Korea in Global Affairs

International news and analysis related to South Korea's role in global politics, trade, and diplomacy.

Samsung, SK hynix Signal Expanded Shareholder Returns

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, fresh off record quarterly earnings, say they are reviewing plans to expand shareholder returns amid surging AI-driven memory chip demand....

Published 2026.08.05. 22:47:36 |

Japan's 14-Million-Won 'Human Refrigerator' Sells Out Amid Heat Wave

Japan's "Dohiemon Box," a 1.5-million-yen human refrigerator by Trusco Nakayama, has sold about 200 units amid record heat waves, emerging as a new in...

Published 2026.08.05. 21:55:12 |

US Private Payrolls Rise 44,000 in July, Weakest in Six Months

US private-sector employment rose 44,000 in July, the weakest in six months, missing the 75,000 forecast, as services grew and goods production declin...

Published 2026.08.05. 21:48:48 |

China's CXMT Breaks Into Global PC Supply Chain Amid Memory Shortage

China's CXMT has entered the global PC supply chain as HP, Asus and Acer adopt its DRAM chips amid a memory shortage straining Samsung, SK hynix and M...

Published 2026.08.05. 20:59:27 |

BOJ Minutes Signal Further Rate Hikes After 31-Year High

BOJ meeting minutes signal further rate hikes after raising its June benchmark to a 31-year high of 1%, as U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent urges Japan...

Published 2026.08.05. 20:37:56 |

Ukraine Says North Korean Missile Unit Deploying to Western Russia

Ukraine says a North Korean missile unit of about 90 personnel is deploying to Russia's Voronezh region, potentially with up to 120 ballistic missiles...

Published 2026.08.05. 18:26:52 |

Bessent Says Yen Intervention Aimed to Halt Asian Currency Weakness

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the yen-buying intervention with Japan aimed to prevent currency weakness from spreading across Asia, citing ...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:51:01 |

US Moves to Purge China From Advanced Supply Chains

The US is rolling out export controls to shut China out of advanced supply chains, including optical transceivers, polysilicon and robots, ahead of Xi...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:50:19 |

US Nears Deal for 60-Day Free Passage Through Strait of Hormuz

The US, Iran and Oman near a tentative deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with 60 days of free passage, targeting a July 5 announcement, though fee d...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:49:14 |

Big Tech's Hidden Debt Nears $100 Billion in Off-Book Data Center Leases

Five U.S. Big Tech firms — Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle — hold about $1.09 trillion in off-book data center leases, four times their r...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:48:22 |

Musk Says Memory Prices Will Rise as Demand Surges 200% Against 20% Output Growth

Elon Musk says memory chip demand surges over 200% while output rises 20%, predicting rising prices. SpaceX posts 92% revenue growth in first earnings...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:47:50 |

China Tightens Drone Export Controls on US in Retaliation

China tightened drone export controls on the US, requiring case-by-case reviews, in retaliation for US restrictions on Chinese robots, power inverters...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:38:35 |

China Says U.S. Ban on Chinese Optical Parts Would Backfire

China says a reported U.S. plan to ban Chinese-made optical transceivers is unlikely and would backfire, raising costs for U.S. cloud providers and sl...

Published 2026.08.05. 17:25:40 |

Japan to Cut Food Consumption Tax to 1%, but Funding Still Unclear

Japan's ruling LDP approved PM Takaichi's plan to cut the food consumption tax from 8% to 1% for two years starting next April, but funding for the 4 ...

Published 2026.08.05. 16:45:44 |

Tokyo Cools 12 Degrees in a Day After Extreme Heat—Why?

Tokyo temperatures plunged 12 degrees in a day after extreme heat, driven by a high-pressure system over the Sea of Okhotsk, while Korea remains under...

Published 2026.08.05. 16:18:13 |

Musk Warns Memory Shortage to Persist, Prices to Keep Rising

Elon Musk says memory chips are the AI era's biggest bottleneck, with production growing 20% annually versus 200% demand, warning shortages and price ...

Published 2026.08.05. 15:43:40 |

Iran Weighs Toll Waivers for China, Russia Amid Hormuz Reopening Talks

Iran is weighing full toll waivers for Chinese and Russian ships in the Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Iran talks gain momentum, though the key toll dispute...

Published 2026.08.05. 13:56:23 |

'Big Short' Michael Burry Holds Bearish Bets Despite S&P Record High

'Big Short' investor Michael Burry maintains bearish bets on chips and AI stocks despite the S&P 500 hitting record highs, warning of a possible 1987-...

Published 2026.08.05. 12:36:46 |

US, Iran, Oman Near Deal to Open Hormuz With 60-Day Free Passage

The US, Iran, and Oman near a provisional deal to open the Strait of Hormuz with 60-day free passage, with Washington targeting a July 5 announcement,...

Published 2026.08.05. 12:33:43 | Updated 2026.08.05. 12:55:13 |

Belgium's First Voluntary Military Service Draws 3,000 Applicants

Belgium's first voluntary military service program drew over 3,000 applicants for 500 slots, a competition ratio above 6 to 1, as European countries e...

Published 2026.08.05. 12:13:57 |