For Dave Dilegge and Bill Nagle, founders and editors of Small Wars Journal. They gave the counterguerrilla underground a home, at a time when misguided leaders banned even the word 'insurgency,' though busily losing to one. Scholars, warriors, and agitators, Dave and Bill laid the foundation for battlefield success: our generation owes them a debt of gratitude."
-- David Kilcullen ('Counterinsugency' Dedication)
"As a general rule the quelling of rebellion in distant colonies means protracted, thankless, invertebrate war. Campaigns..."
"...broadly, they may be divided into three classes - campaigns of conquest or annexation, campaigns for the suppression of insurrections or lawlessness or for the settlement of conquered or annexed territory, and campaigns undertaken to wipe out an insult, to avenge a wrong, or to overthrow a dangerous enemy."
- Charles Edward Callwell, Small Wars: Their Principles and Practice
1. S. Korea's virus cases top 7,300 amid signs of infection slowdown
2. US military halts moves to new assignments for troops in South Korea, Italy over coronavirus fears
3. Real Maximum Pressure: What Happens If Coronavirus Spreads Fast in North Korea?
4. Experts Left to Decipher Kim Jong Un's Latest Letter to South Korea
5. New coronavirus infections fall to 272 (South Korea)
6. South Korea is using fast food-style drive-thrus to test for coronavirus
7. North Korea's Recent KN-25 Launches
8. N. Korea releases more people from quarantine over virus: report
9. South Korea Passes Bill to Regulate Cryptocurrency in Line With FATF Standards
10. North Korea Rush Orders Medical Supplies from China to Battle Coronavirus
11. The world's most dangerous golf hole is next to a demilitarized zone
1. S. Korea's virus cases top 7,300 amid signs of infection slowdown
Perhaps some good news if the "slowdown" continues.
(5th LD) S. Korea's virus cases top 7,300 amid signs of infection slowdown | Yonhap News Agency
(ATTN: ADDS 1st photo, health minister's comments in paras 4, 7-9)
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections in South Korea continued to rise, with an additional 179 cases confirmed Sunday, bringing the total to 7,313.
The number of newly added confirmed cases is lower than 367 additional cases of COVID-19 released on Saturday, the slowest on-day gain since Feb. 26, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marked the first time in 11 days the number of new infections fell to below 400, possibly offering signs of containment.
In a press briefing held on Sunday afternoon, Health and Welfare Minister Park Neunghoo said South Korea's quarantine systems are working effectively to contain the spread of the new coronavirus and will become an exemplary case for other countries if the country successfully copes with the current crisis.
The additional 179 cases were confirmed over past 16 hours. Tallies for the entire day are made available the following day.
A majority of the new cases again came from the southeastern city of Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, the two epicenters of the virus outbreak that together account for more than 90 percent of all infection cases.
"The spreading pace of the respiratory illness in Daegu and the North Gyeongsang Province appears to be at an initial stage of slowing down," the minister said.
He said the country is capable of checking up to 17,000 people per day for the coronavirus and has tested a total of 190,000 people.
The government will increase the number of treatment facilities for the COVID-19 patients across the country to accommodate up to 4,000. As of Sunday, there are 10 treatment facilities that can accommodate 2,500 coronavirus patients, the ministry said.
Of the 367 new cases detected Saturday, 297 cases came from Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million that is located some 300 kilometers from Seoul.
About 60 percent of confirmed cases here have been linked to a Daegu branch of a religious sect, Shincheonji.
The total number of infection cases in Daegu now stands at 5,381.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the number of new cases may indicate a slowdown in the spread of the virus, noting the number of new cases in the city has dropped to below 300 for the first time since Feb. 29.
"The increase in the number of infection cases is showing signs of slowing down," he told a press briefing.
North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most severely hit areas, saw its infection cases rise 32 to 1,081, according to the KCDC.
But KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong said it may be too soon to say that the spread of the virus could be on the wane, noting the recent decline in the number of new cases was largely because of a drop in the number of cases linked to the Sincheonji church in Daegu.
"The number of new patients is dwindling with the tests on the followers of the Shincheonji church nearly coming to an end," she told a press briefing.
The number of infections traced to the religious sect is tallied at 4,482, accounting for 62.8 percent of the total cases here.
Jeong noted the rise in the number of virus patients could quickly accelerate if there is a new cluster of infection cases, which she said is still very much possible.
"We believe a fresh outbreak could be possible at any time in case the virus is exposed at group facilities or religious events because it is highly contagious," said Jeong, adding that 79.4 percent of all infections here have been linked to clusters of mass infection cases.
Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi Province reported 12 and 11 additional cases, respectively. Their totals now stand at 120 and 141, respectively.
South Korea raised its virus alert level to the highest on Feb. 23, enabling all-out quarantine measures by the health authorities as well as district governments.
A virus-hit apartment in Daegu has been under lockdown as one-third of its residents were confirmed to have contracted the illness.
The patients at the apartment complex were followers of the Shincheonji church.
The provincial government of North Gyeongsang Province said more than 580 facilities or houses in its own districts have been placed under such lockdowns.
So far, 50 people, mostly with preexisting medical conditions, have died of the respiratory disease that originated in China late last year.
South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
Earlier, an official from the health ministry was diagnosed with the coronavirus, leading to a temporary shutdown of the whole operation of at least the ministry office the patient worked at.
The ministry said on Sunday that 51 other officials from the same office have tested negative.
Still, at least 27 of those who had come in close contact with the patient have been told to take self-quarantine measures, it added.
The KCDC said the number of patients released from hospitals after recovering from the viral disease came to 130 as of Sunday, up 12 from the previous day.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 19,376 as of Sunday, down 244 from the day before, the KCDC said. The country has tested a total of 181,384 suspected cases, with 162,008 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact. One of the best ways to avoid contracting the virus is to wash one's hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and avoid mass gatherings, health officials said.
2. US military halts moves to new assignments for troops in South Korea, Italy over coronavirus fears
Obviously there are going to be many significant effects from morale to professional development to readiness.
The Army has ordered a stop for "all Army soldiers and family members moving to or from South Korea or soldiers scheduled to attend professional military education in the United States due to COVID-19 concerns," U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement.
"USFK is analyzing the impacts this decision will have on those affected," it said, adding that it only applies to Eighth Army soldiers on permanent change of station orders or attending the education courses.
"The Army's order is in effect immediately through May 6, 2020, or until further notice," USFK said, advising those affected to contact their chain of command for further instructions.
US military halts moves to new assignments for troops in South Korea, Italy over coronavirus fears
South Koreans working for the U.S. military received a one-month notice Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, that they will be put on unpaid leave if the allies do not come to a defense cost-sharing agreement.
KEN SCAR/U.S. ARMY
By KIM GAMEL | STARS AND STRIPES
Published: March 8, 2020
SEOUL, South Korea - The Army has halted moves to new assignments for troops stationed in South Korea through May in a bid to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, officials said Sunday.
