Politics, International
565 storiesPark Jin-young says he did not know of 2 million won monthly payment; president apologizes
Park Jin-young, co-chair of the presidential Public Culture Exchange Committee and executive producer at JYP Entertainment, said he did not know he was receiving about 2 million won a month in duty expenses for a post described as unpaid. A…
US presses Russia to disclose details of suspected plague pathogen leak at Irkutsk lab
The Trump administration is urging Russia to release more information about a suspected plague pathogen leak at a research institute in Irkutsk, saying it cannot set its response level without the facts. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sa…
South Korea's PPP pushes Singapore film festival to drop “Assassins” opening slot
South Korea's main opposition People Power Party said it will send a letter in the name of all its lawmakers asking the Singapore International Film Festival to withdraw “Assassins,” a film about the 1974 shooting of first lady Yuk Young-so…
Ruling party says hearing for first major crimes agency chief set for Oct 14
South Korea's ruling Democratic Party said the confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the new Major Crimes Investigation Agency, is scheduled for Oct 14. Party floor spokesperson Kim Sung-hoe told reporters the National A…
Hyogo prefecture bars freelance journalist Kan Kanno from governor’s press conference
Hyogo Prefecture said on Oct. 6 that it will not allow freelance journalist and writer Kan Kanno to attend Governor Motohiko Saito’s regular press conference on Oct. 7. Kanno was banned by the prefectural press club after telling Saito at a…
S. Korea Assembly audit clashes over chief justice's exit after greeting
The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee opened its Supreme Court audit on 6 October with a clash over whether Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should leave the chamber after his greeting. Cho read his prepared remarks but did n…
Korean Assembly audit of farm ministry suspended in picket row over farmland solar
A National Assembly audit of the agriculture ministry was suspended on Oct 7 after opposition lawmakers displayed pickets reading “농민 몰아내서 결국 태양광이냐” (“Driving farmers out, and in the end, solar?”) and ruling-party members objected. The sess…
Tokushima assembly LDP faction moves to censure Governor Gotōda over remarks
The Liberal Democratic Party faction in the Tokushima prefectural assembly, the chamber’s largest, has moved to submit a censure motion against Governor Naozumi Gotōda, saying his remarks and conduct are a problem, and plans to put it to th…
Jeonnam-Gwangju region and city council publish senior personnel appointments
Newsis and Yonhap published personnel notices on 6 October 2026 listing senior appointments for the Jeonnam-Gwangju region, including the head of the Metropolitan Administrative Headquarters, the head of the Autonomous Decentralization Bure…
Japan farm minister retracts budget-cut remarks, apologises, denies resignation
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yana retracted and apologised on Oct 5 for remarks that he had “greatly cut” road budgets of municipalities whose mayors did not support him in the February lower house election. He denied lobbyi…
Collins and Jackson clash in first Maine Senate debate as race stays tight
Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson met Tuesday night in Portland for the first of four scheduled Maine Senate debates. Jackson repeatedly tied Collins to President Donald Trump, saying she votes with him 96…
Japan's Diet opens 69-day session with food tax cut, seat reduction in focus
Japan's 222nd extraordinary Diet session was convened on 5 October and is set to run 69 days to 12 December, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivering a policy speech the same day. The government's priority is a bill cutting the consump…
Bolsonaro's son leads Brazil's first round; Lula faces Oct. 25 runoff
Brazilians voted on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in the first round of a presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, and no candidate won a majority, sending the race to an Oct. 25 runoff. The Wall …
Trump repeats Alaska LNG charge threat as Vance says Korea details unresolved
US President Donald Trump said on 2 October that if South Korea does not invest in the Alaska LNG project, Washington can charge it more, and Seoul should be told the amount will double if it does not agree soon. Korean outlets reported tha…
South Korea ruling party says chief justice refuses to testify at Oct. 6 audit
The Democratic Party said Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae submitted a non-appearance reason statement to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, declining to appear as a witness at the Supreme Court's parliament…
Okinawa governor demands measures from Japan defense minister over U.S. Marine arrest
Okinawa Governor Genta Kojya met Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Oct. 7 and handed him a written request for effective, fundamental measures to prevent a repeat of incidents involving U.S. military pers…
Japan Diet questions begin; opposition to press farm minister over budget cut remark
Japan's Diet began question sessions on 7 October over Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's policy speech, with opposition parties set to press agriculture minister Yanagi Kazuo over his remark that he had substantially cut road budgets. Komeito…
UN North Korea mission's voicemail appears hacked, CNN reports
CNN reported on October 6 that the voicemail of the landline listed for North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York appeared to have been hacked. Callers heard a voice mocking North Korea's chronic food shortage and telling anyo…
Trump says a phone call with Putin is planned “very soon”
US President Donald Trump said a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin is planned and will take place “very soon”. Trump gave no date or agenda. Russian outlets carried the announcement without reporting any Kremlin comment o…
Yokohama mayoral election announced with seven candidates; vote set for Oct 18
Yokohama's mayoral election was announced on Oct 4, and seven candidates filed, including former mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, 54, who resigned after harassment of city staff was found. Outlets said the main issue is whether voters endorse the c…