Korea and Japan among hardest hit from Hormuz disruption SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - South Korea and Japan have emerged as the biggest casualties of the disruption to Middle Eastern energy supplies following the U.S.-Iran conflict, with crude imports plunging as exports from the Gulf nearly halved amid months of turmoil around the Strait of Hormuz. Middle Eastern crude shipments between March and May are projected to fall 48 percent from a year earlier, according to shipping data compiled by Kpler and reported by Japan's Nikkei newspaper on Friday. The disruption follows the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies normally pass. Among major exporters, crude shipments from Kuwait and Iraq are expected to decline by more than 90 percent during the three-month period, while exports from the United Arab Emirates are projected to fall 33 percent and those from Saudi Arabia 29 percent. Iran, which controls the northern side of the strait, initially maintained export volumes in March and April at levels similar to a year earlier. However, shipments are expected to plunge 87 percent in May after Washington intensified maritime interdiction efforts against Iranian oil exports. The collapse in Gulf supplies has hit Northeast Asia particularly hard because of its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy. Japan's crude imports are projected to fall 47 percent between March and May from a year earlier, the steepest decline among the world's 10 largest crude-importing nations. South Korea is expected to post the second-largest drop, with imports falling 31 percent. Before the outbreak of the conflict, Japan sourced about 90 percent of its crude imports from the Middle East, while South Korea relied on the region for roughly 70 percent of its oil needs. China has been relatively insulated. With Middle Eastern crude accounting for about 40 percent of its imports, China's crude purchases are expected to decline by a comparatively modest 18 percent during the same period. Japanese refiners have moved aggressively to replace lost Gulf supplies with U.S. crude. American oil accounted for just 2 percent of Japan's imports in February but had risen to more than 20 percent by early May. South Korea has also accelerated efforts to diversify supply sources. According to recent data released by the Korea International Trade Association, South Korea imported 4.49 million tons of crude oil from the Middle East in April, down 37.3 percent from a year earlier. Total crude imports fell 22.8 percent to 8.46 million tons. As a result, the Middle East's share of South Korea's crude imports dropped to 53.1 percent in April from 65.2 percent a year earlier. Imports from Saudi Arabia, traditionally South Korea's largest supplier, fell 37.6 percent to 2.14 million tons. In contrast, crude imports from the United States rose 13.4 percent to 2.14 million tons, putting U.S. supplies on par with Saudi volumes for the first time in recent years. Since the war, Seoul has dispatched special envoys to the Middle East and Central Asia in April to secure alternative supply routes and reduce dependence on Hormuz-linked shipments. Crude imports from Australia surged 89 percent from a year earlier in April to 440,000 tons, while imports from Canada more than doubled to 240,000 tons. Shipments from Africa rose sharply to 400,000 tons from just 60,000 tons a year earlier. The supply shock has extended beyond crude oil. Global naphtha exports are expected to decline 23 percent between March and May as Middle Eastern shipments contract sharply. Exports from the UAE are projected to plunge 87 percent, while Saudi shipments are expected to fall 27 percent. The supply disruptions come as uncertainty continues to surround the future of the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday emerged from a two-hour Situation Room meeting without approving a proposed framework that could extend the current ceasefire and eventually reopen the strategic waterway. Trump had earlier suggested he was prepared to make a "final determination" on a possible agreement with Iran, but administration officials said no decision was reached. The proposed arrangement would reportedly include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities and a phased easing of U.S. maritime pressure on Iranian shipping. Tehran, however, has publicly rejected several of Washington's conditions and insists current negotiations are focused on maintaining the ceasefire rather than its nuclear program. Meanwhile, small numbers of oil tankers and LNG carriers have continued transiting the strait using a combination of covert navigation and U.S. military assistance. Some vessels have sailed "dark," switching off automatic identification systems and navigation lights to reduce the risk of Iranian interception, according to the Wall Street Journal. Vessels moving through the area remain in close communication with American naval forces, which use drones, radar and surveillance assets to guide ships through relatively safe corridors cleared earlier by U.S. mine-countermeasure operations. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued asserting control over the waterway and has reportedly attempted to lay sea mines and launch drone attacks against commercial shipping. U.S. Central Command says American forces have responded by destroying mine-laying vessels and striking missile and drone sites while maintaining that the broader ceasefire remains intact. A South Korean-operated commercial vessel was among ships damaged during Iranian missile and drone attacks near the Gulf shipping lanes. 2026-05-30 15:32:47

