South Korea

Samsung predicts 56% drop in 2Q profit on weak chip market

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday its operating profit for the last quarter likely fell more than 56% from a year earlier amid a weak market for memory chips.

The South Korean tech giant estimated an operating profit of 6.5 trillion won ($5.5 billion) for the April-June quarter, which would represent a 56.3% drop from the same period last year.

Trump says ‘great honor’ to stand in North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s visit to Asia (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

“A wonderful meeting” is how President Donald Trump is describing his get-together with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

As Trump was leaving South Korea and ending his four-day trip to Asia, he tweeted about becoming the first American president to set foot in North Korea.

“Stood on the soil of North Korea, an important statement for all, and a great honor!” Trump said in his tweet.

DMZ diplomacy: Kim accepts Trump invite to meet at border

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump will meet Sunday with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone separating the North and South, a day after he issued an unprecedented invitation and expressed willingness to cross the border for what would be a history-making photo op.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that Kim accepted Trump’s invitation to meet when the U.S. president visits the heavily fortified site at the Korean border village of Panmunjom.

DMZ diplomacy? Trump says Kim wants to meet him at border

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday he believes North Korea’s Kim Jong Un wants to meet for a handshake at the Demilitarized Zone separating the North and South, a day after issuing the unprecedented invitation and expressing willingness to cross the border for what would be a history-making photo op.

Seoul sees US, NKorea diplomacy as contrast to Iran tensions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and North Korea feel the need to resume diplomacy and are trying to narrow their differences for new summit talks, a top South Korean official said Wednesday as he contrasted their efforts with the tensions surrounding Iran’s collapsing nuclear accord.

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul told reporters in Seoul that the two adversaries need to continue building up trust following the failed talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February.

North Korea says it won’t surrender to US-led sanctions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it won’t surrender to U.S.-led sanctions and accused Washington of trying to “bring us to our knees.”

The statement is yet another reminder that North Korea keeps mistrust of the U.S. though its leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump recently exchanged letters.

Their second summit in Hanoi in February ended without any agreement due to disputes over the extent of sanctions relief North Korea should win in return for a limited denuclearization step.

Trump to make 2-day visit to S. Korea: Blue House

SEOUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump will make a two-day visit to South Korea this weekend, the South Korean presidential Blue House said Monday.

Blue House spokesperson Ko Min-jung told a press briefing that Trump will officially visit South Korea for two days from Saturday to hold a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday.

North Korea says Kim receives ‘excellent’ letter from Trump

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Donald Trump sent North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an “excellent” letter, the North’s state-run news agency reported Sunday, quoting Kim as saying he would “seriously contemplate it.

The White House declined to confirm that Trump had sent a letter to Kim.

It comes as nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea broke down after the failed summit between Kim and Trump in February in Vietnam.

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