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Quotes of the Day:
For four years, Ukraine has been fighting for the whole of Europe. NATO was created to fight one war – not to go to Afghanistan, not to go to Syria – one war: to save free Europe from Russian aggression. Ukraine is the only country that is fighting this war, and we are still discussing should we include them or not.
– Gary Kasparov
"Aldous Huxley's warning: In the country of the insane, the rational man does not become king. He gets lynched. Sometimes clarity of thought is the most dangerous trait you can possess."
– Aldous Huxley
"The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many."
– John Naisbitt, Megatrends, 1982
1. USFK rebuts North Korea’s allegation that joint drills are ‘gravely threatening’
2. After Kursk: The foreign wars where North Korea could deploy its soldiers next
3. [Column] A prospect more worrying than a Korean Peninsula sans US
4. N. Korean hacking group Lazarus suspected behind recent crypto hacking: sources
5. USFK says combined S. Korea-U.S. drills 'strictly defensive' following N.K. criticism
6. Pyongyang says S. Korea-U.S. joint military drills aimed at deterring N. Korea
7. Lee urges spy agency to remain faithful to original role
8. North Korea officially condemns recent increase in number of South Korea-U.S. military exercises
9. Army official demoted after reevaluation over martial law involvement
10. Assessing indigenous capabilities should precede negotiations with U.S. on nuclear-powered sub: FM
11. N. Korea may strengthen hostile stance against S. Korea next year: unification minister
12. S. Korea's top envoy to U.S. to visit Georgia, 2 other states to promote industrial cooperation
13. Gov't to invest 280 bln won in developing next-generation battery technologies
14. Korea-US joint fact sheet does not require Assembly ratification: FM
15. All options open on NK peace plan: acting US ambassador to Seoul
1. USFK rebuts North Korea’s allegation that joint drills are ‘gravely threatening’
Summary:
U.S. Forces Korea rejected North Korea’s claim that recent joint drills are “reckless” and destabilizing, stressing that all U.S.–ROK exercises are transparent, defensive, and aimed at deterrence. Pyongyang denounced anti submarine drills, the F 16 “Super Squadron” at Osan, and maritime counter special operations exercises near Camp Humphreys as grave threats. KCNA vowed to treat all perceived encroachments as direct targets and linked U.S. moves to tensions over Taiwan, signaling further solidarity with Beijing. Analysts say Washington is widening ROK allied missions beyond the peninsula even as Seoul seeks dialogue, while likely expecting Pyongyang’s hostile policy to harden in 2026.
Comment: A measure of effectiveness of alliance message and actions? The Kim family regime is showing its fear of ROK/US combined military readiness. This is an opportunity to point out that it is the KFR that has the hostile policy toward the South (and US). Remember that 70% of its 1.6 million active force is posture along the DMZ and Pyongyang and is prepared for offensive operations. Its stated goal remains completion of the "revolution" to dominate the entire Korean peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.
Training must be sustained because it is "perishable." If you do not train the skills atrophy. Think of the military as world class athletes who train all year around to be ready for the big game. And recall Confucius' words: "To lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away." And by the way the nKPA conducts months long winter and summary training cycles. Why does no one call them out? (though of course we do call out every one of their missile launches which are a form of training exercises as they improve their missile readiness).
The one opportunity missed here is that these statements should be coming from CINCCFC. CFC is the bilateral command that has the mission to deter war and defend the ROK. It is equally "co-owned" by Korea and the US. USFK is merely a force provider to CFC and a subunified Command of USINDOPACOM. We should be highlighting every opportunity to highlight CFC because it is CFC that is the warfighting command and it belongs to the Korean people as much (if not more so) than the US. It is because we place so much emphasis on USFK that the Korean media does and because of that the Koreans continue to believe the US controls Korean forces and that there is a sovereignty issue (when there is not really one).
USFK rebuts North Korea’s allegation that joint drills are ‘gravely threatening’
The command’s statement comes shortly after Pyongyang criticized Washington’s recent military activities in the region
Jooheon Kim November 28, 2025
https://www.nknews.org/2025/11/usfk-rebuts-north-koreas-allegation-that-joint-drills-are-gravely-threatening/
A joint U.S.-ROK air exercise | Image: ROK Ministry of Defense (April 15, 2025)
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday that its joint military exercises with South Korean troops are designed to prevent conflict, rather than provoke North Korea, in response to state media’s criticism characterizing the drills as “reckless military maneuvers.”
“Our training events are transparent and focused on deterrence, defense, and the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the region,” the command said in a statement. “We maintain a strictly defensive posture, and our exercises are designed to prevent conflict, not provoke it.”
USFK’s statement comes hours after Pyongyang criticized Washington’s recent military activities, including the Silent Shark anti-submarine exercise and the formation of an F-16 Fighting Falcon “Super Squadron” at Osan Air Base.
The “reckless military moves that started at the very beginning of this year, gravely threatening the strategic stability in and around the Korean Peninsula, are becoming more blatant even in the closing days of the year,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) wrote in a column Friday morning.
The column also took aim at a recent maritime counter special operations exercise (MCSOFEX) that involved guided-missile destroyers, anti-submarine helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft.
The exercise was conducted near Pyeongtaek city, home of Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas that also serves as USFK’s headquarters.
“We have already made it clear that all threats encroaching upon our sphere of security will become direct targets of the DPRK and be managed in a necessary way,” KCNA said. “The DPRK will further devote itself to defending its national sovereignty … as the U.S. continues to renew its record in the demonstration of its military strength threatening the regional countries.”
KCNA’s column referenced news reports of the U.S. Marine Corps’ establishment of a Forward Arming and Refueling Point on Yonaguni Island, near the Taiwan Strait.
Ban Kil-joo, an assistant professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said KCNA’s rhetoric appears aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties with Beijing.
