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Happy National Airborne Day – August 16th
Quotes of the Day:
"The trooper who jumps into the night and goes into battle by parachute… is not only an elite soldier, but he is a special breed of man who must fight beyond the ordinary physical and mental pressures of combat."
– General Matthew B. Ridgway
"Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I’ll show you a man who’ll fight."
– General James M. Gavin
"The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was something that was bigger than themselves. They were the sons of democracy, and they were the men of Airborne."
– General Dwight D. Eisenhower
1. Yoon calls for ‘freedom-based unification’ with North Korea under ROK rule
2. HRNK's New Website Launch
3. Yoon's new foreign policy adviser visits U.S. to discuss alliance, U.S. election
4. Yoon backs expanded government information operation targeting North Koreans
5. Yoon's 'unification doctrine' aims to reform North Korea
6. Seoul to hold Ulchi civil defense exercise next week
7. N. Korean leader exchanges message with Putin on 79th anniv. of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule
8. Defense minister nominee says open to all means to respond to N.K. threats
9. U.S. official hints at trilateral summit among leaders of S. Korea, U.S., Japan by end of this year
10. Unification minister calls on N. Korea to accept S. Korea's offer for dialogue channel
11. N. Korea's Kim vows to transform backward regions following downpours in border areas
12. North Korea threat still overshadows K-culture: Survey
13. Army brigade with no ‘luxury of time’ rehearses sudden deployment to South Korea
14. Ministry of Unification announces follow-up implementation plan for 'August 15 Unification Doctrine'
15. In Senegal, a rare look inside an abandoned North Korean Embassy
16. ＜Video Interview＞The Voice of a North Korean Woman (2) Confusion over 'Severing Ties with South Korea' Policy, Strengthening Rule by Fear: 'A World Where We Can't Speak Freely...'
17. The Significance and Implications of North Korea’s Garbage Balloon Tactics
1. Yoon calls for ‘freedom-based unification’ with North Korea under ROK rule
Who can be opposed to freedom based unification? Should we listen to those who want to either maintain the status quo (which means the continued enslavement of the Korean people in the north) or who want to continue to pursue the failed unification (along with the failed denuclearization) policies of the last few decades?
NK News Pro published this derogatory headline: "Yoonification: ROK president makes no room for Kim Jong Un in a unified Korea." I do not have a subscription to NK Pro so I cannot post the article. But the agenda of NK News and its companion NK Pro is decidedly against the Yoon administration's unification plans.
Here is a link to my X/twitter exchange with epublisher/owner of NK News Chad O'Carroll. in which I call him out.
https://x.com/chadocl/status/1824193811020648604
Yoon calls for ‘freedom-based unification’ with North Korea under ROK rule
President emphasizes need to liberate DPRK people in new policy that experts say endorses unification by absorption
https://www.nknews.org/2024/08/yoon-calls-for-freedom-based-unification-with-north-korea-under-rok-rule/
Jeongmin Kim August 15, 2024
Yoon Suk-yeol at the National Liberation Day celebration | Image: ROK Presidential Office (Aug. 15, 2024)
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol embraced a new vision of unification that seeks to “extend freedom” to the suffering masses in North Korea on Thursday, deviating from decades of policy toward Pyongyang by all but explicitly endorsing regime change and peaceful unification under ROK rule.
In a 20-minute speech to mark National Liberation Day, Yoon framed his unification doctrine as a continuation of efforts to liberate the Korean Peninsula from not only Japanese colonial rule but also the Kim family’s authoritarian dictatorship.
“The freedom we enjoy must be extended to the frozen kingdom of the North, where people are deprived of freedom and suffer from poverty and starvation,” the South Korean president said on the anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II.
“Only when a unified, free and democratic nation rightfully owned by the people is established across the entire Korean Peninsula will we finally have complete liberation.”
In support of this goal, Yoon called for efforts to “change the minds of North Koreans to make them ardently desire freedom-based unification,” including by making it easier for the country’s people to access outside information.
While Yoon’s speech recycled ideas that he has articulated throughout his presidency, experts told NK News that his championing of a “unified Republic of Korea” represents Seoul’s most explicit policy statement to date in support of unification by absorption.
They characterized the change as a partisan departure from the unification roadmap that previous conservative and progressive administrations have pursued since at least the early 1990s, which called for unification after seeking initial “reconciliation and cooperation” with the North.
While the experts welcomed Yoon’s promotion of efforts to improve DPRK human rights, they noted that a unification vision that seeks to highlight rights abuses and exclude the Kim family guarantees that Pyongyang will reject Seoul’s calls for inter-Korean cooperation.
“This may be an accurate reflection of how the North Korean system works and the necessity of widespread human rights abuses. But this is no basis for dialogue with the North,” said Peter Ward, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute. “Telling a would-be counterpart to dialogue that you see them as indelibly evil is probably not going to induce them to come to the table to negotiate on denuclearization.”
A performance at the National Liberation Day celebration | Image: ROK Presidential Office (Aug. 15, 2024)
REGIME CHANGE?
Yoon’s speech on Thursday sought to present his plan to update South Korea’s 30-year-old unification roadmap, following two years of research by multiple government departments to devise a new one.
Overall, the doctrine that Yoon laid out on Thursday emphasized “freedom” as the fundamental value driving Seoul’s future unification efforts, using the term over 50 times in the speech.
“My fellow Koreans, the future of the unified ROK that we envision is clear: A country full of happiness where people’s freedom and safety are guaranteed; a strong and prosperous country soaring through creativity and innovation; a country that contributes to global peace and prosperity while spearheading international harmony and development,” he said.
The president outlined three main tasks for achieving this vision: addressing social divisions in South Korea, changing North Koreans’ views on unification and winning global support.
The doctrine is “primarily premised upon crushing the North Korean system as it currently exists, which the present government associates with human rights abuses,” Ward of the Sejong Institute assessed.
Lee Sang-sin, director of the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), noted that previous administrations have never used the term “unified Republic of Korea” before.
“While the 1994 roadmap primarily dealt with the method of unification, this time, the administration presents a general vision and strategy for post-unification. It almost explicitly notes that unification means North Korea’s incorporation into South Korea’s liberal democratic system,” he explained.
The conservative Kim Young-sam administration’s 1994 roadmap was built on a 1989 version, and it set up three core principles that progressive and conservative administrations have since followed: autonomy, peace and democracy.
The first principle indicates that Korean compatriots should independently pursue unification, and the second rejects unification through war or absorption. The final principle specifies that unification should be achieved through “democratic integration” based on the “freedom and rights” of everyone on the Korean Peninsula.
But experts said Yoon’s new policy abandons some of these principles by embracing a kind of unification by absorption, while lacking the broad bipartisan support of the previous roadmap.
“It is worth stressing that Kim Young-sam’s plan was less partisan than Yoon’s, hence why it survived multiple progressive governments — whereas this one is as partisan as it gets,” Ward said.
In his speech, Yoon notably stressed the need to fight fake news and accelerate social reforms to ameliorate social divisions within the South, denouncing “pseudo-intellectuals” who harm society and labeling them “anti-freedom, anti-unification forces.”
“One may agree or disagree with it, but he basically implies his partisan opponents are peddling lies and fake news, and his way is the only way,” Ward said. “Given what a big deal unification policy is, clearly a bipartisan consensus is needed, and he’s not trying to create one.”
