Quotes of the Day:

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them."

– Patrick Henry

"Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy."

– Louis D. Brandeis

1. Preoccupied with its troops in Russia, North Korea unlikely to embrace Trump's overture soon

2. Motivated, disciplined, well-equipped: North Koreans in Ukraine defy expectations

3. SECDEF Hegseth Affirms U.S. Commitment to Japan, South Korea During Defense Chief Calls

4. North Korean troops pull back in Kursk as Pyongyang prepares fresh deployment, officials say

5. Better armed, but no helmets: How North Koreans fought Ukraine

6. JCS chief vows firm response to N.K. threats in border inspection with UNC deputy chief

7. U.S. Air Force unit in S. Korea conducts readiness drills despite heavy snow

8. Seoul to create sculptures of gratitude for 22 Korean War allies

9. Criminal trial of indicted Yoon on insurrection charges to begin Feb. 20

10. Appeals court upholds acquittal of Samsung Chairman Lee in 2015 merger case

11. Editorial: As Trump's trade war escalates, South Korea braces for impact

12. N. Korean professor arrested for running drug ring with students

13. Stupidest trade war with no allies and no friends

14. N. Korea expands military and oil facilities at Nampo Port

1. Preoccupied with its troops in Russia, North Korea unlikely to embrace Trump's overture soon

​"Just the facts. Ma'am." Secretary Rubio is just stating the facts about the north and the regime. It is the regime that has the hostile policy toward the South and the US.

Preoccupied with its troops in Russia, North Korea unlikely to embrace Trump's overture soon

North Korea has lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling it a “rogue” state and warned that such remarks will never contribute to U.S. interests

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/02/north-korea-kim-trump-us-nuclear/79c4b05c-e1cd-11ef-ab83-bb30e4340014_story.html

February 3, 2025 at 4:59 a.m. ESTToday at 4:59 a.m. EST

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FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at a meeting held during Dec. 23 until Dec. 27, 2024, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) (朝鮮通信社/KCNA via KNS)

By Hyung-Jin Kim | AP

SEOUL, South Korea — In its first direct criticism of the Trump administration, North Korea lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling it a “rogue” state and warned Monday that such “coarse and nonsensical remarks” will never contribute to U.S. interests.

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The statement is the latest in a series of North Korean signals that it’s not interested in resuming diplomacy with the United States anytime soon, though Trump has said he’ll reach out to its leader Kim Jong Un.

Many experts say that Kim, preoccupied with his deployment of troops to Russia, is likely concentrating on developments in the Russia-Ukraine war for now. But they say Kim would eventually seriously consider Trump’s overture if he assessed he cannot maintain the current solid partnership with Russia after the war ends.

“Now, Kim Jong Un is desperate to maintain the unshakable alliance with Russia but it remains to be seen whether Russia would do so as he wishes,” said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst for the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.

Here’s a look at prospects for a possible restart of the Trump-Kim diplomacy:

Trump hints at return to negotiations with Kim

During his first term, Trump met Kim three times in 2018-19, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to hold a summit with a North Korean leader. The negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program eventually fell apart, but Trump’s return spawned speculation that a fresh round of talks could begin soon.

On his inauguration day, Trump, speaking to U.S. troops in South Korea via video, bragged of his personal ties with Kim.

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“You have somebody with pretty bad intentions, I guess,” Trump said. “You would say that although I developed a pretty good relationship with him but he’s a tough cookie.”

During a Fox News interview broadcast on Jan. 23, Trump called Kim “a smart guy” and “not a religious zealot.” Asked whether he will reach out to Kim again, Trump replied, “I will, yeah.”

North Korea keeps up its hostility against the U.S.

North Korea hasn’t directly responded to Trump’s overture but has pressed ahead with its weapons testing activities and bellicose rhetoric against the U.S. In December, Kim vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy.

Kim likely doubts what concessions he could wrest from Trump, given their previous talks collapsed in Vietnam after the American president rebuffed Kim’s offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step, in return for broad sanctions relief. The breakdown was probably a setback for Kim domestically though the summits provided him with the the badly needed diplomatic recognition on the world stage.

“Kim personally suffered huge humiliation due to a no-deal in Hanoi,” said Kwak Gil Sup, head of One Korea Centre, a website specializing in North Korean affairs. “I don’t think he would promptly respond to Trump’s overture.”

Kim said in November that the negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats. Kwak said North Korea will still likely avoid high-profile provocations like a nuclear test, knowing that Trump focuses more on other issues like tariff wars and China.

On Monday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that Rubio’s comments reaffirmed that the U.S. hostile policy remains unchanged. It likely referred to Rubio’s appearance on “The Megyn Kelly Show” on Jan. 30, in which he called North Korea and Iran “rogue states” while addressing foreign policy challenges.

For now, Kim is focused on the Russia-Ukraine war

Kim’s priority seems to be an estimated 10,000-12,000 North Korean troops sent to support Russia’s three-year war efforts against Ukraine, the North’s first major participation in a foreign war. North Korea has supplied a vast amount of artillery and other conventional weapons to Russia as well.

In return, North Korea appears to be receiving economic and military assistance from Russia. Last June, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a landmark pact vowing mutual military assistance if either country is attacked. Seoul, Washington and their partners worry Putin might give Kim sophisticated technologies that can sharply enhance his nuclear missile programs.

The booming ties with Russia have helped Kim bear the brunt of the U.S.-led pressure campaign on North Korea. But it’s not clear if the two countries would maintain the same level of relationship after the war’s end.

“When the war is over, Kim may not be such a vital partner for Putin any longer,” Moon said. “Given that, if Kim fails to win what he wants from Putin, he could switch his diplomatic policy focus to the United States.”

2. Motivated, disciplined, well-equipped: North Koreans in Ukraine defy expectations

Despite Steve Tharp's expert and excellent analysis (much of which I agree with) I am still skeptical that the nKPA will be able to turn lessons into significant training on a sufficient scale to radical change and modernize its military. If we see radical training adjustments to the summer and winter training cycles that incorporate lessons from Putin's War then we will need to be more concerned than we already are about the capabilities of the nKPA.  

I also have to take exception to Mr. Yang's comments. Fighting as a private or junior officer in Russia/Ukraine does not necessarily prepare one for being a general. It is the education, training, and experience between that time as a junior officer and promotion to general that will define the competence of that general, not his one tour in Russia/Ukraine 20 years previously.

Excerpts:

All this makes Pyongyang, alongside Moscow, the spearhead of the axis of adversaries challenging the U.S. and its Western allies on the global stage.

