Seoul's top security adviser in Washington to arrange summit between two countries SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, who is visiting Washington, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday to arrange a summit between the leaders of the two countries. Wi told Rubio that Seoul hopes to hold a summit between President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump "at the earliest possible," the presidential office here said on Tuesday. He also stressed the importance of close cooperation between the two countries to strengthen the bilateral alliance, adding that the summit is necessary to reach mutually beneficial outcomes on various pending issues including tariff-related dialogues. Their talks coincided with Trump's announcement of steep tariffs on some 14 countries including Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, and South Korea. According to his letters sent to each country, South Korea is set to face a 25 percent tariff taking effect on Aug. 1, which could "perhaps" be adjusted "depending on our relationship with your country," allowing Seoul about three more weeks from an initial July 8 deadline to reach a deal. Earlier last month, Lee and Trump missed a couple of occasions to sit down for talks on the sidelines of international gatherings such as the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada and the NATO summit in the Hague, the Netherlands. If the two are unable to set a date before the end of August, their first meeting may be delayed until September when the high-level session of the U.N. General Assembly takes place in New York or until the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for the country's southern historic city of Gyeongju at the end of October. Meanwhile, Lee is reportedly considering sending veteran politician Kim Chong-in to Washington as a special envoy to the U.S., along with about a dozen others who are expected to be dispatched to Asian and European countries. The move is apparently aimed at signaling the country's diplomatic restoration with his inauguration last month, after a political turmoil caused by former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year. 2025-07-08 14:29:13

TRAVEL: The still lake in the sky: A journey to Baekdu Mountain's Heaven Lake Baekdu Mountain, July 07 (AJP) - Surrounded by steep cliffs streaked with greens and reds, Heaven Lake at the top of Baekdu Mountain appears like a pool painted with deep blue and navy ink. Not a ripple disturbs its surface. From the western and northern slopes, the lake mirrors the jagged ridgelines and the fractured walls that encircle it, an untouched reflection resting in complete silence. In late June, I visited both the North and West Slopes of Baekdu Mountain, located in China’s Jilin Province. The surrounding peaks were mostly rocky, and in the few flat patches, bright green moss and white wildflowers had just begun to bloom. Snow and ice still clung to the corners of the trail. The light shifted constantly, filtering through swift, breaking clouds that raced across the sky. Beneath the cliffs, large gray boulders lay scattered, as if frozen in mid-collapse. To reach Heaven Lake, visitors must transit twice. First, they board a 48-seat tour bus from the departure point, then a nine-seater van that snakes upward for about 40 minutes. From there, it is another 15-minute climb on foot. The sight of people ascending the final stretch resembles a solemn procession. Lined up like pilgrims on a hillside path too vast to measure, it is only when you see the scale of the human figures against the mountain that the full size of Baekdu becomes real. The scene is breathtaking from every angle. Tranquil water is embraced by monumental peaks, and behind you, bizarre rock formations spread endlessly across the skyline. No matter where you stand, Baekdu offers a kind of magnificence that defies comparison. Despite the mountain’s remoteness, the route to Heaven Lake is packed with visitors. Families, elderly hikers with canes, and brightly dressed tourists all move in colorful waves up the serpentine staircase. Though the weather was mild during my visit, many came bundled in layers, some even carrying heat packs, prepared for the mountain’s famously unpredictable weather. Everyone had a phone in hand, stopping every few steps for a picture. The narrow stairs leading to the lake were clogged with people trying to capture the view. Many jostled to move forward, squeezing between shoulders. Others climbed the wooden safety barriers to snap their photos. The ropes lining the stairs felt too loose for comfort, and with sheer cliffs on either side, any misstep could be dangerous. As a photojournalist, my goal was not just to see the lake but to photograph it fully and clearly. Finding the right spot was difficult in the crowd, and time was limited. I waited for a less crowded section and got lucky. Someone stepped away, and I slipped into the gap. I positioned my feet through the fence rails, leaned forward on tiptoe, and raised my arms high to frame the shot without heads or hands intruding. Without this effort, getting a clear photo of Heaven Lake, one without someone else's selfie, would have been nearly impossible. Though Baekdu Mountain offers three routes, North, West, and South, I only visited the North and West during this trip. The South Slope is only open for a few months each summer, with strict daily entry limits. The North Slope is the more accessible of the two. From the parking lot, it is only a 15-minute walk to the lake. The terrain there feels lunar, barren, almost Martian. When you turn around mid-climb, the surreal rock formations cascade behind you, layer after layer, like a dreamscape. The West Slope takes about an hour to hike and has steeper stairs. But the landscape is lush and green, dotted with wildflowers, evoking the feeling of walking across a high alpine meadow. From the top, the open plateau stretches toward the sky. From the North Slope, you can take a 30-minute bus ride followed by a walk to reach Changbai Waterfall. The lake’s waters flow out through a break in the crater wall and plunge 68 meters down in a spectacular vertical fall. Surrounded by sheer stone walls, the waterfall roars from a hollowed basin and leaves a lasting impression of scale and awe. Heaven Lake, located at the summit of Baekdu Mountain, is a volcanic crater lake that straddles the border between North Korea and China. Its surface sits at an elevation of 2,267 meters above sea level. The lake covers an area of 9.165 square kilometers, with a circumference of 14.4 kilometers, an average depth of 213.43 meters, and a maximum depth of 384 meters. Holding approximately 1.955 billion cubic meters of water, it is the deepest lake not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in all of China. It is rare to find a lake formed at the peak of a mountain like this. Heaven Lake was created by water collecting in the caldera of Baekdu Mountain. About 61 percent of its water comes from underground springs and glacial melt, 30 percent from rain and snow, and the remaining 9 percent from surrounding runoff. Even though water flows out through the waterfall, the lake remains full thanks to this continuous replenishment. Still, Heaven Lake is not something you can see every day. On average, it is visible only around 100 days a year. For more than 265 days, it is shrouded in fog, rain, or snow. Locals say it takes the virtue of three generations to be blessed with a clear view. And even then, a full day of uninterrupted clear skies is exceedingly rare. 2025-07-08 14:12:37

