AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Kim Hee-su
  • 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
  • Chinese Embassy says USFK chief crossed the line with dagger remarks on Korea
    Chinese Embassy says USFK chief 'crossed the line' with 'dagger' remarks on Korea SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - The Chinese Embassy in Seoul has strongly criticized Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, after he described South Korea as a “dagger” in Asia from China’s strategic perspective. In a written response to reporters Thursday, the embassy said Brunson’s recent remarks portrayed South Korea and USFK as a forward base aimed at China, warning that he had “clearly crossed the line.” Brunson said in a U.S. Army War College podcast released on May 22 that “when they look out from the east coast of China, what they see is Korea, the dagger in the heart of Asia,” emphasizing South Korea’s geographic importance and the role of U.S. troops on the peninsula in countering China. Last year, he also described South Korea as “an island or a stationary aircraft carrier” between China and Japan. “Is describing USFK as an aircraft carrier or a dagger an act of belligerence, or is it intended to take other countries hostage?” a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said. Referring to a recent summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, where the two sides agreed to build a constructive and strategically stable relationship, the spokesperson also questioned whether Brunson’s remarks had been approved by Washington. “Were your hostile and aggressive remarks toward China approved by Washington, or are they intended to undermine the agreement reached at the U.S.-China summit?” the spokesperson said. The embassy also noted that some South Korean media outlets had criticized Brunson’s remarks, urging the USFK commander to show greater respect for countries in the region. “We hope the commander of U.S. Forces Korea will make greater efforts to respect regional countries and promote regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said. The embassy’s response appears to reflect Beijing’s growing concern that Washington is seeking to draw South Korea further into efforts to contain China, as the U.S. pushes to expand the strategic flexibility of USFK beyond deterring North Korea to potential regional contingencies, including in the Taiwan Strait. 2026-05-28 17:41:00
  • Weak Iranian missiles — not ship armor — explain limited damage to HMM Namu: experts
    Weak Iranian missiles — not ship armor — explain limited damage to HMM Namu: experts SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - South Korea's conclusion that the cargo ship HMM Namu—damaged near the Strait of Hormuz on May 4—was likely hit by Iranian missiles has raised a simple question: how did a commercial vessel survive two direct strikes with only minor damage? Defense experts say the answer lies not in the ship's structural strength, but in the missiles' limited performance. The question arose after Seoul announced Wednesday that the two unidentified projectiles that struck the South Korean vessel were likely Noor-class anti-ship missiles, developed and produced by Iran. Investigators said the warhead found at the scene matched the section marked in red in a manufacturer’s catalog image of an anti-ship missile, while other debris appeared to be engine components. “For now, multiple pieces of evidence point toward Iran,” First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo said at a briefing. The Noor is a mainstay of Iran’s anti-ship arsenal, developed in the early 2000s by reverse-engineering the Chinese-made C-802 cruise missile. The weapon uses “sea-skimming” technology, flying just 5 to 15 meters above the water’s surface to evade radar detection. Investigators said this low-altitude flight profile aligns with the damage sustained by the HMM Namu, which was reportedly struck near the waterline on the lower section of its hull. Experts cautioned, however, against interpreting the absence of casualties and the relatively limited damage as evidence that the Chinese-built container ship possessed exceptional defensive capability. Jeong Kyung-woon, a researcher at the Korea Military Affairs Institute, said standard anti-ship cruise missiles are designed to sink warships with compartmentalized structures and typically carry warheads containing around 450 kilograms of explosives. “If an ordinary commercial vessel were hit by two such missiles, it would be torn apart,” Jeong said. He said the scale of damage to the Namu suggests the missiles may have carried warheads with only a fraction of the typical explosive power. “The level of damage seen on the Namu appears normal, considering that the warhead of the Iranian anti-ship missile is estimated to have had about one-tenth the power of a standard anti-ship cruise missile,” he said. Jeong added that merchant ships are generally designed for cargo transport and safe navigation, not to withstand missile strikes. The Noor missile has repeatedly drawn attention from military analysts and foreign media because of its past use by Iran-backed groups. It is often cited in connection with the 2006 attack on the Israeli Navy corvette INS Hanit off the coast of Lebanon, when Hezbollah reportedly used an Iranian-supplied anti-ship missile to strike the vessel. The British military journal Wavell Room has also described the Noor as part of what it called the “Houthi model” of proxy