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

One in five Korean listed firms unable to pay interest with profit

SEOUL, February 07 (AJP) - Nearly one in five listed companies in South Korea is classified as a “marginal firm,” unable to cover interest payments with operating profits, according to a report from the Korea Enterprises Federation. As of the third quarter of 2024, 19.5 percent of the country’s 2,260 listed firms - equivalent to 440 companies - fell into this category. Marginal firms are defined as those with an interest coverage ratio below 1 for three consecut

February 7, 2025

Singer Song Dae-kwan dies of heart attack

SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - Singer Song Dae-kwan died of a heart attack on Friday. He was at 78. According to his agency Starlineup Entertainment, Song, who had been hospitalized several times this year, felt unwell the day before and was rushed to a hospital, but died while receiving treatment. Making his debut in 1967, Song shot to fame with his iconic song "Sunny Day" in 1975, ending a decade-long period of obscurity. He remained popular among older fans, mostly with t

February 7, 2025

Webtoon-based anime 'True Beauty' to return with second season

SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - Webtoon-based anime "True Beauty" will return with its second season, according to StudioN, an affiliate of South Korea's largest portal Naver. The anime, adapted from Naver's hit webtoon series by Lim Ju-kyung, known by her pen name Yaongyi, is expected to be available on American streaming platform Crunchyroll sometime this year, with an exact release date yet to be decided. When the first season was released in September last

February 7, 2025

New Zealand embassy in Seoul celebrates Waitangi Day

SEOUL, February 07 (AJP) - The New Zealand embassy in the Republic of Korea celebrated Waitangi Day, the country's national day, on Thursday at the ambassador's residence in Yongsan District. More than one hundred guests attended the event, including foreign diplomats, businesspeople, and professionals from various sectors. Waitangi Day, celebrated on February 6, commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, marking

February 7, 2025

Number of North Korean defectors slightly increases despite tighter border controls

A group of North Korean defectors arrive in Seoul, in this file photo from April 2016. Courtesy of the Ministry of Unification SEOUL, February 7 (AJP) - The number of North Korean defectors here reached 236 last year, up 20.4 percent from the previous year. The uptick was partly due to those who had been stranded in third countries during the coronavirus pandemic finally making their way to the South. According to the Ministry of Unification on Tuesday, some 26 of them were men, wh

February 7, 2025