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Quotes of the Day:
“Does the law exist for the purpose of furthering the ambitions of those who have sworn to uphold the law, or is it seriously to be considered as a moral, unifying force, the health and strength of a nation?”
– James Baldwin
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
– Kurt Vonnegut
“Human beings are so made that the ones who do the crushing feel nothing; it is the person crushed who feels what is happening. Unless one has placed oneself on the side of the oppressed, to feel with them, one cannot understand.”
– Simone Weil, Lectures on Philosophy (1959)
1. We are RFA Radio Free Asia.
2. Protests Swell in South Korea as Court Weighs President’s Fate
3. US rivals line up for North Korea's new military drones
4. N. Korean leader vows to 'invariably' support Russia's war against Ukraine
5. S. Korea, Japan, China reaffirm peace on Korean Peninsula 'shared interest, responsibility': FM Cho
6. N. Korean ramps up ideological lectures for youth despite growing disinterest
7. S. Korea, U.S. launch working-level talks over 'sensitive country' issue
8. S. Korea, U.S. agree to swiftly resolve sensitive country issue
9. Opposition pushes for 30th impeachment
10. Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to continue exchanges amid improved ties
11. War lessons: Will Ukraine be North Korea's Vietnam?
12. UN: “Number of defectors continues to decrease due to North Korea’s control of its residents”
13. Shoigu Delivers Putin's Message to Kim Jong-un... "Possibility of Discussing Additional Military Cooperation"
1. We are RFA Radio Free Asia.
We are RFA Radio Free Asia.
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/03/22/we-are-rfa-radio-free-asia/
by SWJED
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03.22.2025 at 03:38am
Please watch the short video (it is in English) from two RFA journalists and three Koreans who escaped from the north HERE.
RFA and VOA have had their funding cut and the majority of their outstanding journalists have been furloughed.
This means the US is ceding the information space to China, Russia, Iran, and north Korea.
We are RFA Radio Free Asia.
RFA’s mission is to protect the North Korean people’s ‘right to know’ and ‘freedom of expression.’ We are RFA.
From the RFA Website:
We at Radio Free Asia (RFA) are operating on a reduced basis due to the US government’s funding cutoff on March 15. However, we will continue to provide limited updates through our website and social media. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
A message from an RFA journalist:
As you may have seen in the news, RFA is facing serious operational challenges due to the U.S. government’s funding freeze. While our overseas bureaus, including Seoul, will continue operating for now, most staff at the Washington, D.C. headquarters have been placed on furlough.
As of Friday, March 21, at 5 PM, I will no longer have access to the RFA building or this email account. Any form of volunteer work is also legally prohibited.
2. Protests Swell in South Korea as Court Weighs President’s Fate
Excerpts:
No matter what it decides, the court will anger a large portion of the society. People on both sides have shaved their heads or gone on hunger strike to press their demands.
“If it endorses Yoon’s impeachment, there will be some commotion, but the political landscape will quickly shift toward a presidential election,” said Shang E. Ha, a professor of political science at Sogang University in Seoul. “But if he returns to office, even those who have been waiting patiently for a ruling will take to the streets. We will see riots.”
In January, scores of Yoon supporters vandalized a Seoul district courthouse after a judge there issued a warrant to arrest him on an insurrection charge. Two supporters of Mr. Yoon died after setting themselves on fire to protest his impeachment.
The police are preparing for the worst. Schools, street vendors and a former royal palace in the neighborhood of the Constitutional Court will close on the day of ruling. The authorities also called for the removal of rocks, empty bottles, trash bins — anything that could be a weapon — from the streets. About 14,000 police officers were ready to deploy. Drones have been banned from flying over the courthouse, and all 86,000 privately owned guns in the country must be kept locked in police stations.
The police also assigned bodyguards to Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition leader, after his party reported anonymous assassination threats. Officers have escorted the eight justices on their commute to and from the court.
“I urge the people to respect and accept whatever the court decides,” said Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, the country’s acting president, while expressing concern over the potential for violent clashes.
Protests Swell in South Korea as Court Weighs President’s Fate
Mass rallies for and against Yoon Suk Yeol filled the streets on Saturday as the Constitutional Court prepared to rule on whether his ill-fated imposition of martial law justified removal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/world/asia/south-korea-yoon-protests.html?searchResultPosition=2
Demonstrators supporting the impeachment of Mr. Yoon gathered near the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Saturday.Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
By Choe Sang-Hun
Reporting from Seoul
March 22, 2025
Updated 8:47 a.m. ET
Protesters gathered by the tens of thousands on Saturday in Seoul, divided into two camps that reflected a nation divided over its embattled president.
One crowd shouted for the country’s top court to remove Yoon Suk Yeol, calling him “a ringleader of insurrection.” Separated from them by walls of police buses, another crowd chanted for him to be restored to office, with speakers calling his parliamentary impeachment fraudulent and warning of civil war if he was ousted.
Never have the jitters run so high in South Korea before a court ruling as the country waits impatiently for the Constitutional Court to decide whether to uphold or reject the impeachment of Mr. Yoon. The walls of the court have been fortified with razor wire as the eight justices prepare the ruling, which could shape the future of the country’s democracy.
The decision could help bring an end to the months of political turmoil Mr. Yoon unleashed on Dec. 3 with his failed attempt to place his country under martial law. Or it could push the country into a deeper political crisis.
South Koreans have grown weary of the prolonged political uncertainty and want the court to decide. But it has kept them on edge for weeks, giving no hint when its justices will deliver probably the most consequential ruling of their careers.
