Quotes of the Day:
"The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
- Plato (428 BC - 348 BC)
"The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant."
- Maximilien Robspierre
"Kind hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds, it is a fallacy that must be exposed: war is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst … To introduce the principle of moderation into the theory of war itself would always lead to logical absurdity.”
- Clausewitz
1. N. Korea holds party meeting on defense policy; nuclear testing issue may be discussed
2. N. Korea could be delaying nuclear test because of China, COVID-19: official
3. S. Korea to establish mission to NATO in Brussels
4. Yoon promises to rebuild nuclear power industry
5. N. Korea needs nuke test for smaller warheads to fit on new missiles: expert
6. Coast Guard chief apologizes for 'causing misunderstanding' over probe into fisheries official's death
7. S. Korea confirms homegrown space rocket's satellite orbit deployment capability
8. Yoon considers holding the ROK-US-Japan NATO Summit
9. Telephone booths transformed into battery stations for electric motorcycles
10. US overlooks information campaigns as option to deter North Korea: Expert
11. More people disapprove of Yoon's performance than approve for 1st time: pollster
12. A step toward improving relations (ROK-Japan)
13. Philippines and Korea to deepen defense ties, says envoy
14. N. Korea snaps up Chinese soybeans as COVID-19 exacerbates food shortage fears
1. N. Korea holds party meeting on defense policy; nuclear testing issue may be discussed
If the purpose of the meeting is to "tighten discipline" within the military we need to consider that Kim is worried about the coherence of the military and military support for his rule.
We need to be reviewing contingency plans.
Excerpt:
The event, the first of its kind since June last year, appears intended to tighten discipline within the military. Earlier this month, the North carried out a major reshuffle of its top military officials.
(LEAD) N. Korea holds party meeting on defense policy; nuclear testing issue may be discussed | Yonhap News Agency
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; MODIFIES headline; ADDS photo)
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over a major party meeting to discuss the country's military line and defense policies, state media reported Wednesday amid keen attention on whether or when the unpredictable regime will carry out another nuclear test.
The third enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission (CMC) of the ruling Workers' Party opened the previous day in order to "review the overall work for national defense in the first half of the year," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The event, the first of its kind since June last year, appears intended to tighten discipline within the military. Earlier this month, the North carried out a major reshuffle of its top military officials.
It may also offer a clue to the timing of the North's nuclear testing, which the intelligence communities of South Korea and the United States view as imminent. They said Pyongyang seems to have completed technological preparations, with a relevant team waiting for a political decision by Kim.
Among agenda items of the session is the "issue of confirming the crucial and urgent tasks to build up national defense and thoroughly implementing the military line and key defense policies of the Party," the KCNA said.
Also to be discussed is the "military and political activities of the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staff of the KPA, the KPA Committee of the WPK, commanding officers, staff sections and political departments of the KPA units at all levels, and the Party organizations of the armed forces organs, before deciding on the important strategic and tactical tasks to be fulfilled by the KPA." KPA stands for the Korean People's Army.
The KCNA did not specify when the meeting will end. The reclusive North has a track record of carrying out strategic provocations, including a nuclear experiment, not long after such a high-profile party session chaired in person by the all-powerful leader.
The North is also expected to use this week's meeting for follow-up discussions and decisions on its state policy direction unveiled during a key ruling party meeting earlier this month.
At the fifth enlarged plenary meeting of the party's eighth Central Committee, Kim called for stronger "self-defense" measures to tackle "very serious" security challenges and reaffirmed the principle of "power for power and head-on contest."
The CMC "started the discussion on the presented agenda items," the KCNA reported, suggesting that the meeting will likely continue for a few days.
It is unprecedented for Kim to have convened a CMC meeting for at least a two-day run, Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Seoul-based center for North Korean studies at the Sejong Institute, said.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
2. N. Korea could be delaying nuclear test because of China, COVID-19: official
Both could be the logical reasons. However, north Korea has often defied Chinese wishes to act in its own interests. Also, some speculate the opposite on COVID - a nuclear test and the increased tensions could be a distraction from COVID. But if the regime is delaying the test due to COVID it could mean that the COVID outbreak is much more severe that being reported and the regime might not have a handle on it.
It could also be that Kim might assess that a nuclear test at this time may not achieve his desired effects - e.g., coerce the US and the international community to provide sanctions relief. Even if the test is necessary to advance the nuclear program Kim may exercise his form of strategic patience and wait until he feels the time is right to accomplish both strategic influence and advance military capabilities.
N. Korea could be delaying nuclear test because of China, COVID-19: official | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea could be pushing back what would be its seventh nuclear test in consideration of China's political calendar and its own situation with COVID-19, a presidential official said Wednesday.
North Korea has been reported for weeks to be preparing for a nuclear test at its testing ground in Punggye-ri, with the only remaining step being a "political decision" by leader Kim Jong-un.
"I think the China variable and the COVID-19 variable are playing into this," the official told reporters, citing the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in the fall.
"It appears that North Korea is making a considerable effort out of concern for the major chaos that would be caused by a seventh nuclear test, although we haven't been able to verify it," he said.
China is North Korea's only major political ally and economic benefactor, meaning that staging a large provocation ahead of a key political event could hurt Pyongyang's relations with Beijing.
The other factor behind holding off could be the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak in the North, the official added.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
3. S. Korea to establish mission to NATO in Brussels
South Korea is "stepping up" per President Yoon's vision.
