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  Constitutional Court rules Acting President's refusal to appoint justice unconstitutional SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea ruled on Thursday that Acting President Choi Sang-mok's refusal to appoint one of nominees for a court justice last year was unconstitutional. In its ruling, the court said that Choi's decision infringed on the National Assembly's legislative power by not appointing Ma Eun-hyuk, a nominee recommended by the main opposition Democratic Party, but it dismissed a request to assign him the post, deem February 27, 2025
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  South Korea, US and Japan condemn North Korea's nuclear program at disarmament conference in Geneva SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have condemned North Korea's nuclear weapons program at the annual UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva which wrapped up this week. The three countries warned in a joint statement on Wednesday that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are "in clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions." "It is deeply regrettable that persists in distorting real February 27, 2025
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  Former PPP leader releases book for political comeback SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon released a new book on Wednesday, reflecting on his brief political career while hinting at his presidential ambitions. The prosecutor-turned-politician is set to embark on a nationwide tour to promote his book, with the first stop in Seoul scheduled for next Tuesday. It will be his first public appearance in about three months since stepping down as party leader, shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol's De February 26, 2025
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  Nominee for Pentagon deputy secretary call for enhanced missile defense to counter North Korean threat SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Stephen Feinberg, a nominee for U.S. deputy secretary of defense, stressed the need to counter North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal, which poses a "clear threat to stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and across the globe." In a written response submitted to the Senate Committee on Armed Services for his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Feinberg said, North Korea "remains intensely focused on expanding its illi February 26, 2025
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  Yoon makes lengthy final statement as impeachment trial concludes SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday held the final hearing in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, wrapping up weeks of arguments over his botched martial law debacle last December. The session, which began at 2 p.m., included closing statements from both sides. Lawmakers leading the case accused Yoon of ordering military forces "to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly and arrest them," presenting an alleged me February 25, 2025
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  Hybrid vehicle registrations top 2 million in South Korea SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - With rising demand for eco-friendly cars, the cumulative number of hybrid vehicles registered in South Korea has surpassed 2 million for the first time last year. According to the statistics consolidated and released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on Tuesday, the total number of hybrid vehicles stood at 2.02 million by the end of last year with a whopping 482,349 units newly registered in 2024 alone. First introduced to the domes February 25, 2025
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  UK imposes over 100 new sanctions on Russia and North Korea SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The U.K. on Monday imposed over 100 new sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Russia and North Korea, targeting their roles in Moscow's war in Ukraine. It said that the sanctions focus on "funds going into Putin's war chest and propping up Russia's kleptocratic system," adding that they "will also target Russia's military machine, entities in third countries who support it and the fragile supply networks that it rel February 25, 2025
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  4 dead, 6 injured as bridge collapses at construction site in Anseong SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - A bridge at a construction site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, collapsed on Tuesday, leaving four workers dead and six others injured, according to government authorities. The incident occurred at around 9:50 a.m. when a steel reinforcement structure fell from a bridge under construction on a highway between Anseong and Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, connecting Seoul to the administrative city of Sejong. Ten workers who were working at the time fe February 25, 2025
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  Ukraine alleges North Korea supplying ammunition to Russia SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Ukraine has accused North Korea of supplying a significant portion of the ammunition used by Russian forces on the front lines of the ongoing war. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said Sunday at a press conference in Kyiv that “50 percent of the ammunition” used by Russian forces on the front lines comes from North Korea. He further explained that Pyongyang is also providing the Kremlin with large quantities of 170mm February 24, 2025
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  South Korea discusses defense industry collaboration with UAE, Egypt SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - South Korea discussed ways to strengthen defense ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Monday. According to the South Korean arms procurement agency, DAPA chief Seok Jong-geon visited the UAE and Egypt from Feb. 17 to 21 to promote defense exports. During his visit to Abu Dhabi, Seok attended IDEX, the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, where he met with senior def February 24, 2025