Washington signals Asian allies to 'pull their weight' on defense ahead of summit with Seoul SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - A senior U.S. defense official on Friday urged Asian allies to increase defense spending and take on greater responsibilities for collective defense, echoing Washington’s push for fairer burden-sharing ahead of a summit with Seoul. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, "It’s common sense that all allies, especially in Asia, need to pull their weight. That’s how we get peace through strength and sustainable collective defense." Colby also said, "Fortunately, many of our allies, led by Europe, get it," citing New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, who told Australian media that the United States had long carried the burden of global defense, saying "the Americans have been carrying us" while others focused on welfare and free services. In a separate post on Thursday night, he said, pacifism is "not the answer," stressing that the military "must be ready to fight and defeat aggression against our key interests, especially in Asia," and that Washington must have the "industrial base" to support its posture under President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Colby’s remarks come as the Trump administration pushes NATO members to raise defense spending targets from 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) to 5%. The United States raised the issue of "alliance modernization" during consultations in July, urging South Korea to boost defense spending and adjust roles between the two militaries as part of a future-oriented strategic alliance. Defense burden-sharing is expected to feature prominently when South Korean President Lee Jae-myung meets Trump at the White House on Aug. 25 for their first bilateral summit. 2025-08-16 11:21:59

Special envoys from Seoul meet Prabowo, vow closer bilateral ties SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - Special envoys sent to Jakarta this week pledged their readiness to enhance ties with Indonesia after talks with President Prabowo Subianto and senior officials, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Led by Cho Jeong-sik of the ruling Democratic Party, a handful group of lawmakers arrived in Jakarta on Monday for a four-day trip as part of President Lee Jae-myung’s broader diplomatic outreach to key Asian partners since taking office in early June. On Thursday, the group met Prabowo at his residence in Bogor, south of Jakarta. Discussions focused on boosting collaboration in high-tech and strategic industries while securing stronger support for South Korean businesses in Indonesia. They also delivered a letter from Lee outlining Seoul’s commitment to broadening cooperation across various sectors. Prabowo said he hoped to work with Lee to bring ties to "the highest level" and pledged closer cooperation. During the visit, the group also met senior officials in Jakarta, including Foreign Minister Sugiono, to present Seoul’s foreign policy priorities and explore ways to expand exchanges. They also met with Korean residents and toured the first battery cell plant that South Korea has built in Indonesia, built jointly by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution. 2025-08-15 16:53:05

Ex-justice minister Cho Kuk freed in Lee's Liberation Day pardon SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - Former justice minister and ex-leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party Cho Kuk was freed early Friday under President Lee Jae-myung’s first pardon. Lee's first amnesty, marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, pardoned some 836,687 individuals, including around 2,000 minor offenders convicted of livelihood-related crimes and about 20 business moguls, in a move aimed at "promoting unity in the country." Cho was pardoned less than a year after receiving a two-year prison sentence last December for corruption and document forgery related to his children's university admissions. After his release, Cho described the pardon as "a symbolic step toward ending the abuse of power." He argued that the investigation had stemmed from politically motivated investigations rather than solely from the charges against him. Cho thanked Lee, said he would "respectfully listen" to critics, and vowed to make a humble return to politics. Apart from Cho, several figures accused of irregularities and other wrongdoings, including Cho's wife Chung Kyung-shim, former lawmakers Choe Kang-wook and Yoon Mee-hyang, and former Seoul education chief Cho Hee-yeon, were also pardoned or had their rights reinstated. Meanwhile, main opposition People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo expressed opposition to Lee’s pardon of some figures including Cho during a Liberation Day ceremony on Friday morning. His party’s leadership also said they would not attend the president’s inauguration ceremony later in the day to protest Lee’s decision. 2025-08-15 15:09:06

Lee calls for peace and unity at 80th Liberation Day celebration SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday set out his vision in a speech marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation at a ceremony in central Seoul. Lee said the country had "overcome various difficulties, achieving rapid industrialization and democratization" since its liberation in 1945, saying it is now a time for more "dialogue and cooperation" and that the country should move beyond various conflicts. Lee also stressed the importance of honoring those who gave their lives during the liberation movement, noting that many of them had taken part in the movement abroad and have yet to be brought home. Lee said the government "will step up efforts to return the remains of activists who fought abroad and ensure those not yet recognized by the state are honored," he said. On North Korea, Lee said, "The South and the North are not enemies. We should respect each other’s differences and aim for peaceful unification," citing the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and the sending of leaflets critical of the North as steps to ease tensions since he took office in early June. "This year is a suitable time to pursue peace and end hostility," Lee said, noting it marks the 80th anniversary of liberation and expressing hope for Pyongyang to respond. Regarding the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue, Lee reaffirmed that denuclearization is the ultimate goal but acknowledged that it is "a complicated and difficult task" that will require talks between the two Koreas, U.S.-North Korea engagement, and cooperation with the international community. On Japan, Lee urged Tokyo to "acknowledge and address historical issues while seeking future-oriented cooperation," signaling issues likely to be discussed ahead of a summit with the Japanese prime minister later this month. Lee will also attend a large public event at Gwanghwamun Square in the evening. Eighty representatives, which symbolize the 80 years since Korea’s liberation, will present him with ceremonial letters of appointment. The event comes two months after he took office in early June. The event’s participants are expected to include former President Moon Jae-in, some relatives of former presidents, leaders and officials in various fields, foreign envoys, and about 3,500 citizens. Meanwhile, most opposition leaders are expected to be absent. 2025-08-15 11:54:07

