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Quotes of the Day:
“If you want to understand any problem in America, you need to focus on who profits from that problem, not who suffers from the problem.”
– Dr. Amos Wilson
“All life is problem solving.”
– Karl Popper
“It is easy to sanctify policies or identities by the deaths of victims. It is less appealing, but morally more urgent, to understand the actions of the perpetrators. The moral danger, after all, is never that one might become a victim but that one might be a perpetrator or a bystander.”
– Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin
Pearl Harbor Attack, December 7, 1941
The National WWII Museum
"No moment in the history of the United States casts a longer shadow than Pearl Harbor. “Remembering” it has become a national imperative, a patriotic duty for the American people, and reminding us of that duty has become a ritual of media and political discourse—repeated so often and in so many ways that it’s become part of the routine of our communal life."
- Rob Citino, PhD
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/pearl-harbor-december-7-1941
1. S. Korea not mulling joint drills as leverage for inter-Korean talks: official
2. Hegseth says 'special favor' for 'model allies' like S. Korea, consequences for those failing to do their part
3. Presidential office to relocate office facilities to Cheong Wa Dae later this month
4. Seoul sets up task forces for working-level talks with U.S. on nuclear subs, uranium rights, defense costs
5. South Korea alarmed by omission of NK denuclearization in US, China defense papers
6. SpaceX's Starlink faces backlash for map designating Dokdo as ‘Liancourt Rocks'
7. Moon Chung-in: Revising Constitution Could Spur North Korea Dialogue
8. Editorial: U.S. to Build Nuclear Plants With Korean Funds as South Korea Reduces Its Own
9. North Korea Claims Socialist Homeland Uniquely Provides Free Care for Orphans, Elderly
10. Forgotten Detainees: Is South Korea a Normal Country?
11. S. Korea's exports likely to decrease this year excluding semiconductor shipments
12. Large-Scale Vehicle Smuggling Between North Korea and China: Structure and Background (Part 4) - Oversupply Leaves Cars Unsold; Vehicles Become Symbols of Wealth Gap, Targets of Vandalism
13. Isolationism highlighted in new U.S. security strategy while North's denuclearization dropped
14. ‘Denuclearization’ eclipsed by US-China rivalry
1. S. Korea not mulling joint drills as leverage for inter-Korean talks: official
Excerpt:
"If we are to resume dialogue, we need to consider what cards we can use. While there are many possible options, we are not directly considering using the Korea-U.S. joint exercises as a card," Wi said during a press briefing.
Comment: Some good news here though we need to account for the subtlety and nuance. Wi Sung Lac is the best man in the Lee Administration.
(LEAD) S. Korea not mulling joint drills as leverage for inter-Korean talks: official | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 7, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251207002151315?section=national/politics
(ATTN: UPDATES with more comments in last 3 paras)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is not considering adjusting its joint military drills with the United States as part of efforts to resume stalled talks with North Korea, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Sunday.
Wi made the remarks when asked whether Seoul might review the regular exercises with Washington to help revive inter-Korean dialogue, as Pyongyang has dismissed Seoul's overtures since President Lee Jae Myung's first six months in office.
"If we are to resume dialogue, we need to consider what cards we can use. While there are many possible options, we are not directly considering using the Korea-U.S. joint exercises as a card," Wi said during a press briefing.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac is seen in this file photo. (Yonhap)
Wi acknowledged that progress in inter-Korean relations has been limited, pledging continued efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and resume dialogue with Pyongyang.
Last month, Lee said that although a stable peace regime in which large-scale exercises are unnecessary would be desirable in the long term, decisions on drills must depend on evolving security circumstances. He added that it is premature to draw conclusions on the matter, calling it "the most sensitive" issue for North Korea.
Pyongyang has long denounced the Seoul-Washington exercises as "war rehearsals," while the allies claim they are defensive in nature.
Lee has renewed his call for dialogue after Seoul proposed military talks to clarify the Military Demarcation Line to prevent unintended clashes near the border, but Pyongyang has yet to respond.
Wi later told reporters that North Korea's omission from Washington's recent National Security Strategy (NSS) does not appear to stem from U.S. indifference to North Korean issues, but may instead be attributed to its "America First" focus.
"There appears to be no reason to believe the U.S. is uninterested in resolving North Korea's nuclear issues or in resuming talks with the North," Wi said, adding that the issues may be dealt with in lower-level documents in the future.
Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration released the document outlining its stance on foreign policy, defense and economic security, without mentioning North Korea, a departure from past documents.
(From R to L) Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom attend a press briefing marking six months of the President Lee Jae Myung administration, held at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 7, 2025. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Park Boram · December 7, 2025
2. Hegseth says 'special favor' for 'model allies' like S. Korea, consequences for those failing to do their part
Excerpt:
"Model allies that step up, like Israel, South Korea, Poland, increasingly Germany, the Baltics and others, will receive our special favor," he said. "Allies that still fail to do their part for collective defense will face consequences."
Comment: Someone might want to mention to the SECDEF/SECWAR that the use of "model ally" sounds similar to the trope of "model Asian" or "model minority" which can evoke some emotions among our allies. I know he means well ... but perceptions matter. Here are some alternatives he could have considered:
Trusted ally
Reliable ally
Steadfast ally
Anchor ally
Principal ally
Leading ally
Exemplary ally
High-performing ally
Strategic ally
And of course we already use linchpin and cornerstone for the ROK and Japan. I wish he had just said our "Trusted allies that step up" or "Exemplary allies that step up."
Most important is we have to consider how the PRC and CRInK writ large will will spin all of this in the information domain: They will say that it is the US that seeks to dominate its "allies" and make them "kowtow" to US demands in terms of defense spending and only when they pay up with the receive special favors. The CRInK will say the NSS shows the US still seeks to be the hegemon.
Hegseth says 'special favor' for 'model allies' like S. Korea, consequences for those failing to do their part | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Song Sang-ho · December 7, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251207000700315?section=national/diplomacy
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that "model allies" like South Korea that step up for their own defense will get a "special favor" from Washington while warning of "consequences" for those that fail to do so.
Hegseth made the remarks during the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, noting that South Korea and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have committed to increasing defense spending following President Donald Trump's push for the allies to take greater security burdens.
"Model allies that step up, like Israel, South Korea, Poland, increasingly Germany, the Baltics and others, will receive our special favor," he said. "Allies that still fail to do their part for collective defense will face consequences."
