Author: GIKorea

Kim Jong-un is not happy that the South Korean military under President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking measures to improve defense readiness:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned that South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol government and its “military gangsters” will face annihilation should it make any “dangerous attempt” like a preemptive strike, according to Pyongyang’s state media Thursday.

Kim issued the strongly worded, direct warning against the South’s conservative administration, coupled with biting criticism of the United States, in his speech the previous day marking the 69th anniversary of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Pyongyang calls the anniversary “Victory Day” and commemorates it in a celebratory mood.

Kim mentioned South Korea’s president by name three times in the address and branded its military as gangsters, citing its stated strategy to counter the North’s nuclear and missile threats through the reinforcement of the so-called three-pillar system, including the Kill Chain preemptive strike capabilities.

“Such a dangerous attempt would be punished immediately by powerful forces, and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and his military would be wiped out,” he said, appearing in public for the first time in 19 days along with his wife Ri Sol-ju for the Pyongyang ceremony.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but it is ironic that Kim is calling Yoon a gangster when the North Korean regime has long been called the Sopranos State.

It looks like Putin’s War has opened a whole new market for the ROK defense industry:

Poland’s defense minister said his country will buy a large package of Korean weapons, including K-2 tanks, K-9 self-propelled howitzers and FA-50 light fighter jets, and also manufacture some weapons in Poland under license, according to a media report released Wednesday.  
   
In an interview with Polish defense media outlet Defence24, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak cited the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the main driver of the purchase.  
   
“The unpredictable nature of Putin means that we need to accelerate equipment modernization even further,” Blaszczak said. “It is of key importance to increase the levels of security as fast as possible for Poland. We can do this only by creating a powerful military that is strong enough to deter any potential aggressor from deciding to attack.” 

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

This was pretty dumb, you would think these politicians would know better than to have their phones out with cameras around:

The acting chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has apologized after a text conversation he had with President Yoon Suk-yeol was caught on camera, in which Yoon was seen backbiting about suspended party chief Lee Jun-seok.

PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong took over as acting leader of the party early this month after the party’s ethics committee suspended Lee’s party membership for six months over allegations of sexual bribery and a cover-up.

On Tuesday, Kweon was caught on press cameras writing a text message to Yoon on his mobile phone. The screen also showed earlier messages from Yoon saying he was happy with the change in the party’s leadership and took a swipe at Lee.

“Our party is doing a good job. We should keep this up,” Yoon wrote in the messages sent via Telegram. “Since the replacement of the party chair who used to shoot upon ourselves, our party has become different.”

Yoon was seen criticizing Lee for focusing on an internal fight rather than attacking the opposition party.

Kweon said in response, “We will uphold your wish, and show unity between the party and the government.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

At least so far the government is not looking to bring back increased COVID protocols despite the large growth in daily cases:

 South Korea’s new COVID-19 cases surpassed the 100,000 mark for the first time in more than three months on Wednesday as the new wave of an omicron subvariant is spreading fast. 

The country added 100,285 new COVID-19 infections, including 532 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 19,446,946, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. 

Wednesday’s number is the largest since 111,291 reported on April 20 and up from Tuesday’s 99,327. The daily infection cases have soared to the five digits from four digits since late June as the rapid spread of the omicron subvariant BA.5 is taking hold.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It is good to see the ROK Army now increasing their training readiness that had been impacted by COVID restrictions:

The South Korean Army flexed its combat power during a large-scale air drill held at two Army facilities in Icheon and Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi Province on Monday.

A total of 34 helicopters, including 16 Apache Guardians, 13 Black Hawks and five Chinooks were mobilized for the largest-ever exercise of its kind conducted by the Army, simulating a scenario in which troops are required to infiltrate enemy territory by air and secure a target.

In the training, the Army’s key asset, the Apache attack helicopters, executed sharp descents after soaring vertically, a maneuver intended to minimize exposure to hostile fire.

The choppers also fired some 150 2-point-75 inch rockets and 450 rounds from a 30-millimeter machine gun in a display of firepower.

KBS World News

You can read more at the link.

This is something you don’t hear very often happening in South Korea:

A female high school teacher in the southeastern city of Daegu has been under investigation on suspicion of having an inappropriate relationship with one of her students, police said Tuesday.

The unnamed teacher in her 30s, who has taught at a Daegu high school on a term contract, is suspected of having sex with a male student of the same school in late June in violation of the Child Welfare Act, according to the Daegu Bukbu Police Station.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.