North Korea vows to further bolster nuclear arsenal

SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his determination to further develop the country's nuclear weapons program and vowed to strongly respond to the "threats" the country faces. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday that the U.S.-led trilateral security alliance, along with South Korea and Japan, poses "a grave challenge to the security environment" of North Korea, quoting its leader as saying. D

February 9, 2025

Young South Korean ballerino wins prestigious award in Switzerland

SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - Ballerino Park Youn-jae won the top prize at the Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition in the Swiss city on Saturday. The 16-year-old ballet prodigy became the first male South Korean dancer to win the prestigious award. Retired world-famous ballerina Kang Sue-jin won the competition in 1985 when she was 18, followed by Park Sae-eun in 2007, who later reached the highest "étoile" rank at the renowned Paris Opera Ballet. Th

February 9, 2025

Weeklong cold spell freezes Han River for first time this winter

SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - The weeklong cold spell has led to the freezing of the Han River in Seoul. The Korea Meteorological Administration said on Sunday that the river froze for the first time this winter, as subzero temperatures, which began earlier in the week with Ipchun or the official beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar, have persisted. The river is officially considered frozen when the surface near the Hangang Bridge is completely covered with ice. The ri

February 9, 2025

Four dead, six missing after fishing trawler sinks off Yeosu

SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - A fishing trawler sank off the country's southern coast early Sunday morning, leaving four dead and six missing. At around 1:40 a.m., the 139-ton trawler with 14 crew members on board disappeared from radar approximately 17 kilometers east of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. Coastguards dispatched patrol boats and other available vessels to the scene and rescued four foreign crew members — two Indonesians and two Vietnamese. But three South Kor

February 9, 2025

South Korea wins 7 golds on first day of medal race in Asian Winter Games

SEOUL, February 08 (AJP) - South Korean athletes made a strong showing on the first day of the medal race in the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games on Saturday. The country won seven gold, five silver and seven bronze medals, taking second place in the medal standings after China, which captured eight gold, eight silver, and four bronze medals. Park Ji-won claimed silver in the men's 500m behind China's Rin Xiaojun, while Jang Sung-woo took bronze. Park had earlier won gold

February 8, 2025

North Korea says nuclear arsenal for warfare, not negotiation

SEOUL, February 08 (AJP) - North Korea declared on Saturday that its nuclear weapons are intended for actual warfare rather than negotiation leverage, rebuffing calls for denuclearization from the international community. In a commentary released through the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea dismissed recent statements by NATO and European Union spokespersons refusing to recognize it as a nuclear state, calling their positions "nonsensical sophistry." "Our nu

February 8, 2025

Trump pledges renewed ties with North Korea in first summit with Japan's Ishiba

SEOUL, February 08 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to reestablish relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and affirmed commitment to Korean Peninsula security during his first summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on Friday. "We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong Un. I got along with him very well," Trump said at a joint press conference, describing their relationship as "a very big asset for everybody&

February 8, 2025

Ex-first lady cleared of allegations over India trip and luxury jacket

SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - Former First Lady Kim Jung-sook has been cleared of allegations of abuse of power and embezzlement of state funds. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said on Friday that it dropped charges against Kim, the wife of former President Moon Jae-in, over allegations related to her solo trip to India and her handling of a luxury jacket worn during a state visit to France. "We conducted a thorough investigation, questioning multiple individuals a

February 7, 2025

Telecom companies making progress in quantum cybersecurity

SEOUL, February 07 (AJP) - South Korea’s three major telecommunications companies - SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus - are intensifying efforts to commercialize quantum encryption technology, positioning themselves as key players in the business-to-business security market. While each company has made notable progress in advancing and securing quantum encryption solutions, full monetization remains a long-term prospect. Quantum encryption is emerging as a critical defense aga

February 7, 2025

NewJeans change name to NJZ amid dispute with agency

SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - K-pop girl group NewJeans on Friday unveiled their new name as they are about to start their independent activities. On a post on social media, the quintet shared that their new name is NJZ and that they will perform at a concert in Hong Kong, which is part of "ComplexCon," a cultural festival scheduled to be held in the city from March 21 to 23. Their brand-new name was coined after they accepted proposals from fans late last month, although d

February 7, 2025