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Quotes of the Day:
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
– Mahatma Gandhi
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed."
– Steve Biko
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
– James Baldwin
1. S. Korea, China agree to establish diplomatic security dialogue
2. North Korea accuses US, South Korea of ‘military espionage’, warns of ‘immediate action’
3. N. Korea warns of military action over alleged sea border incursions
4. Large number of Russian experts enter N. Korea to help spy satellite launch efforts: source
5. Yoon meets ex-US Secretary Pompeo, discusses Korean Peninsula issues
6. Yoon calls for joint efforts with Japan to make 'historic leap' in relations
7. Yoon calls for joint efforts with Japan to make 'historic leap' in relations
8. Korea asks China to become ‘bastion of peace’ in UN, raises Line issue with Japan
9. [KH Explains] US crackdown on Chinese connected vehicles unsettles Korea
10. Nerve agent powder discovered in passenger's bag at Incheon Airport
11. Capital Defense Command to run annual defense drills from Monday to Wednesday
12. Reactivating a safety net in Northeast Asia
13. Capital Defense Command to run annual defense drills from Monday to Wednesday
14. AI's impact on baseball and beyond changes the world
1. S. Korea, China agree to establish diplomatic security dialogue
Excerpts:
"I believe that South Korea and China should closely cooperate not only for our bilateral relationship but also for the peace and prosperity of the international community," Yoon said in his opening remarks.
Yoon underscored the importance of working with China to address rising economic uncertainties in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
"I hope we can continue to strengthen our cooperation amid today's global complex crises," he said.
Li highlighted the close economic relations between the two countries and expressed hope for further developing ties for "mutual benefit" and a "win-win relationship."
"China wishes to work together with South Korea to become a reliable and good neighbor and supportive partner who help each other succeed," Li said.
(LEAD) S. Korea, China agree to establish diplomatic security dialogue | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 26, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks in eighth para; ADDS photo)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- Leaders of South Korea and China met in Seoul on Sunday and agreed to establish a diplomatic security dialogue and resume negotiations to upgrade the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to boost economic ties between the two countries.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang reached the agreement during their meeting to boost trade and investment and cooperation on the supply chains of key industries, the presidential office said in a release.
Yoon and Li agreed to establish the diplomatic security dialogue, a 2+2 dialogue consultative body between the foreign and defense ministries, and hold the first meeting in mid-June.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (3nd from L) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang (3rd from R) hold a meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on May 26, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The two sides also agreed to resume the second phase of negotiations for the bilateral FTA to boost service trade and investment in early June. The first phase of the FTA, which took effect in December 2015, removed tariffs on major goods.
"The discussions will go beyond market opening in the trade of goods to include sectors such as services, culture, tourism and legal services, to expand exchanges and openness between the two countries," Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said in a press briefing.
In addition, a bilateral investment cooperation committee will resume later this year after a 13-year hiatus, and a senior-level dialogue involving the two countries' trade ministries will also be launched to discuss ways to stabilize the supply chains of key industries.
China is South Korea's largest trading partner, but bilateral relations have been strained amid Seoul's closer alignment with Washington under the Yoon administration.
Their meeting comes at a time when China is facing intensifying competition with the United States in cutting-edge technologies, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence, among others.
During the meeting, Yoon asked China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to actively contribute to promoting peace in light of North Korea's nuclear development and its military cooperation with Russia, according to a senior presidential official.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang pose for a photo during their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on May 26, 2024. (Yonhap)
"I believe that South Korea and China should closely cooperate not only for our bilateral relationship but also for the peace and prosperity of the international community," Yoon said in his opening remarks.
Yoon underscored the importance of working with China to address rising economic uncertainties in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
"I hope we can continue to strengthen our cooperation amid today's global complex crises," he said.
Li highlighted the close economic relations between the two countries and expressed hope for further developing ties for "mutual benefit" and a "win-win relationship."
"China wishes to work together with South Korea to become a reliable and good neighbor and supportive partner who help each other succeed," Li said.
Li made his first visit to South Korea since taking office in March 2023 to attend a trilateral summit with Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set for Monday.
Yoon and Li held their first meeting in September 2023 in Indonesia on the sidelines of a summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This visit marks the first by China's No. 2 in nine years since former Premier Li Keqiang.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 26, 2024
2. North Korea accuses US, South Korea of ‘military espionage’, warns of ‘immediate action’
For north Korean domestic messaging. Create the perception of th4 threat.
