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☆ Aespa’s Karina: K-pop star ends relationship weeks after it sparked a fan backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —After apologizing last month for a new relationship that angered some particularly animated fans, K-pop star Karina is once again single – highlighting the long-standing challenges of dating in the fervid fanspace of Korean entertainment. Karina, of the girl group Aespa, and actor Lee Jae-wook have broken up after going public five weeks ago, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing statements from the pair’s respective representatives. Lee’s agency, C-JeS Studios, said he had ended the relationship to focus on work, “leaving them as colleagues who support each other,” Yonhap reported. In the past, K-pop stars who went public with their relationships have faced heavy public backlash, sometimes impacting their professional careers and contracts. There have been some signs of change in recent years, with attitudes slowly shifting among both fans and agencies.

Persons: Karina, Lee Jae, Yonhap, “, ” Yonhap, ”, Lee, wasn’t, Jisoo, Ahn Bo, hyun, “ I’m, commenter Organizations: CNN, South, JeS, Chosun Ilbo Locations: South Korean

☆ Aespa’s Karina apologizes to K-pop fans after relationship reveal sparks backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Are K-pop stars allowed to love? Under Karina’s apology post on Wednesday, the comment section was flooded with fans rallying in support. “No idols (K-pop stars) should apologize for dating in 2024,” one top comment read. And while there were messages of support there, too, there were plenty of disgruntled fans who weren’t satisfied with Karina’s apology. “Other fans pointed out that Karina’s apology hadn’t mentioned the status of her relationship – speculating that was simply confirmation they were still dating.

Persons: Karina, Lee Jae, wook, ”, “, Hyuna, Dawn, Jisoo, Ahn Bo, hyun, Aespa, hadn’t Organizations: South Korea CNN, Chosun Ilbo, Entertainment, Triple H, CNN, Twitter Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, Instagram, Japan, Weibo

☆ North Korea fires 200 artillery shells near Yeonpyeong Island; South reportedly orders evacuation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A shelter for protecting residents from potential North Korean attacks stands on Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea, on Friday, June 26, 2020. South Korea has reportedly ordered civilians on the border island of Yeonpyeong to move to shelters after North Korea fired 200 artillery shells into the sea near the island, local news media said on Friday. Yeonpyeong Island is close to what is known as the "Northern Limit Line," the de facto maritime border that separates the two Koreas. In a major escalation of tensions in November 2010, the island was bombarded by North Korean artillery, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians. North Korea and South Korea are formally still at war, as the Korean War in 1953 ended with an armistice and not a formal peace treaty.

Persons: Ban Organizations: Yonhap News, North Korean, Korea's, Chiefs, Staff, NBC News, Chosun Ilbo, Marine Corps, NLL, Reuters, North, South, United Locations: South Korea, Yeonpyeong, Korea, Korean, , Jangsan, Baengnyeong, Sansan, United Nations, North Korea

☆ Blackpink renews group contracts with agency, YG shares spike 29%
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images)Shares of K-pop agency YG Entertainment spiked as much as 29% after the company announced that it has renewed exclusive group contracts with all four members of girl group Blackpink. The stock closed at 48,000 South Korean won ($36.58) per share on Tuesday, near its 2023 low of 47,000 won. But on Wednesday, it surged at the open and hit an intraday high of 61,900 South Korean won per share. This could bring an end to the long running contract saga between the popular K-pop group and the agency. Shares of YG previously plunged each time South Korean media reported that members of the group will not renew with the label.

Persons: Lisa, Lalisa, Rose, Roseanne Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, King Charles III, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones Organizations: COP26, YG Entertainment, South Korean, YG, Munhwa Ilbo Locations: ENGLAND, British, Glasgow, London, England, South Korea, South Korean

☆ An American tourist in Seoul said he sprayed graffiti in 155 places to raise awareness about teeth grinding
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A US tourist in South Korea was accused of vandalizing 155 places in Seoul. The unnamed American told police he was trying to raise awareness of the condition, bruxism. AdvertisementAn American tourist has been accused of spraying graffiti at 155 locations in Seoul's central Yongsan district, police said on Monday. The Yongsan police department said it arrested an unnamed American man in his 30s who arrived in October as a tourist, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. The unnamed American told police that he suffers from severe bruxism, and wanted to let others know it can be a serious condition, the Seoul Shinmun Daily reported.

