Journalist
Kim Hee-su김희수
khs@ajupress.com
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
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Korea-backed mega logistics center begins operations near Chicago SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - A massive logistics center jointly developed by a South Korean logistics company and the Korea Ocean Business Corp. has begun full-scale operations in Elwood, Illinois, near Chicago, as Seoul expands its overseas logistics network. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Thursday that the Elwood logistics center was built through a joint investment by the Korean logistics company and the state-run Korea Ocean Business Corp (KOBC). The facility sits on a 295,000-square-meter site and has a total floor area of 103,000 square meters, roughly equivalent to 14 soccer fields. It is equipped with 130 loading docks for large trucks and other infrastructure designed to handle high volumes of cargo. The ministry highlighted the center's location as one of its key advantages. Elwood lies about 72 kilometers southwest of downtown Chicago and within 5.5 kilometers of the CenterPoint Intermodal Center, one of the largest logistics hubs in the United States. Its access to major rail and road networks allows cargo to be delivered to destinations across much of the country within two days, according to the ministry. The project was supported under the government's overseas logistics market development program, which has provided assistance to Korean logistics companies seeking to expand abroad since 2011. Under the program, five to 10 companies are selected each year to receive up to 200 million won ($147,394) each to help cover feasibility study costs for overseas projects. The Elwood project received such support in 2022 before moving forward with the investment. The facility also forms part of Seoul's broader effort to secure overseas logistics assets amid growing concerns over global supply chain disruptions. The government and KOBC have also set up a 1 trillion won fund to help Korean logistics companies secure overseas assets and strengthen supply chains. Seoul plans to establish 40 public-private logistics centers overseas by 2030. Logistics centers backed by Korean public institutions will be designated as shared overseas facilities through Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), giving small and midsized Korean companies access to logistics services at lower costs. "We expect this project to enhance the competitiveness of Korean logistics companies while providing stable logistics services to Korean importers and exporters operating in the United States," said Kim Hye-jung, director general for shipping and logistics policy at the ministry. AJP Takeaways · Korea-backed logistics center begins operations near Chicago, expanding Seoul’s U.S. logistics network. · The 103,000-square-meter facility has 130 loading docks and access to major rail and road networks. · Seoul aims to establish 40 public-private overseas logistics centers by 2030. 2026-09-03 17:31:24 -
Hanwha unveils next-gen K9 with drones, wheeled variants SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace has unveiled a next-generation operating concept for its K9 self-propelled howitzer that integrates fire-guidance drones to improve battlefield responsiveness. The concepts were presented at the fifth K9 User Club in Tartu, Estonia, from Sept. 2 to 4. More than 200 military and industry representatives from seven K9 user nations, South Korea, Estonia, Poland, Norway, Finland, Romania and Australia attended, along with observers from Spain and Sweden. “The K9 has established itself as an outstanding and highly capable artillery system. Its performance, reliability, and operational capabilities have earned the trust of a growing number of NATO allies and partner nations,” said Major General Viktor Kalnitski, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Under the new operating concept, vertical takeoff and landing drones can detect and track targets, generate coordinates and transmit them directly to the K9 fire-direction system. The drones can also remain over the target area to observe impacts and conduct battle damage assessments. Hanwha said the system is designed to shorten the “sensor-to-shooter” cycle and reduce reliance on forward observers operating in exposed positions. The company also outlined wheeled artillery concepts incorporating K9A2 technologies, including its fully automated turret, building on Hanwha Defense USA's recent selection for the U.S. Army's Mobile Tactical Cannon prototype program. Hanwha also introduced its TOMMS digital support platform, which helps K9 operators manage spare-parts orders and deliveries. The company plans to use maintenance and operational data to anticipate parts needs and keep more vehicles ready for service. “The K9 User Club has become much more than an annual gathering,” said Peter JK Bae, senior executive vice president and head of Hanwha Aerospace's MRO Business Division. More than 2,400 K9-family systems have been ordered by over 10 countries worldwide, according to Hanwha. Australia is scheduled to host the next K9 User Club in 2027. AJP Takeaways · Hanwha unveiled a next-generation K9 concept integrating fire-guidance drones to speed up targeting and battlefield response. · Wheeled K9 variants are also under development, building on Hanwha Defense USA’s selection for the U.S. Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon program. · More than 2,400 K9-family systems have been ordered worldwide, with Australia set to host the next K9 User Club in 2027. 2026-09-03 14:45:14 -