warfare, pointing to Iran’s long-running transfer of missiles and components to members of its so-called “Axis of Resistance,” including groups in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Kim Houng-yu, a member of the Korea Defense Industry Association, offered a similar assessment, saying the limited damage was more likely due to shortcomings in the missile system than the ship’s strength. “One of the two missiles did not explode,” Kim said, noting that a warhead must detonate properly through its fuse to achieve its intended destructive effect. “Since Iran faces severe restrictions on importing military hardware or securing proper supply chains, it is highly probable they are relying on crude, locally produced alternatives manufactured in makeshift facilities,” Kim explained. “In my view, it was not that the ship was strong enough to withstand the strike, but that the missile’s performance was fundamentally deficient.” Following the announcement, Park summoned Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul later Wednesday. However, Park also acknowledged the difficulty of determining whether the attack was intentional, saying it would be “extremely difficult” to establish intent unless Iran itself acknowledges it. Koozechi expressed regret over the damage to the Korean vessel but denied any Iranian involvement. “I would like to express regret over the damage suffered by the Korean vessel,” he told reporters. But when asked whether Iran would apologize, he said Tehran “denies everything” related to the incident and had “absolutely no involvement.” During Thursday’s press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il again stopped short of identifying the specific actor responsible, saying it remains “very difficult” to determine who inside Iran carried out the attack. The remarks suggested that Seoul is not yet able to specify whether the strike was conducted by Iran’s regular military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Houthi rebels or other Iran-backed militia groups. The ministry also stressed that the government’s response would take into account the safety of Korean vessels and crew members still operating near the Strait of Hormuz, the protection of Korean nationals and companies in the Middle East, energy supply chain stability and broader South Korea-Iran relations. “At the time of the incident, military tensions around the Strait of Hormuz were extremely high, and vessels from other countries, including China and France, were also attacked around the same time,” Park said. “The government will respond while taking those circumstances into account.” The case comes as South Korea continues diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe passage of Korean-linked vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for global energy shipments. 2026-05-28 17:17:12
  • Defense Minister Ahn to attend Shangri-La Dialogue, meet Japanese counterpart
    Defense Minister Ahn to attend Shangri-La Dialogue, meet Japanese counterpart SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will attend the 23rd Asia Security Summit in Singapore from May 29 to 31 and hold talks with defense ministers from several countries, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday. The Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is an annual security forum hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, bringing together defense ministers and senior officials for multilateral and bilateral talks. During the forum, Ahn is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. It will be their first in-person meeting since January, when Ahn visited Japan and held talks with Koizumi in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The two ministers are expected to discuss ways to expand defense exchanges between Seoul and Tokyo, which have recently gained momentum. In particular, they may discuss plans to hold a Korea-Japan search and rescue exercise, or SAREX, which had been suspended for about nine years before the two sides agreed to resume it during the Yokosuka meeting. Seoul and Tokyo are reportedly in the final stages of coordinating the schedule for the exercise. Momentum for closer defense exchanges between the two countries is expected to continue, as Koizumi’s bilateral visit to South Korea is also being discussed following the Shangri-La meeting. However, it remains unclear whether there will be progress on Japan’s push for an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, or ACSA, with South Korea, as Seoul has maintained a cautious stance on the issue. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is also set to attend this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue. A separate bilateral meeting between Ahn and Hegseth is considered unlikely, as the two already held talks during Ahn’s visit to the U.S. on May 11. Still, if the two meet on the sidelines of the forum, Ahn may again explain Seoul’s recently announced basic plan for a nuclear-powered submarine and discuss its progress. Attention is also focused on whether the defense chiefs of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will hold a trilateral meeting during the forum. Ahn is also scheduled to meet delegations from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the defense ministers of Australia, Norway, the Philippines and Thailand, to discuss ways to expand defense and defense industry cooperation. On May 30, Ahn will deliver a speech during a plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue under the theme, “Regional Security Challenges and the Republic of Korea’s Strategic Response.” Through the speech, Ahn is expected to explain the government’s defense policy in response to the rapidly changing security environment, the ministry said. 2026-05-28 13:09:27
