https://www.scmp.com/rss/318214/feed East Asia's latest news, current affairs, politics and regional issues. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters North Korea rewards ⁠its top hackers, tasked with heists like the Binance crypto hack that netted a cool US$6.3 ⁠billion, with perks such as spacious apartments in the capital and huge hard currency awards in return for ⁠gruelling hours of work. Leader Kim Jong-un has assembled an army of world-class hackers using such incentives in a programme more than a decade old that picks 200 of the smartest middle school students each year to study computer engineering, defectors and analysts say. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373627/how-north-korea-turns-child-prodigies-crypto-thieves https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373627/how-north-korea-turns-child-prodigies-crypto-thieves Sat, 07 Nov 2026 03:01:34 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Myanmar’s military-backed government may find its reluctance to address the international community’s concerns a greater obstacle to economic recovery than the threat of tougher international financial restrictions, according to analysts. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money-laundering and terrorist-financing watchdog, warned on October 30 that it could consider further measures against Myanmar if it failed to remedy shortcomings in its financial safeguards by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373586/myanmars-will-fight-money-laundering-questioned-tougher-curbs-loom https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373586/myanmars-will-fight-money-laundering-questioned-tougher-curbs-loom Sat, 07 Nov 2026 02:00:27 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Russia’s seizure of the assets of a Japanese company could prove to be Tokyo’s red line after a series of bitter exchanges between both nations and ties that continue to spiral. The Japanese government on Friday lodged a formal complaint with Russia and demanded that Moscow immediately reverse a decree announced the previous day that transferred the assets of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) to Russian control. Analysts say the decree, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, is likely a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373624/russias-seizure-japan-tobacco-assets-last-straw-tokyo-amid-frosty-ties https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373624/russias-seizure-japan-tobacco-assets-last-straw-tokyo-amid-frosty-ties Sat, 07 Nov 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan’s government on Friday compiled a package of emergency measures to address a spate of recent personal data breaches caused by unauthorised access, amid growing public concerns over cybersecurity. Among the measures are promoting the use of artificial intelligence to identify vulnerabilities in computer systems and creating several teams of highly skilled experts. The package was announced at a meeting of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and relevant ministers on Friday. Takaichi instructed... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373555/japan-deploys-ai-specialist-teams-counter-cyberattack-wave https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373555/japan-deploys-ai-specialist-teams-counter-cyberattack-wave Fri, 06 Nov 2026 09:37:42 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s growing strategic partnership with Vietnam is putting Tokyo’s commitment to a rules-based regional order under scrutiny, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces calls to press Hanoi over its failure to honour labour rights commitments. The issue is expected to surface during Vietnamese President To Lam’s four-day visit to Tokyo from Sunday, raising questions about how far Japan is prepared to defend the principles underpinning a major Pacific trade agreement when its economic and security... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373470/growing-vietnam-ties-test-japans-commitment-rules-based-regional-order https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373470/growing-vietnam-ties-test-japans-commitment-rules-based-regional-order Fri, 06 Nov 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japanese and South Korean shares plunged on Friday after US shares tumbled overnight on worries that midterm election results could slow or derail the artificial intelligence data centre investment boom. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 5.1 per cent to 56,930 points in early trade. Seoul’s Kospi index dived 8.5 per cent to 4,923, triggering a circuit breaker which suspended trading for 20 minutes. Investors had initially cheered Tuesday’s Democratic drubbing of US President Donald Trump’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373478/post-us-midterms-ai-worries-pummel-shares-japan-south-korea https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373478/post-us-midterms-ai-worries-pummel-shares-japan-south-korea Fri, 06 Nov 2026 02:31:40 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A month-long police campaign in Japan to track down hundreds of suspects sought over the nation’s most notorious crimes, some dating back decades, underscores what analysts describe as the surprising ease with which individuals can vanish, even in the country’s highly bureaucratic society. The nationwide drive, officially designated the “Month for Strengthening Investigations into Wanted Suspects”, began on November 1. Through official websites and social media appeals, authorities are urging... