Displaying items by tag: Lee Jae Myung

South Korea’s proposal for military talks with North Korea reflects a cautious but important effort to prevent dangerous escalation along the demilitarised zone. After months of incidents where North Korean troops crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) while constructing defensive barriers, Seoul is urging both sides to reaffirm a clear and mutually recognised boundary. Missing marker posts from the 1953 armistice have led to differing interpretations of where the line actually lies, increasing the risk of accidental clashes as tensions rise under Kim Jong-un’s recent directive to harden the border. This marks the first direct proposal for dialogue since Lee Jae Myung took office as South Korea’s president, signalling a willingness to pursue communication even as military channels remain largely severed. With warning shots fired and provocations mounting, aligning expectations on the MDL could help restore stability and rebuild fragile trust. Whether Pyongyang will respond remains uncertain, but Seoul hopes the move sparks broader engagement for peace.

South Korea stands at a delicate crossroads, balancing its security alliance with the USA and its economic reliance on China. Recent rallies in Seoul captured this tension vividly, with protesters denouncing both Donald Trump and the Chinese Communist Party - reflecting deep divisions over the nation’s direction. President Lee Jae Myung faces immense diplomatic pressure as he hosts both Trump and Xi Jinping on 30 October, hoping to ease trade disputes while maintaining South Korea’s fragile political stability. In August, when Lee visited the USA, things seemed to go well, with Trump reducing tariffs on South Korean goods from 25% to 15%. However, relations soured after immigration officials detained more than 300 workers at the Hyundai plant in Georgia, and Trump has increased his trade demands. Meanwhile, anti-China sentiment has grown, fuelled by old grievances and modern fears of interference. Breaking news: Trump has hailed his meeting with Xi as ‘amazing’, even though it did not result in a formal trade deal: see