Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

1 – “Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.”

– Timothy Snyder

"The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by him who resists it."

– John Hay

“What is to give light must endure burning.”

– Viktor Frankl

1. US-South Korean alliance vital for Indo-Pacific security

2. Joseph Yun appointed as US interim ambassador to Korea

3. N. Korea confirms launch of new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile

4. What to know about the siege outside South Korea’s presidential compound

5. #SOUTH KOREA: Yoon gains support.

6. Taiwan seeks S Korean help investigating Chinese ship suspected of cutting undersea cable

7. Blinken warns Russia is close to sharing advanced satellite technology with North Korea

8. N. Korea claims successful test of new intermediate-range hypersonic missile

9. Video Shows North Korean Troops Evicting Russians From Their Homes

10. Main opposition to file complaint against acting President Choi

11. Court grants extension of warrant to detain Yoon

12. Nat'l Assembly's legal team rejects controversy over removal of insurrection charge in Yoon's impeachment trial

13. Outgoing top U.S. envoy stresses continued push for N.K. denuclearization

14. Acting president condemns N. Korea's latest missile provocation

15. Oxford English Dictionary adds 7 Korean words, including 'dalgona'

16. North Korea’s claim of hypersonic missile launch likely ‘deception’: Seoul

17. The Constitutional Court: Excluding insurrection charges is up to us

18. Strengthening the ROK-US alliance: Navigating challenges and embracing opportunities in the Trump era

19. 'Make Korea great again'

20. South Korea’s political crisis and Uncle Sam’s silence

1. US-South Korean alliance vital for Indo-Pacific security

Rep Kim is exposing the MInjoo Patty (Democratic Party of Korea) and its anti-alliance position. She covers some important ground in this very succinct OpEd from the importance of the alliance, the South Korea political turmoil, the threats we face from the PRC and DPRK in the INDOPACIFIC, the folly of the end of war declaration, and human rights in north Korea. The only thing she did not cover was that Kim Jong Un will never negotiate away his nuclear weapons and the path to denuclearization is through unification but I am sure she will cover that in a future OpED.

Excerpts:

...Unfortunately, the original impeachment motion against President Yoon accused him of antagonizing North Korea, China and Russia, isolating South Korea within Northeast Asia, and being too pro-Japan.

This same faction is pushing for a formal declaration to end the Korean War, which I have consistently opposed until we ensure full, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea and North Korean fundamental human rights are respected. A unilateral end of war declaration without concessions from North Korea would undermine and destabilize security on the Korean Peninsula.

Such a premature declaration would also pose risks for U.S. forces in South Korea. Even as a political statement, this declaration gives North Korea and China the perfect talking point to demand the withdrawal of nearly 29,000 troops from the Korean Peninsula, the dismantlement of U.S. Forces South Korea, and the permanent termination of annual U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. Further, declaring unconditional peace handicaps our ability to accomplish critical national security objectives in the region.

The erosion of our combined deterrence and faith in our alliance would have grave consequences for regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Our enemies like the CCP and North Korean regime are looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in our alliances and take advantage of any precarious situation. Political turmoil and increasing anti-U.S. propaganda in South Korea give our adversaries a green light.

US-South Korean alliance vital for Indo-Pacific security

by Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), opinion contributor - 01/06/25 9:30 AM ET

https://thehill.com/opinion/5066732-us-roku-alliance-south-korea/

The U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance is ironclad andbuilt upon our shared values of freedom and democracy, human rights and the rule of law. However, with the recent political turmoil in South Korea, our economic and security alliance must remain strong. Despite facing one of its greatest challenges, I have faith in the democratic commitment of the Korean people.

The United States must pay attention. Why? Because South Korea is a key ally in keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open. As growing aggression from North Korea and malign influence from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) threaten a free and open Indo-Pacific, the U.S.-ROK alliance is more important than ever to deter these threats and promote peace through strength.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Acting President Han Duck-soo were both impeached in the span of weeks, and arrest warrants against President Yoon have been granted — continuing the political instability and polarization in the country.

While media coverage, including in the United States, has focused heavily on anti-Yoon protests, Koreans protesting the impeachment have also come out every day to Gwanghwamun in the heart of Seoul to wave South Korean and American flags. Regrettably, these images have been mostly ignored by Western media.

While the U.S.-ROK alliance enjoys wide bipartisan support in the United States, factions, including those that have led the presidential impeachments in South Korea, have been working to undermine the alliance and the U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral partnership. With the CCP’s expanding naval presence and unprecedented developments in North Korea’s relationship with Russia, the trilateral partnership’s long-term sustainability is vital for regional stability.

Now is the time to expand our joint exercises, people-to-people exchanges, and intelligence and technology cooperation, not back down. Unfortunately, the original impeachment motion against President Yoon accused him of antagonizing North Korea, China and Russia, isolating South Korea within Northeast Asia, and being too pro-Japan.

This same faction is pushing for a formal declaration to end the Korean War, which I have consistently opposed until we ensure full, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea and North Korean fundamental human rights are respected. A unilateral end of war declaration without concessions from North Korea would undermine and destabilize security on the Korean Peninsula.

Such a premature declaration would also pose risks for U.S. forces in South Korea. Even as a political statement, this declaration gives North Korea and China the perfect talking point to demand the withdrawal of nearly 29,000 troops from the Korean Peninsula, the dismantlement of U.S. Forces South Korea, and the permanent termination of annual U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. Further, declaring unconditional peace handicaps our ability to accomplish critical national security objectives in the region.

The erosion of our combined deterrence and faith in our alliance would have grave consequences for regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Our enemies like the CCP and North Korean regime are looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in our alliances and take advantage of any precarious situation. Political turmoil and increasing anti-U.S. propaganda in South Korea give our adversaries a green light.

The CCP’s malign influence is growing bolder and brazen by the day; intimidation tactics and direct attacks against our allies in the South China Sea and efforts to hack global telecommunications networks — including now 9 U.S. telecom firms — are the new norm. In addition, according to our State Department, the CCP spends billions of dollars annually on foreign information manipulation efforts and conducts a massive information manipulation campaign to reshape the global information landscape. We must counter this and support our allies.

We also cannot turn a blind eye to North Korea’s aggression, nuclear ambitions and human rights abuses. That is why I introduced the North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act, which passed the House this Congress in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to take up the bill. In the new Congress, countering the North Korean regime and promoting U.S. leadership and values around the world will continue to be top priorities of mine.

The U.S.-ROK alliance must not fall on deaf ears in the United States or in South Korea. Stability and true democratic governance in South Korea are critically important for the United States to maintain a peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific. Both Congress and the current and incoming administrations must work to ensure our continued commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance and a free and democratic South Korea.

Young Kim represents California’s 40th District.

2. Joseph Yun appointed as US interim ambassador to Korea

I completely missed this. Ambassador Yun is a non-partisan professional diplomat. He worked for President Trump at the beginning of his administration (brought Otto Warmbier home). I think this is a positive move and should be helpful to the Trump administration as well as the ROK/US alliance.

Joseph Yun appointed as US interim ambassador to Korea

The Korea Times · January 7, 2025

Joseph Yun, then-U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, answers questions from reporters following a meeting with Japanese and South Korean chief nuclear negotiators in Tokyo, in this April 25, 2017 photo. AFP-Yonhap

Goldberg bids farewell to Seoul amid impeachment chaos

By Lee Hyo-jin

Joseph Yun, former U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, has been appointed as the charge d'affaires to South Korea following the departure of U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, according to diplomatic sources on Tuesday.

The appointment of a new charge d'affaires to South Korea during an envoy vacancy marks a departure from previous U.S. practices, where the deputy chief of mission would typically take on the role of acting ambassador.

