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Seoul’s pragmatic diplomacy put to test to steer APEC through storm
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- Seoul is stepping onto the APEC summit stage with a daunting task: to save the forum’s core, steady it amid global headwinds, and steer leaders toward consensus on what matters most for sustainable and shared growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Once shorthand for the region’s shared prosperity, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation now gathers its leaders along widening fault lines, as the region is squeezed between rival centers of gravity with dwindling space
Oct. 28, 2025 -
Still uncertain how Pyongyang will respond to Trump’s offer: minister
South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Tuesday that Pyongyang is likely to express its stance on a possible summit with the US through Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, by Wednesday. Chung, however, cautioned that nothing is certain yet, amid mounting speculation that Kim and US President Donald Trump could meet, with the latter set to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week in Gyeongj
Oct. 28, 2025 -
S. Korea to 'swiftly' commence talks with ASEAN to improve existing FTA: ministry
South Korea will "swiftly" commence talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, to discuss upgrading the free trade agreement, FTA, the two sides signed nearly 20 years ago, as part of efforts to expand their bilateral trade, the industry ministry said Monday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources unveiled the plan as President Lee Jae Myung wrapped up his two-day trip to Malaysia for the annual Korea-ASEAN summit, where he proposed launching negotiations to improve the
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Cambodian PM offers condolences over death of S. Korean student in summit with Lee
President Lee Jae Myung held a summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Malaysia on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and joint responses to online scam crimes, following the death of a Korean college student that fueled public outrage in South Korea. During their meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, Manet offered condolences over the death of the Korean student who was lured to work in a scam center in Cambodia, calling the death
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Hegseth to visit Seoul for 1st meeting with S. Korean defense chief
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will make his first trip to Seoul next week to meet with his South Korean counterpart, marking the two allies’ first ministerial-level defense talks since he took office, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Monday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will hold the 57th Security Consultative Meeting with Hegseth on Nov. 4. The annual meeting, hosted alternately by the two countries, will take place in Seoul this year. The meeting will mark the first face-to-face talks bet
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Rival parties vow bipartisan response against Japan's Dokdo claim
The ruling and the main opposition parties denounced Japan's territorial claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on Saturday as they marked Dokdo Day. "Dokdo is historically, geographically our territory," the ruling Democratic Party (DP) said in its commentary. "But Japan still claims its sovereignty over Dokdo and distorts shared history." The DP said it wants a future-oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan, but Japan's groundless claims to Dokdo and its distortion of
Oct. 25, 2025 -
Trump says would 'like' to meet North Korea's Kim on Asia trip
Oct. 25, 2025 -
US keen to 'nail down' trade deal with S. Korea as soon as possible: senior official
The United States is keen to "nail down" a trade deal with South Korea as soon as Seoul is willing to take "appropriate" commitments, a senior US official said Friday, as the two countries strive to bridge differences over how to implement Korea's $350 billion investment pledge under the framework deal. The official made the remarks during an online press briefing amid uncertainty over whether Seoul and Washington could reach a breakthrough to finalize details of the trade deal before or during
Oct. 25, 2025 -
Meeting with Kim not on Trump's schedule during Asia trip, but 'things can change': senior US official
US President Donald Trump has no plan to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the current schedule for his upcoming trip to Asia, but "things can change," a senior US official said Friday, noting Trump's openness to reengaging with the recalcitrant leader. In an online press briefing, the official made the remarks, as Trump is set to begin his two-day state visit to South Korea on Wednesday on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set to take place in the so
Oct. 25, 2025 -
US expert expects Trump to back S. Korea's 'END' peace initiative
US President Donald Trump may support South Korea's new initiative to engage with North Korea and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula as it would be viewed as part of the overall effort to bring Pyongyang back to dialogue, a prominent US expert said Friday. During an online press briefing, Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, made the comment on the "END" initiative to foster peace through
Oct. 25, 2025 -
Unification minister says APEC ‘heaven-sent’ opportunity for Trump–Kim meeting
South Korea’s unification minister on Friday urged the leaders of the US and North Korea to seize the chance to meet amid the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, describing it as a “heaven-sent opportunity” to formally end the Korean War and reset relations on the peninsula. “The leaders of North Korea and the US must not miss this opportunity — they must decide to meet,” said Unification Minister Chung Dong-young during a press briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul. “It wou
Oct. 24, 2025 -
Trade minister calls for support from Georgia governor to address visa issues
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo called on visiting Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday to support Korean firms based there and drum up support to address visa issues for them and workers. In a meeting with Kemp earlier in the day, Yeo asked the Georgia governor to make efforts to prevent the recurrence of an incident similar to the September immigration raid. Gov. Kemp also said his state will firmly support Korean firms' stable operations and their investment. Last month, more than 300 Korean wo
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Allies set to open nuclear talks to expand Seoul’s fuel-cycle rights
South Korea and the United States will soon open negotiations to revise their civil nuclear cooperation pact, seeking to expand Seoul’s rights over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, according to the country's top diplomat. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun revealed on Thursday that Seoul and Washington have been in discussions over revisions to their current civil nuclear cooperation agreement before its expiration in 2035 as part of broader bilateral security negotiations. "We are now kee
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Lee says he trusts US 'rationality' amid final push for tariff deal
President Lee Jae Myung said he trusts in the “rationality” of the United States as South Korea and Washington seek to wrap up months of negotiations over a $350 billion investment package and related tariff talks before next week’s APEC summit in Korea. “I believe it is taking some time,” Lee said in an interview with CNN aired Thursday. “I also believe in the rationality of the United States, and so I believe that we will be able to reach a rational agreement.” Lee expressed confidence that th
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Personnel spotted at China's structure in Yellow Sea: lawmaker
Chinese personnel were spotted for the first time on a structure installed by Beijing in the overlapping maritime zone with Seoul in the Yellow Sea, a lawmaker has said. Five people -- including one person in a wetsuit who appeared to be handling an oxygen tank -- were seen in a recent photo of the Yellow Sea installation released by Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the ruling Democratic Party ahead of a parliamentary audit for the Coast Guard on Wednesday. Yi raised doubts over the purpose of the installa
Oct. 23, 2025