Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Yong-woo (C) inspects the destruction of a South Korean guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas at the central section of the inter-Korean border in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, on Nov. 12, 2018, in this photo released by the Army. Ministry officials said South and North Korea have each withdrawn troops and firearms from 11 guard posts as of Nov. 10 for their complete demolition, one of the inter-Korean military agreements aimed at easing cross-border tensions. (Yonhap)

I was wondering how long North Korea would wait before complaining about this announced joint exercise:

North Korea has stepped up criticism of South Korea and the United States for their resumption of joint marine exercises, calling the move a military act against the ongoing peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula.

The verbal provocation came a week after the allies resumed the marine drills, the Korea Marine exercise Program (KMEP), for two weeks in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. Seoul and Washington suspended a series of joint military drills this year in consideration of the reconciliatory relations between the two Koreas, but the allies decided to resume the drill to enhance defense readiness here.

“Seoul and Washington should stop such a military act and remain consistent in the ongoing tension-easing on the peninsula by stopping any military exercises,” Rodong Sinmun, the North’s official mouthpiece, said Monday.  [Korea Times]

You can read more at the link.

The Pinks and Greens are officially coming to a clothing sales near you some time soon:

Formerly known as the “pinks and greens,” the World War II-era officers uniform could go Army-wide as soon as 2020, according to a release that was posted Sunday to the Army’s website but was not shared through any of its social media channels.

Here is a really cool story to read about this Veteran’s Day:

“After getting my masters I worked for the U.S Army at the department of state. I worked with an amazing diverse crowd from the United Nations,” said Kadhem. “Joining the Army always interested me. I wanted to serve the United States and wanted to belong to an organization that would make a difference, and for me that was the U.S. Army.”

While working at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Kadhem received her visa and moved to Washington, D.C.

In April of 2015, with the support of her Family and her father’s encouragement to join the Army, Kadhem enlisted in the U.S. Army as a unit supply specialist.

“My whole life I have never felt equal to men and in the Army I was able to liberate my body and mind by the equality they demonstrated,” she said. “I was 28 when I went through basic and advanced training. It was very physically challenging for me but I wanted it, so I pushed myself and it has changed my life in so many great ways.”  [Army.mil]

You can read the rest at the link.

$1 million can fit in a grocery bag. $100 mil in std 48"×40". A C-130 can easily hold 48 std pallets worth or $4.8 billion, X 4 aircraft=$19.2 billion. X 4 flts ea/. Lots of room for oranges+cash+others to #NorthKorea & to bring back anybody/thing from NK.https://t.co/WA626Y26uA https://t.co/w2geHb28dQ

— Tara O (@DrTaraO) November 11, 2018

A Coast Guard officer views a dolphin found dead on a beach in the city of Gangneung on South Korea’s east coast on Nov. 9, 2018. The 100-kilogram dolphin will be sold at a fishery market. (Yonhap)

I still can’t get used to seeing Admiral Ambassador Harris with a mustache:

U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris visits the back alley of Seochon, an area west of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, to try out a traditional Korean rice alcoholic beverage called “makgeolli” for the very first time.

While sitting in a tiny, cozy hanok, Harris carefully sipped on samplers of makgeolli with all different flavors served with beautifully crafted Korean traditional dishes that go well with it. And he immediately fell in love with makgeolli. All is captured on a video posted on the embassy website.  [Korea Times]

It looks like the United Nations Command is still upholding sanctions though the Moon administration doesn’t want them to:

The unification ministry set aside around 350 billion won ($315 million) to connect the rail and road networks of the two Koreas according to documents that were initially undisclosed.

The documents obtained by Rep. Choung Byoung-gug of the Bareunmirae Party from the ministry and National Assembly, stated that 352.6 billion won out of a 1.97 trillion won fund for inter-Korean affairs had been set aside to link transport networks with North Korea. The documents for the first time showed the government’s budget for the project.

Specifically, the ministry had set aside 134.1 billion won for rail connections and 54.8 billion won for roads. The ministry also reportedly drew up another 163.7 billion won for “establishing infrastructure for inter-Korean economic cooperation.”

The budget was drawn up at a time when the project has been put on hold as the Koreas have yet to conduct inspections on train tracks in the North. This is because the United Nations Command, which is in charge of approving personnel and equipment crossing the military demarcation line (MDL), has barred South Koreans from crossing to survey the North’s transport infrastructure.

This is due to the fact that a South Korean train carrying oil needs to cross the MDL. The United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea ban this. Resolution 2397 states “all member states shall prohibit the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to North Korea, through their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels, aircraft, pipelines, rail lines, or vehicles, of all refined petroleum products.”  [Korea Times]

You can read more at the link.

Headline misleading. The peninsula is not engulfed in active war. De facto peace has been kept–by deterrence–since 1953, grated there are varying degrees of "peace."

A mere declaration of peace or even a peace treaty does not denote real peace. Just ask Saigon circa 1975. https://t.co/GNFruvaoO9

— Sung-Yoon Lee (@SungYoonLee1) November 9, 2018

A firefighter walks through a fire-gutted boarding house in downtown Seoul on Nov. 9, 2018. At least six people were reported dead and scores of others taken to hospitals with injuries from the fire at what is locally called a “goshiwon,” a dorm-type accommodation of small rooms often used as a place to stay by the underprivileged. (Yonhap)