Human rights groups urge Zelenskyy to send N. Korean POWs to S. Korea if they wish

Third Geneva Convention does not apply to N. Korean POWs, who face likely ‘draconian punishment’ if repatriated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urged to respect the wishes of two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine and to allow them to seek asylum in South Korea if they choose, according to a joint letter from North Korean human rights organizations and relatives of detainees in North Korea. The letter to Zelenskyy was made public as authorities in Ukraine and South Korea

March 12, 2025

US ‘sensitive country’ designation for S. Korea not yet finalized: Seoul

The US Department of Energy’s designation of South Korea as a “sensitive country” has yet to be finalized, though South Korea is aware of the move and has requested a full explanation from the department, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said Tuesday. Cho's comments came a day after an exclusive report by the left-leaning South Korean daily Hankyoreh that the Department of Energy had decided to designate South Korea as a sensitive country from April 15 and had begun administrative prep

March 11, 2025

South Korea, Europe draw closer, as Trump’s return reshapes security order

Korea holds 1st space security dialogue with EU, launches Indo-Pacific dialogue with Germany South Korea and the European Union held their first space security dialogue to enhance cooperation in countering escalating threats in outer space, as part of ongoing efforts for closer security alignment. The tighter cooperation comes amid the increasing interconnection of security between the Indo-Pacific region and Europe, as well as a shifting security landscape under US President Donald Trump, who h

March 11, 2025

S. Korea to host APEC 2025 with focus on AI, demographic shifts

APEC’s 1st Senior Officials' Meeting brings 2,000 participants, including US, China, Russia, Taiwan GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — This year’s APEC summit, hosted by South Korea, will place artificial intelligence and demographic shifts at the forefront of the agenda for discussion — topics that have never before taken the spotlight at the regional economic forum. South Korea's Ambassador Yoon Seong-mee, chair of the 2025 APEC Senior Officials' Meeting, on Sunday emphasized the urgency an

March 9, 2025

S. Korea launches first bid for ICJ seat

South Korea has launched its first-ever bid to nominate a judge to the International Court of Justice, colloquially known as the world court, which is the only body that settles disputes between the 193 UN member states. Paik Jin-hyun, a former president and judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and a highly respected jurist, will run as a candidate in the ICJ election set for late 2026 for the 2027–2036 term, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul announced Thursday. The Foreign Min

March 6, 2025

South Korean FM says no rewards for North Korea in peace talks, pledges aid for Ukraine

South Korea, Poland vow united stance on North Korea, Ukraine war, defense cooperation South Korea’s top diplomat stressed that North Korea must not be compensated for its illicit support of Russia’s war efforts in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, while also pledging Seoul’s continued humanitarian and financial assistance to Kyiv. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul reaffirmed this stance during his meeting with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, on Wednesday in Polish capit

March 6, 2025

Why N. Korea’s denuclearization is fading from Trump’s agenda

Key foreign, security policy officials hint at shift to risk reduction, positioning dialogue as a crucial tactical tool US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has reignited a lingering question over his North Korea strategy: Will he once again pursue high-stakes summitry with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in pursuit of denuclearization, or will he take a fundamentally different course in a vastly changed strategic landscape? Early signals from Trump's key foreign and security ad

March 4, 2025

[News Analysis] Vegetative presidency undermines diplomatic efforts, achievements

South Korea's diplomacy stands on shaky ground, as a leadership vacuum and the fallout from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law debacle threaten to derail key foreign policy priorities -- among them, his Global Pivotal State vision and values-driven diplomacy --while risking the undoing of hard-won achievements. The turmoil has also drained the country’s vanishing political capital, further weakening its ability to steer its foreign policy agenda. The Yoon administration was n

Dec. 8, 2024

[News Analysis] How will North Korea react to South Korea’s political crisis?

North Korea is widely expected to remain silent amid South Korea's political turbulence, defined by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s survival of an impeachment motion on Saturday, followed by the ruling party’s announcement on Sunday calling for his "orderly early resignation." However, the prospect of Pyongyang exploiting South Korea's perceived political vulnerabilities through provocations cannot be ruled out. If Pyongyang remains tight-lipped, the decision will under

Dec. 8, 2024

Seoul’s diplomacy, security rocked by political turmoil

South Korea's diplomatic and security activities have been thrown into disarray following President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt and fleeting declaration of martial law, which has prompted the cancellation of visits by foreign delegations. The paralysis in South Korea's foreign and defense affairs is poised to intensify with the resignation of now-former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Wednesday, formally accepted by Yoon the following day, and the voluntary departure of Foreign Minis

Dec. 5, 2024