Presidential office criticized for haste over potential Trump meeting

South Korea’s bid to secure a surprise early meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President-elect Donald Trump on the occasion of Yoon’s trip to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Group of 20 summits in South America, is now facing slim odds. Last week, President Yoon’s office unexpectedly hinted at the possibility of a meeting between the South Korean leader and former US President Donald Trump before Yoon's return to Seoul. This uncertainty was cit

Nov. 17, 2024

Washington-Pyongyang talks difficult without Seoul's involvement: minister

Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said Sunday that any talks between North Korea and the United States will be difficult without South Korea's involvement. Kim made the remark during an interview with broadcaster KBS, acknowledging there are concerns South Korea could be overlooked in the event North Korea and the US pursue a resumption of dialogue. "It will be difficult for North Korea to go to Washington without going through Seoul," the minister said. "That's how firml

Nov. 17, 2024

Yoon, Vietnamese president discuss ways to boost economic ties

President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Vietnam's new President Luong Cuong to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries and other issues of mutual concern, Yoon's office said Saturday. The bilateral summit, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, marked Yoon's first meeting with Cuong, who took office last month. Yoon emphasized the importance of "mutually beneficial" cooperation in key areas, including infrastructure develop

Nov. 17, 2024

S. Korean, Peruvian presidents agree to expand defense, minerals cooperation

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Peruvian counterpart, Dina Boluarte, agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defense industry and the mineral sector during their summit in Peru on Saturday. The talks, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, came as Seoul has been seeking to expand cooperation with Peru, an increasingly crucial partner for South Korea given its rich mineral resources and growing potential for deeper bilateral defense industrial collaboration. Yoon a

Nov. 17, 2024

Yoon affirms S. Korea's commitment to lead carbon-free energy initiatives

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday pledged South Korea's commitment to leading efforts to expand use of carbon-free energy and foster inclusive growth among members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. "South Korea will cooperate with APEC members to achieve their carbon neutrality goals in an economically viable manner through the Carbon-Free Energy Initiative," Yoon said, according to a summary provided by his office. Yoon detailed plans to lead technological collaboration

Nov. 17, 2024

Yoon, Ishiba voice concerns over NK-Russia military cooperation, agree to continue 'shuttle diplomacy'

Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "strong" concerns over military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and decided to continue "shuttle diplomacy" during their talks in Peru on Saturday, Yoon's office said. Yoon and Ishiba held their second in-person summit in a month on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Lima, amid rising concerns over North Korea's troop deployment to Russia in support of Moscow's protracted war

Nov. 17, 2024

Yoon proposes forum for AI standards among APEC economies

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday proposed establishing a forum among Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members to set standards to promote the integration of artificial intelligence and manufacturing industries. Yoon stressed APEC's significant role in global manufacturing during the APEC CEO summit, a business forum held alongside the APEC summit in Lima, as he noted the world has ushered in an "era of grand AI transition" that affects corporate competitiveness and national secu

Nov. 16, 2024

Yoon calls for global solidarity against N. Korea-Russia military cooperation at APEC

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made an emphatic call for international solidarity against growing military ties between North Korea and Russia and urged the two countries to halt their "reckless" military adventure as he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru on Friday. In a keynote speech, Yoon condemned "illegal" military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow as intelligence reports have confirmed that North Korean forces have been engaged in

Nov. 16, 2024

Yoon, Biden hold farewell summit in Peru

President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden held a farewell summit in Peru on Friday as they looked back on their partnership and reaffirmed efforts for enhancing the bilateral alliance, Yoon's office said. The meeting followed a trilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo told reporters. During the 10-minute meeting, Yoon thanked B

Nov. 16, 2024

Yoon asks China's Xi to play 'constructive' role in N. Korea's provocation, military cooperation with Russia

President Yoon Suk Yeol asked Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to play a "constructive" role in North Korea's provocations and Pyongyang's deepening military cooperation with Russia in support of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Yoon made the remark at a summit with Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Lima amid heightened concerns over North Korea's repeated ballistic missile tests and troop deployment to Russia, Principal Deputy Natio

