Chinese man released after questioning over alleged filming of NIS headquarters

SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - A Chinese national was released after being questioned on suspicion of using a drone to film the National Intelligence Service (NIS) headquarters over the weekend, police said on Monday. The Chinese man, whose name has not been disclosed, reportedly attempted to film a royal tomb in southern Seoul last Saturday, driven by his interest in UNESCO World Heritage sites and other Buddhist temples. Police believe he accidentally filmed the NIS headquarters in

November 11, 2024

Putin signs mutual defense pact with North Korea into law

SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a law ratifying a treaty that pledges mutual military support between Russia and North Korea. Initially signed during his visit to Pyongyang in June, Putin submitted the treaty to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament last month. It was subsequently approved by the Federation Council, the upper house. The military pact commits the two countries to come to each other's aid in th

November 10, 2024

Ex-pollster with ties to first couple grilled by prosecutors

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - Myeong Tae-kyun, the enigmatic figure at the heart of a widening political scandal engulfing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee, appeared before prosecutors on Friday. The 54-year-old former pollster arrived at the Changwon District Prosecutors Office, where he is expected to face questioning regarding his relationships with the first couple. Expressing remorse for his past actions, Myeong stated, "I feel sorry to the peop

November 8, 2024

French, Canadian envoys mark end of WWI with warning on global tensions

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - The French and Canadian embassies in Seoul marked the 106th anniversary of the end of World War I (1914- 1918) Friday reflecting on lessons from the Great War for today’s global hostilities. The solemn commemoration at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul drew dozens of attendees, including diplomats, military officials and members of the French and Canadian communities in South Korea. The event included a poetry reading by high school students, a m

November 8, 2024

Conference highlights deepening Korea-ASEAN ties

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - South Korea's relationships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were highlighted at a conference in Seoul on Thursday, focusing on enhanced collaboration and partnership across various sectors. Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Secretariat, the conference, under the slogan of "Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Future," brought together hundreds of government officials, diplomats and other participant

November 7, 2024

One in 10 marriages in Korea involved international couples last year

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - One in 10 marriages in South Korea last year involved international couples, according to government data released Thursday. Statistics Korea reported multicultural marriages increased by 17.2 percent to 20,431 cases in 2023, compared to the previous year. International marriages accounted for 10.6 percent of all marriages in the country, up 1.5 percentage points year-on-year. The proportion recovered from the pandemic-era low of 7.2 percent in 2021.

November 7, 2024

Yoon congratulates Trump on election win

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol phoned U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election win, the presidential office said on Thursday. During a telephone conversation that lasted about 10 minutes, Yoon congratulated Trump on his sweeping victory in Wednesday's election and discussed various issues including North Korea's recent troop deployment to Russia to support its war in Ukraine, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-h

November 7, 2024

President Yoon defends his wife, rejects calls for probe

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized for a mounting scandal involving his wife Kim Keon Hee and other related allegations in a televised press conference on Thursday. The apology came as he appeared to realize that it could no longer be delayed and that public concerns needed to be addressed, with his approval ratings continuing to plummet. Yoon offered explanations about Kim's alleged involvement in candidate nominations ahead of the general electio

November 7, 2024

What does Trump's return to White House mean for South Korea?

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump is making a return to the presidency in a surprising fashion as he achieved an electoral college majority by securing sweeping victories in key battleground states such as Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, defeating his Democratic rival and Vice President Kamala Harris. "It's a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American peo

November 6, 2024

UN Security Council condemns North Korea's latest missile launches

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - The member countries of the United Nations Security Council once again condemned North Korea's recent missile launches and other provocations. The North's recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, "in addition to the more than 100 ballistic missile launches since 2022 to date, is a clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, jeopardizes international peace and security

November 6, 2024