|
Quotes of the Day:
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.”
– Elie Wiesel, Nobel Acceptance Speech, December 10, 1986
“In everything, power lies with those who control finance, not with those who know the matter upon which the money is to be spent. Thus the holders of power are, in general, ignorant and malevolent, and the less they exercise their power the better.”
~Bertrand Russell, Sceptical Essays, 1928
“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr. (Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963)
1. South Korean military suspends loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea
2. Lee orders suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward N. Korea: Seoul presidential office
3. The New South Korean President And His Immediate Challenges
4. New rotational U.S. Stryker unit arrives in S. Korea
5. N. Korean leader Kim sends message congratulating Putin on Russia Day
6. Passenger train service between Pyongyang, Moscow to resume next week
7. South Korean F-16 pilots eject safely during takeoff crash at US base in Alaska
8. Chinese national in U.S. pleads guilty to shipping arms to North Korea
9. S. Korea, France express concerns over N. Korean threats in military talks
10. Japanese PM likely to attend S. Korean Embassy event marking 60th anniv. of diplomatic ties
11. S. Korean, U.S. troops conduct deployable bridge drills
12. Hanwha clears U.S. regulatory hurdle in bid for Austal stake
13. Lee eyes new presidential office at Cheong Wa Dae
14. Lee’s calls signal balanced approach to U.S., China, Japan
15. Lee emphasizes loyalty, problem-solving in key appointments
16. Lee taps next-gen officials for foreign policy team ahead of G7 trip
17. Road to Yeoncheon lined with love as BTS’ Jimin, Jungkook are discharged
18. North Korean spy drama in China may signal Beijing’s unease over growing Pyongyang-Moscow ties
1. South Korean military suspends loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea
Disappointing.
I urge those interesting in information in north Korea and especially within the north Korean People's Army to read Geroge Hutchinson's report at the Committee for Human RIghts in north Korea
George Hutchinson’s The Suryong, the Soldier, and Information in the KPA is the second of three building blocks of a multi-year HRNK project to examine North Korea’s information environment. Hutchinson’s thoroughly researched and sourced report addresses the circulation of information within the Korean People’s Army (KPA). Understanding how KPA soldiers receive their information is needed to prepare information campaigns while taking into account all possible contingencies. The report examines official propaganda and indoctrination delivered to North Korean soldiers, all along the chain of control and command. Hutchinson provides the information, analysis and recommendations needed to inform KPA soldiers on the real situation outside North Korea, the human rights violations affecting them, and the corruption of their leadership.
Download the 116 page report here: https://www.hrnk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Hutchinson_KPA_web_0426.pdf
We need a sophisticated psychological warfare campaign if we want to deter war and prevent attacks on the South and on the Korean people in the north:
"A Psychological Operations Strategy for the Korean Peninsula from Lessons Learned in Ukraine"
Two fundamental primary objectives should drive this PSYOP campaign during the Armistice:
1. Deter KPA soldiers from following orders to attack South Korea
2. Encourage KPA forces to refuse orders suppressing domestic political resistance
https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/a-psychological-operations-strategy-for-the-korean-peninsula-from-lessons-learned-in-ukraine/
South Korean military suspends loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea
11 Jun 2025 04:44PM
(Updated: 11 Jun 2025 04:47PM)
channelnewsasia.com
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
SEOUL: South Korea on Wednesday (Jun 11) halted loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts into the nuclear-armed North, the defence ministry said, adding it was a bid to "restore trust" under Seoul's new administration.
The decision to suspend the broadcasts was "to make good on a promise to restore trust in South-North Korea relations and seek peace on the Korean peninsula", the defence ministry said in a brief statement.
A ministry spokesperson told AFP the broadcasts were halted on Wednesday afternoon.
Ties between the two Koreas deteriorated under the hardline administration of hawkish ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol.
But Yoon was impeached and stripped of office earlier this year over an abortive martial law declaration. After winning last week's snap poll, Seoul's new President Lee Jae-myung pledged to improve ties with Pyongyang.
The loudspeakers were turned on in the demilitarised zone that divides the two Koreas in June last year in response to a barrage of trash-filled balloons flown southward by Pyongyang.
The North claimed the balloons were a response to activists floating similar missives filled with anti-Kim Jong Un propaganda and US dollar bills northwards.
The two Koreas technically remain at war because the 1950 to 1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
The anti-North Korea broadcasts infuriate Pyongyang, which has previously threatened artillery strikes against Seoul's loudspeaker units.
South Korea's resumption of its broadcasts last year was the first time the tactic had been used in six years.
They typically consist of blaring K-pop songs and news reports into the North.
NO CHANGE FROM NORTH
In response, North Korea turned on its own propaganda broadcasts, sending strange and unsettling noises into the South at all hours, prompting complaints from border residents.
On Ganghwa island, which is very close to the North, villager Ahn Hyo-cheol told AFP that the North Korean noises had "not subsided at all" by Wednesday afternoon.
"While I don't have high hopes for how North Korea might change, I think the government's decision to halt loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North is the right move," he said.
"It's something we've been consistently calling for."
Lee, who took office the day after last week's election, has vowed to improve ties with the North through dialogue.
"No matter how costly, peace is better than war," he said after he was elected.
North Korea has not commented on Lee's election except for a brief news report informing its public of his win.
Lee comes to power with his party already holding a parliamentary majority, secure for the next three years, meaning he is likely to be able to get his legislative agenda done.
Source: AFP/rl
Newsletter
2. Lee orders suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward N. Korea: Seoul presidential office
Again, very disappointing.
(LEAD) Lee orders suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward N. Korea: Seoul presidential office | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 11, 2025
(ATTN: ADDS details, background from 5th para, byline)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae-myung ordered the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea along the border areas, a move aimed at easing tensions and rebuilding trust, the presidential office said Wednesday.
Hours earlier, the military said it halted the anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts. The suspension came a year after the military had resumed such propaganda broadcasts in June last year in response to North Korea's repeated launch of trash-carrying balloons across the heavily fortified border.
"The president instructed military authorities to suspend the loudspeaker broadcasts installed in the front-line areas toward North Korea at 2 p.m. today," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters.
