8 days ago
If you are an SEO specialist, you already know the importance of tracking rankings, keywords, and backlinks. You already know SEO is not just about ranking higher; it’s about understanding what happens after people land on your website.
That’s how Google Analytics (GA4) comes into play. It’s not just a reporting tool it’s your window into user behavior, conversions, and the real impact of your SEO efforts.
In this article we get into the 10 reasons why seo specialists should master google analytics and also let’s quickly understand what Google Analytics is and why it matters for SEO. #seo #marketing #digitalmarketing #googleanalytics #analytics #article
https://pratsdigital.in/re...
That’s how Google Analytics (GA4) comes into play. It’s not just a reporting tool it’s your window into user behavior, conversions, and the real impact of your SEO efforts.
In this article we get into the 10 reasons why seo specialists should master google analytics and also let’s quickly understand what Google Analytics is and why it matters for SEO. #seo #marketing #digitalmarketing #googleanalytics #analytics #article
https://pratsdigital.in/re...
3 months ago
Ominous Signs For Taiwan & Japan! Why South Korea’s New President Is Good News For China & Russia.
Inaugurated as President soon after being declared the winner of South Korea’s Presidential election at 6:21 a.m. on June 3, (South Korea- time), Lee Jae-myung of the country’s progressive Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has pledged to “expand the Republic of Korea’s economic territory by broadening the horizons of diplomacy and enhancing international standing”.
In all likelihood, his diplomatic vision will be closely watched by all those who believe in the United States-led security structure in the Indo-Pacific, particularly by the ruling elites in Taiwan and Japan, who seem to be discomforted by Lee’s slogan of “pragmatism.”
In his inaugural speech as President, Lee highlighted the salience of “pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests” to “turn the crisis of a major transformation in the global economic and security environment into an opportunity to maximize national interests.”
He has reaffirmed his approach to relations with neighboring countries, including China and Russia, “from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism,” while emphasizing the Korea-US alliance as the cornerstone of foreign policy.
Perceived to be “pro-China” during the electioneering, Lee’s inaugural speech does not seem to have cleared doubts in Washington and Tokyo, despite promising that he would bolster a trilateral partnership with the US and Japan.
After all, he warned that rapid changes in the global order, including rising protectionism, pose a threat to his country’s survival.
“The rapid changes in the global order, such as rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose a threat to our very survival,” Lee said in his inaugural address, in an apparent reference to the global trade chaos followed by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
If one goes by the more ideologically driven progressives within Lee’s ruling DPK, which also controls South Korea’s parliament, the new President may create a distance between Seoul and Washington, particularly if the Trump administration reduces its security commitment on the Korean Peninsula or pushes South Korea beyond its comfort zone to deter China.
Incidentally, Lee had made waves on the campaign trail by saying that Seoul should stay out of any China-Taiwan conflict. This needs to be seen along with the fact that earlier this year, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly – an ally of Lee’s – received an unusually warm welcome in Beijing, including an hour-long meeting with Xi Jinping.
Of course, to be fair to Lee, he has been advocating for “foreign policy pragmatism” ever since he was a presidential candidate in 2022. He had lost this election very narrowly to the conservative People Power Party’s Yoon Suk Yeol.
But in April, President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached, after he declared a short-lived state of martial law in December 2024 because Lee’s DPK was making governance impossible by rejecting all his policies because of its parliamentary majority.
As the Presidential candidate in 2022, Lee had explained his “Practical Vision” in an article in the Foreign Affairs journal. In this, he had called for “pragmatic diplomacy” toward neighboring countries, including China.
Although Lee acknowledged Beijing’s increasing assertiveness, he argued that Seoul should cooperate with Beijing. Furthermore, Lee stated that “overt antagonism serves neither South Korea’s national interests nor its alliance with Washington.”
In the above article, Lee admitted his problems with Japan.
“It is regrettable that Tokyo’s unwillingness to let go of its imperial past continues to hamper trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea, and the United States”, he pointed out, arguing how in 2018, after South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that Japanese corporations must pay reparations for their use of Korean forced labor during World War II. Tokyo imposed retaliatory export controls on three key chemicals—photoresists, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorinated polyimide—critical for making South Korea’s semiconductors and high-end displays used for televisions and smartphones. This was a shocking act of economic coercion to settle a historical grudge”.
It may be noted that relations between Japan and South Korea had seen an upswing during Yoon’s Presidency. And that was noteworthy because years under Yoon’s immediate predecessor, President Moon Jae-in (from Lee’s party) had nurtured anti-Japanese feelings.
Moon had scrapped the foundation that Tokyo and Seoul had set up with Japanese funding to provide restitution to the victims and their families. And the situation was further aggravated when, in 2018, South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered several Japanese companies to compensate unpaid South Korean World War II laborers.
Against this background, President Yoon had sincerely and actively tried to rise above these historical animosities and join hands together with Japan and the U.S. in the face of mounting North Korean aggressiveness and the Chinese hegemony, something all three consider to be their common threats.
Yoon had said that he believed in what he called “values-based diplomacy.”
Yoon often pointed out that “South Korea and Japan are now new partners who share universal values and pursue common interests.” He had emphasized the importance of Japan in South Korea’s security, particularly the seven rear bases provided to the United Nations Command by Japan, which could “serve as the greatest deterrent” to North Korea invading the South.
Under Yoon, South Korea has restored and expanded joint military drills (suspended under Moon to what was said “appease” China policy; he was believed to be the most pro-China President in South Korean history) and joined exercises with the US and Japan to track and intercept missiles from North Korea.
Yoon had proposed an initiative to resolve disputes stemming from compensation for wartime Korean forced laborers. He had announced that South Korea would use its own funds to compensate Koreans enslaved by Japanese companies before the end of World War II. This was reciprocated by Japan, which rolled back the sanctions on South Korea.
Yoon also traveled to Tokyo in March 2023 for talks with the then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It was the first visit by a South Korean President to Japan in over 12 years. Kishida reciprocated with a visit to Seoul in May and expressed sympathy for the suffering of Korean forced laborers during Japan’s colonial rule.
Will Lee’s election as South Korea’s new President arrest the further momentum in the ties between Seoul and Tokyo, given his and his DPK’s traditional antipathy towards Japan?
It is a difficult question to answer. While Lee talks of “pragmatism,” during the electioneering, he said something that was considered by many analysts to be quite “ambiguous.”
On April 25, he clearly stated during a televised debate that South Korea must not be unconditionally tethered to the alliance or rigidly confined by the Korea–US–Japan trilateral bloc.
“Of course, the Korea–US alliance is indeed the foundation of the Republic of Korea’s foreign policy …but bloc alignments also carry weight. Trilateral cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan is also important. But we cannot be unilaterally bound to those alone.”
