Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

“You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity.”

– Robert A. Heinlein - Logic of Empire

"And so, to those tempted by despair, I say: Remind yourself that the world is what we make it, and that to the making of it each one of us can contribute something. This thought makes hope possible: and in this hope, though life will still be painful, it will be no longer purposeless."

~Bertrand Russell

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient.

Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”

~Margaret Atwood

1. Ukraine’s daring drone strikes should have Kim Jong Un looking over his shoulder

2. North Korea appears to jam GPS signals near sea border ahead of ROK election

3. Letter from Seoul: This isn't just another election

4. South Korea faces high-stakes election; fears over China, North Korea and US ties shape voter concerns

5. Korean conservatives face the abyss as former hard left candidate set for crushing win

6. South Korea’s New Leader Will Inherit a Divided Country in an Unstable World

7. S. Korean election officials investigate voting irregularities

8. Jim Rogers denies endorsing Lee Jae-myung, S. Korean presidential candidate

9. Three paths for Northeast Asia: Navigating the US-China rivalry on the Korean Peninsula

10. N. Korea sets three-point test for S. Korea's next government

11. N. Korea border smuggling suspended for weeks, leaving traders in financial limbo

12. Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging

13. Seoul monitoring China-installed buoys, citing possible military purpose

14. Pyongyang slams monitoring group's report on N. Korea-Russia military cooperation

15. DP candidate vows to make economy top priority, if elected

1. Ukraine’s daring drone strikes should have Kim Jong Un looking over his shoulder

If only we were aggressively executing a ROK/US alliance Psychological Warfare campaign against the north.

A Psychological Operations Strategy for the Korean Peninsula from Lessons Learned in Ukraine

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/a-psychological-operations-strategy-for-the-korean-peninsula-from-lessons-learned-in-ukraine/

Developing an Irregular Warfare Campaign for North Korea

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/developing-an-irregular-warfare-campaign-for-north-korea/

Ukraine’s daring drone strikes should have Kim Jong Un looking over his shoulder

‘Spider’s Web’ attack on Russian air bases far from front lines reveals North Korea’s exposure as it backs Kremlin’s war

https://www.nknews.org/2025/06/ukraines-daring-drone-strikes-should-have-kim-jong-un-looking-over-his-shoulder/

Chad O'Carroll June 2, 2025

Kim Jong Un and a Ukrainian soldier operating a drone | Images: Kremlin (April 25, 2019) and Security Service of Ukraine (May 31, 2025), edited by NK News

Ukraine’s stunning June 1 drone strikes deep inside Russia should serve as a stark wake-up call for Kim Jong Un, demonstrating that not even distance guarantees protection in an era of advanced drone warfare.

Operation “Spider’s Web” saw Ukrainian intelligence services destroy dozens of strategic bombers at airfields up to 4,300 kilometers (2,700 miles) from the front lines, using drones smuggled into Russia and launched from wooden sheds mounted on trucks.

For a North Korean leader who recently dispatched thousands of elite troops to support Russia’s war effort, Kyiv’s demonstrated ability to project power far beyond its borders represents a nightmare scenario. The parallels with South Korea’s apparent October 2024 drone penetrations of Pyongyang are impossible to ignore: Both incidents exposed how modern drone warfare can circumvent even sophisticated air defenses, turning geographical distance and advanced military systems into false comfort.

With North Korean forces now legitimate military targets in Ukraine’s eyes, Kim’s riskiest foreign policy decision since taking power may have opened his homeland to unprecedented threats.

EXPOSING VULNERABILITIES

The sophistication of Ukraine’s “Spider’s Web” operation should deeply concern Pyongyang.

According to Ukrainian security sources, operatives smuggled first-person view (FPV) drones into Russia over 18 months, concealing them in wooden structures mounted on trucks. At predetermined moments, the roofs opened remotely, releasing swarms that struck Tu-95 and Tu-22M strategic bombers at bases from Murmansk to Irkutsk. The Ukrainian SBU claimed to have damaged at least 40 aircraft, inflicting $7 billion in losses and eliminating 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carriers.

This methodology bears some resemblance to the October drone intrusions over Pyongyang, when unmanned aerial vehicles allegedly scattered anti-regime leaflets over the capital on three separate occasions. State media published images of a drone distributing leaflets, which reportedly featured images of Kim Jong Un’s luxury watches and his daughter’s designer clothing.

Both operations exposed critical vulnerabilities in systems North Korea relies upon. The S-300 predecessor of Russia’s vaunted S-400 air defense systems, which the Ukraine conflict has shown struggles against drone swarms, shares some DNA with North Korea’s Pongae-6 surface-to-air missiles.

Emerging DPRK surface-to-air defenses remain “aimed at larger manned aircraft rather than drones,” according to defense analyst Shin Seung-ki, leaving them “significantly limited” against smaller UAVs.

S-400 Triumf air defense system transporter erector launcher | Image: Vitaly V. Kuzmin via Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0) (April 13, 2012)

TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY

While Ukraine cannot easily replicate its Russia operation via North Korea’s heavily militarized land borders, maritime approaches offer viable alternatives.

Ukrainian naval forces have demonstrated sophisticated sea-based drone operations throughout the Black Sea, including strikes on the Kerch Bridge and remotely located Russian naval assets. These capabilities could theoretically transfer to operations launched from merchant vessels in international waters off North Korea’s extensive coastline.

The technical challenges of command and control are surmountable with existing Ukrainian capabilities. Satellite communications technologies onboard Ukrainian drones, which have proven crucial to its remote air-based operations, could provide at least limited communications from offshore platforms.

Pre-programmed autonomous flight paths would minimize the need for real-time control. Mesh networking between drone swarms could also theoretically create redundant communication pathways.

Ukraine has already shown impressive gains in getting around Russian jamming and spoofing efforts, suggesting more limited DPRK defense capabilities could be relatively easy to get around.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to expand the conflict beyond traditional boundaries, most notably with its ground incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in Aug. 2024.

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s declaration that the Spider’s Web operation was “absolutely brilliant” and would make “Russia feel the need to end this war” signals Kyiv’s commitment to imposing costs on all participants in the conflict.

North Korea recently confirmed it deployed troops to assist Russia against Ukraine, making it a legitimate military target. It has also provided vast numbers of shells and missiles for Russia’s war effort.

Ukrainian strikes against DPRK assets would thus be easy to justify, and the propaganda value would be immense, as successful attacks would be deeply embarrassing for Pyongyang.

Kim’s recent security upgrades reveal his awareness of these vulnerabilities. Following the Israeli pager attacks on Hezbollah, Kim appeared with vehicles equipped with probable signal jammers. His security detail has expanded significantly, now carrying shield briefcases and implementing “heightened security protocols” that extend to other senior officials.

All of these developments show that no leader is truly safe in a world in which adversaries possess advanced surveillance tools and the ability to carry out precision strikes.

Security guards wielding protective briefcases form a barrier between the crowds and Kim Jong Un’s convoy at the opening of a street construction project in Pyongyang. | Image: KCTV (May 15, 2024), edited by NK News

KIM JONG UN’S OPTIONS

North Korea faces a strategic dilemma with no good options.

The regime cannot meaningfully defend against distributed maritime launch platforms operating in international waters. Extended naval patrols would strain its navy’s limited blue-water capabilities, while offering minimal protection against submarine or merchant vessel-launched drones. Coastal radar enhancement, while potentially helpful, would struggle against terrain-following drones designed to evade detection.

Retaliation against Ukraine would risk further escalation and potentially draw the DPRK deeper into a conflict where it has already overextended. Full withdrawal from Ukraine and ending munitions support for Moscow would mean abandoning key elements of its strategic partnership with Russia, losing access to promised military technologies and suffering a loss of face.

The nightmare scenario for Pyongyang involves Ukrainian gray-zone operations during sensitive events. The October drone intrusions during party anniversary celebrations demonstrated the regime’s vulnerability at moments of maximum visibility.

Future military parades, leadership appearances or other high-profile events — like the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea in October — could become targets for drone attacks or propaganda campaigns. Ukrainian drones already penetrated Russian airspace ahead of its Victory Day celebrations in May.

North Korea’s potential countermeasures remain limited. While Moscow might provide additional air defense technologies, the Ukraine conflict has demonstrated their limitations against determined drone operations.

At the very least, Pyongyang will try to further bolster capabilities including GPS jammers, suppressors and spoofers that feed fake coordinates to enemy drones, along with anti-drone guns to jam drone signals.

Kim tests out an assault rifle during North Korean military drills. | Image: KCNA (Sept. 13, 2024)

NEXT STEPS

Ukraine’s Spider’s Web operation demonstrated that creative asymmetric responses can reach anywhere, and the same innovative spirit that allowed it to strike strategic bombers thousands of miles away could bring the war to North Korea’s doorstep.

While Kim seems to have internalized the lesson that leadership security requires extreme measures, that apparently wasn’t enough to convince him to avoid unnecessary foreign entanglements.

Now, North Korea’s self-imposed isolation, long considered a defensive asset, no longer appears sufficient against the kind of creative infiltration Ukraine has perfected. If Ukrainian drones can reach Irkutsk, 4,300 km from the frontlines, Kim won’t feel much better about sitting over 7,000 km away.

Kim must confront an uncomfortable reality: His riskiest decision yet has made North Korea a potential target in a conflict where innovation and determination have repeatedly trumped conventional military superiority. The question is no longer whether Ukraine could bring the war to North Korea, but whether it thinks the benefits outweigh the risks.

Kyiv may calculate that keeping this capability in reserve provides more strategic value than using it. The mere threat of bringing the war to Pyongyang could serve as leverage in future negotiations.

