China's 'grains of sand' test South Korea's defenses SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Spies are nothing new to South Koreans, who have shared a border with belligerent North Korea for more than seven decades. But they now confront a different kind of suspected spy — Chinese nationals, not necessarily trained by the state but potentially paid to fish for military intelligence. A photograph of a fighter jet. A fragment of radio traffic. The time an aircraft takes off. A glimpse of weapons moving inside a military base. Each piece of in August 13, 2026

JYP Entertainment Q2 operating profit falls 41% as tour, merchandise sales drop SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - JYP Entertainment's second-quarter operating profit fell 41.4 percent from a year earlier as lower concert and merchandise revenue outweighed stronger album and digital music sales. Operating profit for the April-June period came to 31 billion won ($21.7 million), down from 52.9 billion won a year earlier and 7.1 percent from the first quarter. The result was 18.7 percent below the FnGuide consensus of 38.1 billion won. The operating margin narrowed August 13, 2026

Korea still looks cheap on paper. Why doesn't it feel that way? SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - South Korea can still look remarkably cheap to someone arriving from New York or Berlin. For Koreans earning and spending in won, it increasingly does not feel that way. Years of rising prices have made more spending discretionary as household incomes struggle to keep pace, squeezing what remains after necessities. Yet for visitors earning dollars or euros, a restaurant bill or cab fare in Seoul can still look like a bargain. A three-course meal for two August 13, 2026

Iran envoy urges South Korea to rebuild ties SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - South Korea should draw on its historically strong relationship with Iran to seek a role in postwar reconstruction and favorable terms for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian envoy in Seoul said. “We should close our eyes and look to the future,” Mohammad Esmaeil Passandideh, counselor and deputy head of mission at the Iranian embassy in Seoul, said in a recent interview with AJP. “The post-war period will be a gre August 13, 2026

KOSPI recovers above 6,800 as foreign buying fuels broader tech rally SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - South Korean stocks jumped more than 3 percent on Thursday as foreign investors returned to the market, extending the rally for a fourth straight session, with an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven rebound spreading beyond Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to chip equipment makers and other technology shares. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,813.34, up 234.30 points or 3.56 percent from the previous session. The index climbed as high as 6,895.63 during the da August 13, 2026

Hanwha Systems, TTA team up on AI-based 5G military communications SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems said Thursday it has partnered with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) to develop an AI-based 5G tactical communications network aimed at both the South Korean military and overseas defense markets. The project will focus on integrating terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks, including satellite communications, through AI to provide seamless connectivity across ground and airborne platforms. The companies also plan August 13, 2026

Rainy long holiday weekend to bring relief to drought-hit southern province SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Rain may ruin the plans of many holidaymakers over this weekend, but it is expected to bring much-needed relief to drought-hit areas in the southern part of the country. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Thursday, rain is forecast for most parts of the country from Friday through Monday, which is a substitute holiday as this year's Liberation Day falls on Saturday. Up to 50 millimeters of precipitation is expected over the August 13, 2026

Extreme heat drives up vegetable prices A citizen purchases a bundle of spinach for 8,000 (about $5.62) won at Gyeongdong Market in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, August 13, 2026. August 13, 2026

Extreme heat drives up vegetable prices A bundle of spinach sells for 8,000 won (about $5.62) at Gyeongdong Market in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, August 13, 2026. August 13, 2026

Government moves to stabilize seafood supply amid heat wave A citizen purchases seafood at Gyeongdong Market in Jegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, August 13, 2026. August 13, 2026