North Korea condemns Australia's nuclear submarine deal with US The leaders of Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. attend a ceremony for the security pact between the three countries, known as AUKUS, at a naval base in San Diego, in this file photo from March 2023. Reuters-Yonhap SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - North Korea has criticized Australia's plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines from Washington through its trilateral security pact with the U.S. and U.K. In a commentary on Thursday, the official Korean Central News Agency condemned Australia's plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under the pact, known as AUKUS, warning that Washington's nuclear strategy "will not be effective" in the Asia-Pacific region. The North's abrupt condemnation came after Australia's first payment of US$500 million to the U.S. to procure Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines earlier this month. The commentary, also published in the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun, slammed that Washington should reconsider "the consequences of its military adventurism," calling it a "dangerous attempt" that would threaten security in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia formed the partnership in September 2021 to acquire nuclear-powered submarines after scrapping a similar deal with France. During his visit to Paris in July 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to pay French shipbuilder Naval Group, which is partly owned by the French government, 555 million euros (US$57.3 million) in compensation. 2025-02-20 11:33:27

Actress Kim Sae-ron laid to rest SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron was buried in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Police said there is no suspicion of foul play, although no suicide note was found. Earlier in the morning, the young actress' private funeral was held at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, with family members and close friends, including actress Kim Bo-ra and AB6IX member Park Woo-jin, in attendance. Also among those who paid their respects at her wake were Won Bin, who co-starred in "The Man from Nowhere," as well as sibling duo Akdong Musician, also known as AKMU and TV personality Jang Sung-kyu. After debuting as a model for the cover of Enfant magazine in 2002, she began her acting career in 2009 with "A Brand New Life." Kim gained prominence as a child actress in 2010 after starring alongside actor Won Bin in "The Man from Nowhere." She shot to fame with the explosive success of "The Man from Nowhere" and went on to appear in "The Neighbors," "Manhole," and "A Girl at My Door" as well as in TV soaps like "Fashion King" and "The Queen's Classroom." She later took on lead roles in cable channel JTBC's period drama "Mirror of the Witch" and video-streaming platform Kakao TV's mystery series "The Great Shaman Ga Doo-shim." Once seen as one of the most promising starlets, Kim's career came to an abrupt halt in 2022 when she was caught driving under the influence and slapped with a fine of 20 million won ($13,891). The incident coincided just ahead of the release of Netflix's hit series "Bloodhounds," resulting in most of her scenes being cut. Kim, who complained of struggling with financial difficulties after being repeatedly denied roles amid persistent criticism, attempted a screen comeback in April last year but unexpectedly had to withdraw due to dubious health reasons. Kim's sudden death has reignited discussions about malicious rumors and comments online against stars and other celebrities. Several stars including young singers like Sulli, a member of K-pop girl group f(X), and Goo Hara, a former member of Kara, tragically ended their lives after enduring unbearable levels of stress due to online rumors and indiscreet comments. "We plan to come up with various forms of support including taking legal actions," said Kwon Yeong-chan, who runs an association for workers in the entertainment industry to prevent suicides. 2025-02-19 16:03:39

Travel agencies in China to resume tours to North Korea SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Travel agencies in China have begun selling group tours to North Korea this month. If realized, it would mark the first such trips in five years, though it remains to be seen whether the isolated country will fully reopen its borders. Zhixing Heyi, a Beijing-based travel agency, is currently offering a three-night, four-day tour to Rason, North Korea's easternmost border region, departing on Feb. 24. The agency said it had received an official notice from North Korea's tourism authority stating that the country will "soon begin welcoming overseas travelers" starting with Rason as part of a pilot tour program. "Travelers can sign up for the tour, but spots are limited to about 10," said a staffer from the agency. The packaged group tour, led by a Chinese-speaking guide, includes transportation, accommodations at a three-star hotel, meals, and other processing fees for visas and insurance. According to the agency, tourists will gather in the border town of Hunchun on Feb. 24 before crossing into North Korea via a bridge over the Yalu or Amnok River. After about an hour of customs clearance, they will take a bus for another hour to reach Rajin, a city in the Rason Special Economic Zone. The itinerary includes a taekwondo demonstration, visits to a foreign-language bookstore, the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia greenhouse, a facility dedicated to cultivating flowers, an art museum, and the Rason Schoolchildren's Palace, as well as tours of food processing factories, a rock island and a duck farm. Other China-based agencies, such as Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours, are also accepting bookings for travel programs to North Korea. After shutting its borders in January 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, North Korea has recently begun allowing limited tourism, starting with visitors from Russia. 2025-02-19 13:53:36

