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☆ North Korea-Russia rail traffic surges, suggesting arms supply - think tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border spiked this week to the highest in years, suggesting arms supply by Pyongyang to Moscow after their leaders discussed deeper military cooperation, a U.S. think tank said on Friday. Satellite imagery showed an "unprecedented" 73 or so freight cars at Tumangang Rail Station in the North Korean border city of Rason, the Beyond Parallel Project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report. The traffic was far greater than that observed in the past five years, including pre-pandemic levels, it said. The U.S. and South Korea have warned military cooperation between North Korea and Russia was a violation of U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang. North Korea has slammed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for criticising Pyongyang's cooperation after the summit, saying it was "natural" and "normal" for neighbours to keep close relations.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Putin, Yoon Suk, Joyce Lee, William Mallard Organizations: Vostochny, North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, Rights, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Pyongyang, South, Thomson Locations: Amur, Russia, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, Pyongyang, Moscow, U.S, Korean, Rason, Washington, Russian, Russia's Far, Ukraine, South Korea, Korea

☆ S.Korea considers $50.5 mln fine against Google, Apple over app market practices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] An illuminated Google logo is seen inside an office building in Zurich, Switzerland December 5, 2018. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said in a statement that the two tech giants forced app developers into specific payment methods and caused unfair delay in app review. The KCC is notifying the companies for corrective action, and will deliberate on the fines, the statement said. Google and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. After hearing from the companies, the regulator could decide to impose fines of up to 68 billion won ($50.47 million), including 47.5 billion won for Google and 20.5 billion won for Apple, KCC said.

Persons: Arnd, KCC, 1,347.3200, Joyce Lee, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Google, Apple, Korea Communications Commission, Telecommunication, Thomson Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Rights SEOUL, South Korea

☆ South Korea's Doosan Robotics shares jump in trading debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Shares in South Korea's Doosan Robotics (454910.KS) soared above their initial public offering (IPO) price in the company's market debut on Thursday based on investors' bullish outlook for the collaborative robot maker. The company raised 421.2 billion won ($317 million) in South Korea's IPO this year, having priced the shares at 26,000 won each, the top of the price range flagged to investors. Doosan Robotics shares opened at 59,100 won each and rose to as much as 67,600 won in early trade, more than twice the IPO price. The company is a leading maker of so-called collaborative robots that work side-by-side with humans such as robot arms that can perform assembling, loading and welding tasks. Reporting by Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joyce Lee, Scott Murdoch, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed Organizations: South Korea's Doosan Robotics, Doosan Robotics, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South, KS

☆ US to indefinitely extend China waiver for South Korean chipmakers -Yonhap
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. is expected to indefinitely extend a waiver granted to South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) on needing licenses to bring U.S. chip equipment into China, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday. The U.S. Commerce Department has discussed details with the South Korean chipmakers on which equipment could be used in China, said Yonhap, citing unnamed sources, adding that the U.S. would make related announcements as early as this week. Last year, the chipmakers had received authorisation from the U.S. Commerce Department to supply equipment needed for chip production in China for a year without seeking additional licenses. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix declined to comment. Samsung Electronics has NAND flash memory production in Xian, China, whereas SK Hynix has DRAM chip production in Wuxi and NAND Flash production in Dalian, in which both companies have invested billions of dollars.

Persons: Florence Lo, Yonhap, 1,353.6600, Joyce Lee, Heekyong Yang, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, U.S . Commerce Department, South Korean, U.S . Department of Commerce, Samsung, U.S, of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Rights SEOUL, U.S, South Korean, China, Xian, Wuxi, Dalian, TrendForce

☆ Cough syrup deaths overseas prompt US crackdown on toxic testing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Defendants and lawyers attend a court hearing in the case of child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan August 16, 2023. Cough syrups made in India and Indonesia have been linked to deaths of more than 300 children globally. The medicines were found to contain high levels of DEG and EG, leading to acute kidney injury and death. IMPORT ALERTSThe FDA warning letters give manufacturers an opportunity to fix quality control problems or face penalties. In addition, 13 U.S. makers of consumer products like earwax removers, nasal spray, hand soap and shampoo, including Lex, were threatened with possible seizures and injunctions by the FDA.

