Author: GIKorea

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We all knew it was coming at some point that North Korea was going to return to brinkmanship to get what they want which is the dropping of sanctions and the Korean War peace treaty:

North Korea is dusting off the old playbook of provocations to capture the attention of the U.S. and gain the upper hand in future talks by hinting at lifting a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, according to diplomatic observers.

Pyongyang’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KNCA) reported, Thursday, that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un decided to reconsider resuming “all temporarily-suspended activities” at a political bureau meeting held the previous day.

“We should make more thorough preparations for a long-term confrontation with the U.S. imperialists,” it said, criticizing the U.S.’ hostile policy of reaching a dangerous level.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but my prediction is that the ROK election will determine the level of brinkmanship the Kim regime returns to. If Yoon Suk-yeol is elected the provocations will likely be more severe due to his tougher stance against North Korea compared to his rival Lee Jae-myung. Regardless I think after the ROK election in March is when they will move forward with actions more provocative than the short range missile tests we have seen in recent weeks.

FM meets Korea troops in UAE

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (R) shakes hands with a member of South Korea’s Akh unit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Jan. 17, 2022, in this photo provided by the unit. The troops are stationed in the UAE on a mission to train the Gulf nation’s service members and protect Korean nationals in emergencies. Chung is accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his Middle East trip. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Who would have thought that of all things that Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife is what will probably cost him getting elected President of South Korea? This is another major unforced error by Yoon’s wife:

Comments made by Kim Keon-hee, the wife of main opposition People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, have backfired as some #MeToo victims and gender experts demand an apology.

Kim Ji-eun, who worked as a secretary for the former South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung and who exposed the fact that she was sexually assaulted by him, issued a statement via the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, Monday.

“I heard her sarcastic comments on TV where she was speaking about my case. Her words are baseless and contradict the court’s judgment regarding the guilty verdict,” Kim said in the statement, urging the presidential candidate’s wife to deliver a sincere apology for her “reckless remarks.” 

“Your thoughtless words resulted in secondary victimization and internet users are now harassing me with malicious comments,” she said.

The Supreme Court handed down a sentence of three years and six months to former Governor An on the charge of sexual assault by exploiting his position of power at work against Kim Ji-eun, Sept. 2019. The case was viewed as a symbolic event in the #MeToo movement here at the time.

In the recordings of Kim’s private phone calls, revealed on Sunday by the local broadcaster MBC, Kim was heard saying, “Conservatives make sure they pay. They never use someone free of charge.” 

Kim was also heard claiming that #MeToo victims reveal sexual assault allegations because they didn’t get paid, referring to several sex scandals within the ruling democratic bloc. She went on to say that she felt sorry for the former governor and she and her husband were on An’s side. 

In a letter sent to MBC to clarify her position, the presidential candidate’s wife said that she made some inappropriate remarks while criticizing some people who were involved in sexual exploitation and she was sorry for that. 

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but the recording and releasing to the media the private conversation is actually illegal in South Korea. So it will be interesting to see if anyone gets charged with this.

North Korea is claiming its newest short range ballistic missile has completed testing and is ready for deployment:

The two missiles North Korea fired from an airfield near Pyongyang Monday morning appeared to be KN-24 tactical guided missiles that are in production for deployment, according to state media on Tuesday.  
   
The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the Academy of Defense Science supervised the launch of the tactical guided missiles to test their accuracy and efficiency, and that both precisely hit their targets in the eastern waters off the Korean Peninsula.  
   
Descriptions of the “tactical guided missiles” in the state media reports suggested they were KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles, which would be their fourth test by the regime, following two tests in August 2019 and one in March 2020.  
   
The KN-24 is a single-stage missile powered by a solid propellant and launched from a mobile platform. Previous state media reports claim the missile is capable of maneuvering in mid-flight to avoid mid-air interception.

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

Well so much for all the false claims that Ivermectin was causing Japan to have such a low COVID rate:

The sixth wave of COVID-19 in Japan gained strength over the weekend, rising to a daily total of 26,801 new cases on Monday and exceeding the previous peak reached six months ago, according to the World Health Organization.

A government panel could recommend a modified state of emergency, or quasi-emergency, in 11 prefectures, including Tokyo, on Wednesday due to the spike in cases nationwide, Japanese media reported Tuesday. 

Three other prefectures, including Okinawa, are already under a quasi-emergency. The new emergency may last three weeks, according to reports. The government would ask bars and restaurants to close early and refrain from selling alcohol, among other measures.

The U.S. military in Japan as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday had not reported its total COVID-19 infections from the holiday weekend around Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It last confirmed 715 new infections across 17 military installations on Friday. 

Yokota Air Base, the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo, reported 138 new cases between Jan. 12 and Tuesday, for a 273 active cases, according to the base website. Most new infections, 130, were acquired locally and eight tested positive after recently arriving in Japan.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but Japan now has a higher daily case rate than at any during the Delta Wave that hit the this past summer.