Video
A compilation of screenshots of traffic camera video from Seoul’s Urban Traffic Information Center between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday shows how protesters gathered in central Seoul.CreditCredit...By Agnes Chang and Weiyi Cai
As the deliberations dragged on, conspiracy theories abounded and speculation flourished. Some suggested that the court was irreparably split. (The votes of at least six of the eight justices are needed to remove Mr. Yoon. Otherwise, he will be reinstated.) Others said it was just taking time to make its historic ruling watertight.
“The country is at a crossroads,” said Cho Gab-je, a prominent South Korean journalist and publisher who has covered the nation’s political evolution since 1971. “If the court reinstalls Yoon in office despite what he did, it will give future leaders of the country a license to rule by martial law. South Korea will become a banana republic.”
The political instability Mr. Yoon set off has left his country without an elected leader at a time when North Korea is escalating its nuclear threat and strengthening military ties with Russia. Although South Korea is one of America’s key allies, its leader has yet to meet President Trump while leaders of other nations, including Japan, have.
In February, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2024 downgraded South Korea from a “full” to a “flawed democracy.”
Mr. Yoon’s martial law lasted only six hours but provoked fury among many South Koreans. The National Assembly impeached him on Dec. 14, suspending him from office. If Mr. Yoon is removed, South Korea will elect a new president within 60 days.
Image
Police officers controlling crowds near the Constitutional Court on Saturday.Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Polls in recent weeks showed that South Koreans preferred Mr. Yoon’s ouster to his reinstatement roughly three to two. But in a deeply divided nation, Parliament’s decision to impeach him has also galvanized the political right.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of Christian churchgoers, military veterans and other mostly older people occupied the main boulevard in central Seoul, many sitting in neat rows of plastic chairs, holding signs that called for Mr. Yoon’s reinstatement.
A parade of Christian pastors spoke from a raised platform, promising that Mr. Yoon “will return to office with spring winds.”
“Hallelujah!” the crowd erupted.
As one pastor urged the participants to show “thanks to God” for protecting Mr. Yoon, church staff members in orange vests passed through the crowd with blue bags for church donations.
“If President Yoon is not reinstated, there will be a civil war,” warned Jun Kwang-hoon, a firebrand pastor who has organized large pro-Yoon conservative rallies, calling his campaign a “patriotic” war against “Communist reds.”
Image
Supporters of the impeached South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, protesting in Seoul on Saturday.Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Mr. Jun led his followers in a song that has become their protest anthem. “There is nothing wrong with my age,” the song’s upbeat refrain declared, prompting many to get up from their chairs and dance. “It’s a perfect age to be patriots.”
In another part of the city center, on the other side of the walls of police buses, a younger and livelier crowd gathered, holding signs like, “A new spring, a new country!” or “Here is the ruling, Yoon Suk Yeol: You are fired!”
Batteries of loudspeakers throbbed with a song whose refrain has become a catchphrase for those who want Mr. Yoon ousted. “All state authority shall emanate from the people,” it went, citing a line from the Constitution.
Led by speakers, the crowd chanted: “The Constitutional Court, remove Yoon Suk Yeol immediately. It’s an order from the people.”
The anti-Yoon crowd included people who marched behind dozens of whimsical signs, like “The national association of tea-drinkers” and “A group of people who study cats’ paws.” But they, like their pro-Yoon counterparts, said that they were anxious about why the court was taking so long to rule, and they expressed fear that the decision might not be what they wanted.
“The day Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, I was scared,” said Han Ye-jin, a college student. “Now, I am desperate.”
Image
Protesters gathered by the tens of thousands. They were split into two camps that reflected a nation divided over its embattled president.Credit...Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
No matter what it decides, the court will anger a large portion of the society. People on both sides have shaved their heads or gone on hunger strike to press their demands.
“If it endorses Yoon’s impeachment, there will be some commotion, but the political landscape will quickly shift toward a presidential election,” said Shang E. Ha, a professor of political science at Sogang University in Seoul. “But if he returns to office, even those who have been waiting patiently for a ruling will take to the streets. We will see riots.”
In January, scores of Yoon supporters vandalized a Seoul district courthouse after a judge there issued a warrant to arrest him on an insurrection charge. Two supporters of Mr. Yoon died after setting themselves on fire to protest his impeachment.
The police are preparing for the worst. Schools, street vendors and a former royal palace in the neighborhood of the Constitutional Court will close on the day of ruling. The authorities also called for the removal of rocks, empty bottles, trash bins — anything that could be a weapon — from the streets. About 14,000 police officers were ready to deploy. Drones have been banned from flying over the courthouse, and all 86,000 privately owned guns in the country must be kept locked in police stations.
The police also assigned bodyguards to Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition leader, after his party reported anonymous assassination threats. Officers have escorted the eight justices on their commute to and from the court.
“I urge the people to respect and accept whatever the court decides,” said Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, the country’s acting president, while expressing concern over the potential for violent clashes.
Choe Sang-Hun is the lead reporter for The Times in Seoul, covering South and North Korea. More about Choe Sang-Hun
3. US rivals line up for North Korea's new military drones
When will we execute a strategic strangulation campaign to cut off north Korean weapons proliferation to conflict zones around the world and all other global illicit activities that go to support the Kim family regime's ability to remain in power?
US rivals line up for North Korea's new military drones
Newsweek · by Micah McCartney · March 20, 2025
North Korea is preparing to ship war drones to U.S. adversaries, including Iran and its proxy forces, according to a new report.