North Korea accuses US, South Korea of ‘military espionage’, warns of ‘immediate action’
- Pyongyang accused the US of ‘air espionage’ by deploying military planes, and the South Korean navy of ‘enemy intrusion’ across its maritime border
- North Korea’s vice defence minister Kim Kang Il said in a statement, that his country would ‘take necessary military measures’, as a result
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3264139/north-korea-accuses-us-south-korea-military-espionage-warns-immediate-action
Agence France-Presse
+ FOLLOWPublished: 12:55pm, 26 May 2024
North Korea on Sunday accused the United States and South Korea of conducting more aerial espionage around the peninsula, warning it would take “immediate action” if its sovereignty was breached.
America has deployed dozens of military planes “in air espionage against the DPRK from May 13 to 24”, the North’s vice defence minister Kim Kang Il said in a statement, referring to his country by its official name.
The espionage activities observed over the 12-day time frame were “at a level beyond the wartime situation”, he said in the statement, which was carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
“Such hostile military espionage, together with various military drills, has become the root cause of ever-escalating regional military tensions,” he added.
The official also lashed out at the South Korean navy for what he called “enemy intrusion across our maritime border”, claiming such acts were conducted under the guise of “mobile patrols”.
The vice-minister said the North’s military would “take necessary military measures”, adding: “Dangerous consequences will ensue from such frequent intrusions across our maritime border.”
A US Army helicopter transports a howitzer during a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States on March 19, 2023. Photo: AP
He also targeted the sending of balloons containing anti-regime leaflets by South Korean civic groups across the border, calling it a “dangerous provocation” and warning of “tit-for-tat action”.
Despite a ban that took effect in 2021, South Korean activists have for years flown balloons containing propaganda leaflets and US dollars over the border, a tactic against which Pyongyang has long protested.
Inter-Korean relations are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang declaring Seoul its “principal enemy”.
It has dismantled agencies dedicated to reunification and threatened war over “even 0.001mm” of territorial infringement.
South Korea and its key security ally America routinely conduct joint military drills, which they say are necessary to guard against growing threats from the nuclear-armed North.
Pyongyang regards all such drills as rehearsals for invasion, and has been known to conduct weapons tests and live-fire counter-drills in response.
3. N. Korea warns of military action over alleged sea border incursions
Is Kim telegraphing a provocation? It is almost June and time for the "Cab Wars" in the West Sea.
N. Korea warns of military action over alleged sea border incursions | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · May 26, 2024
SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea threatened Sunday to take action against South Korea over what it claims are violations of the de facto western maritime border, ratcheting up tensions ahead of a trilateral summit in Seoul.
North Korea's supreme military leadership instructed its army on Friday to take offensive action against the encroachment upon its sovereignty, North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il said, according to the country's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"We officially warn that we can never tolerate such continued encroachment on our maritime sovereignty and that we may exercise our self-defensive power on or under the water at any moment," Kim said in a statement carried by the KCNA.
The statement came hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will have back-to-back bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the presidential office.
The three leaders will hold a trilateral summit on Monday. It marks the first three-way summit among the Asian countries since December 2019, after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained Seoul-Tokyo relations over historical disputes.
Tension remains high along the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea, the de facto maritime border. North Korea has never recognized the NLL, demanding that it be re-drawn further south.
Waters near the NLL have been a flashpoint between the two Koreas, where three bloody naval skirmishes took place in 1999, 2002 and 2009.
In March 2010, Pyongyang torpedoed a South Korean warship near the sea border, killing 46 sailors on board. In November that year, the North bombarded the South's border island of Yeonpyeong, killing two civilians and two Marines.
North Korea also accused South Korea and the United States of intensifying their hostile aerial espionage as it vowed to scatter "mounds of wastepaper and filth" over the inter-Korean border areas in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
For years, North Korean defectors in South Korea and conservative activists have sent balloons carrying leaflets critical of the North's leader Kim Jong-un into North Korea. Pyongyang has bristled at the propaganda campaign amid concern that an influx of outside information could pose a threat to the Kim regime.
North Korea blew up the joint liaison office in the now-shuttered inter-Korean factory park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong in 2020 in anger over Seoul's failure to stop North Korean defectors from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · May 26, 2024
4. Large number of Russian experts enter N. Korea to help spy satellite launch efforts: source
Large number of Russian experts enter N. Korea to help spy satellite launch efforts: source | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · May 26, 2024
By Lee Minji and Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- A large number of Russian experts have entered North Korea to support its spy satellite launch efforts, and Pyongyang has staged more engine tests than expected to likely meet their "high" standards, a senior South Korean defense official said Sunday.
