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Quotes of the Day:
"When your education limits your imagination, it is called indoctrination."
– Richard Feynman
"There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men."
– John Locke
"It is hard to fight desire; but to control it is a sign of a reasonable man."
– Democritus
1. A Christmas Message of Hope and Reunion
2. S. Korea, U.S. agree to pursue stand-alone pact for cooperation over nuclear-powered subs
3. 2 N. Korean POWs in Ukraine express desire to defect to S. Korea in letter: activist
4. S. Korea moves to rename North Korean defectors as migrants
5. Stateless defectors fall through gaps in South Korea protections
6. Unification minister vows efforts to resolve separated families issue
7.Trump gifts White House gold key to Lee
8. Presidential office to be formally renamed Cheong Wa Dae on Monday
9. South Korean commercial rocket crashes shortly after launch in Brazil
10. Security Implications of the China-Russia-North Korea Triangle
11. ＜Interview with a North Korean Woman＞"It's Annoying and Unbearable" Surveillance and Control Intensified Through Inminban... Registration Required Even for Going Out and Returning Home
12. N. Korea's state media silent on birthday of leader Kim's grandmother
13. N. Korea ramps up opening of regional factories ahead of key party congress
14. National Assembly passes anti-fake news bill after opposition's filibuster
15. S. Korea holds regular defense drills around Dokdo this week: source
1. A Christmas Message of Hope and Reunion
From my good friend and colleague from north Korea. Please reflect on his words.
Please also go to this link to see the incredible and important work that he does leading the north Korean Young Leaders Assembly (NYKLA): https://globalpeace.org/nkyla/
Hyun-Seung Lee
Hyun-Seung Lee
• 1st
Verified • 1st
North Korea Specialist | Escapee & Veteran | Media Commentator | Entrepreneur | NKYLA Founder
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7409609431073734656/
North Korea Specialist | Escapee & Veteran | Media Commentator | Entrepreneur | NKYLA Founder
1h •
1 hour ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn
A Christmas Message of Hope and Reunion
Dear Friends and Advocates for Peace,
This Christmas, as I hear the carols and see the lights, my heart turns to North Korea—where I never once celebrated this season of hope.
A Christmas I Never Knew
In North Korea, Christmas doesn't exist. No carols, no celebrations, no gathering with loved ones. Now, every Christmas since my escape, I experience this beautiful season with both joy and deep longing—longing for my parents, my siblings, and the millions who remain in silence.
Each ornament reminds me of a childhood without color. Each carol reminds me of voices that cannot be heard.
Speaking for Those Who Cannot
This is why NKYLA exists. We are young North Korean defectors who have become the voice for 25 million people who cannot speak. We are preparing ourselves as global leaders to advocate in the international community for our people—for the families we left behind, for the reunion we dream of.
Our mission is not just personal freedom—it is the day when we can embrace our families again. When every North Korean can celebrate Christmas in open joy. When the Korean Peninsula is whole , and peace replaces separation.
Will You Stand With Us?
This Christmas, we invite you to partner with us. Your support empowers young North Korean leaders to amplify silenced voices, develop global advocacy skills, and prepare for the reunification we are working toward.
Every contribution brings us closer to the day of reunion—when we can return not as escapees, but as reunited family members in a free and unified Korea.
To support our mission, please visit the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly website: https://lnkd.in/e7GCfF6R.
As you gather with your loved ones this Christmas, please remember those who cannot. And join us in building a future where no Korean is left behind.
With gratitude and hope,
Hyunseung Lee
Founder, North Korean Young Leaders Assembly (NKYLA)
North Korean Young Leaders Assembly: From Defection to Leadership | Global Peace Foundationglobalpeace.org
2. S. Korea, U.S. agree to pursue stand-alone pact for cooperation over nuclear-powered subs
Summary:
South Korea and the United States agreed to pursue a stand-alone agreement to enable cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines, with working-level talks expected to begin early in 2026, according to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac after his trip to Washington, Ottawa, and Tokyo. Wi said the consultations followed the joint fact sheet issued after President Lee Jae Myung’s October APEC sideline summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Because U.S. law restricts transfers of nuclear material for military use, Seoul is seeking an exception via a separate pact, similar to Australia’s approach under AUKUS. Wi stressed nonproliferation and said Seoul would use low-enriched uranium below 20 percent.
Comment: Ambasador Wi is demonstrating very astute and effective diplomacy. He is POTROK's go to man.
(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. agree to pursue stand-alone pact for cooperation over nuclear-powered subs | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224005951315?section=national/politics
(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5-6, 11-18; photo)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States have agreed to pursue a stand-alone agreement on cooperation for nuclear-powered submarines, with working-level talks expected to begin early next year, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday.