  • AJP Focus: Seouls nuclear submarine push raises broader regional security questions
    AJP Focus: Seoul's nuclear submarine push raises broader regional security questions SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - South Korea's new "Jangbogo N" nuclear-powered submarine program is raising questions over whether the project is designed primarily to deter North Korea or whether it could eventually become part of a broader U.S.-led effort to counter China. Officials have described the submarine as a symbol of Seoul's determination to take greater responsibility for its own security. But the move comes after the commander of U.S. Forces Korea recently described South Korea as a "dagger" from China's strategic perspective. Under the current timetable, the first vessel is expected to become operational in the mid-2030s. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back unveiled the plan during the first meeting of the Future Defense Strategy Committee at the Navy Submarine Command in Jinhae on Tuesday. "The nuclear-powered submarine, to be built on the foundation of a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, will be a symbol of our will to take responsibility for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula ourselves," he said. Ahn added that the project would also contribute to strengthening South Korea's defense industry and play a key role in countering North Korea's submarine-based nuclear and missile threats. According to the Defense Ministry, the submarine South Korea plans to build will carry conventional weapons and is unrelated to strategic nuclear submarines armed with nuclear weapons. Its reactor will use low-enriched uranium at around 20 percent, rather than highly enriched uranium that can be used to produce nuclear weapons. The U.S. currently uses highly enriched uranium of more than 90 percent for its nuclear submarines, while France and China are known to operate nuclear-powered submarines based on low-enriched uranium. Under the South Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement signed in 2015, Seoul requires Washington's consent to enrich uranium below 20 percent and reprocess spent nuclear fuel. South Korea has so far been effectively unable to enrich uranium and imports all nuclear fuel used in its power plants. If Seoul seeks to receive nuclear fuel for its submarines from Washington, the two countries will need further discussions, including a separate agreement under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act. Any transfer of nuclear fuel would also require approval from the U.S. Congress. The plan comes as the second Trump administration, under its "Make America Great Again" agenda, presses allies to invest more in their own defense and assume a greater share of collective security responsibilities. South Korea is also facing growing pressure as the U.S. war with Iran drags on. Washington has called on Seoul, where about 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed, to contribute more to U.S.-led security efforts, while President Lee Jae Myung has emphasized the need for greater defense self-reliance. According to the U.S. Army War College website on Tuesday, Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said during a podcast hosted by the school on May 22 that, from China's perspective, "what they see is Korea, a dagger in the heart of Asia, and Japan, which is kind of the shield or the blocking wall as they have ambitions to get beyond the South China Sea." Experts say the Jangbogo N program is not merely a matter of strengthening military capabilities, but a strategic decision about how South Korea will acquire and operate nuclear-powered submarines. They note that the issue has become more complex amid the AUKUS pact and intensifying U.S.-China maritime competition. Seoul must pursue domestic shipbuilding capabilities while complying with the global nonproliferation regime, even as its new submarines are likely to be viewed by Beijing as part of a wider effort to check China's growing naval reach. Because nuclear-powered submarines can operate for more than 40 years, heavy dependence on foreign technology or components in the first vessel could lock Seoul into long-term reliance on outside support for maintenance and upgrades. Jeong Kyung-woon of the Korea Association of Military Studies said in a report that the SSN project is "not a one-time purchase, but a structural choice that will define South Korea’s future submarine force," adding that the level of domestic shipbuilding and defense industry involvement from the initial stage will determine the country's technological autonomy and long-term cost curve. Still, the government appears to be leaving room for further consultations with Washington over where the submarines will be built. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social the day after the Oct. 30 summit that South Korea would build its nuclear-powered submarines "right here in the good ol' U.S.A. shipyards of Philadelphia.” The South Korean government, however, has since made clear that it intends to build them domestically. Analysts also warn that while SSNs could eventually be drawn into long-range missions aimed at countering China, Seoul should clearly define their primary role as deterring North Korea. "South Korea already has enough strategic requirements within its exclusive economic zone and surrounding waters," Jeong added. "If Seoul openly expands the mission of its nuclear-powered submarines to counter China, it could invite responses from the Chinese and Russian navies and fuel a regional arms race." Experts said that the more deeply South Korean SSNs are integrated into U.S.-Japan combined operational networks, the more likely China is to view them as forward-deployed U.S. offensive assets — much as it viewed the THAAD missile defense system, elements of which have reportedly been redeployed from Korea to the Middle East amid the prolonged war with Iran. 2026-05-27 17:53:52
