Quotes of the Day:

"While all deception requires secrecy, all secrecy is not meant to deceive."

– Sissela Bok

"Educate the children and it won't be necessary to punish the men." 

– Pythagoras

"Because learning does not consist only of knowing what we must or we can do, but also knowing what we could do and perhaps should not do."

– Umberto Eco

1. S. Korea, U.S. reaffirm commitment to complete N.K. denuclearization after North's missile launch

2. N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles into East Sea: JCS

3. U.S. condemns N. Korea's ballistic missile launches

4. S. Korea says succession by N. Korean leader's daughter cannot be ruled out

5. South Korean defense chief says North Korea has supplied 7,000 containers of munitions to Russia

6. North Korea’s missile tests more than a show of force, expert says after latest launches

7. Construction site in South Korea yields second Korean War bomb this month

8. North Korea resumes missile tests, raising tensions with its rivals after their military drills' end

9. Defense chief reaffirms current size of U.S. troops in S. Korea 'absolutely necessary'

10. North Korea may ramp up provocations after monthlong break

11. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Regime tightens reigns on young people...A public trial and ideological struggle in February led to intensive attacks and forced participation in firing squads

12. Time to prepare for possible chaos on Korean peninsula (in the South/Alliance not the north)

13. Pyongyang uses expression‎ 'Hyangdo' for Kim Ju Ae for first time

14. Yoon calls for global solidarity to defend democracy

15. N. Korean leader congratulates Putin on reelection

16. Blinken says US will always work with S. Korea against NK provocations

1. S. Korea, U.S. reaffirm commitment to complete N.K. denuclearization after North's missile launch

Unification then denuclearization. It is th only path.

Although denuclearization of the north remains a worthy goal, it must be viewed as aspirational as long as the Kim family regime remains in power. The conventional wisdom has always been that denuclearization must come first and then unification will follow and that there should be no discussion of human rights out of fear that it would prevent Kim Jong Un from making a denuclearization agreement. Today even a blind man can read the tea leaves and know that Kim Jong Un will not denuclearize despite the fact that his policies have been an abject failure. His political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies completely failed in 2022/2023 because Presidents Yoon and Biden, like their predecessors, refused to make the political and economic concessions he demanded just to come to the negotiating table: namely to remove sanctions. It is time for the U.S and the ROK/U.S. alliance to execute a political warfare strategy that flips the conventional wisdom and seeks unification first and then denuclearization. Everyone must come to the understanding that the only way to end the nuclear program and the human rights abuses is through unification of the Korean peninsula. The ROK and U.S. must continue to maintain the highest state of military readiness to deter war and then adopt a human rights upfront approach, a comprehensive and sophisticated information and influence activities campaign, and focus all efforts on the pursuit of a free and unified Korea- ultimately a United Republic of Korea (UROK). 

S. Korea, U.S. reaffirm commitment to complete N.K. denuclearization after North's missile launch | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · March 18, 2024

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States reaffirmed Monday their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, hours after the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in the latest provocation in about a month.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed the commitment during bilateral talks in Seoul, after the South Korean military confirmed Pyongyang's launch of several missiles toward the East Sea.

The latest launch came shortly before South Korea kicked off a three-day session of the U.S.-led Summit for Democracy formed to strengthen partnerships among like-minded democratic nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul pose for photo ahead of their bilateral talks at Seoul's foreign ministry on March 18, 2024. (Yonhap)

Blinken arrived in South Korea on Sunday to attend the forum and hold talks with Cho, their second such meeting in less than a month.

"The ministers condemned North Korea for firing several missiles right before the Summit for Democracy and said the North's continued provocations will only work to strengthen the coordination among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and with the international community," Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Cho and Blinken expressed concerns over any potential unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the Yellow Sea and agreed to work closely on the issue.

They also agreed to continue cooperation to cut off the North's illicit funding channels for its nuclear and missile programs, such as cyberactivities, the dispatch of its workers overseas and ship-to-ship transfers.

In addition, Blinken reaffirmed the U.S.' firm defense commitment to South Korea's security, the ministry said.

Noting that Seoul's hosting of the democracy summit illustrates the bilateral alliance based on the shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, the two sides agreed to make efforts to pass on the legacy of democracy to future generations.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (L) speaks at the start of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the foreign ministry in Seoul on March 18, 2024. (Yonhap)

elly@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · March 18, 2024

2. N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles into East Sea: JCS

As we expected, they fired after Freedom Shield was completed.

We should emphasize that every time they conduct a test they deny food and support for the Korean people. Kim prioritizes his nuclear program and missile tests over the welfare of the Korean people in the north.

(3rd LD) N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles into East Sea: JCS | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · March 18, 2024

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest details in paras 2-5)

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, the South Korean military said, just hours before talks between the top diplomats of South Korea and the United States.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile launches in the area of Pyongyang between 7:44 a.m. and 8:22 a.m., which flew around 300 kilometers and landed in the East Sea.

"North Korea fired at least three missiles, and their trajectories were similar to those of KN-24," a senior military official said.

The KN-24 is a solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of up to 410 km and a payload of 400-500 kg.

The South Korean military said it immediately detected and tracked the missiles, and shared the information with the U.S. and Japanese authorities, while a comprehensive analysis is under way.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's latest missile launch, which is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the JCS said.