Wi made the remarks after returning from a weeklong trip to the U.S., Canada and Japan, where he held meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, along with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright during his stay in Washington.
He said the two sides held "practical and in-depth consultations" on security agreements included in a joint fact sheet released last month following President Lee Jae Myung's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju in late October.
"We shared the view that a stand-alone agreement on cooperation over nuclear-powered submarines is necessary, and agreed to move forward with discussions," Wi told reporters.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac briefs on his trip to the United States, Canada and Japan during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 24, 2025. (Yonhap)
While Section 91 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act bans the transfer of nuclear materials for military use, Wi said Seoul is seeking a U.S. exception or exemption by signing a separate agreement on nuclear-powered submarines, which would allows the U.S. president to authorize such transfers.
Australia took a similar approach, signing a separate pact with Washington for its nuclear-powered submarine program under the AUKUS security partnership.
During discussions on uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, Wi said he reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation.
South Korea plans to secure low-enriched uranium at levels below 20 percent to fuel the nuclear-powered submarines, Wi said, stressing that highly enriched uranium is not under consideration.
A working-level U.S. delegation is expected to visit South Korea early next year to hold consultations on implementing the agreements outlined in the joint fact sheet, he added.
Under a bilateral nuclear accord with the U.S., South Korea is largely prohibited from enriching its own uranium and must import all of its low-enriched uranium.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac briefs on his trip to the United States, Canada and Japan during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 24, 2025. (Yonhap)
Calling uranium supply an issue that requires "strategic cooperation," Wi added that Seoul and Washington have agreed to move discussions forward quickly and to review progress through high-level meetings sometime next year.
During his trip to U.S., Wi also exchanged views on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and explored ways to resume stalled talks with North Korea.
Wi said he met U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York to discuss ways to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Asked about the prospects of resuming dialogue with Pyongyang, he said Seoul would continue diplomatic efforts whenever opportunities arise.
His visit to Canada focused on strengthening security and defense industry cooperation, including promoting South Korea's advanced shipbuilding capabilities for Canada's patrol submarine program, which aims to procure up to 12 diesel-powered submarines.
During his stop in Japan, Wi met with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss maintaining stable bilateral relations and coordinating efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
He also likely coordinated the agenda for Lee's anticipated summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with consultations under way for Lee's visit to Japan next month.
Asked whether the two sides discussed Takaichi's renewed claims over South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, Wi remained cautious, saying only that they broadly agreed on the need to further develop their partnership.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 24, 2025
3. 2 N. Korean POWs in Ukraine express desire to defect to S. Korea in letter: activist
Summary:
Two north Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine have expressed a desire to defect to South Korea, according to a letter released by a human rights activist. The POWs reportedly described being deployed without clear understanding of the war, facing harsh discipline, poor conditions, and ideological pressure. In the letter, they appeal for protection and resettlement in the South, citing fear of repatriation and punishment if returned to the north. The case highlights Pyongyang’s expanding military support to Moscow, raises legal and humanitarian questions about the status of north Korean fighters abroad, and underscores ongoing concerns about coercion, information control, and human rights abuses within the regime.
Comment: Just like in 1953 at the Bridge of No Return, the principle must be that prisoners have a right to determine where they will be repatriated to. They must not be forced to return to a country where torture and certain death awaits them.
Our information tools or national power should also be developing themes and messages based on the information provided by these two Koreans from the north (If the ROK/US alliance is willing to begin employing such tools again).
2 N. Korean POWs in Ukraine express desire to defect to S. Korea in letter: activist | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224008500315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- Two North Korean soldiers who were captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia have written a letter expressing their desire to defect to South Korea, an activist in Seoul said Friday.
Jang Se-yul, head of a North Korean defectors' group in the South, said the two North Korean captives in their 20s wrote such a letter in October when they met a South Korean documentary producer at a prisoner-of-war camp near Kyiv. The letter was delivered to the group via the producer earlier this month.
"We've made up our mind to go to South Korea, thinking of those in South Korea as our parents and brothers," the letter read.
In the letter, the captives expressed their appreciation for those who said the current situation facing them is "not a tragedy but the beginning of a new life."
"A new dream and aspiration have begun springing up on the back of support from people in the Republic of Korea," it said.
The North Korean POWs were under the media spotlight when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote online in January that they had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's western Kursk region while in battle.
Jang said the letter confirmed their desire to go to South Korea. In February, only one of them had expressed such an intent during a meeting with a South Korean lawmaker.
Since October last year, North Korea has deployed around 15,000 troops to Russia to support its war with Ukraine.
The South Korean government said it has notified the Ukrainian government of its willingness to accept the North Korean captives if their intentions are confirmed.
