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  • North Korea

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

    North Korea and Belarus are close to signing a visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens, Belarus' state media has reported. The report by the Belarusian news agency BelTA on Sunday (Belarus time) said Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov discussed ways to enhance mutual times with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, including the pending deal. "We will sign it in the very near future," Ryzhenkov was quoted as saying. "We discussed the entire range of bilateral relations, including the upcoming contacts through the foreign ministries and the signing of a number of agreements, including this important agreement on visa-free travel for citizens." The report said only "some technical details" were left to be work out. The move is believed to be a follow-up to the March summit in Pyongyang between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, where they signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation. At that time, Lukashenko was seen receiving an assault rifle as a present from Kim. In another sign of deepening ties, Belarusian Prime Minist

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

    Korean, Mexican FMs discuss cooperation in AI, middle-power solidarity

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korean, Mexican FMs discuss cooperation in AI, middle-power solidarity
  • North Korea

    N. Korea slams Japan's Yasukuni shrine visits as 'neo-militarist frenzy'

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea slams Japan's Yasukuni shrine visits as 'neo-militarist frenzy'
  • North Korea

    No signs of additional deployment of NK troops to Russia detected: S. Korean military

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    No signs of additional deployment of NK troops to Russia detected: S. Korean military
  • North Korea

    N. Korea denounces Japan's record defense budget as 'war preparation'

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea denounces Japan's record defense budget as 'war preparation'
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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Foreign Affairs

Korea, China to hold public diplomacy forum in Seoul next week

Korea and China will hold a forum on public diplomacy in Seoul next week in an effort to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties, the Korea's foreign ministry said Friday. The 12th edition of the Public Diplomacy Forum is set for Monday and Tuesday as a 1.5-track public-private dialogue platform, according to the ministry. It marks Seoul's first hosting of the forum since 2019. Co-hosted by the two countries' foreign ministries, the forum has served as a consultative body for building mutual understanding, bringing together government officials, academics and experts from both countries since its 2014 establishment. Attendees include Korea Foundation President Song Ki-do, Public Diplomacy Ambassador Lim Sang-woo, Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing and China Public Diplomacy Association President Chen Xu, among others, who will exchange views on advancing Seoul-Beijing relations.

Jul 3, 2026By Yonhap
Korea, China to hold public diplomacy forum in Seoul next week
North Korea

Unification ministry gauges public opinion on using N. Korea's official name

The unification ministry said Friday it views growing calls to refer to North Korea by its official name as part of a broader effort to build public consensus on the issue. "The ministry is paying attention to religious leaders' call for the two Koreas to use each other's official names," deputy spokesperson Chang Yoon-jeong said at a regular briefing. "Since their announcement, we have also noted support from various sectors of society, and we will continue listening to these voices going forward," she added. The Korean Council of Religious Leaders said the previous day that genuine peace begins with "acknowledging each other as they are," urging both South and North Korea to refer to each other using their official names, respectively, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Respecting each other's name is the first step" toward peaceful coexistence, the group said. Kang Chang-il, vice chair of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a presidential advisory body on unification, echoed the call. "I would first like to express my deep appreciation for the s

Jul 3, 2026By Yonhap
Unification ministry gauges public opinion on using N. Korea's official name
Foreign Affairs

PHOTOS US marks 250th anniversary of independence in Seoul

James Heller, second from left, chargé d'affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, pays respect to the U.S. flag as he stands next to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, during a ceremony at the 250th U.S. Independence Day celebration held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan District, Seoul, June 30. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul is running the “Freedom 250” campaign this year to mark America’s 250th anniversary, working with various Korean institutions and organizations to celebrate the values of freedom, democracy and innovation. Joint Press Corps

Jul 3, 2026By Anna J. Parkphoto
[PHOTOS] US marks 250th anniversary of independence in Seoul
Foreign Affairs

President to embark on trip to NATO summit, Mongolia

President Lee Jae Myung will embark on a five-day, two-leg overseas trip next week, attending the NATO summit in Turkey before making a state visit to Mongolia, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. It said Lee will travel to Ankara from July 7 to 8 to attend the NATO summit at the invitation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, followed by a three-day state visit to Mongolia from July 9 to 11 at the invitation of President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. The NATO summit will mark Lee's second major multilateral gathering in less than a month, following his attendance at the G7 summit in France, reflecting his administration's efforts to broaden Korea's diplomatic engagement. The summit also reflects the Lee government’s push to expand defense exports and deepen strategic partnerships beyond traditional allies. "The trip will further expand Korea's diplomatic outreach and, in particular, marks the beginning of a full-scale effort to strengthen defense industry cooperation with NATO allies." National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac during a press briefing. He noted 32 NATO allies collectively account for 55

Jul 3, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President to embark on trip to NATO summit, Mongolia
Foreign Affairs

Ex-Trump official warns Coupang dispute could strain S. Korea-US alliance amid security threats

WASHINGTON — A former senior U.S. official warned Thursday that a dispute over South Korea's treatment of e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. could strain the Seoul-Washington alliance amid intensifying security challenges, including North Korea's evolving military threats. Fred Fleitz, who served as chief of staff of the National Security Council during President Donald Trump's first term, issued the warning in an opinion piece on Newsmax, a U.S. news outlet, a day after the House Judiciary Committee released a report accusing South Korea of "discriminatory attacks" on Coupang and other U.S. firms. Noting a set of pressing security issues, including North Korean threats, he called for Seoul and Washington to address the commercial matters "head-on" and demonstrate that their partnership prioritizes "strategic imperatives" over "parochial" disputes. "The bigger risk lies in how this dispute could strain the broader U.S.-South Korea alliance. As I argued (in a past article), this vital partnership -- forged over seven decades and strengthened by (the) personal rapport between Presidents Trum

