Why Kim Jong-un’s border trip to China differs from past pre-summit playbooks

South China Morning Post - Oct 28, 2026

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday echoed the intense coordination that preceded his previous summits with US President Donald Trump. Between March 2018 and June 2019, Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping five times across Beijing, Dalian and Pyongyang, and three of those occasions happened not long before his summits with Trump. Yet, while Saturday’s unannounced visit appeared superficially similar, analysts said the strategic focus had...

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Ex-justice minister, special counsel appeal martial law-related ruling

Ex-justice minister, special counsel appeal martial law-related ruling

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae and special counsel Cho Eun-suk have both appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging an appellate court ruling that reduced Park's prison sentence from 25 years to nine years over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration, judicial officials said Wednesday. Park and Cho's team filed their appeals with the Seoul High Court on Tuesday, the officials said. Park was indicted on charges of playing a key role in Yoon's martial law imposition on Dec. 3, 2024, and participating in an alleged insurrection. The charges included ordering the possible dispatch of prosecutors to a martial law-related organ, putting Korea Immigration Service (KIS) officials in charge of travel bans on standby and directing the Korea Correctional Service (KCS) to assess detention centers' available capacity. The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Park to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of all charges brought by Cho. But the Seoul High Court last week reduced his prison sentence to nine years, acquitting him of charges related to the KIS an

Births up 13% in August to highest in 7 years

Births up 13% in August to highest in 7 years

The number of babies born in Korea shot up 13 percent in August from a year earlier, marking the 26th consecutive month of increase, government data showed Wednesday. A total of 23,703 babies were born in August, up from 20,983 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It marked the highest figure for any August since the 24,371 posted in 2019. The country's total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, rose 0.09 from a year earlier to 0.87 in August. The rate remains well below the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain a stable population without immigration. The number of births has maintained an upward trajectory since July 2024. Over the January-August period, 193,783 babies were born, up 14.5 percent from a year earlier. It was also the highest figure for the period since 2019. The recent rebound came amid a growing number of marriages, an increase in the population in their 30s and more positive attitudes toward having children. The number of marriages in August fell 1.2 percent from a year earlier to 19,21

Regulatory standoff delays debut of Seoul's 1st modern streetcar line

Regulatory standoff delays debut of Seoul's 1st modern streetcar line

The launch of Korea's first modern streetcar network has encountered a temporary regulatory roadblock, forcing city officials to push back the line's planned December debut as local authorities work to finalize safety protocols along shared pedestrian and roadway corridors. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that full commercial operation of the Wirye Line tram — a 5.4-kilometer wireless streetcar project — will be postponed into next year. Although physical construction is 97 percent complete, the delay stems from protracted disputes among government agencies over traffic safety infrastructure and regulatory jurisdiction. Spanning 12 stations, the 350.3 billion won ($253 million) transit project connects Macheon Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 with Bokjeong Station and Namwirye Station on Line 8 and the Suin-Bundang Line. The line represents a major milestone for urban transit in Korea, marking the return of streetcars to the capital for the first time since the city decommissioned its original tram network in 1968. It is also the nation’s first transit line to deplo

Seoul rallies 1,486 volunteers to clean up Han River parks

Seoul rallies 1,486 volunteers to clean up Han River parks

More than 1,400 people joined forces across Seoul’s Han River parks this month, picking up litter, learning recycling rules and promoting bicycle safety in a city campaign to keep its popular riverside spaces clean and safe. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that 1,486 citizens, corporate employees and volunteers took part in three Fall Hangang Volunteer Day events held at Ichon, Ttukseom and Yeouido Hangang parks between Oct. 13 and Oct. 24. The campaign, organized under the theme “Keep Hangang clean, keep Hangang safe,” combined litter pick-up with environmental education and public safety programs. The first event, held Oct. 13 at Ichon Hangang Park, brought together 50 corporate volunteers who collected trash along park walkways. The second gathering, on Oct. 17 at Ttukseom Hangang Park, drew 95 participants for litter collection and campaigns promoting environmental awareness and safe park use. Yeouido Hangang Park hosted the largest event on Saturday, attracting 1,341 people, including children and adults who took part in environmental missions and quizzes about

