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South Korea Donates Eight Retired 500MD Helicopters to Kenya The Ministry of Defense has delivered eight retired 500MD helicopters to Kenya after maintenance and technical support from the United States. This initiative, aimed at supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations, signifies the expansion of military cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to the international community. On October 23, a ceremony for the helicopter donation was held at the Kenya Army Aviation Command in Nairobi, where the eight retired helicopters were officially handed over. The event was attended by over 200 participants, including officials from the defense ministries of South Korea, the U.S., and Kenya, as well as local diplomats and UN representatives. Rear Admiral Ryu Yoon-sang, head of the South Korea-U.S. Alliance Development Task Force, represented Minister of Defense Kang Shin-cheol and delivered a congratulatory message. This donation follows a commitment made by the South Korean government during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial held in Seoul in 2021, where it pledged to provide helicopters to support peacekeeping efforts in Africa. At that time, South Korea announced plans to donate retired 500MD helicopters, with the U.S. agreeing to assist with maintenance and transportation. From December 2023, the eight retired 500MD helicopters were transported to the U.S. for maintenance, which took approximately two years, and were shipped to Kenya in September after completing maintenance and passing recent test flights. In his congratulatory message delivered by Rear Admiral Ryu, Minister Kang stated, The 500MD helicopters being transferred today symbolize South Koreas support and solidarity for Kenyas development and peace in Africa. This achievement is a result of close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S., marking a significant outcome for the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The Ministry of Defense added, We will continue to expand our contributions to peacekeeping operations, establishing ourselves as a leading donor of advanced technology.* This article has been translated by AI. October 23, 2026 20 -
China Targets Middle East Desalination Market with Advanced Technology China is rapidly expanding its presence in the Middle Easts desalination market. As global water scarcity increases, countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are purchasing Chinese equipment, key components, and engineering services. Notably, even Middle Eastern nations that have traditionally led in desalination technology are beginning to utilize Chinas supply chain.On October 22, Reuters reported that China is emerging as a major supplier of water treatment technology in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Saleh Al Kabti, head of China operations at Saudi Arabias ACWA Power, stated, Chinese manufacturers are rapidly closing the technological gap with international leaders, and predicted that they could reach world-class standards within the next 2 to 3 years.According to the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database, Chinas exports of water filtration and purification machinery exceeded $2 billion in 2025, marking a 25% increase from $1.6 billion in 2020. However, this figure includes various filtration and purification equipment beyond just desalination-specific machinery.Chinese companies are also increasing exports of essential components, such as desalination membranes. Woton Technology, a Chinese membrane manufacturer, exported over 30,000 desalination membrane modules to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative last year. Additionally, China Power Construction Corporation is involved in a water supply project in Tanzania that will serve over 450,000 people and is participating in a $4 billion desalination project in Basra, Iraq, in collaboration with local partners.Middle Eastern companies are becoming increasingly reliant on Chinese equipment. ACWA Power plans to purchase at least $15 billion worth of Chinese equipment annually over the next three years, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, and desalination technologies.Chinas strengths lie in its vast manufacturing base and dense industrial supply chain. The ability to mass-produce key components like membranes and filtration equipment while sourcing related materials domestically allows for lower production and procurement costs. This is particularly advantageous in emerging markets, where cost-sensitive projects benefit from suppliers that can reduce initial construction expenses. If Chinese companies can provide not only equipment but also design, procurement, and construction services, along with financial and infrastructure cooperation, they can enhance their competitiveness in securing contracts.Just as China established price competitiveness and expanded its overseas markets in solar and wind energy through mass production, similar expectations are emerging for desalination technology. Following solar and wind, desalination technology is becoming a key future export item for China.* This article has been translated by AI. October 23, 2026 11
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Irini Papadimitriou Appointed Artistic Director of Seoul Media City Biennale The Seoul Museum of Art has appointed Irini Papadimitriou as the artistic director for the 14th Seoul Media City Biennale, scheduled for August 2027.Irini Papadimitriou is a contemporary art curator, creative director, and cultural strategist focused on contemporary art, new media art, and digital culture. She is interested in the impact of technology on society and culture, as well as how art engages with contemporary social issues, having organized various exhibitions and public programs surrounding artificial intelligence, algorithms, and digital technology.She has served as the digital program manager at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK, head of new media art development at Watermans, and creative director at FutureEverything. Currently, she is the exhibition director at Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The international call for artistic director proposals, the third of its kind, ran for 90 days from June 3 to August 31, 2026, receiving a total of 70 submissions from contemporary art curators and researchers across Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and Oceania. The selection process involved two stages: an initial document review followed by interviews.Park Nam-hee, the chair of the selection committee, stated, Irini Papadimitrious proposal was based on thorough research, structuring key contemporary issues surrounding artificial intelligence into an exhibition, and demonstrating a timely awareness of the dual nature of technology and its ideological foundations. She added, I particularly appreciated how the proposal connected with the specific context of Seoul, expanding the theme and enhancing the potential for realization through exhibitions and programs.Irini Papadimitriou expressed her excitement and honor at being appointed as artistic director, stating, Today, technological innovation often operates on the dynamics of conquest, resource extraction, surveillance, and control. At the 14th Biennale, I will critically examine how these systems shape our society and our future. She further noted, I aim to create a space for exploring and discussing the potential for technology to be reoriented as a foundation for realizing public values.The Seoul Museum of Art will hold a forum-style pre-biennale program in November to share and discuss the main concepts and planning directions for the 14th Seoul Media City Biennale.* This article has been translated by AI. October 23, 2026 11