“The willingness to deploy on foreign soil in somebody else’s war is a show of determination and bravery,” said Mr. Neill. “It offers a prestige opportunity for North Korea within the CRINK and offers them the opportunity to upstage” China’s People’s Liberation Army.

The fighting in Ukraine has shifted from artillery in its first two years to strike drones, playing to the KPA’s strengths: high-tech, low-cost asymmetric warfare.

“For North Korea, this is new exposure, and their guys coming back are going to integrate it,” said Steve Tharp, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel retired in South Korea. “Drones do not cost the same as an F-35, and that is the kind of war the North Koreans want to do. What they are learning in Ukraine is going to be incredibly useful.”

“The best South Korean soldiers had experience from the Vietnam War, but that generation has gone,” said Mr. Yang. “These young North Koreans will go back and will become generals. Their firsthand experience will give them a lot of inspiration.”

Motivated, disciplined, well-equipped: North Koreans in Ukraine defy expectations

Russian deployment gives Pyongyang new credibility in axis of U.S. adversaries

washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon

By - The Washington Times - Sunday, February 2, 2025

SEOUL, South Korea — Projections that North Korean troops deployed to the Russia-Ukraine war would be ill-equipped cannon fodder are evaporating as battlefield reports indicate high motivation, quality training and lavish scales of gear.

Worryingly for the U.S. and its allies backing Kyiv, the estimated 11,000-strong North Korean army contingent has defied high casualties to amass experience in the high-intensity, millennial war that current-generation Western troops lack.

Their deployment thrusts the highly militarized Asian fortress state on the cutting edge of the loose alliance with U.S. adversaries in China, Russia and Iran, a grouping some have dubbed “CRINK” states.

Still, there are uncertainties. The Korean People’s Army troops reportedly have been pulled back from part of the front in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces cling to a sliver of Russian territory seized in a surprise summer operation. Others suggest reinforcements are coming.

The Kyiv Independent reported last week that North Korean troops have pulled back from Kursk’s “zero line.” The newspaper’s source, from Ukraine’s special forces, also noted the quality of the KPA troops.

Predicting that “the break will not last long,” he noted the North Koreans’ “high motivation” and ability “to continue … the offensive despite heavy losses.”

Reports from Seoul and Kyiv suggest that North Korean forces’ pullback from the front lines in Kursk could be an operational break to regroup, recover and reinforce.

“With around four months having passed since the deployment of troops to the war between Russia and Ukraine, [North Korea] is assumed to be accelerating preparations for additional measures and deployment amid multiple casualties and occurrence of prisoners,” South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff reported on Jan. 24.

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Pyongyang has the resources to sustain its deployment, with more than 1.1 million men in the ranks. Yang Uk, a security expert at Seoul’s Asan Institute, said its top-tier units — saboteurs, special forces, airborne, marines, rangers — have some 200,000 troops, larger than the entire armies of France, with 118,00, and Britain, with 75,000.

Material reinforcements may be on the way.

On Jan. 22, unconfirmed open-source intelligence reported that Koksan 170 mm self-propelled guns, which can fire farther than Ukraine’s 152 mm and 155 mm tube artillery, were being shipped to Kursk. The same day, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, who heads Kyiv’s defense intelligence agency, told specialist media The War Zone that North Korea was sending more ballistic missiles.

Soldiers appear to be strongly motivated for the fight. Footage shared online by Ukraine showed a wounded and immobilized North Korean killing himself with a grenade when approached by Ukrainian commandos.

The North Koreans are in the crosshairs of Ukraine’s deadliest units, but only two who were wounded in battle have been captured.

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“From the Pentagon’s perspective, having North Korean belligerents on the battlefield in Ukraine is an opportunity for deterrence by hitting them hard and denigrating their capabilities,” said Alex Neill, a Singapore-based security expert with Pacific Forum. “By all accounts, they have specifically targeted North Korean troops.”

Some reports say the KPA is a Cold War-era “Soviet style” army, and Gen. Budanov has called them “biological robots.” The North Koreans are displaying an ability to innovate.

Ukrainians say the North Koreans do not flee suicide or direct-drop drones. Instead, one soldier will stand in the open while comrades attempt to shoot down the incoming drone.

Allegations about poor equipment are proving false. Dead North Koreans on the battlefield have been found equipped with new AK12 assault rifles — the latest, fifth-generation weapon in the Kalashnikov series — fitted with optical sights.

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In a video posted Tuesday, Ukrainian war correspondent Yuriy Butuzov showed a semiautomatic 12-gauge anti-drone “Vepr” shotgun carried by a North Korean colonel. He said the colonel also wore a helmet, tactical goggles, a flak vest and a pack while carrying a Chinese digital radio, batteries, a flare, two grenades and a brand-new AK12.

“Lavishly equipped,” with nine magazines rather than Russian soldiers’ four or five, he was able to carry so much gear because “the level of physical training of the Koreans is very high,” the correspondent said. All that was missing was a navigation device. The officer relied on two small-scale paper maps.

North Korean officers “personally lead their soldiers, their assault groups, into the attack,” Mr. Butuzov said in front of the corpse. He praised the KPA’s high-speed attacks and effective marksmanship but criticized their dense field formations.

Like other KPA troops, the dead North Korean was found with recovered documents, diaries and letters written in Korea’s Hangul alphabet.

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Gaining experience

Western military analysts have focused heavily on North Korea’s losses. They indicate that as many as a quarter of the force are casualties, though others question Kyiv’s reported figures.

Western militaries in recent decades have focused on low-intensity, counterinsurgency operations, very different from the high-intensity, high-tech, high-casualty warfare of Russia and Ukraine.

The North Koreans are shock troops, elite forces like the U.S. Marines traditionally used in high-risk operations.

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“The unit that North Korea has [sent] is an assault unit, used to make breakthroughs in enemy lines,” Mr. Yang said. “Inevitably, they are going to have a lot of casualties.”

Authoritarian regimes such as North Korea can focus on objectives over losses without public dissent.

“Nobody can win a battle with zero losses, and it says something when they are willing to lose 50% or more to get the job done,” said Chun In-bum, a retired South Korean general. “Every commander needs to achieve the mission and lower the cost; the exceptions are totalitarian nations. To them, getting the mission done is the thing.”

All this makes Pyongyang, alongside Moscow, the spearhead of the axis of adversaries challenging the U.S. and its Western allies on the global stage.

“The willingness to deploy on foreign soil in somebody else’s war is a show of determination and bravery,” said Mr. Neill. “It offers a prestige opportunity for North Korea within the CRINK and offers them the opportunity to upstage” China’s People’s Liberation Army.

