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The Korea Times

April 2026

Iran’s supreme leader vows to protect nuclear and missile capabilities

Mojtaba Khameneisupreme Leader
Ninety million proud and honourable Iranians inside and outside the country regard all of Iran’s identity-based, spiritual, human, scientific, industrial and technological capacities — from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities — as national assets,... and will protect them just as they protect the country’s waters, land and airspace”.
Tahir R. Andrabiforeign Ministry spokesperson
If the two parties can engage in real-time conversations, that could ease the sticking points,

China's foreign minister tells Rubio Taiwan is 'biggest risk' in ties

Wang and Rubio last met in-person in Munich in February, as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies eased

Both sides ⁠should safeguard the hard-won stability, make good preparations for agendas of important high-level interactions, expand cooperation, and manage differences,
Wang Yichinese Foreign Minister
The Taiwan issue ​concerns China's core interests,
Wang Yichinese Foreign Minister
Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Trump, China-U.S. relations have generally remained stable,

Stellantis CEO says Leapmotor venture a model for future China partnerships

Stellantis teamed up with Leapmotor in 2023 when it acquired around a fifth of the Chinese company and formed a joint venture in charge of producing and selling Leapmotor cars outside of China

Antonio FilosacEO
We take this partnership as an example of what we can do with, ​for instance, (another) Chinese automaker,

Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar

Oil prices hit a four-year high then fell back slightly, before Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement that was read out on state television declaring that Iran was now in the driver's seat in the crisis

Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the strait of Hormuz,

UK vows to tackle antisemitism 'emergency' as police probe double stabbing attack

It announced 25 million pounds ($34 million) for more police patrols and protection around synagogues, schools and community centers after an attack on two Jewish men on Wednesday

Experts downplay USFK reduction talk after Trump’s troop cut hint

Within that framework of the recent U.S. defense strategy, U.S. forces in Korea and Japan become even more critical,
The United States is moving away from maintaining large, inefficient ground forces and instead focusing on agile, quickly deployable units,
Lee Sang-kyusouth Korean politician
In my assessment, there will be no impact on USFK,
This does not necessarily mean a reduction in overall presence,

K-culture must evolve into sustainable global asset, experts say

For K-culture to be sustainable, the lives and rights of the creators must be protected together,
Kangtasouth Korean singer
K-pop needs to internalize publishing and adopt a system of independent labels within a company to advance as a distinct musical genre,
Woo Won-shiksouth Korean politician (born 1957)
K-culture should not remain a temporary trend or a short-term achievement but must develop further into a sustainable asset that raises the pride of Korea and connects deeply with the world,
If you cannot persuade people why they should watch, they will never click on the content,
When the night economy and culture flourish along the Han River, the economy of Seoul can finally promise a brighter future,
I expect K-culture to become a driving force that raises the national prestige of Korea and strengthens the competitiveness of various industries,

BOK expected to hold rates in May after Fed pause

The Fed held its benchmark rate in the range of 3.50 percent to 3.75 percent for a third straight meeting, but a surge in dissent — with four members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) opposing the decision, the most since 1992 — brought a hawkish undercurrent to the meeting

Joo Wonsouth Korean actor
Given the Fed's trajectory, the BOK is likely to hold its key rate in May in a wait-and-see mode and shift toward gradual rate hikes in the second half of the year. I would say rate cuts are off the table for both economies,
With liquidity still ample, even two rate hikes are unlikely to weigh significantly on the real economy,

Lee warns excessive labor union demands could harm other workers

Lee Jae Myungpresident
While companies should treat workers as valuable partners in corporate management, workers and labor unions must also have a sense of responsibility,
Lee Jae Myungpresident
If certain labor organizations face public outcry for excessive or unfair, self-serving demands, it would harm not only the unions themselves but other workers as well,
Lee Jae Myungpresident
At a time when the artificial intelligence transition is exposing the labor and industrial sectors to a fundamental change, there is a need for a spirit of coexistence and cooperation to overcome this critical challenge,

KOSPI hits intraday record above 6,750, ends lower after 3-day streak

Although the market may go through a phase of short-term consolidation as it digests gains and eases overheating, the broader uptrend is likely to persist, driven by earnings-based valuation normalization,
Ji Young Hanresearcher
Continued strength in the after-hours trading of three hyperscalers, excluding Meta, along with an upward revision of their combined capital spending to about $660 billion this year, points to sustained momentum in artificial intelligence demand and the investment cycle,

'New neocons' influence Trump as North Korea faces increased risk

Drones will likely replenish the stockpiles depleted by a war with Iran, and the people pocketing that money are Trump's two sons,
We must study the strategy and tenacity of the Jewish community, which pushed Trump into a war simply to secure its own national interests,
Trump currently has no aides to restrain him and no need to manage public opinion for a reelection bid,
Adding regime change in Iran to the administration's war objectives was also the handiwork of the new neocons,
Instead of taking risks to score diplomatic victories on inter-Korean issues, Seoul must focus on risk reduction to preserve stability and peace,