"This measure reflects the government's commitment to restoring trust in inter-Korean relations and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula," she said.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, on June 11, 2025. (Yonhap)
Suspending the loudspeaker broadcasts was one of Lee's campaign pledges regarding inter-Korean affairs before winning the June 3 election. As a presidential candidate, Lee had also vowed to stop sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
As president, Lee has said he will seek to improve ties with the North, despite the strained relations after Pyongyang severed its ties with the South and declared Seoul as its primary enemy.
"It is aimed at easing tensions, given the absence of any major provocations by the North recently," Kang said. "It is meant to reduce military confrontation between the two Koreas and open the door to rebuilding mutual trust."
Kang also called the decision a "practical step" to alleviate the suffering of residents in the border areas who have been affected by the noise.
Under the preceding Yoon Suk Yeol government, the military had resumed blasting the loudspeakers for the first time in six years, as it pushed for its hard-line stance toward the North.
In a departure from the Yoon government's approach, the unification ministry, in charge of inter-Korean affairs, expressed regret earlier this week over anti-Pyongyang leafleting by a group of abductee families, citing the need to build peace and ensure public safety.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 11, 2025
3. The New South Korean President And His Immediate Challenges
Excerpts:
At present, the new South Korean President seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place. While the US is South Korea’s primary security partner, China is its primary economic partner and therein lies the challenge. Now that Lee Jae-myung is in the hot seat, he would also need to hurry to negotiate a trade deal with the US, but given the fact that the US Administration is tied up in a host of issues on the global front, South Korea may not exactly be priority for the Trump Administration. With regards to its neighbor Japan(another US ally),the new President will have to work out a concerned response, keeping in mind the o verall security situation in mind.
Hence, how he manages the first few months, may well decide the outcome of his Presidency.
The New South Korean President And His Immediate Challenges – OpEd
eurasiareview.com · by Rupakjyoti Borah · June 9, 2025
The election of Lee Jae-myung as the new President of South Korea brings to an end an era of uncertainty in the country starting from the time when the former President Yoon Suk Yeol, tried to impose martial law last year. That quickly backfired and finally led to his impeachment, which has necessitated these elections.
However, Lee Jae-myung will not have any luxury when it comes to running the affairs of the country.
For one, the economy is not doing too well. This means that Lee will quickly have to ramp it up. Then, there are the tensions with the US Administration under Trump. During his earlier term, Trump wanted Seoul to pay more for the security provided by the presence of US troops in the country. However, the new South Korean President wants to improve ties with China and wants to stay out of any conflict between China and Taiwan, and this may not exactly be music to Trump’s ears.
In addition, during his earlier term (Jan 2017-Jan 2021), Trump has inched closer to the North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un and this time too, Trump could seek to reach out to the North Korean leader, to the detriment of the South.
There is already a lot of domestic turmoil in the country and President Lee will have to manage both the domestic front and the external front and this will not be easy.
The US has already slapped 25% tariffs on South Korea, which have hit its major industries like steel and automobiles hard and although they have been paused for a while, there is no guarantee that President Trump will rescind the same.
At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been repeatedly saying that Taiwan is a part of China and in case hostilities break out, Trump may just decide to pull US forces out from the Korean peninsula and that will be a very difficult position for the new South President to be. In addition, North Korea has provided unconditional support to Russia in its fight against Ukraine and has sent soldiers to bolster Russian defences. In return, Russia has promised to defend North Korea. Then there is also the danger that South Korea could be caught up in a US-China trade war.
There are approximately 28,500 US troops stationed in the South and the US guarantees South Korea’s security. In case, the US were to draw down its security commitment to the South, Seoul could be in deep trouble. Pyoygyang has grown more powerful in the times since the time of the first Trump regime and in case Washington were to cut a deal with Pyongyang on its nuclear weapons, that could create a lot of problems for the South.
At present, the new South Korean President seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place. While the US is South Korea’s primary security partner, China is its primary economic partner and therein lies the challenge. Now that Lee Jae-myung is in the hot seat, he would also need to hurry to negotiate a trade deal with the US, but given the fact that the US Administration is tied up in a host of issues on the global front, South Korea may not exactly be priority for the Trump Administration. With regards to its neighbor Japan(another US ally),the new President will have to work out a concerned response, keeping in mind the o verall security situation in mind.
Hence, how he manages the first few months, may well decide the outcome of his Presidency.
Rupakjyoti Borah
Dr. Rupakjyoti Borah is a Senior Research Fellow with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, Tokyo. The views expressed here are personal.
eurasiareview.com · by Rupakjyoti Borah · June 9, 2025
4. New rotational U.S. Stryker unit arrives in S. Korea
Strategic reassurance. Strategic resolve.
As an aside, please tell me how a Stryker BCT would contribute to the defense of Taiwan?
New rotational U.S. Stryker unit arrives in S. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · June 11, 2025
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- A new U.S. rotational force employing the Stryker fighting vehicle has started to arrive in South Korea, the U.S. Army stationed in the country said Wednesday, amid speculation about a possible reduction in U.S. troop levels.
Soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division began arriving in late May, while their combat equipment started to arrive in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, early this month, as part of a regular rotation, according to the U.S. Eighth Army.
"Our presence in Korea is a clear demonstration of U.S. resolve, and the Raider Brigade is honored to enhance our long-standing alliance," Col. J. Clint Tisserand, commander of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, said in a release.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the Pentagon is considering withdrawing about 4,500 troops of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), raising speculation that it could target a brigade-level unit.
While the Pentagon has dismissed the report, a senior U.S. official last month pointed out the need to "calibrate" U.S. force posture on the Korean Peninsula to deter China, leaving open the possibility of an adjustment to the USFK troop level.
This photo, provided by the U.S. 8th Army on June 11, 2025, shows U.S. troops of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team under the 4th Infantry Division arriving at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 30. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · June 11, 2025
5. N. Korean leader Kim sends message congratulating Putin on Russia Day
The bear and the hermit kingdom are closer than ever.
N. Korean leader Kim sends message congratulating Putin on Russia Day | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 11, 2025
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on Russia Day, the North's state media reported Wednesday.