The launch comes about a month after the North fired a new surface-to-sea cruise missile, the Padasuri-6, from its eastern coast on Feb. 14.

It marks the North's second ballistic missile launch of the year since the first on Jan. 14, when it test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead.

Pyongyang conducted five rounds of cruise missile tests this year, raising concerns over the weapons systems that are harder to detect and shoot down.

The launch comes days after Seoul and Washington wrapped up the annual Freedom Shield exercise, which focused on bolstering deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

North Korea has long denounced the allies' military drills as rehearsals for an invasion against it, while Seoul and Washington have rejected such claims, describing their exercises as defensive in nature.

On Sunday, Blinken arrived in Seoul to attend the Summit for Democracy, a ministerial conference that brings together top government officials from some 30 countries.

This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 15, 2024, shows the North's launch of a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead the previous day. South Korea's military said it detected the launch from an area in or around Pyongyang at about 2:55 p.m. and the missile flew approximately 1,000 kilometers before splashing into the sea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

ejkim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · March 18, 2024

3. U.S. condemns N. Korea's ballistic missile launches

Again, we should be linking the human rights issues and the treatment of the Korean people in the north to these missile tests.

U.S. condemns N. Korea's ballistic missile launches | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 18, 2024

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Sunday condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches this week as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, and called for the recalcitrant regime to return to dialogue.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday morning (Korea time), days after Seoul and Washington concluded their major springtime military exercise.

"The United States condemns the DPRK's March 17 ballistic missile launches. These launches, like the other ballistic missile launches in recent years, are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," a State Department spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The spokesperson stressed that the launches pose a threat to the North's neighbors and undermine regional security.

"We remain committed to a diplomatic approach to the DPRK and call on the DPRK to engage in dialogue," the official said. "Our commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad."

The latest launches came as Seoul is set to host the third Summit for Democracy, a U.S.-led initiative to promote solidarity among democracies, from Monday through Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Seoul to attend the ministerial segment of the forum, while U.S. President Joe Biden is set to attend it virtually.

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North's firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 18, 2024

4. S. Korea says succession by N. Korean leader's daughter cannot be ruled out

I still think Kim may be playing with us. I do not think we should invest too much intellectual capital in trying to figure this out. We should not let this be a distraction.

I would like us to focus on what action we will take when we learn that Kim Jong Un is no longer in power. Are we preparing for that now? Have we prepared the information environment sufficiently to provide us with potential options (or more importantly to provide the potential successor with potential options)?

Yes, of course knowing who the successor is would be helpful but I would not wait for that to be confirmed to begin all the other necessary preparations. We can make three contingency plans - one for Kim Ju ae, one for Kim Yo Jomg, and one (or more) for someone from outside the Kim family regime. But we should not wait for the confirmation of a successor to conduct planning and begin preparations.

S. Korea says succession by N. Korean leader's daughter cannot be ruled out | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · March 18, 2024

SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said Monday there is a possibility that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter could become his successor in what could mark the third hereditary power succession.

The ministry made the assessment, noting a change in the expression the North's state media used to refer to the teenager believed to be named Ju-ae.

In a Saturday report on Kim Jong-un's visit to a newly built greenhouse farm with Ju-ae on Friday, the North's Korean Central News Agency used the rare expression of "the great persons of guidance" in an apparent reference to the North Korean leader and his daughter.

The expression of guidance has been reserved to refer to the North's supreme leader or its ruling Workers' Party, according to the ministry.

"Given the level of protocol and the expression shown in North Korea's official media, the possibility of Kim Ju-ae's succession cannot be ruled out," ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told reporters in a regular press briefing.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) attends a ceremony alongside his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, to mark the completion of the Kangdong Greenhouse Farm in a Pyongyang suburb on March 15, 2024, in this photo carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

Ju-ae, believed to be born in 2013, has gained the spotlight since Nov. 18, 2022, when her father brought her to the launch site of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in her first public appearance.

Ju-ae's visit to the Kangdong Greenhouse Farm, built on the site of a military airfield near Pyongyang, marked her third public activity in the economy-related sector since she first made a public appearance. She mostly accompanied her father to military events.

The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, earlier said it sees Ju-ae as Kim's "most likely successor," citing her public activities and the level of the North's respect toward her.

In December, Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said the North Korean leader seems to be "in a hurry" to bring his daughter to the forefront, indicating she could be anointed to succeed her father.

Kim Jong-un took over the communist country following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011. The late Kim inherited power from his father, the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994.

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · March 18, 2024

5. South Korean defense chief says North Korea has supplied 7,000 containers of munitions to Russia

South Korean defense chief says North Korea has supplied 7,000 containers of munitions to Russia

BY KIM TONG-HYUNG

Updated 6:07 AM EDT, March 18, 2024

AP · March 18, 2024

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has shipped around 7,000 containers filled with munitions and other military equipment to Russia since last year to help support its war in Ukraine, South Korea’s defense minister said Monday.

Shin Won-sik shared the assessment at a news conference hours after the South Korean and Japanese militaries said the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters, adding to a streak of weapons displays amid growing tensions with rivals.

Since the start of 2022, North Korea has used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a distraction to ramp up its weapons tests and has also aligned with Moscow over the conflict, as leader Kim Jong Un tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and join a united front against the United States.