Moreover, Ukraine may want to avoid provoking the DPRK too aggressively, as any strikes on North Korean soil could push Kim Jong Un to dramatically escalate support for Russia — potentially including advanced missile technologies or even larger troop deployments.

Time will reveal whether Kyiv’s restraint holds or Kim’s luck runs out. Either way, Ukraine’s bold drone assault has taught the North Korean leader that even the hermit kingdom’s borders are permeable when the stakes are high enough.

Edited by Bryan Betts

2. North Korea appears to jam GPS signals near sea border ahead of ROK election

Too late for a "northern wind" to influence the election I think.

North Korea appears to jam GPS signals near sea border ahead of ROK election

South Korean authorities confirm GPS 'disturbances’ in Yellow Sea last week that required issuing warning to ships

https://www.nknews.org/2025/06/north-korea-appears-to-jam-gps-signals-near-sea-border-ahead-of-rok-election/

Anton Sokolin | Jooheon Kim June 2, 2025

Razor-wire fencing can be found all over Baengnyong Island. | Image: NK News

North Korea likely jammed GPS signals near the inter-Korean maritime border last week, in a new wave of interference just ahead of the upcoming presidential vote that could endanger ships and aircraft.

The ROK’s 6th Marine Brigade stationed at the country’s northwestern frontier near Baengnyong Island in the Yellow Sea detected a series of “GPS disturbances” in the area last Thursday, warning fishermen of signal jamming, a police spokesperson on the island told NK News.

The officer described the jamming as a “regular occurrence” and suggested that the DPRK could be behind the interference, citing previous cases widely reported by local media.

GPS jamming has “severely intensified” since last year, the police representative added, noting that such incidents disrupt the work of local fishermen.

“Your location suddenly shows up somewhere else, as if the current positions on Baengnyeong Island are appearing in North Korea,” they said. “The navigation equipment goes haywire.”

A ROK Coast Guard spokesperson also told NK News that GPS jamming saw a major spike in the area from Oct. to Nov. 2024, stating that the situation got “pretty serious.”

But the official didn’t confirm whether Pyongyang was directly behind the interference last week, explaining that the science ministry is in charge of identifying who is behind the incident.

Last fall, the ROK military assessed that the signal jamming was carried out from the North Korean border cities of Haeju and Kaesong, impacting navigational systems of vessels and civilian planes. The DPRK continued electronic interference into the new year, targeting the ROK’s northwestern islands in January, according to Seoul’s defense ministry.

Seoul detected some 331-364 GPS disruptions in the first 10 days of Nov. 2024, although no incidents were reported. The interference typically involves emitting high-intensity disruptive signals and potentially affects position data reception by planes, vessels and cars, according to the ROK science ministry.

The jamming comes as South Korea is set to hold a presidential election slated on Tuesday.

Yang Uk, a military analyst at the Seoul-based Asan Institute for Policy Studies, explained that North Korea orchestrates GPS disruptions in the Yellow Sea “on a regular basis” and it is seeking to sharpen electronic warfare capabilities drawing on lessons from its troop deployment to the Ukraine war.

He added that the jamming most likely isn’t related to the South Korean presidential election and will only intensify in the future.

South Korea has repeatedly accused the North of GPS jamming, which has even drawn condemnation from the U.N.

Local media reported in February that DPRK GPS jamming caused the crash of a South Korean military drone last November, though Seoul insisted its reconnaissance efforts remain unaffected.

In May 2024, Pyongyang jammed GPS signals near the inter-Korean maritime border for two consecutive days, with President Yoon Suk-yeol later listing the jamming among DPRK “provocations.”

The U.N. aviation authority censured the DPRK in April for jamming GPS signals near the inter-Korean border, accusing Pyongyang of endangering over 4,400 civilian aircraft. This followed a similar decision made in 2024.

Edited by Bryan Betts

3. Letter from Seoul: This isn't just another election

By all poll accounts Lee was a shoe in for victory. Seemed before the election. Why do you think these “shenanigans” as some have called them are taking place? Why would they do things that are so obvious especially if they really support Lee’s election. These "shenanigans" are taking place not to help Lee but to subvert the political system. And they want to generate the exact response that the conservatives are providing. This is about dividing the nation and to weaken South Korea and ultimately the ROK/US alliance. Yes Lee is bad because he is aligned with China and north Korea but the Chinese and north Koreans do not care about that. While the conservatives think he will be a patsy for China and nk that is not their objective. They want the conservatives to go after Lee so that the ROKG will be unable to govern. They want to create divisions that the ROK cannot recover from. Unfortunately the conservatives and their international supporters are playing right into the Chinese and north Korean political warfare strategy. Instead of attacking Lee they should be exposing the Chinese and nK strategies to support the future of the ROK. But unfortunately that is not possible given the current political system and the lack of awareness and understanding of the political warfare strategies being executed. The conservatives are only countering the surface level obvious actions the Chinese want them to focus on. It really is sad there is such unawareness among Koreans as to what is really happening. The bottom line is and I know this is counterintuitive to most, although Lee is a bad man he is not the real bad guy, the Chinese just want the conservatives to make him the bad guy and attack him so as to undermine the ROK political system. The real bad guy(s) is China (and nK) but if Koreans only focus on Lee as the bad guy then China (and nK) wins and the ROK loses.

The irony is despite the cries of "stop the steal" there will likely be no significant election fraud in Korea that could overturn the election but the political warfare strategy is to make the conservatives focus on that to undermine the political process so that the ROK will be unable to function effectively (and ideally eventually collapse). Again that is the real prize that China and north Korea seek. But the conservatives and all who support them are actually supporting the Chinese political warfare strategy. We need to understand China's unrestricted warfare and the fundamental principles of externally based irregular, unconventional. and political warfare.

Whoever wins there will be significant challenges for the ROK/US alliance. I have heard from some conservatives that there are problems with Kim Moon Soo and his also problematic ties to China (see the pattern here - China is using South Korea as battleground for strategic competition with the US - subvert and undermine the ROK - leads to weakening of the ROK/US alliance - eventually could lead to the withdrawal of US troops from the peninsula which again is the real, real prize for China (and north Korea).

I worry that our Administration is so overly focused (geographically) on China and Taiwan that it just views Korea as a distraction that does not fit into the USD(p)'s concept of deterrence by denial against China. China is playing for Korea and we are sitting out the entire game.

Excerpts (from Grant):

I came to Korea in 2020 to investigate allegations of rigging at the request of concerned citizens.

I expected to find nothing much.

In short order, it was obvious there were problems.

Nothing has changed.

It’s still a system ripe for and apparently rife with manipulation. And authorities will not examine the evidence.

Some South Koreans are trying to ensure honest elections. But they are beleaguered.

They would sorely appreciate a kind word from President Trump.

But the Trump administration stands by mute, with eyes primly averted. It declares the relationship ‘rock solid’ and ‘forged in blood? And “who are we to meddle in another country’s politics?”

But rather than electoral interference it would be providing oxygen to people who want to be free and are under pressure. There’s nothing wrong with speaking up for consensual government, and civil liberties – and for your friends.

And it puts the bad guys on notice.

If they think America doesn’t care or won’t do anything at all they’ll smother the opposition.

Recall support for dissidents in Russia and Poland and elsewhere in the Cold War?

It mattered.

The US stayed quiet when Hugo Chavez came along in Venezuela in the early 1990’s. The honest people just wanted something suggesting USA gave two hoots. They got nothing. And Venezuela is now in the China / Cuba camp.

At least one big problem still remains for the leftists who see their goal in sight. That is the fact that most South Koreans don’t want to be like China or North Korea – and support for the US alliance is strong, even among more than a few Democratic Party voters.

And Koreans can be mercurial. They may not quietly go along with what South Korea’s hard-core radicals have in mind.

So this isn’t just another election. If Washington hasn’t paid proper attention to South Korea yet, it will have no choice but to do so before long.

Letter from Seoul: This isn't just another election - Asia Times

If Washington hasn’t paid proper attention to South Korea yet, it will have no choice but to do so before long

asiatimes.com · by Grant Newsham · June 1, 2025

Sometimes when momentous things happen in a country, most people don’t notice.

That’s normal.

People focus on their lives – jobs, family, finances, and the like.

I’ve been in Seoul, South Korea, for about a week, having been asked to come and see what’s going on with the upcoming presidential election.

You wouldn’t know that an election that might determine South Korea’s future is underway.

The election was called three months ago after conservative president Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment. He’d declared martial law out of frustration over the leftist-dominated National Assembly using its immense power to make governing impossible.

Yoon called it a “legislative dictatorship.”

So now it’s a race between Lee Jae-myung from the leftist Democratic Party of Korea (DP) and Kim Moon-soo – of the generally conservative People Power Party (PPP).

The DPK contains some hard-core radicals who want to align with the People’s Republic of China and North Korea and even end the US-ROK alliance. Lee himself has called the US forces “occupiers” – and is charged with involvement in sending $8 million to North Korea when he was governor of Gyeonggi Province. One of his lieutenants has already been convicted.

Kim – a former labor activist is pro-US alliance. And he has no illusions about or love for South Korean leftists – having once been one of them – or the Chinese communists and North Korea.

But there is another (even if superficially) conservative candidate running. Lee Jun-seok of the small New Reform Party will siphon off votes from Kim.

Polls, not always reliable, put the DPK in the lead.

We will know soon enough.

Two days of early voting are finished and election day is June 3d.

A Kim victory would be better for the US-ROK alliance, although the DP-dominated National Assembly would still make life miserable for a conservative president.

If Lee Jae-myung prevails, things could be very different.