This appears to signal Washington's intention to maintain stability in the bilateral alliance during a sensitive period. South Korea is navigating political turbulence following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, while Washington faces policy uncertainties with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on Jan. 20.

Yun is expected to arrive in Seoul as early as this week. Unlike a formal ambassador, a charge d'affaires does not require an agrément process or formal credentials.

The retired Korean American diplomat will be tasked with fine-tuning South Korea-U.S. relations until Trump appoints a new ambassador.

The 70-year-old has previously served at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, with other overseas assignments in Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

After serving as the U.S. ambassador to Malaysia from 2013 to 2016, Yun was appointed the special representative for North Korea policy in October 2016 under the Obama administration. In this role, he spearheaded diplomatic efforts to address Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions and facilitated the release of detained Americans in North Korea.

Kim Hong-kyun, center, then-special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks during a joint press conference with then-U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun, left, and then-Japan's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General Kenji Kanasugi following their meeting in Seoul, in this Dec. 13, 2016 photo. Yonhap

In June 2017, he traveled to Pyongyang to bring back Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student who had fallen into a coma while detained in North Korea. Yun retired from government service in March 2018.

His return to South Korea is expected to help minimize the potential gap created by the vacancy in the U.S. ambassador role, a position that has often remained unfilled for extended periods during leadership transitions.

For instance, there was a nearly 18-month gap between former U.S. envoy Mark Lippert's departure in January 2017 and his successor Harry Harris assuming the role in June 2018. Goldberg took office in July 2022, about 18 months after President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021.

It remains uncertain when a new ambassador will be nominated and confirmed under the Trump administration. Some reports suggest that former Republican Rep. Michelle Park Steel, a Korean American politician who represented California's 45th district, is being considered for the role.

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg waves after an impromptu press conference at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday, as he returns home following the end of his two-and-half-year term in Seoul. Yonhap

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Goldberg concluded his two-and-a-half-year tenure in South Korea, his final mission after 36 years of diplomatic service.

During his tenure, bilateral relations saw significant developments. Yoon made a state visit to Washington in April 2023, during which the two leaders signed the Washington Declaration that upgraded their security alliance to a nuclear-based one.

However, as Goldberg's term came to an end, he faced significant challenges in maintaining relations due to political upheavals in South Korea since Yoon's short-lived martial law on Dec. 3.

Speaking to reporters at the airport before his departure, Goldberg reflected on Korea’s resilience amid its current crises, including the declaration of martial law and the tragic Jeju Air plane crash in Muan on Dec. 29.

"I know these are very difficult moments for Korea, but I also know that you'll get through them and that the Korean people will get through them," he told reporters."You have so many things going for you, a great democracy that I think will continue to function and work, and we'll work out these problems."

Commenting on the potential direction of U.S. policies under Trump’s administration, Goldberg said, "Democracy, human rights, all of those issues will continue to be part of the expression of the American people. I can't speak to what policies necessarily President Trump and his administration will follow, but I know the American people believe in those principles."

The Korea Times · January 7, 2025

3. N. Korea confirms launch of new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile

Another take your daughter to work day? It looks like Kim Ju Ae is standing next to Kim Jong Un in the photo at the link.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250107000851315?section=nk/nk

(LEAD) N. Korea confirms launch of new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile

Kim Soo-yeon

North Korea 07:49 January 07, 2025

(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout)

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday it has successfully test-fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) tipped with a hypersonic warhead, saying the weapons system will reliably deter any rivals in the Pacific region.

North Korea said the missile flew some 1,500 kilometers at 12 times the speed of sound the previous day during the testing overseen by leader Kim Jong-un via a monitoring system, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The South Korean military said Monday it detected the launch of an IRBM from the Pyongyang area, and the missile flew about 1,100 km before falling into the East Sea.

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 7, 2025, shows the test-firing of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

The North Korean leader said the development of such a missile was aimed at bolstering the country's nuclear war deterrent by "making the weapon system to which no one can respond the linchpin of strategic deterrence."

"The hypersonic missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of our state," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

"The performance of our latest intermediate-range hypersonic missile system can not be ignored worldwide, and the system can deal a serious military strike to a rival while effectively breaking any dense defensive barrier," he said.

The North's latest missile launch, the first provocation in about two months, came about two weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office Jan. 20.

It also came amid political turmoil in South Korea sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition last month and his subsequent impeachment by the National Assembly.

A hypersonic missile is usually hard to intercept with existing missile defense shields. It travels at a speed of at least Mach 5 -- five times the speed of sound -- and is designed to be maneuverable on unpredictable flight paths and fly at low altitudes.

North Korea launched hypersonic ballistic missiles with an intermediate range in January and April last year.

In an apparent show of the missile's improved capabilities, the KCNA said the hypersonic glide vehicle atop the new IRBM reached its first peak at a height of 99.8 km and the second at 42.5 km while making a 1,500-km-long flight as scheduled before hitting a designated target point at sea.

The North also claimed a new compound of carbon fiber was used in manufacturing the engine body of the hypersonic missile, and an unspecified "comprehensive and effective" method was introduced for the flight and guidance control system.

If North Korea's claim is true, it would be the farthest distance covered by a North Korean hypersonic missile.

The missile is also believed to be theoretically capable of striking U.S. military bases in Guam -- about 3,400 km from Pyongyang -- if fired at full range. The conventional IRBM range covers 3,000 to 5,500 km.

Hypersonic missiles are among the sophisticated weapons Kim vowed to develop during a key party congress in 2021, along with nuclear-powered submarines, spy satellites and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles.

At a year-end party meeting, the North's leader said his country would carry out the "toughest" counteraction strategy toward the United States and claimed that military cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan has expanded into a "military bloc for aggression."

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 7, 2025, shows leader Kim Jong-un (C) overseeing the test-firing of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile via a monitoring system the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

4. What to know about the siege outside South Korea’s presidential compound

What to know about the siege outside South Korea’s presidential compound

https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-politics-president-standoff-martial-law-ab3a91bc7d4ea769ad20ea27f86a4710?utm

By FOSTER KLUG

Updated 5:56 AM EST, January 7, 2025

TOKYO (AP) — A standoff between rival government forces outside the presidential compound in South Korea has been startling even for those used to the country’s famously rough and tumble politics.

For weeks, impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has remained inside and refused to respond to detention and search warrants. Scuffles broke out late last week as dozens of investigators were stopped from entering the compound by hundreds of presidential security forces and a barricade.

The spectacle followed Yoon’s astonishing decision last month to impose martial law during a seemingly routine impasse with the opposition, which dominates parliament.

Here’s a closer view of recent events as well as South Korea’s tempestuous political history, which has seen presidents toppled, arrested, jailed and shamed as millions have taken to the streets in protest.

What’s the latest?

Police and a government agency dedicated to fighting corruption are debating more forceful measures to detain Yoon. Dozens of investigators from the agency and police failed last week to bring Yoon into custody following a standoff with the presidential security service.

The initial court warrants to detain Yoon and to search his residence expired on Monday, but the anti-corruption agency obtained a new warrant on Tuesday that extended the window for Yoon’s detention. The agency didn’t immediately confirm how long the new warrant would remain valid.

Yoon has been refusing to appear for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3.

He has described his power grab as a necessary act of governance against a liberal opposition that has bogged down his agenda with its legislative majority. He has vowed to “fight to the end” against efforts to oust him.

Martial law lasted only a few hours, but the country’s politics, diplomacy and financial markets have been shaken for weeks. The decree also exposed South Korea’s deeply polarized society.

Yoon’s lawyers on Monday filed complaints with public prosecutors against the anti-corruption agency’s chief prosecutor, Oh Dong-woon, and six other anti-corruption and police officers for orchestrating Friday’s detainment attempt, which they say was illegal.

What led to the standoff, and what could come next?

Yoon’s declaration of martial law unleashed a string of political aftershocks.

