Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

"China is not destined to win primacy in the 21st-century, but America could certainly lose it through strategic incoherence, miscalculation, and trust-squandering gambits. To remain a great power, fit to win any superpower rivalry, American leaders would be well advised to remember that our country still needs to be seen not just as a good power, but a better power than the alternative.”

– Mike Studeman. Extract from forthcoming Tufts Fletcher School Security Review article (spring edition)

"Education: That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding."

– Ambrose Bierce

"Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine."

– Chris Hadfield

1. Pentagon official stresses 'clear,' 'ironclad' commitment to alliance after S. Korea's exclusion from Hegseth's upcoming Asia swing

2. Russia's deputy foreign minister visiting N. Korea amid talks of Ukraine ceasefire

3. Will South Korea expel the US?

4. Korean-U.S. special warfare units combine forces for Freedom Shield exercise

5. Trump’s remarks on North Korea could spark Seoul’s nuclear rethink

6. Beijing tight-lipped on reports of collision between Chinese, North Korean ships

7. 8 North Korean Ships Sunk in the Past 10 Years… 2 Dead, 9 Missing

8. Alarmed by Trump, South Korea mulls Japan-style nuclear option

9. U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' reveals Seoul's diplomatic lapse amid political turmoil

10. Biden gov't added S. Korea to lowest 'sensitive country list' category, no new curbs under Trump: Energy Dept.

11. Ruling party voices 'deep regrets' over U.S. designation of 'sensitive country'

12. S. Korean nuclear energy experts warn U.S. 'sensitive country' designation may hinder cooperation

13.'Brainwashed' North Korean POW: "It's natural to help our Russian ally"

14. East-West Center's inaugural presidential chair talks uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula

15. Ahead of South Korea’s Impeachment Verdict, Partisan Division Is Worsening

16. G7 Foreign Ministers: “North Korea Must Dismantle Nuclear and Ballistic Missiles... Condemn North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation”

17. Massive rallies for, against Yoon's ouster held in Seoul ahead of impeachment ruling

18. The parallel in Ukraine isn’t to World War II — it’s to Korea

19. Multiple Russian warplanes briefly enter Korea's air defense zone during training: JCS

1. Pentagon official stresses 'clear,' 'ironclad' commitment to alliance after S. Korea's exclusion from Hegseth's upcoming Asia swing

Unfortunate. Words versus action.

I am sure the calculus is that there is political turmoil in the South and there is an acting MINDEF.

On the practical side it is logical. On the emotional side it upsets our ally.

But given the geopolitical and security situation in the region ( to include the alignment of the Dark Quad/fusion of foes/axis of authoritarians) and vital need to work with and have the cooperation of our allies, I think this might be an own goal.

(2nd LD) Pentagon official stresses 'clear,' 'ironclad' commitment to alliance after S. Korea's exclusion from Hegseth's upcoming Asia swing | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 15, 2025

By Song Sang-ho

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout; ADDS byline)

SEOUL/WASHINGTON, March 14 (Yonhap) -- The Pentagon on Friday reaffirmed America's "ironclad" commitment to the South Korea-U.S. alliance and vowed to maintain the "fight tonight" readiness posture with the Asian ally, after Seoul was excluded from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's upcoming trip to the Indo-Pacific.

The decision to exclude South Korea from the Pentagon chief's first Asia swing since taking office in January came amid lingering speculation that a period of political uncertainty, caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his martial law attempt in December, would have a negative impact on the allies' security cooperation.

"While we have no travel details to announce today, our ironclad commitment to the alliance remains clear," Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot said in response to a request for comment by Yonhap News Agency.

He suggested that security cooperation between Seoul and Washington continues unimpeded.

"Freedom Shield 25 is currently underway, and it strengthens the role of the alliance as the linchpin of regional peace and security. The USS Carl Vinson also visited the peninsula this month and conducted operations with ROK forces," referring to the allies' ongoing annual military exercise. ROK is short of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

"We will continue to maintain a 'fight tonight' readiness posture with our ROK allies," he said.

Hegseth is said to be planning to visit Hawaii, Guam, Japan and the Philippines in what would be a high-profile trip to underscore the Trump administration's commitment to the Indo-Pacific in the face of China's growing assertiveness and North Korea's recalcitrance.

Even though his visit to Korea is excluded this time, observers anticipated the Pentagon chief could weigh a visit to Seoul on other future occasions, including the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore or the annual South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting set to be held in Seoul this year.

Last month, Hegseth was first reported to be considering visiting South Korea after the allies' annual Freedom Shield exercise concluded this month. If realized, his trip was expected to be the first visit here by a Cabinet-level Trump administration official since Trump took office in January.

The report on Hegseth's potential visit gave rise to speculation that he could visit a South Korean shipbuilding company given that Trump has expressed his interest in cooperating with South Korea, a treaty ally, to help rebuild America's shipbuilding industry.

Amid the political turmoil triggered by Yoon's short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3, then Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled the Korea portion of his Asia trip later that month.

This file photo, released by the Associated Press, shows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responding to questions from reporters during a meeting with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey at the Pentagon near Washington on March 6, 2025. (Yonhap)

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 15, 2025

2. Russia's deputy foreign minister visiting N. Korea amid talks of Ukraine ceasefire

Russia's deputy foreign minister visiting N. Korea amid talks of Ukraine ceasefire | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · March 15, 2025

SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- Russia's deputy foreign minister is visiting North Korea, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday, amid a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire for Moscow's war with Ukraine.

A Russian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, arrived in Pyongyang the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Moscow diplomats were visiting the North for the first time since June last year when they accompanied Russian President Vladimir Putin on his trip to Pyongyang for summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Details about Rudenko's trip are not known, but observers speculate that he may be there to explain his country's stance about the U.S. ceasefire proposal and exchange views about Pyongyang's potential dispatch of additional soldiers to support Russia's war efforts.

Earlier this week, the United States and Ukraine agreed to seek a 30-day ceasefire for the war, for which North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's war efforts since October.

Seoul's spy agency said last month that North Korea appears to have deployed additional troops to Russia following its dispatch last year of some 11,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. South Korean military officials said signs of North Korea dispatching more than 1,000 additional troops to Russia this year have been detected.

This file photo, captured from the Telegram account of the Russian Embassy in North Korea on Dec. 5, 2024, shows North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu (L) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko shaking hands to mark the exchange of the ratification instruments of a new defense treaty. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · March 15, 2025

3. Will South Korea expel the US?

I think the martial and impeachment situation has had the effect of exposing the true colors and intent of the opposition party and their anti-democratic views and their preference for alignment with China and north Korea over the US and Japan.

Will South Korea expel the US?

On the Korean peninsula, freedom is at risk, democracy is at risk, everything is at risk

foxnews.com · by Gordon G. Chang Fox News

Prosecutors released South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol from custody Saturday after deciding not to appeal a decision by the Seoul Central District Court to free him.

The embattled leader of the conservative-leaning People Power Party faces both criminal charges of insurrection and removal from office after his Dec. 14 impeachment.

The political turmoil in the Republic of Korea could result in a takeover by those sympathetic to China, North Korea and communism. It is even possible that leftists could merge the South Korean state into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Kim regime of North Korea.

Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

At risk, therefore, is America’s alliance with the South.

CHINA THREATENS OUR FARMERS AND FOOD SUPPLY. STATES NEED TO STEP UP

Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly for his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, the first such declaration in the South since 1980. Martial law, although in force for only six hours, was widely condemned in South Korean society, and even conservatives in the leftist-dominated National Assembly voted to impeach.

Yoon declared martial law because leftists, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, had blocked almost all his attempts to govern since he was elected president in 2022. He justified the action by saying he was breaking a deadlock to stop "anti-state activities plotting rebellion."

"The martial law is aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom," Yoon stated in a televised address.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attends the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, Jan.23, 2025. (Jeon Heon Kyun/Pool Photo via AP)

"Although it might be considered bad political judgment, I think his decision to implement martial law was for the good of the nation because of the malign influence activities of China and North Korea," David Maxwell of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Asia Pacific Strategy told me last week. "When the National Assembly voted to not approve martial law, he respected the vote and withdrew the martial law order. This demonstrated that he puts the rule of law for the nation ahead of any other intent."

DEEPSEEK AI BOT IS PART OF CHINA’S 'UNRESTRICTED WARFARE’ DOCTRINE

Yoon’s low popularity – polls showed that less than 20% of South Koreans had approved of his performance as president before December – plummeted after he declared martial law.

Minjoo, as the Democratic Party of Korea is known, then overreached, impeaching the acting president on Dec. 27 and moving hard against conservative figures. Leftists made a grab for total power, "employing gangster tactics to seize control of all branches of government," Lawrence Peck, advisor to the North Korea Freedom Coalition, told me in December.

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, bottom center, shouts slogans during a joint press conference with members of civil society and the five opposition parties to condemn the ruling People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 6, 2024. (Park Dong-ju/Yonhap via AP)

As Greg Scarlatoiu, president of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, stated in e-mail comments, the impeachment of the president and acting president was an attempt to undermine "checks and balances and the very fabric of democracy."

The public rejected Minjoo’s attempt for total power. Yoon’s approval rating soared to 46.6% by the middle of January.

SOME THINGS YOU JUST CAN’T SAY ABOUT CHINA

Whether Yoon is popular or not, the country’s Constitutional Court will soon decide whether to remove him. If he is removed, citizens will head to the polls within 60 days to select the 14th president of the Republic of Korea.

Minjoo wants an election. There is evidence that the party has, with China’s help, changed balloting in at least the last three national elections, starting in 2020. Its "uniformly narrow" wins in district after district in the National Assembly contests in 2020 were "statistically improbable." As one observer said, "Either God did it, or it was rigged."