The leftists will have nearly every lever of power in South Korea. They just need the presidency.

They already have the National Assembly (189 seats of 300), much of the judiciary and the police, the media, academia, labor unions and the all-powerful National Election Commission (NEC). Big business has been under attack, and even the ROK military has been put on notice.

South Korean leftists have long wanted total and permanent control. But it started in earnest around 2017 when leftist, Moon Jae-in was elected president following the controversial removal of conservative president Park Geun-hye.

If Lee wins, he won’t sever the US alliance or nestle up to the PRC and North Korea right away.

US officialdom will tell itself the leftists are pragmatists and won’t end the good thing they have with the United States.

But bit by bit the US-ROK relationship will grow colder. Seoul’s relationships with Beijing and Pyongyang will warm up. Ties with Japan – improved under President Yoon – will enter the walk-in freezer.

The National Assembly and the leftist president will do whatever they want – and nobody can stop them.

South Korea will effectively be a one-party state.

Future elections won’t matter. The National Election Commission will see to that.

It has been stonewalling widespread and detailed citizen-produced evidence of electoral irregularities starting with the 2020 National Assembly election – which gave the DP a solid majority for the first time.

Similar evidence was produced after the 2022 presidential election and the 2024 National Assembly election.

Mention election integrity, however, and South Koreans can find the police at their doorstep and charges leveled.

Being ridiculed as a conspiracy theorist is a given.

But consider the fact that the NEC declared its system was unhackable – when citizens demanded transparency. Yet in 2023 the North Korean Lazarus Group repeatedly hacked the NEC network. Public outcry allowed the National Intelligence Service (not yet entirely under leftist domination) to run penetration tests.

NIS ran wild and reported how the electoral system can be electronically manipulated.

I came to Korea in 2020 to investigate allegations of rigging at the request of concerned citizens.

I expected to find nothing much.

In short order, it was obvious there were problems.

Nothing has changed.

It’s still a system ripe for and apparently rife with manipulation. And authorities will not examine the evidence.

Some South Koreans are trying to ensure honest elections. But they are beleaguered.

They would sorely appreciate a kind word from President Trump.

But the Trump administration stands by mute, with eyes primly averted. It declares the relationship ‘rock solid’ and ‘forged in blood? And “who are we to meddle in another country’s politics?”

But rather than electoral interference it would be providing oxygen to people who want to be free and are under pressure. There’s nothing wrong with speaking up for consensual government, and civil liberties – and for your friends.

And it puts the bad guys on notice.

If they think America doesn’t care or won’t do anything at all they’ll smother the opposition.

Recall support for dissidents in Russia and Poland and elsewhere in the Cold War?

It mattered.

The US stayed quiet when Hugo Chavez came along in Venezuela in the early 1990’s. The honest people just wanted something suggesting USA gave two hoots. They got nothing. And Venezuela is now in the China / Cuba camp.

At least one big problem still remains for the leftists who see their goal in sight. That is the fact that most South Koreans don’t want to be like China or North Korea – and support for the US alliance is strong, even among more than a few Democratic Party voters.

And Koreans can be mercurial. They may not quietly go along with what South Korea’s hard-core radicals have in mind.

So this isn’t just another election. If Washington hasn’t paid proper attention to South Korea yet, it will have no choice but to do so before long.

asiatimes.com · by Grant Newsham · June 1, 2025

4. South Korea faces high-stakes election; fears over China, North Korea and US ties shape voter concerns

Excerpts:

Lee said the U.S.-South Korea-Japan partnership should be expanded, but he also said Seoul can’t be "unilaterally bound" to relations with Washington, particularly when it comes to U.S. geopolitical rivalries.

"We should not neglect ties with China or Russia. We need to manage them appropriately, and there’s no need to have an unnecessarily hostile approach like now," Lee also said during the debate, the South China Morning Post reported.

Former California GOP Congresswoman Michelle Steel, who was born in South Korea, explained that China's "bullying" behavior in the region leaves much for the global community to be concerned about.

"China [poses] the biggest threat, and they already told the whole world that they're going to take over Taiwan," she told Fox News Digital. "When they take over, where are they going to go [to] next? South Korea or Japan? The Philippines?

"China has been always fighting to expand."

Foreign policy has taken center stage in the presidential race after conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol threw the nation into political chaos after his December 2024 impeachment.

Yoon was ardently aligned with the U.S. when it came to opposing Chinese aggression in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, where Beijing has been accused of expanding, militarizing and blocking freedom of navigation in contested territorial zones.

Lee’s chief challenger, Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), a former labor minister under Yoon, pushed back on the democratic challenger’s position when it comes to China and the U.S.

But Lee has rejected the idea he is not prioritizing the U.S. alliance and reportedly said during this month’s debate, "There’s no need to worry. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is important and should continue to grow and strengthen."

South Korea faces high-stakes election; fears over China, North Korea and US ties shape voter concerns

Lee Jae-myung favored to win South Korea presidency, but concerns remain over relations with the US, China and North Korea

By Caitlin McFall Fox News

Published June 1, 2025 6:00am EDT

foxnews.com · by Caitlin McFall Fox News

Video

Fmr Rep. Michelle Steel warns of China's aggression in the Yellow Sea

Former Congresswoman Michelle Steel outlines the threats China poses in the Yellow Sea amid South Korea's presidential election.

Early South Korean voters reportedly turned out in record numbers this week as the nation awaits the June 3 presidential election in what has been described as a pivotal race amid ongoing threats posed by China and recent rocky relations with the U.S. due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The leader of the progressive Democratic Party of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, is reported to be leading the race as the frontrunner, but he has raised some eyebrows after he vowed to take a "pragmatic" approach to geopolitics, chiefly by easing previously hawkish positions on China and lessening dependence on the U.S.

"The alliance with the U.S. is the foundation of South Korea’s diplomacy," Lee said during a debate earlier this month, Bloomberg reported.

Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea appeals for support during a rally in Wonju, South Korea. May 30, 2025. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)

KIM JONG UN LEFT FUMING AFTER NORTH KOREA'S NEW DESTROYER DAMAGED IN FAILED LAUNCH

Lee said the U.S.-South Korea-Japan partnership should be expanded, but he also said Seoul can’t be "unilaterally bound" to relations with Washington, particularly when it comes to U.S. geopolitical rivalries.

"We should not neglect ties with China or Russia. We need to manage them appropriately, and there’s no need to have an unnecessarily hostile approach like now," Lee also said during the debate, the South China Morning Post reported.

Former California GOP Congresswoman Michelle Steel, who was born in South Korea, explained that China's "bullying" behavior in the region leaves much for the global community to be concerned about.

"China [poses] the biggest threat, and they already told the whole world that they're going to take over Taiwan," she told Fox News Digital. "When they take over, where are they going to go [to] next? South Korea or Japan? The Philippines?

"China has been always fighting to expand."

Foreign policy has taken center stage in the presidential race after conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol threw the nation into political chaos after his December 2024 impeachment.

Kim Moon-soo, People Power Party's presidential candidate, waves during a rally in Seoul, South Korea, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Yoon was ardently aligned with the U.S. when it came to opposing Chinese aggression in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, where Beijing has been accused of expanding, militarizing and blocking freedom of navigation in contested territorial zones.

Lee’s chief challenger, Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), a former labor minister under Yoon, pushed back on the democratic challenger’s position when it comes to China and the U.S.

But Lee has rejected the idea he is not prioritizing the U.S. alliance and reportedly said during this month’s debate, "There’s no need to worry. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is important and should continue to grow and strengthen."

NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES SHORT-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES INTO SEA, SOUTH KOREA SAYS

Though he did caution that certain steps taken by the Trump administration, including the 25% tariffs announced earlier this year and the potential withdrawal of troops has "eroded" the relationship.

"If the U.S. continues this way — eroding its soft power and the trust of other nations — it won’t be sustainable. At some point, brakes will be applied," Lee said. "Until then, endurance is key."

Steel argued the "South Korean people understand the importance of a strong relationship with the United States."

"Whatever the outcome of the election, South Korean leaders should embrace President Trump and look to make an incredible trade deal that will benefit everyone," she added.

But Lee has not convinced all who are weary of his view on U.S. relations, including David Eunkoo Kim, founder and president of the Truth Forum, a conservative youth organization founded at Seoul National University.

South Korean and U.S. Marines take positions during a joint amphibious landing exercise with their Filipino counterparts on a beach facing the South China Sea in San Antonio town, Zambales province, Oct. 7, 2022. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

"This election is widely seen as a pivotal moment for South Korea because the stakes — both domestically and geopolitically — are extraordinarily high," Kim said.

"Throughout his political career, (Lee) has consistently aligned himself with both pro-North Korean and pro-Chinese agendas. He has been implicated in sending funds to North Korea in violation of U.N. sanctions, and his deference to China has been nothing short of submissive," Kim said.

Kim was referring to Lee's indictment for an illegal cash transfer scheme to North Korea, though Lee denies the accusations and has argued they are politically motivated.

During this month’s debate, Lee's opponents claimed Lee is also a "North Korea risk" as concerns about Pyongyang’s military movements continue to escalate, Radio Free Asia reported.

Lee maintains he wants to ease tensions with North Korea by engaging in peaceful diplomacy.

A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in South Korea, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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But David Eunkoo Kim told Fox News Digital Lee’s legal troubles are another geopolitical vulnerability.

"With multiple criminal investigations looming, he has every incentive to cling to power at all costs — even if that means aligning South Korea more closely with Beijing," he said. "And this concern is not theoretical.

"China is already aggressively asserting influence in the region."

Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.

foxnews.com · by Caitlin McFall Fox News

5. Korean conservatives face the abyss as former hard left candidate set for crushing win

Exactly what China and north Korea want in the South: blood in the streets. (on a side note I was in Seoul in 1986-1988 and observed the protests (many of which were violent) and I was in Seoul in December after the Martial Law debacle and impeachment was begun and the protests were very well organized but also well behaved with no political violence (and no smell of tear gas in the air like 1987).

The question for the Korean people is are they going to make their democracy work or are they going to fall into the trap that China (and north Korea) has set for them?

Excerpts:

Mr. Yoon, like many supporters of the impeached Mr. Yoon (no relation), is convinced that polling companies and the National Election Commission are corrupt.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, a conservative former prime minister, raised allegations over the weekend that early voting has been fraudulent.

Mr. Yoon claimed he had data, the accuracy of which The Washington Times could not confirm, that indicated at least three voter districts had reported more than 100% returns.

Mr. Yoon anticipates right-wingers taking to the streets if the DPK captures the House and the presidency.

That is hardly unusual in South Korea.

During the impeachment crisis, both left and right held massive, noisy demonstrations, but all was peaceful, bar one court invasion.

That may not last.

“I think there will be blood in the streets,” Mr. Yoon said.

Korean conservatives face the abyss as former hard left candidate set for crushing win

washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon

By - The Washington Times - Sunday, June 1, 2025

SEOUL, South Korea — South Koreans are overwhelmingly expected to elect a veteran liberal politician as president who has advocated for closer relations with China and North Korea over his long career. Still, political pundits and analysts in Seoul say Lee Jae-myung, who has a massive lead in most polls before the Tuesday election, lacks a mandate to change the country’s alliance with the U.S.

Polls show Mr. Lee, 61, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s candidate, running far ahead of the conservative People Power Party’s Kim Moon-soo. Aggregated data puts Mr. Lee at 47.2%, Mr. Kim at 38.1% and third runner Lee Jun-seok, a young right-winger heading the minority Reform Party, at 9.7%.

Mr. Lee’s looming election, considered all but a done deal in South Korea, has raised alarm among some American defense hawks. On the American Enterprise Institute’s website, Korea watcher Nicholas Eberstadt accused Mr. Lee of a “romantic fascination with China and the CCP” and wondered whether Seoul would become “a runaway ally.”

Wi Sung-lac, a DPK foreign policy expert and a member of South Korea’s unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, preached calm. He told The Washington Times that Mr. Lee is not “pro-Chinese” and said, “We don’t believe we need to tilt back to China.”

Mr. Lee and his top opponent, Mr. Kim, have promised to strengthen ties with the U.S., but Mr. Lee has sharply criticized ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol’s aggressive stance on China. Even after moving to the middle politically, Mr. Lee promised to dial back the anti-China rhetoric. “I will stabilize and manage” relations with China, he has told voters.

That campaign stump talk has worried some Washington conservatives, but Seoul pundits point out similar concerns during the five-year term of liberal president Moon Jae-in, who was in office from 2017 to 2022. Relations with the United States survived despite Mr. Moon’s multiple meetings with North Korea’s leader.

The election Tuesday is two years earlier than expected. It was moved up on the calendar because of Mr. Yoon’s impeachment this year.

Lawmakers removed Mr. Yoon after his ill-fated attempt in December to declare martial law.

The political crisis that followed split Mr. Yoon’s party, the PPP. Though Mr. Kim, Mr. Yoon’s labor minister, won the party’s primary, his candidacy has not restored public confidence in the conservatives.

A glimmer of hope for the PPP flickered briefly when Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepped forward three weeks ago. The middle-of-the-road technocrat polled far north of Mr. Kim.

However, the two disagreed on a unified candidacy, and Mr. Han dropped out of the race. Mr. Kim also did not reach an arrangement with Mr. Lee, a former PPP member.

The PPP is a minority in the National Assembly, which will not hold its next elections until 2028. The presidential election results could sideline South Korea’s conservatives from political power for at least three years.

One-party control in Seoul, with Mr. Lee calling the shots, could spell trouble for relations with the U.S.

“What I am concerned about is, if Lee consolidates his power base to be undisputed leader, he is going to have full power with no balances or checks,” said Yang Sun-mook, who has been a foreign affairs adviser to both major parties. “He is going to make his own kingdom.”

From hard left to center right?

With the presidency in sight, Mr. Lee, who has lost two previous tilts at the title, has toned down his fiery persona and more extreme policies in recent months.

Mr. Lee grew up in extreme poverty and overcame severe difficulties to become a lawyer. Entering politics, he was a successful local mayor and provincial governor before taking the DPK’s helm.

The no-nonsense executive’s bruising political style made enemies along the way. Several aides have committed suicide, and he is hounded by allegations that he has illegally sent funds to North Korea and that he lied in previous elections.

Still, he has triumphed against all manner of lawfare. If elected, he gains presidential immunity from further charges short of insurrection or treason.

A trip to North Korea, a chummy meeting with China’s ambassador, remarks blaming NATO for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and his repeated calls to rejigger Seoul’s relationships with Beijing and Moscow have horrified conservatives.

“I don’t think he has had any close relations with Americans — not with politicians, not with anyone,” said Mr. Yang. “But he has several ties with China and North Korea.”

Realistically, however, he has limited wiggle room for any attempt to transform South Korea’s geopolitics.

The country’s landmark security alliance with the U.S. has massive support: more than 71%, per the most recent poll. That is a strong reality check.

More recent polls have found that a surging dislike of China has overtaken South Koreans’ customary historical animosity toward Japan.

These factors may explain Mr. Lee’s rebranding as a centrist.

In February, he rechristened the liberal DPK as a “center-right party.” He has made real policy changes, such as dropping a long-standing opposition to nuclear power.

He has also held a photo opportunity with the acting U.S. ambassador to Seoul and repeatedly underscored the importance of the U.S. alliance.

A blowhard anti-Japanese orator, he has committed to maintaining the trilateral Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security arrangements, pioneered by Mr. Yoon, that have particularly strong support on Capitol Hill.

Some worry that Mr. Lee’s reformist tendencies could damage the chaebol, the giant industrial conglomerates such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor that form the backbone of South Korea’s export-based economy.

Others say corporate governance reforms are overdue and could chip away at the “Korean Discount,” Korea Inc.’s traditionally low stock valuations and dividends.

“Perception abroad is that these companies are great,” said Daniel Tudor, a former adviser to the Moon government. “But if you are a small shareholder, you may not capture the value of your investment; the [company] chairman may capture the value.”

A man of many faces

Opinion is divided over whether Mr. Lee’s rightward shift is legitimate or tactical.

“He is a smart guy, and an operator,” said Mr. Tudor, the author of “Korea: The Impossible Country.” “I think he will be more moderate in power than out of it.”

“He is a known populist among lower- and middle-class people,” said Mr. Yang. “There is no way he is going to insist on far-left policies.”

Others are less sure.

“I assume that once elected, because his party has the House, his move to the center will turn out to be an election strategy and there will be a move back to the left,” said Michael Breen, author of “The New Koreans.” “But how that will manifest, I don’t know.”

Mr. Yang acknowledged one fear related to the U.S. administration, which is expected to reach out to the new Korean president on issues such as the role of U.S. troops in the region and tariffs.

“Trump is not like previous presidents; he is a business dealer,” he said. “I don’t know if Lee is fully aware of his tendencies, so if he is a little radical toward the Trump administration, that worries me a little bit.”

Self-described conservatives are more scathing about the DPK candidate.

“He is a real fake person: Nobody should trust him,” said K.B. Yoon, a Seoul-based academic with close connections to senior conservatives.

“I am sure he is controlled by North Korea and China, a puppet — like an actor who cannot refuse orders.”

Mr. Yoon, like many supporters of the impeached Mr. Yoon (no relation), is convinced that polling companies and the National Election Commission are corrupt.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, a conservative former prime minister, raised allegations over the weekend that early voting has been fraudulent.

Mr. Yoon claimed he had data, the accuracy of which The Washington Times could not confirm, that indicated at least three voter districts had reported more than 100% returns.

Mr. Yoon anticipates right-wingers taking to the streets if the DPK captures the House and the presidency.

That is hardly unusual in South Korea.

During the impeachment crisis, both left and right held massive, noisy demonstrations, but all was peaceful, bar one court invasion.

That may not last.

“I think there will be blood in the streets,” Mr. Yoon said.

• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.

washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon

6. South Korea’s New Leader Will Inherit a Divided Country in an Unstable World

The mainstream US media is getting prepared to deal with a new President Lee.

South Korea’s New Leader Will Inherit a Divided Country in an Unstable World

The next president will face daunting challenges to heal a polarized nation and bring stability after months of political turmoil.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/world/asia/south-korea-election-president.html

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Whoever becomes the next president in South Korea will not be accepted by a large swath of the polarized society.Credit...Jun Michael Park for The New York Times

By Choe Sang-Hun

Reporting from Seoul

June 2, 2025,

2:26 a.m. ET

The presidential election in South Korea on Tuesday will be a big step toward stabilizing the country after months of political turbulence. But whoever wins — the left-wing front-runner Lee Jae-myung or his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo — will lead a nation in crisis.

South Korea’s economic growth has sputtered to a snail’s pace. Its income gap is wider than ever. Its suicide rates are among the highest, and its birthrates the lowest, in the world. Yet, the country has never been more politically divided — between the left and right, between generations and between young men and women. Whoever becomes the president will not be accepted by a large swath of the polarized society.

