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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
How Korea's next leader should set foreign policy compass
JEJU ISLAND -- The crux of the new Korean government's foreign and security strategy, former foreign ministers said, must be adapting to a shifting, more inward-looking US -- one demanding greater burden-sharing from its allies under President Trump's 'America First' doctrine -- while keeping the alliance at the core of its foreign policy at this critical crossroads. Facing a wave of increasingly interconnected global crises and a more inward-looking Washington, the former top diplomats urged Seoul's next leadership to move beyond the conventional US-centric approach and adopt a more holistic, big-picture foreign policy suited to the shifting global order. 'What's most important as Korea's new government takes office is that we are facing not just one or two challenges, but a complex web of simultaneous crises. We all know that these issues are unfolding on multiple fronts at once,' former Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who served under the former conservative Park Geun-hye administration, said during Thursday's session at the Jeju Forum held on the southern island of Jeju. 'Therefore, the new administration should not approach strategy solely through the lens of relations with the US, but should instead adopt a broader, more comprehensive perspective,' Yun said during a session on South Korea's diplomatic and security strategy ahead of the early presidential election on June 3. With no transition period before taking office, the new South Korean leadership will also need to quickly find its footing as it responds to growing US calls for greater responsibility in national and regional defense, as well as increased demands across the board within the bilateral alliance framework, Yun said. He also noted that, unlike in the past when North Korea's provocations were the main concern for an incoming administration, this time will be different: "the new government will need to prioritize how quickly it can formulate its own position in response to US priorities." 'Ultimately, it comes down to two main points: the role of US Forces Korea and South Korea's own regional role,' Yun explained. In Seoul, concerns are growing that the operational scope of US Forces Korea could extend beyond the Korean Peninsula and expand to regional defense, including being repurposed for a potential Taiwan contingency. 'In 2003, some units from US Forces Korea were redeployed to Iraq. Now, if they are redeployed -- not to Iraq, but to areas near Taiwan -- that could present a whole new set of challenges, and it's something we need to think about very carefully,' Yun said. 'From what I see, neither (presidential election) camp is fully prepared to address this issue yet.' Both the classified 'Interim National Defense Guidance,' as reported by The Washington Post, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's statement on the development of the 2025 National Defense Strategy make clear that US forces will prioritize deterring China as the sole pacing threat. Another key point is that allies should shoulder more responsibility for defending against other regional threats -- for South Korea, this means threats posed by North Korea. Former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon underscored that 'Korea needs to transform its current alliance system -- which is now overly dependent on the US -- into a more autonomous alliance, while still faithfully upholding the Korea-US alliance.' "This is something the US also wants," Song said. "However, in Korea, there is a fear that moving toward a more self-reliant alliance could lead to isolation from the US, and how to overcome that fear is the challenge." Song, who served in the former liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration, also called for the next South Korean government to 'more actively explore ways to achieve a nuclear balance between the two Koreas,' instead of merely relying on US extended deterrence. Extended deterrence refers to Washington's commitment to deter or respond to coercion and external attacks on its allies and partners with the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. 'However, it doesn't necessarily mean that we need immediate nuclear armament,' Song continued. Former Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, however, said the next government should continue to focus on diplomacy with the United States and ensure that US extended deterrence is well maintained, opposing the idea of South Korea independently seeking a nuclear balance against North Korea. On the diplomatic front, Kim emphasized that the key challenge is how to navigate between the Korea-US alliance and China amid the shifting global order. "From the perspective of our diplomatic and security interests, regardless of who becomes the next president, the most important point is what stance South Korea should take between the US, our ally, and China, given our geopolitical realities," Kim said. "This remains our greatest diplomatic challenge." But Kim also pointed out that the US is no longer willing to unilaterally provide public goods as it did in