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Quotes of the Day:
Leaders' statements have meaning and impact:
"The defensive perimeter runs from the Ryukyus to the Philippine Islands. Our relations, our defensive relations with the Philippines are contained in agreements between us. Those agreements are being loyally carried out and will be loyally carried out. Both peoples have learned by bitter experience the vital connections between our mutual defense requirements."
-Secretary of State Dean Acheson, 12 January 1950.
(Note: Acheson outlined the US defensive perimeter in the Pacific as running from the Ryukyu Islands to the Philippines, notably excluding Korea from this perimeter. This speech was interpreted by some as giving a "green light" for North Korea to invade South Korea, since Korea was not included in the stated US defensive perimeter. While not definitively "giving a green light," Acheson's omission of Korea from the defensive perimeter outlined in his January 1950 speech was a factor that influenced the flawed calculations leading to the North Korean invasion and start of the Korean War)
'I hate wars and violence, but if they come I don't see why we women should just wave our men a proud goodbye and then knit them balaclavas.'"
– Nancy Wake, Special Operations Executive (SOE)
"A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend."
– Eric Hoffer
1. N. Korea launches over 300 trash-carrying balloons toward S. Korea since Saturday
2. S. Korea to resume propaganda broadcasts against N. Korea's trash-balloon campaign
3. U.N. Security Council to hold meeting on N.K. human rights next week
4. S. Korea denounces N.K. provocations in ASEAN meetings
5. N.K. leader's sister warns of 'new responses' against S. Korea's loudspeaker broadcast, leafleting
6. President Yoon Suk Yeol to promote 'K-Silk Road' initiative in 3-nation Central Asian trip
7. Get prepared for a military clash (north – South)
8. Push for a Korea-Japan FTA first
9. Doubts persist over oil project despite expert briefing
10. North Korea satellite images show mysterious activity along border
11. Architect of 2018 military agreement with North Korea reflects on deal’s demise
1. N. Korea launches over 300 trash-carrying balloons toward S. Korea since Saturday
The filth balloon barrage and S**t show continues.
The regime is afraid. Very afraid. But it is miscalculating because the ROK will not back down (must not back down). Its strategy is failing.
(2nd LD) N. Korea launches over 300 trash-carrying balloons toward S. Korea since Saturday | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · June 9, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with defense minister's meeting, latest details in paras 13-20; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has launched hundreds more balloons carrying trash toward South Korea over the past two days, Seoul's military said Sunday, amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's continued balloon campaign.
As of 10 a.m., the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it had detected some 330 waste-carrying balloons launched by the North since Saturday, with more than 80 of them landing inside South Korea and the rest apparently failing to reach the country.
The latest balloons appeared to be carrying trash, such as scraps of paper and plastic, the JCS said, noting that it was preparing for the possibility of the North launching additional balloons.
Balloons carrying garbage, presumably sent by North Korea, are seen floating on the Yellow Sea on June 9, 2024, in this photo provided by the Seven Stars cruise ship. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The latest balloon campaign came after South Korean civic groups' launch of large balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda to the North between Thursday and Friday.
Since May 28, the North has staged the balloon campaign, which it described as a "tit-for-tat" response to anti-Pyongyang leafleting by activists in South Korea. It launched nearly 1,000 trash-carrying balloons into the South late last month and early last week.
Last Sunday, the North announced it would temporarily suspend the balloon campaign after Seoul warned of "unendurable" countermeasures, but threatened to send "a hundred times the amount of toilet paper and filth" in response to any further leafleting from the South.
The Seoul metropolitan government said it has received reports of about 30 of these balloons as of 8 a.m.
Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, a port city west of Seoul, also reported balloons in various locations, including at the Yellow Sea and other residential areas south of the border with North Korea.
So far, no casualties or property damage have been reported.
Authorities advised people not to touch the objects and to report them to nearby military or police authorities, warning of possible damage from the balloons.
The government said it will operate an emergency response team to ensure public safety and consult with military authorities to come up with "fundamental measures" against Pyongyang's repeated balloon campaigns.
"North Korea is once again conducting despicable provocations by sending trash balloons to our civilian regions," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wrote on Facebook on Saturday night.
In response, the National Security Council convened a meeting and approved resumption of propaganda broadcasts by front-line troops for the first time in about six years, which had been suspended following a 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact.
President Yoon Suk Yeol last week endorsed a motion to fully suspend the Comprehensive Military Agreement, which cleared the way for resuming propaganda broadcasts near the border.
It would be the first propaganda broadcast near the heavily fortified border since January 2016, when the South Korean military resumed its loudspeaker campaign in retaliation for North Korea's fourth nuclear test.
The loudspeakers used to air criticism of the Kim Jong-un regime's human rights abuses, news and K-pop songs, drawing angry responses from Pyongyang.
"The soon-to-be resumed loudspeaker broadcasts are expected to be similar to previous broadcasts," a defense ministry official said.
Following the NSC meeting, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik held a meeting with major commanders to order heightened vigilance and a firm response in case of the North's provocations.
Amid heightened tension, the defense ministry issued an emergency order for all troops to be on standby.
The South Korean military plans to resume military drills near the Military Demarcation Line and its northwestern border islands for the first time in more than five years, following the full suspension of the 2018 pact.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · June 9, 2024
2. S. Korea to resume propaganda broadcasts against N. Korea's trash-balloon campaign
Good. Never back down. Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong are telling us information is an existential threat to the regime. They are deathly afraid of the very example of South Korea and that Kim’s promises to the people in the north have failed.
And we need much more than leaflets and loud speakers though they are important and highly visible (and still effective) contributions to the information campaign.
Failed Promises. Failed Policies. Failed Strategy. Failed regime. Kim Jong Un is a failure. The Korean people in the north know that he has failed them but they do not know what to do about it. They need information to help them help themselves.
The Special Forces motto and way: De Oppresso Liber (to free the oppressed or better stated as to help the oppressed free themselves)
(3rd LD) S. Korea to resume propaganda broadcasts against N. Korea's trash-balloon campaign | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · June 9, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 15-18; ADDS byline)
By Kim Eun-jung and Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will install loudspeakers near the border and resume propaganda broadcasts Sunday, the presidential office said, in response to North Korea's repeated launches of balloons filled with trash.