In an interview released on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube channel in mid-April, Lee argued that Seoul cannot afford to turn its back on either Beijing or Moscow in pursuit of its national interest, given their geographical proximity and deep economic entanglement.
“Even if we wanted to abandon ties with China and Russia, we couldn’t. We’re intertwined with them — what choice do we have?” Lee added, “Our economies are deeply intertwined with them, and geography makes separation impossible. It’s fate — our destiny.”
Lee emphasized the significance of navigating relations with China and Russia, especially at a time when a deteriorating global trade environment, hit by tariff wars, is weighing heavily on export-reliant South Korea.
During another television debate on May 18, Lee said, “We must prioritize the national interest and avoid becoming too deeply involved in the China-Taiwan conflict. The idea is to respect the status quo and maintain an appropriate distance.”
Pressed on whether he would support intervention in a potential China-Taiwan contingency, Lee declined to give a definitive answer, instead emphasizing a flexible, situational approach.
“If a specific situation arises, we must assess it flexibly, based on the national interest,” he said. “Diplomatic relations are fluid, and responses should vary accordingly.”
While reaffirming the importance of the South Korea–U.S. alliance, Lee said diplomacy with other major powers, such as China and Russia, should be handled in a prudent manner, saying it should be guided by “pragmatism” and the “national interest.”
In this interview, Lee acknowledged the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and why it should remain “the foundation of our diplomacy and security, and be further strengthened,” but he added, and that is important to note, “however, we should not go all in and put all our eggs in one basket.”
If anything, these suggest that there could be a shift away from former President Yoon’s “values-based diplomacy” toward Lee’s foreign policy of pragmatism. However, it remains to be seen whether that pragmatism will be a turning point for the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific.
Inaugurated as President soon after being declared the winner of South Korea’s Presidential election at 6:21 a.m. on June 3, (South Korea- time), Lee Jae-myung of the country’s progressive Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has pledged to “expand the Republic of Korea’s economic territory by broadening the horizons of diplomacy and enhancing international standing”.
In all likelihood, his diplomatic vision will be closely watched by all those who believe in the United States-led security structure in the Indo-Pacific, particularly by the ruling elites in Taiwan and Japan, who seem to be discomforted by Lee’s slogan of “pragmatism.”
In his inaugural speech as President, Lee highlighted the salience of “pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests” to “turn the crisis of a major transformation in the global economic and security environment into an opportunity to maximize national interests.”
He has reaffirmed his approach to relations with neighboring countries, including China and Russia, “from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism,” while emphasizing the Korea-US alliance as the cornerstone of foreign policy.
Perceived to be “pro-China” during the electioneering, Lee’s inaugural speech does not seem to have cleared doubts in Washington and Tokyo, despite promising that he would bolster a trilateral partnership with the US and Japan.
After all, he warned that rapid changes in the global order, including rising protectionism, pose a threat to his country’s survival.
“The rapid changes in the global order, such as rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring, pose a threat to our very survival,” Lee said in his inaugural address, in an apparent reference to the global trade chaos followed by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
If one goes by the more ideologically driven progressives within Lee’s ruling DPK, which also controls South Korea’s parliament, the new President may create a distance between Seoul and Washington, particularly if the Trump administration reduces its security commitment on the Korean Peninsula or pushes South Korea beyond its comfort zone to deter China.
Incidentally, Lee had made waves on the campaign trail by saying that Seoul should stay out of any China-Taiwan conflict. This needs to be seen along with the fact that earlier this year, the speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly – an ally of Lee’s – received an unusually warm welcome in Beijing, including an hour-long meeting with Xi Jinping.
Of course, to be fair to Lee, he has been advocating for “foreign policy pragmatism” ever since he was a presidential candidate in 2022. He had lost this election very narrowly to the conservative People Power Party’s Yoon Suk Yeol.
But in April, President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached, after he declared a short-lived state of martial law in December 2024 because Lee’s DPK was making governance impossible by rejecting all his policies because of its parliamentary majority.
As the Presidential candidate in 2022, Lee had explained his “Practical Vision” in an article in the Foreign Affairs journal. In this, he had called for “pragmatic diplomacy” toward neighboring countries, including China.
Although Lee acknowledged Beijing’s increasing assertiveness, he argued that Seoul should cooperate with Beijing. Furthermore, Lee stated that “overt antagonism serves neither South Korea’s national interests nor its alliance with Washington.”
In the above article, Lee admitted his problems with Japan.
“It is regrettable that Tokyo’s unwillingness to let go of its imperial past continues to hamper trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea, and the United States”, he pointed out, arguing how in 2018, after South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that Japanese corporations must pay reparations for their use of Korean forced labor during World War II. Tokyo imposed retaliatory export controls on three key chemicals—photoresists, hydrogen fluoride, and fluorinated polyimide—critical for making South Korea’s semiconductors and high-end displays used for televisions and smartphones. This was a shocking act of economic coercion to settle a historical grudge”.
It may be noted that relations between Japan and South Korea had seen an upswing during Yoon’s Presidency. And that was noteworthy because years under Yoon’s immediate predecessor, President Moon Jae-in (from Lee’s party) had nurtured anti-Japanese feelings.
Moon had scrapped the foundation that Tokyo and Seoul had set up with Japanese funding to provide restitution to the victims and their families. And the situation was further aggravated when, in 2018, South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered several Japanese companies to compensate unpaid South Korean World War II laborers.
Against this background, President Yoon had sincerely and actively tried to rise above these historical animosities and join hands together with Japan and the U.S. in the face of mounting North Korean aggressiveness and the Chinese hegemony, something all three consider to be their common threats.
Yoon had said that he believed in what he called “values-based diplomacy.”
Yoon often pointed out that “South Korea and Japan are now new partners who share universal values and pursue common interests.” He had emphasized the importance of Japan in South Korea’s security, particularly the seven rear bases provided to the United Nations Command by Japan, which could “serve as the greatest deterrent” to North Korea invading the South.
Under Yoon, South Korea has restored and expanded joint military drills (suspended under Moon to what was said “appease” China policy; he was believed to be the most pro-China President in South Korean history) and joined exercises with the US and Japan to track and intercept missiles from North Korea.
Yoon had proposed an initiative to resolve disputes stemming from compensation for wartime Korean forced laborers. He had announced that South Korea would use its own funds to compensate Koreans enslaved by Japanese companies before the end of World War II. This was reciprocated by Japan, which rolled back the sanctions on South Korea.
Yoon also traveled to Tokyo in March 2023 for talks with the then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It was the first visit by a South Korean President to Japan in over 12 years. Kishida reciprocated with a visit to Seoul in May and expressed sympathy for the suffering of Korean forced laborers during Japan’s colonial rule.
Will Lee’s election as South Korea’s new President arrest the further momentum in the ties between Seoul and Tokyo, given his and his DPK’s traditional antipathy towards Japan?
