William Gallo
@williamgallo.bsky.social
VOA Seoul bureau chief/regional correspondent. Posting in a personal capacity.
www.williamwgallo.com
www.williamwgallo.com
The top US commander in Korea makes the case for an "east-up" perspective of the region (see map below).
Gen. Xavier Brunson says it highlights the strategic military importance of the Korean Peninsula.
www.usfk.mil/Media/Press-...
Gen. Xavier Brunson says it highlights the strategic military importance of the Korean Peninsula.
www.usfk.mil/Media/Press-...
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The top US commander in Korea makes the case for an "east-up" perspective of the region (see map below).
Gen. Xavier Brunson says it highlights the strategic military importance of the Korean Peninsula.
www.usfk.mil/Media/Press-...
Gen. Xavier Brunson says it highlights the strategic military importance of the Korean Peninsula.
www.usfk.mil/Media/Press-...
In a new statement Saturday, North Korean state media calls the idea of denuclearization a "pipe dream."
Still no mention of Trump.
Still no mention of Trump.
October 31, 2025 at 9:48 PM
In a new statement Saturday, North Korean state media calls the idea of denuclearization a "pipe dream."
Still no mention of Trump.
Still no mention of Trump.
Trump says he didn't speak with Kim Jong Un, but that he'd come back for another meeting in the future.
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Trump says he didn't speak with Kim Jong Un, but that he'd come back for another meeting in the future.
October 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Sitting across from Trump, Lee Jae Myung requests that South Korea be allowed to have fuel for nuclear-powered submarines.
"I understand that you have already expressed support for reprocessing of spent fuel and the enrichment of uranium," Lee adds.
"I understand that you have already expressed support for reprocessing of spent fuel and the enrichment of uranium," Lee adds.
October 29, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Sitting across from Trump, Lee Jae Myung requests that South Korea be allowed to have fuel for nuclear-powered submarines.
"I understand that you have already expressed support for reprocessing of spent fuel and the enrichment of uranium," Lee adds.
"I understand that you have already expressed support for reprocessing of spent fuel and the enrichment of uranium," Lee adds.
Trump on North Korea: "I think they are sort of a nuclear power."
Full comments:
Full comments:
October 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Trump on North Korea: "I think they are sort of a nuclear power."
Full comments:
Full comments:
At CSIS, South Korea's Lee acknowledges Trump sent a "very threatening post" and that his staff was worried there might be a "Zelensky moment." But Lee says he wasn't worried because he had read Trump's Art of the Deal book ahead of the meeting.
Transcript via CSIS:
Transcript via CSIS:
August 26, 2025 at 1:30 AM
At CSIS, South Korea's Lee acknowledges Trump sent a "very threatening post" and that his staff was worried there might be a "Zelensky moment." But Lee says he wasn't worried because he had read Trump's Art of the Deal book ahead of the meeting.
Transcript via CSIS:
Transcript via CSIS:
FWIW: Gordon Chang, who has been at the forefront of the Korean "Stop the Steal" campaign to defend Yoon, was scheduled to be on Fox Business this morning to discuss "South Korea issues" ahead of the Lee-Trump summit.
August 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
FWIW: Gordon Chang, who has been at the forefront of the Korean "Stop the Steal" campaign to defend Yoon, was scheduled to be on Fox Business this morning to discuss "South Korea issues" ahead of the Lee-Trump summit.
Trump on South Korea's political situation, just hours before his meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
(Lee was elected after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and jailed following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law)
(Lee was elected after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and jailed following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law)
August 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Trump on South Korea's political situation, just hours before his meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
(Lee was elected after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and jailed following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law)
(Lee was elected after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and jailed following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law)
"Whether the ROK withdraws its loudspeakers or not, stops broadcasting or not, postpones its military exercises or not and downscales them or not, we do not care about them and are not interested in them," says Kim Yo Jong.
Full statement via KCNA.
Full statement via KCNA.
August 13, 2025 at 11:57 PM
"Whether the ROK withdraws its loudspeakers or not, stops broadcasting or not, postpones its military exercises or not and downscales them or not, we do not care about them and are not interested in them," says Kim Yo Jong.
Full statement via KCNA.
Full statement via KCNA.
"It is worth taking into account the fact that the year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019," says Kim Yo Jong in a new statement aimed at the US.
Worth reading the whole commentary.
Worth reading the whole commentary.
July 29, 2025 at 3:31 AM
"It is worth taking into account the fact that the year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019," says Kim Yo Jong in a new statement aimed at the US.
Worth reading the whole commentary.
Worth reading the whole commentary.
An insightful look at Japan's upper house election results from @tobiasharris.bsky.social, who includes this nifty graph:
July 21, 2025 at 6:31 AM
An insightful look at Japan's upper house election results from @tobiasharris.bsky.social, who includes this nifty graph:
That's a big development. Will allow Bluesky to be much more useful for breaking news.
July 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
That's a big development. Will allow Bluesky to be much more useful for breaking news.
I mean seriously who can't relate to this right now
June 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
I mean seriously who can't relate to this right now
Love love love these little Tomica Ghibli toys. Can get them at E-Mart or Coupang here in Korea. So cool.
May 8, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Love love love these little Tomica Ghibli toys. Can get them at E-Mart or Coupang here in Korea. So cool.
Trump on the US-Japan alliance:
March 7, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Trump on the US-Japan alliance:
North Korea's foreign ministry is not happy about Rubio's recent "rogue states" comment.
It says this confirms the "incorrect view" and "hostile policy" of the new U.S. administration (though does not mention Trump by name).
Full statement via KCNA:
It says this confirms the "incorrect view" and "hostile policy" of the new U.S. administration (though does not mention Trump by name).
Full statement via KCNA:
February 2, 2025 at 10:41 PM
North Korea's foreign ministry is not happy about Rubio's recent "rogue states" comment.
It says this confirms the "incorrect view" and "hostile policy" of the new U.S. administration (though does not mention Trump by name).
Full statement via KCNA:
It says this confirms the "incorrect view" and "hostile policy" of the new U.S. administration (though does not mention Trump by name).
Full statement via KCNA:
There was a deluge of Trump executive orders last week, but don't miss this line, contained in the EO pausing US foreign aid:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
January 27, 2025 at 3:10 AM
There was a deluge of Trump executive orders last week, but don't miss this line, contained in the EO pausing US foreign aid:
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Trump on Gaza, per White House pool just now:
January 26, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Trump on Gaza, per White House pool just now:
In a statement from its foreign ministry, North Korea vows "to counter the U.S. with the toughest counteraction from A to Z as long as it refuses the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK."
January 26, 2025 at 12:20 AM
In a statement from its foreign ministry, North Korea vows "to counter the U.S. with the toughest counteraction from A to Z as long as it refuses the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK."
NYT/Ipsos poll on how the US should handle world affairs:
January 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
NYT/Ipsos poll on how the US should handle world affairs:
Yoon detention warrant, part 2:
January 15, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Yoon detention warrant, part 2:
The Yoon detention warrant, via the South Korean anti-corruption office. Part 1:
January 15, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The Yoon detention warrant, via the South Korean anti-corruption office. Part 1:
A statement from acting President Choi. Basically the same thing he's been saying for days.
January 14, 2025 at 11:03 PM
A statement from acting President Choi. Basically the same thing he's been saying for days.
South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, again warns all sides to prevent violence during any attempt to detain Yoon:
January 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, again warns all sides to prevent violence during any attempt to detain Yoon: