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Kang Jin-kyu AFP

North Korean club to play rare football match in South

North Korean club to play rare football match in South

A North Korean women's football club will become the first sports team from the country to play in South Korea since 2018 when they visit this month, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday. The neighbours remain technically at war after their 1950–53 conflict ended in an

South Korean court increases ex-first lady's graft sentence

South Korean court increases ex-first lady's graft sentence

A South Korean appeals court increased the corruption sentence for former first lady Kim Keon Hee on Tuesday to four years in jail after finding her guilty of stock manipulation and bribery. Kim, the wife of jailed ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, was handed 20 months in jail for bribery

'AI shamans' tell the fortunes of curious South Koreans

'AI shamans' tell the fortunes of curious South Koreans

The sound of tinkling bells drifts through an alley in central Seoul, an unmistakable sign that a shaman is near -- although in this case the mystic is a robot powered by artificial intelligence. Many South Koreans still place great value in shamanic traditions, which purport to divine a person'

North Korea's Kim oversees test of high-thrust engine: state media

North Korea's Kim oversees test of high-thrust engine: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the ground test of an upgraded rocket engine, state media reported on Sunday, marking another key step in its weapons programme. Defence experts believe North Korea is planning to use its solid-fuel rocket engines for launching intercontinental ballistic missiles. The engines enable

Belarus leader visits North Korea for first time

Belarus leader visits North Korea for first time

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began his first official visit to North Korea Wednesday, with the two countries united by Western sanctions, closeness to Russia and accusations of rights violations. Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that that the two sides would sign during the two-day visit a treaty of

N. Korea's Kim vows 'irreversible' nuclear status, warns Seoul of 'merciless' response

N. Korea's Kim vows 'irreversible' nuclear status, warns Seoul of 'merciless' response

North Korea will never give up nuclear weapons, leader Kim Jong Un said, indicating that it will soon designate South Korea the "most hostile state", according to a state media report on Tuesday. Kim also told the country's rubber-stamp legislature in a policy address on

Behind the BTS comeback, the dark side of K-pop

Behind the BTS comeback, the dark side of K-pop

K-pop oozes with talent, flair and hard work, but the spectacularly successful South Korean music industry also has a dark side -- sometimes with tragic results. Ahead of BTS's comeback concert on Saturday, AFP looks at the intense competition, the gruelling training, the tight control over stars'