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Jeff and Phil welcome Francesca Hong -- chef, community organizer, state assemblymember, and candidate for governor of Wisconsin. She talks about her working class roots and political ascent from the food service industry to being elected the first Asian American member of the Wisconsin Legislature, and now running for governor as a Democratic Socialist to build a Wisconsin in which everyone has a seat at the table. She also talks about rocking the "Stay Angry" shirt, why Wisconsin is more than just beer and cheese, and how it's cool as hell to Korean right now (and feeling some kind of way about it). And of course, The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of running for governor of Wisconsin.
In this moving conversation, we speak with Alisha, a therapist and Korean adoptee, about her lifelong search for identity and home. She shares the story of being adopted from Korea as an infant, growing up in a small Midwestern town, reuniting with her birth mother in her thirties, and navigating motherhood herself. We explore the myths of adoption, the grief that lives in the body, and what it means to come into community and consciousness as an adult adoptee.You can learn more about Alisha Bennett here. We also recommend this Frontline documentary, “South Korea's Adoption Reckoning.” LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you'd like to contact us directly, send us an email to info@modernmind.co.
compare unrounded vs rounded vowels: ㅡ vs ㅗ and front vs back vowels: ㅣ, ㅐ vs ㅓ
learn how to say 'interview' in Korean
improve your listening skills by comparing different versions of "The Ant and the Grasshopper"
Why LA County's winding down its free laptop loan program. For Food Friday we'll dig into a rare mushroom being served in LA's Koreatown. And Bad Bunny takes home the biggest prize at the Latin Grammys. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com
In Part 2 of Episode 265 of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland continues his in-depth conversation with Ken Rhee — a Korean-American UDT/SEAL (ROK SEAL) who grew up in the U.S., served in South Korea's elite naval special warfare unit, trained at American BUD/S, fought pirates off Somalia, volunteered in Ukraine, and now runs a private military consulting firm while navigating strict Korean gun laws and a suspended prison sentence. Expect raw insights into cross-national SEAL training, hostage-rescue ops, post-military contracting, the realities of foreign volunteer combat, and a unique cultural take on firearms, self-defense, and crime from someone who's lived in both American and Korean worlds. Audio is Zoom-based but packed with unfiltered stories you won't hear anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Holiday decorations, popular names, Korean skin care and whether it's uncool to have a boyfriend – join me!
Bretman's back from Korea and feeling extra enlightened - literally and spiritually. This week, B and Miss Kaaaye spill all the tea: from Bretman's color analysis (RIP gray tones) and luxury Korean skincare haul to his failed attempt at bleaching his… well, you know. The duo dive into the queer history of lavender marriages, discover that “lesbian” originated from the island of Lesbos, and read ancient sapphic poetry with full dramatic flair. Plus, Miss K's new fillers, Honolulu Pride recap, and why Bretman says the Big Bang was gay.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
learn how to use the sentence pattern "You said..."
"It is my life that I claim. That sense of empowerment wouldn't have happened without the Process." Ana Bok Today's conversation with Hoffman graduate Ana Bok begins with Ana sharing a story that happened three years after her Process. Her week at Hoffman provided a powerful foundation that would come to help guide her through a tough time. Since childhood, Ana's dream has been to become a doctor. At age fourteen, she came to the United States. After graduating with her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience with a concentration in Behavioral Studies, Ana planned to attend Yale Medical School. But first, she was a post-graduate research associate at a child psychiatry research lab at the Yale Child Study Center. She was on her way to her long-held dream. But there, Ana found herself in inner turmoil and conflict. Already a Hoffman grad, Ana had thought to herself that after the Process, she was on her "right road" and that everything was "supposed to work." She didn't know what was wrong, but she knew her Quadrinity was out of alignment. Listen in to hear Ana tell about this pivotal moment along the journey of her life. The Process offers a powerful foundation for navigating life. Ana found hope at the Process. Hope and her Spiritual Self guided Ana through this difficult time. Ana's story is powerful because it reminds us that after doing the Process, life is still life. How life works hasn't changed, but we have. We hope you enjoy this deeply vulnerable and moving conversation with Ana and Drew. More about Ana Bok: Ana was born in Korea, raised in China, and moved to the U.S. alone at age fourteen. She studied Neuroscience with a concentration in Behavioral Studies at Columbia University and spent five years researching molecular pathobiology and pain mechanisms during and after college. In 2022, Ana attended the Hoffman Process, which affirmed her deep interest in child and adolescent mental health. Ana recently completed two years of postgraduate training at the Yale Child Study Center. She continues her research on obsessive-compulsive disorder at the Yale School of Medicine. Fascinated by the intersection of science and spirituality, Ana hopes to one day integrate spirituality into early mental health interventions. Alongside her research, Ana has mentored middle and high school students, supporting their academic and personal growth. Ana served as a NYC Hoffman Graduate Group Leader in 2022–2023 before her fellowship at Yale and recently returned as a co-facilitator for the NYC Uptown Hoffman group. She welcomes connections from fellow Hoffman graduates and can be reached at dianabok.connect@gmail.com. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify As mentioned in this episode: Left Road/Right Road: The left road represents repeating patterns from your past, while the right road is the path of authenticity, choice, and self-responsibility. The Quadrinity™ Symbol Bob Hoffman designed the Hoffman Quadrinity™ Symbol in 1967 to represent the wholeness of Self. The circle represents the Body; the large vertical diamond in the middle represents the Spirit; the 2 smaller horizontal diamond shapes represent the Intellect and Emotions. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Korean fortune-telling: "Saju" is a traditional Korean fortune-telling system that analyzes an individual's birth year, month, day, and hour to create a personal profile. It is a widely practiced cultural tradition for seeking guidance on personality, relationships, career, and life path. It is often used for entertainment as well as for serious life decisions. Rooted in ancient Chinese metaphysics, saju calculates cosmic energy at the time of birth to provide insights into one's destiny.
The lightning round gets personal as Kelly reveals she'd trade her data to Ulta for holiday discounts (with three sisters and multiple gift exchanges, who can blame her?), Waqas picks "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead" as his favorite Andy Garcia film, and the panel mourns the potential disappearance of Italian pasta from US shelves. Plus: middle-aged men are the biggest holiday spenders, Waqas's dishwasher crisis becomes his holiday budget, and we learn about Korean vs. German appliances, the superiority of rigatoni and pappardelle, and why ChatGPT has become Ella's "best friend." Sponsored A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso. For the full episode head here: https://youtu.be/j0UulTYE5_8 #HolidayShopping #RetailTrends #LightningRound #ConsumerBehavior #RetailPodcast
Dream podcast guest alert! You know you're off to a good start when Trish asks "was food important growing up" and you get a solid 20-minute answer! Judiaann Woo not only has the beauty and the brains, but she came in with a catalog of stories - from childhood to her time in New York City. Judiaann is a marketing consultant & social media strategist, a content creator, food & travel writer, recipe developer, and host of her podcast, "Food People are the Best People." Born in Korea, she talks about her family moving to the states when she was three, and how very important food was growing up. Mom was not only a great cook, whipping up Korean dishes at home, but she also learned how to make other dishes from other cultures, thanks to her co-workers, willing to share techniques, ingredients and how-tos. Judiaann says she didn't even think about pursuing a career in culinary until she was living in New York City, doing some soul searching and realizing she kept coming back to food as something she was passionate about. In her long list of talents, she also lists one of her roles as "community builder." She believes that special partnership is critical to building communities and becoming stronger, kinder, compassionate neighbors.
