President Moon Jae-in will greet the new Chinese and Japanese ambassadors to South Korea at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday, an opportunity to discuss the issues of the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic and Seoul-Tokyo relations dampened by a drawn-out trade fight.After receiving their credentials, Moon pl

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday that "rogue states" like Iran and North Korea demand the United States' constant vigilance.Esper made the comment as he discussed the Trump administration's National Defense Strategy, which was released in January 2018.He said the strategy is designed

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday that South Korea will consider taking additional measures to ward off a deadly new coronavirus "if necessary" after a comprehensive review of the U.N. health agency's recommendations and other factors.Seoul has been under growing pressure to expand its e

Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Gunn met with his Myanmarese counterpart Wednesday and discussed bilateral ties and other issues of mutual concern, the foreign ministry said.In his meeting with Soe Han, permanent secretary at Myanmar's foreign ministry, Kim expressed pleasure that

A U.S. House panel is reviewing a resolution on the importance of the alliance between South Korea and the United States, Congress' website showed Wednesday.The resolution, introduced by Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) last month, was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific

U.S. President Donald Trump made no mention of North Korea in his third State of the Union address Tuesday, amid the stalled denuclearization talks with the communist nation.It was the first time Trump ignored North Korea in his annual speech. That suggests a realignment of priorities amid an ongoin

Diplomats from South Korea and Japan will meet in Seoul this week to continue working-level talks on a protracted row over wartime history and trade, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.Kim Jung-han, director-general for Asia and Pacific affairs, will meet with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeki Takiza

Newly accredited Ambassador Xing Haiming of China in Seoul has called upon countries to make a "scientific" decision to fight a deadly new coronavirus in line with the U.N. health agency's recommendations against unnecessary travel restrictions.Stressing Beijing's "capability and resolve" to combat

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo was set to depart for India on Monday to hold talks with his Indian counterpart to explore ways to further bilateral ties, his office said Monday.During the four-day official visit at the invitation of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Jeong will a

Russia's state-run railway company announced Monday it will suspend its passenger traffic with North Korea in order to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus.In a statement, Russian Railways said passenger train services between the two countries will remain grounded "until further notice."

New Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming will hold a press briefing this week to explain Beijing's efforts to contain the spread of a deadly new coronavirus, his aide said Monday.Xing's meeting with the local press on Tuesday morning comes after Seoul's recent decision to bar all foreigner

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Republicans in Iowa to vote in the caucus Monday, citing as one of his accomplishments a revised trade deal with South Korea.Trump's message on Twitter came hours before the Iowa caucuses for the Republican and Democratic parties, the first major balloting for the N

South Korea said Sunday it will attend a high-level meeting on a mega Asia-Pacific trade pact this week as part of its efforts to expand its trade network around the globe.During the two-day meeting that kicks off in Bali, Indonesia, on Monday, the participants will set a detailed timeline of the Re

South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon, embarked on a trip to Europe on Wednesday for talks with senior officials there over ongoing efforts for denuclearization and a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul officials said.Lee's trip to Belgium and Germany came as Seoul has been strivin

Increasing cases of infection from a new pneumonia-causing coronavirus in China has compelled the provincial government on South Korea's largest island of Jeju to reconsider its implementation of a visa-free program for foreign visitors, including those from China, provincial officials said Wednesda

Chartered flights for the planned evacuation of South Korean nationals from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan have been put off till at least later in the evening, a foreign ministry official said Thursday.Two Korean Air planes were scheduled to take off at 10 a.m. and at noon, respectively,

The top diplomats of South Korea and China discussed over the phone ways to cooperate in dealing with the new strain of coronavirus on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had a 30-minute telephone call late Tuesday to disc

Chinese communities in South Korea are on high alert amid growing fears of a new coronavirus that originated in China.As of Tuesday, four people in South Korea -- one Chinese and three Korean nationals -- have tested positive for the virus that has killed more than 100 in China."I am very nervous, b

Britain's separation from the European Union slated for later this week is unlikely to have a direct impact on its bilateral trade ties with South Korea, as the two have already signed a back-up agreement, industry watchers said Wednesday.London is widely expected to depart from the EU, the world's

A senior U.S. defense official on Tuesday voiced support for a peace declaration between the United States and North Korea, saying such an agreement would be beneficial to Washington if it can be negotiated.John Rood, under secretary of defense for policy, was commenting on the possibility the admin