It is a difficult question to answer. While Lee talks of “pragmatism,” during the electioneering, he said something that was considered by many analysts to be quite “ambiguous.”
On April 25, he clearly stated during a televised debate that South Korea must not be unconditionally tethered to the alliance or rigidly confined by the Korea–US–Japan trilateral bloc.
“Of course, the Korea–US alliance is indeed the foundation of the Republic of Korea’s foreign policy …but bloc alignments also carry weight. Trilateral cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan is also important. But we cannot be unilaterally bound to those alone.”
In an interview released on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube channel in mid-April, Lee argued that Seoul cannot afford to turn its back on either Beijing or Moscow in pursuit of its national interest, given their geographical proximity and deep economic entanglement.
“Even if we wanted to abandon ties with China and Russia, we couldn’t. We’re intertwined with them — what choice do we have?” Lee added, “Our economies are deeply intertwined with them, and geography makes separation impossible. It’s fate — our destiny.”
Lee emphasized the significance of navigating relations with China and Russia, especially at a time when a deteriorating global trade environment, hit by tariff wars, is weighing heavily on export-reliant South Korea.
During another television debate on May 18, Lee said, “We must prioritize the national interest and avoid becoming too deeply involved in the China-Taiwan conflict. The idea is to respect the status quo and maintain an appropriate distance.”
Pressed on whether he would support intervention in a potential China-Taiwan contingency, Lee declined to give a definitive answer, instead emphasizing a flexible, situational approach.
“If a specific situation arises, we must assess it flexibly, based on the national interest,” he said. “Diplomatic relations are fluid, and responses should vary accordingly.”
While reaffirming the importance of the South Korea–U.S. alliance, Lee said diplomacy with other major powers, such as China and Russia, should be handled in a prudent manner, saying it should be guided by “pragmatism” and the “national interest.”
In this interview, Lee acknowledged the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and why it should remain “the foundation of our diplomacy and security, and be further strengthened,” but he added, and that is important to note, “however, we should not go all in and put all our eggs in one basket.”
If anything, these suggest that there could be a shift away from former President Yoon’s “values-based diplomacy” toward Lee’s foreign policy of pragmatism. However, it remains to be seen whether that pragmatism will be a turning point for the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific.
3 months ago
South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung vowed Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan, as he laid out key policy goals for his single, five-year term.
Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year.
In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with North Korean nuclear threats and its potential military aggressions with “strong deterrence” based on the South Korea-U.S. military alliance. But he said he would “open a communication channel with North Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.”
He said he’ll pursue pragmatic diplomacy with neighboring countries and boost trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation.
"Through pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, we will turn the crisis posed by the major shift in global economic and security landscapes into an opportunity to maximize our national interests,” Lee said.
Security and economic challenges lie ahead
It was unclear whether Lee’s election would cause any major, immediate shift in South Korea’s foreign policy. Lee, previously accused by critics of tilting toward China and North Korea and away from the U.S. and Japan, has recently repeatedly stressed South Korea’s alliance with the U.S. as the foundation of its foreign policy and avoided any contentious remarks that would raise questions on his views on the U.S. and Japan.
Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year.
In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with North Korean nuclear threats and its potential military aggressions with “strong deterrence” based on the South Korea-U.S. military alliance. But he said he would “open a communication channel with North Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.”
He said he’ll pursue pragmatic diplomacy with neighboring countries and boost trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation.
"Through pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, we will turn the crisis posed by the major shift in global economic and security landscapes into an opportunity to maximize our national interests,” Lee said.
Security and economic challenges lie ahead
It was unclear whether Lee’s election would cause any major, immediate shift in South Korea’s foreign policy. Lee, previously accused by critics of tilting toward China and North Korea and away from the U.S. and Japan, has recently repeatedly stressed South Korea’s alliance with the U.S. as the foundation of its foreign policy and avoided any contentious remarks that would raise questions on his views on the U.S. and Japan.
3 months ago
China Emerges The “Most Distrusted” Neighbor Nation For South Koreans; Replaces ‘Colonial Power’ Japan.
China has reportedly displaced its longtime foe and former colonial power, Japan, in many South Koreans’ minds as the country’s most distrusted neighbor in recent years.
And ahead of Tuesday’s vote, anti-Chinese feeling has spread among South Koreans — online, at right-wing rallies, and in Seoul’s Chinatown.
Many of the quarter’s Chinese residents, such as 74-year-old Yu Shunzi, migrated to South Korea in the 1990s and 2000s in search of economic opportunities.
“A lot of Koreans still think China is a very backward country and discriminate against Chinese a lot,” she told AFP.
Yu, who arrived in 2007 from the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang, said the situation is so bad that she planned to move back when the economy allowed.
“I want to go home, but with the exchange rate being this low, I’d lose a lot of money,” she said.
While former colonial master Japan has long had a difficult relationship with South Korea, Seoul’s ties with China have increasingly come under the spotlight.
In 2022, polling conducted by Hankook Research showed for the first time that South Koreans distrusted China more than they did Japan — a trend that has continued in recent years.
Former leader Yoon Suk Yeol referred to vague allegations of Chinese spying when he tried to justify his declaration of martial law, which led to his ousting.
Conspiracy theories have since run rampant among the South Korean right, fuelling the distrust.
However, analysts also suggest that a series of clashes between Beijing and Seoul in recent years over history, territory, and defense are the deeper cause of the schism.
“China’s growing assertiveness is the main reason behind South Korea’s negative views about the country,” said Ramon Pacheco Pardo from King’s College London.
“Most South Koreans have no affinity towards today’s China,” the international relations professor told AFP.
Seoul has long trodden a fine line between top trading partner China and defence guarantor the United States.
Relations with China nosedived in 2016 following the South’s decision to deploy the US-made THAAD missile defence system.
Beijing saw it as a threat to its own security and reacted furiously, imposing a string of restrictions on South Korean businesses and banning group tours as part of sweeping economic retaliation.
A series of public spats about the origins of Korean cultural staples such as kimchi, which China had claimed as its own, also left a bitter taste.
Yoon’s administration deepened that divide, cleaving close to the United States and seeking to improve ties with Japan.
“Under his leadership, Seoul made its position unmistakably clear: it stood with Washington and its allies, not Beijing,” Claudia Kim, assistant professor at City University of Hong Kong.
Opposition leader and election frontrunner Lee Jae-myung has publicly hinted that a softer line might be in the works if he wins.
Beijing won’t “miss the opportunity to improve relations with the South” if Lee wins, Cheong Seong-chang at Seoul’s Sejong Institute told AFP, suggesting a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping could even take place.
Lee has also raised alarm bells by saying that a future conflict between China and Taiwan would not be South Korea’s concern.
That could put him on a collision course with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has made containing China a cornerstone of its bid to reshape the international order.
