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Korean Parliament Passes Bill Banning the Sale of Dog Meat

It has finally happened, Korea has passed the ban on dog meat. This ban will go into affect in 2027 giving people in the industry three years to find another job:

The National Assembly passed a special bill banning dog meat consumption Tuesday, paving the way for ending the practice that has fallen out of favor in recent decades.

The bill, which bans the breeding, butchering, distributing and selling of dogs for meat, passed through the parliament with 208 votes in favor and 2 abstentions.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) have jointly pushed for the ban amid growing awareness of animal rights and an increasing number of pet owners in the country.

The bill also calls for providing subsidies to help people in the dog meat industry switch jobs.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

North Korea Violated the Inter-Korean Military Pact 3,600 Times in Past Five Years

Just another example of why the Kim regime cannot be trusted to keep to agreements:

North Korea breached the recently scrapped 2018 inter-Korean military accord approximately 3,600 times, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.

The number of violations by North Korea, counted from the time the deal was reached six years ago, was announced following three consecutive days of North Korean provocations along the sea boundary.

The JCS in Seoul told the press that due to North Korea’s firing of artillery shells near South Korean border islands over the past three days, there are now no areas where military measures are halted.

“Rather than reacting to the enemy actions on a case-by-case basis, our troops will be carrying out drills according to our own plans in the northwestern islands,” it said.

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

Korean Police Prevented from Releasing Politcal Motivations of Lee Jae-myung Assailant Due to Law

If you are wondering why police are not disclosing more information about the political ideology of the suspect who stabbed Lee Jae-myung, it is because of a law that prevents them from doing so:

The decision by the police not to disclose the political affiliations of the man who attacked Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), with a knife, has sparked controversy. The DPK has criticized law enforcement authorities for sharing investigative information selectively.

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency announced, Monday, that its identity disclosure committee would convene a meeting on Tuesday to determine whether to release the personal information of the 67-year-old male suspect, identified so far only by the surname Kim.

If the committee decides in favor of further disclosure, Kim’s full name, age and photo will be released.

However, the police stressed that the history of his political affiliations would remain undisclosed, irrespective of the committee’s decision.

“Technically, it cannot be disclosed as per relevant laws. We are currently discussing with the prosecution about the matter. But if we disclose (his political affiliations), there could be penalties,” an official at the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said during a press briefing.

The official was referring to the Political Parties Act, which bans investigative bodies from publicly sharing information about a suspect’s political affiliations that could be ascertained during investigations. Violation of this law may lead to imprisonment of up to three years.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but police could face up to 3-years in jail if they released the information.

Tweet of the Day: Doubts About Succession

Picture of the Day: Pyeongyang Rally

Mass rally in Pyongyang
Mass rally in Pyongyang
A mass rally takes place at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on Jan. 5, 2024, to emphasize the carrying out of the decisions made at the ninth plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party, which took place from Dec. 26 to 30, in this image captured from the North’s official Korean Central Television on Jan. 6. (Yonhap)

Captured Rocket Shows that North Korea Has Been Supplying Weapons to Hamas

North Korea is denying they are providing weapons to Hamas, but the evidence is increasingly showing this to be untrue. What North Korea is probably doing is selling these weapons to Iran who then smuggles them to Hamas:

 South Korea’s spy agency on Monday confirmed suspicions that North Korean-made weapons are being used by the Hamas militant group in its war with Israel despite Pyongyang’s repeated denial of its arms transactions.

Releasing a new photo of a North Korean rocket part, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed a Voice of America (VOA) report that Hamas fighters used an F-7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher manufactured in North Korea.

A photo included in the VOA report published Friday showed that the fuse of an F-7 grenade launcher, allegedly used by Hamas, had on it a combination of Korean characters and numbers, such as “비저-7류” and “시8-80-53.” 

Asked about the report, the NIS said its “assessment is the same as the VOA report.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Second Man Arrested for Involvement in Lee Jae-myung Stabbing Attack

Here is the latest on the Lee Jae-myung stabbing, the criminal who committed the crime may have had an accomplice:

The suspect behind the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is seen being escorted to a court on Jan. 4, 2024, for a hearing. (Yonhap)

The suspect behind the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is seen being escorted to a court on Jan. 4, 2024, for a hearing. (Yonhap)

 Police have detained a man in his 70s for investigation on suspicions of aiding and abetting the suspect in the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, officials said Monday.

The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said the man was put under emergency detention the previous day on suspicions of helping the 67-year-old assailant, identified by his surname Kim, commit the crime, even though he was aware of the attack plan.

Kim stabbed Lee, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), in the neck with a camping knife in the southeastern city of Busan on Jan. 2. Lee underwent surgery to repair a major vein in his neck and has since been recovering at a hospital in Seoul.

Ahead of the crime, Kim had written an “excuse letter” to explain the motive of his crime and his political beliefs, and the 70-something man agreed to send the letter on Kim’s behalf by mail to an unspecified location, according to police.

Police plan to question him over whether he colluded with Kim in connection with the stabbing attack.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

$50,000 Reward Offered for Information Leading to Arrest of People Who Murdered Korean Tourist on Guam

The Tsubaki Tower area of Tumon Beach is actually a pretty nice tourism area on the island with some expensive resorts. These criminals must have figured anyone walking down the sidewalk there must of had money on them. Hopefully the Guam authorities catch whoever did this:

Police tape is seen wrapped around a pole in front of Tsubaki Towers  in Tamuning, Guam, Jan. 5,  after a fatal shooting on the previous day. AP-Yonhap

Police tape is seen wrapped around a pole in front of Tsubaki Towers in Tamuning, Guam, Jan. 5, after a fatal shooting on the previous day. AP-Yonhap

The authorities in the U.S. territory of Guam vowed Friday to bring to justice those who fatally shot a Korean visitor in a tourist district.

The shooting occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday when the traveler and his wife were walking toward Tsubaki Towers, a hotel on Guam’s popular Tumon Bay, from nearby Gun Beach, KUAM-TV reported, citing police.

An older model, dark-colored SUV approached them from behind, Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio said at a news conference.

A passenger holding a gun got of the vehicle and demanded they hand over their belongings, Ignacio said, adding, “A struggle ensued.”

The victim was taken to Guam Regional Medical City, where he died from his injuries the next morning. He had been visiting Guam while celebrating his retirement.

The Guam Visitors Bureau has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Tweet of the Day: Bad Backcountry Behavior By Italian Skiiers

Picture of the Day: ROK Marines Return to Yeonpyeong Island

Marines return to Yeonpyeong Island amid heightened tensions
Marines return to Yeonpyeong Island amid heightened tensions
Marines arrive at a dock at Yeonpyeong Island, a South Korean northwestern border island near the maritime border with North Korea, on Jan. 6, 2024. Tensions remain high after North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells from its western coast on Jan. 5-6. (Yonhap)