Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

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

"I learned that is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong,”

– Leo Rosten

"The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn."

– Bertrand Russell

1. Kari Lake Isn’t Telling the Truth About the VOA

2. [Contribution] Let's break VOA's silence with VOK

3. Constitutional Court dismisses impeachment of Prime Minister Han

4. DOE chief says 'sensitive' country issue will not undermine S. Korea-U.S. cooperation: official

5. DOE's 'sensitive country' listing related to technology security review: S. Korean FM

6. Taiwan signs onto $44 billion Alaska LNG project, daring Korea to follow

7. North Korea condemns South Korea-U.S. Freedom Shield drills as 'nuclear war rehearsal'

8. Press statement by Institute for Disarmament and Peace of DPRK Foreign Ministry (denouncing ROK/US military exercises)

9. North Korea inspects Civil Defense Corps' armory for 'wild boar hunting'

10. Korea: “Shoigu’s visit to North Korea is unusual…Possibility of major North Korea-Russia talks”

11. N. Korea halts foreign tourism abruptly amid concerns over influencers

12. Elite Ukraine soldier reveals how he got North Korean fighter to surrender

13. North Korea shouldn’t be rewarded for role in Ukraine war: Seoul’s top diplomat

14. PM's return (South Korea)

15. North Korea is testing weapons in Ukraine for potential use against South, envoy warns

16. Seung-Whan Choi: The US should learn from the Korean War when negotiating with Ukraine

1. Kari Lake Isn’t Telling the Truth About the VOA

This appears to be the Paul Harvey ("rest of the story") about the VOA. I can attest to the problems at the VOA building from the elevators and escalators to the poor conditions of the current building (that they are being evicted from).

Kari Lake Isn’t Telling the Truth About the VOA

She says a new headquarters is a waste of taxpayer funds, but the lease saved the government more than $150 million.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/kari-lake-isnt-telling-the-truth-about-voas-new-building-lease-taxpayer-savings-7dcdb17e?st=YGsVdK&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

By Amanda Bennett

March 23, 2025 3:41 pm ET

Kari Lake speaks at CPAC in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 21. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press

President Trump recently selected Kari Lake as his top adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, the country’s biggest international broadcaster. On March 14 she tweeted—and Elon Musk retweeted—a blistering video from USAGM’s new headquarters in Washington. “I’m horrified by some of the things I’m learning about this agency,” she says. “I’m sitting here on the 13th floor of a shiny, brand-new, beautiful skyscraper building that is costing you, the taxpayer, a fortune.” Officials from the Biden administration, she said, had just signed a 15-year lease on this building “that’s going to cost the taxpayer nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.” Shortly after she tweeted, USAGM pulled out of the lease.

Ms. Lake counted 26 conference rooms. Italian marble. Leather furnishings. Waterfalls. “All of this being paid for by the American taxpayer!” The tweet was flooded with outraged comments. And why not? I would have been outraged too—if the story she told were true.

This isn’t about the fate of VOA, whose broadcasts came to a halt shortly after Mr. Trump signed a March 14 executive order aimed at dismantling USAGM. Nor is it about the suffering of the journalists summarily dismissed, or the global harm to countries that will lose their only reliable source of information. This is about a lease and a building. Yet it’s also about our country’s trust that there is some purpose to the devastation under way at many federal agencies. Those doing the cutting use strong words like “propaganda,” “criminals” and “fraud” and describe outrages like millions of dead people receiving Social Security checks and billions of aid dollars being wasted—charges too sweeping and vague to assess quickly.

But the story of this lease is easy to check. I am the previous head of USAGM, and the lease was negotiated and signed six months ago under my watch. Ms. Lake’s tweet is so provably wrong that I would like to tell you the story.

USAGM has been housed since 1954 in the giant Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, which opened in 1940. The General Services Administration, which owns and manages many federal buildings on behalf of taxpayers, gave USAGM an eviction notice in December 2020, forcing us to leave the building by 2028. At that point, the main elevator bank was out of service. The escalators broke more often than they functioned. Two of the three cables bringing electricity into the building no longer worked. The entire staff had to be evacuated when the last remaining cable began to smoke during our last few months in the building. Every time I walked to my office from my car I passed a jury-rigged contraption funneling water that leaked through the ceiling onto a tarp and then into plastic garbage cans. Mold forced many managers to abandon their offices.

Even before the eviction notice, we had spent years looking for a new building but couldn’t find one we could afford. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic.

Downtown Washington became a ghost town. Office buildings stood vacant. There were few prospective tenants. With some landlords staring down bankruptcy, our former chief financial officer spotted an opportunity, and our people negotiated a remarkable offer on the building featured in Ms. Lake’s video:

• A 15-year lease with no money down and free rent for the first three years.

• Furniture given to us at no cost by the previous tenant, a major law firm (the source of the “leather furnishings” and “Italian marble”). That alone, we estimated, would save us at least $10 million.

• An additional $27 million in cash incentives, paid by the building owner, which we planned to use to prepare for a modern broadcasting and digital-media future. Much of our technology was decades old, falling apart and not worth moving. The companies that built and supported the old equipment were rapidly dying, as were the technicians on whom we depended for repairs. The cash incentives were our only hope of rapidly upgrading without having to ask Congress for money—which it would almost certainly refuse.

• Those dozens of conference rooms? All built modularly, enabling us to turn them quickly and cheaply into the small, nimble broadcast studios that today’s digital broadcasting requires.

• As for the rent, the mammoth Cohen building was highly inefficient; about 40% of the space we had to pay for was unusable. Occupying a modern, space-efficient building dropped our rent from nearly $24 million to less than $16 million a year.

In other words, Ms. Lake has the truth exactly backward—and she must know it. (I left her a memo on the subject shortly before Mr. Trump’s inauguration.) The taxpayer didn’t pay for the nice furniture—it was provided by a desperate landlord. The government didn’t lose money, it saved—a lot. We estimated that savings over the 15-year lease—including the free rent and millions in cash incentives—would total more than $150 million.

The story of the VOA building isn’t especially important compared with the planned gutting of its entire parent agency. But the untruths presented here should reinforce Americans’ skepticism about other assertions of corruption, overspending and misdeeds by people who have given their lives to government work.

Don’t take my word for it. The lease is a public document. Submit a Freedom of Information Act request for it. Address it to Ms. Kari Lake.

Ms. Bennett served as director of the Voice of America (2016-20) and CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (2022-25).

(LEAD) Constitutional Court dismisses impeachment of Prime Minister Han | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · March 24, 2025

(ATTN: UPDATES with details)

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- The Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday, reinstating him as acting president in the ongoing turmoil over suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law.

Han's impeachment was dismissed in a 5-1 vote by the court's eight justices. Two justices voted to reject the impeachment motion entirely.

The ruling came three months after the National Assembly impeached the prime minister and then acting president over his alleged role in Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, among other reasons.

Four of the five justices who voted to dismiss Han's impeachment acknowledged there were violations of the Constitution and the law in his decision to defer the appointment of additional justices to the court, but noted it did not justify his removal from office.

The six justices who voted to either dismiss or uphold the impeachment said there was no evidence to back the National Assembly's accusations that Han took proactive action to give legitimacy to Yoon's martial law bid, such as by convening a Cabinet meeting ahead of its declaration.

All but two justices sided with the National Assembly in ruling that the quorum to impeach Han was a minimum 151 out of 300 lawmakers, which is applied to a prime minister, not 200, as applied to a president.

The prime minister arrived at his office minutes after the verdict was announced.

"I thank the Constitutional Court for its wise decision," he told reporters. "I will start by dealing with urgent issues first."

In this file photo, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a parliamentary hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 25, 2025. (Yonhap)

hague@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · March 24, 2025

4. DOE chief says 'sensitive' country issue will not undermine S. Korea-U.S. cooperation: official

If there will be "no problem" then why put South Korea on the list?

DOE chief says 'sensitive' country issue will not undermine S. Korea-U.S. cooperation: official | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Na-young · March 24, 2025

By Kim Na-young

SEJONG, March 24 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. secretary of energy has confirmed South Korea will have no problem in its bilateral cooperation with the United States despite Seoul's designation as a "sensitive" country, a senior government official here said Monday.

