Red carpet vs empty tarmac: Xi’s US welcome fuels debate over Takaichi’s no-show reception

South China Morning Post - Sep 24, 2026

Starkly contrasting receptions for the Japanese leader and the Chinese president in the United States have sparked debate over Washington’s treatment of Tokyo as an ally. Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York at the start of the working week, beginning a trip where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as the country’s prime minister. A photo taken on her arrival shows her waving across a relatively empty tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Footage...

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Lee arrives in Mexico for summit with President Sheinbaum

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

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

Lee says combining Korea's technology with Mexico's industrial base can create new growth

Lee says combining Korea's technology with Mexico's industrial base can create new growth

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung said combining the country's technology with Mexico's strong industrial base can create new growth, citing artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chains among areas for cooperation, a media interview showed Wednesday. "For Korean companies, Mexico is much more than a production base: it is a key strategic platform for accessing the markets of North America and the rest of the world," Lee said in an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal. The interview was released as Lee arrived in Mexico City for a state visit, which will include summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday. "If we combine Korea's technology, manufacturing capabilities and accumulated experience in its economic development process with Mexico's talent and strong industrial base, we can create new opportunities for growth together," Lee said. He said Korea and Mexico have considerable room to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, citing semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electric vehicles (EVs) as prospective sectors for cooperation. He referr

S. Korea vows continued support for Ukraine in FM talks

S. Korea vows continued support for Ukraine in FM talks

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun pledged continued support for Ukraine during bilateral foreign ministerial talks earlier this week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. Cho met his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, in New York on Wednesday (U.S. time) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a ministry release. The talks took place as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the U.N. gathering the same day that his country recently sent two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces to South Korea. The ministry did not mention Zelenskyy's remarks in the release but said Cho pledged continuing support necessary for the Ukrainian people. South Korea earlier announced it would provide $100 million in non-lethal aid to Ukraine during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara in July. Cho also held separate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi the same day. During the talks, Cho stressed the need to ensure free and safe passage for all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, noting that Seoul has participated in such

N. Korea's will to keep nuclear weapons through 'all ages' irreversible: FM

N. Korea's will to keep nuclear weapons through 'all ages' irreversible: FM

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said Thursday her country's will to keep nuclear weapons through "all ages" is "irreversible" as she blasted recent trilateral talks between South Korea, the United States and Japan, state media reported. Choe took aim at the talks between the top diplomats of the three countries in New York on Monday that reiterated their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and called on Pyongyang to return to dialogue. "As the foreign minister of the DPRK, I reaffirm and reconfirm in the strongest tone of voice the steadfast will of our state to keep nuclear weapons through all ages, which is irreversible in any case and will remain unchanged forever," she said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "There is no change in the fact that the DPRK's position as a nuclear weapons state will be everlasting," she said.

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

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

2 N. Korean POWs arrive in S. Korea after 20 months of captivity in Ukraine

2 N. Korean POWs arrive in S. Korea after 20 months of captivity in Ukraine

Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces nearly 20 months ago have arrived safely in South Korea, the president of Ukraine and an opposition lawmaker said Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the disclosure during a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Wednesday (local time). “Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” Zelenskyy said. Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) also confirmed the transfer that had remained in secrecy over concerns for the safety of the prisoners and their families. “The two people arrived safely in Korea a few days ago,” Yu said during a press conference at the National Assembly. He has repeatedly raised the issue of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Ukraine. The two soldiers are now expected to receive protection under South Korean laws concerning North Korean defectors. Their health is reportedly stable. The National Intelligence Service is expected to conduct questioning and investigations over several weeks or months before det

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

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.

Russia invites N. Korean leader to visit: TASS

Russia invites N. Korean leader to visit: TASS

Russia has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit the country, a Russian deputy foreign minister said, according to the TASS news agency Thursday. Details of the visit have not yet been determined, and the schedule is still being discussed. Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened their alignment since North Korea deployed troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

Xi and Trump begin talks in White House Oval Office

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

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

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...

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