Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert wipes away tears during a press conference at his residence in Seoul on Jan. 13, 2017, to mark his departure from the position. (Yonhap)
It looks like Japan is thinking of introducing their own THAAD system as well:
Japan’s Kyodo news agency reports the government may be following in South Korea’s footsteps on deploying U.S.-provided THAAD missile defense.
Kyodo says Tokyo will soon set up a THAAD review committee to examine the system in detail.
Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada visited a THAAD unit on Guam Friday and was briefed by U.S. officials.
She says there’s no concrete plan to introduce THAAD quite yet, but warns that North Korea’s missile and nuclear development has entered what she calls a new phase. [KBS World Radio]
Australia has just assigned their first Korean born ambassador to their embassy in Korea:
The first Korea-born Australian ambassador to Korea, James Choi, is interviewed by the Korea JoongAng Daily and the JoongAng Ilbo on Thursday. [KIM CHOON-SIK]The first Korea-born Australian ambassador to Korea, James Choi, stresses Australia’s longtime friendship with Korea.
“It’s a very difficult time in Korea and certain Korean newspapers are calling it samyeon-choga [to be surrounded by enemies on all sides] and naewoo-waehwan [troubles at home and abroad],” he said. “I look at the difficult period Korea is facing, with the North Korean nuclear tests, Mr. Donald J. Trump’s inauguration and the isolationist trends in China.
“I want to remind Korea that there is a friend in the region and that Australia is a natural partner for Korea,” he said. “Australia is here as a friend and a partner in the Asia-Pacific region to meet these challenges.”
Inaugurated on Dec. 27, Choi spoke with the Korea JoongAng Daily and JoongAng Ilbo on Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in central Seoul during the Australia Day event, an annual celebration to remember the beginnings of the country.
In many ways, the newly appointed ambassador represents a natural link between the two countries. Born in Seoul in 1970, Choi migrated to Australia in 1974.
“I am a beneficiary myself of Australia’s immigration policies,” Choi said, “and its openness and diversity have given me opportunities to come back to Korea as a representative of the Australian government.” [Joong Ang Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but Ambassador Choi is correct that Australia is a natural partner for Korea in the region.
Militarily the Chinese have shown their displeasure with the THAAD deployment by flying bombers over South Korea’s Ieodo research station off the coast of Jeju while economically they are going after South Korean entertainment and companies operating in China:
China has stepped up efforts to hurt South Korea for its decision to allow the stationing of an advanced missile defense system on its soil with punitive measures to likely intensify going forward, experts predicted Wednesday.
The Seoul government, however, seems to have few countermeasures at its disposal, spawning concerns that it could face “costly” consequences if it fails to handle the situation in an effective manner, observers claimed.
On Tuesday, media reports showed that Chinese authorities have refused to approve imports of massive amounts of South Korean cosmetics as they are said to not meet their trade requirements. This was deemed the latest in a series of measures apparently aimed at punishing Seoul for its push to install a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery within this year.
In July, South Korea and the U.S. jointly announced a plan on the THAAD deployment, drawing strong opposition from China, which voiced concerns that the missile defense system equipped with the strong X-band radar could hurt its strategic security interest.
South Korea’s has countered that the THAAD deployment reflects critical national security interests to deal with evolving North Korean nuclear and missile capabilities.
Ever since the decision was announced, Beijing has taken thinly-veiled measures, mostly in business and cultural areas, aimed at pressuring Seoul to scrap its planned THAAD deployment.
Korea pop culture, known as hallyu, has been a major target with top Korean entertainers virtually banned from appearing on Chinese TV shows. More recently, the Chinese government rejected South Korean airlines’ plan to operate chartered flights to China ahead of the busy Chinese New Year holiday season.
“It has just begun,” said Kim Heung-kyu, political science professor at Ajou University. “On a scale of one to ten measuring China’s retaliation, the current level seems to be standing at only three. A full-blown retaliation that could have a real impact on South Korea has not started yet.” [Yonhap]
Foreign Minister: China appreciates Nigeria’s stance on the One-China principle and welcomes its moving Taiwan’s office from Abuja pic.twitter.com/Rk75Z92y5h
Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of President Park Geun-hye who is indicted on charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud, is taken to the Seoul Central District Court on Jan. 13, 2017, to attend the third hearing of her trial on the massive influence-peddling scandal that has led to the president’s impeachment. (Yonhap)
If President Park was pressuring Lee Jae-yong to have Samsung donate millions of dollars to Choi Soon-sil’s organizations in return for political favors this would justify the impeachment:
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong leaves the special counsel team’s office in southern Seoul on Jan. 13, 2017, after being questioned for 22 hours in connection with a corruption scandal. (Yonhap)
Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group’s de facto leader, has claimed that President Park Geun-hye forced his company to provide billions of won to various organizations linked to her confidante at the center of a corruption scandal, an official said Friday.
Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., made the claim to a special probe team investigating the widening scandal involving Park and her friend Choi Soon-sil, the official close to the team said. His latest statement does not match what he said at a parliamentary hearing held last month. At the time, Lee said the president only talked about matters related to the conglomerate and its investment plans during a private meeting in 2015. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but Lee’s story differs from what he said last month that he was not pressured to give money to Choi. However, according to this KBS report Lee said that he was pressured by Park to give money, but he did not request any political favors in return:
The decision on whether or not to request an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong for his links to the Choi Soon-sil scandal may come as early as Saturday.
The independent counsel team’s spokesman Lee Kyu-chul told reporters on Friday that a decision regarding Lee, who faces bribery and perjury charges, will come on Saturday or Sunday.
The team is said to be leaning toward requesting the warrant as it believes Lee was deeply involved in giving Choi and her family hefty sums of money in return for government support for Samsung C&T’s merger with Cheil Industries in 2015.
The team led by Park Young-soo will also take into account conflicting statements he made from his testimony during a hearing last month at the National Assembly.
Lee returned home at around 8 a.m. Friday after undergoing 22 hours of investigation by the independent counsel team.
The Samsung heir is said to have told investigators that though it’s true that Samsung Group extended huge amounts of money to Choi and her family due to pressure from President Park Geun-hye’s, the funds were not given in return for favors. [KBS World Radio]
I guess we will see how this plays out in the coming days.
What Manning did was not as bad as Snowden, but still Manning’s sentencing has sent a strong message to all US troops that leaking classified information to the media has strong repercussions:
Chelsea Manning
Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. Army soldier imprisoned for passing government documents to WikiLeaks, is on President Obama’s short list for possible commutation, according to NBC News.
NBC’s report cited a source in the Justice Department.
A decision could come soon for Manning, who tried to commit suicide and went on a hunger strike last year to demand better treatment in prison.
Manning, 28, is serving a 35-year sentence in the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She pleaded guilty in 2013 to 10 charges related to theft and espionage.
Manning stole over 750,000 pages of classified and unclassified military documents, including videos of airstrikes, war logs and diplomatic cables. She then passed them to WikiLeaks.
Manning, previously known has Bradley, revealed herself as transgender in 2013. [Stars & Stripes]