Nov. 16, 2024

S. Korea, US, Japan unveil secretariat establishment, decry NK-Russia decision to expand Ukraine war

  The leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan announced the establishment of a secretariat for trilateral cooperation and condemned North Korea and Russia's decision to "dangerously expand" Moscow's war in Ukraine as they met on the margins of a multilateral summit in Peru. President Yoon Suk Yeol, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba issued a joint statement after they held a trilateral meeting in Lima on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Ec

Nov. 16, 2024

Yoon holds 1st summit with sultan of Brunei to boost bilateral ties

President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Friday (local time) to explore ways to expand bilateral ties across defense industry, infrastructure and digital technologies, Yoon's office said. Their first summit took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Lima, Peru. Yoon highlighted the bilateral economic ties in crude oil trade and construction projects, expressing hope to expand cooperation to include new areas su

Nov. 16, 2024

Seoul’s bid for early Yoon-Trump meeting faces slim odds

South Korea’s bid to secure an early meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President-elect Donald Trump, leveraging Yoon’s trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and G-20 summits in South America, now appears unlikely, a senior presidential official in Seoul said. “Trump’s team has been informing all embassies that, with their focus on key appointments and domestic issues, meetings with foreign leaders are unlikely before the inauguration,” the presi

Nov. 15, 2024

Trump team's 'America First' policy shouldn't mean 'America only': Korean American senator-elect

Korean American Sen.-elect Andy Kim stressed the need Thursday to make sure that President-elect Donald Trump's "America First" policy does not mean "America only," as he expressed concerns over some of Trump's personnel choices. Kim, the first Korean American elected to the upper chamber of Congress, made the remarks, underscoring his position against an "isolationist" foreign policy and vowing to play a role to reinforce the relationship between South Ko

Nov. 15, 2024

S. Korean consul general in New York offers to resign amid speculation over his ties to first lady

South Korea's consul general in New York has offered to step down amid growing criticism from the opposition party in Seoul over his personal ties to first lady Kim Keon Hee. In a statement released to media on Wednesday (New York time), Kim Euy-whan said he had already submitted his resignation to the foreign ministry on Oct. 26, following the parliamentary audit where he came under intense scrutiny from opposition party lawmakers. Kim denied that his connection to the first lady was the r

Nov. 14, 2024

[Security Forum] Uncertainties cloud security on Korean Peninsula, experts say

A second Donald Trump administration is expected to bring a slew of uncertainties to the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, which calls for Seoul to bolster its alliance with Washington and find a key role in the US’ potential policy shifts, experts pointed out Wednesday. During a panel discussion at the Korea Herald Security Forum titled "Alliance After US Election 2024: A Seoul Perspective" held at the National Assembly in Seoul, four experts addressed looming concerns

Nov. 14, 2024

Proactive, calm approach needed in response to Trump 2.0

As US President-elect Donald Trump’s second term augurs the resurgence of his "America First" policy, a consistent message resonated at a timely Korea Herald forum: Seoul must forge a strategic pivot, carefully balancing its role as a US ally with its own autonomy and core interests. At the “Alliance After the US Election 2024: A Seoul Perspective” security forum held Wednesday at the National Assembly Museum, a pressing question took center stage: How can South Korea

Nov. 14, 2024

Another Korean American wins seat in US Congress

Another Korean American won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, a news report said Wednesday, an election that will add to a steadily growing list of Korean American lawmakers in Congress. State Sen. Dave Min, a Democrat, has defeated his Republican rival, Scott Baugh, by a slim margin in the race in California's 47th Congressional District, according to NBC News. It marks his first election to the lower chamber of Congress. "I know many of us are anxious about the future of o

Nov. 14, 2024

Trump officially taps Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state

US President-elect Donald Trump officially nominated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state on Wednesday, calling him a "strong advocate for our nation" and a "true friend to our allies." Trump issued a statement on the nomination of Rubio, known for his hawkish stance on China and Iran, as America's next top diplomat is to face a full plate of foreign policy challenges, including an intensifying rivalry with China, Russia's war in Ukraine and North Kore

Nov. 14, 2024

Biden, Trump meet in White House, call for smooth transition

President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump met at the White House on Wednesday for the first time since last week's presidential election, with both calling for a smooth transition of power. In the Oval Office, Biden shook hands with Trump and congratulated him on his victory -- a resumption of a post-election tradition that paused in 2020 when Trump refused to concede the election results and did not invite Biden to the presidential office. "Congratulations," Biden said

Nov. 14, 2024