Trade minister meets Japanese envoy, US legislators over economic cooperationThe trade minister met with the Japanese ambassador to South Korea on Thursday and discussed ways to strengthen the countries' economic partnership amid growing uncertainties in the global trade environment, officials said. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Ambassador Koichi Mizushima in Seoul earlier in the day, as President Lee Jae Myung prepares to visit Japan to hold his first summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba next Saturday. Yeo highlighted the importance of strengthening practical economic cooperation between the two countries, as South Korea and Japan mark 60 years since the normalization of diplomatic relations. The minister also proposed working together to stabilize supply chains and solve trade-related issues in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change. Further, Yeo proposed fostering communication between the two countries' overseas missions and trade promotion agencies to ensure the successful hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, set to be held in South Korea, and the Osaka Kansai Expo in Japan this yearAug 14, 2025By Yonhap
British warships arrive in Korea for Indo-Pacific missionTwo British naval vessels have docked in Korea as part of a regional tour aimed at enhancing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the British Embassy in Seoul said Tuesday. The frigate HMS Richmond arrived at a port in the southern city of Busan earlier in the day, while the logistical support ship RFA Tidespring docked in Busan the previous day, according to the embassy. The Tidespring was built in 2016 by the major Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, now known as Hanwha Ocean. The visit is part of the Royal Navy's eight-month deployment across the Indo-Pacific, known as Operation Highmast, which is intended to promote maritime security and strengthen defense ties, the embassy said. Crews plan to take part in various cultural and diplomatic activities during their two-week stay. The embassy noted that the port call underscores Britain's commitment to deepening defense cooperation with South Korea and enhancing military interoperability. In addition, the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales, is scheduled to conduct an aerial capabilityAug 12, 2025By Yonhap
Korea likely to leverage shipbuilding in tariff talks with USKorea’s world-class shipbuilding sector is emerging as key leverage in the country's tariff negotiations with the U.S., which seeks to enhance its shipbuilding capacity. Top negotiators from Korea are highlighting what Korea can offer to help the U.S. develop its shipbuilding industry in one of their available bargaining chips, with just a few days remaining before the U.S. threatens to impose a 25 percent “reciprocal” tariff on Aug. 1. Korea's presidential office held a government-wide meeting of officials involved in the tariff talks on Saturday, and implied afterward that it would leverage the shipbuilding sector in the negotiations. “We confirmed a high level of interest from the U.S. in shipbuilding, so we decided to come up with proposals that the two sides can reach a deal about, including cooperation in shipbuilding,” the presidential office said in a statement after the meeting presided by presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. After another meeting the previous day, Kim also said in a press briefing, “Both sidJul 27, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
China's top envoy optimistic that bilateral public sentiment will improveChinese Ambassador Dai Bing expressed confidence Tuesday that recent strains in public sentiment between Korea and China, particularly among the younger generations, will ease over time, stressing that friendship and cooperation will define the future of bilateral relations. Dai made the remarks during an embassy event promoting youth exchanges, as he addressed the recent rise in anti-China sentiment in Korea, fueled by some far-right conservatives, amid the political turmoil following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition in December. "Some say that friendly sentiment between the peoples of the two countries, especially among the youth, is not very strong. I understand that the causes are complex and that it will take time to resolve, but I remain optimistic and confident about this," Dai said through an interpreter in his opening remarks. He also pointed to an increase in tourist visits between the two countries among the younger generations since Beijing introduced a temporary visa waiver program for short-term Korean travelers in November. "I encourage everyJul 22, 2025By Yonhap
To open or not: US beef, agriculture imports remain flashpoint in trade talksAs Korea and the United States accelerate tariff negotiations before their planned implementation on Aug. 1, the U.S. demand that Korea expand imports of American agricultural products has once again emerged as a critical negotiation flashpoint. Even in Korea, opinions are split over the reduction of import restrictions in the agricultural sector, which the U.S. regards as nontariff barriers. The issue surfaced here after Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, Korea's top trade negotiator, indicated the government is weighing options to accept the U.S. demand for Korea to increase beef and agricultural imports, following his Washington trip earlier this month. Washington has been pressing Seoul to allow the import of beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, increase purchases of rice and ease quarantine restrictions on apples and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), especially potatoes. The age restriction on U.S. beef was put in place in 2008 amid fears over mad cow disease. Yeo hinted at the possibility of accepting the demand by saying, “In these sectors, we need to make strategic decisionsJul 20, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
