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Quotes of the Day:
"Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity."
– Irving Kristol
"People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically... No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in."
– Rosa Parks
"My country is the world and my religion is to do good."
– Thomas Jefferson
My thought for the day on Korea:
Let's not worry about what Kim is doing or will do. Let's make him worry about what we can and will do. Let's focus on human rights, information, cyber, sanctions, military readiness, and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. Let's present him with a broad front effort to bring peace, prosperity, and stability to the Korean peninsula by showing the Korean people in the north that their sacrifice and suffering is the result of Kim Jong Un's failed policies and strategy. Let's create conditions that will cause Kim to change his behavior or be faced with change from within.
1. N. Korea fires intermediate-range ballistic missile into East Sea: JCS
2. S. Korea, U.S., Japan stage joint aerial drills following N.K. missile launch
3. Nuclear envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan condemn N. Korea's missile launch
4. S. Korea condemns N. Korea's attempt to meddle in April general elections
5. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Overseas worker deployments accelerate, some leave within a month...There’s a surge in applicants amid hardship
6. US Indo-Pacific Command condemns N. Korean missile launch
7. South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Makes $649 Million Offer for Austal
8. Korea must seek new momentum in 'Asia New 7'
9. Civilian drone footage shows signs of life in sleepy North Korean city
10. North Korea Missile Test Hints at Greater Menace to U.S. Bases
11. Pentagon: North Korea continues to supply weapons to Russia
12. Yoon says N. Korea's missile launch aimed at causing confusion ahead of election
13. Deplorable end to UN mission (Korea – UN Panel of experts)
14. Envisioning S Korea's role in a Taiwan war
1. N. Korea fires intermediate-range ballistic missile into East Sea: JCS
Right on schedule after the Freedom Shield exercise is over
Is this a provocation? Note the spokesman's comments that this was a "provocative act" but the ROK military is on alert for possible signs of provocations.
Excerpts:
"North Korea appears to have put a hypersonic warhead on top of the delivery system used in the engine test last month," a senior military official said on the background.
Although the North Korean missile flew for less than 10 minutes, shorter than the flight time of past IRBM launches, its speed was similar to that of a hypersonic missile, the official said.
"(We) assess the (latest launch) is connected to the solid-fuel ground test that North Korea made public in March," Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the JCS, said in a regular briefing.
...
The South Korean military denounced the North's latest missile launch as a "provocative act" and vowed to step up military vigilance against possible signs of provocations.
(3rd LD) N. Korea fires intermediate-range ballistic missile into East Sea: JCS | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 2, 2024
(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 7, 11-12)
By Kim Eun-jung and Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, in its third ballistic missile launch of the year.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a message to reporters that it detected a missile presumed to be intermediate-range class fired from the Pyongyang region at 6:53 a.m. and the missile flew about 600 kilometers before landing in the East Sea.
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Jan. 15, 2024, shows the North's launch of a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) carrying a hypersonic warhead the previous day. South Korea's military said it detected the launch from an area in or around Pyongyang at about 2:55 p.m., and the missile flew approximately 1,000 kilometers before splashing into the sea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Military officials suspect the North may have test-fired an intermediate-range missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead to test the performance of its delivery system following an engine test last month.
On March 20, Pyongyang said it successfully conducted a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new type of intermediate hypersonic missile.
"North Korea appears to have put a hypersonic warhead on top of the delivery system used in the engine test last month," a senior military official said on the background.
Although the North Korean missile flew for less than 10 minutes, shorter than the flight time of past IRBM launches, its speed was similar to that of a hypersonic missile, the official said.
"(We) assess the (latest launch) is connected to the solid-fuel ground test that North Korea made public in March," Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the JCS, said in a regular briefing.
Hypersonic missiles travel at a speed of at least Mach 5 -- five times the speed of sound -- and are designed to be maneuverable on unpredictable flight paths and fly at low altitudes. At Mach 5 or higher, such a missile can travel the 195 kilometers between Pyongyang and Seoul in just one to two minutes.
Tuesday's launch marks North Korea's third ballistic missile launch this year.
On Jan. 14, the North test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead. Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un guided firing drills involving super-large multiple rocket launchers that are also considered a ballistic missile system.
When asked about the possible differences between the latest launch and the January one, Lee said there were similarities as well as differences without offering details, noting that further analysis was required.
"There is a possibility that the launch vehicle's capabilities have been enhanced," he said.
The South Korean military denounced the North's latest missile launch as a "provocative act" and vowed to step up military vigilance against possible signs of provocations.
"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military has been closely coordinating with the United States to monitor additional signs of North Korea's provocations," the JCS said.
The South Korean military has been closely monitoring North Korea's preparations for potential weapons tests and a spy satellite launch ahead of the April 10 parliamentary elections and major political events in Pyongyang this month.
North Korea's two major holidays in April are the birthday of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, the late grandfather of leader Kim Jong-un, on April 15 and the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · April 2, 2024
2. S. Korea, U.S., Japan stage joint aerial drills following N.K. missile launch
Sustaining interoperability and readiness.
S. Korea, U.S., Japan stage joint aerial drills following N.K. missile launch | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · April 2, 2024
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, the United States and Japan conducted a joint aerial exercise involving nuclear-capable B-52 bombers near the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, the defense ministry said, in an apparent show of force against North Korea following its latest ballistic missile launch.
The aerial exercise involving nuclear-capable B-52H bombers, as well as fighter jets from the three nations, took place over waters southeast of Jeju Island, just hours after the North fired an intermediate-range missile into the East Sea.
"The exercise was held to deter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats and enhance (the countries') response capabilities," the ministry said in a release.
