Quotes of the Day:

“When men differ in opinion, both sides ought equally to have the advantage of being heard by the public; when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter.”

- Benjamin Franklin

“Every man is guilty of all that he did not do”

- Voltaire

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

- Plato

​1. USFK Commander Calls for Role Beyond Korean Peninsula

2. Korea's Fertility Rate Remains Lowest in the World

3. Seoul finalizes «bold» offer to North Korea in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program

4. South Korea emerges as fastest-growing arms exporter

5. S. Korea to lift ban on N. Korea TV, newspapers despite tensions

6. Ukraine could push Japan, S Korea to go nuclear

7. Breaking Down North Korea’s COVID Strategy

8. The cruel return of two fishermen shows why we must stand up to North Korea

9. Domestic Realities Constrain Yoon’s Foreign Policy Rebalancing – Analysis

10. South Korea's new hardline on North Korea may mean the end of its plans to build its first aircraft carrier

​11. ​N. Korean inspection of water supply yields worrying results

​12. ​11-Year-Old North Korean Vlogger Has South Korean Netizens Amazed And Worried, Here's Why.

13. USD-KPW exchange rate climbs sharply in Hyesan

​14.​ Exploring Korea: 6 ominous things you can only experience at DMZ

1. USFK Commander Calls for Role Beyond Korean Peninsula

The ROK/US Combined Forces Command commanding general is supporting both his bosses: President Biden and President Yoon. Listen to President Yoon's guidance about South Korea "stepping up" on the global stage​ and President Biden's INDOPACIFIC Strategy. His comments are nested in their visions.

Concur with this statement:

He said consistent training and preparedness should be prioritized over merely reacting to the North’s provocations. "If we remain reactive to our neighbor's actions, a different world order could become a reality for all of us," he warned.

We need sustained aggressive training that shows Kim his political warfare, blackmail diplomacy and military warfighting strategis cannot be successful. And political leaders must not use military readiness as a bargaining chip as weakening military readiness to try to entice Kim Joong-un to negotiate and engage plays right into Kim Jong-un's strategies.

And one example to support this statement below is the ROK Navy leading a coalition task force as part of RIMPAC. This and other training around the theater and the world will pay dividends if there is a war on the Korean peninsula because a large coalition will form around the mission to defend South Korea. But tis time South Korea has an advanced military and interoperability with the militaries of like minded democracies will enhance combined military capabilities and contribute to a successful defense of Korea and a resolution of the Korea question, the unnatural division of the Peninsula. Ultimately this will result in a free and unified Korea.

"I see an opportunity for the alliance to extend its reach and become a global comprehensive strategic alliance beyond the Korean peninsula, as President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Joe Biden jointly stated," LaCamera said. "My advice for [the South Korean military] is to seize the moment of the current security environment and be a coalition leader. That is the new normal that I envision for the alliance."

USFK Commander Calls for Role Beyond Korean Peninsula

english.chosun.com

July 22, 2022 12:56

Gen. Paul LaCamera, the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, has called on combined forces to expand their role beyond the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking at the Asian Leadership Conference hosted by the Chosun Ilbo last week, LaCamera pointed at new realities like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear armament that are challenging the "rules-based international order."

"There's a potential 'new normal' -- the new world order our neighboring country is seeking to create," he said. "Are we ready to embrace such a normal? If not, what should we do about it?"

LaCamera took command of USFK in April 2021. Since then, North Korea has escalated its military provocations, launching an unprecedented 31 ballistic missiles in 2022.

"The first time the current world order -- the international rules-based order established after World War II -- was challenged was in 1950, when communist forces invaded South Korea," he said. "The U.S. and 22 UN member states stood with South Korea to defend the country and expel the aggressor. As a result, the [South Korea]-U.S. alliance was born."

Gen. Paul LaCamera, the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea speaks at the annual Asian Leadership Conference at Hotel Shilla in Seoul on July 13.

He pointed out that seventh nuclear test from North Korea is on the horizon some time this year.

"As a military leader, I would guess [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un] is looking at our systems and trying to figure out how he can defeat those," LaCamera said. "But even through COVID, we have demonstrated that we will continue training, not just at the theater level, or the strategic or operational level, but more importantly at the tactical level, where the fight will be won or lost."

He said consistent training and preparedness should be prioritized over merely reacting to the North’s provocations. "If we remain reactive to our neighbor's actions, a different world order could become a reality for all of us," he warned.

In response to threats such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Seoul and Washington have the chance to widen the scope of their alliance, he said.

"I see an opportunity for the alliance to extend its reach and become a global comprehensive strategic alliance beyond the Korean peninsula, as President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Joe Biden jointly stated," LaCamera said. "My advice for [the South Korean military] is to seize the moment of the current security environment and be a coalition leader. That is the new normal that I envision for the alliance."

• Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com

english.chosun.com

2. Korea's Fertility Rate Remains Lowest in the World

​Declining birth rates is a long term national security issue. The only way South Korea can overcome the challenges it will have with declining military manpower is to build an effective reserve system. South Korea must invest in reserve component training.​

Korea's Fertility Rate Remains Lowest in the World

english.chosun.com

Korea's fertility rate is the world's lowest for the third year in a row.

According to the UN Population Fund's annual report on Wednesday, Korea ranks at the bottom on the list of 198 countries with a total fertility rate of just 1.1 children born to a woman over her lifetime.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Puerto Rico and Singapore have the second lowest with 1.2 children. Many developed countries have a higher fertility rate than Korea -- France, Russia, Sweden and the U.S. 1.8, the U.K. 1.7, Germany 1.6, and Finland and Japan 1.4. Nigeria tops the list with 6.6 children, followed by Somalia (5.7).

In terms of average life expectancy at birth, Koreans have the 12th longest with 83 years, about 10 years longer than the world average of 73.5. But Korea's population aged 0-14 is also just 12 percent due to the low birthrate, less than half of the world average of 25 percent. Japan and Singapore also rank low at 12 percent.

The proportion of people over 65, on the other hand, stands at 17 percent, significantly higher than the world average of 10 percent.

World population growth is estimated at one percent between 2020 and 2025, but Korea's population will stagnate at zero, down from a minuscule growth of 0.2 percent in the previous five years.

Statistics Korea put the fertility rate even lower at 0.81 children last year.

english.chosun.com

3. Seoul finalizes «bold» offer to North Korea in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program

I am hoping to hear the details of the proposal this week in our meeting ith KINU.

A friend and colleague who flagged this article for. me offered these comments:

Just a short obvious comment and connection with Ukraine: your article today (yesterday evening) and this near mirror one, the very first sentences expose the failure of the initiative and its connection with Donetsk and Luhansk “Peoples Republics” – it isn’t about the economy (or unification with Russia), it is about Mafia like theft by the Dons and their chosen sycophant lieutenants, it is the source of lifestyle and feeding their families with the stolen gross product of the people. Power and money: Living as sole godlike power and luxury kings inside a defined geographic area of permanent impoverishment. It is the basest of all bad human instincts. 

Some of our diplomats and national security wisemen didn’t learn from the late 80s first family reunion meetings which included nK families coming to Seoul and other ROK cities. Never happened again in the ROK. And the diplomats and wisemen that did – most are retired.

Seoul finalizes «bold» offer to North Korea in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program

Newsroom - Yesterday 8:57 AM

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/seoul-finalizes-bold-offer-to-north-korea-in-exchange-for-abandoning-its-nuclear-program/ar-AAZTnVQ?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e0cd42509ceb4b32b1598c950cec77da

S

outh Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has called on the Unification Ministry to prepare a "bold plan" to revive North Korea's economy should it agree to a denuclearization plan and end its continued testing of missiles and long-range projectiles.

© Provided by News 360

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol - EUROPA PRESS/E. Parra. POOL - Europa Press

Deputy presidential spokesman Lee Jae Myung said the president hopes to begin consultations with relevant agencies as soon as possible and make preparations for a "realistic offer" to Pyongyang.

The president has emphasized a humanitarian, cultural and sports exchange program with North Korea to restore relations between the two countries, reports the official South Korean news agency Yonhap.

