AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Kim Hee-su
Kim Hee-su김희수
ReporterMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Seoul City Hall & Defense, Foreign Affairs
Kim Hee-su is a bilingual reporter at AJU Press, covering defense and foreign affairs. Before joining AJP in 2025, she worked at The Korea Times, where she wrote interview stories, including a profile of North Korean defector Kim Gum-hyok, and produced digital content. She also previously worked as a researcher for KBS News 9’s International News Department, supporting correspondents in 10 countries around the world. She graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada with a double major in Book and Media Studies and East Asian Studies. "I'm driven by storytelling."
Latest by Kim Hee-su
  • Explosion at Hanwha Aerospace plant casts doubt on planned satellite launch
    Explosion at Hanwha Aerospace plant casts doubt on planned satellite launch SEOUL, June 4 (AJP) - The planned launch of a satellite-carrying solid-fuel rocket off Jeju remains uncertain following an explosion at Hanwha Aerospace's plant in Daejeon that left seven people dead or injured. The Ministry of Employment and Labor raided Hanwha Aerospace’s headquarters in Seoul and its Daejeon plant on Thursday in connection with the fatal explosion. The Ministry of Employment and Labor raided Hanwha Aerospace's headquarters in Seoul and its Daejeon plant on Thursday following the fatal explosion. Hanwha Aerospace said it would suspend production lines at its domestic sites for two days from Thursday to conduct safety inspections and training, saying "safety comes before production." The measure applies to nine sites nationwide, including plants in Daejeon, Boeun in North Chungcheong Province and Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, which produce propellants and charges, as well as its Changwon plants in South Gyeongsang Province, which manufacture K9 self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles and aircraft engines. R&D campuses in Daejeon, Pangyo and Asan are also included. Hanwha Aerospace has a total of 11 domestic business sites. The Daejeon plant, where the explosion occurred, is known as a key site that produces defense and space-related products, including propellants. Hanwha Aerospace had been working with the Agency for Defense Development to conduct the fourth launch of a solid-fuel space rocket from waters near the Jeju naval base on May 30, but the launch was postponed due to bad weather. However, Hanwha Aerospace has said it is difficult to directly link the accident to the launch schedule, as the project is led by the military and government agencies. "It is difficult to link the two because rockets and weapons are matters involving the military and the government," a Hanwha official told AJP by phone. "For details, you would need to check with DAPA, the military or other state agencies." The official also said the report linking the accident directly to the launch schedule appeared to be "highly speculative," adding, "It is not accurate to make that connection." The Defense Ministry's spokesperson's office also said the delay was so far understood to be related to weather conditions and that no confirmed link had been made to the accident. "As of now, there has been no discussion related to that," an official at the ministry's spokesperson told AJP by phone. "So far, it has been about the weather." The official added that "various conditions" could still be considered, but said no new launch date had been fixed. The Agency for Defense Development succeeded in the third test launch of South Korea's indigenous solid-fuel rocket from waters off Jungmun, Jeju, in December 2023 to verify its capability to place a small satellite into orbit. The upcoming launch would be the fourth test. Hanwha Aerospace is responsible for the launch vehicle, Hanwha Systems for the reconnaissance satellite and Hanwha Ocean for the offshore launch platform. The accident has also raised questions about why an explosion occurred in a process the company had not considered highly dangerous. During a joint briefing on the day of the accident, a Hanwha Aerospace official said, "The process involved in today's accident had not been recognized as highly dangerous." The explosion reportedly occurred in a cleaning room in Building 56, where tools used in the production of solid propellant for rocket launch vehicles were washed with water and detergent. A chemistry expert said fine aluminum particles used in propellants are vulnerable to static electricity, making explosions possible when residues are removed or handled with various materials. However, the expert said the risk of an explosion may have been considered significantly lower because the accident occurred in a room where water was used for cleaning. Choi Gi-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, said the explosion may have been caused by sparks generated by friction, external impact or other minor factors during the cleaning of equipment contaminated with explosives. "There is a high possibility that sparks occurred during the cleaning of tools or mixing containers contaminated with explosives, due to friction, external impact or other small factors, leading to a chain explosion," Choi said. This is not the first fatal explosion at Hanwha Aerospace's Daejeon plant. In May 2018, an explosion at the same site killed five workers. In February 2019, another explosion and fire occurred in a propellant separation room in Building 70, killing three workers. The previous accidents also prompted criticism over the company's safety management. After the 2018 accident, the Labor Ministry found 486 violations during an inspection in the field of occupational safety and health, with 126 cases referred for legal action. At the time, the Daejeon plant's process safety management, or PSM, rating was downgraded to M-, the lowest level. The latest accident could therefore go beyond a single process failure and raise broader questions over whether safety management has been properly carried out at defense and space facilities that handle high-risk materials, especially given the limited transparency surrounding defense contractors. 2026-06-04 16:30:37
