Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- Land Minister Kim Yun-duk announced on Wednesday that the government's plan to develop additional greenbelt housing will be limited to Gyeonggi Province, amid disagreements with Seoul city officials over housing supply measures in the capital. Kim addressed inquiries regarding whether the upcoming plan to provide 73,000 new housing units would encompass Seoul sites before a meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to discuss housing availability in the capital and surrounding regions.

U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) disclosed plans for the 2026 iteration of the Freedom Edge joint military exercise, involving South Korea and Japan, which are on schedule despite a recent reduction in a Seoul-Washington combined exercise at the directive of U.S. President Donald Trump. Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan, a PACOM spokesperson, confirmed the exercise's progression in coordination with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

The leader of the minor opposition New Reform Party resigned on Wednesday to shoulder responsibility for the party's defeat in the June 3 local elections. Representative Lee Jun-seok made this announcement during a press conference at the National Assembly, stating that he had proposed several reforms to the party since the elections but was unable to garner enough support internally.