"This bold plan," a Unification Ministry official added on condition of anonymity, "will not only include economic assistance, but will also address the security issue, about which North Korea has expressed concern."

The minister, Kwon Young Se, added that his portfolio will seek a "gradual and simultaneous implementation" of the agreements rather than going for a maximalist approach.

Among the measures being considered is the possibility of South Korea admitting North Korean television broadcasting within its borders in order to restore "national homogeneity", the ministry added.

Finally, the Minister reiterated the South Korean President's desire to create a Human Rights Foundation for North Korea, which would engage in a dialogue with neighboring authorities on the humanitarian situation there, always within the framework of the existing legality.

4. South Korea emerges as fastest-growing arms exporter

Although many years in the making, this is in keeping with President Yoon's vision of South Korea "stepping up."

South Korea emerges as fastest-growing arms exporter

The Korea Times · July 24, 2022

Four FA-50 light combat aircraft flying over urban area / Newsis

Poland set to sign major deal to buy tanks, howitzers, fighter jets

By Jung Min-ho

South Korea has emerged as the world's fastest-growing arms exporter, vastly outpacing the growth of other major market players in recent years.

According to a recent report by the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the nation's arms exports hit a record high of more than 7 billion dollars last year. Its exports during the 2017-21 period were 177 percent higher than that in the 2012-16 period ― by far the highest growth among the top 20 exporters, followed by Australia (98 percent) and France (59 percent).

South Korea's share of global arms exports nearly tripled to 2.8 percent from 1 percent. It is now the world's eighth largest, and Asia's second (after China), arms exporter ― a rapid rise from 31st position on the list by the SIPRI arms transfer database back in 2000.

"Exports of naval vessels grew by 1,660 percent (during the 2017-21 period compared to 2012-16) which led the trend," the report says. "Arms exports are estimated to continue to grow. The number is expected to reach $10 billion in 2022."

The Philippines and Indonesia are the two biggest buyers of South Korean weapons, accounting for 16 percent and 14 percent of its sales, respectively. Although the Asian region will remain an important market, the country is expanding its global presence with its newly developed military hardware.

Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system / Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration

In January, South Korea inked a deal with the United Arab Emirates to export its Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missiles, developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), in its largest-ever arms export deal.

The following month, the Korean firm Hanwha Defense signed a contract to sell K9 self-propelled howitzers to Egypt in a deal worth over 2 trillion won ($1.65 billion).

Another big deal appears to be in the making in Europe. Poland, a NATO member bordering war-torn Ukraine, is set to ink a contract with South Korea next week to purchase its tanks, howitzers and fighter jets, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak reportedly said.

The K9 self-propelled howitzer / Courtesy of Hanwha Defense

The deal includes 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin, 180 K2 Black Panther tanks developed by the ADD and some K9 howitzers, Blaszczak was quoted as saying by local media.

The FA-50 is a variant of KAI's T-50 supersonic trainer jet. KAI President Ahn Hyun-ho told reporters at the Farnborough International Airshow in Britain last week that he aims to export 1,000 FA-50s over the next 10 years, including to the United States.

South Korea is also seeking to sell its high-end KF-21 fighter jet to nations in Southeast Asia and beyond, after the prototype jet successfully carried out its first test flight on July 19. The country has been pushing to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters with the high-end jet and bolster its air power to counter North Korea's growing military threats.

With many countries allocating more money to their defense in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the report says the market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

"Trade deals in the defense industry are expected to improve diplomatic trust between the countries involved and positively affect trade in other industries," the report says. "Setting up a unified organization to support the exports would be helpful for improving efficiency."

The Korea Times · July 24, 2022

5. S. Korea to lift ban on N. Korea TV, newspapers despite tensions

As Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Yung sang: "should have been done long ago." Korea has nothing to fear about the Korean people in the South accessing north Korean media. The only blowback will be people asking why did you try to keep this from us for so long?

This is important and a smart forward. The unfounded fear is that accessing north Korean propaganda would somehow influence the Korean people in the South to join the northern cause. I believe the opposite will be true.

Exposing the people to north Korean propaganda will provide the opportunity for the Korean people to have a better understanding of the north, the regime, and the regime's strategy.  The regime's nature (a mafia-like crime family cult) will be exposed and the people in the South will not support it or desire to be a part of it. In addition, this will turn the Korean people in the South against those who are north Korean sympathizers as the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime are exposed in the regime's own words.

This is a good and smart move. Now let's get the National Assembly to rescind the "leaflet law."

S. Korea to lift ban on N. Korea TV, newspapers despite tensions

The Korea Times · July 22, 2022

A man walks past TV monitors displaying a news program at an electronic shop in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 14, 2014, showing a North Korean newspaper with a photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smiling, reportedly during his first public appearance in five weeks in Pyongyang, North Korea. AP-Yonhap

South Korea plans to lift its decades-long ban on public access to North Korean television, newspapers and other media as part of its efforts to promote mutual understanding between the rivals, officials said Friday, despite animosities over the North's recent missile tests.

Divided along the world's most heavily fortified border since 1948, the two Koreas prohibit their citizens from visiting each other's territory and exchanging phone calls, emails and letters, and they block access to each other's websites and TV stations.

In a policy report to new President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday, South Korea's Unification Ministry said it will gradually open the door for North Korean broadcasts, media and publications to try to boost mutual understanding, restore the Korean national identity and prepare for a future unification.

Ministry officials said South Korea will start by allowing access to North Korean broadcasts to try to encourage North Korea to take similar steps. The ministry refused to provide further details, saying the plans are still being discussed with relevant authorities in South Korea.

Jeon Young-sun, a research professor at Seoul's Konkuk University, said North Korea is unlikely to reciprocate because the flow of South Korean cultural and media content would pose "a really huge threat to" its authoritarian leadership.

Ruled by three generations of the Kim family since its 1948 foundation, North Korea strictly restricts its citizens' access to outside information, though many defectors have said they watched smuggled South Korean TV programs while living in the North.

In 2014, North Korean troops opened fire when South Korean activists launched balloons carrying USB sticks containing information about the outside world and leaflets critical of the Kim family toward North Korean territory.

Relations between the two Koreas remain strained over North Korea's torrid run of missile tests this year. Yoon, a conservative, has said he would take a tougher stance on North Korean provocations, though he said he has "an audacious plan" to improve the North's economy if it abandons its nuclear weapons.

Despite the North's likely reluctance to reciprocate, Jeon said South Korea needs to ease its ban on North Korean media because the restrictions have led to dependence on foreigners and other governments to gather North Korea-related information. Jeon said that has increased the danger of acquiring distorted information on North Korea.

It wasn't clear how anti-North Korea activists in the South would react to the government's move. Jeon said there was little chance the move would promote pro-North Korean sentiments.

South Korea, the world's 10th largest economy, is a global cultural powerhouse. Its nominal gross domestic product in 2019 was 54 times bigger than that of North Korea, according to South Korean estimates.

Some observers say the ban must be lifted in a step-by-step process with discussions on what North Korean contents would be allowed first and how the access should be given to the South Korean public.

While it's officially illegal to watch or read North Korean media in South Korea, authorities rarely crack down on experts, journalists and others using VPNs or proxy servers to access North Korean websites. A large number of North Korean movies, songs and other contents are also available on YouTube, which is accessible in South Korea. (AP)

The Korea Times · July 22, 2022

6. Ukraine could push Japan, S Korea to go nuclear

I think it is coming. At least for South Korea.​

Excerpts:

It seems that despite the flagrant violations of the security assurances by Russia and the increasing capabilities of the North Korean nuclear arsenal, the commitment to the NPT remains firm.

But this could change if the security environment in Europe and Asia continues to deteriorate and Russia and China become increasingly perceived as serious and realistic military threats.

If the reliability of the US as a security guarantor is weakened it could result in a fatal erosion of the assumptions of the NPT. This would make the pressure for indigenous nuclear arsenals – both in Asia and the Middle East – irresistible. This is something the “Great Powers” have taken pains to prevent since 1945.

