NPT talks collapse again over nuclear disputes involving N. Korea, Iran SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - The 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) ended Friday without adopting a consensus document, as member states failed to narrow differences over North Korea, Iran and nuclear disarmament. The four-week conference, held at the U.N. headquarters in New York, had been expected to produce a final document on strengthening the NPT regime. But negotiations broke down over regional nuclear threats and how to implement d May 23, 2026

ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: Global order axis to move again as Xi heads to Pyongyang Beijing in May 2026 was no ordinary capital city. It had become a vast reception chamber where the currents of global power intersected and collided — a strategic stage upon which the outlines of a new international order were being tested. Within days, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing in succession. European leaders intensified contacts with China. Middle Eastern rulers and Central Asian heads of state also gravitated towar May 23, 2026

North Korean football club's South visit unlikely to thaw inter-Korean ties: report SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - North Korean women’s football club Naegohyang FC’s recent visit to South Korea is unlikely to lead to a broader thaw in inter-Korean relations, a South Korean state-run think tank said Friday. A recent report by the Institute for National Security Strategy said the visit should be viewed not as a signal of reconciliation but as “a limited form of contact between two states through an international sporting event,” according to researcher May 23, 2026

Samsung labor vote on wage deal tops 80% on second day amid bonus split SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics union members voted for a second day on a tentative 2026 wage deal, with turnout exceeding 80 percent. According to industry sources, as of 6:40 p.m. Saturday, 46,185 of 57,290 eligible voters at the SGUU, Samsung Electronics’ largest union, had cast ballots, bringing turnout to 80.62 percent. At the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the second-largest union, 6,502 of 8,187 eligible voters had participated as of the same ti May 23, 2026

U.S. flags chip tariffs in push on Korean memory makers to speed up US chip investments SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) -U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Friday that Washington is not planning immediate semiconductor tariffs but stressed that duties remain an important tool to rebuild domestic chip manufacturing, signaling continued pressure on Asian chipmakers including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to expand production in the United States. Speaking at a memory chip expansion project by Micron Technology in Virginia, Greer said the Trump administration’s May 23, 2026

Historic map featuring Dokdo islets to be auctioned next week SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Daedongyeojido, a map of the Korean Peninsula, that includes South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo as part of its territory, is slated to go on auction in Seoul next week. According to Seoul Auction in southern Seoul, the hand-colored copy of the map created by famed geographer Kim Jeong-ho will be put up for auction next Thursday, along with about 145 works spanning modern and traditional Korean art, with a combined estimated value of about 10.3 bill May 22, 2026

Govt boycott widens vs Starbucks Korea over "Tank Day" backlash SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - More Korean ministries and public agencies are moving to distance themselves from Starbucks Korea after the top coffee franchise under Shinsegae Group came under fire for its “Tank Day” promotion over its association with the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. South Korea’s Defense Ministry has temporarily suspended welfare partnership projects with Starbucks Korea as criticism intensifies over what many viewed as historically insensitive mar May 22, 2026

Consumer group urges Starbucks to fully refund prepaid balances SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations urged Starbucks Korea to refund prepaid card balances in full and without conditions to customers who no longer wish to use the chain, as a consumer boycott over a controversial marketing campaign deepens. The civic group on Friday also called on regulators and lawmakers to overhaul what it described as an unreasonable refund regime for prepaid stored-value cards. Under Starbucks' current terms, custom May 22, 2026

Asia AI boom lifts Nikkei to record high while KOSDAQ roars on retail frenzy SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Japan's main index touched new heights Friday as it led broad Asian gains refueled by AI hype, while Seoul's secondary bourse received a boost from a state-backed fund. The Nikkei 225 rose 2.68 percent to a record close of 63,339.07 amid reinforced momentum in AI- and semiconductor-related stocks following Nvidia's strong earnings. SoftBank Group surged more than 12 percent intraday after a near 20-percent jump in the previous session — the May 22, 2026

Two key candidates in tight race for Seoul mayor ahead of local elections, poll suggests SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - With just weeks to go before the June 3 local elections, Jung Won-oh of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), a former incumbent, appear to be in a neck-and-neck race for Seoul mayor, one of the biggest showdowns. In a poll of over 1,000 Seoul residents conducted by pollster Ace Research earlier this week, Jung had 41.7 percent support, compared with 41.6 percent for Oh. They were followed by dista May 22, 2026