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Quotes of the Day:
“We forget that, although freedom of speech constitutes an important victory in the battle against old restraints, modern man is in a position where much of what "he" thinks and says are the things that everybody else thinks and says; that he has not acquired the ability to think originally - that is, for himself - which alone gives meaning to his claim that nobody can interfere with the expression of his thoughts.”
- Erich Fromm, The Fear of Freedom
“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."
[The One Un-American Act, Speech to the Author's Guild Council in New York, on receiving the 1951 Lauterbach Award (December 3, 1952)]”
- William O. Douglas
“Freedom of speech is unnecessary if the people to whom it is granted do not think for themselves.”
- Mokokoma Mokhonoana
1. S. Korea slams N. Korea's planned satellite launch, warns of consequences
2. Japan puts missile defences on alert as North Korea warns of satellite launch
3. N. Korea notifies Japan of plan to launch satellite between May 31-June 11: Kyodo
4. N. Korea open to high-level talks with Japan if Tokyo unshackled by past: vice FM
5. N. Korea to hold plenary meeting of ruling party in early June
6. S. Korean, U.S., Japanese nuclear envoys warn of 'stern, unified' response in case of N.K. 'satellite' launch
7. NSC holds emergency meeting after N.K. unveils satellite launch plan
8. Japanese warship arrives in S. Korea for multinational WMD-interception naval drill
9. 14 IPEF countries sign Supply Chain Agreement
10. Inside South Korea's race to become one of the world’s biggest arms dealers
11. Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations
12. [Editorial] Perils of fake news (Korea)
13. S. Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Pacific island nation of Niue
14. S. Korea voices 'deep regrets' over N. Korea's election to WHO executive board
15. Japan warns it will destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang signals satellite launch imminent
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1. S. Korea slams N. Korea's planned satellite launch, warns of consequences
Excerpt:
Japanese media reported that the North notified Tokyo it will launch a satellite-carrying space rocket between May 31 and June 11. The launch is banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions, because it uses ballistic missile technology.
S. Korea slams N. Korea's planned satellite launch, warns of consequences | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday "strongly warned" against North Korea's plan to launch a satellite in the coming weeks, vowing to make Pyongyang pay "due prices" if it goes ahead with the launch.
"We strongly warn against North Korea's announcement of provocative actions that threaten regional peace and urge them to immediately withdraw their illegal launch plan," Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson of Seoul's foreign ministry, said in a statement.
Lim warned the North will be made to pay "due prices" and suffer "pain" if the launch goes ahead.
Japanese media reported that the North notified Tokyo it will launch a satellite-carrying space rocket between May 31 and June 11. The launch is banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions, because it uses ballistic missile technology.
South Korea held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council earlier.
Last week, Pyongyang announced the completion of preparations to mount its first military spy satellite on a rocket, raising speculation that the North may launch it as early as June.
North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) conducts "an "important final-stage test" at Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, Cholsan, North Pyongan Province, for the development of a reconnaissance satellite on Dec. 18, 2022, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
2. Japan puts missile defences on alert as North Korea warns of satellite launch
Excerpts:
Analysts say the new satellite is part of a surveillance technology programme that includes drones, aimed at improving the ability to strike targets in wartime.
"We will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in our territory," Japan's defence ministry said in a statement.
Japan would use its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Patriot Missile PAC-3 to destroy a North Korean missile, it added.
Any North Korean missile launch would be a serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning its nuclear and missile activity, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.
"We strongly urge North Korea to refrain from launching," his office said on Twitter, adding that it would co-operate with its U.S. ally, South Korea and other countries, and do all it could to collect and analyse information from any launch.
Japan puts missile defences on alert as North Korea warns of satellite launch
By Hyunsu Yim and Nobuhiro Kubo
May 29, 20235:17 AM EDTUpdated 2 hours ago
Reuters · by Hyunsu Yim
TOKYO/SEOUL, May 29 (Reuters) - Japan put its ballistic missile defences on alert on Monday, vowing to shoot down any projectile that threatened its territory after North Korea notified it of a satellite launch between May 31 and June 11.
The nuclear-armed North says it has completed its first military spy satellite and leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for the launch.
It would be the North's latest step in a series of missile launches and weapons tests in recent months, including a new, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.
Japan expects North Korea to fire the rocket carrying its satellite over the southwest island chain as it did in 2016, a defence ministry spokesperson said.
Analysts say the new satellite is part of a surveillance technology programme that includes drones, aimed at improving the ability to strike targets in wartime.
"We will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in our territory," Japan's defence ministry said in a statement.
Japan would use its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Patriot Missile PAC-3 to destroy a North Korean missile, it added.
