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Seoul diplomat discusses peninsula issues with US envoy
A senior Seoul diplomat met with the acting US ambassador to South Korea on Thursday to discuss pending issues, including the implementation of a bilateral trade deal and developments on the Korean Peninsula, the foreign ministry said. In the meeting, Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence, and James Heller, charge d'affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Seoul, agreed to strengthen their communication going forward, according to the ministry. A ministry officia
Feb. 19, 2026 -
FM underscores importance of cooperation among middle-power nations
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun presided over a meeting with his counterparts from Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey and Australia on Thursday and highlighted the importance of their cooperation amid a changing international order, the foreign ministry said. Cho made the call for such cooperation to deliver practical values and produce tangible results in a teleconference meeting with the top diplomats from MIKTA, a grouping named after the initials of the five countries, according to the ministry. In the mee
Feb. 19, 2026 -
정부, '트럼프표' 평화위 참여 여부…“통상ㆍ안보 협상 영향 고려 안해"
정부가 미국 주도로 출범하는 가자지구 평화위원회(Board of Peace) 첫 회의에 옵서버 자격으로 참석이 예정된 가운데 외교부는 이번 결정이 한미 간 진행 중인 통상 협상에 영향을 주지 않는다는 입장을 강조했다. 박일 외교부 대변인은 19일 정례브리핑에서 한국의 참여가 한미 경제·안보 협상과 연계될 수 있다는 관측에 대해 “그런 것은 특별히 고려하고 있지 않다”면서 “이번 회의의 주제가 재건 문제, 인도적 지원 평화 구축 방안이기 때문에 이번 (옵서버) 참석도 여기에 주안점을 두고 한 것”이라고 강조했다. 박 대변인은 첫 회의가 재건, 인도적 지원, 평화 구축에 초점을 맞출 것이라고 설명했다. 외교부는 전날 김용현 전 주이집트 대사가 외교부 장관 특사 자격으로 19일(현지시간) 워싱턴에서 열리는 평화위원회 출범회의에 참석한다고 밝혔다. 정부는 향후 정식 회원국 참여 여부에 대해선 위원회의 기여 가능성을 검토한 뒤 결정하겠다는 방침이다. 박 대변인은 “위원회 운영 방식, 우리의
Feb. 19, 2026 -
Foreign ministry says Trump-led Gaza peace board participation unrelated to trade talks
South Korea will attend the inaugural meeting of a US-led Gaza peace board as an observer, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, while stressing that the decision will not affect the ongoing trade negotiations with Washington. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il sought to quell concerns that Seoul’s participation could be linked to bilateral economic talks. Asked whether joining the peace body could affect South Korea-US trade or security negotiations, Park said those specific issues were not be
Feb. 19, 2026 -
Seoul expresses hopes for peaceful coexistence after Kim Yo-jong's statement
Seoul on Thursday expressed hope for easing tensions and advancing peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang, following a statement by Kim Yo-jong — the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — regarding the unification minister's expression of regret and suggestion of preventive steps over a recent drone incident. "In response (to Kim Yo-jong's statement), the government hopes the two Koreas will move toward peaceful coexistence and shared growth," a presidential office official said. "We urge bot
Feb. 19, 2026 -
Trump announces three Japanese investment projects in Texas, Ohio, Georgia
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the first set of Japan's investment projects in the United States as part of the Asian country's $550 billion commitment under a bilateral trade deal, as South Korea is taking domestic steps to fulfill its own investment pledge. In a social media post, Trump unveiled three investment projects in Texas, Ohio and Georgia, reiterating his tariff policy helped make the projects possible. "Today, I am pleased to announce three TREMENDOUS Projects in the
Feb. 18, 2026 -
USTR hints at possible adjustments in steel, aluminum tariff implementation
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer hinted Tuesday that Washington could adjust how its tariffs on steel and aluminum are applied, as companies have grappled with the onerous task of calculating the duties, particularly on derivative products. Greer made the remarks in a CNBC interview after the Financial Times recently reported that US President Donald Trump's administration plans to scale back some tariffs on steel and aluminum goods. "You may want to sometimes adjust the way some of the ta
Feb. 18, 2026 -
Rubio offers warm wishes for Lunar New Year
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered his "warmest" wishes to those celebrating the Lunar New Year, as South Korea and other Asian countries mark the holiday with family reunions and other events. "As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we honor the traditions and customs that make this holiday meaningful to millions in the United States and around the world," he said in a press statement released on Monday. "Lunar New Year is a time for families and friends to gather, reflect on the past,