The remarks come after Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun's visit to Washington last week to meet with U.S. government officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to discuss the sensitive country and tariff issues.

"If the country is designated as a sensitive country, procedures for Korean researchers visiting 17 national policy research institutes under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the institutes' researchers visiting South Korea could become more complicated," the official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy told reporters on condition of anonymity.

"But the U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told (Ahn) there will be no problem with the ongoing and future bilateral cooperation (between Seoul and Washington) even if South Korea is placed on the sensitive country list," he said.

Ahn earlier said the two sides have launched working-level talks to cooperate on a "swift" resolution of the issue.

South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun (L) and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright pose for a photo after their meeting in Washington on March 20, 2025, in this photo provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Ahn's latest visit to Washington, his second trip there in less than a month, came after the DOE confirmed that South Korea was placed in the "lowest" category of the department's "sensitive and other designated countries list" (SCL) in early January.

The designation, set to take effect April 15, was made due to technical security issues related to DOE-affiliated research institutions, the Seoul government has noted.

The industry ministry official said the DOE list was meant to be a restricted document, noting it was not clear whether the DOE will disclose its future decisions even if it decides to remove South Korea from the list.

On tariff negotiations, another senior official at the industry ministry said the government is preparing a response strategy based on the "worst-case scenario" for the Donald Trump administration's plan to impose reciprocal tariffs.

"We will have to see if the reciprocal tariffs actually take effect or just be announced on April 2, but we are basically preparing for the worst-case scenario of the duties going into effect on that day," the official said, also asking not to be identified.

"Unlike U.S. duties on all steel and aluminum imports, the U.S. may impose different rates of reciprocal tariff by country, so we will have to take a look at the tariff rate we may have to face in comparison with those for our rivals," the official said.

"And since the reciprocal tariff will be equally implemented on all products of a country, we are working to assess the possible impact on sectors that export the most to the U.S. and how to support them," he added.

South Korea's major industries, such as the automotive and semiconductor industries, are among the list of sectors with the biggest exports to the U.S.

The Seoul government has been working to help the country get "favorable" treatment from the U.S., emphasizing South Korean companies' massive investments in the U.S. and continuing close communications.

nyway@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Na-young · March 24, 2025

5. DOE's 'sensitive country' listing related to technology security review: S. Korean FM

(LEAD) DOE's 'sensitive country' listing related to technology security review: S. Korean FM | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · March 24, 2025

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 10-11)

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) told South Korea that it had designated Seoul on its "sensitive country" list as part of efforts to review technology security in response to the emergence of new science technology, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said Monday.

Cho made the remark during a parliamentary session amid South Korea's diplomatic efforts to reverse the DOE's January designation of South Korea in the "lowest" category of its "sensitive and other designated countries list."

"The DOE explained (to us) that the designation was part of its overall process to review and strengthen technology-related security in response to the shifting technology landscape due to the emergence of new science technologies," he said.

Cho said South Korea has been listed in the lowest "third-grade" category of the DOE list, one of the "other designated countries."

"This is profoundly different from the first and second grades, which focus on nonproliferation and the prevention of terrorism," the foreign minister noted.

South Korea's designation spawned concerns here that it could deal a blow to Seoul's efforts to seek deeper cooperation with Washington in nuclear energy and other sectors.

The designated countries are subject to stricter scrutiny when access is requested to DOE research institutions and other facilities for technology cooperation or other purposes.

The foreign minister said that, to his understanding, the DOE expected the list to remain confidential and not open to the public, with only a few officials involved in technology security aware of it.

"It was identified that the reasons behind South Korea's inclusion on the list were not due to diplomatic policy but were related to security issues regarding research institutes under the DOE," the foreign minister said.

The DOE, however, has not specified any security violation case involving South Korea regarding its designation, he said, adding that "As far as I know, it's not the result of a single case."

A report to Congress from the DOE Office of the Inspector General earlier showed that the Idaho National Laboratory terminated a laboratory contractor employee after the individual attempted to board a flight to South Korea with export-controlled information regarding proprietary nuclear reactor design software.

The inclusion will subject South Koreans visiting 17 DOE-related institutes to prior background reviews, but it will not lead to any new restrictions on joint research projects or other technology cooperation between Seoul and Washington, the minister said, quoting explanations from the DOE.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul speaks to the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on March 24, 2025. (Yonhap)

pbr@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · March 24, 2025

6. Taiwan signs onto $44 billion Alaska LNG project, daring Korea to follow

Sunday

March 23, 2025

dictionary + A - A

Taiwan signs onto $44 billion Alaska LNG project, daring Korea to follow

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-23/business/economy/Taiwan-signs-onto-44-billion-Alaska-LNG-project-daring-Korea-to-follow/2268182

Published: 23 Mar. 2025, 18:29

SHIN HA-NEE
shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr

Ahn Duk-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, right, shakes hands with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on March 21. [MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY]

Taiwan will partner with Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) on a $44 billion pipeline in a move likely to secure it a bargaining chip in tariff negotiations with the United States — and further pressure on Korea to follow suit.

The Taiwanese state-run energy company CPC Corporation and AGDC signed a letter of intent to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) and to seek potential investment in the $44 billion project on Thursday, the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs told the Taipei Times in a report published Friday without detailing CPC's planned contributions.

Industry minister to meet Alaska governor next week to discuss gas pipeline project, sources say

Trump says Korea wants to join Alaska LNG project for 'trillions of dollars'

Korea to sharpen policy edge to bolster steel sector amid trade barriers, dumping

The 1,300-kilometer (807-mile) system will transport gas from North Slope and ship up to 20 million tons of LNG annually starting as early as 2030.

Taiwan's deal was signed in Taipei as a delegation of representatives from AGDC and Glenfarne Group, the project’s developer, embarked on a trip to Asia scheduled to run from Wednesday to March 30. The team is visiting Korea, Japan and Thailand as well, in a bid to draw in investments from U.S. allies in the region.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who is part of the delegation, will meet with Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun on Monday as part of a two-day visit to Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been aggressively pitching the project to Asian allies — namely Korea, Japan and Taiwan — urging the countries to expand LNG supplies from the United States to help reduce their trade deficits. “My administration is also working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska, among the largest in the world, where Japan, South Korea and other nations want to be our partner, with investments of trillions of dollars each,” Trump said on March 4.

Japan has already expressed its interest in purchasing LNG from Alaska. Following a summit in Washington on Feb. 7, Trump announced that “Japan will soon begin importing historic new shipments of clean American liquefied natural gas in record numbers,” adding the countries are seeking to establish “a joint venture” for Alaskan oil and gas imports.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 7, 2025. [AP/YONHAP]

Seoul has been scrambling to gain ground in its trade negotiations with Washington, especially with the April 2 deadline for new reciprocal tariffs approaching.

Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Trump is set to unveil “widespread reciprocal tariffs” on nations, but in a more targeted than sprawling approach, citing sources familiar with the matter. Some countries could be excluded from the upcoming announcement, and no industry-specific measures will be included. The tariff measures are likely to take immediate effect.

Trump has reportedly cited Korea, along with the European Union, Mexico, Japan, Canada, India and China, as “trade abusers.”

Ahn completed another two-day visit to Washington on Friday, coming quickly on the heels of the minister's visit three weeks ago.

Ahn met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to once again request favorable treatment for Korea regarding the upcoming reciprocal tariff, citing the close industrial ties between the two economies.

“High-ranking officials from the Industry Ministry are making a series of back-to-back trips to the United States in order to ease rising uncertainty surrounding a round of announcements from the U.S. government,” Ahn said in a release Saturday.

During a news conference in Washington on Friday, the minister told reporters that the reciprocal tariffs will likely take effect in April.

“It appears most nations won’t be able to avoid tariffs,” he said, but added, “Addressing U.S. tariff policies is not a single-round match.”

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]

7. North Korea condemns South Korea-U.S. Freedom Shield drills as 'nuclear war rehearsal'

Of course no one notices that the north is concluding their winter training cycle this month as well.

