North Korea breaks ground on memorial for troops killed in Russia SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - North Korea has begun building a war memorial in Pyongyang to honor soldiers who were dispatched to assist Russia's war in Ukraine and died there, state media reported Friday. According to the KCNA, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the memorial took place the previous day with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, along with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora and other embassy officials. In his speech, Kim said, "Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. Our friendship and unity will last forever," hailing the memorial as a "symbol of the most righteous people and the strongest army." "Just one year ago from today the last group of the combatants of our expeditionary forces left for Russia. They, strongly feeling the weight of their heavy mission, made a forceful march towards the battlefield in the alien land," he added. This is the first time North Korea has built a museum commemorating troops deployed overseas, following a decision made in May. North Korea is believed to have sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in exchange for economic aid and military technology from Moscow. At least 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk region near the Ukrainian border, according to estimates by South Korea's spy agency in September. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-24 14:34:26

JCS chief inspects security and military readiness ahead of next week's APEC summit SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - The final inspection of key military installations and other security facilities was conducted on Tuesday in preparation for next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which is set to take place in southern South Korea. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Jin Young-seung flew over the East Sea in a P-8 patrol aircraft and inspected a Marine unit in Pohang, emphasizing military readiness ahead of the multilateral gathering, which is scheduled to take place in the historic city of Gyeongju from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. He instructed soldiers and personnel to stay on alert and be prepared for various scenarios to ensure security, while emphasizing the importance of information sharing and coordination among relevant agencies to respond promptly to any emergencies. The Ministry of National Defense has also been preparing to support the summit since July, with plans to deploy 2,660 personnel in Gyeongju and nearby areas to assist with maintaining order, providing interpretation services, VIP protection, and other security-related duties. The ministry pledged to maintain vigilance and take all necessary measures to ensure the summit's success. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-21 17:12:36

South Korea's DAPA signs pact with Brazil's Embraer to expand transport aircraft partnership SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s defense procurement agency has signed an agreement with Embraer, Brazil’s leading aerospace manufacturer, to deepen industrial ties and expand Korean participation in the company’s global supply chain. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on Monday, the agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Embraer S.A. during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 in Goyang, just outside Seoul. The agreement aims to increase the use of Korean-made components in Embraer aircraft exported around the world and to promote broader defense collaboration between the two countries. Founded in 1969, Embraer is one of the world’s top three civilian aircraft manufacturers, with more than 9,000 aircraft delivered globally. In recent years, the company has been expanding its footprint in the military sector with its C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, which has been adopted by several air forces, including those of Brazil and Portugal. South Korean small and medium-sized suppliers are already contributing key components to the C-390 program, with exports valued at about 450 billion won ($330 million). Those same parts are expected to be used in the aircraft to be acquired by the South Korean Air Force. Under the new memorandum, DAPA and Embraer plan to broaden cooperation, allowing Korean firms to become part of Embraer’s global supply network and explore new defense opportunities in Korea and beyond. “Korean companies play a crucial role in the C-390 project, and this MOU will broaden our cooperation,” Bosco da Costa Jr., CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, said in a statement. “We hope to create new success stories in the global defense market with our Korean partners.” Kang Joong-hee, who heads DAPA’s aviation business division, said the agreement marked “a significant step toward a collaborative growth model that goes beyond a simple buyer-seller relationship between Korea and Brazil.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-20 11:19:20

Chinese sanctions on Hanwha Ocean could affect MASGA project, Seoul official warns SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s top defense procurement official warned on Friday that recent Chinese sanctions against Hanwha Ocean’s U.S. subsidiaries could eventually hinder a joint shipbuilding initiative between Seoul and Washington. During a parliamentary audit session, Suk Jong-geon, commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said the Chinese sanctions could affect the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project, an effort to bolster collaboration between the two allies’ naval industries. “The impact may not be immediate, but there is a potential for future disruption,” Suk told lawmakers in response to a question from Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party. Earlier this week, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a ban on transactions with five subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, including Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard and Hanwha Shipping. The South Korean conglomerate is a key participant in MASGA, a project that gained visibility when President Lee Jae Myung visited the Philadelphia shipyard during his U.S. trip in August. Suk said that while no contracts have yet been signed under MASGA, the sanctions could complicate the procurement of specialized shipbuilding equipment from outside the United States. He added that his agency had not yet conducted a detailed assessment of possible financial losses. Rep. Yoo estimated that the sanctions could lead to losses of up to $60 million. The lawmaker also called for the swift conclusion of the Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A), which would allow South Korean firms to participate directly in U.S. government defense contracts. Suk confirmed that the agreement is awaiting approval from the White House National Security Council and emphasized that it is critical to the success of the MASGA initiative. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 16:33:23

New military chiefs of South Korea, US hold first phone talks SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. military chiefs spoke by phone on Friday to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here said. JCS chief Jin Young-seung talked with his U.S. counterpart Dan Caine for the first time since assuming his post late last month. The two agreed on the importance of maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and deterring North Korean threats through a strong alliance between the two closest allies. They also agreed to further discuss details at the upcoming Military Committee Meeting, scheduled to be held in Seoul next month. Jin is also scheduled to speak with Japanese Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura later in the day to discuss ways to enhance trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 10:40:57

Excavation of Korean War remains near DMZ resumes SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - A project to excavate the remains of South Korean soldiers killed during the 1950–53 Korean War has resumed near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Gangwon Province, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday. The project aims to "return the remains of war victims to their families and transform the DMZ into a zone of peace," the ministry explained. As part of a series of conciliatory efforts to ease military tensions between the two Koreas since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office earlier this year, the project's resumption came about three years after it was halted in 2022. In 2018, both Koreas agreed under the Sept. 19 military pact to jointly excavate remains in the DMZ including Cheorwon. South Korea began excavations in April 2019, but North Korea did not participate. The project was suspended in November 2022 due to security concerns as inter-Korean relations deteriorated. Nearly 500 remains were recovered along with more than 100,000 belongings, and about a dozen of the remains have been identified. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-15 14:54:21

