Spotlight | South Korea
Seoul at epicentre of Washington, Beijing and Pyongyang dealings

Subscribers only

Published on 02.10.2025 at 04:00 GMT Reading time 3 min

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. © Kim Hong-Ji/Pool/Reuters

With Donald Trump set to return to the Asian stage and Kim Jong-un not averse to new talks, South Korea is at the centre of a three-way diplomatic game. Between Chinese ambitions, US caution and North Korean calculations, President Lee Jae-myung is trying to maintain strategic equidistance.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Intelligence Online relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Australia, South Korea, United States
Seoul's future nuclear sub programme, a better deal than AUKUS?

By opting for low-enriched uranium, domestic production, and safeguards from the International Atomic Energy Agency for its future nuclear submarine programme, Seoul is trying to keep Washington on side without abandoning its alliance with Paris.

Subscribers only Defence 30.06.2026

The South Korean Navy's conventional Shin Chaeho submarine seen here off the southern port city of Busan, on 26 September 2025.

France, South Korea
In Seoul, Macron expected to prioritise G7, AI and telecoms

In light of Seoul reviving its naval nuclear programme, the upcoming meeting between Lee Jae-myung and Emmanuel Macron will serve to assess Paris's ability to offer meaningful partnerships, outside the realm of strategic nuclear power, while remaining in line with Washington's constraints and Seoul's industrial ambitions.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-Door Diplomacy 25.03.2026

French President Emmanuel Macron chairs a video conference of G7 leaders at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on 11 March 2026.

Indonesia, Singapore
New lobbyist hired to defend Indonesian palm oil in Washington

In early February, Indonesia signed a contract to defend its palm oil producers in the United States. Yet this contract has already been rendered less useful by the newly signed bilateral trade deal.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 03.03.2026

Palm oil extraction plant in Meulaboh, on the west coast of Aceh province, Indonesia.

South Korea, United States
South Korean defence mission airs its dirty laundry in Washington courts

A former employee of the South Korean embassy in Washington is accused of fraudulently obtaining her housing allowance. By taking legal action in this case Seoul wants to make clear that it is addressing its vulnerabilities.

Subscribers only Defence 06.02.2026

The South Korean embassy in Washington, DC.

China, South Korea
Behind the scenes of secret Seoul-Beijing talks

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's recent visit to China, notable for his talks with Xi Jinping, went beyond protocol to become a key part of geopolitical manoeuvring in the region. Their meeting revealed the two countries' complex web of interests.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 12.01.2026

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (left) takes a selfie with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, 5 January 2026.

Germany, South Korea
Berlin's intelligence alliance with Seoul in the balance

Still reeling from Seoul's missteps, Germany's BND is closely monitoring the major shake-up underway within South Korea's National Intelligence Service and its new approach in the face of Pyongyang.

Subscribers only Agencies 08.12.2025

The headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service BND, in Berlin, Germany.

France, South Korea
South Korean defence industry seeking allies in France

On the heels of the major South Korean defence trade fair ADEX held in Seoul from 20 to 24 October, sources from the local defence industry told Intelligence Online how disappointed they were at Paris's lack of interest in developing defence ties with Seoul.

Subscribers only Defence 19.11.2025

China, South Korea
Chinese warship shadows French frigate in Yellow Sea

A People's Liberation Army warship followed France's Prairial frigate as she sailed to enforce sanctions on North Korea. The French crew noticed a remarkable number of Chinese fishing boats, a growing cause of concern for Seoul.

Subscribers only Defence 18.11.2025

The French frigate Prairial at the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force base in Yokosuka, on 16 October 2025.

The Agencies' Gazette
Corsica and counterterrorism, Lavrov interview funds, no job at the DGSE, South Korean subs

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceCorsica police commisionner wanted

France/RussiaFranco-Russian group seeks members' funding for Sergey Lavrov talk

FranceTop court upholds refusal to grant special security clearance to successful DGSE candidate

South KoreaKey step made towards submarines and nuclear autonomy

Subscribers only 10.11.2025

South Korea, United States
Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

US President Donald Trump's request for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of this week's APEC summit in South Korea has stirred up a frenzy among Seoul's intelligence services, which have scrambled to explore the implications.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 28.10.2025

The Agencies' Gazette
More funds for French disinformation fight, US counterterrorism appointment, a ex-DGSE spy at Paris police HQ

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceForeign ministry pours funds into disinformation fight

United StatesNo surprise in State Department counterterrorist appointment

FrancePatrice Faure, another DGSE spy at the Paris Police Prefecture

Subscribers only 27.10.2025

China, United States
Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

Ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to shake hands, China's foreign ministry is calling for compromise, contrasting with the Ministry of State Security's hard line approach.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 21.10.2025

President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders' summit in Osaka, Japan, on 29 June 2019.

Spymaster | South Korea
Lee Jong-seok, the academic driving South Korea's new security shift

The new spy chief's appointment signals more than a mere change of leadership. The former unification minister is the embodiment of President Lee Jae-myung's new foreign policy goals to keep channels open with China and North Korea while maintaining a balance with the United States.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 10.10.2025

The director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, Lee Jong-seok.

France, Taiwan
Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

Despite Dassault Aviation's CEO recently insisting that 'Taiwan wants the Rafale', he is facing headwinds. Taipei's Mirage 2000s are on their last legs, Paris refuses to modernise them and, above all, Taiwan has already turned to American F-16 Venoms.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 06.10.2025

Éric Trappier, Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation Group, poses next to a poster depicting a Rafale fighter jet on 4 March 2022.