U.S. and South Korean officials have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery shells, missiles and other equipment in recent months to help fuel its war on Ukraine, saying that such arms transfers accelerated after a rare summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

North Korea in exchange possibly received badly needed food and economic aid and military assistance aimed at upgrading Kim’s forces, according to South Korean officials and private experts. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the existence of an arms deal between the countries.

During a news conference in Seoul, Shin said the South Korean military believes the North, after initially relying on ships, has been increasingly using its rail networks to send arms supplies to Russia through their land border.

In exchange for sending possibly several million artillery shells and other supplies, North Korea has received more than 9,000 Russian containers likely filled with aid, Shin said. He raised suspicions that Russia could be providing North Korea with fuel, possibly in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions that tightly cap the country’s imports of oil and petroleum products.

While fuel shortages likely forced North Korea to scale back winter training activities for its soldiers in recent years, South Korea’s military assesses that the North expanded such drills this January and February, Shin said.

North Korea’s latest missile launches came days after the end of the latest South Korean-U.S. combined military drills that the North portrays as an invasion rehearsal.

Shin said the North may dial up its testing activity before the April 10 parliamentary elections in South Korea, which is shaping up as a confidence vote for conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has taken a harder line than his liberal predecessor over North Korean nuclear ambitions and threats.

Animosity between the war-divided Koreans has recently worsened, with both countries taking steps to breach a 2018 bilateral military agreement on reducing border tensions. Kim vowed in January to abandon the North’s long-standing goal of reconciliation and to rewrite its constitution to declare the South its most hostile adversary.

While most of North Korea’s recent missile tests seem aligned with its stated goals of augmenting its frontline forces with new weapons systems, the South Korean and U.S. militaries are also evaluating whether some North Korean tests are aimed at verifying the performance of weapons it intends to send to Russia, Shin said.

North Korean state media said Monday that Kim sent a message of congratulations to Putin over his reelection as Russia’s president. On Saturday, Kim’s sister issued a statement through state media saying that her brother has used a Russian luxury limousine recently gifted by Putin and praised the car’s “special function,” in another effort to boost the visibility of the countries’ bilateral ties.

AP · March 18, 2024

6. North Korea’s missile tests more than a show of force, expert says after latest launches

A "diplomatic card?" This is to support political warfare and blackmail diplomacy.

To "raise national morale" inside north Korea? You cannot eat missiles and nuclear weapons.

Excerpts:

“The overwhelming, important goal is to strengthen deterrence but there are secondary effects,” he said. “It may be possible to use these (missile tests) as cards for diplomacy.”

...

“This is sufficient for North Korea to raise national morale,” he said.

North Korea’s missile tests more than a show of force, expert says after latest launches

Stars and Stripes · by Seth Robson · March 18, 2024

North Korea launches a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile in this image released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, July 13, 2023. (KCNA)

TOKYO — Ballistic missile launches by North Korea, like the three Monday, are meant to deter the United States with the supreme goal of keeping the country’s communist rulers in power, an expert on the reclusive regime told reporters Monday.

Pyongyang fired three short-range ballistic missiles that splashed down in the Sea of Japan that morning, hours before Keio University professor Atsuhito Isozaki, an expert in North Korean politics, briefed reporters during a webinar presented by the Foreign Press Center Japan in Tokyo.

The latest launches are among 180 missiles fired by North Korea since Kim Jong Un inherited power in 2011, Isozaki said.

“Which means that these are within the high-level aim of bolstering their military capability and deterrence vis-à-vis the U.S … and that’s part of their supreme goal of perpetuating the regime,” he said.

Pyongyang is continuing to experiment, test, train and conduct military drills as part of that effort, Isozaki said.

Keio University professor Atsuhito Isozaki, an expert in North Korean politics, briefs reporters March 18, 2024, in this screenshot from a webinar hosted by Foreign Press Center Japan. (Foreign Press Center Japan)

“The overwhelming, important goal is to strengthen deterrence but there are secondary effects,” he said. “It may be possible to use these (missile tests) as cards for diplomacy.”

Missile launches also bolster the North Korean people’s morale and strengthen Kim’s authority, Isozaki said, adding that the North is among only nine nations with nuclear weapons and only six with intercontinental ballistic missiles.

“This is sufficient for North Korea to raise national morale,” he said.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 — a nuclear power attacking a smaller, non-nuclear neighbor — demonstrated for the North Korean regime that nuclear weapons are essential to its survival, Isozaki said.

Predicting Japan’s response to an accidental North Korean missile strike is beyond his expertise, Isokazi said. But Japan would likely act rapidly in concert with its ally the United States, he said.

In recent years, the North has moved away from a policy of reunification with South Korea, he said.

Kim in January ordered an end to the formal goal of reunifying the two Koreas and named the South his country’s “principal enemy” and the nation “most hostile” to Pyongyang.

The North has shut down agencies working with South Korea and stopped using words such as “unification” or referring to “80 million compatriots” from both countries in its statements, Isozaki said.

Pyongyang now says “North-South relations are no longer a kinship or homogeneous relationship but have completely become a relationship between two hostile countries, two belligerents at war,” he said.

Seth Robson

Seth Robson

Seth Robson is a Tokyo-based reporter who has been with Stars and Stripes since 2003. He has been stationed in Japan, South Korea and Germany, with frequent assignments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Australia and the Philippines.