Lee agreed that the previous roadmaps succeeded because they garnered support from conservatives and progressives, following a lengthy process of consultations with civil society and the political opposition.
“Despite not being a legally mandated roadmap, this survived due to the fact that it went through a nationwide consensus-building procedure — quite rare in South Korea,” he said.
But the current “political polarization” means it will be “impossible” for Yoon’s roadmap to garner the same level of political and social consensus, Lee explained, noting that the main opposition party boycotted the National Liberation Day event where Yoon delivered his speech.
Yoon Suk-yeol at the Liberation Day event | Image: ROK Presidential Office (Aug. 15, 2024)
‘CHANGING’ NORTH KOREA
One of the main tasks Yoon emphasized was the need to convince North Koreans to support “freedom-based unification.”
To accomplish this, Yoon called for expanding efforts to publicize human rights abuses in the DPRK, including by creating a human rights fund and hosting international conferences on such issues.
He also cited defector testimonials about how K-dramas and South Korean radio made them “aware of North Korea’s false propaganda and instigations” to support the dissemination of information into the country.
“We will expand the ‘right of access to information’ so that North Koreans will be able to use various channels to secure a variety of outside information,” Yoon said.
Though he did not specify how Seoul will accomplish this, the ROK military recently restarted loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the border, and South Korean activists have long sought to send anti-regime leaflets and other materials into the country by balloon and other methods.
“If more North Koreans come to recognize that unification through freedom is the only way to improve their lives and are convinced that a unified ROK will embrace them, they will become strong, friendly forces for a freedom-based unification,” he said, emphasizing the need to “instill” such beliefs in the younger generation.
At the same time, Yoon said South Korea will maintain a policy of offering humanitarian aid to North Korea despite its rejection of such assistance, while proposing the establishment of an inter-Korean working group to promote dialogue.
Ward of the Sejong Institute said those concerned about DPRK human rights will welcome Yoon’s remarks given his strong commitment to raising the issue internationally.
But he said that the president’s emphasis on human rights abuses and other language likely to alienate Pyongyang won’t be conducive to improving the country’s humanitarian situation.
“Good politics, but if your primary target is the North Korean people, it’s bad policy. You want to minimize the loss of face to Pyongyang if you actually want to help the North Korean people,” the expert explained.
He gave a similar assessment of Yoon’s strategy of seeking to win over North Koreans through information campaigns.
“It’s also great politics, but really, if you plan on spreading messages inside North Korea and doing so effectively, probably don’t announce it on the biggest stage that exists in national politics,” Ward said.
Edited by Bryan Betts
2. HRNK's New Website Launch
Please visit the new HRNK web site to see the incredible work that this very small organization does to try to help the Korean people in the north.
Please see Greg Scarlatoiu's message below.
The web site describes its great work which is really worth seeing. But it is also a tremendous research resource for anyone who wants to understand what is happening in north Korea.
Please visit the website at this link: https://www.hrnk.org/
For transparency I am a member of the board of directors of HRNK, thus my bias.
HRNK's New Website Launch
Thursday, August 15th, 2024
Help HRNK spread the word!
HRNK, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, relies on donations to support our programs and to provide website content and services free of charge without commercial advertising. Your support enables HRNK to continue our important work promoting human rights in North Korea.
Thank you!
Donate
Dear Friends of HRNK,
To celebrate Korean Independence Day, HRNK has launched our new website today, August 15. While continuing to strive to be a thorough human rights investigator and a source of relevant information and analysis, we pledge never to relent in our efforts to bring self determination, freedom, human rights, and prosperity to Koreans living in the North.
Sincerely yours,
Greg Scarlatoiu
Executive Director
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK)
Go to Website
3. Yoon's new foreign policy adviser visits U.S. to discuss alliance, U.S. election
Yoon's new foreign policy adviser visits U.S. to discuss alliance, U.S. election | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · August 16, 2024
WASHINTON, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- Chang Ho-jin, new foreign policy adviser to President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrived in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to meet with officials and discuss the countries' alliance, the upcoming U.S. election and other bilateral issues.
Chang's trip came days after he was replaced as South Korea's top national security adviser and assigned to the newly created position of Yoon's special adviser for foreign and security affairs in a surprise reshuffle.
"It has been nearly a year since we had the Camp David summit," Chang told reporters upon arriving at Dulles International Airport, referring to the landmark trilateral leaders' gathering among South Korea, the United States and Japan.
"I plan to discuss how we can effectively conclude issues, like the South Korea-U.S. alliance, during the remaining term of the Biden administration," Chang said.
"Since my position has changed, I plan to talk about my duties as well and hear about how the presidential election in the U.S. has been unfolding," he added.
The new unification strategy, announced by Yoon in his Liberation Day speech Thursday, will also be among the agenda items for discussions with people he will meet, Chang said.
Chang said he had "nothing special to say" about the latest reshuffle.
The unexpected replacement of Chang and the defense minister has spawned various speculation about the real reasons behind the reshuffle, including Yoon's close ties with the new defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun.
Shin Won-sik, the outgoing defense minister, succeeded Chang as Yoon's top security aide. Shin will continue to serve as defense minister until his successor takes office after a parliamentary confirmation hearing.
Chang, a career diplomat and former vice foreign minister, was appointed as the national security adviser in January.
Chang Ho-jin, special adviser for foreign and security affairs to President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at Dulles International Airport, near Washington, D.C., on Aug. 15, 2024. (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · August 16, 2024
4. Yoon backs expanded government information operation targeting North Koreans
I disagree with the idea that minds need to be changed. The Korean people in the north need information so they can be empowered to make their own decisions and seek change. Here are some recommendations:
Recommendations.
Deterring war remains the overarching priority for the ROK/U.S. alliance. However, information can play an effective role in both supporting the alliance’s priority while exerting unprecedented pressure on Kim Jong Un. The alliance should execute a superior political warfare strategy that consists of three lines of effort: a human rights upfront approach, information campaign, and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.[i] The following are the highlights of what should be included as part of an overt public diplomacy/information campaign.
-
Highlight the cost for Koreans of Kim’s nuclear and missile activities. It is estimated that Kim spent $560 million on missile activities alone in 2022 and the Korean people in the north should know that is money that could have been used to feed the people.[ii]
- Overarching narrative: Every response to the regime’s nuclear and missile activities must include a human rights response. For example, Kim Jong Un’s deliberate decision to prioritize nuclear and missile development is solely responsible for the suffering of the Korea people in the North.
-
Establish a “Korea Desk” at the Global Engagement Center to coordinate U.S. information activities.[iii]
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Establish an alliance organization to plan and conduct combined political warfare with a supporting information campaign.[iv]
- Direct ROK and US military psychological operations forces to create a campaign targeting the north Korean People’s Army (nKPA) with two objectives: first is to prevent an attack of the South. The second is to disobey orders directing the suppression of any collective action by the Korean people. The nKPA must decide not to put down any resistance to the Kim family regime.
- Develop technologies to penetrate the north Korea intranet system and smart phones and other digital capabilities.
- Use the 10 Point Promise as a key message to assist the Korean people in the north to create change inside the north and to help prepare them for what will come after the Kim family regime.
