Korean troops in Lebanon report strikes near military base amid Middle East conflictKorean troops dispatched to Lebanon for peacekeeping operations reported strikes occurred near their military base on the day of the U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran, a lawmaker said Tuesday, raising alarms over the safety of Korean troops dispatched overseas. Unspecified strikes occurred at an area 31 kilometers northeast of the military base of the Dongmyung unit in Lebanon on Feb. 28, according to a report submitted by the defense ministry to Rep. Hwang Hee of the ruling Democratic Party. The Dongmyung unit has been conducting essential operations related to the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, while maintaining the highest level of defense posture. On March 1, the Akh unit stationed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported strikes at an area 68 kilometers southwest of the unit's base, located near the Al Dhafra Air Base, according to the lawmaker. Since then, the Abu Dhabi-based unit has canceled all training and remains on standby at the military compound amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Cheonghae unit dispatched to Somalia has not witnessed anyMar 10, 2026By Yonhap
Around 300 Koreans to return home aboard Qatari flight amid Middle East conflictA special flight carrying around 300 Korean nationals departed Qatar on Monday to bring them home amid the conflict in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said. The flight left Doha at 3:45 p.m. (Seoul time) and is scheduled to arrive in Incheon, west of Seoul, at around 12:21 a.m. Tuesday, the ministry said. The latest flight arrangement came as Seoul is stepping up its efforts to bring its citizens home from the conflict-hit region either by helping them escape to a third country nearby or arranging emergency flights home. Early Monday, more than 200 Koreans and their foreign family members returned home aboard a chartered flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). About 1,400 Korean short-term travelers remain in the UAE. Flight disruptions at major airports in the UAE, Qatar and other neighboring countries have left thousands of Koreans stranded, prompting Seoul to seek ways to facilitate their departure through consultations with the relevant countries. Qatar's airspace remains partially open, with only a limited number of emergency flights to Europe currently in operation. KoreaMar 9, 2026By Yonhap
No disruptions in essential goods supply to Korean vessels in Persian Gulf: ministryKorean vessels tied up in the Persian Gulf have sufficient supplies of essential goods to last at least a month, the oceans ministry said Monday, vowing continued efforts to protect the safety of Korean sailors amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, all 26 Korean vessels in the area have secured food and fuel products for more than a month through a local supplier over the weekend. The vessels have a combined 146 Korean crew members on board, while another 37 Korean nationals are aboard foreign vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. The ministry said it is providing support for the safe disembarkation of crew members from the vessels in the region, noting that no Korean nationals have requested to leave their ships as of Sunday. The government will continue close communications with shipping companies to ensure the safety of Korean vessels and crew members in the Middle East amid a prolonging of the situation, the ministry added.Mar 9, 2026By Yonhap
Spy agency says providing real-time battle info to Korean firms in Middle EastThe national spy agency is providing real-time information on terrorist threats and battles in the Middle East to Korean companies operating in the region to help ensure their safety, officials said Monday. Companies operating in seven Middle East countries — Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan — are currently being informed of the latest terrorist threats and regional fighting, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said, as intermittent strikes continue between the United States and Israel and Iran. The previous day, the foreign ministry raised its special travel warning for the seven countries, advising Koreans in the region to leave the area. The NIS was also set to host a terrorism information-sharing meeting with six other government agencies, including the foreign, justice and oceans ministries, later in the day to discuss measures to ensure the safety of nationals in the region, officials said.Mar 9, 2026By Yonhap
US not likely to hike tariffs if Assembly passes investment bill: industry ministerIndustry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Sunday he has been told the United States is not likely to hike tariffs on Korea if the National Assembly passes a special bill on Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge to the U.S. Kim made the remarks at Incheon International Airport after visiting the U.S. to meet with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and others to discuss tariff issues and other bilateral trade matters between Seoul and Washington. "At a meeting with Lutnick, I explained the special investment bill that is expected to pass at the National Assembly next week. In response, the U.S. side very highly evaluated it and expressed appreciation," Kim told reporters. "If the bill is passed or Korea implements things related to trade negotiations (between Seoul and Washington), I've heard that there would be no such things like publishing in the Federal Register on tariff hikes." U.S. President Donald Trump threatened in January to raise "reciprocal" tariffs and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical duties on Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in the legislative process to pass tMar 8, 2026By Yonhap
