Ex-Japanese diplomat says 'Korea-Japan coordination crucial amid Trump policy moves'Korea and Japan should step up dialogue and coordination on shared security and economic challenges, such as U.S. tariff measures, as such efforts would benefit both countries amid uncertain policy directions in Washington, a former senior Japanese diplomat said Wednesday. Kenichiro Sasae, who served as vice foreign minister from 2008-2010, made the remarks, stressing that both Tokyo and Seoul face a host of similar issues that may call for joint responses when dealing with the second Donald Trump administration. "I do think that it's beneficial for both sides to exchange views and coordinate on how to respond to Trump's deals," Sasae said during a media roundtable on the southern island of Jeju, where he was visiting to attend the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. "It's in our mutual interest to discuss what issues we're concerned about, and how we might be able to address them ... in terms of security and the economy," he said. Given shared concerns over Trump's tariff hikes and security issues, such as burden-sharing with the United States for the stationing of American troops, SasMay 28, 2025By Yonhap
Korean, Japanese biz leaders agree to boost cooperation in AI, chips, CPTPP entryBusiness leaders of South Korea and Japan on Wednesday agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and other key sectors while supporting Seoul's efforts to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement was part of a joint statement adopted during the 57th South Korea-Japan Business Conference held in Seoul, which brought together some 300 business and economic representatives from the two countries for an annual two-day meeting since Tuesday. "On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties (between Seoul and Tokyo), we reaffirm the trust and friendship built over the years and hope to collaborate for the bright future of South Korea, Japan and the world," the statement read. Specific areas of cooperation include carbon neutrality, hydrogen energy, AI and semiconductor industries, as well as bio and health care sectors. They also agreed to collaborate on addressing social challenges, such as low birthrates and aging populations. On South Korea's bid to joinMay 28, 2025By Yonhap
Korea, US begin 6-week war remains search in MungyeongKorea and the United States on Wednesday began a six-week project to search for the remains and belongings of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, Seoul's defense ministry said. The project between the ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification and the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) kicked off in Mungyeong, about 140 kilometers east of Seoul, where a U.S. F-51D fighter jet crashed during the war. Officials will focus this year's project on recovering components of the fighter jet to help with identification efforts for the aircraft's pilot. They conducted a similar search in the area last year but failed to recover parts with the jet's unique serial number. The two sides have regularly teamed up for joint excavation projects for missing American soldiers of the Korean War. More than 1.7 million U.S. troops served during the conflict, with more than 36,000 killed. Nearly 7,500 Americans still remain unaccounted for from the three-year war, according to the DPAA.May 21, 2025By Yonhap
Korea to send delegation for Pope Leo XIV's coronationKorea will send a delegation to Vatican City to attend Pope Leo XIV's coronation, set for Sunday (local time), the foreign ministry said. The delegation will be led by Culture Minister Yoo In-chon, ill be accompanied by Oh Hyun-joo, South Korean ambassador to the Holy See, the ministry said. Yoo also visited the Vatican last month with a condolence delegation to attend the funeral of late Pope Francis.May 15, 2025By Yonhap
USTR Greer to meet HD Hyundai Heavy, Hanwha Ocean CEOs to discuss shipbuilding cooperationU.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer was scheduled to meet with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, Korea's leading shipbuilders, on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers' meeting this week, industry sources said Thursday. Greer was set to hold separate one-on-one meetings Friday with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries CEO Lee Sang-kyun and Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul on Korea's southern Jeju Island, where the trade ministers' meeting is under way. Greer arrived in Korea on Thursday to attend the multilateral meeting. The meetings, arranged at the request of the U.S. side, are expected to cover areas of strategic cooperation in both commercial and naval shipbuilding, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, according to the sources. The outcomes of these talks are expected to serve as leverage in the high-level trade consultations between Greer and Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, scheduled to take place Friday on Jeju. Discussions of shipbuilding cooperation between thMay 15, 2025By Yonhap
