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Trump says would 'like' to meet North Korea's Kim on Asia trip
Oct. 25, 2025 -
US keen to 'nail down' trade deal with S. Korea as soon as possible: senior official
The United States is keen to "nail down" a trade deal with South Korea as soon as Seoul is willing to take "appropriate" commitments, a senior US official said Friday, as the two countries strive to bridge differences over how to implement Korea's $350 billion investment pledge under the framework deal. The official made the remarks during an online press briefing amid uncertainty over whether Seoul and Washington could reach a breakthrough to finalize details of the trade deal before or during
Oct. 25, 2025 -
Meeting with Kim not on Trump's schedule during Asia trip, but 'things can change': senior US official
US President Donald Trump has no plan to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the current schedule for his upcoming trip to Asia, but "things can change," a senior US official said Friday, noting Trump's openness to reengaging with the recalcitrant leader. In an online press briefing, the official made the remarks, as Trump is set to begin his two-day state visit to South Korea on Wednesday on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set to take place in the so
Oct. 25, 2025 -
US expert expects Trump to back S. Korea's 'END' peace initiative
US President Donald Trump may support South Korea's new initiative to engage with North Korea and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula as it would be viewed as part of the overall effort to bring Pyongyang back to dialogue, a prominent US expert said Friday. During an online press briefing, Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, made the comment on the "END" initiative to foster peace through
Oct. 25, 2025 -
APEC preparations in Gyeongju enter final stage: PM
With just a week to go before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit opens in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok completed his final two-day inspection of the summit venues Friday, confident that preparations were in the last stretch. “The major construction and infrastructure work is 99 percent complete,” Kim told a group of reporters in Gyeongju on Thursday. “The last one percent will depend on heaven’s help.” Over the course of his latest two-day visit — hi
Oct. 24, 2025 -
Unification minister says APEC ‘heaven-sent’ opportunity for Trump–Kim meeting
South Korea’s unification minister on Friday urged the leaders of the US and North Korea to seize the chance to meet amid the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, describing it as a “heaven-sent opportunity” to formally end the Korean War and reset relations on the peninsula. “The leaders of North Korea and the US must not miss this opportunity — they must decide to meet,” said Unification Minister Chung Dong-young during a press briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul. “It wou
Oct. 24, 2025 -
Trade minister calls for support from Georgia governor to address visa issues
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo called on visiting Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday to support Korean firms based there and drum up support to address visa issues for them and workers. In a meeting with Kemp earlier in the day, Yeo asked the Georgia governor to make efforts to prevent the recurrence of an incident similar to the September immigration raid. Gov. Kemp also said his state will firmly support Korean firms' stable operations and their investment. Last month, more than 300 Korean wo
Oct. 23, 2025 -
PM, governor express optimism for US-China summit during APEC
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — South Korea’s prime minister and the governor of North Gyeongsang Province on Thursday voiced optimism over the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju. Speaking to reporters in the host city, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the confirmed attendance of both leaders “opens the possibility” of a successful summit and a potential breakth
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Allies set to open nuclear talks to expand Seoul’s fuel-cycle rights
South Korea and the United States will soon open negotiations to revise their civil nuclear cooperation pact, seeking to expand Seoul’s rights over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, according to the country's top diplomat. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun revealed on Thursday that Seoul and Washington have been in discussions over revisions to their current civil nuclear cooperation agreement before its expiration in 2035 as part of broader bilateral security negotiations. "We are now kee
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Lee says he trusts US 'rationality' amid final push for tariff deal
President Lee Jae Myung said he trusts in the “rationality” of the United States as South Korea and Washington seek to wrap up months of negotiations over a $350 billion investment package and related tariff talks before next week’s APEC summit in Korea. “I believe it is taking some time,” Lee said in an interview with CNN aired Thursday. “I also believe in the rationality of the United States, and so I believe that we will be able to reach a rational agreement.” Lee expressed confidence that th
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Personnel spotted at China's structure in Yellow Sea: lawmaker
Chinese personnel were spotted for the first time on a structure installed by Beijing in the overlapping maritime zone with Seoul in the Yellow Sea, a lawmaker has said. Five people -- including one person in a wetsuit who appeared to be handling an oxygen tank -- were seen in a recent photo of the Yellow Sea installation released by Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the ruling Democratic Party ahead of a parliamentary audit for the Coast Guard on Wednesday. Yi raised doubts over the purpose of the installa
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Seoul expects steady ties under Takaichi — but braces for Abe’s shadow
As Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, Seoul anticipates continuity rather than confrontation in its ties with Tokyo, according to observers in Seoul. Takaichi takes office amid turbulent domestic politics and an increasingly fraught global security environment compounded by intensifying US-China rivalry under the second Trump administration. Yet analysts predict she is unlikely to derail the current rapprochement in South Korea-Japan relations fostered by her p
Oct. 21, 2025 -
Seoul holds talks with Poland, NATO on defense industry cooperation
Two senior presidential aides held talks with NATO members on defense cooperation, as the trans-Atlantic alliance seeks new security frameworks and supply chains in response to the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical uncertainties. On Monday, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik met with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in the capital Warsaw to discuss defense and economic cooperation between the two countries. Kang is in Europe as a special env
Oct. 21, 2025 -
Trump expects 'fantastic' trade deal with China, notes 'fair' deals with S. Korea, Japan, EU
US President Donald Trump on Monday expressed his expectation that Washington will reach a "very strong" trade deal with Beijing during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, while noting that his administration has struck "fair" deals with Korea, Japan and the European Union. Trump made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, reiterating that he will meet with Xi in Korea "in a couple of weeks," as Korea is
Oct. 21, 2025 -
Panmunjom tour halt stokes speculation of Trump-Kim meeting
South Korea has suspended all field trips to the truce village of Panmunjom in Gyeonggi Province from late October through early November, a move that has stirred speculation of a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The Unification Ministry confirmed Monday that its special tour program to the Joint Security Area will be paused for the period surrounding the summit, which will be held
Oct. 20, 2025