Czech watchdog temporarily halts nuclear plant deal with KHNP

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea's state-run nuclear operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is facing a temporary hold on its nuclear power plant contract in the Czech Republic as the country’s antitrust watchdog reviews complaints from rival bidders. The Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (UOHS) announced Wednesday it had temporarily blocked the government from signing a nuclear deal with KHNP as it investigates appeals from U.S.-based Westinghou

October 31, 2024

North Korea test-fires ICBM as US presidential vote nears

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the East Sea on Thursday, shortly after defense chiefs from South Korea and the United States condemned Pyongyang's troop dispatch to Russia during talks in Washington, D.C. "The military detected a ballistic missile fired from a site near Pyongyang at about 7:10 a.m. (2210 GMT) this morning. We suspect that it is an ICBM launched at a high angle," South Korea's Joint Ch

October 31, 2024

OPINION: US is now at risk of losing to China in race to send people back to moon's surface

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Will the next human to walk on the moon speak English or Mandarin? In all, 12 Americans landed on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. Now, both the U.S. and China are preparing to send humans back there this decade. However, the U.S. lunar programme is delayed, in part because the spacesuits and lunar-landing vehicle are not ready. Meanwhile, China has pledged to put astronauts on the moon by 2030 – and it has a habit of sticking to timelines.

October 31, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul Grand Park trails offer scenic autumn walks

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, offers three hiking trails where visitors can experience fall foliage and forest landscapes. The park features a 2.8-kilometer Lakeside Trail with views of Mount Cheonggye, a 4.5-kilometer Zoo Trail known for its vibrant autumn colors, and a 7-kilometer Forest Trail with 12 themed woodland sections. Picnic spots are available along the routes, with the Forest Trail offering decked rest areas equipped with tables t

October 30, 2024

Korea reports first highly pathogenic bird flu case in 5 months

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea confirmed its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at a poultry farm this autumn, marking the first outbreak in five months, officials said Wednesday. The H5N1 strain was detected the previous day at an egg-laying chicken farm in the eastern city of Donghae, Gangwon Province, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. Authorities culled about 780 chickens and ducks at the affected farm and ordered a sta

October 30, 2024

North Korea 'prepares nuclear test site'

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - North Korea appears to be preparing its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri and could be ready to conduct a test there soon, the Defense Intelligence Agency said on Wednesday. "Preparations for a transporter erector launcher (TEL) are complete, and it has been deployed to a specific location and an ICBM launch for technological verification of warhead re-entry could take place," the agency said in a close-door briefing to the National Assembly. Thi

October 30, 2024

K-pop behemoth HYBE apologizes for controversial internal documents

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Talent agency HYBE apologized on Tuesday amid a scandal involving its internal documents containing inappropriate comments about K-pop singers and aspiring stars, particularly regarding their appearances. "We sincerely apologize to all artists, staff and fans suffered by the revelation of these documents," HYBE's CEO Lee Jae-sang said in a statement on Tuesday. The formal apology came about a week after the behemoth faced criticism at a Nat

October 30, 2024

South Korea signs moon exploration pact with NASA

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) – The space agencies of South Korea and the United States have signed an agreement to cooperate in space science, exploration and aeronautics, including the U.S.-led lunar exploration program, officials said Wednesday. The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) signed the research agreement with the U.S. space agency NASA, three years after Korea signed the Artemis Accords, a series of non-binding multilateral arrangements between the U.S. and partner co

October 30, 2024

Turkish embassy in Seoul celebrates 101st anniversary of creation of republic

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - The Turkish Embassy in the Republic of Korea celebrated Tuesday the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye with a special event at a hotel in central Seoul. Highlighting Türkiye's history and legacy spanning thousands of years, Turkish Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Salih Murat Tamer said, "With the strength we draw from our past, we look to our future with confidence," during his opening speech. The a

October 30, 2024

Fireworks explosion at Indian temple injures over 150 during festival

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - More than 150 people were injured, eight critically, when a fireworks storage facility exploded during a festival at a Hindu temple in southern India on Monday evening. The blast occurred in Kerala state's Kasaragod district when a spark from the fireworks display ignited the storage area where pyrotechnics were kept, with NDTV reporting that temple officials had conducted the display without proper permits, leading to the arrest of the temple's pre

October 30, 2024