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Quotes of the Day:
“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr., "Why We Can't Wait"
"You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation. Too long has our beloved Southland been bogged down in a tragic effort to live in monologue rather than dialogue."
– Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," 16 April 1963
“Nonviolent resistance attacks evil rather than the evildoer.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr., "Stride Toward Freedom"
1. N. Korea calls S. Korea 'No. 1 hostile country' at indoctrination center
2. N. Korea-linked hacking group exploits Naver, Google ads to spread malware: report
3. North Korea, Russia speed up work on border bridge ahead of June deadline
4. Defense chief says peace, dialogue should be based on 'overwhelming power'
5. Military looks into new allegations of intelligence unit's role in drone incursion
6. South Korean man claims he sent drones to North, prompting calls for probe
7. South Korea Lacks True Leaders
8. Marine Corps to push for swift transfer of operational control from Army
9. Seoul eyes joint UNESCO bid with Pyongyang to list taekwondo as shared heritage
10. Criminal ring nabbed for alleged laundering of 150 bln won of cryptocurrency
11. U.S. beef, pork rank 1st in S. Korea's imported meat market in 2025: data
12. RFA to resume operations in South Korea, paving way for broadcasts to North
13. Kim Jong Un urges youth to abandon ‘dreams’ to go to war, hard labor sites
14. Politics should not dictate scale of South Korea-US joint drills: think tank
1. N. Korea calls S. Korea 'No. 1 hostile country' at indoctrination center
Summary:
north Korea’s regime is intensifying indoctrination to brand South Korea as the “No. 1 hostile country” and “unchanging archenemy.” At Pyongyang’s Central Class Education House, soldiers are taught that Seoul seeks regime collapse and unification by absorption, using even South Korea’s constitutional clauses as evidence, reinforcing Kim Jong-un’s shift to permanent inter-Korean hostility.
Comment: How should Seoul and Washington counter this hardened enemy narrative among north Korean youth without reinforcing Pyongyang’s propaganda about “hostile absorption”?
Fourteen words: Unification first, then decentralization; the path to unification is through information and human rights.
The alliance should seize the moral high ground and fight (narrative) from there. KJU's abandonment of unification should be exploited to undermine his legitimacy and the alliance should provide the tools to the Korean people in the north for them to be able to create the conditions for change. De Oppresso Liber: help the oppressed free themselves.
N. Korea calls S. Korea 'No. 1 hostile country' at indoctrination center | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119005200315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- A major indoctrination facility in North Korea displayed banners calling South Korea the "No. 1 hostile country" and inciting public animosity against Seoul, photos released by the North's media showed Monday.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the photos while reporting on North Koreans touring the Central Class Education House in Pyongyang as part of celebrations marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the country's largest youth organization.
The class education house is a propaganda facility that fosters antagonism toward Seoul and Washington among the public.
The KCNA photos showed rows of uniformed soldiers listening to a guide in a hall displaying banners, photos and painted messages against South Korea.
The banners read, "South Korea is the No. 1 hostile country and the unchanging archenemy," and accused Seoul of creating a "confrontational frenzy" aimed at upending North Korea and "ending the regime."
The messages included an article of South Korea's Constitution defining the country's territory as the entire Korean Peninsula, in what appears to be an accusation that Seoul intends to unify the North by absorption.
In a parliamentary address in September last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un denounced the constitutional article as codifying what he called "the most hostile true color by nature."
At a year-end party meeting in December 2023, Kim declared inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other" and has since pursued hostile policies toward Seoul, including a pledge during a parliamentary speech in 2024 to strengthen education aimed at getting the public to regard the South as the No. 1 hostile country and archenemy of the North.
Soldiers listen to a guide at the Central Class Education House in Pyongyang as part of events marking the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League's foundation, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 19, 2026. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · January 19, 2026
2. N. Korea-linked hacking group exploits Naver, Google ads to spread malware: report
Summary:
A north Korea linked group, Konni, is abusing Naver and Google ad systems, hijacking click-tracking paths to redirect users through fake intermediary links that deliver malware. Labeled “Poseidon-Attack” in code, the campaign shows rising sophistication of regime backed APTs and the vulnerability of online advertising infrastructure to state cyber operations.
Comment: KJU's all purpose sword at work. How should governments and major platforms restructure digital advertising and attribution systems to harden them against state sponsored manipulation while preserving their commercial viability? Convenience, profit, and security. (like speed, quality, and cost - can you on=ly have two out of three?)
N. Korea-linked hacking group exploits Naver, Google ads to spread malware: report | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Chang Dong-woo · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119001900320?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- A North Korea-linked hacking group has recently conducted a sophisticated malware distribution campaign by abusing online advertising systems operated by Naver and Google, a report showed Monday.
According to the online threat assessment report released by Genians Security Center, Konni, the hacking group tied to Kimsuky and other Pyongyang-sponsored hacking groups, has launched an advanced persistent threat (APT) campaign by exploiting the online portals' ad systems.
The group exploited a process referred to as click tracking used in online advertising, which routes users through intermediary web links before directing them to advertisers' websites.
Through fake intermediary web links, the group was found to have redirected users to external servers hosting malicious files.
According to the report, Konni initially focused on abusing Naver's advertising infrastructure but recently expanded its attacks through Google's ad system.
Analysts at the center said they identified the phrase "Poseidon-Attack" within the malware code, suggesting the hacking group has systematically managed the campaign under the Poseidon labeling.
Security experts warned that the campaign highlights the growing sophistication of state-backed North Korean cyberattacks and cautioned users to not open suspicious ad-linked email attachments, particularly those containing shortcut link files.
This graphic image illustrates a North Korea-backed cyberattack threat. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Chang Dong-woo · January 19, 2026
3. North Korea, Russia speed up work on border bridge ahead of June deadline
Summary:
Russia and north Korea are accelerating construction of their new Tumen River road bridge and border checkpoint ahead of a June 19, 2026 deadline tied to their de facto military pact. Satellite imagery and Chinese social media show metal decking installed from both banks, with Russia clearly ahead. Moscow’s border complex has ballooned in cost to nearly $173 million, far above the initial $117 million for the entire crossing, and will handle 300 vehicles and 2,850 people daily. The project is expected to expand bilateral trade and Russian tourism into north Korea.
