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Quotes of the Day:
"Every sentence that I utter must be understood not as an affirmation, but as a question."
– Niels Bohr
"They are able because they think they are able."
– Virgil
"Strangely enough, this is the past that somebody in the future is longing to go back to."
– Ashleigh Brilliant
1. A House Divided Cannot Endure: The Crisis of Human Rights in Korea Today
2. Trump says South Korea will be able to build nuclear-powered submarine
3. Feted as a Peacemaker in South Korea, Trump Finds Purpose for Overtures to Kim Jong-un
4. A new dawn for alliance
5. Trump Has Likened Himself to a King. South Korea Gave Him a Crown.
6. Trump gives blessing to ROK nuclear subs, and expands a front with North Korea
7. Both North Korean POWs in Ukraine now say they want to defect to South: NGO
8. Top diplomats of US, ROK, Japan vow to work for North Korea’s denuclearization
9. Pyongyang enacts sweeping transportation controls that violate international human rights standards
10. Economic hardship pushes North Korean husbands to share household burdens
11. Adviser: U.S.-North Korea Summit Conditions Not Matured
12. Beyond tariffs: New strategic convergence of Korea-U.S. alliance
13. Presidential office welcomes Trump's approval of S. Korea's nuclear-powered submarine bid
14. Presidential office says semiconductor tariffs part of deal with U.S.
15. China's Xi begins 3-day visit to S. Korea in first trip to country in 11 yrs
1. A House Divided Cannot Endure: The Crisis of Human Rights in Korea Today
This is a must read from Dr. Eberstadt. The entire speech is at the link below. Again it is a must read.
A House Divided Cannot Endure: The Crisis of Human Rights in Korea Today
By Nicholas Eberstadt
October 23, 2025
This speech was originally given virtually at the 2025 Seoul World Convention on North Korean Human Rights (SWC-NKHR) on October 23, 2025
https://www.aei.org/research-products/speech/a-house-divided-cannot-endure-the-crisis-of-human-rights-in-korea-today/
2. Trump says South Korea will be able to build nuclear-powered submarine
Burden sharing, burden owning, mutual strategic deterrence? A strong ROK/US alliance.
"Short on detail." Yes, a lot of details need to be worked out.
Trump says South Korea will be able to build nuclear-powered submarine
Trump’s announcement was short on detail but came a day after he finalized a trade deal with South Korea that includes a pledge of $350 billion in investment.
UpdatedOctober 29, 2025 at 11:22 p.m. EDT
Washington Post · Michelle Ye Hee Lee
GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Donald Trump said he has authorized South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, allowing the country access to military technology possessed by few other nations.
The announcement — made on social media Thursday morning in South Korea, where Trump is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting — came after a day in which he secured a trade deal with the host country — and received a replica gold crown as a gift.
“Our Military Alliance is stronger than ever before and, based on that, I have given them approval to build a Nuclear Powered Submarine, rather than the old fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel powered Submarines that they have now,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.
But Lee also asked Trump to allow South Korea to acquire fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, telling his counterpart that South Korea’s diesel-powered underwater vessels have limited capability to track other nations’ submarines. He said that acquiring nuclear-powered subs would lessen the defense burden on the U.S.
South Korea’s request to its security ally reflects growing security concerns around the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea’s growing nuclear-capable arsenal and China’s increasingly aggressive military posture.
Under a nuclear agreement between the two countries, South Korea needs U.S. permission to reprocess nuclear fuel. Both countries are now expected to revisit the terms of that agreement as they hash out technical and legal details.
Nuclear-powered submarines run on small nuclear reactors, which allow them to stay underwater longer than traditional diesel-powered ones, making them harder to detect.
During the Wednesday meeting with Trump, Lee asked permission for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines on the grounds they would be able to better gather intelligence and conduct surveillance and reconnaissance.
Announcing he had granted Lee’s request, Trump said South Korea would build the submarine in the Philadelphia shipyard that was acquired by the South Korean company Hanwha Group late last year. China put sanctions on Hanwha’s U.S. subsidiaries earlier this month as part of Beijing’s ongoing trade war with the United States.
Lee also requested South Korea have the ability to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and enrich uranium to pursue the construction of such submarines. With the fuel supply, South Korea could build conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines for defensive purposes, Lee said.
Still, such a move would require the U.S. support to share nuclear propulsion technology, experts say.
But those details have yet to be worked out, South Korean officials say.
South Korea’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said in a briefing that if the U.S. approves South Korea’s request, it would require revisions to the existing nuclear agreement, which focuses on civilian uses of nuclear energy, rather than military purposes.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how South Korea is obtaining the technology needed to construct the nuclear-powered submarine.
It has also been concerned that allowing South Korea to expand its use of nuclear power could complicate efforts to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, according to congressional research — because Pyongyang would likely argue this was a step toward the South developing its own nuclear program.
North Korea is, however, already pursuing its own nuclear-powered submarine. In March, Pyongyang revealed images of the hull of what it claimed was its first such submarine, one of leader Kim Jong Un’s military priorities.
North Korea is likely to be years away from being operational, but experts have raised concerns that Russia, one of only six countries to have such technology, would be willing to help North Korea in return for its support for the Russian war in Ukraine.
Washington Post · Michelle Ye Hee Lee
3. Feted as a Peacemaker in South Korea, Trump Finds Purpose for Overtures to Kim Jong-un
This is POTROK's "practical diplomacy" with POTUS.
The UN Command also officially remains at war with the north and of course the US is the executive agency for the UN Command and commands it. It is the UN Command that signed the armistice, not the South nor the US.
Excerpts:
President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea presented Mr. Trump with a medal symbolizing the nation’s highest honor “in recognition of his contribution to peace on the Korean Peninsula and his continued role as a peacemaker.” He was served a meal that included a “peacemaker’s dessert” that included a brownie flecked with gold. Mr. Lee told Mr. Trump, “It would be a historic achievement if you use your great capabilities to create peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
It was, in essence, a premature accolade — South Korea and North Korea are technically at war, as they have been for three-quarters of a century.
But soon enough, Mr. Trump vowed to earn it.
.Mr. Trump indicated he would reopen dialogue with Mr. Kim, the North’s leader, telling Mr. Lee that he wanted to address “a lingering cloud that’s over your head.” He lamented that his schedule hadn’t allowed for a meeting with Mr. Kim while he was in the region but said that he was eager to speak to the North Korean leader on South Korea’s behalf.
Mr. Kim never responded to Mr. Trump’s earlier invites. But North Korea launched a missile test the day before he arrived in South Korea.
“I know you’re officially at war, but we will see what we can do to get that all straightened out,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Lee.
Feted as a Peacemaker in South Korea, Trump Finds Purpose for Overtures to Kim Jong-un
By Erica L. GreenKatie Rogers and Choe Sang-Hun
Reporting from Gyeongju, South Korea
Published Oct. 29, 2025
Updated Oct. 30, 2025, 1:53 a.m. ET
NY Times · Choe Sang-Hun · October 30, 2025
President Trump lamented not being able to speak with Mr. Kim, the North Korean leader, but vowed to end the decades of hostilities between the two Koreas.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/world/asia/trump-south-north-korea-kim.html
Trump, in South Korea for Summit, Receives a Medal and a Crown
President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea gave President Trump a national medal and a replica of an ancient crown. Crowds gathered outside the Gyeongju National Museum to protest Mr. Trump’s visit.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Published Oct. 29, 2025Updated Oct. 30, 2025, 1:53 a.m. ET
As President Trump started his six-day tour in Asia, he said he would like to meet again with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un. And he reiterated that desire this week again and again.
But asked what he wanted to discuss with Mr. Kim, the president had no clear answer.
Now it seems Mr. Trump knows what he wants from Mr. Kim.
