KOREA DIGEST
Korea Digest is a monthly publication of the Korea Centre, School of International Relations and Politics, Mahatma Gandhi University, that compiles major political, security, economic, and diplomatic developments in the Korean Peninsula. Korea Digest aims to track, highlight and provide brief analysis of important developments in the Korean Peninsula.
Korea Digest No. 25, July 2025
Contents
1. Trilateral Chiefs of Defence (Tri-CHOD) Meeting Held in Seoul
2. Senior Diplomats of South Korea, U.S., and Japan Hold Trilateral Talks on Sidelines of ASEAN Meeting
3. South Korea, the U.S., and Japan Conduct Joint Air Drills
4. Russian Foreign Minister Visits Pyongyang
5. New Unification Minister Visits Panmunjom
6. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Meets Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba
7. Seoul-Washington Finalises Trade Agreement
Prepared by
Rekha J, Project Fellow, Korea Centre
1. Trilateral Chiefs of Defence (Tri-CHOD) Meeting Held in Seoul
On July 11, 2025, the 22nd Trilateral Chiefs of Defence (Tri-CHOD) Meeting was convened in Seoul, bringing together Republic of Korea (ROK) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Kim Myung-soo; U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine; and Japan’s Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, General Yoshida Yoshihide. The meeting highlighted the importance of close trilateral cooperation in addressing growing security challenges on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond. During the meeting, the three defence chiefs condemned North Korea for its continued development of unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs. They emphasised their shared commitment to achieving the complete denuclearisation of the DPRK, as outlined in relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). The leaders also discussed recent developments in DPRK-Russia military cooperation, including the reported deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and the potential transfer of military technology from Moscow to Pyongyang. One key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to further expand the trilateral multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise as a means to enhance interoperability and readiness. The leaders also emphasised their condemnation of North Korea’s ongoing weapons programs and its growing military collaboration with Russia.
2. Senior Diplomats of South Korea, U.S., and Japan Hold Trilateral Talks on Sidelines of ASEAN Meeting
On July 11, senior diplomats from South Korea, the United States, and Japan held their first trilateral meeting since the change in South Korea’s leadership in early June. The talks took place on the sidelines of the foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia. South Korea was represented by Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, who attended the ASEAN forum on behalf of the foreign minister. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya joined Park for the trilateral discussions. The three officials reaffirmed their “resolute” commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and stressed the need for strong deterrence through close trilateral coordination. They also promised to further strengthen security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan in response to regional threats in Indo-Pacific.
Beyond security, the talks explored avenues for expanding cooperation in key economic and technological sectors. The diplomats discussed enhancing collaboration in energy and shipbuilding areas and also agreed to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and to work jointly to ensure the stability of supply chains, including those involving critical minerals. The last high-level trilateral meeting among the foreign ministers of the three countries took place in Brussels in April, on the margins of the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting.
3. South Korea, the U.S., and Japan Conduct Joint Air Drills
On July 11, South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted combined air drills over international waters near Jeju Island, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen their joint response capabilities against North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats. The exercise featured the participation of at least one U.S. B-52H strategic bomber, marking its first deployment to the Korean Peninsula for a drill this year. South Korea deployed KF-16 fighter jets, while Japan contributed F-2 fighters, demonstrating enhanced trilateral interoperability and readiness. The joint air drill coincided with the 22nd Trilateral Chiefs of Defence (Tri-CHOD) meeting held in Seoul, where the top military officers of the three nations gathered to assess regional security dynamics and discuss measures to deepen trilateral defence cooperation.
4. Russian Foreign Minister Visits Pyongyang
On 11 July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang for a three-day visit at the invitation of the North Korean foreign ministry, marking the second round of strategic talks between Lavrov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. The discussions were held in the eastern port city of Wonsan. The visit comes amid a deepening of Moscow Pyongyang cooperation following the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their June 2024 summit in Pyongyang.
Lavrov also held a meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un on 12 July. During the meeting, Kim reaffirmed North Korea’s “unconditional support” for all actions taken by the Russian leadership to address what he described as the root causes of the war in Ukraine. This stance was reaffirmed in the context of the recently signed mutual defense treaty, underscoring the growing military and political alignment between the two nations. Both sides also expressed concern over rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, attributing the escalation to increased U.S. military activity.
5. New Unification Minister Visits Panmunjom
On July 25, South Korea’s newly appointed Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visited the truce village of Panmunjom, signalling his commitment to fixing strained ties with North Korea. He visited key facilities at the Joint Security Area, including Freedom House and Peace House, and was accompanied by officials from the United Nations Command. The visit aimed to assess the state of the long-disconnected inter-Korean communication infrastructure. “The top priority is to restore the severed communication channels between the two Koreas,” Chung said during the visit. “In cooperation with relevant agencies such as the U.N. Command, I will work to make Panmunjom a space of connection and cooperation, not one of separation and tension.” Later that day, Chung was officially sworn in as the first unification minister under the Lee Jae-myung administration. In his inauguration speech, he outlined his vision to rebuild inter-Korean trust, emphasising that restoring dialogue and communication with North Korea is his most immediate task. Panmunjom has hosted over 370 rounds of inter-Korean talks since 1971, including the landmark 2018 summit between the North and South Korean leaders.
6. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Meets Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba
On July 30, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during his first overseas trip since taking office. The 15-minute meeting, held at the Japanese prime minister’s residence, which reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining and further developing relations with Seoul. Cho also held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya the previous day, during which he highlighted Korea’s efforts to bolster ties with “friendly nations” under the Lee government, signalling an intent to maintain the thaw in bilateral relations with Japan. His visit highlights the Lee Jae-myung administration’s ongoing push to stabilize and deepen ties with Japan, particularly against the backdrop of growing trilateral cooperation with the United States.
7. Seoul-Washington Finalises Trade Agreement
On July 30, South Korea and the United States reached a trade agreement, setting tariffs on Korean exports at 15 per cent, down from the originally proposed 25 per cent. The breakthrough, announced in Washington, came after weeks of intense negotiations led by Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. According to Seoul’s presidential office, the deal marks significant progress, particularly in protecting sensitive sectors such as agriculture. Under the agreement, Korea will not be required to expand its rice and beef imports, an area of domestic concern, while auto tariffs will also be capped at 15 per cent. Tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals remained within globally competitive ranges, according to presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom. As part of the broader deal, Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States, though final details, including fund structure and revenue sharing, remain under discussion. A clearer picture is expected to emerge during President Lee Jae Myung’s upcoming summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in mid-August. In a social media post, President Trump hailed the deal and suggested additional Korean investments, including energy purchases, could be announced in the coming weeks. Despite the progress, discrepancies remain over the scope and control of the proposed investment fund, drawing parallels to similar disagreements following the recent U.S.-Japan trade accord. Finalising the joint statement is expected to require further negotiations.