The ministry said the joint aerial drill is the first trilateral exercise held among the countries this year, and vowed to expand joint drills to deter North Korean threats.
Military officials suspect the North may have test-fired an intermediate-range missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead to test the performance of its delivery system following an engine test last month.
On March 20, Pyongyang said it successfully conducted a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new type of intermediate hypersonic missile, which is considered harder to detect and shoot down.
It marks Pyongyang's third ballistic missile launch this year.
A U.S. B-52 strategic bomber takes part in a combined air exercise with South Korean F-35A fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula on Oct. 17, 2023, in this file photo provided by South Korea's Air Force. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · April 2, 2024
3. Nuclear envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan condemn N. Korea's missile launch
So it is a provocation?
Excerpt:
The envoys denounced the launch as an overt provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the region, and a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Nuclear envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan condemn N. Korea's missile launch | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 2, 2024
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan held talks Tuesday and condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch, the foreign ministry said.
Earlier in the day, North Korea fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea, according to the South Korean military.
Lee Jun-il, director general for North Korean nuclear affairs at the ministry, discussed the North's latest provocation with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Jung Pak and Hamamoto Yukiya, respectively, the ministry said.
The envoys denounced the launch as an overt provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the region, and a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The three also agreed on the need to step up trilateral coordination to lead the international community in taking a united response against North Korea.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message to reporters that it detected a missile presumed to be intermediate-range class fired from the Pyongyang region at 6:53 a.m. and the missile flew about 600 kilometers before splashing into the East Sea.
Tuesday's launch marks North Korea's third ballistic missile launch this year.
People watch a TV report about North Korea's ballistic missile launch at Seoul Station in the capital on April 2, 2024. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile was fired from the Pyongyang region at 6:53 a.m., traversing some 600 kilometers before hitting the waters of the East Sea. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · April 2, 2024
4. S. Korea condemns N. Korea's attempt to meddle in April general elections
The north Korean political warfare strategy has two objectives: subvert the South and drive a wedge in the ROK ?US alliance etc drive US forces off the peninsula. Just because the regime has made cosmetic reorganization changes such as disabling the UNited Front Department doesn't mean it has given up is subversive activities against the South.
S. Korea condemns N. Korea's attempt to meddle in April general elections | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · April 2, 2024
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry on Tuesday denounced North Korea's attempt to meddle in South Korea's upcoming parliamentary elections, citing an increase in Pyongyang's state media reports disparaging President Yoon Suk Yeol and seeking to drive a wedge in the South.
Ahead of the April 10 general elections, North Korea has been using its state media to slander Yoon, exaggerate anti-government rallies and incite a divide in the South Korean society, according to the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs.
In the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, the number of reports condemning South Korea has been on the rise as the election day nears, with seven reports in January, 12 in February and 22 in March.
"The government once again strongly warns of North Korea's malicious attempts that have been strengthening ahead of the elections. We clearly point out that fake news, propaganda and incitement from North Korea cannot work in the system of liberal democracy," the ministry said.
Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson at Seoul's unification ministry, announces the ministry's stance on April 2, 2024, on North Korea's attempt to meddle in the April 10 general elections. (Yonhap)
Critics said it is not convincing to say that Pyongyang seeks to intervene in the elections just because there has been an increase in the North's media reports condemning South Korea.
The Rodong Sinmun targets the internal audience in North Korea and the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North's state-run news agency, releases reports targeting overseas readers. In South Korea, the websites of the Rodong Sinmun, the KCNA and other North Korean media outlets are not accessible.
"The KCNA targets the external audience, and the Rodong Sinmun is a media outlet for domestic readers. But it is a fact that through various channels, our people can access Rodong Sinmun reports," a ministry official said.
The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, earlier said there is a high possibility that North Korea could carry out military provocations ahead of South Korea's April elections.
North Korea fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea on Tuesday, according to the South Korean military. The missile flew about 600 kilometers before splashing into the sea.
Military officials suspect the North may have test-fired an IRBM tipped with a hypersonic warhead in a bid to check the performance of its delivery system following an engine test last month.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · April 2, 2024
5. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ Overseas worker deployments accelerate, some leave within a month...There’s a surge in applicants amid hardship
Overseas workers should be one priority target audience for information.
Excerpts:
Despite being a violation of UN Security Council sanctions, cheap and highly skilled North Korean labor is in high demand in labor-starved China and Russia.
For a regime like North Korea that maintains its power through tight control over information, an increase in the number of people with direct experience with foreign cultures is a huge risk that cannot be ignored. Yet the North Korean authorities are in a bind because they are unable to abandon the foreign currency earned through sending labor abroad.
＜Inside N. Korea＞ Overseas worker deployments accelerate, some leave within a month...There’s a surge in applicants amid hardship
asiapress.org
A female waitress at a North Korean restaurant in Dandong. Many restaurants have closed due to a drop in customers since COVID, but many North Koreans have been unable to return home due to COVID. Taken in July 2021 on the Chinese side of the North Korea-China border by ASIAPRESS.
◆Workers are sent to China and Russia despite UN sanctions
North Korea is rushing to send workers abroad, which appears to be a way to quickly restore foreign currency earnings that were severely curtailed during the COVID pandemic. Background checks on applicants are said to be faster than before, but much more thorough. ASIAPRESS' reporting partners in Ryanggang Province and North Hamgyong Province provided information about the latest circumstances in North Korea about this issue. (KANG Ji-won / JEON Sung-jun)
◆ A simplified and quicker selection process
According to a Ryanggang Province reporting partner, the screening process, which used to take about three months, has been pushed to the point where it takes less than a month.
