What awaits Lee at his first summit with Trump

SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. The summit, which comes nearly three months after taking office in early June, would be his first major test in bilateral relations, at a time when both leaders are navigating the early stages of their terms and reassessing their foreign policy priorities for years to come. After wrapping up his visit to Tokyo last Sunday, where he met with Japan

August 25, 2025

Lee and Ishiba share hometown dishes at Tokyo dinner while emphasizing cooperation

SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru shared hometown dishes at a dinner in Tokyo on Saturday, shortly after their summit, underscoring a cooperative tone, South Korea's Presidential Office said Sunday. National Security Director Wi Seong-rak said on August 24 that the meal was held in a friendly atmosphere at the prime minister’s residence. The leaders were joined by their spouses. From South Korea, Wi

August 24, 2025

South Korean troops fire warning shots as North Korean soldiers cross MDL

SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean troops fired warning shots after more than 30 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Aug. 19, the United Nations Command (UNC) confirmed Sunday. The MDL, drawn under the 1953 armistice, runs through the center of the DMZ, a 250-kilometer-long buffer separating the two Koreas. Unauthorized crossings are unusual and are considered serious violations of the armistice. Accord

August 24, 2025

Lee heads to Washington with clear agenda on tariffs, security and nuclear fuel pact talks

SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left Japan on August 24 after his summit with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and is now en route to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. According to South Korean diplomatic sources on August 23, Seoul and Washington are drafting a joint statement that would say the two sides will begin discussions and technical studies on amending the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. The draft tex

August 24, 2025

S. Korea and Japan put hydrogen and AI cooperation at center of first joint statement in 17 years

SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru wrapped up their Tokyo summit on August 23 with a joint statement, the first released by the two neighbors in 17 years. The document commits both governments to closer coordination on security and to new cooperation in future industries, with hydrogen and artificial intelligence singled out as priority fields. The talks at the prime minister's office ran longer than planned

August 24, 2025

OPINION: Letter to President Trump - In anticipation of "Great Peace-Maker" (GPM)

SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - Dear President Trump, I hope you will allow me to use the American-style "you" in this letter. There is a saying that comes to mind when I think of your effort to build a new world out of chaos. Willy Brandt, the German chancellor who pioneered East-West d

August 24, 2025

South Korea, Japan agree to launch joint response body for common challenges

President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru shake hands after a press release/ Yonhap SEOUL, August 23 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru agreed Saturday to establish a bilateral consultative body to address shared challenges including low birth rates, aging populations, and disaster management following their summit meeting in Tokyo. The leaders also committed to close coordination on North Korea policy and strengthening

August 23, 2025

Lee pledges support for Korean diaspora during Tokyo visit

SEOUL, August 23 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held his first official meeting with Korean residents in Japan at a Tokyo hotel luncheon on Saturday, praising their contributions to Korea-Japan relations and promising expanded government support. The president described their historical struggles as foundational to both countries' development, citing their perseverance through colonial rule, national division, and life as overseas residents. Lee acknowledged the

August 23, 2025

South Korea's Lee departs for Japan-US diplomatic tour

SEOUL, August 23 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed Seoul Airport on Saturday morning for a six-day diplomatic visit to Japan and the United States, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung. The tour includes summit meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump as part of Lee's "national interest-centered practical diplomacy" centered on the Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance. Lee arrived in Tokyo on Saturday morning a

August 23, 2025

Elderly caregiver released after attempted murder of wife with dementia

SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - A 70-year-old South Korean man who admitted to trying to kill his wife, reportedly overwhelmed by the strain of caregiving, has been released from custody. The case underscores the growing toll that eldercare is taking in a country where the number of caregiving-related crimes has steadily risen. The Seoul Northern District Court on Thursday dismissed a request for the man’s arrest warrant, ruling he posed no risk of flight or evidence destruction. H

August 22, 2025