​Quotes of the Day:

"The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults."

 – Alexis de Tocqueville

"The essence of America - that which really unites us - is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion - it is an idea - and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things."

– Condoleezza Rice

"I consider anybody a twerp who hasn't read 'Democracy in America' by Alexis de Tocqueville. There can never be a better book than that one on the strengths and vulnerabilities inherent in our form of government."

– Kurt Vonnegut

1. Yoon defends martial law decree as act of governance, rejects insurrection charges

2. Field commanders and soldiers prevented bloodshed

3. Ex-broadcast watchdog head likely to defend Yoon Suk Yeol in court: reports

4. Trump picks Kari Lake to lead Voice of America

5. "South Korea's military readiness at its weakest since Korean War"

6. Radio Free Asia: Most compelling people of 2024: Year in review

7. [Room 39, Lee Jeong-ho's Eyes] "North Korean officials also love the market... Only Kim Jong-un is against it"

8. [Special Feature: Shrinking North Korean Markets] ③ Will we ever see bustling markets again?

9. North​-Syria chemical weapons connection revealed

10. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: "Maintain political neutrality and focus on mission"

11. S. Korea, U.S. reaffirm 'steadfast' alliance amid martial law turmoil

12. Yoon defends martial law, doubling down on claims of North Korea threats

13. Leveraging Competitive Strategies to Pivot North Korea in the Contest with China

14. Foreign spies and compromised election system: Yoon seeks to rally the right

15. South Korea’s Martial-Law Chaos Deepens, With a Suicide Attempt and Raids

16. South Korea’s Special Forces and the Preservation of Democracy

1. Yoon defends martial law decree as act of governance, rejects insurrection charges

​President Yoon seems to be preparing for the Korean equivalent of his Alamo.

I have not found a transcript of his remarks yet.

(LEAD) Yoon defends martial law decree as act of governance, rejects insurrection charges | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · December 12, 2024

(ATTN: UPDATES with more comments, details from fifth para; ADDS photo)

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday defended his botched martial law declaration as an act of governance and denied insurrection charges facing him, while vowing to fight until the last moment against whether it is impeachment or a martial law probe.

In a televised public address, Yoon said sending troops to the National Assembly during martial law can't amount to insurrection, while defying calls to step down.

Yoon said he used his presidential power to declare martial law "to protect the nation and normalize state affairs" against the opposition that paralyzed the government, calling it a "highly calibrated political judgment."

"Whether I am impeached or investigated, I will fairly confront it," he said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a public address at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 12, 2024, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Yoon accused the opposition of obstructing the government with impeachment efforts and cuts in necessary budgets planned for next year, saying it is "performing a frenzied sword dance."

Following the martial law decree, the National Assembly has passed next year's budget of 673.3 trillion won (US$471.5 billion) as cut by the main opposition party and impeachment motions against the chief state auditor and prosecutors despite opposition from the ruling People Power Party (PPP).

"The National Assembly, dominated by the large opposition party, has become a monster that destroys the Constitutional order of free democracy," Yoon asserted.

The main opposition Democratic Party controls 171 seats in the 300-member parliament.

Yoon revealed that he ordered the former defense chief Kim Yong-hyun to check the voting system of the National Election Commission, raising questions over its credibility following alleged cyber attacks by North Korean hackers.

"I will fight till the last moment together with you," Yoon said, once again apologizing for causing inconvenience with the brief imposition of martial law.

Ahead of his public address, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon expressed support for impeaching Yoon to avoid further confusion, calling on his party's lawmakers to vote based on their own "conviction."

People watch President Yoon Suk Yeol's public address on a television at Seoul Station in the capital on Dec. 12, 2024. (Yonhap)

ejkim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · December 12, 2024

2. Field commanders and soldiers prevented bloodshed

​I have a similar essay being published tomorrow.

South Korea has a military that supports its constitution, the people and democracy and prevents tyranny despite a president and some of the most senior leaders seeking to do otherwise)

Excerpt:

Some have suggested that martial law could have succeeded if the military’s command and control system had functioned flawlessly. However, the field commanders and soldiers recognized unjust orders and had the courage to resist them, ultimately buying time for the National Assembly to pass a resolution lifting martial law and preventing a constitutional crisis. The military, at times, proves to be a patriotic force that defies illegality.

Field commanders and soldiers prevented bloodshed

donga.com

Posted December. 12, 2024 08:03,

Updated December. 12, 2024 08:03

Field commanders and soldiers prevented bloodshed. December. 12, 2024 08:03. .

Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun, who participated in the 12/3 martial law, appeared at the National Assembly on Tuesday and revealed that he received instructions from President Yoon Suk Yeol to “quickly break down the (National Assembly) door and drag out the National Assembly members.” The presidential office had been explaining that “we did not block (the National Assembly members from entering the National Assembly main chamber) so that the National Assembly could decide whether to approve (martial law).” Still, this explanation has been revealed to be false.

If armed special forces had attempted to forcefully secure the members of the National Assembly that day, a bloody clash could have occurred. Those who prevented this were the field commanders and soldiers who refused the illegal orders from their superiors. Commander Kwak testified that the field commanders who received the orders clearly said, ‘No.’ The Armed Forces Counterintelligence Command also formed a 40-person National Assembly suppression team. Still, it is said that the unit members intentionally stalled for time by drinking coffee and eating ramen at a convenience store on their way to the National Assembly and ultimately did not enter the National Assembly.

The working-level commanders also refused the order to seize the National Election Commission (NEC) computer room, which was handed down to the Counterintelligence Command. Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung instructed control of the computer room, stating, “It is the president’s order,” but seven legal officers, including colonels and commissioned officers, refused to comply. None of the approximately 100 personnel from the four teams dispatched to the NEC entered the building. A counterintelligence command official remarked, “Our agents are not trash who would carry out illegal orders.”

Some have suggested that martial law could have succeeded if the military’s command and control system had functioned flawlessly. However, the field commanders and soldiers recognized unjust orders and had the courage to resist them, ultimately buying time for the National Assembly to pass a resolution lifting martial law and preventing a constitutional crisis. The military, at times, proves to be a patriotic force that defies illegality.

한국어

donga.com

3. Ex-broadcast watchdog head likely to defend Yoon Suk Yeol in court: reports

Ex-broadcast watchdog head likely to defend Yoon Suk Yeol in court: reports

koreaherald.com · by Son Ji-hyoung · December 11, 2024

By Son Ji-hyoung

Published : Dec. 11, 2024 - 15:56

Former KCC chief Kim Hong-il (Pool photo via Newsis)

Kim Hong-il, former chief of South Korea's broadcast watchdog the Korea Communications Commission, might serve as one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's attorneys should Yoon's legal troubles deepen, according to news reports Wednesday.

Kim, who had reportedly quit local law firm Shin & Kim, would be joined on a team of up to six attorneys, according to news reports.

This came as police accused Yoon of inciting insurrection by declaring martial law and cracking down on dissidents through an attempted coup.

The prosecution has also indicated that Yoon played a role in the insurrection, along with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who has been in detention since Sunday.

Kim Hong-il was formerly Yoon's boss in the early 2010s when they worked at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as prosecutors.

Kim quit the prosecution in 2013. Kim led the the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission from July to December 2023. He was later nominated as the KCC chief, serving in the post from December 2023 until July this year.

Yoon was previously prosecutor general for his predecessor as president, Moon Jae-in.

On the other hand, Minister of Government Legislation Lee Wan-kyu, who formerly defended Yoon in a case to nullify the Moon administration's disciplinary actions against Yoon as prosecutor general, told lawmakers at a committee meeting Wednesday that he would not join the group of attorneys defending Yoon.

koreaherald.com · by Son Ji-hyoung · December 11, 2024

4. Trump picks Kari Lake to lead Voice of America

​Please do not meddle with my beloved Korean service. Whatever problems you think may exist at VOA, they do not exist at the Korean Service.

Trump picks Kari Lake to lead Voice of America

He called VOA’s coverage of the pandemic a ‘disgrace’ in 2020.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/11/congress/kari-lake-to-voa-00193921

Kierra Frazier

12/11/2024, 10:27pm ET

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Kari Lake to serve as the next director of Voice of America — the publicly funded broadcast network that drew his ire in his first term.

Lake, a former local news anchor and staunch Trump ally, will be appointed by the next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which Trump plans to announce soon, the president-elect said in a Truth Social post Wednesday. The U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees Voice of America.

Trump said in the post that Lake and the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media will work “to ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.”

Lake has mimicked Trump’s disdain for the media since she has become a MAGA lightning rod. She won his endorsement in both of her unsuccessful bids for an Arizona Senate seat last month and for governor in 2022.

Trump clashed with Voice of America during his first term in office for its reporting on China and the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael Abramowitz was sworn in as director of Voice of America in July.

5. "South Korea's military readiness at its weakest since Korean War"

​The one thing about militaries is that there is a chain of command and a chain of command can prevent leadership voids.

"South Korea's military readiness at its weakest since Korean War"

Leadership void in the military raises national security concerns

https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/12/12/YRIGNKFOWFGK5HLLBDGWJX575Q/

By Yang Seung Shik,

Yang Jiho,

Lee Jae-eun

Published 2024.12.12. 09:05

South Korean martial law troops at the National Assembly after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared an emergency martial law on Dec. 3. / Yonhap

South Korea’s military is facing an unprecedented crisis, raising national security and public safety concerns. Following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, sixteen senior military leaders have been dismissed from their duties or are under investigation.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has been detained after resigning. Many leaders from key units crucial to countering North Korean threats, including the Capital Defense Command, Special Warfare Command, Counterintelligence Command, and Intelligence Command, have been unable to carry out their roles.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, which oversees public security, and the police also have a leadership void. Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min stepped down after the martial law incident. Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, have been arrested. The simultaneous absence of top security and law enforcement officials is raising concerns about potential threats to public safety.

“With the minister stepping down and key commanders suspended from duty, the military is uncertain about whose orders to follow in the event of an emergency,” said a military official. The confusion extends to frontline military units directly linked to national security. Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who served as the martial law commander, is also under investigation and expected to be suspended from his duties in a matter of time.

The absence of leadership has been further compounded by a controversy over who should exercise military command. According to the Constitution, the president holds the exclusive power to command armed forces. If the president is impeached and suspended from office, this authority is transferred to the prime minister as acting president. Since the impeachment motion against President Yoon was dismissed on Dec. 7, he has not been officially suspended from his duties and has retained his constitutional authority. But he remains politically sidelined and unable to exercise effective military control.