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump landed in South Korea for the last leg of his tour of Asia. He was greeted with fanfare and flattery over his newfound obsession of ending global conflicts.
President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea presented Mr. Trump with a medal symbolizing the nation’s highest honor “in recognition of his contribution to peace on the Korean Peninsula and his continued role as a peacemaker.” He was served a meal that included a “peacemaker’s dessert” that included a brownie flecked with gold. Mr. Lee told Mr. Trump, “It would be a historic achievement if you use your great capabilities to create peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
It was, in essence, a premature accolade — South Korea and North Korea are technically at war, as they have been for three-quarters of a century.
But soon enough, Mr. Trump vowed to earn it.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Lee at a welcome ceremony for the U.S. president on Wednesday in Gyeongju, South Korea.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Mr. Trump indicated he would reopen dialogue with Mr. Kim, the North’s leader, telling Mr. Lee that he wanted to address “a lingering cloud that’s over your head.” He lamented that his schedule hadn’t allowed for a meeting with Mr. Kim while he was in the region but said that he was eager to speak to the North Korean leader on South Korea’s behalf.
Mr. Kim never responded to Mr. Trump’s earlier invites. But North Korea launched a missile test the day before he arrived in South Korea.
“I know you’re officially at war, but we will see what we can do to get that all straightened out,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Lee.
“We’ll work very hard with Kim Jong-un and with everybody on getting things straightened out, because that makes sense,” he added. “It’s common sense that that should work out, and I feel certain that it will. It may take a little time, you’ll have to have a little patience, but I feel absolutely certain that it will.”
The commitment came on Wednesday when South Korean officials feted Mr. Trump with some of the things known to appeal to his idiosyncrasies: a military band playing “Y.M.C.A,” a replica gold crown and side dishes made with ketchup, which Mr. Lee’s office described as “a favorite food of President Trump.”
When he stepped off the plane at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea, Mr. Trump was greeted with a red carpet and ear-piercing cannon fire. At the National Museum in Gyeongju, there were the thumping drums of “Hail to the Chief,” flag-hoisting ceremonial guards and saber-rattling soldiers. Mr. Lee later presented Mr. Trump with a replica of a golden crown that was excavated from an ancient royal tomb in Gyeongju, the seat of a long-gone kingdom. The medal he received was also golden and included an ornate collar.
“I’d like to wear it right now,” Mr. Trump joked.
Mr. Lee hosted a dinner for Mr. Trump that was attended by leaders from eight countries.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
On top of the pomp, there was an endless stream of praise for Mr. Trump.
Noting that Mr. Trump was the only foreign leader to be received as a state guest to South Korea twice, and the first U.S. president to be awarded the medal, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, Mr. Lee said, “You have many firsts and onlys with you.”
The proceedings were the latest edition of a well-worn playbook for foreign leaders who flatter Mr. Trump in hopes of avoiding confrontations over trade or foreign aid. Later in the day, South Korea said it had landed an elusive deal over Mr. Trump’s tariffs.
But it was also Mr. Trump’s desire to help broker peace with North Korea that appeared top of mind for Mr. Lee.
“The very fact that you have called for a meeting and said that you are ready to meet him anytime is creating quite a warmth of peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Mr. Lee said, referring to the North Korean leader.
In a way, it was not a new tack from Mr. Lee. In August, when he visited the White House, he and Mr. Trump found common ground over wanting to engage with the North Korean leader.
The Korean Peninsula has technically been in a state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended not with a permanent peace treaty but with a temporary truce. When Mr. Trump last met with Mr. Kim, many South Koreans urged him to formally end the war with a peace treaty and normalize ties with North Korea.
The president met with Mr. Kim three times during his first term, once in 2018 and twice in 2019. The rare détente, eagerly supported by progressive South Koreans like Mr. Lee, proved short-lived. Mr. Trump’s diplomacy with Mr. Kim collapsed without deals to roll back North Korea’s nuclear weapons program or to ease international sanctions on the country.
Still, Mr. Kim said last month that he had a “good memory” of Mr. Trump from their past meetings.
Mr. Trump meeting Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, in 2019 at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.Credit...Erin Schaff for The New York Times
But he said his country would never re-enter negotiations with Washington unless North Korea were accepted as a nuclear weapons state. In recent years, North Korea has doubled down on expanding its nuclear arsenal and cut off all dialogue with South Korea and the United States.
Mr. Trump endeavored to assure Mr. Lee that he could facilitate a breakthrough.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to solve a lot of problems in the world,” Mr. Trump said. “I didn’t even know there were so many problems.”
In recent months, Mr. Trump has been emboldened by his successes as a mediator. In July, he helped broker a cease-fire between Cambodia and Thailand, whose border dispute had erupted in deadly conflict.
In September, Mr. Trump put forth a plan that led to a cease-fire in between Hamas and Israel. But the truce in Gaza is shaky, with Israel launching new strikes this week. Aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump told reporters that Israel had “a right” to retaliate against attacks by Hamas but that he considered the cease-fire to be intact.
On Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, Mr. Trump witnessed the signing of an agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.
During remarks to South Korean business leaders, Mr. Trump drew applause for the truce. And he recounted several conversations he had with leaders in recent months in which he threatened to halt trade talks should they continue their decades-old conflicts.
Mr. Trump spoke at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Gyeongju on Wednesday.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
One, he said, was between himself and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. Mr. Trump said he told Mr. Modi he would not make a trade deal with him unless India stopped fighting Pakistan. Mimicking Mr. Modi in an Indian accent, Mr. Trump recalled him saying, “No, we will fight!”
Mr. Trump has taken credit for a cease-fire between the South Asian neighbors, but India has rejected that characterization, saying it settled the matter directly with Pakistan.
But in South Korea, he tried to cast himself as able to manage both trade and tensions. “I’ve ended eight wars in eight months,” Mr. Trump said, repeating a murky and shifting number of conflicts he has claimed to resolve, “and, in many instances, trade has played a big part in getting those wars ended.”
As he concluded his final event, a dinner held in his honor, Mr. Trump made it clear that the South Korean trip had inspired him to try to add to his tally.
“You rolled out a red carpet that was a very good red carpet,” Mr. Trump said. “I appreciate it very much and I won’t forget the trip.”
“You have a neighbor that hasn’t been as nice as they could be,” he added, “and I think they will be.”
A correction was made on
Oct. 29, 2025
:
An earlier version of this article misidentified the location of Gimhae International Airport. It is in South Korea, not Japan.
A correction was made on
Oct. 30, 2025
:
Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article misidentified which gift Mr. Trump joked about wanting to wear. It was the medal, not the crown.
When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let us know at Learn more
Erica L. Green is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration.
Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent for The Times, reporting on President Trump.
Choe Sang-Hun is the lead reporter for The Times in Seoul, covering South and North Korea.
A version of this article appears in print on Oct. 30, 2025, Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: On Korean Visit, Trump Sets Goal To Broker Peace
See more on: Kim Jong-un , Lee Jae Myung, Donald Trump
NY Times · Choe Sang-Hun · October 30, 2025
4. A new dawn for alliance
An opportunity to evolve to the next level.
I am wondering what kind of discussions are taking place in the offices of the USD(P). This does not seem to be the direction that that office wanted to go.
Of course the words of POTUS and POTROK have to be backed up with action. I hope the bureaucracy does not try to place roadblocks to alliance progress.
Excerpts:
The next phase will be critical. Detailed follow-up negotiations and the finalization of the agreement’s legal text will determine whether this potential breakthrough translates to lasting progress. Seoul and Washington must remain vigilant, pragmatic and transparent as they move toward implementation.
