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Mecca defense pact buries American security guarantee Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed a treaty last week promising to defend each other if any one of them is attacked. That is the promise the United States has been making to these countries for decades. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on Aug. 7 at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The joint statement says an attack on one "shall be regarded as an attack against them all." That one sentence is nearly all we know. The three governments have not published the treaty text. There is no joint command, no rule for how new members join, no agreement on stationing troops in each other's countries. To see why these three signed, start with what happened in Doha last year. Israeli aircraft bombed a Hamas delegation in the Qatari capital on Sept. 9, 2025, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The group was reading an American ceasefire proposal at the time. It was the first time Israel had struck Qatar. Qatar hosts Al Udeid, the biggest US military base in the region. The White House said the bombing "does not advance Israel or America's goals," and said the US military had told President Donald Trump it was coming. Washington knew, and did nothing. Eight days later, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed their own mutual defense agreement in Riyadh. Eleven months after that, Türkiye joined them in Mecca. One sentence and three signatures do not sound like much. But that is about all NATO was in April 1949. The joint commands and permanent headquarters took another ten years to build. The question everyone is asking is who this pact is meant to stop. None of the three will say. Erdoğan wrote on X that the deal rests on "collective deterrence" and that Türkiye still wants to solve problems through talks. Sharif called it a "historic endeavour" for the region's security. The other two went further. Saudi deputy minister for public diplomacy Rayed Krimly wrote that the agreement is not meant to build a military bloc or a religious one, and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or an arms race. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote that the pact is purely defensive and "not targeted against any country." Nobody denies things that nobody has accused them of. The reason the three governments will not name an enemy is simpler than diplomacy. Each of them is worried about a different country. For Türkiye, that country is Israel, and this is not guesswork. At a cabinet meeting on Feb. 22, Netanyahu described a "hexagon" of alliances Israel would build against what he called a radical Shia axis and an emerging radical Sunni axis. He named India, Greece, Cyprus, and unnamed Arab, African and Asian states. Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett had already told a conference that "a new Turkish threat is emerging," and that Israel needs to act against Türkiye at the same time as Iran. In July, Netanyahu lobbied in Washington against selling F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, telling reporters the country "is governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Israel is deliberately turning Türkiye into its next enemy. Whatever else is true, Ankara did not start this fight and did not start it this year. Saudi Arabia is worried about something else. Since the Iran war began with American and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, Iranian missiles and drones have hit targets across the kingdom, including oil refineries, killing two civilians and wounding 12. A Houthi strike set the Jizan refinery on fire on July 25. Riyadh has also never recognized Israel, and it was negotiating over doing so before the Gaza war. Yoel Guzansky, who runs Gulf research at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, has said the new pact does not completely close that door. Pakistan has said both things, through the same man. In a television interview in September 2025, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was asked whether the deterrence Pakistan gets from nuclear weapons would be extended to Saudi Arabia. What Pakistan has, he answered, would be made available under the agreement. He took it back within days, saying nuclear weapons were not on the radar. Asked about it at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan would say only that Pakistan's nuclear doctrine has evolved and continues to do so. Then, one day after the Mecca treaty, Asif called for a united military front against Israel, which he called a threat to the whole Muslim world. His own foreign minister had just said the pact targets nobody. So this is not three countries building an anti-Israel bloc. It is three countries facing three different threats who reached the same conclusion about the same protector. Israel's actions are what pushed that conclusion into the open. Doha is where it became impossible to ignore. If an American ally country hosting roughly 10,000 American troops can be bombed by another American ally, with Washington told in advance and doing nothing, then the American guarantee is a favor rather than a commitment. Riyadh worked that out in eight days. Ankara worked it out over a year of Israeli politicians calling it the next target. Pakistan has been hedging for decades. Whether this treaty turns into a real alliance is something we can check. Watch for the Turkish parliament ratifying it, for the text being published, for rules on new members, for a joint planning staff, for combined air and missile defense drills. The practical obstacles are large. Saudi Arabia flies American equipment, Pakistan flies Chinese and domestic equipment, Türkiye flies NATO and Turkish equipment. Their systems cannot talk to each other, and none of the three keeps supplies stored in the others' countries. There is also a precedent for this kind of promise not being kept. In April 2015, when Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were as close as they have ever been, Pakistan's parliament voted unanimously to stay out of the Yemen war instead of sending the combat troops Riyadh asked for. 2026-08-10 14:40:38