“Trump’s focus on deterring China may lead to a mismatch of foreign policy priorities with Lee,” Edward Howell, a lecturer in politics at the University of Oxford, told AFP.
Fake News Zooms
The compounding of deepening distrust of China has been accompanied by a surge in conspiracy theories.
Analysis by AFP revealed that many of the most widely circulated pieces of misinformation tap into fears of meddling by China.
Rallies in support of ex-president Yoon have featured calls to oust alleged “pro-Chinese Communist Party” forces, as well as posters with anti-Chinese slurs and slogans advocating for Chinese nationals to be deported.
A recent editorial in Beijing’s state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times condemned “far-right” forces in South Korea for “stirring up xenophobia” against Chinese people.
In Seoul’s Chinatown, Li Jinzi, 73, complained about a culture of “misinformation” that was breeding negative feelings towards her home country.
“Fake news breeds misunderstandings,” she said.
China has reportedly displaced its longtime foe and former colonial power, Japan, in many South Koreans’ minds as the country’s most distrusted neighbor in recent years.
And ahead of Tuesday’s vote, anti-Chinese feeling has spread among South Koreans — online, at right-wing rallies, and in Seoul’s Chinatown.
Many of the quarter’s Chinese residents, such as 74-year-old Yu Shunzi, migrated to South Korea in the 1990s and 2000s in search of economic opportunities.
“A lot of Koreans still think China is a very backward country and discriminate against Chinese a lot,” she told AFP.
Yu, who arrived in 2007 from the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang, said the situation is so bad that she planned to move back when the economy allowed.
“I want to go home, but with the exchange rate being this low, I’d lose a lot of money,” she said.
While former colonial master Japan has long had a difficult relationship with South Korea, Seoul’s ties with China have increasingly come under the spotlight.
In 2022, polling conducted by Hankook Research showed for the first time that South Koreans distrusted China more than they did Japan — a trend that has continued in recent years.
Former leader Yoon Suk Yeol referred to vague allegations of Chinese spying when he tried to justify his declaration of martial law, which led to his ousting.
Conspiracy theories have since run rampant among the South Korean right, fuelling the distrust.
However, analysts also suggest that a series of clashes between Beijing and Seoul in recent years over history, territory, and defense are the deeper cause of the schism.
“China’s growing assertiveness is the main reason behind South Korea’s negative views about the country,” said Ramon Pacheco Pardo from King’s College London.
“Most South Koreans have no affinity towards today’s China,” the international relations professor told AFP.
Seoul has long trodden a fine line between top trading partner China and defence guarantor the United States.
Relations with China nosedived in 2016 following the South’s decision to deploy the US-made THAAD missile defence system.
Beijing saw it as a threat to its own security and reacted furiously, imposing a string of restrictions on South Korean businesses and banning group tours as part of sweeping economic retaliation.
A series of public spats about the origins of Korean cultural staples such as kimchi, which China had claimed as its own, also left a bitter taste.
Yoon’s administration deepened that divide, cleaving close to the United States and seeking to improve ties with Japan.
“Under his leadership, Seoul made its position unmistakably clear: it stood with Washington and its allies, not Beijing,” Claudia Kim, assistant professor at City University of Hong Kong.
Opposition leader and election frontrunner Lee Jae-myung has publicly hinted that a softer line might be in the works if he wins.
Beijing won’t “miss the opportunity to improve relations with the South” if Lee wins, Cheong Seong-chang at Seoul’s Sejong Institute told AFP, suggesting a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping could even take place.
Lee has also raised alarm bells by saying that a future conflict between China and Taiwan would not be South Korea’s concern.
That could put him on a collision course with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has made containing China a cornerstone of its bid to reshape the international order.
“Trump’s focus on deterring China may lead to a mismatch of foreign policy priorities with Lee,” Edward Howell, a lecturer in politics at the University of Oxford, told AFP.
Fake News Zooms
The compounding of deepening distrust of China has been accompanied by a surge in conspiracy theories.
Analysis by AFP revealed that many of the most widely circulated pieces of misinformation tap into fears of meddling by China.
Rallies in support of ex-president Yoon have featured calls to oust alleged “pro-Chinese Communist Party” forces, as well as posters with anti-Chinese slurs and slogans advocating for Chinese nationals to be deported.
A recent editorial in Beijing’s state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times condemned “far-right” forces in South Korea for “stirring up xenophobia” against Chinese people.
In Seoul’s Chinatown, Li Jinzi, 73, complained about a culture of “misinformation” that was breeding negative feelings towards her home country.
“Fake news breeds misunderstandings,” she said.
4 months ago
Roughly 600 North Korean troops have been killed fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, South Korean lawmakers said on Wednesday, citing the country's intelligence agency.
North Korea has suffered about 4,700 casualties in the conflict, which includes deaths and injuries. But some of the country's troops have shown signs of improvement in combat capabilities over about six months by using modern weapons such as drones, the lawmakers said.
"After six months of participation in the war, the North Korean military has become less inept, and its combat capability has significantly improved as it becomes accustomed to using new weapons such as drones," Lee Seong-kweun, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, told reporters, after being briefed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service.
A total of about 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to fight Ukraine.
North Korea has suffered about 4,700 casualties in the conflict, which includes deaths and injuries. But some of the country's troops have shown signs of improvement in combat capabilities over about six months by using modern weapons such as drones, the lawmakers said.
"After six months of participation in the war, the North Korean military has become less inept, and its combat capability has significantly improved as it becomes accustomed to using new weapons such as drones," Lee Seong-kweun, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, told reporters, after being briefed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service.
A total of about 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to fight Ukraine.
4 months ago
The tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and Japan appear set to be part of President Donald Trump's tariff negotiations, despite efforts by both countries to separate security talks from trade.
In posts on the Truth Social platform, Trump said defence cost-sharing would be part of "one-stop shopping" negotiations with Seoul, and raised the issue of the defence burden during a visit by Japanese officials to Washington this week.
Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops and South Korea 28,500. Both nations rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection against China, Russia and North Korea, and are seen as crucial for the U.S. military's ability to project power and influence around the region.
Trump has previously suggested he could withdraw the U.S. forces if the countries don't pay up, and during his first term, demanded billions of dollars more.
In posts on the Truth Social platform, Trump said defence cost-sharing would be part of "one-stop shopping" negotiations with Seoul, and raised the issue of the defence burden during a visit by Japanese officials to Washington this week.
Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops and South Korea 28,500. Both nations rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection against China, Russia and North Korea, and are seen as crucial for the U.S. military's ability to project power and influence around the region.
Trump has previously suggested he could withdraw the U.S. forces if the countries don't pay up, and during his first term, demanded billions of dollars more.
5 months ago
China, Japan and South Korea agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state media, an assertion Seoul called "somewhat exaggerated", while Tokyo said there was no such discussion.