Defense nominee: OPCON transfer will strengthen alliance SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - South Korea's defense minister nominee Kang Shin-chul said Thursday that the transfer of wartime operational control would be pursued in a way that strengthens the alliance with the United States. Kang made the remarks to reporters as he arrived Thursday at the Defense Convention in Seoul's Yongsan district, where he will prepare for his parliamentary confirmation hearing. Asked whether the government could complete the Full Operational Capability (FOC) assessment for the future Combined Forces Command within this year as planned, Kang stressed the importance of the alliance in the OPCON transition process. "The OPCON transfer is possible because the South Korea-U.S. alliance exists," Kang told reporters. "Without the alliance, the very concept of transferring OPCON would not exist." Seoul and Washington have been pursuing a conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S.-led Combined Forces Command to a future command led by a South Korean four-star general. FOC verification is one of the key steps in assessing South Korea's readiness to lead combined wartime operations. Kang was more cautious when asked about the government's controversial proposal to integrate the Army, Navy and Air Force academies. "I understand that there are various opinions and concerns," Kang said. "I believe they all come from a desire to serve the military, and we will work to foster outstanding personnel." Pressed on whether the proposed integration could be withdrawn, Kang stopped short of giving a direct answer. "Whatever form the service academies took in the past, wherever they were located or whatever they were called, they were the academies of the Republic of Korea," he said. "The academies of the future will likewise belong to no one else but the Republic of Korea." Asked how he would respond if his views conflicted with those of the president, the commander-in-chief, Kang said, "For change to happen, there are things that must not change, and for things not to change, there are things that must change." "I will distinguish clearly between the two and move forward in a way that brings about genuine change," he added. Kang also faced questions over whether he had any involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration. "I understand that the presidential chief of staff has already given a clear answer to that question," Kang said. When announcing the Cabinet reshuffle last month, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said last month that a constitutional order task force and a Defense Ministry audit had found no evidence linking Kang Shin-chul to the Dec. 3 martial law attempt. Kang, a retired Army general and graduate of the Korea Military Academy's 46th class, has held several senior military posts, including director of strategic planning and chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff and deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. Kang, who was nominated for defense minister on Aug. 30 and recently returned from Saudi Arabia, after he retired from ambassador to Saudi Arabia in January this year. "I feel a burden that is difficult to put into words," he said. "I know how heavy the responsibility of serving as defense minister is, which makes it feel even greater. But I will fulfill the mission entrusted to me." AJP Takeaways · Kang Shin-chul vowed to pursue OPCON transfer in a way that strengthens the South Korea-U.S. alliance. · The defense minister nominee avoided a direct answer on the proposed integration of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies. · Kang denied involvement in the Dec. 3 martial law attempt, citing earlier government findings clearing him of links. 2026-09-03 11:04:35 -
U.S. moves to deploy multi-domain forces to South Korea SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - The United States is moving to deploy elements of its Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) to South Korea, potentially strengthening the U.S. military’s ability to counter China’s anti-access and area-denial capabilities in the region, according to reports and sources Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the U.S. Army, under acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNeve, was moving MDTF forces from Europe to South Korea, citing Army officials. If confirmed, the move would likely involve elements of the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, which is headquartered in Germany and primarily operates in the European theater. The scale and composition