Heat wave to return on Liberation Day after torrential rains lash central regions SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - A sweltering heat wave is expected to return on Friday, when the country marks the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, after torrential rain swept through Seoul and other central regions earlier this week. With sporadic showers lingering in some parts of the country until early Friday morning, daytime highs are forecast to soar to 34 degrees Celsius, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Many parts of the capital area and central South Chungcheong Province saw heavy rains of up to 300 mm over two days starting Wednesday, causing flooding and road disruptions. Paju in Gyeonggi Province was hit particularly hard, with a record 316 mm of rain. A total of 410 damages were reported nationwide, including one death in Incheon. 2025-08-14 17:28:55

Pyongyang denies removal of propaganda loudspeakers along border SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - North Korea on Thursday reiterated that it has no intention of restoring ties with South Korea. "We have clarified on several occasions that we have no will to improve relations with the withdraws its loudspeakers or not, stops broadcasting or not, postpones its military exercises or not and downscales them or not, we do not care about them and are not interested in them." 2025-08-14 14:04:08

Ex-first lady arrested over multiple charges SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was arrested late Tuesday after a court issued an arrest warrant over a series of allegations. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant around midnight for the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol, citing the risk of tampering with evidence after a hearing earlier in the day. With her arrest, Kim and Yoon became the country's first former presidential couple to be held at the same time, as her husband has been detained at a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province since early last month over charges related to his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. Allegedly having partly colluded with Yoon, Kim has been accused of accepting bribes including a luxury handbag and jewelry, being involved in a stock manipulation scheme, and interfering in candidate nominations during the 2022 by-elections. Kim reportedly denied all allegations during the hearing, with her lawyers pleading for consideration of her poor health. They also emphasized that she had fully cooperated with the investigation and had no intention of fleeing. However she could not avoid arrest as independent prosecutors presented some evidence of bribery. Kim, who lost all her privileges as an ex-first lady including security details immediately after her arrest, was moved to a different remand prison in southern Seoul from Yoon, with prosecutors allowed to hold her for up to 20 days for further investigation. 2025-08-13 09:49:42

Ex-first lady awaits court's decision on arrest warrant SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - The Seoul Central District Court is set to decide whether to arrest former first lady Kim Keon Hee over a series of allegations. The wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at the court in the morning for a hearing that lasted about four hours, before being taken to a remand prison in southern Seoul to await the court's decision. Kim has been accused of accepting bribes including a luxury handbag and jewelry, being involved in a stock manipulation scheme, and interfering in candidate nominations during the 2022 by-elections. Independent prosecutors investigating her said Kim poses a high risk of destroying evidence after denying all charges during her previous questioning last week. But her lawyers insist that she had fully cooperated with the probe, had no intention of fleeing, and was in poor health. Yoon, the impeached ex-president and Kim's husband, is currently detained in a different remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province over charges related to his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. If her arrest is issued, they would become the first former presidential couple in the country's history to be held simultaneously. 2025-08-12 17:22:52

Business leaders from South Korea and Viet Nam forge partnership at forum in Seoul SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Business leaders from South Korea and Viet Nam gathered for a forum in Seoul on Tuesday to explore new opportunities for economic cooperation and strengthen partnership between the two countries. Co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Vietnamese Embassy, and Viet Nam's Ministry of Finance, the forum took place, coinciding with the visit of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam—the first visit by a Vietnamese top leader to South Korea in about a decade. The forum brought together over 500 participants including business executives from big companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Innovation, LG CNS and Lotte Shopping as well as senior government officials. Participants from Viet Nam included the deputy prime minister, the ministers of finance and industry, as well as leaders from major companies such as PetroVietnam and Viettel Group. Discussions focused on cooperation in various sectors including digital technology, advanced industries, semiconductors, renewable energy, and supply chains. Companies from both sides also presented plans for collaboration. The forum also featured the signing of 84 memorandums of understanding between 47 South Korean companies and institutions and 37 Vietnamese counterparts covering energy, shipbuilding, aviation, AI, advanced materials and drones. Since diplomatic ties were established in 1992, bilateral trade has grown from $500 million to $86.7 billion in 2023, making Viet Nam South Korea's third-largest trading partner after China and the U.S. South Korea is also Viet Nam's largest foreign investor with $92.5 billion in cumulative investment and about 10,000 South Korean companies operating there. 2025-08-12 16:22:13

Forum marks first year of formalizing South Korea's diplomatic relations with Cuba Participants pose for a photo at a forum at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul on Aug. 11, 2025. AJP Han Jun-gu SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Academic scholars, diplomats and other government officials gathered for a forum at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul on Monday. Hosted by the university's Institute of Latin American Studies, the forum was held to celebrate the formalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba about a year ago, with participants discussing ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The two countries barely knew each other until the early 1950s when Havana provided assistance during the 1950-53 Korean War, though short-lived diplomatic relations were severed soon after the Cuban Revolution in 1959. But mutual exchanges resumed in the late 1990s as the Caribbean country adopted a more pragmatic foreign policy. A breakthrough then came in February 2024, when the two countries agreed to establish formal relations, followed by the opening of embassies in Havana in January and in Seoul in June this year. Cuban Ambassador to Seoul Claudio Monzón delivers a congratulatory message at a forum at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul on Aug. 11, 2025. AJP Han Jun-gu "This year has truly been a historic moment for both of our nations," said Cuban Ambassador to Seoul Claudio Monzón in his congratulatory remarks. "While we have already expanded cooperation in various fields, I believe there is still much more to be done. Academic cooperation such as this forum is one of the most important avenues for building our relationship." "Agriculture and energy sectors are the two key areas with the greatest potential for cooperation with Cuba," said Han Byung-gil, president of the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean (KCLAC). "Cuba's historical and cultural familiarity with Latin American countries like Brazil could offer valuable insights, which we can adapt into a model suited for South Korea," he added. Many participants also expressed their hope that the forum would serve as a foundation for long-term collaboration between the two countries. 2025-08-12 13:57:40