North Korea's nuclear tests reactivated dormant faults, study finds SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - North Korea's underground nuclear tests reactivated dormant faults beneath Mt. Mantap, triggering years of seismic activity, a new study published Thursday in the U.S. academic journal Science found. Researchers led by Kim Kwang-hee, a professor of geological sciences at Pusan National University, and Xingli Fan of Chengdu University of Technology analyzed 17 years of continuous seismic data collected in South Korea and northeastern China. In an ex September 18, 2026

Waiting for the full moon and a worry-free 'big' Chuseok Chuseok, Korea’s autumn harvest holiday, is also known as Hangawi. In the old Korean name, han means “big” or “great” — fitting for one of the country’s biggest holidays and one of its biggest annual family gatherings. Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Chuseok is a time to give thanks for the year’s harvest and abundance and to reunite with family. Along with Lunar New Year, it is one of South Korea’s two mo September 18, 2026

North Korean leader's sister lashes out again at US-led drills SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, again criticized a U.S.-led multinational military exercise in the Asia-Pacific, accusing Washington and its allies of escalating regional tensions and warning that Pyongyang could respond with stronger measures. In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Friday, Kim condemned Pacific Vanguard, a two-week maritime exercise involving the U.S. and sever September 18, 2026

Jeonju ASEAN Hall gathers crafts from all 11 member states SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Traditional crafts from all Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, including the newest member, Timor-Leste, were on display Thursday in Jeonju as a new ASEAN cultural hall opened in the southwestern South Korean city. Timor-Leste was formally admitted as the bloc's 11th member on Oct. 26, 2025, at the 47th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur. The half-island nation applied in 2011, held observer sta September 17, 2026

Meeting safety education in Seoul A child takes part in a hands-on booth experience at the 'Seoul Safety Festival' held at Yeouido Park's Culture Plaza in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, September 17, 2026. September 17, 2026

Meeting safety education in Seoul Children take part in a hands-on booth experience at the 'Seoul Safety Festival' held at Yeouido Park's Culture Plaza in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, September 17, 2026. September 17, 2026

Meeting safety education in Seoul A child takes part in a hands-on booth experience at the 'Seoul Safety Festival' held at Yeouido Park's Culture Plaza in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, September 17, 2026. September 17, 2026

Meeting safety education in Seoul Children take part in a hands-on booth experience at the 'Seoul Safety Festival' held at Yeouido Park's Culture Plaza in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, September 17, 2026. September 17, 2026

Six of 17 drone demos falter as Seoul rules out separate probe SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - South Korea's Defense Ministry said Thursday it does not plan a separate investigation into six drone demonstrations that went awry at a military-hosted technology event, leaving participating companies to determine what went wrong as questions mount over the reliability of systems intended for future battlefield use. Six of 17 demonstrations failed to go as planned during the inaugural 2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition held Wednesday at the Se September 17, 2026

Asia tests punishment, treatment to curb repeat drug use SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - South Korea has abandoned its once-prized claim to being a drug-free country. Dramas, public campaigns and advertisements now warn teenagers away from drugs, reflecting how quickly illicit drug use has spread. Society — and the system meant to respond to it — has struggled to keep up. Rapper Kim Gam-jeon, 22, was back in the headlines after being arrested on suspicion of using liquid cannabis while still under a suspended sentence for an September 17, 2026