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Quotes of the Day:
"To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult."
– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
“Satirists, be careful. In the 1931 film by Rene Clair “Vive la Liberte” a song says, “Work is freedom.” In 1940 the sign on the gates to Auschwitz said: “Arbeit macht frei.”
– Stanisław Jerzy Lec
"A man can be destroyed but not defeated. Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
– Ernest Hemmingway
1. Yoon presides over emergency meeting on Mideast crisis
2. Defense chief says N. Korea's hypersonic missile 'unsuccessful' in last-stage glide flight
3. N. Korea's health minister heads for Russia: KCNA
4. HD Hyundai to co-develop unmanned surface vessel with U.S. AI firm Palantir
5. South Korea election: President Yoon down but not out
6. Foreign minister unveils diplomatic agenda to ambassadors
7. NK leader's meeting with China's top legislator raises Kim-Xi summit possibility
8. N. Korea elevates high-level exchanges with China, Russia
9. The ASEAN Regional Forum and Korea’s Global Pivotal State vision
10. US aircraft carrier joins 3-way naval drill with Korea, Japan
11. S. Korea 'strongly condemns' Iran's attack on Israel
12. Rising Corporate Preference For Macs Draws Attention Of Advanced Hackers, Including Those From Kim Jong Un's North Korea: Report - Apple
13. Can North Korea launch a nuclear strike?
14. Kim Jong Un "desperate" to control narrative in North Korea: US official
1. Yoon presides over emergency meeting on Mideast crisis
No one can ignore the Middle East, There can be no pivots in the globalized interconnected world. What happens in the MIddle East has global direct, and 2d and 3d order, effects (just as if anything happens on the Korean peninsula - war or regime collapse - will have global effects).
(LEAD) Yoon presides over emergency meeting on Mideast crisis | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · April 14, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with foreign ministry's statement in last two paras)
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday presided over an emergency meeting to discuss the economic and security impact of heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's recent missile and drone strikes against Israel, his office said.
The meeting was held to discuss the global security and economic situation following the latest Mideast crisis and its impact on South Korea's economy and security, it added.
Noting the growing uncertainty of the global economy arising from the geopolitical instability in the Middle East, the participants agreed to keep close tabs on the impact on the international oil prices and exchange rate movements and to respond quickly to its effect on the economy, including supply chains.
Yoon also instructed officials to thoroughly prepare safety measures for South Korean residents, travelers and vessels in the region.
President Yoon Suk Yeol presides over an emergency meeting on April 14, 2024, to discuss the economic and security impact of heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's recent missile and drone strikes against Israel, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok presided over a meeting with senior ministry officials in Seoul, to discuss the possible economic impact caused by Iran's strike.
Choi said his ministry will operate a joint emergency response team of related agencies to closely monitor the financial market, and to examine its "contingency plan" to better prepare for any urgent situations.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) also said it will keep a close watch on the market situation, voicing concerns that the foreign exchange market could see heightened volatility.
"We are keeping a close watch on exchange rate movements, and we may take measures to stabilize the market, if necessary," a senior official at the BOK told Yonhap News Agency.
The foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" Iran's attacks on Israel.
"The government is closely monitoring the situation with deep concern and urges all parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation," the ministry said in a release.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (C) presides over an emergency meeting on April 14, 2024, to discuss the economic and security impact of heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's recent missile and drone strikes against Israel, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · April 14, 2024
2. Defense chief says N. Korea's hypersonic missile 'unsuccessful' in last-stage glide flight
Defense chief says N. Korea's hypersonic missile 'unsuccessful' in last-stage glide flight | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 14, 2024
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said Sunday that North Korea's hypersonic missile launched earlier this month was "unsuccessful in its last glide flight" but predicted that the North's hypersonic missile with an intermediate range could be "successful one day."
Shin made the assessment during an interview with public broadcaster KBS after the North claimed it successfully test-fired the Hwasongpho-16B, a new intermediate-range ballistic missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead.
"Based on a detailed analysis by the U.S. and South Korea, we assess (North Korea's hypersonic missile) to be unsuccessful in its last-stage glide flight," he said.
He described that a hypersonic missile has to maneuver at a speed of at least Mach 5 in its final diving stage.
"(The hypersonic missile) is still in its incomplete stages but since the North is focusing on its development, we predict that they will be successful one day," he added.
On April 3, North Korea's state media announced that the "hypersonic glide warhead reached its first peak at a height of 101.1 kilometers and the second at 72.3 kilometers while making a 1,000-km-long flight as planned to accurately hit waters in the East Sea."
The South Korean military said the missile flew about 600 kilometers before falling into the East Sea and called the North's claims partially "exaggerated," although it said Pyongyang appears to have made some technological progress in its hypersonic weapons program.
A hypersonic missile is usually hard to intercept with existing missile defense shields. It travels at a speed of at least Mach 5 -- five times the speed of sound -- and is designed to be maneuverable on unpredictable flight paths and fly at low altitudes.
North Korea has been ramping up its weapons tests this year, including the launches of cruise missiles from sea and land and firing drills involving super-large multiple rocket launchers.