From a military alliance born in the crucible of war to an economic and now technological alliance, the Korea-U.S. partnership continues to evolve. The summit in Gyeongju may well be remembered as a turning point, one that anchors the alliance not just in shared defense, but in mutual innovation, economic stability and a common vision for the future. If successfully implemented, this agreement could lay the foundations for the next 70 years of a renewed and more balanced bilateral relationship.
A new dawn for alliance - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
The Korea-U.S. relationship has entered a new chapter. On Wednesday in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump reached a dramatic breakthrough in the long-stalled tariff and security negotiations. The two leaders agreed on a framework for Korea to invest $350 billion in the United States, which will involve cooperation in shipbuilding and advanced technology, and a tentative pathway to expanding nuclear energy collaboration. While the deal may not fulfill every expectation, it stands as a balanced and realistic compromise that strengthens both countries’ strategic and economic foundations.
At the heart of the talks was a dispute over how to finance the $200 billion in cash-based investments that form the core of the agreement. Washington had initially demanded that Seoul make a full, upfront payment, an impossible condition given Korea’s foreign exchange capacity. The final deal allows Korea to pay up to $20 billion annually, a middle ground between the U.S. proposal of $25 billion annually for eight years and Korea’s suggestion of smaller payments spread over more than a decade. For a nation that can safely mobilize roughly $15 billion to $20 billion per year in foreign reserves without destabilizing its markets, this structure represents fiscal realism without political retreat. The agreement also includes a mechanism for renegotiating the payment schedule in the event of financial volatility, underscoring its flexibility and prudence.
The remaining $150 billion of the package will fund joint shipbuilding projects, led primarily by Korean companies with U.S. strategic participation. The two governments will establish a Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Council to oversee the initiative. Trump’s public praise of Korea as “a master of shipbuilding” and his endorsement of the "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" project highlight Washington’s recognition of Korea’s global industrial expertise. Beyond its economic value, the initiative carries symbolic weight as it reaffirms that Korean manufacturing excellence remains central to the alliance’s mutual prosperity.
Equally significant are the trade concessions embedded in the deal. U.S. tariffs on Korean cars will be reduced to 15 percent, aligning with the rates applied to Japan and the European Union. The change not only levels the playing field for Korean carmakers but also signals Washington’s willingness to treat Seoul the same as its competitors. Additional adjustments include most-favored-nation status for pharmaceuticals and timber, and duty-free access for key industries such as aircraft parts and medical products. Together, these measures mark an important step toward normalizing the economic terms of the alliance.
Progress has also been achieved in the security dimension of the talks. Lee pledged to increase Korea’s defense contributions while requesting U.S. cooperation in three sensitive areas: supplying fuel for nuclear-powered submarines, reprocessing spent fuel and obtaining limited uranium enrichment rights.
Trump agreed to follow-up consultations, an unprecedented move given Washington’s long-standing adherence to nuclear non-proliferation principles. For Seoul, the ability to build and operate nuclear-powered submarines would represent a major advance in its self-sufficiency concerning defense, particularly amid the rising threat from North Korea’s ever-evolving missile and nuclear capabilities. Yet, this ambition must be pursued with diplomatic delicacy, mindful of potential reactions from China and Japan.
The summit also produced the U.S.-ROK Technology Prosperity Deal, signaling the alliance’s evolution into a strategic technology partnership. Under the agreement, the two nations will jointly develop an artificial intelligence policy framework and expand cooperation in next-generation telecommunications, biotechnology, quantum innovation and space exploration. Such collaboration could redefine the alliance for the digital age, intertwining the two economies not only through trade and security but also through shared innovation and standards-setting.
On the issue of the Korean Peninsula, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to peace, stating that he “understands that the two Koreas remain technically at war” and will explore ways to help end that status. While he was not able to secure a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during this visit, both leaders restated their dedication to dialogue and denuclearization, a reminder that the pursuit of peace remains an unfinished, yet essential, mission of the alliance.
The next phase will be critical. Detailed follow-up negotiations and the finalization of the agreement’s legal text will determine whether this potential breakthrough translates to lasting progress. Seoul and Washington must remain vigilant, pragmatic and transparent as they move toward implementation.
From a military alliance born in the crucible of war to an economic and now technological alliance, the Korea-U.S. partnership continues to evolve. The summit in Gyeongju may well be remembered as a turning point, one that anchors the alliance not just in shared defense, but in mutual innovation, economic stability and a common vision for the future. If successfully implemented, this agreement could lay the foundations for the next 70 years of a renewed and more balanced bilateral relationship.
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
5. Trump Has Likened Himself to a King. South Korea Gave Him a Crown.
Of course the NY Times headline editor would spin it this way.
I wonder where this will be displayed. Surely the Oval Office.
"Practical diplomacy" by POTROK: if POTUS sees the crown every day he will have positive thoughts about the ROK/US alliance.
Trump Has Likened Himself to a King. South Korea Gave Him a Crown.
By Yan Zhuang
Oct. 29, 2025
NY Times · Yan Zhuang ·
President Trump received a replica of a golden crown excavated from an ancient royal tomb in Gyeongju. He called it “very special.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/world/asia/trump-south-korea-crown-gyeongju.html
President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea presented President Trump with a replica of a golden crown excavated from one of the ancient royal tombs in Gyeongju.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
By
Oct. 29, 2025
President Trump has sometimes likened himself to a king. Now he has been given a crown.
Or at least a replica of one that researchers believe was worn by an ancient Korean ruler. Mr. Trump received the crown from President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea when they met on Wednesday in the city of Gyeongju.
During the ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum, Mr. Trump shook hands with Mr. Lee and thanked him for the gift, saying it was “very special.”
Mr. Lee also gave Mr. Trump the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest decoration, in the form of a shiny, ornate necklace.
“I’d like to wear it right now,” Mr. Trump said.
Earlier this month, demonstrators turned out in droves in cities and towns across the United States for “No Kings” rallies, where protesters condemned Mr. Trump for acting, in their view, like a monarch. Though the president has previously embraced regal themes, he said in response to the protests that he was “not a king.”
The roughly foot-tall replica crown given to Mr. Trump is a reproduction of one of South Korea’s national treasures. It is a copy of one from the Silla Kingdom, a dynasty that gradually expanded over hundreds of years, starting in the first century B.C., and eventually conquered rival kingdoms to dominate the Korean Peninsula.
Gyeongju was the ancient Silla capital, and royal tombs buried under giant grass-covered earthen mounds are still scattered around the city of 240,000 people. That rich cultural heritage led South Korean officials to choose it as the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this week, even though it lacks the infrastructure to host a major international event.
The Silla dynasty was known as the “Golden Kingdom” for its use of gold. The headpiece Mr. Trump received is a replica of one of six gold crowns excavated from Gyeongju’s royal tombs, alongside gilded jewelry, belts and other ornaments.
The crown was excavated in 1973 from a tomb, known as the Cheonmachong, that researchers believe belonged to the 21st or 22nd Silla king. It is the “largest and most extravagant” of the six crowns, a spokesman for Mr. Lee told Mr. Trump during the ceremony.
The crown symbolized the “divine connection between the authority of the heavens and sovereignty on earth,” the spokesman said, as Mr. Trump stared at the crown. It also represented “the spirit of Silla, which brought peace to the Korean Peninsula for the first time,” the spokesman said.
The headpiece consists of a headband with upright, branchlike attachments, all gold. Small pieces of jade are attached to it by fine wires, and chains of spangles and leaf shapes hang from the headband.
Mr. Trump did not express a desire to wear the replica crown, which was inside a glass box. But he and Mr. Lee went to see the real version in the museum, according to the White House.
Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news.
