Most Popular
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
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Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
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Japan's minister repeats Dokdo sovereignty claim in parliamentary speech
Japan's top diplomat stated again Monday that Dokdo, a pair of rocky islets in the East Sea over which Seoul maintains effective control, belongs to his country, a remark Koreans regard as reckless. "(The government) will stand firm in its response (to the issue), delivering Japan's claim over Takeshima, which is Japan's indigenous territory, with patience," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said in his new year's speech in the Japanese parliament, using the Japanese name for Dokdo.Dokdo (Yonhap) J
Jan. 28, 2019
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Abe vows 'decisive' approach toward N. Korea to normalize ties
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday made public his determination to have talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a bid to normalize bilateral diplomatic relations.In a policy speech to the Diet, Abe said he will "act decisively without losing any opportunity" to settle the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by the communist nation decades ago and its nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)"(We) should break the shell of mutual mistrust in order to resolve the North Korean nuclear
Jan. 28, 2019
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Foreign Ministry keeps travel ban in place for parts of Mindanao, Philippines
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that it will maintain its restrictions on travel to certain areas of the Philippines because of political instability, poor public security and terrorism. The ministry launched a subcommittee under the Passport Policy Deliberation Committee on Wednesday, which decided to maintain the travel ban on parts of Mindanao -- including the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago, which includes the island province of Basilan -- for si
Jan. 24, 2019
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Korea, Britain to open hotline for Brexit consultations
South Korea and Britain have agreed to establish a diplomatic hotline to share information on London's preparations for an exit from the European Union, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.The two sides had working-level consultations on issues related to Brexit, slated for March 29, in London on Wednesday (local time).The director general-level session came amid an increased uncertainty over Brexit as British lawmakers voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal with the EU earlier
Jan. 24, 2019
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Korea, Britain discuss Brexit emergency measures
South Korea's industry ministry said Thursday it has reached a consensus with Britain to promptly prepare follow-up measures as London moves to leave the European Union.The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Energy said Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong met his counterpart Liam Fox, sharing opinions on their post-Brexit relationship, including possibly clinching a separate free trade agreement with London when the departure happens. Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Energy Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong
Jan. 24, 2019
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South Korea-US military cost-sharing deadlock drags out as US demands $1 billion
South Korea’s struggle to reach an agreement with the US for the cost of maintaining US troops here intensified when the gap between the total amount of Seoul’s contributions demanded by the US and that which Seoul was able to accept, as well as differences over the contract period, widened in December as a result of instructions from the very top in Washington, sources said Wednesday. Through a diplomatic channel, the US demanded in late December that South Korea pay $1.2 billion for costs rela
Jan. 23, 2019
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US ambassador puts pressure on Cheong Wa Dae over USFK costs: report
The Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that the US ambassador to South Korea visited Cheong Wa Dae last month, but declined to comment on a news report that the top envoy’s visit was designed to pressure Seoul to pay more for the US troops stationed here. “Our government is making efforts to reach a reasonable agreement, mutually acceptable, as early as possible on the basis of mutual respect and understanding (with the US ally),” ministry spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk said at a regular press briefin
Jan. 22, 2019
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S. Korea voices "deep regrets" over Japan's announcement on radar dispute
South Korea's defense ministry expressed "deep regrets" Monday over Japan's disclosure of new evidence related to a military radar dispute and its decision to halt bilateral consultations.Tokyo's defense ministry announced its final view on the monthlong spat, saying that bilateral working-level dialogue may not lead to "verification of the truth."Further escalating tensions, it presented two audio files as fresh evidence to back up its claim that a South Korean warship locked fire-control radar
Jan. 21, 2019
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Two Koreas and US officials gather in Stockholm to develop agenda for Trump-Kim summit
US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the US and North Korea have made progress in their denuclearization talks, while officials from the two countries have begun negotiations to craft details of agreement for a second summit next month.“We have made a lot of progress as far as denuclearization is concerned and we’re talking about a lot of different things,” Trump said after a 90 minute meeting with North Korean nuclear envoy Kim Yong-chol at the White House on Friday. (Yonhap)Trump said
Jan. 20, 2019
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No Davos meeting for Pompeo, Foreign Minister Kang as Trump calls off US delegation
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha’s planned meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, will not materialize as US President Donald Trump on Thursday called off his delegation to the forum, citing the partial government shutdown.“Out of consideration for the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay and to ensure his team can assist as needed, President Trump has canceled his delegation’s trip to the World Econo