“The U.S. mention of changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait touches the most sensitive areas, and North Korea’s support for China reflects a calculation to elevate Pyongyang-Beijing strategic cooperation to a level comparable to Pyongyang-Moscow strategic dealings,” he told NK News on Friday.
The column was published shortly before acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim reportedly delivered remarks suggesting the U.S. and South Korea should address regional challenges, rather than focusing solely on the Korean Peninsula.
Ban noted that the U.S. is increasingly positioned to take on missions beyond defending the Korean Peninsula, while also strengthening South Korea’s own “defensive capabilities.”
Meanwhile, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Friday that the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. was the impetus for a peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.
Despite that goal, Chung said he predicted Pyongyang may continue to advance its policy characterizing Seoul as a hostile state in 2026.
Edited by David Choi
2. After Kursk: The foreign wars where North Korea could deploy its soldiers next
Summary:
North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia’s Kursk front has opened a potential new revenue stream: exporting soldiers and arms. Where might Pyongyang seek its next seek advantage? Iran is the most plausible theater, given long missile cooperation and past wartime advisers, but only if Israel ever launched a major ground invasion. Venezuela is rhetorically aligned yet distant and weakly connected, making real DPRK involvement unlikely. In Sudan and Myanmar, Pyongyang is far more apt to sell weapons than send troops. Overall, sanctions drive opportunism abroad, but Kim will chase hard currency without risking reckless overextension.
Excerpts:
North Korea’s audacious troop deployment to Kursk surprised many Western analysts, who had not expected such bold action from a secretive regime generally inclined to avoid foreign entanglements.
Therefore, it would be unwise to dismiss the possibility of the so-called Hermit Kingdom demonstrating its military capabilities in other hotspots. The DPRK’s industrialized economy depends heavily on war and benefits from stoking conflicts worldwide.
Still, we should avoid imagining North Korean soldiers and weapons appearing everywhere. Ultimately, this is a small, impoverished nation — opportunistic, but not reckless. It is unlikely to risk its most capable troops and advanced weaponry for distant friends in Venezuela and in Myanmar.
Comment: In the future? What do we think the nKPA has been doing for decades? It has long capitalized on conflict aboard. Dr. Young knows this from his own work. And Dr. Bruce Bechtol's numerous books describe the regime's illicit proliferation activities which includes not only weapons but training and advisory missions to conflict areas, particularly in the MIddle East and Africa. but this always flies under our radar. Yes, as Dr. Young points out we can be sure that the opportunities are here and we should expect KJU to exploit them. The question is what will we do about them?
After Kursk: The foreign wars where North Korea could deploy its soldiers next
A full-blown mercenary force is unlikely, but a heavily sanctioned DPRK will still look to capitalize on conflict abroad
Benjamin R. Young November 28, 2025
https://www.nknews.org/2025/11/after-kursk-the-foreign-wars-where-north-korea-could-deploy-its-soldiers-next/
North Korean soldiers at the groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial to troops killed fighting in the Ukraine war | Image: KCTV (Oct. 2025)
The surprise deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine was one of Kim Jong Un’s boldest moves to date, scrambling expectations about his willingness to get involved in foreign conflicts.
Now, as the Trump administration renews its push for a peace deal and Pyongyang honors soldiers who died fighting in Kursk, a new question looms: Will North Korea send its soldiers to other wars too?
By exporting mercenaries, North Korea may have stumbled upon a new revenue stream for its cash-starved regime. And with plenty of flashpoints worldwide, Kim’s next move could easily reach beyond Ukraine, especially since he has now openly acknowledged the deployment of DPRK soldiers to Russia.
On the one hand, it remains to be seen whether North Korea is willing to transform military units into full-fledged mercenary forces, and there are few conflicts where it would make sense for Pyongyang to send troops.
But given the DPRK’s heavily sanctioned economy, there are clear incentives for Kim Jong Un to find other lucrative opportunities abroad for his battle-hardened soldiers, highlighting the importance of monitoring the war zones that North Korea could look to exploit.
Iranian soldiers at a ceremony | Image: Mohammadreza Abbasi via Wikimedia Commons
IRAN
Historically, the armed forces of North Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran have had close relations, especially with respect to ballistic missile cooperation. For example, North Korea helped Iranian scientists develop rocket boosters for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Pyongyang and Tehran may not be the closest allies geographically, but a mutual distrust of Western powers ideologically bonds the two countries.
Israel’s recent air campaign against Iranian nuclear facilities proved devastating, leaving much of Iran’s air defense network severely weakened. While North Korea’s expertise in nuclear technology and underground tunnel building is well-known, Israel’s Mossad will be closely watching any Iranian efforts to rebuild the sites that were destroyed. Thus, it is unlikely that the DPRK would be willing to send some of its top nuclear experts and tunnel engineers to Tehran for the risky endeavor of helping Iran rebuild its nuclear program.
If Israel, with U.S. assistance, ever does decide to launch a ground invasion of Iran, it would not be totally implausible to see North Korean soldiers helping the Iranians.
The DPRK has a history of providing military assistance to Iran during wartime. In 1986, during the height of the Iran-Iraq War, The Washington Post revealed that roughly 300 North Korean military advisors were assisting Iran’s armed forces at senior levels. According to a 1984 estimate from South Korea’s Choson Ilbo, approximately 40% of Iran’s arms imports came from the DPRK.
Although times have changed, North Korea’s dependence on hard currency and oil remains. Another chance to gain valuable modern combat experience could also entice Kim Jong Un to assist Iran if Israel were to launch an invasion.
Still, the likelihood of a full-scale, Israeli-led ground offensive against Iran remains low, so North Korea will likely avoid placing boots on the ground in the Middle East for now.
U.S. Marines conduct live fire drills aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), while underway in the Caribbean Sea in Sept. 2025. | Image: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tanner Bernat
VENEZUELA
As U.S. warships destroy Venezuelan vessels, the prospect of an American invasion has set off alarm bells across South America.
