September 17, 2026

South Korea Watch

South Korea says US cancels joint marine drill over Iran war– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser August 26, 2026 0

South Korea says US cancels joint marine drill over Iran war– www.channelnewsasia.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL: South Korea said on Monday (Aug 24) that the United States had cancelled a large joint amphibious landing exercise scheduled for next month due to constraints on force availability caused by the war with Iran.

The biennial Ssangyong drills involve marine forces from South Korea and the US and are designed to strengthen combined operations, typically involving warships, aircraft and ground forces rehearsing amphibious landings.

The cancellation follows US President Donald Trump’s order last week to scale down the separate annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, cutting the joint drills from 11 days to five.

Trump at the time cited their high cost and said they sent an “inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea, while highlighting his relationship with its leader, Kim Jong Un.

“The US Marine Corps formally notified our forces in June that its ability to deploy forces during this year’s Ssangyong exercise would be constrained due to the situation in the Middle East,” Han Seung-jeon, a spokesman for the South Korean Marine Corps, told reporters at a news briefing.

Seoul and Washington were continuing consultations on resuming the amphibious exercise, he said, without giving details.

South Korea says Russian military planes entered its air defence zone– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser August 26, 2026 0

South Korea says Russian military planes entered its air defence zone– www.channelnewsasia.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL: South Korea said on Wednesday (Aug 25) it had scrambled fighter jets in response to Russian military aircraft entering its air defence zone, the second such incursion in weeks.

The relationship between the countries has worsened since South Korea joined Western sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and since Moscow built stronger ties with North Korea.

Seoul’s defence ministry said multiple Russian aircraft had entered and then left its air defence identification zone over the East Sea, also called the Sea of Japan.

“South Korea’s military detected the Russian aircraft before they entered the zone and deployed Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any contingency,” it said, without giving details.

The Russian aircraft did not violate South Korean airspace, it said.

President Trump Says South Korea Refused To Help With “Denuclearization” Of Iran – Instructs Pete Hegseth To Reduce Joint Military Exercises– wltreport.com

pgnewser August 21, 2026 0

President Trump Says South Korea Refused To Help With “Denuclearization” Of Iran – Instructs Pete Hegseth To Reduce Joint Military Exercises– wltreport.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

President Trump on Sunday said he instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea due to his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un of North Korea.

Trump said he is “not happy” that the United States, long ago, agreed to joint military exercises with South Korea.

“These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!” Trump explained.

“While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’” he added.

US, South Korean militaries wrapping up drills early, a day after North Korea’s missile barrage– abcnews.com

pgnewser August 21, 2026 0

US, South Korean militaries wrapping up drills early, a day after North Korea’s missile barrage– abcnews.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL, South Korea — The U.S. and South Korean militaries were wrapping up their annual drills six days earlier than initially scheduled on Friday in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, though the North said the step isn’t enough to convince it to return to talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just before they began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, brushed aside Trump’s overture on Wednesday, saying “the provocative, aggressive nature of the drills” won’t change only with the reduction of their duration and size.

The next day, North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, apparently following through with its previous threat to respond to the U.S.-South Korean drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal.

Trump cuts military drills with South Korea citing ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong-un – US politics live | Donald Trump– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser August 17, 2026 0

Trump cuts military drills with South Korea citing ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong-un – US politics live | Donald Trump– www.theguardian.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

US president Donald Trump said he ordered the Pentagon to scale back “inappropriate and hostile” military drills with South Korea, hours before the exercises began on Monday.

The drills under Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of two major annual exercises held by South Korea and the US, start on Monday and run until 27 August.

They were expected to involve about 18,000 South Korean troops, alongside US forces and personnel from 11 of the 18 member states of the United Nations Command (UNC), the multinational body that oversees the 1953 armistice that halted hostilities of the Korean war.

However, on Sunday evening, the US president said he was “not happy” with US participation “based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong-un”. He added that they were costly and “send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a country that, as long as Donald J Trump has been president, has been unthreatening and respectful”.

2 ex-Chinese military personnel arrested in South Korea for alleged espionage– www.washingtontimes.com

pgnewser August 12, 2026 0

2 ex-Chinese military personnel arrested in South Korea for alleged espionage– www.washingtontimes.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL, South Korea — Two former Chinese military service members were arrested in South Korea for alleged espionage, accused of acts including intercepting communications between fighter jets and ground control and collecting information on movements of U.S. armaments, police said Tuesday.

Police said that one of the suspects, a Chinese national in his 60s, set up an interception device consisting of a software-defined radio receiver, an antenna and a laptop at a hotel near an air base jointly used by South Korean and U.S. air forces in southern South Korea.

Police said the man is accused of intercepting communications between fighter jets flown by South Korean and U.S. pilots and air traffic controllers at the base several times since 2024.

Police said he previously served in the Chinese military but refused to disclose further details about his identity. The police statement said the man was arrested Monday for violating laws on aiding the enemy and protecting communication secrets.

Police said they were conducting a forensic examination of his laptop to find if he relayed any of the intercepted communications to Chinese authorities.

South Korea focuses on drone mine counters, naval gunnery as attritable unmanned threats proliferate– www.washingtontimes.com

pgnewser August 4, 2026 0

South Korea focuses on drone mine counters, naval gunnery as attritable unmanned threats proliferate– www.washingtontimes.com
News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL, South Korea — As Ukraine and Iran battle larger, better-armed, high-tech adversaries using economical and attritable unmanned systems, armed forces around the world are taking on board the key lessons.

Take the South Korean navy, which is working up skillsets and technologies capable of countering these asymmetric threats.

The middle power’s navy conducted its first-ever mine-clearance drill combining a crewed vessel with multiple unmanned systems Monday, according to reports from the southeastern port city of Busan.

The trials involved both the South Korean navy and arms company Hanwha Systems, and included an artificial intelligence component. Assets engaged were a 730-ton minesweeper, aerial reconnaissance drones, two surface drones and underwater drones.

South Korea’s Goes North with Fake News Law – mindfulintelligence.news

pgnewser July 7, 2026 0

South Korea has passed a new law that penalizes journalists for sharing “fake news.” The Journalists Association of Korea said of the law, “Even if a law’s objective is legitimate, it could erode the foundations of democracy if it’s enforced in a way that discourages the media and ordinary citizens from freely criticizing and scrutinizing those in power.”

Go Deeper

Ousted South Korean President Yoon given prison term for drone flights over Pyongyang– abcnews.com

pgnewser June 12, 2026 0

News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and his former defense minister were sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday in a case alleging Yoon ordered drone flights over Pyongyang in 2024 to heighten tensions with North Korea and justify declaring martial law at home.

The full version of the Seoul Central District Court’s ruling was not immediately available. The same court earlier sentenced Yoon to life in prison for a rebellion conviction over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024.

North Korea accused Seoul of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets three times in October 2024. South Korea’s defense minister at the time, Kim Yong Hyun, issued a vague denial before the Defense Ministry said it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations. Tensions rose sharply but did not lead to any military clashes.

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gets 7 more years in prison from Seoul appeals court– www.foxnews.com

pgnewser April 29, 2026 1

News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean appeals court on Wednesday sentenced ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol to seven years in prison for resisting arrest and bypassing a legitimate Cabinet meeting before his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.

The conviction for obstruction of justice and other charges comes on top of a life sentence he has already received on rebellion charges stemming from his baffling authoritarian push, which triggered the most serious crisis for the country’s democracy in decades.

Judge Yoon Sung-sik of the Seoul High Court said the conservative former president sidestepped a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law, falsified documents to conceal the lapse and deployed security officials “like a private army” to resist law enforcement efforts to arrest him in the weeks following his impeachment. Former President Yoon stood quietly as the verdict was delivered and made no comment.

Prosecutors seek 30-year prison term for South Korea’s Yoon– abcnews.com

pgnewser April 24, 2026 0

News Source
EXCERPT:

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors Friday requested a 30-year prison term for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations he deliberately tried to escalate tensions with North Korea in 2024 by ordering drone flights over Pyongyang as he sought to create justifiable conditions for martial law at home.

Yoon is charged with benefiting an adversary and abusing his powers, which are among a long list of indictments against the conservative former leader over his short-lived imposition of martial law in South Korea in December 2024.

The request came in the closing stages of a trial at the Seoul Central District Court, where a team of investigators led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk said Yoon and his top defense officials were responsible for alleged drone infiltrations into North Korea, about two months before he imposed martial law while portraying the liberals as North Korea-sympathizing, “anti-state” forces.

South Korean police seek to arrest K-pop mogul behind BTS– abcnews.com

pgnewser April 22, 2026 0

News Source
EXCERPT:

South Korean police are seeking to arrest music mogul Bang Si-Hyuk, chairman of the agency behind K-pop supergroup BTS, as they expand an investment fraud investigation

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean police said Tuesday they are seeking to arrest music mogul Bang Si-Hyuk, chairman of the agency behind K-pop supergroup BTS, as they expand an investigation into allegations that he illegally gained more than $100 million in an investor fraud scheme.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed that it has asked prosecutors to request a court warrant for Bang’s arrest. Representatives of Bang’s agency, HYBE, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bang has been under investigation since November over allegations that he misled investors in 2019 by telling them HYBE had no plans to go public, inducing them to sell their shares to a private equity fund before the company proceeded with an initial public offering. Police believe that the fund may have paid Bang around 200 billion won ($136 million) in a side deal that promised him 30% of post-IPO stock sale profits.

South Korea opposed to U.S. deploying air defense systems in the country to Middle East– www.cnbc.com

pgnewser March 10, 2026 0

Blurb:

 

GYEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA – NOVEMBER 1: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaks during an international press conference after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was concluded, in Gyeongju, South Korea, on November 1, 2025.