South Korea also faces formidable challenges from abroad. North Korea is threatening to use its expanding nuclear arsenal against South Korea. Russia has signed a mutual defense treaty with the North and is helping modernize its military. But President Trump has asked why the United States should spend so much money to keep its troops in South Korea. He has also slapped steep tariffs on cars, steel and other products that are crucial for South Korea’s export-driven economy.

South Korea needs to repair strained diplomatic ties with China, its largest trade partner, to help spur exports and economic growth. But the United States, its only military ally, is asking it to join efforts to contain China.

“A daunting and complex crisis is buffeting us,” said Mr. Lee, the Democratic Party candidate who is leading in the polls. “We must turn the crisis into opportunities.”

Image

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, who is leading in polls, has said he would use his power to bring the country together and revive the economy.Credit...Jun Michael Park for The New York Times

Should he be elected, Mr. Lee will take office as one of the most powerful leaders since South Korea introduced popular elections in the late 1980s. He will be backed by his Democratic Party, which controls Parliament with a large majority. His party has vowed to push bills through Parliament that critics said would increase his influence over the judiciary.

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The election is seen as a referendum on former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law, for which he was expelled from office. That gave Mr. Lee a head start and polls leading up to the election showed him leading Mr. Kim, the candidate of the right-wing People Power Party, by around 10 percentage points.

His anticipated victory “is not thanks to any particular policy proposals, but rather a result of Yoon’s spectacular collapse,” said Prof. Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Mr. Lee has said he would use his power to bring the country together and revive the economy. But his supporters want him to pass special bills through Parliament to launch more extensive investigations into Mr. Yoon’s martial law and to probe allegations of corruption surrounding his family.

Mr. Kim has also promised national healing. But he has stoked the same right-wing fear and indignation that drove Mr. Yoon to send military troops to the Democrat-controlled Parliament to try to impose martial law. He has warned that if elected, Mr. Lee would turn into “a monster” and abuse his immense power for political retribution.

Image

Mr. Kim, the candidate of the right-wing People Power Party, has also promised national healing.Credit...Ahn Young-Joon/Associated Press

“Political polarization will continue,” said Sung Deuk Hahm, dean of the Graduate School of Political Studies at Kyonggi University. “Lee Jae-myung must show a good economic performance to fend off challenges to the legitimacy of his presidency.”

Mr. Lee still faces his own legal jeopardy: he has been on trial on several criminal charges, including violating election laws. There is a legal debate over whether his trials should continue if he wins the election or should be suspended until after his five-year term. The nation’s Constitution doesn’t provide a clear answer. The Constitutional Court will likely have to weigh in.

Until then, “uncertainty and confusion will persist,” said Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership.

But if anything, Mr. Lee is a survivor.

From a slum to presidential favorite

Growing up in a slum south of Seoul, he only finished elementary school before he went to work in sweatshops as a teenager. But he eventually became a human rights lawyer, mayor, governor and the head of South Korea’s largest political party and its presidential candidate twice.

He lost the 2022 election to Mr. Yoon. His legal troubles deepened, but his image as a victim of political persecution hardened among his supporters, when prosecutors under Mr. Yoon went after him, his family and his former aides with multiple criminal charges. His political fortune shifted after the unpopular Mr. Yoon declared martial law and angry South Koreans pushed back.

Image

Mr. Lee’s supporters at a rally in Seoul on Monday.Credit...Jun Michael Park for The New York Times

Mr. Lee’s supporters have rallied behind his reputation as an administrator who gets things done — something the country sorely needs after three years of dysfunctional governance under Mr. Yoon. They have also expressed hopes that he would push through long-overdue reforms, such as overhauling the country’s prosecution service, which has been accused of meddling in politics.

But his detractors, including elderly voters and the right-wing political elites affiliated with the People Power Party, have called him a dangerous leftist who would undermine South Korea’s alliance with Washington for the sake of improving ties with North Korea and China.

Mr. Lee has recognized political polarization as one of the biggest challenges he would face as president. (He narrowly escaped death when he was stabbed in the neck by a politically motivated assailant last year.) But he must tread cautiously in addressing the problem.

Mr. Yoon and others involved in the imposition of martial law are standing trial on insurrection charges. While Mr. Lee has promised more investigations, many right-wing South Koreans say that Mr. Lee and his party were also responsible for Mr. Yoon’s martial law, because their obstructive tactics in Parliament forced Mr. Yoon to the extremes.

Image

Military vehicles and police near the National Assembly in Seoul following Mr. Yoon’s declaration of martial law in December.Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

“People want punishment but if Lee Jae-myung goes too far, he will face accusations of political revenge and persecution,” said Mr. Hahm of Kyonggi University.

During the campaign, Mr. Lee vowed to build “national unity,” promising to punish those involved in Mr. Yoon’s martial law but not to indulge in political revenge. He talked less about traditional left-wing causes, like wealth redistribution and higher taxes for the rich, focusing more on economic growth.

Mr. Lee would also face a delicate balancing act in diplomacy.

He has tried to dispel the right-wing accusation that he was “pro-China” and “anti-U.S.” by emphasizing that the alliance with Washington as the bedrock of South Korean diplomacy. But he has also appealed to his left-wing base by promising to improve ties with China and North Korea without upsetting the alliance with Washington.

That strategy has detractors in Washington.

Image

A supporter of former President Yoon taking photos with a banner featuring the impeached leader during a rally in March.Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

“We know that many countries are tempted by the idea of seeking both economic cooperation with China and defense cooperation with the United States,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday. But “economic dependence on China,” he warned, “only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension.”

Mr. Kim has promised to make South Korea a more reliable ally of the United States. But he has also championed an idea that will also disturb policymakers in Washington: South Korea, he said, should reintroduce American tactical nuclear weapons or prepare to build its own nuclear weapons to counter North Korea.

Choe Sang-Hun is the lead reporter for The Times in Seoul, covering South and North Korea.

7. S. Korean election officials investigate voting irregularities

Just what China (and north Korea) wants. Undermine the election system.

World News June 1, 2025 / 5:31 PM / Updated at 5:36 PM

S. Korean election officials investigate voting irregularities

By Mark Moran

1 of 2 | South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks as he and President Joe Biden (not pictured) hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office during an official State Visit in Washington, DC, in 2023. File photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI | License Photo

June 1 (UPI) -- Ahead of South Korea's snap presidential elections Tuesday, the nation's warming diplomatic relations with North Korea and China have risen to the fore -- and officials are investigating voting irregularities.

"The relations between South Korea and China have become the worst ever," Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate leading public opinion polls, said in remarks to The New York Times. "I will stabilize and manage the relations."

Diplomatic relations between the three countries soured after former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office after imposing martial law in April, a move that was short-lived when he was expelled from office.

South Korea became more confrontational with North Korea during the Yoon administration, and North Korea ended its long-standing support for reunification with the South.

The Yoon administration also shook a delicate diplomatic balance between Washington and Beijing. China was South Korea's biggest post-Cold War trading partner, but the United States was its only military ally.

Early voter turnout was strong, but poll watchers expressed concern over irregularities. In past elections, the National Election Commission dismissed the irregularities as "simple mistakes" or "minor mistakes."

In this election, more public awareness and scrutiny over potential voting irregularities led to far greater concerns, and poll watchers discovered evidence of misconduct, Korean media reported.

However, the NEC has pushed back on claims of polling irregularities, and said the number of early ballots cast exceeds the actual number of voters.

Independent candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn withdrew from the race Sunday, saying he was shifting his efforts to supporting People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo.

South Korean independent presidential candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn said on June 1 that he is withdrawing from the race to support People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo, local media reported.

"I will withdraw my efforts to supporting Kim Moon-soo to protect the government," he said. My final task is to prevent election fraud. Fortunately, Kim has pledged to address election irregularities."

Polling places are scheduled to receive ballots from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

"We are at a critical juncture," Lee said on social media Sunday, "and it is in the hands of each and every one of you that we can return this country to its people, halt the retreat of democracy, and create a truly great Korea.

8. Jim Rogers denies endorsing Lee Jae-myung, S. Korean presidential candidate

Jim Rogers supports a free and unified Korea and all the huge economic benefits that will come with investment in the north territory after there is a United Republic of Korea. (UROK).

https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/06/02/IB7VDA4PLNB5DEA6JZEF6Z6IBM/

Jim Rogers denies endorsing Lee Jae-myung, S. Korean presidential candidate

By Kim Eun-joong (Washington),

Lee Jung-soo

Published 2025.06.02. 17:18

Jim Rogers denied endorsing South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, disputing claims by the Democratic Party that had promoted his alleged support just days earlier. /Newsis

Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, said on Jun. 1 (local time) that he has never declared support for Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of South Korea’s Democratic Party—contradicting reports from the party just days earlier.

In an email to The Chosun Daily, Rogers said he had never endorsed Lee Jae-myung. His comments directly refuted claims from the Democratic Party’s central election committee, which said during a May 29 press conference at the National Assembly that Rogers had declared his support for Lee in the upcoming presidential election.

The opposing People Power Party responded swiftly. On June 2, it held an emergency press briefing, denouncing the claim as a “fraudulent act on the public.”

Rogers also criticized Lee’s camp for widely promoting the alleged endorsement, saying his name had been used inaccurately and that he did not support anyone in S. Korea.

He explained that the statement had been made by Paul Song—also known as Song Kyung-ho, a professor at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology—whom he recalled meeting briefly several years ago.

After news of the press conference spread, Rogers said he received several inquiries from acquaintances. In response, he described the situation as bizarre in messages sent via mobile messenger and email, and again stressed that he did not support anyone in S. Korea.

He also said he did not know Kim Jin-hyang, the former head of the Kaesong Industrial Complex who had led the press conference, and called it a sad situation that such an incident was taking place in S. Korea. As a foreign national, he added, he is not even eligible to vote.