Persons: He's, —, Yonhap Organizations: Service, Chosun Ilbo, Police, Seoul Shinmun Locations: South Korea, Seoul, Yongsan district, Yongsan, Korean, Yonhap

☆ Blackpink's contract renewal sent YG shares on a wild ride. Why K-pop contracts matter
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella)In the oversaturated K-pop music scene, groups come as quickly as they go. Most contract renewals take place without much fanfare — but not for Blackpink, one of the biggest girl groups in the world. When members of the girl group were due to renew their contracts, shares of their label YG Entertainment went on a wild ride. In September, shares of the Kosdaq-listed YG Entertainment plunged on two separate occasions. Shares of YG climbed about 3% on that news.

Persons: Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, Emma McIntyre Organizations: Coachella, Valley Music, Arts Festival, YG Entertainment, Ilbo, YG Locations: INDIO , CALIFORNIA, Indio , California, Korean

☆ YG Entertainment shares climb 3% after Blackpink reportedly agrees to continue as a group
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella)Shares of K-pop agency YG Entertainment climbed over 3% on Monday after South Korean media reported that girl group Blackpink has agreed to continue group activities under the label. According to an exclusive by South Korean outlet Munhwa Ilbo, individual members will not be renewing their exclusive contracts with YG but the group agreed to continue group activities as Blackpink under the label. In the future, they plan to carry out individual activities and come together only for Blackpink activities," according to a Google translation. The report added that two members already signed a contract "agreeing to continue Blackpink's activities," without naming the members. It's the latest development in a long-running contract saga involving the four-member group made up of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa.

Persons: Lisa, Jennie, Emma McIntyre, Blackpink, Munhwa Ilbo, Jisoo, Rosé Organizations: Coachella, Valley Music, Arts Festival, YG Entertainment, South, Munhwa Ilbo, YG, Munhwa Locations: INDIO , CALIFORNIA, Indio , California

“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed,” Xi told Biden. Before leaving for California, Kishida told reporters a meeting with Xi had not yet been decided on. The aura of goodwill generated by the meeting was marred somewhat, however, by a comment by Biden. “I feel that China-U.S. relations have eased, and maybe the next step will be cooperation,” said Xu Jiaguang a 31-year-old firefighter. ___Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and video producer Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, lunching, they’re, ” Xi, Biden, ”, Jeff Liu, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Madoka Fukuda, ” Biden, Mao Ning, Xu Jiaguang, Gao Kexin, Mari Yamaguchi, Caroline Chen Organizations: Foreign, South, . Security, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kookmin Ilbo, Economic Cooperation, Communist Party . Tokyo, Tokyo's Hosei University, Foreign Ministry, China -, U.S, Associated Press Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, California, China, Beijing, U.S, Taiwan Strait, North Korea, Seoul, Pyongyang, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Asia, San Francisco, United States, China - U.S, Tokyo

☆ Militaries of S.Korea, Japan and US to hold first joint aerial drill
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The three countries are likely to conduct the exercise on Sunday and are coordinating the locations, South Korea's Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported, citing a government source. A South Korean defence ministry official declined to confirm or comment on the details of the aerial exercise. General Kim Seung-kyum, who chairs the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a parliamentary hearing last week that the three countries were planning to stage joint aerial drills, local media reported. The U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 bomber, which is currently deployed in South Korea, made a rare flyover at a South Korean defence exhibition on Tuesday. In a further sign of growing trilateral security cooperation, South Korea, the United States and Japan have completed work on a three-way communications hotline, Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a senior Seoul official.

Persons: Se Jong, Yul Gog Yi, Navy's Arleigh Burke, John Finn, David, Kim Seung, Hyunsu Yim, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Republic of Korea Navy, Self, Defense Force, U.S, Navy's, Ilbo, Chiefs of Staff, Seoul, Thomson Locations: Republic, SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Japan, U.S, Korean, North Korea

☆ Militaries of S.Korea, Japan and US to Hold First Joint Aerial Drill
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold a joint aerial exercise near the Korean peninsula, which would be the first time the three countries are conducting such a drill, media reports said on Wednesday. A South Korean defence ministry official declined to confirm or comment on the details of the aerial exercise. But the three countries are "expanding" three-way joint military exercises on the basis of an agreement by their leaders in August at the Camp David summit to bolster cooperation against North Korea's threats, the official said. General Kim Seung-kyum, who chairs the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a parliamentary hearing last week that the three countries were planning to stage joint aerial drills, local media reported. The U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 bomber, which is currently deployed in South Korea, made a rare flyover at a South Korean defence exhibition on Tuesday.

