This is exactly the behavior Trump has been trying to create with his tariff policy. Would these automakers have increased sales of U.S. made cars and even import them to Japan without Trump’s pressure?:

Workers are seen assembling an Ioniq 5 vehicle at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Ellabell, Georgia on March 27. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Toyota’s decision to resume sales of the Camry through reimporting comes two years after halting its domestic sales and is seen as an effort to improve trade relations with the United States. Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with Japan’s trade surplus with the United States. 
  
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda announced a $10 billion investment plan in the United States last month and appeared at a car event wearing a red MAGA hat, signaling his continued outreach to the United States.

Honda and Nissan are also reportedly considering reimporting U.S.-built models. Honda may bring in its Ridgeline pickup truck, Passport SUV and some Acura-branded electric vehicle models, according to Japanese business daily Nikkei. Nissan is weighing reimports of its Altima midsize sedan, Murano SUV and Pathfinder SUV. 
  
For Korean carmakers, reimporting U.S.-made vehicles is less viable due to high labor costs, added logistics expenses and unfavorable currency exchange rates. Instead, they are focusing on ramping up production within the United States. 
  
Hyundai Motor Group aims to increase the local production share of vehicles sold in the U.S. market from the current 43 percent to 80 percent by 2030. It also plans to boost annual North American sales from 834,000 vehicles last year to 1.44 million by the end of the decade. 
  
In a recent interview with Automotive News, Hyundai COO Jose Muñoz said that the company’s goal is not only to raise local production to 80 percent but also to increase the share of local suppliers from 60 percent to 80 percent, outlining plans to target the midsize pickup truck, SUV and commercial vehicle segments — including electric vans and medium-duty trucks. 
  
Industry experts see Trump’s MAGA policy as a catalyst for a shift in global production strategies within the automotive sector.

Joong Ang Ilbo

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It is being reported that President Lee is going to be asking China to help get North Korea return to talks. I don’t see why the North Koreans would want to pursue talks right now when all their needs are being provided by the Russians currently:

President Lee Jae Myung will make a state visit to China early next week for summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday, with the leaders expected to discuss ways to strengthen strategic cooperation and bilateral economic ties.

Lee is scheduled to depart for Beijing on Sunday for summit talks with Xi. On next Tuesday, Lee will travel to Shanghai before returning home on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing.

The meeting will be the leaders’ second since their first summit talks on Nov. 1 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Yonhap

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Talk about a fall from grace for the former First Lady. Cho Kuk and his wife must be loving this:

Kim Keon Hee attends a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

Sunday marked the conclusion of the 180-day investigation by the special counsel team looking into accusations against Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The team led by Min Joong-ki is scheduled to conduct a briefing on its investigation at 10 a.m. Monday at the special counsel’s office in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Further investigation against Kim is expected to be conducted by the National Office of Investigation under the National Police Agency.

Forming the backbone of the investigation were Kim’s alleged connection to a Deutsch Motors stock manipulation scheme, her alleged election interference involving pollster Myung Tae-kyun, as well as bribery suspicions, including a case involving the Unification Church.

Since the probe’s launch on July 2, Min’s team has made multiple high-profile arrests and indictments. This includes taking Rep. Kweon Song-dong of the main opposition People Power Party and Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja into custody.

People Power Party Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon and his wife were indicted Saturday, accused of giving a luxury gift to Kim. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been indicted on charges of having a sponsor pay for opinion polls conducted by Myung.

In a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Dec. 3, the special counsel team requested that Kim be sentenced to 15 years in prison and a seizure of 2 billion won ($1.4 million) in criminal proceedings, accusing her of “incapacitating the justice system.”

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

These generals despite being dismissed from the military are still being tried in civilian court and could be jailed:

The defense ministry said Monday it has decided to take “severe” disciplinary action against five senior Army officers for their involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed bid to impose martial law last year.

The decision came after the ministry held a committee meeting earlier this month to decide on disciplinary action against eight senior Army officers — seven generals and one colonel — involved in the martial law bid on Dec. 3 last year. (…..)

Yeo and Lee are believed to face removal from office, the toughest level of disciplinary action.

Kwak is said to face dismissal, the second-highest level of punishment imposed, in consideration of his efforts to help restore constitutional order and uncover the truth behind the martial law through testimonies at Yoon’s trials.

Meanwhile, a former Army vice chief of staff was also reportedly handed the second-highest level of disciplinary action, while a colonel with the Defense Counterintelligence Command was given a two-month suspension.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Hopefully the military police will not be body slamming civilians this New Year’s while on duty:

U.S. military police plan to resume their own street patrols on Okinawa in time for the New Year’s holiday, a month after a U.S. civilian was body slammed outside a bar, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  U.S. patrols, unaccompanied by local police, may be back in Okinawa’s nightlife districts on the final days of 2025, according to a statement by the U.S.-Japan Joint Committee posted on the ministry’s website Friday.

Stars and Stripes could not verify Saturday that patrols had already begun. USFJ commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost ordered the patrols paused and an investigation into the forceful detainment of Kareem El early on Nov. 22 by a U.S. military policeman who lifted El and slammed him to the pavement outside a bar on Gate 2 Street.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

It has been as busy year for Kim Jong-un:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made the most public appearances in nine years in 2025, as he increased diplomatic engagement and on-site supervision of the implementation of a five-year national development plan, data showed Sunday. 

Kim’s public appearances, as reported by North Korea’s state media, totaled 118 as of the end of November, according to data from the Korea Institute for National Unification. 

Including additional public activities reported by state media between Dec. 1 and 27, the total number rose to 131.

This year’s total marks a slight increase from last year’s 127 and matches the previous high recorded in 2016.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.