Stars and Stripes · by Seth Robson · March 18, 2024

7. Construction site in South Korea yields second Korean War bomb this month

Just imagine the amount of UXO and mines in the DMZ area where the bulk of the fighting took place in 51-53.

Construction site in South Korea yields second Korean War bomb this month

Stars and Stripes · by David Choi and Yoo Kyong Chang · March 15, 2024

A South Korean air force explosive ordnance disposal specialist inspects an unexploded bomb found at a construction site in Cheongju, South Korea, March 13, 2024. (South Korean air force)

SEOUL, South Korea — A laborer wielding a spade found an intact, 1,000-pound bomb from the Korean War at a construction site Wednesday, less than a week after an identical bomb was unearthed there.

The worker at the site in Cheongju, 60 miles south of Seoul, found the bomb in a 19.6-foot crater and reported it to police, a South Korean air force spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone the next day.

The spokesman declined to identify the construction site. South Korean officials regularly speak to the media on a customary condition of anonymity.

Air force explosive ordnance disposal specialists identified the object as an American AN-M65 general-purpose bomb from the 1950-53 Korean War, the spokesman said. They removed the detonator and carried the bomb away for further investigation, he said.

The bomb turned up 32 feet from the spot where another M-65 was found and removed by the South Korean air force on March 7.

Following the second bomb’s discovery, Cheongju officials, construction workers and police agreed construction “should cease for a while until safety is guaranteed,” a city hall spokesman said by phone Thursday.

“The military’s [explosive ordnance disposal] team is now exploring there in consideration of possible bombs,” the spokesman said. “Our city doesn’t know how long it will take, but, if the team finds no more bombs there, the construction company is going to be able to restart its work there then.”

M-65 bombs were dropped from P-47 Thunderbolt and B-26 Invader aircraft on structures such as dams and railroad bridges, according to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s website.

An unexploded Korean War-era bomb was found at a construction site in Cheongju, South Korea, March 13, 2024. (South Korean air force)

Unexploded ordnance from the Korean War is regularly found throughout South Korea.

In June, a railway worker at a construction site a mile from the U.S. Army’s Yongsan Garrison in Seoul reported smoke emanating from the ground; South Korean army specialists collected an unspecified piece of unexploded ordnance from the site without injuries.

In April, unexploded ordnance was found and dismantled at another construction site near Yongsan Station, about a 15-minute walk from the garrison.

David Choi

David Choi

David Choi is based in South Korea and reports on the U.S. military and foreign policy. He served in the U.S. Army and California Army National Guard. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Yoo Kyong Chang

Yoo Kyong Chang

Yoo Kyong Chang is a reporter/translator covering the U.S. military from Camp Humphreys, South Korea. She graduated from Korea University and also studied at the University of Akron in Ohio.

Stars and Stripes · by David Choi and Yoo Kyong Chang · March 15, 2024

8. North Korea resumes missile tests, raising tensions with its rivals after their military drills' end

Political warfare and blackmail diplomacy.

North Korea resumes missile tests, raising tensions with its rivals after their military drills' end

BY HYUNG-JIN KIM AND MARI YAMAGUCHI

Updated 4:54 AM EDT, March 18, 2024

AP · by HYUNG-JIN KIM · March 17, 2024

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters Monday morning, its neighbors said, days after the end of the South Korean-U.S. military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

The launches — North Korea’s first known missile testing activities in about a month — came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Seoul for a democracy summit. Outside experts earlier predicted North Korea would extend its run of missile tests and intensify its warlike rhetoric ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November to boost its leverage in future diplomacy.

Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korea fired three missiles, two together at 7:44 a.m. and the other about 37 minutes later. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary session that the North Korean missiles landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, all outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and that no damage or injuries have been reported.

Kishida denounced North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile tests as acts “that threaten the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international society.” He said Japan strongly protested against North Korea over its testing activities, saying they violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the North from engaging in any ballistic activities.

South Korea’s military said it also detected “several” suspected short-range ballistic launches by North Korea on Monday morning. The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launches “clear provocation” that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Korea will maintain readiness to repel any provocation by North Korea, based on its solid military alliance with the United States.

According to Japanese and South Korean assessments, the North Korean missiles fired from its capital region traveled a distance of 300-350 kilometers (about 185-220 miles) and reached a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (about 30 miles).Observers say the missiles’ fight distances indicate they are weapons targeting major facilities in South Korea, such as its military headquarters in the central region.

The U.S. State Department condemned the launches, saying they pose a threat to the North’s neighbors and undermine regional security. A State Department statement said the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remain “ironclad.”

The U.S. stations a total of 80,000 troops in South Korea and Japan, the backbone of its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the South Korea-U.S. military drills that ended Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a series of military training exercises involving tanks, artillery guns and paratroopers and called for greater war fighting capabilities. The 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills involved a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises, twice the number conducted last year.

The North didn’t perform any missile tests during its rivals’ training, however. Its missile tests are considered much bigger provocations as North Korea has been pushing hard to mount nuclear warheads on its missiles targeting the U.S. mainland and its allies. Many experts say North Korea already has nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching all of South Korea and Japan, but it has yet to have functioning long-range missiles that can strike the U.S. mainland.

Before Monday’s launches, North Korea last carried out missile tests in mid-February by firing cruise missiles into the sea.