The fighting in Ukraine has shifted from artillery in its first two years to strike drones, playing to the KPA’s strengths: high-tech, low-cost asymmetric warfare.

“For North Korea, this is new exposure, and their guys coming back are going to integrate it,” said Steve Tharp, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel retired in South Korea. “Drones do not cost the same as an F-35, and that is the kind of war the North Koreans want to do. What they are learning in Ukraine is going to be incredibly useful.”

“The best South Korean soldiers had experience from the Vietnam War, but that generation has gone,” said Mr. Yang. “These young North Koreans will go back and will become generals. Their firsthand experience will give them a lot of inspiration.”

• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.

Copyright © 2025 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon

3. SECDEF Hegseth Affirms U.S. Commitment to Japan, South Korea During Defense Chief Calls

​Keep these statements in mind every time the press and pundits question the commitment to our alliances.

SECDEF Hegseth Affirms U.S. Commitment to Japan, South Korea During Defense Chief Calls - USNI News

news.usni.org · by Dzirhan Mahadzir · February 2, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Jan. 31, 2025. DoD Photo

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made introductory phone calls on Friday to Japan Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Acting South Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho to reaffirm the U.S. alliance and commitment to both countries along with furthering alliance defense cooperation.A Pentagon readout said Hegseth and Nakatani “reiterated the importance of deepening defense cooperation to strengthen deterrence and to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”, adding that the two defense chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to advance ongoing work to modernize Alliance command and control and expand bilateral presence in Japan’s southwest islands and that both the Secretary and the Minister agreed to remain in close contact on areas of mutual security interest.

Along with existing forces forward deployed in Japan, the U.S. has eight USAF MQ-9 Reapers Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and six U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9 Reapers stationed at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, carrying out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions around the southwest region of Japan with the USAF MQ-9s on an indefinite deployed while the Marine Corps MQ-9s are expected to complete their deployment in August. The Marine Corps also conducts exercises such as Resolute Dragon and Iron Fist around the southwest islands.

Japan’s Ministry of Defence on Friday issued a release on similar lines and also stating that the two defense chiefs reaffirmed that Article V of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security applies to the Senkaku Islands. The Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are an uninhabited group of islands administered by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan. The release also stated that the two defense chiefs expressed their willingness to meet in person at the earliest possible time.

In his regularly scheduled press conference, held after his call with Hegseth, Nakatani stated that he was encouraged by the affirmation that Article V included the Senkaku Islands, calling it ‘a reaffirmation of the unwavering commitment of the U.S. to the defense of Japan.’. Nakatani also stated that the conversation was cheerful and positive and that both of them shared the common experience of having being infantry platoon leaders and dealing with counterterrorism issues.

The Japanese Defense Minister declined to give specific details of the 40 minute conversation but said that both defense chiefs agreed to work together to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance amid the increasingly severe security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, “through today’s telephone conversation, Secretary Hegseth and I were able to confirm that we share the same views on the significance of the unparalleled Japan-U.S. alliance and that the persistent efforts of both countries to strengthen deterrence are essential for peace and stability in the region,” said Nakatani.

Hegseth also had a phone call with Acting South Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho, a Pentagon readout stated that the two leaders discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, “ Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defending the ROK under President Trump’s leadership and both leaders also reiterated their shared focus on maintaining a strong combined U.S.-ROK defense posture.”, stated the readout which added that both defense agreed to remain in close contact moving forward.

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense issued a release on the call, stating that the two defense chiefs reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance and agreed to work closely together, “Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to the defense of the Republic of Korea and pledged to work closely with the ROK to further solidify the ROK-US alliance based on the longstanding trust and friendship between the two countries.”, read the release which added that the two defense chiefs shared the view that maintaining the continuity of the alliance through a robust combined defense posture and stable management of alliance issues to effectively deter and respond to North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats is more important than ever.

The release also stated that both Hegseth and Kim expressed grave concerns about the deepening Russia-North Korea military cooperation, and agreed to respond through close cooperation with the international community, as this poses a serious threat to security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also around the world. The release also stated that the two defense chiefs agreed to continue to maintain and develop ROK-US-Japan security cooperation based on the ROK-US alliance to deter North Korean threats not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the Indo-Pacific region.

The release concluded by stating that both Hegseth and Kim agreed that close U.S.-ROK cooperation is a key factor in the development of the alliance into a “global comprehensive strategic alliance,” and agreed to communicate frequently on key issues of the alliance.

Related

news.usni.org · by Dzirhan Mahadzir · February 2, 2025

4. North Korean troops pull back in Kursk as Pyongyang prepares fresh deployment, officials say

​A useful summary/compilation of the broad range of reporting on the nKPA in Russia.

North Korean troops pull back in Kursk as Pyongyang prepares fresh deployment, officials say

fdd.org · by hhanes · January 31, 2025

North Korean (DPRK) forces fighting in Russia’s Kursk region “have been pulled off the front lines after suffering heavy casualties,” though their absence may only be temporary, The New York Times reported on January 30, citing US and Ukrainian officials. This development comes as North Korea is reportedly preparing to deploy more soldiers to Russia, though the number and type of troops Pyongyang might send remains to be seen.

Despite significant losses and challenges working with Russian forces, DPRK troops have intensified the pressure on Ukraine’s defense in Kursk. But reinforcements will be needed to sustain the North Korean presence there.

The initial DPRK deployment

North Korea has already dispatched some 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia, according to Ukrainian, American, and South Korean officials. They reportedly consist mainly of special operations forces (SOF) from four brigades of North Korea’s elite 11th Corps, or “Storm Corps.” That formation is believed to comprise a total of 10 brigades and some 40,000 to 80,000 troops. According to US intelligence, Pyongyang suggested the deployment in the hope of securing Russian military technology and other aid.

DPRK troops began arriving in Russia by early October. They reportedly received Russian training in basic infantry tactics, including assaults on trenches, as well as artillery, drones, and electronic warfare. The North Koreans wear Russian uniforms and carry fake Russian military IDs. Though North Korean forces reportedly first saw action in early November, they apparently did not enter battle in large numbers until December.

Moscow has employed the DPRK troops primarily as light infantry for assaults on Ukrainian positions in Kursk Oblast, where Russia is trying to claw back territory Ukraine seized in a surprise offensive last August. In mid-January, South Korean intelligence assessed that 300 DPRK soldiers had been killed and another 2,700 wounded. Kyiv and some Western officials have claimed the figures are even higher. At this rate of losses, North Korea’s contingent would be wiped out within months, barring reinforcements.

