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  • Foreign Affairs

    US Amb. Steel meets Japanese envoy, stresses continued trilateral cooperation

    U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel has met with her Japanese counterpart and stressed the importance of continued three-way cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, the U.S. envoy's social media post showed Tuesday. In her post on X uploaded the previous day, Steel said she had "a thoughtful conversation with Japanese Ambassador Mizushima Koichi on the opportunities ahead" for trilateral cooperation among the United States, Korea and Japan. "Continued coordination among our three countries will help advance our shared vision for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific," she added. It marked the first time Steel has publicly disclosed meetings with other ambassadors to Korea since taking office last month. Steel also disclosed separate meetings with Canadian Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lafortune and Israeli Ambassador to Korea Rafael Harpaz. "It was a pleasure meeting with Ambassador Lafortune and discussing our shared priorities in Korea. The U.S. and Canada remain committed to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula," she said in a separate post. On her meeting with

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    US Amb. Steel meets Japanese envoy, stresses continued trilateral cooperation
  • North Korea

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

    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
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Foreign Affairs

Korea voices hope Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will help restore Mideast stability

Korea on Friday welcomed the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon, voicing hope that the move will help bring stability in the Middle East and advance peace talks between the United States and Iran. The foreign ministry issued the statement after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had reached a 10-day ceasefire deal, starting 5 p.m. on Thursday (Washington time). Israel had been engaged in intense fighting with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group based in Lebanon. "We fully welcome the ceasefire announcement and highly appreciate U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts in facilitating this agreement," Park Il, foreign ministry spokesperson, said in the commentary. "We hope that this ceasefire will serve as an important opportunity, not only for progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations, but also for restoring peace and stability in the region, as well as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," he said. "We call on all relevant parties to faithfully implement the ceasefire agreement and to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial inte

Apr 17, 2026By Yonhap
Korea voices hope Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will help restore Mideast stability
Foreign Affairs

FM Cho vows efforts to secure alternative naphtha supply routes amid Mideast crisis

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Friday vowed every effort to secure alternative routes for naphtha imports amid supply disruptions triggered by the Middle East crisis, as he held a meeting with local petrochemical industry officials, the foreign ministry said. The meeting came as Seoul ramps up efforts to diversify sourcing routes for naphtha, a key feedstock for materials used to make plastics, as the U.S.-Iran war has disrupted the shipment flow of oil and other commodities in the Middle East region. Seoul has introduced restrictions on naphtha exports in a bid to address domestic supply shortages and obtained a temporary sanctions exemption from the U.S. to allow Korean companies to source the material from Russia. In Friday's meeting, Cho promised the government will mobilize all available resources to secure alternative naphtha supply channels and full support for the industry when it needs diplomatic assistance. Industry officials called for efforts to swiftly allow Korean ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and close communication between the government and industry sectors re

Apr 17, 2026By Yonhap
FM Cho vows efforts to secure alternative naphtha supply routes amid Mideast crisis
North Korea

Seoul says explained to US background of minister's remarks on N. Korea's Kusong nuclear facility

The unification ministry has explained to the United States that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young identified North Korea's Kusong region as the third location housing a uranium enrichment facility based on publicly available information, officials said Friday. In a rare revelation of information about North Korea, Chung said in a parliamentary session in March that North Korea is running another uranium enrichment facility in the northwestern region of Kusong, along with previously reported ones in Yongbyon and Kangson. The local newspaper DongA Ilbo reported the U.S. has strongly protested to South Korea over Chung's remarks, citing the revelation of sensitive information about the North. It said Washington has delivered its intent to limit sharing information with Seoul over North Korea. The unification ministry said it explained the background of Chung's remarks to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul at the request of the embassy. "The minister mentioned Kusong based on publicly available information, including reports from international research institutes," Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spoke

Apr 17, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul says explained to US background of minister's remarks on N. Korea's Kusong nuclear facility
Foreign Affairs

S. Korea, EU agree to form strategic economic partnership amid global uncertainties

Korea and the European Union (EU) agreed Friday to form a strategic economic partnership to expand bilateral ties in trade and economic security amid heightened global uncertainties, Seoul's trade ministry said. The agreement was made during the inaugural Korea-EU next-generation strategic dialogue held in Seoul to help the two sides explore deeper cooperation in trade, supply chains and technology, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Friday's meeting was attended by Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and the EU's commissioner for trade and economic security, Maros Sefcovic. "Through this meeting, Korea and the EU successfully evolved their bilateral relations into a next-generation strategic partnership incorporating economic security, supply chains and advanced technologies from a traditional partnership centered on trade and commerce," Yeo said in a press release. The ministry said the Korea-EU strategic economic partnership will serve as a cooperation framework between the two economies, noting the two sides will discuss the details of the new framework in the

Apr 17, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea, EU agree to form strategic economic partnership amid global uncertainties
Foreign Affairs

Korea explores crude oil, naphtha supply with Algeria, Libya amid Mideast conflict

