my timesThe Korea Times

Foreign Affairs

North KoreaOthers
  • North Korea

    N. Korea calls denuclearization 'irreversibly finalized' matter

    North Korea on Sunday called denuclearization an "irreversibly finalized" matter as it denounced recent talks between South Korea and the United States that reaffirmed the goal of the North's denuclearization. An unnamed spokesperson of the North's foreign ministry issued the criticism, after South Korea and the United States reaffirmed the shared goal at the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group meeting on Thursday. "It is an unreasonable talk and fantastic daydream to mention about disarming the other belligerent party's nuclear weapons," the spokesperson said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The U.S. and its vassal forces' meaningless rhetoric against the DPRK and cooperation in posing a nuclear threat to it can never affect the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state," the spokesperson said. "The 'denuclearization' is an irreversibly finalized matter." DPRK stands for the North's official name — the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The spokesperson also took issue with the bilateral Extended Deterrence Dialogue between the U

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    N. Korea calls denuclearization 'irreversibly finalized' matter
  • Foreign Affairs

    S. Korea, US, Japan hold talks on N. Korea

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    S. Korea, US, Japan hold talks on N. Korea
  • Foreign Affairs

    Lee says S. Korea, Italy are 'optimal partners' for business cooperation

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee says S. Korea, Italy are 'optimal partners' for business cooperation
  • Foreign Affairs

    Lee hopes S. Korea, Italy will work together to promote free trade, multilateralism

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee hopes S. Korea, Italy will work together to promote free trade, multilateralism
  • Others

    Korea, Italy sign MOUs to enhance advanced science cooperation, explore joint projects in Africa

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Korea, Italy sign MOUs to enhance advanced science cooperation, explore joint projects in Africa
Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

Read more

Foreign Affairs

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to continue exchanges amid improved ties

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met one-on-one with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Saturday, and agreed to continue exchanges to keep steady the positive momentum in bilateral relations. The two top diplomats reached the agreement during their talks in Tokyo following their trilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Cho's talks with Iwaya came just about a month after their previous talks in Germany, and two months after Iwaya's visit to Seoul. "The ministers agreed on the need to continue this flow of exchanges and steadily advance bilateral relations without disruption," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release after the talks. "They emphasized the importance of candid communication between their diplomatic authorities to ensure the stable management of bilateral issues," the ministry said. Bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo have warmed significantly since President Yoon Suk Yeol announced in March 2023 that South Korea will compensate forced labor victims on its own without contributions from Japan. But fresh tensions flared up late last year as South Ko

Mar 22, 2025By yonhap
Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to continue exchanges amid improved ties
Foreign Affairs

South Korea, US launch working-level talks over 'sensitive country' issue

South Korea and the United States began working-level talks Friday to "swiftly" address the highly charged issue of South Korea's placement on the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)," Seoul's industry minister said. Ahn Duk-geun made the remarks, after he met with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Thursday, to discuss the matter and other issues amid concerns that the inclusion in the list could affect the two countries' science and technology cooperation. While in Washington this week, the minister also held talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, during which he renewed calls for the United States to give South Korea "favorable treatment" as the Trump administration plans to roll out "reciprocal" tariffs next month to match what its trading partners levy on U.S. exports. "(I) relayed our concerns (to Wright) over South Korea's inclusion on the DOE's SCL, and the two countries agreed to continue cooperation to swiftly address this issue in accordance with procedures," Ahn told reporters. "As a follow-up, we launched working-level c

Mar 22, 2025By yonhap
South Korea, US launch working-level talks over 'sensitive country' issue
Foreign Affairs

South Korea, Japan, China reaffirm peace on Korean Peninsula 'shared interest, responsibility': FM Cho

South Korea, Japan and China reaffirmed Saturday that ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula is in the common interests of the three countries and their shared responsibility, Seoul's top diplomat said. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made the remarks following his three-way talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, underscoring the importance of maintaining the momentum for their trilateral cooperation. "We reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is a shared interest and responsibility of the three countries," Cho said in a joint press conference. "It's timely and meaningful that today's three-way talks are taking place in the context that we maintain the momentum of trilateral cooperation, which was revitalized by last year's summit in Seoul after a 4 1/2 year hiatus," he said. Saturday's talks came as the three Asian neighbors are seeking to maintain and advance the trilateral cooperation framework amid uncertainties in the economy and security, from the war in Ukraine to U.S. trade risks from tariff

Mar 22, 2025By yonhap
South Korea, Japan, China reaffirm peace on Korean Peninsula 'shared interest, responsibility': FM Cho
Foreign Affairs

Trump restates his 'flexibility,' pursuit of 'reciprocity' on tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated Friday that he will exert flexibility on tariff policies, but his administration's new levies on goods coming into the United States would "basically" be "reciprocal." During a press availability, Trump made the remarks as his administration plans to roll out country-by-country reciprocal tariffs April 2, which will be customized based on trading partners' tariff- and non-tariff barriers and other factors, including exchange rates and unfair trade practices. "The word, flexibility, is an important word. ... There will be flexibility, but basically, it's reciprocal," he said. Asked if he is considering offering tariff exceptions, the president said, "Once you do that for one, you have to do that for all." He repeated his mantra of America being "ripped off" by other countries on multiple fronts, including defense. "We've been ripped off by every country in the world, friend and foe. We've been ripped off on trade. We've been ripped off on military," he said. "We protect people, and they don't do anything for us. It's just so unfair for years and years.