The anti-corruption agency, which is leading a joint investigation with police and the military, has been weighing charges of rebellion after Yoon declared martial law and dispatched troops to surround parliament. Lawmakers who managed to get past the blockade voted to lift martial law hours later.

Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after parliament voted to impeach him on Dec. 14, accusing him of rebellion. The Constitutional Court has begun deliberations on whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

About 150 investigators tried to get Yoon on Friday in a tense standoff with the presidential security service that lasted more than five hours.

After getting around a military unit guarding the residence’s grounds, the agency’s investigators and police were able to approach within 200 meters (220 yards) of Yoon’s residential building but were stopped by a barricade of around 10 vehicles and approximately 200 members of the presidential security forces and troops.

In a statement, Park Jong-joon, chief of the presidential security service, hit back against criticism that his organization has become Yoon’s private army, saying it has a legal obligation to protect the incumbent president.

Yoon’s lawyers said they plan to file complaints against about 150 anti-corruption and police investigators who were involved in Friday’s detention attempt.

Why is this happening in South Korea?

The why is incredibly tricky.

But a mix of history and geography have something to do with it.

The Koreas have been sandwiched between big powers for millennia, with China, Russia, Japan and the United States all playing parts of a great global game on the peninsula that extends from the east coast of Asia.

South Korea is deeply split, with the divisions reaching into many parts of life, from culture to class to gender to politics.

Much of the deep political divide can be traced to what happened at the end of World War II, when U.S. and Soviet forces met in the middle of the Korean Peninsula and agreed to divide the land into Washington and Moscow-backed spheres of influence. This solidified into independent rival Koreas in 1948 and then exploded into war and permanent division in 1950. After that, South Korea was run by a string of dictators until democracy came in the late 1980s.

Some of the passion evident in South Korean politics can be seen in the turmoil faced by recent presidents, many of whom have been jailed for corruption after leaving office.

A particularly sensational moment came in 2016 when millions protested against conservative President Park Geun-hye, who later became the first democratically elected leader to be forced from office since South Korea turned democratic.

Park, who was pardoned in late 2021 by her liberal rival and successor, had been serving a lengthy prison term for bribery and other crimes.

___

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

FOSTER KLUG

Klug is the AP’s news director for the Koreas, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. He’s covered Asia since 2005 and has reported from across the region, including multiple trips to North Korea.

twitter

5. #SOUTH KOREA: Yoon gains support.

My interview with John Batchelor and Gordon Chang on 7 January

#SOUTH KOREA: Yoon gains support. David Maxwell, Center for Asia pacific Strategy.

https://audioboom.com/posts/8633088-south-korea-yoon-gains-support-david-maxwell-center-for-asia-pacific-strategy

6. Taiwan seeks S Korean help investigating Chinese ship suspected of cutting undersea cable

South Korea: will it retain its position as a global pivotal state? Will it continue to contribute to a free and open INDOPACIFIC even if it means feeling the wrath of the PRC?

Taiwan seeks S Korean help investigating Chinese ship suspected of cutting undersea cable

Official says navigation patterns suggest cable damage was not an accident

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6007578

Jan. 6, 2025 10:39

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is seeking assistance from South Korean authorities in investigating a Chinese freighter suspected of damaging an undersea cable in the waters off the northeast coast.

According to Taiwan’s telecom provider Chunghwa Telecom and the Coast Guard Administration, the cable was reportedly damaged on Friday by the Cameroonian-flagged freighter, “Shunxing39,” northeast of New Taipei's Yehliu. Although the ship is registered in Cameroon, Taiwanese officials identified it as belonging to Jie Yang Trading Limited, a Hong Kong-registered company headed by Chinese national Guo Wenjie (郭文傑), per the Financial Times.

Chunghwa Telecom said that emergency backup mechanisms were activated immediately after the incident, rerouting traffic through other international submarine communications cables. The company said all customer services were quickly restored.

Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwanese government officials informed the Financial Times that the damaged cable is part of the Trans-Pacific Express Cable System, which links Taiwan to the US West Coast. The system is jointly owned by several telecom operators, including Chunghwa Telecom, AT&T, Japan’s NTT, Korea Telecom, China Telecom, and China Unicom.

A Taiwanese Coast Guard official told FT, “Since it was not possible for us to question the captain, we have asked the South Korean authorities to help with the investigation at the ship’s next port of destination.” A Taiwanese national security official said the vessel is expected to reach Busan in the coming days.

Government and Coast Guard officials revealed to FT that tracking data from the ship’s automatic identification system and satellite data indicate that Shunxing39 had been dragging its anchor at the cable's rupture site.

Although Coast Guard vessels conducted an external inspection of the ship and established radio contact with the captain, adverse weather conditions prevented boarding, said an official told FT. Furthermore, under international law, Taiwan could not detain the vessel for investigation because too much time had passed since the incident.

A senior Taiwanese national security official told FT, “This is another case of a very worrying global trend of sabotage against subsea cables.” The official said ships involved in such incidents are often poorly maintained and rarely engage in legitimate commercial activities.

The official said this vessel is in similarly poor repair and is comparable to those in Russia's “shadow fleet.”

According to ship-tracking data reviewed by the newspaper, Shunxing39 had been maneuvering erratically in waters near Taiwan’s northern coast since at least Dec. 8. The national security official pointed out that such navigation patterns suggest the cable damage was not an “innocent accident.”

Chinese merchant and fishing vessels frequently participate in large-scale military exercises around Taiwan organized by Beijing. Taipei is concerned that such "gray zone" operations, which fall short of open warfare, may complicate Taiwan's ability to counter an eventual escalation into a full-scale attack, per the Financial Times.

Taiwan prosecutors will investigate the ship's culpability for the incident and potential compensation for damage.

7. Blinken warns Russia is close to sharing advanced satellite technology with North Korea

Blinken warns Russia is close to sharing advanced satellite technology with North Korea | CNN

CNN · by Helen Regan, Alex Stambaugh, Gawon Bae, Mariya Knight · January 6, 2025

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the joint press conference on January 6, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

CNN —

Russia may be close to sharing advanced satellite technology with North Korea after the isolated nation supplied troops to help bolster Moscow’s war in Ukraine, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Monday.

“The DPRK is already receiving Russian military equipment and training. Now, we have reason to believe that Moscow intends to share advance space and satellite technology with Pyongyang,” Blinken said from Seoul, using North Korea’s official name.

Blinken is visiting the key US ally as part of his last foreign tour ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, and his comments came as North Korea test-fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The US’s top diplomat also reiterated an earlier warning by the US ambassador to the United Nations that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be close to accepting North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, reversing its decades-long commitment to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

The US has repeatedly expressed concern over the growing alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow since Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a landmark defense pact in June last year.

Footage circulated online on Oct 18, 2024 shows North Korean troops training in Russia. Open source intelligence (OSINT) researchers have located that this was filmed at a training range in Sergeyevka, Primorsky Krai, Russia. In the video, a Russian soldier in uniform ñ with an insignia on his shoulder ñ commented on the troops marching before him and called them foreign reinforcements, claiming that millions of them would come to reinforce the troops, according to Kyiv Post. The matching insignia on the soldierís shoulder and the gate indicate that the video was likely taken at a Russian military facility. North Korea has started sending troops to fight with Russia in Ukraine, South Korea\'s spy agency has said as Seoul warned of a grave security threat. The allegation comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed 10,000 North Korean soldiers could join the war, based on intelligence information. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a security meeting on Friday. According to South Korea spy agency, 1,500 troops have already arrived in Russia - with anonymous sources telling South Korean media the final figure could be closer to 12,000.

EyePress News/Reuters

Putin’s visit to Pyongyang was widely seen to be about securing ongoing support from Kim for his grinding war in Ukraine as weapons stockpiles dwindled and huge numbers of young Russian men were killed or wounded in the invasion he began nearly three years ago.

