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Rubio describes N. Korea as 'nuclear armed' country
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described North Korea as a "nuclear-armed" country in an apparent recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons capabilities, despite the Trump administration's stated commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of the North. Rubio used the expression in a podcast interview released Wednesday, as he pointed to a series of security challenges facing the United States, including those from China, Russia and Iran. "We live in a world with a nuclear-armed North K
April 24, 2025 -
US says China's refusal to abide by intl. law hampers its interests, after Seoul-Beijing maritime tensions
China's refusal to comply with international law hampers its economic interests and causes regional instability, a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday, following maritime tensions between Seoul and Beijing over China's installation of steel structures in the Yellow Sea. China has constructed a set of steel structures in the Provisional Maritime Zone near Ieo Islet, a submerged rock off South Korea's southwest coast. The PMZ is an area where the exclusive economic zones of the two countr
April 24, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to hold '2+2' trade talks in Washington amid tariff concerns
South Korea and the United States were set to hold their first "2+2" trade dialogue involving finance and trade ministers in Washington on Thursday, in what is seen as a key step toward potentially easing recently announced US tariffs. The high-level talks, scheduled for 8 a.m., or 9 p.m. in South Korea, will bring together South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, alongside US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The tal
April 24, 2025 -
Bessent calls for allies' stronger defense commitments ahead of trade talks with S. Korea
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Wednesday for allies to strengthen their commitments to "shared defense," noting America's provision of security guarantees and "open" markets, as he is set to attend high-profile trade talks with South Korea later this week. Bessent made the remarks during a forum hosted by the Institute of International Finance, a day before he and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to join South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Industry Minister
April 24, 2025 -
Seoul to discuss cooperation with US in shipbuilding, energy at trade consultation: minister
South 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 South Korea under its broader tariff scheme affecting all its major trading partners. "We plan to discuss the
April 23, 2025 -
S. Korea, UAE agree on joint pursuit of overseas nuclear power projects
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to pursue joint nuclear power projects abroad as part of broader bilateral cooperation on nuclear energy, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The agreement was reached during a high-level consultation on nuclear cooperation between the two countries, held Tuesday in Abu Dhabi and led by South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun and UAE Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei. The consultation was launched in 2018 to discus
April 23, 2025 -
S. Korea, China set for maritime talks amid tensions over steel structures in Yellow Sea
South Korea and China held 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 Yellow Sea. The talks come after the two countries engaged in a standoff in February in the Provisional Maritime Zone 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 P
April 23, 2025 -
S. Korea voices deep regret over Japan PM's offering, lawmakers' visit to war shrine
South Korea expressed deep regret Tuesday after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to a war shrine seen as symbolizing its militaristic past and its lawmakers paid their respects there. Ishiba sent the offering to the Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted by the Allies in international tribunals for their roles in World War II, on the occasion of the annual spring festival. A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers also vis
April 22, 2025 -
US expert foresees difficulty for Korea over possible measures targeting China in trade talks with US
A prominent US expert said Monday that South Korea could face difficulty in agreeing to trade measures against China when it holds high-level tariff talks with the United States this week, as China warned countries against striking deals unfavorable to Beijing's interests. Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, made the remarks as Seoul and Washington plan to hold "two-plus-two" talks involving their finance and trade ministers in Washington on Thursday to discuss tar
April 22, 2025 -
KHNP chief stresses Korea-US nonproliferation cooperation amid 'aggressive' nuclear exports by China, Russia
The head of South Korea's state-run nuclear energy firm underscored the need Monday for South Korea and the United States to work together to reinforce the global nonproliferation regime in the face of "aggressive" nuclear exports from China and Russia. Whang Joo-ho, president and CEO of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., made the remarks, voicing hope that "Team Nuclear KORUS" can achieve the allies' common vision of "atoms for peace." KORUS is short for Korea and the United States. "In regio
April 22, 2025 -
US State Dept. says it continues to assess global posture amid report on possible South Korea consulate closure
The US State Department continues to assess America's global programs and posture, a spokesperson said Thursday, following a report that the Trump administration is looking at closing nearly 30 overseas embassies and consulates, including one in South Korea. "No embassy or consulate closures have been announced, and operations continue as normal," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. "The State Department continues to assess our global programs and posture to
April 18, 2025 -
US Embassy says consulate in Busan operating normally after reports of possible closure
The US Consulate in Busan is currently operating normally, the US Embassy in South Korea said Thursday, after media reports suggested it is being considered for closure. CNN reported Tuesday that the Donald Trump administration is looking at closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates, including the mission in Busan, about 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, citing an internal State Department document. The US Embassy in Seoul said there has been no announcement of closures of embassies and consulates
April 17, 2025 -
S. Korea, Netherlands agree to boost cooperation in semiconductor supply chain
South Korea and the Netherlands have agreed to boost supply chain cooperation in semiconductors and critical minerals, including establishing an information-sharing system between their overseas missions, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The two countries reached the agreement during the bilateral economic dialogue, headed by Kim Hee-sang, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, and Michiel Sweers, a Dutch vice minister, in The Hague on Wednesday, the ministry said. They agreed to p
April 17, 2025 -
Acting president says S. Korea, US seeking 'win-win' solution for tariffs
Acting President Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that South Korea and the United States are working to find a "win-win" solution to the issue of US "reciprocal" tariffs on imports from South Korea. Han made the remark during a breakfast meeting with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was in South Korea with a trade delegation, according to Han's office. "He explained that the United States and (South Korea) are communicating, cooperating and negotiating at the ministerial and other levels to find a win-wi
April 16, 2025 -
Senior Pentagon official calls Trump's policy 'not recipe for isolation' but 'common sense' approach
A senior Pentagon official described President Donald Trump's defense policy Tuesday as "not a recipe for isolation" but a "common sense" approach amid lingering concerns about the potential impact of Trump's America First policy on US alliances and partnerships. New Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks in a social media post on the day after he was sworn in by Vice President J.D. Vance last Wednesday to carry out a key role to flesh out America's defense strateg
April 16, 2025