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Quotes of the Day:
“What a monument of human smallness is this idea of the philosopher king. What a contrast between it and the simplicity of humaneness of Socrates, who warned the statesmen against the danger of being dazzled by his own power, excellence, and wisdom, and who tried to teach him what matters most — that we are all frail human beings.”
– Karl R. Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies
"When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of 'terrorism' and 'extremism.' Be alive to the fatal notions of 'exception' and 'emergency.' Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary."
– Timothy D. Snyder
"Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."
– Theodore Roosevelt
1. Recent legal revisions bring end to era of leaflet campaigns against N. Korea: unification ministry
2. Unification ministry not to participate in upcoming regular Seoul-Washington talks on N. Korea policy
3. S. Korea, U.S. hold joint drill on nuclear, radiological terror responses
4. Enshrinement ceremony held for unidentified Korean War remains excavated in 2025
5. N. Korea urges completion of ruling-party projects ahead of key party congress
6. Korea Zinc, U.S. seek to jointly invest in U.S. critical metals refinery
7. JCS chief inspects military readiness at front-line general outpost
8. Presidential AI council prioritizes data center expansion, cybersecurity in S. Korea's physical AI road map
9. Nat'l security adviser set to depart for Washington for talks on post-summit measures
10. Former Unification Ministers Oppose Foreign Affairs-Led North Korea Policy
11. Korean Dream concert brings unification message to Seoul students
12. Talk Show Panel: Unification Led by Korean People
13. N. Korean traffic police target smoke-belching vehicles, causing congestion as most cars stopped
14. The DMZ is not a park: Why undermining armistice risks stability on Korean Peninsula
15. Hyundai division eyes sending tourist ship to North Korea: source
16. Russian Wagner Group-linked cargo jet makes rare flight to North Korea
17.
1. Recent legal revisions bring end to era of leaflet campaigns against N. Korea: unification ministry
Comment: Disappointing. Wrong. Shameful.
Recent legal revisions bring end to era of leaflet campaigns against N. Korea: unification ministry | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215005000315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- The recent passage of legal revisions regulating the scattering of propaganda leaflets into North Korea has ended the era of leaflet campaigns targeting Pyongyang, the unification ministry said Monday, expressing hope for the restoration of inter-Korean ties.
"The latest revisions to the Act on the Performance of Duties by Police Officers and the Aviation Safety Act have made it difficult to scatter anti-North Korea leaflets, effectively drawing the era of leaflet campaigns toward the North to a close," unification ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho said at a press briefing.
Following the passage of a revised Aviation Safety Act in early December that more strictly regulates the airborne launch of leaflets near the border with North Korea, the National Assembly passed another revised law the previous day granting police broader legal authority to block leaflet campaigns.
The spokesperson said leaflet campaigns toward the North have fueled distrust between the Koreas and undermined the peace and safety of border residents, expressing hope that the revisions could serve as a starting point for restoring inter-Korean ties and building peace.
Unification ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho speaks at a press briefing in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2025. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 15, 2025
2. Unification ministry not to participate in upcoming regular Seoul-Washington talks on N. Korea policy
Summary:
The Unification Ministry will not join the new regular Seoul Washington consultative talks on north Korea policy that the foreign ministry and the acting U.S. ambassador are expected to launch as early as Dec. 16, 2025. The ministry says the session is framed as follow on consultations tied to a joint fact sheet from last month after the Oct. 29 Lee–POTUS summit in Gyeongju, and therefore falls under diplomacy. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young had earlier signaled the ministry was still reviewing participation and has argued peninsula policy is a sovereignty matter where his ministry should lead. The ministry says it will instead engage Washington separately when inter-Korean or related issues require it.
Comment: Good. The MOU has no diplomatic counterpart in the US (or anywhere else) so there is no reason for him. If he wants to come to the US to discuss unification planning with US agencies then by all means request meetings to do so. But MOFA needs to handle foreign policy and diplomatic relations with the US. Perhaps POTROK is getting a handle on the outspoken Minister of Unification who seems to be trying hard to create friction in the alliance.
(LEAD) Unification ministry not to participate in upcoming regular Seoul-Washington talks on N. Korea policy | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215004351315?section=nk/nk
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES throughout with latest info)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry will not participate in the upcoming regular consultative talks that Seoul and Washington are expected to inaugurate this week, but it would seek separate cooperation with Washington on North Korea policy when necessary, the ministry said Monday.
The ministry disclosed the decision in a press release, stepping back from Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's earlier remarks that the ministry was reviewing whether to participate in the consultative meeting.
Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for intelligence and North Korea's nuclear issues at the foreign ministry, and acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim were reportedly set to inaugurate their regular consultative meeting as early as Tuesday to fine-tune the pace and direction of their North Korea policy.
The meeting's launch comes as both seek to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang in an effort to address its nuclear issues.
"As far as (the unification ministry) knows, the latest meeting led by the foreign ministry with the U.S. side concerns consultations following a joint fact sheet, and the ministry has decided not to take part as it pertains to diplomatic issues," the unification ministry said.
Seoul and Washington released a joint fact sheet last month outlining trade and security agreements reached during the second Lee-Trump summit in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 29.
However, when the need arises to discuss North Korea-related issues with the United States, including inter-Korean talks or cooperation, the unification ministry will hold separate consultations with Washington, the ministry said.
On his way to his office in central Seoul earlier in the day, Chung said, "We are continuing to discuss it," when asked whether the ministry would take part in the regular consultations. "We will make a decision after looking into the details," he noted.
In Monday's press release, the unification ministry said its stance remains unchanged that the ministry will seek close cooperation with relevant government agencies and the U.S. on North Korea policy.
At a press conference last week, Chung said that formulating policies on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea falls within the realm of sovereignty, arguing that the unification ministry should serve as the main discussant when consulting allied countries on related issues.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks to reporters at the central government complex in Seoul on Dec. 11, 2025. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 15, 2025
3. S. Korea, U.S. hold joint drill on nuclear, radiological terror responses
Comment: Necessary and important.
S. Korea, U.S. hold joint drill on nuclear, radiological terror responses | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Seung-yeon · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215008500315
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States began Monday a two-day joint drill on countering nuclear and radiological terrorism as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in nuclear security, the foreign ministry said.
The fourth Winter Tiger will run through Tuesday in Seoul, with around 120 officials from related agencies of the two countries taking part in the drill, the ministry said.
The exercise, conducted based on a scenario in which a radiological terrorism incident occurs in Seoul, will review joint response capabilities and examine the roles of relevant agencies. They will also discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in such efforts.
