'10,000 North Korean troops in Russia,' South Korean Defense Ministry says

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - About 10,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, with a considerable number of them moving to frontline areas, the Ministry of National Defense here said on Tuesday. "Approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been dispatched to Russia, and a considerable number of them have moved to frontlines including Kursk," said a ministry spokesperson during a press briefing. The remarks came just several hours after a similar statement from t

November 5, 2024

OPINION: How does electoral college voting system work in US election?

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - On Nov. 5, millions of Americans will cast their votes for president, with the vast majority deciding between Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump. This historic election, however, is not determined by a singular national poll, but rather a state-by-state contest. Many people outside the US, and some inside, do not understand how this complicated system works. Here are five things to know about the electoral college system: 1. It's not o

November 5, 2024

OPINION: Massachusetts could be next state to get rid of 'subminimum wage' for tipped workers

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - The federal minimum wage for tipped workers has stood at US$2.13 an hour since 1991. Back then, it amounted to half the $4.25 regular minimum wage. But Congress has failed to increase the tipped minimum while periodically raising the regular wage floor. Today, the tipped rate is less than one-third of the $7.25 federal full minimum wage. As of Oct. 2024, 30 states and Washington, D.C., had instituted their own, higher, regular minimum wages. The number of

November 5, 2024

PHOTOS: K-pop icon G-Dragon arrives at airport in Cybertruck

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - K-pop icon G-Dragon turned heads at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Monday, arriving in Tesla's futuristic Cybertruck before departing for a Chanel fashion show in Hong Kong.

November 4, 2024

South Korea to hire domestic helpers from more Asian countries

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - Foreign domestic helpers working here are expected to be more diverse, starting from next year. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said on Monday that it is considering expanding the current program, currently limited to workers from the Philippines, to include more Asian countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The pilot program, managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, was introduced this summer to alleviate the challenges faced by young

November 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Disability rights group rallies for job protection

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Disability rights activists rallied at the National Assembly Station in Seoul's Yeouido district last Wednesday, protesting the city's dismissal of 400 disabled workers from public sector jobs. The demonstrators, organized by Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, also demanded special legislation to protect public sector employment for disabled people.

November 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Baby, parenting fair held at COEX in Seoul

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - A four-day baby and parenting expo wrapped up Sunday at Seoul's COEX convention center, connecting parents with pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood resources. The Cobe Baby Fair, running Oct. 31-Nov. 3, focused on parenting education while providing industry vendors direct access to consumers. MESSE ESANG and COEX jointly hosted the event.

November 4, 2024

UN Security Council holds talks over North Korea's ICBM launch

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - Member countries of the United Nations Security Council are holding talks in Washinton, D.C. on Monday over North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch last week. Shortly after the launch, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned it as "clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions." Barbara Woodward, the U.K. ambassador to the UN and current Security Council president, called North Korea's r

November 4, 2024

Six Cambodians jailed in Korea for violent gang assault

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - A Korean court on Sunday sentenced six Cambodian nationals to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 5 years for a violent attack outside a nightclub in Suwon, south of Seoul. The group assaulted a fellow Cambodian man with blunt weapons on June 9, 2023, leaving the victim with multiple fractures requiring five weeks of medical treatment. Judge Kong Hyun-jin of the Suwon District Court cited the severity of the crime, noting that the main defendant distributed w

November 4, 2024

North Korean troops in Russia 'equipped with heavy arms'

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - Thousands of North Korean troops armed with assault weapons and other military gear have been deployed to border areas near Ukraine since late last month, Kyiv's intelligence agency said. According to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) last weekend, Russia has moved more than 7,000 North Korean soldiers to "the frontline with the help of at least 28 military transport aircraft." North Korean soldiers, who are likely to join

November 4, 2024