Early Voting Reaches 19.77% on Second Day of Local Elections As of 3 p.m. on May 30, the second day of early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections, the national voter turnout stood at 19.77%. According to the National Election Commission, from 6 a.m. on May 29, when early voting began, a total of 8,829,461 out of 44,649,908 eligible voters had cast their ballots. This figure represents an increase of 2.39 percentage points compared to the same time during the 2022 8th local elections, which recorded a turnout of 17.38%. Additionally, it is just 0.85 percentage points shy of the highest early voting turnout in local election history, which was 20.62% during the last 8th local elections. Given that the turnout is increasing by approximately 1 percentage point per hour, it is anticipated that the record for early voting turnout in local elections could be surpassed around 4 p.m. today. Regionally, South Jeolla Province recorded the highest turnout at 34.34%, followed by North Jeolla Province at 30.49%, Gwangju and Gangwon at 23.44%, and Sejong at 22.68%. In contrast, the lowest turnout was in Daegu, which recorded 15.61%. This was followed by Gyeonggi Province at 17.39%, Busan at 17.91%, and Incheon at 18.01%, while Seoul recorded a turnout of 19.62%. Early voting is taking place at 3,571 polling stations nationwide and will continue until 6 p.m. today. Voters wishing to participate must bring an identification card, such as a resident registration card, driver's license, or passport, to their nearest early voting site. Polling station locations can be verified on the National Election Commission's website or by calling the main hotline at 1390.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 15:30:00

Trump's Health Checkup Results 'Good'; Doctor Recommends Weight Loss President Donald Trump recently received a generally positive assessment during his routine health checkup, but his medical team advised him to focus on weight loss and dietary management. According to reports from CNN and other outlets on May 29, Trump's physician, Sean Conley, stated in a health report released by the White House that "President Trump’s overall physical functions, including heart, lung, and neurological health, are in very good condition," adding that he is "fully fit to perform his duties as Commander-in-Chief and Head of State." Medical professionals evaluated Trump's heart health to be approximately 14 years younger than his actual age. Symptoms of leg swelling due to chronic venous insufficiency, noted in last year's checkup, have reportedly improved. Neurological tests indicated that his mental state, cranial nerve function, sensory responses, reflexes, gait, and balance were all normal. Notably, in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MCA), which screens for mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, he scored a perfect 30 out of 30. However, the need for weight management was highlighted. This checkup revealed that Trump weighs about 108 kg (238 pounds), which is an increase of approximately 6 kg since his last health examination in April of the previous year. Consequently, his physician recommended ongoing weight loss and dietary adjustments. Additionally, the medical team advised him to take low-dose aspirin. Trump has previously stated in interviews that he takes 325 mg of aspirin daily, which is higher than the typical recommended dose of 81 mg.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 15:18:00

[[6·3 Local Election]] Ruling Party Focuses on Pyeongtaek... 'The Fake Democratic Party Candidate' On the last day of early voting, the leadership of the Democratic Party focused its efforts on securing votes in Pyeongtaek, where a five-way race is underway. Jo Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's secretary-general, held a meeting at the campaign office of Kim Yong-nam, the party's candidate for Pyeongtaek, on the morning of May 30. He urged voters to support Kim, stating, "Please vote for Kim, the real Democratic Party candidate." Jo noted, "We have held our headquarters meetings privately until now, but this is our first public meeting in Pyeongtaek. This clearly shows how important we consider the Pyeongtaek by-election and the Pyeongtaek mayoral election." Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu added, "The strategic committee, led by Representative Jeong Cheong-rae, is responsible for Kim's nomination. Here, Kim's campaign chairman is Representative Jeong. This election is one that Representative Jeong is fully committed to, and the Democratic Party is also fully supporting him." The party also targeted Zhukuk Innovation Party candidate Jo Guk, stating that he is misleading voters by presenting himself as a legitimate Democratic Party candidate. Jo Seung-rae remarked, "The fake Democratic Party candidate is deceiving people into thinking he is the real one. If you mistakenly vote for the fake Democratic Party, it could lead to a victory for the People Power Party. We must support the real Democratic Party candidate." Kim Hyun-jeong, a lawmaker from the Pyeongtaek Byeong district, emphasized that the party is actively supporting Kim Yong-nam through a dedicated election support team, stating, "This confirms that the candidate is not someone who embodies 'Democratic Party values' as Jo claims." She criticized Jo's campaign strategy, saying, "Jo's side is attempting to divide Democratic Party members and supporters. He claims that if elected, he will lead a merger, which is simply not true and goes beyond acceptable bounds." Supreme Council member Hwang Myeong-seon also clarified, "As a supreme council member, I want to make it clear that I am not considering a merger between the Democratic Party and the Zhukuk Innovation Party after the election."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 15:00:00