Kim Jong Un during a press confernce, June 19, 2024, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Contributor/Getty Images)

In all probability, it wasn’t God.

The South’s early-balloting system was vulnerable to manipulation, especially with servers supplied by China’s Huawei Technologies and, possibly, algorithms developed by Minjoo in coordination with China’s Communist Party. Last year, the National Election Commission hired Chinese nationals to count votes. No wonder the results in 2020 and those in 2022 and 2024 were substantially different than late polling suggested, another indication of fraud.

BEING TOUGH ON CHINA WILL MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN

South Korea’s National Election Commission, dominated by Minjoo, has repeatedly denied its electronic voting system could be hacked to change votes, but as Tara O of the East Asia Research Center reports, North Korea breached the commission’s servers multiple times and the South’s National Intelligence Service was also able to do so in tests.

"The chance of vote rigging in Korea is extremely high," says Tara O, referring to an election following a removal of Yoon.

Demonstrators demand South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, in front of the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party in Seoul, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP)

Due to balloting fraud, the next president of South Korea is likely to be Minjoo’s Lee Jae-myung, who was convicted last November of violating the country’s election law.

"Lee Jae-myung has sounded like a Communist-style socialist or Kim Jong Un himself," said Sung-Yoon Lee, author of "The Sister: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, the Most Dangerous Woman in the World." "For example, Lee has called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ‘our North Korea’ and referred to Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung as ‘our predecessors,’ whose ‘efforts’ must ‘not be slandered and undermined.’" Lee says that the world should expect "extreme appeasement of Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping and a determined crackdown of North Korea human rights organizations and activists."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER

Minjoo’s Lee Jae-myung is virulently anti-American. He has recently expressed support for continuation of South Korea’s alliance with America, but South Koreans doubt his sincerity given his radical views. He has, for instance, called the U.S. an "occupying force" and blames Washington for Japan’s annexation of Korea 115 years ago. If given the chance, he would almost certainly expel American troops and line up with China and North Korea.

China President Xi Jinping and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un meet in Beijing, March 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Peng via Getty Images)

Lee Jae-myung, as his comments suggest, believes there is only one Korea and would therefore seek unification of the two Korean states.

So on the Korean peninsula freedom is at risk, democracy is at risk, everything is at risk.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

South Koreans can now lose their country.

"Only South Koreans themselves can save South Korea from the looming calamity," says Sung-Yoon Lee. "May God give them the wisdom and strength to save themselves."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY GORDON CHANG

foxnews.com · by Gordon G. Chang Fox News

4. Korean-U.S. special warfare units combine forces for Freedom Shield exercise

As they do in every exercise year around.

Friday

March 14, 2025

Korean-U.S. special warfare units combine forces for Freedom Shield exercise

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-14/national/defense/KoreanUS-special-warfare-units-combine-forces-for-Freedom-Shield-exercise/2262219

Published: 14 Mar. 2025, 14:53

South Korean special forces take part in a combined exercise with U.S. troops at the Special Warfare School in Gwangju, on March 13, 2025, in this photo provided by the Army. [REPUBLIC OF KOREA ARMY]

South Korean and U.S. soldiers conducted combined special strike drills this week as part of an ongoing major allied exercise, the Republic of Korea Army said Friday.

Some 250 troops from the Army Special Warfare Command and the U.S. 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade took part in the four-day drills that began Monday at the Special Warfare School in Gwangju, Gyeonggi.

The drills, which mobilized 16 Korean and U.S. helicopters, including Chinooks and Black Hawks, focused on training troops to conduct special reconnaissance and strike operations at night, according to the Army.

The training took place in connection with the allies' annual Freedom Shield exercise that began Monday for an 11-day run. North Korea has long decried such combined exercises as rehearsals for an invasion, while the allies have maintained their drills are defensive in nature.

Yonhap

5. Trump’s remarks on North Korea could spark Seoul’s nuclear rethink

I think the middle ground position will be to develop the concept of South Korean nuclear latency: they have the capability to develop nuclear weapons and they are only waiting for when the time is really necessary.

Trump’s remarks on North Korea could spark Seoul’s nuclear rethink

The comments have sparked fears the US might favour talks on nuclear arms reduction with North Korea instead of full denuclearisation

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302386/trumps-remarks-north-korea-could-spark-seouls-nuclear-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed

Park Chan-kyong

Published: 4:16pm, 14 Mar 2025

Comments by US President Donald Trump recognising North Korea as a nuclear power could prompt the South to reassess its place under the American nuclear umbrella that has so far provided deterrence against its arch rival, observers warn.

While addressing North Korea as a “nuclear power”, Trump said on Thursday he still had a good relationship with its ruler Kim Jong-un, with whom he met three times in his first term.

“I would … I have a great relationship with Kim and we’ll see what happens, but certainly he’s a nuclear power,” the American leader said after being asked by reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte whether he had plans to reestablish relations with the hermit regime.

Trump met Kim three times, including in Singapore in 2018 and in Hanoi the following year, but failed to seal a deal on North Korea’s denuclearisation due to differences in details on such an agreement.

Since then, Pyongyang has consistently refused dialogue with Washington.

After testing the Hwasong-19 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in October last year, Kim declared he would never diverge from the path of “strengthening nuclear deterrence” under any circumstances.

In November 2024, at a defence exhibition in Pyongyang, Kim said having gone as far as possible in negotiations with Washington, the conclusion was that the US was not seeking coexistence but sticking to “an aggressive and hostile policy” towards North Korea.

North Korea’s Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile being prepared for launch at Pyongyang International Airport in 2022. Photo: AFP

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, suggested in a periodical published on Friday that Kim could be open to dialogue once the inflow of Russian aid to his country diminishes, potentially following a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to the battlefront against Ukraine in a move seen as a quid pro quo for technological and other aid from Russia.

Should Trump resume negotiations with Kim and make headway on arms control, it could lead to the suspension of the annual US-South Korea joint military exercises – deemed by the North as rehearsals for a nuclear war, according to Cheong.

Additionally, US troop presence in South Korea could be reduced or even withdrawn in line with Trump’s unconventional and transactional approach to diplomacy, he warned.

“Even if it takes time, the South Korean government should pursue its own nuclear deterrence capabilities, starting with nuclear technologies on par with those of Japan, particularly in areas like spent fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment,” Cheong wrote.

In exchange for Washington’s consent to its nuclear development, Seoul could enhance its cooperation with its ally by maintaining and modernising American naval assets, including the construction of new vessels.

South Korea could also play a critical role in contingencies related to the Taiwan Strait, Cheong said.

Given its weakened shipbuilding industry, the US had been seeking closer cooperation with South Korea to counter rising naval threats from China, he added.

To address North Korea’s nuclear submarine advancements, South Korea must develop its own nuclear-powered submarines

Cheong Seong-chang, Sejong Institute’s senior researcher

“To address North Korea’s nuclear submarine advancements, South Korea must develop its own nuclear-powered submarines, for which US technical support and operational expertise are essential,” he added.

This was not the first time Trump had described North Korea as a nuclear power, a term typically avoided by US officials over concerns it could mean tacit acceptance of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.

Shortly after his inauguration on January 20, Trump referred to North Korea as a nuclear power, raising alarm in Seoul about the possibility that the US might shift toward arms reduction talks with the North instead of insisting on full denuclearisation.

In response, US officials quickly moved to allay these concerns, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearisation.

On Trump’s latest remarks, a White House official had said: “President Trump will pursue the complete denuclearisation of North Korea, just as he did in his first term.”

At a joint meeting in Munich last month, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya reaffirmed their “resolute” commitment to the “complete denuclearisation” of North Korea, decrying “systematic, widespread, and gross” violations of human rights in the North.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un inspects a training base of special operations forces at an undisclosed location last year. Photo: AFP

Cho Byung-jae, a senior researcher at the Institute for East Asian Studies at Kyungnam University, argued that the Trump administration would likely face challenges in negotiating with North Korea over freezing of its nuclear weapon development and reduction of its nuclear arsenal, as opposed to the goal of complete denuclearisation.

“If this approach is adopted, South Korea and Japan would remain under constant nuclear threat from the North, effectively leaving their security entirely reliant on the US nuclear umbrella,” Cho told This Week in Asia.

Observers have pointed out that Seoul has the capability to develop nuclear weapons within a matter of months if it chooses to do so. Public sentiment in South Korea has been shifting, with a growing number of citizens advocating for the country to pursue its own nuclear deterrent rather than continuing to depend on the US for protection.

“However, the issue of South Korea going nuclear is highly sensitive. It would not be in the nation’s best interest to openly discuss this possibility, given the expected international backlash,” Cho added.

Yang Moo-jin, head of the University of North Korean Studies, said Trump’s remarks did not mean he would officially recognise North Korea as a de facto nuclear power, but that negotiations should be held on the premise that Pyongyang possessed nuclear weapons.

“President Trump is seeking to bring North Korea to the negotiating table by repeating the same remarks about North Korea being a nuclear power,” Yang told This Week in Asia.

Park Chan-kyong

Park Chan-kyong is a journalist covering South Korean affairs for the South China Morning Post. He previously worked at the Agence France-Presse's Seoul bureau for 35 years. He studied political science at Korea University and economics at the Yonsei University Graduate School.

6. Beijing tight-lipped on reports of collision between Chinese, North Korean ships

These may be the last reports of RFA due to the DOGE wiz kids and their ignorance of and prejudice against the importance of US information efforts.

This is a Google translation of an RFA report.

