Taiwan plans US$850 million ammunition spend to prepare for potential PLA blockade

South China Morning Post - Sep 30, 2026

Taiwan’s military plans to spend more than NT$27 billion (US$850 million) to quadruple critical ammunition stocks to 120 days’ supply, strengthening its ability to sustain combat operations during a wartime blockade. The proposed six-year “urgent ammunition replenishment” programme, running from this year until 2031, comes as Taipei seeks to strengthen its ability to keep fighting if a cross-strait conflict cuts external supply lines. The spending proposal was revealed on September 26 and still...

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Kazakh worker killed as concrete ceiling collapses at Seoul construction site

Sep 30, 2026

Kazakh worker killed as concrete ceiling collapses at Seoul construction site

A Kazakhstani worker died Tuesday after part of a concrete ceiling collapsed on him at an apartment construction site in southern Seoul, authorities said. The man, in his 30s, was waiting to begin cleaning inside a unit on the 23rd floor of the site in Seoul's Seocho district when part of the concrete ceiling fell and hit him at around 9:45 a.m., according to the labor ministry. The ministry said it immediately suspended work at the site and began an investigation into the incident with police and construction safety authorities. Police and the labor ministry plan to investigate the cause of the accident and look into whether the companies involved violated workplace safety laws.

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Sep 30, 2026

Young Koreans use digital placebos to curb spending

Office worker Lee Joo-hyun, 25, opens a mobile app when hunger strikes, even though she is trying to lose weight. Lee browses the menu, selects food and hits the order button. A notification pops up notifying her that the food is being prepared, followed by a real-time map tracking a delivery driver picking up the meal and moving toward her home. The food, however, never arrives. Lee is not charged, either. The platform Lee used is not a standard delivery service but "FoodNeverArrives" — an application designed to simulate the ordering process. Instead of a meal, Lee receives a virtual receipt tallying the money and calories saved. "Looking at the numbers written on the receipt makes me proud. I'm happy even without eating the food," she said. As inflation remains high, digital placebos that curb impulse spending through virtual consumption are gaining popularity among budget-conscious consumers. The simulations provide a sense of satisfaction and amusement without costing money or raising health concerns. For people in their 20s and 30s who self-deprecatingly joke that "only breathin

Planned cut to bank hours sparks debate among customers

Sep 30, 2026

Planned cut to bank hours sparks debate among customers

A planned 30-minute reduction in bank branch hours is drawing mixed reactions from customers, with many worrying that shorter service hours could make it harder to get in-person banking services. Under a tentative labor-management agreement reached Monday, bank branches will open at 9:30 a.m. starting April next year, instead of the current 9 a.m., while closing hours will remain unchanged at 4 p.m. Some customers said the shorter hours could worsen already long waits as banks continue to reduce the number of branches and staff. "Even when I go in the morning, there are already long lines, and there are fewer employees available during lunch breaks. I don't understand why they are shortening the hours. If anything, they should keep the branches open until later," said Park, an office worker in Seoul. Some online users suggested that if banks are going to shorten their operating hours, they should instead open later and close later, saying longer evening hours would make it easier for office workers to visit branches after work. The issue is particularly relevant for customers looking for

Starlink Wi-Fi raises cost dilemma for LCCs

Sep 30, 2026

Starlink Wi-Fi raises cost dilemma for LCCs

Korea’s low-cost carriers (LCCs) are caught in a dilemma over rising demand for Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi, as the service carries hefty installation and operating costs for most budget airlines. Korean Air started introducing the service for the first time among local carriers in mid-September, initially focusing on long-haul routes. The flag carrier is expected to face few difficulties in expanding the service across its fleet stably due to the airline’s stronger financial resources than LCCs. Korean Air plans to expand its free Wi-Fi service to most of its fleet by the end of 2027 following its integration with Asiana Airlines. The service will also be introduced to its LCC affiliates. Jin Air plans to begin installing Starlink on its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, while Air Busan and Air Seoul are reviewing suitable aircraft for the system. The three LCCs will be merged into converged Jin Air following the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. However, other LCCs controlled by smaller parent firms than Korean Air are widely expected to face a tougher cost challenge when introducin

AMD chief to visit Korea next month: sources

Sep 30, 2026

AMD chief to visit Korea next month: sources

Lisa Su, chief executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), is expected to visit Korea next month to meet with Korean semiconductor companies and government officials, industry sources said Wednesday. The visit would come about seven months after her previous trip to Korea in March. According to government and semiconductor industry sources, a meeting attended by Su is being considered for Oct. 8 in Seoul. The meeting is expected to include the CEOs of major Korean artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor companies, including Rebellions Inc., FuriosaAI and Mobilint. Su is also expected to meet with Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon around the time of the meeting, the sources said. During her visit, Su is also coordinating meetings with heads of major Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics Co. When she visited in March, the AMD chief met with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Samsung Electronics has supplied HBM3E chips to AMD for its latest AI solutions since 2025, with the two companies maintaining a close business relationship.

