This footage shows the escaped wolf roaming the streets. (Yonhap)

South Korea is definitely in a tough spot and how they maneuver through it should be done in close coordination with Japan to create a more united front with another key U.S. ally:

Victor Cha

U.S. President Donald Trump could hit back at Korea by imposing more tariffs if Seoul secures an exemption from Iran for its ships’ transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. expert said Wednesday.

Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), made the remarks at a forum, noting that Seoul is faced with having to make the “least bad choice” among difficult options regarding its vessels stranded in shipping routes effectively blocked by Tehran.

Cha noted that Seoul engaging with Tehran to get its vessels through the waterway would be one of the less favorable options, a move that could “risk upsetting” Trump.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Since Iran has been using cluster bomb munitions it looks like North Korea wanted to show the world they have them too:

North Korea said Thursday that it has test-fired a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a cluster bomb warhead, claiming it can “reduce to ashes” any targeted areas with the highest-density power.

North Korea fired the surface-to-surface missile Hwasong-11Ka tipped with a cluster bomb warhead as part of its tests of “important” weapons systems that were conducted from Monday to Wednesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The test confirmed that the missile “can reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5-7 hectares with the highest-density power,” the KCNA said.

Korea Times

You can read more at that link.

If you think South Korea already has too many Chinese tourists, well it is about to get worse:

Repeat short-haul visits by Chinese travelers to Korea are expected to rise after Seoul eased multiple-entry visa rules, but analysts say the immediate impact may be limited because of growing competition from Southeast Asia and higher airfares linked to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

The Korean embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese nationals who had previously visited Korea would now be eligible for a five-year multiple-entry visa.

Those holding residency status in 14 major cities — including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou — could also apply for 10-year multiple-entry visas, the embassy said this week. Employees of Chinese companies that have invested at least $1 million in Korea were also eligible for 10-year multiple-entry visas.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

An intermediate-range ballistic missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead being launched Wednesday, in this photo released by Korea Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

As the war drags on expect more measures like this to be implemented:

Suwon Urban Development Corporation employees stage a publicity campaign at Jangan-dong Public Parking Lot in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Starting Wednesday, Seoul will roll out a “1-in-5” parking system in more than half of its public parking lots, meaning drivers can only park on certain days depending on their license plate numbers, city officials said Tuesday.

The move comes after the government raised the national oil resource security alert to “warning” and introduced emergency measures nationwide.

Under the system, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 or 6 will be barred on Mondays, 2 or 7 on Tuesdays, 3 or 8 on Wednesdays, 4 or 9 on Thursdays, and 5 or 0 on Fridays. The measure will not apply on weekends or public holidays.

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

Just like I predicted Kim Yo-jong’s recent statement about President Lee would be heralded as peace in our time is near and the North Koreans wasted no time pouring cold water on that assessment:

A North Korean official said Tuesday that a statement by Kim Yo-jong, issued after President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone incursions, should be seen as a clear warning, dismissing Seoul’s response as a “wishful interpretation.”

Jang Kum-chol, North Korea’s first vice foreign minister, issued a statement after Seoul officials positively assessed Kim’s statement Monday. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un described Lee as “frank and broad-minded” following his expression of regret over drone incursions by individuals into the North.

Jang said the South Korean side’s interpretation of the statement as an “unprecedented favorable response” would amount to a “pipe dream” and a “wishful interpretation,” 

“The core of the statement was a clear warning,” Jang said, adding that he interpreted Kim Yo-jong’s message as a call for South Korea to acknowledge its “wrongdoing” and refrain from approaching North Korea.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

That is what some are suggesting as the reason why North Korea has increased diplomacy with Russia and China in recent weeks:

North Korea has launched a diplomatic sprint in recent weeks, deepening ties with both China and Russia in what experts describe as a calculated bid to strengthen its bargaining position ahead of any engagement with the United States.

Long regarded as one of the world’s most isolated states — a reputation reinforced by years of pandemic-era border closures — Pyongyang moved quickly to normalize relations with its two most important partners while quietly maintaining outreach to Southeast Asian nations.

The moves come against the backdrop of a planned U.S.-China summit in May that is expected to touch on North Korea’s nuclear program and growing speculation about the possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit in the second half of the year.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.