See more on: Lee Jae Myung, Donald Trump
NY Times · Yan Zhuang ·
6. Trump gives blessing to ROK nuclear subs, and expands a front with North Korea
I frankly did not see the nuclear powered submarine issue as being a main takeaway from this alliance visit. But given MASGA, the Philadelphia shipyard, and South Korean desires, I suppose it makes sense. And if it keeps the alliance strong then that is a positive way forward.
But here is a key point. Did POTROK stumble here (requiring correction by NSA Wi Sung Lac) or was he signaling actual commitment to regional defense? Or was there simply a translation issue and POTROK was simply speaking in generalities?
Excerpts:
At Wednesday’s summit, Lee told Trump that diesel submarines’ limited submersion duration hampers operations against “North Korean and Chinese submarines,” and that nuclear propulsion would bolster regional defense while reducing the U.S. military’s operational burden.
But later in the evening, ROK National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac tried to downplay Lee’s politically sensitive remarks naming the two countries.
Asked at a press conference whether Seoul is aligning more closely with U.S. efforts to contain Beijing, Wi said the president was not singling out countries but rather describing operations “in the waters near” North Korea and China.
Trump gives blessing to ROK nuclear subs, and expands a front with North Korea
South Korean nuclear-powered vessels could strengthen deterrence but face major hurdles as Pyongyang builds its own
https://www.nknews.org/2025/10/trump-gives-blessing-to-rok-nuclear-subs-and-expands-a-front-with-north-korea/
Jeongmin Kim October 30, 2025
ROKS Ahn Mu, one of South Korea’s Jangbogo-III (KSS-III) class Batch I submarines on duty | Image: Hanwha Ocean
U.S. President Donald Trump gave his approval for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine on Wednesday, a major breakthrough in Seoul’s decadeslong push for such assets that could bolster deterrence against North Korea.
Experts told NK News that going nuclear will enable longer, stealthier operations at a time when Pyongyang is modernizing its navy and developing its own nuclear submarine, while noting that it could ultimately give Seoul a greater role within the alliance.
But some cautioned that U.S. technology-sharing limits, high costs and lengthy development timelines mean that deploying a nuclear-powered vessel remains many years off, with success far from guaranteed.
During bilateral talks on Wednesday, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung asked Trump to authorize the supply of fuel for nuclear-powered submarines. He started by stating that he wanted to “fix” a possible misunderstanding from their previous meeting, emphasizing that Seoul’s goal is not to “arm submarines” with nuclear weapons but to enhance underwater endurance and tracking capabilities.
Lee also requested that Trump instruct officials to accelerate discussions on uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, citing South Korea’s reliance on Russian fuel supplies and the growing urgency of nuclear waste management.
The U.S. president initially offered no public response during the meeting but announced his support on Thursday morning via social media.
“I have given them approval to build a Nuclear Powered Submarine, rather than the old fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel powered Submarines that they have now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Image: Donald Trump’s Truth Social
NORTH KOREA DETERRENCE
Experts told NK News that deploying a nuclear submarine would help the ROK improve deterrence against North Korea by extending patrol endurance, expanding operational range and improving tracking of DPRK submarines.
But they also emphasized that these capabilities are relevant less to coastal operations than to deep-sea missions, meaning that the biggest implications are for efforts to counter China.
Yang Uk, research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said nuclear-powered submarines would allow the South Korean navy to quickly respond when North Korean submarines are detected, offering greater speed and endurance than diesel-electric models.
However, he added that in many cases “anti-submarine aircraft or helicopters could still strike faster once a target is located.” Nuclear submarines’ main advantage lies in their extended patrol duration and wider operational range — qualities that would make it “much harder for North Korea to anticipate or counter” the vessels’ movements.
Kim Jong Un inspects a nuclear-powered missile submarine. This wider photo shows 15 rail-based cradle stands, with many more out of frame. The building where it is expected to be under construction at the Pongdae Submarine Factory in Sinpho is about 640 feet long (195 meters). | Image: Rodong Sinmun (March 8, 2025)
Shin Seung-ki, research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), said the assets can also improve South Korea’s ability to conduct long-term underwater surveillance. “If North Korean submarines leave port, a nuclear-powered submarine can start tracking them right away.”
The expert added that Pyongyang has limited grounds to oppose Seoul’s plan, given that “North Korea itself first pursued nuclear submarines and declared the South an adversary.” The DPRK has been developing a nuclear-powered submarine for at least a decade and released photos of the asset for the first time earlier this year.
While the North may use the ROK’s pursuit of a nuclear submarine to rally support domestically, “it would be hard for the regime to argue internationally that South Korea’s program is illegitimate when its own is more advanced and explicitly tied to nuclear weapons development,” Shin said.
Peter Ward of the Sejong Institute emphasized that even without nuclear weapons on board, the vessels “give South Korea more options and mean they don’t have to rely on the U.S. to provide those options.”
The U.S. Navy’s Virginia nuclear attack submarine in Aug. 2003 | Image: U.S. Navy
PYONGYANG AND BEIJING’S POV
At Wednesday’s summit, Lee told Trump that diesel submarines’ limited submersion duration hampers operations against “North Korean and Chinese submarines,” and that nuclear propulsion would bolster regional defense while reducing the U.S. military’s operational burden.
But later in the evening, ROK National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac tried to downplay Lee’s politically sensitive remarks naming the two countries.
Asked at a press conference whether Seoul is aligning more closely with U.S. efforts to contain Beijing, Wi said the president was not singling out countries but rather describing operations “in the waters near” North Korea and China.
Yang of Asan told NK News that Pyongyang may see the U.S.-ROK nuclear submarine cooperation as a serious challenge.
“North Korea would likely feel compelled to complete a nuclear submarine before the South does,” he said. “To do that, Kim will pressure his military and seek Moscow’s technical help — and Russia, having supported India’s nuclear submarine project in the past, could well agree if the price is right.”
However, Ward of the Sejong Institute said North Korea does not primarily see nuclear-powered submarines as targeting South Korea. “They’re there to offer a survivable deterrent that can be used principally against the United States” and which are “almost impossible for the U.S. to track and destroy,” he said.
The expert expected Pyongyang to portray Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear submarines as part of a U.S.-led containment strategy.
He also said China will view the development “as strengthening U.S. alliance networks in the region” and would “factor the move into its naval planning, especially in the Yellow and East China seas.”
Donald Trump and Lee Jae-myung at their summit meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea on Oct. 29, 2025 | Image: White House
PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES
Trump’s social media post stated that the ROK vessels would be constructed at Philadelphia Shipyards, touting the move as a boost to U.S. shipbuilding.
But South Korea maintains a competitive shipbuilding sector, and at a parliamentary audit on Thursday, ROK government and military officials expressed confidence that Seoul has the technology to develop its own nuclear submarines quickly.
Trump did not clarify whether or how the U.S. will share nuclear propulsion technology, something it has only done with the U.K. in the 1950s.
Yang of Asan said the program will face significant time and coordination challenges.
“Even if the decision is made, building a new nuclear-powered submarine will take at least 10 years,” he said. “If construction takes place in the U.S., it will require preparing facilities and training workers from scratch.”
He added that in such an arrangement, Washington would almost certainly maintain oversight of the process: “It’s essentially a way for the U.S. to monitor how South Korea develops and uses the technology.”
Thus while Seoul has the ability to develop submarines, realizing the project will require sustained political and financial commitment across multiple administrations, the expert said — potentially a tall order in a country as politically divided as South Korea.
Joon Ha Park contributed reporting to this article. Edited by Bryan Betts
7. Both North Korean POWs in Ukraine now say they want to defect to South: NGO
Any POW is going to suffer psychological distress. They will be better cared for in the ROK than nK.
