The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency questioned Yang Jong-hwan, head of Shinsegae Group’s audit team, as a witness on Wednesday, according to a company spokesperson. The inquiry is linked to public complaints filed over Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” reusable cup promotion held on May 18.

The campaign sparked nationwide outrage because it took place on the 46th anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju uprising, a pro-democracy movement that was violently suppressed by military forces. Official figures state that 165 civilians were killed during the crackdown, although activists and historians have long argued the actual death toll was significantly higher.

Starbucks Korea operates more than 2,000 stores nationwide under a licensing agreement with Shinsegae Group, making South Korea one of the coffee chain’s most important international markets. The controversy quickly escalated into a major corporate crisis, prompting Shinsegae to dismiss the head of its Korean operations on the day the scandal emerged.

Shinsegae Chairman Chung Yong-jin later issued a public apology, acknowledging the seriousness of the incident and expressing regret for the distress caused to victims’ families, survivors and the wider public.

Despite those measures, a civic organization filed a legal complaint against Chung and other company executives. The complaint alleges violations of a 2016 law related to the Gwangju uprising, including provisions prohibiting the dissemination of false information about the historical event. The filing also includes allegations of defamation and insult.

The company said it would cooperate fully with investigators and hoped the facts surrounding the case would be clarified promptly and transparently. Police have not publicly commented on the investigation.

The backlash has had tangible business consequences. According to the company, sales declined sharply in the days immediately following the controversy as public anger intensified. Demonstrations were held in both Seoul and Gwangju, with critics accusing the company of insensitivity toward a defining moment in South Korea’s democratic history.

In response, Starbucks Korea announced that all stores nationwide will close for half a day next Monday to allow employees to attend educational sessions on the Gwangju uprising. Senior executives, including Shinsegae’s chairman, are scheduled to participate in a separate history program later in the week.

An internal review by Shinsegae concluded that a series of procedural failures contributed to the launch of the campaign, including the approval of promotional materials without adequate review of design content and timing.

The controversy also drew criticism from President Lee Jae Myung, who described the incident as “inhumane” and “disgraceful,” reflecting the sensitivity that still surrounds the legacy of the Gwangju uprising more than four decades after it became a symbol of South Korea’s democratic struggle.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The decision comes after the chain faced heavy criticism for its “Tank Day” reusable cup promotion, which coincided with the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy movement in which at least 165 civilians were killed by military forces, with some estimates higher.

The controversy led to protests outside stores, a reported drop in sales, and the dismissal of the country’s Starbucks chief executive by Shinsegae Group, which operates the brand locally.

The company said all employees would receive education on social sensitivity and historical context, including watching training videos. Stores nationwide will close at 3 p.m. local time for three hours next Wednesday and will reopen the following day.

The campaign drew accusations that it trivialised a painful moment in South Korea’s democratic history. South Korea’s president also condemned the incident as “inhumane and disgraceful.”

Starbucks Korea said the promotion was part of a broader tumbler campaign and apologised for the disruption caused.

The Gwangju Uprising remains a defining event in South Korea’s modern political history and a symbol of the country’s democratic struggle.

A spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said US and South Korean efforts to strengthen nuclear cooperation against Pyongyang would not change the country’s status as a nuclear weapons state.

“The ‘denuclearization’ is an irreversibly finalized matter,” the statement carried by state media KCNA said.

The remarks came after US and South Korean officials held talks in Seoul under the Nuclear Consultative Group, where they discussed strengthening nuclear deterrence and military readiness in response to North Korea’s expanding weapons program.

Washington and Seoul have repeatedly called for the dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, while Pyongyang has insisted that its nuclear capabilities are necessary for national security.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have continued to rise as North Korea expands missile testing and deepens military cooperation with Russia.

