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Quotes of the Day:
“I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good, becomes honorable by being necessary. If the exigencies of my country demand a peculiar service, its claim to perform that service are imperious."
– Nathan Hale
"Man has such a predilection for systems and abstract deductions that he is ready to distort the truth intentionally, he is ready to deny the evidence of his senses only to justify his logic."
– Fyodor Dostoyevsky
"The purpose of propaganda is to make one set of people forget that other sets of people are human."
– Aldous Huxley
1. S. Korea-U.S.-Japan partnership to remain unchanged regardless of U.S. presidential election outcome: unification minister
2. "South Korea, the US, and Japan need to cooperate with China to counter North Korea's threat... Exploiting vulnerabilities in China-Russia relations"
3. Minister plays down US parties' omission of NK denuke goal
4. S. Korea, US, Japan advised to strengthen trilateral cooperation framework
5. South Korea, United States and Japan should leverage Taiwan to influence China on North: U.S. scholar
6. British ambassador to Korea withdraws from gov't forum due to women's underrepresentation
7. South Korea’s unification plan ignores domestic and regional realities
8. Unification Minister: “South Korea, US, and Japan Cooperation to be Maintained Regardless of Leadership Change”
9. China arrests 15 North Korean escapees near Laos
10. North Korea test-fires multiple rocket launcher with new guidance system
11. Chinese movies and dramas are now also impure recordings
12. Ex-North Korea diplomat says Kim has caused regime's "downfall"
13. Japan joins exercises as power dynamics shift in Asia (with ROK and US)
14. North Korea has sent over 13K containers of weapons to Russia, Seoul says
15. [INTERVIEW] North Korea's Millennials, Gen Zers could challenge regime: Tae Yong-ho
16. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Public Trial in Hoeryong - 10-Year Sentence for 'Using Chinese Mobile Phone' Witnessed by 250 People - 'Heighten Vigilance Against Subversive Elements'
1. S. Korea-U.S.-Japan partnership to remain unchanged regardless of U.S. presidential election outcome: unification minister
I had the honor of presenting at this conference today.
I had the honor of presenting at this conference today. There was a lot more than just the headline. It was all about unification and the ROK's new "8.15 Unification Doctrine."
S. Korea-U.S.-Japan partnership to remain unchanged regardless of U.S. presidential election outcome: unification minister | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · August 28, 2024
By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said Wednesday that he believes South Korea's trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan will remain steadfast regardless of the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, in the face of North Korea's provocations.
Kim made the remarks during a forum hosted by the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul. The event brought together officials and security experts from the three nations to commemorate the first anniversary of the historic trilateral summit.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met at the Camp David presidential retreat on Aug. 18, 2023, and agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation, taking a united stand against security threats posed by North Korea.
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho speaks during an international forum in Seoul on Aug. 28, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the summit between Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, Joe Biden of the United States, and Fumio Kishida of Japan at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. (Yonhap)
"I believe that cooperation among the three nations in response to North Korea's provocations and for the denuclearization of North Korea will remain unchanged, regardless of any political leadership changes," Kim said in his opening remarks.
The comments come after both the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S. omitted the long-elusive denuclearization goal from their platforms, raising questions about how the next administration might address North Korea's nuclear threats and whether this signals a potential shift in policy focus.
"There has been much talk regarding the platforms of the current U.S. presidential candidates," Kim noted. "However, the complete denuclearization of North Korea is a solid agreement among the three countries."
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg emphasized the importance of "institutionalizing" cooperation with South Korea and Japan.
"As such, we must carry this new era of trilateral partnership forward, institutionalize our cooperation, and seek every opportunity to advance our interests together at every level," Goldberg said.
Participants, including U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, and Japanese Ambassador Koichi Mizushima (4th from L to R), pose during an international symposium in Seoul on Aug. 28, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the Camp David summit. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)
2. "South Korea, the US, and Japan need to cooperate with China to counter North Korea's threat... Exploiting vulnerabilities in China-Russia relations"
Again, I participated in this conference today. The headlines just do not do the conference justice. The focus was on Camp David and the ROK's 8.15 Unification Doctrine.
Below is a Google translation of a Korean article. The photo at the link was of the panel I participated in. We participated in great discussions all day about the ROK's new "8.15. Unification Doctrine" on the 1st anniversary of the Camp David Summit. The title of my presentation and formal paper was: "Implementing the Most Important (and most overlooked) Directive from the Camp David Summit: 'The Pursuit of a Free and Unified Korea'". We are now finally talking about unification one year later and we hope the US and Japan (and the entire international community) will support Korea's efforts to achieve a free and unified Korea. My opening quote was this: "An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo. The idea for a free and unified Korea is an idea whose time has come.
