Malacca polls: MCA gets Kota Laksamana after PN hands seat back to BN

North Korea on Friday denounced the ongoing combined air drills between South Korea and the United States, vowing to "thoroughly" deter the allies' exercise with force, Pyongyang's state media reported. A spokesperson at North Korea's defense ministry issued the statement as Seoul and Washington launched the biannual Freedom Flag exercise on Monday for a two-week run. "The U.S. and the ROK military warmongers launched the provocative large-scale joint air drill Freedom Flag against our state on Oct. 26 by mobilizing huge air forces," read the statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. North Korea said the drills involved the Army, Navy and Marines from allied forces and mobilized air refueling tanker and attack drones, citing them as evidence for their "military purpose" contrary to the defensive character as proclaimed by the allies. "Our armed forces will thoroughly deter threats with force and only act in such manner that the enemy states can understand," it said. North Korea has long

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with his Indonesian counterpart in Atlanta to discuss ways to strengthen strategic communication and expand bilateral cooperation in defense, energy and other sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. Cho met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir on Thursday (U.S. time), as the two ministers were in the United States to attend the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for Oct. 30-31, according to the ministry. It marked the first talks between the countries' foreign ministers since Nasir took office on Oct. 1, it added. During the talks, the two sides recalled that bilateral ties were elevated to a special comprehensive strategic partnership during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's state visit to Korea in April and agreed to further develop cooperation based on the upgraded relationship. They also agreed to strengthen strategic communication in the diplomatic and security fields. The ministers discussed ways to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in defense and the defense industry, trade and investment, energy and a

Senior diplomats from South Korea, the United States and Japan held telephone consultations Friday to share information and discuss responses to North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches, Seoul's foreign ministry said. On Thursday, North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The North's state media reported Friday that it fired a 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, tactical cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles during the weapons demonstration the previous day. Baek Yong-jin, director general for Korean Peninsula policy at Seoul's foreign ministry, spoke with David Wilezol, deputy assistant secretary for Northeast Asia at the U.S. State Department, and Takashi Ariyoshi, a senior official at Japan's foreign ministry, the ministry said. "The three officials shared relevant information and discussed future responses," the ministry said in a press release. "The foreign affairs authorities of the three countries operate a channel for promptly sharing information and

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has arrived in North Korea, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday, as Switzerland has opened its first diplomatic office in the North. Cassis arrived in Pyongyang the previous day, greeted by North Korean foreign ministry officials, the North's ambassador to Switzerland and others at the airport, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The KCNA did not elaborate on other details, such as the purpose of his visit and itinerary. The Swiss government earlier said Cassis will visit North Korea on a two-day trip from Thursday to attend the official reopening of the Swiss diplomatic office in Pyongyang and hold political talks with North Korean officials. Cassis will then travel to Seoul to meet with South Korean government officials, the release said, noting the visit is part of "Switzerland's long-standing commitment to peace on the Korean Peninsula." The establishment of the diplomatic office marks Switzerland's first political and diplomatic installations in Pyongyang since the two countries forged diplomatic relations in 1974. "Against a b

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook called for greater cooperation with Germany in the battery, semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors Friday, saying the two countries are trustworthy partners that enhance their competitiveness by leveraging each other's strengths. Han made the remark in a keynote speech at the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and business leaders from the European nation. Merz was in Seoul for a summit with Korean President Lee Jae Myung. "Korea and Germany are reliable partners that enhance their competitiveness together by connecting each other's strengths. In particular, we look forward to deeper and broader cooperation between the two countries in three fields where their strengths stand out," Han said, referring to battery, semiconductor and AI sectors. "At a time when German companies diversify their supply chains toward the Asia-Pacific and seek new growth opportunities, Korea will serve as a crucial strategic hub connecting Asia, the Pacific and Europe, as well as a reliable partner that trul

A summit between North Korea and the United States is likely to be difficult within this year, a leading Japanese scholar has said, doubting that either side is ready for a meeting that leads to any "meaningful" negotiations. Junya Nishino, a professor of political science at Tokyo's Keio University, made the remarks in a meeting with Korean reporters in Tokyo on Oct. 22, as U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year. "I think a summit (between Trump and Kim) this year will be difficult," Nishino said, adding Trump's interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim stems more from personal rapport than from a U.S. policy aimed at negotiations. Speculation has arisen that Trump may want to meet Kim on the occasion of his visit to China next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. "What we want is a meeting that leads to negotiations," he said. "I do not think either the U.S. or North Korea is prepared for that." "A meeting could take place, but I doubt very much that it would amount to the kind of meaningful me

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet in the U.S. to discuss Korean Peninsula issues and ways to strengthen economic security cooperation, officials here said Friday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to hold trilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, according to the officials at Seoul's foreign ministry. In a message to reporters, the U.S. State Department said the trilateral meeting is set to be held at 4:40 p.m. Friday (U.S. time), followed by a signing ceremony for a memorandum of cooperation on the trilateral Arctic-Pacific Partnership at 5:10 p.m., which all three ministers are expected to attend. The three ministers are expected to assess North Korea's latest missile launches and closer ties between Pyongyang and Beijing following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent visit to China, and discuss ways to coordinate their responses to Pyongyang. Also on the table would be ways to encourage Pyongyang to re

North Korea has fired a 600-millimeter "ultra-precision" multiple rocket launcher and simulated drone strikes in a demonstration of key weapons, with leader Kim Jong-un emphasizing "absolute superiority" in securing unmanned attack capabilities, state media reported Friday. The demonstration was held Thursday alongside an exhibition on unmanned aeronautical technology attended by leader Kim Jong-un, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The event took place on the same day that South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected around 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. The missiles flew about 250 kilometers. The exhibition featured various types of drones and other combat systems, while the weapons demonstration involved tactical suicide attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, multi-purpose drones and a 600-mm multiple rocket launcher battalion, the KCNA said. "Tactical suicide attack drones, air-to-surface missiles from multi-purpose drones and cruise missiles hit the islet target with 100 percent accuracy," the re

Police have sealed off one side of the motorway in Bolton and Salford

Beijing has given new details about the scale of its anti-corruption drive into the People’s Liberation Army and defence industry, with fresh names confirmed as being investigated. They include top generals who once oversaw theatre commands, heads of the powerful Central Military Commission’s General Office and executives in key defence companies. The names are included in a communique released at the close of the fifth plenum of the 20th Central Committee on Thursday, as the party concluded its...

Sadiq Khan's vision of Oxford Street as a peaceful, pedestrian utopia has inelegantly stumbled and landed on its face just days into the scheme.