Persons: Stringer, Paul Hastings, Peter Lindsay, syrups, Lex, Charlene Paz, Greg Landry, Patrick Wingrove, Rishika, Joyce Lee, Michele Gershberg, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, FDA, Drug Administration, EG, Reuters, South, South Korea's LCC, LCC, Daxal Therapeutics, Herbals, South Korea’s KM Pharmaceutical, Sangleaf Pharma, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Thomson Locations: Tashkent, Uzbekistan, U.S, India, South Korea, Switzerland, Canada, Egypt, Washington ,, Indonesia, United States, Florida, South Korea's, South, New York, Rishika Sadam, Hyderabad, Seoul

☆ US, South Korea, Japan raise concerns over Russia-North Korea military cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Bing Guan Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean, Japanese counterparts expressed "serious concern" over the discussion of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including possible arms trade, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. Blinken, South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa agreed to respond firmly to any acts that threaten regional security in violation of U.N. Security Council resolution in a brief meeting on Friday, the ministry said in a statement. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un made a weeklong visit to Russia last week and discussed military cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concern that the summit was aimed at allowing Russia to acquire ammunition from the North to supplement its dwindling stocks for its war in Ukraine. Reporting by Joyce Lee Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Bing Guan, Park Jin, Yoko Kamikawa, North, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joyce Lee, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: 78th United Nations General Assembly, Lotte, REUTERS, Rights, South Korea's Foreign, Security, South, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights SEOUL, South, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Seoul

☆ China's Xi seriously considering South Korea visit, Yonhap reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/SEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday said he will seriously consider visiting South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported, as part of efforts to support peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Xi, who has not visited South Korea since 2014, held talks with Han in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on Saturday. Xi told Han he would welcome such a summit at an opportune time and would seriously consider visiting South Korea, Yonhap reported. China attaches great importance to the positive willingness of South Korea to commit to cooperation, Xi said, according to CCTV, and asked South Korea to meet it half way to maintain the direction of friendly cooperation. Tensions between the two countries rose after North Korea's Kim Jong Un made a week-long visit to Russia earlier this month, which angered the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Xi, Han Duck, Han, Yonhap, Korea's Kim Jong Un, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Joyce Lee, Mike Harrison, David Holmes Organizations: Rights, China Central Television, South Korean, Asian Games, South, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, SEOUL, South Korea, China, Hangzhou, Seoul, Japan, North Korea, Russia, United States, Beijing

☆ South Korea opposition leader ends 24-day hunger strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks at campaign rally while campaigning for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - South Korea's opposition leader ended a 24-day hunger strike on Saturday, a party spokesperson said, two days after parliament voted to let prosecutors serve an arrest warrant against him for alleged bribery. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will maintain a schedule including court attendance while hospitalised for the time being, the spokesman told reporters. Lee, who lost South Korea's presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol last year, has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations "fiction" and a "political conspiracy". South Korea is to hold parliamentary elections in April.

Persons: Lee Jae, myung, Kim Hong, Lee, . Lee, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joyce Lee, William Mallard Organizations: South Korea's Democratic Party, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Party of Korea, Prosecutors, South, Police, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, Gyeonggi Province, Seongnam, ., Lee's

☆ South Korea asks US to resolve chip trade issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - South Korea on Friday said it has asked the United States to resolve uncertainties regarding U.S. export controls in the chip sector and subsidies for chip investment. The waiver allowed the South Korean pair to supply equipment for their chip production facilities in China without additional licensing requirements. Bang has sought "active cooperation" from the U.S. Department of Commerce to resolve issues relating to export controls, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement without elaborating. Samsung Electronics has NAND flash memory production in Xian, China whereas SK Hynix has DRAM chip production in Wuxi and NAND Flash production in Dalian. The companies together control nearly 70% of global DRAM and 50% of NAND flash markets as at June-end, showed data from TrendForce.

Persons: Florence Lo, Commerce Don Graves, Bang, Joyce Lee, Heekyong Yang, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Industry, U.S, Commerce, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, U.S . Department of Commerce, Korea's Ministry of Trade, Energy, TrendForce, Samsung, Thomson Locations: Rights SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Seoul, China, U.S, Korea's, Xian , China, Wuxi, Dalian, Texas

☆ S.Korea's antitrust watchdog fines Broadcom for unfair supply deal to Samsung Electronics
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] A smartphone with a displayed Broadcom logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 21 (Reuters) - South Korea's antitrust watchdog said on Thursday it will tentatively fine Broadcom Inc (AVGO.O) and affiliates 19.1 billion won ($14.24 million) for forcing a long-term supply deal that was unilaterally disadvantageous to Samsung Electronics (005930.KS). The country's Fair Trade Commission will also issue a corrective order to Broadcom, it said in a statement. A representative of Broadcom could not be immediately reached. ($1 = 1,340.9300 won)Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, 1,340.9300, Joyce Lee, Kim Coghill Organizations: Broadcom, REUTERS, Rights, Broadcom Inc, Samsung Electronics, Trade, Samsung, Thomson Locations: Rights SEOUL

[1/2] A South Korea won note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. South Korean companies repatriated a record $33.13 billion of overseas earnings during the January-July period, 6.3 times the amount a year earlier, central bank data on current account balances showed. "The coming home of earnings retained abroad has been a big help for the won," a government official in charge of foreign exchange market said, asking not to be named due to internal policy. The automaker said on June 12 it plans to invest 7.8 trillion won ($5.82 billion) of retained earnings from overseas operations this year in electric car factories at home. The surge in repatriation also comes ahead of trading reforms planned for next year, when South Korea will extend onshore trading hours until 2 a.m. to improve access for foreign investors.