South Korea Expresses Regret Over U.S. General's Comments on China U.S. Forces Korea Commander Jay B. Brunson recently sparked controversy by likening South Korea to a "dagger" from China's perspective, prompting the South Korean government to convey its regret to the United States.According to Yonhap News on May 30, National Security Office Director Wi Seong-rak, along with officials from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, communicated the government's stance on Brunson's remarks through various diplomatic and security channels. The government is expected to have expressed concern and regret over the comments while requesting restraint.A Blue House official stated to Yonhap, "We cannot confirm the specific details of discussions through diplomatic and security channels between South Korea and the U.S.," but added, "We are aware of Brunson's recent series of public statements, and communication on various issues has been ongoing between the two countries."On May 22, Brunson appeared on a podcast hosted by the U.S. Army War College, stating, "When they (China) look from the eastern coast of China, what they see is South Korea, which is at the center of Asia, and serves as a kind of shield, along with Japan, as they aspire to expand beyond the South China Sea."He also described South Korea's geographical position last May as resembling an island or a fixed aircraft carrier between Japan and mainland China.In response, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea criticized Brunson's characterization of South Korea and the U.S. military presence there as a "forward base" aimed at China. The embassy also expressed discontent through some South Korean media, stating, "Your remarks have clearly crossed the line."Democratic Party spokesperson Boo Seung-chan also commented on Brunson's remarks, expressing regret for infringing on South Korea's strategic status and creating diplomatic tension. He emphasized that South Korea's foreign and security strategy should be determined solely by its sovereign citizens.Boo also criticized the Chinese government's response, stating, "The manner in which the Chinese government criticized the U.S. through the South Korean media is also inappropriate," adding that while they are aware of the remarks directed at them, the approach of involving South Korean public opinion is far from the diplomatic restraint expected from neighboring countries.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 14:42:00

US Forces Korea Commander Clarifies 'Dagger' Comment Javier Brunson, the commander of US Forces Korea, clarified his recent comment that "Korea is a dagger pointed at China," stating that he intended to explain the operational environment the US faces. According to Yonhap News on May 30, Brunson made this clarification during the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore when asked whether his "dagger" remark represented the official stance of the Trump administration or had Pentagon approval. The question arose during a Q&A session following a public speech by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, where a Chinese professor in the audience directed the question to Hegseth, who then passed it to Brunson. Brunson explained, "What I wanted to convey to the students at the War College was the need to change our perspective and consider our position. It is important for students to understand and respect viewpoints beyond our own." He used a map with the Korean Peninsula oriented upwards to illustrate his point, saying, "Changing the perspective of the map allows us to consider how other countries in the region view us." He added, "While we must be strong and maintain military capabilities in South Korea, we also need to understand that such perspectives from other countries still exist." Brunson also recalled a statement from a Prussian military philosopher who referred to Korea as a "dagger aimed at Japan," referencing the words of Prussian Army Major Jakob Meckel, who described the Korean Peninsula as a "dagger aimed at the heart of Japan" in 1885. He emphasized that his comments were not intended to be hostile toward China, advocating instead for a nuanced view of US-China relations that encourages dialogue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 13:57:00

