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Quotes of the Day:
William J. Donovan, the Director of the OSS, believed in the power of intelligence to shape the world, stating, "In this global war, there is a global front. Every man and woman who gives us information is a soldier working on that front."
The OSS’s approach to intelligence was groundbreaking. Donovan emphasized, “The greater part of vital intelligence can be obtained not by parachuting behind enemy lines but by poring through papers, cables, reports, photographs, maps, journals, foreign newspapers, and other materials” – laying the foundation of modern intelligence research and analysis.
The OSS’s mission was succinctly described as: “Its primary one was to collect, analyze, and disseminate foreign intelligence; its secondary one was to conduct unconventional warfare” – a dual mission that has continued to define American intelligence operations.
(Above is AI generated)
1. Exclusive: North Korean nuclear experts lead oppressive lives as “slaves to the bomb”
2. N.K. leader calls for increased artillery capabilities during visit to arms factories
3. Top diplomats of S. Korea, China set to hold talks on bilateral ties, N. Korea
4. N.K. hacking group stole massive amount of personal info from S. Korean court computer network
5. Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for talks on opening embassy
6. Unification minister discusses N.K. threats, bilateral ties with Slovak FM
7. N. Korean defectors send balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North
8. N. Korean support-the-troops program gets a failing grade due to "unethical behavior"
9. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Hungry elderly people flock to government office to demand rice, leading police to mobilize to put down unrest…Hyesan city
10. Warning Shot: America’s strike on China’s embassy 25 years ago sent a strong signal to North Korea
11. Navy conducts live-fire drills in East Sea with Army, Air Force
12. Samsung doubles down on Vietnam
13. Veteran of spy war fights for justice
14. South Korea's increasing need for self-defense
15. Gwangju and the echoes of democracy
16. Despite sanctions, N. Korea continues imports of parts for electronics
17. N. Korean laborers work nights to finish Hwasong residential development project
18. Controversy over 'North Korea praising video' during anti-war demonstrations at U.S. universities
1. Exclusive: North Korean nuclear experts lead oppressive lives as “slaves to the bomb”
I am so happy to see my long time friend and mentor and the smartest person on north Korea recognized here. Among the very best years of my military career were working with Bob for General Tilelli and Lt Gen Ayres working on CONPLAN 5029 for north Korean instability and collapse.
There is no American who has interviewed more escapees from north Korea than Bob (and probably no American can speak the north Korean dialect as well as Bob).
He will be presenting his report this Friday at HRNK. RSVP to attend here: https://www.hrnk.org/events/events-view.php?id=151
Exclusive: North Korean nuclear experts lead oppressive lives as “slaves to the bomb”
The harsh reality of North Korean nuclear scientists revealed in a new report by Robert Collins, former chief strategist for the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command
https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2024/05/10/LDIZXANNSBCFLIIFEG4RZS5ZH4/
By Kim Eun Joong,
Lee Jae-eun
Published 2024.05.10. 11:40
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives a nuclear scientist a piggy back ride after supervising a missile test in 2017. / Yonhap News
“North Korean nuclear scientists have no autonomy over their lives, with their life paths set for them in almost every aspect - including research fields, housing, food, and marriage - from the time they are elementary school students. In a society where failure is viewed as disloyalty, they live under dehumanizing conditions, forced to work relentlessly for the “task of the fatherland” until death.”
It is widely believed that North Korea, which is heavily investing in nuclear and missile development, favors its 10,000 nuclear scientists. But the reality is quite the opposite, according to an analysis by a Korean Peninsula expert based in Washington, D.C.
Robert Collins, who served 31 years in the United States Forces Korea, including as the chief strategist for the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), detailed the struggles of North Korean nuclear experts in his report “Slave to the Bomb” on May 10. His report is based on testimonies from North Korean defectors he interviewed and various classified materials.
Robert Collin who served in the United States Forces Korea for 31 years. / The Chosunilbo
“Outsiders assume that nuclear scientists are well-treated because nuclear energy is so important to Kim Jong Un and North Korea’s survival, but this is not the case,” Collins writes. “With the supreme leader demanding the development of sophisticated weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, nuclear scientists face a dangerous future with no way out but to succeed.”
According to the 200-page report obtained in advance by The Chosunilbo, a North Korean child’s fate as a so-called “slave to the bomb” is determined at an age as early as ten. North Korea has a system that allows administrative units, whether rural or urban, to select and recruit children who excel in mathematics and science.
“The best students from each region are gathered and trained in math, science, physics, and other subjects,” Collins states in the report. “If they stand out, their entire families are sometimes forced to move so that the students can advance to a higher-level school in the capital city.”
The most prestigious Middle School in Shinwon-dong, Pyongyang, where former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il studied, is a breeding ground for gifted education, attracting the brightest students from all over North Korea. Its students regularly participate in international competitions such as the Math Olympiad, according to the report.
Students selected to work for North Korea’s nuclear program typically attend one of five universities, including Kim Il Sung University, Kimchaek University of Technology, and Kanggye College of Technology.
The report states, “Once a nuclear scientist achieves significant academic success in a particular research field, their professional fate is sealed.” They must live a life dedicated to serving the Kim regime, and from then on, the only variables in their life are which nuclear facility they work for and the quality of their associated housing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju-ae applaud scientists who contributed to the development of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) after its successful launch in November 2022. / News1
Marriage partners for these scientists are also de facto determined, leaving them with no “freedom of choice.” Collins explains, “Those who express dissatisfaction are punished and deprived of various benefits.” Despite international sanctions against North Korea, nuclear scientists are given the opportunity to study abroad, including at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Russia and the Harbin Institute of Technology in China. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 1,000 North Korean students enrolled annually at the Harbin Institute of Technology.
The quality of life of North Korean nuclear scientists is heavily influenced by where they are assigned to work. “There are over 100 nuclear facilities in North Korea, and around 40 of these are key facilities that must be addressed in any future denuclearization process,” according to the report. These include 15 nuclear research and supervision facilities, eight uranium mines, and five nuclear power plants and refineries. The workplace is often assigned based on the scientist’s so-called “background” or family origins. The Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site in North Hamgyong Province is considered the least desirable workplace. Six nuclear tests from 2006 to 2017 were conducted at this site.
North Korea
Kim Jong Un
nuclear scientist
weapons of mass destruction
2. N.K. leader calls for increased artillery capabilities during visit to arms factories
N.K. leader calls for increased artillery capabilities during visit to arms factories | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · May 13, 2024
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged efforts to ramp up the military's artillery capabilities as he visited key munitions factories that produce sniper rifles and rocket launcher vehicles, state media said Monday.
Kim made the remark during his visit to major defense industrial enterprises on Saturday and Sunday, as he inspected the modernization of production lines and production plans for the year, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim's visit came just a day after he oversaw the test-firing of controllable shells for "the technically updated version" of the 240mm multiple rocket launcher system, which the North said it plans to deploy to its military starting this year.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) drives a vehicle designed to carry a 240mm multiple rocket launcher system during his visit to arms factories on May 11-12, 2024, in this photo carried by the Korean Central News Agency on May 13. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The KCNA said Kim expressed satisfaction over the automation system and quality of launcher vehicles and stressed the "need to further expand the production results by increasing the scientific and technological capabilities ... and thus accelerate the bolstering of the artillery capabilities of the army."
"In order to mass-produce multiple rocket launchers of our style with high efficiency and reliability in bulk, it is important to steadily improve the modernization level of production processes," Kim was also quoted as saying.
During the visit, Kim personally drove a launcher vehicle and tested a "newly-developed" sniper rifle, according to the KCNA.
