South Korea

Korea Herald | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | North Korea

North Korea’s release of two rapid statements by Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, signals heightened sensitivity to diplomatic pressures and security threats ahead of major political events. The statements dismissed prospects for improving inter-Korean relations, reinforcing the regime’s hardline "two hostile states" doctrine that views North and South Korea as separate adversaries. Kim Yo-jong demanded a detailed explanation from Seoul on alleged drone incursions while simultaneously rejecting South Korea’s attempts at dialogue regarding the incident.

Experts interpret these consecutive statements as a strategic political move to justify intensified hostility toward South Korea and bolster internal cohesion through anti-South sentiment, especially in advance of the 9th Party Congress. The timing, following a South Korea-Japan summit, was seen as a message opposing denuclearization and peace efforts promoted by Seoul and Tokyo. Analysts also noted Pyongyang’s dissatisfaction with South Korea’s outreach diplomacy to China and Japan, viewing it as an attempt to undermine President Lee Jae Myung’s initiatives.

Concurrently, North Korea has restructured Kim Jong-un’s security detail, replacing commanders of key units responsible for his protection, marking a rare maneuver linked to evolving external threats such as drone and electronic warfare risks. These changes are connected to past incidents including the attempted bombing attack on Japan’s Prime Minister and troop deployments to Russia. The presence of Kim Jong-un’s daughter in state media has likely influenced the introduction of new security protocols, emphasizing family security rather than successor protection.

Together, Kim Yo-jong’s statements and the overhaul of the security apparatus reflect an increasingly vigilant Pyongyang, wary of external diplomatic and security challenges while preparing to reinforce its hardline stance domestically and internationally.

Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | North Korea

South Korea is considering restoring a suspended military pact with North Korea aimed at reducing tensions along their border. The original agreement, signed in 2018 between then-President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was fully suspended in 2024 due to worsening relations. According to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, internal discussions are ongoing, but no final decision has been made.

The discussions were highlighted during a press briefing following President Lee Jae Myung's summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Osaka on January 14, 2026. Wi confirmed that the government views restoring the pact as a basic direction in policy but emphasized that consultations remain in progress.

In relation to North Korea’s accusations that South Korea sent drones into its territory twice—once in September 2025 and again in early January 2026—the South Korean government is conducting an internal investigation. If civilians are found responsible for the drone incursions, it would likely constitute a violation of South Korean law and breach the armistice agreement, which would lead to appropriate measures and punishment.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Strikes and Work Stoppages

Samsung Electronics is on track to face its first-ever majority labor union, driven by widespread dissatisfaction among employees over performance-based bonuses. Despite record operating profits of 20 trillion won ($13.5 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2025, many semiconductor division engineers feel their bonus payouts, capped between 43 to 48 percent of annual salary, fall short of expectations. This frustration has sparked a ninefold increase in union membership since September 2025, with the Samsung Group United Union (SGUU) now representing 42.6 percent of Samsung’s workforce, nearing majority status.

Union membership growth has been most pronounced in the semiconductor division, where over 55 percent of employees have joined the SGUU, while the Device eXperience (DX) division lags with a 23.8 percent membership rate. Workers cite issues with compensation transparency and the perceived inadequacy of performance pay formulas. The SGUU demands more transparency on how bonuses are calculated and seeks to remove payout caps, arguing that the company’s current Economic Value Added (EVA) method for calculating excess profit incentives limits bonus potential by factoring in taxes and capital costs.

Samsung Electronics is currently engaged in its fifth round of wage negotiations with a joint union bargaining group. The unions have threatened to hold a strike vote if talks fail and are considering forming a task force to examine compensation and working conditions at competitors like SK hynix. If SGUU achieves majority status, it would gain exclusive bargaining rights for collective labor issues, though analysts expect no immediate drastic changes as negotiations continue.