Ukraine could push Japan, S Korea to go nuclear

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has upended assumptions of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and provided new impetus to go nuclear

asiatimes.com · by Christoph Bluth · July 24, 2022

The war in Ukraine called into question many of the fundamental pillars of the international order. The European security system that has developed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact has received a shattering blow. A war of aggression by a major power intent to destroy a neighboring state and annex significant territories has broken with major taboos, not to mention international law.

Apart from the obvious tragedy for the people of Ukraine, another potential casualty is the nuclear nonproliferation system which has existed since 1970. Putin’s blatant breach of the Budapest Memorandum, signed in 1994 by Russia, the UK and US relating to the accession of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), has upended security guarantees in Europe.

The memorandum was an assurance of territorial integrity for Ukraine after it agreed to dismantle the large nuclear arsenal that remained on its territory after the break up of the Soviet Union. By signing the memorandum, Russia – along with the US and the UK – agreed not to threaten Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan with military force or economic coercion. This has proved to be worthless.

And there’s the danger. If we now live in a world where major powers are fully prepared to embark on a full-scale war to achieve their territorial ambitions, then the assumptions of the NPT, according to which non-nuclear states can rely on the security assurances from the major powers, may no longer be valid. Many countries may think it prudent to go nuclear to avoid Ukraine’s fate.

Anxiety in Asia

This doesn’t stop in Europe. Allies of the US in Asia are wondering the extent to which the principle of “extended deterrence” (the protection afforded by America’s nuclear umbrella) is still viable. China’s increasingly aggressive pursuit of its foreign policy aims in recent years has been a major concern for Taiwan, where many question Washington’s policy of “strategic ambiguity” about how and to what extent the US would support the country.

China’s activities in the South China Sea, where it pursues its claims on maritime territories not accepted in international law, have also raised major concerns throughout the region. Japan and China have been at loggerheads for some years over a number of disputed territories including the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

Another concern is obviously North Korea’s nuclear program and its regular testing of ballistic missiles which could carry nuclear warheads and have a range which could easily threaten Japan and South Korea. If and when Pyongyang develops the capacity to hit targets in the continental US, this could well test America’s nuclear guarantee in Asia.

A nuclear South Korea?

There is increasing support within South Korea for the development of its own nuclear deterrent. A survey taken earlier this year found that 71% approved of South Korea going nuclear. This was in line with similar polls over recent years.

While the new South Korean government led by Yoon Suk-yeoul does not endorse such a policy and remains committed to the US-ROK alliance, there have been persistent voices in South Korea supporting a shift towards nuclear self-reliance.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol gives a speech at the construction site of a nuclear power plant. Image: Twitter

There is also considerable pressure in Japan to abandon the post-war “Peace Constitution” which banned the country from maintaining anything stronger than a self-defense force – and the country recently doubled its military budget.

Japan has the technological capacity to develop nuclear weapons quickly – but the experience of US atomic attacks during the second world war remains a powerful restraint.

In March 2022 the late prime minister, Shinzo Abe, called for US nuclear weapons to be based on Japanese territory, presumably to deter both China and North Korea. This – predictably enough – provoked an angry reaction from Beijing, which asked Japan to “reflect on its history.”

Fragile security

For now, the US nuclear guarantee remains credible in the eyes of its Asian partners and the strategic situation on the Korean peninsula remains stable – despite the wrangling already described. It’s a very different situation from what is happening in Ukraine. The US already has forces on the Korean peninsula and is committed to South Korea’s defense.

North Korea is much more vulnerable than the US under any nuclear war scenario. If Pyongyang ever launched a nuclear strike, it would risk rapid and complete obliteration.

An obvious way to address the extended deterrence problem would be to redeploy US nuclear forces in South Korea, similar to Abe’s suggestion for Japan.

That would considerably enhance the credibility of a US security guarantee and would complicate China’s calculations, even with respect to Taiwan – despite all the noises from Beijing about reunification.

But South Korea faces the European dilemma – which is that the more credible its own capabilities become, the less the US will feel the need to commit its resources. While South Korea’s conventional capabilities are more than a match for the North Korean army and its obsolete equipment, it has no answer to the North’s weapons of mass destruction.

So far South Korea seems to have struck a sensible balance – going nuclear could upend all of that as it may cause Washington to withdraw entirely.

People at a railway station in Seoul on September 28 watch a television news broadcast showing file footage of a North Korean missile test. Photo: AFP / Jung Yeon-je

It seems that despite the flagrant violations of the security assurances by Russia and the increasing capabilities of the North Korean nuclear arsenal, the commitment to the NPT remains firm.

But this could change if the security environment in Europe and Asia continues to deteriorate and Russia and China become increasingly perceived as serious and realistic military threats.

If the reliability of the US as a security guarantor is weakened it could result in a fatal erosion of the assumptions of the NPT. This would make the pressure for indigenous nuclear arsenals – both in Asia and the Middle East – irresistible. This is something the “Great Powers” have taken pains to prevent since 1945.

Christoph Bluth is Professor of International Relations and Security, University of Bradford

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

asiatimes.com · by Christoph Bluth · July 24, 2022

7. Breaking Down North Korea’s COVID Strategy

This is the COVID paradox. The regime is deathly afraid of COVID yet has recognized the opportunity it has provided to further oppress the Korean people in the north to prevent resistance and, as outlined in the article below, to "re-indoctrinate" the population.

Breaking Down North Korea’s COVID Strategy

The Kim Jong Un regime’s COVID-19 policies are enabling the government to re-indoctrinate a nation of people.

thediplomat.com · by Emma Nymoen · July 22, 2022

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Kim Jong Un has been in power for just over 10 years, and about a quarter of that time has been under a COVID-19 lockdown. The news coming out of North Korea has raised more than a few eyebrows, with claims ranging from being miraculously COVID-free for two years to blaming their eventual outbreak on “alien things.” But the actual COVID-19 response policies put into place have much deeper implications, despite how easy it is to dismiss these absurd statements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a new tool of control in North Korea. There are obvious risk factors that have to be managed, such as poor medical infrastructure, malnutrition, and a low-tech society that distributes information through mass gatherings. But since the initial lockdown in January 2020, the actions of the Kim regime indicate larger political objectives than mere crisis response. While most of the world remains focused on North Korea’s pursuits in weapons development, the Kim regime’s other policies are enabling the government to re-indoctrinate a nation of people who had become black-market entrepreneurs and enthusiastic consumers of illegal South Korean media. We cannot know for sure what specific ends they are pursuing, but critical clues can be found in the rhetoric and activities of the past few years.

The Kim regime’s behavior during the COVID era signals the presence of an overarching strategy, and because of that, it is possible to apply the conventional framework of “strategy” – that is, a state’s ends, ways, and means – in understanding it. The ends are the larger goals of the state, the ways are actions they take to achieve those goals, and the means are the tools used to carry out the ways.

Starting with the means, there are a wide variety of tools at Kim Jong Un’s disposal in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the Workers’ Party of Korea, North Korea’s sole ruling political party, which enables the government to reach everyone from the highest echelons of Pyongyang elite to the lowest-ranked citizens in the countryside. Specific organizations within the party keep track of citizens’ activities, such as the Party Life Guidance Section that monitors citizens’ personal lives and carries out saenghwal chonghwa (“life harmony”) self-criticism sessions. The regime also utilizes the Korean People’s Army, a million-man force used not just for military purposes, but also logistics, agriculture, and construction. Additionally, the regime controls state media, which run all radio, television, and print in the country.

These means have all been employed in the regime’s COVID-19 strategy in a variety of ways. The Kim regime implemented a complete border shutdown in January 2020, dispatching additional Korean People’s Army units to enforce the lockdown with shoot-to-kill orders for anyone seeking to cross. This isolation amplified North Korea’s information control, since it helped turn the government into the only source citizens can turn to for details on the coronavirus, its origins, and treatment. Such a monopoly over information is what enabled the state to fabricate a story about the origins of North Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak due to “alien things” close to the inter-Korean border, a narrative that opens up the opportunity to pin the outbreak on the South and absolve the North of any blame.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement refusing foreign aid, claiming that any assistance from the West is backed by ulterior motives. Meanwhile, domestic reporting proclaimed that Kim Jong Un and his top officials have been donating their personal stores of medicine for the cause. This narrative has culminated in the claim that North Korea has basically eradicated COVID-19 after record-low mortality rates. There is no outside information coming in to tell the population any different.