Although both Nicolas Maduro and Kim Jong Un rail against U.S imperialism in their speeches, the two leaders do not have close ties. In 2006, Maduro criticized North Korea’s first nuclear test
The significant political distance between Pyongyang and Caracas is further underscored by the vast geographical distance separating the two. Thus, the likelihood of North Korean involvement in a potential U.S.-Venezuela conflict remains extremely low.
However, North Korea’s state media will surely issue proclamations of solidarity if its Venezuela comrades face the full power of the U.S. military.
So far, official DPRK outlets have restricted themselves to covering other countries’ criticism of U.S. actions against Caracas, without issuing direct statements on the situation. Foreign Minister Choi Son Hui also expressed firm support for Venezuela in its “struggle for defending the sovereignty and security of the country” in a letter to her counterpart in October.
SUDAN
Sudan is one of the most underreported active war zones, with humanitarian groups warning that the country has descended into the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. Weapons from around the world continue to flood into Sudan, as the insurgent Rapid Support Forces (RSF), backed by the United Arab Emirates, launches assaults on the Sudanese Army in western Darfur.
While North Korea and the Sudanese government do have a recent history of military cooperation, with the DPRK reportedly providing $6.4 million worth of “rocket control sections” and missiles in 2013, Khartoum cut off all defense-related ties with Pyongyang in 2018.
It is conceivable that an increasingly desperate Sudanese military might turn to its longtime allies in Pyongyang for rearmament. In fact, in May 2025, Sudan’s defense minister, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Yassin, reportedly visited North Korea to discuss “several security and defense issues.” However, DPRK state media did not report on such a visit.
The likelihood of DPRK troops actually deploying to this distant African conflict — one that holds no strategic significance for Pyongyang — is virtually nonexistent. But the DPRK’s revitalized military industries are likely seeking new customers beyond Russia, and war-torn Sudan is ripe for DPRK arms exports.
A township in Myanmar on fire after a reported air attack during the country’s civil war | Image: MPATV via Wikimedia Commons
MYANMAR
The civil war in Myanmar continues to rage as government forces battle a wide range of rebel groups.
Historically, the Burmese military junta has enjoyed close relations with Pyongyang. In fact, it was so close that there were legitimate concerns in 2010 that North Korea was secretly helping the junta build a nuclear bomb.
In 2013, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited Myanmar, where President Thein Sein assured him that the country would halt its arms purchases from the DPRK.
But it appears that, since its 2021 takeover, Myanmar’s military junta has revitalized arms sales with North Korea. In Sept. 2025, the U.S government issued sanctions on five individuals and one company for facilitating weapons sales between the junta and the DPRK.
The likelihood of North Korean soldiers fighting in Myanmar’s civil war remains low, primarily because of China’s support for the junta and its dominant role in mediating peace talks among the warring factions. The DPRK is unlikely to jeopardize its relationship with its largest trading partner by openly siding with Myanmar.
LOOKING FORWARD
North Korea’s audacious troop deployment to Kursk surprised many Western analysts, who had not expected such bold action from a secretive regime generally inclined to avoid foreign entanglements.
Therefore, it would be unwise to dismiss the possibility of the so-called Hermit Kingdom demonstrating its military capabilities in other hotspots. The DPRK’s industrialized economy depends heavily on war and benefits from stoking conflicts worldwide.
Still, we should avoid imagining North Korean soldiers and weapons appearing everywhere. Ultimately, this is a small, impoverished nation — opportunistic, but not reckless. It is unlikely to risk its most capable troops and advanced weaponry for distant friends in Venezuela and in Myanmar.
Edited by Bryan Betts
3. [Column] A prospect more worrying than a Korean Peninsula sans US
Summary:
Moon Chung-in argues that debating a Korean Peninsula “without the US” misses the more dangerous reality: an alliance trapped in costly, uncertain status quo. US isolationism or full troop withdrawal is unlikely, as is peninsula-wide peace and neutrality. More plausible is US “offshore balancing,” with Seoul and other allies carrying greater defense burdens while relying on US nuclear guarantees. Yet the worst case is today’s pattern persisting: Washington demanding tariffs, investments and “strategic flexibility,” hinting at troop cuts and risking entanglement in unwanted regional conflicts. Moon calls for greater Korean strategic autonomy, multilateral security frameworks, diversified economic ties and proactive inter-Korean détente.
Comment: Dr. Moon Chung In is no fan of the ROK/US alliance and he would like the certainty of US forces leaving the peninsula (though he will not state that). Of course he is correct in criticizing some of the US actions. But there is one point he makes that undermines the weakness of Korean strategic thinking among those of his particular political faction and that is the so-called "risk of UNWANTED regional conflicts." Read the map. Look at the geography. Listen to regional actors' words. While entanglement in regional conflicts are certainly unwanted, they cannot be avoided and they will not be avoided whether or not there is a presence of US troops (paradoxically they are more likely to occur without US troop presence than with US troop presence). Such conflicts will not be a matter of choice.
[Column] A prospect more worrying than a Korean Peninsula sans US
english.hani.co.kr
The worst-case scenario is maintaining the uncertainty of the current status quo
By Chung-in Moon
Posted on : 2025-11-24 17:19 KST Modified on : 2025-11-24 17:19 KST
https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/english_editorials/1230970.html
President Lee Jae Myung gives a briefing on the joint fact sheet South Korea released with the US on tariff and security agreements, held at the presidential office in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2025. (Yonhap)
By Chung-in Moon, James Laney Distinguished Professor at Yonsei University
“The ROK-US alliance has developed into a genuinely future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance that covers national security, the economy and cutting-edge technology. The door is wide open for a renaissance in the ROK-US alliance that will be beneficial for both countries,” Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Nov. 14.
Lee was sharing his stance on the fact sheet that Korea and the US had published about a series of agreements reached in recent months.
Despite criticism, it is surely undeniable that the Lee administration strove valiantly in the areas of tariffs, investments, national security, and nuclear energy, especially compared with the US’ negotiations with Japan and Saudi Arabia, to take two notable examples. That just shows how tough these negotiations were to begin with.
Watching these negotiations play out and wind down has impressed upon me the bitterness and anguish of being a small power.
The negotiations were the latest reminder of US President Donald Trump’s conviction that Korean security and prosperity were only made possible by American munificence and that the time has come for Korea, as a wealthy country, to pay the US back.
Trump has been criticized for leaving no room for fairness or symbiosis in his “retroactive transactionalism” and for taking unilateral actions aimed at looting others under the pretext of being mutually beneficial.
Such tendencies were evident in the self-deprecatory lament by Korean Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan, who played a key role in the negotiations with the US. “There’s nothing fair about the terms [of this MOU]. Does it make sense to split the proceeds 50-50 when the US isn’t paying a penny?”
In these proceedings, there is no sign of the US as the world’s impartial and benevolent benefactor.
The issue here is excessive dependence on the US for its security. And that’s not limited to Korea — Japan, Saudi Arabia and even the countries of Europe are prone to structural vulnerabilities deriving from the US’ security umbrella.
For such reasons, some in Korea have even begun discussing the once-taboo subject of “the Korean Peninsula without the US.”
Is there any substance to such speculation?
The Korean Peninsula without American involvement would be predicated on the annulment of the ROK-US alliance and the withdrawal of American troops currently stationed on the peninsula. That would also mean the US writing off the option of exerting military influence not only on the peninsula itself but in East Asia more broadly.
That would only be possible if the US, stretched to its limits and bowing to MAGA demands, were to adopt an isolationist policy of focusing on regional hegemony over the Western Hemisphere (that is, the Americas) under the banner of an updated Monroe Doctrine (sometimes called the “Donroe Doctrine,” after Donald Trump). This scenario also presumes the US acknowledging the Korean Peninsula and East Asia being absorbed into the Chinese sphere of influence.
Another way for the ROK-US alliance to be repealed and US troops to be pulled out is if South and North Korea were to end their hostile relationship, establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and declare a neutral policy line.
But realistically speaking, the chances of either of these scenarios becoming a reality are remote. The US is unlikely to pivot to radical isolationism, just as the Korean Peninsula is unlikely to see the establishment of a peace regime to a degree that would justify the withdrawal of US troops, at least any time soon.
Furthermore, the US and China’s escalating strategic rivalry is likely to serve as a negative factor.
It is also possible to envision the US seeking to greatly reduce, if not completely withdraw, US Forces Korea (USFK) while becoming an “offshore balancer” and entrusting regional defense, including the role of counterbalancing or containing China, to South Korea and other allies. In this scenario, Korea would play the leading role in its own defense while regional defense would be handled jointly by American allies in the area such as Korea and Japan, with the US providing extended deterrence (including the nuclear umbrella) as well as supplemental military support.
That’s the position advocated by mainstream “realist” political scientists in the US, including John Mearsheimer. That scenario could also leave South Korea in an uneasy security posture.
But the worst-case scenario is maintaining the uncertainty of the current status quo. If the US maintains its alliance with Korea and USFK while making excessive demands by way of compensation, Korea could find itself in a security dilemma even more troubling than the scenarios of the US becoming an offshore balancer or vacating the Korean Peninsula altogether. These dilemmas include the considerable risk of the US threatening to draw down or pull out troops unless Korea makes “appropriate” defense contributions or entangling Korea in an unwanted regional conflict.
The US insistence on “strategic flexibility” — which could mean arbitrarily relocating USFK troops or equipment or redefining its role without adequate prior discussion with the Korean government — is bound to be a serious liability. And if the US were to slap Korea with heavy tariffs for failing to carry out its investment commitments, that could rock the ROK-US alliance to its very foundations.
Thus, we need to focus on the strategic uncertainty that would ensue from a Korean Peninsula without the US.
What actions should we take?
First, we need to counteract uncertainty in the alliance by boosting our strategic autonomy and our independent defense capabilities.
Second, we need to actively seek a new regional order of multilateral security cooperation that goes beyond collective defense agreements based on our alliance with the US.
Third, we need to explore practical ways to avoid economic pressure from the US through open regionalism and a multilateral trade order.
Ultimately, the Korean government needs to play a leading role in ending hostility in South-North relations and in building a win-win, symbiotic regional order that transcends geopolitical alignment.
Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
english.hani.co.kr
4. N. Korean hacking group Lazarus suspected behind recent crypto hacking: sources
Comment: Must defeat the all purpose sword. Or at least dull it so it does not cut so deeply.
(LEAD) N. Korean hacking group Lazarus suspected behind recent crypto hacking: sources | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kang Yoon-seung · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128003952320?section=national/national
(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4-10)
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korean hacking group Lazarus is suspected to be behind a recent breach of around 45 billion won (US$30.6 million) worth of cryptocurrency from South Korea's largest crypto exchange Upbit, sources said Friday.
According to government and business sources, authorities plan to carry out an on-site investigation at the crypto exchange with a belief that Lazarus was behind the hacking.
Dunamu, which operates Upbit, said Thursday it confirmed the transfer of 44.5 billion won worth of Solana-affiliated assets to an unauthorized wallet address and plans to cover the full amount with assets the company owns.
The hacking group had been suspected of stealing 58 billion won worth of Ethereum from Upbit in 2019.
Authorities said the methods used in the latest incident resembled those of the 2019 theft.
"Instead of attacking the server, it is possible that hackers compromised administrators' accounts or posed as administrators to make the transfer," a government official said.
Experts note the hacking incident came while Pyongyang is seeking to raise money amid a shortage of foreign currency.
"It is the tactic of Lazarus to transfer crypto to wallets at other exchanges and attempt money laundering," a security official said, noting such methods make it impossible to track the transaction.
