Trump says S. Korea approved to build nuclear-powered sub in Philadelphia

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that South Korea has his "approval" on building its nuclear-powered submarine, and the vessel will be manufactured in US shipyards in Philadelphia. "South Korea will be building its Nuclear Powered Submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards, right here in the good ol’ U.S.A," Trump, who is currently on a state visit to South Korea, said on his Truth Social Thursday. "Shipbuilding in our Country will soon be makin

Oct. 30, 2025

Trump says S. Korea has approval to build nuclear-powered submarine

US President Donald Trump wrote on social media on Thursday that he has given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, in comments made during his trip to Asia. Trump, who has been meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and other regional leaders during his visit, also said Seoul had agreed to buy vast quantities of US oil and gas. Trump and Lee finalized details of a fraught trade deal at a summit in South Korea on Wednesday. Lee had also been seeking US permission

Oct. 30, 2025

S. Korea, US clinch deal on details of investment pledge

GYEONGJU -- South Korea and the United States have finalized an agreement on the details of Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge that lowered US tariffs on Korean products, the presidential policy chief said Wednesday. "The $350 billion investment pledge will consist of $200 billion in cash installments and $150 billion allocated for shipbuilding industry cooperation, with an annual cap set at $20 billion," Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, told reporters. "As the investme

Oct. 29, 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

Lee-Trump summit nears, but tariff agreement still unlikely

South Korea and the US are unlikely to finalize a tariff deal at Wednesday’s summit between President Lee Jae Myung and President Donald Trump, the Korean presidential office said Monday. "Looking at how the talks unfold, it seems unlikely that the deal can be finalized immediately at this moment," said Oh Hyun-joo, third deputy director of national security at the presidential office, during a press conference with the foreign correspondents' club in Seoul. Her comments were in response to Trum

Oct. 27, 2025

Lee’s approval dips for 2nd week on tightened lending rules

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating fell for a second consecutive week to 51.2 percent, according to a survey released Monday. The latest survey, conducted by local pollster Realmeter, found that 51.2 percent of respondents positively assessed Lee’s performance in state affairs, down 1 percentage point from the previous week. The survey was conducted nationwide among 2,519 voters aged 18 and older from Oct. 20-24. Negative assessments stood at 44.9 percent, unchanged from last week, the po

Oct. 27, 2025

Lee meets Korean community in Malaysia ahead of ASEAN summit

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday met with members of the Korean community in Malaysia during his visit to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations, and pledged stronger support for their safety and rights. On the first day of his two-day trip, Lee expressed his commitment to making South Korea a nation overseas Koreans can be proud of. "The Republic of Korea will pursue institutional reforms to ensure Korean nationals abroad can exercise their rights without experie

Oct. 26, 2025

Security adviser says no info yet on Trump-Kim talks, but S. Korea will prepare such possibility

South Korea has no information yet on a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, but will be prepared should the possibility arise. Wi, accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his trip to Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, made the remarks Sunday after Trump said he is open to meeting Kim during his visit to South Korea this week if the North Korean

Oct. 26, 2025

Presidential office says S. Korea, US coordinating for denuclearization after Trump's 'nuclear power' remarks

South Korea and the United States are closely coordinating for their joint goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a presidential official said Sunday, following US President Donald Trump's remarks calling North Korea "sort of a nuclear power." During a press meeting aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump called North Korea "sort of a nuclear power," as he responded to a question about Pyongyang's position that to have talks with Washington, it has to be recognized as a nuclear powe

Oct. 26, 2025

Lee's diplomacy 'super week' starts with ASEAN summit in Malaysia

President Lee Jae Myung traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday to attend the ASEAN summit, beginning a "super week" of diplomacy in Asia that culminates with his chairing of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conferences in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Friday to Saturday. At the upcoming ASEAN meetings on Monday, Lee's primary focus will likely be on transnational online scam-related crimes burgeoning in Southeast Asian countries, as more South Koreans have fallen victim t

Oct. 26, 2025

[Contribution] Why we need US-Korea alliance 2.0 in Trump 2.0 era

By Rep. Kim Eun-hye For over 70 years, the US-Korea alliance has served as the cornerstone of South Korea's security and a central pillar of the liberal democratic order. However, the second Donald Trump administration presents both a new test and a unique opportunity for both nations. Unless the alliance evolves beyond military cooperation into a robust economic and technological partnership, South Korea's future competitiveness could be at serious risk. As the saying goes, "A friend in need is

Oct. 26, 2025

Lee to embark on 2-day trip to Malaysia for ASEAN meetings Sunday

President Lee Jae Myung will embark on a two-day trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to attend the ASEAN summit on Sunday, according to the presidential office Friday. Lee will fly back to Seoul on Monday, according to Lee's national security aide Wi Sung-lac, as Lee is poised to chair the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conferences later next week in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. During his short trip, Lee is planning to meet Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Cambodia's Prime Mini

Oct. 24, 2025

Lee says 'carefully' reviewing impact on financial markets during US tariff talks

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that South Korea is "carefully" assessing the potential impact on the nation's financial markets during tariff talks with the United States, as the allies have been in intense negotiations over the details of Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge. Lee made the remarks in a written interview with The Straits Times of Singapore as Seoul and Washington continue to work to bridge differences over the investment pledge tied to an initial deal reached in July to lo

Oct. 24, 2025

S. Korea, US still far apart on key issues in trade talks, despite some progress

South Korea and the United States remain far apart on key sticking points in trade negotiations, although some progress has been made, a senior presidential aide said Friday. The presidential chief of staff for policy, Kim Yong-beom, made the remarks as he and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan returned home after holding follow-up tariff talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. Kim did not specify what the sticking points are, but Seoul and Washington have been engaged in int

Oct. 24, 2025

Lee vows all-out response to transnational crimes involving scams, drugs, gambling

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday instructed government agencies to mobilize all resources to tackle transnational crimes, such as scams, drug trafficking and online gambling, the presidential office said. Lee made the call as he convened an interagency meeting to discuss coordinated responses with officials from the National Intelligence Service, law enforcement agencies, the ministries of foreign affairs and justice, as well as financial and customs authorities. "As seen in the recent Cambod

Oct. 23, 2025