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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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North Korea

N. Korea vows to expand nuclear arsenal at key party meeting: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for efforts to further increase his country's nuclear assets "with a goal of overtaking the world," Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) convened the second plenary meeting of its ninth central committee for three days from Saturday, presided over by leader Kim, to assess how the country's policies have fared in the first half of the year and review the agenda set at a major party congress in February. The meeting reaffirmed North Korea's commitment to expanding its nuclear forces, describing them as "the core of the military sovereignty" of the nation and "the pivot of implementing the strategy for deterring or fighting a war." The report said the plenary session unanimously decided that "to thoroughly exercise the position of a nuclear weapons state is the most correct and unique way to actively and confidently cope with the unpredictable international military and political situation getting complicated in multiple ways." "With the nuclear techno

Jun 23, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea vows to expand nuclear arsenal at key party meeting: KCNA
Foreign Affairs

Seoul rules out Hormuz toll, eyes Middle East reconstruction projects

Korea is positioning itself for a postwar role in Middle East reconstruction while maintaining firm opposition to any tolls on Strait of Hormuz passage, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Monday, as the diplomatic fallout from the U.S.-Iran conflict continues to influence Seoul's regional strategy. “To drive the participation of Korean companies in regional reconstruction and build a comprehensive economic partnership with the Middle East, the foreign ministry launched a dedicated comprehensive economic cooperation team on Korea-Middle East, while using overseas embassies to actively scout for tailored cooperation opportunities across the region,” Cho said during a press conference. “The ministry has been preparing for the post-war era since before a potential U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.” The agreement, signed electronically by Washington and Tehran, extends the ceasefire and sets the stage for reopening the strait. Korea is among the countries reportedly being considered for participation in a $300 billion (459 trillion won) private fund designed to channel investment in

Jun 22, 2026By Park Ji-won
Seoul rules out Hormuz toll, eyes Middle East reconstruction projects
North Korea

Kakao Map showing detailed North Korean geographical data goes viral online

South Korean map service Kakao Map’s detailed geographical data of North Korea went viral online recently, as the information had previously been blocked on South Korean apps. Many users on X, formerly Twitter, shared posts Monday saying they found it surprising that Kakao Map includes detailed data about North Korea. “Kakao Map shows us Pyongyang. I feel like I have been there,” a user wrote. The reactions reflect the decade-long censorship against North Korean information. Due to the fact that the two Koreas are technically at war and other political reasons, South Koreans have long been prevented from accessing information about the North. For instance, if a South Korean comes into contact with someone from the North, they are required to report it to the government. A Korea Times reporter using Kakao Map found that anyone can zoom in and zoom out to see the names of North Korean mountains, railway stops and universities. While the reporter was not able to search the app by searching place names, by simply moving the cursor, details on the map could easily be reviewed. Kakao, the

Jun 22, 2026By Park Ji-won
Kakao Map showing detailed North Korean geographical data goes viral online
Foreign Affairs

Ukrainian FM to visit S. Korea next week for talks on ties, NK POWs

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha plans to visit South Korea next week and will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to discuss bilateral ties and the issue of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs), officials said Monday. Cho will have talks with Sybiha in Seoul on June 30 and the assessments of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the issue of North Korean POWs in Ukraine are likely to be on the agenda, according to officials of Seoul's foreign ministry. Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025 after being deployed to Russia's Kursk in support of Moscow. They have expressed their intention to defect to South Korea. The Seoul government has maintained that North Korean soldiers are constitutionally regarded as South Korean nationals and that it would accept any POWs wishing to come to South Korea, while providing necessary protection and support in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. "There has been no change in the government's basic position of facilitating their travel to South Korea as promptly as possibl

Jun 22, 2026By Yonhap
Ukrainian FM to visit S. Korea next week for talks on ties, NK POWs
Foreign Affairs

PM heads to China for Summer Davos Forum, meetings with senior Chinese officials

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok left for China on Monday for a World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in the coastal city of Dalian, as well as meetings with senior Chinese officials in Beijing. Kim left for Beijing on Korean Air Force Two amid speculation about whether he will meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. After Beijing, Kim will fly to Dalian to attend the annual WEF meeting, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, where he is scheduled to deliver a special address outlining Korea's innovative economic vision and propose ways of international cooperation. It is Kim's first trip to China since taking office as the first prime minister of President Lee Jae Myung last year. In March, he had planned to visit China for the annual Boao Forum for Asia, but the trip was canceled as he had to deal with the effects of the conflict in the Middle East. Kim is also the first Korean prime minister to attend the Summer Davos Forum in 10 years since then Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn did so in 2016. On the sidelines of the forum, Kim is expected to meet with officials and business leaders from other nation

Jun 22, 2026By Yonhap
PM heads to China for Summer Davos Forum, meetings with senior Chinese officials
Foreign Affairs