of the forces being transferred have not been disclosed. The U.S. military is believed to be taking concrete steps toward stationing MDTF capabilities in South Korea, with indications that some personnel or assets may have already arrived in an advance capacity, according to sources familiar with the matter. The MDTF is a theater-level formation designed to conduct operations across multiple domains, including land, sea, air, space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. The U.S. Army describes the MDTF as a maneuver force capable of synchronizing precision effects and long-range fires across domains to penetrate an adversary’s anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) networks. China and Russia have developed extensive A2/AD capabilities aimed at preventing U.S. forces from entering contested areas or limiting their ability to operate effectively once there. The MDTF was created in part to counter such strategies by integrating capabilities including cyber and electronic warfare, intelligence, space operations and long-range precision fires. The U.S. Army established its first MDTF under I Corps in Washington state. The 2nd MDTF is based in Germany, while the 3rd MDTF is stationed in Hawaii. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, has repeatedly called for MDTF capabilities to be stationed on the Korean Peninsula. At a press briefing in August last year, Brunson said he had considered bringing an MDTF, particularly its Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, to Korea because such capabilities could help U.S. forces “see, sense and understand” the battlefield environment more effectively. He reiterated the call in May during a keynote speech at the Association of the United States Army’s LANPAC symposium in Hawaii, saying he hoped to see an MDTF deployed to South Korea. AJP Takeaways · The U.S. is moving MDTF forces to South Korea, potentially from Germany. · MDTFs are designed to counter China and Russia’s A2/AD capabilities. · USFK chief Gen. Xavier Brunson has repeatedly backed an MDTF deployment to Korea. 2026-09-02 18:13:56 -
Korean planes are newer after Muan crash. Is flying safer? SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - South Korea's airliners are spending a record 17.45 trillion won on safety this year, up more than 30 percent from 2025, in a clear sign of heightened investment following the Jeju Air disaster that killed 179 of the 181 people aboard nearly two years ago. Whether spending more alone can prevent another deadly accident is far less certain, experts say. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday that 17 domestic airlines, Incheon International Airport Corp. and Korea Airports Corp. invested a combined 13.31 trillion won ($9.83 billion) in aviation safety in 2025. The figure rises to 17.45 trillion won in 2026, up 31.1 percent. The bulk went to aircraft purchases. Operators plan to spend 7.07 trillion won introducing 60 new aircraft this year, compared with 3.88 trillion won for 43 aircraft in 2025. The number means roughly three-quarters of the increase in overall safety investment between the two years can be explained by higher spending on new aircraft alone. The timing makes the 2026 figures particularly significant in assessing how the industry responded to the Muan disaster. Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crashed at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29, 2024, killing 179 of the 181 people aboard after the aircraft belly-landed, overran the runway and struck a structure supporting the airport's localizer antenna. Much of the industry's 2025 spending, particularly aircraft purchases, maintenance programs and infrastructure projects, would have been planned before or around the time of the accident. The 2026 plans therefore offer a clearer indication of how operators adjusted investment priorities after the disaster, although the headline figure alone says little about how much additional money is being directed at specific safety weaknesses. Hwang Ho-won, president of the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology, or KIAST, cautioned against treating the disclosure system itself as a response to the crash. "The safety investment disclosure system is not directly related to the Muan accident," Hwang told AJP. "Its purpose is to encourage airlines and other operators to invest more in safety by making public how much they are spending." The system was designed to make safety spending visible to passengers and encourage aviation businesses to maintain or increase investment. But what qualifies as "safety investment" is broad enough to complicate comparisons. "There is debate over whether everything included under the disclosure system represents pure safety investment or whether it also includes related expenditures," Hwang said. "If you define safety too broadly, the numbers can become inflated," he said. "We need to look at spending that actually and directly contributes to safety in order to determine whether real safety investment has increased." Hwang said the indicators are being reviewed to better distinguish expenditures