-
APEC CEO Summit in full swing; Nvidia chief, BTS rapper to share insights
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit, a business-centric gathering running parallel to the annual APEC forum's leader's summit, officially commenced Wednesday to explore pivotal issues ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and energy transition to Korean soft power. The summit, hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is scheduled to run through Friday under the official theme "Bridge, Business, Beyond," opening an international stage for deep-dive discussions on pen
Oct. 29, 2025 -
Defense chiefs of US, Japan hold talks on alliance, defense cooperation
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and new Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held their first in-person talks in Tokyo on Wednesday as Washington and Tokyo strive to strengthen defense cooperation amid China's growing assertiveness and North Korea's advancing military threats. The meeting came a day after Pyongyang test-fired what it called sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea, the latest launch that came on the eve of US President Donald Trump's visit to South Kore
Oct. 29, 2025 -
Lutnick to meet Korean, US biz leaders at APEC gathering
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will hold a business roundtable with leaders of major South Korean and American companies in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Wednesday for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering, Seoul officials said. The roundtable event will be held at the Gyeongju Arts Center later in the day on the sidelines of the planned summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump, the officials said, while noting the schedule may change. Th
Oct. 29, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to sign deal to expand ties in science
South Korea's science ministry said Wednesday it will sign an agreement with the United States to broaden cooperation in the science sector on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering under way in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. The Technology Prosperity Deal, to be signed by Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon and Michael Kratsios, head of Washington's Office of Science and Technology Policy, later in the day, centers on expanding "omnidirectional" cooperation in science,
Oct. 29, 2025 -
Lee says S. Korea will lead multilateral cooperation against rising protectionism
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that South Korea will play a leading role in advancing multilateral cooperation among members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to address multiple challenges over rising protectionism. "At a time when protectionism and policies focused on national interests are resurging and when immediate survival is the foremost concern, talk of cooperation, mutual growth and inclusive development may sound hollow," Lee said at the opening ceremony of the APEC CEO
Oct. 29, 2025 -
Presidential office says neither optimistic nor pessimistic about reaching tariff deal with US
The presidential office is neither optimistic nor pessimistic about reaching a deal in tariff negotiations with the United States on Wednesday as President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet with US President Donald Trump, a senior presidential official said. Lee Kyu-youn, senior secretary for public relations and communication, made the remarks at a radio program as the two leaders are set to hold a summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Oct. 29, 2025 -
Lee, Trump set for high-stakes summit talks today
GYEONGJU-- President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump are set to hold high-stakes summit talks on Wednesday on the occasion of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, the presidential office said. Trump, who is making a state visit to South Korea, is scheduled to arrive from Japan and hold talks with Lee at the Gyeongju Arts Center in the afternoon. The meeting marks their second in-person summit in about two months, following their first t
Oct. 29, 2025 -
Seoul’s pragmatic diplomacy put to test to steer APEC through storm
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- Seoul is stepping onto the APEC summit stage with a daunting task: to save the forum’s core, steady it amid global headwinds, and steer leaders toward consensus on what matters most for sustainable and shared growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Once shorthand for the region’s shared prosperity, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation now gathers its leaders along widening fault lines, as the region is squeezed between rival centers of gravity with dwindling space
Oct. 28, 2025 -
Still uncertain how Pyongyang will respond to Trump’s offer: minister
South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Tuesday that Pyongyang is likely to express its stance on a possible summit with the US through Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, by Wednesday. Chung, however, cautioned that nothing is certain yet, amid mounting speculation that Kim and US President Donald Trump could meet, with the latter set to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week in Gyeongj
Oct. 28, 2025 -
Gyeongju on highest security alert for APEC summit
Preparing for the arrival of the leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, was transformed into a fortress on Tuesday. From the serene lakeside paths of the Bomun Tourist Complex to the bustling streets of Hwangnidan-gil, the city is now under its highest security alert — known as “gapho emergency” for this week’s APEC summit. The gapho alert is
Oct. 28, 2025 -
S. Korea to 'swiftly' commence talks with ASEAN to improve existing FTA: ministry
South Korea will "swiftly" commence talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, to discuss upgrading the free trade agreement, FTA, the two sides signed nearly 20 years ago, as part of efforts to expand their bilateral trade, the industry ministry said Monday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources unveiled the plan as President Lee Jae Myung wrapped up his two-day trip to Malaysia for the annual Korea-ASEAN summit, where he proposed launching negotiations to improve the
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Gyeongju’s moment: Key developments to watch at APEC 2025
As South Korea welcomes leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, this week, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit is shaping up to be more than just another economic gathering. With the United States, China, Japan and other regional powers in attendance, the forum is expected to move beyond economic dialogue and serve as a testing ground for strategic diplomacy among the world’s largest powers. For Seoul, the summit offers both an opportunity and
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Cambodian PM offers condolences over death of S. Korean student in summit with Lee
President Lee Jae Myung held a summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Malaysia on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and joint responses to online scam crimes, following the death of a Korean college student that fueled public outrage in South Korea. During their meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, Manet offered condolences over the death of the Korean student who was lured to work in a scam center in Cambodia, calling the death
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Hegseth to visit Seoul for 1st meeting with S. Korean defense chief
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will make his first trip to Seoul next week to meet with his South Korean counterpart, marking the two allies’ first ministerial-level defense talks since he took office, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Monday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will hold the 57th Security Consultative Meeting with Hegseth on Nov. 4. The annual meeting, hosted alternately by the two countries, will take place in Seoul this year. The meeting will mark the first face-to-face talks bet
Oct. 27, 2025 -
Rival parties vow bipartisan response against Japan's Dokdo claim
The ruling and the main opposition parties denounced Japan's territorial claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on Saturday as they marked Dokdo Day. "Dokdo is historically, geographically our territory," the ruling Democratic Party (DP) said in its commentary. "But Japan still claims its sovereignty over Dokdo and distorts shared history." The DP said it wants a future-oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan, but Japan's groundless claims to Dokdo and its distortion of
Oct. 25, 2025