Korea seeks trilateral partnership with US, Japan for Alaska gas project

SEOUL, March 04 (AJP) - South Korea has expressed interest in joining Alaska’s natural gas development project, seeking a trilateral partnership with the United States and Japan, according to government sources familiar with the discussions, Tuesday. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun conveyed South Korea’s interest during meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, chairman of the White House National Energy Council, in Washington, D.C., from Jan

March 4, 2025

Signs indicate North Korea's nuclear reactor in operation, IAEA says

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - There are signs that North Korea is resuming operations at its nuclear facilities, according to Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "There are indications that the uranium enrichment plants at Kangson and Yongbyon continue to operate," said the IAEA chief during a meeting of the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday. He also said the agency has spotted activities at Yongbyon'

March 4, 2025

PHOTOS: Snowfall blankets South Korea in early spring

SEOUL, March 04 (AJP) - A heavy snowfall swept across South Korea in early March, as spring's nascent warmth was beginning to take hold. The incongruous juxtaposition of winter's last gasp against the budding season created a striking, if fleeting, tableau.

March 4, 2025

Ilyang pulls health supplements from Daiso stores amid pharmacist backlash

SEOUL, March 04 (AJP) - Ilyang Pharmaceuticals has withdrawn its health supplements from Daiso stores just five days after launch, following fierce opposition from pharmacists who argued that the discounted prices undercut traditional pharmacies. The decision to pull the products disappointed many consumers, who had welcomed the opportunity to purchase affordable supplements at a widely accessible discount retailer. Daiso confirmed that it would not restock Ilyang’s nine

March 4, 2025

XXIO, Srixon club importer fined for price-fixing

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - South Korea’s antitrust regulator has imposed a fine of 18.6 billion won ($12.8 million) on Dunlop Sports Korea for preventing retailers from offering discounts on its golf clubs. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) found that Dunlop, which imports and distributes Japanese golf brands including XXIO and Srixon, had enforced minimum selling prices between 2020 and 2023, threatening dealers with supply cuts, financial penalties, and contract terminations if th

March 4, 2025

Korea launches alternative stock trading system, extends trading hours to 12

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - South Korea’s first alternative stock trading system, Nextrade (NXT), made its debut on Tuesday, extending stock trading hours to 12 hours daily and offering investors the flexibility to trade during commuting hours. Founded by the Korea Financial Investment Association in collaboration with major securities firms, NXT will initially facilitate trading for 10 stocks, with plans to expand to 800 within a month. The platform operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.

March 4, 2025

North Korea condemns US aircraft carrier's arrival in Busan

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - North Korea has condemned the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier in South Korea, denouncing it as "political and military provocations," state media reported on Tuesday. "As soon as its new administration appeared this year, the U.S. has stepped up the political and military provocations against ," North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "H

March 4, 2025

Korea's semiconductor shipments turn negative after 16 months

SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s average daily exports fell nearly 6 percent in February compared with a year earlier, bringing total exports for the first two months of the year down by more than 4 percent. Semiconductor shipments, which account for about 20 percent of South Korea’s total exports, posted their first decline in 16 months. The downturn has raised concerns about the country’s economic outlook, particularly as the auto sector — South Kore

March 3, 2025

US sends aircraft carrier to South Korea amid heightened N. Korea threats

SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - The USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier, arrived at a South Korean naval base on Sunday, marking the first visit by a U.S. carrier to the country since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. The vessel, part of Carrier Strike Group 1, docked at the port in Busan, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Sterett. The South Korean military described the visit a

March 3, 2025

Korea's opposition party gains ground as ruling party support declines, poll finds

SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - Support for South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has risen to 44.2 percent, surpassing the ruling People Power Party (PPP) by a margin greater than the survey’s margin of error, according to a new poll released on Monday. The survey, conducted by Realmeter among 1,506 adults aged 18 and older last week, found that the DP’s approval rating climbed 3.1 percentage points from the previous week. Meanwhile, support for the PPP

March 3, 2025