By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Andy Kim, currently visiting Korea, held a roundtable on August 19 with three leading Korean shipbuilders—Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai, and Samsung Heavy Industries—as well as officials from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. During the roundtable, Korean shipbuilders underscored both their strong commitment and proven capabilities to advance U.S.–Korea shipbuilding cooperation. At the same time, they emphasized th
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung met with Senators Tammy Duckworth and Andy Kim, who are visiting South Korea, and exchanged views on strengthening the ROK-US alliance, promoting ROK-US economic cooperation, and regional and international affairs on August 18. President Lee welcomed the visit of the U.S. Senate delegation and stated that the ROK-U.S. alliance is a blood alliance and that he intends to develop it into a “future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance” not only in security but also in all areas, including the economy and advanced science and technology.
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who is on a bilateral visit to India, held his first South Korea-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi on August 16 (local time) and exchanged views on high-level exchanges, practical cooperation, and regional issues. Minister Cho said that the South Korean government is promoting diplomatic diversification, including the continuation and development of the New Southern Policy, based on its vision of becoming a “globally responsible power that responds pragmatically to chang
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met with Swedish Ambassador to South Korea Karl-Olof Andersson on August 11 and discussed ways for South Korea and Sweden to cooperate on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Chung outlined the South Korean government's North Korea and unification policy, which centers on the restoration of inter-Korean relations and peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. He also praised Sweden's long-standing role in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and emphasized, "Sweden's diplomatic network and trust assets
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo During the Korea-Vietnam Summit held on August 11, Pyeongtaek and Da Nang, key economic hubs of both countries, held a "Friendship Exchange Agreement Exchange Ceremony." Pyeongtaek and Da Nang previously signed a friendship exchange agreement in April, but this exchange was held again following Da Nang's elevation to a centrally-controlled city in July. The unusual inclusion of a local government exchange event at a summit is interpreted as a sign of the two countries' intention to expand the scope and depth of cooperation to include local governments. Indeed,
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Following the Korea-Vietnam Summit, companies and organizations from both countries signed 52 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to expand cooperation in industries, energy, and other sectors. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 12 that it held the "Korea-Vietnam Business Forum" at the Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. The forum was attended by approximately 500 government officials, organizations, and businesspeople, including Vietnamese Party Secretary General To Lâm and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. At the forum, 52 MOUs were signed bet
Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The South Korea-U.S. summit will be held on August 25. The Presidential Office announced on Aug. 12, "President Lee Jae-myung will visit the U.S. from Aug. 24 to 26 at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump for the summit." If the summit is held on Aug. 25, President Lee will meet President Trump for the first time in 82 days since taking office. President Lee plans to hold a summit with President Trump and a working lunch. When asked whether President Lee's visit to the U.S. constitutes a state visit, the Presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stat
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Embassy of Ecuador in Korea held the Ecuadorian National Day reception on Aug. 8, 2025, marking the anniversary of the First Call for Independence, which occurred on August 10, 1809, a historic milestone that contributed to the formation of the Ecuadorian nation. Delivering a speech at the reception held at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, Ambassador Patricio Esteban Troya Suárez of Ecuador to South Korea said, “Korea and Ecuador have maintained a strong relationship of friendship and cooperation that began in 1950 during the Korean War and was formalized on Octo
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, the top official in the Vietnamese government, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan on Aug. 11, 2025. The two leaders adopted the "Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between South Korea and Vietnam," which aims to foster future-oriented cooperation between the two countries. This marks the first visit by a Vietnamese leader to South Korea in 11 years, since 2014, and the first foreign guest and state guest since the new admi
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo The Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a luncheon meeting with local businesspeople on Aug. 8 at the Yuseong Hotel Intercity, inviting Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov. The meeting began with a video introducing the investment environment between the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Uzbekistan, followed by a free discussion on cooperation opportunities between companies from both countries. In particular, discussions focused on potential cooperation in areas such as satellite production and services, water purification proj
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Hyundai Motor Company and General Motors announced plans for their first five co-developed vehicles on Aug. 6, marking a significant milestone in their previously announced strategic collaboration. The two companies will co-develop four vehicles for the Central and South American market, including a compact SUV, car and pick-up, as well as a mid-size pick-up, all with the flexibility to use either internal combustion or hybrid propulsion systems. Hyundai and GM also will co-develop an electric commercial van for North America. Hyundai and GM expect sales of the
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Korean Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (TA) with Anduril, a US defense company, to establish partnerships in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. The signing ceremony took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Key officials from both companies, including Lim Jin-gyu, head of Korean Air's Aerospace Division, and Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril, attended the event. Anduril signed partnerships with major Korean defense companies at the official launch of its Korean branch, hosted by the US Dep
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province, hosted a meeting with David Roden, the Gyeongsangbuk-do Investment Promotion Ambassador, in the External Relations Office of City Hall on Aug. 6, 2025. The meeting was organized to expand global investment and strengthen the Korea-US business network, the city announced. The event was attended by Gyeongju City Vice Mayor Song Ho-jun, Director of the Corporate Investment Support Division Son Dae-gi, and officials from the Gyeongsangbuk-do Investment Promotion Team. Vice Mayor Song stated, "I express my gratitude to Ambas
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo Ambassador Amit Kumar of India to Korea visited Gimhae City and had lunch with Gimhae Mayor Hong Tae-yong, reaffirming the special bond between Gimhae and India. Ambassador Amit Kumar expressed his affection for Gimhae, which he considers his hometown, and expressed his commitment to further revitalizing exchanges between the two countries. Mayor Hong expressed his gratitude for Ambassador Amit Kumar's deep interest in Gimhae and the various cooperative projects he has pursued during his term. Ambassador Amit Kumar also expressed his special affection, describi
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam will make a four-day, three-night state visit to South Korea starting on Aug. 10. This will be the first visit by a foreign leader to South Korea since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration. Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung announced on Aug. 7, "Through the summit and state dinner on Aug. 11, President Lee plans to hold in-depth discussions with General Secretary Lam on politics, security, trade, and investment, as well as future strategic areas such as national i