Insulin pump maker Sooil inks $21.6 million deal with Mediq SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Sooil Development, a South Korean medical device company known for portable insulin pumps, says it has signed a four-year, 30 billion won (approximately $21.6 million) supply agreement with Mediq, Europe’s largest medical device distributor. The deal marks a significant step in Sooil’s effort to expand its footprint in Europe’s diabetes care market. Under the agreement, Sooil will supply Mediq with its Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system — a next-generation diabetes management platform developed in partnership with the French health-tech firm Diabeloop. The AID system integrates Sooil’s insulin pump technology with Diabeloop’s artificial intelligence algorithm, which automatically adjusts insulin delivery in response to a patient’s glucose levels. The system, which is aimed at improving blood sugar control in people with diabetes, is widely seen as a step toward the development of a fully artificial pancreas. The first shipment under the contract — worth 2 billion won — was completed on June 25. The system is expected to be gradually introduced across six European countries, including the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom, Sooil said. 2025-07-08 14:08:57

Trump says will impose 25 percent tariffs on all Korean goods starting August SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to impose 25 percent tariffs on all South Korean goods starting Aug. 1, unless Seoul agrees to a new trade deal with the United States. In a letter posted to his social media platform, Trump gave the government of President Lee Jae Myung just three weeks to reach an agreement before the sweeping duties take effect. The announcement comes as his previous tariff measures are set to expire on Tuesday, heightening pressure on Seoul to make concessions or face far-reaching consequences for its export-driven economy. “Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal,” Trump wrote, criticizing what he described as an imbalanced trading relationship. “Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Korea a tariff of only 25 percent on any and all Korean products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariff.” The proposed tariff, Trump argued, is a corrective measure aimed at reducing what he characterized as a "significant trade deficit" with South Korea. However, he acknowledged that the 25 percent rate would still fall “far less than what is needed” to eliminate the disparity. The letter also included a veiled warning: if Seoul retaliates with countermeasures, Washington would match those actions with additional tariffs “on top of the base 25 percent rate.” Despite the combative tone, the president appeared to leave a door open for negotiation. He suggested that the tariffs could be adjusted — “upward or downward” — depending on future talks and Seoul’s willingness to remove what he described as “trade barriers.” In a gesture aimed at encouraging foreign direct investment, Trump said that South Korean companies that manufacture in the United States would benefit from fast-tracked regulatory approvals, processed “quickly, professionally, and routinely — in other words, in a matter of weeks.” The ultimatum to South Korea was one of two issued Monday. In a separate statement, Trump said the United States would impose 25 percent tariffs on all Japanese imports, raising the rate from a previously established 24 percent as part of a parallel campaign to “rebalance” trade relationships in the Asia-Pacific region. Trump's new timeline is likely to intensify diplomatic and economic discussions in Seoul, where the export-heavy economy is deeply intertwined with American markets. 2025-07-08 10:49:49

