Quotes of the Day:

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not." 

– Thomas Henry Huxley

"There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew." 

– Marshall McLuhan

"The television, that insidious beast, that Medusa which freezes a billion people to stone every night, staring fixedly, that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." 

– Ray Bradbury

1. Iran's Attack on Israel was Enabled by North Korean Missile Technology

2. HRNK Advisory Opinion to His Excellency Tomoya Obokata (north Korean Human RIghts)

3.  N. Korea slams U.S. envoy's Asian tour as 'aid-begging' trip to enliven sanctions

4. S. Korea not invited to G7 summit meeting this year: sources

5. South Korea’s HHI inks deal to build four ships for Peru’s Navy

6. U.N. grants sanctions exemptions for WHO's humanitarian aid in N. Korea

7. UN OKs shipment of vaccine storage equipment to North Korea

8. N. Korea reassigns soon-to-be-retiring generals to specialized fields

9. Two Onsong County officials face struggle session for non-socialist behavior

10. US envoy stresses 'imperative' to keep NK human rights at 'forefront' of UNSC agenda

11. Rising Mideast tensions unnerve Korean construction firms

12. South Korea voices strong regrets over Japanese textbooks distorting wartime history

13. Human rights group urges gov't to submit written questions to UN to protect North Korean defectors

14. S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership

1. Iran's Attack on Israel was Enabled by North Korean Missile Technology

A very important essay by one of the most knowledgeable experts on north Korean proliferation of weapons (and much more).

These two points need to be incorporated into a comprehensive information program. 

Excerpts:

Israeli and American missile defense worked very effectively, along with support from other allies, including Jordan.

Israel’s system of ballistic missile defense may be the best in the world. But of the roughly 120 ballistic missiles that Iran used, about 50% either failed to launch or crashed in flight.

Dr. Bechtol, and a handful of others have been sounding the alarm about north Korea for a long time. I have wondered why north Korean proliferation has never received the attention its should garner given the serious danger of their activities. Perhaps someone can answer Dr. Bechtol's question here.

Excerpts:

Why is North Korea’s clear contribution to Iran’s capability to attack Israel not receiving more attention? To that question I do not have an answer. We have seen some rather inaccurate analysis on this topic as well. For example, one noted analyst stated he had “seen no evidence of any exchange between North Korea and Iran over missile technology in recent years,” while another said, “I think that North Korea is in a place where they can help them from an accuracy perspective. North Korea itself has significantly increased the accuracy of its ballistic missiles over the past decade and a half.”

These assessments are decidedly incorrect. North Korea in fact has been collaborating with Iran in recent years on a missile rocket booster with 80 tons of thrust. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Iran for this activity in 2016, while ongoing North Korea – Iran cooperation was documented by the UN Panel of Experts in 2021. The Hwasong-15 missile has this capability.

Two key points.

Excerpts:

There are two key concerns here. 

First, the proliferation risk remains high, because no sanctions have been imposed and no actions taken that have significantly slowed North Korea’s military proliferation of anything. \

The second concern is that Iran could upgrade its systems. 

Iran's Attack on Israel was Enabled by North Korean Missile Technology

North Korea has sold systems to Iran since the 1980s. This has not stopped, nor is it likely to change. Without sharp, decisive action against North Korean support to Iran and its proxies, we are likely to see more examples of North Korean proliferation to Iran in the future. 

The National Interest · by Bruce E. Bechtol · April 18, 2024

Iran last weekend launched a large-scale overnight air strike on Israel. More than 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles targeted the country.

While the attack was quite large, it was also ineffective. According to spokespersons for the U.S. and Israeli militaries, 99% of the projectiles launched at Israel failed to make it through.

Israeli and American missile defense worked very effectively, along with support from other allies, including Jordan.

From North Korea to Iran

Israel’s system of ballistic missile defense may be the best in the world. But of the roughly 120 ballistic missiles that Iran used, about 50% either failed to launch or crashed in flight.

Only half of Iran’s ballistic missiles flew the way they were supposed to, thus showing these systems are anything but well made. But where did the Iranians get the technology to assemble these long-range ballistic missile systems, however well or poorly they fared? The answer is, unquestionably, North Korea.

Based on pictures and descriptions from the region, many of the missiles used in the attack were what Tehran calls the Emad. This is a medium-range ballistic missile based on the Shahab-3, which itself is nothing more than a copy of North Korea’s NoDong missile. The Shahab-3 (NoDong) has a range of 1300–1500 kilometers, but the Emad has a reported range of about 1700 km, and its longer reach allows it to target Israel.

The North Koreans conducted a live test of the NoDong for Iran and Pakistan in 1993. Following the test, both Tehran and Islamabad ordered dozens of these missiles and their launchers. Later, at Tehran’s request, North Korea built a fabrication facility for the NoDong – now called the Shahab-3 in Iran. But the Iranians still needed technical support and parts for the missiles they were now indigenously producing.

North Korea’s Contribution

Once the Shahab-3 was integrated into the Iranian ballistic missile force, the Iranians almost immediately began work on a follow-up missile based on the same design, but with a longer range. Thus was born the Emad, which Iran publicly introduced as a new long-range missile in 2015.

Iran claims the Emad has been legitimately tested to a range of 1700 kilometers, and the system shot down near the Dead Sea in Israel probably proves this to be true. Also according to the Iranians, the Emad is significantly more accurate than other missiles in Tehran’s inventory. This, however, has not been proven to be true.

While this system is uniquely Iranian, there can be almost no doubt that the North Koreans provided assistance in extending the missile’s range. But even if they did not, the Emad is little more than a souped-up version of the Shahab-3. Since the Shahab-3 is a copy of the original NoDong missiles North Korea proliferated to Iran, this means that the Iranians carried out their April attack using missiles that could target Israel thanks to assistance from North Korea.

Why is North Korea’s clear contribution to Iran’s capability to attack Israel not receiving more attention? To that question I do not have an answer. We have seen some rather inaccurate analysis on this topic as well. For example, one noted analyst stated he had “seen no evidence of any exchange between North Korea and Iran over missile technology in recent years,” while another said, “I think that North Korea is in a place where they can help them from an accuracy perspective. North Korea itself has significantly increased the accuracy of its ballistic missiles over the past decade and a half.”

