Latest news with #SejongInstitute
American Military News
5 days ago
- Politics
- American Military News
US strikes on Iran may strengthen North Korea's nuclear resolve, experts warn
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission. The U.S. air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities will have reinforced North Korea's perception that possessing nuclear weapons is essential for its survival and may even prompt Pyongyang to accelerate the development of its nuclear capabilities, warned South Korean experts. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that the U.S. had conducted 'massive precision strikes' on three Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan – that has 'completely and totally obliterated' Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities. The attack on Iran's nuclear sites marks the first offensive action in Israel's war with Iran – a major escalation in tensions in the Middle East – which South Korean analysts warn will make North Korea increasingly resistant to any diplomatic efforts or talks aimed at convincing Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. 'North Korea must have thought it was a good idea to have nuclear weapons after seeing the U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities,' Jeong Seong-jang, deputy director of the Sejong Institute, told Radio Free Asia on Monday. In a statement Monday, a spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities, saying it 'violated the U.N. Charter and international law, which have as their basic principles respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs,' North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. Despite calls by the U.S. and its allies for denuclearization, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pushed for his country to bolster its nuclear capabilities to defend itself, warning earlier this year that 'confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable.' While the 'hostile countries' were not named, North Korea regards the U.S. and its ally, South Korea, as its main enemies. In 2003, North Korea withdrew after acceding to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), shortly after the U.S. invaded Iraq. It cited concerns, at the time, that the U.S. was planning a preemptive strike against Pyongyang. 'North Korea is (likely to be) concerned that if it gives up its nuclear weapons, it will end up in a situation similar to Iran, and will not accept future proposals for denuclearization discussions.' He warned the strikes may even prompt North Korea – which conducted its first underground nuclear test in 2006 – to accelerate the development of nuclear submarines in an effort to secure so-called 'second-strike' capabilities – or the ability to launch retaliatory nuclear strikes after a preemptive one. Other South Korean experts echoed similar concerns. 'Kim Jong Un will probably order the relocation, hiding, and concealment of nuclear facilities, as well as the expansion of air defense systems,' Professor Nam Seong-wook of Sookmyung Women's University told RFA. In a social media post, Kim Dong-yeop, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, argued that the U.S. strikes would cause North Korea to further solidify its perception that 'only possession of nuclear weapons can lead to survival' and provide much-needed validation for Pyongyang to hold on to its nuclear arsenal. Since 2006, North Korea has tested nuclear devices six times and has developed missiles believed to be capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. During his first term, Trump held historic summits with Kim Jong Un, hoping to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief, but his high-level diplomacy ultimately failed to achieve a breakthrough. The North has continued to build its nuclear and missile programs. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that North Korea has assembled around 50 warheads and possesses enough fissile material to produce up to 40 more warheads and is accelerating the production of further fissile material. Earlier this year, Pyongyang reiterated that it has no intention of giving up its nuclear program. North Korea would now view diplomatic engagement with the United States as 'foolish' and any future negotiations of denuclearization as futile, Kim Dong-yeop wrote in a social media post on Sunday. 'North Korea will use the Iran situation as an excuse to strengthen its criticism of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation,' he added.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
As China, Russia escalate cognitive warfare, experts say Seoul needs counterstrategy
As China and Russia ramp up sophisticated cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula, experts at a Seoul forum urged the South Korean government to craft a counterstrategy grounded in objective, professional assessments of both countries' capabilities. The Korean Association of Area Studies co-hosted the seminar themed, 'Security Threats of Cognitive Warfare and Trump's Second-term Strategy on China,' on Friday with the Institute for National Security Strategy and the Sejong Institute at the ROKAUS Hotel in Seoul. The seminar featured two sessions: Session 1, 'Cognitive Warfare Security Threats and Complex Crisis on the Korean Peninsula,' and Session 2, 'Trump's Second-term China Strategy and Regional Hybrid Threats," according to the three co-host organizations. Lee Ho-ryoung, president of the Korean Association of Area Studies, said in her opening remarks, 'North Korea is intensifying its 'invisible cognitive warfare,' such as cyber influence operations and GPS jamming.' 'Therefore, a comprehensive, all-encompassing response is needed to counter the cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula by revisionist powers, including China and Russia," Lee said. Han Suk-hee, president of the Institute for National Security Strategy, assessed that 'China favors hybrid warfare, such as ppsychological division and information operations shaping public opinion, over direct military conflict" in his congratulatory address. "China is pursuing a strategy to sow division between the United States and its allies by intervening in issues like historical disputes between Korea and Japan and controversies over weapons system acquisitions.' Experts at the seminar shared the view that cognitive warfare threats from China and Russia targeting the Korean Peninsula are evolving and emphasized the need for proportional responses by the South Korean government, according to the press statement by the three co-hosting organizations. The experts specifically recommended that the Korean government encourage diverse research on cognitive warfare and conduct objective, professional assessments of Chinese and Russian cognitive warfare strategies. In addition, the experts stressed that the new South Korean administration, which will take office after the June 3 early presidential election, should incorporate cognitive warfare threats and response measures into the national security strategy to lay the groundwork for building a government-wide cognitive warfare response system. The experts also emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the characteristics of cognitive warfare identified in recent conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war in the process of developing the strategy.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