In February, the North said it had newly developed "controllable" 240mm rocket launcher shells, a move that could boost its weapons capabilities with improvements in range and precision. Last month, the country conducted a test fire of new shells for the weapons system.
Observers said North Korea appears to be ramping up the development of rocket launcher shells in a bid to supply them to Russia for use in Moscow's war with Ukraine and double down on weapons tests targeting South Korea.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un tests a sniper rifle during his visit to arms factories on May 11-12, 2024, in this photo carried by the Korean Central News Agency on May 13. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · May 13, 2024
3. Top diplomats of S. Korea, China set to hold talks on bilateral ties, N. Korea
Top diplomats of S. Korea, China set to hold talks on bilateral ties, N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · May 13, 2024
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and China were set to hold talks in Beijing on Monday, as Seoul seeks to manage the bilateral relations with its Asian neighbor that have cooled amid its close alignment with the United States.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will meet one-on-one with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks expected to cover a wide range of issues, from bilateral ties and those related to the Korean Peninsula to regional and global issues.
Cho was scheduled to depart for Beijing in the morning.
Cho's two-day trip comes as South Korea is looking to improve the ties with China that have soured amid Seoul's strong alignment with Washington under the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are seen in this composite photo filed Feb. 13, 2024. (Yonhap)
Cho has stressed the importance of keeping stable ties with China, its largest trading partner and a key player in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea, since he took office as foreign minister early this year.
During the upcoming talks, the two sides are also expected to discuss a trilateral summit with Japan that is most likely to take place in Seoul at the end of May.
While in Beijing, Cho will have a meeting with South Korean businesspeople working in China. He also plans to convene a conference of South Korean consuls general in China and discuss municipal-level exchanges.
Cho's visit marks the first trip to Beijing by a South Korean foreign minister in more than six years. In November 2017, then Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha visited the Chinese capital during the previous Moon Jae-in government.
The last bilateral talks between the two countries' top diplomats took place in August 2022, between Wang and then Foreign Minister Park Jin, in China's port city of Qingdao in the eastern Shandong Province.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · May 13, 2024
4. N.K. hacking group stole massive amount of personal info from S. Korean court computer network
(LEAD) N.K. hacking group stole massive amount of personal info from S. Korean court computer network | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 11, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in last three paras)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean hacking group had stolen a massive amount of personal information from a South Korean court computer network for about two years, probe results showed Saturday.
A total of 1,014 gigabytes (GB) worth of data and documents were leaked from Seoul's court computer network between January 2021 and February 2023 by the hacking group, presumed to be Lazarus, according to the joint probe by the police, the prosecution and the National Intelligence Service.
A huge chunk of the data leaked includes detailed personal information, such as names, resident registration numbers, financial records and others, according to the probe results.
The three agencies concluded that the hacking was conducted by North Korea given the types of malicious codes used for the hacking, settlements for leased servers with crypto assets and IP addresses.
The joint investigation team has identified only 5,171 files worth 4.7 GB, or 0.5 percent of the total leaked files, exposing the loopholes of the judiciary security management and response system.
To prevent further damage, the team provided the leaked files to the court administration and notified the victims of the leakage.
The police investigation began in last December as the court carried out its own internal probe into the huge data leak in the first 10 months after the computer network detected and blocked malicious code.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 11, 2024
5. Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for talks on opening embassy
If I were considering a north Korean-Cuban covert action I might have Cuba establish diplomatic relations with Seoul so it could deploy intelligence personnel to collect information for north Korea.
Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for talks on opening embassy | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · May 13, 2024
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Cuba have officially kicked off discussions on opening a Cuban diplomatic mission in Seoul, the foreign ministry said Monday.
Mario Alzugaray Rodriguez, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Cuba in China, arrived in Seoul the previous day to discuss with officials at the ministry the process and support needed in opening the diplomatic mission.
"The two countries will continue to communicate and cooperate to ensure the process of opening the embassies runs smoothly," the ministry said in a press release.
In February, South Korea and Cuba announced the establishment of diplomatic relations in a surprise move that deals an apparent heavy blow to North Korea that has touted "brotherly" ties with Havana.
Last month, the two countries agreed to open diplomatic missions in each other's countries as follow-up measures.
The South Korean government plans to set up a temporary mission in Havana and dispatch diplomats as an interim step before establishing a permanent embassy there.
This file photo, taken Feb. 18, 2024, shows the Cuban flag at a park in Havana, Cuba. (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · May 13, 2024
6. Unification minister discusses N.K. threats, bilateral ties with Slovak FM
Minister Kim is doing his job to build international support for unification.
Unification minister discusses N.K. threats, bilateral ties with Slovak FM | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · May 13, 2024
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea discussed North Korea's continued provocations Monday with the Slovak foreign minister and called for joint efforts to tackle such threats.
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho met with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar for talks on their bilateral ties and regional issues, according to the unification ministry.
Mentioning North Korea and Russia's "extensive military cooperation" that has deepened following their rare summit in September, Kim also said he hopes South Korea and Slovakia can work together on the matter.
The minister suggested that Slovakia can play a "crucial and unique" role on the Korean Peninsula, noting the country's successful transition from a socialist system to a capitalist economy.
"You have experienced both socialist and capitalist economies, and have made a successful transition from one system to another," Kim said. "That will give an important lesson for the North Koreans as well as the South Koreans."
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho (R) shakes hands with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar during their meeting in Seoul on May 13, 2024. (Yonhap)
In response, Blanar highlighted the importance of sustaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying he looks forward to cooperating with the unification ministry on the "noble" goal of ensuring nuclear disarmament, prosperity and peace on the peninsula.
Blanar echoed Kim's concerns over North Korea and Russia's military cooperation.
"The Slovak Republic government is concerned about their military cooperation and weapons transfers between the DPRK and Russia," he said, referring to the North by the acronym of its official name. "These undermine the peace in Europe as well as on the Korean Peninsula."
Emphasizing that South Korea is Slovakia's "strategic partner" in Asia, Blanar said his government hopes to escalate bilateral ties to include areas of politics and security, and invite the South Korean foreign minister, prime minister or the president for that purpose.
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho (R) shakes hands with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar during their meeting in Seoul on May 13, 2024. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · May 13, 2024
7. N. Korean defectors send balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North
(LEAD) N. Korean defectors send balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · May 13, 2024
(ATTN: RECASTS dateline; ADDS ministry's remarks in last 3 paras)
INCHEON/SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean defectors' group has sent about 20 large plastic balloons carrying propaganda leaflets against the North Korean regime across the border into the North, the group's chief said Monday.
Containing 300,000 flyers criticizing the regime and 2,000 USB sticks loaded with K-pop content, the balloons were launched from Ganghwa Island near the western inter-Korean border late Friday, Park Sang-hak, head of the Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK), said.
According to a video of the action, a banner tied to the balloons read, "Kim Jong-un, he is nothing but an irreversible traitor and an enemy of our people."
Park accused the North Korean leader of trying to block inter-Korean reunification and to perpetuate his reign.
"We've sent the anti-North Korea leaflets for the North Korean compatriots who have become modern-time slaves," he said.
This image of an anti-North Korea leaflet is provided by the Fighters for a Free North Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
North Korean defector groups in South Korea, such as the FFNK, have sent big plastic balloons carrying leaflets over to the North in what they say is a bid to free North Korean people from the tyrannical North Korean regime with outside information.
Citing the sensitivity of inter-Korean relations, the South Korean government has repeatedly requested these groups to refrain from such activities, as North Korea has bristled strongly against such balloons and even threatened to shoot them down.
The unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said it factors in the Constitutional Court's ruling in dealing with such matters.
In September, the court ruled that a clause in the revised Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act that bans the launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets is unconstitutional, saying it excessively restricts the right to freedom of expression.