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3373382/how-japans-660-most-wanted-stay-hidden-slums-day-labour-and-forged-ids https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3373382/how-japans-660-most-wanted-stay-hidden-slums-day-labour-and-forged-ids Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:30:12 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea’s government has announced it will revise a youth counselling manual that categorised homosexuality as a form of juvenile delinquency, after facing a backlash sparked by local media reports earlier this week. Homosexuality was grouped alongside sexual violence, theft and drug abuse under “delinquency-related issues” in the manual, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported. Published by the Korea Youth Counselling and Welfare Institute – a body affiliated with the Ministry of Gender Equality... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3373429/south-korea-apologises-classing-gay-teens-delinquents https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3373429/south-korea-apologises-classing-gay-teens-delinquents Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:00:05 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea is bracing for a prolonged confrontation with the United States, analysts say, after sweeping Democratic gains in the US midterm elections diminished the likelihood of renewed diplomacy between Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump. As Americans cast their ballots on Tuesday, Pyongyang test-fired a new surface-to-air missile system and carried out a strike drill with long-range strategic cruise missiles early on Wednesday, Korean time – its fourth weapons test in a week. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373364/north-korea-digs-us-stand-democratic-midterm-wins-dim-summit-hopes https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373364/north-korea-digs-us-stand-democratic-midterm-wins-dim-summit-hopes Thu, 05 Nov 2026 07:15:57 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea is investigating hundreds of financial institutions after more than 470,000 data records were leaked from 37 firms over the past month, according to the country’s financial regulator. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) revealed the scale of the breaches on Thursday as authorities vowed to strengthen cybersecurity measures following a string of similar cases affecting the financial sector and government agencies. The FSC detailed the incidents at a meeting with officials from... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3373363/south-korea-investigates-580-finance-firms-over-data-leaks-issues-warning https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3373363/south-korea-investigates-580-finance-firms-over-data-leaks-issues-warning Thu, 05 Nov 2026 07:08:53 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s push for a centralised cybersecurity agency risks hitting a wall of indifference, despite his insistence that the move is a national security priority following a leak of his passport details. Tech experts warn that creating a new organisation will do little to address the deeper problem of complacency on its own, with businesses and government agencies viewing tighter cybersecurity as an unnecessary expense until a serious breach occurs. Lee’s proposal... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373305/south-korea-wants-cyber-tsar-can-it-beat-complacency https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373305/south-korea-wants-cyber-tsar-can-it-beat-complacency Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Marco Vicenzino Marco Vicenzino China is becoming increasingly important to the Gulf’s economic future. Yet the Gulf remains capable of disrupting China’s own. That is the contradiction exposed by the US-Iran war. Beijing’s importance as an energy customer, investor and technology partner has grown, but its ability to guarantee the maritime routes connecting the Middle East to East Asia remains limited. The next contest in global energy will concern not only who produces and consumes it, but who can preserve access when... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3372480/us-iran-war-shows-chinas-influence-cant-secure-its-line-gulf-oil https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3372480/us-iran-war-shows-chinas-influence-cant-secure-its-line-gulf-oil Wed, 04 Nov 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister on Wednesday rejected holding any further talks with the United States, days after the FBI accused North Korea of stealing more than US$6 billion from a cryptocurrency exchange and Washington launched a new round of sanctions aimed at Pyongyang. Analysts say the latest developments have all but killed off the chances of another Trump-Kim summit, despite the US president’s continued warm words for North Korea’s supreme leader and apparent openness to meeting him... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373219/why-north-koreas-kim-sees-no-need-another-trump-photo-op-summit https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3373219/why-north-koreas-kim-sees-no-need-another-trump-photo-op-summit Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:14:56 +0000 Reuters Reuters Twelve South Korean ⁠industry groups ⁠urged the government ⁠on Wednesday to invest in and support production of Korean television dramas, known as K-dramas, warning that the country’s production ‌base risked collapse. K-dramas have been hugely popular globally, but the number produced has fallen about 30 per cent from 141 titles in 2022, according to the Korea Drama Production Association. Three domestic ⁠broadcast networks cut drama output from 91 titles in ‌2012 to 32 in 2023, and some... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373220/crash-landing-k-dramas-waning-output-threatens-genres-future https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373220/crash-landing-k-dramas-waning-output-threatens-genres-future Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:14:10 +0000 Wenran Jiang Wenran Jiang Just weeks after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked their countries’ World War II alliance at the White House, Keen Sword 27 turned symbolism into hardware. The 11-day exercise, which wrapped up on October 29, deployed US Marine NMESIS anti-ship launchers and MADIS air-defence systems to Yonaguni – Japan’s westernmost island, just 110km (70 miles) from Taiwan. Japan mobilised its new Type 25 missile, with a reported 1,000km range, from Kumamoto for the system’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3372983/chinas-new-nightmare-japanese-containment-arc-indo-pacific https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3372983/chinas-new-nightmare-japanese-containment-arc-indo-pacific Tue, 03 Nov 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A South Korean court revoked the Unification Church leader’s bail in a bribery case on Tuesday after footage emerged of her visiting the secretive movement’s headquarters in breach of release conditions. Han Hak-ja, 83, was sentenced to two years in prison in August for providing luxury items, including a designer handbag, to former first lady Kim Keon-hee while her husband Yoon Suk-yeol was president, in an attempt to secure policy favours. She was granted bail two months later on health... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373163/south-korea-revokes-unification-church-leaders-bail-after-secret-visits-exposed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373163/south-korea-revokes-unification-church-leaders-bail-after-secret-visits-exposed Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:24:44 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A new public opinion poll released on the eve of the US midterm elections indicates that while few Japanese favour President Donald Trump’s policies, most say they wish Japan had a “strong” head of state who could make difficult decisions. Analysts suggest that while many Japanese believe a strong leader will stand up for the nation on the world stage and not shy away from bold policies, this does not mean they want someone with the bombast, showmanship and arrogance associated with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3373131/japanese-voters-yearn-strong-politician-trump-without-his-showmanship https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3373131/japanese-voters-yearn-strong-politician-trump-without-his-showmanship Tue, 03 Nov 2026 09:15:08 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it was taking steps to reissue passports for all 168 people affected by an online leak of sensitive personal information, including President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea-kyung, as police investigate how the data was exposed. “The foreign ministry is swiftly taking measures to ensure the smooth reissuance of passports for all affected individuals, including the president and first lady,” ministry spokesman Park Doo-soon said during a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373065/south-korea-rushes-reissue-passports-president-lee-wife-after-data-leak https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373065/south-korea-rushes-reissue-passports-president-lee-wife-after-data-leak Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:00:29 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea is rapidly advancing its drone warfare capabilities by drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, even as South Korea’s efforts to keep pace remain bogged down by procurement delays and bureaucratic red tape, observers warn. They also caution that cryptocurrency theft has become a crucial source of funding for Pyongyang’s weapons programmes, following US Federal Bureau of Investigation allegations that North Korean state-backed hackers stole more than US$6 billion from Binance, the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372988/north-koreas-low-cost-drone-push-exposes-south-koreas-red-tape-trap https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372988/north-koreas-low-cost-drone-push-exposes-south-koreas-red-tape-trap Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:36 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea on Tuesday slammed the FBI’s allegations that Pyongyang was behind the theft of US$6 billion from cryptocurrency platform Binance, with Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister labelling it a “grave political provocation”. Kim Yo-jong, in a statement released on Tuesday by the KCNA state news agency, said the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s claim was “absurd rhetoric and nothing new”, given earlier US allegations that North Korea was behind last year’s major hack of Bybit. “It is a grave... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373050/sister-north-koreas-kim-slams-fbis-binance-hack-allegations-grave-provocation https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3373050/sister-north-koreas-kim-slams-fbis-binance-hack-allegations-grave-provocation Mon, 02 Nov 2026 23:40:37 +0000 Reuters Reuters Japan’s ⁠government and ruling coalition ⁠are considering nearly doubling defence ⁠spending over the next five years as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to strengthen the country’s military capabilities, according to two people familiar with the matter. If adopted, defence build-up spending for the five years ‌from April 2027 would be set at 70 trillion to 80 trillion yen (US$457 billion to US$508 billion), up about 1.8 times from the roughly 43 trillion yen allocated under the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373033/japan-weighs-us500-billion-defence-spending-plan-sources https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373033/japan-weighs-us500-billion-defence-spending-plan-sources Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:45:23 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Japan on Monday launched a new national agency focused on disaster management with the goal of making the country better prepared should there be a megaquake along the Pacific coast or in Tokyo, or an eruption of Mount Fuji. More than 350 workers at the National Disaster Management Agency will oversee preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction efforts. The agency is not being created in anticipation of any specific calamity, but rather is meant to fill a gap amid worries about whether... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373006/japan-launches-new-national-agency-boost-disaster-response https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3373006/japan-launches-new-national-agency-boost-disaster-response Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:47:48 +0000 Reuters Reuters A South Korean army staff sergeant died after ‌suffering external injuries at a frontline unit in Cheorwon near the North Korean border on Monday morning, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said. Military and civilian ⁠investigators were examining the exact cause and circumstances ‌of his death, the ministry said. A unit member found the twenty-something staff sergeant collapsed with a severe head injury inside a building at about 7.15am and reported it, according to the Chosun Biz. The death comes amid... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372956/south-korea-probes-death-frontline-soldier-near-north-korean-border https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372956/south-korea-probes-death-frontline-soldier-near-north-korean-border Mon, 02 Nov 2026 06:25:45 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran The Philippines’ military modernisation drive could offer South Korea an opportunity to transform its role as a major arms supplier into a deeper defence partnership, analysts have said. This prospect gained fresh momentum after Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr and his South Korean counterpart, Kang Shin-chul, agreed to deepen cooperation in military modernisation, defence technology and joint training on the sidelines of an Asean security summit in Cebu last week. Teodoro... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372945/how-south-korea-can-play-pivotal-role-philippines-military-modernisation-drive https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372945/how-south-korea-can-play-pivotal-role-philippines-military-modernisation-drive Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:41:44 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times President Lee Jae Myung’s overseas trips have again drawn attention to South Korea’s shifting political standards, adding to a familiar cycle of disputes over presidential golf and the presidential plane whenever power passes between conservative and liberal administrations. The controversies centre on taxpayer money and the public’s attitudes towards presidential privilege, with governing parties defending certain activities as necessary for diplomacy or official duties and the opposition... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372915/south-korea-lees-overseas-trips-fuel-familiar-battle-over-presidential-perks https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372915/south-korea-lees-overseas-trips-fuel-familiar-battle-over-presidential-perks Mon, 02 Nov 2026 02:12:06 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo An analysis by Japan’s GMO Internet Group found that a North Korea-linked hacking group was likely behind the cyberattack on the company last month, sources close to the matter said, citing characteristics of the malware used and other traces left by the perpetrators. The company appears to have already reported the matter to the government and will now focus on determining the full circumstances. Kyodo News, working with security experts, also found that five IP addresses used to access a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372913/north-korea-hackers-behind-japans-massive-gmo-data-leak-investigation-finds https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372913/north-korea-hackers-behind-japans-massive-gmo-data-leak-investigation-finds Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:58:40 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee A little-known South Korean music act has climbed the charts with a viral hit that has caught listeners off guard – not just for its sudden popularity, but because its vocals were generated entirely by artificial intelligence. Meomuru’s single, “Have You Become the Adult You Dreamed Of?”, climbed to No 2 on Melon’s Top 100 – South Korea’s flagship streaming chart – earlier this week. The track’s popularity has turned Meomuru into one of the country’s most-talked-about acts. The song was created... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372767/south-koreas-latest-chart-sensation-has-secret-singer-isnt-human https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372767/south-koreas-latest-chart-sensation-has-secret-singer-isnt-human Sun, 01 Nov 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The theft of billions of dollars from Binance within a matter of minutes, the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history, was orchestrated by North Korean hackers, the FBI said on Saturday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that this week’s attack was tied to “malicious cyber activity” by an entity known as TraderTraitor, the same actors behind a US$1.5 billion Bybit hack last year. The FBI asked cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain analytics companies and others to block... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3372858/fbi-blames-north-korea-stolen-billions-binance-biggest-hack-history https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3372858/fbi-blames-north-korea-stolen-billions-binance-biggest-hack-history Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:49:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Nearly 200 nations have struck hard-fought agreements at a UN biodiversity summit, but the outcome was accompanied by disappointment over missed opportunities to address humanity’s destructive toll on nature. Delegates cheered on Friday as crucial texts were approved in overtime but the celebrations were tempered by acrimonious debates and regret over limited progress on some of the most contentious issues. The Cop17 summit in Armenia sought to revive a landmark commitment to halt and reverse... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3372839/200-nations-cop17-commit-biodiversity-goals-amid-missed-opportunities https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3372839/200-nations-cop17-commit-biodiversity-goals-amid-missed-opportunities Sat, 31 Oct 2026 11:16:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United States, South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the “complete denuclearisation” of North Korea on Saturday, as Pyongyang continues to reject disarmament ahead of possible talks with Washington. Speculation is mounting over a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at next month’s Apec summit in China, with Trump making repeated overtures to Pyongyang for nuclear talks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372818/us-south-korea-and-japan-reaffirm-north-korea-denuclearisation-stance https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372818/us-south-korea-and-japan-reaffirm-north-korea-denuclearisation-stance Sat, 31 Oct 2026 06:43:32 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended an exhibition devoted to drones and called for rapidly expanding the country’s drone technology, state media reported on Friday, as his military escalates threats against South Korea and the United States. Acquiring advanced drones is a top priority for Kim, who now wants to strengthen conventional and nuclear capabilities to counter what he calls US-led security threats. It is unclear how far North Korea’s drone programme has progressed. Experts say... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372809/kim-jong-un-urges-drone-expansion-north-korea-showcases-new-unmanned-tech https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372809/kim-jong-un-urges-drone-expansion-north-korea-showcases-new-unmanned-tech Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:21:11 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A village that sent hundreds of men to one of imperial Japan’s most notorious wartime units is being demolished to make way for a runway at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. Unit 731 carried out lethal experiments on captives, many of them Chinese, to develop biological weapons during the second world war. Around 300 of its roughly 3,000 personnel came from Kamo, a neighbourhood in Shibayama town, Chiba prefecture, east of the capital. Its founder and commander, Lieutenant General Shiro... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372753/dark-past-japans-unit-731-buried-under-airport-expansion https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372753/dark-past-japans-unit-731-buried-under-airport-expansion Sat, 31 Oct 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea will file criminal complaints against students caught cheating on a national university entrance exam with smart glasses and toughen penalties for their use, a government official has said. Sales of smart glasses – which allow the wearer to shoot photos and videos and interact with an AI assistant among other abilities – are growing worldwide. But so is a backlash around the gadgets, including concerns over people being filmed without consent and their use by exam cheats. South... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372755/south-korean-students-caught-cheating-ai-glasses-face-prosecution-2027 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372755/south-korean-students-caught-cheating-ai-glasses-face-prosecution-2027 Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:44:06 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Japan wants a more united and proactive Southeast Asia as it sees Asean as a bulwark against an intensifying great-power rivalry, analysts say, while uncertainty over Washington’s long-term Indo-Pacific strategy has deepened Tokyo’s concerns about the region’s future. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Wednesday urged Southeast Asian nations to strengthen their collective response to emerging security threats, warning of a “rapidly deteriorating” security environment and shifts in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372603/why-japan-pushing-more-proactive-southeast-asia-amid-great-power-rivalry https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372603/why-japan-pushing-more-proactive-southeast-asia-amid-great-power-rivalry Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:11:40 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A South Korean special prosecutor on Thursday demanded the death penalty for ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol, ahead of an appeal court verdict on rebellion charges over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. The Seoul High Court has yet to set a date for a verdict on Yoon’s appeal of a life sentence handed down in February by the Seoul Central District Court. The court found that he illegally mobilised troops and police to seize the legislature, arrest political opponents and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372576/south-korean-prosecutor-seeks-death-penalty-yoon-over-martial-law https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372576/south-korean-prosecutor-seeks-death-penalty-yoon-over-martial-law Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:43:41 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea fired “around a dozen” short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Thursday, Seoul’s defence ministry said, less than a week after South Korea proposed talks over a growing border row. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military detected “around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea towards the East Sea”, the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. “Our military has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372537/north-korea-fires-missile-barrage-days-after-rejecting-souths-border-talks https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372537/north-korea-fires-missile-barrage-days-after-rejecting-souths-border-talks Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:40:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters A South Korean court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit by dozens of Tesla owners ‌seeking full refunds for money paid for Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assistance software, ruling that the carmaker had not breached its contractual obligations. The Seoul Central District Court ruled against the 88 plaintiffs, finding that the FSD option did not promise fully autonomous driving without human intervention and that Tesla had already provided some of the functions included in the package. The court... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372513/tesla-owners-south-korea-lose-legal-battle-over-full-self-driving-promises https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372513/tesla-owners-south-korea-lose-legal-battle-over-full-self-driving-promises Thu, 29 Oct 2026 04:13:45 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo With Halloween approaching, Japanese municipalities are stepping up measures against disruptive celebrations in major entertainment districts as larger crowds are expected this year, with the event falling on a Saturday. Halloween is not a traditional festivity in Japan, but has evolved into a major urban event in recent years, particularly in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, where revellers in costumes gather for street celebrations. The festivities have increasingly become associated with public... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372509/no-tricks-japan-steps-police-patrols-tightens-alcohol-limits-halloween https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372509/no-tricks-japan-steps-police-patrols-tightens-alcohol-limits-halloween Thu, 29 Oct 2026 03:35:05 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix kept almost 80 per cent of its total sales as operating profit last quarter, a margin almost unheard of in manufacturing, as the country’s chipmakers reap the rewards of the global artificial intelligence boom. Operating profit, defined as earnings from the company’s core business before interest and taxes, soared 632 per cent in the three months to September from a year earlier to 83.33 trillion won (US$62.76 billion) on revenue of 104.62 trillion won, SK... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3372439/south-koreas-chipmakers-are-raking-it-can-china-close-gap https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3372439/south-koreas-chipmakers-are-raking-it-can-china-close-gap Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Japan’s push to expand industrial and port cooperation with Bangladesh could transform the South Asian country into a regional trade gateway, analysts say, connecting markets in Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific while diversifying Dhaka’s economic ties. The plan was announced during Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s official visit to Japan this week. Rahman welcomed Tokyo’s pledge of US$6 billion in investment over the next five years, which could help revive an economy hit by... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372449/japans-us6-billion-port-plan-aims-revive-bangladeshs-bruised-economy https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372449/japans-us6-billion-port-plan-aims-revive-bangladeshs-bruised-economy Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:00:24 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is bracing for a more unpredictable ally in Washington, as the US midterm elections threaten to deepen political gridlock and complicate Tokyo’s long-term security calculations, analysts say. Observers warn that post-election political battles, ranging from a possible repeat of impeachment proceedings to the mounting legal battles ensnaring the administration of US President Donald Trump, risk diverting the White House’s attention from foreign policy and its long-standing commitments to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372360/will-us-midterm-battles-blind-washington-asia-japan-isnt-taking-any-chances https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372360/will-us-midterm-battles-blind-washington-asia-japan-isnt-taking-any-chances Wed, 28 Oct 2026 03:00:21 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Parents in Japan are taking an increasingly active role in their children’s lives – helping them find marriage partners, navigate job hunting and secure housing – as the line between parental support and personal decision-making continues to blur. In a practice known as “proxy matchmaking”, parents attend social events armed with photos and profiles of their children, hoping to find suitable marriage partners through conversations with other parents. The Association of Parents of Marriage... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372372/cradle-career-japanese-parents-take-over-dating-job-hunting-children https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372372/cradle-career-japanese-parents-take-over-dating-job-hunting-children Wed, 28 Oct 2026 02:58:21 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo More than 1,000 people are still taking shelter in evacuation centres, awaiting temporary housing three months after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture, damaging their homes. The quake occurred at 4.27pm on July 28. As of Monday, the death toll stood at 38 – 36 from confirmed disaster-related causes and two suspected to be disaster-related – bringing the number of casualties to 420. Evacuation centres remain open at 21 locations in seven cities and towns. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372363/over-1000-still-japan-shelters-3-months-after-kumamoto-quake-exhausted-all-time https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372363/over-1000-still-japan-shelters-3-months-after-kumamoto-quake-exhausted-all-time Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:56:31 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea wants to take back wartime command of its troops from the United States within the next two years, but analysts say Washington is refusing to commit to a date to keep a hold on a military it sees as vital to countering China. The dispute is over wartime operational control, known as OPCON, which the US has held since shortly after the outbreak of the Korean war in 1950. If fighting were to break out again under the current arrangements, designated South Korean units would be assigned... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372297/why-us-reluctant-give-south-korea-wartime-control-its-troops https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3372297/why-us-reluctant-give-south-korea-wartime-control-its-troops Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:21 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea’s embrace of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs appears particularly pronounced among younger adults, with roughly one in six Gen Z respondents reporting they had used or been prescribed the medication in 2025, according to a new report. The 2026 Korea Wellness Report, released by KB Financial Group on Sunday and cited by The Korea Times, surveyed 2,000 men and women aged 25 to 69 between July and August. Across all age brackets, the overall uptake stood at 10.3 per cent. Gen Z adults – defined... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3372283/1-6-gen-z-south-koreans-took-glp-1-slimming-drugs-last-year https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3372283/1-6-gen-z-south-koreans-took-glp-1-slimming-drugs-last-year Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:07:45 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has been urged by critics to play the latest instalment in the blockbuster Call of Duty video game franchise to better appreciate the need for defences against an invasion by the North. The call from opposition lawmakers follows the release on Friday of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, a first-person shooter depicting a full-scale surprise attack by North Korea on the South. Players fight North Korean troops as Park Hyun-jun, a private in the South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372272/south-koreas-president-urged-play-call-duty-war-wake-call https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3372272/south-koreas-president-urged-play-call-duty-war-wake-call Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:58:14 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korean medical drama Doctor X: Mafia in White has become the latest target of political controversy over how fictional works portray history, after a National Assembly petition demanded a halt to its airing over its depiction of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. The petition, posted on Saturday on the National Assembly’s petition website, calls for a review of the drama’s production and a halt to its broadcast. It has gathered the 100 supporters required to be made public. The petitioner said... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372238/south-korean-drama-doctor-x-triggers-fresh-row-over-gwangju-uprising-depiction https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372238/south-korean-drama-doctor-x-triggers-fresh-row-over-gwangju-uprising-depiction Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:02:07 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea earned US$116.63 billion more from the world than it spent in the second quarter of this year – exceeding the combined current account surpluses of Germany and Japan for the first time on record. The current account measures a country’s trade and income with the world. It counts goods and services sold abroad, money earned on overseas investments and payments flowing the other way. A surplus means more foreign currency is coming in than going out. Surging demand for semiconductors... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3372150/ai-chip-surge-lifts-south-korea-record-surplus-behind-only-china https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3372150/ai-chip-surge-lifts-south-korea-record-surplus-behind-only-china Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:39:38 +0000 Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos For decades, China was one of the world’s largest sources of migrant labour. Its workers staffed factories at home and built infrastructure abroad. But demographic decline may eventually force China to contemplate a striking reversal: importing workers on a meaningful scale. That change is not imminent. China still has a vast labour force and substantial youth unemployment. It is investing heavily in industrial automation, extending working lives through a gradual increase in the retirement age,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371970/china-may-well-be-next-big-competitor-asian-migrant-labour https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3371970/china-may-well-be-next-big-competitor-asian-migrant-labour Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, who used ⁠his brief period ⁠in office to seek ⁠closer ties with Asian neighbours, particularly China, has died at the age of 90, according to the Nikkei business daily on Monday. The Japanese politician, the first son of a prime minister to become one ‌himself, died on Thursday from heart failure, the Nikkei reported. Following news of his death, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed “deep sorrow” when speaking to reporters in Tokyo, praising him as... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372141/former-japanese-prime-minister-yasuo-fukuda-known-seeking-china-ties-dies-90 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3372141/former-japanese-prime-minister-yasuo-fukuda-known-seeking-china-ties-dies-90 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:37:40 +0000