Military demands NK apology over DMZ mine blast as UNC confirms Armistice violation

Sep 30, 2026

Military demands NK apology over DMZ mine blast as UNC confirms Armistice violation

South Korea’s military on Wednesday demanded an apology from North Korea over a recent mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that seriously injured South Korean soldiers, calling on Pyongyang to halt its ongoing border fortification activities. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has continued laying mines and carrying out what it calls the “fortification of its border” near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), saying such activities have heightened tensions along the inter-Korean border. “This is a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement and undermines the spirit of existing inter-Korean agreements, and must be stopped immediately,” the JCS said. It also urged the North to offer an apology and take “responsible measures” over the Sept. 21 blast. The statement came after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, earlier in the day rejected Seoul’s findings and accused the South of fabricating the incident. Calling it “an obvious self-staged farce” reminiscent of 2015 DMZ land mine incident, Kim claimed North Korean troops

Less than half of S. Koreans say unification with N. Korea necessary: poll

Sep 30, 2026

Less than half of S. Koreans say unification with N. Korea necessary: poll

Less than half of South Koreans believe unifying the divided Koreas is necessary, a poll showed Wednesday, marking the second consecutive year that those in favor of unification fell short of 50 percent. According to the poll conducted by the Korea Institute for National Unification, 48.2 percent of those surveyed said unification with North Korea is necessary. The reading also marks a slight drop from 49 percent in 2025. By age, over 60 percent of those born in 1960 or before said unification with North Korea was necessary, while less than 40 percent of those born in 1991 or later said they saw the need. When asked if they agreed with an argument that unification will "not" be necessary if the two Koreas can peacefully coexist, 66.9 percent of respondents said yes, up from 63.2 percent a year earlier, according to the survey. Also, 70.3 percent of respondents said they were not interested in North Korea, marking a 2.2 percentage point increase from last year and the highest figure since the institute began conducting the annual survey in 2014. Additionally, 71.6 percent of those surveyed

UN Command says Armistice Agreement violation occurred over DMZ mine blast

Sep 30, 2026

UN Command says Armistice Agreement violation occurred over DMZ mine blast

The United Nations Command (UNC) said Wednesday it found a violation of the Armistice Agreement has occurred over last week's mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). "Based on the findings of the investigation, UNC determined that an Armistice Agreement violation occurred. UNC is addressing the violation through established Armistice mechanisms," it said in an emailed statement. The UNC said a joint investigation team with the South Korean military identified an active North Korean mine on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). "UNC remains committed to maintaining and enforcing the Armistice Agreement and fulfilling its responsibilities to preserve stability and prevent escalation on the Korean Peninsula," it said. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff released Monday its preliminary findings on the joint investigation with the UNC on the Sept. 21 mine blast. It determined that North Korean resin antipersonnel mines "highly likely" caused the two explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers. Two of them suffered critical injuries. North Korea denied it

FM Cho calls for stronger Korea-China-Japan cooperation for regional peace

Sep 30, 2026

FM Cho calls for stronger Korea-China-Japan cooperation for regional peace

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has called for stronger cooperation among Korea, China and Japan to promote peace and prosperity in their shared region, his office said Wednesday. Cho made the call during a meeting Tuesday with Tatsushi Nishioka, secretary-general of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), and Deputy Secretaries-General Kim Han-kyu and Li Jing, respectively from South Korea and China, to congratulate them on taking office this month, according to the ministry. The TCS is a trilateral organization established in Seoul in 2011 following a Korean proposal at the second trilateral summit among the three nations in 2009. It carries out various programs, including people-to-people exchanges, aimed at deepening three-way cooperation. During the talks, Cho stressed the importance of cooperation among Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo in promoting the practical interests of their peoples and achieving peace and prosperity in East Asia. He said the Korean government will continue to play an active role in helping the three countries find common ground and maintain dialogue while asking the

Trump could announce Korea's investment projects as early as Wednesday: report

Sep 30, 2026

Trump could announce Korea's investment projects as early as Wednesday: report

WASHINGTO — U.S. President Donald Trump could announce Korea's investment projects in the United States, including a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska, under last year's bilateral trade agreement, as early as Wednesday, according to a news report. Reuters reported Tuesday that Trump could announce his administration's plans to use Korea's strategic investment fund for several major projects, including approximately $54 billion for the Alaska LNG project. It cited two people familiar with the discussions. Seoul and Washington have been in coordination to announce the investment projects under the trade agreement that committed the Asian country to investing $300 billion in the U.S. in return for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods. Last week, Seoul's industry ministry reported to the National Assembly that the two countries have chosen the construction of a large-scale gas-fired power plant in Texas as the first investment project, according to sources in Seoul. As for the second and third projects, the ministry reported plans for the construction of eight large-scale nuclear

N. Korea denies responsibility for DMZ mine blast, warns S. Korea of retaliation

Sep 30, 2026

N. Korea denies responsibility for DMZ mine blast, warns S. Korea of retaliation

North Korea on Wednesday denied South Korea's announcement that a North Korean mine likely caused a recent blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), accusing Seoul of fabricating the findings and warning of "immediate and merciless" retaliation if its troops are fired upon. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued the warning in a statement after the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Monday that North Korean land mines were "highly likely" to have caused the explosion on Sept. 21 that left three South Korean soldiers injured. "What should not be overlooked is the fact that the armed gangsters of the ROK are now cooking up the groundless results and 'justifying their conduct' for political and military provocation against the DPRK, openly talking about 'reasonable and corresponding enforcement of measures,'" Kim said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while ROK is the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republi

US sees OPCON transfer efforts as chance for improvement in S. Korea's warfighting capability: Colby

Sep 30, 2026

US sees OPCON transfer efforts as chance for improvement in S. Korea's warfighting capability: Colby

The U.S. Department of Defense is using South Korea's efforts to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States as a chance to drive "generational" improvements in the Asian country's warfighting capability, a senior Pentagon official has said. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks in a statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee last Thursday, as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to complete the conditions-based OPCON transition before its term ends in 2030. "As the ROK accelerates efforts to assume wartime operational control over ROK forces, the Department is using this opportunity to incentivize generational improvements in ROK warfighting capability," Colby said in the statement. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. He also noted that the department is continuing to modernize the Seoul-Washington alliance, strengthening U.S. conventional posture in South Korea "against all regional threats," as Washington seeks to leverage its alliance network to bolster Indo-Pacific secu

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