The decision, which was announced a day after the Army unveiled the same measures for troops based in Italy, also affects travel for professional military education in the United States.
Both U.S. allies are in the midst of major outbreaks of the virus, with more than 7,300 confirmed cases in South Korea and nearly 6,000 in Italy.
The Army has ordered a stop for "all Army soldiers and family members moving to or from South Korea or soldiers scheduled to attend professional military education in the United States due to COVID-19 concerns," U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement.
"USFK is analyzing the impacts this decision will have on those affected," it said, adding that it only applies to Eighth Army soldiers on permanent change of station orders or attending the education courses.
"The Army's order is in effect immediately through May 6, 2020, or until further notice," USFK said, advising those affected to contact their chain of command for further instructions.
Seven people affiliated with USFK, including an American soldier and his wife, have tested positive for the respiratory virus despite precautionary measures including a ban on nonessential travel or outside social activities for service members.
The military also has restricted access to bases and implemented health screening at gates, including a questionnaire asking about possible exposure and temperature checks.
The news caused much confusion among military families, with some commenting on Facebook that they had flights scheduled within hours.
Others worried about being stranded because they already had moved out of their apartment and sold their car.
Camp Humphreys, the main U.S. base in South Korea, planned a Facebook live update to discuss the issue, but delayed it several times before announcing it would be postponed until Monday.
USFK promised to help reduce the negative impact on soldiers and families who have already had their household goods packed and shipped.
"The health and welfare of our service members and their families continues to be our top priority," it said.
The statement did not provide more details, but the commands received the orders from the Army on Friday night, according to Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier, commander of Vicenza-based U.S. Army Africa.
"This decision affects soldiers, civilians and their families differently based on where they are in the PCS cycle," Vogel said in announcing the decision for Italy on Saturday.
Those who were to attend professional military education in the U.S. will not be able to unless the course is for six months or longer, the message said. In those cases, participants will travel to the U.S. two weeks early and be quarantined before attending the school.
Some 28,500 American service members are stationed in South Korea, which technically remains at war with the North after their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice instead of a peace treaty.
Stars and Stripes reporter Nancy Montgomery in Vicenza, Italy, contributed to this report.
Army bans moves to new assignments, training trips for soldiers based in Italy
Travel chaos erupts as Italy quarantines north to halt virus
3. Real Maximum Pressure: What Happens If Coronavirus Spreads Fast in North Korea?
The question is will an outbreak lead to internal instability that can no longer be suppressed by the military and security services? Just as a reminder here are Bob Collins' Seven Phases of Collapse. We should be observing for these conditions.
Phase One: resource depletion;
Phase Two: the failure to maintain infrastructure around the country because of resource depletion;
Phase Three: the rise of independent fiefs informally controlled by local party apparatchiks or warlords, along with widespread corruption to circumvent a failing central government;
Phase Four: the attempted suppression of these fiefs by the KFR once it feels that they have become powerful enough;
Phase Five: active resistance against the central government;
Phase Six: the fracture of the regime; and
Phase Seven: the formation of new national leadership.
North Korea has spent more than seventy years battling friends and enemies alike. In recent years, the Kim dynasty has survived economic sanctions, widespread hardship, political isolation, mass starvation, and military confrontation. Now it might face the gravest threat yet, the coronavirus.
The first and main victim of the disease, so far, at least, was the People's Republic of China. If data from the PRC about COVID-19, as the virus has been named, is correct-admittedly a major if-China's crisis may be easing. New infections are down and the latest deaths are concentrated in Hubei province, the epidemic's epicenter. Indeed, Beijing has begun planning to prevent a possible second infection wave created by Chinese returning from new disease hotspots, including Japan and South Korea.
Still, the cost to the PRC has been great. More than 80,000 people have been infected. More than 27,000 cases remain active. Some 3,000 people have died. The burden on China's health care system has been extremely heavy.
The economy, too, has suffered. At the peak, some eighty cities and nearly 800 million people faced some mix of quarantine, isolation, and restriction. People were ordered to stay home, businesses were forced to close, transportation was cut, and hospitals were filled. The worst-hit cities, such as Hubei's capital of Wuhan, took on a ghostly hue. Travel restrictions prevented people from moving internally, including millions of migrant workers who fuel many export industries.
Just as the PRC is starting to recover economically, major trading partners Japan and South Korea are taking tougher steps to extinguish the fast-moving disease. Both countries are adopting some of Beijing's tough quarantine policies, which could push those two states into recession. China might face slumping demand for its products and diminishing imports necessary for its own operations. At the moment the long-term damage can only be estimated.
Still, despite the tough times, the PRC is big enough and wealthy enough to persevere. Recovery will come. But what of North Korea?
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is
uniquely vulnerable to the ongoing epidemic. The North's international contacts are limited but dominated by the PRC, the epicenter of the coronavirus. Although sanctions limit economic ties, illicit traffic has continued across the border. Moreover, Beijing sometimes loosens enforcement, based on larger political trends.
Worse, the DPRK is a poor nation. There is no surplus available for the proverbial rainy day. Under pressure from enhanced sanctions, the economy is estimated to have shrunk four percent in 2018. There is little evidence of a turnaround last year. Even before the emergence of the coronavirus, in December Kim warned of greater economic hardship. He indicated that the collapse in negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington would be followed by a greater emphasis on the military to ensure regime survival. That will leave even fewer resources available to deal with a health crisis.
Pyongyang's containment measures will further damage the economy. The Kim regime reportedly has ended cross-border trade and cracked down on smuggling: Chinese goods are vanishing on the North Korean market. This policy ironically enhances the impact of U.S. and international sanctions, denying Pyongyang much of the limited hard currency to which it previously had access. Self-imposed isolation also restricts supplies of essential goods and closes off private market activity upon which many North Koreans rely.
The regime has responded with further economic restrictions. Reported the
Washington Post: "Market information compiled by Daily NK shows prices of rice, corn, diesel and gas all rising, some to their highest levels in a year or two. The regime has responded by trying to impose price controls and ordering sugar and soybean distributors to release stocks." These steps are at best temporary palliatives and will only worsen the long-term problem.
If Pyongyang ends up facing widespread infection and seeks to keep its population at home, the situation will become far worse. North Koreans, already on the economic edge, would find it far more difficult to cope with a widespread industrial shutdown approaching than did China. Moreover, a national quarantine would preclude the dramatic rise in private market activity that helped lessen the horrors of the deadly famine in the late 1990s.
Perhaps worst of all, many North Koreans are malnourished, indeed, suffering from stunted growth, and thus more vulnerable to infection. Diseases like tuberculosis already abound. Yet the country has only limited medical capabilities. Hospitals and other medical facilities lack adequate electricity, medicine, sanitation, and water. Many of the North's most critical health care needs are provided by foreign NGOs.