Comment: Is this primarily economic infrastructure, or a dual-use logistics artery for sustained military cooperation and sanctions evasion? Yep. All of the above.
North Korea, Russia speed up work on border bridge ahead of June deadline
NK Pro finds checkpoint on Russia side will cost nearly $173M, four times more than originally expected
Anton Sokolin January 19, 2026
https://www.nknews.org/pro/north-korea-russia-speed-up-work-on-border-bridge-ahead-of-june-deadline/
The view of the new car bridge between North Korea and Russia under construction in Jan. 2026 | Image: Red Note user Zhao Xiaoqian
North Korea and Russia have sped up work on a new car bridge over the Tumen River, installing metal decking on both sides ahead of the deadline for completion later this year.
Both sides have also pushed ahead with border checkpoints on their respective sides, with an NK Pro investigation suggesting Moscow’s facilities will cost four times more than originally expected.
Analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery and Chinese social media shows that Russia has made more visible progress on its part of the vehicle bridge in recent months. The DPRK has begun installing decking as well.
The allies officially kicked off the bridge construction in April, and work on the deck began in November.
Metal decking is installed on both sides, with Russia showing more visible progress as of Jan. 18, 2026 | Image: Planet Labs, edited by NK Pro
The bridge’s metal decking visible as installed on a column on the Russian side of the Tumen River in Jan. 2026 | Image: Red Note user 95055735824, edited by NK Pro
Blue roofing is seen as added to the presumed customs facility on the North Korean side of the Tumen River on Jan. 18, 2026 | Image: Planet Labs, edited by NK Pro
Further progress seen at the site of the Russian border checkpoint, with cement and new foundations for buildings laid as of Jan. 18, 2026 | Image: Planet Labs, edited by NK Pro
Russian state media has reported that the deadline to finish construction is June 19, the second anniversary of the signing of a de facto military pact between the two sides. The agreement paved the way for Pyongyang’s troop deployment to Russia starting in Oct. 2024.
North Korea installed roofing on a suspected customs building on its side in the first weeks of January, though the facility still appears far from completion.
Russia has also seen expanded construction activity for its checkpoint, laying concrete and foundations for several buildings.
NK Pro previously reported that Rosgranstroy, the Russian state agency overseeing the project, was seeking to hire a subcontractor to assemble modular buildings for the checkpoint for $40 million. The contract eventually went to the Tatarstan-based firm TSK Rual.
But additional investigation shows that Russia plans to invest over four times more than originally known into the border checkpoint, with the total expected cost running up to nearly $173 million.
According to Russian procurement documents, Moscow has hired four subcontractors to design and equip the checkpoint, as well as ensure its compliance with construction standards.
Computer-rendered image of the future checkpoint on the Russian side | Image: Rosgranstroy
Computer-rendered image of the future checkpoint on the Russian side | Image: Rosgranstroy
Blueprint of the new motorway checkpoint with images of key buildings | Image: Rosgranstroy, edited by NK Pro
In addition to the modular building assembly, Russia has tasked TSK Rual with carrying out preparatory work like installing CCTV cameras, drainage and wiring networks, for $28 million.
Another firm, Stroilabcontrol from the Siberian city of Chita, is set to conduct an independent technical assessment of the construction and installation work carried out by Rual for nearly $70 million.
Rosgranstroy recruited the St. Petersburg-based PMC Avangard to develop project documentation for technical equipment for $658,686, and to install security, communications and monitoring equipment for passport control for over $37.6 million.
Meanwhile, the Saratov-based PSK Group handled the concept and blueprints for the checkpoint, procurement documents show, without indicating the monetary sum of its contract with Rosgranstroy.
Russia initially agreed to shell out some $117 million (over 9 billion rubles) for the entire 3-mile (4.7 km) crossing, including a 2,800-foot (850-meter) two-lane bridge. The government assigned the project to a small obscure firm with suspected ties to Chechen construction elites.
The checkpoint itself will have 10 lanes and the capacity to process 300 vehicles and 2,850 people per day, according to Russia’s transportation ministry.
The construction of the new bridge is expected to lead to an increase in bilateral trade and the number of Russian travelers visiting North Korea, Primorsky Krai’s tourism ministry reportedly assessed.
Russian authorities previously reported that 2,116 Russian tourists visited North Korea through September last year. Russia has yet to finalize tourism figures for 2025.
The Vladivostok-based tour agency Vostok Intur reportedly placed the number of Russian visitors to North Korea last year at around 3,200 people.
Edited by Bryan Betts
4. Defense chief says peace, dialogue should be based on 'overwhelming power'
Summary:
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told service chiefs that peace and dialogue must rest on “overwhelming power,” urging a unified “one team” military and deep structural reform over the next 15 years. He highlighted nuclear-powered submarines as the core of a national strategic project and reviewed a “500,000 drone warriors” initiative, including plans to field over 11,000 mostly indigenous drones to train conscripts for modern warfare. The Marine Corps will form a task force with the JCS to speed transfer of two divisions from the Army, revise force-organization law, and build an independent Marine operations command with tanks, KAAVs, and attack helicopters.
Comment: (And the will to wield that overwhelming power) Hard to argue with the MINDEF. I hope his boss is heeding his counsel on strength for deterrence..
But this begs some questions:
How does tying peace and dialogue explicitly to “overwhelming power” alter north Korea’s and China’s threat perceptions, and does it strengthen deterrence more than it fuels arms racing and escalation risk on the peninsula? ("deterrence works, until it doesn't" per Sir Lawrence Freedman - but I will take deterrence for as long as it does work).
Will prioritizing nuclear submarines, massed drones, and a more independent Marine Corps produce genuine joint warfighting advantages, or could it harden service parochialism and fragment command relationships at the very moment when integrated Asia-Indo-Pacific campaigning is most urgent? I still do not have enough information to assess the Marine-Army issues here.