-
Establish an Escapee (Defector) Information Institute to harness the expertise of key communicators from the north to shape themes and messages and advise on all aspect of the information campaign.[v]
· Effectively employ the $40 million allocated the 2023 NDAA provided to the Korean Services of VOA and RFA to increase broadcasts to a level that optimizes access and coverage.[vi]
· Fully implement the information planning requirements in the “Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2022.''[vii]
- Design an overt ‘public diplomacy”/information campaign targeting the north Korean people based on Information, Knowledge, Facts/Truth, Understanding, and Voices from north Korea:
1. Information involves massive quantities of information from entertainment to news.
2. Knowledge means practical information on how to effect change, best practices for agriculture and market activity, communication techniques to counter regime surveillance operations, and educational lessons without Juche influence.
3. Facts/Truth reflects the reality about the regime and the situation in north Korea as well as the outside world and especially in South Korea
4. Understanding helps the Korean people in the north familiarize themselves with the inalienable and universal rights that belong to all human beings which includes the right to self-determination of government (per Article 21 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
5. Voices from north Korea demonstrating the success of escapees in the South and around the world.
· Design a counter north Korean propaganda campaign
o Recognize the Kim family regime’s strategy(s),
o Understand the strategy(s),
o EXPOSE the strategy(s) to inoculate the Korean and American publics and the international community, and
o Attack the strategy(s) with a superior form of political warfare (led by information).
[i] David Maxwell “A Three Part Plan To Enhance President Yoon’s North Korea Strategy: Toward A Free And Unified Korea,” 19Forty Five, September 2, 2022
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/09/a-three-part-plan-to-enhance-president-yoons-north-korea-strategy-toward-a-free-and-unified-korea/ See also Robert Joseph, Robert Collins, Joseph DeTrani, Nicholas Eberstadt, Olivia Enos, David Maxwell, and Greg Scarlatoiu, “National Strategy for Countering North Korea,” National Institute for Public Policy, No. 545, January 23, 2023, https://nipp.org/information_series/robert-joseph-robert-collins-joseph-detrani-nicholas-eberstadt-olivia-enos-david-maxwell-and-greg-scarlatoiu-national-strategy-for-countering-north-korea-no-545-january-23-2023/
[ii] Michael Lee, Jeong Jin-Woo, Chung Yeong-Gyo , “North Korea spends money it needs for food on missiles,” Joongang Ilbo, December 12, 2022, https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/12/12/national/northKorea/Korea-North-Korea-food-insecurity/20221212190148616.html
[iii] U.S. Department of State, Global Engagement Center, https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-public-diplomacy-and-public-affairs/global-engagement-center/
[iv] Bradley Bowman and David Maxwell, Eds. “Maximum Pressure 2.0 A Plan for North Korea,” Foundation for Defense of Democracies, December 5, 2019, page 50. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/12/3/maximum-pressure-2/
[v] Ibid, page 51.
[vi] Ethan Jewell, “US earmarks $40M for radio broadcasts into North Korea in honor of Otto Warmbier,” NK News, December 26, 2022, https://www.nknews.org/2022/12/us-earmarks-40m-for-radio-broadcasts-into-north-korea-in-honor-of-otto-warmbier/?utm
[vii] Brian Planalp, “President Biden signs legislation in Otto Warmbier’s name,” Fox 19 Now, December 24, 2022
https://www.fox19.com/2022/12/24/president-biden-passes-legislation-otto-warmbiers-name/
Yoon backs expanded government information operation targeting North Koreans
President talks up propaganda push to 'change minds,' counter Pyongyang efforts
washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon
By - The Washington Times - Thursday, August 15, 2024
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged in a major policy address Thursday to significantly expand the government’s information campaign aimed at North Korean citizens.
South Korean presidents customarily use the Aug. 15 Independence Day speech to offer incentives for North Korean cooperation. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has already rejected an “audacious plan” of the Yoon regime. On Thursday, Mr. Yoon suggested the establishment of a joint working group.
What attracted the most attention, however, was his vow to initiate a government-run information campaign aimed at North Koreans.
“The freedom we enjoy must be extended to the ‘frozen kingdom’ of the North,” he told South Koreans, promising to “help awaken the people of North Korea to the value of freedom.”
North Koreans lack the rights to free expression, free movement, free worship or free information.
“We need to change the minds of the North Korean people to make them ardently desire a freedom-based unification,” Mr. Yoon said.
Citing testimony from North Korean defectors, he said it was clear that South Korean broadcasts “made them aware of the false propaganda and instigations emanating from the North Korean regime.”
The Kim government has established ruthless border controls, policed online content and gone to other extremes to prevent outside information from reaching its citizens.
Though North Korea jams signals from the South and North Korean TV and radio dials are preprogrammed to Northern channels, South Korea broadcasts propaganda and K-pop music hits over the tense DMZ via giant banks of mobile speakers.
The range of those broadcasts is necessarily limited. Mr. Yoon said South Korea must do more to reach a larger audience.
“If more North Koreans come to recognize that unification through freedom is the only way to improve their lives … they will become strong, friendly forces for a freedom-based unification.”
He vowed to open a range of channels.
“We will expand the ‘right of access to information’ so that North Koreans will be able to use various channels to secure a variety of outside information,” he said.
Reaching the ‘frozen kingdom’
Sending messages over the border will prove challenging. Few ordinary North Koreans are connected to the internet. Instead, smartphone and computer users surf a closed regime-run intranet using locally developed apps.
South Korea and the BBC broadcast via radio to North Korea, but the number of listeners receiving the signals is unknown. All the North’s radios and TVs have dials set to strictly approved stations and channels.
Private groups monitoring human rights in North Korea say that smugglers distributing forbidden South Korean content — films, TV shows, music — face the death penalty. Visiting Christian activists have been incarcerated simply for leaving Bibles in hotel rooms.
Some reports suggest that citizens can be punished for using South Korean slang terms, which they pick up from secretly watching popular South Korean entertainment on smuggled thumb drives, CDs or DVDs.
Authorities have shut down electricity in targeted areas before raids, enabling police to confiscate such media jammed in powerless devices.
Pyongyang has reacted with unexpected fury to the small numbers of nongovernmental activists in the South who send balloons loaded with leaflets and other information into the North. That information includes broadsides against Mr. Kim, news reports and pop culture content on thumb drives.
Sometimes, U.S. dollars are attached to entice North Koreans to examine the cargo inside.
The Kim regime has retaliated against the flights with rhetorical blasts from high-level officials. It escalated the dispute earlier this year by flying balloons laden with trash into the South.
Seoul gets into the game
Individuals and civic groups, not the government in Seoul, have deployed the most information dissemination activities to North Korea.
It would be virtually unprecedented for the South Korean government to initiate an information campaign beyond the familiar military loudspeaker broadcasts across the DMZ.
“Liberal governments [in Seoul] have discouraged all these efforts by the civilian sector,” said Kim Jeong-ro, of the NGO Council for Diplomacy on Korean Unification. “If the [Yoon] government encourages them by providing funds, there are many things that can be done. But this will create danger.”
Mr. Yoon has proved he is not afraid to take risks or break with past practice.
He has courted massive voter displeasure by seeking to improve long-fraught ties with Japan. Many in South Korea’s academic, media and NGO communities are strongly opposed because of Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule.
He has also faced down the medical community by demanding that South Korea, which has fewer trained doctors than many other countries in the developed world, expand its annual quota of medical students. Junior doctors have been striking against the policy since February, but Mr. Yoon has not budged.
Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based international relations expert with Troy University who teaches the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific, said South Korea has a full menu of potential tactics against the North, given the rising significance of cognitive warfare techniques.
“The guys who work on [psychological operations] in the National Intelligence Service and military are talking all kinds of things they can do,” he said. “But they have not deployed [them] due to the countermeasures they could face.”
Getting the technology right presents a first major hurdle, he said.
“Can they crack their smartphones and intranet?” he asked. “If you can get into that and find their sweet spot, there are all kinds of things you can do.”
• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.
Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
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washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon
5. Yoon's 'unification doctrine' aims to reform North Korea
Stated another way, President Yoon's unification doctrine seeks to empower the Korean people in the north to effect change from within resulting in a transformed regime that seeks peaceful unification.
Yoon's 'unification doctrine' aims to reform North Korea
The Korea Times · by 2024-08-15 13:21 | Politics · August 15, 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech marking the 79th Liberation Day in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of presidential office
New vision seeks to infuse NK residents with desire for freedom
By Anna J. Park
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that the government will work to provide North Korean residents with more information about the outside world as part of South Korea's revised doctrine on unification.
Although he also suggested dialogue and cooperation with the North, the doctrine primarily focuses on strategies to challenge the Kim Jong-un regime and influence its residents — a stance which is likely to provoke stronger resistance from the regime rather than fostering acceptance of the dialogue offer.
Yoon announced the "Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine," a revised inter-Korean unification vision that updates the earlier doctrine announced in 1994. He revealed this vision during his Liberation Day speech, stating that despite gaining independence from Japanese colonial rule (1910-45), "complete liberation remains an unfinished task" as long as the Korean Peninsula remains divided.
A key pillar of Yoon's unification doctrine is its strong emphasis on inducing change within the Kim regime and the people of North Korea. The goal is to cultivate a strong desire for unification among North Koreans, based on the principles of freedom.
"We must be more proactive in extending the value of freedom to the North and drive substantial changes. Above all, we will adopt a multifaceted approach to significantly improve human rights in North Korea. It is crucial to accurately inform our own citizens and the international community about the harsh realities of the human rights situation in North Korea," Yoon said during the ceremony.
For this change, Yoon emphasized the importance of awakening North Korean people to the value of freedom, indicating that the government will continue its propaganda campaign using various tools.
Full text of Yoon's Liberation Day speech
"We will expand the right of access to information so that North Koreans can utilize various channels to obtain a broad range of outside information," he said.
Yoon also pledged to establish a North Korea freedom and human rights fund to actively support nongovernmental efforts that promote freedom and human rights in the North.
A senior presidential office official explained that the fund is intended to officially support private organizations in openly discussing North Korea's human rights issues. The official noted that this fund should be viewed separately from the activities of some North Korean defector groups that send balloons carrying anti-regime propaganda leaflets.
The president said his government will continue efforts to improve North Korea's human rights, including hosting an international conference on the issue. The administration aims to broaden the discussion on North Korean human rights through extensive cooperation with NGOs both domestically and internationally, as well as with other countries.
President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech marking the 79th Liberation Day in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of the presidential office
Yoon also urged North Korea to establish a working-level dialogue channel promptly to address matters affecting the two Koreas.
"We will keep the door to inter-Korean dialogue wide open. Such dialogue should not be merely a political spectacle but should instead provide a substantive opportunity to discuss, for example, guaranteeing peace for our people, improving North Korea's situation, and enhancing the lives of all involved," Yoon said.
The president stressed that the two Koreas can "immediately begin political and economic cooperation the moment North Korea takes just one step toward denuclearization," urging the North to respond to the proposal.
He proposed that the two Koreas establish an "Inter-Korean Working Group" to address various issues, including the easing of tensions, economic cooperation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, as well as responses to disasters and climate change.
President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech marking the 79th Liberation Day in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of the presidential office
Lastly, Yoon stressed that South Korea will play a responsible role in the international community and collaborate with global partners as it pursues its unification policies.
"Our unification is a significant undertaking to spread the universal values of freedom and human rights and has a direct bearing on world peace and the prosperity of humanity. We must make sure that the international community is convinced that a unified Republic of Korea will be a country that contributes to peace and prosperity around the world," he said.
The Korea Times · by 2024-08-15 13:21 | Politics · August 15, 2024
6. Seoul to hold Ulchi civil defense exercise next week
Seoul to hold Ulchi civil defense exercise next week
The Korea Times · August 16, 2024
The photo taken on Aug. 18, 2023 shows Ulchi civil defense exercise taking place in front of the National Assembly. Yonhap
A four-day civil defense exercise will be held in Seoul next week, including an air raid evacuation drill on the last day, the city government said Friday.
It is part of the annual Ulchi exercise to be held across the nation from Monday to Thursday in an effort to check on contingency plans to prepare for war and other national emergency situations.
This year's exercise will involve simulations of a drone attack and the launch of trash-carrying balloons from North Korea.
In Seoul, about 170 institutions and some 140,000 people will take part in the exercise.
The city government will open a war situation room and conduct a discussion on wartime issues and a tabletop exercise. Mayor Oh Se-hoon will preside over a meeting Monday on a simulated drone threat situation, officials said.
On Tuesday, a counterterrorism exercise will be held at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in eastern Seoul to minimize damage in case of drone threats or infiltrations of special operations units against multiuse facilities.
On the final day, an anti-air raid evacuation exercise will be held, in which people will be required to evacuate to the nearest shelters or underground facilities as part of a civil defense drill at 2 p.m.
Cars traveling in areas where traffic is restricted should stop and pull over under police guidance for five minutes after the alarm goes off.
The locations of the shelters are available at the National Disaster and Safety Portal and the Emergency Ready App.
The Ulchi exercise was launched in 1969 following a raid by North Korean commandos on the presidential residence in Seoul the previous year. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · August 16, 2024
7. N. Korean leader exchanges message with Putin on 79th anniv. of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule
The Russia-north Korea relationship is based on fear, weakness, desperation, and envy.
N. Korean leader exchanges message with Putin on 79th anniv. of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · August 16, 2024
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has exchanged a message with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule and vowed to bolster ties with Moscow, state media reported Friday.
Putin extended a message to Kim earlier this week to offer congratulations on the Aug. 15 anniversary, and Kim sent a reply Thursday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
In the message, Putin expressed his belief that thoroughly implementing the agreements reached during his summit with Kim in June in Pyongyang would continue to promote the expansion of reciprocal bilateral cooperation.
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 16, 2024, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un visiting the Liberation Tower in Pyongyang to pay tribute to fallen soldiers of the former Soviet Union the previous day to mark the 79th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
In response, Kim stressed that friendly feelings between the peoples of the two nations have been "forged and deepened" in a bloody struggle against the common enemy.
He said the bonds serve as a strong driving force for developing their ties into "invincible comradeship and for promoting the building of powerful states in the two countries and the building of a multi-polarized new world," according to the KCNA.
North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military and other cooperation on the occasion of Moscow's war in Ukraine. After summit talks in Pyongyang, Kim and Putin signed a new partnership treaty that includes a mutual defense clause.
