South Korea
How East Asia, by way of BLACKPINK, BTS et al, has redefined global pop culture
While BTS rewrote the rules for boy bands, BLACKPINK reshaped girl group dynamics and have since taken the world by storm, routinely selling out stadiums across the US and Europe.
South Korea-US defence pact could be strengthened
In recent weeks, Seoul has held internal discussions about expanding joint defence commitments, including revisiting missile defence cooperation and rotational stationing of American forces.
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Kim shuns idea of dialogue or reunification with South Korea
By framing relations with South Korea in terms of hostility and distinct sovereign existence, North Korea is again clarifying what analysts have long described as a drift away from even nominal engagement.
Argentina’s meltdown, Asia’s dilemma
Argentina has been here before - the country having endured multiple financial meltdowns over the last half-century - each one leaving scars on its once vibrant society and economy.
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South Korea signals openness to Trump–Kim nuclear freeze deal
Efforts to persuade Pyongyang to disarm have made little progress since talks collapsed in 2019, during US President Trump’s first presidency.
North Korean leader oversees test of AI-powered attack drones
Pyongyang unveiled its first attack drones last year, a move that experts warned was closely linked to its growing military partnership with Russia, and may also be linked to Chinese agencies supplying Pyongyang with technical support.
Busan leads South Korea’s green developments and GHG cuts from the front
Busan, South Korea’s second largest city with around 3.5mn residents, hosted the World Climate Industry Expo and Korea Energy Show 2025.
Asia’s gas utilities are politically shielded but economically exposed
Many of the region’s gas distributors enjoy the safety net of being government-related entities and are ‘protected’ to a large extent. Their credit profiles are, in reality, extensions of sovereign ratings rather than stand-alone assessments.
Seoul’s energy balancing act up to 2050: then green power for the win
In the northeast corner of East Asia, South Korea is quietly steering its energy future towards a delicate pro-nuclear, pro-renewables outcome. With eyes fixed firmly on 2050, policymakers in the capital Seoul are doubling down.
Raid at Hyundai’s Georgia plant sparks diplomatic tensions
On September 4, 2025, US immigration officers carried out what officials have called the largest workplace immigration enforcement action in the history of the Department of Homeland Security.
US to draw back from Asia in new defence policy concept
The United States is scaling back its strategic focus on Asia, marking a potential end to over a decade of military and political efforts to counterbalance China’s rise in the region, Politico reports.
South Korea marks largest ever current account surplus for July
The Bank of Korea reported a surplus of $10.78bn for July, extending the country’s run of consecutive monthly surpluses to 27, dating back to May 2023.
Japan’s Ishiba, and South Korea’s Lee – the best of frenemies
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s choice of Tokyo and not Washington for his first state visit since coming to power was no accident.