The Korea Times

Debate rises over jurisdiction of DMZ for nonmilitary access

South Korean lawmakers are pushing legislation that would give the government control over civilian access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), prompting a clash with the United Nations Command (UNC) over the scope of legal authority in the heavily fortified inter-Korean buffer zone. However, it remains unclear whether the proposed legislation, if passed, would actually force the UNC to hand over that authority to the South Korean government, as legal debates over jurisdiction persist. Two similar bills, introduced separately by ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers Lee Jae-gang and Han Jeoung-ae, aim to grant Seoul the power to approve civilian entry and other peaceful uses of areas within the DMZ. Currently, any such access requires approval from the U.S.-led UNC, whose authority derives from the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement. Supporters of the legislation argue that the UNC's mandate is limited to military administration, not civilian activity, and that the armistice does not stand above domestic laws. “The role of the UNC immediately after the war in the 1950s cannot be vie

Dec 18, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Debate rises over jurisdiction of DMZ for nonmilitary access

Foreign Affairs

Foreign ministry vows not to repeat failures of 2018 NK working group

A newly launched South Korea-U.S. consultative body on North Korea policy differs fundamentally from the 2018 bilateral working group, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday, pushing back against concerns that the new framework could repeat past mistakes. The clarification came a day after Seoul and Washington held the inaugural meeting of the consultative body amid concerns that it could mirror the earlier working group, which was widely seen as giving the United States excessive influence over South Korea's approach on North Korea. "Both South Korea and the U.S. clearly recognized that the purpose and background of the discussions were entirely different from those of the previous working group, and this understanding remains unchanged," a foreign ministry official said during a closed-door briefing. The meeting was co-chaired by Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence at the foreign ministry, and acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim. During the talks, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization

Dec 17, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Foreign ministry vows not to repeat failures of 2018 NK working group

Foreign Affairs

S. Korea, US launch consultative body on NK policy amid inter-ministry feud

South Korea and the United States on Tuesday launched a new consultative body on North Korea policy, amid persistent tensions between Seoul's foreign and unification ministries over who should take the lead on inter-Korean affairs. The consultative group, led by Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence at the foreign ministry, and acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim, held its first meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul. Defense officials from both countries also attended. Known formally as "Follow-up discussions on the South Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet," the body marks the first bilateral consultative mechanism on North Korea to be launched under the Lee Jae Myung government, which took office in June. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during the meeting, according to the foreign ministry. They also pledged to cooperate on the implementation of the 2018 Singapore Joint Statement between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The allies also urged Pyongyang

Dec 16, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

S. Korea, US launch consultative body on NK policy amid inter-ministry feud

North Korea

Foreign, unification ministries at odds over consultative body on NK issues

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Unification appear to be at odds over the planned launch of a new South Korea-U.S. consultative body on North Korea's nuclear issues. The unification ministry said Monday that it will not participate in the group, even as the foreign ministry moves ahead with plans to launch regular consultations on Tuesday. The differing positions underscore a subtle power struggle between the two ministries. Officials at the unification ministry, which is in charge of inter-Korean affairs, appear concerned that the consultative body could be heavily influenced by U.S. decision-making. The talks are intended to fine-tune the pace and direction of Seoul and Washington’s North Korea policy as the allies seek to revive dialogue with Pyongyang. According to the foreign ministry, Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for intelligence and North Korean nuclear issues at the ministry, and acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim will lead the regular consultative meeting. “As the consultations will focus on bilateral diplomatic agreements, our ministry has decid

Dec 15, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Foreign, unification ministries at odds over consultative body on NK issues

Politics

Lee calls for tougher penalties as Coupang privacy breach scandal deepens

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday called for tougher penalties on companies that experience recurring personal data breaches, saying too many firms flout the rules without fear of consequences — a comment widely interpreted as alluding to high-profile lapses at e-commerce giant Coupang. He proposed imposing fines equal to 3 percent of a company's highest annual revenue over the past three years, while the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said it is seeking to introduce a punitive system to address repeated personal data leaks. Speaking at a policy briefing by the information privacy watchdog, the president said that companies must face consequences severe enough to make them fear going out of business if their negligence harms the public. "If you violate these rules, it should be a huge problem," he said. "But right now, companies seem to think, 'What are you going to do about it?' even after breaking them." Under current law, companies can be fined up to 3 percent of their total annual revenue for data breaches, calculated based on the average revenue of the past thre

Dec 12, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee calls for tougher penalties as Coupang privacy breach scandal deepens

Defense

USFK commander questions S.Korea's OPCON takeover schedule, saying readiness comes first

U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson on Friday urged caution as Seoul moves to accelerate its recovery of wartime operational control (OPCON), suggesting the readiness hurdles may be steeper than the Lee Jae Myung administration envisions. Brunson, who leads the 28,500-strong USFK as well as the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and the U.N. Command, offered a cautious view as the Lee administration pushes to accelerate discussions on the OPCON transition, with the goal of completing it within Lee's five-year term that ends in 2030. "I know that, right now, President Lee says he wants to do this during his term of office. We know the start point and we know the end point, so we've got to meet the conditions in that time, but we've also got to be willing to say 'We can't get there from here,'" Brunson said during a webinar co-organized by the Korea Defense Veterans Association and the Korea-U.S. Alliance Forum. "We cannot say we're going to slide away from the conditions, just so that we can get this done in time," he added. "The conditions were written for a reas

