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As Korea simmers, bananas grow in Seoul, Jeju's pumpkins cook on the vine
A record heat wave has led to bananas growing outdoors in Seoul and pumpkins baking on the vine on Jeju Island. Photos taken Wednesday at Chungsoo Weekend Farm in Nowon, northeastern Seoul, by News 1 show a banana tree taller than an average adult with three bunches of bananas growing beneath its leaves. At the time the photos were taken, the temperature was 35.8 degrees Celsius with 73 percent humidity. This is the second consecutive year bananas, a tropical fruit typically grown in Southeast A
July 31, 2025 -
Man caught wandering around street with knife, says he wanted to cut up fruit
Citizens of Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul had a scare Wednesday night as a man in his 30s wandered around with a knife, before he was arrested by local police. After the suspect refused repeated orders from the police to put down the knife, police took him down with a stun gun. The man told officials that he took the knife to cut up fruit for himself. Surveillance footage showed that he was holding a fruit knife, although he did not attack or threaten anyone. It is unclear why he did not comply wit
July 31, 2025 -
Hegseth voices desire to ensure 'strategically sustainable' S. Korea-US alliance: Pentagon
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his desire to ensure that the South Korea-US alliance is "strategically sustainable" and the allies' defense posture contributes to deterrence against "shared threats" as he spoke by phone with his South Korean counterpart on Wednesday, the Pentagon said. Hegseth had the first phone talks with Seoul's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back since Ahn's inauguration last week, amid expectations that the Trump administration will request Asian allies to raise thei
July 31, 2025 -
Lee says S. Korea-US trade deal to help dispel trade uncertainties
President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday a tariff deal reached by South Korea and the United States will help eliminate economic uncertainties for the South's export-reliant economy, voicing relief for clearing a major hurdle in the trade sector. Lee wrote the message on Facebook, shortly after US President Donald Trump said his administration has agreed to impose 15 percent reciprocal tariffs on South Korea, 10 percentage points lower than what was proposed. "We have cleared a major hurdle," Lee s
July 31, 2025 -
S. Korea deal cuts US tariffs to 15%; Lee to visit Washington in 2 weeks
South Korea and the United States struck a massive deal to lower prospective US tariffs on South Korean imports to 15 percent from a proposed 25 percent, in exchange for $350 billion of South Korean investment in the US, leaders of the two countries said Thursday. "We've overcome a major hurdle," President Lee Jae Myung noted on his Facebook Thursday as he confirmed the deal, saying it had removed uncertainties on Korea's export front. "Despite the tight deadline and challenging conditions, the
July 31, 2025 -
S. Korea's finance minister to hold tariff negotiations with Bessent late Thursday, Korean time
South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol will hold tariff negotiations with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on late Thursday (Seoul time), his office said Wednesday. The talks are scheduled to take place at 10:45 p.m, according to Seoul's finance ministry. Top officials from Seoul are in the United States in all-out efforts to finalize a trade deal with the US before Friday's deadline, when the 25 percent reciprocal tariffs will take effect. (Yonhap)
July 30, 2025 -
Trump says Aug. 1 tariff negotiation deadline won't be extended
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday this week's deadline for making trade deals with countries will not be extended, as South Korea and other countries are striving to reach a tariff agreement with the United States before the deadline. His remarks in a social media post came as his administration's "reciprocal" tariffs, including 25 percent duties on South Korea, are set to go into force on Friday unless a deal is struck. "THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE IS THE AUGUST FIRST DEADLINE — IT STANDS
July 30, 2025 -
N. Korean assembly chief claims US, S. Korea preparing to 'actualize' nuclear war
The head of North Korea's legislative body on Wednesday accused the United States and South Korea of preparing to "actualize" a nuclear war, insisting that its nuclear development is a self-defense measure vital to ensuring its security against such threats. Pak In-chol, chairman of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, made such a claim during a United Nations-led gathering of top legislators around the world in Switzerland, blaming the US and other Western countries for causing "instability a
July 30, 2025 -
Special envoys reaffirm S. Korea's drive for stronger ties with Australia
A presidential delegation to Australia has met with top officials in Canberra and reaffirmed South Korea's efforts to advancing bilateral relations under the Lee Jae Myung government, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The special envoys, led by former National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, delivered Lee's message in their meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles earlier in the day and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday, the ministry said in a release. Ma
July 30, 2025 -
Kim Yo-jong's remarks suggest N. Korea sees it has strategic advantage in nuclear diplomacy: spy agency
Recent statements by the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un suggest that the regime believes it holds a strategic advantage in its stalled nuclear diplomacy with the United States and inter-Korean engagement, South Korea's spy agency reportedly told lawmakers Wednesday. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared its assessment on the remarks made by Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the ruling party's Central Committee, citing the North's enhanced nuclear capabilities
July 30, 2025 -
Crime ring swindles W2.6b from 2,500 people via fradulent sales online
A scam ring has been busted for a fraud scheme totalling 2.6 billion won ($1.88 million), in which they deceived some 2,500 people by pretending to sell products and pocketing the payments. The cybercrime unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said Wednesday that they have transferred 15 individuals to the prosecution, 11 of whom are currently under arrest. The suspects are accused of carrying out a series of scams on online marketplace platforms for used products between October to
July 30, 2025 -
Korea, Japan agree on reviving leader-level ‘shuttle diplomacy’
South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their intent to restart shuttle diplomacy, referring to reciprocal visits by their leaders, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Wednesday following his visit to Tokyo. Cho made a two-day trip to Tokyo — his first overseas visit since taking office -- before departing for Washington on Wednesday afternoon to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During his stay, Cho also paid a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a day after holding
July 30, 2025 -
Is South Korea on track for its hottest summer yet?
As South Korea sizzles under extreme heat and tropical nights, attention turns to whether this year's summer temperature will once again drive the nation into record-breaking territory. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Wednesday, Seoul’s average low temperatures from the previous day were recorded at 28.3 degrees Celsius, as the capital recorded its 11th consecutive tropical night. Seoul experienced a total of 21 tropical nights between July 1 and Tuesday. According to the
July 30, 2025 -
South Koreans live longer, but suicide rate remains highest
South Korea’s life expectancy reached 83.5 years as of 2023, surpassing by 2.4 years the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's average of 81.1 years, a report released by the Paris-based organization showed Wednesday. The same OECD Health Statistics 2025 report released via South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare showed that the country continues to report the highest suicide rate among OECD member nations, despite progress in life expectancy and health outcomes. Life expe
July 30, 2025 -
DAPA to streamline procedures for joint civil-military space projects
South Korea’s arms procurement agency is seeking to streamline the management of joint civil-military space development projects, including the planned operation of ultrasmall satellites, in a bid to reduce inefficiencies caused by overlapping regulations. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Wednesday it has commissioned a study to establish standardized procedures for projects jointly pursued and operated by the government, military and industries. DAPA explained that such proje
July 30, 2025