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  • Foreign Affairs

    Korea attracts $165 mil. investment from European firms, signs digital trade agreement with EU

    Korea has attracted a combined $165 million in foreign direct investment from four European companies and signed a digital trade agreement with the European Union (EU), deepening economic cooperation with the major economic bloc, Seoul officials said Thursday. The European companies — Germany's Orafol, France's Quandela, the Netherlands' Prodrive Technologies and Sweden's Mycronic — unveiled their investment plans in Korea in the semiconductor, quantum computing and other key industries during the investment announcement ceremony co-hosted by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, according to the officials at the industry ministry. The ceremony was held Wednesday (local time) marking Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Belgium for a meeting with EU leaders. Korea held a separate roundtable event with European business leaders to discuss ways to expand cooperation between the two economies amid heightened geopolitical risks, the global rise of trade protectionism and rapid technological advancements. The ministry said Korea an

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea attracts $165 mil. investment from European firms, signs digital trade agreement with EU
  • Foreign Affairs

    Norwegian architect behind Busan Opera House highlights architecture’s role in social change

    3 MIN READBy Anna J. Park
    Norwegian architect behind Busan Opera House highlights architecture’s role in social change
  • Foreign Affairs

    Lee says depending on US for defense no longer valid, will boost economic ties

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee says depending on US for defense no longer valid, will boost economic ties
  • Foreign Affairs

    PM offers condolences over death of ex-Japanese politician Kono

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    PM offers condolences over death of ex-Japanese politician Kono
  • North Korea

    Was Xi's stance on China-North Korea military ties also a message for US, Russia?

    5 MIN READBy SCMP
    Was Xi's stance on China-North Korea military ties also a message for US, Russia?
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North Korea

Kim Chang-son, close aide of N. Korean leader, dies: KCNA

Kim Chang-son, who had served as the protocol chief to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has died, according to the North's state media Friday. The North's leader expressed "deep" condolences over his death and sent a wreath to the bier the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, without saying the cause of his death. The report said Kim Chang-son had worked in important posts of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the state for a long time under "the special loving care and deep trust of the peerlessly great men." He "made a distinguished contribution to defending the prestige of our Party and enhancing the external prestige of the country with his steadfast honesty and sincerity," the KCNA said. Kim Chang-son, known as the de facto chief of staff to Kim Jong-un, served as the protocol chief, notably appearing on the sites of the North Korean leader's summit diplomacy. In the height of Kim Jong-un's summit diplomacy in 2018-2019, highlighted by summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore and Vietnam, Kim Chang-son visited summit facilities in advanc

Dec 26, 2025By Yonhap
Kim Chang-son, close aide of N. Korean leader, dies: KCNA
North Korea

N. Korea's Kim calls for expanding missile, shell production capacity

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has unveiled a plan to build new munitions factories to expand the production capacity of missiles and shells, stressing that raising their production is critical in bolstering the war deterrent, state media reported Friday. The report came a day after the North's state media said Kim had inspected an 8,700-ton "nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine" under construction. The North's leader ordered expanding the production capacity of missiles and shells during his visit to major munitions industry enterprises as he inspected the missile and shell production in the fourth quarter, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not elaborate on the date of his inspection or the factories' locations. Kim noted plans to construct new munitions factories will be decided at the upcoming party congress, stressing the importance of modernizing the munitions industry, according to the KCNA. "In order to satisfy the prospective demands of the missile and artillery forces of the Korean People's Army, it is necessary to continuously raise the l

Dec 26, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim calls for expanding missile, shell production capacity
North Korea

N. Korea touts nuclear submarine under construction as S. Korea's plan advances

North Korea has vowed to strengthen its nuclear submarine capabilities as South Korea advances plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine, a move analysts say could fuel a naval arms race between the two Koreas and complicate Seoul's push to revive peace talks. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Seoul's submarine plan would pose a direct threat to Pyongyang. "Saying that the nuclear submarine development plan of the ROK, which Washington has agreed on at the solicitation of Seoul recently, will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean Peninsula, he stressed that the DPRK regards it as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty and a threat to its security that must be countered," KCNA reported, using acronyms for the Republic of Korea and Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official names of South Korea and North Korea. The North Korean leader made the remarks during a recent on-site inspection of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submar

Dec 25, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
N. Korea touts nuclear submarine under construction as S. Korea's plan advances
North Korea

Kim receives New Year's message from Putin that hails 'heroic' dispatch of N. Korean troops in war against Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message of greeting to mark New Year's Day to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, hailing the North's "heroic" dispatch of troops in Russia's war against Ukraine, the North's state media said Thursday. Kim received the message on Dec. 18, in which Putin extended "wholehearted congratulations" on the occasion of the new year, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "The past one year was of special significance in the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang," Putin said, referring to the entry of North Korean troops in Russia's war with Ukraine. This "clearly proved the invincible friendship and militant fraternity" between the countries, Putin said. Putin also recalled the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty the two countries have signed, adding, "This has contributed to expanding remarkably the productive, bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, human and other fields. "I am convinced that we will in the future, too, strengthen the relations of friendship and alliance in every way and conduct constructive cooperation on r