(LEAD) S. Korea to establish mission to NATO in Brussels | Yonhap News Agency
(ATTN: UPDATES with details, quotes from 7th para)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has decided to establish a mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, a presidential official said Wednesday ahead of President Yoon Suk-yeol's participation in a NATO summit next week.
Yoon will attend the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, on June 29 and 30, on his first overseas trip as president, National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han said during a press briefing.
South Korea is not a member of the military alliance but has been invited as a partner nation, along with countries, such as Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
The new NATO mission will be headed by the South Korean ambassador to Belgium, who currently also doubles as the ambassador to the European Union, a second presidential official said.
On the sidelines of the NATO gathering, Yoon could hold a trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
First lady Kim Keon-hee is also likely to accompany the president on the trip, another presidential official said.
"The NATO summit will include an official program for spouses," the third official said. "We're positively reviewing her participation as much as possible."
Kim Sung-han said Yoon's attendance at the NATO summit will achieve three purposes, including strengthening the "value alliance" based on a liberal democracy with the 30 NATO member states and partner nations.
The president will also build the foundation for a "comprehensive security network" with NATO states and explore ways to effectively respond to emerging security threats, such as cyber and aerospace threats, and climate change.
"By establishing a NATO mission in Brussels, Belgium, where NATO is headquartered, we will be able to increase information-sharing and strengthen our networks with NATO members and partner nations," Kim said.
The president plans to use the gathering to hold a series of bilateral summits on the margins to discuss economic issues, such as nuclear power, semiconductors and renewable energy, seek international support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan, and strengthen cooperation over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Kim said.
The second presidential official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, elaborated that around 10 bilateral meetings are being planned, including with countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark and the Netherlands.
A bilateral summit with Kishida has still not been finalized, but "there is concern in both countries about whether (the leaders) will be able to focus on the South Korea-Japan agenda" so spontaneously and on the sidelines of a separate event, that official said.
If realized, the summit will be the first between the two countries in two and a half years, and would be watched closely for signs of a thaw in tensions over disputes stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
"We expect that a pull-aside could be possible," the third official noted.
A trilateral summit involving Yoon, Biden and Kishida remains a possibility.
"It would likely focus on trilateral security cooperation against the backdrop of serious concerns about the possibility of a seventh nuclear test by North Korea," the third official said.
Given the grave security situation, National Security Adviser Kim will not accompany the president to Spain and remain in Seoul. Yoon will instead be joined by First Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo.
During a joint session with NATO members and partner nations, Yoon plans to speak for three minutes and emphasize his administration's commitment to achieving North Korea's denuclearization, the official added.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
4. Yoon promises to rebuild nuclear power industry
The "paradox" of nuclear power, energy, technology - it can make the most significant long term contribution to clean energy to help save the earth yet it can be weaponized to threaten the future of the earth. But I will take my chances on nuclear power. We cannot put the nuclear genie back in the bottle so we should make the best of it.
(LEAD) Yoon promises to rebuild nuclear power industry | Yonhap News Agency
(ATTN: ADDS detailed support measures in last 5 paras)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged Wednesday to rebuild the nuclear power industry and support its expansion overseas, underscoring his commitment to reversing the nuclear phase-out policy of the previous administration.
Yoon made the remark after touring a nuclear reactor factory owned by Doosan Enerbility in Changwon, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
During the campaign, the president had pledged to resume construction of the Shin-Hanul No. 3 and No. 4 nuclear reactors and to aim to export 10 nuclear reactors by 2030.
"Our nuclear power plants are recognized for their world-class technology and stability," Yoon said during a meeting with industry and government officials at the Doosan Enerbility headquarters.
"The competitiveness of our nuclear plant businesses lies in our ability to construct on time and on budget, which no other company in the world can imitate," he said.
Yoon took a swipe at the previous Moon Jae-in administration, saying "had we not been foolish over the past five years and further reinforced the nuclear power ecosystem, we probably would not have any competitors now."
Still, the president noted the door to the nuclear power plant export market is "wide open" and that countries such as Saudi Arabia, the Czech Republic, Poland and the United States recognize nuclear power as a key energy source on the path to carbon neutrality.
"We've set our policy direction," Yoon said, referring to his plans to scrap the nuclear phase-out policy and rebuild the nuclear energy sector.
"It's not just the direction that's important, but quickly putting it on track," he added. "The government will provide active assistance so that the industrial sites and factories in Changwon, the hub of the nuclear power ecosystem, can bounce back and all of you can be excited to work."
The industry ministry said the government will provide companies in the nuclear power industry with work worth 92.5 billion won (US$71.36 million) this year and invest 670 billion won to support their research and development, according to the industry ministry.
By 2025, the government plans to commission 1 trillion won worth of projects to the private sector and pour more than 3 trillion won into technology development.
It will also devise various support measures for smaller nuclear energy companies, including 100 billion won worth of emergency funds.
For the development of an advanced homegrown small modular reactor, nearly 40 billion won will be earmarked through 2028, according to the ministry.
The government also decided to set up a graduate school on high-level radioactive wastes to nurture experts in the sector, and provide various education and training programs to employees in the field, it added.
hague@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
5. N. Korea needs nuke test for smaller warheads to fit on new missiles: expert
Most nuclear tests are to advance north Korean military capabilities. But they also send a message. We too often forget the former and focus on the latter. Of course miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to put on an ICBM sends a powerful message.
N. Korea needs nuke test for smaller warheads to fit on new missiles: expert | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has its own military and technical reason to carry out another nuclear test, as it needs a miniaturized nuclear warhead to be loaded on its newly developed missiles, a former senior South Korean defense official said Wednesday.