It would be the first propaganda broadcast near the heavily fortified border since January 2016, when the South Korean military resumed its loudspeaker campaign in retaliation for North Korea's fourth nuclear test.
The National Security Council (NSC) convened an emergency meeting and approved the measure, a day after the North floated the balloons in retaliation against South Korean civic groups' recent launch of balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border.
"Although the measures we are taking may be difficult for the North Korean regime to endure, they will deliver messages of light and hope to the North Korean military and citizens," the presidential office said in a release.
"We make it clear that the responsibility for any escalation of tension between the two Koreas will lie entirely with North Korea," it said.
A South Korean guard post in the Demilitarized Zone bisecting the two Koreas is seen in this photo taken on June 7, 2024. (Yonhap)
The NSC participants shared the consensus any North Korean attempts to cause public concerns and confusion are "unacceptable" and agreed to take "corresponding measures" against Pyongyang's balloon campaigns.
"The government will maintain a firm and thorough state of readiness against any provocations from North Korea to ensure public safety and national security," it said.
The expanded NSC meeting was presided over by NSC adviser Chang Ho-jin and attended by the ministers of foreign affairs, defense and unification as well as the spy agency chief, the government coordination policy chief and deputy directors of the national security office.
The announcement came hours after the South Korean military said it detected some 330 waste-carrying balloons launched by the North since Saturday, with more than 80 of them landing inside South Korea.
The North has staged the balloon campaign, which it described as a "tit-for-tat" response to anti-Pyongyang leafleting by activists in South Korea. It launched nearly 1,000 trash-carrying balloons into the South late last month and early last week.
For years, North Korean defectors in the South and conservative activists have sent leaflets to the North via balloons to help encourage North Koreans to eventually rise up against the Pyongyang regime.
North Korea has bristled at the propaganda campaign amid concern that an influx of outside information could pose a threat to its leader Kim Jong-un.
In 2014, the two Koreas exchanged machine-gun fire across the border after the North apparently tried to shoot down balloons carrying propaganda leaflets critical of North Korea.
Balloons carrying garbage, presumably sent by North Korea, are seen floating on the Yellow Sea on June 9, 2024, in this photo provided by the Seven Stars cruise ship. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
With the NSC's approval, the military is expected to resume the propaganda broadcasts on the front lines later in the day.
Last week, the military conducted drills to operate the propaganda loudspeakers for the first time since 2018, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The Echo of Freedom exercise inspected operational procedures of the equipment to inform North Koreans of the reality of their country, South Korea's development over the years and its popular culture, the JCS said.
A JCS official said the military has completed preparations for loudspeaker operations, noting that it will broadcast "Voice of Freedom," a radio program run by the defense ministry's psychological warfare unit.
The official, however, declined to provide details of the operation, such as the specific timing of the resumption, the amount of equipment mobilized and its location.
The fixed loudspeakers were dismantled following the 2018 inter-Korean tension pact and have been stored in warehouses, while the mobile units are parked by nearby military bases, according to military officials.
Fixed loudspeakers, audible up to 24 kilometers, had been installed at around 10 front-line locations, while about 40 mobile units, with a greater range, were also used.
Loudspeaker propaganda began in 1963 under former President Park Chung-hee's administration and was halted in 2004 following an inter-Korean military agreement during the liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration.
In 2015, the two Koreas engaged in a brief exchange of artillery fire over the western part of their border over a propaganda loudspeaker campaign that Seoul resumed in retaliation for North Korea's land mine attack, which had maimed two South Korean soldiers. North Korea later expressed regret over the land mine attack and South Korea agreed to halt anti-Pyongyang broadcasts.
The propaganda campaign has been suspended since April 2018, when then President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to halt hostile acts along the border following their summit at the truce village of Panmunjom.
Sunday's meeting came a week after the NSC members discussed responses against Pyongyang's balloon campaigns and GPS jamming attacks in the Yellow Sea.
After the last meeting, Chang said the government will take an "unbearable action" against the North's provocations.
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday endorsed a motion to fully suspend the 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact, which cleared the way for resuming propaganda broadcasts near the border.
The 2018 deal included setting up buffer zones around the border to suspend large-scale military drills, as well as banning hostile acts between the two Koreas.
Tension remains high as the South Korean military vowed to resume all military activities near the Military Demarcation Line and its northwestern border islands for the first time in more than five years following the full suspension of the Comprehensive Military Agreement.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · June 9, 2024
3. U.N. Security Council to hold meeting on N.K. human rights next week
Excellent. Human rights upfront.
U.N. Security Council to hold meeting on N.K. human rights next week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · June 8, 2024
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, June 7 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) will have an official meeting on North Korean human rights issues next week for the first time in less than a year, its work schedule showed Friday, as South Korea as this month's UNSC president seeks to highlight the link between the North's security challenge and its repressive political climate.
The council is set to hold a briefing on the North's human rights situation on Wednesday. It last held a meeting on the same issue in August, ending a six-year hiatus.
A meeting of the 15-member council requires support from at least nine member countries. China and Russia, the two traditional partners of the North, are known to have opposed the idea of making North Korea's human rights an official UNSC agenda item.
The planned meeting comes as Seoul and Washington have stressed that the North's political climate has allowed the regime to divert a large share of its scarce resources to its nuclear and weapons of mass destruction programs without comment from the population that has long suffered from economic hardships.
"We firmly believe that the Security Council should not neglect the latent risks that systematic human rights violations in the DPRK pose to international peace and security," South Korea's Ambassador to the U.N. Hwang Joon-kook told reporters on Monday. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"Human rights, peace and security issues should be approached in a holistic manner, especially in the case of the DPRK," he added.
During South Korea's presidency, the UNSC also plans to hold a high-level open debate on cybersecurity on June 20. Seoul has paid closer attention to cybersecurity as Pyongyang has allegedly engaged in various cyber activities to evade sanctions and generate revenue to fund its weapons programs.
