Korea Digest No. 27 September 2025

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.

Contents

Seoul Takes UN Security Council Presidency as President Lee Unveils ‘END Initiative’ for Korean Peace
North Korea Glorifies the “Heroic Sacrifice” of Troops Fighting in Russia
Korea’s Deficit-Financed Debt Set to Exceed 1 Quadrillion Won in 2026
South Korea Seeks Expanded Nuclear Deal with U.S.
Kim Jong-un Visits China for Victory Day Parade, Marking First Trip in Seven Years
North Korea Displays ICBM Advances as South Korea Boosts Defense Budget
Trump Reacts to Xi–Kim–Putin Meeting at Beijing Victory Day Parade
Korean and Japanese Defense Ministers to Meet in Seoul for First Time in a Decade
U.S. Immigration Raid at Hyundai–LG Battery Plant Sparks Diplomatic Tension and Policy Dialogue
President Lee to Host Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba in Busan Summit
North Korea Rejects Unification as Seoul Reviews Terminology and Allies Reaffirm Denuclearization Goals
Human Rights Commission Presses for Safe Abortion Law Amid Six-Year Legal Void

Prepared by

Gourilakshmi S, Project Fellow, Korea Centre

1. Seoul Takes UN Security Council Presidency as President Lee Unveils ‘END Initiative’ for Korean Peace

South Korea began its one-month rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on September 2 , marking its first turn in 15 months since June 2024. The presidency grants Seoul the authority to shape the Council’s agenda and steer deliberations on critical global issues, including the Israel–Palestine conflict and the war in Ukraine. With the post of South Korea’s permanent UN representative currently vacant, Deputy Ambassador Kim Sang-jin is leading the council’s major sessions. This is the fifth time South Korea has held the UNSC presidency since joining the UN in 1991.

President Lee Jae Myung used the global spotlight to deliver his first address at the 80th UN General Assembly on September 23, unveiling a comprehensive peace proposal titled the “END Initiative”(short for Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization) to “end the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula.” Lee pledged that Seoul would not pursue unification by absorption or engage in hostile acts, instead promoting a phased, pragmatic approach toward peace and gradual denuclearization.“The most certain peace is one where there is no need to fight,” Lee said, calling for international cooperation to transform confrontation into coexistence. He reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to democracy, multilateralism, and technological innovation, highlighting plans for a “great energy transition” and the responsible use of AI in global security.

Lee’s speech also reflected on Korea’s democratic evolution, referencing last year’s pro-democracy protests that led to the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. He declared that a “new Republic of Korea” has returned as a beacon of democracy and peace, committed to UN values and global development.On the sidelines, Lee met global leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, reaffirming Seoul’s role as both “pacemaker and peacemaker” in regional diplomacy. Trump expressed interest in reviving dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, echoing the spirit of the 2018 Singapore summit. As part of Seoul’s UNSC presidency, Lee will chair an open debate on AI’s impact on peace and security, the first such session presided over by a South Korean president. He is also expected to introduce an “APEC AI Initiative” at the APEC Summit in Gyeongju in October, positioning South Korea as a leader in ethical and inclusive AI governance.

2.North Korea Glorifies the “Heroic Sacrifice” of Troops Fighting in Russia

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a broadcast on August 31 lauding troops deployed to Russia’s Kursk front for acts of “suicidal bravery,” claiming soldiers chose death over capture by Ukrainian forces. The footage featured young members of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, including Yoon Jeong-hyeok (20) and Woo Wi-hyeok (19), who allegedly detonated grenades after being surrounded. Another soldier, Ri Gwang-eun (22), reportedly took his own life after being injured in battle.

The broadcast also aired letters from Kim Jong-un, who praised the fallen as “loyal defenders of the nation’s honor” and urged that their bodies be returned after “victory.” KCTV displayed the names of hundreds of casualties and described their deaths as “the beginning of a shining eternity.”

According to official reports, Kim approved the overseas deployment on August 28, 2024, with troop movements scheduled to begin in late October. Pyongyang formally acknowledged the deployment in April 2025. On August 29, Kim met bereaved families at Mokran House in Pyongyang, apologizing for the loss of soldiers “on distant battlefields.”

3.Korea’s Deficit-Financed Debt Set to Exceed 1 Quadrillion Won in 2026

For the first time, Korea’s deficit-financed debt (government liabilities repaid through taxpayer money rather than asset-backed revenue) is projected to surpass 1 quadrillion won ($718 billion) in 2026, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The record 728 trillion won budget plan for next year relies heavily on deficit bond issuance, with 110 trillion won worth of new bonds expected.

Deficit-financed liabilities will account for 72.7 percent of total national debt, which will rise to 1.4 quadrillion won, the highest ratio ever recorded. Experts warn that mandatory welfare spending — including pensions and child allowances — will continue to expand due to Korea’s rapidly aging population and the introduction of new benefit programs, exacerbating fiscal strain.

Critics have also questioned the government’s classification of “financial debt,” noting that some assets used to offset borrowing, such as housing subscription savings and foreign exchange reserves, may not be reliable sources of repayment.