"North Korea's level of nuclear (warhead) miniaturization is estimated to be around 60 centimeters in diameter," Kim Jung-sup, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute who served as deputy defense minister, said at a forum in Seoul. "In order to be mounted on (the nation's) new tactical guided weapons and hypersonic missiles, like the Hwasong-8, it needs to become even smaller."
His assessment came amid speculation that the North's seventh underground nuclear testing might be just around the corner. It has reportedly completed relevant preparations at its Punggye-ri test site.
"In the eighth congress of the Workers' Party last year, North Korea unveiled plans to strengthen its defense capabilities and there is a need to conduct an additional nuclear test in terms of military and technical requirements," Kim noted. The North conducted its sixth and last nuclear test in September 2017.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
6. Coast Guard chief apologizes for 'causing misunderstanding' over probe into fisheries official's death
But the bottom line is north Korea executed this Korean citizen. Yes, mistakes were made on the South Korean side and the previous administration placed politics over the safety of Korean citizens but, again, it is the north that executed this citizen.
Coast Guard chief apologizes for 'causing misunderstanding' over probe into fisheries official's death | Yonhap News Agency
INCHEON, June 22 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the Korea Coast Guard apologized Wednesday for "causing misunderstanding," days after the organization overturned its previous announcement that a fisheries official killed by North Korea in 2020 was attempting to defect to the North.
Last week, the Coast Guard and the defense ministry announced they have not found any circumstances backing the probe results from two years ago, reversing from their previous stance and apologizing to the bereaved family.
The 47-year-old official was fatally shot by the North's military on Sept. 22, 2020, near the inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea, after going missing the previous day while on duty on board a fishery inspection boat. The Coast Guard and the defense ministry announced at the time he could have been attempting to defect to the North.
"I sincerely apologize for causing a lot of misunderstanding in regard to the probe results," Korea Coast Guard Commissioner General Jeong Bong-hun told reporters at the coast guard headquarters in Incheon, west of Seoul.
"I feel deeply responsible as commissioner general for causing confusion and disappointment," he said.
On Wednesday, the family of the late fisheries official lodged criminal complaints against three of former President Moon Jae-in's secretaries, including former National Security Advisor Suh Hoon, to hold them accountable for their beloved's death. The family accused the then Moon administration of doing "nothing" to save him.
"I offer my condolence and consolation to the bereaved family," he said, reiterating the Coast Guard ultimately concluded that it was impossible to have enough evidence showing he was trying to defect to the North.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
7. S. Korea confirms homegrown space rocket's satellite orbit deployment capability
Will South Korea eventually launch satellites for communication by the ROK/US Combined Forces Command? WIll it add or global (or Korean theater of operations (KTO)) positioning systems? WIll it add to intelligence imagery capabilities for the KTO?
S. Korea confirms homegrown space rocket's satellite orbit deployment capability | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean satellite has made two-way communication with its ground station, officials said Wednesday, confirming the success of the country's first-ever self-powered satellite deployment project.
South Korea on Tuesday successfully launched the 200-ton Nuri from Naro Space Center in the country's southern coastal village of Goheung in a major milestone in the country's space program.
The rocket, also known as KSLV-II, succeeded in deploying satellites at a target altitude of 700 kilometers as planned, according to officials.
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced a day after the launch that the performance verification satellite successfully made two-way communication with the ground station at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, at 3:01 a.m. Wednesday.
The communication follows the satellite's initial contact with South Korea's King Sejong Station in Antarctica after the launch Tuesday.
"Following the two-way communication with the KARI ground station in Daejeon, Nuri's satellite deployment capability has been fully confirmed," the ministry said.
From the latest communication, KARI verified the satellite was functioning properly with its condition intact.
It also commanded the satellite to sync up its clock with that of the ground station and also activated the satellite's GPS transmitter.
KARI plans to monitor the satellite and stabilize its position, then release four small cube satellites, which are currently joined to the performance verification satellite, one by one beginning next Wednesday.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
8. Yoon considers holding the ROK-US-Japan NATO Summit
It seems like Japan is doing everything it can to avoid a bilateral summit at the NATO meeting. A trilateral summit is good but we are not going to have effective trilateral cooperation until the ROK and Japan improve their bilateral relations.
Yoon considers holding the ROK-US-Japan NATO Summit
Posted June. 22, 2022 07:58,
Updated June. 22, 2022 08:01
Yoon considers holding the ROK-US-Japan NATO Summit. June. 22, 2022 07:58. gaea@donga.com,sanghun@donga.com.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is considering holding a trilateral summit between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan at the NATO Summit to be scheduled in Madrid, Spain on June 29 and 30. If the trilateral summit is held, it means that following the Quad leaders’ summit between Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, the leaders of Korea and Japan will have a chance to meet in two bilateral summits on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
According to Japan's NHK and TV Asahi on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his desire to hold a meeting with the heads of state during the NATO summit, and is making adjustments whether a South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit is feasible. The Japanese government is said to be considering holding summits with the leaders of five countries, including Australia and New Zealand, in addition to the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit. "I understand that the Korean government is reviewing the schedule after receiving a proposal to hold the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit,” a South Korean government official said.
If the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit is held, the heads of the three countries will hold a face-to-face summit for the first time in four years and nine months after meeting for the trilateral summit during the UN General Assembly in September 2017, not long after the Moon Jae-in administration took office. With the summit meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida plans to hold high the banner of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” initiative promoted by the United States and Japan to contain China’s military expansion. The trilateral summit is intended to reaffirm the collaboration between Korea, the US and Japan against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats as well.
