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    North Korea denuclearization missing from US readout as Trump pushes for Kim talks

    The United States conspicuously omitted any reference to "the denuclearization of North Korea" from its readout of a phone call between the top diplomats of South Korea and the U.S., raising speculation that Washington is creating diplomatic room for renewed engagement with Pyongyang. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone Monday to discuss a range of bilateral issues, with both sides stressing the need for close coordination between the allies. The two governments, however, differed notably in how they described discussions on North Korea. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cho and Rubio "agreed to preserve the strong South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture while maintaining close communication and coordination for peace on the Korean Peninsula and to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue." Cho also told Rubio that Seoul "would work to ensure that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent messages toward Pyongyang could lead to the resumption of U.S.-North Korea dialogue and contribute to peace on the Korean

    4 MIN READBy Park Ji-won
    North Korea denuclearization missing from US readout as Trump pushes for Kim talks
  • North Korea

    Expert says chance of Trump-Kim meeting is 'slim to none'

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Expert says chance of Trump-Kim meeting is 'slim to none'
  • Foreign Affairs

    Korea, Kuwait discuss cooperation on energy, infrastructure

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea, Kuwait discuss cooperation on energy, infrastructure
  • Foreign Affairs

    US Amb. Steel meets Japanese envoy, stresses continued trilateral cooperation

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    US Amb. Steel meets Japanese envoy, stresses continued trilateral cooperation
  • North Korea

    N. Korea, Belarus near visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens: report

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea, Belarus near visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens: report
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Foreign Affairs

23 Koreans evacuated from Iran to Turkmenistan

Twenty-three Korean nationals were evacuated from Iran to neighboring Turkmenistan as tensions escalate across the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. The evacuees crossed the Iran-Turkmenistan border on Tuesday evening, Korea time, with assistance from the Korean Embassy in Tehran and a rapid-response team dispatched from Seoul. According to the ministry, the group departed Iran on Monday morning aboard two buses arranged by the embassy and escorted by diplomatic staff. After an overnight stop, they completed entry procedures at the Turkmenistan border without incident. They are traveling to Ashgabat, the capital, using transportation arranged by the Korean Embassy there and are scheduled to depart individually on Wednesday for Korea or third countries. “This evacuation was part of preemptive efforts to ensure the safety of our nationals in light of the deteriorating security environment,” a foreign ministry official said. “We have maintained close communication with those involved and prioritized their safe relocation.” The official added that a rapid resp

Mar 3, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
23 Koreans evacuated from Iran to Turkmenistan
Foreign Affairs

Korea, Philippines to expand cooperation in nuclear energy, critical minerals

Korea and the Philippines agreed to expand cooperation on nuclear power projects and critical mineral supply chains, President Lee Jae Myung announced Tuesday, following a summit during his two-day state visit to Manila. Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacanang Palace, Lee said the two countries decided to strengthen practical cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. “We agreed to enhance substantive cooperation in the field of nuclear power,” Lee said. “Based on the results of the feasibility study on resuming the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation for the introduction of new nuclear power projects, our two countries will position themselves as optimal partners in nuclear energy cooperation.” Construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant began in 1976 but was suspended in the mid-1980s. In 2022, the Philippine government decided to revive the long-dormant project to address chronic electricity shortages with the goal of beginning operations by 2032. In 2024, un

Mar 3, 2026By Anna J. Park
Korea, Philippines to expand cooperation in nuclear energy, critical minerals
Foreign Affairs

InterviewGhana’s envoy finds surreal homecoming in the land of his birth

Ghana’s Ambassador to Korea Choi Ko-jo says his appointment carries a deeply personal meaning as someone born in Korea and raised in Ghana — a life shaped, he says, by “two mothers.” Speaking in an interview with The Korea Times at the Embassy of Ghana in Seoul on Feb. 25, Choi said becoming Ghana’s top envoy to the country of his birth was something he never imagined. “It is personally hard to believe,” he said. “I never dreamed of this or worked toward it deliberately. When it happened, it felt surreal — I’m just relieved this is not a TV program.” Choi moved to Ghana in 1992 with his missionary parents and spent most of his formative years there. That experience, he said, defined his identity and worldview. “I truly have two mothers,” he said. “Korea gave birth to me, and Ghana raised me. When I think of these two nations, they are both mothers to me.” Serving as ambassador, Choi said, means becoming a living bridge between the two countries he loves most — a role he described as both an honor and a heavy responsibility. “To connect my two mothers is an

Mar 3, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Ghana’s envoy finds surreal homecoming in the land of his birth
Foreign Affairs

Lee pays tribute at Jose Rizal memorial during Philippines visit

MANILA — President Lee Jae Myung paid tribute at the memorial to Jose Rizal (1861-1896), the national hero of the Philippines, on Tuesday as he began his state visit to the Southeast Asian country for summit talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Lee laid a wreath at the memorial shortly after arriving in Manila to honor Rizal, who led the independence movement during Spanish colonial rule and was executed in 1896. During the visit, Lee received "The Key to the City of Manila," a ceremonial, symbolic item presented by Manila officials. The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea and sent the first and largest contingent of 7,420 troops to support Seoul during the Korean War in 1950.

Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
Lee pays tribute at Jose Rizal memorial during Philippines visit
Foreign Affairs

US delegation's visit to Korea for nuclear sub talks further delayed by Iran crisis

A planned visit by a U.S. delegation to Seoul for high-stakes security talks has been delayed as Washington grapples with escalating tensions in the Middle East, a setback that could slow negotiations over Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure broader rights to nuclear fuel. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday, the U.S. side has yet to provide specific dates for the trip, which had been expected in late February or early March. The delay comes as U.S. officials focus on the fallout from Saturday's joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran, which included the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran immediately vowed retaliation, raising the prospect of a broader regional conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is not ruling out further military action, including the possible deployment of American troops, according to U.S. media reports. The postponement has complicated matters for officials in Seoul, where security negotiations have become a priority following agreements reached at an October summit between President Lee

Mar 3, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
US delegation's visit to Korea for nuclear sub talks further delayed by Iran crisis
Foreign Affairs

Gov't to secure oil supplies from outside Middle East amid possible closure of Hormuz strait

The government said Tuesday it will push for securing oil supplies from outside the Middle East in response to the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, while stressing that Korea has sufficient oil reserves. The Ministry of Economy and Finance held an emergency response meeting on the Iran conflict with related ministries to assess the impact of the situation on Korea and discuss a response strategy. The ministry said no safety issues have been reported from Korean vessels operating in the Middle East and that the country holds sufficient oil reserves under a scenario in which the crisis becomes prolonged. But in preparation for a potential blockade of the Hormuz strait, the world's most critical oil export route, the government will work to secure additional oil supplies from regions other than the Middle East, it added. Korea heavily relies on energy shipped through the strait, importing about 70.7 percent of oil and 20.4 percent of liquefied natural gas from the Middle East. The ministry said the government will monitor domestic and gl

Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't to secure oil supplies from outside Middle East amid possible closure of Hormuz strait
Foreign Affairs

BOK reviews responses to market volatility stemming from Iran situation

The Bank of Korea (BOK) held a special task force meeting Tuesday to assess the impact of an ongoing Middle East conflict on financial markets and discuss response measures against possible market volatility. During the meeting presided over by BOK Gov. Rhee Chang-yong, officials discussed the impact of the joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran over the weekend on domestic and global markets and the economy, with a focus on response plans under various scenarios, according to the central bank. "We will closely assess market developments by enacting an around-the-clock monitoring system in cooperation with our overseas offices and stand ready to take appropriate action if needed," the BOK said in a release. On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale joint military operation against Iran and killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has widened across the region, as Israeli forces struck targets in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, while Iran continued retaliatory strikes against Gulf states that host U.S. military bases

Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
BOK reviews responses to market volatility stemming from Iran situation
North Korea

IAEA chief says N. Korea continues uranium enrichment, voices 'serious concern'

The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said North Korea is continuing to operate uranium enrichment facilities in Yongbyon and Kangson, calling it a "serious concern." IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi made the remarks during an introductory statement to the board of governors Monday in Vienna, Austria, saying, "The IAEA continues to monitor the nuclear program of the DPRK." DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. "The Agency has observed that the 5-megawatt reactor at Yongbyon likely continues to operate in its seventh irradiation cycle," the IAEA quoted Grossi as saying in his prepared statement. "Operation of the Radiochemical Laboratory was observed between January and September 2025, when irradiated fuel from the sixth cycle of the 5-megawatt reactor was likely reprocessed," he said. "The ongoing operation of enrichment facilities at Kangson and Yongbyon is of serious concern," Grossi said. Kangson is near Pyongyang, while Yongbyon, in North Pyongan Province, hosts North Korea's major nuclear facility. IAEA i

Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
IAEA chief says N. Korea continues uranium enrichment, voices 'serious concern'
Foreign Affairs

Lee arrives in Philippines for summit talks with Marcos

MANILA – Lee Jae Myung arrived in Manila on Tuesday to hold summit talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss bilateral ties, following his visit to Singapore. Lee will first visit the Jose Rizal Monument to honor Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, before holding talks with Marcos, which will be followed by a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding and a joint press announcement. It will mark Lee's second summit with Marcos following their first meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in late October. The two leaders are expected to explore ways to deepen cooperation in the defense industry, infrastructure and trade, as well as in promising sectors including nuclear power, shipbuilding, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. The two countries forged diplomatic ties on March 3, 1949, making the summit coincide with the anniversary of diplomatic relations. The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation with which Korea established diplomatic relations and th

Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
Lee arrives in Philippines for summit talks with Marcos
Foreign Affairs

PM orders review of evacuation flight plans amid Iran crisis

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Monday the government will take preemptive measures, including reviewing plans to deploy transport aircraft for possible evacuations, as Middle East tensions escalate following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes. "We must take preemptive measures against all possible scenarios. Volatility in financial markets and rising oil prices — risks we had anticipated — are already materializing. The government must be prepared to respond immediately in case the situation is prolonged," Kim said during an emergency meeting on the Iran crisis with relevant ministries. Kim ordered officials to prioritize the safety of Korean nationals in the region, including those stranded in airports due to widespread flight cancellations. He also instructed the finance ministry to take the lead in assessing the concerns of companies affected by the crisis and informing businesses of available support measures. The session followed President Lee Jae Myung's order to establish a prime minister-led emergency response system to address

Mar 2, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
PM orders review of evacuation flight plans amid Iran crisis
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