with a direct impact on aviation safety. That distinction has become more important because the government expanded the categories included in the figures. The 13.31 trillion won reported for 2025 was 115.5 percent higher than the 6.18 trillion won recorded in 2024. Much of that apparent surge, however, reflected changes in accounting. The disclosure was expanded to include the cost of introducing new aircraft as well as broader personnel expenses covering pilots, cabin crew and other safety-related employees. Of the 2025 total, 3.88 trillion won went toward 43 new aircraft and 3.38 trillion won was attributed to safety-related personnel. Another 3.38 trillion won went toward aircraft maintenance, repair and modification, including preventive maintenance, while 1.88 trillion won was spent on engines and parts and 225 billion won on maintenance facilities and equipment. Preventive maintenance accounted for 92.7 percent of maintenance, repair and modification spending. The official definition extends across almost every major part of airline operations. It covers aircraft purchases, preventive maintenance, engines and spare parts, maintenance hangars and equipment, safety management systems and employee training. For airport operators, it also includes runways and taxiways, navigation systems, bird-strike prevention facilities and firefighting, rescue and snow-removal equipment. Several of those categories have drawn heightened scrutiny since the Muan disaster, particularly bird-strike risks, emergency response, airport infrastructure and the design of the localizer structure beyond the runway. Yet more than a year and a half after the crash, investigators have still not published a final report establishing its cause. The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board's publicly available findings remain limited to its preliminary report issued in January 2025. Without a final determination, it remains difficult to say what additional investment could have prevented Flight 7C2216 or which measures would be most effective in preventing a similar disaster. Researchers at KIAST and Korea Aerospace University have also cautioned against judging airlines simply by the size of their safety budgets. "It is necessary to consider the characteristics of each operator as well as the scale when comparing safety investments," they said. Greater investment is generally expected to improve safety, but the relationship is not necessarily proportional, they noted. That makes measures such as safety investment per 10,000 flights and spending per aircraft potentially more revealing than the headline total. By total spending in 2025, full-service carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines invested 7.22 trillion won and 1.88 trillion won, respectively, together accounting for 68.4 percent of the industry's total. Among low-cost carriers, Trinity Air recorded the largest investment at 990.62 billion won, followed by Jeju Air at 977.57 billion won, Eastar Jet at 559.02 billion won and Jin Air at 407.99 billion won. Measured by safety investment per 10,000 flights, Parata Air ranked highest at 793.22 billion won, followed by Air Premia at 553.21 billion won and Korean Air at 490.73 billion won. On a per-aircraft basis, Korean Air led with 43.26 billion won, followed by Eastar Jet at 27.95 billion won and Asiana Airlines at 27.58 billion won. More detailed 2026 and 2027 investment plans for individual airlines and airport operators are scheduled to be disclosed Thursday. Those figures should provide a clearer picture of whether the industry's higher spending is concentrated mainly on fleet expansion and operating costs or whether more money is being directed toward maintenance, training, bird-strike prevention and airport infrastructure after the Muan disaster. For passengers and regulators, the more important question may ultimately be not how much the aviation industry labels as safety spending, but where the money goes — and whether it actually reduces the risks that lead to accidents. AJP Takeaways · South Korea’s aviation industry plans to raise safety spending by 31.1% to 17.45 trillion won in 2026. · Much of the increase comes from new aircraft purchases and broader accounting, making the direct link to the Muan Jeju Air crash unclear. · Detailed 2026 plans will show whether more money is going to maintenance, training, bird-strike prevention and airport infrastructure. 2026-09-02 18:03:40 -
