Picture of the Day: Pete Hegseth as the JSA
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (L) and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pose for a photo during a visit to the truce village of Panmunjom between South and North Korea inside the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, at the western section of the inter-Korean border in Paju, north of Seoul, on Nov. 3, 2025, in this photo released by the South Korean defense ministry. (Yonhap)
I see @GIKorea is avoiding mentioning, for him, two uncomfortable issues that were raised during Hegseth’s visit.
First, South Korea is set to reach the Fully Operational Capability (FOC) stage of OPCON transfer next year — the second of three phases before achieving Full Mission Capability (FMC), when the handover will be complete.
The transfer would have moved faster but Yoon being the alcoholic buffoon, gave it insufficient prioritization. Something that @GIKorea is turning a blind eye to.
Second, Hegseth expressed active support for South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines — a notable diplomatic gain for President Lee’s administration, signaling deeper trust and technological cooperation within the alliance.
However @GIKorea wants to avoid mentioning because he doesn’t want to praise Lee and support a program that will eventually lead to the withdrawal of the USFK from Korea.
“First, South Korea is set to reach the Fully Operational Capability (FOC) stage of OPCON transfer next year — the second of three phases before achieving Full Mission Capability (FMC), when the handover will be complete.”
“Set to reach” is an opinion. “Conditionally planning to reach” is a reality. This is condition-based and not scheduled. And the conditions may or may not be met.
There are many things that can delay or modify the requirements.
Despite optimistic public announcements, there is MUCH work to do for FOC. It is a rigorous evaluation and not a declaration.
And Korea is not ready for the requirements of FMC.
Korea’s nuclear powered submarine, which they are essentially buying from America after funding the infrastructure to build them, is in America’s best interest as well as Korea’s.
Treating this as some sort of Korean victory over America is odd.
It has less to do with President Lee being some sort of clever negotiator and more to do with what America has determined is in its best interests.
Korea is doing many things right but don’t fool yourself that Korea is cleverly getting its way at the expense of others.
Korea is cleverly getting its way by finding shared interests and building on those.
You are deflecting and projecting. Which is obvious considering you do not want the USFK to withdraw from Korea. That in addition to the fact that you do not like Lee and want to avoid praising him.
Why don’t be a man for once and come out with your real thoughts and opinions, instead of trying to hide behind words?
Or are there no men left among you whining MAGAs?
KP, there are plenty of men left among us MAGA’S that aren’t whiney little bitches like yourself. Since you’re not a mindreader, I guess we have to put our thoughts and opinions into words. My words and thoughts are you’re a complete asshole and an annoying little person with a big friggin’ mouth. If what gets posted here upsets you, just leave and find another blog to annoy. I know you’ll probably run to your mom and tell her you’re getting picked on again, Like I said, your a complete whiny little asshole.
Korea Thing,
– It is in both Korea and America’s interests to keep USFK in Korea. Since Korean and American interests are my interests, of course I want USFK to stay.
Protip: You can accuse everyone wanting USFK to stay in Korea or you can call everyone a Russiabot… but not both.
– I haven’t praised President Lee because he hasn’t really done anything worthy of praise. He ran on a platform of boosting the economy, fighting inequality, and reviving growth.
The economy still sucks. The few hundred thousand won of stimulus didn’t change that despite costing Korea a lot of money.
Fighting inequality sounds good until the reality is a wealth transfer from those who work hard and smart (me) to those who don’t (the people who feel entitled to my surplus labor). His proposed feel-good solutions for inequality range from intrusive to unworkable.
The only growth he has revived is at American shipyards and semiconductor foundries.
On the other hand, he has only been president for a short time and he has put effort into some things I greatly agree with such as making Korea the 3rd largest global AI hub.
…but is he serious?
This isn’t going to happen without lots of cheap power. His resistance to nuclear and calls for more green energy isn’t going to power a world-class AI infrastructure.
So, no I have not complemented him becasue he hasn’t done anything amazing. Some of his proposals are clearly not going to happen.
(In contrast, Yoon immediately ended all the needless covid restrictions and restarted Koreans nuclear construction… two solid acts that will benefit Korea for generations.)
When starts doing stuff, we can talk more.
If the economy takes off, there is equality based on increased productivity rather than redistribution, and there are clear long-term plans to keep Korea prosperous, I will happily complement him both here and in my personal life.
When you see solid acts of progress, kindly point them out.
Are you sure about that?
As always you project and deflect, like your Russian and Chinese funded master @setnaffa.
Yes, I am sure about that.
You keep introducing China and Russia into a conversation where USA, ROK, and I all want USFK to stay in Korea.
They don’t.
They are not part of this conversation…
…as you seem not to be as well.
The Setnaffarians have responded with personal attacks, in addition to their traditional deflecting and projecting.
Such reactions often arise when their arguments are effectively challenged.
It also suggests that my arguments have put them on the defensive.