirmed about the related matters,” the ministry’s spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou replied when asked whether South Korea’s government was informed of the potential visit, in a regular briefing. “It will be the US government who would be reviewing such itinerary. … So we cannot confirm any information yet.” The ministry spokesperson’s re
Feb. 27, 2025 -
Captured NK soldiers' intention 'most important factor' for their defection to S. Korea: FM Cho
South Korea's top diplomat said Wednesday that confirming the captured North Korean soldiers' intentions is the key factor before allowing them to defect to the South, reaffirming Seoul's willingness to bring them here. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made the remarks after a North Korean soldier held by Ukraine said in an interview with a South Korean daily last week that he wants to go to South Korea and that he was about "80 percent sure" of it. He was one of the two wounded North Korean soldier
Feb. 26, 2025 -
AmCham launches ‘Buy America’ campaign to bolster US-Korea ties
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea has launched its “Buy America” campaign to encourage Korean companies to purchase more US products. By leveraging its extensive business network, AmCham aims to expand the procurement of US energy, automobiles, agricultural products and other key goods, further strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two nations. The campaign follows AmCham Chairman and CEO James Kim’s commitment at the “Korea-US Business Night” in Washington, DC, on Feb
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Anti-China faction in Korea risks 'serious harm' to ties: Beijing's top envoy
China acknowledges S. Korea’s hopes for Xi’s visit, but Dai sidesteps direct answer Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing sounded the alarm over a small but “destructive” anti-China faction that is fueling election interference claims and leading protests, warning that their actions could “seriously harm” China-Korea relations. Dai raised concerns about the diplomatic fallout at a critical juncture, as Seoul-Beijing ties have been on an upward trajectory since the latter half of 2024, drive
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Deputy Pentagon chief nominee calls for efforts to stem growth of N. Korea's nuclear, missile arsenals
US President Donald Trump's pick for deputy defense secretary highlighted the need Tuesday to stem the growth of North Korea's nuclear and missile arsenals, saying the recalcitrant regime poses a "clear" threat to security on the Korean Peninsula and around the world. Stephen Feinberg made the remarks during a confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee, saying Pyongyang remains "intensely" focused on expanding its "illicit" nuclear weapons program and improving its ballistic and
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Trump govt. will end EB-5 investor visa, replace with 'Gold Card' valued at $5 million: commerce secretary
US President Donald Trump's administration will abolish the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program and replace it with the "Gold Card" for those who will be able to pay $5 million to the US government, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday. Lutnick made the remarks, casting the EB-5 program as "full of nonsense" and a way to get a "low-priced" green card, officially known as a permanent resident card. "The president said, rather than having this sort of ridiculous EB-5 program, we are goi
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Trump orders investigation into possible tariffs on copper
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to investigate how copper imports threaten America's national security and economic stability, in a move that could lead to the imposition of new tariffs on the metal used to produce aircraft, vehicles, ships and other military hardware. Trump directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to conduct the investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to impose import restrictions if an import
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Two S. Korean missionaries killed in robbery in Madagascar
Two South Korean missionaries have been killed in an armed robbery attack in Madagascar, diplomatic sources said Monday. The attack happened Friday when several robbers armed with bladed weapons approached the two South Korean nationals near a local church, according to the sources with knowledge of the matter. They were transported to a hospital for injuries but later pronounced dead. The victims, who were in-laws, had been actively engaged in volunteer work in the local community. The robbers
Feb. 24, 2025 -
S. Korea strongly protests Japan's renewed sovereignty claim over Dokdo
Seoul strongly protested Japan's renewed territorial claim over Dokdo on Saturday, following an event held in Shimane Prefecture laying claim to South Korea's easternmost islets. Seoul's foreign ministry expressed strong regret and delivered its position to Taisuke Mibae, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, after calling in the diplomat to the ministry to protest the event, officials said. The government repeatedly urged Japan to "immediately abolish" the annual event.
Feb. 22, 2025 -
FM Cho urges end to Russia's war in Ukraine, military cooperation with N. Korea
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul urged an end to Russia's war in Ukraine and its illegal military cooperation with North Korea during a multilateral meeting in South Africa earlier this week, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Saturday. Cho made the call at the foreign ministers' meeting of the Group of 20 nations in Johannesburg, held from Thursday through Friday (local time), highlighting the deepening security links between Europe and Asia. "Minister Cho highlighted the growing security ties betw
Feb. 22, 2025 -
Trump inks memo to facilitate allies' investment, restrict China from investing in strategic sectors
US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Friday to create a "fast-track" process to facilitate investment from US allies and partners, and restrict China-affiliated people from investing in America's strategic sectors. Trump inked the "America First Investment Policy" memo, accusing China and other foreign adversaries of systematically directing and facilitating investment in US companies and assets to obtain cutting-edge technologies, intellectual property and leverage in strategic industr
Feb. 22, 2025