Two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia meet with a South Korean documentary producer at a prisoner-of-war camp near Kyiv on Oct. 28, 2025, in this file photo provided by a North Korean defectors' group, led by activist Jang Se-yul on Oct. 31. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 24, 2025
4. S. Korea moves to rename North Korean defectors as migrants
Summary:
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it will move quickly to replace the official term “North Korean defectors” with “north Korean migrants.” A ministry official told reporters a decision and implementation would come “as soon as possible.”
Comment: It seems to me that the ROK Constitution already determines who they are and what they should be called: Korean citizens.
World News Dec. 23, 2025 / 11:14 PM / Updated Dec. 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
S. Korea moves to rename North Korean defectors as migrants
By Asia Today and translated by UPI
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/12/23/nkorean-defectors-migrants/7601766530066/
Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young exchange greetings during a plenary session at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Asia Today
Dec. 23 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry said Tuesday it will move quickly to decide and implement a change to the official term used for North Korean defectors, replacing it with "North Korean migrants."
A Unification Ministry official told reporters the ministry plans to reach a conclusion and proceed "as soon as possible" on the terminology change.
The ministry previously said in a work briefing for President Lee Jae-myung on Friday that it would pursue revising the designation. During that briefing, Lee, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young used the term "North Korean migrants" instead of "North Korean defectors," according to the report.
Chung said at the meeting that defectors broadly reject the current term "defector," but the report said a significant number are also voicing opposition to "North Korean migrants."
The Unification Ministry publicly raised the idea of changing the designation in September and conducted opinion polling, but the results have not been released, the report said.
- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
5. Stateless defectors fall through gaps in South Korea protections
Summary:
Asia Today reports that some north Korea born ethnic Chinese fall into a protection gap in South Korea. Officials may classify them as “non protected,” denying resettlement support and leaving them vulnerable to deportation. Advocates estimate 30 to 40 cases. One group is second or third generation overseas Chinese raised in north Korea but treated there as Chinese nationals, and South Korea may not accept them as defectors because it bars dual citizenship. Another group was born in China or elsewhere to north Korean mothers and lacks birth registration. Many cannot prove origin after discarding documents or separation from family.
Comment: Common sense must prevail. South Korea and the world can't turn a blind eye to these Korean people. South Korea and the world must properly understand and interpret the situations and conditions in which these Koreans came to exist and live. South Korea could easily pass legislation to recognize these Koreans and care for them. Do not place relations with the north and China above the welfare of these Koreans. South Korea must focus on humanity for these Koreans who are suffering through no fault of their own and directly because of the horrendous human rights abuses of dictators in north Korea and China. These Koreans are victims of crimes against humanity.
World News Dec. 23, 2025 / 10:56 PM / Updated Dec. 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Stateless defectors fall through gaps in South Korea protections
By Asia Today and translated by UPI
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/12/23/rights-nkorea-defector/9591766530004/
A South Korean military guard post is seen through a fence near the DMZ at Imjingak Park in Paju, South Korea on February 12, 2021. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 23 (Asia Today) -- Some North Korean-born people of Chinese descent become effectively stateless as soon as they arrive in South Korea, rights advocates and defectors say, because authorities do not recognize them as defectors and instead assign them a "non-protected" status that can leave them unable to remain in the country.
Those classified as non-protected are not covered by settlement support provided to recognized North Korean defectors and may face removal, leaving them in what advocates describe as a human rights blind spot.
The number of North Korean-born ethnic Chinese confirmed in South Korea is estimated at about 30 to 40, though the figure is not publicly verified. The Justice Ministry does not disclose related data, citing the sensitivity of inter-Korean issues, the report said.
One group includes second- and third-generation ethnic Chinese who were born and raised in North Korea. Their parents often traveled between China and North Korea for trade, and the children grew up in North Korea while being treated there as Chinese nationals, the report said. After the late 1990s, as economic conditions worsened in North Korea, some began fleeing, with South Korea seen as a destination because of language and cultural similarities.
Despite having lived their lives in North Korea, they may not be recognized as defectors in South Korea because authorities view them as Chinese nationals and South Korean law does not allow dual citizenship, the report said.
South Korea's Constitution defines the entire Korean Peninsula as the country's territory, meaning people who can prove they are from North Korea may be recognized as South Korean citizens. In practice, however, many cannot complete nationality screening because they discarded overseas Chinese identification documents while fleeing and often have little beyond personal testimony to prove where they were born, the report said.
Another group includes people born in third countries, often to North Korean mothers who fled to China and Chinese fathers. Many lack birth registration because the mother is frequently an undocumented resident, leaving the child without official identity documents, the report said.