Jul 3, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-Trump official warns Coupang dispute could strain S. Korea-US alliance amid security threats
Foreign Affairs

Korea expresses regret over US House committee’s 'lopsided' Coupang report

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday rejected a report by U.S. lawmakers criticizing Korean authorities’ handling of Coupang regarding its customer data breach from last year, saying the report overlooked the company's violations of Korean law and only defended the U.S. firm. The ministry said the House Judiciary Committee’s interim staff report released on the committee’s website on Wednesday (local time) had a half-eyed view toward the massive data breach discovered last November. "We express regret that the report appears to reflect only Coupang's claims in a one-sided manner," ministry spokesperson Park Il said in a press briefing, adding that the Korean government has been “faithfully” transparent to the United States regarding the process of Korean authorities' investigation. Park said all Korean investigations and measures regarding Coupang are being conducted lawfully and without discrimination in accordance with domestic laws, and that the government guarantees a fair corporate operating environment regardless of nationality. “Therefore, the report's claim tha

Jul 2, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Korea expresses regret over US House committee’s 'lopsided' Coupang report
North Korea

Ukraine FM reveals Russia wants swap between N. Korean POWs, Ukrainians

As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha revealed Russia's proposal of exchanging thousands of Ukrainian civilians in Moscow's custody for the North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) held in Ukraine, Seoul is being pushed to offer increased support to ensure that the POWs will be transferred to South Korea. On Monday, Sybiha met with officials from a South Korean think tank, revealing that Kyiv has been asked to trade captured North Korean POWs for Ukrainian citizens held in Russia. He visited Seoul from Monday to Tuesday and engaged in bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday. “When Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had a meeting with Yoon Young-kwan, chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies on Monday, Sybiha said Ukraine was told by Russia to do a prisoners of war (POWs) swap by exchanging two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine for thousands of Ukrainian citizens currently held by Russia,” a source familiar with the matter told The Korea Times, Thursday. “But the Ukrainian foreign minister reaffirmed that the Ukrainian governm

Jul 2, 2026By Park Ji-won
Ukraine FM reveals Russia wants swap between N. Korean POWs, Ukrainians
North Korea

N. Korea highlights feats during Korean War ahead of anniv. of armistice signing

North Korea on Thursday highlighted its military achievements during the 1950-53 Korean War in a move seen as aimed at bolstering the regime's unity ahead of the 73rd anniversary of the armistice signing. In an article carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea claimed the victory in a naval battle in waters off Jumunjin in July 1950 was a "miracle" as it successfully defeating U.S. warships in the East Sea with four torpedo boats. "At that time, world people said that it is a miracle, not a battle to sink a heavy cruiser with torpedo boats and it is the greatest miracle that cannot be seen in the world history of naval battles," the KCNA said, highlighting North Korea's state founder Kim Il-sung's role in the operation. The Korean War, which started with an invasion by the North, ended with the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. North Korea celebrates the armistice signing date as "Victory Day" in what it calls the Great Fatherland Liberation War. There is speculation that North Korea may hold a military parade to commemorate Victory Day this year, given the large

Jul 2, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea highlights feats during Korean War ahead of anniv. of armistice signing
North Korea

President Lee vows continued efforts to replace inter-Korean armistice with peace regime

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday government will pursue sustained efforts to engage North Korea and replace the Korean War armistice with a peace regime. Lee made the remarks in a meeting of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a presidential advisory body on unification of the two Koreas. "At least to open a 'Korea premium' era for the future Korean Peninsula that is drawing global attention, we must replace the armistice with a peace regime," Lee said. However difficult it may be, the government should continue to "knock on North Korea's closed door," the president said. "Difficult does not mean impossible ... If we keep knocking, it will eventually open." North Korea has remained unresponsive to the Lee administration's repeated dialogue overtures, instead hardening its hostile stance toward Seoul. Since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, the two Koreas remain technically at war. "Now is the time to resume action toward peace," Lee declared, pledging to find a way for the two Koreas to peacefully coexist while respecting each other'

Jul 1, 2026By Yonhap
President Lee vows continued efforts to replace inter-Korean armistice with peace regime
Foreign Affairs

FM says nuclear, tech cooperation will bring greater benefits to Korea-US alliance

Strategic cooperation between Korea and the United States, particularly in nuclear energy and cutting-edge technologies, will bring greater benefits to both countries and make their alliance more capable and future-oriented, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has said. Cho made the remarks in a speech at a reception hosted Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. "Our strategic cooperation, especially in areas such as nuclear energy and cutting-edge technologies, will bring even greater benefits to both our peoples," Cho said, according to a script of his speech released by his ministry. "A stronger Korea that pulls its weight will make the alliance more capable, more forward-looking and more mutually beneficial." Cho also emphasized that Seoul and Washington are entering a new phase in their partnership following an agreement reached between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump last year. "If the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty of 1953 marked the birth of our alliance, the joint fact sheet last year is the beacon for its future

Jul 1, 2026By Yonhap
FM says nuclear, tech cooperation will bring greater benefits to Korea-US alliance
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