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Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
North Korea Fires New Missile Warning at US and Allies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles over the Sea of Japan. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday's launch was the North's first since March 10 and might have been staged to showcase the weapon for potential foreign buyers. Newsweek contacted the North Korean Embassy in China for comment by email. People walking past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test at a train station in Seoul on May 8. People walking past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test at a train station in Seoul on May 8. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Why It Matters Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in decades. Kim Jong Un's regime has cut all official communications with the South, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK)—now enshrined in the North's constitution as a "hostile state"—and has doubled down on its United Nations-sanctioned missile and nuclear weapons programs. The launch follows Pyongyang's first admission that it sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces on the Ukrainian front. These deployments—in addition to the North's provision of munitions, missiles and other military equipment to Russia—have further alarmed South Korea, a U.S. defense treaty ally. What To Know The missiles were launched from the area around Wonsan, an eastern port city, between 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m., South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, with one missile traveling as far as 800 kilometers (497 miles). The exact number of missiles fired was not confirmed, but Joint Chiefs spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said the launches likely involved a vehicle-mounted short-range ballistic missile system modeled on Russia's Iskander design, as well as large-caliber rocket artillery platforms. This infographic based on information from North and South Korean and Japanese agencies illustrates the frequency of North Korea's missile launches since 2024. This infographic based on information from North and South Korean and Japanese agencies illustrates the frequency of North Korea's missile launches since 2024. Nicholas Shearman/AFP via Getty Images During a briefing, Lee said the launches could have been to test the performance of weapons that North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), planned to export. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tokyo had "sternly protested and strongly condemned" the launches through the North Korean Embassy in Beijing. The missiles had not reached Japan's exclusive economic zone, and there was no damage to aircraft or vessels in the area, he told the press. What People Are Saying The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement: "The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts. While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad." What Happens Next Russia and North Korea's deepening military ties have fueled concerns that Moscow is providing Pyongyang with advanced weapons technology and nuclear expertise in exchange for arms shipments. This story includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Newsweek
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
K-Pop Is Returning to China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A K-pop group is set to perform in mainland China later this month after a nine-year hiatus, sparking renewed discussions over potentially warming ties between Beijing and its U.S.-allied neighbor. Newsweek contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry and South Korean Embassy in the U.S. for comment via email. Why It Matters China restricted South Korean pop culture, including K-pop groups, in 2016 after the U.S. deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) antimissile system on South Korean soil—a move the defense treaty allies said was necessary to counter North Korea's expanding ballistic missile program. China opposed the deployment, viewing it as a threat on its doorstep. Almost a decade later, Beijing is seeking to repair ties with U.S.-aligned nations amid doubts over U.S. President Donald Trump's tumultuous tariff rollout and wavering remarks on security commitments in Europe and East Asia. South Korean K-pop group Epex posing on the red carpet of the 2022 Dream Concert at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on June 18, 2022. South Korean K-pop group Epex posing on the red carpet of the 2022 Dream Concert at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on June 18, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Although non-Korean members of K-pop groups have continued to appear on Chinese television, the May 31 performance of Epex in the southern city of Fuzhou—announced on Tuesday by C9 Entertainment, the group's agency—marks a notable shift. The industry hopes the show will spark a revival of the "Korean Wave" in the 1.4-billion-strong Chinese market. The announcement follows last year's visit to South Korea by China's No. 2 official, Premier Li Qiang—the first visit by a Chinese premier since the controversy over the THAAD missile defense system erupted. However, the news met a mixed reception among Chinese netizens, many of whom voiced lingering resentment, either over the continued presence of the antimissile system or the "sissy" image of K-pop boy bands influencing Chinese youth. "Have we given up? THAAD hasn't been withdrawn—it's actually increased—and we were the ones who gave in to South Korea," one user wrote on the microblogging platform Weibo. "Doesn't our country realize that South Korea will never abandon the U.S. to choose us?" another said. A commenter added, "Groups with Chinese members can be considered; all others are out of the question." What People Are Saying Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters on Tuesday: "I'm not familiar with the specifics of the performance you mentioned. Let me stress that we are open to useful cultural exchanges and cooperation with the [Republic of Korea]. We hope that the ROK will work with China to advance bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether large-scale performances by K-pop idols and South Korean artists from other genres will gain traction in China. "Around the beginning of this year, there were rumors that the ban on the South Korean entertainment industry would be eased around May or June," Yonhap News quoted an experienced music industry manager as saying. "There's now an atmosphere of allowing smaller performances at venues in regional cities with less than 2,000 seats. But for major artists, we'll have to wait and see if large venues will open up."