The state media said the three countries held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, seeking to facilitate regional trade as the Asian export powers brace against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Japan and South Korea are seeking to import semiconductor raw materials from China, and China is also interested in purchasing chip products from Japan and South Korea, the account, Yuyuan Tantian, linked to China Central Television.
All three sides agreed to strengthen supply chain cooperation and engage in more dialogue on export controls, the post said.
When asked about the report, a spokesperson for South Korea's trade ministry said "the suggestion that there was a joint response to U.S. tariffs appears to have been somewhat exaggera
The state media said the three countries held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, seeking to facilitate regional trade as the Asian export powers brace against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Japan and South Korea are seeking to import semiconductor raw materials from China, and China is also interested in purchasing chip products from Japan and South Korea, the account, Yuyuan Tantian, linked to China Central Television.
All three sides agreed to strengthen supply chain cooperation and engage in more dialogue on export controls, the post said.
When asked about the report, a spokesperson for South Korea's trade ministry said "the suggestion that there was a joint response to U.S. tariffs appears to have been somewhat exaggera
5 months ago
North Korea appears to have sent at least 3,000 more soldiers to Russia early this year, South Korea’s military said Thursday, demonstrating Pyongyang’s continued support for Moscow’s war on Ukraine as world leaders push for an end to the three-year conflict.
The news comes as Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia is being prepared, according to state media TASS.
The reinforcements, sent in January and February, add to the roughly 11,000 troops North Korea has sent to Russia so far, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. About 4,000 of them have been killed or injured in combat, according to Seoul.
Pyongyang has also sent a “significant amount” of short-range ballistic missiles and about 220 pieces of 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers and 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers, South Korea said. It said the North’s contributions are “expected to increase according to the situation.”
The news comes as Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia is being prepared, according to state media TASS.
The reinforcements, sent in January and February, add to the roughly 11,000 troops North Korea has sent to Russia so far, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. About 4,000 of them have been killed or injured in combat, according to Seoul.
Pyongyang has also sent a “significant amount” of short-range ballistic missiles and about 220 pieces of 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers and 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers, South Korea said. It said the North’s contributions are “expected to increase according to the situation.”
5 months ago
The top diplomats from Japan, China and South Korea met in Tokyo on Saturday, seeking common ground on East Asian security and economic issues amid escalating global uncertainty.
"Given the increasingly severe international situation, I believe we may truly be at a turning point in history," Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at the start of the meeting in Tokyo with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
The three agreed to accelerate preparations for a trilateral summit in Japan that would also include talks on how Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul can tackle declining birthrates and aging populations, Iwaya said.
"Our three nations have a combined population of nearly 1.6 billion and an economic output exceeding $24 trillion. With our vast markets and great potential, we can exert significant influence," Wang said. China, he added, wants to resume free trade talks with its neighbours and expand membership.
"Given the increasingly severe international situation, I believe we may truly be at a turning point in history," Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at the start of the meeting in Tokyo with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
The three agreed to accelerate preparations for a trilateral summit in Japan that would also include talks on how Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul can tackle declining birthrates and aging populations, Iwaya said.
"Our three nations have a combined population of nearly 1.6 billion and an economic output exceeding $24 trillion. With our vast markets and great potential, we can exert significant influence," Wang said. China, he added, wants to resume free trade talks with its neighbours and expand membership.
5 months ago
The foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan and China will hold a meeting in Tokyo on Saturday in the first such talks since 2023, the governments of the three East Asian nations said.
The trilateral talks come as Seoul and Tokyo, both key U.S. allies, face growing uncertainties in domestic politics and over President Donald Trump's policies amid the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China.
South Korea said its Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Japanese and Chinese counterparts, Takeshi Iwaya and Wang Yi, will discuss cooperation and exchange opinions on topics including the regional and international situation.
There is no plan to issue a joint statement, the top diplomats of the three countries will talk about "future-oriented cooperation", followed by a joint press announcement, Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya told a regular briefing.
The last trilateral meeting of foreign ministers was held in the city of Busan in November 2023, South Korea sai
The trilateral talks come as Seoul and Tokyo, both key U.S. allies, face growing uncertainties in domestic politics and over President Donald Trump's policies amid the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China.
South Korea said its Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Japanese and Chinese counterparts, Takeshi Iwaya and Wang Yi, will discuss cooperation and exchange opinions on topics including the regional and international situation.
There is no plan to issue a joint statement, the top diplomats of the three countries will talk about "future-oriented cooperation", followed by a joint press announcement, Japanese foreign minister Takeshi Iwaya told a regular briefing.
The last trilateral meeting of foreign ministers was held in the city of Busan in November 2023, South Korea sai
5 months ago
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6 months ago
The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the southern city of Busan in South Korea on Sunday as a show of force, South Korea's navy said.
The visit was part of the "ironclad" commitment of the United States to extended deterrence and to show readiness by the military alliance between Seoul and Washington against North Korea, according to the navy.
The nuclear-powered vessel belonging to Carrier Strike Group 1 was joined by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the USS Sterett guided-missile destroyer, the navy said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test launch of strategic cruise missiles last month and ordered full readiness to use its nuclear attack capability, according to state media.
It marks the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has called at the country since June when the nuclear-powered Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Busan to take part in joint military exercises.
In November 2023, the U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson visited in Busan.
The visit was part of the "ironclad" commitment of the United States to extended deterrence and to show readiness by the military alliance between Seoul and Washington against North Korea, according to the navy.
The nuclear-powered vessel belonging to Carrier Strike Group 1 was joined by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the USS Sterett guided-missile destroyer, the navy said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test launch of strategic cruise missiles last month and ordered full readiness to use its nuclear attack capability, according to state media.
It marks the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has called at the country since June when the nuclear-powered Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Busan to take part in joint military exercises.
In November 2023, the U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson visited in Busan.
8 months ago
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, marking Pyongyang's latest show of force just days ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's return to office.
The missiles travelled about 250 km after lifting off at around 09:30 am from Kanggye, Jagang Province, near the country's border with China, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
"We strongly condemn the launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula," the JCS said, warning the North against "misjudging" the situation and vowing to "overwhelmingly respond".
Seoul's presidential office said its national security council held a meeting to review the situation and pledged an airtight posture.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he was aware of the missile test, and Tokyo was taking all possible measures to respond through close cooperation with Washington and Seoul
The missiles travelled about 250 km after lifting off at around 09:30 am from Kanggye, Jagang Province, near the country's border with China, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
"We strongly condemn the launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula," the JCS said, warning the North against "misjudging" the situation and vowing to "overwhelmingly respond".
Seoul's presidential office said its national security council held a meeting to review the situation and pledged an airtight posture.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he was aware of the missile test, and Tokyo was taking all possible measures to respond through close cooperation with Washington and Seoul
8 months ago
South Korea’s main liberal opposition party said Tuesday it will seek to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo, as Seoul grapples with the turmoil set off when impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol made a short-lived declaration of martial law.