Animosities on the Korean Peninsula remain high in the wake of North Korea’s barrage of missile tests since 2022. Many of the tests involved nuclear-capable missiles designed to attack South Korea and the mainland U.S. The U.S. and South Korean forces have responded by expanding their training exercises and trilateral drills involving Japan.

Experts say North Korea likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the United States. They say North Korea would want to win extensive sanctions relief while maintaining its nuclear weapons.

Worries about North Korean military moves have deepened since Kim vowed in a speech in January to rewrite the constitution to eliminate the country’s long-standing goal of seeking peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and to cement South Korea as its “invariable principal enemy.” He said the new charter must specify North Korea would annex and subjugate the South if another war broke out.

Observers say North Korea may launch limited provocations along its tense border with South Korea. But they say the prospects for a full-scale attack by North Korea are dim as it would know its military is outmatched by the U.S. and South Korean forces.

___

Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP’s Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

AP · by HYUNG-JIN KIM · March 17, 2024

9. Defense chief reaffirms current size of U.S. troops in S. Korea 'absolutely necessary'

Ugh.. Chris – what are you saying? It has been a long time since we were at Camp Greaves/Camp Liberty Bell. (1986)

Excerpts:

Christopher Miller, who served as the acting secretary of defense under the former Donald Trump administration, said in a recent local media interview that it was time to discuss whether South Korea still needs 28,500 American troops or if change was needed.

...

Miller's comments came amid concerns of a possible shift in Washington's security policies regarding South Korea if Trump is reelected to office in the November presidential election.

On the upcoming South Korea-U.S. talks on the cost-sharing for the upkeep of U.S. troops stationed here, Shin said he would make efforts to inform Americans on the role South Korea plays in global defense.

"South Korea (bought about) US$10 billion worth of American weapons in the past five years," he said. "More importantly, South Korea bears the largest security burden along with the United States to maintain peace and security in the world than any other country."

Defense chief reaffirms current size of U.S. troops in S. Korea 'absolutely necessary' | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · March 18, 2024

SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Monday reaffirmed that the current size of U.S. troops stationed in the country is "absolutely necessary" after a former top Pentagon official questioned the need for such a presence.

Christopher Miller, who served as the acting secretary of defense under the former Donald Trump administration, said in a recent local media interview that it was time to discuss whether South Korea still needs 28,500 American troops or if change was needed.

"Every year at the Security Consultative Meeting, (we) announce that it is an absolutely necessary figure," Shin said at a news conference when asked about Miller's comments, referring to the annual meeting between the two countries' defense chiefs.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik in a file photo (Yonhap)

Shin said the current size of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is outlined annually in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, which specifies the Pentagon's budget, and that South Korea shares this view.

Miller's comments came amid concerns of a possible shift in Washington's security policies regarding South Korea if Trump is reelected to office in the November presidential election.

On the upcoming South Korea-U.S. talks on the cost-sharing for the upkeep of U.S. troops stationed here, Shin said he would make efforts to inform Americans on the role South Korea plays in global defense.

"South Korea (bought about) US$10 billion worth of American weapons in the past five years," he said. "More importantly, South Korea bears the largest security burden along with the United States to maintain peace and security in the world than any other country."

Earlier this month, Seoul and Washington named their new chief negotiators for the cost-sharing talks, after local media reported they would launch the talks earlier than planned in a move that appeared to consider Trump's possible reelection.

During Trump's presidency, the negotiation was a major bone of contention as he demanded a hefty rise in South Korea's share of the cost for the USFK.

On recently deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, Shin said the North is estimated to have shipped about 7,000 containers of arms and military equipment to Russia since around last July.

The two countries have bolstered relations after the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit at a Russian spaceport in September.

When asked whether Seoul plans to send weapons to support Ukraine, Shin reiterated the government's stance on not providing lethal arms support.

"(We) have never directly provided lethal weapons, equipment or supplies to Ukraine," he said. "As the United States partially lacked shell reserves, we made exports to them ... Unless our government's stance changes, this policy remains in effect."

Seoul has maintained a stance to provide humanitarian and non-lethal defense assistance to Ukraine, such as protective suits, demining equipment and other military supplies.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · March 18, 2024

10. North Korea may ramp up provocations after monthlong break

North Korea may ramp up provocations after monthlong break

koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · March 18, 2024

Political events in Beijing, Moscow likely deterred Pyongyang from acting out in past month

By Kim Arin

Published : March 18, 2024 - 16:55

People watch a news report of North Korea’s launch of a short-range ballistic missile at a train station in Seoul on Monday morning. (Yonhap)

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula on Monday morning, just over two hours ahead of an international summit held in Seoul that invited the US secretary of state, and three weeks ahead of South Korea’s National Assembly general election. The firings come more than a month after the launch of a cruise missile in mid-February.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, several SRBMs were fired at around 7:44 a.m. from North Hwanghae Province near Pyongyang. The South’s JCS said in the last message to the press at around 10 a.m. that military authorities in Seoul were analyzing the details of the missile launches with their counterparts in the US and Japan.

The last missile firing from North Korea was on Feb. 14, when new cruise missiles were launched toward the sea of the Korean Peninsula.

