Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

"Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts, perhaps fear of losing power."

– John Steinbeck

“Don’t just teach your children to read. Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.”

– George Carlin

“Be curious not judgmental”

– Walt Whitman

1. North Korea Sent a Mystery Man to Lead Its Troops Fighting Ukraine

2. U.S. has not yet seen N. Korea's atmospheric reentry missile capability: Indo-Pacific Command chief

3. Air Force A-10 will no longer bare teeth overseas with Korea exit

4.Trump should not give up on North Korea

5. New 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer set for delivery to Navy next week

6. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Emboldened by Alliance With Russia, Is Itching for Seventh Test of A-Bomb

7. Kim's troops will FLEE when they reach Ukraine frontline, says ex-NK soldier

8. Would North Korea Really Send 100,000 Troops to Fight in Ukraine?

9. U.N. committee adopts resolution on N. Korean human rights for 20th straight year

10. N.K. troops assigned to Russia's airborne brigade, marine corps; some entered combat: NIS

11. Putin gifts N. Korea dozens of animals amid deepening ties

12. S. Korea, U.S., Japan launch secretariat for trilateral cooperation

13. Concerns mounting over S. Korea’s potential involvement in Ukraine war

14. S. Korean spy agency monitoring possible Russia visit by N. Korean leader

15. Editorial: The Moon administration made national defense a diplomatic chess piece

16. Fear grips currency earning sites as inspectors begin sweeping probe

17. Years of indoctrination preceded NK troops' Russia deployment

18. Why supporting a free and unified Korea serves vital U.S. interests

1. North Korea Sent a Mystery Man to Lead Its Troops Fighting Ukraine

You do not want to get more press than Kim Jong Un.

And if things go badly he will be Col. Gen. "Scapegoat."

Excerpts:

Col. Gen. Kim had largely existed in obscurity for much of his career. South Korea’s government database of elite North Koreans—spanning more than 680 officials based on intelligence from its spy agency and publicly available information—only lists his name and job title. Still unknown are his age, his hometown or any other biographical detail.

This cuts against the prominence that North Korea’s military elites often receive in its state-run media. Kim Jong Un’s public appearances that dominate state-run TV, radio and newspapers typically feature top military brass.

Col. Gen. Kim was mentioned in state media in 2015 when he was promoted to lead North Korea’s special forces. A year later, he was elected to the country’s chief policymaking body, the Workers’ Party Central Committee.

His ascendancy became clearer at a July 2020 meeting where Kim Jong Un gifted North Korea’s top generals with commemorative pistols. The weapons were named “Paektu,” a reference to a sacred mountain that according to North Korean lore served as the base for guerrilla fighters battling the Japanese. It was also the purported birthplace of Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, though independent historians contest this. Col. Gen. Kim, with the gifted gun in hand, crouched for a photo just one person away from the North Korean leader

North Korea Sent a Mystery Man to Lead Its Troops Fighting Ukraine

Three-star general Kim Yong Bok lacked a public persona until Pyongyang made him the proxy decision maker for its roughly 11,000 troops in Russia

https://www.wsj.com/world/north-korea-sent-a-mystery-man-to-lead-its-troops-fighting-ukraine-b325e562?mod=hp_lead_pos9

Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to a special forces base in September. Photo: kcna/Reuters

By Dasl YoonFollow

Updated Nov. 20, 2024 12:10 am ET

SEOUL—In a country that fetes its military elites like celebrities, Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok was rarely seen—or even mentioned—in public. His role leading North Korea’s special forces required him to keep a low profile to conceal his identity. But now he is a very public figure.

He is the top North Korean military official in Russia, where more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to aid Moscow’s efforts to dislodge Ukrainian troops who have seized a chunk of Russian territory.

Kyiv and Seoul officials have confirmed his presence in Russia. In recent days, President Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied, long-range weapons to strike inside Russia—with the new North Korean presence a motivating factor. Ukraine fired those missiles for the first time on Tuesday, hitting an ammunition storage facility in Russia’s Bryansk region.

Formally the army’s deputy chief of general staff, Col. Gen. Kim is believed to be tasked with integrating North Korean troops with the Russians, absorbing battlefield insights to bring back home and establishing the pipeline for future deployments.

The number of dispatched North Korean soldiers to Russia could ultimately reach as high as 100,000, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday. He didn’t cite specific evidence for the claim.

Col. Gen. Kim isn’t expected to see any combat himself. But the dispatch of one of North Korea’s most important military officials signals North Korea’s interest in assisting Russia deep into next year.

Kim Yong Bok has often been seen clutching a pen and notepad while standing alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Photo: KCNA/Reuters

Until recently, his identity was relatively cloaked because the special-forces unit he commanded—believed to be the world’s largest, at roughly 200,000 strong—would undertake secret missions in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula, said Jeon Kyung-joo, a research fellow at the South Korean government-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. North Korea began spotlighting Col. Gen. Kim to show Russia that a trusted hand would be sent to lead the troop deployment, which includes special forces, she added.

“There was more reason to keep him hidden—until now,” Jeon said. “Behind the curtain, he has clearly proven himself to be reliable.”

Pyongyang started pulling Col. Gen. Kim out of the shadows after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s June visit to Pyongyang when the two countries agreed to a mutual defense pact. Col. Gen. Kim transitioned into a frequent sidekick of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s.

They visited flood-hit areas, observed special-forces training and watched artillery drills. Col. Gen. Kim often clutched a pen and notepad while standing alongside the 40-year-old dictator. The last reference in North Korean state media of Col. Gen. Kim was Oct. 6.

Within days, he was believed to have traveled to Russia with the first batch of North Korean troops.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. Photo: gavriil grigorov/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

‘Right next to me’

Col. Gen. Kim had largely existed in obscurity for much of his career. South Korea’s government database of elite North Koreans—spanning more than 680 officials based on intelligence from its spy agency and publicly available information—only lists his name and job title. Still unknown are his age, his hometown or any other biographical detail.

This cuts against the prominence that North Korea’s military elites often receive in its state-run media. Kim Jong Un’s public appearances that dominate state-run TV, radio and newspapers typically feature top military brass.

Col. Gen. Kim was mentioned in state media in 2015 when he was promoted to lead North Korea’s special forces. A year later, he was elected to the country’s chief policymaking body, the Workers’ Party Central Committee.

His ascendancy became clearer at a July 2020 meeting where Kim Jong Un gifted North Korea’s top generals with commemorative pistols. The weapons were named “Paektu,” a reference to a sacred mountain that according to North Korean lore served as the base for guerrilla fighters battling the Japanese. It was also the purported birthplace of Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, though independent historians contest this. Col. Gen. Kim, with the gifted gun in hand, crouched for a photo just one person away from the North Korean leader.

Kim Jong Un gifts North Korea’s top generals—including Kim Yong Bok, kneeling, front row fourth from the left—with commemorative pistols. Photo: kcna/Reuters

He slipped into obscurity again until March when his current role as the Korean People’s Army No. 3 figure was made public. A three-star general, he is one of North Korea’s 10 most important military figures, and a successful stint in Russia could catapult him further up the ranks, according to Pyongyang watchers.

But Col. Gen. Kim’s recent appearances in North Korea were beyond the types of events his predecessors would have attended, said Michael Madden, an expert on North Korea’s leadership at the Stimson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

“Kim Jong Un is saying to the Russians: ‘I’m sending one of my top guys. He sits right next to me,’” Madden said.

Entering the fight

Battlefield experience for North Korean soldiers will help North Korea update its military tactics by observing how a modern war is fought. Russian forces have trained the North Koreans in critical front-line skills such as artillery, trench clearing and drone operations, the State Department said last week.

Col. Gen. Kim was among the roughly 500 North Korean officers sent to Russia, according to Ukrainian and South Korean officials. North Korean soldiers have been issued fake IDs to disguise them as Russian soldiers, Seoul’s spy agency said. They have moved to the front lines carrying Russian equipment and wearing Russian uniforms, according to U.S. officials.