Speculation has persisted over the timing of the North's highly anticipated launch as it vowed last December to place three more military spy satellites in orbit this year, a month after successfully launching its first one.
On Friday, South Korea's military said it had detected apparent signs of preparations for a new launch after previously stating that there were no indications of an imminent one.
"North Korea has very carefully conducted (rocket) engine tests much more than expected," the official told Yonhap News Agency. "Looking at North Korea's activities last year, it should have already staged a (launch)."
The November launch of the Malligyong-1 satellite took place after two failed attempts in May and August, respectively.
The official said many Russian technicians have entered North Korea after Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to support the North's satellite program last year, and they likely have "high" standards, prompting the delay.
"North Korea might have been brave enough to stage launches when it didn't know much, but the (Russian) experts likely told them not to," the official said.
A new type of Chollima-1 rocket carrying a reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 lifts off from the launching pad at the Sohae satellite launch site in Tongchang-ri in northwestern North Korea at 10:42 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2023, in this photo released the next day by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. North Korea said it has successfully placed the spy satellite into orbit and will launch several more satellites "in a short span of time" to secure its reconnaissance capabilities against South Korea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Last September, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met Putin for a summit at a spaceport in Russia's Far East, where the Russian leader said he would help the North build satellites.
Compared to last year, North Korea likely faces more pressure to stage a successful launch for its next attempt, the official said, with both the space rocket and the satellite said to have issues.
The North's three-stage space rocket is said to have problems in its second and third stage engines, and the tests could be aimed at addressing the issues, and possibly lead to improvements to the North's engines.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik told reporters in February that the Malligyong-1 appears to be orbiting Earth without activity, suggesting the satellite is not functioning properly.
The South's military has recently strengthened monitoring of Tongchang-ri in the North's northwestern coast, where its satellite launch site is located, after detecting signs of launch preparations.
Equipment used to measure and assess the launch trajectory of a space rocket is said to have been detected at the site, indicating that the North's launch could take place soon.
The suspected preparations come ahead of major diplomatic events involving South Korea, raising concern the North may time the launch to coincide with one of them to maximize its political impact.
The leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will meet for a trilateral summit in Seoul on Monday, while the defense chiefs of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold trilateral talks during a security forum in Singapore set to take place from May 31-June 2.
South Korea, the United States and others have condemned the North's space rocket launches, calling them violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning it from any launches using ballistic missile technology.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · May 26, 2024
5. Yoon meets ex-US Secretary Pompeo, discusses Korean Peninsula issues
Yoon meets ex-US Secretary Pompeo, discusses Korean Peninsula issues
The Korea Times · May 23, 2024
This photo released by the presidential office on May 23, 2024, shows President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, holding a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Seoul. Courtesy of presidential office
President Yoon Suk Yeol met with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, as well as the Seoul-Washington alliance, the presidential office said Thursday.
During the meeting held in Seoul with Pompeo, who served as the top U.S. diplomat under then President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2021, Yoon asked him to continue to pay close attention to South Korea's efforts to seek peace on the Korean Peninsula backed by the strong alliance.
Yoon also expressed his willingness to enhance cooperation with the United States on North Korea and to pursue closer trilateral cooperation involving Japan.
In response, Pompeo was quoted by the presidential office as saying that the alliance between Seoul and Washington has become stronger under the leadership of Yoon, whose administration shares common values with the U.S.
Pompeo added that he hopes the alliance will keep developing regardless of the political situation in the U.S. and wishes for closer bilateral cooperation, as well as strengthened trilateral ties, regarding North Korean issues. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · May 23, 2024
6. Yoon calls for joint efforts with Japan to make 'historic leap' in relations
Yoon calls for joint efforts with Japan to make 'historic leap' in relations | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 26, 2024
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday and called for joint efforts to make a "historic leap" in bilateral relations as the two nations mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties next year.
Kishida was on a two-day visit to South Korea for separate meetings with Yoon and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with their tripartite session slated for Monday.
It marks Kishida's first visit to South Korea in a year since their bilateral summit held in Seoul, which has led to a dramatic warming of bilateral relations and the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the leaders. Over the past year, the two leaders have held nine in-person meetings on bilateral and multilateral platforms.
Yoon said he wants to build on the positive momentum to further develop relations with Tokyo.
"Based on these achievements, I hope we can work together to prepare for a historic leap forward in our bilateral relations when the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, " Yoon said in his opening remarks.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on May 26, 2024. (Yonhap)
Kishida expressed his hope for continued collaboration between Japan and South Korea to tackle global challenges.
