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1. South Korea on Friday imposed independent sanctions on seven North Koreans and two Russian vessels for engaging in illicit weapons and fuel trade with Russia and other activities in violation of U.N. sanctions.

2. The Korean Council for University Education on Friday approved an increase in next year's medical school admission quota, finalizing the first such hike in 27 years aimed at addressing medical service shortages in rural areas and essential medical fields.

3. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday approved a rule change that would pave the way for ETFs that buy and hold ether, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrencies. The decision comes less than six months after the SEC approved bitcoin ETFs.

1. The Presidential Office announced Thursday that leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will hold a long-suspended trilateral summit in Seoul next week for the first time in 4 1/2 years. President Yoon Suk Yeol will meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Seoul on Monday.

2. In a widely expected decision, the monetary policy board of the Bank of Korea on Thursday kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.5 percent for the 11th straight session. The rate freeze took place given the still-high inflation and a faster-than-expected growth projection for the year.

3. Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced Wednesday plans to formally recognise a Palestinian state from May 28. Israel denounced the decisions and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries.

1. A global summit hosted by South Korea and Britain adopted a declaration Tuesday on promoting safe, innovative and inclusive artificial intelligence to address challenges and opportunities associated with the fast-evolving technology. The so-called "Seoul Declaration" was adopted during a virtual leaders' session of the AI Seoul Summit.

2. STX Corporation, a South Korean general trading firm, announced Wednesday that they signed a contract with a Peruvian military weapons manufacturing institution on Monday, local time, to supply Hyundai Rotem's K808 wheeled armored vehicles to Peru.

3. The Russian Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that Russian forces have started military drills near Ukraine simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons, in response to what Moscow deems threats from western officials about increased involvement in its conflict with Ukraine.

1. President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday vetoed a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to the death of a Marine in 2023. This is the 10th time President Yoon has exercised veto powers in his two years in office.

2. South Korea and Britain on Tuesday hosted a global summit on artificial intelligence to address risks and opportunities associated with the rapidly evolving technology and present a framework for global AI governance.

3. The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes, drawing a fierce reaction from Israel and sharp criticism from U.S. President Joe Biden.

1. At a ceremony on Saturday marking the 44th anniversary of the Gwangju democratization movement, President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to advance the freedom and welfare of the people as a way to uphold the spirit of the pro-democracy movement.

2. The presidential office apologized Monday for causing confusion by reversing its plan to ban direct overseas purchases of products that do not have the Korea Certification safety mark. The government revoked the plan in the face of backlash from consumers after announcing it last Thursday.

3. According to Iranian officials and state media on Monday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash along with his foreign minister in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border.

1. The Seoul High Court on Thursday rejected a request by doctors group to suspend the government's plan to increase the medical school quota starting next year. In response, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a briefing that the government will "swiftly push for the revision of school regulations."

2. South Korea's Ministry of Economy on Friday released its monthly economic assessment report of the Green Book and stated the domestic market is showing signs of economic recovery on top of positive trends in the nation's manufacturing sector and exports, and an increase in foreign tourists.

3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Friday. Meanwhile, the North’s state news agency reported that Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said weapons the North is developing are not meant for export to Russia, but for defense against South Korea.