These assessments are decidedly incorrect. North Korea in fact has been collaborating with Iran in recent years on a missile rocket booster with 80 tons of thrust. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Iran for this activity in 2016, while ongoing North Korea – Iran cooperation was documented by the UN Panel of Experts in 2021. The Hwasong-15 missile has this capability.

There are two key concerns here. First, the proliferation risk remains high, because no sanctions have been imposed and no actions taken that have significantly slowed North Korea’s military proliferation of anything. We have seen North Korean rockets, artillery, and ballistic missiles used by the Russians. Anti-tank weapons, rockets, and tunnel-building capabilities passed along by Pyongyang have been utilized by Hamas in the past six months. Now, we see North Korean ballistic missile technology and capabilities put to use by Iran to target Israel.

The second concern is that Iran could upgrade its systems. Pyongyang has tested a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile in recent months. Further, not only do the North Koreans have a very accurate copycat version of the Russian Iskander, but they have now proliferated dozens of these systems to the Russians themselves for use against Ukraine. The Iskander is a short-range ballistic missile, so Iranian forces would need to get much closer to Israel in order to launch one – or get one of their proxies to use it. These and other possible upgrades to Iran’s ballistic missile forces would greatly amplify the threat from Tehran. As noted Israeli missile expert Tal Inbar says, “If you see it in North Korea today, you will see it in Iran tomorrow.”

North Korea has sold systems to Iran since the 1980s. This has not stopped, nor is it likely to change. Without sharp, decisive action against North Korean support to Iran and its proxies, we are likely to see more examples of North Korean proliferation to Iran in the future.

About the Author

Dr. Bruce E. Bechtol Jr. is a professor of Political Science at Angelo State University. He is also the president of the International Council on Korean Studies and a fellow at the Institute for Corean-American Studies. The author of five books dealing with North Korea, his latest work is entitled North Korean Military Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa.

All images are from KCNA/North Korean State Media.

The National Interest · by Bruce E. Bechtol · April 18, 2024

2. HRNK Advisory Opinion to His Excellency Tomoya Obokata (north Korean Human RIghts)

Information to support a human rights upfront approach.

HRNK Advisory Opinion to His Excellency Tomoya Obokata

https://www.hrnkinsider.org/2024/04/hrnk-letter-to-his-excellency-tomoya.html

Posted by Committee for Human Rights in North Korea with No comments 

Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, regarding contemporary forms of slavery affecting currently and formerly incarcerated people

April 12, 2024

Over ten years ago, in February 2014, the UN Commission of Inquiry (UN COI) reported that the DPRK was responsible for crimes against humanity. The gravity, scale, and nature of the DPRK’s violations of human rights reveal a state that has no parallel in the contemporary world. The DPRK’s systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations are thoroughly documented, including its imposition of arbitrary detention, arbitrary death penalties, political prison camps, slave labor, the absolute monopoly of information released to the public, and total control of all organized social life under the hierarchical system of songbun. Under Kim Jong-un’s rule, the scale and scope of these violations have continued to worsen and intensify.

Contemporary forms of slavery in North Korean detention facilities represent a grave and systematic violation of human rights. In these facilities, detainees, including political prisoners, are subjected to forced labor.

Please provide the details of labor programme(s) implemented in your country for incarcerated individuals, including:

Types of work performed.

Detainees work in mining, under dangerous conditions. Detainees are forced to work in agriculture involving strenuous labor, regardless of the detainee's physical condition or age. Detainees work in logging, typically in harsh weather conditions without adequate clothing or safety equipment. Detainees work in textile production, producing goods that may enter international markets despite sanctions.[i]

Detention facilities often assign harsh conditions to detainees without considering their age, gender, or health condition, leading to injuries, illnesses, and deaths.[ii] Political detainees may be subjected to even harsher treatment. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are held in a network of camps. Many of them are subjected to forced labor.[iii]

Further evidence on forced labor from escapee testimonies can be found in the HRNK and No Chain report “An Investigation into the Human Rights Situation in North Korea’s Political Prison Camps: Testimonies of Detainee Families”.[iv]

c) Working environment/conditions, including wages and any deduction for incarceration costs, working hours, and provisions for health & safety.

The working environment in North Korean detention facilities is harsh and dangerous, lacking basic health and safety measures.[v]

Detainees are often unpaid for their labor, with nominal wages often deducted to cover incarceration costs.[vi] Detainees work for 10-12 hours per day, seven days a week, with minimal rest.[vii] This, combined with insufficient nutrition and rest, negatively impacts their physical and mental health.[viii] Health and safety provisions are non-existent, and injuries or illnesses often go untreated, leading to numerous deaths.[ix]

Is there evidence of labour practices which may amount to exploitation? If so, please provide details.

Some of the abuses include excessive working hours. Another type of abuse includes no or extremely low pay. In addition, detainees work in an unhealthy or dangerous working environment. Conditions in North Korean detention facilities are unsanitary and hazardous. Detainees work in dangerous environments, leading to injuries and health complications. Furthermore, they face discriminatory treatments where certain groups of individuals, such as political prisoners and all those deemed to be disloyal to the regime, are subjected to even harsher treatment and forced labor practices. Finally, there is a lack of access to medical facilities.[x]

Is there evidence of sexual exploitation among incarcerated individuals? If so, please provide details.

Many camp orders are conducted in secret.[xi] Despite stringent information control, escapee testimonies, reports by human rights organizations, and investigations conducted by international bodies have provided insight into the grim reality faced by inmates, which involves modern forms of slavery, including sexual exploitation (sometimes referred to as sexual slavery).[xii]

Sexual exploitation and abuse in North Korean detention facilities, particularly targeting female prisoners, is widespread. Escapees report rape, forced abortion, and sexual assault, often used as torture and control methods.[xiii] Male guards and officials abuse their power, targeting political prisoners, women suspected of having illegally crossed the border, and those detained for petty crimes.[xiv]

Are victims of labor and sexual exploitation able to seek justice and remedies? Please provide details, including legislative frameworks and complaint mechanisms.

