BLACKPINK draws big crowds in China and Japan with 'Deadline' promotions BLACKPINK drew strong interest in China and Japan with large-scale events marking the release of its third mini album, "Deadline." YG Entertainment said Thursday it successfully wrapped up a "Deadline" release promotion held across 20 Chinese cities in partnership with Tencent Music Entertainment Group, or TME. The company said it was planned as TME’s largest offline promotion to date, with a range of events rolled out starting on the album’s release day. Landmarks in cities including Ningbo, Macau, Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Foshan were lit in the group’s signature pink. Major shopping malls in high-traffic cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou featured album-themed wraps and large installations, while the music video for the title track, "GO," played on giant outdoor screens, turning the areas into "BLACKPINK spots." Pop-up stores in five cities also drew heavy crowds. In Shanghai, Dolby House Shanghai in the Zhangyuan cultural complex offered an immersive Dolby Atmos sound experience and large-screen presentations of the group’s music. The space combined tech-based music content with limited-edition merchandise, drawing positive reviews from visitors. The momentum continued in Japan. A pop-up store in Tokyo’s Shibuya district drew early lines before opening, and some items sold out quickly. Fans also took part in billboard events and promotions tied to major record labels, posting photos from the site on social media to celebrate the group’s comeback. "Deadline" sold 1,774,577 copies in its first week, according to Hanteo Chart, setting a new first-week record for a K-pop girl group. The album also ranked high on the main charts of the U.K.’s Official Charts and the U.S. Billboard, setting a record for the most chart entries by a K-pop female artist, the company said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:51:20

Photos show North Korean leader and daughter firing pistols during on-site inspection SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a munitions factory producing light weapons such as pistols, state media reported on Thursday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim visited the factory the previous day to "learn about the munitions production." He was quoted as urging officials to "expand the factory's production capacity in a far-sighted way and raise the level of modernization of the production line," stressing that the factory is "playing a very important role in increasing the combat efficiency of the army, public security forces and militia forces." Photos released by KCNA showed Kim and his teenage daughter Ju-ae, both in leather jackets, firing pistols at an indoor shooting range there. Similar photos were released late last month when Ju-ae joined senior military officials at an event to present newly developed sniper rifles to troops. Meanwhile, Kim said he plans to convene a meeting with key military officials next month to review modernization projects and budgets for munitions factories over the next five years. 2026-03-12 09:34:01

BYD Joins IATF, Global Automotive Quality Standards Body BYD said Thursday it has officially joined the International Automotive Task Force, or IATF, which sets international automotive quality standards. The IATF is an international body that oversees global automotive quality management systems. Founding members include major auto industry associations such as the Automotive Industry Action Group in the United States, ANFIA in Italy, FIEV in France, SMMT in the United Kingdom and VDA in Germany, along with many global automakers. BYD said it was recommended by AIAG and approved through a vote of the full IATF membership. The company said the move will allow it to take part in developing international automotive quality management standards alongside global automakers including Volkswagen and General Motors. Zhao Jianping, BYD vice president and chief quality officer, said the membership is “a meaningful achievement” showing international recognition of BYD’s technology-driven, innovation-based development strategy. BYD said it has continued rapid growth in the global eco-friendly vehicle market. In 2025, it posted annual vehicle sales of 4,602,400, ranking No. 1 worldwide in eco-friendly vehicle sales for a fourth straight year. Overseas sales of passenger cars and pickup trucks totaled 1,049,600, up 145% from a year earlier. BYD said it plans to use its IATF membership to strengthen technical cooperation during the auto industry’s shift toward electrification and intelligent systems, and to take an active role in advancing international standards. It also said it will work with global partners to help build a sustainable automotive industry ecosystem and accelerate the transition to eco-friendly mobility.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:30:18