Dec 25, 2025By Yonhap
Kim receives New Year's message from Putin that hails 'heroic' dispatch of N. Korean troops in war against Ukraine
North Korea

N. Korea's Kim oversees test-firing of new anti-air missiles in East Sea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines will "worsen the instability" in the region, calling Seoul's move a threat to the North's national security, according to state media Thursday. Kim made the remarks during an on-site inspection of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine under construction, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The North Korean leader referred to Seoul's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines, saying it "will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean Peninsula ... (and) DPRK regards it as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty." DPRK refers to the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He also said it represents "a threat to its security that must be countered." Kim reaffirmed that the country will maintain its national security policy and principle of deterring the enemy. "It is needed to make the enemy understand with no doubt that they will be surely forced to pay a dear price when they violate the sec

Dec 25, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim oversees test-firing of new anti-air missiles in East Sea
North Korea

N. Korea's Kim warns Seoul's nuclear-powered submarine plan will 'worsen instability'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines will "worsen the instability" in the region, calling Seoul's move a threat to the North's national security, according to state media Thursday. Kim made the remarks during an on-site inspection of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine under construction, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The North Korean leader referred to Seoul's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines, saying it "will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean Peninsula ... (and) DPRK regards it as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty." DPRK refers to the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He also said it represents "a threat to its security that must be countered."

Dec 25, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim warns Seoul's nuclear-powered submarine plan will 'worsen instability'
Others

Trump gifts White House gold key to Lee

U.S. President Donald Trump has gifted President Lee Jae Myung a specially designed gold key to the White House in return for the presents he received during his visit to Korea in October, Lee's chief of staff said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, Kang Hoon-sik said Trump handed the key to Korea's ambassador to the United States, Kang Kyung-wha, after she formally presented her credentials to him at the White House on Dec. 17. Photos show the key engraved with the phrase "Key to the White House" and displayed in a wooden case featuring an image of the presidential residence. The senior aide said the U.S. president praised his relationship with Lee during the conversation with Seoul's top envoy, quoting Trump as saying, "I really like him." During Trump's visit to the southeastern city of Gyeongju in late October ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Lee presented him with a replica of the Cheonmachong gold crown from the ancient Silla Kingdom and awarded him South Korea's highest state medal. Trump is known to have personally designed the golden key as a ceremonial gift for

Dec 24, 2025By Yonhap
Trump gifts White House gold key to Lee
North Korea

Unification minister vows efforts to resolve separated families issue

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Wednesday met with an aging separated family member in South Korea and pledged to address humanitarian issues through dialogue with North Korea, according to the unification ministry. Chung visited the home of Kim Bong-hwan, aged 105, in Seoul, in a bid to console her pain caused by decades of separation, according to the ministry. Kim asked Chung to confirm whether her family members in the North were still alive, saying it had been her lifelong wish to reunite with her siblings, from whom she was separated during the 1950–53 Korean War. While referring to separated families as the "biggest sorrow" stemming from the war, Chung vowed to make every effort to resolve humanitarian issues through various means, including dialogue with the North. Of the 134,514 people who applied for family reunions with their relatives in North Korea, only 34,658 were still alive as of late last month, according to the ministry. Among them, more than 32 percent are aged 90 or older, including 660 who are over 100.

Dec 24, 2025By Yonhap
Unification minister vows efforts to resolve separated families issue
North Korea

2 N. Korean POWs in Ukraine express desire to defect to S. Korea in letter: activist

Two North Korean soldiers who were captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia have written a letter expressing their desire to defect to South Korea, an activist in Seoul said Friday. Jang Se-yul, head of a North Korean defectors' group in the South, said the two North Korean captives in their 20s wrote such a letter in October when they met a South Korean documentary producer at a prisoner-of-war camp near Kyiv. The letter was delivered to the group via the producer earlier this month. "We've made up our mind to go to South Korea, thinking of those in South Korea as our parents and brothers," the letter read. In the letter, the captives expressed their appreciation for those who said the current situation facing them is "not a tragedy but the beginning of a new life." "A new dream and aspiration have begun springing up on the back of support from people in the Republic of Korea," it said. The North Korean POWs were under the media spotlight when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote online in January that they had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's western Kursk reg

Dec 24, 2025By Yonhap
2 N. Korean POWs in Ukraine express desire to defect to S. Korea in letter: activist
Foreign Affairs

US to grant S. Korea exception on nuclear submarine fuel supply

Seoul and Washington are moving to form a separate bilateral pact to facilitate South Korea's development of nuclear-powered submarines, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Wednesday, following their agreement on the need for such a deal. “On the issue of cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines, the two sides agreed that a separate pact between us is necessary, and we are moving to pursue it,” he told reporters at a briefing in Seoul after his weeklong trip to the U.S., Canada and Japan from Dec. 16 to 22. The move toward the pact follows an October summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which Trump approved Seoul's bid to build nuclear submarines. In Washington, Wi met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other senior officials. Wi said he had “practical in-depth discussions,” noting that submarine collaboration, uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing were all on the agenda. Discussing the legal framework for a nuclear submarine deal, Wi pointed to constraints in U.S. law and the need

Dec 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
US to grant S. Korea exception on nuclear submarine fuel supply
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