Top US envoy meets defense ministerU.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel met with Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Thursday, her first such meeting with the top Korean defense chief since assuming the post in late July. Steel arrived at the defense ministry headquarters in Yongsan, accompanied by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson. She was expected to discuss key alliance issues with Ahn, including Seoul's ongoing efforts to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States. Thursday's meeting follows her previous separate meetings with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan last month.Sep 3, 2026By Yonhap
2 Koreans kidnapped in Haiti released safely: foreign ministryKorean employees of a local company who were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti have been safely released after about a month in captivity, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. On July 31, the two were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, while on their way to work. "One of them was released Aug. 18, followed by the release of the other on Tuesday. Their health conditions are good," the ministry said in a release to reporters. Following a report of the kidnapping to the Korean Embassy in the Dominican Republic, which is also accredited to Haiti, the government established a task force and worked closely with Haitian authorities to secure their safe release, it added. The incident occurred amid deteriorating security conditions in Haiti, where gangs wield significant influence over parts of the country. Korea has designated Haiti as a travel-ban country since May 2024, and Koreans require special permission to use their passports to stay in the country. The two Koreans had been staying there after obtaining such permission for business activities, according to the ministry.Sep 2, 2026By Yonhap
Korea, Japan hold economic security dialogue to discuss nurturing advanced techKorea and Japan held a bilateral economic security dialogue in Tokyo on Tuesday to share their relevant policies and discuss current issues, including the development of advanced technologies, the presidential office said. The fifth Korea-Japan economic security dialogue was attended by Kim Sung-yeol, Seoul's presidential secretary for economic security, and Takeshi Soda, a senior official at Japan's National Security Secretariat. The two sides reviewed their economic security environments and shared relevant polices to enhance mutual understanding, Cheong Wa Dae said. They also exchanged views on the latest economic security issues, including the development and protection of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor, and the stabilization of supply chains for energy and critical minerals, while discussing measures for cooperation in those areas, according to the presidential office. The dialogue was arranged as part of an earlier agreement between the Korean and Japanese leaders to step up communication and cooperation in economic security, the office saiSep 1, 2026By Yonhap
Korea to dispatch disaster relief team to Nepal to support flood recovery effortsA Korean disaster relief team was set to leave for Nepal late Tuesday to support search, rescue and other relief efforts following the recent devastating floods, the foreign ministry said. The Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), consisting of 44 personnel from the foreign ministry, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), fire authorities and other agencies, is scheduled to depart for Nepal at midnight aboard a KC-330 Cygnus multirole tanker transport aircraft, according to the ministry. The team is expected to arrive in Nepal at 5:55 a.m. Wednesday (local time), bringing 700 pieces of equipment and five search-and-rescue dogs. The team will stay in Nepal for about 10 days, conducting search and rescue operations for victims, including the nine Koreans who remain unaccounted for. "We plan to conduct rescue operations in consultation with the Nepali government and our rapid response team already on the ground," a ministry official said. "The deployment may be extended beyond 10 days if necessary." The KDRT is a statutory emergency response unit deployed to provide disaster reliefSep 1, 2026By Yonhap
Industry minister says 'meaningful progress' achieved in talks with USThe industry minister said Thursday that Seoul and Washington have made meaningful progress in talks on South Korea's strategic investment projects in the United States, with additional details to be unveiled next month. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan made the remark at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, upon returning from a trip to the United States for meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and others. "There was significant and meaningful progress," Kim said. "I held meetings with (Lutnick) for two days, and I think we resolved a wide range of issues." The visit came as the two countries are currently negotiating their first investment project under South Korea's strategic investment initiative in the U.S. after the National Assembly passed the Special Act on Korea-U.S. Strategic Investment Management in March. Last year, Seoul and Washington reached an agreement on Korea's $350 billion investment pledge, in exchange for a tariff reduction. "We plan to hold a virtual meeting next month to reach the final agreement," Kim added, noting the outcome is likely toAug 20, 2026By Yonhap
