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After Leak of Secret Documents, South Korea to Raise Spying Allegations With U.S.

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South Korean officials said Sunday they will “come up with our response accordingly” after revelations that the U.S. reportedly spied on its close ally and gathered signals intelligence related to South Korea‘s internal debate over weapons sales to the U.S., and Seoul‘s fears that those weapons would ultimately end up in Ukraine.

Officials in Seoul said they’ll raise the alleged spying — which came to light as part of a major leak of sensitive documents over the weekend — with their U.S. counterparts.

For both countries, the timing is delicate. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to visit Washington and join President Biden for a state dinner at the White House on April 26.

“We will review precedents and instances involving other countries, and come up with our response accordingly,” a South Korean presidential official said Sunday after being asked about the revelations, according to the country’s Yonhap News Agency.

The New York Times first reported the leak Friday. (Read more from “After Leak of Secret Documents, South Korea to Raise Spying Allegations With U.S.” HERE)

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Identical Twins, Raised in US, Foreign Country, Guess Which One Had a Much Higher IQ

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A pair of identical twins who were raised in separate countries have displayed unexpectedly large disparities in cognitive abilities while exhibiting highly similar personality traits. A comparison of the monozygotic sibling’s characteristics sheds new light on the age-old nature/nurture debate.

Growing up stateside, the adopted twin was unaware that she even had any siblings until she submitted her DNA to South Korea’s program for reuniting family members in 2018. Two years later, she received word that she not only had an identical twin, but an older brother and sister too.

Having been reunited, the twins then completed a series of tests designed to assess their intelligence, personality profiles, mental health, and medical history. Somewhat surprisingly, results revealed that the IQ of the twin raised in the US was 16 points lower than that of the Korean-raised sibling.

The finding, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, contradicts previous studies on monozygotic twins, which have indicated an average IQ difference of no more than seven points. Commenting on the unexpectedly large gulf between the two sisters, the study authors write that “it is striking that the twins showed substantial differences in cognitive abilities that have been linked to strong genetic influence.” . . .

“Notable is that both twins are distinctively high on Conscientiousness, indicating that both are purposeful, well-organized, dutiful, and achievement-striving.” That these similarities persisted despite the sisters’ contrasting life experiences and home environments is interesting, and highlights the role that genetics play in determining a person’s temperament. (Read more from “Identical Twins, Raised in US, Foreign Country, Guess Which One Had a Much Higher IQ” HERE)

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The US Is Preparing for the Possibility of War With China — In Space

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The U.S. launched a Space Force unit in South Korea Tuesday, the latest development in preparations for the possibility of a future war spilling into space, where China is seen as the largest threat.

U.S. leaders and defense officials have shifted their focus to space in recent years, exemplified by the creation of the Space Force three years ago as of Dec. 20 under former President Donald Trump, and highlighted China as the major challenge. China, Russia and other major rivals have demonstrated technological advancements enabling them to take down satellites and conduct war in the space domain, according to media reports, upping pressure on the Pentagon to enhance its own defense capabilities in space.

The latest Pentagon report on China’s rising military power concluded Beijing likely intends space defense architecture to deter and counter any foreign intervention in regional conflict, alluding to expectations the U.S. may intervene if China moves militarily against Taiwan.

The Space Force’s inauguration and championing under the Biden administration is the “single most important thing” to consider in how the U.S. is preparing to deter, and possibly fight with, China, Tom DiNanno, an adjunct fellow for national security at the Hudson Institute, told the DCNF.

Space Forces Korea, the force’s first foreign command, is tasked with detecting and tracking incoming missiles and serve as a deterrent to Pyongyang and Beijing against aggression toward the U.S. and its regional allies, according to CNN. (Read more from “The US Is Preparing for the Possibility of War With China — In Space” HERE)

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Austin, South Korean Defense Chief Issue Stark Warning After Fresh North Korean Missile Barrage

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart vowed Thursday that any nuclear attack from North Korea against the United States or South Korea would mean the end of the Kim Jong-un regime. The statement came hours after Pyongyang launched a fresh missile barrage that included a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that has sent tensions soaring across the region.

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup was in Washington on Thursday for previously scheduled high-level talks. Topping the agenda was the record number of launches by Pyongyang this week, including nearly two dozen missiles on Wednesday alone, the most in a single day. The North has said its latest display — which some see as a prelude to a nuclear weapons test — is in protest of U.S.-South Korean military exercises that it considers a threat to its security.

Pak Jong-chon, secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, said in a statement that it was Washington and Seoul that were “shoving” the situation out of control with the decision to extend substantial military drills that kicked off Monday.

“The United States and South Korea will find that they have made a terrible mistake that cannot be reversed,” Mr. Pak said.

The joint U.S.-South Korean statement is “a strong warning” to North Korea, Mr. Lee told reporters during a joint press conference at the Pentagon. The two allies announced that the training exercises would not only continue but be extended beyond their scheduled closing date. (Read more from “Austin, South Korean Defense Chief Issue Stark Warning After Fresh North Korean Missile Barrage” HERE)

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Kim Jong-Un’s Sister Threatens to Nuke South Korea

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Kim Yo-jong, the powerful and influential sister of communist North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, threatened to use nuclear weapons against South Korea on Tuesday after South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook discussed his military’s ability to “accurately and swiftly” strike targets in the North.

Suh made his comments on Friday while attending a ceremony at the South Korean Army Missile Strategic Command base in Wonju.