In some cases, a child could obtain South Korean nationality if a maternal link can be confirmed, the report said. But that can be difficult when mothers and children are separated during flight or when mothers are repatriated, making it hard to establish North Korean origin.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
6. Unification minister vows efforts to resolve separated families issue
Comment: I fear the only way this issue can be solved is nothing short of establishing a free and unified Korea. KJU will not allow this to be solved. We need to see a United Republic of Korea (UROK).
Unification minister vows efforts to resolve separated families issue | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224008600315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Wednesday met with an aging separated family member in South Korea and pledged to address humanitarian issues through dialogue with North Korea, according to the unification ministry.
Chung visited the home of Kim Bong-hwan, aged 105, in Seoul, in a bid to console her pain caused by decades of separation, according to the ministry.
Kim asked Chung to confirm whether her family members in the North were still alive, saying it had been her lifelong wish to reunite with her siblings, from whom she was separated during the 1950–53 Korean War.
While referring to separated families as the "biggest sorrow" stemming from the war, Chung vowed to make every effort to resolve humanitarian issues through various means, including dialogue with the North.
Of the 134,514 people who applied for family reunions with their relatives in North Korea, only 34,658 were still alive as of late last month, according to the ministry. Among them, more than 32 percent are aged 90 or older, including 660 who are over 100.
This photo, provided by the unification ministry, shows Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visiting a separated family member in northern Seoul who was forced to break from her relatives in North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, on Dec. 24, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 24, 2025
7. Trump gifts White House gold key to Lee
Comment: I wonder if this key unlocks the front door to the White House? (see the photo at the link).
Or does this symbolize South Korea as the key to security and prosperity in Northeast Asia?
Trump gifts White House gold key to Lee
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https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/others/20251224/trump-gifts-white-house-gold-key-to-lee
By Yonhap
- Published Dec 24, 2025 8:37 pm KST
- Updated Dec 24, 2025 9:53 pm KST
A gold key, engraved with the phrase "Key to the White House," is seen in this photo posted Wednesday to Facebook by presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. Kang said U.S. President Donald Trump gifted the key to President Lee Jae Myung. Captured from Kang Hoon-sik's Facebook
U.S. President Donald Trump has gifted President Lee Jae Myung a specially designed gold key to the White House in return for the presents he received during his visit to Korea in October, Lee's chief of staff said Wednesday.
In a Facebook post, Kang Hoon-sik said Trump handed the key to Korea's ambassador to the United States, Kang Kyung-wha, after she formally presented her credentials to him at the White House on Dec. 17.
Photos show the key engraved with the phrase "Key to the White House" and displayed in a wooden case featuring an image of the presidential residence.
The senior aide said the U.S. president praised his relationship with Lee during the conversation with Seoul's top envoy, quoting Trump as saying, "I really like him."
During Trump's visit to the southeastern city of Gyeongju in late October ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Lee presented him with a replica of the Cheonmachong gold crown from the ancient Silla Kingdom and awarded him South Korea's highest state medal.
Trump is known to have personally designed the golden key as a ceremonial gift for special guests. Past recipients include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and football star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The senior aide said he hopes the key will become a symbol of the strong relationship between the two nations, adding, "We will continue to build a solid future for the Korea-U.S. alliance."
8. Presidential office to be formally renamed Cheong Wa Dae on Monday
Summary:
South Korea’s presidential office will be formally renamed Cheong Wa Dae on Monday as relocation from the Yongsan defense ministry complex nears completion. The presidential flag at Yongsan will be lowered at midnight Sunday and raised at Cheong Wa Dae simultaneously, marking the official return about three years and seven months after the move under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. President Lee Jae Myung will keep commuting from Hannam-dong until renovations of the official residence are finished, likely in the first half of 2026. Lee is expected to work mainly from the Yeomin office complex, using the main building for ceremonies, while security aims to preserve public access.
Comment: AKA The Blue House.
(LEAD) Presidential office to be formally renamed Cheong Wa Dae on Monday | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224003551315?section=national/politics
(ATTN: UPDATES first 3 paras; CHANGES headline)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office said Wednesday it will be formally renamed Cheong Wa Dae early next week, with the relocation of the office to the historic compound nearing completion.
The presidential flag bearing two phoenixes at the current office in the defense ministry complex in Yongsan, central Seoul, will be lowered at midnight Sunday and raised at Cheong Wa Dae at the same time, the office said in a press notice.
The move will mark the official return of the presidential office Monday, occurring about three years and seven months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol relocated it to the defense ministry complex.
For now, President Lee Jae Myung will continue commuting from his residence in Hannam-dong as renovation and inspection work on the official residence at Cheong Wa Dae is still under way to repair damage from when the complex was opened to the public under the previous administration.
Police carry out a security check of the main building of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul on Dec. 21, 2025, as the presidential office prepares to relocate to the compound. (Yonhap)
"Relocating the official residence to Cheong Wa Dae is not yet possible due to ongoing renovation work," a senior presidential official said. "The presidential residence is likely to be ready in the first half of next year."