Military officials are worried that South Korea may struggle to respond adequately to security threats, such as provocations from North Korea. “The president’s military control is unstable, the deputy minister is acting in place of the defense minister, and the Army Chief of Staff has lost credibility,” said Yeo Un-tae, former Army Deputy Chief of Staff and professor at Wonkwang University. “It is highly questionable whether the chain of command will function properly during an emergency,” he warned. “Military readiness is at its weakest since the Korean War.”

The leadership crisis may also impact joint military drills with the U.S. Key training exercises, such as the U.S.-ROK annual Freedom Shield and the trilateral Freedom Edge drill involving South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, scheduled for March next year, could potentially face disruptions.

The U.S. has indefinitely postponed a U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting and a planned tabletop exercise, originally scheduled to take place a day after the martial law declaration.

The Korean military has ceased conducting large-scale training exercises above the brigade level. After the martial law incident, training activities have reportedly been halted to avoid potential “misunderstandings” from troop movements. Even routine troop movements have been minimized. Marine Corps Commander Joo Il-seok canceled a scheduled trip to the northwestern islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong on Dec. 7, citing concerns about using a helicopter.

military

South Korea

martial law

6. Radio Free Asia: Most compelling people of 2024: Year in review

​ Two of our good friends from north Korea are recognized.

Most compelling people of 2024: Year in review

As everyday people became newsmakers, RFA looks back at their stories that captivated audiences

https://www.rfa.org/english/world/2024/12/11/year-in-review-2024-people-stories/

By RFA Staff

2024.12.11

RFA shares some of 2024's most compelling stories of people. (RFA)

North Korea escapees finishing their graduate degrees in New York City. Pro-democracy exiles building new lives after fleeing Hong Kong. A teenaged woman soldier on the front lines of Myanmar’s civil war. These are some of the people RFA journalists spoke with in 2024 — and here are their compelling stories:

Uyghur Youth Initiative #ofcourse TikTok challenge

Video: Uyghur Youth Initiative take #ofcourse TikTok challenge, Jan. 20, 2024. (RFA)

A TikTok video by three Uyghur women living in Germany goes viral, mixing humor with human rights abuses and genocide.

“The Uyghur crisis is a very urgent and serious topic,” Muqeddes Memet, 18, one of the women in the video, told RFA Uyghur.

“If we add a little humor content, people will watch it. If we always talk about an urgent topic, people will get tired. If we add some jokes, they will pay better attention.”

Wang Shujun — historian, activist, convicted Chinese spy?

Video: Wang Shujun, the historian and activist convicted of spying for China (RFA)

Wang Shujun, 76, lived for the last 30 years in New York as a scholar working in an insular community of pro-democracy advocates fighting for change in China.

A series of reports by RFA Investigative reveals a life turned upside-down when the FBI accused Wang of spying for Beijing. He vigorously denied it but in August was found guilty on four espionage charges. Wang will be sentenced in January 2025.

Tibetan monks and residents protesting China’s dam project

Video: Timeline of the Dege dam protests, Tibetan Autonomous Region, February to March, 2024. (RFA Tibetan)

Police arrested more than 1,000 Tibetans, including Buddhist monks, in southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Feb. 23, after they protested the construction of a dam expected to destroy six monasteries and force the relocation of two villages, two sources from inside Tibet told Radio Free Asia.

Exclusive RFA Tibetan video showed the protests which began on Feb. 14, and subsequent arrests, prompting global reaction.

Some of the protesters were beaten so badly that they required medical attention, three sources told Radio Free Asia.

Popular ‘monk’ Thich Minh Tue worries Vietnamese officials

Buddhist monk Thich Minh Tue in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province, May 17, 2024. (AFP)

A 43-year-old Vietnamese man became an internet hit in May when several influencers began documenting his barefoot pilgrimage across Vietnam. He amassed legions of supporters who were drawn to his simple lifestyle and humble attitude.

But the attention Tue was getting appeared to worry the authorities, leading to his detention and prompted international calls for his release.

In November, RFA Vietnamese obtained a copy of a letter purportedly written by Tue renouncing his vow of poverty. Supporters question its authenticity, saying authorities may be trying to isolate him from the public.

Moe Pyae Sone, Karen National Liberation Army fighter

Video: Teen rebel fighter at the front lines of Myanmar civil war, April 17, 2024. (RFA)

“I’ve gained combat experience,” she says. “I’ve participated in quite a few battles.”

RFA spoke with Moe Pyae Sone, 18, at an internally displaced people’s camp just south of Myawaddy, where ethnic rebels overran military junta positions in April.

Wearing camouflage pants, a tactical vest, braided hair, pink plastic clogs and a wide grin, she recalls participating in protests against Myanmar’s military junta after the Feb. 2021 coup before joining rebel forces a year later.

Pyongyang to Manhattan: Escaping North Korea for the Big Apple

Brother and sister Lee Hyunseung and Lee Seohyun, who both escaped North Korea, visit Times Square, March 2024. (RFA Korean)

Born into a wealthy, elite family, siblings Lee Hyunseung, 38, and Seohyun, 32, fled North Korea a decade ago with their parents.

Before graduating from Columbia University in May, they witnessed campus demonstrations against Israel’s military strikes on Gaza.

“The fact that the United States truly respects freedom of expression strikes a chord in my heart,” Hyunseung told RFA Korean. “In North Korea or China, it’s unimaginable to even think about such things.”

Ly Chandaravuth, environmental activist, Mother Nature Cambodia

Cambodian environmental activist Ly Chandaravuth. (via RFA Khmer)

Before returning to Cambodia to stand trial in May, Ly Chandaravuth shared a series of videos with RFA Khmer.

“Currently, we are living in fear,” he said. “For example we have a house but we are afraid of losing it,” referring to Cambodia’s natural resources. “We have ore mining but we are still poor. Those who benefit from ore mining are foreigners, foreign companies or powerful people.”

Chandaravuth was among 10 Mother Nature Cambodia activists who were handed six-year sentences and taken into custody after being convicted of plotting against the government on July 2.

Hong Kong exiles rebuilding their lives

Hong Kong exiles, from left to right: Amity Chan, Frances Hui, Huen Lam, and Baggio Leung, in Washington, in 2024. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA)

Five years ago, a million Hong Kong residents took to the streets to protest a plan to extradite Hong Kongers to mainland China.

A crackdown followed. Thousands were arrested, news outlets were shut down and civil society groups were disbanded. In March, the reins were tightened further with Hong Kong’s Article 23 security law.

Many Hong Kongers have fled in the years since. RFA spoke with four exiles about their old lives in Hong Kong and their new ones in the United States, the things they miss about home and what they worry about.

Lao content creators detained for comical pothole fishing video

James Famor, left, and Dai James, center, in an Aug. 29, 2024, social media post. (Joseph Akaravong via Facebook)

Graphic artists using the names Dai James and James Famor uploaded an AI-generated video to Facebook, showing them fishing in water-filled potholes on a street, surrounded by crocodiles – a video that went viral in Laos. The police came knocking.

A friend who produces and posts videos to social media confirmed the arrest and release to RFA Lao.

Police required Famor to attend a “re-education” class, forcing him to confess and apologize before freeing him.

Edited by Paul Eckert

7. [Room 39, Lee Jeong-ho's Eyes] "North Korean officials also love the market... Only Kim Jong-un is against it"

​Markets are key to the resilience of the Korean people but Kim Jong Un knows they are a threat to his rule and since COVID 19 his actions have been consistently "anti-market."

[Room 39, Lee Jeong-ho's Eyes] "North Korean officials also love the market... Only Kim Jong-un is against it"

https://www.rfa.org/korean/news_indepth/north-korea-executives-also-love-the-market-12112024103719.html

WASHINGTON-Noh Jeong-min nohj@rfa.org

2024.12.11

North Korean residents selling fruits and vegetables in an alley in Kaesong City, North Korea

/ AFP

00:00 / 00:00

“ Hello . I am Ri Jeong-ho, a former high-ranking official from the Daeheung General Bureau of Room 39 of the North Korean Workers’ Party .”

[ Based on the experience of a former high-ranking North Korean official, we dig into the secrets of the Kim Jong-un regime and its core power circles , examine the truth and lies of North Korea's policies today, and analyze politics , economy , and society through ' Room 39, Lee Jeong-ho's Eyes ', with Lee Jeong-ho, head of the Korea Prosperity Development Center (KPDC) .] 

“ Kim Jong-un’s true intentions toward the market are thoroughly anti-market . He allowed the operation of markets because the country was in difficult financial circumstances , but he believes that the expansion of markets could lead to the collapse of the regime .”

A market that even high-ranking North Korean officials often visit. Although there are about 500 markets spread throughout North Korea, the North Korean leadership has always been dissatisfied with the markets . It is said that the one who suggested creating a market was Jang Song-taek, former director of the Workers' Party's administrative department .

“ These measures will ultimately not only make the lives of residents more difficult , but also harm local governments that rely on markets to supplement their finances .”

The argument is that markets will never disappear in North Korea if the state cannot supply enough food and goods to replace the markets, given the ongoing anti-market policies of the Kim Jong-un regime .

High-ranking officials of the central party also frequently visit the market.

[ Reporter ] Mr. Lee Jeong-ho.  Hello . The Radio Free Asia (RFA) in-depth reporting team has a special report on the ' shrinking North Korean market . ' The first question I'd like to ask you is , do high-ranking North Korean officials often go to the market ? Did you go to the market when you were in North Korea ? 

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  Yes. When I was in North Korea, I visited the Tongil Street Market and the Jung-gu District Market several times, and my wife also went to the market several times a month. In fact, you could say that every household in North Korea, except for the Kim Jong-un family, uses the market. When I visited the homes of the vice-chairman of the Workers' Party , the director of Office 39 of the Workers' Party , the ministers of the cabinet, and the heads of central agencies, they also prepared their tables with vegetables and fish purchased at the market. They sometimes bought high-end liquor and fresh food at foreign currency stores, but they mostly relied on the market for basic ingredients.

For example, central party officials receive rice, vegetables, 1kg of pork or chicken, eggs , cooking oil, etc. every week, but the amount is not enough . There are weeks when they do not receive meat, and most households use up the supplies they receive in two to three days. An acquaintance of mine said that when they receive meat, a family of five has to eat it all at once and then wait a week or two before they can eat meat again . That is why they have to replenish the necessary supplies at the market. After all, the market is a place of survival that is directly related to the livelihood of everyone except the Kim Jong-un family.