Despite the growing confusion, Lee referenced the alleged endorsement in a Facebook post the day after the press conference. He said he had heard that Rogers had expressed support and quoted him as saying that people should invest in peace and the future—and therefore in the S. Korea.

Lee added that peace is not simply a political issue but an economic strategy, and said he fully agreed with Rogers’ view that S. Korea would emerge as a trade, finance and innovation hub in Northeast Asia.

Even as questions mounted over the validity of the endorsement, Kim Jin-hyang continued to insist it was genuine. In a Facebook post, he said Rogers’ support for Lee was real and urged people to rise above what he called falsehoods that failed to recognize goodwill as goodwill.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo commented on the controversy during a radio appearance the same day. He said it was debatable whether Rogers’ support—or lack thereof—constituted the kind of national scandal that could significantly sway public opinion.

A portion of the email sent by Rogers Holdings Chairman Jim Rogers to The Chosun Daily on June 1. The red text shows Rogers saying he “never made any endorsement” and that the statement “was made by Paul Song, whom I met briefly several years ago.” /Kim Eun-joong

9. Three paths for Northeast Asia: Navigating the US-China rivalry on the Korean Peninsula

I think there is some wishful thinking. The author and I do not share the same assumption about the nature, objectives and strategy of the Kimfamily regime or the CCP/PRC.

Excerpts:

Collision scenario

In a collision scenario, rising tensions between the U.S. and China may prompt President Trump to take a series of assertive steps aimed at containing China and deterring North Korea’s provocations.

What the U.S. could offer Kim Jong Un

Trump will then make an offer to Kim Jong Un that he cannot refuse. In exchange for North Korea’s Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible Denuclearization (CVID), the U.S. would offer a comprehensive package that includes:

Opportunity created by possible election of Lee Jae-myung

In the “win-win” scenario, tensions ease as major powers converge around shared strategic objectives. The incoming South Korean president – likely Lee Jae-myung – would be uniquely positioned to foster such an outcome. Lee’s accommodating stance toward both China and North Korea – balanced by commitments to the U.S. alliance – positions him as a credible mediator. His ability to engage all sides pragmatically creates a rare opportunity for breakthrough on the Korean Peninsula and to forge a package deal that aligns with the strategic objectives of all key stakeholders – the U.S., China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and Russia – offering terms that the DPRK cannot refuse.

Three paths for Northeast Asia: Navigating the US-China rivalry on the Korean Peninsula

For Trump, the U.S.-China rivalry presents an opportunity to redeem his failed 2018-2019 summits and reassert U.S. influence

By Chan Young Bang, Ph.D. - June 2, 2025

dailynk.com

Three paths for Northeast Asia: Navigating the US-China rivalry on the Korean Peninsula - Daily NK English

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Panmunjom on June 30, 2019. The two leaders have not met face-to-face since. / Image: Rodong Sinmun

The U.S.-China rivalry is rapidly becoming the defining geopolitical contest of the 21st century, with Washington and Beijing maneuvering for influence and regional leadership. This strategic competition draws in a range of regional stakeholders – South Korea, and Japan, traditionally allied with the U.S., and North Korea, and Russia, who are deepening their partnerships with China. Against this backdrop, three strategic scenarios – collision, wedge, and win-win – offer distinct pathways through which the rivalry may unfold, either driving the region toward confrontation, creating divisions among allies and adversaries, or opening the door to mutually beneficial cooperation.

The U.S. approaches the region with two principle objectives: first, the denuclearization of North Korea, which it sees as essential to regional and global security; and second, the containment of China’s growing economic, military, and political influence. To advance these goals, Washington maintains a strong military presence in Asia and continually reinforces its alliances with Seoul and Tokyo. China, by contrast, prioritizes regional stability and economic prosperity in Northeast Asia. By aligning with Russia and the DPRK, Beijing’s broader ambition is to try to reshape the regional order in ways that diminish U.S. influence. This includes thwarting Washington’s military and political foothold and inducing conditions which are conducive to reunification with Taiwan on its own terms.

Collision scenario

In a collision scenario, rising tensions between the U.S. and China may prompt President Trump to take a series of assertive steps aimed at containing China and deterring North Korea’s provocations.

First, Trump could authorize the deployment of additional U.S. military assets to the region. In addition to the 28,500 U.S. troops already stationed in South Korea, Trump could deploy a wide range of other military assets such as aircraft carriers, F-22 Raptors, additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Patriot missiles systems, strategic bombers, and nuclear submarines. These deployments would enhance deterrence, reassure allies, and signal U.S. resolve.
Second, he may direct the Secretary of the Army to expand the U.S. Army’s forward presence in the Indo-Pacific by increasing prepositioned stocks, and rotational deployments. He would also press for large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan, as Washington sees closer trilateral cooperation as essential to countering both China’s assertiveness and North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. In addition, the DPRK’s belligerent activities serve as a pretext for the U.S. military presence in the region – largely aimed at containing China’s growing influence.
Third, Trump could leverage his tariff policy as a strategic tool to contain China. This would involve imposing strict tariffs and restricting technology exports to hinder China’s technological rise, while easing tariffs on Japan and South Korea to ensure they adopt similar export controls, creating a coordinated effort against Beijing.

This would tilt the regional balance of power in favor of the U.S., a clear threat to Beijing’s objectives. The deployment of U.S. missile defense systems and aircraft would be deeply concerning for China.

Possible Chinese reponses

In response to U.S. actions, China may take several drastic steps to counter growing threats from the U.S. and its allies.

First, China can incite the DPRK to resort to military provocations such as long-range missile tests, military drills, aggressive rhetoric, and testing of nuclear weapons.
Second, China, intimidated by the U.S.’s growing provocations, may formalize a strategic alliance with North Korea and Russia, turning coordination into a definitive bloc, through joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and a unified regional strategy.
Third, Beijing and Moscow could formally recognize North Korea as a de jure nuclear weapons state through statements, legitimizing and cementing its status, while deepening regional divisions.
Fourth, China might impose targeted punitive economic measures on key South Korean industries, aiming to punish Seoul for deepening its alignment with the U.S.

As tensions precipitate, Trump could encourage South Korea and Japan to pursue independent nuclear capabilities favoring shared deterrence, reversing prevailing nonproliferation. This shift risks creating a precarious nuclear balance among six armed states in Northeast Asia, heightening the chances of miscalculation and conflict.

In a wedge scenario, intensifying U.S.-China rivalry unfolds on the Korean Peninsula, as both great powers seek to reshape regional alignments.

From China’s perspective, South Korea represents the weakest link in the U.S.-led trilateral alliance – especially given the possibility that Lee Jae-myung could become the country’s next president. Lee, who embraces progressive views, has previously suggested that a U.S. troop withdrawal would be acceptable, and has expressed a pragmatic openness toward deeper engagement with China. Overall, his approach appears broadly compatible with Beijing’s long-term interests. Therefore, China would likely take decisive steps to advance its policy goals in Asia. China’s objectives would be a) to ensure permanent peace, stability, and economic prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, b) to undermine the trilateral alliance among South Korea, Japan and the U.S. in order to undermine U.S. efforts to contain China , and c) to pursue unification with Taiwan under the “one country, two systems” framework. In contrast, the U.S. objectives would be comparatively limited – a) to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea, and b) to contain China.

To advance these objectives, China would likely implement the following measures:

a) offering South Korea and Japan economic incentives – for example, increasing trade volumes and investments;
b) engaging South Korea and Japan on security – for example, by underscoring that North Korea’s nuclear weapons are not aligned with China’s interests, and by pursuing collaborative efforts with Seoul and Tokyo to jointly and peacefully dismantle them;
c) countering external interference on the Taiwan issue – by fostering a cooperative relationship with South Korea, China seeks to ensure that Seoul remains inactive during any attempts to unify with Taiwan. Beijing is concerned that, as a U.S. ally, South Korea could be drawn into a potential conflict – whether through supply chains or direct involvement.

These efforts could gain momentum if, as expected, Lee Jae-myung returns as South Korea’s president. China would aim to draw both Seoul and Tokyo closer, positioning itself as a stabilizing force amid uncertainty regarding the U.S.’s long-term presence in the region. Consequently, South Korea would gain greater leverage in inter-Korean relations and benefit from a reduced military threat. Yet, in this scenario, both Koreas would face pivotal choices – North Korea would need to weigh the benefits of a U.S. partnership against traditional Chinese support, while South Korea would find itself navigating between a retreating but familiar U.S. alliance and an increasingly assertive China seeking long-term realignment. The result could be a fragmented Northeast Asia, shaped more by geopolitical rivalry than regional cooperation.

For Trump, the U.S.-China rivalry presents an opportunity to redeem his failed 2018-2019 summits and reassert U.S. influence through a bold diplomatic play. His strategy would likely unfold in two phases. First, he would manufacture urgency through pressure: authorizing large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan and opening talks with Seoul on redeploying or sharing tactical nuclear weapons – moves aimed at unsettling Pyongyang and increasing U.S. leverage.

What the U.S. could offer Kim Jong Un

Trump will then make an offer to Kim Jong Un that he cannot refuse. In exchange for North Korea’s Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible Denuclearization (CVID), the U.S. would offer a comprehensive package that includes:

An end to military and political hostility – The U.S. would cease all joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan, and refrain from publicly criticizing North Korea’s domestic politics – including its human rights record.
Lifting of sanctions – Washington would move to lift sanctions against North Korea that restricted its economy, both unilaterally and through coordinated efforts at the United Nations.
Peace and diplomatic normalization – The U.S. would endorse a formal peace treaty between the two Koreas, officially ending the Korean War. In parallel, the U.S. and Japan would forge diplomatic relations with the DPRK.
Economic development support – Under Washington’s initiative, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan would coordinate efforts to support North Korea’s economic development, with South Korea providing credible sums of financial resources to ensure sustained economic growth.