"It used to take more than three months because of physical tests, training, and classes, but now they have shortened the secondary procedures. After the start of the interview process, they usually leave (for overseas) in 25 to 30 days."
A reporting partner in North Hamgyong Province also said that more than five people around him have recently gone abroad, and the destinations are mainly China and Russia. In particular, those with good foreign language skills or skills such as plastering, tiling, or welding are priority candidates for overseas assignments.
◆ Workers selected from the interior, not border areas, and some are sent in groups from their own workplaces
The reporting partners also said that people from areas far from the North Korea-China border are priority candidates for overseas work. "They don't hire people from border areas such as North Hamgyong Province and Ryanggang Province unless they have special skills," said the reporting partner in North Hamgyong Province. "They send (abroad) a lot of skilled workers from outside the border areas such as Kimchaek and Kilju," the Ryanggang Province reporting partner said.
In short, the authorities are trying to prevent workers from defecting - while also attempting to lower the risk of internal information leakages - by selecting people from the interior of the country who are relatively unaware of the outside world. These people are considered safer than those in border areas who have some knowledge of the world outside of North Korea, and who are more likely to have relatives who have escaped to China, South Korea, Japan or other places.
There are also instances where workers from the same workplace are sent abroad as a group.
"Sometimes whole work teams leave," the Ryanggang Province reporting partner said. "That's because it's easier to manage the workforce. They don't go for a long period of time, just short periods - about a year - and the head of the work group and the party secretary go with them."
A North Korean woman works as a hall server at a hotel banquet hall in Yanji, China. On this particular day, there was the wedding of an ethnic Korean couple. She wears a badge with the North Korean flag on her chest. Photographed by ISHIMARU Jiro in October 2017.
◆ Background checks have become more thorough
In addition to the quicker pace of the application process, a notable change from the past is that background checks are also becoming faster and more thorough, especially in terms of the applicant's past behavior, according to the reporting partner in North Hamgyong Province.
"They used just to look at the in-laws of anyone going to another country (a wide range of relatives), but now, they're even checking if they've watched South Korean movies or dramas in the past."
In recent years, he said, there has been an increase in the number of provincial party committee background checks and people coming to the homes of acquaintances to check the backgrounds of people who have applied to go abroad. Officials also visit local security bureaus and police stations to conduct additional investigations.
The Ryanggang Province reporting partner said that there should not be any defectors or missing persons among the families of people wanting to go abroad, and they must have the endorsement of three work colleagues.
"They have to get permission from a youth league or party organization through a recommendation from their company, and they have to have a signature from a neighborhood watch unit leader, a security guidance officer, and a security guidance officer."
This is consistent with the findings of the reporting partner in North Hamgyong Province.
◆ Some sell their homes to go abroad…Government relies too much on foreign currency to stop sending workers abroad despite risks
For the most part, people are welcoming the situation. Private business activities, including selling goods at markets, are under heavy government control, so more and more people are seeking overseas assignments. Some are even willing to pay bribes to get out of the country, the reporting partner in Ryanggang Province said.
"I know someone who left Russia because he sold his apartment and paid a bribe. I heard that he paid USD 1,200 in bribes, of which USD 500 was a debt. If he didn't do that, he wouldn't have a way to make a living, so he would do anything to go."
Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un's regime, unnerved by the growing number of people with overseas experience, has been cracking down on those with international experience, labeling any outside information they bring back to the country as rumors, and investigating and punishing those who make trouble.
"At the end of February, a woman who went to work in a Chinese cloth factory said that when she worked in China, she ate rice and meat every day, that there was plenty of work everywhere. She went on to say that if she worked, she would be paid and wouldn't starve. But then her grandmother went around the neighborhood talking about it, and the woman was investigated."
Despite being a violation of UN Security Council sanctions, cheap and highly skilled North Korean labor is in high demand in labor-starved China and Russia.
For a regime like North Korea that maintains its power through tight control over information, an increase in the number of people with direct experience with foreign cultures is a huge risk that cannot be ignored. Yet the North Korean authorities are in a bind because they are unable to abandon the foreign currency earned through sending labor abroad.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
A map of North Korea (ASIAPRESS)
asiapress.org
6. US Indo-Pacific Command condemns N. Korean missile launch
Another unwanted distraction for INDOPACOM.
US Indo-Pacific Command condemns N. Korean missile launch
The Korea Times · by 2024-04-02 07:20 | North Korea · April 2, 2024
The North's firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile is seen in this July 13, 2023 file photo carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch Monday, calling on the regime to refrain from "unlawful" and "destabilizing" acts.
The North fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea from a site in or around Pyongyang on Tuesday morning (Korea time), according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," the command said in a statement. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
It also highlighted America's security commitment to Seoul and Tokyo.
North Korea fires intermediate-range ballistic missile into East Sea: JCS
"We continue to monitor the situation," it said. "The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad."
Military officials in Seoul put weight to the possibility of the North having tested an intermediate-range missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead.
Last month, the North claimed to have successfully conducted a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new intermediate hypersonic missile. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · by 2024-04-02 07:20 | North Korea · April 2, 2024
7. South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Makes $649 Million Offer for Austal
Can we create a real multinational arsenal of democracy among like minded nations?
Excerpts:
To achieve such goals, Australia is working closely with the U.S. and allies such as South Korea, including awarding defense contracts to each other as part of a strategy to broaden weapons-manufacturing capability.
Last year, the Australian government awarded Hanwha Corp. a multibillion-dollar contract to build 129 infantry-fighting vehicles, ranking it one of the largest capability acquisition projects in the history of the country’s army. Hanwha Corp. is the parent company of Hanwha Ocean, and a conglomerate that also owns businesses ranging from insurance to hotels.
