SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2025 - South Korea’s newly inaugurated President Lee Jae-myung touched down in Washington, D.C., today for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to solidify a recently negotiated trade deal and address long-standing security commitments between the two allies.

Lee is expected to finalize details of the July framework that lowers U.S. tariffs on South Korean exports from 25 percent to 15 percent, in exchange for South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the U.S. economy. In addition, Trump is anticipated to press Lee on increasing Seoul’s defense spending and granting U.S. forces greater “strategic flexibility” to deploy beyond the Korean Peninsula - a proposal Lee has publicly voiced reservations about, emphasizing South Korea’s primary security focus remains deterring threats from the North.

South Korean Forces Fire Warning Shots at DMZ Intrusion

SEOUL, Aug. 25, 2025 - In a rare escalation along the Demilitarized Zone, South Korean troops today fired warning shots at a group of approximately 30 North Korean soldiers who crossed the Military Demarcation Line on Aug. 19. According to a U.N. Command statement, the intruders-reportedly conducting construction work-ignored multiple broadcast warnings before the shots were fired, marking the first live-fire response to a border incursion in recent years.

Seoul and Tokyo Leaders Seek to Reset Bilateral Relations

TOKYO, Aug. 25, 2025 - In a closely watched summit over the weekend, President Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to leave historical disputes behind and forge a “stable, future-oriented” partnership. Their joint declaration, the first in 17 years, commits both governments to cooperate on high-tech industries, artificial intelligence and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The two defense ministers are scheduled to meet in Seoul on Sept. 8 to lay groundwork for enhanced security coordination.

“Seoul Beauty Metro” Brings K-Beauty to New York

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2025 - The Korean Cultural Center in Manhattan today launched It’s Time for K-Culture 2025: Seoul Beauty Metro, an immersive exhibit transforming the venue into a miniaturized Seoul subway environment celebrating K-beauty and lifestyle. Running through Aug. 26, the event features creator-led workshops, complimentary beauty products and Korean street-food stalls, offering global audiences a hands-on dive into contemporary Seoul culture.