  • Hanwha Aerospace halts operations at 9 sites for safety inspections
    Hanwha Aerospace halts operations at 9 sites for safety inspections SEOUL, June 04 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace said Thursday it has suspended operations at nine domestic sites for two days to conduct safety inspections and employee training, following a deadly explosion at its plant in Daejeon. The company said it halted production lines from June 4 to 5, except for some essential processes, under the supervision of each site manager and safety officer. The affected sites include plants in Daejeon, Boeun in North Chungcheong Province and Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, which produce and handle propellants and charges. The shutdown also applies to its Changwon plants in South Gyeongsang Province, which manufacture K-9 self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles and aircraft engines, as well as R&D campuses in Daejeon, Pangyo and Asan. It marks the first time Hanwha Aerospace has simultaneously suspended operations at multiple sites since the launch of its integrated entity in 2023, following the merger of Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Defense and Hanwha Corp.’s defense division. The company said the decision was made because securing a safe workplace environment takes priority over potential production disruptions, as part of efforts to prevent risks similar to the accident at the Daejeon plant. During the inspections, Hanwha Aerospace will review risks related to fires, explosions, serious accidents, unsafe facilities and working conditions, risk assessments and past accident cases. The company will also reexamine machinery, work environments and structures, while checking whether corrective measures and recurrence prevention steps from risk assessments over the past three years have been properly implemented. Hanwha Aerospace said it has also begun reviewing the expansion of unmanned automation for processes related to the production and handling of propellants. Special safety training for employees will also be conducted during the two-day period. Each site will provide training on similar accident cases at home and abroad, workers’ right to stop work in the event of imminent danger and emergency response plans. Hanwha Group said its petrochemical affiliates, including Hanwha Corp., Hanwha Solutions, Hanwha TotalEnergies, Hanwha Impact and YNCC, will also form CEO-led inspection teams by June 10 to review workplace safety, production processes and environmental management at their domestic and overseas sites. 2026-06-04 11:17:15
  • Future warfare makes diplomacy harder, but more vital, experts say
    Future warfare makes diplomacy harder, but more vital, experts say SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - As artificial intelligence, space assets, and maritime competition reshape the nature of warfare, diplomacy is not becoming obsolete but is becoming more important in preventing conflicts from escalating and setting rules for emerging military technologies, security experts said Tuesday. The remarks came during the 33rd Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) Talks, a public lecture hosted by IFANS under the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, at the (KNDA) Hall in southern Seoul. Held under the theme “Finding the path to future security through AI, space and the sea,” the event brought together Sohn Han-byeol, a professor at Korea National Defense University, Um Jung-sik, a professor at the Korea Air Force Academy, and Ban Kil-joo, a professor at IFANS. During a Q&A session, the speakers addressed whether the rapid development of military technologies could weaken the role of diplomacy. Sohn said diplomacy will become more difficult, and more important, as advanced technologies lower the threshold for the use of force. “The role of diplomacy is not shrinking. It is becoming more difficult, and because it is becoming more difficult, it is becoming more important,” Sohn said. He said military technologies may allow states to strike faster and more precisely, but they cannot resolve the political causes of conflict. “Military victory and political termination are different,” he said. “Diplomacy is what fills that gap.” Sohn also said diplomacy in the AI era should focus on creating norms for new technologies, including autonomous weapons, AI-assisted targeting and drone attacks. “The empty space of norms is not the realm of the military or technology, but of diplomacy,” he said. He said South Korea could contribute to space cooperation with the United States by strengthening space