The U.S. has long sought strategic flexibility for its troops in South Korea and it appears USGK is close to achieving this goal:
As South Korea and the United States mark the 75th anniversary of the Korean War’s outbreak this month, their alliance appears headed for a crucial shift, with the Donald Trump administration seeking to “modernize” it amid a hardening Sino-U.S. rivalry. (…….)
“The use of ‘modernize’ in this context seems like an effort to put a positive spin on what is essentially unilateral U.S. pressure on Seoul to ‘reorient’ or ‘refocus’ the strategic focus of the long-standing U.S.-ROK alliance in ways that better align with Trump administration priorities vis-a-vis China,” Rapson told Yonhap News Agency. ROK is short for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.
“There’s also an implied threat that if the alliance is not ‘modernized’ in this way, it may not be ‘sustainable.'” he added.
Does anyone really believe Lee Jong-seok does not have pro-North Korea views?:
Lee Jong-seok, the nominee to lead the National Intelligence Service (NIS), pushed back against claims that he is pro-North Korea, Thursday, saying he would serve with a pragmatic approach focused on national interests.
“I don’t quite understand why my past remarks would be considered pro-North Korea,” Lee said during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.
His comments came in response to a question from Rep. Song Eon-seok of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who referenced Lee’s past statements opposing the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan.
You can read more at the link, but Lee Jae-myung has basically never nominated a Pyongyang cheerleader in charge of the ROK intellgence service. During his time as unification minister Lee Jong-seok was involved in establishing the quasi-slave labor Kaesong Industrial Complex that has since been shuttered. He was also helping the ROK government send more money to North Korea than they contributed to USFK cost sharing. He even said that due to all the money they were giving to North Korea that no one there was starving any more.
You know things are not going well when you have to flee to Turkmenistan for safety:
Twenty South Korean nationals and their family members have evacuated Iran via a land route and arrived safely in Turkmenistan amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
Lee attends G7 reception for world leaders South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (2nd from L) and his wife, Kim Hye Kyung (far R), pose for a photo with Governor General of Canada Mary Simon (2nd from R) and her spouse, Whit Fraser, during a reception for world leaders participating in the Group of Seven summit in Calgary, Canada, on June 16, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Unfortunately President Lee will have to wait for another time to meet with President Trump because he is busy right now trying to determine whether to end the Iranian regime:
President Lee Jae Myung’s envisioned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Canada won’t take place as Trump abruptly left the Group of Seven (G7) summit earlier than scheduled, Lee’s office said.
Lee’s office had been arranging the first in-person meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit, but the White House said Trump will return home Monday night due to the deadly Israel-Iran conflict, dashing hopes for Lee to have talks with Trump during the gathering.
“As Trump suddenly returned today, it has become difficult to hold the Korea-U.S. summit that was scheduled for tomorrow. It appears to be related to the military conflict between Israel and Iran,” National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters in Calgary.
You can read more at the link, but on the topic of ending the Iranian regime does anyone else find it despicable how many American leftists are on social media cheering on the Iranians against Israel? Ironically these same people cheering on the Iranians probably have coexist stickers on their cars and wave gay pride flags.
I am not sure why a South Korean would want to be in Iran in the first place, but it is probably a good time to get out there because the end of the regime could be near:
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday raised its travel advisory for Iran and Israel, urging its nationals to leave the countries immediately in response to ongoing missile strikes between Israel and Iran.
Effective from 1 p.m. Wednesday, Seoul time, the updated travel alert expands the existing Level 3 advisory — which recommends departure — to cover the entire country.
Previously, the Level 3 alert, part of the four-tier travel advisory system in which Level 4 constitutes a travel ban, applied only to certain regions within Iran.
“Accordingly, South Korean nationals currently staying in Iran are advised to leave the country as quickly as possible, following guidance from the diplomatic mission, while paying special attention to their personal safety,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Mt. Paekdu This aerial photo taken from a flight on June 13, 2025, shows a frozen Chonji, the crater lake atop the volcanic Mount Paekdu, located on the North Korean-Chinese border. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Via a reader tip comes this news that North Korea is discharging enriched uranium wastewater into a river that flows into the West Sea potentially polluting South Korean waters:
North Korea operates a critical uranium refining facility in North Hwanghae province’s Pyongsan county that serves as a critical link in its nuclear weapons chain. The plant converts mined uranium ore into yellowcake concentrate—essentially purified uranium ready for the next stage of weapons production. This yellowcake then travels to the Yongbyon Nuclear Complex, among other facilities, where scientists enrich it to the high levels needed for nuclear bombs.
Waste generated at the Pyongsan uranium facility has historically been sent to a reservoir across the river for sedimentation. However, satellite imagery has captured evidence that as the sedimentation pond reached capacity, North Korea began discharging wastewater directly into the river system.
You can read more at the link, but interestingly I have heard nothing from the Korean left denouncing this pollution unlike what we saw when Japan discharge far less dangerous wastewater from their nuclear facility far from Korean waters.