The statement issued Wednesday during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Brussels described what it called “illegal military cooperation” between North Korea and Russia and urged third parties to stop supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

North Korea’s foreign ministry rejected the criticism, saying its cooperation with Russia constituted an “exercise of sovereign rights” and accusing Seoul and Brussels of issuing a “grave hostile act,” according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The EU–South Korea statement said: “We condemn support by third parties, in particular the DPRK, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Pyongyang separately reiterated its long-standing position that South Korea is its primary “enemy state” and accused Seoul of acting in line with Washington’s security strategy in the region.

The North Korean response also referenced recent remarks by a senior US military official in South Korea, which Pyongyang and Beijing previously criticized as reflecting US containment policy in Asia.

North Korea has deepened its alignment with Russia during the Ukraine conflict, including reports of weapons transfers and troop deployments, according to Western and South Korean intelligence assessments.

Kim Jong Un has expanded cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, while also strengthening diplomatic engagement with China amid shifting regional alliances.

The administration of President Lee Jae Myung plans to establish more than 500 “Sunshine Income Villages” by the end of 2026 and increase the number to 2,500 by 2030, according to government officials.

The program allows farmers to secure loans covering up to 90 percent of the cost of installing solar power facilities on their land. During the first five years, participants pay only interest on the loans, with principal repayments beginning afterward. Revenue generated from selling surplus electricity is distributed directly to local residents.

Officials cite the villages of Guyang-ri in Gyeonggi Province and Songam-ri in Gangwon Province as early examples of the scheme’s impact. In Guyang-ri, six solar-generation sites with a combined capacity of one megawatt currently generate more than 100 million won ($66,000) annually for approximately 130 residents, most of them elderly. Plans are underway to expand capacity to five megawatts.

Resident Kim Choonok said the project had already transformed local life, attracting attention from visitors across South Korea and abroad. She said villagers had begun to experience tangible financial benefits only a year and a half after the system became operational.

Village chief Ju Young Jeon said the initiative could also help reverse demographic decline by creating employment opportunities for younger generations who have traditionally migrated to urban centers in search of work.

Income from the solar installations has funded community services including daily meals for residents, transportation to healthcare facilities, recreational amenities and other welfare programs.

In Songam-ri, solar power has emerged as one of the village’s primary sources of revenue alongside its rice-processing industry. The facility, built on converted farmland, generates 657 megawatt-hours of electricity annually and earns more than 100 million won each year.

Village chief Seong-su Hong said the additional revenue has helped offset years of stagnant agricultural earnings and rising living costs. According to Hong, the project has created 21 jobs and financed community support programs, including meal services, milk deliveries for elderly residents and contributions to senior welfare organizations.

The initiative reflects broader efforts by South Korea to address challenges posed by an aging rural population, economic pressures on farmers and the country’s long-term renewable energy objectives. Local leaders involved in the program say the model could be replicated across other rural regions seeking sustainable sources of income and development.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected Washington’s longstanding objective of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and said North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state could not be altered by what she described as unilateral U.S. rhetoric.

Her comments came one day before Xi is scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong Un, marking the Chinese leader’s first visit to North Korea since 2019 and highlighting Beijing’s efforts to reinforce ties with its isolated neighbor amid shifting regional dynamics.

“The U.S. assertion to backbite the status of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state has no legally binding force,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name. She also dismissed as “false information” a recent U.S. announcement that President Donald Trump and Xi had reaffirmed a shared commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization during a summit in Beijing last month.

The remarks underscore Pyongyang’s increasingly entrenched position on nuclear weapons since negotiations between Kim Jong Un and Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on sanctions relief and disarmament measures.

Since then, North Korea has accelerated efforts to strengthen its nuclear and missile capabilities. During a visit last week to a newly established nuclear materials production facility, Kim Jong Un said the country would expand its nuclear forces at an “exponential rate.” State media reported Sunday that he also visited a weapons factory a day earlier and ordered a 2.5-fold increase in missile production capacity under the current five-year development plan.

Kim Yo Jong accused the United States and South Korea of pursuing continuous military buildups, arguing that North Korea’s policy of strengthening its nuclear deterrent was a defensive necessity and an irreversible strategic decision.