domain awareness in Northeast Asia, where ground-based monitoring assets remain limited. “The United States is a global space power, but compared with other regions, ground-based space systems in Northeast Asia are relatively insufficient,” Um said. “South Korea can play a sufficient role in the alliance in ground-based space domain awareness.” Um also stressed that South Korea needs to recognize space as an independent operational domain. “Public satellites and commercial satellites floating in space are assets that our military must protect,” he said. “Who protects our commercial satellites?” Ban said maritime security is increasingly linked to energy security, food security, gray-zone competition and the rules-based order. He said South Korea must distinguish between China’s gray-zone activities and North Korea’s military threats when shaping maritime security responses. “China’s and North Korea’s threats are not on the same line,” Ban said. “Their nature and categories must be separated.” Ban said gray-zone threats at sea are not only a bilateral security issue but also a challenge to the rules-based maritime order. “Gray-zone threats weaken the rules-based order and the maritime rules-based order,” he said. “They need to be expanded to and handled by the international community.” Turning to the broader question of diplomacy, Ban said modern warfare does not signal the end of diplomacy. “I see this not as an era of the end of diplomacy, but as an era in which diplomacy must work harder,” Ban said, adding that defense capabilities and diplomacy should reinforce each other. “Diplomacy and deterrence have mutual synergy,” he said. “A virtuous cycle is possible.” Ban stressed that diplomacy is needed both during war and in peacetime. “Diplomacy is conducted even during war,” he said. “In the end, the end of a fight is diplomacy.” The discussion underscored a shared view among the speakers: as war expands into AI, space and the sea, diplomacy is not losing relevance. Instead, it is moving into more complex domains where rules remain unsettled, escalation risks are higher and national security depends on norms, partnerships and public awareness as much as on military power. 2026-06-02 17:56:45
  • South Korea makes final all-out push for Canadas submarine bid
    South Korea makes final all-out push for Canada's submarine bid SEOUL, June 2 (AJP) - South Korea is stepping up efforts to win Canada's next-generation submarine procurement project, as Ottawa is expected to select its preferred bidder by the end of June for a deal estimated to be worth US$40 billion. The final race for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, or CPSP, has increasingly narrowed into a competition between South Korea's "One Team" bid led by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, a long-established player in the diesel-electric submarine market. South Korea's push gained momentum this week as presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik attended a business roundtable in Toronto, where companies from the two countries signed three memorandums of understanding in satellite communications, launch sites and defense vehicles. The business event came as Germany and Norway moved to counter Hanwha Ocean's key selling point — faster delivery — by offering to delay some of their own submarine deliveries to make room for Canada. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said TKMS could deliver four submarines to Canada by 2036 if it wins the bid, according to an interview with Canada's CBC News on the sidelines of CANSEC 2026, Canada's largest defense exhibition held in Ottawa last week. "They say they can, and I have only had good experiences with them, so I trust them," Pistorius told CBC News. "They promise only what they can actually achieve." TKMS has proposed its Type 212CD submarine, a model jointly developed by Germany and Norway. But the submarine remains in the design stage and has yet to enter operational service, raising questions over whether the German side could meet Canada's urgent delivery timeline. Hanwha Ocean, by contrast, has emphasized from the early stages of the competition that it can deliver four KSS-III submarines to Canada by 2035. That date is crucial for Ottawa, as the Royal Canadian Navy aims to retire all four of its aging Victoria-class submarines by 2035. Only one of the four is currently believed to be available for operations, making replacement an urgent priority. Pistorius said Germany and Norway, both existing customers of the Type 212CD, had agreed to delay one submarine each from their own orders to allow Canada to receive earlier deliveries. The remaining two vessels, he said, could be produced at an accelerated pace by TKMS. Marte Gerhardsen, state secretary at Norway's Ministry of Defense, also said bringing Canada into the program would strengthen the overall submarine fleet, even if Norway has to wait longer for one of its submarines. "We do not think of the submarine fleet as a Norwegian fleet, a German fleet and a Canadian fleet," Gerhardsen told CBC News. "We think of it as a common fleet." Germany has also offered a broader economic package tied to the submarine bid, including investments in military and non-military projects in Canada, according to CBC News. The proposals reportedly cover carbon capture, LNG exports, torpedo production and hypersonic missile development. South Korea has also pledged similar industrial cooperation if it wins the contract, but Germany is seeking to differentiate its proposal by stressing that many of its projects could begin within two years. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Defense Procurement Minister Stephen Fuhr have said both Germany's Type 212CD and Korea's KSS-III meet the Royal Canadian Navy's requirements, with a decision expected by the end of June. Carney said last week that the decision goes beyond military requirements. "It is certainly about economic impact, the broader economic benefits," Carney told reporters. Hanwha is seeking to frame its submarine bid as part of a wider defense and industrial partnership with Canada. Representatives from Algoma Steel, Hanwha and Ontario-based auto parts makers recently signed an agreement at a Martinrea International facility near Toronto. Under the plan, Algoma would supply steel to a Canadian consortium if Hanwha wins the submarine contract. Algoma joins Hanwha and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, which agreed recently to jointly develop and manufacture fighting vehicles for the Canadian Armed Forces and allies. In a separate pact, Hanwha has also agreed to invest in Algoma. The proposed Canadian joint venture would be 51 percent Canadian-owned and use domestic steel and workers, with Hanwha providing expertise, technology and experience, as well as investment. "They are not just interested in supplying submarines to Canada," Martinrea chairman Rob Wildeboer said. "They want to do much more in working with industry in Ontario and Canada to develop defense capabilities." Korea also used CANSEC 2026 as a final opportunity to promote its submarine bid. Hanwha Ocean put its proposed KSS-III Batch-II model at the center of its campaign, stressing that Korea already operates a proven submarine platform. The Korean Navy's 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine has also played a supporting role. After completing a 14,000-kilometer voyage across the Pacific, the submarine arrived at the Esquimalt naval base in Victoria, British Columbia on May 23. The strategy has drawn attention in Canada, with local media quoting one Canadian naval official as comparing the experience of boarding the Korean submarine to switching from a 1999 Honda Civic to a new Tesla. With the final decision approaching, the competition is increasingly becoming not only a submarine procurement race, but also a test of which country can offer Canada a broader strategic and industrial partnership. 2026-06-02 17:26:28
  • Korean Navy to join RIMPAC, take first command role in multinational maritime exercise
    Korean Navy to join RIMPAC, take first command role in multinational maritime exercise SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s Navy said Monday its Aegis destroyer Jeongjo the Great will depart for the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), marking the first time the service will assume a major command role in the U.S.-led multinational maritime drill. The 8,200-ton destroyer left Jeju Naval Base on Monday and will join the exercise, which will take place in waters off Hawaii from late June through July, according to the Navy. It will be the first RIMPAC participation for the Jeongjo the Great, which was commissioned in December 2024. The 3,000-ton submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft will also take part in the exercise for the first time. The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, along with the frigate Daejeon, will move to Hawaii after completing a combined cooperation exercise with Canada. The landing ship Cheonjabong is also set to head to Hawaii after conducting a search and rescue exercise, or SAREX, with Japan’s Aegis destroyer Kongo in international waters southeast of Jeju on June 7. RIMPAC is a biennial multinational naval exercise hosted by the U.S. 3rd Fleet to enhance participating countries’ ability to protect sea lines of communication, respond jointly to maritime threats and improve interoperability and operational capabilities among allied and partner forces. This year marks the 30th edition of the exercise. South Korea first joined RIMPAC in 1990 and will be participating for the 19th time this year. During this year’s exercise, the South Korean military will serve for the first time as the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander, or CFMCC. South Korea will become the fourth country to take on the role and the first Asian country to do so. The Navy said the exercise is expected to provide an opportunity to strengthen South Korea’s military capabilities ahead of the planned transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul. Rear Adm. Kim In-ho, commander of the Republic of Korea Navy’s Maritime Task Flotilla and the officer who will serve as the CFMCC, said the assignment marks a shift in South Korea’s role from a participating country to a command nation. “Taking on the command role for the first time means we have moved beyond being a participating country and have advanced to the position of a command nation,” Kim said. 2026-06-02 10:48:20
  • Korea, Canada deepen advanced industry ties with MOUs in defense, space sectors