Since then, munitions and missiles have flowed from North Korea to Russia, though Moscow and Pyongyang have both denied the weapons transfers, despite significant evidence. North Korean troops have also joined the fight on Russia’s side according to Ukrainian and Western intelligence assessments.

And observers have long raised concerns that Moscow may be violating international sanctions to aid Pyongyang’s development of its military satellite program.

In October, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun said at the Pentagon that North Korea will likely request Russian technology transfers relating to tactical nuclear weapons, the advancement of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles, reconnaissance satellites and nuclear submarines, in exchange for deploying troops to help Russia.

Zelensky praises Trump as Ukraine launches Kursk counterattack

Russia’s southern border region of Kursk continues to be at the center of fighting, months after Ukraine launched its incursion in the territory. On Sunday, Kyiv said it launched surprise attacks against Russian forces in several locations across Kursk.

Ukrainian and Western assessments say that some 11,000 North Korean troops are deployed in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces occupy swathes of territory after staging the cross-border incursion in August last year.

Speaking on Monday, Blinken said more than 1,000 North Korean forces were killed or wounded in Kursk in the last week of December, an estimate also shared by the White House in late December.

A crossing point into Kursk on the Ukrainian border with Russia. Kyiv's troops launched an incursion into the territory last summer.

Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters/File

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed 3,800 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded while fighting for Russia. CNN cannot independently verify the reports.

Zelensky, who has repeatedly appealed for continued US military aid and weapons since the start of Russia’s invasion, praised US President-elect Trump and billionaire Elon Musk during an interview with an American podcaster broadcast Sunday.

Speaking to Lex Fridman, Zelensky said he “very much hopes” Trump will “end the war” and believes the president-elect has “all the power to stop Putin and give Ukraine strong security guarantees.”

The Ukrainian President has previously said that when Trump takes power, the “war will end sooner” – a promise Trump has made to his voters.

Zelensky said Trump won November’s presidential election because he was a “much stronger” candidate than Vice President Kamala Harris.

“He showed that he can do it intellectually and physically. It was important to show that if you want to have a strong country that you must be strong. And he was strong,” Zelensky said.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 27, 2024.

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters/File

In the interview, Zelensky thanked Musk for providing Ukraine with the Starlink internet system that has proven crucial in its war effort against Russia.

Zelensky described Musk as “a leader of innovation” and said people like him “only push the world forward.”

“I would really like Elon to be on our side as much as possible, to support us,” he added.

When asked about the possibility of a ceasefire, Zelensky said Kyiv would consider it only if it was “reassured that there are security guarantees” for the territories under Ukrainian control. Without such guarantees, he warned, Putin would attack again.

Ukraine would also need partial NATO membership, Zelensky said, and that the West should provide more weapons to Kyiv to enable it to defend itself in case of future attacks from Russia.

CNN · by Helen Regan, Alex Stambaugh, Gawon Bae, Mariya Knight · January 6, 2025

8. N. Korea claims successful test of new intermediate-range hypersonic missile

Again, "don't you forget about me," says Kim. But there has been very little reaction to this by the ROK, US, or the international community which I think upsets him..

(3rd LD) N. Korea claims successful test of new intermediate-range hypersonic missile | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · January 7, 2025

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks, details in paras 7, 13-14, 17, 19; ADDS byline; TRIMS throughout)

By Kim Soo-yeon and Lee Minji

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday it has successfully test-fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) tipped with a hypersonic warhead, claiming that the weapons system will reliably deter any rivals in the Pacific region.

But the South Korean military said the North's claimed success of a hypersonic missile launch could be "deception," raising questions about its flight distance and other specifications.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday the North's suspected hypersonic missile, fired from the Pyongyang area, flew about 1,100 km before falling into the East Sea.

"The hypersonic missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of our state," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

"The system can deal a serious military strike to a rival while effectively breaking any dense defensive barrier," he added.

The North's latest missile launch, the first provocation in about two months, came about two weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office Jan. 20.

It also came amid political turmoil in South Korea sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law imposition last month and his subsequent impeachment by the National Assembly.

"North Korea probably intended to flex its muscle against the United States. As it said the latest launch was a test-firing, the weapons system does not appear to be completed, pointing to demand (to further develop) in terms of military technology," an official at South Korea's unification ministry told reporters.

The KCNA said the hypersonic glide vehicle atop the new IRBM reached its first peak at a height of 99.8 km and the second at 42.5 km while making a 1,500-km-long flight as scheduled before hitting a designated target point at sea.

But the South Korean military dismissed the North's claim as a "deception," saying there was no second peak.

"The flight range analyzed by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan was around 1,100 km and (the missile) did not reach a second peak," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-un told a regular press briefing, noting the North has a track record of "exaggerating."

North Korea also claimed a new compound of carbon fiber was used in manufacturing the engine body of the hypersonic missile, and an unspecified "comprehensive and effective" method was introduced for the flight and guidance control system.

Experts said the North appeared to fire the upgraded version this week of a hypersonic missile that it launched in April last year. Pyongyang then claimed the IRBM loaded with a hypersonic glide vehicle flew 1,000 km.

The South's JCS then said the missile flew 600 km, calling the North's claims partially "exaggerated," although it said Pyongyang appears to have made some technological progress in its hypersonic weapons program.

"As the North has claimed it has acquired technology that is 'by no means easy,' there could be a technical improvement of its own. But it is also hard to exclude the possibility of technical cooperation from Russia," Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said.

North Korea and Russia have been deepening military cooperation under a mutual defense treaty signed in June, with the North accused of sending more than 11,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

At a year-end party meeting, the North's leader said his country would carry out the "toughest" counteraction strategy toward the U.S. and claimed that military cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan has expanded into a "military bloc for aggression."

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · January 7, 2025

9. Video Shows North Korean Troops Evicting Russians From Their Homes

Video at the link but I cannot vouch for the veracity of this report.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/45003?utm

Video Shows North Korean Troops Evicting Russians From Their Homes

kyivpost.com · by Steve Brown · January 7, 2025

Home
World
Video Shows North Korean Troops Evicting Russians From Their Homes

North Korea Kursk Zelensky

Having suffered huge casualties in Kursk, particularly from Ukrainian kamikaze drones, Pyongyang’s finest appeared to have begun to hide in civilian houses at the expense of their occupants.

by Steve Brown | January 7, 2025, 10:12 am

Screenshot from an AFU video that shows two elderly Russians being forced from their home by North Korean troops in the village of Mahnovka, in Russia’s Kursk region on Sunday Jan. 5.

The InformNapalm intelligence collective published a video on Sunday that showed North Korean (DPRK) soldiers forcing the elderly Russian occupants of a house in the village of Mahnovka, in Russia’s Kursk region, to stand outside in the freezing cold while they took cover fearing Ukrainian drone strikes.

Sunday’s “eviction” video was provided by an unidentified Ukrainian military drone unit who commented that they had definitively confirmed that the troops involved were North Korean and not “Russian soldiers from Buryatia.”

The military source said “We know for sure that they were Koreans, not Russians, not only by their characteristic external features, but also by other intelligence data… we also know that they were operating in that area and had suffered significant losses. Perhaps, in order to avoid death from drones, they decided to take cover with the local population and hide in their houses and drive the old grandparents out into the cold.”

Reports last week said that in their attempts to recover the areas of the Kursk region, that Ukraine had occupied following the initial August cross-border offensive, Russian forces had suffered almost 40,000 casualties. Of these over 1,000 North Koreans had been lost according to John Kirby, the US National Security Council Spokesperson.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video address that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had destroyed the equivalent of a battalion of North Korean soldiers and Russian marines in the Makhnovka area between Jan. 3 and 4.