The UNSC presidency rotates among the council's member states on a monthly basis. Seoul last held the UNSC presidency in May 2014.
This photo, released by the Associated Press, shows a U.N. Security Council meeting in progress at U.N. headquarters in New York. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · June 8, 2024
4. S. Korea denounces N.K. provocations in ASEAN meetings
S. Korea denounces N.K. provocations in ASEAN meetings | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 8, 2024
SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea denounced North Korea's recent provocations, including its trash balloon campaign and GPS jamming attacks, and called for a clear and concerted message by the international community to address such threats, the foreign ministry said Saturday.
Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won made the remark as he attended a series of Senior Officials' Meetings in Vientiane involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to the ministry.
The meetings included those for the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the sole regional security forum joined by North Korea, the ASEAN-plus-three meeting, which involves the 10-member ASEAN, South Korea, China and Japan, and the East Asia Summit (EAS).
Attending the ARF meeting was the North's ambassador to Laos, Ri Yong-chol.
Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won attends a Senior Officials' Meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations consultative bodies in this photo provided by the foreign ministry on June 8, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In the ARF and EAS meetings, Chung condemned the North's provocations -- ranging from its failed spy satellite launch and short-range ballistic missile launch in May to its trash balloon campaign and GPS jamming attacks -- as "irrational provocative acts," the ministry said.
Chung emphasized the need for the international community to send a clear and concerted message urging the North to cease its tension-escalating acts and to strictly implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions aimed at curbing the North's nuclear and missile developments.
Many ARF member countries expressed concerns over the North's continued nuclear and missile development and provocations and stressed problem-solving efforts through the sanctions resolutions and dialogue, according to the ministry.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Chung held separate bilateral talks with his Laotian and Australian counterparts to discuss preparations for an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers and the ASEAN summit, slated for July and October, respectively, the ministry said.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 8, 2024
5. N.K. leader's sister warns of 'new responses' against S. Korea's loudspeaker broadcast, leafleting
In the immortal words of former President G.W. Bush: "Bring it on."
We must not show fear in the face of the evil sister's words.
The only way we lose is by appeasing the regime.
(LEAD) N.K. leader's sister warns of 'new responses' against S. Korea's loudspeaker broadcast, leafleting | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 10, 2024
(ATTN: ADDS more Kim's remarks in paras 4, 7-9)
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened Sunday to take "new responses" if South Korea keeps sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border and blasting loudspeaker broadcasts, calling it a "prelude to a very dangerous situation."
The statement by Kim Yo-jong came after the South resumed propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North in retaliation against the North's repeated sending of trash-filled balloons amid rising tensions in the inter-Korean border regions.
"Seoul's politicians are continuing to create a new crisis environment ... They are formalizing once again provocative behaviors by resuming loudspeaker provocations as a countermeasure to our challenging initiatives," Kim said in the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
Kim claimed that the North was going to stop sending the balloons early this week, but it ended up flying more in response to the anti-Pyongyang leafleting by North Korean defectors and activists in the South.
"Our counteraction (of sending balloons) was to end on the 9th, but the situation has changed ... The loudspeaker broadcast provocation has finally begun in border areas. This is a prelude to a very dangerous situation," she said.
"If South Korea chooses to engage in the leaflet-scattering and loudspeaker provocations across the border, without a doubt, they will witness our new response," Kim said. Kim, however, did not specify what the new responses will be.
Kim also claimed that the North sent some 7.5 tons of "waste papers" in 1,400 balloons across the border over the weekend, arguing that they were just garbage that contained nothing related to political propaganda.
Kim warned that South Korea will face "daily life in distress of constantly having to pick up waste papers" if it continues the leafleting and loudspeaker broadcasts.
"I sternly warn that Seoul will immediately stop the dangerous acts that will lead to further confrontations and reflect on itself," she said.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 10, 2024
6. President Yoon Suk Yeol to promote 'K-Silk Road' initiative in 3-nation Central Asian trip
Another Global Pivotal State effort.
Sunday
June 9, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 09 Jun. 2024, 16:43
President Yoon Suk Yeol to promote 'K-Silk Road' initiative in 3-nation Central Asian trip
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-06-09/national/diplomacy/President-Yoon-Suk-Yeol-to-promote-KSilk-Road-initiative-in-3nation-Central-Asian-trip/2064424
President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and first lady Kim Keon-hee wave as they enter the presidential jet at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, to head for a state visit to the Netherlands on Dec. 11. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
President Yoon Suk Yeol will begin a six-day, three-country trip on Monday to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, an opportunity to introduce his new "K-Silk Road" initiative, Korea's diplomatic strategy toward the Central Asian region.
He will be accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee on the state visits to the three nations, according to the presidential office Friday, as a part of efforts to expand cooperation with the resource-rich region and launch a new summit with five Central Asian countries.
On Monday, Yoon is set to arrive in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, for a two-day visit to hold a bilateral summit with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, take part in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony and attend a state dinner. Yoon will also take part in a business forum attended by companies from both countries the next day.
Turkmenistan has the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves, and measures to increase Korean companies' presence in the energy sector is expected to be discussed during the talks.
For the second leg of his trip, Yoon and Kim will fly to Astana for a three-day state visit to Kazakhstan.
Yoon will meet with ethnic Koreans and Korean residents living in Kazakhstan. He will later attend a dinner to promote friendly ties hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
On Wednesday, Yoon and Tokayev will take part in a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace and hold a bilateral summit to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries. They will then hold an MOU signing ceremony and give a joint press conference afterward. The two leaders will also take part in a Korea-Kazakhstan business forum and cultural events.
Discussions on cooperation in the supply chains of key minerals is expected to be a top priority at this summit as Kazakhstan is an oil-producing country rich in critical minerals such as uranium and chromium.
For the last leg of the trip, the presidential couple will head to Tashkent for a three-day state visit Uzbekistan starting Thursday.
They will take part in a banquet for overseas Koreans later that day.
On Friday, Yoon will hold a summit with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and attend a bilateral business forum. Yoon and Kim will also attend a state dinner hosted by Mirziyoyev.