(LEAD) Defense chief says peace, dialogue should be based on 'overwhelming power' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119006351315
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, photo; UPDATES throughout with details; TRIMS)
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Monday said both peace and dialogue should be based on "overwhelming power," calling for the military to maintain a firm defense posture.
Ahn made the remarks during a policy briefing of the military branches, highlighting the importance of maintaining a robust state of readiness across all branches of the military.
"Through strong power, (the military) should become a solid peacemaker," Ahn said during the policy briefing at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul.
"Each military branch and the Marine Corps should become one-team to hand down a well-prepared military to the next generation 15 years from now by pursuing reform with a bone-cutting determination," he added.
The defense chief also urged the Navy to thoroughly prepare for the country's bid to build nuclear-powered submarines, noting the project is at the "core" of a national strategic project.
During the policy briefing, Ahn was briefed on the current status of a project to develop "500,000 drone warriors," including plans to secure 11,265 drones built mostly with homegrown materials, aimed at better preparing conscripts for modern warfare. It marked the first such briefing from the military since the personnel reshuffle of senior military personnel.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (2nd from L) delivers his opening speech ahead of a policy briefing of the military branches at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 19, 2026, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps plans to form a task force with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to expedite the transfer of operational control of two Marine divisions from the Army.
The move comes as President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to restructure the three-pronged military structure, consisting of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, in a bid to give the Marine Corps greater independence.
Under the plan, the Marine Corps will push for a revision to the relevant law on the organization of the armed forces and establish an independent operations command for the Marine Corps.
It also plans to gradually deploy core assets, such as K2 battle tanks, KAAV amphibious assault vehicles and marine attack helicopters, to the military unit in charge of amphibious operations.
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · January 19, 2026
5. Military looks into new allegations of intelligence unit's role in drone incursion
Summary:
The defense ministry joined a joint military and police probe into allegations that the Defense Intelligence Command backed a graduate student who claims he flew a drone into north Korea, possibly through front companies posing as media outlets and paid 10 million won, raising questions about operations and escalation risks.
Comment: I am curious. Does alleged DIC involvement reflect rogue activity, sanctioned gray-zone intelligence, or a breakdown of civilian control that could dangerously blur lines between private actors and state responsibility in future unmanned incursions?
Military looks into new allegations of intelligence unit's role in drone incursion | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Minji · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119009600315
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry is looking into fresh allegations that the Defense Intelligence Command (DIC) supported a graduate student who claimed to have flown a drone into North Korea, a government official said Monday.
Online news outlet Newstapa earlier reported that the man, surnamed Oh, is suspected of operating two companies disguised as online outlets but actually carry out intelligence activities in support of the DIC and of receiving 10 million won (US$6,783), citing security sources.
A defense ministry official said the ministry is participating in a joint military-police team investigating the case and supports a swift and thorough probe, declining to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.
The joint team is expected to verify the report and determine whether the DIC was involved in the drone incursion.
Earlier this month, North Korea claimed South Korea had violated its sovereignty through drone incursions in September last year and on Jan. 4, with Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un, demanding that Seoul admit to and apologize for the incidents.
South Korea's military has denied the claims, saying the drones in question were not operated by the military.
In a televised interview last week, Oh claimed he had sent the drone to North Korea. He previously served as the head of a conservative youth group and also worked at the presidential office during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's term.
A television screen installed at Seoul Station in Seoul shows news coverage on North Korea's drone incursion claim in this Jan. 11, 2026, file photo. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Minji · January 19, 2026
6. South Korean man claims he sent drones to North, prompting calls for probe
Summary:
A South Korean man in his 30s, a former contract worker at the Yoon presidential office, claims he sent drones into north Korea three times since September to measure radiation near the Pyongsan uranium facility. His story surfaced after Pyongyang accused the ROK military of incursions and Kim Yo Jong threatened consequences. The ruling Democratic Party has called for a full investigation, warning of risks to peninsula security and border residents. Drone experts doubt his ability to collect real radiation data, point to likely violations of aviation law, and suggest possible propaganda motives.
Comment. Very curious. But the ubiquity of drone capabilities is only going to make this more likely. Will the ROK government's opening of more of the front line areas to the public also increase the potential for this kind of activity?
South Korean man claims he sent drones to North, prompting calls for probe
ROK ruling party stresses need to ensure border safety after man says he sought to measure radiation levels
Jeongmin Kim | Jooheon Kim January 19, 2026
https://www.nknews.org/2026/01/south-korean-man-claims-he-sent-drones-to-north-prompting-calls-for-probe/
A South Korean man flying a drone | Image: Korea Drone Industry Association via Facebook (May 31, 2021)
South Korea’s ruling party has urged authorities to investigate a Korean man who claims to have sent the drones captured by North Korea, after he said he did so to measure radiation levels at a uranium refinery.
“A man in his 30s who previously worked as a contract employee at the presidential office under former President Yoon Suk Yeol has claimed that he sent drones into North Korean territory,” the Democratic Party said in a statement Saturday.
“Although the veracity of this claim has not yet been confirmed, it is a serious matter that could affect security on the Korean Peninsula and the safety of residents in border areas,” the statement added.
During an interview Friday with South Korean broadcaster Channel A, the unidentified man claimed he sent drones to North Korea three times since September.
He said he was speaking out due to public concerns after North Korea said it shot down drones sent by the ROK military. He added that he will cooperate with the police investigation.
His claims come weeks after the DPRK party daily Rodong Sinmun reported that the South’s military had sent several drones into the North’s Kaesong city and other areas.
Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, warned Seoul of potential consequences after South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung administration denied involvement and vowed to investigate civilian actors involved in the incident.
Multiple South Korean news outlets identified the man by his alleged surname, Oh, and reported he previously worked on a short-term contract at the presidential office during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, including in the press office.
The news outlets also reported he served as director of a small drone design and manufacturing startup company established after North Korea’s 2022 drone intrusion, and that he was previously involved in a conservative youth organization.
Government officials have not confirmed the man’s identity or claims, and the man did not immediately respond to NK News’ request for comment Monday.
