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Quotes of the Day:
"States can rise and fall simultaneously: they may seize territory or arm themselves rapidly, even as their economies wheeze and stumble. The anxiety caused by relative decline, not the confidence that comes from rising strength, can make ambitious powers erratic and violent. Finally, apocalyptic wars can occur even when power transitions do not: once-rising challenges have gone down fighting when they realized that they had provoked rivals they wouldn't otherwise catch. Understanding this deadly pattern from the past – call it the "peaking power trap" – is critical to preparing for a dark future that is unfolding faster than you might think. The steaks are hardly academic. "The history of failure in war," General Douglas MacArthur explained in 1940, "can almost be summed up in two words: too late. Too late in comprehending the deadly purpose of a potential enemy; too late in preparedness; too late in uniting all possible forces for resistance; too late in standing with one's friends." It would be "the greatest strategical mistake in all history," he added, if America failed to grasp 'the vital moment.'"
– Micheal Beckley, Hal Brands, Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China
"My mission is to communicate. To wake people up. To give them my energy and accept theirs. We are all in it together. And I respond emotionally as a worker, a mother, an artist, and a human being with a voice. We all have a voice. We all have the responsibility to exercise. To use it."
– Patti Smith
"Resist much, obey little."
– Walt Whitman
1. N. Korea set to mark New Year with outdoor celebrations, firework display
2. Russian official exchanges New Year's gifts with N.K. leader's sister
3. S. Korea begins permitting easy public access to N. Korea's main newspaper
4. Previewing North Korea’s Grand Strategy for 2026
5. Survey: Germans with reunification experience back Korean unification
6. S. Korean military to offer drone operation training to all conscripts next year
7. Marine Corps Regains 1st, 2nd Division Control After 50 Years
8.South Korea's Defense Firms Pioneer AI Combat, UAV Tech
9. N. Korea amplifies military narrative
10. Korean War (1950 – 1953) (Maps and Video)
11. Hanwha Systems wins 40 bln-won combat system supply deal from Philippine Navy
12. Lee hopes White House golden key deepens Seoul-Washington ties
13. U.S. voices 'significant concerns' over S. Korea's network act revision
1. N. Korea set to mark New Year with outdoor celebrations, firework display
Comment: But the Korean people in the north cannot eat fireworks and celebrations. And if it is cold in Seoul, imagine how cold it is in Pyongyang. What a waste of resources. The Korean people in the north suffer solely because of the policy decisions made by Kim Jong Un.
As we think about all the blessings that await us in the New Year, let us reflect on what the Korean people in the north have to look forward to: continued suffering with no end in sight.
N. Korea set to mark New Year with outdoor celebrations, firework display | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 31, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251231001200315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is set to hold a nighttime outdoor celebration and launch fireworks Wednesday to usher in the new year, according to the North's state media.
At 11 p.m., youths and students will gather at Kim Il Sung Square to hold a nighttime outdoor celebration, with a ceremony to hoist the national flag and firework displays also planned, according to the Korean Central Broadcasting Station.
In recent years, North Korea has held such events at the square on the eve of Jan. 1.
North Korea may hold a separate art performance celebrating the new year, attended by its leader Kim Jong-un. On the last day of 2024, Kim attended a large-scale art performance held at the May Day Stadium with his daughter Ju-ae.
North Korea appears to have held large-scale New Year celebrations in a bid to arouse the people's pride in the nation and strengthen internal solidarity.
The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, carried a report on Kim's inspections for this year on the front page of Wednesday's edition, highlighting his attendance at the opening ceremonies for regional factories and the overseeing of major weapons tests.
The daily stressed Kim's efforts to strengthen the national defense power, noting the leader has committed to bolstering military capabilities "without delay and speedily."
This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 1, 2025, shows the North holding a youth's nighttime outdoor celebration at Kim Il Sung Square on Dec. 31, 2024 to usher in the new year. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 31, 2025
2. Russian official exchanges New Year's gifts with N.K. leader's sister
Comment: Again, what are the Korean people in the north receiving? I apologize for harping on the plight of the Korean people in the north during a time of celebration and optimism for the rest of us. But we must not forget them.
Russian official exchanges New Year's gifts with N.K. leader's sister | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Song Sang-ho · December 31, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251231000200315?section=nk/nk
MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- The spokesperson of Russia's foreign ministry said Tuesday that she and the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have exchanged New Year's gifts, as Moscow and Pyongyang have deepened their partnership on security, diplomacy and other fronts.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson, said in a post on Telegram, a messaging app, that she received a gift from Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the North's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, via North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol, and that she sent a portrait of Kim in return.
Zakharova posted a photo of the portrait painted by Nikas Safronov, a prominent artist, along with a photo of a large vase that appears to have been sent by Kim.
Two men hold up a portrait of Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, which Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, prepared to send to Kim as a gift, in this photo from Zakharova's Telegram account. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In the post, she said that though she is not personally acquainted with Kim, she and Safronov thought that the portrait illustrated what appeared to be "incompatible but essential" attributes: tenderness and femininity, along with strength and determination.
The exchange of gifts came as Russia and the North have been strengthening their cooperation since Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during their summit in Pyongyang in June 2024.
This month, the leaders of the two countries also exchanged New Year's greetings.
In his message, the North Korean leader described bilateral relations as a "precious common asset," noting that this year was a "meaningful" one in which the two countries "steadily wrote a great biography of the alliance" through "full mutual support and selfless encouragement," according to Pyongyang's state media.
This photo from the Telegram account of Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, shows a vase that Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have sent to Zakharova as a gift. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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en.yna.co.kr · Song Sang-ho · December 31, 2025
3.
