Pyongyang tests banned cluster missiles as Kim Jong-un asserts saturation capability SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - In a bid to assert its ground-to-ground wide-area suppression capability, Pyongyang test-fired tactical ballistic missiles carrying cluster warheads on Sunday. The drill, reported by the Korean Central News Agency on Monday, involved weaponry banned by most of the international community due to its indiscriminate nature and lasting humanitarian risk. According to Pyongyang's state media, the Missile Administration of the Democratic People's Republic April 20, 2026

South Korean names missing from Forbes' AI 50 list SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - No South Korean company made Forbes' list of the world's "most promising privately held" companies in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the magazine's "AI 50" list, released last week, U.S. startups dominated the list, with only two from Sweden and one each from Canada and the U.K. No Asian companies were included with none from South Korea. The annual list of top AI companies, now in its eighth year, w April 20, 2026

K-pop identity and global expansion take center stage at Kookmin University special lecture SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Professor Lee Gyu-tag from George Mason University Korea examined the cultural evolution and future trajectory of K-pop during a guest lecture at Kookmin University on April 16. Speaking as the featured guest for the 663rd Thursday Special Lecture, Lee explored how the genre's identity has shifted from a local South Korean product to a global phenomenon, the prominent university said Monday. The lecture defined K-pop not merely as a broad term for all S April 20, 2026

Samsung SDI strikes first battery supply deal with Mercedes-Benz SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Samsung SDI announced it has signed a multi-year contract to supply electric vehicle batteries to Mercedes-Benz, marking the Korean battery maker's first supply agreement with the German premium automaker. The deal, signed at the Andaz Seoul Gangnam hotel on Monday, will see Samsung SDI provide high-performance cells built with high-nickel NCM (nickel, cobalt, and manganese) cathode chemistry for Mercedes-Benz's next-generation electric vehicles. S April 20, 2026

Horror film emerges as surprise box-office draw SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" held onto the top spot at the domestic box office for a second consecutive week, driven by strong word of mouth among younger moviegoers. According to the Korean Film Council on Monday, Lee Sang-min's directorial debut feature attracted 472,109 moviegoers over the weekend, bringing its cumulative total to 1.46 million since its release earlier this month. It already surpassed its break-even point o April 20, 2026

SK hynix rolls out new memory for Nvidia's Rubin SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) -South Korean chipmaker SK hynix announced Monday that it has begun mass production of its SOCAMM2 192GB memory module, a product specifically optimized for Nvidia's next-generation "Vera Rubin" AI platform. Based on 10-nanometer-class sixth-generation (1c) LPDDR5X DRAM, the new AI server module aims to resolve memory bottlenecks in massive AI models and maximize GPU processing speeds. The product reconfigures low-power mobile memory for serv April 20, 2026

BOK's Rhee swan song: central bank must act as think tank beyond rate tools SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) — Bank of Korea Governor (BOK) Rhee Chang-yong emphasized the central bank’s dual role as a think tank in his swan-song remarks before retiring Monday, even as critics argued the Bank of Korea strayed into non-monetary areas such as housing and education under his watch. In his final speech before stepping down, Rhee reflected on the limits of traditional policy tools after navigating multiple crises over the past four years. “Managin April 20, 2026

Asian markets open the week on positive note despite Hormuz uncertainties SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Most Asian markets opened the week higher Monday despite conflicting developments in the Middle East ahead of the Tuesday expiration of the truce between the United States and Iran. Hopes had risen last week that the conflict might ease and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, but Iran said over the weekend that the strait remained closed. Reports that two Indian-flagged vessels were forced to turn back added to concerns over the security of shipping thr April 20, 2026

South Korean researchers develop wrinkle-free technology for foldable displays SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed a core technology that fundamentally eliminates the wrinkle problem in foldable smartphone displays by redesigning the adhesive areas between the screen and its support plate, the prominent science institute said Monday. According to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the new technique ensures that folding stress is distributed across the dev April 20, 2026

Pump prices keep soaring as diesel approaches 2,000 won per liter SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Diesel prices are approaching 2,000 Korean won (about US$1.36) per liter after gasoline's already crossed that threshold amid surging fuel prices due to supply disruptions amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. If this trend continues, the average diesel price nationwide is likely to breach that level within days. As the prospect of talks between the U.S. and Iran looms, it remains uncertain when the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint fo April 20, 2026