Rodong Sinmun shows a blue drone lying in tall grass, which the newspaper said crashed into a rice field in the Sasiri area of Jangpung County near Kaesong on Sept. 27, 2025 | Image: Rodong Sinmun (Jan. 10, 2026)
THE CLAIM
In his interview with Channel A, the man said that the photos published by Rodong in early January almost certainly showed his machine and video footage that it captured of the Kaesong area in November.
“I painted them myself, so it would be hard for that pattern to exist anywhere else in the world,” he said in the interview. “I applied a kind of camouflage paint so that people in North Korea would not notice them.”
He claimed to have installed a camera and radiation measuring device on the drone after receiving it from another unidentified person, who purchased the drone body from an online Chinese store.
The drones, he said, were programmed to return within six hours but had failed to return twice.
“That’s when I realized something had gone wrong,” he said. “I thought maybe it had gone into North Korea and crashed. I was very worried. That wasn’t what I intended.”
The man said some of the details that North Korea reported about the drones were incorrect, such as how they were reportedly launched from Paju and northern Ganghwa Island. The drones were launched near Ganghwa’s coast and followed a route over Phyongsan, he said.
“I flew drones to try to measure radiation levels and heavy-metal contamination at the uranium facility,” he said. “Because it’s located in North Korea, it’s not something we can verify through normal means, so I felt that, since I had the technical capability, I should try to investigate it in a systematic way,” he told Channel A.
“Because I believed I had a [legitimate] motive, I thought it was acceptable to fly it,” he said. “Put simply, I wasn’t filming our military or anything like that. I didn’t even deliberately record North Korean military facilities.”
The uranium radiation he refers to is likely about longstanding rumors of a wastewater pipe leak at North Korea’s Pyongsan uranium facility, which the ROK government later dismissed as untrue.
Barrels of uranium concentrate | Image: IAEA via Flickr
CAPABILITIES AND CONSEQUENCES
The drones resemble China’s Skywalker Titan 2160, a brand well-known among drone enthusiasts, according to Hong Min, a senior research fellow at Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU).
Park Seok-jong, director of the Korea Drone Industry Association (KDIA), told NK News that the drone was unlikely to have accurately measured radiation.
“With the camera mounted on that drone, it would be difficult to measure radiation,” Park said. “It seems that radiation meters and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) were not mounted.”
Although the man asserted that a radiation device was installed on the drone during the interview, the drone expert said his claims could not be confirmed with only the images released by North Korea.
The drone appears to be a “purely flight-only operation,” according to Park.
The man who claims to have sent the drones could face legal trouble, as the flight appears to have violated aviation safety regulations that cap distances to a visual line-of-sight of 30 kilometers and a 150-meter altitude, according to Park.
“Violating those rules could result in a fine of up to 5 million won ($3,387),” he said.
The expert said he did not rule out the possibility that the operation was intended for propaganda operations against the DPRK.
Choi Sung-yong, the president of the Abductees’ Family Union, told NK News that sending a drone into North Korea is not extremely difficult.
Choi previously conducted drone flights to distribute propaganda leaflets in North Korea last year. Commercially available fixed-wing drones can reach Kaesong within 15 minutes if launched from front-line areas, such as South Korea’s Ganghwa Island or Paju, he said.
A drone used by Choi Sung-yong (left) | Image: Choi Sung-yong (Jan. 14 2025)
Edited by David Choi
7. South Korea Lacks True Leaders
Summary:
Columnist Kim Dae-joong argues that South Korea suffers from a chronic deficit of real leadership, evidenced by presidents under investigation, imprisoned, or disgraced. He contrasts this with countries that deliberately cultivate elites through long-standing schools and leadership institutes, while Korea relies on “eels from streams” suddenly becoming “dragons” without formation or ethical training. Politics is dominated by patronage, greed, draft-dodging elites, and corrupt entourages, while parties tear themselves apart in factional infighting. As the global order shifts and South Korea’s security and prosperity grow uncertain, Kim calls for leaders with character, vision, and national, not partisan, purpose.
Comment: Dragons and eels. :-) What concrete institutions and career paths would South Korea need to build so that future presidents are patiently formed as “dragons,” not rapidly elevated “eels”?
Kim Dae-joong calls for the ideal virtuous leader. Does he or she exist in Korea or anywhere?
South Korea Lacks True Leaders
[Kim Dae-Joong Column] Current President Faces Probes, Former Leader on Trial for 'Insurrection' Amid Global Shifts
By Kim Dae-joong
Published 2026.01.19. 23:55
https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/01/19/RNPYG6SI6JBXLLZCYKW6BTVDLY/
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol (left) and President Lee Jae-myung. /Yonhap-Cho In-won
Since the 1987 system, there have been eight presidents. Excluding Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung, who directly contributed to democratization, among the remaining six presidents, one committed suicide, three went to prison or are facing imprisonment, and the others remain entangled in judicial risks. All these issues stem from misconduct such as bribery or illicit gains by the presidents themselves or their spouses. What is the problem? Is it the system or the people? Experts point to various issues like the bloated power structure, polarization, and regionalism, but ultimately, the root cause lies in the moral character of leaders—specifically, their lack of qualifications and insufficient training.
In advanced nations, leaders are not born but cultivated through education and training. They learn social roles, diligence in public service, suppression of private desires, reflection on the nation’s future, and a sense of responsibility toward citizens. Countries establish institutions for this purpose: Eton, Harrow School, Oxford, and Cambridge in the UK; Harvard, Yale, and other Ivy League universities in the US; and the University of Tokyo in Japan. Japan even has a separate leadership academy called the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management. Political leaders in these countries often graduate from such institutions.
Korea lacks such systems and traditions. Consequently, it has failed to produce true leaders. The political sphere is filled with individuals who seek money, dominate others, secure vested interests, and climb the ladder through patronage. Among those who have risen to power, many evaded military service—a basic civic duty—let alone sacrificing for the nation. The president’s inner circle is riddled with disgraceful acts: accepting bribes, manipulating personnel decisions, lying, and concealing facts. This backwardness and shame are unacceptable.