Samsung Electronics reports 55.9 percent drop in Q2 operating profit SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics forecast a steep decline in its second-quarter operating profit, highlighting persistent challenges in the global tech industry despite signs of recovery in the semiconductor sector. The South Korean tech giant on Tuesday said it expects an operating profit of 4.6 trillion won, or approximately $3.5 billion, for the April to June period — down 55.9 percent from a year earlier. Revenue is projected to total 74 trillion won, a marginal 0.09 percent decline from the same quarter in 2024. The earnings guidance, released ahead of final audited results, also reflected a quarterly slowdown. Operating profit dropped 31.2 percent from the previous quarter, while revenue slid 6.5 percent, according to preliminary figures based on Korean International Financial Reporting Standards. The company attributed the figures to investor disclosure obligations, noting that the estimates are subject to change following external audits of its headquarters and affiliated entities. Samsung, which began offering quarterly guidance in 2009, emphasized its continued commitment to transparency and global accounting standards by adopting IFRS in 2010. Samsung said it plans to hold a conference call to discuss the final earnings later this month, where executives are expected to field questions from shareholders and analysts about the company’s performance, ongoing industry pressures, and future outlook. 2025-07-08 10:36:50

South Korea to repatriate six North Koreans rescued at sea SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - Six North Koreans who were rescued after drifting into South Korean waters earlier this year are expected to be repatriated to North Korea soon. The Ministry of Unification here said on Monday that it plans to send them back to the North as early as this week, as they have expressed their willingness to return to their country. "They have expressed their strong desire to return to North Korea, so we decided to repatriate them promptly from a humanitarian perspective," said Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for the ministry. In March, two North Koreans were rescued by South Korean coast guards after drifting across the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border with South Korea, followed about two months later by four more North Koreans rescued in the East Sea aboard a wooden boat. Despite their wishes to return, their repatriation has been delayed because North Korea has ignored South Korea's repeated requests through the United Nations Command (UNC). The ministry is reportedly considering sending them back using the boats they boarded, after making some repairs. 2025-07-07 17:26:15

Ex-President to face another arrest as prosecutors seek detention with new charges SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - A hearing to determine whether to re-arrest former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle last year is set to be held later this week. The Seoul Central District Court said Monday that the hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, following a request by independent prosecutors seeking Yoon's arrest on fresh charges related to his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. Yoon is expected to attend the hearing to defend himself against the charges. Independent prosecutors, who took over the case about a week after President Lee Jae-myung took office early last month, filed the request after summoning Yoon twice for questioning on June 28 and last Saturday. Yoon, who was arrested in January on charges of insurrection and abuse of power before being released in March, cannot be arrested again on the same charges, so prosecutors are now seeking to detain him on new charges of falsification of official documents, obstruction of official duties and other accusations such as attempts to evade questioning. They allege that Yoon ordered officials to destroy martial law–related documents and reportedly called only the minimum number of cabinet members required for quorum, likely preventing any objections from being raised. Yoon reportedly denies all these allegations, citing the illegality of his detention. 2025-07-07 16:54:14