Mar 22, 2025By yonhap
Trump restates his 'flexibility,' pursuit of 'reciprocity' on tariffs
Foreign Affairs

S. Korea, China to work on restoring cultural exchanges amid Beijing's content ban

South Korea and China agreed Friday to work together to restore cultural exchanges, raising expectations Beijing will lift its apparent restrictions on Korean entertainment and other content. The two countries reached the understanding during the bilateral talks between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tokyo, Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release following the talks. Friday's talks came as the two Asian neighbors are seeking to manage and improve their bilateral ties as key economic and regional partners despite differences in the security realm. "The two ministers agreed to work together to ensure that the restoration of cultural exchanges between South Korea and China would enhance mutual understanding between their peoples, and serve as an opportunity to further develop practical cooperation between the two countries," the ministry said. Whether the issue of China's restrictions on Korean cultural content, such as K-pop and drama series, would be raised was a point of attention for Friday's talks. Beijing has never acknowledged the imposition of

Mar 21, 2025By yonhap
S. Korea, China to work on restoring cultural exchanges amid Beijing's content ban
Foreign Affairs

INTERVIEW Germany rules out reopening Pyongyang embassy amid N. Korea-Russia military ties

Germany has no plans to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang, citing North Korea’s military involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine, a senior German official said during his visit to Seoul in mid-March. Frank Hartmann, the director general for Asia and the Pacific at the German Federal Foreign Office, recently traveled to South Korea to launch the annual bilateral Indo-Pacific consultations with his South Korean counterparts. The discussions come at a time of heightened global tensions and are seen as a crucial step in strengthening strategic ties between Berlin and Seoul. One key issue addressed during Hartmann’s visit was Germany’s stance on its diplomatic mission in North Korea. “Due to the North Korean military engagement in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, we do not envision a reopening of our embassy in Pyongyang under these circumstances,” Hartmann said in a written interview with The Korea Times. Germany, along with other European nations, shut down its diplomatic operations in North Korea following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some countr

Mar 21, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin
[INTERVIEW] Germany rules out reopening Pyongyang embassy amid N. Korea-Russia military ties
North Korea

Ukraine ceasefire, NK leader's trip to Moscow may top agenda for Shoigu-Kim meeting

Russia's top security official may discuss ongoing efforts for a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine and the North Korean leader's potential visit to Moscow during his talks with Kim Jong-un, experts said Friday. Earlier in the day, Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, arrived in Pyongyang to meet Kim, Russia's Tass news agency reported, marking the latest in a recent series of high-level exchanges between the two countries. Shoigu's trip to Pyongyang comes at a delicate time when Russian and Ukrainian officials have held separate talks with the United States for a ceasefire in the war and amid speculation that Kim may travel to Moscow in May. Experts said Shoigu, widely viewed as a "special envoy" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, is likely to share the latest details on the ceasefire negotiations and discuss the future of the two countries' cooperation amid deepening military cooperation. As North Korea has sent more than 11,000 troops to Russia's western front-line region of Kursk to support Moscow's war efforts since last year, attention has been paid to w

Mar 21, 2025By yonhap
Ukraine ceasefire, NK leader's trip to Moscow may top agenda for Shoigu-Kim meeting
Foreign Affairs

FM Cho voices hope for visit by China's Xi to Korea for APEC summit

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul voiced expectations Friday for a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Korea for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this year. Cho made the remark during his bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tokyo, held a day before the planned trilateral meeting of foreign ministers involving Japan. Cho arrived in Tokyo earlier in the day. "We will work together to ensure that President Xi Jinping's visit to Korea on the occasion of the APEC summit in Gyeongju serves as a new turning point in bilateral relations," Cho said at the start of the talks. "We hope to promote mutually beneficial and practical cooperation projects that will contribute to improving the livelihoods of people in both countries when President Xi pays a visit," he said. Calling China and South Korea "inseparable neighbors," Wang stressed the need for maintaining "frequent exchanges" to further advance the bilateral ties. "China and South Korea can each make significant contributions to the peace and stability of our region and the world," Wa

Mar 21, 2025By yonhap
FM Cho voices hope for visit by China's Xi to Korea for APEC summit
Foreign Affairs

Korea, US agree to work for swift resolution of sensitive country listing issue

Korea and the United States have agreed to cooperate to "swiftly" resolve the issue of Seoul being designated a "sensitive" country by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Seoul's industry ministry said Friday. The agreement was made during Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun's first meeting with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Ahn is currently on a visit to Washington, his second trip to the U.S. in less than a month. According to the DOE last week, Korea was placed in the "lowest" category of the department's "sensitive and other designated countries list" (SCL) in early January, sparking concerns the measure may lead to possible new restrictions on scientific and technological cooperation between Seoul and Washington. The designation, set to take effect April 15, was made due to technical security issues related to DOE-affiliated research institutions, according to government officials. In the meeting, Ahn addressed Korea's concerns over the DOE listing and agreed with Wright to work to resolve the issue in accordance wi

Mar 21, 2025By yonhap
Korea, US agree to work for swift resolution of sensitive country listing issue
North Korea

Russia's top security official arrives in N. Korea for meeting with Kim Jong-un: report

Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu arrived in North Korea on Friday and was set to meet with leader Kim Jong-un, Russian and North Korean news outlets reported. Leading a delegation from Russia's Security Council, Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang and will meet with Kim and other North Korean officials, according to Tass and the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu, Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora and other officials greeted the delegation, which visited the Liberation Tower and laid a wreath, according to the North's state media. "The participants paid a silent tribute to the memory of the fallen fighters of the Soviet Army before looking round the tower," the KCNA said. The visit marks the latest in a recent series of high-level exchanges between North Korea and Russia, which have grown closer, with Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko traveled to Pyongyang, where he met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe S

Mar 21, 2025By yonhap
Russia's top security official arrives in N. Korea for meeting with Kim Jong-un: report
previous page
329330331332333
next page

Most Read in Foreign Affairs