S. Korea denies Korea-owned tanker hit in Hormuz SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - A tanker struck by rockets in the Strait of Hormuz was not owned by South Korea's Sinokor Merchant Marine and had no Korean crew aboard, a South Korean shipping industry group said Wednesday, disputing an earlier Financial Times report that described the vessel as South Korean-owned. The Korea Shipowners' Association said in a statement that the Senegal Prosperity, which was recently attacked while transiting the strategic waterway, was wholly owned by a foreign shipowner and that Sinokor had no beneficial ownership of the vessel. “According to information confirmed through a Sinokor official, the Senegal Prosperity, which was attacked yesterday, is 100 percent owned by an overseas shipowner, and Sinokor Maritime does not hold beneficial ownership of the vessel,” the association said. It added that there were no South Korean nationals among the crew. “The vessel had no Korean crew members aboard, and the entire crew consisted of foreign nationals,” the association said, adding that the tanker had been sub-chartered to an overseas oil company. The clarification follows an FT report that two oil tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, identifying them as the Senegal Prosperity, which it described as owned by South Korea's Sinokor, and the Saudi-owned Sidr. The FT cited maritime security analysts and cautioned at the time that poor communications in the Gulf had made it difficult to formally verify the ships' identities. A government source earlier gave AJP a similar account of the ownership arrangement. “Sinokor chartered the vessel from another shipping company and then sub-chartered it to another operator,” the source said. “So, based on what we have found so far, it is not a South Korean vessel.” The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has separately said the Senegal Prosperity is Liberian-flagged, is not registered as a South Korean vessel and carried no Korean crew members. The attack came amid renewed U.S.-Iran fighting after U.S. forces on Sept. 1 struck Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps targets, including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and mine-laying capabilities. Washington said the strikes followed recent IRGC attempts to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. forces, while Tehran has also carried out attacks on American military targets in the region. The party responsible for striking the Senegal Prosperity has not been identified. AJP Takeaways · Senegal Prosperity is foreign-owned, not Sinokor-owned, a Korean shipping group said. · No South Korean crew were aboard the Liberian-flagged tanker. · The attacker remains unidentified amid renewed U.S.-Iran clashes. 2026-09-02 10:05:33 -
K-defense gains traction amid localization push SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - If the AI boom has delivered a windfall for South Korean chipmakers, rising geopolitical risks along Russia’s borders and across the Middle East have pushed Korean weapons makers into the spotlight. Growing pressure for greater self-reliance, fueled by America-first policies and strains among traditional allies, is driving governments across Europe, Asia and the Middle East to sharply increase defense spending and modernize their arsenals. The rush has benefited South Korean defense companies Hanwha Aerospace, LIG Nex1, Hyundai Rotem and Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, all of which appeared in Defense News’ latest ranking of the world’s 100 largest defense companies. The four generated a combined $17.79 billion in defense revenue in 2025, up 38.4 percent from $12.85 billion a year earlier, according to an AJP calculation based on the 2026 Defense News Top 100. Hanwha made the biggest leap, rising to 16th from 22nd as defense revenue surged 53 percent to $10.44 billion from $6.82 billion. LIG Nex1 moved to 52nd from 53rd, with revenue rising to $3.03 billion from $2.36 billion, while Hyundai Rotem climbed to 61st from 67th as defense revenue increased to $2.46 billion from $1.74 billion. KAI was the exception, falling to 74th from 62nd as defense revenue declined to $1.86 billion from $1.94 billion. Localization becomes price of entry The European Union’s defense industrial strategy calls for member states to gradually raise procurement from the European defense industrial base to at least 50 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035. Under the EU’s €150 billion ($175 billion) Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, financing instrument, components originating outside the EU, European Economic Area and Ukraine generally cannot exceed 35 percent of an eligible product’s component costs. Similar pressure is building in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia aims to localize more than 50 percent of military equipment and services spending by 2030, putting domestic production, maintenance and technology transfer at the center of its defense strategy. The requirements are changing the equation for Korean exporters, which initially gained market share through relatively fast delivery, proven platforms and competitive pricing. “The markets that can be accessed through direct exports of finished products alone are inevitably limited,” Korea Investment & Securities said in a report, adding that localization can expand both the range of accessible markets and the likelihood of winning contracts while generating follow-on revenue from technology transfer and maintenance. What began as an additional condition attached to major export contracts is increasingly becoming part of the competitive proposition itself. Hanwha: Spain and U.S. open harder markets Hanwha Aerospace is pushing into two markets that have traditionally been difficult