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Kim Jong-un has been communicating with his South Korean counterpart

Kim Jong-un sends thank you letter to South Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has exchanged letters with outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in and thanked him for trying to improve relations, state media KCNA has reported, amid tension over Pyongyang's weapons tests.

World • 21 Apr 22

A team has been tasked to determine the cause of the incident and damage (file image)

3 dead as South Korean air force planes collide mid-air

Two aircraft belonging to South Korea's air force have collided in mid-air during a training exercise, killing three pilots, with a fourth missing in the rare incident, authorities have said.

World • 01 Apr 22

People watch TV in Seoul in September 2021 showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch in Seoul, South Korea

N Korea's Kim ordered test of 'new type' of missile

North Korea fired what is thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the sea off its east coast today, militaries in South Korea and Japan said.

World • 24 Mar 22

People at a train station in Seoul watch a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test

North Korea suspected missile explodes after launch

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile that exploded mid-air shortly after launch, South Korea has said, with analysts warning it was likely a failed test of Pyongyang's so-called "monster missile".

World • 16 Mar 22

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul this morning

North Korea confirms testing of ballistic missile

North Korea has confirmed it tested a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile today, according to state news agency KCNA.

North Korea • 30 Jan 22

People in Seoul watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of Kim Jong-un

North Korea fires cruise missiles in latest test

North Korea fired two cruise missiles into the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military said, amid rising tension over a recent series of weapons tests.

World • 25 Jan 22

A man walks past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul

North Korea fires second suspected ballistic missile

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, South Korea's military said, increasing tensions less than a week after Pyongyang reported testing a hypersonic missile.

World • 11 Jan 22

The person was detected by surveillance equipment in the Demilitarised Zone (File)

Person enters North Korea from South in border breach

An unidentified person entered North Korea from the South on New Year's Day, the military in Seoul said, a rare breach of the heavily fortified border between the neighbours.

World • 02 Jan 22

One business owner said her factory had received orders for 6,000 tracksuits within a period of two weeks

Squid Game costumes prove a treat for garment industry

Green tracksuits and dark pink jumpsuits worn by characters in Netflix's global hit Squid Game have proven a pre-Halloween bright spot for a South Korean garment industry struggling during the pandemic.

News Lens • 22 Oct 21

People watch the launch from an observation deck

South Korea launches space rocket but mission fails

South Korea has launched its first domestically developed space rocket but failed to put its dummy payload into orbit.

World • 21 Oct 21

A man watches a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test

North Korea says US overreacting to missile test

North Korea has said the US was overreacting to its recent missile test and questioned the sincerity of Washington's offers of talks, accusing it of operating "double standards" over weapons development.

World • 21 Oct 21

The move underscores a growing global obsession with South Korean culture from entertainment to beauty products

Hit 'Squid Game' spurs interest in learning Korean

Interest in learning Korean has spiked since the launch of hit Netflix show "Squid Game", language tutoring services have reported.

News Lens • 11 Oct 21

Byun Hee-soo had gender-reassignment surgery in 2019

Posthumous victory for South Korean transgender soldier

A South Korean court has ruled it was unfair for the military to forcibly discharge a soldier over her gender-reassignment surgery, months after she took her own life over the decision.

World • 07 Oct 21

Kim Jong Un had expressed the intention of restoring the communication lines

North and South Korea restore cross-border hotline

North and South Korea restored their cross-border hotline today, a step that Seoul said could help improve relations after Pyongyang sparked global concern with a string of missile tests in recent weeks.

World • 04 Oct 21

File footage of a North Korean missile test broadcast at a train station in Seoul

North Korea fires missile into sea, says South

North Korea fired a missile towards the sea off its east coast today, South Korea's military said, as Pyongyang called on the US and South Korea to scrap their "double standards" on weapons programmes to restart talks.

World • 28 Sep 21

"For the termination of the war to be declared, respect for each other should be maintained," Ms Kim said

Kim's sister says North Korea could be open to talks

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said it was "admirable" of the South to propose a formal end to the Korean War but demanded Seoul first drop its "hostile policies" towards Pyongyang.

World • 24 Sep 21

The launch of the submarine-launched ballistic missile was supervised by South Korean president Moon Jae-in

South Korea fires submarine-launched ballistic missile

South Korea has successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, becoming only the seventh country in the world with the advanced technology and raising the prospect of a regional arms race.

World • 15 Sep 21

The Korea Fair Trade Commission has fined Google $176.64m for blocking customised versions of its Android operating system

South Korea fines Google $177m for market abuse

South Korea's competition regulator has fined Alphabet's Google 207 billion won ($176.64m) for blocking customised versions of its Android operating system (OS).

Business • 14 Sep 21

South Korea will be the first developed country to require closed-circuit cameras to record surgical procedures

South Korea mandates cameras in operating theatres

South Korea's parliament has voted to require hospitals to place surveillance cameras in operating rooms after a series of medical accidents involving unqualified staff who stood in for surgeons.

Health • 31 Aug 21

Jay Y Lee was convicted of bribery and other charges

Samsung leader Jay Y Lee to leave prison this week

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y Lee, in jail after convictions for bribery and other charges, has qualified for parole and is expected to leave prison this Friday, South Korea's justice ministry said.

World • 09 Aug 21

Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in met in 2018 for a series of summits

Koreas restore severed communication hotlines

North and South Korea signalled a surprise thaw in relations, announcing the restoration of cross-border communications that were severed more than a year ago and an agreement between their two leaders to improve ties.

World • 27 Jul 21

Hyundair said it expects the global chip shortage to gradually become less acute in the second half of the year

Hyundai's second quarter net profit soars

South Korea's Hyundai has today turned in its best quarterly profit in about six years, helped by solid demand for its high-margin sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and its premium Genesis cars.

Business • 22 Jul 21

North Korea defector group chairman Park Sang-hak said North Koreans have a right to know the truth

North Korea defectors defy South over anti-Kim leaflets

A North Korea defector group this week twice defied a ban by Seoul on flying anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone dividing the peninsula.

World • 30 Apr 21

Lee Kun Hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics, pictured alongside his daughter, died in October last year leaving $20bn in assets

Samsung heirs to include art works to cover $10bn bill

The heirs to South Korea's Samsung group announced their plans to pay more than $10 billion in death duties - one of the world's biggest-ever inheritance tax settlements, including donating Picasso and Monet artworks.

World • 28 Apr 21

Lee Yong-soo, who is in her 90s, said she would take her case to the International Court of Justice

South Korea court dismisses 'comfort women' case

A South Korean court has dismissed a case brought by a handful of World War II sex slaves and their families against the Japanese government, saying Tokyo enjoyed "sovereign immunity" over the issue, reports said.

World • 21 Apr 21

South Korea