Still, Australian officials are also trying to develop a homegrown defense industry that can make it more self-reliant during times of heightened global tensions and support local jobs. Hanwha Ocean’s bid for Austal is a test of the government’s tolerance for allowing companies that would play a key role in delivering that strategy to become foreign owned.
Austal said it and the Australian government indicated last year that they would negotiate a strategic shipbuilder agreement, under which Austal would be appointed as Australia’s strategic partner for building new vessels in Western Australia.
South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Makes $649 Million Offer for Austal
Austal said it wasn’t satisfied that U.S. and Australian regulators would support a deal
https://www.wsj.com/world/south-koreas-hanwha-ocean-makes-649-million-offer-for-austal-cf72802e?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1
By Mike Cherney
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and David Winning
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April 1, 2024 7:04 pm ET
Austal said it is a takeover target of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, which has made a bid worth some $649 million. PHOTO: STRINGER/REUTERS
SYDNEY—Australia is planning a costly overhaul of its military to prepare for regional threats including a more assertive China. That’s attracting overseas interest in one of its flagship defense companies.
On Tuesday, military shipbuilder Austal said it is a takeover target of South Korea’s
Hanwha Ocean 042660 1.07%increase; green up pointing triangle, which has made a bid worth some $649 million. The cash offer of 2.825 Australian dollars (US$1.83) per Austal share represents a 28% premium to its share price at the end of last week, and would put the stock at levels last reached more than three years ago.But in a sign of how complicated a deal could become, Austal said any takeover would require approval not only from Australia’s foreign-investment watchdog but also the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. That reflects Austal’s role in building vessels for the U.S. Navy.
Austal said it wasn’t satisfied that U.S. and Australian regulators would support a deal, putting the onus back on Hanwha to convince it otherwise.
Western defense officials recognize that they need to upgrade their militaries, expand munitions output, and build ships capable of responding to new threats that include a potential conflict between China and Taiwan.
In February, Australia said it would spend billions more dollars over the next decade to expand its surface fleet to its largest size since World War II. The blueprint called for 26 major surface vessels, including destroyers and frigates, plus 25 minor war vessels.
The navy plan followed a wide-ranging review of Australia’s military last year that found that Canberra needed to quickly overhaul its armed forces and focus more on capabilities such as long-range missiles. Australian officials had said the previous assumption that Australia would have 10 years to prepare for a conflict was no longer accurate, amid concerns that China could seek to take Taiwan—the self-governing island that Beijing views as its territory—by force in the near future. Advances in technology had also eroded the advantage of Australia’s relatively remote geography, the review said.
To achieve such goals, Australia is working closely with the U.S. and allies such as South Korea, including awarding defense contracts to each other as part of a strategy to broaden weapons-manufacturing capability.
Last year, the Australian government awarded Hanwha Corp. a multibillion-dollar contract to build 129 infantry-fighting vehicles, ranking it one of the largest capability acquisition projects in the history of the country’s army. Hanwha Corp. is the parent company of Hanwha Ocean, and a conglomerate that also owns businesses ranging from insurance to hotels.
Still, Australian officials are also trying to develop a homegrown defense industry that can make it more self-reliant during times of heightened global tensions and support local jobs. Hanwha Ocean’s bid for Austal is a test of the government’s tolerance for allowing companies that would play a key role in delivering that strategy to become foreign owned.
Austal said it and the Australian government indicated last year that they would negotiate a strategic shipbuilder agreement, under which Austal would be appointed as Australia’s strategic partner for building new vessels in Western Australia.
Write to Mike Cherney at mike.cherney@wsj.com and David Winning at david.winning@wsj.com
8. Korea must seek new momentum in 'Asia New 7'
"Asia New 7:" Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Korea must seek new momentum in 'Asia New 7'
donga.com
Posted April. 02, 2024 07:55,
Updated April. 02, 2024 09:45
Korea must seek new momentum in 'Asia New 7'. April. 02, 2024 07:55. .
Asia is emerging as an alternative market for Korea's exports amidst the prolonged U.S.-China conflict and China's economic recession. Representative examples include the 'New 7 Asian countries,' including Indonesia and Malaysia, rich in natural resources, India, Vietnam, and Singapore serving as export hubs, and Thailand and the Philippines as growing world markets. The strategic importance of Asia's New 7 countries, serving as stable production bases and huge consumer markets, is increasing.
The potential of the New 7 is robust on both the supply and demand sides. With a population of 2.05 billion, an economy of $6.89 trillion, and abundant natural resources including nickel and cobalt, it exhibits significant dynamism driven by its youthful population and geopolitical advantages amid the U.S.-China conflict. This results in growth rates surpassing the global average. Not merely a low-cost production base, it represents an opportunity-rich consumer market. For instance, India witnessed the sale of 148.1 million smartphones last year, becoming the world's second-largest market, surpassing the United States. Yet, with 40% of the Indian population still using feature phones, the potential for market expansion remains boundless.
Last year, South Korea witnessed a significant transformation in its export landscape, marking a departure from the norm of the past three decades. Notably, the country experienced a trade deficit with China amounting to $18 billion, a historic occurrence since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992. However, amidst this shift, the emergence of the New 7 markets breathed new life into South Korea's export prospects, prompting a necessary reduction in reliance on China. With total exports to the New 7 markets reaching $125.64 billion last year, surpassing those to China for the first time, these markets have transitioned from mere avenues for export diversification to becoming pivotal targets requiring strategic focus.