S. Korea calls for unified efforts toward resolving NK nuclear issueKUALA LUMPUR — South Korea called for unified efforts toward resolving North Korea's nuclear issues, Friday, vowing to make progress to achieve lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula under the new government of President Lee Jae Myung. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo made the remarks during the foreign ministers' meeting of the East Asia Summit (EAS), hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia. Park was attending a series of ASEAN-related meetings this week in place of the foreign minister nominee Cho Hyun, whose appointment process is still under way pending parliamentary confirmation. The vice minister said the government will "continue efforts to achieve lasting peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, and make tangible progress in resolving North Korea's nuclear issues," the foreign ministry said in a release. "He also underscored the importance of support from EAS member states for these efforts and the need for sending a unified message to North Korea," it said. Besides South Korea, the EAS member states include the 10 ASEAN members, JapJul 11, 2025By Yonhap
InterviewTrump's silence on Korea-US summit: What does it signal?U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement earlier this week of a 25 percent tariff on all products imported from South Korea has thrown the country into turmoil. It was, as a Korean saying goes, “a thunderbolt from a clear sky.” Korea’s economy is heavily dependent on exports, which accounted for 44 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023. The U.S. is its second-largest trading partner. Last year alone, Korea exported goods worth $128 billion to the U.S., leaving Korean exporters deeply alarmed over the potentially devastating impact across-the-board tariffs could have on their businesses. If the new levies take effect on Aug. 1 — separate from existing sector-specific tariffs, as Trump stated — the Korean economy could sink into a recession. Already showing signs of contraction, the country’s GDP shrank in the first quarter on a quarter-on-quarter basis. In May, the Bank of Korea slashed its 2025 growth forecast to 0.8 percent, down from its February projection of 1.5 percent. For Korea, the next three weeks are critical. Trump indicated the U.S. govJul 10, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Top security aide says Korea faces US pressure to hike defense spendingNational Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Thursday that Korea is facing calls from the United States to align with the global trend of increasing defense spending, following a decision by the NATO to raise its defense budget target. Speaking to reporters after returning from the NATO summit held earlier this week in The Hague, Wi noted that NATO member states had agreed to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, a move he said carries implications for Korea as well. "That is a broader trend, and similar demands have been made to us," Wi said. Wi said there have been discussions at the working-level in regard to Washington's request that its allies raise their defense spending goal, noting "We need to determine how we will respond." He added that the issue is expected to come up during upcoming security consultations, emphasizing the need to find common ground as part of preparations for a potential summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. On the sidelines of the NATO summit, Wi met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco RJun 26, 2025By Yonhap
Nat'l Assembly adopts resolution honoring ex-US Congressman RangelThe National Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution honoring former U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel for his service during the Korean War and decadeslong efforts to strengthen the alliance between South Korea and the United States. The resolution, backed by 69 lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, pays tribute to Rangel's legacy of bolstering the alliance and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula. During his time in Congress, the late Democrat played a key role in legislative efforts to address a range of Korea-related issues, including encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula, reunions of divided Korean American families and supporting Korean War veterans. He was also an advocate for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. Rangel died in New York on May 26.Jun 26, 2025By Yonhap
The SKT hack: the real threat behind stolen dataThe SK Telecom hack, revealed in April, marked a watershed moment for South Korea’s cybersecurity. In its wake, a flurry of proposals has been put forward to prevent similar large-scale data breaches. Yet the discourse, focused narrowly on cybersecurity measures, risks missing the bigger picture. The consequences of stolen personal data — and its potential abuse — are far more dangerous than many can imagine. In today’s digital age, experts warn that cyberattacks of this scale can even pose a direct threat to national sovereignty. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger, a professor of ethics at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland, emphasized the profound potential for misuse of stolen data, highlighting election interference as one of the most serious risks. With illegally harvested data, he explained, hackers can analyze users’ characteristics, interests and preferences to predict their thinking patterns and decisions. “The hackers, or those who possess the stolen data, can manipulate people into buying certain products they’re promoting,” Kirchschlaeger said. He warned that theJun 26, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
