news highlight

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  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
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  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
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  North Korean leader's sister reiterates 'absolute' nuclear-armed status SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday reiterated that Pyongyang's status as a nuclear-armed state is "absolute" and cannot be reversed by any means. In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim dismissed renewed intonational calls for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, calling them "all noise." She added that no matter how " September 17, 2026
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  Court orders North Korea to compensate Seoul for blowing up liaison office SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday ordered North Korea to pay 44.63 billion won (US$33 million) in damages to South Korea for blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office building in the border town of Kaesong in 2020. The amount covers 10.25 billion won for the cost of the liaison office, which was built with South Korean money, and 34.45 billion for the annexes. The two Koreas opened the liaison office in September 2018 to facilitate int September 16, 2026
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  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
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  Seoul ready to launch medical aid to North Korea SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea is ready to provide 166 types of medical equipment to North Korea as soon as Pyongyang agrees to accept the assistance, having already secured a U.N. sanctions exemption and arranged funding for the project, the Unification Ministry said Monday. "We received an exemption from U.N. Security Council sanctions in May. If the North responds positively, we plan to launch the project immediately," a ministry spokesperson said. Seoul mai September 14, 2026
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  North Korea conducts joint artillery firing drill, state media confirms SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - North Korea has conducted a large-scale joint drill involving artillery and missile units, state media reported on Monday, days after Pyongyang launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that last Saturday's drill involved selected military units from five artillery and missile units and featured what it described as new combat systems including various attack drones, tactical cru September 14, 2026
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  North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles into East Sea SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea early Saturday, South Korea's military said, a day after Seoul, Washington and Tokyo wrapped up a five-day joint military exercise. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missiles being launched from the Wonsan area at around 5:20 a.m. The missiles flew about 250 kilometers before falling into the sea. South Korean and U.S. authorities are conducting a detai September 12, 2026
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  Xi, Putin send congratulatory messages as North Korea marks 78th anniversary SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - North Korea unveiled congratulatory messages from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both leaders pledging to strengthen ties with Pyongyang, as the reclusive country marked the 78th anniversary of its founding on Wednesday. The messages sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of the anniversary were featured on the front page of the state-run Rodong Sinmun, commemorating the country's establishment on Sep September 9, 2026