Both North Korean POWs in Ukraine now say they want to defect to South: NGO
But two DPRK soldiers who were deployed to Russia reportedly suffering psychological distress after lengthy detention
https://www.nknews.org/2025/10/both-north-korean-pows-in-ukraine-now-say-they-want-to-defect-to-south-ngo/
Jooheon Kim October 30, 2025
North Korean soldiers captured by the Ukrainian military in Kursk | Image: ROK lawmaker Yu Yong-weon via Facebook, edited by NK News
The two North Korean prisoners of war being held in Ukraine have now both expressed their desire to defect to the South, according to an ROK civic group, while reporting that they are suffering from significant psychological distress.
The claim suggests that one of the soldiers captured while fighting as part of a DPRK contingent in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine has had a change of heart since earlier this year, when they expressed hesitancy about defecting.
Jang Se-yul, head of Gyeore’eol Unification Solidarity, told NK News that the two soldiers expressed their desire to resettle in the South during a meeting with an ROK documentary producer, who visited to deliver food, medicine and letters to the POWs.
“When they parted from producer Kim Young Me who covered their story, they cried and begged to be taken with them,” he said, stating that they are both scared of being sent back to North Korea.
Jang’s group said it delivered 2.15 million won ($1,513) to POWs in the form of food and other essential supplies through the producer, along with letters from North Korean defectors encouraging them to settle in South Korea.
The DPRK soldiers have been in a Ukrainian POW camp for more than 10 months, following their capture during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region in January.
“They are still considered psychologically unstable, so they have been arranged to share a room,” Jang said, describing the soldiers as “very lonely.”
The fate of the two North Korean POWs has drawn international attention, with President Volodymyr Zelensky initially suggesting that Kyiv sought to exchange the captives for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia.
After one of the POWs reportedly expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea rather than be repatriated, Seoul announced its willingness to accept him, although experts warned that legal obstacles could complicate the process.
The Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul told NK News that Kyiv strictly adheres to its international obligations and carefully considers official requests from Seoul regarding the captured North Korean soldiers, adding that authorities are reviewing the case.
The DPRK deployed thousands of troops to Russia last October to support a campaign to repel Ukrainian troops from Kursk under a mutual defense pact, and it has since sent additional military workers to assist with reconstruction efforts.
North Korea has also supplied large quantities of weapons and ammunition to support Moscow’s war effort since the start of its invasion in Feb. 2022.
Edited by Bryan Betts
8. Top diplomats of US, ROK, Japan vow to work for North Korea’s denuclearization
Sigh... I hate to beat the horse more dead (but I will):
"Unification first, then denuclearization; the path to unification is through information and human rights."
Top diplomats of US, ROK, Japan vow to work for North Korea’s denuclearization
First trilateral meeting since new government took office in Tokyo comes as DPRK insists it will never give up nukes
Shreyas Reddy October 30, 2025
https://www.nknews.org/2025/10/top-diplomats-of-us-rok-japan-vow-to-work-for-north-koreas-denuclearization/
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ROK foreign minister Cho Hyun and Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi held talks on the sidelines of the APEC summit. | Image: ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Oct. 29, 2025)
The top diplomats of the U.S., South Korea and Japan pledged to maintain close coordination on the denuclearization of North Korea on Wednesday, meeting for the first time since the new government in Tokyo took charge.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ROK foreign minister Cho Hyun and new Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi simultaneously pledged to “continue efforts to preserve peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy” with the DPRK, Seoul’s foreign ministry said in a press release Wednesday.
The three sides also agreed to continue holding multilateral meetings and maintain frequent communication on North Korea issues going forward, the release added.
The trilateral meeting, the first since Motegi’s appointment last week, took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
Japan’s top diplomat expressed his appreciation for Seoul and Washington’s support for the resolution of North Korea’s past abductions of Japanese citizens, Tokyo’s foreign ministry said in a press release Wednesday.
The meeting’s limited focus on the DPRK mirrored the main talking points from other trilateral ministerial meetings in recent years, but left out key themes including North Korea’s prolific cryptocurrency theft, sanctions evasion, human rights issues and military cooperation with Russia.
This may partly be down to Seoul and Washington’s shifting priorities since their current governments took charge earlier this year, with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung minimizing his focus on North Korea’s human rights abuses as he seeks to revive inter-Korean engagement.
But the emphasis on denuclearization runs counter to Pyongyang’s repeated insistence that it will never give up its nuclear weapons, demanding that Washington abandon the goal of denuclearization as a condition for talks on “peaceful coexistence.”
During a summit with Lee on Wednesday, Trump reaffirmed his interest in reviving his close personal relationship with Kim, whom he met thrice in 2018 and 2019. Lee welcomed the U.S. president’s interest in engaging Pyongyang, which aligns with his own stated interest in boosting inter-Korean exchanges.
However, Trump maintained that his focus for this visit to the Korean Peninsula is his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, setting aside North Korea as a future diplomatic priority.
Following the U.S.-China summit, Trump again suggested he was too busy to meet Kim this trip while stating that he supports the denuclearization of America’s adversaries, though his remarks focused on Russia and China rather than North Korea.
BILATERAL TALKS
Cho and Motegi separately held bilateral talks on the APEC sidelines earlier on Wednesday, pledging to continue bilateral and trilateral cooperation regarding North Korea issues, Japan’s foreign ministry announced.
The South Korean foreign minister also conveyed the Lee administration’s DPRK policies aimed at “ushering in a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula” by easing military tensions and restoring trust with Pyongyang, Seoul’s foreign ministry reported.
The two sides pledged to continue developing ROK-Japan relations in “a future-oriented and stable manner,” echoing the approach advocated by Lee and former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in their two summits this year.
The meeting highlighted both sides’ intent to maintain cooperation on North Korea issues, despite concerns that the recent election of conservative firebrand Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s prime minister could disrupt bilateral ties.
Takaichi has in the past downplayed Japan’s wartime atrocities during its colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, including the use of Korean forced labor and “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery, putting her at odds with progressive South Korean politicians such as Lee.
However, ahead of her election earlier this month, she struck a more conciliatory tone as she affirmed the need for trilateral cooperation with Seoul and Washington and stronger ties with South Korea in particular. She has also softened her tone on North Korea since becoming prime minister, expressing her openness to a summit with Kim to resolve the abduction issue.
Lee has also toned down his anti-Japan rhetoric since taking office, urging continued cooperation without sweeping historical issues under the rug.
The two leaders are set to hold their first summit in Gyeongju on Thursday.
Edited by Bryan Betts
9. Pyongyang enacts sweeping transportation controls that violate international human rights standards
Amazing but not at all surprising.
Excerpts:
Under the law, North Koreans are forbidden from entering a train station without a station ticket and can be fined for failing to present one. These measures seem designed to strictly regulate access to train stations and prevent people from boarding trains without a ticket as part of an attempt to control movement.
“By forbidding people from boarding trains without a travel pass, North Korea is effectively blocking free movement inside the country. That’s an overt violation of the freedom of movement guaranteed by Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Kim Tae-won, a research fellow with the Korean Institute for National Unification.
“The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that ‘everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement.’ North Korea’s travel pass system is a comprehensive instrument of control that fundamentally restricts all citizens’ right of movement without proportionality or legitimate purpose,” Kim said.
In addition, North Korea has made it legally mandatory for citizens to receive training to encourage them to “voluntarily” cooperate with the railroad travel regime.
Pyongyang enacts sweeping transportation controls that violate international human rights standards
The Railroad Passenger Transportation Act mandates travel passes for all trips and forces citizens to buy tickets just to enter stations to greet family members
By Mun Dong Hui - October 30, 2025
https://www.dailynk.com/english/pyongyang-enacts-sweeping-transportation-controls-that-violate-international-human-rights-standards/?tztc=1
dailynk.com · October 30, 2025
A photograph of a train at Kaesong Station published in state media in September 2020. (Rodong Sinmun)
Daily NK has reviewed the full text of North Korea’s Railroad Passenger Transportation Act, which was enacted in May. The law prohibits North Koreans from boarding trains without a travel pass and identification and requires the purchase of a separate ticket for even entering a train station.
