Journalist

박세진
Joe Kim
  • India justifies cross-border strikes as fallout from Kashmir attack
    India justifies cross-border strikes as fallout from Kashmir attack SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - India explained Wednesday that its recent airstrikes on targets in Pakistan and the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir were aimed at dismantling terrorist networks linked to last month’s deadly attack on civilians in the Kashmir valley. The strikes, carried out early on May 7 under what the government has dubbed “Operation Sindoor,” came in response to an attack on April 22 in the resort town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. Gunmen opened fire on a group of unarmed tourists, killing 26 people, including one Nepali national, and wounding several others. Authorities described the killings as unusually brutal, with several victims reportedly shot at close range. It was the deadliest attack on civilians in the region in over two decades and came during a time when tourism in Kashmir had reached record highs, with more than 23 million visitors last year. Indian officials have blamed the assault on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based group banned by the United Nations, and said a lesser-known outfit called The Resistance Front (TRF), which later claimed responsibility, was acting as a front for the larger organization. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the attack was intended to disrupt the region’s return to normalcy and economic recovery, and that Indian intelligence had identified cross-border communications linking the attackers to handlers in Pakistan. India maintains that its strikes were focused and restrained, targeting only what it described as terrorist infrastructure while avoiding military sites. Misri called the operation proportionate and consistent with an April 25 statement by the UN Security Council urging accountability for the Pahalgam killings. Pakistan has denied involvement in the April 22 attack and condemned India’s actions as unprovoked aggression. Islamabad reported civilian casualties and claimed its forces had downed multiple Indian aircraft, though Delhi has not commented on those claims. Pakistan has also accused India of using the incident to justify a breach of its sovereignty. The escalation has renewed long-standing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, who have fought multiple wars and remain in dispute over Kashmir. The UN, the European Union, and several governments have called on both sides to exercise restraint and return to diplomatic dialogue. 2025-05-08 11:24:42
  • Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo fail to reach agreement in unification talks
    Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo fail to reach agreement in unification talks SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and independent candidate Han Duck-soo held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a possible unification of their candidacies, but the talks ended without any agreement. The two candidates met privately for about an hour and 15 minutes at a restaurant in Seoul’s Jongno District around 6 p.m., without aides or representatives present. Following the meeting, Han’s spokesperson Lee Jung-hyun told reporters, “There was no specific agreement reached.” Kim also confirmed to the press that “there was no meaningful progress.” The failed attempt highlights lingering differences between the two camps just days ahead of the official registration period for presidential candidates. 2025-05-07 20:36:24
  • Six cities call on central government to cover losses from free subway rides
    Six cities call on central government to cover losses from free subway rides SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Subway operators from six major South Korean cities, including Seoul, the southern port city of Busan, and the western port city of Incheon, are once again calling on the government to cover mounting losses from free rides provided to elderly passengers and other eligible groups. On Wednesday, Seoul Metro and five other urban rail operators issued a joint statement urging national funding to support what they describe as a public service obligation mandated by law. The proposal, signed by representatives from Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon, was submitted to the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Chairman Maeng Sung-kyu and related ministries. Since 1984, South Korea has offered free subway rides to seniors aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and recipients of national merit. While this program has been considered a core element of the country’s transportation welfare system, the financial burden has largely fallen on local operators with no direct compensation from the government. According to the six operators, free ride losses have averaged 558.8 billion won ($401 million) per year over the past five years. Last year, for the first time, the combined annual loss exceeded 700 billion won. Seoul Metro alone reported a deficit of 413.5 billion won, accounting for more than half the total. These losses are expected to grow as the population continues to age. Seoul Metro said its annual free ride losses have been rising by around 10 percent each year, and estimates that by 2040, they could surpass 500 billion won annually. The subway operators also pointed to what they see as an unfair disparity with Korail, the national railway operator. Korail receives government subsidies for free ride losses, but the same support does not apply to city-run subway systems. The government has maintained that urban subway deficits are a local matter and can be addressed by raising fares. Despite several attempts to revise relevant laws, including the Urban Railroad Act, the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, and the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act, no progress has been made. Union and management representatives at the meeting voiced frustration, saying the government is both the creator and beneficiary of the free ride system and must therefore take responsibility for the financial burden. “If we are serious about maintaining this national policy and ensuring mobility rights for the elderly and vulnerable, then government support is essential,” they said. Baek Ho, president of Seoul Metro, called the joint statement reflects the urgent situation facing subway operators nationwide. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “We need to push for real legislative and policy changes to deal with the growing financial crisis in our public transit systems.” 2025-05-07 17:58:28