Noting Seoul's plan to boost defense spending, Hegseth expressed expectations that other allies in the Indo-Pacific will follow suit.
"Just last month, South Korea committed to spend 3.5 (percent of) GDP on core military spending and assume the leading role in the ROK's conventional defense," he said. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on Dec. 6, 2025, in this photo released by Reuters. (Yonhap)
South Korea has committed to the defense spending target following a NATO summit in June, where the members of the transatlantic alliance committed to spending at least 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) annually on core defense expenditures by 2035 and up to 1.5 percent of GDP on other security-related investments.
Seoul's spending commitment was codified in a recently released joint fact sheet encompassing trade and security agreements that were finalized during a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in Korea's southern city of Gyeongju in late October.
Hegseth cited a series of security challenges across the globe, including North Korean threats, as he reiterated the need for allies to "step up for real."
"Our allies in Europe face Russia. Iran has been set back by the president and Israel's actions but remains a threat in the Middle East," he said. "And of course, North Korea looms on the Korean Peninsula."
The secretary highlighted the Trump administration's priority on "burden sharing" and "burden shifting" as it has been calling on allies and partners to increase security contributions amid China's growing assertiveness and North Korea's nuclear threats, to name a few.
"Burden sharing is no longer an afterthought or a nice-to-have," he said. "Today, it is a core element of our national defense."
Commenting on China, he said that the Trump administration focuses on deterring China "through strength, not through confrontation" while pointing out that it seeks a "stable peace, fair trade and respectful relations" with the Asian superpower.
He also said that the U.S.' deterrence efforts are not about dominating China but about ensuring that the Asian rival does not have the ability to dominate the U.S. or its allies.
"It's our job to make sure Beijing sees unquestionable U.S. military strength that, if necessary, can back up our national interests even as we make clear our peaceful intentions," he said.
His speech came after the White House released a new National Security Strategy on Thursday, underlining the Trump administration's priorities on defending the U.S homeland, reasserting American power on the Western Hemisphere, deterring a conflict over Taiwan, and sharing security burdens with allies and partners.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Song Sang-ho · December 7, 2025
3. Presidential office to relocate office facilities to Cheong Wa Dae later this month
Comment: At least it will be good to be able to use "Blue House" again.
Presidential office to relocate office facilities to Cheong Wa Dae later this month | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 7, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251207002700315
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office said Sunday it plans to relocate office facilities to the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul before Christmas, following months of repairs and renovation works.
Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, announced the relocation plan during a press briefing marking six months of the Lee Jae Myung administration.
"The presidential office will return to Cheong Wa Dae, where it should have been," Kang said. "The relocation of office facilities is expected to be completed around Christmas."
Kang said environmental maintenance and communication work at Cheong Wa Dae have been completed, while the briefing room will be relocated to the compound between Dec. 20-23.
Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, speaks during a press briefing marking six months of the Lee Jae Myung administration held at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 7, 2025. (Yonhap)
In 2022, former President Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan and remodeled the foreign minister's official residence into the presidential home.
Since taking office in June, Lee said he will move the office back to Cheong Wa Dae once renovations are completed.
Kang also said Lee will fulfill his pledge to appoint a special inspector once the National Assembly recommends candidates, a required procedure for the appointment.
The office of the special inspector was established in 2014 to conduct investigations into alleged irregularities committed by the president's spouse and close relatives, and senior presidential officials, but has been vacant since 2016.
"The National Assembly must first recommend a candidate for the special inspector and send the recommendation to us," Kang said. "Once the National Assembly recommends a candidate, we will promptly appoint that person as the special inspector."
Under law, the National Assembly is required to recommend three candidates with at least 15 years of legal experience, from which the president selects one.
Opposition lawmakers called for the appointment of a special inspector following the resignation of Kim Nam-kuk, the presidential secretary for digital communications, over allegations that he made an improper personnel request using his link to Kang and Kim Hyun-ji, Lee's personal secretary and longtime aide.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 7, 2025
4. Seoul sets up task forces for working-level talks with U.S. on nuclear subs, uranium rights, defense costs
Comment: Some rather large challenges for diplomats. EAP is not going to have any rest for the next decade! I think they are going to need to be reinforced.
Seoul sets up task forces for working-level talks with U.S. on nuclear subs, uranium rights, defense costs | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 7, 2025
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office said Sunday it has established task force teams to support South Korea's working-level negotiations with the United States on nuclear-powered submarines, uranium enrichment and South Korea's share of defense costs.
Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-jong said the Office of National Security has been drawing up a road map for follow-up measures to the security agreements reached during summit meetings between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
"We are working on a road map for consultations with the United States," Kim said during a press briefing. "Working-level discussions have been under way since this month, and we expect to see feasible outcomes in the first half of next year."
Kim said relevant ministries will lead the consultations, while the presidential task forces will provide support.
The move comes as Seoul and Washington are seeking to modernize their alliance by increasing South Korea's role in its own defense and strengthening joint responses to regional threats, including challenges posed by China.
Following his summit with Lee in Gyeongju during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Trump said he had approved Seoul's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines, a move that will require follow-up negotiations on shipyard and fuel arrangements.
The two countries are also negotiating expanded rights for Seoul to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, areas currently restricted under a bilateral accord.
During a press conference earlier this week, Lee said Trump had proposed that the two countries form a 5:5 partnership to achieve South Korea's aim of enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel on its soil.
South Korea's pledge to raise its defense spending to 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product was formalized in a joint fact sheet issued last month after the two countries reached trade and security agreements.
National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac briefs the press on President Lee Jae Myung's achievements in foreign affairs at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 7, 2025. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Eun-jung · December 7, 2025
5. South Korea alarmed by omission of NK denuclearization in US, China defense papers
Comment: So do we think the national security team from the US and PRC conspired to remove references to north Korea? (note sarcasm- but it could be a conspiracy theory some might tout).
I wonder how will KJU take this? Will this cause him to lash out for being ignored and throw a couple stones on the Go/Wei Chi/ Baduk board to show his displeasure with being slighted?
But there should be no alarm. There is actually the opportunity for South Korea to shape alliance strategy. The canvas is nearly blank with just a few Asia-Indo-Pacific brush strokes so the opportunity is there to paint a new strategic picture that can be focused on solving the "Korea question."
South Korea alarmed by omission of NK denuclearization in US, China defense papers - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
By Lee Hyo-jin
Published Dec 7, 2025 3:38 pm KST
Updated Dec 7, 2025 8:29 pm KST
Seoul's diplomatic ability faces test as Washington and Beijing appear to deprioritize Pyongyang's nuclear threat
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20251207/south-korea-alarmed-by-omission-of-nk-denuclearization-in-us-china-defense-papers
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Oct. 30, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that took place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Reuters-Yonhap
The omission of North Korea's denuclearization from recent U.S. and Chinese security documents has raised concerns in Seoul, with analysts warning that the shift may reflect a growing belief among the two superpowers that Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal is now a permanent reality.
Experts say the developments put South Korea's diplomacy to the test, forcing Seoul to step up efforts to keep Washington and Beijing engaged on the North Korean nuclear issue.
The U.S. administration's new National Security Strategy (NSS), released Thursday (local time), makes no reference to North Korea or to Washington's long-standing commitment to the North's denuclearization.
The 33-page document lays out the Trump administration’s top foreign policy and defense priorities, including deterring a conflict with China over the Taiwan Strait through strengthened military capabilities and greater cost-sharing by allies.
The silence on Pyongyang stands out when compared to security documents published under the previous Joe Biden administration and during Trump's first term. The 2017 NSS issued under Trump mentioned North Korea more than a dozen times, describing its nuclear weapons program as a major threat to the U.S.
The developments come amid renewed debate over whether Trump's earlier reference to North Korea as a "nuclear power" signals a tacit acceptance of Pyongyang as a de facto nuclear-armed state.
Analysts say the removal of that language in the documents could signal a shift in its strategic priorities.
"The latest NSS puts 'America First' at its core," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. "North Korea’s nuclear weapons are an existential threat to South Korea, but they are not considered a direct threat to the U.S. mainland."
He added that the shift leaves Seoul in a more difficult position. "It means our government will have to work even harder to keep the North Korean nuclear issue on the radar in both Washington and Beijing."
Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac attributed the omission to the NSS' focus on broad policy directions rather than specific regional disputes.
"Such matters are expected to be handled in subsequent subordinate documents. It would be premature to interpret the omission as a sign that Washington has lost interest in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue or in resuming dialogue," Wi told reporters during a briefing Sunday.
China's latest white paper on arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, released in late November, similarly avoids explicit mention of North Korean denuclearization.
Instead, it states that "China adopts an impartial stance and adheres to the right approach of always working for the peace, stability and prosperity of the peninsula and the resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue through political means."
This marks a departure from Beijing’s earlier positions.
In its 2005 arms control and nonproliferation white paper, China declared that it "supports denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." A 2017 white paper on Asia-Pacific security reaffirmed China's commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks at an event marking the 80th founding anniversary of the air force of the North's Korean People's Army at Kalma Airport, Nov. 28, in this photo published by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. Yonhap
"China has increasingly avoided directly addressing North Korea’s nuclear weapons, and that stance has become more entrenched," said Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
"With the U.S. now less vocal on the issue, Beijing has even less reason to speak out on it," he said. "In both Washington and Beijing, there is a growing recognition that complete denuclearization is no longer a realistic goal."
Still, Cho cautioned against interpreting the NSS as a direct reflection of Trump's personal diplomatic ambitions.
"The NSS is the national strategy, not the president's personal approach. Separately from the document, Trump could still consider reaching out to (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un for renewed nuclear negotiations to address what he sees as unfinished business."
Meanwhile, the U.S. defense paper urges regional allies to contribute more to safeguarding maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, a remark some interpret as a sign that Washington will continue pressing Seoul to boost its defense spending.
Seoul has already signaled a willingness to do so. In a South Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet released in November, the government committed to raising defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product in line with domestic legal requirements.
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
6. SpaceX's Starlink faces backlash for map designating Dokdo as ‘Liancourt Rocks'
Comment: Let's give Mr. Musk a lesson in geography and geostrategic issues (though I am sure his team meant well). They should have used the Library of Congress standard. We possess the earliest known maps of the region and the island is named Dok Do. Liancourt Rocks is not an acceptable substitute to our allies (probably to neither of them - DokDo and Takeshima.
SpaceX's Starlink faces backlash for map designating Dokdo as ‘Liancourt Rocks' - The Korea Times
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
By Park Ung
- Published Dec 7, 2025 2:21 pm KST
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20251207/spacexs-starlink-faces-backlash-for-map-designating-dokdo-as-liancourt-rocks
The name “Liancourt Rocks” appears in Korean search results for Dokdo on Starlink’s availability map. Captured from Starlink availability map.
Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, drew criticism after its availability map labeled Dokdo as the Liancourt Rocks, a designation critics said mischaracterizes the islets, which are under Korea’s longstanding administrative control. The controversy erupted just days after the service entered the local market.
The name Liancourt Rocks is taken from a French whaling ship that passed the islets in 1849.
As of Sunday, a search for “Dokdo” on Starlink’s availability map also returns the name “Liancourt Rocks.” Selecting either term does not produce a blue marker for the islets, used to identify places where the service is available.
The dispute surfaced shortly after Starlink entered the Korean market. The company rolled out two home internet plans last week, listing them at 64,000 won ($43) and 87,000 won a month.
Experts say using the French-derived name is inaccurate and ignores the established name.
“Dokdo is Dokdo — it is a proper noun,” said Seo Kyung-duk, a professor at the School of Creative Convergence Studies at Sungshin Women’s University. “Long before that French whaling ship ever spotted it, the islets were called Dokdo. It is not Takeshima (the name used by Japan), nor Liancourt Rocks.”
Seo added that he plans to formally request Starlink correct the labeling, backed by detailed evidence.
This is not the first time a multinational tech company has faced backlash over the name of the islets. In September, Seo found that Google Maps used “Liancourt Rocks” in 42 countries, including Sweden, Australia and New Zealand.
On Google Maps, the islets appear as “Dokdo” when searched in Korea, while users in Japan see “Takeshima,” reflecting the Japanese government’s position that the islands are Japanese territory.
