South Korea
South Korea’s Lee to head to Washington after two day visit to Japan
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is concluding a two-day official visit to Japan before travelling to Washington for his first summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.
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North Korea test-fires two new air defence missiles
The timing of the launch was also notable, taking place on the same day South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo, before travelling to Washington.
South Korea’s parliament passes disputed broadcasting bill amid opposition boycott
Lawmakers approved one of three broadcasting reform measures designed to curb government control over state broadcasters.
South Korean exports under pressure from expanding US trade barriers
South Korea, one of the world’s most export-dependent economies, is entering a turbulent period as protectionist measures from the United States intensify.
How North Korea sees the South’s new president - and what lies ahead on the Korean Peninsula
Any real breakthroughs will hinge on trust, mutual recognition, and perhaps the intervention of external actors.
North Korea rejects South Korean appeal, denies loudspeaker removal
In a statement on August 14, North Korea rejected Seoul’s assertion that the North had dismantled some of its propaganda loudspeakers positioned along the inter-Korean border.
Japan presses South Korea to end seafood import ban
Japan’s agriculture minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, has urged South Korea to remove restrictions on Japanese seafood imports that were introduced after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee arrested, making history in South Korea
A Seoul court has approved the arrest of former first lady Kim Keon Hee on allegations including stock price manipulation, interference in election processes, and bribery.
Japan becomes the pillar of security in northeast Asia
Japan's rapid technological leap in embracing stealth aircraft, maritime-launch F-35Bs, advanced missile defence, AI-enabled drones and space-based surveillance, brings a strategic balance to the region.
South Korea’s tax reform triggers investor concerns
What was once a buoyant rally under President Lee Jae Myung’s pledge to lift the Kospi to 5,000 points is now shadowed by concerns over the economic implications of sweeping tax changes.
South Korea awaits decision on lifespan extension for ageing reactors
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has halted operations at unit 4 of the Kori nuclear facility as it awaits a government ruling on extending the service life of reactors past 40 years.
Is AI making us less intelligent? The debate over declining cognitive skills in the age of ChatGPT and smartphones
Anecdotal evidence from educators paints a troubling picture. Teenagers across the world struggle to properly complete tasks in school, particularly those involving writing.
Sinkholes on the rise across Asia: a growing danger beneath the surface
The dramatic rescue of a motorist from a sinkhole on a busy Singapore road has cast new light on an alarming trend across Asia – the increasing frequency and severity of sinkholes swallowing roads, vehicles, and in some cases entire buildings.
The Asian take on recognition of a Palestinian State
Muslim-majority nations or those seeking to expand their influence in the Middle East will support or reaffirm recognition. Meanwhile, countries embedded in US frameworks or enjoying ties with Israel are are expected to remain cautious.
Papua New Guinea steps up renewable energy drive with global support
Currently, only around 13% of Papua New Guinea’s population has reliable access to electricity, with the majority of rural communities dependent on diesel generators or without power altogether.
The top three ‘megatrends’ set to transform the Asia Pacific region
The rapid development of technologies such as generative AI and the metaverse is already changing how people in Asia Pacific live, work, socialise and shop.
Samsung to build Tesla’s next-gen FSD chip in $16.5bn deal
Samsung Electronics has just secured a major win by signing a $16.5bn chip manufacturing deal with Tesla, a move that could revive Samsung’s foundry business after a challenging period.
Heat wave claims 11 lives in South Korea as temperatures surge
South Korea is in the grip of an unrelenting heat wave that has reportedly led to 11 suspected deaths, nearly triple the number seen during the same period last year.
Recent floods across Asia kill hundreds, leave devastation in their wake
From South and Southeast Asia to Central and East Asia, communities have been grappling with flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outbursts as warming temperatures and shifting monsoon dynamics fuel increasingly erratic weather.