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  • Diplomats Depart After Government-Funded Training, Raising Concerns
    Diplomats Depart After Government-Funded Training, Raising Concerns In the past three years, four diplomats have left their positions without fulfilling their service obligations after receiving government-funded overseas training. Among them, two departed the Foreign Ministry less than a month after completing their training.On September 5, Lee Gi-heon, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, revealed data from the Foreign Ministry indicating that a total of 334.1 million won has been recovered due to noncompliance with service obligations.One diplomat, identified as A, underwent training in the United States and the United Kingdom for nearly two years from June 2023 to May 2025. However, A resigned the day after completing the training. The Foreign Ministry recovered 184.4 million won from A for not fulfilling the required 46 months of service.Another diplomat, B, trained in the United States for about a year starting in December 2024 and resigned just 26 days after the training ended. B returned 93.99 million won.The remaining two diplomats worked for a period after returning but did not complete their service obligations. C trained in the United Arab Emirates and the United States from 2016 to 2019, then retired in 2024, returning 27.39 million won. D studied in the United States from 2020 to 2022 and left the Foreign Ministry in January of this year during the service obligation period, returning 28.32 million won.According to the current enforcement decree of the Public Officials Human Resource Development Act, public officials who receive more than six months of overseas training must work in related fields for double the duration of the training. Failure to comply results in the obligation to repay training and living expenses proportional to the remaining service period.The Foreign Ministry sends about 35 employees annually to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Japan for training, with an annual budget of 4.3 to 4.7 billion won for tuition, living expenses, and health insurance.Concerns have been raised that recovering training fees does not fully compensate for the loss, as opportunities for other employees to receive training are lost, and the government invests time and resources in developing diplomatic personnel who then leave the organization.Lee stated, "We sent these individuals abroad using taxpayer money to cultivate talent beneficial to the national interest, only for them to build their personal careers while neglecting their service obligations. The Foreign Ministry must verify the commitment of candidates from the selection stage and implement measures to prevent recurrence."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 14:24:00
  • Four Men Rescued from Cardiac Arrest in Uljin Coast and Valley Incidents
    Four Men Rescued from Cardiac Arrest in Uljin Coast and Valley Incidents Four men were transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest after consecutive rescue incidents occurred at the coast and a valley in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province.According to police and fire authorities, at around 10:32 a.m., a 40-year-old man and a 50-year-old man fell into a valley while attempting to rescue an elementary school student who had fallen into the water in Sugok-ri, Geunnam-myeon.One of the men was rescued by nearby citizens, while the other was saved by the 119 rescue team that responded to the emergency call. Both men were transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest.The elementary school student was safely rescued and reported to be in good health. One of the men is believed to be the child's father.Just three minutes earlier, at 10:29 a.m., two men in their 50s were reported to have fallen into the water near the coast in Mangyang-ri, Giseong-myeon.The rescue team found both men in cardiac arrest and provided emergency treatment before transporting them to the hospital.Police and fire authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding both incidents based on witness statements.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 14:04:00
  • Hyundai-POSCO eyes U.S. steel supply chain beyond cars to robots, rockets
    Hyundai-POSCO eyes U.S. steel supply chain beyond cars to robots, rockets DONALDSONVILLE, Louisiana, September 05 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group is envisioning a U.S.