South Korea

Yonhap | English | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

South Korea's defense ministry announced plans to complete the reform and relocation of the Defense Counterintelligence Command by 2026. This move follows the command's suspected involvement in the failed martial law imposition in December 2024, linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The command's former leader is accused of deploying troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission during the incident.

The ministry criticized the command for holding excessive powers, including intelligence security and investigation, and proposed that it should focus solely on counterintelligence activities. To facilitate this, a ministerial advisory committee involving government, military, and civilian experts has been established and will operate until the end of 2025 to develop detailed reform measures.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back pledged to build a military that respects civilian authority and resists external influence. He emphasized strengthening military capabilities with advanced technology to address complex security threats, including North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile arsenal.

“미사일로 거리를 도배했다”…북한이 꺼내든 ‘비장의 무기’ 뭐길래

Maekyung | Local Language | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | North Korea

On October 10, 2025, North Korea held a military parade in Pyongyang showcasing a wide array of nuclear and conventional weapons, with a particular focus on the newly unveiled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-20. This missile is presumed to have multi-warhead capabilities and a range exceeding 15,000 km, positioning it as a significant strategic threat capable of striking major U.S. cities. The Hwasong-20 is mounted on an 11-axle mobile launcher and is considered an advancement over the previous Hwasong-19, incorporating a more powerful engine with carbon fiber composite materials that improve thrust by over 40%. However, it has yet to be officially tested.

In addition to the Hwasong-20, North Korea displayed hypersonic missile variants, including the medium-to-long-range Hwasong-16 and short-range Hwasong-11ma, both potentially nuclear-capable and targeting U.S. bases and forces in the region. The parade also highlighted North Korea’s development of swarm drone tactics using containerized mobile launchers for suicide drones, aiming to overwhelm South Korean and U.S. air defenses through mass deployments. This marks a shift from single suicide drones to an offensive unmanned aircraft combat strategy.

Alongside these advanced missile systems, the parade introduced the new Cheonma-20 tank, indicating expansion of North Korea’s conventional military arsenal. While Chairman Kim Jong Un's speech avoided direct threats to the U.S. or South Korea—reflecting the parade’s diplomatic context attended by officials from China, Russia, and Vietnam—the broadcasted narration underscored hostility toward South Korea, emphasizing the readiness of front-line forces.

The demonstration represents a comprehensive display of integrated military capabilities intended to bolster deterrence against both the U.S. homeland and regional allies like South Korea and Japan, while enhancing North Korea’s leverage in future negotiations. Concurrently, China pledged to strengthen strategic cooperation with North Korea, with Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Pyongyang and Xi Jinping’s message emphasizing the close bilateral relationship and mutual support on international and regional issues.

공정위, 쿠팡이츠·배민 불공정 약관 시정권고

ZD Net Korea | Local Language | News | Oct. 14, 2025 | Regulation

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) reviewed merchant service terms on the delivery apps Coupang Eats and Baemin, recommending corrections to 10 unfair contract terms. The FTC identified that Coupang Eats charged brokerage fees based on pre-discount prices rather than the actual consumer payment, resulting in merchants incurring commissions on discount amounts they absorbed themselves. The FTC deemed it reasonable to charge commissions on the post-discount transaction amount and recommended amending or deleting the relevant provision.

Both Coupang Eats and Baemin faced criticism for allowing unilateral restrictions on delivery distance and store exposure without prior merchant notification or predictable procedures. The FTC also highlighted issues in payment settlement withholding or changes without clear reasons, excessive exemptions of operator liability, inadequate review deletion procedures, and refund restrictions on advertising fees. The two companies have revised terms on these 10 points in response.

Coupang Eats stated that their brokerage fee method has been consistent and clearly communicated to merchants since the service's inception and promised detailed explanations during FTC procedures. Baemin’s operator, Woowa Brothers, committed to ongoing review and improvement of terms and systems to protect merchants' rights and support stable service operations.