[ Reporter ] What is the real intention of the Kim Jong-un regime as it strengthens control over the market that even high-ranking North Korean officials frequent ?

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  Kim Jong-un's true intentions toward the market are thoroughly anti-market. He had no choice but to allow the operation of the market due to the difficult national situation, but he believes that the expansion of the market could lead to the collapse of the regime.

Just looking at the fact that Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un have not visited the market even once in the past 30 years, we can get a glimpse of their intentions. The reason the North Korean regime built market buildings in each city and county is not for the convenience of the residents, but to block disorder and capitalist elements.

In the past, Kim Jong-il said, “The state produces goods, but individuals embezzle them and make a profit . ” He then ordered the strengthening of market crackdowns and issued an annual policy to control South Korean products, dramas , and movies . So in 2003, Jang Song-taek, the director of the Workers’ Party’s administrative department, persuaded Kim Jong- il to build a market building and allow business only in it to resolve this issue. As a result, the Tongil Street Market was built on a pilot basis, and market buildings were built in over 200 cities and counties across the country .

The Haksan District Market in Unsan County, South Pyongan Province, closed after the coronavirus pandemic. The market building (left), identified in a satellite image taken in September 2020, was confirmed to have been demolished and disappeared in June 2024. / Google Earth, Analysis – Jacob Bogle

[ Reporter ] So, if an individual in North Korea legally registers with the state, can he or she freely engage in market activities ? 

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  That is not true. Not just anyone can do business in the North Korean market. Women under 45, as well as college-educated people such as teachers and doctors, and men are not allowed to do business. However, they are not provided with rations. Also, business is only allowed in the market, but the regulations and political control are so strict that it is difficult to make money. Any business outside the market is considered illegal. The North Korean government’s market control is based on political and ideological control to block capitalist elements. For this reason, the security and security agents are very watchful. There are hundreds of controlled items, including Korean or foreign products, dramas, and factory- made products. In particular, about 60 basic daily necessities must be sold at prices set by the state, so many people complain that “there is nothing left if you do business like this.”

Merchants’ rents … a big help to local government finances

[ Reporter ] While the number of confirmed markets in North Korea from the Kim Jong-il era to the Kim Jong-un era has reached around 500 , there have been speculations that the North Korean authorities are encouraging markets . In fact , recent satellite photos show that the number of markets has not decreased significantly even as the North Korean authorities have strengthened crackdowns and control . How can we interpret this ?

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  Yes, in North Korea, the number of markets in each city and county has been maintained at around 250 to 300 since 2003. Considering that there are around 200 cities and counties in North Korea , it can be said that there was one market in each county on average. In particular, in large cities such as Pyongyang, Chongjin, Hamheung, and Sinuiju, several markets were operated in each district.

But things changed in 2010. At that time, Jang Song-taek, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, led the economic development policy under Kim Jong-il’s mandate, and the wind of reform began to blow for four years . During this period, exports tripled and foreign currency inflows became active, and the market size naturally grew. Not only workers in charge of trade and foreign currency earning, but also executives of factories and enterprises could go to China. As foreign currency entered the hands of individuals, consumption increased explosively.

As a result, existing markets underwent expansion work, and new markets were created one after another, increasing the number to around 500. In fact, considering the size of North Korea , that is not a large number . The reason why the number of markets has not decreased significantly despite the North Korean regime’s control of the markets seems to be that they are trying to maintain the status quo rather than encourage markets. Reducing the number of markets too drastically could have a direct impact on the lives of residents, which could lead to dissatisfaction with the system. Furthermore, even if the market’s appearance is maintained, it is difficult to determine from satellite photos if stores have been reduced or demolished.

[ Reporter ] Don't merchants have to pay a fee when they do business in the market? There is also an analysis that the fees collected from merchants will be a huge source of income for the Kim Jong-un regime . So there is also speculation that the market cannot be completely eliminated due to national finances . Is it really a big help to the finances ?  

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  I think that the rent and fees paid by merchants in the market are a real help to the North Korean regime's finances. The money collected from the market is mainly used for local government finances, such as subsidies for war veterans , salaries for teachers and medical staff, and support for emergency disasters in the region. This reduces the central government's financial burden and helps local governments operate.

However, as far as I know, North Korean high-ranking officials actually have little interest in the domestic currency ( North Korean money ) . The North Korean won is unstable in value and has low purchasing power, so even the people do not trust it. Nevertheless, it is much more advantageous for local governments to maintain markets because closing them would lead to a shortage of operating funds and negatively affect government functions. In reality, markets are not only a means of survival for the people, but also an important factor in allowing the regime to maintain a minimum level of economic function.

 [ Special Feature : Shrinking North Korean Market ] ① “ Business is not good, so I’m closing down my stall ” [ Special Feature : Shrinking North Korean Market ] ② ‘ Oil Policy, Oil Down Measures ’… The Market Continues [ Special Feature : Shrinking North Korean Market ] ③ Will we ever see the bustling market again ?

[ Reporter ] I heard that the market was closed for more than ten days during the currency reform in 2009 , and it was very chaotic at the time . What was the situation like ?  

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  At that time, North Korea took extreme measures to suppress the aftershocks of the currency reform. From January 1 to 11, 2010 , it completely closed the markets and prohibited all business activities. However , this measure was like pouring oil on fire. Residents who had lost all their money due to the currency reform had no way to make a living, and chaos ensued. When the markets were closed, food prices in the black market skyrocketed overnight, and angry people shouted at the government, “If you close the markets, how are we supposed to live?” At the time, the North Korean authorities explained the reason for the market closures as follows: “The government has not been able to properly supply food and goods, so we have temporarily allowed the markets. From now on, food will be sold at state-run stores.” However , the “food supply at state-run stores” promised by the government was nothing more than a facade, and the lives of residents were pushed to the brink. Eventually, the market closure measure failed and was restored to its original state after 11 days . 

Kim Jong-un Regime : No matter how much control is strengthened, the market can never be eliminated

North Korean residents receive fish rations in Pyongyang, North Korea, December 23, 2011. / AP

[ Reporter ] In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea has strengthened crackdowns and control over market operating hours, items for sale , and distribution structures . They say you can't sell or distribute anything other than what the state permits . As a result, the number of people who have stopped doing business is increasing , and the market has lost its vitality . How do you assess the reasons for the Kim Jong-un regime's implementation of such policies and their repercussions ?

[ Lee Jeong-ho ] North Korea's strengthening of crackdowns and control over markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an extension of the Kim regime's long-standing anti-market policy. Controls over market operating hours, items for sale, and distribution structures have existed since the markets first came into existence. When I visited the Tongil Street Market, there was a notice posted on the wall prohibiting the sale of factory-made goods, military supplies, and South Korean products. Operating hours were also restricted, and the market was temporarily closed during rural mobilization periods or when foreign leaders visited North Korea. 

Perhaps these controls have been strengthened since the coronavirus pandemic. It may be related to Kim Jong-un's own economic experiment. He is blocking market elements and strengthening the centrally planned economy, saying that he will strengthen the state's order and control functions . He seems to think that reducing or eliminating the function of the market will enhance the function of state-run stores and state-run banks .

[ Reporter ] Finally, I have one more question. There are assessments that Kim Jong-un's anti-market policy is showing some results . People who quit their jobs are returning to jobs that provide rations or wages . This means that the Kim Jong-un regime's policy of encouraging people to live in collective organizations instead of individual economic activities is working . What is your analysis and outlook on this ?

[ Lee Jeong-ho ]  I do not agree with the interpretation that the Kim Jong-un regime’s policy has been effective as North Korean residents quit their businesses and return to their jobs. In my experience, this is the result of a coercive policy and absolutely not an incentive effect. Even if residents go to work, they have difficulty receiving proper rations, and factories do not operate normally. Even if you just look at satellite images, you can see that there are power outages everywhere in North Korea. Factories cannot operate properly in a situation where electricity and raw materials are insufficient, and most residents who return to work are mobilized for social tasks or learning and do little productive activity. I think that these measures not only make the lives of residents more miserable, but also cause damage to local governments that supplemented their finances through markets. No matter how much the Kim Jong-un regime controls the markets, if the state cannot supply enough food and goods to replace the markets, the lives of residents will not improve, and the markets will never disappear.

[ Reporter ] Yes . So far, we have been looking at ' the background of the Kim Jong-un regime's market control and crackdown , and the impact on North Korean society and economy ' with Lee Jeong -ho, the head of the Korea Prosperity Development Center and former high- ranking official of Room 39 of the North Korean Workers' Party . Thank you for your words today , Lee Jeong-ho .

This is Jeongmin Noh of RFA Radio Free Asia .

Editor Park Jeong-woo, Web Editor Lee Gyeong-ha

8. [Special Feature: Shrinking North Korean Markets] ③ Will we ever see bustling markets again?

[Special Feature: Shrinking North Korean Markets] ③ Will we ever see bustling markets again?

https://www.rfa.org/korean/news_indepth/north-korea-blackmarket-jangmadang-crackdown-hardship-12102024095410.html

Seoul-Cheon So-ram cheons@rfa.org

2024.12.10

People shop at a street market set up near the Chinese-North Korean border between Jian and Linjiang, China, on November 21, 2017.

 /REUTERS

00:00 /13:57

Anchor : Many experts analyze that the Kim Jong-un regime's strengthened control over the market can be seen in the rapid rise in prices in the North Korean market and the increase in daily workers . It is also said that the unit price of daily wages has dropped significantly as merchants who have closed their businesses are turning to daily workers to make a living .

Meanwhile, as more and more people are returning to their businesses or workplaces instead of going to the market, there are some assessments that the North Korean government's market control policy is having some results . However, experts are pointing out that without a fundamental solution to the problem , it will ultimately backfire . 

[RFA Special , Shrinking North Korean Markets ] In the third installment, reporter Cheon So-ram examines the intentions and repercussions of the Kim Jong-un regime's strengthening of control over North Korean markets .

Market contraction can be seen in the sharp rise in prices

“ There are many people, regardless of gender, who work one day and live one day .”

“ As the surplus labor force increases, the unit labor cost itself also falls significantly .”

This is what the Japanese media outlet ' Asia Press ' recently reported to Radio Free Asia (RFA ) on November 26 .

Jiro Ishimaru, head of the Osaka office of Asia Press , quoted a source who covered North Korea internally as saying, “ As the North Korean authorities have strengthened control and crackdowns in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the market economy has shrunk , and with cash incomes decreasing, the livelihoods of residents have become more difficult, forcing them to make ends meet as day laborers . ”

The Kim Jong-un regime has begun to tighten the reins of control, such as limiting market operating hours to three hours and only allowing women over the age of 45 to participate in the market .