for Korean defense companies. It is partnering with Spain’s Indra on a K9-based artillery program covering 128 self-propelled howitzers and 120 ammunition resupply vehicles, with hull design and production to be localized in Spain. Defense News put the broader Spanish tracked-artillery budget at €4.55 billion. In the U.S., the Army selected Hanwha Defense USA in August to provide six Mobile Tactical Cannon prototypes, with options for 12 more, under a contract worth up to $262.9 million. “The U.S. howitzer prototype program and the Spanish artillery deal are significant as footholds for follow-on orders, additional items and entry into new markets,” Yang Seung-yoon, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, said in a report Monday. Korea Investment & Securities also said Hanwha’s experience in building production facilities, localizing supply chains and transferring technology could become a differentiator as localization requirements tighten. LIG: European air defense becomes next frontier LIG Nex1 is moving beyond the Middle East, where Cheongung-II sales created its largest export base, toward establishing a manufacturing foothold in Europe. LIG and Germany’s Rheinmetall agreed in June to pursue a European joint venture, with Rheinmetall holding a majority stake, to localize and market LIG’s medium- and long-range air-defense systems and jointly develop new short-range missiles. LIG has also opened a representative office in Munich. The company is simultaneously expanding in Southeast Asia, including the first export of its Haegung naval missile to Malaysia and prospective missile deals in Indonesia. “Export markets and products are continuing to diversify across Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America, particularly in air-defense and ground systems,” Yang said. Hyundai Rotem: Poland shifts from buyer to production base Hyundai Rotem’s Polish K2 program is moving from rapid deliveries of Korean-built tanks toward local production and long-term sustainment. Poland received the first 28 K2GF tanks under its second $6.5 billion contract in August. Of the 64 K2PL tanks included in the deal, the first three will be built in South Korea for testing, while the remaining 61 will undergo final assembly at Poland’s Bumar-Łabędy plant. Maintenance capabilities and the parts ecosystem are also being transferred to Poland. “The revenue structure is becoming longer-term, moving from finished-product exports to local production, maintenance and ammunition,” Yang said. The next potential market is Peru, where the K2 remains in contention for a major tank procurement program. KAI: KF-21 enters service, exports become next test KAI is entering a different transition as the KF-21 moves from development into operational service. The first production fighter is scheduled for delivery to the Korean Air Force on Sept. 17, with eight expected by year-end. Eugene Investment & Securities said the program is now expanding “from aircraft production to an air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons package” as South Korea develops indigenous weapons for the fighter. The bigger test is exports. Indonesia, once the KF-21’s development partner and expected production partner, dropped plans for domestic co-production this year, although purchases of completed aircraft remain possible. That leaves KAI with the task of turning the KF-21’s entry into service into its first firm overseas order while continuing to expand the FA-50 business in markets including Malaysia and the Philippines. The Defense News ranking reflects contracts and deliveries recognized in 2025. Many of the localization moves now underway - Hanwha’s Spanish and U.S. programs, Hyundai Rotem’s Polish production arrangement, LIG’s overseas manufacturing push and KAI’s support networks abroad - will only begin to show their financial impact over the coming years. South Korea’s first defense export boom was largely about proving that its weapons could compete overseas and be delivered quickly. The next phase is about becoming part of customers’ own defense industrial bases, extending the business from finished-product exports into local production, maintenance, ammunition and technology transfer. 2026-09-01 17:41:17 -
Seoul spy agency says Trump-Kim summit possible at any time SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s intelligence agency said Tuesday that a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could take place at any time, pointing to signs that the two sides may be moving toward renewed dialogue. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment during a closed-door meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, according to lawmakers Yoon Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party and Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party. “We should view a U.S.