The Winter Tiger exercise was launched in 2017 to enhance bilateral cooperation and capabilities to counter nuclear and radiological terrorism. It is led by South Korea's foreign ministry, the U.S. Department of War and the Department of Energy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Seung-yeon · December 15, 2025
4. Enshrinement ceremony held for unidentified Korean War remains excavated in 2025
Comment: Respect and honor.
(LEAD) Enshrinement ceremony held for unidentified Korean War remains excavated in 2025 | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Lee Haye-ah · December 15, 2025
(ATTN: UPDATES with prime minister's remarks)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- The government on Monday held a joint enshrinement ceremony for the remains of 141 unidentified soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The ceremony took place at the Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and attended by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and other senior government and military officials, according to the defense ministry.
The enshrined sets were excavated at 34 former Korean War battlefield sites across the country between March and November this year, the ministry said.
Among them were 25 sets of remains excavated from White Horse Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, as the government resumed the project on the South's side of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas for the first time in three years in October.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (C) and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (center R) attend an enshrinement ceremony for unidentified Korean War remains at the Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul on Dec. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)
"The government will do its best so that the identity of the last person is confirmed and they are returned to their family," the prime minister said in a memorial speech. "The Republic of Korea will never forget the heroes who defended our nation."
Kim said the government will ensure veterans and their families receive fair compensation and treatment while also increasing cooperation with other countries to excavate the remains of soldiers who fought alongside South Korea under the U.N. flag.
The unidentified remains will be kept at the ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification based at the national cemetery until their identities are confirmed and they are returned to their families. KIA stands for killed in action.
Since the ministry launched the excavation project for Korean War remains in 2000, it has excavated some 11,000 sets of remains and confirmed the identities of 268 of them.
mlee@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Lee Haye-ah · December 15, 2025
5. N. Korea urges completion of ruling-party projects ahead of key party congress
Comment: Propaganda prep for the party congress.
N. Korea urges completion of ruling-party projects ahead of key party congress | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215001000315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Monday urged all-out public efforts to complete major projects of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea ahead of the first party congress in five years in 2026, where a new development plan is expected to be unveiled.
The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper, issued the call in an editorial, describing the period until the ninth party congress as "a very important and responsible juncture" in implementing party decisions and transitioning to a new stage of reform.
The North Korean party is expected to convene its ninth party congress in January or February, at which a new five-year development plan is expected to be formulated.
It will mark the first party congress since the eighth in 2021, where a five-year economic development plan was adopted.
At the upcoming party congress, leader Kim Jong-un is likely to highlight the achievements of his signature regional development drive, known as "the Regional Development 20x10 Policy," touting them as major party accomplishments.
"Not even a trivial case of incompletion should be allowed" in the implementation of party tasks at a time when it is preparing for the next five-year development plan and seeking to expand its upward momentum, the Rodong Sinmun said.
"Every effort should be made to implement party decisions so as to complete the construction of structures to the highest standard ... and to prevent any dissatisfaction or incompleteness," the newspaper said.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un presides over a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, which was convened from Dec. 9-11, 2025, in this photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 12. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 15, 2025
6. Korea Zinc, U.S. seek to jointly invest in U.S. critical metals refinery
Comment: This should align with the new NSS.
(LEAD) Korea Zinc, U.S. seek to jointly invest in U.S. critical metals refinery | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215002551320
(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES throughout with details)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Korea Zinc Co. and the U.S. government are seeking to jointly invest around 10 trillion won (US$6.8 billion) in the construction of a critical metals refinery in America's southeastern region, officials said Monday.
The plan involving an envisioned joint venture (JV) was finalized at Korea Zinc's board of directors meeting earlier in the day, according to the local metal producer.
"We decided to build a comprehensive nonferrous metal refinery in the United States to strengthen our drive for future growth," Korea Zinc said in a public notice.
In a subsequent press release, the company stated it had signed a strategic partnership with the U.S. Departments of War and Commerce, with plans to initiate a joint investment to construct a 65-square-meter refinery in Clarksville, Tennessee. The project was named "U.S. Smelter," it added.
Washington is said to have pushed for the plant's construction and is expected to invest around 2 trillion won with U.S. defense firms in the JV with Korea Zinc Inc., according to officials.
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, Korea Zinc Inc.'s Chairman Choi Yoon-beom, Lockheed Martin Inc.'s Senior Vice President Michael Williamson and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik (from L to R) pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding in the supply and production of germanium, in this file photo taken Aug. 26 and provided by Korea Zinc. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
After reviewing more than 60 candidate sites, the two sides have decided to build the plant in the southeastern U.S. state of Tennessee, citing its stable supply of water and electricity required for smelting and its logistical accessibility.
Specifically, Korea Zinc plans to take over the site where an existing refinery owned by Nyrstar is located and rebuild its infrastructure using advanced processing technology. It had already reached an agreement with Nyrstar on the takeover, according to officials.
The smelter is set to begin construction next year, starting with site preparation, and plans to commence commercial operations in phases from 2029.
The upcoming refinery will serve as a U.S. foothold for the supply and production of critical metals, including antimony and germanium.
The plan comes as the U.S. government is making efforts to respond to Chinese export curbs on rare earths and critical metals.
It also comes after Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yoon-beom announced in August plans for a strategic metals partnership with the U.S. during his visit to the country, following President Lee Jae Myung's first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
At the time, Korea Zinc signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin Inc. to invest around 140 billion won to build a germanium-producing facility in South Korea.
fairydust@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 15, 2025
7. JCS chief inspects military readiness at front-line general outpost
Excerpt:
During his visit to a general outpost of the 22nd Infantry Division, Jin ordered service members to maintain a posture capable of immediately "terminating" the enemy on site in the event of a provocation.
Comment: The CJCS is correct in saying that it is critical to respond decisively at the time and place of provocation.
JCS chief inspects military readiness at front-line general outpost | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215009300315
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Monday called for maintaining a firm military readiness posture to respond to potential provocations during his visit to front-line units, officials said.
JCS Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung made the remarks during his visit to the 22nd Infantry Division, the Navy's First Fleet and the Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing to inspect their operational readiness, according to the JCS.
During his visit to a general outpost of the 22nd Infantry Division, Jin ordered service members to maintain a posture capable of immediately "terminating" the enemy on site in the event of a provocation.
Jin also visited the combat control center aboard the ROKS Chuncheon and the 8th Fighter Wing, where he encouraged personnel, and urged them to swiftly eliminate enemy threats and maintain readiness to firmly punish any provocation.