The final, and most significant concession would be a U.S. commitment to withdraw troops from South Korea upon CVID completion. Trump would likely invite Kim Jong Un to the White House and jointly announce the deal at a press conference, framing it as a historic breakthrough – ending the Korean War, redefining the U.S. role in Northeast Asia, and securing his legacy as a peacemaker. A U.S.-DPRK normalization deal would pose a serious challenge to China’s regional strategy. By drawing Pyongyang closer to Washington, it would weaken Beijing’s influence and shift the regional balance in favor of the U.S., transforming North Korea into a cooperative partner and strategically isolating China.

Opportunity created by possible election of Lee Jae-myung

In the “win-win” scenario, tensions ease as major powers converge around shared strategic objectives. The incoming South Korean president – likely Lee Jae-myung – would be uniquely positioned to foster such an outcome. Lee’s accommodating stance toward both China and North Korea – balanced by commitments to the U.S. alliance – positions him as a credible mediator. His ability to engage all sides pragmatically creates a rare opportunity for breakthrough on the Korean Peninsula and to forge a package deal that aligns with the strategic objectives of all key stakeholders – the U.S., China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and Russia – offering terms that the DPRK cannot refuse.

The proposal should be built around seven key elements, contingent upon North Korea’s CVID:

Security guarantees, backed by both China and Russia
A formal peace treaty with South Korea, replacing the current armistice
Diplomatic recognition by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan
The lifting of international sanctions
An end to perceived threats, including cessation of U.S.-South Korean military exercises, and a halt to all public criticism of the DPRK’s internal affairs – including its human rights abuses
A commitment to credible and substantial economic aid, aimed at supporting the establishment of a sustained economic model for the DPRK
Upon fulfillment of obligations, removal of U.S. troops from South Korea

This strategy enables North Korea to denuclearize without endangering regime survival, while allowing the U.S. to achieve CVID and withdraw its troops from South Korea. Seoul could begin decreasing its military expenditure, focusing on economic growth – potentially fostering an economic partnership with the North. For China, it removes the U.S. military presence near its border, and promotes regional stability and trade.

All six stakeholders have an opportunity to avoid a zero-sum game by seizing a rare opportunity to transform decades of hostility into a practical, mutually beneficial framework for peace. The core challenge is to construct a win-win outcome – rooted in institutions, transparency, and reciprocal incentives – that replaces rivalry with lasting peace.

In the end, the DPRK’s objective is not only regime survival, but also sustained economic development. Yet this will remain out of reach without economic reform, which has to be preceded by political reform, – and as long as North Korea clings to its nuclear weapons. The extractive nature of its economic system has repeatedly proven incompatible without modernization. The time has come for the stakeholders to provide Kim Jong Un with a better chance of survival – one that does not rely on his nuclear arsenal, but instead offers him a chance to lift 25 million North Koreans out of poverty.

Chan Young Bang, Ph.D.

Dr. Chan Young Bang is the founder and President of KIMEP University, Principal Investigator at the DPRK Strategic Research Center, and a former economic adviser to Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first President of Kazakhstan. His current research focuses on nuclear non-proliferation and the economic development of the DPRK (North Korea). He is the author of more than 60 articles and nine books on the global prospects for achieving peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula. His latest English-language books include Transition Beyond Denuclearization: A Bold Challenge for Kim Jong Un and A Korean Peninsula Free of Nuclear Weapons: Perspectives on Socioeconomic Development which were published by Palgrave Mcmillan in 2020 and 2023, respectively.

N. Korea sets three-point test for S. Korea's next government

North Korea has made South Korea's upcoming presidential election the starting point for resetting its South Korea strategy for the next five years

By Lee Sang-yong - June 2, 2025

dailynk.com

N. Korea sets three-point test for S. Korea's next government - Daily NK English

South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke during a mass gymnastics performance at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang in September 2018. / Image: Pyongyang Press Corps Pool

As North Korea prepares to adjust its strategy toward South Korea ahead of Seoul’s presidential elections, Pyongyang is evaluating potential incoming governments using three key criteria: their hostility toward the North, their subservience to the United States, and their openness to peaceful coexistence.

A North Korean source told Daily NK recently that Pyongyang would “clearly distinguish between an approachable government in Seoul and one that should be cut off based on those three criteria.”

According to the source, these criteria serve not just as evaluation tools but as policy guidelines for shaping inter-Korean relations and determining dialogue possibilities. They provide a shared analytical framework for ruling party departments handling South Korea, the Foreign Ministry and other agencies, forming the core structure for political analysis reports sent to North Korea’s leadership.

First, North Korea will assess whether the new South Korean government views the North with hostility or takes a more defensive management approach. This includes comprehensive evaluation of the government’s statements about Kim Jong Un, its military policy direction, and diplomatic strategy.

For instance, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo has labeled the North Korean government the “Kim Jong Un regime, the principal enemy,” and promised to scrap the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement while resuming psychological warfare broadcasts. North Korean authorities view this as directly hostile.

In contrast, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung has pledged to “restore the Panmunjeom Declaration” and “conditionally restart dialogue” with the North. Consequently, Pyongyang would likely see a Lee administration as more willing to compromise rather than launch direct attacks.

S. Korean cooperation with the US

The second criterion examines how closely the new South Korean government aligns with the United States. This includes the government’s willingness to maintain sanctions on the North, its stance on joint military exercises with the U.S., and its level of participation in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

“If the new government fully cooperates with U.S. strategy, we’ll regard South Korea as essentially an appendage of U.S. imperialism,” the source said. “In that case, we believe dialogue would yield no practical benefits.”

The Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s increased participation in combined military exercises with the U.S. and involvement in America’s Indo-Pacific strategy appear to have significantly contributed to North Korea’s prolonged hard-line policy toward the South.

‘Peaceful coexistence’

The final criterion is whether the new administration is willing to establish peaceful coexistence based on recognizing North and South as independent entities. This includes willingness to implement existing inter-Korean agreements like the Sept. 19 military accords and Panmunjeom Declaration, as well as maintaining systematic dialogue structures and pursuing working-level cooperation.

“National cooperation has disappeared from the official vocabulary, but an attitude of mutual respect for peaceful coexistence remains crucial,” the source said. “What matters is whether the new government maintains the spirit of agreements like the Panmunjom Declaration.”

North Korea has already prepared to send its “first message” through KCNA, Choson Sinbo and other media immediately after the new South Korean government takes power. North Korean authorities plan to adjust the message’s tone and direction based on their three-criteria evaluation of the new government.

“If we judge the new government to be approachable, we could take steps toward practical-level talks after a certain observation period,” the source said. “But if we classify the new government as one to reject, we’d maintain our hard line while simultaneously trying to isolate Seoul diplomatically.”

No compromise on ‘military matters’

Based on these criteria, North Korea plans to demand that South Korea suspend combined military drills with the U.S., stop psychological warfare activities, and implement existing inter-Korean agreements. “These aren’t just conditions, but trust-building measures and ways to shape negotiation parameters in advance,” the source said.

“Only if all three conditions are met will working-level or summit talks be possible,” the source explained. “We can’t compromise on military matters (combined exercises with the U.S.) for national security reasons or threats to internal stability (psychological warfare).

“The Pyongyang Declaration is a top-level diplomatic document signed by our supreme leader, so ignoring it undermines the leader’s authority,” the source continued, adding: “If the new government won’t implement the agreement, we’ll classify it as an administration we cannot work with.”

Meanwhile, North Korea has made South Korea’s upcoming presidential election the starting point for resetting its South Korea strategy for the next five years.

“The authorities believe this will be the time to rebuild our Korean Peninsula strategy for the next five years, since the change in South Korea’s administration coincides with the Ninth Party Congress scheduled for early next year,” the source said.

“Military development and strengthening internal self-reliance are priorities, but the pace and intensity of our strategy will depend on the South Korean government’s attitude.”

Read in Korean

Lee Sang-yong

Lee Sang-yong is the head of Daily NK's AND (Archiving North Korea Data) Center and previously spent a number of years working as one of the publication’s foreign correspondents in China. He can be reached at dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

N. Korea border smuggling suspended for weeks, leaving traders in financial limbo

Concerns are spreading among smugglers that the suspension could last longer than expected due to China's COVID-19 resurgence

By Lee Chae Eun - June 2, 2025

dailynk.com

N. Korea border smuggling suspended for weeks, leaving traders in financial limbo - Daily NK English

FILE PHOTO: Hyesan, Ryanggang province, in August 2013. (Daily NK)

State-led smuggling operations around Hyesan have been suspended for more than two weeks. North Korean smugglers who made advance payments to Chinese suppliers are now facing financial difficulties.

A Daily NK source in Ryanggang province said recently that state smuggling operations at the Hyesan border were suspended on May 15, deepening concerns among smugglers.

“They made advance payments to Chinese counterparts to import goods,” the source said.

North Korean smugglers typically send goods first when exporting and receive payment after sales are completed. When importing from China, sending payment in advance has become standard practice.

Some smugglers who made large advance payments to import expensive items like vehicles are unable to receive goods or recover funds due to the suspension.

According to the source, one vehicle importer sent 500,000 Chinese yuan (around $69,000) to a Chinese supplier just before state smuggling operations were suspended. The money remains tied up as operations have not resumed.