A Hwasongpho-16B, a new type of intermediate-range solid-fueled ballistic missile equipped with a newly developed hypersonic gliding warhead, is launched under the inspection of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on April 2, 2024, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. "The hypersonic glide warhead, separated from the missile after its launch towards the northeast at an army unit's training field on the outskirts of Pyongyang, reached its first peak at the height of 101.1 kilometers and the second 72.3 kilometers while making 1,000-km-long flight as scheduled to accurately hit the waters of the East Sea," the agency reported. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 14, 2024
3. N. Korea's health minister heads for Russia: KCNA
Not sure how help the Rusians can provide for north Korea's health sector.
N. Korea's health minister heads for Russia: KCNA | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · April 14, 2024
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's health minister left for Russia to bolster cooperation in the fields of science and medicine, the North's state media reported Sunday.
The North's delegation, led by Public Health Minister Jong Mu-rim, headed for Russia on Saturday, the North's Korean Central News Agency said, without elaborating further.
After holding their first summit in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok in April 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held another summit at Russia's Vostochny spaceport in September last year.
The two nations have since been strengthening cooperation in various fields amid growing concerns that Pyongyang has provided weapons to Moscow for its use in Russia's war against Ukraine.
North Korea's Public Health Minister Jong Mu-rim (R) holds talks with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora, in this photo posted on a Facebook site of the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · April 14, 2024
4. HD Hyundai to co-develop unmanned surface vessel with U.S. AI firm Palantir
An interesting partnership for an interesting concept.
HD Hyundai to co-develop unmanned surface vessel with U.S. AI firm Palantir | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chang Dong-woo · April 14, 2024
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. said Sunday it has partnered with U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) company Palantir Technologies Inc. to co-develop an unmanned surface vessel (USV) for maritime surveillance.
Under the memorandum of understanding signed recently, the two companies will cooperate in developing a USV for maritime surveillance by 2026, and later expand their partnership to produce a USV for use in combat at sea.
HD Hyundai said USVs are considered a game-changer in future naval warfare, as they replace traditional manned vessels to undertake various missions in hazardous zones, including surveillance, mine detection and removal, and combat.
For the project, HD Hyundai said it plans to integrate the autonomous navigation software from its subsidiary Avikus with Palantir's AI-based mission autonomy technology.
Palantir Technologies has served major clients such as the U.S. Department of Defense, the Navy and the Army. It has participated in projects such as the modernization of integrated combat systems for the American Navy through collaboration with Lockheed Martin.
Joo Won-ho, head of the naval special ship business unit at HD Hyundai Heavy, said, "The USV market is a blue ocean market where advanced technology plays a decisive role." He added HD Hyundai and Palantir will pioneer this field based on achievements and trust accumulated by both companies.
This photo provided by HD Hyundai on April 14, 2024, shows Joo Won-ho (L), head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' naval and special ship business unit, and Palantir Technologies Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Taylor at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony for the companies' joint development of an unmanned surface vessel held in Washington, D.C. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Chang Dong-woo · April 14, 2024
5. South Korea election: President Yoon down but not out
Slight optimism but be wary of Lee.
Excerpts:
The leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, is already looking ahead to 2027, when Yoon is due to step down after completing the single five-year term granted by the South Korean constitution.
Lee will work to make his party "appear reasonable," Kim Sang Woo, a former politician with the left-leaning South Korean Congress for New Politics and now a member of the board of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Foundation, told DW.
"The best way to achieve that may be to keep the debates polite and low-key, so that he and the party can translate the landslide they have just won in these midterm elections into a similar win in the presidential vote in three years," he said.
Yoon, similarly, needs to reform his image and come across as being "less arrogant, less condescending" because those attributes have clearly made the electorate "angry," Kim said.
Even though he is barred from running again, Yoon will need to "be humble and listen to people" in order to give his party a fighting chance.
South Korea election: President Yoon down but not out – DW – 04/12/2024
The allies of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have suffered a resounding defeat and lost their majority in parliament. Yoon might yet get a chance to recover, however, as his rivals battle legal issues.
Julian Ryall
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
DW
The campaign was bruising, the ruling bloc's defeat was crushing and now South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is contrite — after his People Power Party (PPP) lost its parliamentary majority on Wednesday, Yoon promised to reform the nation to better reflect the public's will.
"I will humbly accept the will of the people expressed in the general election and will strive to reform the administration and do my best to stabilize the economy and enhance people's livelihoods," Yoon said in a statement delivered by his chief of staff.
This is a tall order for a leader without a parliamentary majority. The scale of the defeat — the PPP and allied parties won just 108 seats in the 300-strong National Assembly — means the opposition can, if it wishes, block any legislative initiatives for the remainder of Yoon's three years in office and take every opportunity to score political points.
And Yoon's rivals are already on the move. Just hours after the election, Cho Kuk, the head of the newly established Rebuilding Korea Party, demanded an investigation into Kim Keon Hee, Yoon's wife. The case is in connection with allegations of manipulating stock prices of a car dealership in 2012 and accepting an expensive Dior handbag from a left-wing pastor in 2022.
Cho seeks revenge
Many believe Cho is on a revenge mission. Cho was appointed justice minister in 2019, but was only in office for 35 days before resigning in the face of allegations of tax evasion and falsifying his daughter's academic achievements to help her obtain a place at a prestigious medical university.