Others said hackers may have intentionally chosen Thursday for their attack, as Naver Corp., South Korea's top search engine operator, announced its decision on the previous day to acquire Dunamu as a wholly owned subsidiary of Naver Financial through a share-swap deal.
"Hackers have a strong tendency toward self-display," another security official said.
This file photo taken on Nov. 27, 2025, shows the logo of Dunamu at the headquarters of Naver Corp. in Seongnam, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
en.yna.co.kr · Kang Yoon-seung · November 28, 2025
5. USFK says combined S. Korea-U.S. drills 'strictly defensive' following N.K. criticism
Comment: These words should be coming from the ROK/US Combined Forces Command.
USFK says combined S. Korea-U.S. drills 'strictly defensive' following N.K. criticism | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Minji · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128003800315?section=nk/nk
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday its combined drills with the South Korean military are "strictly defensive" in nature after North Korea accused the allies' exercises as being aimed at deterring the North.
The statement by the USFK came hours after Pyongyang condemned a series of combined military drills between the allies, including the Silent Shark anti-submarine warfare drills and the recent U.S. forward deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Osan Air Base in South Korea.
"Our training events are transparent and focused on deterrence, defense, and the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the region," the USFK said. "We maintain a strictly defensive posture, and our exercises are designed to prevent conflict, not provoke it."
The USFK said the defensive training exercises, held in a routine and long-planned manner, are aimed at defending the allies as well as upholding its "ironclad commitment" to South Korea.
The North has often strongly protested against the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to South Korea and implementation of large-scale joint drills between the allies.
In the latest statement, it said the North will be prepared to counter "the confrontation-oriented moves of the enemy states," adding that "all threats encroaching upon our sphere of security will become direct targets of the DPRK and be managed in a necessary way." DPRK stands for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The North's commentary, released through its state-run Korean Central News Agency, appeared to highlight Pyongyang's shared interests with China, which has accused the United States of attempting unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region, blaming recent U.S. military actions.
This Nov. 20, 2025, file photo shows South Korean and U.S. troops conducting combined river-crossing drills as part of the South Korean military's annual Hoguk exercise. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Minji · November 28, 2025
6. Pyongyang says S. Korea-U.S. joint military drills aimed at deterring N. Korea
Comment: KJU and the KFR say the message is received.
Pyongyang says S. Korea-U.S. joint military drills aimed at deterring N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128000700315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday blasted the recent joint U.S.-South Korea anti-submarine drills called Silent Shark, as well as other joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington, saying such drills were aimed at deterring Pyongyang.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the criticism in a commentary, taking aim at recent joint drills between Washington and Seoul, including an anti-special operation drill near South Korea's Pyeongtaek and the monthlong Silent Shark exercise in Guam.
The KCNA also cited the recent U.S. forward deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Osan Air Base in South Korea to bolster joint operational capability, as well as the recent installation of a U.S. forward arming and refueling point on Japan's Yonaguni Island and the upcoming Proliferation Security Initiative drill in Japanese waters.
"It is an irrefutable fact that it is aimed at deterring the DPRK and regional countries by force and securing air superiority in contingency," the KCNA said. DPRK stands for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
North Korea called them "habitual and reckless" military moves by the U.S., claiming that it clearly indicates "where the origin of the instability of the regional situation is" and who is to be blamed for "the unilateral changes to status quo."
The pretext of "regular drills" can never cover up their aggressive and provocative nature, the KCNA said, calling the U.S. "an evil factor fostering the possibility of armed conflict."
"The U.S. is the chieftain threatening the peace and stability and destroying the strategic security balance. This fact has already been settled as an absolute value in the perception of the independent sovereign states in the region," the KCNA said.
North Korea will be prepared to counter "the confrontation-oriented moves of the enemy states," the KCNA said, adding that "all threats encroaching upon our sphere of security will become direct targets of the DPRK and be managed in a necessary way."
It also warned that North Korea will further devote itself to defending its national sovereignty and interests and protecting the regional peace and stability through the exercise of its essential rights, in response to the U.S.' renewed demonstrations of military strength.
Friday's KCNA commentary appeared to highlight North Korea's shared interests with China, which has accused the U.S. of attempting unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region, blaming recent U.S. military actions.
This image, provided by the South Korean Navy, shows the Navy's Ahn Mu submarine leaving the Jinhae military base on Nov. 4, 2025, to participate in the Silent Shark exercise with the U.S. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · November 28, 2025
7. Lee urges spy agency to remain faithful to original role
Comment: Why and how was the NIS used for political purposes? POTROK, please heed your own words.
(LEAD) Lee urges spy agency to remain faithful to original role | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128010951315?section=national/politics
(ATTN: UPDATES with Lee's remarks in paras 3-5)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Friday urged the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to faithfully carry out its original duties, expressing regret that the spy agency had been misused for political purposes in past administrations, the presidential office said.
Lee made the remarks during his first visit to the NIS since taking office in June. It also marks his first visit to a government agency for a policy briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters.
"It is regrettable that the vast majority of you are doing your best for the nation and our people. Yet, there are exceptional situations where the agency had been politically misused, including fabricated espionage cases. When that happens, all employees end up being criticized," Lee said. "I hope such things will never happen again."
Lee said he chose the NIS as the first government agency to visit in order to underscore its importance.
"I believe that intelligence operations have a profound impact on the nation's governance," he said. "I hope that you will continue to faithfully carry out the roles entrusted to you, so that the NIS becomes a respected institution."
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during his first visit to the National Intelligence Service in Seoul on Nov. 28, 2025, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, former NIS chief Cho Tae-yong, who has been under arrest, was indicted by a special counsel team over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid last December.
Lee stressed that the NIS is an institution capable of achieving significant results when operating properly, calling for an intensified crackdown on domestic drug trafficking networks.
