Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP Tour main draw match on Monday when the South Korean defeated Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open.

The 21-year-old fired nine aces on the way to claiming the win after a lengthy rain delay on the hardcourts in North Carolina.

Diagnosed as deaf at the age of two, Lee cannot hear calls from the line judges or the umpire and relies on signals and gestures for the information.

"People made fun of me for my disability. They told me I shouldn't be playing," Lee said after the match.

"It was definitely difficult, but my friends and family helped me get through. I wanted to show everyone that I could do this.

"My message for people who are hearing impaired is to not be discouraged. If you try hard, you can do anything."

Next up for Lee is a second-round meeting with third seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on Tuesday.

Former world number one Andy Murray, continuing his comeback from hip surgery, fell 7-6(8) 7-5 to Tennys Sandgren in a first round match that was delayed by rain for several hours.

Murray battled hard to save three set points in the tiebreak before Sandgren converted the fourth to end the 74-minute first set when the Briton's volley found the net.

Murray was broken in the opening game of the second set and fell 3-0 behind before breaking back to leave the set poised at 5-5.

But the 28-year-old American broke back and then served out the match to set up a second round clash with Canadian second seed Denis Shapovalov.

Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP Tour main draw match on Monday when the South Korean defeated Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open.

Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP Tour main draw match on Monday when the South Korean defeated Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open. The 21-year-old fired nine aces on the way to claiming the win after a lengthy rain delay on the hardcourts in North Carolina. Diagnosed as deaf at the age of two, Lee cannot hear calls from the line judges or the umpire and relies on signals and gestures for the information. "People made fun of me for my disability. They told me I shouldn't be playing," Lee said after the match. "It was definitely difficult, but my friends and family helped me get through. I wanted to show everyone that I could do this. "My message for people who are hearing impaired is to not be discouraged. If you try hard, you can do anything." Next up for Lee is a second-round meeting with third seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on Tuesday. Former world number one Andy Murray, continuing his comeback from hip surgery, fell 7-6(8) 7-5 to Tennys Sandgren in a first round match that was delayed by rain for several hours. Murray battled hard to save three set points in the tiebreak before Sandgren converted the fourth to end the 74-minute first set when the Briton's volley found the net. Murray was broken in the opening game of the second set and fell 3-0 behind before breaking back to leave the set poised at 5-5. But the 28-year-old American broke back and then served out the match to set up a second round clash with Canadian second seed Denis Shapovalov.

South Korea's Lee Duck-hee becomes first deaf player to win an ATP main draw match

North Korea launched at least two projectiles into the sea on Friday, South Korea`s military said, shortly after Pyongyang described South Korea`s president as "impudent" and vowed that inter-Korean talks are over.

North Korea fires 2 projectiles into sea, rules out talks with South Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that Japan should look back upon its imperialist past but Seoul will "gladly join hands" if Tokyo chooses dialogue, in a carefully choreographed message amid an escalating history and trade row.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that Japan should look back upon its imperialist past but Seoul will "gladly join hands" if Tokyo chooses dialogue, in a carefully choreographed message amid an escalating history and trade row. In his Liberation Day address marking Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, Moon refrained from deriding Japan but laid out ambitious goals for inter-Korean relations, including an unprecedented call for unification by 2045. Moon warned the global free trade order may suffer if a country "weaponises" a sector where it has an upper edge, referring to curbs Japan has imposed on exports of some high-tech materials to South Korea. Seoul calls the move as retaliation over a feud about wartime forced labour, while Tokyo cited unspecified security reasons. The dispute, triggered after a South Korean court ordered Japanese firms last year to compensate some of their former labourers, has brought their ties to their lowest ebb in more than half a century. Japan sees the issue was settled by a 1965 treaty normalising bilateral ties. But Moon said the two neighbours can overcome the past and move toward the future if Japan "contemplates a past that brought misfortune to its neighbouring countries". "Better late than never: if Japan chooses the path of dialogue and cooperation, we will gladly join hands," Moon said. Moon also painted a brighter outlook for the two Koreas, vowing efforts for a successful joint hosting of the 2032 Olympics and an eventual unification by 2045. Such goals have long been considered distant, but come at a particularly sensitive time amid the North's ongoing series of missile tests, stalled nuclear talks with the United States and virtually severed inter-Korean communications. "In spite of a series of worrying actions taken by North Korea recently, the momentum for dialogue remains unshaken," Moon said. "I pledge to solidify the foundation so that we can ... stand tall in the world as one Korea by achieving peace and unification by 2045, which will mark the 100th anniversary of liberation."

South Korea's Moon open to dialogue with Japan amid trade row

Any move by the United States to place&nbsp;new&nbsp;ground-launched, intermediate-range&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;in South Korea could spark a "new&nbsp;Cold War" and an escalating arms race in the region,&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;state&nbsp;media&nbsp;said on Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-wants-to-quickly-deploy-new-missiles-in-asia-us-secretary-of-defense-240407">US Defence Secretary Mark Esper</a> this month said he was in favour of placing ground-launched, intermediate-range&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;in Asia, a day after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia.

"The&nbsp;US pointed out that it is now examining a plan for&nbsp;deploying&nbsp;ground-to-ground medium-range&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;in the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-defence-secretary-visits-south-korea-as-the-region-faces-myriad-challenges-241741"> Asian region and South Korea </a>has been singled out as a place for the deployment,"&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's state&nbsp;news agency KCNA said.

"It is a reckless act of escalating regional tension, an act that may spark off a&nbsp;new&nbsp;Cold War and arms race in the Far Eastern region to deploy a&nbsp;new&nbsp;offensive weapon in South Korea," it said in a commentary.

Other senior&nbsp;US officials have said any deployment of such weaponry&nbsp;would&nbsp;be years away.

South Korea's defence ministry has said there had been no discussion of placing American intermediate-range&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;in the country, and there were no plans to consider the idea.

The KCNA statement also criticised recent moves to improve military sites in South that host&nbsp;US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, which are designed to intercept ballistic&nbsp;missiles.

"It is a hard fact that the deployment of THAAD is under the&nbsp;US strategy to contain great powers and hold supremacy in&nbsp;Northeast Asia, not the one for 'shielding' South Korea from someone's 'threat'," KCNA said.

North&nbsp;Korea's military has launched a series of&nbsp;missiles&nbsp;in recent weeks to protest what it sees as a military build-up in South Korea, as well as joint military exercises by South&nbsp;Korean and American troops stationed on the peninsula.

The launches have complicated attempts to restart talks between&nbsp;US and&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;negotiators over the future of the country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which prompted sanctions by the United Nations Security Council.

Any move by the United States to place new ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in South Korea could spark a "new Cold War" and an escalating arms race in the region, North Korean state media said on Wednesday.

Any move by the United States to place new ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in South Korea could spark a "new Cold War" and an escalating arms race in the region, North Korean state media said on Wednesday. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper this month said he was in favour of placing ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in Asia, a day after the United States withdrew from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia. "The US pointed out that it is now examining a plan for deploying ground-to-ground medium-range missiles in the Asian region and South Korea has been singled out as a place for the deployment," North Korea's state news agency KCNA said. "It is a reckless act of escalating regional tension, an act that may spark off a new Cold War and arms race in the Far Eastern region to deploy a new offensive weapon in South Korea," it said in a commentary. Other senior US officials have said any deployment of such weaponry would be years away. South Korea's defence ministry has said there had been no discussion of placing American intermediate-range missiles in the country, and there were no plans to consider the idea. The KCNA statement also criticised recent moves to improve military sites in South that host US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, which are designed to intercept ballistic missiles. "It is a hard fact that the deployment of THAAD is under the US strategy to contain great powers and hold supremacy in Northeast Asia, not the one for 'shielding' South Korea from someone's 'threat'," KCNA said. North Korea's military has launched a series of missiles in recent weeks to protest what it sees as a military build-up in South Korea, as well as joint military exercises by South Korean and American troops stationed on the peninsula. The launches have complicated attempts to restart talks between US and North Korean negotiators over the future of the country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which prompted sanctions by the United Nations Security Council.

Deploying new US missiles would be 'reckless act': North Korean state media

South Korea said on Monday it plans to drop Japan from its "white list" of countries with fast-track trade status from September, a tit-for-tat move that deepens a diplomatic and trade rift between the two countries.

The tighter trade regulations, including potential lengthy permit application processes, will apply to South Korean exports to Japan.

Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said that Japan would be put in a newly-created trade category of countries that have not run their export control systems in line with "international export control principles".

Park Tae-sung, a senior South Korean trade ministry official, added that Japan had been designated the first country in the new group because of inappropriate trade practices, but did not provide details.

Watch: Japan drops South Korea from trade list

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-drops-south-korea-from-trade-list-240292/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Relations between the two countries have soured since a ruling by South Korea's Supreme Court last year that Japanese companies should compensate South Koreans who were conscripted as forced labourers during World War Two.

The Japanese government did not immediately issue a public response to Monday’s announcement, but a senior foreign ministry official told broadcaster NHK that a response would come after more analysis of the details of South Korea’s decision.

Another foreign ministry official said that Tokyo was not expecting an immediate impact, NHK reported.