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Op-Ed: France knows how to revolt. But can it reform? “Is Paris burning?” The question immortalized in the 1966 black-and-while epic war film evoked the threatened destruction of a city whose survival mattered far beyond France. Paris was a repository of civilization, its streets and monuments belonging, in some measure, to the world. Today, images of burning buildings and vandalized streets invite a different question. Can the country that helped teach the modern world how to overthrow an old order still find the political will to renew its own? France’s latest unrest began with students demanding better conditions in their schools. It widened into a confrontation over living costs, public services and austerity, drawing in workers and veterans of the yellow vest movement. Violence accompanied the demonstrations, including the burning of the historic town hall in Limoges. Once again, grievances that France’s political institutions could not resolve have spilled into its streets. The temptation is to reach for the familiar language of revolution. Yet the more troubling story is the failure of reform. Few countries carry a revolutionary inheritance as powerful as France’s. In 1789, the storming of the Bastille signaled a revolt against an entire structure of inherited privilege. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen established principles whose authority would outlast the governments that claimed to embody them. Revolution promised a future that the existing order could neither imagine nor accommodate. Its legitimacy rested on something larger than defiance: the conviction that political power had forfeited its moral authority and that a new order could better serve the people. Koreans understand that distinction. The April 1960 uprising grew out of outrage at electoral fraud that had emptied popular sovereignty of meaning. Students paid with their lives to restore a principle the government had betrayed. The democratic ideals of that uprising remain enshrined in South Korea’s Constitution. Such moments deserve remembrance. But their moral authority cannot be inherited by every movement that fills a street. France’s upheaval of May 1968 was itself different from 1789. Beginning with student protests against university authority and restrictive social conventions, it expanded into a nationwide crisis as workers joined the revolt. Even Charles de Gaulle, whose stature rested on his wartime leadership and the founding of the Fifth Republic, briefly left France for Baden-Baden to consult Gen. Jacques Massu. He subsequently dissolved the National Assembly and regained the political initiative. The political order survived. French society nevertheless changed profoundly. Authority in universities, workplaces and private life became more open to challenge. Demands for individual autonomy and greater equality acquired a force that an electoral victory could not extinguish. That is the ambiguity of 1968: a movement can fall short of political revolution while transforming the culture in which politics operates. The unrest of 2026 belongs to another historical moment. High school students have been prominent among its initiators. Their complaints concern the ordinary foundations of a credible future: functioning schools, adequate staff and the prospect of a life they can afford. These are demands that a wealthy democracy should be capable of addressing through its institutions. Their expansion into a broader protest movement reveals how widely that confidence has eroded. Yet anger, however understandable, does not supply a program of government. Burning a town hall cannot improve a school. Looting a shop cannot restore purchasing power. The destruction of public property consumes resources that protesters themselves insist are desperately scarce. A democracy must protect peaceful dissent and respond to the grievances behind it. It must also distinguish that dissent from violence. To romanticize destruction as revolutionary energy is to evade responsibility for what follows. France’s predicament is especially acute because the state is being asked to provide more while struggling to finance the commitments it already carries. Its social model embodies achievements that citizens understandably value: security in old age, public services and protection against the harsher consequences of the market. But those achievements require a durable economic foundation. A promise does not become sustainable simply because withdrawing or revising it would be politically painful. The International Monetary Fund has warned that France’s high debt, modest growth and rising spending pressures require a credible multiyear adjustment. The difficulty is no longer merely identifying the problem. It is assembling the political consent to act on it. Pension reform captures the impasse. Emmanuel Macron’s government enacted an increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2023, only for the reform to be suspended as part of the political bargaining over the 2026 budget. A measure presented as essential to the system’s future proved unable to secure lasting acceptance. The obligations remain. The adjustment is deferred, standing as a particularly poor bargain for younger generations. Preserving every existing entitlement may look like solidarity, but it becomes harder to defend when the bill is passed to people whose own prospects are increasingly uncertain. Intergenerational fairness requires attention to those who will finance the system as well as those who currently benefit from it. Britain’s experience under Margaret Thatcher offers an uncomfortable comparison. Her determination to confront entrenched interests made her a symbol of reform, although the social costs of her policies remain deeply contested. France needs something of that willingness to face choices that postponement has made more difficult. Resolve alone, however, is insufficient. Reform must explain who will bear the burden, why the distribution is fair and what citizens can reasonably expect in return. Otherwise, fiscal necessity becomes another phrase through which people hear that their lives must grow harder. The political danger is that repeated failure discredits the very idea of democratic compromise. When mainstream parties cannot reconcile promises with resources, movements offering more sweeping answers gain an opening. The extremes need not demonstrate that their programs will work. They need only persuade voters that the existing parties have exhausted their claim to govern. Immigration adds another source of division. Instability in the Middle East and Africa has placed difficult questions of refuge, borders and integration before European societies. Those questions demand workable policies and cooperation. When they instead become tests of national loyalty, the space for compromise contracts further. France’s unrest should not be reduced to immigration, nor should migration become a convenient explanation for failures of fiscal management and public provision. But a political system already weakened by domestic frustration is more vulnerable to movements that turn anxiety into hostility. The revolutionary inheritance offers a warning here as well as inspiration. The fall of the old order did not assure France a peaceful or liberal future. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette went to the guillotine; so did Robespierre, whose name became inseparable from revolutionary terror. Those who unleash upheaval cannot assume they will control its course. Revolution can destroy an exhausted order. It cannot guarantee that what follows will be more just, more capable or more humane. France now needs the patience to negotiate change and the courage to carry it through. That means acknowledging legitimate hardship while confronting fiscal limits, protecting dissent while enforcing the law, and making solidarity an obligation shared across generations. Gradual reform is often harder than dramatic rupture. It requires citizens to accept imperfect bargains and leaders to defend decisions whose benefits may arrive after their own political careers have ended. But each reform abandoned makes the next confrontation more likely. A country that has repeatedly changed the world through revolution must now show that it can change itself through democratic consent. * The author is a professor emeritus of law at Seoul National University, where he served as its 26th president from 2014 to 2018. He holds a doctorate in law from Paris II University and previously headed the Korean Public Law Association, the Korean Law Professors Association and the National Assembly’s Public Officials Ethics Committee. **The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of AJP. October 23, 2026 11 -