Persons: David, Kim Seung, Hyunsu Yim, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Ilbo, Chiefs of Staff, Seoul Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Japan, U.S, Korean, North Korea

☆ North Korea halts nuclear reactor, likely to extract bomb fuel - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A North Korean nuclear plant is seen before demolishing a cooling tower (R) in Yongbyon, in this photo taken June 27, 2008 and released by Kyodo. The operation of the 5 megawatt nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex has been suspended since late September, according to intelligence assessment by U.S. and South Korean authorities, the report said. Reprocessing of spent fuel rods removed from a nuclear reactor is a step taken before plutonium is extracted. The Yongbyon nuclear complex is the North's main source of plutonium that it likely has used to build nuclear weapons. North Korea claims itself a nuclear state but has kept how many nuclear weapons it may have built or deployed a secret.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Jack Kim, Lincoln Organizations: Kyodo ., Donga Ilbo, Thomson Locations: Korean, Yongbyon, Kyodo . North Korea, SEOUL, North Korea, Korea, Korea's

☆ North Korea halts nuclear reactor, likely to extract bomb fuel, Donga Ilbo reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The operation of the 5 megawatt nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex has been suspended since late September, according to intelligence assessment by U.S. and South Korean authorities, the report said. Reprocessing of spent fuel rods removed from a nuclear reactor is a step taken before plutonium is extracted. The Yongbyon nuclear complex is the North's main source of plutonium that it likely has used to build nuclear weapons. North Korea has also operated uranium enrichment facilities, which is a separate source of material that could be used for nuclear weapons. North Korea claims itself a nuclear state but has kept how many nuclear weapons it may have built or deployed a secret.

Persons: Jeon Ha, Siegfried Hecker, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Hecker, " Hecker, Kim, Jack Kim, Lincoln Organizations: Kyodo ., Donga Ilbo, Russia, North, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Thomson Locations: Korean, Yongbyon, Kyodo . North Korea, SEOUL, North Korea, Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Korea's

☆ Shares of K-pop agency plunge 9% after Blackpink member reportedly rejects contract renewal offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(L-R) Rosé, Jisoo, Lisa, and Jennie of BLACKPINK perform at the Coachella Stage during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 22, 2023 in Indio, California. Shares of K-pop agency YG Entertainment tumbled almost 9% on Friday after South Korean media reported that Blackpink member Lisa has rejected a contract renewal offer from the agency. According to South Korean news outlet Star News, the Thailand-born member has rejected two offers from YG, with the size of the contract reportedly worth 50 billion South Korean won ($37.6 million). This follows reports earlier in July that Lisa has "not been able to find an agreement" regarding a contract extension with the agency. At the time, South Korean media outlet Newsen reported that YG responded to queries by saying that contract renewal discussions were underway, but outlet Munhwa Ilbo reported that "it is known that the difference between the two sides is quite large."

Persons: Lisa, Jennie, BLACKPINK, YG Organizations: Coachella, Valley Music, Arts Festival, YG Entertainment, South, Star, YG, South Korean, Munhwa Ilbo Locations: Indio , California, South Korean, Thailand, Korean

☆ North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives in Russia before an expected meeting with Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

A file photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin meets North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un on April 25, 2019 in Vladivostok, Russia. Citing unidentified Russian regional officials, Japanese broadcaster TBS reported that Kim's train crossed the border and arrived in the border town of Khasan. North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. Based on North Korean state media photos, Kim's delegation possibly includes Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Korea's space science and technology committee, and Navy Admiral Kim Myong Sik, who are linked with North Korean efforts to acquire spy satellites and nuclear-capable submarines. After decades of a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Mikhail Svetlov, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Jeon Ha Gyu, Choe Sun Hui, Ri, Pak Jong Chon, KCNA, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Peskov, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service didn't, Adrienne Watson, Matthew Miller, Song, Kim Myong Sik, Jo Chun Ryong, China — Organizations: North Korean, Getty, Korea's Defense Ministry, Korean People's, Korean Central News Agency, TBS, TASS, Associated Press, Chosun Ilbo, South, South Korea's Presidential, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service, White, National Security, North, Democratic People's, Department, Washington, Ukraine — Donetsk, Luhansk —, . Security Locations: Vladivostok, Russia, Ukraine, North, Pyongyang, Korean, Japanese, Khasan, Russian, North Korea, South Korea's, Korea, United States, Ukrainian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Washington, South Korea, Japan, Moscow, Beijing, Syria, China

