▲ Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg speaks during a forum hosted by the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) in Washington on June 4, 2026 in this photo captured from KEI's YouTube account. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

ex-US diplomat-OPCON transfer

Ex-U.S. diplomat says wartime OPCON transfer not end of S. Korea-U.S. alliance

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, June 4 (Yonhap) -- A former U.S. diplomat said Thursday the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea from the United States does not mean "the end" of the bilateral alliance, amid lingering concerns that the transition could weaken the security partnership.

Kathleen Stephens, who was ambassador to South Korea from 2008-2011, made the remarks during a forum, noting that the time may be "ripe" for the OPCON handover, and voicing confidence that Seoul and Washington can "manage" the transition.

The allies have been discussing a series of issues, including the OPCON transfer and greater operational flexibility for the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), as they push to "modernize" their decades-old alliance to better adapt to the shifting security landscape.

"It's not the end of the alliance if we have a change in the operational control," she said during the forum hosted by the Korea Economic Institute of America.

"It depends on how that change is managed, but I think it can be managed, and perhaps this is the moment when sort of the stars align, if you like, and we come out with something that doesn't necessarily drive us apart," she added.

The allies have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transition since they agreed on it in 2014. After the transfer, a South Korean general is to lead combined forces with a U.S. general serving as a deputy -- a change that some critics say could weaken America's security commitment to the Asian ally.

Stephens also struck a positive tone, saying that Seoul and Washington will find a way to address a range of key alliance issues, such as the U.S.' pursuit of USFK's greater "strategic flexibility" to counter broader regional threats.

"We can address these things, but underlying is ... do we come out of it with a greater sense of confidence and trust about the commitment," she said.

During the forum, Philip Goldberg, who served as U.S. ambassador to Seoul from 2022-2025, expressed concerns that a set of alliance modernization issues, including USFK's strategic flexibility and South Korea's efforts to undertake greater security responsibilities, could move the allies apart "to some extent."

"(It) means moving apart in certain fundamental ways, where we are looking to use our troop presence more for regional issues (beyond the Korean Peninsula) ... I think that this suits many aspects of the current Korean administration's outlook, which is to try to bring more responsibility for Korea's defense to itself," he said.

"So there is a congruence of view on that, but it also means moving apart to some extent," he said.

But Goldberg pointed out opportunities for the two allies to deepen cooperation in the defense industrial sector.

Asked about a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece that accused South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration of taking "a hard left turn against America," Goldberg showed his view against it.

"I don't know where that comes from. I've met him, and he didn't strike me as such," Goldberg said of Lee.

"He's a very good politician, as was shown again in the elections yesterday, and he understands the value of the alliance with the U.S., especially the nuclear umbrella," he added.

(END)

S Korea-Canada-defense chiefs

Defense minister highlights S. Korea's submarine bid in call with Canadian counterpart

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held a phone call with his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, on Thursday and underscored the commitment to expanding bilateral defense ties amid South Korea's push to win Canada's submarine procurement project, the defense ministry said.

During the talks, Ahn expressed hope that the two countries would strengthen solidarity as key partners across a wide range of areas, including the submarine project, security and defense cooperation, and broader industrial collaboration.

The ministers agreed that their joint exercise last month helped further enhance interoperability between their navies, while reaffirming their shared commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ahn also praised the port visit of the 3,000-ton ROKS Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine to Esquimalt in Victoria last month, which marked the first trans-Pacific voyage by a South Korean submarine, the ministry said.

The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) is a major procurement program involving up to 12 diesel-electric submarines, which is estimated at up to 60 trillion won (US$39.7 billion), including construction, maintenance, repair and overhaul.

A consortium of Hanwha Ocean Co. and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. has been shortlisted for the project and is competing with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Canada is expected to announce its preferred bidder later this month.

(END)

S Korea-Canada submarine bid

S. Korea sweetens Canada submarine bid with hydrogen truck proposal: report

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has proposed a hydrogen-powered truck project as part of its bid for a major Canadian submarine contract to boost its offer against Germany, according to a Canadian media report.

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik unveiled the proposal in an interview with Canada's CTV News on Wednesday (local time) during his visit to Canada as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy supporting Seoul's campaign to supply 12 submarines to Ottawa.

A consortium of Hanwha Ocean Co. and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. is currently competing with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the submarine project, estimated to be worth about 60 trillion won (US$39.7 billion). Canada is expected to announce its preferred bidder later this month.

During the interview, Kang said South Korea would invest more than $2.3 billion in Canada to help establish a hydrogen-powered trucking industry and create about 9,000 jobs through a project code-named "Project Beaver" if the Korean consortium wins the submarine contract.

According to Kang, Project Beaver would leverage Hyundai Motor's hydrogen fuel-cell technology, and localize production and related industries in Canada.