Feb. 18, 2026 -
S. Korea raises travel alert for Cuba over power outages, disruptions in essential services
South Korea raised its travel alert for Cuba due to concerns over worsening shortages of electricity and other basic necessities, the foreign ministry said Friday. A Level 2 alert, advising travelers to exercise caution, has been issued for the whole country as shortages of electricity and fuel have disrupted transportation, health care and communications services, the ministry said in a release. The measures took effect at 5 p.m. Friday. The ministry advised South Korean nationals planning to v
Feb. 13, 2026 -
National Assembly special committee for US investment bill stalls over partisan rifts
The inaugural meeting of a special parliamentary committee dedicated to Korea’s proposed US investment cooperation bill was derailed by partisan clashes over an unrelated legislative dispute Thursday. Launched Monday, the committee was created to speed deliberations on the ruling Democratic Party-backed measure, formally titled the Special Act on Strategic Investment Cooperation with the United States and widely known as the US investment special bill. But the first plenary session at the Nation
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Seoul adopts cautious stance on signs of Japan’s post-election shift toward conservative policies
South Korea is taking a cautious approach to Japan’s political trajectory following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide election victory, saying it is closely monitoring developments but stopping short of predicting a sharp shift toward conservative or nationalist policies. A Foreign Ministry official in Seoul told reporters Thursday that the South Korean government is aware of growing domestic concerns about a possible rightward shift under Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, but
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Lula to make state visit to Korea as leaders seek to elevate ties
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will make a state visit to South Korea to elevate bilateral ties across the board, Cheong Wa Dae announced Thursday. Lula’s visit from Feb. 22 to 24, at President Lee Jae Myung’s invitation, will mark the first state visit to Korea by a Brazilian leader since Lula's 2005 visit during his first term. The two leaders are scheduled to hold a summit, attend a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding, and participate in a state banquet on the mo
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Foreign Ministry launches task force for nuclear-powered sub talks with Washington
The Foreign Ministry said Thursday it has set up a dedicated team to support negotiations with Washington over Seoul's plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines, as the allies continue follow-up talks on agreements reached at recent summits. According a notice sent to reporters, the new "nuclear-powered submarine negotiation team" has been established under the ministry's North America bureau to serve as a working channel for consultations with the US. "The two countries agreed on the construct
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Foreign ministry sets up team for nuclear-powered sub talks with US: sources
The foreign ministry has launched a team tasked with supporting negotiations with the United States on South Korea's push to build nuclear-powered submarines, diplomatic sources said Thursday. The team, under the North America affairs division, is expected to work as a negotiating channel to advance an agreement between the allies on allowing South Korea to build the strategic vessels, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The team is also expected to draft a bilateral arrangement o
Feb. 12, 2026 -
S. Korea, Netherlands underscore cooperation in economy, tech
South Korea and the Netherlands agreed Wednesday to deepen cooperation on economic security, advanced technology and supply-chain resilience, amid rising geoeconomic tensions and a weakening global trade environment, a joint statement released by Seoul's Foreign Ministry said. Foreign and trade ministers from both countries held the inaugural 2+2 foreign and industry high-level dialogue in Seoul, underscoring the need to strengthen their strategic partnership in response to disruptions in global
Feb. 11, 2026