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☆ South Korea protests Japan's island claim in national security strategy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Dec 16 (Reuters) - South Korea issued a strong protest against Japan's territorial claim over disputed islands made in a national security strategy released on Friday while cautiously responding to Tokyo's plans for an unprecedented military buildup. South Korea's foreign ministry on Friday demanded an immediate removal of the territorial claims from Japan's national strategy documents, saying in a statement that the move did nothing to help "building a future-oriented relationship" between the two countries. The foreign ministry later said it summoned a senior diplomat from Japan's embassy in Seoul to lodge the protest. The defence ministry separately said it summoned a Japanese defence official to protest the claim. The islands known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan are controlled by Seoul with a small contingent of coast guards.

☆ South Korea urges China to support dialogue with North Korea - S.Korea ministry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Dec 12 (Reuters) - South Korea's foreign minister told his Chinese counterpart on Monday the country expects China to actively support South Korea's efforts for dialogue with North Korea, South Korea's foreign ministry said. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin in a video conference call that China will play a constructive role in the Korean peninsula issue, a ministry statement said. During the call, Park expressed concern about North Korea's actions including a record number of ballistic missile launches this year, adding North Korea must refrain from further provocations such as potential nuclear tests and engage in dialogue, the ministry added. In November, South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol in a Reuters interview urged China to help dissuade the North from pursuing banned development of nuclear weapons and missiles. China, North Korea’s closest ally, should fulfill its responsibilities as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, Yoon said, adding that not doing so would lead to an influx of military assets to the region.

☆ South Korea's FX reserves post biggest monthly gain in 13 on weaker dollar
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Dec 5 (Reuters) - South Korea's foreign exchange reserves increased in November for the first time in four months and by the largest amount in 13 months, central bank data showed on Monday, as the U.S. dollar retreated from a two-decade high scaled in October. The country's FX reserves stood at $416.10 billion at the end of November, up $2.09 billion from $414.01 billion a month before, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The reserves increased in November by the largest amount since October 2021. Of the 13 months since then, they fell for 10 months, hitting a more than two-year low at the end of October this year. The U.S. dollar index fell 5.1% in November, the biggest monthly drop in more than 12 years.

☆ North Korea cautions sanctions and pressure will fuel more hostility
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Nov 24 (Reuters) - North Korea on Thursday denounced Seoul's push to impose additional sanctions on Pyongyang following its repeated missile launches, saying such measures will add to the North's "hostility and anger," state media KCNA reported. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, made the remarks in a statement carried by KCNA, calling South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol "and other idiots" a "faithful dog" of the United States. It said sanctions on the cyber sector were among those considered in case the North pushes ahead with a nuclear test. North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches this year. For months Washington has said North Korea could conduct a nuclear bomb test, the first since 2017, at any time.

☆ U.S. calls for U.N. Security Council president's statement on North Korea missiles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said it was vital the 15-member Security Council respond with one voice and reiterated U.S. charges that China and Russia were "emboldening" Pyongyang by blocking council action. The United States will be proposing a Presidential Statement to this end," she said, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He said Washington should take the initiative and put forward realistic proposals to respond to North Korea's "legitimate concerns." A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said a draft president's statement would be shared with the Security Council soon and negotiations would follow. It said the Council must act to limit the advancement of North Korea's weapons programs.

☆ North Korea's foreign minister says U.N. secretary general not impartial
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Nov 21 (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign minister on Monday accused U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres of siding with the United States and failing to maintain impartiality and objectivity. "Recently I have often taken the UN secretary-general for a member of the U.S. White House or its State Department," Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said in a statement carried by state media defending the nuclear-armed North's right to develop weapons for self defence. Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ North Korea's Kim oversees ICBM test, vows more nuclear weapons
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SEOUL, Nov 19 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to counter U.S. nuclear threats with nuclear weapons as he inspected a test of the country's new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), state media KCNA said on Saturday. "Kim Jong Un solemnly declared that if the enemies continue to pose threats ... our party and government will resolutely react to nukes with nuclear weapons and to total confrontation with all-out confrontation," the official KCNA news agency said. He ordered swifter development of strategic weapons, and more intensive training for the ICBM and tactical nuclear weapons units to ensure they flawlessly perform their duty "in any situation and at any moment," KCNA said. China and Russia had backed tighter sanctions following Pyongyang's last nuclear test in 2017, but in May both vetoed a U.S.-led push for more U.N. penalties over its renewed missile launches. ICBMs are North Korea's longest-range weapon, and Friday's launch is its eighth ICBM test this year, based on a tally from the U.S. State Department.

☆ North Korea vows 'fiercer' military responses to U.S., allies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Nov 17 (Reuters) - North Korea warned on Thursday of "fiercer military responses" to U.S. efforts to boost its security presence in the region with its allies, state media said, saying Washington is taking a "gamble it will regret". North Korea's foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, slammed a recent trilateral summit between the United States, South Korea and Japan, during which the leaders criticised Pyongyang's weapons tests and pledged greater security cooperation. On Thursday, the South Korean military reported another ballistic missile launch off North Korea's east coast. She referred to her country by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The United States has been saying since May that North Korea is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017, but its actual timing remains unclear.

