North Korea conducted a series of missile tests on September 20, launching a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) into the East Sea just three hours after an initial launch. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that an unidentified projectile was fired around 6 p.m. after an SRBM was launched from the Wonsan area at approximately 3 p.m., flying about 450 kilometers.
This series of provocations is seen as a show of force aimed at both U.S.-South Korea joint military capabilities and the international community. Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, had previously threatened a "proactive response" in a statement on September 18, referencing recent multinational naval exercises led by the U.S. Known as 'Pacific Vanguard.' The launches, occurring just hours apart, signal a shift from rhetoric to tangible military action.
Diplomatic observers speculate that these actions are timed with significant upcoming diplomatic events, including a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 and a U.S.-China summit on September 24. Analysts interpret this as an attempt by North Korea to assert its presence and convey that strengthening its nuclear and missile deterrence is non-negotiable ahead of discussions among major powers. If confirmed as ballistic missiles, this would mark North Korea's 15th ballistic missile launch this year.
A recent evaluation of government subsidy projects, totaling 42.8 trillion won, revealed that only 6.9% were deemed to be operating normally. Out of 1,014 projects assessed, 980 were found to require improvements, reductions, consolidations, or cancellations.
Instances were noted where subsidies were allocated but not utilized effectively, or where projects failed to meet low performance targets. Some projects requested budget increases without addressing previously identified issues, highlighting the need for stronger links between evaluations and budget planning.
According to the '2026 National Subsidy Project Extension Evaluation Report' submitted to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on September 20, only 34 out of 1,014 projects evaluated across 42 ministries were classified as operating normally, representing just 3.35%.
The majority of projects, 588 (57.99%), required improvements, while 372 (36.69%) were recommended for budget cuts, 18 (1.78%) for consolidation, and 2 (0.20%) for cancellation. This indicates that over 90% of projects need adjustments in their operational methods or funding levels.
As interest rates rise, the delinquency rate among low-credit self-employed individuals has surged sharply, raising concerns about prolonged high-interest rates as major economies like the U.S. and Japan continue to increase their benchmark rates. Analysts predict that if repayment burdens on vulnerable borrowers increase and new delinquencies rise, it could strain the financial health of banks.
As of September 20, data from the financial sector indicated that the delinquency rate for personal loans to self-employed individuals at the five major banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup) rose dramatically. The rate for grade 7 borrowers increased from 1.68% at the end of 2021 to 6.58% by the end of August this year, while grade 9 borrowers saw their rate jump from 4.56% to 23.58%. This represents increases of 3.9 times and 5.2 times, respectively, over four years and eight months. The delinquency rate for the lowest grade 10 borrowers reached 44.64%.
This data reflects the average delinquency rates for personal loans categorized by credit grades, as compiled by each bank according to the Financial Supervisory Service's standard 10-grade system.
With domestic economic conditions weakening and sales declining, self-employed borrowers who have relied on loans to cover living expenses or business operating costs are struggling to meet their monthly repayment obligations, leading to a vicious cycle of delinquency and declining creditworthiness, making it increasingly difficult to secure additional loans.
Lee Jun-seok has been crowned the inaugural champion in men's techball at the Asian Games. On September 20, he defeated Ali Jalil Mezher Alayawi of Iraq in the final held at the Higashi Sports Center in Nagoya, Japan, with a set score of 2-0 (12-11, 12-5). Lee completed the tournament without losing a single set, achieving a flawless championship.
Techball, created in Hungary, made its debut at this Asian Games. The sport is played on a curved table measuring 3 meters in length, using a soccer ball, and is also known as 'foot table tennis.'
Two years after winning the first Olympic medal for Asia in women's modern pentathlon in Paris, Seong Seung-min (Korea National Sport University) has now reached the pinnacle at the Asian Games, rewriting the history of Korean women's modern pentathlon.
On September 20, at the Anjo Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Seong secured the gold medal in the women's modern pentathlon final with a total score of 1,492 points, combining fencing, obstacle course, swimming, and laser run (running and shooting). This victory marks the first gold medal for the Korean delegation at this tournament.
Seong is the first Korean woman to win the individual event in modern pentathlon at the Asian Games. Previously, the best results for Korean athletes in this event were silver medals won by Yang Su-jin in the 2014 Incheon Games, Kim Se-hee in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, and Kim Sun-woo in the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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