“When Mr. Trump was initially briefed... U.S. officials did not believe the Nvidia executive knew that Ms. Huang was gathering information for the Chinese... but some senior officials... doubt that Mr. Huang could have remained unaware of... her intelligence-gathering role for China."

Nvidia Chief, Jensen Huang, Is Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot (Gift Article)

A Chinese businesswoman who had a close relationship with Jensen Huang was found to be passing intelligence to Beijing. President Trump was briefed and took no action.

nytimes.com

“Rep. Jin Sung-joon of South Korea’s Democratic Party, who chairs the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, said that the U.S. had refused to issue him a visa. He had planned to lead a committee delegation to visit U.S. Indo-Pacific Command from November 1 to 5."

與 진성준 국방위원장도 美 비자발급 거부당해

더불어민주당 진성준 국회 국방위원장이 11월 방미 일정을 앞두고 미국 비자 발급을 거부당했습니다. 미국 당국은 과거 국가보안법 위반 등 재판 기록의 영문 번역본을 추가 제출할 것을 요구했으며, 진 위원장은 이를 의정활동 방해로 규정하고 유감을 표명했습니다. 이에 따라 진 의원 측은 관련 서류를 보완해 제출할 계획입니다.

chosun.com

"Sources close to Hochul say the governor is in 'advanced talks' with Solidigm, the US arm of South Korean chip giant SK Hynix, and that the firm is scouting sites near Utica, Oneida County, for a semiconductor manufacturing facility that could create hundreds of jobs if approved."

Exclusive | Kathy Hochul pushing to announce chipmaking plant in Utica, NY — despite AI data center ban: sources

The proposed Oneida County deal arrives just weeks after Hochul’s ex-aide was indicted as a secret agent for the Chinese government.

nypost.com

The first lawsuit against the Section 338 Canada tariffs was just filed: libertyjusticecenter.org/pressrelease...

Liberty Justice Center Sues Over Trump’s Revival of 1930 Tariff Law, Citing Harm to American Businesses - Liberty Justice Center

NEW YORK | Oct. 20, 2026 — Today, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade challenging the administration’s use of Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to i...

libertyjusticecenter.org

"The US reportedly told Seoul that it needed to address economic issues like the Coupang debacle if it wanted to restore intelligence-sharing about North Korea."

[Exclusive] US links North Korea intel-sharing freeze to Coupang dispute

The US reportedly told Seoul that it needed to address economic issues like the Coupang debacle if it wanted to restore intelligence-sharing about North Korea

english.hani.co.kr

"This 50 Billion Dollar Infrastructure Investment from The Republic of Korea is part of their Trade and Investment Deal with me."

Huh?

Bloomberg News@bloomberg.com · 2w ago

Gifts presented to President Donald Trump by Swiss executives were actually for the American people, according to Bern’s top trade diplomat.

"The administration has given inconsistent descriptions of many of the deals... Just last week, Trump announced South Korea had agreed to a list of projects to direct $200 billion of investment to the U.S., including a liquefied natural gas project in Alaska. Seoul immediately disputed the details."

Democrats say Trump’s trade deals were corrupt. They’re gearing up to investigate.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means, Senate Finance and other committees are already lining up targets if their party wins back Congress.

politico.com

Japan and South Korea have pledged billions in U.S. investment under tariff pressure. But how much will materialize, and at what cost? In our new @cato.org paper, @simonlester.com and I examine how Trump's “friendfunding” approach could lead to poor investment outcomes and strain U.S. alliances.

"Friendfunding" Industrial Policy

The Trump administration’s “friendfunding” approach uses tariff threats to steer allied money to US-controlled projects, promising an uncertain investment payoff while concentrating power in the execu...

cato.org

Surprise! The EU and China have clinched a trade deal to: - Cut China's exports of hybrids and plug-in hybrids by more than half - Improve access to the Chinese market for €4 billion of EU-made products - Facilitate China's export licensing for rare earths and permanent magnets

EU and China clinch deal over EVs after weeks of heated trade talks

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič described the deal as marking the end of the “first phase” of negotiations. Brussels is pushing for a fundamental rebalancing in trade relations with Beijing. #Eur...

euronews.com

The Trump administration pressured diplomatic officials from the EU, Canada and Lithuania to pull out of an international conference on disinformation after organizers announced panels warning of the threat posed by American government officials

EU, Canada and Lithuania pull out of disinformation conference after US pressure

The Trump administration was bothered by panels that referred to the U.S. as a disinformation threat.

politico.com

Here comes another discrimination charge: "'Our message to Microsoft is: You’re a great American company, but you’ve got to hire great American workers,'... 'For every worker that Microsoft laid off, they replaced that worker with one-and-a-half foreign indentured servants,' Vance said."

