The South Korean government on Thursday imposed independent sanctions on 15 North Korean individuals and one entity that have earned foreign currency through the overseas IT sector to fund Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.

The country has passed the U.N. threshold of a "super-aged society," with one in five of the population now aged over 65.

South Korea's military said on Monday it has detected signs of North Korea preparing to send more troops and weapons, including suicide drones, to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Beijing may also see a potential new administration in Seoul as an avenue to improve ties between both sides, analysts say.

The lawyers for a former South Korean defence minister under investigation on insurrection charges said on Thursday a short-lived martial law decree imposed earlier this month was to raise alarm on opposition parties' abuse of the democratic process.

Despite recent political tensions and protests in South Korea, Brunei Darussalam travellers remain confident in their year-end holiday plans to the country, with no significant disruptions reported.

South Korea's consumer sentiment dropped sharply this month to hit the weakest level in more than two years on growing worries about political uncertainty following parliament's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

"Through various sources of information and intelligence, we assess that North Korean troops who have recently engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces have suffered around 1,100 casualties," the JCS said in a statement.

South Korea’s main opposition party said Tuesday it will seek to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo after he missed an opposition-set deadline to approve independent investigations into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.

In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, the streets erupted with celebrations following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Crowds gathered outside the National Assembly, waving national flags and holding signs, chanting "Long live South Korea!"

Trump's return to office raises uncertainty over U.S.-South Korea relations as political turmoil in Seoul challenges effective leadership and diplomacy.