While government organs and military officials were initially used to carry out this response to the virus, government entities have recently seen a massive shakeup, with many elites being demoted or completely replaced by political unknowns. This kind of action brings two benefits: Kim Jong Un was able to roll out his desired policies to respond to COVID-19, probing to see which officials would put in the most work to heed his command. He then replaced any deficient personnel, getting rid of weak and potentially rebellious links and instating eager-to-please and freshly trained replacements.

The obvious question associated with all these actions then is: To what ends? While we do not have all the answers, we can find clues in the ways and means employed by the regime, as well as the policy direction set forth in the Eighth Party Congress in 2021. At that party congress, the Kim regime revealed a five-year plan for the improvement of industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and weapons development. Their response to COVID-19 is likely tied to furthering the ends of the five-year plan.

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Considering all the actions the regime has taken so far, it seems likely that these new COVID policies are being used to place the regime once again at the center of the lives of North Koreans. Citizens of North Korea used to be entirely reliant on the state until the “Arduous March” famine of the mid-1990s decimated virtually all socialist programs, including the Public Distribution System that provided rations. Survivors of the famine became disillusioned with the regime and found ways to rely on themselves and their own enterprises. A network of jangmadang, free markets that run on illicit trade between North Korea and China, became the main source of income for vast swathes of the population. So much so that in 2017, a small survey of North Koreans revealed that 35 out of 36 respondents made 75 percent or more of their income from activities related to free markets, no matter how close to the border they lived.

When Kim Jong Un inherited his father’s position in 2011 he actually began loosening regulations on jangmadang activity. This led many to believe that the young Kim aimed for progressive reforms, but perhaps the jangmadang system was simply too entrenched to dismantle. COVID-19 has given Kim the opportunity to more directly address these illegal markets, and the jangmadang system is now in a chokehold. The government has cut off the outside world and all of the information and trade it previously provided. Under this new state of affairs, how are the people expected to survive?

For the Kim regime, the answer is simple: Only the state can provide for the people. The past year has seen new attempts from the government to regulate markets, including state-run food stores and increased taxes on private business owners. The Korean People’s Army has historically been involved in agricultural development, but recently has also been pushed into larger roles in economic development, like mining in South Hamgyong province and construction of housing for flood victims. All of this points to the reemergence of a state-run economy and the Public Distribution System of past eras.

Of course, North Korea watchers will wonder how weapons development factors into this strategy. After all, the Kim regime can crack down on border crossings and feed the people tales about “alien objects” without conducting missile launches or testing nuclear warheads. But one must remember that for Pyongyang, weapons are not just tools for survival, but for autonomy. As they pursue rebuilding a regime-centered society, they clearly feel compelled to maintain a significant enough deterrent to keep the United States, South Korea, and even China from interfering.

Parallels have been drawn between Kim Jong Un and his grandfather Kim Il Sung since the young leader was first introduced to the public, with comparisons made about everything from their policies to their hairstyles. But analysts still struggled to pin down Kim Jong Un as a leader, especially since most of his efforts have been devoted to maintaining systems previously established by his father and grandfather. The coronavirus has given the current Kim regime the space needed to differentiate itself from previous regimes. While we may not know exactly what kind of new identity Kim is constructing, it is clear that he intends the regime to be right at the center of North Koreans’ new normal.

Emma Nymoen

Emma Nymoen is a Global Korea Scholar at Korea University. Her research focuses on North Korean disaster response and inter-Korean relations. She has previously served with Liberty in North Korea.

thediplomat.com · by Emma Nymoen · July 22, 2022

8. The cruel return of two fishermen shows why we must stand up to North Korea

As cruel as the previous South Korean administration acted, the really cruel regime is in the north. We must never forget the evil nature of the Kim family regime and that the root of all problems in Korea is the existence of the most evil mafia- like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime that has the objective of dominating the Korean Peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.

The cruel return of two fishermen shows why we must stand up to North Korea

BY DONALD KIRK, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR - 07/24/22 11:00 AM ET

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL

The Hill · by Brad Dress · July 24, 2022

The fate of two North Korean fishermen who were forcibly returned to the North in November 2019 has exploded into a scandal that tears at the hearts and minds of anyone looking at images of their transfer at Panmunjom, the truce village 40 miles north of Seoul. Photographs released by Chosun Ilbo, the South’s biggest-selling newspaper, reveal the horror of their resistance as South Korean soldiers thrust them into the hands of North Koreans on the line between the two Koreas.

The significance of their surrender by the appeasement-minded government of former South Korean President Moon Jae-in lies in what it says about Moon’s willingness to bow before the North. The scene has awakened Koreans, and American activists, to the cruelty of a transaction that raises serious questions about the South’s willingness and ability to stand up against the North.

Among the more influential American critics, Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said he was “shocked and startled” after seeing photographs and video of the fishermen as they were “forced to return to communist North Korea against their will and without due process.” Smith had asked about the case in his capacity as co-chairman of the House’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee. “A thorough investigation,” he said, is needed to determine who in the Korean bureaucracy had ordered their return and for what possible justification.

No one seeing the pictures could doubt that the two were “forced to cross the Military Demarcation Line,” Smith noted, while resisting their handover to “a brutal regime.” The incident, he said, “underscores the barbarity of North Korea’s communist regime” together with “the callous complicity of the previous Moon administration.”

Now South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol is demanding full responses from the former top officials involved in this sordid affair. The Korean public, he believes, has the right to comprehend the enormity of what appears to be a betrayal of the process of dealing with North Koreans who make their way to the South by whatever means, for whatever reason.

The case has become a cause celebre for human rights groups in the U.S. and South Korea. The ability of the Yoon government to resolve it has international repercussions. The fishermen appear to have been sacrificed on the altar of appeasement with a dictatorship who has no intention of compromising on anything, notably his nuclear program. Voices in Washington, as in Seoul, are insisting on retribution against the perpetrators of the handover.

David Maxwell, a retired U.S. army colonel who served five tours with the special forces in South Korea, in an interview with Voice of America called the return of the fishermen “a function of the misguided policies of the last administration.” There’s no doubt in Maxwell’s mind that Moon and his aides were “seeking to curry favor with Kim Jong Un and pursue the policy of engagement.” The Moon government, said Suzanne Scholte of the North Korea Freedom Coalition, likely was “complicit in murder.”

It’s up to Yoon to go after those who placed the desire to appeal to North Korea’s dictatorship above the lives of North Koreans who had arrived in the South, regardless of how or why they got there. At stake is the issue of human rights, as well as South Korean law, under which all defectors as Korean citizens are entitled to due process once they arrive in the South. There are many unanswered questions.

Who would believe the claim, based on North Korean radio traffic monitored in the South, that these two fishermen had killed 16 others on their boat, including the captain? What became of the bodies of all those whom the fishermen are said to have killed? Would not some of them on their small boat have fought the two fishermen after hearing the cries of the first victim or two? Could every one of them, as alleged, have submitted without a fight? Ridiculous.

Regardless of the real story, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, has stated that returning the two to North Korea “was illegal under international law because of the likelihood they’ll be tortured under North Korea’s extremely brutal legal system.” Greg Scarlatoui, director of the Committee of Human Rights in North Korea, said the South Koreans, by handing them over three days after capturing their boat in South Korean waters, had “issued a death sentence.” The message, he said, was that South Korea “no longer provides a safe haven” for defectors. Daily NK, a website in Seoul with risky mobile phone contacts inside North Korea, has reported the two were beheaded two months after the handover.

The incident provokes the question of how much credibility and confidence Korea’s friends and allies should place in a government that would bow before North Korea in such a dreadful manner. How can Korea’s alliance partner, the United States, and other countries bound to Korea through the United Nations Command believe in the will and power of Korean authorities in their perpetual standoff with North Korea if they are willing to engage in such treachery?

