https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/33318/feed The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia, located in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering South Korea and China. Its capital, Pyongyang, is the country's largest city by both land area and population. It is a single-party state led by the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), and governed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un since 2012. It has a population of 24,052,231 (UN-assisted DPRK census 2008) made up of Koreans and a smaller Chinese minority. Japan 'opened'... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Senior US commanders have highlighted the importance of land-based troops and equipment stationed in the Asia-Pacific in any conflict with China, countering assumptions that such a war would be fought mainly at sea and in the air. General Ron Clark, commander of US Army Pacific, said the “tyranny of distance” made it difficult to rely on air and naval forces during a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting this week. The comments reflect mounting concerns... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371267/how-land-power-could-help-us-forces-counter-china-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3371267/how-land-power-could-help-us-forces-counter-china-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠North Korea conducted an underwater ⁠test of a new torpedo weapon system on Thursday to verify technological upgrades, state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday, describing the test as a success and a significant step in ‌the country’s naval development. The test verified propulsion technology developed through more than 180 tests over the past five years, KCNA said, adding that artificial intelligence was used for target detection and guidance in the new high-speed precision-guided... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371218/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-torpedo-ai-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371218/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-torpedo-ai-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:37:18 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg South Korea’s long-standing alliance with America is being tested by feuds spanning from investment deals to intelligence leaks, compromising Seoul’s ability to respond to North Korea. In a rare admission, Seoul’s top envoy to the US on Monday acknowledged an “issue” with Washington’s sharing of covert data. “There are limitations in our communication with the White House,” Kang Kyung-wha told lawmakers. “I find it somewhat frustrating.” That follows reports earlier this year that a South Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371082/south-korea-us-alliance-losing-trust-amid-widening-cracks-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371082/south-korea-us-alliance-losing-trust-amid-widening-cracks-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:08:35 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s apparent use of different launch methods to fire two types of cruise missiles from a tactical nuclear-capable submarine raises fresh questions about the operational readiness of its growing undersea arsenal, observers have said. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday the country had “test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles” off its eastern coast. The tests “contributed to inspecting the regular mobilisation readiness of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371072/north-koreas-cruise-missile-launches-test-regional-defence-arms-race-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371072/north-koreas-cruise-missile-launches-test-regional-defence-arms-race-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:02:32 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s premier has reaffirmed his country’s support for North Korea and its leader during the much-delayed opening of a new bridge between the neighbours. In a taped speech to the opening ceremony on the New Yalu River Bridge on Thursday, Premier Li Qiang said the link was a landmark in Chinese-North Korean friendship. Li said the bridge would promote economic and trade ties, expand personnel exchanges and tighten the bond between the two peoples, according to state news agency Xinhua. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371000/china-keen-strengthen-north-korea-trade-ties-new-yalu-river-bridge-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3371000/china-keen-strengthen-north-korea-trade-ties-new-yalu-river-bridge-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:00:13 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea will continue supporting Ukraine “as a responsible member of the international community” despite a diplomatic dispute over the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war being repatriated to the South, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday. The official said Seoul would treat its help to Ukraine separately from the dispute, while continuing bilateral consultations to resolve outstanding issues. The remarks came after South Korean Ambassador to Ukraine Park Ki-chang was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371018/seoul-maintain-ukraine-aid-despite-spat-over-north-korea-prisoner-transfer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371018/seoul-maintain-ukraine-aid-despite-spat-over-north-korea-prisoner-transfer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:35:56 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Pyongyang test-fired two types of cruise missile from a submarine, its state news agency said on Thursday, after weeks of friction with Seoul over a landmine explosion along their border. The missiles were fired into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, on Wednesday without “any adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries”, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been further strained since the landmine blast on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370943/north-korea-tests-submarine-launched-cruise-missiles-heightening-tensions-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370943/north-korea-tests-submarine-launched-cruise-missiles-heightening-tensions-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 03:38:54 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang Susan Thornton is a former American diplomat who for decades worked on US policy in Eurasia in the State Department before becoming acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs during the first Trump presidency. She is the director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and a senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Centre, Yale Law School. She spoke to Orange Wang about keeping the lines of China-US communication... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370823/susan-thornton-us-china-ties-post-midterms-and-averting-new-balloon-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370823/susan-thornton-us-china-ties-post-midterms-and-averting-new-balloon-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng Khushboo Razdan,William Zheng Senior American diplomats, administration officials and Indo-Pacific military commanders met in Tokyo earlier this month in what one source called an “unusual” gathering ahead of US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in November. People familiar with the meeting said it represented an evolution of a long-standing practice in which US ambassadors stationed across Asia and the Pacific gathered to exchange intelligence, coordinate diplomatic reporting and align regional priorities. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370884/us-holds-unusual-civil-military-meeting-tokyo-ahead-trumps-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370884/us-holds-unusual-civil-military-meeting-tokyo-ahead-trumps-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:00:07 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang A bridge between China and North Korea that was completed 12 years ago will finally open on Thursday. The two countries will hold an opening ceremony to mark the official opening of the New Yalu River Bridge, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday morning. Last week, signs that the bridge would soon open were spotted, including vehicles crossing and traffic lights and bridge indicators being activated, according to South Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily. The bridge links the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370843/china-and-north-korea-open-border-bridge-after-unexplained-12-year-delay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370843/china-and-north-korea-open-border-bridge-after-unexplained-12-year-delay?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:02:37 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A growing number of Japanese regard the United States as the greatest threat to world peace ahead of traditional rival China, according to a new survey. The annual poll, released by the Japan Press Research Institute on Saturday, found 26.8 per cent of respondents named the US as the biggest threat to global peace. That was up 9.3 percentage points on last year and far above the 6.6 per cent recorded in 2024. Russia came top of the list in 2025 but slipped to third place this year, with 18.3 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370732/why-younger-japanese-now-fear-trumps-us-more-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370732/why-younger-japanese-now-fear-trumps-us-more-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea now has a museum for its bombs. The National Defence Revolution Museum, which opened on Sunday, is the country’s first dedicated exclusively to military hardware, from rifles to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Observers say it is also intended to send a message to Washington and Seoul, serve as a permanent showroom for the North’s arms exports and visibly enshrine its nuclear programme as an irreversible part of state policy. Third-generation ruler Kim Jong-un cut the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370699/north-koreas-new-missile-museum-part-shrine-part-arms-bazaar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370699/north-koreas-new-missile-museum-part-shrine-part-arms-bazaar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:27:25 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul’s military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along the countries’ heavily fortified border. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed in a statement that it had detected several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area, adding that its military “has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches”. One of the missiles flew more than 900km (559... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370521/days-after-ai-missile-test-north-korea-fires-another-projectile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370521/days-after-ai-missile-test-north-korea-fires-another-projectile?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:01:42 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The denuclearisation of North Korea has become an “increasingly improbable” goal and the United States and its allies should move beyond it to devote their diplomatic efforts to talks on arms limitations and crisis communication, the director of the US-based North Korean analysis website 38 North said. Recalling the 20 years since North Korea carried out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006, Jenny Town said in a written interview that “a pivotal moment” in Pyongyang’s weapons development... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370470/denuclearising-north-korea-would-defy-history-us-allies-missed-boat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370470/denuclearising-north-korea-would-defy-history-us-allies-missed-boat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Reuters Reuters US President Donald ⁠Trump reiterated his complaints on Friday about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a disgraceful and embarrassing decision that had left a ‌stain on Norway, which hosts the Nobel committee. “The United States of America, represented by me as your president, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Syracuse, New York. He added that the snub was “just another sign of how Norway and all these others are ripping... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370418/trump-slams-norway-and-nobel-committee-after-missing-out-peace-prize?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3370418/trump-slams-norway-and-nobel-committee-after-missing-out-peace-prize?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 02:19:36 +0000 Patrick Mendis Patrick Mendis As Russian President Vladimir Putin watched the final stage of the massive Tsentr-2026 military exercise in the Urals recently, Chinese troops were training alongside forces from Russia, Belarus and other countries. More than 47,000 military personnel joined the exercise, which incorporated lessons from the war in Ukraine. The symbolism extends beyond Chelyabinsk. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Chinese military exercises with Belarus – and now China’s participation alongside Russian and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370030/us-japan-poland-strategic-triangle-can-encourage-peaceful-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370030/us-japan-poland-strategic-triangle-can-encourage-peaceful-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado The United States has downgraded Hong Kong to the lowest tier in its annual human trafficking report, citing shortcomings in prosecutions and victim identification, an assessment the city’s government rejected as “entirely unfounded”. The US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, released on Thursday, moved Hong Kong from the Tier 2 Watch List, where it had been listed for two consecutive years, to Tier 3. That places the city alongside mainland China and Macau among 20... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370244/hong-kong-rejects-us-downgrade-lowest-tier-human-trafficking-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370244/hong-kong-rejects-us-downgrade-lowest-tier-human-trafficking-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 21:43:50 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press South Korea flight-tested on Thursday its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon, designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound and evade missile defence systems, bringing Seoul closer to what it says could be game-changing weapons capabilities. There was no immediate response from North Korea, which last week tested its own hypersonic missile that landed in the waters near Japan. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the test, saying it was a major step in strengthening... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370218/south-korea-test-flies-its-first-home-grown-hypersonic-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370218/south-korea-test-flies-its-first-home-grown-hypersonic-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:05:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea said on Thursday it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine in response to a deepening diplomatic row over the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The two countries have been at loggerheads since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month disclosed the prisoner transfer, sparking anger in Seoul, which said it had placed their families in North Korea at risk. The recall also comes days after a media report alleged more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370190/south-korea-recall-ambassador-ukraine-amid-pow-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370190/south-korea-recall-ambassador-ukraine-amid-pow-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:36:55 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of ‌leader Kim Jong-un, denounced on Thursday South Korea’s plans to provide medical equipment aid to Pyongyang, calling it a “political provocation” and violation of its sovereignty. In a statement carried by state media KCNA, Kim criticised Seoul for publicising its efforts to obtain United Nations sanctions exemptions for a medical aid package, saying Seoul had “insulted” North Korea by referring to shortages of medicines and medical equipment... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370150/north-korea-decries-medical-aid-says-nothing-give-or-receive-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370150/north-korea-decries-medical-aid-says-nothing-give-or-receive-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:11:14 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is expected to float the idea of acquiring a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in revised security documents to be released later this year, with analysts suggesting that Tokyo’s initial aim is to promote discussion of the issue and overcome the public’s concerns. Analysts acknowledge there will inevitably be pushback from some sectors of society in the only nation to have suffered a nuclear attack, but say there is a growing recognition that regional rivalries are worsening and Japan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370099/japan-explores-ownership-nuclear-submarines-regional-rivalries-worsen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370099/japan-explores-ownership-nuclear-submarines-regional-rivalries-worsen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s laying of landmines along its heavily fortified border with the South has laid bare how misaligned the two nations have become over their de facto land boundary, after three South Korean soldiers were wounded in an explosion last month. Seoul blames Pyongyang for the blast near the military demarcation line (MDL) on September 21, in which one soldier lost a foot. On Tuesday, its Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was preparing a response to force an apology for the blast,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369898/north-koreas-dmz-landmines-sabotage-souths-peace-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369898/north-koreas-dmz-landmines-sabotage-souths-peace-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:22:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea ⁠said on Monday that a ⁠recent border blast that seriously wounded two ⁠of its soldiers was caused by mines planted by North Korea. North Korea, which has been fortifying its border with South Korea since April 2024, deployed up to 7,000 workers to install mines and fences this year, with some 50 incidents of ‌crossing the border, according to a briefing on Monday by the South’s military. The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice rather... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369810/seoul-probe-reveals-border-mine-blast-caused-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369810/seoul-probe-reveals-border-mine-blast-caused-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:20:38 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday ⁠he believed Russia ⁠may have shared jet-drone technology ⁠with its long-standing ally North Korea. In recent weeks, Russia has sharply increased its use of jet-drones against Ukraine, which so far has no effective means of countering them other than using ‌combat aircraft. Earlier in the war, North Korea supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and it has since provided ballistic missiles that Moscow regularly uses to attack... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3369727/ukraine-believes-russia-shared-jet-drone-technology-north-korea-says-zelensky?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3369727/ukraine-believes-russia-shared-jet-drone-technology-north-korea-says-zelensky?