-based steel supply chain stretching from cars to humanoid robots and even rockets, with its Chairman Chung Euisun saying steel from its new Louisiana mill could eventually be used in Boston Dynamics' Atlas and supplied to companies such as SpaceX. Speaking to reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel (HPLS) in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on Friday, Chung said steel produced at the plant should "of course" be used in Atlas, the humanoid robot being developed by Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics. "I think we naturally should apply it," Chung said when asked whether steel produced at HPLS could be used in Atlas. "If we work harder going forward, I hope we can supply this steel even for rockets made by companies such as SpaceX." The comments point to ambitions beyond securing a local source of automotive steel for Hyundai Motor and Kia, extending potential demand for the Louisiana plant into robotics, aerospace and other advanced industries. HPLS will be Hyundai Steel's first steel mill in the United States and the country's first electric-arc-furnace-based mill specializing in automotive steel. The project carries a total investment of $5.8 billion, or roughly 8 trillion won, and is scheduled to begin commercial production in 2029. The plant will have annual production capacity of 2.7 million tons, including 1.8 million tons of automotive steel sheets and 900,000 tons of general-purpose steel products. Hyundai Steel holds a 50 percent stake in HPLS, while POSCO owns 20 percent. Hyundai Motor and Kia each hold 15 percent. The facility covers about 7.37 million square meters. Once operational, it is expected to supply Hyundai Motor's Alabama plant, Kia's Georgia plant and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, while also targeting other automakers in the U.S. market. Hyundai Steel expects the mill to help address chronic shortages of higher-value automotive steel in the United States while building a more localized supply chain for the group's rapidly expanding U.S. manufacturing operations. Still, Chung stressed that avoiding U.S. steel tariffs was not the main reason for the investment. "Tariffs were not the objective," he said. "We are in a situation where we need to produce and use low-carbon and higher-value steel here in order to improve the quality of the vehicles we manufacture." "I think the advantages on both sides can create synergy." Asked how much the local production could save in tariff costs, Chung said the impact was difficult to quantify because U.S. trade policy continued to change. "Tariffs keep changing, so rather than being preoccupied with tariffs, it is more important to produce better products here and improve vehicle quality," he said. "That is where we intend to place more emphasis." The project nevertheless comes as U.S. trade barriers have reshaped the economics of exporting steel into the world's second-largest automobile market. The United States has historically imported more than 20 million tons of steel annually as domestic production falls short of demand, while locally produced hot-rolled steel commands some of the highest prices among major markets. Chung said local production of specialized and lower-carbon products could eventually replace a significant portion of those imports. "The United States currently imports about 20 million tons of steel," Chung said. "If high-value specialty steel and low-carbon steel are produced here, as much as 10 million tons of that demand could be covered, which would also benefit the United States." The chairman also emphasized the significance of bringing POSCO into the project, describing the Korean steelmaker as one of the world's leading producers and a long-time partner of Hyundai Motor Group. "We have worked with POSCO in many areas and have held in-depth discussions on future steel and next-generation batteries," Chung said. "I am pleased that we are investing together. If we conduct research in better ways and produce materials with higher quality and more advanced technology, I think it can be a win-win." HPLS will combine direct-reduced iron, or DRI, technology with electric-arc furnaces in an integrated production system running from raw materials to finished steel. In the first stage, iron ore and natural gas will be used to produce DRI. The material will then be fed into electric-arc furnaces together with scrap steel to produce molten steel. Continuous casting facilities will convert the molten metal into slabs, which will then move through hot-rolling and cold-rolling lines to become products including cold-rolled and coated automotive steel. Hyundai Steel says the process can cut carbon emissions by about 70 percent compared with conventional blast-furnace steelmaking, which relies heavily on coal. Chung described the combination of DRI and electric-arc furnaces as another technological challenge for the group. "Using electric furnaces allows us to produce low-carbon steel and reduce carbon emissions by about 70 percent," he said. "Combining that with DRI is a challenge involving new technology, and if it succeeds, it could be applied elsewhere." Hyundai Steel ultimately plans to replace natural gas used in the DRI process with hydrogen as part of a longer-term transition away from coal-based steelmaking. The company aims to convert its steel production toward hydrogen-based processes by 2050. The Louisiana investment has moved quickly since Chung announced Hyundai Motor Group's broader U.S. investment plans at the White House in March last year. Hyundai Steel established a dedicated North American steel business unit two months later and formed its Louisiana subsidiary in June. Hyundai Motor, Kia and POSCO began making equity investments in the project in January this year. The company has also signed major equipment contracts with Italy's Danieli and Germany's SMS, as well as agreements