Journalist

Kim Hee-su, Han Jun-gu
  • Seoul, Washington to launch working group to advance nuclear submarine deal
    Seoul, Washington to launch working group to advance nuclear submarine deal SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States have agreed to launch a bilateral working group to implement security agreements reached at their summit last October, including Washington’s approval for Seoul to build nuclear-powered submarines. U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker is set to visit Seoul within weeks to lead an interagency delegation for the talks. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, who is visiting the United States, met with Hooker in Washington on Tuesday and exchanged views on overall bilateral relations, including the implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet adopted at last year’s summit, as well as regional and global affairs. Park and Hooker agreed to hold a kickoff meeting on nuclear-related security commitments under the Joint Fact Sheet released by the two countries in November, “sharing the view that the two allies should swiftly produce tangible results,” the ministry said. U.S. President Donald Trump visited South Korea last October on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and reached a set of trade and security agreements with President Lee Jae Myung. The security commitments included U.S. approval for South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program, as well as Seoul’s authority to pursue uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing — measures South Korea secured in return for its $350 billion investment commitment to the U.S. The latest announcement is expected to give momentum to the implementation of the agreements, which have drawn criticism for making little progress since they were announced. The U.S. State Department also said after the meeting that Hooker will travel to Seoul in the coming weeks with an interagency delegation “to launch a bilateral working group” to continue implementing the agreements reached during Trump’s visit to South Korea in October 2025. At the same time, the department said Hooker emphasized that the United States “expects continued progress in bilateral trade and industrial partnerships,” as well as “the need for fair treatment of U.S. companies” and the swift removal of market access barriers. The remarks were seen as underscoring Washington’s call for South Korea to quickly follow through on its promised investment in the United States, while also alluding to issues that have emerged between the two countries, including the Coupang data leak and South Korea’s proposed Online Platform Act, which the U.S. has viewed as a non-tariff barrier. 2026-05-20 11:20:58
  • Trumps Taiwan remarks expose diverging security pressures on Seoul and Taipei
    Trump's Taiwan remarks expose diverging security pressures on Seoul and Taipei SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's ambiguous remarks on arms sales to Taiwan after his summit with Xi Jinping have raised fresh questions about Washington's security commitments in Asia — with different implications for each partner. For Taiwan, the concern is immediate and existential: whether Washington will sustain both political support and arms transfers in the face of Beijing's sovereignty claim. For South Korea, the dilemma is less direct but consequential: whether the peninsula could be drawn into a broader U.S. strategy in a Taiwan contingency, pulling Seoul beyond its traditional role of deterring North Korea. Taiwan loomed over Trump's three-day Beijing summit despite the ceremony. Xi warned that mishandling the issue — Beijing's "top concern" — could "spiral into conflict." Trump told reporters the U.S. was not seeking to promote Taiwan's independence and confirmed he had discussed arms sales with Xi, but declined to say whether a pending weapons package would proceed, saying only he would decide "very quickly." Washington has no formal diplomatic relations or mutual defense treaty with Taipei. Its security commitment rests on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which requires making available defense articles sufficient for Taiwan's self-defense and designates any non-peaceful attempt to determine Taiwan's future as a matter of "grave concern." "The security environment in East Asia is likely to become more militarized," said Jeong Kyung-woon of the Korea Military Affairs Association. South Korea's position is structurally different. A formal U.S. treaty ally hosting roughly 28,500 American troops, Seoul's alliance has long centered on deterring North Korea. But U.S. Forces Korea is increasingly discussed within Washington's broader Indo-Pacific posture. The 2026 National Defense Strategy envisions South Korea taking primary responsibility for deterring the North with more limited U.S. support. "The Korean Peninsula is no longer simply a space of inter-Korean confrontation," said Jeong. "Senior U.S. military officials refer to the peninsula as a key axis within the first island chain. South Korea could face growing pressure to support U.S. operations in a Taiwan contingency." Experts note that North Korea is unlikely to align itself entirely with Beijing despite the deepening partnership. Pyongyang has historically been wary of dependency on China and may keep open the possibility of direct engagement with Washington as a bargaining card — even as it deepens ties with both Beijing and Moscow. Seoul is also preparing for the transfer of wartime operational control, possible as early as the first quarter of 2029, contingent on meeting three conditions including demonstrated capability to respond to North Korean threats. 2026-05-19 16:43:00
  • US suspends joint defense body with Canada as security tensions grow