G-Dragon, Park Ji-sung, and other Korean superstars pitch APEC 2025 SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - The APEC 2025 organizing committee released a special promotional video ahead of the summit. K-pop star G-Dragon stars as the ambassador, with cameo appearances by director Park Chan-wook, soccer player Park Ji-sung, IVE's Jang Won-young, chef Ahn Sung-jae, and DJ Peggy Gou. Directed by award-winning Shin Woo-seok, the video begins with APEC members gathering at a fusion Korean restaurant, symbolizing Korea's cultural heritage. President Lee Jae-myung briefly appears as an aircraft marshaller, symbolizing South Korea's orderly return to the international community, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The video was produced with minimal expenses, and all participants volunteered without compensation to support the national event, the ministry added. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-02 15:06:25

Military postpones annual field training to mid-November SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - The military has postponed its large-scale field training to mid-November. The annual "Hoguk Exercise," involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force, initially scheduled for the fourth week of October, will now be held from Nov. 17 to 21, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday. The postponement comes as South Korea prepares for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the historic city of Gyeongju from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, to ensure safety and security ahead of the multilateral gathering while maintaining military readiness. Additionally, the military took into account the dispersion of command efforts caused by the National Assembly's upcoming audit and the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), a biennial event scheduled for mid-October. The Hoguk Exercise is a theater-level field maneuver designed to enhance joint operational capabilities and military readiness, typically including U.S. forces stationed in South Korea. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-02 10:52:44

South Korea to outsource non-combat roles as military personnel decline, says Defense Minister SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back announced plans to maintain military force levels at 500,000 by combining 350,000 active-duty soldiers with 150,000 outsourced personnel, in a press briefing on the occasion of Army Forces Day on Wednesday. In his first briefing since assuming his post, he said, "We aim to maintain 350,000 active combat troops by outsourcing non-combat roles to address the declining number of military personnel." The plans appear similar to the approach of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), which outsources non-combat roles. South Korea's military personnel have decreased to 480,000 last year after peaking at 690,000 in 2002, with projections of a further decline to 350,000 by 2040 due to low birthrates and shorter periods of mandatory military service. After peaking at 690,000 in 2002, South Korea's military shrank to 480,000 last year, with numbers expected to further drop to 350,000 by 2040 due to low birthrates and shorter mandatory service periods. To maintain combat readiness, Ahn intends to outsource logistics and transport roles while retaining 4,000 military specialists with technical skills to manage advanced weaponry, offering them attractive salaries. Regarding the halt of military exercises at the inter-Korean border as part of the current administration's conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, Ahn rejected the idea, highlighting the need for bilateral dialogue instead of unilateral actions. Ahn also clarified that the 2018 inter-Korean military pact is paused, not terminated, stressing the need to restore it to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and build trust between the two Koreas. Dismissing concerns over a possible U.S. troop pullout, Ahn said, "There is no discussion about the USFK's withdrawal or reduction," adding that South Korea will continue to cooperate with the U.S. to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-01 15:03:54

South Korea pushes for easing US rules on shipbuilding cooperation SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - South Korea's defense procurement chief said in Washington, Wednesday (local time), that talks are advancing with the United States on shipbuilding and defense industry cooperation, including the long-delayed Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement, which would allow Korean companies greater access to U.S. contracts. Seok Jong-geon, head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), said he is focusing on addressing legal obstacles that have hampered collaboration between their shipbuilding sectors. He is scheduled to meet senior U.S. defense and navy officials to press the issue further. At the heart of the problem are longstanding U.S. regulations such as the Jones Act, which restricts foreign shipbuilders’ participation in the American market by requiring vessels operating between U.S. ports to be built domestically. South Korean shipbuilders — including Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean — are world leaders in both commercial and military ship construction, but they face tight limits when it comes to direct involvement in U.S. naval and commercial projects. “The leadership of both countries must act swiftly to resolve these barriers,” Seok said, adding that South Korean firms are eager to expand cooperation. Hanwha’s overseas shipyard in the Philippines, he noted, cannot by itself meet U.S. requirements for new vessels. To bridge the regulatory gap, Seok proposed several models of cooperation. These include prioritizing Korean-made parts for U.S. ships, assembling ships in U.S. shipyards from pre-fabricated blocks built in Korea, and constructing ships in Korea to a basic operational level before installing sensitive systems in the United States. Such hybrid approaches, he said, could boost U.S. shipbuilding capacity while safeguarding national security concerns. The talks come as the U.S. Navy struggles with production bottlenecks and cost overruns in its shipbuilding programs, while South Korea’s shipyards continue to rank among the most competitive globally. For decades, Korean companies have been dominant in commercial shipbuilding — particularly LNG carriers — and are now expanding aggressively into naval vessels, including destroyers, submarines and amphibious ships. Another item under negotiation is the U.S.–South Korea Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDPA), which would allow the two countries to treat each other’s defense companies as domestic suppliers in government contracts. While Seoul has pressed for the deal, Washington has delayed approval amid concerns about potential impacts on U.S. workers and shipyards. Seok expressed optimism that the RDPA could be concluded once remaining U.S. procedures are resolved, saying it would strengthen alliance-based defense supply chains. “This agreement is critical to overcoming protectionist barriers and enabling practical cooperation in naval shipbuilding,” he said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-18 10:20:44