Actor Yoo Ah-in released with suspended sentence for habitual drug use by appellate court SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Actor Yoo Ah-in was released on Tuesday after an appellate court handed down a suspended sentence for habitual drug use. The 39-year-old had been sentenced to one year in prison at his first trial and had been detained. The Seoul High Court sentenced Yoo to one year in prison on Tuesday, with a two-year suspension, along with a fine of two million won ($1,385). The court explained that the severity of the sentence in the first trial was excessive and unjust, considering all the circumstances related to the charges. The court also sentenced a 34-year-old man, surnamed Choi, who was charged with smoking marijuana with Yoo, to an 8-month prison term with a two-year suspension, upholding the initial ruling. Yoo was charged with the habitual use of propofol and other substances at hospitals in Seoul between September 2020 and March 2022, citing cosmetic procedures as the reason, with a total of 181 instances. Meanwhile, "The Match," co-starring Yoo and Lee Byung-hun, is scheduled for release at the end of next month. The film revolves around two professionals playing Go, known as "baduk" in Korean. Yoo has appeared in several hit films including "Veteran" (2015), where he gained widespread popularity for ironically portraying a drug-addicted wealthy heir. The same year, he also starred in director Lee Joon-ik’s historical film "The Throne," playing an ill-fated royal prince who was starved to death by his father, King Yeongjo (1694–1776). 2025-02-18 17:41:31

South Korean firms showcase cutting-edge military solutions at defense expo in Abu Dhabi SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - South Korean firms are showcasing their advanced solutions at the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, which kicked off in Abu Dhabi earlier this week. The week-long event, IDEX 2025, which kicked off on Monday, features 1,350 defense firms from 65 countries, bringing together more than 130,000 defense officials. Hyundai Rotem is showcasing a K2 tank variant tailored for the desert climate and terrain of the Middle East. Equipped with a fully South Korean-made power pack, the tank is capable of withstanding extreme heat. It also features an enhanced cooling system and an Active Protection System (APS) that detects and intercepts incoming anti-tank missiles in real time. Hancom Lifecare, a defense and safety equipment subsidiary of Hancom, participated in the exhibition. The K3 and K10 gas masks were primarily showcased to target the UAE military, while the K11 gas mask was introduced to cater to the needs of law enforcement officials and police agencies. Hancom Lifecare will also promote general gas masks and CBRN-compatible fire evacuation masks targeting government agencies. The South Korean firm aims to solidify its presence in the Middle Eastern market through joint marketing efforts with UAE's defense conglomerate EDGE Group. Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems are showcasing their key products and technologies related to domestically developed, integrated multi-layered air defense solutions such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer, one of South Korea's best-selling weapons. Kia presented three vehicles suitable for military tactics: the KMTV, a medium-sized truck, and the KLTV, a small tactical vehicle. The KMTV is designed to replace the South Korean Army's 2.5-ton and 5-ton vehicles and will be supplied starting in June. The KLTV is a two-seater cargo vehicle with capabilities for extreme conditions like crossing rivers and starting in temperatures as low as minus 32 degrees Celsius. South Korean entrepreneurs including Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan of Hanwha Group, Chairman Koo Bon-sang of LIG Nex1, and CEO Kang Goo-young of Korea Aerospace Industries, are also attending the event to seek business expansion. 2025-02-18 15:37:43

Another former sex slave dies, leaving only seven survivors SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - Gil Won-ok, one of the last surviving victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II, died on Sunday. She was 97. Gil was only 13 years old when she was forced to serve as a sex slavery by imperial Japan during the war. With Gil's passing, only seven survivors now remain. "Gil was an active advocate for raising awareness about sex slavery both domestically and internationally. We hope she finds peace," said Shin Young-sook, deputy minister of Gender Equality and Family, expressing her condolences. A total of 240 victims have officially registered with the government, of which 233 have died to date. But historical records suggest that as many as 200,000 young girls were forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers. Many South Koreans, including a few surviving victims, have continued to hold weekly protests in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, demanding a sincere apology from Tokyo for their wartime atrocities. As part of a 2015 agreement, Japan pledged to donate one billion yen ($6.6 million) to a foundation set up to support the victims. In return, Japan urged Seoul to remove statues honoring them that were placed by civic groups outside Japanese diplomatic missions. 2025-02-17 15:34:00

INTERVIEW: Chinese unit from K-pop global project set sights high with ambitious goals SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - The Chinese unit of K-pop girl band Bling One, consisting entirely of six Mandarin-speaking members, with no South Korean members, made their debut with a showcase in central Seoul last week. They aim to combine K-pop with Chinese cultural elements on the global stage, with a vision to localize their unique fusion genre in one of the world's most populous countries. As their aim suggests, their title track, "Bubble Gum," unveiled at the World K-Pop Center in Seoul on Wednesday, blends energetic hip-hop dance beats with bright, synth-driven melodies, creating a hybrid sound that reflects the ever-evolving nature of K-pop. They were formed as part of "Click the Star," a global audition project aimed at recruiting and nurturing K-pop talent from 32 countries including China, Mongolia, Peru, Russia, and Viet Nam. Over 260,000 K-pop wannabes competed in an audition for the Chinese unit last year, with six finalists — Cassie, Chloee, Ranee, Katrina, Junny, and Sandy—ultimately selected to form the unit. While leveraging the global popularity of K-pop, the six members are eager to blend their own cultural aspects into it. In an interview with AJP shortly after their showcase, they said, "K-pop lyrics are a foreign language for us, so we want to introduce some elements of traditional Chinese culture into them, making them more relatable to our local audience." They also seek to maximize the strengths of both Korean and Chinese cultural elements. "Our goal is to create songs that appeal to international audiences while capturing the distinct musical heritage of both countries," they said. "We're preparing for performances and other activities in China in addition to album releases, hoping to bridge the two countries through our songs," they added. Looking back on her journey of joining the group, Junny said, "One of the most memorable moments was during the first survival round when we had to part ways with some of our fellow trainees. It was heartbreaking because we had all worked so hard together, coming from different places and striving for the same dream," she recalled. "That was the first time I had to say goodbye to friends I had trained with, and it was a tough yet invaluable experience." Other members also shared their struggles with learning Korean, admitting that while they didn't speak the language fluently at first, they gradually picked it up. "Korean pronunciation is quite different from Chinese, so we certainly had a hard time, especially with the lyrics," Chloee said. "But we practiced a lot, and even though it was difficult at times, we've come a long way." The six members have set their ambitions high, hoping to expand their reach beyond Asia with a desire to perform in the U.S. and South America. Located near Seoul's Mt. Nam, the World K-Pop Center, which is behind them, has been training aspiring K-pop stars from various countries to help them debut in their own countries. Bling One's Peruvian unit, consisting of three South American members, made their debut in June last year. 2025-02-17 15:02:23

Actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron, known for her role in the South Korean action-thriller film "The Man from Nowhere," was found dead at her residence in Seoul. The police received a report at 4:54 p.m. on Sunday that the 24-year-old had been found unresponsive in her home in Seongsu, eastern Seoul. According to a police official, a friend who had planned to meet her made the discovery and alerted authorities. Kim gained prominence as a child actress in 2010 after starring alongside actor Won Bin in "The Man from Nowhere." She also appeared in the 2012 mystery thriller film "The Neighbors." Kim's last appearance was in "Bloodhounds," which became the most-watched non-English content on Netflix in 2023. The series depicts two boxers fighting against moneylenders in the harsh world of private loans. In May 2022, she was fined 20 million won (US$13,853) for drunk driving after an accident in southern Seoul. Police said no signs of forced entry or foul play were detected. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing. 2025-02-16 23:14:07

Hanwha Robotics installs cooking robots at highway rest stop SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Hanwha Robotics announced Sunday that it has installed five cooking robots at a highway rest stop in the southeastern city of Daegu. The robots, called "HCR-5A," are now operating at the Nongong Rest Area and can prepare more than five types of dishes, including pork cutlets, udon, and instant noodles, known as ramyeon. “With this deployment, customers at Nongong Rest Area will now have access to food court services 24 hours a day,” the company said in a press release. The previous shortage of night-shift workers had forced the facility to close by 10 p.m., but the introduction of the robots is expected to significantly improve customer convenience by eliminating this limitation. With this latest installation, the total number of rest stops featuring Hanwha Robotics’ cooking robots has increased to six. “Collaborative robots, once primarily used in industrial settings, are now becoming a part of everyday life. We will continue to introduce innovative robotics technology to enhance quality of life,” said Hanwha Robotics CEO Jung Byung-chan. Data released by market research firm Market and Market shows that the global food robotics market is projected to increase to $4 billion by 2026 from $1.9 billion in 2020. 2025-02-16 17:29:00

Stray Kids' Felix misses fan meeting after car accident injury SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Felix, a member of K-pop boy group Stray Kids, missed a fan meeting scheduled for Sunday after sustaining a fracture in a minor car accident the previous day. The group's agency, JYP Entertainment, said the incident took place shortly after a fan meeting ended, when Felix's vehicle was slowly moving through a parking lot at the Inspire Arena in Yeongjong Island, Incheon. It collided with a shuttle bus that had been traveling at a low speed, striking the vehicle's left rear side. While the collision itself was deemed minor, JYP explained that Felix's body weight shifted onto his arm during the impact, causing him to hit the car's armrest and suffer a fracture. Following the incident, he was immediately transported to a hospital for a thorough examination, where medical professionals recommended rest and treatment for his injury. "Felix is currently resting and focusing on his recovery," a JYP official said. The agency also apologized for Felix's absence at the fan meeting. Stray Kids have been participating in a three-day fan meeting at the Inspire Arena that began on Friday. The octet attracted significant attention even before their official debut, having been finalists on the survival audition show "Stray Kids," which aired on Mnet in 2017. In 2023, TIME magazine recognized Stray Kids as one of the "next-generation leaders," alongside various global innovators and entrepreneurs. 2025-02-16 15:13:58