On paper, DPRK laws prohibit forced labor. The DPRK Constitution includes articles on the dignity and rights of citizens, and the country is a signatory to several international human rights treaties. However, in practice, the government does not uphold these laws, especially within detention facilities. The legal system is opaque and subordinated to the dictates of the ruling Korean Workers' Party.

There is virtually no avenue for victims to seek justice or remedies within the DPRK. The judicial system lacks independence, and there is no mechanism for detainees to file complaints or challenge abuses.[xv]

Victims of labor and sexual exploitation in North Korean detention facilities are caught in a grim situation with no available mechanisms for seeking justice or remedies. The international community continues to struggle with effective strategies to address these human rights abuses, given the geopolitical complexities and the DPRK's self-imposed isolation.

What are the main challenges in eliminating labour and sexual exploitation among incarcerated individuals, and what recommendations would you make to address them effectively?

Despite the veil of secrecy surrounding the country's penal system, escapee testimonies and satellite imagery have provided the international community with glimpses into the dire conditions faced by incarcerated individuals. The DPRK executes a deliberate policy of human rights denial.

The international community should increase pressure through targeted sanctions and hold the government accountable. Supporting North Korean escapees and running advocacy campaigns can help mitigate abusive government control and encourage reform. Educating North Koreans about their rights and the outside world can also help create and enhance awareness of international human rights standards.

Does your government provide tailored support to formerly incarcerated individuals which effectively meets their needs? Please provide details particularly in relation to access to temporary/long term accommodation, education/training, decent work, finance and pension, and other essential services.

The United States provides assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers including North Koreans, to rebuild their lives.[xvi] However, the effectiveness of this support can vary based on resources, individual circumstances, and local community capacity. Challenges including cultural adjustment and language barriers can also impact resettlement experiences.

What is the role of other stakeholders, including educational institutions, jobs/training centres, housing providers, businesses/employers’ organisations, financial institutions, trade unions and civil society organisations, in providing support to formally incarcerated individuals? Does your government actively coordinate or cooperate with them?

Individuals who escape from the DPRK, including former detainees, face challenges ranging from psychological trauma to the need for basic necessities and integration into a new society.

Educational institutions, job centers, housing providers, businesses, financial institutions, trade unions, and CSOs are all crucial. Educational programs, language training, vocational training, housing solutions, inclusive workplace environments, financial literacy programs, and legal assistance are essential in ensuring the rights and fair treatment of North Korean escapees.

CSOs including HRNK[xvii] and various other stakeholders often provide direct support and advocacy work to help individuals and raise awareness about human rights abuses in the DPRK.

What are ongoing challenges in promoting successful economic and social reintegration to formally incarcerated individuals in your country, which may include discrimination (including intersecting forms based on age, gender identity/sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, indigenous, migration, socio-economic and other status), corruption, lack of opportunities and support?

After escaping from the country, former North Korean detainees face challenges including lack of opportunity and inadequate support systems as well as age and socio-economic status discrimination.

What recommendations would you make to overcome the existing obstacles and prevent formally incarcerated individuals from being subjected to labour and sexual exploitation?

The situation of detainees in North Korean detention facilities remains deeply concerning, drawing attention from international human rights organizations and governments worldwide. The available reports indicate severe conditions, including forced labor, torture, inadequate food, and medical neglect, leading to high mortality rates.[xviii]

To address these issues and protect both current and former detainees from exploitation, we respectfully put forth the following recommendations:

1. International Pressure and Sanctions: Continue and intensify international pressure on the North Korean government to adhere to international human rights standards, using targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses.
2. Engagement and Dialogue: Encourage diplomatic dialogue that includes human rights as a core component, alongside denuclearization and security concerns. Leverage diplomatic channels to press for the closure of camps and the release of political prisoners.
3. Support for Escapees: Enhance support for North Korean escapees who can provide firsthand accounts of the conditions within detention facilities. Support should include protection, rehabilitation services, and platforms to share their experiences on the global stage.
4. Use of Technology: Increase the use of satellite imagery analysis and other means to monitor detention centers and gather evidence of human rights abuses.
5. Humanitarian Aid: Ensure that humanitarian aid, when possible, is conditioned on improvements in human rights, prioritizes vulnerable groups including people in detention, and is not diverted by the regime. Aid should be designed to minimize the risk of bolstering the capacities of the regime to continue its repressive practices. Access and transparency are of the essence.
6. Awareness and Advocacy: Support international and regional human rights organizations in their efforts to raise awareness about the conditions in North Korean detention facilities. Promote campaigns that advocate for the rights of current and former detainees.
7. Legal Mechanisms: Explore legal avenues to hold North Korean leaders accountable for crimes against humanity, including labor and sexual exploitation, through international courts, tribunals, or other accountability mechanisms.

The challenges in addressing the human rights abuses in North Korean detention facilities are significant, particularly given the closed and authoritarian nature of the regime. However, sustained international focus, combined with a strategic mix of pressure and engagement, can create conditions for change and provide some level of protection for those who have suffered in these facilities.

Thank you very much for your kind consideration.

[i] Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Greg Scarlatoiu and Raymond Ha, “North Korea’s Political Prison Camp, Kwan-li-so No. 25, Update 4” and European Parliament, Parliamentary Question, “Forced Labor in North Korea,” April 2, Parliamentary question | Forced labour in North Korea | E-004134/2014 | European Parliament (europa.eu).

[ii] The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) & the International Bar Association (IBA), “Report: Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers,” March 2022, https://www.hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/Report%20Findings%20Inquiry%20on%20Crimes%20Against%20Humanity.pd.f and European Parliament, Parliamentary Question, “Forced Labor in North Korea”.

[iii] Amnesty International, “Images Reveal the Scale of North Korea Political Prison Camps,” May 2011, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2011/05/images-reveal-scale-north-korean-political-prison-camps/.