  • Hyundai Rotem wins state projects for AI-based unmanned military robots
    Hyundai Rotem wins state projects for AI-based unmanned military robots SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Hyundai Rotem said Tuesday it has been selected for two state-funded research and development projects aimed at advancing unmanned robot technologies based on physical artificial intelligence. The company said it was chosen as the final contractor for two projects commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The industry ministry project focuses on developing control software that can manage multiple types of unmanned robots through natural language commands and text. Until now, operators had to control each unmanned robot separately by entering fixed commands through dedicated remote-control devices. Once the integrated control system is developed, a small number of operators will be able to control multiple unmanned platforms at the same time using spoken or written commands. Hyundai Rotem plans to apply the technology to its key unmanned platforms, including the HR-Sherpa multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle and quadruped robots. The project is part of a government program designed to support the rapid commercialization of AI-based products. The ADD project involves developing a digital twin simulator and a modular unmanned robot platform. The simulator is designed to test the performance of unmanned robots in virtual environments that closely resemble real-world conditions. The modular unmanned robot platform will have detachable wheels on four legs and will be able to carry various mission equipment, including robotic arms and explosive detection devices. The ADD project is part of a future challenge defense technology R&D program designed to develop innovative defense technologies before formal military requirements are set. Hyundai Rotem also signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. defense technology firm Anduril earlier this month, as part of efforts to expand technology cooperation across the public and private sectors. “We are devoting all our capabilities to advancing physical AI technologies that put national security and public safety first,” a Hyundai Rotem official said. “We will continue working to develop manned-unmanned weapon systems that the Republic of Korea Army can trust and use.” 2026-05-27 16:17:21
  • USFK chief calls Korea a dagger in Asia from Chinas strategic view
    USFK chief calls Korea a 'dagger' in Asia from China's strategic view SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, has described South Korea as a “dagger” in the heart of Asia from China’s strategic perspective, underscoring the peninsula’s growing role in Washington’s broader efforts to counter Beijing. According to the U.S. Army War College website on Tuesday, Brunson made the remarks during a podcast hosted by the school on May 22. “When they look out from the East Coast of China, what they see is there’s Korea, the dagger in the heart of Asia. There’s Japan, again, sort of the shield or the blocking wall as they have ambitions to get beyond the South China Sea,” Brunson said. His description of Korea as a “dagger” appears to reflect both South Korea’s strategic value to the U.S. in countering China and Beijing’s wariness over the presence of a U.S. ally and American troops so close to its territory. China has long opposed the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, in South Korea, arguing that the system serves as a military tool aimed at containing Beijing. Brunson’s remarks can be seen as highlighting the need to maintain the Korea-U.S. alliance and U.S. troop presence on the peninsula. At the same time, they also suggest his willingness to expand the role of the alliance and USFK beyond deterring North Korea to include a broader focus on China. The comments may indicate that while the Trump administration continues to value the Korea-U.S. alliance and USFK, it is placing greater emphasis on their utility in countering China rather than solely defending South Korea from North Korean threats. Brunson has repeatedly stressed the alliance’s role in checking China, in line with the concept of “alliance modernization,” which has become a key phrase for the Korea-U.S. alliance under the second Trump administration. In May last year, he also described South Korea’s geographic position as strategically important, comparing it to “an island or like a fixed aircraft carrier” between Japan and mainland China. Brunson also said USFK is working with Samsung to develop advanced cloud infrastructure that would allow the U.S. and its regional allies to maintain communications even if networks are cut off or disabled. 2026-05-27 13:34:47