related to electricity supply and cold-rolling facilities. A specialized training center is being developed with River Parishes Community College and local institutions to prepare workers for the plant. The site near the Mississippi River offers access to rail lines and waterways capable of accommodating Panamax-class vessels. It also sits within reach of major auto plants across the U.S. South, including Hyundai and Kia facilities as well as factories operated by General Motors, Volkswagen and Honda. Chung was more cautious about another potential use for Atlas — deploying humanoid robots inside the steel mill itself. "We first need to conduct a lot of testing and see whether it is feasible," he said. "Atlas is intended to do work that is difficult for people, so we want to use robots for jobs that are hard for humans and supplement safety in those areas." Hyundai Motor Group has been accelerating efforts to incorporate robotics and other advanced technologies into manufacturing as it reorganizes operations around automation and artificial intelligence. Chung said the group is experimenting with organizational changes as well as new technology. Asked whether Hyundai Steel could build additional U.S. mills, Chung said the immediate priority was making the Louisiana project a success. "We are only just starting, so succeeding here is the most important thing," he said. "At this point, we are not yet considering other locations." AJP Takeaways - Hyundai Motor Group is building a U.S.-based steel supply chain that could extend beyond cars to Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot and potentially SpaceX rockets. - The $5.8 billion Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel mill is scheduled to begin production in 2029 with annual capacity of 2.7 million tons. -HPLS will combine direct-reduced iron and electric-arc furnaces, which Hyundai says could cut carbon emissions by about 70 percent versus conventional blast-furnace production. 2026-09-05 13:51:43
  • Philippine Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte, Impacting 2028 Election
    Philippine Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte, Impacting 2028 Election A Philippine court has issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Sara Duterte, a leading candidate in the upcoming presidential election.On September 5, local time, Reuters and AFP reported that the court had issued the warrant for Duterte, who faces three counts of 'serious threats,' setting bail at 360,000 Philippine pesos (approximately $6,500).Duterte is accused of threatening to instruct her bodyguards to kill President Marcos and others if she were assassinated. In November 2024, she allegedly stated, "If I am killed, I told my bodyguards to kill BBM (initials of President Marcos), Liza Araneta (the First Lady), and Martin Romualdez (Marcos' cousin and then-Speaker of the House). This is not a joke."If found guilty, Duterte could face up to six months in prison and be removed from her position as vice president, potentially jeopardizing her plans to run in the 2028 election.The allegations are also a key part of the impeachment complaint against her, which passed the House of Representatives in May.In addition to the assassination threats, she faces accusations of misusing public funds during her tenure as vice president and Secretary of Education.The Senate, which has received the impeachment complaint, is currently conducting the final impeachment trial. If two-thirds of the 24 senators vote in favor of impeachment, Duterte will be removed from office and barred from holding public office for life.However, AFP reported that the likelihood of Duterte being detained due to this warrant appears low.Duterte is expected to apply for bail and may contest the warrant's validity in a higher court.Her legal team issued a statement saying, "She has no intention of evading the law and will pursue all legal remedies available to her."In the 2022 election, Vice President Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, was elected alongside President Marcos, establishing a strong political alliance between their families.Since then, the Marcos administration has taken a pro-U.S. stance, clashing with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, in contrast to the pro-China approach of former President Duterte. Disagreements over constitutional amendments and issues in the southern Mindanao region have led to increasing tensions between the two factions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 13:44:10
  • Gwangju City Launches Mass Vaccination for 730,000 Cattle and Goats Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease
    Gwangju City Launches Mass Vaccination for 730,000 Cattle and Goats Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Gwangju Metropolitan City has initiated a large-scale vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease for approximately 730,000 cattle and goats in the region.On September 5, Gwangju officials announced that the vaccination will be conducted until the 30th, considering the decline in antibody levels from the foot-and-mouth vaccine administered in March.The vaccination schedule will be staggered based on farm size. Small farms with fewer than 50 cattle and 300 goats will receive vaccinations from September 1 to 30, while larger farms with 50 or more cattle and 300 or more goats will have a concentrated vaccination period from September 15 to 30.To increase vaccination rates, the city will invest an additional 2 billion won. Support will be provided for farms with fewer than 100 cattle and 300 goats, and 215 personnel, including veterinarians and specialized capture teams, will be deployed across 116 support teams.Post-vaccination management will also be strengthened. Starting in October, four weeks after vaccination, random antibody tests will be conducted on selected farms to verify actual vaccination status and immune response.The antibody positivity standards are set at 80% for cattle, 60% for goats and breeding pigs, and 30% for fattening pigs.Farms that fail to meet these standards will face fines ranging from 5 million won for the first violation to 10 million won for three or more violations. These farms will undergo additional testing every four weeks until antibody levels improve following booster vaccinations.Compensation will be provided for any adverse effects related to the vaccination. If cases of stillbirth or death occur within two weeks post-vaccination, compensation of 80% of the market price will be granted following veterinary confirmation.Lee Young-nam, head of the Animal Health Division in Gwangju, emphasized, “Foot-and-mouth disease has occurred this year in Incheon, Gyeonggi, and North Gyeongsang provinces. If vaccinations are neglected, outbreaks can happen at any time, so it is crucial to follow the vaccination program and adhere to basic biosecurity measures, such as disinfecting when entering farms.”Since the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in March of last year, a total of 19 cases have been confirmed in the Gwangju area by April. The city plans to manage the immunity levels of farms through vaccinations and antibody tests, focusing on preventing future outbreaks.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 13:32:00
  • Samsungs non-chip employees to hold rally streak near chairs home
    Samsung's non-chip employees to hold rally streak near chair's home SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) -Samsung Electronics' unionized employees in non-chip operations are planning a rally streak near Chairman Lee Jae-yong's residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, from Sept. 18, taking their demands for fairer compensation amid the chip windfall closer to the top of the C-suite. An official of Donghaeng union, largely made up of employees in the Device eXperience (DX) division told AJP Saturday that the protest will go on without a fixed end date until demands are met, with one-person demonstrations planned on days when larger rallies cannot be held. "The venue in Hannam has limited capacity, so we expect about 200 people to attend," the official said. The union is demanding 1,000 Samsung Electronics shares for each DX employee, the creation of a company-wide compensation pool based on a fixed share of overall performance and the same base-pay increase across business divisions. The dispute has been building since Samsung's wage agreement in May introduced substantially richer compensation for employees in the Device Solutions (DS) semiconductor division, benefiting from the AI-driven memory boom. In July, more than 5,000 employees rallied outside Samsung's Suwon campus over what Donghaeng described as discriminatory treatment of DX workers. The union argued that smartphones, televisions and home appliances had supported Samsung through earlier semiconductor downturns but were now being left behind as the company distributed much larger rewards to its chip businesses. The rally extended to Samsung Electronics' Seocho headquarters on Aug. 21, demanding direct talks with the Seoul-based management over compensation. The planned Hannam protest would take the campaign closer to Lee personally as the union feels its voice remains unheard. AJP Takeaways - Samsung Electronics' Donghaeng union will begin a long-term protest near Chairman Lee Jae-yong's Hannam-dong residence on Sept. 18 over compensation disparities between the DX and semiconductor divisions. - About 200 union members are expected to attend because of limited space at the Hannam protest site. - The DX-centered union is demanding 1,000 Samsung Electronics shares per employee, a company-wide performance compensation pool and equal base-pay increases across divisions. 2026-09-05 13:31:13
  • Fishing Boat Drifts Near Aphae Bridge Due to Engine Failure; All 22 Rescued Safely
