Korean arms gain strategic role as Southeast Asia balances US-China rivalry SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Southeast Asian countries are increasingly turning to South Korean weapons as they seek to modernize their militaries while navigating the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China. The trend is drawing growing attention as Washington expands its Indo-Pacific security operations beyond the Korean Peninsula and Japan, while Southeast Asian nations continue pursuing flexible defense ties with both major powers. According to industry sources, som May 14, 2026

North Korean women's soccer team to visit South Korea for AFC semifinal this weekend SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The Unification Ministry here has approved a visit by North Korea's women's soccer team to participate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League next week. A total of 39 North Korean footballers and sports officials are set to arrive on Sunday for the tournament's semifinal match against Suwon FC Women, scheduled for May 20 in Gyeonggi Province. They will be allowed to stay in South Korea until May 24. It will be th May 14, 2026

KOSPI closes at record high, approaches 8,000 on AI rally SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - South Korea's main KOSPI extended its record-setting climb to outshine regional and global peers as it moved closer to a new four-digit milestone. The benchmark index touched a high of 7,991.04 before settling at 7,981.41 Thursday, up 137.40 points, or 1.75 percent from the previous session. Retail investors bought 1.84 trillion won ($1.26 billion) worth of shares and institutions added 190.6 billion won, while foreign investors sold 2.14 trillion wo May 14, 2026

BLUE HOUSE INSIGHT: Dialogue on 'excess profits, excess tax revenues, and future of South Korea in AI age' SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The recent Facebook essays by presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom have stirred unusual debate in Seoul's financial and policy circles. Some dismissed them as overly ambitious. Others saw them as one of the first serious attempts to grapple with a profound question now emerging before advanced economies: What happens when artificial intelligence transforms not only industries, but the fiscal structure and social contract of an entire nation? At its core, May 14, 2026

Korea's gold restraint pays off amid Gulf crisis SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Restraint from joining the global gold rush may have worked in the favor of the Bank of Korea, as the country’s relatively low gold exposure helped shield South Korea from sharper foreign reserve losses during market turmoil triggered by the Iran war earlier this year. As oil prices surged following the outbreak of the conflict in late February, governments around the world drew down reserves in March to stabilize currencies and protect their economies. May 14, 2026

Xi warns Trump on Taiwan at Beijing summit SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that the Taiwan issue could trigger a direct clash if handled improperly, in one of Beijing's strongest warnings yet over its most sensitive geopolitical red line. The remarks came during a summit between the two leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday, where Xi and Trump held talks on trade, AI, Iran and broader regional security issues. "The Taiwan q May 14, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Crisis in South Asia, world's petroleum wardrobe The conflict in the Middle East is unraveling the global garment industry, proving that fast fashion is as much a byproduct of crude oil as it is of cotton. In the industrial sprawl of Gazipur, just north of Dhaka, the looms of the world’s second-largest apparel engine are beginning to stutter. For decades, the floor managers of these vast, vertically integrated factories have calculated their margins down to the fraction of a cent. They optimized for labor, they maximize May 14, 2026

Foreign minister vows follow-up response over attack on HMM vessel Namu SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday that South Korea will take necessary follow-up measures over the recent attack on the HMM cargo vessel Namu after conducting an additional government investigation. “Based on the position that attacks on civilian vessels, including the Namu, cannot be justified or tolerated under any circumstances, we will continue consultations with relevant countries,” Cho said during a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry May 14, 2026

Early Korean anatomy textbook to be registered as cultural heritage SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - South Korea is set to designate the country's first Korean-language anatomy textbook as a state-registered cultural heritage item, highlighting the early spread of modern medicine on the Korean Peninsula more than a century ago. The Korea Heritage Service announced Thursday that Anatomy - a three-volume medical textbook published in the early 20th century at Chejungwon, Korea's first modern medical institution established by American missionaries - will May 14, 2026

Largest media expo underway in southern Seoul SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The Korea International Broadcasting, Media, Audio & Lighting Show (KOBA), which kicked off on Wednesday, runs until Friday. Under the theme of "The AI-Awakened Media Era: Content Connects, Creation Evolves, Convergence Opens," the four-day expo reflects the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies in the broadcasting and media industry, such as OpenAI's "Sora," Google's "Veo" and Meta's &quo May 14, 2026