It looks like Korean companies will be busy in the coming years supporting infrastructure upgrades in the Philippines:

 South Korea signed an agreement Monday to provide US$2 billion in financial assistance to the Philippines to support major infrastructure projects during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the nation, Yoon’s office said. 

The finance ministry signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Manila to offer the assistance through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), the low-rate loan program to support infrastructure projects in developing countries.

Under the agreement, the Seoul government will allocate $905 million worth of EDCF funds for the construction of the first section of the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network, which spans 37.5 kilometers of roads and embankments along Laguna Lake, near Manila. 

Additionally, $1 billion will be allocated for the construction of a 13-km bridge connecting the three central Philippine islands of Panay, Guimaras and Negros.

It marks the largest EDCF project with the Southeast Asian nation. Bidding for these projects will be open to South Korean companies.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but Asian countries should probably look more to Korea or Japan for economic assistance rather than China. When China gives out economic assistance they try to bury countries into debt traps to get major concessions out them such hosting military bases or cutting ties with China.

The Philippines sent an entire battalion that saw heavy combat during the Korean War:

President Yoon Suk Yeol began his state visit to the Philippines on Sunday by honoring fallen soldiers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War and meeting with Korean nationals in the nation. 

Yoon visited the Korean War Memorial Pylon at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila with first lady Kim Keon Hee on the first day of his two-day trip focused on strengthening economic and security ties. 

“South Korea and the Philippines have maintained close, friendly relations, and the Philippines was the first country in Asia and the fifth in the world to establish diplomatic ties with us back in 1949,” Yoon said in a meeting with Korean nationals in Manila.

The Philippines dispatched around 7,400 troops to the Korean War to help defend South Korea, with 112 soldiers killed and 299 wounded.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link. You can also read more about the Philippines’ PEFTOK battalion that served during the Korean War at the below link:

It looks like Putin has found some more cannon fodder for his war in Ukraine:

Six North Korean officers were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on their position along the Russian frontline of the occupied Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian news reports on Friday.   
  
Ukrainian military intelligence officials who were quoted anonymously by the Kyiv Post and Interfax-Ukraine said over 20 military personnel, including the North Korean officers, were killed in the strike. 
  
Russian military bloggers reported earlier in the day that North Korean military officers were visiting the frontline to see how Russian forces set up defensive positions and were “preparing for assault operations” before the Ukrainian missile struck. 
  
According to the Russian Telegram channel Kremlin Snuffbox, three North Korean officers were also injured in the strike and were sent to Moscow to be treated.

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

More legal problems for the Moon family:

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party criticized former President Moon Jae-in’s daughter Sunday after she was booked the previous night for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol.

Rep. Kim Jang-kyom said in a Facebook post that Moon Da-hye should have listened to what her father said during his time in office that drunk driving amounts to an act of murder. 

“The one who lived together with her at Cheong Wa Dae said drunk driving amounts to murder,” Kim said, referring to the former presidential compound. “Even though her father said a lot of nonsense, she should listen to what she should listen to.” (……..)

According to police, Moon Da-hye’s car collided with a taxi while she was changing lanes in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul’s Yongsan district at 2:51 a.m., causing minor injuries to the taxi driver. Her blood alcohol concentration was reportedly measured at 0.14 percent, well above the 0.08 percent threshold for license revocation.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but Moon Da-hye is in more legal trouble than just this DUI. When Moon was elected President Moon Da-hye and her now ex-husband moved to Thailand for an executive position with T’Way Airlines. A position he had no experience or qualifications to attain. Coincidentally the owner of T’Way was later appointed to a high ranking government position. Prosecutors are investigating former President Moon for bribery to determine if his son-in-law was given the executive job in return for T’Way’s owner getting the government position.

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

This has been one of the cyber crime areas that North Korea has been using to raise revenue:

 South Korea and the United States have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in combating North Korea’s stealing of virtual assets, the presidential office here said Thursday.

According to the office, Wang Yun-jong, the third deputy national security adviser, visited Washington from Monday to Wednesday and discussed the issue with Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies.

Their talks also covered internet of things security and maritime cybersecurity.

Wang also attended the fourth round of meetings by the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) for in-depth discussions on responding to ransomware and bolstering international cooperation in that area.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.