Korea, US set to embark on advanced trade talks during APEC meetingKorea and the United States are expected to hold a second round of high-level trade talks this week on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting here to fine-tune the details for their possible "July package" deal. The U.S. delegation includes U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer who will visit Korea's southern Jeju Island for two days from Thursday for talks with Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo. There is a possibility that Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun will also fly to Jeju to address Korea's challenges and arrange a schedule for future talks. The APEC ministers' meeting is held to discuss trade-related issues ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, this October. Both countries held their first round of trade talks last month under a "two-plus-two consultation" format with finance and trade ministers from both countries. Given Korea's ongoing leadership vacuum — triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol — the government's basic stance is that the next administration, which will beMay 11, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
Industry minister says delay in Czech nuclear deal will provide chance to strengthen bilateral tiesThe unexpected delay in the signing of a deal to build nuclear reactors in the Czech Republic will ultimately serve as an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations with the European country, Korea's Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun has said. Ahn made the remarks Wednesday when a Korean consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) was originally scheduled to finalize the contract with Elektrarna Dukovany II (EDU II), a subsidiary of Czech's state-run utility firm CEZ. The signing of the estimated 26 trillion-won ($18.6 billion) deal has been postponed due to a court injunction following a legal challenge by the French energy company EDF, which had lost the tender process. "Although the contract signing was delayed due to unexpected circumstances, I believe this will serve as an opportunity to further solidify the trust between our two countries," Ahn said while meeting with reporters in Prague. The Korean minister and other government delegates arrived here Tuesday for the signing ceremony. He stressed that Korea and the Czech Republic are expanding their economic tiMay 8, 2025By Yonhap
Will Hegseth's order to reduce generals affect USFK?Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's push for a reduction of four-star military officers is raising a consequential question for the South Korea-U.S. alliance: Will it also affect the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK)? On Monday, Hegseth issued a memo that ordered a minimum 20 percent reduction of four-star active-duty positions and of general officers in the National Guard, as well as an additional minimum 10 percent reduction in general and flag officers — with an aim to "optimize" and "streamline" the U.S. military leadership. The memo has given rise to speculation that the Pentagon could consider a potential change in the USFK leadership as it seeks to focus primarily on countering evolving threats from China while hoping that regional allies will step up to cope with other challenges, including from North Korea. Reuters has reported that the USFK commander post and the head of the U.S. Army Pacific might be among the four-star positions that Hegseth might look at. Asked if the secretary's order for the reduction would affect the USFK, a U.S. defense official said the Pentagon has no announcemeMay 8, 2025By Yonhap
Trump cuts threaten Koreans in US academiaSEATTLE — J.Y. Kim, who wants to go by her initials for fear of jeopardizing her job search, just finished sending off her 100th resume this morning. After getting a job offer three weeks ago from a small research university in the Midwest, she thought her job hunt was finally over. "I'm still demoralized and in disbelief that I'm back in this position," Kim said, reading aloud the email rescinding her assistant professor offer during a phone interview with The Korea Times. "The entire letter is about cuts in federal funding." The Donald Trump administration has cut federal funding to many U.S. universities, including top schools like Harvard and Princeton. These cuts, amounting to billions of dollars, are part of a broader effort to pressure universities to fall in line with the government, especially regarding campus protests and diversity programs. The funding cuts have put thousands of jobs and research projects at risk, with many job offers even being rescinded, and have led university leaders to warn that academic freedom and independence is in danger. "I have to find a full-timeApr 29, 2025By Jane Han
Gov't holds meeting with exporters to share outcome of trade talks with USKorea's industry ministry on Tuesday held a meeting with domestic exporters to share the results of last week's high-level trade talks with the United States and to gather industry feedback. The meeting, co-hosted by the Korea International Trade Association, brought together executives from 15 major companies in shipbuilding, aerospace, defense, nuclear power, batteries and other strategic sectors most likely to be affected by Washington's escalating tariff measures, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The session was aimed at assessing the impact of the latest U.S. trade and tariff policies on key industries and discussing ways to enhance bilateral industrial cooperation, the ministry said. During last week's talks in Washington, Seoul and Washington agreed to craft a "package" deal on new U.S. tariffs, and economic and industrial cooperation by early July. At Tuesday's meeting, company officials urged the government to actively engage in tariff negotiations to prevent Korean exporters from losing ground to global competitors due to comparatively higher U.S. tariffApr 29, 2025By Yonhap
