China's No. 2 official to visit Pyongyang for party anniversary as Xi skips trip SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Although Chinese President Xi Jinping will not visit North Korea this week, Beijing's decision to send Premier Li Qiang — the country's No. 2 official — to Pyongyang for the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea is being seen as a clear sign of strengthening ties between the two neighbors. The move marks a noticeable upgrade from the 2015 celebrations, when China sent Liu Yunshan, then fifth in the Communist Party hierarchy. Both North Korean and Chinese state media confirmed on Monday that Li will lead a senior delegation of party and government officials to Pyongyang from October 9 to 11. North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the visit, made at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and the North Korean government, will be an "official goodwill visit." China's Foreign Ministry said Li will attend the anniversary celebrations and meet senior North Korean officials during his stay. His trip will be the highest-level Chinese presence in Pyongyang since Xi's own state visit in 2019, signaling Beijing's renewed willingness to show support for North Korea while avoiding a personal appearance by Xi himself. The decision to send Li reflects a visible warming of relations between Beijing and Pyongyang after several years of limited contact. Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing in early September for China's "Victory Day" military parade — his first trip to China in five years — helped reopen high-level dialogue between the two sides. Speculation about a possible Xi visit had circulated for weeks after North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing late last month. The two officials agreed to deepen cooperation following Kim's attendance at the Chinese parade, which many analysts viewed as a symbolic step toward restoring ties. Xi is expected to travel to Gyeongju, South Korea, later this month to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he is likely to hold his first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump since the start of Trump's second term. Other socialist nations are also sending senior representatives to Pyongyang for the October 10 anniversary. Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith are expected to attend, while Russia will send Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of its Security Council and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. 2025-10-07 14:29:19

Hwang You-min rises to world No. 33 after Hawaii LPGA win SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - South Korean female golfer Hwang You-min climbed to 33rd in the world rankings after capturing her first Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour title at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii, securing a direct entry to the U.S.-based circuit. In the latest Women's World Golf Rankings released Tuesday, Hwang jumped 20 spots from 53rd to 33rd following her victory at Hoakalei Country Club in Oahu on Sunday. The 22-year-old carded a final-round 5-under 67 to finish at 17-under 271 overall, edging out compatriot Kim Hyo-joo and becoming the sixth South Korean player to win on the LPGA Tour this year. The win, achieved through a sponsor’s invitation from her main backer Lotte, earned her $450,000 in prize money and a full LPGA Tour membership. Under LPGA rules, Hwang can either begin her U.S. career immediately or defer her status until the start of the 2026 season. Before her breakout in Hawaii, Hwang had already established herself as one of the most promising players on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She joined the KLPGA in 2023 and captured two titles within her first two seasons. Known for her calm temperament and precise iron play, she quickly built a reputation as one of the most consistent young players on tour. Born in 2003, Hwang began playing golf as a child and represented South Korea internationally as an amateur before turning professional. Her strong fundamentals and level-headed style have drawn comparisons to veteran Kim Hyo-joo, who finished runner-up at the same event. The Lotte Championship victory also boosted the global standing of South Korean golf, which continues to be a dominant force in women’s golf. Kim Hyo-joo moved up one place to eighth in the world rankings, Yoo Hae-ran stayed at 13th, and Ko Jin-young climbed three spots to 18th. Kim Min-sol, who won last week’s KLPGA Dongbu Construction–Korea Land & Housing Championship, rose 43 places to 75th. Hwang’s path now mirrors that of several South Korean players who made their names on the LPGA Tour, including Pak Se-ri, Park In-bee, and Shin Ji-yai. 2025-10-07 12:13:17

Kang Kyung-hwa takes post as South Korean ambassador to Washington, vows stronger alliance SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Kang Kyung-hwa, South Korea's new ambassador to the United States and former foreign minister under the Moon Jae-in administration, began her first day of official duties on Monday (local time), pledging to reinforce the South Korea–U.S. alliance through what she called "pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest." At her inauguration ceremony held at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, Kang said the Lee Jae Myung government will continue to uphold a people-centered approach to diplomacy. "Our government is a people-sovereignty administration that places citizens at the center of all policies, pursuing democracy, common sense, and pragmatism to improve people's lives," she said. "That philosophy will also carry over to diplomacy." Kang said South Korea will pursue a flexible and practical foreign policy to respond to growing global challenges. "There are many complex challenges in the world, but our government will respond swiftly through pragmatic diplomacy that puts national interests first. At the core of that diplomacy lies the South Korea–U.S. alliance," she said. She emphasized that the alliance has evolved over the past seven decades from a traditional military partnership into what she described as a "comprehensive strategic alliance" built on three main pillars: security, economy, and advanced technology. "We will continue to build on that foundation and strengthen it further," she said. Kang, who served as South Korea's first female foreign minister from 2017 to 2021, is known for her negotiation skills and steady, principled approach to diplomacy. Her appointment to Washington is seen as a signal that the Lee administration is seeking to stabilize ties with Washington through experienced leadership as regional dynamics shift ahead of major international summits. Earlier in the day, Kang visited the White House Guest House, where she met Monica Crowley, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. State Department, and presented a copy of her credentials — a process completed just two days after her arrival in Washington on October 4, which the embassy described as unusually swift. Kang said she intends to serve as "a bridge of communication" between the two governments ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit at the end of the month. "As ambassador on the front line of South Korea–U.S. diplomacy, I will do my utmost to ensure that the relationship continues to move forward in all areas, including President Trump's upcoming visit," she said. Crowley congratulated Kang on her appointment and said Washington would "make every effort to coordinate closely on all bilateral issues, including preparations for President Trump's visit." The South Korean Embassy said the prompt delivery of credentials underscored both the significance and urgency of Kang's appointment, highlighting Seoul's commitment to close coordination with Washington ahead of key diplomatic events this month. 2025-10-07 10:07:07

