Asia south korea

SEOUL, South Korea — President Joe Biden is tending to both business and security interests Sunday as he wraps up a three-day visit to South Korea, showcasing Hyundai’s pledge to build a $5.5 billion electric vehicle and battery factory in Georgia and visiting U.S. and South Korean troops monitoring the rapidly evolving North Korean nuclear threat. The major U.S. investment by a South Korean company, which was formally unveiled in Georgia on Friday, is a reflection of how the U.S. and South Korea are leveraging their longstanding military ties into a broader economic partnership. The U.S. president has made greater economic cooperation with South Korea a priority, saying on Saturday that “it will bring our two countries even closer together, cooperating even more closely than we already do, and help strengthen our supply chains, secure them against shocks and give our economies a competitive edge.” The pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February has forced a deeper … [Read more...] about Joe Biden tendng to business in South Korea visit with Hyundai exec

The Philippine government completed in 2021 the acquisition of two multi-role frigates worth P16 billion from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries. This year it will order six offshore patrol vessels from the same company. (Photo from the PHILIPPINE NAVY) MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will order six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for P30 billion from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to boost its capability to protect national interests, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. “I’m waiting for the Navy to finalize the terms of reference….We are close to issuing (the notice of award). I hope I can sign the contract before I leave office [on June 30]. The Navy has chosen Hyundai Heavy Industries to build the OPVs,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Navy anniversary on Friday. Boost inadequate fleet Hyundai’s OPV offer is based on the HDP-1500 Neo design, which was presented at the Asia … [Read more...] about Navy to order 6 more patrol vessels from South Korea

US President Joe Biden (Reuters filepix by Evelyn Hockstein) - A + A SEOUL (May 22): US President Joe Biden, in Seoul before heading to Japan as part of his first Asia trip as president, had a simple message for North Korea's Kim Jong Un: "Hello... period," he told reporters on the last day of his visit to South Korea on Sunday. Biden said he was "not concerned" about new North Korean nuclear tests, which would be the first in nearly five years. But his wry response when asked what message he had for Kim underscored the administration's low-key approach to the unresolved tensions with North Korea. It is a stark contrast with former President Donald Trump's showy threats, summits, and "love letters" with Kim. Neither president's approach has led to a major breakthrough, however, and North Korea has resumed testing its largest intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), while intelligence reports suggest it is preparing for a new nuclear test. “We are … [Read more...] about Biden says ‘hello’ to N.Korea’s Kim amid tensions over weapons tests

Taiwan's Tai Tzu-ying hits a return against China's Chen Yufei during their women's singles final match at the 2022 Thailand Open badminton tournament in Bangkok on May 22, 2022. (AFP photo) Badminton's world number two Tai Tzu-ying exacted revenge against Olympic champion Chen Yufei on Sunday by winning the Thailand Open women's singles title in a rematch of their final in Tokyo. The Taiwanese 27-year-old, who lost last year's Thailand Open final to Spain's Carolina Marin, got off to a fast start against the Chinese world number four and eventually sealed the win 21-15, 17-21, 21-12. She sped into a nine-point lead in the first game but Chen, who was part of a Chinese team narrowly defeated by South Korea in last week's Uber Cup in Bangkok, clawed her way back to take the second game and force a decider. Tai then quickly opened up a seven-point lead in the final game and rode the momentum to claim victory. In the men's final, match favourite and world number six Lee Zii Jia … [Read more...] about Tai turns tables on Olympic champ Chen to win Thailand Open