Dec 12, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

USFK commander questions S.Korea's OPCON takeover schedule, saying readiness comes first

North Korea

Unification minister hopes Trump’s China visit will help break inter-Korean deadlock

U.S. President Donald Trump’s anticipated visit to China in April could help thaw a prolonged stalemate in inter-Korean relations and inject new momentum into cross-border engagement, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday. His remarks come as the Lee Jae Myung government's outreach to Pyongyang over the past six months has drawn no response from North Korea. Officials in Seoul are hoping that Trump's willingness to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could provide new momentum. "With President Trump's visit to China expected in April, the next four months will be a critical turning point in determining whether the situation moves toward peace or remains in the current stalemate," Chung said during a press conference in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. "I see this as a pivotal period. Active steps are needed to help create the right conditions and shift the Korean Peninsula toward peace." Chung added that he plans to communicate closely with neighboring countries to help create a favorable environment for talks before the U.S. leader's visit to Beijing, noting that he

Dec 11, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Unification minister hopes Trump’s China visit will help break inter-Korean deadlock

North Korea

What options does Seoul have to bring NK to negotiating table?

South Korea’s options for coaxing North Korea back to the negotiating table appear to be narrowing after its national security adviser ruled out scaling back joint military exercises with the United States — a step some officials had floated as a possible incentive for talks. Diplomatic observers said Monday that Seoul’s remaining options include reviving an inter-Korean military agreement with Pyongyang intended to reduce tensions along the border, and bolstering its diplomatic leverage with China and Russia, the North’s traditional patrons. At a press conference the previous day, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said scaling back annual South Korea-U.S. joint exercises to revive inter-Korean dialogue was not under consideration. His remarks pushed back against suggestions from senior officials, including Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who hoped that such a move could help draw Pyongyang back to the table. "We have no specific comment on the national security adviser's remarks. However, the joint drills carry important implications not only for military affairs but

Dec 8, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

What options does Seoul have to bring NK to negotiating table?

Foreign Affairs

South Korea alarmed by omission of NK denuclearization in US, China defense papers

The omission of North Korea's denuclearization from recent U.S. and Chinese security documents has raised concerns in Seoul, with analysts warning that the shift may reflect a growing belief among the two superpowers that Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal is now a permanent reality. Experts say the developments put South Korea's diplomacy to the test, forcing Seoul to step up efforts to keep Washington and Beijing engaged on the North Korean nuclear issue. The U.S. administration's new National Security Strategy (NSS), released Thursday (local time), makes no reference to North Korea or to Washington's long-standing commitment to the North's denuclearization. The 33-page document lays out the Trump administration’s top foreign policy and defense priorities, including deterring a conflict with China over the Taiwan Strait through strengthened military capabilities and greater cost-sharing by allies. The silence on Pyongyang stands out when compared to security documents published under the previous Joe Biden administration and during Trump's first term. The 2017 NSS issued under Trump mention

Dec 7, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

South Korea alarmed by omission of NK denuclearization in US, China defense papers

Foreign Affairs

US Embassy in Korea launches dedicated desk to support corporate travelers after Georgia raid

The U.S. Embassy in Korea launched a dedicated support desk to assist Korean companies investing in the United States, Friday, a move that follows the detention of more than 300 Korean workers at a battery plant construction site in Georgia in September. The Korean Investment and Travel (KIT) Desk is designed to streamline visa processing and reduce entry problems for corporate travelers heading to U.S. project sites, according to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The launch ceremony was attended by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina and Kevin Kim, the acting U.S. ambassador to Seoul. Located on the first floor of the U.S. Embassy, the KIT Desk operates through cooperation among the State Department, Commerce Department, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Dedicated staff have already been assigned to support Korean companies. The desk has been operating on a trial basis since October, and has reportedly focused on providing support to major conglomerates with large investment plans in U.S., including Samsung, Hyundai, SK, LG and Hanwha. "The esta

Dec 5, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Hyo-jin

Read more

Debate rises over jurisdiction of DMZ for nonmilitary access

Foreign ministry vows not to repeat failures of 2018 NK working group

S. Korea, US launch consultative body on NK policy amid inter-ministry feud

Foreign, unification ministries at odds over consultative body on NK issues

Lee calls for tougher penalties as Coupang privacy breach scandal deepens

USFK commander questions S.Korea's OPCON takeover schedule, saying readiness comes first

Unification minister hopes Trump’s China visit will help break inter-Korean deadlock

What options does Seoul have to bring NK to negotiating table?

South Korea alarmed by omission of NK denuclearization in US, China defense papers

US Embassy in Korea launches dedicated desk to support corporate travelers after Georgia raid

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