The Korea Times · ListenListenText SizePrint
7. Moon Chung-in: Revising Constitution Could Spur North Korea Dialogue
Summary:
Moon Chung-in argues that revising South Korea’s Constitution, especially Article 3’s peninsula-wide territorial claim, could open the door to dialogue with north Korea by addressing Kim Jong-un’s “two-state theory.” He says halting ROK-U.S. exercises is insufficient and that clarifying Seoul’s stance on Articles 3 and 4 is strategic, not symbolic. Moon and former Unification Minister Chung Se-hyun criticize the Lee Jae-myung administration for privileging the alliance in practice, failing to restore the 19 September military agreement, and misnaming its “END” initiative, which foreign experts and Pyongyang can read as aiming to “end” the north Korean regime rather than hostility.
Comment: Dangerous ideas from Moon Chung In. Korea must never give up on unification. That could lead to the "END" of Korea as we know it and as it should be known. To follow Dr. Moon's idvice will mean that KJU will be able to declare victory for his political warfare strategy. He will have caused South Korea to renounce unification. But it will not result in peaceful co-existence. That is because the regime still seeks to dominate the entire Korean peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State of north Korea to ensure survival of the Kim family regime. We must recognize, understand and expose the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime (and then attack that strategy with a superior political warfare strategy).
Note the "self-reliance faction" versus the "alliance faction."
Moon Chung-in: Revising Constitution Could Spur North Korea Dialogue
Former advisor argues revising Article 3's territorial claim may align with North's two-state theory, fostering dialogue
By Kim Min-seo
Published 2025.12.04. 00:57
Updated 2025.12.04. 11:30https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2025/12/04/UMZCGM2HJRDSLHMZ2AU75DSWA4/
Moon Chung-in, a former special advisor on unification, foreign affairs, and security to former President Moon Jae-in and a current honorary professor at Yonsei University, said on the 3rd, “I believe North Korea will engage in dialogue if discussions to revise Article 3 of the Constitution begin in the South.” Article 3 of the Constitution stipulates, “The territory of the Republic of Korea shall consist of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands,” which conflicts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s advocacy of a “two-state theory” for the Korean Peninsula.
At a special roundtable discussion on inter-Korean relations held in Seoul that day, Moon stated, “Suspending the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises alone will not lead to dialogue. The issue lies with Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution,” adding, “Clarifying our stance on Article 3 and the ‘two-state theory’ will shape our strategic approach and determine the direction forward.” Article 4 of the Constitution declares, “The Republic of Korea shall seek unification.”
Moon, a senior figure associated with the “self-reliance faction,” also commented on National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, categorized as part of the “alliance faction,” assuming the chairmanship of the National Security Council (NSC), saying, “Some coordination is needed.” He noted, “President Lee Jae-myung’s statements focus on peace on the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations, but in practice, the South Korea-U.S. alliance seems to take precedence. The president needs to clarify this.”
Chung Se-hyun, a former minister of unification who joined the discussion, criticized, “The current NSC system must be reformed. If I were in charge, I would reshuffle the cabinet.” Chung added, “The preemptive and phased restoration of the September 19th inter-Korean military agreement, mentioned in the president’s August 15th speech, remains unimplemented. What are the advisors doing? Why are those who fail to execute the president’s directives still in their positions?”
Regarding the Lee Jae-myung administration’s ‘END (exchanges, normalization of relations, denuclearization) initiative’ toward North Korea, Chung stated, “The term ‘END’ can only be interpreted as aiming to ‘end’ North Korea. Such vocabulary is unnecessary.” Moon Chung-in echoed, “When I explained this initiative to European experts on the Korean Peninsula, they perceived it as a theory of North Korea’s demise. While we intend it to signify the end of hostile relations, North Korea or third parties might interpret it as the end of the North Korean regime.”
8. Editorial: U.S. to Build Nuclear Plants With Korean Funds as South Korea Reduces Its Own
Summary:
The editorial warns that South Korea is financing U.S. nuclear plants under the tariff deal while undermining its own nuclear sector, critical for AI-era power demand. Washington will prioritize Korean and Japanese funds for U.S. reactors as POTUS orders ten new large plants by 2030. Nuclear is framed as the only reliable, low-cost, carbon-free baseload for AI, data centers, and EVs. Seoul’s climate ministry, portrayed as captured by anti-nuclear environmentalists, is reconsidering two planned reactors in favor of costly, intermittent LNG and renewables, threatening energy security and higher prices. Masayoshi Son bluntly warns Korea’s weak power capacity jeopardizes its AI ambitions.
Comment: A clash of policies and views - domestic politics affects the alliance.
Editorial: U.S. to Build Nuclear Plants With Korean Funds as South Korea Reduces Its Own
Critics argue government's anti-nuclear stance threatens AI-era energy security despite global nuclear investments
By The Chosunilbo
Published 2025.12.06. 00:00
https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2025/12/06/N6RUH7MC45FL3PTWGE67HE2M74/
President Lee Jae-myung meets with Masayoshi Son, chairman of SoftBank Group, at the Yongsan Presidential Office complex in Seoul on the 5th. /News1
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said regarding the investment destinations of the amount South Korea pledged under the Korea-U.S. tariff agreement, “We will start with nuclear power.” This means part of the investments from South Korea and Japan will be prioritized for nuclear power plant construction in the U.S. President Trump issued an executive order last May instructing the Department of Energy to begin construction of 10 large reactors by 2030.
The world has already entered the AI era. AI is synonymous with electricity. The explosive growth of AI, the expanding demand for data centers—often called “electricity-eating behemoths”—and the rise of electric vehicles have combined to drive global electricity demand skyward. Only nuclear power can stably supply high-quality electricity at low cost around the clock. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said, “The key to AI growth is power, and the most important energy source for stably supplying it is nuclear power.”
Yet South Korea is moving in a strange direction. Environmental groups have effectively taken control of the Ministry of Climate and Energy, turning the country into a testing ground for their experiments. While the government claims to aim for becoming one of the top three AI powers, it remains lukewarm toward nuclear power, which is essential for securing the electricity needed for AI. Climate Minister Kim Sung-whan said he would put the two new reactors reflected in the 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, finalized last February, up for public deliberation. This includes reconsidering them, even to the point of cancellation.
Minister Kim has been a vehement anti-nuclear advocate. He only talks about expanding expensive LNG power generation or renewable energy sources like solar and wind. These energy sources are fatally limited by their high costs and unstable production. They threaten energy security and are likely to raise electricity rates. Moreover, South Korea possesses world-class nuclear power technology.
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son, during a meeting with President Lee Jae-myung, discussed the AI era and said, “South Korea has a critical weakness: insufficient energy. Even looking at current data center construction plans in South Korea, (energy-related preparations) are insufficient.” He was advising that South Korea must first secure enough energy to leap forward as an AI powerhouse.