Jan. 18, 2019
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Foreign minister: South Korea and US share common goal of complete denuclearization
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa reaffirmed Wednesday that the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a shared goal of South Korea and the US, stressing close cooperation between the two countries. “Denuclearization talks will begin in earnest based on strategies that have been mediated between South Korea and the US. … I expect there will be great progress in denuclearization, inter-Korean relations and lasting peace settlement if a second North Korea-US summit and North Korean lea
Jan. 16, 2019
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Korea vows to take pre-emptive steps over Brexit
South Korea pledged Wednesday to take pre-emptive steps to counter possible worse case scenarios after the British Parliament voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal.Lee Ho-seung, the first vice minister of economy and finance, said South Korea will closely monitor the situation, though the rejection of the deal had a limited impact on global financial markets as it was widely expected. Lee Ho-seung (Yonhap)"We will take all necessary steps swiftly and decisively to stabilize financi
Jan. 16, 2019
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Korea seeks ways to minimize impact from Brexit vote
The South Korean government plans to hold an interagency meeting Wednesday to discuss policy measures in response to British lawmakers' rejection of a Brexit deal, a ministry official said.Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon will preside over the session to open at 2 p.m. at the ministry's building in Seoul. (Yonhap)It will be joined by representatives from other relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Economy and Fina
Jan. 16, 2019
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South Korea, US push to hold working-level video talks
The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that South Korean and US officials are poised to hold working-level talks via video conferencing. “South Korea and the US are closely coordinating for the next working group video conference,” Noh Kyu-duk, the ministry’s spokesman, told a regular press briefing.Officials will discuss matters relating to North Korea and its nuclear program, although the schedule remains under discussion, he said. Lee Dong-yeol, director-general for the Korean Peninsula Peace regi
Jan. 15, 2019
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[Newsmaker] No breakthrough from Korea-Japan military talks over radar tussle
Despite having held military talks, South Korea and Japan failed to narrow differences Monday in stand-offs over a recent radar incident, an informed source said.General-grade representatives from the two sides met in Singapore in a bid to resolve "mutual misunderstandings" over a dispute regarding Seoul's use of military radar for humanitarian search operations last month, according to Seoul's defense ministry. (Yonhap)It marked the first face-to-face contact between officials from the two nati
Jan. 15, 2019
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Korea voices 'deep regrets' over Tokyo official's criticism of Moon amid forced labor dispute
South Korea's foreign ministry on Friday expressed "deep regrets" over a senior Japanese official's criticism of President Moon Jae-in's remarks this week regarding an escalating diplomatic dispute over Japan's wartime forced labor.Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahisa Sato has blasted Moon on Twitter for having said that the Tokyo government, as well as Seoul, should respect a court decision in Korea over the issue, and that it cannot do anything to intervene in the judicial proce
Jan. 11, 2019
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PM calls for efforts to build future-oriented relations with Japan
South Korea's prime minister on Thursday called for government efforts to build a future-oriented relationship with Japan, separately from the task of addressing bilateral historical issues.Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said in a government meeting that history cannot be neglected, but it is not desirable to neglect preparations for the future due to history.(Yonhap)"Historical liabilities between South Korea and Japan should be resolved. At the same time, we should make efforts and pool our wisdom
Jan. 10, 2019
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S. Korea, Sweden discuss N. Korea issue
South Korea's special representative for regional peace and security met Wednesday with the Swedish government's envoy to the peninsula, Seoul's foreign ministry said.Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met Kent Härstedt, who is here on a two-day trip that started Tuesday. Lee Do-hoon (Yonhap)"(They) exchanged opinions on cooperation between the two nations related to the Korean Peninsula issue and issues of mutu
Jan. 9, 2019
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Seoul mayor rejects China's allegation over source of fine dust
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Monday rebutted the Chinese government's recent allegation that China has nothing to do with hazardous fine dust over the Korean Peninsula.Park said in a radio interview that he has research papers from municipal and state labs that conclude around 50 to 60 percent of fine dust over South Korea is from China."The matter should be approached by environmental experts or from the scientific perspective," the mayor told an MBC Radio talk show. (Yonhap)"Researchers at the
Jan. 7, 2019
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Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to pursue future-oriented ties amid radar spat
The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan agreed to pursue the "future-oriented" development of bilateral relations during their phone conversation Friday, Seoul's foreign ministry said amid an escalating spat involving military radar.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono, discussed growing tensions over the row and South Korea's Supreme Court rulings last year in favor of South Koreans forced into hard labor by Japanese firms during Tokyo's 1910-45 colonial ru
Jan. 4, 2019