Korean FM to meet with Mexico, Kuwait counterparts in Seoul next weekForeign Minister Cho Hyun plans to hold separate talks with his Mexican and Kuwaiti counterparts next week to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas ranging from the economy to energy security, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Mexican Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco is scheduled to visit Seoul for talks with Cho on Monday, becoming the first Mexican foreign minister to visit Korea in three years, according to the ministry. The two sides are expected to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties and cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), space, culture, education and defense, among other fields, it added. Mexico is Korea's largest trading and investment partner in Latin America. The two countries have maintained close cooperation in various fields since establishing a strategic partnership in 2005, the first such partnership Seoul forged with a Latin American nation. Cho is also scheduled to meet with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in Seoul on Tuesday, the ministry said. Al-Sabah's visit to Korea will mark the first visit by a Kuwaiti foreiAug 20, 2026By Yonhap
Korea's top Catholic leader offers condolences to Colombia quake victimsKorea's top Catholic leader on Thursday expressed condolences to victims of a deadly earthquake in Colombia and said he would pray alongside the faithful of the Korean church for all those affected by the disaster. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul said in a statement that he was extending "heartfelt condolences" to Colombians who have lost family and neighbors and were facing threats to their homes and livelihoods. Chung said he would pray alongside all the faithful in the Seoul Archdiocese for the dead and their bereaved families, the injured, and all those affected by the disaster in Colombia. The archdiocese later announced that two of its charity groups would provide a combined $100,000 in emergency relief funds through Caritas Internationalis, with additional fundraising planned until mid-September. A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia earlier this week, leaving more than 200 people dead.Aug 13, 2026By Yonhap
Korea, India vow closer ties in customs affairsThe Korean customs agency said Wednesday it has agreed with its Indian counterpart to bolster cooperation in customs affairs and facilitate smoother trade between the two countries. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) said it met with officials from India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs in New Delhi on Tuesday (Indian time), asking the Indian government to support smooth customs clearance for Korean businesses. During the meeting, the KCS shared cases of Korean firms based in India facing difficulties with customs-related issues, with the two sides also holding discussions on bilateral cooperation, including training programs. "With India being a major partner in the Asia-Pacific region, the two countries intend to bolster cooperation down the road to address hurdles facing Korean firms seeking to export to India," Han Min, director general for international affairs at the KCS, said in a release.Aug 12, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul seeks exemption from UK sanctions on Russian LNG: officialKorea's trade minister on Thursday asked his British counterpart to exempt Korea's imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Britain's upcoming sanctions, citing concerns over Seoul's energy security. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo made the request during a video meeting with Britain's newly appointed Minister for Trade Anas Sarwar to discuss bilateral trade issues, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a press release. "Britain's plan to ban the provision of maritime transport, insurance and related services for Russian LNG starting in January 2027 could undermine Korea's energy security and the stability of its LNG supply," Yeo said. Without an exemption, the measure could disrupt imports of Russian LNG by the state-run Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS), which has a long-term contract to purchase LNG from the Sakhalin-II oil and gas project off Russia's Pacific coast through March 2028, the ministry said. The ministry also warned that shipments could be disrupted if British insurers suspend reinsurance and other services related to the contract. The European Union, which adopteAug 6, 2026By Yonhap
White House notes its proposal to build 2 combat, 2 noncombat vessels in foreign shipyards in memoWASHINGTON — The White House has highlighted a "priority" legislative proposal that would authorize the U.S. Navy to contract to build two combat ships and two non-combat auxiliary vessels in foreign shipyards, according to a recent document sent to Congress. Its Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pointed out the proposal in a policy statement that it sent to the House of Representatives on July 21 to explain its position on the House version of an annual defense policy bill for fiscal year 2027, called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In the statement, the OMB made clear its opposition to a section of the House bill that would prohibit the use of defense funds for procuring "battle force" ships to be built in a foreign shipyard. "The prohibition ... is inconsistent with the administration's priority legislative proposal, which would authorize the Navy to contract to construct two surface combatant vessels and two non-combat auxiliary vessels in foreign shipyards for the purpose of driving significant and direct foreign investment into our domestic shipyards," it saidAug 5, 2026By Yonhap