In this second episode of our series on Korean Cults, we trace the tangled roots of Korea's modern messianic movements—shaped by Jeong Deuk-eun (“The Great Holy Mother”) and Kim Baek-moon—gave birth to a new religion that blended Confucianism, Taoism, and Christian language into a syncretic gospel of bloodline purification and “True Bloodline Lineage. We then follow how this ideology influenced later leaders like Jung Myung-seok (JMS) and Park Tae-seon of the Olive Tree Movement, revealing the disturbing legacy of Korean messiahship and political infiltration that continues today through groups like the Moonies, Shincheonji, and WMSCOG. We're joined by Pastor Yang, Adjunct Professor of New Testament at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, who holds a Doctor of Theology in New Testament and served as a Visiting Scholar at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2023–2024). Also joining us is Chris, a former member of Shincheonji and returning Cultish guest, who shares his firsthand experience and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the growing global influence of Korean cults. Together, we expose how the False Christs of Korea: The Unification Church and the Olive Tree Legacy which redefined the Gospel, replaced biblical revelation with self-proclaimed messiahs, and continue to shape Korea's—and the world's—spiritual landscape today.Partner With Us & Be Part of the Mission to Change Lives: HERESHOP OUR MERCH: HEREPlease consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel: CultishTV.comCultish is a 100% crowdfunded ministry. -- Email Chris & Pastor Yang: biblev@daum.net Chris@examiningthecults.org Chris's Website: HEREChris's YouTube: HEREPastor Yang's YouTube: HERE
Dan is off this week. So we are pleased to bring you a feature from our new limited series American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism with Dr. Matthew Taylor and Rev. Susan Hayward. South Korea is a nation that is deeply entwined with the United States. From the Korean War (which never technically ended) to Korean pop culture to the deep ties between Korean and American evangelical communities, what happens in the US affects South Korea and vice versa. But most Americans weren't paying attention to the fact that Korean democracy was startlingly challenged less than a year ago when the president at the time (President Yoon) declared martial law and tried to have his political enemies arrested. That attempt at autocratic takeover was unsuccessful, because Koreans took to the streets to protest and even Yoon's own party helped overturn his martial law decision and then impeach him. What can we in the United States learn from Korean activists and religious communities about how to resist wannabe tyrants? We get help on this question from two of the foremost experts on the interchanges between Korean religion and American religion: Helen J. Kim and Ray Kim. Additional Resources https://helenjinkim.com/ Home - International Center for Religion & Diplomacy - International Center for Religion & Diplomacy Helen J. Kim, Race for Revival: How Cold War South Korea Shaped the American Evangelical Empire (New York: Oxford University Press, 2022), https://global.oup.com/academic/product/race-for-revival-9780190062422. Paul Y. Chang, Protest Dialectics: State Repression and South Korea's Democracy Movement, 1970-1979 (Redwood City, CA: Stanford University Press, 2015), https://www.sup.org/books/asian-studies/protest-dialectics. Chanhee Ho, “Charlie Kirk Memorial in Seoul Shows Power of Christian Nationalism for Young Korean Activists,” Religion Dispatches, September 30, 2025, https://religiondispatches.org/charlie-kirk-memorial-in-seoul-shows-power-of-christian-nationalism-for-young-korean-activists/. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace's efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
learn how to say 'be good at' in Korean
Miss Heard celebrates Season 7, Episode 324, where we dive into the global smash hit “Apt.” the electrifying collaboration between Rosé of BLACKPINK and Bruno Mars that topped charts around the world. Inspired by a playful Korean drinking game, the track fuses pop, rock, and new wave energy with irresistible charm, marking Rosé's triumphant return as a solo artist. We'll explore the song's creation, its record-breaking success, and how it became a cultural bridge between Seoul and Hollywood. You can listen to all our episodes at our website at: https://pod.co/miss-heard-song-lyrics Or iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and many more platforms under Podcast name “Miss Heard Song Lyrics” Please consider supporting our little podcast via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissHeardSongLyrics or via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MissHeardSongLyrics #missheardsonglyrics #missheardsongs #missheardlyrics #misheardsonglyrics #podcastinavan #vanpodcast #SongLyricsFails #MusicPodcast #PodcastLovers #MustListen #Rose' #BrunoMars #APT. #Blackpink #KPop https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apt._(song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ros%C3%A9_(singer) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpink https://www.songfacts.com/facts/rose/apt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekr2nIex040
Folks… did you think spooky season was over? It ain't truly finished yet! Reaching into November now, the autumnal season has brought us to a little mash-up of Horror Adjacent™️ and Veterans Day graces. We're covering our second South Korean film of the show. In the jungles of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, a Korean squad, led by Lieutenant Choi, heads into the mist and fog of a mysterious island to rescue a missing platoon. Will they get out alive? Somehow connecting the horror genre with the horrors of war itself, director Kong Su-chang brings us an interesting combination of artful and subtle scares with the injured psyches of soldiers aching to return home. Join Chris and Kevin as they delve into the mysterious jungles of warfare, silhouettes, and ghosts. Hear us out as we make our point for R-point!
Happy birthday to the Marine Corps – yesterday! Michigan Man Merrill honors Veterans Day today. On a domestic veterans’ flight today, honoring those who served in WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars, the veterans got a special shoutout from Barack Obama. A man in his 30s stripped off and started roaming around naked in Studio City. He knocked down a 79-year-old Vietnam veteran named George Karkoc after breaking into his house, breaking both the vet’s legs, but he fought back, shooting the trespasser in self-defense. There’s a new proposal that suggests splitting the state of California into two separate states. SNAP benefits are on again, off again, leaving many hungry families in limbo. The Supreme Court has extended an order blocking full funding of food stamp benefits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Cinema Verbi, Fathers Brian and Matt welcome their very first special guest: Alyssa, daughter of the show's sound producer. She's here to help them unpack the wildly popular animated hit, K-Pop Demon Hunters. The trio discuss the film's themes of good versus evil, identity, and truth, finding once again that even pop culture can reflect the Gospel message. (0:29) The episode opens with excitement as hosts Fr. Brian and Fr. Matt introduce their first special guest, Alyssa. She's the daughter of the show's producer and has been recruited to discuss the Netflix summer smash hit, K-Pop Demon Hunters. She's seen the movie at least ten times, which prompts our hosts to joke that she's responsible for a significant share of the film's 325 million global views. (2:43) Fr. Matt and Fr. Brian give an overview of K-pop, or Korean pop, a popular music genre that blends singing, dancing, and performing. Then they summarize the movie's premise: a K-pop girl group, called Huntrix, whose members are secretly demon hunters using music to protect the world from dark forces. (6:56) Alyssa introduces the three heroines and members of Huntrix: Rumi, Zoey, and Mira. The conversation shifts to the movie's use of the word “demons” and what they symbolize. The priests explain that these characters aren't really demons as understood in the Catholic faith, but rather human souls consumed by shame and lies—a reflection of the spiritual struggles we all face.(11:46) Alyssa tells us about the film's rival boy band, the Saja Boys, who are actually demons in disguise sent to thwart the efforts of the Huntrix group. She reveals that Rumi is actually part demon herself, something she hides from her fellow bandmates. (16:03) The hosts unpack some of the movie's moral themes, especially the temptation to believe lies and hide our flaws. They compare Rumi's journey to the Christian call to reject shame and embrace truth. (20:52) Alyssa and our hosts share their “seeds of the word” ratings for the film, based on how clearly they saw goodness, truth, and beauty reflected in the story. The episode concludes with the group highlighting some favorite moments, including a ghost tiger's slapstick antics and the irresistibly catchy “Soda Pop” number.