Summary:
South Korea’s Unification Ministry will now allow easier public access to Rodong Sinmun in roughly 20 designated facilities and major public libraries by reclassifying the paper edition from “special” to “general” materials. Previously, readers had to verify identity and purpose at limited locations, such as the ministry’s North Korea information center. Online access to Rodong Sinmun remains blocked, but the government says it will seek to lift restrictions on about 60 north Korean websites, including KCNA, through the existing legal review process. The ministry also said it will comprehensively review whether to lift the May 24, 2010 unilateral sanctions tied to the Cheonan sinking.
Comment: I have been receiving pushback and criticism on my position that this is a good move. Interestingly the strongest push back I have received is from those who have actually experienced living under communism and totalitarian dictatorships. They know the damage that organizations like the Propaganda and Agitation Department can do to the people. The caution of course is warranted. However, I will not change my position. First, because I am a First Amendment absolutist (and I believe freedom of speech and access to information is a universal human right). Second, I think it is going to be very hard for propaganda from the north to convince any significant number of people. I think the value of learning about the north and exposing its news and propaganda as lies is worth the risk of a possibly small number of people becoming indoctrinated. And as I have written, escapee organizations, NGO, and human rights activities ought to be using this to pressure the Lee administration to demand reciprocity form the north and when none if given then governments and NGOs alike should be conducting operations to "un-isolate" the Korean people from their forced isolation as the UN Commission of Inquiry recognized as an extreme human rights abuse. Of course my critics respond that Preisnt Lee is unlikely to give in to the demands to send information to the north. That may be true but that doesn't mean we should give up pressuring him. And we have to think about the long term.
Lastly I offer this from our NSS in 2017. Yes it is talking about the American people but I believe it applies just as much to Koreans who live in freedom:
"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."
Access the 2017 NSS HERE
S. Korea begins permitting easy public access to N. Korea's main newspaper | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 30, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251230006700315?section=nk/nk
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans will be able to easily read the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's main newspaper, at designated facilities and major public libraries, starting Tuesday, according to the unification ministry.
The public will be able to easily access the Rodong Sinmun, like general publications, at around 20 facilities, as the newspaper is now being classified as "general materials" not as "special" ones, the ministry said.
In South Korea, public access to the Rodong Sinmun, along with other North Korean publications, was restricted as it was classified as "special materials" under the spy agency's guidelines on concerns that it includes content praising and promoting the North Korean regime.
Previously, people were able to read the Rodong Sinmun at designated facilities, such as the ministry's information center on North Korea, only after their identity and purpose for accessing the content were verified.
But with the lifting of such restrictions, South Koreans will be able to easily access the paper version of the Rodong Sinmun. Still, online access to the newspaper's website will continue to be banned.
This undated file photo shows the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. (Yonhap)
During the unification ministry's policy briefing on Dec. 19, President Lee Jae Myung said a ban on public access to North Korean publications amounts to "treating the public as those who can fall for propaganda and agitation" by the North.
"The government will continue to expand public access to North Korean information by enabling the people to freely access it and assess and judge the North's situation based on their mature level of consciousness," Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung told reporters Tuesday.
In a related effort, the government will push to lift restricted online access to around 60 North Korean websites, including that of the Korean Central News Agency, the North's state-run news agency, the ministry said.
Under the Information and Communications Network Act, the government can restrict the public's online access to information related to activities banned under the national security law after deliberations by the media communications commission.
Meanwhile, the ministry said it will "comprehensively" consider whether to lift South Korea's unilateral sanctions on North Korea imposed in 2010 under the former Lee Myung-bak administration.
The so-called May 24 sanctions include the suspension of most trade and economic exchanges with North Korea and the disapproval of fresh investment in North Korea. The measures were imposed to punish the North for its deadly torpedoing of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March 2010.
The ministry said in 2020 that the May 24 sanctions lost their effectiveness and do not hinder inter-Korean exchanges any longer, but has not officially announced the lifting of such measures.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Soo-yeon · December 30, 2025
4. Previewing North Korea’s Grand Strategy for 2026
Summary:
Mitch Shin argues 2026 could be pivotal for north Korea because Pyongyang will try to lock in “nuclear completion” at the expected Ninth Workers’ Party Congress, treating its arsenal as permanent and nonnegotiable. The new five-year defense plan would likely stress survivable, reliable forces, including improved solid-fuel ICBMs, stronger SLBM capacity, and more reconnaissance satellites, possibly aided by technology transfers from Russia in exchange for munitions and manpower. Diplomatically, Pyongyang may keep tensions low to preserve a possible Trump summit, while continuing to exclude Seoul as unable to deliver sanctions relief or security guarantees.
Comment: Why talk with the US and ignore the South? Likely to drive a wedge in the ROK:US alliance.
Previewing North Korea’s Grand Strategy for 2026
Pyongyang will likely open room for a summit meeting with Washington while excluding dialogue opportunities with Seoul.
By Mitch Shin
December 30, 2025
https://thediplomat.com/2025/12/previewing-north-koreas-grand-strategy-for-2026/
In this photo from North Korean state media, leaders wave from the viewing platform amid a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea, Oct. 10, 2025. From right: Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Credit: KCNA
The year 2026 is set to be a pivotal year for North Korea, defined by a dual strategy: the domestic finalization of its nuclear status through a major political declaration and the external pursuit of calculated and high-stakes diplomacy with the United States while maintaining the strategic exclusion of South Korea. This complex maneuver, leveraging both institutional change and geopolitical instability, aims to solidify the Kim regime as an irreversible nuclear power, fundamentally altering the security landscape of the Korean Peninsula.