A reported pullback

According to the officials cited by The Times, North Korean soldiers seem to have been absent from the front for around two weeks. This assessment tracks with recent reports by Ukrainian troops, though a spokesman for Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces said the pullback occurred in only one part of the battlefield in Kursk.

US officials believe the pullback may be temporary, The Times reported. They suggested that DPRK forces may rejoin the fight after undergoing further training or if Russia adjusts how it employs them to reduce their casualty rate. A battalion commander from Ukraine’s 6th Ranger Regiment, currently fighting in Kursk, similarly told Sky News that the North Koreans may be “analysing their mistakes” and receiving additional training, “tending to their wounds,” or “waiting for reinforcements.”

Whatever the case, intercepted Russian communications indicate DPRK forces will “be back soon,” he added.

Reinforcements on the way?

In recent months, Kyiv and its international partners have expressed concern that Pyongyang might send more soldiers to Russia. The Biden administration cited this threat as part of its justification for allowing Ukraine to use American missiles to strike inside Russian territory. On December 23, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said intelligence indicated Pyongyang was “preparing to rotate or increase the deployment of troops” in Russia.

On January 24, the JCS said it suspects Pyongyang is “accelerating follow-up measures and preparation for an additional dispatch of troops” following the casualties suffered in Kursk. The JCS statement came days after a senior Pentagon official told The Times that North Korea would deploy more forces to Russia “within the next two months.” The Times article did not specify the number of troops or whether they would be infantry or some other specialty. But it seemed to suggest these “reinforcements” would replace soldiers killed or wounded in Kursk.

After that story broke, however, The War Zone quoted Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, saying Kyiv does not “expect to see many new ground combat troops.” Rather, Budanov said he expects Pyongyang to deploy additional missile and artillery troops to operate and train Russian forces on DPRK-provided systems.

Budanov could not confirm the number of additional soldiers or when they would arrive. However, he did say Pyongyang has already provided about 120 170mm self-propelled guns (SPGs), another 120 240mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and almost 150 KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles. Budanov predicted Moscow would receive roughly the same number of each system this year. This total is in addition to the millions of artillery rounds North Korea has transferred so far. The SPGs and MLRS are useful, in part, because they allow Russia to tap additional calibers of DPRK ammunition. And while Ukrainian officials have said the KN-23s often fail midair or miss their targets, they can at least wreak havoc and tax Ukraine’s air defense capacity.

One possibility is that Pyongyang intends to rotate its forces in Kursk rather than increase the total number of North Korean troops fighting there. This would allow additional DPRK units to gain combat experience and avoid completely wiping out the units currently deployed. Officials from Ukraine and other countries have previously said they expect North Korea to rotate its contingent in Kursk every few months.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Colonel-General Kim Yong Bok, the DPRK General Staff’s deputy chief for light infantry and SOF, “is believed to be tasked with […] establishing the pipeline for future deployments” as well as “integrating North Korean troops with the Russians” and “absorbing battlefield insights to bring back home.”

What we know about how DPRK forces are operating

Ukrainian officials and soldiers have described the North Koreans as highly motivated, disciplined, and well-trained. North Korean troops are said to doggedly press forward in the face of heavy losses and have apparently been ordered to commit suicide rather than surrender. Whereas many Russian recruits nowadays are aged 40 or older, the DPRK soldiers are young and physically fit. Moscow seems to have equipped them relatively well.

Documents recovered from slain North Korean troops and translated by NK Insider indicate that each DPRK infantry battalion in Kursk includes an “assault team” that is “organized into approximately 9 assault units, each consisting of 18 personnel.” Each battalion also has various support units, including medical, mortar, and anti-tank units, as well as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) teams for reconnaissance and fire correction, the documents and other evidence suggest. “Each battalion should organize at least 2-3 UAV teams,” with every company having “at least one UAV team,” one document says.

According to that document, Russia is responsible for “logistical supply” for “battalion-level units,” but “units below the battalion level must organize their own supply systems.” Accounts from US and Ukrainian officials and troops indicate North Korean forces also receive some artillery and drone support from the Russians. When the North Koreans capture a position, Russian forces follow to secure it.

In general, coordination between Russian and DPRK forces seems to be poor. It is unsurprising, given the language barrier and their lack of experience fighting alongside one another. During training last fall, Russian troops apparently taught the North Koreans some basic Russian words to help with communication. But communication challenges have led to multiple friendly-fire incidents, according to accounts from Ukrainian troops and Russian POWs. To try to address this issue, Russia has reportedly put translators equipped with a radio in each North Korean assault group. DPRK units, like many of their Russian counterparts, evidently have received a mix of Russian sixth-generation “Azart” radios and Chinese commercial-grade radios.

In October-December, Ukrainian and American officials indicated that Russia was integrating North Korean units into Russian airborne (VDV), naval infantry, and motor rifle brigades and regiments—even attaching individual North Korean platoons to Russian companies. However, subsequent evidence suggests Russian and North Korean units generally operate independently in the field, with coordination mainly occurring at higher echelons.

Captured DPRK documents seem to indicate that DPRK brigade, battalion, and company commanders maintain control over North Korean units during attacks. One document stated the attack in question was coordinated with a Russian command post in Korenevo. North Korean generals are reportedly posted at Russian headquarters, where attack objectives are determined. These officers “decide when they need artillery and how long to wait before ground forces maneuver,” and they “synchronize with the [DPRK] troops in the field, so that the troops are not talking to their Russian counterparts, to try to reduce miscommunication,” The New York Times reported recently, citing a senior Pentagon official.

One Ukrainian serviceman operating on Ukraine’s left flank in Kursk told the Long War Journal that despite initial reports that Russian VDV and naval infantry units in that area had received DPRK troops, he had seen no evidence that this actually happened. The Russians continued attacking on the left flank, but his unit did not encounter any North Korean soldiers. He said DPRK forces have mainly operated at the northern part of the salient.

North Korean infantry tactics have made them especially vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery fire and drone strikes. Video footage, backed up by accounts from Ukrainian troops, has shown DPRK soldiers moving in platoon-sized formations, at times walking through open fields in close proximity to one another. Russian infantry, by contrast, often attack in smaller groups and hug tree lines.

