US President Donald Trump has not asked the Pentagon to consider reducing troops stationed in South Korea, his top national security aide said Friday, dismissing a news report on the alleged order.US National Security Adviser John Bolton slammed as "utter nonsense" the New York Times report that came just weeks ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. John Bolton (Yonhap)"The New York Times story is utter nonsense," he said in a statement released by his

South Korea’s presidential office on Friday rejected reports that the US may scale down its military presence in South Korea, amid controversy over a possible withdrawal of US troops. 　The New York Times reported Thursday that US President Donald Trump told the Pentagon to “prepare options for drawing down American troops in South Korea” just weeks before his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. US Armed Forces Korea (Yonhap)According to Cheong Wa Dae, however, Seoul’s National Security

The presidential office on Wednesday signaled its intention to declare an end to the Korean War with North Korea and the US, and involve China when signing a peace treaty, making clearer its roadmap to building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. “Realistically, we have a North Korean nuclear issue and it is difficult to replace an armistice with a peace treaty right away, so there could be a declaration of end to the Korean War as a middle step,” an official from the presidential office tol

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey agreed on Wednesday to enhance their countries' cooperation in trade, education, technology and various other sectors, including the defense industry."At the summit, the two leaders noted the strategic partnership between the two brother nations, which is historically and culturally special, will further strengthen and develop into a future-oriented relationship on the occasion of President Erdogan's visit to South K

Business leaders and government officials from South Korea and Turkey gathered in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation in various fields, including infrastructure development and innovative technologies, the event's organizer said.A 150-member Turkish delegation visited South Korea to attend a business forum hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industries to explore new trade and business opportunities.South Korea and Turkey implemented a free trade agreement

China, Japan appear to struggle to remain relevant in denuclearization talks

The defense chiefs of South Korea and the Philippines agreed Monday to move forward security and defense industry cooperation between the two countries, according to Seoul's Ministry of National Defense.Filipino Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana came to Korea to attend the steel cutting ceremony for two frigates the Southeast Asian country has ordered.Defense Minister Song Young-moo briefed him on the outcome of the inter-Korean summit talks last week. South Korean Defense Minister Song Youn

After South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un confirmed their commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” the ball is now in the court of US President Donald Trump, who is planning to meet Kim in the coming weeks.  　In what is seen as another bold step by the North Korean leader, Kim pledged to shut down the North’s nuclear site in Punggye-ri in May and “transparently” demonstrate the process to the international community during the summ

South Korea appointed a Samsung Electronics executive as its new ambassador to Vietnam on Sunday as part of a reshuffle of 19 ambassadors and four consul generals.Kim Do-hyun, an executive of Samsung Electronics and former diplomat, was named to Seoul's chief envoy to Vietnam.Paik Ji-ah, president of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, was appointed to head the country's Permanent Mission to the UN Secretariat and International Organizations in Geneva. It is the first time fo

Seoul called in China's ambassador on Saturday after a Chinese military plane violated South Korea's air defense identification zone, officials said.South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Yoon Soon-gu summoned Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong and called for Beijing to come up with measures to prevent such a violation from happening again, ministry officials said.Separately, the Defense Ministry said it called in Du Nongyi, military attache of the Chinese embassy in Seoul, and lodged a stern protest

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump claimed credit Friday for a historic inter-Korean summit, but now faces a burden in helping turn the Korean leaders‘ bold but vague vision for peace into reality after more than six decades of hostility.　 　Trump must contend with two nagging suspicions: first about his own suitability to conduct that kind of war-and-peace negotiation and succeed where his predecessors have failed; secondly, whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un really is willing to giv

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been narrowed to two sites.　Trump spoke in the wake of South Korean President Moon Jae-in‘s meeting with Kim earlier in the day, during which the two sides committed to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.　“We’re down to two countries as to a site, and we‘ll let you know what that site is,” he said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White Ho

Three South Korean sailors kidnapped in seas off Ghana last month have been released safely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.“Our three abducted nationals were freed on April 27 (local time) and were handed to our side,” the ministry said.“They are in our protection in a safe pace.” The captain, engineer and mate of the 500-ton fishing boat, Marine 711, were hijacked by unidentified pirates on March 26. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon announced their release on Facebook earlier Saturday

 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday welcomed a surprise set of inter-Korean summit agreements to build peace and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula but urged the North to prove its commitment with action.   "I welcome and take them as positive moves," the prime minister said in a press conference televised live following the summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un."I want to praise the South Korean government's efforts that led to the latest summit."(Yon

South Korea "welcomed" on Friday the inauguration of Mike Pompeo as the new United States secretary of state, announcing that Seoul is in talks with Washington to arrange an early meeting between him and his South Korean counterpart."We welcome the inauguration of Pompeo as the 70th secretary of state following his confirmation process and swearing-in ceremony," a foreign ministry official here said.The former director of the Central Intelligence Agency took office Thursday (US time) after Senat