The country’s political parties are now tussling over how to run investigations into that decision, as well as separate allegations against Yoon's wife.
The opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, wants independent investigators, and gave Han until Tuesday to approve bills appointing them.
Impeaching Han would further deepen political chaos and worries by neighboring countries. Han, the country’s No. 2 official, has taken over the president's powers since Yoon’s impeachment. If he’s impeached too, the finance minister is next in line.
The Democratic Party has slammed Han for vetoing several opposition-sponsored bills, including a controversial agriculture bill.
The country’s political parties are now tussling over how to run investigations into that decision, as well as separate allegations against Yoon's wife.
The opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, wants independent investigators, and gave Han until Tuesday to approve bills appointing them.
Impeaching Han would further deepen political chaos and worries by neighboring countries. Han, the country’s No. 2 official, has taken over the president's powers since Yoon’s impeachment. If he’s impeached too, the finance minister is next in line.
The Democratic Party has slammed Han for vetoing several opposition-sponsored bills, including a controversial agriculture bill.
8 months ago
South Korea's military said on Monday it has detected signs of North Korea preparing to send more troops and weapons, including suicide drones, to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.
Pyongyang has already provided 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers to Russia, and was seen preparing to produce more suicide drones to be shipped there after leader Kim Jong Un guided a test last month, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
"Suicide drones are one of the tasks that Kim Jong Un has focused on," a JCS official said, adding that the North had expressed its intention to give them to Russia.
Such drones have been widely used in the Ukraine war, and Kim ordered a mass production of the aerial weapons and an update of military theory and education, citing intensifying global competition, state media reported.
Pyongyang has already provided 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers to Russia, and was seen preparing to produce more suicide drones to be shipped there after leader Kim Jong Un guided a test last month, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
"Suicide drones are one of the tasks that Kim Jong Un has focused on," a JCS official said, adding that the North had expressed its intention to give them to Russia.
Such drones have been widely used in the Ukraine war, and Kim ordered a mass production of the aerial weapons and an update of military theory and education, citing intensifying global competition, state media reported.
8 months ago
Demonstrators supporting and opposing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held rival protests several hundred metres apart in Seoul on Saturday, a week after he was impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
Yoon's presidential powers are suspended but he remains in office. He has not complied with various summonses by authorities investigating whether martial law.....
The court plans to hold its first preparatory hearing on Friday.
Saturday's pro- and anti-Yoon protests were held in Gwanghwamun in the heart of the capital. There were no clashes as of 4 p.m.
Tens of thousands of anti-Yoon protesters, dominated by people in their 20s and 30s, gathered around 3 p.m., waving K-Pop light sticks and signs with sayings such as "Arrest! Imprison! Insurrection chief Yoon Suk Yeol" to catchy K-pop tunes.
"I wanted to ask Yoon how he could do this to a democracy in the 21st century, and I think if he really has a conscience, he should step down," said 27-year-old Cho Su
Yoon's presidential powers are suspended but he remains in office. He has not complied with various summonses by authorities investigating whether martial law.....
The court plans to hold its first preparatory hearing on Friday.
Saturday's pro- and anti-Yoon protests were held in Gwanghwamun in the heart of the capital. There were no clashes as of 4 p.m.
Tens of thousands of anti-Yoon protesters, dominated by people in their 20s and 30s, gathered around 3 p.m., waving K-Pop light sticks and signs with sayings such as "Arrest! Imprison! Insurrection chief Yoon Suk Yeol" to catchy K-pop tunes.
"I wanted to ask Yoon how he could do this to a democracy in the 21st century, and I think if he really has a conscience, he should step down," said 27-year-old Cho Su
9 months ago
Russia is following events in South Korea with concern after the president briefly declared martial law, but there are no threats to Russian citizens there, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
Moscow has deepened ties with Seoul's neighbour North Korea since the start of its war in Ukraine, drawing concern from Western countries.
South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law before reversing the move hours later, triggering a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy, a major U.S. ally
"We are watching with concern the tragic events unfolding in South Korea," Zakharova told a news briefing.
"The situation on the Korean peninsula is already complicated by the provocative actions of the United States of America and its allies," she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a treaty in Pyongyang in June which included a mutual defence
Moscow has deepened ties with Seoul's neighbour North Korea since the start of its war in Ukraine, drawing concern from Western countries.
South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law before reversing the move hours later, triggering a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy, a major U.S. ally
"We are watching with concern the tragic events unfolding in South Korea," Zakharova told a news briefing.
"The situation on the Korean peninsula is already complicated by the provocative actions of the United States of America and its allies," she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a treaty in Pyongyang in June which included a mutual defence
9 months ago
Supporters of South Korea's opposition party call for
the dismissal of the martial law declared by President Yoon.
:: Seoul, South Korea
:: December 4, 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in a surprise late-night TV address, slamming domestic political opponents and sending shockwaves through the country.
Yoon said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage.
Yonhap news agency cited the military as saying activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.
That did not stop members of the media and hundreds of protesters from gathering in front of th parliament, shouting slogans and raising a South Korean flag in defiance.
the dismissal of the martial law declared by President Yoon.
:: Seoul, South Korea
:: December 4, 2024
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in a surprise late-night TV address, slamming domestic political opponents and sending shockwaves through the country.
Yoon said opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage.
Yonhap news agency cited the military as saying activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.
That did not stop members of the media and hundreds of protesters from gathering in front of th parliament, shouting slogans and raising a South Korean flag in defiance.
9 months ago
A vigil is held in Seoul to condemn South Korea's president after he briefly declared martial law
:: December 4, 2024
South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after the declaration, triggering a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday (December 3) that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.
Yoon, a career prosecutor, squeezed out a victory in the tightest presidential election in South Korean history in 2022, riding a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars. But he has been unpopular, with his support ratings hovering at around 20% for months.
:: December 4, 2024
South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after the declaration, triggering a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday (December 3) that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.
Yoon, a career prosecutor, squeezed out a victory in the tightest presidential election in South Korean history in 2022, riding a wave of discontent over economic policy, scandals and gender wars. But he has been unpopular, with his support ratings hovering at around 20% for months.
9 months ago
North Korea, Russia and China watch on as crisis unfolds in key US ally South Korea.
A night of political upheaval in South Korea has upended stability in a key democratic US ally – sending shock waves through the region and Washington at a moment of acute global tension.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night in a surprise decree that was reversed hours later following overwhelming opposition across the political spectrum for what was widely seen as a breach of the country’s vibrant democracy.
The move, which Yoon claimed was necessary to “save the country against anti-state forces” trying to destroy the “constitutional order of liberal democracy,” was met by protests in Seoul and mounting calls for the president’s resignation.