Beijing tight-lipped on reports of collision between Chinese, North Korean ships

The North Korean vessel was suspected of smuggling coal, a violation of UN sanctions.

https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/14/north-korea-china-ship-collision/

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.03.14

China and North Korea flags are seen in Hangzhou, China, Oct. 5, 2023. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

TAIPEI, Taiwan – China neither denied nor acknowledged reports that a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying coal collided with a Chinese ship and sank in the Yellow Sea last month, but said it handled foreign and maritime affairs in accordance with the law.

A North Korean ship suspected of smuggling sank in the Yellow Sea in late February after an accident with a Chinese vessel in waters near a Chinese port, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday, citing unidentified sources.

When asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China was always committed to handling foreign and maritime issues in accordance with laws and regulations.

“We handle maritime accidents and search and rescue efforts in accordance with humanitarian principles, professional ethics, and international practices,” she said without acknowledging any incident involving a North Korean ship.

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said they were closely monitoring the situation, without elaborating. North Korea has not commented.

Up to 20 North Korean crew members were believed to have died in the accident despite rescue operations by Chinese authorities, South Korea said. The Chinese ship reportedly sustained minor damage.

The North Korean vessel, fully loaded with coal, had reportedly turned off its automatic identification system, which transmits location and speed data , in an attempt to evade U.N. Security Council sanctions.

UNSC Resolution 2371, adopted in 2017, imposed a blanket ban on overseas sales of North Korean coal, iron ore, other mineral resources and seafood.

In March 2017, a North Korean cargo ship collided with a Chinese vessel and sank near China’s Lianyungang port. All of those on board were saved, and China’s transport ministry confirmed the accident at that time.

RELARED STORIES

Chinese journalists return to North Korea after 5 years: South Korean ministry

North Koreans face forced labor on Chinese fishing vessels: report

China, North Korea mark 75th anniversary of ties in muted tone

Along with illegal coal exports, China is suspected of underreporting the amount of oil it ships to North Korea.

China exported a total of 280,928 barrels of refined oil to the country from January to November last year, surpassing the total supply of 256,861 barrels in 2023, according to the U.N. Security Council.

That was much lower than the annual import cap of 500,000 barrels set by the U.N. Security Council, but reports suggest that the actual volume of oil flowing into the North is significantly higher, as the U.N. figure only reflects the amount officially reported to it.

Relations between North Korea and China have shown signs of improvement recently, with reports showing the return of Chinese tourists and journalists to the North after it partly opened its border to foreigners following strict controls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, speculation emerged that ties between North Korea and China had cooled after Pyongyang moved closer to Moscow in recent years, but China’s foreign ministry dismissed in October any such suggestion.

Edited by Mike Firn.

7. 8 North Korean Ships Sunk in the Past 10 Years… 2 Dead, 9 Missing

This is a Google translation of a VOA report

I had no idea there were so many sinkings of north Korean vessels. And I bet few Koreans in the north know either. It is important that VOA is able to transmit these facts and the truth to the north.

Perhaps some good practice for submarines? But more likely the result of accidents.

8 North Korean Ships Sunk in the Past 10 Years… 2 Dead, 9 Missing

voakorea.com · by Ham Ji-ha · March 15, 2025

Over the past 10 years, eight North Korean ships have been found to have sunk in Chinese waters and elsewhere. Two people have died and nine are missing in these accidents, and some of the ships were found to be carrying anthracite coal, which has been banned by the UN Security Council. Reporter Ham Ji-ha reports.

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North Korea has been confirmed to have been involved in more than 10 large-scale ship accidents since 2015.

A VOA analysis of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS)'s "Marine Casualties and Accidents" data from the past 10 years found that North Korean ships were involved in a total of 12 accidents.

IMO receives accident records from maritime authorities around the world and makes public the date and time of the accident, the vessels involved, and the circumstances of the accident through GISIS.

North Korean ships sink in succession in Chinese waters

According to this, the most recent North Korean ship accident occurred in September 2023.

At that time, the North Korean cargo ship Kang Dong-ho, loaded with 600 tons of lead concentrate, departed from Nampo Port in North Korea and arrived in waters near Lianyungang in China, but was left at anchor for about a week due to bad weather.

Then, the chief engineer collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage, and while waiting to replace the crew, the ship collided with a Chinese fishing boat approaching at full speed.

Records of the Gangdongho accident remaining in the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). Data = GIGIS.

The Chinese fishing boat that caused the collision fled immediately after the accident, and the Gangdongho eventually sank. Fortunately, the 12 crew members escaped using a lifeboat and were rescued by another cargo ship sailing nearby, saving their lives, GISIS data reported.

A similar incident to that involving Kang Dong-ho occurred a month before this.

Songnim 9, loaded with 6,300 tons of anthracite coal from North Korea's Daean Port, was waiting in waters near China's Jiangsu Province due to a typhoon when it collided with a Chinese ship approaching at full speed.

Like the Gang Dong-ho, the Chinese ship fled immediately after the accident, and the Songnim 9, whose engine room was flooded, was unable to avoid sinking.

North Korean vessels have been involved in a total of 12 maritime accidents over the past 10 years: two in 2023, one in 2021, six in 2019, two in 2017, and one in 2015.

Among these, eight ships were sunk or totaled.

Deaths and missing persons also occurred

Records of deaths and disappearances of North Korean sailors have also been confirmed.

According to GISIS data, the North Korean vessel Kumhae sank in September 2019 after colliding with a Chinese fishing boat off the coast of Zhoushan, China.

Four of the 13 crew members were rescued in the accident, but nine are missing.

In April 2019, an explosion occurred in the cargo hold of the Tiefenbroken Coral near the port of Lianyungang, China, killing one crew member and injuring another.

In October of that year, a transport ship off the coast of Zhoushan, China, suffered an accident where the stern lock collapsed, killing one crew member who entered the distribution room for repairs.

In this way, a total of 11 sailors died or went missing in North Korean ship accidents in 2019.

Although the International Maritime Organization (IMO) records details incidents involving North Korean vessels, it is possible that incidents that violate sanctions or occur in North Korean waters are not reported to the IMO.

In particular, ship accidents involving illegal maritime trade or the transport of contraband goods involving North Korea are likely not reported to the authorities.

Earlier, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that a North Korean cargo ship suspected of smuggling coal sank last month, killing nearly 20 North Korean sailors.

However, to date, no record of the incident has been posted to GISIS.

Illegal operation of AIS turned off and old ships increase the risk of accidents

North Korean vessels frequently sail with their automatic identification system (AIS) turned off.

The IMO requires all ships to operate AIS at all times to prevent collisions, so the North Korean ship's operation in this manner violates international maritime safety regulations.

In particular, vessels with AIS turned off are not displayed on other vessels' route charts, so there are situations where they must be identified only with the naked eye.

Accordingly, it is noteworthy that the North Korean ship that collided with the Chinese ship in bad weather may have had its AIS turned off at the time of the accident.

The 'aging' problem of North Korean ships is also pointed out as one of the main causes of the accident.

Although North Korea has recently increased its purchase of used ships from China and other countries, it still operates many old ships that are more than 30 years old.

The bigger problem is that these ships are operating without proper safety inspections.

A VOA analysis of data from the Asia-Pacific Port State Control Committee (Tokyo MOU) shows that the last time a North Korean vessel underwent a safety inspection in China or Russia was in August 2023.

That is, safety inspections of North Korean ships have not been conducted for over 18 months, and there is also a possibility that they may have intentionally avoided inspections at Chinese ports and other locations.

Furthermore, this incident has once again highlighted the possibility of North Korean vessels ‘violating sanctions.’

The anthracite coal found on board some of the ships involved in the accident is a UN sanctioned item that has been banned from being exported from North Korea since 2017.

In particular, Zhoushan, China, has been designated as a representative illegal transshipment site by the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee Expert Panel, and it has been revealed that as many as three North Korean ships have been involved in accidents there over the past 10 years.

This is Ham Ji-ha from VOA News.

voakorea.com · by Ham Ji-ha · March 15, 2025

8. Alarmed by Trump, South Korea mulls Japan-style nuclear option

The issue is nuclear latency.

Excerpts:

Kim is a critic of the U.S. alliance but is personally opposed to nuclear latency. “I don’t agree with nuclear proliferation,” he said. “Even if we have nuclear weapons, I don’t think we have security. Small conflicts may become more common. The Korean Peninsula is too small – high tech conventional weapons are enough. Japan will go nuclear and relations with China and Russia will worsen.”

Others are concerned about the isolation that South Korea could experience if it goes down this road. Cho Hyun, a former senior diplomat and progressive foreign policy advisor, helped negotiate the 123 agreement during the Bill Clinton administration. “The right wing thinks we should have our own nuclear development,” Cho told me in Seoul. “We don’t think it is realistic. Some progressives want to request the US for full fuel cycle like Japan. I am against this.”

As the nuclear latency argument rapidly gains support among progressive circles, revising the 123 agreement may become a bargaining chip for South Korea in negotiations with the Trump administration.

At least some inside the administration, though likely not Trump-appointed officials, have become aware of this, prompting media reports that the U.S. Department of Energy is considering labeling South Korea a “sensitive country,” a designation for countries who might be considering going nuclear.

For South Korea, this may only be the start of many shocks to come.

Alarmed by Trump, South Korea mulls Japan-style nuclear option - Asia Times

Prominent voices seek capacity to reprocess spent nuclear fuel or enrich uranium and be able potentially to make bombs

asiatimes.com · by Daniel Sneider · March 14, 2025

The dramatic clash in the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a profound shock to South Korea, which could not believe such an assault on an ally was possible.

