3 more vessels struck in Strait of Hormuz, showing merchant ships remain in firing line

Song said the U.S. alliance remains important but the countries' national interests do not always align. His remarks addressed the need for independent intelligence judgment as the opposition questioned the effect of cooperation concerns on South Korea's military readiness.

The blockade follows four weeks of protests that began with high school students seeking better school conditions, according to The Korea Times. The newspaper linked the wider unrest to rising fuel, food and housing costs.

Executives said government-led development and traditional defense procurement move too slowly for a market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Their proposals focused on strengthening software capabilities while using industrial partnerships to shorten development cycles.