The Institutionalization of Nuclear Completion
The most decisive event shaping Pyongyang’s strategy will be the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), which is expected to convene in early 2026. This congress is the ultimate political mechanism for the regime to formalize its direction, moving beyond the 2023 constitutional amendment that enshrined the nuclear force policy into the state’s basic law. The Ninth Congress is anticipated to escalate this legal posture to a political declaration of “nuclear completion,” signaling that the nuclear arsenal is no longer a negotiable bargaining chip but a permanent and institutionalized tool of state power.
This declaration will likely be made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his final speech during the Ninth Congress to establish victorious narrative that formally rejects any future pressure for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID).
The defense portion of the new five-year plan will focus heavily on the qualitative advancement of North Korea’s nuclear weapon programs and delivery systems to cement this status. To truly finalize its nuclear weapon programs, North Korea needs to ensure that its nuclear forces are survivable, reliable, and capable of striking the U.S. mainland. Accordingly, the regime will concentrate on perfecting its solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles capabilities.
Concurrently, Pyongyang will pursue the launch of additional military reconnaissance satellites. These satellites are vital for providing the necessary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data to support precision targeting, transforming its nuclear capability from a simple deterrent into a robust and effective strategic force. As North Korea has supplied ammunition and deployed its troops to Russia to help Moscow during the Ukraine War, there could be an opportunity for Pyongyang to receive necessary satellite technology from Moscow in return for its support.
Calculated Diplomacy and the Exclusion of Seoul
Pyongyang’s foreign policy for 2026 will be one of pragmatic patience and balancing strategic opportunities with the maintenance of internal rigidity.
The crucial date on the diplomatic calendar is April 2026, when U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. North Korea’s policy towards the United States will be characterized by a non-antagonistic stance, primarily to keep the door open for a top-down summit with Trump. In this context, North Korea is highly likely to suppress major strategic provocations – such as a seventh nuclear test or an ICBM launch at a normal trajectory – until after this visit. Such acts would risk provoking a strong and unpredictable reaction from Trump, which would immediately shatter the fragile opportunity for a summit.
By remaining reserved, Kim can hold out for a high-stakes meeting, potentially leveraging the occasion of Trump’s trip to Beijing for a summit meeting with the U.S. president. However, Pyongyang will likely pressure Washington to abandon its conventional approach – the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula – first before agreeing in holding a North Korea-U.S. summit on the sidelines of the China-U.S. summit.
While retaining its relatively dovish gestures toward Trump, Pyongyang’s strategy toward South Korea can be expected to remain one of institutionalized indifference and non-recognition. Despite South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s determined effort to pursue dialogue, North Korea is highly likely to maintain its strict policy of disinterest.
This exclusion stems from the fundamental reality that only the president of the United States, in coordination with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states, holds the authority to deliver the crucial economic sanctions relief and security guarantees that Kim requires for the regime’s survival. The numerous UNSC resolutions against North Korea’s nuclear and missile development means that unilateral offers from the South Korean government cannot satisfy North Korea’s core objectives of large-scale foreign currency acquisition and economic normalization. Therefore, North Korea does not view Seoul as a legitimate or effective counterpart, as Seoul cannot help Pyongyang achieve its goals of lifting sanctions or securing regime stability.
The Ninth Party Congress is expected to reflect Kim’s updated stance that the two Koreas are “two separate, hostile nations,” solidifying the policy of non-cooperation. While Kim is unlikely to engage in reckless conventional military provocations, the total lack of interest in normalizing inter-Korean relations will ensure that the current state of total diplomatic deadlock persists.
Strategic Exploitation of Geopolitical Instability
The global strategic instability, particularly the prolongation of the Ukraine War, has provided Pyongyang with the perfect environment to strengthen its key ties with Moscow and Beijing, maximizing its military and economic gains. North Korea will concentrate on intensifying its strategic partnership with Russia, which has evolved into a vital two-way military exchange. In exchange for the North’s continued provision of artillery ammunition, short-range ballistic missiles, and even soldiers, Russia is expected to transfer advanced military technology.
This technological infusion could significantly enhance North Korea’s missile, submarine, and drone capabilities, directly offsetting its internal technological limitations. This de facto technology-for-munitions barter model is a highly effective sanction circumvention strategy that directly contributes to the qualitative advancement which will likely be outlined at the Ninth Party Congress.
While the North Korea-Russia bond deepens, the strategic partnership with China will be carefully maintained. China remains North Korea’s indispensable economic lifeline and a crucial political stabilizer. Beijing’s interest in regional stability acts as a latent check on Pyongyang’s most extreme actions, ensuring that the increasing alignment with Russia does not trigger an overwhelming security response from the United States that could destabilize the region. The North will use this stable backing from China to confidently pursue its long-term nuclear and military goals.
In sum, the overarching theme for North Korea in 2026 is institutionalized aggression coupled with opportunistic diplomacy. The regime will focus internally on making its nuclear status politically and legally unassailable, while externally it will use its strengthened alignment with Russia to achieve qualitative military modernization.
The potential for a Trump-Kim summit, however, offers the slight hope for a diplomatic opening that might thaw the frozen inter-Korean relationship in turn. Absent such a top-down breakthrough, 2026 will see the Kim regime persist in its current trajectory: waiting, building strength, and ultimately challenging the regional status quo with a calculated confidence.
Authors
Contributing Author
Mitch Shin
Mitch Shin is a chief correspondent for The Diplomat, covering the Korean Peninsula. He is also a non-resident research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies and associate fellow for the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.
5. Survey: Germans with reunification experience back Korean unification
Summary:
A global survey by South Korea’s Institute for Unification Studies finds Germans, drawing on their reunification experience, are relatively supportive of Korean unification. In Germany, 62.2% would recommend unification and 55.4% say it is necessary, yet only 29.9% think it is realistically achievable, underscoring a gap between desirability and feasibility. The United States shows a similar split, with 55.6% judging unification necessary but 27.2% seeing it as possible. Japan is far less supportive, with 29.3% calling unification necessary and 13.4% achievable, reflecting doubts it would benefit Japan. Across countries, diplomacy is favored for denuclearization.