Yoon's state visit is expected to serve as an opportunity to solidify the special strategic partnership between Korea and Uzbekistan and institutionalize cooperation through the signing of various MOUs.
The two countries have strong ties in the energy and infrastructure sectors and are looking to expand relations to more diverse fields such as supply chains, health care, climate change, education and public administration, according to the presidential office.
Uzbekistan has the largest population among Central Asian countries and is largest market in the region, making it an attractive market and investment destination for Korean companies.
It is also home to the largest Korean diaspora in Central Asia, with some 170,000 ethnic Koreans living there.
The president and first lady will make a visit to the ancient Central Asian city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, a Unesco World Heritage site, and return to Seoul Saturday.
During the visits, Yoon is expected to announce the launch of the new "K-Silk Road" initiative, which seeks to create a new cooperation model linking Korea's innovation capabilities with Central Asia's development potential and abundant resources. It is expected to serve as a blueprint for taking cooperative relations with the Central Asian region, which connects Asia and Europe, to the next level.
The trip "will be the first step to confirm the firm support of Central Asian countries for the K-Silk Road cooperation initiative and to concretely implement it," Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo said in press briefing on Friday.
He said this vision is in line with the joint realization of freedom, peace and prosperity for Korea and Central Asia.
The K-Silk Road initiative is the third regional strategy announced by the Yoon administration following the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," its vision toward the Asia-Pacific region, and the "Korea-Asean Solidarity Initiative," or KASI, tailored toward Southeast Asian countries.
Road serves as an acronym for "Resources, ODA, Accompany and Drive," indicating Korea's drive toward convergence and companionship with the region, while offering official development assistance.
The trip will also help create new business opportunities for Korean companies in energy, critical minerals and other areas and diversify cooperation in new areas, such as climate change response and technology, Kim added.
Yoon plans to establish a summit between Korea and the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit is expected to be held in Seoul next year.
The president's last overseas trip was some six months ago, when he and the first lady made a state visit to the Netherlands last December.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
7. Get prepared for a military clash (north – South)
Yes. Take away the element of surprise from the north.
Sunday
June 9, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 09 Jun. 2024, 19:48
Get prepared for a military clash
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-06-09/opinion/editorials/Get-prepared-for-a-military-clash/2064553
After North Korea sent a number of balloons filled with waste and excrement across the border again, South Korea has decided to resume the suspended loudspeaker broadcasts along the tense border. The decision raises the possibility of the North resorting to military provocations along the border. The government must carefully manage the deepening security risk, starting with the residents living in the border area.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sunday announced that North Korea flew more than 330 filthy balloons to the South over the weekend and at least 80 of them dropped on the South. Park Sang-hak, a North Korean defector and head of the Fighters for a Free North Korea, said last Thursday, “We flew 10 ad balloons packed with 200,000 leaflets and USBs containing trot songs from Pocheon, Gyeonggi, to North Korea.” The civic group also sent 300,000 leaflets and USBs containing K-pop songs to the North in May.
North Korea’s mobilization of soldiers to send the dirty balloons in response to the civilian group’s voluntary act to help North Koreans know what’s going on on the outside deserves an international condemnation. One of the balloons weighing more than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) even fell on a parked car and caused much damage.
In a National Security Council meeting on Sunday, the government decided to reinstall loudspeakers on the border in reaction to the North’s second dispatch of the balloons. In a Cabinet meeting earlier, the government threatened to reactivate loudspeakers after suspending the effectiveness of the Sept. 19 military agreement in Pyongyang six years ago. The government stopped its loudspeaker broadcasts shortly after the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration.
Once the loudspeaker broadcasts start, North Korea will likely launch a limited attack around the Military Demarcation Line or the Northern Limit Line. North Korea did fire artillery shells toward loudspeakers installed in a mountain near the 28th Infantry Division in 2015. At that time, our military launched a counterattack against the shelling.
After the North’s third dispatch of dirty balloons, our Army, Navy and Air Force were on alert on Sunday. We must prepare for any possible cross-border military provocations. Unfortunately, the commander of the First Division on the front line turned out to be having a drinking party with his subordinates on the very day when the North flew nasty balloons across the border for the second time. Such lax discipline must be punished. President Yoon Suk Yeol embarks on a state visit to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Monday through Saturday. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo should be extra vigilant when the commander in chief is away.
8. Push for a Korea-Japan FTA first
Sunday
June 9, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 09 Jun. 2024, 19:43
Push for a Korea-Japan FTA first
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-06-09/opinion/columns/Push-for-a-KoreaJapan-FTA-first/2064551
Choi Byung-il
The author, a professor of economics at the Ewha Womans University Graduate School of International Studies, is president of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies.
The long-awaited Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit was held in Seoul five years after the last one in Chengdu, China, in 2019. In the ninth meeting in May, the leaders of the three countries promised to “speed up discussions on striking a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the goal of concluding a free, fair, comprehensive and high-level FTA with its unique value.” The discussions on the tripartite trade deal dates back to 2012, but no substantial progress has been made since. Can such a “comprehensive and high-level FTA” be signed among the three stakeholders?
Over the past five years, the global trade environment experienced a seismic shift. The global supply chains — designed to secure materials and parts at cheap prices and fast speed, assemble or mass-produce goods in countries that can provide cheap labor and export them to the rest of the world — started to crack. The mask crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic exposed fatal defects of the supply networks. The globalization era’s business model based on the maximization of profits through production in foreign countries at minimum costs began to shake after the pandemic. Building factories in one’s own territory where the government can control them has become a new normal. Political control has taken the place of economic efficiency in many countries.
America’s methodical checks on China’s rise — initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump and succeeded by incumbent President Joe Biden — are the biggest culprit of the fragmentation of the supply chains. The only consensus in the extremely divided U.S. politics is the faith that the country can safeguard its free and democratic systems only by reducing its reliance on China for chips, second batteries, medical supplies and rare earths. Regardless of whether Trump returns to the White House or Biden is re-elected president in the November 5 election, Uncle Sam’s restrictions on China will continue. The disintegration of the global supply chains is just the prelude to a massive rebuilding of the supply chains focused on China as the “factory of the world.”