Korean companies are actively recognizing the potential of New 7 and investing efforts accordingly. In the Indian smartphone market, Samsung Electronics secured the top position last year with an 18.0% market share, while Hyundai Motor Company sold 67,450 cars in Vietnam, surpassing Toyota to claim the leading spot. Furthermore, a significant number of production bases from the top 10 conglomerates are entering these markets. Leveraging abundant local labor and resources, these companies are targeting the domestic market and global markets such as the United States and Europe.
However, tapping into the New 7 market isn't a simple endeavor, even for those eager to do so. It requires fierce competition against economic powerhouses such as China and Japan, each with its own market dominance. Adopting a lax approach akin to our previous strategy in China, where we aimed to sell one product to each person and reach a billion in sales, could lead to trouble. Careful analysis and tailored entry strategies for each country are imperative. Moreover, comprehensive government support is essential. Only through collaborative efforts between the government and businesses can the New 7 evolve from a realm of mere opportunity and potential into a promising frontier for the Korean economy.
한국어
donga.com
9. Civilian drone footage shows signs of life in sleepy North Korean city
Civilian drone footage shows signs of life in sleepy North Korean city
The Korea Times · April 2, 2024
A civilian drone launched from Dandong, China, captures an image of people standing around in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju in this 2020 photo. Captured from Reddit
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Rare photos and footage from inside North Korea taken by a civilian-operated drone launched from China gave a glimpse into the daily lives of people in the reclusive state.
A civilian with Reddit username XiaoHao2 shared 12 photos and three video clips of the northwestern border city of Sinuiju. The border city is located in the northwestern region of North Korea and faces the Chinese city of Dandong across the Yalu River, also known as the Amnok River.
The user titled the post, “Drone pics of North Korea, I was in China, my drone flew across the border,” adding that the photos and videos were captured using a Chinese-made DJI drone. The post was upvoted 14,100 times in three days.
The footage was recorded in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown, according to the account holder that posted the images. A handful of images show North Korean residents looking up at the drone. A few seem startled by the drone crossing into North Korean airspace.
A civilian drone launched from Dandong, China, captures an image of people standing around in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju in this 2020 photo. Captured from Reddit
Other images showed mostly streets and buildings, including what appears to be a university and a main avenue near Sinuiju Chongnyon Station.
Internet users shared their impressions of the images, with many saying the city looks like a “ghost town."
One commented, “Those are some dead streets. Not a lot of traffic there,” while another wrote “Guy singlehandedly invaded N. Korea.”
A civilian drone launched from Dandong, China, captures an image of people standing around in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju in this 2020 photo. Captured from Reddit
Some expressed concern over the safety of the drone pilot.
“I imagine the Chinese authorities wouldn’t be happy about someone flying a drone from their territory over NK,” one user wrote.
Another said, “That is so so so cool, but not smart. The Chinese government has a tight relationship with North Korea, returns escapees, helps prosecute criminals. If you're flying a DJI drone they have even more info on you, info that would allow them to track you down after the fact. So be careful.”
However, the uploader confirmed that the drone wasn't shot down or confiscated by authorities, saying “I am still alive and free.”
The Korea Times · April 2, 2024
10. North Korea Missile Test Hints at Greater Menace to U.S. Bases
Let's not worry about what Kim is doing or will do. Let's make him worry about what we can and will do. Let's focus on human rights, information, cyber, sanctions, military readiness, and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. Let's present him with a broad front effort to bring peace, prosperity, and stability to the Korean peninsula by showing the Korean people in the north that their sacrifice and suffering is the result of Kim Jong Un's failed policies and strategy. Let's create conditions that will cause Kim to change his behavior or be faced with change from within.
North Korea Missile Test Hints at Greater Menace to U.S. Bases
The test, analysts said, may have involved a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile that is faster to launch and more difficult to intercept.
A news broadcast in Seoul on Tuesday with file footage of a North Korean missile launch.Credit...Ahn Young-Joon/Associated Press
By Choe Sang-Hun
Reporting from Seoul
April 1, 2024
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North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile off its east coast on Tuesday, an indication that the country was continuing to develop missiles capable of targeting American military bases in the Western Pacific.
The missile, launched from near Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, did not fly over Japan, as have some of the IRBMs that North Korea has launched in the past. Instead, it fell in waters between the two countries after flying for 372 miles, the South Korean military said.
South Korean and American officials were analyzing data collected from the test to learn more about the missile, the military said. But analysts said the test may have involved a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile powered by a solid-fuel engine. Last month, North Korea said it had tested one such engine on the ground.
In recent years, North Korea has tried to make its missiles a greater threat to the United States and its allies in the region by combining new solid-fuel and hypersonic technologies. Missiles using such technologies are faster to launch and more difficult to intercept.
North Korea last conducted an IRBM test on Jan. 14, when it said it had launched a solid-fuel IRBM loaded with a hypersonic warhead. On March 19, it said it had conducted a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new hypersonic IRBM.
More on Japan
Unlike its short-range ballistic missiles, an intermediate-range ballistic missile fired from North Korea can theoretically cover all of Japan and Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific.
If war broke out with North Korea, U.S. military bases in Japan and Guam would serve as launchpads for American reinforcement forces, including warplanes and naval fleets. Attacking those bases is a key part of North Korea’s war plan, according to military analysts.
While inspecting the missile engine test last month, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, said the new intermediate-range missile was as important in strategic value as intercontinental ballistic missiles that it has been testing to target the mainland United States.
Mr. Kim had threatened to launch missiles into waters around Guam before starting direct diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump in 2018. He has doubled down on expanding his country’s missile capabilities after his talks with Mr. Trump collapsed without any agreement on how to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons program or to ease United Nations sanctions imposed on the country.
North Korea lacks sophisticated warplanes or submarines, leaving its missiles virtually the only means for Mr. Kim to launch nuclear weapons.