Any North Korean missile launch would be a serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning its nuclear and missile activity, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.
"We strongly urge North Korea to refrain from launching," his office said on Twitter, adding that it would co-operate with its U.S. ally, South Korea and other countries, and do all it could to collect and analyse information from any launch.
South Korea joined Japan in urging the reclusive North to scrap its planned satellite launch.
"If North Korea presses ahead, it will pay the price and suffer," a spokesperson of the South's foreign ministry said in a statement that urged the North to withdraw its "illegal" launch plan.
Kim Gunn, the South's special envoy for peace and security affairs on the peninsula held a three-way telephone call with his counterparts from Japan and the United States, the ministry added.
They agreed to work together closely in leading a united response by the international community to Pyongyang's planned satellite launch, it said.
North Korea has tried several times to launch "earth observation" satellites, of which two appeared to have been successfully placed in orbit, the latest in 2016.
In May, its leader, Kim, inspected a military satellite facility, the KCNA state news agency said.
In April, Japan sent to the East China Sea a destroyer carrying the SM-3 interceptors that can hit targets in space, and sent ground-based PAC-3 missiles, designed to strike warheads closer to the ground, to the Okinawan islands.
"The government recognises that there is a possibility that the satellite may pass through our country's territory," Hirokazu Matsuno, the chief cabinet secretary, told a regular briefing after the North informed the Japanese coast guard of the plan.
North Korean state media have criticised plans by its rivals, Japan, South Korea and the United States, to share real-time data on its missile launches, characterising the three as discussing "sinister measures" to tighten military co-operation.
Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Seoul and Nobuhiro Kubo, Elaine Lies, Satoshi Sugiyama and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul and David Dolan in Tokyo; Editing by Robert Birsel
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Reuters · by Hyunsu Yim
3. N. Korea notifies Japan of plan to launch satellite between May 31-June 11: Kyodo
(LEAD) N. Korea notifies Japan of plan to launch satellite between May 31-June 11: Kyodo | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS response from state department spokesperson in paras 7-9)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has notified Japan of its plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11, a Japanese media report said Monday, as the secretive regime is preparing to put its first military spy satellite into orbit.
The North notified the Japanese government of its plan to establish a maritime danger zone during the cited period, Japan's Kyodo News reported.
North Korea also informed the International Maritime Organization of its plan for the satellite launch, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
North Korea has announced the completion of preparations to mount its first military spy satellite on a rocket, raising speculation that the North may launch it as early as June.
The North's leader, Kim Jong-un, has recently inspected a non-permanent committee responsible for preparing for the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite and approved of its "future action plan."
The North's proposed satellite launch would violate a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions banning its nuclear and missile programs, as it uses the same technology used in ballistic missiles.
Washington reaffirmed its position that satellite launches by North Korea, including the plan notified to Japan, are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, while calling for Pyongyang to refrain from further illegal activities and return to diplomacy.
A state department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency that any launch by the North that utilizes ballistic missile technology, including those related to the use of space launch vehicles (SLVs), constitutes violations of multiple UNSC resolutions.
The spokesperson stressed that SLVs encompass technology that is interchangeable with or similar to that used in ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R), along with his daughter Ju-ae, is pictured as he meets with members of the Non-permanent Satellite Launch Preparatory Committee in Pyongyang on May 16, 2023, to inspect the country's first military reconnaissance satellite, in this file photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Kim gave the green light for its "future action plan," Pyongyang's state media said. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
4. N. Korea open to high-level talks with Japan if Tokyo unshackled by past: vice FM
Interesting timing. What is Kim's intent here? Does he think he can extract concessions from Japan now? Or is he sending the message to coincide with the rocket launch notification knowing that Japan will not conduct talks when the north is about to conduct a test launch of a racket that is in violation of UN sanctions - this so he can say it is Japan's fault for not agreeing to meet? Curious.
N. Korea open to high-level talks with Japan if Tokyo unshackled by past: vice FM | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
SEOUL/TOKYO, May 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's vice foreign minister said Pyongyang is willing to hold high-level talks with Tokyo if Japan shows a change of stance on pending issues, such as the abduction of Japanese citizens by the North, the country's state media reported Monday.
The statement by the North's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Sang-gil, carried by its Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), came after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently expressed his wish to initiate high-level talks with Pyongyang to arrange a summit with the North's leader, Kim Jong-un.
According to the KCNA, Park said "there is no reason for the DPRK and Japan not to meet" if Tokyo is not being "shackled by the past and seeks a way out for improving the relations." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
The vice foreign minister noted that Japan was "clamoring for settlement over the abduction issue," which he claimed "had already been resolved."
Pak argued Kishida has consistently expressed the desire for a summit "without preconditions" after he took office but added, "we do not know what he really wants to get from it."
