South Korea

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 4, 2025 | North Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated that he had considered issuing a state-level apology for the previous administration's handling of anti-North Korean leaflet launches but refrained due to concerns it might provoke ideological conflict and political attacks. Speaking at a foreign media news conference marking the first anniversary of the Dec. 3 martial law crisis, Lee emphasized the risk of the issue becoming a tool for ideological confrontation or accusations of being pro-North.

Lee also highlighted the continued breakdown in communication with North Korea, noting Pyongyang's refusal to engage in dialogue despite South Korea's efforts. He expressed willingness to review South Korea-U.S. combined military exercises, which North Korea consistently condemns, as a potential step to facilitate dialogue. On U.S. relations, Lee described his interactions with former President Donald Trump as pragmatic and praised a recent deal on nuclear-propelled submarines, though he noted challenges in building these submarines in the U.S. and expressed preference for domestic construction for cost and time efficiency.

Regarding China, Lee looks forward to a future bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. He reaffirmed his commitment to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lauded South Korea’s democracy, which he named “K-democracy,” characterizing it as peaceful, direct, and driven by collective intelligence. Lee also indicated he has no immediate plans to reform South Korea's inheritance tax system.

On Russia, Lee acknowledged the importance of maintaining ties and continuing efforts to improve relations despite South Korea's participation in sanctions related to the Ukraine War. He expressed concern over progressing Russia-North Korea relations but emphasized persistence in diplomatic efforts.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 4, 2025 | UndeterminedBudgets-Budgeting

The Ministry of Unification's 2026 budget for inter-Korean cooperative projects has been restored to over 1 trillion won ($681.4 million), marking the first time in three years that the funding has surpassed this level. The National Assembly approved a total budget of 727.9 trillion won for the year, with 1.24 trillion won allocated to the Ministry of Unification—a 20.9 percent increase from the previous year.

Within the ministry's budget, slightly more than 1 trillion won is designated for inter-Korean cooperation, reflecting the government's efforts to revive stalled exchanges and economic projects between South and North Korea. Additionally, 12.3 billion won has been allocated in 2026 to begin construction of a "center for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula" in Seoul, with a total of 39.6 billion won planned for investment through 2030.

The budget also includes 480 million won for a project aimed at developing a tourist zone along the demilitarized zone (DMZ), with the long-term objective of transforming it into an inter-Korean cooperative area. President Lee Jae Myung has renewed peace overtures toward North Korea, proposing the restoration of communication channels as a foundation for peaceful coexistence. However, Pyongyang has so far not responded to Seoul's dialogue proposals.

Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 4, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

On December 2, 2025, the South Korean government reaffirmed its commitment to fully comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations while pursuing plans to build nuclear-powered submarines and gain rights to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. This assurance was made during a high-level meeting in Seoul between Lee Chul, director of the International Organizations and Nuclear Affairs Bureau at South Korea’s foreign ministry, and Massimo Aparo, head of the Department of Safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

During the meeting, Lee pledged transparent cooperation with the IAEA, which was met with appreciation by Aparo, who expressed a desire to maintain close collaboration. They discussed ongoing developments in IAEA safeguards and shared views on verifying North Korea’s nuclear program. Both parties agreed to continue regular consultations and policy meetings to strengthen cooperation.

This development follows approval from U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2025, authorizing Seoul to deploy nuclear-powered submarines and acquire rights to enrich civil uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes. The discussions underscore South Korea’s efforts to advance its nuclear capabilities while maintaining international non-proliferation commitments.