Lotte Innovate Partners with Qatari Investment Group to Enter Malaysia's MLFF Market Lotte Innovate is accelerating its entry into Malaysias multi-lane free-flow toll collection (MLFF) market in partnership with the Qatari Investment Group (PCG). The company plans to combine its domestic traffic system technology with the funding and business development capabilities of its overseas partner to expand opportunities in the global transportation infrastructure market, including Malaysia.On October 21, Lotte Innovate announced that it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with PCG to collaborate on overseas MLFF projects. The two companies agreed to prioritize discussions on the introduction and utilization of relevant technologies and the pursuit of new business opportunities.Building on this partnership, Lotte Innovate plans to establish a collaborative relationship with PCG, starting from initial project assessments and technology applications to business development and commercialization. The goal is to continuously identify joint business opportunities in the global transportation infrastructure market from a long-term perspective, beyond individual project collaborations.PCG is a funding, investment, and business development group based in Doha, Qatar. It leads consortium formation and project execution in global infrastructure projects and collaborates with global technology partners in various fields, including smart cities and smart transportation.Lotte Innovate is moving quickly to enter the MLFF market in Malaysia, where a project is underway to enhance the toll collection system across 34 highways, covering a total length of 2,035 kilometers and approximately 211 toll plazas. The MLFF system allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths or moving to designated lanes. This requires the establishment of an integrated system capable of vehicle recognition, toll information processing, fee settlement, and operational management.Lotte Innovate anticipates that its collaboration with PCG will broaden its scope for global business cooperation, leveraging PCGs global network and funding capabilities.PCG is focusing on key regions for business development, including Southeast Asia, Latin America, Central Asia (CIS), and North Africa. The company expects to jointly explore MLFF business opportunities by considering the demand for transportation infrastructure and market conditions in each region.Lotte Innovate has experience in the domestic smart tolling business, having established 171 single-lane and 31 multi-lane systems, along with 909 vehicle image capture devices. At the recent ITS World Congress in Gangneung, the company showcased technology that collects tolls by recognizing vehicle license plates using AI, without the need for separate high-pass devices. It also demonstrated its capability to recognize license plates from vehicles in South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan, highlighting its technological prowess for entering overseas markets.A representative from Lotte Innovate stated, “Based on a close cooperation system between the two companies, we will solidify business opportunities in key overseas markets, including Malaysia, and connect these to tangible revenue growth, thereby enhancing our competitiveness in the global mobility business.”* This article has been translated by AI. October 23, 2026 08
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SK Innovation Shares Drop 6% Amid Rising Freight Costs and Profit-Taking SK Innovation is experiencing a decline in its stock price during the latter part of the trading session. The drop follows a sharp rise in share prices driven by expectations of increasing international oil prices and refining margins, coupled with profit-taking activities. Additionally, rising freight rates are also putting pressure on the stock.As of 2:02 PM, SK Innovation shares are trading at 143,600 won, down 10,600 won (6.87%) from the previous trading day. The stock opened at 153,400 won and peaked at 155,500 won during the session before reversing course and falling to 140,400 won.Other refining stocks are also showing weakness. S-Oil has dropped 8,300 won (5.6%) to 139,600 won, while Korea Shell Oil is down 29,000 won (5.3%) to 518,000 won.The profit-taking activities coincide with mixed signals from international oil prices. On October 21, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for December delivery closed at $97.15 per barrel, down 0.7% from the previous day. Meanwhile, Brent crude finished slightly higher at $108.82 per barrel.The surge in maritime shipping costs due to instability in the Middle East is also raising concerns about the profitability of refining stocks. Freight rates for very large crude carriers on major routes have skyrocketed to between $20 and $40 per barrel, significantly exceeding normal levels. The costs of transporting crude oil from the Middle East to Asia and Europe, as well as from Africa to Europe, have surged dramatically.Short-term uncertainties are expected to persist. Reports suggest that military conflicts in the Middle East may escalate following the U.S. midterm elections.* This article has been translated by AI. October 22, 2026 14
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Samsung's Lee Jae-yong Prioritizes Safety at UAE Power Plant Amid Geopolitical Risks Lee Jae-yong, the chairman of Samsung Electronics, visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to inspect a major power infrastructure construction site and encourage local employees. During his visit, he sought to explore strategies for entering new business ventures in the Middle East while listening to the concerns of dispatched employees navigating geopolitical risks.On October 21, local time, Lee visited the construction site of the Al Dafra gas-fired power plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he reviewed key facilities and assessed the construction schedule and safety management status. The Al Dafra plant is a large-scale power infrastructure facility with a capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW), developed in a consortium with local contractor Trozan General Contracting by Samsung C&T. It plays a crucial role in meeting the increasing power demand driven by industrial development in the UAE and supplying electricity for advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.Following the site inspection, Lee held a meeting with executives from Samsung C&T and Samsung E&A to discuss business directions in response to changes in the Middle Eastern market. Samsung aims to actively seek opportunities in future new businesses, including AI data centers and energy infrastructure, based on its existing achievements in nuclear and gas combined power generation.Lee also shared lunch with employees at the site cafeteria, expressing gratitude for their hard work. He stated, I deeply appreciate the responsibility and effort each of you shows in your roles, and emphasized, The company always prioritizes your safety and health.This visit is part of Lees ongoing commitment to support dispatched employees in the Middle East. On October 16, he provided local gift certificates and letters of appreciation to 730 dispatched employees and their families across nine Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran. Earlier in March, he had sent gifts and local gift certificates to over 500 employees and their families in three Middle Eastern countries.Lee has positioned the Middle East as a key hub for future growth and has continued to build a global network. Following visits to Abu Dhabi in February 2019 and December 2021, he chose the UAE as his first overseas business trip destination after becoming chairman in 2022, visiting the Barakah nuclear power plant. In November of last year, he accompanied the presidential economic delegation to engage with key figures in the Middle East.Lee has met multiple times with prominent Middle Eastern leaders, including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to foster cooperation in advanced industries such as semiconductors, 5G, AI, and smart cities.Samsung affiliates are also undertaking large-scale projects in the Middle East. Samsung C&T has expanded its collaboration on the joint development of small modular reactors (SMRs) with the UAE Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) based on its construction achievements at the Barakah nuclear power plant, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July of last year. Samsung E&A is involved in the $2.5 billion TAZIZ methanol project in the UAE and a $4.7 billion ammonia plant construction project in Saudi Arabia.Samsung Electronics is participating in the large-scale Open RAN infrastructure development for Saudi Aramco, supplying technology for industrial mobile communications. Additionally, it plans to establish a new subsidiary in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2024 to accelerate its market penetration in the Middle East and North Africa (SEMENA) region.* This article has been translated by AI. October 22, 2026 14