Persons: Thomas White, Yoon Suk, Hong Sung, kook, Min Gyeong, 1,340.7400, Jihoon Lee, Cynthia Kim, Joyce Lee, Heekyong Yang, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: South, REUTERS, Rights, Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp, Reuters Graphics Bank of Korea, Woori Bank, Hyundai, Hyundai Motor Group, Shinhan Bank, Yena, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Korea

☆ South Korea's Doosan Robotics prices IPO at top of range
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Sept 19 (Reuters) - South Korea's Doosan Robotics is set to raise 421.2 billion won ($317 million) in an initial public offering (IPO) after pricing the deal at the top of its marketed range. The company is a leading maker of so-called collaborative robots that work side-by-side with humans such as robot arms in factories that perform assembling, loading and welding jobs. The offering for institutional investors was priced at 26,000 won per share compared with a range of 21,000 to 26,000 won. Sales to retail investors at the same price will be completed later this week. ($1 = 1,327.6200 won)Reporting by Joyce Lee; editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: 1,327.6200, Joyce Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Korea's Doosan Robotics, Thomson Locations: SEOUL

☆ S.Korean broadband firm, Netflix says ending all disputes over costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Netflix logo is shown on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 18 (Reuters) - South Korean internet service provider SK Broadband and Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) said on Monday they were ending all lawsuits with each other, having earlier been in dispute over whether Netflix should pay for costs from increased network traffic and maintenance work. SK Broadband and parent SK Telecom (017670.KS) announced in a joint statement with Netflix that they had agreed on a partnership to release joint products and seek ways to use artificial intelligence (AI) products being developed by SK. "Moving forward, SK Broadband and Netflix will end all disputes with the signing of today’s partnership, and collaborate as partners for the future," the statement said. Spokespeople for Netflix and SK Broadband said both had withdrawn their lawsuits.

Persons: Mike Blake, Joyce Lee, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Netflix, REUTERS, Rights, SK Broadband, Netflix Inc, SK Telecom, SK, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Rights SEOUL, Korean

"We've certainly seen Australia's reputation being affected as some existing buyers expressed interest in diversifying their suppliers for long-term supply," said Ryhana Rasidi, LNG analyst at analytics firm Kpler. "Australia is the closest gas supplier we can get. By far, Australia, U.S. and Qatar are the three pillars in LNG supply chain. As well as its political stability, its proximity to Asia might be Australia's saving grace, industry analysts say. "Ties are very strong between North Asia and Australia as a legacy supplier, so many participants are keen to continue the relationship," said Kaushal Ramesh, LNG analyst at Rystad Energy.

Persons: Inpex, Resources Madeleine King, We've, Ryhana, Jane Liao, Kaushal Ramesh, Emily Chow, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Andrew Hayley, Joyce Lee, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Japan's Kyushu Electric Power, Chevron's, Woodside Energy, West Shelf, South, Resources, Taiwan, Tohoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, Osaka Gas, Rystad Energy, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, TOKYO, Qatar, United States, Western Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, Oman, U.S, Asia, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Sydney

☆ South Korea Rail Workers Launch First Strike in Four Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Korean Railway Workers' Union demands improved pay and working conditions and an expansion of the KTX bullet train services to include lucrative routes such as in southern Seoul. Company chief Han Moon-hee criticised the strike as "illegitimate" and urged the workers to return to work. Labor Minister Lee Jeong-sik on Wednesday also called for the union to cancel the planned strike, citing an economic impact and public inconvenience. According to the Korea Cement Association, rail accounts for 40% of cement transportation, and if the strike lengthens, the reduced ability to deliver could affect firms' profitability during the fall's peak building season. If the strike lengthens, we will have to convert to land transportation, which will drive up costs and hit profitability," the official said.