“It was a very concerning and worrying development,” National Assembly Representative Wi Sung-lac, a former senior diplomat and foreign policy advisor to progressive Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, told me days after the meeting. “Everybody should be careful. We are in a period of uncertainty and unpredictability with the US – on the alliance, on North Korea, on the nuclear issue, on tariffs.”

These views were shared across the aisle. “We expected that things would be different with President Trump – tariffs, protectionism, America First, transactional diplomacy, Ukraine, the Middle East,” said a conservative former senior official. “But the speed and intensity of these changes in US policy has been astounding.”

The entire encounter in the Oval Office was watched by many of my Korean interlocutors and continued to draw media coverage and commentary days afterward. For many, it raised serious questions about the reliability of the commitment of the US security treaty, which was made at the close of the Korean War. Along with the presence of US armed forces, that pact is embodied in the guarantee of extended deterrence – the so-called nuclear umbrella that allows South Korea to balance the threat from North Korea.

The most striking evidence of South Korean alarm over the treatment of allies is the widening discussion of the need to have an independent nuclear arms capability. Conservatives have long advocated that option, but the debate has now moved into progressive circles where prominent voices are calling for South Korea to develop nuclear latency – the capacity to reprocess spent nuclear fuel or enrich uranium to be able to potentially possess fissile material for making bombs.

The Japanese model?

For now, South Korea hopes it can follow the path set by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and offer Trump concessions ranging from trade, supply chain investment, and cooperation on shipbuilding to promoting South Korea’s role as an asset in a confrontation against China.

At the moment, South Korea does not have an effective government, pending the imminent decision of the Constitutional Court on the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. But whatever follows, the South Korean president will have to deal with Trump.

Assemblyman Wi believes the best they can hope for is a smooth and non-confrontational meeting modeled on that of Ishiba, which yielded a joint statement that reaffirmed the US-Japan alliance along the lines of previous statements with the Joe Biden administration.

“The joint statement has a preventative effect,” Wi said in an interview in his National Assembly office. “It won’t be easy creating personal rapport between the two leaders, but we are going to try that. If we are not successful, then Japan, Korea and the Europeans will have to think this through.”

South Korea is deeply afraid of a trade war and has already been targeted by steel tariffs. The threat of automobile tariffs also looms on the horizon. But the concerns about Trump’s security policy are perhaps even greater. Conservatives especially are anticipating pressure on the security alliance and a renewed attempt by President Trump to engage North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“We have to prepare for the next chapter of Trump diplomacy – defense cost sharing, withdrawal of US troops on the peninsula, negotiations with North Korea,” said the former senior official. “Maybe even to prepare for a US-Russia-North Korea strategic dialogue. I think President Trump thinks North Korea is unfinished business left over from the first Trump administration. We have to prepare for the worst.”

Nuclear latency

“The worst” includes the withdrawal of United States Forces Korea (USFK) from South Korea and a withholding of the US nuclear umbrella.

Regardless of how important the U.S.-ROK alliance is now, “there may come a time when it is difficult to rely on the US for our security,” former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoon Young-kwan wrote in an op-ed published this month. “In preparation for that time, we should strengthen our national defense capabilities, including potential nuclear capabilities, and prepare to handle the deterrence of North Korea with our own strength.”

Progressives are more reticent to endorse nuclear weapons outright, but some have thrown their weight behind nuclear latency – a conscious imitation of the model pursued by Japan to have a full fuel cycle capability. South Korea could, theoretically, reprocess the spent fuel from its power reactors to extract bomb-grade plutonium or, alternatively, have the capacity to enrich uranium, potentially up to bomb-grade levels.

South Korea has long sought to revise the so-called 123 agreement for nuclear cooperation with the United States, which has restricted its ability to have a full fuel cycle. The agreement was only recently reaffirmed, in January at the close of the Biden administration.

In an important column published on March 4 in the progressive newspaper Kyunghyang Shinmun, former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok, another close advisor to presidential aspirant Lee Jae-myung, argued that nuclear latency can be achieved within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and with the consent of the United States.

“China, Russia and North Korea, our neighboring countries, are nuclear weapon states, and Japan has already demonstrated its potential,” Lee wrote. “In this situation, it is rather unnatural that South Korea, a nuclear power, cannot reprocess or enrich uranium due to the restrictions of the Korea-US Nuclear Energy Agreement.”

Others in Seoul advocate defecting from the 123 agreement if the United States reduces USFK forces on the peninsula, says Kim Joon-hyung, a Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker and former senior diplomat.

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Kim is a critic of the U.S. alliance but is personally opposed to nuclear latency. “I don’t agree with nuclear proliferation,” he said. “Even if we have nuclear weapons, I don’t think we have security. Small conflicts may become more common. The Korean Peninsula is too small – high tech conventional weapons are enough. Japan will go nuclear and relations with China and Russia will worsen.”

Others are concerned about the isolation that South Korea could experience if it goes down this road. Cho Hyun, a former senior diplomat and progressive foreign policy advisor, helped negotiate the 123 agreement during the Bill Clinton administration. “The right wing thinks we should have our own nuclear development,” Cho told me in Seoul. “We don’t think it is realistic. Some progressives want to request the US for full fuel cycle like Japan. I am against this.”

As the nuclear latency argument rapidly gains support among progressive circles, revising the 123 agreement may become a bargaining chip for South Korea in negotiations with the Trump administration.

At least some inside the administration, though likely not Trump-appointed officials, have become aware of this, prompting media reports that the U.S. Department of Energy is considering labeling South Korea a “sensitive country,” a designation for countries who might be considering going nuclear.

For South Korea, this may only be the start of many shocks to come.

Daniel C. Sneider is a non-resident distinguished fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America and a lecturer in East Asian studies at Stanford University.

This article was originally published by KEI”s The Peninsula. It is republished with permission.

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asiatimes.com · by Daniel Sneider · March 14, 2025

9. U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' reveals Seoul's diplomatic lapse amid political turmoil

I wonder how the USD(P) nominee feels about this since he seems to be in favor of South Korean nuclear capabilities.

Do we have government officials making decisions without a full understanding of the alliance? (let alone the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.)

(News Focus) U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' reveals Seoul's diplomatic lapse amid political turmoil | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · March 15, 2025

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government is likely to come under criticism over its diplomatic failure to timely respond to the U.S. Department of Energy's decision under the previous Biden administration to list South Korea as a "sensitive country."

The development raised concerns about South Korea's capability to maintain close communication with Washington and ensure diplomacy as the designation came amid a leadership vacuum triggered by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law attempt on Dec. 3.

The Department of Energy (DOE) put South Korea in the lowest category of its "sensitive and other designated countries list" (SCL) in early January under the Biden administration, and since then, there have been no new restrictions on bilateral science and technology cooperation with the Asian ally, the DOE spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency on Friday (U.S. time).

If the move goes into effect April 15, it could make it harder for South Korea to participate in U.S. research on advanced technologies, such as atomic energy, artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

This undated file photo, provided by UPI, shows the exterior of the U.S. Department of Energy. (PHONOT NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Seoul's foreign ministry does not appear to have grasped the situation surrounding the DOE's decision until recently as its first reaction Monday to a related news report was that the government is "verifying the matter with related ministries."

"As far as I know, the DOE's sensitive country list has not yet been finalized," foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong told a press briefing Thursday, saying South Korea is in "close consultation" with the U.S. on the matter.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul told a parliamentary session earlier this week that South Korea has been "informally" told the DOE was considering categorizing it as a "sensitive country" and has raised the issue with the DOE.

"As far as I know, once the U.S. grasps the situation internally, it may come to us and discuss it," he said.

In the midst of political turmoil, sparked by Yoon's martial law bid and his subsequent impeachment, the South Korean government has stressed the Seoul-Washington alliance remains "ironclad."

But the South Korean government does not appear to have had any clue about the DOE's move in the early stage even though the designation could deal a blow to Seoul's efforts to seek deeper cooperation with Washington in nuclear energy and other sectors.

It remains unknown why the Biden administration decided to place South Korea on the SCL. The decision came amid concerns in Washington over growing voices in South Korea to consider its own nuclear armament in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear threats.

When a news report about the DOE's possible designation first emerged earlier this week, many had thought the department probably reviewed it under the Trump administration.

But as the DOE decision was made under the Biden administration, some experts raised the possibility that political turmoil caused by Yoon's martial law may have affected the DOE's designation.

The SCL refers to a group of countries to which "particular consideration is given for policy reasons during the DOE internal review and approval process for access by foreign nationals," according to the DOE website.

Countries may appear on the list for national security, nuclear nonproliferation or terrorism support reasons, it said. The list includes North Korea, China and Russia.

In January, then U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan under the Biden administration described Yoon's botched martial law as "shocking" and "wrong," while voicing confidence that "structurally," the South Korea-U.S. alliance is "incredibly healthy."

If the DOE's designation takes effect as scheduled, it is likely to test the Seoul-Washington alliance under U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his "transactional" approach to alliances, experts said.

This Aug. 18, 2023, file photo shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (L), U.S. President Joe Biden (C) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holding a joint press conference over a trilateral summit meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · March 15, 2025

10. Biden gov't added S. Korea to lowest 'sensitive country list' category, no new curbs under Trump: Energy Dept.

Blame it on Biden.

(2nd LD) Biden gov't added S. Korea to lowest 'sensitive country list' category, no new curbs under Trump: Energy Dept. | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 15, 2025

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6-9, 15-17)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Yonhap) -- The previous Biden administration put South Korea in the "lowest" category of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s "sensitive and other designated countries list (SCL)" in early January, and no new restrictions on the Asian ally have since been added, the department's spokesperson said Friday.