Leader of South Korea's main opposition party attacked
Those investigations of Cho and his family — which led to his wife being sentenced to a prison term and Cho losing his job in the law faculty of Seoul National University — were conducted by Yoon, who was then chief prosecutor.
Cho has managed to stage a surprising political comeback, launching his Rebuilding Korea Party only a month before the election and winning 12 seats as part of an alliance with the larger Democratic Party.
Cho Kuk (middle) was ousted as justice minister over an investigation led by YoonImage: Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo/picture alliance
Settling old scores, however, might not be the best strategy for the opposition.
Newspaper editorials in the last two days have broadly called on the main parties to find ways to work together for the good of the nation, to try to move on from the sometimes vicious electioneering of recent weeks and reduce the polarization in politics.
'Be humble, listen to the people'
The leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, is already looking ahead to 2027, when Yoon is due to step down after completing the single five-year term granted by the South Korean constitution.
Lee will work to make his party "appear reasonable," Kim Sang Woo, a former politician with the left-leaning South Korean Congress for New Politics and now a member of the board of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Foundation, told DW.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung survived a stabbing attack in Busan in JanuaryImage: Yonhap/REUTERS
"The best way to achieve that may be to keep the debates polite and low-key, so that he and the party can translate the landslide they have just won in these midterm elections into a similar win in the presidential vote in three years," he said.
Yoon, similarly, needs to reform his image and come across as being "less arrogant, less condescending" because those attributes have clearly made the electorate "angry," Kim said.
Even though he is barred from running again, Yoon will need to "be humble and listen to people" in order to give his party a fighting chance.
This will mean more focus on policy differences, such as Yoon's proposals for tax cuts, or the Democratic Party's push for funding renewable energy sources, which clashes with the government's preference for nuclear power. Yoon and his allies also have a firmer stance on North Korea than their rivals from the liberal Democratic Party, and the latest PPP government has moved the country closer to the US and Japan. Senior members of the Democratic Party are instead calling for improved ties with China and for Seoul to avoid involvement in Beijing's claims to Taiwan.
Opposition leaders also in trouble
Park Jung Won, a professor of international Law at Dankook University, believes Yoon can claw back some of the popularity that won him the presidency before the 2027 election. The professor points out that Democratic Party leader Lee also faces allegations of illegal activity.
"There is huge judicial risk attached to Lee" over a high-profile corruption case linked to a land development project during Lee's time as mayor of Seongnam, Park told DW.
What's behind new tensions between North and South Korea
Lee — who made his latest court appearance the day before the election — has also been linked to the illegal transfer of funds to North Korea, although he has denied all the charges against him.
"I have never seen a political party with so many legal issues hanging over it," he said.
Similarly, a cloud of scandal still hangs over ally Cho Kuk, Park added. Park believes the conflict between the new parliament and the president will escalate.
"Lee may be relatively quiet at the moment, but the No. 1 priority for both [Cho] and Lee is revenge against Yoon, including the possibility of impeachment," he added. "The next few years are going to be challenging."
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
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DW
6. Foreign minister unveils diplomatic agenda to ambassadors
Here is how I would describe Korea to the Ambassadors:
Korea is a global pivotal state that chooses to be a peaceful nuclear power, sides with like minded democracies, and is a partner in the arsenal of democracy while seeking to uphold the rules based internal order.
Foreign minister unveils diplomatic agenda to ambassadors
The Korea Times · April 13, 2024
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, front row center, poses with some 60 ambassadors to South Korea and government officials during the 2024 Korea National Diplomatic Academy Meets Ambassadors event in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By Kim Hyun-bin
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul called on ambassadors from various countries for greater understanding and support for South Korea's foreign policies, Friday, underscoring the importance of diplomatic dialogue and collaboration in navigating global challenges.
He made the comments in his address given to the 2024 Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) Meets Ambassadors event in Seoul, hosted by the KNDA for the first time. Approximately 60 ambassadors to South Korea and other dignitaries including Park Cheol-hee, the chancellor of the KNDA, attended the event.
“There really is no overstating the importance of making sure that resident diplomats are well-informed about our foreign policy priorities. You play a vital role in strengthening mutual understanding and the bonds of friendship between Korea and the countries you represent,” Cho said.
“So, it's a privilege for me to kick off the first 2024 KNDA Meets Ambassadors series and provide an overview of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s foreign policy priorities.”
Cho's address highlighted the country's commitment to playing an active role in shaping the international order during a period of geopolitical and geoeconomic transition.
Emphasizing the vision of of the country as a global pivotal state, he outlined key priorities across various diplomatic fronts.
The minister also underscored the importance of strengthening the rules-based international order, advocating for initiatives such as cooperation through NATO for joint threat response, a proactive role in the U.N. Security Council and strategic communication for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Addressing the Korean Peninsula issue, Cho outlined South Korea's stance on North Korean denuclearization, emphasizing a multifaceted approach that includes bold initiatives, dialogue and human rights considerations. He also reiterated Seoul's commitment to maintaining the regime of sanctions against Pyongyang while pursuing a vision of a unified Korean Peninsula.
On the economic front, the minister stressed the importance of enhancing economic security through initiatives such as building international solidarity infrastructure, participating in the establishment of digital and AI norms and supporting the global expansion of South Korean small and venture enterprises.
