Coloma, WI Author Publishes Memoir

Lee says Ukraine breached non-disclosure agreement on 2 NK soldiers

MEXICO CITY — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed regret that Ukraine has disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea, calling it a breach of a non-disclosure agreement that he said may lead to many problems. "It was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose, considering many problems it may cause when disclosed, and (we) had agreed to do so," Lee said in a post on his X account, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Ukraine recently sent the two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Shortly after Zelenskyy's speech, the Ukrainian presidential office said the transfer of the two North Korean prisoners to South Korea was carried out through direct dialogue with Seoul. "(Ukraine) disclosed the transfer in breach of a non-disclosure agreement," Lee wrote. "I don't know the reasons (for the disclosure), but I regret it." Lee said the issue is a very sensitive matter that could immensely affect diplomacy and national security, as well as th

Hong Kong’s IOMed poised to play key role in resolving Greater Bay Area disputes

An intergovernmental mediation body headquartered in Hong Kong is poised to play an important role in resolving cross-border disputes within the Greater Bay Area, as well as multinational disagreements tied to countries in the Belt and Road Initiative, former and incumbent justice ministers have said. The secretary general of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, highlighted the organisation’s role in handling disputes within the bay area at a forum...

Beyond the Rose Garden and the military review, Trump and Xi get down to business

After weeks of frustration, delays and posturing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump got down to business on Thursday, kicking off their high-stakes summit, Xi’s first on US soil since 2015. The two started the morning with a formal arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn and Rose Garden that included nearly 500 military personnel, the Chinese and American national anthems played by the US Marine Band and opening remarks from both leaders. Both leaders sought to...

Don't outsource your thinking to AI, NUS president warns

SINGAPORE — National University of Singapore (NUS) has built its global competitiveness not only on research excellence, but also on a strong focus on teaching and preparing students to succeed beyond the classroom. For NUS, the quality of a university should ultimately be measured by how well it equips students with the knowledge and skills they need after graduation — an emphasis that has placed teaching and employability at the heart of the university’s strategy. “We take teaching very seriously, and many of these things that we do actually do not count toward the rankings — but yet it’s the mission of our university,” NUS President Tan Eng Chye said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. He emphasized that research remains an essential mission of a leading university, but global rankings — which tend to place heavy weight on research performance — do not always capture what universities accomplish in the classroom. For NUS, graduate employability is one of the key measures of whether the university is delivering on its educational mission. “The employability o

Hwaseong-based Migration Stories Project gives migrant workers a space to create and connect

HWASEONG, Gyeonggi Province — Hwaseong, a rapidly developing city southwest of Seoul, has become one of Korea’s major destinations for foreign residents, particularly migrant workers. In an area shaped by manufacturing industries and immigration, the everyday lives of migrant workers often remain largely ignored. The Migration Stories Project, located near Balan Manse Market in Hyangnam, was launched in 2020 to change that reality by creating a space where migrants can share their experiences, memories, cultures and creativity in their own voices. The project brings together music, storytelling, photography, sound, video and community-based cultural activities to explore the lives of foreign migrants. Korean artist Kim Yang-woo founded the project under the slogan “World is Our Home,” as an art initiative that brings together migrant communities and local residents through interviews, art, music and community activities. She began the project during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on movement forced her to stay close to her hometown and made her think more deeply about

Lee arrives in Mexico for summit with President Sheinbaum

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Mexico City on Wednesday for a state visit, which will include summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Lee and Sheinbaum are scheduled to hold summit talks, a luncheon and a joint press announcement on Thursday with the two countries seeking to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and supply chains. During the summit, the leaders will discuss ways to expand bilateral trade and investment, and bolster institutional support for Korean companies' business operations in Mexico, while seeking cooperation in energy and critical mineral supply chains. Lee also plans to meet with Korean residents in Mexico and attend a business forum during his three-day visit. His trip here marks the first state visit to Mexico by a Korean president in 16 years.

