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  • Foreign Affairs

    Korean gov't condemns attack on Korean-operated vessel in Strait of Hormuz

    The presidential office on Monday condemned attacks on a bulk carrier operated by the Korean shipping company HMM near the Strait of Hormuz, calling attacks on civilian vessels unacceptable. While the government has not made a conclusion over who attacked the HMM Namu, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said it will join international efforts to guarantee safe passage and operation of ships through the strait. “The government strongly condemns attacks on civilian vessels such as the HMM Namu, as such actions cannot be justified or tolerated,” Wi said during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae. “We intend to identify the perpetrator, the exact type of equipment used and its physical specifications through further investigation. Accordingly, we will also consider necessary response measures.” His remarks came a day after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the initial findings regarding the investigation into the cause of an explosion and fire aboard HMM Namu. The ministry, citing an investigative team dispatched to the scene, said two separate airborne objects struck the shi

    3 MIN READBy Yi Whan-woo
    Korean gov't condemns attack on Korean-operated vessel in Strait of Hormuz
  • Foreign Affairs

    S. Korea, US defense chiefs meet amid OPCON push, Hormuz issue

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    S. Korea, US defense chiefs meet amid OPCON push, Hormuz issue
  • North Korea

    What happened to denuclearizing North Korea?

    6 MIN READBy NK News
    What happened to denuclearizing North Korea?
  • North Korea

    N. Korea marches in Russia's Victory Day parade in show of military bond: Seoul

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea marches in Russia's Victory Day parade in show of military bond: Seoul
  • North Korea

    N. Korea flags hantavirus danger amid cruise ship outbreak

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea flags hantavirus danger amid cruise ship outbreak
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Foreign Affairs

Korean minister asks for reduced US tariffs in meeting with Lutnick

Korea's top trade official has asked the U.S. Donald Trump administration to lower its sectoral tariffs on automobiles, steel and other items for Korean companies in a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Lutnick in Washington on Monday (U.S. time) to discuss a wide range of trade issues between the two countries, including tariffs and industrial cooperation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In the meeting, Yeo highlighted Seoul's commitment to advancing manufacturing partnership with the U.S., calling on the Trump administration to give "favorable treatment" to Korean companies when imposing tariffs on imported cars, steel and other products, the ministry said. Over the weekend, Yeo also met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and proposed measures to establish a "mutually beneficial" manufacturing cooperation framework between the two countries. Korea has now three weeks to conclude trade negotiations with the U.S. as Trump decided to extend the pause

Jul 8, 2025By Yonhap
Korean minister asks for reduced US tariffs in meeting with Lutnick
Foreign Affairs

Korea vows to speed up trade negotiations with US with extension of tariff pause

Korea vowed Tuesday to speed up tariff negotiations with the United States to strike a "mutually beneficial" deal as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff letters pushed back the deadline for negotiations. "With the letter, the government views the U.S. administration has suspended the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, including 25 percent duties for Korea, until Aug. 1, and we will work to accelerate negotiations with the U.S. to swiftly resolve trade uncertainties," the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a press release. "We will pursue domestic institutional improvements and regulatory reforms to address U.S. trade deficits with Korea, while promoting a bilateral manufacturing renaissance partnership to advance our key industries," it added. The remarks came after Trump began sending letters detailing his tariff plan to 14 countries, including Korea and Japan, urging them to work toward "more balanced and fair" trade with the U.S. In his letter to Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said his country will impose 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on Korean products starting on

Jul 8, 2025By Yonhap
Korea vows to speed up trade negotiations with US with extension of tariff pause
Foreign Affairs

Presidential office to hold response meeting as Trump unveils tariffs, extends deadline

The presidential office said it will hold a response meeting with relevant ministries Tuesday to discuss measures for tariff negotiations with the United States, as U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington will impose 25 percent tariffs on Korean goods but extended a deadline for the talks. Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, will preside over the meeting at 1:30 p.m., which will be attended by senior aides, the minister of government policy coordination and senior officials from the ministries of industry, finance and foreign affairs. Participants are expected to review recent developments in the tariff talks and coordinate response strategies. In a letter addressed to President Lee Jae Myung, U.S. President Donald Trump said 25 percent "reciprocal" tariffs will take effect on Aug. 1, weeks later than the initial deadline set for this week. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo are currently in Washington as part of coordinated efforts to address tariffs and other alliance issues.