Pyongyang is accelerating military drone production, despite long-standing international sanctions aimed at curbing its arms trade. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China via email with a request for comment outside of office hours.
Why It Matters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in November ordered his government to "begin full-scale production as soon as possible." In a bid to strengthen ties with its limited international partners and secure foreign currency, Pyongyang has developed increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection amid sanctions put in place by the United Nations to curb its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
One prospective recipient is Russia, which the U.S. and South Korea say has already received thousands of containers of North Korean munitions to support its invasion of Ukraine.
What To Know
North Korean authorities began inspecting drones for export on March 7, with those passing inspection set for immediate shipment, a high-ranking North Korean official told Seoul-based media organization Daily NK in a Wednesday report.
Destinations include longtime North Korean ally Iran, Syria, the Islamist Houthi rebels of Yemen, militant groups in Africa, and reportedly Russia, the source said.
The drones are being manufactured in a factory in the western province of North Pyongan Province, including reconnaissance and loitering suicide unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
In this screen grab from a documentary by North Korean state broadcaster KCTV, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right front, inspects an attack drone at an undisclosed location in 2023. In this screen grab from a documentary by North Korean state broadcaster KCTV, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right front, inspects an attack drone at an undisclosed location in 2023. KCTV
The source also shed light on government plans to avoid international attention, including shipping UAV components separately via different routes to be assembled upon arrival—a method often used in previous weapons exports.
To increase covertness, the country favors untraceable transactions through cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum and operates through front companies in other countries to further complicate payment structures, the source told the news agency.
What People Are Saying
Vann Van Diepen, former weapons of mass destruction expert for the U.S. State Department, wrote for North Korea-focused specialty site 38 North: "As with other conventional weapons, Pyongyang might try to compete on price, but it is unclear if it would be able to charge much less than other non-Western suppliers with established production lines or whether the Saetbyol-4 and -9 will be seen as sufficiently capable technologically to be worth what the North would charge for them."
What Happens Next
It's unclear how the U.N. and regional enforcement partners, including the U.S., would respond to these shipments. However, Security Council permanent member Russia's move last year to dismantle the U.N. sanctions review panel on North Korea may weaken enforcement efforts, making it easier for Pyongyang to evade scrutiny and expand its arms exports.
About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian security issues, and cross-strait ties between China and Taiwan. You can get in touch with Micah by emailing m.mccartney@newsweek.com.
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ...
Newsweek · by Micah McCartney · March 20, 2025
4. N. Korean leader vows to 'invariably' support Russia's war against Ukraine
N. Korean leader vows to 'invariably' support Russia's war against Ukraine
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · March 22, 2025
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 22, 2025, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un (right) shaking hands with Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, in Pyongyang the previous day. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his willingness to "invariably" support Russia's war against Ukraine during his meeting with a top Russian security official, according to Pyongyang's state media Saturday.
Kim held "important and useful" discussions with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The former Russian defense minister arrived in North Korea hours before the talks.
At the meeting, both sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to defending the security interests of the two countries as well as regional and global issues, while confirming their consensus on such issues, according to the KCNA.
Kim also said it is "the steadfast option and resolute will of the DPRK government to invariably support Russia in the struggle for defending the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests in the future," the report said.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
Shoigu presented an "important signed letter" from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim, the KCNA said, without disclosing details.
Experts speculated that Shoigu probably traveled to the North to explain Russia's stance on a ceasefire in the Ukraine war and what it would provide to Pyongyang in return for the North's troop deployment to Russia.
During phone talks this week, Putin agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to temporarily halt strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in a partial ceasefire in the war.
Shoigu's trip also came amid speculation that Kim may travel to Russia, possibly in May on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day. Putin invited Kim to visit Moscow during his trip to Pyongyang last June for bilateral summit talks. (Yonhap)
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · March 22, 2025
5. S. Korea, Japan, China reaffirm peace on Korean Peninsula 'shared interest, responsibility': FM Cho
Sounds good in theory. To China this means maintaining the status quo for as long as possible and not trying to reign in Kim Jong Un in any way. The three "Nos" are no war, no instability and regime collapse, and no nukes. 2 out of 3 is not bad from China's view. It also means China will pressure and blame the US for creating tensions.
(2nd LD) S. Korea, Japan, China reaffirm peace on Korean Peninsula 'shared interest, responsibility': FM Cho | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · March 22, 2025
(ATTN: RECASTS lead, headline; UPDATES throughout with remarks from joint press conference; ADDS photo)
By Kim Seung-yeon
TOKYO/SEOUL, March 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, Japan and China reaffirmed Saturday that ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula is in the common interests of the three countries and their shared responsibility, Seoul's top diplomat said.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul made the remarks following his three-way talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo, underscoring the importance of maintaining the momentum for their trilateral cooperation.
"We reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is a shared interest and responsibility of the three countries," Cho said in a joint press conference.
"It's timely and meaningful that today's three-way talks are taking place in the context that we maintain the momentum of trilateral cooperation, which was revitalized by last year's summit in Seoul after a 4 1/2 year hiatus," he said.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (R) poses for a photo with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (C) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on March 21, 2025, as they arrived for a dinner reception at a hotel in Tokyo, where the three ministers have gathered for trilateral talks. (Yonhap)
Saturday's talks came as the three Asian neighbors are seeking to maintain and advance the trilateral cooperation framework amid uncertainties in the economy and security, from the war in Ukraine to U.S. trade risks from tariff policies under the second Donald Trump administration.