Jeonbuk National University institute to recruit 141 schoolchildren for advanced science programs

Jeonbuk National University institute to recruit 141 schoolchildren for advanced science programs

Jeonbuk National University’s Science Education Institute for the Gifted will recruit 141 students for its 2027 advanced programs for elementary and middle school students to nurture young scientists in the region, the university said Tuesday. The elementary school advanced program will admit 51 students, with 17 each in science, mathematics and interdisciplinary studies. The middle school advanced program will admit 90 students, with 15 each in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, Earth science and information science. The university said the institute will also give priority to applicants who have completed designated preparatory programs and those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligible applicants include students who have completed either the online preparatory program jointly offered by 26 university-affiliated science education institutes for gifted students nationwide or the in-person Jeonbuk Science Dream Tree Development Program run by the institute. Seven places will be reserved for priority applicants each in physics, Earth science and information science, whi

President Lee to hold meeting on national safety

President Lee to hold meeting on national safety

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a government meeting Wednesday to discuss measures to ensure public safety and protect the rights of victims of safety incidents. The second plenary meeting of the national life and safety committee, to be presided over by Lee at Cheong Wa Dae, is expected to discuss measures to ensure public safety and protect victims' rights guaranteed under the public life and safety law, which is scheduled to take effect next Wednesday, the presidential office said. On May 7, the National Assembly passed the law, which stipulates the duties of the country and local governments to ensure people's rights to safety, including the rights to have their lives and properties protected and to lead safe lives. It also calls for the protection of victims of safety incidents, their family members and witnesses. Wednesday's meeting will be attended by about 70 government officials, victims of safety incidents and their family members. During the session, officials plan to outline the government's safety policies and measures to reduce suicides, unattended deaths, industrial

Global greenhouse gas levels hit new heights in 2025: report

Global greenhouse gas levels hit new heights in 2025: report

Global atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases reached unprecedented highs in 2025, according to a report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), driven by continued fossil fuel combustion and industrial activity. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere hit a record high of 426.8 parts per million (ppm) — meaning there are now 1.5 times as much CO₂ in the air as there was before the Industrial Revolution in 1750. Two other powerful heat-trapping gases, methane and nitrous oxide, also reached record highs. But the report offered a slight silver lining regarding carbon dioxide. The annual concentration increase slowed to 2.8 parts per million in 2025, down from 3.5 parts per million the previous year. Climatologists attributed the temporary moderation to the recovery of terrestrial carbon sinks and a decline in wildfire activity following the strong El Niño phenomenon of 2023 and 2024. Regional monitoring data from Korea reflected an even starker trajectory. Findings published by the Korea Meteorological Administration showed background con

Former USFK commanders raise concerns over command structure after OPCON transfer

Former USFK commanders raise concerns over command structure after OPCON transfer

WASHINGTON — Two former U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) commanders on Tuesday raised concerns that Korea's envisioned wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer could weaken the bilateral alliance and undermine military effectiveness if Seoul and Washington fail to preserve a robust combined command structure. In an online symposium hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies, retired Gen. Walter Sharp warned that changes to the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) following the transfer could have implications for the longstanding alliance. "That whole combined nature goes away and ... I really do see it as a doorway to greatly reducing the alliance, greatly reducing our work with Korea," Sharp said. Sharp also questioned whether a future CFC would remain genuinely bilateral after the transfer, particularly regarding the roles of the countries' Military Committee Meeting and Security Consultative Meeting, as well as the approval of wartime operational plans. Retired Gen. Paul LaCamera, another former USFK commander, also expressed concerns about the future command arrangement,