This is an era where a nation’s power supply capacity determines its competitiveness. Yet the government is applying outdated and absurd ideological standards to nuclear power—a stable, carbon-free energy source capable of meeting the electricity demands of the AI era—and obstructing it at every turn. While the U.S. is using our money to build their own nuclear plants, is it acceptable that we who provide the funds are hindering our own nuclear power projects?
9. North Korea Claims Socialist Homeland Uniquely Provides Free Care for Orphans, Elderly
Summary:
Rodong Sinmun claims that only north Korea’s socialist system fully guarantees free, devoted care for orphans and the elderly, contrasting this with alleged capitalist “rule of money” that produces neglect, abuse, and poverty-driven abandonment. Citing global child mortality and violence statistics and examples such as elderly Japanese in prison, it portrays orphans and seniors in capitalist states as synonymous with misery. By contrast, it depicts north Korea as a “palace of happiness” where the state and “motherly Party” act as parents to the vulnerable. The article credits this “miracle” to Kim Jong-un’s leadership and commitment to socialist welfare.
Comment: The lies of the Socialist Workers Paradise.
North Korea Claims Socialist Homeland Uniquely Provides Free Care for Orphans, Elderly
State media contrasts socialist care system with capitalist neglect, citing global issues and praising Kim Jong-un's leadership
By Kim Kyeong-pil
Published 2025.12.04. 08:53
Updated 2025.12.04. 09:58https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2025/12/04/2S67PBZNU5B7ZLZ7S46RE6KJ7Y/
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, reports on the 4th that 'the childcare centers, infant care centers, elementary academies, middle school academies, and nursing homes that have splendidly risen across the country are unparalleled treasures born from our party’s great efforts, which spare no effort to swiftly build a communist society where all people live safely, comfortably, and harmoniously.' /Rodong Sinmun-News1
Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, claimed, “Only our socialist homeland, where the party and state fully take responsibility for and care for the children in orphanages, childcare facilities, primary and secondary schools, and the elderly in nursing homes, showering them with utmost devotion, exists.”
In an article titled “The Reality Found Only in the Embrace of the Workers’ Party and Our Socialist Homeland – Palaces for Orphans and Havens for the Elderly Unseen in the World” on the 4th, the newspaper made this assertion.
The paper stated, “Children without parents and the elderly with no one to care for them require social protection more than anyone else,” adding, “While many countries strive to address this issue, it remains unresolved and is increasingly becoming a serious problem.”
It further criticized other nations, saying, “In capitalist societies governed by the rule of money, orphans and the elderly without caregivers are subjected to extreme neglect and abuse, becoming victims of all social evils.”
The newspaper cited, “The European Union (European Union) reported that 16,000 children worldwide die daily from treatable diseases, one child loses their life every five minutes due to violence in homes, schools, or public spaces, and over 80% of orphanage residents are children abandoned due to poverty, physical disabilities, or human trafficking.” It also claimed, “The plight of the elderly in capitalist societies, who cannot enter nursing homes without money, is no different,” and added, “Even in Japan, prisons have become de facto nursing homes where elderly people, abandoned by their families or facing financial hardships, voluntarily go.”
The paper argued, “It is no coincidence that orphans and the elderly, marginalized and despised at the bottom of society in capitalist countries, are synonymous with miserable lives.”
In contrast, it praised North Korea, stating, “Under the loving paternal care of Respected (Kim Jong-un) General Secretary, the entire nation has become like parents and blood relatives to orphans and the elderly without caregivers, fostering a beautiful national custom of sharing virtue and affection.”
The newspaper emphasized, “How could capitalist countries even imagine the heartwarming reality where children in orphanages and elderly care recipients sing endlessly in ‘palaces of happiness’ and ‘havens of love,’ uplifted by the motherly Party’s grace?” It called this “a proud image of our homeland, where lives that would have been synonymous with misery in capitalist societies now enjoy blessed lives at the peak of happiness.”
It concluded, “This miracle of the era, where no child without parents or elderly person without family should ever suffer sorrow or hardship, is a testament to the unwavering commitment of Respected General Secretary Kim Jong-un to bloom the happiness of the people.”
10. Forgotten Detainees: Is South Korea a Normal Country?
Summary:
An editorial questions whether South Korea behaves like a “normal country” when six of its citizens have been detained in north Korea since 2013–2016 with no confirmed status. The piece contrasts U.S. efforts that freed three Americans in 2018, highlighting visible presidential engagement and sustained diplomatic pressure, with President Lee Jae-myung’s admission he had “never heard” of the detainees, which drew foreign press criticism. The Blue House now calls the issue “urgent,” but has offered only belated, partial data. The author urges dispatch of a special envoy and direct contact with detainees, arguing they need proof they are not forgotten.
Comment: What are the odds they are even alive? So tragic.
Forgotten Detainees: Is South Korea a Normal Country?
[From the Desk] Six Detained in North Korea Since 2013; Government Faces Calls to Confirm Safety
By Kwak Soo-keun
Published 2025.12.07. 23:37
https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2025/12/07/RO47UFP4RJG2VJVV3O6NTIGUD4/
President Lee Jae-myung listens to a foreign journalist's question at the 'Newly Established Democracy, Its First Year' foreign press conference held at the Cheong Wa Dae reception hall on the 3rd. /Presidential Office
“When they suddenly told me to pack my bags, I feared, ‘I must be taken to a harsher place.’ But they said, ‘We are deporting you according to the U.S.’s strong demands’ and sent me to the airport. Secretary of State Pompeo was waiting for us in front of the U.S. Air Force plane, tears welling in his eyes.”
This is the account Missionary Kim Hak-song, who was released after one year of detention in North Korea, directly shared about the day of his release on May 9, 2018. I once managed to locate and meet him during his 2020 visit to South Korea. A U.S. citizen, he taught agricultural technology at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology from 2014 but was suddenly arrested in 2017 and confined to a solitary cell. He had sent an email to acquaintances asking them to “pray for the starving compatriots in North Korea,” which was allegedly transformed into charges of insulting the supreme dignity and defaming the republic.
