Reports are stating that Sony has linked North Korea to the cyberattack against their company:

A Sony Pictures internal investigation has identified North Korea as the source of a devastating computer attack, and the studio is deliberating whether to announce the findings publicly, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

The company’s investigation has linked the hackers that stole a major holiday film release and unleashed a destructive computer worm to a North Korean group known as DarkSeoul, which was responsible for similar attacks on South Korean banks and television studios last year, a second person familiar with the investigation said.  [Stars & Stripes]

I don’t think there is much Sony can do about this other than they need to improve their network security from these attacks.  If North Korea was able to do this imagine what the Russians or Chinese could do with their advanced hacking operations? Companies need to make network security a top priority.

KCNA ridicules "EU’s Bat-blind Behavior" on human rights http://t.co/EYyM6AoHU7

— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) December 3, 2014

Students of Whispering Pines School wearing traditional Korean clothing hold South Korea’s national flag during a ceremony held at the private school near New York on Dec. 4, 2014, to celebrate the Korean Education Center of New York’s contribution to its scholarships. A total of 124 of the school’s students are learning Korean as their second foreign language. (Yonhap)

Here are the court martial results for October 2014 that were posted on the USFK website.

Results of Army Courts-Martial in Eighth US Army for October 2014

On 24 September 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, MSG Phillip T. Whatley, 501^st Military Intelligence Brigade, was convicted of two specifications of violating a lawful general regulation/order (UCMJ Article 92), and one specification of engaging in drunk and disorderly conduct (Article 134).  He was sentenced to sixteen days of restriction and forfeiture of $3,178.47 in pay.

On 1 October 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, Private (E-1) Jaleel Mcleod, 498th Combat Sustainment Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was convicted of one specification of Insubordinate Conduct toward an NCO (UCMJ Article 91), and one specification of Willful Damage of Military Property (Article 108).  He was sentenced to forfeiture of $500.00 pay for one month and to be confined for thirty days.

On 1 October 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, Private First Class Kenneth S. Smith, 498th Combat Sustainment Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was convicted of one specification of Failure to go to Appointed Place of Duty, (UCMJ Article 86); one specification of Disrespect towards a Superior Commissioned Officer, (Article 89); two specifications of Insubordinate Conduct toward an NCO; and one specification of Failure to Obey a Lawful Order (Article 92).  He was sentenced to reduction to Private (E-1); Forfeiture of $1,021.00 for one month; and to be confined for thirty days.

On 6 October2014, at a General Courts-Martial, PV2 Luis A. Ruizperez, HSC, HHB, Eighth Army, was found guilty on one specification of Sexual Assault (UCMJ Article 120) and one specification of Adultery (Article 134).  He was sentenced to be reduced to E-1, to be confined for 3 years, and to receive a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 6 October 2014, at a Summary Court-Martial, Sergeant (E-5) Olarewaju O. Taiwo, 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, was convicted of two specifications of Failure to Obey a Lawful Order, (UCMJ Article 92); two specifications of False Official Statement (Article 107); four specifications of Abusive Sexual Contact (Article 120); and one specification of Adultery (Article 134).  He was sentenced to reduction to Specialist, to forfeiture of $1,923.00 pay for one month; and to restriction to the limits of Camp Stanley for one month.

On 20 October 2014, at a General Court-Martial, PFC David M. Tompkins, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, was found guilty of four specifications of aggravated assault (UCMJ Article 128), four specifications of assault consummated by battery (Article 128), and willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer (Article 90).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, a Bad Conduct Discharge, and to be confined for 22 months.

On 23 October 2014, at a General Court-Martial, SGT Alan A. Galeana, 121 Combat Support Hospital, 65^th Medical Brigade, was found guilty on one specification of Violation of a Lawful Order (Fraternization, UCMJ Article 92) and two specifications of Assault Consummated by a Battery (Article 128).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, to be confined for 3 months, and to receive a Bad Conduct Discharge.

On 29 October, at a General Court-Martial, SPC Travis W. Cloke, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2d Combat Aviation Brigade, 2d Infantry Division was found guilty of two specifications of Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Child, (UCMJ Article 80) Distributing Child Pornography (Article 134), and Possessing Child Pornography (Article 134).  He was sentenced to reduction to E-1, a Dishonorable Discharge, and to be confined for three years.

Results of ROK Criminal Prosecutions for October 2014

In Seoul Central District Court on 14 October 2014, MSG Mary A. Mitchell, HHC, 501st MI Brigade, USAG Yongsan, was convicted of DUI.  Her adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 14 October 2014, SPC Anjaya J. Peters, F TAB, 3/33d TAB, 1/38th FA, USAG Casey, was convicted of traffic law violations.  His adjudged sentence was a 2,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 16 October 2014, SSG James W. Wright, Jr., E Btry, 6/52d ADA, USAG Casey, was convicted of Indecent Assault.  His adjudged sentence was a 2,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 16 October 2014, PFC Jesse J. Espinoza, B Btry, 1/15th FA, USAG Casey, was convicted of Assault upon a Driver in Motion.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,500,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 22 October 2014, SFC Zachary L. Chappell, A Co, HHBN, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was a 3,000,000 Won fine.

In Daegu District Court on 22 October 2014, SSG William C. Bradburry, a member of 19th SFG, Fort Carson (in Korea for UFG), was convicted of Infliction of Bodily Injury.  His adjudged sentence was a 5,000,000 Won fine.