Security analysts say Xi’s visit is expected to focus on restoring China’s influence over North Korea at a time when Pyongyang has deepened its political and military cooperation with Russia. Observers expect Beijing to prioritize economic cooperation and regional stability while avoiding direct pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea has emerged as a significant supporter of Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, supplying troops and conventional weapons, according to U.S. and South Korean officials. In return, Pyongyang is believed to have received economic support and other forms of assistance from Moscow, further strengthening ties between the two countries.

The latest exchange highlights the growing gap between Washington’s denuclearization objectives and Pyongyang’s declared intention to expand its strategic weapons capabilities, a divide that continues to complicate diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

State media reported that Kim visited the newly unveiled facility on Wednesday, where he reviewed operations and long-term production plans. Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency showed what appeared to be a centrifuge hall used for enriching uranium, a key component in nuclear weapons.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff assessed the site as a uranium enrichment facility and said Seoul was closely coordinating with the United States to monitor North Korean nuclear activities.

Kim said the need to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear deterrent had grown amid what he described as increasing military threats from the United States and its allies. He claimed the country’s production capacity for weapons-grade nuclear materials has more than doubled over the past five years.

The announcement underscores Pyongyang’s continued push to expand and modernize its nuclear arsenal following the collapse of nuclear diplomacy with the United States in 2019. International nuclear watchdog officials have previously reported increased activity at North Korean nuclear facilities.

In commentary carried by state media, analyst Kim Myong Chol said the statement demonstrated that the United States intended to use South Korea as a geopolitical tool in its regional competition with China. He accused Washington of undermining peace and stability in the region.

Brunson made the remarks in a recent interview, where he also described Japan as a “shield” against China’s regional ambitions. The comments have drawn criticism from both North Korea and China.

South Korea’s presidential office said it was aware of the remarks and remained in communication with Washington on related issues. Local media reported that Seoul had conveyed concerns to U.S. officials.

The United States maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea as part of its long-standing security alliance aimed at deterring threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.

The blast occurred around 11:00 a.m. at the company’s research and development site, which works on advanced weapons technologies, rocket systems and aerospace projects.

Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il said the accident may have occurred during the cleaning of equipment used in rocket propellant production, where explosive residue could have remained on tools.

The company pledged a comprehensive review of its safety procedures following the deadly incident. Political parties also announced they would scale back election campaign activities ahead of local elections as a mark of respect for the victims.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from Jongju, a city on North Korea’s west coast, and traveled toward the sea. The military did not immediately disclose the number of missiles launched or their flight distances.

Seoul said it had strengthened its surveillance and readiness posture following the launches and was closely coordinating with the United States and Japan on intelligence assessments and monitoring activities.
The test was North Korea’s first known missile launch since April 19, when Pyongyang fired multiple short-range missiles that state media described as part of an exercise involving cluster-bomb warheads.

The latest launch extends a pattern of weapons testing that has intensified as North Korea advances its military modernization programs.
Kim has prioritized the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and missile forces since negotiations with then-U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on sanctions relief and denuclearization.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in reviving direct engagement with Kim. However, North Korea has largely ignored those overtures and has maintained that Washington must abandon demands for unilateral nuclear disarmament before meaningful negotiations can resume.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have also deteriorated sharply. Kim has increasingly characterized South Korea as North Korea’s principal adversary and has moved to sever longstanding channels of inter-Korean cooperation and dialogue.

The missile launches came hours after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for accelerated efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities during a Cabinet meeting. Lee highlighted the importance of investing in artificial intelligence-driven military systems, expanding drone capabilities and examining the potential acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine.

While Lee did not directly address Tuesday’s missile launches, he emphasized the need for South Korea to demonstrate its ability to safeguard its own security interests. He said a stronger national defense posture would reinforce the country’s alliance with the United States.

The latest test is likely to draw renewed scrutiny from regional security partners as tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain elevated and diplomatic engagement between North Korea and its neighbors shows little sign of revival.