In addition to troops, munitions and missiles, North Korea’s offerings to Russia appear to be expanding with Col. Gen. Kim on the ground. Pyongyang has started supplying M-1991 multiple-launch rocket systems and M-1989 Koksan howitzers, which were seen in a photo traveling atop a train moving through Krasnoyarsk, a city in central Russia, said Lt. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

The view from a Ukrainian drone shows trenches in the Russian-held town of Ocheretyne, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Photo: Serhii Korovayny for WSJ

The weapons are destined for Russia’s Kursk region, Lt. Kovalenko added. That is where the North Korean soldiers are stationed and the site of a Russian counteroffensive to repel Ukrainian forces who seized part of the region in August.

A top concern for Washington, Seoul and others is the possibility that Pyongyang, through its troop dispatch, is able to gain sensitive nuclear or missile technology in return from Moscow. Potential Russian assistance in North Korea’s recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile couldn’t be ruled out, South Korea’s defense minister said.

The deployment of a large number of troops and senior generals like Col. Gen. Kim shows North Korea is serious about its commitment to Russia, said Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank.

“That also means the North Koreans can turn to the Russians and say, ‘Where’s our end of the deal?’ and bargain for more high-end tech from Russia,” he said.

(LEAD) U.S. has not yet seen N. Korea's atmospheric reentry missile capability: Indo-Pacific Command chief | Yonhap News Agency

m-en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · November 20, 2024

(ATTN: ADDS more remarks in paras 6-13)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday that the United States has "not yet" seen North Korea's atmospheric reentry capability, a key technology required for the recalcitrant regime to advance its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program.

Adm. Samuel Paparo made the remarks during a forum in Washington as Pyongyang has been doubling down on its quest to secure reliable long-range warhead delivery vehicles as seen in the test-launch last month of a new Hwasong-19 ICBM.

"Not yet. We've not yet seen that capability, but we just see continued testing towards that," the admiral said at the forum hosted by the Brookings Institution.

view larger image

This photo, released by the Associated Press, shows U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo speaking during a press conference at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio, northern Philippines on Aug. 29, 2024. (Yonhap)

The reentry technology is required to ensure a missile's warhead can withstand extremely high temperatures during reentry to Earth's atmosphere. Despite repeated ICBM tests, it remains unknown whether Pyongyang has actually perfected the technology.

As military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has been deepening, speculation has risen that the North could ask for military technology assistance, including ICBM-related support, in return for its troop deployment to support Russia's war in Ukraine.

Describing the Russia-North Korea partnership as "transactional" and "symbiotic," the admiral expected that Pyongyang could get submarine and propulsion technologies in return for its supplies of weapons and troops to Russia. He did not elaborate further.

"They are dangerous and transactional, and North Korea has contributed missiles in the form of KN-24 that have been directly used against Ukraine. They have contributed artillery shells that have been directly used against Ukraine. Now they have directly contributed soldiers in five digits," he said.

"I would expect coming back will be submarine technology and propulsion technology."

Paparo pointed out that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is "reforming" his country "in a new image."

"We've seen him eschew unification. We've seen him declare South Korea as impure, other ... not Korean," he said. "We should not ignore this sea change."

This North Korean move cannot be a good development for China, he noted.

"Because as North Korea proliferates, the PRC has declared that they seek the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and we respect that declaration from the People's Republic of China," he said, referring to China by its official name.

"We appreciate that. So it is a dangerous situation. It adds complexity to an already dangerous situation."

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

Keyword

m-en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · November 20, 2024

3. Air Force A-10 will no longer bare teeth overseas with Korea exit

Air Force A-10 will no longer bare teeth overseas with Korea exit

militarytimes.com · by Riley Ceder · November 19, 2024

The Air Force will begin removing its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from Osan Air Base, South Korea, starting in January 2025, according to an Air Force release.

Osan Air Base is the Warthog’s last location overseas, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, meaning the aircraft’s removal will mark the end of its run abroad. There are currently 24 A-10 aircraft stationed at Osan Air Base, and they are all slated for withdrawal by the end of fiscal 2025.

“By introducing advanced fourth and fifth-generation aircraft like our upgraded (F-16 Fighting Falcons), along with (F-35 Lightning IIs) and (F-15EX Eagle IIs) in the Pacific region, we are significantly enhancing our overall air combat capabilities in the Korean theater,” said Lt. Gen. David Iverson, Seventh Air Force commander and U.S. Forces Korea deputy commander, in the release.

Often associated with the cartoonish teeth that are sometimes painted on its nose cone, the Warthog first flew in 1972.

The push to modernize the aircraft fleet is part of a broader effort to maintain stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes Korea, the service said. The upgrade to newer aircraft is intended to reinforce defense capabilities against North Korea and showcase continued support for South Korea, according to the release.

Seventh Air Force F-16s are also getting upgrades to their avionics systems and their weapon systems, according to the release.

“The advancement of our F-16 upgrades and innovation through our ongoing super squadron test at Osan (AB) show our dedication to evolving and adapting our forces to meet the demands of the 21st century,” Iverson said.

About Riley Ceder

Riley Ceder is an editorial fellow at Military Times, where he covers breaking news, criminal justice and human interest stories. He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post, where he contributed to the ongoing Abused by the Badge investigation.

4. Trump should not give up on North Korea

The subtitle gets at the fundamental question we must answer. What will prevent Kim Jong Un from using nuclear weapons in any scenario? We must continually evaluate and answer this question. Can negotiations and agreements with the Kim family regime prevent nuclear use? Or is something else required? (rhetorical questions I know).

My view:

President-elect Trump did something during his first term that no president had done: “He gave it a shot.” He met Kim and he offered him a future. But it was Kim Jong Un who failed to appreciate the opportunity he had. Now in his second term President Trump has the opportunity to implement new elements of policy and strategy that have never before been attempted. These include a human rights upfront approach that keeps human rights on all agendas, a sophisticated and holistic information campaign, and the support of the Korean people's pursuit of a free and unified Korea. There are few pundits who see the opportunities that both President Yoon with his 8.15 Unification Doctrine and Kim Jong Un with his new hostile policy toward the South are providing to the U.S. and ROK/U.S alliance. It is time to recognize that the only path to denuclearization is through unification. Most importantly the prevention of war and nuclear use, and the long term outcome on the Korean peninsula are important to the national security and national prosperity of the U.S.

Trump should not give up on North Korea

We don't want war with a nuclear Pyongyang

washingtontimes.com · by Joseph R. DeTrani

By - Tuesday, November 19, 2024

A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Threat Status delivered directly to your inbox each weekday.

OPINION:

North Korea spent almost 30 years trying to normalize relations with the U.S., knowing it would legitimize the regime and generate international development assistance. Now, North Korea is aligned with Russia, providing artillery shells, ballistic missiles and reportedly over 10,000 special forces troops to aid Russia in its war of aggression in Ukraine.

What happened?

For 30 years, North Korea had agreed to the U.S. demand for complete and verifiable denuclearization. We had the Agreed Framework in 1994, the Six-Party Talks Joint Statement in 2005 and the Singapore Declaration in 2018 between then-President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

During most of these years, however, North Korea was pursuing a secret highly enriched uranium, or HEU, program for nuclear weapons, in violation of these agreements. At the second leadership summit in February 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam, Mr. Kim proposed lifting sanctions imposed on North Korea after 2016 in exchange for the North halting activities at its Plutonium facility at Yongbyon.

When Mr. Trump countered, asking North Korea to halt all nuclear activities, including at its nondeclared HEU sites, Mr. Kim refused, and the Hanoi Summit ended abruptly.

On June 30, 2019, Mr. Trump shook hands with Mr. Kim in the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea and took 20 steps into North Korea, making history as the first sitting president to enter the country. Since that friendly encounter, no official contact with North Korea has existed.

In the past four years, North Korea has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, including the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of reaching anywhere in the United States. Recently, North Korea publicly tested suicide drones that could be provided to Russia for its war with Ukraine.

Mr. Kim reportedly codified in North Korea’s Constitution two of its principal enemies: South Korea and the United States. He has publicly eschewed reunification with South Korea and dismantled all roads and rail lines connecting the two Koreas. This past June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang and signed a treaty with North Korea that commits each to defend the other if attacked.

I’ve often been asked why we should care about North Korea. My response hasn’t changed over the years: We don’t want another Korean War, this time with a nuclear North Korea with ballistic missiles capable of targeting our allies in South Korea and Japan and, most recently, with ICBMs capable of targeting the U.S.