In particular, the shrinking North Korean market can be confirmed by the rapidly rising prices in North Korea.

In a typical capitalist society, when the market shrinks, business is not smooth, people's cash income decreases, their purchasing power decreases, and prices naturally fall .

However , experts explain that in North Korea, supply is limited due to strengthened control, but demand remains high, which is leading to rising prices .

Shrinking North Korean Market / RFA Graphic

According to ' Asia Press ' , merchants who pay rent to do business at the market cannot buy or sell grains such as rice and corn , and if they sell products that are not registered with the government or do not have barcodes ( a bar code for product management ) , they are subject to crackdowns , which has significantly reduced the items they can trade .

Lim Song, a research fellow at the Bank of Korea's North Korean Economic Research Center, also recently (November 29 ) explained to RFA that rising food prices can be seen as a sign of the shrinking of the North Korean market economy .

[ Im Song ] The basic premise is that if you strengthen control over the products supplied to the market and the distribution process, the products supplied to the market will eventually decrease . For example, if you strengthen control over the market, you crack down on it . If you confiscate and recover products that cannot be sold, merchants cannot just sit back and let them be taken away , so they bribe and come back to sell them . When that happens, the bribe is reflected in the consumer sales price, which causes the price to rise .

In fact , when comparing food prices in January 2020, when North Korea closed its borders, to recent food prices, the difference is more than double . 

According to North Korean market prices provided by ' Asia Press ' , on January 9 , 2020 , the price of 1 kg of white rice was 4,600 North Korean won ( about 0.16 dollars ), and 1 kg of corn was 1,600 won ( about 0.06 dollars ) , but as of November 29 , 2024, the price of 1 kg of white rice was 9,400 won ( about 0.34 dollars ) , and 1 kg of corn was 4,300 won ( about 0.15 dollars ) , more than doubling each .

Residents who quit business make a living as day laborers 

According to Asia Press 's Yanggang Province reporting partner , the candy stands that were once a common sight in markets have recently disappeared .

Individuals used to make the candy at home and sell it in the market or trade it wholesale, but now the authorities have made it available through state-run grocery stores .

As control has been strengthened to the point where even individually produced products are ordered to be sold through state-run distribution channels, Ishimaru said that residents who have closed down their businesses are turning to day laborers.

[ Ishimaru Jiro ] It is said that there are a lot of cases of people giving up on business and going out to day labor , or day labor . The number of cases of men and women earning a day as day laborers has increased significantly , and as the workforce has increased, the unit price of labor , or daily wages themselves, has also decreased significantly . Also, simple labor at construction sites

used to earn about 10,000 to 20,000 North Korean won per day before the COVID-19 pandemic , but recently it has dropped to about 5,000 to 7,000 won , and it is said that many people are willing to do even that, so the competition is fierce . 

[ Special Feature : Shrinking North Korean Market ] ① “ Business is not good, so I’m closing my stall ”

[ Special Feature : Shrinking North Korean Market ] ② ' High Oil Policy, Low Oil Measures '... The Market Continues

' Golmokjang ' Activated as North Korean Authorities Control Markets

A North Korean woman works at a gift shop in Pyongyang, North Korea, July 26, 2013. / AP

So why has the Kim Jong-un regime strengthened its control over the market?

First , the disorderly marketization and regulation of individual economic activities.

Many experts analyze that the North Korean authorities are trying to regain initiative and control over the market economy above all else.  

In addition to residents paying rent to do business in the official market, unofficial markets such as alley markets, grasshopper markets , and hawker markets were proliferating uncontrollably, and so the sense of crisis about the stability of the system was felt, and the need to control them was felt .

[ Ishimaru Jiro ] In order to establish totalitarian rule, you can see that there is a very strong sense of caution that ' individual economic activity and the expansion of the market economy are dangerous , they are dangerous factors . ' I think one of the intentions is that there is a strong sense of crisis that if individual economic activity expands, it will be difficult to control the people and society .

Lee Jong-gyu, director of the Global and North Korean Economy Research Center at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), also recently ( November 29 ) pointed out to RFA that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a good opportunity for North Korean authorities, who felt the need to control the expansion of informal markets . 

[ Lee Jong-gyu ] It seems that the North Korean government has felt a great burden about the disorderly marketization. The North Korean authorities are likely to regulate the disorderly marketization . In the medium to long term, they are likely to find ways to utilize the informal sector as much as possible rather than suppress it . For example , up until now, there has been no mandatory national tax payment in other places . In fact, there were no official regulations on how much to pay in taxes at amusement park stands . They are trying to find ways to legally collect taxes from them by regulating these in detail .

Second , lack of national finances

Experts also believe that individuals may intend to turn the many profits they gain from economic activities such as trade, distribution, and commerce into national interests .

As the Kim Jong-un regime's finances become more difficult, it is said that it is strengthening controls and crackdowns to collect taxes from markets and businesses.

[ Im Song ] As a result, the North Korean government has no money to spend . It lacks financial resources . So it needs to expand financial resources as much as possible , and it is in the process of establishing an institutional foundation to collect them in the form of taxes , or fees , through companies or the market .

Researcher Lim added that by implementing the “ registration reporting system, ” North Korean authorities are now able to simultaneously control merchants and businesses by making it mandatory to report items for sale .

[ Im Song ] From a corporate standpoint, there is a motivation to maximize profits, so they create double ledgers . As this movement continues to accumulate, national treasury funds decrease , and then companies end up lining their own pockets . That's why we control these things . If we make people selling in the market report where they bought things , we can't monitor everything , but we can verify it . Once that becomes possible, companies will begin to have doubts about creating double ledgers . Ultimately, it helps expand national finances . 

Ultimately, the analysis is that North Korean authorities intend to collect more taxes by strengthening control and crackdowns on markets and businesses in order to resolve their financial difficulties .  

“ Kim Jong-un’s ‘ economic experiment ’ to control the market cannot last long ”

Shrinking North Korean Market / RFA Graphic

According to Representative Ishimaru, the Kim Jong-un regime's market control policy is gradually showing results.

Instead of controlling the market, North Koreans were given rations or wages and encouraged to go to state-run enterprises or workplaces. In reality, many of those who closed down their businesses went to work to make a living .

Representative Ishimaru explains that although many people were starving to death until the beginning of this year due to the sharp decline in cash income caused by the economic downturn, the number of starvation deaths has decreased since the summer .

[ Ishimaru Jiro ] And because business is not going well, people try to go to work . When they go to work, they get paid . It’s not enough , but they still get rations, so many people go to work , and that helps them return to organized living and collectivism . That’s why I think calorie rule is showing some results . I think we have to acknowledge that while individual economic activities are severely restricted due to the strengthening of state control , we have to acknowledge the reality that people are forced to go to work at state-owned enterprises so that they can at least make a living .

Appearing on RFA 's weekly program , Ri Jong-ho, a former high-ranking official in Room 39 of the North Korean Workers  ' Party and now head of the Korea Prosperity Development Center, diagnosed that General Secretary Kim Jong-un has fundamentally maintained a hostile stance toward the market , and that he is " experimenting " with his economic policy by strengthening the planned economy and weakening the function of the market, taking advantage of the isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic . 

[ Lee Jeong-ho ] I think Kim Jong-un is taking advantage of the opportunity to conduct an economic experiment . He is locking the doors tightly, strengthening the planned economy to prevent the markets from running wild, and increasing the role of state-run stores and state-run banks to strengthen control .

However, most experts predict that Kim Jong-un's " economic experiment " of strengthening control and crackdown on the market will not last long .

Vice-President Lim Song pointed out that the approach of “ establishing order in a disorderly market ” is not bad in itself , but that strengthening control and crackdown on the market without resolving the supply problem cannot be a fundamental solution . 

[ Im Song ] If you control it while supplying it sufficiently, the market will naturally disappear . If you control the market and can't sell during the day, you will sell it at night , and if you can't sell it in the market, you will sell it at home . In the end , only those with power and control will be able to profit .

Representative Lee Jeong-ho also said that no matter how much the Kim Jong-un regime controls the market, if it cannot produce results that can replace it, the market will have no choice but to continue .

[ Lee Jeong-ho ] It's been 20 to 30 years since the market was opened , and the North Korean leaders tried to get rid of it and replace it with state-run stores or state-run banks, but it didn't work . There's no alternative . If you strengthen control, a black market will appear . The more you control, the more people will look for another way out . They won't move outside the market . That will lead to a surge in prices .

Recently, in North Korea, there is a sense of a willingness to make sacrifices and go to extremes to achieve self-reliance.

A North Korean market where you can get a glimpse of the bustling atmosphere with vendors selling various items at each stand and bargaining with customers .

However , with many people giving up on business and leaving the market due to the North Korean authorities' control and crackdowns , it is uncertain whether we will ever see the vibrant markets of the past again .

This is Cheon So-ram from RFA Radio Free Asia .

Editor Noh Jeong-min, Web Editor Kim Sang-il

9. North​-Syria chemical weapons connection revealed

​I am happy that RFA is recognizing this link and calling attention to KimJong Un's absolutely malign activities. I am scratching my head why they did not include comments from Dr. Burce Bechtol who is the recognized expert in his area and is one of the very few scholars who tracks north Korea's illicit activities around the world.

North​-Syria chemical weapons connection revealed

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/north-korea-syria-chemical-weapons-connection-12112024143448.html

WASHINGTON-Lee Sang-min lees@rfa.org

2024.12.11

On June 24, 2019, North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem met at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, reported the Korean Central News Agency.

 / Yonhap News

00:00 /05:08

Anchor : With the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, it is expected that the chemical weapons connection ( trade ) between North Korea and Syria will be verified .  Reporter Lee Sang-min reports . 

Since the collapse of the Syrian Assad dictatorship on the  8th , one of the concerns of the international community has been chemical weapons in Syria .

The aim is to prevent these chemical weapons from falling into the hands of Islamic terrorist groups after the collapse of the Assad regime . 

Israel says it is now conducting airstrikes on Syrian chemical weapons facilities because of this .

Sabrina Singh, deputy spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Defense, said on the  9th that the U.S. is currently working with partners in Syria to ensure that chemical weapons in Syria do not fall into the hands of those who might use them against civilians, U.S. forces, or countries in the region .

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a UN agency, also told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the  10th that it had conveyed to Syria that ensuring the safety and security of all chemical weapons-related materials and facilities in Syria was of the utmost importance .

