South Korean stocks started a tad lower Monday as big-cap tech and auto stocks traded in negative territory. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 7.06 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,540.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dropped 0.28 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix decreased 0.44 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 0.65 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution skidded 0.79 percent. Major online portal operator

Market Sept. 11, 2023

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has had a photo session with participants of a paramilitary parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's founding, state media said Monday, amid speculation about his possible trip to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. In the photo shoot session held Sunday, Kim called the parade a "powerful demonstration of the invincible spirit of socialist Korea" in a march to "achieve the great cause of building a powerful nation,&

North Korea Sept. 11, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home Monday after visiting Indonesia and India to attend summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Group of 20. Yoon traveled to Jakarta on the first leg of the trip to attend a South Korea-ASEAN summit, an ASEAN Plus Three summit and an East Asia Summit, demonstrating his commitment to strengthening ties with the 10 ASEAN member states and the wider Indo-Pacific region. From Jakarta, Yoon traveled to New Delhi, where he attended the G2

Politics Sept. 11, 2023

NEW DELHI -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of Italy, Germany and Mauritius on Sunday as he sought to expand cooperation and win support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan. During his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which was held on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, Yoon asked for Italy's cooperation on their competition to bring the Expo to their respective countri

Foreign Affairs Sept. 10, 2023

NEW DELHI -- President Yoon Suk Yeol and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed Sunday to boost cooperation in defense and space as the two countries look to strengthen strategic ties in the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders reached the agreement during a bilateral meeting, which was held on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi and coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India. Yoon and Modi agreed to continue

Foreign Affairs Sept. 10, 2023

South Korea's foreign ministry said Sunday it will closely cooperate with Morocco and the international community to provide necessary support for the North African country over a massive earthquake. Late Friday, the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco and killed more than 2,000 people, according to foreign media reports. The ministry issued a statement and expressed condolences to the people of Morocco affected by the earthquake. It vowed to have close consultations with the government

Politics Sept. 10, 2023

Police have busted a drug ring that operated networks in Cambodia, China and Nigeria to smuggle methamphetamine into South Korea and seized billions of won worth of the drug from its members here, officials said Sunday. The drug ring, run by a Korean, a Chinese and a Nigerian national, based in Cambodia, China and Nigeria, respectively, is suspected of smuggling and distributing methamphetamine in South Korea between November last year and June, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Social Affairs Sept. 10, 2023

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called patriotic people the "best assets" of the state as he marked the country's founding anniversary with a paramilitary parade, the North's state media reported Sunday. Kim made the remarks at a photo session Saturday with people who took part in the celebrations of the country's 75th founding day, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency. "The patriotic people, including the persons of merits and labor innovato

North Korea Sept. 10, 2023

The debut solo album by V, a member of K-pop supergroup BTS, sold about 1.67 million copies on the day of its release, breaking the first-day sales record for K-pop soloists, data showed Saturday. According to the data from Hanteo Chart, a leading local tracker of physical album sales, "Layover" sold 1,672,138 copies Friday, when it was released, setting a new first-day sales record for K-pop soloists. It also marked the biggest first-week sales of an album by a K-pop soloist, with the

K-pop Sept. 9, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend a summit of the Group of 20 major economies. During his three-day stay, Yoon will attend three sessions of the G20 summit, hold a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visit the Raj Ghat memorial dedicated to the Indian anti-colonial nationalist Mahatma Gandhi with other world leaders. Yoon is expected to use the G20 gathering to call for a firm and united international response to North Korea&

Foreign Affairs Sept. 9, 2023

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung appeared before prosecutors Saturday for questioning over allegations that he was involved in a company's alleged illegal money transfers to North Korea. Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, showed up at the Suwon District Prosecutors Office in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, at 10:18 a.m., marking his fifth appearance for prosecution questioning. He was last questioned on Aug. 17 over a separate case. Lee has been under investigation o

Politics Sept. 9, 2023

Veteran South Korean sports administrator Kim Jae-youl is set to become a member of the International Olympic Committee membership, with his candidacy expected to be ratified next month. The Swiss-based IOC announced on its website Friday that its executive board had approved the nomination of eight candidates for election. IOC members will vote on their candidacy during the IOC Session in Mumbai in October, a process regarded as a formality. Kim, president of the International Skating Union, is

More Sports Sept. 9, 2023

North Korea staged a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, the North's state media said. Kim observed the military parade that took place "with splendor" at Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate the founding anniversary, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Kim did not deliver a speech at the event, which was also attended by his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae. Als

North Korea Sept. 9, 2023

North Korea was staging a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, an informed source said. The event began at midnight following a pre-parade ceremony held Friday night, the source said, without elaborating. Details of the event, including whether leader Kim Jong-un attended the parade and what weapons were displayed, were not immediately known. The nighttime event marks the third military parade North Korea has staged this yea

North Korea Sept. 9, 2023

A Seoul court on Friday ruled in favor of a civic group seeking to reverse a police decision to partially ban its plan to march toward the presidential office in protest against Japan's release of treated radioactive water. A civic group, called Collective Action Against Japan's Release of Contaminated Radioactive Water had filed a notification of its plan to stage protest marches toward the presidential office in Yongsan in central Seoul on Saturday and the two following Saturdays. Th

Social Affairs Sept. 8, 2023