  • India wraps up first WAVES summit, spotlighting its creative economy ambitions
    India wraps up first WAVES summit, spotlighting its creative economy ambitions SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - India’s first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) closed on May 4 in Mumbai, marking a significant moment in the country’s bid to position itself as a global creative powerhouse. Spanning four days at the Jio World Convention Centre, the event brought together key players from across the media and entertainment spectrum -- from industry veterans and tech innovators to policymakers, investors, and emerging creators. With packed halls, dynamic panels, and a broad range of topics from film and digital content to gaming and fashion, the summit drew wide attention. The event opened with Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the inaugural address. "WAVES is not just an acronym," he said. "It is a wave of culture, creativity, and universal connectivity." Modi urged Indian creators to share their “one billion untold stories” with the world and invited global investors to back not only platforms but also people. Declaring the start of India’s Orange Economy, he called on the youth to lead this creative movement. Throughout the summit, more than 140 sessions unfolded across multiple venues, featuring over 100 speakers, including Ted Sarandos, Neal Mohan, Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, and Shantanu Narayen. Attendees also took part in 40 masterclasses and 55 breakout discussions on subjects ranging from artificial intelligence and OTT platforms to comics, animation, and virtual production. Representatives from Meta, Google, Amazon, Netflix, NVIDIA, and others were in attendance. A major business highlight was the WAVES Bazaar, where deals totaling 1,328 crore rupees ($156,965) were inked. Among them was a new content partnership between Prime Video and Korea’s CJ ENM. The Maharashtra government also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth 8,000 crore rupees aimed at boosting investment in the creative sector. The Global Media Dialogue, another key component of the summit, saw representatives from 77 countries adopt the “WAVES Declaration,” a joint commitment to bridging the digital divide and promoting peace through media. Speaking at the forum, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need to balance tradition with innovation and to invest in skill development for the younger generation. Startups were also highlighted. WAVEX, a dedicated accelerator, selected 30 early-stage companies to pitch to a group of investors. Over 100 more exhibited their projects in a dedicated startup pavilion, drawing attention from both angel investors and larger media companies. South Korea played a notable role in the program. Kang Sung Kyu, CEO of the Busan Film Commission, joined as a panelist and discussed the ongoing recovery of traditional filmmaking following the pandemic. He emphasized the importance of transparent financial practices and support for cultural diversity to help the sector regain momentum. 2025-05-07 16:24:32
  • Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo to meet for talks on single candidacy
    Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo to meet for talks on single candidacy SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and independent contender Han Duck-soo are set to meet Wednesday evening to discuss the possibility of unifying their campaigns ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Both camps have confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 7, though the location will be disclosed later. With both men seen as key conservative figures, the discussion is drawing attention as a potential step toward forming a single candidacy to take on Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung. Kim, who won the PPP nomination last week, had previously indicated he was open to unification when he was still in the running as a primary candidate. He floated the idea of holding a public debate and using polling to determine who should lead a joint ticket, and said he would take responsibility for driving that effort if named the party nominee. But since securing the nomination, tensions have grown. Kim pushed back against pressure from party leadership to move quickly on a deal, and over the weekend, he suspended his campaign schedule in protest. That makes Wednesday’s meeting with Han a possible turning point in the conservative camp’s efforts to coordinate. Meanwhile, the PPP is surveying party members Wednesay through an automated poll (ARS) to measure support for candidate unification. The poll also asks whether any merger should happen before or after official candidate registration, which begins May 10. The party’s general assembly of lawmakers is also scheduled for the day, with the question of a unified candidacy expected to dominate the agenda. 2025-05-07 10:28:16