Meanwhile, the North's leader visited the Liberation Tower on Thursday to pay tribute to Soviet Union soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The Liberation Tower is a monument built in Pyongyang in 1947 to honor the Red Army from the former Soviet Union that the North claimed helped liberate Korea from Japan's colonial rule.
On the same day, Kim also visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mount Taesong, where the bodies of anti-Japanese fighters were buried.
It marked his first known visit to the cemetery on the day of liberation.
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 16, 2024, shows leader Kim Jong-un visiting the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mount Taesong the previous day to mark the 79th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · August 16, 2024
8. Defense minister nominee says open to all means to respond to N.K. threats
Please make sure the number one response is based on information going into north Korea.
Defense minister nominee says open to all means to respond to N.K. threats | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 16, 2024
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister nominee Kim Yong-hyun said Friday he was open to all means to respond to North Korea's nuclear threats, while reaffirming that the alliance with the United States remains the basis in dealing with such threats.
Kim made the remarks after being questioned on the possibility of South Korea developing nuclear weapons of its own amid persistent domestic calls for such arms to deter North Korea.
"Responding to North Korean nuclear threats based on extended deterrence and the nuclear umbrella is the standard," Kim said, referring to the U.S. commitment to mobilizing the full-range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend an ally.
"But when looking at the people's safety as the top priority, and if that is determined to be not enough to handle North Korea's nuclear threats, all means and methods are open."
The Presidential Security Service chief has previously called for the need for South Korea to acquire nuclear arms.
Regarding North Korea's recent provocative acts, such as launches of trash-carrying balloons across the border, Kim said he would take measures by prioritizing the public's safety.
On Monday, President Yoon Suk Yeol named Kim, a retired three-star Army general, as defense minister to replace Shin Won-sik, who has been appointed as the new national security adviser.
Kim will have to undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing before he takes office, but the hearing is widely seen as a formality because his formal appointment does not require endorsement from the National Assembly.
In South Korea, the prime minister is the only Cabinet post that requires parliamentary approval.
Defense Minister nominee Kim Yong-hyun speaks to reporters at the defense ministry's compound in central Seoul on Aug. 16, 2024. (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 16, 2024
9. U.S. official hints at trilateral summit among leaders of S. Korea, U.S., Japan by end of this year
U.S. official hints at trilateral summit among leaders of S. Korea, U.S., Japan by end of this year | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · August 16, 2024
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- A White House official on Thursday suggested the possibility of holding a trilateral summit among the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan by the end of this year, following the historic Camp David summit last year.
Mira Rapp-Hooper, the senior director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council, made the remarks, emphasizing that the three countries will continue to build the partnership and put it on strategic footing for the long term, including by holding "another trilateral leaders summit before the end of the calendar year this year."
Rapp-Hooper spoke at the Hudson Institute think tank event, marking the first anniversary of the Camp David summit. The summit was the first-ever stand-alone trilateral meeting among South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, which resulted in a series of landmark agreements.
"Our task, of course, is to ensure that this partnership stands the test of time, and I'm confident that the work we've done to date, along with what we will undertake in the next six months, will continue to strengthen the U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral partnership for years to come," she said. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
The anticipated meeting, however, comes at a time of political change. Kishida has said he will step down next month, and Biden has also dropped out of the presidential race.
Rapp-Hooper acknowledged Kishida's announcement, noting that it "reminds us that political change in all of our systems is inevitable."
However, she emphasized that the three countries have spent the last year focusing on how to institutionalize various forms of trilateral cooperation, ensuring that these efforts will withstand political changes and endure in the long term.
Regarding North Korea, Rapp-Hooper expressed concern over the burgeoning ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, noting that this development has direct implications not only for the Korean Peninsula but also for the broader Indo-Pacific region and allies in Europe.
She hinted at further actions to pressure North Korea, stating, "We're working alongside these partners, as well as with European partners, to identify new sanctions targets for individuals and entities that are facilitating payments and weapons transfers, and are undermining U.N. Security Council resolutions."
She also noted that North Korea has shown no interest in dialogue, but the U.S., South Korea and Japan will continue to coordinate diplomatic strategies to engage with Pyongyang.
"Ultimately, we do hope that Pyongyang will see fit to engage with at least one of us at some point," she said.
Mira Rapp-Hooper, the senior director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council (Yonhap)
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · August 16, 2024
10. Unification minister calls on N. Korea to accept S. Korea's offer for dialogue channel
He is offering Kim a chance to change and become a responsible member of the international community. Change or be changed.
Unification minister calls on N. Korea to accept S. Korea's offer for dialogue channel | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · August 16, 2024
By Kim Soo-yeon and Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Friday called on North Korea to respond to South Korea's offer for an official dialogue platform and resume suspended inter-Korean communication channels.
Kim made the call a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol proposed to North Korea the establishment of a working-level dialogue channel that can "take up any issue" in an address marking Liberation Day.
Yoon unveiled a vision for freedom-based unification with North Korea and pledged to expand the inflow of outside information into the North.
"As the president proposed the establishment of a dialogue channel between the two Koreas, (I) am calling on North Korea to accept it," Kim told a press briefing.
The minister said South Korea is open to discussing any topics, including North Korea's denuclearization, humanitarian issues and inter-Korean exchanges.
"To this end, the inter-Korean liaison communication line and the military hotlines that North Korea unilaterally suspended should be resumed," he said.
Yoon's unification vision came in an update to the government's unification formula unveiled in 1994 that calls for the pursuit of reconciliation and cooperation, the creation of a Korean commonwealth and the completion of a unified country.
This file photo, provided by the Ministry of Unification on Aug. 1, 2024, shows Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho speaking at a ceremony in Paju, some 40 kilometers northwest of Seoul, to commemorate North Korean defectors who died during their escape. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · August 16, 2024
11. N. Korea's Kim vows to transform backward regions following downpours in border areas
Actually the opportunity for transformation of the territory of the north will come when there is unification. The northern territory will be able to be rebuilt with leap ahead technology and concepts for smart cities and transportation infrastructure that could be a model for the world.
N. Korea's Kim vows to transform backward regions following downpours in border areas | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · August 16, 2024
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to transform backward regions, as the recent downpours in the country's northwestern border areas left many flood victims displaced and caused damage, state media reported Friday.
Kim made the remark Thursday during his visit to lodging quarters in Pyongyang prepared for the victims from flood-hit areas in North Phyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Heavy rains in late July inundated large areas along the Amnok River, with some South Korean media outlets reporting that the number of those who died or went missing probably exceeded 1,000.
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 16, 2024, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un (C) hugging a child who arrived in Pyongyang the previous day due to damage from the latest flood in the country's northern border areas. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The North's leader said going beyond recovery work in the affected areas, the country needs to turn them into a "model and textbook" of regions to become "urbanized, modernized and civilized."
"Our confidence in changing today's disaster to a watershed for transforming regions has become more unwavering based on this unity of the whole society," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.
During last week's trip to Uiju County in North Phyongan, Kim met with flood victims staying at a temporary shelter and promised to bring them to Pyongyang.
The KCNA said more than 13,000 victims, including children, the elderly and sick people, arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday and came to lodging quarters.
Photos carried by the state media showed Kim looking around children having meals. He was seen hugging a child and wiping tears of another in an apparent bid to show an image of a leader caring for the people.
Last week, Kim promised to support flood victims without outside help in a message that amounts to rejecting international aid and South Korea's proposal for flood damage relief.
