Here is the latest on the U.S. Army NCO jailed in Russia:

A U.S. soldier, stationed in South Korea but detained in Russia on suspicion of stealing from his girlfriend and threatening to kill her, went on trial on Thursday, the state news agency RIA reported. Gordon Black was detained on May 2 in Vladivostok in Russia’s far east on suspicion of stealing from his Russian girlfriend.

Citing local prosecutors, Russian independent media reported he had also subsequently been charged with threatening to kill her. Black, a U.S. Army staff sergeant posted at Camp Humphreys outside Seoul, pleaded guilty to theft in May, RIA reported at the time, citing interior ministry officials.

Stars & Stripes

Here is also more details on what he is alleged to have done:

Prosecutors said the couple had quarrelled and the American had subsequently “forcibly grabbed the girl by the neck, which she perceived as a real threat to her life.” Black is then alleged to have stolen 10,000 roubles ($110) from her purse and fled their shared apartment, according to media reports. He was later arrested at a local hotel, where he had purchased plane tickets and intended to fly back to the U.S.

You can read more at the link, but the more I read about this case the more likely to me that this was not some kid of honey trap and instead this guy just being an idiot and now facing the consequences of his actions.

It looks like South Korea is back on Putin’s good graces again:

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he highly appreciates South Korea’s position not to directly supply weapons to Ukraine, and that Moscow is ready to restore relations with Seoul.

Putin made the remark during a meeting with representatives of leading international news agencies, including Yonhap News Agency, which was held on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The remark drew attention in that Putin, who began his fifth term as president last month, showed a positive attitude toward South Korea and openly talked about the possibility of improving relations with Seoul.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

The balloon wars between North and South Korea continue:

A North Korean defectors’ group said Thursday it has sent about 10 large plastic balloons carrying propaganda leaflets against the North Korean regime across the border, raising concerns Pyongyang could resume sending trash-filled balloons. 

Filled with 200,000 flyers criticizing the regime, dollar bills and USB sticks loaded with K-pop and trot music, the balloons were floated from Pocheon, north of Seoul, early Thursday, according to Park Sang-hak, head of the Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK).

A military source confirmed that some of these balloons have flown into the North but said no signs of retaliatory action were detected yet from the North Korean side, including any launch of ballistic missiles or release of balloons loaded with trash.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but I guess we will see if this leads to more trash attacks from North Korea in response.

It appears Korea’s prosecutor general will soon question South Korea’s First Lady about the handbag scandal:

Prosecutors are considering summoning first lady Kim Keon Hee over her controversial acceptance of a Christian Dior bag from a pastor in 2022, with the country’s top prosecutor saying that “no one stands above the law,” in reference to Kim’s case.

If Kim appears before prosecutors, it will be the first instance of the authorities questioning the wife of a sitting president. This event is likely to create massive political turmoil, adversely affecting public sentiment toward President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Korea Times

The handbag scandal was clearly a political hit job, but it is unclear the consequences Kim Keon-hee could face:

The Act on Improper Solicitation and Graft stipulates that the spouse of a public servant must not receive, request, or promise to receive any money or goods exceeding 1 million won in connection with the official’s duties. However, the act does not specify punishments for the spouse.

If Kim were to be punished, prosecutors should indict her on charges of bribery or breach of trust, which is stated in the Criminal Act. In this case, there should be evidence showing that Choi received unfair or illegal benefits. Due to this, controversies are expected to continue over-interpreting legal aspects of the case.

You can read more at the link, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out because Choi never received any benefits from the First Lady after giving her the handbag.

Another sign of past inter-Korean cooperation is being torn down in North Korea:

South Korea’s spy agency said Wednesday it has detected signs that North Korea has recently been demolishing some sections on the northern side of the inter-Korean railway on the east coast in an apparent move to erase the legacy of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

South and North Korea agreed to restore two railways — the Gyeongui and Donghae — in 2000, when the divided countries held the first summit of their leaders. The Donghae railway linked eastern coastal cities across the heavily fortified border.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Outgoing F-4 Phantom fighters

Soldiers salute toward F-4 Phantom fighters after their final flights at the Air Force’s 10th Combat Squadron in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, during a media event on June 5, 2024, ahead of their retirement on June 24 after 55 years of service. (Yonhap)

The owner of the company that found there is a possibility of a large oil and gas reserve off the coast of Pohang is currently in South Korea meetings:

The owner of the U.S.-based geoscience research company Act-Geo, which took part in South Korea’s project for potential offshore oil and gas reserves, arrived in the nation Wednesday for meetings with government officials.

Vitor Abreu, the owner of the Houston, Texas-based research firm, arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, noting his visit was aimed at following up with the state-run Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) on the potential discovery of up to 14 billion barrels of gas and oil.

“I came here to discuss with the KNOC what’s the best way for us to approach this and actually to give a better or more clear response for the Korean people in this very, very important project,” Abreu told reporters upon his arrival.

Abreu refrained from offering more details on the project, citing a “confidentiality agreement” with the state-run firm.

Yonhap

Here is how the article responded to claims from critics about the creditability of Abreu’s company:

The government commissioned Act-Geo to conduct a study in February last year, which reported that the deposits could hold between 3.5 billion and 14 billion barrels of gas and oil.

Meanwhile, there have been rising questions surrounding the credibility of the firm, with some claiming that the address of the company headquarters was that of a residential house in suburban Houston.

In response, the KNOC said Abreu was a veteran of 30 years in the field of deep-sea exploration and previously served as the head of the geology division at ExxonMobil and the president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

The company also said that during his days at ExxonMobil, Abreu played a leading role in the exploration of the largest deep-sea oil field in Guyana, South America.

You can read more at the link.

Here is one of the typicals responses from the playbook used by the US and ROK in response to North Korean provocations:

The United States on Wednesday deployed one B-1B bomber for joint bombing drills in South Korea for the first time in seven years amid heightened tensions over North Korea’s trash balloon campaign and GPS jamming attacks.

The U.S. heavy bomber from Andersen Air Base in Guam and two South Korean F-15K fighters released live GBU-38, 500-pound joint direct attack munitions, to strike multiple simulated targets at Pilsung Range in Taebaek, 181 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the U.S. 7th Air Force in South Korea.

U.S. B-1B bombers last held such an exercise in South Korea in 2017.

You can read more at the link.