More North Korean elites are “disillusioned” with the Kim Jong-un regime, as they feel anxious on concerns that any small mishap could deprive them of their lives under his leadership, a former North Korean diplomat said Tuesday. Ri Il-gyu, a former counselor of political affairs at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba, made the remark … Read more
Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Rhee Chang-yong said Tuesday the time has come to “sufficiently consider” a rate cut as the nation’s consumer inflation cooled. “In terms of stability of consumer prices, it is time to sufficiently consider lowering a benchmark interest rate,” Rhee told reporters at a forum in Seoul. Rhee said the central … Read more
The United States may need to reevaluate its strategy on the expanding military ties between North Korea and Russia if Vice President Kamala Harris becomes president as Pyongyang’s alleged arms support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine is deeply troubling, a U.S. senator said Tuesday. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del) … Read more
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit South Korea later this week for talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol, the presidential office said Tuesday, as Kishida is preparing to leave office with a legacy of improving long-frayed relations with Seoul. After arriving Friday for a two-day visit, Kishida will hold talks with Yoon, where the … Read more
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with a top adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday for broad discussions on issues ranging from support for Ukraine, bilateral relations and other regional and international areas, Cho’s office said. In the talks with Emmanuel Bonne, presidential diplomatic adviser to Macron, Cho reiterated South Korea’s commitment to continuing … Read more
Military readiness of the South Korea-U.S. alliance weakened “counterintuitively” during former President Donald Trump’s personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a former top U.S. envoy to Seoul said Tuesday. Retired Adm. Harry Harris, who served as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea from 2018-2021, made the remarks, citing the suspension of major South … Read more