South Korea ends its 2 year term as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council on Dec 31, per MOFA reporting. That shifts Seoul’s formal leverage inside UNSC DPRK agenda fights and sanctions messaging going into 2026.
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DPRK - ROK | 2026
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South Korea ends its 2 year term as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council on Dec 31, per MOFA reporting. That shifts Seoul’s formal leverage inside UNSC DPRK agenda fights and sanctions messaging going into 2026.
ROK military plans to give drone operator training to ALL conscripts in 2026, part of a “500,000 drone warrior” push. Report says Seoul will buy 11,000 small commercial drones for training and budget of 33B won for 2026 procurement.
South Korea JCS Chairman opens 2026 with a situation assessment and video calls to frontline units, including a border outpost and Yeonpyeong Island Marines, directing prompt responses to provocations under established rules and standards. Also reviews overseas deployments with emphasis on readiness and force protection.
Japan MOD says DPRK fired at least 2 ballistic missiles eastward on Jan 4. Both were assessed to have fallen in the Sea of Japan, outside Japan’s EEZ. Japan says both may have flown “irregular” trajectories and analysis is ongoing. Reported apogee about 50 km, ranges about 900 km and 950 km.
In a same day presser, Japan’s Defense Minister said DPRK missile development and launches are assessed as aimed at securing nuclear deterrence and also capabilities usable in a potential conventional conflict scenario involving US & ROK forces, including tactical nuclear use.
Japan MOFA also logged a Jan 4 Japan, US, & ROK senior official call following the launches, reaffirming UNSCR violation framing and continued trilateral coordination.
Japan MOD says DPRK fired at least 2 ballistic missiles eastward on Jan 4. Both were assessed to have fallen in the Sea of Japan, outside Japan’s EEZ. Japan says both may have flown “irregular” trajectories and analysis is ongoing. Reported apogee about 50 km, ranges about 900 km and 950 km.
In a same day presser, Japan’s Defense Minister said DPRK missile development and launches are assessed as aimed at securing nuclear deterrence and also capabilities usable in a potential conventional conflict scenario involving US & ROK forces, including tactical nuclear use.
Japan MOFA also logged a Jan 4 Japan, US, & ROK senior official call following the launches, reaffirming UNSCR violation framing and continued trilateral coordination.
UPDATE: DPRK state media claims a “hypersonic missile launching drill” supervised by Kim Jong Un, framed explicitly as maintaining and expanding the “nuclear deterrent,” with a claimed strike to a target about 1,000 km away in the East Sea.
ROK PM Kim Min-seok visited KAI (Sacheon), held a roundtable with defense firms and toured the KF-21 Boramae production line. Government messaging emphasized a “top-4 global arms exporter” push and strengthening the defense industrial ecosystem, signaling continued political backing for KF-21 output and arms export driven growth.
ROK Industry Ministry says Seoul and Beijing will launch a new “commerce cooperation dialogue” channel, with minister level meetings at least once per year via reciprocal visits. The agenda explicitly includes trade, investment, supply chains, and multilateral or third country cooperation, plus a push to expand “practical” industrial park investment cooperation.
KCNA publishes a KPA General Staff spokesman statement claiming South Korea sent “another” drone that infringed DPRK airspace (alleged Jan 4 launch from the Incheon area), and explicitly blames “ROK authorities” for escalating tensions.
KCNA publishes a KPA General Staff spokesman statement claiming South Korea sent “another” drone that infringed DPRK airspace (alleged Jan 4 launch from the Incheon area), and explicitly blames “ROK authorities” for escalating tensions.
UPDATE: ROK MoD says initial checks indicate the military does not possess the drone type shown and did not operate drones at the time DPRK claims. Seoul says it will coordinate with relevant agencies to investigate possible civilian operation, with a presidential directive for a thorough review. This is a direct pushback on Pyongyang’s narrative and signals an internal accountability track.
South Korea has successfully completed all planned flight tests for the KF-21 fighter jet under development, the state arms procurement agency said Tuesday, with the country's first homegrown aircraft expected to sharply boost the military's air defense capabilities when deployed.
Drone intrusion risk & DPRK provocation vector. President Lee Jae Myung said there appears to be a gap in South Korea’s ability to detect civilian drones that could cross into North Korea, warning that this kind of incident can inflame tensions and is “akin to starting a war.” Reuters reports a task force called in a civilian suspect for questioning after North Korea alleged a South origin drone entered its airspace and shared images it said were from the drone.
South Korean lawmakers say the NIS assessed Kim Jong Un is consolidating his daughter’s status as successor, shifting from “in study as successor” to “internally appointed successor,” after a closed-door briefing.
Lawmakers said the NIS believes she is providing policy input and is treated as the de facto second-highest figure. The briefing also cited development of an 8,700-ton submarine that could carry up to 10 SLBMs, possibly nuclear-powered, with operational status unclear.
Today South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young says a joint military police probe found 3 civilians flew drones into North Korea 4 times in September 27th, November 16th, and November 22nd in 2025, then January 4th 2026 as most recent. Two drones crashed inside the North, matching Pyongyang’s earlier claims, two returned to the South after flying over Kaesong.
Seoul says it will tighten penalties (Aviation Safety Act) and pursue legal changes to explicitly ban drone infiltration as a tension-raising act. Govt also says it will review restoring Sept. 19 inter Korean military agreement measures, including no fly zones, South Korea’s defence ministry says it is reviewing a partial revival via consultations with the United States.
DPRK state media says Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony presenting 50 new 600mm multiple rocket launchers ahead of the upcoming Workers’ Party congress. KCNA claims the system uses “compound guidance” and “AI technology,” and frames it as suited for a “special attack” to accomplish a “strategic mission.”
Today South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young says a joint military police probe found 3 civilians flew drones into North Korea 4 times in September 27th, November 16th, and November 22nd in 2025, then January 4th 2026 as most recent. Two drones crashed inside the North, matching Pyongyang’s earlier claims, two returned to the South after flying over Kaesong.
Seoul says it will tighten penalties (Aviation Safety Act) and pursue legal changes to explicitly ban drone infiltration as a tension-raising act. Govt also says it will review restoring Sept. 19 inter Korean military agreement measures, including no fly zones, South Korea’s defence ministry says it is reviewing a partial revival via consultations with the United States.
Kim Yo Jong issued a statement responding to South Korea’s acknowledgement and “regret” over drone incidents. She says she “appreciates” the admission, but warns of “terrible consequences” if it happens again and calls for tighter guarding of the southern border.
South Korea says its 2026 NEXT plan will designate 19 strategic technology categories and spend 8.6 trillion won on national strategic R&D this year, up 30% from a year earlier. Seoul says the initiative is meant to strengthen interagency coordination and help position the country to play a larger role in setting global tech standards.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said on 3 April that the 174th Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee approved plans covering long range artillery interception, Link-22 naval tactical data links, sea based ballistic missile interceptors for KDX-III Batch-II Aegis destroyers, and the 2026 to 2030 basic plan for defense industry development.
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- Oct 16, 2016
North Korea fires ballistic missiles again, flexing muscle amid Iran war
The launch is the fourth such operation this month and the seventh of the year. Experts say it is meant to display North Korea's self-defense capabilities.
www.cnbc.com