Journalist

Kim Hee-su
  • New report reveals massive arms transfers between Pyongyang and Moscow
    New report reveals massive arms transfers between Pyongyang and Moscow SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - North Korea has supplied Russia with large quantities of munitions and missile-related equipment, according to a report released Thursday by a multinational team that monitors UN Security Council sanctions on the renegade country. In its inaugural report, the Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) said, "Since and raise awareness of ongoing attempts to violate and evade UN sanctions." 2025-05-30 15:59:16
  • Seoul ranks 15th in Global Cities Index, second among Asian cities after Tokyo
    Seoul ranks 15th in Global Cities Index, second among Asian cities after Tokyo SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - Seoul placed 15th overall in a global ranking of urban economies, according to a report released on Wednesday. Seoul climbed 26 spots from 41st last year to become the second-highest ranked Asian city after Tokyo which came in 9th, in an index by Oxford Economics that evaluated 1,000 of the world's largest cities across five categories - economy, human capital, quality of life, environment, and governance - to compare each city's strengths and weaknesses. With eight of the top ten cities remaining unchanged from the previous year, New York ranked first, followed by London, Paris, San Jose, Seattle, and Melbourne. Sokoto, Nigeria, was the lowest-ranked city in the ranking. The U.K.-based research firm hailed Seoul as "one of the major economic centres in both Asia and the world." In particular, Seoul ranked among the top 20 cities in the economics category, "primarily due to its substantial GDP size, achieved over several decades of remarkable economic growth," which transformed it from "a war-torn nation into one of the world’s leading economies." But the city ranked lowest in the environment category due to "relatively poor air quality." The index also pointed out that South Korea "now faces a period of political turmoil that began with President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in December 2024 and his subsequent impeachment," suggesting that future rankings may change depending on "how the political crisis is resolved." Meanwhile, the firm offered a positive outlook for the global economy despite looming uncertainties. "Trade tensions and deglobalisation are causing considerable headwinds to economic growth worldwide, potentially triggering substantial shifts in supply chains and the way countries do business with each other over the coming years," the report forecast, adding that "the world's leading cities have historically demonstrated resilience, making them best placed to navigate current challenges." 2025-05-28 14:58:08
  • Two former acting presidents slapped with travel ban
    Two former acting presidents slapped with travel ban SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok have been slapped with a travel ban over their alleged involvement in former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle late last year, policed said on Tuesday. It was revealed a day after investigators summoned them for questioning related to the debacle the previous day. The two briefly served as acting presidents after a motion to impeach Yoon was passed in the National Assembly shortly after the debacle. The similar ban was also extended to former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who has already been barred from leaving the country since last December. Based on relevant documents and other evidence, investigators reportedly questioned them about their knowledge of Yoon's Dec. 3 overnight gambit, as they gave slightly differing accounts. Han apparently maintained his position that he was not aware of Yoon's martial law plan in advance and strongly opposed it as soon as he learned of it. 2025-05-27 17:56:42
  • Mt. Kumgang poised for UNESCO World Heritage listing
    Mt. Kumgang poised for UNESCO World Heritage listing SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Mt. Kumgang in North Korea is set to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which serve as advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee, have jointly recommended the North's scenic mountain for inclusion on the list, according to UNESCO's tentative lists released on Tuesday. The recommendation comes after North Korea's application for inscription in 2021, which was delayed mainly due to the coronavirus pandemic. None of their recommendations have been rejected so far. The international body described it as "a strikingly beautiful mountain with numerous peaks and curious rock formations, featuring some 12,000 waterfalls and pools formed by crystal-clear waters flowing through hundreds of gorges, along with a seascape stretching along the coastline." It added, "Mt. Kumgang is permeated with numerous legends and cultural relics handed over down through generations," praising its natural settings with "buildings with long history and unique architectural forms." The listing will be determined at the upcoming session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France in July. If listed, it will become North Korea's third World Heritage site, after the Complex of Koguryo Tombs inscribed in 2004 and the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong in 2013. 2025-05-27 16:07:45