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'Happiness, love' at Moonie mass wedding after Japanese court blow
Couples attend a mass wedding ceremony organised by the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong on April 12. Image: Jung Yeon-je / AFP They've been called a cult, accused of coercive fundraising, and legally disbanded in Japan. But in a mountainous town nestled in South Korea, thousands of "Moonies" gathered this month for a mass wedding. Around 1,300 couples from dozens of countries tied the knot at the Unification Church's sprawling headquarters in Gapyeong, north of Seoul, under the supervision of their controversial leader, known as the "holy mother". The spectacular tradition, which dates back to the first so-called "blessing ceremony" featuring 36 couples in 1961, is an integral part of the broadly neo-Christian beliefs held by the church, founded by Moon Sun-myung and now run by his widow, Han Hak-ja. The church claims these mass weddings can help reverse South Korea's woeful birthrate, improve family values, and ultimately bring about Moon's goal of completing the unfulfilled mission of Jesus Christ to restore humanity to a state of "sinless" purity. "I'm just really grateful," American Emmanuel Muyongo, 29, told AFP at the ceremony, where he married his Japanese wife, whom he met years ago and grew close to at a church in the United States. Muyongo's own parents married at a mass wedding, and he said that he was honoured "to experience what my parents' experienced". "We love you, Holy Mother Han!" the couples shouted in unison at one point during the event, which featured blaring fanfare and confetti cannons. Han, 82, looked almost eerily calm throughout the festivities, once slowly waving at her excited followers while wearing sunglasses and a green dress. Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja attending a mass wedding ceremony on April 12, organised by the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong. They've been called a cult, accused of coercive fundraising, and legally disbanded in Japan. But in a mountainous town nestled in South Korea, thousands of "Moonies" gathered this month for a mass wedding. Image: Jung Yeon-je / AFP 'Holy mother' The church, which was founded in 1954, claims to have around three million followers globally — including 300,000 in South Korea, 600,000 in Japan — and oversees a sprawling business empire encompassing construction, tourism, education and media, among others. But in Japan, the church has been accused of coercive fundraising, especially after the 2022 assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, allegedly carried out by a man who harboured resentment toward the sect. A court there revoked its legal status as an organisation last month, although its members can continue to meet. Abe's accused killer blamed the church for his family's financial ruin, after his mother made huge donations. Abe — along with other world leaders including US President Donald Trump — had sent video messages to events linked to the church. But at the mass wedding this month, followers were unfazed by the recent legal blow, with the visibly emotional couples — including Japanese — radiating joy and gratitude to Han. After Moon's 2012 death, Han stepped up to lead the church and is now referred to by members as god's "only begotten daughter" and the "holy mother". The church has links to everything from a major South Korean newspaper to a high-end ski resort used for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. It is also affiliated with esteemed art institutes. In 1991, Han joined her late husband — revered by followers as a messiah but dismissed by critics as a charlatan — on his trip to North Korea to meet with its founder, Kim Il Sung, to discuss the reunification of the divided peninsula. When her husband died, North Korea's current leader Kim Jong Un sent a personal message of condolence. He later presented her with a pair of North Korean Pungsan dogs, a token of his goodwill. This week, South Korean media alleged that the church had bribed former first lady Kim Keon Hee — whose husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, was recently ousted over his declaration of martial law — with a diamond necklace worth around $41,970. Couples attending a mass wedding ceremony organised by the Unification Church at Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong on April 12. They've been called a cult, accused of coercive fundraising, and legally disbanded in Japan. But in a mountainous town nestled in South Korea, thousands of "Moonies" gathered this month for a mass wedding. Image: Jung Yeon-je / AFP Indemnity The church has appealed the Japanese court's decision. Experts say that Japan, Korea's former colonial ruler, has long been a financial hub for the sect. "Usually, religious businesses like Unification Church target isolated lower-middle class individuals," Vladimir Tikhonov, Korean Studies professor at the University of Oslo, told AFP. "Their main 'hunting ground' is not South Korea, it is actually Japan," he added. Since the 1960s, the church is believed to have generated as much as 80 percent of its global revenues from Japan, according to Levi McLaughlin, a religious studies professor at North Carolina State University. During Japan's 1980s bubble economy, its branch reportedly sent up to 10 billion yen ($70 million) per month to the South Korean headquarters. Japanese followers are told to "atone" for the country's colonial past, and McLaughlin told AFP the mass weddings have been framed as a form of "indemnity". The church plays a role in match-making couples, experts say, with Japanese women often matched with non-Japanese men — and critics slam the cult-like cutting of family ties that sometimes results. But this month in Gapyeong, more than 1,000 couples — each bride in near-identical white gowns and modest tiaras — wiped away tears, held hands tightly, and swayed to music as they danced and took selfies. The couples "started from happiness and love, but it seems that those who don't understand it well are misinterpreting it and only seeing the negative aspects", Remi Kosuga, 27, one of the brides, told AFP. "We simply want to believe in and learn about love. ... I hope people can see that." AFP
Forbes