He added that Japan should demonstrate its willingness to resolve issues through concrete actions rather than mere words.
Following the KCNA report, Kishida reiterated to reporters his willingness to engage with the North, saying he himself has approached the abduction issue with the determination to face it directly and make specific progress.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno refrained from commenting at a press briefing, citing concerns over possibly affecting future negotiations.
In this file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is pictured as he exits a conference with chiefs of major South Korean business associations at a Seoul hotel on May 8, 2023, before returning home following his two-day visit to South Korea. (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
5. N. Korea to hold plenary meeting of ruling party in early June
Remember that any problem can be made insoluble if enough meetings are held to discuss it. The Kim family regime is a master of meetings.
Will they be celebrating their satellite launch?
N. Korea to hold plenary meeting of ruling party in early June | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 김수연 · May 29, 2023
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has decided to convene a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in early June to discuss economic projects implemented in the first half and other policy issues, state media reported Monday.
The political bureau of the WPK decided to hold the eighth plenary meeting of the party's eighth central committee, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not disclose the date of the upcoming meeting.
The plenary meeting will be held to review "the implementation of the national economic plans in the first half of 2023 and discuss the policy issues of weighty significance," the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch.
It appears to be unprecedented for the North to hold a party plenary meeting twice in the first half, given that the secretive regime has convened such a gathering once or twice per year.
In February, the North held a party plenary meeting solely to discuss the country's agricultural issues amid food shortages.
The North has been undergoing economic hardships amid global sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, and protracted COVID-19 restrictions.
This file photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on March 2, 2023, shows the North holding an enlarged plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day to discuss the country's agricultural issues. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by 김수연 · May 29, 2023
6. S. Korean, U.S., Japanese nuclear envoys warn of 'stern, unified' response in case of N.K. 'satellite' launch
Kim jong Un's actions continue to strengthen trilateral cooperation. Kim is executing a failing strategy.
S. Korean, U.S., Japanese nuclear envoys warn of 'stern, unified' response in case of N.K. 'satellite' launch | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · May 29, 2023
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan held a conference call Monday and agreed to cooperate to ensure North Korea will face a "stern, unified" international response if its "satellite" launch plan goes ahead, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
Seoul's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Gunn, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi, had the talks after Pyongyang reportedly notified Tokyo of a plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11.
The notification came after the North claimed to have completed preparations to place its first military reconnaissance satellite on a rocket, raising speculation that the launch could come as early as June.
"The chief envoys of the three countries strongly urged the North to refrain from an illicit launch that threatens regional peace, and agreed to closely cooperate to ensure that if the North presses ahead with the illicit launch, there will be a stern, unified response from the international community based on cooperation among the South, the U.S. and Japan," the ministry said in a press release.
The three also pointed out that any launch using ballistic missile technology is an illicit act that clearly contravenes multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, and stressed that it "cannot be justified by any reason," according to the ministry.
South Korean chief nuclear negotiator Kim Gunn (C) poses for a photo with his U.S. counterpart, Sung Kim (R), and Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, prior to talks on North Korea's denuclearization at the foreign ministry in Seoul on April 7, 2023, in this file photo. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · May 29, 2023
7. NSC holds emergency meeting after N.K. unveils satellite launch plan
NSC holds emergency meeting after N.K. unveils satellite launch plan | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The presidential National Security Council (NSC) held an emergency meeting Monday following a news report of North Korea's notification to Japan of its plan to launch a satellite in the near future, according to officials.
The NSC standing committee meeting, chaired by National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong, was held after Kyodo News reported that the North notified Japanese authorities of its plan to launch the satellite between May 31 and June 11.
According to officials, NSC members discussed related counter measures after being briefed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The NSC relayed relevant information to President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The presidential National Security Office said the government "was monitoring relevant developments closely." It added the government will issue its stance through the foreign ministry.
North Korea has announced the completion of preparations to mount its first military spy satellite on a rocket, raising speculation that the North may launch it as early as June.
National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong speaks during an emergency meeting of the National Security Council in Seoul on May 29, 2023. (Yonhap)
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en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
8. Japanese warship arrives in S. Korea for multinational WMD-interception naval drill
I did a quick search to try to find when was the last time a Japanese warship docked in Korea. I could not find any information and I cannot recall such a warship making port in Korea. I am sure someone will have that information and share it.
Note the flag the ship flew. The ROK is being magnanimous.
Excerpts:
As widely expected, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's warship arrived with the so-called Rising Sun flag hoisted. Critics have pointed out the image could trigger a historical controversy as the flag is seen as symbolic of Japan's past militarism.