Japan announced earlier this month that it was removing South Korea from its own "white list" of countries that have enjoyed minimum trade restrictions, citing an erosion of trust.

That followed Japan's imposition in July of tighter curbs on exports to South Korea of materials used to make smartphone chips, South Korea's top export item. Tokyo last week granted the first shipment of high-tech materials to South Korea since those restrictions were enforced.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Japan's economic retaliation is not only intrinsically unfair, but unjust because it stems from Japan's colonial-era abuses.

Still, South Koreans should not react emotionally and should maintain constructive ties with the Japanese people, Moon said at a meeting of senior aides on Monday.

"We should take deep breaths to consider a fundamental countermeasure in a vehement yet calm manner," he said.

In a bid to cut its reliance on Japanese imports, South Korea last week announced plans to invest about 7.8 trillion won ($6.48 billion) in research and development for local materials, parts and equipment over seven years.

"The government will pursue an elaborate and detailed strategy to more substantively develop our economy by taking Japan's economic retaliation as a chance to turn good out of evil," Moon said.

Sung said he was ready to talk with Japanese officials any time Tokyo requests a meeting. 
&nbsp;

South Korea said on Monday it plans to drop Japan from its "white list" of countries with fast-track trade status from September, a tit-for-tat move that deepens a diplomatic and trade rift between the two countries.

South Korea said on Monday it plans to drop Japan from its "white list" of countries with fast-track trade status from September, a tit-for-tat move that deepens a diplomatic and trade rift between the two countries. The tighter trade regulations, including potential lengthy permit application processes, will apply to South Korean exports to Japan. Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said that Japan would be put in a newly-created trade category of countries that have not run their export control systems in line with "international export control principles". Park Tae-sung, a senior South Korean trade ministry official, added that Japan had been designated the first country in the new group because of inappropriate trade practices, but did not provide details. Watch: Japan drops South Korea from trade list × Relations between the two countries have soured since a ruling by South Korea's Supreme Court last year that Japanese companies should compensate South Koreans who were conscripted as forced labourers during World War Two. The Japanese government did not immediately issue a public response to Monday’s announcement, but a senior foreign ministry official told broadcaster NHK that a response would come after more analysis of the details of South Korea’s decision. Another foreign ministry official said that Tokyo was not expecting an immediate impact, NHK reported. Japan announced earlier this month that it was removing South Korea from its own "white list" of countries that have enjoyed minimum trade restrictions, citing an erosion of trust. That followed Japan's imposition in July of tighter curbs on exports to South Korea of materials used to make smartphone chips, South Korea's top export item. Tokyo last week granted the first shipment of high-tech materials to South Korea since those restrictions were enforced. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Japan's economic retaliation is not only intrinsically unfair, but unjust because it stems from Japan's colonial-era abuses. Still, South Koreans should not react emotionally and should maintain constructive ties with the Japanese people, Moon said at a meeting of senior aides on Monday. "We should take deep breaths to consider a fundamental countermeasure in a vehement yet calm manner," he said. In a bid to cut its reliance on Japanese imports, South Korea last week announced plans to invest about 7.8 trillion won ($6.48 billion) in research and development for local materials, parts and equipment over seven years. "The government will pursue an elaborate and detailed strategy to more substantively develop our economy by taking Japan's economic retaliation as a chance to turn good out of evil," Moon said. Sung said he was ready to talk with Japanese officials any time Tokyo requests a meeting.

South Korea to drop Japan from its fast-track trade 'white list'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected Saturday's test of a new weapon, state media KCNA said on Sunday, as a senior diplomat dismissed the possibility of inter-Korean talks in protest against South Korea-US&nbsp;military drills.

North Korea fired <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-tests-two-missiles-shortly-after-donald-trump-says-received-beautiful-letter-from-kim-jong-un-241899">two short-range missiles</a> on Saturday, its fifth within two weeks, in what South Korea called a show of force against joint new military drills with the United States.

The allies kicked off largely computer-simulated small-scale exercises on Saturday for a 10-day run, as an alternative to previous large-scale annual drills that were halted to expedite nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

North Korea calls such exercises a "rehearsal for war" and has countered them with its own military action.

The new "projectiles" were developed to suit the country's terrain, and the latest test proved their "advantageous and powerful demand of the design was perfectly met," KCNA said.

Missile experts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California said photos released by KCNA appear to show a new type of short-range ballistic missile, though detailed analysis is necessary.

In a separate statement carried by KCNA, a senior North Korean diplomat said there will not be inter-Korean talks unless the allies end their military exercises that still maintain "aggressive nature."

"Given that the military exercise clearly puts us as an enemy in its concept," said Kwon Jong Gun, director-general for American affairs at the foreign ministry.

"They should think that an inter-Korean contact itself will be difficult to be made unless they put an end to such a military exercise or before they make a plausible excuse or an explanation in a sincere manner."

Kwon said South Korea talked "nonsense" by urging the North to stop missile tests which served its right to self-defence.

"Even the US&nbsp;president made a remark which in effect recognises the self-defensive rights of a sovereign state, saying that it is a small missile test which a lot of countries do," Kwon said.

Pyongyang has lauded Trump and his personal ties with Kim while chastising South Korea as a "puppet" regime following the orders of its master, the United States.

Keen to tout his North Korea policy ahead of his 2020 re-election bid, Trump has played down the recent series of missile tests, saying they do not violate Kim's pledge to forego nuclear and long-range tests.

Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday that Kim has sent a letter saying "very nicely" that he was ready to resume negotiations once the "ridiculous and expensive" joint exercises were over.

He said called the offer "a small apology for testing the short-range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end."

Trump and Kim have met twice since their first summit in Singapore last year, but little progress has been made on the North's stated commitment to denuclearise.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected Saturday's test of a new weapon, state media KCNA said on Sunday, as a senior diplomat dismissed the possibility of inter-Korean talks in protest against South Korea-US military drills.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected Saturday's test of a new weapon, state media KCNA said on Sunday, as a senior diplomat dismissed the possibility of inter-Korean talks in protest against South Korea-US military drills. North Korea fired two short-range missiles on Saturday, its fifth within two weeks, in what South Korea called a show of force against joint new military drills with the United States. The allies kicked off largely computer-simulated small-scale exercises on Saturday for a 10-day run, as an alternative to previous large-scale annual drills that were halted to expedite nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington. North Korea calls such exercises a "rehearsal for war" and has countered them with its own military action. The new "projectiles" were developed to suit the country's terrain, and the latest test proved their "advantageous and powerful demand of the design was perfectly met," KCNA said. Missile experts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California said photos released by KCNA appear to show a new type of short-range ballistic missile, though detailed analysis is necessary. In a separate statement carried by KCNA, a senior North Korean diplomat said there will not be inter-Korean talks unless the allies end their military exercises that still maintain "aggressive nature." "Given that the military exercise clearly puts us as an enemy in its concept," said Kwon Jong Gun, director-general for American affairs at the foreign ministry. "They should think that an inter-Korean contact itself will be difficult to be made unless they put an end to such a military exercise or before they make a plausible excuse or an explanation in a sincere manner." Kwon said South Korea talked "nonsense" by urging the North to stop missile tests which served its right to self-defence. "Even the US president made a remark which in effect recognises the self-defensive rights of a sovereign state, saying that it is a small missile test which a lot of countries do," Kwon said. Pyongyang has lauded Trump and his personal ties with Kim while chastising South Korea as a "puppet" regime following the orders of its master, the United States. Keen to tout his North Korea policy ahead of his 2020 re-election bid, Trump has played down the recent series of missile tests, saying they do not violate Kim's pledge to forego nuclear and long-range tests. Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday that Kim has sent a letter saying "very nicely" that he was ready to resume negotiations once the "ridiculous and expensive" joint exercises were over. He said called the offer "a small apology for testing the short-range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end." Trump and Kim have met twice since their first summit in Singapore last year, but little progress has been made on the North's stated commitment to denuclearise.

North Korea says no talks with South due to drills, Kim oversaw test of 'new weapon' :Report

President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said on Friday he has received a "very beautiful letter" on Thursday from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-sends-missile-warning-to-south-korea-us-as-tensions-rise-241269">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> and added that he could have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-president-donald-trump-and-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-have-to-find-real-common-ground-233182">another meeting </a>with him.

Speaking to reporters,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;did not say when such a meeting would take place. North Korea has been testing missiles despite a June 30 meeting between&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and Kim at which the two agreed to revive stalled working-level talks, which have yet to resume.

Trump&nbsp;and Kim have met three times since last year to discuss ways to resolve a crisis over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, but progress has been scant on Washington's aim of getting the North Korea leader to give up his weapons.

The recent missile tests have raised questions about the future of dialogue. Pyongyang has warned of a possible end to its freeze of nuclear and long-range missile tests in place since 2017.&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has repeatedly pointed to that freeze as evidence of the success of more than a year of engagement with Kim.

Keen to tout his North Korea policy as a success ahead of his 2020 reelection bid,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has sought to play down the missile launches, saying they do not violate Kim's pledge to forego nuclear and long-range tests.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday he was hopeful talks would resume in coming and that the US side was planning for negotiations in a couple of weeks.

