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Trump returns to White House with renewed vow to 'put America first'
Donald Trump took office as the United States' 47th president on Monday, renewing his vow to "put America first" and tariff foreign countries to enrich Americans, while signaling an intent to refrain from military involvement in conflicts overseas. During his swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Trump, 78, underscored his America First credo as his second four-year term is expected to see a major shift in the US' approach to alliances, trade and other key issues. Vice Presi
Jan. 21, 2025 -
Trump takes office as Korean presidency stuck in limbo
US President Donald Trump is set to be sworn into office Monday during an inauguration ceremony at the Capitol, evoking memories of his first term in 2017, when South Korea, a key Asian ally, was led by an acting president following the suspension of then-President Park Geun-hye. But this time, Seoul’s political crisis has reached levels far beyond 2017. President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting leader arrested after his failed martial law declaration on Dec. 3, now awaiting the Constitut
Jan. 20, 2025 -
Who will represent Korea at Trump’s inauguration amid stalled leader diplomacy?
South Korean lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, business leaders and local government leaders have converged in Washington, DC, for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. Their goals are to address US concerns over South Korea’s political turbulence, ensure Korea's voice and position are reflected in Trump’s key foreign, security, economic and trade policies, and explore ways to strengthen strategic partnerships across sectors. This multilevel effort -- spanni
Jan. 19, 2025 -
Senior politicians, business leaders head for Trump's inauguration ceremony
Senior politicians and business leaders have departed for the United States to attend Donald Trump's presidential inauguration ceremony, officials said Sunday. With Trump set to return to the White House, questions have been raised over whether South Korea can push for high-level engagement with the incoming US administration in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law imposition and his subsequent impeachment. Seven lawmakers of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee,
Jan. 19, 2025 -
S. Korea opens embassy in Cuba, 11 months after ties forged
South Korea officially inaugurated its embassy in Havana on Friday, hosting an opening ceremony less than a year after the two nations formalized diplomatic ties on Feb. 14, 2024. The embassy is situated in the Miramar district, renowned for its cluster of embassy compounds, including those of the United States, Canada, China and other countries, serving as a hub for international diplomacy. South Korea's embassy in Cuba becomes the 117th diplomatic mission located in the island nation. Opening
Jan. 18, 2025 -
S. Korea’s top envoy to US to attend Trump inauguration: foreign ministry
South Korean Ambassador to the US Cho Hyun-dong will attend the inauguration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump next week, the foreign ministry said Thursday. "As per protocol, the ambassador to the U.S. plans to attend Trump's inauguration as the government representative," a ministry official told reporters. Cho's planned attendance is in line with the U.S. diplomatic practice where ambassadors and their spouses stationed in Washington are invited to the event, the official said. No invit
Jan. 16, 2025 -
Seoul eyes revival of US-North Korea, inter-Korean talks under Trump 2.0
US secretary of state nominee signals shifts in N. Korea policy toward stabilization, risk reduction Seoul’s Foreign and Unification ministries on Thursday unveiled their 2025 policy priorities, pledging to “proactively” prepare for the potential revival of US-North Korea nuclear talks under a second Donald Trump administration, while gearing up for the possible resumption of inter-Korean dialogue. South Korea is bracing for a potential seismic shift in the overall Korean Peninsula landscape wit
Jan. 16, 2025 -
Biden, Trump welcome Gaza ceasefire, hostage release deal
US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed a deal between Israel and the Hamas militant group to halt fighting in Gaza and release Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. Following weeks of negotiations brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas reached the deal that raised the prospects of an end to the devastating war that broke out in the wake of Hamas militants' attack on Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023. "There was no other way
Jan. 16, 2025 -
Seoul rejects Pete Hegseth’s ‘nuclear power’ label for North Korea
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief, referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power” in a written statement for Tuesday’s confirmation hearing – shattering a longstanding taboo by granting such a designation to Kim Jong-un’s regime and drawing considerable attention in Seoul. Seoul's Defense, Foreign and Unification ministries immediately dismissed Hegseth’s statement when asked for comment, each emphasizing in their respective statements that North Korea can never
Jan. 15, 2025 -
S. Korea, Japan pledge to mark 60 years of ties, unshaken by political crisis
Foreign ministers hold joint news conference for 1st time in over 13 years The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan on Monday pledged to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization this year, building on renewed momentum in their relationship despite the ongoing political upheaval and a potential leadership change in South Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met in Seoul at a critical moment, as South Korea grapples with
Jan. 13, 2025 -
Suspended president calls for S. Korean support for LA fire relief efforts
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is suspended from his duties amid an ongoing impeachment trial, wrote on Facebook that the South Korean government should provide support to help deal with the wildfires in Los Angeles. Yoon expressed condolences and regret for those affected by the deadly wildfires, and expressed his wishes for the fire to be contained and damage restored. "The US is our most invaluable ally that took our hand during the most difficult times of South Korea, and LA is home to the lar
Jan. 13, 2025 -
Logo unveiled to mark 50 years of S. Korea-Singapore ties
The Singapore Embassy in Seoul and the Korean Embassy in the city-state announced plans to unveil a commemorative logo on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The logo was created through a collaborative design competition organized by both embassies. “The selected logo is the result of a two-month logo design workshop between K-Arts and Singapore’s Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, which are sister schools and well-known national art institutions in the ROK and Singapore, respect
Jan. 13, 2025 -
Forum calls for physical, digital connectivity in ASEAN, Korea
Experts and industry leaders attending a forum hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Center last week called for enhanced physical and digital connectivity and cybersecurity frameworks to mitigate supply chain disruptions fueled by geopolitical uncertainties. Delivering keynote remarks, ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary-General Kim Jae-shin highlighted the forum's unique position as the sole platform in Korea dedicated to ASEAN connectivity. The 12th ASEAN Connectivity Forum was held to review the 15 years of AS
Jan. 12, 2025 -
S. Korea requests US biz leaders' engagement at 2025 APEC events
South Korea has requested the active participation of business leaders in the United States at upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events in South Korea this year, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday. At an annual meeting of the US National Center for APEC in San Francisco on Friday (US time), Yoon Seong-mee, chair of the 2025 APEC Senior Officials' Meeting, presented Seoul's preparations for hosting the 2025 APEC summit and urged active interest and participation from US business lead
Jan. 11, 2025 -
Sullivan calls Yoon's martial law bid 'shocking,' 'wrong,' says alliance still set for success despite turmoil
WASHINGTON -- US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Friday portrayed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid as "shocking" and "wrong," but voiced confidence that "structurally," the South Korea-US alliance is "incredibly healthy." Speaking in a press meeting, he also noted that the Biden administration was not able to make "substantial" progress in the efforts toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula with the security trend moving in the "wrong" direction,
Jan. 11, 2025