However, accounts from Ukrainian servicemen and captured DPRK documents suggest the North Koreans have sought to adapt. One document, apparently intended to distribute lessons learned, described an attack in the southeastern part of the Kursk salient by several battalions from North Korea’s 94th Brigade. It said that although DPRK forces had been warned to employ “dispersal tactics” due to the threat of artillery and drone strikes facilitated by “real-time” UAV reconnaissance, “many soldiers gathered and moved together, resulting in heavy casualties.” Going forward, soldiers should move in “smaller units of 2-3 members,” the document said.

The document also instructs North Korean forces that to “neutralize” UAVs, “drone surveillance and strike units should be organized into combat teams and companies.” The North Koreans reportedly shoot down drones by having one soldier serve as bait while others fire at the threat with marksmanship praised by Ukrainian servicemen. Like their Russian counterparts, some DPRK troops have been found to carry handheld drone detectors and shotguns to counter UAVs.

Maintaining the pressure

In part thanks to the North Koreans, Russia has gradually recaptured some 50-60 percent of the Ukrainian-held territory in Kursk. The Kremlin likely aims to retake the rest before beginning potential peace talks with Kyiv, while the Ukrainians hope to use that territory as leverage in negotiations.

Ukrainian servicemen acknowledge that the DPRK forces have put Ukraine’s defense under greater stress. “The Koreans are starting to push the front lines, targeting less defended areas and wearing out our troops that way,” one Ukrainian platoon commander said.

However, Pyongyang will need to dispatch more troops to sustain its impact in Kursk. If it does not, Moscow could be forced to pull additional units from Ukraine or divert a larger share of fresh Russian recruits to Kursk, potentially undermining Russia’s ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine.

John Hardie is the deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program and a contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal.

Read in FDD's Long War Journal

fdd.org · by hhanes · January 31, 2025

5. Better armed, but no helmets: How North Koreans fought Ukraine

Better armed, but no helmets: How North Koreans fought Ukraine

Newsweek · by Ellie Cook · February 2, 2025

After months of rapt attention focusing on the thousands of North Koreans battling alongside Moscow's troops close to Russia's border with Ukraine, Pyongyang's fighters appear to have vanished.

It has been roughly three weeks since Ukraine detected North Korean soldiers being involved in Russia's attempts to push Kyiv's forces from Kursk, said Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces.

Russia has been trying to end Ukrainian control of a chunk of territory in its Kursk region after Kyiv launched a surprise incursion in the late summer. Moscow has managed to peel back some of Ukraine's grip, but Kyiv has retained its hold over a chunk of territory, including the town of Sudzha.

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un — a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin—sent an estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia that were quickly directed toward Kursk, intelligence reports suggested in the fall. Estimates from Ukraine have put roughly half this number as having been killed or injured, although this is not possible to independently verify.

Reports have been split on the effectiveness of the troops, which while hailing from a heavily militarized society, had no real combat experience. Some slapped the troops with the label of "cannon fodder," while some Ukrainian sources have described the fighters as disciplined, in good shape, and adept with weapons.

It was North Korea's supreme leader who proposed sending his country's elite forces to Russia, The New York Times reported in recent days, citing U.S. intelligence.

Ukraine has typically described these highly-trained forces as being thrown into combat in waves of infantry assaults likely to yield high numbers of casualties.

Kindratenko told Newsweek they had little experience in the drone warfare so dominant in the nearly three years making up Europe's largest land conflict since World War II, although they could move quickly and erratically to avoid being targeted by uncrewed aerial vehicles.

At least two of Pyongyang's fighters are known to be in Kyiv's hands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has published footage purportedly showing the interrogations of two different North Korean prisoners of war (POWs).

North Korean soldiers attend a mass rally to celebrate the North's declaration on November 29 it had achieved full nuclear statehood, on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on December 1, 2017. North Korean soldiers attend a mass rally to celebrate the North's declaration on November 29 it had achieved full nuclear statehood, on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on December 1, 2017. KIM WON-JIN/AFP via Getty Images

Kindratenko said that a Ukrainian special forces unit captured the first of two confirmed POWs in early January, tricking the fighter into surrendering rather than detonating a grenade.

South Korean and Ukrainian officials have said North Korean troops had been taking their own lives to avoid being captured by Kyiv. The U.S. said late last year it was aware of these reports, and that the soldiers likely motivated by a "fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they're captured."

Zelensky said in mid-January that one POW had "expressed a desire to stay in Ukraine." The other, the Ukrainian president said, wanted to return home.

Ukraine's special forces gave the first captured North Korean POW medical attention, pulling him from the battlefield via a minefield, Kindratenko said. Russia launched artillery barrages and flooded the area with first person-view (FPV) drones as the soldier was extracted, the colonel said.

Russian forces "had a clear visual of our personnel evacuating the POW," Kindratenko said.

"The intensity of the artillery barrage escalated at that moment, strongly indicating an attempt to eliminate both the POW and the extraction team, preventing the world from seeing a living DPRK soldier in Ukrainian custody." DPRK, or Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is North Korea's official name.

Once the Ukrainian troops had brought the North Korean POW to a "secure location," Kindratenko said, he was given a painkiller injection, plus food and water and cigarettes.

Before they disappeared—an absence attributed by Ukraine to crippling losses—the North Korean soldiers had been tasked with holding specific parts of Kursk, both in defensive and offensive operations. When they attacked Ukrainian positions, the colonel said, Pyongyang's fighters sustained most of their casualties in the first few minutes of the assault.

They repeatedly attack along the "same routes where dozens of their troops have already been killed in action," Kindratenko said.

Pyongyang's troops were very mobile, with some of the fighters shedding the protective gear Russia had provided, he said.

"In some instances, they operate without helmets or ballistic plates to increase speed during assaults on Ukrainian positions," Kindratenko said. Their confiscated backpacks held only scant food, a liter of water, and no cold-weather gear like gloves or thermal clothing.

Most of the space in the Russian-issued backpacks is taken up by ammunition, the colonel said. North Korean troops have more than three times the number of magazines than the average Russian soldier carries, Kindratenko said, plus the supplies of grenades and landmines.

Equipment recovered from the bodies of slain North Korean soldiers in Kursk indicate they are "often better armed" than Russian forces, the colonel added. Footage pulled from Ukraine's extensive reconnaissance drones have shown a "significant number of anti-tank grenade launchers," fired by Pyongyang's forces against fortified, well-defended positions or vehicles.

"Nearly all" of the North Koreans carry "modernized variants" of standard-issue Russian weapons, the special forces colonel continued. Rather than the many-decades-old, if notorious, AK-47, North Koreans have been using much more up-to-date AK-12 assault rifles, he said.

Moscow and Pyongyang have swerved publicly acknowledging the deployment of fighters from North Korea, as well as the casualties racked up in fighting.