Although North Korea knows it would be suicidal to use nuclear weapons against Seoul or Tokyo, the likelihood of an emboldened North Korea, now aligned with Russia, using conventional weapons to incite conflict with South Korea, is greater now than at any time since the Korean War.

We should not give up on North Korea.

Except for the past four years, the U.S. has had routine senior-level contact with North Korea, including Mr. Trump’s two summits with Mr. Kim and his steps into North Korea. In early October 2000, then-President Bill Clinton welcomed Marshall Jo Myong-rok to the White House, the second most powerful official in North Korea.

They discussed the normalization of relations, and Mr. Clinton was invited to visit North Korea. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright then visited Pyongyang in late October and had good meetings with Chairman Kim Jong-il, the father of Kim Jong-un. They also discussed the normalization of relations, with the elder Kim committing to complete and verifiable denuclearization.

Kim Jong-un knows that North Korea’s allied relationship with Russia and its support for Moscow’s invasion of a sovereign nation will prevent North Korea from receiving the international development assistance it wants and needs and the international legitimacy it seeks. Aligning with a pariah state — Russia — that will again abandon North Korea, as it did after the implosion of the Soviet Union, is not what Mr. Kim wants.

The incoming Trump administration has the opportunity to reverse the recent negative developments with North Korea. Given the relationship Mr. Trump has with Mr. Kim, it’s likely that North Korea would respond favorably to an overture that proposes the eventual lifting of sanctions on an action-for-action basis as North Korea halts the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and halts nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches.

Obviously, keeping our allies in South Korea and Japan apprised of developments with North Korea is important while recommitting to the defense of our allies.

• Joseph R. DeTrani is the former director of East Asia operations at the CIA, former special envoy for talks with North Korea (2003-2006) and former director of the National Counterproliferation Center. The views expressed here are the author’s and not those of any government agency or department.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide

washingtontimes.com · by Joseph R. DeTrani

5. New 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer set for delivery to Navy next week

New 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer set for delivery to Navy next week

The Korea Times · November 20, 2024

A launch ceremony for the Jeongjo the Great destroyer takes place at a Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, July 28, 2022. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon

The Navy will receive a new 8,200-ton destroyer armed with an advanced missile interception platform next week, officials said Wednesday, in a move expected to help bolster the military's air defense capabilities against North Korean missiles.

The Navy will receive the Jeongjo the Great destroyer, named after a visionary king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), in a ceremony to be held in Ulsan, some 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, next Wednesday, according to Navy officials.

A launch ceremony for the high-tech warship took place in July 2022.

The 170-meter-long, 21-meter-wide destroyer is equipped with radar-evading functions and the newest Aegis combat system capable of not only detecting and tracking ballistic missiles but also intercepting them.

The warship will be fitted with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) ship-based surface-to-air missile system that is capable of intercepting incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes above 100 kilometers.

In April, the state arms procurement agency said its weapons program review committee approved a plan to acquire the SM-3s through government-to-government foreign military sales.

The Jeongjo the Great destroyer is the first of three 8,200-ton Aegis destroyers that Seoul aims to acquire under the Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II project. It is South Korea's fourth Aegis destroyer after the ROKS King Sejong the Great, the ROKS Yulgok Yi I and the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · November 20, 2024

6. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Emboldened by Alliance With Russia, Is Itching for Seventh Test of A-Bomb

We should unpack this. Why is Kim itching to do so? What effect will he be trying to achieve through a nuclear test?

Simply advancing his nuclear program to the next level? Does he need to test to support the advancement of program?

Or will a test be intended to be a message to generate some kind of response (political warfare and blackmail diplomacy).

BUt if we can discern the desired effect we can then expose the strategy and "attack the strategy" with superior political warfare actions and activities.

I am only concerned about the nKPA gaining "combat experience" if enough of them survive AND they are able to conduct effective sustained training of nKPA forces in north Korea to benefit from what they might learn during Putin's War in Ukraine. Training is more important than combat experience and if they cannot impart their experiences to the rest of the nKPA through sustained training the north will not gain any advantage from the nKPA combat experience.

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Emboldened by Alliance With Russia, Is Itching for Seventh Test of A-Bomb

Sixth test, conducted more than seven years ago, blew up much of a mountain.

DONALD KIRK

Published: Nov. 19, 2024 06:45 AM ETUpdated: Nov. 19, 2024 11:25 AM ET

nysun.com

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, bursting with confidence from his alliance with the Russians in Ukraine, is now urging a great leap forward in his nuclear program.

More than seven years after ordering the North’s sixth nuclear test, Mr. Kim appears eager to stage a seventh, despite the opposition of the People’s Republic of China. This time, it’s believed, such a test would be even more powerful than the last blast that blew up much of a mountain in September 2017.

“We fear this might be the time when the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) starts the fire on the seventh nuclear test,” said a senior researcher with the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, Lee Soo-hoon. “The explosive yield will be a lot more than the sixth nuclear test,” he told a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Anxiety about Mr. Kim’s nuclear program has risen as North Korean forces join the Russians in Ukraine, getting their first taste of combat — and training for a wider war not only in Ukraine but possibly Korea, too. “We will build up our nation’s self-defense forces, the pivot of which is its nuclear capability, limitlessly and endlessly,” Mr. Kim told a meeting of battalion commanders and political officers, as reported by Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency.

“Long ago, the line of building up our nuclear forces became an irreversible policy,” KCNA quoted him as saying in a speech translated into English. “What remains to be done now is for these forces to get more fully ready for action.”

While Mr. Kim’s rhetoric may be dismissed as bluff and bluster, he appears to have become obsessed with the war in Ukraine — so much so as to give the impression that he’s now far more certain than in bygone years of his ability to get away with a sharp escalation in tensions if not actual war in Korea.

Without mentioning his decision to send 12,000 troops to fight for the hard-pressed Russians, Mr. Kim accused “the United States and other Western countries” of “using Ukraine as a shock force in the war against Russia.” He neglected to note that no forces from the North Atlantic Treaty countries are in Ukraine when he said their goal was “to enrich their real-war experience and expand the scope of military intervention all over the world.”

It’s the North Koreans who are gaining in Ukraine combat experience that they will bring back with them to North Korea. Voice of America quoted Ukraine’s ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, as saying the North Koreans may be rotated in and out every few months, meaning as many as 100,000 might gain experience on the battlefields of Ukraine within a year.

nysun.com

7. Kim's troops will FLEE when they reach Ukraine frontline, says ex-NK soldier

Extensive photos and video at the link: https://www.the-sun.com/news/12906165/north-korean-troops-flee-putin-ukraine-frontline/?utm_source=pocket_shared

There has already been one report that 18 soldiers tied to effect but that still has not been substantiated as far as I know.

I am reminded of the quote from the USSR in World War II: It takes a brave man to be a coward in Stalin's army." Of course than meant anyone who attempted to flee would be shot.

Kim's troops will FLEE when they reach Ukraine frontline, says ex-NK soldier

VLAD'S HUMAN SHIELDS I was a North Korean soldier – Kim’s terrified troops will FLEE Putin’s army when they reach Ukraine frontline

Watch our exclusive interview with a former North Korean soldier

James Halpin
Published: 5:01 ET, Nov 16 2024Updated: 5:52 ET, Nov 16 2024

the-sun.com · by James Halpin · November 16, 2024

ENTIRE units of North Korea's troops fighting for Vladimir Putin will desert as soon as they get to the frontline, a defector has claimed.

Hyun-Seung Lee, a soldier in the Kim army in the early 2000s, says the troops in Russia will be looking to escape the battle in Ukraine "from the beginning".

Kim Jong-un meets with troops in MarchCredit: AP

Leaked footage shows the North Koreans training in RussiaCredit: Telegram

In one clip the soldiers appear to be practising speaking RussianCredit: Telegram

He believes the troops are not ready for the frontline and will be used as "human shields" by Russian soldiers.

Kim Jong-un has sent his Storm Corps, the country's equivalent of special forces, to fight for Vlad as his war continues to stall.

The 10,000-strong force is set to be used on the battlefield in the coming days as the Russian tyrant looks to claw back Kursk.

Questions have been raised about how well the Korean soldiers will fight having not seen combat since the Vietnam War and with the units armed, clothed, and run by the Russians.

Lee told The Sun the soldiers in North Korea will have been forced to go and they will be young, so they won't be that committed to the fighting.