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons  is an international organization established in 1997 to prohibit chemical weapons and prevent their proliferation , and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 .

The Syrian Assad regime has been internationally condemned for using chemical weapons against its own civilians during its tenure .

The Assad regime attacked the rebel stronghold of Idlib in northern Syria in May 2019 with a chemical weapon called chlorine gas, which is  said  to have killed more than  1,000 people .

 In April 2017 , they also carried out an attack using the chemical weapon sarin gas in the Idlib region .

Sarin gas is a colorless, odorless nerve gas developed by the Germans during World War II that is 500 times more  toxic than cyanide .

North Korea is known to have provided the Assad regime with the necessary supplies and technicians for developing chemical weapons . 

Bruce Bennett, a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation in the United States,  told RFA on the 11th that the chemical weapons connection between North Korea and Syria is clear, and introduced two cases .

[ Bennett Senior Researcher ] In  May  2005, Syria  launched a Scud missile, which malfunctioned and crashed in Turkish territory .  At the time, Israel had good relations with Turkey , so they were able to examine the wreckage of the crashed missile, which revealed that it was designed to carry chemical weapons .  It was revealed that North Korea, as  the manufacturer of this Scud missile, provided Syria with a missile capable of carrying chemical weapons . Bennett said  that in July 2007, during  a training exercise in Syria to attach a chemical warhead to a Scud missile, an accident occurred , killing many people, including three North Korean missile technicians  , and that chemicals were scattered around the base at the time .                                          

Putin watched the Assad regime collapse… “Kim Jong-un must  realize reality”

North Korea supplies  chemical weapons materials and missile technicians to Syria

North Korea exported materials necessary for the development of chemical weapons to Syria for six years from 2012 to early 2017. This fact became known in January 2017 when two ships carrying acid-resistant tiles used for the interior walls of chemical factories were intercepted at sea by UN member states while heading to Damascus, Syria. The photo shows acid-resistant tiles on board the two ships. / Source: UN North Korea Sanctions Committee Experts Report (released in May 2018)

According to a report released by the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee in May  2018 ,

Moreover, according to a report released in May  2018 by the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee, North Korea exported items necessary for the development of chemical weapons to Syria over a period of  six  years from  2012 to early  2017 .

The fact came to light  in January 2017  when two ships carrying acid-resistant tiles used for interior walls of chemical plants were intercepted at sea by UN member states while heading to Damascus, Syria .

The shipment was part of  a five -delivery contract signed between North Korea's Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation, which oversees arms exports, and the Syrian government-run Metallic Manufacturing Factory .

The UN North Korea Sanctions Committee said there were at least 40 transfers of banned items by ship from North Korea to Syria, including ballistic missile components and dual-use materials that could be used to make chemical weapons .

The report also  said that in August 2016 , North Korean missile technicians visited Syria and worked at chemical weapons and missile facilities in Barzeh, Adra , and Hama .

Ashley Hess, a former member of the UN Security Council's North Korea sanctions expert panel, told  RFA on the  10th that the UN Security Council's expert panel has long reported on the illicit relationship between Syria under the Assad regime and North Korea , particularly prohibited arms cooperation .

He said he hoped the connection would be investigated more thoroughly now that the Assad regime has collapsed and the full scope of the banned activities would be revealed .

Alastair Morgan, former coordinator of the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee Expert Group, told  RFA on the  12th that  the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team ( MSMT) , which was launched last  October , will be able to confirm chemical weapons transactions between North Korea and Syria . The MSMT is an organization that monitors violations of North Korean sanctions, and was launched to replace the UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee Expert Group, which was disbanded following Russia's veto of a resolution to extend its term . Currently , 11 countries are participating, including South Korea ,  the United States ,  Japan ,  France ,  the United Kingdom ,  Germany ,  Italy ,  the Netherlands ,  Canada ,  Australia ,  and New Zealand .

Former Coordinator Morgan said the multinational sanctions watchdog would need outside experts to verify chemical weapons trafficking between North Korea and Syria .

Meanwhile , the Pentagon did not respond to  RFA’s inquiry as of late Wednesday about whether it believes it will be able to verify chemical weapons connections between North Korea and Syria after the fall of the Assad regime  .

This is Lee Sang-min of RFA  Free Asia Broadcasting .

Editor Park Jeong-woo ,  Web Editor Lee Gyeong-ha

10. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: "Maintain political neutrality and focus on mission"

There is no other role for the military but to "Maintain political neutrality and focus on mission."

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman: "Maintain political neutrality and focus on mission"

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/121224hw-12122024042246.html

Seoul - Hong Seung-wook hongs@rfa.org

2024.12.12

Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Korea.

Yonhap News Agency photo archive

00:00 / 00:00

Anchor : Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo ordered the military to focus on its original mission amid the chaos caused by the martial law situation . The central government agencies continued to issue orders for unwavering efforts to resolve the situation . Hong Seung-wook reports from Seoul .

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo presided over the ' Current Situation Military Readiness Status Review Meeting ' on the 12th amid the continuing aftermath of the martial law situation .

Chairman Kim emphasized at this event that “ we will carry out our mission with the top priority being national defense , protection of the lives and property of the people , and establishment of a ROK-US joint defense system and military readiness posture . ”

He then instructed, “ The military will maintain political neutrality and focus solely on its original mission, ” and the meeting participants, clearly recognizing the gravity of the current situation, pledged to establish a firm military readiness posture and remain faithful to their mission .

This meeting, which was attended by key officials of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and key commanders and staffs of the Operations Command and joint forces, was conducted in the following order: assessing the current situation , reviewing the military readiness posture and military readiness guidelines , assessing the strategic situation and response direction , and collecting opinions .

A South Korean military official said the meeting was held to strengthen readiness, considering that military command posts, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Army, have been vacant since the martial law declaration .

Former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun previously tendered his resignation to President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 4th , taking responsibility for the martial law situation , and his dismissal was approved the following day .

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense also suspended Army Chief of Staff Park An-soo, who served as martial law commander, from his duties that day .

US Department of Defense warns of North Korea's possible provocations amid South Korea's chaos

South Korean Prime Minister Apologizes for '12/3 Martial Law Incident' at National Assembly

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance, which is in charge of the nation's finances, also ordered that each central government ministry, local government , education office, and public institution execute the budget as originally planned without a hitch and proceed with planned year-end meetings and events as scheduled .

Kim Yoon-sang, 2nd Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance , held a joint ' Fiscal Execution Review Meeting ' with relevant ministries this afternoon and said, " The Korean government must become a strong supporter of domestic demand recovery . "

He added, “ Recently, domestic and international economic uncertainty has been increasing, but at times like these, the government must do what it has to do without wavering . ”

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will continue its activities as scheduled to successfully host the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next year . This was according to Lee Jae-woong, South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman .

[ Lee Jae-woong, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea ] Our government will proceed with its activities as the chair country as scheduled, and has officially begun its activities as chair by hosting the APEC 2025 Symposium and Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting as scheduled from December 9 to 11 this week .

South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg today and agreed that the South Korea-U.S. alliance remains strong and unwavering .

According to the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Speaker Woo said during the event regarding the “December 3 martial law incident , ” “ South Korean democracy has demonstrated sufficient capacity to respond in an orderly manner in accordance with the Constitution and the law . ”

He emphasized , “ In a situation like this where uncertainty in security and the economy is growing, support and cooperation from allied countries, including the United States, will be of great help . ”

On the morning of the 4th, after the National Assembly plenary session voted to lift martial law, military troops are withdrawing from the National Assembly. / Yonhap News

Meanwhile, North Korean media reported in detail for the second day on the situation following the martial law declaration in South Korea .

North Korea previously remained silent on President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law and the subsequent developments in South Korea, but reported related news for the first time on the 11th, a week later .

A South Korean Unification Ministry official analyzed that North Korea began reporting on South Korea's martial law situation because " it appears that they are reporting on it because they judged that dispelling North Korean citizens' expectations about South Korean society will help solidify the regime . "

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol gave a national address at the presidential office in Yongsan on this day, explaining the background of the declaration of martial law and apologizing to the public , while reiterating that martial law was a justifiable measure .

This is Hong Seung-wook of RFA's Radio Free Asia in Seoul .

Editor Yang Seong-won

11. S. Korea, U.S. reaffirm 'steadfast' alliance amid martial law turmoil

​We have weathered so many storms in the alliance over the last 7 decades. We will weather this one.

S. Korea, U.S. reaffirm 'steadfast' alliance amid martial law turmoil | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · December 12, 2024

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho and Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), reaffirmed Thursday the two nations' "steadfast" alliance and vowed to bolster their combined defense posture, Seoul's defense ministry said.

The remarks came as Kim and LaCamera, who also commands the U.S. Forces Korea and the U.N. Command, held a teleconference to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry said, following last week's botched martial law declaration.

While noting the stern security situation, both sides concurred on the need to continuously push for pre-planned training and exercises, while strengthening communication to deter North Korea's threats and manage the current situation in a stable manner, it added.

In the meeting, LaCamera vowed efforts to maintain the steadfast alliance and a robust combined defense posture.

"We remain prepared to respond to external threats while completely respecting the ROK sovereignty and individual rights," LaCamera was quoted as saying in a release by the CFC, referring to the South by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

"As the Combined Forces commander, in accordance with our bilateral defense structure, I will work to mitigate any risks to our planned combined training activities, operations and investments, and reassure the ROK population that we stand ready to defend them," he said.

Change of command at U.S. 7th Air Force

In this file photo, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera speaks as Lt. Gen. David R. Iverson, new commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force, takes office during a change-of-command ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 30, 2024. Iverson also serves as the deputy commander of the U.S. Forces Korea. (Yonhap)

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · December 12, 2024

12. Yoon defends martial law, doubling down on claims of North Korea threats

​This is the crux of the issue that is overlooked by the press: the allegations of north Korean sympathizers and north Korean activity inthe South. We must never forget that north Kora's United Front Department and the Reconnaissance General Bureau are actively epentrating South Korea to subvert the government and society. Although the United Front Department has supposedly been disbanded due to the policy shift from peaceful unification, it has likely been renamed but most importantly its functions continue and focus on what has always been the priority - domination versus peaceful unification.