North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol "respectfully" conveyed Kim's message to the relevant official at the Russian foreign ministry, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
Russia Day, which falls in June 12, is a national holiday that marks the 1990 adoption by the Russian parliament of the declaration of state sovereignty of the present-day Russian Federation.
Details of Kim's letter were not disclosed, but the message likely reaffirmed the North's commitment to advancing their bilateral relations based on the treaty signed by the two leaders in June last year.
In his previous message to Putin on Russia Day last year, Kim called their bilateral ties "a strategic asset" for both countries, reaffirming the North's steadfast commitment to advancing the relationship "in line with the demands of the new era."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) sits next to Russian President Vladimir Putin in an Aurus Senat limousine that the latter gifted to him while driving on the grounds of the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024, in this file photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 11, 2025
6. Passenger train service between Pyongyang, Moscow to resume next week
Have to get those laborers from north Korea to work in Russia. And may be useful for moving troops as well.
(LEAD) Passenger train service between Pyongyang, Moscow to resume next week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · June 10, 2025
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout)
By Kim Soo-yeon
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- A passenger train service linking the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and Moscow will resume its operation next week after years of suspension over the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's state-run railway operator has said.
A railway service directly connecting the capitals of North Korea and Russia will start its operation June 17 under an agreement with North Korea's railway authorities, the Russian Railways said on its Telegram account Monday.
The resumption came as Russia's passenger rail services connecting to North Korea were suspended in February 2020 over COVID-19.
The Moscow-Pyongyang train service will be in operation twice per month on the route spanning more than 10,000 kilometers, and the travel will take eight days.
The Russian railway operator called it "the longest direct railway route in the world."
A train bound for Moscow will depart from Pyongyang on the 3rd and 17th of every month, while a service heading to Pyongyang will leave from Moscow on the 12th and 26th of each month.
The train will stop at stations in Russian cities, including Khasan, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk and Kostroma.
Another train service linking Pyongyang and Russia's Khabarovsk, a city near Russia's border with North Korea, will also start its once-per-month operation June 19.
This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on May 29, 2025, shows North Korea's Tumen River Station, whose renovation the North completed the previous day. The railway station links North Korea to Russia across the Tumen River. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The move came as North Korea and Russia have been bolstering their cooperation in various fields, including the military and economy, since the signing of a mutual defense treaty in June last year.
Late last year, passenger rail services resumed linking the North's Tumen River Station and Russia's Khasan Station in the border area.
In May, the two nations launched the construction of a road bridge across the Tumen River amid deepening bilateral ties, a project expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · June 10, 2025
7. South Korean F-16 pilots eject safely during takeoff crash at US base in Alaska
Fortunately they survived with only minor injuries.
The good news is that this indicates advanced training by the ROK Air Force outside of the KTO.
Excerpt:
The South Korean pilots have been training alongside U.S. forces in Alaska as part of ongoing joint Red Flag military exercises.
South Korean F-16 pilots eject safely during takeoff crash at US base in Alaska
Stars and Stripes · by Yoojin Lee · June 11, 2025
ByYoojin Lee
Stars and Stripes •
A South Korean air force F-16D Fighting Falcon takes part in a training exercise on Oct. 8, 2019. (Matthew Seefeldt/U.S. Air Force)
Two South Korean pilots suffered minor burns and lacerations while ejecting from a fighter jet that crashed during a takeoff attempt in Alaska, according to the country’s air force.
The incident, which involved an F-16D Fighting Falcon, occurred around 4 p.m. Tuesday at Eielson Air Force Base, the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson said in a statement that afternoon.
“The crashed aircraft, partially destroyed by fire, is located on the grass next to the runway,” a South Korean air force statement said.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after the incident, according to the U.S. statement. The crew members were taken to Bassett Army Community Hospital at nearby Fort Wainwright.
The pilots — both captains — “are currently resting,” the South Korean statement said.
South Korea planned to send accident investigators and an emergency repair team to Eielson on Wednesday, the statement added.
“The air force will closely discuss with the U.S. and find the exact cause of the accident,” it said.
The South Korean pilots have been training alongside U.S. forces in Alaska as part of ongoing joint Red Flag military exercises.
Yoojin Lee
Yoojin Lee
Yoojin Lee is a correspondent and translator based at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. She graduated from Korea University, where she majored in Global Sports Studies.
8. Chinese national in U.S. pleads guilty to shipping arms to North Korea
Business is business? Not with north Korea.
Excerpts:
In September 2024, Wen allegedly purchased approximately 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that he intended to ship to North Korea. He also obtained sensitive technology, including "a chemical threat identification device and a handheld broadband receiver that detects known, unknown, illegal, disruptive or interfering transmissions," the press release said.
Wen met government officials at a North Korean embassy in China, where he was instructed to procure the weapons and sensitive items, according to his plea agreement. He then entered the United States in 2012 on a student visa and remained after it expired in December 2013.
World News June 10, 2025 / 6:11 AM
Chinese national in U.S. pleads guilty to shipping arms to North Korea
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/06/10/China-Shengua-Wen-shipping-weapons-North-Korea-guilty-plea-DOJ/3651749545360/
By Thomas Maresca
A Chinese national pleaded guilty to shipping weapons, ammunition and other sensitive items to North Korea from the United States, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
SEOUL, June 10 (UPI) -- A Chinese citizen living in the United States pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for illegally exporting firearms, ammunition and other military items to North Korea, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Shengua Wen, 42, acted under the instructions of North Korean government officials and was paid approximately $2 million for his efforts, the department said in a press release Monday.
Wen, who was living in Ontario, Calif., without permanent legal status, concealed the goods inside shipping containers that departed from the Port of Long Beach, prosecutors said.
According to the plea agreement, Wen admitted to shipping at least three containers of guns to China en route to North Korea in 2023. He bought a firearms business in Houston, Texas, to acquire the guns and filed false export paperwork to conceal the contents of his containers.
Related
In September 2024, Wen allegedly purchased approximately 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that he intended to ship to North Korea. He also obtained sensitive technology, including "a chemical threat identification device and a handheld broadband receiver that detects known, unknown, illegal, disruptive or interfering transmissions," the press release said.
Wen met government officials at a North Korean embassy in China, where he was instructed to procure the weapons and sensitive items, according to his plea agreement. He then entered the United States in 2012 on a student visa and remained after it expired in December 2013.