The spokesperson made the remarks amid concerns that if the addition goes into effect on April 15, it will make it harder for South Korea to join U.S. research on advanced technologies, such as atomic energy, artificial intelligence or quantum technology.

The move to designate South Korea caused consternation in Seoul as the Asian ally has been seeking deeper cooperation with the United States in nuclear energy and other sectors. It came amid apparent concerns in Washington about public calls for Seoul to consider securing its own nuclear program to counter growing North Korean threats.

"The prior administration added the Republic of Korea (ROK) to the lowest category (Other Designated Country) of the SCL in early January 2025," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea

"Currently, there are no new restrictions on bilateral science and technology cooperation with the ROK. The Energy Department looks forward to collaborating with the ROK to advance our mutual interests."

This photo, released by UPI, shows the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington. (Yonhap)

Countries may appear on the list for national security, nuclear nonproliferation, or terrorism support reasons, it said. The list includes North Korea, China and Russia.

It remains unclear why the Biden administration decided to place South Korea on the SCL.

Since late last year, South Korea has been in a period of political uncertainty caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his martial law bid in early December -- a development that raised concerns over its potential negative impact on policy coordination between Seoul and Washington.

The DOE spokesperson pointed out that inclusion on the list "does not necessarily indicate an adversarial relationship with the United States."

"Many designated countries are those we regularly cooperate with on a variety of energy, science, technology, counterterrorism, and nonproliferation issues," the spokesperson said.

"Inclusion on the SCL also does not prohibit Americans or U.S. Department of Energy personnel from visiting or doing business with listed countries, just as it doesn't prevent these foreign nationals from visiting DOE sites."

The official went on to say, "The designation does not prohibit scientific or technical cooperation. These visits and cooperation undergo an internal review beforehand."

Seoul has been in consultations with Washington to prevent the official addition of South Korea to the SCL, according to a diplomatic source.

"It is correct that the preceding Biden administration put South Korea on the list," the source said. "I understand that (South Korean authorities) are in talks with the U.S. side to redress that before it goes into effect on April 15."

During a recent parliamentary session, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said Seoul has raised the issue with the U.S. government.

"As far as I know, once the United States grasps the situation internally, they may come to us and discuss it," he said.

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 15, 2025

11. Ruling party voices 'deep regrets' over U.S. designation of 'sensitive country'

Is this the US showing distrust of and dissatisfaction with South Korea? Do we think it is necessary to prevent South Korea from pusing nuclear weapons?

The bottom line is this in the best interests of the US and the ROK/US alliance? Are some functionaries creating friction in the alliance that could be avoided?

Ruling party voices 'deep regrets' over U.S. designation of 'sensitive country' | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · March 15, 2025

SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday expressed "deep regrets" over the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country," vowing to make an all-out response.

The DOE confirmed that it placed South Korea in the lowest category of its "sensitive and other designated countries list" in early January under the previous Biden administration.

If the addition goes into effect on April 15 as scheduled, it could make it harder for South Korea to join U.S. research on advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, artificial intelligence and quantum technology.

"We express deep regrets that this could undermine the trust in the South Korea-U.S. alliance," Kim Dai-sik, a PPP spokesperson, said in a statement. "There are serious concerns that the latest measure could create unnecessary constraints in cooperation in future strategic technology, including not only nuclear energy but also artificial intelligence."

Kim said that any administrative measure made without strategic judgment should not create any confusion in South Korea-U.S. cooperation, calling for the government to make all-out diplomatic efforts in response.

This undated file photo shows Kim Dai-sik, a spokesperson of the ruling People Power Party. (Yonhap)

pbr@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · March 15, 2025

12. S. Korean nuclear energy experts warn U.S. 'sensitive country' designation may hinder cooperation

Probably by design by some ill-informed functionaries.

S. Korean nuclear energy experts warn U.S. 'sensitive country' designation may hinder cooperation | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chang Dong-woo · March 15, 2025

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 18-21)

By Chang Dong-woo

SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) – South Korean nuclear energy experts on Saturday raised concerns that Washington's recent designation of Seoul as a "sensitive country" could hamper future bilateral cooperation and disrupt ongoing projects in the field.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), South Korea was placed in the "lowest" category of the U.S. Energy Department's "sensitive and other designated countries list (SCL)" in early January. The move was made during the end of the previous Joe Biden administration.

The DOE said the designation does not prohibit scientific or technical cooperation. But South Korean experts said the move could weaken long-standing industry ties between the two allies, potentially dealing a blow to Seoul's nuclear industry.

Yun Jong-il, a professor of nuclear engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), warned the designation could present "a major obstacle" to the two countries' nuclear energy cooperation, both at the governmental and private-sector levels.

"South Korea and the U.S. have actively collaborated on international joint research in nuclear technology, particularly in its peaceful applications," Yun told Yonhap News Agency. "This designation could bring challenges to existing projects and future cooperation."

This photo, released by UPI, shows the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington. (Yonhap)

The professor also pointed out that researchers who previously engaged in academic and industrial exchanges without special approvals could face restrictions in the future, which could discourage interaction at personal and institutional levels.

Yun also cautioned that private-sector nuclear energy projects may experience setbacks, noting how South Korean firms, such as SK Group and Doosan Enerbility, have invested significantly in the U.S. nuclear sector. "The designation could pose challenges to South Korean companies pursuing investments and business opportunities in the U.S."

The professor speculated that the U.S. decision may have been influenced by recent discussions in South Korea's political circles calling for Seoul's nuclear armament.

"The government needs to clearly communicate its stance on nonproliferation to the U.S. and work on diplomatic solutions," he said.

Some experts believe that South Korea's SCL designation is not irreversible, suggesting that diplomatic dialogue and a stabilization of political rhetoric surrounding nuclear armament could lead to the country's removal from the DOE list.

Lee Jae-gi, professor emeritus of nuclear engineering at Hanyang University, noted that the DOE's designation is distinct from the official classifications of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), suggesting the situation remains fluid.

He assessed that U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Seoul to increase its share in the countries' bilateral defense cost-sharing deal may have contributed to the debate here over Seoul's nuclear armament, although Seoul's security concerns involving North Korea may have prompted such discussions in the first place.

"The shifting geopolitical landscape has led to increased debate on the issue," he said.

"If South Korea's domestic political situation stabilizes, there is a possibility that the country could be removed from the list."

This photo, provided by the science ministry on Nov. 22, 2024, shows a vacuum vessel sector manufactured by South Korea for the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) project. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

A senior nuclear energy industry official stressed it was "crucial" for South Korea to uphold transparency in nuclear nonproliferation and export controls.

"The designation is not ideal, but we will explore various solutions to address the challenges ahead," the industry official said, while requesting anonymity.

The official said the DOE designation may create challenges in nuclear energy cooperation between the allies. "We believe that reinforcing our credibility and commitment to nonproliferation will be key to overcoming them," he said.

An official at South Korea's state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) said the company was closely monitoring the impact of the DOE listing, while reaffirming its commitment to nonproliferation and ongoing cooperation with American partners.

"Being designated as a sensitive country is certainly not a favorable situation, and we need to explore various measures to navigate this challenge," a senior company official said. "From the perspective of KHNP and nuclear power plant operators, ensuring transparency in areas, such as nuclear nonproliferation and export controls, is of the utmost importance."

Beyond nuclear energy, various forms of cooperation between the two countries in advanced technologies could also face setbacks.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), for instance, has been collaborating with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a research center funded federally in California, since 2019 and is also engaged in next-generation secondary battery research in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Experts stressed that proactive diplomacy by South Korea could help prevent potential fallout from the listing.

"The South Korean government needs to communicate clearly with the U.S. to ensure that the designation does not lead to a breakdown in collaboration," Yun said.

Yun further emphasized that the potential weakening of ongoing nuclear cooperation would not only be a loss for South Korea but also for the U.S., which has benefited from strong industry and research ties with Seoul.

odissy@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chang Dong-woo · March 15, 2025

13. 'Brainwashed' North Korean POW: "It's natural to help our Russian ally"

Important work by RFA to obtain these views for broadcast back to the Korean people in the north.

As long as we have troops in South Korea and we are committed to the defense of the South, isn't it a good idea to conduct information preparation of the environment and influence the forces of the north Korean People's Army? (Yes I know the snarky response from the alliance haters and north Korean appeasers is that we should just withdraw our troops and not worry about what happens in Korea). Why would we want to eliminate RFA? What other information conduits can we use for the north besides RFA and VOA? Without RFA and OA we would not effectively exploit this information obtained from the north KOrean prisoners.

This is a Google translation of an RFA report.

'Brainwashed' North Korean POW: "It's natural to help our Russian ally"

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/14/north-korea-pow-captured-soldiers-ukraine/

WASHINGTON-Jamin Anderson andersonj@rfa.org

2025.03.14

On the 25th of last month, Rep. Yoo Yong-won (right) meets with Mr. Baek (left), a North Korean prisoner of war captured by the Ukrainian military. (Yonhap)

Anchor: We have been consistently reporting on the news of two North Korean prisoners of war captured by the Ukrainian military late last year. Recently, South Korean Rep. Yoo Yong-won met them in person and spoke with them. The prisoners were said to have been particularly influenced by strong ideological education and brainwashing, believing that it was natural to help their ally, Russia, and went into battle. We will report through a conversation between reporter Jamin Anderson and Rep. Yoo.

“Fight to help Russia”

Two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces in late December last year.

Rep. Yoo Yong-won, a South Korean military expert and member of the National Assembly Defense Committee, met with them in person at the end of February.