Jul 8, 2025By Yonhap
Presidential office to hold response meeting as Trump unveils tariffs, extends deadline
Foreign Affairs

Lee's top adviser tells Rubio to hold Korea-US summit at early date

Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Seoul hopes to hold a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump at an early date, the presidential office said Tuesday. The talks between Wi and Rubio in Washington came as Trump shared a letter with Lee saying that the U.S. will begin 25 percent tariffs on all Korean products on Aug. 1, granting another three-week pause that allowed more time for Seoul to reach a tariff deal with his administration. During the talks, the Korean side hoped to hold a summit between Lee and Trump at an early date "to advance a mutually beneficial outcome in all pending issues," Lee's office said in a statement. In return, the U.S. side shared understanding, according to the statement. During the meeting, Wi emphasized the need to advance tariff negotiations in a way that strengthens the bilateral alliance and expressed hope for continued cooperation between the two sides, the presidential office said. Rubio shared the consensus and expressed hope that the two countries would remain in clo

Jul 8, 2025By Yonhap
Lee's top adviser tells Rubio to hold Korea-US summit at early date
Foreign Affairs

Korea to step up US trade talks before tariffs kick in on Aug. 1

SEOUL — Korea said it planned to intensify trade talks with the United States and considers U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for a 25 percent tariff from August 1 as effectively extending a grace period on implementing reciprocal tariffs. Trump said on Monday he would impose the tariff on goods from Korea starting on August 1, posting a letter to President Lee Jae Myung on his social media platform along with one to Japan's leader. Korea's Industry Ministry said in a statement that the letter effectively extends a grace period on the implementation of reciprocal tariffs by the United States. "We will step up negotiations during the remaining period to reach a mutually beneficial result to quickly resolve the uncertainties from tariffs," it said. "We also plan to use it as an opportunity to improve domestic systems and regulations to resolve the trade deficit that is a major interest of the United States and advance key industries through a manufacturing renaissance partnership between the two countries," it said. Korea's top trade envoy and presidential security adviser have traveled

Jul 8, 2025By Reuters
Korea to step up US trade talks before tariffs kick in on Aug. 1
North Korea

N. Korea's Kim visits mausoleum to mark 31st anniversary of founder's death

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday visited a mausoleum for late state founder Kim Il-sung to mark the 31st anniversary of his death, the North's state media reported. Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay tribute to the late leader at midnight, flanked by key party officials, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Il-sung, the late grandfather of Kim Jong-un died due to heart failure on July 8, 1994, at age 82. "He made a deep bow of best wishes for immortality to the great leaders," the KCNA said, referring to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the late father of the current leader. North Korea is expected to hold this year's anniversary in a relatively calm manner as the country usually marks every fifth and 10th key anniversaries with large-scale celebrations. The visit came as the North's leader has been strengthening his status as a standalone leader while reducing his reliance on his predecessors for authority. An official at South Korea's unification ministry assessed that party secretary Ri Hi-yong may not be a member of the presidium of the party pol

Jul 8, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim visits mausoleum to mark 31st anniversary of founder's death
Foreign Affairs

Trump's tariff letter to Korea raises both pressure, cautious hope for trade deal