Under Yoon, the investigation has extended to the former directors of the National Intelligence Service. These men were responsible for scaling down intelligence resources on North Korea while conforming to Moon Jae-in’s efforts at compromise and appeasement during his five years as president. To Moon’s people, the deaths of two North Korean fishermen for the sake of reconciliation apparently was a small price to pay.

2024: A nightmare scenario Dmitry Rogozin’s firing will not save the Russian space program

Yoon, however, was elected president in March by a narrow margin — so narrow that his foes, who command a majority in the National Assembly, are planning their resurgence. If they succeed, some fear they will again try to compromise with the North, yielding in disputes involving the lives of Koreans and the rights of defectors. It is necessary for the Yoon government to fortify the South against such tactics.

The case of the two North Korean fishermen is about much more than their awful fate. It’s also about a regime that was willing to bow before North Korea, betraying not only those two men but all South Koreans in their struggle against the North Korean dictatorship.

Donald Kirk has been a journalist for more than 60 years, focusing much of his career on conflict in Asia and the Middle East, including as a correspondent for the Washington Star and Chicago Tribune. He currently is a freelance correspondent covering North and South Korea. He is the author of several books about Asian affairs.

The Hill · by Brad Dress · July 24, 2022

9. Domestic Realities Constrain Yoon’s Foreign Policy Rebalancing – Analysis

Yes, all politics is local and the domestic agenda takes priority. But President Yoon will likely continue to push his foreign policy agenda because there is linkage.

For us in the US I do not think we realize how much the THAAD issue affected Korea (and continues to influence domestic politics and relations with both China and the US).

Excerpt:

The roots of this deep public opinion shift go back to China’s massive economic and political retaliation against South Korea’s 2017 deployment of the US’ THAAD missile defence system. Since this retaliation, public sentiment toward China fell from 56 per cent in 2016 to 34 per cent in 2018.

Domestic Realities Constrain Yoon’s Foreign Policy Rebalancing – Analysis

eurasiareview.com · by East Asia Forum · July 23, 2022

By Christina Dasom Song and Yves Tiberghien*

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South Korea’s new President, Yoon Suk-yeol, has broken from his predecessor’s cautious balancing of Seoul’s trade relationship with China and security alliance with the United States. South Korea joined the Quad Summit in May 2022, signalling its desire to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, and recently joined the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

This foreign policy shift is due to hardening public opinion against China since 2017. Still, South Korea’s trade interdependence with China and the costs of aligning more closely with Washington and Japan will force Yoon to act cautiously.

The roots of this deep public opinion shift go back to China’s massive economic and political retaliation against South Korea’s 2017 deployment of the US’ THAAD missile defence system. Since this retaliation, public sentiment toward China fell from 56 per cent in 2016 to 34 per cent in 2018.

Another May 2022 survey showed South Koreans turning more to the United States and its allies: 58 per cent of South Koreans support the deployment of THAAD, 83 per cent support US-South Korea security cooperation, 86 per cent support joining the Quad and 83 per cent support increasing trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan. 70 per cent support South Korea having a nuclear arms program. These numbers represent a historic shift in public opinion, even though China’s next moves may well shape future trends.

Domestic concerns will likely overshadow South Korea’s foreign and security policy. President Yoon cannot sacrifice economic growth for the sake of security realignment. An SBS 2022 survey showed that 42 per cent of the public want Yoon to focus on policies that improve economic growth, while only 13 per cent want to prioritise foreign and security policy.

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Supply chain issues will also hamper South Korea’s efforts to distance away from China, as these countries’ economies are deeply intertwined. 2020 IMF data shows that 32 per cent of South Korea’s exports went to China (including Hong Kong), compared with 15 per cent to the United States and 5 per cent to Japan. 24 per cent of imports came from China, while only 12 per cent came from the United States and 10 per cent from Japan.

These ratios, unchanged since 2010, show how deeply intertwined the two economies are. A recent survey shows that South Korean academics and business experts are aware of this reality and favour economic cooperation with China, even though 51 per cent of South Koreans also support US-led containment policies against China.

24 per cent of South Korea’s materials and equipment for its semiconductor industry come from China and these are hard to replace. Any disruption to this trade relationship would also depress the US economy since it reliesheavily on these microchips.

The Yoon government does not have much room to manoeuvre as the National Assembly, not due for another election until 2024, is controlled by a large opposition majority. Yoon’s margin of victory in the May 2022 presidential election was very narrow. The opposition supports a more cautious approach to foreign policy — denouncing Yoon’s pivot to Washington as unpragmatic and ideological.

The Japanese reaction to South Korea’s newfound enthusiasm for cooperation has been cautious and will likely remain so for a while. Some see the rift between Japan and South Korea as a possible sticking point that would prevent South Korea from joining the Quad and hamper other multilateral ventures.

South Korea was not invited as a guest at the G7 summit held in Germany in 2022 despite having been in the past. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also turned down a bilateral meeting with President Yoon on the sidelines of the NATO summit in June 2022.

While Yoon reasserted his confidence during the summit that they could settle their disputes, Kishida has been more circumspect. One positive step did take place in the wake up of Kishida’s resounding victory in the Upper House election. On 19 July, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin had a rare meeting with Kishida during his three day visit to Japan. But Japan will not move further unless South Korea finds a solution to the bitter historical dispute about forced labour during Japan’s long occupation of the peninsula. Japan insists that any solution must be on the basis of the 1965 diplomatic agreement that resolved all historical matters.

There is one further constraint for Korea in its effort to push back against China. China continues to hold some leverage over North Korea’s nuclear and military actions, as it remains one of North Korea’s few security and economic partners.

Given such economic and geopolitical considerations, the Yoon government has rhetorically embraced existing alliances with the United States and Japan without yet committing to a coherent and concrete foreign policy to deepen those alliances. Seoul has enthusiastically joined the IPEF and attended the Quad summit in Tokyo. Yet, to date, it has not enacted any consequential policies; nor has it resolved the conflict between its trade relationship with China and greater strategic alignment with the United States.

The Yoon administration has made clear that it sees the IPEF as a framework for rule-setting in critical areas such as infrastructure and digital governance rather than a tool to diversify its trade away from China. Although US Trade Representative Katherine Tai presents the IPEF as a trade agreement akin to the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, Yoon does not see it that way. Pursuing a security policy with high economic costs would be unpopular with the public.

Yoon faces the same challenge his predecessor faced — balancing the dual demands of trade relations with China and security alignment with the United States. He will also be restricted by rising nationalism across the region and the ensuing volatility in relations between states. While Yoon has capitalised on anti-China sentiment within South Korea, this can also exacerbate a tense regional environment. His quickly waning popularity amongst the electorate may constrain his foreign policy agenda further.

*About the authors:

• Christina Dasom Song is a Master’s student in Political Science at the University of British Columbia.
• Yves Tiberghien is Professor of Political Science and Konwakai Chair in Japanese Research at the University of British Columbia.

Source: This article was published by East Asia Forum

eurasiareview.com · by East Asia Forum · July 23, 2022

10. South Korea's new hardline on North Korea may mean the end of its plans to build its first aircraft carrier

I would rather the South continue the CVX program rather than pursue nuclear powered submarines. I think they have more utility both against north Korea and in the region.

South Korea's new hardline on North Korea may mean the end of its plans to build its first aircraft carrier

Business Insider · by Benjamin Brimelow

Republic of Korea navy Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship ROKS Marado in the Pacific Ocean, June 4, 2022.

US Navy/MCS1 Ian Cotter

• South Korea's new president is shifting the country's security focus to threats from North Korea.
• That shift, plus other priorities, mean plans for South Korea's first aircraft carrier may be scrapped.

Get a daily selection of our top stories based on your reading preferences.

It has been an eventful year for aircraft carriers in the Indo-Pacific region.

China recently launched its newest, most advanced flattop, while India's first domestically built carrier is about to enter service. Japan is also converting its second Izumo-class vessel into a full-fledged carrier, which will add a second flattop to its fleet.