-North Korea summit as possible at any time,” Yoon quoted the NIS as saying. The agency said it had not confirmed any concrete contact between Washington and Pyongyang but had seen “signs of dialogue.” The assessment comes as Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in meeting Kim again and emphasized his personal relationship with the North Korean leader. Asked about President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal in his Aug. 15 Liberation Day speech for talks among the parties concerned to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, the NIS said it had no contacts with North Korea related to the proposal, according to Yoon. The intelligence agency also told lawmakers that it had obtained and was analyzing internal documents from North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party as well as missile design documents. Separately, the NIS said North Korea has expanded its Reconnaissance General Bureau, the country’s main military intelligence organization, to strengthen counterintelligence capabilities and better process operational intelligence from the war in Ukraine. The agency said Ri Chang-ho, head of the bureau, has been given an additional role related to handling intelligence gathered from North Korea’s overseas military operations. Ri, a colonel general equivalent to a three-star general in South Korea, was seen leading a contingent of overseas-deployed troops during a military parade marking the ninth congress of the Workers’ Party in February. AJP Takeaways · South Korea’s NIS says a Trump-Kim summit could happen at any time, citing signs of renewed U.S.-North Korea dialogue. · The spy agency says it has not confirmed direct contact between Washington and Pyongyang but sees indications that talks may be possible. · The NIS also says North Korea is strengthening counterintelligence and expanding its military intelligence structure amid lessons from the war in Ukraine. 2026-09-01 15:14:41 -
White House explores steps for possible Trump-Kim deal SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The White House has asked the U.S. agency responsible for recovering missing service members to outline steps it could take in preparation for possible talks with North Korea. Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), said Monday that his agency had been asked to outline what could realistically be done in the event of an agreement between Trump and Kim. McKeague made the remarks during a virtual discussion hosted by the National Committee on North Korea, a Washington-based nonprofit organization. He compared the request with preparations made before Trump’s first summit with Kim in Singapore in June 2018, saying the situation was “no different than the lead-up to the Singapore summit in 2018.” The DPAA, an agency under the U.S. Department of Defense, is responsible for locating, recovering and identifying American military personnel missing from past conflicts. McKeague said the agency has told both the White House and the Pentagon that it is ready to resume cooperation with North Korea on recovering the remains of U.S. troops killed or missing during the 1950-53 Korean War. According to McKeague, the agency proposed that North Korea return remains already in its possession and that the two countries resume joint field recovery missions for the first time since 2005. The DPAA has also proposed reviving a recovery model familiar to both sides, deploying two teams to areas around Unsan and Chosin, known in Korea as Jangjin, four times a year for 42-day periods. “We proposed this to the White House. We are ready,” McKeague said. The disclosure is notable as Trump has stepped up efforts in recent weeks to reopen a channel with Kim. Trump said on Aug. 19 that he expects to meet the North Korean leader later this year, while repeatedly emphasizing that maintaining a good personal relationship with Kim is beneficial. Reports have suggested that a meeting could potentially take place during an Asia trip later this year, although no summit has been formally announced. Trump has also moved to reduce the scale of major South Korea-U.S. military exercises that Pyongyang has long denounced as rehearsals for invasion. At Trump’s direction, South Korea and the United States shortened this year’s Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise and scaled back some field training, with Trump saying the drills could send a hostile signal to North Korea. Taken together, the White House inquiry to the DPAA and Trump’s recent overtures suggest the administration is at least exploring practical measures that could accompany a renewed diplomatic opening with North Korea. Recovering American war remains has historically been one of the few areas in which Washington and Pyongyang have managed to cooperate even during periods of strained relations. U.S. teams conducted 37 joint recovery operations in North Korea between 1996 and 2005 alongside personnel from the Korean People’s Army. Those operations ultimately led to the identification of 153 U.S. service members, according to the Pentagon. Field activities were suspended in 2005 amid U.S. security concerns. The issue again became part of high-level diplomacy during the 2018 Singapore summit. In their joint statement, Trump and Kim agreed to work toward recovering the remains of prisoners of war and service members missing in action, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified. North