    US suspends joint defense body with Canada as security tensions grow SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - The U.S. has suspended a key defense cooperation body with Canada as tensions with Ottawa widen into security ties. U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said Monday that Washington would suspend activities of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, or PJBD, a bilateral body responsible for coordinating military cooperation and defense policy between the United States and Canada, according to The Hill. The PJBD, which includes military officials and civilian representatives from both countries, has met twice a year to coordinate joint defense policies. Colby said the decision was made because Canada had failed to show “credible progress” in meeting its defense commitments, adding that Washington would reassess how the PJBD contributes to the joint defense of North America. In the same post on X, Colby shared a video of Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January. In the speech, Carney called for middle powers to unite against the influence of superpowers such as the United States and China, remarks widely seen as criticism of Trump’s approach to alliances. Colby’s decision to share the video while announcing the suspension of PJBD activities could be interpreted as a sign of Washington’s displeasure with Carney’s remarks. The Trump administration has also reacted sharply to calls within Canada to reduce purchases of U.S.-made weapons. Canada had planned to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, but the government is reportedly reviewing the plan. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra warned that if Canada decides not to purchase the F-35s, there could be changes to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, system. NORAD, established in 1958 during the Cold War to counter threats from the former Soviet Union, is a U.S.-Canada command responsible for aerospace warning and defense of North America. 2026-05-19 16:17:02
  • US approves $4 billion arms sales to South Korea
    US approves $4 billion arms sales to South Korea SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - The U.S. State Department has approved potential arms sales to South Korea worth over $4 billion, including upgrade programs for Apache attack helicopters. The department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs said Monday that it approved a possible Foreign Military Sale requested by the South Korean government for 24 MH-60R helicopters, along with related weapons and equipment. The estimated cost of the helicopter package is $3 billion. The State Department said the proposed sale would improve South Korea’s capability “to meet current and future threats” by strengthening “the multi-mission helicopter capability of its Navy.” It separately approved a $1.2 billion AH-64E Apache upgrade program, saying it would strengthen the South Korean Army’s attack helicopter capability. The department said the proposed sales would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a major ally that is “a force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region.” It added that the sales would not alter the basic military balance in the region and would have no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness. The approvals do not mean final contracts have been signed. Under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales process, the proposed sales must go through congressional notification procedures before any deal is finalized. The approvals also come days after Trump left open questions over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan following his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. 2026-05-19 11:35:58
  • Iran stays silent on HMM Namu in call with Seoul
    Iran stays silent on HMM Namu in call with Seoul SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Iran’s foreign minister blamed the U.S. and Israel for instability in the Middle East during a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, while Tehran made no mention of a recent attack on a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. The call, reportedly requested by Seoul, was the first between Cho and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since the HMM Namu was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz in early May. It marked their fourth phone conversation since the U.S.-Iran war broke out in February. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday via its official Telegram account that Araghchi held talks with Cho and explained Tehran’s view of the situation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry said Araghchi referred to the history of friendly relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of developing bilateral ties. It also said Araghchi briefed Cho on current conditions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that instability imposed on the Middle East and its global consequences were caused by what it called acts of aggression by the U.S. and the “Zionist regime,” referring to Israel. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that Cho asked Iran to state its position on the recent attack on the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz. Cho also explained that Seoul is conducting an additional investigation into the incident and emphasized the importance of the safety of all vessels, including Korean ships, and freedom of navigation in the strait. The HMM Namu had been anchored near the Strait of Hormuz in early May when two unidentified flying objects struck the port side near the stern of the vessel twice, about one minute apart, according to South Korean authorities. Debris from the flying objects that struck the HMM Namu later arrived in South Korea from Dubai last Friday for additional examination. Iran’s Embassy in Seoul has denied involvement in the incident. 2026-05-18 18:10:52
  • HD Hyundai Marine Solution to maintain power engines for US data center