South Korea's navy has expertise and resources on par with those navies, but Seoul's ambitions to field its own aircraft carrier may soon be scrapped.

After years of debate about acquiring a carrier, detailed plans for a South Korean light carrier were unveiled last year. But President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, looks set to cancel the program, known as CVX, in order to invest in weapons better suited to counter the threat posed by North Korea.

The CVX carrier

ROKS Marado conducts joint helicopter operations with US Navy helicopters in the Pacific, June 2, 2022.

US Navy/MCS Seaman Dallas A. Snider

South Korea's navy has been working toward achieving blue-water status since the early 2000s. Over the past two decades, it has transformed into a first-rate navy, acquiring advanced vessels like the Sejong the Great-class destroyers, Son Won-il-class submarines, and Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships.

The CVX program, championed by Yoon's predecessor, Moon Jae-in, was to be the latest step in that transformation. The program calls for the construction of a single light carrier that displaces at least 30,000 tons, carries 20 F-35B fighters, and could be commissioned by 2033.

Two designs have been proposed by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, both of which have contracts with companies that have built carriers for European navies.

South Korean amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo sails alongside US Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, March 27, 2014.

US Navy/MCS2 Michael Achterling

Hyundai Heavy Industries' design would be 885 feet long and displace 30,000 to 35,000 tons. It would carry 16 F-35Bs in its hangar and eight more on its deck, in addition to helicopters. The design includes two command islands, deck space for drone aircraft, a well deck for unmanned vessels, and 16 vertical-launch missile cells.

Hyundai's carrier would have a ski-jump ramp, though building it with an angled flight deck and a catapult system may be possible.

Daewoo Shipbuilding's design would be 862 feet long and displace about 45,000 tons. It would carry 12 F-35Bs on its deck and 16 more in its hangar, as well as several helicopters. Daewoo's version would also have two command islands and a straight deck similar to the US's America-class and Wasp-class ships and Japan's Izumo-class ships.

Need vs. cost

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol with US and South Korean military leaders at Camp Humphreys on April 7, 2022.

US Army/Staff Sgt. Kris Bonet via Getty Images

CVX proponents argue that the carrier gives South Korea a mobile air strip to use if North Korea attacks its airfields and the ability to launch attacks on North Korea from different avenues of approach. They also argue it would be valuable in other disputes and if Seoul needed to protect its interests abroad, such as in the sea lanes vital to its trade and energy supplies.

CVX's detractors mainly argue that its costs outweigh its potential uses, especially considering the comparative weakness of North Korea's navy. Building the CVX is expected to cost $2 billion, with another $45 million or so needed each year to maintain it.

That price doesn't include the F-35Bs, the helicopters, and the potential unmanned vehicles, which could increase to overall cost to as much as $5 billion, or almost 11% of South Korea's entire defense budget for 2022.

"That's a huge whack out of a very small military budget," Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation think tank, told Insider. "What President Yoon is going to have to take a look at is what's his opportunity costs for building such a carrier? What other goods is he losing because he goes in that direction and builds it?"

The cost estimate for the CVX program also only accounts for one carrier. "Having one carrier does not a carrier force make," Bennett said, noting that carriers need to spend months at a time in port for training and maintenance.

If Yoon "really wants to have a viable carrier force of even one carrier at sea continuously, he's got to have two to three carriers," Bennett added.

Competing priorities

South Korean soldiers drill near the DMZ in Paju, South Korea, June 18, 2020.

Seung-il Ryu/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Meanwhile, the rest of South Korea's military is also pushing for other high-cost projects.

South Korea's army has extensive modernization needs, while its navy also wants to pursue other major programs, including acquisition of more Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles, and three more modernized Sejong the Great-class destroyers. There is also talk of developing a nuclear-powered submarine.

The "Kill Chain" and "Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation" strategies require more investment in ballistic missiles and aircraft, with South Korea's air force favoring the F-35A and the KF-21.

The Korean Aerial Missile Defense strategy also requires more sophisticated missile interceptors. Seoul wants to build up its own layered air-defense and missile-defense systems, and during his campaign, Yoon indicated that he wanted to deploy more US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense batteries.

An F-35A at the South Korean air force base in Daegu, October 1, 2019.

Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP

The case for those weapons seems stronger than that of CVX, as they are better suited to counter the most likely North Korean threats than an aircraft carrier, aligning them with Yoon's efforts to focus more attention and resources on the North.

Officials in Yoon's administration have described a need to reevaluate defense priorities, which has been interpreted as meaning the CVX would be canceled. The recent approval of preliminary plans to acquire 20 more F-35As is seen as a more concrete move away from the carrier.

Even without CVX, South Korea's navy remains a potent force and will continue to evolve.

"They've gotten a lot of investment in their upper-end destroyers, their submarines have been built, and they now have SLBMs," Bennett said. "The Navy hasn't gotten the blue-water navy capability they want yet, but they are moving in that direction."

Business Insider · by Benjamin Brimelow

11. N. Korean inspection of water supply yields worrying results

The Kim family regime 's MO: blame the people.

N. Korean inspection of water supply yields worrying results - Daily NK

“[Government officials] just keep lecturing people as if the outbreak of infectious disease happened because the people have little knowledge of sanitation,” a source told Daily NK

By Mun Dong Hui - 2022.07.22 4:00pm

dailynk.com · by Mun Dong Hui · July 22, 2022

FILE PHOTO: North Korean bottled water on sale in the country. (Daily NK)

Following a recent inspection of the country’s water system, North Korean authorities in some regions of the country have concluded that many sources of water are unsafe for drinking. The results of the inspection have led many North Koreans to worry that waterborne diseases will spread even more.

A source in North Korea told Daily NK on Wednesday that disease control authorities in South Pyongan Province and North and South Hwanghae provinces recently carried out a water quality inspection of the regions’ water and drainage systems, groundwater, rivers and streams.

“They got a result so terrible it’s beyond words,” the source said. “Not even 10% of the water is drinkable.”

The results reconfirmed suspicions that water and drainage system suffers from serious contamination, he continued, adding, “People are worrying that waterborne diseases will spread even more because of this.”

Part of the issue is North Korea’s lack of water purifying chemicals. The country’s water purification facilities are obsolete, so there is little anyone can do right now, the source claimed.

In fact, acute intestinal infections, a waterborne disease, have reportedly spread in South Hwanghae Province and South Pyongan Province starting last month.

The source said the party and disease control authorities are supervising and enforcing directives to strictly process sewage according to disease control regulations.

“They are compelling everyone to boil water before it is consumed at home, in childcare facilities, through food services, and at construction sites,” he said.

Many people are criticizing the authorities for simply enforcing policies while taking no proper measures to improve basic infrastructure and equipment. The source said some North Koreans are complaining that the authorities seem to be trying to shift the cause of the recent outbreak of waterborne diseases onto local people.

“If they carried out water quality inspections of reservoirs and wells, the party and government should work to provide safe water, but instead they are just passing this off to the people,” the source said.

“They just keep lecturing people as if the outbreak of infectious disease happened because the people have little knowledge of sanitation,” he continued, adding, “[The leadership] is openly saying that the people are getting sick because they are ignorant. Most people are not happy about that.”

Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Mun Dong Hui · July 22, 2022

12. 11-Year-Old North Korean Vlogger Has South Korean Netizens Amazed And Worried, Here's Why.

Of course they are evolving. I think the Propaganda and Agitation department is a learning organization and they are constantly studying what (they think) works around the world.

Excerpts:

However, South Korean experts and netizens are convinced that this is part of the new wave of propaganda from the North Korean government.

According to Lee Woo Yeong, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, the Kim Jong Un administration is evolving its propaganda strategies to make it more relevant and appealing to global trends.

11-Year-Old North Korean Vlogger Has South Korean Netizens Amazed And Worried, Here's Why.

koreaboo.com · July 23, 2022

A young North Korean YouTube vlogger is rapidly gaining attention in South Korea for several reasons. The very fact that a North Korean civilian can access YouTube to upload vlogs is in itself a wild phenomenon that has led to lengthy discussions online.

