N. Korea says Trump's DMZ meeting offer 'interesting suggestion'

North Korea said Saturday that a proposal by US President Donald Trump to meet its leader Kim Jong-un in the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas is a "very interesting suggestion.""We see it as a very interesting suggestion, but we have not received an official proposal in this regard," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui as saying. Trump earlier made the offer on Twitter, hours before he was due to visit

North KoreaJune 29, 2019

Trump says meeting with Xi was 'excellent'

OSAKA, Japan (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump said Saturday his high-stakes trade meeting with China's President Xi Jinping was "excellent" with negotiations now "back on track"."We had a very good meeting with President Xi of China... I would say excellent," Trump said after the talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit."We are right back on track," he said, adding both sides would be releasing official statements shortly. (AFP)

EconomyJune 29, 2019

Trump tells China's Xi open to 'historic' trade deal

OSAKA, Japan (AFP) -- Washington is open to a "historic" trade deal with China, President Donald Trump said Saturday as he met President Xi Jinping, who called for "cooperation and dialogue"."It would be historic if we could do a fair trade deal," Trump said at the start of the high-stakes meeting to thrash out a tariff war between the world's top two economies. "We are totally open to it," added Trump after Xi said "cooperation and dialogue"

EconomyJune 29, 2019

Trump, Xi begin high-stakes meeting on trade tensions

OSAKA, Japan (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping kicked off a hotly awaited meeting Saturday, with the world watching to see if they can strike a deal over their long-running trade war."It would be historic if we could do a fair trade deal," Trump said at the start of the high-stakes meeting to thrash out a tariff war between the world's top two economies. "We are totally open to it," added Trump after Xi said "cooperation and dialogue" ar

World NewsJune 29, 2019

Trump’s Tweet fans speculations ahead of trip to Seoul

OSAKA, Japan -- US President Donald Trump on Saturday further fanned speculations about his visit to Seoul with a Twitter post saying he would like to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while in Korea. “After some very important meetings, including my meeting with President Xi of China, I will be leaving Japan for South Korea (with President Moon),” Trump wrote.“While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the Border/DMZ just to shake his ha

North KoreaJune 29, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae: No decision on Trump-NK leader meeting

OSAKA, Japan -- Responding to US President Donald Trump's latest twitter message on North Korea, Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday that "Nothing has been decided."Trump offered in the message to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the border between the two Koreas, during his upcoming trip to South Korea. Trump will leave for the South for a two-day trip later Saturday after attending the two-day Group of 20 summit here. He was widely expected

North KoreaJune 29, 2019

Putin: N. Korean leader says security assurance is a key corresponding step for denuclearization

OSAKA -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made it clear that security assurance is his key demand in terms of corresponding measures for denuclearization, Russian President Vladimir Putin told South Korean President Moon Jae-in during their talks here Saturday.Putin was briefing Moon on the outcome of his April summit with Kim held in the Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, according to deputy Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Han Jung-woo."President Putin quoted Chairman Kim Jong-un as saying th

North KoreaJune 29, 2019

Trump: US has never been more loyal to S. Korea than now

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump on Friday reaffirmed the close friendship and alliance between South Korea and the United States, saying his country has never been more loyal to the ally nation than now.The comments were published in a press release from the White House ahead of his visit to South Korea on Saturday and Sunday. "The partnership between our two nations and our two people is deep and enduring," Trump said. "We have been proud to stand by your side for many de

North KoreaJune 29, 2019

Trump offers to meet Kim at inter-Korean border

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump has offered to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the inter-Korean border when he travels to South Korea later in the day.Trump made the offer on Twitter on Saturday (Japan time), hours before he was due to visit Seoul from Osaka, Japan, where he has been attending a Group of 20 summit."After some very important meetings, including my meeting with President Xi of China, I will be leaving Japan for South Korea (with President Moon)," Tru

North KoreaJune 29, 2019

Moon, Putin discuss North Korea, bilateral relations

OSAKA, Japan – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday expressed his support for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, relaying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s words to South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The meeting began at 36 minutes past midnight, nearly two hours later than the originally scheduled 10:45 p.m. Despite the late start, Moon and Putin held talks with their aides and Cabinet members in presence until 1:21 a.m., followed by an 8-minute long one-on-one meeti