United Front Department The United Front Department (UFD) is North Korea’s primary civilian intelligence agency, propaganda office, and policymaking entity for inter-Korean relations and dialogue.232 The UFD is directly subordinate to the Korean Workers' Party.233 The UFD overtly attempts to establish pro-North Korean groups in South Korea, such as the Korean Asia-Pacific Committee and the Ethnic Reconciliation Council.234 

Cultural Exchange Bureau The Cultural Exchange Bureau (CEB) is responsible for running agents in South Korea to establish underground political parties focused on fomenting unrest, revolution, or pro-DPRK views. The CEB also conducts clandestine influence operations.235, 236

Reconnaissance General Bureau The Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) is North Korea’s premier military intelligence service, responsible for collection, analysis, and clandestine operations.215, 216 The RGB was established in 2009 during a reorganization of North Korea’s intelligence services, which transferred three intelligence agencies from the Korean Workers' Party and consolidated them under the National Defense Commission (disestablished and replaced by the State Affairs Commission in 2016).217 Administratively, the RGB is subordinate to the KPA General Staff Department.218

The RGB consists of six bureaus with compartmented functions, including operations, reconnaissance, technology and cyberspace functions, overseas intelligence, inter-Korean talks, and service support.219 The RGB and its predecessor organizations have been tied to a number of foreign kidnappings, assassinations, state-sponsored terror attacks, cyberoperations, and infiltration operations.220 The RGB also oversees businesses in foreign countries, which are used as fronts for espionage, currency generation, cyberoperations, weapon sales, goods procurement, and other illicit activities.221, 222 

RGB personnel are highly trained, attending an intelligence academy where operatives receive instruction in firearms and explosives, martial arts, underwater diving, and other activities before becoming operational.223 The RGB also recruits and co-opts foreign nationals to gather intelligence and execute operations in foreign countries.

https://www.dia.mil/Portals/110/Documents/News/NKMP.pdf

There are lots of allegations of pro-north Korean connections for any journalists and researchers to pursue.

In South Korea, various individuals and organizations have been identified as having pro-North Korean affiliations or sympathies, often leading to legal scrutiny and political controversy. Notable examples include:

1. Rep. Youn Mee-hyang: In October 2024, Rep. Youn Mee-hyang, formerly associated with the Democratic Party of Korea, faced criticism for attending an event organized by a North Korea-affiliated group in Japan. Her participation led to an inquiry by the National Assembly's ethics committee and an investigation by the Ministry of Unification for potential violations of inter-Korean exchange laws. The ruling People Power Party called for her resignation, accusing her of failing to serve South Korea's best interests.

Asia News Network

2. Southern Headquarters of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR): Established in August 1990, the Southern Headquarters of PKAR was a civic group in South Korea dedicated to reunification, with counterparts in North Korea and overseas. The organization was reportedly directed by North Korea's United Front Department, responsible for propaganda and espionage. In February 2024, following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's decision to abandon unification efforts and designate South Korea as a hostile state, the Southern Headquarters dissolved itself, citing the collapse of inter-Korean relations and the disbandment of its northern counterpart.

NK Insider

3. Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU): The KCTU has been involved in pro-North Korean and anti-American activities. In August 2022, during the "August 15 National Workers’ Mass Protest" in Seoul, the KCTU called for the dissolution of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and the withdrawal of U.S. forces. The organization read solidarity remarks from North Korea's General Federation of Trade Unions, condemning U.S. actions without addressing North Korea's nuclear developments. Such activities raised concerns about potential violations of South Korea's National Security Act.

One Korea Network

4. Underground Organizations and Espionage Cases: South Korean authorities have uncovered clandestine groups allegedly operating under North Korean directives:

• HGH (HanGilHoe or One Way Committee): Formed in Jeju Province, HGH was reportedly established after meetings between South Korean individuals and North Korean agents in Cambodia since 2017. Members pledged loyalty to the North Korean regime and received espionage training. The group engaged in activities opposing U.S.-South Korea military exercises and the deployment of advanced U.S. weaponry.

East Asia Research

• People’s Vanguard for Independent Unification: In November 2022, multiple activists across South Korea were investigated for allegedly forming this underground organization under North Korean orders. They were accused of meeting North Korean agents abroad, receiving funds, and orchestrating anti-state activities, including protests against U.S. military presence and intelligence operations within South Korea.

Journal Neo

These instances highlight the complex and sensitive nature of pro-North Korean elements within South Korea, involving a mix of political figures, civic organizations, and clandestine groups. Their activities often lead to legal actions and intensify political tensions, reflecting the intricate dynamics of inter-Korean relations.

1. Hanchongnyon (South Korean Federation of University Students Councils): Established in 1993, Hanchongnyon is a leftist student organization known for its pro-North Korean stance. The group condemns the presence of U.S. forces in South Korea and advocates for Korean reunification under terms favorable to North Korea. In 1998, South Korea's Supreme Court designated Hanchongnyon as an "enemy-benefiting organization" under the National Security Act, leading to its criminalization due to alleged pro-North Korean activities.

Wikipedia

2. Progressive Party: Formed in 2017, the Progressive Party has faced criticism for its perceived pro-North Korean stance. The party advocates for the dissolution of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and supports policies of reconciliation with North Korea, such as the Sunshine Policy. It opposes sanctions on North Korea and calls for an official end to the Korean War. The Progressive Party has also engaged in dialogue with North Korean political entities, including a 2018 meeting with the North Korean Social Democratic Party in China, which was not authorized by South Korea's Ministry of Unification.

Wikipedia

3. Allegations Against the Democratic Party: In December 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, accusing the main opposition Democratic Party of controlling the parliament and sympathizing with North Korea, thereby paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. This move led to significant political turmoil, with opposition leaders condemning the declaration as illegal and urging public resistance. The situation escalated tensions within South Korea's political landscape, highlighting deep-seated divisions over policies toward North Korea.

The Scottish Sun

These instances illustrate the complex and contentious nature of pro-North Korean elements within South Korea's political sphere. While some individuals and groups advocate for closer ties or reconciliation with the North, such positions often lead to legal challenges and significant political controversy, reflecting the sensitive dynamics of inter-Korean relations.

Yoon defends martial law, doubling down on claims of North Korea threats

ROK leader says he was motivated by DPRK cyberattack on election body and accuses opposition of ‘siding’ with Pyongyang

https://www.nknews.org/2024/12/yoon-defends-martial-law-doubling-down-on-claims-of-north-korea-threats/

Jeongmin Kim December 12, 2024

Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a speech at the presidential office on Dec. 12, 2024. | Image: South Korean Presidential Office

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol claimed Thursday that North Korean hacking attacks against election authorities partly motivated his controversial declaration of martial law, defending his actions that have plunged the country into political chaos and triggered high-level investigations into whether he committed treason.

In a televised address, Yoon also doubled down on accusations that the opposition party has aligned with Pyongyang and claimed its push for his impeachment is an attempt to protect the party leader from prosecution.

Experts said the speech — the president’s second public comments since his short-lived imposition of martial law last week — is unlikely to shift the political scales in Yoon’s favor but appeared to be part of his criminal defense strategy as he faces possible arrest on charges of violating the Constitution.

“Fellow citizens, you may already know much of what I’ve said so far. But there are many more serious matters that I couldn’t reveal until now before making the grave decision of martial law,” Yoon said.

Speaking at the Presidential Office, Yoon emphasized that North Korea “launched hacking attacks against constitutional institutions including the National Election Commission (NEC)” in late 2023, claiming the election body’s cybersecurity was so weak that systems used basic passwords like “12345” and had virtually no firewall protection.

He stated that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) discovered the attacks and tried to inspect information leaks and system security. But he said the NEC strongly refused, citing its status as a constitutional body, before eventually relenting after a “major hiring corruption scandal.”

“However, they only allowed the inspection of a very small portion of their system equipment and refused the rest. Even with this limited inspection, the situation was serious. When NIS staff attempted hacking as a test, data manipulation was entirely possible and there was virtually no firewall.”

Yoon’s remarks on the hacking incident were aimed at explaining his decision to dispatch troops to the NEC building after declaring martial law. Ex-defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, now under arrest for his role in the martial law crisis, previously told Dong-A Ilbo that the deployment was aimed at uncovering possible evidence of election fraud, but there have been no reports that the troops found any such evidence. 

Thursday’s speech comes as the president faces possible impeachment over his declaration of martial law and decision to deploy troops to the National Assembly. Lawmakers voted to lift martial law two hours after Yoon ordered it.

The incident has led Yoon’s own party to attempt to exclude him from presidential duties, while opposition lawmakers are pushing for a second impeachment vote this Saturday.

South Koreans vote in an election. | Image: Republic of Korea Flickr (March 2022)

‘SIDING WITH NORTH KOREA’

When he declared martial law, Yoon claimed he needed to do so to “eradicate pro-North Korea forces,” and in his speech on Thursday, the president reiterated this point by accusing the Democratic Party (DP) of aligning with the DPRK.

The main opposition party not only “sided with North Korea on issues from illegal nuclear armament and missile threat provocations to GPS jamming and balloon provocations” but also “argued that U.N. sanctions on North Korea’s illegal nuclear development should be lifted first,” he said.

Yoon also accused the DP of enabling Chinese espionage by blocking reforms on prosecuting foreign spies, citing incidents where Chinese nationals were caught using drones to photograph U.S. aircraft carriers in Busan and South Korea’s spy agency headquarters.

The president alleged the opposition’s push for his impeachment is motivated by a desire to position DP leader Lee Jae-myung to become president before he is found guilty in various trials that would bar him from running for office.

Defending the military deployment, Yoon directly challenged accusations that he was attempting a coup.

“Can there be such a thing as a two-hour coup? How can maintaining order with a small number of troops be called an insurrection?”

He also insisted the martial law declaration was meant to alert the public about national security risks rather than disrupt parliamentary functions. 

The president argued that fewer than 300 unarmed soldiers were involved and that a real takeover would have required thousands of troops. He also emphasized that he immediately withdrew forces when parliament voted to lift the order, unlike when South Korea’s past military dictatorships declared martial law.

“As president, this emergency measure was not meant to damage the constitutional order, but rather to inform citizens about the crisis facing our nation and to protect and restore the constitutional order,” Yoon said.

“Though small in scale, deploying troops to the National Assembly was meant to symbolically show the opposition party’s nation-destroying behavior and maintain order in anticipation of the large crowds of parliamentary staff and citizens who would gather after the martial law broadcast, not to dissolve or paralyze parliament.”

Yoon concluded by mentioning North Korea again.

“North Korea will advance its nuclear weapons and missiles to threaten our lives more seriously. What will become of our country, the Republic of Korea? Won’t it become a nation where spies run rampant, drugs destroy the future generation, and gangsters rule?”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a defense expo in Pyongyang | Image: KCNA (Nov. 22, 2024)

PREEMPTIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE?