Seoul's defense ministry has said it will not raise an issue with the use of the flag, calling it "common international practice."
(LEAD) Japanese warship arrives in S. Korea for multinational WMD-interception naval drill | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES para 4; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A Japanese warship arrived in South Korea on Monday to participate in a multinational naval drill this week aimed at preventing the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), according to officials.
Japan's JS Hamagiri destroyer arrived in the southeastern port city of Busan to participate in the Eastern Endeavor 23 exercise Wednesday in the international waters southeast of South Korea's Jeju Island.
South Korea, the U.S., Australia, Japan, Canada and Singapore will join the exercise led by the South Korean Navy's Maritime Task Flotilla Seven. The exercise will be held a day after a high-level forum of the Proliferation Security Initiative on Tuesday.
As widely expected, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's warship arrived with the so-called Rising Sun flag hoisted. Critics have pointed out the image could trigger a historical controversy as the flag is seen as symbolic of Japan's past militarism.
Seoul's defense ministry has said it will not raise an issue with the use of the flag, calling it "common international practice."
The participating countries will mobilize a total of seven vessels and six aircraft, and they plan to form a "multinational coordination center" for cooperation in the sharing of information and other maritime procedures.
A Seoul official said the exercise does not target any particular nation, but a prevailing view has been that it will help enhance concerted efforts to forestall the possibility of North Korea's WMD proliferation.
Japan's JS Hamagiri destroyer hoisting the Rising Sun flag arrives at South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan on May 29, 2023, to participate in the Eastern Endeavor 23 exercise in the international waters southeast of Jeju Island later in the week. (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 29, 2023
9. 14 IPEF countries sign Supply Chain Agreement
Including the ROK.
14 IPEF countries sign Supply Chain Agreement
donga.com
Posted May. 29, 2023 08:15,
Updated May. 29, 2023 08:15
14 IPEF countries sign Supply Chain Agreement. May. 29, 2023 08:15. weappon@donga.com,yesbro@donga.com.
Participating countries of the Washington-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, including South Korea, signed the Supply Chain Agreement on Saturday (local time). Accordingly, they agreed to reduce dependency on China in the supply networks of semiconductors and core minerals and build a collective system to respond to any crisis that may arise if China weaponizes its resources.
The U.S. Commerce Department on Saturday issued a press release saying that the 14 IPEF countries reached a substantial conclusion at a ministerial meeting, assessing the agreement as the first of its kind agreed upon by the IPEF. Led by U.S. President Joe Biden, the community was founded last May to keep China in check with 14 member states, including South Korea, the United States, Japan, and India joining. In just six months after they initiated negotiations on four areas, such as trade, supply chains, and the clean economy last December, the group concluded the first agreement on supply chains.
The IPEF partners also agreed to implement an IPEF Supply Chain Crisis Response Network – an emergency channel for communication in case of any supply chain crisis. Additionally, they promised to create an IPEF Supply Chain Council to preemptively identify bottlenecks in supply chains and an IPEF Labor Rights Advisory Board to address labor issues in each member state.
Seoul expects South Korean companies to face reduced uncertainties in supply chains thanks to the IPEF agreement. However, some experts are concerned that Seoul’s joining the deal may rub China, the country’s No. 1 trade partner, the wrong way.
한국어
donga.com
10.
And a partner in the Arsenal of Democracy. A key element of President Yoon's vision of the ROK as a Global Pivotal State/
Inside South Korea's race to become one of the world’s biggest arms dealers
South Korea's arms sales jumped to more than $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion the year before, according to its defence ministry.
JOYCE LEE
and
JOSH SMITH
29 May, 2023 08:00 am IST
theprint.in · by Joyce Lee · May 29, 2023
Seoul: South Korea is using a $13.7 billion arms deal with Poland – Seoul’s biggest ever – to lay the groundwork for a military-industrial juggernaut that the two nations’ defence companies hope will feed Europe’s hunger for weapons far into the future.
South Korea’s arms sales jumped to more than $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion the year before, according to its defence ministry, as Western countries scrambled to arm Ukraine and tensions rose in other hot spots such as North Korea and the South China Sea.
The arms deal with Poland, a key NATO member, last year included hundreds of Chunmoo rocket launchers, K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and FA-50 fighter aircraft. The deal’s value and the number of weapons involved made it stand out even among the world’s biggest defence players.
South Korean and Polish officials say their partnership will help them conquer the European arms market even beyond the Ukraine war, with Seoul providing high-quality weapons faster than other countries and Poland offering manufacturing capacity and a sales pipeline into Europe.
Reuters spoke to 13 company executives and government officials, including those directly involved in the deal, who said the arrangement provides a blueprint for using international public-private partnerships and consortiums to extend Seoul’s reach and achieve its ambition to be one of the world’s biggest weapons suppliers.