In an audio recording provided exclusively to RFA by Rep. Yoo, 20-year-old Lee describes what it was like to be forced to fight without consenting to the war.

[Mr. Baek] I didn't come for the money, but because I had a sense of duty, a sense of duty as a soldier, I was told to fight. I didn't need to know who the enemy was. Aren't Russia and our country allies? So I thought I came to help Russia because they were going through such hardships.

In a video interview released by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in January, they said, “We came without knowing we were going to war.”

However, Rep. Yoo assessed that Baek's testimony that he fought for Russia, an ally, is evidence that shows the North Korean authorities' strong ideological education and brainwashing were at work.

It has already been two months since they began living with the Ukrainian military in a prisoner-of-war facility.

Mr. Lee told Rep. Yoo that he had made up his mind to defect to South Korea.

[Mr. Lee] I really want to go to Korea. I really want to go there to meet my parents in the future.

Representative Yoo Yong-won (left) and North Korean prisoner of war Lee (right). (People Power Party Representative Yoo Yong-won’s office)

“I witnessed the suicide of a comrade”

During the battle, Lee was injured in the jaw and Baek was wounded in the leg.

Mr. Lee is recovering from surgery, but still has difficulty speaking.

[Mr. Lee] I got shot in the arm and my bone was broken. I couldn't move and my jaw was hit, and it went through my arm and hit my jaw. I lost a lot of blood and lost consciousness. When I woke up, it was already pitch dark, even though they said they attacked at dawn. So I tried to get up, but my head was dizzy... I threw away all the grenades and magazines and tried to go to the waiting area, but I got confused about my location. That's when I was captured. So I didn't have anything material to blow myself up with .

[Rep. Yoo] Have you heard a lot of talk about (other North Korean soldiers) committing suicide?

[Mr. Baek] I saw it with my own eyes.

According to Ukrainian military officials met by Rep. Yoo, the number of North Korean soldiers wounded so far confirmed to be around 3,000, while only two have been taken prisoner, which appears to be because many of the wounded took their own lives.

Such testimony suggests that North Korean soldiers may be forced to commit suicide rather than be captured in battle.

Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the ruling People Power Party in South Korea told RFA of his conversations with North Korean prisoners of war in a video interview on March 13, 2025. (RFA)

Why weren't the North Korean soldiers afraid?

The following is a Q&A with Rep. Yoo Yong-won.

[Reporter] The prisoners testified that they were dispatched without knowing that they were participating in the war. How did they feel at the time?

[Rep. Yoo] It doesn’t seem like they lost their will to fight after learning (about the war) late. Mr. Baek said, “I didn’t come here for money, and if I fight with a sense of duty as a soldier, I don’t need to know who the enemy is,” and added, “Russia and our country (North Korea) are allies, right? So I thought we should help Russia because they are having a hard time.”

[Reporter] So the troops were dispatched while ideological education was very good.

[Rep. Yoo] Yes, you could see it that way. A high-ranking Ukrainian special operations force official asked me very seriously, “There are many casualties in North Korea, so they should show fear or intimidation, but the North Korean military doesn’t show that kind of behavior. Why do you think that is?” In the end, I think it’s right to say that they have been subjected to constant consciousness-raising, brainwashing, and, as they say in South Korea, gaslighting, and eventually it has become an internalization.

[Reporter] What do those two people think about North Korea at the moment?

[Rep. Yoo] I asked if they had any regrets about the party or the North Korean regime, but they avoided mentioning that. Neither of them said anything negative. In that sense, it seems difficult to say that they have completely escaped brainwashing.

[Reporter] It has been two months since the prisoners were captured. What changes did you observe in their thoughts or attitudes during the interview?

[Rep. Yoo] Yes. In the case of Mr. Lee, when I interviewed him with a Korean daily newspaper, he said that he was 80% inclined to go to Korea, but when I met him, he said that he definitely wanted to go. I would say that his mind is almost 100% made up. In the case of Mr. Baek, it seems to be half and half. He said, “I think I’ll make up my mind to go,” so I asked, “Are you talking about going to Korea?” and he said, “I think I need to think about it some more.” So he hasn’t made up his mind yet. In the case of Mr. Lee, it’s hard to say that he’s completely free from brainwashing, but he seems to be thinking in a more forward-looking way. He also asked, “Will I be able to receive treatment if I go to Korea?” I think he thought that the level of medical care in Korea would be better than in North Korea.

North Korean POW: “I really want to go to South Korea”

Building model 'Ppaegok' at Goksan invasion terrain training ground

Ukraine: “4,000 North Korean Soldiers Casualties” Released in Capture Moment

Family photo from the body of a North Korean soldier deployed to Russia (Yonhap)

“If I go back to North Korea, my parents will no longer be there.”

[Rep. Yoo] He also seemed worried about his parents. He honestly said that he was a prisoner of war and that if he went to North Korea, his family and himself would be executed. Mr. Lee expressed such anxiety, saying, “My parents raised me like this until now, but now I’m a prisoner of war, and I’m sad. If I were to be exchanged for prisoners of war and go to North Korea, my parents would already be gone.” So he thought that his parents would likely be executed. He seemed worried, saying that he felt weak all day when he thought about that. Mr. Lee said that he really wanted to go to Korea, and that he wanted to go to Korea to see his parents. In the end, since he was a prisoner of war, he was taught that being a prisoner of war in North Korea means betraying the country, so he knew that if he was sent back to North Korea, he would be executed, and his parents would be executed or sent to the Aoji coal mine, which we often talk about, so it is presumed that he said such things. I also asked him if he could find a house and start a family if he went to Korea, and it seemed like Mr. Lee wanted to go to Korea, start a family, settle down, and then bring his parents from North Korea back.

[Reporter] Regarding the future course of the prisoners, in addition to going to Korea, there is also talk recently that the U.S. intelligence agency is contacting Ukraine to receive them into the U.S. What do you think?

[Rep. Yoo] Both the Ukrainian and Korean governments have expressed positive positions on the deportation of prisoners to Korea. In particular, Mr. Lee has clearly expressed his intention to go to Korea, so I think he should be brought to Korea first. Some people are concerned that since U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin are currently negotiating, the two countries may end up going to the U.S. or, in the worst case, to North Korea through so-called direct transactions. I understand that there has been no concrete movement yet. However, since I think that is possible, I think we should quickly bring back those who have expressed their intention to go to Korea.

Rep. Yoo: “North Korea-Russia coalition poses a real threat to South Korea”

[Reporter] North Korean soldiers are being deployed to modern warfare for the first time. What kind of skills are they learning?

[Rep. Yoo] One of the facts that was confirmed for the first time this time is that North Korea also testified that they used drone jammers to disrupt drones. Mr. Lee said that they shot an 'anti-electronic gun', and it seems that it was a device that disrupted drone signals and was supported by the Russian military. However, this worked well at first, but after a while, it stopped working, and the Ukrainian military came up with countermeasures, so it was useless. Through this process, the North Korean military is learning about drone warfare firsthand.

[Reporter] There are many casualties among North Korean soldiers, but there must be some who are returning alive. What kind of impact will the knowledge and technology gained, including this drone, have?

[Rep. Yoo] Last June, North Korea and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. This time, in Kursk, the two countries are often organized as a joint force and fight each other, so we will learn from the experience. Also, the North Korean military units that were deployed this time are largely divided into two types: the Storm Corps and the Reconnaissance General Bureau. These two units are elite units that infiltrate our rear areas in times of emergency, engage in guerrilla warfare, destroy key facilities, kidnap, and assassinate key figures. However, they have actual experience in advanced warfare, including drone warfare, and it is understood that 148 North Korean KN-23 and 24 missiles were provided to Russia. At first, the accuracy dropped to 2km and 3km, but recently, the accuracy has gradually improved to less than 200m. These are weapons literally aimed at South Korea. North Korean weapons are being improved through actual deployment. I would like to emphasize that North Korean military participation in the war cannot help but pose a real threat to South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet at the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 28 (local time). (Yonhap)

[Reporter] The U.S., Russia, and Ukraine are showing signs of discussing a ceasefire and peace negotiations. What do you think will happen to the North Korean military if a ceasefire is reached?

[Rep. Yoo] Isn't a ceasefire only possible if the other side responds? But Putin recently gave orders to go to Kursk in combat uniform and completely reclaim it. There is a possibility that the Russian military will increase the intensity of the battle, and the North Korean military will naturally participate more actively in the battle. Even if a ceasefire is reached, isn't it a temporary ceasefire? Therefore, the possibility that the North Korean military will withdraw in the short term is very low, and even if a ceasefire is reached, I think they will be waiting in the area near Kursk.

[Reporter] Thank you. This was Representative Yoo Yong-won of the People Power Party of Korea.

Editor Park Jeong-woo

14. East-West Center's inaugural presidential chair talks uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula

Listen to the 14 minute discussion at the link:

https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2025-03-12/east-west-centers-inaugural-presidential-chair-talks-uncertainty-on-the-korean-peninsula?utm

East-West Center's inaugural presidential chair talks uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Catherine Cruz

Published March 12, 2025 at 2:25 PM HST

Listen • 14:43

East-West Center

Jean Lee, the East-West Center's inaugural Presidential chair

It's been two months since South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted and arrested for insurrection after he declared martial law back in December. He was released over the weekend while awaiting a hearing on his impeachment. A decision is expected soon from South Korea’s Constitutional Court.

Journalist and policy analyst Jean Lee has been watching the events unfold. Her experience includes a stint as The Associated Press bureau chief for the Korean Peninsula and the opening of the AP's Pyongyang bureau in 2012. She also co-hosts the BBC podcast “Lazarus Heist," which looks into North Korean hackers.