Observed Harvard Medical School's Kee Park, who has traveled often to North Korea, "They may be able to successfully treat a limited number of severe COVID-19 cases but, if there is anything we can learn from the Chinese and South Korean experiences, their capacity to treat will be quickly overwhelmed." A genuine pandemic would swamp the health care system, exacerbating the human harm. Last year the Global Health Security Index rated North Korea as among the world's least prepared nations in dealing with a health care disaster and at the very bottom in providing "rapid response and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic."
Perhaps the North's only advantages are its relative international isolation, long-time limitations on travel, and the government's ability to ruthlessly quarantine anyone infected or feared to be infected. Still, they will be inadequate to counteract the much greater negatives.
The only good news, for the North's neighbors, at least, is that the DPRK is not likely to become a major source of infection since it lacks the economic size and integration of China, Japan, and South Korea. But its isolation, compounded by inadequate domestic treatment, minimal foreign assistance, and nonexistent information sharing, could result in unpredictable developments shielded from medical researchers elsewhere.
So far Pyongyang denies there are any infections. However, North Korean media indicate that people are in quarantine. For instance, the official
Rodong Sinmun reported that: "people who returned from abroad and contacted with foreigners and those who show abnormal symptoms are also isolated for medical observation and checkup." The North stated that it was monitoring citizens with symptoms of the virus. South Korean intelligence believed 7,000 people were in quarantine. Reported the
Washington Post: "three news outlets with extensive contacts inside the country, NK News, Daily NK and AsiaPress, have reported cases in the border cities of Sinuiju or Rason and said that some people may already have died."
China's United Nations ambassador, Zhang Jun, said the disease had "negatively" impacted the DPRK. However, he added: "We know that they are also attaching great importance, and taking preventive methods, and they are also doing whatever they can in fighting this virus." He urged a relaxation of sanctions on the North: "We do hope that all parties should give a second thought on this issue."
Some of Pyongyang's measures appear to be prophylactic, if overbroad. For instance, the regime temporarily closed some European missions and embassies. North Korea's diplomats in Rome reportedly are prohibited from leaving their premises. The North banned tourists in January. Foreign visitors were quarantined and movements of foreign diplomats were limited. Then the DPRK closed its borders to all foreigners.
Vice Minister of Public Health Kim Hyong Hun asserted that this policy had been successful. He explained: "Until ways to diagnose and cure [COVID-19] are completely established, this measure will continue." Indeed, said Kim, the country is creating a "national emergency quarantine system."
The official Korean Central Television has run daily programs on preventive efforts. One show declared: "Let us completely block the novel coronavirus." State workers have been shown in protective clothing disinfecting public areas. Premier Kim Jae Ryong was pictured leading "anti-epidemic" policies wearing a facemask. A picture of Kim observing a military operation featured an officer near him wearing a mask. On other occasions, officials accompanying him have been shown with masks.
Internal media coverage has been heavy. The official
Rodong Sinmun urged its citizens not to eat together in restaurants, since "Talking while eating would become a major route of infection." Schools have been closed, with the government extending students' winter breaks "in order to block in advance the spread of the disease," according to the paper. Also closed are "public amenities," most notably recreational facilities. The April 12 marathon has been canceled. The regime reportedly has mandated cremation rather than burial for the dead.
Finally, military gatherings, such as parades, apparently have been limited to minimize large concentrations of troops. Some observers believe that Kim has reduced his appearances in response to the disease outbreak. Overall, the
Rodong Sinmun declared that North Korea is working for "national survival."
But all does not appear to be well in the kingdom. The politburo met at the end of February and approved plans to "supplement and complement the law on the state emergency anti-epidemic and to readjust state crisis control regulations." Government media criticized the public for not following government directives and health care workers for not treating the threat more seriously.
Overall, the regime's steps are more restrictive than those imposed in response to the earlier SARS and Ebola epidemics. Pyongyang banned tourism and travel by its own citizens, suspended some flights, quarantined visitors from SARS-affected nations, and subjected foreign residents to medical observation. However, the DPRK did not seal its border. Rachel Minyoung Lee with NK News observed: "North Korea's handling of the coronavirus is unusually high-profile compared to past epidemics and reflects regime concern about the issue."
Some observers contend that the North is being more forthcoming than normal. Argued Lee, "North Korean media's providing specific numbers speaks to an unusual level of transparency." Despite its continuing penchant for secrecy, she suggested, Kim's government has shown "increased openness toward acknowledging mistakes or things have gone awry in Kim Jong Un's era" and "increased efforts to project an image that the top leadership is taking proactive measures to protect the people against natural catastrophes."
Perhaps true, since almost everything involving the North is compared to what? It would not be hard for the newest Kim to be more open than his father and grandfather. Perhaps the DPRK is not quite the old international black hole, but it remains largely impenetrable by other nations. So far the new transparency is opaque at best, bringing to mind the Apostle Paul's statement to the Corinthian church that we "see through a glass, darkly." Which is a dangerous situation in the midst of a potentially deadly pandemic.
The United States should respond by offering medical and scientific assistance, which could provide an opportunity to
revive diplomacy. The president's demand
for full denuclearization before sanctions relief is a nonstarter. He should send a "beautiful" letter to Kim Jong-un proposing to set politics aside and send a delegation led by the Surgeon General and including staff members at the Centers for Disease Control, major private health agencies, and NGOs focused on health care. Treat this crisis as an opportunity to show that U.S.-DPRK relations really have changed in a fundamental way.
Next, set a meeting with South Korean, Russian, and Chinese diplomats to discuss sanctions exemptions and suspensions to ensure that controls do not inhibit relief from reaching the North. Particularly important is making it easy for the Republic of Korea to move forward with aid projects. Interestingly, Kim wrote South Korean President Moon Jae-in a letter expressing condolences over the impact of the diseases, confidence that Seoul would "prevail in this fight without fail," and Kim's "unwavering friendship and trust." Perhaps Kim cleverly sought to draw a contrast between (supposedly) coronavirus-free North Korea and coronavirus-flush South Korea. Yet Kim's letter appears to be more fulsome than necessary for that purpose. The South should take the lead addressing the North.
Washington also should help clear the decks, so to speak, for outside aid agencies to assist. The World Health Organization issued exemptions for medical equipment and supplies for the DPRK. Nevertheless, the sanctions regime inhibits detection, prevention, and treatment. Warned Kee Park of Harvard Medical School: "Not only is North Korea a high-risk country-as a country with a weak health system-for the virus to inflict major harm, but the global sanctions regime also causes unintended yet very real impediments for the country as well as international aid organizations to respond." Reducing these barriers would offer a potentially significant political benefit as well, demonstrating that the administration is prepared to adjust sanctions even before North Korean disarmament.