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 16, 2024, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un (C) meeting with children who arrived in Pyongyang the previous day to stay in lodging quarters due to the latest flood in the country's northern border areas. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · August 16, 2024
12. North Korea threat still overshadows K-culture: Survey
Excerpt:
The survey, released on Wednesday by the Corea Image Communication Institute, found that 83.9 percent of foreign respondents identified North Korea's security threat as their foremost association with Korea. This starkly contrasts with the 84.7 percent of Korean respondents, who primarily viewed Korea as a cultural powerhouse. Only 30.1 percent of foreigners considered Korea as a cultural leader.
North Korea threat still overshadows K-culture: Survey
koreaherald.com · by Lee Jung-youn · August 16, 2024
By Lee Jung-youn
Published : Aug. 16, 2024 - 16:38
Soldiers collect the contents of a trash-carrying balloon sent by North Korea that landed in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, July 24. (Yonhap)
Despite the rapid rise of South Korea's cultural and artistic presence on the global stage -- driven by the growth of K-pop, films, and dramas -- a recent survey reveals that the dominant image foreigners associate with Korea is still the threat from North Korea.
The survey, released on Wednesday by the Corea Image Communication Institute, found that 83.9 percent of foreign respondents identified North Korea's security threat as their foremost association with Korea. This starkly contrasts with the 84.7 percent of Korean respondents, who primarily viewed Korea as a cultural powerhouse. Only 30.1 percent of foreigners considered Korea as a cultural leader.
When asked about their preferences for Korean-related products, 65.4 percent of Koreans chose K-beauty cosmetics as their top choice, while 78.7 percent of foreigners favored Korean food.
Regarding the most popular K-culture sectors on online streaming platforms, 88.3 percent of Koreans selected dramas and movies, whereas 89.1 percent of foreign respondents chose K-pop.
As for areas of improvement to expand K-culture's global influence, 83.4 percent of Koreans emphasized the need to nurturing creative talent, while 91.9 percent of foreigners highlighted the importance of localization and overcoming language barriers.
One area of agreement between Korean and foreign respondents was the importance of developing youth sports for the globalization of Korean sports. This view was shared by 72.6 percent of Korean and 90.5 percent of foreign respondents.
In terms of what most intrigued foreigners about Korean culture, the low risk of losing one's possessions ranked highest at 83.0 percent, followed by early morning delivery services at 50.0 percent.
The survey, conducted from July 26 to Aug. 13, involved 435 participants, including 223 Koreans and 212 foreigners, who responded via email and web links.
koreaherald.com · by Lee Jung-youn · August 16, 2024
13. Army brigade with no ‘luxury of time’ rehearses sudden deployment to South Korea
The two laws of physics we have not been able to overcome: time and distance.
Nathan Bedford Forest said that the secret to his success was to "get there the firstest with the mostest." That still applies today.
Army brigade with no ‘luxury of time’ rehearses sudden deployment to South Korea
Stars and Stripes · by David Choi · August 15, 2024
U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams tanks operated by the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, part of the 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, stand by for a drill at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
POCHEON, South Korea — Anti-tank rounds flew from a column of M1A2 Abrams tanks Wednesday at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, a short drive from the border with North Korea.
The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, part of the 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, was taking part in Operation Pacific Fortitude, a test of the Army’s ability to quickly deploy and defend South Korea in case of war.
Two weeks earlier, the brigade unexpectedly received orders to deploy roughly 800 soldiers to South Korea within 10 days.
Only a handful of soldiers from U.S. Army Forces Command in North Carolina and Eighth Army at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, knew of Pacific Fortitude, and they were only privy to certain details, according to Eighth Army’s director of future planning Col. Denise Little and operations planner Capt. Coty Ruether.
The Forces Command, responsible for combat readiness across the Army, released details of the exercise to planners six months ahead; but the unit involved and the exercise dates were withheld until the final stages “so the unit wouldn’t catch wind,” Little said at Eighth Army headquarters Monday.
Secrecy simulates a real “no-notice alert,” she added.
Spc. Zachary Baker, an M1 armor crewman in the brigade, said he was “pretty excited” to get the surprise notice two weeks ago.
“A lot of us and a few senior members of the unit had actually worked in South Korea so we kind of know the lay of the land,” he said at the range Wednesday. “Even though it was a surprise deployment for us, we were all ready for anything.”
Most of the brigade arrived Aug. 1 throughout South Korea on commercial and military aircraft with their rifles and body armor.
An AH-64E Apache helicopter flies over the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
A tank crew assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, part of the 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, stands by at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
A U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams tank trains alongside an AH-64E Apache helicopter at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
M1A2 Abrams tanks operated by the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, part of the 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, fire anti-tank rounds at the Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
The brigade’s Abrams tanks and M109 Paladin howitzers were left at Fort Bliss, Ruether said.
Instead, the brigade requisitioned military hardware on standby in Daegu city, about 130 miles south of Seoul.
Those tanks and howitzers are the same “go-to-war set” in place should a conflict break out in South Korea, Little said.
“As it’s being used up north during the exercise, as it breaks, the unit is responsible to fix that equipment before they leave,” Ruether said. “The whole point is to have it fixed and ready to go. Once they leave and something happens, that’s the equipment we would draw for an armored brigade.”
Once the brigade familiarized itself with the heavy weapons, they were shipped 160 miles north to the range by train.
Every aspect of the exercise, from the unit’s arrival to shipping the equipment, is timed to mimic a real-world scenario, Ruether explained.
“It’s hard to find a facet of the Army that is not being tested because of this exercise,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury of time, so it’s a good exercise to have.”
The Army learned the lesson of military logistics in South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The U.S. Far East Command, responsible for military operations in the Pacific at the time, was “unprepared for a ‘come-as-you-are’ war” in South Korea, according to a 1985 U.S. Army War College study.
“As no plans existed to support U.S. combat operations in Korea, [Far East Command] and Eighth Army developed the logistics support system piecemeal from emergency to emergency,” the report said.
Army logisticians have since worked to rectify wartime supply issues and defend South Korea from a potential attack by the North, Ruether said.
“With this now, we have tanks to match tanks,” he said. “When we absorb an initial attack, we have that [equipment] that can be drawn in a week to help defend ourselves, push that equipment up north and to counter that attack.”
Stars and Stripes · by David Choi · August 15, 2024
14. Ministry of Unification announces follow-up implementation plan for 'August 15 Unification Doctrine'
This is really histori: both the emphasis on human rights, information, and unification based on freedom. I look forward to seeing the implementation plan.
The haters already have the knives of criticism out but they are mired in old thinking and with either tacit or full support to the regime in the north. The Yoon administration is offering a new "doctrine" based on both a realistic understanding of the nature, objectives,and strategy of the Kim family regime while still giving Kim an out - he can decide to become an responsible member of the international community and seek peaceful unification through negotiation. Or he can be changed by the korean people in the north. The new "dcontine" is also based on the reality that a unified Korea can only be free and cannot come through "peaceful coexistence" with the dictatorial regime in the north with 25 million people still enslaved in a "one country two systems" construct.
This is a Google translation ofna RFA report.
Ministry of Unification announces follow-up implementation plan for 'August 15 Unification Doctrine'
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/081624hw-08162024043608.html
Seoul - Hong Seung-wook hongs@rfa.org
2024.08.16
Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho is holding a briefing on the August 15 Unification Doctrine at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 16th.
