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East Asia

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and leading North Korean military official Pak Jong-chon (centre) inspect fortification work on the border with South Korea on Tuesday. Photo: KCNA / dpa
North Korea

What border warnings by Kim Jong-un’s sister reveal about inter-Korean tensions

Kim’s repeated accusations of Seoul provocations appear to build a case for blaming South Korea for any future hostilities, experts say.

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South Korea

South Korean publishers raise alarm over bulk book buys linked to AI training

Japan

‘Extremely surprising’: Japan PM Takaichi defies political odds at year 1

South Korea

‘Mourning run’ or clout chase? South Korea divided over runner’s death tributes

Runners have been posting their track records with hashtags commemorating South Korean running influencer Yoo Ji-won.

Running influencer Yoo Ji-won often shared achievements and training snapshots in social media. Photo: Instagram / mta1n_0ne
Running influencer Yoo Ji-won often shared achievements and training snapshots in social media. Photo: Instagram / mta1n_0ne
South Korea

South Korean bulk buying hits record US$1.1 billion as shoppers trim food bills

Warehouse retailers are posting record gains as South Korean consumers seek relief from high food prices.

Japan

In Japan, Takaichi’s first-year leadership style threatens hold on power

Takaichi’s confrontational approach is driven by popularity among voters, which is not always a solid factional power base, experts warn.

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US-China relations

US troops in South Korea must be ready for missions beyond peninsula: commander

Eighth Army chief stresses regional readiness as Washington pushes Seoul to take greater responsibility for its own defence.

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US soldiers dismount a Stryker armoured vehicle during the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise with South Korean forces on March 11, 2026. Photo: US Army National Guard
US soldiers dismount a Stryker armoured vehicle during the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise with South Korean forces on March 11, 2026. Photo: US Army National Guard
South Korea

K-pop capital Seoul wants to put brakes on taxi overcharging

A South Korean lawmaker has called for changes after a Taiwanese tourist complained that a taxi driver overcharged him by nearly 10 times.

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Japan

Japan’s dilemma over frosty ties with Russia deepens after reporter’s arrest

Given Japan’s lack of response to recent provocative Russian moves, Moscow could be emboldened to antagonise Tokyo further, analysts say.

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Japan

Japan’s mega-quake that never was, and the danger of false alarms

A software error triggering a false magnitude 9.9 quake in Japan sparks fears that eroding public trust could cost lives in a real quake.

A mobile phone in Tokyo shows a cancellation alert after the Japan Meteorological Agency mistakenly issued a magnitude 9.9 earthquake warning due to a system error on Friday. Photo: Xinhua
Japan

Japanese deputy mayor crushed to death under giant festival float

Police probe whether three-tonne wooden structure fell or official lost footing during centuries-old autumn procession.

People carry floats during the annual Saijo festival in a previous year. Photo: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
People carry floats during the annual Saijo festival in a previous year. Photo: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
Japan

Japan readies Martian moon mission to uncover origins of life

The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe could also help lay the groundwork for eventual human exploration.

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Japan

Air rage incidents in Japan surge, led by late check-in ‘flashpoint’

More cabin crew are experiencing verbal abuse, physical attacks and sexual harassment from Japanese and international passengers.

Japan

Japan’s Takaichi sends offering to controversial Yasukuni war shrine

Takaichi, who routinely visited the Shinto shrine before becoming prime minister, has refrained from doing so since taking over the helm.

The “masakaki” ritual offering sent by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is displayed on Saturday. Photo: Kyodo
North Korea

North Korea says it tested new torpedo with AI tech

Artificial intelligence was used for target detection and guidance in the new high-speed precision-guided weapon, state media says.

A North Korean submarine sails in the East Sea on Thursday, as the Pyongyang tests two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles. Photo: Yonhap via dpa
A North Korean submarine sails in the East Sea on Thursday, as the Pyongyang tests two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles. Photo: Yonhap via dpa
Japan

Okinawa drops opposition to hosting crash-prone US Osprey aircraft

Governor Genta Koja, who took office last month, reversed the prefecture’s long-standing opposition to the deployment.

South Korea

South Korea-US alliance losing ‘trust’ amid widening cracks in ties

Growing frictions bleed into the security partnership, just as North Korea ramps up missile tests and Trump floats meeting with Kim Jong-un.

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North Korea

North Korea’s dual undersea missile launches test regional defence

Analysts say North Korea’s ‘unprecedented’ submarine-launched cruise missile tests could overwhelm adversaries’ defence networks.

An underwater-launched missile test in North Korea’s eastern waters on Wednesday. Photo: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP
An underwater-launched missile test in North Korea’s eastern waters on Wednesday. Photo: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP
China manufacturing

In Focus | ‘Only China has that ecosystem’: why global tech decoupling is so challenging

Chinese parts, machinery and know-how remain deeply embedded in countries seeking to build manufacturing industries of their own.

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South Korea

South Korea to keep up Ukraine aid despite rift over North Korean POWs

Seoul reassures allies that aid will continue as efforts proceed to resolve the row over Zelensky’s disclosure of the POW repatriation.

South Korea

South Korean boss jailed for shooting air gun into Thai worker’s anus

The factory owner, who received a three-year jail term, also showed no remorse and deducted medical expenses from the victim’s wages.

The Suwon district court on Thursday sentenced a South Korean man to three years in prison for injuring a Thai worker with an air gun. Photo: The Korea Times
North Korea

North Korea tests submarine-launched missiles, heightening tensions with Seoul

State media said the launches ‘aimed to examine the current mobilised posture of the underwater combat systems’.

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A combination picture shows what state media says are two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles being tested in North Korea on Wednesday. Photo: KCNA via Reuters
A combination picture shows what state media says are two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles being tested in North Korea on Wednesday. Photo: KCNA via Reuters
South Korea

Stabbing spree exposes ‘serious gaps’ in South Korean offender tracking

Justice ministry statistics show that repeat sexual offences by people wearing electronic monitoring ankle tags continue to occur.

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Japan

AI-armed hackers tear through corporate Japan’s neglected defences

For years, the Japanese language was a defence against hacking in and of itself, observers say. But no more.

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Japan

Japan farm minister submits resignation in first scandal blow for PM Takaichi

Kazuo Yana steps down after vote-buying claims, marking the first cabinet exit for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi since taking power.

Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana is surrounded by reporters as he arrives at the prime minister’s official residence to resign in Tokyo, on Wednesday. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters
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