China accuses EU of overreach regarding JD.com deal probe
The Chinese government is raising the stakes in a dispute over JD.com's takeover bid for Germany's Ceconomy. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)
· Staff Writer
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Newest first · UTC+11:00(URGENT) N. Korea fires around dozen short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang: S. Korean military
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Kim Seung-yeon
Media watchdog sends letter to U.S. lawmakers over Network Act pushback
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's media watchdog said Thursday it sent a reply letter to Republican lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives explaining that the revision to the Network Act does not disproportionately target American companies.
· Kang Jae-eun
Centenarians in Korea near triples in 10-year period
The number of South Koreans aged 100 or older nearly tripled over the past decade, with the increase particularly sharp among men, government data showed Thursday.
· Yoon Min-sik
Google's China shift and the battle over AI models
Hi everyone! This is Lauly, your #techAsia host this week, sending warm greetings from humid and rainy Taipei.
· Staff Writer
North Korea fires an unidentified projectile off its east coast
U.S. Army soldiers try to dismantle a floating bridge during a training exercise on a river in Yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Japan faces a tough inflation-growth trade-off – and it’s not alone
Bond markets are nervous about central banks’ ability to contain inflation as South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines face similar pressures
· Nicholas Spiro
Japan faces a tough inflation-growth trade-off – and it’s not alone
Bond markets are nervous about central banks’ ability to contain inflation as South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines face similar pressures
· Nicholas Spiro
N. Korea launches unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS
Staff reporter at The Korea Herald’s National Desk, based in Seoul. Covers South Korea’s national security and foreign policy, with a focus on the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly.Before entering journalism, served as an Air Force officer. Experience includes providing tr…
· Hwang Joo-young
S. Korean judoka sets sights on Asian Games gold in native Japan
JINCHEON, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Tokyo-born South Korean judoka Huh Mimi said Thursday she will lean on support from her loved ones in her pursuit of an Asian Games gold medal in her native Japan next month.
· Yoo Jee-ho
N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: S. Korean military
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said.
· Kim Seung-yeon
(URGENT) N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: S. Korean military
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Kim Seung-yeon
Hong Kong conglomerate seeks $1.5 billion in damages from Panama for takeover of canal ports
HONG KONG — Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said Thursday it was seeking more than $1.5 billion in damages from Panama after the country seized two canal ports caught in the crosshairs of US-China tensions.
· Associated Press
Top swimmers say are confident S. Korea can repeat Asian Games success
JINCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea swept up 22 medals in swimming at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, its most ever at a single edition of the quadrennial competition.
· Yoo Jee-ho
PM vows to boldly improve regulations on new industries, technologies
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Seong-sook vowed Thursday to boldly improve regulations to help new industries and technologies to take off in an unfettered manner and play a key role as future growth engines for South Korea's economy.
· CHANG JAE SUN
Evergrande founder sentenced to life in prison by Chinese court
Topic:Law, Crime and Justice
Trump wants to talk to Kim. North Korea’s leader has a big ask.
Donald Trump has spent days this week broadcasting his desire to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as early as this year. But rekindling their “bromance” and turning these hopes into an actual return to talks will prove a daunting task for the U.S. president.
· Jesse Johnson
Meet Blue Pongtiwat, the rising Thai star rumoured to be dating Blackpink’s Lisa
The K-pop superstar, who has reportedly split from Frédéric Arnault, was spotted in Hong Kong and Japan with the actor dubbed ‘Thailand’s Cha Eun-woo’
· Varvara Rodchenko
Meet Blue Pongtiwat, the rising Thai star rumoured to be dating Blackpink’s Lisa
The K-pop superstar, who has reportedly split from Frédéric Arnault, was spotted in Hong Kong and Japan with the actor dubbed ‘Thailand’s Cha Eun-woo’
· Varvara Rodchenko
S. Korean athletes keeping focus on selves, not opponents, ahead of Asian Games
JINCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean epee fencer Song Se-ra appears to be peaking just in time for the Asian Games starting next month, having bagged her second career world title last month in Hong Kong.
· Yoo Jee-ho
From travel warnings to visa fees: why Chinese tourism to Japan is in free fall
Mainland visitors fell more than 56% in July, compounding a months-long slump driven by escalating diplomatic tensions and soaring costs
· Sherry Wang
From travel warnings to visa fees: why Chinese tourism to Japan is in free fall
Mainland visitors fell more than 56% in July, compounding a months-long slump driven by escalating diplomatic tensions and soaring costs
· Sherry Wang
Hesai rides on lidar growth as smart cars gain ground despite China’s struggling market
World’s largest maker of lidar sensors signals ambitions beyond the supply chain, repositioning itself as a top tech firm
· Daniel Ren
Hesai rides on lidar growth as smart cars gain ground despite China’s struggling market
World’s largest maker of lidar sensors signals ambitions beyond the supply chain, repositioning itself as a top tech firm
· Daniel Ren
Donald Trump may have ended America's 'Pivot to Asia', but with a twist | The National
In the past few days, the US has ordered its last aircraft carrier out of Asia and sent it to shore up its fleet in the Middle East, and President Donald Trump told his defence department to “substantially reduce” military exercises this week with South Korea. Despite the latter being a US treaty ally and home to ab…
· Sholto Byrnes
Unionized members at Naver demand company engage in centralized bargaining
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Unionized members of Naver Corp., South Korea's major portal operator, called on the company Thursday to engage in integrated bargaining that encompasses its affiliates.
