South Korea

Hankyoreh - E | English | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

President Lee Jae Myung has proposed four major inter-Korean and international cooperation projects that emphasize multilateral collaboration involving China and Russia, aiming to catalyze a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations and shift the Northeast Asia regional order from conflict to cooperation. Key initiatives include a high-speed railway linking Seoul, Pyongyang, and Beijing, building upon previous agreements from 2018 and expanding to include China to strengthen cooperation among the three capitals.

The second initiative focuses on health care cooperation, seeking to create an international trust fund to support infectious disease response and modernization of county-level hospitals in North Korea. This humanitarian effort aligns with Kim Jong-un’s declared “public health revolution” starting in 2025 and could circumvent sanctions due to its nature.

The third project involves developing the Wonsan-Kalma “peace tourism” zone, a critical national project for Kim Jong-un aimed at attracting tourists to revive the resort area, which currently suffers from low international visitation and debt. This effort will proceed in phases, targeting ethnic Koreans abroad and tourists from South Korea and China.

The fourth initiative centers on revitalizing the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI), a multilateral cooperation framework including South Korea, China, Russia, and Mongolia, with indirect North Korean involvement. Lee seeks China’s cooperation in mediating this effort, which includes recent cross-border infrastructure developments by North Korea and Russia. This marks a strategic attempt to improve regional cooperation and constructive change in South Korea-Russia relations despite geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | North Korea

North Korea has replaced the top officials responsible for guarding leader Kim Jong-un, according to Seoul's Ministry of Unification. The chiefs of three major security units—the Guard Office of the ruling party, the Guard Department of the State Affairs Commission, and the Guard Command—were changed as part of a significant reshuffle of North Korean officials in 2025. These changes were observed during a military parade in October 2025 commemorating the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The ministry did not specify the exact timing or reasons for the replacements but noted that such turnovers in leadership roles close to the supreme leader are unusual within a short time frame. Additionally, Ri Pyong-chol, a senior military figure, is believed to have been removed from his post as vice chairman of the WPK’s Military Central Commission. This has reduced the number of members in the political bureau’s presidium from five to four. With Ri's departure, Pak Jong-chon is now the sole vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, while the presidium includes Kim Jong-un, Premier Pak Thae-song, Choe Ryong-hae, and party secretary Jo Yong-won.

Yonhap | English | News | Jan. 15, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul criticized Taiwan's top envoy, Chiou Gow-wei, for suggesting that South Korea's commitment to the "One China" principle could refer to Taiwan rather than Beijing. Chiou made these remarks at a forum hosted by a South Korean opposition lawmaker, implying that President Lee Jae Myung's reaffirmation of the policy might not exclusively mean the People's Republic of China but could also include the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name.

The embassy spokesperson condemned Chiou's comments as "sheer nonsense" that violate international norms and challenge South Korea's commitment to the One China principle as outlined in the China-South Korea joint communique. The statement emphasized that both China and South Korea oppose such remarks and any political manipulation of the Taiwan issue, warning that attempts to exploit this for political gain or to undermine bilateral relations would not be tolerated by either country's people.

China views Taiwan as a part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, opposing any international recognition or challenge to this claim. The Chinese Embassy also expressed disapproval of South Korean lawmakers engaging with Taiwanese officials or inviting them to events, reinforcing China's stance against any actions that might disrupt China-South Korea relations.