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KISA Supports Domestic Security Firms in Entering Japanese Market with Export Consultation Event The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced on October 21 that it held the K-Security Business Day in Tokyo, Japan, on October 20 to support domestic cybersecurity companies in entering the Japanese market.Japan is a key export market for South Koreas cybersecurity industry. With the recent increase in cyber threats and the strengthening of supply chain security, demand for security products and services in Japan has been growing, making it a focal point for overseas expansion. The Japanese government has been enhancing its cybersecurity framework, including the enactment of the Cybersecurity Capability Enhancement Act in May of last year to strengthen public-private threat information sharing and response to cyberattacks.Since 2025, KISA has been operating K-Security Export Consultation Meetings to connect cybersecurity companies with local institutions and businesses in strategic overseas markets, including Southern Southeast Asia (Indonesia), the Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia), and Latin America (Costa Rica).This year, KISA held consultation meetings in Indonesia in June and Costa Rica in August, and expanded its support to Japan in response to domestic companies interest in entering the Japanese market.The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Korea Information Security Industry Association (KISIA) coordinated the participation of domestic cybersecurity companies in conjunction with Japan ICT Week and Security Days Fall, allowing exhibiting companies to seek additional business opportunities with local buyers and firms.On the morning of October 20, one-on-one business consultations were held between seven cybersecurity companies and local Japanese buyers. KISA facilitated these consultations by matching the identified needs of Japanese companies with the technologies and products of domestic firms, enabling discussions on potential business and technology collaborations.The seven participating cybersecurity companies were Somansa, Steelian, ICTK, S2W, Aispera, Genians, and Quadminer.In the afternoon, a business seminar was held for cybersecurity companies interested in entering the Japanese market. Local institutions, including the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Information Processing Promotion Organization (IPA), participated to share insights on trends in the Japanese IT and cybersecurity market, information on foreign companies entering the Japanese market, and key issues related to Japans cybersecurity policies.On October 21, six cybersecurity startups will conduct a visiting export consultation meeting with local companies. The participating firms will introduce their technologies and services to local businesses and discuss collaboration opportunities. The six startups are 78 Research Lab, Malware Eradication Team, Yatab, Retrust Co., Konic Glory, and Tatum.KISA and the Ministry of Science and ICT plan to continue supporting the local demand and collaboration discussions identified during this export consultation meeting to ensure they lead to tangible outcomes such as contract signings, technology cooperation, and local partnerships.Oh Jin-young, head of KISAs AI Security Industry Division, stated, Cybersecurity is crucial for protecting a companys core information and systems, so securing trust in both products and companies is essential for entering overseas markets. Based on the cooperative network established with overseas institutions, we will actively support cybersecurity companies in building trust locally and creating new business opportunities.* This article has been translated by AI. October 21, 2026 09
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World Bank unveils first digital strategy at Seoul summit SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - The World Bank Group aims to expand digital opportunities to 1 billion people worldwide by 2030 through its first digital strategy, harnessing artificial intelligence to create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The development lender set out the initiative at its inaugural Global AI and Digital Summit in Seoul, where President Ajay Banga said “digitalization democratizes market opportunity.” “Digitalization is such an enabler of jumping over the standard ways of development,” Banga said. The strategy has four priorities: expanding internet connectivity, making digital devices and services more affordable, strengthening digital ecosystems and preparing countries to adopt AI. Its implementation targets include 600 million people using broadband internet and 400 million using digitally enabled services by 2030. “That means 1 billion people with a better chance to learn, earn, build a business and find a job,” said Kim Sangbu, the group’s vice president for digital and AI. “The impact goes beyond individual opportunity. It can transform economies,” he added. The initiative comes as developing economies face tightening financial constraints and a rapidly growing working-age population. About 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in those countries over the next 10 to 15 years, while their economies are projected to create only 420 million jobs, according to World Bank estimates. Kim said digital technologies could help narrow the gap by raising productivity, attracting private investment and opening new markets. “We bring together financing guarantees, policy reform, technical expertise and private capital at scale, helping countries build full digital ecosystems, not isolated systems,” he said. Banga said digital tools could lower the cost of entering markets, enabling individuals and small businesses to compete without the resources traditionally needed to build large-scale operations. But he warned that advances in AI could deepen inequality if countries lack the infrastructure and resources to benefit. “You don’t want other countries to get left behind,” he said. “You certainly don’t want inequality to expand.” Computing power, electricity, data, skilled workers and capital are essential to developing large AI models, Banga said, noting that few countries possess all five at sufficient scale. Developing economies should therefore avoid assuming they must compete to build the most sophisticated systems. Instead, he advocated “small AI”—practical applications that address specific problems using local data, languages and relatively inexpensive technology. For lower-income economies, Banga said, his principal concern was the opportunity to create jobs being lost if countries failed to adopt AI, rather than simply the displacement of existing workers. “This is how you take this amazing power, this amazing capability and bring it to life for a farmer, for a healthcare worker, for a teacher, for a student,” he said. He cited farmers in India using mobile phones to identify crop diseases and obtain agricultural advice, and AI tools in El Salvador that assess students’ language skills and support classroom instruction. Successful applications should move beyond pilots, he said. “Take that and put it to work in 100 countries,” Banga said, describing how an educational AI program could be adapted for wider use. Anna Bjerde, the group’s managing director of operations, cautioned that AI could not compensate for a lack of reliable electricity, internet connectivity or effective institutions. “It’s easy to overestimate what AI can do when you only see it working in places where the basics are already in place,” she said. “Around 2.2 billion people remain offline globally,” she said. Many others live within network coverage but cannot afford smartphones or digital services. “Digital economies cannot grow without reliable, affordable electricity.” Bjerde pointed to the bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. The program had already connected 59 million people, she said. She also highlighted applications that do not require countries to develop costly computing infrastructure. “Countries should not have to build everything from scratch,” she said. “Small AI offers a practical starting point.” Citing an AI tutoring initiative in Peru, Bjerde said: “The point is not the sophistication of the technology, it’s whether the technology solves a real problem.” Public trust would be equally important. “People will only use digital systems if they know their information and money are protected,” she said. The World Bank separately announced an AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative to help emerging economies obtain affordable computing capacity through shared infrastructure, rather than building individual national data centers. The initiative will initially focus on Africa and Latin America, with technology partners including Nvidia and Cassava Technologies. South Korea, co-hosting the summit through its Ministry of Finance and Economy and Ministry of Science and ICT, pledged to share its technological experience. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Korea’s transformation from aid recipient to advanced economy demonstrated the value of sustained investment in technology and infrastructure. “Today, AI is opening a new chapter in the global economy and international development,” Lee said. Countries lacking infrastructure, technological capabilities and effective institutions risked falling further behind, he warned. “This is why we must work together to ensure that the technology gap does not become a development gap.” Lee outlined plans for a global AI hub in Korea bringing together AI cooperation centers from six multilateral development banks, including the World Bank. The hub would combine their financing and development expertise with Korea’s technological capabilities. He also promoted the proposed K-AI package, designed to offer developing countries AI solutions suited to their economic conditions and infrastructure. “Korea’s use of AI in water treatment plants is a good example,” Lee said, describing how the technology can analyze water quality and improve the efficiency of public infrastructure. The government hopes to develop such applications into larger World Bank-supported projects. “This way successful solutions can reach more countries and benefit more people,” he said. The Korea–World Bank Group AI and Digital Knowledge Center, established in December 2025, is expected to help transfer that expertise. “Korea shows what sustained investment in people, infrastructure, and institutions can achieve,” Kim said. The summit brings together government officials, development experts and technology executives, with discussions continuing through Thursday on applications in agriculture, healthcare, education and other sectors. The goal, Banga said, is to use technology to “bring dignity and hope to young people.” October 20, 2026 16 -
China's Excavator Exports Surge by Over 30%, Half of Production Sold Abroad Chinas excavator exports have seen a remarkable increase of over 30% this year.According to the China Construction Machinery Industry Association, the cumulative sales of excavators in China from January to September 2026 reached 214,274 units, marking a 23.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Of this total, exports amounted to 109,744 units, up 30.4%. Exports now account for 51.2% of total sales, surpassing domestic sales on a cumulative basis.In September alone, excavator sales reached 22,717 units, a 14.4% increase year-on-year. Exports for the month were 12,806 units, reflecting a 20.7% rise. The General Administration of Customs of China reported that the export value of construction machinery from January to August was $46.614 billion, a 20.8% increase from the previous year. Excavator exports have now risen for 26 consecutive months compared to the same period last year.The surge in Chinas excavator exports can be attributed to price competitiveness. Chinese manufacturers have enhanced product competitiveness based on production experience and supply chains developed in the large domestic market. The localization of key components and the expansion of production scale have also contributed to cost reductions. As a result, Chinese equipment is well-received in price-sensitive emerging markets. The expansion of overseas sales networks and maintenance service systems has further supported the increase in exports. Major Chinese manufacturers are expanding local distribution and maintenance hubs to secure overseas customers. The demand for infrastructure construction and mining development in emerging markets such as Asia and Africa is also driving the growth of excavator exports from China.The domestic market in China is also showing signs of recovery. In September, the average operating hours for major construction machinery products reached 80.7 hours per month, a 3.32% increase compared to the same period last year.* This article has been translated by AI. October 20, 2026 15
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Middle East Plant Orders Drop Nearly 40% Amid Ongoing Conflict The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a nearly 40% decline in plant orders from Korean companies in the region compared to last year. Delays in new project bids and intensified competition from countries like China have prompted the government to enhance support for companies through financial assistance, bid information, and high-level consultations.On October 20, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a meeting with major domestic plant companies, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and the Korea Plant Industry Association. The meeting aimed to assess changes in the local business environment due to the Middle East conflict and discuss challenges in securing new projects, as well as public-private response strategies.According to the ministry, from January to September this year, Korean companies secured $25.023 billion in overseas plant orders, a 34.8% decrease from $38.376 billion during the same period last year. However, last years figures included a $18.7 billion contract for the Dukovany nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic, which skews the comparison. Excluding this contract, overseas plant orders this year represent a 27.2% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure is also 11.1% higher than the average of $22.6 billion in orders over the past five years for the same period.Despite the overall decline in orders, the downturn in the Middle East was particularly pronounced. From January to September, plant orders in the Middle East totaled $5.826 billion, down 39.8% from $9.678 billion during the same period last year. The Middle East accounted for 23.3% of total overseas plant orders.The rate of decline in Middle East orders has gradually decreased, from 91.1% in the first quarter to 72.5% in the second quarter, and 39.8% in the third quarter. This reduction is attributed to the inclusion of large projects, such as a fertilizer plant in Saudi Arabia.The Middle East has historically been a key market for Koreas overseas plant industry. The ministry noted that overseas plant orders are projected to reach $34.07 billion in 2024, the highest level in nine years since 2015. At that time, orders from the Middle East amounted to $15.52 billion, accounting for about 46% of the total.While the Middle East remains an active market for large energy and petrochemical plant orders, the geopolitical risks and changes in the international energy market can affect bidding schedules. The ongoing conflict in the region has already caused delays in major project timelines, necessitating adjustments to Korean companies bidding strategies.Changes in the regional order structure have also emerged. From January to September, orders from the Americas reached $11.248 billion, a 189.2% increase compared to the same period last year, making it the largest market, accounting for 45.0% of total orders. Orders from Asia also rose to $5.544 billion, a 16.2% increase, while orders from Africa increased by 105.6% to $1.992 billion.In terms of equipment sectors, orders for offshore plants surged to $5.086 billion, a 694.7% increase compared to the same period last year. The equipment sector also saw a 94.0% increase, totaling $6.013 billion. Notable projects contributing to these figures include an $2.88 billion floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility in the U.S. and a $1.56 billion FLNG project in Mozambique. Conversely, orders in the power and desalination sectors fell by 89.2% to $2.966 billion, while the oil and gas sector saw a 40.1% decline to $1.008 billion.During the meeting, the government discussed support measures to address delays in bidding and the expansion of competitors in response to the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. The Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, KOTRA, and the Plant Industry Association plan to assist companies in securing new orders through financial support, establishing networks with local bidders, and providing business information.The ministry announced that it will begin releasing quarterly statistics on overseas plant orders globally, including the Middle East. By analyzing order performance by region and equipment sector, the ministry aims to assist companies in developing their overseas expansion strategies.Baek Jun-hyung, Director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energys Trade Cooperation Bureau, stated, The government has implemented various policies to activate plant orders for our companies and has supported project bids during high-level exchanges. We will continue to strengthen comprehensive support to ensure our companies can secure more bidding opportunities.* This article has been translated by AI. October 20, 2026 11