Hit anime 'K-pop Demon Hunters' drives surge in resale of related items up global traffic SEOUL, October 06 (AJP) - Netflix's K-pop Demon Hunters is fueling a rush in South Korea’s secondhand market. Action figures, badges, and other show-themed goods are moving quickly on resale platforms as fans look for items tied to the animation's tiger and magpie characters. Released in June, the animation follows a K-pop idol group that secretly fights demons in Seoul. It blended mythology, music, and action and built major buzz. It became the first South Korea–themed Netflix title to pass 300 million cumulative views, and its soundtrack song "Golden" held the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 for seven straight weeks. According to industry data provided by secondhand trading platform Bunjang, listings tagged with "magpie and tiger" on the popular ecommerce platform rose 357 percent between June 20 and September 29 compared with the previous three months, while total transaction value increased 164 percent. Items using the tiger-and-magpie motif, which draws on traditional folk art, have been especially active. During the same period, transactions using the keyword "National Museum of Korea" increased by one thousand percent, and total sales rose by 573 percent. The museum's magpie-and-tiger badges and related items have sold out at times, sending buyers to secondhand channels. Beyond the domestic rush for show-linked goods, Bunjang's cross-border activity has also climbed. Bunjang's data shows its overseas service, Bunjang Global, topped two million monthly active users by mid-September and is on track to exceed 2.2 million by month’s end, about five times higher than the 430,000 users recorded a year earlier. In the first half of the year, total transaction value rose 333 percent from a year earlier, while the number of transactions increased 345 percent. Much of the recent demand comes from overseas buyers seeking K-pop photo cards, limited-edition collectibles, and handmade items with traditional patterns seen in K-pop Demon Hunters. 2025-10-06 13:07:14

Kazakh traditional fashion show celebrates Central Asia–Korea friendship SEOUL, October 06 (AJP) - A traditional fashion show featuring Central Asian designs was recently held in Seoul on September 30 to mark the Central Asia–Korea Friendship Day, offering a colorful display of the region's heritage and creativity, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea said. The event, organized by the Central Asia–Korea Friendship Association, brought together diplomats, artists, and business representatives. In his welcoming remarks, Kazakh Ambassador Nurgali Arystanov noted the continued growth of cultural ties between Central Asia and South Korea and outlined parts of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's recent State-of-the-Nation Address. The ambassador emphasized Kazakhstan's plans to create a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and to expand advanced technologies in the creative industry. He also highlighted the upcoming presentation of the Alatau City project in South Korea, describing it as a key initiative for smart city development, green innovation, and tourism. Association President Lee Ok Ryun said the diverse traditions and music of Central Asian countries have found a strong resonance with South Korean audiences and help promote better understanding between the regions. The fashion segment featured Kazakhstan's "Tarbiya" brand, which presented a collection of traditional costumes infused with modern elements. The designs drew warm responses from the audience and reflected the growing interest in Central Asia's rich cultural identity. 2025-10-06 12:38:40