"At this historical turning point for the international community, I hope that Korea and Japan can further strengthen our cooperation to effectively address global challenges while maintaining and reinforcing a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida said through a translator.
Bilateral ties have improved significantly under Yoon, following his administration's decision last year to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor without seeking contributions from the Japanese companies involved.
Building on the thaw in diplomatic relations, the leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan held their first standalone summit at Camp David in August 2023, where they agreed to step up security cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
It is their first meeting in six months after they met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 26, 2024
7. Yoon calls for joint efforts with Japan to make 'historic leap' in relations
Yoon calls for joint efforts with Japan to make 'historic leap' in relations | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 26, 2024
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday and called for joint efforts to make a "historic leap" in bilateral relations as the two nations mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties next year.
Kishida was on a two-day visit to South Korea for separate meetings with Yoon and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with their tripartite session slated for Monday.
It marks Kishida's first visit to South Korea in a year since their bilateral summit held in Seoul, which has led to a dramatic warming of bilateral relations and the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the leaders. Over the past year, the two leaders have held nine in-person meetings on bilateral and multilateral platforms.
Yoon said he wants to build on the positive momentum to further develop relations with Tokyo.
"Based on these achievements, I hope we can work together to prepare for a historic leap forward in our bilateral relations when the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, " Yoon said in his opening remarks.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on May 26, 2024. (Yonhap)
Kishida expressed his hope for continued collaboration between Japan and South Korea to tackle global challenges.
"At this historical turning point for the international community, I hope that Korea and Japan can further strengthen our cooperation to effectively address global challenges while maintaining and reinforcing a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida said through a translator.
Bilateral ties have improved significantly under Yoon, following his administration's decision last year to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor without seeking contributions from the Japanese companies involved.
Building on the thaw in diplomatic relations, the leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan held their first standalone summit at Camp David in August 2023, where they agreed to step up security cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
It is their first meeting in six months after they met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · May 26, 2024
8. Korea asks China to become ‘bastion of peace’ in UN, raises Line issue with Japan
Sunday
May 26, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 26 May. 2024, 19:13
Updated: 26 May. 2024, 22:42
Korea asks China to become ‘bastion of peace’ in UN, raises Line issue with Japan
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-05-26/national/diplomacy/Korea-asks-China-to-become-bastion-of-peace-in-UN-raises-Line-issue-with-Japan-/2055007
Top: President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, hold a bilateral meeting at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Sunday, ahead of a trilateral summit with Japan Monday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]
President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the importance of cooperation between Seoul and Beijing, not only for the development of the two countries' relations, but "for the sake of the peace and prosperity of the international community" in bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul Sunday.
Yoon on Sunday afternoon held separate back-to-back talks with Li and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Yongsan presidential office ahead of the three countries' first trilateral summit in four years and five months on Monday.
He urged China to become a "bastion of peace as a permanent member of the UN Security Council," according to a senior presidential official after the talks, requesting Beijing to play a more assertive role in regional security issues. This comes amid Pyongyang's nuclear and missile increased threats and suspected military cooperation between North and Russia.
"Just as South Korea and China have overcome various difficulties together and contributed to each other's development and growth over the past 30 years, we hope to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, even amid today's global complex crises," Yoon told Li in his opening remarks at their bilateral summit, flanked by their aides.
He noted that "the common challenges facing South Korea and China in the international community are serious," citing Russia's war on Ukraine and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, which are contributing to "uncertainty in the global economy."
Yoon said that minister-level dialogues have recently resumed in various sectors between South Korea and China, and that exchanges between local governments are also becoming active.
"I hope that the two countries will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and pursue common interests while respecting one another," Yoon said.
Related Article
"China and South Korea have always maintained mutual respect and have continuously deepened our friendship and mutual trust through equal dialogue and sincere communication," Li said to Yoon. "China wants to work together with Korea to become trustworthy, good neighbors and partners who support each other to succeed."
Li pointed to the achievements in the development of relations in the past 30 years, especially in economy and trade, expressing hopes to continue to work together for a "mutually beneficial" and "win-win" cooperation for shared development and prosperity.
The two sides also agreed to resume negotiations for the second phase of the Korea-China FTA, according to the presidential office. The resumption of negotiations comes after the first phase, which took effect in December 2015, removed major tariffs, and will seek to expand to the cultural, tourism and legal sectors.
Seoul and Beijing agreed to establish a diplomatic and security dialogue, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said in a press briefing, and hold the first meeting in mid-June.
The so-called two-plus-two meeting involve senior officials from the two countries' foreign and defense ministries.
The two sides agreed to launch a bilateral export control dialogue.
