Lee calls emergency meeting in response to Israel's attack on Iran

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung convened an urgent meeting on Friday to discuss measures in response to Israel's attack on Iran earlier in the day. Lee said, "The most important thing is the lives and safety of South Koreans there," stressing the need to thoroughly assess the situation of South Koreans residing there. He ordered key officials to prepare appropriate safety measures for South Koreans residing in nearby areas while analyzing potential im

June 13, 2025

President Lee pledges support for growth at meeting with business leaders

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung met with the heads of South Korea’s largest conglomerates and business associations on Friday, pledging regulatory reform and support for corporate growth as central pillars of his economic agenda. The meeting came just days before his scheduled departure for the Group of 7 summit in Canada. The gathering, held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, brought together top executives from Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Gr

June 13, 2025

PHOTOS: A season of harvest

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - Even as June's warmth turns to oppressive heat, the fields are bustling with harvest activity. Below, a series of photographs documents the sweat and effort of early summer.

June 13, 2025

North Korea launches repaired destroyer after initial failed attempt

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - North Korea has launched a large destroyer, after its initial failed attempt last month, state media reported on Friday. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the 5,000-ton destroyer, named after North Korea’s historical naval hero Kang Kon, was launched at a shipyard in the northeastern port city of Rajin after weeks of repair work. The country's leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch along with his daughter, Ju-ae, who was dressed i

June 13, 2025

Samsung screens coral reef documentary at UN Ocean Conference

SEOUL, June 13 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics premiered its self-produced documentary, Coral in Focus, at the United Nations Ocean Conference, marking World Oceans Day with a spotlight on marine conservation efforts. The screening, held in the coastal city of Nice, drew an audience of roughly 70 attendees, including representatives from international organizations, marine scientists, and environmental advocates. The film explores the escalating crisis facing coral reef ecosystems

June 13, 2025

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