Kim Jong-un Declares Permanent Exclusion of South Korea from “Compatriot” Category

▷ Chairman Kim Jong-un (김정은) has officially announced that North Korea will permanently exclude South Korea from the category of “compatriots” and treat it as a hostile enemy.

▷ He criticized the South Korean government’s conciliatory approach as a “clumsy deception” and stated that North Korea will no longer pursue reconciliation or unification based on past conventions.

▷ Kim warned that North Korea could take military action if its security environment as a nuclear-armed state is threatened, even mentioning the possibility of South Korea’s “complete collapse.”

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The Final Wish of 98-Year-Old Comfort Woman Survivor Lee Yong-soo

▷ Lee Yong-soo (이용수), a 98-year-old survivor and activist, shared her painful memories and lifelong struggle for justice regarding the Japanese military’s wartime sexual slavery.

▷ She expressed profound heartbreak over recent attempts to remove the Statue of Peace and called for a legal resolution through international bodies like the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

▷ The elderly survivor conveyed an earnest desire to meet Lee Jae-myung (이재명) one last time to ask for his commitment to completely resolving the historical grievances with Japan for future generations.

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KOSPI Reaches Historic 6,000 Mark Amid Semiconductor Surge and Policy Support

▷ The KOSPI has surpassed the 6,000-point milestone for the first time, recording a 44.4% growth rate this year, driven by upward revisions in earnings forecasts for major semiconductor companies like Samsung Electronics.

▷ Experts such as Yang Hyung-mo (양형모) of DS Investment & Securities suggest the market remains undervalued, while Lee Kyoung-min (이경민) of Daishin Securities expects Korea to benefit as an essential infrastructure provider amidst global AI software competition.

▷ While investor deposits have swelled to 108 trillion won following stock-friendly policy moves, potential risks include large-scale selling by foreign investors and rising geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

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President Lee Personally Intervenes to Resolve Ruling Party Discord

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) addressed internal party conflicts and dismissed rumors of “discord” between the government and the ruling party to ensure political stability ahead of the June local elections.

▷ Lee emphasized that the party and the Blue House are functioning as “one team,” clarifying that the delay in certain legislative processes was a strategic decision rather than a sign of structural conflict.

▷ Party leader Jung Chung-rae (정청래) echoed this sentiment, while the President urged the National Assembly to cooperate on urgent tasks, including the passage of the “Anti-Stock Price Suppression Act.”

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Friction arises between ROK and U.S. military over West Sea drills and joint exercises

▷ Tensions escalated as the U.S. 7th Air Force continued F-16 drills near the Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone despite a stop request from ROK JCS Chairman Jin Yeong-seung (진영승), only halting after Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek (안규백) protested.

▷ While USFK Commander Xavier Brunson (제이비어 브런슨) expressed regret over communication delays, he maintained that the “routine training” was pre-notified and emphasized that the military does not apologize for maintaining readiness.

▷ The two allies also showed conflicting views on the upcoming “Freedom Shield” exercise, with South Korea seeking to distribute field maneuvers to manage diplomatic relations while the U.S. prioritizes large-scale execution.

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Suyu-dong Serial Killer Evolves Criminal Methods from Cafes to Motels

▷ A 20-year-old woman named Kim (김모씨) has been referred to the prosecution on murder charges after targeting four men with lethal doses of drugs in increasingly secluded locations to evade detection.

▷ Investigations found that Kim (김모씨) used ChatGPT to research the fatal risks of mixing sleeping pills with alcohol and subsequently doubled the dosage of drugs she administered to victims.

▷ Experts point out that the suspect demonstrated a strong desire for control by accelerating her crime cycle even after being questioned by police, suggesting there could be additional victims.

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Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 Series Featuring Gemini 3.0 and Agentic AI

▷ Samsung Electronics introduced the Galaxy S26 series, redefining AI as an “Agentic AI” that performs tasks like ordering pizza on behalf of the user by integrating Google’s Gemini 3.0.

▷ Roh Tae-moon (노태문), President of Samsung’s DX division, emphasized that the new device naturally adapts to user habits and fills the gap between AI’s future value and actual user experience.

▷ The series also features enhanced security through “Knox Matrix” and an industry-first “Privacy Display” that conceals the screen from side views, alongside professional-grade camera upgrades supporting the APV codec.

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South Korean Government to Replace Expensive Formal School Uniforms with Comfortable Casual Styles

▷ The South Korean government has decided to promote the introduction of comfortable casual-style uniforms to replace expensive and inconvenient formal attire following reports of costs reaching 600,000 won.

▷ Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin (최교진) emphasized the need to reconsider formal uniforms, noting that many students already prefer casual options for daily school life.

▷ In addition to monitoring uniform price-fixing, the government will conduct a special inspection of private academies to crack down on excessive tuition fees and illegal private education practices.

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Government Enhances Quota Tariff System to Prevent Unfair Profits and Stabilize Prices

▷ Under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Gu Yun-cheol (구윤철), the government will designate “intensive management items” to crack down on importers who exploit tariff benefits by delaying customs clearance or maintaining high retail prices.

▷ President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) ordered strict measures against firms that fail to lower prices despite receiving tax breaks, leading to new rules that shorten the deadline for import declarations and allow customs chiefs to issue direct release orders.

▷ Companies found intentionally inflating prices or violating distribution regulations will face high-intensity special investigations for customs evasion and may be excluded from future quota allocations.

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