Wen pleaded guilty to one count of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
"Wen admitted that at all relevant times he knew that it was illegal to ship firearms, ammunition and sensitive technology to North Korea," prosecutors said.
He has been in custody since he was arrested and charged in December.
9. S. Korea, France express concerns over N. Korean threats in military talks
South Korea, the global pivotal state.
S. Korea, France express concerns over N. Korean threats in military talks | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 11, 2025
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Senior military officials of South Korea and France voiced concerns Wednesday over North Korea's evolving threats in the face of the North's deepening military alignment with Russia.
Maj. Gen. Kwon Young-min, chief of the directorate of strategic planning at the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and his French counterpart, Brig. Gen. Patrick Vaglio, discussed a range of security issues during regular bilateral military exchange talks held in Seoul, according to the JCS.
In the meeting, Kwon and Vaglio expressed concerns over the modernization of the North Korean military and reaffirmed the need to jointly act with the international community against the North's military threats.
Vaglio was quoted as saying the meeting served as an occasion to exchange detailed measures to implement security cooperation between nations in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific, according to the JCS.
The next meeting will take place in Paris next year. Wednesday's meeting marked the 19th round of the bilateral military talks first launched in 2002.
Senior South Korean and French military officials pose for a group photo during regular bilateral talks held at the headquarters of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul on June 11, 2025, in this photo provided by the JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 11, 2025
10. Japanese PM likely to attend S. Korean Embassy event marking 60th anniv. of diplomatic ties
A positive sign.
Japanese PM likely to attend S. Korean Embassy event marking 60th anniv. of diplomatic ties | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · June 11, 2025
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is "highly" likely to attend a reception hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo next week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, sources said Wednesday.
"It has not been finalized, but as far as I know, (Ishiba's attendance) is being positively considered. ... His attendance is highly likely," the diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity.
The South Korean Embassy is set to host the reception on June 19, shortly after the Group of Seven (G7) summit scheduled for Sunday through next Tuesday in Canada, during which President Lee Jae-myung and Ishiba are expected to meet in person for the first time.
During their first phone talks Monday, Lee and Ishiba agreed to deal with geopolitical crises under the framework of trilateral cooperation with the United States, also reaffirming the importance of bilateral ties between their countries.
The Japanese Embassy to South Korea is also scheduled to host its own reception in Seoul on Monday, but Lee, who will be in Canada for the G-7 summit, is unlikely to attend in person due to a scheduling conflict.
Lee could instead deliver a video message to the Japanese Embassy event in Seoul. It has not been decided who will represent South Korea at the reception.
Additionally, Akihisa Nakashima, an aide to Ishiba, is reportedly planning to travel to Seoul to attend the embassy reception and hold meetings with lawmakers and government officials.
Another diplomatic source said Nakashima's trip is aimed more at engaging with South Korean lawmakers than at attending the reception.
This AP image shows Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · June 11, 2025
11. S. Korean, U.S. troops conduct deployable bridge drills
A lot of rivers and obstacles will need to be crossed to defeat the north Korean People's Army in the north.
River crossings are one of the most complex and difficult and dangerous military operations.
Note that this is training conducted beyond the two major exercises. Combined training takes place at multiple echelons throughout the entire year which is necessary to sustain readiness.
S. Korean, U.S. troops conduct deployable bridge drills | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · June 11, 2025
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. military engineers practiced installing a deployable bridge at a major U.S. base in South Korea this week as part of efforts to strengthen joint capabilities in maintaining supply lines during wartime, officials said Wednesday.
The five-day exercise began Monday at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, involving some 50 personnel from the South Korean Army's 1117th Engineer Corps and the 11th Engineer Battalion of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division.
The drills were focused on setting up the U.S. military's Line of Communication Bridge, which allows troops and equipment to cross various terrains over distances of up to 300 meters.
South Korean and U.S. troops regularly train on installing deployable bridges, often over rivers, due to South Korea's terrain that is home to more than 3,800 streams and rivers.
South Korean and U.S. troops install a Line of Communication Bridge during joint drills at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, in this photo provided by the Army on June 11, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · June 11, 2025
12. Hanwha clears U.S. regulatory hurdle in bid for Austal stake
Industry
Hanwha clears U.S. regulatory hurdle in bid for Austal stake
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2025/06/11/MSDAWXJGMZGTDJHKP2QHJ2V5YY/
By Jung Han-kook,
Kim Mi-geon
Published 2025.06.11. 16:09
Updated 2025.06.11. 17:29
South Korea’s top defense contractor, Hanwha Group, has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in its effort to enter the U.S. naval shipbuilding market. Since March, the company has been working to acquire a 19.8 percent stake in Austal, an Australia-based defense firm, with the goal of becoming its largest shareholder. Austal operates shipyards in Alabama and San Diego, where it builds small surface vessels and logistics support ships for the U.S. Navy, and currently holds the top market share in that segment.
A view of Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, operated by the Australia-based defense company. The facility builds small surface vessels and other ships for the U.S. Navy. /Hanwha
Because the deal involves a foreign acquisition of shares in a company that manufactures U.S. military vessels, both the Australian and U.S. governments must approve the transaction. The recent green light from Washington marks a critical milestone. If Canberra also approves the deal, Hanwha would become the first South Korean defense company to participate—directly or indirectly—in the construction of American warships.
Hanwha announced on June 10 that it received confirmation from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) on June 6 that the transaction “poses no national security concerns.” CFIUS is the interagency body that reviews foreign investments in U.S. firms for potential national security risks.
Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, said the decision “symbolizes the trust and support Hanwha has earned from the U.S. government,” noting that the company’s “technological capabilities, on-time delivery record, and budget management skills—developed through years of collaboration with the U.S. and allied nations—were recognized in full.”
The development comes as the United States seeks to bolster its maritime capabilities amid intensifying competition with China. Washington has been reinforcing alliances in the Indo-Pacific, including the launch of the AUKUS trilateral security pact with Australia and the United Kingdom in 2021. Analysts say U.S. backing for Hanwha’s bid is closely tied to these broader geopolitical dynamics, reflecting Washington’s interest in strengthening naval capacity through trusted partners. Hanwha expects this context will improve the likelihood of Australian regulatory approval.
