Samsung raises bet on robotics with investment in US startup

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has invested $10 million in Skild AI, a California-based robotics software company developing artificial intelligence systems for autonomous machines, as part of a broader push into the emerging field of physical AI. The investment is part of Skild AI’s $4.5 billion Series B funding round, led by Japan’s SoftBank, which contributed $100 million. Nvidia also joined the round with a $25 million stake. Several other South Kore

June 13, 2025

Korean petrochemical firms seek lifeline through mergers as losses mount

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s beleaguered petrochemical industry is turning to consolidation as a potential lifeline, with Lotte Chemical and HD Hyundai reportedly in discussions to integrate their naphtha cracking operations. The move comes as domestic producers reel from plunging profits and stiff competition from China and the Middle East. Lotte Chemical’s operating profit plummeted nearly 64 percent in the past year, falling from 2.59 trillion won ($1.9 bil

June 13, 2025

Lee's nominee for senior post bows out over allegations

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday accepted the resignation of a key nominee who had come under fire over several allegations. Oh Kwang-soo, Lee's pick for senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, stepped down less than a week after his nomination, becoming the first top-level government official to resign since Lee took office on June 4. Amid mounting controversy over hidden real estate dealings involving his wife along with a suspicious loan ta

June 13, 2025

Trump 'remains receptive' to talks with North Korea, White House says

SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump "remains receptive" to engaging in talks with North Korea, the White House said Wednesday. When asked to clarify whether North Korean diplomats had refused to accept a letter Trump sent to Kim, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing, "The president remains receptive to correspondence with Kim Jong-un, and he'd like to see the progress that was made at that summit in Singapore, wh

June 12, 2025

Korea's leading online bookstore admits possible data breach after ransomware attack

SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Yes24, South Korea’s largest online bookstore, acknowledged for the first time on Thursday the possibility that customer data may have been compromised in a ransomware attack that has crippled its operations for days. In a statement posted on its official website, the company said it would individually notify customers if investigators confirm that personal data had been leaked. The announcement came one day after the Personal Information Protection C

June 12, 2025

Kakao charts new course with AI push, global ambitions

Editor's Note: This article is the 22nd installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Kakao Corporation, once a scrappy start-up with a single messaging app, has grown into one of South Korea’s most powerful tech conglomerates — a digital behemoth whose services permeate nearly every aspect of daily life for millions of K

June 12, 2025

Kim Jong-un sends message to Putin to coincide with first anniversary of military pact with Russia

SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin as Moscow marked "Russia Day," state media reported on Thursday. The Russian national holiday, which celebrates the 1990 declaration of the country's sovereignty during the Soviet era, is observed annually on June 12. In the message reportedly delivered the previous day by North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol, Kim called Putin his &

June 12, 2025

S. Korea and Viet Nam agree to expand cooperation in rail and nuclear energy

SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone conversation with Vietnamese President Lương Cường on Thursday, reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation. The 25-minute call, which began at 9:30 a.m., opened with President Cường congratulating Lee and expressing hope for meaningful progress during his term. "I hope President Lee achieves many accomplishments during his presidency," Cường said, according to

June 12, 2025

PHOTOS: A season of new life in the wild

SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - For the natural world, spring ushers in a period of profound renewal, marking the birth of countless fragile lives. From hidden dens to sun-dappled nests, this season witnesses the arrival of a new generation. We've gathered a collection of images showcasing these freshly arrived animal offspring.

June 12, 2025

Snap to launch lighter, smarter AR glasses next year

SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, is making a renewed bet on hardware with the announcement of a next-generation pair of augmented reality smart glasses, known simply as “Specs.” Set to launch in 2026, the new device represents a shift in strategy for the social media company, which has previously released AR glasses under the “Spectacles” brand, primarily targeting developers and creators. This latest iteration, however,

June 12, 2025