Latest news with #LeeJaemyung
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Take an independent tack on China, Wang Yi urges South Korea's new foreign policy chief
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has used his first official phone call with his new South Korean counterpart to call on Seoul to oppose 'decoupling' and to pursue an independent foreign policy. In his call with Cho Hyun on Monday, Wang urged South Korea to promote a 'stable, sustainable and predictable' China policy and to deepen pragmatic cooperation, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said the two ministers spoke for about 45 minutes, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership in a 'steady and mature' manner. 'They agreed to work together to ensure that the upcoming Apec summit in Gyeongju serves as a new turning point in bilateral ties and to deliver tangible outcomes in practical cooperation that can be felt by the peoples of both countries,' Yonhap reported, citing South Korea's foreign ministry. Beijing seeks to reset its ties with the newly installed leadership in Seoul under President Lee Jae-myung
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
North Korea says it has ‘no interest' in dialogue with South Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister has rejected the possibility of dialogue with South Korea amid Seoul's outreach efforts under its new left-leaning president. In a statement issued by state-run media on Monday, Kim Yo Jong dismissed South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's efforts to mend ties with Pyongyang, including the cessation of loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the tense inter-Korean border. Kim, who oversees propaganda operations within the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, called Lee's decision to halt the broadcasts a 'reversible turning back of what they should not have done in the first place.' If South Korea 'expected that it could reverse all the results it had made with a few sentimental words', nothing could be a 'more serious miscalculation', Kim said in the comments carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. Kim also accused the Lee administration of 'spinning a daydream' after its unification minister, Chung Dong-young, earlier this month expressed support for Kim Jong Un being invited to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea in October. The Lee administration's 'blind trust' in South Korea's security alliance with the United States and 'attempt to stand in confrontation' with Pyongyang are little different from the policies of the previous conservative administration of Yoon Suk-yeol, Kim said. 'We clarify once again the official stand that no matter what policy is adopted and whatever proposal is made in Seoul, we have no interest in it and there is neither the reason to meet nor the issue to be discussed with the ROK,' Kim said, using the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Lee, who took office last month following Yoon's removal over a short-lived declaration of martial law, has expressed his desire to improve relations between the divided Koreas, which have been technically at war since the 1950-1953 Korean War. Lee's left-leaning Democratic Party and its predecessors have traditionally favoured closer ties with North Korea, in comparison with Yoon's conservative People Power Party and its precursors. Earlier this month, South Korea announced that it repatriated six North Koreans who had been rescued at sea earlier this year after their vessels drifted across the de facto maritime border.
CNA
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim rejects outreach by South's new president
SEOUL: North Korea has no interest in any policy or proposals for reconciliation from South Korea, the powerful sister of its leader Kim Jong Un said on Monday (Jul 28) in the first response to South Korean liberal President Lee Jae-myung's peace overtures. Kim Yo Jong, who is a senior North Korean ruling party official and is believed to speak for the country's leader, said Lee's pledge of commitment to South Korea-United States security alliance shows he is no different from his hostile predecessor. "If South Korea expects to reverse all the consequences of (its actions) with a few sentimental words, there could be no greater miscalculation than that," Kim said in comments carried by official KCNA news agency. Lee, who took office on Jun 4 after winning a snap election called after the removal of hardline conservative Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed attempt at martial law, has vowed to improve ties with Pyongyang that had reached the worst level in years. As gestures aimed at easing tensions, Lee suspended loudspeaker broadcasts blasting anti-North propaganda across the border and banned the flying of leaflets by activists that had angered Pyongyang. Kim, the North Korean official, said those moves are merely a reversal of ill-intentioned activities by South Korea that should never have been initiated in the first place. "In other words, it's not even something worth our assessment," she said. "We again make clear the official position that whatever policy is established in Seoul or proposal is made, we are not interested, and we will not be sitting down with South Korea and there is nothing to discuss." South Korea's Unification Ministry said Kim Yo Jong's comments "show the wall of distrust between the South and the North is very high as a result of hostile and confrontational policy over the past few years". South Korea will continue to make efforts for reconciliation and cooperation with the North, ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told a briefing. There has been cautious optimism in the South that the North may respond positively and may even show willingness to re-engage in dialogue, particularly after Pyongyang also shut off its loudspeakers, a move Lee said was quicker than expected. Still, Lee, whose government is in the midst of tough negotiations with Washington to avert punishing tariffs that US President Donald Trump has threatened against a string of major trading partners, has said a US alliance is the pillar of South Korea's diplomacy. Lee said on the anniversary of the Korean War armistice on Sunday Seoul would make efforts in all areas to "strengthen the South Korea-US alliance that was sealed in blood". North Korea also marked the anniversary which it calls victory day with events including a parade in Pyongyang, although state media reports indicated it was at a relatively lesser scale compared to some previous years. Columns of soldiers marched holding portraits of commanders, including state founder Kim Il Sun,g with spectators and frail veterans in historic army uniforms in attendance in state media photos, which did not show major weapons as part of the parade. A formation of military jets flew over the Pyongyang Gymnasium square in the night sky, trailing streaks of flares and fireworks. State media made no mention of leader Kim Jong Un's attendance.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
South Korea faces US pressure on defence, China amid tariff deadline
As a crucial August 1 deadline looms, South Korea and the United States are racing to finalise a sprawling package deal encompassing tariffs and security. The high-stakes negotiations are intensifying scrutiny on how Washington's far-reaching demands concerning defence and regional stability will ultimately shape the agreement. The negotiations may include pressure on Seoul to increase its defence spending and take on a larger role in countering China , both of which align with US President Donald Trump' s explicit demands of American allies in Asia. Since President Lee Jae-myung took office on June 4, US officials have repeatedly emphasised the need to modernise the bilateral alliance on defence and security cooperation. The term was notably used by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a congratulatory message on Lee's inauguration, when he said, 'We are also modernising the alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges.' The idea was highlighted again during a visit to Seoul by Kevin Kim, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China, Japan , South Korea, and Mongolia , on July 10. 01:42 Trump imposes 25% unilateral tariffs on Japan, South Korea amid slow negotiation progress Trump imposes 25% unilateral tariffs on Japan, South Korea amid slow negotiation progress Alliance modernisation was a key item on the agenda in his meeting with his counterpart, Hong Ji-pyo, director general for North American affairs at Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When asked to clarify what the term specifically entails, a foreign ministry official said the government would 'continue to consult and cooperate closely with the US to develop the alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic partnership capable of responding to the evolving economic and security environment,' but declined to offer further details.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Man tied to bricks, lifted by forklift: fury in South Korea over ‘horrific' abuse
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday condemned the alleged abuse of a migrant worker at a brick factory, calling it a 'blatant violation of human rights' and pledged stronger protection for vulnerable groups. His remarks came a day after migrant rights activists urged authorities to punish those involved in the incident, which was captured in video footage that circulated online this week. 'I could hardly believe my eyes after watching the video. It is unimaginable that such an incident could occur in a country known as a global cultural powerhouse and a model of democracy,' Lee wrote on Facebook. He described the act as 'an unacceptable act of violence against minorities and the vulnerable'. 'We will ensure that no one suffers from human rights abuses or labour exploitation due to their unstable status,' the president added, calling on relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Employment and Labour, to take swift action. A Sri Lankan worker is seen tied to a forklift at a brick factory in Naju, South Korea. Photo: Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network The Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network on Wednesday released video footage showing a man in his 30s from Sri Lanka tied to bricks with cling film and lifted by a forklift at a factory in Naju, South Jeolla province.
