Ieodo Int'l Seminar discusses strategies to counter maritime security threats in East AsiaJEJU ISLAND — Leading experts on maritime law and sea disputes convened on Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju last week to explore new strategies for resolving escalating territorial conflicts across East Asia. At the ninth edition of the Ieodo International Seminar, held between Sept. 25 and 27, experts and scholars underscored Ieodo’s evolving role. Once regarded as a regional symbol, the submerged reef located off the southwest coast of Jeju Island now stands at the center of international maritime interest, requiring global engagement with Korea’s aim to maintain peace and stability throughout the region. This year’s seminar, themed “New Strategic Responses to Maritime Security Threats in East Asia,” gathered a diverse group of academics from Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines, each lending expertise to urgent debates about maritime challenges in East Asia. “Today, Ieodo has grown beyond being a subject of academic interest or a regional symbol; it has become a maritime space that draws the attention of the international community,” Koh Choong-suSep 30, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
China’s West Sea encroachments demand stronger Korean NavyBUSAN — Eighty stun grenades, dropped from a P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, lit up the cloudy skies over Busan on Thursday. The dramatic aerial bursts wowed hundreds of spectators watching the air show from aboard the 4,900-ton amphibious ship Ilchulbong. The number of grenades, also known as flash-bangs, symbolized the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, celebrated with a grand fleet review in the southeastern port city. Out at sea, another display of power unfolded as 31 naval vessels paraded in formation, led by the 8,100-ton Aegis destroyer Jeongjo the Great. From the deck of Ilchulbong, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kang Dong-gil saluted each passing warship as its crew returned the gesture. “A naval event of this scale would have been unimaginable 80 years ago,” said Capt. Oh Se-sung, a senior public affairs official of the ROK Navy headquarters. “At that time, Korea had virtually no naval infrastructure. The ROK Navy was built from nothing.” Established in 1945 after Korea’s liberation from 36 years of JapaneSep 29, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Science minister discusses strengthening of research ties with US tech institutionsScience Minister Bae Kyung-hoon has held meetings with leading U.S. technology institutions to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in cutting-edge sectors, his office said Wednesday. The meetings were held on the sidelines of Bae's visit to New York, as he accompanied President Lee Jae Myung at the 80th U.N. General Assembly. Bae visited IBM's New York-based research center to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for South Korean research institutions and the U.S. company to promote exchanges on quantum computing infrastructure and foster experts in the field. The minister also visited Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, to discuss potential cooperation on the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) project. "As it is crucial to cooperate with the United States, the leading player in the quantum science technology sector, the visit to the U.S. had some progress as we established mutually beneficial cooperative ties among IBM and South Korea's research institutes," Bae said in a release. "Starting with the EIC project with BNL, which has been innovaSep 24, 2025By Yonhap
Korean, Iranian FMs seek bilateral talks in New YorkThe foreign ministers of South Korea and Iran held talks over phone Friday and agreed to push for a meeting in New York next week to discuss bilateral ties, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first phone talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and discussed the planned vote by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on a resolution aimed at reimposing economic sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cho said South Korea, as the chair of the UNSC this month, has been carrying out procedures in line with the council's resolutions, while expressing hope that all parties concerned will continue efforts toward a diplomatic solution to the issue, the ministry said. The ministry added the two sides agreed to push for a bilateral meeting in New York during the U.N. General Assembly High-level Week next week.Sep 19, 2025By Yonhap
FM Cho holds phone talks with Ukrainian counterpart on bilateral ties, regional issuesForeign Minister Cho Hyun held telephone talks with his Ukraine counterpart Monday to discuss bilateral relations and the regional situation, the foreign ministry said. During the conversation with Andrii Sybiha, Cho expressed Korea's keen interest in developments related to peace negotiations amid the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war. He noted that Seoul is closely monitoring the situation and will seriously consider ways to support post-war reconstruction, the ministry added. In response, Sybiha expressed his appreciation for Korea's continued support for Ukraine. The two ministers also exchanged views on the latest developments surrounding Ukraine and the international community's response. They also pledged close communication on the sidelines of upcoming multilateral gatherings, including the U.N. General Assembly later this month.Sep 15, 2025By Yonhap
Korea, Japan hold economic security dialogueSouth Korea and Japan held high-level economic talks in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss cooperation in supply chains and advanced technologies, the presidential office said. Song Ki-ho, presidential secretary for economic security, and Takeshi Soda, Cabinet councilor of Japan's National Security Secretariat, led their respective delegations at the fourth Korea-Japan Economic Security Dialogue. The two sides exchanged opinions on a wide range of economic security issues and discussed ways to collaborate on supply chain resilience and cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, according to the office. The latest dialogue comes after President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to strengthen communication in economic security at their summit in Tokyo last month. The two nations will hold the next round of talks next year, it noted.Sep 10, 2025By Yonhap
Korea voices 'serious concern' over Israel's strike on Qatar amid ceasefire talksKorea voiced "serious concern" Wednesday over Israel's air strike on Qatar's capital the previous day, calling it an "unacceptable" act that violates Qatar's territorial sovereignty. The statement by the foreign ministry's spokesperson came a day after Israel struck Doha in an attempt to kill Hamas leaders gathered to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. "Israel's attack was an unacceptable act that violated Qatar's territorial sovereignty, and our government expresses serious concern over the possibility it will lead to a further worsening of regional instability," the spokesperson said. "Our government highly assesses Qatar's mediation efforts for peace in the Middle East, and calls for the efforts of parties involved for a swift ceasefire and release of hostages," the spokesperson added.Sep 10, 2025By Yonhap
Industry minister delivers 'strong' regret over immigration crackdownKorea's industry minister said Monday that he had expressed "strong" regret to his U.S. counterpart over the detention of South Korean workers. More than 300 Korean nationals are being held at a detention center in Folkston, Georgia, following a raid last Thursday (local time) at an electric vehicle battery plant construction site operated by a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution near Savannah. During a meeting with lawmakers, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said he had expressed "deep" regret over the detention of the Korean workers to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. "I clearly said to Commerce Secretary Lutnick, how could the visa issue be dealt with like this in return for massive investment (by Korea)?" Kim said. Kim said it is true that the Seoul government has been working for years to resolve visa-related issues with the United States.Sep 8, 2025By Yonhap
Top diplomats of Korea, France agree on AI, space, defense cooperationThe top diplomats of Korea and France on Monday agreed to closely cooperate in the artificial intelligence (AI), space and defense sectors. During phone talks, Seoul's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, assessed that bilateral exchanges and cooperation have deepened in various sectors. The two also agreed to closely communicate on upgrading the bilateral ties on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.Sep 8, 2025By Yonhap
Lee, Mongolian president agree to bolster bilateral ties in phone talksPresident Lee Jae Myung spoke by phone with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Thursday and discussed ways to further strengthen their strategic partnership, Lee's office said. In their first conversation since Lee took office, the two leaders agreed to expand people-to-people exchanges and maintain close communication to deepen bilateral ties, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. Lee proposed "mutually beneficial" cooperation between Mongolia, rich in natural resources, and South Korea, which possesses advanced technologies, Kang said. He also welcomed the opening of a memorial hall in Mongolia honoring Lee Tae-joon (1883-1921), a Korean independence activist who served as the physician to Mongolia's last khan, and expressed appreciation for the Mongolian government's support. Khurelsukh, in turn, expressed gratitude for Lee's attention to migrant workers in South Korea, including those from Mongolia, according to Kang.Sep 4, 2025By Yonhap
