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

Grenell says 'Trump can show up with Kim Jong-un'

A senior aide to US President Donald Trump underscored the need Friday for dialogue to address security issues, saying that Trump is a person who "can show up" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Richard Grenell, the special presidential envoy for special missions on North Korea and other issues, made the remarks as Trump has voiced his openness to reengaging with the reclusive leader in Pyongyang. "I don't think that talking means that you're weak. I actually think talking is a tactic to get

Feb. 22, 2025

Seoul to send Yoon's pick for ambassador to Indonesia, but not China: sources

South Korea's interim government has decided to dispatch former Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu as the new ambassador to Indonesia, despite controversy over his special appointment by now-suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to government sources. In contrast, Kim Dae-ki, a close confidant to Yoon and a specially appointed ambassador to China, will not be sent under the acting president system. This is despite the South Korean Embassy in Beijing having functioned with an acting ambassado

Feb. 21, 2025

S. Korea to lead new N. Korea sanctions watchdog, replacing UN panel

Seoul sees 1st MSMT meeting in Washington under Trump as pivotal after launch under Biden South Korea will take the lead this year in operating a new multilateral sanctions monitoring body and publishing its reports, filling the gaps in sanctions enforcement and monitoring on North Korea left by the dissolution of the UN Panel of Experts following Russia's veto. The outcome came after the inaugural meeting of the steering committee of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team or MSMT in Washing

Feb. 21, 2025

Trump says he will announce tariffs on cars, chips, pharmaceuticals 'over the next month or sooner'

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will announce tariffs on cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals "over the next month or sooner" as he is pushing for new levies to shrink America's trade deficits, boost domestic manufacturing and achieve other policy goals. Trump has already announced a plan to start imposing 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports on March 12, and is seeking to slap "reciprocal" tariffs on US imports in addition to his push for duties on cars, chips an

Feb. 20, 2025

US can respond in 'overwhelming' way in case of NK ICBM attack: official

A senior US military official warned Wednesday that America can respond in an "overwhelming" way in the "time, place and manner of our choosing" in the event of a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile attack as he underscored the strength of the United States' nuclear deterrence system. Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, the commander of the Eighth Air Force and of the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, made the remarks, responding to a question regarding what would happen to America's nucl

Feb. 20, 2025

S. Korea willing to accept all N. Korean POWs from Ukraine upon request

The South Korean government will accept any North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine upon their request of asylum, a position that has already been communicated to the Ukrainian government, Seoul's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday. The announcement followed a North Korean prisoner of war in Ukraine expressing his desire to settle in South Korea in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper released earlier in the day. The North Korean soldier, at the same time, raised questions about whethe

Feb. 19, 2025

S. Korea's declining population biggest concern for investors: Jim Rogers

'Somebody has to do something, or there will not be a Korea in 30-40 years' Renowned US investor Jim Rogers cited South Korea’s declining population as the biggest concern for international investors. Foreseeing a potential long-term economic impact, he said that South Korea's demographic crisis poses a greater risk than geopolitical tensions with North Korea or economic competition with China. “You have a very serious demographic problem," Rogers told reporters at a press briefing on Saturday i

Feb. 19, 2025

'Gaza is critical to Middle East, global peace': Turkish envoy

Resolving the conflict in Gaza is a critical issue for the Middle East and global peace, said Turkish Ambassador to Korea Murat Tamer in an interview with The Korea Herald on Feb. 12. Turkey has strongly opposed US President Donald Trump's proposal for the US to "take over" Gaza and "resettle" Palestinians elsewhere, calling it "unacceptable" and reaffirming Turkey's commitment to Palestinian rights. Before departing for Malaysia on Feb. 10, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed US pr

Feb. 18, 2025

N. Korea to keep bolstering nuclear force, criticizes US for pursuing 'outdated' denuclearization goal

North Korea said it will adhere to bolstering its nuclear force, criticizing the United States for pursuing what it called an "outdated and absurd" denuclearization plan of the North, according to the North's state media Tuesday. The North's foreign ministry made the remarks in response to a recent joint statement by South Korea, the US and Japan that reaffirmed their goal of the complete denuclearization of North Korea. North Korea will "consistently adhere to the new line of bolstering up the

Feb. 18, 2025

MJ Chung calls for 'Asian NATO,' tactical nuclear redeployment

Chung Mong-joon, founder and honorary chair of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, called for the creation of an Asian NATO, a regional collective security system for the Indo-Pacific region, and the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula. Chung delivered his speech while attending a donation ceremony on Monday in Washington to commemorate the establishment of the MJ Chung Distinguished Chair in Security Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International S

Feb. 18, 2025

Trump 2.0 codifies ‘complete denuclearization’ of N. Korea amid fears of US policy shift

‘Complete denuclearization of North Korea’ has been used in official statements, replacing peninsula-wide term The Trump administration has set forth a commitment to North Korea’s “complete denuclearization” and to the preservation of sanctions and pressure to that end in a joint statement with South Korea and Japan, assuaging Seoul’s mounting concerns over Washington’s potential shift in North Korea policy. The joint statement came after the first meeting among South Korea’s Foreign Minister Ch

Feb. 16, 2025

S. Korean national released safely after being kidnapped in Philippines: Seoul

A South Korean national has been released safely after being kidnapped from his home in the Philippines early this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday. The kidnapping occurred at 3 a.m. Sunday in Clark, north of Manila, when a group of about 10 people showed up at the victim's house, posing as officials from the investigative and immigration agencies. The foreign ministry in Seoul said the South Korean national was safely taken into custody by the Philippine police early Saturday and is

Feb. 15, 2025