Yang Uk, a research fellow at Asan Institute of Policy Studies in Seoul, said North Korea had probably been refraining from aggression for the past month in light of political events in China and Russia, like annual plenary sessions and Moscow’s presidential election.

“North Korea is probably going to start to ramp up provocations from now,” he told The Korea Herald. “Pyongyang probably opted for a short-range, rather than a long-range ballistic missile, with its possible summit with Tokyo in mind,” he said, referring to recent news that North Korea is seeking to meet with Japan.

The ruling People Power Party believes North Korea may escalate aggressions ahead of South Korea’s general election and the US presidential election.

Rep. Park Jeong-ha, the People Power Party chief spokesperson, said in a statement Monday that as the risks of “military and cyber provocations” from North Korea were “very high” over the year, greater political fluidity is expected internationally.

“North Korea’s provocations are anticipated to get more frequent and aggressive as the year progresses,” he said.

North Korea’s missile firing appears to be aimed at the meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he added.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea urged the Yoon Suk Yeol administration to return to a policy of dialogue with North Korea.

“Yoon’s hard-line North Korean policies are escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. There cannot be peace unless our administration makes efforts to get North Korea return to the table,” the party said in a statement Monday.

The Democratic Party at the same time condemned the SRBM launch as a “clear military provocation that cannot be justified under any context.”

“If North Korea has any desire to be a part of the international community, it must cease its military actions that only isolate itself from the rest of the world.”

koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · March 18, 2024

11. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Regime tightens reigns on young people...A public trial and ideological struggle in February led to intensive attacks and forced participation in firing squads

One of my five key questions:

Who does Kim fear more: The US military or the Korean people in the north? (Note it is the Korean people armed with information and knowledge of life in South Korea)

＜Inside N. Korea＞ Regime tightens reigns on young people...A public trial and ideological struggle in February led to intensive attacks and forced participation in firing squads

asiapress.org

A picture drawn by defector Jang Han-gil about a public execution he witnessed. He drew it in 2000 while in China after his escape from North Korea.

North Korean authorities are cracking down on disorder and crime among the younger generation through ideological struggles and public trials. It is using fear to intensify its attempts to change how young people think. (Jiwon Kang / Jiro Ishimaru)

◆ Four young people face public trial for robbery and practicing superstition

According to several reporting partners in the northern region of the country, Kim Jong-un's regime has issued instructions to Workers' Party organizations and security (police) forces across the country to punish young people for disorder, "non-socialist acts," and crimes, all based on its policy of making 2024 a "year of struggle to achieve revolution among the youth.”

A concrete example of this happened on February 22, which is when a "public exposure meeting" (public trial) for young people was held in Hyesan, Yanggang Province. A reporting partner who attended the event described what happened during the trial as follows:

"Three men and one woman, including one former soldier, were tried. One was sentenced to two years of imprisonment for theft, robbery, and superstitious behavior. The officials also read out the names of seven (other) people and said they were being investigated."

Religious practice is banned in North Korea, and even divination and prayer are criminalized as superstitious practices.

The public trial was held in Hyesan and a large number of young people were mobilized to watch.

"The participants were mainly university students, high school students, and young adults. They did not ask the Women's League or neighborhood watch units to participate. The youth were informed that 'concealing illegal activities is also a crime.’”

On February 23, the US-based RFA (Radio Free Asia) also reported on the “public exposure meeting.”

◆ “Ideological struggle” meetings held at workplaces to criticize youth

The authorities are also demanding that businesses take "measures against youth.” At the beginning of the year, companies were instructed to submit plans to the authorities on how to control disorderly behavior by young people and how they will make efforts to educate young people ideologically. A specific example of these “measures” are the "ideological struggle" meetings that have become commonplace inside companies. Another reporting partner in Hyesan said:

"In February, a factory in Hyesan held an ‘ideological struggle' meeting for all employees. Four young women were put on the 'criticism stage' for having stolen products and for engaging in superstitious behavior. Fourteen people came up one after another to criticize the four people’s actions. Afterward, a discussion was held.”

These “ideological struggle” meetings are used to condemn people. As with the aforementioned public trials, the regime's goal is to control the behavior of young people by punishing them in front of many people, to terrorize and shame them, and to set an example to others.

◆ In December, people were forced to watch public executions

In December of last year, a public execution of a man in his 20s who committed murder in an attempt to extort grain was held in Hyesan. The event was attended by a large number of youth alliance members from factories and businesses in the city.

They were made to walk in formation from their workplaces to the Hyesan Airfield, where the execution took place. Those mobilized were given front-row seats from the beginning of the trial to when the execution took place, according to a reporting partner who was present at the trial.

The Kim Jong-un regime's tightening of control over the youth is a sign of the increasing incidents of disorder, disobedience, and crime among young people.

※ The Socialist Patriotic Youth League is a youth organization affiliated with the Workers' Party. It is mostly composed of workers and students under the age of 30.

※ ASIAPRESS communicates with reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.

A map of North Korea (ASIAPRESS)

asiapress.org

12. Time to prepare for possible chaos on Korean peninsula (in the South/Alliance not the north)

Chris Miller's words are already having an impact.

Time to prepare for possible chaos on Korean peninsula

donga.com

Posted March. 18, 2024 07:50,

Updated March. 18, 2024 07:50

Time to prepare for possible chaos on Korean peninsula. March. 18, 2024 07:50. .

