The Korea Times

Seoul watches Trump-Kim summit push as Pyongyang gives guarded response

South Korea is cautiously navigating a renewed push for United States-North Korea dialogue as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to revive summit diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, even as Pyongyang continues to flex its military capabilities and China urges Washington to abandon what it calls a hostile policy toward North Korea. Trump appears to be seeking to revive summit diplomacy with Kim, building on their meetings during his first term. He told reporters Wednesday that he expects to meet with the North Korean leader later this year. The U.S. president also offered an unusually specific assessment of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, saying Pyongyang possesses 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons. The figure is substantially lower than Seoul’s latest assessment. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers Thursday that North Korea is estimated to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, while the exact number is difficult to determine. Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader’s powerful sister, responded to Trump’s remarks Wednesday in a statement carried by the

Aug 20, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Seoul watches Trump-Kim summit push as Pyongyang gives guarded response

North Korea

Ball in N. Korea's court after Trump's summit overture, experts say

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a desire to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, raising the possibility of a meeting during his expected visit to China in November. But analysts say any such overture may go unanswered as Pyongyang currently sees little reason to return to negotiations. North Korea, bolstered by support from Russia and China, has far less need for sanctions relief than it did during the previous summits between Trump and Kim in 2018 and 2019, experts said. Kim may also demand recognition of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, a condition unacceptable to Washington, and could question whether meeting Trump would serve his interests if the Republican Party loses the U.S. midterm elections. “North Korea is unlikely to accept Trump’s approach, given its strengthened ties with Russia and the support it receives in return for joining Moscow’s war against Ukraine,” Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, said Wednesday. Shin Beom-chul, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute, agreed that Pyongyang is under

Aug 19, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Ball in N. Korea's court after Trump's summit overture, experts say

Defense

Why Lee is pushing to regain wartime OPCON within his term

President Lee Jae Myung has repeatedly called for South Korea to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States within his term, with analysts saying the push reflects a sense of urgency to accomplish a long-standing goal of liberal administrations. The analysts added that Lee’s push could gain momentum from U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire to scale back Washington’s military and financial burdens in South Korea, presenting Seoul with a rare opportunity to complete the transfer after years of delays. Lee renewed his call for the transfer during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. “We must proceed smoothly with the transfer of wartime operational control within [my] term, in accordance with the government’s original plan,” Lee said. Regaining OPCON within Lee's five-year term, which ends in 2030, has been a major goal for his administration. Lee has been pushing recently to set the target year for 2028, or even as early as 2027, an accelerated timeline that will be discussed during a Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) with the U.S. this Octob

Aug 18, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Why Lee is pushing to regain wartime OPCON within his term

Politics

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Why Lee skipped summer vacation

President Lee Jae Myung has skipped his summer vacation this year — an unusual move considering presidents typically take time off between late July and early August to recharge and prepare for the second half of the year. “Staying at home is rest for me,” Lee said last week, reflecting his well-known workaholic tendencies. But his decision has also prompted speculation over whether he is mindful of his falling approval ratings, with multiple polls showing a sustained decline in public support. Realmeter’s latest poll placed Lee’s approval rating at a record-low 43.3 percent, marking its fourth consecutive weekly decline. His disapproval rating reached 53 percent, while his approval fell below the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s 44.6 percent approval rating for the first time under his administration. Other surveys showed a similar trend, as Gallup Korea put Lee’s approval at 44 percent, its lowest level since his inauguration in June 2025 and below his 46 percent disapproval rating. Taken together, the surveys suggest that Lee’s support is facing a steady decline rather

Aug 14, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

[REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK] Why Lee skipped summer vacation

Politics

Lee pushes for 'selective enlistment' to build smart, strong armed forces

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday stressed the need for Korea to adopt a selective enlistment system to transform the country’s armed forces into a “smart, elite and powerful military” centered on advanced equipment and technology. The president reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to the revised system, which was one of his election campaign pledges. The proposed system would let individuals choose between serving as active-duty conscripts for 18-21 months or as technology-intensive noncommissioned officers for four or five years — a longer commitment than rank-and-file conscription, offset by incentives such as higher salaries meant to attract volunteers. The proposal, which aims to sustain the broader conscription model over the long term by expanding service options, comes as Korea continues to grapple with a dwindling population of military-age men. “Amid the persistently low birthrate, maintaining the current inefficient military structure centered on manpower and infantry is neither feasible nor desirable,” Lee said during a meeting with senior secretaries at Che

Aug 13, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Lee pushes for 'selective enlistment' to build smart, strong armed forces