Seoul and Washington edge closer on currency safeguard amid protracted tariff talks SEOUL, October 06 (AJP) - South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Monday that Seoul and Washington have reached a "considerable level of understanding" on concerns over possible turbulence in South Korea's foreign exchange market caused by the ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport after returning from New York, Kim said both sides were "narrowing their differences" on how to minimize the deal's impact on the won-dollar exchange rate. "I believe there was a shared recognition of how sensitive our foreign exchange market could be in this deal," he said. According to the presidential office, Kim held a follow-up meeting on October 4 (local time) in New York with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The trip was arranged quietly and known to only a handful of senior aides. Kim played down speculation that it had been a secret mission, saying, "It just happened to take place during the holiday, and I had the time. I only met Secretary Lutnick." The minister's visit marks the latest in a series of negotiations aimed at finalizing the July framework agreement under which Washington would lower reciprocal tariffs on South Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent, while Seoul would commit to a 350 billion dollar (about 493 trillion won) investment package in the U.S. The two sides have yet to sign a memorandum of understanding, with disputes lingering over the investment's structure, profit-sharing arrangements, and South Korea's demand for a currency swap with the U.S. Federal Reserve to safeguard the won. Seoul has argued that without such a safety net, a large-scale dollar outflow could shake its financial markets. "There were discussions on the swap," Kim said. "It's not that progress was made, but both sides acknowledged how significant and sensitive this issue is for our market." Asked whether the swap could take the form of an unlimited facility, Kim said, "I don't know whether it will be unlimited, but there was a shared understanding that the deal itself poses a serious challenge for our currency market." He also said the two sides did not discuss specific investment targets or President Donald Trump's previous description of South Korea's contribution as an "upfront payment." "There were no such talks," he said. A recent survey by broadcaster SBS and polling firm Ipsos found that 88 percent of respondents viewed the U.S. investment demand as excessive, while 55 percent said the government was handling the negotiations properly. Financial markets have remained cautious amid the uncertainty. The KOSPI fell 2.45 percent last week to close at 3,386.03, slipping below the 3,400 mark for the first time in nine trading sessions. President Lee Jae Myung has warned that withdrawing the full investment amount without a swap arrangement could trigger a crisis similar to the 1997 Asian financial meltdown. Kim said follow-up meetings would likely take place "in the near future," possibly before President Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju later this month, where he is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump is scheduled to attend the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, hold a bilateral meeting with Japan's incoming Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to take office in mid-October, and then travel to South Korea around October 29 for the APEC meeting. Seoul aims to narrow differences ahead of the summit, though officials say the government will not compromise key principles in pursuit of a deal. 2025-10-06 08:49:50

South Korea sees surge in online drug trafficking cases, most found on X SEOUL, October 05 (AJP) - The number of online drug trafficking cases referred to police by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has risen to its highest level in five years, with most illegal activity detected on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to data released by Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Mi-hwa on October 5, the MFDS reported 85 cases of online narcotics trafficking to investigative agencies between January and August this year. That figure marks a sharp rise from zero cases in 2023 and nearly doubles the total number of 45 cases reported over the past five years combined. The ministry said it referred posts involving the sale or promotion of narcotics, psychotropic substances, cannabis, and controlled drugs. While officials detected nearly 50,000 illegal narcotics posts last year, none were sent to police at the time, drawing criticism from the National Assembly. This year, the MFDS said it has worked more closely with law enforcement to address the issue. "There was criticism that no cases were referred last year, so this year we have made active efforts to work closely with investigative agencies," an MFDS official explained. From January to August, the ministry detected 31,894 online posts related to narcotics trafficking, slightly fewer than last year, but the number of referrals has increased sharply. Social media accounted for 22.3 percent of those detections, or 7,103 posts. Among them, 85.8 percent—more than 6,000 posts—were found on X. Facebook had 28 cases, YouTube had two, and Instagram had none. The data means nearly nine out of ten illegal narcotics posts appeared on X, which is owned by Elon Musk. Lawmakers say the platform’s anonymity and loose content oversight have turned it into the primary channel for drug promotion and transactions in South Korea. "Recently, the promotion and distribution of narcotics through social media have become alarmingly easy, posing a serious threat to public safety," Seo said. "The government must expand its monitoring workforce and budget to systematically block illegal online drug distribution." Officials and experts have warned that online drug trafficking has expanded rapidly in South Korea, moving from private messaging apps to public social networks. Authorities say the trend has blurred the line between domestic and international operations, pushing regulators and police to strengthen cooperation in line with broader anti-narcotics efforts involving the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. 2025-10-05 14:24:50

