Capital and largest city of South Korea, a global megacity in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
North Korea has commissioned the Kang Kon destroyer as part of an intensified naval buildup. Pyongyang frames the move as deterrence, while Washington and Seoul coordinate drills amid heightened tensions with the U.S. pressing allies to join in regional security efforts.
South Korea has refused US pressure to deploy combat forces to the Strait of Hormuz and has said it will not send troops into the US-Iran war. Seoul has told Washington it will consider limited, non‑combat contributions to protect shipping while negotiations continue over a $350bn investment package and alliance tensions persist.
Philippines’ defense chief has read a note he says came from China during a Seoul forum, accusing China of coercion and challenging UNCLOS. Beijing denies wrongdoing, urging restraint as regional tensions persist. The incident follows a string of coast guard clashes in the South China Sea and comes as Manila signals willingness to reset ties while Beijing pushes a harder line.
Brent crude has climbed above $101 as attacks on vessels in and near the Hormuz Strait escalate, triggering a rapid rally in energy prices and stoking expectations that central banks will tighten policy. Iran says it has struck more than a dozen ships, while the waterway remains blocked and Saudi-Yemen conflict risks persist. Markets pull back on inflation concerns as Washington prepares CPI data.
World Athletics’ Ultimate Championship is running Budapest’s three-day event with a $10m prize pot and a winner’s share of $150,000, aiming to give track and field a new, spectator-friendly format. Top athletes from around the world are competing; the event seeks to sustain interest between Olympics and Worlds.
Micron has announced its strongest-ever rewards for about 60,000 employees globally, including a NT$1 million cash bonus for Taiwan-based staff and annual equity grants. Taiwan unions are seeking changes to profit-sharing, with ongoing talks risking a broader strike near Taipei.
Missiles launched from North Korea’s Wonsan area have flown about 250 km toward eastern waters. Seoul and Washington say the launches do not threaten the homeland; Pyongyang frames the event as a responsive act after the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. The launches follow North Korea’s accusation that the drills are provocative.
North Korea has conducted a multi-system drill involving drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and rocket artillery, aiming to showcase an integrated strike network. South Korea’s military reports short-range missiles and increased readiness following trilateral exercises with the US and Japan.
The Seoul court has ruled that North Korea must pay 44.6 billion won in damages over the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, a move the South regards as a symbolic judgment in a long-running diplomatic standoff.
South Korea has said it is coordinating with Washington to enable a possible US–North Korea meeting after President Trump said he plans to meet Kim Jong Un later this year. President Lee has also ruled out sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz and said Seoul will protect its merchant ships with minimal measures.
Netflix executives describe events as appointment TV and outline a strategy to use global events, NFL rights, and international games to fuel growth. The company is pursuing five NFL games this season and contemplates FIFA World Cup rights while expanding international programming amid a shifting sports and entertainment landscape.
The government has seen its popularity decline to a fresh record low as foreign policy tensions and domestic economic pressures weigh on public sentiment. Officials are under pressure as investors watch the AI and chip sectors amid concerns over property prices and growth.
The IAEA has remained deadlocked over safety and security issues amid the Washington-Iran clash, three days into the UN conference. Diplomats face a test as they push for consensus on nuclear threats in a volatile confrontation that has escalated since late February.
France has launched its new era under coach Zinedine Zidane with a first training camp at Clairefontaine featuring a 12-player group. Mbappé is absent, while Zidane is joined by Bettoni and Barthez as they prepare for Nations League fixtures against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy.
North Korea has launched a second set of short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area into the East Sea, with the launches following a previous round of tests amid ongoing regional tensions. South Korea and its allies are monitoring the situation.
The incident has prompted a Pentagon investigation into how cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door parts from an Australian F-35 ended up in Hong Kong. Australia says it is assisting in the inquiry; there is no public evidence of deliberate Chinese diversion, and officials stress the parts are not considered highly sensitive.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry confirms an explosion occurred during an operation in the DMZ. Two officers have been airlifted and the third transported by land before airlift. The incident follows rising North-South tensions, with authorities evaluating possible North Korea involvement and broader border-security concerns.
North Korea has conducted Sunday missile tests observed by Kim Jong Un and his daughter, with the regime saying the launches strengthen war readiness. South Korea and Japan report missiles landing outside EEZs after launches near Wonsan, as Pyongyang rolls out further military displays amid stalled diplomacy.
Zelensky has told the UN that Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. He says North Korea is using soldiers as currency to support Russia, while Kyiv seeks humanitarian and legal pathways amid international scrutiny.
A shipment of unserviceable F-35 components, including a radar‑coated cockpit canopy and a weapons‑bay door, has been unexpectedly rerouted from Australia to Hong Kong and remains unreturned. The Pentagon, Lockheed Martin and Australian authorities have opened investigations and are working to retrieve the parts as Congress presses for answers.
KFC has opened Open House in McKinney, Texas, a test restaurant offering breakfast, late hours, table service, and new menu items. The concept aims to learn what works for guests and rolls out successful ideas system-wide. The restaurant features digital kiosks, table service, dual drive-thru lanes, a photo booth and merch counter.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded an apology after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly said Kyiv transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul says the transfer was meant to be confidential and accuses Ukraine of breaching an agreement; Kyiv denies any nondisclosure pact and calls the matter a diplomatic misunderstanding.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have concluded that North Korean mines south of the DMZ caused explosions that wounded three South Korean soldiers. The finding, conducted with the UN Command, underscores an armistice violation and triggers discussions of corresponding measures as Pyongyang denies responsibility and tensions rise.