25-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Industrial Only Electricity Deregulation Will Be A Disaster For All Louisianans
The best way to avoid a tariff is to produce steel in the U.S. This picture taken on February 13, ... More 2025 shows the main gate of a factory of South Korea's steelmaker Hyundai Steel in Pohang. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Skorea-US-trade-tariffs-steel / REPORTAGE BY Claire LEE (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images) Louisiana finds itself at the epicenter of economic development in the Gulf South with two recent mega-projects announced—Meta and Hyundai Steel. At the same time, the LPSC is considering two proposals to 'deregulate' or 'restructure' how power is provided. One proposal is 'full deregulation' that would allow every utility customer in Louisiana to shop around for their electrical supply, and the second is 'partial deregulation' which would only allow the large industrial customers to shop for power supply. Full deregulation has been tried across the nation, and in nearly every fully deregulated state, customers pay higher electricity rates than those living in regulated states. This is because in regulated states, state agencies like the LPSC can ensure rates are fair and stable, and that utilities build enough power generation to meet every contingency. There is less known about this style of proposed partial deregulation, and only a few states, such as Nevada and Michigan, have gone down that road. Now, rumor has it, the casinos in Nevada who pushed for partial deregulation are looking to end that failed experiment because it has not reduced their electricity costs. In Michigan, the public service commission is fighting to restore resource adequacy after partial deregulation resulted in reliability issues and cost shifts to regulated customers when the unregulated energy providers failed to procure regional capacity. What would a partial deregulation in Louisiana mean? Increased prices and reduced reliability for all consumers. And it would create an administrative headache for the LPSC that is larger than they can imagine. The Commissioners just need to look around at how well 'deregulation' has worked for other states. Interestingly, the biggest push for partial deregulation is not being led by the industrial customers like the petrochemical plants operating along the Mississippi River, but rather, by the energy companies that, through partial deregulation, would be allowed to build the power generation that those large industrial customers or data centers would otherwise purchase from regulated utilities. Amplify Louisiana, the lobbying group of those energy companies hoping to build those facilities, says: 'The LPSC should welcome partnerships with private investment to benefit ratepayers. In fact, some of the largest independent power producers in the U.S. are willing to invest in Louisiana and work with the industrials to serve those needs.' The first question to be answered, what does this mean for the average Louisianan? The electricity charged to average consumers will not be based on the cost-savings realized by the industrial users with bespoke power plants. By contrast, the Amplify members developers will do very well. The industrial companies may also think that by bringing generators inside their fences or buying from an independent power producer that they can save money by not paying the usual cost per kilowatt-hour to maintain transmission lines, distribution wires, and the upkeep for the current portfolio of generators. Except these industrial plants want to keep the wires and state's generators as a backup that is subsidized and paid for by all the other consumers. How is that fair? Electricity infrastructure across the country, including in Louisiana, has needed to be renewed, and upgraded for many years—just like our roadways, water, and sewer services. Removing Louisiana's industrial base from the customer base will disproportionately place the financial burden of maintaining grid reliability on residential and small business customers, and an electricity grid is only as strong as its weakest link. There will be a greater likelihood of a broader grid failure. More importantly, deregulation will not be a win-win for the industrial customers. Without adequate onsite backup generation equal to what is necessary to run their plants, they will rely upon a weakened grid during their regular maintenance of onsite power plants. If Louisiana adopts a Texas-like deregulation scheme, the industrials could pay as much as 40-times average electricity rates to buy electricity during peak demand—a price spike that will extend across the state. By weakening the larger public grid for their own corporate benefit, the industrials will needlessly endanger the property and lives of their own families and communities. It is a matter of public safety, and with Louisiana's position in the America's energy supply chain, it is a matter of national security. Finally, since the advent of deregulation, there has been an explosion of 'new products' that seek to give an incentive here or an incentive there with each designed to tweak the regulated market into something resembling what a competitive market provides. That is, the regulators are trying to replicate what a buyer and seller commit to do: a transaction with positive economics and accountability. But deregulation or restructuring has been a disaster across the nation from conservative states to the most liberal like California. In Texas, the agency that manages the electric supply, called ERCOT, has market rules that encompass 2,125 pages and are tweaked almost constantly. To be clear, despite all this bureaucratic oversight, ERCOT has failed miserably killing hundreds during the February 2021 winter freeze and costing the state more than $100 billion in economic losses. Adding insult to injury, the Texas legislature approved billions of dollars in bailouts to the electric utilities that consumers will be paying off over years. In 2023 alone, Texas overcharged consumers $12 billion, and the grid is still not fixed. The LSPC is not equipped to manage such an unwieldy beast and should not consider allowing this money grab to occur. In Louisiana, 'partial deregulation' should be a non-starter.