"South Korea, the US, and Japan need to cooperate with China to counter North Korea's threat... Exploiting vulnerabilities in China-Russia relations"
Posted 2024.08.28. 4:18 PM Last modified 2024.08.28. 4:18 PM Original article
Reporter Yang Eun-ha
'Camp David 1 Year and August 15 Unification Doctrine' Forum
"North Korea, China, and Russia do not trust each other... We must find the inherent limitations"
Forum on 'Camp David 1 Year and August 15 Unification Doctrine' held on the 28th at the Korea Press Center, hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the Economic and Social Research Council (provided by the Ministry of Unification)
(Seoul = News 1) Reporter Yang Eun-ha = Experts on North Korea suggested that the three countries of South Korea, the US, and Japan need to utilize China in order to suppress North Korea's offensive.
Ralph Cossa, honorary chairman of the Pacific Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ), a U.S. think tank, said in a keynote speech at the forum titled "Camp David 1 Year and August 15 Unification Doctrine" held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on the 28th, "In order to counter the security threats posed by North Korea, we need to take measures beyond strengthening trilateral security cooperation."
He said, "Such measures should be supplemented by China's efforts to support and empower North Korea and to discourage North Korean defectors from being repatriated to North Korea."
He added, "South Korea, the US, and Japan each have untapped or underused leverage in their dealings with China, so they should review and utilize this," and cited Taiwan as an example. This can be interpreted as meaning that China should be moved by utilizing the conflict between China and Taiwan.
He also said, “We need to find and exploit the inherent limitations of the ‘unrestricted’ partnership between China and Russia.” He also pointed out that “the North Korea-China-Russia alliance can be potentially destructive, but it also has vulnerabilities,” and that “neither of the three countries truly trusts the other two, and their goals, although they overlap in some areas, are not always aligned.”
Park Young-joon, director of the Institute for National Security Studies at the National Defense University, who also attended the panel, pointed out that while South Korea-US-Japan security cooperation is important for deterring North Korea and securing the Indo-Pacific region, it is necessary to simultaneously pursue policies to maintain cooperation with China. He said,
“In order to cooperate with China and ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the mechanism of the South Korea-Japan-China Summit or the activities of the South Korea-China-Japan Cooperation Secretariat ( TCS ) are necessary,” and through this, “it is necessary to explain that South Korea-US-Japan security cooperation is not in the nature of a mass military confrontation.”
Jeong Seong-yoon, director of the Unification Policy Research Center at the Korea Institute for National Unification, also pointed out that, “South Korea, the US, and Japan should engage in cooperative diplomacy to prevent China from changing its existing stance on unification of the Korean Peninsula, keeping in mind North Korea’s recent change in strategy toward South Korea.” This means that China should not be allowed to support North Korea’s “two Korea” policy.
Reporter Yang Eun-ha (yeh25@news1.kr)
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3. Minister plays down US parties' omission of NK denuke goal
Ralph Cossa was the keynote speaker. His speech was so well received that almost all panelists on all three panels referenced his remarks.
It is interesting how the headline editors focus of the various media outlets seem to focus on every issue except unification.
Minister plays down US parties' omission of NK denuke goal
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · August 28, 2024
By Ji Da-gyum
Published : Aug. 28, 2024 - 15:18
South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho (center), US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg (left) and Japan's new Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima attend a forum marking the first anniversary of the Camp David trilateral summit on Wednesday at the Korea Press Center in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Wednesday aimed to quell rising concerns in Seoul over the omission of US commitments to North Korea's denuclearization from the 2024 platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Kim remarked, "There has been back-and-forth debate recently over the platforms of US presidential candidates," specifically referring to the US Democratic Party’s platform released in August and the Republican Party’s platform from July that set the party's priorities for the next four years.
"However, the denuclearization of North Korea remains a steadfast commitment shared by South Korea, the US and Japan," Kim said in his Korean-language speech at a forum hosted by the Unification Ministry and the Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences.
"I am confident that our trilateral cooperation to achieve North Korea's denuclearization, along with our robust response to any provocations by North Korea, will remain steadfast, regardless of changes in political leadership," Kim added during the event marking the first anniversary of the first-ever standalone trilateral summit held at Camp David in August 2023.
Kim emphasized that the leaders of the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in the joint statement issued following the Camp David summit.
In South Korea, the debate has centered on the reasons behind the Democratic Party's notable absence of references to North Korean denuclearization from its 2024 party platform.
The omission stands in stark contrast to the party's 2020 presidential platform, where it committed to "a sustained, coordinated diplomatic campaign to advance the longer-term goal of denuclearization" of North Korea.