“Currently, our military possesses large numbers and various types of missiles that have greatly improved in terms of ranges, accuracy and power, and it has capabilities to accurately and swiftly strike any targets in North Korea,” Suh told his troops.

Suh said South Korea has the ability to strike the “origin of any attack and its command and support facilities,” a comment widely interpreted as a warning to North Korea, which conducted a provocative missile test in late March. (Read more from “Kim Jong-Un’s Sister Threatens to Nuke South Korea” HERE)

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One of World’s Most Populous, Most Vaccinated Nations Suddenly Erupts With COVID After Two Years of Almost No Cases

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By Daily Caller. South Korea is suddenly experiencing a huge wave of Omicron subvariant BA.2 cases after very few reported cases of COVID-19 since February 2020.

The country is home to 52 million people and is currently averaging 400,000 cases per day, according to Hot Air. On March 17, the number of reported cases rose by 55%, totaling 621,328 with 429 deaths in the same 24-hour period, reported the Washington Post.

To put into context how enormous this outbreak is, Hot Air stated that it is the equivalent of 2.5 million cases per day in the United States if adjusted for population. The highest number of Omicron cases in the U.S. last year was 800,000 per day, so South Korea is currently experiencing nearly three times the number of cases per capita, the outlet continued. (Read more from “One of World’s Most Populous Nations Suddenly Erupts With COVID After Two Years of Almost No Cases” HERE)

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South Korea is One of the Most Vaccinated Countries in the World

By Amy Mek. [T]he number of severe cases has tripled, despite more than 92 percent of South Korean adults being fully “vaccinated.”

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) registered more than 7850 new cases on Tuesday, setting a new daily record. The following day they reported 7,622 cases, and last week, more than 7,000 cases were reported for the first time.

The number of serious cases has reached an all-time high, with some 87 percent of intensive care unit beds taken up in the Seoul metropolitan area and about 81 percent in use nationwide. In addition, many ‘breakthrough infections’ are registered. (Read more from “One of the Most Populous, Most Vaccinated Countries Explodes with COVID” HERE)

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South Korea Scrambles Jets as Chinese, Russian Aircraft Enter Air Defense Zone

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South Korea said it scrambled fighter jets in response to an intrusion into its air defence identification zone by 19 Russian and Chinese military aircraft on Tuesday.

Four Chinese warplanes entered the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) followed by 15 Russian aircraft, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The South Korean military dispatched air force fighters to take tactical measures.

The South Korean military said the Chinese military had informed South Korea that its planes were carrying out routine training before the Chinese aircraft entered the KADIZ. (Read more from “South Korea Scrambles Jets as Chinese, Russian Aircraft Enter Air Defense Zone” HERE)

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Fears Mount as South Korea Probes Cause Behind 36 People’s Deaths After Flu Vaccination

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Public concern over the safety of flu shots has grown in South Korea as the authorities reported 36 cases of deaths after vaccination as at 1pm on Friday (Oct 23), putting strain on their efforts to curb a potential “twindemic” of winter flu and the coronavirus.

The country is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, reporting 155 Covid-19 cases on Friday – the highest since Sept 11 and the second day in a row that the number hit triple figures. This brings the total to 25,698.

Health authorities now also have to tackle a deepening fear of the state-administered free flu vaccine programme after two batches of vaccine were found faulty since last month.

South Korea hopes to inoculate some 19 million people for free, especially vulnerable groups such as young children and the elderly, ahead of the annual flu season starting in November when temperatures drop.

No causal link has been found yet between the flu shots and the fatalities so far, and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the deaths. (Read more from “Fears Mount as South Korea Probes Cause Behind 36 People’s Deaths After Flu Vaccination” HERE)

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South Korean President Calls for Official End to Korean War

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in is urging an official end to the 70-year Korean War, a move he hopes will foster renewed progress toward peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon made the proposal during a speech before the United Nations General Assembly, which opened on Tuesday. While the direct fighting between the two Koreas ended in 1953 with an armistice agreement, North and South Korea have never formally ended the war, which began in 1950.

“The war must end, completely and for good,” Moon said in his address. “I hope that the U.N. and the international community provide support so that we can advance into an era of reconciliation and prosperity.” (Read more from “South Korean President Calls for Official End to Korean War” HERE)

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South Korea Detects ‘Unusual Increase’ in North Korean Air, Artillery Operations

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South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said on Friday that North Korea is stepping up readiness activities for its air and artillery units, for no apparent reason.

The activity could indicate Pyongyang is preparing another illegal missile test, or it could be related to the disappearance of dictator Kim Jong-un, believed by some outside observers to be dead or incapacitated.

Speaking at a ceremony for commissioned medical and veterinary officers on Friday, Jeong said North Korea “has been heightening military tensions through an unusual increase in the inspection activities for its combat readiness posture, mostly of its artillery, and in its air force planes’ flight operations.” . . .

This pattern of behavior began too long ago to be interpreted as a sudden tightening of North Korea’s defense posture in response to Kim Jong-un becoming incapacitated, although it is possible the military was generally growing nervous about the corpulent young dictator’s health or about the oncoming coronavirus pandemic. North Korea officially denies having any domestic coronavirus infections to this day, but outsiders give little credit to those denials.

Several South Korean government ministers have stated they do not believe Kim Jong-un is dead or critically ill. One of the few readily available clues to his location is the location of his luxury train, his primary means of travel both within North Korea and internationally. (Read more from “South Korea Detects ‘Unusual Increase’ in North Korean Air, Artillery Operations” HERE)

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