The ministry still said "appropriate measures" could be taken in the event relevant situations are feared to threaten the safety of nearby residents in an apparent reference to police activities.
pbr@yna.co.kr
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · May 13, 2024
8. N. Korean support-the-troops program gets a failing grade due to "unethical behavior"
Another indicator of the severe problems inside north Korea on multiple levels.
N. Korean support-the-troops program gets a failing grade due to "unethical behavior" - Daily NK English
"There have been various problems with support programs before, but this year there were more complaints than ever," a source told Daily NK
By Jong So Yong - May 13, 2024
dailynk.com · by Jong So Yong · May 13, 2024
Chongjin Rabbit Breeding Stock Farm (Rodong Sinmun)
The North Hamgyong Province branch of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League gave a negative review to a recent support-the-troops program conducted in Chongjin, Daily NK has learned.
“During a monthly review at the end of April, the North Hamgyong Province branch of the youth league said that the unethical behavior of certain students defeated the purpose of a support-the-troops program held on Military Foundation Day [on Apr. 25],” a source in the province told Daily NK on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In April, the Chongjin branch of the youth league had asked the schools to support a special celebration of Military Foundation Day by a unit of the IX Corps stationed in North Hamgyong Province.
Since the celebration was a big event that would be attended by all the soldiers and their families, each class in the local schools was asked to submit ten dishes of chicken and ten dishes of rabbit.
After receiving these instructions, the youth league branches at various schools had coordinators raise the money needed for the support-the-troops program from individual students. During this process, however, it was discovered that some students from financially challenged families had stolen chickens, rabbits, and even money from other schools or families.
Complaints about the thefts were brought to the attention of the provincial branch of the youth league, which took a serious look at the unethical behavior of students in the support-the-troops program during its review at the end of April.
“There have been various problems with support programs before, but this year there were more complaints than ever. In the monthly review, the Chongjin branch of the youth league was criticized for placing an unnecessary financial burden on the students, and there was also talk of serious ethical and moral shortcomings on the part of the students,” the source said.
After the review, the provincial branch of the youth league began to inquire whether the military unit had made a request for supplies such as double-boiled chicken and rabbit, or whether the Chongjin branch of the youth league had organized the support-the-troops program on its own.
The provincial branch of the youth league also used the review to call for finding new ways to ease the financial burden on students.
“The provincial branch of the youth league noted that the issues of student ethics and morals are of immense importance. In the future, the youth league branch intends to develop specific guidelines so that when military units request assistance, schools and the unit’s political department can work out the details of the assistance together to ensure that the support-the-troops program is conducted at a level that doesn’t force students to become thieves,” the source said.
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 · May 13, 2024
9. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Hungry elderly people flock to government office to demand rice, leading police to mobilize to put down unrest…Hyesan city
Hyesan has always been a hotbed of resistance. Will this spread? WIll the elderly spark change?
＜Inside N. Korea＞Hungry elderly people flock to government office to demand rice, leading police to mobilize to put down unrest…Hyesan city
asiapress.org
Society / Economy
2024.05.13
<?xml encoding=”utf-8” ??>
(FILE PHOTO) An elderly woman selling food on the street, the hardships of life reflected in his bleary eyes. Taken in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, June 2013 by Mindeullae (ASIAPRESS)
In late March, a group of elderly people stormed into a government office in Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, demanding rice. The incident led to the mobilization of riot police, and now local authorities are scrambling to deal with aftereffects of the sudden unrest. An ASIAPRESS reporting partner in the region provided details on the situation. (JEON Sung-jun / KANG Ji-won)
◆ Economic difficulties lead an elderly woman to demand rice from government officials
According to a reporting partner in Hyesan, the incident occurred on March 29. An ASIAPRESS investigation found that it started with the bold action of an elderly woman who was struggling to make ends meet.
“(The elderly lady) went to the district office and said, ‘The Supreme Leader (Kim Jong-un) won’t let people starve to death, but the cadres in the middle are eating everything and not giving us food. So give me food now because I have nothing to eat,’” the reporting partner said.
Since the old lady’s attitude was so confident and she was referring to the Supreme Leader, the government officials gave her some rice and sent her on her way. News of what she had done quickly spread around the neighborhood, which then led the situation to spiral out of control.
A view of Hyesan, taken from the Chinese side. The center of Hyesan city can be seen across the Yalu River. Taken in July 2014 (ASIAPRESS)
◆ Police called to deal with the unrest, with children ordered to take away their elderly parents
“The word got out, and the elderly started going to the district office, the municipal party, the people’s committee, and the state-run food store, shouting and screaming for food. It got so bad that the authorities had to call the children to come and take their parents away.”
When a steady stream of elderly people came to the government office, later joined by people who had run out of food, the local police were dispatched to stop them, the reporting partner said.
◆ The authorities call the originator of the rumors an “anti-socialist element”
(FILE PHOTO) Women talking in a residential area. Word of mouth is an important way of distributing information among North Koreans. Photo taken in Hyesan in August 2013 by ASIAPRESS
After the dust settled, the authorities seem to be taking steps to ensure that the incident doesn’t happen again, blaming the elderly woman who started the rumor as a “senile old woman” who spreads rumors. Calling the incident “a case of spreading rumors and disrupting society,” the authorities have been vigilant and cracking down on rumor-mongering among local residents.
“Since April, we have been informed that there will be a crackdown on rumors and strict punishment against old people who talk about various incidents or criticize policies.”
In addition, the authorities are creating an atmosphere of fear by claiming that they are hunting down those who spread rumors about the incident, the reporting partner explained.
“The police branded the person who first spread the rumor as an anti-socialist agent and went around investigating all the people who passed by that day to see who spread the rumor. Once they realized they couldn’t confirm who did it, they informed us that rumors, criticizing cadres, and denouncing party policies would be punished as anti-socialist acts.”
While this could be dismissed as an isolated incident, it should be seen as a contributing factor to the recent increase in unrest as people’s lives have become more difficult.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
A map of North Korea (ASIAPRESS)
asiapress.org
10. Warning Shot: America’s strike on China’s embassy 25 years ago sent a strong signal to North Korea
Actions by the US around the world have an impact on and influence Kim Jong Un. Every action has an implication for a PSYOP campaign.
Warning Shot: America’s strike on China’s embassy 25 years ago sent a strong signal to North Korea
America’s costly quagmire in Iraq provided the closest thing to a security guarantee Pyongyang had until it could further enhance its nuclear deterrent
https://www.dailynk.com/english/warning-shot-americas-strike-on-chinas-embassy-25-years-ago-sent-a-strong-signal-to-north-korea/
By
A.B. Abrams
-
May 13, 2024
Belgrade, Serbia. View of Sava River confluence with Danube. (Wikimedia Commons)
On May 7, 1999 a B-2 Spirit bomber flying on a CIA-directed mission launched a JDAM satellite guided bomb on the Chinese embassy in the Yugoslav capital Belgrade, destroying the office of the military attaché and causing 27 casualties. Although it was not known at the time, CIA Director George Tenet later confirmed that the carefully planned 30 hour sortie, launched from from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, not only had been orchestrated and the target coordinates provided by his agency, but that it was the only air strike of the Kosovo War directed where his agency had such a role and was carried out outside of NATO. New information on the attack supporting suspicions of its intentional nature continued to emerge over the next 12 months, as has been covered in detail in multiple previous articles. While the possible incentives for the attack and its consequences both for Sino-U.S. relations and for Chinese security planning have been detailed extensively in the past, less well explored were its significant consequences for the then-tense relations between North Korea and the United States.
