Soldiers from the Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification drape a South Korean flag over a box containing the remains of a South Korean soldier, who was killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, in Yeoncheon near the border with North Korea on Sept. 22, 2015. South Korea has been excavating the remains of the war dead for decades since the war ended in an armistice in 1953. More than 200,000 South Korean soldiers and U.N. troops who fought for South Korea against the invading North Korea were killed in action. (Yonhap)

Here is the latest special warfare unit being established by the ROK military:

The South Korean Army’s Special Warfare Command plans to form a commando unit to destroy North Korean strategic weapons facilities.

The special operations command on Wednesday presented the plan in its report to the parliamentary defense committee.

A military official said that the command is looking to set up a special unit to infiltrate enemy territory and strike its key strategic facilities.

The official said that key strategic facilities refer to facilities for long-range missiles and nuclear weapons, mobile missile launchers and weapons of mass destruction.

The official said that the military made the decision to adapt to modern warfare as the North is bolstering asymmetric warfare capabilities.

The command said it also plans to form its own aviation forces for special operations to enhance infiltration capabilities.   [KBS World Radio]

In fairness in my opinion the Korean media has actually gotten better since its low point in 2008 when they intentionally caused the US beef mad cow crisis that led to weeks of protests and violence all based on media lies:

President Park Geun-hye on Monday stressed the need for media to provide accurate and unbiased information, seemingly backing up the ruling party’s offensives against Korea’s major Internet portals for “prejudicial” delivery of news.

While attending an event hosted by one of the country’s major daily newspapers, Park also highlighted the role of media outlets in pursuing her key initiatives such as labor market reforms.

“The digital revolution brought significant changes to the media outlets … and we are exposed to the danger where inaccurate information could spread out momentarily. In this situation, the media should play a more important role in discerning accurate information and offering it to the public,” Park said.

“Now we are making a big stride toward overhauling the nation. I believe that media outlets play a significant role in steering the nation toward disruption and innovation. I sincerely ask them to serve as a beacon that can act as a guide for the rest of us,” Park added.

Her remarks came shortly after Saenuri Party claims that major Internet search engines such as Naver and Daum Kakao had skewed news coverage from media outlets in favor of the opposition.  [Korea Herald]

You can read more at the link.

This will probably make for a good reelection campaign ad for the assemblyman who also fights crime in his neighborhood:

Purse snatchers of New York, watch out for your district assemblyman — Ron Kim (D-Flushing), the state legislature’s first-ever Korean American member, chased and caught a thief on the streets of downtown Flushing last week.

The assemblyman reportedly tackled a 25-year-old man, Daniel Fish, to the ground after hearing the young man snatched a purse from walking mother with a stroller around 1 p.m., according to the New York Police Department.

A good Samaritan got the bag back from Fish, but he fled after.

That’s when Kim — walking to his office near Main Street and 38th Street — saw the Samaritan chasing after Fish. He joined the chase, all the while calling 911.

Kim and the Samaritan had lost Fish when someone shouted, “That’s him!”

Kim tackled Fish to the ground after another foot pursuit and held him there until police got to the scene. Kim’s glasses were reportedly broken in the process.  [Korea Times]

You can read the rest at the link.

We assessed improvements in #China's ability to challenge U.S. air ops by attacking air bases: http://t.co/9IgspN2Bx9 pic.twitter.com/ky3fkoJVkO

— RAND (@RANDCorporation) September 19, 2015

Locals harvest peanuts in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, Sep. 20. (Hankyoreh)

I would assume that the South Korean government was expecting this kind of criticism from their political opposition and had a quick response available.  There is just no way that the US military would bring Japanese troops on to the peninsula without the direct approval of the ROK government:

South Korea is capable of turning down any U.S. request for the entry of Japanese armed forces onto the Korean Peninsula, Defense Minister Han Min-koo said Monday in his latest efforts to defuse concerns over Japan’s rearmament moves.

Japan passed a package of security bills into law in the wee hours of Saturday, unshackling its previously self defense-only armed forces from limitations imposed after World War II and empowering them to fight in overseas battles.

The rearmament step has sparked concerns here that Japanese forces could join U.S. troops stationed in South Korea unilaterally in the event of a war with North Korea.

Rep. Lee Choon-suk of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy raised the issue of unwanted Japanese forces during a parliamentary audit, asking Han if the country could turn down the U.S. military’s request for the entry of Japanese forces in the event of a North Korea-waged war.  [Korea Times]

You can read the rest at the link.

China probably is not being invited to this big North Korean anniversary because of the criticism their government has given towards the prospect of a North Korean nuclear test or rocket launch next month:

China is not among nations invited to attend North Korea’s key national anniversary next month, a diplomatic source said Monday, reflecting strained political ties between the allies.

North Korea has indicated that it may launch a long-range rocket on or around Oct. 10 to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of its Workers’ Party. Any launch will spark international condemnation as a disguised ballistic missile test, which is banned under U.N. resolutions.

North Korea sent invitations to some nations in Africa and South America, but China, the North’s economic lifeline and diplomatic backer, has not been invited to attend the Oct. 10 ceremony, the source said on the condition of anonymity.

“To my knowledge, China has not been invited to take part in the Oct. 10 ceremony,” the source said.   [Yonhap]

You can read the rest at the link.

For Pyongyang, a gesture of peace is often a prelude to a provocation: http://t.co/IbKMmCQpTX pic.twitter.com/xCeX8DtfKS

— Foreign Affairs (@ForeignAffairs) September 20, 2015

South Korean Marines engage in a shooting drill at a training camp in the western border town of Gimpo on Sept. 17, 2015, as part of a three-week joint exercise. The drill involving 500 South Korean Marines and 600 from the Third U.S. Marine Division, is aimed at improving their combat readiness and boosting joint combat skills. (Yonhap)