However, if the trilateral summit is held at the NATO summit, it is highly likely that the South Korea-Japan summit will not be held. The Japanese government is reluctant to hold the bilateral summit with South Korea at the moment. This is because, prior to the House of Councilors election on the 10th of next month, he has no choice but to pay attention to the conservative and hawkish voices of Japanese conservatives.
Accordingly, the Japanese government is choosing to strengthen ties with South Korea against North Korea and China by taking part in the multilateral summits in which South Korea takes part while putting off on holding a bilateral summit for now. This is also in response to Washington's wish of improved relations between Korea and Japan. U.S. President Joe Biden considers the enhanced collaboration between the U.S., Korea and Japan critical to contain China. Earlier, at the South Korea-U.S. summit held on the May 21, he asserted, "It is important that the U.S., Korea, and Japan to maintain a very close trilateral relationship economically and militarily."
9. Telephone booths transformed into battery stations for electric motorcycles
South Korean innovation.
I do not think there are any (or at least not many) telephone booths left in the US!
Telephone booths transformed into battery stations for electric motorcycles
Posted June. 22, 2022 07:58,
Updated June. 22, 2022 07:58
Telephone booths transformed into battery stations for electric motorcycles. June. 22, 2022 07:58. 4g1@donga.com.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday its plans to refurbish 150 unused telephone booths within this year into battery swapping stations for charging electric motorcycles.
The city government added that the battery swapping stations can significantly reduce charging hours. Just with a user certification, empty batteries can immediately be replaced with fully-charged ones. The stations are highly accessible as they are installed in old unused telephone booths.
It usually took four to six hours to charge a battery for electric motorcycles and they could run approximately 50 kilometers per charging, which means it was inconvenient for delivery motorcycle drivers who have to ride more than 150 kilometers on average daily.
Some 150 battery swapping stations will be built this year near the areas where single-person households are clustered or delivery demand is high. Thirty stations have already been installed in the districts in Seoul such as Guro, Dongjak and Songpa, and 30 more will be built by the end of this month. Users who wish to visit the stations can download the application called "D-STATION" on their smartphones and sign up to use the service.
For now, only users who ride electric motorcycles provided by DNA Motors, a city government contractor, can use the stations because electric vehicles are equipped with different types of batteries. The city government also plans to replace all the motorcycles dedicated for full-time delivery business running in the city (approx. 35,000 units) into electric ones.
10. US overlooks information campaigns as option to deter North Korea: Expert
Information is an existential threat to the regime. It is one of the most important tools for putting pressure on the regime. We need a holistic approach that includes sanctions and information, as well as military readiness, cyber, and diplomacy, humanitarian assistance and a human right upfront approach.
We have been advocating an information approach since we wrote the first CONPLAN 5029 but there has never been any traction among the ROK and US governments (only among the escapee community and NGOs, though our State Department (DRL) and Congress do support information programs executed through civil society. But we can do so much more).
Chinese proverb: When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When is the next best time? Right now. If we want to have options when war or contingencies occur we need to aggressively prepare the information environment now.
Thankfully this article was not behind the NK News firewall and we have access to it without paying the exorbitant subscriber fees.
US overlooks information campaigns as option to deter North Korea: Expert
Bruce Bennett says distributing USB sticks loaded with K-pop could work better than sanctions by impacting leadership
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North Koreans use computers at the Pyongyang Sci-Tech Complex on Oct. 7, 2016 | Image: NK News
The U.S. “doesn’t get” information operations against North Korea, and South Korea is ill-equipped to fight a war that could involve DPRK tactical nuclear weapons, the defense researcher Bruce Bennett told NK News.
Efforts to deter Pyongyang from testing nuclear weapons and missiles with sanctions don’t work because they don’t have personal consequences for Kim Jong Un, Bennett said, suggesting that information campaigns like distributing a million USBs in Pyongyang would be more effective.
He added that neither the U.S. nor South Korea are investing sufficiently in training to fight wars that involve the actual use of tactical nuclear weapons, despite the likelihood that North Korea will soon test such a bomb.
In a wide-ranging interview with NK News, Bennett of the RAND Corporation also shared his thoughts on growing public support for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons and the risks associated with recognizing the DPRK’s nuclear status.
The following interview transcript has been edited for clarity and length.
NK News interviews Bruce Bennett, a defese researcher at RAND Corporation, in Seoul | Image: NK News
NK News: Why do the U.S. and South Korea not prioritize information campaigns against North Korea more?
Bruce Bennett: Just recently, Kim said he viewed Korean culture and K-pop in particular as a vicious cancer that could cause the regime to collapse. There is nothing more dangerous to him than the regime collapsing: So he’s told us what we can do to leverage him, and yet we don’t want to leverage him.
His whole missile build-up to ICBM launches — he’s now launched probably six — it’s amazing that we’ve done nothing. I’m embarrassed. I think our attention is turned elsewhere. And I think we’re also not being innovative.
I think the U.S., for whatever reason, the government doesn’t get information operations. I’ve talked about this for years with the U.S. government personnel, and it’s kind of like you’re talking over their head and they just don’t think in those terms.
