UNICEF sends 2.7 million vaccines to North Korea this year to restore routine immunization SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - North Korea has received nearly 2.72 million vaccine doses this year through UNICEF, restoring nationwide immunization services disrupted during the pandemic, A United Nations official told AJP through a written interview. Roland Kupka, UNICEF's interim representative to North Korea, said that three chartered flights delivered 1.57 million Pentavalent, 678,000 Measles-Rubella (MR), and 469,000 Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) as of August this year. September 2, 2025

Lotte Biologics signs manufacturing deal for immunotherapy drug with US firm SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - Lotte Biologics said Tuesday it had signed a manufacturing agreement with a U.S. biotechnology company to produce an experimental immunotherapy. The deal, which runs through 2030, covers late-stage clinical trials and potential commercialization of the drug candidate, which is being tested across multiple disease indications. The name of the client company was not disclosed under confidentiality terms. Lotte Biologics, a unit of the Lotte conglomerat September 2, 2025

Korea's chaebol families add nearly $25 billion in wealth in first half of 2025 SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - The fortunes of South Korea’s largest business dynasties swelled in the first half of the year, buoyed by rising share prices in their sprawling corporate empires, according to data released Tuesday. Combined assets held by the owner families of the country’s 50 biggest conglomerates rose by nearly 33 trillion won, or about $24.8 billion, between January and August, research firm Leaders Index said. Their holdings were valued at 144.4 tri September 2, 2025

Hanwha showcases submarines, weapons systems in bid for Polish defense contracts SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - Hanwha Group said Tuesday its three defense affiliates were taking part in Eastern Europe’s largest arms fair this week, as the South Korean conglomerate looks to strengthen its foothold in Poland and compete for a major submarine modernization program. From Sept. 2 to 5, Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean are exhibiting at the 33rd International Defense Industry Exhibition, or MSPO 2025, in Kielce, Poland. The companies have set September 2, 2025

[K-Tech] UNIST develops AI system to spot microscopic assembly defects in seconds SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - The Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology said Tuesday it had developed an artificial intelligence-based inspection system that can detect microscopic assembly defects in less than three seconds, a breakthrough that could speed up manufacturing and cut costs across multiple industries. The system, designed by a team led by Professor Jung Im-doo of the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, uses a “smart jig” &m September 2, 2025

KAIST uncovers hidden mechanism in next-generation memory technology SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have successfully visualized, for the first time, how tiny particles inside memory devices move and interact when data is written and erased. The discovery could help make future memory chips faster, smaller, and more reliable — a major breakthrough for next-generation computing and artificial intelligence. On September 2, 2025, KAIST announced that two research teams, l September 2, 2025

President Lee to speak at UN General Assembly later this month SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month. According to the presidential office, Lee will deliver a keynote address on September 23 and chair an open debate of the Security Council the following day. In his keynote speech, Lee will share South Korea's experience of overcoming difficulties after the Korean War, as well as recovery and development in politics and the economy, and September 2, 2025

LG Electronics partners with Britain's Octopus Energy to push heat pumps in Europe SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - LG Electronics said Tuesday it had signed an agreement with Octopus Energy, Britain’s largest electricity supplier, to expand clean technology solutions in European markets. The memorandum of understanding, signed last week, calls for combining LG’s heat pump systems with Octopus’s artificial-intelligence energy management platform, known as Kraken. The companies plan to roll out the integrated offering in Britain, Germany and other September 2, 2025

[K-Tech] Korean researchers develop cheaper, stronger battery material for EVs SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute said Tuesday it was preparing to move its silicon-graphene composite anode material for lithium-ion batteries into mass production, a step that could extend the range of electric vehicles and improve battery performance in consumer electronics. Silicon has long been regarded as a promising alternative to graphite, the standard anode material in lithium-ion batteries, because it can store roughly 10 times mor September 2, 2025

Kim Jong-un inspects institute for new solid-fuel ICBM engine SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a missile research institute on Monday, right before his departure for Beijing to attend a military parade in China. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim inspected "the relevant institute of the General Academy of Chemical Materials under the Missile Administration of the DPRK" on September 1 and met composite carbon fiber material researchers. KCNA said the institute produced September 2, 2025