Here is what one Korean think tank thinks will not happen this New Year:

North Korea is unlikely to test-fire a long-range missile as widely feared because the move would leave Pyongyang without many options and could force the United States to switch to a hard-line approach to the communist nation, a state-run think tank said Wednesday.

The assessment by the Korea Institute for National Unification came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with the North warning of an unwanted “Christmas gift” to the United States in case Washington fails to come up with a new proposal by year’s end.

Amid speculation over a possible intercontinental ballistic missile launch (ICBM) as the unwelcome gift, Hong Min, a research fellow at the institute, said Pyongyang would refrain from test-firing a mid or long-range missile this year.

An ICBM launch would “greatly reduce” the options that the North could take and “put the United States in a situation where it cannot help but switch to a hard-line side,” the expert said.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but if the North Koreans do conduct a near time rocket launch I believe they will not call it an ICBM test, but instead a space launch. They will claim every nation has the right to the peaceful use of space. Additionally this gives the Chinese and Russians diplomatic cover to block any additional sanctions at the United Nations.

As I expected, it appears the Chinese want the North Koreans to start a provocation cycle in hopes of politically damaging the Trump administration:

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, apparently failed to meet with North Korean officials during his visit to Beijing Friday and was expected to depart for home yesterday night.

Biegun touched down in Beijing Thursday for a two-day trip, and there was speculation he may meet North Korean officials there amid stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang. But Yonhap reported that Biegun appeared not to have met anyone from the North.

Neither Beijing nor Washington made any official announcement on Biegun’s Chinese visit as of 8 p.m. press time Friday, but Biegun is known to have stressed to Chinese officials that it was crucial to keep maximum pressure on the Pyongyang regime and asked for help in bringing the North back to the dialogue table.

While Biegun was visiting China, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm him as deputy secretary of state on Thursday, and with that, he became the second-highest individual in the State Department after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. 

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

Here is what the Korean government plans to do to try and drop real estate prices in Seoul:

The government is facing a severe public backlash following the announcement of its latest measures to curb rising real estate prices in Seoul, which many experts claim skew toward demand-side regulations.

The experts said the government should consider supplying more homes in Seoul’s affluent areas, describing the lopsided policies focusing on taxes and loan control as a violation of free market principles. 

The set of rules announced Monday includes raising property taxes on multiple homeowners, banning mortgage lending on properties worth over 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million) and driving down the requirement for the loan-to-value ratio from 40 percent to 20 percent on those valued at 900 million won or higher but less than 1.5 billion won.

While legal and economic experts defined the regulations as unconstitutional and anti-market approaches, progressive civic groups claimed the policies are not effective enough to achieve their intended goals.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but as long as supply of housing is low in the central Seoul area and demand is high, the prices will continue to increase. Here is what the Seoul Mayor wants to do:

He also criticized Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon for his remarks that the government should triple the comprehensive real estate holding tax and the ownership of real estate should be shared among citizens.

So if real estate is shared among citizens does that mean that people can just walk into Lee Myung-hee’s home, that is considered the most expensive in Seoul, and hang out?

Mr. Biegun obviously understands the only one with enough leverage to get North Korea back to the negotiating table is China. Good luck with that:

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun is set to ask senior Chinese government officials for China’s help to restart the stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang, a senior ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker said.

“Biegun used his high-profile meetings with senior Seoul officials as an opportunity to highlight U.S. readiness to apply quite flexible and inventive ways to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table. He is likely to convey these ideas he discussed with South Korean officials to Chinese officials. Simply, Biegun would ask China for Beijing’s help to resume the denuclearization talks,” the lawmaker who is involved with the matter told The Korea Times, Wednesday.

The State Department announced the U.S. envoy for the North will visit Beijing on Thursday and Friday after China and Russia proposed lifting some United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on the North. The department said Biegun will discuss “the need to maintain international unity on North Korea” when he meets with Chinese officials.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but it seems North Korean provocations is actually in China’s interest and probably encouraging the upcoming provocation cycle.

The Stars & Stripes has an article about the curfew ending and here is a quote from the Provost Marshall on Osan Airbase I found interesting:

“We continue to be disappointed with the actions of a few individuals, mainly soldiers going out and getting into fights at night,” provost marshal Col. John Fivian told Stars and Stripes on Monday at USFK headquarters on Camp Humphreys.

He said problems were more noticeable in South Korea because troops who get into trouble are usually turned over to their commands; in the U.S., they would be dealt with by local authorities.

Stars & Stripes

I am sure the Provost understands this, but if servicemembers are arrested off base it is more nuanced than stating they are just handed over to their commands. Here is what the SOFA says:

The US retained custody until the completion of all judicial proceedings, including appeals prior to 2001. Under the revised SOFA, the ROK may now receive custody upon indictment if it requests in any one of twelve categories of serious cases. Such cases include murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, drug trafficking or manufacturing, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and cases of assaults, drunk driving or fleeing the scene of an accident that result in death. In very serious cases of murder or rape, if the Korean police arrest a SOFA accused in the act, in hot pursuit, or before he or she returns to military control, they may retain custody.

US-ROK SOFA Pamphlet

For minor crimes, yes servicemembers are usually handed over back to their commands, but for major crimes the Korean authorities can keep them in custody.

Condolences to his friends and family:

 A 2nd Infantry Division soldier who worked as a mortuary affairs specialist was found dead Sunday in his barracks room, the Army said Thursday. The cause of death is under investigation.

Staff Sgt. Deontae D. Allen, 27, of Kansas City, Mo., was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene on Camp Humphreys by emergency medical personnel on Sunday, according to a press release.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

This is a neat idea:

Mini-gardens have become synonymous with urban regeneration projects in Seoul. Some, like the new solar garden at Jonggak Station on Seoul Metro Line 1, are popping up underground.

The solar garden ― small but claimed to be the world’s first solar-powered subterranean park ― opened in an underground passageway at Jonggak Station last Friday, placed right in front of the Jongno Book Store and a row of booths selling handcrafted goods made by young artists. 

Mandarin trees and verdant bushes grow under natural sunlight, emitted from eight ceiling apertures connected to light-collecting dishes installed directly above at Jongno Tower Square on the ground. The ceiling is dotted with backup LED lights used at night or on cloudy days. 

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.