Let’s tell Kim you do another ICBM launch and we’re going to make 1 million USB [flash drives]. Those USBs will have K-pop and K-dramas and commercials on them about liberal democracy and such. And we’re not going to spread them across from the DMZ. We’re going to use unmanned aerial vehicles and put them in Pyongyang. And yeah Kim, we get it. You’re going to get rid of 95% of them. But 50,000 of them floating around in Pyongyang you are going to hate.
Deterrence is not about finding some North Korean representative in China and sanctioning him — because it doesn’t affect Kim … You’ve got to do something that affects Kim directly. That’s basic deterrence theory. And so we need to be doing that. And information seems to me to be the most powerful way to do that.
NK News: When it comes to the threats that North Korea poses, what do you think South Korea needs to do more to do better to defend itself?
Bennett: The next North Korean nuclear test is apparently for a weapon size to take out an airfield and there’s an important realization once you get to that. And so the ROK has to grow its expertise and evolve its strategy.
The first thing they’ve got to do is to come to an understanding of the threats.
In the 1980s, you knew that on the NATO central front, within a day or two it was going to be a nuclear (conflict) and you were going to be fighting a combined conventional nuclear warfare — because the Soviets had conventional superiority, and unless we used nuclear weapons, they were going to blow through us.
In roughly 1990/1991, almost all of our nuclear training went away in favor of counterinsurgency and that kind of thing. And so very few of our military people today have been trained in nuclear warfare, even in the U.S.
But certainly on the ROK side, until they get trained, they won’t understand about the importance of dispersal air bases or about using their reserves better or how to protect against nuclear weapons use.
NK News: Deploying U.S. strategic assets on the peninsula was one of the commitments that came out of the Yoon-Biden summit. Will this really help manage tensions?
Bennett: The problem you face is, let’s say you decided to put B-52s on the peninsula. All of a sudden you’ve created a big target. I think the South Koreans neighboring that air base would be very upset because all of a sudden you just made them an early target for North Korea. So you’re going to get demonstrations and problems like that.
Would the military like to have those kinds of assets on the peninsula? Sure. Would they be vulnerable on the peninsula? Absolutely — and not just against missiles.
North Korea has always thought about precursor attacks before a main attack. So they send out somebody with a bioweapon or with a shoulder-fired surface-to-air-missile to take those aircraft out. And then you have also got the civil relations problem of doing that.
So is that a wise idea? Probably not for us to do that, and our air force hasn’t been anxious to do that. They’re not even anxious to run B-52s out of Guam very much other than as a short term contingency.
Military specialist Bruce Bennett | Image: NK News
NK News: Polls show growing public support for a South Korean nuclear weapons program. In light of this, should the U.S. reintroduce tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula?
Bennett: The last thing I want is South Korea to suddenly have a bunch of nuclear weapons and not understand how to use them … So whether or not you’re going to insist on nuclear weapons, at some point, you’ve still got homework to begin doing and a cadre of people that you’ve got to begin building.
Having said that, it is important to recognize that the situation we face now will be very different from the situation we may face in five or ten years. If North Korea suddenly has 30 ICBMs with nuclear weapons on them, would the U.S. really give up some major cities in order to defend South Korea?
If we get to that point, where we only sort of have a U.S. nuclear umbrella, we’re too late. That’s because it takes a long time to build the kind of capabilities that South Korea would need to independently respond.
So the discussion going on in Korea now probably is a good thing … The South Koreans could well get to a point fully imaginable where they’re just going to decide to do it. And if that’s the case, then we need to be stepping back as a country and saying, if that’s true, what do we need to be doing so that when they get to that point A) we’re still allies, and B) that they’re thinking about these weapons the way we do rather than being a loose canon.
NK News: Would it be safer to recognize North Korea’s nuclear weapons status so the U.S. can build a relationship with the DPRK and prevent their use?
Bennett: I’m not sure we’re going to get to the point anywhere soon where we’re going to reduce the probability of it being used.
Listen to North Korea’s rhetoric. How much did they say we’re hostile? How hostile are we toward North Korea? So much of the North Korean rhetoric is made up to justify the failings of the regime. Those failings aren’t going to end. So I don’t think by simply us becoming friendly with the North Koreans are we going to solve that problem.
Edited by Bryan Betts
11. More people disapprove of Yoon's performance than approve for 1st time: pollster
South Koreans are fickle and just do not give their presidents a chance. (of course neither do Americans).
More people disapprove of Yoon's performance than approve for 1st time: pollster | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- Negative public evaluations for President Yoon Suk-yeol have surpassed positive marks for the first time since his inauguration in early May, according to a poll released Wednesday.
In the survey of 1,004 adults nationwide conducted by pollster Rnsearch from Saturday to Tuesday, 47.6 percent evaluated Yoon's job performance positively, marking a decline of 4.9 percentage points from a week earlier.
Negative evaluations for the conservative president rose by 4.9 percentage points to 47.9 percent in the same period, the pollster said.
The 0.3 percentage-point gap is within the margin of error, but it is the first time since Yoon's May 10 inauguration that his negative evaluations have exceeded his positive ones.
By age, negative evaluations prevailed in all age groups except those in their 20s and 60s. Positive evaluations were the lowest at 33.4 percent among respondents in their 40s.
The pollster speculated that falling stock prices, high inflation and fears of an economic slump may have negatively affected Yoon's approval rating.
Meanwhile, the approval rating for the ruling People Power Party also fell 5.9 percentage points from a week ago to 44.3 percent, while the main opposition Democratic Party saw its approval rating slide 1.1 percentage points to 29.6 percent.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
12. A step toward improving relations (ROK-Japan)
Advice from our good friend former Ambassador Ahn.
