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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 -
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 -
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 -
US Navy chief likely to visit South Korea next week: sources
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is expected to visit South Korea as early as next week, sources with knowledge of the matter said Thursday, a trip likely aimed at discussing shipbuilding cooperation in line with the Donald Trump administration's initiatives. Phelan's office has finalized the plan and is fine-tuning the details of the itinerary with government officials and relevant industries in Seoul, according to the sources. Phelan is likely to visit major South Korean shipyards during h
April 24, 2025 -
US delivering 'more forward' Indo-Pacific force posture to deter China: Pentagon chief
The United States is delivering a "more forward" force posture in the Indo-Pacific to help deter an increasingly assertive China, the Pentagon chief said Wednesday, calling on allies and partners to "step up" to be "true force multipliers for freedom." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the remarks during a speech at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, reaffirming America's security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and stressing that US President Donald Trump's America First policy do
April 24, 2025 -
Rubio describes N. Korea as 'nuclear armed' country
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described North Korea as a "nuclear-armed" country in an apparent recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons capabilities, despite the Trump administration's stated commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of the North. Rubio used the expression in a podcast interview released Wednesday, as he pointed to a series of security challenges facing the United States, including those from China, Russia and Iran. "We live in a world with a nuclear-armed North K
April 24, 2025 -
US says China's refusal to abide by intl. law hampers its interests, after Seoul-Beijing maritime tensions
China's refusal to comply with international law hampers its economic interests and causes regional instability, a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday, following maritime tensions between Seoul and Beijing over China's installation of steel structures in the Yellow Sea. China has constructed a set of steel structures in the Provisional Maritime Zone near Ieo Islet, a submerged rock off South Korea's southwest coast. The PMZ is an area where the exclusive economic zones of the two countr
April 24, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to hold '2+2' trade talks in Washington amid tariff concerns
South Korea and the United States were set to hold their first "2+2" trade dialogue involving finance and trade ministers in Washington on Thursday, in what is seen as a key step toward potentially easing recently announced US tariffs. The high-level talks, scheduled for 8 a.m., or 9 p.m. in South Korea, will bring together South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, alongside US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The tal
April 24, 2025 -
Bessent calls for allies' stronger defense commitments ahead of trade talks with S. Korea
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Wednesday for allies to strengthen their commitments to "shared defense," noting America's provision of security guarantees and "open" markets, as he is set to attend high-profile trade talks with South Korea later this week. Bessent made the remarks during a forum hosted by the Institute of International Finance, a day before he and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to join South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Industry Minister
April 24, 2025