[iv] The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and No Chain, “An Investigation into the Human Rights Situation in North Korea’s Political Prison Camps: Testimonies of Detainee Families,” 2018, https://www.hrnk.org/publications/hrnk-publications.php?page=3.

[v] U.S. Department of State, “2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: North Korea”.

[vi] HRNK & IBA, “Report: Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers.”

[vii] Ibid.

[viii]  HRNK & IBA, “Report: Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers.”

[ix] Human Rights Watch, “World Report 2024: North Korea, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/north-korea.

[x] HRNK & IBA, “Report: Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers.”

[xi] The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and No Chain, “An Investigation into the Human Rights Situation in North Korea’s Political Prison Camps: Testimonies of Detainee Families”.

[xii] HRNK & IBA, “Report: Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers.”f and Anti-Slavery International, “Forced Labor in North Korean Prison Camps,” December 2007, https://www.antislavery.org/reports/forced-labour-in-north-korean-prison-camps/.

[xiii] The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and No Chain, “An Investigation into the Human Rights Situation in North Korea’s Political Prison Camps: Testimonies of Detainee Families”.

[xiv] HRNK & IBA, “Report: Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers.”

[xv] Ibid.

[xvi] The Bush Institute, “U.S.-Based North Korean Refugees,” https://gwbcenter.imgix.net/Resources/gwb_north_korea_executive_summary_r4.pdf.

[xvii] See HRNK’s policy recommendations to the U.S. government: https://www.hrnk.org/publications/policy-recommendations.php.

[xviii] The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and No Chain, “An Investigation into the Human Rights Situation in North Korea’s Political Prison Camps: Testimonies of Detainee Families”.

Categories: North Korea, United Nations

3.  N. Korea slams U.S. envoy's Asian tour as 'aid-begging' trip to enliven sanctions

The regime is worried about what the ROK, US, and international community might do to try to enforce sanctions without Chinese and Russian support. The key action may be secondary sanctions on CHinese and Russian entities supporting north Korea. But is there the political will to take such action?

(LEAD) N. Korea slams U.S. envoy's Asian tour as 'aid-begging' trip to enliven sanctions | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · April 19, 2024

(ATTN: TRIMS headline; ADDS more details in last 2 paras)

SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday denounced the recent visit to South Korea and Japan by the top U.S. envoy to the United Nations, calling it an "aid-begging" trip to invigorate the "weakened illegal" sanctions against Pyongyang.

Late last month, the U.N. Security Council failed to extend the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring the enforcement of sanctions against the North's nuclear and missile programs due to Russia's veto. The operation of the panel is set to expire on April 30.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield made a four-day trip to South Korea before traveling to Japan on Thursday in an apparent move to seek an alternative to the U.N. monitoring panel.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield makes remarks at Camp Bonifas, the base for the U.N. Command Security Battalion just south of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, on April 16, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Kim Son-gyong, North Korea's vice foreign minister in charge of international organizations, said Thomas-Greenfield is making the last-ditch effort to continue to "beat the drum of pressure by sewing up a ripped sanctions drum" but will only meet with cold treatment and derision from the international community.

Her trip is "no more than an aid-begging trip of a loser to enliven the weakened illegal sanctions and pressure on the DPRK with the help of inferior allies," Kim said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, referring to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea has been under tightened U.N. sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs, which call for, among other things, a ban on the country's exports of coal and other mineral resources to cut off its access to hard currency.

During a visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on Tuesday, Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. is looking at "out of the box" options with South Korea and others to continue the sanctions monitoring on North Korea.

South Korea's unification ministry said it is not new for North Korea to show a "sensitive" reaction toward the international community's move to handle Pyongyang's reckless nuclear and missile development.

"North Korea should first reflect on itself, surrounded by international condemnation and sanctions, before commenting on issues of other countries," Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, told a press briefing.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · April 19, 2024

4. S. Korea not invited to G7 summit meeting this year: sources

Is this a rebuke for this action?

Excerpt:

The Korean government was reportedly in consultation with Italy over the potential participation in the G7 summit as it has been pushing for a "G7 Plus" initiative to expand its role and responsibilities as one of the world's major middle powers.

S. Korea not invited to G7 summit meeting this year: sources | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 19, 2024

SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea appears not to have been invited to this year's summit of the Group of Seven (G7) countries set for June in Italy, diplomatic sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

South Korea was "not included" in a list of countries invited to the upcoming summit set to take place in Apulia, Italy, from June 13-15, the sources said.

The G7 consists of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Italy is serving as the rotating presidency of the G7 for this year.

The Korean government was reportedly in consultation with Italy over the potential participation in the G7 summit as it has been pushing for a "G7 Plus" initiative to expand its role and responsibilities as one of the world's major middle powers.

South Korea's efforts, however, appear to have fallen through as Italy is said to have invited countries related to the core agendas of discussions in the upcoming summit, which include African development assistance and migrants, as well as the Ukraine war and the Middle East crisis.

Earlier, South Korea was also excluded from this week's meeting of G7 foreign ministers.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (bottom row, 5th from L) poses for photos with global leaders during a group photo session at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, 2023. (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 19, 2024

5. South Korea’s HHI inks deal to build four ships for Peru’s Navy

Arsenal of Democracy.

South Korea’s HHI inks deal to build four ships for Peru’s Navy

Defense News · by José Higuera · April 18, 2024

SANTIAGO, Chile — A South Korean company will build four ships for the Peruvian Navy under a $463 million contract signed this week.

The vessels are part of Peru’s ambitious program to modernize its naval surface fleet, which may involve the construction of 23 ships of different types, an effort potentially worth more than $3 billion. The South American country’s primary focus is to acquire six advanced multipurpose guided-missile frigates to replace the six aging frigates that currently serve as the Navy’s main surface combatants.

The finalized deal, which follows Peru’s pick of Hyundai Heavy Industries in March, will see the company provide both the designs and support for the construction of the vessels, with the delivery deadline set for 2029.

“We will mobilize our advanced technological capabilities and extensive experience to modernize and enhance the combat capabilities of the Peruvian Navy,” Joo Won-ho, the head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ naval and special ship division, said after the signing of the contract.