In Seoul Central District Court on 29 October 2014, CW3 Juan B. Sablan, D Co, 2-2 Assault, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of traffic law violations.  His adjudged sentence was a 200,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 29 October 2014, MSG Scott R. Fuller, HSC, HHBN, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of Forgery of Private Document, Uttering the Forged Private Document and Obstruction of Performance of Official Duties by Fraudulent Means.  His adjudged sentence was imprisonment for 8 months, not suspended.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 30 October 2014, PFC Richard R. Davis, HHD, 23d CBRNE Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of Assault.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

In Uijeongbu District Court on 30 October 2014, MAJ John S. Kasper, B Co, HHBN, 2d Infantry Division, was convicted of DUI.  His adjudged sentence was a 1,000,000 Won fine.

Two months ago the infamous DMZ Christmas tree was pulled down and now for whatever reason the Defense Ministry has decided to allow a Christian group to construct a new one:

A North Korean religious association slammed a South Korean Christian group’s plan to light a big Christmas tree in the Aegibong Peak Observatory in Gimpo, south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

It said Friday that the lighting is, “an act of madness and it is unacceptable.”

“The Christian Council of Korea (CCK) attempts to use religion as a means to spur confrontation between the people of the two sides. It should realize that the malicious plan could lead to a military action from the North,” the North’s association said.

The reaction came weeks after the CCK unveiled a plan to set up a big Christmas tree in the observatory and light it on Dec. 23. The tree will be dressed in Christmas lights for two weeks until Jan. 6, the group said.

The Ministry of National Defense approved the plan.  [Korea Times]

You can read more at the link, but the tree is used by the ROK military as a psychological warfare weapon.  The North Koreans can look across the border and see the lights of South Korea to include this Christmas tree which stands in stark contrast to the regular power outages they face in North Korea.

This is something both the military and civilian law enforcement need to work together to fix to make it harder for weirdos like this guy to continue to carry out their strange fantasy against other people:

Matthew S. Carr is the type of serial sex offender public registries were designed to track.

While serving in the U.S. Air Force, Carr approached women by posing as a doctor training in gynecology. He persuaded them to submit to pelvic exams as he inserted medical instruments, drew blood samples and even administered an injection near one victim’s genitals.

A military court at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota convicted the airman in 2003 of indecent assault against seven women and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Exactly how Carr avoided registering as a sex offender when he got out is unclear, but a critical error occurred. The military records sent to civilian authorities mistakenly described lesser assault charges, according to a federal probation officer.

When the mother of a Reedsburg, Wis., woman typed “Matthew Carr” — the name of her daughter’s new boyfriend — into sex offender registries in the summer of 2010, nothing turned up.

She soon found herself racing the 45 minutes to Reedsburg to confront Carr after another daughter’s research revealed his military crimes. By then, her daughter had already submitted to multiple “exams” by the convicted sex offender.

“My blood turned absolutely cold,” said the mother, whom Scripps is not identifying to protect her daughter’s privacy. “I’ve never felt such danger, such helplessness as a mom before.”

Charges were brought against Carr, and he was convicted and sent to prison.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link, but I always wondered if servicemembers convicted of DUI or assault for example in Korea have such crimes show up on criminal background checks back in the US as well.

This is the first time I have ever heard of a woman in Korea coming up on sexual harassment charges:

Park Hyun-jung, president and CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, is under fire over allegations that she sexually harassed employees, verbally assaulted them and abused her power in hiring and promotion decisions.

Insiders of the Seoul-government funded orchestra say Park tried to touch a male employee’s genital area in October last year by pulling him by his necktie at a public dinner gathering after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.

“From the look of you, I think you will do well as a (bar) hostess,” she was also quoted as saying to a female employee during a meeting.

A petition filed against her reveals that Park told two other female employees at the meeting that they should serve important guests by sitting next to them and doing the duty of bar girls.  [Korea Observer]

You can read more at the link, but Park has been on the job for almost two years and was the first woman appointed to lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra despite having no musical or orchestra experience in the past.

Inside China's new CCTV headquarters – known as the underpants building – it's ALL forbidden pic.twitter.com/A0PURyZR1X

— David Schlesinger (@daschles) December 3, 2014

An event marking World AIDS Day is underway at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on Dec. 1, 2014. (No sale outside of South Korea) (KCNA-Yonhap)

Good news out there for all you single ROK Heads, via the Marmot’s Hole comes news that Kim Yu-na has dumped her hockey player boyfriend:

South Korean figure skating queen Kim Yuna, 24, and ice hockey player Kim Won-jung, 31, have broken up, Korean media reported Tuesday.

Sources said they are unsure when the pair separated.

In August, Sgt. Kim Won-jung, while serving his mandatory military service as an athlete in the military corps, made headlines when he sustained leg injuries after getting in a car accident following a visit to a massage parlor.  [Korea Times]

Here are the details of what Kim Won-jung did to get dumped by Kim Yu-na:

Three ice hockey national team members on active military duty, including the sergeant known to be South Korea’s figure skating icon Kim Yuna’s boyfriend, were discovered to have left their barracks without permission and failed to report a car crash they were involved in, the defense ministry said Wednesday.

On June 27, the three draftees — two sergeants, surnamed Lee and Kim, and a corporal, surnamed Lee — left their training camp in Ilsan, just north of Seoul, in a car owned by one of the sergeants, and went to a massage parlor.

On their way back to the hotel some two hours later, their car was hit by a civilian vehicle, which left sergeant Kim with injuries requiring six weeks of medical treatment and the two with minor bruises, according to the ministry.

Kim reportedly suffered ligament damage on his right knee.  [The Korea Times]

You can read more at the link, but this just seems like one of those only in Korea stories.