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Seoul slams Japan’s repeated Dokdo claim in Diplomatic Bluebook as ‘provocation’
The South Korean government on Tuesday lodged a strong protest against Japan’s recurring sovereignty claim over the Dokdo islets in its annual diplomatic policy publication, denouncing the move as a "provocation." South Korea's Foreign Ministry also summoned Taisuke Mibae, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Tuesday morning. The commentary by the Foreign Ministry in Seoul was issued shortly after the Diplomatic Bluebook 2025, an annual report on Japan’s foreign policy and a
April 8, 2025 -
Russian envoy says next Russia-US contact could be 'next week'
MOSCOW (AFP) -- A senior Russian official involved in negotiations with Washington said on Sunday that Russia and the United States could reach out to each other again as early as next week. Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin's international economy envoy, told Channel One television in an interview that the next contact between the two sides could happen "already next week", the TASS news agency reported. Dmitriev, who is the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, visited Washington last week -- the
April 6, 2025 -
Pope makes surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square, 2 weeks after leaving hospital
Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter’s Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since his release from the hospital two weeks ago. The pontiff waved at the crowd that stood and applauded as he was rolled unannounced to the front of the altar in the square. “Good Sunday to everyone,’’ Francis said, speaking into a microphone, which he tapped to make sure it was working on a second attempt. “Tha
April 6, 2025 -
Summit diplomacy back on horizon
Seoul informs foreign envoys that new president will be chosen within 60 days of court ruling The Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision to eject President Yoon Suk Yeol has begun to clear a monthslong fog of uncertainty for foreign countries over how and when South Korea’s political leadership vacuum would end. The political instability and leadership vacuum triggered by Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3 dragged on for four months, at a time when amid sharp US policy shift
April 5, 2025 -
U.S. reaffirms commitment to working with acting President Han, looks forward to future of 'close cooperation': State Dept.
The United States reaffirmed its commitment Friday to working with South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo for stability in the bilateral alliance until a successor to ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol is picked, the State Department said, underscoring its "ironclad" security commitment to the Asian ally. The Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment of Yoon on Friday (Korea time), unseating him from office over his short-lived martial law imposition in December and setting the st
April 4, 2025 -
Tariffs on Korea 'opening salvo,' not endgame: Trump’s ex-aide
President Donald Trump’s newly announced reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports are an “opening bid” for broader trade negotiations — not an outcome or a policy set in stone, former Trump national security aide Fred Fleitz said Thursday. “I will tell you that I think this is the opening salvo in negotiations, and that this is something that will be negotiated and altered over time,” Fred Fleitz, former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council under Trump’s first term said during the “
April 3, 2025 -
Foreign envoys witness — and ride — Korea’s K2 tank, K9 howitzer in action
CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — Foreign ambassadors and diplomats from 15 countries climbed aboard the K2 Black Panther tank and K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer for a ride during a visit to production facilities, where they witnessed the assembly process firsthand. The Foreign Ministry-led tour provided diplomats with an A-to-Z and behind-the-scenes look at Korea’s homegrown defense systems — from the assembly line on the factory floor to a live demo of how they performed in the field.
April 3, 2025 -
South Korea, US should go beyond rhetoric, get real on Taiwan contingency: report
Allies should clarify expectations for role of alliance in event of US-China conflict South Korea and the United States should initiate concrete, practical — and largely nonexternal — discussions on the intractable, long-avoided question of their alliance’s role in a Taiwan contingency, moving beyond rhetorical alignment on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a report released by a Washington-based think tank said Monday. The Korea Economic Institute of America pointed out the two allies r
April 1, 2025 -
Seoul to join NATO talks as Trump reshapes security order
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will attend the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting this week, at a critical moment when Europe seeks deeper defense ties with Seoul amid US pressure on burden-sharing and as US President Donald Trump calls for a swift end to Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine, backed by North Korea. Cho will participate in the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting session with the four Indo-Pacific partners, or IP4, on Thursday — marking the fourth consecutive year South Korea has
April 1, 2025 -
S. Korea to offer US$2 mln in humanitarian aid to Myanmar over disastrous quake
South Korea plans to offer humanitarian aid worth US$2 million to Myanmar to assist the country's people affected by the catastrophic quake earlier this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday. "We decided to provide $2 million worth of humanitarian assistance via an international organization to help speedy responses against damage caused by the quake in Myanmar," the ministry said. The ministry said it will review additional assistance, if necessary, depending on the situation in the Sout
March 29, 2025 -
South Korea ready to assist Myanmar, Thailand in earthquake relief efforts
South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul expressed the country's readiness to assist those affected by the earthquake that struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been impacted by the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand," Cho said via social media on Friday. He further added, "We sincerely hope for the swift rescue of the victims." Earlier on Saturday, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, followed by an aftershock measuri
March 29, 2025 -
International community doubted North Korea’s future after founder Kim Il-sung's death: dossier
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry on Friday declassified several diplomatic dossiers from 1994, revealing that the international community expressed doubt about North Korea’s future after the sudden death of the regime’s founder, Kim Il-sung. The death of Kim Il-sung on July 8, 1994, sent the international diplomatic community scrambling to predict the future of the reclusive state, as well as who would be the next in line to rule, the dossier read. Kim died of a heart attack at the age of 82, after ruli
March 28, 2025 -
Strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, panic in Bangkok
A strong earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, and people rushed out of buildings in panic in Yangon and also in Bangkok, the capital of neighbouring Thailand, witnesses said. The United States Geological Survey said the quake was of 7.7 magnitude and at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). It was followed by a powerful aftershock. The epicentre was about 17.2 km from the city of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest, which has a population of about 1.5 million. There was no immediate word from Mya
March 28, 2025 -
Putin cites N. Korea among Russia's potential partners to settle Ukraine war: report
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday listed North Korea as one of the partner countries he is willing to work with to settle its war in Ukraine, according to a Russian report. Speaking about efforts to settle the war during his visit to Murmansk, Russia, Putin said not just the United States, but also China, India, Brazil, South Africa, all BRICS countries, as well as North Korea, can be partners for cooperation, according to the Russian news agency Tass. Putin also reportedly said he welc
March 28, 2025 -
Seoul expresses deep regret over Japanese textbooks claiming sovereignty over Dokdo
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday expressed “deep regret” over Tokyo’s recent approval of school textbooks reinforcing its territorial claims to South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo. Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology approved 31 school textbooks in the social studies category, which includes geography and history, that contain “unfair claims” over Dokdo. The textbooks, which label Dokdo as “Japan’s sovereign territory” will be distributed for use at hi
March 25, 2025