The Korea Times · April 13, 2024
7. NK leader's meeting with China's top legislator raises Kim-Xi summit possibility
KIm must play all sides and cultivate his relationship with both of his partners in the axis of dictators.
NK leader's meeting with China's top legislator raises Kim-Xi summit possibility
The Korea Times · April 14, 2024
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, shakes hands with China’s Chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji during their meeting in Pyongyang, Saturday. Yonhap
Kim Jong-un’s trip to China could occur later this year, say experts
By Kwak Yeon-soo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s last week meeting with China's No. 3 official Zhao Leji in Pyongyang suggests deepening bilateral relations, analysts said Sunday, raising speculation that Kim might be preparing for a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.
On Saturday, Kim met with Zhao, China’s top legislator who led a delegation of senior officials to North Korea for a three-day trip as this year marks the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
“Zhao’s visit to Pyongyang holds a significance in demonstrating the invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship and further developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries as required by the times,” Kim was quoted as saying by the North’s state-run mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency, Saturday. The DPRK stands for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kim’s meeting with Zhao has raised the possibility that discussions regarding Kim’s potential visit to China are underway. Kim and Xi have not met since the latter last visited Pyongyang in 2019.
China's Zhao Leji speaks during the opening ceremony for the North Korea-China Friendship Year at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, Friday. Yonhap
Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Zhao’s visit is not only a symbol of friendship and strengthening diplomatic relations but also reiterating their solidarity against the U.S. influence in the region.
“Zhao is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Pyongyang since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020,” Hong said. “There could be a potential meeting between Kim and Xi following the latter’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in May and after Putin’s visit to North Korea.”
Putin, who met with Kim in Russia last year, is highly anticipated to make a reciprocal visit to North Korea this year amid growing military cooperation between the two countries.
Hong added that Pyongyang and Beijing are ready to promote stronger relations amid growing security cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan.
“China wants to show that it still has leverage on North Korea and North Korea wants to reinforce ties with China to safeguard its interests. They share the same goal of seeking attention from the U.S. ahead of its election,” he said.
Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University, said the in-person meeting with Zhao could be seen as a preparatory meeting for Kim’s future visit to Beijing.
“The two are intensifying high-level exchanges and strengthening strategic coordination, but in a more discreet way compared with Pyongyang-Moscow relations. It seems likely that North Korean leader Kim may visit China later this year,” Lim said.
The professor added that there is a possibility that two countries are discussing ways to deepen security cooperation in the region. “There is a possibility that North Korea and China discussed tightening security ties as they seek to counter trilateral security cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan,” he said.
However, some observers expressed doubts about the potential Kim-Xi summit taking place.
“Xi could have sent other high-ranking officials such as China’s top diplomat Wang Yi if he had considered holding a summit with Kim. Sending China’s No. 3 official suggests that he sent Zhao to meet with Kim instead of himself to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties,” said Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.
The Korea Times · April 14, 2024
8. N. Korea elevates high-level exchanges with China, Russia
No surprise at all. No one should think Kim is prioritizing one over the other. He will use each to suit his interests.
N. Korea elevates high-level exchanges with China, Russia
koreaherald.com · by Lee Jaeeun · April 14, 2024
By Lee Jaeeun
Published : April 14, 2024 - 15:02
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Saturday, shows China's top legislator, Zhao Leji, meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, Saturday. (Yonhap)
North Korea has been intensifying high-level diplomatic exchanges with China and Russia, as evidenced by the visit of China's third-highest-ranking official to Pyongyang and the dispatch of ministers to Russia this week.
China's No. 3 official, Zhao Leji, who arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday for a three-day visit to the neighboring country, met for a luncheon with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday.
The KCNA reported that Kim had pleasant chats with Zhao and other members of the delegation in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere, further deepening the friendship.
Kim stressed that the visit by Zhao "is of very weighty significance in demonstrating the invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship and further developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries as required by the times," according to the KCNA's English dispatch.
The DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Zhao then expressed his heartfelt deep thanks to Kim for attaching the utmost importance and paying deep attention to the delegation so that it could achieve the greatest success during the visit, according to the KCNA.
The two discussed the "issue of boosting the multifaceted exchange and cooperation for developing the friendly and cooperative relations dear to the two parties and two countries into more viable ties, occasioned by the 'year of DPRK-China friendship,' and other important issues of mutual concern," the KCNA reported.
Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping have previously designated this year as the "Year of DPRK-China Friendship" marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Chinese delegation led by Zhao also attended the opening ceremony to commemorate the year of DPRK-China Friendship at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang on Friday.
Last week, China’s Foreign Ministry said Zhao’s visit reflected the “deep friendship” between the two countries and the “great importance China attaches to its relations” with North Korea.
Zhao's trip to Pyongyang is the highest-level Chinese visit to North Korea in nearly five years since Kim met with Xi in 2019.
Meanwhile, North Korea has accelerated high-level exchanges with Russia. The North Korean delegation led by Health Minister Jong Mu-rim departed for Russia on Saturday for talks on health cooperation, KCNA reported Sunday.
Russia's Embassy in Pyongyang said Saturday that Jong will hold discussions on ways to cooperate with Russia in the fields of science and medicine, and the delegation will also tour the Center for Family Planning and Reproduction in Moscow, which provides medical services for pregnancy, childbirth and infertility, during its trip.