He said: "It will be individuals at first, but more like as time passes, I think there'll be like a larger number of group defections, including officers."

That's because, Lee says, the Russians will likely treat them as "expendable" and even more poorly than their own troops.

He said: "Russian soldiers don't respect them as their fellow warriors

"They will treat them as their human shields."

Eventually, the North Koreans will realise the hierarchy and how they are being seen as "disposable" by the Russians and look to flee, Lee said.

Leaked videos show North Korean troops training in Russia as Putin readies 50k soldiers to ‘retake’ Kursk from Ukraine

He added: "I think they'll die without any impact.

"Putin and Kim Jong-un would expect more from them... they won't get the expected results."

But North Korean soldiers could be thinking twice about defecting as it could see their families thrown in prison.

Pyongyang has a guilty by association policy; if the North's soldiers are seen defecting by colleagues their families could be put in jail.

Lee said: "They would be socially not respected, there's criticism [they would face] from the community and organisations."

High-ranking families would likely face a more severe punishment if authorities knew their relative had fled.

But Lee, whose family fled Pyongyang in 2014, said some families might not even know their brother, son or father are in Russia fighting as North Korea keeps all troop movements secret.

The troops will be watched over by a Worker's Party political officer who will administer two hours of ideological training a day.

Speaking of his own experience in ideological training, Lee said: "Mainly we are educated about Kim family's history and the military policy.

Inside North Inside North Korea's elite Storm Corp special forces

by James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter

KIM Jong-un has sent his special forces soldiers to fight in Ukraine - known as the Storm Corps.

Storm Corps is made of 10 units, including a snipers unit, a light infantry unit, and a paratroopers unit, according to Lee HyunSeung.

Lee shot down the suggestion of whether they would be comparable to Western special forces.

He said North Korea didn't have the equipment to continually train troops for combat as ammunition and bombs would need replacing.

Instead, they trained "for show" so they could march in parades or for propaganda videos.

Lee said those soldiers are drawn from North Korea's working class and will be ambivalent about fighting for the regime.

He said: "They are just seeking food and then they're seeking career advancement."I'm sure nowadays, these, you know, young soldiers they don't have like a real loyalty to the regime.

"They just got order command from the Supreme Commander, and then they have no choice but to, you know, move to Russia."

"The main focus point is we have to sacrifice ourselves for the Kim family and the party, and the military."

To the troops in Russia, that would mean teaching them to avoid Western psychological warfare techniques and preventing them from deserting.

He said: "So, [troops will be told] 'don't pick up any material from Ukraine government or in the South Korean language' and 'they [claims in the propaganda they hear] are all fake', and 'it's not true' if someone defects, or 'if you're arrested, you'll be tortured'."

But Lee believes the soldiers will be susceptible to any psy-ops the Ukrainian government uses to try and get troops to defect.

He added: "I would say, if Ukraine's government conducts a psychological strategy against North Korean soldiers then the chances are really high [of defection] because they don't have real motivation. It's not for money, right? They are not getting paid.

"And obviously it's [their motivation] not defending your country, and then your parents, and yourself. So it's just that they are mobilised by the North Korean supreme commander Kim Jong-un."

While Lee expects the North Korean troops to do poorly in Russia, if they did do well it could spur Kim to invade South Korea.

He said: "Kim Jong-un will have massive confidence. And then North Korean soldiers will be happy about their achievement in Russia and also if that's the case, South Korea should be alarmed.

"It's a higher possibility Kim Jong-un will make misjudgement against South Korea."

Putin and Kim, pictured in June, are alliesCredit: Reuters

North Korea's Storm Corps pictured in MoscowCredit: X

Hyun-Seung Lee is a North Korean defector

It comes as Putin is understood to have amassed 40,000 of his soldiers and 10,000 North Korean troops as he plots to attack Kursk.

The Kremlin leader is set to try and claw back the area of Russia which Ukraine seized back in August.

Putin could begin the combined assault with Kim Jong-un's troops sent to fight in just days, according to Ukrainian officials.

Vlad's army has also been training the North Koreans in infantry tactics, artillery fire, and trench clearing.

Ukraine has built defences in the part of Kursk it occupies and could be able to hold on, officials say.

But Russia has been shelling and sending rocket attacks against the entrenched Ukrainians.

Up to 40 North Korean soldiers have already been killed during their first engagement with Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

One injured soldier, heavily bandaged and lying in what appears to be a makeshift hospital fumed at their Russian leaders.

He claims that he was told that they would be guarding infrastructure, but that the North Koreans were "betrayed" and were "sent on an assault in the Kursk region".

The soldier added: "The Russians did not provide us with anything.

"They threw us into an assault without prior intelligence, without ammunition, without normal weapons."

Russia is continuing its brutal war in Ukraine - aiming to retake Kursk

North Korean troops could play a roll in the coming months of the war

Kim enjoys a smoke as he observes kamikaze drone tests

the-sun.com · by James Halpin · November 16, 2024

8. Would North Korea Really Send 100,000 Troops to Fight in Ukraine?

If the price is right from Putin?

Excerpts:

The new Axis of Evil between Russia and North Korea had already resulted in Pyongyang providing millions of howitzer shells to Moscow. In return for the 10,000 troops, North Korea will obtain hard currency from wages paid by Russia to the recruits. Kim Jong Un will also likely receive intercontinental ballistic missile technology from the Russians. This deal is a master stroke by Kim, who has played his hand well during the war as he also continues to raise the temperature against South Korea on the peninsula.

Kim will likely send Russia his troops in tranches of about 10,000 each, but if the G20 assessment is correct, he could choose to send a massive complement of 100,000 troops at once.

Would North Korea Really Send 100,000 Troops to Fight in Ukraine?

nationalsecurityjournal.org · by Brent M. Eastwood · November 18, 2024

North Korea Talk

Published

18 hours ago

North Korean ICBM. Image Credit: KCNA/North Korean State Media.

Could North Korea Beef Up Russia with Another 100,000 Troops?: You may have seen photos of Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un grinning profusely while shaking hands during the announcement of a new joint defense pact.

As a result, Kim has already sent at least 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia who have deployed to the Kursk region of western Russia for a counter-offensive against Ukrainian forces there.

But the 10,000 soldiers could be a drop in the bucket. One report from the G20 group of nations claims that Kim might have plans to send a whopping 100,000 of his troops to Russia.

What happens if this comes to pass? How could such a move change the outcome of the Ukraine war?

Russia Has More Manpower

Russia has an estimated 470,000 soldiers fighting against Ukraine. One hundred thousand more North Koreans would beef up his forces by nearly 20 percent, which could affect the outcome of the fighting as Ukraine’s forces are already outnumbered.

Ukraine has lost 80,000 troops dead and 400,000 wounded and has only 330,000 personnel at the front. A flood of North Koreans could tip the balance of the war in Russia’s favor.

A Match Made in Hell

The new Axis of Evil between Russia and North Korea had already resulted in Pyongyang providing millions of howitzer shells to Moscow. In return for the 10,000 troops, North Korea will obtain hard currency from wages paid by Russia to the recruits. Kim Jong Un will also likely receive intercontinental ballistic missile technology from the Russians. This deal is a master stroke by Kim, who has played his hand well during the war as he also continues to raise the temperature against South Korea on the peninsula.

Kim will likely send Russia his troops in tranches of about 10,000 each, but if the G20 assessment is correct, he could choose to send a massive complement of 100,000 troops at once.

North Korea Has a Huge Army

North Korea is estimated to have around 1.3 million active troops and 560,000 in reserve. However, Kim’s army has no combat experience, and many of his forces are badly trained and sparsely equipped. The troops deploying to Russia are seen as elite special operations troops who are happy to fight with Putin’s forces.

While G20 and NATO members have expressed their disdain for the North Korean reinforcements, this is not likely to change the behavior of Kim and Putin. Ukraine and the United States have escalated the situation as well. In a shift in policy, the United States is now allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles called ATACMS into Russia. The ATACMS has a range of 190 miles and is expected to deploy against the Russian counter-offensive in Kursk. The missiles will target North Korean soldiers, making this war a proxy fight between the United States and its allies and the new Axis of Evil.

Putin is likely thrilled with the North Korean alliance. He doesn’t have to give much to Pyongyang in exchange for the reinforcements. He has forged an anti-Western coalition that includes China and Iran to challenge the global order. If he decides to enter peace negotiations, he could take back territory in Kursk and strengthen Russia’s position. He also signals the Russian people that winning the war is within reach.