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Lee Hyung-il Makes International Debut at G20 and G7 Meetings to Address Global Imbalances and AI Cooperation Lee Hyung-il, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, attended his first major multilateral international meeting since taking office, discussing international cooperation to address global imbalances and secure future growth drivers.On October 15, local time, Lee participated in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting and the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the last in-person finance ministers meeting hosted by the United States, the G20 chair, and France, the G7 chair, where countries reviewed the outcomes of discussions over the past year and addressed future challenges.During the G20 meeting, Lee highlighted the need to discover new growth drivers in response to supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, such as the Middle East conflict, as well as high inflation, high interest rates, and changes in technologies like AI. He emphasized that countries should enhance supply chain resilience and protect vulnerable populations while actively investing in future growth sectors like AI.Member countries evaluated that this years G20 finance track discussions focused on economic growth, global imbalances, debt issues, financial stability, regulatory improvements, and enhancing financial literacy. Lee expressed gratitude to the United States as the chair and stated that South Korea, which will form a G20 troika with the U.S. and the U.K. next year, aims to contribute to stable global economic growth.At the G7 meeting, Lee stressed the necessity of macroeconomic policies and structural reforms to alleviate global imbalances, which refer to the accumulation of large current account surpluses in some countries and deficits in others. He noted the importance of cooperation among G7 members and comprehensive collaboration through the G20. South Korea was invited to the G7 finance ministers meeting in October, marking the first time it has attended consecutively since May.Lee also participated in a G7 side event focused on Africa, discussing ways to strengthen international partnerships, including balanced growth and official development assistance (ODA). He expressed South Koreas commitment to supporting investment and value creation based on its economic development experience, aiming to continue exchanges as a reliable partner for Africa.In bilateral meetings with key countries, specific areas of cooperation such as supply chains and AI were discussed. With Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers, they agreed to continue multilateral cooperation based on their experience co-chairing the G20 Global Imbalances Study Group. Lee thanked Australia for its assistance in securing emergency supplies during the domestic urea water crisis in November 2021 and reaffirmed the need for cooperation in energy and critical mineral supply chains.In discussions with German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, they explored expanding cooperation in manufacturing, critical minerals, and digital sectors. The German side expressed a desire to strengthen collaboration with South Korea, noting the growing importance of physical AI in traditional industries such as automotive, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Lee introduced South Koreas major AI investment plans.With U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, they discussed the U.K.s plans for the G20 finance track in 2027 and measures to enhance economic resilience, including youth employment. Healey congratulated Lee on his appointment and expressed support for his new role, anticipating close cooperation as both countries will chair the G20 in succession.Lee and Singapores Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah agreed to strengthen regional financial cooperation as co-chairs of next years ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting. Lee requested Singapores experience in managing its sovereign wealth fund, Temasek, in relation to South Koreas strategic sovereign wealth fund initiative, to which Singapore responded positively.In a meeting with Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), they discussed follow-up measures for cooperation in AI, critical minerals, and nuclear power. Lee requested the ADBs active role in translating diplomatic achievements into concrete projects and urged support for expanding the participation of South Korean personnel in the ADB.* This article has been translated by AI. October 16, 2026 12
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2026 League of Legends World Championship Begins: T1's Quest for Historic Fourth Consecutive Title The 2026 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) has kicked off in the United States, drawing attention to T1s historic quest for a fourth consecutive title under the leadership of Lee Sang-hyeok, known as Faker.On October 15, the tournament commenced with the Play-In Stage at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, marking the start of a month-long schedule. A total of 19 teams from six regions, including Korea, China, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific, and Brazil, are participating. The competition will unfold in three stages: Play-In, Swiss, and Tournament.In the Play-In Stage, four teams are competing: Cloud9 Kia from North America, Karmine Corp from Europe, FURIA from Brazil, and MVK Esports from Asia-Pacific. This stage follows a double-elimination format, where teams must win three out of five matches to advance. Only one team will move on to the Swiss Stage. In the opening match, Karmine Corp defeated Cloud9 Kia with a set score of 3-2.The Swiss Stage will feature 16 teams competing against each other based on their win records, with the first eight teams to achieve three wins advancing to the quarterfinals. Conversely, teams that record three losses will be eliminated.Four teams from the Korean League (LCK) are participating: Gen.G, Hanwha Life Esports, T1, and Dplus Kia. These teams will skip the Play-In Stage and enter the Swiss Stage, which begins on October 23.The spotlight is on T1s potential to secure a fourth consecutive Worlds title. T1 has won the championship three years in a row since 2023, bringing their total to six titles. If they win again this year, they will set a record for the first four-peat in the tournaments history.Another point of interest is the performance of Lee Min-hyung, known as Gumayusi, who transferred from T1 to Hanwha Life Esports. Hanwha Life recently won the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) by defeating Chinas BLG 3-2 in the finals and also secured second place in the LCK. Fans are eager to see if Gumayusi can lift the Worlds trophy with his new team.Gen.G, led by Jeong Ji-hoon, known as Chovy, is also aiming for its first Worlds title. Gen.G secured the top seed by winning the LCK finals against Hanwha Life Esports 3-1, and their ability to maintain their domestic dominance on the global stage will be closely watched.Dplus Kia, centered around Heo Su, known as ShowMaker, is looking to reclaim the Worlds title for the first time in six years. Although they entered the LCK as the fourth seed, they proved their strength by winning the E-Sports World Cup (EWC) in Paris last July, defeating Karmine Corp 3-0 in the finals after overcoming BLG and Gen.G in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.There is also interest in whether the LCK can continue its streak of five consecutive Worlds titles, which began in 2022, despite strong competition from international teams.Among the international contenders, Chinas BLG is considered a formidable rival, led by Park Do-hyun, known as Viper, who previously played for Hanwha Life. Viper contributed to BLGs victory in the First Stand Tournament (FST) and has also experienced success at MSI.European powerhouse G2 Esports is another team to watch. With Rasmus Winther, known as Caps, leading the charge, G2 has shown strength in the European league and is challenging the dominance of Korean and Chinese teams in the Worlds competition.The Swiss Stage and the quarterfinals and semifinals will take place in Allen, Texas. The finals will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on November 14 at 2 p.m. local time (November 15 at 4 a.m. KST).* This article has been translated by AI. October 16, 2026 10