Video of Disability Rights Protest at Louvre Museum Sparks Debate A video of a protest held by the National Coalition for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) at the Louvre Museum in Paris in 2024 has resurfaced, igniting discussions among internet users.The protest, which took place in Europe, has led to criticisms questioning whether the ability of disabled individuals to travel to France indicates that their transportation rights are already sufficiently guaranteed.On August 9, various online communities and social media platforms saw the spread of the video showing Jeonjangyeon members lying on the floor in front of the Louvre's iconic painting, "Liberty Leading the People." During the protest, they chanted slogans urging for the rights of disabled individuals to be recognized, stating their intention to raise awareness of disability rights issues in South Korea on an international stage.Jeonjangyeon reportedly organized a delegation of about 40 activists, both disabled and non-disabled, called the "Paris Paralympics Special Envoy Group," which visited Oslo, Berlin, and Paris over a 15-day period in conjunction with the Paris Paralympics.As the video gained traction again, netizens expressed critical views, stating, "The fact that they could even travel to Europe proves that transportation options are accessible," and "If they could go to France, then they should be able to travel anywhere." Others remarked, "The protest itself is a form of modern art."Conversely, some argue that the protest's purpose was to highlight South Korea's disability rights issues abroad, suggesting that the intent should be considered.While Jeonjangyeon aimed to bring attention to disability rights in South Korea, opinions remain divided online regarding the logistics of the trip, the protest methods, and associated costs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-10 14:32:00
KB Capital Partners with Used Car Associations to Enhance Market Collaboration KB Capital is collaborating with used car dealers to promote mutual growth in the used car market. The strategy aims to reduce information asymmetry in the market by providing verified vehicle information to the KB Chachacha platform, thereby enhancing its competitiveness.On August 7, KB Capital signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Gyeonggi-do 1 Automobile Transaction Association and the Incheon Empark Automobile Transaction Association to strengthen the competitiveness of the KB Chachacha platform and promote mutual growth in the used car market.Under this agreement, KB Capital plans to link verified vehicle information from member companies of both associations to the KB Chachacha platform, confirming the actual ownership and transaction history of the listed vehicles. This initiative aims to address the information asymmetry between sellers and buyers in the used car transaction process, thereby enhancing consumer protection and fostering a collaborative environment with transaction businesses.By providing verified vehicle information on the platform, KB Capital expects to expand the information available to consumers during their vehicle comparison and review process. For transaction businesses, this will increase opportunities to showcase verified vehicles to consumers through the KB Chachacha platform.KB Capital and the two associations plan to initiate practical discussions to establish a vehicle information linkage system, continuously expanding the scope of cooperation for consumer protection, including enhancing data verification systems and broadening the range of listed vehicles.Bin Jung-il, CEO of KB Capital, stated, "We will continue to prioritize consumer protection as our foremost value, striving to enhance the reliability of listings on the KB Chachacha platform and improve user convenience, creating a safe environment for used car transactions."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-10 14:32:00
Samsung C&T's JUUN.J Expands into Beijing's Luxury Market Samsung C&T's designer brand JUUN.J is expanding its presence in China's luxury market by opening exclusive stores in key commercial areas. On August 10, Samsung C&T announced that JUUN.J has opened a new store in Beijing's Sanlitun Taikoo, following a strategic partnership with Mistoholdings for distribution in the Greater China region. JUUN.J, one of the first-generation K-fashion brands, entered the fashion capital of Paris in the early 2000s alongside brands like Wooyoungmi. It has since expanded its reach in Europe and Asia primarily through wholesale and curated retail stores. Sanlitun Taikoo is a large open shopping mall located in an area dense with embassies, recognized as a major commercial hub in Beijing featuring both global and local designer brands. The opening event on August 7 was attended by officials from Samsung C&T and Mistoholdings, local retail and fashion industry representatives, as well as JUUN.J's global ambassador, actor Ahn Hyo-seop, and Chinese actor Huang Yi. JUUN.J plans to introduce limited-edition products aimed at local consumers and has implemented a unique design for the store's interior and exterior, differentiating it from existing locations. Notably, the Beijing store features digital signage showcasing an image and video created by a local emerging calligrapher, combining JUUN.J's brand name in Korean, English, and Chinese. Last month, JUUN.J entered China’s largest e-commerce platform, Tmall, and opened a standalone store in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Including the Beijing location, the brand plans to add one more store in China by the end of the year and expand into key commercial areas in major cities thereafter. Historically, JUUN.J has focused on wholesale operations in Europe, North America, and Asia. To enhance its overseas business through standalone stores, the brand has decided to target the Chinese market in collaboration with Mistoholdings. A Samsung C&T fashion division representative stated, "Last year, Eight Seconds successfully entered the Philippines and has shown stable growth. This year, JUUN.J aims to achieve new results in the Chinese luxury market. We will continue to expand our global business and contribute to elevating the status of K-fashion."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-10 14:28:00
