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  • North Korean leader again oversees test-firing of missiles from naval destroyer
    North Korean leader again oversees test-firing of missiles from naval destroyer SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected again the test-firing of missiles from a naval destroyer, state media reported Tuesday. "Two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles were test-fired" last Sunday from the 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer Choe Hyun to assess its "operational efficiency," with Kim observing it, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Kim's latest inspection of the April 14, 2026
  • Seoul shares details of Korean vessels with Iran amid Hormuz transit talks
    Seoul shares details of Korean vessels with Iran amid Hormuz transit talks SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - South Korea has shared information on its vessels stranded near the Strait of Hormuz with Iran as part of ongoing negotiations over maritime transit, government sources said Tuesday. Jeong Byeong-ha, special envoy of the foreign minister, reportedly provided details about South Korean ships and crew members during talks with senior Iranian officials, focusing on the safety of vessels currently unable to pass through the strategic waterway. Iran had previou April 14, 2026
  • South Korea shares information with Iran on stranded vessels in Strait of Hormuz
    South Korea shares information with Iran on stranded vessels in Strait of Hormuz SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - South Korea has reportedly shared information on its vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, multiple government sources said on Tuesday. The development comes just a day after special envoy Chung Byung-ha arrived in Tehran the previous day to request that some 173 crew members aboard about a dozen South Korean vessels stranded in the strait, a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply, be allowed to pass through th April 14, 2026
  • Moral stance, strategic risk: Lees remarks test Koreas diplomatic balance
    Moral stance, strategic risk: Lee's remarks test Korea's diplomatic balance SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s entry into the widening global debate over the Middle East conflict has exposed the delicate balance between values-based diplomacy and strategic restraint, after President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks on civilian casualties triggered an unusually sharp backlash from Israel. Over 1,700 civilians, including 254 children, were reported killed in Iran before the ceasefire, while more than 600 were killed in Israeli air raids in Lebanon, acco April 13, 2026
  • Soaring fuel costs squeeze fishermen amid prolong Middle East crisis
    Soaring fuel costs squeeze fishermen amid prolong Middle East crisis INCHEON, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea's average diesel price soared to 1,986 won (about US$1.34) on Monday amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Diesel for fishing trawlers now costs around 280,000 won per drum (or 200 liters), up about 60 percent from a month earlier, adding to the financial burden on fishermen. April 13, 2026
  • South Korea gears up for local elections
    South Korea gears up for local elections SUWON, April 13 (AJP) - With just two months left until local elections, large banners have begun appearing across the country, urging voters to cast their ballots. This year's local elections to elect about 4,000 metropolitan mayors, provincial governors and other heads of local governments nationwide are slated for June 3. April 13, 2026
  • Finance chief to attend series of key financial meetings in US this week
    Finance chief to attend series of key financial meetings in US this week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol is set to depart for the U.S. on Monday to attend a series of international meetings and other events, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said on Monday. Koo is scheduled to host an investor blitz in New York on Tuesday for major global investment banks, outlining South Korea's economic fundamentals and key policy priorities to attract investment in the country. He will also meet top executives of global asset managers April 13, 2026
  • WGBI impact muted as external shocks pressure Korean bonds, won
    WGBI impact muted as external shocks pressure Korean bonds, won SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korean sovereigns joining the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) hardly proved to be a magic wand for both the currency and bonds in the first month. Extraordinary factors — including escalating Middle East conflicts and a shifting interest rate and inflation environment — have partly undermined the honeymoon period. Some experts say Korea’s structural challenges run too deep to rely simply on a WGBI boost. Since FTSE Russell be April 13, 2026
  • INTERVIEW: BTS wear them, but hanbok is still misunderstood
    INTERVIEW: BTS wear them, but hanbok is still misunderstood SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Hanbok is everywhere — on global stages, red carpets and tourist hotspots. Recognition, however, remains elusive. From BTS’s Gwanghwamun comeback performance in armor-inspired hanbok to the Oscar-stage showcase of K-pop Demon Hunters, Korean traditional dress is increasingly projected onto the global screen. The imagery travels easily. It resonates visually. To many, it simply registers as something “cool.” But familiarity s April 13, 2026
  • Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -1
    Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -1 SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The journey begins before the sea comes into view.Steel rails draw a quiet line from Seoul to the East Coast, and along that line, time seems to fold. Since the opening of the KTX Gangneung Line in 2017 ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the city has moved closer (two hours) —not just in distance, but in rhythm. What once required a night’s stay now fits within a single day. The train does not merely carry passengers April 13, 2026