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  Ex-ambassador to Thailand tapped as US point man in East Asia SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - A former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand has been nominated as a candidate for the post of assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday on his social media platform Truth Social that he has picked Michael DeSombre for the role. "I am pleased to announce that Ambassador Michael George DeSombre will be nominated as the next United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific March 12, 2025
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  Launch of South Korea-US joint space telescope scrubbed minutes before liftoff SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - The launch of a space telescope co-developed by South Korea and the U.S. was postponed once again on Monday. According to the Korea Aerospace Administration (KAA), the planned launch of SPHEREx from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was called off about 40 minutes before its liftoff at noon due to bad weather. Unless unexpected changes get in the way, another attempt is set to take place at noon the following day, weather permitting. But it look March 11, 2025
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  PHOTOS: 19th-century Korean folding screen, ceremonial robe restored SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - A centuries-old Korean folding screen, along with a ceremonial robe of the Joseon Dynasty, have been meticulously restored after a lengthy conservation effort, officials announced Tuesday. The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Samsung Foundation of Culture, completed the restoration of the eight-panel screen, "Welcoming Ceremony for the Newly Appointed Governor of Pyeongan Province," held at the Peabody Essex Museum in Sale March 11, 2025
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  Police to investigate singer Wheesung's death through autopsy SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - With fans and others mourning the death of singer Wheesung, police said on Tuesday that they will ask the National Forensic Service to conduct an autopsy. The 43-year-old R&B singer was found in cardiac arrest at his home in eastern Seoul the previous day and was later pronounced dead. According to police authorities, no suicide note has been discovered, nor are there any signs of forced entry into the house, ruling out foul play. His agency Tazo En March 11, 2025
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  US condemns North Korea's missile launch, reaffirms alliance with South Korea SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - The U.S. on Monday strongly condemned North Korea as the renegade country fired several ballistic missiles earlier in the day. "The United States condemns these actions and calls on to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," said the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in a statement shortly after the missile launch which came in response to South Korea's annual joint defense exercise with the U.S. which kicked off the same da March 11, 2025
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  INTERVIEW: Finland and S. Korea seek collaboration opportunities in EV batteries and quantum computing sectors SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - As Finland and South Korea mark more than 50 years of diplomatic relations, their partnership continues to expand across high-tech industries, sustainability, and cultural exchanges. Ambassador Jyri Järviaho, in an interview at the Embassy of Finland in Seoul on Mar. 5, underscored the growing cooperation between the two nations. Looking back on diplomatic ties that began in 1973, Järviaho noted how the relationship has evolved. "In the early d March 11, 2025
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  Hyundai, Toyota refocus on China amid US market uncertainty SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and Toyota Motor are recalibrating their strategies in China, while the United States grapples with economic uncertainty driven by President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff regulations. China, one of the world’s most significant automotive markets, saw its electric vehicle sector capture a 30.2 percent market share in 2024, marking a 38.8 percent year-on-year increase. Overall, vehicle sales — including wholesales and imports March 11, 2025
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  Antitrust watchdog probes whether pharmacists blocked low-cost health products at Daiso SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into Ilyang Pharmaceutical’s sudden withdrawal of health supplements from Daiso stores, amid concerns that the country’s pharmacists’ association may have played a role in the decision, industry sources said Tuesday. The antitrust regulator is investigating whether the association’s involvement, if confirmed, constitutes a violation of fair trade laws. Ilyang Pharmace March 11, 2025
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  SK Energy to supply sustainable aviation fuel to Hong Kong carrier SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - SK Energy announced Tuesday that it will supply more than 20,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel to Cathay Pacific Airways by 2027, marking the first major agreement of its kind between a South Korean refiner and a Hong Kong-based airline. The deal, finalized on Monday, builds on a partnership that began in November, when Cathay Pacific started using SK Energy’s sustainable fuel for all aircraft departing from Incheon International Airport. The compan March 11, 2025
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  Teaser unveils Suzy singing theme song for upcoming Disney film SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - A video clip featuring actress and singer Suzy singing a soundtrack to Disney's upcoming musical fantasy film "Snow White" was teased on Tuesday. The roughly 40-second-long clip shows Suzy, draped in a red cape, braving a snowstorm as she ventures into an enchanted forest. Ahead of the American film's release here next week, Disney generated buzz with its online event "Guess Who?" last week, inviting fans to guess who will sing March 11, 2025