This year, North Korea has also conducted a series of tests involving an underwater drone and cruise missiles, which it said were being developed to carry nuclear warheads. The North’s last missile test took place on March 18, when it fired several short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast.
In a 2022 report, the Pentagon said that “most of North Korea’s ballistic missiles have an assessed capability to carry nuclear payloads,” though using them against the United States or its allies would be suicidal for the regime. “There is no scenario in which the Kim regime could employ nuclear weapons and survive,” the Pentagon said in its Nuclear Posture Review.
North Korea remains determined to make its nuclear threat credible. On Monday, it said that it planned to launch several reconnaissance satellites this year to help its military better monitor its enemies and target them with greater precision.
In November, North Korea successfully launched its first military reconnaissance satellite in orbit. It claimed that the satellite started its spying mission in December. But South Korea’s defense minister, Shin Won-sik, told reporters in February that the North Korean satellite was so rudimentary in technology that it appeared to be “circling the earth idly” without transmitting any valuable data.
Analysts fear that North Korea may be able to improve its satellites and other weapons with Russian help. North Korea was accused of shipping artillery shells and missiles to Russia to help its war in Ukraine and of getting oil, military technology and other help from Moscow in return. North Korea has been preparing for another satellite launch from a spaceport on its northwestern tip in recent weeks, South Korean officials have said.
Choe Sang-Hun is the lead reporter for The Times in Seoul, covering South and North Korea. More about Choe Sang-Hun
11. Pentagon: North Korea continues to supply weapons to Russia
Pentagon: North Korea continues to supply weapons to Russia
kyivindependent.com · by Rachel Amran · April 2, 2024
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The U.S. Pentagon assessed that North Korea continues to supply Russia with weapons, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said at a press briefing on April 1.
North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with extensive military packages, including ballistic missiles and over 3 million artillery shells.
"We do assess that the partnership continues to flourish and that North Korea does continue to provide support to Russia," Singh stated. "We see that partnership — you know, we continue to see Russia reach out to partners like North Korea, to Iran, to continue to get support for its war in Ukraine."
Oleksandr Filchakov, the head of the Kharkiv Oblast prosecutor's office, said on March 14 that Russia had used nearly 50 North Korean missiles to attack Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, which is five times more than the numbers announced by Pak.
One of the first cases of Russia using North Korean ballistic missiles was recorded on Dec. 30, 2023, during an attack on Zaporizhzhia.
Later on, Russia's use of North Korean missiles was officially confirmed in the attack on Kharkiv on Jan. 2. Two other cases of the launch of North Korean missiles at Kharkiv Oblast are currently being investigated, according to the local prosecutor's office.
Russia, China and North Korea have new dynamics. And it’s bad for Ukraine
The White House announced on Oct. 13 that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to bolster Russia’s war against Ukraine. Washington published pictures tracking a set of containers as it traveled from Najin, North Korea, to Dunay, Russia, by a Russ…
The Kyiv IndependentKatie Marie Davies
kyivindependent.com · by Rachel Amran · April 2, 2024
12. Yoon says N. Korea's missile launch aimed at causing confusion ahead of election
President Yoon recognizes the north's political warfare strategy. We all need to grasp the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.
(LEAD) Yoon says N. Korea's missile launch aimed at causing confusion ahead of election | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · April 2, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks by Yoon; CHANGES dateline)
By Lee Haye-ah and Kim Han-joo
SEJONG/SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday that North Korea is attempting to rock South Korean society ahead of the general elections, after the regime fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea.
Yoon made the remark during a Cabinet meeting held in the central city of Sejong, hours after the North fired the missile in its third ballistic missile launch of the year. The missile flew about 600 kilometers before landing in the East Sea.
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks while presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in the central city of Sejong on April 2, 2024. (Yonhap)
"The North Korean regime is trying to rock our society ahead of the general elections, while continuing missile and other military provocations," Yoon said, referring to the elections on April 10. "These provocations will only end up uniting the minds of our people strongly."
Yoon called for firm readiness for additional provocations.
With the parliamentary elections eight days away, Yoon said thorough preparations are needed to ensure the people can cast their votes without concern about their fairness, especially following the recent discovery of spy cameras at about 40 polling stations across the country.
He also pledged to pour in unlimited emergency funds for an indefinite period of time to stabilize the rising prices of agricultural and livestock products.
According to government data, the country's inflation remained above 3 percent for the second consecutive month in March. Notably, prices of agricultural, livestock and fishery products rose 11.7 percent on-year last month, the highest rise since April 2021, when the prices rose 13.2 percent.
Yoon called for thorough preparations against the effects of climate change, noting unusually low temperatures in April last year were the root cause behind crop damage and increased agricultural goods prices.
In particular, he noted the need to increase the number of "smart orchards" that use artificial intelligence and other digital technology, while developing new varieties of products that can adapt better to climate change.
"When grocery prices rise, vulnerable groups are the first and the most to suffer," Yoon said, instructing the government to expand the scope of people eligible for agricultural goods vouchers and their size.
Yoon again urged all ministries to spare no effort for the smooth operation of Neulbom School, an integrated before- and after-school day care and education program that launched in earnest last month.
On the government's push for medical reform, Yoon stressed the need for bold financial investment in fostering medical institutions, training medical staff and compensating doctors practicing in essential medical fields, in addition to increasing admissions to medical schools.