The company’s aggressive expansion into the U.S. defense market is part of a broader industry shift toward localization. As national security becomes increasingly tied to industrial self-sufficiency, governments are placing greater emphasis on protecting domestic defense sectors. South Korean firms have come to recognize that relying solely on homegrown production capacity is insufficient to maintain long-term overseas contracts.
Reflecting this shift, Hanwha last August completed construction of a manufacturing facility in Australia that produces K9 self-propelled howitzers and Redback armored vehicles—the first overseas plant dedicated to South Korean defense exports. The company also plans to begin construction on a K9 howitzer factory in Romania later this year and is exploring a joint venture in Poland to establish a guided missile production line with a local partner.
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) is also eyeing the U.S. market. In April, it signed an agreement with Huntington Ingalls Industries, the largest shipbuilder in the U.S. defense sector, to pursue collaborative opportunities.
13. Lee eyes new presidential office at Cheong Wa Dae
I do not know about the practicality but the Blue House is an impressive looking building that looks a lot more presidential than the Yongsan office.
Lee eyes new presidential office at Cheong Wa Dae
Posted June. 11, 2025 07:28,
Updated June. 11, 2025 07:28
https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20250611/5654092/1
Previous administrations recognized the need to reorganize the Cheong Wa Dae compound but failed to act due to a lack of alternative space and difficulty securing funding from the National Assembly. President Lee Jae-myung, by contrast, has already begun his term at the Yongsan presidential office and, with a parliamentary majority, is better positioned to move the plan forward. An annex in Changseong-dong, part of the Seoul Government Complex and scheduled for completion next month, may also be utilized.
A key proposal among political circles suggests consolidating and rebuilding Yeomin Buildings 2 and 3 into a single facility to accommodate both the president’s office and the secretariat. A more comprehensive plan would extend the project to include Yeomin Building 1 and the Presidential Security Service building, forming a unified, modern complex. Under these proposals, the Cheong Wa Dae main building would be used exclusively for summits and official ceremonies.
Other proposals include remodeling Yeomin Buildings 2 and 3 and linking them to Yeomin Building 1 with elevated walkways. Another plan suggests renovating the main building for senior aides and building a new secretariat on nearby open land.
Ahn Byung-jin, a professor at Kyung Hee University’s Future Civilization Institute, stressed the importance of proximity. “The president’s closest aides, including the chief of staff, should be within shouting distance,” he said. “It’s ideal if they can sit together on the same sofa and hold informal discussions.”
Some experts say effective communication relies more on the president’s leadership than on the physical office layout. For example, former President Yoon Suk Yeol housed all his staff in a 10-story building in Yongsan, with his main office and the chief of staff’s office both on the second floor.
조권형기자 buzz@donga.com
14. Lee’s calls signal balanced approach to U.S., China, Japan
But at some point you have to choose sides.
Lee’s calls signal balanced approach to U.S., China, Japan
Posted June. 11, 2025 07:27,
Updated June. 11, 2025 07:27
https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20250611/5654077/1
President Lee Jae-myung held a series of phone conversations with the leaders of the United States, Japan, and China, beginning with his first call to China’s President Xi Jinping on June 10. During the discussion, Lee expressed hope for active exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economics, security, culture, and people-to-people ties, all grounded in mutual benefit and equality. President Xi responded by emphasizing respect for each nation’s core interests and key issues, agreeing to develop relations along the proper path. Both leaders pledged to work together to improve friendly relations and achieve tangible cooperation.
This call with President Xi came after Lee’s earlier conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, making it the third in sequence. This order likely reflects the new administration’s pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests, seeking to reinforce the South Korea-U.S. alliance, enhance trilateral cooperation with Japan, and maintain stable ties with China.
However, Lee’s early diplomacy has faced challenges. Controversies surrounding his “Xièxiè” remarks and perceptions of a pro-China stance have posed obstacles. Notably, Lee’s tone in the call with Xi was more measured, focusing on exchange and collaboration without mentioning diplomatic slogans such as “South Korea-U.S. alliance as the foundation” or the “increasing importance” of relations with Japan. Some interpret this as an effort to temper his pro-China image.
Concerns also grew when the White House unexpectedly issued a statement about Chinese influence shortly after Lee’s election, followed by a delay in his call with President Trump. South Korea remains caught between U.S.-China rivalry, with its alliance to the United States at the core of its diplomacy. Still, China’s role as South Korea’s largest trading partner and neighbor cannot be overlooked. The United States has warned against a two-track strategy that separates security cooperation with Washington from economic ties with Beijing.
Previous administrations pursued “balanced diplomacy” and “value diplomacy,” but each revealed limits by leaning toward opportunism or rigidity. Amid rising global tensions and shifts under the Trump administration, South Korea faces risks and opportunities. To navigate this, Seoul must act as a bridge rather than choose sides. Its diplomacy requires confidence and flexibility to shape a new international order as a middle power.
15. Lee emphasizes loyalty, problem-solving in key appointments
What is the opposite of loyalty? I doubt any politician leader would emphasize disloyalty. Of course anyone who wants to serve the president should by definition be loyal if you are a person of principle.
Lee emphasizes loyalty, problem-solving in key appointments
Posted June. 10, 2025 07:39,
Updated June. 10, 2025 07:39
https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20250610/5651905/1
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung conducted his first round of appointments since taking office on Wednesday, emphasizing that “being loyal to the people comes first, followed by competence.” Although he added the phrase “to the people,” it is notable that loyalty took precedence over skill. This may reflect lessons drawn from former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment over his declaration of martial law, which restricted citizens’ basic rights. Those who worked with Lee during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province have offered similar insights.
“There are three qualities needed to become one of Lee Jae-myung’s people,” said an official from Gyeonggi Province. The first is loyalty, someone who will not betray and will faithfully carry out duties. The second is age, as Lee tends to favor younger appointees and rarely defers to seniors. The third is a willingness not to build a personal power base. In his first appointments, Lee nominated Kim Min-seok, a senior council member his own age, as prime minister candidate, and Kang Hoon-sik, a lawmaker 11 years his junior, as chief presidential secretary.