We should recall why we conduct Freedom Should this time of the year (previously Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, previously RSOI, and from 1978-1993 Team Spirit - which was the largest exercise conducted in the free world ). It is because north Korea conducted (and still conducts) its winter training cycle from about Thanksgiving time through March and brings its forces to their highest state of readiness. And March is the optimal time to attack the South because the ground is still hard from the winter and the farmers have not flooded the rice fields yet. This is the optimal time for maneuver. Therefore since Team Spirit this was a time for combined ROK/US training for both readiness and deterrence. The US would deploy a large number of troops for training and the ROK would conduct widespread training to include mobilization of reserves. Although the environmental conditions are optimal for attack it is likely the Kim family regime is smart enough to know that you do not attack when the enemy is at their highest state of readiness and most prepared for war, thus creating the condition for deterrence.

Why do we conduct Freedom Shield in August? It is to train the new ROK/US Combined Forces Command on the defense plans after the summer turnover and personnel moves of the ROK and US. (and we used to conduct major exercises four times a year wit Foal Eagle in the Fall (a read are defense and special operations focused exercises) and Ulchi Focus Clear in January (another command post exercise to further train the battle staffs of the ROK/US CFC before Team Spirit in March).

Monday

March 24, 2025

dictionary + A - A

North Korea condemns South Korea-U.S. Freedom Shield drills as 'nuclear war rehearsal'

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-03-24/national/northKorea/North-Korea-condemns-South-KoreaUS-Freedom-Shield-drills-as-nuclear-war-rehearsal/2268491

Published: 24 Mar. 2025, 10:28

South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise Freedom Shield is conducted on March 19 near Busan Harbor Bridge in Yeongdo District, Busan. [NEWS1]

North Korea denounced the recent South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise Freedom Shield, calling it a “deliberate and provocative nuclear war rehearsal.”

The North warned that true defense power lies in having strong offensive capabilities.

South Korean, U.S. navies hold joint drill in East Sea

North Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint military drills, citing South's accidental jet bombing

North Korea denounces South Korea-U.S. joint drills as 'dangerous provocative act'

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday, the statement was issued by the Institute for Disarmament and Peace under the North’s Foreign Ministry.

It claimed that “unstoppable offensive strength and overwhelming strike capability” are the most reliable guarantees for preventing war and deterring threats.

The institute described this year’s Freedom Shield as “effectively a trilateral military drill among the United States, Japan and South Korea” and a “multinational war exercise” involving armed forces from 12 member states of the United Nations Command.

It emphasized that “the absolute value of safeguarding sovereign rights and stability lies in preemptively neutralizing hostile military provocations and firmly dominating the regional situation through powerful deterrence.”

The statement also pledged that North Korea would “continue to strengthen all categories of powerful response capabilities to overwhelmingly suppress any military reckless moves that threaten our sovereignty and security.” It added that, as a “responsible nuclear weapons state,” the North would “reliably defend peace and stability in the region and the world.”

This year’s Freedom Shield exercise, held from March 10 to 20, included training scenarios based on recent assessments of North Korea’s evolving military tactics and strategic cooperation with Russia.

North Korea reacted sharply at the start of the drills, launching several short-range ballistic missiles. However, it later shifted to verbal criticism and refrained from further military provocations during the remainder of the exercise.

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]

8. Press statement by Institute for Disarmament and Peace of DPRK Foreign Ministry (denouncing ROK/US military exercises)

For the PSYOP professionals out there, this might be a post ope check to determine if the messages were received. This press statement indicates the regime was paying attention.

Press statement by Institute for Disarmament and Peace of DPRK Foreign Ministry

https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1742807002-685663266/press-statement-by-institute-for-disarmament-and-peace-of-dprk-foreign-ministry/

Date: 24/03/2025 | Source: Voice of Korea (EN) | Read original version at source

The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday made public the following press statement "It is our inevitable option to further accelerate the self-defensive efforts to ensure the security interests of the country from the regional security environment getting instable day after day":

Despite the serious concern of the international community, the United States and its vassal allies staged the large-scale joint military exercises Freedom Shield 2025 from March 10 to 20.

Freedom Shield, which has been certainly staged every year to destabilize the situation in the Korean peninsula, reached the highest level in its aggressive and offensive nature this year.

The Institute for Disarmament and Peace of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK publishes this press statement to inform the international community of how dangerous and reckless military provocation the large-scale war exercises Freedom Shield staged by the United States and the ROK under the pretext of "defensive" and "annual" rehearsal are and why the DPRK's efforts to deter the military moves of the enemy states are just.

Freedom Shield Started from the Outset of the Year in Reality

It is a cross-sectional view to construe that the large-scale joint military exercises Freedom Shield of the US and the ROK started on March 10.

It is not exaggeration to say that the US-Japan-ROK joint air drill with the involvement of a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force in the sky over the Korean peninsula in January was a preliminary drill for Freedom Shield in reality.

The US has continuously staged various kinds of joint military drills with its satellites in the region, including the ROK, from the outset of the year, getting frantic with the creation of preliminary atmosphere for the full-scale operation of Freedom Shield.

From January to March, the US had successively staged such joint military drills under different names aimed to master war scenarios for striking the in-depth area of the DPRK as "Ssangmae drill", "combined arms live-firing drill", "joint search drill", "joint integrated firepower live-firing drill" and "joint special strike drill".

On January 15, it introduced a formation of B-1B strategic bombers into the sky over the Korean peninsula to conduct a joint air-to-ground live-firing drill with the ROK. On February 10, it made the attack nuclear submarine Alexandria call at the Pusan operational base and, on February 20, mobilized a B-1B strategic bomber formation again to conduct a provocative joint air drill.

In particular, on March 2, it committed a military provocative act of deploying in the region of the Korean peninsula a nuclear carrier strike group, which consists of the nuclear carrier Carl Vinson, Aegis cruiser Princeton, Aegis destroyer Sterett and others.

Four years have passed since the start of Freedom Shield, but the US strategic offensive means had never been deployed in the Korean peninsula in a sequential way and in succession on the eve of the exercises as seen above.

This proves that this year's Freedom Shield is a more premeditated and provocative nuclear war rehearsal staged by the US and its satellites on the basis of full examination of their war readiness.

Aggressive and Offensive War Drills from A to Z

The recent joint military exercises Freedom Shield were conducted in a multi-domain space, including ground, sea, air, cyber and outer space in an all-round way for the first time in the history of joint drills staged by the US and the ROK. And the number of brigade-level field mobile drills increased six times the last year's as it was 16, the biggest in history.

The United States involved in the joint military exercises a lot of aggression forces and military hardware, including the US Eighth Army, the US Seventh Air Force, the US Space Force, the US Seventh Fleet and the Third Expedition and the First Division of the US marines.

During the joint military exercises, the US and the ROK staged such provocative military drills aimed at attack on a belligerent party as the joint air strike drill of paratroops, the mountain warfare drill of marine troops, the drills of special warfare troops for special reconnaissance of enemy's interior and strike at enemy's core facilities and the drills of armored troops for breaking through enemy's defense line and occupying major bases.

What should not be overlooked is that OPLAN 2022, a war scenario under the simulated conditions of "a preemptive strike" at the DPRK's nuclear facilities worked out according to the "nuclear operations guidelines" cooked up by the US and the ROK in July last year, was officially applied to the recent joint military exercises.

A typical example is that the US and ROK military gangsters staged a joint special warfare drill for "destroying someone's secret underground tunnel network" and "removing nuclear weapons" by mobilizing armored and special warfare forces, reconnaissance drones and artificial intelligence attack robots from March 17 to 20.

In particular, the U. conducted a US-Japan-ROK joint naval drill with the nuclear carrier Carl Vinson task force involved in the waters off the Korean peninsula, timed to coincide with the joint military exercises Freedom Shield.

Lurking behind the war drills the US staged together with its satellites by mobilizing large-scale marine troops including the nuclear carrier is its sinister design to link Freedom Shield with the tripartite joint naval drill and expand the scope of the US-ROK joint military exercises into the US-Japan-ROK joint military exercises in future.

As above-seen, this year's Freedom Shield revealed its offensive nature as a US-Japan-ROK joint military rehearsal and as a multinational war drill involving even the troops from twelve member states of the "UN Command".

The threatening nature of Freedom Shield, which is being turned into a more expanded and offensive anti-DPRK war rehearsal, fully proves that the enemy states' military attempt to contain the DPRK by upper-hand in hegemonic strength has developed into a more dangerous level.

