Free Republic

The Philippines has sounded Japan out on the possibility of evacuating tens of thousands of Filipinos in South Korea to Japan in case of an emergency situation on the Korean Peninsula, an official said Friday. Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of President Benigno Aquino, told a news briefing at the Presidential Palace that part of the government’s contingency plan is to evacuate the country’s nearly 60,000 nationals in South Korea to the ‘‘nearest’’ safe place, which is Japan. Lacierda said the Foreign Affairs Department is already in talks with the Japanese ambassador in Manila to seek Japan’s permission ‘‘to allow our nationals...

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's defense minister raised the possibility of redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in the country Monday, after North Korea showed off its latest advances in uranium enrichment. Kim Tae-young told lawmakers that such an option could be discussed next month at a newly created joint military committee to enhance deterrence against the North's nuclear programs. "We will review (the redeployment) when (Korea and the U.S.) meet to consult on the matter at a committee for nuclear deterrence," Kim told a parliamentary committee hearing, according to a report in the Korea Herald. "The Seoul government is...