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US endorses Korean uranium enrichment, reprocessing: why it matters — and what comes next
The United States has, for the first time, formally backed South Korea’s right to pursue civil uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, opening the door for the allies to launch negotiations on expanding Seoul’s long-sought nuclear-fuel autonomy. Washington’s greenlight appeared in a carefully worded clause in the joint fact sheet released Friday, more than two weeks after the summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang P
Nov. 14, 2025 -
Seoul to raise defense spending as allies map out alliance modernization
South Korea will increase its defense spending and provide more financial support for US soldiers stationed here, while working toward regaining wartime operational control from the US, according to a fact sheet on President Lee Jae Myung’s summit with US President Donald Trump in Gyeongju last month. The document, unveiled Friday, comes after months of speculation that Seoul and Washington were preparing to outline elements of a broader plan to modernize the 72-year-old South Korea-US alliance.
Nov. 14, 2025 -
Chinese envoy urges Seoul to be ‘prudent’ in its pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines
The Chinese envoy to South Korea urged Seoul to proceed “prudently” with its plan to develop nuclear-powered attack submarines in coordination with the United States. Ambassador Dai Bing further warned that the South Korea–US alliance’s push for “modernization” could prompt a shift in Beijing’s posture if it expands into new strategic objectives beyond the Korean Peninsula. Dai reiterated the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s concerns about cooperation between Seoul and Washington on the submarine-buil
Nov. 14, 2025 -
Highlights from Korea-US joint fact sheet
South Korea and the United States on Friday released a joint fact seet on trade and security agreements, concluding months of negotiations. Here are the key points from the document, agreed upon by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump, unveiled on the webite of the White House. • $150 billion of Korean investment in the US shipbuilding sector • $200 billion in additional "strategic" Korean investment, under an MOU expected to be signed by both countries • Korea's an
Nov. 14, 2025 -
Full text of joint fact sheet on Korea-US agreements
Nov. 14, 2025 -
S. Korea-US summit fact sheet could be released Fri.: sources
A joint summit document on trade and security between Seoul and Washington could be released as early as Friday, sources said Thursday. Ruling party officials, who are familiar with the matter, said the two countries were fine-tuning the joint fact sheet, which outlines the outcome of the Oct. 29 summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump, and were reviewing when to announce it. Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, addressed the matter, saying "Discussi
Nov. 13, 2025 -
Korea issues travel advisory on Cuba amid infectious disease concerns
South Korea issued Wednesday the lowest travel advisory for Cuba under its four-level alert system amid growing concerns over infectious diseases, the foreign ministry said. The ministry said it imposed a Level 1 travel advisory on the Caribbean nation, effective 9:00 p.m., citing the spread of diseases, such as dengue fever and chikungunya fever, in the region. The government will continue to monitor the situation in Cuba and review the need for any adjustments to the advisory, it added. (Yonha
Nov. 12, 2025 -
Path of friendship: ASEAN Benches unveiled on Jeju Olle Trail
A vibrant new symbol of enduring friendship between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Korea was unveiled Tuesday with the completion ceremony for 10 symbolic ASEAN benches along a picturesque coastal path on Jeju Island. The addition of 10 ASEAN Benches on the ASEAN-Korea Olle, also known as Jeju Olle Trail Route 8, marks an initiative to bolster cultural and tourism exchange, the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) announced at a completion ceremony at Parnas Hotel Jeju. The project was
Nov. 12, 2025 -
S. Korea, Qatar discuss ways to boost cooperation in energy supply chains, plant, shipbuilding
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met with Qatar's energy minister Wednesday in Seoul to discuss bilateral cooperation in energy supply chains, plant construction and shipbuilding. In the meeting with Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatar's minister of state for energy affairs, the two sides exchanged views on Qatar's plan to expand liquefied natural gas production and measures to strengthen supply chain cooperation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. Qatar is one of South Kore
Nov. 12, 2025 -
Top diplomats of S. Korea, Britain discuss FTA, renewable energy
The top diplomats of South Korea and Britain have discussed efforts to boost cooperation in the economy and other areas, including revising the bilateral free trade pact and strengthening the partnership in renewable energy, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met one-on-one for the first time with British Secretary of State Yvette Cooper on the margins of the Group of Seven foreign ministerial meeting in Canada, where Cho is attending this week as the representati
Nov. 12, 2025 -
Obama thanks Korean, Vietnam War veterans on 'honor flight' to Washington
Former US President Barack Obama has expressed his appreciation to a group of Korean War and Vietnam War veterans aboard an "honor flight" ahead of Veterans Day, stressing that their sacrifices will be honored "today and every day." Obama made a surprise appearance in front of the veterans on the flight from Madison, Wisconsin, to Washington, according to a video clip that he posted on X on Tuesday. The trip was organized by the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization that gives such flig
Nov. 12, 2025 -
S. Korea's top envoy to Russia vows to lay groundwork for restoring bilateral relations
South Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Sok-bae said Tuesday he will work to lay the foundation for restoring relations between Seoul and Moscow, which have remained strained following Russia's war in Ukraine. Lee made the remarks during his inauguration ceremony, pledging to use his experience from his previous tenure as Seoul's top envoy to Russia from 2019 to 2022. "Based on the experience and lessons I gained during my first term as ambassador to Russia, I will do my utmost to manage bilateral
Nov. 11, 2025 -
FM Cho may meet with Rubio at G7 gathering amid standstill in joint fact sheet release
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun could meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the margins of this week's Group of Seven (G7) ministerial gathering in Canada, with eyes on whether the two sides will discuss the stalled release of a joint document on trade and defense. Cho departed for Niagara Falls on Tuesday to attend expanded sessions of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, where he is expected to hold brief talks with his counterparts from G7 member states as well as guest countries, includin
Nov. 11, 2025 -
S. Korea’s nuclear submarine project to reshape regional security dynamics: think tank
South Korea’s decision to pursue nuclear-powered submarines under a recent agreement with the United States is emerging as a watershed moment for the alliance, expanding its strategic cooperation into maritime and high-technology domains while potentially reshaping Northeast Asia’s security landscape, a think tank said Tuesday. In a report released Tuesday, the Sejong Institute said that Seoul’s nuclear submarine program “marks not merely a step in defense capability, but a historic turning poin
Nov. 11, 2025 -
China’s envoy calls for deeper Seoul-Beijing ties with long-term vision
Seoul and Beijing should strengthen their relations with a long-term vision to sustain the momentum from the first summit between the two countries' leaders, rather than viewing ties through a short-term lens, China’s ambassador to South Korea said Tuesday. Ambassador Dai Bing highlighted the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to South Korea — his first since 2014 — on the occasion of the APEC summit from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, as well as his first in-person summit with South
Nov. 11, 2025