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's letter on a steep tariff plan for Korea heaped more pressure on Seoul to make concessions in trade talks but raised cautious hope for the Asian country to pursue a breakthrough through an extended negotiation deadline, analysts said Monday. Trump unveiled the letter addressed to Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday, saying that the United States will start imposing 25 percent tariffs on Korean products on Aug. 1 — rather than Wednesday when the "reciprocal" tariffs were supposed to kick in following a 90-day pause. Analysts called on Korea to concentrate on making proposals to support the U.S.' efforts to rebuild and strengthen its manufacturing capacity in key areas, including shipbuilding and chip production, while underlining the importance of in-person engagements with the Trump administration. In April, Trump rolled out the reciprocal tariffs to address foreign trade barriers to U.S. exports. But he paused them until Tuesday to allow time for negotiations. "This missive points to a possible intention by Trump to keep trade negotiati

Jul 8, 2025By Yonhap
Trump's tariff letter to Korea raises both pressure, cautious hope for trade deal
Foreign Affairs

UNESCO turns down Korea's bid to reassess Japan's implementation of forced labor-linked sites in unprecedented vote

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Monday rejected Korea's proposal calling for a review of Japan's implementation of its pledged measures regarding industrial sites linked to wartime forced labor. The decision came after the proposal was put to an unprecedented vote during the WHC session in Paris, as the committee was not able to reach a consensus on whether to include the UNESCO-listed Japanese industrial revolution sites as an agenda item for this year's meeting, which runs through next Wednesday. Of the votes cast by 21 WHC member states, including Korea and Japan, seven were in favor of Japan, while Korea received three votes. Eight countries abstained, and three other ballots were deemed invalid. A simple majority of six was required for the motion to pass in Japan's favor. The vote was conducted by secret ballot. Seoul had made the proposal as an effort to continue the evaluation on the status of Japan's implementation of the measures it promised to take to reflect the "full history" of the site, including Hashima Island, where many Koreans were forced into hard labor d

Jul 7, 2025By Yonhap
UNESCO turns down Korea's bid to reassess Japan's implementation of forced labor-linked sites in unprecedented vote
Foreign Affairs

Italian envoy meets Pohang mayor to boost bilateral city ties

Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto met with Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok Sunday to discuss deepening municipal ties between Korea and Italy, the southeastern port city said Sunday. The meeting at the ambassador’s residence in Seoul on July 4, at the invitation of the Italian Embassy, followed Gatto’s visit to the 2025 Pohang International Fireworks Festival in June. The ambassador praised the hospitality and civic energy she witnessed during the event and introduced several Italian cities as potential partners for sister or friendship city agreements. According to city officials, Gatto noted that Pohang’s development goals — particularly in culture, the arts, environment, education and high-tech industries — align with the direction of Italy’s urban diplomacy. She emphasized that such exchanges should be based on trust and built gradually for long-term, meaningful cooperation. Mayor Lee said the meeting served as a valuable opportunity to expand Pohang’s global partnerships, especially as the city accelerates efforts to grow future-oriented industries such as secondary

Jul 7, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Italian envoy meets Pohang mayor to boost bilateral city ties
North Korea

South Korea to repatriate 6 North Korean residents

The government said Monday it will repatriate six North Korean residents who were rescued after drifting into South Korean waters earlier this year — a move that, if carried out, aligns with the Lee Jae Myung administration's push for reengagement with Pyongyang. Although Pyongyang has not responded to repeated notifications from Seoul about the planned repatriation, the Ministry of Unification said it will proceed with the operation on humanitarian grounds. "The government’s position is to promptly and safely repatriate all six North Korean residents rescued in the East and West Seas from a humanitarian standpoint, as they have all expressed a strong desire to return," ministry spokesperson Koo Byung-sam said during a press briefing. Koo declined to offer details on when or how the repatriation would take place, although the operation is reportedly set to occur as early as this week. The six North Koreans comprise two fishermen rescued in the West Sea in March and four individuals found in the East Sea on May 27. During investigation by South Korean authorities, all six stated they

Jul 7, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
South Korea to repatriate 6 North Korean residents
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