S. Korea almost absent in Hegseth's speech at Shangri-La Dialogue

The Pentagon chief's speech at an annual defense forum in Singapore used to highlight defense cooperation with South Korea and trilateral efforts with Japan as the United States has sought to leverage the core Asian allies for peace in the face of a provocative North Korea and an assertive China. But South Korea was almost absent in this year's Shangri-La Dialogue speech by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding to concerns that the monthslong absence of a fully elected leader in South Korea cou

May 31, 2025

Hegseth urges Asian allies to boost defense spending, do 'their part' in face of 'real' China threats

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Saturday for Asian allies to increase their defense spending and do their part as "force multipliers," as he portrayed China's evolving threats as "real" and potentially "imminent," and warned against economic "entanglement" with the Asian superpower. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum in Singapore, Hegseth also reassured allies and partners of America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and vowed to increase the United States' focu

May 31, 2025

How Korea’s next leader should set foreign policy compass

JEJU ISLAND -- The crux of the new Korean government’s foreign and security strategy, former foreign ministers said, should be adapting to a shifting, more inward-looking US -- one demanding greater burden-sharing from its allies under President Trump’s “America First” doctrine -- while keeping the alliance at the heart of its approach at this critical crossroads. Amid a wave of increasingly interconnected global crises, the former top diplomats also urged Seoul’s next leadership to move beyond

May 30, 2025

Will Seoul’s leadership change disrupt warming ties with Tokyo?

JEJU ISLAND -- Bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan are unlikely to face a major upheaval after South Korea’s new government is swiftly inaugurated next week, former vice foreign ministers from the two countries said Thursday, citing deeper public understanding and recognition of the ties’ importance by the top two presidential contenders. Still, both emphasized that rebuilding public trust is essential for forging lasting, future-oriented relations at a time when strategic cooperat

May 30, 2025

Pentagon chief Hegseth stresses focus on deterring China ahead of Singapore visit

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday reiterated America's push to work together with Indo-Pacific allies to achieve "peace through strength" and deter an assertive China while stressing the United States seeks "no conflict with anybody." Hegseth made the remarks at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as he departed for Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual premier defense forum, and other bilateral and multilateral meetings on its sidelines in the city-state. "We seek no co

May 29, 2025

Concerns rise in Korea over reports on US halting student visa interviews

Worries were stoked in South Korea over the US State Department’s order for embassies to stop accepting new appointments for student visa interviews on Wednesday. This was fueled by growing local reports of some applicants’ inability to schedule visa interviews on the website of the US Embassy and Consulate in the Republic of Korea as of press time. According to local reports, South Korean applicants seeking to register for an F visa, a nonimmigrant visa issued to international students, were un

May 28, 2025

Seoul to send APEC invitations under new president

South Korea will send out the first official invitations for the APEC summit in the name of the new president shortly after the early presidential election on June 3, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday. "As it is a summit-level meeting, it is appropriate for the invitation to be sent in the name of our head of state," a senior Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity during a closed-door briefing. "We are making all the necessary preparations. We will proceed with the req

May 27, 2025

Why Lee Jae-myung is betting big on Arctic route

With melting ice opening new Arctic shipping routes, Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung is urging South Korea to swiftly transform Busan into a strategic gateway for emerging Arctic maritime trade. Lee has placed preparations for year-round Arctic navigability — made increasingly viable by global warming — at the heart of his campaign, a first in a South Korean presidential race. Since launching his presidential campaign, Lee has spotlighted Arctic shipping in stump speeches in Ulsan, Bu

May 27, 2025

South Korea says concerned by China's 'no-sail zone' in overlapping waters

South Korea has voiced concerns to China over its establishment of a "no-sail zone" in a shared area of the Yellow Sea, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday. The US outlet Newsweek reported Wednesday that China had barred ships from entering certain parts of the Yellow Sea, located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. According to Newsweek, a regional branch of China's Maritime Safety Administration declared the no-sail zone in parts of the sea's Provisional Measures Zone -- a shar

May 24, 2025

USFK dismisses troop downsizing report

The United States Forces Korea on Friday dismissed a report saying Washington is mulling the possibility of a partial withdrawal of the strong 28,500 troops stationed here. "The US remains firmly committed to the defense of the ROK and we look forward to working with the incoming government officials to maintain and strengthen our iron clad alliance," the USFK said in a statement. "Reports that the Department of Defense will reduce US troops in the Republic of Korea are not true.“ ROK is an abbr

May 23, 2025

S. Korea expresses deep concern over deaths of Israeli embassy employees in Washington

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Thursday expressed deep condolences over the deaths of two Israeli Embassy staff members who were shot to death in Washington. The shooting occurred on Wednesday (U.S. time) as the two embassy employees were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at a local Jewish museum, according to foreign media reports. The 30-year-old suspect shouted, "Free, free Palestine," as he was taken into custody, according to the reports. "The government offers its

May 22, 2025

[Africa Forum] Korea, Africa can be woven into 'rope of unity'

A high-ranking South Korean diplomat said Wednesday that South Korea and Africa can join hands to tackle global geopolitical rivalries and supply chain disruptions together, like strands woven into a rope. Jung Ki-hong, ambassador and deputy minister for public diplomacy, said partnerships between the two "matter more than ever," describing each other as partners that "have much to share and learn from each other." "We share a belief in human dignity, in innovation, in the power of youth," Jung

May 22, 2025

[Contribution] 'We are the ocean'

By Philippe Bertoux Ambassador of France to the Republic of Korea From June 9-13, France will co-host, with Costa Rica, the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). For this crucial event, around 100 heads of state and government will converge in Nice, as well as tens of thousands of researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world. On this occasion, France’s aim will be clear: protecting the ocean through tangible action. The ocean is our common good. I

May 21, 2025

Seoul, Tokyo to pilot fast-track airport lanes for nationals in June

South Korea and Japan will launch a one-month pilot program in June to expedite entry procedures for each other’s nationals through fast-track lanes at airports, aiming to boost people-to-people exchanges, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. “The operation of exclusive immigration lanes will be implemented as part of various commemorative projects jointly pursued by the Korean and Japanese governments to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties,” the ministry said i

May 21, 2025

Trump unveils $175b plans for Golden Dome missile defense shield

US President Donald Trump announced a $175 billion plan Tuesday to construct the Golden Dome missile defense shield, including space-based interceptors, before the end of his term, as Washington seeks to neutralize evolving threats from North Korea, China and Russia. The announcement came after the president signed an executive order in January to build an "Iron Dome for America," pointing to the growing threat of attacks by ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial at

May 21, 2025