HHI will be in charge of the ships’ designs as well as the provision and supply of tools, materials and technical support during construction. With this contract, the South Korean firm is expanding its footprint in a regional market traditionally dominated by European shipbuilders.

Peru is to receive a 3,400-ton guided-missile frigate, a 2,200-ton offshore patrol vessel and two 1,500-ton landing ships. The local state-owned firm Servicios Industriales de la Marina will participate in their construction at its shipyards in Callao.

“We will ensure that the SIMA shipyard, which has provided us with the opportunity to collaborate from the other side of the globe, possesses sufficient shipbuilding capacity and establish it as [our] hub for Central and South America,” Joo said.

Frigate replacement

The six 2,500-ton frigates the Navy wants to replace are based on the Italian Lupo-class design; two were built in Peru. For the most part, they have been in service for nearly five decades.

The Peruvian government approved the frigate replacement program in February 2023, with an initial budget of $161 million following studies and discussions that began in 2015. In July 2023, SIMA was named the prime contractor for the program. At the same time, it was unveiled the Spanish firm Escribano Mechanical and Engineering would serve as a subcontractor supporting weapons integration.

According to Lewis Mejias, an independent defense analyst based in Peru’s capital Lima, the contract confirms “the leadership of SIMA Peru as one of the most capable shipyards in the South Pacific. It will also open more opportunities for the participation of other local companies supplying systems, parts and services. This is one of the main targets of the government, with the aim to get advanced technology transferred and new jobs created, strengthening Peru’s industrial capacities not only in the maritime field but also beyond that field.”

A source in South Korea’s capital Seoul, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss specifics of the military program, told Defense News the frigate HHI is to produce is based on the hull of the Daegu-class frigate built for the South Korean Navy, but tailored to meet Peru’s needs. Those requirements including an enlarged stern to fit a hangar and allow for the flight of 12- to 14-ton helicopters.

Peruvian special forces deploy onto the flight deck of the Peruvian Navy frigate BAP Quiones during an exercise in 2009. (Chief Petty Officer Alan Gragg/U.S. Navy)

It’s unclear if the Peruvian ship will include the same combined diesel-electric and gas propulsion of the South Korean vessels.

According to the source, the frigate will be fitted with a 3D active electronically scanned array radar, which Peru has not yet selected.

The South Korean company Hanwha is promoting the SAQ-600 combat management system, the SQS-250K towed array sonar and the SQS-240K hull-mounted sonar, the source said.

For weaponry, the source added, South Korea’s LIG Nex1 and Hanhwa are proposing the Haegung K-SAAM surface-to-air missile. LIG Nex 1 is offering the SSM-700K C-Star/Haesong anti-ship missile and the Sea Dragon/Haeryong land-attack cruise missile. The Peruvian Navy is expected to fit a gun to the frigate, either a 76mm/62-caliber or a 127mm/54-caliber option.

About José Higuera

José Higuera is a Latin America correspondent for Defense News.

6. U.N. grants sanctions exemptions for WHO's humanitarian aid in N. Korea

U.N. grants sanctions exemptions for WHO's humanitarian aid in N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · April 19, 2024

SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- A U.N. Security Council committee has approved sanctions exemptions for the World Health Organization (WHO), allowing the delivery of tents and thermometers to North Korea, its website showed Friday.

On April 1, the committee overseeing sanctions on North Korea approved the waiver on the import of 62 multipurpose tents and 175 infrared thermometers into North Korea by the U.N. health agency at the request of the North's health ministry, according to a document released on the U.N. website.

The exemption will be valid for nine months, with shipments expected to be delivered to the North Korean cities of Nampho and Sinuiju via Dubai, the committee said.

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · April 19, 2024

7. UN OKs shipment of vaccine storage equipment to North Korea

But I see no indication that the regime is willing to accept this humanitarian assistance.

Excerpts:

Responding to questions from RFA about the aid delivery, Simon Ingram, a spokesman from the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, was unable to confirm exactly when international aid workers would be able to enter North Korea.

“We continue to urge our government partners in DPR Korea to facilitate the earliest possible return of our international staff,” he said.

“The reopening of the border and the return of UNICEF’s full team to DPR Korea will be critical to ensuring more essential support can be provided in 2024 and programmes can be scaled up as necessary to meet the needs of children and women,” he said, using an acronym to refer to North Korea.

However, he did reaffirm that UNICEF would be delivering the equipment within 12 months of the approval date.

UN OKs shipment of vaccine storage equipment to North Korea

UNICEF had requested a sanctions exemption to bring ‘cold chain’ equipment into the country.

By Jamin Anderson and Lee Jeong Eun for RFA Korean

2024.04.18

rfa.org

The U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea approved a request from UNICEF for a sanctions exemption so that vaccine storage equipment could be transported into North Korea, U.N. documents showed.

UNICEF sent a letter to the committee on March 11 saying the cold chain equipment, which includes refrigeration units used to store vaccines, was critical to the successful distribution of vaccines to women and children in North Korea.

The U.N. has imposed economic sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in an effort to defund the country's nuclear program. Humanitarian organizations like UNICEF must apply for exemptions to these sanctions in order to legally transport goods into North Korea.

The committee approved all of UNICEF’s requests on March 20 under the stipulation that all necessary equipment be delivered in a single shipment to expedite the customs clearance process.

The committee also requested that UNICEF staff remain on-site in North Korea to monitor the distribution and use of the equipment.

The cold chain technology, manufactured in France, is estimated to have a total value of $85,000.

Dr. David Hong, who visited North Korea seven times between 2015-2019 to volunteer at Pyongyang Okryu Children's Hospital, emphasized the importance of the equipment to public health in North Korea.

North Korean children dance during an event to start a campaign to give Vitamin A supplements and deworming pills to children at a nursery school in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 20, 2013 in a UNICEF and North Korean government campaign to assist 1.7 million children across the country. (David Guttenfelder/AP)

"Their ability to produce and store vaccines has been limited by these cold chain components, so thinking about the future and other possible outbreaks, this is probably pretty essential,” he told RFA.

