North Korean leader reaffirms support for Russia's war in Ukraine SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to strengthen ties with Russia, reaffirming his support for President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's war in Ukraine, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim sent a reply to Putin the previous day, a day after the Russian president congratulated him on the 78th anniversary of North Korea's founding. In the message, Kim said North Korea and R September 15, 2026

DTS begins KOSDAQ IPO process SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korean thermal solutions company DTS has begun the initial public offering (IPO) process for a KOSDAQ listing after filing a securities registration statement with the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the company said Monday. DTS plans to offer 2,228,917 initial shares at a proposed price range of 17,000 won to 18,500 won each. The deal is expected to raise between 37.9 billion won ($28.2 million) and 41.2 billion won ($30.6 million). Instit September 14, 2026

AI music can make the charts. Can it win fans? SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - Pitchfork, one of America's best-known music publications, does not hand out zeroes often. But in August, American rapper Tyga's "$TARFACE" got one. The album had already drawn attention after Tyga acknowledged using artificial intelligence as a production tool, including for 1980s-style synthesizers and guitar solos, while saying the lyrics and vocals remained his own. Pitchfork did not reject the album simply because AI was inv September 14, 2026

Korea's Arctic trial arrives Europe. Now come the return trip and viability SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea's maiden container voyage testing Arctic waters has successfully arrived in Rotterdam, raising hopes that the Northern Sea Route could sharply shorten cargo voyages between Asia and Europe. The journey of the PanStar Acro is only halfway over, and the harder challenge is the return leg and whether the Arctic option is commercially viable. The 2,758-TEU container ship arrived in Rotterdam on Sunday, 22 days after departing Busan on Aug. September 14, 2026

Netflix hit meets reality as Korea seeks protection for teachers SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) -The Netflix series Teach You a Lesson, in which a fictional government agency steps into troubled schools to restore teachers’ authority when students and parents cross the line, created a splash this summer and raised a sober question that brought teachers and judges together Monday to seek real-world solutions for restoring dignity in the classroom. The show, which topped Netflix’s non-English TV chart after its June release, struck a nerve September 14, 2026

Samsung, LG to pay suppliers 1.9 trillion won early ahead of Chuseok SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea's Samsung and LG will make a combined 1.9 trillion won ($1.4 billion) in early payments to suppliers ahead of the Chuseok holiday, seeking to ease cash-flow pressures on smaller business partners during a period of increased funding needs. Samsung said Monday that 13 affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T and Samsung Biologics, will pay a combined 1.3 trillion won to suppliers about seven days earlier than scheduled. September 14, 2026

LE SSERAFIM, Ejae team up for new remix single SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - K-pop girl band LE SSERAFIM released a remix version of "Made My Night" featuring Ejae of "Kpop Demon Hunters," the group's agency Source Music said on Monday. Ejae took part not only as a featured vocalist but also in the song's production, according to the agency. In her lyrics, EJAE references several of LE SSERAFIM's earlier tracks, including "FEARLESS," "ANTIFRAGILE" and "CRAZY." The September 14, 2026

Korea seeks new marine construction technologies for field trials SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea will open applications for new marine construction technologies to be tested at actual project sites, aiming to help promising technologies prove their performance and expand their use in the field. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Monday it will accept applications from Sept. 15 through Nov. 13 for new domestic technologies and patents to receive support under its trial construction program. The program gives technologies that ha September 14, 2026

HUINNO passes technology review for KOSDAQ IPO SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korean digital health company HUINNO has passed a technology review required for a special KOSDAQ listing, moving its initial public offering (IPO) process to the next stage. The company said Monday it received an A rating and a BBB rating from two evaluation agencies designated by the Korea Exchange (KRX), meeting the technology requirement for the listing route. HUINNO develops artificial intelligence (AI)-based medical technology, including wea September 14, 2026

BTS' brother band TXT to launch world tour in Seoul SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT), the brother band of world-popular BTS, will launch its fifth world tour with three concerts in Seoul in November, the group said Monday. The Seoul concerts for "STEAL THE WIND" will be held from Nov. 13 to 15 at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The group announced the tour through the fan platform Weverse at 2 p.m. Monday. Membership presales for Korean fans will begin on Oct. 1, followed September 14, 2026