The trip by Jong followed closely on the heels of a delegation from the North Korean Education Ministry, headed by Minister Kim Sung-du, returning to Pyongyang from Russia on Saturday.
These recent exchanges between high-ranking officials signify the ongoing strengthening of bilateral exchanges, particularly since the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.
In January, North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui paid a visit to Russia for discussions with Putin, while in March, a North Korean delegation led by External Economic Relations Minister Yun Jong-ho journeyed to Moscow. Additionally, a delegation led by Russian Vice Culture Minister Andrei Maluishev, along with an art troupe, visited North Korea in March as well.
koreaherald.com · by Lee Jaeeun · April 14, 2024
9. The ASEAN Regional Forum and Korea’s Global Pivotal State vision
The ASEAN Regional Forum and Korea’s Global Pivotal State vision - The Korea Times
koreatimes.co.kr
By Suh Chung-ha
Suh Chung-ha
The 16th Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Experts and Eminent Persons (EEPs) is scheduled to take place in Seoul on April 25 and 26. As a 1.5-track knowledge community, this gathering occurs annually, with ASEAN and non-ASEAN member countries alternating as co-chairs. Comprised of professionals with expertise in diplomacy and security affairs, EEP members are nominated by each ARF member state on a voluntary basis. The primary task of this body is to formulate recommendations based on discussions regarding the medium to long-term development direction of the ARF and key security issues relevant to the interests and concerns of the ARF. These recommendations are then submitted to the ARF Foreign Ministerial Meeting.
The ARF stands as a prominent forum symbolizing multilateral security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Established in 1994 under ASEAN leadership against the backdrop of the changing international security environment post-Cold War, it reflects the recognition in East Asia of the need for multilateral security cooperation akin to that in Europe. While similar attempts have been made in Northeast Asia, they have unfortunately not borne fruit beyond temporary initiatives. The South Korean government, too, has consistently made various proposals for multilateral security cooperation but has yet to institutionalize a sustainable framework.
International relations experts attribute significant progress in multilateral security cooperation in Southeast Asia, compared to Northeast Asia, to the pivotal role played by ASEAN. Despite persistent post-Cold War regional conflicts and security threats hindering attempts at multilateral security cooperation throughout East Asia, Southeast Asian countries, bound by ASEAN, have facilitated dialogue and cooperation with major extra-regional powers such as the United States, China and Russia, laying the groundwork for multilateral security cooperation. Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa stated in his book “Does ASEAN Matter?” that “another illustration, through ASEAN, of Southeast Asian countries from objects of major power rivalries to moulders of the region’s architecture has been the ARF.”
Currently, the ARF has evolved into a global security forum both geographically and substantively. It comprises member countries from North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Its discussions encompass not only issues in the Indo-Pacific region but also global security concerns. Last year’s ARF Foreign Ministerial Meeting discussed regional security issues, such as North Korean missile testing and South China Sea disputes, along with global security issues including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The ARF serves as both a crucial and challenging arena for our multilateral diplomacy. Firstly, it is unique as the only regional forum where both North and South Korea are members. Consequently, it has garnered attention as a rare channel for communication between North and South Korean Foreign Ministers. Moreover, given issues vital to our diplomacy and security, such as North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, consistently feature on the agenda, the ARF has been the platform to test our diplomatic capabilities to seek support from diverse member countries for our positions on those issues. Additionally, with the participation of foreign ministers from key regional countries, the ARF Foreign Ministerial Meeting provides a valuable opportunity to address bilateral or multilateral pending issues and promote bilateral relations.
The hosting of the upcoming ARF EEPs Meeting presents us with a special opportunity to implement our vision for a global pivotal state (GPS). Through in-depth discussions aligned with ARF’s interests and the presentation of reports containing fresh and innovative ideas, we can contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of ARF meetings, often disparaged as mere talk shops. In particular, this meeting is anticipated to serve as a platform for addressing emerging security issues such as economic security and cybersecurity, thereby paving the way for ARF’s increasingly constructive role in responding to global polycrises. Last but not least, the upcoming ARF EEPs Meeting marking the 30th anniversary of ARF’s establishment and the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK dialogue relations this year, will serve as a catalyst for realizing the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) launched by South Korea to foster a more comprehensive partnership with ASEAN.
Suh Chung-ha, a former Korean ambassador to Singapore and a former president of Jeju Peace Institute, is now a visiting professor at Dankook University and a member of ARF EEPs.
koreatimes.co.kr
10. US aircraft carrier joins 3-way naval drill with Korea, Japan
US aircraft carrier joins 3-way naval drill with Korea, Japan
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · April 14, 2024
US Rear Adm. Alexander says ‘well-prepared to defend ourselves, allies’
By Kim Arin
Published : April 14, 2024 - 18:42
An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet takes off from the deck of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt during a trilateral naval exercise with South Korea and Japan in the high seas south of Jeju Island on Thursday.
By Kim Arin and Joint Press Corps.
ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT -- The South Korean and US navies and the Japanese self-defense maritime force held a trilateral exercise in the high seas south of Jeju Island Thursday and Friday, in a combined effort to counter underwater as well as nuclear and missile threats by North Korea.
