South Korea’s first lady Kim Jung-sook on Wednesday stressed the importance of the country’s relations with Brunei, Cambodia and Malaysia, at a meeting with students from the countries studying here. Cheong Wa Dae had invited 10 students each from Brunei and Malaysia and nine students from Cambodia to the presidential office.  First Lady Kim Jung-sook poses with students from Brunei, Cambodia and Malaysia at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday. YonhapThe event was held ahead of President Moon Jae-in’s of

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday named new secretaries for peace and security strategy, completing the reorganization of the National Security Office. The appointments, which follow changes in the organization of the National Security Office, appear to be aimed at strengthening cooperation and communication with the US on North Korea-related issues. Choi Jong-kun was appointed to the newly established position of peace planning secretary, and Noh Kyu-duk as the secretary for security strategy.

The Korea Kindergarten Association on Monday ended the postponement of the start of the spring semester for private preschools across the country. The KKA had declared that the starting date of the spring semester would be further postponed in protest of the government’s reform plans. Preschools were scheduled to open Monday, but the KKA’s protest ended after a day in the face of backlash from parents and the government. Korea Kindergarten Association office in Seoul. YonhapIn a statement releas

President Moon Jae-in on Monday called on the government to facilitate US-North Korea dialogue while stressing that the recent summit was not without results.Speaking at the first National Security Council meeting he had presided over in eight months, Moon said the result of the US-North Korea summit was less than hoped for, but the Feb. 27-28 summit in Hanoi served to highlight important advances in denuclearization talks. President Moon Jae-in speaks at the National Security Council meeting on

Denuclearization of North Korea is once again in question, with the US-North Korea summit in Hanoi being cut short without reaching an agreement. While the developments at the summit took the world by surprise, the underlying reasons that led to the outcome are unchanged -- the North wanting more for less, and the US wanting Pyongyang to give up more, quickly. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a wreath laying ceremony at Monument to War Heroes and Martyrs in Hanoi, Vietnam Saturday. (AP-Yo

HANOI, Vietnam -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday began a two-day official visit to Vietnam, the first to the country by a leader from the regime in 55 years. The last visit was made in 1964 by the late Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather and the founding leader of North Korea. On Friday, Kim Jong-un began his official schedule with the Vietnamese government. The North Korean leader is set to meet President Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also general-secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communis

HANOI, Vietnam -- US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s summit ended earlier than scheduled Thursday, with the two sides failing to reach an agreement. Trump and Kim began the second day of their summit at 9 a.m. at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel as scheduled, but the event was cut short, with the leaders leaving the venue at about 1:25 p.m. They were originally scheduled to have a working lunch, and to hold a joint agreement-signing ceremony at about 2 p.m.,

HANOI, Vietnam -- The US-North Korea summit in Hanoi on Thursday ended with the two sides failing to reach an agreement.US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had met at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi and held three round of talks, but no results were forthcoming. (Yonhap)According to the White House, Trump and Kim engaged in a second private meeting in the afternoon in place of a scheduled working lunch. Trump and Kim met at about 9 a.m. and began the day wit

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wrapped up two rounds of summit talks just before noon Thursday.  (Yonhap)The two held a private meeting from about 9 a.m., which was followed by a short stroll on the grounds of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, and an expanded meeting with senior aides in attendance. Following the expanded meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim’s right hand man Kim Yong-chol, the two sides began the working lunch, whic

HANOI, Vietnam -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday reiterated his apparent commitment to denuclearize, going into the expanded summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.“If I were not ready for such things, I would not have come here,” Kim was quoted as saying by White House pool reporters in response to a question on whether he was ready to denuclearize.  (Yonhap)To Kim’s statement, Trump chimed in saying, “That might be the best answer you’ve ever heard.”Asked if he was ready to

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were seen taking a stroll on the grounds of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, between summit talks Thursday. The two were spotted just before 9:40 a.m. walking along a path accompanied by interpreters.  (Yonhap) (Yonhap)Kim and Trump had met at the hotel just before 9 a.m., and spoke briefly in front of cameras before beginning the one-on-one meeting, which lasted some 40 minutes. Kim and Trump were then seen taking a

HANOI, Vietnam – US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un resumed summit meetings at 8:55 a.m. Thursday at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi.Kim and Trump arrived at the hotel ahead of the scheduled 9 a.m. one-on-one meeting, and briefly spoke in front of cameras starting the day of talks. (Yonhap)“Much effort has been made, and now is the time to show (results). A great conversation is being continued for the second day here in Hanoi,” Kim said, saying that the wo

HANOI, Vietnam -- US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday kicked off their summit with a one-on-one meeting followed by a dinner in Hanoi. Trump and Kim, who both arrived in Hanoi a day earlier, met for the first time at 6:28 p.m. at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel. US President Donald Trump (Left) shakes hands with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on Wednesday. (AFP-Yonhap)The official US

HANOI, Vietnam -- Speculation is running rampant as to what kind of deal the US and North Korea will draw up as US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meet for their summit in Hanoi. Trump and Kim began the two-day summit on Wednesday and are set to wrap up the event Thursday after a number of meetings. Compared with the first US-North Korea summit, which took place in June, Kim this time around appears to have dedicated more time to advance preparations. 　(Yonhap)With the

HANOI, Vietnam -- US and North Korean sides gathered in Hanoi on Tuesday, ahead of official events of the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set to kick off the following day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves upon his arrival at the border town of Dong Dang, Vietnam, Tuesday. (L) US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One prior to departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Monday. (Yonhap)Kim arrived at the Melia Hanoi Hotel at about 11 a.m.

President Moon Jae-in may visit the US in the near future following the US-North Korea summit, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. “Although President Trump did not specify a date, his saying that (he and Moon) have a lot to talk about raised the idea of a meeting in the near future,” a top Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters Tuesday, referring to Moon’s telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Feb. 19. President Moon Jae-in speaks at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Yonhap“If the meeti

HANOI, Vietnam -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday, ahead of official summit events set to kick off the following day. Kim arrived at the Melia Hanoi Hotel at about 11 a.m. (Vietnam time), while US President Donald Trump was expected to arrive later in the day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves at Dong Dang Railway Station in Vietnam on Tuesday. YonhapThe two leaders are set to begin their two-day summit with a private meeting and dinner Wednesday. According to the

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are set to meet for their second time Wednesday, feeding hopes and trepidations for the future of the Korean Peninsula.With the two having agreed to seek complete denuclearization of the peninsula and build bilateral relations anew in the first summit on June 12 last year, the upcoming meeting is expected to focus on more specific issues.  Vietnamese officials stand facing a sign installed for the US-North Korea summit in Hanoi on Sun

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set out for Hanoi by train Saturday, North Korean media reported Sunday. North Korean state media reported in the early hours of Sunday that Kim left Pyongyang by train to attend the summit with US President Donald Trump. On the trip, which is expected to take approximately 60 hours, Kim is accompanied by a number of top officials including his sister Kim Yo-jong and top aide Kim Yong-chol. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves from the train bound for Hanoi at a

US national security adviser John Bolton will travel to Seoul later this week to discuss matters regarding the US-North Korea summit, CNN reported Wednesday. US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are set to hold their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. Details of the meeting’s schedule have not been released, but the US has announced that the summit will be held on Feb. 27 and 28. John Bolton. YonhapAccording to a CNN report citing two Trump administration officials, Bolton