· Kang Jae-eun
Why Gates’ visit matters for Korea’s SMR ambitions
TerraPower deals deepen Korean role in global supply chain, but homegrown technology remains key to leadership
· Ahn Sung-mi
Paik’s Coffee opens first two stores in Tokyo
Paik’s Coffee, operated by Theborn Korea, said Thursday it has opened its first two stores in Tokyo as part of a broader overseas expansion.
· Jung Young-seon
Unification minister says U.S.-N. Korea dialogue key first step to halting Pyongyang's nuclear program
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang are the first step toward halting North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday.
· Woo Jae-yeon
Defense Minister shares N. Korea nuke estimate above Trump's
Seoul estimates N. Korea has '80-120' nukes; downplays chances of US tactical nuke deployment to Korean Peninsula
· Son Ji-hyoung
S. Korea targets up to 45 gold medals at Asian Games as countdown reaches D-30
JINCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- With the next Asian Games in Japan a month away, South Korea on Thursday declared its goal of capturing up to 45 gold medals for a top-three finish in the medal race.
· Yoo Jee-ho
What is behind Trump's '57 North Korean nuclear weapons' remark?
Staff reporter at The Korea Herald’s National Desk, based in Seoul. Covers South Korea’s national security and foreign policy, with a focus on the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly.Before entering journalism, served as an Air Force officer. Experience includes providing tr…
· Hwang Joo-young
Korea considers hacking sites to stop illegal sexual content
South Korea is considering allowing investigators, under warrant, to hack websites that distribute illegal sexual content to collect evidence and delete illegal data.
· Lim Jae-seong
Four workers dead after being hit by train in Japan
The train involved in the accident was a limited express train - one of the fastest in Japan
· Bbcnews
Armed with funding boost, SpaceSail accelerates China’s push to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink
Company pairs landmark capital with rapid satellite deployment and overseas expansion as China’s private aerospace sector breaks new ground
· Ben Jiang
Armed with funding boost, SpaceSail accelerates China’s push to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink
Company pairs landmark capital with rapid satellite deployment and overseas expansion as China’s private aerospace sector breaks new ground
· Ben Jiang
China’s humanoid robot industry edges toward ‘ChatGPT moment’ Unitree CEO says
The CEO of Chinese humanoid robot unicorn Unitree 688836.SS said on Thursday the industry is edging towards a "ChatGPT moment" for robot brains, after the company's blockbuster Shanghai listing crystallized China's ambitions to lead the next frontier of AI-powered machines.
· REUTERS
South Korea says North Korea may have up to 120 nuclear warheads
South Korea estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, its defence minister said on Thursday, citing a range significantly higher than US President Donald Trump's recent assertion that Pyongyang has 57 nuclear weapons.
· REUTERS
S. Korea's space agency tests delivery system connecting drones with robots
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's space agency said Thursday it carried out a field test of a contactless delivery system for heavy cargo utilizing drones and robots last month in Sacheon, southwest of Seoul.
· Kang Jae-eun
[Key Points] Lee backs Trump’s North Korea outreach, supports scaling back drills
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum
China Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan sentenced to life in prison
China Evergrande Group's then-Chairman Hui Ka Yan attends a news conference on the property developer's annual results in Hong Kong in March 2017. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
Police officer booked for allegedly skipping confirmation of missing person's safety before closing case
JEJU, South Korea, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Police said Thursday they have booked an officer over allegations he closed a missing person case without confirming the safety of the person who went missing on the southern island of Jeju.
· KIM, SEONGHUN
Asian shares gain after US Treasury expands debt buybacks
A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
· Chan Ho Him
BitGo becomes first foreign crypto firm to win Korean license
BitGo Korea, the local unit of global digital asset infrastructure company BitGo, has received approval from South Korean regulators to operate as a virtual asset service provider here, making it the first foreign player to earn the status.
· Im Eun-byel
Robots poised for ‘ChatGPT moment,’ Unitree CEO says
UNITREE. Unitree's CEO Wang Xingxing speaks during the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China, August 20, 2026.
· Victor Barreiro Jr.
Trump scaling down U.S.-South Korea drills risks more than just joint military readiness
President Donald Trump's move to sharply curtail U.S.-South Korean military exercises will not only affect they countries' combat readiness, but also undermine the credibility of American commitments to its alliances.
· Lim Hui Jie
(2nd LD) N. Korea typically estimated to have 80-120 nuclear weapons: defense minister
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES with Ahn's remarks, other details throughout; ADDS byline)By Kim Seung-yeon
· Kim Seung-yeon
They escaped south-east Asia’s scam compounds. Then they realised they were still trapped
The cyber-fraud industry has flourished in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, with thousands of people trafficked into the industry. But even those who have managed to find a way out often cannot return home
· Harriet Barber
US Treasuries in driver’s seat for risky AI stocks as investors grapple with elevated yields
Fears of a debt issuance glut swept across the US bond market this week, driving the 30-year yield to a nearly two-decade high
· Zhang Shidong