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Hegseth says US effort to address Iran's nuclear ambitions will send 'plenty of signals' amid NK criticism
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that US efforts to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions will send "plenty of signals," as he addressed a question related to North Korea's criticism of the ongoing US military operation against the Islamic Republic. Hegseth made the remarks during a press briefing on the military operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," which kicked off in coordination with Israel on Saturday. "As it pertains to other countries ... they don't really bear on the c
March 5, 2026 -
Bessent says new global tariff will likely increase to 15% from 10% 'sometime this week'
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that a new US global tariff will likely rise to 15 percent from 10 percent "sometime this week," as President Donald Trump's administration is working to replace its emergency tariffs that the Supreme Court recently struck down. Bessent made the remarks in a CNBC interview, as Trump has said his administration will raise the temporary tariff amid efforts to maintain his trade policy following last month's court ruling against his use of the Inte
March 5, 2026 -
Lee asks Marcos for temporary transfer of jailed Korean drug kingpin
President Lee Jae Myung said he asked Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to allow the temporary transfer of a jailed Korean drug kingpin to face investigation and prosecution in South Korea. Lee noted that “one of the difficulties faced by Koreans living abroad is the issue of public safety” during his luncheon meeting with members of the Korean community in Manila on Wednesday. Lee further explained that incidents affecting Korean residents in the Philippines appear to be rising, in cont
March 4, 2026 -
Lee puts energy, infrastructure, manufacturing at core of Korea-Philippines economic ties
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday set out priorities for a new phase of economic cooperation with the Philippines centered on energy, infrastructure modernization and manufacturing, urging business leaders to invest and seize emerging opportunities. Lee delivered the remarks at the Korea-Philippines Business Forum on Wednesday, which he attended alongside Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and about 250 business leaders and government officials from both countries. Regarding manufactur
March 4, 2026 -
S. Koreans in Israel evacuated to Egypt
Around 60 South Koreans in Israel have been evacuated by land to Egypt to seek shelter, according to the foreign ministry Wednesday, as US-Israeli strikes on Iran spiral into a broader Middle East conflict involving neighboring countries. Sixty-two South Korean nationals and four ethnic Koreans with US citizenship left Jerusalem or Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning (local time) aboard a chartered bus arranged by the South Korean Embassy in Israel and headed for the Egyptian border, the ministry said.
March 4, 2026 -
Trump says US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz 'if necessary'
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "if necessary," amid growing concerns about the impact of the US-Israel conflict with Iran on oil shipments in the strategically vital waterway. Trump made the remarks in a social media post as the US military operation against Iran, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," entered its fourth day, deepening worries about disruptions to shipping along the strait, which is responsible for about one-fif
March 4, 2026 -
USFK focused on Korea, Pentagon official says amid Middle East redeployment speculation
United States Forces Korea remains focused on the Korean Peninsula, a US Department of Defense official said Tuesday, amid growing speculation that Washington could draw on its overseas assets for potential contingencies in the Middle East involving Iran. “United States Forces Korea remains focused on maintaining a strong, ready and combat-credible force posture on the Korean Peninsula,” a Department of Defense official said on background in response to an email inquiry from The Korea Herald. Th
March 4, 2026 -
23 South Koreans evacuate from Iran to Turkmenistan
Twenty-three South Koreans staying in Iran safely evacuated to Turkmenistan on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said, as Seoul steps up efforts to assist Korean nationals amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to the ministry, the evacuees departed Tehran on Monday morning aboard two buses chartered by the South Korean Embassy in Iran, heading east toward the Turkmenistan border. After staying overnight at a stopover location, they crossed the Iran–Turkmenistan border Tuesday evenin
March 3, 2026 -
Seoul, Manila broaden ties beyond defense to nuclear energy, critical minerals
The respective leaders of South Korea and the Philippines agreed to step up cooperation in strategic sectors, including infrastructure and defense, while widening the partnership into emerging areas like nuclear energy and critical mineral supply chains. South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met for the summit at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on Tuesday, which marks the 77th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on March 3, 1949.
March 3, 2026 -
Korean, Philippine leaders meet on 77th anniversary of diplomatic ties
President Lee Jae Myung and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held a summit Tuesday to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure and defense, while widening the partnership into emerging areas that include shipbuilding. The summit at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on Tuesday carried added significance as it coincided with the 77th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on March 3, 1949. Ten agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed or updated on the occ
March 3, 2026 -
Is North Korean leader rattled by downfalls of Maduro and Khamenei?
North Korea’s sharply worded condemnation of recent US strikes on Iran has fueled debate over whether its leader Kim Jong-un feels unsettled by the dramatic downfalls of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And experts said the lesson for Kim may be less about fear than survival. Rather than pushing him toward talks with Washington, such events could reinforce his belief that only a credible nuclear deterrent guarantees regime security — a strate
March 3, 2026 -
Seoul readies evacuations for Koreans in the Middle East
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Tuesday ordered ministries to maintain full contingency readiness, including evacuation plans, emphasizing that protecting South Koreans in the Middle East is the government’s top priority. Kim convened the weekly Cabinet meeting amid the Middle East conflict triggered by a joint US-Israel strike on Iran on Saturday that is rapidly spreading across neighboring countries, with Iran and Israel’s counterattacks widening. "Right now, protecting overseas nationals is t
March 3, 2026 -
Pentagon chief says operation against Iran is neither 'endless' nor 'overnight'
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that ongoing military operations against Iran would not end up being "endless," but achieving America's combat objectives would not happen "overnight," as he referred to the conflict as a "big battle space." Hegseth made the remarks in a press conference alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine at the Pentagon, after the United States and Israel kicked off a surprise coordinated attack on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, which led to
March 3, 2026 -
Trump says Iran operation projected to last 4-5 weeks, stresses US capability to go 'far longer'
US President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration projected the ongoing military operation against Iran to last four to five weeks, while highlighting America's capability to "go far longer than that." Trump made the remarks during an event awarding the Medal of Honor to three US Army soldiers, after the United States and Israel launched a surprise coordinated attack on the Islamic Republic on Saturday, which resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Rig
March 3, 2026 -
Seoul steps up emergency response as Iran crisis deepens
South Korea is heightening its emergency response posture as tensions escalate in the Middle East, with the government convening a series of high-level meetings to assess the impact on Korean nationals and national security. An official at Seoul's Foreign Ministry told reporters Monday that approximately 60 South Koreans are currently staying in Iran and about 600 in Israel, including around 100 short-term visitors. No Korean casualties have been reported so far. The ministry official said the K
March 2, 2026