A summit between&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and Kim in Hanoi in February collapsed over a failure to narrow differences over US demands for North Korea to give up all of its nuclear weapons and Pyongyang's demands for relief from punishing sanctions. 
&nbsp;

President Donald Trump said on Friday he has received a "very beautiful letter" on Thursday from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and added that he could have another meeting with him.

President Donald Trump said on Friday he has received a "very beautiful letter" on Thursday from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and added that he could have another meeting with him. Speaking to reporters, Trump did not say when such a meeting would take place. North Korea has been testing missiles despite a June 30 meeting between Trump and Kim at which the two agreed to revive stalled working-level talks, which have yet to resume. Trump and Kim have met three times since last year to discuss ways to resolve a crisis over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, but progress has been scant on Washington's aim of getting the North Korea leader to give up his weapons. The recent missile tests have raised questions about the future of dialogue. Pyongyang has warned of a possible end to its freeze of nuclear and long-range missile tests in place since 2017. Trump has repeatedly pointed to that freeze as evidence of the success of more than a year of engagement with Kim. Keen to tout his North Korea policy as a success ahead of his 2020 reelection bid, Trump has sought to play down the missile launches, saying they do not violate Kim's pledge to forego nuclear and long-range tests. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday he was hopeful talks would resume in coming and that the US side was planning for negotiations in a couple of weeks. A summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi in February collapsed over a failure to narrow differences over US demands for North Korea to give up all of its nuclear weapons and Pyongyang's demands for relief from punishing sanctions.

Trump says North Korea's Kim sent 'very beautiful letter'; new meeting possible

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-confirms-mark-esper-as-secretary-of-defense-238023">US&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;Mark Esper</a> met with senior&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of&nbsp;regional&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of&nbsp;US troops stationed in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea.

Esper, on his first international trip since being confirmed as&nbsp;defence&nbsp;secretary, arrived in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;on Thursday evening amid an escalating trade feud between two of Washington's main Asian allies.

While the trade issue,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-warns-japan-of-security-pact-risk-calls-for-cooling-off-in-trade-row-240488"> which threatens&nbsp;regional intelligence sharing,</a> came up in his meetings in Seoul, Esper reiterated the importance of the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean US alliance and said the allies would continue to coordinate on North&nbsp;Korea.

In his opening remarks of the meeting with Esper,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-test-fired-same-type-of-missiles-in-may-seoul-223632">South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;Defense&nbsp;Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo</a> said Japan's export restrictions against&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;are "causing adverse effects on&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea-Japan relations and security cooperation among&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea, the&nbsp;US, and Japan".

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has said it was exploring all options in a bitter trade dispute with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact.

The accord, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), facilitates a three-way intelligence gathering with Washington, which is crucial in fending off North&nbsp;Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deal is automatically renewed annually on Aug. 24.

Relations between&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and Japan are at their worst in decades, with the trade row rooted in a long-running dispute over compensation for&nbsp;South&nbsp;Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two.

Esper arrived in Seoul a day after&nbsp;US President Donald Trump said&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;agreed to 'pay a lot more' to shoulder the costs required for the upkeep of 28,500&nbsp;US troops in South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and that talks are underway to discuss&nbsp;the issue.

But a spokesman at&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's foreign ministry told reporters on Thursday that the negotiations have not yet begun, and a ministry official said on Friday that Esper did not mention the costs during his meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha, according to Yonhap.

The trip comes after North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;recently carried out a series of missile tests and with de-nuclearisation talks between the United States and North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;stalled.

"At a time when the security environment is so severe, it is very meaningful to discuss&nbsp;the security situation on the&nbsp;Korean Peninsula and the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea-US alliance," Jeong said.

Noting that&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and the United States are working together to denuclearise North&nbsp;Korea, Jeong praised "President Trump's amazing imagination that transcends conventions" for bringing about his meeting with North&nbsp;Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the inter-Korean border in June.

On Tuesday, Esper said the United States would not overreact to the short-range missile launches by North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and would keep the door open to talks with Pyongyang. He also added that, despite complaints by North&nbsp;Korea, there was no plan to alter future joint military drills with Seoul.

Esper's visit comes as&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean President Moon Jae-in tapped a seasoned diplomat as the new ambassador to Washington on Friday. 
South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;is Esper's last stop on a trip that has also included&nbsp;visits&nbsp;to Australia, Japan, and Mongolia.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper met with senior South Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of regional challenges ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of US troops stationed in South Korea.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper met with senior South Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of regional challenges ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of US troops stationed in South Korea. Esper, on his first international trip since being confirmed as defence secretary, arrived in South Korea on Thursday evening amid an escalating trade feud between two of Washington's main Asian allies. While the trade issue, which threatens regional intelligence sharing, came up in his meetings in Seoul, Esper reiterated the importance of the South Korean US alliance and said the allies would continue to coordinate on North Korea. In his opening remarks of the meeting with Esper, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said Japan's export restrictions against South Korea are "causing adverse effects on South Korea-Japan relations and security cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan". South Korea has said it was exploring all options in a bitter trade dispute with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact. The accord, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), facilitates a three-way intelligence gathering with Washington, which is crucial in fending off North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deal is automatically renewed annually on Aug. 24. Relations between South Korea and Japan are at their worst in decades, with the trade row rooted in a long-running dispute over compensation for South Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two. Esper arrived in Seoul a day after US President Donald Trump said South Korea agreed to 'pay a lot more' to shoulder the costs required for the upkeep of 28,500 US troops in South Korea and that talks are underway to discuss the issue. But a spokesman at South Korea's foreign ministry told reporters on Thursday that the negotiations have not yet begun, and a ministry official said on Friday that Esper did not mention the costs during his meeting with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha, according to Yonhap. The trip comes after North Korea recently carried out a series of missile tests and with de-nuclearisation talks between the United States and North Korea stalled. "At a time when the security environment is so severe, it is very meaningful to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the South Korea-US alliance," Jeong said. Noting that South Korea and the United States are working together to denuclearise North Korea, Jeong praised "President Trump's amazing imagination that transcends conventions" for bringing about his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the inter-Korean border in June. On Tuesday, Esper said the United States would not overreact to the short-range missile launches by North Korea and would keep the door open to talks with Pyongyang. He also added that, despite complaints by North Korea, there was no plan to alter future joint military drills with Seoul. Esper's visit comes as South Korean President Moon Jae-in tapped a seasoned diplomat as the new ambassador to Washington on Friday. South Korea is Esper's last stop on a trip that has also included visits to Australia, Japan, and Mongolia.

US defence secretary visits South Korea as the region faces myriad challenges

&nbsp;A South Korean cosmetics firm, backed by Japan's Nihon Kolmar, issued a public apology on Friday and its website remained down after its chairman showed employees a video praising Japan's prime minister amid a bitter trade row between the two Asian nations.

Shares in Kolmar Korea, whose clients include Unilever, fell 6.2per cent on Friday after a storm of online protest over the video, which the firm said later had been intended as training for employees on how not to react too emotionally to issues.

The two countries are locked in bitter trade and diplomatic rows over a South Korean court ruling late last year that ordered Japanese firms to compensate forced laborers during Japan's occupation.

Japan warned on Thursday it could broaden export restrictions to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-warns-japan-of-security-pact-risk-calls-for-cooling-off-in-trade-row-240488">South Korea</a> beyond three chipmaking materials put under export control last month.

During staff meetings this week, Kolmar Korea chairman Yoon Dong-han played a YouTube video that criticized <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-meets-japan-pm-in-his-first-bilateral-summit-g20-sidelines-230752">South Korean President Moon Jae-in and praised Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a>, according to South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo and other local media.

The video by a right-wing political blogger included vulgar language and comments such as "Abe is definitely a great leader and President Moon Jae-in should be thankful for not getting punched by Abe in the face," local media reported.

Kolmar Korea, which is 12.4% directly owned by Japanese cosmetics contract firm Nihon Kolmar, was the most searched word on South Korea's dominant search engine Naver on Friday, and the reports drew angry comments from readers online.

A company spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment. Kolmar Korea's website was down due to heavy traffic.

The company later issued a public apology.

"The purpose of showing this video was to underscore the importance of not reacting emotionally or being deceived, as in the biased content shown," it said in a statement.

Kolmar Korea makes cosmetics for brands like Carver Korea, acquired by Unilever in 2017, and Innisfree, Amorepacific Corp's budget brand, according to a company filing. 
&nbsp;

A South Korean cosmetics firm, backed by Japan's Nihon Kolmar, issued a public apology on Friday and its website remained down after its chairman showed employees a video praising Japan's prime minister amid a bitter trade row between the two Asian nations.