They will also resume convening an investment cooperation committee, a ministerial consultative body that has been suspended for the past 13 years.
This is a part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment and in supply chains of key industries.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, hold a bilateral meeting at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul later Sunday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]
Later on in the afternoon, Yoon and Kishida in their bilateral talks highlighted the progress made in Korea and Japan's ties over the past year.
"Based on the solid trust between us, exchanges at all levels have greatly improved over the past year," Yoon said, noting "all intergovernmental agreements have been restored" and that high-level exchanges are happening in the finance, industry and advanced technology sectors.
Yoon expressed hopes to work together with Kishida "to prepare for a historic turning point that will further advance Korea-Japan relations next year," to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.
He highlighted that some 3 million people have traveled between the two countries in the first quarter of this year and that the number is expected to exceed the record set in 2018 of 10.51 million people by the end of this year.
Kishida in turn expressed hopes for cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo to be "further strengthened to maintain and strengthen a free and open Indo-Pacific and effectively respond to global challenges."
He likewise said he has been communicating closely with Yoon through meetings and phone calls, and called to "continue shuttle diplomacy in the future based on such trust between the leaders" of the two countries.
During the talks with Kishida, Yoon also raised concerns over Japan's directive for Korea's largest portal, Naver, to reduce its stake in the messaging app Line.
He noted that the matter "needs to be managed so that it does not become an unnecessary issue between the two countries in the future," according to a presidential official.
Yoon said he understands Japan's move "is not a demand for Naver to sell its shares" and that he recognizes it as a "matter separate from bilateral diplomatic relations," according to the official.
Kishida said that Japanese government issued the directive on Line following data leaks to review security governance, the official said, adding the two sides agreed to closely communicate on this matter.
Earlier Sunday, Kishida and Li arrived in Seoul for a two-day visit to take part in the first summit among the three Northeast Asian countries since talks held in China's Chengdu in December 2019.
The trilateral gathering faced a hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic and amid strained ties between Seoul and Tokyo over historical disputes and a trade spat.
The Chinese premier traditionally takes part in the trilateral gathering, rather than the president, and this marks Li's first visit to Korea since taking office in March 2023.
Yoon and Li held their first talks on the sidelines of Asean-related meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, in September last year.
The last time a Chinese premier visited the country was in November 2015, when former Premier Li Keqiang visited the country for the sixth trilateral summit.
Yoon and Kishida met for the first time this year after a series of meetings held last year after their breakthrough summit in Tokyo March 2023, which led to the normalization of bilateral relations which strained in recent years and the resumption of shuttle diplomacy between the two countries' leaders after 12 years. Kishida last visited Seoul for a bilateral summit in May 2023.
The two sides agreed to normalize relations after the Yoon administration in March last year announced plans to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor through a Korea-backed public foundation, without requiring contributions from the involved Japanese companies.
The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) raised 1 billion won ($731,000) and the Japan Business Federation contributed 100 million yen ($637,000) to this fund, according to the presidential office Sunday.
This week, the Japanese side invested an additional 200 million yen to the fund, and the FKI will also increase its contributions to promote youth exchanges between the two countries.
Pottery by artists from Korea, Japan and China are on display at a welcome banquet for the 9th trilateral summit held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno District, central Seoul on Sunday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]
The three leaders took part in a dinner banquet later Sunday at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in central Seoul.
"I hope that through this summit, the leaders of the three countries will be able to meet, communicate and cooperate on a consistent basis every year," Yoon said in his welcoming remarks at the banquet.
"Young people from the three countries like K-pop from Korea, animation from Japan and pandas from China, and are already actively interacting with each other," Yoon said, encouraging the cooperation among youths of the three countries to mature their relations.
Artists from Korea, Japan and China participated in the dinner event, which focused on exchanges and harmony between the three countries. This included the display of pottery from the three countries.
A choir composed of 21 children from Korea, Japan and China sang folk songs and performances of traditional instruments and contemporary music were also played throughout the evening.
Yoon, Kishida and Li will hold a trilateral summit, the ninth of its kind, on Monday and are expected to issue a joint declaration afterward.
They will also attend a business forum together later Monday.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
9. [KH Explains] US crackdown on Chinese connected vehicles unsettles Korea
[KH Explains] US crackdown on Chinese connected vehicles unsettles Korea
koreaherald.com · by Moon Joon-hyun · May 26, 2024
Korean auto industry urges clarity, citing complexity of mobility supply chains
By Moon Joon-hyun
Published : May 26, 2024 - 14:00
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testifies during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 16. (Reuters-Yonhap)
The South Korean government and automotive industry are on high alert as the US prepares to enforce regulations on Chinese-made connected vehicles this fall, citing national security concerns about potential data leaks involving American consumers.