“It's an interesting support component because there's some instability in their power grid.”

‘It’s not reaching the right people’

It is not yet clear whether UNICEF will be granted entry into North Korea to deliver and distribute the equipment.

UNICEF told RFA in February that its staff members have been unable to enter North Korea since the country closed its borders in 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The organization announced in its annual report released in February that it was unable to provide “a comprehensive assessment of the health situation facing women and children in North Korea” due to the absence of international staff on the ground.

Human rights experts have raised concerns about North Korea’s decision to open its borders to Russian tourists while continuing to deny entry to international aid organizations.

Robert R. King, former Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea, criticized Pyongyang’s border policies in a statement at the U.S. State Department on Feb. 23.

“The people who are coming for tourism are spending a little bit of money, but it’s not reaching the right people – the people that really need assistance from humanitarian organizations,” he said.

Responding to questions from RFA about the aid delivery, Simon Ingram, a spokesman from the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, was unable to confirm exactly when international aid workers would be able to enter North Korea.

“We continue to urge our government partners in DPR Korea to facilitate the earliest possible return of our international staff,” he said.

“The reopening of the border and the return of UNICEF’s full team to DPR Korea will be critical to ensuring more essential support can be provided in 2024 and programmes can be scaled up as necessary to meet the needs of children and women,” he said, using an acronym to refer to North Korea.

However, he did reaffirm that UNICEF would be delivering the equipment within 12 months of the approval date.

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Claire McCrea and Malcolm Foster.

rfa.org

8. N. Korea reassigns soon-to-be-retiring generals to specialized fields

N. Korea reassigns soon-to-be-retiring generals to specialized fields - Daily NK English

Within the military, people say the shakeup is an opportunity for the party to reemphasize that personnel decisions will be based on results and ability, a source told Daily NK

By Jeong Tae Joo - April 19, 2024

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · April 19, 2024

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed a test-firing of a new land-to-sea missile, the Padasuri-6 on Feb. 14, according to Rodong Sinmun. (Rodong Sinmun-News1)

North Korea is reassigning experienced army, navy and air force generals who have reached retirement age as researchers in specialized fields such as military technology and combat operations, Daily NK has learned.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in the North Korean military said the military conducted a personnel shakeup from Apr. 3 to Apr. 20 to “transfer some generals in the fields of technology, operations, equipment and combat training who have reached retirement age but are highly regarded from their army, navy or air force units to the General Staff Department’s Operations and Tactics Research Center as researchers. This was all in accordance with a decision made at a plenary meeting of the military’s party committee late last month.”

In short, the General Staff Department has begun to lay off many of the research center’s underproductive personnel while transferring soon-to-be-retired generals with deep experience and knowledge in technology, operations, equipment and combat training who still have skills to the center as researchers.

Until now, researchers at the Operations and Tactics Research Center of the General Staff Department believed their jobs were for life. However, with talk that more than half of the existing researchers will be replaced in the latest reshuffle, the staff now understands that even researchers will be replaced if they are incompetent.

This move shows that the North Korean military seems to value professionalism and experience, with an emphasis on competence.

A sign of fundamental change in military strategy?

Within the military, people say the shakeup is an opportunity for the party to reemphasize that personnel decisions will be based on results and ability, the source said.

“Within the military, people see this reorganization of the research organization of the General Staff Department not as a simple personnel reorganization, but as a signal of a fundamental change in the party’s military strategy and defense policy,” he said.

“The General Staff Department believes that the personnel reshuffle reflects the Central Committee’s demand to improve the KPA’s medium- and long-term military operations and tactics research capacity, which can have a profound impact on achieving supremacy in the future battlefield,” the source said. “It is also hoped that the generals newly assigned as researchers will play a central and decisive role in establishing more effective and strategic military operations and tactics.”

The General Staff Department has assigned the new researchers the initial task of evaluating the strategic changes of the Korean People’s Army and the military strategies present in the international community – especially those of neighboring countries – and researching strategic simulations in response to them from various angles.

“High-ranking generals throughout the military are taking notice because research positions allow you to enjoy lifetime benefits because you won’t be fired when you get old as long as you have the skills,” the source said.

Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.

Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons. For more information about Daily NK’s network of reporting partners and information-gathering activities, please visit our FAQ page here.

Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · April 19, 2024

9. Two Onsong County officials face struggle session for non-socialist behavior

Excerpts:

“A public struggle meeting was held for a crew leader and the chairman of the local union for non-socialist behavior such as renting out government fields to individuals in exchange for cash and crops,” a source in the province told Daily NK on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

...

But after the production of raw materials needed by provincial factories was prioritized this year, the public struggle meeting was held at the raw materials base to send a warning that the aberrant behavior of the past would no longer be tolerated, the source explained.

“The basic problem lies with the managers, the party secretary and the technical director of the resource base, but minor functionaries were the ones who were punished,” he said.

This criticism was echoed by employees at the resource base, who objected that people who had done nothing wrong were being punished instead of those who had treated the base as their personal fiefdom, growing corn and other crops to impress officials in key organizations while lining their own pockets.

The source also shared a rumor that the two officials who were fired and given revolutionary punishment were promised that they would be reinstated in a few years.

Two Onsong County officials face struggle session for non-socialist behavior - Daily NK English

During the struggle session, the two people were removed from their posts and sentenced to "revolutionary punishment" on the spot

By Jong So Yong - April 19, 2024

dailynk.com · by Jong So Yong · April 19, 2024

FILE PHOTO: Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province. (Daily NK)

A public struggle session was held at a raw material base in Onsong County, North Hamgyong Province, in early April against two people who allegedly committed non-socialist behavior, Daily NK has learned.

“A public struggle meeting was held for a crew leader and the chairman of the local union for non-socialist behavior such as renting out government fields to individuals in exchange for cash and crops,” a source in the province told Daily NK on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, the meeting was held in a vacant lot near the depot and was attended by all the base workers as well as officials from major organizations in the county, including the party committee and the people’s committeeNorth Korean people's committees are akin to local governmen... More.