The stunning development appeared to catch Washington off guard. That’s an unnerving reality for the United States military, which has nearly 30,000 troops and its largest overseas base in South Korea, serving as a
A night of political upheaval in South Korea has upended stability in a key democratic US ally – sending shock waves through the region and Washington at a moment of acute global tension.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night in a surprise decree that was reversed hours later following overwhelming opposition across the political spectrum for what was widely seen as a breach of the country’s vibrant democracy.
The move, which Yoon claimed was necessary to “save the country against anti-state forces” trying to destroy the “constitutional order of liberal democracy,” was met by protests in Seoul and mounting calls for the president’s resignation.
The stunning development appeared to catch Washington off guard. That’s an unnerving reality for the United States military, which has nearly 30,000 troops and its largest overseas base in South Korea, serving as a
9 months ago
A controversial American live-streamer is facing the prospect of prison in South Korea for his offensive antics, in a case that is shining a light on the rise of so-called “nuisance influencers” seeking clicks overseas.
Ramsey Khalid Ismael, 24, commonly known by his online alias, “Johnny Somali,” has been indicted of causing a “commotion” at a convenience store, Seoul prosecutors confirmed to CNN. If convicted he faces up to five years in prison.
A departure ban has also been placed on Ismael, preventing him from leaving the country while authorities continue their investigation.
It is unclear if he has an attorney.
Ismael, who has built a reputation online for his provocative, often highly offensive video stunts, has been banned by multiple social media companies, after he was accused by critics of harassing locals in countries across Asia in an apparent effort to boost his online viewership.
Ramsey Khalid Ismael, 24, commonly known by his online alias, “Johnny Somali,” has been indicted of causing a “commotion” at a convenience store, Seoul prosecutors confirmed to CNN. If convicted he faces up to five years in prison.
A departure ban has also been placed on Ismael, preventing him from leaving the country while authorities continue their investigation.
It is unclear if he has an attorney.
Ismael, who has built a reputation online for his provocative, often highly offensive video stunts, has been banned by multiple social media companies, after he was accused by critics of harassing locals in countries across Asia in an apparent effort to boost his online viewership.
9 months ago
South Koreans remain widely opposed to directly supplying arms to Ukraine, recent polls show, despite renewed international requests from Kyiv and allied capitals after North Korean troops were reported to be helping Russia.
Ukraine has asked Seoul for a range of weapons and Seoul has said it could consider such aid, depending on future steps by Russia and North Korea.
A Ukrainian delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday, Yoon's office said, amid media reports that the visit aimed to seek arms support.
"No to the South Korean government planning arms supply to Ukraine," read a banner held by a small group of protesters gathered outside Yoon's office in the capital.
Both sides agreed to keep up sharing of information on North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia as well as the exchange of technology and weapons between the two, Yoon's office
Ukraine has asked Seoul for a range of weapons and Seoul has said it could consider such aid, depending on future steps by Russia and North Korea.
A Ukrainian delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday, Yoon's office said, amid media reports that the visit aimed to seek arms support.
"No to the South Korean government planning arms supply to Ukraine," read a banner held by a small group of protesters gathered outside Yoon's office in the capital.
Both sides agreed to keep up sharing of information on North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia as well as the exchange of technology and weapons between the two, Yoon's office
9 months ago
US administration of Donald Trump has been urged to formalise strategic consultations with South Korea and Japan concerning Taiwan, considered potentially the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia.
The request from the Institute for Future Strategy at Seoul National University, regards such consultations as a way to ensure that South Korea would be included in discussions about Taiwan the US would hold with allies like Australia and Japan.
lnclusion would also elevate trilateral cooperation among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo "into a structured mechanism for regional rule-setting and strategic dialogue", "Towards Co-Resilience", found.
Seoul and Washington to step up consolidation efforts in strategic industries like shipbuilding as well as in advanced artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies.
It also urged the US and South Korea to develop "a comprehensive road map" to manage the possibility of a two-front war involving the Taiwan Strait and the Korean peninsula.
The request from the Institute for Future Strategy at Seoul National University, regards such consultations as a way to ensure that South Korea would be included in discussions about Taiwan the US would hold with allies like Australia and Japan.
lnclusion would also elevate trilateral cooperation among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo "into a structured mechanism for regional rule-setting and strategic dialogue", "Towards Co-Resilience", found.
Seoul and Washington to step up consolidation efforts in strategic industries like shipbuilding as well as in advanced artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies.
It also urged the US and South Korea to develop "a comprehensive road map" to manage the possibility of a two-front war involving the Taiwan Strait and the Korean peninsula.
10 months ago
Donald Trump’s election victory is prompting South Korea to rethink the possibility of sending weapons directly to Ukraine, a decision that could have a big impact on the direction of the war.
President Yoon Suk Yeol now has to consider the US president-elect’s stance as it looks at whether to change its long-standing policy of not sending lethal aid to Kyiv.
Seoul is also looking at how Trump’s approach to the war will affect support for Ukraine among a range of countries.
South Korea is now less likely to send munitions to Ukraine unless Pyongyang takes further action or there’s more clarity on how Trump will act on Ukraine.
“It would be pretty awkward for South Korea, not even a member of NATO, to step in at this point if Trump moves in to the White House and wants to pull out from the conflict,” said Kim Jung, a political science professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
“We will closely coordinate with our ally and partners in that process,” it said
President Yoon Suk Yeol now has to consider the US president-elect’s stance as it looks at whether to change its long-standing policy of not sending lethal aid to Kyiv.
Seoul is also looking at how Trump’s approach to the war will affect support for Ukraine among a range of countries.
South Korea is now less likely to send munitions to Ukraine unless Pyongyang takes further action or there’s more clarity on how Trump will act on Ukraine.
“It would be pretty awkward for South Korea, not even a member of NATO, to step in at this point if Trump moves in to the White House and wants to pull out from the conflict,” said Kim Jung, a political science professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
“We will closely coordinate with our ally and partners in that process,” it said
10 months ago
North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat operations against Ukraine alongside their Russian allies, South Korea's spy agency said on Wednesday.
Seoul's confirmation comes amid growing global criticism as the two countries strengthen military ties, after Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia's Kursk region to aid its war with Ukraine.
"The National Intelligence Service estimates that North Korean troops dispatched to Russia have moved to the Kursk region over the past two weeks," the agency said in a statement.
They had completed deployment to the battlefield, and were already participating in combat operations, it added.
On Tuesday, North Korean state media said Pyongyang had ratified a mutual defence treaty with Russia signed in June by the two countries' leaders, providing for each to come to the other's aid in case of an armed attack.
Seoul's confirmation comes amid growing global criticism as the two countries strengthen military ties, after Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia's Kursk region to aid its war with Ukraine.
"The National Intelligence Service estimates that North Korean troops dispatched to Russia have moved to the Kursk region over the past two weeks," the agency said in a statement.