the past, as it needs to focus its limited capacity on addressing mounting domestic challenges. Kim, who served under former conservative President Lee Myung-bak, expressed his concerns over a potential return to what's known as the 'Kindleberger Trap,' highlighting this as a key factor for South Korea to consider in devising its foreign policy. The trap refers to the failure of the international system due to the under-provision of global public goods and the dangers inherent in a shifting balance of power. "Looking at the current global order, if the US stops providing public goods, who will take on that role? Is Europe economically strong enough to take on that responsibility?" Kim said. "These are the kinds of questions we need to seriously consider in the context of international affairs."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Korean War 75th anniversary ceremony will be held at Brevard College
BREVARD — The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas and the Korea Center of Greenville will host a Korean War 75th Anniversary Ceremony at 2 p.m. June 21 at Brevard College. The ceremony will honor the 1.8 million Americans who fought in Korea during that brutal three-year war, as well as the 2.5 million U.S. service members who have deployed to South Korea to keep the peace since the end of the war to today. The ceremony will feature speaker presentations as well as Korean cultural performances and door prizes. Dr. Peter S. Yun is a retired economics professor from the University of Virginia. He will speak on the topic 'A Boy Who Survived the War.' As an abandoned child in war-torn Korea, Yun was adopted by a U.S. Army heavy mortar company and accompanied that unit in combat as a camp assistant for two years. Following the war he served in the Korean Air Force. He later was brought to America by a U.S. Air Force chaplain. Yun earned three degrees from American universities and has contributed a life of service as an educator and ordained minister. Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III, U.S. Army (Ret.), is a Silver Star recipient who has served as Commander of U.S. Army Pacific. He will speak on the topic 'Reflections on the U.S.-South Korea Alliance.' Brown served on the Korean DMZ as Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 38th Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. His command experience also included assignments in Germany, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Honduras and Alaska. He later served as Chief of Staff and Dean of Administration at the National Defense University. More: On Veterans Day, Hendersonville honored those who served with ceremony at Forest Lawn Park Following the speakers, two performances have been arranged by Sara Yoon of the Korea Center of Greenville, South Carolina. The Korea School Children's Choir will sing "Arirang," which anyone who has visited Korea will cherish, and the Korean Dance Team of Atlanta will perform the Korean Fan Dance. A speakers' reception will conclude the event, including Korean finger-food catered by Stone Bowl House Restaurant in Brevard. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on Facebook. The recorded program will also be available later at or Visit to enter your name for a door prize. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Korean War 75th anniversary ceremony will be held at Brevard College
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Company owner, manager fined for unlawful possession of logs
KOTA KINABALU (May 16): A company owner and its manager were fined by a Sessions Court here today a total of RM100,000, in default, eight months' jail for unlawful possession of 238 logs without paying royalty. Judge Elsie Primus imposed RM50,000 fine each on Tiong Chee Khong and Yun Ket Chun, both aged 50, after a full trial. In her reserved decision, the judge held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against the two accused. Both of them had paid their fines. The duo was found guilty of without lawful authority or legal right, having the logs that had not been paid royalty at a log storage area in the Sipitang Forest Reserve on February 7, 2020. The offence was under Section 30(1) g of the Forest Enactment 1968, punishable under Section 30(2) (b) of the same Enactment. The indictment provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, upon conviction. On December 18, 2024, the duo was freed from three charges of felling 707 logs illegally in the forest reserves and State land in Sipitang without their defence being called. For this offence, which was their fourth charge, they were called to enter defence. During mitigation, counsel Aaron Mark who represented the duo, requested for a minimum fine to be imposed on his clients saying that they were first-time offenders. Aaron argued that that these logs were rightfully cut and it was not related to damaging environment. In reply, Forestry Department prosecuting officer Peter Jack Empah urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on Tiong and Yun. Peter submitted that the offence committed by the duo not only involved a violation of the law, but it also impacted the State Government's revenue in terms of tax collection. 'The unpaid taxes to the State Government amount to approximately RM60,000. Their action of failing to pay taxes to the State Government appeared to challenge the authority of the Sabah Forestry Department as the statutory body responsible for forest resource management in Sabah. 'If such actions are not curbed, they will have long-term effects on society and may encourage more individuals to commit similar offences in the future,' Peter added. The prosecution had called 12 witnesses to give their evidence while three defence witnesses had testified in the hearing, including Tiong and Yun. The cases were first brought to court on June 21, 2023.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 10 Most Expensive Housing Markets in America—and 1 State Dominates the List