A joint South Korean–UN investigation has concluded that North Korean mines caused a September 21 blast in the DMZ that wounded three South Korean soldiers. Seoul has demanded an official apology and is conducting mine-clearing; Pyongyang has denied responsibility and has launched a ballistic missile from Wonsan, escalating tensions.
Officials have kept the 3.5-meter shark, nicknamed Bukangi, confined to a canal as they adapt tactics to guide it back to open water. Thousands of visitors have flocked to North Port to watch, with health and safety checks ongoing as authorities prepare a larger net to redirect the animal toward the sea.
Japan hosts a delayed, chaotic Asian Games with logistical issues shadowing standout performances. China leads in diving and tennis through young stars like Yu Zidi and Wang Xiyu; Japan and other nations show flashes of talent while organisers face criticism over accommodation and transport.
South Korea is evaluating a proposed $50 billion Alaska LNG project as part of a broader $200 billion investment package announced with the United States. While Washington touts the deal as a boost for energy infrastructure, Seoul is weighing commercial viability and legal compliance amid concerns about the project’s cost, timelines, and long‑term LNG demand.
South Korea has demanded an apology and recalled its ambassador after Ukraine’s president revealed Kyiv transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea in January 2025. Seoul says the disclosure violated a confidentiality agreement and risks Pyongyang retaliation; Ukraine says the matter is a diplomatic misunderstanding.
Kim Joo-hyung has won a tournament at Kasugai Country Club in Nagoya, closing with a six-under 64 to finish three strokes clear. The 24-year-old has secured a military-service exemption under South Korea's rule that grants exemptions to Asian Games gold medallists, allowing him to avoid the usual 18–21 months of service after brief basic training.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed seven nations have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics: Qatar, India (Ahmedabad), South Africa, Germany (Munich), Hungary, Turkiye (Istanbul) and South Korea. The IOC has set an Oct. 31 deadline for other entries, will assess feasibility by March 2027 and expects a final host vote in 2029.
The Guardian has found that in July and August, over 176,000 tonnes of diesel and other fuels loaded at South Korean ports were shipped on seven tankers to Russia’s Far East, including vessels under UK and EU sanctions. South Korea says its laws were not violated and will review vessel routes and declarations. Ukraine calls this a breach of sanctions amid escalating tensions with Seoul.
North Korea has reportedly conducted underwater-launch tests from a submarine that could carry ballistic missiles, signaling a push to deploy a submarine-based nuclear deterrent. South Korea and the United States detect launches, while analysts warn the tests aim to advance Pyongyang’s maritime combat capabilities and pressure for diplomacy.
North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast. Seoul and Washington are analyzing the missiles’ specifications after some flew over 900 kilometers. The launches come amid heightened tensions following a DMZ landmine incident and a flurry of Pyongyang missile tests, including a hypersonic weapon. Diplomats and leaders reaffirm calls for restraint as military readiness increases.
The New Yalu River Bridge is set for a ceremony linking Dandong in China with Sinuiju in North Korea. Since 2014 the opening has been delayed amid questions over Pyongyang’s willingness to deepen economic ties with Beijing. Analysts say the project could gradually boost bilateral trade while affecting broader Beijing-Pyongyang-Russia dynamics.
North Korea has tested two underwater-capable missiles in eastern waters, aiming to showcase the Navy’s ability to carry out strategic missions and reinforce its nuclear deterrent, according to state media. The tests follow a string of weapon demonstrations, including hypersonics, and come amid stalled diplomacy with the United States and South Korea.
South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Kyiv following Zelenskyy’s disclosure of a prisoner transfer, accusing Ukraine of a nondisclosure breach. Seoul says it is withdrawing some diplomatic staff due to safety concerns amid Russian attacks, while Kyiv says diplomacy must prevail.
A 59-year-old man carried out a stabbing attack at an Incheon shopping mall. Bystanders subdued him with chairs; eight people are injured, one in cardiac arrest. The suspect, wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet, has a history of violence and mental illness. Investigations are ongoing to determine motive and assess supervision of electronic monitoring.
Investors are re-evaluating the AI hardware boom as neoclouds struggle with debt-funded expansion. Companies such as CoreWeave face scrutiny over finances, while the broader sector faces higher financing costs and cautious lending. The market shift follows mixed results from AI infrastructure players and softening sentiment after a string of debt-fueled capex plans.
Bukangi the 3-meter dusky shark has been guided toward open water after weeks of confinement in Busan’s canal. Authorities say the shark’s health is stable while nets and barriers remain in place to prevent a rerouting; observers note the event drew millions of visitors and highlighted warming seas as a factor.
A South Korean team has linked Van Gogh's Starry Night to a predawn July 22, 1889 sky over Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, suggesting a date later than the traditional June 1889 attribution. The researchers argue the Hyades cluster and Venus align with the moon as seen from Van Gogh’s asylum window, though the museum questions the June date and notes uncertainties in the sky-matching method.