Michelle Ye Hee Lee

Trump's National Defense Strategy to hail South Korea as 'model ally' Seoul's 3.5% defense budget, shipyards pledge suit 'partners' over 'dependents' US vision

Trump administration will highlight South Korea & Israel as "model allies" in its forthcoming National Defense Strategy, per Nikkei Asia. By contrast, Japan — host to 54,000 U.S. troops — & Australia, member of AUKUS and Five Eyes, will not receive the designation. asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/tr...

1/ Our findings underscore the urgent need for #NewsLiteracy – so Gen Z & Gen Alpha can make informed decisions about what info to trust & understand why a free press matters in their lives.

Teens didn't ask for the info landscape they inherited. Teaching them skills to navigate it is critical.

Iconic image from the night of martial law

We know now that martial law was lifted in about six hours, but that night, none of us knew what we were in for. South Korea remains deeply divided, and politicians continue to politicize the incident for their own gain. But it’s the power of the people that will stay with me for a long time.

Today marks one year since the Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration that rocked South Korea and still reverberates today. What’s on my mind today is the grit of South Koreans who rushed to the National Assembly that night, in freezing weather, to demand a return to democratic government.

Trump: "Countries were ripping off for years, including allies. I won't use the names. I won't mention Japan. I will refuse to mention South Korea. I will not mention names."

Opinion | This moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans Regarding Venezuela, Ukraine and much more, Trump and his acolytes are worse than simply incompetent.

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement.”

The latest from George F. Will:

“.. A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds of the meeting Tuesday showed that during nine separate instances, Trump’s eyes were closed for extended periods or he appeared to struggle to keep them open, amounting cumulatively to nearly six minutes.”

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Lead Post reporter on that story Alex Horton served in the infantry in Iraq.

This combination of words was not on my bingo card for 2025

Climate change, aging farmers endanger Japan’s ‘Rolls-Royce of pearls’ Japan’s famous akoya pearls have never been more in demand but, as seas warm and younger generations move to the city, the industry’s future is uncertain.

The lustrous “akoya” pearl, coveted around the world for their timeless beauty, originated in the calm waters and sheltered inlets of Japan's Ago Bay.

But after 130 years, Ago Bay's pearl industry is facing an existential crisis.

A lost generation of news consumers? Survey shows how teenagers dislike the news media You don't have to tell Cat Murphy or Lily Ogburn about the attitudes of young people toward journalists.

Asked by the News Literacy Project for one word to describe today’s news media, 84% of teens responded with something negative — “biased,” “crazy,” “boring,” “fake, ”bad,” “depressing,” “confusing,” “scary.”

apnews.com/article/news...

Climate change, aging farmers endanger Japan’s ‘Rolls-Royce of pearls’ Japan’s famous akoya pearls have never been more in demand but, as seas warm and younger generations move to the city, the industry’s future is uncertain.

Japan is home to the ‘Rolls-Royce of pearls.’ But the industry's facing a crisis.
The famous akoya pearls have never been more in demand, but as seas warm and young generations move to cities, the industry’s future is uncertain. Our story from Ago Bay, Japan:
www.washingtonpost.com/world/intera...

We did when it came time to eat! This was the bird fresh out of the oven.

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁🥧

China sees Trump calls as a win in spat with Japan over Taiwan Beijing is piling heat on Japan’s prime minister in a diplomatic standoff, even appealing to the U.S. — as a fellow World War II victor — to take its side.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged President Trump to help protect the post-World War II order — a tacit reference to supporting Beijing’s claims over Taiwan — in a phone call that Chinese analysts have claimed as a win in Beijing’s tense standoff with Japan.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Oh, public transportation! Having to drive everywhere is another “oh, right” thing.

He Saw the Best of America and Then Fought for Russia in Ukraine

He Saw the Best of America and Then (at age 67) Fought for Russia in Ukraine. One of the crazier stories I've worked on. with Paul Sonne.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...

Back in the U.S. for Thanksgiving week and have so many thoughts:
-Portions are huge
-Oh yeah, I forgot about tips
-I missed racial diversity
-Why is everything so expensive?
-There’s so much space!

Japan’s sacred sumo ring is off-limits to women, even its new prime minister Women aren’t permitted to enter the sumo ring. Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader, did not present the Prime Minister’s Cup at a major tournament.

Japan’s sacred sumo ring is off-limits to women — even its new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

😩

Ok, this is getting out of control. I don’t need news alerts about this couple. Please stop, everyone

China punishes Japan’s new leader with harsh words and economic pain Beijing is using its economic power and military muscle to convey its anger with Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi — and to send a message to the U.S.

China’s response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s lack of ambiguity on Taiwan has been immediate and extreme, and it is threatening to turn a diplomatic spat into a regional crisis.

Our latest on the Japan-China tensions:
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Lai's sushi diplomacy reminds me of Abe's pineapple diplomacy
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Opinion | ‘Things happen’ Setting the record straight about our murdered colleague.

Washington Post editorial board: “Forgetting Mohammed’s brutality and Khashoggi’s warnings is a choice, and Trump made the wrong one.”

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of a Washington Post columnist. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are nearing a high point.

Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, saying “things happen” and that he did not hold Mohammed responsible for the murder despite a U.S. intelligence report assessing the opposite.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Today is my 11th Postiversary. How has it already been more than a decade at @washingtonpost.com?

Proud of and grateful for our talented, hardworking journalists cranking out ambitious work despite everything our industry throws at us.

Some Korean workers detained in Georgia immigration raid have returned to their jobs at Hyundai site | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis SAVANNAH, Ga.--Two months after 300 South Korean nationals were detained and left the U.S. following in an immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site in Georgia, some of those w...

Two months after 300 South Korean nationals were detained and left the U.S. following in an immigration raid at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing site in Georgia, some of those workers have returned to America to resume those jobs.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Perfect day for a hike up Bukhansan, just outside of Seoul ⛰️

Syrian president details plans to work with Americans he once fought In an interview with The Post, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant, discusses relations with the U.S., talks with Israel and bringing Assad to justice.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa sits down with The Washington Post after becoming the first Syrian head of state to visit the White House: wapo.st/3LTIWMC (Free link)