Koreans cherish the saying, “A dragon rises from a stream.” Overcoming adversity to reach high positions is admirable. However, a dragon cannot and should not emerge directly from a stream. The process requires patience, hardship, effort, and training. If the “dragon” is meant to manage national life and death, oversee society’s fate, and bear responsibility for the country’s survival, it must not rise abruptly from a stream. The journey from stream to brook, brook to river, river to sea is essential. Over the past 30 years, Korea witnessed eels from streams becoming dragons in the sea—yet we still cling to this flawed model.
We live in an era thirsting for exceptional leadership. The current president faces four judicial investigations and risks legal consequences after leaving office. Meanwhile, a former president is on trial for “insurrection”—a charge no leader should ever face. This coexistence of disgraced leaders in the same era is shameful. Is this the true value of 21st-century South Korea? It feels like hiding in a hole.
The opposition party, having lost power, is engulfed in petty infighting between entrenched figures and newcomers. They barely survived by relying on outsiders, but now the insiders are purging them. Even the newcomers’ conflicts are pathetic. Here too, leadership ethics have vanished. The ruling party may seem stable now, but once its power wanes, internal strife between entrenched and new factions will resurface.
All this stems from the absence of genuine leadership. Globally, the Yalta system that endured for 80 years since World War II is collapsing, giving rise to a tripartite order of the US, China, and Russia. South Korea, which enjoyed unprecedented prosperity since its founding, is now on a downward trajectory. Its security and prosperity are fading into uncertainty. In this critical period, the nation desperately needs a leader with vision. Domestically, a leader who reconciles divisions and prioritizes national interest over partisan loyalty is essential. How much longer must we wander in a world of eels, not dragons, where leaders are trapped in legal battles?
8. Marine Corps to push for swift transfer of operational control from Army
Summary:
South Korea’s Marine Corps will create a task force with the JCS to speed transfer of operational control of the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions from the Army by 2026 and 2028, supporting President Lee’s restructuring plan. Marines seek legal revision, an independent operations command, and more organic armor, amphibious vehicles, and helicopters.
Comment: My only questions: Will this improve warfighting readiness? Will this enhance the abilities of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command?
Marine Corps to push for swift transfer of operational control from Army | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · January 19, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- The Marine Corps plans to form a task force with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to expedite the transfer of operational control of two Marine divisions from the Army, officials said Monday.
The move comes as President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to restructure the three-pronged military structure, consisting of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, in a bid to give the Marine Corps greater independence.
The defense ministry earlier announced plans to transfer the operational control of the 1st Marine Division and the 2nd Marine Division to the Marine Corps by the end of 2026 and 2028, respectively.
The operational control of the 1st Marine Division currently lies with the Army's commander of the 2nd Operational Command, while that of the 2nd Marine Division is subject to the control of the Army's Capital Corps.
Under the plan, the Marine Corps will push for a revision to the relevant law on the organization of the armed forces and establish an independent operations command for the Marine Corps.
It also plans to gradually deploy core assets, such as K2 battle tanks, KAAV amphibious assault vehicles and marine attack helicopters, to the military unit in charge of amphibious operations.
This file photo shows the sign of the 1st Marine Division stationed in the southeastern port city of Pohang on Dec. 31, 2025. (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · January 19, 2026
9. Seoul eyes joint UNESCO bid with Pyongyang to list taekwondo as shared heritage
Summary:
South Korea plans a joint UNESCO bid with north Korea to list taekwondo as shared intangible cultural heritage. The Korea Heritage Service’s advisory committee chose taekwondo as the next candidate for joint or expanded inscription, aiming to file by March. Pyongyang already submitted “Taekwon-Do, traditional martial art in the DPRK” in March 2024, with a decision due at the UNESCO session in Xiamen from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5. If combined, it would be the Koreas’ second joint listing after ssireum in 2018 and would add to north Korea’s five and South Korea’s 23 existing UNESCO intangible heritage entries.
Comment: A soft power path using a Korean "hard" martial art.
Seoul eyes joint UNESCO bid with Pyongyang to list taekwondo as shared heritage | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Shim Sun-ah · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119001800315
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to join forces with North Korea to seek UNESCO recognition for the traditional martial art of taekwondo as a shared intangible cultural heritage, officials said Monday.
The Cultural Heritage Committee, an advisory body to the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), has selected taekwondo as the next candidate for a joint or expanded inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during a recent meeting, according to the KHS.
"We plan to submit an application to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguard of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by March," a KHS official said on condition of anonymity.
Kim Yu-jin of South Korea (R) battles Nahid Kiani of Iran in the final of the women's -57-kilogram taekwondo event at the Paris Olympics at Grand Palais in Paris, in this file photo from Aug. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)
The move comes after Pyongyang submitted its own application in March 2024 to list "Taekwon-Do, traditional martial art in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name. A review of the North's bid is currently under way, with a final decision expected during the committee's 21st session in Xiamen, China, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5.
If successful, the move would mark the second joint heritage listing between the two Koreas after the traditional Korean wrestling of "ssireum" was jointly inscribed in 2018.
For North Korea, taekwondo would become its sixth UNESCO intangible heritage item if approved. Its current list includes the "Arirang" folk song (2014), kimchi-making (2015), "ssireum" (2018), the "Pyongyang Raengmyon custom" (cold noodles) (2022) and the "Custom of Korean costume: traditional knowledge, skills and social practices" (2024).
A foreign student practices the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo during an event at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, in this Sept. 2, 2025, file photo. (Yonhap)
South Korea currently maintains 23 entries on the UNESCO list, ranging from "Jongmyo Jeryeak," majestic orchestral music performed for rituals at a royal Confucian shrine, inscribed in 2001, to the tradition of making fermented soybean sauces, listed as "Knowledge, beliefs and practices related to jang making."
Seoul is also seeking to inscribe the traditional knowledge and skills associated with the production of "hanji," or traditional Korean paper, this year. Another candidate, "Ginseng Culture: A Culture of Caring for and Appreciating Nature and Family (Community)," is scheduled for evaluation in 2028.
sshim@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Shim Sun-ah · January 19, 2026
10. Criminal ring nabbed for alleged laundering of 150 bln won of cryptocurrency
Summary:
Police arrested a criminal ring accused of laundering roughly 150 billion won in cryptocurrency. Investigators say the group converted illicit crypto holdings into cash through layered transactions and overseas exchanges to obscure origin and ownership. Authorities are expanding the probe to identify facilitators and foreign nodes that enabled the large-scale laundering scheme.