Lee was named the inaugural presidential chair of the East-West Center this month. She sat down with The Conversation to talk about the recent crypto heist, which the FBI says the North Koreans were behind. We started with the latest on the uncertainty around the South Korean president.

From left to right: HPR's Catherine Cruz with Jean Lee.

This interview aired on The Conversation on March 12, 2025. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m.

Ahead of South Korea’s Impeachment Verdict, Partisan Division Is Worsening

thediplomat.com · by Kayla Orta

Even after South Korea’s Constitution Court delivers its verdict, the country’s fierce and fractured partisan divide is likely to rage on both within and outside of the government.

March 12, 2025

Protesters outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, demand the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol as voting occurred on Dec. 7, 2024.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Hashflu

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Months after South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law in early December 2024, the country is still rocked by the aftershocks of political turmoil and intensifying partisan division.

Even with last Friday’s announcement by the Seoul Central District Court to release Yoon from prison – likely mere days ahead of the Constitutional Court’s upcoming verdict on impeachment – the long-term risks of national political divides and entrenched partisanship are starker than ever.

Aftermath of Yoon’s Call for Martial Law

Last December, 11 days after South Korea’s legislature, the National Assembly, voted to lift martial law, legislators passed an impeachment vote of 204-85, suspending Yoon’s presidential power. It was not shocking to most, given the severity of Yoon’s sudden utilization of martial law in what was perceived by many as a draconian overreach of his presidential powers.

Next, in a rapid, unprecedented series of historical events, South Korea witnessed the transition of three heads of state in just three weeks. On December 27, the opposition-led legislative, headed by the Democratic Party (DP), voted along party lines with a simple majority of 192-0 to impeach then-acting president Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. As a result, South Korea’s Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok now holds the power of acting president. For the first time in South Korea’s democratic history, presidential authority resides beyond the traditional president-prime minister nexus.

The country is still feeling the effects of December’s “constitutional crisis,” even months later. Despite South Korea receiving international praise for upholding its democratic institutions and values, domestically the politic landscape paints a different picture: partisan tensions are on the rise within and outside the government. With the Constitutional Court’s verdict likely to be announced as soon as Friday – and snap presidential elections to follow should the impeachment hold – many are uneasy about the long-term impact on the future of South Korea’s domestic policy and international relations.

South Korea’s Rising Polarization

South Korea is facing increasing political polarization, marked by growing animosity between the ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) and the opposition DP.

This divide intensified following Yoon’s narrow election victory in 2022 – Yoon won by less than a percentage point over DP candidate Lee Jae-myung. During the 2024 National Assembly elections, the PPP hope to gain majority control of the legislature. Instead, the party ceded seats to the opposition.

Since then, South Korea’s divided government experienced a growing impasse between Yoon’s PPP-driven policy agenda and the DP-led National Assembly. The ensuing government gridlock stifled domestic decision-making, hindering policymaking and effective governance.

A semi-parliamentary presidential government, South Korea’s political system features multiparty presidential and unicameral legislative elections – and to a limited extent post-election coalition-building within the legislative branch.

Effectively, however, domestic politics falls along a two-party political spectrum, delineated chiefly by the right-leaning PPP and left-leaning DP. Given the potential for divided government, consensus-building and bipartisan collaboration between the presidential and legislative branch is key for well-functioning governance.

Yoon’s declaration of martial law – an act not witnessed in South Korea for nearly 40 years – sparked domestic fear, frustration, and protests, inciting fierce and fraught political narratives across the nation. Building upon pre-existing tensions, political leadership and public opinion is now further divided.

Impeachment by Varied Means

After Yoon’s imposition of martial law, South Korea’s legislative, government, and law enforcement institutions alike sought differing, overlapping routes toward re-establishing constitutional order and laying the groundwork for presidential accountability.

As detailed by Article 65 of the South Korean Constitution, the National Assembly maintained the rights to pass a motion for presidential impeachment with supermajority (two-thirds) approval. Following the National Assembly’s successful motion to impeach Yoon on December 14, 2024, the Constitutional Court’s review to adjudicate the motion is underway.

In addition to the formal impeachment review, South Korea’s anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies moved forward under Article 84, which denotes that a seated president can only be charged with two crimes while in office: insurrection or treason. Interestingly, this dual-pronged strategy represents a new chapter in South Korea’s constitutional history.

In the past 20 years, South Korea has had two previous impeachment cases, that of former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye. Roh’s impeached was dismissed, while Park’s was upheld by the Constitutional Court. Neither leader, however, experienced simultaneous injunctions by law enforcement during their impeachment review periods. Prosecutors waited until the weeks after the court’s impeachment verdict to indict and later charge Park. However, today’s political situation tells a different story.

Yoon’s initial refusal to comply with questioning may have instigated stronger measures, driving a joint effort by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), the Defense Ministry, and the police to obtain a search and arrest warrant against Yoon. With Yoon’s detention in January, many in South Korea – mainly PPP-led voices – called for appropriate due course of law in the proceeding criminal and impeachment trials.

Amid the ongoing political crisis, enacting justice is important, but showing non-partial, effective judicial proceedings is also paramount. The implications of Yoon’s arrest, prior to the Constitutional Courts ruling, opened the doors to wide-spreading narratives of biased judicial procedures, weakening the legitimacy of South Korea’s legal impeachment procedures. Setting such a precedent would be highly risky in the nation’s rising partisan environment.

Risks and Implications of Hyper-Partisanship

Whether the Constitutional Court decides to dismiss or uphold impeachment, the political landscape in South Korea will likely remain partisan. As each side of the political spectrum leans into extreme narratives either pro- or anti-Yoon – as also seen during and after the 2016 Park Geun-hye impeachment – there is a risk of middle-ground policies and voices being left behind.

Under long-term political crises, rising partisan division could undermine citizens’ belief in fair, legitimate policymaking, ultimately, leading to the erosion of domestic faith in democracy. Clearly, South Korea’s democratic institutions remain strong, despite recent upheavals. The shift, however, toward extreme partisan views, coupled with an inability for inter-party compromise, runs the risk of further alienating middle-leaning political voices.

If Yoon’s impeachment is upheld, South Korea’s Constitution requires a snap presidential election to be held within 60 days. South Korea’s political division is likely to deepen as candidates rush to the campaign field, leveraging political narratives without regard for bipartisanship. In this hyper-partisan environment, the prospects for short- or long-term bipartisan cooperation appear increasingly bleak.

Furthermore, within such partisan environments, issues do not stay rooted in the domestic policy space but, rather, are likely to affect South Korea’s foreign relations as political divides take shape in foreign policy rollbacks and revisions. Sharp political division between parties can lead to political instability and poor policy enactment during administration transitions.

Prospects for South Korea-U.S. Relations

The outcome of the Constitutional Court impending decision is yet unknown. Should the presidential office face its next potential pendulum swing between political parties, there is a possibility for stark change in South Korea’s recent foreign policy stance toward regional and global affairs.

No matter which party holds office, a strong domestic consensus forms the basis for foreign policy cohesion. If South Korea seeks to strengthen its role on the global stage, domestic unity and political stability will be critical for policy effectiveness and international credibility.

Moreover, with the Trump administration’s repositioning of U.S. global and domestic interests, where exactly South Korea fits in U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region remains a relative question mark. There are reasons for both confidence and apprehension. Either way, South Korea will need a strong, domestic foundation to move forward domestically and on the international stage.

Unfortunately, the current trajectory suggests continued partisan conflict is likely, potentially undermining national cohesion and governance in the years to come.

Authors

Contributing Author

Kayla Orta

Kayla Orta is the Senior Associate of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy at the Wilson Center.

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thediplomat.com · by Kayla Orta

16. G7 Foreign Ministers: “North Korea Must Dismantle Nuclear and Ballistic Missiles... Condemn North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation”

The G7 ministers are keeping their eye on the ball in north Korea. Perhaps some day we can convince them to focus on the "Korea question" too.

This is a Google translation of a VOA report.

G7 Foreign Ministers: “North Korea Must Dismantle Nuclear and Ballistic Missiles... Condemn North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation”

voakorea.com · by Ham Ji-ha · March 15, 2025

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7), including the United States, have called on North Korea to dismantle all of its weapons programs, including its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. They have also repeatedly condemned military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Reporter Ham Ji-ha reports.

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on the 14th to stop North Korea's weapons development and military aid to Russia.

G7 Joint Statement: “North Korea Must Give Up All Weapons Programs”

“The G7 members call on North Korea to abandon all of its nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as its ballistic missile programs, in compliance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the ministers said in a joint statement following the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Charlevoix, Canada, on Tuesday.

[공동성명] “G7 members demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction as well as ballistic missile programs in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. They expressed their serious concerns over and the need to address together the DPRK’s cryptocurrency thefts. They called on DPRK to resolve the abductions issue immediately.”

The ministers also stressed that “they expressed grave concerns about North Korea’s theft of cryptocurrency and the need to address it, and urged North Korea to immediately address the abduction issue.”

“We also urge North Korea to stop providing military support to Russia”

He also criticized military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

“The G7 ministers condemned the military support provided to Russia by North Korea and Iran, as well as the provision of weapons and dual-use components by China, a crucial enabler of Russia’s war effort and the rebuilding of its military,” the statement said.

[공동성명] “G7 members condemned the provision to Russia of military assistance by DPRK and Iran, and the provision of weapons and dual-use components by China, a decisive enabler of Russia’s war and of the reconstitution of Russia’s armed forces. They reiterated their intention to continue to take action against such third countries.”

He added, “The ministers also reiterated their intention to continue taking action against these three countries.”