"Undoubtedly, there will be more POWs from North Korea," Zelensky said in mid-January. What is not yet clear is when the North Korean soldiers will return to the battlefield, and whether more could be on their way to Russia.

It is possible that North Korean troops could head back to active combat after being bolstered by fresh training or as part of different types of attacks, Kindratenko said.

Newsweek · by Ellie Cook · February 2, 2025

6. JCS chief vows firm response to N.K. threats in border inspection with UNC deputy chief

​Good to see this JSC and UNC cooperation.

JCS chief vows firm response to N.K. threats in border inspection with UNC deputy chief | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · February 3, 2025

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo vowed Monday to firmly respond in the event of North Korea's military provocations as he inspected readiness posture at a front-line unit, along with the deputy chief of the U.N. Command (UNC).

Kim made the remark during a visit to a western front-line general outpost and guard post, accompanied by UNC Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Derek Macaulay, according to the JCS.

During the visit, the top military officer ordered troops to establish an optimal system for surveillance operations and strive to maintain a firm readiness posture in any situation.

"Should the North conduct a provocation, we should sternly respond without hesitation," Kim was quoted as saying.

As part of the visit, the JCS chairman underscored South Korea's sovereignty and national defense, while reaffirming the importance of the armistice with the UNC deputy commander.

The UNC was established under a 1950 U.N. mandate to support South Korea against North Korean aggression during the 1950-53 Korean War, which technically has never ended as a peace treaty was not signed.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo (2nd from R) inspects a western front-line general outpost on Feb. 3, 2025, in this photo provided by the JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

mlee@yna.co.kr

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en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · February 3, 2025

7. U.S. Air Force unit in S. Korea conducts readiness drills despite heavy snow

​All weather fighters.

U.S. Air Force unit in S. Korea conducts readiness drills despite heavy snow | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · February 3, 2025

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Air Force personnel stationed in South Korea took part in air base drills last week to strengthen their readiness despite heavy snowfall that blanketed much of the country, the U.S. 51st Fighter Wing said Monday.

The six-day Beverly Herd exercise wrapped up Friday as snow heavily impacted many parts of the country over the Lunar New Year holiday period, according to the unit based at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.

During the exercise, base personnel trained in weapons handling, small unit tactics and rapidly launching combat aircraft. The unit also executed a combat aircraft deployment in support of the drills, sending F-16 fighter jets to operate out of Kunsan Air Base.

Due to the heavy snow, unit personnel worked 24-hour operations to keep the airfield open to support both exercise and real-world operations, it said. Osan Air Base received a total of 23 centimeters of snow over the period, while Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, 176 km south of Seoul, recorded about 13 cm.

"The whole point of exercises like this is to prepare our airmen to generate combat airpower under any conditions, including when under attack, snowed in by weather, or both," Col. William McKibban, 51st Fighter Wing commander, said in a release.

A U.S. Air Force avionics technician completes function checks from the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, 176 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 28, 2025, in this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · February 3, 2025

8. Seoul to create sculptures of gratitude for 22 Korean War allies

​South Korea demonstrates gratitude for its defense by its allies like few other countries.

Seoul to create sculptures of gratitude for 22 Korean War allies | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yoo Cheong-mo · February 3, 2025

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- Symbolic sculptures expressing the South Korean people's gratitude toward the 22 countries that supported the South during the Korean War will be built at Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of Seoul this year, the city government said Monday.

The sculptures, titled "Light of Gratitude 22," will be made up of 22 black granite pillars, each 5.7 to 7 meters high, which represent the 22 countries that provided combat or medical support to South Korea during the 1950-53 war, the government said.

This photo provided by the Seoul city government on Feb. 3, 2025, shows sculptures and a garden for 22 Korean War allies to be created at Gwanghwamun Square. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Light of Gratitude 22, scheduled for completion by the year's end, will be the centerpiece of Sejongno Park, a dense urban forest to be created next to the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts at Gwanghwamun Square by May 2027, it said.

The park, with a total ground area of 8,768 square meters, will have rest and dining facilities and multipurpose spaces on the ground floor and two basement floors. In particular, the underground space will be developed as an all-weather, multipurpose space where the city, nature and people can communicate throughout the four seasons.

Light of Gratitude 22 has been selected from among 31 candidates that took part in a city government-hosted design competition initiated in September last year to remember the sacrifices of war veterans who laid the foundation for the prosperity of South Korea and to create a space for communication with the world.

"Without the help of the allies, South Korea would never have had freedom, democracy and prosperity. We'll create a garden of gratitude at Gwanghwamun Square to impress people from all over the world," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, announcing the first place winner in the design competition.

The city government said the sculptures will be created from stones sourced from the 22 countries, and poems, literary works and phrases will be engraved on their sides in their native languages. The stones will be donated or imported through their embassies in Seoul. It said a symbolic space that allows real-time communication with the allies will be built on the basement floors.

This photo provided by the Seoul city government on Feb. 3, 2025, shows the basement floor of a garden of gratitude for 22 Korean War allies to be created at Gwanghwamun Square. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

ycm@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yoo Cheong-mo · February 3, 2025

9. Criminal trial of indicted Yoon on insurrection charges to begin Feb. 20

​Another opportunity for the opposition to overstep and demonstrate that it is not fighting for democracy at all but its own political power?

Criminal trial of indicted Yoon on insurrection charges to begin Feb. 20 | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · February 3, 2025

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- The criminal trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges related to his Dec. 3 martial law imposition is set to begin later this month, legal sources said Monday.

Along with an ongoing impeachment trial, Yoon has been also under criminal probe for insurrection that supersedes his presidential immunity from prosecution.

A division of the Seoul Central District Court handling Yoon's case has scheduled the first pretrial hearing for Feb. 20, according to the sources.

Yoon is not obligated to be present at the pretrial hearing as it is a procedural step conducted to review key issues and evidence before the formal trial begins.

Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to incite an insurrection by declaring an unconstitutional and illegal state of emergency, despite the absence of any signs of war, armed conflict or a comparable national crisis.

Yoon is also alleged to have sent military troops to the National Assembly in order to keep lawmakers from voting down the martial law declaration and to have planned to arrest key political figures.

President Yoon Suk Yeol (C) questions former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun during the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Jan. 23, 2025, over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December, in this file photo provided by the Constitutional Court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · February 3, 2025

10. Appeals court upholds acquittal of Samsung Chairman Lee in 2015 merger case

​SAMSUNG has been the indirect target of Chinese lawfare because it would not kowtow to Chinese demands. 