    Korea, Canada deepen advanced industry ties with MOUs in defense, space sectors SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - South Korea and Canada discussed ways to expand cooperation in advanced industries, with companies from the two countries signing three memorandums of understanding in the defense and space sectors, Seoul's industry ministry said Monday. The Korea-Canada Advanced Industry Cooperation Business Roundtable was held at the Park Hyatt Toronto hotel, organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, or KOTRA, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resource. The event brought together about 50 government officials and business leaders from both countries in key sectors such as defense, space and hydrogen. Attendees included Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Vice Industry Minister Moon Shin-hak, Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Lee Yong-cheol and Stephen Lecce, Ontario's minister of energy and mines. The roundtable was designed to discuss concrete cooperation projects between Korean and Canadian companies in promising future industries, including defense, space and hydrogen, while exploring possible government support measures. During the event, Hanwha presented ways to expand cooperation between the two countries in the defense and space sectors, while Hyundai Motor introduced potential cooperation in the hydrogen sector, including hydrogen projects in Canada. “If Canada’s abundant resources and advanced technologies are combined with Korea’s world-class manufacturing capabilities, the two countries will be able to lead the global market in advanced industries,” Kang said. He also stressed that industrial cooperation between the two countries should go beyond simple purchasing and supply arrangements and develop into an ecosystem that connects technology, security and talent. As part of the visit, the special delegation for strategic economic cooperation also visited Martinrea, one of the key parties involved in an MOU signed in April between Hanwha and Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. The ministry said the event led to three MOUs between Korean and Canadian companies in satellite communications, launch sites and defense vehicles. Kang left for Canada on Sunday as President Lee Jae Myung’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, accompanied by officials from the industry and foreign ministries, as well as companies and organizations in energy, resources, supply chains and advanced industries. During the trip, Kang and other officials are also expected to support Korean companies seeking to win Canada’s submarine procurement project. 2026-06-02 10:03:14
  • HD Hyundai Heavy Industries begins Sweden icebreaker project
    HD Hyundai Heavy Industries begins Sweden icebreaker project SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun work on an icebreaker project it won from Sweden, marking the first overseas icebreaker contract secured by a South Korean shipyard. The company said Thursday that eight officials from Sweden, including Erik Eklund, director general of the Swedish Maritime Administration, and Johannes Andreasson, deputy head of mission at the Swedish Embassy in Seoul, visited its shipyard in Ulsan on Wednesday for a kickoff meeting on the project. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries earlier won a $348.9 million contract from the Swedish Maritime Administration to build one icebreaker. The vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2029. During the visit, the Swedish delegation toured the company’s large commercial vessel yard as well as its naval and mid-sized vessel construction facilities. They also inspected its smart shipbuilding facilities, including automated equipment and advanced production systems. The two sides then held a kickoff meeting to discuss the project schedule, design and quality control plans, and cooperation framework for the construction of the icebreaker. The vessel will be designed to operate safely in the extreme conditions of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it plans to apply the latest eco-friendly and high-efficiency technologies to build an advanced icebreaker that meets the Swedish Maritime Administration’s operational requirements. The company said it plans to use the project as a springboard to expand its presence in the global icebreaker market. It also aims to respond to possible additional orders from the Swedish Maritime Administration and growing demand for icebreakers from countries such as the United States and Canada. “We will do our best to successfully build the icebreaker through cooperation with the Swedish government and the Swedish Maritime Administration,” said Joo Won-ho, head of naval and special ship business at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. “We hope this project will further strengthen shipbuilding and maritime cooperation between South Korea and Sweden.” 2026-05-29 16:54:30
  • US House bill broadens guardrails against USFK troop cuts amid China rivalry