The global deployment of the U.S. Armed Forces and those of its Western allies across seven continents means that major military events involving them in any conflict often have reverberations on multiple other fronts. Over two years of very widespread Western warnings of the global importance of the signals sent to both allies and adversaries by NATO members’ actions in Ukraine are a prominent recent case in point. This is particularly significant, however, in the case of actions which can be construed as shows of force, particularly when these actions result in massive death and destruction or when they represent major violations of international laws or norms. A notable example preceding the B-2 strike was Operation Desert Storm, during which U.S. and allied forces were estimated to caused killed over 200,000 Iraqis in a campaign that lasted just 44 days, and which was not only added urgency to China’s military modernization, but was also cited as having sent a strong signal to North Korea. Amid subsequent heightened tensions between Pyongyang and Washington later that year, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell implied that the campaign against Iraq was expected to have sent a strong signal to the North Korean leadership, stating that if they “missed Desert Storm, this is a chance to catch a rerun.”
Three decades later on January 3, 2020 a CIA drone strike assassinating Iran’s most senior military official Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani in Iraq was followed just hours later by a warning by Defense Secretary Mark Esper that the U.S. was ready to take military action against North Korea should it resume strategic weapons testing. The timing was widely seen to have been intentional. This was followed by a statement by State Secretary Mike Pompeo warning that the assassination, which was widely deemed unprovoked and illegal, if not a war crime, was part of “a bigger strategy” involving “the restoration of deterrence” that was not confined to Iran, but had implications for other leading American adversaries as well.
At a particularly sensitive time for U.S.-North Korean relations, and long before the country had the nuclear weapons and long range missiles needed to seriously deter an American attack, the bombing of the Chinese embassy could similarly be seen to have supported the achievement of a “restoration of deterrence” much as other American uses of force were. The Bill Clinton administration had in 1994 seriously considered launching a major strike on North Korean nuclear facilities in the Yongbyon area, with F-117 stealth fighters and Tomahawk cruise missiles set to have played a central role in the attack much as they were heavily relied on the penetrate Iraqi air defenses three years prior. Where in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm it was widely warned that ballistic missile arsenals, such North Korea’s substantial one, could leave tactical aircraft like the F-117 vulnerable to strikes on their bases, the introduction of the B-2 bomber from 1997 and its combat debut over Yugoslavia, 44 days into which it bombed China’s embassy, were a game changer for America’s offensive capabilities using stealth aircraft.
While the F-117 was notoriously maintenance intensive, leaving it vulnerable to attacks on nearby bases, and North Korea’s new Hwasong-7 medium range ballistic missile had ensured all possible bases were within striking range, the B-2 faced no similar vulnerability. Striking from the continental United States as it had done against Yugoslavia, but having also in 1998 demonstrated the ability to be forward based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to generate a higher sortie rate against East Asian targets, its bases remained well out of reach – leaving the North Koreans similarly helpless to retaliate as they had been when B-29s had bombed their country from Japan four decades prior. Flying from the U.S., and being by far the most difficult aircraft in the world to detect, the B-2’s precision targeting capabilities and massive weapons payload allowed the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of 21 aircraft to destroy as many targets as it would usually take an entire fleet, with each able to deliver the ordinance of approximately eight F-117s – namely sixteen B61 nuclear or JDAM conventional bombs against sixteen different targets. Until North Korea developed intermediate and intercontinental range missile capabilities able to target Guam and the continental United States in 2016 and 2017, the B-2 thus remained an existential threat against which Pyongyang could not respond.
Tensions remained high in 1999 over implementation of the Agreed Framework agreement reached in 1994, under which North Korea was bound to halt construction of a new nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and place its existing facility there under international safeguards. The United States had in turn been bound to normalize ties, remove economic sanctions, provide oil as aid to compensate for freezing of the North Korean nuclear industry, and eventually deliver two ‘proliferation proof’ nuclear reactors allowing those that could be used for nuclear weapons development at Yongbyon to be dismantled. While North Korea was near unanimously found by Western assessments to have adhered to its terms, the Clinton administration had failed to move towards normalization of ties, lift economic sanctions or move ahead with construction of nuclear reactors. Demands from the American foreign policy community and on Capitol Hill for greater access to North Korean nuclear facilities, as well as the imposition of restrictions on North Korea’s development of a ballistic missile deterrent, were at the center of talks in 1999. Pyongyang faced pressure to accept new restrictions and greater inspections in return for Washington living up to more of the terms it had been bound to under the Agreed Framework.
Ultimately the results of negotiations in 1999-2000 proved highly favorable for Washington, with Pyongyang placing a moratorium on the testing of medium range missiles on September 13, 1999 and subsequently agreeing to a range of new concessions on its nuclear and missile programs during talks with Secretary of State Madeline Albright in October the following year. While the George W. Bush declined to see the agreements through after it was inaugurated three months later, and subsequently suspended fuel shipments under the Agreed Framework in 2002 leading Pyongyang to withdraw from the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons a month later, by that time momentum in the United States towards military action against Iraq was too great to reverse. America’s costly quagmire in Iraq provided the closest thing to a security guarantee Pyongyang had until it could further enhance its nuclear deterrent.
While NATO’s air campaign against Yugoslavia was acknowledged even by its strongest advocates to have been illegal, and had been ardently opposed by China, India, Russia among others, the fact that it not only proceeded and caused over $100 billion in material damage to civilian infrastructure, but also involved a precision attack on the embassy of Pyongyang’s sole remaining treaty ally and security guarantor, sent a very strong message. Neither international laws and norms, Sino-Russian consensus, nor North Korea’s then-limited missile deterrent capabilities, could guarantee security, which made a deal to reduce tensions important to reach even if undesirable compromises were needed. The bombing of Yugoslavia, and in particular the demonstration of the B-2’s capabilities and of Washington’s willingness to cross all lines militarily to secure its objectives, had left Pyongyang in a weaker negotiating position at a time when it was highly vulnerable. While the B-2’s successor the B-21 will enter service in a world where North Korea’s intercontinental range nuclear deterrent is well established, Pyongyang’s position when the B-2 joined the Air Force and made its combat debut was very much weaker, with the new aircraft and the nature of the targets it was used to strike significantly exacerbating perceptions of vulnerability.
Views expressed in this guest column do not necessarily reflect those of Daily NK.
11. Navy conducts live-fire drills in East Sea with Army, Air Force
An impact of the alliance and the ROK/US Combined Forces Command is the ROK military becoming routinely joint in its operations.
Monday
May 13, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 13 May. 2024, 18:55
Navy conducts live-fire drills in East Sea with Army, Air Force
The Chuncheon FFG-II frigate launches Haegung surface-to-air missiles to shoot down an aerial target during live-fire drills held in the East Sea last Friday, in a photo provided by the South Korean Navy Monday. [YONHAP]
The South Korean Navy said Monday it conducted live-fire drills in the East Sea jointly with the Army and Air Force to bolster their readiness against North Korean threats.
Approximately 10 naval vessels, including destroyers, frigates and patrol missile vessels, were deployed for the joint drill Friday, alongside P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and Lynx helicopters. The Army's AH-64 Apache helicopters and the Air Force's KF-16 fighter jets also participated in the maneuvers.
The forces engaged in live-fire exercises utilizing surface-to-air Haegung missiles, anti-ship Haeryong missiles and surface-to-surface Haesung I missiles, simulating scenarios involving aerial, maritime and ground-based provocations.
During the exercise, the Chuncheon FFG-II successfully launched Haegung missiles to intercept aerial targets, marking its first live-fire drills conducted by the Navy.