The spread of COVID-19 to the DPRK is bad news all around. Given the North's isolation, the greatest danger is to the North Korean people, who are almost uniquely vulnerable to the disease. The U.S. should address the threat, both for humanitarian reasons-easing suffering in the North would be doing God's work-and geopolitics, since the current diplomatic stalemate could easily worsen. No one should want
either war or collapse, Two years ago President Trump seized the initiative in engaging Kim. He should follow up with another bold step.
Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of several books, including Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World
and co-author of The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea.
Image: Reuters.
4. Experts Left to Decipher Kim Jong Un's Latest Letter to South Korea
The question is does this letter indicate any change to Kim Jong-un's strategy of political warfare with Juche characteristics?
An assessment I provided to a friend and colleague:
There are many ways to interpret the letter. First and foremost I do not think we should assume this means any kind of radical shift in Kim Jong-un's strategy. In fact I think we need to be prepared for another provocation in the near future. Recall that two days after the death of President Roh on May 23d 2009, the north tested a nuclear weapon on May 25, 2009. I believe Kim Jong-il sent a letter of condolence upon learning of Roh's death though we cannot say the death, letter, and nuclear test were related. But we would be wise to consider it.
I think it is interesting that Kim expressed concern for President Moon's personal health. That makes me wonder is whether Kim is experiencing any personal health issues?
This is also interesting that it comes on the heels of Kim Yo Jong's statement this week. Did she get out ahead of Kim Jong-un and he disapproved of her statement? Are they trying to be bad cop and good cop?
My assessment is that I fear this is typical Kim Jong-un and he is conducting his routine political warfare with Juche characteristics. What I mean by that is he is testing the waters to see what kind of response he will get. He may want to raise expectations among the ROK, US, and international community and see if we will ask him to come to the table to negotiate. He would like us to overreact and get all worked up with the pundits saying he is ready to negotiate and that he has finally decided to denuclearize. The best case for him would be for us to make concessions to entice him to negotiate. If that does not happen he will benefit internally as he will be able to show his elite and the military that he is controlling the narrative and the situation and the ROK and US are reacting and depending on our reaction (or overreaction) he will be able to say that he is in the stronger position.
Experts Left to Decipher Kim Jong Un's Latest Letter to South Korea
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - North Korea is sending mixed messages to South Korea in the age of the coronavirus: Earlier this week, Pyongyang conducted its first short-range ballistic missile test in more than three months, then broke its hostile silence by sending well-wishes to the South Korean president.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un penned a letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in Wednesday, expressing concern for Moon's health and wishing him luck in battling the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. South Korea has at least 6,284 confirmed cases of the virus as of midafternoon March 6, and 42 deaths. Meanwhile, North Korea claims to have zero cases.
Pyongyang's latest mixed signals are perplexing for North Korea analysts, who can only guess why Kim Jong Un would both conduct hostile launches and send warm regards in a matter of days.
"It's strange behavior. I mean, it's weird, and I just can't fully explain it," said Peter Ward, a researcher on the North Korean economy and writer for NK News. "The missile test is probably a signal of displeasure on the alliance front with the U.S., and the letter to Moon is more about setting corona-related mood music. But I'm not entirely sure what's going on - it doesn't really make sense to me."
A man watches a TV showing a file picture for a news report on North Korea firing two unidentified projectiles, in Seoul, South Korea, March 2, 2020.
South Korea condemned the March 2 missile launches, expressing "strong regret" for North Korea's actions. Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong - who met President Moon personally during the height of diplomacy at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics - fired back, accusing South Korea of acting like a "frightened dog barking."
"Training is the basic mission of the army responsible for the defense of the country and is an action for self-defense," she said in a signed statement March 3. "The drill was not aimed to threaten anybody."
Experts can only speculate why Kim Yo Jong decided to downplay the launch of short-range ballistic missiles, which have been used as a tool for turning up political pressure on adversaries like South Korea and the United States in the past.
"[North Korea] could be trying to normalize rocket tests - the idea that, basically, North, they think these activities should be treated as normal and not problematized by the international community," Ward said. "They are hoping that, if they keep doing them, they will no longer be newsworthy."
Last August, President Donald Trump strayed from the typical U.S. response of condemning short-range missile tests, stating that he had "no problem" with them and that they were "very standard."
FILE - People ride on a public bus in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 26, 2020. As a deadly virus closes in, North Korea presents itself as a fortress, tightening its borders while health officials stage a monumental disinfection and monitoring program.
On the other hand, some experts believe the missile launch is a way for North Korea to flex its strength while preparing the ground for future international aid.
"Recent military exercises and his sister's tough comments about South Korea could be intended to shore up domestic political strength before Pyongyang makes a quiet bid for international assistance," Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told VOA News.
Currently, North Korea claims that it is free of COVID-19 coronavirus cases, though some have begun to speculate otherwise. North Korea closed its borders to neighboring countries and barred foreigners from entering the country in February. Despite the tight restrictions, Kim Jong Un's recent letter to Moon might be a sign that Pyongyang needs help - and soon.
"Kim's letter to Moon may set up the claim that he offered assistance to Seoul first," Easley said. "Then, when North Korea accepts a bunch of masks and testing kits, his propaganda machine can call it a show of appreciation for Pyongyang's leadership in countering the virus."
"It's fair to guess that these letters are angling for aid," Ward said. "Relations between the two Koreas were really bad before these letters - it was one side, North Korea, basically slapping the other in the face over and over again."
"It indicates that things are not going so good on their side - much worse than what they're letting on," Ward added. "But I guess we will all have to wait and see."
5. New coronavirus infections fall to 272 (South Korea)
Looks like the peak was Feb 29-Mar 3. I hope that is true.
Quarantine officials in full protective gear on Sunday prepare for transporting coronavirus patients from Hanmaeum Apartment in Daegu to treatment facilities. The apartment complex has been under cohort quarantine as 46 out of 142 tenants were confirmed infected with Covid-19. All 46 patients are Shincheonji adherents and 94 out of 142 tenants are Shincheonji followers. [NEWS1]New coronavirus infections took a significant dip Sunday as health officials announced 272 new patients, the lowest figure in 12 days.
That brought total cases of coronavirus infections in Korea to 7,313 by 4 p.m. Sunday, according to statistics from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The daily infection count has been lower than those of last weekend and early last week, when local government officials extensively tracked down followers of the Shincheonji religion, whose church building in Daegu was the epicenter of the outbreak.
Nearly three quarters of the country's infections are in Daegu, Korea's fourth-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million, while 15 percent are from the surrounding province of North Gyeongsang, both of which are in the southeastern region.
Based on statistics from the KCDC released at 4 p.m. daily, there were 505 new cases from last Thursday to Friday; 448 from Friday to Saturday; and 272 from Saturday to Sunday. When combining the last two figures, that means 720 cases were reported over the past weekend.
In the prior weekend, on Feb. 29 and March 1, a total of 1,399 cases were announced by the KCDC.
