IJR News

Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Sent POWs to Seoul — 7hZelenskyy told the U.N. Ukraine recently sent two North Korean war prisoners to South Korea; he said one attempted to take his own life when capture became clear.

Marcus Bell Those North Korean POWs heading to Seoul might reveal how deeply Pyongyang is backing Russia's invasion.

US Japan South Korea reaffirm North Korea denuclearization goal — 2dCho Hyun, Rubio and Motegi held their third trilateral meeting since July in New York, reaffirming North Korea denuclearization ahead of a Trump-Xi summit Thursday.

Priya Raman Past agreements fell apart so I doubt this statement changes Pyongyang's nuclear plans much.

North Korea Fires Projectile Toward East Sea — 3dNorth Korea fired missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday, with reports identifying either an unidentified projectile or an identified one and without immediate details on range or type. The launches come amid ongoing regional military drills among South Korea, the United States, and Japan and follow a string of earlier tests, signaling heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Derek Foss All sides need to dial back these military moves instead of matching each provocation with more exercises.

North Korean Anthem Played at Asian Games Hockey Match — 5dOrganizers played North Korea's anthem by mistake before South Korea's Sept. 18, 2026 Asian Games hockey match; the announcer said "we played a different song" and South Korea won 5-0.

Priya Raman South Korea handled the win well despite the glitches, but Bangladesh deserved proper respect too.

US and South Korean courts order North Korea and Iran to pay $520 million — Sep 14, 2026Seoul court orders North Korea to pay 44.6 billion won ($32.5 million) in damages over the 2020 demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office, marking the first judgment in the South Korea lawsuit. Separately, U.S. courts have ordered North Korea and Iran to pay about $487 million to American victims of terrorism, and another ruling holds North Korea liable for 650 billion won in damages related to Hamas's October 7 attacks.

Sam Okafor Tying North Korea to the Hamas attacks in a damages ruling feels like an attempt to isolate them further over October 7.

North Korea Fires Projectile Toward Sea — Sep 11, 2026North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the Sea of Japan, with South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff analyzing its specifications and range. The launches come after a series of August missile tests and amid President Donald Trump’s stated plan to meet Kim Jong Un later this year.

Marcus Bell South Korea needs to confirm the exact range fast so everyone knows what we are dealing with.

South Korea U-20 women reach World Cup round of 16 after late goals — Sep 13, 2026South Korea posted a string of advances across sports, rolling past Japan 100-83 to top Group A in the Asian Games basketball group stage and reach the quarterfinals, while in the Overwatch World Cup the national team swept its quarterfinals to reach the semifinals, and in the U-20 Women's World Cup the junior side defeated Ecuador 3-2 to finish second in Group C and advance to the Round of 16.

Dana Whitfield The basketball win over Japan plus the Overwatch sweep makes this a strong week overall for Korean teams.

Three Injured in Suspected DMZ Landmine Blast — 2dThree South Korean service members were injured Sept. 21, 2026, in a suspected landmine blast south of the Military Demarcation Line in the western DMZ.

Sam Okafor This blast in the western DMZ shows the border remains a real hazard for troops on both sides.

North Korea Reports Successful Large-Scale Missile and Artillery Drill — Sep 13, 2026North Korea publicly showcased its integrated firepower capabilities, conducting a firepower attack drill using new systems such as attack drones, strategic cruise missiles, large-caliber thermobaric rocket launchers, and tactical ballistic missiles, and asserting a 100% hit rate. The drills occurred amid heightened tension following five-day US-South Korea-Japan maritime exercises, with reports of missiles launched from Wonsan and the leadership emphasizing automated, coordinated fire control, though Kim Jong Un did not attend the event.

Marcus Bell These drills look like a direct reply to the US-South Korea-Japan naval exercises, and the new drone and missile systems make the threat more serious than before.

South Korea's Lee urges US-North Korea talks amid signs of movement — Sep 2, 2026South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung urged transforming the armistice on the Korean Peninsula into a lasting peace regime and creating conditions for constructive discussions to resume U.S.–North Korea diplomacy, highlighting Donald Trump’s outreach as a potential opening. He stressed Seoul’s leadership in peace efforts and cited signs of diplomatic movement, including Korea’s goal of regaining wartime operational control and broader regional stability.

Elena Vasquez Regaining wartime operational control seems like the real story here, not just the talk of diplomacy with the North.

