For the Iranians in South Korea this should be good news for them:
Korea will allow Iranians to remain here beyond their visa limits on humanitarian grounds, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran intensifies in the Middle East.
In response to inquiries from The Korea Times regarding Iranian nationals in Korea, the Ministry of Justice said those whose visas cannot be extended under ordinary rules will be permitted to stay until war-related risks are deemed to have subsided enough to allow safe travel.
As of January, 2,133 Iranian nationals were residing legally in Korea.
You can read more at the link.
It has been suspected USFK would deploy Patriot batteries again to the Middle East and it appears it may be happening:
U.S. military transport aircraft have been spotted arriving at and departing from a U.S. air base in South Korea over the past week, raising speculation that the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) may be deploying some of its assets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict involving Iran.
According to the real-time flight tracking website Flightradar24, C-5 and C-17 U.S. transport aircraft have landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, since late last month and departed between Wednesday and Saturday.
At least two C-5 aircraft arrived at the air base in late February and were spotted departing last Saturday and Monday, while C-17 aircraft departed between Tuesday and Saturday, with six confirmed to be heading to Anchorage, Alaska.
The C-17 aircraft regularly stopped at the key U.S. base to transport U.S. assets and personnel, but the arrival of the C-5 appears to be rare.
The latest move has fueled speculation that the USFK may be preparing to move Patriot missile defense systems, as it is known to have recently relocated some Patriot batteries to Osan Air Base from other U.S. bases.
You can read more at the link.
This is some great advertising for Korea’s defense industry:
As Iranian forces launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East following Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the United Arab Emirates turned to South Korea’s Cheongung-II surface-to-air missile system to help intercept incoming attacks, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The system, sold to the UAE in recent years as part of Seoul’s expanding defense exports, has been integrated into the country’s broader air defense network.
The interception marks the first combat use of a South Korean-made air defense weapon deployed overseas, underscoring the country’s expanding arms exports to the Middle East and offering a rare glimpse of the system’s performance in combat.
You can read more at the link.
Please leave anything you want to discuss in the comments section.
The exercise may go on, but there may be some units missing if they get deployed to fight Iran:
U.S. and South Korean forces will proceed with a major joint military exercise next week despite the United States’ involvement in the conflict with Iran, a pair of generals said this week. The 10-day Freedom Shield exercise — one of the two largest drills conducted by the allies each year — is slated to begin Monday. Brig. Gen. Moon Han-ok, a deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, which combines both U.S. and South Korean units, said the training will continue as planned. “Actually, we are strengthening readiness thinking North Korea might show some provocations,” she said Wednesday at the division’s headquarters on Humphreys. “We will conduct the exercise as planned and maintain readiness.” Freedom Shield comes as the U.S. and Israel are engaged in military operations against Iran, which began Saturday. During a joint interview with reporters, Moon and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. W. Bochat said the conflict in the Middle East would not affect the focus of the drills.
You can read more at the link.
North Korea is likely spending their limited resources on what is a prestige project instead of a real military capability for them. As Iranian found out, the U.S. military will sink the North Korean navy very quickly during any conflict:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from a new destroyer ahead of its commissioning, noting that equipping the navy with nuclear weapons is making “satisfactory progress,” state media reported Thursday.
Kim inspected the Choe Hyon at a shipyard in the western port city of Nampho on Tuesday and Wednesday to review its crew members’ combat training and assess its operational capabilities, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim oversaw the launch of sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles from the destroyer Wednesday, assessing the test as a “core” element of the warship’s operational capabilities.
North Korea’s reference to “strategic” weapons suggests that they could have nuclear capabilities.
You can read more at the link.
It looks like the Pentagon is planning for a protracted conflict with Iran considering they are discussing with the ROK the deployment of USFK assets to the Middle East:
Seoul was cautious Thursday on news reports that South Korea and Washington are discussing the potential redeployment of some United States Forces Korea assets, as tensions escalate in the Middle East.
A Cheong Wa Dae official, declining to be named, said Thursday, “It would not be appropriate for our government to comment on the operational employment of USFK.”
The official added, “The mission of USFK is to maintain a strong combined defense posture with South Korean forces and contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. To that end, South Korea and the United States will continue close communication and coordination.”
The official addressed earlier reports by local media that Seoul and Washington are holding consultations regarding the operational use of USFK and the possible redeployment of certain capabilities to the Middle East.
The Ministry of National Defense also remained cautious on the matter.
“The goal of USFK is to maintain a strong combined defense posture with South Korean forces and contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Chung Bin-na said at a regular briefing Thursday, echoing the official in the presidential office. “To that end, Seoul and Washington remain in close communication regarding the operational employment of USFK forces.”
You can read more at the link, but considering that USFK deployed two Patriot missile batteries to the Middle East during the 12 Day War last year; it is likely air defense batteries will be sent again for this war.