Experts suggested that Yoon’s emphasis on national security threats in Thursday’s speech appears primarily aimed at building a criminal defense, while attempting to rally right-wing supporters with questionable allegations about North Korea, China and the election fraud.

“I don’t know what he hopes to accomplish with this speech politically. It’s certainly not going to convince anyone who was on the fence. But to the extent there is any kind of strategy here, it appears to be a criminal defense strategy,” Jumin Lee, a former ROK Air Force officer and trial attorney in Los Angeles, told NK News.

The expert explained that South Korean law on insurrection or treason (내란) requires proving an intention “to disturb the constitutional order” (국헌문란의 목적). 

“He wants to argue that he was not attempting a real insurrection; he was just trying to send a message to the recalcitrant opposition. He’s arguing that the urgency was there due to the various unsubstantiated allegations of foreign interference laid out in his speech,” Lee added.

Thursday’s speech thus may still help his case, even if investigators find his claims about threats from anti-state and pro-North Korea forces as detached from reality, the expert explained.

“Theoretically he could say that even if he was operating off bad information, his subjective intent was not to disrupt the constitutional order. Best of luck to the lawyer who has to argue that,” he said. 

Peter Ward, research fellow at the Sejong Institute’s Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy, told NK News that the opposition does favor relaxing sanctions on North Korea but that martial law constituted an extreme response.

“I imagine that he believes what he says about North Korea and the opposition,” he said. 

Ward added that the political chaos comes at a particularly concerning time given uncertainty about the U.S.-South Korea alliance under a second Trump presidency.

“This chaos is obviously really bad, and worse still with Trump coming back. Trump as a skeptic of the alliance needs to be wooed and convinced of its usefulness to the U.S.,” he said.

Edited by Bryan Betts

13. Leveraging Competitive Strategies to Pivot North Korea in the Contest with China

​This essay fails to take into account the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime and instead tries to apply IR and game theory to the regime. Also, I think the author might want to look at how north Korea has traditionally played China and Russia off against each other. Kim will do so again.

Leveraging Competitive Strategies to Pivot North Korea in the Contest with China

https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2024/12/11/leveraging_competitive_strategies_to_pivot_north_korea_in_the_contest_with_china_1077897.html

.

By Greg R. Lawson

It is time for the US to shift from its long-standing position demanding North Korean denuclearization and embrace diplomacy underpinned by the framework of competitive strategies pioneered by Andrew Marshall, the founder and long-time leader of the Pentagon’s in-house think tank, the Office of Net Assessment.

The Korean Peninsula has been riven with tensions since the end of World War II. Recently, North Korea has signaled a departure from its decades-long pursuit of reunification with South Korea. This shift, coupled with Pyongyang’s increasing military support for Russia in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, has sent shockwaves through the international community. Despite North Korea’s challenges, the US should re-embrace the direction of diplomacy embraced by then, and soon to be again, President Donald Trump.

At the time of the historic summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, some voices, including this author, advocated for a bold move: formalizing relations with North Korea and officially ending the Korean War. This approach, while controversial, was rooted in a pragmatic assessment of the situation. The arguments for such a strategy stem from a stark reality: North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has become an entrenched part of its national identity and security strategy. The likelihood of Pyongyang voluntarily relinquishing its nuclear arsenal under any set of circumstances or pressures that the United States would find acceptable is vanishingly tiny. This intransigence was only reinforced by the fate of leaders like Muammar Gaddafi, who gave up his nuclear ambitions only to face a violent demise – a cautionary tale not lost on Kim Jong Un.

The U.S. goal now should be to shift North Korea from its position of being “as close as lips and teeth” with China to that of a pivot player capable of triangulating between China and the United States. This doesn’t mean aiming for overwhelmingly friendly relations with North Korea – hoping for such an outcome is naïve and neither likely nor necessary. Instead, the focus should be on fostering “better” relations to improve the declining U.S. leverage in its ongoing geopolitical competition with China. This approach echoes the realist foreign policy of Nixon and Kissinger, who recognized the value of strategic realignments in shaping the global balance of power. It also draws inspiration from the work of Andrew Marshall, the legendary head of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment, who pioneered the concept of “competitive strategies” in defense planning. Marshall, often called the “Yoda of the Pentagon,” was the office’s first director from 1973 to 2015, leaving an indelible mark on U.S. defense strategy.

Marshall’s approach to competitive strategies focused on identifying and exploiting an opponent’s weaknesses while leveraging one’s own strengths. This methodology included but went beyond traditional military planning, incorporating a wide range of factors, including economic, technological, and cultural aspects. At the heart of Marshall’s thinking was the importance of long-term strategic analysis and understanding an adversary’s decision-making processes. He believed that by carefully analyzing these factors, the United States could develop strategies that would force competitors to expend resources in less favorable areas, thereby gaining a strategic advantage. In the context of North Korea’s recent actions and the continuing neo-Cold War with China, applying competitive strategies should create a situation where North Korea finds it advantageous to triangulate between major powers rather than aligning exclusively with China or Russia.

A North Korea that seeks to extract gains from China while playing hard to get is ultimately more beneficial to the U.S. than one with nowhere to go but permanently into China’s strategic orbit. Moreover, the more North Korea engages in this triangulation, the more China must divert some of its strategic focus to managing its relationship with Pyongyang. This, in turn, could reduce China’s ability to concentrate solely on preparing for potential conflicts with the U.S., particularly over Taiwan. Given the atrophied defense industrial base in the U.S. and its looming national debt-induced fiscal constraints, every distraction imposed on China is strategically beneficial.

It’s important to acknowledge that this strategy has moral ambiguities. Engaging with a regime known for its human rights abuses and aggressive behavior is a delicate balancing act. It would require careful implementation and extensive consultation with allies to ensure that it doesn’t further undermine regional stability or send the signal that bad international behavior is always a ticket to better relations with the U.S. Furthermore, such a strategy would need to be unveiled, and implemented gradually, with significant diplomatic efforts to explain its rationale to both domestic and international audiences.

The status quo has already failed, leaving the U.S. in a weak, reactive posture. By adopting a modified competitive strategies approach inspired by Andrew Marshall’s work, policymakers could find creative ways to address the immediate challenges of North Korea’s actions and the longer-term challenges of creating a favorable balance of power in Eurasia with China.

Greg R. Lawson is a Contributing Analyst at Wikistrat. Follow him on LinkedIn and X @ConservaWonk.

​14. Foreign spies and compromised election system: Yoon seeks to rally the right

Foreign spies and compromised election system: Yoon seeks to rally the right

koreaherald.com · by Shin Ji-hye · December 12, 2024

By Shin Ji-hye

Published : Dec. 12, 2024 - 15:28

Citizens watch President Yoon Suk Yeol deliver a public address on television at Seoul Station on Thursday morning. (Yonhap)

Chinese spies, a compromised election system, and monstrous opposition parties intent on destroying the nation -- these themes form the lens through which President Yoon Suk Yeol views South Korea's problems, or at least the ones he portrayed in his national address Thursday morning.

Political observers and opposition politicians said it was a tactic designed to rally support and appeal to ultraright voters.

During his 29-minute address, Yoon declared that he would to “fight till the end,” defending his Dec. 3 martial law imposition as desperate measures to shield the country from threats.

“However, many other serious matters that have not been revealed directly to the public have also occurred, leading me to make the grave decision to impose martial law," he said.

The leader mentioned how opposition parties -- controlling the National Assembly -- have stopped him from responding to espionage incidents, giving as examples cases involving Chinese nationals who were caught filming military and intelligence facilities in South Korea using a drone.

“Under the current law, however, there is no way to punish foreign nationals for espionage,” Yoon said.

He said that efforts to amend the espionage provisions of the Criminal Act have been blocked by the Democratic Party, which he accused of undermining national security. The Democratic Party voted down the bill, saying it wasn't against it in principle, but needed to be reviewed.

Yoon also criticized the opposition for attempting to abolish the National Security Act and for stripping the NIS of its anti-communism investigative authority during the administration of former President Moon Jae-in.

“Doesn’t this imply that we shouldn’t catch spies who threaten our national security?” he asked.

He also claimed that the National Election Commission refused to cooperate in having its electronic system inspected by the National Intelligence Service after it was found to be vulnerable to North Korean hackers.

The National Election Commission is a constitutional body, and some of its commissioners are from the judiciary. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to initiate a warrant-based search and seizure and conduct compulsory investigations. (…) For this reason, I directed the Minister of National Defense to inspect the National Election Commission’s computer systems," Yoon said.

Political analysts described Yoon’s address on Thursday as a move born of "desperation," interpreting it as an attempt to rally conservative support amid growing indications that ruling party lawmakers may back his parliamentary impeachment.

An earlier impeachment vote on Dec. 7 was thwarted by mass walkouts from ruling lawmakers.

“Following the last address, he drew some conservative support by saying that he would delegate his presidential power to the ruling party. Now, he’s trying to show his supporters that he’s willing to fight until end," said political commentator Park Chang-hwan.

The expert noted that Yoon’s speech was also intended to consolidate support within his party. But the address, which only defended his actions and showed no signs of a change in attitude, is unlikely to sway a small faction of lawmakers royal to party leader Han Dong-hoon.

Immediately after Yoon’s public address, Han ordered the convening of the party’s ethics committee to expel Yoon. He met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, “I never expected such a statement to come out (from Yoon), and added, “I think it has become more and more clear that President Yoon cannot carry out his duties as president.”

Kim Min-seok, a senior lawmaker of the Democratic Party, said during a press briefing on the same day that, "It was as if (President Yoon) preemptively read out his argument summary with impeachment trial in mind, inciting far-right unrest."

He also added it was a public directive for those involved to destroy evidence.

koreaherald.com · by Shin Ji-hye · December 12, 2024

15. South Korea’s Martial-Law Chaos Deepens, With a Suicide Attempt and Raids

South Korea’s Martial-Law Chaos Deepens, With a Suicide Attempt and Raids

North Korea, in first public response to last week’s events, lambasted its southern neighbor as a ‘fascist dictatorship’

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/south-koreas-martial-law-chaos-deepens-with-a-suicide-attempt-and-raids-bdc2efe7?mod=Searchresults_pos3&page=1

By Timothy W. Martin

Follow

 and Jiyoung Sohn

Follow

Updated Dec. 11, 2024 10:34 pm ET

A screen at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday displayed photos of government ministers, accusing them of treason. Photo: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

SEOUL—South Korea’s martial-law crisis widened as the imprisoned former defense minister attempted suicide, investigators said they would seek to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol and police attempted to raid the presidential office.

