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  • North Korea

    N. Korea calls denuclearization an '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 an '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
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North Korea

N. Korea ramps up implementation of regional development policy in 3rd year of project

North Korea has been accelerating the implementation of leader Kim Jong-un's signature regional development policy in the third year of the construction project as it broke ground for building regional facilities earlier this week, state media reported Wednesday. In 2024, Kim unveiled a policy to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties each year over a 10-year period to improve the living conditions of people in regional areas. North Korea held the groundbreaking ceremonies for regional construction projects in the Sinuiju Greenhouse Complex, Kangnam County and Maengsan County the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The KCNA said modern factories and public health, as well as welfare service facilities, will be "simultaneously" erected in 20 regions this year, noting "marked progress" has been made across all aspects of the people's material and cultural life. Last month, the North's leader attended the groundbreaking ceremony for this year's first construction project in Unnyul County in South Hwanghae Province, saying his policy will transform one

Feb 4, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea ramps up implementation of regional development policy in 3rd year of project
Foreign Affairs

FM Cho, Rubio reaffirm cooperation on nuclear-powered subs, shipbuilding

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed to continue close cooperation on civil nuclear power, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding during their talks in Washington on Tuesday, the State Department said. South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea, according to Tommy Pigott, the department's principal deputy spokesperson. Cho and Rubio held their talks at the department as Seoul is stepping up diplomatic efforts to address U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threat to raise "reciprocal" tariffs, and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical levies on South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent. "Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho discussed ways to advance the U.S.-ROK Alliance, centered on a forward-looking agenda in the spirit of President Trump and ROK President Lee Jae Myung's summits in Washington and Gyeongju," Pigott said. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. "The two leaders agreed to continue to work closely

Feb 4, 2026By Yonhap
FM Cho, Rubio reaffirm cooperation on nuclear-powered subs, shipbuilding
Foreign Affairs

FM arrives in Washington for talks with Rubio amid renewed tariff tensions

WASHINGTON — South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in the United States on Tuesday to attend bilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a multilateral forum on critical minerals this week, as Seoul strives to address renewed trade tensions with Washington. Cho's arrival came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened last week to raise "reciprocal" tariffs, and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical levies on South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in the Asian country's legislative process needed for the implementation of a bilateral trade deal. Cho is set to meet Rubio at the State Department later in the day for talks on the tariff issue as well as efforts to implement bilateral summit agreements specified in a joint fact sheet that the two governments released in November. Before his departure for the U.S., Cho told reporters that he will explain to the U.S. side South Korea's ongoing legislative process regarding the trade deal, and ask for its understanding. He was referring to a special bill that the ruling Democratic Party submitted to t

Feb 4, 2026By Yonhap
FM arrives in Washington for talks with Rubio amid renewed tariff tensions
Foreign Affairs

Cambodians bristle at Korean president's now-deleted post on scam rings

A now-deleted social media post by President Lee Jae Myung about Southeast Asian phishing crime rings has stirred unease among Cambodians, who saw the phrasing as unfairly characterizing the country as a hotbed of scams. In recent months, Korean authorities and the Cambodian government have cooperated to crack down on crime rings based in Cambodia involving Koreans, as part of broader efforts to combat transnational online scam operations. The controversy centers on a message Lee posted last Friday on X, formerly Twitter, in both the Korean and Khmer languages. The post shared a Korean media report suggesting that Chinese scam rings operating in Cambodia had stopped recruiting Koreans for fear of a crackdown by Korean authorities. "Do you think my warning that those who mess with Koreans will lose everything is just empty talk?" the president wrote. "When the Republic of Korea commits, it follows through to the very end." His message, however, had the unintended effect of angering Cambodians. "The visual appearance of his tweet was diplomatically clumsy, as it did not bring about an impor

Feb 3, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin and Park Ung
Cambodians bristle at Korean president's now-deleted post on scam rings
Foreign Affairs

FM Cho says to explain in detail Korea's parliamentary process to US

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he plans to clearly explain to the United States parliamentary procedures in Korea, after Trump warned of a tariff hike citing a delay in Seoul's legislative process to implement a bilateral trade deal. Cho made the remarks ahead of departing for Washington, where he is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as Seoul seeks to allay doubts among the Trump administration on Seoul's pledge to carry out $350 billion of investment in the U.S. Trump's threat to raise the reciprocal tariff on Korean goods to 25 percent from 15 percent has stoked concerns that the trade deal may be falling apart. Cho said earlier Trump's message does not mean the deal's collapse. "I will explain in detail to the U.S. side and seek their understanding that the agreements reached between the two governments are in the process of being legislated in accordance with our National Assembly procedures," Cho told reporters at Incheon International Airport. "I plan to deliver the same message to the secretary, other U.S. government officials and especially

Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap
FM Cho says to explain in detail Korea's parliamentary process to US
North Korea

N. Korean soldiers practicing potential military parade ahead of party congress: report

Hundreds of North Korean soldiers were seen practicing marching formations at a training field in Pyongyang in what appeared to be drills for a military parade marking the upcoming party congress, according to a report. 38 North, a U.S. website monitoring North Korea, published the report Monday (U.S. time), citing commercial satellite imagery taken the same day at Mirim Airfield in eastern Pyongyang. The imagery showed several troop formations on the airfield, including one in the shape of a hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush, the emblem of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). "These preparatory drills are likely for a parade to mark the upcoming Ninth Party Congress," 38 North said. Mirim Airfield is where North Korean troops practice whenever the country prepares a military parade for a key event. The satellite imagery suggests the North may stage a military parade to mark its upcoming ninth congress of the WPK. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it has detected signs of parade preparations at venues such as the Mirim Airfield and the Kim Il Sung Square where similar

Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korean soldiers practicing potential military parade ahead of party congress: report
North Korea

N. Korea's Kim calls for 'epochal progress' in rural areas ahead of key party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for an "epochal progress" in the development of rural areas, the North's state media reported Tuesday, as Pyongyang appeared to gear up for a key ruling party congress. Kim made the remarks as he attended the inauguration ceremony for a new dairy farm in the North's western region, with the party congress, once in five years, likely to take place this month, although no date has been announced yet. While inspecting the dairy farm, Kim said, "More epochal progress will be made in the implementation of the party's program for the rural revolution in the new era and policy of regional development," according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim stressed the country's rural revolution policy aimed at developing the specialty of the stockbreeding industry as he attended the inauguration ceremony of the Samgwang Stockbreeding Farm in Unjon, North Phyongan Province, the previous day, the KCNA reported. The KCNA said the ruling party instructed the construction of a modern dairy farm years ago as part of its goal to help improve people'

Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim calls for 'epochal progress' in rural areas ahead of key party congress
Foreign Affairs

US to host 1st ministerial meeting on critical minerals this week

WASHINGTON — The United States plans to launch a ministerial meeting this week aimed at boosting cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, the State Department said Monday, as it seeks to counter China's growing influence over those resources. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the department in Washington on Wednesday to advance collective efforts to reinforce and diversify critical minerals supply chains that are key to the production of high-tech military and consumer products. "This historic gathering will create momentum for collaboration to secure these critical components vital to technological innovation, economic strength and national security," the department said in a release. Vice President JD Vance, Rubio and David Copley, special assistant to the president and senior director for global supply chains will be present at the gathering. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun also plans to join the meeting. The meeting will come as Washington has been stepping up cooperation w

Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap
US to host 1st ministerial meeting on critical minerals this week
Foreign Affairs

Top diplomats of S. Korea, US to hold talks amid Trump's tariff threat

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States will hold talks in Washington this week, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, amid uncertainties over their trade deal after U.S. President Donald Trump's warning of a tariff hike. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet one-one-one with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) to discuss efforts toward implementing the summit agreements reached between Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, including the trade deal, the ministry said. Cho is visiting Washington to attend a U.S.-led ministerial meeting on critical minerals supply chains, set for Wednesday. The upcoming talks between Cho and Rubio are their first meeting since Trump threatened to raise the reciprocal tariff on South Korean goods to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in Seoul's legislative process required to move the trade deal forward. The two sides "plan to have broad consultations on pending bilateral issues, including measures to accelerate efforts to implement follow-up steps outlined in the joint fact sheet," the ministry said, referring to the

Feb 3, 2026By Yonhap
Top diplomats of S. Korea, US to hold talks amid Trump's tariff threat
North Korea

N. Korea inaugurates greenhouse farm in Sinuiju ahead of key party congress

North Korea has inaugurated a major greenhouse farm in Sinuiju, a northwestern city hit hard by flooding in 2024, with leader Kim Jong-un calling it a "wonderful achievement" ahead of the country's upcoming party congress, according to state media Monday. Kim attended the ceremony inaugurating the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It took place around one year after the groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2025. North Korea has prioritized building a large greenhouse farm in vast areas of Wihwa Island, an islet in Sinuiju where the North suffered flood damage during summer in 2024. In a speech, the North's leader expressed satisfaction that the project has become a "base" for new life for the residents of Sinuiju, who have suffered from flooding generation after generation. "Our soldiers and young people have made a wonderful achievement of creation to be presented to the Ninth Party Congress," Kim said, referring to the upcoming key once-every-five-years event. North Korea is widely expected to hold the ninth pa

Feb 2, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea inaugurates greenhouse farm in Sinuiju ahead of key party congress
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