Article 27 (Displaying Documentation) states that “passengers wishing to travel on a passenger train must present the necessary documentation, including citizen identification and a travel pass. Travelers without that documentation cannot travel on a passenger train.” Anybody failing to present that documentation is subject to a fine under Article 38 of the law.
The new law also requires North Koreans to purchase a separate “station ticket” even if they are only visiting the train station to say goodbye to travelers or greet new arrivals.
Article 19 (Sale of Train Tickets and Station Tickets) stipulates that the railroad authorities “are to sell station tickets to citizens who would like to access the train station to drop off or pick up travelers.” Article 29 (Use of Station Tickets) further states that “individuals who are seeking to enter the train station to drop off or pick up travelers must have a station ticket and must present it to station attendants upon leaving the station.”
Tightening control over citizens’ movement
Under the law, North Koreans are forbidden from entering a train station without a station ticket and can be fined for failing to present one. These measures seem designed to strictly regulate access to train stations and prevent people from boarding trains without a ticket as part of an attempt to control movement.
“By forbidding people from boarding trains without a travel pass, North Korea is effectively blocking free movement inside the country. That’s an overt violation of the freedom of movement guaranteed by Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Kim Tae-won, a research fellow with the Korean Institute for National Unification.
“The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that ‘everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement.’ North Korea’s travel pass system is a comprehensive instrument of control that fundamentally restricts all citizens’ right of movement without proportionality or legitimate purpose,” Kim said.
In addition, North Korea has made it legally mandatory for citizens to receive training to encourage them to “voluntarily” cooperate with the railroad travel regime.
Article 26 (Legal Compliance Education) of the law states that “agencies, enterprises and organizations must provide periodic training about the relevant laws and regulations so that employees, residents and teenagers can voluntarily abide by the railroad travel regime.”
Article 32 (Prohibited Behaviors) lists ten behaviors to avoid in the context of train travel. Those behaviors include making counterfeit tickets, hanging from a moving train, blocking the front of a train, traveling beyond one’s destination, bringing contraband aboard a train, wearing clothing unsuitable for the socialist lifestyle and performing dances or singing songs from other countries.
The law also lists a range of civil and criminal consequences for violations of those regulations, depending on severity.
For example, individuals who are caught making counterfeit tickets or performing illegal ticket sales on multiple occasions and individuals who hang from a train or block the front of a train are to perform no more than three months of unpaid labor or disciplinary labor. More severe offenses are to be punished with three or more months of unpaid labor or disciplinary labor (Article 40).
“Article 40 applies administrative punishments without a criminal trial and states that offenders can be sentenced to three or more months of forced labor. Unpaid labor and disciplinary labor are a manifest violation of Forced Labor Convention (No. 29) of the International Labour Organization and Article 8 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” Kim said.
“In addition to the restrictions on the freedom of movement (in Article 27), this law contains a range of elements likely to infringe human rights, including the freedom of expression (Article 32) and the right to a fair trial (Articles 38–40),” the researcher added.
Read in Korean
dailynk.com · October 30, 2025
10. Economic hardship pushes North Korean husbands to share household burdens
One path to overcome the patriarchy. About time those deadbeat husbands get to work. (yes a sorry attempt at humor).
On a more serious note we should keep in mind tha is the Korean women in the north who demonstrated superior resilience and ingenuity and entrepreneurship as they were the woes who established the markets when the Pubic Distribution failed during the Arduous March of the Great Famine in 1994-1996.
Economic hardship pushes North Korean husbands to share household burdens
Male participation in community work has doubled in some neighborhoods as husbands witness their wives' exhaustion from failing market businesses
By Lee Chae Eun - October 30, 2025
https://www.dailynk.com/english/economic-hardship-pushes-north-korean-husbands-to-share-household-burdens/
dailynk.com · October 30, 2025
A panorama of Hyesan taken in 2013. (Wikimedia Commons)
North Korean men’s participation in mandatory community service projects has noticeably increased in recent years, a significant change that appears to show how the country’s long-standing patriarchal attitudes are starting to crumble amid worsening economic pressures.
“When neighborhood members are mobilized for community service, men used to make up just one-eighth of a given group, but now one of every four workers is a man. Just a few years ago, men felt sheepish about turning up for community service, but not anymore,” a source in Ryanggang province told Daily NK recently.
In the past, it was mostly housewives who showed up to do neighborhood repairs or clear away trash. Men tended to have a patriarchal mindset and refused to contribute when they were not at work.
But nowadays, male participation has increased so much that it is no longer considered odd for men to take part in neighborhood service projects, the source said.
From mockery to solidarity
When a neighborhood watch unit in the city of Hyesan asked families to help clear trash in mid-October, eight men were present on behalf of the unit’s 30 families. That was reportedly double the typical male participation rate in neighborhood service projects.
“In the past, you’d have four men at the most, but this time there were eight guys on the job. The project lasted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a weekday, which meant they had all taken a day off work,” the source said.
The source said there is a growing tendency for men to use workplace leave to represent their families at community service projects and lessen the burden on their wives.
“Husbands’ mindsets seem to have softened since the pandemic. Men see their wives’ mental and physical exhaustion as the money they used to make from running marketplace booths dries up, and more men are rolling up their sleeves so they can help out,” the source explained.
In the past, husbands were quick to blame their wives for financial difficulties, often leading to quarrels and sometimes divorce. But as their wives’ market jobs get more difficult and financial burdens grow heavier, even formerly critical husbands have changed their attitude and started to pick up the slack.
Men’s increasing participation in neighborhood service projects shows that patriarchal attitudes and assumptions about gender roles are gradually changing as the financial situation continues to worsen.
“When men came out to a neighborhood work project, other men used to mock them for being ‘whipped’ or ‘a disgrace,’ but nowadays they casually remark that ‘we need to help our wives.’ If these changes persist, the mood at home will improve even if money remains tight,” the source said.
“Looking back over my life thus far, I can’t help remembering how often I’ve wronged my wife. When I saw her struggling, I used to tut-tut without bothering to ask what was wrong. Seeing how much my wife has aged amid her struggles makes me feel guilty,” the source quoted a Hyesan man in his fifties as saying.
“I’m ashamed of how I used to be so overbearing despite not contributing to the family finances. I figure that even if I can’t make any money, I can still help out with the housework or with service projects in the neighborhood,” the Hyesan man said.
Read in Korean
dailynk.com · October 30, 2025
11. Adviser: U.S.-North Korea Summit Conditions Not Matured
I think that is a good description from Wi Sung Lac.
Of course given the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime can the conditions ever "mature?"
Adviser: U.S.-North Korea Summit Conditions Not Matured
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac cautions despite Trump's openness and North Korea's missile test
https://www.chosun.com/english/market-money-en/2025/10/30/NYW3HADV3VDPDJHXIHI4FSR6MY/
By Lee Seul-ki(ChosunBiz)
Published 2025.10.30. 21:10
Updated 2025.10.30. 21:21
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said regarding the possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit taking place before President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April of next year, “The surrounding conditions for the U.S. and North Korea to face each other have not yet matured.” This observation comes as President Trump has repeatedly expressed his willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while heading to Asia, and North Korea publicly tested a strategic cruise missile shortly before Trump’s departure.