Trump admin bars 8 tech companies from sponsoring H-1B workers for green cards

The vice president announced the move in a Thursday press conference where he said Microsoft is discriminating against Americans by prioritizing foreign workers.

politico.com

"The latest instruction goes further than Lee’s directive at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, when he told officials not to rush toward a predetermined conclusion and to restart discussions on #CPTPP membership 'from square one.'"

Lee puts CPTPP application on hold

President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the government not to apply to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership this year, say

koreaherald.com

KBS, S Korea’s public broadcaster, has released a documentary episode on U.S. e-commerce company Coupang, often called the “Amazon of Korea.” If you’re following the U.S.-Korea dispute surrounding Coupang, I recommend it. The episode is in Korean, with English subtitles available in the settings.

미국회사 쿠팡, 그리고 로비 [풀영상] | 창 566회 (KBS 26.10.6.)

YouTube video by KBS시사

youtube.com

VP Vance on Alaska LNG: "I think it's ​something that's going to happen. Obviously, you ‌still ⁠got to work out some of the details, and the South Koreans have spoken to that... But when... ​there ⁠really is strong demand for American natural gas, I think we're going ⁠to ​be able to get ​it done."

Vance says details of proposed Alaska LNG pipeline need to be worked out

US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that a ​long-planned liquefied natural gas pipeline in ‌Alaska was going to happen, but there were still some details that ​needed to be worked out ​with Sout...

reuters.com

"Trump also said on Friday that the US trade deal with South Korea includes $8.4 billion for a ​project to push out crude from an aging oilfield, although state-supported Yonhap news agency reported ​that an official from Seoul's industry ministry was surprised by the claim."

Trump says he did not 'jump the gun' on South Korea Alaska LNG investment announcement

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he did not "jump the gun" on announcing a South Korean investment in Alaska LNG, a liquefied natural gas project that has been planned for decades but still la...

reuters.com

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4w ago

Trump on South Korea saying they haven't signed off on an Alaska pipeline despite Trump saying they did: "If they don't want to do it, that's okay with me. I'll just charge them more. Tell them if they don't sign shortly, I'm gonna double it up."

U.S. House Select Committee on China Chair John Moolenaar warned that South Korea’s growing alignment with China could strain U.S.-Korea ties, citing Korea's chip investment in China, alleged discrimination against U.S. firms, criticism of U.S. forces, and remarks on Taiwan.

Moolenaar: South Korea Putting Indispensable Alliance with U.S. At Risk

Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio raising concerns about South Korea's growing alignment with China, which could undermine it...

chinaselectcommittee.house.gov

“It is most significant on a vibes level,” said Mackenzie Arnold, managing director of US Law & Policy at LawAI. “It is not granting authority to an agency . . . to actually put in place standards with teeth.”

Wessel van Rensburg@wildebees.bsky.social · 4w ago

Big Tech chiefs signed a voluntary, non-binding AI safety agreement at the White House, which Donald Trump called "morally binding" while declaring that firms will police each other.

Update from Seoul: "[President] Lee... said that participation in the Alaska LNG project was dependent on its financial viability and legal compliance. He added that investments in nuclear power plants would also require assessment of commercial viability on a plant-by-plant basis."

South Korean President Lee pushes back on Alaska LNG project after Trump touts Seoul's participation

The U.S. announced plans for up to $200 billion in South Korean investment, though Seoul has yet to finalize the participation in the Alaska LNG project.

cnbc.com

Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤@haeyoonkim.bsky.social · last mo.

The Fact Sheet is out, and the Alaska LNG project looks less concrete than the White House remarks suggested earlier today. Commerce Secretary Lutnick spoke of “just over $50 billion invested in Alaska for the Alaska LNG project," but that figure does not appear in the document.