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:45:32 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press North Korea said on Saturday it test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile that it claimed has manoeuvrable flight capabilities designed to evade missile defences in South Korea and Japan. The latest test comes amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas over border landmine blasts. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said her brother supervised the test of the missile, which she described as strategic, implying it was designed to deliver nuclear... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369665/north-korea-test-fires-intermediate-range-missile-amid-mine-blast-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369665/north-korea-test-fires-intermediate-range-missile-amid-mine-blast-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:41:52 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee Like many films released during Chuseok, South Korea’s national mid-autumn harvest festival, The Assassin(s) shot right to the top, selling more than a million tickets in its first four days. But the box-office success of the film about the 1974 assassination attempt on former president and military leader Park Chung-hee was quickly overshadowed by calls to halt screenings, as well as a police complaint against the film’s director and producers. Park loyalists and conservative politicians are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3369548/why-film-about-dictator-has-south-korea-war-itself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3369548/why-film-about-dictator-has-south-korea-war-itself?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters South ‌Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday threatened unspecified measures against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledged what Seoul says was a confidentiality agreement covering the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers and apologised. “If the refusal to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology continues, we will take additional measures,” Lee said in a social media post. Lee also expressed “grave regret” over what he described as Ukrainian remarks about an imminent ⁠military... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369514/seoul-ups-ante-ukraine-feud-over-north-korean-pow-transfer-disclosure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369514/seoul-ups-ante-ukraine-feud-over-north-korean-pow-transfer-disclosure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:06:14 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan is increasingly tapping into Ukraine’s war experience against Russia as a valuable source of intelligence on military technologies that could strengthen its defensive and offensive capabilities. A visit to Kyiv this week by senior ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and former Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera demonstrates this interest, analysts say, against the backdrop of Tokyo’s mounting regional security concerns. Onodera arrived in the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369451/why-japan-looking-ukraines-front-lines-overhaul-its-defences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369451/why-japan-looking-ukraines-front-lines-overhaul-its-defences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong The two Koreas urgently need to restore military communication to prevent a landmine dispute in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) from escalating into an armed clash, according to observers. The danger is growing as North Korea presses ahead with leader Kim Jong-un’s order to fortify its side of the 4km (2.5 mile) wide buffer zone separating it from the South. South Korea views the works, including the laying of mines near the sparsely marked Military Demarcation Line (MDL) running through the centre... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369329/border-mine-blasts-show-why-both-koreas-urgently-need-restore-communication?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369329/border-mine-blasts-show-why-both-koreas-urgently-need-restore-communication?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:10 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Residents of a district in the South Korean capital of Seoul are up in arms over plans to build a permanent school for North Korean defectors in their neighbourhood. The dispute escalated to the point where the school’s principal dropped to her knees to beg protesters to “embrace the children”, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported. Yeomyung School, which educates middle and high school students who fled North Korea or are children of North Korean defectors, has been unable to afford its own... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3369326/seoul-residents-arms-over-school-north-korean-defectors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3369326/seoul-residents-arms-over-school-north-korean-defectors?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:35:55 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea said on Wednesday that South Korea will pay a price for shifting the blame to Pyongyang for a mine blast ‌that seriously wounded two South Koreans at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) border and warned it will retaliate if the South opens fire on its troops. South Korea’s defence minister said on Tuesday that North Korean mines caused a blast last week and that it would take “corresponding” action. Kang Shin-chul also said North Korea likely planted mines as part of fortifying the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369200/north-korean-mines-behind-dmz-blast-injured-2-south-koreans-seoul-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369200/north-korean-mines-behind-dmz-blast-injured-2-south-koreans-seoul-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:28:28 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Bangkok declares flood disaster across city as thousands flee from homes Entire Bangkok neighbourhoods were inundated on Saturday as the city government declared a flood disaster after the worst rains in years overwhelmed the Thai capital, submerging roads, cars and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3369142/bangkok-flood-disaster-indonesian-victim-fake-cash-scam-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3369142/bangkok-flood-disaster-indonesian-victim-fake-cash-scam-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:45:12 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong An escalating diplomatic row over Ukraine’s disclosure of a North Korean prisoner-of-war transfer is threatening to jeopardise South Korea’s future ties with and support for Kyiv, analysts say, even as it hands fresh ammunition to the political opposition in Seoul. South Korea’s presidential official issued a statement late