Korea subsequently handed over 55 boxes containing remains to the United States in July 2018, but plans for renewed joint excavation work failed to materialize as broader nuclear negotiations stalled. Trump and Kim met three times during the president’s first term, in Singapore in June 2018, in Hanoi in February 2019 and at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019. Their diplomacy ultimately failed to produce an agreement on North Korea’s nuclear program, and formal negotiations have remained stalled since then. The DPAA estimates that about 5,300 U.S. service members missing from the Korean War remain unaccounted for in North Korea, making renewed access to excavation sites a longstanding priority for the agency. McKeague said remains recovery should be viewed first as a humanitarian mission but can also provide a diplomatic channel between countries with otherwise deeply strained relations. Still, North Korea has continued to accuse Washington of pursuing a hostile policy and vowed to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, highlighting the challenges facing any renewed dialogue despite Trump’s overtures. AJP Takeaways · White House asks DPAA to prepare options for possible North Korea talks. · DPAA is ready to resume U.S.-North Korea war remains recovery work. · Trump’s outreach to Kim continues despite Pyongyang’s nuclear stance. 2026-09-01 11:52:39 -
India brings Odissi dance, film festival to Korea for Sarang 2026 SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - The Embassy of India in Seoul will bring traditional dance performances, workshops and Indian cinema to cities across South Korea this fall as part of Sarang 2026, its flagship annual cultural festival. Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das introduced this year’s program during a media briefing at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Seoul on Monday, saying the festival is designed to expose Korean audiences to different traditions from across India each year. Now in its 12th edition, Sarang - The Festival of India in Korea has been held annually since 2015 and serves as one of the embassy’s main platforms for promoting Indian culture and strengthening people-to-people exchanges. This year’s centerpiece will be Odissi, one of India’s major classical dance traditions originating in the eastern state of Odisha. A visiting troupe led by renowned Odissi artist Madhulita Mohapatra will tour South Korea from Sept. 15 to 22, giving performances and conducting workshops for Korean audiences. The tour will open at Samsung Hall at Ewha Womans University in Seoul on Sept. 15 before traveling to Busan, Gimhae, Miryang, Gwangju and Nami Island. The group will then return to Seoul for the final event on Sept. 22. Das described Odissi as an ancient dance form deeply rooted in Odisha’s cultural and spiritual heritage, characterized by graceful movements, sculptural poses, rhythmic patterns and expressive gestures. “Sarang has been there for the last 11 years,” Das said during a question-and-answer session. “The fact that we bring cultural elements from different parts of India makes every Sarang festival unique in its own way.” He said this year’s Odissi troupe is well known in India and has previously performed in Korea, adding that Sarang would provide an opportunity for a broader Korean audience to experience the group’s performances. The festival’s cultural program will extend into November with the 14th edition of the Indian Film Festival. Six Indian films, Queen, Newton, Manjhi – The Mountain Man, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Sui Dhaaga and Sardar Udham, will be screened with Korean subtitles under the theme “Against the Odds: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Courage.” The screenings will take place from Nov. 3 to 29 in Seoul, Yangsan, Gwangju, Miryang, Incheon and Busan. Das said the films were selected around the common theme of ordinary people confronting difficult circumstances and overcoming challenges, adding that the stories could resonate particularly strongly with younger audiences in both India and Korea. The ambassador also said the embassy is seeking to take Indian cultural events beyond Korea’s largest cities. Explaining the inclusion of Miryang, Das said the goal of the festival is “not just to go to the usual suspects” but to broaden its network and bring Indian culture closer to people across the country. He pointed to Miryang’s connection with yoga as another reason for the city’s inclusion. Dance workshops held alongside the performances will be open to the public through registration systems operated by local partner organizations, embassy officials said. Das placed the festival within a broader effort to deepen cultural ties between India and South Korea, saying the two countries’ leaders have emphasized the long history of cultural exchanges and the need to showcase those links more prominently. The name “Sarang” itself reflects that connection: “sarang” means “love” in Korean, while in Hindi it can refer to a “medley of colours,” according to the embassy. 2026-08-31 17:53:12