In a dramatic turn, the global chip industry is converging on the United States. A rush to build semiconductor factories in America with weak competitiveness in wages, energy prices and transport infrastructure is a fait accompli, not science fiction. The era of new industrial policy has arrived to attract investments in the homeland with the bait of massive subsidies. The crusade launched by America was heartily joined by the European Union and Japan. Taiwanese chip giant TSMC is building factories in the state of Arizona after the start of its chip production at Kumamoto, Japan. Samsung Electronics is building chip factories on a large swath of land 800 times bigger than a football field. Subsidizing domestic companies was initiated by China. After China announced its ambitious Made in China 2025 plan, the United States, the EU and Japan strongly criticized it for violating the World Trade Organization. They were once major players of multilateral trade systems, but are destroying them now.
The advanced economies, which once stigmatized newly independent countries’ industrial policy to develop their domestic industries based on subsidies as an “inefficient political game,” are now defending their new industrial policy as a “strategic game to achieve economic security.” A strong denunciation of their double standards will not change anything. They would gladly brush off the international order they created, just to protect their national interests. Even if other WTO members file complaints about their new industrial policy with the appellate body, it can’t hear appeals due to a leadership vacuum. The Doha Development Agenda — the WTO’s first initiative on multilateral free trade negotiations — has been put on hold for more than two decades. The WTO failed due to economic powers’ pursuit of self-interests. Could the three leaders’ reaffirmation in Seoul of an “open, transparent, indiscriminate and rule-based multilateral trade system centering around the WTO” be realistic under such circumstances?
For Korea to overcome the crisis from the vegetative state of a multilateral trade system, which contributed to the country’s economic advancement, the government must seek practical interests over nominal ones. Let’s go back to the FTA, which Korea hurriedly struck with China. Even after signing comprehensive and high-level FTAs with the United States and the EU, respectively, Korea voluntarily gave up pushing for such a comprehensive, high-level FTA with China — its largest trading partner — primarily because the government feared vehement resistance from farmers and the dire consequences of the full-fledged import of Chinese agricultural produce. The government pushed aside the merits of broadening consumer choices and dismissed the idea of protecting food sovereignty by toughening up food safety requirements.
Despite its advantageous position as the only manufacturing powerhouse that struck FTAs with both the United States and the EU, Korea was browbeaten by China’s highly calculated slow move. Irritated by no progress in the services and investment areas, where Korea had a strong competitive edge over China, Seoul hastily concluded a products-focused FTA with Beijing, handing over the areas of services and investments to the next round of negotiations. The Korea-China FTA was close to “a half-baked trade deal.”
Ten years have passed since then, but the second phase of the FTA negotiations is still in limbo. China resorts to its signature “slow moving” with no show of interest or sincerity. Some Korean companies even had to suffer losses from investing in China after their hands were tied by draconian regulations for security reasons. Moreover, China went on to impose trade retaliations on a country it struck an FTA with. Korea hoped for a constructive role from China over the denuclearization of North Korea, but that wish went down the drain. After South Korea deployed the Thaad anti-missile system to defend itself from North Korean nuclear threat, China launched trade retaliation on South Korea. Its FTA with China was of no use.
The axiom of “actions speak louder than words” also applies to international relations. Due to the lack of a determination to protect multilateral trade systems and a retrogression of China’s reform and opening, an ambition to achieve a “comprehensive, high-level FTA among Korea, Japan and China” has become a pipe dream. Even if they reach the goal after hard work, it will likely not be reciprocal given the dramatic transformation of trade from “a means for mutual prosperity” to “a tool for self-survival.”
Humanity once believed that a brisk exchange of products, money and people between countries with different regimes helps reduce international conflicts. The faith that trade paves the way for peace formed the ideological and philosophical foundation of the liberal international order. The solid creed and teaching receded with the advent of an all-out hegemony war between the United States and China in the 21st century. Heavy reliance on other countries for trade made certain countries directly exposed to the threat of trade weaponization. After territorial disputes arose in the East China Sea, Beijing banned exports of rare earths to Japan. Without them, Japan cannot manufacture electronic products and medical equipment. After Korea deployed the Thaad missile defense system, China suspended its group tours to Korea and Hallyu, the Korean wave, suffered a critical blow in China.
In the era of economic security, we can open our future only when we consolidate our supply networks for core materials, draw up effective strategies to avert the weaponization of trade and tackle the challenge with a strong resolution. In this respect, we need to pay attention to the botched Korea-Japan FTA, which was left unattended for 20 years. Japan is the only country Korea could not sign a bilateral FTA with among its major trading partners. Despite attempts to rekindle discussions on the FTA since 2004, the two countries lacked visions and strategies for a free trade deal. Japan initially took a defensive posture toward trade liberalization, but turned to an aggressive one with its participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (PPP) to effectively deal with the structural and behavioral problems stemming from China’s non-market economy. While Trump forced Uncle Sam out of the PPP, Japan kept it safe together with other members. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which evolved from the PPP, was a crucial option for Korea to ensure its survival in the trade weaponization era. The need for Korea to join the CPTPP was repeatedly mentioned, but it couldn’t move to the next stage. Some trade experts harbor skepticism about the trade agreement the United States withdrew from.
If so, how about reigniting the talks on the failed Korea-Japan FTA? The two countries, which share democracy and market economy, can secure strategic space to weather tough challenges in the age of economic security. I propose that the government place a priority on pushing for a “comprehensive, high-level Korea-Japan FTA” over pressing on with a more distant “Korea-Japan-China FTA.” If Seoul and Tokyo can do what they can now, they can surely build the momentum for a “comprehensive, high-level FTA” among the three in the future.
Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
9. Doubts persist over oil project despite expert briefing
Under promise. Over deliver.
