Briefings
Seoul eyes AUKUS-style nuclear submarine pact amid US regulatory friction
LEU threshold may create an expensive domestic fleet outclassed by China’s superior, long-endurance HEU submarines
December 25, 2025
Speed over strength as Hanwha builds US frigates on Coast Guard-derived hulls
FF(X) program prioritizes ship count by 2028, sparking concerns over fleet survivability in high-intensity conflict
December 24, 2025
South Korea’s financial watchdog overhaul creates new institutional risks
The consolidation of oversight powers marks a shift toward interventionist regulation and centralized governor control
December 23, 2025
Trump signs annual defense bill, codifying USFK troop floor through 2026
Mandatory troop baselines and OPCON conditions challenge the Lee administration’s push for an expedited command transfer
December 22, 2025
South Korean won slides toward fresh lows as authorities lean on FX coordination
MOEF, BOK and pension fund move to manage volatility as structural dollar demand limits scope for direct intervention
December 19, 2025
South Korea’s K-shaped recovery: Conglomerates soar as SMEs stagnate in Q3
Headline growth returns to 2.1%, but divergence between tech exports and domestic services signals deepening crisis
December 18, 2025
Korea Zinc Tennessee smelter ties South Korean supply chains to US security
Pentagon-backed investment grants Washington preferred access, raising questions over Seoul’s industrial autonomy
December 17, 2025
Record Korean ICT exports mask deep strategic vulnerabilities in China trade
Surge in memory shipments to Beijing highlights reliance on component sales while US blocks logic capacity upgrades
December 16, 2025
US and allies launch Pax Silica to harden tech and mineral supply chains
Seoul joins eight other nations in exclusionary industrial bloc that targets Beijing’s dominance in AI and minerals
December 15, 2025
South Korea faces 35% tariff wall as Mexico targets Asian supply chains
Auto and electronics sectors lose logistical edge as Mexico City moves to curb Asian shipments ahead of USMCA review
December 12, 2025