BTS rides sold-out North American tour and AMA wins into Busan homecoming SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) -BTS is bringing home a winning streak. The group wrapped up the first North American leg of its "ARIRANG" world tour after drawing 840,000 fans to 15 sold-out stadium concerts, while collecting three trophies at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas, setting the stage for a highly anticipated homecoming concert in Busan next month. BigHit Music said Saturday that BTS attracted 840,000 concertgoers across five cities — Tampa, El Paso, Stanford, Las Vegas and Mexico City — with every show sold out. Additional dates added in Tampa, Stanford and Las Vegas due to overwhelming demand were also fully booked. The North American run marked a milestone in the group's first full-scale world tour since all seven members completed their mandatory military service and resumed activities as a full group earlier this year. BigHit said BTS performed songs from its comeback album "ARIRANG" alongside many of its signature hits, with fans singing Korean lyrics throughout the concerts. The company highlighted the audience-wide singalong of the Korean folk song "Arirang" during the performance of "Body to Body" as one of the defining moments of the tour. The tour's momentum carried into a successful awards week in Las Vegas, where BTS won three honors at the American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year — the group's second victory in the show's top category. BTS also took home Song of the Summer for its Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper "Swim" and Best Male K-Pop Artist. The group attended the ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena while in the middle of its Las Vegas stadium residency. he wins underscored the staying power of BTS' global fanbase following a nearly four-year hiatus that included military service obligations. The group's commercial performance has matched its awards success. According to Billboard, BTS generated $76.2 million in revenue and sold 417,000 tickets from eight concerts held in Goyang, Tokyo and Tampa during April, making it the world's top-grossing tour for the month. Tampa's three stadium concerts ranked as April's highest-grossing engagement at a single venue, while average revenue per show in Tampa and El Paso climbed roughly 64 percent from BTS' previous U.S. performances. The comeback album "ARIRANG" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in March with 641,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, giving BTS its seventh chart-topping album in the United States. Attention now shifts to Busan, where BTS will perform at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12 and 13. The June 13 concert coincides with the 13th anniversary of the group's debut, making the stop one of the most symbolic and anticipated dates of the world tour. Following Busan, BTS will launch its European leg in Madrid on June 26 before returning to North America for a second stadium run beginning in August. The second North American leg will take the group to East Rutherford, New Jersey (Aug. 1-2), Foxborough, Massachusetts (Aug. 5-6), Baltimore, Maryland (Aug. 10-11), Arlington, Texas (Aug. 15-16), Toronto (Aug. 22-23), Chicago (Aug. 27-28) and Los Angeles (Sept. 1-2 and Sept. 5-6), extending the momentum of a comeback tour that has already filled stadiums across Asia and North America. Billed as BTS' largest tour to date, the "ARIRANG" world tour spans 85 concerts in 34 cities across 23 countries through March 2027. Future stops include Melbourne, Sydney, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Manila as BTS continues what is shaping up to be one of the biggest global tours ever mounted by a K-pop act. 2026-05-30 13:02:16

Oh Se-hoon Criticizes President Yoon's Voting Behavior as 'Unreasonable' Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol on May 30 for his behavior during the early voting process, calling it "unreasonable." Speaking to reporters before a campaign event in Gangseo-gu, Oh stated, "From the perspective of ordinary citizens, it is difficult to understand this behavior." He added, "Human behavior is often governed by the unconscious. The actions displayed yesterday suggest a mindset of 'I am above the law because I am the president' or 'I am different from ordinary citizens,' which is an unlawful unconsciousness that became apparent in his actions." Oh further remarked, "With an important election approaching, it seems like a declaration to the public that he intends to push for a special investigation to dismiss charges immediately after the election." He emphasized that the public is closely watching this situation. He also noted that the high early voting rate in this local election indicates a significant level of voter anger towards the current administration's failures. On the same day, Oh took to Facebook to address President Yoon's comment to a voting official, saying, "It doesn't matter, so..." and responded, "It matters to every citizen of South Korea." Earlier, during early voting at the Samcheong-dong Community Center in Jongno-gu, President Yoon had stepped out of the voting booth and asked a staff member, "Is it okay if it’s only partially marked? Will it be considered invalid?" After being told that showing the ballot was not allowed, he replied, "Come here. It doesn't matter," before returning to complete his vote.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 12:51:00