    Fishing Boat Drifts Near Aphae Bridge Due to Engine Failure; All 22 Rescued Safely A fishing boat carrying 22 people, including passengers and the captain, drifted due to an engine failure near Aphae Bridge in Sinan County, Jeollanam-do. The coast guard responded quickly, ensuring no injuries occurred.According to the Mokpo Coast Guard, a report was received at approximately 6:40 a.m. on September 5, indicating that a 9.77-ton fishing boat registered in Mokpo was unable to operate about 1.8 kilometers north of Aphae Bridge.The boat had 21 passengers and one captain on board.The vessel experienced a sudden engine failure while underway, prompting the captain to request assistance from the coast guard.Upon receiving the report, the coast guard dispatched nearby rescue units, including the coastal rescue boat from the North Port Police Station. The rescue team arrived at the scene about 14 minutes after the report was made.The area where the incident occurred is a narrow channel, and if the boat continued to drift with engine failure, there was a risk of collision with other vessels or grounding, necessitating a swift response.The coastal rescue boat that arrived first transferred 11 passengers to safety. An additional seven passengers were then moved to a rescue vessel from the West Sea Marine Special Rescue Team, which transported them to Dock 2 at Mokpo North Port, where they disembarked safely.The remaining three passengers chose to stay on the boat with the captain.The fishing boat later entered Mokpo North Port safely with the assistance of a vessel dispatched by the coast guard.All 22 individuals on board, including passengers and the captain, were unharmed.Choi Won-sik, head of the Mokpo Coast Guard, stated, “The incident occurred in a narrow channel, which could have led to a secondary accident, but fortunately, we were able to resolve the situation without any harm.” He urged, “As we enter the peak fishing season in autumn, please ensure thorough checks of vessel conditions and engines before departure.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 13:28:00
  • Hyundai Steels First U.S. Plant to Produce Low-Carbon Steel in Louisiana
    Hyundai Steel's First U.S. Plant to Produce Low-Carbon Steel in Louisiana Driving about an hour from downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, the landscape shifts from urban to vast sugarcane fields. As the road narrows, a large, cleared area emerges, previously occupied by sugarcane.On September 4, a reporter visited the site where Hyundai Steel plans to invest $5.8 billion to build the 'HPLS Electric Arc Furnace Steel Mill.' Currently, the site is barren, making it hard to envision a steel mill.However, by 2029, the scene will change dramatically. The HPLS Electric Arc Furnace Steel Mill, a joint venture between Hyundai Steel and POSCO, is expected to produce 2.7 million tons of steel annually. This facility will be the first electric arc-based integrated steel mill in the U.S. dedicated to automotive steel, combining direct reduction process (DRP) and electric arc furnace (EAF) technology to reduce carbon emissions by over 70% compared to traditional blast furnace methods.The local community has high hopes for the project. Once operational, the steel mill is expected to create over 1,300 direct jobs and approximately 5,400 jobs in construction and related industries, bringing significant manufacturing employment to the Donaldsonville area.Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, emphasized at the groundbreaking ceremony in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, that the HPLS project is not just an investment in facilities but also an investment in the community and the future economy of Louisiana. He stated, "The steel produced here will support key U.S. industries, including next-generation mobility, AI data centers, and power facilities, playing a crucial role in strengthening America's manufacturing leadership."Logistics Hub with Mississippi River and Railroads to Mitigate Trade RisksThe HPLS facility will be Hyundai Steel's first steel mill in the U.S., with a capacity of 2.7 million tons. Hyundai Steel will hold a 50% stake, while POSCO will have 20%, and Hyundai Motor and Kia will each invest 15%. Once production begins in 2029, the mill is expected to produce 1.8 million tons of automotive steel and 900,000 tons of general steel.The facility will utilize a low-carbon process combining direct reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc technology to produce high-quality automotive steel, which will be supplied not only to Hyundai Motor Group but also to other automakers in the U.S.The decision to locate the steel mill in Louisiana was largely influenced by its geographical advantages. The site is near the Mississippi River, which runs north to south through the U.S., and has a well-established railroad network, facilitating the transport of raw materials and finished products. The deep water also allows for the use of barges and large vessels, making inland transportation easier via rail.Local production is expected to alleviate tariff burdens. By producing steel domestically through HPLS, the facility can avoid U.S. tariffs. The strong demand for steel in the U.S. is also seen as a competitive advantage, as the country imports about 20 million tons of steel annually, with HPLS expected to capture around 10 million tons of that demand.Domestic Competitors, Global Allies: Hyundai Steel and POSCO Join ForcesThis project is significant as it marks a collaboration between Hyundai Steel and POSCO, the top two steel companies in South Korea, which have traditionally competed in the domestic market. Together, they aim to target the low-carbon advanced steel market globally by combining their technologies