According to South Korea’s Navy, six warships from the three countries participated in the exercise -- including the Aegis destroyer Seoae Ryu Sung-ryong of South Korea; the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and Aegis destroyers Howard, Russell and Daniel Inouye Russell from the US; and Japan's destroyer Ariake.
The catapults on the deck of Theodore Roosevelt accelerate the launch of fighters to 249 kilometers per hour in three seconds, an aircraft crew member explained.
The carrier can take about 90 aircraft. On deck were F/A-18 fighters, EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft and MH-60 maritime operations helicopters.
The two-day exercise is part of a multi-year trilateral exercise plan established by the leaders of the three countries at the August 2023 Camp David summit.
“The exercise was conducted with a focus on enhancing the joint response capabilities of South Korea, the US and Japan in the context of rising nuclear and missile nuclear threats, including North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches,” the Navy said.
Speaking to reporters, Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander of US Navy carrier strike group nine, said Thursday “the focus, the purpose of the exercise” is “allies coming together to work together to improve interoperability between our ships.”
“This is an opportunity for us to improve our tactical proficiency, an opportunity for us to meet our key allies in the region -- the three-like minded navies that believe in peace and stability in the western Pacific -- face-to-face, which is absolutely critical in a time of crisis,” he said.
More specifically, he said that they worked on undersea warfare, maritime interdiction operations, search and rescue operations, communication and data-sharing, and liaison officer exchanges.
But when pressed for details, he refrained from directly addressing how the trilateral operation might act as a deterrence against North Korea or China.
“This is a routine operation in international waters. This has been well-planned out, well-coordinated,” he said. “I would once again, just reiterate that with the United States, working with our allies in the regions, South Korea and Japan, we are well-prepared, well-postured to defend ourselves and defend our allies.”
Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander of the Strike Group Nine, speaks to reporters aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet prepares to take off from the deck of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt during a trilateral naval exercise with South Korea and Japan in the high seas south of Jeju Island on Thursday. The US Navy invited reporters from the three countries aboard the carrier to see the fighter jet’s takeoff, landing drills as well as its interior.
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · April 14, 2024
11. S. Korea 'strongly condemns' Iran's attack on Israel
S. Korea 'strongly condemns' Iran's attack on Israel
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · April 14, 2024
By Ji Da-gyum
Published : April 14, 2024 - 18:04
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk speaks during a regular press briefing in Seoul on April 2. (Yonhap)
The South Korean government issued a statement Sunday denouncing Iran's direct drone and missile attack on Israeli territory late Saturday, urging all involved parties to exercise restraint.
"The government strongly condemns Iran's massive attack on Israel that took place on April 13 local time," read the statement issued under the name of a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry in Seoul.
"The government is closely monitoring the situation with grave concerns and urges all parties directly concerned to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from aggravating."
The Foreign Ministry also held a meeting to review the safety of Korean nationals in Israel and discuss measures to strengthen safety at 11 a.m. local time Sunday.
Government Representative for Korean Nationals Overseas Protection and Consular Affairs Hong Seok-in presided over the meeting.
The meeting convened hours after Iran's unprecedented large-scale and first direct attack on Israeli territory late Saturday when it launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles.
Additionally, the Foreign Ministry announced the activation of a task force for the protection of Korean nationals overseas as of 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
In a separate statement issued at 4 p.m., the ministry reported no damages among around 500 Korean nationals residing in Israel, pledging to "continue to devise necessary measures to ensure their safety."
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · April 14, 2024
12. Rising Corporate Preference For Macs Draws Attention Of Advanced Hackers, Including Those From Kim Jong Un's North Korea: Report - Apple
Rising Corporate Preference For Macs Draws Attention Of Advanced Hackers, Including Those From Kim Jong Un's North Korea: Report - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
benzinga.com · by Ananya Gairola
The increasing use of Apple Inc.’s AAPL Macs in corporate environments is drawing the attention of hackers, who are developing more sophisticated cross-platform tactics to exploit the Mac’s security vulnerabilities.
What Happened: The Mac’s reputation for robust security is both a valuable asset and a growing concern as more companies adopt the platform. The Transparency, Consent, and Control or TCC framework, a key part of macOS’s security architecture, is being manipulated by hackers to make Macs more susceptible to attacks, reported AppleInsider, citing Interpres Security’s findings.
According to the findings, the TCC framework, designed to protect user privacy by managing app permissions, has vulnerabilities that can be exploited for unauthorized access to the system. This has led to an increase in attacks on corporate users, such as developers and engineers, using tactics like social engineering.
Despite Apple’s efforts to address these issues through security updates, hackers, including the Lazarus Group, associated with Kim Jong Un-ruled North Korea, continue to focus on Macs in corporate environments.
Another potential attack vector is Finder, which has access to Full Disk Access by default without appearing in Security & Privacy permissions, remaining hidden from users. If Terminal access is granted to Finder, it becomes permanent unless manually revoked, allowing an actor to exploit Finder to gain control over the Terminal and secure disk access, the report noted.
Why It Matters: Last year, it was reported that Russian hackers had a new tool that could give full access to all the contents on Apple’s MacBooks, iMacs, and other Mac devices. This tool was up for sale for $60,000 at the time, indicating the growing interest of threat actors in exploiting Mac vulnerabilities.
