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Seoul, Tokyo arranging Lee-Takaichi summit in mid-Jan. in Japan's Nara: report
South Korea and Japan have been making arrangements for summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in mid-January in the Japanese prefecture of Nara, a Japanese media report said Thursday. The two nations were arranging to hold a summit between Lee and Takaichi in Nara, the capital city of Nara Prefecture, around Jan. 13-14, Japan's Mainichi Shimbun reported, citing diplomatic sources. Todaiji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Great B
Dec. 11, 2025 -
US seeks to require social media from last 5 yrs for ESTA applications
US President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to require applicants for the ESTA visa waiver program to provide social media information from the last five years, a notice showed Wednesday, in a move to tighten screening for foreigners' entry into the United States. US Customs and Border Protection posted the notice in the Federal Register to obtain public comments for 60 days regarding the proposal to collect social media data, and request other pieces of additional information, such as
Dec. 11, 2025 -
US Fed cuts key interest rate for 3rd straight time amid economic uncertainties
The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point for the third straight time, as policymakers were divided over the decision amid a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation. Following the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the central bank decided to lower the key rate to the 3.5-3.75 percent range. The third reduction since September has put the gap between the key rates of South Korea and the United States at up to 1.25 perc
Dec. 11, 2025 -
S. Korean, US officials discuss cooperation in economic security, supply chains in talks in Washington
Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States discussed bilateral cooperation in enhancing economic security and securing "trusted" supply chains during their economic talks in Washington on Wednesday, the State Department said. Seoul's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg held the 10th Senior Economic Dialogue, after a bilateral trade and investment deal was finalized during the second summit between President Lee Jae M
Dec. 11, 2025 -
Doha Forum advocates justice, action amid global crises
Korea Herald correspondent DOHA, Qatar — World leaders, diplomats and global experts renewed calls for justice through collective action at the 23rd Doha Forum, held Dec. 6–8, as mounting geopolitical, economic and humanitarian crises continue to challenge the international community. Attended by more than 6,000 participants from 150 countries, the forum reaffirmed the urgency of principled global cooperation across key areas, including economic development and trade, conflict mediation and peac
Dec. 10, 2025 -
Kazakhstan's top judge hopes to boost judicial exchanges with S. Korea
Kazakhstan’s top constitutional judge, Elvira Azimova, has called for deeper judicial cooperation with South Korea, emphasizing that dialogue between legal institutions is essential as artificial intelligence and new technologies reshape justice, responsibility, and public trust. Azimova visited Seoul last month on an official trip to the Constitutional Court of Korea, during which she met Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de, and President of the Constitutional Court of Korea Kim Sang-hwan. In
Dec. 10, 2025 -
Thailand marks National Day in South Korea
The Thai Embassy in Seoul celebrated Thailand’s National Day on Dec. 3, highlighting the growing Thai-Korean strategic partnership. Speaking at the event, Thai Ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat said 2025 spoke of renewed bilateral momentum, with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and President Lee Jae Myung reaffirming political, security and economic cooperation at APEC, including progress on a new trade pact. “This year, the Thai community in Korea, now numbering over 170,000 people, esta
Dec. 10, 2025 -
S. Korea participates in G7 finance ministerial meeting to discuss supply chains
South Korea has taken part in the Group of Seven finance ministerial meeting as an observer member to discuss major economies' export control measures and critical mineral supply chains, the finance ministry said Tuesday. Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol participated in the virtual meeting held with ministers of the G7 member nations and other invited countries, including Australia, India and Mexico, to exchange views on the impact of global supply chain uncertainties stemming from export restric
Dec. 9, 2025 -
Colby renews calls for Asian allies to do more for their own defense
A senior Pentagon official redoubled calls Monday for Asian allies to "do more" for their own defense, citing South Korea as the most recent case of allied countries stepping up to meet a "new global standard" for defense spending. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks in a social media post, as Seoul has committed to increasing defense spending to 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product as soon as possible in accordance with Korea's legal requirements. Colby po
Dec. 9, 2025 -
Seoul official stresses Korea's efforts for uranium enrichment, reprocessing rights unrelated to proliferation
A senior South Korean diplomat has told US think tank officials that Seoul's efforts to secure rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes have nothing to do with nuclear proliferation, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo made the remarks during his visit to Washington this week, underscoring Seoul's "firm" will to abide by international nonproliferation norms related to civil nuclear energy cooperation, it said. Rele
Dec. 4, 2025 -
US puts on Federal Register 15% tariff on S. Korean autos retroactive to Nov. 1
US President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday posted on the Federal Register a notice implementing certain tariff elements of a South Korea-US trade deal, including a reduced duty rate of 15 percent on Korean autos retroactive to Nov. 1. The Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative posted the document to implement tariff-related elements of the Korea-US Strategic Trade and Investment Deal ahead of its official publication date set for Thursday. The notice ca
Dec. 4, 2025 -
New Indian envoy to S. Korea, Herald vow to deepen diplomacy
Newly appointed Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das and The Korea Herald pledged to deepen ties between their countries on Wednesday. “Future cooperation can expand through various formats — articles, films, music and more,” said Das during a courtesy meeting held at Herald Corp. headquarters in Seoul. India is now “one of the youngest and fastest-changing nations in the world,” the ambassador said, emphasizing the need to enhance Korea’s understanding of contemporary India. India-S
Dec. 4, 2025 -
US envoy urges allies to address 'common challenges' on Korean Peninsula, Indo-Pacific
Acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim said Friday that South Korea and the United States need to address "common challenges" they face on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region, as the allies seek to modernize the decadeslong alliance. Kim made the remarks as Seoul and Washington are pushing to modernize their alliance to better respond to a changing security environment, defined by China's increasing assertiveness and continued North Korean nuclear and missile threats. "First
Nov. 28, 2025 -
Unification minister meets US envoy, stresses bilateral cooperation in resuming US-NK dialogue
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young underscored the importance of close South Korea-US cooperation in resuming dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang in his meeting with acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim on Tuesday. According to the unification ministry, Chung noted that a "window of opportunity" has opened for such a resumption following summits held on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in late October and said the period leading up to planned US-Chin
Nov. 25, 2025 -
Lee pays tribute at Korean War Memorial in Ankara
President Lee Jae Myung paid tribute at the Korean War Memorial in Ankara on Tuesday and met with Turkish veterans who fought in the 1950–53 conflict, honoring their service and sacrifice. Lee laid a wreath of red and blue flowers -- the colors of the South Korean national flag -- at the memorial and observed a moment of silence, accompanied by first lady Kim Hea Kyung. Four surviving Turkish veterans and 13 family members of fallen service members attended the ceremony. Turkey dispatched more t
Nov. 25, 2025