PHOTOS Taste of Thailand in heart of Seoul

Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat, ninth from right, stands next to Theerakun Niyom, eighth from right, special representative of Thailand's foreign ministry, during the opening ceremony of this year's Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul, Saturday. The opening ceremony of Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2026: Creative Life & Creative Heartbeat was attended by government officials and diplomats from both countries, as well as numerous distinguished guests from Korea and abroad. The Thai ambassador said the festival provides an opportunity for Korea and Thailand to further strengthen bilateral friendship through cultural, diplomatic and people-to-people exchanges and expressed hope that the event will become a meaningful urban festival for both residents and international visitors. Courtesy of Embassy of Thailand in Korea

Jun 22, 2026By Anna J. Parkphoto
[PHOTOS] Taste of Thailand in heart of Seoul
Foreign Affairs

Seoul, Beijing to hold 15th round of FTA follow-up talks on services

Korea and China kicked off a new round of follow-up negotiations on services and investment under their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), Seoul's trade ministry said Monday. Trade delegations from the two sides will hold the 15th round of follow-up negotiations throughout this week in Beijing from Monday to Friday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Seoul and Beijing implemented their bilateral FTA in December 2015, eliminating tariffs on a wide range of products. The two countries have held 14 rounds of follow-up negotiations since 2018 to expand the scope of the trade pact in the services and investment sectors. "We hope the follow-up negotiations will lead to free and open trade in services, as well as a more predictable investment environment," said Kwon Hye-jin, director general for trade negotiations at the ministry. "Amid lingering uncertainties at home and abroad, we will make efforts to achieve meaningful outcomes that support Korean companies seeking to enter the Chinese market."

Jun 22, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul, Beijing to hold 15th round of FTA follow-up talks on services
North Korea

N. Korea blames US, West for 'revival of Nazism,' defends Russia over Ukraine war

North Korea condemned the United States and other Western countries Monday, accusing them of fueling concerns over the revival of Nazism, on the anniversary of Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. In an article carried by the Korean Central News Agency, the North claimed that "modern-day Nazi forces" have reemerged, heightening global concern over what it described as a challenge to the future of humanity. "The danger of neo-Nazism is being highlighted more seriously through the current situation in Ukraine," the report said. "It cannot be separated from the schemes of the U.S. and the West, which have strongly defended and supported Ukraine on the international stage." The North also vowed to "firmly thwart the imperialists' attempts to revive Nazism" in order to "safeguard sovereignty, security and international justice." The remarks appeared aimed at justifying Russia's invasion of Ukraine while showcasing solidarity between Pyongyang and Moscow. Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. An estimated 27 million Soviet soldiers and civilians were killed during Worl

Jun 22, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea blames US, West for 'revival of Nazism,' defends Russia over Ukraine war
Foreign Affairs

InterviewKorea wants Jeju Forum to be global platform of peace, int'l cooperation: foreign minister

Someday, "Jeju" could carry the same global resonance as "Davos," but as a name synonymous with peace, cooperation and dialogue rather than economic power. That is the ambition Foreign Minister Cho Hyun laid out for the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, which will run this Wednesday to Friday on Korea's southern island. “As Davos, a mountain city of the Alps, became a brand of the World Economic Forum itself, we hope the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity will position itself as a platform to contribute to world peace, and therefore the name ‘Jeju’ becomes a symbol of peace, cooperation and dialogue in the international community,” Cho said during an interview with The Korea Times June 5. Cho serves as the co-chair of the forum alongside Jeju Gov. Oh Young-hun. The ministry is participating in the event as a co-host starting this year, showing the government's commitment to elevating the status of the annual global event. The minister said Korea's unique historical trajectory — being the only country since World War II to transition from foreign aid recipient to major

Jun 22, 2026By Park Ji-won
Korea wants Jeju Forum to be global platform of peace, int'l cooperation: foreign minister
North Korea

N. Korea skips reports on World Cup matches involving S. Korea, US, Japan

North Korea's state media excluded games involving South Korea, the United States and Japan from its apparently unauthorized coverage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches. The North's state-run Korean Central Television aired four- to six-minute broadcasts on the results of the World Cup group-stage matches at the end of its daily evening newscasts from Monday through Thursday but excluded the results of games involving the three countries. The North, however, aired footage that showed pitch-side advertising boards for South Korean and U.S. companies, such as Hyundai Motor, The Coca-Cola Company and McDonald's. In the past, the North often blurred images related to South Korea and the U.S. in broadcasts of major sports events, such as advertising boards of companies from the two countries and the South Korean national flag. The North Korean broadcaster included major scenes from the World Cup matches in its coverage, raising suspicions the North aired them without authorization. North Korean state media outlets are not among the media rights licensees authorized by FIFA to broadcast the

Jun 21, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea skips reports on World Cup matches involving S. Korea, US, Japan
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