There is no end to this it seems-

New from Declassified Australia

PINE GAP READIES FOR U.S. NUCLEAR WAR

The United States has been quietly expanding and refocussing its satellite surveillance base at Pine Gap, preparing it to fight a nuclear war against China. https://t.co/uBpfo3g424

— Declassified Australia (@DeclassifiedAus) August 19, 2024

The article has interesting details on a purported forthcoming "defense" to hypersonic nuclear missiles. From the article-

The OPIR infrared detection satellites that Pine Gap will soon be using, will detect missile launches far more rapidly and accurately than at present, allowing more reliable US targeting of launch locations and potentially (my emphasis) in-flight missiles. The aim would be to reduce retaliatory strikes by China should such a nuclear war be started.

This ability may encourage the US military planners to think they could win a nuclear war, if they think they could destroy most of China’s nuclear missiles.

This may sound good to them, but it has an immense downside. It may increase the likelihood of China, if it feels existentially threatened, making its first nuclear response its biggest, because it may not have a chance for a second. Escalation from a limited nuclear exchange may rapidly spin out of control.

In my opinion, the use of the word "potentially" is acknowledgement that this is bs. The article has details on the budget amounts allocated to the project, and details on the system concept, and expanded facilities. There is a brief description of the history of the US unilateral withdrawal from prior nuclear arms control agreements which contributed to the nuclear arms race.

The endless pursuit of more better nuclear arms systems and defenses is illusory in nature, as pointed out in Daniel Ellsberg's book, the Doomsday Machine. I noticed there was no discussion of the potential risks of so called preemptive strikes with conventionally armed missiles from the Indo-Pacific alliance powers. How will China or North Korea know these are only conventional strikes? Wait and see?

The continuing saga of the loss of legitimacy by the Yoon administration-

[Column] Why is Korea’s National Security Office defending Japan?

The Yoon administration is currently on its fourth national security adviser, with none of the previous advisers staying in office for more than a year. Kim is the only official who has planted his feet firmly in the office, demonstrating that in this system, it doesn't matter who heads the National Security Office.

Foreign affairs differ from domestic policy in that once put out, it’s impossible to walk back. We learned that the hard way with the signing of the 2015 “comfort women” deal with Japan. If military cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan continues to proceed as a quasi-alliance, its main focus will not be on establishing permanent security on the Korean Peninsula but on permanently positioning South Korea as a pawn for the US and Japan to use for their global strategy in Northeast Asia.

South Korea’s security interests do not fully align with those of the US and Japan, as we are in a precarious situation as a divided country and are more vulnerable to Chinese influence. The problem here is how the South Korean legislative branch is being ignored, as it is neither giving its consent nor allowed to survey these policies, which are being put in place unilaterally.

An official from the People Power Party stated, “Finding the right people to put in power is difficult in this administration. Most people don’t want to take the positions, so we end up going to our fifth or sixth nominee, but lately we’ve had to go down even lower on our list to those not even in the top 10 picks. With that being the case, only those who are completely shameless or have their hearts set on a certain mission wish to take on those roles.”

I've pointed out in earlier posts that US trained Kim Tae-hyo,

∙ (Ph.D.) The University of Chicago
∙ (MA) Cornell University
∙ (BA) Sogang University, Department of Political Science and Diplomacy

the so called First Deputy National Security Advisor, is the one directing South Korean foreign and military policies including policies with respect to North Korea. National Security Advisors come and go in the Yoon administration but Kim is a fixture.

The entire article is a worthwhile read. This opinion above takes the point of view that the new agreements with the US and Japan will be difficult to undo even if a new South Korean administration comes to power. This is remarkable because the National Assembly dominated by the opposition wasn't even consulted in these matters. The prior Moon administration was able to walk back Kim Tae-pyo's GSOMIA agreement which required sharing some national security information with Japan. I understand that Yoon's prosecutors are still trying to construct a case against Moon Jae-in or alternatively his wife, It's consistent with Yoon's state enemies perspective placing Moon as well as the opposition generally in this category.

If this goes well it won't affect anything in South Korea, although, it is perceived as public conditioning to Japanese presence. It could go awry. Yoon is openly criticized by the opposition as a "traitor" and Japan's new Imperial Governor General-

No doubt under orders from Biden and Blinken. This will not go over well in Korea.

"Japan PM Kishida eyes visit to South Korea in early Sept." https://t.co/4q1DtHxlIT

— Tim Shorrock (@TimothyS) August 20, 2024

Rahm's view of Biden's Camp David "accomplishment:"

1年前の今日、バイデン大統領は岸田首相と尹大統領をキャンプ・デービッドに迎えました。3人の首脳は、国家と国民の未来を見据えたビジョンとリーダーシップ、そして政治的な勇気を示してくれました。この歴史的なキャンプ・デービッド日米韓首脳会談から12カ月。日米韓のパートナーシップは、インド太… https://t.co/1YA4n2kBsu

— ラーム・エマニュエル駐日米国大使 (@USAmbJapan) August 18, 2024

Lee Jae-Myung the leader of the democratic party opposition, a majority in the National Assembly of South Korea. was reelected leader of the party by a wide margin, 85 percent. His five supporters were elected to the party's supreme council by party members. One of these was National Assembly Representative and former 4 star general, Deputy CFC Commander, Kim Byung-ju, whose OhMyTV appearances, I follow for his analysis of South Korean security issues.

Lee Jae-myung secures second term as Democratic Party leader

Lee becomes the first Democratic leader to win a second term since Kim Dae-jung led the party two decades ago

Yoon administration efforts to impugn Kim Dae-jung's legacy and put the opposition party leaders Lee Jae-myung and Cho Guk in prison by Yoon will continue.

I like this dance interpretation (in Pusan?) of Lee Sun-hee's hit Fox Rain:

Fox rain - Lee sun hee • Korean dance cover • 'My girlfriend is A Gumiho' OST [ENG SUB]

https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B5%AC%EB%AF%B8%ED%98%B8

In Korea, China, and Japan, the nine-tailed fox (九尾狐) refers to a nine-tailed fox with supernatural powers, and is famous for transforming into a charming woman who easily seduces men. The oldest record of the nine-tailed fox can be found in the Shan Hai Jing (山海狐), which is believed to have been compiled during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period of China .

(edited some typos)