Philippines warns China may exploit US-South Korea drill cuts — Sep 7, 2026Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warns that Beijing could exploit cuts to US-South Korea drills to reassert itself in the Indo-Pacific, while Manila has received definite assurances that US commitments to the Philippines remain unchanged. He also notes Manila’s expanding security ties with the US and other partners as tensions in the region persist and cautions about China’s use of influence operations.

Rachel Meyers Manila is smart to diversify partners instead of relying on one ally, spreads the risk around.

Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Seen as Likely Heir, Seoul Says — Sep 10, 2026South Korea’s National Intelligence Service says Kim Jong Un’s daughter Kim Ju Ae is being groomed as his successor and that she likely has a younger sibling of unknown gender, though details about any older brother remain unconfirmed. Multiple reports reiterate the third-generation leadership dynamic in North Korea and the ongoing uncertainty about the children’s exact number and birth order.

Rachel Meyers I wonder if confirming an older brother would change how Seoul views the succession.

Nicaragua, Washington, South Korea, Mexico Advance LLWS — Aug 21, 2026At the 2026 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Nicaragua, Washington, South Korea, New Jersey, Mexico and Curaçao were among teams advancing on Day 1, highlighted by South Korea’s shutout and strong showings from several international and U.S. squads. Betting odds reflected heavy favorites like South Korea and Nicaragua entering Friday’s games, with Mexico and other teams also featured in pre-match wagering discussions.

South Korea in talks on $22.3 billion Texas gas plant, denies deal is final — Sep 7, 2026South Korea and the United States are reportedly pursuing a roughly $22.3 billion investment to build a 6.3 GW LNG gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, as the first major project under their 2025 bilateral trade framework; however, Seoul’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has disputed some media reports, saying negotiations are ongoing and final details have not been confirmed. Reports also suggest possible follow-on projects, including a large-scale nuclear plant and an Alaska LNG venture, with no decision on nuclear construction announced yet.

Dana Whitfield Alaska LNG keeps popping up in these deals but never seems to actually break ground. Curious if this Texas plant fares any better.

North Korea suspected missile launch heightens regional tensions — Aug 20, 2026North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea, with Japan and South Korea assessing it as a possible ballistic missile, as US-South Korea drills were scaled back under President Trump. Kim Yo Jong warned the reduced drills remain provocative and stressed the broader U.S.-North Korea standoff, while authorities monitor the missile’s trajectory amid rising regional tensions.

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Amid Rising Tensions with U.S. and South Korea — Nov 7, 2025South Korea’s military reported Friday that North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern waters. The Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately provide details on the type of missile or its…

‘So Special’: Joanna Gaines Shares How Family Trip to South Korea ‘Completed Something in Me’Reporting — May 3, 2023Joanna Gaines visited the Today show May 2nd, to talk about her new cookbook and share about her family trip to South Korea. Gaines’ mother is Korean. In April, 25 of her family members traveled together to South Korea…

South Korea Appealed for Biden’s ‘Summit-Level’ Interests in North Korea TalksReporting — Nov 11, 2020South Korea’s foreign minister said on Tuesday she had raised the need for U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s administration to pay “summit-level” attention to reopen denuclearisation talks with North Korea during…

Trump Receives Crown From South Korea — Oct 29, 2025It was a crowning achievement for President Donald Trump as he became the first American to receive South Korea’s highest honor. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung awarded Trump the Grand Order of Mugunghwa Wednesday…

South Korea Says Bolton’s Memoir on Trump-Kim Summit Is DistortedReporting — Jun 22, 2020Accounts by former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton of discussions between leaders of the United States and the two Koreas in his upcoming book are inaccurate and distorted, South Korea said on Monday. Bolton…

South Korea’s Liberal Government Creates New Headaches For US Business — Jul 8, 2026South Korea’s liberal government is drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers and national security analysts who say that the country is discriminating against U.S. businesses.

Trump Receives Grand Order of Mugunghwa During South Korea Visit — Oct 30, 2025President Donald Trump was honored on Wednesday by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung with the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest award. The presentation took place during Trump’s visit to Gyeongju, a…

Harris Gets Roasted for Sharing Examples of the Cultural Ties Between the US and South KoreaReporting — Apr 27, 2023Vice President Kamala Harris is facing mockery for her attempt to share an example of a cultural connection between the U.S. and South Korea. On Thursday, Harris said during an event with South Korean President Yoon Suk…

South Korea Gives Trump A Literal Crown Weeks After ‘No Kings’ Rallies — Oct 29, 2025South Korea gifted President Donald Trump an enormous crown during his visit on Wednesday, just weeks after the “No Kings” protest in the U.S. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung gave Trump the gift as part of his East…