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S. Korea, Thailand to deepen ties in trade, energy, health
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday held his first face-to-face summit with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, pledging to strengthen cooperation across their economic, diplomatic and health sectors, as they met on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC Summit. The two leaders met at the Gyeongju International Media Center, where they were joined by officials including Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and national security adviser Wi
Oct. 30, 2025 -
Trump's 25 hours in S. Korea
US President Donald Trump wrapped up a tightly scheduled 25-hour visit to South Korea on Thursday, departing from Busan after a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The 100-minute meeting, held at Gimhae Air Base, was their first in over six years and came amid ongoing efforts to ease trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Trump arrived Wednesday in the historic city of Gyeongju for a one-night state visit ahead of the APEC summit. He met with South Korean Pre
Oct. 30, 2025 -
Lutnick says chip tariffs not part of Korea-US trade deal; Korea agrees to open markets '100%'
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday that semiconductor tariffs are not part of a trade deal with South Korea, and the Asian country has agreed to "fully" open its markets "100 percent." In a social media post, Lutnick enumerated details of the trade deal, indicating some differences from what the Korean government explained after the two countries finalized the specifics of Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge under the deal during Wednesday's summit between Presidents Lee Jae M
Oct. 30, 2025 -
FM Cho calls for keeping Asia-Pacific 'open, connected' amid economic, geopolitical headwinds
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called on Asia-Pacific partners on Thursday to work together to keep the region "open" and "connected" amid economic and geopolitical challenges testing regional resilience. Cho made the call as he co-led the plenary of a top foreign and trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, highlighting that the Asia-Pacific remains the engine of global growth and the "best hope" for a more prosperous future. "Economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensio
Oct. 30, 2025 -
Trump, Xi set for high-stakes summit amid trade war
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Thursday for a high-stakes summit that will be watched closely for signs of a reprieve in the two countries' escalating trade war marked by tit-for-tat tariffs. The two leaders met for the first time since 2019 at Naraemaru, a reception hall inside an Air Force base in the southeastern city of Busan, shortly after Xi arrived in the country for a three-day state visit. Trump arrived at the venue beforehand after departing the nearby c
Oct. 30, 2025 -
Lee says S. Korea needs China's 'constructive' role in nuclear issue
President Lee Jae Myung has said that South Korea needs China's "constructive" role in resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to arrive in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering Thursday. Lee made the remarks in a written interview with China's state-run Xinhua News Agency ahead of Xi's state visit -- the first in 11 years -- to attend the APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. "South Korea urgently needs Ch
Oct. 30, 2025 -
White House releases fact sheet on S. Korea's investments, reaffirms 'steadfast' alliance
The White House has released a fact sheet enumerating a series of South Korea's plans to invest in the United States, saying US President Donald Trump secured "more billion dollar deals" during his state visit to Korea this week. The release on Wednesday came as Trump is currently in South Korea for a two-day visit that ends Thursday. The deals included those that have already been announced by the South Korean industry following Trump's first summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at
Oct. 30, 2025 -
Security forces on heightened alert as Trump set to arrive in Gyeongju
Security forces were on heightened alert as US President Donald Trump was set to arrive in Gyeongju on Wednesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering. Trump is expected to arrive at Gimhae International Airport in the southern city of Busan and fly to Gyeongju aboard Marine One, his presidential helicopter. Police and security officers have sealed off a heliport located close to the Hilton Hotel near the summit venue, where he is expected to stay. Trump is likely to transfer to hi
Oct. 29, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to sign deal to strengthen AI cooperation: report
South Korea and the United States are expected to sign a deal Wednesday to boost cooperation in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and 6G, according to a report by Bloomberg. The signing will take place as President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump will meet for talks later in the day in Gyeongju on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering. Under the agreement, the two countries will make efforts to strengthen export con
Oct. 29, 2025 -
APEC foreign, trade chiefs set to meet amid concerns over global trade
A ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum was set to kick off Wednesday, bringing together top foreign and trade officials of the 21 member economies with a focus on exploring ways to enhance trade cooperation and promote regional security. The APEC Ministerial Meeting, running through Thursday, comes as the multilateral gathering seeks to reach common ground on key initiatives for growth and co-prosperity, amid rising protectionism and weakening global trade fueled by
Oct. 29, 2025 -
S. Korea vows to work with intl. community to stem transnational crimes at ASEAN-related meeting
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has said South Korea will work more closely with Southeast Asian nations and the broader international community to combat growing transnational crimes in the region, such as online scams, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Cho made the call during the East Asia Summit, a regional gathering involving the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, South Korea, Japan, China, the United States and a few others in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, the ministry said in a releas
Oct. 28, 2025 -
PM calls for hosting 'unrivaled' APEC summit
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called Tuesday for hosting an "unrivaled" Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week in line with the country's international standing. Kim made the remark during a Cabinet meeting a day after the gathering of the 21 APEC member economies began in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. "This summit will be a forum for global economic cooperation and cultural exchange, as well as a moment in history that creates a new framework for the global trade order," the prim
Oct. 28, 2025 -
S. Korea, Japan arranging summit talks between Lee, Takaichi Thursday: report
South Korea and Japan have been arranging bilateral summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi later this week, a Japanese media report showed Tuesday. Seoul and Tokyo are seeking to arrange the summit for Thursday, the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said, noting that the leaders of the two countries both appear to seek to maintain the momentum to improve bilateral ties. The envisioned meeting comes as Takaichi is expected to arrive in South Kore
Oct. 28, 2025 -
Security tightened to highest levels ahead of Trump's APEC arrival
Security forces raised their alert to the highest levels in Gyeongju, the host city of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, deploying riot police, armored vehicles and anti-drone systems to ensure fortress-like security. Security operations reached a fever pitch in and around the Bomun Tourist Complex, where the summit will be held and many leaders will be staying, as police activated the top Gapho alert across North Gyeongsang Province, home to Gyeongju. South Korea is hosting the mult
Oct. 28, 2025 -
Future tech forum, welcome reception set for APEC biz leaders on eve of CEO summit opening
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit is set to kick off in the southeastern city of Gyeongju this week, bringing together some 1,700 participants from APEC member economies and global companies for talks on pending economic issues, including artificial intelligence and the energy transition. On Tuesday, the eve of the official opening of the business gathering, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host a welcome reception for global business tycoons attending the event, ai
Oct. 28, 2025