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  Back to back in conventional arms, India and Korea have room for alliance SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - Drones and AI-enabled systems now dominate headlines from modern battlefields. Yet, when wars grind on, they still come down to firepower. A recent study by the Royal United Services Institute and the Open Source Centre estimated that Russian artillery accounts for roughly 70 percent of Ukrainian casualties. The Council on Foreign Relations similarly notes that artillery remains the “king of battle,” responsible for about 80 percent of casualti February 6, 2026
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  Uzbekistan and Türkiye partner to modernize workforce and combat poverty SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Uzbekistan and Türkiye have established a new model of institutional cooperation to enhance human capital and improve public administration in the labor market. The partnership focuses on professional development for government officials to accelerate poverty reduction and ensure sustainable employment in both nations. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea said Monday that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by A.X. Rakhmonov February 2, 2026
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  From security to Artic exploration, EU and Korea have a lot to work on - EU envoy to Seoul SEOUL, January 30 (AJP)-The European Union seeks to deepen cooperation on Arctic security and maritime logistics with South Korea, readying itself for the Artic shipping era by sailing a 3,000-TEU container ship from Busan to Rotterdam this July, said European Union Ambassador Ugo Astuto Friday. Speaking to press for the first time at the Seoul Press Center, Astuto noted that the strategic importance of the Arctic is being redefined by both climate change and shifting geopolitical January 30, 2026
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  Uzbekistan and Türkiye expand strategic partnership through trade and transport links SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - The diplomatic relationship between Uzbekistan and Türkiye has evolved into a substantive, comprehensive strategic partnership, moving beyond formal definitions to include deep economic and regional cooperation. Recent high-level meetings in January 2026 confirmed that both nations have established a permanent institutional framework to manage their bilateral ties. The primary vehicle for this cooperation is the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Counc January 30, 2026
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  Asian Culture Calendar SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - South Korea Feb. 13 – 22 Daegwallyeong Snow Festival Feb. 2 – 4 Tamnaguk Ipchun Gut Nori Feb. 4 – 8 Gongju Gunbam Festival Japan Feb. 7 – 27 As The Sun Rose at UltraSuperNew Kura Feb. 3 Setsubun Festival Japan Jan. 20 – Feb.8 Kobe Luminarie Thailand Feb. 21 – 22 Chiang Mai Flower and fusion Festival Feb. 11 – 15 Singha Park chiangrai International Ballon Fiesta Feb. 15 Kyoto Marathon Si January 30, 2026
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  South Korea vs. North Korea: Why a war scenario defies conventional logic SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - The two Koreas are de facto still at war, separated by the world’s most heavily fortified border. That reality has locked both states into an unusually intense and enduring investment in defense. South Korea has sought leverage through an alliance with the world’s dominant military power, the United States. North Korea, unable to fully rely even on like-minded partners such as China and Russia, has instead pursued deterrence through nuclear arma January 30, 2026
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  Turkish textile heritage exhibition opens at the Council of Europe SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - The exhibition titled Fabrics Atlas of Türkiye, The Memory of Fabric officially opened yesterday at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. Hosted by the Turkish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the event is scheduled to run through January 30 to coincide with the assembly’s winter session. The exhibition is designed to introduce the international community to the long-standing weaving traditions of January 29, 2026
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  South Korea ranks fifth in military power — but the list tells only half the story SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - South Korea, as U.S. President Donald Trump often puts it, is fully capable in conventional warfare — and its global ranking largely backs that claim. Strip away nuclear weapons, and North Korea is no match. According to the 2026 Military Strength Ranking released by U.S.-based Global Firepower (GFP), South Korea placed fifth out of 145 countries, behind only the U.S., Russia, China and India. North Korea ranked 31st. GFP aggregates more than 60 in January 29, 2026
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  U.S. Treasury chief: No trade deal with South Korea until National Assembly approves U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there will be no trade agreement with South Korea until its National Assembly approves it. Bessent made the remarks in a CNBC interview on Tuesday local time when asked whether President Donald Trump was raising tariffs on South Korea because it had not approved a trade deal. His comments came as Trump has warned he could restore higher tariffs, citing delays in the National Assembly’s passage of a “special law on investment in the United Stat January 29, 2026
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  Wall Street Ends Mixed After Fed Holds Rates; S&P 500 Briefly Tops 7,000 The three major U.S. stock indexes finished mixed as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and investors waited for earnings from major Big Tech companies. Strength in technology and semiconductor shares pushed the S&P 500 above 7,000 for the first time intraday, though it later gave back gains. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 12.19 points, or 0.02%, to 49,015.60. The S&P 500 slipped 0.57 points, or 0.01%, to 6,978.03. The Nasdaq composite gained 40.35 p January 29, 2026