This photo, provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), shows JCS Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung (2nd from L) inspecting military readiness at a front-line general outpost of the 22nd Infantry Division on Dec. 15, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 15, 2025
8. Presidential AI council prioritizes data center expansion, cybersecurity in S. Korea's physical AI road map
Summary:
South Korea’s Presidential Council on National AI Strategy, at its 100 day mark on Dec. 15, 2025, released a “physical AI” road map to make the country a global leader by 2030. The plan prioritizes building large and mid scale AI data centers packed with advanced GPUs and domestically produced AI semiconductors, with siting tied to reliable regional power supply and possible regulatory easing for smaller centers. It also emphasizes cybersecurity through continuous security inspections that leverage private white hat hackers and cloud services, modeled on U.S. public private participation. The road map pushes faster AI adoption in defense via a defense AI data center, expands AI driven content production, updates data and copyright rules for training, streamlines talent programs, and mandates AI education in K to 12.
Comment: Korea has the potential to be a global leader in AI.
(LEAD) Presidential AI council prioritizes data center expansion, cybersecurity in S. Korea's physical AI road map | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Boram · December 15, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215007251320
(ATTN: ADDS more comments in last 3 paras; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- A presidential artificial intelligence (AI) strategy committee said Monday it aims to promote the establishment of large- and mid-scale AI data centers equipped with advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) and domestically produced AI semiconductors.
The initiative, part of a national strategy to advance South Korea as a global physical AI leader by 2030, was announced at a press conference marking the 100th day of the launch of the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy.
Lim Moon-yeong, standing vice chairman of the council, said the committee seeks to accelerate AI transformation in industries where South Korea has competitive strengths and expand exports across the entire AI life cycle.
These efforts would cover areas from data processing and model development to deployment and management. The council also plans to introduce a proactive and continuous security inspection system utilizing white-hat hackers.
"This plan seeks to maximize the use of private-sector expertise and efficiency, including private white-hat hackers and cloud services, following the U.S. model in which private companies also participate in defense and space initiatives," Lim said.
The road map, in particular, includes accelerating AI adoption in the defense sector, such as by establishing a defense AI data center, as well as revitalizing the AI-based Korean content creation and production ecosystem.
In addition, the government will revise relevant laws to ensure that the use of original personal data and copyrighted works necessary for AI training can take place without infringing on rights.
To nurture AI talent, overlapping initiatives across multiple ministries will be streamlined, and a continuous, mandatory AI education system will be introduced at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Lim Moon-yeong, standing vice chairman of the Presidential Council on National AI Strategy, speaks during a press event in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)
Lim said the council plans to draw up detailed guidelines for AI data centers, including a key principle that facilities, regardless of size, should be located in regions with sufficient power supply.
"We are reviewing regulations governing the location of data centers," Lim said during a Q&A session. "For smaller-sized data centers, we plan to ease energy-source requirements and apply regulations on a case-by-case basis."
He said the council has already secured about 40 billion won (US$27.1 million) to build a national science AI research center tasked with developing an integrated platform for AI research and scientific data. The Ministry of Science and ICT is expected to announce detailed plans in the first quarter of next year.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Boram · December 15, 2025
9. Nat'l security adviser set to depart for Washington for talks on post-summit measures
Summary:
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac will travel to Washington on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, for talks with senior U.S. officials on implementing agreements from the Oct. 29, 2025 Lee–Trump summit in Gyeongju. He is expected to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser. Seoul’s National Security Office has formed three task forces to run working-level consultations on security items in the joint fact sheet, including South Korea’s interest in nuclear-powered submarines, access to uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, and defense budget coordination. Wi is also expected to address north Korea policy coordination, amid Seoul’s concern that the new U.S. National Security Strategy does not mention north Korea, even as both leaders say they want renewed dialogue with Pyongyang.
Comment: Hopefully we can allay the concerns about the lack of mention of north Korea. north Korea remains an existential threat to our treaty ally and we will honor our commitments under the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty. And more importantly, preventing war on the Korean peninsula is in US national interests because whatever happens on the Korean peninsula, whether war or regime collapse, will have catastrophic effects on the US.
Nat'l security adviser set to depart for Washington for talks on post-summit measures | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 15, 2025
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac is set to depart for Washington this week for meetings with senior U.S. officials, sources said Monday, as the two sides are expected to discuss follow-up measures to the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in late October.
Wi is scheduled to head for the U.S. capital Tuesday and is widely expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who doubles as national security adviser, according to the sources familiar with the issue.
The trip comes after the allies released a joint fact sheet last month outlining trade and security agreements reached during the second Lee-Trump summit in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 29, ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac attends a ceremony for the signing of joint documents between South Korea and Laos held at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2025. (Yonhap)
The presidential National Security Office in Seoul has formed three task force teams to handle working-level consultations with the U.S. on security-related agreements.
The discussions are focused on key issues, including South Korea's push to develop nuclear-powered submarines, secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing capabilities, and coordinate on defense budget matters.
Wi is also expected to discuss coordination on North Korea policy during his meetings as the White House recently released a new National Security Strategy. The document makes no mention of North Korea, raising questions in Seoul about whether the issue may be receiving less attention under the Trump administration.
Both Lee and Trump have expressed their desire to resume dialogue with Pyongyang, but it remains uncertain whether the North would respond to dialogue overtures.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 15, 2025
10. Former Unification Ministers Oppose Foreign Affairs-Led North Korea Policy
Summary:
Former South Korean unification ministers issued a Dec. 15, 2025 statement opposing the launch of a Foreign Affairs led “South Korea U.S. North Korea Policy Coordination Meeting,” arguing it amounts to a second Seoul Washington working group that would repeat past failures. They insist the Ministry of Unification is the lead ministry for north Korea policy and should direct inter-Korean relations across economic, military, humanitarian, and sociocultural tracks. The former ministers say earlier working groups obstructed inter-Korean progress and effectively raised sanctions thresholds. They warn that consultations driven by U.S. working-level channels, amid internal U.S. policy differences, could worsen inter-Korean relations and complicate a future U.S.–north Korea summit. They also claim a Foreign Affairs led approach violates governing legal principles and lacks necessary specialization.
Comment: This is quite a statement from the former Ministers. But the problem is that the MOU has no counterpart in the US. Frankly, I don't think any of us really sufficiently understand the internal relationships among MOFA/MOU/NSA. And of course a basic question is whether dealing with north Korea is a unification issue or a foreign policy issue. If a unification issue then the MOU should be planning for unification. If the South is seeking peaceful co-existence and accepting KJU's view of two hostile countries then it should be a foreign policy issue.
Former Unification Ministers Oppose Foreign Affairs-Led North Korea Policy
Former ministers demand Ministry of Unification lead inter-Korean relations, halt South Korea-U.S. working group
By Kim Min-seo
Published 2025.12.15. 10:26
Updated 2025.12.15. 14:04https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2025/12/15/KQR3O7CQPFGUZK2KN2HUXWJ7NE/
Former Ministry of Unification ministers issued a statement on the 15th opposing the launch of the "South Korea-U.S. North Korea Policy Coordination Meeting," stating, "The Ministry of Unification is the lead ministry for North Korea policy," and added, "The plan to operate a South Korea-U.S. working group led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be halted, and the Ministry of Unification should take the lead in preparing measures to resume inter-Korean relations."