The topic came into the public eye after SBS News covered the story of 11-year-old Song Ah, a YouTuber from Pyongyang, North Korea. She uploads vlogs on her “personal” channel that showcase her “daily” life in North Korea. Speaking in fluent English, that too with a British accent, Song Ah is always seen praising the quality of life in the capital city.

However, South Korean experts and netizens are convinced that this is part of the new wave of propaganda from the North Korean government.

According to Lee Woo Yeong, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, the Kim Jong Un administration is evolving its propaganda strategies to make it more relevant and appealing to global trends.

Kim Jong Un’s globalization is said to be externally oriented to the world, and new media, such as Instagram and YouTube are actively being used.

—Professor Lee Woo Yeong

SBS News also points out the existence of another vlogger who goes by the name Yang Il Sim who posts content in Chinese talking about North Korea’s universities, high-end housing, and Covid-19 infrastructures.

Korean netizens had a variety of reactions to the SBS News report. While some criticized North Korea’s obsession with image-building, others praised Song Ah’s English skills with fondness.

Translations:

1. “There is no happiness, fun in the kid’s eyes…this is too much really.”

2. “It’s crazy to me that our lives can turn out so different just by which side of this tiny land you were born on. We should all be grateful that we were born in South Korea.”

3. “Wow but her English pronunciation is amazing. She’s really good.”

YouTube videos showing “normal” life in North Korea, capturing supermarkets, schools, and home life existed before as well. But they were always posted through state-owned channels. This flow of content from accounts that seem to be personally owned is a new trend.

According to professor Yeong, these efforts are meant to create “A certain effect of diluting the image of North Korea in the past.“

Source: SBS News

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koreaboo.com · July 23, 2022

13. USD-KPW exchange rate climbs sharply in Hyesan

I will leave it to the economics experts on north Korea to assess (all 3or 4 of them).

USD-KPW exchange rate climbs sharply in Hyesan - Daily NK

“People hope the recent spike in the exchange rate is only a temporary phenomenon,” a source told Daily NK

By Lee Chae Un - 2022.07.22 11:11am

dailynk.com · by Lee Chae Un · July 22, 2022

A picture of Songjon Station in Yanggang Province. (Xundaogong, Wikimedia Commons)

The KPW-USD exchange rate has recently climbed into the KPW 8,000 range in Hyesan, Yanggang Province.

A Daily NK source in Yanggang Province said Wednesday that the KPW-USD rate has been sharply climbing in Hyesan since July 16.

“It seems the rate is being impacted by donju [North Korea’s wealthy entrepreneurial class] and the trading sector buying up lots of foreign currency starting last week,” he said.

According to the source, the dollar rate held steady in the KPW 7,000 – KPW 8,000 range in Hyesan through the middle of July, but then climbed past KPW 8,000 from Monday. In fact, the dollar was trading at KPW 8,300 in Hyesan as of Monday.

Although the KPW-USD exchange rate has climbed sharply, the KPW-RMB exchange rate seems to be holding relatively steady.

Through so-called “remittance brokers” who maintain constant contact with the outside world and people who use foreign-made smartphones, information is filtering into North Korea that the dollar is strengthening worldwide. Additionally, rumors are reportedly circulating in North Korea that the dollar rate will continue to climb.

In response to this information, donju, money changers and traders are buying up dollars. The growing numbers of people buying dollars, rather than selling them, is propelling the rise in the exchange rate, according to the source.

“With the borders continuing to remain closed, people are making money in different ways and are using information about international markets,” he said. “For example, they make money by buying dollars if they get information that the exchange rate is expected to climb in the international market, and sell dollars if it seems the rate will fall.”

The source also said that people will face significant difficulties if the KPW-USD exchange rate climbs above KPW 10,000.

“People hope the recent spike in the exchange rate is only a temporary phenomenon,” he added.

Meanwhile, as of Monday, a kilogram of rice cost KPW 6,600 in Hyesan’s markets, while a kilogram of corn cost KPW 3,300.

This was KPW 400 and KPW 150 more, respectively, than what rice and corn cost during Daily NK’s regular survey of North Korean prices on July 10, when rice cost KPW 6,200 a kilogram and corn KPW 3,150 a kilogram.

North Korean media reported on Saturday that the harvest for barley and wheat — two grains used as alternatives for rice — was entering its final stage, with 98% of the harvest completed. However, market food prices continue to climb, a phenomenon some observers attribute to poor harvest forecasts this year.

In particular, shrinking rice imports due to the fall in China-North Korea trade is also influencing rising food prices.

Accordingly, North Koreans are suffering from deepening hardships. The source said there are more and more families worrying about how they will put meals on the table in the face of rising prices.

Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Lee Chae Un · July 22, 2022

14. Exploring Korea: 6 ominous things you can only experience at DMZ

Photos at the link: https://korea.stripes.com/travel/exploring-korea-6-ominous-things-you-can-only-experience-dmz

Exploring Korea: 6 ominous things you can only experience at DMZ

korea.stripes.com · July 23, 2022

Photos by Kyle Haney

by Kyle Haney

globetrotterkyle.com

July 23, 2022

“Entering this room will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action.”

This statement was just one of the many things I’ll never forget about my recent trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Read on as I recount my most surreal experience in South Korea to date.

So, you’re stationed/living in South Korea, and you’ve heard day in and day out that North Korea is off limits. Well, while feasibly correct (if you know what’s good for you), it’s not entirely true. I was extremely fortunate to have stepped foot in North Korea during my tour here and it was, by far, the most unique thing I’ve done in Korea to date.

The goal of this post won’t be to simply write about how I got to the DMZ and what I saw while I was there like some of my other posts. Rather, this post is about the finer details you can only experience if you visit this area yourself.

In other words, these things can’t be found in Google or anywhere else online because they’re the feelings you’ll get only if you come here in person. And they’re not warm and fuzzy to say the least.

Panmon Hall in North Korea behind the UNC Conference Buildings

Maybe you’re not really into reading about how or what a place can make you feel and that’s ok…

But you can Google “DMZ” and read all about it; you can easily find facts about this place. However, I think this post will capture what you’re really looking to read about with regards to the DMZ: the tension in the air, the paranoia as you scan the rooftops, the eagerness to get off the bus and to get back on the bus. Read on and see if I’m right!

1. The only cars coming out are the same that went in

Remember the first time you went on a road trip with your family? My first road trip was from Colorado to Nebraska. And every time the van got closer and closer to the state line, my family and I would start chanting “Colorado, Colorado, Colorado” until finally: “Nebraska!” But, as I got older, there were times I didn’t want to play that game. In fact, I just wanted to be in any one of the cars going in the opposite direction on the other side of the highway.

A water tower inside Camp Bonifas

That little game I played growing up is something the South Koreans and North Koreans will likely never play in their lifetime while living on this peninsula.

Watching the number of cars on the highway dwindle down to one or two as our tour bus inched closer and closer to the DMZ was eerie to say the least. The massive traffic jam that was Seoul just an hour before we arrived at Camp Bonifas bordering to the DMZ quickly turned into only a handful of cars.

South Korean uniforms at the Joint Security Area (JSA)

Nobody has ever chanted “North Korea, North Korea, North Korea” and then drove across the border and yelled “South Korea!” Rather, for the few that do defect, it’s more a stress-filled prayer of “Oh God, please don’t let me get killed doing this…”

The brash realization I had was that the cars headed in the opposite direction of our tour bus will always be the same ones that drove up there at some point in the past unless reunification happens.

2. People still live within the DMZ

If you’ve heard anything about the DMZ, I imagine you think of something like the image above, right? Barbed wire, guards standing at the ready, landmines, etc. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I learned of Taesung Freedom Village on our way from Camp Bonifas to the Joint Security Area (JSA).

To be a member of this village, you must have either been born into the community or married into it. No outsiders are allowed in. As such, the ~30 kids in the school have about 20 teachers at the ready to help them exceed, along with some of the latest technology such as 5G and free English classes taught by one of the UNC officers.