One year after his release, the U.S. Air Force plane carrying him, Kim Dong-cheol, and Kim Sang-deok arrived at Andrews Air Force Base around 2:40 a.m. Recalling the time, Missionary Kim said, “U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, even entered the plane and shook hands, saying, ‘You are a hero.’” He stated, “As an immigrant who doesn’t even speak English well, I felt with my whole body that the state takes responsibility until the end simply because I am an American,” and added, “I came to realize that the relationship between the state and its people is no different from that between parent and child.”
His account resurfaced due to President Lee Jae-myung’s recent response at a foreign press conference, where he said he had “never heard of” the citizens detained in North Korea. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac also appeared hesitant, unable to grasp the current status, including the timing of the detentions. The American journalist who asked the question criticized President Lee, saying, “It is very surprising that you are unaware of this situation,” leading to international embarrassment.
The day after, the Presidential Office belatedly released data stating, “It is understood that six of our citizens have been detained between 2013 and 2016,” but has yet to disclose the safety or condition of those detained for around a decade.
Missionary Kim cited the 40th day of his arrest as the decisive moment that helped him endure the one-year detention. Until then, he said North Korean authorities did not even allow him to wash. On that day, he met with Joseph Yun, then the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy. The meeting was realized after the U.S. government strongly demanded North Korea to confirm the life and death of its citizen. Mr. Kim said, “The moment I confirmed that the government was paying attention to my safety, I found mental stability even in despair,” and added, “The South Korean government must also make contact with the six detained citizens in North Korea to confirm their status.” He emphasized that for them, as important as the “power to open the prison bars” is the signal that “even outside the bars, they are not forgotten.”
This time, the Presidential Office officially stated that the situation regarding the citizens detained in North Korea “requires urgent resolution.” To prove the sincerity of this statement, they must dispatch a special envoy or employ other methods to confirm the safety of the six detained citizens as soon as possible. It is now time for the President to personally address what he previously did not know.
11. S. Korea's exports likely to decrease this year excluding semiconductor shipments
Summary:
South Korea’s exports are expected to break US$700 billion in 2025, driven by a semiconductor “super cycle,” yet non-chip exports are set to fall 1.5 percent amid global weakness in steel, petrochemicals, machinery and batteries. Chips now make up 28.3 percent of exports, heightening concerns over industrial dependence and risk.
S. Korea's exports likely to decrease this year excluding semiconductor shipments | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Na-young · December 7, 2025
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251207000500320
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports are projected to exceed a record $700 billion in 2025, but shipments excluding semiconductors are expected to post an on-year decline, government data showed Sunday.
Exports totaled $640.2 billion from January through November, up 2.9 percent from a year earlier and the highest level ever for the period, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. The previous record for the period was $628.7 billion in 2022.
The government expects total exports this year to surpass $700 billion for the first time.
However, excluding semiconductors -- which are benefiting from an "industrywide super cycle" -- exports are projected to shrink amid global trade uncertainties and slowdowns in various sectors, such as steel, petrochemicals and secondary batteries.
Exports excluding semiconductors fell 1.5 percent on-year to $487.6 billion.
Shipments of automobiles, ships, biohealth products and computers rose 2 percent, 28.6 percent, 7 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively, but all the other sectors posted an on-year drop.
Machinery exports decreased 8.9 percent, petroleum products fell 11.1 percent, petrochemical products declined 11.7 percent, and steel shipments went down 8.8 percent. Exports of auto parts, displays, home appliances and secondary batteries fell 6.3 percent, 10.3 percent, 9.4 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively.
Semiconductors accounted for 28.3 percent of South Korea's exports in November, a record high mark for this year. It raises concerns about excessive dependence on the chip sector. Between 2002 and 2010, semiconductors accounted for around 10 percent of total exports.
"It is true that our exports rely heavily on semiconductors, but the fact that exports, excluding semiconductors, fell by only 1.5 percent is a fairly solid result," Kang Kam-chan, deputy trade and investment minister, said.
Kang said robust demand for semiconductors will likely continue into next year with the continued growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers.
Containers await shipment overseas at a port in the southeastern city of Busan, in this file photo from July 31, 2025. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Na-young · December 7, 2025
12. Large-Scale Vehicle Smuggling Between North Korea and China: Structure and Background (Part 4) - Oversupply Leaves Cars Unsold; Vehicles Become Symbols of Wealth Gap, Targets of Vandalism
Comment: no better description than the "Pandora's box of private ownership."
Large-Scale Vehicle Smuggling Between North Korea and China: Structure and Background (Part 4) - Oversupply Leaves Cars Unsold; Vehicles Become Symbols of Wealth Gap, Targets of Vandalism
asiapress.org
Society / Economy
2025.12.05
https://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2025/12/society-economy/smuggling-4b/
A North Korean cleaning a vehicle with a cigarette in their mouth. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border across from Hyesan, Ryanggang Province in September 2025 (ASIAPRESS)
Since the North Korean authorities opened the Pandora's box of 'private vehicle ownership,' there have been positive changes such as activated passenger and logistics services and new money-making opportunities created by Chinese vehicles entering across the border. However, there are also considerable concerns, including growing inter-class conflicts. In October and November 2025, ASIAPRESS tracked changes and conflicts in North Korean society resulting from private vehicle ownership through reports from reporting partners in Ryanggang and North Hamgyong provinces. (JEON Sung-jun / KANG Ji-won)
◆ Excess smuggling leaves cars unsold, leading to group purchases and even 'installment plans'
While the number of vehicles flowing into North Korea has increased due to the permission of private vehicle ownership, there are also signs that desire for vehicles is outpacing the ability to pay.
Reporting partner A in Ryanggang Province reported the following in mid-November:
"Quick-thinking people brought in cars indiscriminately when private vehicles were permitted, but there's actually no one to take them. I heard there are cars propped up on stones because the tires might deteriorate after remaining unsold for over six months."
New purchasing and payment methods have emerged in response to this oversupply.
The first method is 'group purchasing.' The reporting partner said that "it's becoming popular for individuals to pool money and have 3-5 people buy one car together and share it when each person needs it."
Another method, according to the reporting partner, is a system of paying for vehicles in installments.
"Instead of paying the vehicle price all at once, you can repay it over a year, or they hand over the car on the condition of repayment with income earned through seafood or boats."
People’s desire to own vehicles has brought new changes to sales and payment methods.
Container trucks for logistics transport and small passenger buses—smuggled vehicles—standing in an open area. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border across from Hyesan, Ryanggang Province in September 2025 (ASIAPRESS)
◆ Differences in demand by region and class
Vehicle ownership and usage patterns appear distinctly divided by region and class. In border regions, 'practicality' seems to be the priority.