Chung Dong-young, Unification Minister (fifth from the left), poses for a commemorative photo with participants of a special roundtable discussion on inter-Korean relations with senior figures held under the theme 'Lee Jae-myung government's unification, foreign affairs, and security policy: Evaluation and Prospects' at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. From left: Kim Yeon-chul, chairman of the Korea Peace Forum; Moon Chung-in, emeritus professor at Yonsei University; Jeong Hyeon-baek, former Minister of Gender Equality and Family; Lim Dong-won, honorary chairman of the Korea Peace Forum; Minister Jeong; Chung Se-hyun, former Unification Minister; Lee Jae-jeong, former Unification Minister; and Yang Moo-jin, distinguished professor at North Korea Daehakhaengwon University. /News1
Former Ministry of Unification ministers Lim Dong-won, Chung Se-hyun, Lee Jae-jung, Cho Myung-gyun, Kim Yeon-chul, and Lee In-young, in the order of their tenure, stated in the day's declaration, "We oppose a second South Korea-U.S. working group," and added, "The two countries should closely consult on North Korea policy. However, proceeding with this in the manner of the past South Korea-U.S. working group is not desirable." They served as ministers under the administrations of Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in.
The former unification ministers stated in the declaration, "Past South Korea-U.S. working groups did not serve as productive consultations to resolve issues but instead played a negative role in obstructing improvements in inter-Korean relations and raising the threshold for sanctions," and added, "In a situation where there are clear differences of opinion between President Trump and U.S. government working-level departments regarding North Korea policy, consultations with U.S. working-level officials on North Korea policy are more likely to worsen inter-Korean relations than improve them."
The former Ministry of Unification ministers stated in the declaration, "Based on recent media reports about the thoughts of the U.S. working-level representative, South Korea-U.S. policy consultations involving him are unlikely to help create an environment for a North Korea-U.S. summit," and added, "At the government level, having the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lead North Korea policy violates the principles of the Constitution and the Government Organization Act." They further stated, "In the history of inter-Korean relations, when establishing the Kaesong Industrial Complex or reviewing sanctions relief, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was far more negative and conservative than the U.S. government," and emphasized, "We cannot entrust North Korea policy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which lacks expertise and does not understand inter-Korean relations."
They stated, "The Ministry of Unification is the lead ministry for North Korea policy," and added, "It is designed to facilitate inter-ministerial consultations during the process of advancing talks across all sectors, including economy, military, humanitarian, and sociocultural affairs." They continued, "The plan to operate a South Korea-U.S. working group led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be halted, and the Ministry of Unification should take the lead in preparing measures to resume inter-Korean relations and find ways to help President Trump succeed in the North Korea-U.S. summit."
11. Korean Dream concert brings unification message to Seoul students
Summary:
A “Korean Dream” youth concert at Jamsil Middle School in Seoul used classical music and documentary style video to make students reflect on Korea’s division since the 1950 to 1953 war and the meaning of unification. Conductor Suh Hoon led a chamber ensemble from the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra and paired performances with interviews from veterans and separated families. Two defector artists, soprano Lee Chaewon and accordionist Choi Soon-kyung, added personal testimony, including Lee’s seven-year escape and resettlement journey. Launched in May 2024, the tour has visited 50 schools and reached about 10,000 students, with some visibly moved.
Comment: This helps to debunk the myth that Koreans are not interested in unification. There are many activities in Korean civil society about unification that go unreported and unnoticed.
World News Dec. 15, 2025 / 9:30 AM
Korean Dream concert brings unification message to Seoul students
By Hyo Joon Jeon
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/12/15/Korean-Dream-concert-unification/4531765808380/
Musicians from the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra, under conductor Suh Hoon, perform during a “Korean Dream” youth concert at Jamsil Middle School in Seoul. Photo by Hyojoon Jeon/UPI
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A "Korean Dream" youth concert was held at Jamsil Middle School, utilizing classical music and documentary-style video to prompt students to reflect on the division of the Korean Peninsula and the long-running debate over unification. The peninsula's division dates to the 1950-53 Korean War.
The 60-minute program Friday featured a chamber ensemble led by Suh Hoon, conductor and artistic director of the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra.
The performance included two North Korean defector artists -- soprano Lee Chaewon and accordionist Choi Soon-kyung -- whose personal testimonies added emotional weight to the concert's narrative.
Suh said he launched the youth concert initiative in May 2024 because, while unification is often discussed among the older generation, it rarely touches teenagers in a meaningful way.
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"Adults talk about unification often, but young people frequently have few opportunities to engage with it," he said.
Since its launch, the project has visited more than 50 schools nationwide, reaching an estimated 10,000 students, according to Suh. He noted that many students initially view the event as a routine school performance, but leave with a sharper awareness of the costs of division.
"Music helps students experience the issue emotionally rather than politically," Suh said.
During Friday's concert, students watched interviews with war veterans and separated families, including the account of an elderly woman who was separated from her husband by the Korean War for more than 65 years after only seven months of marriage.
Teachers at the school reported that some students were visibly moved, wiping away tears during the program.
Soprano Lee Chaewon told students about her seven-year journey traveling through multiple countries before ultimately resettling in South Korea -- a struggle, organizers said, that highlighted the human cost of the division.
Suh also cited a case in which a student later wrote a lengthy message expressing newly formed interest in unification and the "Korean Dream" concept, showing the note on his smartphone.
Organizers confirmed that the tour will continue through late December. Suh said he hoped he will be able to carry the program into next year to give students continued opportunities to reflect on freedom, human dignity and unification.
12. Talk Show Panel: Unification Led by Korean People
Summary:
An Asia Today YouTube panel argued that Korean unification must be civilian-led, driven by the Korean people, and especially by Koreans in the north, rather than by government-to-government bargaining. Kang Cheol-hwan of the North Korea Strategy Center and Seo In-taek of Action for Korean Unification criticized what they see as a negotiation-first mindset, saying historical cases like Germany show politics followed, not led, popular momentum. Seo stressed that the true subject of unification is not the Kim Jong-un regime but the population and elites who can change the system, and that the South must articulate a clear end-state vision. Both presented the “Korean Dream” as that guiding vision.
Comment: Koreans must lead unification.
Talk Show Panel: Unification Led by Korean People
By Asia Today and translated by UPI
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/12/15/korea-unification-korean-dream/3421765779744/
Participants discuss unification during a program titled “Korean Dream, Talking About Unification” at the Asia Today office in Seoul on Dec. 11, 2025. Photo by Asia Today Special Reporting Team
Dec. 15 (Asia Today) -- Speakers on an Asia Today YouTube program called for a civilian-centered approach to Korea's unification movement, arguing that the driving force for unification lies with the Korean people -particularly North Koreans - and that South Korean society must present a clear vision for a unified nation.
