South Korea's relationship with the North, always strained, seems to be going through a particularly hostile patch in recent weeks.
asserted
relationship → strain → weeks
Last month, Seoul accused North Korea of planting a mine on the southern side of the heavily fortified border.
asserted
Seoul → accuse → border
The device exploded, injuring three South Korean soldiers.
asserted
device → explode → soldiers
Pyongyang refused to apologize and insisted this was a false-flag incident designed to tarnish the isolated nation.
asserted
this → refuse → nation
The North Korean regime has since conducted multiple weapons tests, held its first-ever exhibition of military drones attended by Kim Jong Un, brought up self-propelled artillery units to the border and started preparing loudspeaker systems that will blast propaganda into the South.
asserted
that → conduct → South
On Thursday, North Korea also fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan just before a scheduled visit to South Korea by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
asserted
Korea → fire → Merz
On top of South Korea's issues with its arch rival, many in Seoul are growing increasingly wary of their most important ally, the United States.
asserted
many → grow → ally
South Korean politicians are worried that the US could push for a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea at the cost of ignoring South Korea's security, or even leave it exposed to Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal.
uncertain
US → worry → arsenal
Who gets a voice on South Korea's future?
asserted
Who → get → future
US President Donald Trump famously claimed he and Kim Jong Un "fell in love" during Trump's first term.
asserted
he → claim → term
More recently, Trump has indicated he would like to resume talks .
asserted
he → indicate → talks
There have been suggestions that a meeting could take place on November 18 in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, where Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
uncertain
Trump → take → summit
The North Korean side has made no official response to Washington's hints, although South Korea's National Intelligence Service informed a closed-door meeting of Seoul's intelligence committee on Thursday that Kim Jong Un discussed the possibility of meeting Trump when he met with senior members of China's politburo in Dandong on Saturday.
asserted
he → make → Saturday
Seoul's fears were also fueled by the US proposing three-way talks with Russia and China on the fate of Ukraine without inviting a representative of Kyiv to attend.
asserted
US → fuel → Kyiv
The worry in Seoul is that President Donald Trump may conduct a similar bypass manoeuvre on the Korean Peninsula.
uncertain
Trump → conduct → Peninsula
Washington-Seoul relationship shaken by tariffs, funding disputes
"Right now, there is a problem of trust between the two governments," said Kim Sang-woo, a former politician with the left-leaning South Korean Congress for New Politics and now a member of the board of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation.
asserted
woo → shake → Foundation
A security and trade relationship that was previously considered secure has been rocked by tariffs, trade restrictions and demands from Washington that the South pay more for the US troops stationed in the country, Kim told DW.
asserted
Kim → consider → DW
President Lee's diplomats have lost access to key decision-making personnel in this White House, he added.
asserted
he → lose → House
"I do not think this US administration is thinking long-term in the relationship with South Korea," Kim said.
asserted
Kim → think → Korea
"They do not see South Korea as a part of their wider national security network and I do not think they are listening to experts on the importance of allies in the region."
asserted
they → see → region
"I also think that Trump is eager to meet with Kim because of his personal quest to obtain a Nobel Peace Prize."
Trump's widely publicized efforts to secure a Nobel have been thwarted so far.
asserted
efforts → think → Nobel
However, this might change if Trump somehow manages to formally end the Korean War that was put on hold by the 1953 armistice.
uncertain
that → change → armistice
South Korea eyeing its own nuclear deterrent
asserted
Korea → eye → deterrent
"The most serious concern is that the US recognizes Pyongyang as a nuclear power, which would legitimize the North's program and undermine efforts to convince it to abolish its nuclear weapons as well as the broader non-proliferation system," said Lim Eun-jung, a professor of international studies at Kongju National University.
asserted
jung → recognize → University
In parallel, she said, there are fears that Trump could reach an agreement with North Korea that requires it to scrap its long-range nuclear missiles — those that are capable of hitting targets in the United States — but permits it to retain short-range weapons that can still easily reach South Korea and Japan.
uncertain
that → say → Korea
That would raise questions about the US commitment to defend South Korea in case of a nuclear attack.
asserted
That → raise → attack
That uncertainty, in turn, is likely to give credence to voices arguing that South Korea needs to develop its own nuclear deterrent.
asserted
Korea → give → deterrent
"For years, we have depended on US extended deterrence guarantees under the nuclear umbrella, but this US administration is unpredictable and there are more and more people asking why we don't just go it alone," Lim told DW.
asserted
Lim → depend → DW
"Virtually, all our neighbors have nuclear weapons, and while no-one wants the dominoes to start falling, it could happen.
uncertain
it → have → weapons
Merz says Korean security affects Europe
The latest escalation between Seoul and Pyongyang comes amid repeated attempts by South Korean President Lee to improve communication with Pyongyang.
asserted
escalation → say → Pyongyang
The perceived outreach has irritated South Korea's European allies, who are angry over North Korea deploying soldiers and supplying munition and missiles to help Russia in the Ukraine war.
asserted
Korea → perceive → war
Moscow is believed to be repaying Pyongyang's support with money, military technology and security guarantees.
asserted
Moscow → believe → money
During his visit to South Korea, Germany's Merz pointed out that "Korea's security affects Europe's security.
asserted
security → point → security
And Europe's security also affects the security of Korea.
asserted
security → affect → Korea
"
"The world is small — even in war," Merz added.
asserted
Merz → add → war
South Korea needs allies
Berlin, just like Seoul, has been disoriented by the Trump administration turning hostile on many of its allies while seeking reproachment with geopolitical rivals such as Russia and China.
asserted
administration → need → Russia
During his Asia tour, Merz pushed for an alliance of middle powers to protect free trade and oppose "unilateralism, autocratic power politics and violations of international law.
asserted
Merz → push → law
"The fact remains that the United States is shifting its foreign policy, its foreign economic policy, and redefining its interests.
asserted
States → remain → interests
As they do so, we must do the same," he said in South Korea.
asserted
he → do → Korea
It was not clear if Seoul will respond to Merz's appeal by moving closer to the European Union.
asserted
Seoul → respond → Union
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