The death toll stood at 50 by Sunday at 8 p.m., eight more than the same time on Thursday. The latest deaths were mostly senior citizens in Daegu or North Gyeongsang, and many had underlying illnesses.
A 78-year-old woman who was the 50th coronavirus fatality in Korea was hospitalized at a nursing home for the elderly in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang, before she was transferred to a different hospital after testing positive for the virus last week. At least 53 infections have been traced to the nursing home in Bonghwa County, 51 of whom are either patients or workers there.
It was the first time that a coronavirus patient from the facility died.
In Seoul - the most populous city in Korea with nearly 9.7 million residents, or 18.8 percent of Korea's total population - the number of coronavirus patients reached 120 by 10 a.m. Sunday, less than 2 percent of nationwide infections. At least 11 cases were reported in both Jongno District, central Seoul, and Gangnam District, southern Seoul, while 12 cases were reported in Songpa District, southern Seoul.
The KCDC said Sunday afternoon that some 36 patients were in critical condition. At least 130 people have been fully cured from the virus.
In Daegu, the Hanmaeum Apartment complex was placed under a so-called cohort isolation Saturday after 46 residents, all of whom were Shincheonji adherents, were confirmed to have contracted the disease.
The Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital in Gyeonggi was shut down on Sunday as 13 people were confirmed infected with Covid-19 from Friday to Sunday. [YONHAP]Cohort isolation refers to the lockdown of an entire medical institution or building to prevent the spread of a contagious disease. During this outbreak, the measure had usually been used for hospitals or nursing homes with mass infections.
Saturday's case represented the first time that an apartment complex was shut down. Daegu officials said Sunday that almost all infected patients at the apartment complex had been transferred to a hospital or government-run isolation facility, and that no coronavirus patient was left behind in the complex.
Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said Sunday in a press briefing that among the apartment's 142 residents, 94 were Shincheonji adherents, and that those who were under lockdown are also being tested for the virus. All residents were told Saturday they wouldn't be allowed to leave the compound until at least March 15.
Composed of two five-story buildings, the apartment complex is run by the Daegu city office, and offers cheap rental housing for unmarried working women aged 35 or younger.
As to why so many Shincheonji worshippers lived there, Kwon said Sunday that his city office believes some Shincheonji tenants naturally recommended the apartment to other adherents, forming a small community there.
On another front, officials in Yongin, Gyeonggi, and Korean Air announced Saturday that a 36-year-old flight attendant who returned from a flight to and from Los Angeles tested positive for the coronavirus, the second time that a cabin crew member from Korean Air contracted the disease.
Officials said the second crew member was on the same Los Angeles flight as the airline's first, a 24-year-old flight attendant living in Songpa District, southern Seoul, who tested positive on Feb. 24.
The second patient was among some 30 cabin crew members who were told to self-quarantine in their homes for two weeks after the first patient tested positive. The airline said the second patient hadn't been on any flights since then.
According to explanations from Yongin and Korean Air officials, both flight attendants worked on the KE017 flight from Incheon International Airport to Los Angeles on Feb. 19 and on KE012 from Los Angeles to Incheon on Feb. 20.
On the second flight from Los Angeles to Incheon, the first flight attendant started to cough. Upon her landing in Korea, she was isolated in her home until she tested positive for the coronavirus on Feb. 24.
While some 30 cabin crew members on the same flight were told to isolate themselves in their homes, only the 36-year-old turned out positive so far, but Korean Air said it would extend the others' isolation period by another week.
Health officials still don't know how the flight attendants contracted the disease, but the first was on the KE958 Korean Air flight that departed Tel Aviv on Feb. 15 and landed at Incheon International Airport the following day, which is the same flight boarded by a group of Korean Catholics from North Gyeongsang who tested positive after returning from the pilgrimage.
How the Catholic group contracted the disease is also unclear.
Daegu medical officials said Sunday that one among Korea's seven pregnant coronavirus patients recently gave birth in Daegu, and that the mother and baby were fine. The infant tested negative for the coronavirus, authorities said, adding that the virus doesn't appear to be vertically transmittable yet.
In Seongnam, Gyeonggi, the emergency room and outpatient facilities of Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital were shut down last Friday after medical staff and patients tested positive for the coronavirus. By Sunday morning, at least 13 infections have been traced to the hospital, including in six patients, two nurses, four nursing assistants and a hospitalized patient's family member.
The hospital said it suspects that the infections started when a 77-year-old cancer patient was admitted to the hospital through an emergency room on March 1. She later displayed symptoms of pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.
At the Ministry of Health and Welfare inside the Sejong Government Complex near Cheongju, North Chungcheong, at least 27 officials were told to self-quarantine in their homes after a ministry official in her 20s tested positive for the coronavirus last Saturday. All 51 employees in her bureau were tested, but they all were negative, the ministry said.
The 20-something employee was said to have learned Zumba at a fitness center in the city last month, whose 41-year-old instructor tested positive for the virus last Friday.
The Zumba instructor had participated in a Zumba workshop in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, on Feb. 15, where 29 instructors, including three from Daegu, trained for about three hours from 11 a.m. Several people who attended the session later came down with symptoms of the virus and tested positive.
Meanwhile, weekend demonstrations in Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, hosted by anti-Moon Jae-in organizations calling for the impeachment of the president, weren't held last weekend, and the coalition of organizers said they wouldn't hold one in the upcoming weekend as well.
Late last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a temporary ban on all political rallies in Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggye Plaza, Seoul Plaza and near Seoul Station and the Blue House, all in downtown Seoul. Seoul police warned "stern countermeasures" for any violators. But the prohibition was ignored on Feb. 22.
BY LEE SUNG-EUN, BAEK KYUNG-SEO AND KIM MIN-JOONG [[email protected]]
6. South Korea is using fast food-style drive-thrus to test for coronavirus
In the U.S., Americans are used to picking up Whoppers and Big Macs using drive-thrus. In South Korea, you can now use a drive-thru to get tested for
coronavirus.
Inadequate coronavirus testing in the U.S. has raised
fears across the country that people may be infected and have no idea. In South Korea, officials have set up drive-thru style facilities that test people so they do not have to leave their cars.
At drive-thru coronavirus clinics in Goyang, medical staff in protective clothing and goggles lean into driver's cars through their windows to check for fever or breathing difficulties,
Reuters reports. They also use swabs to take samples from their throats and noses.
The entire drive-thru testing process generally takes less than 10 minutes.
As high wait times raise the risk of infection, the innovative solution has been popping up all over South Korea this week. Now, even some cities in the U.K. are
testing the method.
Medical members wearing protective gear take samples from a driver with suspected symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at a "drive-through" virus test facility in Goyang, north of Seoul, on February 29, 2020.JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images
Not only is the method faster, but it also limits human interaction with potentially infected people, further preventing the spread of the virus. Speeding up the amount of time it takes to test a patient means the virus will be easier to handle.