Kang Jun-hyun Criticizes Han Dong-hoon for Election Law Violations Kang Jun-hyun, the chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, criticized independent candidate Han Dong-hoon, who is running in the Busan Buk-gap district in the local elections, stating, "He is now openly engaging in actions that could violate election laws, and he seems to be suffering from a delusion of being a significant frontrunner." Kang made these remarks during a press conference held on the morning of May 30 at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. He expressed concern that Han's illegal activities disrupting the election order are becoming increasingly serious. Kang reported that there have been numerous reports of Han's fan club members engaging in prohibited activities, such as wearing white clothing with Han's campaign symbols and carrying oversized placards, actions that are only permitted for official campaign workers. "This is a clear violation of the law. Is the election law an exception only for him?" he questioned. He further pointed out, "This is not enthusiasm but rather the excessive behavior of supporters, which is a show of arrogance and illegality that troubles the residents of Buk-gu." Kang also criticized the People Power Party for involving former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye in the election campaign. He stated, "The People Power Party is not only lacking in new ideas but is also blatantly dragging these former presidents into the election. What qualifications do those who hindered the development of Busan have to come back and support a party that has caused turmoil?" Former President Lee is scheduled to visit Busan on May 31 to support the candidacy of Park Hyung-jun, the People Power Party's candidate for mayor. Earlier, former President Park visited Gijang with Park Hyung-jun on May 27. Kang emphasized support for Democratic Party candidates Ha Jung-woo in Busan Buk-gap and Jeon Jae-soo for mayor. He stated, "Without Jeon Jae-soo as mayor and Ha Jung-woo as a representative, Busan's future will be bleak, even with President Lee Jae-myung. The only hope for Busan's development is to build an unbeatable coalition with Lee Jae-myung, Jeon Jae-soo, and Ha Jung-woo."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-30 11:39:00

Hegseth touts South Korea as model ally as U.S. presses Asia on defense spending SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) -U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday held up South Korea as a model ally for taking greater responsibility for its own defense, while urging Asian partners to sharply increase military spending and warning China against seeking regional hegemony. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Hegseth said Washington was pursuing a "strong, quiet and clear" alliance strategy aimed at maintaining a stable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific while ensuring allies shoulder a larger share of the defense burden. "The security of this region has rested disproportionately on American military power for too long," Hegseth said, repeating the Trump administration's call for allies and partners to raise defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product. He singled out South Korea for praise, describing Seoul's commitment to higher defense spending and greater operational responsibility as "a breath of fresh air." The remarks reinforced a message Hegseth delivered earlier this month during talks at the Pentagon with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, where he praised Seoul's efforts to assume greater responsibility for the defense of the Korean Peninsula and cited burden-sharing as the foundation of a resilient alliance. "As I noted during my visit to Seoul last November, the Republic of Korea's commitment to increase defense spending and your leadership in assuming primary responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula is very important," Hegseth told Ahn during their May 11 meeting. The Pentagon chief's speech reflected the Trump administration's broader effort to reshape alliance relationships around greater military contributions from partners while concentrating U.S. resources on deterring China. Hegseth warned that Beijing's military buildup and expanding regional activities were generating "rightful alarm" across the Indo-Pacific. "What we seek is a favorable but durable balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony," he said. "America is a Pacific nation, and we insist that China respect our longstanding position in the region." He also emphasized the strategic importance of the so-called First Island Chain stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines, underscoring Washington's continued focus on deterring Chinese military expansion despite recent efforts by President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to stabilize bilateral ties. South Korea used the summit to present its own vision for regional security. Defense Minister Ahn, attending the three-day gathering in Singapore, was scheduled to deliver a keynote address titled "Regional Security Challenges and South Korea's Strategic Response," outlining Seoul's defense strategy amid a rapidly evolving security environment. On the sidelines, Ahn was expected to hold bilateral meetings with congressional delegations from the United States and defense leaders from Japan, Australia, Norway, the Philippines and Thailand to discuss expanding defense cooperation and arms industry partnerships. The annual Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has become Asia's premier security forum, bringing together defense ministers, military officials and strategic experts from across the Indo-Pacific and Europe. This year's gathering opened amid renewed concerns over Taiwan, the aftermath of the Middle East conflict and questions about the future shape of U.S. security commitments in Asia. 2026-05-30 11:17:33