Cho urged that North Korea should not be rewarded for its wrongdoings in Russia's war against Ukraine, amid the North's involvement in the conflict by deploying troops in support of Moscow.
"I emphasized during our talks that North Korea must not be rewarded for its wrong behavior in the course of bringing an end of the war in Ukraine," Cho said.
"It's important for South Korea, Japan and China to faithfully carry out U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea and make efforts to stop the North's provocations and bring about its complete denuclearization," he added.
Wang called for the three countries' role in ensuring regional stability through enhanced communication, trust and cooperation.
"We agreed to push forward with regional economic integration, including the resumption of free trade agreement negotiations," Wang said.
Iwaya said he and his counterparts agreed to speed up the process to hold the trilateral leaders' summit "at an earliest possible and appropriate time."
On North Korea, Iwaya said he expressed concerns over the North's nuclear and missile activities and its military ties with Moscow.
"North Korea's denuclearization is our shared goal and I told (the other ministers) that Japan is willing to closely communicate to fully implement the UNSC sanctions resolutions," he said.
Following the three-way talks, Cho joined Iwaya for separate bilateral talks.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul speaks at the start of the trilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo on March 22, 2025. (Yonhap)
Cho arrived in Japan Friday and met one-on-one with Wang on the same day.
The three Asian neighbors held their last foreign ministers' dialogue in South Korea's southern city of Busan in November 2023, attended by Wang and then Foreign Ministers Park Jin and Yoko Kamikawa.
The previous three-way summit took place in Seoul in May last year between President Yoon Suk Yeol, then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · March 22, 2025
6. N. Korean ramps up ideological lectures for youth despite growing disinterest
What does it mean if Kim Jong Un loses his grip on the youth? What does that portend for the future? What is the resistance potential?
The regime cannot put the information genie back in the bottle. We should be "flooding the zone" with information now. Instead we have cut VOA and RFA.
N. Korean ramps up ideological lectures for youth despite growing disinterest - Daily NK English
"Despite creating new laws and even executing people to stop youth from watching 'impure videos,' the government hasn't curbed young people's interests," a source claimed
By Lee Chae Eun - March 21, 2025
dailynk.com · by Lee Chae Eun · March 21, 2025
Workers of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League visited the Youth Movement History Museum on July 7, a day ahead of the 30th anniversary of the death of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, according to Rodong Sinmun on July 8. (Rodong Sinmun-News1)
North Korea has increased ideological lectures for young people in Chongjin, North Hamgyong province. These sessions, previously held once or twice monthly, are now mandatory weekly events.
A source told Daily NK recently that authorities now require weekly ideological lectures for students at high schools, vocational colleges, and universities throughout Chongjin.
“Despite creating new laws and even executing people to stop youth from watching ‘impure videos,’ the government hasn’t curbed young people’s interests. So since the beginning of the month, authorities have mandated weekly criticism sessions and ideological lectures,” the source explained.
The regime has intensified these lectures to keep young people vigilant against foreign ideology and culture. On March 8, one Chongjin high school hosted a lecture titled “Let’s strengthen the fight against the frightening toxins that erode young people’s class consciousness and revolutionary consciousness.”
The speaker began: “Impure videos and publications continue to propagate because of our enemies’ plotting. This significantly weakens our young people’s class and revolutionary consciousness. The puppet regime (of South Korea) and hostile forces use these impure materials to undermine youth consciousness.”
The lecturer described outside ideology as part of “our enemies’ strategy of destroying our socialist system” and emphasized that young people must guard against such influences.
“Our enemies ultimately want to tear down our socialist ideology and system. Their behavior isn’t new, but they’re more desperate now that our country is a nuclear power. Young people, as this country’s heirs, must lead in defending our socialist system,” the speaker declared.
“Lasting victory only comes through absolute trust and obedience to the Workers’ Party and Supreme Leader. We must reinforce our ideological struggle to defeat our enemies’ schemes by maintaining revolutionary vigilance,” the lecturer added.
While these sessions aim to prevent ideological wavering among youth, their effectiveness remains questionable. Young North Koreans admit they’re tired of repetitive lectures that cover the same points with little new material.
“Young people already hate the weekly criticism sessions, so adding lectures will only irritate them further. They’ll attend for appearance’s sake, but the effectiveness will diminish over time,” the source concluded.
Read in Korean
dailynk.com · by Lee Chae Eun · March 21, 2025
7. S. Korea, U.S. launch working-level talks over 'sensitive country' issue
Last evening at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation Honors Banquet A number of Korean business people asked about the meaning of this action. I am not sure those functionaries from the previous administration who added Korea to the list understood what they were doing. Hopefully the Trump administration can correct the errors of the previous administration.
S. Korea, U.S. launch working-level talks over 'sensitive country' issue | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 22, 2025
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, March 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States began working-level talks Friday to "swiftly" address the highly charged issue of South Korea's placement on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)," Seoul's industry minister said.
Ahn Duk-geun made the remarks, after he met with Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Thursday to discuss the matter and other issues amid concerns that the inclusion in the list could affect the two countries' science and technology cooperation.
While in Washington this week, the minister also held talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, during which he renewed calls for the United States to give South Korea "favorable treatment" as the Trump administration plans to roll out "reciprocal" tariffs next month to match what its trading partners levy on U.S. exports.
"(I) relayed our concerns (to Wright) over South Korea's inclusion on the DOE's SCL, and the two countries agreed to continue cooperation to swiftly address this issue in accordance with procedures," Ahn told reporters. "As a follow-up, we launched working-level consultations today."
Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun speaks during a press meeting at the South Korean Embassy in Washington on March 21, 2025. (Yonhap)
He pointed out the U.S.' explanation that even if South Korea's designation goes into effect on April 15, it will not affect ongoing and future bilateral cooperation.
The DOE confirmed last week that the preceding Biden administration added South Korea to the SCL in early January -- a list that includes North Korea, China and Russia. The designated countries are subject to stricter scrutiny when access is requested to DOE research institutions or other facilities for technology cooperation or other purposes.
The designation has drawn keen public attention in Seoul as many Koreans viewed the juxtaposition of their country, a key treaty U.S. ally, alongside North Korea, China and Russia in the SCL as a matter of trust in the long-standing alliance with the U.S.
A senior Seoul official said that the U.S. side has pointed to technology security concerns arising from the evolving technology landscape as a broad reason for the designation rather than offering specific reasons that triggered the designation decision.
South Korea explained its plans for security reinforcements meant to address areas of U.S. concern, according to the official who requested anonymity.
"On this issue, the top officials of the ministry and department in charge have a clear agreement and understanding, and related procedures (to address it) are proceeding," the official said.
During the talks with Lutnick, Ahn reiterated Seoul's hope that South Korean businesses will not face disadvantages as the U.S. is working to introduce reciprocal tariffs.
"While stressing the close connectedness (of the two countries) in efforts to foster the industrial ecosystem between the two countries in the cutting-edge technology sector, I repeated our request for favorable treatment when (the U.S.) plans tariff measures down the road," he said.
The Trump administration plans to introduce country-by-country reciprocal tariffs on April 2. The new tariffs will be customized based on trading partners' tariff- and non-tariff barriers as well as other factors, including exchange rates and what the U.S. views as unfair trade practices.
Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington agreed to seek the establishment of bilateral energy policy dialogue and a public-private energy forum to "accelerate the momentum" for cooperation, as they shared the view that the potential is great for cooperation in areas including liquefied natural gas, power grids, hydrogen energy and small modular reactors, according to Ahn.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 22, 2025
8. S. Korea, U.S. agree to swiftly resolve sensitive country issue
Yes, let's get this resolved swiftly.
S. Korea, U.S. agree to swiftly resolve sensitive country issue
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/03/21/ONRD2QADEJD6ZA7XSAURSRPB54/
By Kim Eun-joong (Washington, D.C.),
Seo Yoo-kun,
Kim Seo-young
Published 2025.03.21. 16:33
South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun (left) poses with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright after their meeting at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., on March 20. /Courtesy of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
South Korea and the United States have reportedly reached an understanding to remove South Korea from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)‘s “sensitive countries and other designated countries list” (SCL).
Sources revealed on March 21 that South Korea, as a long-time ally, argued for its removal to ensure continued cooperation in nuclear energy and scientific fields. The U.S. agreed with this stance, and internal procedures are now underway to officially exclude South Korea from the list, though it remains unclear whether this will be finalized before the April 15 effective date.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy reported that Minister Ahn Duk-geun raised concerns about South Korea’s inclusion on the sensitive countries list during his first meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and that both sides agreed to cooperate and swiftly resolve the issue through established procedures.
While early speculation suggested that South Korea’s inclusion was linked to domestic discussions on nuclear armament, U.S. officials cited security breaches at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and other facilities as the reason. With both nations agreeing that South Korea should not be on the list, the issue seems to be moving toward resolution. South Korea was added to the list in January under the Biden administration.
The DOE confirmed that there are no new restrictions on scientific and technological cooperation with South Korea and expressed eagerness to enhance mutual benefits through continued collaboration.
Minister Ahn and Secretary Wright also agreed to strengthen energy cooperation in areas including LNG, power grids, hydrogen, and nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs). They decided to regularize energy policy dialogues and hold joint public-private energy forums.
Ahn said, “This visit confirmed both countries' commitment to resolving the sensitive country issue and offered an opportunity to strengthen Korea-U.S. energy cooperation.” He added, “Through close consultations on energy policies emphasized during the Trump administration, we aim to identify opportunities for joint projects and investment expansion to lead the global energy market together.”
9. Opposition pushes for 30th impeachment
President Yoon was not wrong. The opposition is blocking governance.
Opposition pushes for 30th impeachment
donga.com
Posted March. 22, 2025 07:19,
Updated March. 22, 2025 07:19
Opposition pushes for 30th impeachment. March. 22, 2025 07:19. by Oh-Hyuk Kwon hyuk@donga.com.
The Democratic Party of Korea and four other opposition parties submitted an impeachment motion against Choi Sang-mok, the acting president and concurrently Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. Despite internal concerns about a wave of impeachments, this marks the 30th impeachment attempt since the Yoon Suk Yeol administration began. With the Constitutional Court scheduled to rule on Monday on the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and speculation growing that a possible impeachment of President Yoon may follow the Wednesday appellate court ruling on Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung’s violation of the Public Official Election Act, the Democratic Party of Korea appears to be ramping up its aggressive campaign.
The five opposition parties—Democratic Party of Korea, Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and Social Democratic Party—submitted the impeachment motion to the National Assembly, citing Choi's alleged involvement in the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, refusal to appoint Constitutional Court nominee Ma Eun-hyuk, and rejection of a request to recommend candidates for a permanent special prosecutor.