North Korea broke its silence on the matter, calling it a “shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime” where “guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought havoc across South Korea,” according to a Wednesday state media report.

On Tuesday at 11:52 p.m., Kim Yong-hyun, the country’s recently resigned defense minister, tried to hang himself at the detention facility where he is being held on insurrection and other charges tied to the martial-law order, according to South Korea’s justice ministry. Seoul’s military has said Kim proposed to Yoon the idea of instituting emergency powers, which sought to curtail political activity, the media and health services. 

Kim—the first major official to be detained over the martial-law move—has been behind bars since Sunday, after he voluntarily went in for questioning. He tried to take his life inside the bathroom of his cell by making a makeshift rope by tying together his undershirt and thermal pants, the justice ministry said. 

Authorities immediately intervened and stopped the attempt. Kim’s condition is stable, and he is back in detention, just outside Seoul, the justice ministry said. 

Kim Yong-hyun, the country’s recently resigned defense minister, tried to hang himself. Photo: leah millis/Reuters

More than a week ago, South Korea fell under martial law for about six hours. Yoon, in a stunning address announcing the move, claimed the nation had become vulnerable to North Korean “communist forces,” owing to the “den of criminals” blocking legislation, impeaching his administration’s officials and paralyzing the state.

The conservative Yoon survived a Saturday impeachment attempt, with all but a handful of ruling-party lawmakers boycotting the vote. The opposition is about eight votes shy of a two-thirds majority needed at South Korea’s unicameral, 300-seat legislature—though several additional conservatives have recently signaled they could move to impeach Yoon. A second impeachment vote is expected Saturday.

The legal scrutiny over Yoon and his cabinet over last week’s martial-law decree has accelerated. Investigators vowed to arrest—or seek to detain—the 63-year-old Yoon. Oh Dong-woon, who heads a South Korean unit dedicated to probes of high-ranking officials, pledged in a parliamentary committee meeting to take “every measure that we can.” Later, Yoon was hit with a travel ban.

In a televised address Thursday morning, Yoon, who is the former prosecutor general, argued that his martial-law decree isn’t subject to legal judgment, because it was an act of governing. He vowed to fight until the end.

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In a defiant televised address, President Yoon argued his martial-law decree was an act of governance. The South Korean leader is under investigation for a variety of charges, including insurrection. Photo: Yao Qilin/Zuma Press

The South Korean leader is under investigation for a variety of charges, including insurrection—one of the few crimes not covered by presidential immunity. On Wednesday, police sought to raid the presidential office, though they were blocked for several hours by Yoon’s security team. Other police headquarters were searched, including the National Police Agency and the parliamentary guards.

His popularity sank to 13% after his martial-law decree, according to polling. Yoon, a political neophyte, is about at the halfway point of a five-year term set to end in 2027. He won a narrow election that revealed partisan divides in South Korea that haven’t gone away.

Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, whose popularity has plummeted, is seeking to stall the president’s removal, since it has slim chances of winning a snap election right now. Yoon’s resignation would trigger a presidential vote within 60 days, and the head of the opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, is the runaway front-runner. But Lee has several ongoing trials, from allegations of perjury to breach of duty, and if convicted would be barred from running

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to face a second impeachment vote on Saturday. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators in Seoul called for the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday. Photo: anthony wallace/AFP/Getty Images

The delay tactics are a gamble for the conservatives. More than 90% of South Koreans want to see Yoon gone soon, through impeachment, resignation or an “orderly retreat” proposed by the ruling party, according to a poll released Thursday. Candlelight protests have unfolded nationwide, including roughly 100,000 who rallied in front of the National Assembly during Saturday’s impeachment vote.

The tumult has brought chaos and concern to South Korea, a top U.S. ally, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a global cultural powerhouse. Officials had to clarify earlier this week that Yoon is still legally commander in chief, even though his ruling party and the prime minister have said the South Korean leader would be sidelined until departing from his role. 

The head of the ruling party on Thursday said Yoon won’t be resigning, so the only way to remove the South Korean leader is through impeachment. He urged conservative lawmakers to vote their conscience this weekend.

Write to Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com and Jiyoung Sohn at jiyoung.sohn@wsj.com

Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the December 12, 2024, print edition as 'Chaos in South Korea Is Deepening'.

​16. South Korea’s Special Forces and the Preservation of Democracy

South Korea’s Special Forces and the Preservation of Democracy

https://smallwarsjournal.com/2024/12/12/south-koreas-special-forces-and-the-preservation-of-democracy/

by David Maxwell

|

12.12.2024 at 06:00am

South Korea’s journey towards democracy is marked by decades of resilience, activism, and critical interventions by various institutions, including its military. In December 2024, South Korea faced a significant democratic test when martial law was declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol, creating a volatile situation. Amidst this political upheaval, the actions of South Korea’s Special Forces, particularly their restraint and alignment with democratic principles, played a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s democratic framework.

 Historical Context of Martial Law and Democratic Resilience

South Korea’s history is deeply intertwined with martial law and massive political protests, from the tragic Gwangju Uprising in 1980 to the democracy movement of 1987. These incidents left indelible marks on the national psyche, demonstrating both the perils and potential of military power in political crises. The 2024 declaration of martial law by President Yoon rekindled memories of these tumultuous events, raising fears of violent repression and democratic backsliding.

President Yoon’s actions, driven by internal political strife with the opposition Minjoo Party, aimed to suppress dissent and consolidate power. In effect this was an “autocoup” or “self-coup,” that essentially is an act by an incumbent to retain power against political opposition. However, the swift backlash from democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, underscored the resilience of South Korea’s constitutional framework. The role of the Special Forces in this context was crucial, as their choices carried significant implications for the nation’s democratic future.

 The Role of the Special Forces in 2024

The Special Warfare Command (SWC), a cornerstone of South Korea’s military, was thrust into a precarious position during the martial law crisis. President Yoon’s directives included forcibly removing lawmakers from the National Assembly to prevent a vote on lifting martial law. Yet, Lieutenant General Kwak Jong-keun, the commander of the SWC, made the critical decision to defy these orders, prioritizing constitutional principles over executive commands.

General Kwak’s decision not to use force within the National Assembly building reflected a profound understanding of the military’s role in a democratic society. His refusal to execute President Yoon’s orders was informed by the potential for mass casualties and legal repercussions for soldiers involved. This act of defiance demonstrated the maturity of South Korea’s military leadership and their commitment to their Constitution, ensuring that the legislature could convene and vote to overturn martial law.

 Lessons from the Gwangju Uprising

The restraint shown by the Special Forces in 2024 was informed by the lessons of the Gwangju Uprising, where excessive military force against civilians led to a profound loss of trust in the armed forces. The Gwangju tragedy remains a cautionary tale about the consequences of military overreach in political crises. By contrast, the actions of the SWC in 2024 reflected a deliberate effort to avoid repeating such mistakes, prioritizing the preservation of democratic processes over blind obedience to executive authority.

 The Influence of Civil Society and Veteran Leadership

In addition to military restraint, the involvement of civil society and influential individuals also played a role in mitigating the crisis. Lee Kwan-hoon, a former member of the 707th Special Mission Group, personally engaged with deployed troops, urging them to exercise restraint and respect constitutional norms. His intervention highlighted the importance of moral leadership within the military community, emphasizing the role of individual judgment in upholding democratic values.

Civil society’s response to the martial law declaration further bolstered democratic resilience. Massive public demonstrations, reminiscent of the pro-democracy movements of the 1980s, underscored the people’s unwavering commitment to their hard-earned freedoms. The alignment of military restraint with civilian advocacy created a powerful synergy that ultimately forced the President to rescind martial law and withdraw troops from the National Assembly.

 Broader Implications for Democracy

The events of December 2024 reaffirmed the strength of South Korea’s democratic institutions and the critical role of the military in supporting rather than undermining these structures. The refusal of the Special Forces to act against the legislature ensured that the principle of separation of powers remained intact. This incident serves as a reminder that a professional and principled military is indispensable for the survival of democracy.

Furthermore, South Korea’s handling of the martial law crisis has international implications. As a pivotal global state, South Korea’s commitment to democratic governance influences its partnerships, particularly with the United States and Japan. The restraint shown by the Special Forces prevented the crisis from escalating into a broader geopolitical issue, preserving South Korea’s standing as a reliable partner in the “arsenal of democracy.”

 Lessons for Other Democracies

South Korea’s experience offers valuable lessons for other democracies facing similar challenges. The incident underscores the importance of:

• Strong Democratic Institutions: The resilience of South Korea’s legislature and judiciary in the face of executive overreach was instrumental in resolving the crisis.
• Professional Military Leadership: The judgment and restraint exercised by the Special Forces highlighted the critical role of military professionalism in safeguarding democracy.
• Civic Engagement: The active involvement of civil society and veteran leaders demonstrated the power of collective action in upholding democratic values.

 Conclusion

The actions of South Korea’s Special Forces during the 2024 martial law crisis exemplify how elite military units can play a crucial role in preserving democracy. By choosing to uphold constitutional principles over potentially illegal orders, these forces demonstrated that military power, when guided by democratic values, can be a bulwark against autocratic tendencies.

The crisis ultimately strengthened South Korea’s democratic institutions, proving their resilience in the face of significant challenges. To paraphrase Nietzsche, “That which does not kill democracy makes it stronger.” The Special Forces’ commitment to democratic principles ensured that South Korea emerged from this test with its democracy not just intact but reinforced.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of a professional, constitutionally minded military in safeguarding democratic governance. It also highlights the enduring impact of military ethics and training, even beyond active service, as demonstrated by veterans like Lee Kwan-hoon. As South Korea moves forward, the actions of its Special Forces during this crisis will likely be remembered as a defining moment in the nation’s democratic journey.

Tags: Democracy, leadership, martial law, South Korea, Special Forces

About The Author

• 
  
• David Maxwell
• David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in the Asia Pacific region (primarily Korea, Japan, and the Philippines) as a practitioner, specializing in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy. He commanded the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines during the war on terrorism and is the former J5 and Chief of Staff of the Special Operations Command Korea, and G3 of the US Army Special Operations Command. Following retirement, he was the Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. He is a member of the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and the OSS Society, on the board of advisers of Spirit of America, and is a contributing editor to Small Wars Journal.

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