Deep Dive | China
People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 1/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Free access Defence 01.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army.

Spotlight | China, Taiwan
Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau has held meetings with MPs from the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee. It is on high alert regarding Beijing's options in the new geopolitical landscape created by Donald Trump's election.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 11.03.2025

Taiwanese military intelligence is questioning Donald Trump's intentions regarding the fate of the island.

South Korea
Seoul struggles to develop geospatial intelligence in face of Pyongyang's aggressive stance

South Korea is seeking to boost its geospatial intelligence in a particularly difficult military and commercial context. The country is faced with aggressive posturing from North Korea, whose capabilities have advanced thanks to backing from Moscow.

Subscribers only Space 18.11.2024

South Korea's first medium-sized next-generation ground-observing satellite, on 22 January 2021.

Spotlight | North Korea
Intelligence services enforce ban on sharing same name as Kim Jong-un's daughter and presumed successor

The North Korean intelligence department, Bowibu, is implementing a ban preventing other people from using Kim Jong-un's youngest daughter's first name, Ju-ae. Originally, the Workers' Party of Korea was supposed to be doing this, but failed.

Subscribers only Agencies 30.08.2024

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his (possibly) youngest daughter, Kim Ju-ae, Pyongyang, 15 May 2024.

Iran, North Korea
North Korean uranium for Tehran

Pyongyang has relaunched North Korea's enriched uranium production, a move that has coincided with Iran's stocks growing.

Subscribers only Defence 15.06.2011

Donald Trump

Xi Jinping

Palantir

G7

CIA

Spotlight | South Korea Seoul at epicentre of Washington, Beijing and Pyongyang dealings

With Donald Trump set to return to the Asian stage and Kim Jong-un not averse to new talks, South Korea is at the centre of a three-way diplomatic game. Between Chinese ambitions, US caution and North Korean calculations, President Lee Jae-myung is trying to maintain strategic equidistance.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

Read also

Australia, South Korea, United States Seoul's future nuclear sub programme, a better deal than AUKUS?

France, South Korea In Seoul, Macron expected to prioritise G7, AI and telecoms

Indonesia, Singapore New lobbyist hired to defend Indonesian palm oil in Washington

South Korea, United States South Korean defence mission airs its dirty laundry in Washington courts

China, South Korea Behind the scenes of secret Seoul-Beijing talks

Germany, South Korea Berlin's intelligence alliance with Seoul in the balance

France, South Korea South Korean defence industry seeking allies in France

China, South Korea Chinese warship shadows French frigate in Yellow Sea

The Agencies' Gazette Corsica and counterterrorism, Lavrov interview funds, no job at the DGSE, South Korean subs

FranceCorsica police commisionner wanted

France/RussiaFranco-Russian group seeks members' funding for Sergey Lavrov talk

FranceTop court upholds refusal to grant special security clearance to successful DGSE candidate

South KoreaKey step made towards submarines and nuclear autonomy

South Korea, United States Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

The Agencies' Gazette More funds for French disinformation fight, US counterterrorism appointment, a ex-DGSE spy at Paris police HQ

FranceForeign ministry pours funds into disinformation fight

United StatesNo surprise in State Department counterterrorist appointment

FrancePatrice Faure, another DGSE spy at the Paris Police Prefecture

China, United States Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

Spymaster | South Korea Lee Jong-seok, the academic driving South Korea's new security shift

France, Taiwan Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

Deep Dive | China People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

Spotlight | China, Taiwan Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

South Korea Seoul struggles to develop geospatial intelligence in face of Pyongyang's aggressive stance

Spotlight | North Korea Intelligence services enforce ban on sharing same name as Kim Jong-un's daughter and presumed successor

Iran, North Korea North Korean uranium for Tehran

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight | South Korea
Seoul at epicentre of Washington, Beijing and Pyongyang dealings

Australia, South Korea, United States
Seoul's future nuclear sub programme, a better deal than AUKUS?

France, South Korea
In Seoul, Macron expected to prioritise G7, AI and telecoms

Indonesia, Singapore
New lobbyist hired to defend Indonesian palm oil in Washington

South Korea, United States
South Korean defence mission airs its dirty laundry in Washington courts

China, South Korea
Behind the scenes of secret Seoul-Beijing talks

Germany, South Korea
Berlin's intelligence alliance with Seoul in the balance

France, South Korea
South Korean defence industry seeking allies in France

China, South Korea
Chinese warship shadows French frigate in Yellow Sea

The Agencies' Gazette
Corsica and counterterrorism, Lavrov interview funds, no job at the DGSE, South Korean subs

South Korea, United States
Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

The Agencies' Gazette
More funds for French disinformation fight, US counterterrorism appointment, a ex-DGSE spy at Paris police HQ

China, United States
Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

Spymaster | South Korea
Lee Jong-seok, the academic driving South Korea's new security shift

France, Taiwan
Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

Deep Dive | China
People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

Spotlight | China, Taiwan
Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

South Korea
Seoul struggles to develop geospatial intelligence in face of Pyongyang's aggressive stance

Spotlight | North Korea
Intelligence services enforce ban on sharing same name as Kim Jong-un's daughter and presumed successor

Iran, North Korea
North Korean uranium for Tehran