Yonhap
12. Samsung doubles down on Vietnam
Samsung doubles down on Vietnam
koreaherald.com · by Jo He-rim · May 13, 2024
Tech giant vows to expand annual spending in Vietnam to $1b
By Jo He-rim
Published : May 13, 2024 - 16:03
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) hosts a reception for Samsung Electronics Chief Financial Officer Park Hark-kyu at the Government Office in Ha Noi, Vietnam on Thursday. (VGP)
Samsung Electronics has pledged to increase its annual spending in Vietnam to $1 billion as the Southeast Asian country emerges as a strategic base for manufacturing in the region.
According to industry sources on Monday, Samsung Electronics Chief Financial Officer Park Hark-kyu on Thursday met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi to discuss business collaborations.
During the meeting, the Samsung CFO noted how the company has invested $22.4 billion in Vietnam so far and shared plans to expand the investment to about $1 billion, annually.
Samsung has expanded local operations from manufacturing plants for smartphones to research and development facilities. More recently, the tech giant has been seeking to help local firms join its global production and supply chain network.
"In the past decade, the number of Vietnamese companies working with Samsung Electronics has increased over 12-fold, from 25 firms in 2014 to 309 companies now," Park was quoted as saying during the meeting.
"Samsung hopes to continue contributing to Vietnam's foreign trade and economic growth."
In response, the Vietnamese PM reportedly promised that his government will continue providing the optimal conditions for Samsung's business operation and its sustainable development "in the spirit of harmonizing interests and sharing risks."
Pham also suggested the Korean tech giant continue to consider Vietnam as a strategic base for manufacturing and exporting its key products to international markets since the country is a member of a number of trade initiatives including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Vietnam's free trade agreement with the European Union also took effect, the prime minister added.
Park hailed the investment and business climate of Vietnam and said Samsung will continue to stand side by side with the country on its development path.
Expressing appreciation for Samsung's investment and building of a research and development center in the country, Pham also asked the company to step up cooperation with Vietnamese tech companies, to involve them in its business ecosystem and also support startup and manpower training in the country.
Meanwhile, Hyosung Vice Chairman Lee Sang-woon also met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, and discussed its plan to build a data center in southern Vietnam.
According to VGP News, Vietnam's state-run news outlet, Lee asked the deputy prime minister to approve its plan to build a factory producing automated teller machines and a big data center in the high-tech industrial park in Ho Chi Minh City. Hyosung is the world's third-largest ATM manufacturer.
Hyosung is the third largest Korean investor in Vietnam after Samsung and LG Electronics. Since 2007, the company has invested over $4 billion in the Southeast Asian country, operating its businesses encompassing raw materials, textile, chemical and industrial electrical systems there.
Hyosung T&C recently received investment approval for its Hyosung BDO Project, under which the company plans to invest a total of 1 trillion won to establish a bio-butanediol production plant with an output of 200,000 tons per year.
koreaherald.com · by Jo He-rim · May 13, 2024
13. Veteran of spy war fights for justice
Veteran of spy war fights for justice
The Korea Times · May 13, 2024
Retired Colonel Cheong Kyu-phil during a Korea Times interview in Seoul, May 8 / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Secretive military intelligence agency exposed as civilian court handles military secrets case
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Retired Colonel Cheong Kyu-phil's life was shrouded in secrecy until March 2019 when he retired from the military after completing 37 years of service and transitioned to civilian life. During his military career, he served as both a covert agent and military attaché at South Korea's mission in China.
Cheong undertook numerous clandestine operations, commonly referred to as "black ops" within the intelligence community, during which he gathered intelligence about North Korea.
Everything he did at work was classified, known only to Cheong himself and his unnamed boss at the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC).
Few Koreans are aware of the KDIC, and some have never even heard of it.
The KDIC, a military intelligence agency tasked with conducting clandestine operations related to North Korea, is intentionally kept secret from the public. Unlike civilian intelligence agencies, the KDIC does not have a website because all information about the organization is classified. Basic details such as the number of staff employed and the nature of their work remain unknown.
The KDIC's strict adherence to secrecy has recently faced challenges, as Cheong became embroiled in a legal battle following his retirement from the military. He was falsely accused of espionage, blamed for selling dozens of military secrets to Chinese and North Korean officials — an allegation he deemed ridiculous.
“Frankly speaking, I didn’t understand what was going on because I had never imagined I would face an allegation like that,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “But I was confident that such a misunderstanding would go away soon, because I didn’t live a life like that.”
However, events took an unexpected turn.
While the espionage charge was cleared, he was indicted and tried for another crime — violations of the Military Secrets Protection Act.
The retired colonel, now 60, has spent the last five years working with his lawyer to prepare for the legal battle and attending trials. A district court ruled against him and a higher court upheld this decision. He is currently awaiting the final ruling from the Supreme Court, which is expected on May 17.
He said he has experienced an emotional rollercoaster over the past five years.
“At times, I have experienced sudden waves of complex emotions. I felt upset and gripped by deep sadness,” he said. “What was most difficult for me to endure was the bitterness I felt when I faced sarcastic reactions from people who were close to me. They gave me the cold shoulder and brushed me off. Some even gossiped about me behind my back. I had thought they would be the last people to turn their back on me, but I was wrong.”
He said he lost 20 kilograms after being accused of espionage.
Retired Colonel Cheong Kyu-phil / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
His life was disrupted on May 21, 2019, when around two dozen agents from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) made an unannounced visit to his apartment in Bundang, approximately 20 kilometers south of Seoul.
One of the agents presented Cheong with a warrant, demanding his cooperation in searching his home. This occurred a day after he returned home from visiting his newly-wed daughter in Canada, leaving him still affected by jet lag. Uncertain about the situation, Cheong ushered them in and allowed them to proceed with their searches, which lasted over 24 hours.
The case was transferred to the prosecution as the NIS does not have the authority to directly indict individuals it investigates.
After examining the evidence seized by the NIS, the prosecution concluded that there was no evidence to support Cheong's involvement in the espionage case. In February 2020, Cheong was cleared of the espionage charge. However, on the same day, the prosecution indicted him for another violation of the Military Secrets Protection Act. According to the prosecution, Cheong was accused of unauthorized possession of military secrets, as well as gathering and searching them, which is illegal. This conclusion was based on the results of forensic investigations of a seized floppy disk, where investigators found several deleted files containing classified military secrets.
Cheong dismissed the allegation as nonsensical, arguing that if he were guilty, then all Koreans who use computers for work would also be considered guilty.
He explained that some of the classified files in question were ones he compiled himself during his tenure as a military attaché at the South Korean embassy in Beijing. These files were produced in 2013 and declassified a year later, he said, arguing that the prosecution's claim is baseless.
Lee Myung-hyun, Cheong’s attorney, highlighted two key issues with the prosecution's indictment of Cheong. First, he claimed that the prosecution charged his client with an offense that was not specified in the warrant. Secondly, he argued that the accusation of violating the Military Secrets Protection Act was based on flawed evidence.
“The search and seizure warrant issued by the court in 2019 was specifically intended to allow the NIS staff to find evidence related to the allegation that my client sold military secrets to Chinese and North Koreans,” he said.
But, he said they did not discover any evidence that could substantiate the alleged espionage crime. The lawyer also explained that the NIS conducted computer forensics investigations and uncovered several files that had been deleted many years ago. He argued that the presentation of these "non-existent" files as evidence of Cheong's supposed violations of the Military Secrets Protection Act was problematic.
“Deleted files cannot be used as evidence in a courtroom. This is because those files no longer exist, but the investigators detected them through forensic investigations and presented them as evidence. So, their conclusion based on this flawed evidence doesn’t establish my client did something illegal,” he said.
However, the court sided with the prosecution.