As China, Russia escalate cognitive warfare, experts say Seoul needs counterstrategy
As China and Russia ramp up sophisticated cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula, experts at a Seoul forum urged the South Korean government to craft a counterstrategy grounded in objective, professional assessments of both countries' capabilities. The Korean Association of Area Studies co-hosted the seminar themed, 'Security Threats of Cognitive Warfare and Trump's Second-term Strategy on China,' on Friday with the Institute for National Security Strategy and the Sejong Institute at the ROKAUS Hotel in Seoul. The seminar featured two sessions: Session 1, 'Cognitive Warfare Security Threats and Complex Crisis on the Korean Peninsula,' and Session 2, 'Trump's Second-term China Strategy and Regional Hybrid Threats," according to the three co-host organizations. Lee Ho-ryoung, president of the Korean Association of Area Studies, said in her opening remarks, 'North Korea is intensifying its 'invisible cognitive warfare,' such as cyber influence operations and GPS jamming.' 'Therefore, a comprehensive, all-encompassing response is needed to counter the cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula by revisionist powers, including China and Russia," Lee said. Han Suk-hee, president of the Institute for National Security Strategy, assessed that 'China favors hybrid warfare, such as ppsychological division and information operations shaping public opinion, over direct military conflict" in his congratulatory address. "China is pursuing a strategy to sow division between the United States and its allies by intervening in issues like historical disputes between Korea and Japan and controversies over weapons system acquisitions.' Experts at the seminar shared the view that cognitive warfare threats from China and Russia targeting the Korean Peninsula are evolving and emphasized the need for proportional responses by the South Korean government, according to the press statement by the three co-hosting organizations. The experts specifically recommended that the Korean government encourage diverse research on cognitive warfare and conduct objective, professional assessments of Chinese and Russian cognitive warfare strategies. In addition, the experts stressed that the new South Korean administration, which will take office after the June 3 early presidential election, should incorporate cognitive warfare threats and response measures into the national security strategy to lay the groundwork for building a government-wide cognitive warfare response system. The experts also emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the characteristics of cognitive warfare identified in recent conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war in the process of developing the strategy.
Korea Herald
03-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Tariffs on Korea 'opening salvo,' not endgame: Trump's ex-aide
President Donald Trump's newly announced reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports are an 'opening bid' for broader trade negotiations — not an outcome or a policy set in stone, former Trump national security aide Fred Fleitz said Thursday. 'I will tell you that I think this is the opening salvo in negotiations, and that this is something that will be negotiated and altered over time,' Fred Fleitz, former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council under Trump's first term said during the 'Trump 2.0 and Security in East Asia' forum hosted by the Sejong Institute in Seoul. 'But it does reflect Trump's position that trade can't just be free — it has to be fair. And he does think America has been taken advantage of by many nations. He's trying to settle a score.' Fleitz reiterated that 'Trump thinks tariffs are a useful tool to make trade fair. That's his position.' Fleitz's comments came after Trump announced Wednesday plans to impose a 26 percent 'reciprocal' tariff on South Korean imports, along with a minimum 'baseline' tariff on all goods entering the US. The 10 percent baseline tariff and the higher reciprocal rate are set to take effect on April 5 and April 9, respectively. 'Now I don't think this is a precarious situation — I think it's an unprecedented situation.' Fleitz, who currently serves as vice chair of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, predicted that 'South Korea will do very well in those negotiations,' expressing a positive outlook for trade talks between the two allies. 'There will be such a fight with Europe that it will leave an opening for South Korea to strike some very important deals for your economy, for your security, and for global security,' Fleitz said. 'I hope your (the Korean) government will see it that way. I know you don't welcome these tariffs, but I still think they can be negotiated — and that there are other opportunities that can be pursued.' Fleitz called for South Korea to take the initiative, calling on Seoul to pursue strategic agreements that could provide both countries' security and mutual economic benefits in the course of trade negotiations. 'Trump's a dealmaker. He wants you to make him a deal. That's what I would say to that.' Fleitz specifically cited Korea-US cooperation in shipbuilding and energy as strategic opportunities. With China's naval expansion accelerating, the US is in urgent need of South Korea's assistance to build naval vessels, he said. Fleitz also pointed to the significance of the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline — a Trump-backed investment proposal for the production and export of Alaskan natural gas — that could reduce delivery time to South Korea and enable it to reduce its reliance on imports of energy from Russia and the unstable Persian Gulf. Trump has wanted Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to join the undertaking, while Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy wraps up an Asia trip between March 19 and 30, looking for investors and final buyers. 'Build this pipeline. Build this energy relationship with the United States. It will score a lot of points with President Trump, but frankly, it's the right thing to do for South Korea,' Fleitz said. 'This is a win-win proposal.' Addressing the forum, South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won, also addressed the issue of US reciprocal tariffs, saying, 'We will do everything we can going forward to develop a win-win formula — one that minimizes the negative impact on us while offering areas where we can contribute to the US.'
