There have been many ROK soldiers that have committed suicide serving on the DMZ, all evidence seems to point to this being the case once again:
In light of rumors about the death of a South Korean solider in a heavily fortified cross-border region last week, the military suggested that the death was an apparent suicide unrelated to the North Korean military.
In light of rumors about the death of a South Korean solider in the heavily fortified inter-Korean border region last week, the military has suggested the death was an apparent suicide unrelated to the North Korean military.
According to the Army, a 21-year-old private first class was found dead Friday at a guard post in the eastern section of the Demilitarized Zone. The soldier’s body was found hours after he was sent for night duty to monitor thermal observation devices installed along the DMZ.
On Sunday, the Army said security cameras showed the soldier had walked alone into a restroom after receiving live ammunition at the gate to the guard post. The soldier’s smartphone also showed records of searches for the term “suicide,” the Army added.
“Only one rifle and an empty shell were found inside the restroom,” the Army said in a text message to reporters, suggesting there was no evidence of forced entry or an attack by outsiders. [Korea Herald via a reader tip]
You can read more at the link.
It was a common sight to see ROK Army units ruck marching across the terrain north of Seoul, but it appears it may be coming to an end according to Dr. Tara O writing for the East Asia Research Center:
The Republic of Korea (ROK) Army plans to supply all its infantry, down to the squad level, with wheeled combat vehicles, including Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), according to YTN’s article titled “Army to Supply Armored Vehicles to Infantry…Will Ruck Marches Disappear?” (……)
There are some positive aspects of incorporating new technology on the battlefield. There is also room for combining mechanized infantry with light infantry. Previous commanders have probably thought hard about the right force mix, if hostilities were ever renewed.
Even if new analysis suggested a need for a change in force mix, converting all light infantry units, which is the majority (65%) of the infantry in the ROK Army, into heavy, mechanized infantry units is problematic. The main element that has been ignored is the terrain of the Korean Peninsula. [East Asia Research Center]
You can read more at the link, but if this moves forward I agree with Dr. O that this a major strategic security concern to not have hardened light infantry units trained to fight in Korea’s mountainous terrain. The way things are going I would not be surprised if in the coming years the Moon administration tries to do away with the mandatory service requirement because “peace” has been declared with North Korea.
Ryeowook, a member of K-pop boy group Super Junior, gets his certificate of work experience during military service as he is discharged from the Army at a base in Jeungpyeong, North Chungcheong Province, on July 10, 2018, after completing his mandatory draft. (Yonhap)
ROK-US Combined Forces Command has a new Deputy Chief of Staff! ROK Army MG Cho, Young-Jin received the Legion of Merit before relinquishing responsibility to ROK Army MG Shin, Sang-Bum. MG Shin will work side-by-side with LTG Michael A. Bills, who serves both as the CFC Chief of Staff and the Eighth Army-Korea Commanding General. Welcome to the team MG Shin! [USFK Facebook]
This sounds like another ploy to smear people connected to the Park administration disliked by the South Korean left:
Top military officials seriously considered suppressing a nationwide candlelight vigil by force after former President Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly in late 2016, the Center for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK) claimed Thursday.
Citing sources in the military, the CMHRK said senior officials, including Major General Koo Hong-mo, discussed in detail scenarios of quelling millions of street protesters across the nation.
“It is very shocking that they considered using military forces to quell the peaceful protest,” the center said. “The military mapped out a plan to trample on citizens with guns and swords in order to suck up to those in power like they did 40 years ago in Gwangju. It is tantamount to a rebellion conspiracy.”
If the Constitutional Court had dismissed the Assembly’s impeachment motion, the officials would have put that plan into action, according to the center. But in March 2017, the court ruled unanimously to remove the former president from office. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but does anyone really think the ROK Army was going to attack candlelight protesters with swords? Only a leftist living in a fantasy land would think that. If anything there was probably plans being made to assist the riot police with crowd control not a Gwangju style military action that this is being made out to be.
A group of soldiers enjoys a game at Inje Ice Fishing Festival on the frozen Soyang Lake in Inje, Gangwon Province, on Jan. 31, 2018. (Yonhap)
A group of new cadets receive basic military training at the Armed Forces Nursing Academy in the central city of Daejeon on Jan. 22, 2018, with an assistant instructor watching them. (Yonhap)
In this photo released by the Army, an Apache attack helicopter launches a Hellfire air-to-surface missile toward the Jik Islet bombing range off Gunsan on South Korea’s western coast on Nov. 13, as the South Korean Army carries out its first live-fire exercise involving the firing of Hellfire air-to-surface missiles in a bid to beef up its capability to fight in the air. (Yonhap)
South Korean soldiers dispatched to Lebanon as U.N. peace-keeping forces hold a joint memorial service for their ancestors on the Chuseok holiday on Oct. 4, 2017, in this photo provided by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Yonhap)
This sounds like a complete amateur hour if the accusation is true:
A Korean soldier stationed in the inter-Korean border county of Cheorwon, in Gangwon Province, died of a mysterious gunshot to his head on Tuesday, the latest in a series of fatal incidents there.
The victim, 22, whose name was not released, was returning to his platoon with about 20 soldiers and their commander after working when the bullet hit him. Who fired the bullet and where it came from are unknown.
The incident occurred about 4:10 p.m. The soldier was taken to hospital but died at 5:20 p.m.
The bullet most likely came from a military shooting range within 400 meters of the incident site, media reports said.
But a netizen who claimed to be a family member of the victim said the commander was responsible for the death. The family member, who was with the victim’s body at the Armed Forces Medical Command in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, said the platoon commander led the solders “right across the shooting range while shooting practice was in progress.” [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link on how the ROK Army has had a series of unusual shooting deaths.