☆ This green armored train has carried the Kim family for decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In the background, women in dresses and traditional clothing can be seen cheering and waving the North Korean flag. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves before departing Pyongyang for Russia on September 11, 2023. Armored train of luxuryThe train has long been the subject of intrigue, carrying generations of the Kim family across the country and on rare overseas trips. The same train – green with yellow striping – was seen in footage from Russian state media when Kim Jong Il visited Russia in 2002. Information from inside the country slowed to a trickle, even more so in recent years under Kim Jong Un’s rule.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Choe Sun Hui, Chol, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Konstantin Pulikovsky, Kim Jong Il’s, Pulikovsky, ” Pulikovsky, Xi Jinping, KCNA, KCNA Kim, Donald Trump, Putin Organizations: CNN, North, KCNA, Central Military Commission, Workers ’ Party, Reuters, Russian, Ministry, New York Times, Times, South, South Korean, Chosun Ilbo, Nuclear, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, North Korean, Yonhap Locations: North Korean, Russia, United States, Russia’s, Pyongyang, Korean, Switzerland, North Korea, Bordeaux, Burgundy, South, Korea, China, Beijing, Vietnam, Hanoi, Vladivostok, South Korean

☆ A US tourist crossed the border into North Korea, UN says. South Korean media reports he's a US soldier.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A US national crossed the border from South Korea into North Korea on Tuesday, the UN said. South Korean media is reporting that he was a US soldier. South Korean media has described it as a defection, though it is currently unclear if this is the case. Cases of Americans or South Koreans defecting to North Korea are extremely rare, while North Koreans crossing into South Korea are more common. More than 30,000 North Koreans have fled south since the 1950-1953 Korean War, according to the Associated Press.

Persons: Travis King Organizations: UN, Service, United Nations, The United Nations Command, Security Area, — United Nations Command, The Korea Herald, Ilbo, US Army, South, US Department of State, Associated Press Locations: South Korea, North Korea, US, North, Wall, Silicon, Seoul, South Korea's

☆ U.S. national crosses into North Korea, likely held in custody
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korea's Dong-a Ilbo daily, citing South Korea's army, identified the person as Travis King, a U.S. army soldier with the rank of private second class. "We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA counterparts to resolve this incident," it added, referring to North Korea's People's Army. North Korea has been testing increasingly powerful missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched last week. U.S. State Department travel advisory bans U.S. nationals from entering North Korea "due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long term detention of U.S. He died in 2017, days after he was released from North Korea and returned to the United States in a coma.

Persons: Travis King, Isaac Taylor, USFK, We're, Otto Warmbier, Hyonhee Shin, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, Jack Kim, Andrew Heavens, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: U.S, United Nations Command, Joint Security Area, National, Democratic People's, . Command, UNC, Twitter, Korea's People's Army, Command, U.S . Army, Reuters, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, Korea's Defence Ministry, North, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Korea's, South, U.S, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, South Korea, United States

☆ K-pop stock falls 7% amid questions over Blackpink member's contract renewal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella)Shares of K-pop management agency YG Entertainment dropped almost 7% after reports emerged that the contract renewal for a member of girl group Blackpink is in doubt. YG shares traded at 73,900 Korean won at 2.41pm KST. At this level, the stock is at its lowest since May 11, when it closed at 66,700 Korean won apiece. According to an exclusive report by South Korean media outlet Munhwa Ilbo, Thailand-born member Lisa has "not been able to find an agreement" regarding a contract extension with YG Entertainment. Blackpink — made up of members Jisoo, Jennie and Rosé, in addition to Lisa — has been one of YG Entertainment's most successful K-pop groups.

Persons: Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, Emma McIntyre, —, Rosé, Lisa — Organizations: Coachella, Valley Music, Arts Festival, YG Entertainment, YG, 2.41pm, Korean, South, Munhwa, Munhwa Ilbo Locations: INDIO , CALIFORNIA, Indio , California, South Korean, Munhwa Ilbo, Thailand, Korean

☆ British man detained climbing South Korean skyscraper
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A British man climbs South Korea's tallest building, the 123-storey Lotte World Tower, without a rope before being forced to abandon the climb more than halfway up, in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2023. South Korea's Songpa Fire Station/Handout via REUTERSSEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - A British man attempted to scale the world's fifth tallest building without ropes on Monday until South Korean authorities forced him to abandon his climb more than half way up the 123-storey Lotte World Tower in Seoul. The 24-year-old man, wearing shorts, made his way up the landmark skyscraper for more than an hour as police and fire crews gathered below. British media reported he was arrested and jailed for climbing the Shard building in London in 2019. In 2018, police arrested “French Spiderman” Alain Robert as he was more than half-way up the Lotte World Tower.

