South Korea pledges $100,000 in aid to cyclone-hit Madagascar SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - South Korea will provide US$100,000 in humanitarian aid to Madagascar to help the country recover from damage caused by a recent tropical storm, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. Madagascar, an island country off the southeastern coast of Africa, was recently struck by a tropical cyclone that left dozens dead and caused widespread damage including collapsed buildings, disrupted communications, and downed power lines. The ministry hopes February 26, 2026

S. Korea 'watching for possible US-North Korea talks' as Trump prepares for China trip SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - South Korea is keeping a close eye on developments ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China late next month, South Korea's U.S. envoy said on Monday. At a press briefing with South Korean correspondents in Washington, D.C., Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha said, "With all possibilities in mind including the possible resumption of dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea, we are closely watching related developments." February 25, 2026

USFK chief expresses regret over drill 'not shared' with Seoul SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), has expressed "regret" that South Korean defense officials were not briefed on last week's U.S. air drill over the West Sea. In a statement issued late Tuesday, Brunson said he regretted that South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were "not briefed in time," clarifying that he had discussed the drill with Ahn by phone. February 25, 2026

Ex-DP lawmaker faces arrest after Nat'l Assembly passes motion over bribery allegations SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion allowing the arrest of Kang Sun-woo, a former lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) over alleged bribery and breach of trust. The motion was passed with 164 votes in favor and 87 against, with three abstentions and nine invalid ballots. Kang is accused of receiving 100 million Korean won (US$68,500) from Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city official in return for the DP's candidate nominations for February 24, 2026

Vice FM Kim pledges inter-Korean dialogue on humanitarian issues at UN rights council SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Seoul will pursue inter-Korean dialogue to address humanitarian issues such as family reunions and the return of detainees, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-a said Monday at the United Nations Human Rights Council. In a keynote address to the council’s 61st session in Geneva, Kim said the government would work closely with the international community to achieve “practical” improvements in the human rights of North Korean residents. &ldquo February 24, 2026

Wildfire in Miryang contained after 20-hour battle SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A wildfire in the southeastern city of Miryang was contained on Tuesday after firefighters battled flames for more than 20 hours. The fire broke out around 4 p.m. the previous day on a hill in a small town in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, forcing about 150 residents to evacuate. About 1,511 emergency workers, along with 52 helicopters and 318 pieces of equipment, were deployed to combat the fire, but their efforts were hampered by low visibility a February 24, 2026

Impeached ex-president appeals life sentence over martial law debacle SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday filed an appeal of his life sentence on charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to his martial law debacle in December 2024. It comes about a week after the Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of the botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which it ruled was an act of insurrection in violation of the Constitution, condemning his actions as having "fundamentally undermined th February 24, 2026

1 dead, 3 injured due to fire at aging apartment complex in southern Seoul SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A fire broke out in an apartment unit in southern Seoul on Tuesday, leaving one person dead and three others injured. About 70 residents were evacuated after the fire began at around 6:20 a.m. at the Eunma apartment complex in Daechi-dong, an affluent neighborhood in Seoul's Gangnam district, according to district officials. Fire authorities said they contained the fire in about an hour and were working to extinguish the remaining flames. The agi February 24, 2026

Firefighters struggle to contain wildfire in small town of Hamyang SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - Firefighters are still struggling to contain a wildfire in the small town of Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province. According to the Korea Forest Service, the fire has burned some 190 hectares of land and forest as of early Monday morning since the fire broke out around 9 p.m. last Saturday. More than 100 fire trucks and 600 personnel have been deployed to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby residential areas, but strong winds and rugged terrain h February 23, 2026

South Korea's presidential office to hold emergency meetings after US court tariff ruling SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - South Korea's presidential office announced Saturday it will convene a high-level meeting of relevant ministries this afternoon to discuss the fallout from a United States Supreme Court decision that struck down President Donald Trump's centerpiece tariff policy. The meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. (0500 GMT), will be co-chaired by National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy. It follows a sepa February 21, 2026