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    Lee to receive Italy's highest decoration for promoting bilateral ties

    ROME — President Lee Jae Myung will receive Italy's highest state decoration from Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday in recognition of his contributions to bilateral ties, a presidential official said. Mattarella was to confer the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on Lee during a state banquet in Rome, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing. The honor comes after the two leaders held summit talks earlier in the day at the Quirinal Palace, during which they agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a special strategic partnership. Lee is currently on a state visit to Italy, the first such visit by a South Korean president in 26 years. The Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic is Italy's highest decoration bestowed on foreign heads of state. Italy conferred the honor on King Charles III of Britain and the president of the United Arab Emirates last year. The conferral reflects Italy's "highest expression of respect for Lee in appreciation of his contributions to strengthening friends

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee to receive Italy's highest decoration for promoting bilateral ties
  • Foreign Affairs

    UAE sends military planes to S. Korea to transport Cheongung missile systems: sources

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    UAE sends military planes to S. Korea to transport Cheongung missile systems: sources
  • Foreign Affairs

    PHOTOS German Embassy brings Berlin techno to Seoul through public diplomacy

    1 MIN READBy Anna J. Parkphoto
    [PHOTOS] German Embassy brings Berlin techno to Seoul through public diplomacy
  • Foreign Affairs

    Korea hosts engineering, medical training for troops from UN peacekeeping nations

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea hosts engineering, medical training for troops from UN peacekeeping nations
  • North Korea

    N. Korea's parliament elects new judges of highest court

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea's parliament elects new judges of highest court
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Foreign Affairs

Culture minister to lead condolence delegation to Pope Francis' funeral

Culture Minister Yoo In-chon will lead the government's delegation to the Holy See later this week to attend the funeral of late Pope Francis, a government official said Wednesday. Acting President Han Duck-soo has appointed Yoo to represent the government at the Vatican, the official said, without providing the details of his departure date and the size of the delegation. According to the Vatican, Pope Francis' funeral will take place on Saturday at St. Peter's Square. A similar delegation was sent in 2005 when then Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan led an official visit to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
Culture minister to lead condolence delegation to Pope Francis' funeral
Foreign Affairs

Korea-US tariff talks unlikely to bear fruit until June 3 presidential election: US expert

Korea’s tariff negotiations with the United States are unlikely to be concluded before the June 3 presidential election in Seoul, Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Wednesday. This means the next Korean administration will face the daunting task of finalizing a trade deal before the 90-day suspension of "reciprocal" tariffs expires on July 9, he said. While Korea’s top government officials, including Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, headed to Washington for high-stakes tariff negotiations scheduled for Thursday (local time), Cha expressed skepticism about the possibility of a breakthrough. "We don't know how successful these negotiations will be. My understanding is that the Trump negotiating team are taking a pretty tough stand on these negotiations. So it's not clear what sort of exemptions Korea will be able to achieve," Cha said at a press conference in Seoul. The press conference took place during the 2025 Asan Plenum, an annual security forum hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "It

Apr 23, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea-US tariff talks unlikely to bear fruit until June 3 presidential election: US expert
Foreign Affairs

S. Korea won't rush to conclude trade talks with US: FM Cho

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said Wednesday that Korea has no intention to hastily wrap up trade consultations with the United States as top finance and trade officials of the two nations are set to hold high-level trade talks this week. Cho made the remark in a parliamentary session ahead of the "2+2" trade talks set for Thursday (U.S. time) in Washington as Seoul seeks to use this week's negotiations to minimize the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff blitz. "Since there was a (U.S) request, the purpose is largely to listen to what (the U.S.) has to say and to suggest preliminary feedback," Cho said, when asked about whether the trade talks are proceeding "too quickly" under the acting president's leadership. Although closing a deal could be an option in the event trade talks proceed in a direction beneficial to both sides, Cho stressed he has no intention to rush to a conclusion. The minister said he will do his best to factor in the national interest, vowing to make the most out of some 40 days remaining till Korea's presidential election and 70 days until the end of a gra

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
S. Korea won't rush to conclude trade talks with US: FM Cho
Foreign Affairs

US can't solely recognize NK as nuclear state: ex-UK envoy to Pyongyang

The United States cannot unilaterally recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, says John Everard, former U.K. ambassador to Pyongyang. His remarks come amid growing concerns in Seoul that the Donald Trump administration may be considering such a move, potentially signaling a major shift in the U.S.' North Korea policy. "It is not for the United States to determine that North Korea is a nuclear state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). That requires a vote, certainly by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), and in practice, a question of that magnitude would probably go to the General Assembly," Everard said during a press conference in Seoul Wednesday. "Even if the United States wanted to recognize North Korea as a nuclear state under the NPT, we (the United Kingdom) and France would block it. I think there's no question about that." He made the remarks during a press conference held on the sidelines of the Asan Plenum 2025, an annual security forum organized by the Seoul-based think tank Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Everard served as the U.K.'s top envoy to Pyongyang from

Apr 23, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
US can't solely recognize NK as nuclear state: ex-UK envoy to Pyongyang
Foreign Affairs

FM Cho says Korea's engagement with China aligns with US interests

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said Wednesday Korea's engagement with China aligns with the United States' interests in many ways, and no country wants to see U.S.-China strategic competition become a "zero-sum game." The minister made the remarks in his congratulatory speech at the Asan Plenum, a security forum hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, as the Donald Trump administration ramps up competition with China, including through the imposition of hefty tariffs. Korea maintains high-profile relations with both countries, upholding a military alliance with Washington while maintaining its largest trade relationship with Beijing. "It is no secret that countries in the region don't want to be in a position of having to choose between Washington and China," Cho said, adding that Korea is no exception. "Nor do they want to see U.S.-China strategic competition become a zero-sum game," he noted, stressing that "in many ways, I believe our engagement with China aligns with U.S. interests." The minister said Korea's foreign policy priority lies first and foremost in the robus