and capital.Chung In-hwa, Chairman of POSCO Group, noted, "While POSCO and Hyundai Steel are competitors in South Korea, we are both Korean companies on the global stage. Our goal is to cooperate in the global market to enhance the stature of our companies worldwide."Both companies will also face the technical challenge of producing high-quality automotive steel while reducing carbon emissions through electric arc technology. Chung stated, "To produce the highest quality steel for automotive use from DRI and electric arc, we need POSCO's hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology and automotive steel technology. By collaborating with Hyundai Steel, we can become a company with the world's best competitiveness."POSCO plans to accelerate investments in global growth markets, starting with the U.S., and aims to expand its overseas crude steel production capacity to 10 million tons by 2031. In April, it signed a joint investment agreement with India's JSW Steel for a 6 million ton integrated steel mill and is exploring options to double crude steel production capacity at an integrated steel mill in Indonesia with state investment firm Danantara.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 13:00:20
  • Trump post turns up pressure on Seoul to arm Ukraine
    Trump post turns up pressure on Seoul to arm Ukraine SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) -South Korea, already under U.S. pressure to contribute to security operations around the Strait of Hormuz, is facing a second test of its military restraint as President Donald Trump amplified a call for Seoul to provide Ukraine with Korean-made missile interceptors. Trump on Friday shared on Truth Social a Washington Post opinion column titled “How Trump can help Ukraine build its own Patriot missiles,” without adding any comment of his own. The column, by Marc Thiessen, urged Trump to press South Korea to sell Ukraine its M-SAM II, or Cheongung-II, air-defense system as an interim answer to Kyiv's shortage of missile interceptors. Trump's decision to circulate the article does not amount to a formal policy demand. But it drew attention in Seoul because the column explicitly tied Korean military support for Ukraine to another source of friction with Washington: the Lee Jae Myung government's reluctance so far to commit forces to the Strait of Hormuz. Thiessen argued that supplying M-SAM II interceptors to Kyiv could help repair strains with Washington while easing pressure on limited U.S. Patriot inventories. The column also contrasted Seoul's refusal to arm Ukraine with its supply of M-SAM II systems to the United Arab Emirates. South Korea is separately reviewing military and nonmilitary options to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, including possible maritime contributions, but the presidential office says no decision has been made. Any deployment would carry domestic political and legal complications, including questions over National Assembly approval. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought South Korean weapons almost from the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. In an April 2022 video address to South Korea's National Assembly, Zelenskyy appealed for aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, ammunition and air-defense, anti-tank and anti-ship weapons, arguing that existing rules on arms supplies needed to be reconsidered. The requests have continued as Ukraine's need for air defense has intensified. Last month, Zelenskyy said South Korea and Japan possessed capabilities that could have helped protect Ukraine from ballistic missile attacks but had not supplied them because of their domestic restrictions. He separately appealed to Seoul for urgent air-defense assistance as Russia stepped up missile attacks. Seoul has nevertheless maintained its longstanding policy of providing humanitarian and nonlethal military assistance to Ukraine rather than directly supplying lethal weapons to a country at war. Supplying Korean weapons that could be used against Russian or North Korean forces would potentially move Seoul closer to direct participation in a conflict involving its own heavily armed neighbor. North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, a deployment acknowledged by Moscow and Pyongyang. Ukrainian intelligence also says a North Korean missile unit has been deployed to Russia's Voronezh region, potentially equipped with ballistic missiles. North Korea has separately supplied Russia with large quantities of artillery ammunition and missiles. An M-SAM II transferred to Ukraine could, in principle, be used to intercept a missile supplied or operated by North Korea. Other Korean weapons could conceivably be employed against North Korean personnel fighting for Russia. Such a scenario would transform what Seoul has treated as support for a distant partner into something much closer to an indirect Korean military confrontation on European soil. Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024 providing for military assistance if either side is attacked, while Pyongyang has gained combat experience and potentially access to Russian military technology through the partnership. President Lee, meanwhile, is pursuing renewed dialogue with North Korea and has called for conditions that could enable Washington and Pyongyang to return to negotiations. A decision to arm Ukraine while North Korean forces are involved on Russia's side could complicate that effort. AJP Takeaways: - Trump shares a Washington Post column urging South Korea to supply Ukraine with M-SAM II interceptors. - Zelenskyy has repeatedly appealed to Seoul for weapons and air defenses as Russian missile attacks intensify. - Direct arms transfers remain difficult for Seoul as North Korean troops and missiles are now part of Russia's war effort. 2026-09-05 12:33:32
