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S. Korea calls for efforts to strengthen positive cycle of bilateral progress with Japan
A senior South Korean diplomat on Friday called on Japan to work together to strengthen the positive cycle of bilateral relations between the two countries, as they held their first strategic talks in more than a year. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo made the remark during the 16th strategic dialogue with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, stressing the need for the cooperation in a way that would benefit the peoples of the two countries. Park said the two governments should
Nov. 7, 2025 -
Nuclear sub being built in Korea has been discussed: official
South Korea’s presidential office said Friday that it discussed with Washington plans for nuclear-powered submarines to be built domestically — including the hull and the reactor — while enriched uranium would be procured from the US. This follows reports suggesting the vessels could be constructed in US shipyards. An Oct. 29 social media post by US President Donald Trump said he had given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine at a Philadelphia shipyard run by South Korea's H
Nov. 7, 2025 -
Seoul, Asian partners launch new council to advance regional legal cooperation
South Korea’s Ministry of Government Legislation on Friday launched the Council of Asian Legislative Institutions — a new multilateral platform established with Mongolia, Thailand and Uzbekistan to foster legal cooperation and joint legislative development across Asia. The launch ceremony, held in Seoul, was attended by officials from South Korea and abroad, including Pakorn Nillprapunt, secretary-general of the Thai Cabinet Secretariat, and Ikramov Muzraf, vice minister of justice of Uzbekistan
Nov. 7, 2025 -
Lawmakers meet face-to-face — literally
The parliamentary audit of the Presidential Office halted after just one hour on Thursday, following a physical altercation between ruling Democratic Party Rep. Lee Ki-heon and main opposition People Power Party floor leader Rep. Song Eon-seok. The incident occurred as lawmakers were leaving the chamber after the audit was temporarily halted amid heated exchanges over allegations against Kim Hyun-ji, a close aide to President Lee Jae Myung. Kim, appointed as the president’s personal secretary in
Nov. 6, 2025 -
US trade deal has 'commercial rationality' clause, Lee's aide says
A clause on “commercial rationality” has been included in Article 1 of the memorandum of understanding to be signed between South Korea and the United States, a senior presidential aide told parliament on Thursday, amid delays in releasing both the fact sheet and the memorandum. Speaking at a parliamentary audit of the National Assembly’s Steering Committee, Kim Yong-beom, chief presidential secretary for national policy, made the remarks in response to Rep. Kim Nam-geun of the Democratic Party
Nov. 6, 2025 -
NK prepared for war after Seoul drone operation: report
North Korea went into a war-ready posture after a series of South Korean military drone flights over Pyongyang in October last year — a move now suspected of having been planned to set the stage for then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024 — according to lawmakers briefed by the military’s intelligence agency. Reps. Park Sun-won of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Lee Seong-kweun of the main opposition People Power Party — executive secretaries
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Rival parties to spar over Lee's personal secretary during parliamentary audit
Rival parties are expected to clash over a close aide and personal secretary of President Lee Jae Myung at a parliamentary audit Thursday, although the secretary is likely to be absent from the session. Kim Hyun-ji, the longtime aide of the president who was appointed as Lee's personal secretary in September, has been at the center of political strife in recent weeks, with the main opposition People Power Party accusing Kim of overstepping her authority and being involved in personnel appointmen
Nov. 6, 2025 -
Arrest motion for PPP's ex-floor leader submitted to Nat'l Assembly
A motion requesting the arrest of Rep. Choo Kyung-ho of the main opposition People Power Party has been submitted to the National Assembly over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid, the justice ministry said Wednesday. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk and his team, which is investigating various allegations related to the martial law bid in December, has filed for an arrest warrant for Choo, a former PPP floor leader, over allegations of his involvement in the d
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Fact sheet reported to cite $25b US arms sale to Seoul
A joint fact sheet summarizing trade and security agreements between Seoul and Washington is expected to cite about $25 billion in US arms sales to South Korea, according to local reports Wednesday. The presidential office, responding to the reports, said the terms “have yet to be finalized.” An official at President Lee Jae Myung's office said on the condition of anonymity that the decisions will be made "based on the government's review of its spending capacity and the security landscape." The
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Police probe favoritism accusations in politician Yoo Seong-min’s daughter's appointment as professor
Police said Wednesday they began looking into allegations of favoritism in the recent appointment of the daughter of veteran politician Yoo Seong-min as a professor at Incheon National University. The move by the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency follows the filing of a complaint accusing the university’s president and other personnel officials of violating the Public Records Management Act. Yoo Dam, 31, was appointed as a professor in the university's Division of International Trade in May, ju
Nov. 5, 2025 -
White House official praises K-beauty: 'My skin has never looked better'
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has praised Korean skin care, commenting that her “skin has never looked better” after using Korean skin care products purchased during her visit to the country, local media reported Wednesday. According to the Chosun Ilbo, a local daily, Leavitt, who accompanied US President Donald Trump on a two-day trip for the APEC summit in Gyeongju, said she “loved South Korea and the Korean people” and hopes to return in the future. On Oct. 29, Leavitt made an
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Seoul looking into govt. asset sales following order from president: finance chief
A comprehensive investigation is now under way to determine the validity of state asset sales, the finance minister said Wednesday, after President Lee Jae Myung issued an emergency order to suspend the disposal of government assets. The order came amid concerns raised during recent parliamentary audits that some state assets were being sold at below-market prices. Lawmakers pointed to increasing cases of government-owned properties being disposed of for less than their fair value. "We are condu
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Lee to send ruling party lawmaker to Bolivia as special envoy
President Lee Jae Myung will dispatch Rep. Han Jun-ho of the ruling Democratic Party to Bolivia as a special envoy to attend the inauguration of new Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, the presidential office said Wednesday. Han will deliver a personal letter from Lee conveying his congratulations and expressing hopes for continued friendly cooperation between the two nations, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. He is scheduled to attend Paz' inauguration ceremony on S
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Lee calls for bipartisan support for 2026 budget centered on AI
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday outlined a 728 trillion won ($506 billion) budget plan for 2026, calling it “Korea’s first budget to open the AI era” and pledging sweeping investments to make the country a global leader in artificial intelligence. Addressing the National Assembly in Seoul, Lee said the government would allocate 10.1 trillion won — triple this year’s amount — to accelerate the nation’s transition to an AI-driven economy. “During the industrialization era, being a day late mean
Nov. 4, 2025 -
UAE royal delegation takes home a taste of Korea — stir-fried kimchi
From Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s chicken and beer summit to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s K-beauty haul, the recently concluded APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, offered an endless stream of behind-the-scenes stories. But for the United Arab Emirates delegation, one unexpected highlight stood out: stir-fried kimchi. According to officials from Busan’s hotel industry, the UAE royal family and delegation, led by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al N
Nov. 4, 2025