Some interpret Lee’s emphasis on loyalty as reflecting his practical experience as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province. While this may not be his intent, such a perception risks attracting opportunists and fostering competitive displays of loyalty. A homogenous inner circle can lead to groupthink, a common cause of poor decision-making. The more like-minded people one surrounds oneself with, the greater the need for caution.
“I will adopt policies from both Park Chung-hee and Kim Dae-jung if they are useful,” Lee said in his inaugural address. The second criterion, competence, is also informed by history. Former President Park valued aides’ problem-solving skills to overcome contradictions and constraints with limited resources. “Aides must always have answers ready for what the president demands,” said Oh Won-chul, former second senior secretary for economic affairs under Park, in a past interview. “I was always thinking and worrying in hopes of hearing the president praise me for being smart.”
A graduate of Seoul National University’s College of Engineering, Oh proposed producing ham and sausages from pork during a swine cholera outbreak that blocked exports, and suggested making military boots from pigskin. These ideas won Park’s praise. When asked how to remove black soot from highway tunnel walls, Oh recommended installing tiles for easy cleaning, a solution still in use today. During the promotion of heavy and chemical industries, he addressed labor shortages at shipyards by employing underutilized female workers.
Statecraft in 2025 is more complex and multifaceted. South Korea must balance reducing its trade surplus with the U.S. to conclude tariff talks while protecting exporters and jobs. Fiscal expansion to counter zero growth must consider national debt and future burdens. The capital region’s competitiveness must be maintained alongside local economic revival. Pension reform should ease youth burdens while guaranteeing elderly income. The real estate market requires stimulation without overheating. Debt relief for small business owners must avoid moral hazard or discrimination. As South Korea strives for a KOSPI 5,000 era, shareholder value must be protected without harming corporate worth. These thorny issues are likely to spark division and conflict.
No matter how capable, a president cannot govern alone. Even a simple meeting over gimbap demands aides who think constantly and possess passion and problem-solving skills. In today’s geoeconomic era, where economics, finance, and technology serve hegemonic competition, the nation needs not only the critical mind of a scholar and the realism of a merchant, as former President Kim emphasized, but also the craftsman-like problem-solving ability praised by Park. Finding aides, ministers, and public leaders with these qualities is truly an act of loyalty to the people.
16. Lee taps next-gen officials for foreign policy team ahead of G7 trip
With Wi Sung Lac as the NSA this is looking to be a good foreign policy team.
Lee taps next-gen officials for foreign policy team ahead of G7 trip
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · June 11, 2025
Park Yoon-joo (left), the newly appointed first vice foreign minister, and Kim Jina, the newly appointed second vice foreign minister, arrive for their first day at the Foreign Ministry building on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Former vice foreign minister under Moon reportedly set for top post
President Lee Jae-myung’s foreign policy team is taking shape ahead of his diplomatic debut at the G7 summit, with the surprising appointment of relatively young vice ministers in a break with Korea’s long-established system of seniority.
At the same time, veteran diplomat Cho Hyun, who previously served as both first and second vice minister, as well as UN ambassador, under the liberal Moon Jae-in government, concurrent with the first Trump administration, has all but secured his place as the leading candidate for foreign minister.
The Foreign Ministry appeared to find the presidential office’s announcement on Tuesday unexpected, as Park Yoon-joo — appointed first vice foreign minister — had a shorter career in the civil service than several officials who would now report to him.
Park passed the 29th foreign service exam in 1995, making him 11 years junior to his predecessor, Kim Hong-kyun, who passed the 18th foreign service exam.
In terms of years of service since passing the foreign service exam, Park is also the junior of the current deputy ministers for political affairs, protocol affairs, and planning and coordination — all of whom he now directly oversees.
At the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, where a rigid seniority-based culture prevails, it is considered virtually unprecedented for someone so junior in years of service to be appointed as first vice foreign minister, overseeing bilateral affairs and personnel management.
However, Park is not the youngest person to serve as first vice minister; the previous Moon Jae-in administration appointed Choi Jong-kun to the post in 2020 when he was just 46 years old.
Park: US expertise
Park reportedly has a long-standing relationship with National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, dating back to their time working together at the presidential office.
When Wi was dispatched from the Foreign Ministry to the transition committee during the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2002 and 2003, Park was serving at Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office and residence also known as the Blue House. In 2004, when Wi was posted to Washington as minister at the South Korean Embassy, Park also served alongside him as first secretary at the same embassy.
Park’s most recent position was minister at South Korea’s mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but most of his career has been devoted to diplomacy vis-a-vis the US.
Park has served as first secretary at the Embassy in Washington, director of North American Affairs, deputy consul general at the Korean Consulate General in Boston, deputy director-general at the Bureau of North American Affairs, and consul general in Atlanta.
Kim Jina, the new second vice foreign minister, salutes the national flag during her inauguration ceremony at the Foreign Ministry headquarters inSeoul, on Wednesday. (Pool Photo via Yonhap)
Kim: From academia
Kim Jina, a professor in the Department of Language and Diplomacy at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, was appointed second vice foreign minister, overseeing multilateral and economic affairs.
Born in 1979, Kim is also younger than most director-general-level officials who head the bureaus, serving as the ministry’s backbone. Her predecessor, Kang In-sun, was born in 1964.
Kim played an active role in the “Responsible Global Power Committee,” which helped shape Lee Jae-myung’s foreign, security and unification policies during his presidential campaign, serving as vice chair of the committee’s Practical Diplomacy Subcommittee.
The committee was co-chaired by Lee Jong-seok, the current nominee for director of the National Intelligence Service and former unification minister under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, as well as Rep. Cho Jeong-sik of the Democratic Party of Korea.
"The international community hopes that Korea, as a responsible member, will be more involved in and contribute further to resolving global issues," Kim said in her inauguration speech Wednesday.
"The reason the new administration set forth pragmatic diplomacy with the aim of becoming a globally responsible power is precisely to meet these demands of the times."
Cho: Trade veteran
Cho Hyun, a career diplomat with extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and trade, has been tipped as the Lee administration’s first foreign minister, according to multiple sources.