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As the use of Macs in corporate environments continues to rise, it is crucial for companies to implement specific strategies to protect their systems from TCC abuse. These include keeping System Integrity Protection on, updating the operating system to address vulnerabilities and implementing the principle of least privilege to limit user and application access rights.
It is also essential to conduct regular security awareness training to educate users about phishing attempts and other common tactics used in social engineering attacks. This is particularly important as systems are only as secure as their weakest link, which is often human error, the report stated.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
benzinga.com · by Ananya Gairola
13. Can North Korea launch a nuclear strike?
Sunday
April 14, 2024
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Published: 14 Apr. 2024, 19:35
Can North Korea launch a nuclear strike?
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-04-14/opinion/columns/Can-North-Korea-launch-a-nuclear-strike/2025137
Park Won-gon
The author is a professor of North Korea studies at Ewha Womans University.
On April 2, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un claimed that the country succeeded in “nuclear weaponization of all types of missiles,” including hypersonic “Hwasong-16 Type-B missiles.” With the developments, North Korea now can fire solid fuel-based short, intermediate and long range missiles tipped with maneuvering warheads, he said.
If proven true, his claim signifies the North’s formidable nuclear attack capability — evading South Korea-U.S. interceptor missiles and conducting a surprise attack at any time. Kim’s remarks came after his definition last year of inter-Korean relations as “being between two hostile states.” On February 8 — the North’s Military Foundation Day — Kim made it official. “Our national goal is to conquer and control the whole South Korean territory,” he underscored.
Kim moved on to check the North’s invasion scenario after South Korea and the United States started their annual Freedom Shield joint drills last month. Despite Pyongyang’s apparent reluctance to reveal its operation plan in detail, the recent developments in the North, including a spate of missile provocations, clearly suggest the future direction of its war against the South.
The aggression will be triggered by a military clash around the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea. If the South responds to the North’s provocation, Pyongyang will most likely fire its long-range artillery or multiple rocket launchers deployed along the western front at Seoul and Gyeonggi, followed by a massive penetration by ground troops led by tanks and armored vehicles — and possibly accompanied by the use of low-yield tactical nuclear weapons so as to take control in the initial stages of the war.
The United States is required to send large-scale reinforcements in times of crisis on the Korean Peninsula, according to the allies’ joint wartime operation plan (Oplan). Given the North’s primary fear about the reinforcements, it will do whatever it can to block them. That’s why North Korea has been bent on developing intermediate-range missiles that can strike as far as Guam, a major air base for U.S. strategic assets in the Pacific, and the rear bases of the United Nation’s Command in Japan.
Kim recently took steps precisely based on that scenario. Following his “field guidance” on March 6 for a military operation training base on the western front, which is commissioned to launch attacks on the NLL, he visited an artillery unit the next day, observed a tank unit exercise on March 13, and five days later, closely monitored a shelling drill of super-large multiple rocket launchers allegedly capable of firing tactical nukes. Kim then went to see the engine test of a new hypersonic missile on March 19 and watched the test launch on April 2 of a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile that can strike Japan and Guam.
The saber-rattling from Kim makes us wonder if North Korea can invade South Korea. Did Kim really make a decision to start another Korean War, as some doves in the U.S. suggested? Could the North really launch a nuclear attack against the South, as Kim and his sister repeatedly warned?
Of course, North Korea can start a nuclear war. But when you take a deeper look at the possibility, a preemptive strike could be just a pipe dream. To launch a first strike, you must have a second strike capability. Otherwise, you will be destroyed if the enemy launches a counterattack with even more nukes. Waging a nuclear war against a country like the United States without possessing “assured retaliation capability” is a suicidal act. North Korea cannot afford nuclear capabilities on par with Uncle Sam given his absolute supremacy in deterrence, defense against a first strike, and retaliation after the first attack.
Despite the North’s launch of a military reconnaissance satellite last November, its spying capabilities cannot match that of the United States, which can detect any signs of preparation for a preemptive strike in advance through multi-layered surveillance equipment. If the signs are clear, Washington can launch a precision strike at the very source of the provocation. Even if the United States fails to destroy the missiles, it still can intercept them through the missile defense system built in Alaska and the mainland. Even if the defense system fails again, the United States still can devastate the North with high-yield strategic weapons such as submarine-launched Trident II D5 missiles to carry out massive punishment and retaliation.
Nevertheless, North Korea persistently sends the message that it can start a war and that it will use both conventional and nuclear weapons in the initial stages of a war in the peninsula.
Some security experts claim that North Korea can achieve its political and military goals by launching a low-yield nuclear attack on South Korea first and then threaten to conduct a strategic strike on the continental U.S. For instance, the North can maximize fear by first firing low-yield nukes at small cities or rural areas of the South in the early stage of the war — and if America prepares a nuclear counterattack, North Korea can threaten to fire its ICBMs like the Hwasong-15, 17 and 18 at Washington so as to deter nuclear retaliation from the U.S. Under this scenario, North Korea can seek a victory even without engaging in a full-scale nuclear war.
However, can the North really reap what it wants? First of all, the allies’ multi-layered missile defense system is not so easy to penetrate. Even if North Korea manages to evade the tight system, it must ready itself for an all-out war, because its first strike will inevitably incur massive casualties in mostly densely-populated South Korea.
