The irony of this is that the ROK government wants an apology from the Japanese for World War II atrocities and the Japanese have apology fatigue from giving too many apologies:

On foreign policy, Lee said efforts to deepen military cooperation with Japan would face limits unless Tokyo addresses historical grievances with what he described as a “sincere” apology for its 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.

Lee revealed that he had explained to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a military logistics support agreement would be difficult to pursue despite its practical necessity, following their summit in his hometown of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on May 19.

“Northeast Asia’s security issues are somewhat complex. In the long run, I believe we should move toward a multilateral security system,” Lee said

Lee, however, concurrently disclosed that he had cautioned during the summit that South Korean public sentiment toward Japan remains a significant hurdle.

“On the issue of a military logistics support agreement, many people in the Republic of Korea would say, ‘What are you talking about?’ Yet from my perspective, there is a practical necessity for it,” said Lee.

“But practical necessity is one thing. Emotionally, many of our people still find it difficult to accept at this point. If I say things like this, I’ll get into trouble. So I told her, ‘Please understand our position as well.'”

The agreement, formally known as an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, would allow the two neighboring US allies to share and mutually procure military supplies and logistical support, including fuel, food and ammunition. Japan has sought to conclude such an arrangement with South Korea.

Lee suggested that a sincere Japanese apology over historical issues remains a prerequisite for deeper military cooperation and a genuinely closer bilateral relationship.

Korea Herald

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Here is another positive sign of the ever improving ROK-Japan relationship:

South Korea and Japan resumed joint maritime search-and-rescue drills Sunday for the first time in nine years, ending a hiatus caused by years of political and military tensions. The South Korean navy announced May 30 that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force would participate in the exercise, known as SAREX, in international waters southeast of Jeju Island. The training included the rescue of a distressed vessel, shipboard firefighting, emergency medical treatment and helicopter operations, according to the announcement and photos released Sunday by the South Korean navy.

Stars and Stripes

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Kim watches Kang Kon destroyer set sail

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (4th from R) observes the naval destroyer Kang Kon’s sea trials on June 4, 2026, after the vessel begins operational capability evaluation tests, according to footage aired by Korean Central Television (KCTV) on June 6. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

With the number of protesters dropping to just 950 this shows that the government’s vow to investigate what happened with the ballot shortage must have helped defuse the situation. It will probably be blamed on incompetence of some kind and someone being fired:

Hundreds of protesters rallied for a fourth straight day Monday outside a vote-counting facility in Seoul, demanding a new election over ballot shortages during last week’s local elections.

As of 9:30 a.m., approximately 950 protesters surrounded SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward, according to an unofficial police estimate. Protesters blocked the stadium’s 10 entrances to prevent the removal of ballot boxes.

It marked a sharp drop in the number of protesters after around 8,000 people gathered around midnight Sunday.

The protests have continued after voting was temporarily suspended at 22 polling stations nationwide on Wednesday due to a lack of ballot papers, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

If Kim Jong-un wants to improve relations with Xi, strongly stating support for the One China Policy is a way to do it:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Monday deepening ties with China is his country’s top policy priority, as he held summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang, according to a report.

The Kim-Xi talks came hours after the Chinese leader arrived in Pyongyang for his first state visit in nearly seven years.

Developing friendship between the North and China is “the people’s choice and the calling of the times,” China’s Xinhua News Agency quoted Kim as saying during the talks with Xi.

Kim said Pyongyang viewed the development of mutual ties as the country’s “most important strategic priority.”

With the international community “going through unprecedented, grand change,” he reaffirmed Pyongyang’s support for Beijing’s “One China” principle and pledged to keep helping safeguard China’s core interests, according to the report.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Some more advanced weaponry may be coming to the ROK military:

The U.S. government has authorized a potential sale to South Korea of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision bombs and related equipment, the State Department said Monday, noting the proposed sale will help enhance the Asian ally’s defense capabilities.

The department announced its decision on the potential government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) estimated to cost US$106 million. The proposed sale requires congressional notification and review.

South Korea has made a request to buy 708 KMU-557 JDAM tail kits, 58 KMU-572 JDAM guidance sets and other items, including weapons support equipment and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, according to the department.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

The North Korean regime has been saying this for years and feel the need to say it yet again:

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said her country’s status as a nuclear-armed state is absolutely irreversible, calling it a “line of no retreat” and vowing not to tolerate any threats against it, the North’s state media reported Sunday.

Kim Yo-jong made the remarks in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), in which she reiterated Pyongyang’s position that its nuclear weapons program is nonnegotiable while rejecting international efforts aimed at denuclearization.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.