News from Korea

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - The Senate today passed Measure 50.207, approving the creation of the Korean Militia and the institution of a universal draft. Receiving nearly 87% approval amongst the populace, the Measure drafts all non-employed Koreans aged 18-26 (and, starting 1s January, 1951, all Koreans upon their majority) into the Militia, where they will serve a 2-year term.

Given the threat of a largely-unknown China and ongoing tension with Japan, a number of people have pre-empted the Measure by enlisting - Army reports indicate numbers upwards of one thousand new enlistees were inducted in the last month.

Accordingly, Parliament and the Senate have approved of Measure 51.015, a bill to increase both direct funding and procurement budgets for the Korean Forces. Both the Army and Navy have announced expansions, including a new mechanized regiment and up to twelve new cruisers.

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - A notable budget increase has brought about notable expansions to both the Navy and Air Force. The Navy plans to add a new Barigongju-class light carrier and a new Grand Dragon-class fleet carrier, alongside 12 cruisers of several types - notably, including several Kangye-class.

The Air Force, for its part, plans to introduce several squadrons of new Hunter, Nighthawk, and Super Sabre fighter aircraft - alongside a number of new helicopters, with several senior officers indicating their belief that the rotary-wing aircraft will "change the interaction of ground and aerial forces significantly."

The Army, by contrast, simply plans to adopt the newly-designed R54 Self-Loading Rifle, noting that no major developments have occurred in "their field" as of late.

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - With an 'unexpected windfall' in revenues, Parliament has opted to assemble several industrial stimulation packages, hoping to see a 3% increase in industrial capacity by next year. While regarded as ambitious, several critics admit that it most certainly will be of benefit to Korea's still-rebuilding industrial sector.

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - Due to the lack of contact from the new Japanese government, the readiness of the Air Force and Navy has been raised; numerous ships and squadrons are now making patrols throughout the Korean air defence identification zone.

Additionally, the war chest is being tapped to upgrade the Air Force - with Super Sabre F8G, Hunter F1H, and Nighthawk F7N models replacing the now-outdated Sabre and Skyknight. 200 fighters are expected to be finished by the end of 1957, the remainder in the two following years.

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - Recruitment bulletins went up around the country today as the Army announced plans for expansions, including three new Regimental Combat Teams. Official documentation released yesterday indicates a planned increase of some 3,500 mechanized infantrymen, six hundred armoured vehicles, and the finalization of the R54 rifle rollout.

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - Citing a 'considerable reorganization' of the Korean Army, the Militia Corps has been officially disbanded, and many of its members have opted to continue their service in the regular army. The vast majority of these forces are slated for extensive training, and are to be included in the ranks of mechanized troops.

This plan comes with the signature of both Ji-Ho Rho and James Mills-Seong, thus granting it somewhat unusual multi-party support. Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity have spoken of as-yet incomplete plans to intervene in several nearby territories, potentially including Japan, the Philippines, and the Kuril Islands. No official confirmation or denial of such plans has been obtained by this newspaper.

부산시, Busan - The Navy Office has issued a contract to Busan Iron and Shipworks to upgrade the Navy's four Yeoju-class light cruisers to guided-missile cruisers. Additionally, with the pending retirement of the Kim Bu-sik-class battleships, funding has been provided to create a submarine force, to consist of 20 Blackfish-class submarines.

[Alucard Tobor]

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[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - Parliament today passed the National Flag Act, finalizing the details of the long-hinted referendum on adopting a new national flag. Though opposition to the motion has been present since its inception two years ago, the motion's passing vote has set a referendum on November 10th, 1959. The various submitted flags will be displayed in government facilities across the country, and images printed in various newspapers.

Though a small core of opposition remains, many government officials have acknowledged that the Korea of today is far different than that of when the current flag was adopted, and a flag must represent its country accurately. Opposition party leader Ji-ho Rho stated earlier today...

[Alucard Tobor]

서울, Seoul - Earlier today the Ministry of Trade released a statement confirming the loss of a number of cargo ships on the Korea-China route. While the statement did not specify the party responsible for the sinking, many independent analysts have indicated the Republic of Zhejiang is the most likely culprit. Relatively little impact has been felt by the Korean economy, and as of yet no information is available about the impact upon China.

In response to these sinking, the Navy has dispatched reinforcements to the China Sovereignty Task Force, and has altered their orders to include trade protection duties. Unconfirmed rumours of Chinese-flagged ships bound for other destinations being attacked or sunk have yet to be commented upon by official sources.

[Alucard Tobor]

부산시, Busan - Fanfare surrounded Armed Forces Base Busan today as the Navy formally re-commissioned four former Cleveland-class cruisers. Brought in for extensive retrofits and reconstruction two years ago, the four vessels, now rechristened the Yeoju-class guided-missile cruisers, have been formally reintroduced to the fleet.

Recruitment has climbed notably over the last year as more visible progress was made on the ships in dry-dock, and the Navy reports a sizable number of new recruits with the ships now preparing for sea trials...