Excerpts:
As Koreans’ grudge against Japan is at the root of the historical disputes, it is difficult to address the issue in a rational way. And yet, if we choose to remain in emotional and political realms as in the past, it is impossible to seek a future-oriented development of the bilateral relations amid today’s ever-tougher security and economic environments.
Japan’s response also fell short of our expectations. About Park’s comment in Washington, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, “It will contribute to peace and stability of the region.” That was all. The Japanese government demands the Korean government first bring solutions to historical disputes. Given the upper house elections slated for July 10, it will not be so easy for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to have a summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of the June 29-30 NATO Summit in Madrid. Could Japan positively react to Park’s proposal for the improvement of relations? In politics, public opinion matters. But I look forward to seeing Japanese politicians stressing the importance of Korea-Japan relations to the voters in the broader context of international politics.
The United States’ role is important. While working as ambassador to Washington for 52 months since June 2013, I could observe the Obama administration trying to put strained Korea-Japan relations back on track. President Barack Obama, his State and Defense Secretaries and National Security Advisor all endeavored to better the ties after recognizing that the improvement helps protect America’s core security interests. Since President Joe Biden’s administration started, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration must help America recognize how explosive the historical issues are in both Korea and Japan and how unrealistic are the conditions Tokyo came up — demanding historical disputes be resolved — and why their separation holds the key to a better future among stakeholders. In that respect, Park’s remarks deserve high appreciation.
Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
Wednesday
June 22, 2022
A step toward improving relations
Ahn Ho-young
The author, a former Korean ambassador to the U.S., is president of University of North Korean Studies.
In November 2019, I had a chance to discuss Korea-Japan relations with a member of the House of Councillors — the upper house of the Japanese Diet — for quite a long time. He asked me about the South Korean government considering pulling out of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (Gsomia) with Japan. I said it was a bad idea that violated the principle of separating security and economic issues from historical disputes — conventional wisdom that contributed to the development of bilateral ties despite myriads of challenges after the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965.
Seoul considered the termination of Gsomia after Tokyo in July 2019 banned shipments of key materials for semiconductors to Korea in reaction to the Korean Supreme Court’s ruling saying Japanese companies should compensate wartime forced labor. In the meeting, I stressed to him that Tokyo should immediately end the ill-conceived export ban as it meant a crossing of a red line.
The Gsomia was scheduled to expire on November 23, 2019. During that meeting, I thought, “How nice it would be if the Korean government takes the moral high ground by announcing an intention to extend Gsomia around that time while mentioning disappointing measures by Tokyo. The eye for an eye approach cannot solve historical disputes between the two.”
I recalled these moments after Foreign Minister Park Jin expressed the will to “normalize the Gsomia between Seoul and Tokyo as soon as possible” in a recent trip to Washington. As the minister made a tough decision, I hope it will help pave the way to improve relations with Japan.
But domestic and foreign reactions to Minister Park are not entirely positive. Local media and even related government ministries point to the need for Seoul to deal with the normalization of Gsomia by seeking a comprehensive solution in connection with other pending issues. Some civic groups appealed to anti-Japanese sentiment among Koreans by defining the move as “submissive diplomacy.”
As Koreans’ grudge against Japan is at the root of the historical disputes, it is difficult to address the issue in a rational way. And yet, if we choose to remain in emotional and political realms as in the past, it is impossible to seek a future-oriented development of the bilateral relations amid today’s ever-tougher security and economic environments.
Japan’s response also fell short of our expectations. About Park’s comment in Washington, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, “It will contribute to peace and stability of the region.” That was all. The Japanese government demands the Korean government first bring solutions to historical disputes. Given the upper house elections slated for July 10, it will not be so easy for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to have a summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of the June 29-30 NATO Summit in Madrid. Could Japan positively react to Park’s proposal for the improvement of relations? In politics, public opinion matters. But I look forward to seeing Japanese politicians stressing the importance of Korea-Japan relations to the voters in the broader context of international politics.
The United States’ role is important. While working as ambassador to Washington for 52 months since June 2013, I could observe the Obama administration trying to put strained Korea-Japan relations back on track. President Barack Obama, his State and Defense Secretaries and National Security Advisor all endeavored to better the ties after recognizing that the improvement helps protect America’s core security interests. Since President Joe Biden’s administration started, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration must help America recognize how explosive the historical issues are in both Korea and Japan and how unrealistic are the conditions Tokyo came up — demanding historical disputes be resolved — and why their separation holds the key to a better future among stakeholders. In that respect, Park’s remarks deserve high appreciation.
Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
13. Philippines and Korea to deepen defense ties, says envoy
Again, South Korea is stepping up per President Yoon's vision.
Wednesday
June 22, 2022
Philippines and Korea to deepen defense ties, says envoy
Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega of the Philippines speaks during an interview with Korea Joongang Daily at the country's embassy in Yongsan District, central Seoul on Tuesday. [PARK SANG-MOON]
As the Philippines grapples with evolving regional defense needs and the rise of non-traditional threats in the form of climate change and cybercrime, the Southeast Asian country looks to deepen its cooperation with Korea to enhance its defense and security, said the Philippines' envoy to Korea.
A week after the Philippine Embassy in Seoul hosted its first in-person celebration of the country's Independence Day since the Covid-19 pandemic began, Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega sat down with the Korea Joongang Daily at the embassy on Tuesday to discuss the state of defense cooperation between Korea and the Philippines, and also Korea's role in the Philippine military's ongoing modernization program.