(3rd LD) Appeals court upholds acquittal of Samsung Chairman Lee in 2015 merger case | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Choi Kyong-ae · February 3, 2025

(ATTN: ADDS prosecutors' comments in 9th para, 2nd photo)

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- An appellate court on Monday upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong in accounting fraud and other irregularities related to the controversial merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015.

The Seoul High Court confirmed the not-guilty verdict for Lee, who was indicted on charges of involvement in stock price manipulation, accounting fraud and other irregularities during the merger of Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T Corp., which prosecutors suspect was aimed at taking control of South Korea's biggest conglomerate at a lower cost.

"It is difficult to say the merger was carried out without the two companies' consent, as it was decided under arrangement and cooperation of Samsung C&T Corp., Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung's Future Strategy Office," the court said, dismissing the prosecution's claim that Samsung's control tower office had unilaterally come up with the merger decision.

Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul on Feb. 3, 2025, to attend the sentencing hearing for a case on the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates. (Yonhap)

The merger was seen as crucial to Lee's succession as heir of the family-controlled group, as his father, Lee Kun-hee, had suffered a heart attack the previous year.

A lower court acquitted the younger Lee of all 19 charges last February, saying it found no illegalities in the succession process.

The appeals court also rejected charges of Lee's involvement in false corporate disclosures and accounting fraud at Samsung Biologics, a subsidiary of Cheil Industries, saying the company did not appear to have concealed information.

Moreover, the court rejected the legality of major pieces of evidence submitted by the prosecution, saying "legality and procedural legitimacy must be preceded."

In particular, the court said it had "strong suspicions" that computer servers obtained by the prosecution from Samsung Biologics during a raid were collected beyond the scope specified in the warrant.

In response to the ruling, prosecutors said they will consider taking the case to the Supreme Court after thoroughly reviewing the high court's decision.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's leading business lobby group, said the verdict for Lee will help Samsung Group, the country's biggest conglomerate, ride out growing uncertainties in the face of rapid changes in the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries.

This file photo taken Dec. 31, 2024, shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s headquarters buildings in Seocho, southern Seoul. (Yonhap)

sookim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Choi Kyong-ae · February 3, 2025

11. Editorial: As Trump's trade war escalates, South Korea braces for impact

From the South Korean perspective - an opportunity if it chooses wisely.

MAGA - Make the Alliance Great Again.​

America First, Allies Always.

Excerpts:

The U.S.-led trade war could also serve as an opportunity for S. Korea to outpace China and enhance its competitiveness in high-tech industries, depending on how it responds. President Trump has emphasized the need for U.S.-S. Korea cooperation in shipbuilding, highlighting S. Korea’s vital role in the restructuring of global supply chains that exclude China. Beyond shipbuilding, S. Korea should seek cooperative models with the U.S. in fields such as nuclear energy, semiconductors, secondary batteries, and artificial intelligence. Proactively aligning with Trump’s “America First” agenda could give S. Korea an edge over its competitors.

Editorial: As Trump's trade war escalates, South Korea braces for impact

https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2025/02/03/DYLZWXEHWRBQXLPO4DXUESVPEE/

By The Chosunilbo

Published 2025.02.03. 08:55

President Donald Trump has reignited global trade tensions, signing an executive order to impose steep tariffs on key U.S. trading partners, a move that could disrupt global supply chains and put South Korea in the crosshairs of a widening trade war. /Yonhap News

President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing additional tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods, officially kicking off the anticipated U.S.-led trade war.

While the United States has cited concerns over illegal immigration and drug trafficking, the real target appears to be countries with significant trade surpluses with the nation. Following China, which has the largest trade surplus with the U.S., other major surplus countries—including South Korea, ranked eighth, and Taiwan, ranked sixth—are likely to be the next targets.

S. Korea benefits from the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which exempts most of its exports from tariffs. However, if the tariff hikes materialize, S. Korea’s exports to the U.S., which account for 20% of its total exports, will take a major hit.

With companies operating production bases worldwide to bypass trade barriers, the impact could be even more severe. Factories in Mexico producing automobiles, home appliances, and steel for S. Korean firms will immediately face a 25% tariff burden. If President Trump follows through on his plan to implement a universal tariff of 10% to 20%, S. Korea could see its exports decline by up to $44.8 billion, with its gross domestic product (GDP) shrinking by 0.7%, according to analysts.

In his first term, Trump slapped high tariffs on major trading partners like China and Mexico, then negotiated new deals with them. For other countries like S. Korea, his administration demanded changes to trade agreements they thought were unfair to the U.S. Now, in his second term, Trump is expected to use broad tariffs as a bargaining chip, pushing each country to strike deals that favor the U.S.

Governments around the world are rushing to find ways to respond to U.S. trade policies. Japan is looking to expand its imports of U.S. energy and increase investments, while European nations are considering boosting U.S. weapons purchases in addition to energy imports. India and other countries are exploring ways to reduce their trade surpluses by increasing imports of U.S. steel and agricultural products.

In contrast, S. Korea, grappling with a leadership vacuum due to the president’s impeachment, lacks a clear command center to navigate the trade war. The government needs to act swiftly by ramping up imports of U.S. crude oil, natural gas, and agricultural goods, while businesses should consider relocating production to the U.S. or expanding output at their existing American facilities.

The U.S.-led trade war could also serve as an opportunity for S. Korea to outpace China and enhance its competitiveness in high-tech industries, depending on how it responds. President Trump has emphasized the need for U.S.-S. Korea cooperation in shipbuilding, highlighting S. Korea’s vital role in the restructuring of global supply chains that exclude China. Beyond shipbuilding, S. Korea should seek cooperative models with the U.S. in fields such as nuclear energy, semiconductors, secondary batteries, and artificial intelligence. Proactively aligning with Trump’s “America First” agenda could give S. Korea an edge over its competitors.

12. N. Korean professor arrested for running drug ring with students

​Corruption or the entrepreneurial spirit? Regardless, it is a threat to the regime.

N. Korean professor arrested for running drug ring with students - Daily NK English

Local residents speculate many students may have been unwittingly drawn into the scheme while following their professor's instructions

By Eun Seol - February 3, 2025

dailynk.com · by Eun Seol · February 3, 2025

A photograph of Hamhung taken in 2014. (Clay Gilliland, Flickr, Creative Commons)

A professor at Hamhung University of Pharmacology was arrested in December for manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine, with investigators discovering he had used students to sell the drugs, Daily NK has learned.