Yonhap News
00:00 / 00:00
Anchor : South Korea's Unification Minister Kim Young-ho said the government will actively work to provide North Korean citizens with access to the outside world through various channels . This is part of the "August 15 Unification Doctrine " announced the previous day . Hong Seung-wook reports from Seoul .
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol announced the so-called 'August 15 Unification Doctrine ' at the 79th Liberation Day celebration held on the 15th .
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol ( 15th ) : Today , in accordance with the constitutional mandate for the president to achieve peaceful unification through freedom and democracy, I would like to declare our vision for unification and our strategy for promoting unification to our people, the people of North Korea , and the international community .
In relation to this, the South Korean Ministry of Unification announced on the 16th that it would work to ensure the so-called ' right to access information ' for North Korean residents, as emphasized by President Yoon .
Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho held a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul on this day to introduce follow-up measures to the “August 15 Unification Doctrine, ” and said that the Ministry of Unification’s efforts to support activities to promote human rights in North Korea will continue in the future .
South Korean Unification Minister Kim Young-ho : We will plan various means to objectively understand the reality of North Korea, such as the ‘North Korean Economic and Social Reality Awareness Report ,’ and devise ways to spread them .
Regarding this, Minister Kim said, “ I understand that the international community and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also discussing various methods that reflect technological advancements . ”
Regarding the establishment of an inter-Korean dialogue consultative body proposed by President Yoon, he also urged North Korea to respond .
South Korean Unification Minister Kim Young-ho : To this end, the inter-Korean joint liaison office and the East and West Sea military communication lines that were unilaterally blocked by North Korean authorities must be reactivated .
When asked whether there was any prior communication or behind-the-scenes contact with North Korea during the process of establishing the 'August 15 Unification Doctrine ' , he stated that this was the independent position of the South Korean government .
He also drew a line at some who claimed that the “ August 15 Unification Doctrine ” was in fact an absorption unification theory, saying, “ If absorption unification is defined as unification through a coercive change of status quo by force, then it is not the policy of the Korean government . ”
He also repeatedly emphasized that this announcement is a continuation of the “ National Community Unification Plan ” announced in 1994 , which seeks to achieve reconciliation and cooperation, followed by a South-North union , and then a unified nation as the next step .
It was also announced that a plan would be made to publish the ' North Korean Human Rights Report ' every year to improve human rights in North Korea and to establish the North Korea Freedom and Human Rights Fund to support private North Korea organizations carrying out related activities .
It is explained that the creation of the fund will provide stable financial resources for promoting human rights in North Korea .
Minister Kim said he would soon chair the Inter-Korean Relations Development Committee and have in-depth discussions on follow-up measures for the “August 15 Unification Doctrine , ” while also communicating and cooperating closely with the National Assembly .
President Yoon proposes formation of ' North-South Dialogue Council'
U.S. State Department: “ North Korea Must Stop Provocations and Return to Negotiations ”
In relation to this, an official from the Office of the President reported that a task force (TF) led by First Vice Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo has been formed to implement the 'August 15 Unification Doctrine ' without a hitch as soon as possible .
The dedicated team plans to promote detailed plans such as spreading human rights discourse through the ' International Conference on North Korean Human Rights ' , supporting activities to promote freedom and human rights of North Korean residents through the establishment of the ' North Korean Freedom and Human Rights Fund ' , and providing cutting-edge, field-based unification education programs .
In particular, we have decided to speed up the creation of the North Korea Freedom and Human Rights Fund so that it can be established as early as this year .
The 'August 15 Unification Doctrine ' is a new unification vision and strategy that came out 30 years after the announcement of the ' National Community Unification Plan ' , the official unification plan of the South Korean government .
Earlier, at the Liberation Day celebration ceremony the previous day, President Yoon presented three major visions for unification, three major strategies for promoting unification , and seven major plans for promoting unification under the subtitle, “ Challenges and Responses for Free Unification . ”
This is Hong Seung-wook of RFA's Radio Free Asia in Seoul .
Editor Lee Hyun-joo
15. In Senegal, a rare look inside an abandoned North Korean Embassy
A 6 minute video at the link: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-embassy-overseas-workers-08152024163209.html
It includes useful commentary from a former DPRK ambassador.
It is interesting to see what they left behind.
In Senegal, a rare look inside an abandoned North Korean Embassy
Pyongyang closed 7 embassies last year. RFA Korean got a surprise tour of one.
By Jaewoo Park and Hyung Jun You for RFA Korean
2024.08.15
Dakar, Senegal
North Korea closed its embassy in Dakar, Senegal, last year.
(RFA)
Facing a money crunch due to international sanctions, North Korea closed seven of its embassies around the world last year, including one in Dakar. RFA Korean Service reporters who were in Senegal’s capital for another story got an unexpected tour of the now-abandoned embassy that offered a rare look at the lives of North Koreans abroad.
Life is often hard for overseas North Korean workers. As much as 80% of their earnings are thought to be handed over to their government. They are forced to surrender their passports, leaving the workers vulnerable to abuse. They spend long stretches away from their families.
But in some instances living beyond North Korea’s borders can bring comparatively greater freedoms and luxuries, although workers are still closely monitored, according to Ryu Hyun-woo, a former North Korean ambassador to Kuwait who now lives in South Korea.
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The white, two-story embassy in Dakar had a pool, a rooftop deck and a large room for hosting guests. Among the litter left were wrappings for Chinese noodles and an empty DVD box.
One poster still on the wall warned of a potential threat: mixing the wrong type of foods. Beef and spinach can cause a stomach ache; pork and ginger a sore throat. Hyun-woo said he created a similar list when he was in Kuwait before he defected.
“Since we’re not always familiar with the types of food in a place like Senegal, or whether they suit our tastes, it’s sensible to be aware of food that shouldn’t be eaten together,” Hyun-woo said in an interview with RFA Korean.
Edited by Jim Snyder.
16. ＜Video Interview＞The Voice of a North Korean Woman (2) Confusion over 'Severing Ties with South Korea' Policy, Strengthening Rule by Fear: 'A World Where We Can't Speak Freely...'
Video at the link (simply the English text of the commentary is presented) https://www.asiapress.org/rimjin-gang/2024/08/movie/interview-11/
This reinforces that the ROK is on the moral high ground seeking peaceful unification based on freedom for all Koreans.
＜Video Interview＞The Voice of a North Korean Woman (2) Confusion over 'Severing Ties with South Korea' Policy, Strengthening Rule by Fear: 'A World Where We Can't Speak Freely...'
asiapress.org
At the end of last year, Kim Jong-un declared, "South Korea is an enemy, not the same ethnicity, nor a partner for unification." This major policy shift towards 'severing ties with South Korea' is causing significant ripples within North Korea. What developments have occurred since this policy was announced, and how are North Korea’s people reacting? In April 2024, ASIAPRESS spoke by phone with a female reporting partner living in the northern region. ASIAPRESS is now releasing the audio of that interview. (By KANG Ji-won)
The reporting partner says there's ongoing chaos in North Korea. Soldiers are going around erasing words and slogans like 'unification' with paint. "We're not allowed to even mention South Korea, and watching South Korean dramas or movies is now considered an act of hostility," she says.
Meanwhile, the Kim Jong-un regime is strongly promoting rule by fear, prioritizing social order and resuming public executions. The reporting partner said: "It's become a world where no one can speak freely. We have to distance ourselves even from friends and relatives."
More details about North Korea’s internal confusion and tightening of control can be found in the video.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
asiapress.org
17. The Significance and Implications of North Korea’s Garbage Balloon Tactics
Actually this is just an evolution of the regime's political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies which include unconventional and asymmetric warfare.
Excerpts:
North Korea’s use of garbage-filled balloons represents a significant and concerning shift in its approach to inter-Korean relations. This move from ideological propaganda to environmental and psychological aggression poses new challenges not only for South Korea but also for the international community as a whole. These actions are not merely symbolic provocations; they carry real and tangible implications for public health, environmental safety, and regional stability. The international community must recognize the seriousness of this development and respond with a comprehensive strategy that addresses both the immediate threats and the broader challenge of North Korea’s unpredictable and increasingly unconventional behavior.
As Pyongyang continues to evolve its tactics, it is imperative for the world to remain vigilant and adaptable, recognizing that the threats posed by North Korea extend far beyond the nuclear and military spheres and require a multifaceted and coordinated response. The future of inter-Korean relations, as well as the stability of the broader region, may well depend on how the world responds to this new and troubling phase in North Korea’s diplomatic playbook.
The Significance and Implications of North Korea’s Garbage Balloon Tactics
thediplomat.com
The act of sending waste-filled balloons is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a reminder of North Korea’s capacity for unconventional and asymmetric warfare.
By Jihoon Yu
August 13, 2024
This photo provided by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and released by South Korea Defense Ministry, shows a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, June 9, 2024.
Credit: South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff via AP
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North Korea’s recent tactic of using balloons filled with garbage, including human waste and used face masks, to send a hostile message to South Korea has sparked widespread international concern and condemnation. This unconventional and provocative strategy, now referred to as “balloon diplomacy,” marks a significant departure from Pyongyang’s traditional approach to inter-Korean relations. It is a calculated move that not only shifts the dynamics of psychological warfare but also carries profound implications for regional stability, international diplomacy, and the broader geopolitical landscape in East Asia.
Historically, both North and South Korea have employed balloons as tools of psychological warfare. These balloons, often filled with propaganda leaflets, were used to disseminate information, criticize the opposing regime, and sway public opinion. Such activities were part of a broader strategy aimed at weakening the enemy’s resolve and bolstering domestic morale. The psychological operations employed through these methods were focused on ideological persuasion, attempting to win hearts and minds on both sides of the Korean Peninsula.
However, the recent deployment of balloons filled with waste by North Korea signals a troubling evolution in this strategy. Unlike propaganda leaflets, which at least engaged in a form of ideological discourse, the use of garbage – particularly human waste – is an act of environmental and psychological aggression. This tactic marks a stark shift from traditional forms of propaganda, indicating a move away from attempts at ideological persuasion toward outright provocation and degradation. The symbolic act of sending garbage, especially waste that carries the potential for contamination, is intended to insult, degrade, and provoke not just the South Korean government but also its citizens on a deeply personal level.
The psychological impact of these waste-filled balloons cannot be overstated, especially in the context of Korean culture, where respect, honor, and dignity are highly valued. The act of sending waste is a direct affront to South Korea’s national pride and a calculated attempt to provoke an emotional response. It suggests that North Korea views South Korea as undeserving of meaningful engagement, treating it instead with contempt and ridicule.
The inclusion of used face masks, likely referencing the global COVID-19 pandemic, further adds to the psychological warfare by playing on fears of contamination and disease. This move is designed to heighten anxiety, stir public fears, and create a sense of vulnerability within South Korean society, thereby undermining confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
The environmental and public health implications of North Korea’s actions are equally alarming. The introduction of biological waste into South Korean territory poses significant risks to the environment, including the potential contamination of water sources, soil, and crops. While the immediate threat of widespread contamination may be limited by the small scale of these balloon deployments, the symbolic nature of using the environment as a weapon is deeply concerning. This act demonstrates Pyongyang’s willingness to exploit environmental vulnerabilities as a means of exerting pressure on the South.
The potential for disease transmission, though unlikely to result in a large-scale health crisis, cannot be dismissed outright. The very possibility of contamination, even if minimal, could lead to public panic, strain health services, and erode trust in public health measures.
The broader geopolitical and diplomatic implications of North Korea’s garbage balloon tactics are multifaceted. Pyongyang has a well-documented history of using provocative actions to achieve its strategic goals, often timing such incidents to coincide with critical moments in international diplomacy. These balloon tactics could be seen as an attempt to pressure South Korea and the international community, particularly the United States, into making concessions in ongoing negotiations.
The act of sending waste-filled balloons is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a reminder of North Korea’s capacity for unconventional and asymmetric warfare. While the international community is primarily focused on Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile capabilities, these balloons represent a different form of threat – one that is less predictable, more difficult to counter, and capable of causing significant disruption on multiple fronts.
For South Korea, the challenge lies in formulating an appropriate and measured response to these provocations. A strong reaction could escalate tensions, potentially leading to further provocations from the North, while a passive response could be perceived as weakness, emboldening Pyongyang to continue or even intensify such tactics. This dilemma underscores the delicate balance that South Korea must maintain in its approach to the North, highlighting the limitations of traditional diplomatic and military strategies in addressing such unconventional threats. The situation calls for a nuanced response that addresses the immediate provocation while also considering the long-term implications for inter-Korean relations and regional stability.
The use of garbage-filled balloons by North Korea also raises important questions about the international community’s approach to dealing with Pyongyang. The international response to these provocations must be carefully calibrated, recognizing the serious implications of North Korea’s actions while avoiding actions that could lead to unintended escalation. Diplomatic efforts should be intensified to address the root causes of these provocations, with a focus on deterring further aggressive actions by North Korea. At the same time, it is essential to ensure that measures are in place to protect against the environmental and public health risks posed by such tactics, including international cooperation on monitoring and responding to any potential threats.
North Korea’s use of garbage-filled balloons represents a significant and concerning shift in its approach to inter-Korean relations. This move from ideological propaganda to environmental and psychological aggression poses new challenges not only for South Korea but also for the international community as a whole. These actions are not merely symbolic provocations; they carry real and tangible implications for public health, environmental safety, and regional stability. The international community must recognize the seriousness of this development and respond with a comprehensive strategy that addresses both the immediate threats and the broader challenge of North Korea’s unpredictable and increasingly unconventional behavior.
As Pyongyang continues to evolve its tactics, it is imperative for the world to remain vigilant and adaptable, recognizing that the threats posed by North Korea extend far beyond the nuclear and military spheres and require a multifaceted and coordinated response. The future of inter-Korean relations, as well as the stability of the broader region, may well depend on how the world responds to this new and troubling phase in North Korea’s diplomatic playbook.
Authors
Guest Author
Jihoon Yu
Jihoon Yu is a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. Jihoon is the main author of the ROK Navy’s Navy Vision 2045. His area of expertise includes the ROK-U.S. alliance, the ROK-Europe security cooperation, inter-Korean relations, national security, maritime security, hybrid-threats and strategic weapons systems. He earned his BA in International Relations from the ROK Naval Academy, MA in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and Ph.D. in Political Science from Syracuse University.
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