Korean quadruped robot's marathon triumph featured in Nature

In the world of legged robotics, endurance has long been the ultimate hurdle. While four-legged machines can backflip, negotiate rubble and scale staircases with uncanny agility, their high-performance motors typically drain battery reserves in less than an hour. But along the rural stretches of North Gyeongsang Province, a dog-like machine spent over four hours trotting past orchards and cheering spectators to rewrite the limits of mechanical stamina. Engineers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) developed RAIBO2, a quadrupedal robot that completed a full 42-kilometer marathon on a single battery charge. The landmark feat, detailed this week in the flagship scientific journal Nature, marks the first time robotics research from Korea has graced the main pages of the prestigious publication, signaling a major leap forward for long-distance autonomous field machines. The milestone unfolded during the annual Sangju Dried Persimmon Marathon — a local race named after the agricultural region’s famous fruit — where RAIBO2 lined up alongside human runners as

Global students choose Seoul for dynamic opportunities, safety despite high costs, competition

Seoul is increasingly becoming a top destination for international students, driven by its high level of safety, efficient public services and rich culture, according to a recent survey conducted by The Korea Times among its Global Supporters. In the survey, international students shared their firsthand experiences of studying and living in the Korean capital. They said the city has various appealing points, but at the same time, pointed out challenges like expensive housing costs, intense competition and limited institutional support. The survey findings show a broader shift in global education trends. British newspaper Financial Times recently reported that Seoul is surging in popularity among international students as the capital city offers a unique lifestyle and relatively manageable living costs compared to major Western cities such as New York, London and Paris. Why students pick Seoul Safety, administrative efficiency and a dynamic academic environment emerged as primary reasons for choosing Seoul over other global study destinations. To capture the insights and lived realities o

Traffic eases on 1st night of Chuseok as people head home

Traffic congestion on Korean highways eased Thursday evening as people headed to their hometowns to reunite with family on the first day of the Chuseok holiday period. This year's holiday period marking the fall harvest runs from Thursday to Sunday. Traditionally, Koreans return to their hometowns during Chuseok to reunite with family members and pay respects at their ancestors' graves. As of 7 p.m., travel time from Seoul to Busan was estimated at four hours and 40 minutes, three hours and 30 minutes to Daegu, three hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, and three hours and 10 minutes to Daejeon, the Korea Expressway Corp. (KEC) said. Travel time to Seoul was estimated to take four hours and 30 minutes from Busan, three hours and 30 minutes from Daegu, three hours and 20 minutes from Gwangju, and one hour and 30 minutes from Daejeon, according to the KEC. An estimated 6.16 million vehicles were expected to be on the road nationwide Thursday, including about 510,000 cars departing the greater Seoul area and 380,000 vehicles heading toward the capital from other regions.

Xi and Trump begin talks in White House Oval Office

This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. Unrivalled Xi-Trump summit analysis: get real-time updates and exclusive boots-on-the-ground reporting from our US and China bureaus. Subscribe now with great savings to stay ahead. President Xi Jinping and China’s first lady Peng Liyuan have arrived at the White House, where US President Donald Trump greeted Xi with a handshake. The visit marks Xi’s first trip to the US in nearly a decade,...

Exco declarations reveal new roles for ex-lawmakers as minister retains 22 flats

Updated declarations of interest by members of Hong Kong’s top decision-making body have revealed new business ventures and corporate board appointments for several former veteran lawmakers, while constitutional affairs chief Janice Tse Siu-wa remains the biggest landlord among ministers. The Executive Council’s annually updated declarations of interest were published on Thursday in accordance with regulations requiring all members, including senior politically appointed officials, to declare...

Hong Kong model Abby Choi’s former relatives admit body disposal, deny murder

Slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung’s former husband and brother-in-law have pleaded guilty to illegally disposing of her dismembered body, but will still stand trial alongside their father on murder charges as prosecutors prepare to open their case on Monday. The pleas on the two charges were revealed on Thursday after the High Court empanelled a nine-member jury for the high-profile trial, which is expected to last about eight weeks. The seven men and two women will hear evidence and...

Coloma, WI Author Publishes Memoir

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