This joint statement by the G7 foreign ministers maintained the same principles regarding North Korea.

However, the phrase “CVID,” or “complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization,” which appeared in the past, was not included in the statement. It is also noteworthy that the issue of North Korea sending troops to Russia was not included in this statement.

“Ukraine War: Any End to the War Must Be Respected”

Meanwhile, the G7 ministers stated that day, “We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in its efforts to protect its territorial integrity, right to life, freedom, sovereignty and independence.”

“The ministers also stressed that any ceasefire must be respected and that Ukraine needs strong and credible security measures to deter and defend against new acts of aggression,” the statement said.

The ministers stressed that they will continue to coordinate economic and humanitarian assistance to accelerate Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, including at the upcoming Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Rome, Italy, in July.

This is Ham Ji-ha from VOA News.

voakorea.com · by Ham Ji-ha · March 15, 2025

17. Massive rallies for, against Yoon's ouster held in Seoul ahead of impeachment ruling

It seems there were more who support Yoon and were against impeachment than who oppose Yoon and are prop impeachment.

Excerpts:

Tens of thousands of supporters and protesters gathered in central Seoul, Saturday, either opposing or demanding the ouster of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling.

...

The rally was followed by another mass protest in the nearby Gwanghwamun area, joined by opposition lawmakers, including more than 100 from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), marching from the National Assembly.

...

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the country's biggest umbrella labor union, also held a protest rally in central Seoul, with police estimating that nearly 20,000 people participated in the rallies against Yoon.

In Gwanghwamun, an estimated 35,000 people gathered, waving the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes, and chanting for Yoon's "immediate reinstatement" and the dissolution of the National Assembly.

...

Save Korea, a conservative Christian civic group, held a separate prayer rally near the National Assembly in western Seoul, attended by around 3,500 people, who sang hymns and called for the cancellation of Yoon's impeachment.

Massive rallies for, against Yoon's ouster held in Seoul ahead of impeachment ruling

The Korea Times · March 15, 2025

Rallies against President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and for Yoon underway in Seoul, March 15. Yonhap

Tens of thousands of supporters and protesters gathered in central Seoul, Saturday, either opposing or demanding the ouster of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling.

Candle Move, an anti-Yoon civic group, hosted rallies near the Constitutional Court in central Seoul, possibly for the last weekend before the court's impeachment ruling on Yoon.

The court is currently deliberating whether to reinstate or remove Yoon from office after he was impeached over his short-lived martial law declaration, Dec. 3. It has yet to announce the date of the ruling, though many expect it to take place next week.

"Some argue that if Yoon is lucky, he could be reinstated and act recklessly, but it would be futile," Kim Min-woong, a leader of the civic group, said during the rally. "To anyone's eye, Yoon's ouster is obvious."

The rally was followed by another mass protest in the nearby Gwanghwamun area, joined by opposition lawmakers, including more than 100 from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), marching from the National Assembly.

DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae claimed the Constitutional Court may oust Yoon with a unanimous decision, saying that reinstating Yoon would be a "shortcut" to dictatorship and a path toward a "boiling hell."

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the country's biggest umbrella labor union, also held a protest rally in central Seoul, with police estimating that nearly 20,000 people participated in the rallies against Yoon.

In Gwanghwamun, an estimated 35,000 people gathered, waving the Taegeukgi and the Stars and Stripes, and chanting for Yoon's "immediate reinstatement" and the dissolution of the National Assembly.

A rally host read aloud a letter from former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was indicted over the martial law turmoil, quoting him as demanding to "thoroughly reveal the crimes of the evil forces and punish them in the name of the people."

Some of Yoon's supporters staged a protest in front of the Constitutional Court, briefly clashing with opponents.

Save Korea, a conservative Christian civic group, held a separate prayer rally near the National Assembly in western Seoul, attended by around 3,500 people, who sang hymns and called for the cancellation of Yoon's impeachment.

Around 3,600 police personnel were mobilized across central Seoul, with walls of police buses lining the streets to prevent violence.

A notice at Anguk subway station, the nearest station to the Constitutional Court, said it will be closed from the day of the impeachment ruling until the situation stabilizes. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · March 15, 2025

18. The parallel in Ukraine isn’t to World War II — it’s to Korea

It is amazing how relevant Korean War history remains. Perhaps it is no longer the "Forgotten War."

The parallel in Ukraine isn’t to World War II — it’s to Korea

by Patrick McCormack, opinion contributor - 03/13/25 3:30 PM ET

https://thehill.com/opinion/5192044-ukraine-peace-lessons/?utm_source

A worker shovels snow near a monument in remembrance of the Korean War at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The Russian invasion of Ukraine reveals that World War II still looms large in our American imagination.

A “good war” if ever there was one, many commentators compare that civilizational crusade against Nazi terror to the defense of Ukraine. They see Russian President Vladimir Putin as the second coming of Adolf Hitler and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as another Winston Churchill.

Yet American history offers a far better parallel to the situation in Ukraine — the Korean War.

Sometimes called “The Forgotten War,” the conflict in Korea began 75 years ago this June. Much like Ukraine, South Korea was invaded without provocation by its better-armed neighbor with the excuse of reuniting a nation. The South Korean government, an imperfect democracy, received support from all over the free world but mainly from the U.S.

North Korea, a dictatorship, primarily depended upon the support of Communist China. After dramatic developments in the first few months of the war, the fighting settled into a stalemate that saw enormous losses as both sides poured soldiers into what was called “the meat-grinder.” Ultimately, more than 36,000 Americans died to contain communism and keep Korea free.

Some Americans favored breaking that impasse and dramatically escalating the conflict, but President Harry Truman sensed it could spiral into World War III and limited our options. After three years of fighting, newly inaugurated President Dwight Eisenhower — the heroic retired general who knew the true costs of war — was finally able to secure a cease-fire in which both sides essentially agreed to keep the territory they occupied and establish a demilitarized zone between them.

No one accused Eisenhower of cozying up to North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung for accepting the cease fire.

Supporters of President Trump’s peace plans for Ukraine can argue that he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors by seeking to avoid direct conflict with a nuclear superpower. Trump, like Truman and Eisenhower, accepts the practical limits of what kind of peace he can secure. His opponents do not seem to offer alternatives other than continued stalemate or reckless escalation.

Americans have been and remain skeptical about putting boots on the ground, sacrificing their own sons and daughters to liberate every last inch of Ukrainian territory. Instead, they appreciate that a cease-fire will give Ukraine a chance to begin recovering. American investments in Ukraine, such as those promised in Trump’s proposed mineral-rights deal, could even lead Ukraine to South Korean-like levels of prosperity.

Trump’s critics may argue that the recovery of South Korea could only occur under its American security guarantee — a key Zelensky demand. Perhaps they forget that the 1953 Mutual Defense Pact with South Korea was only ratified months after the cease-fire that ended the actual fighting. Perhaps they also overlook that, in 1953, only the U.S. had the military ability to protect South Korea, whereas today there are very capable European countries up to that task.

Those seeking to deploy American troops as peacekeepers in Ukraine, to deter future Russian aggression, must do more to convince skeptics of such a necessity.

The Korean War brought about a new era of permanent military mobilization in the U.S. Our servicemen and women stand ready to defend our nation’s interests at any hour, anywhere in the world, and they deserve our gratitude. Yet as he left office years later, President Eisenhower cautioned us against what he called the grave implications of that condition.

He foresaw the possibility that a military-industrial complex could wield unwarranted influence over our government, perhaps pushing us into unnecessary and disastrous conflicts. Those clamoring for more aid for Ukraine must assure skeptics that they accept the limits of American interests there.

Seventy-five years after the first shots were fired across their border, North and South Korea have yet to sign a formal peace treaty. Hostility between Russia and Ukraine may last even longer, but an end to the fighting now seems like an essential step toward achieving that goal.

The Korean War, not World War II, should be Ukraine’s template for ending this tragedy.

Patrick McCormack is a veteran of the Army National Guard and a teacher of modern American history. He comments on military and international affairs

19. Multiple Russian warplanes briefly enter Korea's air defense zone during training: JCS

Multiple Russian warplanes briefly enter Korea's air defense zone during training: JCS

The Korea Times · March 15, 2025

A Russian warplane flies over the Hmeimim air base, in Latakia, Syria, March 13. Reuters-Yonhap

Multiple Russian warplanes entered Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) in the East Sea, Saturday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, prompting the South to send up fighter jets in response.

The Russian military planes consecutively entered the KADIZ at around 9:20 a.m. before exiting to the eastern and northern areas of the air defense zone, the JCS said in a notice.

They did not violate Korea's airspace, it added.

The JCS said it had detected the Russian aircraft before their entry into the KADIZ and dispatched Air Force jets to the scene to respond to the situation.

The entry was found to have occurred during training, the military said, adding they did not have an intention to violate airspace.

The air defense zone is not territorial airspace but is delineated to call on foreign planes to identify themselves so as to prevent accidental clashes. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · March 15, 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

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

If you do not read anything else in the 2017 National Security Strategy read this on page 14:

"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 NSS HERE

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East-West Center's inaugural presidential chair talks uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula

Ahead of South Korea’s Impeachment Verdict, Partisan Division Is Worsening

G7 Foreign Ministers: “North Korea Must Dismantle Nuclear and Ballistic Missiles... Condemn North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation”

Massive rallies for, against Yoon's ouster held in Seoul ahead of impeachment ruling

The parallel in Ukraine isn’t to World War II — it’s to Korea

Multiple Russian warplanes briefly enter Korea's air defense zone during training: JCS

8 North Korean Ships Sunk in the Past 10 Years… 2 Dead, 9 Missing