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APEC summit to spotlight Lee's 'pragmatic' diplomacy; Trump, Xi visits eyed
The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea offers President Lee Jae Myung's government a key opportunity to showcase its brand of "pragmatic" diplomacy on the global stage, as world leaders gather to discuss trade and other common challenges amid growing protectionism and looming US tariffs. Set to take place Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in the southern city of Gyeongju, the multilateral gathering is drawing heightened attention amid rising expectations that US President Donald T
July 21, 2025 -
Lee's special envoy highlights efforts to boost ties with France
A presidential delegation visited France this week to meet with top French officials and lawmakers on behalf of President Lee Jae Myung and highlighted efforts to further enhance relations with the European country, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. The delegation, led by former Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil, met with Emmanuel Bonne, a diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, and delivered a personal letter from Lee conveying his message on strengthening bilateral relations, t
July 18, 2025 -
Lee's special envoy meets EU leaders, highlights commitment to stronger ties
A presidential delegation to the European Union met with key EU leaders in Brussels this week and conveyed the Lee Jae Myung government's commitment to bolstering ties with the EU to address shared challenges, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The delegation, led by former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon met with Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, on Tuesday, followed by a meeting with Christel Schaldemose, vice president of the European Parliament, on Wednesday, the mini
July 17, 2025 -
US expert stresses need for proper preparation against Trump's impromptu trade demands
A US expert stressed the need Wednesday for President Lee Jae Myung to make proper preparation for the possibility that US President Donald Trump could make impromptu demands should the leaders engage in phone talks on US tariffs and other trade issues. Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former negotiator of the South Korea-US free trade agreement, made the remarks, warning that absent sufficient preparation, Seoul could wind up with a deal that is counterprodu
July 17, 2025 -
Seoul official stresses commitment to accelerating tariff talks with US over next 2 weeks
A South Korean diplomat on Monday reiterated Seoul's commitment to accelerating trade talks with US President Donald Trump's administration over the next two weeks, hoping for a deal that expands two-way trade rather than constraining it. Ahn Se-ryeong, economic minister at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, made the remarks as Seoul seeks to reach a deal over various trade and industrial cooperation issues, including the Trump administration's "reciprocal" tariffs that are set to kick in A
July 15, 2025 -
S. Korea, US, Japan to hold 3-way high-level talks amid concerns over Trump tariffs
South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold trilateral ministerial talks on the sidelines of a multilateral gathering in Malaysia on Friday, Seoul officials said, with steep US tariffs, and other shared regional and global issues likely to be high on the agenda. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo will join US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya for the talks on the margins of the foreign ministers' meetings hosted by the Association of Southea
July 11, 2025 -
ASEAN talks joined by US, China to begin with Trump's tariffs overshadowing
Asia-Pacific's largest security forum was set to begin Thursday as top diplomats gathered in Malaysia, but steep tariffs by US President Donald Trump are expected to overshadow the annual gatherings. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations gatherings, joined by South Korea, the United States, Japan, China and Russia, are also expected to provide a platform for Seoul to underscore its commitment to ASEAN diplomacy and regional peace under the new government of President Lee Jae Myung. The talk
July 10, 2025 -
S. Korea repatriates 6 N. Koreans rescued at sea across eastern maritime border
South Korea on Wednesday repatriated six North Koreans via the maritime border in the East Sea, months after they had drifted into southern waters and were rescued. A wooden boat carrying them, all fishermen, crossed the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border, at around 8:56 a.m., according to an official at South Korea's unification ministry. The boat headed on its own toward two North Korea ships, including a patrol vessel, waiting on the other side of the NLL, and the three ships s
July 9, 2025 -
Lee's top adviser tells Rubio to hold S. Korea-US summit at early date
South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Seoul hopes to hold a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump at an early date, the presidential office said Tuesday. The talks between Wi and Rubio in Washington came as Trump shared a letter with Lee saying that the US will begin 25 percent tariffs on all South Korean products on Aug. 1, granting another three-week pause that allowed more time for Seoul to reach a tariff
July 8, 2025 -
S. Korea, Britain set to hold 5th round of follow-up negotiations to improve FTA
South Korea and Britain were set to kick off a fresh round of follow-up negotiations aimed at upgrading their bilateral free trade agreement to further facilitate trade and investment between the two countries, Seoul's industry ministry said Monday. Trade delegations from the two countries were set to hold the fifth round of negotiations in Seoul from later in the day, seeking to ease regulations on product origins and introduce new rules in areas of supply chain and digital trade, according to
July 7, 2025 -
Seoul's top trade envoy set to visit US for 'mutually beneficial' trade talks
South Korea will work to establish a new "mutually beneficial" strategic partnership with the United States through bilateral trade negotiations, Seoul's chief trade negotiator said Friday, as he departed for Washington for tariff talks ahead of the expiration of a 90-day pause on US reciprocal tariffs. "Based on the progress made in the consultations so far, we will do our utmost to ensure that Korean companies are not placed at a disadvantage compared to other countries with the imposition of
July 4, 2025 -
Trade minister to visit US over weekend for trade talks
South Korea's chief trade negotiator is arranging a visit to Washington this weekend as part of efforts to speed up trade talks with the United States, Seoul's trade ministry said Thursday, as the deadline for resumption of the Donald Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs approaches. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is pushing to arrange meetings with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other officials in Washington, according to the Ministry of Trade, Ind
July 3, 2025 -
US strikes on Iran could lead to another Trump-Kim summit at Panmunjom: US expert
The recent US bombings on Iranian nuclear sites could open up the possibility of another meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un like their previous dramatic encounter at the inter-Korean border in 2019, an American expert said Monday. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, raised the view, but said it will be under "a different context," as Kim would now want to negotiate
July 1, 2025 -
July deadline for reciprocal tariffs could be extended: White House
US President Donald Trump's administration could extend its pause on reciprocal tariffs, which is set to expire next month, a White House spokesperson said Thursday, as South Korea and other countries continue talks with Washington to avoid or minimize the impact of the new tariffs. Karoline Leavitt made the remarks as Trump's suspension of reciprocal tariffs, including 25 percent duties on South Korea, is set to end on July 8. Seoul has been trying to reach a deal with the Trump administration
June 27, 2025 -
S. Korean trade minister meets with US Congress officials for talks on trade, cooperation
South Korea's new trade minister has held talks with officials from the US Congress and the White House in Washington to discuss trade issues and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, Seoul's industry ministry said Thursday. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, currently on a weeklong trip to Washington, met with Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), chair of the US House Committee on Ways and Means; Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), head of the trade subcommittee of the committee; and Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) on Wednesday,
June 26, 2025