A South Korean cosmetics firm, backed by Japan's Nihon Kolmar, issued a public apology on Friday and its website remained down after its chairman showed employees a video praising Japan's prime minister amid a bitter trade row between the two Asian nations. Shares in Kolmar Korea, whose clients include Unilever, fell 6.2per cent on Friday after a storm of online protest over the video, which the firm said later had been intended as training for employees on how not to react too emotionally to issues. The two countries are locked in bitter trade and diplomatic rows over a South Korean court ruling late last year that ordered Japanese firms to compensate forced laborers during Japan's occupation. Japan warned on Thursday it could broaden export restrictions to South Korea beyond three chipmaking materials put under export control last month. During staff meetings this week, Kolmar Korea chairman Yoon Dong-han played a YouTube video that criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in and praised Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo and other local media. The video by a right-wing political blogger included vulgar language and comments such as "Abe is definitely a great leader and President Moon Jae-in should be thankful for not getting punched by Abe in the face," local media reported. Kolmar Korea, which is 12.4% directly owned by Japanese cosmetics contract firm Nihon Kolmar, was the most searched word on South Korea's dominant search engine Naver on Friday, and the reports drew angry comments from readers online. A company spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment. Kolmar Korea's website was down due to heavy traffic. The company later issued a public apology. "The purpose of showing this video was to underscore the importance of not reacting emotionally or being deceived, as in the biased content shown," it said in a statement. Kolmar Korea makes cosmetics for brands like Carver Korea, acquired by Unilever in 2017, and Innisfree, Amorepacific Corp's budget brand, according to a company filing.

Korean cosmetics firm in hot water over video praising Japan in trade row

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-says-talks-with-south-korea-underway-over-increasing-defence-costs-241360">The US government</a> has approved the sale of $800 million worth of helicopters to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-sends-missile-warning-to-south-korea-us-as-tensions-rise-241269">South Korea</a>, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump said Seoul had agreed to pay more for the US military presence in the country.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment.

The helicopters bolster anti-surface and anti-submarine missions and handle secondary missions like replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay, the agency said.

"The Republic of Korea will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence," it said.

The Seahawk is made by the Sikorsky division of US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

The sale was approved after Trump tweeted Wednesday that the two countries had entered negotiations on South Korea paying for the defence umbrella the United States provides the country.

"Over the past many decades, the US has been paid very little by South Korea," Trump wrote.

"South Korea is a very wealthy nation that now feels an obligation to contribute to the military defence provided by the United States of America. The relationship between the two countries is a very good one!"

The two countries have been in a security alliance since the 1950-53 Korean war, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty -- with more than 28,000 US troops stationed in the South to guard against threats from North Korea.

The US government has approved the sale of $800 million worth of helicopters to South Korea, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump said Seoul had agreed to pay more for the US military presence in the country.

The US government has approved the sale of $800 million worth of helicopters to South Korea, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump said Seoul had agreed to pay more for the US military presence in the country. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment. The helicopters bolster anti-surface and anti-submarine missions and handle secondary missions like replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay, the agency said. "The Republic of Korea will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence," it said. The Seahawk is made by the Sikorsky division of US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The sale was approved after Trump tweeted Wednesday that the two countries had entered negotiations on South Korea paying for the defence umbrella the United States provides the country. "Over the past many decades, the US has been paid very little by South Korea," Trump wrote. "South Korea is a very wealthy nation that now feels an obligation to contribute to the military defence provided by the United States of America. The relationship between the two countries is a very good one!" The two countries have been in a security alliance since the 1950-53 Korean war, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty -- with more than 28,000 US troops stationed in the South to guard against threats from North Korea.

US approves $800 million helicopter deal with South Korea

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-support-direct-dialogue-between-india-pak-on-kashmir-us-state-department-241415">We support direct dialogue between India &amp; Pak on Kashmir: US State Department</a> 
 
The US State Department's move comes amid increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pak-must-stop-supporting-infiltration-across-loc-us-senate-foreign-affairs-committee-241424">Pak must stop supporting infiltration across LoC: US Senate foreign affairs committee</a> 
 
The joint statement comes amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to revoke Article 370.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyrgyz-officer-dies-after-security-forces-storm-ex-presidents-home-241418">Kyrgyz officer dies after security forces storm ex-president's home</a> 
 
Former president Atambayev saw his immunity lifted in June as the authorities seek to prosecute him on corruption charges.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-approves-800-million-in-helicopters-for-south-korea-241419">US approves $800 million in helicopters for South Korea</a>

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-fanned-the-flames-of-white-supremacy-biden-241421">Trump has 'fanned the flames of white supremacy': Biden</a>

Trump has been accused by his Democratic critics and others of promoting white nationalism with his frequent attacks on immigrants and minorities.

We support direct dialogue between India & Pak on Kashmir: US State Department The US State Department's move comes amid increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

We support direct dialogue between India & Pak on Kashmir: US State Department The US State Department's move comes amid increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Pak must stop supporting infiltration across LoC: US Senate foreign affairs committee The joint statement comes amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to revoke Article 370. Kyrgyz officer dies after security forces storm ex-president's home Former president Atambayev saw his immunity lifted in June as the authorities seek to prosecute him on corruption charges. US approves $800 million in helicopters for South Korea The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment. Trump has 'fanned the flames of white supremacy': Biden Trump has been accused by his Democratic critics and others of promoting white nationalism with his frequent attacks on immigrants and minorities.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Japan has approved the shipment of a high-tech material to South Korea for the first time since imposing export curbs last month, but doubled down on political pressure and warned it could broaden restrictions on deliveries to its Asian neighbour.

Japan has approved the shipment of a high-tech material to South Korea for the first time since imposing export curbs last month, but doubled down on political pressure and warned it could broaden restrictions on deliveries to its Asian neighbour. The approval and subsequent warning illustrate how Tokyo is ready to up the ante in the diplomatic row and yet unwilling to fully cut off exports to South Korea. The dispute, rooted in their wartime past and exacerbated by the recent tightening of curbs on shipments of three high-tech components, has stoked nationalism and raised trade concerns. Relations between the two US allies worsened late last year as part of a decades-old dispute over compensation for forced labourers during Japan's occupation. South Korea has invoked its difficult history with Japan, which colonised the Korean peninsula during World War Two. "Usually, we don't announce each time we give export permission. However, the South Korean government has referred to our moves as an embargo on exports, which is unfair criticism," Japanese Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko told a briefing. It is the first time since the export curbs were introduced last month that Japan has allowed shipment of one of the three high-tech materials, he said. He was quick to add Tokyo would expand the curbs beyond the three specialised chemicals - fluorinated polyimides, photoresists and hydrogen fluoride - if there were any cases of "improper" use. Some of the chemicals, which are used to make smartphone displays and chips, can also be used in weapons. Japanese officials have cited unspecified security reasons for their export curbs. But they have pointed to an erosion of trust after South Korean court rulings last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labourers. Tokyo says the matter was settled by a 1965 treaty normalising bilateral ties. South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, said on Thursday that tighter curbs would undermine Japan's international credibility and accused Tokyo of using its industrial advantage as a weapon against another country. "Even if there are any gains, it will be short-lived. In the end, it is a game without winners, where everyone, including Japan itself, becomes a victim," Moon said. White list The high-tech material that has been just cleared by Japan for export is EUV photoresists, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said. The chemical is crucial for Samsung's advanced contract chipmaking production. Samsung declined to comment. But it remains unclear if this approval from Tokyo signals a breakthrough in trade relations. "They approved only one out of a number of items," a South Korean senior trade ministry official pointed out. A presidential official said: "It doesn't mean that uncertainties have been completely removed for the other items." Japan has removed South Korea from the "white list" of countries with fast-track trade status, meaning some exporters may have to go through a lengthy permit application process to ship restricted items to South Korea. That covers a broad range of items, including those applicable to weapons production and machine tools. South Korea, which was scheduled to take a call on a plan to drop Japan from its "white list" on Thursday, has, however, put off the decision until further discussions. But the country has said it plans to tighten regulations on imported coal ashes, mostly from Japan, used to produce cement, and has proposed tax benefits for local firms in case they need to buy foreign chemical makers as Seoul tries to cut reliance on Japan. The curbs have also prompted concern among corporate Japan. "This situation benefits neither Japan nor South Korea," Masashi Oka, senior executive vice president at Nikon, told a recent briefing. "We strongly hope that both countries can return to normal economic activity as soon as possible." Given the curbs in place, Japan's approval to export the three materials could take up to 90 days, slowing shipments. Vital link The export curbs highlight how Japan controls a vital link in the global supply chain. It remains a major player in specialised chip components, even though it was overtaken as a chipmaker years ago by South Korea. At a New York event for a new flagship phone launch, the head of Samsung's mobile division told reporters he could not rule out a potential impact on the supply chain for smartphone production if the curbs dragged on for more than four months. Shares of Tokyo Ohka Kogyo rose 3.9% and Stella Chemifa surged 10.1% after the latest export approval. Tokyo Ohka Kogyo makes photoresists and Stella Chemifa produces hydrogen fluoride, both materials affected by the export curbs. South Korean chipmakers are hitting a dead-end in their quest to find alternatives for key Japanese materials that have been slapped with restrictions, raising the prospect of major disruption to their operations in coming months.