"Defense and security is a very important aspect of our relationship, but that bond has deepened and matured as we've expanded our cooperation," she said.
Some of that expanding cooperation includes Philippine orders for Korean defense products, which are being watched closely after Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup met with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana in Seoul on June 3 for talks on arms industry cooperation.
The ambassador also spoke about the Philippines' maturing security relationships with Korea and the United States, and the country's increased multilateral participation in forums dealing with non-traditional threats such as climate change and cybersecurity.
The following are edited excerpts of the interview.
Q. How did the friendship between the Philippines and Korea begin, and what role have defense affairs historically played in this rapport?
A. The Philippines was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Korea as an independent state, and also one of the first to send troops to Korea during the war. We sent five battalion combat teams (BCTs), the first of which landed in Busan in September 1950. Our deployment here was the eighth international force under the United Nations command to arrive, and the last Philippine soldiers left Korea in May 1955.
Of the 7,420 soldiers who fought in the Korean War, 116 were killed, 299 were wounded, 57 went missing and 41 were repatriated to the Philippines via prisoner-of-war exchanges.
The shared sacrifices of the war are celebrated every year, especially during the month of June when commemorative events for the Korean War take place and include international partners who helped Korea under the auspices of the United Nations command. So [defense and security] are at the very heart of our relationship.
Q. Like Korea today, the Philippines once hosted U.S. military forces on its soil. How has the Philippines adapted following their departure in 1992?
A. With the closure of the U.S. bases and facilities in the Philippines, the Philippines has shored up our defense and security relations outside the 1951 mutual defense treaty we have with the United States, even though it remains central in our general defense relations.
Since the closure of U.S. military facilities, we have signed and completed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Korea, which not only bolster our defense cooperation with the United States but also address emerging security challenges.
At the same time, our relationship with the United States has matured and we pay more attention to all of the aspects of our relationship, and not just defense and security.
On the occasion of the bilateral security dialogue between the Philippines and the United States in 2021, our two countries issued a joint vision on our 21st century partnership, the main highlights of which were defense, shared values such as democracy, human rights, commitment to international order and rule of law, shared prosperity and responsibility for the planet. We also addressed the further development of our relationship in terms of trade and cultural and educational exchanges.
Q. What are some common regional interests and security challenges facing the Philippines and Korea? Where do you think Korea fits into the security framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?
A. We share a region and we share the same neighborhood. I always say that you can't change geography, so whatever the conditions are, and whatever changes are taking place, we need to adapt and be strategic in our approaches to them.
We share major security concerns with Korea — the situation on the Korean Peninsula is a concern for the Philippines, as it is for the rest of the region and ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.
The overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea and in the western Philippine Sea also remain a security concern. Even for many of the countries that are not claimants of territory in that region, it is a prominent international passage route for commerce and goods. We've always believed in unimpeded lawful commerce and other lawful uses of the seas, so these are our common concerns with Korea.
There are also concerns about cybersecurity in the region and other non-traditional threats as well, such as health security concerns, which affect the mobility of people, exchanges and interactions, and I think Korea has a very important role to play in that regard.
Korea is currently co-chairing with Malaysia the cybersecurity experts working group with the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus. With the technological know-how and advanced systems that Korea has been able to develop, there's a lot of scope for Korea to contribute positively to beefing up our regional cybersecurity and addressing growing environmental threats.
We are also working very hard to realize a Philippines-Korea maritime cooperation dialogue, and one of the areas we'd like to tackle together is ocean conservation and solving problems such as overfishing and other unsustainable methods of conducting commerce and trade with relation to aquatic life. Korea has been quite active along with our other partners in addressing these concerns.
Q. In what ways have the Philippines and Korea committed to expanding their cooperation?
A. The Philippines and Korea signed a mutual defense cooperation agreement in 2013, and we've also signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on defense and logistics cooperation in 1994 and 2009.
The first joint defense committee meeting between the Philippines and Korea took place in 2020 under virtual circumstances, and hopefully we'll be able to hold the second one with an in-person event.
A further manifestation of the maturity and depth of our relationship is the fact we've spun off into a focus on smaller platforms. In 2021, we signed Terms of Reference setting up a Technical Working Group between the Republic of Korea Army and Philippine Army, and they're set to convene their first meeting hopefully before the end of the year.
Q. Are there any joint defense projects where Korea and the Philippines are currently discussing technical collaboration or technological assistance?
A. I'm not privy to the exact details on ongoing discussions, but certainly Korea has been one of our most active engaged partners in terms of our defense modernization program. We are now about to conclude the second out of three Horizon phases in our modernization program, and quite a significant portion of the Horizon 2 defense modernization program has actually come from Korea.
In 2020 and 2021, Korea delivered two multi-mission frigates to Philippines that were constructed by Hyundai Heavy Industries. These are two of the largest naval assets that we have, and prior to that, we also acquired Pohang-class corvettes from Korea. We also signed a contract late last year with Korea to acquire yet another two corvettes for the Philippine Navy to help enhance our maritime security capabilities.
Korea has been a very active and attractive defense acquisition partner, especially where fighter planes, troop carrier vehicles and naval assets are concerned. I believe there will be more partnerships and acquisitions down the road. The Philippine defense establishment is quite happy with the products and the overall efficiency of their delivery. We're also looking at other defense products from Korea down the pipeline, though the specifics are currently under discussion.
Q. Why is Korea an attractive defense acquisition partner?
A. According to our defense people, Korean products are distinguished by their advanced technology, the efficiency of their delivery, and the attendant customer-client services and training for military personnel who will be operating the products, such as the multi-mission frigates.
