S. Korea expresses deep concern over deaths of Israeli embassy employees in Washington

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Thursday expressed deep condolences over the deaths of two Israeli Embassy staff members who were shot to death in Washington. The shooting occurred on Wednesday (U.S. time) as the two embassy employees were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at a local Jewish museum, according to foreign media reports. The 30-year-old suspect shouted, "Free, free Palestine," as he was taken into custody, according to the reports. "The government offers its

May 22, 2025

[Africa Forum] Korea, Africa can be woven into 'rope of unity'

A high-ranking South Korean diplomat said Wednesday that South Korea and Africa can join hands to tackle global geopolitical rivalries and supply chain disruptions together, like strands woven into a rope. Jung Ki-hong, ambassador and deputy minister for public diplomacy, said partnerships between the two "matter more than ever," describing each other as partners that "have much to share and learn from each other." "We share a belief in human dignity, in innovation, in the power of youth," Jung

May 22, 2025

Seoul, Tokyo to pilot fast-track airport lanes for nationals in June

South Korea and Japan will launch a one-month pilot program in June to expedite entry procedures for each other’s nationals through fast-track lanes at airports, aiming to boost people-to-people exchanges, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. “The operation of exclusive immigration lanes will be implemented as part of various commemorative projects jointly pursued by the Korean and Japanese governments to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties,” the ministry said i

May 21, 2025

[Contribution] 'We are the ocean'

By Philippe Bertoux Ambassador of France to the Republic of Korea From June 9-13, France will co-host, with Costa Rica, the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). For this crucial event, around 100 heads of state and government will converge in Nice, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world. On this occasion, France’s aim will be clear: protecting the ocean through tangible action. The ocean is our common good. I

May 21, 2025

Trump unveils $175b plans for Golden Dome missile defense shield

US President Donald Trump announced a $175 billion plan Tuesday to construct the Golden Dome missile defense shield, including space-based interceptors, before the end of his term, as Washington seeks to neutralize evolving threats from North Korea, China and Russia. The announcement came after the president signed an executive order in January to build an "Iron Dome for America," pointing to the growing threat of attacks by ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial at

May 21, 2025

Korean think tank calls for action on US R&D barriers

The Science and Technology Policy Institute, a South Korean state-run think tank, has voiced concerns about the United States government’s designation of South Korea on the list of sensitive countries hampering joint research between the two nations in the field of emerging technologies. The US Department of Energy previously decided to add South Korea to the lowest category of the Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List, or SCL, in January this year. Seoul’s efforts to see Korea removed f

May 20, 2025

How Lee Jae-myung wants to reshape foreign policy

Recasting himself as a foreign policy pragmatist grounded in national interest, South Korea’s presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung is signaling a reset of the strategic compass for the country’s foreign and North Korea policy. On the Korean Peninsula, Lee prioritizes reducing military tensions and reviving long-stalled dialogue with North Korea — a step he sees as essential to ensuring that Seoul is not sidelined in what he views as an inevitable US bid to thaw relations with the Kim Jong-un

May 14, 2025

US says China-Russia cooperation will make US, other countries 'less safe,' 'less secure'

A US State Department spokesperson said Friday that continued cooperation between China and Russia will make the United States and other countries "less safe," "less secure" and "less prosperous" after the leaders of the two countries issued a joint statement defending North Korea. On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin released the summit statement, in which they reportedly called on "relevant states to abandon the policy of unilateral coercive measures a

May 10, 2025

2nd high-level APEC preparatory meeting begins in Jeju

The second round of the high-level preparatory meeting for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit kicked off Saturday on South Korea's southern island of Jeju, officials said. The 14-day Senior Officials' Meeting, scheduled to run through May 16, brings together more than 3,200 government delegates and private-sector representatives from the 21 APEC member economies. South Korea will use the occasion to highlight the details of key agenda items it has introduced for this year's su

May 3, 2025

Russia-N. Korea partnership will impact Trump's leverage in diplomacy toward Pyongyang: expert

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's deepening partnership with Russia is a variable that will impact US President Donald Trump's leverage in future diplomacy with Pyongyang, a US expert said Friday, as the reclusive regime's reliance on Moscow has significantly lessened the need for dialogue with the United States. During a podcast, Sydney Seiler, former intelligence officer at the US National Intelligence Council, made the remarks amid expectations that Trump might seek to revive his personal diplomacy

May 3, 2025

Hegseth orders crafting of 2025 defense strategy to prioritize allies' burden sharing, China deterrence

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the development of the Pentagon's 2025 National Defense Strategy to prioritize raising "burden-sharing" with allies and deterring China threats in the Indo-Pacific, a Pentagon official said Friday. Sean Parnell, assistant to the secretary for public affairs, said that Hegseth directed Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to begin the NDS development, amid speculation that President Donald Trump might seek a rise in South Korea's share

May 3, 2025

Seoul reels from unprecedented leadership vacuum with top 3 posts empty

With just one month left before South Korea’s early presidential election amid critical US tariff talks that have been racing forward, Seoul has been rocked by an unprecedented leadership vacuum: the president, prime minister and top economic chief are all absent due to impeachment or resignation. Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, fourth in the Cabinet hierarchy, assumed the role of acting president on Friday, marking the fourth leadership change in six m

May 2, 2025

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

US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited South Korea's leading shipbuilders, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Hanwha Ocean Co., Wednesday, as Washington seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector under President Donald Trump. Phelan, on a two-nation Asia trip also involving Japan, visited HD Hyundai Heavy's headquarters in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and toured a yard where next-generation Aegis destroyers are being built. He then held talks with HD Hyundai

April 30, 2025

Korea to host 2nd APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting on Jeju Island

South Korea will host the second high-level preparatory meeting for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation on Jeju Island, where it will present detailed plans for advancing discussions on key deliverables such as artificial intelligence cooperation and a joint response to demographic shifts, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday. The second Senior Officials’ Meeting, a high-level consultative body for discussions among APEC member economies, and related meetings will be held from May 3 to 1

April 29, 2025

Putin thanks North Korea for military deployment: KCNA

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed gratitude for North Korea’s military support in Russia’s war against Ukraine, North Korean state media reported Tuesday. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Putin praised the deployment of North Korean forces to Russia’s Kursk region, describing it as consistent with international law and the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed between the two countries in June last year. “The dispatch fully conforms to internatio

April 29, 2025