Japan greenlights first South Korea export since July curbs, but with a warning

On the left, North Korea, and on the right, South Korea: beauty Youtuber Kang Na-ra puts foundations, lipsticks and mascaras from the two countries on her face for a side-by-side comparison. The 21-year-old defected to South Korea from the North in 2014 and is now a beauty YouTuber in Seoul. She said while the South Korean products still triumph, those from North Korea were better than expected.

North Korean blush, lipstick, foundation: luxury beauty's next big thing?

Tensions in the Korean Peninsula are escalating. North Korea's official news agency KCNA on August 7 released still photographs of leader Kim Jong Un watching latest missile launch which they said it is a warning to the U.S. and South Korea's joint military drills.

North Korea issues warning to US

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-lack-political-willon-peace-talks-north-korea-241083">North Korea</a>'s leader Kim Jong-un&nbsp;says the country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-conducts-new-launches-threatens-to-take-new-road-240949">latest missile launches</a> were a warning to Washington and Seoul over their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-defy-norths-warnings-start-joint-drills-240816">joint war games</a>, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday, as tensions rise on the Korean peninsula.

The latest launch by the nuclear-armed North came after the South Korean and US militaries began mainly computer-simulated joint exercises on Monday to test Seoul's ability to take operational control in wartime.

Those drills are taking place despite Pyongyang's warnings that the exercises would jeopardise nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea.

KCNA said Kim had watched the launches early Tuesday, which verified the "war capacity" of the "new-type tactical guided missiles".

With the launches carried out satisfactorily, "Kim Jong Un noted that the said military action would be an occasion to send an adequate warning to the joint military drill now underway by the US and South Korean authorities," KCNA said.

Pyongyang on Tuesday fired two projectiles that "are assumed to be short-range ballistic missiles" into the sea, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier.

The latest weapons tests were the fourth pair of projectiles fired in less than two weeks, and the North has threatened more.

US President Donald Trump last week downplayed the North's launches, saying Kim would not want to "disappoint" him.

Trump and Kim held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where the North made a vague pledge on denuclearisation.&nbsp;

A second summit in Hanoi this February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang might be willing to give up in return.

The two agreed to resume nuclear talks during their impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but working-level dialogue has yet to begin.

Analysts say the military manoeuvres on both sides could see discussions pushed back until the autumn, and Pyongyang signalled Tuesday that it was in no mood to talk.

It called the drills a "flagrant violation" of the diplomatic process between Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul.

Pyongyang has always been infuriated by military exercises between the South and US, seeing them as rehearsals for invasion, but in the past it has tended to avoid carrying out missile tests while the war games were taking place.

After the Singapore summit, Trump made a shock announcement halting joint drills, adopting Pyongyang's own description of them as "provocative".

War games known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) scheduled for August last year were subsequently suspended and the allies' biggest annual drills, Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, were replaced with a shorter "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance" exercise in March.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Tuesday said the latest drills are "consistent with the partnership we have with South Korea.&nbsp;

"North Korea has continued its exercises unabated. So they don't really have a lot to complain about," he told the "Fox and Friends" television show.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un says the country's latest missile launches were a warning to Washington and Seoul over their joint war games, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday, as tensions rise on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un says the country's latest missile launches were a warning to Washington and Seoul over their joint war games, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday, as tensions rise on the Korean peninsula. The latest launch by the nuclear-armed North came after the South Korean and US militaries began mainly computer-simulated joint exercises on Monday to test Seoul's ability to take operational control in wartime. Those drills are taking place despite Pyongyang's warnings that the exercises would jeopardise nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea. KCNA said Kim had watched the launches early Tuesday, which verified the "war capacity" of the "new-type tactical guided missiles". With the launches carried out satisfactorily, "Kim Jong Un noted that the said military action would be an occasion to send an adequate warning to the joint military drill now underway by the US and South Korean authorities," KCNA said. Pyongyang on Tuesday fired two projectiles that "are assumed to be short-range ballistic missiles" into the sea, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier. The latest weapons tests were the fourth pair of projectiles fired in less than two weeks, and the North has threatened more. US President Donald Trump last week downplayed the North's launches, saying Kim would not want to "disappoint" him. Trump and Kim held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where the North made a vague pledge on denuclearisation. A second summit in Hanoi this February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang might be willing to give up in return. The two agreed to resume nuclear talks during their impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but working-level dialogue has yet to begin. Analysts say the military manoeuvres on both sides could see discussions pushed back until the autumn, and Pyongyang signalled Tuesday that it was in no mood to talk. It called the drills a "flagrant violation" of the diplomatic process between Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul. Pyongyang has always been infuriated by military exercises between the South and US, seeing them as rehearsals for invasion, but in the past it has tended to avoid carrying out missile tests while the war games were taking place. After the Singapore summit, Trump made a shock announcement halting joint drills, adopting Pyongyang's own description of them as "provocative". War games known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) scheduled for August last year were subsequently suspended and the allies' biggest annual drills, Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, were replaced with a shorter "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance" exercise in March. US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Tuesday said the latest drills are "consistent with the partnership we have with South Korea. "North Korea has continued its exercises unabated. So they don't really have a lot to complain about," he told the "Fox and Friends" television show.

Kim Jong-un sends missile 'warning' to South Korea, US as tensions rise

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-2020-us-presidential-election-trump-accused-google-of-very-illegal-acts-241344">Donald Trump</a> said on Wednesday talks have begun aimed at getting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-sends-missile-warning-to-south-korea-us-as-tensions-rise-241269">South Korea</a> to pay more for the cost of maintaining US troops in the region to guard against any threat from North Korea.

"Talks have begun to further increase payments to the United States. South Korea is a very wealthy nation that now feels an obligation to contribute to the military defence provided by the United States of America," the Republican president said on Twitter.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
... are NOT planning to illegally subvert the 2020 Election despite all that has been said to the contrary. It all sounded good until I watched Kevin Cernekee, a Google engineer, say terrible things about what they did in 2016 and that they want to “Make sure that Trump losses...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1158797734394191873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

South Korea’s presidential Blue House did not immediately respond to request for comment on the talks.

Trump has repeatedly said Seoul should bear more of the burden for keeping some 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea, where the United States has had a military presence since the 1950-53 Korean War.

South Korean and the US officials signed an agreement in February under which Seoul would increase its contribution to just under 1.04 trillion won ($927 million), an increase of about $70.3 million.

The interim agreement was due to expire in a year.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday talks have begun aimed at getting South Korea to pay more for the cost of maintaining US troops in the region to guard against any threat from North Korea.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday talks have begun aimed at getting South Korea to pay more for the cost of maintaining US troops in the region to guard against any threat from North Korea. "Talks have begun to further increase payments to the United States. South Korea is a very wealthy nation that now feels an obligation to contribute to the military defence provided by the United States of America," the Republican president said on Twitter. ... are NOT planning to illegally subvert the 2020 Election despite all that has been said to the contrary. It all sounded good until I watched Kevin Cernekee, a Google engineer, say terrible things about what they did in 2016 and that they want to “Make sure that Trump losses... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2019 × South Korea’s presidential Blue House did not immediately respond to request for comment on the talks. Trump has repeatedly said Seoul should bear more of the burden for keeping some 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea, where the United States has had a military presence since the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korean and the US officials signed an agreement in February under which Seoul would increase its contribution to just under 1.04 trillion won ($927 million), an increase of about $70.3 million. The interim agreement was due to expire in a year.

United States says talks with South Korea underway over increasing defence costs

Washington on Monday revoked visa-free entry rights to the United States for foreigners who have visited North Korea in the past eight years, potentially dealing a new blow to the isolated country's nascent tourist industry.

The US allows citizens of 38 countries -- including South Korea, Japan and France -- to enter for up to 90 days without a visa under a waiver programme.

Also read--<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-us-north-korea-in-regular-communication-for-the-resumption-of-denuclearisation-talks-official-240377">US, North Korea in regular communication for resumption of denuclearisation talks: Official</a>

But visitors who have travelled to eight countries including North Korea since March 1, 2011 are "no longer eligible", details posted Monday on the US Customs and Border Protection website showed, and they will have to apply for tourist or business visas.

The other seven countries -- most of them in the Middle East -- were already on the exclusion list. &nbsp;

The change will affect tens of thousands of people from visa waiver countries who have gone to the North as tourists or for other purposes in recent years.

It will also put a damper on South Korean President Moon Jae-in's hopes of promoting cross-border tourism projects for his citizens to visit their nuclear-armed neighbour.

South Korean media put the spotlight on top business leaders including Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong who were part of Moon's delegation to Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September.

A Samsung spokesperson declined to comment.

US citizens have been banned from visiting North Korea since 2017, a measure introduced after an American student detained in Pyongyang was released in a coma and died a few days later.

Washington on Monday revoked visa-free entry rights to the United States for foreigners who have visited North Korea in the past eight years, potentially dealing a new blow to the isolated country's nascent tourist industry.

