Journalist

박세진
Pei Guangjiang, Wang Di, People's Daily
  • Two dead from suspected gas poisoning at paper factory manhole in Jeonju
    Two dead from suspected gas poisoning at paper factory manhole in Jeonju SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper factory in Jeonju City on Sunday. According to the North Jeolla Fire Department and Jeonju Deokjin Police Station, an emergency call was made at 9:44 a.m. reporting that a worker had fallen into a manhole and lost consciousness from suspected gas exposure at the factory in Jeonju some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Seoul. One of the victims, a man in his 40s, was pulled out of the manhole in a semi-conscious state and transported to a nearby hospital. Two other workers, including a man in his 50s, who were on a nearby ladder, also reported symptoms of dizziness and were taken to the hospital. Authorities believe the five employees had come to the factory that day to clean equipment. For an unknown reason, one of the workers reportedly entered a 3-meter-deep manhole filled with paper sludge. His coworkers, noticing his absence, found him inside and attempted to rescue him, resulting in the accident. Police confirmed all five individuals involved were South Korean employees of the paper company. A police official stated, "The manhole was not scheduled for cleaning, and his colleagues are unsure why he entered it." The official added that investigators suspect the victims were poisoned by toxic gas and are questioning personnel to determine the exact circumstances. 2025-05-04 14:56:10
  • Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages
    Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - The standoff between Seoul’s city bus union and management showed no sign of easing on Sunday, raising the likelihood of a second consecutive year of strike action. Despite a warning protest on Apr. 30, where drivers followed traffic laws to the letter to deliberately delay schedules, no breakthrough has been made in wage and collective bargaining talks. The union and Seoul Bus Transport Business Association have not resumed negotiations since the second round of mediation broke down on April 29 at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission. The union has secured the legal right to strike and is now openly considering it, frustrated by the lack of progress. “We chose a legal protest to avoid public disruption and keep talks going, but nothing has changed,” said a union official. “If this continues, we’ll have no choice but to move toward a full strike.” The union will meet with representatives from the Korea Automobile Workers’ Union on May 8 to discuss specific strike plans. There is also a possibility of coordinating action with unions in other regions. 2025-05-04 13:40:42
  • N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un praises progress in tank modernization during inspection
    N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un praises progress in tank modernization during inspection SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a key tank production facility to praise the development of North Korean-style armored weapons and outline plans to modernize the country’s armored forces. Pyongyang’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the visit on Sunday but did not disclose the exact date of the inspection. According to KCNA, Kim was briefed on ongoing research, modernization, and production efforts during a tour of the facility. He was accompanied by senior officials, including Kim Yong Hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences. Kim said replacing aging armored vehicles with new-generation tanks and armored vehicles was “the most important issue in the building of armed forces and modernization of the army.” He noted that the new North Korean-style tanks featured improved structural design and an upgraded firepower system aimed at enhancing combat performance and crew convenience. The updated tanks reportedly include a high-thrust engine, integrated power transmission devices, and modern active and passive protection systems. Electronic warfare capabilities have also been enhanced. KCNA described these features as representing “great progress in the core technology of Korean-style tanks.” Kim stressed the need for a fundamental reassessment of tank design based on changes in the strategic environment and modern warfare, stating that North Korea must define the military function and role of tanks accordingly. He also supported a comprehensive modernization plan for the tank factory, aimed at creating large-scale production capacity for cutting-edge tanks and self-propelled guns. This, he said, would help realize the strategic goals of the Workers' Party of Korea in what he described as a “second revolution in armored force.” In addition to production, Kim called for improvements to the labor environment at the facility and urged it to serve as a model for munitions industry culture in the “new century.” 2025-05-04 10:27:22