After their great victory at Inchon, UN forces race north toward the Chinese border, dreaming of ending the war fast. But, they ignore the warning signs coming from China... In this episode, that gamble backfires. We detail the chilling reality of late 1950 when hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops launch a massive, counter-offensive. The UN forces are caught completely by surprise by the overwhelming attack and the brutal Korean winter. The episode covers the desperate fight and retreat and the devastating consequence: UN forces are pushed back and the loss Seoul for a second time. As the war spirals out of control and he pushes for escalation, the political fallout leads directly to President Truman's dramatic sacking of the commanding General, Douglas MacArthur. The conflict has now exploded into a terrifying new war with no end in sight. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Comedian Beth Stelling gets us fantasizing about tall Belgian bodybuilders who throw tables to let their feelings out. It's 100 degrees out and the Korean soft porn is on ... let's get petty!Go to Beth's upcoming show! (Fri Nov 21 / Sat Nov 22)Or Ceara's! (Sun Nov 16)Petty Crimes is hosted by Ceara Jane O'Sullivan and Griff Stark-EnnisHave a crime that should be heard in Petty Crimes Court? Submit it at pettycrimespodcast@gmail.comKeep up with us on Instagram and TikTok for crime evidence, events, BTS, and other petty bullsh*t…This episode was produced and edited by Riley MadinceaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
learn to casually describe an event
learn to casually describe an event
learn to casually describe an event
Yorgos Lanthimos has a new movie dropping and this time Emma Stone isn't naked. Bugonia is a solid flick that relies heavily on the actors and light on the plot, so much so I was interested in how the movie interested me so much. Jesse Plemmons plays Teddy, a tin foil hat guy who listens to too much Joe Rogan and is convinced Michelle (Stone) is an alien who wants to eliminate the human race, one bee colony at a time. Is Teddy nuts or is Michelle not who the world thinks she is? Lanthimos delivers the goods with this remake of a 2003 Korean flick that had me guessing till the end.If you're not doing so already, please like and follow Classic American Movies on Instagram and Facebook. I do free movie giveaways, mini movie reviews and more! Also, I decided to dabble in making my own slasher film called “Bishop's Day”. Check out the Instagram page for updates.
In this episode Rachel and Simon speak to the American novelist Susan Choi. Born in Indiana to a Korean father and Jewish mother, Susan is the author of six novels: "The Foreign Student" (1998), "American Woman" (2003), "A Person of Interest" (2008), "My Education" (2013), "Trust Exercise" (2019) and "Flashlight" (2025). In 2004 "American Woman" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and in 2019 "Trust Exercise" won the National Book Award for Fiction. (It was also a bestseller in America and picked by Barack Obama as one of his books of the year.) "Flashlight" was shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize. We spoke to Susan about working as a fact-checker at the New Yorker, the role of literary prizes and about turning "Flashlight" from a short story into a novel. In addition to the standard audio format, the podcast is now available in video. You can check us out on YouTube under Always Take Notes. We've made another update for those who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon. We've added 40 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. The whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we're now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (seven are left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with Simon and Rachel. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via Amazon or Waterstones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hawaii and the rest of the nation are honoring our heroes on this Veterans Day. At the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, a moment of silence was held in tribute of the 10,000 Hawaii veterans who served in World War I. The House is set to vote as early as tomorrow afternoon on a measure to fund the government, after the Senate broke the stalemate last night, passing a bill to end the longest government shutdown in American history. And Former President Barack Obama surprised veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars when their honor flight landed in Washington, D.C.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You know the World Cup is coming soon when we start to see kits release -- and adidas was first to the party with its release of 22 national team home jerseys. On the latest episode of the Urban Pitch Podcast, we discuss the best and worst from the bunch, as well as what we're looking forward to from upcoming releases. Timestamps (02:19) The adidas World Cup home kits -- what worked, what didn't? (26:57) Hot takes: jerseys and crest design (36:40) Wild card shoutouts: Korean fried chicken and getting named to Forty-One Magazine's 41 List! Cast Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores Producer: Roy Cho Subscribe to our newsletter for more interviews and latest news on street football, freestyle, and urban culture, read more about soccer culture on our website, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What do Property Brothers and this drama have in common? .....weirdly, several things ?......We love a slightly-confusing drama!!! Theory-creating is Elle's kdrama love language, so this is gonna be a fun ride for us here at YA GIRL'S. (Listen through to the end to hear Elle's theory of the century.)....Last Summer is a new kdrama starring THE MAN THE MYTH THE LEGEND, LEE JAE-WOOK (we luv him). It's about..... um..... we kinda don't want to say much because that's the fun of it. Just trust us that he looks great and we think y'all will like it. It has young romance and cute townies and a perfect dog. ....Check out "Last Summer" on Viki!.....If you're new to YA GIRL, we're so glad you're here!! I truly hope you enjoy listening to this podcast! …..Also, check out our sister-pod - THE KDROP: A KPop Podcast - if that's your thing. https://www.instagram.com/the.kdrop_kpop_pod/ ….. Before you do anything else, FOLLOW YA GIRL ON INSTAGRAM! For real, please come and say hey to us over the socials! @yagirl_kdrama pod (https://www.instagram.com/yagirl_kdramapod?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr)….And Christina just started an exclusive BTS instagram, so give that a follow! https://www.instagram.com/bts_express_the.kdrop?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== … Finally, jump on YA GIRL's Discord!! It's where all the friends of YA GIRL gather and talk about hot Korean men. You really don't wanna miss it. https://discord.gg/rFmEgTJpJ8
Last time we spoke about the Changsha fire. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: defend Wuhan to the last man or flood the land to slow the invaders. He chose both, pushing rivers and rallying a fractured army as Japanese forces pressed along the Yangtze. Fortresses at Madang held long, but the cost was high—troops lost, civilians displaced, a city's heart burning in the night. Wuhan fell after months of brutal fighting, yet the battle did not break China's will. Mao Zedong urged strategy over martyrdom, preferring to drain the enemy and buy time for a broader struggle. The Japanese, though victorious tactically, found their strength ebbing, resource strains, supply gaps, and a war that felt endless. In the wake of Wuhan, Changsha stood next in the Japanese crosshairs, its evacuation and a devastating fire leaving ash and memory in its wake. Behind these prices, political currents swirled. Wang Jingwei defected again, seeking power beyond Chiang's grasp, while Chongqing rose as a western bastion of resistance. The war hardened into a protracted stalemate, turning Japan from an aggressive assailant into a wary occupier, and leaving China to endure, persist, and fight on. #175 The Soviet-Japanese Border Conflicts Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. So based on the title of this one, you probably can see we are taking a bit of a detour. For quite some time we have focused on the Japanese campaigns into China proper 1937-1938. Now the way the second sino-japanese war is traditionally broken down is in phases. 