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South Korea can help close AI divide: World Bank VP SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s digital expertise, manufacturing strength and rapid modernization make it well placed to help narrow a global wealth divide that artificial intelligence could deepen, a senior World Bank executive said. “What we call Big AI is an ecosystem dominated by just a handful of advanced countries — not even all advanced countries — and a small number of global corporations,” said Kim Sangbu, the World Bank Group’s vice president for Digital and AI. “That makes it difficult for low- and middle-income countries to participate actively.” The imbalance creates a clear role for South Korea, Kim told AJP in a Zoom interview ahead of his visit to Seoul for next week’s Global AI and Digital Summit. For developing economies, he argued, the greatest opportunity lies in applying affordable AI to everyday problems rather than competing to build the world’s most powerful models. Korea’s experience offers practical lessons in everything from managing water to helping small businesses use data. “The greater value lies not necessarily in building those systems, but in how effectively countries use them to strengthen their own industrial capabilities.” The Oct. 19–22 summit, jointly hosted by the World Bank Group and South Korea’s ministries of finance and economy and science and ICT, will examine how digital technologies can create jobs, raise productivity and improve services in developing economies. Kim said it would be the first time the World Bank had taken the event outside Washington, where the previous two gatherings were held. “There has been considerable interest in the independent, sovereign AI models being pursued by the Korean government and Korean companies,” he said. “At the same time, many of the practical AI applications being developed in Korea align very closely with the World Bank’s policy priorities.” The aim is to help developing countries identify technologies and policies they can adapt to their own circumstances. Several initiatives and potential cooperation projects will be introduced or discussed at the summit, although Kim declined to disclose details ahead of the event. He singled out South Korea’s digital water management as a promising model for countries struggling with food insecurity, natural disasters and inadequate infrastructure. “Water is an especially critical resource in developing countries,” Kim said. “It is closely connected to agriculture and food security, while effective water management can improve productivity, create jobs and prevent disasters.” He cited systems developed by the Korea Water Resources Corporation, commonly known as K-water, to monitor and manage water resources. “If we can successfully adapt Korea’s digital and AI-based water management systems to developing countries and integrate them into their own water management frameworks, that would be a highly rewarding example of successful development cooperation,” he said. Success, he stressed, should be measured by how many people benefit and what improves in their lives, rather than simply how many Korean technologies are introduced abroad. Agriculture offers another opportunity, particularly for smallholder farmers with limited access to finance, equipment and specialist advice. “Applying AI to agriculture goes far beyond simply telling farmers when it will snow, rain or flood,” Kim said. Applications can identify crop diseases and pests, assess soil conditions and recommend pesticides or the appropriate types and quantities of fertilizer. Digital platforms can also connect farmers with small loans to buy seeds and supplies, or with nearby machinery rental services. “A farmer who would otherwise spend a month plowing a field could rent a machine and finish the work in a single day,” he said. “These applications are producing truly remarkable results in improving agricultural productivity.” Such uses illustrate what Kim calls “Small AI”: affordable tools adapted to local needs that can operate with relatively limited infrastructure and data, including on smartphones. The distinction matters for countries without the resources to compete with global technology companies developing ever-larger models. Similar applications in health care and education could help communities with too few doctors and teachers. But making them useful requires reliable local information. “Local AI applications have to understand local languages, local climate conditions and local circumstances,” Kim said. “That requires the capacity to collect and analyze local information, but it does not necessarily require enormous computing power.” Governments need to make public data accessible and establish frameworks that allow businesses to develop services, he said. Market forces alone will not be enough. The World Bank is seeking to address those gaps through its “@A Billion” initiative, which aims to reach one billion people by 2030: 600 million using broadband internet and 400 million using digitally enabled services. The program focuses on access, affordability, digital ecosystems and countries’ readiness to adopt and adapt AI. About 2.2 billion people worldwide still do not use the internet, while less than 1 percent of global AI traffic flows to low-income countries, according to the World Bank. Asked where a finance minister with limited resources should invest first — AI, data centers, electricity, internet access or education — Kim chose electricity. “Fundamentally, the power grid would come first,” he said. “Without electricity, you cannot use the internet. Even if you have a mobile phone, you cannot charge it.” But governments should not wait until an entire national power network is complete before investing in other areas. Cities, businesses and communities already able to use digital services need skills, infrastructure and practical applications alongside the expansion of basic utilities. “Even when there is a clear sequence of priorities, it would not be desirable to concentrate on just one area until everything there is completed,” he said. The employment stakes are substantial. The World Bank estimates that about 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries over the next 10 to 15 years, while those economies are projected to create only about 420 million jobs. Its 2026 World Development Report, “The Promise of Artificial Intelligence,” estimates that 4.5 percent of jobs in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of automation by generative AI. By comparison, 16.2 percent could see meaningful productivity gains. “We expect the improvements in productivity to outweigh the reduction in jobs,” Kim said. “Existing jobs should generate greater value, improving their quality, while new jobs can also be created.” He pointed to shortages of doctors, nurses and teachers, where AI could help existing professionals serve more people. Higher agricultural productivity could also support new businesses and employment. Those gains, however, depend on reliable electricity, digital infrastructure, education and effective government policies. Kim rejected the idea that Korea’s development experience is useful only to countries that already have strong institutions, advanced education systems and extensive infrastructure. Many of Korea’s present strengths were themselves products of its development, he argued. “If you look back 20, 30 or 40 years, Korea was not necessarily in a substantially different position from many of today’s developing countries, particularly middle-income countries,” he said. “I am convinced that the fundamental lessons from Korea’s rapid development can be applied elsewhere.” He identified government policy capabilities and investment in education as central to that transformation. Digital literacy campaigns and data voucher programs, which help startups and small businesses access data, offer more specific lessons. AI could help developing countries build skills and improve government capabilities faster than Korea did during its industrialization. Yet rapid adoption without adequate safeguards could expose citizens to privacy breaches, cyberattacks and misuse of personal information. “Without basic data protection mechanisms, the risks can be extremely serious,” Kim said. Privacy legislation is only a starting point, he added. Governments also need the institutions and expertise to enforce it. For Korean companies, the development agenda opens business opportunities that extend beyond technology exports. “Digital and AI industries include many small and medium-sized companies,” Kim said. “If they strengthen their understanding of overseas markets and local regulatory and labor conditions, I believe they will find many more opportunities.” But importing technology alone will not give developing economies the expertise, skilled workers and capacity for innovation they need. “If a country simply imports foreign technologies without developing its own capacity for innovation, it risks remaining dependent on imports,” he said. Kim urged Korean businesses to view developing countries as long-term investment destinations. He singled out Africa, where population growth will create demand for goods, services and jobs. “That means the markets of the future are there,” he said. “If Korean capital and technology can be combined to support economic development in those countries, it could create greater value both locally and in Korea.” That approach also informs the Korea–World Bank Group AI and Digital Knowledge Center, launched in December 2025 to share Korean expertise and support digital development. Kim acknowledged that the center had yet to produce major concrete results, partly because policy development and implementation take time. Several projects have recently been selected and begun receiving support. Their eventual success will be judged by the policies countries adopt, the impact of those policies and the number of people who benefit. Kim brings experience from both government and business to that task. His career spans South Korea’s former Ministry of Information and Communication, the Korea Communications Commission and the presidential office, followed by senior roles at LG Uplus and Google. He joined the World Bank’s leadership in September 2024 after working on telecommunications policy, broadband expansion, digital literacy and technology partnerships — areas that now underpin his effort to help developing economies find their own path into the AI era. October 15, 2026 17 -