Washington on Monday revoked visa-free entry rights to the United States for foreigners who have visited North Korea in the past eight years, potentially dealing a new blow to the isolated country's nascent tourist industry. The US allows citizens of 38 countries -- including South Korea, Japan and France -- to enter for up to 90 days without a visa under a waiver programme. Also read--US, North Korea in regular communication for resumption of denuclearisation talks: Official But visitors who have travelled to eight countries including North Korea since March 1, 2011 are "no longer eligible", details posted Monday on the US Customs and Border Protection website showed, and they will have to apply for tourist or business visas. The other seven countries -- most of them in the Middle East -- were already on the exclusion list. The change will affect tens of thousands of people from visa waiver countries who have gone to the North as tourists or for other purposes in recent years. It will also put a damper on South Korean President Moon Jae-in's hopes of promoting cross-border tourism projects for his citizens to visit their nuclear-armed neighbour. South Korean media put the spotlight on top business leaders including Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong who were part of Moon's delegation to Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September. A Samsung spokesperson declined to comment. US citizens have been banned from visiting North Korea since 2017, a measure introduced after an American student detained in Pyongyang was released in a coma and died a few days later.

US ends visa-free entry for visitors to North Korea

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang's foreign ministry protested that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-defy-norths-warnings-start-joint-drills-240816">joint US-South Korea military drills</a> violated diplomatic agreements.

The North, criticising the US-South Korean drills and their use of high-tech weapons, has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-north-korea-conducting-missile-tests-239757">fired a series of missiles and rockets</a> since its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump agreed at a June 30 meeting to revive stalled denuclearisation talks.

Trump has played down the tests by saying they<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/north-koreas-missile-tests-not-breach-of-trust-us-president-donald-trump-217629"> did not break any agreement </a>he had with Kim but the talks have yet to resume. Analysts believe the tests are designed both to improve North Korean military capabilities and to pressure Washington to offer more concessions.

A senior Trump administration official said, "We continue to monitor the situation and are consulting closely with our South Korean and Japanese allies."

In Seoul, South Korea`s defence minister and the heads of the National Security Office and the National Intelligence Agency were meeting to discuss North Korea`s firing of short-range projectiles, said Ko Min-jung, a spokeswoman for the presidential office.

South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the latest projectiles, the fourth set of launches since July 25, were fired from South Hwanghae province early on Tuesday.

The Yonhap news agency in South Korea said the projectiles flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 37 km (23 miles).

The July 25 launches were the first since Trump and Kim met at the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas on June 30.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement released through state news agency KCNA that North Korea remains committed to resolving issues through dialogue.

However, Pyongyang "will be compelled to seek a new road as we have already indicated" if South Korea and the United States continue with hostile military moves, he said.&nbsp;

The arrival of new, US-made F-35A stealth fighters in South Korea, the visit of a US nuclear-powered submarine to a South Korean port, and US tests of ballistic missiles are among the steps that have forced North Korea to continue its own weapons development, the spokesman said.

"The US and South Korean authorities remain outwardly talkative about dialogue," he said. "But when they sit back, they sharpen a sword to do us harm."

North Korea has repeatedly complained that the United States and South Korea`s joint military drills violate a pledge made by Trump to Kim.

South Korean media reported that US-South Korea joint military exercises had started on Monday. A senior South Korean official said previously the drills would mainly involve computer simulations.

A JCS spokesman told a regular news briefing on Monday the allies were preparing for a joint exercise in the second half of the year but would not confirm the name of the exercise or whether it had already started.

A United Nations report said on Monday Pyongyang has "continued to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes" and used cyberattacks to take in $2 billion to fund the development.&nbsp;

The testing of short-range missiles by North Korea is covered by a 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme.&nbsp;

Short-range missiles pose no threat to US territory but do put at risk US allies Japan and South Korea and the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in both countries.

Japan's defence ministry said it did not see any imminent threat to Japanese security from the latest projectile launch by North Korea.&nbsp;

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang's foreign ministry protested that joint US-South Korea military drills violated diplomatic agreements.

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang's foreign ministry protested that joint US-South Korea military drills violated diplomatic agreements. The North, criticising the US-South Korean drills and their use of high-tech weapons, has fired a series of missiles and rockets since its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump agreed at a June 30 meeting to revive stalled denuclearisation talks. Trump has played down the tests by saying they did not break any agreement he had with Kim but the talks have yet to resume. Analysts believe the tests are designed both to improve North Korean military capabilities and to pressure Washington to offer more concessions. A senior Trump administration official said, "We continue to monitor the situation and are consulting closely with our South Korean and Japanese allies." In Seoul, South Korea`s defence minister and the heads of the National Security Office and the National Intelligence Agency were meeting to discuss North Korea`s firing of short-range projectiles, said Ko Min-jung, a spokeswoman for the presidential office. South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the latest projectiles, the fourth set of launches since July 25, were fired from South Hwanghae province early on Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency in South Korea said the projectiles flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 37 km (23 miles). The July 25 launches were the first since Trump and Kim met at the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas on June 30. A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement released through state news agency KCNA that North Korea remains committed to resolving issues through dialogue. However, Pyongyang "will be compelled to seek a new road as we have already indicated" if South Korea and the United States continue with hostile military moves, he said. The arrival of new, US-made F-35A stealth fighters in South Korea, the visit of a US nuclear-powered submarine to a South Korean port, and US tests of ballistic missiles are among the steps that have forced North Korea to continue its own weapons development, the spokesman said. "The US and South Korean authorities remain outwardly talkative about dialogue," he said. "But when they sit back, they sharpen a sword to do us harm." North Korea has repeatedly complained that the United States and South Korea`s joint military drills violate a pledge made by Trump to Kim. South Korean media reported that US-South Korea joint military exercises had started on Monday. A senior South Korean official said previously the drills would mainly involve computer simulations. A JCS spokesman told a regular news briefing on Monday the allies were preparing for a joint exercise in the second half of the year but would not confirm the name of the exercise or whether it had already started. A United Nations report said on Monday Pyongyang has "continued to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes" and used cyberattacks to take in $2 billion to fund the development. The testing of short-range missiles by North Korea is covered by a 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme. Short-range missiles pose no threat to US territory but do put at risk US allies Japan and South Korea and the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in both countries. Japan's defence ministry said it did not see any imminent threat to Japanese security from the latest projectile launch by North Korea.

North Korea fires two more projectiles, threatens to take 'new road'

North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations.

The comments by an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

There were no further details but the reported firing came after three earlier weapons tests over eight days.

"Despite our repeated warnings, the United States and South Korean authorities have finally started the joint military exercise targeting the DPRK," the foreign ministry spokesman for the nuclear-armed North said, according to KCNA.

"This is an undisguised denial and a flagrant violation of June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement, Panmunjom Declaration and September Pyongyang Joint Declaration, all of which are agreements to establish new DPRK-US relations and build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula," the spokesman said, referring to the annual joint military exercises that began Monday.

After a year of mutual threats and mounting tension, US President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where both leaders signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

A second summit in Hanoi in February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions relief and concessions from the North.

Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear talks during an impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but that working-level dialogue has yet to begin.

Pyongyang warned last week that further nuclear talks could be derailed if Seoul and Washington pushed ahead with the manoeuvres.

The North's spokesman on Monday also accused the US, apart from holding the exercises, of "deploying a large amount of latest offensive military equipment" in the South.

"All the above facts prove that the US and South Korean authorities do not have the political will at all to implement the joint statements whereby they committed to improving the DPRK-US relations and the inter-Korean relations and that they remain unchanged in their position to continue to face us as an enemy," the spokesman said.

He added that Pyongyang remains "unchanged in our stand to resolve the issues through dialogue," but warned that it was becoming more difficult.

"The prevailing situation is dramatically dampening down our desire for implementing the DPRK-US agreements and the inter-Korean agreements, which also affects the prospect of future dialogue," he said.

Pyongyang may have to seek "a new road," but if the US and South Korea continue to disregard the North's warnings, "we will make them pay a heavy price," the North's spokesman said.

North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations.

North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations. The comments by an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. There were no further details but the reported firing came after three earlier weapons tests over eight days. "Despite our repeated warnings, the United States and South Korean authorities have finally started the joint military exercise targeting the DPRK," the foreign ministry spokesman for the nuclear-armed North said, according to KCNA. "This is an undisguised denial and a flagrant violation of June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement, Panmunjom Declaration and September Pyongyang Joint Declaration, all of which are agreements to establish new DPRK-US relations and build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula," the spokesman said, referring to the annual joint military exercises that began Monday. After a year of mutual threats and mounting tension, US President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where both leaders signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". A second summit in Hanoi in February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions relief and concessions from the North. Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear talks during an impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but that working-level dialogue has yet to begin. Pyongyang warned last week that further nuclear talks could be derailed if Seoul and Washington pushed ahead with the manoeuvres. The North's spokesman on Monday also accused the US, apart from holding the exercises, of "deploying a large amount of latest offensive military equipment" in the South. "All the above facts prove that the US and South Korean authorities do not have the political will at all to implement the joint statements whereby they committed to improving the DPRK-US relations and the inter-Korean relations and that they remain unchanged in their position to continue to face us as an enemy," the spokesman said. He added that Pyongyang remains "unchanged in our stand to resolve the issues through dialogue," but warned that it was becoming more difficult. "The prevailing situation is dramatically dampening down our desire for implementing the DPRK-US agreements and the inter-Korean agreements, which also affects the prospect of future dialogue," he said. Pyongyang may have to seek "a new road," but if the US and South Korea continue to disregard the North's warnings, "we will make them pay a heavy price," the North's spokesman said.