1937-1938, 1939-1942 and 1942-1945. However there is actually even more going on in China aside from the war with Japan. In Xinjiang province a large full blown Islamic revolution breaks out in 1937. We will be covering that story at a later date, but another significant event is escalating border skirmishes in Manchukuo. Now these border skirmishes had been raging ever since the USSR consolidated its hold over the far east. We talked about some of those skirmishes prior to the Sino-Soviet war in 1929. However when Japan created the puppet government of Manchukuo, this was a significant escalation in tensions with the reds. Today we are going to talk about the escalating border conflicts between the Soviets and Japan. A tongue of poorly demarcated land extends southeast from Hunchun, hugging the east bank of the Tumen River between Lake Khasan to the east and Korea to the west. Within this tongue stands Changkufeng Hill, one of a long chain of highlands sweeping from upstream along the rivers and moors toward the sea. The twin-peaked hill sits at the confluence area several miles northwest of the point where Manchuria, Korea, and the Russian Far East meet. The hill's shape reminded Koreans of their changgo, which is a long snare drum constricted at the center and tapped with the hands at each end. When the Manchus came to the Tumen, they rendered the phonetic sounds into three ideographic characters meaning "taut drum peaks" or Chang-ku-feng. The Japanese admired the imagery and preserved the Chinese readings, which they pronounce Cho-ko-ho. From their eastern vantage, the Russians called it Zaozernaya, "hill behind the lake." Soviet troops referred to it as a sugar-loaf hill. For many years, natives and a handful of officials in the region cultivated a relaxed attitude toward borders and sovereignty. Even after the Japanese seized Manchuria in 1931, the issue did not immediately come to a head. With the expansion of Manchukuo and the Soviet Far East under Stalin's Five-Year plans, both sides began to attend more closely to frontier delimitation. Whenever either party acted aggressively, force majeure was invoked to justify the unexpected and disruptive events recognized in international law. Most often, these incidents erupted along the eastern Manchurian borders with the USSR or along the 350-mile frontier south of Lake Khanka, each skirmish carrying the seeds of all-out warfare. Now we need to talk a little bit about border history. The borders in question essentially dated to pacts concluded by the Qing dynasty and the Tsardom. Between the first Sino-Russian Treaty of Nerchinsk in 1689 and the Mukden Agreement of 1924, there were over a dozen accords governing the borders. Relevant to Changkufeng were the basic 15-article Convention of Peking, supplementing the Tientsin Treaties of November 1860, some maps made in 1861, and the eight-article Hunchun Border Protocol of 1886. By the 1860 treaty, the Qing ceded to Tsarist Russia the entire maritime province of Siberia, but the meaning of "lands south of Lake Khanka" remained rather vague. Consequently, a further border agreement was negotiated in June 1861 known as "the Lake Khanka Border Pact", by which demarcations were drawn on maps and eight wooden markers erected. The border was to run from Khanka along ridgelines between the Hunchun River and the sea, past Suifenho and Tungning, terminating about 6 miles from the mouth of the Tumen. Then a Russo-Chinese commission established in 1886 drew up the Hunchun Border Pact, proposing new or modified markers along the 1860–1861 lines and arranging a Russian resurvey. However, for the Japanese, in 1938, the Chinese or Manchu texts of the 1886 Hunchun agreement were considered controlling. The Soviets argued the border ran along every summit west of Khasan, thereby granting them jurisdiction over at least the eastern slopes of all elevations, including Changkufeng and Shachaofeng. Since the Qing dynasty and the house of Romanov were already defunct, the new sovereignties publicly appealed to opposing texts, and the Soviet side would not concede that the Russian-language version had never been deemed binding by the Qing commissioners. Yet, even in 1938, the Japanese knew that only the Chinese text had survived or could be located. Now both the Chinese and Russian military maps generally drew the frontier along the watershed east of Khasan; this aligned with the 1861 readings based on the Khanka agreement. The Chinese Republican Army conducted new surveys sometime between 1915 and 1920. The latest Chinese military map of the Changkufeng area drew the border considerably closer to the old "red line" of 1886, running west of Khasan but near the shore rather than traversing the highland crests. None of the military delimitations of the border was sanctified by an official agreement. Hence, the Hunchun Protocol, whether well known or not, invaluable or worthless, remained the only government-to-government pact dealing with the frontiers. Before we jump into it, how about a little summary of what became known as the Soviet-Japanese border conflicts. The first major conflict would obviously be the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. Following years of conflict between the Russian Empire and Japan culminating in the costly Battle of Tsushima, Tsar Nicholas II's government sought peace, recognizing Japan's claims to Korea and agreeing to evacuate Manchuria. From 1918 to 1920, the Imperial Japanese Army, under Emperor Taishō after the death of Meiji, assisted the White Army and Alexander Kerensky against the Bolshevik Red Army. They also aided the Czechoslovak Legion in Siberia to facilitate its return to Europe after an Austrian-Hungarian armoured train purportedly went astray. By 1920, with Austria-Hungary dissolved and Czechoslovakia established two years earlier, the Czechoslovak Legion reached Europe. Japan withdrew from the Russian Revolution and the Civil War in 1922. Following Japan's 1919-1920 occupations and the Soviet intervention in Mongolia in 1921, the Republic of China also withdrew from Outer Mongolia in 1921. In 1922, after capturing Vladivostok in 1918 to halt Bolshevik advances, Japanese forces retreated to Japan as Bolshevik power grew and the postwar fatigue among combatants increased. After Hirohito's invasion of Manchuria in 1931–1932, following Taishō's death in 1926, border disputes between Manchukuo, the Mongolian People's Republic, and the Soviet Union increased. Many clashes stemmed from poorly defined borders, though some involved espionage. Between 1932 and 1934, the Imperial Japanese Army reported 152 border disputes, largely tied to Soviet intelligence activity in Manchuria, while the Soviets accused Japan of 15 border violations, six air intrusions, and 20 cases of "spy smuggling" in 1933 alone. Numerous additional violations followed in the ensuing years. By the mid-1930s, Soviet-Japanese diplomacy and trust had deteriorated further, with the Japanese being openly labeled "fascist enemies" at the Seventh Comintern Congress in July 1935. Beginning in 1935, conflicts significantly escalated. On 8 January 1935, the first armed clash, known as the Halhamiao incident, took place on the border between Mongolia and Manchukuo. Several dozen cavalrymen of the Mongolian People's Army crossed into Manchuria near disputed fishing grounds and engaged an 11‑man Manchukuo Imperial Army patrol near the Buddhist temple at Halhamiao, led by a Japanese military advisor. The Manchukuo Army sustained 6 wounded and 2 dead, including the Japanese officer; the Mongols suffered no casualties and withdrew after the Japanese sent a punitive expedition to reclaim the area. Two motorized cavalry companies, a machine‑gun company, and a tankette platoon occupied the position for three weeks without resistance. In June 1935, the first direct exchange of fire between the Japanese and Soviets occurred when an 11‑man Japanese patrol west of Lake Khanka was attacked by six Soviet horsemen, reportedly inside Manchukuo territory. In the firefight, one Soviet soldier was killed and two horses were captured. The Japanese requested a joint investigation, but the Soviets rejected the proposal. In October 1935, nine Japanese and 32 Manchukuoan border guards were establishing a post about 20 kilometers north of Suifenho when they were attacked by 50 Soviet soldiers. The Soviets opened fire with rifles and five heavy machine guns. Two Japanese and four Manchukuoan soldiers were killed, and another five were wounded. The Manchukuoan foreign affairs representative lodged a verbal protest with the Soviet consul at Suifenho. The Kwantung Army of Japan also sent an intelligence officer to investigate the clash. On 19 December 1935, a Manchukuoan unit reconnoitering southwest of Buir Lake clashed with a Mongolian party, reportedly capturing 10 soldiers. Five days later, 60 truck‑borne Mongolian troops assaulted the Manchukuoans and were repulsed, at the cost of three Manchukuoan dead. On the same day, at Brunders, Mongolian forces attempted three times to drive out Manchukuoan outposts, and again at night, but all attempts failed. Further small attempts occurred in January, with Mongolians using airplanes for reconnaissance. The arrival of a small Japanese force in three trucks helped foil these attempts; casualties occurred on both sides, though Mongolian casualties are unknown aside from 10 prisoners taken. In February 1936, Lieutenant-Colonel Sugimoto Yasuo was ordered to form a detachment from the 14th Cavalry Regiment to "drive the Outer Mongol intruders from the Olankhuduk region," a directive attributed to Lieutenant-General Kasai Heijuro. Sugimoto's detachment included cavalry guns, heavy machine guns, and tankettes. They faced a force of about 140 Mongolians equipped with heavy machine guns and light artillery. On February 12, Sugimoto's men drove the Mongolians south, at the cost of eight Japanese killed, four wounded, and one tankette destroyed. The Japanese began to withdraw, but were attacked by 5–6 Mongolian armored cars and two bombers, which briefly disrupted the column. The situation was stabilized when the Japanese unit received artillery support, allowing them to destroy or repel the armored cars. In March 1936, the Tauran incident occurred. In this clash, both the Japanese Army and the Mongolian Army deployed a small number of armored fighting vehicles and aircraft. The incident began when 100 Mongolian and