    US House bill broadens guardrails against USFK troop cuts amid China rivalry SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - A new U.S. House defense bill seeks to strengthen congressional guardrails against any reduction of American troops in South Korea, at a time when the role of U.S. Forces Korea is increasingly being discussed in the broader context of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy and rivalry with China. The chairman’s mark of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would amend a provision in the fiscal 2026 defense law that restricts the use of funds to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in or deployed to South Korea below 28,500. Under the 2026 NDAA, funds authorized by that law cannot be used to cut the U.S. military presence in South Korea below the current level or to complete a transfer of wartime operational control of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command in a way that deviates from a bilaterally agreed plan, unless the defense secretary submits required certifications and assessments to Congress. The 2027 House draft goes a step further by broadening the funding restriction. Instead of applying only to amounts authorized under the NDAA itself, the draft would prohibit the use of funds “authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal years 2026 or 2027” for such purposes. The change appears aimed at closing a potential loophole that could allow the administration to use other defense funds to carry out troop reductions, even if NDAA-authorized funds were restricted. If enacted, the provision would make it harder for the executive branch to move forward with a unilateral or rapid reduction in U.S. Forces Korea without first going through congressional oversight procedures. The provision comes amid lingering concerns in Seoul that the Trump administration could push for a reshaping of U.S. overseas military posture as part of its broader pressure campaign on allies to shoulder more defense costs and take on larger regional security roles. “The U.S. will not be able to act entirely on its own,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University. “Given its strategic competition with China, it would be difficult for Washington to reduce U.S. Forces Korea significantly. It may be able to scale back some ground troops, but there is little reason to move them to Japan or Guam, especially when Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek is such an advanced and well-established base.” Koh said Washington may still pressure Seoul over defense cost-sharing or other alliance issues, but the strategic value of the U.S. military presence in South Korea remains too important to abandon. “For South Korea, even the symbolic presence of U.S. troops serves as a deterrent,” he said. “For the United States, there are few locations as strategically useful as South Korea when it comes to keeping China — and even Russia — in check.” During Trump’s first term, the possibility of reducing U.S. troops in South Korea repeatedly surfaced alongside contentious defense cost-sharing negotiations. Congress responded at the time by inserting troop-level safeguards into annual defense policy bills. Similar concerns have resurfaced since Trump returned to office, particularly as his administration has reviewed U.S. force posture in Europe and other regions. The House draft does not itself order the United States to maintain troops in South Korea permanently, nor does it eliminate the possibility of a reduction. But it would require the defense secretary, in consultation with senior military, diplomatic and intelligence officials, to certify that any reduction below 28,500 is in the national security interest of the United States and follows consultations with allies, including South Korea and Japan. The required assessment would also have to analyze the impact of such a reduction on U.S., South Korean and Japanese security, U.S. deterrence, the defense posture of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the ability of American forces to carry out contingency plans, including operations beyond the Korean Peninsula. That last point is drawing renewed attention after Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, recently described South Korea as a “dagger” in the heart of Asia from China’s strategic perspective. His remarks underscored Washington’s growing view of the Korean Peninsula not only as a frontline against North Korea but also as a key strategic location in the wider Indo-Pacific theater. Brunson has also previously emphasized the need for closer operational links among South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, reflecting the U.S. military’s push to build a more networked regional deterrence posture. For Seoul, the developments point to a two-sided challenge. On one hand, the House NDAA language could reassure South Korea by making abrupt U.S. troop cuts more difficult. On the other hand, the growing emphasis on the peninsula’s strategic value in a potential China-related contingency could fuel debate over how far South Korea should align with U.S. regional operations beyond deterring North Korea. The Chinese Embassy in Seoul has strongly criticized Brunson's remarks, portraying South Korea and USFK as a forward base aimed at China, warning that he had “clearly crossed the line.” The bill remains a draft and must still go through committee deliberations, House passage and negotiations with the Senate before becoming law. But the language offers an early signal that Congress is seeking to preserve oversight over U.S. force posture in South Korea as the Trump administration weighs broader changes to America’s global military footprint. 2026-05-29 16:01:38
  • HD Hyundai Heavy strengthens Davie ties in push for Canada submarine deal