Comment: The important numbers are the ones who support it and find it necessary. The fact that so few think unification is feasible should not put us off. If there is war or regime collapse (the two most likely scenarios) then the only logical outcome is unification. In the end unification is best for all Korean people and for the region and the world. Of course the ideal will be peaceful unification but I think in that scarnios the naysayers are correct. Certainly there will be no peaceful unification as long as the Kim family regime remains in power. The question is can they remain in power or will there be some kind of transformation in the north. I would like to see the questions asked: if there is new leadership in north Korea and not affiliated with the Kim family regime, do you think unification is more likely and possible?
World News Dec. 30, 2025 / 8:34 PM / Updated Dec. 30, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Survey: Germans with reunification experience back Korean unification
By Asia Today and translated by UPI
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/12/30/german-survey-unification-recommend/5911767128437/
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his South Korean counterpart Kim Dae-jung give peace a chance in 2000. File Photo by EPA
Dec. 30 (Asia Today) -- More than half of German respondents said they would recommend unification of the Korean Peninsula, drawing on their own country's experience with reunification, according to a new international survey released Tuesday.
The findings came from the 2025 Global Unification Awareness Survey conducted by the Institute for Unification Studies, which polled 1,000 respondents in each of eight countries.
Among German respondents, 62.2% answered positively when asked whether they would recommend Korean unification based on Germany's reunification experience. Of those, 17.9% said they "strongly agree," while 44.3% said they "somewhat agree."
When asked about the necessity of Korean unification, 55.4% of Germans responded positively. However, only 29.9% said they believe inter-Korean unification is realistically possible, highlighting a significant gap between perceived necessity and feasibility.
Related
A similar pattern appeared in the United States, where 55.6% viewed unification as necessary but only 27.2% believed it was achievable. In Japan, just 29.3% said unification was necessary, and only 13.4% viewed it as possible.
The institute said the results show a consistent divide between recognition of unification's importance and skepticism about its prospects. It noted that Germany, as a country that has already experienced national reunification, showed a higher perception of necessity than other surveyed nations.
Regarding Japan's particularly low assessment of the need for Korean unification, the institute said the view appears to stem from a belief that unification would not benefit Japan. It added that, because support from neighboring countries is essential, Seoul should strengthen public diplomacy efforts aimed at improving Japanese perceptions.
On perceptions of North Korea's nuclear program, Japanese respondents expressed the highest level of concern. A total of 81.5% of Japanese respondents said North Korea's nuclear weapons pose a serious threat to peace, followed by Americans at 72.9% and Mongolians at 66.5%.
The institute said countries directly affected by North Korea's nuclear issue - including Japan, the United States and Mongolia - tend to show heightened threat awareness.
Asked about Pyongyang's motives for developing nuclear weapons, respondents most commonly viewed them as intended for offensive purposes. That perception was strongest in Japan at 71.8%, followed by the United States at 70.9% and Sweden at 70.2%. Excluding Mongolia, only about 20% to 30% of respondents in most countries viewed North Korea's nuclear program as primarily defensive.
On preferred approaches to denuclearization, 74.6% across all eight countries favored diplomatic negotiations. Support for economic measures such as sanctions stood at 67.7%, while 48.2% supported military options.
The survey also examined national images of the two Koreas. South Korea was generally viewed as a country associated with trust and cooperation, while North Korea was widely perceived as a source of threat and distrust. Japan, however, showed low levels of trust toward both Koreas.
The annual survey was conducted online from Aug. 11 to 18 in Germany, Mongolia, the United States, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Canada and Poland.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
6. S. Korean military to offer drone operation training to all conscripts next year
Summary:
South Korea will train every conscript to operate drones starting in 2026, aiming to boost battlefield competence in low-cost, high-impact systems. Under the “500,000 drone warrior” initiative, the defense ministry plans to spend about 33 billion won to buy roughly 11,000 small commercial drones for training, and to build post-service workforce skills.
Comment: LIke the US Marines who say every Marine is a rifleman, the ROK military will make every service member a drone operator.
S. Korean military to offer drone operation training to all conscripts next year | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 31, 2025
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military will offer all conscripts drone operation training starting next year in its bid to strengthen combat capabilities in modern warfare, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
Under the plan, dubbed the "500,000 drone warrior" project, the ministry will allocate some 33 billion won (US$22.9 million) next year to acquire around 11,000 small commercial drones required for training.
The plan comes as part of the military's efforts to enhance combat skills using drones, which have become increasingly effective, low-cost combat equipment in modern warfare.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back earlier proposed the plan in September, saying nurturing 500,000 drone warriors will not only strengthen the military's drone operation capabilities but also serve as the "foundation" for troops to work in relevant industries after their service.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (C) inspects a drone during his visit to the Army's 36th Division in Wonju, some 90 kilometers east of Seoul, on Sept. 4, 2025, in this file photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · December 31, 2025
7. Marine Corps Regains 1st, 2nd Division Control After 50 Years
Summary:
South Korea’s defense minister, Ahn Gyu-back, announced reforms to make the Marine Corps a “quasi-fourth service,” still under the Navy but with command and supervisory authority comparable to the other service chiefs. Key change is restoring Marine Corps operational control of the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions from the Army after about 50 years. The 1st Division’s peacetime and wartime operational control returns fully to the Marine Corps by end-2026. The 2nd Division’s peacetime control returns by 2028, while wartime control stays with the Army’s Capital Corps for now. Seoul is also considering a Marine Corps Operational Command and promotions to full general.