“The community is shocked that a Hamhung University professor was making meth and involving students in its distribution,” a source in South Hamgyong province told Daily NK recently. “While people condemn the professor’s actions, they’re also criticizing the system that led to this situation.”

The professor, a man in his 50s identified only by the surname Kim, was arrested on campus by city police inspectors in mid-December and is currently under interrogation. His involvement came to light during an investigation into a drug ring that was broken up in Wonsan in November.

As authorities suspect this case extends beyond one professor’s corruption to involve multiple faculty members and students, the Supreme Procurator’s Office has launched a university-wide inspection. Their involvement stems from Hamhung University’s status as a “central university” despite its provincial location.

The investigation has effectively halted administrative work at the university, leaving graduating students particularly anxious. “Some soon-to-graduate students were caught up in this when the professor asked them to run errands,” the source said. “There’s widespread fear about possible expulsions or other punishments.”

Local residents suggest many students may have been unwittingly drawn into the scheme while following their professor’s instructions. “In Hamhung, people aren’t shocked to hear about meth production – even market vendors are making and selling it,” the source explained. “The real concern is that innocent students might face punishment.”

The case highlights how deeply drugs have infiltrated North Korean society, with the professor’s exploitation of his position and students making the situation particularly egregious.

While the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has pledged to use this case as a springboard for broader drug crime eradication, locals remain skeptical. Many expect the investigation will follow familiar patterns – a superficial probe ending with the punishment of a few scapegoats.

“People are taking a wait-and-see approach about whether this inspection will bring real change,” the source said. “Most investigations just punish a few examples to maintain appearances. Unless the authorities address underlying economic hardships, these incidents will keep happening.”

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Eun Seol · February 3, 2025

13. Stupidest trade war with no allies and no friends

​Excerpts:

South Korea, which is highly dependent on international trade for its economy, will be particularly hard hit. Immediately, the tariffs are expected to directly harm large Korean companies with North American production centers in Mexico. If the tariffs are extended to Korean products in the future, key exports such as semiconductors and automobiles, which are currently duty-free under the KORUS Free trade agreement, will be hit hard in the U.S. market. If the tariffs slow down China’s exports, it will lead to a decline in Korean intermediate goods exports to China. The Korea Institute for Foreign Economic Policy has predicted that in the worst case, Korean exports could fall by up to 44.8 billion U.S. dollars.

The impact of a trade war on South Korea's economy, which is already sluggish, could be devastating. The government, the National Assembly, and businesses must join forces to respond thoroughly, including persuading the U.S. and mobilizing international cooperation. This is not the time for South Korea to be mired in political conflicts and bickering. A giant typhoon is coming that could swallow Korea in its entirety.

Stupidest trade war with no allies and no friends

donga.com

Posted February. 03, 2025 09:10,

Updated February. 03, 2025 09:10

Stupidest trade war with no allies and no friends. February. 03, 2025 09:10. .

The 'Trump tariff bomb' has finally gone off. U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday signed an executive order that imposes universal tariffs of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico and an additional 10 percent on China, which will become effective Tuesday. Canada and Mexico immediately announced ‘retaliatory tariffs’ on U.S. goods, and China threatened to take the US to the World Trade Organization. The Wall Street Journal called it “the stupidest trade war in history” in an editorial.

The U.S. move is shocking because it involves tariffs against not only a strategic competitor, China, but also neighboring allies. The war is set to escalate, with the U.S. also threatening to impose tariffs on the European Union. South Korea, a key U.S. ally and friend in the security and economic spheres, is not immune. Already, the U.S. is pushing ahead with tariffs on Korean consumer electronics, semiconductors, and more.

Historically, trade wars have left no winners and only resulted in collective destruction. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, enacted by the U.S. in 1930, exacerbated the Great Depression by causing countries to race to raise tariffs. World trade decreased by one third and the global economy shrank by 15 percent. The chicken tariff wars between the U.S. and Europe in the 1960s, the U.S.-Japan trade conflict in the 1980s, and the U.S.-China trade war in Trump's first term have all left deep scars on the global economy, including higher prices, disrupted supply chains, and lost jobs. The biggest victims have been consumers around the world.

South Korea, which is highly dependent on international trade for its economy, will be particularly hard hit. Immediately, the tariffs are expected to directly harm large Korean companies with North American production centers in Mexico. If the tariffs are extended to Korean products in the future, key exports such as semiconductors and automobiles, which are currently duty-free under the KORUS Free trade agreement, will be hit hard in the U.S. market. If the tariffs slow down China’s exports, it will lead to a decline in Korean intermediate goods exports to China. The Korea Institute for Foreign Economic Policy has predicted that in the worst case, Korean exports could fall by up to 44.8 billion U.S. dollars.

The impact of a trade war on South Korea's economy, which is already sluggish, could be devastating. The government, the National Assembly, and businesses must join forces to respond thoroughly, including persuading the U.S. and mobilizing international cooperation. This is not the time for South Korea to be mired in political conflicts and bickering. A giant typhoon is coming that could swallow Korea in its entirety.

한국어

donga.com

14. N. Korea expands military and oil facilities at Nampo Port

N. Korea expands military and oil facilities at Nampo Port

donga.com

Posted February. 03, 2025 09:08,

Updated February. 03, 2025 09:08

N. Korea expands military and oil facilities at Nampo Port. February. 03, 2025 09:08. by 이기욱 71wook@donga.com.

Observations suggest that North Korea is expanding Nampo Port near Pyongyang—a key trade hub with Russia and China—to include a shipyard and oil storage facilities for warship construction.

On Friday (local time), 38 North, a U.S. media outlet specializing in North Korea, analyzed satellite imagery and reported that “a shipyard is being expanded at Nampo Port.” The shipyard is reportedly capable of building and repairing naval warships, as well as commercial vessels and fishing boats.

Satellite imagery analyzed by 38 North shows that the roof of a building believed to be a shipyard was constructed last November. Additionally, satellite imagery from January 23 indicates that new buildings are under construction.

The oil storage tanks have also been confirmed as complete. 38 North stated that after analyzing satellite imagery from January 23, all four oil tanks, which were under construction in the September satellite image last year, have been completed. It also revealed that additional tanks are currently under construction.

The commercial container area at Nampo Port also showed an increase in containers compared to satellite images from September and November last year.

“Nampo is North Korea's largest commercial port, providing a more direct route to China and most of the rest of Asia,” 38 North said of the port. “Nampo Port continues to be the focus of construction and expansion activity, emphasizing its growing importance within North Korea’s economic and military infrastructure.”

한국어

donga.com

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