Inevitable Choice by DPRK to Defend Regional and Global Peace

Shortly ago, international affairs analysts said that the US-ROK joint military rehearsal Freedom Shield more clearly shows its aggressive nature of targeting not only the DPRK but also other countries in the region, adding that this is part of the US world strategy for securing military domination over the Asia-Pacific region.

Such comments hint that the Freedom Shield and other various joint military drills staged by the US and its satellites in and around the Korean peninsula are becoming the core means for carrying out Washington's strategy for hegemony to contain not only the DPRK but also strategic rivals in the region and that the US war drills will be further expanded in the future.

The continuity of military drills for aggression in the Korean peninsula, where the belligerents are in acute confrontation and where is under mature condition in which an accidental spark may develop into a destructive armed conflict, is driving the regional situation into an uncontrollable state no one can predict.

The fact that pro-U.S. countries including NATO member states have joined the US-led joint military drills including Freedom Shield, pursuant to the US hostile policy toward the DPRK, predicts that a military conflict in the Korean peninsula will be by no means limited between the DPRK and the United States but it will inevitably lead to the start of a new world war.

The case of accidental attack by fighters of the ROK near the southern border of the DPRK on the eve of the recent Freedom Shield served as a vivid occasion for the international community to imagine the disastrous consequences to be entailed by the war exercises being staged by the US and the ROK under the signboard of "defensive" and "annual".

It is an inevitable option of the DPRK to make more self-defensive efforts to ensure its security interests from the regional security environment which is getting instable with each passing day.

The absolute value of defending the sovereignty and stability is to provide the most powerful war deterrence capable of always preemptively containing the military provocations of the enemy states and definitely steering the situation.

The genuine defence capability precisely means the powerful offensive capability and it is the most confident guarantee for preventing a war and effectively deterring and controlling any threat and blackmail of the aggressors to acquire the formidable offensive capabilities no one can stop, the overwhelming striking capabilities.

The DPRK will steadily upgrade and bolster up its strong counteraction capability of all categories, able to overwhelmingly contain any military moves of the enemy states seriously threatening its sovereignty and security interests, and reliably defend peace and security in the region and the rest of the world as a responsible nuclear weapons state.

9. North Korea inspects Civil Defense Corps' armory for 'wild boar hunting'

People will do what they must to survive. But is this an indication of resistance potential? The fact that members of the civil defense unit could get their hands on both weapons and ammunition is of course a danger to the regime.

This is a Google translation of a VOA report.

North Korea inspects Civil Defense Corps' armory for 'wild boar hunting'

Seoul-Kim Ji-eun xallsl@rfa.org

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/24/north-korea-wild-boar-hunting-civil-defense/

2025.03.24

A North Korean soldier aims his gun during training on the banks of the Yalu River in Sinuiju, North Korea, December 19, 2006. (Reuters)

Anchor: It has been reported that a North Korean civil defense unit recently hunted a wild boar with a weapon. The authorities are reporting that they are viewing this incident as a serious matter directly related to the safety of the top leadership and have begun inspecting the weapons depots of civil defense units across the country. Reporter Kim Ji-eun reports from inside North Korea.

A source from North Pyongan Province (who requested anonymity due to safety concerns) told Radio Free Asia on the 21st, “In February, an incident occurred in a certain region where a wild boar was caught with weapons stored in a (civil defense) armory,” and “This issue was raised centrally, and inspections of civil defense armories across the country are underway.”

The source said, “Recently, General Secretary (Kim Jong Un) issued a document approving the task to the civil defense units of provinces, cities, counties, and villages across the country,” and pointed out that, “According to the document, the chief of the civil defense unit of XX County XX Village was tasked with reviewing the issue of hunting wild boars with training weapons and bayonets on February 23 and reporting on countermeasures.”

He also explained, “The ratification task document only states the details of the incident without specifying the location where the incident occurred,” and “It contains the contents of each civil defense unit handling weapons and bullets according to regulations to absolutely guarantee the stability of the country as well as the top leadership.”

He continued, “However, as the investigation results have been revealed to be more serious than expected, civil defense units in each region are also on edge,” and pointed out, “It has been reported that a significant amount of weapons and bullets have been lost from the civil defense unit in question.”

He added, “The reason the authorities are investigating the civil defense corps is not just because the corps leader caught a wild boar with a training weapon and a gun,” and “Here (North Korea), weapons are the most sensitive issue for the stability of the top leadership and the state system.”

According to sources, weapons in North Korea are usually managed by the weapons departments of each city, county, and the Ministry of Public Safety. However, during the winter when winter training is conducted, weapons are supplied to the civil defense corps as training weapons.

Incident of 653 live rounds lost in Hyesan, North Korea

Serious Loss of North Korean Military Guns for Return

Students at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School learning how to use firearms in Pyongyang

This photo taken by Kyodo News in June 2013 shows students at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang, North Korea, learning how to use firearms. (Reuters)

In relation to this, a source from Yanggang Province (requesting anonymity for personal safety reasons) reported on the 22nd, “Starting in the middle of this month, inspections of the central weapons depot will begin, and investigations into civil defense corps are underway nationwide,” adding, “This emphasizes that the management of civil defense corps’ weapons is a key issue directly related to the stability of the top leadership and national security.”

“The Civil Defense Forces were originally civilian forces comprised of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Guards and the Red Youth Guards,” the source said. “However, problems arose in the armory where the Red Guards, comprised of workers and peasants, and the Red Youth Guards, comprised of 15-year-old students, were provided with ammunition and weapons for training.”

He also said, “Since the censorship is being conducted jointly by the Central Party’s Civil Defense Department and the State Security Department, if a problem arises at the armory, the punishment will be severe,” but did not disclose the level of punishment for this incident.

The source responded with skepticism about the authorities’ inspection of the armory, saying, “However, in the past, there were frequent issues with bullet loss and management in the Civil Defense Corps’ armory, and it was common for Civil Defense Corps officers to hunt deer and wild boars with training weapons, bullets, and bayonets.”

This is Ji-eun Kim of RFA's Radio Free Asia in Seoul.

Editor Yang Seong-won

10. Korea: “Shoigu’s visit to North Korea is unusual…Possibility of major North Korea-Russia talks”

This is a Google translation of an RFA report.

Korea: “Shoigu’s visit to North Korea is unusual…Possibility of major North Korea-Russia talks”

Seoul-Mokyongjae moky@rfa.org

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in-focus/2025/03/24/north-korea-russia-victory-day/

2025.03.24

Last September, Russian State Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea and met with North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap)

Anchor: The South Korean government has evaluated the recent visit to North Korea by Russian State Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu as unusual. There is speculation that the two countries may have held major discussions. Reporter Mok Yong-jae reports from Seoul.

The visit to North Korea by Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, on the 21st is being evaluated as unusual as it took place right after the visit of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko.

North Korea's state-run media reported on the 22nd that Secretary Shoigu had visited North Korea and met with General Secretary Kim Jong-un, and that General Secretary Kim had received an "important personal letter" from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It has not been confirmed what the two sides discussed specifically during this meeting. However, according to reports, North Korea and Russia exchanged opinions on issues related to protecting security interests and international justice, as well as the international situation.

In particular, both sides reaffirmed that they would unconditionally implement the provisions of the strategic partnership.

South Korea's Ministry of Unification announced at a press conference on the 24th that it is closely monitoring the situation regarding Secretary Shoigu's visit to North Korea.

South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byung-sam assessed Shoigu's visit to the North as unusual, taking into account the physical distance between North Korea and Russia, as it came just four days after Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko's return.

The South Korean government noted that North Korea and Russia showed visible cooperative moves immediately after Secretary Shoigu visited North Korea in the past.

Secretary Shoigu attended North Korea's Victory Day parade in July 2023 when he was Russian Defense Minister, and two months later, in September of the same year, General Secretary Kim Jong-un visited Russia and a North Korea-Russia summit was held.

In addition, following Secretary Shoigu's visit to North Korea in September last year, North Korea began sending troops to Russia in earnest the following month.

