South Korea

South Korea's military and the UN Command have opened a joint investigation into an explosion in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The probe aims to determine the cause of the blast along the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea. Details about casualties or damage have not yet been confirmed as the inquiry gets underway.

Markets are gearing up for a packed economic calendar in the coming week. The U.S. jobs report heads the agenda, alongside inflation data from the United States, the Eurozone, Australia, South Korea and Tokyo. The Reserve Bank of Australia meets to set policy, and investors will also watch speeches from Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England officials for clues on the direction of interest rates.

South Korea has long avoided committing to any role in a potential conflict over Taiwan, but analysts and commentators argue that maintaining this discretion is becoming increasingly difficult. Rising regional tensions and pressure from allies are fuelling discussion in Seoul about whether its traditional stance of distance from Taiwan contingencies can be sustained.

Global carmakers are cutting electric vehicle prices in South Korea, turning the country into a frontline of an intensifying EV price war, according to KED Global. Aggressive discounting by international manufacturers is putting pressure on local prices and reshaping the competitive landscape in one of the world's most advanced EV markets.

A New York Times report published under the headline 'A Growing North Korea Problem' examines the North Korea issue in connection with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and sanctions policy. Details beyond the headline are limited, but the piece frames Pyongyang as an increasingly difficult challenge for regional diplomacy and international sanctions enforcement.

South Korea's Democratic Party is consolidating its support behind Lee as his leadership faces its first major test from a difficult economic environment. Lee has built his political identity on compromise across party lines, but worsening conditions - including trade pressure, slowing growth and domestic cost-of-living strains - are raising questions about how long conciliatory politics can hold, both within his own party and among opponents.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will follow up his Presidents Cup appearance by competing at the Asian Games, where a medal could earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old, a two-time PGA Tour winner, is among the high-profile athletes South Korea hopes will secure sporting exemptions. The move has drawn attention to the country's conscription rules for male athletes.

South Korea's finance minister and the Bank of Korea governor have stressed the need for close policy coordination to address economic uncertainties. The two officials, responsible for fiscal and monetary policy respectively, said cooperation between the government and the central bank is essential as the economy faces headwinds such as exchange rate volatility and external risks.

South Korea is on track to collect a tax windfall that could exceed 50 trillion won above its annual revenue target, according to a Yonhap report. The unexpected surplus, likely driven by stronger-than-expected corporate and income tax receipts, gives the government fresh room for spending or fiscal consolidation. Analysts and officials are weighing how the money should be used amid ongoing budget debates.

Venezuela has released a group of prisoners, according to a report from South Korea's Korea Herald. No further details have been given about how many people were freed, who they are, or why the release happened now. The move is being read in the context of Venezuela's ongoing tensions with the opposition and international pressure over political detentions and human rights.

Live coverage of table tennis at the 2026 Asian Games is drawing viewers across multiple languages, with the sport labelled in Chinese, Japanese and Thai. The Aichi-Nagamoto Games in Japan are the next major multi-sport event in Asia, and table tennis is traditionally one of its most-watched disciplines, with strong followings in China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Attention is turning to whether South Korea could avoid being drawn into a military conflict over Taiwan. The question reflects growing concern that a cross-strait clash would entangle US allies in the region, given South Korea's alliance commitments and proximity to the flashpoint. Debate focuses on Seoul's options for staying out of a war that many analysts fear could erupt with little warning.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will head straight from the Presidents Cup to the Asian Games, where a team or individual gold medal would earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old, a multiple PGA Tour winner, is among the highest-profile athletes representing South Korea at the Hangzhou Games, and fans are watching closely to see whether he can secure the exemption.

North Korea is conducting tests of swarm attack tactics that combine drones with missile launches, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The development suggests Pyongyang is working to integrate cheap, massed drone assaults with conventional missile strikes, a combination that could complicate defenses in South Korea, Japan and for US forces in the region.

South Korea has expressed regret after Ukraine denied the existence of an agreement concerning North Korean prisoners of war, according to Yonhap. The dispute centres on whether Kyiv and Seoul had a pact over the handling of North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The disagreement risks straining coordination between the two countries on a sensitive issue involving Pyongyang.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung addressed the United Nations, with the appearance falling during the Chuseok harvest festival holiday. The overlap of a major presidential diplomatic moment with Korea's most important traditional holiday has drawn attention at home, as many Koreans marked the festival while following news of the president's speech on the international stage.

ASML, the Dutch chip equipment maker, says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026 and is calling on the EU to help create demand for its lithography machines. The comments highlight Europe's weak semiconductor manufacturing base, as ASML's sales remain concentrated in Asia, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and China.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is weighing the risks of the country's powerful, heavily centralised presidency, a system critics call an 'imperial presidency'. Following the impeachment of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration, debate has intensified over whether constitutional reform is needed to curb presidential powers and prevent future abuses.

South Korea's government under President Lee is restructuring its support for small and medium-sized enterprises, directing more funding toward technology development and startups while cutting back on loan programmes and job-related subsidies. The reorientation signals a policy preference for innovation-driven growth over traditional employment and financing support, and is drawing attention as businesses assess how the changes will affect their access to public assistance.

SK hynix is considering producing memory chips in the United States, according to the Korea Herald. The South Korean chipmaker, a leading supplier of HBM and DRAM to companies like Nvidia, has so far concentrated manufacturing in Korea and China. A US move would align with Washington's push to bring advanced semiconductor production onshore through incentives and tariffs, though the company has reportedly not made a final decision.

Niantic Spatial is adapting the spatial mapping technology behind Pokémon GO into spatial AI designed for robots, according to a report by South Korea's Chosun Ilbo. The move signals the company's push beyond mobile gaming into robotics, leveraging years of real-world 3D mapping data collected from players. The announcement is drawing attention in robotics circles as spatial intelligence becomes a key area of competition.

South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister Lee visited the Bank of Korea, with reports noting that official visits to the central bank have been rising. The trip comes amid heightened government attention to monetary policy and financial stability. Little detail beyond the visit itself has been confirmed, and officials have not outlined the full agenda or outcomes of the meeting.

South Korea is pursuing a broad national strategy to make artificial intelligence widely accessible across its economy and society. The Financial Times reports on the country's push to scale AI adoption beyond big companies, positioning it as a key driver of future growth. The plan reflects Seoul's ambition to remain competitive as AI reshapes global industries.

China's industrial robotics sector continues to develop rapidly, with the country widely viewed as a major force in factory automation. Observers point to China's large-scale deployment of robots in manufacturing as reshaping global supply chains and competing with established robotics industries in Japan, Germany and South Korea.