(2nd LD) S. Korea to withdraw some embassy staff from Ukraine amid N.K. POW dispute
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has decided to withdraw some diplomatic p...
· Oh Seok-min
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Japan Slams Lack of Access to Journalist Arrested in Far East
The FSB arrested the journalist from the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper on the Far East island of Sakhalin last week on suspicion of espionage.
· AFP
Rainy autumn days ahead
Rain is spreading across much of South Korea on Tuesday, with cool breezes and colorful fallen leaves adding to the autumn atmosphere. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province saw cloudy skies Tuesday morning, while parts of the south received light rain of around 5 …
· Choi Jae-hee
Calls to sue Indonesia over haze; Pinduoduo craze sweeps Malaysia: 7 Asia highlights
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. ‘Forgive us’: Indonesians urge Singapore, Malaysia to sue Jakarta over haze Many Indones…
· SCMP
Japan's Zipair launches Kuala Lumpur flight as first Malaysia route
Economy starts at $220 one-way with eye also on North America-Asia transfer demand
· MAYUKO KURIHARA
Japan's mission to Mars moon Phobos: 5 things to know
MMX probe aims to bring back world's first samples from Martian orbital system
· MITSURU OBE
S. Korea to adjust work hours, flights, military drills on day of annual college entrance exam
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will adjust public transit, work hours an...
· KIM, SEONGHUN
(2nd LD) S. Korea warns of 'decisive retaliation' as N. Korea threatens to deploy strike assets to border
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea vowed Tuesday to take decisive action if ...
· Kim Seung-yeon
Student sent back to China over Japanese rising sun flag incident in Russia
A Chinese student who draped himself in the Japanese rising sun flag in a Russian university classroom has been expelled and asked to leave the country, according to state-run newspaper Global Times. The flag was used by the Japanese military during its imperial expansion and is still used by Japan’s Maritime Self-D…
· Cao Jiaxuan
Student sent back to China over Japanese rising sun flag incident in Russia
A Chinese student who draped himself in the Japanese rising sun flag in a Russian university classroom has been expelled and asked to leave the country, according to state-run newspaper Global Times. The flag was used by the Japanese military during its imperial expansion and is still used by Japan’s Maritime Self-D…
· Cao Jiaxuan
Beijing warns London of ‘firm countermeasures’ if it aligns with EU import curbs on EVs
As London considers aligning with EU trade measures targeting imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Beijing has warned of “firm countermeasures” if the UK imposes restrictions. “We hope the UK will abide by World Trade Organization rules and think twice before acting, rather than blindly following the EU,” the…
· Alice Li
Beijing warns London of ‘firm countermeasures’ if it aligns with EU import curbs on EVs
As London considers aligning with EU trade measures targeting imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Beijing has warned of “firm countermeasures” if the UK imposes restrictions. “We hope the UK will abide by World Trade Organization rules and think twice before acting, rather than blindly following the EU,” the…
· Alice Li
(LEAD) S. Korea to withdraw some embassy staff from Ukraine amid N.K. POW dispute
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has decided to withdraw some diplomatic p...
· Oh Seok-min
China sends naval forces to monitor US warship near disputed shoal
The Chinese military's Southern Theater Command asserts that the US warship 'illegally intruded' into waters adjacent to a shoal in the Spratly Islands
· Herbie G
China sends naval forces to monitor US warship near disputed shoal
(1st UPDATE) A Philippine military spokesperson says the US ship 'did not trespass into "Chinese territory,"' adding that no nation has the authority to require prior permission for 'lawful transit through international waters'
· Herbie G
Japan slams lack of access to journalist detained in Russia
Russia arrested a journalist from the Hokkaido Shimbun on the Far East island of Sakhalin a week ago on suspicion of espionage.
· No Author
U.S. bans DeepSeek from government agency systems amid AI rift with China
U.S. Department of Homeland Security has banned DeepSeek-related technology from federal civilian agency IT systems.