Kang Cheol-hwan, head of the North Korea Strategy Center, and Seo In-taek, standing representative of Action for Korean Unification, made the remarks during a special discussion broadcast on Asia Today's YouTube channel on Dec.11.
Seo criticized what he described as a government-centered unification policy rooted in the belief that unification can be achieved through political negotiations between North and South Korea. "In reality, no unification has ever been achieved through political negotiations," he said, adding that in the case of German unification, negotiations came after citizens on both sides had already brought down the Berlin Wall and the direction of unification had effectively been decided.
Kang also expressed skepticism toward government-led approaches. "After living in Korea for 30 years, the conclusion I've reached is that we shouldn't trust and wait for the government," he said.
Related
Seo said the political sphere's North Korea policy cannot change North Korea, arguing that the subject of unification is not the Kim Jong-un regime but the North Korean people. He added that the North Korean system can be changed by North Korean residents and elites, and that South Korean society must share a vision of what kind of unified nation it seeks to build in order to move them.
"That is why vision is extremely important," Seo said, adding that what South Korean society presents to North Korea remains unclear.
Seo argued that the "Korean Dream" should serve as a guiding vision for unification, linking it to the concept of Hongik Ingan- often translated as "benefiting all humankind" - associated with Korea's founding myth. He said the idea has become part of Koreans' cultural identity and should be combined with the strengths of modern Western civilization to create what he described as a new, advanced nation.
Kang also emphasized the need for a vision that resonates with both North Korea's elite and its general population, saying it should be rooted in the spirit of the Korean people, democracy, economic prosperity and an equal-footing approach that leverages the strengths of both sides.
"If we spread the Korean Dream to North Korean residents, whether elite or commoner, they cannot help but empathize," Kang said. He added that the time has come for a civilian-led unification movement and urged broader participation to open a path toward unification.
-Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.
13. N. Korean traffic police target smoke-belching vehicles, causing congestion as most cars stopped
Summary:
Since Dec. 1, traffic police in parts of north Korea have begun stopping vehicles for visible exhaust, creating frequent bottlenecks because most cars on main roads fail the standard. Drivers complain the campaign is framed as “end of year” environmental protection, but functions like fine collection in a system where the fleet is dominated by aging Chinese used vehicles pushed out of China by tighter emissions rules and then dumped into north Korea. In coal and mining cities, residents say the crackdown ignores the larger public health burden of coal dust plus diesel smoke, while the worst smoke-belching trucks near mines face less scrutiny. Many argue fines cannot fix pollution without import standards, spare parts, and vehicle retirement.
Comment: North Korea's EPA? Seriously, north Korea is an environmental disaster on multiple levels.
N. Korean traffic police target smoke-belching vehicles, causing congestion as most cars stopped
Drivers say environmental pollution can't be resolved through fines alone as vehicles forced out of Chinese market by emissions standards get dumped on North Korea
By Seon Hwa - December 15, 2025
dailynk.com
https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-korean-traffic-police-target-smoke-belching-vehicles-causing-congestion-as-most-cars-stopped/
N. Korean traffic police target smoke-belching vehicles, causing congestion as most cars stopped | Daily NK English
A car on the streets of Pyongyang. (Lawrence Wang, Creative Commons, Flickr)
Checkpoints in some parts of North Korea are stopping nearly all vehicles for exhaust violations since Dec. 1. This has led drivers to complain that aging Chinese imports dumped on North Korea make environment-related compliance impossible.
A source in South Pyongan province told Daily NK recently that traffic police have been stopping vehicles releasing noticeable exhaust fumes on the streets of cities such as Kaechon and Tokchon since Dec. 1.
The problem is that most vehicles are being stopped by the police at each checkpoint, with few vehicles allowed to pass undisturbed.
“The government appears to have ordered the traffic stops as an end-of-the-year measure for environmental conservation, but nearly all the vehicles driving around downtown are exhaust heavy. This isn’t a new issue, and there’s a systemic reason for it: many imported cars are run-down vehicles that spew fumes. So there’s a lot of griping about what’s seen as an excessive crackdown,” the source said.
A large number of the vehicles currently in use in North Korea are used cars that were forced out of the Chinese market because of tightening rules and regulations about exhaust fumes, the source said. In other words, many pollution-heavy cars that can no longer be driven in China are being dumped on North Korea.
Mining areas suffer coal dust and exhaust as Chinese beaters flood market
“In heavy mining areas in South Pyongan province, you already have coal dust floating in the air, and now these black fumes are making public health even worse. You can’t expect much when vehicles are being brought over (from China) without a regular supply of parts and put on the road after a perfunctory inspection,” the source said.
While the authorities say the traffic stops are aimed at protecting the environment, the traffic police are under fire for overzealous enforcement aimed at collecting as many fines as possible.
Another complaint is that the traffic police are only stopping vehicles on major traffic arteries. Run-down Chinese-made trucks that frequent coal mines on the outskirts of the city are infamous smoke belchers, but those trucks operate with impunity.
The source quoted an employee at a trucking company who was recently fined during a traffic stop: “A more realistic approach is needed considering that aging vehicles are running day and night with only minimal maintenance. It’s absurd to think that the environmental issue can be resolved through tickets and fines alone.
“I think a better solution would be for the government to scrap all those cars or raise standards to prevent this kind of used cars from entering the country,” the employee was also quoted as saying.
“Pretty much everyone knows that the environmental pollution caused by operating beat-up vehicles can’t be addressed through traffic stops alone,” the source said. “Unless the state takes bolder measures such as tightening import standards or taking problematic cars off the road, the issue of exhaust fumes won’t be going away.”
Read in Korean
Seon Hwa
Seon Hwa focuses on North Korea-China trade trends and changes in the daily lives of ordinary North Koreans. Questions about her articles can be directed to dailynkenglish(at)uni-media.net.
dailynk.com
14. The DMZ is not a park: Why undermining armistice risks stability on Korean Peninsula
Summary:
The DMZ is governed first by the 1953 Armistice, not by domestic convenience or sovereignty claims. A proposed South Korean bill would allow civilian access without United Nations Command approval, shifting authority to the Ministry of Unification. He warns this would unilaterally weaken the armistice architecture that prevents renewed war, especially since Seoul is not an armistice signatory and Article I assigns DMZ control to the UNC. He rejects the idea that “peaceful” activity is separate from security risk in a buffer zone, and cautions that sidelining the UNC could complicate deterrence, crisis control, and feed north Korea’s long-running narrative against UNC legitimacy.