He instructed the finance minister to consult with the ministers of health, science and education to draw up a medical reform budget and to report it to him.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · April 2, 2024
13. Deplorable end to UN mission (Korea – UN Panel of experts)
Deplorable end to UN mission
The Korea Times · April 1, 2024
Russia slammed for blocking UN panel on NK nukes
It is deplorable that Russia exercised its veto power as a member of the United Nations Security Council to disband a U.N. panel tasked with monitoring sanctions aimed at preventing potential North Korean nuclear development activities. The panel will expire on April 30 as Russia blocked the renewal of its operation. We express strong regret over Russia's action.
Seoul's diplomatic and security authorities are expected to face an escalating dilemma following the recent decision, which will inevitably undermine the oversight of U.N. sanctions aimed at deterring North Korea's possible advancements in nuclear ballistic missile technology. The panel was launched in 2009 following Pyongyang's second nuclear test. It is composed of eight experts dispatched by the UNSC member states.
It has conducted investigations into North Korea's suspected violations of U.N. sanctions and released reports twice a year regarding the implementation of the punitive measures. In doing so, it has contributed significantly to having U.N. member countries abide by UNSC resolutions. In recognition of these achievements, the UNSC members unanimously endorsed the extension of the panel's mandate over the course of the past 14 years.
However, this time around, the panel's extension for the year was unsuccessful, as it was blocked by Russia, which voted against it in a session held on Thursday. To get approval, there should be support from more than nine countries of the 15 UNSC board members plus unanimous approval by the permanent member states of the council. China abstained from voting.
"This is almost comparable to destroying a [surveillance camera] to avoid being caught red-handed," said Hwang Joon-kook, the South Korean envoy to the U.N., during the meeting. Hwang went on to say that the case marked another setback for the authority of the esteemed body, as well as for the international nonproliferation regime.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood also said, "Moscow has undermined the prospect of a peaceful, diplomatic resolution of the most dangerous nuclear proliferation issues."
Russia appears to have vetoed the panel's extension since it has reportedly been trading weapons with the North, though it has rejected such a claim. The annual report issued by the panel in March contains photos and other specific circumstances testifying the transaction of weapons between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Russia's Ambassador to the U.N. Vassily Nebenzia criticized the panel of experts for "increasingly being reduced to playing into the hands of Western approaches, reprinting biased information and analyzing newspaper headlines and poor quality photos."
Russia has been taking flak for engaging in questionable activities related to North Korea's violation of U.N. sanctions. Russia's behavior is concerning, as it may encourage North Korea to pursue additional military provocations in the future. The North will likely be tempted to adopt more audacious approaches in its bid to acquire cutting-edge military technology, resources and foreign currency.
As new Cold War tensions escalate, the UNSC has already lost its key function of maintaining international peace and security. In addition, Russia cannot escape criticism for disrupting the global order. The Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea is likely to be highly pleased with the recent development.
Despite the appearance of sanctions against North Korea being eased, it is crucial to implement appropriate measures to prevent further unchecked actions by the North. Through tighter global cooperation, efforts should be made to strengthen surveillance over North Korea's potential nuclear programs.
The U.N. vowed to continue to monitor the implementation of sanctions against North Korea despite the recent decision. Swiss Ambassador to the U.N. Pascale Baeriswyl, who heads the sanctions panel, indicated a solution can still be found by saying, "Not all doors are closed." She said there would be efforts to find an alternative with the support of independent experts and other research groups.
The Yoon Suk Yeol administration should proactively explore countermeasures to ensure that sanctions against the North will continue despite the recent vote. Given the growing possibility of North Korean military provocations, nudged by the U.N. decision, more proactive efforts should be made to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries to share information on the North's development of weapons of mass destruction and fortify joint defense postures.
The Korea Times · April 1, 2024
14. Envisioning S Korea's role in a Taiwan war
There is no "ostrich option." No one can have their head buried in the sand when it comes to competition and potential conflict with China.
Of note this is the first time I have read an article from a Korean author talking about protecting Korean civilians in Taiwan in a time of conflict.
And I think this is a very important statement that should not be buried in the article:
The most important goal of the ROK-US alliance is to block simultaneity
Envisioning S Korea's role in a Taiwan war - Asia Times
South Korea’s security cannot be separated from regional security and delaying discussion on how it fits in a Taiwan conflict is not an option
asiatimes.com · by Hanbyeol Sohn · April 2, 2024
The Taiwan Strait is a region where China’s core interests sharply conflict with those of the United States. Previous crises in the Taiwan Strait have never been without danger, but ultimately US military power made China retreat.
The growing military power of China tells us the next Taiwan crisis will be different. The United States and its South Korean ally need to be fully aware of that and plan accordingly.
The US does not want a military conflict in Taiwan in the near future. China, having declared its goal to become a “fully developed, rich, and powerful” nation and a “superpower” by 2049, will also avoid unnecessary conflicts.
However, China’s perceived “window of opportunity” may differ from our calculations. Moreover, in a heightened military posture, the crisis can escalate at any time.
US preparations: strategy and posture
Whether the US has achieved the posture to deter China thus has become a crucial issue. The geography of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, surrounded by sea and relatively distant for the US, poses a significant challenge.
As the crisis escalates, it can be divided into stages. In peacetime, military campaigning will prevent China from taking provocative actions or crossing the threshold. Especially as China attempts to freely use the gray zone, including cyber and space domains, maintaining superiority is essential for deterrence.
If the Chinese military can inflict significant damage or advance to Taiwan’s main island, benefits have to be denied and costs imposed.
Finally, should the conflict escalate, a counterstrike against China will proceed. While attacks on the Chinese mainland will be restrained, combined operations capable of paralyzing Chinese command and control can be executed.
Spatially, the concept of three lines is useful.
- Most critical is the “median line” of the Taiwan Strait, the final line to block China’s military advance, requiring significant assets.