· Jenny Lee, Kai Nicol-Schwarz
Hana leads race for Korea's growing foreign banking market
Hana Bank has emerged as the clear leader in deposit accounts held by foreign nationals in South Korea, according to exclusive regulatory data offering a glimpse into how lenders are positioning themselves in the country's expanding foreign banking market. Hana held 4.2 million deposit accounts belonging to foreign …
· Choi Ji-won
Ruling bloc backs existing conditions for OPCON transfer
Rep. Kim Min-seok, chair of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said Tuesday the existing framework for transferring wartime operational control of South Korean forces from the United States should remain in place, pushing back against recent remarks by the US Forces Korea commander about changing the process. “Th…
· Hwang Joo-young
China’s tax authority issues final call for wealthy citizens to declare offshore trust gains
China’s tax authorities have issued a final call for high-net-worth individuals to disclose their overseas trust gains, a move analysts believe will further raise concerns in Hong Kong and other overseas tax havens used by wealthy Chinese. “We remind relevant taxpayers to promptly review their offshore trust arrange…
· Christina Zhao
China’s tax authority issues final call for wealthy citizens to declare offshore trust gains
China’s tax authorities have issued a final call for high-net-worth individuals to disclose their overseas trust gains, a move analysts believe will further raise concerns in Hong Kong and other overseas tax havens used by wealthy Chinese. “We remind relevant taxpayers to promptly review their offshore trust arrange…
· Christina Zhao
Kyobo rejects suspicious 100,000-book order amid AI copyright fears
Kyobo Book Centre, Korea's largest bookstore operator, has drawn attention for rejecting a suspicious order from an overseas company, amid growing concerns that bulk-ordered books could be used as training data for artificial intelligence. According to a Kyobo Book Center official, the bookstore chain received a req…
· Song Seung-hyun
Why have countries been pushing for a vital global climate report to be delayed?
Saudi Arabia, Russia and China among those claiming developed countries have skewed findings of IPCC reviewThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suspended an important meeting on Friday in Addis Ababa without setting out a firm timetable for its next report. The world’s governments are due to meet in less th…
· Fiona Harvey
China protests UK border searches, phone seizures amid growing espionage tensions
China has lodged a formal representation with the UK after British border authorities subjected Chinese citizens to extended questioning and seizures of personal electronic devices, including mobile phones. According to a statement from China’s embassy in Britain, multiple Chinese nationals – including trade delegat…
· Carol Yang
China protests UK border searches, phone seizures amid growing espionage tensions
China has lodged a formal representation with the UK after British border authorities subjected Chinese citizens to extended questioning and seizures of personal electronic devices, including mobile phones. According to a statement from China’s embassy in Britain, multiple Chinese nationals – including trade delegat…
· Carol Yang
S. Korea to withdraw some embassy staff from Ukraine amid N.K. POW dispute
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has decided to withdraw some diplomatic p...
· Oh Seok-min
S. Korea, Czech Republic review progress in joint nuclear energy project
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the Czech Republic have reviewed prog...
· Kang Yoon-seung
Japan launches uncrewed space mission to become first to gather samples from Mars' moon Phobos
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft lifted off aboard an H3 rocket before dawn from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.
· REUTERS
Lim Ju-hyun's bold bet pays off as Hanmi readies Eppe launch
Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s launch of Korea’s first homegrown GLP-1 obesity drug, Eppe, marks a major milestone for Vice Chair Lim Ju-hyun, who turned a once-abandoned diabetes drug candidate into the centerpiece of the company’s obesity treatment ambitions. The journey began in 2008, when Hanmi developed efpeglenatide, …
· Kan Hyeong-woo
KLPGA, LPGA stars to meet at BMW Ladies Championship
Top players from the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour and the LPGA Tour will face off in Haenam this week. The LPGA Tour's BMW Ladies Championship will be held over four days beginning Thursday at Pine Beach Golf Links, a par-72 course in Haenam County, South Jeolla Province. The tournament, t…
· Edwin Choi
BYD surges to No. 4 in Korea's imported car market
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is rapidly expanding its foothold in South Korea, climbing to fourth place in the country’s imported passenger market in the first nine months of this year. BYD sold 20,137 vehicles from January to September, more than triple the 6,107 units it sold throughout 2025, according to in…
· Ahn Sung-mi
K-food chiefs lead European charge at SIAL Paris
Korea’s top food executives are out in force this week at SIAL Paris 2026 — Europe’s leading food and beverage trade fair — showcasing their flagship brands alongside the new products set to drive growth in what has become one of K-food’s fastest-growing markets. The five-day fair, running through Wednesday, draws a…
· No Kyung-min
N. Korea seeks to cement permanent border as Seoul vows firm response: experts
North Korea's latest threats may be a ploy to undermine South Korea's border security operations and cement the division of the Korean Peninsula into two permanently separate states, experts said Tuesday, as Seoul's top military officer warned of a firm response to any further provocations by Pyongyang. Kim Yo-jong,…
· Jung Min-kyung
S. Korea to launch military satellites aboard homegrown Nuri rocket in 2031
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to launch military reconnaissance s...