(END)

#상자속의양 #SheepintheBox #箱の中の羊 #기자간담회
#고레에다히로카즈 #是枝裕和 #Hirokazu Kore-eda
#쿠와키리무 #桒木里夢 #kuwakirimu
#아야세하루카 #綾瀬はるか #TademaruAya

📌 저작권자(c) 연합뉴스, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지
📌 This video is created for reporting purposes. 이 영상은 보도 목적의 콘텐츠입니다.
📌 E-mail syipd@yna.co.kr
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Soprano Sumi Jo performs

South Korean soprano Sumi Jo (R) and French pianist David Kadouch perform during a concert marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France at Deoksu Palace in Seoul on June 4, 2026. (Yonhap)

(END)

Japanese filmmaker Kore-eda at press conference

Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (R) and actor Rimu Kuwaki pose for a photo during a press conference in Seoul on June 4, 2026. (Yonhap)

(END)

S. Korean swimming team heads to Sydney for training

Members of the South Korean national swimming team pose for photos at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on June 4, 2026, before flying to Australia for training camp ahead of the Asian Games. (Yonhap)

(END)

#상자속의양 #SheepintheBox #箱の中の羊 #기자간담회
#고레에다히로카즈 #是枝裕和 #Hirokazu Kore-eda
#쿠와키리무 #桒木里夢 #kuwakirimu
#아야세하루카 #綾瀬はるか #TademaruAya

📌 저작권자(c) 연합뉴스, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지
📌 This video is created for reporting purposes. 이 영상은 보도 목적의 콘텐츠입니다.
📌 E-mail syipd@yna.co.kr
💜 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/k_culture_now/?hl=ko
💙 Twitter https://x.com/K_Culture_NOW

[청주소식] 충북CBS 창립 36주년 음악회 9일 개최

(청주=연합뉴스) 충북CBS는 창립 36주년을 기념해 오는 9일 오후 7시 30분 청주예술의전당에서 'CBS 행복도민음악회'를 연다고 4일 밝혔다.

이번 음악회에는 가수 이은미와 구창모, 그룹 015B, 남성 4인조 팝페라 그룹 송클레어가 출연한다.

이은미는 '애인 있어요', '추억이 핀다', '녹턴' 등을 들려주고, 송골매 리드보컬 출신 구창모는 '어쩌다 마주친 그대', '모두 다 사랑하리' 등 대표곡을 선보인다.

015B는 '아주 오래된 연인들', '신인류의 사랑' 등을 부르고, 송클레어는 팝페라 무대를 꾸민다.

초대권은 청주시 서원구 수곡동 충북CBS 사옥 1층 안내실에서 무료로 받을 수 있다.

충북CBS는 음악회 실황을 녹음·편집해 오는 13일 오후 5시 5분부터 55분간 특집 방송할 예정이다.

(끝)

<저작권자(c) 연합뉴스, 무단 전재-재배포, AI 학습 및 활용 금지>

▲ This image, provided by Media Castle, shows a scene from the film "Sheep in the Box." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This image, provided by Media Castle, shows a scene from the film "Sheep in the Box." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Japanese filmmaker-press conference

Japanese auteur Kore-eda wants viewers to imagine through 'Sheep in the Box'

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda said Thursday he wants viewers to go beyond what is visible to the eye and imagine what is unseen through his latest film, "Sheep in the Box."

The sci-fi drama that was invited to the main competition section of this year's Cannes Film Festival follows an architect and carpenter couple who adopts a humanoid child robot, two years after the untimely death of their seven-year-old son Kakeru.

Kore-eda said what first inspired him to make the film was an emerging business trend in China where artificial intelligence (AI) technology is used to recreate photos and videos of people who have died.

While "Sheep in the Box" touches on topics such as the co-existence of human and humanoid robots, as well as ethical and emotional questions such a state may pose in the future, Kore-eda said he most wanted viewers to imagine by watching the film.

"The couple would have to use their imagination when they think about Kakeru, who is no longer with them but whose presence is felt, and I wanted to talk about this sort of imagination," the director said at a press conference in Seoul, held ahead of the film's release here next week.

"While I think a film comprises of things that are seen to the eye, what is not filmed is also very important," he said. "While things such as humanoid robots, forests and cup noodles appear in the movie, I hope you can watch it while imagining things that do not appear."

The Japanese filmmaker, accompanied by Rimu Kuwaki, who played Kakeru, praised the young actor for his natural sense of acting.

Kuwaki, who playfully yet poignantly performs his role, was selected from more than 200 candidates.

"Sometimes, he would completely change the nuance and lines ... I felt he was very good at applying things differently, and on top of that, enjoying it very much. In that sense, he did not feel like a child actor," Kore-eda said.

Kuwaki, who said the filming process was nearly equivalent to lots of playtime with the director, staff and other cast of the film, said "Sheep in the Box" is fundamentally a film about love.

"I have said it a lot, but it is a film with love," he said. "Every time you watch it, it will make you think and think. I hope you can think as you watch it."

(END)