    HD Hyundai Marine Solution to maintain power engines for US data center SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Marine Solution is entering the North American data center power market. The company said Monday that it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Aperion Energy Group, or AEG, a U.S. energy infrastructure developer, to provide maintenance services for power engines used at a data center. Under the agreement, the two companies will cooperate for the long-term maintenance and operation of 33 power engines at a data center AEG is building in Texas. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries previously signed a contract with AEG in April to supply 684 megawatts of data center equipment based on 20-megawatt HiMSEN engines. As the rapid development of artificial intelligence drives up electricity consumption at data centers, the reliability of backup and primary power supply systems has become a key factor in ensuring efficient data center operations. HD Hyundai Marine Solution plans to use its cooperation with AEG as an opportunity to expand its presence in North America by highlighting the proven performance of HiMSEN engines and its engine maintenance capabilities. The company said the partnership is expected to go beyond engine supply and lead to long-term service agreements, as well as operation and maintenance contracts. “Through this cooperation, we aim to capture new demand in the North American data center market,” an HD Hyundai Marine Solution official said. 2026-05-18 17:20:27
  • HD Hyundai XiteSolution secures forklift orders in Africa, Middle East
    HD Hyundai XiteSolution secures forklift orders in Africa, Middle East SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - HD Hyundai XiteSolution has secured a series of forklift contracts in Africa and the Middle East, expanding its presence in emerging industrial markets. The company said it recently signed a 37 billion won ($25 million) contract with the Algerian government to supply 316 industrial vehicles. The equipment will be delivered to Algeria in stages by August this year. It said it won the large-scale order by proposing equipment suited to Algeria’s local operating environment and highlighting its stable parts supply and service capabilities. The order includes 10-ton, 25-ton and 30-ton forklifts used for loading and transporting heavy cargo at large construction sites, shipyards and ports. The company said the high share of large and ultra-large models is expected to help improve both sales and profitability. The company has also signed forklift supply contracts worth 4 billion won in the Middle East. HD Hyundai XiteSolution received an order for about 50 small and midsized forklifts from an auto parts company in the United Arab Emirates, as well as an order for about 40 units from a logistics operator in Syria. The company said it is expanding its sales channels by targeting major customers in emerging markets with growing infrastructure needs. “This order reflects not only our product competitiveness but also our ability to carry out projects tailored to customer needs,” said Oh Byung-soo, head of HD Hyundai XiteSolution’s industrial vehicle division. “We will continue to secure additional large-scale order opportunities from key global customers.” 2026-05-18 16:45:23
  • Flights to Southeast Asia hit hardest as fuel costs force LCCs to cut routes
    Flights to Southeast Asia hit hardest as fuel costs force LCCs to cut routes SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carriers are cutting more international flights, particularly on Southeast Asian routes, even as fuel surcharges for June eased slightly from their peak, raising concerns over passenger inconvenience and limited compensation. Since the outbreak of the Middle East war, domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs) and mid-tier carriers have reduced more than 1,100 round-trip international flights, with Southeast Asian routes accounting for a large portion of the cuts, according to industry officials. The benchmark Singapore jet fuel price used to calculate June fuel surcharges stood at 410.02 cents per gallon, down about 20 percent from 511.21 cents per gallon for May. Accordingly, international fuel surcharges fell to level 27 from the highest level of 33. Still, industry officials say fuel costs remain high compared with prewar levels. Even in July and August 2022, when global fuel prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, international fuel surcharges stood at level 22. Airlines usually decide which flights to reduce based on various factors, including profitability, passenger demand and alternative flight options. This time, routes with weaker demand and lower margins have been targeted first. Southeast Asian routes have been hit especially hard because they had been over-supplied amid fierce competition among LCCs. Vietnam routes, in particular, have become a major target for cuts as demand for Southeast Asian travel has weakened relatively compared to Japan and China. “Southeast Asian routes have seen softer demand compared with Japan routes,” an official from South Korean LCC Jin Air said. “Japan remains relatively resilient, supported by favorable exchange-rate conditions, while travel to Southeast Asia tends to be more affected by higher overall trip costs.” The official added that travelers to some Southeast Asian countries often face higher costs because they exchange money through the U.S. dollar first before converting it again locally. “Those extra costs appear to have affected demand,” the official said. “That is why many of the reductions have been concentrated on Southeast Asian routes.” Southeast Asian routes are often regarded as “mid-haul” routes that sit between short-haul and long-haul services. They require more fuel than flights to Japan or China, but airlines cannot charge fares as high as those on long-haul routes. Jin Air has cut 176 round-trip flights through this month due to the burden of higher fuel costs. The carrier canceled 45 round-trip flights on eight routes, including Guam, last month and 131 round-trip flights on 14 routes, including Phu Quoc, this month. The number could rise further once its June schedule is finalized. Jeju Air reduced flights from Incheon to Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Bangkok and Singapore from seven times a week to three or four times a week from May 8 to June 30. It also cut its Incheon-Hanoi service from seven times a week to four times