Cheong Wa Dae consists of the main building, the Yeomin Building office complex, the Yeongbingwan state guest house and the Chunchugwan press center, with the official residence nestled in the nearby hills.
Under the new setup, Lee is expected to spend most of his working hours in the Yeomin complex, where he will work alongside his three top aides -- the chief of staff, policy chief and national security adviser -- and other key staff members for closer communication.
The main building, the symbolic heart of Cheong Wa Dae with its iconic blue roof, located about 500 meters from the office complex, will be used mainly for formal events such as summits and credential ceremonies.
Some staff members and reporters have already moved in. On Monday, the presidential office held its daily briefing with reporters at the Chunchugwan press center for the first time since May 2022.
Reporters enter Chunchugwan press center in the Cheong Wa Dae complex in central Seoul on Dec. 22, 2025. (Yonhap)
The relocation fulfills one of Lee's campaign pledges and reverses Yoon's 2022 decision to move the presidential office to Yongsan and the residence to the foreign minister's official home in Hannam-dong.
Yoon said at the time that the move was meant to bring the presidency closer to the public, but the Yongsan office is set to be closed about one year after his surprise declaration of martial law in December 2024.
Lee has also proposed eventually relocating the presidential office to the central administrative city of Sejong by around 2030 as part of his balanced regional growth agenda. Until then, Cheong Wa Dae is expected to serve as his main workplace for most of his five-year term.
Long seen as a symbol of presidential power and, at times, authoritarian leadership, Cheong Wa Dae has served as the workplace and residence of presidents since the 1960s.
As Lee moves back into the complex, attention is on whether he can address concerns about public accessibility, especially given his emphasis on transparent communication, illustrated in his recent livestreamed policy briefings.
As part of the plan, the Presidential Security Service (PSS) said it will maintain robust security while minimizing inconvenience to the public.
Jogging routes around Cheong Wa Dae, Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbok Palace and nearby neighborhoods will remain open, and access to surrounding hiking trails will be kept as open as possible, the PSS said.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 24, 2025
9. South Korean commercial rocket crashes shortly after launch in Brazil
Summary:
Innospace’s Hanbit-Nano, a South Korean two stage small satellite rocket, crashed about a minute after liftoff from Brazil’s Alcântara Launch Center during the country’s first commercial launch attempt. Video showed the vehicle losing control shortly after launch, and Innospace said an early mission anomaly triggered automatic flight termination. No injuries were reported and debris fell within the designated safety zone, after inspections by Brazilian Air Force and fire teams. The rocket was meant to reach about 186 miles altitude and deploy eight payloads, including five nanosatellites and three experimental packages from Brazilian and Indian organizations. The launch had slipped five times due to technical and weather delays before flying on the final window day.
Comment: I think we forget that space operations are still difficult and dangerous.
Science News Dec. 23, 2025 / 12:40 PM
South Korean commercial rocket crashes shortly after launch in Brazil
By Mar Puig
https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2025/12/23/latam-brazil-korean-rocketlaunch-fails/7311766510565/
A view of Innospace's 'Hanbit-Nano' launch vehicle before the launch attempt at Alcantara Space Center in Brazil. Photo courtesy of Innospace
Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The Hanbit-Nano rocket, developed by South Korean aerospace company Innospace, crashed shortly after lifting off from the Centro de Lanzamiento de Alcántara in northeastern Brazil during the first commercial space launch attempt from that country.
The incident occurred Monday at 10:13 p.m. local time and was shown on a live broadcast live by the company. According to the specialized platform Spaceward, the vehicle lost control shortly after liftoff and fell within the designated ground safety zone about a minute into the flight.
Innospace later confirmed that an anomaly was detected during the early phase of the mission, triggering an automatic termination of the flight. The company said in a statement that no injuries occurred and no damage happened outside the established safety perimeter.
Teams from the Brazilian Air Force and the space center's fire department inspected the impact area after the rocket's signal was lost just seconds after an on-screen alert warned of the anomaly.
Related
Hanbit-Nano is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to place small payloads into low- Earth orbit Low-Eatth orbit extends about 1,240 miles above the planet's surface and is widely used for Earth observation, communication and scientific research satellites.
In this mission, the rocket was intended to reach an altitude of about 186 miles.
The vehicle stands about 72 feet tall, weighs roughly 44,000 pounds and has a diameter of about 4.6 feet. It is designed to carry nanosatellites -- small spacecraft typically used for scientific research, education and technology demonstration missions.
During ascent, rockets pass through a critical phase known as maximum aerodynamic pressure, when the combination of speed and atmospheric density places the greatest stress on the vehicle's structure.
