It looks like President Lee wants to be like the U.K. and start jailing people for online speech he does not agree with:

President Lee Jae Myung called Sunday for a public debate on introducing tougher measures against those who post hateful and derogatory content online or engage in such behavior. 

Lee made the remarks in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing a report that young people believed to be linked to a far-right online forum had engaged in provocative acts mocking former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun near the site of a memorial ceremony held on the anniversary of his death.

“There are differing views on whether expressions that incite social division and conflict through mockery and insults, such as (those seen on) Ilbe, should be protected under freedom of expression or (face) sanctions, including punishment,” Lee said in the post.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but the recent Starbucks controversy was brought up in the article. So does President Lee think the Korean Starbucks CEO should be sent to jail for a bad promotion event?

Great job by all the individuals and groups recognized during the recent USFK Good Neighbors awards:

The sponsor of a long-running student exchange program, a U.S. soldier who organizes environmental cleanups and a corporation promoting cultural outreach were among those honored as “good neighbors” by U.S. Forces Korea. The 23rd annual USFK Good Neighbor Award ceremony, held Tuesday at the Morning Calm Center, recognized 33 service members, civilians and organizations for strengthening ties between the United States and South Korea.

The event celebrates community outreach and cultural exchanges that reinforce the alliance at the “human level,” USFK deputy commander, Air Force Lt. Gen. David Iverson, said during keynote remarks. This year’s top Korean individual award went to Chung Sung-mok, a sponsor and co-president of the Korean American Friendship Circle.

Stars and Stripes

You can read more at the link.

Please leave anything you want to discuss in the comments section.

I have hiked the mountains outside of Yokota Airbase many times in the past and fortunately I have never even seen a bear though the bear warning signs are often posted at the trailheads:

A Russian man was mauled by a bear on a trail near the home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo over the weekend, according to Japanese officials. The hiker was walking alone near Mount Minokido, 25 miles west of Yokota Air Base, when the animal attacked shortly before noon on Sunday, Okutama town announced in a news release that day. Officials have closed part of a trail and advised hikers to avoid the area, the release said. The bear bit the hiker on his left cheek and clawed his left shoulder, an official from the town’s tourism and industry division told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. Police and hunters are patrolling the area and set up traps, but they have not captured the bear, the official said.

Stars and Stripes

You can read more at the link.

President Xi is on a diplomatic flurry after first hosting Trump, then Putin, and now he is going to meet with Kim Jong-un:

Chinese President Xi Jinping will likely visit North Korea as early as next week, sources said Wednesday.

“We have obtained intelligence indicating that President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea soon,” a high-ranking government official told Yonhap News Agency.

Another government official also said there is a high possibility of Xi visiting North Korea later this month or early next month, noting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Pyongyang last month and the recent trips by Xi’s security guards and ceremonial staff to the North Korean capital.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

The long awaited nuclear submarine project for South Korea is finally moving forward:

The military has initiated the formal process to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, a Navy document showed Wednesday, amid little progress in security talks with the United States over Seoul’s push for the project.

The Navy recently submitted the document to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) outlining the need for the program and specifying requirements, such as desired capabilities, the number of systems needed and projected deployment schedules, according to the document provided to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the main opposition People Power Party.

The U.S. gave approval for South Korea to build nuclear-powered attack submarines and committed to working with Seoul to advance requirements for the project, including avenues to source fuel, under a joint fact sheet released after a summit of the allies’ leaders.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but the ROK is planning to build 4 nuclear submarines that should be complete by the mid-to-late 20230’s.

I will be surprised if the Japanese court believes this defense. If this holds up every rapist will be claiming they were sleepwalking to justify their crimes:

A U.S. Marine accused of sexually assaulting a Japanese woman and injuring another will rely on a defense of insanity due to a sleep disorder when his case comes to trial in June, his attorney said Wednesday. Pfc. Austin Wedington, 28, of California, should not be held responsible for an incident prosecutors allege occurred on March 18, 2025, according to a Feb. 12 filing by attorney Tetsu Amakata in Naha District Court.

Amakata’s pleading was partially read in court by Presiding Judge Tomohiko Shinomiya on Wednesday. The defendant was showing symptoms of parasomnia and was in a state of insanity during every act he is accused of in the indictment, according to Amakata’s filing. Parasomnia is an umbrella term for disruptive sleep disorders that include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, sleep talking and sleep paralysis, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Article 39 of Japan’s penal code states that “actions due to insanity are not subject to punishment.” Wedington pleaded not guilty Nov. 18 to forcible sexual intercourse and guilty to injuring the second woman before a three-judge panel presided over by Judge Kazuhiko Obata.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.