Foreign AffairsJune 29, 2019

Court rejects Mercedes-Benz's request to cancel fine

A South Korean court has rejected Mercedes-Benz's request to cancel a multibillion-won penalty imposed on the carmaker for violating emission rules, judicial sources said Friday.The environment ministry fined the German luxury carmaker's Korean unit about 7.8 billion won ($6.75 million) in 2017 for importing and selling 8,246 vehicles in 21 models without obtaining approval for changes in components controlling emissions and noise.The Seoul Administrative Court ruled against the company in a sui

IndustryJune 28, 2019

May to Putin: Stop 'destabilising' UK, allies

British Prime Minister Theresa May told Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday that normal relations will not be restored until Moscow ends its "irresponsible and destabilising" activity, a Downing Street spokesperson said.   The comments came as May met Putin for the first time since the row over the poisoning of a former Russian spy on British soil.   "She told the president that there cannot be a normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia stop

World NewsJune 28, 2019

Trump jokes to Putin: 'Don't meddle in the election'

With a smirk and a finger point, President Donald Trump dryly told Russia's Vladimir Putin ``Don't meddle in the election'' in their first meeting since the special counsel concluded that Russia extensively interfered with the 2016 campaign.The tone of the president's comment, which came after a reporter asked if he would warn Putin, was immediately open to interpretation. But it would seem to do little to silence questions about Trump's relationship with Russia in the aftermath of special

World NewsJune 28, 2019

KEPCO agrees to revise progressive electricity rates system

South Koreans will see lower electricity bills this summer after state-run utility company Korea Electric Power Corp. on Friday decided to revise the progressive electricity rates system.    KEPCO said its board of directors accepted a government-civilian panel's recommendation to temporarily ease electricity bills in the summer following its special meeting.    KEPCO and the government have been facing criticism that the current electric billing system adds a burden on house

Social AffairsJune 28, 2019

Xi’s statements invite varied interpretations

Messages from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un relayed by Chinese President Xi Jinping invited mixed interpretations in Seoul.During a summit with President Moon Jae-in in Japan on Thursday, Xi briefed him on the results of his two-day state visit to Pyongyang June 20-21.  While stressing the North Korean regime’s unwavering commitment to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through dialogue with the US, Xi said that Kim is willing to do what it can to address the regime’s &l

North KoreaJune 28, 2019

Host city of ‘Couple Festival’ dismayed over Song couple’s divorce

Taebaek, Gangwon Province, is considering calling off the festival themed on the hit TV drama series “Descendants of the Sun” after Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, who met through the drama announced their divorce Thursday. The city, where the TV drama series was filmed, is mulling canceling its “Couple Festival,” a two-day event slated for July 27. After the TV drama, aired in 2016, garnered great popularity both at home and abroad, Taebaek has been expanding its to

Social AffairsJune 28, 2019

Macron promises France’s support for Moon’s peace drive

OSAKA, Japan -- French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his full support for Seoul’s peace drive in a summit with President Moon Jae-in, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.  “(I) fully support President Moon’s Korean Peninsula peace process and (establishing) regional stability. France is prepared to provide all it can (for the process),” Macron was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung. Moon and Macron met on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit on reques

Foreign AffairsJune 28, 2019

Moon stresses economic cooperation with Indonesia

OSAKA, Japan -- President Moon Jae-in on Friday expressed hopes for closer cooperation with Indonesia, requesting President Joko Widodo’s support. At a summit with Widodo held in Osaka, Japan, Moon stressed the need for closer collaboration between the two countries, while praising developments in recent years, according to Cheong Wa Dae. “President Moon assessed bilateral relations have advanced to the highest level during President Widodo’s term, and expressed hopes for

Foreign AffairsJune 28, 2019

Moon highlights free trade, G-20 cooperation on global financial system

OSAKA, Japan -- President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed the importance of free trade, urging more cooperation among G-20 nations.Speaking at the first session of the G-20 summit dealing with trade and global economy, Moon raised concerns on the impact of trade protectionism.  Citing OECD and IMF listing trade conflicts and spread of protectionism as one of the reasons for lowering the world’s growth outlook, he urged G-20 nations to step up collective efforts.“This is the time

Foreign AffairsJune 28, 2019

Moon urges G-20's role in resolving global trade row

With the leaders of the United States and China listening to him, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called Friday for a concerted and responsible role by the Group of 20 member states in ending global trade wars and other economic challenges."The G-20 should show leadership again," Moon stressed, speaking at the first session of this week's annual summit here on world economy, trade and investment.He pointed out that the world is confronted with new challenges amid growing uncertainti

Foreign AffairsJune 28, 2019