The payload included eight items: five nanosatellites intended for tasks such as environmental and climate data collection, technology development and education, and three experimental payloads designed to test new technologies in the space environment. The devices were developed by institutions and companies from Brazil and India.
The launch had been postponed five times. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, it was delayed due to technical issues, including problems with the fuel oxidizer cooling system, and later because of adverse weather conditions.
Liftoff ultimately occurred on the final day of the planned launch window -- a period when Earth's position and atmospheric conditions are most favorable for reaching the intended orbit.
The Alcântara Launch Center is considered strategically important due to its proximity to the equator, located about two degrees south of the equatorial line.
This location allows for fuel savings of up to 30% compared with launch sites at higher latitudes, offers greater flexibility in orbital trajectories, and reduces risks to populated areas due to low population density and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
Innospace has a service agreement with the Brazilian government to use the site as a commercial launch platform. According to the Brazilian Space Agency, the agreement does not provide direct financial profits for the state, but is aimed at promoting the use of the launch center by international operators.
10. Security Implications of the China-Russia-North Korea Triangle
Comment: Access the entire essay at this link: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3367&context=parameters
We need to understand this relation among the three main members of the CRInK.
Dec. 17, 2025
Security Implications of the China-Russia-North Korea Triangle
By Brian G. Carlson
https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/SSI-Media/Recent-Publications/Article/4363743/security-implications-of-the-china-russia-north-korea-triangle/
This article analyzes the evolving strategic dynamics within the China-Russia-North Korea triangle and their implications for global security. It argues that while the strengthened Russia–North Korea relationship poses risks for China’s global strategy and its major economic partnerships, for now, China also derives some benefits from these close ties and considers the risks to be manageable. Drawing on recent diplomatic developments, military cooperation, and regional responses, the article offers a nuanced assessment of how this alignment affects European and Indo-Pacific theaters. The analysis provides US policymakers with insight into the risks of opportunistic aggression and the strategic calculations driving these partnerships.
11. ＜Interview with a North Korean Woman＞"It's Annoying and Unbearable" Surveillance and Control Intensified Through Inminban... Registration Required Even for Going Out and Returning Home
Summary:
A north Korean woman in Ryanggang Province tells ASIAPRESS that surveillance through the inminban neighborhood unit has become “annoying and unbearable.” Authorities reportedly reduced each inminban’s coverage to about 20 households to tighten control, and leaders now enter homes every two days for inspections tied to propaganda broadcasts, electricity use, hygiene, and health checks. Entry and exit are monitored at round-the-clock “security posts,” where residents must register departures and returns. Purchases of food or bulk goods draw scrutiny, with police investigations and bribe demands. The interview also says inminban units have begun profit making, running small shops after state allowances lapsed, pressuring residents to buy locally.
Comment: Maximum control. Draconian population and resources control measures all designed to ensure the survival of the Kim family regime. KJU must suppress resistance potential at all costs.
The Inmindan are going to have a tough time with transitional justice during the unification process.
＜Interview with a North Korean Woman＞"It's Annoying and Unbearable" Surveillance and Control Intensified Through Inminban... Registration Required Even for Going Out and Returning Home
asiapress.org
https://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2025/12/society-economy/interview-12/
Women mobilized for construction labor. They appear to have been assembled by the Inminban. Hyesan, photographed from the Chinese side of the border in September 2025 (ASIAPRESS)
North Korea has a resident control organization called the ‘Inminban’. As the lowest-level administrative organization, each district is composed of 20-50 households and is responsible for organizing mobilizations for cleaning, road repairs, and compost making, conveying central government policies and directives through the neighborhood office, and monitoring and surveilling the detailed movements of every resident. Recently, resident control through the Inminban has reportedly become stricter than before. A reporting partner living in Ryanggang Province spoke about this "unbearableness." (ISHIMARU Jiro / KANG Ji-won)
◆Inspections at Home Every Two Days
―― We’ve heard that control through the Inminban has been strengthened.
Recently, the number of households managed by the Inminban has been reduced from the previous 20-50 households to 20 households. This is to make control easier. Inminban leaders come into homes every two days under various pretexts. They frequently come for broadcast inspections, electricity inspections, water supply surveys, flu checks, vaccinations, hygiene inspections, and so on. Each resident's movements are grasped as clearly as looking at the palm of your hand.
If there's anything that stands out, someone from the Security Bureau (police) comes, saying, "We received a report, so we're investigating." Then the Inminban leader demands a bribe, saying they'll block the investigation.
※ Broadcast inspection: Every North Korean household has a wired propaganda broadcast called "Third Broadcast" installed. This is an inspection to check whether it has been cut or modified.
※ Electricity inspection: An inspection to check whether electrical appliances are being used beyond regulations for power conservation.
