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President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday offered his condolences over a train crash in Spain that killed at least 68 people. Lee wrote on social media platform X that he feels "deep sadness" that the collision on Wednesday led to many casualties, including several injured Koreans. "I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives and extend my deep condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and the people of Spain amid their great sadness," he wrote. "I also sincerely wish for the quick recovery of those injured." Two high-speed trains collided on a railway linking Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia on Wednesday morning, killing at least 68 people, according to news reports. Lee confirmed there were "some" Koreans injured in the crash, saying the Korean Embassy in Spain has sent a consul to the scene to provide consular assistance.

Two Korean nationals were among hundreds of people killed or injured in a tragic train collision in Spain, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. At least 68 people were killed in the collision between two high-speed trains near Urda in Spain's Toledo province Wednesday, according to media reports. The two trains were carrying more than 500 passengers. A total of 11 Korean passengers had been confirmed aboard the trains involved in the accident as of 6:40 a.m. Thursday, according to the ministry. One of the two injured passengers sustained minor injuries and was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment, while the other remains hospitalized, it added. "Our embassy in Spain is maintaining close contact with local authorities and continuing to check for any additional Korean casualties," the ministry said. The accident occurred when a high-speed train operated by Spain's state-owned rail operator Renfe struck a stationary train, though investigation is under way into the exact cause of the collision, according to reports.

President Lee Jae Myung was set Thursday to hold a summit with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Seoul to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries. The trip marks Merz's first visit to Korea since taking office and the first visit by a German chancellor to the country in three years. Lee and Merz are scheduled to hold a summit at Cheong Wa Dae later in the day, followed by a joint press statement and an official dinner, according to Seoul's presidential office. During the talks, the two leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation in future industries, such as batteries, semiconductors and artificial intelligence, as well as defense and arms industry cooperation, and regional and international issues. "The visit is expected to help advance bilateral ties in a more strategic and forward-looking direction," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said earlier. The presidential office said some 60 business leaders from Korea and Germany, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, have been invited to the dinner to help boost economic tie

WASHINGTON — South Korea, the United States and other like-minded partners on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea, highlighting recent sanctions targeting Pyongyang's overseas workers, cyber activities and military cooperation with Russia. In a joint statement issued by 11 countries and the European Union, the participants welcomed sanctions imposed by the U.S., Australia and the European Union in October to disrupt North Korea's efforts to finance its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The statement was issued by South Korea, the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Britain and the EU. The countries highlighted findings by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), which shed light on Pyongyang's military cooperation with Russia, cyber-enabled IT worker schemes and overseas labor operations. The team was established after a U.N. expert panel, tasked with monitoring sanctions enforcement, was disbanded in April 2024 due to Russia's veto of a resolution to extend its mandate. I

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