On the 30th, President Lee Jae-myung checks a memo delivered by National Security Director Wi Sung-lac prior to the Korea-Vietnam summit at the APEC summit venue in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. /Yonhap
Adviser Wi stated during an interview with MBC broadcast that afternoon, “Personally, I viewed the possibility of a meeting between the U.S. and North Korea as low. Therefore, I was watching it cautiously,” and responded this way. However, he added that President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to meet with Chairman Kim, stating, “We agreed to act as a peace maker, and we will play the role of a pace maker, so our stance of supporting such an opportunity remains unchanged.”
President Trump, after concluding a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan that day, responded on his return flight, “No” when asked if he had contacted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to meet, saying, “I was too busy to have a conversation.” He then stated twice his intention to “return” to meet with Chairman Kim. However, seemingly mindful of President Xi, he said, “The reason for coming to Korea was the U.S.-China summit,” and “If I had met with Chairman Kim, it could have been considered rude given the importance of the U.S.-China talks.”
Adviser Wi commented on President Lee’s public request for permission to supply fuel for nuclear-powered submarines during a dinner with President Trump the previous day, saying, “The public may find it unfamiliar, but it was not a surprising statement to the U.S.,” and “We were fully prepared and aware of President Lee’s remarks regarding nuclear-powered submarines.” Indeed, President Trump wrote on Truth Social just a day after President Lee’s request, “Approved.”
Adviser Wi explained, “North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons and means of delivery, with submarines being a crucial delivery method. Moreover, they have even announced the development of nuclear submarines,” and “Given these changing circumstances, we judged it necessary to possess nuclear-powered submarine capabilities, which is why we discussed it in advance.” Regarding the purpose of President Lee’s public remarks, he said, “It was an expression of our will to actively and robustly demonstrate our security posture in response to security demands to the public.”
12. Beyond tariffs: New strategic convergence of Korea-U.S. alliance
Are we at a positive inflection point for the alliance?
Yes, challenges remain.
Excerpt:
Despite the fanfare, challenges remain. The investment and tariff commitments, while impressive on paper, require precise implementation. The United States’ complex regulatory landscape could delay project rollouts. In Korea, outbound capital could strain the foreign exchange market and draw domestic criticism over perceived overdependence on Washington.
Korea must prepare for Chinese economic retaliation or diplomatic pushback. Beijing’s reaction to Seoul’s enhanced defense alignment with Washington could mirror its response to the 2017 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile deployment, including economic coercion disguised as consumer boycotts or tourism restrictions. Managing such risks will test Seoul’s diplomatic dexterity.
There is also the question of reciprocity. While the United States gains major Korean investment and strengthened supply chains, Korea needs measurable returns — not just access, but co-development rights in critical technologies like advanced ship propulsion, nuclear fuel management and defense digitalization. Without this, the partnership risks being perceived in Seoul as asymmetrical.
This week’s Korea-U.S. summit may be remembered as the moment the alliance transcended its Cold War origins. What began decades ago as a military pact to deter aggression has evolved into a multidimensional partnership grounded in economics, technology and shared strategic interests.
Both governments must ensure transparency, regulatory coherence and balanced reciprocity. Korea, in particular, must pursue its national interest with clear eyes, leveraging the alliance to secure technological sovereignty rather than dependency.
If these commitments hold, the summit will stand as a blueprint for how middle powers and great powers can construct alliances suited to a world where economic security and national security are one and the same.
Beyond tariffs: New strategic convergence of Korea-U.S. alliance - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
Chun In-bum
The Oct. 29 summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump marked more than a diplomatic reunion — it was a turning point redefining the Korea-U.S. alliance from a transactional partnership into a framework of strategic convergence. Beneath the headlines about tariffs and investment packages lies a recalibration of mutual expectations: Korea seeks economic stability and technological parity, while the United States looks for industrial resilience and defence burden-sharing. Both sides left the meeting with tangible gains and unresolved risks.
After months of tense negotiations, Seoul and Washington finalized the details of a sweeping tariff and investment accord. Tariffs on automobiles and auto parts will fall from 25 percent to 15 percent, while blanket tariffs will remain at similar levels — a symbolic but concrete gesture. Tariffs will be “adjusted to ensure no disadvantage compared with Taiwan,” assuaging Seoul’s anxiety over losing its competitive edge in the global chip race.
Beyond tariffs, the deal carries geopolitical weight. Certain goods, such as pharmaceuticals and lumber, will receive most-favored-nation treatment, and aircraft components will become duty-free. The inclusion of a “commercial rationality” clause ensures that Korean investors in the U.S. can repatriate principal investments, addressing long-standing corporate concerns about regulatory unpredictability.
For Washington, the deal retains Korean investment flows and reaffirms America’s role as a manufacturing hub for advanced industries. For Seoul, it offers stability amid a volatile global trade environment increasingly fragmented by protectionism.
The second major outcome was the reveal of the details of Korea’s $350 billion investment pledge in the United States, split between $200 billion in cash and $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation. The scale is historic, signaling confidence in the American market but also exposing Seoul to domestic debate. To mitigate currency volatility, the two governments agreed on an annual investment cap of $20 billion, with flexibility to adjust timing and payment if financial markets turn unstable.
The Maritime and Strategic Growth Alliance fund will channel a significant share of this investment into joint shipbuilding and energy projects led by Korean firms, backed by corporate guarantees. This represents an unprecedented fusion of industrial and security cooperation. The United States has rarely opened its shipbuilding sector to foreign capital. Korea’s participation therefore signals Washington’s recognition that allied industrial capacity is a national security asset.
The fine print still matters. Execution will hinge on how both sides navigate domestic legal constraints, labor costs and political scrutiny. Large-scale Korean investment could trigger protectionist backlash in Congress or state legislatures. For Seoul, the risk is capital strain and potential domestic criticism if promised returns or technology access fall short.
The summit discussion’s security dimension was equally striking. Both governments agreed to establish a Shipbuilding Cooperation Council under their respective National Security Councils — a mechanism linking industrial policy with defense planning. Such coordination blurs traditional boundaries between economic and military cooperation.
Most notably, President Trump expressed support for Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, an issue previously left in diplomatic ambiguity. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac later confirmed that Trump had also shown interest in collaboration on nuclear energy and other critical technologies. For the first time, the United States officially acknowledged the legitimacy of Korea’s nuclear submarine ambitions — a quiet but profound shift in alliance trust.
If implemented, this would enhance deterrence against North Korea and extend South Korea’s maritime reach, while raising questions around nonproliferation, regional reactions and fuel supply arrangements. Beijing will almost certainly interpret such cooperation as an expansion of U.S. strategic infrastructure in Northeast Asia, potentially intensifying the ongoing contest between great powers in the region.
The effects extend far beyond industrial cooperation. By aligning shipbuilding and nuclear propulsion development within an alliance framework, Seoul and Washington have effectively signaled that defense production is now part of their deterrence strategy. This integration enhances the readiness and sustainability of allied naval forces, complementing the existing U.S.-ROK deterrent posture.
Beijing will likely view this as a maritime containment effort, and Pyongyang could exploit the situation to justify further nuclear escalation. Tokyo, on the other hand, may welcome Seoul’s expanded defense role. The outcome is a more interconnected but also more tense regional security environment, demanding careful management to prevent an arms race.
President Trump invited President Lee to the White House and added a personal touch: “If you face any difficulties, don’t hesitate to reach out.” In diplomatic language, that is a reassurance of alliance intimacy. Both sides reaffirmed the shared objective of strengthening deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear threat — a message aimed at Pyongyang but also at allies and adversaries across the Indo-Pacific.
The cordial tone contrasts sharply with the transactional approach that characterized parts of Trump’s first term. This time, the summit projected mutual recognition that the alliance’s value lies not merely in troop numbers or trade balances, but in sustaining a shared ecosystem of industry and security.
