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US to host 1st ministerial meeting on critical minerals this week
The United States plans to launch a ministerial meeting this week aimed at boosting cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, the State Department said Monday, as it seeks to counter China's growing influence over those resources. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the department in Washington on Wednesday to advance collective efforts to reinforce and diversify critical minerals supply chains th
Feb. 3, 2026 -
FM Cho to meet Rubio in Washington as Seoul seeks progress on tariff issues
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington this week, as Seoul has launched an all-out diplomatic effort with Washington amid mounting tensions over US tariff policy. According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry on Monday, Cho will meet Rubio on Tuesday afternoon (Washington time) on the sidelines of the US-hosted ministerial meeting on critical minerals. The meeting will mark the first in-person talks between the two foreign ministe
Feb. 3, 2026 -
Tariff talks between industry minister, Lutnick conclude without agreement
South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Friday that his talks with the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over renewed trade tensions ended without reaching a conclusion, but their understanding of each other's positions has "deepened." They met at the Commerce Department in Washington for the second straight day, after US President Donald Trump's threatened on Monday to raise "reciprocal" tariffs and auto duties on Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in the Asian co
Jan. 31, 2026 -
Lee thanks Vietnam for support following S. Korean politician's death in phone talks with To Lam
President Lee Jae Myung on Friday thanked Vietnam for its cooperation in posthumous arrangements for a late South Korean politician during phone talks with Vietnam's leader To Lam, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said. The phone talks came after the Vietnamese government provided assistance following the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this week. Lee, a prominent politician in South Korea's liberal bloc, died at a hospital on Sunday while visiting th
Jan. 30, 2026 -
S. Korea, EU to launch new supply chain dialogue: EU ambassador
South Korea and the European Union are preparing to launch a new dialogue channel dedicated to supply chain cooperation, the EU’s ambassador said Friday. The two countries aim to strengthen bilateral partnerships amid growing uncertainty in the global order largely shaped by US-China competition. Speaking to reporters in Seoul, EU ambassador to South Korea Ugo Astuto said supply chain resilience has become “more important than ever,” adding that Seoul and Brussels are set to establish a dedicate
Jan. 30, 2026 -
Hanwha Aerospace wins $2b Chunmoo rocket deal in Norway
Hanwha Aerospace has won an order from the Norwegian Army for a next-generation long-range precision fires system, worth about 19 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.95 billion). Norway’s Ministry of Defence on Thursday named the Korean defense giant as the preferred bidder for the project, following the Norwegian parliament’s approval of the artillery procurement plan on Tuesday. Under the deal, Hanwha Aerospace will supply its Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system, with the contract scheduled to be
Jan. 30, 2026 -
Trump says tariffs could be 'much steeper,' claims U.S. has been 'very nice'
US President Donald Trump warned Thursday that tariffs on trading partners could be "much steeper," while claiming that his administration has been "very nice" in its implementation of his tariff policy. Trump made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House amid uncertainty over the future of country-specific "reciprocal" tariffs that he has imposed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act as the Supreme Court weighs their legality. "The tariffs are very ... you kn
Jan. 30, 2026 -
Industry minister meets Lutnick to discuss Trump's threat to raise tariffs on S. Korea
South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday to discuss US President Donald Trump's recent threat to raise "reciprocal" and other tariffs on the Asian country. Kim arrived in Washington on Wednesday night, two days after Trump threatened to increase reciprocal tariffs and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical duties on Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent, citing a delay in Seoul's legislative procedures supporting the implementation of the tra
Jan. 30, 2026 -
US keeps S. Korea on its 'monitoring list' for FX policy
The United States has kept South Korea on its list of countries to monitor for their foreign exchange policies, a Treasury Department report showed Thursday. The department released the updated list in the semiannual "Report to Congress on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States." The latest monitoring list comprises South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland. All except Thailand were on the
Jan. 30, 2026 -
Trump's tariff remarks part of discussions, not rupture: Cho
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks on a potential tariff hike targeting South Korea do not amount to a rupture of an existing trade agreement, describing them instead as part of ongoing discussions over its implementation. “There is a (Korea-US summit) joint fact sheet in place, and I understand that some in the US believed its implementation might be delayed and directly raised this with President Trump, which is likely why (Trump’s message) came ou
Jan. 29, 2026 -
Lee’s special envoy meets with top Canadian officials to support submarine bid
President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff on Thursday said he delivered a personal letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and met with top Canadian officials during his trip to support Korea’s bid to win a submarine contract. Lee’s chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, is currently in Canada as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation to support a Korean consortium’s bid for Canada’s submarine project estimated at 60 trillion won ($41.4 billion). The Korean consortium led by Hanwha Ocea
Jan. 29, 2026 -
Bessent says no trade deal with S. Korea until ratification
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that there is no trade deal with South Korea until its legislature approves it, days after President Donald Trump threatened to increase "reciprocal" and other tariffs on the Asian country. Bessent made the remarks during a CNBC interview, as South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan is set to visit the United States for talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to address the renewed trade tension. "The South Korean parliament has not pa
Jan. 29, 2026 -
US Fed leaves key rate unchanged after 3 consecutive cuts
The US Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate steady on Wednesday, defying President Donald Trump's continued pressure on the central bank to lower borrowing costs amid concerns over its independence. During the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the Fed decided to leave the rate unchanged at the 3.5-3.75 percent range. Following three straight reductions since September, the pause has put the gap between the key rates of South Korea and the United States at up to 1.25 perc
Jan. 29, 2026 -
US Embassy launches event celebrating 250th founding anniv. of US
The US Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday launched a public diplomacy campaign to mark the 250th anniversary of the country's founding, underscoring cultural exchanges as a key means of strengthening ties with South Korea. The event, titled "Freedom of Expression: Freedom 250 US-Korea Creative Dialogues," was the first in a series of programs being organized by the embassy this year to celebrate its July 4 founding anniversary in South Korea. Wednesday's event showcased artworks by South Korean moder
Jan. 28, 2026 -
Lee invites Qatari emir to visit S. Korea
President Lee Jae Myung invited Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to visit South Korea while meeting with his special envoy in Seoul on Wednesday, his office said. Lee extended the invitation during a meeting with Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi at Cheong Wa Dae, requesting the envoy convey his wish to hold frank discussions on ways to develop bilateral ties. Lee said the envoy's visit shows the firm commitment of both countries to cooperate, and expressed hope to strengthen mutually benef
Jan. 28, 2026