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N.Korea says damaged warship moored at pier after putting it in upright position
North Korea said Friday it has successfully put in an upright position a warship that was partially capsized during a launch ceremony last month, and the warship is moored at the pier for more restoration works. The 5,000-ton destroyer tipped over and became partially submerged during the launch ceremony held in late May in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the full restoration of the warship before a key party meeting set for late June. In early Jun
June 6, 2025 -
Trump says he had 'very good' call with Xi, claims 'very positive' conclusion
US President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday to discuss trade in what he termed a "very good" call that resulted in a "very positive" conclusion, as tensions between the two countries have risen despite last month's truce in their trade fight. In a social media post, Trump said he had the 90-minute conversation with XI, while announcing that the two countries' respective teams will meet "shortly" at a location to be determined. The call came after Washington and
June 6, 2025 -
US keeps S. Korea on its 'monitoring list' for FX policy
The United States has kept South Korea on its list of countries to monitor for their foreign exchange policies, a Treasury Department report showed Thursday, as currency policy has been a topic in trade talks between Seoul and Washington. The department released the updated "monitoring list" in the semiannual "Report to Congress on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States." South Korea was put back on the list in November last year after it was e
June 6, 2025 -
Lee expected to hold phone call with Trump as early as inauguration day
President Lee Jae-myung is expected to hold a phone call with US President Donald Trump as early as his inauguration day on Wednesday, according to diplomatic sources. The two governments are currently arranging for their leaders to speak by phone as early as late Wednesday afternoon, the sources said. The phone talks, if held, would mark the first call between Trump and Lee, former Democratic Party leader elected president for a five-year term. The call would naturally focus on congratulating L
June 4, 2025 -
White House affirms 'ironclad' alliance after Lee's win, voices concerns over Chinese influence
A White House official on Tuesday affirmed the "ironclad" nature of the South Korea-US alliance while expressing concerns over "Chinese interference and influence in democracies" after Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected South Korea's president. The remarks came as Lee of the liberal party has stressed the alliance with the United States as the "foundation" of his "pragmatic" foreign policy while pledging to "stably" manage relations with China in the midst of an es
June 4, 2025 -
Trump govt. wants countries to provide best trade offers by Wednesday: report
US President Donald Trump's administration wants countries to offer their best proposals for trade negotiations this week, a report said Monday, as it seeks to accelerate talks with trading partners. Citing a draft letter to negotiating partners, Reuters reported that Washington will ask countries to provide their best offers by Wednesday, in a move that apparently reflects a sense of urgency within the administration at a time when it has concluded only one trade deal with Britain. According to
June 3, 2025 -
Govt. convenes emergency meeting on response to planned hike in US steel tariffs
The government held an emergency meeting with major local steelmakers Monday to discuss the impact of the United States' plan to double its tariffs on all steel imports to 50 percent later this week, the industry ministry said. The meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was attended by officials from POSCO Group, Hyundai Steel Co. and other major steel companies here, according to ministry officials. Monday's meeting came after US President Donald Trump said last week he
June 2, 2025 -
China's steel towers in PMZ raise 'South China Sea 2.0' question: ex-top US envoy
China's installation of steel structures in the overlapping sea zone with South Korea raises a question about whether it is seeking to turn the area into another South China Sea, a former US ambassador to Seoul said Thursday. Harry Harris, a former commander of the US Pacific Command, made the remark, denouncing Beijing for its recent actions in the Provisional Maritime Zone, an area in the Yellow Sea where the exclusive economic zones of South Korea and China overlap. China has built three stee
May 29, 2025 -
US looks to 'calibrate' USFK posture to deter China: senior official
The United States is looking to "modernize" its alliance with South Korea and "calibrate" US force posture on the Korean Peninsula to deter China, a senior US defense official said Thursday, apparently leaving open the possibility of an adjustment to the US Forces Korea presence. In a press briefing, the official stressed Washington's desire to work with the incoming Seoul government to ensure that the bilateral partnership is "strategically sustainable," as South Korea is set to pick a new pres
May 29, 2025 -
S. Korea launches feasibility study on trade negotiation items with US: sources
South Korea is checking the economic feasibility of various items that may come as the result of trade negotiations with the United States to assess the impact of such items on the national economy, government sources said Wednesday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy recently asked the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy to conduct a feasibility study on agenda items of the ongoing trade negotiations between Seoul and Washington, according to the sources familiar with the
May 28, 2025 -
Ex-US Congressman Rangel, longtime supporter of S. Korea, passes away at 94
Former Congressman Charles Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran and longtime supporter of South Korea, died on Monday, his former aide said. He was 94. Rangel, a former 23-term lawmaker and founding member of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, passed away in New York on Memorial Day, Hannah Kim, who served as his chief of staff and communications director, told Yonhap News Agency. The late Democrat, born in Harlem in Upper Manhattan in 1930, served as an influential representative from New Yor
May 27, 2025 -
Seoul says no S. Korea-US discussions held over USFK reduction
South Korea's defense ministry said Friday it has not held any discussions with the Pentagon over the possibility of scaling back US Forces Korea troops stationed in South Korea. The remark came in response to a report by The Wall Street Journal that US President Donald Trump's administration is considering withdrawing some 4,500 troops of the 28,500-strong USFK and relocating them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific, including Guam. "As the core strength of the South Korea-US alliance, the U
May 23, 2025 -
Trump administration blocks Harvard's ability to enroll international students
US President Donald Trump's administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students Thursday, in a sharp escalation of tensions with the elite school that has resisted the administration's efforts to promote its policy agenda. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the termination of the Ivy League school's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. The termination means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students, and existing foreign students mu
May 23, 2025 -
US considers withdrawing thousands of troops from S. Korea: report
US President Donald Trump's administration is considering withdrawing thousands of US troops from South Korea and moving them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific, including Guam, a news report said Thursday. It is weighing the idea of pulling out roughly 4,500 troops -- part of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed defense officials -- a move that could add to security concerns in South Korea in the midst of persistent North Korean threats. The id
May 23, 2025 -
![[Africa Forum] Bridging Africa, Korea; building shared future](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2025/05/28/news-p.v1.20250522.41c43f2bb14c4520bb6fdbe2463bd46c_T1.jpg?type=h&h=240)
[Africa Forum] Bridging Africa, Korea; building shared future
Seizing opportunities through innovative collaboration and targeted initiatives is critical to unlocking Africa’s vast potential as a key engine of global growth and reinforcing Korea’s strategic role in the continent’s transformation. The Africa Day 2025 Korea-Africa Business Forum, held in Seoul under the theme “Building Bridges, Creating Opportunities,” brought together over 800 guests from government, business and civil society. The forum served as a high-level platform to deepen strategic d
May 22, 2025