Hyundai Glovis deploys autonomous drones for inventory management at Georgia SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Hyundai Glovis said Monday it has introduced two autonomous drones at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) Consolidation Center in Ellabell, Georgia. The drones are being used to perform inventory inspections on semi-knockdown automotive parts, cutting average inspection times by more than 90 percent. Inspection cycles have been reduced from 300 minutes to just 30 minutes. Unlike conventional drones that rely on GPS, the Glovis system operates without external positioning systems. It uses a combination of Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO), Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), fisheye and stereo cameras, and depth sensors to navigate complex indoor environments. Once assigned a task by HMGMA’s in-house Global Consolidation Center support System (GCS), each drone flies autonomously through the facility, scans storage bins, sends data to a base station, and transmits analysis results back to the system without human intervention. The vision-based navigation also allows drones to identify items stored in hard-to-reach areas, including blind spots and shelves over 3.5 meters high. With real-time, on-demand verification and automated battery charging and replacement, the system is designed to reduce physical strain on workers and improve operational efficiency. According to Hyundai Glovis, each drone uses a fisheye camera to extract visual "feature points" and stereo imaging to measure height. An onboard accelerometer and gyroscope track positioning with precision throughout each flight. The company plans to add two more drones to the site and expand the system to other logistics hubs worldwide. The drone integration is part of HMGMA's wider effort to build out its Software Defined Factory (SDF) model. Designed to maximize automation, the plant combines AI, robotics, and high-speed data infrastructure to handle every phase of production, from stamping to final inspection. Instead of traditional conveyor systems, the factory relies on more than 500 Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), 161 Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and 50 robotic parking units. These systems are coordinated with drone-collected data to ensure just-in-time delivery of parts and uninterrupted workflow. The plant also features digital twin simulations, 6,800-ton servo presses, robotic welding guided by machine vision, and AI-based quality control, including robot inspectors such as Boston Dynamics' Spot. A Hyundai Glovis official said, "We will continue to secure advanced technologies to proactively respond to the rapidly evolving logistics industry." 2025-07-07 15:57:25

LG Electronics partners with Saudi institutions for extreme heat HVAC research SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - LG Electronics has entered into a joint research partnership with King Saud University, Pusan National University in South Korea, and Saudi-based distributor Shaker Group to develop HVAC technologies designed to withstand extreme heat in desert and tropical environments. The agreement, signed on July 3, will focus on testing LG’s residential and commercial air conditioning units in actual Saudi climate conditions. Researchers will collect data to enhance product performance, particularly evaluating the energy-saving functions of LG’s AI Engine. This technology, embedded in LG’s ‘Multi V i’ system, adjusts cooling output based on indoor and outdoor temperatures and reduces energy use when no one is in the room. LG has previously set up research consortiums in cold-weather regions such as Alaska, Oslo, and Harbin, China. It also operates five dedicated air solution R&D centers across South Korea, North America, Europe, and India. To support installation and maintenance in local markets, the company runs HVAC academies in 65 locations across 43 countries, training around 30,000 engineers each year. "LG Electronics' HVAC technology is being pursued and is expected to expand to other high-temperature regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa, in addition to Saudi Arabia, because air conditioning is essential in these areas," an LG Electronics official told AJP. LG says the new partnership marks another step in strengthening its ability to tailor HVAC systems to specific regional climates. 2025-07-07 15:53:35

First heat wave warning issued as scorching heat grips capital SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - This summer's first heat wave warning was issued in Seoul and surrounding metropolitan areas on Monday, with scorching heat and tropical nights persisting for more than a week. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the warning was issued for the capital region at around 10 a.m., about 18 days earlier than last year amid an early heat wave after the monsoon season ended sooner than usual. Such a warning is issued when "feels-like" temperatures remain above 35 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days or when severe damage is anticipated due to extreme heat. Other parts of the country have also suffered from record- high daytime temperatures over the weekend. The mercury rose to 38.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday in the southeastern city of Uljin, the highest for July since relevant records began in 1971. Donghae in Gangwon Province also recorded a new daily high of 38.3 degrees while nearby Samcheok reached 39.0 degrees, the highest temperature recorded in the country so far this year. The muggy weather is expected to continue throughout this week with daytime highs hovering between 32 degrees to 37 degrees nationwide. Most parts of the country will continue to swelter through tropical nights, when temperatures do not drop below 25 degrees. Meanwhile, Typhoon Danas, this year's fourth typhoon, is moving north but is not expected to directly affect the Korean Peninsula, having weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall in southern Taiwan last weekend. "But the tropical air mass brought by the typhoon may further intensify the country’s heat and humidity," the KMA forecast. 2025-07-07 15:51:15