South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byung-sam cited this precedent and predicted that North Korea and Russia would have held important consultations during Secretary Shoigu's visit to the North.

[Koo Byung-sam, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification] We are closely monitoring the situation, not ruling out the possibility that there were major bilateral consultations during this visit to the North. However, we will not make any prejudgments unless the parties involved have disclosed the details of the bilateral consultations.

In South Korea, there is speculation that Secretary Shoigu's visit to North Korea may have been an opportunity for the two sides to discuss additional troop dispatches by North Korea and the development of bilateral relations.

North Korea, Russia Discuss Possibility of Kim Jong-un's Victory Day Visit to Russia in May

Cho Han-beom, a distinguished research fellow at the Institute for Unification Studies, raised the possibility that Secretary Shoigu requested General Secretary Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia on the occasion of Russia's May Victory Day celebrations.

[Cho Han-beom, Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute for Unification Studies] Putin wants to declare victory in the Russo-Russian War on May 9, Victory Day. In this situation, if Kim Jong-un visits Russia, Putin and Kim Jong-un can be pictured together on the podium as brother victors. This is the picture that both Kim Jong-un and Putin want.

Research Fellow Cho Seok-ja also predicted that Russia may have requested additional troop deployment from North Korea.

Cho Seok-ja, a research fellow, analyzed, “Russia is benefiting from the North Korean People’s Army’s human wave tactics,” and “Since the war between Russia and Ukraine will not immediately cease, it may be necessary for North Korea to dispatch additional troops.”

Shoigu Delivers Putin's Message to Kim Jong-un... "Possibility of Discussing Additional Military Cooperation"

Korea-US and Korea-US-Japan training to continue even after Trump's second term

ROK-US joint combat command training conducted during FS period

ROK-US joint combat command training conducted during FS period (provided by ROK Army)

Meanwhile, the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace released a press release on the 24th criticizing the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, " Shield of Freedom ," which ended on the 20th, as a "planned and provocative nuclear war exercise," and asserted that "true defense power is a powerful attack capability."

In response, the South Korean Ministry of Unification stated on the 24th, “North Korea has been repeating its far-fetched claims every time there has been a recent South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise or the deployment of U.S. strategic assets,” and “We will not respond to or evaluate each and every one of North Korea’s far-fetched claims that are like counterproductive tactics.”

This is Mok Yong-jae from RFA's Free Asia Broadcasting in Seoul.

Editor Yang Seong-won

11. N. Korea halts foreign tourism abruptly amid concerns over influencers

"Experts say Pyongyang has not abandoned economic development ambitions"

It just wants to do so with no contact with the outside world for the Korean people in the north.

N. Korea halts foreign tourism abruptly amid concerns over influencers

The Korea Times · March 24, 2025

Mount Paektu on the North Korean-Chinese border. Korea Times file

Experts say Pyongyang has not abandoned economic development ambitions

By Kim Hyun-bin

North Korea unexpectedly halted its newly resumed foreign tourism program early this month, just weeks after reopening its borders to international visitors in February. Analysts suggest that the decision may be linked to the rapid spread of unfiltered content by travel influencers, which has provided unprecedented glimpses into the secretive state.

The country had reintroduced foreign group tours in the Rason Special Economic Zone, marking the first time since early 2020 that international tourists were allowed in following the COVID-19 lockdown. However, travel agencies specializing in North Korea report that the program was suspended entirely earlier this month.

Oh Gyeong-seob, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, says that Pyongyang’s abrupt move is likely a response to foreign tourists sharing images and videos of the country that cast the regime in a negative light.

“After reopening for tourism, foreign visitors took videos and photos in North Korea, and many of those were publicly shared, revealing aspects of North Korean society and its regime,” Oh said. “These materials led to international criticism, prompting North Korean authorities to temporarily suspend tourism until they can establish measures to control information leaks.”

Some analysts believe North Korea underestimated the influence of social media, which has gained significant traction in recent years. Unlike five years ago, when accounts of trips to North Korea were primarily limited to niche blogs or select media outlets, today’s influencers reach millions via platforms such as YouTube.

Recent videos by prominent travel influencers appear to support this theory. Polish YouTuber “ojwojtek,” with approximately 858,000 subscribers, shared footage from a four-day visit to Rason in late February. Another YouTuber, “Tamil Trekker,” who boasts more than 1.6 million subscribers, uploaded a video on March 12 documenting his experiences in the region.

Both influencers described Rason as eerily quiet despite its designation as an economic zone, noting a lack of people and vehicles. They also criticized the guided tours, which included stops at a deer-feeding site and a bottled water factory. Some visitors commented on the poor foreign language skills of local guides and observed that residents seemed uneasy around foreign tourists.

North Korea has long relied on tourism as a crucial means of obtaining foreign currency, particularly due to international sanctions limiting its trade activities. The country’s tourism industry has included destinations such as Mount Paektu, Wonsan and Rason Special Economic Zone.

“North Korea lacks an industrial base to generate revenue, and with sanctions restricting exports, it sees tourism as a key way to earn foreign revenue,” Oh said. “Once the regime establishes stricter surveillance and control measures over foreign visitors, tourism is likely to resume.”

While there is no official timeline for when North Korea will fully reopen to tourists, Oh suggested that it may coincide with the peak tourism season in May.

Despite the suspension, analysts suggest that North Korea is not abandoning its tourism ambitions.

State media has recently ramped up promotions for the Kalma Coastal Tourism Zone on the east coast in Wonsan, Kangwon Province, which is slated to open in June. The government-run tourism website highlights hotels, beaches and leisure facilities in the area, while registrations remain open for the Pyongyang International Marathon scheduled for April 6.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during the 2019 North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. Yonhap

Renewed diplomatic efforts with US possible

Analysts view this as a strategic move, particularly with Donald Trump entering a second term as U.S. president. Although the regime recently emphasized its nuclear capabilities, Pyongyang seems to be pivoting toward economic revitalization, potentially signaling a readiness to reengage in diplomatic talks.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone on Dec. 29, 2024, and announced plans to open the resort in June, according to state media. The visit came shortly after the conclusion of the Workers’ Party’s end-of-year plenary session, in which the country’s annual policies are set. The timing of the announcement suggests that Pyongyang is prioritizing tourism in its 2025 economic agenda.

Adding an intriguing layer to the development, Kim's visit occurred shortly after Donald Trump secured his election victory. Trump has occasionally praised North Korea’s coastline, suggesting that Kim Jong-un could develop it for tourism, particularly following their Singapore Summit in June 2018. Trump said that North Korea boasted "great beaches" and that the country could build "the best hotels in the world" along its shores.

Observers say Kim’s decision to tour the Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone may be tied to expectations of foreign investment, particularly from the U.S., or could be a strategic maneuver to lay the groundwork for future negotiations. North Korea has long pursued economic benefits through nuclear diplomacy, and some experts believe that reopening its borders to foreign tourists could be a calculated effort to rebuild economic ties in the aftermath of the pandemic.

“From North Korea's perspective, if negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. are held and yield some success, the country could look to attract tourists to areas such as the East Sea or coastal regions like the Kalma District. This could involve forming consortiums to develop these areas," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "In this context, North Korea appears to be moving based on the expectation that such discussions will resume in the future."

While exact figures are hard to determine, analysts believe North Korea's tourism industry reached its peak just before the pandemic. Unlike his predecessors, Kim, who studied in Europe, has actively pursued tourism as a key revenue source. Under his leadership, the country introduced new attractions and unique tour packages, including train and airplane tours, designed to appeal to foreign visitors. These efforts suggest that North Korea has gained valuable experience in tourism marketing, which it could leverage as it gradually reopens to international tourists.

“North Korea has effectively resumed tourism, and the main source of incoming tourists is China,” said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.

“To accommodate Chinese tourists, North Korea has opened areas like Rason, but this situation needs to be closely monitored. The relationship between China and North Korea has not yet fully recovered, and there are still potential points of conflict.”

The reopening of North Korea’s tourism sector comes after an earlier attempt to attract Russian visitors, which yielded disappointing results. "North Korea had already restarted its tourism business with Russia, but the expected number of tourists did not materialize, as Russia showed little interest," Park explained.