Doubts persist over oil project despite expert briefing
koreaherald.com · by Moon Joon-hyun · June 9, 2024
By Moon Joon-hyun
Published : June 9, 2024 - 16:55
Vitor Abreu, head of US-based Act-Geo, addresses reporters' questions during a briefing on South Korea's East Sea oil and gas reserves project at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Sejong Office Building on Friday. (Yonhap)
Doubts persist over the potential of newly identified oil and gas reserves off South Korea’s southeastern coast, despite a press briefing on Friday led by the expert behind the discovery to address public concerns about the drilling project's feasibility and the credentials of the company involved.
Since the announcement a week ago, the claim has triggered a wave of public attention, expressing both excitement and skepticism, with the government providing multiple clarifications for rumors and media reports throughout last week.
Vitor Abreu, a former ExxonMobil executive and head of Act-Geo, the US geoconsulting firm that conducted the survey, has been at the center of the attention, coming to Korea just two days after the initial announcement to defend his firm's findings.
The ExxonMobil veteran detailed the process of analyzing data from the Korea National Oil Corp. during the Friday briefing and asserted that the project is "highly prospective" with a 20 percent success rate, higher than that of the Liza oil project in Guyana in which he also participated, with a 16 percent success rate.
However, Abreu’s explanation during the briefing added to the confusion. Abreu initially said the company’s analysis of existing wells in the Donghae gas field indicated the presence of significant hydrocarbon traps. He explained that one previously drilled well "proved the existence of traps that can hold up to, if not more than, 400 meters of hydrocarbons."
A prospect here refers to a geological feature or formation that has the potential to contain hydrocarbons like oil and gas.
But in a question-and-answer session later discussing risk, he seemingly contradicted himself, saying, "There's no confirmed hydrocarbon accumulation out there so far, and several wells have already been drilled, so it's very uncertain."
This led to media reports questioning the certainty of hydrocarbon presence in the identified prospects. KNOC's stock price plunged 12.59 percent Friday, marking its largest single-day drop in a decade, although that can also be attributed to the initial announcement's inflated expectations.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy clarified later on Friday afternoon that Abreu's comments referred to the “absence of hydrocarbons in previously drilled wells, with future drilling needed to verify the new prospects.”
There was also ambiguity surrounding the financial feasibility and potential profitability of the drilling project. The cost of drilling five wells is estimated at 500 billion won ($362 million).
“Although financial estimates are highly speculative before the actual drilling and contingent on market conditions, the project could be considered economically feasible if we confirm the presence of at least 1 trillion cubic feet (28 billion cubic meters) of gas," said principal adviser Kwak Won-ju from the KNOC.
The 1 trillion cubic feet Kwak mentioned only increased the perplexity, as he used a different metric of measurement and lacked details on the the specifics of the economic feasibility from that which the government announced. Earlier, the government had claimed that its forecast of 14 billion barrels comprised an oil equivalent of 320 million to 1.29 billion tons of natural gas and 780 million to 4.22 billion barrels of oil. Kwak said that the estimated figure of “1 trillion cubic feet of gas” is based on a different context.
Abreu's Act-Geo has also faced credibility issues after it was revealed that its listed headquarters in Houston is a residential address. During the briefing, he admitted to that, explaining the firm is meant to be small and its experts are globally dispersed for efficiency.
“It’s not uncommon in this industry for smaller consultancies to analyze large projects,” he said.
He also defended Act-Geo's appointment to analyze the project, stating that the KNOC conducted a competitive tender involving four companies and selected Act-Geo fairly based on technical and price evaluations. A government official at the briefing cited “confidentiality” as the reason for choosing Act-Geo to analyze the project instead of multiple companies.
However, some experts have raised concerns. One expert, who asked to remain anonymous, suggested that confidentiality agreements usually include nondisclosure clauses that allow for outsourcing analysis to multiple firms without risking breaches.
“There are some very large global players with extensive resources, so it's questionable whether it's appropriate for a small consulting firm to handle such a significant analysis,” the expert said.
koreaherald.com · by Moon Joon-hyun · June 9, 2024
10. North Korea satellite images show mysterious activity along border
Images the link. My first question is that if they are showing us this, what are they trying to prevent us from seeing. north Korea is the master of denial and deception.
North Korea satellite images show mysterious activity along border
Newsweek · by Jesus Mesa · June 7, 2024
Recently captured satellite images reveal that North Korea has cleared a 1.8-mile strip of land extending into the demilitarized zone (DMZ), the 2.5-mile-wide boundary separating North and South Korea, an apparent escalation in tensions between the two nations.
Imagery from Planet Labs provided to Newsweek reveal at least four locations where newly cleared land has appeared in recent weeks, including one area that clearly extends past North Korea's final border fence into the DMZ.
That cleared strip of land — visible in the large yellow box on the right-hand side of the image — was covered by vegetation as of late April. It now spans over half a mile inside the DMZ and follows a mountain ridge near South Korea's Goseong Unification Observatory.
The activity revealed in the new images come after earlier reports that North Korean troops were constructing new positions at some guard posts near the DMZ. Photos published by the South Korean news site The Fact showed about 30 soldiers building new fortifications at an existing hilltop border post, their movements seen from across a river in Tanhyeon-myeon, in South Korea's Paju region.
The most recent imagery however shows that the extent of the construction is more extensive than previously reported.
The image shows satellite imagery with several locations marked by yellow boxes, indicating areas where land has been cleared. The image shows satellite imagery with several locations marked by yellow boxes, indicating areas where land has been cleared. Planet Labs
Immanuel Kim, a professor in the Korean department at George Washington University, told Newsweek that one reason for these land clearances is likely to improve visibility across the DMZ. Most of the area is covered by forest and bushes, and clearing this vegetation allows North Korean troops to monitor the area more effectively.
Putin ally threatens to use 'entire arsenal' of nuclear weapons if needed
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Putin ally threatens to use 'entire arsenal' of nuclear weapons if needed
"Open land makes it easier to spot any movements or activities from the other side. Easier movement for military personnel and vehicles is a significant advantage," he told Newsweek. "Cleared land facilitates quicker and more efficient mobilization in case of any military action or emergency," he added.
Military activity inside the DMZ is prohibited under the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, but both sides have violated the agreement "several times," Kim said.
