I think this article is getting way out ahead of itself since I do not think a collapse of North Korea is about to happen simply because Kim Jong-un has not been spotted in a month, but nevertheless it provides good reading in regards to topics we have discussed here before on the ROK Drop:

Yet at the same time, Washington, Seoul and Tokyo need to coordinate planning on the potential collapse of the Kim regime in North Korea to ensure a rapid and coordinated response aimed at securing and preventing the proliferation of the North’s WMD and related materials.

Trilateral cooperation—bolstered by the support of the UN Security Council and key nonproliferation mechanisms—will be essential to stopping the potential spread of WMD and their delivery systems. A significant concern would be the emergence of organized-crime groups that could try and peddle these materials—as well as advanced conventional arms—on the black market. Aside from intelligence efforts, one key mechanism in this scenario would be the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which could stem proliferation of WMD and related material from the Korean peninsula via the sea. The PSI is a global effort to stop the trafficking of WMD between states and nonstate actors of proliferation concern, which the United States launched in 2003 and now has over fifty member states, including the United States, Japan and South Korea. While it would be premature to enact a naval blockade, it will be imperative for all three parties to focus their naval resources on ensuring that WMD do not leave North Korea.

The political volatility in the North post-Kim would not only compel stronger trilateral cooperation between the United States and its allies. Such an environment would also provide an imperative for enhanced bilateral security cooperation between Japan and South Korea.

Finalizing an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) would be the first steps. An ACSA would provide Japan’s Self-Defense Forces the ability to evacuate its citizens in the event of imminent conflict on the Korea Peninsula. The GSOMIA, which was almost agreed to before falling victim to domestic political whims in Seoul, would be a basis for information sharing on the North’s WMD and missile systems.  [The National Interest]

You can read more at the link, but here is a link to a Rand report from last year which discusses North Korean regime collapse.  Robert Kaplan many years ago wrote an article on preparing for a North Korean collapse that is a good read as well.

Vladimir Putin turns 62: How to celebrate your birthday like a Russian president http://t.co/lMJoafBh3M pic.twitter.com/ZB6ggXdpxH

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 7, 2014

Yelena Shin of Kazakhstan speaks during a Korean speech contest organized by Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul on Oct. 6, 2014. Shin won the grand prize. (Photo courtesy of Ewha Woman’s University) (Yonhap)

It seems like some in the media are trying to make this out to be a big deal:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, who has not been seen in public for more than a month, is believed to be staying outside Pyongyang, South Korea’s defence chief said Tuesday.

“As far as I know, (Kim) is staying at a certain place north of Pyongyang,” Defence Minister Han Min-Koo said when lawmakers visited his office for a regular parliamentary inspection of military affairs, without elaborating on Kim’s whereabouts.

“I have received reliable information from our defence intelligence headquarters,” Han was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency. There was no official comment from the defence ministry.  [AFP]

You can read the rest at the link, but the Kim family has houses all across North Korea and if he did have some kind of medical procedure done, the regime may want to keep him away from prying eyes.  Going to a retreat away from Pyongyang for a while then makes sense. Maybe we should send Dennis Rodman in to find out?

Did anyone in Korea get any good pictures of the eclipse?

Total Eclipse begins: Oct 8 at 7:27 PM Total moon eclipse starts – completely red moon.

Maximum Eclipse: Oct 8 at 7:55 PM Moon is closest to the center of the shadow.
Total Eclipse ends: Oct 8 at 8:22 PM  [Via Korea Noodles]

If this guy wants to see real racism he should travel to North Korea:

A U.N. special rapporteur on racism and discrimination on Monday recommended that South Korea ratify the international convention on protecting rights of migrant workers, saying that there are “serious problems” of racial discrimination in the country.

Mutuma Ruteere, U.N. special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, is in Seoul to do research on situations involving racial discrimination, marking his first visit to South Korea. He has met with officials from the government and civic groups during his eight-day stay.

Ruteere said that South Korea has made “important progress” in addressing the issue of racism and xenophobia, given its history of ethnic and cultural homogeneity.

The country, however, now confronts “emerging challenges” due to an influx of foreigners and migrant workers who are contributing to social change and a shift from a migrant-sending country to a migration destination.  [Yonhap]

You can read more at the link, but there is going to be incidents where migrant workers are going to exploited especially if they are illegal immigrants.  Fortunately conditions are much better for immigrants in Korea compared to a decade ago.  For example the conditions the juicy girls in the villes used to live in were horrible compared to today.  If the UN is so concerned about racism in Korea than the best thing they could do is advocate against illegal immigration which allows unscrupulous employers to exploit workers.

A US Army general was forced to retire at a reduced rank due to a sexual assault accusation:

A general fired in March 2013 after allegations he sexually assaulted a female civilian adviser said that while he denies the charges, he “accepts the responsibility for becoming intoxicated that evening” and that “due process was followed.”

Then-Maj. Gen. Ralph O. Baker was relieved of his post as head of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa after the investigation, a copy of which was provided recently to The Washington Post via a request under the Freedom of Information Act and served as the basis of an Oct. 1 report. The Army did not respond by press time to a subsequent Army Times request for the investigation.

The Post, citing military documents, outlined the accuser’s account of an alleged July 22, 2012, incident in the back of an SUV headed to Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, after a private party. She said Baker, who’d been drinking, put his hand between her legs. She said she fought off the alleged advances and reported the incident to the Defense Department inspector general the following January, according to the Post, after feeling too embarrassed to notify any other passengers in the vehicle. (Army Times)

You can read more at the link, but here are some quick thoughts. First of all the accusation did not bring criminal charges likely because it was another one of those he said she said cases especially since she told no one in the car of what she claims happened to her. Secondly the term sexual assault has been furthered cheapened. Having someone put their hand up your thigh is inappropriate, but should it be equated with violent rape? Thirdly why is this general drinking and fraternizing with subordinates on a deployment?  I am willing to bet that is the real reason for his relief since there was no evidence of the inappropriate contact in the vehicle by the General.  With that all said good riddance to this General because the Army does not need senior leaders that think they are still reliving their frat house fraternity days.

What Next for Hong Kong’s Democracy? http://t.co/H2Xs7B18iy pic.twitter.com/PKCBeH3vzP

— The Diplomat (@Diplomat_APAC) October 7, 2014

South Korea’s KF-16 fighters fly over Alaska on Oct. 3, 2014, as part of the Red Flag-Alaska exercises. (Photo courtesy of South Korean Air Force) (Yonhap)

This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2014, shows Deoksu Palace’s Seokjojeon Hall in downtown Seoul, a Western-style building used as an audience hall and sleeping quarters of King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty, who later became an emperor of Daehan Empire, after its five-year restoration work. The building is to open to the public on Oct. 13 as the Daehan Empire History Museum. (Yonhap)