US, South Korea lack 'political will'on peace talks: North Korea

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations.

The comments by an unnamed&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast, South&nbsp;Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

There were no further details but the reported firing came after three earlier weapons tests over eight days.

"Despite our repeated warnings, the United States and South Korean authorities have finally started the joint military exercise targeting the DPRK," the foreign ministry spokesman for the nuclear-armed&nbsp;North&nbsp;said, according to KCNA.

"This is an undisguised denial and a flagrant violation of June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement, Panmunjom Declaration and September Pyongyang Joint Declaration, all of which are agreements to establish new DPRK-US relations and build a lasting and&nbsp;stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula," the spokesman said, referring to the annual joint military exercises that began Monday.

After a year of mutual threats and mounting tension, US President Donald Trump and the&nbsp;North's Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where both leaders signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

A second summit in Hanoi in February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions&nbsp;relief and concessions from the&nbsp;North.

Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear talks during an impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but that working-level dialogue has yet to begin.

Pyongyang warned last week that further nuclear talks could be derailed if Seoul and Washington pushed ahead with the manoeuvres.

The&nbsp;North's spokesman on Monday also&nbsp;accused the US, apart from holding the exercises, of "deploying a large amount of latest offensive military equipment" in the&nbsp;

South.

"All the above facts prove that the US and South Korean authorities do not have the political will at all to implement the joint statements whereby they committed to improving the DPRK-US relations and the inter-Korean relations and that they remain unchanged in their position to continue to face us as an enemy," the spokesman said.

He added that Pyongyang remains "unchanged in our stand to resolve the issues through dialogue," but warned that it was becoming more difficult.

"The prevailing situation is dramatically dampening down our desire for implementing the DPRK-US agreements and the inter-Korean agreements, which also affects the prospect of future dialogue," he said.

Pyongyang may have to seek "a new road," but if the US and South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;continue to disregard the&nbsp;North's warnings, "we will make them pay a heavy price," the&nbsp;North's spokesman said.

US, South Korea Lack 'Political Will' On Peace Talks: North Korea

Seoul and Washington began annual joint military exercises on Monday, defying warnings from Pyongyang that the war games will jeopardise nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea.

Seoul and Washington began annual joint military exercises on Monday, defying warnings from Pyongyang that the war games will jeopardise nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea. The drills come after Pyongyang tested a series of short-range projectiles in recent days, calling one of them a "solemn warning" to Seoul against pursuing the mainly computer-simulated drills with Washington. South Korean defence minister Jeong Kyeong-doo told parliament that the joint exercise began Monday, adding that Seoul was "clearly maintaining its readiness posture against any military action by North Korea". Details about the training have not been disclosed, but a ministry official in Seoul said this year's exercise will include verifying South Korea's abilities to take operational control in wartime. Under the US-South Korea security treaty, an American general will take command of their combined forces in the event of armed conflict, but Seoul has long sought to reverse the position. Analysts say the military activities by both sides could delay talks on the North's weapons programmes - which have seen it subjected to multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions - until later this year. After a year of mutual threats and mounting tensions, US President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong Un held a historic meeting in Singapore last year, when Kim signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". A second summit in Hanoi in February broke up amid disagreement on sanctions relief and what the North might be willing to give up in return. Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear talks during their impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but that working-level dialogue has yet to begin. The nuclear-armed North - which attacked its neighbour in 1950, triggering the Korean War - has always been infuriated by military exercises between the US and the South, decrying them as rehearsals for invasion. After the Singapore summit, Trump made a shock announcement halting joint drills, adopting Pyongyang's description of them as "provocative" at an extraordinary, freewheeling press conference. War games known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) and scheduled for August last year were subsequently suspended. And the allies' biggest annual drills, Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, which took place every spring and involved tens of thousands of troops, were replaced with a shorter "Dong Maeng" or "Alliance" exercise in March. Changing stance The August drills were scaled down earlier this year, Yonhap news agency reported, and have not been named, with an official from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) telling AFP that they "cannot comment any further" on their designation. South Korean media have dubbed the command post exercise "19-2 Dong Maeng", indicating the second Dong Maeng exercise of 2019. Pyongyang warned last week that further nuclear talks could be derailed if Seoul and Washington push ahead with the manoeuvres. And on Friday, North Korea carried out its third weapons test in the space of eight days, firing what it called a new "large calibre multiple launch guided rocket system". Seoul's presidential office said it was highly likely to be "a new type of short-range ballistic missile". Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector and researcher in Seoul, told AFP: "Drills might not have taken place today if there had been some concrete progress with the nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington, considering UFG was suspended last year." The North's recent launches also affected the allies' decision, he added. "This also signals Seoul's changing stance on Pyongyang." Trump has brushed off the North's tests, saying Kim will not want to "disappoint" him because he has "far too much to lose". "He will do the right thing because he is far too smart not to, and he does not want to disappoint his friend, President Trump!" he said. There are 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea to protect it against its neighbour, many of them based south of Seoul at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek - Washington's biggest overseas military facility.

US, South Korea defy North's warnings, start joint drills

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-demands-social-media-details-email-addresses-for-5-years-from-visa-applicants-223685">United States</a> and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday.

"While we would like to be further along in restarting working-level negotiations, we are in regular contact with the North Koreans," the official said, according to a transcript released by the State Department.

"And I think it`s fair to say that (President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-defends-attack-on-african-american-us-lawmaker-elijah-cummings-239036">Donald Trump</a> and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) are expecting that we will be resuming those negotiations relatively soon," he added, as cited by Yonhap news agency.&nbsp;

The official added that the US has not changed its goal of denuclearising North Korea in exchange for a "brighter future", meaning sanctions relief and other concessions.

On June 30, Trump and Kim had held an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the two leaders agreed to resume working-level talks to put denuclearisation talks back on track.

However, North Korea has warned that the future of talks will depend on whether South Korea and the US will go ahead with the joint military exercises planned for next month.

In the past 8 days, North Korea has conducted three tests of projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, signalling its displeasure with South Korea-U.S. military exercises planned for this month.

The United States and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday.

The United States and North Korea are in regular communication for the resumption of working-level talks to revive denuclearisation negotiations, and are working on establishing a time and location for the meet, a senior US State Department official said on Friday. "While we would like to be further along in restarting working-level negotiations, we are in regular contact with the North Koreans," the official said, according to a transcript released by the State Department. "And I think it`s fair to say that (President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) are expecting that we will be resuming those negotiations relatively soon," he added, as cited by Yonhap news agency. The official added that the US has not changed its goal of denuclearising North Korea in exchange for a "brighter future", meaning sanctions relief and other concessions. On June 30, Trump and Kim had held an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the two leaders agreed to resume working-level talks to put denuclearisation talks back on track. However, North Korea has warned that the future of talks will depend on whether South Korea and the US will go ahead with the joint military exercises planned for next month. In the past 8 days, North Korea has conducted three tests of projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, signalling its displeasure with South Korea-U.S. military exercises planned for this month.

US, North Korea in regular communication for resumption of denuclearisation talks: Official

South Korea is exploring all options in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/south-korea-launches-lets-learn-japans-restrictions-website-for-puzzled-businesses-240137">bitter trade row with Japan</a>, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact, but wants a cooling-off period with Tokyo, a senior South Korean official said on Saturday.

The trade row escalated on Friday when Japan removed South Korea from a favoured trading nations list, prompting Seoul to warn it would not be defeated again by its neighbour, laying bare decades-old wartime animosity.

South Korea may consider revoking a military information-sharing pact as a countermeasure, a view raised during a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting with the United States and Japan on Friday in Bangkok, said the South Korean official.

The accord, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), facilitates three-way intelligence gathering with Washington and is crucial for both South Korea and Japan in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deal is automatically renewed annually on Aug. 24.

"GSOMIA plays a quite significant part in three-way security cooperation," said the official told reporters on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Bangkok.

"We've made clear that for our part, we are in a situation to put all options on the table."

The trade dispute has intensified since Japan imposed curbs last month on exports to South Korea of three high-tech materials needed to make memory chips and display panels, threatening the global supply chain.

The move was seen as a response to a South Korean court ruling last year that ordered Japanese firms to compensate some of their wartime forced labourers, though Tokyo cited unspecified security reasons.

Japan says the issue of forced labour was settled by a 1965 treaty that normalised ties between the two countries.

The South Korean official said a "cooling-off period" with Japan was necessary to craft a solution.

"The export curbs confined room for diplomacy for both sides, and the situation is now even more difficult due to another retaliatory measure," said the official, referring to Japan's actions on Friday.

"It's difficult to think about a long-term strategy under such a heightened, agitated situation."

South Korea is exploring all options in a bitter trade row with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact, but wants a cooling-off period with Tokyo, a senior South Korean official said on Saturday.

South Korea is exploring all options in a bitter trade row with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence-sharing pact, but wants a cooling-off period with Tokyo, a senior South Korean official said on Saturday. The trade row escalated on Friday when Japan removed South Korea from a favoured trading nations list, prompting Seoul to warn it would not be defeated again by its neighbour, laying bare decades-old wartime animosity. South Korea may consider revoking a military information-sharing pact as a countermeasure, a view raised during a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting with the United States and Japan on Friday in Bangkok, said the South Korean official. The accord, the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), facilitates three-way intelligence gathering with Washington and is crucial for both South Korea and Japan in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deal is automatically renewed annually on Aug. 24. "GSOMIA plays a quite significant part in three-way security cooperation," said the official told reporters on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Bangkok. "We've made clear that for our part, we are in a situation to put all options on the table." The trade dispute has intensified since Japan imposed curbs last month on exports to South Korea of three high-tech materials needed to make memory chips and display panels, threatening the global supply chain. The move was seen as a response to a South Korean court ruling last year that ordered Japanese firms to compensate some of their wartime forced labourers, though Tokyo cited unspecified security reasons. Japan says the issue of forced labour was settled by a 1965 treaty that normalised ties between the two countries. The South Korean official said a "cooling-off period" with Japan was necessary to craft a solution. "The export curbs confined room for diplomacy for both sides, and the situation is now even more difficult due to another retaliatory measure," said the official, referring to Japan's actions on Friday. "It's difficult to think about a long-term strategy under such a heightened, agitated situation."

South Korea warns Japan of security pact risk, calls for 'cooling-off' in trade row

The demilitarized zone separates the Koreas. It was formed after the 1953 armistice. It divides the Koreas into nearly equal halves.

Defections from North Korea as another soldier flees to South

North Korea have nominated Pyongyang as the host venue for their World Cup qualifying match against South Korea in October, clearing the way for the two countries to play on North Korean soil for the first time in almost 30 years.

North Korea have nominated Pyongyang as the host venue for their World Cup qualifying match against South Korea in October, clearing the way for the two countries to play on North Korean soil for the first time in almost 30 years. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that the North Koreans had requested that the game scheduled for October 15 be played at the 50,000-capacity Kim Il-sung Stadium in the northern capital. The two countries are still technically at war after the 1950-1953 conflict but the sport has in the last couple of years acted an agent for reducing tensions either side of the demilitarised zone that splits the peninsula. In a much-feted display of unity, the two Koreas fielded a joint women's ice hockey team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and marched under a unified flag. They have also expressed interest in jointly hosting the 2023 women's Football World Cup. Recent rocket tests by the North Koreans have, however, brought talks about sport and other inter-Korean exchanges to a halt. The countries last faced each other in a football international in Pyongyang in 1990. North Korea and South Korea have been drawn together in Group H of the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar along with Lebanon, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka. They were previously drawn to face each other in both the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals but the games designated as home matches for North Korea were played in Shanghai. South Korea hosted both of their home matches during the 2010 qualifiers in Seoul and both countries went on to successfully qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Football: North Korea want to host World Cup qualifier with South in Pyongyang

North Korean launched yet another projectile. According to the reports, the North Korean projectiles launched early Friday are believed to be short-range ballistic missiles, Kyodo News reported, citing unnamed Japanese government officials.

North Korea: 3rd missile test in over a week

KSL Cleantech is set to launch e-vehicles in India with China's Huaihai. Watch this video to know more.

WION Wallet: KSL Cleantech to launch e-vehicles in India with Huaihai

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday condemned Japan's decision to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-remove-south-korea-from-favoured-export-partner-white-list-240044">remove his country from a "white list"</a> of favoured trading partners, calling it a "reckless" move and threatening unspecified countermeasures.

Tokyo was responsible for "ignoring diplomatic solutions" and "aggravating the situation" Moon Jae-in said in remarks to a short-notice cabinet meeting televised live. "Responsibility for what is going to happen next also lies squarely with the Japanese government."

Earlier Japan said that it will remove South Korea from the ''white list''.

The measure is expected to take effect later this month.

Tokyo's decision comes despite calls from Washington for the two US allies to set aside their differences, and after South Korea warned it would review security cooperation with Japan if the de-listing went ahead.

South Korea becomes the first country to be dropped off the list.

The measure is the latest blow to ties between South Korea and Japan, which have plunged to new lows over a long-running dispute on forced labour during World War II.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday condemned Japan's decision to remove his country from a "white list" of favoured trading partners, calling it a "reckless" move and threatening unspecified countermeasures.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday condemned Japan's decision to remove his country from a "white list" of favoured trading partners, calling it a "reckless" move and threatening unspecified countermeasures. Tokyo was responsible for "ignoring diplomatic solutions" and "aggravating the situation" Moon Jae-in said in remarks to a short-notice cabinet meeting televised live. "Responsibility for what is going to happen next also lies squarely with the Japanese government." Earlier Japan said that it will remove South Korea from the ''white list''. The measure is expected to take effect later this month. Tokyo's decision comes despite calls from Washington for the two US allies to set aside their differences, and after South Korea warned it would review security cooperation with Japan if the de-listing went ahead. South Korea becomes the first country to be dropped off the list. The measure is the latest blow to ties between South Korea and Japan, which have plunged to new lows over a long-running dispute on forced labour during World War II.

Responsibility for what happens next lies with Japan: South Korea President Moon Jae-in on trade confrontation

North Korea test more missiles, South Korea holds emergency meeting

Tensions have now intensified as Japan is dropping South Korea from its most favoured trading partner list. The decision was taken by the Japanese cabinet which has now removed South Korea from the white list. Watch this video to know more.

Japan drops South Korea from trade list

Japan on Friday said it will remove South Korea from a "white list" of favoured export partners, a move that Seoul has warned will have "grave consequences" for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-military-exercises-still-on-despite-norths-warnings-pentagon-official-240011">security ties between the US allies</a>.

"The government at a cabinet meeting today approved a revision to the export control law... South Korea, the only Asian nation on the list, will be removed," Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters.

The measure, which is expected to take effect later this month, comes after Tokyo last month tightened the rules on exports of three products key to South Korea's chip and smartphone industries, raising fears for global supply in the sectors.

Tokyo's decision comes despite calls from Washington for the two US allies to set aside their differences, and after South Korea warned it would review security cooperation with Japan if the de-listing went ahead.

South Korea is now the first country ever to be dropped from Japan's so-called "white" list of nations granted minimal constraints on exports of products that could be diverted to military use.

It means hundreds of products listed as sensitive will be subject to tighter export controls, though experts said the effect would be more symbolic than economic.

It "will only have a limited impact on the South Korean economy," said Hajime Yoshimoto, senior economist at Nomura Securities, in part because Japanese exporters can obtain special permission to ship to non-white-list countries with simplified procedures. &nbsp;

Many major Japanese exporters already have that special permission, according to the trade ministry.

"I'd like to make it clear that this is not an export embargo," Seko said Friday.

"We believe stripping South Korea of preferential treatment does not affect the global supply chain or have a negative impact on Japanese companies."

The measure is the latest blow to ties between South Korea and Japan, which have plunged to new lows over a long-running dispute on forced labour during World War II.

A string of recent South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of wartime forced labour have infuriated Ja

Japan on Friday said it will remove South Korea from a "white list" of favoured export partners, a move that Seoul has warned will have "grave consequences" for security ties between the US allies.

Japan on Friday said it will remove South Korea from a "white list" of favoured export partners, a move that Seoul has warned will have "grave consequences" for security ties between the US allies. "The government at a cabinet meeting today approved a revision to the export control law... South Korea, the only Asian nation on the list, will be removed," Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko told reporters. The measure, which is expected to take effect later this month, comes after Tokyo last month tightened the rules on exports of three products key to South Korea's chip and smartphone industries, raising fears for global supply in the sectors. Tokyo's decision comes despite calls from Washington for the two US allies to set aside their differences, and after South Korea warned it would review security cooperation with Japan if the de-listing went ahead. South Korea is now the first country ever to be dropped from Japan's so-called "white" list of nations granted minimal constraints on exports of products that could be diverted to military use. It means hundreds of products listed as sensitive will be subject to tighter export controls, though experts said the effect would be more symbolic than economic. It "will only have a limited impact on the South Korean economy," said Hajime Yoshimoto, senior economist at Nomura Securities, in part because Japanese exporters can obtain special permission to ship to non-white-list countries with simplified procedures. Many major Japanese exporters already have that special permission, according to the trade ministry. "I'd like to make it clear that this is not an export embargo," Seko said Friday. "We believe stripping South Korea of preferential treatment does not affect the global supply chain or have a negative impact on Japanese companies." The measure is the latest blow to ties between South Korea and Japan, which have plunged to new lows over a long-running dispute on forced labour during World War II. A string of recent South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese companies to compensate victims of wartime forced labour have infuriated Ja

Japan to remove South Korea from favoured export partner 'white list'

south-korea

South Korea, News on South Korea, stories on South Korea, articles on South Korea, South Korea stories at Wion, South Korea news, South Korea latest news

south korea