Similarly, the US Republican Party's 2024 platform has no mention of North Korea, diverging from its 2016 and 2020 platforms -- the latter of which was a reissue of the 2016 platform. In 2016, the Republican Party pledged to "demand the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program with full accounting of its proliferation activities."
Echoing Kim's sentiments, US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg emphasized ongoing collaborative efforts to institutionalize cooperation for long-term sustainability.
"As we've laid the foundations for this trilateral engagement to grow, I want to take a moment to emphasize that this past year of engagements represents only the beginning," Goldberg said. "As such, we must carry this new era of trilateral partnership forward to institutionalize our cooperation and seek all opportunities to advance our interests together at every level."
Japan's new ambassador to South Korea, Koichi Mizushima, also underlined that the current "realities demand an even greater emphasis on cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan."
Mizushima noted that "security cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan has been fundamentally strengthened," highlighting the first-ever trilateral multidomain exercise, Freedom Edge, in June and the activation of a real-time North Korean missile warning data-sharing mechanism last December as key examples.
"Beyond cooperation on North Korea, our collaboration is also expanding into various other areas, including technology, cybersecurity, space and the broader Indo-Pacific region," Mizushima said.
However, Ralph Cossa, president emeritus at the Pacific Forum, stressed the need for the three countries to intensify efforts to institutionalize their trilateral partnership, citing domestic political dynamics in each nation.
Cossa pointed to the upcoming US presidential election in November, which he noted could "result in a major shift in alliance management tactics and potentially policy," depending on the outcome.
He also highlighted the September election for the leadership of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which will determine the successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who has "been more forthcoming than many of his predecessors" regarding trilateral cooperation.
Cossa further pointed out the limitations faced by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is restricted to a single five-year term, adding, "Many are already labeling him a lame duck due to the ruling party’s setbacks in this year’s legislative elections."
"Let’s be honest," Cossa concluded. "There is a growing sense of urgency for the institutionalization of this trilateral effort."
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · August 28, 2024
4. S. Korea, US, Japan advised to strengthen trilateral cooperation framework
My provocative comment is below.
The correct reference to the author's excerpt from my presentation is that the trilateral joint statement on the one year anniversary of Camp David did not mention specifically unification, The actual Camp David summit references ad free and unified Korea in both documents, the principles of Camp David and the Spirit of Camp David. She did not mention my description of the unique American disease of "US Unification Dismissiveness"
S. Korea, US, Japan advised to strengthen trilateral cooperation framework
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, fifth from left, poses with participants of an international conference commemorating the first anniversary of the ROK-U.S.-Japan summit and 8.15 Unification Doctrine at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Wednesday. The participants include U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg, fourth from left, Japanese Ambassador Koichi Mizushima, third from right, and President Emeritus at Pacific Forum Ralph A. Cossa, right. Yonhap
Experts urge China to play bigger role in Korean Peninsula issue
By Kwak Yeon-soo
South Korea, the U.S., and Japan should institutionalize their trilateral efforts to deter North Korea and discourage China from supporting the Kim Jong-un regime, political analysts said, Wednesday.
Ralph A. Cossa, president emeritus and WSD-Handa chair in peace studies at the Pacific Forum, described the Camp David Declaration as “so far, so good.” However, he noted that the current strategic environment, where Beijing and Moscow are competing to see who can support Pyongyang the most, indicates that much more needs to be done.
Calling North Korea-Russia relations an “unholy alliance,” he raised concerns about the “three versus three” or “zero-sum” alignment in Northeast Asia.
“There is a growing sense of urgency behind the need for institutionalization of trilateral efforts,” Cossa said during an international conference commemorating the first anniversary of the ROK-U.S.-Japan summit and President Yoon Suk Yeol's 8.15 Unification Doctrine in Seoul, Wednesday.
He said the three-way partnership faces a significant test due to several factors. Yoon is limited to a single term and is already being labeled a lame duck following setbacks for his ruling party in parliamentary elections. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is facing uncertain domestic political stability, and the upcoming U.S. presidential elections could lead to changes in alliance management policies.
Cossa called on China to play a bigger role in Korean unification, adding that South Korea, China and the U.S should seek common ground and a long-term vision that might not be seen as ideal to any but would be acceptable to all.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, center, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive for a press conference during a trilateral summit at Camp David in Maryland, Aug. 18, 2023. AFP-Yonhap
Kim Jae-chun, professor of international relations at Sogang University, said a key future task for the South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation framework is to ensure continuity. This is crucial as North Korea’s strategic value to China and Russia has increased significantly in recent years.