six Soviet troops attacked and occupied the disputed village of Tauran, Mongolia, driving off the small Manchurian garrison. They were supported by light bombers and armored cars, though the bombing sorties failed to inflict damage on the Japanese, and three bombers were shot down by Japanese heavy machine guns. Local Japanese forces counter-attacked, conducting dozens of bombing sorties and finally assaulting Tauran with 400 men and 10 tankettes. The result was a Mongolian rout, with 56 Mongolian soldiers killed, including three Soviet advisors, and an unknown number wounded. Japanese losses were 27 killed and 9 wounded. Later in March 1936, another border clash occurred between Japanese and Soviet forces. Reports of border violations prompted the Japanese Korean Army to send ten men by truck to investigate, but the patrol was ambushed by 20 Soviet NKVD soldiers deployed about 300 meters inside territory claimed by Japan. After suffering several casualties, the Japanese patrol withdrew and was reinforced with 100 men, who then drove off the Soviets. Fighting resumed later that day when the NKVD brought reinforcements. By nightfall, the fighting had ceased and both sides had pulled back. The Soviets agreed to return the bodies of two Japanese soldiers who had died in the fighting, a development viewed by the Japanese government as encouraging. In early April 1936, three Japanese soldiers were killed near Suifenho in another minor affray. This incident was notable because the Soviets again returned the bodies of the fallen servicemen. In June 1937, the Kanchazu Island incident occurred on the Amur River along the Soviet–Manchukuo border. Three Soviet gunboats crossed the river's center line, disembarked troops, and occupied Kanchazu Island. Japanese forces from the IJA 1st Division, equipped with two horse-drawn 37 mm artillery pieces, quickly established improvised firing positions and loaded their guns with both high-explosive and armor-piercing shells. They shelled the Soviet vessels, sinking the lead gunboat, crippling the second, and driving off the third. Japanese troops subsequently fired on the swimming crewmen from the sunken ships using machine guns. Thirty-seven Soviet soldiers were killed, while Japanese casualties were zero. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested and demanded the Soviet forces withdraw from the island. The Soviet leadership, apparently shocked by the incident and reluctant to escalate, agreed to evacuate their troops. By 1938 the border situation had deteriorated. The tangled terrain features, mountain, bog, stream, forest, and valley, would have complicated even careful observers' discernment of the old red line drawn in 1886. Fifty years later, the markers themselves had undergone a metamorphosis. Japanese investigators could find, at most, only 14 to 17 markers standing fairly intact between the Tumen estuary and Khanka—roughly one every 25 miles at best. The remainder were missing or ruined; five were found in new locations. Marker "K," for example, was 40 meters deeper inside Manchuria, away from Khanka. Japanese military experts noted that of the 20 markers originally set along the boundaries of Hunchun Prefecture alone, only four could be found by the summer of 1938. The rest had either been wrecked or arbitrarily moved and discarded by Russian or Chinese officials and inhabitants. It is even said that one missing marker could be seen on display in Khabarovsk. The Chinese had generally interpreted the boundary as the road line just west of Khasan, at least in practice. Free road movement, however, had become a problem even 20 years before the Japanese overran Manchuria in 1931–1932 during the so-called Manchurian Incident. The Japanese adopted, or inherited, the Chinese interpretation, which was based on the 1886 agreement on border roads; the key clause held that the frontier west of Khasan would be the road along the lake. Japanese sources emphasize that local residents' anger toward gradual Soviet oppression and penetrations westward into Manchurian territory fueled the conflict. Many natives believed the original boundaries lay east of the lake, but the Soviets adjusted the situation to suit their own convenience. In practice, the Russians were restricting road use just west of Khasan by Manchurian and Korean residents. There was speculation that this was a prelude to taking over the ridgelines, depending on the reaction of the Manchukuoan–Japanese side. Villagers who went to streams or the lake to launder clothing found themselves subjected to sniper fire. Along a 25-mile stretch of road near Shachaofeng, farmers reported coming under fire from new Soviet positions as early as November 1935. Nevertheless, Japanese and Koreans familiar with the Tumen area noted agrarian, seasonal Korean religious rites atop Changkufeng Hill, including fattened pigs sacrificed and changgo drums beaten. Village elders told Japanese visitors in 1938 that, until early the preceding year, no Russians had come as far as Changkufeng Hill. Looking only at the border sector around Changkufeng, the easy days were clearly behind us. In the summer of 1938, Gaimusho "Foreign Ministry" observers described the explosive situation along the Korea–Manchuria–USSR borders as a matter of de facto frontiers. Both sides pressed against each other, and their trigger-happy posture was summed up in the colloquial refrain: "Take another step and we'll let you have it." Near dawn on 13 June 1938, a Manchurian patrol detected a suspicious figure in the fog swirling over Changlingtzu Hill on the Siberian–Manchurian frontier. Challenged at 15 feet, the suspect hurled two pistols to the ground and raised his hands in surrender. At headquarters, the police soon realized this was no routine border-trespassing case. The man was a defector and he was a Russian general, in fact he was the director of all NKVD forces in the Soviet Far East. Beneath a mufti of spring coat and hunting cap, he wore a full uniform with medals. His identification card No. 83 designated him as G. S. Lyushkov, Commissar 3rd Class, countersigned by Nikolai Yezhov, NKVD head in Moscow. Lyushkov was promptly turned over to the Japanese military authorities, who transferred him to Seoul and then to Tokyo under close escort. On 1 July, the Japanese press was permitted to disclose that Lyushkov had sought refuge in Japan. Ten days later, to capitalize on the commissar's notoriety and to confound skeptics, the Japanese produced Lyushkov at a press conference in Tokyo. For the Japanese and foreign correspondents, who met separately with him, Lyushkov described Soviet Far East strength and the turmoil wracking the USSR, because for those of you unfamiliar this was during the Stalinist purges. Clearly, the Japanese had gained a unique reservoir of high-level intelligence and a wealth of materials, including notes scratched in blood by suspects incarcerated at Khabarovsk. A general tightening of Russian frontier security had recently been reported. Natives of Fangchuanting asserted that a Soviet cavalry patrol appeared in June, seemingly for the first time. Contact with Yangkuanping, northwest of Khasan, was severed. More importantly, Japanese Army Signal Corps intelligence detected a surge of Soviet message traffic from the Posyet Bay district. After Lyushkov's defection, a drastic reshuffle in the local Russian command apparently occurred, and responsibility for border surveillance seems to have been reallocated. Japanese records indicate that the Novokievsk security force commander was relieved and the sector garrison replaced by troops from Vladivostok. Gaimusho intelligence also received reports that a border garrison unit had been transferred from Khabarovsk or Chita to the Tumen sector. The Kwantung Army signal monitors also intercepted two significant frontline messages on 6 July from the new Russian local commander in the Posyet region, addressed to Lieutenant General Sokolov in Khabarovsk. Decoded, the messages suggested (1) that ammunition for infantry mortars amounted to less than half the required supply; and (2) a recommendation that higher headquarters authorize Russian elements to secure certain unoccupied high ground west of Khasan. The commander noted terrain advantages and the contemplated construction of emplacements that would command Najin and the Korean railway. As a start, at least one Russian platoon should be authorized to dig in on the highest ground (presumably Changkufeng) and deploy four tons of entanglements to stake out the Soviet claim. Korea Army Headquarters received a telegram from the Kwantung Army on 7 July conveying the deciphered messages. On the same day, the 19th Division in North Korea telephoned Seoul that, on 6 July, three or four Soviet horsemen had been observed reconnoitering Manchurian territory from atop a hill called Changkufeng. The alarming intelligence from the Kwantung Army and the front warranted immediate attention by the Korea Army. Some Kwantung Army officers doubted the significance of the developments, with one intelligence official even suggesting the Russian messages might be a deliberate ploy designed to entrap the Japanese at Changkufeng. On 7–8 July, all staff officers in Seoul convened at army headquarters. The name of Changkufeng Hill was not well known, but maps and other data suggested that neither the Japanese nor the Russians had previously stationed border units in the ridge complex west of Khasan. As