Overview

• Acting President Han Duck-soo has urged security ministers to maintain a vigilant defense posture against growing North Korea-Russia military cooperation.
• Han highlighted North Korea's acceleration of weapons development and new provocations, alongside persistent cyberattack threats targeting South Korea.
• He stressed that national security cannot be compromised, even as the government navigates shifting global dynamics and U.S. negotiations.
• Speculation grows over Han's imminent resignation to officially enter the June 3 presidential election as an independent candidate.
• The snap election follows the Constitutional Court’s removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, intensifying political competition and regional security concerns.