This Will Be a Greater Challenge for Trump

These developments make the situation with Ukraine and Russia more difficult for the incoming Donald Trump administration. Trump has promised to end the war in Ukraine and will likely find it more challenging to get both sides to agree to cease fire talks. Ukraine can say that the North Korean deployment means it must fight on and the United States decision to allow long-range strikes sends a message to the Kremlin that the Americans are not serious about ending the war.

Could China and Iran Help Russia Even More?

This raises the question of whether China and Iran would offer more assistance to Russia to forge a decisive victory. Iran has sent a substantial supply of unmanned combat systems to Moscow. The European Union also fears that China may be selling drones to Russia as well.

This Axis of Evil 2.0 is thus unsettling and more bad news for the international community. The longer the war goes on, the greater the chance that Russia will marshal its friends to make a wall of resistance against the United States and its European allies.

Even if North Korea decides not to actually send the 100,000 troops to Russia, Putin and Kim’s alliance is problematic. It gives Kim confidence that he is a global leader with whom to be reckoned. It gives Putin a shot in the arm to take back lands in Kursk, and it makes the United States fear that many countries are against its policies of assistance to Ukraine.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

In this article:

Written By Brent M. Eastwood

Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.

nationalsecurityjournal.org · by Brent M. Eastwood · November 18, 2024

9. U.N. committee adopts resolution on N. Korean human rights for 20th straight year

Resolution good. Action better.

We must pressure the regime on its human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. We must educate the korean sin the north about their universal human rights . We must empower them with information so they can seek change.

(LEAD) U.N. committee adopts resolution on N. Korean human rights for 20th straight year | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · November 21, 2024

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES throughout)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- A U.N. General Assembly committee on Wednesday passed a resolution on North Korean human rights for the 20th consecutive year, calling for the U.N. system as a whole to continue to address the North's "grave" situation "in a coordinated and unified manner."

The Third Committee handling human rights and social affairs adopted by consensus the resolution, which expressed concerns over the North's declaration not to pursue reunification with South Korea and called for repealing its practices and laws that suppress people's freedom of thought, expression and religion.

The adoption came as Seoul and Washington have stressed the importance of improvement in the North's human rights environment on the grounds that a repressive political climate has led the regime to continue to push for its weapons programs without public comment.

"Noting with concern the possible negative impact on the human rights situation, including that of separated families, following the announcement of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in January 2024 that it would no longer pursue reunification with the Republic of Korea (ROK)," the resolution read.

ROK and DPRK refer to the official names of South Korea and North Korea, respectively.

It is the first time that the annually adopted resolution has mentioned the North's public renouncement of reunification as a policy goal.

This image shows a resolution on North Korea's human rights violations at a U.N. Security Council session. (Yonhap)

The resolution also pointed out "all-pervasive and severe restrictions," including an "absolute monopoly" on information and total control over organized social life, saying that they have been further tightened by newly enacted laws, including the Law on Rejecting Reactionary Thought and Culture and the Youth Education Guarantee Law.

"(It urges the North) to ensure the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief and the rights to freedom of opinion, expression and association, both online and offline, including by permitting the establishment of independent newspapers and other media and repealing or reforming all practices and laws suppressing the aforementioned rights," the resolution reads.

It stressed that the North Korean government funds its "unlawful" nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs through human rights violations and abuse, such as forced labor.

Moreover, it noted with concern that a "disproportionate" amount of the North's state budget is allocated to military spending, resulting in failure to fully respect, protect and fulfill human rights, such as the right to adequate food.

The resolution included a request for the president of the General Assembly to organize a high-level plenary meeting, featuring testimony by civil society representatives and other experts, to address the human rights abuses being committed in the North.

It called for the "immediate" return of all abductees of South Korea and Japan.

South Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Sang-jin urged Pyongyang to heed the General Assembly's concerns over the human rights situation in the reclusive state and its calls for improvement.

"It is with a heavy heart, however, that there has been no improvement, but rather deterioration in North Korea's systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, which amount to crimes against humanity, according to the 2014 COI report," Kim said, referring to the Commission of Inquiry report on Pyongyang's abuses.

In a statement, Seoul's foreign ministry welcomed the adoption of the resolution.

"As this year marks the 10th year since the U.N. COI report was published, we take note of the fact that through this resolution, the international community expressed concerns over the serious human rights situation in North Korea and sent a consistent and unified message calling for the North's action to improve the situation," the ministry said.

It also vowed to make multi-faceted efforts to improve the North's human rights based on its stance that a resolution on the North's human rights issue is a "crucial foundation" for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.

As anticipated, North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Song said that Pyongyang "categorically" rejected the resolution, denouncing it as the "document of a political plot fabricated for the ulterior purpose of defaming the dignity of the DPRK."

"The anti-DPRK draft resolution of human rights, tabled by the European Union every year at the instigation of the United States, is a false paper worthy of no deliberation at all as it is full of the fabrication and falsehood," he said. "The so-called human rights issue cannot exist in our country."

The resolution will be sent to a full General Assembly session for approval in December.

The committee has adopted the resolution annually since 2005 to shine a light on human rights violations in North Korea and redouble international calls for Pyongyang to tackle the issue.

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · November 21, 2024

10. N.K. troops assigned to Russia's airborne brigade, marine corps; some entered combat: NIS

I am still not clear whether they are being employed as north Korean units and if so at what echelon or if they are being used as individual replacements?

(3rd LD) N.K. troops assigned to Russia's airborne brigade, marine corps; some entered combat: NIS | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · November 20, 2024

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with more info, headline; REPLACES photo; ADDS byline)

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korean troops deployed to Russia were assessed to have been assigned to Moscow's airborne brigade and marine corps on the ground, with some of the North's soldiers having already entered combat, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Wednesday.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) presented the assessment during a closed-door meeting of the parliamentary Intelligence Committee, according to People Power Party Rep. Lee Seong-kweun and Democratic Party Rep. Park Sun-won.

"Around 11,000 troops were assessed to have been relocated to Kursk in late October after completing local adjustment training in northeastern Russia," the NIS told the lawmakers.

"Having been assigned to Russia's airborne brigade or marine corps, (some) are undergoing training in tactics and drone response, while others are assessed to have participated in combat," the spy agency said.

The NIS also told the lawmakers that North Korean troops, having entered combat, may have suffered casualties or wounds, adding that efforts are under way to determine the details of the combat circumstances and the extent of the damage.

Seoul and Washington have previously said that North Korean troops, dispatched to Russia's western front-line Kursk region, have begun engaging in combat operations against Ukrainian forces despite criticism that their introduction onto the battlefield could broaden the war and affect security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The NIS also confirmed North Korea's exports of long-range artillery to Russia, including 170 mm self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers. North Korea has previously been reported to have shipped artillery shells and short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.

The spy agency additionally noted that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui may have had a "very important and sensitive" discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin during her visit to the country in early November, adding that it may not have been a courtesy meeting.

Choe had a surprise meeting with Putin on Nov. 4 during her visit to Russia, demonstrating the elevated closeness between their countries amid North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia to fight in its war against Ukraine.

The NIS also suggested the possibility that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may visit Russia.

This undated image captured from the Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security of Ukraine shows soldiers suspected to be North Koreans receiving apparent Russian military gear. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · November 20, 2024

11. Putin gifts N. Korea dozens of animals amid deepening ties

Just what every dictator needs to receive from another dictator.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh no!

Putin gifts N. Korea dozens of animals amid deepening ties | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Oh Seok-min · November 20, 2024

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented North Korea with more than 70 animals, including a lion and two bears, in a sign of friendship between the two nations, according to foreign media reports Wednesday.

Russia's Natural Resources and Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov has ordered over 70 animals to be transferred from Moscow Zoo to Pyongyang Central Zoo as Putin's gift to North Koreans, Russia's news agency TASS said in a report, citing a press release by the ministry.

The animals include one African lion, two brown bears, two domestic yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants of various species and 40 mandarin ducks, it added.

Putin gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un 24 purebred horses, known to be Kim's favorite, in August, while Kim sent Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, a local breed, in June.

The move came as Pyongyang and Moscow have forged a closer relationship, particularly after the two sides signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year that obligates them to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked.