Politics

Cities race to host public institutions as relocation push heats up

The government’s plan to relocate hundreds of public institutions outside the Seoul metropolitan area is gaining ground with President Lee Jae Myung throwing his support behind it, intensifying competition among municipalities seeking to host major organizations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is drawing up a road map for the second round of relocations, reviewing roughly 350 institutions and their affiliates currently based in the capital region. The plan comes after the first round of relocations was completed in 2019. It could be outlined this month or by September at the latest, according to Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-duk. He added that the road map would then be reported to the president. The relocation drive gained further momentum from Lee’s repeated calls to group institutions in related sectors within the same regions. “Balanced regional development is a matter of national survival, so we cannot approach it by simply scattering institutions around,” Lee said in March. At a nationally televised news conference marking his fi

Aug 13, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Cities race to host public institutions as relocation push heats up

Foreign Affairs

President hopes new US envoy will strengthen Seoul-Washington alliance

President Lee Jae Myung expressed his hope that U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel will serve as a “strong bridge” and further strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. The announcement came after Lee received Steel’s credentials and held a separate meeting with the Korean-born American diplomat. Steel was among four newly appointed foreign envoys who attended the credentials presentation ceremony. “U.S. Ambassador Steel said she was delighted to take up her post in South Korea and pledged to engage extensively with the Korean government and people to promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. Lee responded that he expected Steel’s deep understanding of Korean culture and society to help both countries deepen the bilateral alliance, according to Kang. The spokesperson went on to quote Lee as saying that “outstanding issues between the two countries could be resolved smoothly through reasonable and active dialogue and cooperation.” The meeting came amid s

Aug 12, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

President hopes new US envoy will strengthen Seoul-Washington alliance

Politics

Housing policy, prosecution reform drag president's approval rating to record low

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to a new low since he took office, as public discontent grew over politically sensitive issues, including housing policy, prosecution reform and his controversial remarks about the Korea Military Academy, a survey showed Monday. The Realmeter survey, commissioned by Energy Economic News, also showed that public support for Lee slipped below the support rate for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for the first time in his presidency, now in its second year. "Controversies over the real estate tax overhaul, prosecution reform, Lee's remarks linking the Korea Military Academy to a coup, along with the prolonged heat wave and economic uncertainty, have led to a broader erosion of support," Realmeter said in a press release. The dispute over real estate tax reform centers on potentially raising taxes for owners of high-value homes, as housing remains one of the nation's most politically sensitive issues, particularly in Seoul. The controversy over prosecution reform was sparked by a legislative revision that completely strips prosec

Aug 10, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Housing policy, prosecution reform drag president's approval rating to record low

Politics

President rushes to review policies amid growing backlash from young Koreans

President Lee Jae Myung is pushing to revise policies that are criticized for going against the interests of young Koreans, as his approval rating among this demographic remains the lowest of any age group. The disputed measures span multiple sectors, including a tax overhaul plan concerning individual savings accounts (ISAs), which angered people in their 20s and 30s by stripping away existing benefits. The measures also include 22 marriage-related policies, which have been nicknamed the "marriage penalty" for disadvantaging newlyweds and new parents. The president referred to those in their 20s and 30s as “a vulnerable group” during a meeting with senior presidential secretaries, Thursday, asking them to reorganize relevant policies by considering young people's conditions, including education, employment, income, asset building, housing and marital status. The announcement came amid polls showing that Lee's disapproval rating among those in their 20s and 30s is higher compared to other age groups. A Media Tomato survey, commissioned by News Tomato and conducted from Aug. 3 to 4, sh

Aug 9, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

President rushes to review policies amid growing backlash from young Koreans

Society

Scorching heat to peak Friday before easing over weekend

The scorching heat wave in Korea is expected to reach its peak, Friday, before easing slightly over the weekend, although forecasters warned that temperatures will remain well above seasonal averages and the respite is likely to be short-lived. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast Seoul's daytime high to remain at 39 degrees Celsius, Friday, after reaching the same temperature, Thursday, leaving it just 0.6 degrees Celsius shy of the city's all-time record of 39.6 degrees Celsius, set on Aug. 1, 2018. The agency said temperatures could again exceed 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the capital region after topping that mark, Thursday, while widespread tropical nights — when overnight lows remain above 25 degrees Celsius — are expected to persist. Elsewhere, daytime highs are forecast to reach 38 degrees Celsius on Friday in Incheon and Gwangju, 37 degrees Celsius in Daejeon and Daegu, 35 degrees Celsius in Busan and 34 degrees Celsius in Ulsan. Temperatures are expected to ease over the weekend nationwide, with daytime highs ranging from 27 to 36 degrees Celsius, Satur

Aug 6, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Yi Whan-woo

Read more

Seoul watches Trump-Kim summit push as Pyongyang gives guarded response

Ball in N. Korea's court after Trump's summit overture, experts say

Why Lee is pushing to regain wartime OPCON within his term

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Why Lee skipped summer vacation

Lee pushes for 'selective enlistment' to build smart, strong armed forces

Cities race to host public institutions as relocation push heats up

President hopes new US envoy will strengthen Seoul-Washington alliance

Housing policy, prosecution reform drag president's approval rating to record low

President rushes to review policies amid growing backlash from young Koreans

Scorching heat to peak Friday before easing over weekend

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