During a pivotal meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit held in the Indonesian city of Jakarta, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol advocated for sustained diplomacy and collaboration between Korea and China, undeterred by escalating tensions surrounding the North Korean nuclear issue. "As the North Korea nuclear situation escalates, cooperation among Korea, the US and Japan is poised to intensify," Yoon informed Li during the

Foreign Affairs Sept. 7, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol highlighted the serious breaches of United Nations Security Council sanctions by North Korea at the East Asia Summit on Thursday, apparently emphasizing the responsibility of permanent members -- including Russia and China -- who approved the sanctions resolution. The East Asia Summit, a forum addressing major security issues in the region, is comprised of 10 Association of Southeast Asian member nations as well as representatives from South Korea, the US, Ja

Politics Sept. 7, 2023

At a summit attended by Association of Southeast Asian member nations, Japan and China, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called on the international community to unite and decisively respond to North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile development efforts. Speaking at the ASEAN+3 summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday afternoon, Yoon noted an “unprecedented frequency” in North Korean provocations. He urged leaders to firmly address these provocations by supporting sanctio

Foreign Affairs Sept. 6, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged a decisive international response to North Korean provocations while emphasizing the importance of bolstering economic and security ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states during the ASEAN-South Korea summit on Wednesday. At the summit in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Yoon underscored the necessity of a unified and firm response from the global community to fully denuclearize North Korea due to the gravity of the North's

Politics Sept. 6, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on a journey to the ASEAN and G-20 summits on Tuesday, eyeing a fortified international stance against North Korea's nuclear advancements, and fostering deeper economic and security cooperation with ASEAN member states. On Wednesday, Yoon will commence his official engagements at the Korea-ASEAN summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, where leaders are set to evaluate the partnership between the two regions and delineate plans for future collaborations. F

Politics Sept. 5, 2023

President Yoon Suk-yeol is likely to replace his senior two defense and security officials, multiple local media outlets reported Monday. According to reports, Deputy National Security Adviser Lim Jong-deuk and Defense Secretary Lim Ki-hoon are poised to be replaced. The former is set to be succeeded by In Seong-hwan, a major general and the former president of the Joint Forces Military University, while the latter will be replaced by Choi Byung-ok from the Defense Ministry's Defense Poli

Politics Sept. 4, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to embark on a seven-day diplomatic trip to Indonesia and India next week to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and G-20 summits. Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of Korea's National Security Office, said Thursday that Yoon will visit Jakarta, Indonesia, from Sept. 5-8 to attend the ASEAN summit. He will then travel to New Delhi on Sept. 8 and remain there until Sept. 11. On Sept. 6, the second day of his visit, Yoon is

Politics Aug. 31, 2023

First lady Kim Keon Hee said she would work with animal activists until the dog meat industry was eradicated in Korea, continuing her campaign to promote awareness of animal rights. "We all know how we came forward today with a heart filled with sadness and urgency. Here, all of you are giving everything to save these small lives, but there are animals out there dying so cruelly and unbearably that it's truly hard to watch," she said as she appeared at a press conference held by l

Politics Aug. 30, 2023

    The ruling People Power Party has formally proposed that the government designate Oct. 2 as a one-off public holiday. The day, which falls between Korea's major mid-autumn festival holiday, Chuseok, and National Foundation Day, aims to provide a six-day extended break, allowing families to reunite after lengthy COVID-19 restrictions and also to stimulate domestic consumption, according to the party. On Monday, ruling party leader Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon said at a Supreme Council meeting

Politics Aug. 28, 2023

The South Korean government announced plans to more than double the number of foreign workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and services to address the country's growing labor shortages. During the public-private joint regulatory innovation strategy meeting at Guro Digital Complex in Seoul on Thursday, Yoon called for deregulations on hiring foreign workers. “There are people who can work, and there are companies that want and need them. If regulations that do

Politics Aug. 24, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Command Post Theater Air Naval Ground Operations, known as CP Tango, to inspect the situation of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises on the third day of the joint South Korea-US military drill on Wednesday. During a briefing, Yoon received a report on the exercise situation. "Since the establishment of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command in 1978, CP Tango has served as the brain directing the military forces of both nations on land, sea and air," Yoon sa

Defense Aug. 23, 2023

A South Korean government-sponsored video asserting the safety of the Fukushima contaminated water discharge came under fire, with opposition figures and political analysts questioning the motive behind the video production. On July 7, a video lasting 4 minutes and 25 seconds titled "Telling the Truth of Fukushima Contaminated Water by Top Experts in Korea" was uploaded on the government’s official YouTube channel. It turned out that the video was produced at a cost of 38 million

Politics Aug. 23, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated Seoul High Court Senior Judge Lee Gyun-yong as the new chief justice of the Supreme Court, and Bang Moon-kyu, a minister in the Office for Government Policy Coordination, as industry minister, in a reshuffling Tuesday. Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun replaces the policy coordination minister while Kim Byoung-hwan, the presidential secretary for economy and finance, was named to fill Bang’s vacancy. In addition, Yoon nominated Sejong Metropolitan City M

Politics Aug. 22, 2023

North Korea's provocations will only strengthen South Korea's trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday, urging full-fledged preparations against any military threats from the North. Speaking at the Cabinet meeting on the first day of 11-day joint exercises with the US, Yoon touted the three-way partnership on security and economy as a "solid structure" that would lower the risk of North Korea's provocations and transform the growing g

North Korea Aug. 21, 2023

In a coordinated effort, the South Korean police and the US military investigative agency have uncovered a malicious cyber attack by the North Korean hacking group "Kimsuky," aimed at the Korea-US combined military exercise battle simulation center, according to the police on Sunday. According to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, the North Korean hacking group has carried out continuous malicious email attacks targeting a domestic battle simulation company for military eng

North Korea Aug. 20, 2023