During the briefing, NIS Director Lee Jong-seok noted that half of the agency's 16 former chiefs, including Cho, had been imprisoned on charges ranging from illegal wiretapping and online opinion manipulation to involvement in martial law schemes. He pledged to restore the agency's integrity and ensure that it faithfully serves the public interest.
As part of his visit, President Lee also toured the NIS National Space Security Center, becoming the first sitting president to visit the facility.
President Lee Jae Myung lays a wreath at a memorial stone for National Intelligence Service (NIS) employees who died in the line of duty during his visit to the NIS in Seoul on Nov. 28, 2025, in this photo provided by the presidential office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · November 28, 2025
8. North Korea officially condemns recent increase in number of South Korea-U.S. military exercises
Comment: Again the KFR is getting the message. Good. And we must not fear its rhetoric.
North Korea officially condemns recent increase in number of South Korea-U.S. military exercises
Published: 28 Nov. 2025, 17:26
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-11-28/national/northKorea/North-Korea-officially-condemns-recent-increase-in-number-of-South-KoreaUS-military-exercises/2465708
The Korean Navy’s 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class submarine Ahn Mu departs Jinhae Naval Base on Nov. 4 to take part in the Silent Shark 2025 exercise. [REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY]
North Korea on Friday condemned the recent uptick in the number of joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises, warning that it would “further devote itself to defending its national sovereignty and interests and protecting the region's peace and stability through the exercise of its essential rights” in response.
The statement, titled “Commentary on U.S. Reckless Military Maneuvers Indicating Origin of Instability of Regional Situation,” was published on Friday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Observers say that the rebuke criticizes both Seoul and Washington while underscoring Pyongyang's cooperation with Beijing on regional issues — the latter highlighting North Korea’s intent to reinforce its trilateral alignment with China and Russia.
Related Article
The article specifically mentioned maritime drills involving guided missile destroyers, antisubmarine helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft; the forward deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi; and the “Silent Shark” antisubmarine warfare exercise conducted near Guam.
“The expression ‘regular drill’ can never cover up the aggressive nature of the provocative acts done with extreme belligerence and an offensive nature,” it read.
“The [United States] is the chieftain threatening the peace and stability and destroying the strategic security balance. This fact has already been settled as an absolute value in the perception of the independent sovereign states in the region.”
North Korea also reiterated that its policy position remains “consistent” in the face of such hostilities: “We have already made it clear that all threats encroaching upon our sphere of security will become direct targets of [North Korea] and be managed in a necessary way.”
Experts say the statement may reflect China’s position on U.S.-led military activity in the region. China has consistently accused the United States of attempting to unilaterally alter the region's status quo, particularly in the Taiwan Strait. The latest remarks by North Korea seem to highlight its shared strategic interests with its allies China and Russia, as the regime signals a shift away from isolationism toward a more assertive diplomatic posture on regional issues.
The Korean Navy conducts a Korea-U.S. joint antisubmarine warfare exercise in waters near Guam from Oct. 6 to 22. [REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY]
In August, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a key official overseeing inter-Korean and U.S. affairs, told senior North Korean Foreign Ministry officials that “not even menial tasks will be given to South Korea on any diplomatic stage led by our state.”
She also instructed the ministry to “seek appropriate responses to countries that align with the most hostile forces and lend an ear to their propaganda.”
“The message seems designed to show unity with China as Sino-Japanese tensions rise, especially after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comment about possible intervention in a Taiwan crisis,” said Oh Kyung-seop, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “As North Korea pursues more aggressive diplomacy, it appears intent on strengthening trilateral cooperation with China and Russia to solidify its own sphere of influence.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHUNG YEONG-GYO [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]
9. Army official demoted after reevaluation over martial law involvement
Comment: And I fear there is more to come.
Army official demoted after reevaluation over martial law involvement | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128011000315?section=national/defense
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- A senior Army official has been demoted over his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid last year, sources said Friday, facing a stronger disciplinary measure following a reevaluation.
The decision came after Prime Minister Kim Min-seok ordered the withdrawal of an earlier 10-day disciplinary measure against Brig. Gen. Kim Sang-hwan, the chief of the Army's legal affairs office, calling for a tougher punishment.
The defense ministry said it reconvened a disciplinary committee earlier in the day and handed out the heavy disciplinary measure on the grounds of violations of relevant legislation and duty of diligence.
Kim was one of the 34 people aboard a bus that departed for Seoul from the Army headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, shortly after the National Assembly voted to lift the martial law decree. They returned about 30 minutes after departure.
The military had initially imposed the second-lowest level of disciplinary action against Kim but reversed the decision following orders by the prime minister, who pointed out Kim's failure to fulfill his obligation to advise the martial law commander to immediately lift the decree.
Following the demotion, Kim, who had been scheduled for discharge on Sunday, will retire from service with the rank of colonel, sources familiar with the issue said.
This photo, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows flags flying at the defense ministry compound. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · November 28, 2025
10. Assessing indigenous capabilities should precede negotiations with U.S. on nuclear-powered sub: FM
Comment: yes, but... Certainly the ROK has some of the best shipbuilding capabilities in the world. But a nuclear reactor in a ship may take a little more development beyond the capabilities that currently exist in the ROK.
Assessing indigenous capabilities should precede negotiations with U.S. on nuclear-powered sub: FM | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128007300315
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea should first assess the extent of its capabilities to build a nuclear-powered submarine before entering negotiations with the United States over its pursuit of the submarine, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Friday.
The top diplomat made the remarks during a parliamentary session after Washington affirmed its support for Seoul's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in a mid-November joint fact sheet outlining summit agreements reached between the leaders of the countries.
The broad agreement is expected to undergo negotiations between the allies to determine specifics, although the negotiations could be a lengthy process.
"A rigorous self-assessment of our ability to construct nuclear-powered submarines should come first, covering three major parts: the main submarine hull, the nuclear propulsion system and the nuclear fuel," Cho told the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee session.