Home prices climbed in nearly every one of America's top-dollar housing markets—but 10 cities stood out for having the nation's highest median sales prices. And 8 of these 10 metros were clustered in California, confirming the Golden State's reign as a desirable housing hot spot, according to the latest quarterly report from the National Association of Realtors®. What's more, many of these markets saw home price gains. San Jose, CA, registered the highest median sales price for a single-family home in the U.S. from January to March, reaching a staggering $2.02 million, up 9.8% compared with a year ago. Notably, San Jose made history last summer when it became the first U.S. city to cross the $2 million median price threshold since NAR began tracking data in 1979. Anaheim, CA, had the second-highest price for a typical home, at $1.45 million, up 6.2% year over year, followed by San Francisco, at $1.32 million, which saw an annual uptick of 1.5%. Honolulu was the only non-California housing market that made it into the top five, with the median sales price there surging 7.3% from the previous year, to $1.16 million, during the first quarter of 2025. San Diego snagged the No. 5 spot, with its median home price climbing to $1.04, up 5.7% from a year ago. The California cities of Salinas, San Luis Obispo, and Oxnard emerged as the sixth, seventh, and eighth most expensive housing markets, with prices just below $1 million across the board, representing annual increases ranging from 2.5% to 6.2%. The sole East Coast entry on the list, Naples, FL, came in ninth, with its median home sales price rising 1.8% from a year ago, to $865,000. Despite being devastated by deadly wildfires during the first weeks of the new year, Los Angeles saw the price of the typical home rise 4.8% year over year in the first quarter, reaching $862,000, and landing Tinseltown in the 10th spot on the list. So why are the home prices in these 10 markets so high? The short answer is that not enough new properties were being built to boost the local inventory, resulting in an upward pressure on the existing-home stock. 'Very expensive home prices partly reflect multiple years of home underproduction in those metro markets,' says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. 'Another factor is the low homeownership rates in these areas, implying more unequal wealth distribution.' In other words, homeownership in cities like San Jose and San Francisco is out of reach for the majority of inhabitants, and homebuyers tend to belong to the affluent set. Affordable markets, like the ones found in the Midwest, are known to have better supply and higher homeownership rates, according to Yun. Median home sales price: $2.02 millionAnnual increase: 9.8% Median home sales price: $1.45 millionAnnual increase: 6.2% Median home sales price: $1.32 millionAnnual increase: 1.5% Median home sales price: $1.16 millionAnnual increase: 7.3% Median home sales price: $1.04 millionAnnual increase: 5.7% Median home sales price: $954,700Annual increase: 6.2% Median home sales price: $953,400Annual increase: 4.8% Median home sales price: $931,500Annual increase: 2.5% Median home sales price: $865,000Annual increase: 1.8% Median home sales price: $862,600Annual increase: 4.8% Inside Anna Wintour's New York City Townhouse as She Preps for the Met Gala Lauren Sanchez Shows Her and Jeff Bezos' $165 Million Los Angeles Home Richard Gere and His Wife Are Already Planning a Move Back to the U.S.
Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Macquarie Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on Sayona Mining (SYAXF)
Macquarie analyst Austin Yun maintained a Buy rating on Sayona Mining (SYAXF – Research Report) today and set a price target of A$0.04. The company's shares closed yesterday at $0.01. Protect Your Portfolio Against Market Uncertainty Discover companies with rock-solid fundamentals in TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter. Receive undervalued stocks, resilient to market uncertainty, delivered straight to your inbox. Yun covers the Basic Materials sector, focusing on stocks such as Lynas Rare Earths , Sayona Mining, and Pilbara Minerals . According to TipRanks, Yun has an average return of -14.0% and a 44.44% success rate on recommended stocks. Currently, the analyst consensus on Sayona Mining is a Moderate Buy with an average price target of $0.03. The company has a one-year high of $0.04 and a one-year low of $0.01. Currently, Sayona Mining has an average volume of 423.6K.