North Korea gains firsthand drone-making experience in Russia: CSIS SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) -North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine could yield a dangerous dividend closer to home as workers sent to build attack drones acquire expertise that could strengthen Pyongyang’s own arsenal, according to a new joint report by two U.S. policy institutes. The concern extends beyond the troops and ammunition North Korea has supplied Moscow. Its involvement in Russia’s drone industry could give the isolated state access to manufacturing techniques and weapons refinements shaped by sustained combat. A joint report released Wednesday by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Dallas-based George W. Bush Institute identifies the Alabuga drone complex in Russia’s Tatarstan region as a meeting point for Iranian designs, Russian manufacturing, Chinese components and North Korean forced labor. “North Korean labor also transfers technical know-how,” wrote Victor Cha, CSIS’s Korea chair, and Joseph Kim, the Bush Institute’s global policy program manager. “Technicians sent to Alabuga will return to Pyongyang with invaluable lessons from working at a mass-production drone assembly line, having observed Russian refinements to the constantly improving Geran drones.” The Geran is Russia’s version of the Iranian-designed Shahed attack drone. Iran initially supplied completed aircraft before helping Moscow establish domestic production, turning a weapons import into an expanding industrial operation. Their report, “Human Rights Abuses in Drone Production at Yelabuga,” argues that labor exploitation and military cooperation have become intertwined in an expanding production network whose security implications reach well beyond Ukraine. Yelabuga lies in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. The nearby Alabuga Special Economic Zone has become a major manufacturing center for Geran attack drones derived from Iran’s Shahed design. Iran initially supplied Russia with completed drones before helping Moscow establish domestic production. Russia has since expanded the operation and modified the aircraft in response to Ukrainian defenses. According to the report, the complex has grown to encompass roughly 17 facilities and as many as 116 buildings, with capacity to produce more than 5,500 drones a month. Satellite imagery also shows extensive construction of worker accommodation. The authors cite Ukrainian military intelligence assessments that the workforce, initially numbering roughly 1,000, was planned to expand to 40,000 and the expansion drew workers from Russian students, foreign recruits and North Korean laborers dispatched under state-controlled arrangements. The report says Russian teenagers as young as 15 have been recruited through Alabuga Polytechnic under a work-experience program, facing long shifts, production quotas and threats of penalties for disclosing their work. Foreign women, mainly from Africa and other developing regions, have been recruited with promises of hospitality jobs and educational opportunities, only to find themselves assigned to weapons assembly. The report describes passport confiscation, deductions from wages and restrictions on movement. North Korea’s role is distinct because the state itself supplies and controls the workers while retaining most of their earnings, the authors argue, claiming North Korean laborers face surveillance by minders and the withholding of 70 to 90 percent of their wages. The arrangement extends a longstanding system of overseas labor that has sent North Koreans to factories, logging camps and construction sites abroad. The report cites a figure of up to 12,000 North Koreans assigned to Alabuga. The underlying Ukrainian military intelligence announcement in November 2025 described plans to recruit roughly that number by year-end, rather than confirming that all had arrived. China’s contribution runs through the production and supply chains. Chinese companies provide engines and engine parts, batteries, electronics and navigation equipment, including systems designed to resist electronic jamming, according to the report. Chinese machinery has also supported drone-body manufacturing, while trading networks route components through China and Hong Kong. These contributions allow Russia to turn an imported weapons design into a continuously evolving domestic industry. For North Korea, factory experience would add to the military knowledge accumulated through its broader support for Moscow. Pyongyang’s contribution to Russia’s war has already expanded from arms shipments to direct military involvement. It has supplied millions of artillery rounds and short-range ballistic missiles, while thousands of North Korean troops have served in Russia’s Kursk region against Ukrainian forces. The relationship rests on a strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin in June 2024 that includes mutual military assistance. North Korea has portrayed its deployment as support for a treaty partner, while gaining exposure to drone warfare, electronic warfare and modern battlefield coordination. There are indications that its weapons have benefited, too. An August analysis by 38 North found credible evidence that North Korean KN-23 missiles used against Ukraine had become more accurate, potentially through Russian assistance in overcoming electronic interference. It cautioned, however, that the precise modifications and the extent of improvements to North Korea’s own arsenal remained uncertain. Drone production adds another potential channel for learning. The CSIS–Bush Institute report describes North Korean workers as subject to state control, restricted movement and the withholding of 70 to 90 percent of their wages. The authors argue that the arrangement finances the regime while exposing its technicians to a rapidly evolving weapons industry. The report cites a figure of up to 12,000 North Koreans assigned to Alabuga. The underlying Ukrainian military intelligence announcement in November 2025 described a plan to recruit roughly that number by year-end, rather than a verified count of workers already present. It put the proposed pay at about $2.50 an hour for shifts lasting at least 12 hours. Iran’s experience illustrates how the military benefits of such cooperation can travel back to the original supplier. After acquiring the Shahed design, Russia repeatedly modified its navigation, communications and other systems in response to Ukrainian defenses, according to a separate CSIS study published in September. Improved navigation equipment sought to counter electronic jamming. Communications modules and cameras gave some variants the ability to transmit information and allow operators to redirect attacks in flight, features strengthened through battlefield learning. Early models followed programmed routes without reporting whether they reached their targets. Connected variants can provide information about their progress and surroundings, helping operators assess losses and adjust subsequent missions. CSIS describes an adaptation cycle in which successful changes move into production within weeks. Cha and Kim argue that confronting this risk requires action against the labor and procurement networks sustaining Russian production, alongside efforts to restrict weapons transfers. Their recommendations include sanctions against trafficking intermediaries and a multinational investigation into conditions at Alabuga. “A North Korea with a more sophisticated and growing drone program poses a new order of military challenge for South Korea, Japan, and U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific,” they wrote. October 15, 2026 10