While the focus seems to be on complete vehicles, the regulations could indirectly affect Chinese-made components if they are deemed integral to the data collection and transmission processes that raise security concerns. The broad scope of the term “connected vehicles” -- covering any car with navigation or wireless software that communicates with systems outside of the car -- could bring many China-sourced components used in Korean vehicles, such as telematics control units and wireless communication modules, under the purview of the new US regulations.
While experts recognize the US regulatory move as part of the broader geopolitical and technological competition between the US and China, they also stressed that connected vehicles genuinely pose risks of data leakage, with the Chinese government already utilizing such data for domestic surveillance purposes.
Security vulnerabilities
US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo emphasized the gravity of these issues in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing last week. She described Chinese-connected vehicles as smart cars equipped with numerous sensors and chips, controlled by software that can transmit vast amounts of data such as GPS locations, driving habits and even in-car conversations -- back to China.
In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, Raimondo even stated that the US is analyzing data to determine the extent of the measures required, which could range from a total ban on Chinese-made connected vehicles to more nuanced restrictions.
“The US has been wary of intellectual property theft and confidentiality breaches from Chinese cyber activities for over a decade. They’ve taken steps like banning Huawei equipment to secure their supply chains, especially in defense-related technologies,” said Euom Ieck-chae, a professor who researches system security at Chonnam National University.
Kim Jung-jin, a professor in the School of Artificial Intelligence at Southwest University of Political Science & Law in Chongqing, China, elaborated on the privacy risks associated with connected vehicles.
“These include recording drivers' conversations, constantly filming the exterior while driving or parking, and the potential for personal data to be extracted when parts are serviced or replaced," he said.
Kim noted that the Chinese government claims it can manage the leakage of personal information from connected vehicles through proper legislation.
“However, the irony is that within China, the government already uses such data from its citizens’ connected vehicles for domestic criminal investigations,” he explained.
Clarity urged
The Korean government and auto industry have urged the US Department of Commerce to clearly define connected vehicles, focus on high-risk parts, and provide time for supply chain adjustments.
“The term, 'Chinese connected vehicles,' is too vague, and this ambiguity is making the Korean auto industry quite anxious. For instance, network communication modules, which allow cars to connect to networks like cellular and Wi-Fi for real-time data exchange, could be a significant concern. Major Chinese suppliers like Quectel and Fibocom dominate this market, and the US might see their integration into vehicle systems as a security risk,” a Korean auto industry insider explained.
Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that it has expressed its concerns to the US Department of Commerce. In a formal submission, the ministry urged the US to provide a clear definition of connected vehicles, focus regulations on parts and services that pose significant national security risks, and allow sufficient time for the industry to adapt its supply chain.
Hyundai Motor Group and the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association also submitted comments to the US stating that, "Adapting the connected vehicle supply chain on short notice is impractical. Such abrupt changes could lead to unintended safety issues and significantly increase production costs, disrupting both the industry and consumer markets."
The America's Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association have echoed the complexity of the automotive industry's supply chain and urged the US department to thoroughly review the proposal.
koreaherald.com · by Moon Joon-hyun · May 26, 2024
10. Nerve agent powder discovered in passenger's bag at Incheon Airport
Other than Newsweek picking this up I have seen no other reporting on this.
Excerpts:
According to the airport's police, unidentified black powder was discovered in the carry-on bag of a passenger in her 20s who was next to the check-in counter at Terminal 1 at 6:30 a.m. on the same day.
She found unknown materials inside a black pouch in her bag and reported it to police. She told authorities that there were “powdery materials that look like ground coffee.”
Upon her report, first responders handling chemical hazards and fire agency personnel specializing in the disposal of unidentified explosives arrived at the airport and secured 65 grams (2.3 ounces) of the substance.
Thursday
May 23, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 23 May. 2024, 12:43
Updated: 23 May. 2024, 19:17
Nerve agent powder discovered in passenger's bag at Incheon Airport
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-05-23/national/socialAffairs/Nerve-agent-powder-discovered-in-passengers-bag-at-Incheon-Airport/2053240?detailWord=
Main picture: First responders handling chemical hazards conduct safety measures in Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Thursday. Inset: Military personnel conduct safety checks. [INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CORPORATION]
Military authorities and police are analyzing nerve agent powder found at Incheon International Airport on Thursday.
The nerve agent, or organophosphates, can poison people through airborne particles.