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
FM Cho says Korea's engagement with China aligns with US interests
Foreign Affairs

Cuban ambassador visits KBO, highlights baseball as bridge between nations

Claudio Raul Monzon Baeza, Cuba’s newly appointed ambassador to Korea, visited the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Tuesday, emphasizing the growing role of baseball in strengthening ties between the two countries. Baeza, who formally began his role in January after presenting his credentials during a ceremony at Government Complex Seoul, thanked KBO Commissioner Heo Koo-youn for fostering opportunities for Cuban players to connect with Korean fans. His visit follows a series of recent exchanges between the two nations in the realm of sports diplomacy. The ambassador’s arrival marks a key step in deepening relations between Korea and Cuba. Diplomatic ties were established on Feb. 14, 2024, through an exchange of diplomatic notes via their missions at the United Nations in New York. Cuba has been a consistent source of elite baseball talent, with numerous players achieving stardom in the MLB. Beyond individual success, the island nation boasts a deep-rooted and passionate baseball culture that has significantly influenced the global game. Despite historical and political challeng

Apr 23, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
Cuban ambassador visits KBO, highlights baseball as bridge between nations
Foreign Affairs

Seoul to discuss cooperation with US in shipbuilding, energy at trade consultation: minister

Korea will discuss ways to bolster the country's cooperation with the United States in the shipbuilding and energy sectors at the upcoming bilateral "2+2 trade consultations," Seoul's top trade official said Wednesday. Seoul has highlighted such cooperation as a way of addressing the trade imbalance between the allies, which has prompted Washington to impose hefty import tariffs on Korea under its broader tariff scheme affecting all its major trading partners. "We plan to discuss the trade imbalance issue, as well as industrial cooperation in the shipbuilding and energy sectors," Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun told reporters as he headed to Washington for the high-level talks with the U.S. that will also be attended by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. The two Korean ministers are scheduled to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer for the "2+2" talks on Thursday (U.S. time). Ahn said he and Choi will "work to lay the foundation for future negotiations on the items. We will engage in the negotiations with a calm and deliberate approac

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
Seoul to discuss cooperation with US in shipbuilding, energy at trade consultation: minister
Foreign Affairs

Cardinal You mourns Pope Francis, recalls pontiff's 'special affection' for Korea

Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik expressed his deep condolences following the death of Pope Francis, noting the pontiff's special attention to the divided Korean Peninsula. "He had a special affection for South Korea, saying he was willing to visit North Korea if it could relieve, even if only slightly, the pain suffered by separated families," the cardinal said in a video message sent to Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday (Vatican time). The pontiff's prayers for the country always included the North as well, he added. The pope's life, dedicated to standing with the poor and underprivileged until his final moments, showed "the image of the resurrection on earth," the cardinal said. "We see hope and resurrection in his death and are encouraged to take a step forward to our neighbor and society in another form of resurrection." Cardinal You said he perceived "calm peace" in the pope's death, rather than "sorrow, pain or loneliness." He added, "The pope wanted us to live in peace rather than in sorrow." Recalling the pope's focus on personal reform before church reform, Cardinal You affirmed his c

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
Cardinal You mourns Pope Francis, recalls pontiff's 'special affection' for Korea
Foreign Affairs

Korea Trade Insurance Corp. opens Washington office

The state-run Korea Trade Insurance Corp. (K-SURE) launched a branch office in Washington on Tuesday, as the export credit agency is stepping up efforts to back Korean enterprises looking for exports and investment into the United States amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy. Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong, K-SURE President Jang Young-jin, Washington office chief Steve Kang and other participants joined the event celebrating the opening of the Washington office. "As global supply chains continue to shift, investment by Korean businesses in the U.S. is rapidly growing, K-SURE's Washington D.C. office will play a key role in supporting these investment activities on the ground," Jang said during the event. He noted that this year, K-SURE plans to provide more than $2.2 billion in financing for several new battery-related projects led by Korean companies in the U.S. He also reaffirmed the corporation's commitment not only to supporting Korean exports and overseas investment, but also to strengthening overall Korea-U.S. economic ties and contributing to

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
Korea Trade Insurance Corp. opens Washington office
Foreign Affairs

S. Korea, China set for maritime talks amid tensions over steel structures in West Sea

Korea and China were set to hold a working-level maritime dialogue in Seoul on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said, as tensions are building up over a set of steel structures Beijing has installed in their overlapping waters in the West Sea. The talks come after the two countries engaged in a standoff in February in the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ) near South Korea's southwest coast, when Chinese authorities blocked a South Korean ship from inspecting a steel structure China installed in the area. The PMZ covers an overlapping sea zone in their maritime boundaries, known as the Exclusive Economic Zones. The two countries signed an agreement in 2000 to allow their fishing vessels to operate there and jointly manage marine resources, while prohibiting any activities beyond navigation and fishing. China insisted it was a commercial fish farm that Seoul had no right to search. China installed two semi-submersible buoys in 2018 and 2024 in the PMZ. It also built a fixed steel structure in 2022, believed to be a repurposed decommissioned oil rig. Beijing claims the two floating installations

Apr 23, 2025By Yonhap
S. Korea, China set for maritime talks amid tensions over steel structures in West Sea
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