Korea continues to evacuate citizens from Middle East amid conflictKorea is continuing to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East after about 140 nationals were brought to safety in earlier operations, the foreign ministry said Thursday, as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran escalate into a wider regional conflict. Thirteen Koreans in Kuwait plan to travel to Saudi Arabia via a land route aboard a chartered bus arranged by the Korean Embassy, the ministry said. Among them are a family with an expectant mother and her one-year-old child. Four more Koreans in Israel will depart for Egypt, after 66 people were evacuated from the country in a previous operation. The Korean Embassy in Iran helped one individual safely travel to Turkmenistan on Wednesday, putting the total number of evacuees at 25. Three others from Bahrain also arrived in Saudi Arabia, a day after 10 people were evacuated. Another three from Iraq will travel to Turkey. The foreign ministry also said it is dispatching a joint government rapid response team with the National Policy Agency to Dubai and Oman to assist with evacuation operations. The government is actively considering sending a chartereMar 5, 2026By Yonhap
Korea remains cautious over shifts in Trump’s tariff policiesThe Korean government is carefully gauging the latest developments in the U.S. tariff policy after the American Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs on trade partners, only for him to quickly counter with a fresh round of global duties. Although uncertainties have grown over the Korea-U.S. tariff agreement reached in November, Korea is determined to proceed with the plan to invest $350 billion in the U.S. At the same time, it is closely watching the possibility of the U.S. imposing separate item-specific levies on Korea’s key exports, such as semiconductors or pharmaceuticals. Following the court ruling early Saturday, Cheong Wa Dae, economy-related ministries and the foreign affairs ministry have held multiple emergency response meetings. The court ruled that Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his sweeping tariffs, invalidating a broad set of levies he imposed last year, including the 15 percent tariff currently applied to Korea. But Trump soon imposed a 10 percent tariff, and the nexFeb 22, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
Korea raises travel alert for Cuba over power outages, disruptions in essential servicesKorea raised its travel alert for Cuba due to concerns over worsening shortages of electricity and other basic necessities, the foreign ministry said Friday. A Level 2 alert, advising travelers to exercise caution, has been issued for the whole country as shortages of electricity and fuel have disrupted transportation, health care and communications services, the ministry said in a release. The measures took effect at 5 p.m. Friday. The ministry advised Korean nationals planning to visit Cuba to carefully reconsider their trip and avoid any unnecessary travel, urging those currently staying in the country to exercise special caution for their safety.Feb 13, 2026By Yonhap
‘Korea did not strike separate deal on coal with US,’ trade ministry saysThe Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources dismissed suggestions Thursday that Seoul had reached a separate trade deal on coal with the United States, following comments by President Donald Trump about striking deals with several countries, including Korea, to boost U.S. coal exports. “There was no special agreement specifically about coal. It just seems that (he meant) the existing trade agreements the U.S. has with countries like Korea, India and Japan up to now are simply helpful for coal exports as well,” a ministry official told The Korea Times. “There hasn’t been any separate or specific agreement made regarding coal (between Korea and the U.S).” During the Champion of Coal event at the White House, Wednesday (local time), Trump said Washington had recently secured “historic” deals to expand coal exports. "In just the past few months, we've made historic trade deals with Japan, Korea, India and others to increase our coal exports dramatically," he said. "We are now exporting coal to all over the world." His comments come as the Trump administration moves to undo maFeb 12, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
President Lee, NATO chief discuss broadening defense cooperationPresident Lee Jae Myung and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed ways to broaden cooperation in the defense sector during a phone call, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. In a written briefing, presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-jun said the conversation, the second between the two leaders in seven months, was held at Rutte's request. During the call, both leaders shared the need to maintain their partnership and continue close consultation to address global security challenges, including the war in Ukraine and security issues on the Korean Peninsula. Lee highlighted the competence of Korean defense companies and suggested more concrete cooperation through a working-level consultative body established last year. Rutte agreed, vowing to support enhanced cooperation. Additionally, the two pledged to continue advanced collaboration in other areas, such as space and information sharing.Feb 10, 2026By Yonhap