early as March 1936, Army Commander Koiso Kuniaki had distributed maps to subordinate units, indicating which sectors were in dispute. No patrol was to enter zones lacking definitive demarcation. Until then, the only Japanese element east of the Tumen was a Manchurian policeman at Fangchuanting. Ownership of the high ground emerged as an early issue. A number of other points were raised by the Kwantung Army: At present, Soviet elements in the area were negligible. The intrusion must not be overlooked. The Russians could be expected to exploit any weakness, and half-measures would not suffice, especially regarding the Japanese defense mission along a 125-mile frontier. In Japanese hands, Changkufeng Hill would be useful, but two excellent observation posts already existed in the neighboring sector of the Manchurian tongue. With dissidence and purges underway, the Russians may have judged it necessary to seal border gaps, particularly after Lyushkov's defection. They may also have sought to control Changkufeng to offset Japanese dominance of the high ground to the north. Soviet seizure of Changkufeng would upset the delicate status quo and could provoke a contest for equivalent observation posts. In broader terms, it mattered little whether the Russians sought a permanent observation post on Changkufeng Hill, which was of relatively minor strategic value. Japan's primary concern lay in the China theater; Changkufeng was peripheral. The Japanese should not expend limited resources or become distracted. The matter required consultation with the high command in Tokyo. In the absence of more comprehensive intelligence, the assembled staff officers concluded that the Korea Army should, at a minimum, ignore or disregard Soviet actions for the time being, while maintaining vigilant observation of the area. The consensus was communicated to Major General Kitano Kenzo, the Korea Army chief of staff, who concurred, and to Koiso. Upon learning that the recommendation advocated a low posture, Koiso inquired only whether the opinion reflected the unanimous view of the staff. Having been assured that it did, he approved the policy. Koiso, then 58, was at the threshold of the routine personnel changes occurring around 15 July. He had just been informed that he would retire and that General Nakamura Kotaro would succeed him. Those acquainted with Koiso perceived him as treating the border difficulties as a minor anticlimax in the course of his command tour. He appeared unemphatic or relaxed as he prepared to depart from a post he had held for twenty-one years. Although neither Koiso nor his staff welcomed the Soviet activities that appeared under way, his reaction likely reflected a reluctance to make decisions that could constrain his soon-to-arrive successor. On 8 July Koiso authorized the dispatch of warnings to the 19th Division at Nanam, to the Hunchun garrison, and to the intelligence branch at Hunchun. These units were instructed to exercise maximum precautions and to tighten frontier security north of Shuiliufeng. In response to the initial appearance of Soviet horsemen at Changkufeng, the Kucheng Border Garrison Unit of the 76th Infantry Regiment maintained close surveillance across the Tumen. By about noon on 9 July, patrols detected approximately a dozen Russian troops commencing construction atop Changkufeng. Between 11 and 13 July, the number of soldiers on the slopes increased to forty; there were also thirty horses and eleven camouflaged tents. Operating in shifts on the western side, thirty meters from the crest, the Russians erected barbed wire and firing trenches; fifty meters forward, they excavated observation trenches. In addition to existing telephone lines between Changkufeng, Lake Khasan, and Kozando, the Russians installed a portable telephone net. Logistical support was provided by three boats on the lake. Approximately twenty kilometers to the east, well within Soviet territory, large forces were being mobilized, and steamship traffic into Posyet Bay intensified. Upon learning of the "intrusion" at Changkufeng on 9 July, Lt. General Suetaka Kamezo, the commander of the 19th Division, dispatched staff officers to the front and prepared to send elements to reinforce border units. The special significance of Suetaka and his division stemmed from a series of unusual circumstances. Chientao Province, the same zone into which Lyushkov had fled and the sector where Soviet horsemen had appeared, fell within Manchukuo geographically and administratively. Yet, in terms of defense, the configuration of the frontier, the terrain, and the transportation network more closely connected the region with North Korea than with southeastern Manchuria. Approximately 80% of the population was of Korean origin, which implied Japanese rather than Manchukuoan allegiance. Consequently, the Korea Army had been made operationally responsible for the defense of Chientao and controlled not only the three-battalion garrison at Hunchun but also the intelligence detachment located there. In the event of war, the Korea Army's mission was defined as mobilization and execution of subsidiary operational tasks against the USSR, under the control and in support of the Kwantung Army. The Korea Army ordinarily possessed two infantry divisions, the 19th in North Korea and the 20th stationed at Seoul, but the 20th Division had already departed for China, leaving only the 20th Depot Division in the capital. Beyond sparse ground units, devoid of armor and with weak heavy artillery, there were only two air regiments in Korea, the nearest being the unit at Hoeryong. The Korea Army was designed to maintain public security within Korea as well as fulfill minimal defensive responsibilities. Such an army did not require a full-time operations officer, and none was maintained. When needed, as in mid-1938, the task fell to the senior staff officer, in this case Colonel Iwasaki Tamio. In peacetime, training constituted the primary focus. Thus, the 19th Division was entrusted with defending northeastern Korea. Its commander, Suetaka, a seasoned infantryman, resented the fact that his elite force had never engaged in combat in China. He intensified training with zeal, emphasizing strict discipline, bravery, aggressiveness, and thorough preparation. Japanese veterans characterized him as severe, bullish, short-tempered, hot-blooded, highly strung, unbending, and stubborn. Nonetheless, there was widespread respect for his realistic training program, maintained under firm, even violent, personal supervision. His men regarded Suetaka as a professional, a modern samurai who forged the division into superb condition. Privately, he was reputed for sensitivity and warmth; a Japanese phrase "yakamashii oyaji" captures the dual sense of stern father and martinet in his character. At the outset, however, Suetaka displayed little aggression. Although not widely known, he did not welcome the orders from army headquarters to deploy to the Tumen. Until late July, he remained somewhat opposed to the notion of dislodging the Soviets from the crest, a proposition arising from neither the division staff nor, initially, Suetaka himself. Colonel Sato noted that, for a week after reports of Soviet excavation at Changkufeng, the division's response was limited to preparations for a possible emergency, as they perceived the matter as a local issue best settled through diplomacy. Korea Army officers acknowledged that, around the time the Soviets consolidated their outpost strength at Changkufeng, an informal and personal telegram arrived in Seoul from a Kwantung Army Intelligence field-grade officer who specialized in Soviet affairs. If the Korea Army hesitated, the Kwantung Army would be obliged to eject the Russians; the matter could not be ignored. While the telegram did not demand a reply and struck several officers as presumptuous and implausible, the message was promptly shown to Koiso. Koiso was driven to immediate action, he wired Tokyo asserting that only the Korea Army could and would handle the incident. One staff officer recalled "We felt we had to act, out of a sense of responsibility. But we resented the Kwantung Army's interference." The Korea Army staff convened shortly after receipt of the unofficial telegram from Hsinking. Based on the latest intelligence from the division dated 13 July, the officers prepared an assessment for submission to the army commander. The hypotheses were distilled into three scenarios: The USSR, or the Far East authorities, desires hostilities. Conclusion: Slightly possible. The USSR seeks to restrain Japan on the eve of the pivotal operations in China: the major Japanese offensive to seize Hankow. Conclusion: Highly probable. The Posyet district commander is new in his post; by occupying the Changkufeng ridges, he would demonstrate loyalty, impress superiors, and seek glory. Conclusion: Possible. Late on 13 July or early on 14 July, Koiso approved the dispatch of a message to the vice minister of war, and the Kwantung Army chief of staff: "Lake Khasan area lies in troublesome sector USSR has been claiming . . . in accordance with treaties [said Secret Message No. 913], but we interpret it to be Manchukuoan territory, evident even from maps published by Soviet side. Russian actions are patently illegal, but, considering that area does not exert major or immediate influence on operations [Japan] is intending and that China Incident is in full swing, we are not going to conduct