Comment: This message should be transmitted to the Minister of Unification.
This illustrates a larger problem for the ROK government. It has never done an effective job of explaining these issues to the press. pundits, and the public and this has led to much misinformation about the DMZ, the United Nations Command, the Armistice Agreement as well as the ROK/US Alliance, OPCON transition and other strategic issues. (misinformation = inadvertent incorrect or mistaken information versus disinformation which is deliberate incorrect information to serve an agenda).
The DMZ is not a park: Why undermining armistice risks stability on Korean Peninsula - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
Chun In-bum
By Chun In-bum
- Published Dec 15, 2025 11:30 am KST
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20251215/the-dmz-is-not-a-park-why-undermining-armistice-risks-stability-on-korean-peninsula
On Aug. 26, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)'s Policy Committee Chair Han Jeong-ae introduced a proposed law titled the “Support for Peaceful Use of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).” The bill would allow peaceful non-military visits to the DMZ without prior approval from the United Nations Command (UNC). At present, all entry into the DMZ, regardless of purpose, requires UNC authorization. Han argues that this requirement unnecessarily restricts peaceful use and infringes on South Korean sovereignty, particularly because much of the DMZ south of the Military Demarcation Line lies on territory administered by the Republic of Korea. Under the proposal, access would be approved by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, separate from the military provisions of the Armistice Agreement.
At first glance, the bill appears reasonable, even constructive. Who could object to peaceful use of one of the world’s most symbolically charged borders? Yet this framing obscures a deeper problem. The DMZ is not governed primarily by domestic administrative law or sovereignty claims. It is governed by an international military agreement designed to prevent war. Altering how that agreement is implemented, especially through unilateral domestic legislation, risks weakening the fragile legal and security architecture that has kept large-scale conflict at bay since 1953.
The Korean Armistice Agreement, signed on July 27, 1953, did not end the Korean War. It merely suspended active hostilities. No peace treaty followed. Despite its imperfections, the armistice remains the only binding legal framework preventing a resumption of full-scale war on the Peninsula. Central to that framework is the DMZ, a buffer zone deliberately removed from normal sovereign control and placed under the authority of the United Nations Command to prevent miscalculation, escalation and accidental clashes.
This authority is not incidental. Article I of the Armistice assigns responsibility for the establishment, administration, and control of the DMZ to the UNC. Over decades, this mandate has been consistently interpreted to cover all forms of access, military and non-military alike, because any presence in the DMZ carries an inherent security risk. The DMZ is not simply land south or north of a line — it is a specially governed space created by international agreement for one overriding purpose: to keep opposing forces apart and prevent the war from restarting.
From an international legal perspective, the proposed legislation raises serious concerns. Under the fundamental principle of pacta sunt servanda, that agreements must be honored, states are not free to unilaterally reinterpret or alter the implementation of binding agreements. This problem is compounded by a basic but often overlooked fact: South Korea is not a signatory to the Armistice Agreement. While Seoul is unquestionably the party most directly affected by the Armistice, modifying one of its core operational elements through domestic law would almost certainly be viewed by the international community as legally questionable.
Supporters of the bill argue that it separates peaceful civilian activity from military matters. This distinction may make sense politically, but it does not hold up operationally. In a zone designed to prevent armed confrontation, there is no such thing as activity without security implications. Civilian movement changes patterns of access, surveillance, response times and escalation dynamics. That is precisely why the armistice placed control under a neutral, multinational command rather than any single national authority.
The implications go beyond legal theory. The UNC is not merely a U.S.-led military venture. It is a multinational command established pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions. Its authority under the armistice provides part of the international legal foundation for the U.S. and allied military presence in Korea. Measures that sideline or erode the UNC’s role risk introducing ambiguity into deterrence and crisis management, areas where ambiguity is dangerous, not stabilizing.
There is also an unavoidable strategic dimension. North Korea has long claimed that the armistice is already invalid and that the UNC lacks legitimacy. It has sought for decades to dismantle the armistice system in favor of a bilateral arrangement with the United States that excludes South Korea. Unilateral steps that weaken UNC authority, even unintentionally, lend credibility to this narrative. In a future crisis, it could complicate responsibility, response coordination and escalation control.
History offers sobering parallels. During the Cold War, access to divided Berlin was governed by a rigid four-power agreement. No party unilaterally rewrote the rules in the name of convenience or symbolism. In the Sinai Peninsula, peaceful use exists, but only under international supervision by the Multinational Force and Observers. Where buffer zones have been altered without consensus or oversight, the result has typically been greater instability, not trust.
Peaceful engagement is a legitimate aspiration. But peace is sustained not by gestures alone, but by institutions, rules and restraint. The DMZ has endured precisely because it is tightly regulated under an internationally recognized command structure. Treating it as ordinary sovereign space or as a venue for domestic political experimentation, misunderstands its function.
The DMZ is not a park, a museum or a confidence-building playground. It is the last physical and legal barrier between armistice and war. Weakening the framework that governs it, however well intentioned, risks eroding the very system that has preserved peace for more than seventy years. On the Korean Peninsula, that is a risk with consequences far beyond symbolism.
Retired Lt. Gen. Chun In-bum is the former commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
15. Hyundai division eyes sending tourist ship to North Korea: source
Summary:
Hyundai Asan is exploring a contingency plan to restart inter-Korean tourism by leasing a South Korean passenger ship that could ferry tourists to the Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort, contingent on improved Seoul-Pyongyang relations and renewed cross-border project approvals. The concept mirrors earlier Hyundai-led tourism at Mount Kumgang, which began in 1998 but halted after a North Korean soldier fatally shot a South Korean tourist in 2008, leaving Hyundai Asan to pivot toward domestic work. The report says any rollout would require South Korean government backing and negotiation over revenue sharing with the North, while experts note sanctions dynamics and Pyongyang’s posture toward Seoul will determine feasibility.
Comment: Any issue with sanctions? We know that this effort will contribute to lining KJU pockets. What strategic benefit will this achieve? Preparation for funding another north-South "summit?" Or is this another fantasy?
Hyundai division eyes sending tourist ship to North Korea: source
The plan is contingent on Seoul-Pyongyang relations and their desire for cross-border projects
Jooheon Kim December 15, 2025
https://www.nknews.org/2025/12/hyundai-division-eyes-sending-tourist-ship-to-north-korea-source/
An aerial photo of the Wonsan Kalma resort | Image: KCNA (Dec. 31, 2024)
Hyundai Group’s division tasked with inter-Korean construction projects is exploring a proposal to dispatch a South Korean tourist vessel to a North Korean resort, if the two nations restart diplomatic relations and agree to resume cross-border projects, according to a source familiar with the plans.
“[Hyundai Asan] is likely to maintain the projects it had previously been handling if economic cooperation with North Korea becomes possible,” the source told NK News on the condition of anonymity, citing ongoing discussions on the matter.