"We can diagnose a lot of people in a short period of time, so we can effectively control the coronavirus," Dr. Seo Wan-seok, the Vice-Director of Yeungnam University Medical Center, told
Reuters. "And secondly, we can minimize the infection."
"If the first patient is a confirmed case, the second patient might become infected even if they test negative because they stayed in close proximity with the first patient for a certain time," he continued. "However, if each of them stays in their cars, then there's no chance of infection."
Experts in the U.S. are concerned that a slow federal response to the virus has given it more time to spread - and a lack of testing has left millions of healthy people vulnerable to infection.
The Trump administration has faced criticism over the
availability of test kits. Vice President Mike Pence has said any American would be able to get tested for the disease - but he acknowledged Thursday that the capacity wasn't there yet as the government raced to distribute tests
South Korea is currently facing the largest
outbreak outside of China and one of the fastest rates of new cases. On Tuesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared "war" against the coronavirus, placing all government agencies on a 24-hour emergency footing.
South Korea's
total cases have increased in recent days to more than 6,000. At least 42 people have died of the disease in the country.
Trump signs coronavirus spending bill
7.
Key assessment highlighted in the fourth graph below.
Excerpts:
Initial reports from South Korean and the US intelligence officials indicated they "found some similarities in features between what [North Korea] fired today and those launched last year." Photographs of the launch and available flight information are consistent with what is known as the KN-25, a long-range, guided artillery rocket.
It is approximately 8.2 m long, about 0.6 m in diameter and weighs just under 3,000 kg. The missile's payload bay is too small to deliver a North Korean nuclear weapon but likely carries a 400 to 500 kg conventional, blast-fragmentation warhead instead. Its maximum range is estimated to be roughly 400 km, making the KN-25 a long-range weapon capable of attacking rear-echelon targets and suitable for deployment at the battalion level.
Flight testing of the KN-25 began in late August 2019, with the most recent launch representing the eleventh test to date, ten of which were successful. Test firings conducted on July 31 and August 2, 2019, may have involved the KN-25, but North Korea used ambiguous terminology to describe the projectiles tested on those dates. The first validated flight tests of the KN-25 took place in late August 2019, when North Korea identified the missile as a "super-large caliber" weapon. It should be noted that, as illustrated by Figure 1, on each of the five occasions the KN-25 is known to have been tested, the interval of time between firing the first and second missiles generally decreased. At the rate of this latest test, 20 seconds between firings, a full load of four missiles mounted on a TEL could be launched in about one minute.
The KN-25 is a battlefield weapon, one that the North Korean army would rely upon for conducting wartime missions. Military planners and commanders would undoubtedly want to know how well the system will work across a variety of operational conditions. This explains why North Korea has flight tested the missile eleven times to date. The KN-02 Toksa, KN-23 and KN-24 are similarly designed for battlefield use, and have been test launched in significant numbers, albeit fewer than is standard practice in other countries. Nonetheless, the testing pattern indicates that North Korea will rely on these missiles for warfighting, should hostilities break out.
North Korea's Recent KN-25 Launches | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
North Korea successfully launched two short-range missiles during its military exercises on March 2, 2020, local time. The missiles were fired from a wheeled transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) positioned near the coastal city of Wonsan. The missiles covered a ground distance of roughly 240 km, reached a peak altitude of just 35 km and impacted in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The time between launches was only 20 seconds, the shortest interval yet.
Initial reports from South Korean and the US intelligence officials indicated they "
found some similarities in features between what [North Korea] fired today and those launched last year." Photographs of the launch and available flight information are consistent with what is known as the KN-25, a long-range, guided artillery rocket.
It is approximately 8.2 m long, about 0.6 m in diameter and weighs just under 3,000 kg. The missile's payload bay is too small to deliver a North Korean nuclear weapon but likely carries a 400 to 500 kg conventional, blast-fragmentation warhead instead. Its maximum range is estimated to be roughly 400 km, making the KN-25 a long-range weapon capable of attacking rear-echelon targets and suitable for deployment at the battalion level.
Flight testing of the KN-25 began in late August 2019, with the most recent launch representing the eleventh test to date, ten of which were successful. Test firings conducted on July 31 and August 2, 2019, may have involved the KN-25, but North Korea used ambiguous terminology to describe the projectiles tested on those dates. The first validated flight tests of the KN-25 took place in late August 2019, when North Korea identified the missile as a "super-large caliber" weapon. It should be noted that, as illustrated by
Figure 1, on each of the five occasions the KN-25 is known to have been tested, the interval of time between firing the first and second missiles generally decreased. At the rate of this latest test, 20 seconds between firings, a full load of four missiles mounted on a TEL could be launched in about one minute.
In 2019, the KN-25 was likely operated by technicians and missile developers as part of the development and qualification process. The nine flight tests performed in 2019 are enough to demonstrate performance and obtain a measure of reliability under a controlled set of circumstances. Elsewhere, flight trials for short-range, battlefield missiles generally fire a couple dozen test articles under a wide range of environmental and operational conditions to provide a clearer picture of the system's dependability. However, North Korea historically conducts fewer test flights than other nations tend to do, making the number of KN-25 launches so far consistent with Pyongyang's missile development practices. The launches conducted this week occurred during military exercises, suggesting that they were operated by military personnel this time around and signaling that the KN-25 is likely now ready for military deployment.
Figure 1. North Korea Large Calibre MRLS Reported Launch Interval Times
It is unclear if the flight tests of July 31 and August 2, 2019, involved the KN-25 or a smaller caliber rocket. Nonetheless, as shown here, the time between the first missile firing and the second for each date generally decreased, indicating a growing confidence in the maturity of the technology and a need to validate the system's ability to launch salvos from a single TEL, which carries four missiles. Image credit: Joseph Dempsey, Twitter post, March 2, 2020, 9:19 AM, https://twitter.com/JosephHDempsey/status/1234483402734260224.
The KN-25 is a battlefield weapon, one that the North Korean army would rely upon for conducting wartime missions. Military planners and commanders would undoubtedly want to know how well the system will work across a variety of operational conditions. This explains why North Korea has flight tested the missile eleven times to date. The KN-02 Toksa, KN-23 and KN-24 are similarly designed for battlefield use, and have been test launched in significant numbers, albeit fewer than is standard practice in other countries. Nonetheless, the testing pattern indicates that North Korea will rely on these missiles for warfighting, should hostilities break out.
The flight trials North Korea has employed in developing its strategic, long-range missiles, namely the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile and the Hwasong-14 and -15 intercontinental systems, included just five, two and one firings, respectively. These strategic systems remain unproven and have limited operational viability. Kim Jong Un cannot be certain that they will work properly if he orders their launch in a crisis. It is, therefore, reasonable to argue that Pyongyang may not view these long-range missiles as viable for nuclear warfighting. Rather, they are likely designed to deter attacks by threatening possible use against the United States under a limited set of circumstances. If North Korea wants to enhance its ability to deter an attack by the United States by threatening to strike the American homeland with nuclear weapons, it will need to increase the credibility of its long-range missiles through a more rigorous set of flight tests. To be sure, the number of test flights a new missile is subjected to provides a reasonable measure of how North Korea plans to use, or threaten to use them in the future, if necessary.