While North Korea's exact motivations behind the new activity around the border are unclear, it follows a series of new aggressions against the South. Over the past week, the Kim Jong-Un regime has engaged in GPS jamming attacks, missile launches, and a campaign of sending balloons filled with trash and waste into South Korea.
A series of unusual North Korean provocations
—GPS jamming attacks for 5 days in a row
—Salvo launch of 18x missiles in “show of force”
—Sent nearly 1,000 balloons filled with trash & waste toward Seoul
—Installing mines, reinforcing fences, & moving heavy equipment in DMZ pic.twitter.com/wA4CCurStu
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) June 7, 2024
The trash balloons, which included items such as cigarette butts and manure, landed across South Korea's densely-populated northern provinces, including Seoul.
On Tuesday, the South Korean government, led by President Yoon Suk Yeol, blamed "continuous provocations" by the North for its decision to fully suspend a 2018 agreement that had previously limited military maneuvers on both sides and led to the removal of landmines and border posts.
This photograph released on May 31 by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, observing the previous day as missiles fired from Pyongyang strike a target in the Sea... This photograph released on May 31 by North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, observing the previous day as missiles fired from Pyongyang strike a target in the Sea of Japan, or the East Sea. Rodong Sinmun
Following those provocations, Seoul announced this week that "all military activity" would resume at the country's land and maritime borders with the North.
"This confrontational approach marks a significant policy shift, highlighted by a recent joint military exercise involving South Korea, the US, and Japan," said Kim. "From North Korea's perspective, this trilateral military cooperation is unprecedented and seen as a major threat."
Newsweek reached out to North Korea's Embassy in Beijing via email for comment on Friday.
Newsweek · by Jesus Mesa · June 7, 2024
11. Architect of 2018 military agreement with North Korea reflects on deal’s demise
Some revisionist history here and there.
Here is what we might expect from a progressive administration.
This does not sound very Korean to me.
Excerpts:
NK News: North Korea has abandoned unification, turning away from the older Kims’ legacy. What stance should South Korean progressives take?
Choi: Even if a Democratic Party government comes into power next, engaging in dialogue with North Korea will not solve everything.
Direct discussions with North Korea without involving the U.S. might be helpful. We should focus on project-based initiatives that we and North Korea need.
Personally, I don’t think about unification with North Korea right now. You have to date before you marry, right? We should engage in exchanges and see where they lead.
Architect of 2018 military agreement with North Korea reflects on deal’s demise
In an interview with NK News, Choi Jong-kun talks recent inter-Korean tension and DPRK engagement going forward
https://www.nknews.org/2024/06/architect-of-2018-military-agreement-with-north-korea-reflects-on-deals-demise/?t=1717951925
Jeongmin Kim | Joon Ha Park June 7, 2024
A collage of former Blue House secretary Choi Jong-kun, the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement and former South Korean President Moon Jae-in's memoir | Images: ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Inter-Korean Summit Press Corps, NK News, edited by NK News
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol formally suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement earlier this week in response to North Korea’s trash balloon and rocket salvo. This move effectively terminates the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which had established buffer zones along the border on land, air and sea to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas.
In an exclusive interview with NK News, Choi Jong-kun, one of CMA’s chief South Korean architects, revisited the efforts he and his team made to reduce military tensions and prevent conflicts arising from misunderstandings or miscalculations. Choi led the South Korean negotiation team that reached the deal on Sept. 19, 2018.
Choi’s tenure as Blue House secretary for peace and arms control under the previous Moon Jae-in administration from July 2017 to Feb. 2020 spanned a critical period in inter-Korean relations — from Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un’s intense “fire and fury” confrontations to détente marked by summits and agreements, and finally, a gradual deterioration of ties after the failed U.S.-DPRK summit in Hanoi.
Choi later became South Korea’s first non-diplomat and youngest-ever first vice foreign minister, serving until the end of Moon’s term in May 2022.
Most recently, the professor of political science and international studies at Yonsei University found himself back in the spotlight after the publication of Moon’s memoir, which he authored. The memoir focused on Moon’s foreign and security policies.
The following interview has been edited for readability, clarity and style.
Military personnel from both North and South Korea shake hands while participating in the road connection project near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), Nov. 22, 2018 | Image: ROK Defense Ministry
THE MILITARY AGREEMENT
NK News: What worries you the most about the breakdown of the inter-Korean military agreement?
Choi: These agreements are not about fostering friendship between the North and South but about preventing accidental conflicts on the Korean Peninsula. The spirit of the military agreement was to revive the essence of the Armistice Agreement signed on July 27, 1953. It was about maintaining a buffer zone to prevent clashes, as we have been conducting military exercises so close to each other, sometimes only 500 meters (546 yards) apart.
The process of the Yoon administration suspending the CMA puzzled me. On the one hand, the ROK claimed North Korean satellite technology is crude, yet it also reacted by lifting the CMA in part. Seoul should have dealt with North Korea’s satellite launches with U.N. sanctions, not the military agreement.
Why are we discarding our military agreement over satellite launches? It’s like taking your seatbelt off because you saw someone else driving recklessly.
NK News: Some media outlets in the past claimed that South Korea did not consult with the U.S. sufficiently and that Washington was not on board with some aspects of the CMA. How would you address these claims?
Choi: First of all, let’s assume they [the U.S.] disliked it. So what? The purpose of operational arms control is to prevent war on the Korean Peninsula, which is a basic and fundamental aspect of our sovereign decision-making.
Second, while we coordinate and consult with the U.S. on everything we do, we initiate these actions ourselves. The people who are most supportive of these agreements are the U.S. Forces Korea. That’s a fact. For them, any increase in military tensions or skirmishes along the MDL or DMZ makes their jobs harder.
NK News: One of the other most frequently posed criticisms about the CMA is how it allegedly limited where South Korea could conduct field training exercises. What are your thoughts on this criticism?
Choi: First, our country is heavily organized, and second, the advancement in weapons systems has been tremendous. We no longer need vast expanses of land, fields, and mountains for training like we did in the past.
Even if we wanted to conduct extensive training, it would be difficult due to complaints from local citizens and opposition from regional leaders. So, the need for large physical training spaces has significantly diminished, and our current capabilities allow for effective training within the constraints we have.