EU Will Soon Face ‘Intense Pressure’ to Negotiate with Moscow – Polish FM

Sikorski’s warning came ahead of Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, with the US President-elect having frequently asserted his desire to push for an end to the war in Ukraine.

More video footage emerged at the end of December that showed North Korean troops deployed in the Kursk region being attacked by Ukrainian drones, trying to shoot them down or swat them away with their rifles before attempting unsuccessfully to escape in panic across open fields.

Documents recovered from the bodies of some of the North Koreans, contained notes and drawings that showed the tactics they were told to use against drones, which included working in teams of three using one soldier as bait to lure in a drone while two others tried to shoot it down.

Steve Brown

After a career as a British Army Ammunition Specialist and Bomb Disposal Officer, Steve later worked in the fields of ammunition destruction, demining and explosive ordnance disposal with the UN and NATO. In 2017, after taking early retirement, he moved to Ukraine with his Ukrainian wife and two sons where he became a full-time writer. He now works as a senior writer and English language editor with the Kyiv Post.

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‘Shoot All the Locals’ – Russian Officer Orders Civilian Executions in Luhansk Region

Ukrainian soldiers released a video showing Russian serviceman Rudakov ordering the shooting of civilians in the Luhansk region.

By Kateryna Zakharchenko

Jan. 1

10. Main opposition to file complaint against acting President Choi

The opposition party seems only interested in blowing up the ROK government until it is able to take full power of the presidency and the national assembly.

Main opposition to file complaint against acting President Choi | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · January 7, 2025

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- A special committee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said Tuesday it will file a complaint against acting President Choi Sang-mok for alleged dereliction of duty.

Choi has been criticized by opposition lawmakers for not ordering the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to cooperate with attempts by investigators to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

During a press conference at the National Assembly, the committee slammed Choi for eventually allowing the PSS to block the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) from executing a warrant to detain Yoon.

"According to reports, acting President Choi remained mum even when the CIO requested cooperation regarding the arrest of President Yoon," the committee said.

Choi also did not take any action against Park Chong-jun, chief of the PSS, despite his involvement in blocking the CIO's attempt to detain Yoon, according to the committee.

The committee then criticized Choi for not requesting the recommendation for a special prosecutor though the Assembly passed a bill mandating a permanent special counsel to investigate insurrection charges against Yoon.

"Acting President Choi has also indefinitely delayed the appointments of Ma Eun-hyuk, a candidate for Constitutional Court justice recommended by the National Assembly, and Ma Yong-ju, a Supreme Court judge candidate," it said.

The committee urged Choi to take a "firm stance" in addressing Yoon's insurrection case, including the arrest of Yoon.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party hold a press conference at the National Assembly before filing a complaint against acting President Choi Sang-mok for alleged dereliction of duty on Jan. 7, 2024. (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · January 7, 2025

11. Court grants extension of warrant to detain Yoon

(LEAD) Court grants extension of warrant to detain Yoon | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · January 7, 2025

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 2 paras)

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- A court on Tuesday granted an extension of a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law.

The Seoul Western District Court granted the extension requested by investigators led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) after the initial warrant expired Monday, according to officials.

The CIO's attempt to execute the warrant last Friday failed after presidential security personnel blocked investigators from entering the building of Yoon's official residence in central Seoul.

While investigators did not disclose the duration of the extended warrant, it is believed to have been extended beyond the customary seven days of a warrant, given anticipated challenges in detaining Yoon.

The CIO requested the initial warrant on Dec. 30, charging Yoon with masterminding insurrection and abuse of power.

The next day, the same court granted the warrant, marking the first time in history that a detention warrant was issued for a sitting president.

With the extension, the CIO is expected to try again to execute the warrant against Yoon soon.

President Yoon Suk Yeol gives a public statement at the presidential office on Dec. 12, 2024, denouncing the main opposition Democratic Party for paralyzing state affairs with its abuse of impeachments, in this photo provided by Yoon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

hague@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · January 7, 2025

12. Nat'l Assembly's legal team rejects controversy over removal of insurrection charge in Yoon's impeachment trial

It was not technically an insurrection but an auto-coup or self-coup.

But as a friend mentioned to me, removing the insurrection charge seems to remove the legal foundation for the investigation and trial. He used the analogy of a spouse withdrawing the cheating allegation from the divorce proceeding yet still continuing with the divorce.

Again, the Minjoo party (Democratic Party of Korea) seems to seek only to tear down the ROK government in its pursuit of total political power.

Nat'l Assembly's legal team rejects controversy over removal of insurrection charge in Yoon's impeachment trial | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · January 7, 2025

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly's legal team said Tuesday its request to remove an insurrection charge from the list of charges in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment motion is aimed at allowing the Constitutional Court to focus on making a decision about constitutional violations over Yoon's failed martial law bid.

The Assembly's legal representatives have asked the court to remove the charge that Yoon incited an insurrection when he declared martial law on Dec. 3, suggesting it would help focus proceedings on whether Yoon violated the Constitution and thus speed up the trial.

The Assembly's legal team, which would serve as "prosecutors" in Yoon's impeachment trial, said a criminal court, not the Constitutional Court, should judge charges of insurrection against Yoon, but all acts of insurrection are subject to judgment at the Constitutional Court.

The remarks came amid backlash from Yoon's lawyers and the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Yoon's lawyers have argued dropping the charge would amount to removing a majority of the grounds for impeachment and thus the court should dismiss the impeachment motion.

"All acts related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law are subject to judgment," the team said in a news conference. "There is no change in holding all acts of insurrection as subjects for trial."

The team argued that insurrection is mentioned in the motion to reflect the National Assembly's assessment of the gravity of Yoon's acts related to martial law and is not a separate ground for impeachment.

"In accordance to the nature of impeachment trial proceedings, we are organizing it to be judged on violations of the Constitution," it said.

If the court accepts the team's request, the trial will focus on whether Yoon's actions surrounding martial law violated the Constitution and not decide whether they amounted to insurrection under criminal law.

The court has said how the matter will be reviewed is a decision to be made "wholly" by the bench.

Jang Soon-wook (C), a legal representative for the National Assembly, speaks during a news conference at the Korean Bar Association in southern Seoul on Jan. 1, 2025. (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · January 7, 2025

13. Outgoing top U.S. envoy stresses continued push for N.K. denuclearization

The path to denuclearization is through unification and the liberation of the Korean people in the north.

Outgoing top U.S. envoy stresses continued push for N.K. denuclearization | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · January 7, 2025

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg said Tuesday that denuclearizing North Korea should remain a principle to continue pushing for, despite the challenges posed by the North's evolving nuclear and weapons development.

Goldberg made the remark as he was leaving his post in Seoul after a 2 1/2-year term, and less than two weeks before the second Donald Trump administration takes office Jan. 20.

"I believe that denuclearization is an important principle to follow and to continue pressing," he told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, ahead of his departure.

"It is important for nonproliferation reasons and for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Goldberg said,

Since the nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang broke down in early 2019, the recalcitrant regime has ramped up its nuclear weapons and missile development. It has also deepened its ties with Russia, through which it is suspected of obtaining advanced military technologies.

On Tuesday, the North confirmed it has test-fired an intermediate ballistic missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead, its first provocation this year.

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg bids farewell at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 7, 2025, after speaking to reporters before returning home following his 2 1/2-year term, his final post before retirement. (Yonhap)

Its growing belligerence has sparked calls in South Korea for building its own nuclear program and worries that the incoming Trump administration could shift its policy on North Korea to arms control negotiations.

Goldberg also confirmed reports that Joseph Yun, former U.S. representative for North Korea under the Barack Obama administration, will assume office as the acting ambassador to South Korea until Trump appoints an ambassador.

"That's our intention. He will be the charges (d'affaires) in a few days," he said.

Regarding the political turmoil surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, Goldberg held out optimism that the difficult times will pass.

