South Korea's defense minister said Seoul may support the U.S.-led effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, offering military personnel and information-sharing after a South Korean vessel suffered Iranian attacks in the critical waterway transporting twenty percent of global oil.
President Lee Jae Myung hosted separate meetings with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Seoul on Wednesday, positioning South Korea as a diplomatic intermediary ahead of Thursday's Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.
President Trump departed for China to meet Xi Jinping, planning to request economic opening while accompanied by business leaders, amid ongoing US-China trade negotiations and discussions on Taiwan, tariffs, and fentanyl cooperation.
Poland and South Korea elevated their strategic partnership to comprehensive status, agreeing to expand defense cooperation worth 44.2 billion dollars alongside technology, trade, and space initiatives, positioning Poland as South Korea's key European market entry point.
Seoul weighing phased contribution to Strait of Hormuz security: Defense Minister
Trump's dismissal of US allies has undermined Washington's negotiating leverage against China, as estranged partners pursue independent commercial ties with Beijing, weakening collective bargaining power on critical issues like semiconductors and minerals.
South Korea considers using AI profits to fund a people's dividend to ease inequality.
South Korea and the US agreed to cooperate on key alliance issues for mutual security interest.
North Korea revises its constitution to drop unification references and names Kim head of nuclear forces.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visits Washington for talks with US officials.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering visiting South Korea on May 19 to hold summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung in his hometown of Andong, discussing economic security cooperation including energy and critical mineral supply chains.
South Korea's defense minister says no major issues exist in accelerating wartime OPCON transfer with the US.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may visit South Korea on May 19 for a summit with President Lee Jae Myung.
Defense Minister Ahn visits the US for talks with Secretary Hegseth on wartime control and submarines.
South Korea's President Lee signaled a diplomatic reset with China's Xi Jinping, aiming to strengthen economic cooperation and political dialogue amid regional tensions over Taiwan, competing great-power interests, and shifting East Asian geopolitics.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung discussed deepening strategic ties with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, addressing security, economy, and energy cooperation amid Seoul's bid for Canada's 12-submarine defense contract against German competitor Thyssenkrupp.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with ASEAN ambassadors to strengthen bilateral cooperation, emphasizing deepened people-to-people exchanges, recent high-level diplomatic visits, and Seoul's commitment to revising the free trade agreement.
China and the US begin trade talks in Seoul ahead of a high-profile leaders' summit.
South Korea's government plans to join the CPTPP trade agreement and resume FTA negotiations with Mexico to expand economic opportunities while participating in international initiatives securing Strait of Hormuz freedom of navigation.
US and Chinese officials held exploratory talks at South Korea's Incheon airport Wednesday to prepare agendas for Trump and Xi's Beijing summit Thursday-Friday, with discussions covering trade, semiconductors, rare earths, and Iran.
US and Chinese officials held trade talks in Seoul led by Treasury Secretary Bessent and Vice-Premier He Lifeng, discussing soybeans, minerals, and Iran ahead of Trump's Beijing visit, marking the seventh negotiation round since Trump's tariff war resumption.
China’s Top Trade Negotiator Meets Lee Ahead of Bessent Talks
A South Korean opposition leader prioritizes party interests over national unity.
PPP leader prioritizes party over country, fueling US distrust in the current administration.
India prioritizes reviewing its ASEAN trade pact to balance its $123 billion trade deficit while pursuing bilateral agreements for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and defence exports to Southeast Asian nations.
Jang Dong-hyuk, a South Korean opposition leader, criticizes the Lee administration in a US op-ed.
South Korea's experts assess that India, with 1.4 billion people and over 4 trillion dollar GDP, can become a key manufacturing and export hub for Korean companies amid global supply chain shifts, requiring dedicated industrial complexes and strategic partnerships.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are finalizing a May 19 summit in Andong, continuing shuttle diplomacy while coordinating on economic security, defense cooperation, and historical grievances amid U.S.-China trade tensions.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi is reportedly planning a May visit to South Korea for summit talks with President Lee, focusing on economic security cooperation and regional geopolitical concerns while South Korea maintains caution regarding proposed military logistics agreements.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi is considering visiting South Korea on May 19 to hold summit talks with President Lee in Andong, discussing economic security cooperation amid regional tensions, continuing shuttle diplomacy between the nations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering visiting South Korea on May 19 to hold summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung in Andong, discussing economic security cooperation including energy and critical mineral supply chains.
Defense Ministry says Korea not considering military logistics support pact with Japan
Japan and South Korea held vice ministerial security talks in Seoul, reaffirming bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation with the US.
India designated South Korea a crucial partner for achieving its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, targeting $30 trillion economy expansion. The nations unveiled a Special Strategic Partnership roadmap with fifteen MOUs covering defense, technology, and trade, aiming to double bilateral commerce to $50 billion by 2030.
US and Chinese officials met in Korea to finalize the agenda for a summit between their leaders.
South Korea's security chief said the nation is reviewing potential military roles in U.S.-led Hormuz initiatives following an unexplained explosion aboard a Korean cargo ship, with possible contributions ranging from minimal to substantial involvement.
Vietnam's foreign minister arrived in North Korea as special envoy, strengthening diplomatic ties following the country's leader's October visit, potentially positioning Hanoi as mediator in inter-Korean relations amid recent regional political developments.
Trump and Xi put Southeast Asia in a bind – giving Canberra a moment to move
An Iran blockade triggered by Israeli and U.S. aggression removed 11-13% of global petroleum, causing severe fuel shortages across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Electric vehicles emerged as major beneficiaries as fossil fuel scarcity and skyrocketing prices forced consumers and economies toward alternative energy sources.
South Korea and the U.S. revealed alliance tensions when Washington pressured Seoul to support Iran operations while sidelining North Korea nuclear concerns, suggesting Seoul's strategic importance to American priorities is diminishing amid upcoming U.S.-China diplomacy.
South Korea and the US agreed to cooperate on key alliance issues for mutual security interest.
India prioritizes reviewing its ASEAN trade agreement worth 123 billion dollars to balance imports and exports while negotiating bilateral deals to boost pharmaceutical and agricultural exports across Southeast Asia.
Jang Dong-hyuk criticizes the Lee administration in a US op-ed, citing pro-China policies and security risks.
North Korea amended its constitution to mandate automatic nuclear retaliation if Kim Jong Un is assassinated or incapacitated, following Iran's leadership elimination, as South Korea's intelligence reported during Pyongyang's March assembly session.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visits the US to discuss OPCON transfer and nuclear subs.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi is considering visiting South Korea on May 19 for summit talks with President Lee in Andong, discussing economic security cooperation including energy and critical mineral supply chains amid regional tensions.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans a May 19-20 summit visit to South Korea to discuss energy security cooperation with President Lee Jae Myung amid Middle East disruptions and strengthen bilateral economic ties.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi plans a May 19-20 visit to South Korea to meet President Lee, discussing energy security cooperation amid Middle East disruptions and strengthening critical mineral supply chains through reciprocal "shuttle diplomacy."
South Korea's opposition leader claims the current government's foreign policy may weaken the US alliance.
Indian Ambassador Gourangalal Das emphasized Korea as a crucial partner for India's economic transformation toward developed-nation status by 2047, citing Korean strengths in manufacturing, shipbuilding, and technology, with bilateral trade targeted to double to fifty billion dollars by 2030.