Additionally, our modern military technology and strategies allow us to conduct effective training without needing to be so close to the border, which can unintentionally send wrong signals to the other side.
From left: North Korean balloons found in South Chungnam Province and South Korean authorities analyzing items that fell onto the streets of Seoul from North Korean balloons | Image: ROK JCS, edited by NK News (May 29, 2024)
BALLOONS AND LEAFLETS
NK News: North Korea recently flew over trash and manure-filled balloons over the border. What do you think is Pyongyang’s intention?
Choi: Their intention is quite clear, as they’ve already stated in their declarations. It’s a “you send, we send” scenario — essentially “an eye for an eye.”
It’s a shameful, childish game, indicating just how much inter-Korean relations have deteriorated. This situation has indeed led to significant contamination, both literally and metaphorically. It’s embarrassing.
NK News: There was a similar incident toward the end of the Moon administration. North Korea prepared leaflets with Moon’s face mixed with cigarette butts, and while they didn’t actually send them, photos of the preparations were released. Do you remember Moon’s reaction to that?
Choi: I don’t know. But this was a frustrating issue. When I was at the Blue House, the idea of [people in the ROK] sending those balloons and leaflets was quite disheartening. The people involved claimed they were sending information into North Korea, but when you looked at the content, it was deeply degrading to ourselves, actually. The materials sometimes included crude photoshops and even pornographic content. I thought it was more embarrassing than a genuine effort to communicate or inform.
Kim Yo Jong greeting then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the inter-Korean summit on April 27, 2018 | Image: Joint Inter-Korean Summit Photo Press Corps
KIM FAMILY AND TOP OFFICIALS
NK News: We are seeing a lot of harshly worded statements from the North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong. She also described former President Moon as meddlesome and a traitor. What’s your message to her?
Choi: Kim Yo Jong played a significant role after the Hanoi summit. She appeared to frequently advise Kim on foreign and inter-Korean policy direction, and he seemed to listen to her a lot.
After the summit, her stance changed drastically, likely to protect her brother’s image of infallibility. By taking on this harsh rhetoric herself, she looked like she was shielding her brother from direct blame.
While her criticisms were harsh, it’s somewhat better that they came from Kim Yo Jong, as it suggested a calculated effort to manage North Korea’s internal narrative rather than a complete breakdown in relations.
NK News: You must have seen her quite a few times during the summit and dialogue years. What was your impression of her?
Choi: She is very much as she appears in her public statements. She treats her brother very well and acts as his guardian angel, so to say, she is protective of him.
When she came for the PyeongChang Olympics, she was four months pregnant. We were always concerned about her well-being and made sure she had access to the best facilities, such as clean and comfortable restrooms. She seemed to appreciate these gestures.
In Pyongyang, she interacted a lot with our protocol team. Other North Korean officials didn’t seem as capable of assisting Kim Jong Un. It reminded me of how kings and their attendants must have operated during the Joseon Dynasty. They had a certain regality and expected their aides to perform flawlessly, often making decisions abruptly and expecting immediate execution.
NK News: Some experts and former officials state that the Hanoi no-deal was due to Trump’s advisors like Bolton. If Trump returns to power but without Bolton, what concerns or expectations do you think the North Korean side might have?
Choi: If Trump were to become president again, I think Kim Jong Un might consider Trump’s America better than Biden’s America. This is because he has experienced Trump before.
Over the four years of the Biden administration, nothing has been achieved or improved, and the situation has arguably worsened. Trump, on the other hand, acted based on his own judgment, regardless of Bolton’s presence.
People tend to take Bolton’s memoir as the whole truth, but there’s a lot that wasn’t mentioned. I often wondered if the Bolton-Trump dynamic was even appropriate at all.
I often went into meetings as a notetaker, and Trump would often completely crucify his national security adviser in those meetings.
Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s memoir on display at a bookstore in central Seoul | Image: NK News (May 20, 2024)
CRITICISMS OF THE MEMOIR
NK News: In Moon’s memoir, he recalls how Kim Jong Un communicated his desire to “console the Yeonpyeong Island residents who suffered from the shelling.” Could you provide more background on this anecdote?
Choi: At that time, Kim Jong Un seemed to have a sense of mission not only to improve North Korea-U.S. relations but also inter-Korean relations. He likely understood that economic exchanges and support, as well as joining international organizations, would be impossible without South Korea’s endorsement.
Thus, maintaining a good relationship with South Korea was crucial to him, to the extent that he would even consider apologizing for the Yeonpyeong Island shelling.
Today, we might not believe the sincerity of his statements at the time, but it’s important to recognize the effort.
Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun meets with Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun at the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Dec. 9, 2020 | Image: U.S. State Department via Flickr
WHAT’S NEXT?
NK News: Last year in Washington D.C., there was a significant debate about whether to recognize North Korea as a nuclear state and move toward arms control. What are your thoughts on this?
Choi: It’s crucial to maintain a firm stance on this issue. No U.S. or South Korean government can officially recognize North Korea as a nuclear state. Especially for the U.S., this would mean admitting the failure of the Non-Proliferation Treaty policy, which could lead other countries, like Iran, to follow suit.
The denuclearization policy we’ve followed so far is fundamental because North Korea possesses nuclear weapons. It’s not about dealing with a non-nuclear state; it’s about addressing a state that has nuclear capabilities.
Ultimately, I believe we need to move toward arms control, but at the same time, we must continue using the term “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” This approach involves reciprocal actions, similar to the negotiations we’ve seen in Hanoi and other dialogues. While the costs have increased, this framework remains essential for progress.
NK News: North Korea has abandoned unification, turning away from the older Kims’ legacy. What stance should South Korean progressives take?
Choi: Even if a Democratic Party government comes into power next, engaging in dialogue with North Korea will not solve everything.
Direct discussions with North Korea without involving the U.S. might be helpful. We should focus on project-based initiatives that we and North Korea need.
Personally, I don’t think about unification with North Korea right now. You have to date before you marry, right? We should engage in exchanges and see where they lead.
Edited by Alannah Hill
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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