Despite the fanfare, challenges remain. The investment and tariff commitments, while impressive on paper, require precise implementation. The United States’ complex regulatory landscape could delay project rollouts. In Korea, outbound capital could strain the foreign exchange market and draw domestic criticism over perceived overdependence on Washington.
Korea must prepare for Chinese economic retaliation or diplomatic pushback. Beijing’s reaction to Seoul’s enhanced defense alignment with Washington could mirror its response to the 2017 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile deployment, including economic coercion disguised as consumer boycotts or tourism restrictions. Managing such risks will test Seoul’s diplomatic dexterity.
There is also the question of reciprocity. While the United States gains major Korean investment and strengthened supply chains, Korea needs measurable returns — not just access, but co-development rights in critical technologies like advanced ship propulsion, nuclear fuel management and defense digitalization. Without this, the partnership risks being perceived in Seoul as asymmetrical.
This week’s Korea-U.S. summit may be remembered as the moment the alliance transcended its Cold War origins. What began decades ago as a military pact to deter aggression has evolved into a multidimensional partnership grounded in economics, technology and shared strategic interests.
Both governments must ensure transparency, regulatory coherence and balanced reciprocity. Korea, in particular, must pursue its national interest with clear eyes, leveraging the alliance to secure technological sovereignty rather than dependency.
If these commitments hold, the summit will stand as a blueprint for how middle powers and great powers can construct alliances suited to a world where economic security and national security are one and the same.
Retired Lt. Gen. Chun In-bum is the former commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
13. Presidential office welcomes Trump's approval of S. Korea's nuclear-powered submarine bid
[APEC 2025] Presidential office welcomes Trump's approval of S. Korea's nuclear-powered submarine bid | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · October 30, 2025
By Kim Eun-jung
GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office on Thursday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to approve South Korea's bid to build a nuclear-powered submarine, vowing to closely cooperate with the U.S. throughout the process.
Trump wrote on social media on Thursday that he had given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, adding it will be built at shipyards in Philadelphia.
The approval came a day after President Lee Jae Myung asked Trump to allow South Korea to have nuclear fuel to build nuclear-powered submarines during their summit held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
"Our government welcomes President Trump's decision," presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-jun said in a press briefing.
"The decision will help bolster our defense capabilities and greatly enhance our military's role in defending the Republic of Korea," he said, referring to the country's official name.
Kim added that South Korea will work closely with the U.S. as it proceeds with the necessary follow-up measures.
Presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-joon speaks during a press briefing at the International Media Center for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 30, 2025. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · October 30, 2025
14. Presidential office says semiconductor tariffs part of deal with U.S.
Are there discrepencies between the White Hosue and Blue House?
(LEAD) [APEC 2025] Presidential office says semiconductor tariffs part of deal with U.S. | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · October 30, 2025
(ATTN: UPDATES with presidential spokesperson's remarks throughout).
By Kim Eun-jung
GYEONGJU, South Korea, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office said Thursday semiconductor tariffs were part of a finalized trade deal with the United States, dismissing remarks by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that chip tariffs were not a part of the agreement.
Presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-jun said that Seoul and Washington clinched an agreement on tariff levels for South Korean semiconductors, although Lutnick said in a social media post that semiconductor tariffs were not part of a trade deal.
"Regarding semiconductors, the two nations agreed to apply tariffs at levels not less favorable than those applied to Taiwan," Kim said. "The outcome of the negotiations can be seen as having secured an equal footing with Taiwan, a major competitor in the semiconductor sector, and reduced uncertainties."
Kim added that the agreement on the U.S. semiconductor tariffs will be reflected in related documents, which are currently under final review.
In August, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a tariff of about 100 percent on imports of semiconductors, but the measure has not yet been implemented.
In regard to Lutnick's separate claim that Seoul had agreed to "fully open its market 100 percent," Kim said the South Korean market is "already open to all U.S. products."
"There are no additional changes (on the market access) through this agreement," Kim said.
On Wednesday, Seoul and Washington finalized the agreement on the details of South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge and concluded a trade deal that will lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods and autos from 25 percent to 15 percent.
Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, said Seoul "defended" against the U.S. demand for the further opening of its agricultural market, citing politically sensitive items, such as beef and rice.
Kim Yong-beom (R), the presidential chief of staff for policy, alongside National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, speaks during a press briefing at the International Media Center for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 29, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · October 30, 2025
15. China's Xi begins 3-day visit to S. Korea in first trip to country in 11 yrs
Now to wait and see what comes of this visit for ROK-PRC relations.
(2nd LD) [APEC 2025] China's Xi begins 3-day visit to S. Korea in first trip to country in 11 yrs | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · October 30, 2025
(ATTN: RECASTS headline; UPDATES throughout with more info, photos)
By Park Boram
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping began his three-day visit to South Korea on Thursday, which includes high-profile talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Xi arrived aboard a flight at Gimhae International Airport, marking his first visit to South Korea since 2014, before heading straight to a summit with Trump at the airport's Air Force reception facility in the southeastern port city of Busan.
Following his talks with Trump for one hour and 40 minutes, Xi boarded his official bulletproof vehicle, the Hongqi, before arriving at Kolon Hotel in Gyeongju, the host city of the APEC gatherings, where he will be staying during the visit.
A special forces tank stood guard in the hotel's front yard, with large screens installed inside to block views from the outside as the hotel prepared to receive him. Nearly 200 police and security personnel were stationed at key points along the road leading to the hotel.
Hundreds of Chinese students studying in South Korea waved the South Korean and Chinese national flags near the entrance of the hotel as Xi's vehicle approached.
Chinese President Xi Jinping descends from a flight after landing at Gimhae International Airport in the southeastern city of Busan on Oct. 30, 2025, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the nearby city of Gyeongju. (Yonhap)
Xi's ongoing trip may set the stage for Beijing's future relations with Seoul and Washington amid the escalating U.S.-China trade and security rivalry, which has hardened the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo alignment against China and its allies.
The meeting between Xi and Trump came as the two superpowers remain locked in a tariff war, with Beijing expanding its rare earths export controls, while Washington threatened an additional 100 percent tariff.
Chinese students studying in South Korea wave South Korean and Chinese flags in front of Kolon Hotel in Gyeongju on Oct. 30, 2025, waiting for Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival. (Yonhap)
Before boarding Air Force One at the Gimhae airport en route to Washington later Thursday, Trump told reporters that China agreed to suspend its rare earths export controls, while the U.S. decided to lower tariffs on Chinese goods by 10 percentage points.
Xi's separate summit with Lee, set for Saturday, is expected to become a key moment in shaping future South Korea-China relations, which have cooled in recent years amid the growing China-U.S. rivalry. The tensions have cemented Seoul-Washington-Tokyo alignment and tipped South Korea's balance between the two superpowers apparently in favor of the United States.
Lee and Xi are widely expected to use their upcoming summit to reaffirm the necessity for their countries to maintain close relations as key economic partners and geographic neighbors.
Calls to upgrade their 10-year-long free trade agreement, expand a visa-free travel program, address North Korea-related issues and enhance bilateral exchange programs are among the key topics likely to be on the agenda at the Lee-Xi summit.
During his speeches at APEC meetings and talks with other leaders on the sidelines, Xi is also expected to emphasize China's support for multilateralism, free trade and the increased rights and voices of developing countries, reiterating its anti-protectionist stance, apparently aimed at the U.S.
One key point of attention during Xi's trip to South Korea will be whether he holds a bilateral meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, after Chinese state media have criticized her for defending Japan's imperialist past.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump following their talks at an Air Force reception facility of Gimhae International Airport in Busan on Oct. 30, 2025. (Yonhap)
Chinese President Xi Jingping's official bulletproof vehicle, the Hongqi, heads toward the Kolon Hotel in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 30, 2025. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · October 30, 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
| 