The North has recently sent more than 10,000 of its troops to Russia to fight in its war against Ukraine.

This AFP photo, provided by Russia's natural resources ministry on Nov. 20, 2024, shows a lion in its new enclosure after being transferred from Moscow Zoo to Pyongyang Zoo in Pyongyang. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

graceoh@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Oh Seok-min · November 20, 2024

12. S. Korea, U.S., Japan launch secretariat for trilateral cooperation

Excellent.

This is good for the US (and Korea and Japan).

(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S., Japan launch secretariat for trilateral cooperation | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · November 20, 2024

(ATTN: ADDS photo)

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, the United States and Japan officially launched a secretariat for trilateral cooperation Wednesday, following the announcement on its establishment at their leaders' summit last week, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The launch of the Trilateral Secretariat came days after the leaders of the three countries announced the plan during the summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru on Friday (local time).

Establishing the secretariat was part of an agreement reached between President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Camp David summit in August last year.

The envisioned launch of the secretariat has been seen as a concrete step toward implementing the commitments shared among the three nations, including enhancing three-way coordination and cooperation against common challenges, including North Korea's military threats.

(From L to R) Robert Koepcke, deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs at the U.S. State Department; Lee Won-woo, deputy director general for North American affairs at the South Korean foreign ministry; and Akihiro Okochi, deputy director general for Asian and Oceanian affairs of Japan's foreign ministry, pose for a photo ahead of their inaugural meeting for the launch of the Trilateral Secretariat in Seoul on Nov. 20, 2024, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The inaugural meeting for the secretariat's launch took place in Seoul, led by Lee Won-woo, deputy director general for North American affairs at the South Korean foreign ministry; Robert Koepcke, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs; and Akihiro Okochi, deputy director general for Asian and Oceanian affairs of Japan's foreign ministry.

Each country will rotate the role of secretary general and the operation of the secretariat every two years, starting with South Korea, followed by the U.S. and Japan, the foreign ministry said.

At Wednesday's meeting, the three countries "assessed the progress in the trilateral cooperation since the Camp David summit and discussed the structure and operational plans for the secretariat," the ministry said.

South Korea will work with the U.S. and Japan to coordinate various ongoing projects in areas such as security, the economy, advanced technology and people-to-people exchanges, with the aim of institutionalizing and fostering the continuous development of trilateral cooperation, the ministry added.

(From L to R) South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pose for a photo ahead of their trilateral talks that took place on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 16, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

elly@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · November 20, 2024

13. Concerns mounting over S. Korea’s potential involvement in Ukraine war

Disappointing. But I guess we are getting an indication of the President-elect's direction.

Concerns mounting over S. Korea’s potential involvement in Ukraine war

donga.com

Posted November. 20, 2024 07:52,

Updated November. 20, 2024 07:52

Concerns mounting over S. Korea’s potential involvement in Ukraine war. November. 20, 2024 07:52. by 워싱턴=문병기 특파원, 리우데자네이루=황형준 기자 weappon@donga.com.

Michael Waltz, the official nominee for National Security Advisor under President-elect Donald Trump, criticized President Joe Biden’s authorization allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. Waltz described the decision as “another step up the escalation ladder” and raised the alarm over reports that South Korea may consider intervening in the war.

“We weren’t briefed in advance [about the missile authorization]. We don’t know where this situation will go,” Waltz said during an interview on Fox News. “North Korea is growing its involvement in the conflict. North Korea is sending ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and tens of thousands of soldiers.” Waltz further criticized the Biden administration for lifting restrictions on missile use, remarking, “North Korea is sending more troops, and South Korea is now saying it can engage.” In his first televised interview since being nominated, Waltz expressed concerns over South Korea’s potential arms support for Ukraine, labeling it as “engagement in the war,” marking the first time a senior Trump administration member has commented on South Korea’s possible involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

Earlier in the day, Trump’s team condemned the Biden administration for allowing Ukraine to target Russian territory with U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, which have a range of approximately 300 kilometers. The Trump camp criticized the move as “starting a new war,” suggesting it could further intensify the conflict. Waltz emphasized President-elect Trump’s commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war. “This is a development, but it’s a tactical one. President Trump is focused on grand strategy,” Waltz said. “He’s determined to bring both sides to the negotiating table and end the war.”

한국어

donga.com

14. S. Korean spy agency monitoring possible Russia visit by N. Korean leader

Would Kim Jong Un visit his troops in Kursk? He needs to make an "on the spot guidance visit." What a great target for a Ukrainian ATACMS or drone that would make.

And if he is too afraid to make a visit to his troops that can be useful for messaging as well.

S. Korean spy agency monitoring possible Russia visit by N. Korean leader

The Korea Times · November 20, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 4. Reuters-Yonhap

NIS says some North Korean troops began engaging in combat

By Kwak Yeon-soo

South Korea’s spy agency said, Wednesday, that it is closely monitoring the possibility of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting Russia.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui at the Kremlin on Nov. 4, contrary to earlier reports that suggested no plans for such a meeting.

The agency shared the information with lawmakers during a closed-door meeting of the parliamentary intelligence committee, according to Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the ruling People Power Party and Rep. Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, who are leaders of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee.

Choe’s visit to Russia, where she met with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, and Putin, followed confirmation from South Korea and the U.S. that around 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia. Thousands of these troops have already been deployed to the front-line Kursk region.

“Putin greeted Choe on a national holiday. We believe the meeting touched upon important agendas, including sensitive ones like a potential visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It appears likely that both sides discussed more than exchanging cordial words,” the NIS was quoted as saying by the lawmakers.

On Oct. 25, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Kim visiting Moscow next year is a possibility, noting that high-level exchanges are always taking place with Pyongyang as its “close neighbor.”

A TV screen shows file images of North Korean soldiers during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, Oct. 18. AP-Yonhap

The NIS said some of the North Korean troops deployed to Russia in the Ukrainian war have been assigned to combat roles alongside Russia’s Airborne Brigade and Marines.

“At least 11,000 North Korean soldiers completed acclimation training in Russia’s northeastern regions and were relocated to Kursk in late October. With North Korean troops now being deployed to the front lines of the war in Ukraine, casualties are likely to emerge. We will closely monitor the extent of losses suffered by North Korean forces,” it said.

The spy agency also confirmed additional exports of North Korean howitzers and multiple rocket launchers to Russia.

“We found out that North Korea has provided Russia with 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 240mm multiple rocket launchers in addition to artillery weapons. It is highly likely that North Korea also dispatched additional personnel to maintain and repair new weapons as they are not part of Russia’s conventional arsenal.

North Korea and Russia have been strengthening military and other cooperation, with Kim and Putin holding summit talks in June in Pyongyang. They signed a new partnership treaty that includes a mutual defense clause.

The Korea Times · November 20, 2024

15. Editorial: The Moon administration made national defense a diplomatic chess piece

THAAD. The gift that keeps on giving.

Excerpt:

The full extent of the Moon administration’s actions regarding THAAD must be thoroughly investigated. What has been revealed so far may only scratch the surface.

Editorial: The Moon administration made national defense a diplomatic chess piece

https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2024/11/20/7XICBBMMQJH7PPP3NNFS3UZRDE/

By The Chosunilbo

Published 2024.11.20. 09:04

The Moon Jae-in administration reportedly leaked U.S.-South Korea military operation schedules to anti-THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) civic groups in an effort to delay the missile defense system’s official deployment, according to a Board of Audit and Inspection report. The administration is also accused of sharing the schedule and details of THAAD equipment replacement operations with a Chinese military attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, citing diplomatic relations with China. These actions, which involved the transfer of second-level military secrets to foreign entities and civic groups, amount to what critics call “self-inflicted security sabotage.”

The decision to deploy THAAD in South Korea was made during the Park Geun-hye administration in 2016 to counter the growing threat of North Korean nuclear weapons and missiles. However, China strongly opposed the system, claiming its radar could be used to monitor Chinese missile activity. Domestically, civic groups protested the deployment, alleging that electromagnetic waves from the radar posed health risks, and held sit-ins outside the THAAD base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

In response, the Moon administration extended a small-scale environmental impact assessment—typically completed within six months—into a full general assessment lasting over a year. Despite this delay, the administration failed to establish the necessary assessment committees.