  • Political Tensions Rise Over Kim Seung-wons Alleged Drug Approval Scandal
    Political Tensions Rise Over Kim Seung-won's Alleged Drug Approval Scandal Political tensions are escalating over allegations that Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, sought approval for a COVID-19 drug clinical trial. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon released additional recordings of a phone call between Kim and a broker identified as Yang, prompting the ruling People Power Party to demand Kim's withdrawal from consideration. The Democratic Party countered that the ruling party's actions represent a politically motivated attack before the confirmation hearing.On September 5, Han posted on Facebook the recording of a call between Kim and Yang from February 9, 2022, asserting that Kim's previous explanation was a "blatant lie." In the recording, Kim refers to Yang as "brother" and expresses a desire to meet, suggesting a meeting in Yeouido, Seoul. When Kim says, "It’s a shame if we can only see each other for 20 to 30 minutes," Yang responds, "I’m bringing a lot of stuff with me."Han connected this call to a photo of Kim, Yang, and Judge Jeong, claiming that Kim's assertion of a chance meeting is false and demanding clarification on what Yang meant by "stuff." However, the recordings do not confirm the nature of the items or whether they were actually exchanged.Han also disclosed a phone call from October 2021 in which Yang mentioned that Kim had spoken to the head of the Food and Drug Safety Agency regarding the new drug's approval and could also make requests to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The conversation included references to Kim's political donation limits and Yang's business interests, which Han argued indicated that Kim facilitated the drug trial approval in exchange for benefits to Yang.The People Power Party joined the attack, with floor spokesperson Choi Soo-jin commenting on the allegations of collusion with judges, drunk driving history, and suspicions of slush funds involving the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province chapter, calling for President Lee Jae-myung to withdraw Kim's nomination. Choi pointed out that the judge who dismissed the arrest warrant related to the drug case had attended a drinking event with Kim and Yang, raising further collusion concerns. Lawmaker Na Kyung-won highlighted the undue profits for Yang and officials from the drug development company, asserting that the connection to stock manipulation allegations involving Kim must be clarified, although no confirmation of Kim's involvement in stock manipulation has been established by investigative agencies.The Democratic Party rebutted these claims, arguing that the opposition is inflating suspicions based on selective excerpts from the recordings.Democratic Party floor spokesperson Kim Seong-hwa stated in a written briefing that "reaching conclusions before the hearing begins is not verification but a political offensive," criticizing the opposition for releasing only favorable excerpts while concealing unfavorable context. He emphasized that the prosecution, during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, conducted searches and summoned witnesses but did not indict Kim, asserting that there is no evidence of bribery and that the confirmation hearing should allow for Kim's explanations to be verified based on facts and materials.Kim is under investigation for allegedly relaying a request from Yang in October 2021 to expedite the review of Genensel's COVID-19 treatment clinical trial approval to then-Commissioner Kim Kang-rip of the Food and Drug Safety Agency. The prosecution decided to suspend prosecution against Kim in December 2024.Kim's team maintains that the request was a standard public interest inquiry from a lawmaker and that there was no favoritism or receipt of bribes. It is also reported that the 5 million won donation was never actually delivered.Regarding the collusion allegations with Judge Jeong, Kim's team refuted any claims of contact or requests related to the case and stated that they did not participate in the warrant review process, arguing that the timing of the photo and the warrant review has been misrepresented.As both parties clash over the implications of the recordings and the prosecution's decisions, the relationship between Kim and Yang, the nature of the request, and the alleged collusion with the judge are expected to be central issues in the confirmation hearing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-05 12:32:00