Two Koreans kidnapped in Haiti released safely

Two South Korean nationals who were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti in late July have been released, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The two employees of a South Korean company were abducted in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, on July 31 while staying in the country on business. One of the two was released on Aug. 18, while the second was freed on the afternoon of Sept. 1, local time, according to the ministry. Both are safe and in good health. Following a report of the kidnappin

2026-09-02 14:36:32:00

Korean response team arrives in Nepal, set to join search and rescue efforts

The 44-member Korea Disaster Relief Team arrived in Nepal on Wednesday to support search-and-rescue operations following devastating floods that have left more than 1,000 people dead and thousands missing across Nepal and neighboring Tibet. A South Korean Air Force KC-330 Cygnus multirole aerial tanker carrying the team landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at about 6:27 a.m. local time. Led by Lee Kyoo-ho, director-general for development cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign

2026-09-02 14:13:50:00

Seoul seeks China's support for peace, denuclearization efforts on Korean Peninsula

South Korea has asked China to play a constructive role in supporting Seoul’s push for peaceful coexistence with North Korea and progress toward denuclearization, national security adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday. Speaking at a press briefing, Wi said he conveyed Seoul’s position on denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, earlier this month. Wi said Seoul had “actively requested China’s constructive cooperation”

2026-08-28 16:47:58:00

North Korean troops briefly cross MDL on eastern front

North Korean troops recently crossed the Military Demarcation Line on the eastern front, moving about 10 meters into South Korean territory while conducting a foot patrol, South Korean military officials said Friday. According to Joint Chiefs of Staff official, the military had confirmed the crossing and was maintaining readiness in accordance with standard operational procedures. “We are maintaining our readiness posture in accordance with normal operational procedures regarding the recent cros

2026-08-28 16:24:10:00

Seoul will back US-North Korea talks, but guard against being sidelined: national security adviser

South Korea will support efforts to restart dialogue between the United States and North Korea while ensuring that Seoul is not sidelined and that its security posture is not weakened in the process, National security adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday. “President Trump has recently scaled back South Korea-US combined exercises and field training exercises, while continuing to express his willingness to engage with North Korea,” Wi said, referring to US President Donald Trump's recent comments conc

2026-08-28 12:42:58:00

South Korea to step up crackdown, cooperation with China over illegal fishing

South Korea will intensify its crackdown on Chinese fishing boats operating illegally near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, including by deploying more Coast Guard special forces and strengthening cooperation with Beijing, the government said Thursday. The Korea Coast Guard announced the measures at a joint briefing in Seoul with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Unification, National Defense and Oceans and Fisheries. The package focuses on tougher enforcement near the NLL, the remova

2026-08-27 14:49:25:00

Government response team set to depart for Nepal

The South Korean government will dispatch an 11-member joint rapid response team to Nepal on Thursday to assist search and rescue efforts following devastating floods that have left nine South Koreans unaccounted for. The team will consist of four Foreign Ministry officials, five firefighters and two police officers, according to authorities. It will be led by Lim Sang-woo, the Foreign Ministry’s ambassador for overseas Koreans protection and consular affairs. The team is scheduled to depart Inc

2026-08-27 09:21:59:00

Korea, Mexico seek wider ties in AI, role as middle powers

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met his Mexican counterpart Roberto Velasco in Seoul on Monday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening coordination between the two middle powers. During talks at the Foreign Ministry, Cho said the relationship between South Korea and Mexico had become increasingly important amid growing uncertainty in the global economy. "With global economic uncertainty increasing in areas ranging from supply chains and energy to food and security, re

2026-08-24 17:09:23:00

North Korea, Belarus to sign visa waiver program as Pyongyang moves to strengthen alignment with Moscow ally

North Korea and Belarus are set to sign a visa-waiver agreement, in the latest sign of rapidly expanding ties between Pyongyang and Moscow’s close ally as North Korea deepens a Russia-centered network of cooperation amid the war in Ukraine. According to Belarusian state media, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said the two countries were nearing an agreement allowing their citizens to travel visa-free, and that the issue was discussed during talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Cho

2026-08-24 16:43:26:00

Ruling party to set up special committee to support Busan's UN Ocean Conference bid

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Wednesday passed a motion to set up a special committee to support Busan’s bid to host the 2028 United Nations Ocean Conference. Speaking at the party's Supreme Council meeting in Busan, where the motion was passed, Democratic Party leader Rep. Kim Min-seok pledged that the party will throw its full weight behind the bid. “The 2028 UN Ocean Conference is an event on a larger scale than APEC and (the party) will do its utmost to ensure that (the event) beco

2026-08-19 15:41:10:00