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

South Korea is opposed to the U.S. moving air defense assets out of the country, but it is not in a position to make demands, President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday.

Lee briefed the cabinet that “The USFK may dispatch some air defense systems abroad in accordance with its own military needs. While we have expressed opposition, the reality is that we cannot fully push through our position.”

Iran war could disrupt supply of semiconductor materials, South Korea warns – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser March 5, 2026 0

Blurb:

The U.S.-Israel war with Iran could disrupt supplies of key semiconductor manufacturing materials, a South Korean ruling party lawmaker said on Thursday, as the conflict in the Middle East entered its sixth day.

South Korea’s chip industry, which supplies around two-thirds of global memory chips, is also concerned that a prolonged conflict in Iran will lead to higher energy costs and prices, Kim Young-bae said after meeting with executives from companies such as Samsung Electronics 005930.KS and trade groups.

South Korea defense stocks soar with heavyweight Hanwha Aerospace surging 25%– www.cnbc.com

pgnewser March 3, 2026 0

Blurb:

 

A Cheongung missile launcher is displayed during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2025) at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on October 17, 2025.

South Korean defense stocks saw massive gains on Tuesday after the country’s markets returned from a public holiday, as the Iran war fuels interest in defense names globally.

Heavyweight Hanwha Aerospace, which is South Korea’s largest defense manufacturer, saw shares surge nearly 25%, before paring gains to about 13%, while Korea Aerospace Industries gained more than 12%, but cut those to 2.4%.

Shares in air defense systems maker LIG Nex1 soared 25%, while electronic warfare systems manufacturer Victek and anti-aircraft missile components’ maker Firstec saw shares rise more than 20% and 15%, respectively.

After U.S. Tangle with China Over South Korean Airspace, Guess Who the South Koreans have an Issue with?

pgnewser February 23, 2026 1

South Korea’s takeover by their Democratic Party has launched the country towards a Chinese death spiral that was confirmed when the U.S. changed its defense agreement with the now-CCP-captured country. Now, an aerial dust-up between the U.S. and China has South Korea complaining about America’s presence, not China’s

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back issued a formal complain with the USFK commander, Army General Xavier Brunson. He was complaining about an incident that saw 10 U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons entering South Korean and Chinese air defense identification zones. After it entered the space, China sent two fighter aircraft, resulting in what was only described as a “rare standoff.”

Blurb:

Seoul protests US-China fighter jet encounter over Yellow Sea, report says  – Stars and Stripes
from news.google.com

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has lodged a complaint with U.S. Forces Korea over a brief standoff between American and Chinese fighter jets, according to local media. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back contacted the USFK commander, Army Gen. Xavier Brunson, after learning of Wednesday’s incident, the Yonhap News Agency reported Saturday. Gen. Jin Yong-sung, chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, also raised concerns with Brunson, said the report, which cited unnamed military sources. According to Yonhap, about 10 U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons were training over the Yellow Sea when they entered an area between the air defense identification zones of South Korea and China. Beijing dispatched its own fighter aircraft in response, resulting in what Yonhap described as a “rare standoff,” though no clash occurred.

As US Pulls Away from South Korea, Fake News Law Passes in Seoul

pgnewser January 28, 2026 1

The U.S. Defense Department has revealed in a National Defense Strategy release that it is shifting its policy in South Korea, now calling on the state to protect itself from conventional threats to the North. As this was revealed, the CCP-captured government amended their law to prohibit “fake news” publishing. They did so over numerous protestations, including the U.S., who may recognize South Korea is now becoming a liability, a problem, perhaps, for Japan.

Blurb:

US Defense Strategy Signals Shift in Korea Defense, Pushing Seoul to Lead  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine
from news.google.com

On January 23, the U.S. Defense Department released the unclassified National Defense Strategy (NDS), which marks a definitive shift in the South Korea-U.S. alliance. It explicitly states that Seoul must now take primary responsibility for countering North Korean conventional threats.

The document outlines a strategic pivot where the United States intends to focus its regional resources on deterring China, effectively limiting its role on the Korean Peninsula to “extended deterrence” – the nuclear umbrella meant to prevent an atomic strike. According to the NDS, while Washington has historically provided a wide safety net for South Korea’s defense, future support will move toward a more limited scope. The Pentagon’s assessment justifies this drawdown by asserting that South Korea possesses the capability to lead the deterrence of North Korean aggression, a move that pushes Seoul toward military self-reliance for its own conventional defense.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach includes a broader effort to husband American military assets for high-end conflicts with near-peer competitors like China and Russia, rather than maintaining the decades-old status quo of the armistice. For a sovereign nation like South Korea, which currently lacks wartime operational control (OPCON) and its own nuclear arsenal, this transition carries profound implications.

South Korea’s ‘fake news’ law tests press autonomy  Yahoo News UK
from news.google.com