LG CNS strikes strategic partnership with Palantir to accelerate AI transformation push SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - LG CNS, the IT services arm of South Korea's LG Group, signed a strategic partnership with U.S. artificial intelligence software firm Palantir Technologies, as the company moves to broaden its enterprise AI platform business. The agreement was signed ahead of Palantir's AIPCon event in the United States. LG CNS President and CEO Hyun Shin-gyoon and Palantir co-founder and CEO Alex Karp were among senior executives present at the signing ceremony on Wednesday (local time). Under the deal, LG CNS will offer Palantir's enterprise platforms — Foundry, which consolidates and refines fragmented corporate data, and AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform), which integrates generative AI into that data environment to support real-time decision-making — tailored to each client's operations. To drive the initiative, LG CNS will establish a dedicated unit called FDE (Forward Deployed Engineering), which will work closely with Palantir to identify and execute high-value AI transformation projects across manufacturing, energy, electronics, and logistics. The company plans to begin its commercial expansion with LG Group affiliates before targeting broader clients. LG CNS said it has already completed a proof-of-concept deployment of Foundry and AIP in the quality management division of one LG affiliate, and has since secured a full commercial contract. The company has also validated the platforms internally, building out risk-forecasting and decision-support capabilities using its own operational data. "This partnership marks a critical turning point in expanding LG CNS's AI transformation business to a global level," Hyun said, adding that the company aims to lead enterprise innovation by combining its industry expertise with Palantir's AI platform capabilities. 2026-03-12 09:25:54

U.S. targets Korea and 15 others for Section 301 trade probe after tariff setback SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) -The United States has opened a trade investigation into South Korea and 15 other economies over alleged structural overcapacity in manufacturing sectors, a move that could eventually lead to new tariffs as the Trump administration rebuilds its trade policy after a recent Supreme Court setback. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said Wednesday it had initiated investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into the “acts, policies and practices” of major trading partners that may contribute to excess production and exports that burden U.S. commerce. The probe covers South Korea, China, Japan, India, Taiwan, the European Union and several Southeast Asian economies including Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. “The United States will no longer sacrifice its industrial base to other countries that may be exporting their problems with excess capacity and production to us,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. Greer said the investigation will determine whether government policies — including subsidies, state-backed financing, labor and environmental practices, and barriers to imports — have encouraged production levels “not aligned with market demand,” creating oversupply that harms U.S. manufacturers. Section 301 investigations allow the U.S. government to impose retaliatory measures such as tariffs, fees or other trade restrictions if it determines that foreign practices are unfair or discriminatory. The probe reflects Washington’s effort to reconstruct its tariff policy after the U.S. Supreme Court last month struck down the Trump administration’s country-specific “reciprocal tariffs” imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The administration had relied on emergency powers under the law to impose sweeping tariffs on several trading partners. The court ruled that the statute did not authorize such trade actions, effectively invalidating the measures. U.S. officials have since indicated that Section 301 investigations will serve as a key legal pathway to pursue tariff actions on a country-by-country basis. By launching investigations under the 1974 trade law, Washington can formally examine foreign trade practices and impose tariffs or other restrictions if they are deemed to harm U.S. commerce. The process will include written submissions and public hearings. The USTR said comments are due by April 15 and hearings are scheduled to begin May 5. The announcement adds to layers of complicated trade issues between Washington and Seoul despite the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. South Korean officials have made a series of visits to Washington in recent weeks in an effort to ease tensions and prevent potential tariff measures. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and other trade officials have met with U.S. policymakers to explain Seoul’s investment and trade policies and highlight the scale of Korean corporate investment in the United States and address concerns raised by U.S. policymakers regarding Seoul’s regulatory actions involving e-commerce platform Coupang. South Korean authorities say the antitrust investigation into the company is part of normal competition enforcement, while U.S. officials have raised questions about whether such actions could disadvantage American investors. The issue has emerged alongside broader U.S. complaints about market access, digital regulations and treatment of foreign technology companies. Major U.S. investors in Coupang — Greenoaks and Altimeter — earlier this week withdrew a petition seeking a Section 301 probe into Seoul’s treatment of the company after U.S. officials signaled Washington may pursue a broader investigation into Korean trade practices affecting American firms. 2026-03-12 09:23:57