A senior Korean diplomat has discussed with top officials in Algeria and Libya the possibility of securing crude oil and naphtha supplies amid the Middle East conflict, the foreign ministry said Friday. Park Jong-han, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, had a series of meetings with government and energy officials during his visit to the two North African countries this week, as Seoul is seeking to secure alternative energy supply routes amid the Middle East crisis. During his meetings with officials of Libya's National Oil Corp. (NOC), Park discussed potential purchases of Libyan heavy crude by Korean companies and the possible allocation of some supplies to Korea, the ministry said in a release. "The NOC indicated its willingness to actively allocate supplies to Korea, provided that it meets conditions, such as crude specifications, delivery timing and buyers' credibility," the ministry said. Park explained to the officials that, while Korea imports all of its crude oil, it re-exports petroleum products made from the imported crude using its advanced refining technology acros

Apr 17, 2026By Yonhap
Korea explores crude oil, naphtha supply with Algeria, Libya amid Mideast conflict
North Korea

How North Korea laundered money through Vietnamese crypto company

On Sept. 22, 2025, a post seeking a verified U.S. Payoneer account appeared on a Telegram channel run by Quangvietdnbg International Services Co. Ltd., a Vietnamese online financial company. At first glance, it appeared to be a routine post seeking to buy a borrowed-name account on Payoneer, the electronic payments platform. Quangvietdnbg, however, was later found to have been involved in laundering money for North Korea. Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added Amnokgang Technology Development Co., based in Pyongyang, and Quangvietdnbg to its sanctions list targeting individuals and entities linked to North Korea. According to the Treasury, Amnokgang arranged for North Korean information technology workers to obtain overseas jobs under false identities, while Quangvietdnbg laundered the wages they earned and sent the money back to North Korea. Quangvietdnbg and its CEO, Nguyen Quang Viet, “converted approximately $2.5 million into cryptocurrency for North Koreans” by orchestrating IT worker schemes that “systematically defraud U.S. busin

Apr 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
How North Korea laundered money through Vietnamese crypto company
Foreign Affairs

Senior diplomat to attend high-level diplomacy conference in Turkey amid Mideast conflict

A senior Korean diplomat will travel to Turkey later this week to attend a high-level diplomacy conference, where he is expected to hold sideline talks with top officials from the Middle East and elsewhere on the ongoing crisis. Jeong Yeon-doo, vice foreign minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence, will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), in Antalya, set for Friday through Sunday, a foreign ministry official said. The ADF was launched in 2021 as a multilateral platform, involving heads of state, for top-level discussions on major international issues. This year, 155 countries are attending the conference, including 21 heads of state and 52 foreign ministers, the ADF website shows. Jeong is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with some of the top officials on the margins of the forum, possibly including those from the Middle East, the ministry official said. "We expect there will be in-depth discussions on the various situations regarding the Middle East," he added. Jeong will speak on a panel on the Asia-Pacific security.

Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
Senior diplomat to attend high-level diplomacy conference in Turkey amid Mideast conflict
Foreign Affairs

President expected to attend multilateral online summit on Hormuz Friday

President Lee Jae Myung is expected to attend an online multilateral summit jointly led by the United Kingdom and France, Friday, to discuss ensuring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, Thursday. The official said the summit will take the form of a video conference, with participating leaders likely to discuss the global energy supply chain, international solidarity and other security issues related to the Middle East amid the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which began in late February. The meeting will take place amid disruptions to the global energy supply caused by Iran’s blockade of the strait, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints through which 70 percent of Korea's imported crude oil is transported. “A multilateral summit jointly hosted by the U.K. and France is being planned, and our president is currently considering attendance positively,” the official said. “Freedom of navigation and security are in everyone’s interest, and the president is expected to share his views with leaders of the countries that hold simila

Apr 16, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President expected to attend multilateral online summit on Hormuz Friday
Foreign Affairs

Lee to make state visits to India, Vietnam next week

President Lee Jae Myung is set to embark on a two-nation trip to India and Vietnam next week for summit talks to discuss ways to deepen economic ties and expand cooperation in strategic areas, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. Lee will depart on Sunday for a three-day state visit to India and hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters. He is scheduled to head to Vietnam on Tuesday for a state visit and hold talks with To Lam, Vietnam's president and general secretary of the Communist Party, on Wednesday, Wi said. He is set to return home on Friday. In India, Lee plans to also attend a business forum involving major business leaders from both countries and a state dinner hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, the ceremonial head of state. "In light of Lee's visit, (the two nations) will open a new chapter in economic cooperation in strategic sectors such as shipbuilding and maritime industries, finance, artificial intelligence (AI), and defense," Wi said. "The two countries will maintain close coordinatio

Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
Lee to make state visits to India, Vietnam next week
Foreign Affairs

Korea, China to hold high-level economic talks next week amid Mideast crisis

Korea and China will hold senior-level economic talks early next week to discuss joint efforts to ensure a stable environment for trade and investment amid the Middle East crisis, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina will join Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Yan Dong in Beijing on Monday for the 29th Korea-China Joint Economic Commission, Park Il, the ministry spokesperson, said in a press briefing. "In particular, the vice ministers are expected to discuss ways to work together to overcome the crisis, including expanding bilateral trade and investment and fostering a stable and predictable business environment, amid a global polycrisis triggered by the Middle East conflict," Park said. Next week's meeting will also address efforts to stably manage supply chains and deepen multilateral cooperation in the region, he added. Established in 1992, the joint commission has served as a bilateral dialogue channel between Seoul and Beijing for broad talks on economy-related issues of mutual concern and efforts to promote economic cooperation.

Apr 16, 2026By Yonhap
Korea, China to hold high-level economic talks next week amid Mideast crisis
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