Politics

A U.S. nuclear submarine arrives at a naval base on the South Korean island of Jeju in July.
Defense

Can Washington and Seoul tame South Koreans' nuclear ambitions?

Doubts linger on U.S. commitment to defend ally as North continues atomic buildup

31 December 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol face domestic political concerns heading into 2024 while Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, looks to expand Moscow's influence in East Asia. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP, Reuters and ACME/Kyodo)
Comment

Why did Putin admit Soviet Union's secret role in Korean War now?

Russia's entry into East Asia power game tests leaders of Seoul, Tokyo in 2024

30 December 2023
Lee Jun-seok announces his decision to form a new party during a Dec. 27 press briefing in Seoul.
Politics

Ex-leader of South Korea's ruling PPP to launch third party

Lee Jun-seok targets mass of undecided voters ahead of 2024 elections

28 December 2023
Bangladesh, Taiwan, South Korea and Sri Lanka are also set to go to the polls next year, while Asia's focus will shift to the U.S. Presidential race later in 2024. (Photo by Ken KobayashI)
Asia Insight

From India and Pakistan to Indonesia, Asia set for election-packed 2024

Over a billion people will be voting but democracy questions cloud some races

26 December 2023
South Korean film "12:12: The Day" is a story about the country's 1979 military coup. Some viewers see parallels with present-day politics.
Politics

South Korean hit '12:12: The Day' highlights political divides

Smash film draws huge audiences as nation braces for key elections

23 December 2023
Chairman Jin Roy Ryu of the Federation of Korean Industries speaks to reporters in Seoul on Dec. 21. (Photo courtesy of FKI)
International relations

South Korea business lobby seeks regular meetings with U.S., Japan

Chairman Jin Roy Ryu calls for talks on chip and EV supply chains

22 December 2023
Han Dong-hoon, center, stepped down as South Korea's justice minister to head the ruling People Power Party. (Yonhap/Kyodo)
Politics

South Korea's justice minister to head ruling party

Han Dong-hoon becomes face of PPP ahead of April elections

22 December 2023
From left, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meet in San Francisco in November. The countries seek to bolster cooperation in the face of security challenges in East Asia.
Defense

U.S., Japan, South Korea start sharing missile information in real time

North Korean advances spur push for quicker, more accurate analysis

20 December 2023
Hyundai Motor is making "final arrangements" to sell its Russian unit after suspending factory operations in March 2022.
Automobiles

Hyundai Motor to sell Russian unit to local dealer

South Korean automaker's factory operations suspended amid war in Ukraine

19 December 2023
Residents of South Korea's Jeju Island protest against the acceptance of asylum seekers from Yemen on June 30, 2018. 
Politics

South Korean rising political star makes stern shift on refugees

Justice minister tipped for 2027 run seeks terror checks after opening doors to migrants

14 December 2023
Critics are raising questions over President Yoon Suk Yeol's frequent trips overseas. He is off to the Netherlands this week, his sixth visit to Europe; he has been to the U.S. five times, and paid visits to India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. 
Politics

South Korean president's trips abroad attract growing scrutiny

Netherlands visit is Yoon's 16th overseas excursion since taking power last year

11 December 2023
Kurt Campbell testifies during a confirmation hearing for deputy secretary of state at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Dec. 7. 
Indo-Pacific

China won't win trust of Japan and South Korea: Kurt Campbell

Deputy secretary of state nominee says U.S. must stay focused on Indo-Pacific

8 December 2023
South Korea's Agency for Defense Development conducted its third test flight of the rocket off Jeju Island on Dec. 4. (Hanwha Systems)
Defense

South Korea test-fires solid-fuel rocket and puts satellite into orbit

Seoul steps up pursuit of satellite surveillance on North Korea

5 December 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has had a contentious relationship with labor unions and the media.
Politics

South Korea's Yoon vetoes hot-button union and media bills

Move escalates president's battle with labor and the press

1 December 2023
A view of Seoul's financial district: In October, South Korea's market regulator, the Financial Services Commission, accused two global investment banks of engaging in naked short-selling.
Markets

South Korea suspects more banks involved in naked shorting

Seoul says joining MSCI's advanced markets indexes not its main goal

1 December 2023
A U.S. guided-missile destroyer fires a Tomahawk missile in a training area. Japan seeks to acquire Tomahawks. (U.S. Navy handout via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific to see huge missile buildup by 2030s, Carnegie analyst says

To avoid escalation, countries should 'forswear preemptive attacks' on national leaders

28 November 2023
South Korean Minister for Trade Ahn Duk-geun speaks to Nikkei Asia on Nov. 25 in Seoul about a U.S. move giving South Korean companies a way around "hopelessly difficult" restrictions on shipments to China. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
Semiconductors

South Korea welcomes new rules easing chip tool shipments to China

Updates to U.S. regulations 'very significant' for Samsung, SK Hynix, trade minister says

27 November 2023
Dubai will host COP28 from Nov. 30 through Dec. 12.
Your Week in Asia

China tightens graphite exports, Vietnam President visits Japan, COP28

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

26 November 2023
Japan's Yoko Kamikawa, China's Wang Yi and South Korea's Park Jin will meet in Busan on Nov. 26. (Source photos by Nikkei, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
International relations

Japan, China and South Korea top diplomats to meet: 3 things to know

Foreign ministers to seek timing for first trilateral leaders summit since 2019

26 November 2023
A former South Korean "comfort woman" poses for photographs at a memorial in Seoul on June 29, 2021.
Japan-South Korea ties

South Korea court overturns Japan's immunity from 'comfort women' suit

Group seeking compensation over treatment in World War II military brothels

23 November 2023
North Korea's Chollima-1 rocket is prepared to launch the Malligyong-1 satellite. (Photo courtesy of Korean Central News Agency)
N Korea at crossroads

North Korean satellite reported to be in orbit, likely with Russian help

Pyongyang ups military technology capabilities as U.S. is distracted by crises

23 November 2023
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un celebrates what the country says was the successful launch of the Malligyong-1 satellite on Nov. 21.
Defense

South Korea restores border surveillance after North's satellite launch

Seoul partially suspends 2018 military agreement with Pyongyang

22 November 2023
What appears to be North Korea's new Chollima-1 rocket is seen being launched in North Korea on May 31.
Defense

North Korea claims successful launch of spy satellite

Japan condemns launch and says outcome of 3rd attempt this year not verified

22 November 2023
The USS Carl Vinson arrives at a port in Busan, South Korea on Nov. 21.
Defense

U.S. carrier in South Korea as Pyongyang signals satellite launch

Flexing 'military might' key to deterring North Korean aggression, analyst says

21 November 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, arrive at Stansted Airport, near London, for an official state visit.
International relations

South Korea to unveil $26bn of U.K. investments during Yoon trip

Both sides to sign new defense and tech accord during president's state visit

21 November 2023