8. N. Korea releases more people from quarantine over virus: report
Excerpts:
The North has not reported any confirmed coronavirus infections, but speculation persists that it might be concealing an outbreak that is possibly spiraling out of control.
North Korea could be vulnerable as it shares a long and porous border with China and lacks key medical supplies and infrastructure to test and treat infected people.
The North's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier on Friday that the country released 221 out of 380 foreigners who were held in quarantine.
Foreign diplomats in Pyongyang were also released earlier last week after a month of isolation as part of efforts to prevent the virus, media reports said.
N. Korea releases more people from quarantine over virus: report | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, March 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's state media said Sunday that it has lifted the quarantine placed on some 3,600 people over new coronavirus concerns.
Around 3,650 people under quarantine have been released as of Thursday, including some 1,020 in Kangwon Province and 2,630 in Chagang Province, according to the North's radio broadcaster, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station.
In mid-February, North Korea doubled the quarantine period for people at risk of being exposed to the virus to a month as it stepped up anti-virus efforts across the country.
The North has not reported any confirmed coronavirus infections, but speculation persists that it might be concealing an outbreak that is possibly spiraling out of control.
North Korea could be vulnerable as it shares a long and porous border with China and lacks key medical supplies and infrastructure to test and treat infected people.
The North's official Korean Central News Agency said earlier on Friday that the country released 221 out of 380 foreigners who were held in quarantine.
Foreign diplomats in Pyongyang were also released earlier last week after a month of isolation as part of efforts to prevent the virus, media reports said.
At least 7,000 people in the North are known to be under quarantine or medical monitoring for apparently showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, according to reports.
9. South Korea Passes Bill to Regulate Cryptocurrency in Line With FATF Standards
Excerpts:
The legislation, now awaiting President Moon Jae-in to sign into law, will enter into force one year from the date of signing. There will be a six-month grace period, the publication conveyed. "This means that all entities affected by the law will need to be in full compliance by September 2021."
The amendment passed the National Assembly's national policy committee in November last year. It imposes anti-money laundering (AML) obligations on cryptocurrency exchanges and service providers, in compliance with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money-laundering watchdog. The FATF issued guidance on crypto assets and related service providers in June last year. All the G20 countries, including South Korea, have declared their commitments to following these standards. During their first meeting this year, the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors also urged countries to implement these guidelines.
South Korea Passes Bill to Regulate Cryptocurrency in Line With FATF Standards - Bitcoin News
South Korea Passes Bill to Regulate Cryptocurrency in Line With FATF Standards
South Korea's National Assembly finally passed a bill that provides a framework for the regulation of cryptocurrencies and exchanges. Crypto service providers will be required to use the real-name verification system and comply with reporting requirements in line with the global cryptocurrency standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
South Korea Will Now Regulate Cryptocurrency
The South Korean National Assembly unanimously passed the
amendment to the Act on Reporting and Use of Specific Financial Information on Thursday, after years of deliberation. The new legislation provides a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and related service providers. Previously, the government had only issued guidelines but there was no actual law passed. "Cryptocurrency now fully legal in South Korea," the News Asia publication
commented, elaborating:
The passing of the amendment signifies the official entry of cryptocurrency trading and holding into the legal system for the South Korean government.
The legislation, now awaiting President Moon Jae-in to sign into law, will enter into force one year from the date of signing. There will be a six-month grace period, the publication conveyed. "This means that all entities affected by the law will need to be in full compliance by September 2021."
South Korea's National Assembly passed the amendment to the Act on Reporting and Use of Specific Financial Information on Thursday amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Act regulates the crypto industry. Image credit: Yonhap News Agency.
The amendment
passed the National Assembly's national policy committee in November last year. It imposes anti-money laundering (AML) obligations on cryptocurrency exchanges and service providers, in compliance with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money-laundering watchdog. The FATF issued
guidance on crypto assets and related service providers in June last year. All the G20 countries, including South Korea, have declared their commitments to following these standards. During their first meeting this year, the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors also
urged countries to implement these guidelines.
The Real Name System
South Korea introduced the
real-name verification system back in January 2018. Although not a requirement, crypto exchanges were encouraged to partner with approved banks to use the system. However, so far, only the largest exchanges - Bithumb, Upbit, Coinone, and Korbit - have been able to use this system, as banks have been reluctant to provide this service to small and medium-sized exchanges.
The new legislation requires crypto exchanges in South Korea to use the real-name verification system introduced in January 2018. However, so far banks have been reluctant to provide this service to small and medium-sized crypto exchanges.
"Real-name accounts prevent money laundering by assigning a verified individual to a single bank account with which they may withdraw and deposit fiat currency from and to an exchange," News Asia explained. "Up until now, anyone could launch a cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea. By September 2019, there were over 70 exchanges in the country." The publication elaborated that under the new law:
Exchanges, trusts, wallet companies, and ICO are now required by law to have a real-name verification partnership with an approved Korean bank.
In addition, regulated entities must obtain an information security management system (ISMS) certification from the Korea Internet Security Agency (KISA).
Meanwhile, the country's Ministry of Economy and Finance, which oversees the country's economic policy, is pushing to amend the tax code to allow the taxation of cryptocurrency, as individuals' crypto profits are
not taxable under the current tax law in South Korea.
What do you think of South Korea passing a bill to fully regulate the crypto industry in line with the FATF standards? Let us know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation, endorsement, or sponsorship of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Images courtesy of Shutterstock and Yonhap News.
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10. North Korea Rush Orders Medical Supplies from China to Battle Coronavirus
Certainly a possible indicator.
North Korea Rush Orders Medical Supplies from China to Battle Coronavirus
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 4, 2020 shows workers disinfecting a bus and parking lots to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province.
STR / KCNA VIA KNS / AFP
Authorities in North Korea have put in a rush order for medical supplies necessary to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus from China, sources within the isolated country told RFA's Korean Service.
North Korea has yet to officially report a single confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, but state media recently reported some 7,000 of its citizens were being closely monitored.
The country has taken many preventative measures, including quarantining entire counties near the Chinese border and canceling major events that would bring large numbers of citizens in close proximity.
The government's priority appears to be keeping the virus out of Pyongyang, especially away from the country's elites.
A warehouse manager in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, just across the river from China, told RFA's Korean Service Friday that a shipment of medical supplies bound for Pyongyang came across the border that day.
"Two large trucks from Dandong Customs in China carrying emergency supplies crossed the Yalu river bridge and arrived here at Sinuiju customs yesterday afternoon," the source said.