During the meeting, the improper conduct of the crew chief and the local chairman was exposed, and the two people were removed from their posts and sentenced to “revolutionary punishment” on the spot.

Revolutionary punishment usually means forced labor or ideological indoctrination for a specified period of time.

“Since the party ordered that the resource bases be organized as a mass movement in the spring to provide the raw materials needed for the factories in the countryside, issues that were overlooked in the past are now being taken more seriously,” the source said.

The raw material base had basically functioned as a private farm for officials of major organizations in the county, including the party committee. Workers were instructed to grow crops such as corn instead of the raw materials needed by factories in Onsong County.

Another common form of misconduct was to give well-connected locals access to land in exchange for cash and crops in the fall, which could then be distributed among the various officials involved.

But after the production of raw materials needed by provincial factories was prioritized this year, the public struggle meeting was held at the raw materials base to send a warning that the aberrant behavior of the past would no longer be tolerated, the source explained.

“The basic problem lies with the managers, the party secretary and the technical director of the resource base, but minor functionaries were the ones who were punished,” he said.

This criticism was echoed by employees at the resource base, who objected that people who had done nothing wrong were being punished instead of those who had treated the base as their personal fiefdom, growing corn and other crops to impress officials in key organizations while lining their own pockets.

The source also shared a rumor that the two officials who were fired and given revolutionary punishment were promised that they would be reinstated in a few years.

Translated by David Carruth. Edited by Robert Lauler.

Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons. For more information about Daily NK’s network of reporting partners and information-gathering activities, please visit our FAQ page here.

Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Jong So Yong · April 19, 2024

10. US envoy stresses 'imperative' to keep NK human rights at 'forefront' of UNSC agenda

The Ambassador is leading a human rights upfront effort.

US envoy stresses 'imperative' to keep NK human rights at 'forefront' of UNSC agenda

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s at Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo, Japan, April 18. Reuters-Yonhap

The top U.S. envoy to the U.N. on Thursday highlighted the "imperative" to maintain North Korea's human rights issues at the "forefront" of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC)'s agenda as she met with the families of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield had talks with the families and Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi as she was in Japan as part of her two-nation trip that also took her to South Korea this week, according to Nate Evans, the spokesperson of the U.S. Mission to the U.N.

"Thomas-Greenfield reaffirmed the Biden Administration's commitment to call upon the DPRK to take concrete action to allow the reunification of all families separated by the DPRK's repressive policies," Evans said in a readout. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"She also reiterated the imperative of keeping DPRK human rights at the forefront of the UN Security Council's agenda," the spokesperson added.

Tokyo has officially recognized 17 citizens as victims abducted by the North in the 1970s and 1980s. Five of them returned to Japan following Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's trip to Pyongyang in 2002, while the other 12 abductees remain unaccounted for.

Pyongyang argues that of the 12 Japanese nationals in question, eight passed away while the other four did not even come to the North. The regime is known to have kidnapped Japanese nationals to train its spies in Japanese language and culture.

During the meeting with Hayashi, the two sides discussed shared priorities as UNSC members, including North Korean issues, and explored opportunities for trilateral engagement with South Korea, according to Evans. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

11. Rising Mideast tensions unnerve Korean construction firms

The economic/business risks to the global pivotal state.

Rising Mideast tensions unnerve Korean construction firms

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

Israel's anti-missile system operates on Sunday (local time), after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel. Reuters-Yonhap

By Park Jae-hyuk

The intensifying military conflict between Israel and Iran has unnerved Korean construction firms, which had been seeking large-scale projects in the Middle East to overcome a recent slump in the domestic housing market, according to industry officials, Friday.

Keeping a close eye on the safety of their employees at construction sites in the Middle East, the companies are also remaining vigilant against possible setbacks in their projects there.

So far, there have been no reports of damage to their operations in the Middle East, as major Korean construction firms are not involved in projects in Israel and Iran, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which launched an emergency response team when the Israel-Hamas war broke out last year.

A small Korean construction firm in Israel will soon leave the country, once it finishes test operations of power generation equipment it built.

However, there exists the possibility of the ongoing battle spreading to other Middle Eastern countries, such as Iraq, where Hyundai E&C, Daewoo E&C and Hanwha Corp.’s engineering and construction division have operations. Some foreign news outlets reported explosions in Syria and Iraq, after Israel struck back at Iran on Thursday (local time) in retaliation against drone and missile attacks last Saturday.

“Our sites in Iraq were unaffected, but we are closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the Korean Embassy and the Iraqi police,” said a spokesman for Hanwha Corp.’s E&C division, which resumed the construction of Bismayah New City in southeast of Baghdad earlier this year.

Hyundai E&C, which is involved in various projects in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, recently ordered its employees there to refrain from visiting crowded areas and religious facilities for their safety.

Doosan Enerbility, which has built power plants and desalinization facilities in the Middle East, also asked its employees there to stay in their residential facilities patrolled by security guards.

“We are prioritizing the safety of our employees,” a Doosan Enerbility spokesman said. “Whenever tensions escalate in the Middle East, we have taken similar measures.”

During an earlier phase of the military conflict, there were expectations that Middle Eastern countries might increase construction orders with Korean firms, leveraging revenues from the anticipated rise in global oil prices. The Korean won’s depreciation was also considered favorable for Korean construction firms seeking to win projects in the Middle East.

However, a growing number of Korean construction firms are now concerned about potential hikes in raw material prices, because the shipment of goods could be delayed significantly if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz.

Data compiled by the International Contractors Association of Korea revealed that during the first quarter, 183 Korean construction firms secured $2.4 billion in combined orders from Middle Eastern countries, accounting for 44 percent of a total $5.5 billion worth of orders they won from 63 nations.

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

12. South Korea voices strong regrets over Japanese textbooks distorting wartime history

The two countries must effectively manage their historical issues and place mutual national security and national prosperity as the priority.

South Korea voices strong regrets over Japanese textbooks distorting wartime history

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

Seen are Japanese middle school textbooks with the description of South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo as its own territory. Yonhap

South Korea lodged a strong protest against Japan on Friday after Tokyo approved new school textbooks that downplay the coercive nature of its wartime atrocities and reinforce its territorial claims to Dokdo.