Seungri already married to pregnant girlfriend: report

Seungri already married to pregnant girlfriend: report

Former BIGBANG member Seungri, who is reportedly expecting his first child, has already legally married his pregnant girlfriend, according to a report. Ilgan Sports reported Tuesday that Seungri and his wife, who is pregnant, have registered their marriage and are legally married. The report came a day after Gray News reported that Seungri's girlfriend, who is in her 20s, is expecting a baby boy in January next year. The news that Seungri is set to become a father drew public attention, with the revelation that the couple had already registered their marriage emerging later. As news of the expected birth broke before any announcement of marriage, speculation arose that the couple had conceived before marriage. Seungri denied the speculation, saying he was not considering holding a wedding ceremony at this time. The couple is reportedly preparing for the birth. The news of Seungri's marriage and impending fatherhood has drawn additional attention as he recently faced a complaint over alleged special assault. In August, Seungri was accused of threatening a man with a soju bottle and assaulti

State arms agency completes development of homegrown Marine attack helicopter

State arms agency completes development of homegrown Marine attack helicopter

Korea has completed the development of a homegrown Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) fitted with a range of weapons systems, including air-to-ground missiles, for multidimensional amphibious operations, the state arms procurement agency said Wednesday. The attack helicopters are built on a Marine variant of the KUH-1 Surion helicopter, known as the MUH-1 Marineon, with new added features and weapons systems to counter attacks from enemy choppers and drones, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). DAPA launched a 450 billion-won ($337 millon) project to develop the homegrown MAH in 2022. Since then, it has completed a number of test flights and weapons tests, including live-fire tests involving turret-mounted machine guns, air-to-ground missiles, and guided and unguided rockets. It passed a full combat suitability evaluation in July and received airworthiness certification in August, guaranteeing the plane's suitability for safe flight. When deployed, the MAH system is expected to expand the Marines' amphibious operations not only on the ground, but also in the ai

Gov't to lift hoarding bans on urea, medical goods as supplies stabilize

Gov't to lift hoarding bans on urea, medical goods as supplies stabilize

Korea will lift bans on hoarding urea, urea solution, medical syringes and needles imposed earlier this year following supply concerns stemming from the Middle East war, citing stable inventories and supplies, the finance ministry said Wednesday. The Ministry of Finance and Economy made the announcement during a meeting of economy-related ministers, saying the hoarding ban on urea and urea solution, introduced in March, will expire at the end of this month. Restrictions imposed on medical syringes and needles, which have been in place since April, will also be lifted, the ministry added. Urea is used to curb emissions in diesel vehicles and make agricultural fertilizers. Under the bans, companies were prohibited from holding inventories exceeding 200 percent of their average monthly sales last year for seven days or longer for urea products and five days for medical supplies. "With domestic supplies remaining stable and no signs of hoarding or disruption to market order, the government will seek to end the hoarding ban," the ministry said. "Even after the ban expires, the government will c

Lee warns against 'irresponsible extremism' jeopardizing reforms

Lee warns against 'irresponsible extremism' jeopardizing reforms

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday warned against "irresponsible extremism" that he said is demanding excessive reform, insisting such extremism may jeopardize effective reforms. Lee made the remarks on the social platform X in response to a user demanding he apologize for describing his critics as "irresponsible extremists." "There are those who sincerely call for prosecution reform for the country and the people, but there are also those who, in reality, hinder prosecution reform by only calling for clarity or making excessive, inflammatory demands for their hidden political and personal agendas," the president wrote. "Calling for 'all-or-nothing' approaches as if they are the only true leader of reform and attacking those who are genuinely seeking reform while inciting fears of failure to take advantage of the urgent desire of some people to reform is irresponsible extremism," he added. Lee's message was widely seen as targeting hard-liners within his ruling Democratic Party of Korea who accused Lee of backtracking on prosecution reform, the party's long-standing agenda. Lee earlier

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