4.South Korea Seeks Expanded Nuclear Deal with U.S.

South Korea is seeking uranium enrichment and reprocessing rights on par with Japan, pushing for an early revision of its 2015 nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States. The accord currently allows enrichment below 20 percent with U.S. approval and bans reprocessing of spent fuel.

President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed nuclear cooperation during their summit on August 25, with both sides agreeing to continue the talks. Seoul argues that expanded nuclear authority is vital for energy security, reducing reliance on Russian and Chinese fuel, and strengthening U.S. competitiveness.

The High-Level Bilateral Commission, inactive since 2018, may reconvene soon to negotiate the terms. Experts say granting Korea partial rights would reinforce nonproliferation while positioning Seoul as a reliable U.S. partner, though it may prompt similar requests from other allies.

5.Kim Jong-un Visits China for Victory Day Parade, Marking First Trip in Seven Years

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un departed Pyongyang by special train on September 1 to attend China’s Victory Day military parade in Beijing on September 3, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. The Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim crossed the Yalu River bridge into China early on September 2, accompanied by senior officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and International Department Director Kim Song-nam.

Kim’s visit (his first to China in six years and eight months) comes at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, with Russian President Vladimir Putin also expected to attend the parade. Analysts view the event as a symbol of the deepening alignment among Beijing, Pyongyang, and Moscow amid a shifting global order. The unusually prompt media coverage of Kim’s travel highlights Pyongyang’s effort to project confidence in its diplomacy.

Before departure, Kim visited the General Academy of Chemical Materials under the Missile Administration on August 31, inspecting progress on composite carbon fiber materials used in ICBM engines. According to the KCNA, the tested engine achieved a maximum thrust of 1,960 kilonewtons, supporting the development of Hwasongpho-19 and -20 missiles. Kim praised the scientists for “heralding a great change” in strengthening missile capabilities and announced high-level state commendations. Observers suggest the trip aims to reinforce North Korea’s ties with China and Russia, secure economic and strategic backing, and signal defiance amid continuing international sanctions

6. North Korea Displays ICBM Advances as South Korea Boosts Defense Budget

North Korea showcased major progress in its missile program as leader Kim Jong-un inspected the General Academy of Chemical Materials, reviewing the development of high-thrust solid-fuel engines and carbon-fiber composites for next-generation ICBMs. State media reported the engine achieved 1,960 kilonewtons of thrust, intended for Hwasong-19 and Hwasong-20 missiles, the latter expected to feature MIRV technology. The visit, ahead of Kim’s trip to Beijing for China’s Victory Day parade, signaled Pyongyang’s effort to highlight its defense cooperation with China and Russia and seek potential technical support.

In response, Seoul announced on September 3 an 8.2% rise in its 2026 defense budget to 66.3 trillion won ($47.6 billion) — the largest increase in six years. The plan focuses on enhancing the three-axis deterrence system: Kill Chain, KAMD, and KMPR, with 8.9 trillion won for missile defense and 5.9 trillion won for R&D, including AI combat systems and the KF-21 fighter jet. Officials said the move ensures an “overwhelming response capability” against Pyongyang’s growing threats and supports the Opcon transfer process.

7. Trump Reacts to Xi–Kim–Putin Meeting at Beijing Victory Day Parade

The 80th anniversary Victory Day military parade, held in Beijing on September 3, brought together Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin—the first such trilateral appearance since 1959, signaling a deepening of cooperation among the three powers. Kim arrived in Beijing by train, following an invitation from Xi, while Putin had been in China. During the event, Xi called for “peaceful development” and global cooperation, indirectly criticizing U.S. unilateralism, while the parade showcased China’s growing military and geopolitical influence. Analysts described it as a symbolic display of solidarity among anti-Western states.

Responding from Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump initially told reporters on September 2 that he was “not worried at all” about the Beijing gathering, adding, “China needs us more than we need them.” However, later that day, Trump reversed tone on Truth Social, accusing Xi of “conspiring against the United States” with Kim and Putin. His remarks followed global media coverage of the leaders standing together at the top of Tiananmen Gate.

The U.S. State Department maintained a cautious stance, stating it had “no official position” yet on the event’s implications for the Korean Peninsula. Commentaries from outlets described the parade as a show of military power and Beijing’s ambition to reshape the post-U.S. global order.

8. Korean and Japanese Defense Ministers to Meet in Seoul for First Time in a Decade

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani are set to meet in Seoul next week, marking the first official visit by a Japanese defense minister to Korea since 2015, according to the Defense Ministry. The talks will take place on the sidelines of the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), a three-day annual security forum hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Defense.

The meeting follows phone talks last month, during which Ahn and Nakatani agreed to strengthen bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the United States. Nakatani’s earlier plan to visit Seoul in December 2024 was canceled after the failed martial law bid by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

This year’s SDD, themed “Confronting Geopolitical Challenges: Building Peace through Cooperation,” will bring together defense leaders and officials from 68 countries, including the NATO Military Committee Chair, vice defense chiefs from eight nations, and ministers from Croatia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and South Africa.

