At this point Israel should just let these people stay in Gaza and see how much they enjoy Hamas’ hospitality:

Crew of “Conscience,” a Gaza-bound vessel which is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, sit aboard the boat as they are intercepted by Israeli security forces, in this screengrab obtained from a video released, Wednesday. Reuters-Yonhap

The foreign ministry said Wednesday it has requested Israel to promptly release a ship carrying a South Korean activist that was seized by the Israeli military while approaching Gaza.

According to local civic groups and foreign news reports, the Israeli military intercepted a nine- or 11-boat flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea early Wednesday (local time) trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza and detained scores of activists aboard, and a South Korean national, named Kim Ah-hyun, was one of them.

The 145 activists, who were in good health, were being brought to shore in Israel for processing and are expected to be deported soon, they said, citing the Israeli foreign ministry.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Good luck trying to get the ROK to reorient any of their defense strategy towards China. The ROK received large economic retaliation from China just for hosting a U.S. THAAD. Could you imagine the retaliation if the ROK started reorienting defenses such as long range strike missiles towards China?:

Many South Korean defense capabilities could contribute to deterring an assertive China, a senior Pentagon official said Tuesday, stressing that the United States’ defense priorities should focus on addressing the “most serious” military threat of the Asian superpower.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for East Asia John Noh, the nominee for assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, made the remarks in his written answers to advance questions from the Senate Committee on Armed Services, asserting the need for South Korea and other allies to “dramatically” increase their defense spending and take greater responsibility for regional security.

“While the ROK should focus primarily on leading the U.S.-ROK alliance’s conventional deterrence against the DPRK, many capabilities could also contribute to a deterrence of China,” Noh said. ROK and DPRK stand for the respective official names of South Korea and North Korea, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“Capabilities, such as long-range fires, integrated air and missile defense, space and electronic warfare capabilities, could provide a meaningful impact to strengthen deterrence in the region against both threats,” he added.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Here will be the latest addition to the ROK military:

The South Korean military has chosen the U.S.-based defense firm L3Harris Technologies to supply surveillance aircraft in a $2.2 billion agreement Tuesday. The South Korean military expects delivery of the aircraft by 2032 and will employ them against “increasing aerial threats from North Korea and other regional countries,” according to a news release from the Seoul-based Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

An agency spokesman reached by phone Thursday declined to provide additional details on the agreement. The agreement revolves around four Bombardier Global 6500 jets modified with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, South Korean news outlets Yonhap News and Chosun Ilbo reported Tuesday.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

It looks like Japan’s new incoming Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has a strong advocate for her leadership in the White House:

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the choice of conservative Sanae Takaichi to be Japan’s first female prime minister, calling her a person of “wisdom and strength.”

“Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

“This is tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan. Congratulations to all!”

Media reports have said that Trump is expected to visit its key Asian ally in late October.

Takaichi hailed a “new era” Saturday after becoming head of Japan’s ruling party, putting her on course to become the country’s first female prime minister.

The 64-year-old, whose hero is Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, said that a “mountain of work” lay ahead to restore the fortunes of her ailing Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan Times

You can read more at the link.

A very different Chuseok experience for former President Yoon and his wife this year:

Then-President Yoon Suk Yeol and then-first lady Kim Keon Hee celebrate the Chuseok holiday in this video message released in 2023. Courtesy of the Presidential Office

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, spent their first Chuseok in jail without any special meal, according to the Ministry of Justice, Monday.

Until last year, the ministry’s Korea Correctional Service provided inmates with special meals during the mid-autumn harvest festival that falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, as well as during the Lunar New Year, in accordance with the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Inmates.

Due to budget cuts for special meals in prisons this year, however, the agency stopped offering special food during Chuseok and the Lunar New Year.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.