"This is a great democracy that I think will continue to function. I also know that you'll get through them and that the Korean people will get through them," he said.

Goldberg described leaving Seoul, his last host country before retirement, as a "very sentimental moment."

"I'm leaving with a sentimental feeling, a bit of sadness, but also know there are other adventures as I get back to the United States, and a free life after 36 years in the foreign service," he said.

Goldberg, a career diplomat, took office as the top envoy to Seoul in July 2022.

elly@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · January 7, 2025

14. Acting president condemns N. Korea's latest missile provocation

Perfunctory or pro forma.

Acting president condemns N. Korea's latest missile provocation | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · January 7, 2025

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday condemned North Korea's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (ICBM) earlier this week, pledging a firm response based on the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance.

On Monday, South Korea's military reported that the North fired a suspected hypersonic missile into the East Sea, marking its first provocation of the year, just ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

"North Korea's missile launch is a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and represents a serious threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula and the world," Choi said while presiding over a Cabinet meeting.

Earlier in the day, North Korea also announced that it had successfully test-fired a new ICBM equipped with a hypersonic warhead, claiming the missile system would effectively deter any rivals in the Pacific region.

"Our government will firmly respond to North Korea's provocations based on the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance," Choi said.

The latest missile launch also marked the first provocation since Choi, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, took over the leadership role following parliament's impeachment of former acting President Han Duck-soo last month.

Choi directed the defense ministry to revitalize the military's organizational atmosphere and establish a robust security posture to deal with any further provocations by North Korea.

khj@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · January 7, 2025

15. Oxford English Dictionary adds 7 Korean words, including 'dalgona'

Another contribution of the global pivotal state from its K-culture.

Oxford English Dictionary adds 7 Korean words, including 'dalgona' | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Shim Sun-ah · January 7, 2025

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- The Oxford English Dictionary has added seven new words from Korean culture, including "dalgona" and "hyung," in its latest update.

The December update, announced Tuesday, incorporated "noraebang," "maknae," "jjigae," "tteokbokki" and "pansori" into the dictionary.

It marks the first significant addition of Korean-origin words since September 2021, when 26 words, including "K-drama," "hallyu," "mukbang" and "daebak" were added.

This file photo taken May 21, 2024, shows a girl participating in a hands-on experience program in Seoul for making "dalgona" for foreign visitors. (Yonhap)

The seven new entries reflect the growing global influence of Korean culture, particularly in English-speaking countries. Many are associated with K-culture, which has gained immense popularity worldwide.

"Dalgona" is described as "a Korean confection made by adding baking soda to melted sugar, typically sold by street vendors in the form of a flat disc with a simple shape, such as a heart or star, carved on its surface." The term gained international recognition following the Netflix series "Squid Game."

"Maknae" is defined as "the youngest person in a family or group; (now) spec. the youngest member of a K-pop group."

"Tteokbokki" is explained as "a Korean dish consisting of small, cylindrical rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce made with gochujang, usually served as a snack (often as street food)."

This photo is captured from the website of the Oxford English Dictionary. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Jieun Kiaer, a professor of Korean linguistics at the University of Oxford's Asian and Middle Eastern Studies who serves as the Korean language consultant for the dictionary, told Yonhap News Agency that words frequently used and discussed in English-speaking countries, with textual evidence, are included in the dictionary.

The inclusion of the words reflects the global spread of Korean culture, particularly through popular media and cuisine, she explained.

She anticipates a steady increase in Korean-related words in the dictionary, adding that words like "haenyeo" (female divers), "ajumma" (middle-aged woman) and "bingsu" (shaved ice dessert) are being considered for future updates.

"Korean-related words will be updated annually from now on," she said. "Korean food terms are expected to continue being added to the dictionary."

sshim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Shim Sun-ah · January 7, 2025

16. North Korea’s claim of hypersonic missile launch likely ‘deception’: Seoul

All warfare is based on deception (or so said a dead Chinese general).

North Korea’s claim of hypersonic missile launch likely ‘deception’: Seoul

The North said it successfully test-fired the missile the previous day.

https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/01/07/north-korea-hypersonic-missile-launch/

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.01.07

The launch of a hypersonic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Jan. 6, 2025. (KCNA/AFP)

TAIPEI, Taiwan – South Korea’s military said North Korea’s claim of successfully launching a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, tipped with a hypersonic warhead is likely to be a “deception.”

The North said on Tuesday that it successfully test-fired the missile the previous day, saying it flew some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) at 12 times the speed of sound. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, confirmed the launch on Monday but did not identify the type of missile.

“It is assessed that North Korea’s claim of the flight distance and the second peak altitude is highly likely deception,” said JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun during a regular briefing on Tuesday.

“The flight range analyzed by South Korea, the United States and Japan is around 1,100 kilometers and [the missile] did not reach a second peak,” Lee added, dismissing the North’s claim that the missile reached the second peak at 42.5 kilometers.

“Hypersonic missiles will be difficult to demonstrate their performance in the Korean Peninsula, which has a short length of depth,” said Lee. In the military, the term “depth” refers to the extension of operations in space, time, or purpose.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (C) and his daughter Ju Ae (L) watching the launch of a hypersonic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Jan. 6, 2025. (KCNA/AFP)

When asked whether North Korea could have received technological assistance from Russia, Lee did not rule that out.

The North said it had accomplished technological advancements, such as using a “new compound of carbon fiber” for the engine body.

Unlike conventional ballistic missiles that fly through the thin atmosphere of outer space, hypersonic missiles need to be made of new materials that can withstand resistance and friction because they have a long flight path within the atmosphere.

South Korea included carbon fibre, which can be used to develop solid fuel missiles, in the list of items subject to sanctions monitoring against North Korea.

However, the North’s announcement indicates that it had acquired such materials, raising suspicion that there might have been Russian assistance.

North Korea and Russia have moved noticeably closer over the past year or more amid widespread suspicion that North Korea has supplied conventional weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance.

The Constitutional Court: Excluding insurrection charges is up to us

donga.com

Posted January. 07, 2025 08:00,

Updated January. 07, 2025 08:00

The Constitutional Court: Excluding insurrection charges is up to us. January. 07, 2025 08:00. by 김자현기자 zion37@donga.com.

The Constitutional Court, which is hearing President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, has stated that it will make its own decision regarding the National Assembly's request to exclude insurrection charges from the grounds for impeaching the president. The ruling party insists that the National Assembly must vote on the impeachment bill again while the opposition argues that there is no issue, and the Constitutional Court will directly hear the case to resolve the matter.

In response to a question about the exclusion of impeachment grounds at a briefing on Monday, Cheon Jae-hyeon, a Constitutional Court spokesperson, said, “There is no explicit provision (in the Constitution),” adding that it is a matter of judgment for the court. As there is no law that authorizes or regulates the exclusion of impeachment grounds, the justices will assess the need for reconsideration during further arguments and deliberations.

The Constitutional Court also stated that it was “entirely up to the court to determine which laws President Yoon violated.” The idea is that the Constitutional Court can decide which laws were violated by the president's individual acts—such as the declaration of martial law, the issuance of the proclamation, and the entry of military forces into the National Assembly during the December 3 martial law last year—even if they do not constitute rebellion under the criminal law cited in the impeachment resolution.

Many in the legal community believe that the Constitutional Court will not seek another vote from the National Assembly in President Yoon's impeachment trial, as the 2016 impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye was also conducted without a second vote to exclude criminal offenses such as bribery.

The Constitutional Court held its first meeting of the ‘eight-justice system’ on Monday morning, including new Justices Cho Han-chang and Jeong Gye-seon.

