North Korea has launched strategic cruise missiles in waters off its west coast to demonstrate the potential of its nuclear deterrence, local media reported adding that its leader Kim Jong-un has called for thorough war preparedness with the country's nuclear forces and readiness for their use.

South Korea, the United States and Japan held trilateral secretariat talks in Tokyo this week to discuss ways to expand three-way cooperation, the foreign ministry said Friday. The talks took place Thursday,

Given the current state of international affairs, it’s time to move beyond bilateral ties to explore a trilateral partnership between Ulaanbaatar, Tokyo, and Seoul.

The bereaved family of another plaintiff in South Korean wartime labor cases involving Japanese companies is said to have accepted a payout under the South Korean government's settlement plan.

The number of babies born in Japan fell to a record low of 720,988 in 2024 for a ninth consecutive year of decline, the health ministry said on Thursday, underscoring the rapid ageing and dwindling of the population.

Japan witnessed a record low of 720,988 births in 2024, highlighting an aging and shrinking population. Despite initiatives by former PM Fumio Kishida, births continued to decline. Meanwhile, South Korea saw a fertility rate rise.

The Trump administration’s approach to its alliances has shaken Europe. Indo-Pacific partners also have cause to be worried.

The 720,998 babies born in Japan in 2024 was a drop of 5% on the previous year, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. It was the lowest number of births since Japan started taking the statistics in 1899.

SEOUL — The number of births in South Korea rose last year for the first time in nine years, supported by an increase in marriages, preliminary data showed on Wednesday, indicating that the country's demographic crisis might have turned a corner.

The countries' top diplomats pledged to boost security and economic ties at their first meeting since Donald Trump's election, amid concerns over the relationship's durability.

While Japan is the most famous destination for admiring cherry blossoms, South Korea is fast emerging as an alternative in the region.