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

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

Singer Wheesung found dead at home

SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Singer Wheesung was found dead at around 6:30 p.m at his home in eastern Seoul on Monday. He was 43. He was discovered in cardiac arrest at his home in Seoul's Gwangjin district and was later pronounced dead. A close acquaintance of his said, "After coming back from China the previous day, he was set to meet his manager on Monday, but he didn't answer his phone. His mother, who lives in the same apartment building on a different floor, went do

March 10, 2025

Police brace for possible chaos as Yoon's impeachment verdict nears

SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Security will be beefed up around the Constitutional Court of Korea in central Seoul as a final verdict for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial over last year's botched martial law debacle looms as early as this week or early next week. Several districts including Jongno, where the court is located, along with nearby areas, will be designated for special security to prepare for potential chaos and violence from both supporters and opponents of

March 10, 2025

South Korea poised to finalize deal with Poland for additional batch of weapons shipment

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - South Korea is poised to finalize a deal to export K2 battle tanks to Poland as early as next month, government sources here said on Sunday. The deal worth 9 trillion South Korean won (US$6 billion) will supply the European country with an additional 180 K2 battle tanks. The upcoming deal is part of massive arms agreements signed in 2022, under which Poland is procuring battle tanks, jet trainers, self-propelled howitzers, light attack aircraft, and multipl

March 9, 2025

Russia 'retakes Ukrainian-occupied territory with support from North Korean troops'

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Russia has reclaimed two-thirds of its northwestern Kursk territory, which was lost to Ukrainian forces last summer, as "battlefield advances" were made with the help of North Korean forces, the New York Times reported on Saturday. "Russian and North Korean soldiers have retaken about two-thirds of the land lost in the summer - but at a horrendous cost, with at least 4,000 troops killed in combat," the daily said. "As the battles dr

March 9, 2025

Rifts deepen as impeachment verdict looms after Yoon's release

SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - With President Yoon Suk Yeol's release from detention on Saturday, attention now turns to its possible impacts on the final verdict in his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court of Korea over his botched martial law debacle last year. Yoon returned to his official residence in Hannam-dong after some 52 days of detention at a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, as prosecutors decided not to appeal a court's order the previous day to cance

March 9, 2025

Impeached South Korean president released from detention after court ruling

SEOUL, March 08 (AJP) - Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from the Seoul Detention Center on Saturday, 52 days after being detained on charges of inciting an insurrection related to his failed attempt to impose martial law in December. Yoon's release came after a court ruled on Friday that he could stand trial without physical detention. The court approved Yoon's release request after determining that his Jan. 26 indictment, which extended his detention, had com

March 8, 2025

Prosecutors divided over President Yoon's release order after court decision

SEOUL, March 08 (AJP) - South Korea's prosecution leadership and the special investigation team are at odds over whether to comply with a court decision to cancel President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention, sources said Saturday. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office leadership has instructed the investigation team to issue orders for Yoon's release following the court's decision, according to legal sources. However, the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law,

March 8, 2025

Court orders Yoon's release from detention

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - A court on Friday ruled in favor of President Yoon Suk Yeol's request to cancel his arrest over his botched martial law debacle last December. The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon's indictment to be "invalid," as it was made after his detention period had expired. Given differing views over whether detention periods should be calculated in days or hours, the court further explained that there were additional grounds for canceling h

March 7, 2025