“The acting president is blatantly undermining the national legal order. It seems he is doing this to aid a rebellious force," Lee Jae-myung sharply criticized Choi. "The more I look into it, the more I suspect he’s playing a key role in this rebellion.” Lee argued that Choi’s refusal to appoint nominee Ma amounts to aiding a rebellion by disrupting constitutional order. Although the Constitutional Court ruled on Feb. 27 that Choi’s non-appointment of Ma infringed on the National Assembly’s authority, it dismissed the Assembly’s demand for an immediate appointment, citing a lack of legal grounds.
Earlier in the day, the Democratic Party of Korea’s legal committee filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) accusing Choi of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery and coercion) in relation to the 2015 state corruption scandal. Park Kyun-taek, head of the party's legal committee, claimed Choi had actively participated in criminal acts related to the establishment of the Mir Foundation while serving as presidential secretary for economic and financial affairs during the Park Geun-hye–Choi Soon-sil scandal. At the time, the special prosecutor concluded that there was no basis for charging Choi and chose not to indict him.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) strongly denounced the move, calling it an act of "terrorism against the state." “This is not just about threatening Choi personally—it's tantamount to cutting the country apart,” Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong said. "The move was emotional retaliation that has lost its purpose.” The PPP countered by filing a complaint accusing Lee Jae-myung and legal committee head Park Kyun-taek of coercion.
한국어
donga.com
10. Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to continue exchanges amid improved ties
Keep on the path to improved bilateral cooperation and relations.
(LEAD) Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to continue exchanges amid improved ties | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · March 22, 2025
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details; CHANGES photo)
By Kim Seung-yeon
TOKYO/SEOUL, March 22 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met one-on-one with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday and agreed to continue exchanges to keep steady the positive momentum in bilateral relations.
The two top diplomats reached the agreement during their talks in Tokyo following their trilateral meeting involving Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Cho's talks with Iwaya came just about a month after their previous talks in Germany, and two months after Iwaya's visit to Seoul.
"The ministers agreed on the need to continue this flow of exchanges and steadily advance bilateral relations without disruption," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release after the talks.
"They emphasized the importance of candid communication between their diplomatic authorities to ensure the stable management of bilateral issues," the ministry said.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (L) shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya ahead of their talks in Tokyo on March 22, 2025, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo have warmed significantly since President Yoon Suk Yeol announced in March 2023 that South Korea will compensate forced labor victims on its own without contributions from Japan.
But fresh tensions flared up late last year as South Korea boycotted a memorial event for Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor from the UNESCO-listed Sado mines in Japan, in protest of what it cited as Tokyo's lack of effort to properly honor the victims.
The foreign ministry made no mention of any discussions regarding the Sado mines in the media release.
The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, the ministry said.
"In light of the grave international situation, they recognized the need for both countries to work together across various fields to navigate uncertainties and explore avenues for collaboration," it said. "Based on this shared understanding, they agreed to further strengthen trilateral cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the United States on a global scale."
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (2nd from L) holds talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (R) in Tokyo on March 22, 2025, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
At start of the talks, Cho expressed hope to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Japan, noting the importance of continued active engagement at the diplomatic level.
Iwaya reiterated the importance of Japan's bilateral relations with South Korea and their trilateral partnership with their mutual ally, the U.S., amid changing regional and international landscapes.
The two ministers also likely discussed preparations for the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the two countries' diplomatic ties, set for June this year.
They could also discuss coordination efforts in dealing with Trump's policies in trade, security and other areas.
The last talks between Cho and Iwaya took place in Munich last month on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · March 22, 2025
11. War lessons: Will Ukraine be North Korea's Vietnam?
War lessons: Will Ukraine be North Korea's Vietnam?
The Korea Times · March 20, 2025
South Korean troops returning from Vietnam are hailed by citizens in this March 1973 file photo. Korea Times file
By Kang Hyun-kyung
South Korea’s troop deployment between 1965 and 1973 to fight alongside U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War has left a complex legacy. While it contributed to the modernization of South Korea’s military and weapons systems, it also resulted in traumatic experiences for Vietnamese civilians. This was highlighted in a recent legal battle filed by a Vietnamese victim of wartime atrocities.
In January, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Nguyen Thi Thanh, who sued the South Korean government over a massacre committed by South Korean marines in her village in 1968. The ruling underscored the lasting wounds left by South Korea’s military presence in Vietnam.
At the same time, the Vietnam War played a crucial role in advancing South Korea’s defense capabilities. “South Korea’s military learned valuable lessons from its direct involvement in the Vietnam War. In addition to gaining combat experience, South Korea was able to manufacture and export M16 rifles — the country’s first domestically produced weapon — thanks to technology transfers from the U.S.,” said Park Bum-jin, a retired Navy captain and professor at Kyung Hee University.
Park suggested that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have been inspired by South Korea’s past strategy when proposing to send troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine. In late 2024, approximately 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, with around 4,000 reported killed or wounded.
According to Park, Kim likely sought to elevate North Korea’s military capabilities by leveraging Russia’s advanced technology. “There is strong evidence that Kim has focused on three key pillars of North Korea’s weapons program: nuclear submarines, surveillance satellites and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology,” he said. “These are critical areas in which North Korea desperately seeks upgrades with Russia’s assistance.”
As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, experts are evaluating the potential benefits and drawbacks for North Korea following its large-scale troop deployment. Hopes for a ceasefire have emerged, with Ukraine expressing readiness to sign a deal brokered by the U.S. However, Russia has yet to agree. During a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to sign the ceasefire agreement but agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Negotiations are set to continue.
