Kim Yo-jong rejects ARF denuclearization call, signals Pyongyang's push to cement nuclear state status

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong on Monday dismissed a regional call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The move appeared to both reinforce Pyongyang's claim that its nuclear weapons status is irreversible and resist efforts to keep denuclearization at the center of international diplomacy. In a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim took issue with a statement adopted at the ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers' meeting in Mani

2026-07-27 14:42:07:00

Seoul submits rebuttal to US House report on Coupang, seeks correction of factual errors

The South Korean government has submitted a formal rebuttal to a US House Judiciary Committee report alleging that Seoul discriminated against US-listed e-commerce company Coupang through regulatory actions, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. According to the ministry, the South Korean Embassy in Washington delivered a detailed statement to the committee on Thursday, seeking to correct what Seoul described as factual errors in the committee's interim staff report released on July 1 and to explain

2026-07-24 17:04:10:00

US-Saudi nuclear pact may give Seoul leverage in talks with Washington

A newly signed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia is drawing attention in Seoul as a potential opening for South Korea’s efforts to secure greater authority over uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. The agreement, signed Wednesday by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, establishes the legal framework for American companies to supply nuclear reactors, materials, equipment and tech

2026-07-24 16:23:07:00

S. Korea urges stronger ASEAN+3 supply chain cooperation, seeks support for Korean Peninsula peace

South Korea on Thursday called for stronger regional cooperation to bolster supply chain resilience and energy security while seeking continued support for the efforts to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula at a gathering led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made the remarks during the 27th ASEAN Plus Three foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, where he met counterparts from the 11 ASEAN member states, Japan and China to discus

2026-07-23 15:07:12:00

S. Korea, US, Japan reaffirm N. Korea deterrence, expand security cooperation

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan reaffirmed Wednesday their commitment to maintaining a robust deterrence posture against North Korea and upholding the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, while agreeing to deepen cooperation on maritime security, supply chains and economic coercion, Seoul said. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reached the agreements during trilateral tal

2026-07-22 17:52:05:00

S. Korea detains cargo vessel over UN sanctions violations involving N. Korea

South Korea is detaining a cargo vessel found to have violated United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday, marking one of Seoul's rare enforcement actions under the international sanctions regime. The Foreign Ministry said the vessel, Prada, entered Pyeongtaek Port, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, in March and was subjected to a joint investigation by relevant government agencies based on information indicating it had previou

2026-07-22 14:51:43:00

S. Korea, US, Japan foreign ministers to meet in Manila

South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold foreign ministers' talks in Manila this week to coordinate policy on North Korea and strengthen trilateral security and economic cooperation. Attention is also focused on whether Seoul and Washington's top diplomats will hold separate bilateral talks amid a growing list of pending issues. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Wednesday on the sidelines

2026-07-21 15:46:21:00

N. Korea, Russia signal deeper military alignment as top diplomats advance alliance treaty

North Korea and Russia signaled plans to deepen their alliance during strategic talks in Moscow, with Pyongyang on Tuesday reaffirming support for Russia's war in Ukraine in what experts say reflects a growing effort to institutionalize the two countries' security partnership. According to the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday and held high-level talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey

2026-07-21 15:15:26:00

Seoul spent 235 million won supporting North Korean women's soccer club's visit

The South Korean government spent about 235 million won ($159,000) to support civic cheering events and event operations during the visit of a North Korean women's soccer club in May, according to a settlement report released by the Ministry of Unification on Monday. The Unification Ministry reported to the National Assembly that a total of 235.29 million won was ultimately disbursed to the inter-Korean cooperation fund in connection with the visit of North Korea's Naegohyang Women's Football Cl

2026-07-20 15:31:17:00

N. Korean FM meets Putin in Moscow, fueling speculation over Kim's Russia visit

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Sunday, underscoring deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow and fueling speculation that the two sides are making final preparations for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's long-anticipated visit to Russia. According to Russian state media outlet TASS on Monday, Putin received Choe during her official visit to Russia, a day after she arrived in Moscow at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister

2026-07-20 14:42:18:00