It is pretty clear that the North Korean regime was sending a message to the Trump administration with these missile launches to not try to launch an operation against Kim Jong-un like what was done to Maduro. Honestly as long as Kim Jong-un doesn’t threaten America Trump will leave him alone:
North Korea’s Missile Administration conducts a test launch of a new missile on Oct. 22, 2025, in this combined file photo released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency the next day.
The launch of missiles came as President Lee Jae Myung was set to depart for Beijing for summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It also came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a large-scale military strike.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from near Pyongyang at around 7:50 a.m.
The missiles flew some 900 kilometers, the JCS said, adding the South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing the exact details of the launch.
The missiles reportedly landed at sea, according to a JCS official.
Before President Lee’s trip to China he is making sure to say all the right things to appease Emperor President Xi:
President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that South Korea’s position to respect the “one-China” policy regarding Taiwan issues remains unchanged, as he is set to pay a state visit to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.
Lee made the remarks in an interview with China’s CCTV as tensions between China and Taiwan have flared anew after Beijing staged military drills near the self-ruled island earlier this week following Washington’s announcement of a large-scale weapons package for Taipei.
“I can clearly say that I, myself, respect ‘one China,’ and that peace and stability is very important regarding Northeast Asia and surrounding issues, including cross-strait matters,” he said.
He added, “When it comes to the Taiwan issue, which is the biggest pending issue for China, there is no change in (South Korea’s) position to respect the one-China (policy).”
You can read more at the link, but the major issue with China is not the “One China” policy, it is them saying they reserve the right to forcibly make Taiwan rejoin mainland China. If there is any country in the world that should speak out against being forcibly annexed by a Communist attack it is South Korea. The ROK was first attacked by North Korea and then attacked again by China during the Korean War to Communize the entire peninsula. I wish someone in the media would ask President Lee what his position is on China attacking Taiwan? If he is indifferent to it then a reporter should follow up by asking him if international forces should have been indifferent to South Korea’s plight during the Korean War?
The only government showing leadership on this issue is the Japanese with Prime Minister Takaichi recently speaking out against attacking Taiwan which has drawn condemnation and retaliation from Beijing. If everyone in the region and beyond spoke out against a Chinese attack on Taiwan they can’t condemn and retaliate against everyone and would actually make war less likely. If China senses international weakness and feel they can get away with attacking Taiwan with little repercussions they would likely do it.
Today’s discussion underscored a simple truth: the threat on this peninsula is modernizing, so our alliance must modernize faster. Across UNC, CFC, and USFK, we are integrating, exercising, and innovating to ensure credible deterrence every day. pic.twitter.com/hssCP2XDQ6
I did not realize that the ROK Marine Corps fell under the control of the ROK Army. Well that is about to soon change:
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back gives a red name tag to a conscript at the Marine Corps Education and Training Group in the southeastern port city of Pohang on Dec. 26, 2025, in this photo provided by his office. (Yonhap)
The operational control of two Marine divisions, now governed by the Army, will be restored to the Marine Corps for the first time in 50 years as part of a military overhaul, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
The move is designed to ensure the independence of the Marine Corps by fully restoring its operational control over its military units.
Under the plan, the operational control of the 1st Marine Division and the 2nd Marine Division will be returned to the Marine Corps by the end of 2026 and 2028, respectively.
The operation control of the 1st Marine Division currently lies with the Army’s commander of the 2nd Operation Command, while that of the 2nd Marine Division is subject to control of the Army’s Capital Corps.
That is a question the Korea Times decided to look into and this is what was determined:
Navy officer Lee Jee-ho, center, is seen with his father Lee Jae-yong, right, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, and his grandmother Hong Ra-hee, director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, during the commissioning ceremony held at the Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on Nov. 28. Yonhap
Another factor that may have influenced the choices of chaebol heirs is the changing social image of Korea’s military institutions. In recent years, the Army has been embroiled in repeated political controversies and organizational challenges which have taken a toll on its public standing. Issues related to soldiers’ rights, problematic remarks and issues with leadership accountability have fueled criticism that political considerations are increasingly overshadowing the core principles of military professionalism.
By contrast, the Navy has largely remained insulated from such controversies, preserving a stable organizational culture centered on professionalism and international cooperation. This distinction naturally leads chaebol families, who tend to weigh service conditions carefully and consider long-term implications, to view the Navy favorably.
For chaebol offspring, serving as a naval officer can therefore be seen not merely as the fulfillment of an honorable duty, but as an opportunity to accumulate skills and experience essential for future business leadership. In today’s global business environment where collaboration with international clients, partners, and governments is indispensable, international awareness, organizational management capability and crisis leadership are critical assets.
Naval service offers hands-on exposure to complex operational planning, coordination among diverse teams and sustained interaction with foreign counterparts, allowing these competencies to develop organically. For heirs expected to one day lead major corporations or expand global networks, such experience constitutes invaluable real-world training.
You can read more at the link, but I tend to agree with the analysis that the many global engagements the ROK Navy does compared to serving in the other military branches is probably what makes it more appealing to these chaebol heirs. With that said I think it is pretty cool that these heirs are doing their mandatory service and not trying to skip out on it.
N.K. leader inspects factory producing multiple rocket launchers North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (facing camera, rear) inspects a munitions factory producing multiple rocket launchers, in this undated photo released by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 30, 2025. Kim called for more production of the weapon system that can be used as a “strategic attack means,” the KCNA reported, without elaborating on the date of his inspection and the factory’s location. (Yonhap)