Culture ministry, YouTube pledge closer ties on Korean creator content SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - Korea's culture ministry and YouTube agreed Monday to strengthen cooperation around Korean creators, signaling that short-form and creator-led video are being treated less as a side channel and more as a growing part of the country's content industry. Kim Young-soo, first vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, met with YouTube Vice President of Product Woojin Kim at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul to discuss ways to support YouTube's creator ecosystem and expand the global reach of Korean content, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. YouTube said Korean channels are already drawing a substantial overseas audience, with 30 percent of total watch time for Korean YouTube channels coming from outside South Korea. Kim Woojin said the platform has played a role in spreading K-content globally and will keep supporting Korean creators as they expand their influence in overseas markets and generate economic value. Kim Young-soo said YouTube has helped Korean creators work across different fields and introduce K-culture to global audiences, adding that the ministry hopes to continue active exchanges with the platform. The two sides also discussed policy direction for what the ministry calls "new media video content," including YouTube videos and short-form content, and agreed that the industry's continued growth requires a promotion-oriented approach that puts innovation and growth ahead of regulation. The framing matters because creator-led video has increasingly become part of how Korean music, food, beauty, travel and lifestyle content reaches viewers abroad, often outside the traditional broadcast or studio system. Rather than treating creators as separate from the mainstream content industry, the ministry's statement placed them within the broader K-content ecosystem, saying the two sides will strengthen communication and cooperation so the creator industry can grow as one axis of that ecosystem. The two sides also discussed the responsibility of major new media platforms to provide safe and appropriate content for all viewers, including minors. YouTube said it will continue efforts to meet that responsibility as a leading platform for new media video content, while the ministry asked for continued cooperation in supporting the sustainable development of the creator ecosystem. AJP Takeaway: ▲ South Korea’s culture ministry and YouTube agreed on Aug. 10 to deepen cooperation on Korean creators and new media video, positioning creator-led and short-form content as a growing part of the country’s K-content industry. ▲ About 30 percent of watch time for Korean YouTube channels comes from viewers outside South Korea, according to YouTube, underscoring the platform’s role in carrying Korean content to global audiences. ▲ The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said policy for “new media video content,” including YouTube and short-form video, should prioritize innovation, growth and industry promotion rather than regulation alone. ▲ The talks also framed Korean creators as part of the broader K-content ecosystem, alongside music, food, beauty, travel and lifestyle content that increasingly reaches overseas audiences through digital platforms. ▲The ministry and YouTube also discussed platform responsibility for safe and appropriate content, including protections for minors, as part of efforts to support the creator industry’s sustainable growth. 2026-08-10 14:25:34
Korean investors return to U.S. stocks without deserting KOSPI SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) -South Korea’s campaign to draw investor money back home has failed to break the country’s appetite for U.S. stocks, with overseas buying resuming in June and accelerating through early August, even without easing up on buying at home. Nonfinancial corporations and other investors — a Bank of Korea category that includes households and companies outside the financial sector — sold a net $525.7 million of overseas equities in the second quarter, their first quarterly net sale in 10 quarters. That marked a sharp reversal from the first quarter, when the group bought a net $9.91 billion of overseas equities after purchasing $14.69 billion in the final quarter of 2025. But the retreat proved short-lived. The group sold $424.9 million in April and $605.5 million in May before returning to a net purchase of $504.7 million in June, showing that the quarterly pullback was concentrated in the first two months. Institutional investors kept up buying overseas. General government entities purchased a net $7.20 billion of foreign equities during the quarter, deposit-taking institutions $786 million and other financial institutions $13.57 billion. The April-May retreat came as Korean stocks rallied, expectations grew for tax incentives under the Reshoring Investment Account and the won hovered near 1,500 per dollar, making domestic equities relatively more attractive while raising the cost of buying assets abroad. Korea Securities Depository data compiled by AJP showed Korean investors settled $33.84 billion of foreign equity purchases against $28.61 billion of sales between July 1 and Aug. 7, leaving net buying of $5.23 billion. Virtually all of it went into U.S. equities. U.S. stocks drew a net $5.25 billion during the period — $4.64 billion in July and another $609.1 million through Aug. 7 — while all other overseas markets combined recorded a net $26.1 million sale. Still, the renewed U.S. buying