Korea Herald
04-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Experts call for deeper engagement with India, Global South
Experts and diplomats urged South Korea to deepen engagements with India and the Global South for a strategic shift in Seoul's foreign policy approach on Feb. 27. The "Global South" refers to countries often characterized as "developing," "less developed" or "underdeveloped." While not exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere, many of these nations are located there, predominantly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The discussion was held at a conference co-organized by the Indian Embassy in Seoul and the Sejong Institute. 'India is a key diplomatic partner that South Korea should prioritize,' stressed Yoon Young-kwan, who was minister of foreign affairs and trade in 2003, citing India's projected rise as a top global economy. Experts urged South Korea to expand diplomacy beyond major powers amid US-China tensions and warned that weak political leadership hinders progress. Yoon highlighted South Korea's historically US-centric policy as a barrier to deeper engagement with India and the Global South, emphasizing, 'South Korea must strengthen its diplomacy with the Global South.' However, he noted a lack of political commitment from both sides to bridge this gap. 'When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea in May 2015, the two nations upgraded their relationship to a 'special strategic partnership.' But it remains questionable whether the partnership has truly reached that level in practice,' Yoon pointed out. In his keynote speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hee-sang referred to geopolitical uncertainties, the US-China rivalry and rising protectionism. "We will continue strengthening our strategic economic and security partnership, ensuring that Korea and India collaborate as special strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, Kim affirmed. Underlining the special strategic partnership in the context of geopolitical shifts, growing bilateral ties and emerging developments, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar explained India's contributions to Indo-Pacific maritime security, particularly in connecting regional security centers and training naval forces. The ambassador urged South Korea to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Launched by India in 2019, the IPOI promotes a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, complementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and enhancing regional security. IORA, with 23 member nations, focuses on regional cooperation and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean. Experts urged stronger South Korea-India ties for supply chain resilience and global stability, employing the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and Indian Ocean. They advocated a multilateral framework with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan for stability and highlighted the India-Australia-Japan SCRI pact as a model linking security and economic strategy, noting South Korea's potential role. Saon Ray, a visiting professor at the Indian Council of Research on International Economic Relations, suggested reshoring, "friend-shoring" ― moving production in one's supply chain to allied countries ― and de-risking in supply chain cooperation. Ray noted Korean investment in India amounted to $7 billion in 2023, with Indian investment in Korea at $3 billion, as well as bilateral trade of approximately $28 billion in 2022-23. But she stressed the need to upgrade the free trade agreement that has been effective since 2010, to attract Korean investment to high-tech and green sectors and to expand ties in electric vehicles, semiconductors and critical minerals. 'South Korea can play a critical role in India's need for lithium and cobalt," Ray underlined, citing Korea's expertise and Samsung's India plant. However, Kim Jong-chul, director general of international trade relations at the Ministry of Trade and Energy, said India has perceived the trade deficit under the trade deal to have more than tripled over the past decade, making India-Korea negotiations challenging. Bilateral talks have been ongoing to finalize proposals for many years. "One key area of disagreement is the reduction of tariffs in manufacturing, where Korea has a competitive edge. But Korea remains cautious about some of India's demands," Kim said without elaborating. Kim noted that Korea seeks better market access, while India prioritizes domestic industry protection and trade balance. South Korea has proposed an "Industrial Cooperation Committee," which India is considering. 'While coordination among India's various ministries may take some time, we will do our best to advance both supply chain and industrial cooperation simultaneously,' said Kim, in response to a question. According to Song Kyung-jin, director of the Asia Foundation, India's technological capabilities in aerospace highlight the potential for collaboration in shipbuilding, port operations and small modular reactors, where South Korea excels. Song, who also moderated a session at the conference, pointed out that nearly 40 percent of global trade and 80 percent of oil shipments pass through the Indian Ocean, and as a leading trading nation, Korea must pursue concrete maritime security cooperation with India to safeguard its national economy and security. Song believes that South Korea should efficiently utilize its increased development cooperation budget for its development initiatives and the Global South. South Korea allocated 6.5 trillion won ($4.45 billion) for official development assistance in 2025 to support the economic growth of developing countries. Meanwhile, Choi Yoon-jung, director of the Center for Indo-Pacific Studies at the Sejong Institute, suggested adopting selective and flexible strategic cooperation over traditional alliances. 'India follows a multialignment strategy, collaborating with multiple partners,' she said. "Korea must align its diplomatic approach accordingly." Choi said that amid US shifts from its traditional role of counterbalancing specific countries, Korea and India need reliable partners to navigate this changing landscape through cooperation. Sponsored by the Asia Foundation, the conference hosted over 65 attendees, including university students, embassy officials, think tank representatives and media personnel.