The district court initially ruled against Cheong, sentencing him to a six-month jail term suspended for one year. Cheong appealed the ruling. The higher court upheld the lower court's ruling, but imposed a tougher verdict, sentencing Cheong to a 10-month jail term suspended for two years. Cheong also appealed that ruling. The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on the case on May 17.
Retired Colonel Cheong Kyu-phil poses with his colleagues at the Headquarters Intelligence Detachment, a special forces tasked with black operations, in this 2015 file photo. This photo was edited to protect the identities of the covert agents. Courtesy of Cheong Kyu-phil
The years-long legal battle has not only taken a toll on Cheong's personal life, but also on his former workplace, the KDIC. If the Supreme Court upholds the higher court's decision, Cheong will lose all financial benefits, including his pension. Additionally, he will be required to repay all financial benefits he has received from the government since retiring from the military.
The KDIC also faced repercussions from the legal battle.
Cheong's identity as a former undercover intelligence agent in northeastern China and his clandestine operations as a military attaché at the South Korean embassy in Beijing to gather intelligence about North Korea were revealed to the public.
People in the intelligence community expressed concerns about the consequences. They said that South Korea’s human intelligence capabilities will be significantly undermined as classified information about the KDIC and its agents was disclosed during the investigations and trials.
“Cheong was considered the best of the best in the intelligence community,” Choe Su-yong, a retired NIS official and director of the private intelligence consultancy, Indo-Pacific Institute in Seoul, told The Korea Times. “He was a legendary intelligence official who contributed a lot to South Korea’s national security. All his work was classified, so we are not allowed to speak to the media in great detail about his contributions.”
Choe, who worked with Cheong at the embassy in the mid-2000s, said the retired colonel was an unrivaled military attache who spoke Mandarin fluently and had a deep understanding of Chinese culture. Cheong also formed a strong network with high-ranking Chinese military officials.
Through that network, he said Cheong was able to gather valuable intelligence information about North Korea, because Chinese officials are privy to sensitive information about the North.
Choe lamented that the legal battle not only harmed South Korea's critical national interests, but also destroyed the life of a patriotic and dedicated military intelligence official who always prioritized his country.
Cheong's trial, which focused on the violations of military secrets, was conducted in a public setting. In the same courtroom, judges handling cases involving sexual harassment, fraud, and other crimes deliberated and ruled on Cheong's case. Defendants of sexual harassment cases and their families were present in the courtroom, awaiting their turns, when the judges ruled on Cheong's case.
An official from the Supreme Court explained that unlike cases involving drugs or other major crimes, there are no specialized judges to handle military secrets. Therefore, cases related to military secrets are overseen by judges who also rule on other offenses, such as sexual harassment.
“This is a case for the Supreme Court,” she told The Korea Times.
Regarding the risks of disclosing classified information related to national security during open trials in civilian courts, she mentioned that the judges of the lower court would have thoroughly considered the sensitive nature of military secrets, indicating that there should be no procedural flaws. "I would prefer not to comment further on this matter as the case is still ongoing," she added.
Retired Colonel Cheong Kyu-phil poses with General Paik Sun-yup in this 2013 file photo taken at an event hosted by ROK/US Combined Forces Command. Paik passed away in 2020. Courtesy of Cheong Kyu-phil
An unanswered question remains regarding the investigation: Why did the NIS take the initiative to investigate Cheong? The NIS is a civilian intelligence agency primarily tasked with espionage investigations back then. In the military, the Defense Counter-Intelligence Command (DCC) is responsible for investigating espionage crimes committed by military personnel.
According to media reports, the NIS initiated an investigation in February 2019 when Cheong was still in the military. This investigation was reportedly based on written testimonies from two individuals familiar with Cheong, although there was no concrete evidence available at that time.
Conspiracy theories have emerged surrounding the investigation. Some allege that the investigation, which began in 2019 during President Moon Jae-in's administration, was part of a politically motivated plot to undermine the military's human intelligence capabilities. These theories suggest that the progressive Moon government was attempting to appease North Korea by targeting certain elements within the military.
Cheong said he has no idea whether the investigation was politically motivated or if it stemmed from a personal attack by someone who envied him.
“Everything remains speculative because there is no concrete evidence to support these claims. Those involved in the investigation have remained silent and withheld information, so there is no way to ascertain why it began,” he said.
This reporter sent a questionnaire to the NIS, inquiring why the civilian intelligence agency did not transfer Cheong's case to the DCC. The NIS declined to comment on the case, citing a law.
"Under the Public Information Disclosure Act, the NIS is not permitted to comment on ongoing criminal cases," the agency informed The Korea Times.
Cheong’s lawyer said things would have turned out very differently if the military reviewed the case.
“If the case had been transferred to the military early on and handled by a military court instead of a civilian court, Cheong might have been cleared without facing indictment,” Lee, who served as a military lawyer for 25 years, said. “Disclosure of classified information about the military intelligence agency would have not happened, either.”
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun urged the Yoon Suk Yeol government to investigate the NIS to find out why the civilian intelligence agency accused Cheong of espionage.
During a National Assembly plenary session on September 22, 2022, Yoon characterized the case as an attempt by the NIS during the previous progressive Moon Jae-in government to falsely portray a dedicated military intelligence official as a traitor. Yoon pressured Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to initiate a probe to uncover the truth behind why the NIS took such actions.
Han said he was aware of the case, but was not in a position to comment on it due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
“If necessary, the government can conduct a probe into the NIS. However, I am not discussing this specific case. The trial is ongoing, and I believe it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it. I trust that the truth will come to light in due course,” the prime minister said.
The clock is ticking for the Supreme Court's final ruling, scheduled for May 19.
Cheong tried to remain strong.
“I’ve suffered a lot during the past five years. I also learned a lot while going through the tribulations,” he said. “I still don’t understand why I became mired in a case like this, but I think this is also part of life.”
Born in 1964 in the southeastern county of Youngil, which is now part of Pohang, Cheong graduated from the Korea Military Academy and joined the Army's special forces, specifically the Headquarters Intelligence Detachment (HID), a black operations unit reportedly tasked with infiltrating North Korea and targeting key military figures. After completing 37 years of military service, he received a medal from the government in recognition of his lifelong dedication to the military. He was also decorated for his exceptional service and designated as a person of merit.
Retired Colonel Cheong Kyu-phil / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
The Korea Times · May 13, 2024
14. South Korea's increasing need for self-defense
70 years of successful deterrence has allowed complacency among many.
South Korea's increasing need for self-defense
The Korea Times · May 13, 2024
By Chun In-bum
Chun In-bum
Koreans have a unique language and alphabet central to their cultural identity. Geographically, the Korean Peninsula serves as a bridge between mainland China and the islands of Japan, linking oceans and continents.
Historically, this strategic location placed Korea in a precarious position, often resulting in Korea becoming a vassal state to the dominant Chinese dynasty of the time, a situation that was never satisfactory to Koreans.
With the end of World War II, Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation but subsequently divided into North and South Korea. Within five years, a civil war ensued, resulting in the death of 10 percent of the Korean population and the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) under the Kim-cult dynasty.
The DPRK is unique in its strict caste system centered around the Kim family, with a political ideology that deifies the Kims. The regime maintains power through extensive indoctrination and a focus on loyalty to the Kim family.
In contrast, South Korea has developed into a liberal democracy, standing in stark opposition to the DPRK's regime. Following the Korean War, both Koreas engaged in frequent conflicts for about twenty years. Since the mid-1970s, efforts have been made to reconcile differences peacefully, but these efforts have consistently failed, leaving the peninsula facing the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea. South Korea, while committed to its security, cannot match the DPRK's militarization and relies heavily on the United States for deterrence against North Korean aggression and potential Chinese pressures. This alliance has allowed South Korea to achieve economic prosperity and political freedom while the U.S. gains a reliable ally that exemplifies successful U.S. foreign policy.