Comment: The China connection.
Criminal ring nabbed for alleged laundering of 150 bln won of cryptocurrency | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Han-joo · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119003300320
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's customs authorities said Monday they have uncovered an international crime ring accused of laundering about 150 billion won (US$101.7 million) worth of cryptocurrency through an unauthorized foreign exchange scheme.
Three Chinese nationals have been referred to the prosecution for alleged violations of the foreign exchange transactions act, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).
The suspects allegedly laundered 148.9 billion won between September 2021 and June of last year by exploiting domestic and overseas cryptocurrency accounts and South Korean bank accounts, the agency said.
Authorities said the funds were transferred under the guise of legitimate expenses, such as cosmetic surgery fees for foreign nationals or overseas study costs for students.
To evade monitoring by financial authorities, the suspects allegedly purchased cryptocurrency in multiple countries, transferred it to digital wallets in South Korea, converted it into Korean won, and then funneled the money through numerous domestic bank accounts.
This undated Yonhap file photo shows the headquarters of the Korea Customs Service. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Han-joo · January 19, 2026
11. U.S. beef, pork rank 1st in S. Korea's imported meat market in 2025: data
Summary:
Data show U.S. meat dominated South Korea’s import market in 2025. American beef and pork ranked first by volume and value, outcompeting Australia, Canada and European suppliers. Analysts cite stable supply chains, competitive pricing and consistent quality controls. Rising consumer demand for premium cuts and processed pork further reinforced U.S. market share.
U.S. beef, pork rank 1st in S. Korea's imported meat market in 2025: data | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Na-young · January 19, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260119005700320
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- American beef and pork products accounted for the largest share in South Korea's imported meat market last year, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said Monday.
In 2025, Korea imported a total of 468,122 tons of beef products, with U.S. beef taking up 220,427 tons, or 47.1 percent of yearly imports, the federation said, citing data from the Korea Customs Service.
It marked the ninth consecutive year American beef topped Korea's imported beef market, despite a slight decrease from the market share of 48.1 percent in 2024.
South Korea also remained the biggest importer of U.S. beef products for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, according to the USMEF.
Korea's pork imports stood at 551,495 tons last year, with American products accounting for 187,837 tons, or the biggest share of 34.1 percent.
The market share of American pork surpassed 30 percent for the third straight year in 2025.
The USMEF said it will continue to promote American meat products in Korea, noting that Korea began implementing a zero percent tariff rate on U.S. beef imports this year.
The full tariff exemption came as a result of gradual tariff reduction under the countries' bilateral free trade agreement.
U.S. beef products are sold at a supermarket in Seoul, in this file photo from July 31, 2025. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Na-young · January 19, 2026
12. RFA to resume operations in South Korea, paving way for broadcasts to North
Summary:
Radio Free Asia will restart its Korean-language online news this week after a half-year shutdown caused by POTUS' cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Self-financed shortwave broadcasts to north Korea are planned on a limited basis, pending a bipartisan spending bill that would allocate $643 million to USAGM. RFA Korean, once nearly 50 staff in Seoul and Washington, will relaunch with four reporters, including defectors, and hopes to rebuild if funding stabilizes. Radio transmissions remain blocked from U.S. government transmitters, so any near-term broadcasts into north Korea must rely on RFA’s own resources and workarounds.
Comment: Good but sad news. It did not and it does not have to be this way.
How might RFA’s revival alter the information environment inside north Korea, especially in border regions where external radio is most accessible?
Given POTUS' hostility to USAGM, what specific congressional safeguards are needed to protect RFA and VOA from future politicized funding cuts? Get rid of USAGM. Re-establish the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and let VOA and RFA operate independently with proper resourcing. in accordance with the Charter.
As an aside, I have been checking on the recent broadcasting of VOA's Korean service. The majority of the content consists of Hillsdale College professors lecturing on American history. There are no regular scheduled news broadcasts that explain US policy to north Korea and the region. There are some shorts that report on POTUS statements and little else. There is no concerted effort to bring relevant and useful information to the korean people in the north or to influence the elite and regime leadership in north Korea.
RFA to resume operations in South Korea, paving way for broadcasts to North
Broadcaster’s planned return comes amid expectations for new US funding, after Trump cuts forced half-year suspension
Shreyas Reddy January 19, 2026
https://www.nknews.org/2026/01/rfa-to-resume-operations-in-south-korea-paving-way-for-broadcasts-to-north/
A North Korean using a radio and stereo system at the Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang | Image: NK News (Sept. 2015)
Embattled U.S. broadcaster Radio Free Asia (RFA) is set to resume its online Korean-language service this week, paving the way for a return to radio broadcasts delivering news of the outside world to North Koreans in the near future.
“RFA will restart news content production this week for North Korean audiences, which we will follow up with self-financed shortwave broadcasts on a limited basis,” RFA’s Chief Communications Officer Rohit Mahajan told NK News on Sunday.
The resumption of online news output comes half a year after the U.S. government-funded outlet stopped website updates and broadcasts to North Korea due to the impact of President Donald Trump’s budget cuts.
At the time, an RFA employee told NK News that the shutdown followed months of gradual downsizing following the White House’s order in March to cut funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees externally focused U.S. outlets including RFA and Voice of America (VOA).
The Trump administration’s moves drew strong criticism domestically that the cuts would derail decades of efforts to counter the governments of authoritarian states like North Korea by delivering information about the world to citizens.
The cost-cutting drive led to an immediate suspension of all VOA activities and layoffs across multiple outlets, but RFA and affiliates including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) initially managed to sustain operations until existing funds dried up.
Faced with continuing uncertainties over funding, RFA subsequently halted all services across Asia in late October, marking the first time in the external broadcaster’s 29-year history that it went completely dark.
“Without RFA Korean, 26 million North Koreans isolated by the repressive regime’s war on free speech and a free press will lack a critical link to independent information,” RFA Executive Editor Rosa Hwang said when announcing the suspension.