Former U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, considered the most likely defense secretary if former U.S. President Trump Donald makes a comeback, told The Dong-A Ilbo that it is worth considering the freeze-for-relief idea. Regarding the idea of negotiating over disarmament, the former U.S. acting defense secretary said that he is somewhat in favor of those thinking “Why not?” Miller stated that Washington would welcome it if Seoul took a broader perspective. Stressing the significance of an equal partnership between the two allies, he added that it is time that Seoul and Washington should be honest with each other and start discussing whether South Korea still needs 28,500 U.S. forces or whether some change is required.

Miller’s comments signal a fundamental change to the current U.S. government’s Korean Peninsula policy framework if Trump 2.0 starts. Although he made it clear that it was only his own personal opinion, it presumably reflects Trump’s determination to revamp the Biden administration’s policy as an extension of the Trump 1.0 framework. Miller was considered the most likely defense secretary by former President Trump, who commended him for doing a great job by the end of his administration. In “Project 2025,” a collection of policy proposals included in the agenda for Trump 2.0, he wrote in a defense section that South Korea should play a leading role in conventional defense systems against North Korea.

In some sense, his remarks may only give more details of Trump’s policy note regarding the Korean peninsula. The former U.S. president demanded a sharp increase in South Korea's defense cost-sharing contribution while making an effort to highlight a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Likewise, Miller emphasized not only Seoul's greater defense contributions but also its bigger responsibilities, and handled North Korea negotiations with a "grand bargain for regional stability” in mind. Asked about Korea's independent nuclear armament, Miller said that Washington would possibly revisit options that were once considered undiscussable. This message can be read as a signal that there could be a significant change in the system of extended deterrence against North Korea based on the alliance.

With a hard-learned lesson from Trump 1.0 in mind, the international community is keeping its guard up against Trump's possible comeback. This can also test South Korea, given that it depends heavily on Washington’s nuclear deterrence, with North Korean nuclear issues still left unaddressed. The country would even have to prepare for the worst-case scenario where Washington’s demand for unreasonable cost-sharing contributions would cause cracks in the alliance while meeting Pyongyang halfway to have no option but to accept its possession of nuclear power as part of the reality. Thorough preparations should be made with all possibilities on the table. Most of all, Seoul must be equipped diplomatically with deterrence and flexibility to keep its alliance with Washington intact and build constructive relationships with its neighbors.

한국어

donga.com

13. Pyongyang uses expression‎ 'Hyangdo' for Kim Ju Ae for first time

​Words have meaning? Or do we read too much into some words?

Pyongyang uses expression‎ 'Hyangdo' for Kim Ju Ae for first time

donga.com

Posted March. 18, 2024 07:51,

Updated March. 18, 2024 07:51

Pyongyang uses expression‎ 'Hyangdo' for Kim Ju Ae for first time. March. 18, 2024 07:51. by Kyu-Jin Shin newjin@donga.com.

North Korea has used the term ‘Hyangdo, which means ‘leading the way,’ for the first time about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae. Previously, Pyongyang had called her ‘beloved and honored daughter’ without mentioning her name since she first appeared in November 2022. The use of the expression‎ that has been used for Kim Jong Un for Ju Ae suggests that North Korea could be accelerating an idolization campaign to make her the successor of its leader.

"It seems to be a step-by-step exposure of the expression‎ that implies the successor to its people," a South Korean government source said, adding, "Most of the photos of the greenhouse farm inspection were framed as if Ju Ae was the main character." Intelligence officials also believe that Ju Ae’s public behavior and the level of respectful treatment she receives make her the most likely successor to Kim at this point. Ju Ae even watched an airborne troop drill with binoculars next to Kim in the presence of party officials.

On Saturday, North Korean Central TV showed Kim and Ju Ae traveling to a greenhouse factory in an ‘Aurus,’ a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. The car carries a license plate with the date of the signing of the armistice (July 27, 1953), which North Korea claims is the anniversary of its war victory. Dubbed the ‘Russian Rolls Royce,’ the Aurus weighs seven tons, is equipped with bulletproof glass and a chemical attack defense system, and is reportedly worth 170 billion won ($12.7 million) per vehicle. While importing expensive vehicles violates UN Security Council sanctions, North Korea has recently been deliberately exposing Kim's personal vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz Maybach.

한국어

donga.com

​14. Yoon calls for global solidarity to defend democracy

Yoon calls for global solidarity to defend democracy

The Korea Times · by 2024-03-18 20:30 | Foreign Affairs · March 18, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken applaud during the opening ceremony of the Summit for Democracy held at a hotel in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

3rd Summit for Democracy kicks off in Seoul

By Lee Hyo-jin

President Yoon Suk Yeol highlighted Korea's evolving role as a leading democracy, Monday, emphasizing the need for global solidarity to safeguard democracy from the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI).

"Just over 70 years ago, Seoul was in ruins following the invasion by communist forces. Yet, Korea rose from this devastation, driven by a firm belief in universal values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law, and has since advanced democracy," Yoon said during a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the Summit for Democracy.

He also addressed the impact of AI and digital technology on democracy, sharing concerns that fake news and disinformation are threatening democratic values.

"The dual nature of digital technology brings both benefits to daily life and threats to democracy. We must share our experiences and wisdom to ensure that AI and digital technologies enhance democracy while safeguarding the safety of individuals and the society," he said.