Eastar Jet Leads South Korea With 90% Load Factor After Offering 6.33 Million Seats Eastar Jet said Thursday it posted an annual load factor of 90% last year, the highest among South Korean airlines. The carrier operated 33,600 flights and offered 6,329,790 seats. A total of 5,705,493 passengers flew, putting the load factor at 90.14%. Based on the Transport Ministry’s aviation information portal, the figure was the highest among domestic airlines and well above the overall average load factor of 84.86%. Eastar Jet cited several factors, including competitive fares, flexible route operations, a more comfortable cabin environment on new aircraft, easier airport and in-flight services, and partnership benefits for members. The airline is accelerating fleet modernization, operating 10 Boeing 737-8 aircraft as new planes, half of its 20-aircraft fleet. Because the aircraft are new rather than used, the company said, they feature new leather seats and reduce engine noise by more than 50%, providing a more comfortable flight environment. Eastar Jet also noted that in a service monitoring survey run by Incheon International Airport Corp. last year, its check-in processing time, including waiting, averaged 10 minutes 8 seconds, the shortest among South Korean carriers. The airline said it also provides real-time gate information via mobile and offers airport services such as discounts through partnerships with airport limousine buses and lounges. An Eastar Jet official said, “We thank the many customers who chose Eastar Jet last year,” adding, “In line with our brand slogan, ‘Easy Flight,’ we will continue working to provide an easy and convenient travel experience.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:15:48

KB Kookmin Bank Commits 500 Billion Won to Growth Infrastructure Fund for Advanced Industries KB Kookmin Bank said Thursday it has committed 500 billion won to the KB Kookmin Growth Infrastructure Fund to help build infrastructure for advanced strategic industries. The fund is a 1 trillion won blind pool. KB Asset Management will set up and manage it, and it will be financed entirely with funds from KB Financial Group, including KB Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance and KB Life. The fund will adopt what the bank described as the industry’s first “perpetual closed-end infrastructure fund” structure, aimed at reducing profit-and-loss volatility that can arise in managing large funds. The bank said the structure provides a stable operating base despite the fund’s size in Korea’s infrastructure finance market. The KB Kookmin Growth Infrastructure Fund plans to invest in domestic digital infrastructure, energy infrastructure, the renewable energy transition, and social overhead capital projects tied to balanced regional development. A key project under review is the “Yongin Semiconductor Cluster district energy project.” The bank said it will continue to identify mega infrastructure projects that can raise South Korea’s growth potential. KB Kookmin Bank has been expanding financial support for large infrastructure projects, including arranging financing for the “Sinan Ui offshore wind power project,” selected as the first investment for the Kookmin Growth Fund, and committing capital to the KB Kookmin Growth Infrastructure Fund. The bank said it aims to contribute to meeting the Kookmin Growth Fund’s 10 trillion won supply target under KB Financial Group’s plan to provide 93 trillion won in productive financing by 2030. A KB Kookmin Bank official said the fund is intended to strengthen South Korea’s future growth foundation by expanding investment in advanced strategic industries and core national infrastructure. The official said the bank will continue to support sustainable economic growth and stronger industrial competitiveness through productive financing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:15:00