Despite the absence of funds and the Trump administration’s persistent opposition to outlets that it viewed as partisan and “anti-America,” RFA remained hopeful that court decisions and the eventual return of funding would allow it to restart operations.
Following the recent resumption of the Mandarin and Burmese services, RFA Korean’s planned return this week highlights the broadcaster’s confidence that Congress and Trump will soon approve a bipartisan spending bill setting aside $643 million for USAGM.
“With the final passage in Congress of the spending package that includes funding for RFA, we hope to continue building out RFA’s Korean Service this year, expanding its essential work — provided that we receive congressionally appropriated resources on a reliable basis,” Mahajan said.
RFA Korean — which employed almost 50 staff in Seoul and Washington before the funding cuts — will initially have a team of four reporters based in South Korea, with hopes of expanding later.
“The core team behind this renewed effort includes several North Korean defectors,” Mahajan said. “Defectors have previously played a central role in RFA’s news-gathering operations, leading the reporting of some of our most impactful stories and coverage.”
For now, the Korean service’s content will be limited to online news reports, which cater more to South Korean audiences than North Koreans deprived of access to the internet.
Mahajan affirmed the service’s commitment to resuming radio broadcasts in the future, highlighting surveys identifying RFA as the the leading external broadcaster reaching North Korean audiences, particularly in border provinces where escapes are more common.
Defectors have previously highlighted the role played by services like RFA in delivering uncensored news of the outside world and the DPRK to residents of a state where the authorities maintain near-total control over information.
However, efforts to resume radio operations will face stiff opposition from the U.S. government.
USAGM chief Kari Lake, a Trump loyalist who has slammed outlets like RFA as a waste of taxpayer money, confirmed last week that the government agency blocked RFE/RL from accessing radio transmitters to broadcast to Iran amid ongoing protests in the Middle Eastern country.
RFA also currently lacks access to transmitters, and Mahajan stated that the Korean service’s planned resumption of radio broadcasts will have to rely on self-financing for now.
Despite these challenges, the RFA communications chief stressed the importance of the Korean service’s programming in line with Washington’s long-standing policies.
“RFA’s current focus is consistent with its congressionally mandated mission of informing the North Korean public through incisive reporting that our audiences can expect and deserve,” he said.
Edited by Bryan Betts
13. Kim Jong Un urges youth to abandon ‘dreams’ to go to war, hard labor sites
Summary:
Kim Jong Un used the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League to order young North Koreans to abandon personal “dreams” and submit fully to the state. He praised youth sent to war and to hard labor sites as models, lauding those who sacrifice enjoyment and even life on command. He again referenced DPRK troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine and framed the league as the backbone of the system, army, and mass mobilization. Contrasting “pure” North Korean youth with “morally depraved” foreign peers, he closed by demanding renewed loyalty pledges and celebrating the SPYL as a core regime pillar.
Comment: "Submit fully to the state?" Sounds like the words of slavery. You cannot eat ideology. Indoctrination does not keep you warm. The regime does not protect your family despite its rhetoric. And do you want to die to keep Putin from losing his war in Ukraine?
Kim Jong Un urges youth to abandon ‘dreams’ to go to war, hard labor sites
North Korean leader draws contrast with ‘moral depravity’ of young people in other countries in speech to Youth League
Colin Zwirko January 19, 2026
https://www.nknews.org/2026/01/kim-jong-un-urges-youth-to-abandon-dreams-to-go-to-war-hard-labor-sites/
North Korean soldiers cry while listening to Kim Jong Un's speech about sacrifice and obedience. | Image: KCTV (Jan. 17, 2026)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on the country’s youth to abandon personal “dreams” and obey state orders at a large-scale gathering in Pyongyang, according to state media, painting a stark vision of citizenship defined by sacrifice and enforced conformity.
Speaking at a national conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League (SPYL) at Kim Il Sung Stadium on Friday, Kim framed the youth league as the central organization sustaining the country’s political system, military posture and mobilized labor force.
He also repeated that DPRK soldiers are currently stationed overseas, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), referring to North Korea’s war with Russia against Ukraine.
State media framed the event as coming “in the lead-up” to the Ninth Party Congress, but did not offer further clues about the timing of the event expected to take place in the next one or two months.
Kim greets soldiers, presumably ones involved in the war against Ukraine | Image: KCNA (Jan. 17, 2026)
The Socialist Patriotic Youth League 80th anniversary celebration took place at Kim Il Sung Stadium on a foggy day. | Image: KCNA (Jan. 17, 2026)
All North Koreans from age 14 to 30 are expected to join the youth league, which mobilizes individuals at the local level to carry out the leader’s orders on construction projects like building greenhouse farms, dams and 80-story concrete skyscrapers.
Throughout his latest speech, Kim stressed that young people must unquestioningly obey his orders no matter what they are, and especially praised soldiers for their ideological strength in an apparent reference to his directions to kill themselves if soldiers are in danger of enemy capture.
“They had the right to enjoyment and must have cherished precious dreams,” Kim said of young “volunteers” mobilized to “difficult and labour-consuming” work sites, part of what he has described in the past as deliberate tests of will and challenges to abandon personal desires.
“But they translated their laudable decisions into practice, devoting their pure conscience and great sincerity to their motherland,” he added.
The DPRK leader contrasted North Korean youth with their counterparts abroad, condemning what he called a global generation consumed by “money-is-almighty poison, moral depravity and pessimism.”
Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at Kim Il Sung Stadium on Jan. 16. | Image: KCNA (Jan. 17, 2026)
Young people abroad face “serious social problems and heartrending tragedy of bloodshed and discord in different places,” he said.
He also claimed that young North Koreans “have never been a burden to their country.” However, he has previously admitted to widespread problems controlling youth and combatting the popularity of foreign entertainment materials, especially from South Korea.
State TV coverage of the event suggests mostly college students and people in their 20s attended, frequently cutting to closeups of young men and women crying and standing at attention during Kim’s speech.
At the end of the event, attendees were required to hold up red handkerchiefs and swear allegiance to Kim, who appeared to look on with satisfaction.
Kim also awarded the Order of Kim Jong Il to the SPYL, one of the country’s highest honors, and took a large-scale group photo with participants.