One of these plans include acquiring a ship to ferry South Korean tourists to the Wonsan-Kalma Beach, a resort that North Korean state media claims to have the capacity to accommodate 20,000 tourists.
Located on North Korea’s eastern coast, the resort opened in June after seven years of construction. The three-mile resort includes over 50 hotels, waterparks, a minigolf course and several shopping malls, according to photos of maps published by the DPRK.
Hyundai Asan will likely lease a ship from another company since it does not specialize in ship manufacturing, the source said. The firm would generate revenue from tour groups and it may share profits with North Korea, as with other previous inter-Korea projects, he added.
“For example, if Hyundai Asan uses its ship to bring tourists to a North Korean restaurant, the two sides would still need to discuss how the restaurant’s revenue should be shared,” the source said.
He noted the plans are still in the early stages and any step toward implementation depends on the South Korean government’s support and the state of relations between Seoul and Pyongyang.
Mount Kumgang in North Korea | Image: DPRK Today (archived)
Hyundai Asan has been a major investor in the DPRK after it agreed to cooperate on joint economic projects, such as inter-Korean railways, tourist attractions and the construction of a dam.
It launched tours of the scenic Mount Kumgang in North Korea in 1998. Those operations were suspended following North Korea’s fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist in 2008.
Pyongyang appeared to be dismantling a Hyundai Asan-owned resort facility in the Mount Kumgang tourist zone and the infamous floating hotel, following the removal of at least five of the company’s other properties, according to NK Pro analysis in 2022.
In 2007, 45% of Hyundai Asan’s total revenue of 255.5 billion won ($173.1 million) came from its tourism industry, according to the source. After the suspension of its North Korea operations, the organization’s earnings from the tourism sector shrank and accounted for just 10% of total revenue last year.
Hyundai Asan has since redirected its construction capabilities to focus on domestic projects.
Prior to the Mount Kumgang tours, Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, born in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, was allowed to visit his hometown of Tongchon and donated 1,001 cows to North Korea.
Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told NK News that Hyundai Asan’s motivation for resuming its North Korea operations is driven by Washington’s desire for dialogue with Pyongyang.
“Once the U.S. begins to treat North Korea as a more normal state, sanctions are likely to be significantly eased, and opportunities for international banking, investment and other forms of engagement with the North could become more viable,” he said.
However, the expert noted that if North Korea remains hostile toward the South and is not recognized as a nuclear power by the U.S., inter-Korean economic cooperation would be extremely difficult.
Edited by David Choi
16. Russian Wagner Group-linked cargo jet makes rare flight to North Korea
Summary:
A Russian Il-76TD cargo jet (RA-76363) linked by investigators to Wagner-era logistics and operated by Russia’s emergencies ministry made a rare, brief round trip to Pyongyang on Dec. 13, flying Moscow to Khabarovsk to Pyongyang, then back via Khabarovsk. The aircraft reportedly sat on the ground in Pyongyang for roughly two hours before departing. Analysts cited two plausible explanations: a mission connected to the Dec. 6 death of Russia’s ambassador to the DPRK, Alexander Matsegora, including possible transport logistics, or movement of sensitive personnel such as north Korean troops or specialists returning from Russia. Russian GPS jamming may have obscured parts of the return track.
Comment: We must expect and plan for third party influence and intervention in any scenario on the Korean peninsula..
Russian Wagner Group-linked cargo jet makes rare flight to North Korea
Investigative journalists previously tracked the aircraft supporting the paramilitary organization in Africa
Anton Sokolin December 15, 2025
https://www.nknews.org/2025/12/russian-wagner-group-linked-cargo-jet-makes-rare-flight-to-north-korea/
The Il-76TD (RA-76363) departing Krasnoyarsk on April 16, 2020 | Image: N509FZ via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A Wagner Group-linked cargo jet operated by the Russian emergencies ministry made a rare trip to the North Korean capital over the weekend, suggesting the flight may be related to the Russian ambassador’s recent death or transporting military personnel, according to an expert.
The Ilyushin Il-76TD (tail number RA-76363) landed in Pyongyang at 11:36 a.m. KST on Saturday, flying in from Moscow after a stop in the Russian Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, according to flight data from Flightradar24.
The jet was stationary for roughly two hours before flying back to Khabarovsk. After a three-hour stop there, the aircraft proceeded westward across Siberia, reaching the Russian capital after nine hours before turning east and dropping its altitude north of the city of Cheboksary.
It is unclear where the aircraft landed, as Russian jamming of navigation equipment in the area may have affected Flightradar24 readings. Meanwhile, aviation tracking service Flightaware shows that the aircraft didn’t fly all the way to Moscow and made a turn to descend near Cheboksary.
The Il-76TD (RA-76363) making a round trip from Khabarovsk to Pyongyang on Dec. 13, 2025 | Image: Flightradar24
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The plane is operated by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), Moscow’s equivalent of the U.S.’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its flight marks a rare trip following a surge in Russian military and government jets entering North Korea over the past few years and the growing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Experts previously told NK News that these aircraft could carry army officers or sensitive equipment.
Investigative journalists from The Insider tracked this Il-76TD, among several others, they claimed were used for humanitarian missions and supported Wagner Group logistics linked to Africa in 2023.
While Russian aircraft routinely visit Pyongyang, it has been over a month since the last known Russian government jet touched down in the DPRK capital, following the arrival of a Russian deputy defense chief in November and a Tatarstan-registered VIP business jet flying from Moscow in late October.
The Il-76’s speedy trip also comes after the sudden passing of longtime Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora on Dec. 6. The diplomat was seen as crucial to the nascent military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, an associate professor at Tokyo International University’s Institute for International Strategy, said that while the exact purpose of the flight is unknown, its arrival in Pyongyang may suggest it’s connected to Matsegora’s death.
“Planes could be assigned based on availability,” rather than a direct flight, when transporting remains, which may explain the Il-76TD’s unusual return flight, the expert said.
The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang announced on Sunday that a farewell ceremony for Matsegora will be held Tuesday at Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital, an elite hospital where the late ambassador supposedly underwent treatment in 2023.
The decision to hold Matsegora’s farewell ceremony 10 days after his death may have stemmed from the need to conduct an autopsy, and the logistics of transporting his remains may have posed the largest challenge, Hinata-Yamaguchi told NK News.
The aircraft could have also been transporting DPRK troops, such as some of the military engineers who recently completed their mine-clearing mission in Kursk and returned to North Korea, he said.