Experts widely view North Korea’s military involvement in Ukraine as a lucrative move for Kim’s regime. Beyond the combat experience gained by North Korean troops, the impoverished nation is believed to have received cash, oil, food and other essential supplies from Russia in exchange for weapons sales and troop deployment.
Perhaps most significantly, North Korea’s relations with Russia have been strengthened to a level not seen since the Cold War.
This captured image from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's social media shows a wounded North Korean prisoner of war. He was captured in the Kursk region of Russia on Jan. 12 during the war in Ukraine. Courtesy of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Kim Young-hee, a non-resident fellow at the Dongguk University Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said that North Korean millennials and Generation Z have now gained firsthand combat experience in Ukraine — an achievement she described as unparalleled.
"Through their time on the battlefield, they have learned how to enhance their combat skills," she said. "Although many soldiers have been wounded or killed, the North Korean regime is likely to view the benefits as outweighing these sacrifices."
Kim speculated that rather than receiving direct monetary compensation, North Korea’s reward for its troop deployment would likely come in the form of technology transfers or other strategic know-how from Russia.
"Some believe North Korea is being paid in cash, which would then be used to develop nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction. But I disagree," she said, emphasizing that direct financial transactions could pose technical challenges for Pyongyang. "For Kim Jong-un, acquiring advanced technology is more urgent than receiving cash."
Since March last year, Russia has reportedly supplied North Korea with more than one million barrels of oil, according to satellite imagery analysis by the U.K.-based research group Open Source Centre. BBC reported that this oil shipment — allegedly in exchange for North Korean weapons and troops — violates U.N. sanctions. Due to persistent sanctions and a struggling industrial infrastructure, North Korea faces chronic energy shortages. The Russian oil supply has helped alleviate this crisis.
According to BBC, oil is essential for North Korea’s military operations, with diesel and petrol needed to transport missile launchers and mobilize troops. Additionally, Russia has reportedly agreed to provide North Korea with 600,000 to 700,000 tons of rice annually, which, if delivered, could help ease the country's severe food shortages.
However, it remains unclear whether food aid, oil shipments and potential technology transfers from Russia will allow Pyongyang to significantly advance its weapons systems after the war in Ukraine — just as South Korea achieved military modernization following its involvement in the Vietnam War.
The Brown Memorandum, signed between South Korea and the U.S. during the Vietnam War, outlined U.S. assistance in supplying South Korea with substantial military equipment to modernize its armed forces. This raises the question: Will Russia be both willing and able to play a similar role in North Korea once the war in Ukraine ends, just as the U.S. did for South Korea after Vietnam? It is a question that remains unanswered.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sign joint documents during a ceremony at the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang, North Korea. TASS-Yonhap
The war in Ukraine served as a testing ground for North Korean weaponry, but it also exposed serious flaws. Embarrassingly for Pyongyang, the war revealed the poor quality of its artillery shells and missiles. Ukrainian officials analyzed North Korean missiles fired during the conflict and concluded that about half veered off their programmed trajectories and exploded mid-air.
Despite these shortcomings, Park warned that South Korea should not underestimate North Korea’s growing military threat. "Just as individuals learn from their mistakes, North Korea will have learned valuable lessons from the war in Ukraine — particularly how to improve its artillery and missile technology," he said.
Experts stress that one of the most concerning takeaways is North Korean troops' exposure to modern warfare. "Before the war, North Korean soldiers may have only heard about drones and their versatile uses in combat. But in Ukraine, they gained hands-on experience operating them," said Lee Ho-ryong, head of the Center for Security and Strategy at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.
North Korean troops also gained a reputation for their discipline and fearlessness on the battlefield. "According to Ukrainian soldiers, North Koreans were extremely loyal and, at times, frustratingly brave," Lee said. "A Ukrainian intelligence officer was even quoted as saying that one North Korean soldier was equivalent to five Russian soldiers — suggesting they are resilient, tough and unafraid of death, as seen in their suicidal attacks."
Lee noted that North Korean troops have played a crucial role in the war, which could become a key bargaining chip for Kim Jong-un in future negotiations with Russia. "Kim may argue that Russia gained a stronger position in ceasefire talks with the U.S. thanks to North Korean troops, who helped reclaim the Kursk region from Ukraine after six months of occupation," she said. Lee speculated that Kim would continue leveraging North Korea’s military contributions to deepen ties with Russia even after the war.
Experts urge South Korea to closely monitor how North Korea’s combat experience in Ukraine will shape its military capabilities. Park emphasized that such an effort requires bipartisan support.
He lamented that national security, like many other issues, has become politicized. South Korea had attempted to send a team of experts to study the war in Ukraine, but the plan was blocked by the National Assembly. "Some opposition lawmakers wrongly portrayed the team’s mission as a precursor to troop deployment, which was not the case," he said.
Lee stressed the importance of international cooperation to counter potential Russian transfers of sensitive military technology to North Korea. She urged the South Korean government to closely track Pyongyang’s evolving combat tactics — particularly its use of drones, which could become a greater threat in future conflicts.
The Korea Times · March 20, 2025
12. UN: “Number of defectors continues to decrease due to North Korea’s control of its residents”
Due to draconicon population and resources control measures.
This is a Google translation of an RFA report.
UN: “Number of defectors continues to decrease due to North Korea’s control of its residents”
WASHINGTON-Park Jae-woo parkja@rfa.org https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/21/north-korea-defctors-un-ohchr/
2025.03.21
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/21/north-korea-defctors-un-ohchr/
The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. (Yonhap)
Anchor: According to a recent report released by the UN, the number of defectors remains low due to North Korea's movement restrictions. There are also ongoing testimonies of serious human rights abuses in North Korea. Reporter Park Jae-woo reports.
