Seoul / AFP South Korea on Wednesday dismissed China’s warning that the planned deployment of a US missile defence system could damage ties, stressing that it was to counter “growing threats” from North Korea. “The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD) is a measure of self-defence against growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea,” presidential …

Bloomberg US and Chinese officials cited “significant” progress on a new United Nations resolution targeting North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, while laying out continued differences over the contested South China Sea. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary of State John Kerry wouldn’t give details of any draft proposal, which would punish North Korea for its recent nuclear test and long-range …

Hong Kong / AFP Russia delivered 10,000 Kalashnikovs to the Afghan government on Wednesday, with officials saying they were for the fight “against terrorism”, a day after Kabul hosted talks on reviving the peace process with the Taliban. The assault rifles, delivered with pomp at a ceremony on the tarmac at Kabul’s military airport, will be directly transferred to security …