South Korea was asked to join as a “cooperating partner” to the AUKUS Pillar II — part of the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S., and Seoul is positively considering it, according to Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the National Security Office. This potential partnership, still under discussion, would involve South Korea developing dual-use technology with the other three member states. Kim indicated that South Korea sees the potential participation as an opportunity to strengthen Seoul’s competitive edge within the global defense sector.

Kim also noted that the South Korean government is exploring the deployment of a monitoring team to Ukraine to gather intelligence on North Korea’s military support for Russia. Although a decision has not been finalized, the Yoon administration sees a strategic need to observe North Korea’s tactics and weaponry on the ground. Kim also stated that Trump’s return to the White House may lead to a renegotiation of Seoul’s recently concluded Special Measures Agreement (SMA) with Washington.