한국어

donga.com

18. Strengthening the ROK-US alliance: Navigating challenges and embracing opportunities in the Trump era

Strengthening the ROK-US alliance: Navigating challenges and embracing opportunities in the Trump era

The Korea Times · January 6, 2025

By Chun In-bum

Chun In-bum

A new administration will confront the many challenges that the United States faces both internally and internationally to Make America Great Again. Despite concerns about an "America First" policy, a strong United States ultimately serves the best interests of many nations, including the Republic of Korea. Koreans are concerned about the economic effects that a Trump presidency might have on the Korean economy and security. While Donald Trump’s emphasis on tariffs raises concerns for South Korea, a strong U.S. economy ultimately benefits both Korea and the broader free world.

South Korea benefited from the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty that has been the basis on which the Korean people were able to build an economy and become the democracy that it is today. Not only did the United States lose 37,000 lives fighting the communists during the Korean War, but since the armistice, more than 640 Americans lost their lives providing stability and protecting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Conversely, South Korea has been a strong supporter of the United States, exemplified by the seven and a half years of troop deployment to Vietnam of more than 350,000 soldiers, of which 25,000 soldiers became casualties.

Conservatives in Korea have a deep appreciation and trust of the United States that borders on dependency. They have religious, societal and security ties with the United States. Progressives in South Korea see the United States differently. The progressive view is that the United States is a necessary evil. If the ultra-right conservatives can be criticized for worshiping the United States then the ultra-left’s agenda borders that of North Korean propaganda. The ultra-left advocates for the withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Korea — destroy the Republic of Korea and unify under North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. There is no denying that such elements exist in South Korea and they utilize freedom of speech and the legal system to express their views. At the root of the polarization in South Korean society, rests the struggle between the right and the left.

Conservatives have no issue with taking on more responsibility for South Korean defense and contributing more to U.S. troops in Korea. If a confrontation between the U.S. and China occurs, the conservatives and the right wing will be more than willing to adhere to the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty. Liberal progressives will also do this, albeit, reluctantly but the ultra-left is a different story. The ultra-left who have concepts and ideas that are aligned with North Korea and possibly Chinese support is a significant danger to South Korea.

The key is in those who recognize themselves as moderates. The ultra-left has long ago realized that influencing the education system and entertainment industry is the key to public opinion. With these and other tools, they disguise themselves as legitimate politicians and media as well as other professions. This is one reason why Yoon believed declaring martial law was the only way to defend the Republic of Korea, rather than doing good politics. Yoon’s failed martial law attempt has given the ultra-left an opportunity to dominate the narrative and gain a majority of the moderates in Korea. This divide is also the reason that despite Yoon’s failed martial law, 30 percent still support the conservatives.

With a new president in the U.S., there is concern that the Trump administration will attempt to reach a deal with North Korea, leaving the South Koreans out. The other issue is involvement in a U.S.-China conflict and cost-sharing. The conservatives know their responsibilities and are prepared to fulfill their duties. The undecided moderates, on the other hand, are prey to the narratives of the ultra-left: the U.S. is attempting to extort money from Korea; the U.S. is against Korean unification; Why should Korea get involved in a U.S.-China conflict; South Korea doesn’t need Japan as a friend much less an ally.

South Korean and U.S. leaders must work to counter negative narratives and emphasize the mutual benefits of the partnership. As the Trump administration starts its policy initiatives in Korea, it must not take lightly this very well-organized anti-U.S. element that is entrenched in South Korean society and supported by North Korea, which is adept at manipulating narratives.

The ROK-U.S. alliance is a testament to what nations can achieve through mutual trust and shared values. As the Trump administration navigates its path forward, reaffirming this partnership is not only a strategic imperative but also a moral one. By addressing economic concerns, countering criticism and fostering bipartisan support, both nations can ensure the continued success of this alliance. South Korean and U.S. leaders must actively counter negative narratives by enhancing public diplomacy, emphasizing the tangible benefits of the alliance to the Korean and American public and fostering mutual cultural understanding. Most of all, the new U.S. administration must not give a propaganda item for the ultra-left to exploit.

Coordinated efforts, such as the Nuclear Consultative Group must continue. Enhanced joint educational initiatives, cultural exchange programs and public awareness campaigns can help solidify the alliance's importance in the hearts and minds of the people. Additionally, addressing emerging challenges, such as cyber threats and global trade dynamics, through collaborative initiatives will demonstrate the alliance's adaptability and resilience in the face of a changing world. Together, the United States and South Korea can face these challenges with a unified vision, standing as enduring pillars of security, democracy and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Chun In-bum (truechun@naver.com) served as a lieutenant general in the ROK Army and was commander of Special Forces Korea.

The Korea Times · January 6, 2025

19. 'Make Korea great again'

Two important points in this essay highlighted in these excerpts.

Excerpts:

Trump is not as skeptical of the United States’ commitment to allies as Yan claims. Trump and his cabinet members, as well as Republican backers, recognize the strategic importance of alliances. Trump may appear dissatisfied with the sacrifices his fellow Americans must make to preserve and defend allies. He simply wants his partners to be more fiscally responsible. He wants to use coercion to extract more money from the allies, requiring them to bear a higher percentage of the expense. No more, no less. He may pressure the allies by renouncing U.S. commitments or withdrawing some U.S. forces, as South Korea has. However, he understands, like his predecessors, that the implications of the withdrawal of the military are far more harmful to U.S. strategic objectives.

The Trump 2.0 administration will be tough on China. Nonetheless, his leadership style will exacerbate America's already polarized society, exposing the country's vulnerability to Chinese unrestricted warfare. This American vulnerability will boost bipartisan support concerning China in American domestic politics. One of the most significant effects will not come directly from Trump, but via the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress. Yan was inaccurate in suggesting that Trump intends to “levy further tariffs on Chinese goods, impose more restrictions on U.S. investment in China and Chinese capital in the U.S. stock market, place more constraints on technology cooperation.” This has been an ongoing issue in the U.S. Congress since Trump's first term, only progressing during the Biden administration. We should expect many more executive orders from the White House, in addition to judicial acts by the U.S. Congress.

'Make Korea great again'

The Korea Times · January 7, 2025

By Choo Jae-woo

Professor Yan Xuetong of Tsinghua University in China, who is known for being outspoken and controversial, did not disappoint us with his piece “Why China isn’t scared of Trump,” which was published in Foreign Affairs in December 2024. Yan contends that Chinese leaders are not dreading Trump’s return because of his uncertain loyalty to allies, political isolationism, economic protectionism and less ideological policies. Yan fails to see or explain why anti-China sentiment in the United States is strong and nonpartisan. Simultaneously, he does not appear to understand Trump’s political stance on Taiwan, or the South China Sea for that matter. Instead, he openly asserts Trump’s unwillingness to “shape China’s political system to conform to its Western counterparts, and he is therefore unlikely to be keen to intervene in China’s domestic affairs.” For one thing, Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act in 2018, paving the path for high-level conversations and visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. He is a typical Republican politician who sympathizes deeply with Taiwan's situation.

Yan argues that Trump’s second-term agenda may differ from his first. But not that much. It is for one simple reason: his term is insufficient to achieve “MAGA,” as it is stated. His constituents have given him a mandate to lead the country and achieve MAGA in four years. Trump does not have adequate time. As a result, he appointed his cabinet members as soon as he was elected, saving time on the transition committee. It is also for this reason that he wishes to stop the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of his inauguration. In November, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, and in December, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. In December, in Arizona, he hinted at a possible meeting with Putin following the inauguration. At the same time, he believes that the Middle East situation is a pretty simple issue to settle. Reimposing economic restrictions on Iran will reduce financial assistance for Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump wants to resolve all of these issues at once for one reason: to focus on limiting China.

Bipartisan anti-China sentiment will persist in U.S. politics and society. Not for economic or geostrategic competition considerations. It will prevail as Beijing prepares for more effective influence operations, often known as unrestricted warfare. The results have been highly successful and widely known. China has advocated for the use of the warfare approach anytime a schism in American society emerges. Trump's harsh immigration policies, for example, will cause societal upheaval in America. It will naturally increase the authority of law enforcement.