North Korea’s renewed focus on tourism comes amid ongoing military provocations. Experts suggest that Pyongyang may be attempting to strike a delicate balance between economic development and its strategic weapons program. While a flourishing tourism sector could bring much-needed foreign currency, an increase in missile tests and military tensions might deter potential visitors.

The resumption of tourism could also provide leverage for North Korea in future nuclear negotiations. If Trump, known for his transactional approach to diplomacy, seeks to restart talks with Pyongyang, North Korea’s growing tourism sector could become a valuable bargaining chip, according to experts. The U.S. might signal an openness to encouraging investments in North Korea or even explore options to ease certain economic sanctions in exchange for progress on diplomatic fronts, some experts suggest.

"It’s all interconnected. For example, from North Korea’s perspective, if negotiations with the United States take place and yield results, Pyongyang could pursue tourism projects in coastal areas such as the Kalma District through consortiums," Yang said. "In other words, discussions on such initiatives may have already occurred at the leadership level between North Korea and the U.S.

From that standpoint, North Korea appears to be acting on the expectation that such talks will resume."

North Korea remains under strict U.N. sanctions, which prohibit new foreign investments in the country. However, if tourism growth fosters economic exchanges with other nations, experts say there could be increasing pressure to ease some of these restrictions, particularly if it contributes to stability or diplomatic progress.

From North Korea’s perspective, expanding tourism aligns with the North Korean leader’s broader economic goals. Large-scale construction projects, including the development of new tourist sites, have been central to Kim’s policy agenda. If tourism becomes a more significant sector of the economy, Pyongyang may be open to negotiating a limited “small deal” with Washington, offering military concessions in exchange for economic incentives.

Such a deal, experts suggest, could involve North Korea agreeing to freeze or scale down certain aspects of its weapons program, such as halting intercontinental ballistic missile tests or dismantling parts of its nuclear infrastructure. In exchange, Pyongyang could seek reduced sanctions or other economic benefits, potentially including increased foreign investments or access to international markets.

The Korea Times · March 24, 2025

12. Elite Ukraine soldier reveals how he got North Korean fighter to surrender

Elite Ukraine soldier reveals how he got North Korean fighter to surrender

Newsweek · by Ellie Cook · March 23, 2025

Ukrainian drones buzzed over the frigid terrain of Kursk for a while before Kyiv's special forces pounced.

The eyes in the sky gazed down on a copse of spindly trees in western Russia, hooking onto where North Korean forces were coalescing, a Ukrainian special operations forces commander, who is being identified only by his call sign, Green, told Newsweek.

"They were preparing to launch an assault on Ukrainian positions in the area," Green said.

The special forces commanders, though, wanted to strike first. Also on their agenda, Green said, was to achieve what no other unit had yet managed to do: to finally capture a North Korean soldier alive.

The elite Ukrainian unit, draped in camouflage and ghillie suits, was given orders to creep toward their North Korean counterparts, Green said.

Soldiers of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) "Azov" ride in an armored U.S. Hummer vehicle in position near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Soldiers of the Ukrainian 3rd Army Assault Brigade of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) "Azov" ride in an armored U.S. Hummer vehicle in position near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. AP Photo/Libkos

"We approached like ghosts," Green said. The forest shielded the advancing Ukrainians, obscuring them from the sights of the North Koreans who never saw them coming.

"As soon as an opportunity presented itself," Green said, "we struck."

Thousands of North Korean fighters became embroiled in Russia's war in Ukraine last fall, bound up with the Russian forces trying to shove Ukrainian troops from the border Kursk region of western Russia. Kyiv had launched an incursion into Kursk in August 2024, quickly seizing a chunk of territory in what became the most significant foreign invasion of Russian soil since World War II.

For months, Moscow failed to fully unfurl Ukraine's grip on parts of Kursk, even when backed by the fighters Pyongyang and its dictator, Kim Jong Un, sent to Russia along with stocks of missiles and shells.

'The Battle Was Swift'

Assessments of the effectiveness of the North Korean troops have been mixed, although the casualty counts are thought to be painful. Ukraine said last month that North Korean troops had sustained more than 4,000 casualties, including both those killed and injured. But Kyiv has also conceded that North Korea's military technology, not least the accuracy of Pyongyang's missiles, have improved through its exposure to combat in Kursk.

"The battle was swift," Green said. Ukraine had caught the North Koreans off-guard, so "they panicked" and retreated, the soldier said.

But the other mission remained. No one had succeeded in taking a North Korean soldier into their custody alive, although one of Pyongyang's soldiers had died from his injuries when being evacuated by another unit, Green said.

In late December, South Korea's NIS spy agency said a North Korean soldier had been captured by Ukraine, quickly followed by reports the soldier had died from extensive injuries.

Roughly two weeks later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers in Kursk. They were quickly passed into the custody of Ukraine's SBU security service.

More than two months on, Ukraine's future in Kursk looks bleak. A fresh wave of North Korean troops helped Russia successfully execute its renewed offensive in the region and retake the border town of Sudzha, the last remaining major Ukrainian-held settlement in Kursk, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing Ukrainian soldiers and officials familiar with recent battles.

Ukraine had said it did not intend to permanently control swathes of Kursk, but Kyiv's hold on Russian soil was an embarrassment to the Kremlin and provided Ukraine with a bargaining chip against Russia in ceasefire talks.

"I cannot say that the Kursk current situation happened because of North Koreans, but the effect of their participation is quite substantial," an unnamed Ukrainian lawmaker told the Post.

If Russia fully retakes Kursk, it's not clear what will happen to the North Korean soldiers who have, for months, fought in a foreign country. Continuing to battle Ukraine in lieu of a ceasefire deal would give their ranks with more battlefield experience, but would rack up more casualties and risk miring North Korea further into a war thousands of miles away.

But there is scant indication that casualty counts are the foremost worry for Russia and North Korea.

Taking Their Own Lives

It was Green's Tactical Group No. 84 that Zelensky singled out for praise when he announced to the world in January that North Korean soldiers had been captured alive for the first time. The group has not yet captured any more, the fighter said.

It was "not an easy task," Zelensky remarked at the time. Ukrainian and Western intelligence indicated the North Koreans were taking their own lives rather than face being captured alive.

But for the fighters on the ground in Kursk, it was hard not to be struck by how young the North Korean fighter looked as he lay sprawled under a tree, dazed as a bloodstain bloomed on the fabric of his pants, Green said.

The special forces chanced upon him as they fired on troops trying to flee, the stunned soldier cajoled into handing over the rifle he brandished.

"That brief moment of confusion bought us time," the Ukrainian soldier recalled, although other special forces kept their weapons trained on the North Korean fighter as he hesitated, ultimately deciding to hand over his hand grenade.

The special forces had learned snippets of Korean phrases and the kind of responses they would likely get back, Green said, so they yelled out in the soldier's native tongue.

Gesticulating, the North Korean soldier acted out the movement and sound of a drone strike hitting close to him, Green said.

Reports drifting out of the battles in Kursk indicated North Koreans were ill-equipped to contend with the drone-dominant warfare that has defined the now more than three years of conflict between Kyiv and Moscow. Recovered scribblings of a North Korean soldier described Pyongyang's forces as "bait" for Ukrainian drones, according to a Wall Street Journal account from January.

Ukrainian soldiers tried to prop up the North Korean fighter between them, but he "screamed" each time he shifted his weight onto his injured leg, Green said. In a clip provided by the Ukrainian military, the prisoner of war yelps as he is half-carried away.

The special forces then made up a makeshift stretcher to carry the soldier away, dodging mines and the incessant boom of artillery fire. Footage provided by the Ukrainian military shows special forces speaking with the soldier, before a Ukrainian fighter wearing a camera rushes toward the ground during a deafening strike.

Green said Russian troops had very likely spied the evacuation. "Pyongyang, Pyongyang," was the soldier's constant chant, chiming with the artillery and drone attacks, Green said. After he received painkillers, food and water, the soldier—dehydrated and starved—gestured for a cigarette, which was handed over to him, Green added.

The operation was a thorough success for Ukraine, Green said. "Every phase was executed precisely as planned, with no complications and, most importantly, no casualties on our side."

However the Ukrainian was disappointed to miss out on the chance to press the North Korean recruit about just how much information managed to send back to Pyongyang.