☆ North Korea fires missile, vows 'fiercer' responses to U.S., allies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Nov 17 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Thursday as it warned of "fiercer military responses" to U.S. efforts to boost its security presence in the region with its allies, saying Washington is taking a "gamble it will regret". South Korea's military said the ballistic missile was launched from the North's east coast city of Wonsan at 10:48 a.m. (0248 GMT). The United States has been saying since May that North Korea is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017, but its actual timing remains unclear. South Korea's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, who handles intra-Korea affairs, said the North might postpone its nuclear test for some time, citing China's domestic political schedule. "North Korea has also achieved some political effects by codifying its nuclear law in August, so it might not have immediate needs for a nuclear test," Kwon said in an interview with Yonhap news agency released on Thursday.

☆ North Korea fires more missiles as U.S. flies bombers over South
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The South Korean military said two B-1B bombers trained with four U.S. F-16 fighter jets and four South Korean F-35 jets during the last day of the "Vigilant Storm" joint air force drills that wraps up Saturday. It said North Korea will respond with the "toughest counteraction" to any attempts by "hostile forces" to infringe on its sovereignty or security interests. South Korea also on Friday scrambled about 80 military aircraft after tracking about 180 flights by North Korean warplanes inside North Korean territory. North Korea has launched dozens of ballistic missiles this year, including multiple ICBMs and an intermediate-range missile flown over Japan. South Korean officials say there are indications North Korea in coming weeks could detonate its first nuclear test device since 2017.

☆ Japan to seek U.S. flexibility on EV purchase incentives, Kyodo reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew KellyTOKYO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Japan will ask the United States to be more flexible on electric vehicle (EV) purchase incentives for non-American carmakers, Kyodo news agency reported on Friday, citing unidentified government sources. The move follows a statement from South Korea's foreign ministry saying Seoul is seeking a three-year grace period on the U.S. Inflation Act to enable its automakers to continue receiving EV incentives in the United States. The law restricts tax credits for EVs to those assembled in North America. The Biden administration said in mid-August that about 20 models still qualify for tax credits of up to $7,500. The government will seek to make nearly completed cars exported from Japan eligible for the tax credits as long as the final process takes place in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, Kyodo said.

☆ South Korea FX reserves fall again in Oct as won weakens
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Nov 3 (Reuters) - South Korea's foreign exchange reserves shrank for a third consecutive month in October, although by a relatively small amount, partly due to efforts of taming the won's fall against the U.S. dollar, the central bank said on Thursday. The country's foreign exchange reserves fell by $2.76 billion last month to $414.01 billion, data released by the Bank of Korea showed. It had dropped by $19.67 billion in September, which was the second-biggest monthly drop on record. The central bank cited efforts to contain the weakening won as a factor for the decline, which it said more than offset gains of reserves in dollar value coming from the U.S. unit's drop in value against major currencies. October marked the 10th out of the past 12 months that South Korea's foreign exchange reserves shrank, as the won lost 18% of its value against the dollar over the 12-month period.

☆ South Korea issues an air raid alert after North Korea fires three missiles toward the sea
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

South Korea issued an emergency alert after North Korea fired missiles toward the eastern sea boundary. The escalation comes hours after North Korea issued a veiled threat toward the US and South Korea. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired the three short-range ballistic missiles Wednesday morning from its eastern coastal area of Wonsan. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an initial statement that North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward sea Wednesday, but offered no further details like how far it flew. The White House on Tuesday pushed back against North Korea's saber rattling, reiterating that drills are part of a routine training schedule with South Korea.

☆ North Korea says U.S.-South Korea drills 'can no longer be tolerated'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - North Korea on Tuesday again demanded that the United States and South Korea halt joint military exercises, saying such "rashness and provocation can be no longer tolerated," while the White House said concern remains high about the potential for a North Korean nuclear test. In denouncing the drills in a statement carried by North Korea's official news agency, Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, warned the United States and South Korea against any attempt to attack. North Korea's foreign ministry on Monday demanded an end to the drills, saying they could draw "more powerful follow-up measures" from Pyongyang. North Korea and South Korea remain technically at war since an armistice agreement ended fighting in the 1950-1953 Korean War.

☆ North Korea demands the U.S., South Korea halt joint military drills
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - North Korea on Monday demanded that the United States and South Korea stop large-scale military exercises, calling them a provocation that may draw "more powerful follow-up measures" from Pyongyang. The United States and South Korea began one of their largest combined military air drills on Monday, with hundreds of warplanes from both sides staging mock attacks 24 hours a day for the better part of a week. read moreThe foreign ministry statement said North Korea was "ready to take all necessary measures for defending its sovereignty, people's security and territorial integrity from outside military threats." North Korea condemns the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul. read moreAsked if the United States would eventually recognize North Korea as such, Price replied: "That is not our policy.

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