South Korea keeps eye on alleged North Korean troop deployment for Russia's war in Ukraine

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Seoul is "closely monitoring" reports of Russia forming a special battalion composed of North Koreans, the National Intelligence Service here said Wednesday. The NIS also added that it is collaborating with Ukraine to verify these reports. The comments came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused North Korea of sending troops to Russia. In his daily video message last weekend, he said, "We see an increasing alliance between

October 17, 2024

Thai immigration police face disciplinary action over detainee's live broadcast

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Thailand's Immigration Bureau announced disciplinary action against two officers who allowed a detained Korean drug suspect to conduct live broadcasts from a police transport vehicle and detention cell. The incident, which sparked controversy and raised questions about security protocols in Thai detention facilities, occurred on Oct. 3, with the bureau's announcement following on Wednesday. The Korean man in his 40s, wanted in his home country for d

October 17, 2024

Trudeau alleges horrific mistake by India amid escalating tensions over Sikh leader's assassination

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would not overlook the death of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian territory last June if India was responsible for the incident. The statement was made on Wednesday during an inquiry on foreign interference, two days after Canadian officials alleged that India was involved in homicides, extortions, and other violent acts aimed at Indian dissidents within Canada. Trudeau mentioned there are "ever clearer

October 17, 2024

Japan approves 50-plus-year operation for oldest nuclear reactor

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Japan's nuclear regulator has authorized the continued operation of the country's oldest nuclear reactor, allowing it to run beyond 50 years, officials said on Wednesday. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) endorsed Kansai Electric Power Co.'s decade-long management plan for the No. 1 reactor at the Takahama plant in central Japan. The facility's Nos. 1 and 2 reactors were approved in June 2016 to operate beyond 40 years. In 2023, both

October 17, 2024

UK considers sanctions on Israeli leaders as Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - The United Kingdom is considering sanctions against Israel's Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, for their controversial remarks about Palestinians. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reviewing these actions after Smotrich suggested that starving civilians in Gaza could be justified, and Ben-Gvir praised those involved in settler violence in the West Bank as heroes. Earlier, former UK Foreign Secretar

October 17, 2024

UN condemns Israeli attack on watchtower as Lebanese conflict intensifies

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported that Israeli forces deliberately attacked one of their positions, damaging a watchtower. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed that an Israeli Merkava tank fired on the watchtower near Kfar Kila, destroying two cameras and damaging the structure. UNIFIL also stated that Israeli forces obstructed a key logistical operation near Meiss el-Jabal. The mission reminded all parties, including th

October 17, 2024

Flitto offers AI interpretation service for Middle East's top tech expo

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Korean crowdsourcing translation platform Flitto said Thursday it is providing AI-based simultaneous translation services at GITEX Global, the Middle East's largest tech exhibition, in Dubai. Its Live Translation program is being used at 47 major sessions to convert languages, including English and French, into the audience's preferred language at the exhibition, which began Monday and runs for five days. The translation solution supports 38 languages,

October 17, 2024

BTS member J-Hope completes military service

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, was discharged from his mandatory military service on Thursday. J-Hope, who enlisted in April last year, completed his 18-month service in Wonju, Gangwon Province. He is the second BTS member to fulfill the duty, following Jin, who was discharged in June this year. The remaining members — Jimin, Jung Kook, RM, Suga, and V — are scheduled to complete their service in June 2025, so all BTS members ar

October 17, 2024

Japan's Ishiba sends offering to controversial Yasukuni Shrine

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba forwarded a ritual offering to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday, the first day of its autumn festival. Sources close to the prime minister said Ishiba, who assumed office on Oct. 1, is expected to abstain from visiting the shrine in person during the three-day festival. The move follows a pattern set by his predecessor, Fumio Kishida, who also refrained from personal visits, in contrast to former P

October 17, 2024

Scientists observe elusive 'Wigner crystallites' that may advance superconductor research

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - A team of South Korean scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery of the 'Wigner crystal' state in solid materials, where electrons exhibit properties of both liquids and solids. The finding, published in the global peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature on Wednesday, could potentially unlock mysteries surrounding high-temperature superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity without resistance and energy loss when reaching critical t

October 17, 2024