Reporting partner B in Ryanggang Province reported in early November that "due to terrain characteristics with many unpaved roads, electric cars are avoided because generators frequently break down. Diesel cars with good power and manual transmission vehicles are preferred."
However, photos taken by ASIAPRESS in September showing cars parked in North Korea feature numerous luxury sedans and electric vehicles.
This suggests that in border regions including Hyesan, cheap and sturdy transportation vehicles prioritizing practicality are preferred, while in major cities including Pyongyang and Hamhung, there's likely high demand for expensive luxury sedans to display individual status and wealth.
Indeed, in videos posted on social media by Chinese exchange students living in Pyongyang, luxury sedans with yellow license plates are frequently shown driving through Pyongyang streets.
As vehicles have increased, the cost of obtaining a driver's license has also skyrocketed.
The reporting partner said in October that "you can get a license through three months of intensive education, but because many people want to drive vehicles, the license acquisition cost (including bribes), which was previously 300-500 yuan, has risen to 1,200 yuan, and the test has become stricter."
*Note: 100 Chinese yuan is approximately 14 US dollars.
asiapress.org
13. Isolationism highlighted in new U.S. security strategy while North's denuclearization dropped
Summary:
Analysts say the new NSS marks a sharper U.S. turn toward non-interventionism, elevating the Western Hemisphere and “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine while drawing down elsewhere. In Asia, Washington pledges capabilities to deny aggression in the First Island Chain but insists allies end “free-riding” and shoulder conventional deterrence. For Korea this implies higher defense spending, faster OPCON transfer, stronger roles against north Korea, and potential participation in China containment. Most alarming, “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and explicit north Korea references vanish, alongside similar omissions in China’s recent white paper, raising fears of creeping acceptance of Pyongyang’s nuclear status.
Comment: Where you stand depends on where you sit.
South Korea should not forget where it sits:
Isolationism highlighted in new U.S. security strategy while North's denuclearization dropped
Published: 07 Dec. 2025, 18:13
Updated: 07 Dec. 2025, 19:08
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-12-07/national/defense/Isolationism-highlighted-in-new-US-security-strategy-while-Norths-denuclearization-dropped/2471721
President Donald Trump speaks at a Kennedy Center Honors reception for recipients Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford at the State Department, Dec. 6, in Washington. [AP/YONHAP]
The National Security Strategy (NSS) released on Friday by the Trump administration outlines a significantly more isolationist foreign policy than the “America First” doctrine from his first term, analysts say.
While the document signals selective engagement in regions tied to U.S. economic primacy — such as the Taiwan Strait — it suggests a drawdown elsewhere, potentially intensifying pressure on Korea to increase defense spending and participate in U.S.-led containment of China.
Related Article
A declaration of new isolationism
The 33-page document describes a new “non-interventionism” based on what it calls “The 'Trump Corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine,” referencing the 1823 speech by U.S. President James Monroe that laid the groundwork for the United States' original isolationist foreign policy. A return to that vision implies that the U.S. will step back from traditional conflicts in the Middle East and Europe to focus security resources on curbing illegal immigration and drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere.
This shift is reflected in the NSS placing the Western Hemisphere at the top of the list of regional security priorities — a stark contrast to Trump’s first-term NSS in December 2017, which ranked the region fifth.
The new NSS explicitly outlines the “readjustment” of its “global military presence to address urgent threats” in the Western Hemisphere, “away from theaters whose relative import to American national security has declined in recent decades or years.”
The U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) released by the Trump administration on Dec. 5 [SCREEN CAPTURE]
In the section on Asia, the NSS references strengthening “the capabilities — including new capabilities — necessary to deter adversaries and protect the First Island Chain” — alongside the U.S.-Korea alliance. Analysts interpret this as a signal that while the number of U.S. troops in Korea may be adjusted, more advanced military systems could be deployed to counter China.
The forthcoming National Defense Strategy (NDS) and Global Posture Review (GPR) are expected to provide further details on adjustments to overseas troop deployments, including those in Korea.
U.S. will 'no longer tolerate military free-riders'
The NSS states that, “The United States cannot allow any nation to become so dominant that it could threaten our interests,” reaffirming that it will “work with allies and partners to maintain global and regional balances of power to prevent the emergence of dominant adversaries.”
However, the paper also highlights that the United States will “no longer tolerate, and can no longer afford, free-riding, trade imbalances, predatory economic practices,” and urges its allies to “spend far more of their national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on their own defense, to start to make up for the enormous imbalances accrued over decades of much greater spending by the United States.”
In effect, the U.S. is asking its allies to strengthen their own military capabilities and assume responsibility for conventional deterrence in their regions. On Asia, the NSS says the U.S. will “build a military capable of denying aggression anywhere in the First Island Chain. But the American military cannot, and should not have to, do this alone.”
A joint military drill between the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and Korean military is held in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on Aug. 27. [YONHAP]
This underscores Washington’s continued focus on defending Taiwan as a major semiconductor source, but now with a clear message that the burden must be shared. For Korea, this likely means demands to increase defense spending, expand South Korea-led deterrence against North Korea and even take on a role in containing China. It also pushes Seoul to fortify its anti-North suppression powers, meaning that renewed pressure could emerge to expedite the transition of wartime operational control (Opcon) to the Korean military.
“The NSS contains contradictory strategic messages on China,” noted Professor Kim Jae-chun of Sogang University’s Graduate School of International Studies. “On one hand, it reflects a hawkish stance by insisting on containment at the first island chain, but it also signals possible recognition of China's sphere of influence. These conflicting signals coexist, but the overall direction is clear: reduced U.S. engagement and increased burden on allies.”
Denuclearization dropped from U.S. and Chinese strategies
One of the most notable omissions from Trump’s second-term NSS is the phrase “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” which was included in the Biden administration’s version. Experts say this raises serious concerns.
“In this NSS, all threat assessments and policy directions are based on the interests of the U.S. mainland,” said Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University. “The absence of the North Korea issue suggests that Washington no longer views the regime as a direct threat to U.S. territory.”
U.S. Forces Korea's Camp Humphreys, based in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, seen on Aug. 26 [YONHAP]
The NSS also emphasizes a principle of “flexible realism,” stating that “there is nothing inconsistent or hypocritical in acting according to such a realistic assessment or in maintaining good relations with countries whose governing systems and societies differ from ours.” This could be interpreted as openness to engaging with North Korea despite its status as a nuclear-armed state outside the bounds of international norms.