Residents and civic groups protest against the delivery of THAAD equipment outside the U.S. military base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in April 2018./Newsis

To avoid confrontations with protesters, U.S. and South Korean military authorities secretly transported THAAD equipment in May 2020. However, a Cheongwadae (Blue House) official allegedly tipped off civic groups, leading to clashes with the police. In December 2019, a meeting of the Office of National Security concluded that forming an environmental assessment committee would be “difficult” due to China’s opposition, which they feared could affect Moon’s planned visit to China. Ignoring objections from working-level officials, the administration reportedly briefed a Chinese military attaché on the THAAD operation’s schedule and details. It is virtually unheard of for any nation to disclose sensitive defense system information to civic groups or foreign governments.

The Moon administration also reportedly committed to the so-called “Three Noes and One Restriction” policy with China: no additional THAAD deployments, no participation in the U.S. missile defense system, no trilateral military alliance with the U.S. and Japan, and restrictions on the operation of the THAAD system. This unprecedented concession effectively compromised South Korea’s military sovereignty to placate China.

Despite confirming through extensive tests that THAAD’s electromagnetic waves posed no harm to humans, the Moon administration withheld this information, allegedly to maintain momentum for anti-THAAD protests. As a result, U.S. and South Korean troops stationed at the THAAD base were forced to live in containers with inadequate accommodations, including a lack of proper housing and restrooms. The prolonged delays in THAAD’s official deployment throughout Moon’s five-year term even led the U.S. to consider withdrawing the system entirely. A defense mechanism designed to protect South Korean lives was ultimately undermined by diplomatic concessions to China.

The full extent of the Moon administration’s actions regarding THAAD must be thoroughly investigated. What has been revealed so far may only scratch the surface.

16. Fear grips currency earning sites as inspectors begin sweeping probe

Kim will never regain control of money from the people and the markets. His actions have great potential to lead to instability.

Fear grips currency earning sites as inspectors begin sweeping probe - Daily NK English

Inspectors begin their investigations by verifying that portraits of the Kim family are being properly cared for

By Seon Hwa - November 20, 2024

dailynk.com · by Seon Hwa · November 20, 2024

FILE PHOTO: North Korean trucks can be seen heading to the Chinese side of the border on the Sino-North Korean Friendship Bridge. (Daily NK)

State security agents launched a probe of foreign currency earning centers in North Pyongan province on Nov. 4, sparking anxiety among workers there.

While these inspections are held on a quarterly basis, the latest inspections are more stringent than usual, involving individual interviews with all members of the foreign currency earning centers.

Before beginning their work, inspectors are explaining to managers that “this probe is designed to thwart impure operations by the South Korean puppet state and other hostile forces designed to disrupt North Korean foreign trade and sow chaos inside the country,” according to a source in North Pyongan province recently.

Inspectors are focusing on whether the foreign currency earning centers are receiving assistance from hostile forces such as South Korea or the U.S. and whether staff members are tainted by anti-socialist ideology.

The inspectors emphasized the need to block hostile foreign media, maintain vigilance against enemy schemes to undermine North Korea, and urged workers to protect themselves and socialism by staying politically and ideologically prepared while regularly reporting all activities to the organization.

Leaving no stone unturned

Inspectors begin by verifying that portraits of the Kim family are being properly cared for. Next, they check whether propaganda posters and banners are displayed in workspaces and review reports about political study sessions to verify the attendance of organization members.

Inspectors also scrutinize how foreign currency earning centers are meeting their government quotas to make sure they are not using unlawful methods.

“The government doesn’t really care how the centers earn foreign currency as long as they meet their financial targets. But state security departments do care about that, and center staff are tired of having to provide detailed explanations of how they earn the money,” the source said.

Nevertheless, staff diligently respond to inspectors’ demands because any issues that come up during the investigation could potentially lead to espionage charges.

As such, staff at the foreign currency earning centers are extremely anxious about individual interviews conducted during the probe.

“State security agents are calling in center staff one at a time for long interviews. The interviews appear to be aimed at uncovering corruption by center managers,” the source said.

In other words, inspectors hope the individual interviews will produce tips or leads about officials who are lining their pockets or breaking the law during the process of earning foreign currency.

Some North Koreans believe the provincial state security department has crossed the line in these inspections.

“If these centers are to meet government quotas, they have no choice but to engage in unapproved trade and to use Chinese-made mobile phones, both of which are illegal. Staff aren’t sure how they’re supposed to earn foreign currency if they’re taken to task for these activities,” the source said.

Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Seon Hwa · November 20, 2024

17. Years of indoctrination preceded NK troops' Russia deployment -

I am anxious to see how well this indoctrination will translate into effective fighting skills. I also want to assess the nK control and command abilities. How will the three "chains of control" work for military operations? There could be significant messaging potential from this.

Years of indoctrination preceded NK troops' Russia deployment - Daily NK English

Given the extreme emphasis on loyalty to Kim in the Storm Corps, even compared to other units, soldiers in the corps exhibit a high degree of political and ideological unity

By Lee Sang Yong - November 20, 2024

dailynk.com · by Lee Sang Yong · November 20, 2024

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Sept. 13 that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had supervised drills by combat personnel during a tour of operational and training sites of special forces in the Korean People’s Army on Sept. 11. The unit in question is presumed to belong to the XI Corps, known as the “Storm Corps.” (Rodong Sinmun, News 1)

North Korean troops recently deployed to Russia, reportedly from the KPA’s Storm Corps, have undergone intense ideological training since 2014 emphasizing their duty to sacrifice their lives for Kim Jong Un. These soldiers were likely ordered to fight in Ukraine rather than volunteering, following years of indoctrination to serve as a “fortress and shield” for their supreme commander.

According to a source in the country recently, soldiers with the Storm Corps are drilled in target practice, martial arts, sharpshooting and chemical warfare countermeasures, as well as in combat involving various weapon systems. But in addition to these military skills, they also receive a high degree of political and ideological education in the cult of personality around Kim Jong Un.

Given the extreme emphasis on loyalty to Kim in the Storm Corps, even compared to other units, soldiers in the corps exhibit a high degree of political and ideological unity, the source said.

The Storm Corps’ primary mission in the event of a war would be penetrating enemy lines to sow confusion and create a second front in the rear. As a result, their training focuses on destroying enemy command posts, assassinating or otherwise eliminating key figures, and carrying out political subversion.

“The Storm Corps is specialized in small unit combat. Since its primary missions are carrying out rapid raids with small units and striking weak points in major facilities in enemy territory, its units could have been given secret missions — indeed rather dangerous missions — to destroy major facilities in Russia’s war,” the source said.

Soldiers with the Storm Corps have been rigorously drilled in disruption, reconnaissance and surprise attacks in their combat exercises. The corps has set up a strict security system preventing individual units from learning about changes in other units’ exact missions.

The Storm Corps is an elite special forces corps that originated with the VIII Special Forces Corps. That corps, in turn, was established in 1969 around Unit 124, which carried out the daring suicide raid on South Korea’s Blue House on Jan. 21, 1968.

North Korea’s special forces were reorganized and expanded into the XI Corps in 1991. In 2017, the XI Corps was folded into the Special Operations Forces, an independent force inside the KPA.

The Storm Corps, which reports directly to supreme command, has developed a command structure that ensures the prompt delivery and execution of orders from the top through verbal, written, cable, telephone, postal, wired and wireless methods.

The very name Storm Corps carries symbolic value that reinforces the ideological cohesion of soldiers in the unit and their fighting spirit.

“If a war were to break out today, our army needs to be fully prepared to immediately suppress, mercilessly shatter, and fully pacify the enemy,” Kim said while visiting special forces presumed to belong to the Storm Corps on Sept. 11 and Oct. 2.

Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Lee Sang Yong · November 20, 2024

18. Why supporting a free and unified Korea serves vital U.S. interests

Greetings from Seoul (and specifically the Dragon Hill Lodge).

A free and unified Korea can support an America FIrst foreign policy.