Pyongyang unveils new weapons, warns Seoul and Washington at military exhibition SEOUL, October 05 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country will continue to strengthen its military capabilities to counter what he called growing threats from the United States and South Korea, as he opened a major military hardware exhibition in Pyongyang showcasing new missile systems, including what appears to be a hypersonic variant of the KN-23. The exhibition, titled "Defence Development-2025," opened in the North Korean capital on October 4 to mark the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea. In a speech carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 5, Kim said the event offered a visual display of the country's "general level attained by our defence capabilities," describing its nuclear deterrent as the "backbone" of national security. "This exhibition features the recent results of the important projects that we have pressed on with in order to put the structure of the DPRK’s military capabilities, with its nuclear deterrent as the backbone, on an increasingly modern, advanced footing," Kim said. He thanked scientists and technicians in the munitions industry, saying their work "constitutes the highest praise for our Party’s 80-year-long history." Kim said North Korea’s defense sector had reached a level "much higher than the founder generation of the Juche-oriented defense industry hoped to reach," and warned that the country could not afford to ease its pace of weapons development. "The moment we feel complacency leads to the beginning of our advance getting sluggish," he said. "The U.S.–ROK nuclear alliance is making rapid progress... and the United States is taking measures for expanding the stockpile of its military assets in and around the ROK, posing a real and serious threat to the security of our country and others in the region." He accused Washington of upgrading its reconnaissance and strike capabilities to make "preemptive strikes" easier and said Pyongyang had "assigned special assets to the major targets of our concern" in proportion to the U.S. buildup in South Korea. "They themselves should have to judge whether the territory of the ROK would be a safe place in any case," Kim warned. Photos released by KCNA showed new missile systems on display, including one labeled "Hwasong-11 Ma." Analysts in Seoul identified it as a new version of the KN-23, a short-range ballistic missile often referred to as the North Korean version of Russia’s Iskander. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Hwasong-11 Ma appears to carry a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead, a design that would allow the missile to fly at speeds above Mach 5 while maneuvering at low altitude to evade interception. The KN-23 has been among North Korea’s most frequently tested missiles, with versions launched from road vehicles, railcars, and even submarines. It is estimated to have a range exceeding 800 kilometers (around 500 miles), allowing it to strike targets anywhere in South Korea. During his speech, Kim also suggested that new strategic goals would soon be announced for North Korea’s defense industry. "Our powerful assets for national defence capability will develop more rapidly without a moment of delay," he said. "Everyone will soon know the new goals to be set forth for the defence technology sector and the aspect of its development at the next stage." KCNA said the exhibition featured "ultra-modern weapon systems developed into the pivotal military hardware of our armed forces," describing the venue as "full of the latest defence assets, an ensemble of the Juche-oriented defence sci-tech strength." Senior officials, military commanders, and defense scientists attended the opening ceremony, where Kim reviewed a guard of honor before touring the exhibition hall. 2025-10-05 11:59:14

Government restores 132 systems after Daejeon data center fire, mobile ID service back online SEOUL, October 05 (AJP) - Ten days after a massive fire crippled South Korea's main government data network, 132 of the 647 affected information systems have been restored, including 22 top-priority platforms, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on October 5, 2025. As of 6 a.m. Sunday, the overall recovery rate stood at 20.4 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from the previous day. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said that the partial restoration of OnMail, the official email system for government employees, and the mobile government ID app will help improve work efficiency across public offices. The fire broke out on September 26, 2025, at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) in Daejeon, which houses South Korea's central data and cloud infrastructure. The blaze began in a fifth-floor server room containing lithium-ion batteries and burned for nearly 22 hours before it was extinguished. The incident paralyzed 647 administrative and information systems, including key public services such as the National Veterans Affairs system, the Government Legislation Information Center, and the national complaint portal. The G-Drive, a shared storage system used by civil servants, was also completely destroyed. Officials confirmed that the system had no backup, making recovery impossible. More than 500 personnel from public agencies and private firms have been deployed for recovery efforts. However, the pace has been slow as damaged systems must be rebuilt or relocated to a government–private cloud center in Daegu. The fire has also reignited debate about the safety of energy storage systems (ESS), which are often used in large facilities like data centers to stabilize the power supply. Lawmakers have called for stronger oversight and more comprehensive safety management to prevent similar incidents. 2025-10-05 11:29:30

Breakfast habits change in South Korea as more young adults skip morning meals SEOUL, October 05 (AJP) - Breakfast is falling out of favor in South Korea, especially among young adults, according to new government data showing a steady rise in people skipping their morning meal. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Sunday in its 2024 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released on October 5, 2025, that 35.3 percent of Koreans aged one and older did not eat breakfast regularly last year. That means more than one in three people are now going without breakfast. The rate has been climbing every year for the past decade, up from 26.2 percent in 2015 to 35.3 percent in 2024, a rise of 9.1 percentage points. Skipping breakfast is most common among people in their 20s. The survey found 62.1 percent of South Koreans in that age group skip breakfast, and among women, the figure rises to 67.5 percent — roughly two out of three. The rate drops with age: 46.8 percent in their 30s, 39.1 percent in their 40s, 35.5 percent in their teens, and 25.3 percent in their 50s. Only 4.9 percent of those aged 70 and older said they skip breakfast. For comparison, U.S. data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that about 15.6 percent of American adults skipped breakfast between 2015 and 2018. Among children and teenagers aged 2 to 19, roughly 17 percent went without breakfast between 2017 and early 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Medical researchers have warned that skipping breakfast may increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic problems. A study by Samsung Medical Center found that people who skipped breakfast had higher risks of heart and metabolic diseases than those who ate three regular meals a day. The research also showed that breakfast skippers had higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood sugar, and blood pressure than people who did not skip meals. 2025-10-05 10:48:51