It looks like the National Assembly better get this trade deal ratified soon or face 25% tariffs:

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that there is no trade deal with South Korea until its legislature approves it, days after President Donald Trump threatened to increase “reciprocal” and other tariffs on the Asian country.

Bessent made the remarks during a CNBC interview, as South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan is set to visit the United States for talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to address the renewed trade tension.

“The South Korean parliament has not passed the trade deal,” he said. “So there is no trade deal until they ratify it.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

At this point I don’t think there is much to talk about in regards to DPRK missile launches other than just confirming what was fired:

South Korea, the United States and Japan discussed North Korea’s latest missile launch and coordination efforts in three-way phone talks the previous day, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Wednesday. 

Baek Yong-jin, director general for the Korean Peninsula policy, spoke by phone with Dan Cintron, acting U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, and Otsuka Kengo, deputy director general of the Japanese foreign ministry’s Asia and Oceania bureau, the ministry said. 

On Tuesday, South Korea’s military said the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, in yet another military muscle-flexing by Pyongyang ahead of its upcoming key party congress. 

North Korean state media said Wednesday it has test-fired an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It is probably a day of celebration in the Cho Kuk household:

A court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to one year and eight months in prison Wednesday after finding her guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church.

The Seoul Central District Court, however, acquitted Kim on charges of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and violating the Political Funds Act.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team had sought a 15-year prison term for Kim.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but what I find interesting about this ruling is that Kim Keon-hee is receiving more jail time than rapists have received.

It is amazing how popular K-Pop has become over the past two decades:

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during a press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, on Jan. 19. EPA-Yonhap

Huge demand to see K-pop boy band BTS, among the world’s most popular artists, has led Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to formally request of her counterpart, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, that he help arrange more concerts in Mexico.

“Everyone wants to go,” Sheinbaum said at her daily morning press conference on Monday, adding that she had sent a diplomatic letter to South Korea’s Lee seeking more concerts.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

A casket carrying the body of the late former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan is being moved into Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Monday. Yonhap

In more submarine news, a ROK firm is going all in to win a contract to build 12 subs for the Canadians:

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun joined a Korean government delegation to assist Korean shipbuilders’ bid to supply patrol submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy.

According to industry and government officials, Chung flew to Canada on Monday to join the delegation comprised of government officials including presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan. Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HD HHI) Naval & Special Ship Business Unit, will also join the delegation.

Hanwha Group’s shipbuilding arm, Hanwha Ocean, has formed a consortium with HD HHI to bid on Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), a 60 billion Canadian dollar ($43 billion) program to procure 12 diesel submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Big defense topics being discussed in South Korea:

This photo, provided by the defense ministry, shows Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) and U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby during their meeting at the ministry compound in Seoul on Jan. 26, 2026

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held talks Monday with U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to discuss Seoul’s push to build nuclear-powered submarines, regain wartime operation control of its troops from Washington and other pending security issues. (…….)

Both sides agreed that cooperation on Seoul’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines would bolster its capabilities to defend the Korean Peninsula and serve as a key landmark in elevating their alliance to a higher level.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.