However, the U.S. military presence, while providing stability, has also led to a sense of complacency among South Koreans regarding their own defense responsibilities. This dependency is not ideal for any nation and poses long-term strategic risks, including diminished national sovereignty and the potential erosion of military readiness and innovation.
Recently, some potential U.S. policymakers have suggested shifting U.S. policy focus on the Korean peninsula from the defense of Korea to countering China, implying that South Korea should assume greater responsibility for its own defense, which is reasonable, but it sounded like abandonment. This notion has raised concerns, leading some South Koreans to consider developing their own nuclear weapons. While understandable, it is crucial to recognize that nuclear armament alone will not resolve all security challenges for South Korea.
The real challenge for South Korea is to take full responsibility for its security, which will require significant sacrifices in social and political freedoms. This includes potentially doubling or tripling defense spending, extending military service terms and incorporating women into the armed forces. Additionally, South Korea may need a nuclear deterrent to counter North Korean threats effectively. Such measures would also necessitate a robust public discourse on the implications of increased militarization and the balance between security and civil liberties.
If the U.S. intends to loosen its military ties with South Korea, it should acknowledge South Korea's right to consider nuclear capabilities. North Korea's nuclear status and open threats justify this consideration. A nuclear-armed South Korea would challenge the existing non-proliferation framework, but the Non-Proliferation Treaty may already be losing its effectiveness in addressing contemporary security challenges posed by rogue states and non-state actors.
There could also be strategic advantages for the U.S.-South Korea relationship. The U.S. could negotiate with North Korea on nuclear issues and normalization of relations, influencing China's strategic calculations. A nuclear-armed South Korea would also compel China to reassess its regional strategies, particularly concerning Japan and Taiwan. Despite possessing nuclear weapons, South Korea would likely remain closely aligned with the U.S., given the deep-rooted economic, political and cultural ties between the two nations.
The political systems in both South Korea and the U.S. provide both opportunities and uncertainties. Actions and decisions by the U.S. and China will significantly impact South Korea's future, raising concerns among Koreans about being sidelined. It is imperative for South Korea to confront these realities, overcome fears, and make decisive choices on critical security matters. Furthermore, South Korea must proactively engage in regional diplomacy to build a coalition of like-minded nations that can collectively address the threats posed by North Korea and maintain regional stability.
Chun In-bum (truechun@naver.com) served as a lieutenant general of the ROK Army and commander of Special Forces Korea.
The Korea Times · May 13, 2024
15. Gwangju and the echoes of democracy
Gwangju and the echoes of democracy
The Korea Times · May 13, 2024
By Esther Kim, contributor@koreatimes.co.kr
Five years ago, I lived in Gwangju for a month at the Asia Culture Center with researchers and artists from India, Bangladesh, Spain, Malaysia, China and beyond. I had just finished my graduate studies in the U.K., and while they finalized Brexit, I spent that autumn in South Korea. The ginkgo trees were bright yellow and so were the fields of rice.
Researchers were housed in what seemed like a converted office building. It was an odd time. Imagine living and sleeping in a former office or classroom with one narrow bed shoved into the corner of a giant room. The showers were military style, too, with exposed stalls and no doors. President Moon Jae-in’s son, an artist, was rumored to also be a fellow, living on one of the upper floors. The upper floors were rumored but not confirmed to be more luxurious.
Established in 2015, the ACC itself flaunted an architectural sprawl, but it was strangely divorced from the surrounding universities and neighborhoods. A sign explained the area’s history. Before they demolished the housing for the ACC’s construction, the area was already a public square. Cue the bureaucratic confusion: Auditors entered and replaced chairs. The ground floor had a library ostensibly, but no way of checking out the books. Roving groups would enter an artist’s studio at random and commandeer the space for a meeting without advance notice.
Enigmas aside, the researchers made the time in Gwangju interesting. Jolly Jaesub, a Gwangju native and Minjung art historian, became our guide. He ensured we knew about the 5.18 massacre. We gathered around his desk one day, and he showed us a still from the 1996 film "A Petal" (adapted from Ch’oe Yun’s novella "There a Petal Silently Falls." "Look!" he said with an enormous grin. "‘That’s me!" And he pantomimed getting shot and pointed to one of the dead bodies lying across the screen, or rather, dozens of extras playing dead on film. In another photo, he smiled with three extras whose foreheads and shirts were smeared with fake blood. He wanted to play a part in retelling the democratic history of his city.
Proposing a day trip to the 5.18 national cemetery, Jaesub generously continued to guide us. He drove us there. A tour guide in a knit orange vest pointed out notable tombstones. An enormous statue at the entrance was said to symbolize a pair of hands. They held up an oblong stone. Some said it represented jumeokbap, fistfuls of rice quickly assembled and distributed to those who protested and fought. Others said it was a cracked egg symbolizing the spirit of democracy emerging from adversity.
An Oxford lecturer in our group, or "the communist from Kerala," as he put it, asked for a photo of himself with the tombstones. He held a fist up in solidarity. "For the comrades," he said.
Later, the Indian and Malaysian scholars commented that they found the cemetery inspiring and sobering. A place of truth, if not reconciliation, argued. A state that chooses to no longer suppress but memorialize its part in a terrible, bloody history. They envied the official governmental gesture and wondered what might happen if their home governments did the same. Afterward, we ate chimaek.
Over emails, Jaesub shared the protest song "March for the Beloved" (1981) written for "a soul wedding" between the departed bride and her activist. He noted that the democracy protesters in Hong Kong picked it up, singing it in Cantonese. It’s the way of liberation movements, I think: Nobel peace laureate and journalist Maria Ressa noted in her memoir "How to Stand Up to a Dictator" that the peaceful People Power protests that ousted Marcos in the Philippines sparked pro-democracy uprisings around the world — in South Korea in 1987, Myanmar in 1988 and China and Eastern Europe in 1989. If authoritarians learn from each other, so too must the laboring left.
Esther Kim is a freelance writer based in Taiwan. She was a senior manager at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in New York and Tilted Axis Press in London and a publicist at Columbia University Press. She writes about culture and the Koreas.
The Korea Times · May 13, 2024
16. Despite sanctions, N. Korea continues imports of parts for electronics
Despite sanctions, N. Korea continues imports of parts for electronics - Daily NK English
North Korea manufactures, produces and sells mobile phones, video players, televisions and other devices using imported parts and raw materials
By Mun Dong Hui - May 13, 2024
dailynk.com · by Mun Dong Hui · May 13, 2024
The Taedonggang Battery Factory in 2012 (Urriminjokgirri)
North Korea continues to import parts for electronics through China, paying in dollars or fraudulent bank accounts to circumvent international sanctions, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in North Korea told Daily NK last Wednesday that the North “imports needed electronics and semiconductors, parts and various necessary raw materials for electronics using a variety of methods, including illegal channels and small-scale trade across the border in circumvention of international sanctions. In the case of semiconductors for smartphones, the North imports them through Chinese companies in Shenyang, Dalian, Tianjin and Shandong Province.”
When Daily NK has checked the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers on North Korean smartphones, the devices sometimes come up as Chinese products. The devices are often equipped with Taiwanese-made application processors as well.
Although UN Security Council Resolution 2397 bans North Korea from importing electronic devices or goods, the North continues to develop devices by importing electronic goods and parts, rendering sanctions meaningless.
“China, Russia and Southeast Asia — in that order — are the biggest import sources for electronic goods or parts,” the source said. “Payments are in dollars.”
Rather than official bank transfers, the parties to the transactions prefer cash, which leaves no paper trail. Those involved in the transactions sometimes make illegal transfers using fraudulent accounts, he added.