Yoon's speech marked the beginning of the third Summit for Democracy, taking place in Seoul from Monday through Wednesday. Launched by the United States in 2021, the initiative aims to gather like-minded nations to address challenges threatening global democracy. Korea is the first foreign nation to host the event outside the U.S.

Under the theme "Democracy for future generations," the three-day event was to bring together approximately 300 participants, including delegates from the U.S., Britain, Australia, Ecuador and other nations. The participants also included civic activists and members of academia.

South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul also gave a speech during the opening ceremony.

"Peace is guaranteed when countries that value freedom and human rights come together as one. Korea's own journey is a living testament to this truth," Cho said.

He added, "Our story showcases the political, economic and cultural potential that is unleashed when embracing the ideas of freedom, human rights and the rule of law. As Korea aspires to become a global pivotal state, we are committed to standing in solidarity with the international community to safeguard and advance these values."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul ahead of their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps

Following Cho's remarks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a keynote speech in which he hailed Korea as the "champion of democracy" and stressed the need for collective action to safeguard democracies.

China protests Taiwan minister's role at Seoul summit backed by U.S.

"Safeguarding our democracies is a collective effort, one that depends on our governments and our people working together. All people, all nations, all sectors have contributions to make, and none of us has a monopoly on ideas," Blinken said.

The opening ceremony was followed by a ministerial conference and multi-stakeholder roundtable under the theme, "Artificial intelligence, digital technology and democracy."

Tuesday's events will feature panel discussions and workshops by civic groups and international organizations.

The leaders' session will be held virtually on Wednesday evening, with the theme "Technology, Elections, and Fake News." Yoon will chair the second session of the summit, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Kenyan President William Ruto will chair the first and third sessions, respectively.

On the sidelines of the summit, Yoon held a meeting with Blinken, during which the American said the U.S. will always work with South Korea to firmly respond to North Korea's provocations, according to the presidential office. Ahead of the summit, Pyongyang fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

Yoon welcomed Blinken's trip to Seoul, saying the recent series of senior-level exchanges shows the strength of the alliance, which has evolved into a "global comprehensive strategic alliance."

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Korea and the U.S. held separate talks on the sidelines of the multinational gathering on Monday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including strengthening their alliance and matters concerning the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions.

According to the foreign ministry, Cho told Blinken that Seoul will continue its efforts for unification, advancing universal values of freedom and human rights, despite Pyongyang's recent actions defining inter-Korean relations as hostile and rejecting the concept of unification.

Moreover, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the ultimate goal of North Korea's denuclearization and expressed concerns regarding potential unilateral actions by Pyongyang in the West Sea.

The Korea Times · by 2024-03-18 20:30 | Foreign Affairs · March 18, 2024

15. N. Korean leader congratulates Putin on reelection

​I wonder if they are comparing voter turnout and the percentage of votes they received.

N. Korean leader congratulates Putin on reelection

The Korea Times · March 18, 2024

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un attend a meeting at the Vostochny Сosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, Sept. 13, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin for being reelected as Moscow's leader, state media said, amid deepening military cooperation between the two nations.

Putin won a landslide victory in Russia's election Sunday for a fifth term in office, which will extend his 24-year rule for another six years.

Kim's congratulatory message will be delivered to Russia's foreign ministry via North Korea's top envoy to Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Following the Kim-Putin summit in September last year, North Korea and Russia have been deepening military cooperation amid suspicions that Pyongyang has provided munitions and artillery to Moscow for use in Russia's war in Ukraine.

Kim used an Aurus Senat limousine, gifted by Putin, during last week's public event for the first time, state media reported Saturday. The KCNA said the gift is "clear proof" of the two nations' friendly ties.

Russia's sending of a luxury car to North Korea is a breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the supply, sale and transfer of luxury goods, including automobiles, to Pyongyang. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · March 18, 2024

16. Blinken says US will always work with S. Korea against NK provocations

Let's work together on human rights upfront, information, and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.

Blinken says US will always work with S. Korea against NK provocations

The Korea Times · March 18, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets on the sidelines of the ministerial conference of the third Summit for Democracy at Hotel Shilla in Seoul, March 18, 2024, in this photo provided by the presidential office. Yonhap

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday the United States will always work with South Korea to firmly respond to North Korea's provocations, according to the presidential office, after Pyongyang fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

Blinken made the remark during a meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol on the sidelines of the third Summit for Democracy hosted by South Korea this week.

"Secretary Blinken said the United States will always be with South Korea to respond firmly to North Korea's provocations and for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the presidential office said in a press release, adding the top U.S. diplomat called for continuing close coordination and communication between the allies, while further strengthening their "extended deterrence," the U.S. commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.

Blinken's comment came hours after North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

Yoon welcomed the secretary to Seoul, saying the recent flurry of senior-level exchanges shows the strength of the alliance, which has evolved into a "global comprehensive strategic alliance."

He also called for working closely together to leave behind a "better democracy" for future generations in line with this week's summit's theme, "Democracy for Future Generations," noting the alliance is stronger because the two countries share a belief in liberal democracy.

Blinken conveyed U.S. President Joe Biden's greetings to Yoon, saying Biden is grateful to South Korea for hosting the gathering this year. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · March 18, 2024

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