“The Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and others were thinking of buying defence products only in Europe, but now it is more well known that you can buy at a low price and have it delivered quickly from Korean companies,” said Oh Kyeahwan, a director at Hanwha Aerospace who was involved in the Poland deal.
South Korean companies do not disclose the unit prices for their weapons, which are often sold with support vehicles and spare parts.
Hanwha Aerospace already had a 55% share of the global howitzer market – a number that will rise to an estimated 68% with the Poland deal, according to research by NH Research & Securities.
The deal established consortiums of South Korean and Polish companies that will build the weapons, maintain the fighter jets and provide the framework to eventually supply other European states, said Lukasz Komorek, director of the Export Projects Office at the state-owned Polish Armaments Group (PGZ).
That will include building South Korean arms on license in Poland, officials in Seoul and Warsaw said. Plans call for 500 of 820 tanks and 300 of 672 howitzers to be built in Polish factories starting in 2026.
“We don’t want to just play the role of subcontractor, technological transfer provider and the purchaser,” Komorek said. “We can both create the synergy and use our experiences to conquer the European markets.”
Sash Tusa, a defence and aerospace analyst at Britain-based Agency Partners, said that although both countries have well-established defence industries, the long-term plans will face hurdles. Political winds could shift, he said, reducing demand for weapons such as howitzers and tanks.
Even if production and demand hold up, European countries might want deals of their own with South Korea along the lines of what Poland has – co-production agreements that could create jobs and stimulate industry, Tusa said.
“It may work for some countries at very, very low volume,” he added of Polish-brokered South Korean weapons sales, discussing challenges the joint operation might face.
Speedy delivery
At a Hanwha Aerospace factory on South Korea’s southern coast, six huge automated robots and more than 150 production workers are churning out 47-ton K9s destined for Poland.
The self-propelled guns use NATO-standard 155mm ammunition, have computerised fire-control systems, are designed to easily integrate into command and control networks, and offer performance comparable to more expensive Western options. Major powers such as Australia and India operate them.
To meet demand, the company expects to add about 50 more workers and more production lines, production manager Cha Yong-su said during a recent tour. The robots handle about 70% of the welding work on a K9 and are key to expanding capacity, he said. They operate an average of eight hours per day but can work around the clock if needed.
“Basically, we can meet any amount of order you want,” Cha said.
South Korea’s offer to provide weapons faster than almost anyone was a key consideration, Polish officials say. The first shipment of 10 K2s and 24 K9s arrived in Poland in December, just months after the deals were signed, and at least five more tanks and 12 additional howitzers have been delivered since.
By contrast, Germany, another major arms manufacturer, has yet to deliver any of the 44 new Leopard tanks Hungary ordered in 2018, said Oskar Pietrewicz, senior analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
“Countries’ interest in South Korea’s offer may only grow considering the limited production capacity of Germany’s defence industry, which is a major arms supplier in the region,” he said.
Executives in South Korea’s arms industry say that will be a selling point for future clients.
A close relationship between South Korea’s military and its arms industry allows them to rearrange domestic orders to make room for export production and expand production in the country’s highly industrialized manufacturing base, officials said.
“They put things together in weeks or months that would take us years,” a European defence industry executive said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Constant tensions with North Korea mean the South’s military production lines are running and its weapons have been developed, tested, and upgraded in high-pressure situations, said Cho Woorae, global business and strategy vice president at Korea Aerospace Industries.
South Korea had promoted its weapons to Poland before the war, but the invasion of Ukraine – which Russia calls a “special operation” – increased Poland’s interest, said Kim Hyoung Cheol, deputy director at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
After the Polish defence minister’s visit in May 2022 to observe South Korean weapons, and Yoon Suk Yeol met with Polish President Andrzej Duda on the sidelines of the NATO summit in June that year, the stage was set for the huge deal that was finalised a month later, Kim said.
South Korea’s weapons are designed to be compatible with U.S. and NATO systems – another selling point. The country is the third-largest supplier of weapons to NATO and its member states, accounting for 4.9% of arms purchases, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
That is far behind the United States, which accounts for 65%, and France at 8.6%.
Joint production
Officials in Seoul told Reuters that they pitched Poland on producing South Korean weapons there to make it easier to deliver to European customers.
“The Korean government is promoting military diplomacy and defence cooperation so that the relationship with the purchasing country can develop into various partnerships beyond just a seller-buyer relationship,” South Korea’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Poland’s Ministry of National Defence did not respond to a written request for comment.
Oh said Hanwha Aerospace operates successful technology-sharing arrangements in India, Egypt, and Turkey.