counterattack measures immediately. This army is thinking of reasoning with Soviets and requesting pullback, directly on spot. . . . In case Russians do not accede in long run, we have intention to drive Soviet soldiers out of area east of Khasan firmly by use of force." The message concluded with a request that the Tokyo authorities lodge a formal protest with the USSR, on behalf of Manchukuo and Japan, and guide matters so that the Russians would withdraw quickly. Dominant in Japanese high command thinking in 1938 was the China theater; the Changkufeng episode constituted a mere digression. A sequence of Japanese tactical victories had preceded the summer: Tsingtao fell in January; the Yellow River was reached in March; a "reformed government of the Republic of China" was installed at Nanking several weeks later; Amoy fell in early May; Suchow fell on the 20th. With these gains, northern and central fronts could be linked by the Japanese. Yet Chinese resistance persisted, and while public statements anticipated imminent Chinese dissension, private admissions acknowledged that the partial effects of Suchow's fall were ominous: control might pass from Chiang Kai-shek to the Communists, Chinese defiance might intensify, and Soviet involvement could ensue. A Hankow drive appeared desirable to symbolize the conclusion of the military phase of hostilities. The Japanese and their adversaries were in accord regarding the importance of the summer and autumn campaigns. Even after Suchow's fall, the government discouraged public insinuations that enemy resistance was collapsing; when Chiang addressed the nation on the first anniversary of hostilities, Premier Konoe prophetically proclaimed, "The war has just begun." Colonel Inada Masazum served as the Army General Staff's principal figure for the Changkufeng affair, occupying the position of chief of the 2nd Operations Section within the Operations Bureau in March 1938. A distinguished graduate of the Military Academy, Inada completed the War College program and held a combination of line, instructional, and staff assignments at the War College, the Army General Staff, and the War Ministry. He was recognized as a sharp, highly capable, and driveful personality, though some regarded him as enigmatic. Following the capture of Suchow, Imperial General Headquarters on 18 June ordered field forces to undertake operational preparations for a drive to seize the Wuhan complex. Inada favored a decisive move aimed at achieving a rapid political settlement. He acknowledged that Soviet intervention in 1938, during Japan's involvement in China, would have been critical. Although Japanese forces could still defeat the Chinese, an overextended Japanese Army might be fatally compromised against the Russians. Soviet assistance to China was already pronouncedly unwelcome. The Soviets were reported to possess roughly 20 rifle divisions, four to five cavalry divisions, 1,500 tanks, and 1,560 aircraft, including 300 bombers with a range of approximately 3,000 kilometers, enabling reach from Vladivostok to Tokyo. Soviet manpower in Siberia was likely near 370,000. In response, Japanese central authorities stressed a no-trouble policy toward the USSR while seeking to "wall off" the border and bolster the Kwantung Army as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, the envisaged correction of the strategic imbalance could not occur before 1943, given shortages in ammunition, manpower, and materiel across existing theaters in China. By the end of 1937 Japan had committed 16 of its 24 divisions to China, bringing the standing force to roughly 700,000. Army General Staff planners reallocated three ground divisions, intended for a northern contingency, from north to central China, even as the Kwantung Army operated from a less favorable posture. Attitudes toward the northern problem varied within senior military circles. While concern persisted, it was not universal. As campaigns in China widened, planning at the high command level deteriorated, propagating confusion and anxiety to field armies in China. The Japanese Navy suspected that the Army general staff was invoking the USSR as a pretext for broader strategic aims—namely, to provoke a more consequential confrontation with the USSR while the Navy contended with its own strategic rivalries with the Army, centered on the United States and Britain. Army leaders, however, denied aggressive intent against the USSR at that time. The Hankow plan encountered substantial internal opposition at high levels. Private assessments among army planners suggested that a two-front war would be premature given operational readiness and troop strength. Not only were new War Ministry officials cautious, but many high-ranking Army general staff officers and court circles shared doubts. Aggressive tendencies, influenced by subordinates and the Kwantung Army, were evident in Inada, who repeatedly pressed Tada Shun, the deputy army chief of staff, to endorse the Wuhan drive as both necessary and feasible, arguing that the USSR would gain from Japan's weakening without incurring substantial losses. Inada contended that Stalin was rational and that time favored the USSR in the Far East, where industrial buildup and military modernization were ongoing. He argued that the Soviet purges impeded opportunistic ventures with Japan. He posited that Nazi Germany posed a growing threat on the western front, and thus the USSR should be avoided by both Japan, due to China and Russia, due to Germany. While most of the army remained engaged in China, Tada did not initially share Inada's views; only after inspecting the Manchurian borders in April 1938 did he finally align with Inada's broader vision, which encompassed both northern and Chinese considerations. During this period, Inada studied daily intelligence from the Kwantung Army, and after Lyushkov's defection in June, reports suggested the Soviets were following their sector commander's recommendations. Russian troops appeared at Changkufeng, seemingly prepared to dig in. Inada recollects his reaction: "That's nice, my chance has come." I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The simmering Soviet–Japanese border clashes centered on Changkufeng Hill near Lake Khanka, set within a broader history of contested frontiers dating to Qing and Tsarist treaties. Japan, prioritizing China, considered Changkufeng peripheral but ready to confront Soviet encroachment; Moscow aimed to consolidate border gains, with high-level war planning overlaying regional skirmishes. Conflict loomed over Manchuria.
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Today Justin talks with Dr. Brad Williams. Brad is an associate professor in the Department of Asian and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong. He has studied, taught and conducted research in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Taiwan, and the United States. He is the author of Resolving the Russo-Japanese Territorial Dispute, which was published in 2007 and has published on a diverse range of issues in Japanese politics and foreign policy such as arms procurement, civil society, humanitarian assistance, human security, north Korean abductions, nuclear proliferation and secrecy laws. He's here today to discuss the development of Japan's counterintelligence community from the immediate aftermath of World War II up through the early 2020s.Connect with Brad:scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/persons/bwilliam/Check out the book, Japanese Foreign Intelligence and Grand Strategy: From the Cold War to the Abe Era, here.https://a.co/d/e4ohfPVConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Subtack: spycraft101.substack.comFind Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.Support the show
learn how to say 'practice' in Korean
Crank it up to 11 and get ready to shred! Jay and Shua celebrate 20 years of Guitar Hero with stories, riffs, and a few laughs as they plug into one of the most rockin' video game franchises of all time. Whether you're a master of the whammy bar or still fumbling through "Smoke on the Water," this week's show will have you tapping your foot, and raising your horns. News Steven Spielberg and John Williams reunite for their 30th movie collaboration For collectors ready to assemble, LEGO drops a brand-new Iron Man set Check out our TeePublic store for some enjoyable swag and all the latest fashion trends What we're Enjoying Shua discovered a step above ASMR with the YouTube channel Kirin Camp. A Korean woman that goes around campsites and shares her experiences with anyone who can't take their eyes off of it. Jay revisited some of Quentin Tarantino's cinematic masterpieces, diving back into Jackie Brown and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He reflects on Tarantino's storytelling style, soundtrack genius, and how the director's work still oozes cool decades later. Sci-Fi Saturdays - This week on Sci-Fi Saturdays Jay doesn't exactly find a flux capacitor in the movie Project Almanac (2015), but they try their best. It's a time-travel flick that mixes found footage with teenage ambition. He breaks down how this film fits into the long line of time-twisting adventures and explores what makes it a somewhat inventive entry in the genre. Read his article on RetroZap.com. And make sure to play around with the interactive map on MCULocationScout.com. Plus, you can tune in to SHIELD: Case Files where Jay and Shua talk about great stuff in the MCU. Enjoy Shredding! Grab your pick and put on your best Rock 'n Roll face as Jay and Shua dive into the world of Guitar Hero, the game that turned anyone with a PlayStation 2 and a dream into a living room legend. From the early days the button-smashing chaos of Guitar Hero Live, the guys explore what made this franchise a cultural phenomenon. They debate the best tracks, celebrate their favorite moments, and even imagine a new kind of game, Guitar Hero: Movie Heroes, featuring icons from Wayne's World, Almost Famous, The Blues Brothers, and more. Plus, stay tuned for the "Name That Riff: Guitar Hero Style" challenge that'll test your knowledge of face-melting solos and classic riffs. And we try to figure out what the real name of some of the most famous shredders. What's your best jam on Guitar Hero? Which movie rockers would be perfect on a Guitar Hero game? Let us know! First person that emails me with the subject line, "This bat tastes like chicken" will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com
