news highlight

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  Cheap drones reshape Iran war, raising risk of North Korea copycat SEOUL, April 03 (AJP) - Low-cost drones are rapidly redefining modern warfare in the Iran conflict, exposing a growing cost imbalance that could have direct implications for the Korean Peninsula. U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed Washington achieved most of its strategic objectives in the war, likening the 32-day campaign to major 20th-century conflicts. Yet the fighting has dragged on longer than expected, far from the swift outcome suggested in the early hours of the U.S.-Is April 3, 2026
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  Korean Air accelerates AI-powered drone development with 2028 deployment target SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - Korean Air is stepping up its push into unmanned aerial systems, advancing development of an artificial intelligence-powered high-speed target drone while investing $130 million in a new manufacturing facility in Busan to expand production capacity. The company said it recently completed a System Requirements Review (SRR) for its domestically developed high-speed target drone project at the Daejeon Convention Center, attended by officials from the Defense Acq April 2, 2026
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  South Korea joins France-led defense chiefs talks on Hormuz SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - South Korea joined a France-led meeting of chiefs of defense from 35 countries Thursday to discuss security in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said. France’s Ministry of Armed Forces said the video conference was chaired by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Fabien Mandon and brought together military leaders from countries interested in contributing to maritime security in the strategic waterway. “The meeting provided an opportunity to gather the March 27, 2026
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  Hyundai Rotem unveils prototype of modified battle tank for Middle East exports SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean manufacturer specializing in railway vehicles, said Friday that it unveiled a newly modified prototype of South Korea's main battle tank to the public for the first time the previous day. The modified K2 tank, developed by Hyundai Rotem and its partners with the aim of exporting mainly to Middle Eastern countries, was unveiled at the manufacturer's plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, during an event attended by March 27, 2026
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  Hot Stock: KAI defies market rout as KF-21 rollout fuels defense rally SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) -Shares of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) bucked a broad market selloff Thursday, riding a surge of investor optimism tied to the rollout of South Korea’s first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jet and rising expectations for arms demand amid expanding Middle East conflicts. While the wider market reeled, KAI climbed. The stock extended its recent rally, gaining for a second straight session and closing at 188,000 won, up 1.6 percent on the day — a March 26, 2026
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  Korea unveils first domestically built KF-21 fighter jet SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - South Korea rolled out the first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae fighter jet on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in the country’s decades-long push to develop the domestically built 4.5-generation supersonic fighter. President Lee Jae Myung, who attended the ceremony at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, described the rollout as a historic step toward strengthening self-reliant defense capabilities. “South Korea has finally secured we March 25, 2026
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  Hanwha's stealth KAI stake signals opening salvo in battle for Korea's fighter SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - The widening Gulf conflicts have caused disruption across markets but are simultaneously delivering a windfall for South Korea’s defense sector, galvanizing acquisition appetite around Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the country’s sole aircraft platform maker. Adding to its renewed strategic appeal, KAI rolled out its first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae fighter jet on Wednesday. Hanwha Aerospace disclosed in its latest business report that it March 25, 2026
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  Defense-strong Hanwha head Kim Seung-youn most well-paid business owner in Korea SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) -Reflecting the rise of Korean defense power, Kim Seung-youn, the owner of defense-heavy Hanwha Group, ranked as the most well-paid conglomerate head in 2025 with his compensation package topping 20 billion won. According to Hanwha Corp.’s annual report filed on Wednesday, Kim received 5.04 billion won from Hanwha Corp. last year. He also received 5.04 billion won each from Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems, 5.041 billion won from Hanwha Solutions, a March 19, 2026
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  GULF CRISIS: Korean naval ability to answer Trump's Hormuz call in doubt SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump made pretty much clear that Washington expects South Korea to join escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz, but defense experts doubt the country's navy capabilities can meet the call. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has attacked at least 10 vessels, including tankers and tugboats, using missiles and surface drones, and threats to strike any attempting to pass the waterway off Iran coastline. A strategic c March 17, 2026