The report titled ‘Enhancing Accountability in North Korea’ submitted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to the UN Human Rights Council on the 20th .
According to the report, a total of 181 North Korean defectors entered South Korea from January to September last year.
This is not much different from the 196 North Korean defectors who arrived in South Korea in 2023, but it is a significantly reduced number compared to 2019 (1,047 people) before COVID-19.
The report attributed the decline to North Korea partially opening its borders, but the North Korean authorities continued to restrict the movement of its citizens.
It also revealed that the composition of recent defectors has changed. In the past, the majority of defectors were trafficked women, but recently, the proportion of overseas workers dispatched to earn foreign currency for the Kim Jong-un regime has increased.
0213 Photo 2.jpeg
Human rights groups are protesting in front of the North Korean Embassy building in Geneva in October last year, calling for improvements in human rights. /Yonhap
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The report also documents serious human rights abuses in North Korea, based on testimonies collected from 175 defectors between November 2022 and October 2023.
According to the testimony, acts that could be considered international crimes are taking place, including human rights abuses in detention facilities, chronic food shortages, and ideological control through public executions.
Based on this report, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized that North Korea should acknowledge human rights violations that amount to international crimes and allow international human rights organizations and monitoring organizations access to North Korea.
It also called on North Korea to join international conventions to prevent inhumane treatment and enforced disappearances.
“The UN Security Council should take steps, such as referring those responsible for serious human rights violations in North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the High Representative said.
Meanwhile, North Korea reportedly banned foreign tourists again in early March, closing its borders again just weeks after allowing foreign visitors for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
Editor Park Jeong-woo
13. Shoigu Delivers Putin's Message to Kim Jong-un... "Possibility of Discussing Additional Military Cooperation"
Bruce Klingner and I (and many others) continue to respond to queries from RFA journalists).
This isia Google translation of an RFA report,
Shoigu Delivers Putin's Message to Kim Jong-un... "Possibility of Discussing Additional Military Cooperation"
WASHINGTON-Kim So-young kimso@rfa.org
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/21/north-korea-russia-ukraine/
2025.03.21
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sits on the podium alongside Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese National People's Congress Standing Vice Chairman Li Hongzhong during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in Pyongyang in July 2023. (Yonhap)
Anchor: As the Russian security chief reportedly met with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang and delivered a message from President Vladimir Putin, there is growing speculation that additional military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and a summit between the two countries may have been discussed. Reporter Kim So-young reports.
Secretary Shoigu meets with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang
Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian State Security Council, visited North Korea on the 21st, met with Chairman Kim Jong-un, and delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The meeting lasted more than two hours, and Secretary Shoigu said, “I conveyed President Putin’s message and discussed it,” TASS and other news agencies reported.
Secretary Shoigu conveyed to Chairman Kim, “I convey President Putin’s warm greetings and best wishes, and he is very interested in the implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries.”
They also said they discussed a variety of topics, including the early stages of talks between Russia and the United States , the situation in Ukraine, and international security issues, including the Korean Peninsula.
Photo 1.JPG
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a nuclear-capable bomber with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a visit to Vladivostok, Russia, September 16, 2023. /Reuters via Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) (KCNA/via REUTERS)
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In particular, Secretary Shoigu mentioned the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” signed in Pyongyang in June of last year, emphasizing that “this treaty establishes the basic principles for the development of bilateral relations and provides a basis for deepening cooperation in various priority areas.”
He added, “Russia is ready to fully comply with the provisions of this treaty and is convinced that this is in the interests of both countries.”
Possibility of Discussing North Korea-Russia Summit
There is analysis that the main agenda of this meeting between Secretary Shoigu and Chairman Kim was military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
Bruce Klingner, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation in the U.S., told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 21st, “Secretary Shoigu’s visit this time will serve as an opportunity to further solidify military cooperation between the two countries.” He added, “It is clear that North Korea is providing large quantities of military supplies to Russia, but it is still unclear what kind of military technology Russia has provided to North Korea in return.”
Speculation persists that Russia may have provided North Korea with nuclear, missile, satellite, and conventional weapons technology, but no concrete evidence has emerged to substantiate this.
However, the possibility of Russian support could become controversial again depending on the success of North Korea's future weapons tests.
Researcher Klinger said they may have also discussed the impact of the Ukraine peace talks on future military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Russia is likely to continue purchasing North Korean weapons and ammunition for the time being to replenish its depleted military stockpiles, and may also consider using North Korean soldiers as a replacement for the Wagner Group mercenaries.
In addition, it has been raised that Russia may have discussed requesting North Korean troops to participate in the World War II end-of-war parade to be held in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 and a visit to Moscow for a summit between Chairman Kim and President Putin .
David Maxwell, vice president of the Asia-Pacific Strategy Center in the U.S., pointed out that the key agenda of this meeting is likely to be whether Chairman Kim will continue to support the war in Ukraine.
“The war in Ukraine is Kim Jong-un’s most important source of funding right now,” he said. “As long as Russia continues its war, North Korea’s supply of weapons and ammunition will continue.”
It is also expected that additional support for the Russian military would be discussed if a ceasefire is reached.
The Russian military will need to maintain troops on the Ukrainian border even after the war, and to do so, it will need to replenish ammunition and equipment, which means that North Korea's military factories are likely to continue operating, which will also provide a stable source of income for Kim Jong-un.
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
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