The South does not have nuclear weapons, but it can destroy the North Korean leadership by using sophisticated missiles capable of carrying out precision strikes — including Hyunmoo-5 intermediate-range missiles tipped with nine-ton warheads — and F-35 stealth fighters that can destroy targets without being detected. If the North uses nuclear weapons, the United States will unfurl the nuclear umbrella. It will have to launch an even stronger counterattack against the North to deter it from launching a second strike on its mainland. A full-scale demonstration of the allied power will certainly result in the demise of the Kim Jong-un regime. If Kim is not insane, he cannot start a war, as he will lose everything he has now.
Even if North Korea threatens to mix conventional and nuclear weapons, the two allies can surely deter a war if they have the will and ability to respond with overwhelming military power. The key lies in sending the message that any kind of nuclear attack will be met with massive retaliation leading to the end of the regime in Pyongyang, as stipulated in the Korea-U.S. summit in Washington last April, the 54th and 55th Security Consultative Meetings in 2022 and 2023 and the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review.
If the U.S. declares “No First Use” unless the North uses nuclear weapons, it could be effective in preventing the spread of war. However, we must take a prudent approach to the argument for the redeployment of U.S. tactical weapons in the South. It can send North Korea the wrong signal that the Unites States will respond to the North’s low-yield nukes only proportionately or in a limited way.
Kim Jong-un may want to conquer South Korea. But it means an end to the seven-decade-long Kim dynasty. As the Korea-U.S. Oplan goes into effect only when North Korea launches a preemptive strike, improving his people’s lives will help Kim extend the dynasty, not obsessively raising the level of its nuclear capabilities. It will be even better for the North Korean leader to massively mobilize military troops to revive the economy to promote welfare of his own people.
Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
14. Kim Jong Un "desperate" to control narrative in North Korea: US official
I am happy to see this. The administration should be paying attention to Ambassador Turner. We should be emphasizing this. Kim is losing control of the narrative because of his failed policies. For those who do want to negotiate with north Korea you need to communicate with them that it is only through negotiation that Kim cna mitigate the effects of his failed policies. But he is unlikely to listen. And if we want to continue to put pressure on Kim then we need to use his failures as part of a pressure campaign and highlight the fact that his failures are the cause of the suffering of the Korean people in the north.
Excerpt:
"Kim Jong-un's recent abandonment of reunification goals, the shift and rhetoric towards Seoul should be seen less as a strategic shift signaling his confidence in his ties with Russia and its weapons program and more as a desperate attempt to get control of the internal information environment," U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean human rights Julie Turner said Tuesday at a form hosted by the Korea Society non-profit organization.
Kim Jong Un "desperate" to control narrative in North Korea: US official
Newsweek · by Micah McCartney · April 12, 2024
ByChina News Reporter
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's public moves to stop pursuing eventual unification with the South is rooted in a "desperate" effort to control the flow of information in country, according to a Biden administration diplomat.
The remark comes amid decades-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula, exacerbated by the North's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, its first successful spy satellite launch, and the South's military exercises with U.S. forces.
Earlier this year, the 40-year-old supreme leader said a rapprochement with the South was no longer practical, with the country's rubber-stamp parliament announcing it was amending the constitution to label Seoul as its "primary foe."
Kim also moved to abolish organizations that had been tasked with inter-Korean cooperation or pro-unification rhetoric. Other casualties of the campaign to scrub references to reunification, a goal of Kim's father and grandfather, include a 100-foot monument and commemorative stamps.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives at Russian spaceport Vostochny Cosmodrome, Amur Oblast, Russia, on September 13, 2023. U.S. envoy on North Korean human rights Julie Turner said on April 10 that Kim's abandonment... North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives at Russian spaceport Vostochny Cosmodrome, Amur Oblast, Russia, on September 13, 2023. U.S. envoy on North Korean human rights Julie Turner said on April 10 that Kim's abandonment of North-South unification as a goal suggests desperation to control information within the reclusive country. Kremlin Press Office via Getty Images
"Kim Jong-un's recent abandonment of reunification goals, the shift and rhetoric towards Seoul should be seen less as a strategic shift signaling his confidence in his ties with Russia and its weapons program and more as a desperate attempt to get control of the internal information environment," U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean human rights Julie Turner said Tuesday at a form hosted by the Korea Society non-profit organization.
Yet Turner added Washington is prepared to engage with North Korea on human rights in a "transparent and outcome-oriented discussion" that would include the U.S.'s own human rights record and efforts the country is taking to improve it.
A formal peace treaty between Seoul and Pyongyang has never been signed, despite the end of open hostilities in 1953.
The North Korean embassy in Beijing, China, did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Also on Tuesday, Mira Rapp-Hooper, the National Security Council overseeing East Asia and Oceania affairs, said that the U.S. was open to dialogue with North Korea "without precondition." She specified this applied to a wide range of topics not limited to denuclearization.
Citizens in the impoverished country have extremely limited access to information, with state-controlled media propagating government narratives.
Internet access is heavily restricted, and possession of foreign media, such as that depicting the higher standard of life in the neighboring South, is punishable by hard labor and even death.
In its annual report on global freedom last year, New York-based NGO Freedom House gave North Korea a score of 0 out of 40 in the political rights category and 3 out of 60 for civil liberties.
Newsweek · by Micah McCartney · April 12, 2024
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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