“To garner active support from the (South) Korean public for the trilateral cooperation framework, it is necessary for (South) Korea and Japan to be perceived as equal partners. Amending the (South) Korea-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement to allow (South) Korea to attain nuclear potential at the same level of Japan could help foster the perception that (South) Korea and Japan are equal partners,” Kim said.
He also stressed the need for a multilateral, lattice-like framework rather than a "hub and spokes" system of bilateral alliances.
“There is also a need to transform the bilateral nuclear agreements between (South) Korea and the U.S. and between the U.S. and Japan into a trilateral nuclear agreement,” Kim said.
David Maxwell, vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy (CAPS), pointed out that the U.S. did not fully address the goal of a "unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace" in the Camp David declaration.
“Americans are myopically concerned with only denuclearization. They think unification is only a Korean problem, which leads them to dismiss all discussions as well as policy and strategy recommendations about unification. This is a strategic weakness for the U.S. and the alliance, especially as South Korea pursues its unification policy,” Maxwell said.
Despite the political uncertainty left by Kishida’s decision to step down, Japan will stay committed to enhancing trilateral cooperation based on the Spirit and Principles of the Camp David declaration, according to an expert.
“Japan, South Korea and the U.S. need to prepare for potential major military provocations by North Korea and possible contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. To address the challenges posed by China, the three countries need to enhance cooperation across a broad range of areas, including the economy, technology, and supply chains,” said Katsuya Tsukamoto, chief of the National Security Policy Division at National Institute for Defense Studies.
“We also need to prepare for possible strategic coordination among North Korea, Russia, and China.”
5. South Korea, United States and Japan should leverage Taiwan to influence China on North: U.S. scholar
Again, the headline editors focus on the sneational and not the main topic of unification.
South Korea, United States and Japan should leverage Taiwan to influence China on North: U.S. scholar
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-08-28/national/northKorea/South-Korea-United-States-and-Japan-should-leverage-Taiwan-to-influence-China-on-North-US-scholar--/2122737
Published: 28 Aug. 2024, 17:18
Updated: 28 Aug. 2024, 19:35
Korea JoongAng Daily
South Korea, United States and Japan should leverage Taiwan to influence China on North: U.S. scholar
5 min
South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, fifth from left, U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, fourth from left, and Japanese Ambassador Koichi Mizushima, sixth from left, pose for a commemorative photo with other attendees at an academic forum on Wednesday at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, marking the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Summit‘s anniversary and the Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine. [YONHAP]
A U.S. think tank scholar called on South Korea, the United States and Japan to leverage the Taiwan issue to encourage China to address North Korea’s security threats more proactively.
“Standing firm against the security challenges posed by North Korea requires more than just the necessary strengthening of trilateral security cooperation,” said Ralph Cossa, president emeritus of the Pacific Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, during a keynote speech at a academic conference held in Seoul on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Summit and the announcement of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine.
The forum, hosted by South Korea’s Unification Ministry and the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Studies, commemorated the Aug. 18, 2023, trilateral summit between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, often called the Camp David summit.
During the summit in Camp David, Maryland, the leaders reinforced their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and highlighted their security cooperation against North Korean threats.
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Cossa emphasized the need to persuade China to stop supporting North Korea and to prevent the repatriation of North Korean defectors.
He argued that each of the three countries has “unexplored or underutilized leverage” in dealing with China, citing Taiwan as an example. He suggested that China’s sensitivity to the Taiwan issue, due to its “One China” principle, could be used to pressure Beijing into changing its policy toward Pyongyang.
“This past year, Taiwan had more direct foreign investment in Southeast Asia than in China, a major shift driven by both economic and political considerations,” Cossa said, urging Japanese and Korean businesses to follow this trend.
He also warned that the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election could lead to a “major change” in alliance management strategies and policies.
“There is a growing sense of urgency behind the need to institutionalize this trilateral effort,” Cossa said.
Cossa further recommended that officials and scholars from South Korea, China and the United States engage in discussions about the future of a unified Korean Peninsula that ensures security and stability for all involved parties.
South Korea’s Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho reaffirmed the “solid consensus” among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan on the need for the complete denuclearization of North Korea regardless of who is elected in the U.S. presidential election scheduled in November.
“Recently, there has been much speculation about the policies of U.S. presidential candidates,” Kim said in his welcoming remarks. “We believe that cooperation among the three countries for the denuclearization of North Korea, along with a strong response to North Korea’s provocations, will remain unchanged regardless of changes in political leadership.”