South Korea's Chosun Daily newspaper reported last month that North Korean troops had been told that Ukrainian drone operators were South Korean soldiers.

Seoul's government said earlier this week that Seoul would accept North Korean prisoners captured by Ukraine, should they prefer to travel to South Korea rather than return home, north of the border on the divided peninsula.

Ellie Cook is a Newsweek security and defense reporter based in London, U.K. Her work focuses largely on the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. military, weapons systems and emerging technology. She joined Newsweek in January 2023, having previously worked as a reporter at the Daily Express, and is a graduate of International Journalism at City, University of London. Languages: English, Spanish.You can reach Ellie via email at e.cook@newsweek.com.

Newsweek · by Ellie Cook · March 23, 2025

13. North Korea shouldn’t be rewarded for role in Ukraine war: Seoul’s top diplomat

Unfortunately doing nothing to the north in response is in itself a kind of reward.

North Korea shouldn’t be rewarded for role in Ukraine war: Seoul’s top diplomat

Cho Tae-yul calls for end to ‘illegal’ DPRK-Russia military ties following talks with Japanese and Chinese counterparts

Jooheon Kim March 24, 2025

https://www.nknews.org/2025/03/north-korea-shouldnt-be-rewarded-for-role-in-ukraine-war-seouls-top-diplomat/

North Korean soldiers open fire during a drill simulating an attack against an enemy on Sept. 13, 2024. | Image: KCNA

North Korea must not be rewarded for deploying troops to fight in the Ukraine war, according to South Korea’s foreign minister, emphasizing the need to halt “illegal military cooperation” between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Cho Tae-yul made the statement at a press conference following trilateral talks with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo on Saturday, Seoul’s foreign ministry confirmed.

“Illegal military collaboration between Russia and North Korea must end, and North Korea should not be rewarded in any way for its wrongful actions in the Ukraine war,” Cho said.

South Korea’s foreign minister also stated that the top diplomats reaffirmed their countries’ shared commitment to fully implement U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea.

“We reconfirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is in our mutual interest and responsibility,” he said. “I stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation in urging North Korea to halt its provocations and move toward complete denuclearization.”

“I expect that the three countries, which are directly affected by the North Korean nuclear issue and the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation.”

The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea at trilateral talks in Tokyo on March 22, 2025 | Image: Japanese foreign ministry

During the talks, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi similarly expressed concern about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, along with the DPRK’s nuclear and missile development and cryptocurrency theft.

“In addition, Minister Iwaya asked for continued understanding and cooperation for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue,” Tokyo’s foreign ministry stated in a press release.

But China’s top diplomat Wang Yi did not directly criticize North Korea’s weapons programs or participation in the Ukraine war in his remarks at Saturday’s press conference, instead emphasizing the need to address the root causes of conflict and calling for a political resolution to ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

“The three sides have the responsibility to strengthen their communication amid the rapidly changing international situation and the weak recovery of the global economy,” the Chinese foreign minister said.

Pak Yusung, a researcher at the Institute for North Korea Studies, told NK News that Wang’s stance during the talks “clearly indicated that China is closely monitoring the growing ties between North Korea and Russia during the trilateral meeting.”

By contrast, Cho’s statement that he “expects” the three countries to strengthen cooperation on North Korea issues “seemed to indirectly reflect South Korea’s dissatisfaction with China’s continued support for North Korea,” the expert explained.

The DPRK has deployed thousands of troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine since last year, in addition to providing large quantities of weaponry and ammunition in support of Moscow’s war effort.

But while there have been signs that China disapproves of Russia-DPRK cooperation over the war, it has refrained from directly criticizing its neighbors and has sought to position itself as a mediator on the war in Ukraine.

Beijing has also continued to provide economic support to North Korea despite their apparently strained ties, engaging in trade that likely violates U.N. sanctions. China notably abstained in a key U.N. Security Council vote last year that saw Russia veto the mandate of the Panel of Experts tasked with monitoring North Korea sanctions implementation.

Edited by Bryan Betts

14. PM's return (South Korea)

The Korea Times is asking a lot of the Prime Minister/Acting President.

PM's return

The Korea Times · March 24, 2025

Acting president must mend polarization, improve US ties

The Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday, ruling in his favor in the impeachment trial. He returned to work 87 days after being suspended from his duties on Dec. 27 following the passage of a motion in the National Assembly to impeach him. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) initiated the motion, citing several reasons, including his alleged collaboration with President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration, as well as his refusal to appoint three Constitutional Court justices approved by the Assembly.

The top court’s decision delivered a warning to the DPK, which has been criticized for abusing the impeachment process against government officials. The court’s recent string of decisions, clearing officials and ordering them to return to work, highlights this backlash.

The ruling on Han was timely, coming at a moment when another leadership void seemed imminent. The DPK had threatened to impeach then-acting President Choi Sang-mok for his refusal to appoint a Constitutional Court justice. Han’s return to his duties as both prime minister and acting president helped prevent further chaos in the government.

Han’s reinstatement signals Korea's efforts to return to normalcy amid tough external challenges coupled with persisting political turmoil. He now faces a range of policy challenges, particularly following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January. Trump’s aggressive trade policy and "America First" initiative have left Korea, like many other countries, vulnerable. The situation in Korea was especially dire due to political instability following the suspension of Yoon's presidential powers.

Although Han is back as acting president, he faces calls to leverage his expertise in trade and his previous experience as Korea’s ambassador to the U.S. to help steer the country's economy and diplomacy back on track. Han must also work closely with high-ranking U.S. officials and decision-makers to formulate an effective strategy for addressing North Korea.

The Constitutional Court’s decision to reinstate Han has sparked contrasting reactions from the rival parties.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) celebrated the decision, calling it a historic ruling that restored justice. “The verdict shows that in politics, there is a clear line that must not be crossed under any circumstances. It’s a warning to never attempt to use the Constitution for political purposes,” PPP spokesman Rep. Shin Dong-uk said.

Meanwhile, the DPK expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s ruling. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition, reacted sarcastically, claiming that he feared the Korean public would remain confused about the court's decision to clear the prime minister. “I wonder how many Koreans will be convinced by the court’s decision that gave the green light to Han, who failed to fulfill his duty to fill the nine-member Constitutional Court,” he said.

Lee's response was particularly pointed as the results of Han’s impeachment trial were seen as a litmus test for Yoon's fate. The court is expected to deliver a verdict on the president soon, though it has yet to announce a date.

Lee is also awaiting a ruling on his alleged violations of the election law. In a district court ruling from November, he was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years. He has appealed the decision. If the appellate court upholds the district court's ruling, Lee would lose his Assembly seat and be disqualified from running in elections for 10 years.

As a series of key verdicts are expected to reshape the political landscape, concerns are growing about political polarization, which has already deepened and divided the nation into two camps — those supporting the impeachment of Yoon and those opposing it.

What is particularly concerning is that both political parties are encouraging their supporters to fight on. In a crowded rally held in central Seoul over the weekend, some senior members of the PPP urged protesters to keep fighting until they succeed. They described Yoon as being engaged in a war against anti-state forces and called for supporters to join the battle.

Similarly, the DPK encouraged its supporters who took to the streets to do everything in their power to oust the president from office.

It is crucial for both groups of protesters to avoid extreme actions, clashes and violence. Once the court delivers its verdict on Yoon’s impeachment trial, all parties should respect the decision and move forward.

The Korea Times · March 24, 2025

15. North Korea is testing weapons in Ukraine for potential use against South, envoy warns

Of course they are.

North Korea is testing weapons in Ukraine for potential use against South, envoy warns

Stars and Stripes · by David Choi · March 24, 2025

This image from the state-run Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observing a launch drill on March 18, 2024. (KCNA)

North Korea is using its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to test weapons it could deploy against the South in a future conflict, Ukraine’s ambassador to Seoul said in a news report Sunday.

Ukraine and South Korea share a common adversary, Ukrainian Ambassador to South Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko said in written remarks published by Yonhap News.

South Korea “should not forget that Pyongyang also uses Ukrainian soil as a testing ground for its weaponry, which could be used in future possible standoff,” Ponomarenko said.

