Capture the nature of the Seomjin River... National Ecology Institute, '5 River Photography Competition' 개최 The National Ecology Institute announced on the 27th that it will hold the '5 River Photography Competition' to promote the ecological and cultural values of Korea's 5 major rivers. The 5 major rivers referred to are the Han River, Nakdong River, Geum River, Yeongsan River, and Seomjin River. Anyone can participate in the competition, and the application period is from July 1st to August 31st. Entries can be submitted through the website (www.nie.re.kr) or by mail. The competition is divided into two categories: 'River Ecosystem' and 'River and People'. In the 'River Ecosystem' category, photos that capture the diverse ecosystems of rivers, such as riverine plants and animals, will be evaluated. In the 'River and People' category, photos that show the relationship between rivers and people's lives, such as river leisure and culture, will be evaluated. The judging criteria include creativity, aesthetic value, and the degree of conveying the ecological and cultural values of rivers. The competition will select a total of 84 works, including 1 grand prize, 5 winners, and 78 honorable mentions. The grand prize winner will receive 5 million won, and the winners will receive 2 million won each. All selected works will be exhibited at an exhibition to be held at the National Ecology Institute in October. The National Ecology Institute said, "We expect a lot of participation and interest in this photography competition, which will be a great opportunity to re-evaluate the value of our rivers."

The foreign ministers of China and South Korea are set to travel to Beijing as their respective delegations prepare to discuss the possibility of a multi-party peace framework for the Korean peninsula. This development comes as the 5-year countdown to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korea looms. The delegation will include a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun and a visit from President Jeommyon's office.

The central focus of this potential peace framework is China's role in re-opening talks with North Korea. President Moon Jae-in pledged on May 15 that "we will embark on the journey to end the war and transform the unstable armistice regime on the Korean peninsula into a peace regime." He emphasized that resolving the "oldest war" could also serve as a practical solution to halt North Korea's nuclear advancements.

Chinese State Councilor and Central Military Commission Secretary-General Shi Zhongping is in Washington D.C. ahead of a historic meeting with former US President Donald Trump and current US President Joe Biden to discuss future relations. South Korea's government is expected to brief the visiting Chinese delegation on Moon Jae-in's vision for a peaceful Korean peninsula while requesting China's support in achieving this goal.

China maintains its influence over North Korea, especially following the Pyongyang-Beijing summit in June and the subsequent visit of Wang's wife to the National People's Congress (National Peace Talks) in July. Strategic analyst Kim Eung-woo of the National Security Strategy Institute believes that China should propose concrete initiatives such as railway or Daman-gang river development as a means to persuade North Korea.

Regarding Taiwan and relations with South Korea, he advises maintaining respect for China's positions.

However, China's influence may be limited due to its concerns over US development of submarine-based nuclear capabilities and North Korea's insistence on retaining its nuclear arsenal as stipulated by the constitution. This will make the prospects of a multi-party peace framework in the foreseeable future appear unlikely.