did not come at the expense of Korean stocks. An AJP aggregation of daily Korea Exchange data showed retail investors bought a net 13.52 trillion won ($9.56 billion) of individual KOSPI and KOSDAQ shares between July 1 and Aug. 7. That included 5.04 trillion won in July and 8.48 trillion won in just the first seven days of August. The parallel buying suggests Korean investors are not simply shifting money back and forth across the Pacific. They are adding exposure on both sides. Demand also extended beyond equities. Korean investors settled $9.44 billion of overseas bond purchases and $5.74 billion of sales during the July 1-Aug. 7 period, producing net buying of $3.71 billion. The domestic and overseas figures are not directly comparable. Korea Exchange data cover retail transactions in individual KOSPI and KOSDAQ shares and exclude exchange-traded funds and Nextrade transactions, while the overseas figures cover settlements by Korean investors more broadly. The BOK is due to publish its July balance-of-payments report on Sept. 4, offering the first official indication of whether the renewed overseas buying is also visible in data compiled on a consistent investor and accounting basis. 2026-08-10 14:25:04
Prosecutor Kang Baek-sin Resigns Amid Investigation into Daejang-dong Case Kang Baek-sin, a prosecutor at the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office who led the investigation into the Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town corruption cases, has submitted his resignation.According to legal sources on the 10th, Kang submitted his resignation letter to the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office this morning.Kang is recognized as a leading prosecutor within the special investigations division. He participated in the special investigation team led by Park Young-soo that probed the corruption scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration and later handled investigations and prosecutions related to allegations against former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's family.In 2022, he was appointed as the head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, where he co-led the 'Daejang-dong Phase 2 Investigation Team' with then-head of Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1, Eom Hee-jun.The investigation team probed corruption allegations related to the Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town developments, leading to the arrests and indictments of Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Democratic Research Institute, and Jeong Jin-sang, former head of the Democratic Party's Policy Coordination Office. They subsequently summoned Lee Jae-myung, then-leader of the Democratic Party, for questioning and indicted him on charges of breach of trust related to the Daejang-dong development project.After moving to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1 in 2023, Kang took on the role of head of the special investigation team for the 'election interference opinion manipulation case.'Kang has publicly opposed prosecutorial reforms aimed at abolishing investigative powers. Following the passage of a government reorganization bill that included the abolition of the prosecution office last September, he posted a message stating, "This is not the abolition of the prosecution office, but the day of the abolition of the Constitution."He also expressed discontent when his investigation was included in the National Assembly's inquiry into allegations of political prosecution under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. During a National Assembly hearing in April, he argued that summoning prosecutors involved in ongoing cases, such as the Daejang-dong case, for questioning was intended to interfere with investigations or trials, stating, "This is unconstitutional and illegal." 2026-08-10 14:24:00
GC Cell Hires Son Joo-hee as Head of Business Development GC Cell is strengthening its competitiveness in the bio sector by hiring an expert in global business development and investment strategy.On August 10, GC Cell announced the appointment of Son Joo-hee, the former head of Business Development & Strategy at Lotte Biologics, as its new head of business development.Son graduated from Chungbuk National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and obtained a master’s degree in internal medicine from Chungbuk National University’s College of Medicine. She has accumulated extensive experience in the bio industry, including research and development (R&D) strategy, business development, investment review, and portfolio management at Dong-A Pharmaceutical, Dong-A Socio Holdings, and Dong-A ST.Most recently, she served as the head of the investment strategy team at Lotte Holdings and the head of the global business development strategy team at Lotte Biologics, overseeing investment strategies related to bio, global business development strategies, sales strategies, and global partnership management.A representative from GC Cell stated, "Son is an expert with rich experience in establishing global business development strategies, investments, and partnerships. We expect her to play a crucial role in enhancing the company’s business development capabilities and in expanding global partnerships and discovering new business opportunities to establish a foundation for mid- to long-term growth."Meanwhile, GC Cell has been building an R&D-focused management system since transitioning to a leadership structure under CEO Won Sung-yong at the end of 2024. With the hiring of Son, the company plans to accelerate its global business development capabilities and the discovery of new business opportunities and expansion of overseas partnerships.GC Cell is a specialized developer of cell and gene therapies (CGT) and currently has a diverse pipeline of immune cell therapies, including CAR-T and NK cell therapies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-10 14:20:00