Hyesan Inminban security post. It reads "Kangan 26 Post." A slogan saying "Let's strengthen Inminban work!" is posted. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border in September 2025 (ASIAPRESS)
◆Checkpoints Monitor Going Out and Coming Home
―― We’ve heard people's comings and goings are also monitored.
At the entrance to each Inminban, there's a checkpoint called a "security post," and everyone who enters or exits must identify themselves and write their name. Residents must write their names both when going out for work and when returning home. If you're questioned and don't answer, it becomes a problem.
The "security posts" are staffed by residents 24 hours a day in three shifts. While they strictly verify Inminban entry and exit, if a crime or accident occurs anyway, all Inminban members must take responsibility.
―― What has become particularly strict recently?
Control of food and goods. When a report comes in that an individual has purchased food or a large quantity of goods, they're investigated. The other day in our Inminban, someone who bought 30kg of rice from a company and tried to take it home was caught at the "security post," and the Security Bureau investigated the source of that rice. It's annoying and suffocating. It's unbearable.
This is "Kangan 32 Post." A reporting box is there to "inform” people to the authorities. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border in September 2025 (ASIAPRESS)
◆Inminban Begin Independent Money-Making
Recently, each Inminban has reportedly begun independent profit-making activities. This is unprecedented.
―― Why are the Inminban making money?
The neighborhood office couldn't pay the November allowance to the Inminban leader, so the principle became that Inminban should cover operating expenses independently as much as possible, and they started making money. Each Inminban leader tries to do anything profitable to secure their own income.
―― How do they make money?
The Inminban started operating small shops. They sell beverages, snacks, tofu, coal, factory products, and so on. You're criticized if you buy from another Inminban shop. It's annoying to death.
◆It's Unbearable
―― You must dislike the intensifying control.
I hate it. People are so fed up with the crackdowns that those who have money sometimes move from apartments to ground-level houses (single-story homes).
※ In apartments, Inminban are often organized on each floor.
Additionally, ASIAPRESS has not grasped detailed information about Inminban conditions in regions other than Ryanggang Province.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
North Korea map (ASIAPRESS)
asiapress.org
12. N. Korea's state media silent on birthday of leader Kim's grandmother
Comment: All information must be controlled and carefully doled out to the Korean people.
N. Korea's state media silent on birthday of leader Kim's grandmother | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224006100315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's state media made no mention of the birthday of the long-revered grandmother of leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday as the current leader seeks to reduce his reliance on his predecessors for authority.
The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper, has yet to report on the late Kim Jong-suk's birthday, which falls on Dec. 24.
As the first wife of North Korea's late founder Kim Il-sung and mother of former leader Kim Jong-il, the late father of Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-suk had long been the only deified woman among the Kim dynasty's "Paektu bloodline."
She was also described as a "female hero" in the fight against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and one of the "three generals of Mount Paektu" that includes Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
The Rodong Sinmun has published articles annually on her birthday to reflect on the late figure, describing her as the role model of the people.
Last year, the newspaper carried an article touting the late Kim as the "great mother of revolution."
But this year, the North's state media has no mention of Kim Jong-suk's birthday. There were also no media reports on the Sept. 22 anniversary commemorating her death.
North Korea's stance of maintaining a low profile for the current leader's grandmother appears to align with Kim Jong-un's efforts to strengthen his status as a stand-alone leader while reducing the regime's idolization of his predecessors.
Since last year, the North has not referred to the birthday of Kim Il-sung as the Day of the Sun and stopped using its "juche," or self-reliance, calendar -- a system of numbering the years that symbolize the late founder.
This still image is from a movie featuring North Korea's founding leader Kim Il-sung, his wife, Kim Jong-suk, and their son Kim Jong-il, carried by the Korean Central Broadcasting Committee on Jan. 2, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 24, 2025
13. N. Korea ramps up opening of regional factories ahead of key party congress
Comment: Make north Korea great again before the party congress. Maximum photo ops are required.
N. Korea ramps up opening of regional factories ahead of key party congress | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224000800315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has been ramping up the opening of new regional factories, including one in the northeastern county of Kilju, where a nuclear test site is located, ahead of next year's key party congress, according to state media Wednesday.
North Korea held a ceremony the previous day to inaugurate a light industry factory in Kilju, attended by senior party, military and government officials, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kilju County in North Hamgyong Province is home to the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where the North conducted all six of its nuclear tests, including the latest one in 2017.
"Modern light industry factories have risen up in the nation's northern mountainous areas of Kilju here," Ri Il-hwan, a party secretary for propaganda, said in a speech at the ceremony, noting that a key project to build regional factories will further expand.
In January last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un unveiled his signature regional development policy to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties each year over a 10-year period to improve the living conditions of people in regional areas.
