Global Scans · South Korea · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: South Korea may go nuclear if Trump cancels the missile deployment and leaves the country alone facing the North's threats. With the President facing an impeachment vote and mass demonstrations on the streets political and economic turmoil may follow. Chinese markets has already shaken South Korea, where central bankers downgraded their forecasts for economic growth.

• [New] In South Korea, many analysts are concerned that Washington will sideline Seoul during the negotiation process, or will prioritize its security interests over South Korea's. Hudson Institute
• [New] South Korean military exercises are likely intended to send a message to North Korea as well, signaling to Pyongyang that South Korea will continue to defend itself despite the ratcheting down of some of its operations directed at North Korea. Institute for the Study of War
• [New] North Korea will learn from Iran's mistakes, South Korea is more risk-averse than Israel and China and Russia are better-positioned to help Pyongyang than Tehran. Deutsche Welle
• [New] AMCA's success could define India's military posture for the next 30 years-placing it in the elite company of the U.S., China, and possibly South Korea. The Asia Live
• [New] The ASIR of rheumatoid arthritis would increase in both China and South Korea, with the ASIR in South Korea increasing from 14.3/100,000 in 2021 to 19.3/100,000 in 2036, while it would decrease from 17.0/100,000 to 16.3/100,000 in Japan. Frontiers
• [New] The ASIR of osteoarthritis in China and Japan would slightly increase over the next 15 years, while the ASIR of osteoarthritis in South Korea would decrease from 701.2 per 100,000 people in 2021 to 575.9 per 100,000 people in 2036 (Figure 5D). Frontiers
• [New] The ASIR of gout in Japan and South Korea would continue to rise, while the ASIR of gout in China would decrease significantly from 151.6 per 100,000 people in 2021 to 128.9 per 100,000 people in 2036. Frontiers
• [New] A no-fault vaccine compensation scheme will be explored, similar to broader vaccine injury compensation systems in place in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Japan and South Korea. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Were America to remove values from its relationships with Japan, South Korea, and its other Pacific allies, it could force them to seek greater accommodation with China, their biggest trading partner. UnHerd
• Global Comparison: India will surpass Japan and South Korea in capacity by 2030 but remain behind China (29 million), EU (9 million), and US (6 million). Ekam IAS Academy
• South Korea was going to have to take overwhelming responsibility for its own self-defence against North Korea, so the US could be ready to fight China. BBC News
• Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth, thanks to rapid industrialization, expanding automotive production, and the rise of local manufacturing hubs in China, India, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Grand Research Store
• The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth due to the rapid adoption of industrial automation in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, which are at the forefront of robotics development. ReAnIn
• The broaching of the idea of a US troop drawdown could be a diplomatic signal to South Korea to step up and play an augmented role to contain China. The Straits Times
• Shahed drones could enable North Korea to strike targets across South Korea, potentially overwhelming air defences, and could also assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent
• Emerging markets were boosted by gains in South Korea, Turkey, and South Africa, while positive returns in China were helped by weaker economic data leading hopes for additional stimulus. Centered Financial
• The EC will introduce a new International Digital Strategy, which will focus on collaboration with the United States and other tech - forward countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and India. Techreport
• A new International Digital Strategy, to be released Thursday, will emphasize global collaboration, especially with the U.S., but also with China, Japan, India, and South Korea-rather than full decoupling. The Cipher Brief
• U.S. tariffs on South Korea and Japan could sway upcoming leadership contests in both countries, modestly increase their trade with China and erode U.S.-South Korea defence cooperation, but they are unlikely to undermine U.S.-Japan security ties. Stratfor
• Most recently, rumours of a US troop drawdown have set off fears of a decreased US commitment to South Korea, especially regarding the deterrence of North Korea. Asia Times
• As tensions precipitate, Trump could encourage South Korea and Japan to pursue independent nuclear capabilities favoring shared deterrence, reversing prevailing nonproliferation. Daily NK English
• Higher energy prices and trade disruptions could exacerbate economic slowdowns, particularly in energy-importing economies like Japan and South Korea, which rely on stable U.S. and EU energy supplies. Oilfield Workers

Last updated: 02 July 2025