Iran strike suspicions, US-China summit prep and Japan defense exports — Ep. 132

This week’s episode is hosted by Joon Ha Park with Shreyas Reddy in the studio, filling in while regular hosts Jeongmin Kim and John Lee are away in Singapore on a business trip. The episode begins with South Korea’s investigation into the attack on the HMM Namu near the Strait of Hormuz, as officials say Iran is the most likely actor behind the strike while Seoul continues gathering evidence before making a formal accusation. The episode then turns to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back’s visit to Washington, including discussions on South Korea’s possible role in restoring transit through the Strait of Hormuz and differences between Seoul and Washington over the timeline for wartime operational control transfer. On diplomacy, Joon Ha and Shreyas discuss U.S.-China trade talks held in Seoul ahead of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping’s summit in Beijing, as President Lee Jae Myung sought to position South Korea as a stable partner for both Washington and Beijing. The episode also examines Japan’s shift on arms export rules and what it could mean for South Korea’s defense industry, especially in Southeast Asian markets where Tokyo may have diplomatic advantages. About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly conversation hosted by Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim, Managing Editor John Lee and correspondent Joon Ha Park, delivering deep, clear analysis of South Korean politics, diplomacy, security, society and technology for professionals who need more than headlines. Uploaded every Friday. This episode was recorded on Thursday, May 14th, 2026. Audio edited by Alannah Hill