But how is it one of the best schools in all of South Korea can reside in the middle such a hostile area? If you kick your soccer ball over the fence, does it set off a landmine? What’s it like hearing the loudspeakers from North Korea play propaganda music throughout the valley?

Maybe it is one of the best schools, but do the pros outweigh the cons?

“Propaganda Village” from the JSA Tower

On the other side of the border is the North Korean village of Kijong, known by the US and the South Koreans as “Propaganda Village.” Built in 1953, this ghost town was constructed to lure South Korean forces over to the North.

However, the buildings at Kijong are all concrete shells with painted on windows that were never inhabited. Maintenance workers sweep the streets for a town whose population is zero and for buildings that don’t even have backs on them.

Ultimately, the only thing this town can successfully boast is a record for the fourth tallest flagpole on Earth at 525 feet. Woohoo.

3. You can visit an infamous axe murder location

A memorial to those slain in the 1976 Axe Incident

If you know anything about the military, every base is named after someone significant.

Camp Bonifas was named after Captain Arthur Bonifas, a Joint Security Force company commander slain while his team was on a mission to trim a tree at the Joint Security Area in 1976. You can read about the harrowing experience here or watch an interview of members who were actually there that day here.

While the memorial stands in the place of where the poplar tree once stood, what’s worth noting is that the concrete circle at the base of the memorial is the same diameter as the tree.

Looking towards the Bridge of No Return

Even more eerie is that you’re not allowed off the bus and you’re not allowed to loiter for longer than maybe a minute. While the tour guide didn’t explain why, my assessment was because of how Capt Bonifas was slain all those years ago: with little to no warning from the North Korean outpost just a few hundred yards away across the Bridge of No Return.

4. You can see bullet holes in the buildings from as recent as 2017

If you’re living in South Korea, you’ve likely heard the word “defector” at some point during your stay. Often, this term is used in reference to someone crossing from the North into South Korea or vice versa.

North Korean defectors are brave souls that are sick and tired of being sick and tired in what are likely the worst living conditions for any human being. So much so that they have to risk their life (and the lives of their family members) if they want to run across the DMZ.

Bullet holes in one of the structures inside the JSA

In 2017, a North Korean defector did just that, and had it not been for the bravery of South Korean soldiers pulling him to safety, he almost certainly would have been killed trying to cross the DMZ.

The North Korean soldiers fired their rifles at this individual as he made a daring sprint across the DMZ after getting his Jeep stuck in a ditch. As the North Korean soldiers fired at him across the DMZ, some of their rounds missed and struck one of the structures; those bullet holes are still there for viewers to see.

Bullet holes in one of the structures inside the JSA

Ever more eerie, the shadow cast by the retaining wall just behind the tree to the right is where that defector laid, bleeding out, before two South Korean soldiers low-crawled up to him and pulled him to safety.

Remember my earlier assumption that “Nobody has ever chanted ‘North Korea, North Korea, North Korea’ and then drove across the border and yelled ‘South Korea!‘?” This guy’s version of that was probably something like “better to die doing this than to keep living here”…

5. You actually can go into North Korea, at your own risk

A South Korean soldier stands guard against North Korea

After our tour passed the grounds where the Freedom House stands, it was finally time to go into the negotiating rooms that straddle the line between North and South Korea. However, doing so is at your own risk.

Clear as day, a sign reading, “Entering this room will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action” is hung right on the wall of the blue houses for all visitors to read and head.

He’s there for your protection

Once inside, a South Korean soldier with sunglasses on and no facial expressions stands firmly, ready to tackle anyone who decides to try and cross into North Korea.

While this might sound like something the North Korean soldiers would do to keep defectors from leaving North Korea, that guard is there for your protection. He knows better than anyone what kind of world you’d be facing if you decided to try and escape, and his sole duty is to keep you from escaping to hell.

Side note: I jumped from South to North Korea and back like 15 times just to say I did it lol.

6. The “Plant Peace and Prosperity” tree could be a premonition…

As our tour pressed on around the Joint Security Area (JSA), the next stop was at a remarkably lonely pine tree within a well-maintained patch of grass.

The tree was planted in 2018 between the leaders of North and South Korea, together. The symbolic tree planting was dubbed “Plant Peace and Prosperity” and there were many symbolic references during the ceremony.

The “Plant Prosperity and Peace” tree

For example, the pine tree (a national tree in both countries) germinated in 1953, the same year both sides agreed to a ceasefire. Additionally, soil from Mt Hallasan and Paektu (the two highest and most-revered peaks in both countries) was used to help plant the tree.

However, shortly after the tree was planted, it did not fare well. According to our tour guide, the tree started dying almost immediately after it was planted and it took months of special treatment just to keep alive.

Bad omen or just poor gardening? You decide.

“Dedicated to the brothers that participated in the war and all ROK-US soldiers who have sacrificed their valuable lives and devoted loyalty to protect freedom and peace. We promise for eternal prosperity and peaceful unification in the Korean Peninsula”

FAQs about the DMZ

What is the Korean DMZ?

In plain terms, the Korean DMZ is an area of the Korean peninsula that demarcates North from South Korea. It’s established near the 38th parallel of the world where the cease-fire line existed at the end of the Korean War (1950-1953). The DMZ is not meant to be a permanent border between the two countries, rather an armistice line since a formal treaty to end the war has yet to be officially signed.

Can you visit the DMZ in South Korea?

Prior to the COVID pandemic, visiting the DMZ was rather straight forward. A few different companies (e.g., GetYourGuide, Viator) offered group tours to the JSA, the Dora Observatory, and even the infiltration tunnels dug by the North Koreans into South Korea. However, due to the pandemic, the JSA is currently closed to group tours. If you are active duty military however, tours are still available but rare. You’ll have to work through this website to arrange a tour and likely have Commander endorsement (but not positive): https://www.panmuntour.go.kr/web/comn/main/main.do

How do you visit the Korean DMZ?

Due to the pandemic, the JSA is currently closed to group tours such as GetYourGuide and Viator. However, if you are active duty military, tours are still available but rare. You’ll have to work through this website to arrange a tour and likely have Commander endorsement (but not positive): https://www.panmuntour.go.kr/web/comn/main/main.do

Why is the Korean DMZ forbidden?

From a South Korea perspective, the actual area within the DMZ is forbidden for your protection. To this day, the area is still lined with thousands of mines and unexploded ordinance (UXOs) resulting from the Korean War. From a North Korea perspective, South Korea is off-limits and you are not allowed to go to South Korea; that’s why the DMZ is there. As a matter of fact, you will be shot (no questions asked) if you are a North Korean trying to defect to South Korea. For more info on why there even are two “Koreas”, read this History article.

How dangerous is the DMZ in Korea?

If you’re walking around the DMZ (which you’re not allowed to do btw but let’s go with it), it’s exceptionally dangerous. The area within the 4km wide DMZ is still lined with thousands of mines and unexploded ordinance (UXOs) resulting from the Korean War. Additionally, if you scroll to the top of this post, you’ll see the quote that was given to my tour before we entered the negotiating rooms that straddle North and South Korea.

How wide is the DMZ between North and South Korea?

The DMZ between North and South Korea is 2½ miles wide (1.25 miles into each country) and stretches from the east coast to west coast of the Korean peninsula for 150 miles.

What incidents have occurred at the DMZ?

There have been numerous incidents at the DMZ ranging from warning shots to deter action on both sides to the infamous Axe murder incident on August 18, 1976. To read about the most significant of the incidents, click here.

What kind of wildlife and biodiversity are at the DMZ?

Since the territory within the DMZ hasn’t been disturbed since the 1950s, the DMZ is considered one of the most exquisite locations in all of Asia for biodiversity and wildlife. Home to over 6,000 species of flora and fauna, this “accidental paradise” consists of white-naped cranes, black-faced spoonbills, mandarin ducks, musk deer, and even the endangered Asiatic black bear.

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korea.stripes.com · July 23, 2022

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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

VIDEO "WHEREBY" Link: https://whereby.com/david-maxwell

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com