Now that we have the two frigates and the Pohang-class corvettes, the ability of the Philippines to join patrols and naval exercises is enhanced. The Philippines and Korea are both participating at a much more visible and engaged level at this year's Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) exercises than in previous years, so the results of this defense acquisition program are significant. Not only are we enhancing national security and protecting our own, but we're also able to contribute to regional peace and stability.
Q. Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup recently held talks in Seoul with Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana. Are you able to tell us what came of those talks?
A. The two defense chiefs had a very engaged and active discussion where they agreed to continue high-level exchanges and to get previously agreed-upon Vice Ministerial Defense Meeting with ASEAN now that the pandemic-related restrictions have been eased.
They also agreed to expand the exchange of military personnel and further advance this program to better understand both countries' defense systems. Currently there are about 20 Philippine military officers undertaking various types of training and courses, and there are three Korean military officers who are taking a command general staff course in the Philippines.
The Philippines has also committed to being an active participant in the Seoul Defense Dialogue. We also have the Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) conference, which is a defense and climate security crisis management gathering held annually in the Philippines. Korea is a very active participant – actually, there was a very large Korean delegation at ADAS 2022. They also agreed to continue ongoing intelligence exchanges between our two countries.
BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]
14. N. Korea snaps up Chinese soybeans as COVID-19 exacerbates food shortage fears
N. Korea snaps up Chinese soybeans as COVID-19 exacerbates food shortage fears
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported June 18 that medical supplies and other goods prepared by party central committee officials and their family members were delivered on June 17 to a region in South Hwanghae Province that has seen an infectious disease outbreak. KCNA-Yonhap
China's exports to North Korea slumped by 85.2 percent in May from April
By Ji Siqi, Kim Bo-eun
SHENYANG, HONG KONG ― North Korea bought a large volume of soybeans from China in May even though overall imports from its neighbor slumped more than 80 percent from the previous month, trade data from Beijing showed, amid suspicion the reclusive state is suffering food shortages as it fights a coronavirus outbreak.
North Korea spent $2.97 million on 3,744 tons of Chinese soybeans last month, the second-largest monthly amount since 2017, Chinese customs data showed.
The country imported just 500 tons of soybeans from China in the first four months of 2022.
North Korea is facing a potentially dire food situation this year, which has been exacerbated by trade disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The CIA estimated last month North Korea's food shortages were roughly 860,000 tons ― equivalent to two to three months of food for the country.
Low rainfall across the country and lockdowns are adding to food pressure, experts said.
"Efforts to overcome drought and the decrease in the external supply of grains and farming goods due to the lasting lockdown will prove to be key variables (in North Korea's food situation)," Cho Joong-hoon, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said in a briefing on Monday.
North Korea's state broadcaster and newspaper have been closely covering rice planting that began in May as a means to encourage farmers to increase output.
While soybean shipments were up, China's overall exports to North Korea slumped by 85.2 percent to $14.51 million in May from $98.1 million in April, following the halt of train cargo between the countries.
A freight train stands at Dandong Railway Station in Liaoning Province, China, on April 17, 2021. Yonhap
The cross-border service via the Chinese city of Dandong only resumed in January after a break of more than a year. It was suspended again in late April when virus cases were detected in the border city, which has traditionally been the gateway for at least 70 percent of trade between China and North Korea.
Dandong has been under lockdown for nearly two months under what China has termed its "dynamic zero-COVID policy," despite there being only a couple of new infection cases reported daily in the past few weeks.
Still, local authorities are taking no chances, warning citizens against lingering along the Yalu River, which forms the border between the two countries, or touching the river water and floating objects.
As there is no road freight between the countries, cargo flows ― licit or illicit ― have returned to sea transport in the past month, according to a Chinese trader who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Port of Longkou in Shandong province was once a hub for exports and smuggling to North Korea, the trader said, but patrols have intensified in the area recently, pushing activity further south to ports such as Lianyungang and Nantong in Jiangsu province.
"Most (shipments) will be from smuggling," the trader said.
North Korea's economy cannot operate without imports and the country is dependent on China for trade, according to Choi Jang-ho, head of the International Cooperation for Korean Unification Team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.
"North Korea relies almost entirely on imports for not only petrochemical raw material, but also steel products, basic food supplies such as soybean oil, sugar, and flour, semiconductors and means of transportation such as cars and trains," Choi said.
"If North Korea's COVID situation worsens, trade with China will inevitably continue to be restricted, and in this case the damage will be substantial for North Korea," he said.
Apart from soybeans, top export items in May from China to North Korea included $2.64 million of granulated sugar, $1.49 million of soybean meal and $846,598 of wheat flour.
Although food insecurity is a growing concern for North Korea, it is not the country's only pressing problem.
The nation of 26 million people recorded 18,820 new "fever" cases on Monday, according to state news agency KCNA, with daily infections continuing to drop and no new deaths reported.
North Korea only acknowledged its first COVID-19 outbreak on May 12. More than 4.6 million have shown fever symptoms since then, but it has not revealed how many of those patients have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The country imported no COVID-related medical supplies from China in May after buying a large number of ventilators, patient monitors, face masks, protective clothing and thermometers from China in the first four months of the year.
In May, North Korean exports to China reached $5.8 million, increasing by 36.5 percent from April. The export items were mainly electricity and silicon iron, Chinese customs data showed.
15.
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Senior Advisor, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