"Based on that, (we) will draw up a negotiation plan with the U.S. to begin talks," he said.
Currently, a "comprehensive review" is under way to determine whether the South Korea-U.S. nuclear energy pact, which restricts Seoul's uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, should be revised or whether a new clause should be added to the pact in connection with the nuclear-powered submarine development, the minister noted.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · November 28, 2025
11. N. Korea may strengthen hostile stance against S. Korea next year: unification minister
Comment: An assessment most likely to be correct. But I am sure it is not the one he wants to make. I am sure he wishes that the north would reduce its hostile stance and policy and negotiate like a responsible member of the international community and seek true peaceful co-existence. But that unfortunately is a fantasy.
We should consider why the KFR might harden its hostile stance next year. Perhaps it is because KJU is facing tremendous internal pressures because of his policy and leadership failures and therefore he must "externalize" the threat to distract from the internal ones, which is on page one of the KFR playbook.
N. Korea may strengthen hostile stance against S. Korea next year: unification minister | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Minji · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128009000315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korea may seek to strengthen its hostile stance against South Korea next year, the unification minister said Friday, urging efforts to resume dialogue with the recalcitrant regime.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young made the remarks as the government is seeking to mend frayed ties with North Korea while Pyongyang remains unresponsive to calls for dialogue after defining inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other" in 2023.
"The government believes that confrontation, hostility and hate should be removed ... and a new year for the co-existence of peace on the Korean Peninsula through the restoration of peace, reconciliation, cooperation and dialogue should begin," Chung told lawmakers in a session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee.
The minister said the resumption of dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington will serve as a "decisive" factor in setting the environment for such a goal.
"The remaining five months until summit talks between the United States and China is a decisive period," Chung said, stressing that Seoul should not stand idly by.
Chung's remarks were seen as urging efforts to help set circumstances for a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when Trump visits Beijing in April for summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks during a plenary session of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee at the National Assembly in Seoul on Nov. 28, 2025. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Minji · November 28, 2025
12. S. Korea's top envoy to U.S. to visit Georgia, 2 other states to promote industrial cooperation
Comment: Can we undo or reduce the damage done from our Georgia ICE raid debacle?
S. Korea's top envoy to U.S. to visit Georgia, 2 other states to promote industrial cooperation | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128008900315
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Ambassador to the United Sates Kang Kyung-wha will visit Georgia, Texas and Arizona next week in an effort to help promote bilateral industrial cooperation, the foreign ministry said Friday.
A delegation, led by Kang, will visit the three U.S. states from Monday through Friday as part of efforts to enhance "public diplomacy" with the U.S., according to the ministry.
During the trip, the delegation will hold conferences in cooperation with major universities in those states and visit factories run by South Korean companies, such as Hyundai Motor Group, Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Energy Solution Ltd.
The trip is aimed at helping to advance the two nations' "future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance" and promote U.S. understanding of South Korea's strategic value as a key partner for industrial cooperation, according to the ministry.
South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a press conference with South Korean correspondents at the South Korean culture center in Washington in this Nov. 18, 2025, file photo. (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · November 28, 2025
13. Gov't to invest 280 bln won in developing next-generation battery technologies
Comment: Like the Graduate in 1968 and "plastics" the future is "batteries." And Korea will likely be one of the leaders in this area.
Gov't to invest 280 bln won in developing next-generation battery technologies | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Na-young · November 28, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251128006300320
SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- The government will spend 280 billion won (US$191 million) over the next four years to develop next-generation battery technologies, such as all-solid-state, lithium metal and lithium sulfur batteries, which would help local companies boost their competitiveness amid intensifying global competition, the industry ministry said Friday.
The investment plan, aimed at securing global leadership of the country's secondary battery industry, was unveiled at the latest national advanced industry committee meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said the government devised such a plan in a bid to enhance the competitiveness of the secondary battery industry, which it said plays a significant role in achieving carbon neutrality and in the future mobility sector but is facing major challenges, such as the global electric vehicle (EV) chasm and China's rise in the sector.
This illustration depicts South Korea's battery technologies. (Yonhap)
The government will first devise a 10-year road map on fostering the transition of the local industry based on technological advances, rather than price competitiveness, while improving the domestic industrial ecosystem with a focus on battery materials and maintaining the production base in Korea by boosting demand for EVs and energy storage systems.
It will also come up with support measures for companies' efforts to commercialize next-generation battery materials and develop new standard-type batteries that deliver stronger performance than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
In addition, the government will work to reduce Korea's high dependence on China for key materials and critical minerals used to make secondary batteries while boosting battery demand.
To this end, the Seoul government will select foreign countries eligible for critical minerals cooperation and devise customized strategies by country. It will also funnel 100 billion won into a supply chain stabilization fund and expand low-interest loan programs to companies investing in critical minerals.
For fostering battery demand, the government will expand subsidies for EVs and cut individual consumption and acquisition tax.
It will also work to create fresh battery demands from the defense, robotics and shipping industries, and designate additional special industrial complexes for rechargeable battery makers, defense companies and robotics firms, according to the ministry.
This file photo, provided by the city government of Goyang on April 22, 2025, shows an electric vehicle charging station in the city. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Na-young · November 28, 2025
14. Korea-US joint fact sheet does not require Assembly ratification: FM
Summary:
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told lawmakers the Korea–US joint fact sheet is a nonbinding MOU, so it does not require Assembly ratification, though any public burdens would need separate legislation. He warned halting pledged investments could restore US tariffs and outlined capability reviews before talks on Korea’s nuclear submarine program.
Comment: I think the FM is correct. At best the fact sheet is aspirational but any specific action or substantive agreement may require legislative approval.
