-
Lee discusses defense, nuclear energy cooperation with Romanian president over phone
President Lee Jae Myung spoke by phone for the first time with Romanian President Nicusor Dan on Thursday and discussed ways to boost cooperation in the defense industry, nuclear energy and other areas, Lee's office said. Lee said it is meaningful that South Korea's exports of the Shingung surface-to-air missile system and K9 self-propelled howitzers to Romania have contributed to strengthening Romania's defense capabilities, voicing hopes that South Korean companies will continue to play a role
Dec. 4, 2025 -
Lee considering visit to Japan next month for talks with Takaichi: report
South Korea and Japan are in talks to arrange a visit to Japan by President Lee Jae Myung next month for summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a report said Thursday. The two sides are looking to hold the summit in Nara Prefecture, Takaichi's home region, in mid-January, Kyodo News reported, citing diplomatic sources. The trip, if realized, will mark Lee's second visit to the neighboring country after he visited Tokyo in August and held summit talks with Takaichi's predecesso
Dec. 4, 2025 -
Korea to provide $1.5m in humanitarian aid to flood-hit Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka
South Korea will provide a total of $1.5 million worth of humanitarian aid to Vietnam, Thailand and Sri Lanka to support recovery efforts following deadly floods and landslides that struck the three countries, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The government will provide $500,000 to each country to help restore the affected areas and support local residents' early return to their daily lives, the ministry said in a release. The floods struck the three South and Southeast Asian countries late l
Dec. 4, 2025 -
Seoul eases travel advisory for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, keeps restrictions in high-risk regions
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday that it has adjusted some travel advisories for Cambodia, lowering the alert level for the capital Phnom Penh and further easing guidance for regions including Siem Reap. Effective from 4 p.m., the ministry lifted the special travel advisory for Phnom Penh, downgrading it to Level 2. Regions currently under Level 2, including Siem Reap, have been further lowered to Level 1. Authorities said the adjustment reflects improvements in publi
Dec. 4, 2025 -
US gov't puts S. Korea-US tariff deal on Federal Register
US President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday posted on the Federal Register a notice on the implementation of a South Korea-US trade and investment deal, including a reduced tariff rate of 15 percent on Korean autos retroactive to Nov. 1. The Office of the US Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce posted the document to implement certain tariff-related elements of the US-Korea Strategic Trade and Investment Deal ahead of its official publication date set for Thursday. The
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Lee, IOC chief highlight sports' role in improving inter-Korean ties
President Lee Jae Myung met with International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry on Wednesday and discussed the role of sports in improving inter-Korean relations, his office said. The two met at the presidential office during Coventry's visit to South Korea to attend a world anti-doping conference in the southeastern city of Busan. Lee asked the IOC chief for her interest and support for the development of South Korean sports, saying he hopes to be able to "see the Olympic flag" in th
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Lee says Trump proposed 5:5 partnership for uranium enrichment project
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that US President Donald Trump proposed the two countries form a 5:5 partnership to achieve South Korea's aim of enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel on its soil. Lee disclosed what he said was Trump's proposal at a recent summit meeting during a press conference with the foreign press that marked one year since former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law. "In the end, we agreed to partner," Lee said, adding that Trump
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Korea and Japan should handle disputes, cooperation separately: Lee
South Korea and Japan have a number of contested, and unresolved issues but the two sides need to compartmentalize matters in developing bilateral ties, President Lee Jae Myung said at Wednesday’s press conference with foreign media. Saying that the two countries are inseparably connected economically and historically, Lee said that areas that discord must not influence fields that need cooperation. Q. There have been some reports suggesting that you may soon visit Japan. However, there have als
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul-Moscow relations ‘difficult,’ but South has limited options: Lee
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday stressed that while Russia is an important nation for South Korea, Seoul has little options due to the war on Ukraine and Moscow’s deepening ties with Pyongyang. Speaking at the press conference with foreign media, Lee said that Moscow-Pyongyang ties are developing in a “very undesirable” direction for South Korea, but that the country will “do our best to prevent things from worsening and work to improve the situation, even slightly.” Q. Over the past one to
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Lee says Korea should ‘mediate’ in China-Japan friction
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday said that Korea would not take sides in the escalating friction between China and Japan, and seek to mediate and moderate between the two neighbors. When asked about what would Korea’s role be if conflict breaks out between China and Taiwan, in relation to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comment that sparked off deterioration in China-Japan relations. Last month, Takaichi said that conflict involving force between China and Taiwan could "const
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul commits to nuclear treaty obligations amid nuclear-powered submarine development plan
The government pledged Tuesday to fully uphold Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, as it moves forward with a plan to build nuclear-powered submarines and acquire the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. The commitment was made during a high-level policy meeting in Seoul where Lee Chul, director of the International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs Bureau at the foreign ministry, met with Massimo Aparo, head of the Department of Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul commits to nuclear treaty obligations amid nuclear-powered submarine development plan
The government pledged Tuesday to fully uphold Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, as it moves forward with a plan to build nuclear-powered submarines and acquire the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. The commitment was made during a high-level policy meeting in Seoul where Lee Chul, director of the International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs Bureau at the foreign ministry, met with Massimo Aparo, head of the Department of Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dec. 2, 2025 -
Lee warns ‘unrealistic’ nuclear armament debate hinders Seoul’s push for fuel-cycle rights
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday criticized "unrealistic claims" that South Korea intends to pursue its own nuclear arsenal, warning that such mischaracterizations are obstructing Seoul’s efforts to secure its uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing rights. Presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, Lee said discussions with Washington have been hindered due to concerns that expanded fuel-cycle capabilities could be diverted for nuclear weapon
Dec. 2, 2025 -
S. Korea, U.S. agree to swiftly launch working groups for follow-up talks on summit agreements
South Korea and the United States have agreed to swiftly launch working groups for follow-up negotiations on the recent summit agreements, including Seoul's plans to build nuclear-powered submarines and pursue civil uranium enrichment rights, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo shared the need with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during their talks in Washington on Monday (local time), the first high-level follow-up dialogue since the rele
Dec. 2, 2025 -
Koreans in Cambodia urge Seoul to ease travel alerts amid economic toll
The Korean Association in Cambodia has called on South Korea’s Foreign Ministry to loosen its travel advisories, saying the tightened alerts are choking local livelihoods and causing "economic damage" to the Korean community. The association on Thursday delivered an official letter to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul making the request, backed by signatures from 844 Korean residents, the group's head Chung Myung-gyu told The Korea Herald on Friday. The South Korean government raised the travel advi
Nov. 28, 2025