South Korea

Yonhap | English | News | Oct. 15, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

In September 2025, South Korea and the United States conducted only five out of approximately 20 field training drills originally postponed from August as part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise. About half of the roughly 40 planned field training exercises scheduled for August were delayed by one month due to a heat wave, according to a report submitted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the opposition People Power Party.

The JCS stated that the remaining drills are expected to be completed by the end of the year, noting that rescheduled field exercises typically resume later. South Korea’s military cited multiple factors for the rescheduling, including weather conditions and the operational advantage of spreading out drills throughout the year for improved readiness.

There is speculation that some drills were deferred as a conciliatory move aligned with the Lee Jae Myung administration’s efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. The article also included a photo of the South Korean Army Special Warfare Command conducting maritime infiltration training with U.S. forces on August 28, 2025, during the UFS exercise in Taean.

Hankyoreh - E | English | News | Oct. 15, 2025 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

US President Donald Trump’s recent social media post indicating he may reconsider a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju has created uncertainty around South Korea’s diplomatic ambitions linked to the event. The South Korean government is currently in discussions with the US and China about the summit schedules, as the potential cancellation of the US-China meeting could affect other scheduled summits involving Korea, including those with the US and China.

Trump’s comments, triggered by China’s recent controls on rare earth exports, have raised concerns within the Korean presidential office about the length and nature of Trump’s visit to Korea. Seoul had hoped Trump would stay at least two days to facilitate multiple summits, but if the US-China summit is canceled, Trump might shorten his visit to just one day, limiting diplomatic opportunities for Korea.

Despite the uncertainty and Trump’s unpredictable communication style, Korean officials remain cautious about drawing conclusions, focusing instead on arranging the APEC schedule as planned. Trump himself indicated he would attend the summit regardless but was uncertain about the meeting with Xi. Analysts suggest Trump’s decision will be driven by self-interest and that the possibility of a meeting with Xi during APEC has not been entirely ruled out.

Yonhap | English | News | Oct. 15, 2025 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

More than a dozen South Korean defense firms showcased advanced military technologies at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, aiming to strengthen their foothold in the U.S. defense market. The Korean Pavilion included companies such as Hanwha Aerospace, Poongsan Corp., Samyang Chemical, Korea Defense Industry Corp., Arion Communication, and D.I. Optical, among others, highlighting products like self-propelled howitzers, battle communication devices, gun aiming systems, advanced fuses, and tactical mobile devices.

Hanwha Aerospace presented the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer widely used globally and introduced the K9A2 wheeled howitzer concept, along with a modular charge system compatible with NATO-standard ammunition. Hanwha’s CEO emphasized the firm's technological relevance and industrial capacity as key strengths sought by the U.S. Army. Arion Communication featured the SAT-PRE device, which supports long-range special forces operations, having already supplied 1,200 units to South Korea’s Special Warfare Command and planning to enter the U.S. market.

Samsung Electronics exhibited its "Tactical Edition" mobile device tailored to enhance military situational awareness and communication, while Korea Defense Industry Corp. showed advanced artillery fuses, including an Impact Fuze compatible with multiple calibers, responding to rising global demand. Samyang Chemical introduced smoke grenades, infrared screening devices, and counter-terrorism suits, targeting participation in the U.S. Army’s Foreign Comparative Testing program to facilitate market entry.

D.I. Optical promoted the DTS-100L, a combined red dot sight, thermal camera, and rangerfinder optic aimed initially at the U.S. commercial market before military adoption. Poongsan Corp. displayed various ammunition products and is attempting to broaden its business beyond sporting ammunition. The exhibition reflects the broader effort by Seoul and Washington to deepen defense industrial cooperation amid increasing geopolitical tensions, especially with China and North Korea.