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October 09, 2026Oct 09, 2026

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joon Ha Park

Joon Ha Park

Joon Ha Park is a correspondent at Korea Risk Group. He has previously written on issues related to the two Koreas at The Peninsula Report, and appeared on ABC News Australia, Deutsche Welle and Monocle Radio. He specializes in offering in-depth analyses of South Korea’s defense policy, security relations and domestic politics for Korea Pro.

Analysis

South Korea’s missile defense push raises new questions over wartime stocks

New systems improve interception, but Seoul has not shown that stocks and factories could sustain repeated large salvos

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkOctober 7, 2026
Analysis

North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy

Conflicting accounts of the transfer deal raise questions over aid, intelligence sharing and future POW cooperation

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkOctober 1, 2026
Month In Review

South Korea in September 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead

An analytical look at the main developments from September 1 to 28, 2026, and key outlook for October 2026

John LeeJohn Lee | Joon Ha Park | KOREA PROSeptember 30, 2026
Analysis

Lee’s Hormuz red line tests South Korea’s leverage in $350 billion US talks

Washington wants more allied support and Korean capital as Seoul tries to protect limits built into last year’s deal

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkSeptember 22, 2026
Analysis

Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine

Korean law does not bar wartime transfers outright, leaving readiness and Russia as stronger reasons for restraint

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkSeptember 16, 2026
Analysis

South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower

Lee is using a British-French framework to preserve a limited role as war, Iran and DP resistance constrain Seoul

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkSeptember 9, 2026
Profiles

Kang Shin-chul’s unusual rise now faces its hardest test at defense ministry

A career general trusted by rival governments must sell contentious reforms to the military establishment that made him

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkSeptember 1, 2026
Month In Review

South Korea in August 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead

An analytical look at the main developments from August 1 to 28, 2026, and key outlook for September 2026

John LeeJohn Lee | Joon Ha Park | KOREA PROAugust 31, 2026
Feature

How South Korean presidents learned to live with an unpredictable US ally

From Nixon to Trump, Seoul has repeatedly had to adapt when Washington changed the military terms of the alliance

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkAugust 27, 2026
Analysis

Trump’s UFS decision raises stakes for South Korea on OPCON and submarines

Washington’s abrupt exercise cut shows how unrelated disputes could complicate Seoul’s biggest defense priorities

Joon Ha ParkJoon Ha ParkAugust 21, 2026
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