They had completed deployment to the battlefield, and were already participating in combat operations, it added.
On Tuesday, North Korean state media said Pyongyang had ratified a mutual defence treaty with Russia signed in June by the two countries' leaders, providing for each to come to the other's aid in case of an armed attack.
10 months ago
South Korea's presidential office said it will build a "perfect" security partnership with a new U.S. administration.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was expected to speak to the U.S. president-elect.
Seoul is a staunch U.S. ally in the region, with some 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea as part of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.
For the past two and a half years since Yoon became president, no one on either side of the political aisle in the United States had questioned the importance of the alliance between South Korea and the United States as well as the need to develop it on a global level.
Washington and Seoul agreed on a new five-year plan on sharing the cost of keeping American troops in South Korea. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in the U.S. election, had during his presidency accused South Korea of "free-riding" on U.S. military might, and demanded that it pay as much as $5 billion a year for the U.S. deployment.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was expected to speak to the U.S. president-elect.
Seoul is a staunch U.S. ally in the region, with some 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea as part of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.
For the past two and a half years since Yoon became president, no one on either side of the political aisle in the United States had questioned the importance of the alliance between South Korea and the United States as well as the need to develop it on a global level.
Washington and Seoul agreed on a new five-year plan on sharing the cost of keeping American troops in South Korea. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee in the U.S. election, had during his presidency accused South Korea of "free-riding" on U.S. military might, and demanded that it pay as much as $5 billion a year for the U.S. deployment.
10 months ago
North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks on Friday and Saturday, an operation that was affecting several ships and dozens of civilian aircraft in South Korea, Seoul's military said.
The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile.
The South fired its own ballistic missile into the sea on Friday in a show of force aimed at demonstrating its resolve to respond to "any North Korean provocations".
"North Korea conducted GPS jamming provocations in Haeju and Kaesong yesterday and today," Seoul's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement Saturday, adding several vessels and dozens of civilian aircraft were experiencing "some operational disruptions".
The military warned ships and aircraft operating in the Yellow Sea to beware of such attacks.
"We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cease its GPS provocations and warn that it will be held responsible for any subsequent issues arising from this," they said
The jamming allegations come about a week after the North test-fired advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM missile.
The South fired its own ballistic missile into the sea on Friday in a show of force aimed at demonstrating its resolve to respond to "any North Korean provocations".
"North Korea conducted GPS jamming provocations in Haeju and Kaesong yesterday and today," Seoul's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement Saturday, adding several vessels and dozens of civilian aircraft were experiencing "some operational disruptions".
The military warned ships and aircraft operating in the Yellow Sea to beware of such attacks.
"We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cease its GPS provocations and warn that it will be held responsible for any subsequent issues arising from this," they said
10 months ago
South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol said the country was prepared in its alliance with the United States to strike back if North Korea attempted a nuclear attack against it, Newsweek reported.
Yoon also said South Korea could rely on U.S. nuclear weapons to defend the country and did not need its own.
"I believe that it would be irrational for them to decide to wage a nuclear attack against the Republic of Korea and should they do so the nuclear-based ROK-U.S. alliance will immediately strike North Korea with the U.S. nuclear weapon,"
North Korea flexed its military muscle with the test of a huge new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile dubbed Hwasong-19 on Oct. 31, amid accusations from Washington and Seoul that it has deployed troops to aid Russia in Ukraine.
Seoul is seeking to continue improving relations with Washington, building on the 70-year security alliance that is under fresh focus after former U.S. President Donald Trump won re-election to the White House.
Yoon also said South Korea could rely on U.S. nuclear weapons to defend the country and did not need its own.
"I believe that it would be irrational for them to decide to wage a nuclear attack against the Republic of Korea and should they do so the nuclear-based ROK-U.S. alliance will immediately strike North Korea with the U.S. nuclear weapon,"
North Korea flexed its military muscle with the test of a huge new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile dubbed Hwasong-19 on Oct. 31, amid accusations from Washington and Seoul that it has deployed troops to aid Russia in Ukraine.
Seoul is seeking to continue improving relations with Washington, building on the 70-year security alliance that is under fresh focus after former U.S. President Donald Trump won re-election to the White House.
10 months ago
South Korea fired a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile into the Yellow Sea in response to North Korea's recent series of missile launches, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.
The South's Missile Strategy Command launched a Hyunmoo-2 missile from the western coastal county of Taean on Thursday, the JCS said in a message to reporters. The missile flew approximately 125 miles and hit a virtual target in the sea.
The drill was a simulated response meant to strike the launch site in the event of North Korea firing a ballistic missile.
"Through this live-fire exercise, our military demonstrated its strong will to resolutely respond to any provocation by North Korea and its ability and readiness to precisely strike the source of enemy provocation," the JCS said.
The military said it is closely monitoring North Korea's various military activities and is maintaining readiness to "overwhelmingly" respond to any provocation by North Korea.
The South's Missile Strategy Command launched a Hyunmoo-2 missile from the western coastal county of Taean on Thursday, the JCS said in a message to reporters. The missile flew approximately 125 miles and hit a virtual target in the sea.
The drill was a simulated response meant to strike the launch site in the event of North Korea firing a ballistic missile.
"Through this live-fire exercise, our military demonstrated its strong will to resolutely respond to any provocation by North Korea and its ability and readiness to precisely strike the source of enemy provocation," the JCS said.
The military said it is closely monitoring North Korea's various military activities and is maintaining readiness to "overwhelmingly" respond to any provocation by North Korea.
10 months ago
A budding alliance between Russia and North Korea is handing Chinese President Xi Jinping another problem, as Beijing comes under growing international pressure to rein in two of its closest diplomatic partners.
The revelation last month that Kim Jong Un sent thousands of troops to Russia’s border sparked fears that Europe’s largest conflict since World War II was on the verge of escalating. The prospect of North Koreans fighting for Vladimir Putin also prompted calls for China to use its sway to intervene.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American officials had urged Beijing to leverage its influence to “curb these activities” during “robust” talks. A senior South Korean official told reporters that the troop deployment didn’t align with China’s interests, adding that Seoul had asked officials in Beijing to play a responsible role in the conflict.
For Xi, it’s a diplomatic headache that comes at a perilous time.
The revelation last month that Kim Jong Un sent thousands of troops to Russia’s border sparked fears that Europe’s largest conflict since World War II was on the verge of escalating. The prospect of North Koreans fighting for Vladimir Putin also prompted calls for China to use its sway to intervene.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American officials had urged Beijing to leverage its influence to “curb these activities” during “robust” talks. A senior South Korean official told reporters that the troop deployment didn’t align with China’s interests, adding that Seoul had asked officials in Beijing to play a responsible role in the conflict.
For Xi, it’s a diplomatic headache that comes at a perilous time.