Air China to resume Beijing-Pyongyang flights after 6-year suspension

China’s national carrier Air China will resume passenger flights between Beijing and Pyongyang for the first time in six years, according to reports Friday. The airline plans to restart flights from Beijing to the North Korean capital starting Aug. 25, the reports said. The route had been suspended since 2020 as cross-border travel was halted following the outbreak of COVID-19. The move comes as China and North Korea gradually restore cross-border exchanges that had been largely frozen during th

March 13, 2026

Army expands VR-based training for reservists

The Korean Army is expanding its use of virtual reality and digital monitoring technologies in reserve force training, as part of efforts to make drills more realistic and improve training effectiveness. The Army said Friday it had unveiled a range of technology-integrated reserve training programs at the Seocho Reserve Training Center in southern Seoul, operated by the 52nd Infantry Division. A centerpiece of the new system is a virtual reality shooting simulator that uses a three-sided multisc

March 13, 2026

South Korea to require approval for hiring foreign, dual-national staff at defense firms

Defense companies in South Korea will be required to obtain government approval when appointing foreign nationals or dual nationals to executive posts or positions handling defense technologies, according to sources Friday. The requirement is part of revisions to the Defense Acquisition Program Act and the Defense Industry Technology Protection Act, which were recently approved at a Cabinet meeting, sources familiar with the matter said. The move comes amid growing concerns that appointing forei

March 13, 2026

PM Kim Min-seok meets Vance in Washington to discuss trade, investment plan

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met US Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Thursday, where the two discussed bilateral trade issues, including the implementation of a Korea-US investment framework agreed upon by President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump last year. Vance welcomed the South Korean National Assembly passing the US investment bill, and called for continued close cooperation between the two countries, South Korean the Prime Minister's Office said Friday. "(I

March 13, 2026

Lee orders probe, accountability over delayed recovery of Jeju Air crash victims’ remains

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday ordered a renewed investigation into the Dec. 29, 2024 Jeju Air disaster after additional human remains were discovered during inspection of the crash debris more than a year after the accident. Lee Kyu-yeon, presidential secretary for communication and public relations, told reporters that the president received a report earlier in the day on the latest inspection of debris from the crash site. “Investigate thoroughly how the remains were left unattended and

March 12, 2026

National Assembly passes Korea-US strategic investment bill

The National Assembly on Thursday passed a special bill to facilitate Seoul’s $350 billion investment in the United States, as part of a bilateral strategic investment framework struck with Washington last year. The bill was approved with 226 in favor, eight against and eight abstentions, with 242 of the 296 lawmakers present. The legislation stems from a bilateral understanding between Seoul and Washington to expand Korean investment in the US across key sectors such as manufacturing, energy an

March 12, 2026

Seoul eyes using commercial satellite imagery for defense

South Korea is considering the use of commercial satellite imagery for defense, a move aimed at reducing the cost of developing military satellites while expanding access to such data. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Thursday it has commissioned a study on ways to utilize commercial satellite imagery for military use. The agency said the study will serve as the basis for future projects to acquire and use commercial satellite imagery for defense operations. The 64.2 million w

March 12, 2026

Patriots, THAAD may be shipped to Middle East. Is South Korea safe without them?

Speculation about the possible redeployment of US missile defense assets stationed in South Korea to the Middle East has been growing, along with concerns about the potential impact such a move could have on the country’s defense posture. The speculation comes as Washington seeks to reinforce missile defense coverage for US bases and allies in the Middle East, amid a possibly prolonged confrontation with Iran. The Washington Post reported Monday, citing US officials, that the Pentagon is moving

March 11, 2026

People Power Party moves to distance itself from Yoon, but doubts linger

South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party has formally moved to distance itself from former President Yoon Suk Yeol, but doubts and criticism remain. The conservative party adopted a resolution Monday apologizing for Yoon's Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration and formally rejecting the “Yoon Again” slogan used by some supporters advocating for the former president's political comeback. The resolution was read by Floor Leader Rep. Song Eon-seok, who said the party must acknowledge public

March 10, 2026

Additional Cheongung-II interceptors shipped to UAE: reports

The United Arab Emirates appears to have received dozens of Cheongung-II interceptor missiles from South Korea, according to multiple reports Tuesday. Local wire service News1 reported that a UAE Air Force C-17 strategic transport aircraft was spotted departing from Daegu Airport, near South Korea’s K2 Air Base, on Monday afternoon. According to reports, the UAE’s C-17 transport aircraft arrived at Daegu Airport late Monday night, and the Cheongung-II interceptor missiles — developed by South Ko

March 10, 2026