SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea's new tactical surface-to-surface missiles have been deployed and are combat-ready, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Tuesday. The missiles, known as KTSSM, are a crucial part of the country's defense strategy designed to precisely counter North Korean artillery and strike command facilities including underground bunkers in the event of conflict. A ceremony marking the deployment was held at a military c

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Korea has waived visas for Chinese group tourists, the won is about 4 percent weaker than a year ago, and inbound foreign arrivals are on track to hit a record high in 2025. Yet duty-free sales are shrinking to levels last seen a decade ago. Once the backbone of tourist retail — and a near-mandatory stop for Chinese and Japanese visitors — duty-free shops are shuttering outlets, downsizing operations and renegotiating rents as foot traffic thin

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who faces several charges related to his botched martial law debacle, will receive his first verdict next month. The Seoul Central District Court said on Tuesday it intends to deliver its ruling on January 16 on whether Yoon obstructed the law enforcement by blocking investigators and other officials who attempted to detain him in relation to the debacle. The court cited a law requiring the first ruling to be mad

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Officials from South Korea and the U.S. on Tuesday held talks to coordinate policies toward North Korea. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consultative meeting among relevant ministries and agencies, led by Jeong Yeon-doo, head of the ministry's office of diplomatic strategy, was held in Seoul, with acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim in attendance. Defense and security officials from both countries also attended, discu

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lak on Tuesday left for Washington for working-level talks with U.S. officials this week. His trip comes after South Korea and the U.S. released a comprehensive joint fact sheet last month detailing agreements on bilateral trade and security. Wi is also expected to discuss measures for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Just before his departure from Incheon International Airport, Wi said, "I will disc

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -South Korea’s nominee to head the new government authority responsible for policy and oversight of legacy and online contents providers said Tuesday the regulator would consider Australia-style protections for minors on social media and take action against illegal practices by Coupang and other platform operators following fact-finding investigations. Kim Jong-cheol, a constitutional law professor at Yonsei University, made the remarks during his

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Badminton player An Se-young has been named this year's top player by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The world No. 1 in women's singles received the award at the BWF's annual gala dinner in Hangzhou, China on Monday, beating competitors such as Wang Zhiyi and Chen Yufei of China, and Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. With the award, An became the first female player to win it three years in a row, having first received the honor in 2023

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Police on Tuesday failed to find key evidence after a 15-hour raid on about a dozen locations linked to the powerful Unification Church, also known as the Moonies, over allegations of bribery involving political figures. During the raid, which began at 9 a.m. the previous day and wrapped up after midnight, police searched about 10 locations including the sprawling residence of the church's leader Han Hak-ja in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province as well as o

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Noh Sang-won, former chief of South Korea's military intelligence unit, was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday for privacy violations and other charges related to disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle last year. The Seoul Central District Court found Noh guilty of gathering personnel information as well as accepting bribes. He was also fined 24.9 million Korean won (US$17,000). It was the first verdict