South Korean, U.S. defense chiefs condemn North Korea's troop deployment to Russia

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. defense ministers on Thursday condemned North Korea's troop dispatch to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine. In their joint statement after the 56th U.S.-South Korea Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington, D.C., South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin denounced the North's "multiple missile launches, including ballistic missiles, its attempted launches of a space

October 31, 2024

Senior US officials head to Middle East for crisis talks

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Senior Biden administration officials are set to visit the Middle East this week to meet with regional leaders amid heightened tensions following Israel's recent attack on Iran, which led Tehran to promise retaliation, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu reported on Wednesday, citing a senior U.S. official. CIA Director Bill Burns will visit Cairo on Thursday to discuss bilateral issues with Egyptian officials, including securing the release of h

October 31, 2024

US, Saudi officials discuss AI collaboration and Middle East stability

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - A senior U.S. diplomat met with top Saudi officials in Washington on Wednesday to discuss advancing cooperation in artificial intelligence and reducing Middle East tensions, according to the State Department. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell engaged in talks with Saudi Arabia's National Security Advisor Musaid al-Aiban and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Swaha. According to State Department Spokesman Matt Miller,

October 31, 2024

North Korean troops to Russia will become 'cannon fodder': S. Korea

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea's top envoy to the United Nations condemned North Korea's troop deployment to Russia, saying that they will be used as mercenaries with their earnings eventually funneled into the coffers of the North Korean regime. "As legitimate military targets, they will end up as mere cannon fodder, while the wages they are supposed to receive from Russia will end up squarely in Kim Jong-un's pocket," said Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook at

October 31, 2024

LG's transparent OLED TV named among Time's best inventions for 2024

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - LG Electronics' wireless transparent OLED TV and built-in kitchen appliance have been selected for Time magazine's "200 Best Inventions of 2024" list, marking the company's sixth consecutive year of recognition by the publication. The LG SIGNATURE OLED T, featuring a 77-inch transparent display and wireless AV transmission technology except for the power cord, was selected in the consumer electronics category. The device's componen

October 31, 2024

Electric taxis spark price war in Vietnam as operators cut fares by half

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Vietnamese taxi operators Mai Linh and Taxi 123 have launched electric vehicle services using VinFast's VF 3 model in northern provinces, offering base fares of 9,000 dong ($0.37) and per-kilometer rates of 6,000 dong, roughly half the price of traditional gasoline-powered taxis. The competitive pricing stems from significantly lower operating costs, with electric charging expenses at 300-400 dong per kilometer, compared to 2,000 dong for conventional f

October 31, 2024

Thailand, Myanmar, Laos agree to combat air pollution through 2030

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Thailand, Myanmar and Laos have agreed Tuesday to implement a joint "Clear Sky Strategy 2024 to 2030" plan to tackle hazardous air pollution across their borders, as Southeast Asian nations brace for worsening air quality in the upcoming dry season. Thai Foreign Minister Marit Saengyoumpong said the three countries would coordinate efforts to address pollution from industrial, transportation, agricultural, and forest fire sources, with PM2.5 level

October 31, 2024

Japan forecasts rice output to meet demand, easing shortage concerns

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Japan's rice production is expected to reach about 6.83 million tons in 2024, surpassing projected demand of 6.74 million tons through June next year. The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on Wednesday private rice stockpiles are forecast to recover to 1.62 million tons by June 2025, up from the historic low of 1.53 million tons recorded the previous year, signaling potential relief from recent supply constraints and price es

October 31, 2024

Samsung signals progress in Nvidia qualification for AI chips

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) – Samsung Electronics said Thursday that it anticipates expanded sales of its advanced memory chips for artificial intelligence in the fourth quarter, citing key progress in the qualification process with Nvidia. "We havve made meaningful progress by completing important stages in the qualification process with a key customer," Kim Jae-june, executive vice president of Samsung's memory business, said during a third-quarter earnings call.

October 31, 2024

Japan's opposition leader seeks backing for PM bid

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) leader Yoshihiko Noda intensified efforts on Wednesday to gather multi-party support in his bid to become prime minister, following Sunday's general election that stripped the ruling coalition of its parliamentary majority. The political landscape remains fractured after the 465-seat lower house election, where Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies secured 21

October 31, 2024