“When state smuggling was first suspended, Chinese sources said it would reopen ‘around next week,’ so people were reassured. But with no signs of resumption after two weeks, smugglers’ anxiety and impatience are growing,” the source said.

Rumors fly about possible reopening dates

Concerns are spreading among smugglers that the suspension could last longer than expected due to China’s COVID-19 resurgence. The enthusiastic atmosphere around previously active state smuggling has cooled, with smugglers saying their “insides are burning black.”

“There are rumors trade will restart around early June, but since what was supposed to reopen ‘after a week’ has already been more than two weeks, we’ll have to wait and see,” the source said. “Right now, smugglers are just hoping trade will restart.”

The source added that smugglers involved in illegal trade all face extreme pressure when such situations arise. “Those who made advance payments can’t receive goods, while those who need to ship goods can’t make deliveries.”

The suspension is due to Chinese circumstances, giving smugglers some hope.

“Smugglers are holding on day by day, thinking operations will eventually resume as long as North Korea doesn’t completely close the border like during COVID,” the source said.

Read in Korean

Lee Chae Eun

Lee Chae Un is one of Daily NK's full-time journalists. She can be reached at dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging

Chae Yun-hwan

Politics 16:20 June 02, 2025

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 2-3, 5-7)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A wave of accusations of online opinion manipulation by a conservative education organization has gripped the final days of the presidential election campaign as the nation gears up to elect its new leader this week.

Last week, the online news outlet Newstapa reported that the education group Rhee Park School has been operating a team of online commenters to sway public opinion in favor of conservative People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo and against liberal Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung.

The team allegedly instructed its members to write online comments praising Kim as well as ones critical of Lee in a coordinated manner, according to Newstapa.

In response, the DP has filed a complaint against the "far-right" group, named after former Presidents Rhee Syng-man and Park Chung-hee, who are revered in conservative circles, with police launching an investigation into the case.

A sign for Rhee Park School, a conservative education group, is seen outside its office in central Seoul on June 2, 2025. (Yonhap)

Park Hyun-soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, vowed to conduct a "thorough and swift" investigation.

A police official said they already interviewed the DP official, who had filed the complaint, on Sunday, noting they plan to look into the case for possible election law violations and obstruction of business.

"The charges may increase with witness questioning and other procedures, and the investigation could take place in a different direction," the official said.

DP candidate Lee Jae-myung has called the allegations an act of "insurrection" that destroys the constitutional order while suggesting the PPP's possible involvement in the alleged opinion rigging.

"It does not make sense that the PPP is not involved. I think there is a clear connection," Lee told reporters Monday. "By praising PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo and disparaging Lee Jae-myung, (they) conducted a political attack by spreading false information, with Kim and the PPP reaping the benefits."

Meanwhile, Kim has denied having any knowledge about the allegations surrounding Rhee Park School.

"I don't even know who writes (what) on our party's comments; how would I know (what) Rhee Park School writes in the comments?" Kim told reporters Sunday. "It doesn't make any sense."

Kim has faced accusations of being connected to the organization, such as allegedly attending a lecture by a group affiliated with Rhee Park School's chief in 2018.

"This is not a problem of knowing or not knowing someone at Rhee Park School -- the comments are the problem right now," Kim said, declining to comment on whether he knows the organization's head Son Hyo-sook.

In light of the allegations, the education ministry has dismissed Son from a policy advisory role and plans to conduct a probe into her group as the scandal appears to continue to roil the nation.

On Monday, a civic group filed a complaint against Kim for allegedly disseminating false information over his denial of being connected to Rhee Park School.

South Koreans will head to the polls Tuesday to elect the successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.

The entrance to the conservative education group Rhee Park School's office in central Seoul remains shut on June 2, 2025. (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

Keywords

#election #opinion rigging

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging

en.yna.co.kr

13. Seoul monitoring China-installed buoys, citing possible military purpose

China is a threat to South Korea.

Seoul monitoring China-installed buoys, citing possible military purpose | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Choi Kyong-ae · June 2, 2025

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is closely monitoring additional observation buoys installed by China near overlapping waters between the two countries, the foreign ministry said Monday, citing concerns they could be used for military purposes.

The South Korean Navy recently detected three new buoys installed in May 2023 in international waters near the Provisional Maritime Zone (PMZ), an area where the two countries' exclusive economic zones (EEZs) overlap.

One of the three buoys is located inside the PMZ.

"The government is closely monitoring the related situation ... while remaining open to various possibilities, including the potential military surveillance purpose of the buoys," a ministry official said.

The official vowed to take necessary measures, including a "proportional" response to China, adding that Seoul has also installed its own buoys in nearby waters as part of such responses.

Since 2018, China had installed 10 observation buoys in and around the Yellow Sea PMZ, each approximately 3 meters wide and 6 meters tall. With the latest additions, the total number of Chinese buoys confirmed in the area now stands at 13.

While China claims the buoys are for maritime and meteorological observation, concerns persist that they may serve military purposes, such as detecting South Korean naval vessels or submarines, or that they could be used in future EEZ boundary negotiations.

Tensions between Seoul and Beijing have escalated over the maritime zone, which allows joint management of marine resources and prohibits activities beyond navigation and fishing.

China raised further concerns by installing a fixed steel structure within the zone in 2022.

This graphic shows three new buoys, marked in red as Nos. 11 to 13, installed by China in May 2023. (Yonhap)

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Choi Kyong-ae · June 2, 2025

14. Pyongyang slams monitoring group's report on N. Korea-Russia military cooperation

Because it is correct.

Admit nothing. deny everything. Make counter accusations.

(LEAD) Pyongyang slams monitoring group's report on N. Korea-Russia military cooperation | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · June 2, 2025

(ATTN: UPDATES with reaction from Seoul in paras 7-9)

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Monday denounced a monitoring group on the enforcement of U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang for issuing a report on military cooperation between the North and Russia, calling the move a violation of a state's sovereign rights.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) on Thursday issued the first report detailing illegal military cooperation carried out between North Korea and Russia in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

The chief of the external policy office at North Korea's foreign ministry said the MSMT committed a "political provocation" by fabricating a report taking issue with cooperative ties between the North and Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Calling the MSMT a "bogus group which has no legality in terms of existence and purpose," the official said the report is a "wanton" violation of international legal principles centering on sovereignty equality and non-interference in others' internal affairs.

"We give stern warning against the negative consequences to be entailed by its reckless acts," the North's official said in a statement carried by the KCNA.

North Korea said the MSMT is a "political tool" operating in line with the West's geopolitical interests, stressing, "It has no justification to investigate the exercise of sovereign rights of other countries," according to the KCNA.

In response, South Korea's foreign ministry defended the MSMT's activities as legitimate and in line with the international obligations to enforce and monitor compliance with U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

The ministry noted that North Korea-Russia military cooperation is a "clear violation" of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning arms trade with North Korea, calling such resolutions legally binding for all U.N. member stages.

It rejected the North's claim of a sovereignty violation as an "absurd" argument that disregards the authority of the security council and the international obligation to comply with its resolutions.

The MSMT was established in October last year with the initiative of South Korea and the United States to continue the sanctions monitoring of North Korea following the disbandment of the U.N. Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions monitoring due to Russia's veto.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun (C) speaks about the launch of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) in a press conference at the foreign ministry in Seoul, together with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (5th from L), Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano (7th from L) and the ambassadors of participating countries on the MSMT, in this file photo taken Oct. 16, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · June 2, 2025

15. DP candidate vows to make economy top priority, if elected

In the real election and for most Korean voters it is "it's the economy, stupid."

DP candidate vows to make economy top priority, if elected | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · June 2, 2025

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said Monday revitalizing the nation's sluggish economy and improving people's livelihoods would be his top priority if he is elected.

Lee made the remark during a press conference on his campaign stop in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, stressing that improving people's livelihoods is currently the most critical issue.

"There are numerous areas that need reform, but restoring the economy and people's livelihoods is more urgent than reform at the moment," he said in response to a question about his plans for judicial reform.

When asked how he would handle relations with U.S. President Donald Trump amid ongoing trade negotiations, Lee highlighted the importance of prioritizing national interest.

"Whether it's a security crisis or an economic crisis, we must pursue pragmatic negotiations and policies that put the interests of our people first," he said.

Lee is widely seen as the front-runner for the June 3 presidential election.

Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, attends a press conference at a church in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on June 2, 2025, to appeal to the public for support on the eve of the presidential election. (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · June 2, 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

Company Name | Website

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North Korea appears to jam GPS signals near sea border ahead of ROK election

Letter from Seoul: This isn't just another election - Asia Times

South Korea faces high-stakes election; fears over China, North Korea and US ties shape voter concerns

Lee Jae-myung favored to win South Korea presidency, but concerns remain over relations with the US, China and North Korea

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South Korea’s New Leader Will Inherit a Divided Country in an Unstable World

From a slum to presidential favorite

S. Korean election officials investigate voting irregularities

Related

Jim Rogers denies endorsing Lee Jae-myung, S. Korean presidential candidate

Three paths for Northeast Asia: Navigating the US-China rivalry on the Korean Peninsula

N. Korea sets three-point test for S. Korea's next government

N. Korea border smuggling suspended for weeks, leaving traders in financial limbo

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging | Yonhap News Agency

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging

(LEAD) (News Focus) Presidential election roiled by alleged opinion rigging

Seoul monitoring China-installed buoys, citing possible military purpose | Yonhap News Agency

(LEAD) Pyongyang slams monitoring group's report on N. Korea-Russia military cooperation | Yonhap News Agency

DP candidate vows to make economy top priority, if elected | Yonhap News Agency