IJR News

AMD explores Samsung foundry partnership amid shortages — 13hAMD CEO Lisa Su visited Samsung's Seoul office Oct. 7 exploring a foundry tie-up; the MI455X packs 432GB of HBM4, 50% more memory than its predecessor.

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Seoul Blames North Korea for DMZ Mine Blast — 3dSouth Korea concluded Oct. 5 that North Korean mines planted south of the MDL caused the Sept. 21 DMZ blast injuring three soldiers; two remain hospitalized.

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Rachel Meyers South Korea should demand a full investigation and compensation for the blast that harmed three troops.

North Korea reportedly fires projectile into eastern waters — 4dJCS detected a North Korean launch from Wonsan at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 3—13 days after the last—as Kim Yo-jong called Seoul's mine charge a self-staged provocation.

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Derek Foss These launches make any chance of real talks between the two sides look even smaller.

North Korea claims AI-assisted missile test evaded defenses — 4dNorth Korea's Oct. 3 Wonsan launch of an intermediate-range missile, overseen by Kim Jong Un, flew over 700 km per Seoul and 680 km per Tokyo; Kim Yo Jong claimed AI let it change path at low altitude.

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Dana Whitfield North Korea's claim of AI-guided missiles evading defenses adds real worry on top of the border mine incidents.

Trump's Alaska LNG pledge meets Seoul party brake — 6dOval Office announcement of $54 billion South Korean capital for Alaska gas draws an immediate commercial-viability review from Korea’s ruling party, leaving contracts, land access and a final investment decision still in play.

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Marcus Bell Without a final investment decision, this remains just another political pledge rather than a secured energy project.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

North Korea Warns Seoul Could Face Collective Retaliation — Sep 24, 2026On Sept. 25, 2026, Kang Chol-su said South Korea, as a "decisive center for collective defense," "will become a decisive target of collective punishment."

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Nicole Hardy Seoul should ignore this warning and keep working with Washington on defense because North Korea only respects strength.

Trump Threatens Korea Over Disputed Alaska LNG Funding — 5dPresident Trump threatened to double an unspecified burden on South Korea if it does not soon join the Alaska LNG project, although Seoul says no investment decision has been made and any commitment depends on commercial viability. The $44.5 billion–$54.5 billion project would cost far more per unit of capacity than recent Gulf Coast exports, while developer Glenfarne argues shorter routes to Asian buyers and access to stranded gas could make delivered LNG competitive.

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Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Sent POWs to Seoul — Sep 23, 2026Zelenskyy told the U.N. Ukraine recently sent two North Korean war prisoners to South Korea; he said one attempted to take his own life when capture became clear.

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Marcus Bell Those North Korean POWs heading to Seoul might reveal how deeply Pyongyang is backing Russia's invasion.

WYD Seoul Preparations Draw Delegates From 100 CountriesWorld — Sep 18, 2026Seoul hosts major youth-focused gatherings as World Youth Day 2027 preparatory meetings draw 400+ delegates from over 100 countries, outlining registration, diocesan participation, and program logistics amid cultural events and a theme of hope. Concurrent Korea Youth Summit 2026 showcased Youth Break the Boundaries’ leadership development and cross-cultural exchange, featuring speakers like Kim Kang-Woo and activities ranging from city tours to global discussions.

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Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Seen as Likely Heir, Seoul Says — Sep 10, 2026South Korea’s National Intelligence Service says Kim Jong Un’s daughter Kim Ju Ae is being groomed as his successor and that she likely has a younger sibling of unknown gender, though details about any older brother remain unconfirmed. Multiple reports reiterate the third-generation leadership dynamic in North Korea and the ongoing uncertainty about the children’s exact number and birth order.

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Rachel Meyers I wonder if confirming an older brother would change how Seoul views the succession.

US and South Korean courts order North Korea and Iran to pay $520 million — Sep 14, 2026Seoul court orders North Korea to pay 44.6 billion won ($32.5 million) in damages over the 2020 demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office, marking the first judgment in the South Korea lawsuit. Separately, U.S. courts have ordered North Korea and Iran to pay about $487 million to American victims of terrorism, and another ruling holds North Korea liable for 650 billion won in damages related to Hamas's October 7 attacks.

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Sam Okafor Tying North Korea to the Hamas attacks in a damages ruling feels like an attempt to isolate them further over October 7.

Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

US Embassy in Seoul Displays Black Lives Matter Banner in Support of Anti-Racism ProtestsReporting — Jun 14, 2020The U.S. embassy in Seoul draped a huge Black Lives Matter banner on its mission building and tweeted a picture of it in support of an anti-racism campaign across America. “The U.S. Embassy stands in solidarity with…

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Seoul, Gangwon Expect Heavy Rain, Heat WaveWeather — Jul 22, 2026South Korea faces an unprecedented transition from heavy monsoon downpours to a dangerous heatwave, with the Korea Meteorological Administration issuing its first Emergency Heatwave Warning as temperatures push toward the high 30s and beyond, while heavy rainfall of 20–80 mm persists in Seoul, Gangwon, and surrounding regions. Authorities warn of tropical nights, heat advisories across the east coast of Gangwon and other regions, and a continued pattern of extreme weather as monsoon rains taper and heat intensifies.

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Wang Yi Seoul Visit Planned for Talks — Aug 18, 2026Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will undertake a two-day visit to Seoul on August 19-20, his first in five years, to hold high-level talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and meet President Lee Jae Myung, focusing on strengthening Korea-China ties, regional security, and North Korea-related issues ahead of the APEC summit. The discussions aim to stabilize bilateral trade, discuss the Korean Peninsula dynamics, and navigate broader East Asian alignments amid shifting regional relations.

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Student Eats Fruit Off of Pricey Art Installation at MuseumReporting — May 2, 2023An art student based in South Korea decided to consume a pricey art installation to curb his hunger. On Saturday, the unnamed student from Seoul National University removed a banana that was taped to the wall and…

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The Big FiveQuizie — QuizThe personality model scientists actually use — five traits, twenty questions, your real percentages, and an AI read of what your mix means.

Joe Biden Says He Wouldn’t Use Threat of Cutting US Troop Levels in Ties With South KoreaReporting — Oct 30, 2020Democratic U.S. presidential challenger Joe Biden said that if elected he will strengthen Washington’s alliance with Seoul and not use the threat of reducing U.S. troop levels in South Korea as a bargaining chip. During…

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Deadly Situation in South Korea: US Military Running Crowd Control, At Least 120 Confirmed DeadReporting — Oct 29, 2022A harrowing incident in South Korea has rocked the peninsula nation. CNN reported that at least 120 people were killed and another 100 were injured in Seoul’s Itaewon district. According to The Korea Times , huge crowds…

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South Korea’s Moon Calls for US-North Korea Summit Before US ElectionReporting — Jul 1, 2020South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should meet again before the U.S. presidential election in November, a Seoul official told reporters on…

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South Korea Remains on US Currency Monitor List — Jul 23, 2026The U.S. Treasury has kept South Korea on its currency monitoring list, citing a strong trade and current-account surplus alongside persistent depreciation pressure on the won. The reports also credit Seoul's reforms to loosen foreign-investor restrictions in the foreign-exchange market, while noting that no country required enhanced analysis for currency manipulation.

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South Korea's Lee urges US-North Korea talks amid signs of movement — Sep 2, 2026South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung urged transforming the armistice on the Korean Peninsula into a lasting peace regime and creating conditions for constructive discussions to resume U.S.–North Korea diplomacy, highlighting Donald Trump’s outreach as a potential opening. He stressed Seoul’s leadership in peace efforts and cited signs of diplomatic movement, including Korea’s goal of regaining wartime operational control and broader regional stability.

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Elena Vasquez Regaining wartime operational control seems like the real story here, not just the talk of diplomacy with the North.

Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja jailed two years for bribery — Aug 31, 2026Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, was sentenced to two years in prison in Seoul on bribery and political-funding charges tied to efforts to influence former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration and former first lady Kim Keon Hee, including gifts such as a Chanel bag and a luxury necklace. The case centers on providing favors to political figures through intermediaries while the church sought policy influence.

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Ulchi Drill Ends Early as NK Fires Missiles — Aug 18, 2026North Korea condemned the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills and warned it would continue exercising its right to self-defense, even as Trump ordered a substantial reduction in the joint exercises. In Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung pressed for stronger independent defense capabilities and faster restoration of wartime OPCON, while officials said coordination with the United States on drills remains ongoing amid the US-led reductions.

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U.S. Shortens Ulchi Drills; NK Denounces; China Pushes Talks — Aug 16, 2026President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises after Seoul declined to help denuclearize Iran, a move that echoes his earlier terms and raises questions about long-term U.S. commitment on the Korean Peninsula. The development comes as the allies prepare for their annual drills and amid ongoing regional tensions, with analysts noting it could affect interoperability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

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South Korea estimates North Korea has 80-120 warheads — Aug 20, 2026South Korea's defence minister said North Korea likely has 80-120 nuclear warheads, a figure well above Trump's 57 and higher than Washington's estimates, while stressing Seoul cannot officially confirm exact numbers and that the country remains under the U.S. nuclear umbrella as denuclearization efforts continue. The remarks come as Trump seeks to engage with Kim Jong-un and to scale back joint US-SK drills, signaling renewed diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.

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