The move is aimed at reducing the growing gap in the living standards of the people between Pyongyang and backward regions. It is seen as being intended to ease the worsening public sentiment amid prolonged economic difficulties.
Ahead of the ninth party congress set for early next year, North Korea has been focusing on touting the accomplishment of Kim's regional development policy.
The North's leader earlier called for thorough operations of new factories ahead of their inauguration ceremonies scheduled for December.
North Korea holds the inauguration ceremony for a regional factory in Paechon County of South Hwanghae Province on Dec. 20, 2025, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 22. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 24, 2025
14. National Assembly passes anti-fake news bill after opposition's filibuster
Summary:
South Korea’s National Assembly passed a disputed anti fake news bill on December 24, 2025 after the opposition People Power Party’s 24 hour filibuster expired. The ruling Democratic Party pushed the amended Information and Communications Network Act through a plenary vote. The bill defines false or fabricated information and bans its circulation on telecom networks. It also authorizes punitive damages up to five times proven losses for media outlets and YouTubers who spread disinformation for illicit gain and harm others. Another provision punishes defamation by stating facts with intent to slander with up to three years in prison or a fine up to 30 million won. The opposition calls it censorship; the ruling party says it boosts accountability.
Comment: The obvious concern is free speech and censorship and abuse of power.
(LEAD) National Assembly passes anti-fake news bill after opposition's filibuster | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Seung-yeon · December 24, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251224002651315?section=national/politics
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES paras 2 and 4 with details on bill's passage)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), passed a contentious anti-fake news bill Wednesday after the opposition's 24-hour filibuster expired, ending a standoff between the rival parties.
The revised Information and Communications Network Act was put to a vote during a plenary session, a day after the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) launched a new filibuster to stall the procedure.
The anti-fake news bill defines false or fabricated information and seeks to ban its circulation across telecommunication networks. It also includes a provision holding media outlets and YouTubers liable for punitive damages of up to five times the amount of losses if they spread disinformation for illicit gains and cause harm to others.
The bill also stipulates that anyone who defames another individual by stating facts with an intent to slander will be punishable by a prison term of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$20,593).
Rep. Choi Soo-jin of the main opposition People Power Party speaks on the floor at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 23, 2025, as the PPP stages a filibuster to delay the passage of an anti-fake news bill. (Yonhap)
The opposition has denounced the bill as an attempt to silence the media and infringe on freedom of expression, while the ruling party has said it is aimed at curbing the spread of false and fabricated information and enhancing accountability.
The PPP launched the filibuster, a parliamentary tactic to delay the vote by continuing debate, on Tuesday to prevent the DP from moving forward with the bill.
It was the PPP's second filibuster in two days after it staged the extended debate Monday to delay the vote for the legislation creating a special insurrection tribunal related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law.
The PPP set a new record for the longest filibuster, with party leader Jang Dong-hyuk speaking for 24 hours in the National Assembly starting Monday. The insurrection tribunal bill was eventually passed by the DP using its parliamentary majority.
The PPP's second filibuster is set to reach its 24-hour limit just after noon, clearing the way for the DP to pass the anti-fake news bill and ending the rival parties' filibuster showdown.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Seung-yeon · December 24, 2025
15. S. Korea holds regular defense drills around Dokdo this week: source
Comment: More ROK-Japan friction ahead? Will we see a Chinese or Russian (or both ) overflight of the Koran airspace/penetration of the ADIZ?
S. Korea holds regular defense drills around Dokdo this week: source
koreaherald.com · Yonhap · December 24, 2025
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10643485
This file image shows Dokdo, the country’s easternmost islets in Ulleung-gun, North Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)
South Korea conducted regular defense drills near its easternmost islets of Dokdo earlier this week, a military source said Wednesday, in what marked the second such exercise held under President Lee Jae Myung's government.
"Our military has conducted East Sea defense drills on a regular basis each year. This exercise was also implemented to fulfill the mission of protecting our territory, people and property," the source said, confirming that the exercise took place Tuesday.
The latest exercise was held on a similar scale compared with past drills in terms of training methods and participating assets, the source added, without providing further details.
Dokdo has long been a recurring source of tension between South Korea and Japan as Tokyo continues to make sovereignty claims in its policy papers, public statements and school textbooks.
Japan's foreign ministry said it lodged protests over the latest drills to the South Korean Embassy in Japan and to Seoul's foreign ministry.
Tokyo has previously protested over the regular drills through diplomatic channels.
South Korea has been in effective control of Dokdo, with a small police detachment, since its liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.
South Korea launched the defense drills in 1986 and has staged them twice a year since 2003. The previous exercise took place in July, which marked the first such exercise held under the current government. (Yonhap)
koreaherald.com · Yonhap · December 24, 2025
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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