- Next is the entry route for area of operations to defend Taiwan, emphasizing strategic logistics to quickly and safely deploy large forces from bases in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Lastly, setting a geographical limiting line against mainland China shows clear intent to prevent unnecessary escalation.
Taiwan and the US must review multiple options in advance. Although phased in terms of time and space, additional forces are needed to execute all stages of operations. Achieving regional air and maritime superiority requires:
- advanced real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets,
- fifth-generation fighters,
- long-range missile bombers,
- carrier strike groups composed of manned and unmanned maritime forces,
- ground forces with amphibious capabilities and firepower,
- missiles of various ranges,
- strategic and operational logistics, and
- resilient supply capabilities.
Most importantly, these forces must be deployed at the right time and place, requiring the US Indo-Pacific alliance network to operate as a robust system.
Coping with multiple crises at the same time
An Atlantic Council research report titled “The United States and its allies must be ready to deter a two-front war and nuclear attacks in East Asia” has expressed concerns about crises connecting the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan.
The Ukraine war has shown that such “strategic simultaneity” can occur even at a regional level. Geographical proximity is one reason in that case, but more crucial is competition for influence between the US and China, expansion of military projection capabilities including missiles, creating favorable situations through nuclear coercion, and active use of gray zone tactics.
A Taiwan crisis’s impact on the Korean Peninsula
Let’s present a few broader implications for the security of the Korean Peninsula from a military perspective:
- Korea is not prepared, despite being forewarned. Official consultations on the Taiwan crisis have not been conducted at the government level, leaving almost no discussion on what role Korea should or could play in a contingency.
- China and North Korea are connected by alliance treaty and possess nuclear weapons while Taiwan, South Korea and Japan can provide limited military support to the US and are not institutionally bonded. Dependence on the US for deterrence or response is inevitable.
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Operation of three US commands in a crisis could bring confusion. The US Strategic Command responsible for deterring and responding to nuclear-armed countries, the Indo-Pacific Command in charge of defending Taiwan, and US Forces Korea have clear distinctions in authority and responsibility. However, separating the Korean Theater of Operations from other regions is impossible, and how to connect and integrate the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, which leads military operations in peacetime, with the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, which controls operations in wartime, is unexplored.
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Combined military posture will be clearly affected, especially concerning redeployment elsewhere of USFK Air Force assets under the concept of “strategic flexibility.” An academic study analyzed that the Republic of Korea and the US would need approximately 500 fighters each to secure Seoul’s “vital national interests against North Korean military threats including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles” in an all-out war If any of the 90 USFK fighters currently stationed in Korea are redeployed, it will be challenging to respond adequately to North Korea’s surprise attacks. While Korea cannot refuse the strategic flexibility of USFK, efforts are needed to jointly block North Korea from misjudging or exploiting vulnerabilities.
- Most critical is potential dispersion of the United States’ Asian allies-and-partners network’s capabilities, which should operate organically. US military power remains overwhelming, but geographical distance could delay decision-making and execution in a crisis. Japan’s military power cannot be immediately projected without the US, and South Korea’s military must fill the gap left by any US Forces Korea redeployed while deterring North Korea.
Recommendations for ROK-US alliance:
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If a Taiwan crisis occurs, South Korea must protect approximately 6,000 expatriates in Taiwan, minimize the negative impact on the national economy by protecting sea lanes of communication and make diplomatic efforts to prevent unnecessary escalation. However, South Korea’s security cannot be separated from regional security. Delaying the discussion on what role South Korea will play during the Taiwan crisis is not an option. It should not be limited to supporting US military operations. Close dialogue within the alliance is essential.
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Focus should be on understanding what problems could arise under what situations and conditions. It is more important to accurately recognize the complex situation than to decide who should do what. Although a new crisis is a concern, the US and South Korea must resist the pressure to act immediately, must share problem-recognition as allies. First, accurately understand the intentions of China and North Korea and align perceptions among allies and partners.
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Options should be expanded and numerous scenarios developed. Fixing the maximum and minimum responses and converging to a middle ground, “the Goldilocks choice,” traps us, leaving us unable to achieve asymmetric superiority. Creative options must be available in all spaces of time, place, and situation, including gray zones used by the opponent. From the perspective of “integrated deterrence,” the capabilities and means of allies and partners are even more diverse. Considering Korea’s sensitive relationship with China, more options may be derived through track 1.5/2 tabletop exercises.
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The most important goal of the ROK-US alliance is to block simultaneity. If adversaries’ goal is to weaken the US alliance network regionally, we must disrupt their simultaneity. Prevent their misjudgment and miscalculation and end the situation at an early stage and low level so a single crisis does not expand. Through psychological and cognitive warfare, plus other dimensions, separate the opponent to eliminate the risk factors caused by integration. There’s a persuasive argument for “Integrated Deterrence 2.0,” further deepening and combining the existing network centered on the US in the Indo-Pacific region.
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South Korea’s self-strengthening efforts should ultimately focus on taking responsibility for security on the Korean Peninsula. This is not about exceptionalism. It’s about playing a role in building a strong defense line connected to the US Indo-Pacific alliance network and integrated deterrence. This means South Korea takes full responsibility for one of the simultaneous threats from North Korea and China, and strengthens the capabilities of each of the three countries within ROK-US-Japan cooperation. If North Korea misjudges due to the nuclear imbalance on the Korean Peninsula, despite South Korea’s self-strengthening efforts, deploying US tactical nuclear weapons could be the simplest and most effective response.
Hanbyeol Sohn is an associate professor at the Korea National Defense University.
This article was first published by Pacific Forum. It is republished with permission.
asiatimes.com · by Hanbyeol Sohn · April 2, 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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