Comment: They should do this for the Special Warfare Command and create a Joint Special Warfare Command with assigned Army, Navy, and Air Force special warfare units.
But it is a long road back for the ROK Marines from 1973 when during Park Chung-hee era the ROK Marine Corps Headquarters was disbanded in 1973 and Marine specific provisions were removed from the legal architecture that had previously recognized it more distinctly.
Marine Corps Regains 1st, 2nd Division Control After 50 Years
Reforms include operational command establishment and general rank promotions
By Kim Dong-ha
Published 2025.12.31. 14:29
Updated 2025.12.31. 21:34https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/12/31/Y5G34YTDIFG5FL36DF6J5V2NSI/
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (right) visits the 1st Marine Division on the 26th and shakes hands with troops. /Ministry of National Defense
The operational control authority of the Marine Corps’ 1st and 2nd Divisions will return to the Marine Corps from the Army after 50 years. The promotion of Marine Corps officers to the rank of general and the establishment of a Marine Corps Operational Command are also under review.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held a press conference at the Ministry of National Defense complex in Yongsan on the 31st and announced a plan to reorganize the Marine Corps into a “quasi-fourth military branch” system. The quasi-fourth military branch system refers to maintaining the Marine Corps as part of the Navy, as it is now, while granting the Marine Corps Commander command and supervisory authority equivalent to the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to ensure independence. The reorganization of the Marine Corps into a quasi-fourth military branch system was a campaign pledge of President Lee Jae-myung.
Minister Ahn said, “First, we will return the operational control authority of the Marine Corps’ main units, the 1st and 2nd Divisions, to the Marine Corps after 50 years,” adding, “The operational control authority of the 1st Marine Division, which is currently under the operational control of the Army’s 2nd Operational Command, will be fully returned by the end of 2026.”
He continued, “By returning the operational control authority of the 2nd Marine Division, which is under the operational control of the Army’s Capital Corps, to the Marine Corps within 2028, we will ensure that the Marine Corps can fully exercise operational control over its subordinate units.”
The 1st Marine Division will have both wartime and peacetime operational control authority fully returned to the Marine Corps, while the 2nd Marine Division will only have its peacetime operational control authority returned to the Marine Corps, with the Capital Corps continuing to exercise wartime operational control.
Regarding this, Minister Ahn stated that significant changes are expected by 2040 due to military restructuring, adding, “The units currently under the Capital Corps include the Army’s 17th Division, 51st Division, and the Marine Corps’ 2nd Division. This aspect (wartime operational control of the 2nd Marine Division) will be reviewed later in accordance with the restructuring of force structure, personnel structure, and unit structure.”
Minister Ahn also announced that the promotion of Marine Corps officers to the rank of general is under consideration. Currently, the highest-ranking position for Marine Corps officers is the Marine Corps Commander, who holds the rank of lieutenant general. The promotion to general would allow Marine Corps officers to advance to positions such as the Vice Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command or the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after completing their term as Marine Corps Commander.
The establishment of a separate operational command for the Marine Corps is also under review. While the Army, Air Force, and Navy have operational commands, the Marine Corps currently does not have an operational command that oversees all its subordinate units.
Minister Ahn stated that the rank of the Marine Corps Operational Commander is being considered as a three-star general. This would increase the number of three-star general positions within the Marine Corps to two, alongside the Marine Corps Commander.
Minister Ahn stated, “We will ensure that the Marine Corps has a command structure, staff organization, and equipment and weaponry system befitting the quasi-fourth military branch system,” adding, “We plan to stipulate the transformed Marine Corps’ role in the ‘Military Organization Act,’ detailing its missions as a national strategic mobile force responsible for amphibious operations and island defense, and will promptly advance efforts to strengthen the Marine Corps’ capabilities.”
The Ministry of National Defense plans to allow more Marine Corps personnel to advance into higher commands, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The current Marine Corps building, known as ‘Milltopia by Marine,’ will be officially designated as the ‘Marine Corps Hall’ to enhance the symbolic significance of the Marine Corps.
8. South Korea's Defense Firms Pioneer AI Combat, UAV Tech
Summary:
South Korea’s defense industry is pushing AI-enabled command-and-control and unmanned aviation. LIG Nex1 is developing an LLM-driven AI C4I “combat advisor” that fuses sensor data, generates summaries and risk assessments, and speeds sensor-to-shooter decisions through multiple collaborating AI models, with work underway to field it on mobile platforms akin to a “Korean Titan.” KAI, via its CAMS subsidiary, is building the AAP multipurpose UAV for reconnaissance or strike missions and is integrating variants with the FA-50 for manned-unmanned teaming. KAI aims to validate FA-50 to AAP data-link control and an AI “pilot” by 2027.
Comment: A global pivotal state tha is a partner in the Arsenal of Democracies.
South Korea's Defense Firms Pioneer AI Combat, UAV Tech
LIG Nex1's AI C4I system speeds decisions; KAI's AAP UAVs integrate with FA-50
By Pangyo·Sacheon=Kim Ji-hwan(ChosunBiz)
Published 2026.01.01. 06:03
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2026/01/01/J2AXSMVKTBF2JKUAJO3IP7UFVM/
#1. On December 19 of last year, at LIG Nex1’s Research and Development (R&D) Center 2 Pangyo House in Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. A large screen in the Command and Control Lab (LAB) displayed an alert: ‘War Outbreak D+7, North Korean forces have occupied the Paju industrial complex, and additional troops are advancing southward.’ On a map depicting the Paju area, the positions of North Korean tanks, armored vehicles, and troops appeared, along with detailed locations of allied forces, UAVs, tanks, and other weapon systems. The system classified the current risk level as ‘Dangerous.’