Persons: George King, Thompson, “, ” Alain Robert, Robert Birsel Organizations: Lotte, REUTERS, South, Chosun Ilbo, Thomson Locations: British, Seoul, South Korea, Handout, REUTERS SEOUL, London

☆ Zelenskiy urges South Korea to provide defence systems - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shake hands during the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERS/File PhotoSEOUL, May 30 (Reuters) - Ukraine "desperately hopes" that South Korea will provide defensive military equipment such as anti-aircraft systems to fend off Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was cited as saying in an interview with a South Korean newspaper. We have to have a sky shield to rebuild Ukraine, and I desperately hope that South Korea will support us in this area." He said South Korea's early warning system would help defend his country from Russian air raids, the report said. Zelenskiy also requested South Korean military support in a video address to South Korean lawmakers in April, including armoured vehicles, as well as anti-aircraft, anti-tank and anti-ship weapons.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy urges South Korea to provide defence systems -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

☆ China's exports to North Korea surge in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 20 (Reuters) - China's exports to North Korea soared in April from a year earlier, with wigs and fertiliser among major shipments, Chinese customs data showed on Saturday. Chinese outbound shipments to the isolated country surged 69% year-on-year to $166 million in April, data released by China's General Administration of Customs showed. The top export items in terms of value were processed hair and wool used in wigs, worth about $11.6 million, and diammonium hydrogen phosphate, a widely used fertiliser, worth $8.84 million. In January-April, Chinese exports to North Korea leapt to $603 million from $270.59 million a year earlier, according to the customs data. North Korea has long suffered from food insecurity and South Korea's DongA Ilbo newspaper reported in mid-February that Pyongyang's food crisis may have deteriorated.

☆ South Korea to lend 500,000 rounds of artillery shells to US, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, April 12 (Reuters) - South Korea reached an agreement last month to lend the United States 500,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery shells that could give Washington greater flexibility to supply Ukraine with ammunition, a South Korean newspaper reported on Wednesday. The DongA Ilbo newspaper cited unnamed government sources saying that South Korea decided to "lend" the ammunition instead of selling in order to minimise the possibility of South Korean shells being used in the Ukraine conflict. It said the loaned shells would be used primarily by the United States to fill its stockpile. Having bought 100,000 rounds of the shells last year, the U.S. government had asked to buy the same amount or more in February, but the South Korean government sought another way to supply the ammunition to its ally. South Korea is a key U.S. ally and major producer of artillery ammunition, but has sought to avoid antagonising Russia in light of economic ties and Moscow's influence over North Korea.

☆ North Korean food shortage seems to be worsening, South Korea says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Feb 15 (Reuters) - A North Korean food crisis appears to have deteriorated, South Korea said on Wednesday, as a newspaper reported that North Korea has cut rations to its soldiers for the first time in more than two decades. North Korea has effectively acknowledged serious food shortages, South Korea's unification ministry said, referring to a North Korean state media report this month about plans for an "urgent" ruling party meeting on agriculture. "Its food situation seems to have deteriorated," the South's unification ministry, which handles relations with North Korea, said in a statement. South Korea's DongA Ilbo newspaper said on Wednesday that North Korea has reduced daily food rations to its soldiers for the first time since 2000, citing an unidentified senior South Korean official. The WFP, which has helped North Korea over the years, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

☆ Trump had to explain his 'Little Rocket Man' nickname to Kim Jong Un, Mike Pompeo says in new book
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump had to explain to Kim Jong Un that his "Little Rocket Man" nickname was an Elton John reference. Kim told him that he didn't like the "Little" part of the nickname. When Kim said no, Trump explained that the British singer's 1972 hit song "Rocket Man" inspired him to give Kim the nickname in 2017. Kim and others at the lunch laughed, and Kim said, "'Rocket man,' OK. 'Little,' not OK."During his 2016 race for the White House, Trump gave many of his opponents catchy nicknames. Trump first referred publicly to Kim as "Little Rocket Man" on Twitter in 2017 and repeated it at a UN General Assembly speech and throughout his presidency.

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