Police, firefighters inspect self-immolation site Police and firefighters inspect the site where a man set himself on fire near the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, on Jan. 15, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Acting president meets opposition leader Acting President Choi Sang-mok (2nd from R), who concurrently serves as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister, poses for a photo with Lee Jae-myung (2nd from L), leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, during their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Jan. 13, 2025. (Yonhap)
Snow on Mount Jiri Hikers trek Mount Jiri blanketed with snow in Gurye County, 258 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 12, 2025, in this photo provided by the county office. (Yonhap)
There is really nothing I don’t agree with in Jake Sullivan’s statement:
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Friday portrayed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law bid as “shocking” and “wrong,” but voiced confidence that “structurally,” the South Korea-U.S. alliance is “incredibly healthy.”
Speaking in a press meeting, he also noted that the Biden administration was not able to make “substantial” progress in the efforts toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula with the security trend moving in the “wrong” direction, but stressed America and its allies are in a “materially better” position to deter North Korean threats.
He also expressed concerns over the “risk” of North Korea using the ongoing political turmoil in South Korea to engage in provocative activities, but underscored that Pyongyang “should make no mistake” given the strength of the bilateral alliance.
N.K. leader attends inauguration ceremony for regional factory North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspects a regional factory during its inauguration ceremony in Jaeryong County, South Hwanghae Province, on Jan. 7, 2025, in this photo released the next day by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. The dedication of the factory is part of a project that Kim set forth in January 2024 to build modernized factories in 20 cities and counties over the next decade to enhance the living standards of the people. (Yonhap)
N. Korea’s test-firing of new hypersonic missile A new intermediate-range ballistic missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead is launched on Jan. 6, 2025, in this photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency the following day. North Korea said the missile flew some 1,500 kilometers at a velocity of 12 times the speed of sound the previous day during the testing guided by leader Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap)
S. Korean acting president meets Blinken South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the government complex in Seoul on Jan. 6, 2025. (Yonhap)
People supporting impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol rally near his official residence in Seoul on Jan. 3, 2025, to stop investigators from the state anti-corruption agency from executing a warrant to detain Yoon over his failed bid to impose martial law in December. (Yonhap)