Korea-US joint fact sheet does not require Assembly ratification: FM - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
By Lee Hyo-jin
Published Nov 28, 2025 4:10 pm KST
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20251128/korea-us-joint-fact-sheet-does-not-require-assembly-ratification-fm
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, speaks during a session of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Friday that the Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet outlining trade and security commitments following the recent summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump does not require National Assembly ratification, as it is structured as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) rather than a legally binding treaty.
"From the beginning of discussions, the United States preferred this to take the form of an MOU rather than a treaty or a binding obligation, and it has done the same with other countries. The MOU clearly states that it does not contain any mandatory provisions," Cho said during a session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, when asked about the fact sheet.
"Therefore, we have decided that the MOU itself does not require parliamentary ratification. However, if it imposes burden on the public, we will seek National Assembly approval through a separate bill."
On the enforceability of the fact sheet, Cho said, "While we can suspend investment pledges midway, the U.S. position is that tariffs would be raised again in such a case.”
Earlier this month, Seoul and Washington announced the joint fact sheet, which reduced U.S. sectoral tariffs on Korean goods in an apparent exchange for substantial Korean investments in American shipbuilding and strategic technology industries.
Opposition lawmakers have argued that the agreement requires National Assembly ratification, but government officials have rejected that claim.
Meanwhile, touching on Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program, Cho said the country must first evaluate its capabilities before beginning talks with Washington.
"We must first assess our capabilities regarding three components — the submarine body, the nuclear propulsion system and nuclear fuel. Based on that assessment, we plan to draw up a negotiation framework and begin talks with the U.S.," he said.
Korea is preparing to develop its first nuclear-powered submarine, now made possible with U.S. approval for uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, activities previously restricted under the bilateral nuclear energy agreement.
Cho said discussions on the nuclear energy agreement are under review, noting, "We are comprehensively reviewing whether to amend the current agreement or to add specific provisions that would allow us to carry out uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing."
According to the foreign ministry, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo will travel to Washington next week to hold follow-up talks on the joint fact sheet with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
15. All options open on NK peace plan: acting US ambassador to Seoul
Summary:
Acting US Ambassador Kevin Kim said all options remain open for a North Korea peace plan, portraying POTUS as a “peacemaker” willing to try unconventional approaches. His staff/advisors aim to expand his menu of choices, he said, stressing any path will prioritize peninsula security. Kim reaffirmed US extended deterrence and the roughly 28,500 troops in Korea, calling the recent Korea US joint fact sheet a historic document. The deal commits Seoul to higher defense spending, major US arms purchases, and investment in American industries, as part of alliance modernization for broader Indo Pacific challenges, including stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Comment: very comprehensive statement from Acting Ambassador Kim. I wonder if POTUS is going to go ahead and nominate him for the permanent ambassador position?
All options open on NK peace plan: acting US ambassador to Seoul - The Korea Times
Future of South Korea, US interdependent, says Kevin Kim
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
By Lee Hyo-jin
Published Nov 28, 2025 12:15 pm KST
Updated Nov 28, 2025 4:20 pm KST
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20251128/all-options-open-on-nk-peace-plan-acting-us-envoy-to-seoul
Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Kevin Kim speaks during a forum hosted by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation at Dragon Hill Lodge in Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
U.S. options for a peace plan on North Korea remain open, acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim said Friday, casting President Donald Trump as a “peacemaker” willing to pursue unconventional approaches toward Pyongyang.
"Given my experience working for the president on North Korea, one must always talk to the fact that he is the peacemaker himself. He can take approaches that have not been tried before," Kim said at a forum hosted by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation, when asked whether the Trump administration is considering a peace initiative for North Korea similar to those pursued in the Middle East.
"Our job as a staff working for him is to increase the number of options for the president to choose from. He is the deciding one," he added.
"I never want to say 'never' about any possible options moving forward ... On the Korean Peninsula, whichever path that's taken will be based on ensuring the security of the Korean Peninsula.”
Kim, who took office in October, previously handled working-level negotiations on nuclear talks with North Korea during Trump's first term. During that period, Trump held three meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un: the Singapore summit in June 2018, the Hanoi summit in February 2019 and a meeting at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom in June 2019.
The U.S. diplomat's remarks come at a time when South Korean officials are hoping that Trump's renewed openness to talks with Pyongyang will break a protracted stalemate between the two Koreas.
President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a bilateral summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 29, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. AFP-Yonhap
Meanwhile, Kim said the U.S. will maintain its commitment to extended deterrence, responding to a question about rising calls in Seoul to develop its own nuclear weapons amid doubts over Washington's nuclear umbrella.
"At the core, our presence here continues as an enduring commitment, and physical presence of what the U.S. has committed to provide to the ROK (South Korea) based on our mutual defense treaty," he said, apparently referring to the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed on the peninsula. "With respect to specific capabilities, the U.S. will continue to provide extended deterrence, and that is our policy moving forward."
Kim also described a joint fact sheet outlining trade and security commitments following the recent summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Trump as a "historic document."
The agreement includes South Korea’s pledge to raise defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP and to allocate $25 billion for the purchase of U.S. weapons systems. It also outlines expanded economic cooperation, from targeted reductions in U.S. sectoral tariffs to substantial South Korean investments in American shipbuilding and strategic technology industries.
"America's future depends on Korea, and Korea's future depends on America," he said, praising South Korea as a model ally willing to shoulder a greater share of the defense burden. "Ultimately, what matters is that we strengthen deterrence on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region."
Seoul and Washington have been seeking to modernize their alliance, expanding its focus beyond deterring North Korea’s nuclear threat to broader regional challenges, including China's rising influence. These discussions include whether U.S. troops in Korea would play a role in a potential conflict between China and Taiwan.
The acting ambassador declined to comment directly on the so-called "2027 deadline" for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, saying, "I can't speak to the probabilities. All I know is that the Chinese military is in the middle of a historic buildup to strengthen its military capabilities."
He added, "Whatever happens, I know that the president is interested in preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
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
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