“Because of that, I don’t think there’s much to worry about regarding capacity,” he said.
The 2022 arms deal began with South Korean companies signing a framework agreement with the Polish government. Those companies formed consortiums with PGZ and its subsidiaries, which signed the final deal with the Polish government, he said.
“We have the one entity only, one big consortium that is representing the whole project from the perspective of the industry,” Komorek said, noting that the deal encompassed many projects.
‘Agenda for a decade’
In the past year, South Korea has launched its first home-grown space rocket, saw the maiden flight of its domestically designed KFX fighter, and announced billions of dollars in deals.
“For most other countries, that would be an agenda for a decade,” one executive at a European defence firm told Reuters, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter. “We’ve underestimated Korea for a long time.”
Yoon told Reuters last month that South Korea might extend its support for Kyiv beyond humanitarian and economic aid if Ukraine comes under a large-scale civilian attack.
Seoul has since approved at least some South Korean weapons components for use in Ukraine.
The country’s sales in Asia – which accounted for 63% of its defence exports from 2018-2022, according to SIPRI – come amid regional arms build-ups driven by security concerns and the U.S.-China rivalry.
South Korea is developing its KFX fighter jet with Indonesia, and Polish leaders have signalled interest in that project. Malaysia this year bought nearly $1 billion in FA-50s, and Seoul is in the running to win a $12 billion deal to supply Australia’s next infantry fighting vehicle.
“Asian countries see us as a very attractive partner for defence deals as we all seek to hedge against the rising tensions,” a diplomat in Seoul said. “We’re a U.S. ally, but not the U.S.”
(Reporting by Josh Smith and Joyce Lee. Writing by Josh Smith. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
theprint.in · by Joyce Lee · May 29, 2023
11. Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations
Is there really a thaw in US-PRC relations?
Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations
The Korea Times · May 29, 2023
This picture shows the Korean, U.S. and Chinese flags. Signs of rapprochement between the world's two superpowers present a new challenge to Korea, according to experts, Sunday. gettyimagesbank
Seoul needs dual strategy as it could be left in 'awkward' position: analysts
By Jung Min-ho
In the first cabinet-level exchange between the world's two superpowers in months, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao said they had "candid and substantive" discussions on trade issues in Washington on Thursday (local time).
The meeting followed positive statements made days earlier by U.S. President Joe Biden and the newly arrived Chinese ambassador to the U.S. In a May 21 press conference at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Biden predicted a near-term "thaw" in commercial relations with China. Additionally, Xie Feng, the new Chinese ambassador known to be moderate, vowed on May 23 to put bilateral relations "back to the right track."
These signs of rapprochement present a fresh challenge to Korea, which has aligned itself more closely with the U.S. and its key allies despite the risk of damaging relations with China under President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Experts said Sunday that there is little chance of a fundamental change in relations between Washington and Beijing, given the widespread support in the U.S. for a tough stance against China. Driven by self-interest, however, they believe the two sides may seek ― and possibly achieve ― an improvement in their trade ties and that Korea should be prepared to protect its national interest under such a scenario.
"The U.S. appears to have adopted a dual-path strategy in which it seeks to pressure China through international bodies, such as the G7, while seeking to recover its frayed relationship with China bilaterally," Kang Joon-young, an expert on China at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, told The Korea Times. "That means Korea needs to develop its own dual strategy as it could be left in an awkward position if the U.S. and China suddenly decide to shake hands. I do not think the possibility is high, but Korea should not rule it out and strategize its future moves in order to protect its key national interest."
Tensions soared between the world's two largest economies following a visit last August by former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, a de facto separate self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own, and the detection of a Chinese spy balloon in U.S. airspace this January. To pressure Beijing, the Biden administration imposed new semiconductor export restrictions while maintaining Trump-era tariffs on China imports. Yet many problems have arisen due to their deeply intertwined commercial networks, which has drawn criticism from U.S. allies as well as its own business leaders.
"There are growing voices from U.S. companies that have been affected by tensions between the two countries. So far, there has been much talk but no concrete action, but the U.S. might alter its policy direction in favor of its business leaders, which would be a diplomatic risk Korea should be aware of and prepared for," said Chung Jae-hung, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute.
Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, left, and his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao shake hands before their meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit, Friday (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
All this requires Seoul's nimble diplomatic efforts, at a time when it faces pressure from Washington to join the U.S.-led international semiconductor export controls targeting China, experts say.
On the sidelines of Friday's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, during which the two sides exchanged views on trade issues including semiconductor industry supply chains.
While the Chinese side claimed that the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in that area, the Korean ministry's statement did not mention chips and instead highlighted that it asked for Beijing's support in creating a predictable business environment for Korean companies.