Persons: Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee SEOUL, KORAIL, Han, Lee Jeong, sik, it's, Stephen Coates Organizations: Korean Railway Workers, Union, Korea Railroad Corp, Company, Labor, Korea Cement Association Locations: Seoul

People walk past a Huawei store with advertisements for the Mate 60 series smartphones, at a shopping mall in Beijing, China August 30, 2023. That's another really big advance they've made," Dan Hutcheson, an analyst with TechInsights, told Reuters. "The significance is that it shows that China has been able to stay 2-2.5 nodes behind the world's best (chip) companies. "China's been buying tools like crazy so they probably have the capability to do this and yield ok with it." Huawei and SMIC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Yelin, they've, Dan Hutcheson, TechInsights, chipmaker SMIC, Hutcheson, Gina Raimondo's, it's, China's, Brenda Goh, Joyce Lee, David Kirton, Miyoung Kim, David Evans Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei Technologies, Reuters, The, HK, U.S . Commerce, SMIC, Apple, South Korea's SK Hynix Inc, SK Hynix, U.S, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, The Ottawa, Huawei's, U.S, Seoul, Shenzhen

People walk past a Huawei store with advertisements for the Mate 60 series smartphones, at a shopping mall in Beijing, China August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Yelin Mo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies' new high-end smartphone contains more China-made chip components than previous models in a sign of Beijing's advances in the semiconductor sphere, according to research firm TechInsights, which is taking the device apart. That's another really big advance they've made," Dan Hutcheson, an analyst with TechInsights, told Reuters. "The significance is that it shows that China has been able to stay 2-2.5 nodes behind the world's best (chip) companies. "China's been buying tools like crazy so they probably have the capability to do this and yield ok with it."

☆ South Korea to toughen punishments for technology leaks in chips, displays
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Korea has been cracking down on technology leaks in recent months, as the country seeks to maintain its dwindling lead in memory chips and displays against competitors. South Korea's Sentencing Commission, overseen by the Supreme Court of Korea, decided this month to toughen punishments and lengthen jail times for leaking South Korean technology, the industry ministry said in a statement on Monday. The industry ministry did not say which country it is targeting, but analysts said China is the suspected destination of the bulk of South Korean technology leaks. This led to acquittal in 30% and suspended sentences in 54% of such cases before South Korean courts, it said. South Korean police said in June they had arrested 77 people in 35 cases of suspected industrial espionage in a nationwide investigation over the past four months.

Persons: Kacper, Joyce Lee, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Samsung, South, Thomson Locations: Rights SEOUL, South Korea, Korea, China, South Korean, Korean

☆ North Korea launches space rocket months after failed satellite attempt
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A smartphone screen shows J-Alert warning messages regarding North Korea appearing to have fired a missile and that residents of Okinawa prefecture should take cover indoors, in Chatan, Okinawa prefecture, Japan August 24, 2023. Two days ago North Korea said it would launch a satellite between Aug. 24-31. But the North's May 31 bid to launch a "Chollima-1" satellite rocket went wrong, with the booster and payload plunging into the sea. It was not immediately clear if North Korea had used the Chollima-1 again, or a new system. The secretive North considers its space and military rocket programmes a sovereign right, and analysts say spy satellites are crucial to improving the effectiveness of its weapons.

Persons: Issei Kato, Hirokazu Matsuno, We've, Elaine Lies, Chang, Ran Kim, Josh Smith, Joyce Lee, Hyunsu Yim, Phil Stewart, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Korea, Okinawa, Chatan, Okinawa prefecture, Japan, Rights SEOUL, TOKYO, North Korea, Tokyo, Pyongyang, U.S, Seoul, Washington

☆ Naver's 'Webtoon' CEO says barrier for new entrants is high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The global webtoon industry made $4.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to make $60.1 billion by 2030, according to Spherical Insights & Consulting. But Kim Junkoo, CEO and founder of Webtoon Entertainment - a unit of Naver which originated the format in 2004 - says rivals will struggle to build a viable business. Webtoon Entertainment and its subsidiary have run amateur artists' debut programmes for years, generating 1.6 million titles from 900,000 creators as of January. Naver said in recent earnings calls that it expected to list the Webtoon business in the United States next year, but did not elaborate on size, timing or venue. Webtoon Entertainment reported a 13 billion won operating loss in the April-June quarter, smaller than the 21.4 billion won loss in the first quarter.

