Only in Korea does the holiday season mean that once again we get to see the annual pictures of half naked Marines frolicking in the snow:
U.S. and South Korean Marines get airborne during a short workout at Pyeongchang, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. MARCUS FICHTL/STARS AND STRIPES
About 400 U.S. and South Korean Marines took a break from honing their winter-warfare skills Tuesday for some friendly competition in the city that will host the upcoming Winter Olympics.
After doffing their shirts and yelling half-naked in the snow, the allies teamed up to battle each other in chicken fights, relay races and a free-for-all wrestling match.
It was a bit of levity to wrap up a tense year on the Korean Peninsula that saw more than 20 North Korean ballistic-missile tests, two underground nuclear blasts and an ongoing bitter war of words between Washington and Pyongyang. [Stars & Stripes]
Undeterred trekkers head toward the snow-covered Baekdudaegan, a trail of mountains that starts in North Korea and continues to Mount Jiri in South Korea’s southwest, on Nov. 26, 2017, from the entry point in PyeongChang, east of Seoul. Much of the city and its vicinity saw heavy snowfall overnight, up to 16.2 centimeters in some parts. (Yonhap)
Climbers take a photo on the snow-capped Daegwanryeong in Pyeongchang, about 180 kilometers east of Seoul, on Nov. 4, 2017, after the first snow of the fall fell on the mountains of Gangwon Province. (Yonhap)
This photo taken on Jan. 6, 2017, shows mountains near the northeastern port city of Sokcho being covered with snow as the region received heavy snowfall overnight, creating postcard scenery. (Yonhap)
Climbers take pictures on the summit of Mount Deokyu in Muju, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 11, 2016, as the season’s first snow fell on the 1,614-meter mountain, in this photo provided by the office of Mount Deokyu National Park. The first snow with a precipitation of 3 centimeters was 15 days earlier than usual. (Yonhap)
The nation will likely experience its coldest weather conditions so far on the weekend.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said on Wednesday that the cold wave will abate temporarily on Thursday and Friday, but a severe cold spell will grip the nation from Saturday to Monday.
The weather agency forecast that many parts of the nation will have the coldest weather on Sunday.
The cold wave is expected to begin easing up starting next Tuesday. [KBS World Radio]