Abuse of power and accidents are unavoidable, as proven by George Floyd’s death and the subsequent societal demonstrations such as the Black Lives Matter movement. And Beijing will not ignore concerns that could cause division. In his recently published book "Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans," Peter Schweizer used a case study to show how Beijing provided financial support to some protest organizations in order to prolong the demonstrations. He also cited LGBTQ+ festivals and other human rights challenges in America. As a result, Trump’s reelection may be making Chinese President Xi Jinping happy right now. He may be devising more complex cognitive warfare methods.

Trump is not as skeptical of the United States’ commitment to allies as Yan claims. Trump and his cabinet members, as well as Republican backers, recognize the strategic importance of alliances. Trump may appear dissatisfied with the sacrifices his fellow Americans must make to preserve and defend allies. He simply wants his partners to be more fiscally responsible. He wants to use coercion to extract more money from the allies, requiring them to bear a higher percentage of the expense. No more, no less. He may pressure the allies by renouncing U.S. commitments or withdrawing some U.S. forces, as South Korea has. However, he understands, like his predecessors, that the implications of the withdrawal of the military are far more harmful to U.S. strategic objectives.

The Trump 2.0 administration will be tough on China. Nonetheless, his leadership style will exacerbate America's already polarized society, exposing the country's vulnerability to Chinese unrestricted warfare. This American vulnerability will boost bipartisan support concerning China in American domestic politics. One of the most significant effects will not come directly from Trump, but via the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress. Yan was inaccurate in suggesting that Trump intends to “levy further tariffs on Chinese goods, impose more restrictions on U.S. investment in China and Chinese capital in the U.S. stock market, place more constraints on technology cooperation.” This has been an ongoing issue in the U.S. Congress since Trump's first term, only progressing during the Biden administration. We should expect many more executive orders from the White House, in addition to judicial acts by the U.S. Congress.

Korea will lack leadership until the impeachment decision is made. Since U.S.-China competition will rise, it may not be lost. Instead, we should reflect on our diplomacy during this power transfer. We were caught up in internal politics and couldn't do so. Our strategic value with the U.S. must be properly considered. We showed a lack of knowledge of what we need from the U.S. during the Nov. 7 phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and President Yoon Suk Yeol. Trump’s interest in working with our shipbuilding industry sparked a nationwide focus on improving relations.

This reaction was expected as most analysts had already identified shipbuilding as a key industry in their economic estimates earlier this year. As the government failed to proactively offer areas of cooperation to the Trump administration, the fact that this attention was driven entirely by a remark from the U.S. president-elect, highlights our lack of strategic thinking. The story is both telling and scary. It is time for Korea to consider its own “make Korea great again” strategy rather than waiting for apples to fall.

Choo Jae-woo is a professor at Kyung Hee University.

The Korea Times · January 7, 2025

20. South Korea’s political crisis and Uncle Sam’s silence

I disagree with Professor Richey's assessment.

South Korea’s political crisis and Uncle Sam’s silence

The Korea Times · January 7, 2025

By Mason Richey

Since my last column in early December, South Korea has experienced massive political turmoil. On Dec. 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, seemingly as part of an attempted self-coup. Several hours later the National Assembly managed to convene a plenary session to revoke the martial law decree. The ensuing 10 days were marked by political chaos, including a failed National Assembly vote to impeach Yoon, arrests and impeachments of government ministers and a leadership vacuum in the president’s office. On Dec. 14, Yoon was finally impeached by the National Assembly and suspended from his duties.

This did not stabilize the situation. Acting President Han Duck-soo was impeached on Dec. 27, after refusing to confirm the nominations of three Constitutional Court justices necessary to provide legitimacy for its ruling on Yoon’s impeachment. On Dec. 30, a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, who is accused of insurrection by a joint investigative body (the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, prosecutors and police). A Jan. 3 attempt to serve the warrant at the presidential residence led to an armed standoff between law enforcement and the Presidential Security Service (PSS). Acting President Choi Sang-mok has apparently refused to order the PSS to stand down. Social tension is also high, as pro- and anti-Yoon supporters gather daily in the streets. In short, South Korea is in a profound institutional political crisis. South Korea’s status as a liberal democratic upholder of domestic rule of law is under threat.

The U.S. response to all of this has been underwhelming. Aside from a Dec. 5 statement by Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell calling Yoon’s actions “illegitimate,” the Biden administration has not volunteered public condemnation of Yoon’s apparent self-coup via martial law, the leadership vacuum from Dec. 3 to 13 (when a triumvirate of Han Duck-soo, Han Dong-hoon and Yoon attempted to run state affairs) or Yoon’s seeming violation of the rule of law in resisting arrest for the insurrection charges. Mostly, Biden’s team has called for “stability,” repeated a mantra invoking the “ironclad” nature of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and offered bromides hoping that South Korea would resolve its crisis by constitutional processes.

Perhaps private communication between the Biden administration and South Korean leaders has been more forceful in insisting on holding Yoon accountable and restoring South Korea to normal liberal democratic functioning of its constitutional order. But there is not much evidence for this. Rather, the U.S. has prioritized pretending that things are business as usual. In early January, the allies agreed to “fully resume” normal diplomatic and security activities. For example, the U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group has been reactivated following its brief postponement after the martial law declaration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken — who was in Seoul this week for meetings as though nothing unusual had happened — released a readout that made no mention of South Korea’s political situation. His response to a direct question about the U.S. position on Yoon’s actions vaguely referenced private intergovernmental discussions before pivoting to boilerplate about democratic resilience. Despite a shocking breach of liberal democracy, Seoul has faced the bare minimum of consequences from its supposed “democratic values-based partner.” Why?

The diplomatic answer is that it would be inappropriate for the U.S. to interfere in the domestic affairs of another state. This is nonsense — the U.S. has a long history of influencing the internal affairs of allies and adversaries alike. A second, charitable interpretation is that the outgoing Biden administration believes it cannot do much about South Korea’s democracy crisis anyway. Indeed, the Donald Trump administration takes office on Jan. 20 and is likely to devalue democracy as a factor in its foreign relations. Perhaps correctly, the Biden team might have figured that it would not have leverage to affect South Korean politics. Yet another possibility is that the Biden administration simply does not care as much about democratic values as it has claimed over the last four years of emphasizing “values-based diplomacy.” Major powers are no strangers to hypocrisy.

South Korean leaders and the general public may consider themselves fortunate to have avoided significant public censure from the Biden administration. This is short-sighted.

First, in the short term, Seoul needs the Biden administration to clarify that the unconstitutional use of the military in the service of martial law threatens the alliance, and that a return to robust democratic constitutional order is critical to maintaining “ironclad” U.S.-South Korea relations. Continuing down the current path of chaos makes it easier for the Trump administration to sell a U.S. Forces Korea drawdown, or even alliance rupture, to a U.S. Congress and public otherwise supportive of the alliance.

Second, and more importantly, South Korea’s hard-won democracy has been regressing for nearly a decade, and the current situation represents a dramatic worsening of the trend. Moreover, the country is deeply polarized politically, which will be exacerbated by the ongoing constitutional crisis. In turn, greater political division will make harder the political institutional reforms required to strengthen South Korea’s democracy. Seoul needs the jolt of its ally telling it some hard truths. This might sting, but it would make clear where South Korea’s interests lie, and encourage political compromise and unity.

These words are unlikely to be offered, and South Korea will be worse off for it.

Mason Richey is a professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, president of the Korea International Studies Association and editor-in-chief of the Journal of East Asian Affairs.

The Korea Times · January 7, 2025

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

If you do not read anything else in the 2017 National Security Strategy read this on page 14:

"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."

Access NSS HERE

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