Seoul “has no reason to hesitate in the development of full-scale military-technical cooperation” with Kyiv, he said.

“It’s a matter of interest for both Kyiv and Seoul,” he added.

North Korea has supplied Russia with artillery shells, short-range ballistic missiles, conventional arms, and troops since 2023, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.

Photos of debris from a Russian attack in Ukraine on Jan. 2, 2024, indicate that the source of the damage “is almost certainly of a North Korean ballistic missile,” the DIA said in a May 29 report.

The evidence “highlights the evolving and strengthening relationship between North Korea and Russia,” the report said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Friday with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang and pledged “to invariably support Russia in the struggle for defending … security interests in the future,” the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the next day.

The North has also dispatched between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to fight alongside Russia since October, according to the U.S., South Korean and Ukrainian militaries.

KCNA has not acknowledged that North Korean troops have deployed to Russia.

Ukrainian forces have captured at least two North Korean soldiers, one of whom stated he wished to defect to the South, according to interrogation videos posted online by the Ukrainian military.

Ponomarenko said it was premature to speculate on the soldiers’ release or their ultimate destination.

“Any decision regarding the soldiers’ future will be made in compliance with international law, individual rights, and through dialogue between the parties concerned,” he said, according to Yonhap.

Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s impeached president, has condemned Russia’s invasion but declined to send lethal aid, citing trade policies that prohibit arms exports from affecting national security or international peace.

South Korea, a major arms exporter, has instead provided Kyiv with more than $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid and financial assistance.

Seoul will review its policy of supplying only non-lethal aid to Ukraine depending on Russia’s cooperation with North Korea, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said in a speech in June.

Han was reinstated as prime minister and assumed the role of acting president Monday after South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturned his impeachment, which the National Assembly had approved on Dec. 27.

Stars and Stripes · by David Choi · March 24, 2025

16. Seung-Whan Choi: The US should learn from the Korean War when negotiating with Ukraine

The Korean War remains relevent to this day.

Excerpts:

The potential agreement between Trump and Zelenskyy could be even more beneficial than that of Eisenhower and Rhee. This is because Ukraine has significant deposits of natural resources, such as titanium, graphite, lithium and uranium, which are vital for America’s national security. In contrast, South Korea did not provide such an abundance of valuable minerals.

Trump could establish a mutual defense agreement with Zelenskyy. This would not be an unreasonable proposition, considering the U.S. already pledged a security guarantee to Ukraine upon its return of all nuclear warheads to Russia by 1996, based on the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

After an armistice, Trump might reconsider his stance, which is not uncommon in international relations. For instance, Jimmy Carter as president unilaterally annulled the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and Taiwan. This treaty was designed to protect Taiwan from invasion by China but was terminated on Jan. 1, 1980, just one year after the U.S. established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Moreover, numerous scholars observe that military alliances are not always upheld during war. In a worst-case scenario, Washington might choose to overlook a mutual defense agreement with Zelenskyy, though I hope that will not happen.

Seung-Whan Choi: The US should learn from the Korean War when negotiating with Ukraine

By Seung-Whan Choi

PUBLISHED: March 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM CDT

Chicago Tribune · by Seung-Whan Choi · March 23, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent contentious meeting with President Donald Trump raised eyebrows among many Americans. Vice President JD Vance called the Ukrainian president “disrespectful,” but the circumstances of the meeting in the Oval Office were not unusual in diplomatic history.

When Dwight Eisenhower took office intending to end the Korean War quickly, he found himself at odds with then-South Korean President Syngman Rhee.

Elected in November 1952, Eisenhower promised a swift conclusion to the conflict, whereas Rhee opposed this approach, advocating for the reunification of North and South Korea by force. Rhee insisted on securing a mutual defense treaty with the U.S. if his military plans could not be implemented.

Eisenhower faced significant challenges in negotiating the armistice agreement, which took seven months. He assumed office Jan. 20, 1953, and the ceasefire deal was signed on July 27. During this period, Rhee proved to be a major obstacle for Eisenhower.

Concerned that Rhee might sabotage the negotiations, Eisenhower considered three options: overthrowing the “often unreliable ally” (Rhee), negotiating a bilateral security pact with South Korea or withdrawing U.S. troops.

The first option, known as Operation Ever-ready, received serious consideration from U.S. officials in mid-1953 as a potential solution to Rhee’s objections to parts of the proposed armistice agreement. However, this option was never put into action.

Eisenhower recognized that Rhee preferred the second option — negotiating a bilateral security pact with the U.S.— to deter potential attacks from the North following the ceasefire.

The third option, pulling out American troops, was impractical for the U.S., as substantial military resources had already been committed since the beginning of the war. Withdrawing American soldiers and potentially losing to communism would have been more damaging for the U.S. than for South Korea.

At that time, South Koreans constituted about 60% of United Nations troops. Rhee even threatened to withdraw South Korean forces from the U.N. coalitions to undermine America’s efforts toward a truce agreement.

To pressure Eisenhower, Rhee released anti-communist prisoners of war without consulting the U.S. These anti-communist POWs were individuals conscripted by the communist North after the war began, who had since expressed their loyalty to the democratic South. Upon the ceasefire, the North demanded their return, asserting they belonged to their military; the South objected on humanitarian and political grounds.

Rhee’s release of these anti-communist POWs was a major event that could have derailed the armistice negotiations. Eisenhower was taken aback.

The POWs event prompted Eisenhower to seriously consider the second option of establishing a mutual defense treaty with South Korea. He sent his assistant secretary of state, Walter Robertson, as a special envoy to South Korea. In the end, the two leaders reached an agreement to secure an armistice in exchange for the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty and economic assistance. The armistice agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, followed by the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty on Oct. 1, 1953.

Despite this, the rift between Eisenhower and Rhee was not resolved after the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty. On July 30, 1954, the two presidents met at the White House. Eisenhower urged Rhee to establish normal diplomatic relations with Japan. Rhee refused, citing that Japan had justified its brutal 36-year colonial rule over Korea in the name of industrialization. Eisenhower countered that the past should be left behind and that both countries needed to move forward. Rhee said that would not happen in his lifetime.

Eisenhower became so furious that he abruptly left the meeting. When he returned shortly after, Rhee quickly stood up and exited the room.

Astonishingly, just four months later, Eisenhower granted Rhee’s wish. Rhee was thrilled to see the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty take effect and secured aid from the U.S.

Eisenhower’s humanitarian diplomacy, which prioritized the interests of vulnerable Koreans, ultimately proved effective.

In 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson requested Park Chung-hee to deploy South Korean troops to Vietnam, the South Korean president agreed to his request.

Over the course of eight years, from 1965 to 1973, about 300,000 South Korean soldiers, averaging around 50,000 each year, fought alongside U.S. forces in the Vietnam War, conducting 563,387 military operations. More than 5,000 South Korean soldiers were killed in action, with more than 10,000 wounded.

It is time for Trump to reflect on the complex and nuanced nature of international diplomacy.

The potential agreement between Trump and Zelenskyy could be even more beneficial than that of Eisenhower and Rhee. This is because Ukraine has significant deposits of natural resources, such as titanium, graphite, lithium and uranium, which are vital for America’s national security. In contrast, South Korea did not provide such an abundance of valuable minerals.

Trump could establish a mutual defense agreement with Zelenskyy. This would not be an unreasonable proposition, considering the U.S. already pledged a security guarantee to Ukraine upon its return of all nuclear warheads to Russia by 1996, based on the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

After an armistice, Trump might reconsider his stance, which is not uncommon in international relations. For instance, Jimmy Carter as president unilaterally annulled the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and Taiwan. This treaty was designed to protect Taiwan from invasion by China but was terminated on Jan. 1, 1980, just one year after the U.S. established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Moreover, numerous scholars observe that military alliances are not always upheld during war. In a worst-case scenario, Washington might choose to overlook a mutual defense agreement with Zelenskyy, though I hope that will not happen.

Seung-Whan Choi teaches Korean politics and international relations at the University of Illinois Chicago. A retired Army officer, he is the author of four books and 60 journal articles.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

Chicago Tribune · by Seung-Whan Choi · March 23, 2025

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

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

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

Access NSS HERE

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