South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited the former office of his country's provisional government in Chongqing on Saturday, highlighting the long history of friendship between South Korea and China, and their joint struggle against Japan's past imperialism.(Yonhap)The visit to the office of the provisional government marked the first of its kind by a South Korean president, according to the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. The provisional government operated in China during the

North Korea's latest missile test, which U.S. experts say indicated an increasing technological sophistication, did not demonstrate an imminent threat of nuclear attack on the United States, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday.Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (Yonhap)“No, not yet,” Mattis said when a reporter asked whether the Nov. 29 test indicated a full capability to strike the U.S.“It has not yet shown to be a capable threat against us right now,”Mattis added. His remark suggested he believ

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday avoided a direct answer to whether he supports unconditional dialogue with North Korea."Well, we're going to see what happens with North Korea," he told reporters on the White House compound before departing for an official event. "We have a lot of support. There are a lot of nations that agree with us -- almost everybody."US Presidenet Donald Trump (Yonhap)U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said earlier this week that Washington was ready to begin talks

North Korea must "earn its way back" to the negotiating table, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday, backing away from an earlier offer of unconditional talks to end the stand-off with Pyongyang.Tillerson told the UN Security Council that a "sustained cessation of North Korea's threatening behavior must occur before talks can begin," apparently after coming under pressure from President Donald Trump's White House to toughen his stance.U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (front) addr

The outcome of the latest summit between the leaders of South Korea and China embodies the two nations’ willingness to work on their differences over the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system here and reaffirm their cooperation on North Korean issues, an expert said. From left: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. (Yonhap)“President Xi avoided directly referring to THAAD and was cautious in addressing the issue in meetings, which could indicate th

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday called for joint efforts between his country and China to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons, calling it a threat not only to South Korea but to China and its future development."North Korean nuclear and missile issues are not only limited to South Korea. North Korea is also a neighbor of China, and a rise in tension in the region due to North Korea's nuclear development is threatening the peace and development of not only South Korea but also Chi

The summit between President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping was a "good signal" that relations between the two countries are getting off to a new start following a row over the deployment of a US missile defense system, a presidential official said Friday.The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, gave the assessment, saying Xi spoke less about the THAAD missile defense system during Thursday's meetings with Moon than during their previous summit on the sidelin

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed hope on Thursday that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo would jointly conduct air drills, the leader of South Korea's main opposition Liberty Korea Party said."Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it is regrettable that the Seoul government is not doing it despite his hope that the three countries conduct joint air drills in Japanese skies," Hong Joon-pyo told reporters following his talks with Abe.Hong is on a three-day trip in Tokyo for talks with key Tokyo pol

In their summit to mend fences, the two leaders agreed on four principles in deadling with North Korea

　　Surrounded by former generals, hawkish politicians and a hard-mouthed command-in-chief, US State Secretary Rex Tillerson has been trying to find a balance in the Trump administration’s approach to resolve a nuclear standoff with North Korea. 　While President Donald Trump and his security aides have warned about the North’s relentless nuclear ambition and floated the idea of a preventive strike against it, the US top diplomat has offered a softer line and called for a diplomatic solution. 　Desp

Two South Korean journalists, part of the traveling press corps accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his state visit to China, were beaten by Chinese security personnel while covering an event attended by Moon in Beijing on Thursday.  (Yonhap)The Foreign Ministry in Seoul confirmed the incident and said it had expressed regret to the Chinese government. According to accounts from another member of the Blue House press corps who witnessed the assault, some 15 Chinese security personnel surrounde

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday kicked off his four-day state visit to China, focusing on economic issues as well as the need to shield Seoul-Beijing relations from “outside elements.”Speaking at a business event involving Korean and Chinese industry and government officials in Beijing, Moon highlighted the two countries’ economic cooperation and called for further developments. “Over the past 25 years, China has undergone brilliant economic growth, and Korea and China have become sturdy part

A senior South Korean lawmaker on Tuesday raised the expectation that South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will resume "shuttle diplomacy" between the two leaders.Kang Chang-il, leader of the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union and a lawmaker of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, made the remarks during a press conference with a group of South Korean correspondents stationed in Tokyo."President Moon has spoken by phone with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

President Moon Jae-in will arrive in Beijing Wednesday on a four-day state visit that will include his third summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite Seoul’s repeated statements about improving bilateral relations, a full thaw in relations before Seoul’s decision to deploy a US anti-missile system appears some way off.  (Yonhap)On Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential office revealed the results of Thursday’s summit meeting will be announced in separate statements to the press, recantin

The leader of South Korea's main opposition Liberty Korea Party will embark on a three-day trip to Japan this week for talks with key Tokyo politicians on North Korea threats and bilateral relations, his aide said Tuesday.Hong Joon-pyo will depart for Japan on Wednesday amid growing security concerns in both countries sparked by North Korea's persistent provocations, including the Nov. 29 test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.Hong is expected to use the trip to advance his party's securi