On another monitor, a program similar to generative AI like ChatGPT provided an analysis: ‘Here is the requested situation summary,’ followed by video interpretation results. When a commander input, ‘Generate a risk assessment and strike scheduling report,’ the large screen immediately updated with various metrics. Threat priorities—from tanks to personnel—were displayed, showing that South Korean forces were responding with K9 self-propelled howitzers and Hyunung missiles. As allied attacks began, enemy numbers and risk levels decreased in real time.
#2. On December 22 of last year, at the production site of Korea Aerospace Services (KAEMS·CAMS), a subsidiary of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do. Passing the assembly line where the forward fuselage of the multi-role fighter FA-50 bound for Poland was being built, white and orange-painted UAVs came into view. Five workers were installing components inside these UAVs, while engines destined for the aircraft lay on the floor. This aircraft is the multi-purpose UAV (AAP) being developed by KAI.
As the importance of ‘Sovereign AI’—AI systems where nations retain control over their own data without relying on external cloud services—grows in the global defense industry, South Korea’s defense and aerospace sectors are rapidly advancing AI-integrated weapon systems and unmanned technologies.
Domestic defense companies focused on establishing frameworks for AI integration last year but plan to begin validating and refining these systems this year. We examined the sites where LIG Nex1 and KAI are pioneering the future of South Korea’s weapons manufacturing.
◇ Reducing Decision Time in Contingencies… LIG Nex1 Develops AI Combat Advisor
LIG Nex1’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) system integrates military command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence functions.
The AI C4I under development is distinguished by its use of large language model (LLM)-based AI. It analyzes and predicts information from reconnaissance assets in real time, communicates with commanders, and shortens the time required for battlefield decision-making.
LIG Nex1 applied the ‘Sensor-to-Shooter’ concept, enabling immediate sharing of battlefield information, allied forces data, and other critical information across the C4I system. The goal is to outperform current C4I systems by accelerating information acquisition and decision-making.
A source from LIG Nex1 explained, “The core of this system lies in the complex interoperability of multiple AI models analyzing different information domains,” adding, “We aim to achieve precise battlefield analysis and effective operational responses.”
LIG Nex1 refers to the technology embedded in this C4I as ‘AI Autonomous Collaboration Technology.’ Unlike conventional systems where a single AI model handles analysis and response, this approach enables multiple AI models to collaborate—much like operational or tactical advisors convening to reach optimal conclusions. LIG Nex1 is currently collaborating with AI specialists to train these models and plans to specialize them for defense applications by continuously training them on military data this year.
Alongside AI refinement, research is underway to integrate the C4I system into mobile platforms—a Korean version of Palantir’s Titan. Titan is a combat command vehicle that collects and analyzes battlefield data from various sensors, providing strategic information to soldiers in real time.
◇ KAI Links UAV AAP with FA-50… Completes Manned-Unmanned Complex System
A demonstration of the AI Command Combat Control System under development by LIG Nex1. /Courtesy of LIG Nex1
KAI is currently producing eight AAP units, with plans to manufacture a total of ten. Two units, AAP-001 and 002, have already been completed and are undergoing test flights. The AAP consists of a head module for mission equipment, an upper torso housing AI flight computers, a lower torso with fuel tanks and a parachute, and a tail fitted with an engine. Depending on the mission equipment—such as warheads for kamikaze drones or cameras/radars for reconnaissance—it can function as either a strike or surveillance UAV.
Notably, AAP-009 and 010, designed in blue on a gray base, were developed in collaboration with Lockheed Martin for integration with the FA-50. They are slated for manned-unmanned complex system validation. KAI plans to complete this system by equipping the AAP with an AI pilot named ‘Kairat.’
All development is funded by KAI’s internal investments. Each AAP unit costs over 1 billion Korean won, but production costs are expected to drop below 100 million Korean won once mass production begins.
A multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle (AAP) is manufactured at the factory of Cams, a subsidiary of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). /Courtesy of KAI
Alongside airframe production, KAI is advancing the AI pilot ‘Kairat.’ By the first half of last year, the company had conducted test flights using a scaled-down AAP model. Kang Byung-gil, Director of KAI’s Future Systems Research Lab, stated, “The test aircraft equipped with Kairat successfully navigated fixed and moving obstacles to reach its target.”
KAI aims to finalize FA-50 integration by 2027. Validation will involve a pilot operating the FA-50 from the front seat while a rear-seat operator manages the UAV. Kang added, “We plan to link FA-50 and AAP via data links and apply AI algorithms for validation.”
9. N. Korea amplifies military narrative
Summary:
Rodong Sinmun used the 14th anniversary of Kim Jong Un’s elevation as Supreme Commander on December 30, 2011 to frame his tenure as a “peak era” of strengthening the revolutionary armed forces. The message is familiar and purposeful: the Korean People’s Army is cast as elite, loyal, and politically armed, and thus able to defeat any invader while executing “revolutionary missions.” The article links the rhetoric to recent demonstrations of capability, including a long-range cruise-missile test, attention to a nuclear-powered submarine project, and orders to expand multiple rocket launcher production ahead of a major party congress in 2026.
Comment: Military first. As an aside - what is the revolutionary mission? The domination of the entire Korean peninsula. We should never forget that the Kim family regime has a sacred duty to complete the revolution and rule the entire peninsula under the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State,
N. Korea amplifies military narrative
koreaherald.com · Sanjay Kumar · December 30, 2025
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10646072
This image, captured from footage of North Korea's state-run TV network on Friday shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un delivering a speech at an event celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day. (Yonhap)
Marking the 14th anniversary of Kim Jong-un’s appointment as Supreme Commander, North Korea is intensifying its revolutionary and military rhetoric, hailing the period as the “peak era of fortifying revolutionary armed forces.”