This is the first time since Kim Jong-un came to power in 2012 that a U.S. NSS has excluded both North Korea and the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
China also omitted any mention of denuclearization in its white paper on arms control and nonproliferation, released on Nov. 27.
With both Washington and Beijing now silent on denuclearization, concerns are growing that the two powers may be leaning toward a de facto acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Rob Rapson, former acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, noted on Saturday that this omission in the NSS will undoubtedly raise alarms in South Korea and Japan, and could also lead to miscalculations by North Korea.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LEE YU-JUNG, PARK HYUN-JU, SHIN KYUNG-JIN [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]
14. ‘Denuclearization’ eclipsed by US-China rivalry
Summary:
Washington and Beijing have quietly downgraded “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” as a priority, reflecting how US-China rivalry now eclipses the north Korean nuclear issue. The 2025 US NSS omits north Korea entirely, instead casting South Korea as a frontline ally along the First Island Chain and demanding greater defense burden sharing. China’s latest arms control white paper also drops explicit support for denuclearization, echoing recent Kim–Xi summit language. Analysts warn Seoul faces mounting pressure to do more regionally just as alliance reliability feels less certain, though some see the omission as a tactical opening for renewed US–north Korea dialogue.
Comment: Our friends in Korea view the PRC-US situation as more important to the US than the denuclearization of north Korea. (While the PRC has also seemed to have given up on denuclearization). Does this open the path for everyone to now admit north Korea is a nuclear armed state? This of course means victory for KJU's political warfare strategy. He will be viewed (by the Propaganda and Agitation Department) as more successful than his father and grandfather (though they will not insult them and instead describe how they paved the way for KJU's success).
‘Denuclearization’ eclipsed by US-China rivalry
koreaherald.com · Ji Da-gyum · December 7, 2025
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10631258
US demands for larger S. Korean regional role and China’s quiet acceptance of N. Korea’s nuclear status are narrowing Seoul’s room to maneuver
US President Donald Trump (left) greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport on Oct. 30 in Busan. (White House)
The mantra of “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” once a strategic objective for Washington and Beijing alike, has vanished from their respective key official strategy documents, as the intensifying US-China rivalry reshapes regional priorities.
The shift, observers said, reflects how North Korea’s nuclear threat is being relegated to a lower priority for both powers, overshadowed by a widening Indo-Pacific contest that is shrinking South Korea’s room to maneuver, particularly on the North Korean nuclear issue.
The 2025 US National Security Strategy under the second Trump administration did not mention North Korea at all, while recasting South Korea as a front-line security actor in the Indo-Pacific region, with a strong emphasis on alliance burden-sharing and military capabilities.
"Given President Trump’s insistence on increased burden-sharing from Japan and South Korea, we must urge these countries to increase defense spending, with a focus on the capabilities — including new capabilities — necessary to deter adversaries and protect the First Island Chain," according to the National Security Strategy released Thursday local time. The "first island chain" refers to a geopolitically strategic string of Pacific islands that includes Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.
The omission marks a stark contrast from the National Security Strategy issued in December 2017 during US President Donald Trump’s first term, which identified North Korea as a second-tier threat alongside Iran and stipulated the goal of achieving "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula."
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcoming ceremony for Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 12 (Pool Photo via AP, File)
Beijing walks back denuclearization
At the same time, China dropped the term "complete denuclearization" from its arms control white paper updated on Nov. 27 for the first time since 2005, signaling a departure from the core of its Korean Peninsula policy, which had centered on denuclearization.
"China calls on relevant parties to desist from an approach based on aggressive deterrence and coercion, restart dialogue and negotiations and play a constructive role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue through political means and realizing lasting peace and stability in the peninsula," read the latest white paper, titled "China's Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation in the New Era."
The 2005 version of the white paper explicitly stated that "China supports the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
The move came amid growing concerns over China’s apparent acquiescence to North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons, concerns that intensified after the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of China’s Victory Day celebrations on Sept. 3.
Neither China nor North Korea referred to Pyongyang’s pursuit of “denuclearization” in their postsummit statement, unlike the five Kim-Xi summits from 2018 to 2019, when the term appeared consistently.
The omission is noteworthy in the context of China's growing reluctance to invoke denuclearization in its official policy documents.
The joint declaration issued after the trilateral summit among the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China in May 2024 also omitted any reference to a shared commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” unlike declarations released after the seventh and eighth such summits in 2018 and 2019.
President Lee Jae Myung attends a press conference with foreign media at the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, in Seoul on Wednesday, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Dec. 3 martial law crisis. (Pool photo via Yonhap)
Seoul under growing strategic strain
George Hutchinson, editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Korean Studies, said that "over the past 24 hours, strategic pressures on Seoul intensified across every tier of the international system."
"A US security blueprint that downplays North Korea while elevating South Korea’s role along the first island chain collided with China’s quiet normalization of Pyongyang’s nuclear status, squeezing the peninsula’s diplomatic room," Hutchinson said.
"The result is a strategic picture in which Korea is being asked to shoulder greater regional and global burdens just as the alliances, partnerships ... needed to support them are becoming less reliable," he added.
However, the muted treatment of North Korea in the 2025 US National Security Strategy prompted differing interpretations among experts. Some viewed the US decision not to invoke denuclearization in the document as a tactical opening.
Yang Moo-jin, an honorary professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the omission of the term denuclearization "indirectly reflects President Trump’s relatively low level of hostility toward North Korea and his willingness to pursue renewed US-North Korea dialogue, while highlighting his personal rapport with Chairman Kim Jong-un."
"It suggests an intention not to provoke North Korea for the time being and could help raise the prospects for renewed US-North Korea talks next year," Yang added.
Tressa Guenov, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said the omission reflects “a bid to signal a new chapter for the United States where it is less encumbered by the strategic irritants of the post-Cold War era and is free to pursue a bolder interest-based agenda.”
Guenov, however, pointed out that "the reality remains that US adversaries do not want to see this NSS realized whether the United States names them or not. US strategy must continue to take those factors into account."
"North Korea is not explicitly named in the strategy, yet Pyongyang surely will have designs on global attention over the next three years," Guenov warned.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · Ji Da-gyum · December 7, 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
| 
