Opinion: N. Korea's weapons industry is going global, thanks to help from Russia and China

SEOUL, August 6 (AJU PRESS) - It may not have attracted much attention in recent months with global attention focused elsewhere. But the international sanctions monitoring regime on North Korea has been disbanded, raising concerns about the unimpeded flow of North Korean weapons to global hotspots from Ukraine to Gaza. Enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea has actually been eroding for years. The final coup de grace came in March when Russia vetoed the renewal

August 6, 2024

Badminton ace An Se-young wins gold in women's singles at Paris Olympics

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - Badminton player An Se-young won gold in the women's singles, at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France on Monday. The world's top-ranked player dominated the final match against He Bingjiao of China to win her first Olympic gold medal. An's 2-0 victory (21-13, 21-16) also ended Korea's 28-year gold medal drought in the sport's singles event, since Bang Soo-hyun's gold in 1996. A day earlier, Spanish favorite Carolina Mar&iac

August 5, 2024

VISUALS: Krafton opens PUBG-themed pop-up store in Seoul

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - Krafton, the company behind the popular battle royale game "PUBG: Battlegrounds," launched a pop-up store, called PUBG Seongsu, in Seoul's trendy Seongsu-dong last Thursday. The store, open from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays until August 18, features a jungle-themed space inspired by the game's Sanhok map. Visitors can experience various activities, including a surfing simulation, arcade games based on in-game items, an

August 5, 2024

PHOTOS: COEX Starfield Library crowded amid sweltering heatwave

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - The COEX Starfield Library was crowded with people seeking refuge from the heat last Friday as the nation was hit by sweltering weather, which prompted the weather agency to issue heat wave advisories for many parts of the country.

August 5, 2024

N. Korea deploys hundreds of missile launchers to frontline units

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea said it has deployed 250 new mobile launchers for ballistic missiles to frontline military units, the reclusive country said Monday. Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim attended a ceremony the previous day to commemorate the transfer of the new launchers. It quoted Kim as saying, "If the U.S. ignores our repeated warnings and continues to attempt to undermine the security of the region, it will have di

August 5, 2024

VISUALS: Chrome balloon spectacles at Mega Boopoo exhibition

SEOUL, August 05 (AJU PRESS) - The Mega Boopoo exhibition at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) showroom in Seoul runs from July 10 to August 25. Featuring a giant inflatable character made of thousands of chrome balloons and a 5-meter centerpiece, the event offers hourly dynamic displays with special effects, including powerful fans and lighting.

August 5, 2024

Korean beauty brand Amuse aims to triple US revenue after Shinsegae acquisition

SEOUL, August 05 (AJU PRESS) - Amuse, a Korean beauty brand known for its official model Jang Won-young of the K-pop girl band IVE, aims to boost its U.S. revenue by 200 percent by 2025 by leveraging the marketing network and expertise of Shinsegae International, which is set to become its parent company. Shinsegae International said Friday that it will acquire 100 percent of the shares in Amuse for 71.3 billion won ($51.9 million). Currently, Amuse's largest shareholder is Snow

August 5, 2024

Korean coffee franchises expand overseas amid K-food popularity

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - As "K-food" gains global traction, domestic coffee chains are accelerating their international expansion, leveraging diverse menus and localized offerings to capture new markets. In May, Hollys opened its first overseas store in Osaka, Japan, targeting the country's youth with Korean-style cafes and desserts. The shop features unique items like Yakgwa Cream Latte, which has become a bestseller. Ediya Coffee launched its first franchise

August 5, 2024

Seoul stocks plunge the most in 16 years amid US recession fears

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - Korea's benchmark KOSPI index plummeted 8.77 percent, marking the largest single-day drop in 16 years, on Monday amid growing fears of a U.S. economic recession. The KOSPI closed at 2,441.55, down 234.64 points from the previous trading day. It was the largest percentage drop since Oct. 24, 2008, when the index fell 10.57 percent amid the global financial crisis. The point drop was the biggest in history, surpassing the previous record of 133.

August 5, 2024

Koreans advised to evacuate Israel, Lebanon amid escalating tensions in Middle East

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Korean residents and visitors in Lebanon and Israel to leave the countries immediately on Sunday. The measure came after a meeting chaired by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun on the same day. Amid heightened tensions in the region after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader in Tehran last week, the region is bracing for a possible re

August 5, 2024