According to the airport's police, unidentified black powder was discovered in the carry-on bag of a passenger in her 20s who was next to the check-in counter at Terminal 1 at 6:30 a.m. on the same day.
She found unknown materials inside a black pouch in her bag and reported it to police. She told authorities that there were “powdery materials that look like ground coffee.”
Upon her report, first responders handling chemical hazards and fire agency personnel specializing in the disposal of unidentified explosives arrived at the airport and secured 65 grams (2.3 ounces) of the substance.
Military personnel specializing in disposing explosives conduct safety checks at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Thursday. [INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CORPORATION]
The initial on-site screening suggested that the compound could potentially activate people’s nervous systems in a toxic manner. Then, police requested a more detailed analysis of the powdery substance by a military unit handling chemical, biological and radiological issues.
Regarding the possibility of biochemical terrorism, the police said it appears to be "less likely" and a detailed analysis is underway.
No casualties or damages have been reported.
The passenger was set to board a plane bound for New York at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. However, as the discovery of the chemical compound impacted her flight schedule, she "plans to depart on Friday."
BY CHO MOON-GYU, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]
11. Capital Defense Command to run annual defense drills from Monday to Wednesday
Sunday
May 26, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 26 May. 2024, 14:53
Updated: 26 May. 2024, 14:54
Capital Defense Command to run annual defense drills from Monday to Wednesday
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-05-26/national/defense/Capital-Defense-Command-Corps-to-run-annual-defense-drills-from-Monday-to-Wednesday/2054910
Capital Defense Command soldiers train during a military drill held in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on April 25. [NEWS1]
The Capital Defense Command and Capital Corps are set to conduct joint defense drills from Monday through Wednesday in parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi.
According to the South Korean Army on Sunday, the annual drills will focus on enhancing the on-site response capabilities of all national defense elements and protection capabilities by training under various scenarios, including drone attacks.
The joint drills will also involve the police and fire agencies, as well as local governments like Seoul and Anyang in Gyeonggi. The military aims to establish an integrated response system and verify the effectiveness of operational plans through maneuver exercises against threats such as terrorist attacks on bases and critical national facilities, drone provocations and other unidentified threats.
The military plans to operate helicopters and drones, and deploy operational personnel and equipment in parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi during the drill.
“We ask for the understanding and cooperation of residents, as the drills may cause temporary road congestion and noise,” a military official said.
The Capital Defense Command conducted joint defense drills in Seoul last December under scenarios of drone attacks and shelling by North Korea.
BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]
12. Reactivating a safety net in Northeast Asia
Excerpts:
We hope the reactivation of the tripartite meeting will achieve some tangible results to protect the security in Northeast Asia after the drastic change in the security environment in the region, including from the deepening U.S.-China rivalry and the mounting nuclear threat from North Korea.
We also expect the three leaders to promise a joint effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear threat in today’s meeting. Given the North’s alleged “completion of both short-range and mid- to long-range ballistic missiles,” Japan and China are also not free from its nuclear threat. Under frozen inter-Korean relations, only China can keep the recalcitrant state in check.
Our government, in particular, must create an amicable atmosphere for President Yoon and Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet in the near future. Cooperation between the two leaders is undoubtedly as important to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as tripartite cooperation.
Sunday
May 26, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 26 May. 2024, 20:04
Reactivating a safety net in Northeast Asia
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-05-26/opinion/editorials/Reactivating-a-safety-net-in-Northeast-Asia/2055068
President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul on Sunday afternoon. The two foreign leaders came to Korea to participate in a trilateral summit that continues through Monday. The three countries launched the international body in 2011 to strengthen their tripartite cooperation on several issues. Since then, the three countries have alternated hosting the summit almost every year. But the face-to-face meetings came to a halt after their eighth iteration in Chengdu, China in December 2019 due to the breakout of Covid-19.
The reopening of the trilateral summit carries great significance. In Sunday’s bilateral meeting, President Yoon reportedly agreed with the Chinese premier to expand the two countries’ economic cooperation. In the following meeting with the Japanese prime minister, President Yoon reportedly discussed ways to issue a joint statement marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Seoul-Tokyo relations and address the ongoing Naver-Line Yahoo conflict. The leaders of China and Japan also held a bilateral meeting Sunday.
The three leaders will hold a trilateral meeting today to discuss pending issues which have undergone working-level discussions. They share a consensus on expanding human exchange with one another; reinforcing their cooperation to ensure sustainable growth; bolstering their collaboration on climate change, economy, trade and public health; finding effective support for their rapidly aging populations; cooperating on the digital transition of science and technology; and developing an efficient system to tackle natural disasters and other safety issues.