9. U.S. Immigration Raid at Hyundai–LG Battery Plant Sparks Diplomatic Tension and Policy Dialogue

A large-scale U.S. immigration raid at the Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution joint battery plant construction site in Georgia on September 4, 2025, led to the detention of 475 workers, including over 300 Korean nationals, in what Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) described as the largest single-site enforcement operation in its history.U.S. President Donald Trump defended the operation, calling the detainees “illegal aliens,” while emphasizing that law enforcement was “doing its job.” The incident occurred just months after Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung announced a $26 billion investment plan in the U.S., sparking debate over the tension between Washington’s manufacturing push and immigration crackdowns.

In Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung expressed “serious concern,” directing officials to safeguard the rights of Korean nationals and ensure the swift resolution of the case. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun convened an emergency task force and later traveled to Washington to meet U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Andy Baker, discussing the introduction of a new visa category for Korean professionals to prevent similar incidents.Amid growing diplomatic engagement, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau visited Seoul on September 14, expressing deep regret and pledging to prevent future recurrences, recognizing the significant role of Korean investments in U.S. economic revitalization.

After days of negotiations, 330 detainees, including 316 Koreans, were released and returned to Seoul on September 12 aboard a chartered flight from Atlanta. The Korean Foreign Ministry announced continued cooperation with Washington to improve visa procedures and enhance institutional safeguards for Korean workers in U.S. projects. Observers noted that the raid coincided with a directive from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to increase daily immigration arrests to 3,000, reflecting a renewed emphasis on strict enforcement under the Trump administration.

10.President Lee to Host Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba in Busan Summit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan, marking the first Korea-Japan summit held outside Seoul since 2005. The two leaders will engage in talks and a dinner meeting to strengthen future-oriented cooperation, reinforce trilateral ties with the United States, and discuss regional peace and stability.

The visit follows Lee’s trip to Tokyo in August, where he proposed continuing “shuttle diplomacy” with meetings outside the capital to highlight balanced regional development. Busan was chosen in line with Ishiba’s interest in visiting regional cities.

This will be Ishiba’s first and likely last trip to Korea as prime minister, following his recent announcement of resignation and the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on October 4. The summit also represents the third bilateral meeting between the leaders, continuing efforts to deepen security and economic cooperation amid North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments.

11.North Korea Rejects Unification as Seoul Reviews Terminology and Allies Reaffirm Denuclearization Goals

South Korea’s Unification Ministry announced on September 16 that it is reviewing the official term “talbukmin” (“North Korean defectors”) due to its negative connotations, commissioning a study to propose a new term, such as “bukhyangmin” (“people from the North”), by year-end. The ministry stated that the change aims to promote social inclusion and facilitate smoother resettlement for the 34,410 defectors residing in the South, with a 2024 KINU survey indicating 59 percent support for the revision.

Days later, on September 22, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un told a key parliamentary session that “unification is absolutely unnecessary,” labeling Seoul a “colonial subordinate” and rejecting President Lee Jae Myung’s denuclearization proposal as a “copy of the past.” Kim reiterated that North Korea will never abandon its nuclear arsenal and will only talk with the U.S. if denuclearization demands are dropped—though he left open possible contact with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

That same day, the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan met in New York during the 78th UN General Assembly, issuing a joint statement that reaffirmed their “resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea” and expressed concern over Pyongyang’s military cooperation with Moscow. While the statement referenced “denuclearization of North Korea,” Seoul’s release used “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” reflecting nuanced differences in allied messaging. The ministers also reaffirmed U.S. extended deterrence and opposed unilateral attempts to alter the Indo-Pacific status quo. Together, these developments underscore Seoul’s inclusive policy shifts, Pyongyang’s hardline stance, and the renewed trilateral unity against North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

12. Human Rights Commission Presses for Safe Abortion Law Amid Six-Year Legal Void

On the occasion of International Safe Abortion Day, Korea’s National Human Rights Commission urged the government and parliament to address the country’s six-year legal vacuum on abortion and enact new legislation ensuring safe and legal pregnancy termination.The commission recalled the Constitutional Court’s 2019 ruling, which struck down the decades-old abortion ban as unconstitutional for failing to balance women’s bodily autonomy with fetal rights. Despite the court’s directive for the National Assembly to draft a replacement law by the end of 2020, no progress has been made.

Criticizing the ongoing inaction, the commission warned that restricting access to safe abortion methods “threatens women’s right to health,” disproportionately affecting socially and economically vulnerable women and youth. It also noted that pregnancy termination drugs, listed by the World Health Organization as essential medicines and legalized in over 100 countries, remain unavailable in Korea. According to official data, 32,000 pregnancies were terminated in 2021, excluding unrecorded or illegal cases. The United Nations has repeatedly recommended that Korea remove barriers to safe abortion services. The commission further emphasized the need for comprehensive sex education and greater state responsibility in addressing reproductive health issues and preventing unwanted pregnancies.

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