South Korea mulls sending inspectors to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops in Russia

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korea is considering sending a team of inspectors to Ukraine to monitor North Korea's alleged troop deployment to Russia, a government source here said Tuesday. "The monitoring team is expected to include soldiers and military officials capable of analyzing the tactics and combat capabilities of North Korean special forces allegedly deployed to Russia," the source said. "There is also a possibility that personnel adept at in

October 22, 2024

North Korea dismisses allegations of troop deployment to Russia as 'groundless'

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - North Korea has denied sweeping allegations that it is deploying military personnel to Russia for its war in Ukraine. In a session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, a North Korean representative dismissed the allegations as "groundless stereotype rumors." It was the first response from the isolated country after South Korea's spy agency said last week that North Korea had decided to dispatch around 12,000 troops to support R

October 22, 2024

Pulmuone showcases flagship plant-based food products at Paris show

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - South Korean food manufacturer Pulmuone is showcasing its flagship plant-based products at SIAL Paris 2024, one of the world's largest food exhibitions, this week. The company said Tuesday it is presenting about 50 products, including tofu tenders and soymilk noodles, during the event underway at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center from Oct. 19-23. Six Pulmuone products were included in a list of the most innovative items selected by food exp

October 22, 2024

Poland expected to purchase Korean arms without financing support from Seoul

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Poland is expected to buy South Korean artillery systems worth about 5 trillion won (US$3.6 billion) without export financing support from Seoul, industry sources said on Tuesday. The Eastern European nation plans to procure 152 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and 72 K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery systems, from South Korean defense contractor Hanwha Aerospace, with funding expected to be secured through European global banks. The decision marks a shif

October 22, 2024

OPINION: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's death is defining moment, but it will not end war

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the group's horrific Oct. 7 2023 attack on southern Israel, is no doubt a consequential moment in Israel's year-long war against Hamas. But is it a turning point? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sinwar's killing – long a major objective of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – would signal the "beginning of the end" of the war. But he made c

October 22, 2024

PHOTOS: Disability activists rally for rights bill in Seoul

SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - Disability rights activists rallied near the National Assembly in Seoul on Friday, advocating for a law revision to guarantee their human rights and support independent living conditions. The rally commemorated the 21st anniversary of the Korea Council of Centers for Independent Living, which represents 96 centers nationwide that support independent living for people with disabilities.

October 21, 2024

PHOTOS: Aju hosts walkathon through royal palaces, ex-presidential complex

SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - The 3rd Walking Festival for the Blue House and Five Royal Palaces in Seoul took place on Saturday, offering participants a tour of the city's historic sites. Hosted by The Aju Business Daily, the 13-kilometer route included the former presidential office complex of Cheongwadae and the five royal palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung, and Deoksugung.

October 21, 2024

PHOTOS: Silvergrass festival opens in Seoul

SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - The Seoul Silvergrass Festival is being held in Mapo, Seoul, from Oct. 19 to 25. The festival takes place in a silvergrass field spanning about 198,000 square meters. This regenerated park, once a landfill, has been restored to nature from barren land. The festival, which began when the park opened in 2002, marks its 23rd anniversary this year.

October 21, 2024

PHOTOS: Netflix to release 'Hellbound' Season 2 this week

SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - The cast and crew of Netflix's "Hellbound" Season 2 held a press conference in Seoul on Monday, ahead of the series' release on Friday. The dystopian thriller, directed by Yeon Sang-ho and co-written by Yeon and Choi Gyu-seok, continues the story of a world thrown into chaos by supernatural occurrences and religious conflict. Starring Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Sung-cheol and Kim Shin-rock, the new season promises to expand on the critically acclaimed first

October 21, 2024

NCSOFT to spin off units amid financial struggles

SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - NCSOFT Corp., a South Korean online game developer, has decided to spin off its artificial intelligence research unit and three game development teams amid declining earnings and underperforming new titles. The company made the announcement Monday in a regulatory filing after an extraordinary board meeting. Under the plan, its AI research division will become NC AI, while three game development teams will be spun off into independent studios: Studio X f

October 21, 2024