FedEx Expands Taiwan Transshipment Hub to Boost Asia-Pacific Supply Chain Capacity Federal Express Corp., known as FedEx, said Thursday it has expanded its transshipment center at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to strengthen its Asia-Pacific network. FedEx called the project its largest single investment in Taiwan since it began operations there 35 years ago. The company said the expansion is expected to improve capacity to meet rising logistics demand tied to advanced technology, semiconductors and e-commerce across Taiwan and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The new facility is about twice the size of the previous site, covering about 19,000 square meters (204,514 square feet). It includes an advanced automated sorting system capable of handling up to 9,000 packages per hour. FedEx said import processing efficiency is 2.5 times higher than at the previous facility, while export processing is up 1.2 times. FedEx also said it has strengthened handling for express parcels and general cargo, as well as special shipments including dangerous goods and cold-chain freight, improving operational safety and supply-chain stability. The company said the new facility reflects the Asia-Pacific region’s growing role as a key base for the global technology industry. Taiwan accounts for more than 80% of global semiconductor production, it said, and rapid advances in new technologies including artificial intelligence are increasing demand for logistics infrastructure that can connect technology hubs, manufacturing bases and growth markets quickly and precisely. FedEx said shipping high-value, time-sensitive products such as semiconductors and precision equipment requires reliability, real-time visibility and strict security throughout the transport process. To meet those needs, it said it applies FedEx Surround Monitoring and Intervention and its SenseAware ID technology to cross-border shipping services. “As Asia-Pacific economies become more closely connected through expanding trade and investment, companies need logistics foundations that can keep pace with changing trade flows,” said Salil Chari, FedEx’s Asia-Pacific regional president. He said the Taiwan expansion underscores FedEx’s commitment to building logistics infrastructure that provides customers with the speed, reliability and flexibility needed to strengthen supply chains and expand into new markets. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:09:49

Korea Toyota Opens Lexus-Toyota Hanam Showroom and Service Center Korea Toyota Motor said Thursday it has opened a new Lexus-Toyota Hanam showroom and full-service center in Hanam, Gyeonggi province. The site is a combined hub built around a “3S” concept, offering vehicle sales, service and parts in one location. Customers can handle everything from consultations and contracts to vehicle delivery, maintenance and after-sales service at the same facility. The complex spans about 11,570 square meters (about 3,500 pyeong) across two basement levels and seven above-ground floors, with a showroom, customer lounge and a full-service center. The service center has 10 work bays — six for Lexus and four for Toyota — and can perform regular inspections and general repairs on up to 1,090 vehicles a month. Solar power equipment has been installed on the rooftop to generate part of the building’s electricity use. Manabu Konyama, president of Korea Toyota Motor, said the opening will help provide more convenient service and brand experiences for customers in Seoul’s Gangdong district and eastern Gyeonggi province.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:09:16

TXT Wins Japan Gold Disc Award for Best 3 Albums in Asia Category 그룹 투모로우바이투게더가 일본 골드 디스크 대상에서 의미 있는 성과를 냈다. The group TOMORROW X TOGETHER earned a major honor at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan on Tuesday, the group’s third Japanese full-length album, “Starkissed,” was selected in the Asia category for “Best 3 Albums” at the 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards. Released in October last year, “Starkissed” topped Oricon’s weekly combined album ranking and weekly album ranking with the group’s highest score to date. As of November last year, cumulative shipments surpassed 500,000 copies, earning a Gold Disc “Double Platinum” certification. In January, the group released the digital single “SSS (Sending Secret Signals,” featuring HYDE, a member of Japanese rock band L’Arc~en~Ciel and a solo artist, drawing a strong response. The group has maintained steady popularity in Japan. Its fourth full-length album released in South Korea in July last year, “The Star Chapter: TOGETHER,” received a Gold Disc “Double Platinum” certification as of February. The album first earned “Platinum” certification in its release month and added the new certification seven months later. The association issues Gold Disc certifications each month based on cumulative album shipments. TOMORROW X TOGETHER will hold its seventh anniversary special concerts, “2026 TXT MOA CON,” across eight shows in four Japanese cities — Aichi, Chiba, Fukuoka and Hyogo — in May and June. The group previously performed for three days at KSPO DOME in Seoul’s Songpa district, drawing about 33,000 attendees. The group will release its eighth mini album, “7TH YEAR: When the Wind Briefly Stopped in the Thornbush,” at 6 p.m. on April 13. It will be the group’s first full-group album since renewing its contract with BIGHIT MUSIC last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:01:03