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  S. Korea, US to begin talks next year on nuclear submarines, other nuclear issues SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to begin talks next year on nuclear submarines and other nuclear-related issues to implement agreements reached at summits between the two countries. "From next year, we agreed to begin discussions in all areas, including nuclear submarines, along with the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and uranium enrichment," National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Saturday after visiting Canada following a trip to December 21, 2025
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  South Korea, U.S. to launch parallel talks on nuclear submarine, fuel cycle issues SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) -South Korea and the United States plan to begin simultaneous, issue-by-issue consultations next year to implement leaders’ agreements on Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarine program, civilian uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, South Korea’s national security adviser said Sunday. Wi Sung-lac said the two sides agreed to “launch consultations all at once” starting next year as follow-up measures to agr December 21, 2025
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  Korean court revisits authoritarian-era anti-communism conviction SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -A South Korean court has fully acquitted Anglican Church of Korea priest Yoon Jung-hyeon, overturning his 1975 conviction under the now-abolished Anti-Communism Law after a retrial held nearly five decades later. The Seoul Northern District Court ruled on Dec. 11, 202, that Yoon was not guilty, and the verdict became final last Friday. The court said it could not rule out the possibility that coercive interrogation or mistreatment occurred during t December 20, 2025
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  Korea's first private rocket launch put off on technical glitch SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -South Korean space launch startup Innospace has called off the launch attempt of the country's first privately-developed rocket, HANBIT-Nano, after engineers identified a technical issue during final countdown procedures in Brazil. The launch was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday local time (9:30 a.m. Saturday in Korea) at the Alcantara Space Center, but was halted about an hour before liftoff when an abnormality was detected in a valve used to fill December 20, 2025
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  Unionized rail workers threaten indefinite strike again SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Unionized railway workers on Friday again threatened to launch an indefinite strike starting next Tuesday, citing the failure to fulfill agreements over bonus payments. State-run rail operator KORAIL's workers, who called off a planned strike at the last minute earlier this week after tentatively agreeing to further discussions on performance-based bonuses, said they will go on strike from the first train next Tuesday unless the agreements are fulfille December 19, 2025
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  KT Wiz infielder Hwang Jae-gyun to end 20-year baseball career SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Infielder Hwang Jae-gyun is retiring from baseball, the KT Wiz said on Friday. In a statement released by the club, Hwang said, "Despite a good offer from the club, I decided to retire after much consideration." He added, "Thanks to the fans who always supported me enthusiastically, I was able to play for 20 years." "It was a great honor to be selected for the national team and to compete in international sporting events such December 19, 2025
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  Nine-year-old boy becomes South Korea's youngest professional go player SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - A nine-year-old boy has become South Korea's youngest professional go or baduk player ever, the mind sport's governing body said on Friday. According to the Korea Baduk Association, Yoo Ha-jun earned professional status after passing the final qualification round the previous day, along with another young boy Pyo Hyun-woo who is 12 years old. The two stood out among about 55 under-12 apprentices to become South Korea's youngest professional G December 19, 2025
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  Gov't urges Mexico to minimize impact of looming tariff hikes SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Park Jung-sung on Friday met with Mexican Ambassador to Seoul Carlos Peñafiel Soto to discuss trade-related issues ahead of planned tariff hikes next month. Their talks came after Park consulted with relevant industry officials last week to assess the expected impact of the tariff hikes on imports of automobiles, textiles, and other goods passed by Mexico's congress earlier this month, and come up December 19, 2025
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  Safety measures to be heightened in Seoul's crowded areas during holiday weeks SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - A set of safety measures for crowded areas will be enforced during the holiday season, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Friday. Security and patrols will be beefed up at about a dozen locations including Seoul's major shopping and entertainment districts of Myeong-dong, Seongsu-dong, Itaewon, and areas near Hongik University, as they are expected to be crowded around Christmas and New Year's Eve. The city government said with it will fo December 19, 2025
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  Korea ramps up inbound marketing to boost regional tourism SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - As countries intensify competition for foreign visitors, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has turned to a comprehensive inbound marketing strategy as its key solution. Moving beyond conventional promotion, the approach offers end-to-end support — from product development and overseas distribution to global network linkage — with the aim of bringing regional tourism content onto the global stage. According to the KTO's October inboun December 19, 2025