Today's episode includes: • Lionsgate released the teaser trailer of Michael (2026) • New information revealed about the upcoming Animation Lookback: Blue Sky Studios • Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone and Cole Escola are making a Miss Piggy movie • Korean animation studio RedRover to produce K-Pop animated movie and The Nut Job 3 • Coca-Cola faces backlash for using AI for their holiday commercial for the second year in a row
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From 'oppa' to 'ajumma': How honorifics shape K-drama진행자: 홍유, Tannith Kriel기사요약: 로맨스의 설렘부터 세대 간 긴장까지, 한국어에서 호칭 한마디는 관계의 위계와 거리감을 그대로 비춘다. 이 미묘한 호칭 문화를 이해해야 장면 속 진짜 의미가 보인다.[1] If you're a K-drama fan, chances are you've come across the world of Korean honorifics -- those small yet powerful words that can define entire relationships.honorifics: 상대에 대한 존중, 나이·지위·관계를 반영해 쓰는 높임 표현 또는 호칭[2] In a language built around relationships, these titles, from "oppa" and "eonni" to "seonbae" and "hubae," serve as emotional cues that drive storytelling and shape character dynamics in ways that English subtitles cannot replicate.emotional cues: 감정 상태나 분위기 변화를 암시하는 언어적·비언어적 신호dynamics: 인물 간 관계의 상호작용과 변화하는 힘의 흐름[3] Here, we explore some of the most commonly used terms that shape the subtle subtext of K-drama storytelling.subtle: 겉으로 드러나지 않지만 섬세하고 미묘한subtext: 직접 말하지 않고 숨겨진 의미나 의도, 장면 밑에 흐르는 메시지[4]Take "oppa," perhaps one of the most well-known terms in all of Korean pop culture. Literally meaning “older brother,” it's used by women to address older men -- from actual siblings to boyfriends and close male friends. In dramas, when a woman suddenly starts calling a man oppa instead of his name, it usually signals that the emotional stakes have changed. It's shorthand for romantic tension. Think "My Demon" or "Reply 1997" -- that single word can alter the emotional flow of the story.emotional stakes: 감정적으로 걸려 있는 이해관계·위험도, 감정적 긴장도shorthand: 복잡한 감정이나 의미를 단어·표현 하나로 간단히 전달하는 장치기사원문: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10606781
Send us a textOur Halloween episode is full of treats trying Korean snacks!Be sure to come and chat with us here:Website: www.icbympodcast.comFacebook: @icbympodcastTwitter: @icbympodcastInstagram: @icbympodcastDiscord: https://discord.gg/7Vu7WCn58J
311 | Sasha Hom Sasha Hom lives an extraordinarily unconventional life. I'm so excited to introduce her to you. She's a writer, goat farmer, mother, and her new book Sidework is incredible. Today we talk about her experiences as a Korean adoptee, adopted to a Chinese American couple in California. Sasha tells us about her trips to Korea and China, we talk motherhood as adoptees, and how important writing is in her life. Full Show Notes and Transcript Here Join our adoptee community on Patreon here Check out our upcoming live events here! This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing stated on it, either by its hosts or any guests, is to be construed as psychological, medical or legal advice. Please seek out professionals in those fields if you need those services. The views expressed by the hosts of Adoptees On or any guests are their own and do not represent the opinions of any organization or other person unless otherwise stated.
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learn to pronounce the unrounded front vowels
improve your listening skills by comparing different versions of "The Fox and the Grapes"
South Korean cars and culture; will hydrogen work; the South Carolina Hilton Head Concours; 2026 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid review; driving a new Lexus TX500h F Sport; and a LOT of Q&A!Recorded November 2, 2025Patreon questions include:2026 Porsche Turbo S vs McLaren 750SIs the new Hyundai Santa Fe boxy enough?Did supercharging a V8 M3 ruin it or enhance it?Best cars for lake roadsHow does Korean car culture compare to Japan?Cars with great weight transferNew Subaru STI conceptIs serviceability important when buying a used car?Thoughts on the RAM hybrid with a V6 generator?Funny rally wrap ideasWhat car feature would we erase from the world?Gator straps: yay or nay?The new Vespa 300 is confusingReplacing a 2013 Audi Q7 TDIBMW X3M vs Porsche Macan GTS vs Ioniq 5NCollector cars you can repair foreverAnd more! Show Notes:SmallsFor a limited time get 60% off your first order when you head to smalls.com/tire RulaThousands of guys have already used Rula to finally get the care they needed. Don't keep putting it off - go to Rula.com/tire and get started today. Take the first step, get connected, and take control of your mental health. FactorEat smart at FactorMeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year. Get delicious, ready-to-eat meals delivered—with Factor. New merch! Grab a shirt or hoodie and support us! https://thesmokingtireshop.com/ Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! For a 10% discount on your first case go to https://www.offtherecord.com/TST Want your question answered? Want to watch the live stream, get ad-free podcasts, or exclusive podcasts? Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thesmokingtirepodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/thesmokingtirehttps://www.Instagram.com/therealzackklapman Want your question answered? Want to watch the live stream, get ad-free podcasts, or exclusive podcasts? Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thesmokingtirepodcast Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! Enter code TST10 for a 10% discount on your first case on the Off The Record app, or go to http://www.offtherecord.com/TST. Watch our car reviews: https://www.youtube.com/thesmokingtire Tweet at us!https://www.Twitter.com/thesmokingtirehttps://www.Twitter.com/zackklapman Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/thesmokingtirehttps://www.Instagram.com/therealzackklapman
In this episode of Cultish, we explore why Korea has become a center for a new wave of cult movements—and why the global church should pay attention. If Dr. Walter Martin were alive today, he'd likely be addressing the rise of groups like Shincheonji, the World Mission Society Church of God, Jesus Morning Star, and many others now infiltrating churches throughout the Western world.We're joined by Pastor Yang, who serves as an Adjunct Professor of New Testament at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul. He holds a Doctor of Theology in New Testament and, from 2023 to 2024, served as a Visiting Scholar at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois.Also joining us is Chris, a former member of Shincheonji and returning guest, sharing his firsthand experience and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the growing influence of Korean cults around the world.Partner With Us & Be Part of the Mission to Change Lives: HERESHOP OUR MERCH: HEREPlease consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel: CultishTV.comCultish is a 100% crowdfunded ministry. -- Email Chris & Pastor Yang: biblev@daum.net Chris@examiningthecults.org Chris's Website: HEREChris's YouTube: HEREPastor Yang's YouTube: HERE
Palantir doesn't want college experience… so it's hiring 18-year-olds for full-time jobs.Did you notice Doritos at Whole Foods?... Because the organic grocer has been “Amazonified.”AI has a PR problem: Everyone hates it… except every company is focusing on it.Plus, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang crushed beers at dinner… and Korean chicken stocks jumped.Got a question for the CEO of Lyft? Leave us a voicemail here: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts$PLTR $AMZN $NVDANEWSLETTER:https://tboypod.com/newsletter OUR 2ND SHOW:Want more business storytelling from us? Check our weekly deepdive show, The Best Idea Yet: The untold origin story of the products you're obsessed with. Listen for free to The Best Idea Yet: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/NEW LISTENERSFill out our 2 minute survey: https://qualtricsxm88y5r986q.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dp1FDYiJgt6lHy6GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Linkedin (Nick): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/Linkedin (Jack): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ About Us: The daily pop-biz news show making today's top stories your business. Formerly known as Robinhood Snacks, The Best One Yet is hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.