Korea's debt ratio to surpass advanced non-reserve peers next year, IMF warns SEOUL, April 19 (AJP)-South Korea’s government debt burden is set to cross a key threshold next year, overtaking the average of advanced economies without reserve currencies, as fiscal expansion continues to outpace economic growth, according to the latest assessment by the International Monetary Fund. The IMF projected in its April Fiscal Monitor that Korea’s general government debt-to-GDP ratio will rise from 54.4 percent this year to 56.6 percent in 2027, exceeding April 19, 2026

N. Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea, suspected as sub-linked launch *Updated with additional information SEOUL, April 19 (AJP) -North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles from its submarine hub of Sinpo early Sunday in its latest string of weapons tests over the last two months amid ongoing war in the Gulf, raising the possibility of a submarine-linked launch as Pyongyang advances its sea-based nuclear ambitions. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the launches were detected at around 6:10 a.m. from the Sinpo area, with the missi April 19, 2026

Seoul flags supply shift as Hormuz tensions flare again after brief reopening SEOUL, April 19 (AJP) -South Korea will push ahead with diversifying its energy supply chain as renewed instability in the Strait of Hormuz underscores persistent risks to global oil flows, even after a brief reopening of the key shipping route. The Gulf chokepoint slipped back into tension over the weekend, with Iran warning it would again restrict transit unless the United States lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, while Washington rejected the demand and signaled continued enfo April 19, 2026

Seoul Mayor Oh to face DPK's Chung in June mayoral race SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been confirmed as the main opposition People Power Party’s candidate in the June 3 local elections, facing Chung Won-o of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. The PPP’s nomination committee announced Saturday that Oh won the party’s primary, defeating Rep. Park Soo-min and former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook. If elected, he would secure a third consecutive term since returning to office in 2021 and a fifth overall term April 18, 2026

Hanwha's new K9 wheeled howitzer draws global attention after viral test video SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - A test video of Hanwha Aerospace’s new wheeled self-propelled howitzer, the K9MH, has spread widely on social media, drawing attention to its performance. The U.S. Army is pursuing a major program to replace its current 155mm M777 towed howitzers with wheeled self-propelled systems. Hanwha’s U.S. unit, Hanwha Defense USA, said last month it had proposed the K9MH for the program. The company is also reviewing plans to produce the system in Alab April 18, 2026

Trump warns of no ceasefire extension as U.S.-Iran talks set for April 20 SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the United States may not extend the ceasefire with Iran if no agreement is reached by April 22, stepping up pressure on Tehran. “Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain. So you have a blockade, and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again,” he said aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona. The United States and Iran April 18, 2026

Health authorities say current vaccines remain effective amid concerns over new COVID-19 variant SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Saturday that current COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against a new variant, urging the public not to overreact. The agency cited an assessment by the World Health Organization regarding the BA3.2 variant, noting that currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are “expected to continue providing protection against severe disease,” and adding that there is “no data indicating increased April 18, 2026

President Lee signals South Korea role in safeguarding Hormuz shipping lanes SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Friday said South Korea would make a “substantive contribution” to efforts to safeguard navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Lee made the remarks during an international summit on maritime security in the strait, where leaders discussed coordinated efforts to restore safe passage through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. According to the presidential office, Lee emphasized that disruptions in t April 18, 2026

Kookmin University professor develops framework to make image generation AI safer SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Professor Kim Min-gyu at Kookmin University (KMU) has developed a unified framework to ensure the safety of artificial intelligence models that generate images and videos. The research, which addresses issues like copyright protection and harmful content, has been selected for an oral presentation at the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR) 2026. Kookmin University (KMU) said Friday. Professor Kim Min-gyu worked as the lead author on April 17, 2026

Sookmyung Women's University and Korea University Guro Hospital partner for medical research SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Sookmyung Women's University Research & Business Development Foundation and the Research Institute of Women's Health signed an agreement with Korea University Guro Hospital to collaborate on the research and treatment of incurable diseases. The partnership aims to build a cooperative ecosystem involving universities, research institutes, and hospitals to accelerate the development of new drugs and medical technologies. Sookmyung Women's Univers April 17, 2026