The Korea Times · May 29, 2023
12. [Editorial] Perils of fake news (Korea)
[Editorial] Perils of fake news
koreaherald.com · by Korea Herald · May 25, 2023
Fast-evolving artificial intelligence offers plenty of powerful tools. As with any device and technology, however, AI can be easily abused in a way that often generates unfathomable results.
A striking case in point is a fake photo of an explosion near the US Pentagon that went viral on Monday. The concocted image, likely generated by AI, triggered a brief dip in the US stock market, as some media and individual accounts on Twitter picked up the post and shared it with their followers.
The messy development is partly -- if not largely -- due to Twitter’s new verification system, introduced by Elon Musk. Twitter used to award its blue badges to public figures, government organizations and news media following a manual verification procedure. Users and media outlets could be skeptical about viral reports from unverified accounts.
Now, anyone can buy the blue badge for $8 a month and potentially impersonate authoritative Twitter accounts. This makes it extremely difficult to rely on verified Twitter accounts and refute hoaxes in time, especially when the doctored report goes viral within minutes.
Another factor that compounds the job of filtering out fake news is the advent of more sophisticated generative AI tools. ChatGPT can instantly create fake texts by mixing facts and fiction. AI image tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion allow even novice users to create incredibly realistic images with ease.
Fake news and photos are nothing new on Twitter. What matters now is that more viral images are being created by AI tools and their impact on crucial sectors such as the financial market are feared to get amplified.
The possibility that a simple hoax can wreak havoc on social and economic infrastructure should be taken seriously, as easy-to-access generative AI programs are bound to spark more chaotic responses by churning out like-like forgery.
The implications of misinformation powered by AI can be much deeper and wider than one might assume. More fake videos are popping up on YouTube, making it hard to recognize a visual propaganda campaign produced with malicious intent. As major search engines adopt chatbot programs, there is a concern that a torrent of misinformation can flood the online communities in a way that disrupts elections and affects the stock market.
Last Friday, NewsGuard, a US firm that tracks online misinformation, said it had identified 125 websites that produce content entirely or mostly with AI tools, and the number of news and information sites generated by AI with little to no human oversight had more than doubled in two weeks.
As AI-generated content farms continue to proliferate and pose threats to the reliability of news and online posts, regulators around the world are increasingly seeking ways to put laws and regulations in place in a bid to minimize the potential risks of AI and hold developers accountable for their programs.
South Korea is just beginning to recognize the perils of AI-based fake content and taking an initial legislative action. On Monday, Rep. Lee Sang-heon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed a revision to the Content Industry Promotion Act, requiring content producers to clearly state that certain content is created through AI technology.
Korea is particularly vulnerable to the risks of viral news forged by AI programs. The nation boasts of an advanced IT industry and runs extensive wired and mobile networks, with a huge number of people sharing large amounts of news and data on online platforms. Not only social media such as Twitter, but also KakaoTalk, the country’s biggest mobile messenger app, could be exploited as key channels through which AI-generated fake news can circulate at an unstoppable pace.
There are already a number of online chat rooms based on KakaoTalk and other major platforms where users exchange information on online banking and stock trading. It is increasingly easy to create fake texts, images and videos with AI tools and possibly spread false content.
Regulating rapidly evolving AI tools is no easy task. Too many regulations could stifle innovation in the local AI industry. Both the government and lawmakers are urged to set up proper regulations to prevent AI-generated hoaxes and draft a set of guidelines on the development and applications of generative AI technology.
By Korea Herald (khnews@heraldcorp.com)
koreaherald.com · by Korea Herald · May 25, 2023
13. S. Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Pacific island nation of Niue
Another step forward on the ROK's INDOPACIFIC strategy.
S. Korea establishes diplomatic ties with Pacific island nation of Niue
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · May 29, 2023
By Yonhap
Published : May 29, 2023 - 09:43 Updated : May 29, 2023 - 09:43
Foreign Minister Park Jin (right) shakes hands with Dalton Tagelagi, the premiere of Niue who also doubles as the country's top diplomat, at a signing ceremony for the establishment of formal diplomatic ties at Seoul's foreign ministry on Monday. (Yonhap)
South Korea on Monday established formal diplomatic relations with the Pacific island nation of Niue on the sidelines of Seoul's inaugural summit with 18 countries in the region.
A signing ceremony for the forging of diplomatic ties was held at Seoul's foreign ministry attended by Foreign Minister Park Jin and Dalton Tagelagi, the premiere of Niue who also doubles as the country's top diplomat.
According to the ministry, the small island nation with a population of some 1,600 is not a formal member of the United Nations, but is an active member of UNESCO and the World Health Organization.