a week from May 12 and suspended its Vientiane route for two months from April 29. Airportal data also shows that the cuts were concentrated in Southeast Asia even when all Korean carriers are included. Flights to Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand fell far more sharply than the overall 7.9 percent decline in international flights from January to April. The Philippines posted the steepest percentage drop among the listed countries, down 43.8 percent, followed by Thailand at 38.7 percent and Vietnam at 31.3 percent. By contrast, Japan routes slipped only 5 percent, while China and U.S. routes increased. For passengers, however, the main issue is not just the number of flights being cut. Even if overall reductions remain limited, passengers whose flights are affected can face major disruptions to travel plans. “I’m planning to travel in July, but I think I’ll take my time and book only refundable accommodation because flight schedules seem uncertain,” one user wrote on an online travel community. The transport ministry said the cuts remain below the level that could lead to penalties. Airlines could lose route rights or airport slots if they cancel 20 percent or more of their approved flights, but no carrier has reached that threshold so far. 2026-05-18 15:47:32
  • Tway Air gains license to change name to Trinity Air
    T'way Air gains license to change name to Trinity Air SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean low-cost carrier T'way Air is moving ahead with its transition to Trinity Air after receiving approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for its new corporate name. T'way Air said Monday that it received a revised license from the ministry on May 15 to change its name to Trinity Air. The new name, Trinity, comes from the Latin word “Trinitas,” meaning the unity of three. The company said the name reflects its plan to expand beyond air travel by combining aviation, accommodation and travel services to offer a more integrated customer experience. The license change follows the company’s decision to adopt the new name at its annual shareholders’ meeting on March 31. However, the airline will not begin operating under the new name immediately. As an international air carrier, T'way Air must complete approval procedures with foreign aviation authorities before launching services under the Trinity Air name. The transport ministry approved the license change on condition that the airline take measures to prevent consumer confusion, maintain its safety management system and complete necessary approvals from overseas aviation authorities. Until all related procedures are completed, the airline will continue to operate under the T'way Air name. Its airline code, TW, and flight numbers will also remain unchanged. Passengers with existing reservations can use their tickets without any additional changes. “This license approval marks an important first step in our transition to Trinity Air,” a T'way Air official said. 2026-05-18 11:15:26
  • Koreas Cheonghae Unit departs for Gulf of Aden amid Hormuz tensions
    Korea's Cheonghae Unit departs for Gulf of Aden amid Hormuz tensions SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - The South Korean Navy’s destroyer Wang Geon departed from Busan on Friday to replace the Cheonghae Unit currently operating in the Gulf of Aden, amid speculation that the unit could be deployed near the Strait of Hormuz depending on regional developments. The 4,400-ton Wang Geon, a Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer, left Busan Naval Base at 4 p.m. after a send-off ceremony attended by service members and their families. The 48th rotation of the Cheonghae Unit consists of about 260 personnel, including the ship’s crew, command staff, a UDT/SEAL boarding team, an aviation unit operating a Lynx maritime helicopter, and Marine Corps, medical and maintenance support personnel. The Navy said about 80 members, or roughly 30 percent of the unit, have previous experience serving with the Cheonghae Unit. The unit will carry out anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, escort vessels and support safe navigation. It is also tasked with protecting South Korean nationals in emergencies and participating in maritime security operations led by the Combined Maritime Forces and the European Union Naval Force Somalia. Under the deployment approval passed by the National Assembly, the Cheonghae Unit’s operational area is limited to waters around the Gulf of Aden. However, speculation has grown that the unit’s mission area could be expanded to the Strait of Hormuz if Seoul decides to join U.S.-proposed military cooperation efforts aimed at reopening the key waterway. Such a move would require parliamentary approval. The 48th rotation has strengthened its counter-drone defense system, reflecting concerns over threats such as explosive drones used during the Iran war. A Navy official said the upgrade was not made with a possible Hormuz deployment in mind, but was intended to prepare for various threats that could arise during the unit’s mission. The currently deployed Dae Jo-yeong destroyer is also known to have established communication channels with South Korean vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and has been checking their safety conditions. The Cheonghae Unit is expected to take three to four weeks to reach the Gulf of Aden and replace the 47th rotation next month. At the ceremony, Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul said the Cheonghae Unit “symbolizes the strong naval power of the Republic of Korea” and shows the country’s role as a responsible global state. Col. Ahn Woo-jin, commander of the 48th rotation, said the unit would work as “one team” to complete its mission. Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo asked the unit to protect South Korean vessels, saying ships flying the Korean flag are “our territory moving across the world.” Launched in March 2009, the Cheonghae Unit has escorted more than 2,400 vessels and supported the safe navigation of about 39,000 ships over the past 17 years. 2026-05-15 17:43:31