A balloon, left, believed sent by North Korea is seen in South Korea on June 10. Authorities, right, assess waste from a balloon that landed in the Seodaemun district of northern Seoul on June 25. (Source photos by AP and Ahn Seong-bok)
North Korea tensions

North Korea resumes launching balloons and missiles after Putin summit

Pyongyang and Seoul also trade barbs during Korean War anniversary remembrances

26 June 2024
North Korea appears to have launched a ballistic missile toward the sea to the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
North Korea tensions

North Korea missile launch appears to have failed, Seoul says

Japan says missile flew to an altitude of about 100 kms and range of more than 200 kms.

26 June 2024
North Korean firing drills held in March. Pyongyang and Moscow have forged a strategic partnership providing for mutual military support in the event of an attack. (KCNA via Reuters)
International relations

As North Korea and Russia cozy up, Tokyo and Seoul clamp down

Finance ministers agree to tighten enforcement of U.N. sanctions amid evasion

26 June 2024
The European Union is looking to strengthen cooperation with the view that Europe and Asia share common security risks.
International relations

EU eyes security, defense partnerships with Japan and South Korea

Ties with Asian partners would lead to broader joint development projects

23 June 2024
Philly Shipyard is a commercial shipyard located on part of the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, which closed down in 1996. (Hanwha Group).
Defense

South Korea's Hanwha agrees to acquire American shipyard for $100m

U.S. Navy Secretary Del Toro calls Philly Shipyard bid a 'game-changing milestone'

21 June 2024
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, left, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol inspect an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in Astana on June 12. Yoon is on a three-nation visit to Central Asia.
International relations

South Korea's Yoon seeks deals in Central Asian resource push

Visit to Kazakhstan and other countries aimed at mineral access, less reliance on China

13 June 2024
From left, Japaese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun in Virginia on May 31. (Pool photo)
Indo-Pacific

U.S., Japan, South Korea to launch trilateral coordination body this year

Partners seek to institutionalize collaboration, following Camp David summit

11 June 2024
The U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Annapolis is greeted by South Korean Navy personnel at Jeju Island, South Korea, during its arrival in July 2023.
Defense

U.S. and South Korea to hold nuclear response drill this summer

Allies finalize guidelines on nuclear deterrence with eye on North Korea

11 June 2024
Shipyard workers align a new propeller for installation on the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge in Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo)
Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific should create 'common defense market,' Hudson analyst says

U.S. and Japan officials to meet Sunday to discuss joint weapon production

8 June 2024
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, left, chairman of the African Union, speaks as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol listens during a joint news conference on June 4.
Supply Chain

South Korea woos African nations over critical mineral supplies

High-tech economy aims to cut reliance on China for lithium and graphite

5 June 2024
A balloon from North Korea floats over a South Korean rice field on May 29.
Defense

South Korea to resume all military activities after North's balloon barrage

Seoul says it is responding to recent spate of provocations by Pyongyang

4 June 2024
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, left, and his South Korean counterpart Shin Won-sik agreed to resume bilateral defense talks. 
International relations

Japan, South Korea move past radar row to improve defense ties

Countries agree on measures to prevent recurrence of radar lock-ons

2 June 2024
From left, Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun meet at Campbell’s personal estate in Rappahannock, Virginia, on May 31. (Pool photo) 
Indo-Pacific

U.S., Japan, South Korea to form permanent secretariat to align policies

Vice ministers also call on North Korea to engage in dialogue without preconditions

1 June 2024
People in Seoul watch a large TV screen showing an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program on May 30. The North earlier in the day fired a barrage of suspected ballistic missiles toward eastern waters, according to South Korea's military.
International relations

North Korea's latest provocations signal frustration with Beijing

China joining South Korea and Japan at summit spurs missile, balloon barrage

31 May 2024
Park Cheol-hee, chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on May 24. (Photo by Yumi Kotani)
Interview

Tokyo, Seoul should boost ties, aim at larger market: Yoon adviser

South Korean think tank head Park urges to pursue 'future architecting'

31 May 2024
The expansion continues to face pushback from South Korea's medical community.
Health Care

South Korea adds 1,500 medical student slots in scaled-back expansion

Health care industry continues protests against controversial decision

31 May 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang face the press at their trilateral summit in Seoul on May 27. (Pool via Kyodo)
The Nikkei View

Japan-China-South Korea talks are good for regional stability

Resuming dialogue is first step, but major issues still need to be addressed

29 May 2024
North Korea launched a military spy satellite into orbit on Nov. 21, 2023. (KCNA via AP)
Defense

North Korea fails in attempt to launch spy satellite

KCNA reports that explosion brought down rocket in midair

28 May 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with business leaders also attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, far right, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second from right, at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul on May 27.
Economy

South Korean, Japanese and Chinese executives plan digital cooperation

Business leaders participate in gathering linked to countries' trilateral summit

27 May 2024
From left: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang were all smiles at a trilateral summit in Seoul on May 27. (Photo courtesy of Japanese Cabinet Office)
International relations

China, Japan and South Korea vow to seek progress on FTA

East Asian powers aim to 'institutionalize' summit meetings after long hiatus

27 May 2024
South Korea, Japan and China announced in November 2012 that they would begin the negotiations. But progress has stalled since the 16th round was held in November 2019. (Source photos by Nikkei)
Trade

China, Japan and South Korea to revive FTA talks

Sources say Beijing is prepared to discuss the overproduction and subsidy issues

27 May 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) speaks to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during a bilateral meeting in Seoul on May 26. China, South Korea and Japan will hold a trilateral summit in the South Korean capital on Monday.
International relations

Japan, South Korea leaders tout growing 'trust' before summit with China

East Asian countries gather in Seoul for first three-way talks since 2019

26 May 2024
Economic growth in Japan and South Korea has been lackluster, while China's economy has lost momentum compared with the early 2000s. (Source photos from Nikkei)
International relations

Economic woes push Japan, China, South Korea to restart 3-way summit

Amid Beijing's military buildup, Kishida and Yoon seen calling for restraint

26 May 2024
From left, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. (Source photos by Uichiro Kasai and Reuters)
International relations

China, Japan and South Korea to navigate tensions at Seoul summit

First gathering in years aims to restore trilateral diplomacy as challenges mount

25 May 2024