Cho was active in the Responsible Global Power Committee as well as the Special Committee on Northeast Asian Peace and Cooperation, chaired by Wi, which serves as the Democratic Party’s main body overseeing security affairs and North Korea issues.
Cho's diplomatic career includes ambassador to India in 2015, as well as ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna in 2011. Cho also held the post of deputy permanent representative to the UN in New York in 2006.
Within the Foreign Ministry, Cho has held numerous high-level positions, including deputy minister for multilateral and global affairs, ambassador for energy and resources, and director-general of the Ministry’s International Economic Affairs Bureau.
Cho was involved in negotiations for a Korea-Japan free trade agreement and served as chief negotiator for the Korea-Mexico FTA. As ambassador to India — a major emerging market — in 2015, he worked to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
dagyumji@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · June 11, 2025
17. Road to Yeoncheon lined with love as BTS’ Jimin, Jungkook are discharged
The BTS Army is happy.
Road to Yeoncheon lined with love as BTS’ Jimin, Jungkook are discharged
koreaherald.com · by Kim Jae-heun · June 11, 2025
Hundreds of fans gather in a town nearly 80 kilometers from Seoul to mark the occasion
Jimin (right) and Jungkook of BTS salute after being discharged from the army at Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. (Yonhap)
YEONCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — Just a day after RM and V were discharged from the military, fellow BTS members Jimin and Jungkook stood before a crowd of some 500 fans Wednesday morning at Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Gyeonggi Province, marking the end of their 18-month mandatory military service.
Wearing their uniforms, the two arrived in a black vehicle and stepped out to a roaring welcome from local and international fans. They saluted and shouted “Unity!” before offering brief words of thanks, both appearing bashful as they reconnected with their supporters after a long absence.
“It’s been quite a long time, from COVID-19 to military service,” Jimin said. “Thank you so much for waiting. I think we can pick up where we left off and keep painting the picture we’ve been working on. We’ll prepare even better things to show you.”
Reflecting on his service, he added, “It was my first time in the military, and honestly, it wasn’t that easy. If you ever see soldiers passing by, I’d be very grateful if you could offer them kind words.”
Jungkook, smiling shyly, said, “It’s been a while since I’ve stood in front of cameras. I didn’t even put on makeup today, so I feel a bit awkward and don’t really know what to say.” He added, “To my fellow soldiers and seniors who finished their service earlier — thank you for enduring everything together with us.”
Due to the large turnout, the two completed their remarks in just under 20 minutes before boarding their vehicle and leaving the site.
BTS members Jimin (right) and Jungkook smile as they share their thoughts on completing their military service at Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Enlisting together, discharging side by side
Jimin and Jungkook enlisted together in December 2023 as active-duty soldiers in the Army's 5th Infantry Division.
Jimin served as an artilleryman and Jungkook as a cook. Both completed their service in the same unit, with their discharge ceremony held at 8:00 a.m., an hour earlier than RM and V’s 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
Despite the early hour, fans from around the world filled the area near the event site, waving banners and fan sticks in support of the two stars. Some even climbed to the low rooftop of the stadium next to the open ground where the two K-pop stars appeared, trying to get a better view of the pair.
Although the discharge location and time were officially released only to media outlets, news had already spread after RM and V’s ceremony the day before, leading fans to travel nearly 80 kilometers from Seoul to Yeoncheon in hopes of catching a glimpse of Jimin and Jungkook.
From the moment fans entered Yeoncheon from Seoul, celebratory banners stretched along the road, spaced every 50 meters.
Each carried personal and passionate messages such as, “Jimin, we love you. Congratulations on your discharge,” “We’ve waited for this day when Jimin comes to catch us,” and “Golden treasure Jungkook, time to soar again.”
A Brazilian fan, who requested anonymity, shared, “This is my first time in Korea and I had never even heard of this town before, but I just had to come to see Jimin.”
Another fan from Indonesia said, “I’m so happy Jimin has returned safe and healthy. Now that he’s back with us, I feel so happy again.”
Army, or BTS fans, smile as they wait for Jimin and Jungkook to be discharged from the military at Yeoncheon Public Stadium in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Full-group appearance expected soon
Ahead of their much-anticipated musical return as a group, fans are likely to see all the BTS members except for Suga together soon.
The group will hold their annual debut anniversary event, BTS Festa, at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on June 13 and 14. On those same days, J-Hope’s solo encore concert is scheduled at nearby Goyang Sports Complex, raising expectations that the other members may appear as guests.
Meanwhile, Suga, who is currently serving as a social service worker, is set to be discharged on June 21.
jaaykim@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Kim Jae-heun · June 11, 2025
18. North Korean spy drama in China may signal Beijing’s unease over growing Pyongyang-Moscow ties
There is no real ove between China and north Korea (or Russia for that matter).
North Korean spy drama in China may signal Beijing’s unease over growing Pyongyang-Moscow ties
https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korean-spy-drama-china-150910711.html?utm
Linggong Kong, Auburn University
Mon, June 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM EDT8 min read
10
Chinese authorities in the northeastern city of Shenyang reportedly arrested a North Korean IT specialist in late April 2025, accusing him of stealing drone technology secrets.
The suspect, apparently linked to North Korea’s main missile development agency, was part of a wider network operating in China, according to the story, which first appeared in South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. In response, Pyongyang was said to have recalled IT personnel in China.
The story was later circulated by several Chinese online outlets. Given the tight censorship in China, this implies a degree of tacit editorial approval from Beijing – although some sites later deleted the story. In a response to Yonhap over the alleged incident, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that North Korea and China were “friendly neighbors” that maintained “normal” personnel exchanges, without denying the details.
Advertisement
The incident suggests a rare semipublic spat between the two neighboring communist countries, contradicting the image of China and North Korea as “brothers in arms.”
As a scholar of Northeast Asian security, I see the arrest – which has gotten little attention in English-language media – as representative of a wider, more nuanced picture of the two countries’ current relations. There are signs that Beijing is growing frustrated with Pyongyang – not least over North Korea’s increasing closeness with Moscow. Such a development challenges China’s traditional role as North Korea’s primary patron.
In short, the arrest could be a symptom of worsening ties between the two countries.
Beijing’s dilemma over North Korea
North Korea has long been seen by Beijing as both a strategic security buffer and within its natural sphere of influence.