The foreign ministry also called in Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi to deliver the formal protest message after Tokyo's education ministry approved two history textbooks for middle school students.

The textbooks were said to have been approved last month, but the announcement of their approval was put on hold.

In a statement, Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson for the ministry, expressed "deep regrets" over the new textbooks, saying they contain "preposterous claims" over South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, and "absurd and false accounts" on issues, including Korean sexual slavery victims and forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

Lim emphasized that Dokdo is clearly an integral part of South Korean territory historically, geographically and under international law, and said any sovereignty claims by Japan about Dokdo are entirely unacceptable.

"Furthermore, the ROK government strongly emphasizes that the Japanese government's authorization of a textbook full of content that glorifies Japan's past mistakes -- rather than apologizing for and repenting of them -- not only runs counter to the trend of improving bilateral relations between Korea and Japan but also is an irresponsible act of allowing the provision of education of distorted historical perspectives to the young generation," he said.

ROK stands for the South's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Lim added that South Korea has "deep concerns" over the prejudice that the young generation of Japan may come to have after being exposed to such biased and distorted education, and urged the Japanese government to take a more "responsible attitude" in educating its youth. (Yonhap)

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

13. Human rights group urges gov't to submit written questions to UN to protect North Korean defectors

Human rights group urges gov't to submit written questions to UN to protect North Korean defectors

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

Human rights activists hold a press conference in front of the South Korean foreign ministry headquarters, calling on the government to speak up for North Korean defectors who are in need of international protection to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Thursday. Courtesy of Transitional Justice Working Group

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Human rights groups called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to speak up for North Korean defectors at the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and submit a set of questions for the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle, scheduled to take place in Vietnam on May 7, to address issues of both North Korean refugees and Vietnam War prisoners of war.

Activists have urged the government to send inquiries and recommendations to the U.N. to find ways to protect North Korean defectors whose human rights are at risk of abuse upon forced repatriation.

“As a member of the UNHCR executive committee and 20 million club of donors, South Korea should demand the UNHCR to adopt guidelines on the international protection needs of people fleeing North Korea like Afghan and Ukrainian refugees,” the rights group said in a statement.

The Transitional Justice Working Group argued that the South Korean government should continue to make inquiries about ways to protect and assist North Korean defectors who are exposed to human trafficking, forced marriage and other forms of exploitation. It also urged advised countries such as Laos and Mongolia — which are often used as escape routes for those fleeing North Korea — to respect the international principle of non-refoulement.

Rights activists also called on the government to cooperate with Vietnam in sharing information and discussing repatriation of South Korean POWs during the Vietnam War who were sent to North Korea. The POWs who failed to return home include Army Sgt. Park Seong-ryeol and Army Staff Sergeant Ahn Hak-soo.

The Korea Times · April 19, 2024

14. S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership

Although some may be upset with this it is a useful reminder (and important for the influence campaign) that the ROK acts in its own interests and is not a puppet of the US.

S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership

koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · April 19, 2024

S. Korea says its vote doesn't constitute its recognition of Palestine as independent state

By Ji Da-gyum

Published : April 19, 2024 - 14:39

Members of the Security Council vote on a resolution regarding Palestinian U.N. membership during a Security Council at UN headquarters in New York City, New York, Thursday. (Reuters)

South Korea on Thursday voted in favor of a UN Security Council draft resolution aimed at facilitating full United Nations membership for Palestine, reaffirming its endorsement of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, South Korea clarified during a meeting of the UN Security Council that its vote did not amount to recognition of Palestine as an independent state.

A total of 12 out of 15 Security Council members, including South Korea and Japan, voted for the draft resolution, which "recommends to the General Assembly that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations."

However, the United States vetoed the widely-backed resolution utilizing its power as a permanent member of the Security Council, while the United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained from voting.

Ambassador Kim Sang-jin, deputy permanent representative of South Korea to the UN, reiterated the imperative of the two-state solution as the "most viable long-term resolution" to the Israel-Palestine conflict during a Security Council meeting held after the vote.

"The Republic of Korea believes that the only viable and sustainable way to resolve the Palestinian questions and establish lasting peace is through the realization of the two-state solution," Kim said, referring to South Korea by its official name.

Kim elucidated the rationale behind the country's decision in light of the urgency to resume dialogue toward the goal of establishing two states, which has been stalled for decades.

"The Republic of Korea voted in favor of the draft resolutions on the admission of Palestine into the UN, in consideration of our view that renewed and strengthened efforts are needed to revitalize the path toward the two-state solution," Kim said.

"Regardless of today's results on the draft resolution, we hope that the parties will soon resume negotiations based on dialogue and compromise for a peaceful resolution to the Palestine question."

Kim also underscored that South Korea "can clearly attest to the meaning of aspirations to be admitted to this paramount international organization," referencing South Korea's prolonged journey to become a UN member.

Kim noted that South Korea achieved UN full membership in 1991, decades after initially applying for the status in 1949.

However, Kim clarified that South Korea's vote for the resolution does not alter South Korea's position of not recognizing the "State of Palestine" as an independent state.

"It is to be noted that our vote today does not constitute bilateral recognition of Palestine as a state," Kim said. "In the future, we will consider this matter at a time that is most conducive to the resolution of the conflict."

South Korea has not established diplomatic relations with Palestine, but South Korea acknowledges the Palestinian National Authority as the sole representative of Palestine.

Palestine has been a permanent observer at the UN since 2012. This status permits the country to participate in all of the UN’s proceedings ranging from the Security Council to the General Assembly and its six main committees, except voting on draft resolutions and decisions in its main organs and bodies.

In response to The Korea Herald's inquiry about the reasons behind the vote, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Friday also explained that "the government has consistently supported the two-state solution as the only way to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue and establish a foundation for lasting peace."

"We hoped that Palestine's support for UN membership would contribute to promoting a political process based on the two-state solution and bringing about lasting peace in the Middle East region," the Foreign Ministry said.

koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · April 19, 2024

15.

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