The ceremony was held on the occasion of the two-day summit between South Korea and members of the Pacific Islands Forum to be held from Monday in Seoul.
Among the PIF members, Niue was the only country that had not established formal diplomatic relations with South Korea.
Niue became the 192nd country to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea. There are only three countries left in the world which Seoul has not established diplomatic relations with -- Kosovo, Syria and Cuba. (Yonhap)
14. S. Korea voices 'deep regrets' over N. Korea's election to WHO executive board
Perhaps they had Chinese help?
S. Korea voices 'deep regrets' over N. Korea's election to WHO executive board | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · May 29, 2023
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea expressed "deep regrets and concerns" over North Korea's recent election as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s executive board, Seoul's foreign and health ministries said Monday.
The ministries issued a commentary under the names of their spokespersons, raising questions over whether the North, with a record of violating U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, is suited for the WHO post.
"It is questionable whether North Korea, which has continued to contravene UNSC resolutions and disregard the U.N.'s authority, meets the standards for a WHO executive board member, which should abide by international norms, pursued by the U.N., and contribute to enhancing global health," he said in the written statement.
At the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Friday (local time), North Korea was elected a member of the WHO executive board. The other new members include Australia, Barbados, Cameroon, Qatar, Switzerland and Ukraine.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · May 29, 2023
15. Japan warns it will destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang signals satellite launch imminent
Is that possible?. Would a satellite launch have a trajectory that would fly through Japanese airspace? Okinawa and the Ryukus perhaps as previous north Korean launches have had a southerly launch direction.
Japan warns it will destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang signals satellite launch imminent | CNN
CNN · by Emiko Jozuka · May 29, 2023
Tokyo CNN —
Japan’s Defense Ministry warned on Monday it would destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang notified the country of plans to launch a “satellite” between May 31 and June 11.
“We will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in our territory,” Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
North Korea’s space development agency had said last year it would finish preparations for the reconnaissance satellite by April 2023.
A Japanese Coast Guard spokesman said the notification of the launch by Pyongyang came via email. It said North Korea plans to launch its satellite toward the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and east of Luzon, Philippines, in an area outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the spokesman said.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also said Monday that any North Korean missile launch disguised as a “satellite” is a “threat” to the nation’s security.
North Korea says it launched a new type of Hwasong-18 Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) using solid fuel, on Thursday April 13, 2023, according to state media KCNA.
Courtesy Rodong Sinmun
New ICBM could make it easier for North Korea to launch nuclear strike, analysts say
If North Korea follows through on its plan to launch a missile, it would violate United Nations’ Security Council resolutions and be a “serious provocation”, Matsuno told reporters.
Matsuno said Japan’s Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces have issued an order regarding the preparation of destructive measures against ballistic missiles.
In addition, the Defense Ministry is also taking other precautions, such as deploying Patriot missile defense batteries and Aegis destroyers with ballistic missile defense capabilities to waters around Japan’s Nansei Islands, an archipelago that stretches from the southern tip of the main island of Japanese Kyushu south to near Taiwan.
Okinawa, where the United States maintains key military bases, is the largest island in the chain.
Matsuno added that Japan would work closely with the US and South Korea and urged Pyongyang to exercise self-restraint.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects preparations for North Korea's first military spy satellite on Tuesday, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday local time.
KCNA
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Monday that any missile launch by North Korea, even if called a satellite, is a “significant issue that affects the safety of Japanese citizens,” and reiterated his willingness to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Last month, Kim ordered officials to prepare to launch the country’s first military reconnaissance satellite, North Korean state media reported at the time.
People watch a television screen showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch at the Seoul Railway Station on August 17, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Half of North Korean missile program funded by cyberattacks and crypto theft, White House says
South Korea’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting Monday following North Korea’s notification of its plans to launch a satellite, South Korea’s presidential office said in a statement.
Seoul’s Foreign Ministry also urged North Korea on Monday to withdraw its plan to launch a “satellite” which it said would be a “serious violation” of UN Security Council resolutions and an “obvious illegal act that cannot be justified under any pretext.”
In mid-April, a North Korean missile test raised fears on the Japanese northern main island of Hokkaido after the government’s emergency alert system warned residents to take cover.
But soon after, fear turned into anger and confusion as the evacuation order was lifted amid reports that it had been sent in error, with local officials saying there was no possibility of the missile hitting the island and Tokyo later confirming it had fallen outside Japanese territory, in waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea later said that missiles was a new, solid-fueled ICBM, a development that analysts say could allow it to launch long-range nuclear strikes more quickly and easily as it ramps up its missile program.
CNN’s Brad Lendon contributed to this report.
CNN · by Emiko Jozuka · May 29, 2023
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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