DL E&C CEO Park Sang-shin Inspects Construction Sites Amid Heatwave As a nationwide heatwave continues, DL E&C is enhancing safety management for construction workers through cooling rest facilities, health bus operations, adjusted work hours, and a smart heat illness prevention system.On August 10, DL E&C announced that it conducted site inspections to strengthen safety management during the ongoing heatwave and protect worker health.Earlier, on August 1, CEO Park Sang-shin visited the Cheonan Seongseong site to assess safety conditions and encourage workers laboring in the heat. He urged site officials to strictly adhere to safety protocols to ensure worker safety.DL E&C operates cooling rest areas at all construction sites, providing water dispensers, freezers, and ice water to ensure workers can take adequate breaks. For sites with extensive outdoor work or where fixed rest areas are difficult to install, the company operates 15 mobile health buses. These buses are deployed at locations such as Ulleung Airport and the 4th section of the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway (Anseong-Guri) to support worker rest and health management.The health buses are equipped with ice water, glucose, and ice boxes, and a health manager is on board to monitor the health status of vulnerable workers. Cooling items such as fan vests, cool scarves, and cooling sleeves are also provided, with a focus on closely managing the health of older workers and those with underlying conditions who are at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.DL E&C has also strengthened its heat management protocols. The company operates a four-tier response system: Attention, Advisory, Warning, and Severe Warning. When a heat advisory is issued, workers are required to take breaks of at least 20 minutes every two hours. During a heat warning, breaks of at least 15 minutes every hour are mandatory. If a severe heat warning is issued, all outdoor work is halted.The company utilizes a smart safety management system. Through the 'Smart Heat Illness Prevention System,' DL E&C can monitor perceived temperatures in real-time at each worksite and proactively respond to heat risks.IoT-based temperature sensors installed at worksites measure the perceived temperature, which is continuously monitored by safety and health managers. If the perceived temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, a heat warning is issued; if it exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, a severe heat warning is declared, allowing for quick identification of affected workers via safety alerts. Necessary safety measures, including work stoppage, rest breaks, and adjustments to work hours, are implemented immediately.The headquarters' comprehensive safety control center also monitors all sites in real-time. By assessing the working environment and weather conditions at each site, the company can quickly identify areas at high risk for heat and implement necessary safety measures.A DL E&C representative stated, "Heatwaves can threaten the lives and health of workers, making thorough prevention and site-centered responses crucial. We are committed to creating a safe working environment for all workers through the operation of rest facilities, management of work hours, and a smart safety management system."Additionally, DL E&C announced on August 6 that it is establishing a safety management system that detects accident risks in advance using AI and site data. Based on the Palantir data platform introduced in 2022, the company is utilizing data from approximately 200 sites for cost, quality, safety, and design management.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-10 14:20:00
Uiwang Mayor Kim Seong-je pledges to ensure safe water play areas for children Uiwang Mayor Kim Seong-je visited the Bukok-dong children's water play area on August 8, stating, "The safety of children is our top priority," and pledged to create a safe environment that preserves their joy.In response to the ongoing heatwave, the mayor is focusing on community-oriented administration to ensure children can enjoy a safe and comfortable summer.During his visit to the 'Bukok-dong Children's Water Play Area' set up at Bukok Elementary School, Mayor Kim assessed the facility's operations and safety management, while also listening to the voices of children and their guardians using the facility.As he toured the water play area, Mayor Kim carefully checked whether children were using the facilities safely and engaged in direct conversations with guardians to gather feedback on any inconveniences or areas for improvement.Mayor Kim emphasized the importance of focusing administrative efforts on preventing safety accidents and ensuring user convenience, especially since the facility was established for children to enjoy water play close to home during the heatwave.Children enjoying the water play area were met with positive reactions from their guardians. Citizens appreciated having a safe space for children to play in the water, especially given the challenges of outdoor activities during the heatwave.Guardians of young children expressed relief that their kids could enjoy water play without traveling far and felt reassured by the safety measures in place.The facility has been recognized as a community-oriented space where children can play freely while guardians can watch over them with relative peace of mind.Mayor Kim also showed special attention to the staff working at the water play area. He encouraged those on-site who are ensuring children's safety during the heatwave and urged them to maintain thorough safety management to ensure a smooth experience for visitors.Mayor Kim stated, "I will closely monitor the operation of related facilities to ensure that children can enjoy safe and fun water play during this hot summer, and I will do my best in safety management." He added, "We will continue to create a city where raising children is easy and where citizens are happy through community-oriented administration that residents can feel in their daily lives."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-10 14:20:00