Electronics factory workers are treated poorly
The source further told Daily NK that North Korea manufactures, produces and sells mobile phones, video players, televisions and other devices using imported parts and raw materials.
However, workers in the factories producing those electronics receive poor treatment.
“Workers in electronics factories usually receive low wages,” the source said. “Work hours are long, rest times are really short, and there are ‘production struggles’ for tasks every month.”
That being said, electronics factories appear to operate relatively smoothly despite the long hours put in by the laborers.
“When assigning workers to electronics factories, people with special technical skills are considered first, while other important considerations are politics, ethics and trustworthiness,” the source said. “The workers receive no particular benefits just because they toil away in an electronics factory. Of course, the ‘production struggles’ sometimes lead to gifts or bonuses.”
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 Mun Dong Hui · May 13, 2024
17. N. Korean laborers work nights to finish Hwasong residential development project
N. Korean laborers work nights to finish Hwasong residential development project - Daily NK English
North Korea builds apartments at the ground level without any underground parking lots or other facilities, which has allowed construction to proceed quickly
By Mun Dong Hui and Bruce Songhak Chung - May 13, 2024
dailynk.com · by Mun Dong Hui and Bruce Songhak Chung · May 13, 2024
Construction is underway in the third phase of a 10,000-home building project in the Hwasong District of Pyongyang. Now that the ground has been leveled, walls and buildings are going up, but there are no signs of the foundation work needed for an underground parking garage. Imagery=WorldView3 (@2024 Maxar, U.S.G. Plus)
After a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the third phase of a residential development in the Hwasong District of Pyongyang, satellite images show that groundwork and construction are in progress at the site.
Analysis of imagery taken by Maxar on Apr. 28 shows that apartment walls and buildings are being built on one side of the development and that the ground is being leveled on the other side. The entire third phase of the development is estimated to occupy 95 hectares. Temporary housing for workers was also spotted near the construction site.
Generally speaking, the construction of a large apartment complex begins with the building of temporary structures (such as the management office and cafeteria) and the groundwork and foundation work, all of which takes a substantial amount of time. In South Korea, for example, foundation work generally goes down to the second basement level, a process that takes around four months.
But in this North Korean project, buildings began to go up as soon as the groundbreaking was held in February, and the construction seems to be proceeding very quickly.
That is because North Korea builds apartments at the ground level without any underground parking lots or other facilities. By leveling the ground without digging a foundation, it is possible to greatly reduce the timeframe needed for construction. That is also how North Korea was able to set April 2025 as the deadline for completing construction on the third phase of the Hwasong residential development.
Work continues into the late hours of the night
Satellite imagery also showed that the Hwasong construction site was illuminated at night, suggesting that construction work is continuing into the late hours.
An analysis of a Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite taken at 1:30 am on May 1 by the Joint Polar Satellite System (which is jointly operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, in the United States) shows that not only the construction site in the third phase of the Hwasong development but also the streets in the first and second phases, which are already complete, are brightly lit up at night.
The first, second and third phases of the Hwasong residential development are lit up brightly at nighttime. The lights in the first and second phases, which have already been built, are presumably shining to promote the leader’s achievements and his love of the people, while lights in the third phase are shining to keep construction work going late into the night. Imagery=WorldView-3 (background) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (green filter) (@2024 Maxar, U.S.G. Plus)
The lighting in the already built areas may have been aimed at promoting the successful construction of these apartment buildings, while the lighting in the third phase of the development may be aimed at enabling nighttime work so as to hurry along construction.
In fact, a Korean Central News Agency article on Feb. 26 reported that “nighttime support ‘shock troops’ are working briskly at construction sites on Chonwi Street and in the second phase of the 10,000-home building project in the Hwasong District, helping to accelerate the construction timetable.”
Supplementary work crews, which are known as “shock troops” in North Korea, are often assigned to large construction projects. They do heavy-duty labor for long hours, often taking on the hardest and most dangerous tasks at construction sites. The international community regards North Korea’s shock troops as a form of forced labor and a serious infringement of human rights.
North Korea’s Hwasong District appears to be similar in size to the Yeouido neighborhood of Seoul.
Based on an analysis of satellite imagery, the first, second and third phases of the Hwasong development are presumed to cover a total of 290 hectares, with 125 hectares in the first phase, 70 hectares in the second phase and 95 hectares in the third phase. That is the same as Yeouido, which is around 290 hectares in size.
Translated by David Carruth. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
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dailynk.com · by Mun Dong Hui and Bruce Songhak Chung · May 13, 2024
18. Controversy over 'North Korea praising video' during anti-war demonstrations at U.S. universities
My good friend and colleague Hyun Seung Lee from north Korea is engaging in the American political process at Columbia. I wish he and his sister Seohyun congratulations for graduating from graduate school at Columbia and I am so sorry that their commencement ceremonies had to be cancelled
This Is google translation of a Radio Free Asia report.
Controversy over 'North Korea praising video' during anti-war demonstrations at U.S. universities
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/nkisrael-05102024164551.html?
Washington-Jinwoo Cho choj@rfa.org
2024.05.10
A video of a woman praising North Korea at a pro-Palestinian protest held at New York University is causing controversy, with more than 2.9 million views.
/X@thestustustudio
Anchor : While pro-Palestinian protests are continuing across American university campuses , a video praising North Korea for publicly supporting Palestine has been released online, causing controversy . Reporter Cho Jin-woo reports.
A video filmed at an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian protest held at New York University last weekend . ( video link )
This video, in which an Asian woman praises North Korea's support for Palestine and argues for a joint response to the United States and Israel, has received more than 2.9 million views and 1,000 likes since it was recently uploaded on the social network service X (x) on the 5th. It has caused a lot of controversy, with over 100 comments being posted .
In a video filmed and shared by a person who introduced herself as a citizen journalist (@thestustustudio), the woman said , “ North Korea has never actually recognized Israel as a state, ” and “ They have always defended the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and resistance .” claimed .
He continued , “ The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has been actively providing weapons and training to numerous organizations, including the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, ” and added, “ There is a common history of violence and oppression between North Koreans and Palestinians , but more than that, there is a common history of violence and oppression against the common oppressors.” “We have a history of struggle and resistance ,” he said, criticizing the United States and Israel .
“ This is proof that our current movement for Palestine cannot be stopped by a ceasefire, ” he said. “ The United States is still at war with North Korea, so we can see that in both situations we must go beyond a ceasefire to liberate our people. ” He said .
Following the armed conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, North Korea has criticized Israel and expressed support for Palestine, saying that the conflict is deepening under the protection and connivance of the United States .
In particular, there are concerns about strengthening military cooperation as Hamas has been using North Korean-made weapons.
After the video was released, criticism of the woman praising North Korea followed.
Vicki Palladino , a Republican New York City Council member , wrote in It must be completely dismantled . “These are not good people, ” he said .
Republican Tina Forte, a candidate for the New York State House of Representatives , also said through
Lee Hyun-seung, a North Korean defector who is pursuing a master's degree at Columbia University in the United States, told RFA on the 10th , " I think I have illusions about communism and socialism that I have never experienced . "
Mr. Hyunseung Lee : If the student was in North Korea, he would not have the freedom to support Palestine or talk about Israel. They don't know about that . They don't know that ( in North Korea ) there is no freedom of speech that allows one to choose something and express something freely .
In addition, Mr. Lee added, “ Those who support North Korea should first reconsider whether North Korea is a country that respects universal human values . ”
Meanwhile, in the United States, thousands of people were arrested as pro-Palestinian protests continued for several weeks in college campuses across the country.
Editor Park Jeong-woo, Web Team Lee Kyeong-ha
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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