Students hold red handkerchiefs and swear loyalty to Kim Jong Un | Image: KCTV (Jan. 17, 2026)
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KCNA reported that the thousands of participants from around the country also took part in a state-organized mass dance and performance of political slogans in Kim Il Sung Square on Saturday night, and a separate indoor concert featuring more praise for the country’s “father” Kim Jong Un.
Thousands of young North Koreans currently mobilized to a labor camp to build a large greenhouse farm in Sinuiju also reportedly performed songs about the “Era of Kim Jong Un” at a worksite concert.
The SPYL was formerly called the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League until 2016, when it was renamed the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League. It received its current name at the youth league’s 10th congress in April 2021.
It is likely that the 11th congress will take place sometime this year, given Kim’s preference for holding such events for key political organizations every five years.
Edited by David Choi
14. Politics should not dictate scale of South Korea-US joint drills: think tank
Summary:
KIDA warns that South Korea–US combined exercises must not be trimmed or reshaped by short-term politics or public sentiment. With OPCON transition underway, expanding north Korean nuclear and missile threats, gray-zone activity and deepening Russia ties, the think tank argues drills are central to interoperability, extended deterrence and alliance cohesion. It notes that suspending or scaling back exercises in 2018 created a diplomatic opening but produced no real denuclearization or threat reduction. Any future adjustments, it says, should focus on messaging and visibility rather than readiness itself, and must clearly signal that core allied combat capability remains intact.
Comment: I hope KIDA's analytic independence is not threatened for speaking truth to power. It does good and important work. Political leaders again treat joint exercises as bargaining chips with north Korea. We must understand that this is exactly what KJU wants to support his political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/usfgnsi_irregularwarfare-deterrence-resilience-activity-7419065037211729921-hENm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAATdOABkUSZTLkjmdMYdsJiW0YPss5RU7o
Politics should not dictate scale of South Korea-US joint drills: think tank
koreaherald.com · Jung Min-kyung · January 19, 2026
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10658333
South Korea's JCS said on Dec. 29 that South Korea and the United States have carried out all 22 joint field training exercises that had been postponed after initially being scheduled during the Ulchi Freedom Shield combined exercise in August. In the photo, a US M777 towed howitzer conducts live-fire training during a combined artillery exercise. (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
South Korea-US military drills should not be affected by political judgment or public sentiment, a think-tank said Monday, even as the Lee Jae Myung administration continues efforts to engage North Korea.
The state-affiliated Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said in a report released Monday that politicizing joint exercises could heighten security uncertainty in Northeast Asia and weaken alliance cohesion, particularly amid an evolving threat environment and ongoing discussions over the transfer of wartime operational control.
“Given the changing security landscape and the OPCON transition process, allowing combined exercises to be adjusted by political considerations could negatively affect allied defense teamwork,” KIDA said in its latest report.
Since the inauguration of the liberal Lee Jae Myung government in July last year, debate has resurfaced over scaling back or adjusting joint drills as part of a conciliatory approach aimed at reviving dialogue with Pyongyang.
South Korea and the United States conduct regular combined exercises each year, including Ulchi Freedom Shield and Freedom Shield, incorporating scenarios that reflect the most recent developments in North Korea’s weapons programs and other threats. The drills combine computer-simulated command post exercises and field training exercises, testing allied readiness across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains.
The report noted that North Korea has continued testing a range of weapons systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles and tactical nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, while repeatedly conducting training premised on nuclear weapons use. It also pointed to Pyongyang’s expanding gray-zone activities — such as cyberattacks and GPS jamming — alongside deepening military cooperation with Russia.
These developments, KIDA argued, make strengthening the allied defense posture more critical than ever.
The South Korean government aims to complete verification of Full Operational Capability, the second phase of the three-stage OPCON transition process, within this year. To meet that goal, the report stressed the need to pre-test changes to joint exercises that reflect the expanded role of the South Korean military and to address operational challenges in advance.
The importance of combined exercises is further underscored by Washington’s policy of “strategic flexibility,” under which the primary mission of US forces is expected to expand from defending the Korean Peninsula to contributing to broader regional security in Northeast Asia, the report said.
KIDA acknowledged that joint exercises were suspended during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and subsequent US–North Korea summit diplomacy, and that decisions over whether to conduct such drills could serve as a conciliatory signal in future negotiations. However, the institution cautioned that combined exercises remain a key means of strengthening interoperability and visibly reinforcing US extended deterrence.
“Implementation of combined exercises should be guided by consistent policy considerations, not short-term political calculations,” he said.
Even if adjustments to drills become unavoidable, the think tank emphasized the need to clearly communicate to North Korea, China and other potential adversaries that the core level of allied readiness remains intact. He also reiterated that the suspension of joint exercises in 2018 ultimately failed to function as decisive leverage in negotiations with Pyongyang.
Rather than using the exercises themselves as bargaining chips, KIDA suggested that Seoul and Washington consider more flexible signaling measures, such as adjusting the level of public disclosure or the deployment patterns of strategic assets.
“While the suspension of joint drills in 2018 helped create a favorable atmosphere for dialogue, it did not lead to tangible denuclearization measures or a meaningful reduction in threats,” KIDA said, warning that scaling back exercises without substantive steps from North Korea risked undermining deterrence credibility.
The South Korean military said last month that it had completed all joint field training exercises with the US that were postponed after being rescheduled from August last year as part of the annual UFS exercise.
In a press notice, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said 22 of roughly 40 field drills were deferred by about a month in August and subsequently carried out by the end of the year to help maintain balanced readiness throughout the year.
The allies had previously cited multiple factors for the adjustment, including extreme weather conditions and the need to distribute training more evenly across the year to sustain readiness. Some observers, however, have interpreted the rescheduling as aligning with the Lee Jae Myung administration’s broader push to improve inter-Korean relations.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · Jung Min-kyung · January 19, 2026
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
https://apstrategy.org/
Executive Director, Korea Regional Review
https://www.upi.com/Korea-Regional-Review/
Editor-at-large, Small Wars Journal
https://smallwarsjournal.com/
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
| 