The Fact Sheet is out, and the Alaska LNG project looks less concrete than the White House remarks suggested earlier today. Commerce Secretary Lutnick spoke of “just over $50 billion invested in Alaska for the Alaska LNG project," but that figure does not appear in the document.

Fact Sheet: Korea and the United States Announce Historic Strategic Investment Projects

The announcement of the strategic investment project (“Project Star”), the Korea - U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Projects (“Project Power”), and a plan to work together on the Alaska LNG project (“Project ...

commerce.gov

Why didn't anyone in the room press President Trump or Secretary Lutnick on the fact that, regarding the Alaska LNG project, the South Korean government has only said it is considering the project and has not confirmed that it approved funding?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · last mo.

Lutnick: "I have the best job, because I get to sit and watch Donald J Trump make the coolest deals I've ever seen in my life. And I have the best time doing it."

Update from @politico.com: "But the S Korean govt has only said that it is considering the Alaska project and has not confirmed that it approved funding — which would go well beyond the $20 billion cap that Korea’s National Assembly put in place in March for annual outbound investment to the U.S."

Trump set to unveil $54B South Korean investment in Alaska LNG

The Korean government has yet to confirm funding for the project.

politico.com

Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤@haeyoonkim.bsky.social · last mo.

"President Trump could announce as soon as Wednesday his administration intends to tap South Korea's pledged strategic investment package for about $54 billion to build a LNG facility in Alaska... Alaska has become a central stage for Republicans battling to maintain control of the US Senate..."

"President Trump could announce as soon as Wednesday his administration intends to tap South Korea's pledged strategic investment package for about $54 billion to build a LNG facility in Alaska... Alaska has become a central stage for Republicans battling to maintain control of the US Senate..."

Trump set to tout Korean investment in Alaska LNG, other projects, sources say

President Donald Trump could announce as soon as Wednesday his administration intends to tap South Korea's pledged strategic investment package for about $54 billion to build a liquefied natural gas f...

reuters.com

Huang, speaking at a discussion following the Korea Society’s annual gala in New York last night, said, “AI is not a living creature. It is just software that performs the task it is given.” He added that AI “has less self-awareness than a pet rock, so it does not spiral out of control on its own.”

Nvidia CEO Says AI Has Less Self-Awareness Than a Pet Rock

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said AI has less self-awareness than a pet rock, dismissing doom warnings, as he received the Van Fleet Award in New York.

en.sedaily.com

Lee’s response to Zelenskyy’s announcement: “I do not know the circumstances behind Ukraine’s decision to break the non-disclosure agreement and make this public, but it is deeply regrettable.”

President Lee Regrets Ukraine's Repatriation Disclosure; Ukraine Defends Transparency

President Lee Regrets Ukraines Repatriation Disclosure; Ukraine Defends Transparency Ukrainian Office Calls Secret Transfer Strange as South Korean Opposition Questions Seouls Silence

chosun.com

Haeyoon Kim 김혜윤@haeyoonkim.bsky.social · last mo.

Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly: "Recently we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea [South Korea]."

Game changer

The New York Times@nytimes.com · last mo.

Breaking News: The Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can deploy an expansive voter identification tool, allowing states to hunt for ineligible voters. Critics fear using the system could result in the purging valid voters from state rolls. nyti.ms/4he3RHK

"Xi also announced that China will invite 100,000 American youth to come to his country for studies and exchanges in the next five years and that China will send two pandas to the zoo in Atlanta." Not sure if that's the best trade. 🙄

Trump hails deep friendship with Xi as China's leader urges 'healthy' competition between 2 powers

President Donald Trump is hailing the “truly great friendship” he's forged with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader began his highly anticipated state visit at the White House.

apnews.com

Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly: "Recently we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea [South Korea]."

Виступ Володимира Зеленського на Генеральній асамблеї ООН

YouTube video by Офіс Президента України

youtube.com

Happy to be quoted in @financialtimes.com on what is expected to become S Korea’s first US-bound project under its $350 billion investment deal with the Trump administration, a multibillion-dollar gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, and the limits of Seoul’s “commercially reasonable” safeguard.

South Korea bets on Texas gas plant to satisfy Donald Trump

Seoul to fund $22bn power plant as pressure mounts to deliver on $350bn investment deal

ft.com

So here come the AI Force and a high IQ AI Czar.