HAN DUCK-SOO

If Beijing’s coronavirus infections ease, South Korea may lift COVID visa restrictions on travelers from China, as the tourism sector hopes to see a rebound in visitors.

South Korea is joining several other countries in mandating new measures for travelers coming from China. This comes after Beijing decided to lift its strict COVID policies.

Spain is the latest country to announce controls as China prepares to reopen its borders.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is assuring Asian leaders “the United States is here to stay” as she pitches Washington as a reliable economic partner committed to the region and its prosperity.

The national police chief said the force’s response to Seoul’s Halloween crowd was inadequate after calls alerting authorities to a problem in Itaewon.

South Korean police are investigating what caused a crowd surge that killed more than 150 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul over the weekend.

In a show of defiance, North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea hours after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew home from a visit to South Korea during which she emphasized the “ironclad” U.S. commitment to the security of its Asian allies.

Vice President Kamala Harris has said her trip to Asia is intended to shore up American alliances with Japan and South Korea.

In meeting after meeting in Tokyo, Vice President Kamala Harris has emphasized the U.S. commitment to regional security.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has held a series of meetings with foreign dignitaries in what he has called “funeral diplomacy” on the day before he hosts a controversial state-sponsored funeral for former leader Shinzo Abe.

Attending funerals on behalf of the United States is normally a straightforward assignment for a vice president.

Unionized truckers in South Korea have ended an eight-day strike that caused major disruptions to domestic production and cargo transport.