Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations
Trump, Lee hold first summit marked by praise, trade tension and awkward optics
Unusual call for ownership of USFK land added volatility to cordial summit focused on trade, energy and trilateral ties
August 26, 2025
Lee-Ishiba summit signals unity but fails to narrow gaps on China and history
South Korea and Japan pledged deeper ties, but policy divides and weak frameworks risk reducing summit to symbolism
August 25, 2025
Lee puts Japan ahead of US, betting on trilateral strength before Trump summit
Shuttle diplomacy resumes with joint announcement, boosting Seoul’s credibility for trade and security talks with Trump
August 25, 2025
KHNP-Westinghouse scandal, Lee-Ishiba summit, Trump meeting looms — Ep. 94
The Korea Pro team unpacks the nuclear export controversy, Korea-Japan diplomacy and looming US summit risks
August 22, 2025
US equity push in Samsung raises sovereignty fears ahead of Trump-Lee summit
White House plan to convert CHIPS Act subsidies into stakes in chipmakers triggers alarm over industrial autonomy
August 22, 2025
Hidden clause in US nuclear deal puts South Korea’s industrial autonomy at risk
Reported clause granting 50-year oversight and royalties raises sovereignty concerns as KHNP competes for reactor bids
August 21, 2025
South Korea turns to Kang Kyung-wha to anchor US alliance in the Trump era
Veteran diplomat’s success hinges on rallying support from Congress, Pentagon and businesses before policy shocks land
August 19, 2025
Lee Jae-myung’s approval hits record low after pardons and tax backlash
Backlash erodes support at home, but high-profile talks with Japan and the US could give Lee a foreign policy boost
August 19, 2025
South Korea fast-tracks India ties with three high-level contacts in two months
Seoul deepens strategic outreach as US-India tensions mount, signaling new opportunities and risks for trade and defense
August 18, 2025
South Korea signals rapprochement with Japan, but path ahead remains fraught
Lee Jae-myung’s Liberation Day speech signals shift, but sustained progress hinges on concrete diplomatic structure
August 15, 2025