· Kim Eun-jung
Fifa president hopes to woo Asian football federations ahead of re-election bid
Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election as Fifa president is set to move this week to Japan and a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with the Asian Football Confederation. This comes after Infantino apologised last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to Fifa’s 37-member ruling council – which he chairs – for “mistakes” he…
· Associated Press
Fifa president hopes to woo Asian football federations ahead of re-election bid
Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election as Fifa president is set to move this week to Japan and a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with the Asian Football Confederation. This comes after Infantino apologised last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to Fifa’s 37-member ruling council – which he chairs – for “mistakes” he…
· Associated Press
Unification ministry urges N. Korea to halt armistice violations, respond to dialogue efforts
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry on Tuesday urged North Korea...
· Oh Seok-min
Korea targets 1,000 overseas restaurants in K-food quality push
South Korea is stepping up efforts to improve the quality of Korean restaurants overseas, aiming to certify 1,000 establishments within five years as global interest in Korean cuisine continues to grow. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced plans to overhaul its overseas restaurant designatio…
· Jung Young-seon
China’s new 0.1-nanometre electron microscope ready to challenge US and Japan
China is ready to commercialise a 200-kilovolt transmission electron microscope with an information resolution down to 0.1 nanometres that could introduce a new challenger into a market long dominated by the US and Japan. Developed by Hefei-based manufacturer CIQTEK, the microscope features a point resolution of 0.2…
· Victoria Bela
China’s new 0.1-nanometre electron microscope ready to challenge US and Japan
China is ready to commercialise a 200-kilovolt transmission electron microscope with an information resolution down to 0.1 nanometres that could introduce a new challenger into a market long dominated by the US and Japan. Developed by Hefei-based manufacturer CIQTEK, the microscope features a point resolution of 0.2…
· Victoria Bela
Korea steps up support for teens with gambling addictions
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to improve how teenagers with gambling addictions are identified and connected with treatment, it said Tuesday. “Effective responses to teenage gambling problems require close cooperation between youth support organizations and specialized gambling treatment agencies,…
· Lee Seung-ku
3 small steps to strengthen minority integration into Hong Kong
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Hong Kong’s ethnic minority youth are an integral part of our community. The Government’s recent …
· Letters
2 arrested over late-night mass brawl in Pyeongtaek
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Police said Tuesday they have arres...
· Chae Yun-hwan
Koizumi lauds shift as more universities apply for defense research subsidy program
The defense minister characterized the development as a break from academia's once deep-seated aversions to being involved in national security.
· Jesse Johnson
Japan successfully launches probe in historic Mars moon mission
TOKYO, Japan — A Japanese spacecraft was on its way to one of Mars's moons on Tuesday on a world-first mission to retrieve samples, potentially helping unlock the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth.
· Agence France-Presse
BOK, BoE expand cooperation on tokenization projects
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Tuesday it is expanding ...
· Kim Boram
Yonhap News to unveil AI assistant for news reporting, fact-checking support
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key newswire servic...
· Kang Jae-eun
After foreign patients leave Korea, aftercare goes untracked
A government-funded program for foreign patients seeking treatment in South Korea has not tracked how many patients stop receiving aftercare after returning home or why, government data shows. The data, obtained from the Korea Health Industry Development Institute by Rep. So Byung-hoon of the ruling Democratic Party…
· Hwang Sun-jun
(LEAD) Defense ministry voices 'grave concern' over N. Korea heightening border tensions with threats
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry on Tuesday expressed "grave conc...
· Kim Seung-yeon