Persons: Kim Junkoo, Kim, we've, Apple, Naver, 1,330.1200, Joyce Lee, Sam Holmes Organizations: WEBTOON, REUTERS, Consulting, Amazon Japan, Apple, Webtoon Entertainment, Entertainment, Korea Creative Content Agency, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, SEOUL, Korean, Silicon, Japan, Korea, United, United States

☆ Google-backed Anthropic raises $100 mln from South Korea's SK Telecom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of SK Telecom is pictured at the GSMA's 2023 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Nacho Doce/File PhotoSEOUL, Aug 14 (Reuters) - South Korea's largest telco SK Telecom (017670.KS) said it will invest $100 million in U.S. artificial intelligence firm Anthropic to strengthen its telecommunications-driven AI business. SK Telecom, which also made a smaller investment in May, said on Sunday that the two companies plan to jointly develop a global telecommunications-oriented multilingual large language model and build an AI platform. SK Telecom declined to reveal the size of its May investment or the size of its stake in Anthropic. In July, SK Telecom agreed with Deutsche Telekom, e& and Singapore Telecommunications to form an alliance to jointly develop telecommunications-driven AI businesses.

Persons: Nacho, Anthropic, Claude, OpenAI's, Joyce Lee, Sam Holmes Organizations: SK Telecom, Congress, REUTERS, telco SK Telecom, OpenAI, Google, Spark Capital, Deutsche Telekom, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, SEOUL, KS, Anthropic

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits military factories including missile plant -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Aug 14 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited key military factories, including a tactical missile production plant, state media KCNA said on Monday. Kim "expressed satisfaction" with a factory's "recent focus on tactical missile production" and "expanding production capacity" during his visits last week, it said. He "presented a significant goal" to improve missile production, praised the latest operability of howitzer shells, and personally drove a combat armoured vehicle, KCNA said. This is the latest in a string of visits by Kim Jong Un to defense facilities, where he has emphasized mass production of weapons. KCNA separately said on Monday that Kim visited "typhoon-hit areas" after tropical storm Khanun swept over the Korean peninsula last week, flooding farmlands.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Vedant Patel, Joyce Lee, Chris Reese Organizations: United, State Department, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, United States, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, U.S

☆ South Korean activists protest against Fukushima water discharge
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] South Korean activists take part in a protest against Japan's plan to release treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, in central Seoul, South Korea, August 12, 2023. The signs read "Nuclear power plant is the problem". REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiCompanies Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc FollowSEOUL, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Hundreds of South Korean activists gathered in central Seoul on Saturday to protest against Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a trilateral summit on Aug. 18. The governments of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan should view it an environmental disaster, rather than a political issue, and agree to block it... for future generations," Choi said.

Persons: Kim Hong, Choi Kyoungsook, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk, Choi, Gyun Kim, Joyce Lee, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: South, Ji Companies Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Korean, Asahi Shimbun, Korea Radiation Watch, Tokyo Electric Power, International Atomic Energy Agency, Japanese, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea, Japan, U.S

Travellers walk past an installation in the shape of five stars, at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China April 24, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/file photoBEIJING, Aug 10 (Reuters) - China has lifted pandemic-era restrictions on group tours for more countries, including key markets such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia in a potential boon for their tourism industries. Just how much outbound Chinese tourism will bounce back for the latest group of countries remains to be seen. Shares in firms in the latest group of countries with large exposure to Chinese travel demand jumped on the news. China has never publicly acknowledged limiting group tours to South Korea.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Fumio Kishida, Don Farrell, Steve Saxon, Casey, Sophie Yu, Joyce Lee, Jamie Freed, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Beijing Daxing International, REUTERS, Japanese, Trade, Tourism, Weibo, McKinsey & Co, South, Grand Korea, Reuters, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Britain, Canada, Thailand, Russia, Cuba, Argentina, Nepal, France, Portugal, Brazil, Xinjiang, South Korean, U.S, Shanghai, Seoul

☆ Apple and Samsung to invest in SoftBank's Arm at IPO -Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoTOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) will invest in SoftBank Group (9984.T)-owned chip designer Arm at its initial public offering (IPO), expected in September, Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday. Reuters reported in June that Arm was in talks with some ten companies - including Apple, Samsung and Intel (INTC.O) - with the aim of bringing on one or more anchor investors in the offering. Last month, Reuters and other media reported that Arm was in talks to bring in U.S. chip designer Nvidia (NVDA.O) as an anchor investor for the New York listing. Apple, Samsung, Nvidia and Intel all plan to invest in Arm as soon as it is listed on the market, the Nikkei said. Apple, Nvidia and Intel did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, SoftBank, Masayoshi, Anton Bridge, Elaine Lies, Joyce Lee, Akash Sriram, Louise Heavens, David Dolan, Miyoung Kim, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Samsung Electronics, SoftBank, Japan's Nikkei, Reuters, Apple, Samsung, Intel, Nvidia, New, Nikkei, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Vision Fund, Thomson Locations: KS, New York, Tokyo, Seoul

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