Kim Jong-un was appointed Supreme Commander during a Workers’ Party Politburo meeting on December 30, 2011, roughly two weeks after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
The state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun asserted that under Kim’s leadership, the Korean People’s Army has become an elite, loyal revolutionary force capable of defeating any invading power. The paper emphasized that the “Revolutionary Armed Forces of North Korea” are not only militarily capable but also politically and ideologically committed to defending the nation and executing revolutionary missions.
Recently, North Korea has escalated military activities, including testing of a long-range cruise missile that could potentially reach Japan. Kim personally oversaw the most recent launch and inspected a nuclear-powered submarine project — both highlighting the regime’s focus on nuclear readiness and advanced weapons development.
On Sunday, Kim visited a munitions factory, calling for increased production of multiple rocket launchers, describing them as “strategic attack” weapons. The visit signaled intentions to modernize the military ahead of a major party congress scheduled for next year.
Rodong Sinmun further claimed that, empowered by the “invincible might” of its armed forces, North Korea has become an “impregnable stronghold” and a “great nation” achieving global recognition. The publication also reported Kim’s directives to strengthen the military’s political, ideological and moral capacities, while advancing technologies —including nuclear weapons.
The military’s role extends beyond defense. It has contributed to major construction projects such as the Yangdok Hot Spring Resort, housing developments and industrial facilities. Despite ongoing international sanctions, North Korea opened the Yangdok resort in South Pyongan Province to promote tourism. Kim praised the resort as a symbol of steady national development and prosperity.
The regime continues to position the army as not only a battlefield force but also a protector of the people and a supporter of public welfare projects.
sanjaykumar@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · Sanjay Kumar · December 30, 2025
10. Korean War (1950 – 1953) (Maps and Video)
Comment: Two fascinating maps and a 45 second video map that shows how the Korean war played out geographically.
Geography matters. Maps are important – even and perhaps especially National Geographic Maps. As an aside, from the youngest age I can remember every Christmas I received a renewed National Geographic subscription from my grandparents. I used to love getting the issues that had a map tucked inside.
I also think the map that portrays the Korean war casualty figures from around the world is important.
Some may want to bookmark this page and use these maps or video for their projects.
Korean War (1950 – 1953)
https://vividmaps.com/korean-war/
Japan ruled Korea for 35 years. After Japan surrendered in August 1945, control of Korea had to change.
The Soviets were already in the north, while Americans were moving in from the south. Two Army colonels in Washington, Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel, had to figure out how to split the administrative duties. They had a National Geographic map and thirty minutes.
They drew a line at the 38th parallel. It divided Korea roughly in half. North of that line belonged to the Soviets. South belonged to the Americans. Easy enough. They figured it was temporary.
It wasn’t.
Three years went by. By 1948, two different governments had formed. Kim Il-sung ran the North. The Soviets were behind him. Syngman Rhee ran the South. The Americans backed him.
Each one said they were Korea’s real government. Each one wanted the whole country back. Neither would budge.
June 25, 1950. North Korea invaded.
The UN voted to help South Korea. The Soviets were boycotting the Security Council right then over something else, so they couldn’t block it. Truman sent American troops without declaring war officially.
China said if UN forces got too close to their border, they’d jump in.
MacArthur didn’t take that seriously. He pushed all the way to the Yalu River. That’s where North Korea meets China.
China meant what they said.
Seoul got captured and recaptured multiple times in the first year. The battle lines swung back and forth across the peninsula. Reddit user severetoxic put together this animation showing how crazy the movement was:
By the summer of 1951, everyone was fighting near the 38th parallel again. Back where it all began. But the war kept going anyway for two more years.
Twenty-one countries got involved. The total body count came close to 4 million people.
Nearly 4 million people lost their lives. In October 1950, China sent a large number of troops across the Yalu River. Official records report 197,603 deaths, 383,500 wounded, and 450,000 hospitalized. Many historians believe the actual numbers were much higher. Chinese records from back then weren’t exactly reliable.
North Korea lost about 10% of everyone living there. 406,000 soldiers died. 303,000 got wounded. 120,000 either went missing or got captured.
South Korea had 137,899 killed and 450,742 wounded. They were still trying to get back on their feet after decades under Japan.
America lost 36,574 soldiers, 103,284 came back wounded, 4,714 got taken prisoner. More Americans died in Korea than in the whole Iraq War that lasted from 2003 to 2011.
Britain sent people and 1,109 didn’t come back. Turkey lost 741. Canada 516. Australia 339. Then you had France, Thailand, Greece, Netherlands, Ethiopia, Belgium, Colombia, Philippines. All of them sent troops. All of them lost people.
New Zealand lost 34. South Africa 34. Norway 3. Luxembourg sent 44 soldiers and 2 of them died there.
The Soviets said they were just supplying weapons, but they lost 299 people and 335 planes. They were doing more than just shipping boxes.
They signed an armistice at Panmunjom, but that is not the same as a peace treaty. An armistice only means that both sides agreed to stop fighting, not that the war is officially over.
Since no peace treaty was ever signed, Korea is still technically at war. The DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone, stretches for 250 kilometers (160 miles) between North and South Korea.
11. Hanwha Systems wins 40 bln-won combat system supply deal from Philippine Navy
Summary:
Hanwha Systems won a 40 billion won (about $27.7 million) Philippine Navy contract to supply combat management systems and tactical data links for two 3,200 ton next generation frigates. The CMS integrates sensors, weapons, and communications as the ship’s “brain,” while TDL enables real time tactical data sharing. The deal is Hanwha’s fifth CMS sale to the Philippines since 2017.
Comment: It is great to see our two allies working together.