Voices Nov. 19, 2024 / 3:23 PM

Why supporting a free and unified Korea serves vital U.S. interests

https://www.upi.com/Voices/2024/11/19/why-free-unified-korea-serves-us-interests/8501732045596/

By David Maxwell

Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The United States stands at a pivotal crossroads in its foreign policy as it navigates the challenges of maintaining global influence while ensuring the security and prosperity of its citizens. Among the many pressing international issues, supporting the Korean people in their pursuit of a free and unified Korea emerges as a crucial priority. A unified Korea would not only lead to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula but also bring economic benefits, bolster strategic competition with China, align with core American values, and advance the principles of president-elect Donald Trump's "America First" policy. Furthermore, a unified U.S.-Korea alliance would reinforce the United States' influence in the Asia-Pacific region and ensure the security of its allies.

Denuclearization and the elimination of threats to the United States

North Korea's nuclear weapons program has long been a destabilizing force in the region and a direct threat to U.S. national security. The regime's repeated missile tests and provocative rhetoric endanger not only South Korea and Japan but also the American homeland. Supporting the Korean people in their quest for unification under a democratic government provides a path to addressing this threat.

Denuclearization would remove a significant point of leverage for authoritarian regimes and reduce the potential for nuclear proliferation in a sensitive region. For the United States, this means fewer resources dedicated to countering North Korean provocations, fewer risks of conflict, and a safer homeland.

Economic benefits for American businesses and people

A free and unified Korea offers significant economic opportunities for the United States. The resource-rich northern part of Korea is home to vast reserves of rare earth minerals essential for high-tech manufacturing, renewable energy systems, and defense technologies. Gaining access to these resources would reduce America's dependence on China, which currently dominates the global rare earth market. At the same time, it would prevent China from accessing those resources.

Additionally, a unified Korea would likely emerge as a robust economic partner. The expanded Korean defense industry, no longer constrained by the isolation of the North, would contribute to the "Arsenal of Democracy" by producing advanced weaponry and defense systems for allied nations. This collaboration would invigorate American industries through joint ventures, technological exchanges, and increased exports, creating jobs and bolstering the U.S. economy.

Winning strategic competition with China

China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region poses a significant challenge to the United States. A unified Korea aligned with democratic values would serve as a counterbalance to China's expanding regional dominance. The presence of a strong U.S.-Korea alliance would strengthen the rules-based international order, deter Chinese aggression, and reinforce the principle of sovereignty for smaller nations.

A unified Korea could also act as a bridge between democratic nations in Asia, fostering closer cooperation among allies such as Japan, Australia, and India. This coalition would amplify U.S. efforts to contain China's assertiveness, secure vital trade routes, and maintain freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. By supporting Korean unification, the United States demonstrates its commitment to standing with its allies and defending the values that underpin global stability.

Alignment with U.S. foreign policy goals and values

The pursuit of a free and unified Korea aligns seamlessly with American foreign policy objectives and values. The United States has long championed self-determination, democracy, and human rights. Supporting the Korean people's aspirations for freedom and unity reflects these principles and reinforces America's moral authority on the global stage.

A unified Korea would symbolize the triumph of democracy over dictatorship, providing a powerful example for oppressed peoples around the world. It would reaffirm the U.S. commitment to fostering peace and security through the promotion of democratic governance. By standing with the Korean people, the United States not only advances its strategic interests but also upholds the values that define its national character.

Contributing to president-elect Donald Trump's "America First" policy

The concept of an "America First" foreign policy emphasizes prioritizing American security, economic prosperity, and leadership. Supporting Korean unification fits squarely within this framework. Denuclearization would directly enhance U.S. security by removing the nuclear threat to the U.S. homeland, while economic engagement with a unified Korea would yield substantial benefits for American businesses and workers.

Moreover, a unified Korea would reduce the financial and military burden on the United States by fostering a more self-reliant and capable ally in the region. As Korea takes on a greater role in ensuring regional stability, the United States can allocate resources more efficiently, addressing domestic priorities while maintaining its global influence. This pragmatic approach to foreign policy underscores the synergy between America's interests and the aspirations of the Korean people.

Supporting Korean unification serves several key "America First" objectives:

1. It will remove a dangerous nuclear threat to the U.S. homeland.

2. It would reduce the security burden and financial costs of maintaining large U.S. forces in Korea to deter North Korean aggression.

3. Opening North Korea's economy would create new markets for American goods and investment opportunities for U.S. companies.

4. A unified Korea would be a stronger ally able to take greater responsibility for its own defense, reducing reliance on U.S. security guarantees.

5. Resolving the "Korean question," the unnatural division of the peninsula, would allow the United States to focus more attention and resources on other priorities, like domestic economic development.

6. A unified Korea in partnership with the United States will contribute to winning strategic competition with China by eliminating China's ability to exploit North Korea to create security dilemmas.

Strengthening the unified U.S.-Korea alliance

A free and unified Korea would be a linchpin of the United States' strategic position in the Asia-Pacific. The alliance between the United States and a unified Korea would serve as a powerful deterrent against regional adversaries, ensuring peace and stability. This partnership would enable more effective coordination in addressing security challenges, from countering missile threats to combating cyberattacks.

The economic and military strength of a unified Korea would enhance the collective defense capabilities of the region, reducing the likelihood of conflict. The United States, as a key ally, would benefit from improved intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises, and the presence of advanced Korean technologies in its defense arsenal. Such a robust alliance would not only secure the Asia-Pacific but also reaffirm America's role as a global leader.

Ensuring U.S. influence in the Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific is a critical region for global trade, security, and diplomacy. A unified Korea would strengthen the United States' ability to shape regional dynamics and counterbalance China's influence. By fostering closer ties with Korea, the United States ensures its continued presence in a region that accounts for a significant portion of the world's economic activity.

Furthermore, a unified Korea, as a democratic and economically vibrant nation, would advocate for free trade, fair competition, and respect for international law. These principles align with U.S. priorities and contribute to a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific, benefiting not only regional actors but also the global community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, supporting the Korean people's aspirations for a free and unified nation serves vital U.S. interests across multiple domains. It would enhance American and global security, create economic opportunities, reinforce core values, and strengthen the U.S. strategic position. It also reinforces the pragmatic goals of the "America First" policy by prioritizing U.S. security and prosperity. While the path to unification will undoubtedly be complex and challenging, it represents a historic opportunity to resolve one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints and build a more stable, prosperous future for Northeast Asia and beyond.

David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region. He specializes in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and unconventional, and political warfare. He is Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation. Following retirement, he was Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is on the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the OSS Society and is a contributing editor to Small Wars Journal.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

If you do not read anything else in the 2017 National Security Strategy read this on page 14:

"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."

Access NSS HERE

Company Name | Website

North Korea Sent a Mystery Man to Lead Its Troops Fighting Ukraine

Three-star general Kim Yong Bok lacked a public persona until Pyongyang made him the proxy decision maker for its roughly 11,000 troops in Russia

‘Right next to me’

Entering the fight

(LEAD) U.S. has not yet seen N. Korea's atmospheric reentry missile capability: Indo-Pacific Command chief | Yonhap News Agency

Air Force A-10 will no longer bare teeth overseas with Korea exit

Trump should not give up on North Korea

New 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer set for delivery to Navy next week

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Emboldened by Alliance With Russia, Is Itching for Seventh Test of A-Bomb

Kim's troops will FLEE when they reach Ukraine frontline, says ex-NK soldier

Inside North Inside North Korea's elite Storm Corp special forces

Would North Korea Really Send 100,000 Troops to Fight in Ukraine?

North Korea Talk

Russia Has More Manpower

A Match Made in Hell

North Korea Has a Huge Army

This Will Be a Greater Challenge for Trump

Could China and Iran Help Russia Even More?

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

(LEAD) U.N. committee adopts resolution on N. Korean human rights for 20th straight year | Yonhap News Agency

(3rd LD) N.K. troops assigned to Russia's airborne brigade, marine corps; some entered combat: NIS | Yonhap News Agency

Putin gifts N. Korea dozens of animals amid deepening ties | Yonhap News Agency

(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S., Japan launch secretariat for trilateral cooperation | Yonhap News Agency

Concerns mounting over S. Korea’s potential involvement in Ukraine war

S. Korean spy agency monitoring possible Russia visit by N. Korean leader

Editorial: The Moon administration made national defense a diplomatic chess piece

Fear grips currency earning sites as inspectors begin sweeping probe - Daily NK English

Years of indoctrination preceded NK troops' Russia deployment - Daily NK English

Why supporting a free and unified Korea serves vital U.S. interests

Related