    HD Hyundai Heavy strengthens Davie ties in push for Canada submarine deal SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is stepping up its campaign to win Canada’s submarine procurement project by strengthening ties with Davie Shipbuilding, Canada’s largest shipyard. The company said Thursday that its executives met with senior officials from Davie Shipbuilding at the Canadian shipbuilder’s Ottawa office on May 26 to discuss ways to strengthen strategic cooperation across shipbuilding and naval vessel projects. The meeting was attended by Park Yong-yeol, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ naval ship business division, and James Davies, chief executive officer of Davie Shipbuilding. During the meeting, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries highlighted its shipbuilding technologies as the world’s largest shipbuilder and promoted the strengths of South Korea’s K-submarine platform. The two sides also exchanged views on possible cooperation to contribute to the development of Canada’s shipbuilding industry. Davie Shipbuilding, based in Quebec, is Canada’s largest shipyard and has a long history dating back to the early 19th century. It has experience building a wide range of vessels, including icebreakers, offshore plants and naval support ships. As Davie also owns Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, cooperation between the two companies is expected to develop into a long-term strategic partnership combining HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ technology with Davie’s local infrastructure, potentially extending into the Arctic market. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries executives, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries President Joo Won-ho, also attended a welcoming ceremony for the ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho at Esquimalt naval base in Victoria, British Columbia, on May 23, as well as a reception hosted by South Korea’s ambassador to Canada. At the events, the company promoted the strengths of South Korea’s submarine technology to key local figures, adding momentum to its final push for the contract. “Together with Canada’s leading shipyards, including Davie Shipbuilding and Irving Shipbuilding, we are working to share capabilities and expand business areas in shipbuilding and naval vessel projects,” Joo said. “We will do our utmost to help South Korean companies work together to win Canada’s submarine project by taking the lead in shipbuilding cooperation with Canada.” In January, HD Hyundai proposed a multitrillion-won cooperation package for Canada’s submarine project, including plans for HD Hyundai Oilbank to import Canadian crude oil and for the group to share shipbuilding know-how with local shipyards while offering consulting on submarine operation and maintenance. 2026-05-29 13:39:19
  • Korea, US to open talks on nuclear submarine, uranium enrichment rights
    Korea, US to open talks on nuclear submarine, uranium enrichment rights SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - South Korea and the U.S. will hold talks in Seoul next week on implementing agreements reached by their leaders, including Seoul’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Seoul from June 2 to 3 to discuss follow-up measures in the security field under the Joint Fact Sheet issued last November after the Korea-U.S. summit, according to the ministry. South Korea’s delegation will be led by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and include officials from key security, energy, science, industry and nuclear safety agencies. The U.S. delegation will be led by Allison Hooker, under secretary of state for political affairs, and include officials from the NSC, State Department, Energy Department and Department of War. The State Department also said Hooker will visit South Korea from June 1 to 3, leading an interagency delegation to advance nuclear cooperation initiatives reached during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea last October. The meeting is expected to cover key security-related agenda items agreed upon by the two leaders, including the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, Seoul’s push to secure uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing rights, and shipbuilding cooperation. The South Korean government believes a separate agreement with the U.S. is needed for Washington to supply military nuclear fuel for the planned nuclear-powered submarine. For uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for civilian nuclear power generation, Seoul would need to revise the existing Korea-U.S. agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The government has reportedly been preparing closely with the U.S. at the working level so the launch meeting can produce substantive progress rather than remain a courtesy meeting. Seoul is seeking to advance the security agreements as much as possible during Trump’s term, as nonproliferation concerns remain strong in Washington. The meeting had initially been expected to take place earlier this year, but was delayed as Washington raised issues related to South Korea’s investment in the U.S. and Coupang, while also focusing on the Iran war and the U.S.-China summit. Hooker is also expected to discuss other pending issues during her visit. The State Department said Hooker will discuss a range of bilateral and global issues with South Korean officials to strengthen the alliance, including cooperation in security and economic affairs. “The U.S.-ROK Alliance remains the linchpin of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region,” it said. 2026-05-29 09:55:23