Korea pushes for rapid AI infrastructure buildout to compete globally

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - South Korea must fast-track the construction of domestic AI data centers and secure tens of thousands of high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) within the next two years if it is to join the ranks of the world’s top three artificial intelligence powers, the country’s science minister said. During a visit to Naver’s AI data center in Sejong, Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyoung-hoon outlined the government’s ambitious plans t

July 25, 2025

US sanctions more North Korean workers over illicit overseas schemes

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - More North Korean firms and workers involved in illicit schemes abroad have been sanctioned by the U.S. The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday sanctioned North Korean trading company Sobaeksu and three IT workers as "part of a collaborative effort" with the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and State, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations to counter North Korea's "wide-ranging r

July 25, 2025

Thailand recalls envoy after deadly border clash with Cambodia

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - Thailand has sharply condemned Cambodia over what it described as a serious violation of sovereignty, following a deadly border clash that left several civilians dead and injured. In response, Bangkok has decided to recall its ambassador to Phnom Penh and lower the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In a statement released Friday by the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, the Thai government said Cambodian troops had entered Thai territory on

July 25, 2025

South Korea fails to bridge tariff divide with US ahead of looming deadline

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. trade officials failed to reach a breakthrough on tariff negotiations during high-stakes talks in Washington on Friday, leaving Seoul with limited time to secure a deal before a key deadline next week. South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jeong-kwan and Trade Representative Yeo Han-gu met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for 80 minutes, but the discussions ended without agreement, according to a statement from South Korea&rsquo

July 25, 2025

Hyundai Mobis posts strong second quarter despite global headwinds

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - Hyundai Mobis reported robust second-quarter earnings on Friday, buoyed by the expansion of its electrification business in North America and a favorable foreign exchange environment that helped lift margins across its core auto parts operations. The South Korean auto parts firm posted revenue of 15.94 trillion won, or about $11 billion, for the April–June period, up 8.7 percent from a year earlier. Operating profit jumped 36.8 percent to 870 billion w

July 25, 2025

President Lee invites Kazakhstan's Tokayev for official visit to Seoul

SEOUL, July 25 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke by phone on Wednesday, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening ties across trade, culture, and development. According to a statement released by the Kazakhstan Embassy in Seoul, the two leaders discussed a broad range of cooperation areas, including ongoing and potential joint projects in energy, the automotive industry, education, and medicine. "During the ph

July 25, 2025

South Korea lags in government support for waste battery recycling

SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - South Korea risks falling behind in the rapidly expanding global waste battery recycling industry due to insufficient government support, the Korea Enterprises Federation warned Thursday, urging bold policy and financial intervention to secure the nation's competitiveness in a critical sector. According to a new report by the business lobby group, the global market for recycling end-of-life batteries is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 17 p

July 24, 2025

Heat wave warning issued again in Seoul as unbearable heat persists

SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - A heat wave warning was issued in Seoul on Thursday, after this summer's brief monsoon season came to an end last week. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the warning was issued around 10 a.m. for the capital as well as surrounding Gyeonggi Province, as scorching heat continues nationwide with daytime highs soaring up to 36 degrees Celsius. The highest-level warning, first issued this season earlier this month before being tempo

July 24, 2025

[K-Tech] Hyundai Motor's earnings drop sharply despite record sales, weighed down by US tariffs

SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor reported a double-digit drop in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday, as new U.S. tariffs and intensifying market competition eroded margins. Operating profit fell 15.8 percent from a year earlier to 3.60 trillion won, or about $2.6 billion — the company’s sharpest quarterly decline since the third quarter of 2020. The drop came even as revenue rose 7.3 percent to a record 48.29 trillion won, buoyed by strong sales of hybrid

July 24, 2025

TRAVEL: General's Tomb and the Gwanggaeto Stele

Ji'an, July 24 (AJP) - Located in Ji'an, Jilin Province, China, the General's Tomb is a Goguryeo-era stepped stone pyramid made of large, reddish-beige rectangular blocks stacked to the height of a five-story apartment building. With the exception of some blackened patches on the stone surface, it looked almost like a newly built structure. Only the topmost stones showed signs of slight damage or disalignment, a remarkable testament to the tomb’s endurance over the

July 24, 2025