Hanwha Systems wins 40 bln-won combat system supply deal from Philippine Navy | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Chang Dong-woo · December 31, 2025
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Systems Co., a defense solutions unit of South Korea's Hanwha Group, said Wednesday it has won a 40 billion-won (US$27.7 million) contract to supply advanced combat management systems (CMS) to the Philippine Navy, marking the fifth such deal with the Southeast Asian country.
Under the deal, Hanwha Systems will provide CMS and tactical data links (TDL) for the Philippine Navy's two 3,200-ton next-generation frigates.
A CMS works as the brain of a vessel and is designed to integrate all equipment, like sensors, weapons and communications systems, into one single system to help counter threats more efficiently. A TDL enables naval units to share tactical information in real time.
Hanwha Systems said the equipment will be custom tailored to the Philippines' operational environment, which spans across over 7,600 islands.
The latest deal adds to Hanwha Systems' past systems supply contracts with the Philippine Navy since 2017.
Hanwha Systems said it has developed the CMS entirely with proprietary technology and has supplied them to a wide range of surface and underwater vessels used by the South Korean Navy.
This photo provided by Hanwha Systems Co. shows a rendered image of the company's naval combat management system. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Chang Dong-woo · December 31, 2025
12. Lee hopes White House golden key deepens Seoul-Washington ties
Summary:
President Lee Jae Myung publicly thanked POTUS for a ceremonial “Key to the White House,” saying he hopes the symbol strengthens Seoul Washington ties. Lee posted photos on X of the gold key, engraved “Key to the White House” and housed in a wooden case with an image of the residence. He joked that it might let him in if POTUS is away from his desk during a future visit. Lee’s office said POTUS delivered the gift to South Korea’s ambassador in Washington after her Dec. 17 credentialing. Lee linked the gesture to personal trust and alliance momentum.
Comment: Does that mean he can drop by unannounced and just open the front door to the White House? (Note attempt at humor).
Lee hopes White House golden key deepens Seoul-Washington ties - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20251231/lee-hopes-white-house-golden-key-deepens-seoul-washington-ties
President Lee Jae Myung holds a specially designed golden key gifted by U.S. President Donald Trump, in this photo posted on his X account on Tuesday. Yonhap
SEOUL — President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for the gift of a golden key to the White House, saying he hopes the symbolic present will help deepen the alliance between Seoul and Washington.
Lee shared a photo on his X account of himself looking at the golden key that Trump sent in return for the gifts he received during his visit to South Korea in October.
"Could this perhaps be the key to the White House?" Lee wrote in the post, which was written in both Korean and English. "I'm curious if I may use this key to let myself in if you happen to be away from your desk the next time I visit."
Trump handed the key to South Korea's ambassador to the U.S., Kang Kyung-wha, after she formally presented her credentials to him at the White House on Dec. 17, according to Lee's chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik.
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.
Lee said he wants to further enhance the alliance with the U.S. based on the trust and friendship he shares with Trump.
"I look forward to an even stronger ROK-U.S. alliance unlocked by this golden key, which embodies a mutual will to connect," he said, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. "Thank you, as always, for your constant friendship and deep trust."
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 Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
13. U.S. voices 'significant concerns' over S. Korea's network act revision
Summary:
The State Department said it has “significant concerns” about South Korea’s revised Information and Communications Network Act, arguing it could harm U.S.-based online platforms and undermine free expression. The criticism followed Seoul’s Cabinet approval of promulgation after the National Assembly passed the amendment to curb false or fabricated online content. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers warned the measure, framed as targeting defamatory deepfakes, reaches further and could threaten technology cooperation, favoring civil remedies over regulator-driven viewpoint policing. Washington also cited prior bilateral commitments that digital-service rules should not discriminate against U.S. firms or create unnecessary barriers.
Comment: I sense some hypocrisy here. Let north Korean propaganda in the South but then censor information the government does not like?
(LEAD) U.S. voices 'significant concerns' over S. Korea's network act revision | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Song Sang-ho · January 1, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260101000351315
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; ADDS byline; CHANGES photo)
By Song Sang-ho and Kim Dong-hyun
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- The State Department on Wednesday expressed "significant concerns" over a recently passed revision to a South Korean law aimed at addressing false and fabricated online information, saying that it would negatively affect U.S. online platforms and undermine free expression.
A spokesperson of the department made the remarks in response to questions from Yonhap News Agency, after Korea's Cabinet approved a motion to promulgate the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act on Tuesday (Korea time) following the National Assembly's passage of the revision.
Earlier this week, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers also voiced concerns over the revision in social media posts -- in a public display of concern over the revision that stoked worries over the possibility of diplomatic and trade tension between the two countries.
"The United States has significant concerns with the ROK government's approval of an amendment to the Network Act that negatively impacts the business of U.S.-based online platforms and undermines free expression," the spokesperson said. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
"The ROK should not impose unnecessary barriers around digital services. The United States opposes censorship and remains dedicated to working with the ROK to promote a free and open digital environment for all," the official added.
In her posts, Rogers said that the revision could give regulators powers that would undermine technology cooperation.
"South Korea's proposed amendment to its Network Act, ostensibly focused on redressing defamatory deepfakes, reaches much further -- and endangers tech cooperation," she wrote on X.
"Deepfakes are understandably concerning, but it's better to give victims civil remedies than give regulators invasive license for viewpoint-based censorship," she added.
Her remarks came apparently out of concern that the revision could have an impact on major U.S. online platform companies, such as Google and Meta. Moreover, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has sought to "restore" freedom of speech and end "censorship."
In a joint fact sheet released in November to outline bilateral trade and security agreements, the two countries committed to ensuring that U.S. companies are not discriminated against and do not face unnecessary barriers in terms of laws and policies concerning digital services, including online platform regulations.
The State Department in Washington. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Song Sang-ho · January 1, 2026
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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