on Sunday demanding an official explanation and apology for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disclosure about the POWs at last week’s UN General Assembly. Seoul said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369055/south-koreas-pow-row-ukraine-puts-ties-and-aid-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369055/south-koreas-pow-row-ukraine-puts-ties-and-aid-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:50:03 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea’s presidential office has demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and then falsely denying ‌that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential. “The presidential office expresses strong regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement,” Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368983/south-korea-demands-apology-ukraine-over-disclosure-north-korean-pow-transfer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368983/south-korea-demands-apology-ukraine-over-disclosure-north-korean-pow-transfer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:56:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea’s weightlifters will flex their considerable collective muscle when they return to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years at Los Angeles in 2028 – and they could be in for an American gold rush if the Asian Games are any indication. The secretive nation has been the dominant force in global weightlifting since emerging from self-imposed Covid exile to smash six world records at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. They also won six golds. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3368893/north-koreas-weightlifters-target-olympic-gold-rush-after-world-record-haul-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3368893/north-koreas-weightlifters-target-olympic-gold-rush-after-world-record-haul-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:30:06 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she and Donald Trump had reaffirmed their collaboration on issues relating to Beijing in a phone call on Saturday. The call followed the US president’s nostalgic invocation of the World War II alliance with China during his summit with Xi Jinping, remarks that sent shock waves through Tokyo. Trump made the references as he welcomed the Chinese president to the White House on Thursday for his first state visit to Washington in over a decade. In a social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368878/will-trump-xi-wartime-ally-nostalgia-prompt-japanese-rethink-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368878/will-trump-xi-wartime-ally-nostalgia-prompt-japanese-rethink-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has put North Korea in a propaganda bind, analysts say, by publicly revealing that Kyiv recently transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. The disclosure – made during Zelensky’s address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday – directly challenges Pyongyang’s narrative that its soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces would choose death over surrender. North Korea is unlikely to acknowledge the transfer publicly, but may strengthen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368711/ukraines-pow-transfer-reveal-deals-north-korea-propaganda-blow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368711/ukraines-pow-transfer-reveal-deals-north-korea-propaganda-blow?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:38 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Starkly contrasting receptions for the Japanese leader and the Chinese president in the United States have sparked debate over Washington’s treatment of Tokyo as an ally. Sanae Takaichi arrived in New York at the start of the working week, beginning a trip where she addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time as the country’s prime minister. A photo taken on her arrival shows her waving across a relatively empty tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Footage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368696/red-carpet-vs-empty-tarmac-xis-us-welcome-fuels-debate-over-takaichis-no-show-reception?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368696/red-carpet-vs-empty-tarmac-xis-us-welcome-fuels-debate-over-takaichis-no-show-reception?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:20:23 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US is his first to the country since 2023 and his eighth face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump. From informal walk-and-talks to a state dinner, Xi’s meetings across four American administrations show how personal rapport and official diplomacy reflect the growing complexity of US-China relations. Xi’s first US visit as president: a shirtsleeves summit In June 2013, just months after assuming the presidency, Xi travelled to the United States following... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368664/summits-all-diplomatic-seasons-how-us-has-set-stage-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368664/summits-all-diplomatic-seasons-how-us-has-set-stage-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:52:15 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal for a phased approach to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes is a pragmatic response, analysts say, but prospects for gaining its arch-rival’s acceptance remain uncertain. In a keynote speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Lee laid out a long-term, step-by-step sequence for pursuing the ultimate goal of North Korea’s denuclearisation. He had called for Washington to ease sanctions in return for North Korea stopping its nuclear... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368586/south-korea-has-pragmatic-plan-phased-denuclearisation-will-north-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368586/south-korea-has-pragmatic-plan-phased-denuclearisation-will-north-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:23:51 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Washington is increasingly turning to South Korea to ease ammunition supply bottlenecks triggered by wars in the Middle East and Europe, potentially accelerating Seoul’s integration into the US defence industrial base. Analysts say the United States may struggle to replenish stockpiles quickly enough if conflicts in Iran and Ukraine drag on, creating opportunities for South Korea’s defence industry to expand its presence in the US market. Jang Won-joon, a defence science professor at Jeonbuk... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368481/us-turns-south-korea-ease-ammunition-bottlenecks-amid-global-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368481/us-turns-south-korea-ease-ammunition-bottlenecks-amid-global-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:07 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi North Korea could be using missile tests to take its denuclearisation off the US-China summit agenda and drive home its demands for recognition as a nuclear power as a prerequisite for talks with Washington, according to analysts. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, which, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, were detected three hours apart, with the first flying about 450km (280 miles), while the second travelled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:06 +0000 Fan Chen,Orange Wang Fan Chen,Orange Wang When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the fifth part of a series, Fan Chen and Orange Wang look at the negotiating chips and areas where progress might be made. There will be some powerful bargaining chips on the table when Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet in Washington this week. Both sides have economic and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368375/can-xi-and-trump-use-their-leverage-actually-make-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368375/can-xi-and-trump-use-their-leverage-actually-make-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:00:06 +0000 Kang Jun-young Kang Jun-young The September 24 summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump is no ordinary engagement. Their May summit took place in Beijing and largely centred on economic issues. This one will be on Trump’s home turf and is expected to put strategic questions on the table. Will the Korean peninsula and North Korea’s nuclear programme again be pushed to the margins? In Beijing, both sides focused on their immediate national interests, such as trade, semiconductors, rare earths and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367602/why-trump-xi-summit-must-put-korean-peninsula-back-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367602/why-trump-xi-summit-must-put-korean-peninsula-back-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado The United States, Japan and South Korea announced a new economic-security consultation and reinforced their support for stability across the Taiwan Strait on Monday, sending a coordinated message on two of Beijing’s most sensitive issues just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s summit with US President Donald Trump. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun unveiled the initiative after meeting on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368306/us-japan-and-south-korea-launch-economic-security-talks-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3368306/us-japan-and-south-korea-launch-economic-security-talks-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:22:31 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our exclusive coverage of Xi and Trump’s upcoming meeting in the US. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese CEOs fly to US on own, await invites to Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping A small group of Chinese CEOs holding US visas has arrived in Washington after travelling separately from President Xi Jinping’s official entourage, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. 2. Fissures over US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3368194/xi-and-trump-will-meet-week-heres-exclusive-info-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3368194/xi-and-trump-will-meet-week-heres-exclusive-info-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:22:38 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Three South Korean military officers were injured in an explosion during an operation near the heavily mined border with North Korea, Seoul’s military said Monday. The incident occurred south of the military demarcation line inside the demilitarised zone (DMZ), one of the world’s most heavily fortified and mined frontiers. Two of the injured officers were evacuated by helicopter, while a third was due to be transported by road before being airlifted, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. It was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368200/suspected-landmine-blast-injures-south-korean-soldiers-dmz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368200/suspected-landmine-blast-injures-south-korean-soldiers-dmz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 03:53:39 +0000 Gabriela Bernal Gabriela Bernal The recent opening of a new road bridge between North Korea and Russia may look like a modest infrastructure project. In reality, the 1km stretch across the Tumen River carries implications far beyond the movement of vehicles between two border towns. For China, it is a reminder that its influence over North Korea is no longer as secure as it once appeared and that Russia may be increasingly capable of challenging Beijing’s interests on its northeastern periphery. The bridge, inaugurated on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367489/new-north-korea-russia-bridge-delivers-powerful-message-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367489/new-north-korea-russia-bridge-delivers-powerful-message-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:30:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea fired two missiles off its eastern coast on Sunday, its second set of tests in roughly a week and days after Pyongyang accused the US of driving tensions on the Korean peninsula through a series of military drills. Nearly three ‌hours after launching a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) towards the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, on Sunday afternoon, North Korea ‌fired a similar missile, according to South Korea’s defence ministry. If the subsequent launch is confirmed to be a ballistic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368160/north-korea-fires-two-missiles-three-hours-amid-tensions-over-us-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368160/north-korea-fires-two-missiles-three-hours-amid-tensions-over-us-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:25:27 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the second part of a series, Fan Chen looks at Beijing’s stronger position going into the high-stakes visit. Beijing is poised to begin this week’s summit with Washington from a position of strength, bolstered by a flurry of recent diplomatic outreach. Chinese confidence could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368100/analysts-tip-stronger-hand-china-ahead-xi-trump-summit-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368100/analysts-tip-stronger-hand-china-ahead-xi-trump-summit-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 22:00:08 +0000