We hope the reactivation of the tripartite meeting will achieve some tangible results to protect the security in Northeast Asia after the drastic change in the security environment in the region, including from the deepening U.S.-China rivalry and the mounting nuclear threat from North Korea.
We also expect the three leaders to promise a joint effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear threat in today’s meeting. Given the North’s alleged “completion of both short-range and mid- to long-range ballistic missiles,” Japan and China are also not free from its nuclear threat. Under frozen inter-Korean relations, only China can keep the recalcitrant state in check.
Our government, in particular, must create an amicable atmosphere for President Yoon and Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet in the near future. Cooperation between the two leaders is undoubtedly as important to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula as tripartite cooperation.
13. Capital Defense Command to run annual defense drills from Monday to Wednesday
Sunday
May 26, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 26 May. 2024, 14:53
Updated: 26 May. 2024, 14:54
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-05-26/national/defense/Capital-Defense-Command-Corps-to-run-annual-defense-drills-from-Monday-to-Wednesday/2054910
Capital Defense Command soldiers train during a military drill held in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on April 25. [NEWS1]
The Capital Defense Command and Capital Corps are set to conduct joint defense drills from Monday through Wednesday in parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi.
According to the South Korean Army on Sunday, the annual drills will focus on enhancing the on-site response capabilities of all national defense elements and protection capabilities by training under various scenarios, including drone attacks.
The joint drills will also involve the police and fire agencies, as well as local governments like Seoul and Anyang in Gyeonggi. The military aims to establish an integrated response system and verify the effectiveness of operational plans through maneuver exercises against threats such as terrorist attacks on bases and critical national facilities, drone provocations and other unidentified threats.
The military plans to operate helicopters and drones, and deploy operational personnel and equipment in parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi during the drill.
“We ask for the understanding and cooperation of residents, as the drills may cause temporary road congestion and noise,” a military official said.
The Capital Defense Command conducted joint defense drills in Seoul last December under scenarios of drone attacks and shelling by North Korea.
BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]
14. AI's impact on baseball and beyond changes the world
AI's impact on baseball and beyond changes the world
donga.com
Posted May. 25, 2024 07:50,
Updated May. 25, 2024 07:50
AI's impact on baseball and beyond changes the world. May. 25, 2024 07:50. .
Baseball heavily revolves around pitchers, particularly starters. The Korean movie “Perfect Game” exemplifies this, showcasing the legendary duel between pitchers Choi Dong-won and Seon Dong-yeol. In their real-life match on May 16, 1987, they threw 209 and 232 pitches, respectively, totaling over 200 each.
Today, it's rare to find a Korean pitcher throwing 100 pitches in a game. As of Thursday, only 19.4% (96 of 494) of the games in Korea's professional baseball league saw starters reach this mark. In MLB, starters threw 100 pitches in just 11.5% (171 of 1,490) of the games during the same period. As recently as 2010, about half (49.7%) of MLB starters threw over 100 pitches before leaving the mound.
Big data is why starting pitchers began throwing fewer pitches. In his 2017 book Everybody Lies, U.S. data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz noted that baseball was the first field to have comprehensive data sets on almost every element, with dedicated smart experts willingly spending their entire lives analyzing them. He added that AI developed by these experts determined that it is inefficient to keep starting pitchers on the mound for too long.
AI has also shifted baseball's focus from throw-hit-run to just throw-hit. Data analysis shows that plays like stolen bases or base running are less effective than commonly believed. Instead, there has been an increase in plays determined between the pitcher and hitter, such as home runs, strikeouts, and walks.
With AI streamlining baseball games, some have lamented a loss of fun, leading to declines in both stadium attendance and TV viewership. To reintroduce excitement, MLB is considering measures like restricting pitching time, enlarging bases, and potentially mandating starting pitchers to throw for at least six innings unless they have exceptional circumstances like injury.
Davidowitz's book highlights baseball as a pioneering force in the changing landscape of various fields. He notes that Sabermetrics, the statistical study of baseball, set a precedent for data analysis across industries. Interestingly, Sam Altman, founder of OpenAI, the organization behind generative AI ChatGPT, has roots as a baseball card collector, with players' records written closely all over the cards, underscoring the potential influence of baseball's data-driven approach.
When introducing ChatGPT-4o, which sees, listens, and speaks like a human being, Mira Murati, OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer, emphasized her focus on improving ChatGPT's functionality more seamlessly for easier user interaction. Similar to baseball, AI aims for smoother and more seamless experiences.
한국어
donga.com
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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