Advertisement
From China’s perspective, allowing a hostile force to gain control of the peninsula – and especially the north – could open the door to future military threats. This fear partly explained why China intervened during the Korean War of 1950-1953.
Beyond security, North Korea also serves as an ideological ally. Both countries are run by communist parties — the Chinese Communist Party and the Workers’ Party of Korea — although the former operates as a Leninist party-state system with a partial embrace of market capitalism, while the latter remains a rigid socialist state characterized by a strong personality cult.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing on Jan. 8, 2019. Xinhua/Li Xueren via Getty Images
Even today, Chinese state media continues to highlight the bonds of “comradeship” with Pyongyang.
However, Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions have long troubled Beijing. North Korea has conducted multiple nuclear tests since 2006 and is now believed to possess nuclear weapons capable of targeting South Korea, Japan and U.S. bases in the region.
Advertisement
China supports a denuclearized and stable Korean peninsula – both for regional peace and economic growth. Like the U.S., Japan and South Korea, China opposes nuclear proliferation, fearing North Korea’s periodic tests could provoke U.S. military action or trigger an arms race in the region.
More in World
Business Insider
Reuters
The Guardian
Meanwhile, Washington and its allies continue to pressure Beijing to do more to rein in a neighbor it often views as a vassal state of China.
Given China’s economic ties with the U.S. and Washington’s East Asian allies – mainly South Korea and Japan – it has every reason to avoid further instability from Pyongyang.
Yet to North Korea’s isolationist rulers, nuclear weapons are vital for the regime’s survival and independence. What’s more, nuclear weapons can also limit Beijing’s influence.
Advertisement
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un worries that without nuclear leverage, China could try to interfere in the internal affairs of his country. After the death if Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011, Beijing was thought to favor Kim Jong Un’s elder half-brother Kim Jong Nam as successor — possibly prompting Kim Jong Un to have him assassinated in 2017.
But despite ongoing tensions over the nuclear issue, China has continued to support the North Korean regime for strategic reasons.
For decades, China has been Pyongyang’s top trading partner, providing crucial economic aid. In 2023, China accounted for about 98% of North Korea’s official trade and continued to supply food and fuel to keep the regime afloat.
Pyongyang pals up with Putin
Yet over the past few years, more of North Korea’s imports, notably oil, have come from another source: Russia.
Advertisement
North Korea and Russia had been close allies during the Cold War, but ties cooled after the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s.
More recently, a shared hostility toward the U.S. and the West in general has brought the two nations closer.
Moscow’s international isolation following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and its deteriorating ties with South Korea in particular have pushed it toward Pyongyang. North Korea has reportedly supplied large quantities of ammunition to Russia, becoming a critical munitions supplier in the Ukraine war.
Though both governments deny the arms trade – banned under United Nations sanctions – North Korea is thought to have received fuel, food and access to Russian military and space technology in return. On March 8, 2025, North Korea unveiled a nuclear-powered submarine that experts believe may involve Russian technological assistance.
Advertisement
By 2024, Russian forces were using around 10,000 shells per day in Ukraine, with half sourced from North Korea. Some front-line units were reportedly using North Korean ammunition for up to 60% of their firepower.
High-level visits have also increased. In July 2023, Russia’s defense minister, Andrey Belousov, visited Pyongyang for the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, followed by Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia in September for a summit with President Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un share a toast during a reception in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. Vladmir Smirnov/AFP via Getty Images
In June 2024, Putin visited Pyongyang, where the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement, including a pledge that each would come to the other’s aid if attacked.
Soon after, North Korea began sending troops to support Russia. Intelligence from the U.S., South Korea and Ukraine indicates that Pyongyang deployed 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers in late 2023, marking its first involvement in a major conflict since the Korean War. North Korean soldiers reportedly receive at least US$2,000 per month plus a bonus. For Pyongyang, this move not only provides financial gain but also combat experience should war ever reignite on the Korean Peninsula.
Why China is worried
China, too, has remained on friendly terms with Russia since the war in Ukraine began. So why would it feel uneasy about the growing closeness between Pyongyang and Moscow?
Advertisement
For starters, China views Pyongyang’s outreach to Moscow as a challenge to its traditional role as North Korea’s main patron. While still dependent on Chinese aid, North Korea appears to be seeking greater autonomy.
The strengthening of Russia–North Korea ties also fuels Western fears of an “axis of upheaval” involving all three countries.
Unlike North Korea’s confrontational stance toward the West and its neighbor to the south, Beijing has offered limited support to Moscow during the Ukraine war and is cautious not to appear part of a trilateral alliance.
Behind this strategy is a desire on behalf of China to maintain stable relations with the U.S., Europe and key Asian neighbors like Japan and South Korea. Doing so may be the best way for Beijing to protect its economic and diplomatic interests.
Advertisement
China is also concerned that with Russian support in nuclear and missile technologies, Pyongyang may act more provocatively — through renewed nuclear tests or military clashes with South Korea. And this would only destabilize the region and strain China’s ties with the West.
A defiant and provocative Pyongyang
The timing of the alleged spy drama may offer further clues regarding the state of relations.
It came just a day after North Korea officially confirmed it had deployed troops to aid the Russian war effort. It also announced plans to erect a monument in Pyongyang honoring its soldiers who died in the Ukraine war.
The last spy case like this was in June 2016 when Chinese authorities arrested a North Korean citizen in the border city of Dandong. It reportedly followed Pyongyang informing China that it would permanently pursue its nuclear weapons program.
Advertisement
The China-North Korea relationship deteriorated further when North Korea successfully tested a hydrogen bomb in September 2016, prompting Beijing to back U.N. Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.
Again, this time North Korea shows little sign of bending to China’s will. On April 30, Kim oversaw missile launches from North Korea’s first 5,000-ton destroyer, touted as its most heavily armed warship.
None of which will help ease Beijing’s concerns. While China still sees Pyongyang as a critical buffer against U.S. influence in Northeast Asia, an increasingly provocative North Korea, fueled by a growing relationship with Russia, is starting to look less like a strategic asset — and more like a liability.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Linggong Kong, Auburn University
Read more:
Linggong Kong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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
| 