Edited by David Choi
17. South Korea’s Yoon goaded North to justify martial law, prosecutors say
Summary:
A special prosecutors’ team says former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to provoke a north Korean military response to create a pretext for martial law. Investigators allege he began in October 2024, coordinating with the defense minister and counterintelligence chief on “abnormal military operations” meant to force Pyongyang to act first. Notes recovered from a general’s phone framed the need for a crisis beyond police control and targets that would compel a face-saving response. The effort failed, prosecutors say, because the Joint Chiefs were cautious and north Korea did not respond. The probe also alleges broader preparations to seize institutions and neutralize opponents.
Comment: I still remain skeptical. I find it hard to believe any Korean leader would take such a rash action. And if it did take place I am baffled by the non-reaction of the north. Did they not detect the action (therefore calling into question their defenses) or have deliberately not called attention to it (other than the alleged crashed drone) to prevent having to respond and risk escalation? If it did take place what can this inform us about the regime's strategic thinking?
South Korea’s Yoon goaded North to justify martial law, prosecutors say
Six-month probe says ex-ROK president coordinated covert moves to spark crisis, but plan failed as Pyongyang held back
Joon Ha Park December 15, 2025
https://www.nknews.org/2025/12/south-koreas-yoon-goaded-north-to-justify-martial-law-prosecutors-say/
Then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol applauds military personnel during a parade marking ROK Armed Forces Day in downtown Seoul, Oct. 1, 2024 | Image: ROK Presidential Office Archives
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sought to provoke a North Korean military response to justify his martial law attempt, an independent team of special prosecutors concluded Monday after a six-month investigation into the country’s unprecedented emergency declaration last year.
The head of the special counsel team on Insurrection and Foreign Aggression Cho Eun-suk said investigators determined that Yoon, beginning in Oct. 2024, directed or condoned a series of “abnormal military operations” designed to pressure Pyongyang into military action.
The goal, Cho said Monday morning, was to find the pretext to impose martial law.
According to the findings, Yoon coordinated closely with then-defense minister Kim Yong-hyun and Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung, then-chief of the ROK Counterintelligence Command.
Cho cited digital notes recovered from Lt. Gen. Yeo’s personal cellphone that investigators said outlined the plan, including statements such as: “The enemy must act first,” “A wartime situation or a situation uncontrollable by police power must arise,” and “Targeting that leaves no choice but to respond due to loss of face.”
Despite these efforts, Cho said the officials failed to justify the president’s martial law “due to the passive stance of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and factors such as North Korea’s lack of response.”
While Cho did not elaborate on what abnormal military operations entailed, the special counsel previously indicted Yoon, Kim and Yeo on Nov. 9 on charges that included aiding an enemy state.
Prosecutors at the time alleged that covert drone operations carried out in Oct. 2024 were intended to provoke Pyongyang, and that South Korea’s military readiness was compromised when information was deliberately limited for frontline units.
The allegations first surfaced when North Korea claimed on Oct. 11, 2024, that South Korean unmanned aerial vehicles had repeatedly entered its airspace earlier that month. Pyongyang later released photographs and what it said were flight logs to support its claims, after Seoul declined to comment.
North Korea refrained from retaliating militarily — an unusual restraint that analysts attributed in part to leader Kim Jong Un’s earlier decision to sever engagement with the South and its supportive role in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Investigators also concluded one of the crashed drones near Pyongyang exposed sensitive operational details, reinforcing charges that the operation amounted to aiding the enemy.
North Korean map of the alleged South Korean drone’s flight path to Pyongyang (left) and the drone after it crashed (right) | Images: Rodong Sinmun (Oct. 24 and Oct. 19, 2024)
WHAT YOON ALLEGEDLY ENVISIONED
Special prosecutors also alleged Yoon and his inner circle pursued a broader plan to use the military to neutralize political opponents, suspend constitutional institutions and consolidate power — a strategy the lead prosecutor compared to the country’s military-backed authoritarian rule in the 1980s.
The investigation found that preparations for martial law began as early as Oct. 2023.
Prosecutors concluded that Yoon began systematically planning for martial law well before the April 2024 parliamentary elections, based on seized notebooks belonging to former Defense Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang-won, recovered digital notes from Lt. Gen. Yeo, and witness testimony.
According to the findings, Yoon coordinated directly with then-defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, while Kim worked in tandem with Noh and Yeo to operationalize the plan.
Cho said Kim and Noh discussed military personnel arrangements ahead of the Oct. 2023 leadership reshuffle and focused on key posts, such as army chief of staff, counterintelligence commander and ground operations commander. They also identified the 9th and 30th Infantry Divisions as potential units to suppress discontent under martial law.
After Oct. 2023, prosecutors said, senior command appointments unfolded largely in line with those plans.
Cho also noted that coordination was facilitated between the presidential residence and the residences of key military leaders, including the defense minister and the JCS chairman, all of which were in close proximity with each other.
The probe found that on Sept. 9, 2024, Noh contacted officials at the Defense Intelligence Command to request the selection of “seven or eight special agents skilled in shooting and explosives,” marking what investigators described as the initial mobilization of personnel.
In a separate press release Monday, the special counsel said the takeover of the National Election Commission (NEC) on Dec. 3, 2024, was planned and intended to fabricate allegations of election fraud to justify suspending the National Assembly. Investigators said the operation relied on Defense Intelligence Command personnel assigned to North Korea-related operations and not on lawful investigative authorities.
The group planned to portray the April 2024 parliamentary election as rigged by “anti-state forces,” and in response, planned to prepare blunt tools like baseball bats to intimidate or coerce as they moved to occupy the NEC’s server facilities once martial law was declared, according to the findings.
Prosecutors also said Yoon and Kim repeatedly sought to persuade senior commanders that domestic political tensions constituted a national crisis driven by “pro–North Korean leftist forces.”
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back is flanked by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha during a Military Commander’s Meeting on Dec. 3, 2025 | Image: ROK Ministry of National Defense
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS PLANNED
The special counsel so far indicted 27 people, including Yoon, senior government and presidential office officials, military officers and politicians. Launched June 18, the investigation closed 215 of 249 cases and transferred the remainder to the National Police Agency’s National Office of Investigation (NOI) for further review.
Separately, Seoul’s defense ministry announced Monday that it established a Defense Special Investigation Headquarters to examine allegations of wrongdoing linked to Yoon’s martial law.
Spokesperson Lee Kyung-ho said the new unit will operate under the Defense Ministry’s Prosecutors’ Office. Lee said investigators will focus on the Defense Intelligence Command and the military’s Psychological Operations Unit, citing their secrecy and the need for further scrutiny.
The Defense Intelligence Command is accused of deploying troops to take over the NEC during the martial law declaration. The Psychological Operations Unit, which oversees information and propaganda operations against North Korea, is suspected of distributing anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets beginning in Oct. 2023 — actions that President Lee Jae Myung has said may have been intended to provoke a military response from the North.
Edited by David Choi
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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