South Korea’s automobile exports climbed 7.0% from a year earlier to US$6.24 billion in July 2026. The figure set a record for the month of July and exceeded the previous July high of US$5.90 billion in 2023. Vehicle production increased 11.3% to about 352,000 units, while local sales edged up 0.5% to 139,000 vehicles. Eco-friendly vehicles accounted for much of the export growth during the month, with their overseas sales value rising 25.5% year on year to US$2.59 billion. North America remained the largest destination for Korean vehicle exports, with shipments rising 18.0% to US$3.25 billion.

A earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 rattled northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing intense tremors felt across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. According to Pakistan’s official seismic records, the quake registered at magnitude 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department estimated the depth at 15 kilometers. Communities across northern Pakistan experienced the shaking during the early morning hours.