"The trucks were carrying quarantine suits, disinfectants and masks because of the coronavirus," said the source.
The source said that the trucks were thoroughly disinfected, then the goods were unloaded and put on another truck.
"They immediately entered a road connected to Pyongyang, so it's pretty obvious that [the medical supplies] will be taken to Pyongyang," said the source.
RFA reported late last month that authorities set up a quarantine center in the 4.25 Hotel in Pyongyang. The hotel, named in honor of the April 25, 1932 foundation of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, has a capacity of 20,000.
Sources said that the focus on Pyongyang is disproportionate to the rest of the country as the country's leadership seeks to protect itself.
The warehouse manager said that the quarantine center at the hotel was still in operation.
"Even now, when Pyongyang citizens get so sick that they are suspected of having COVID-19, they are sent away to the 4.25," the source said.
"The chief of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces is also known to have been placed in isolation and is going through intensive examination by doctors since Feb. 15 after he too became a suspected case," said the source.
The source said that although Pyongyang's medical facilities were top notch relative to the rest of the country, they lack supplies.
"They have hospitals for the exclusive use of high-ranking officials, like Namsan Medical Center. However there are no medicines for the coronavirus and there are not enough quarantine suits for doctors," said the source.
"So if the high-rollers are in such a dire situation, how do you think it is for ordinary people when they get put in quarantine?"
Another source, a North Korean living in Dandong, on the Chinese side of the Yalu river across from Sinuiju told RFA on the same day that the medical supplies were not smuggled. North Korea requested them from China.
"Perhaps it is true that the coronavirus is spreading in North Korea," said the second source.
"I heard from a member of the North Korean Consulate here in Dandong that the North Korean government asked the Chinese government to deliver medical supplies to help fight coronavirus," the second source said, adding that it was still not known whether the supplies were of Chinese origin or if they were supplied by the United Nations or the international community.
The second source also witnessed Chinese trucks loaded with medical supplies cross the Sino-Korean border Thursday.
"Considering the fact that the goods were transferred to a North Korean truck at the customs office in Sinuiju, it's pretty clear that this is neither official nor unofficial trade; this is China's aid to North Korea," the second source said.
The second source also said that the Chinese truck drivers who went to Sinuiju were tested for coronavirus and placed in quarantine for two weeks upon their return to China, lending credence to the likelihood that the virus has entered at least North Korea's border regions.
Reported by Hyemin Son for RFA's Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
11. The world's most dangerous golf hole is next to a demilitarized zone
Have to put this one out there every so often.
The world's most dangerous golf hole is next to a demilitarized zone
Camp Bonifas has a 192-yard golf hole, but this is far from your typical par-3.
Nestled amid a triangle of live mines, an 18-foot-high security fence topped with concertina wire, a six-foot deep trench, an empty machine-gun nest, a ginseng field, an army bunker, tigers, a vampire deer and something called a man-bear-pig lies a 192-yard par-3.
And, oh yeah, less than 500 yards to the south is the Demilitarized Zone, the buffer that separates North and South Korea.
This is golf in a war zone. Welcome to Camp Bonifas.
The base was named after Captain Arthur Bonifas, an American who was slain by the North Korean Army in 1976 with pick handles, knives, clubs and axes. The Axe Murder Incident, as it's referred to, started as a dispute over tree pruning. The Americans trimmed a poplar tree that the Koreans claimed was planted by Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder.
Twenty North Korean army members crossed what's known as the "Bridge of No Return," which straddles the military demarcation line between the two nations and was used for prisoner exchanges during the Korean War. Once they crossed, the North Koreans used some of the axes left by Bonifas, and attacked him and fellow American Mark Barrett. Both were bludgeoned to death. The Americans responded with Operation Paul Bunyan, a sort of green-thumbed show of force - they cut the rest of the tree down, minus the stump, and the Koreans stood down.
Even if you hit the green, it's no easy task making it sit on AstroTurf.
But the golf course - or, more accurately, the golf hole - remains a necessary diversion for American and South Korean soldiers stationed there. Because it is these soldiers, located less than a mile-and-a-half from the North Korean border, who would potentially be among the very first casualties should war break out.
Despite the surroundings, the course is functional. The tee box sits 50 feet above the fairway, according to
ESPN, which itself is on top of an empty machine-gun nest. The course is all artificial turf. Though short in distance, it's a seriously tough hole (and we're not just saying that because of, you know, the whole war thing). Strong wind gusts from the North Korean side makes no shot easy. There's a reason Sports Illustrated called it "
the most dangerous hole in golf."
The hole was built to serve as a distraction, if such a thing can even exist here. This is a place where soldiers sleep with boots on and laces tied, where a colonel once said that, according to the New York Times, "our ability to survive a strike on Camp Bonifas is minimal." This is a base with no families allowed. It's nothing like nearby Camp Casey in South Korea, which boasts a nine-hole golf course, fast food restaurants and a movie theatre.
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A view of the tunnel that goes down the right side of the hole.
But it's not all barren. There's actually a surprising number of tourists who stream through, nearly 1,000 a day, so much of the troops' duty is giving tours, according to the Washington Post. (They must memorize a 13-page history of the Korean War before they can start.) There's also a gift shop with DMZ-related paraphernalia.
They get more famous visitors, too. Andrew Luck and Randy Johnson have stopped by. Even Paula Creamer popped in to play a round. "It's so humbling because the way I look at them, I feel like I have the most respect," Creamer told the LPGA website. "I don't know how they do it being so far away from their families and keeping your country safe and fighting for us. Their faces light up when you talk about sport in general but being a female golfer coming in there and being able to hit chip shots or balls on the range and play the toughest par-3 in the world, that's pretty cool."
But for all the visitors and tours, the gifts and Korean War history recitations, the hole remains a place where North Korean soldiers are across the way, ready at a moment's notice to fire, where you must play a "round" of golf with a round of bullets accessible, where the drum of war replaces the game's typical tranquility.
This is golf - a diversion from life's stresses. But it's also a war zone. There's no other 192 yards quite like it.
FDD is a Washington-based nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
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."
Quarantine officials in full protective gear on Sunday prepare for transporting coronavirus patients from Hanmaeum Apartment in Daegu to treatment facilities. The apartment complex has been under cohort quarantine as 46 out of 142 tenants were confirmed infected with Covid-19. All 46 patients are Shincheonji adherents and 94 out of 142 tenants are Shincheonji followers. [NEWS1]New coronavirus infections took a significant dip Sunday as health officials announced 272 new patients, the lowest figure in 12 days.
The Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital in Gyeonggi was shut down on Sunday as 13 people were confirmed infected with Covid-19 from Friday to Sunday. [YONHAP]Cohort isolation refers to the lockdown of an entire medical institution or building to prevent the spread of a contagious disease. During this outbreak, the measure had usually been used for hospitals or nursing homes with mass infections.
