27/02/2026

FRIDAY | FEB 27, 2026 7 N. Korea open to US relations SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country could “get along well” with the United States if Washington acknowledges its nuclear status, but dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul, state media reported yesterday. Speculation is mounting that US President Donald Trump may seek a meeting with Kim when he travels to China later this year. Kim made a direct appeal to the United States as a landmark congress of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party drew to a close on Wednesday. If Washington “respects our country’s current (nuclear) status as stipulated in the Constitution and withdraws its hostile policy, there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the United States”, said Kim, according to the Korean Central News Agency. However, Kim struck a far more combative tone when he addressed South Korea. North Korea has “absolutely no business dealing with South Korea, its most hostile entity, and will permanently exclude South Korea from the category of compatriots”, he said. “As long as South Korea cannot escape the geopolitical conditions of having a border with us, the only way to live safely is to give up everything related to us and leave us alone.” North Korea’s latest remarks “signal an intention to pursue relations with the United States independently, without going through South Korea,” said former University of North Korean Studies president Yang Moo-jin. Kim is also making clear that he will “reject any negotiations premised on denuclearisation”, he added. North Korea’s nuclear programme has come before almost everything else in the nation for decades, even when food stocks have dried up and famine has taken hold. High-stakes summits, crippling sanctions and diplomatic pressure have all failed to convince Pyongyang to surrender its nuclear arsenal. Kim appeared alongside China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Beijing last year, a striking display of his powerful friends and elevated status in global politics. Pyongyang has particularly drawn much closer to Moscow, sending thousands of troops to aid Russia’s war against Ukraine. – AFP Vietnam issues special policies for resident doctors HO CHI MINH CITY: Tuition and living expense support will be provided by Ho Chi Minh City for resident doctors to improve the quality of healthcare and address the shortage of medical personnel, according to a project newly issued by the municipal People’s Committee. Vietnam News Agency reported that under the project on special policies to support the training of resident doctors, they will receive 100% tuition coverage. Resident doctors participating in training in “difficult-to-attract” specialties will also receive support for living expenses. The list of specialties that are difficult to attract personnel will be reviewed and determined annually based on the human resource demand of the city’s healthcare system. Doctors will also be given the opportunity to participate in professional competency assessments during their training, shortening the licensing process and ensuring they meet the requirements for providing medical examination and treatment services. By 2030, the city aims to add at least 250 resident doctors to public hospitals under the Health Department. In exchange, they commit to working in the public health system for at least six years and must comply with work assignments from the Health Department and hospitals. In case of violation of the commitment, they must reimburse all received financial support. – Bernama-VNA/VNS

Thai runner-up party files suit against election officials

BANGKOK: A Thai political party that came second in this month’s vote filed a criminal complaint yesterday against the nation’s election commissioners, accusing them of violating election laws, the party’s deputy told AFP. The reformist People’s Party “submitted a case” to a criminal court against seven election commissioners, the Election Commission’s secretary-general and another election official, said deputy party leader Wayo Assawarungruang. “Two charges involve wrongful exercise of duties and the last charge we claimed was about marking ballots with QR codes and barcodes that allow the votes to be traced and not kept secret as it should be,” o Criminal court will decide whether to hear case by March 24, according to camp’s deputy leader

jailed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, have agreed to form a coalition. The progressive People’s Party has said it will be in the opposition. The pro-military and pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai had its best electoral performance ever, riding a wave of nationalism following two rounds of deadly border clashes with Cambodia last year. Pheu Thai, Thailand’s most successful party of the twenty-first century, meanwhile, had its worst election result ever. The two parties were previously coalition partners until Anutin pulled out in June following a leaked phone conversation of his predecessor, Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In addition to the long-standing border conflict with its neighbour, Thailand’s next administration will need to address anaemic economic growth, with its vital tourism industry yet to rebound to pre-Covid highs. The new government will also need to manage fallout over multibillion-dollar cyberscam networks operating from the region. – AFP

said Wayo. The Election Commission confirmed the victory of caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai party on Wednesday, ratifying most of the vote results. The conservative party won 170 constituencies, the most of any party, while People’s Party, which had been polling first ahead of the election, came in second, with 88 constituencies, the commission said. Some citizens and experts raised concerns after election day that QR codes and barcodes found on ballots could be used to identify individual voters. But the commission said the markings were to ensure electoral security and prevent the use of fake ballots. The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases said it will decide whether to hear the case by March 24, according to Wayo. If the court takes up the case, the nine face up to 20 years’ jail and the loss of their political rights for a decade. With no party winning an outright majority in the election, Bhumjaithai and third-place Pheu Thai, the populist party of

King Abdullah II welcoming Prabowo at Basman Palace in Amman, Jordan. – REUTERSPIC

Indonesia, Jordan hail 75 years of diplomatic ties JAKARTA: Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with Jordan, seeking closer coordination and expanded cooperation in support of Palestine and broader regional stability. Gaza and developments in the West Bank. He expressed appreciation for Jordan’s continued support and highlighted the kingdom’s strategic position as the country closest to Gaza, noting that this is an important factor in strengthening coordination between the countries.

as its support for a 20-point plan initiated by US President Donald Trump, forms part of Indonesia’s active contribution towards seeking a long-term solution to the conflict. In another case, two British men were given lengthy jail terms yesterday by an Indonesian court after being found guilty of smuggling cocaine into the popular holiday island of Bali. Kial Garth Robinson was sentenced to 11 years, while Paul Ezra Wilkinson received a term of nine years. Both were ordered to pay a fine of around US$60,000 (RM233,220), in default 190 days. Prosecutors said Robinson and Wilkinson were friends who lived in Thailand and had met in Barcelona a week before their arrests. Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest anti-drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers, but has maintained a moratorium on executions for several years. – Bernama

President Prabowo Subianto said this year marks a historic milestone for the countries as they commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, describing Jordan as an important partner and Indonesia’s logistics hub in the Middle East. “Over this period, bilateral ties have continued to develop constructively across several strategic sectors, ranging from politics and defence to the economy and education.” During a bilateral meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II Al Hussein at Basman Palace on Wednesday, Prabowo emphasised the need to enhance strategic coordination, particularly in responding to the humanitarian situation in

Reaffirming Indonesia’s commitment to contributing to sustainable peace in the Middle East, he stressed that Jakarta stands ready to undertake concrete efforts to help achieve a lasting resolution to the Palestinian conflict. “Indonesia is committed to doing whatever we can to achieve a lasting solution and in our view, the only truly sustainable solution is a two-state solution with an independent Palestine.” Prabowo explained that Indonesia’s involvement in the Board of Peace, as well