From left, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida take a walk together after their trilateral summit at Camp David in Maryland on Aug. 18. [YONHAP]
Kim’s remarks come amid concerns about the potential deprioritization of denuclearization under the next U.S. administration following the removal of related language from the platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The unification minister expressed his belief that the three countries would continue working together toward their shared global security and prosperity goals despite potential challenges.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the Camp David summit, Kim described it as the “golden tower of valued diplomacy” pursued by President Yoon since the normalization of relations between South Korea and Japan and the Washington Declaration.
“Above all, the security cooperation between the three countries has solidified their roles as peacekeepers and peacemakers, safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and the world,” Kim said.
The unification minister dismissed concerns about a potential new Cold War in Northeast Asia, asserting that the trilateral partnership is a “solidarity of values” that promotes security and prosperity for the people of each country, the region and the world.
“The strong security ties between the three countries are not comparable to those of the Cold War Bloc or North Korea, China and Russia relations,” he added.
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg also emphasized the importance of continuing and institutionalizing the trilateral partnership, describing the past year of engagements as “only the beginning” and urging all parties to “seek all opportunities to advance our interests together at every level” in his congratulatory remarks.
In a subsequent session, Kim Jae-chun, a professor of International Relations at Sogang University, highlighted the need for long-term endurance in trilateral security cooperation.
He cautioned that institutionalization alone might not ensure durability, particularly if populist leaders rise to power in any of the three countries.
“Institutionalization is a necessary condition, that’s for sure, but it is not a sufficient condition in my personal opinion,” the professor said. “I think it’s very important for each country to try to build stronger public support for this trilateral cooperation.”
BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]
6. British ambassador to Korea withdraws from gov't forum due to women's underrepresentation
This is not the conference I just participated in. We did have the US DCM Joy Sakuri as well as representatives from all three countries representative Camp David.
I did have a good chat with a professor from Seongsil University. She works with Korean escapees and particularly with most of the female escapees working on their transition and integration. She is doing incredible work. She was pleased to see the female representation in the Global Peace Foundation's North Korean Young Leaders Assembly.
British ambassador to Korea withdraws from gov't forum due to women's underrepresentation
m.koreatimes.co.kr · August 28, 2024
British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Colin James Crooks / Courtesy of British Embassy Seoul
By Anna J. Park
British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Colin Crooks has decided not to participate in next week's Global Korea Forum, citing concerns over the lack of gender diversity among the invited speakers, all of whom were men, the embassy said Wednesday.
The annual forum has been hosted by the Ministry of Unification since 2010, and this year's installment is slated to be held on Tuesday under the theme "Unified Korean Peninsula for Freedom, Peace and Prosperity."
While the forum aims to provide a platform to discuss international security and unification policies of the Korean Peninsula, among others, the annual event's invited 18 speakers were all men.
With the embassy's withdrawal from the speaker list, the event organizer added two more men and one woman to take the stand, resulting in 20 men and one woman in terms of gender distribution.
The embassy announced its decision not to participate in the Global Korea Forum 2024, saying that it believes panel events that represent gender diversity can lead to a richer exchange of ideas.
"The ambassador is unable to take part in the Global Korea Forum next week. The British Embassy is committed to gender equality. We believe that events are enriched by the diversity of perspectives of those participating," the spokesperson of the British Embassy told The Korea Times on Wednesday, confirming the ambassador's withdrawal from the event.
The ambassador has been stationed in Seoul since his appointment in 2022.
Known as a leading expert on the Korean Peninsula, he has extensive experience, having served as an ambassador in both South and North Korea.
Before his current role, he was the ambassador to North Korea from 2018 to 2021. Additionally, he worked at the British Embassy in Seoul between 1995 and 1999. His studies in the Korean language during the 1990s have given him fluency, allowing him to deliver most of his speeches in Korean.
British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks speaks during a session at the Korea Times Forum in Seoul, June 5. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
On many occasions, the ambassador has been very vocal about promoting diversity, including gender equality and minority issues.
The embassy made an offer to participate as a panelist at the forum hosted by The Korea Times in June, which was held under the banner of "Toward diversity, inclusiveness and equality."
During the event, Crooks emphasized that women's participation in the public sector is imperative for developing inclusive government policies, calling for male allyship in achieving gender equality.
m.koreatimes.co.kr · August 28, 2024
7. South Korea’s unification plan ignores domestic and regional realities
And a contrarian view. Too bad he did not participate in our conference today. Like many pundits and the press he is commenting on this without fully understanding the 8.15 Unification Doctrine. The 3-3-7 construct recognises these very issues he describes and the ROK government knows they must be addressed. Perhaps Ralph Cossa at the Pacific Forum can help him understand
1. Background: The doctrine is grounded in the South Korean constitution, which advocates for peaceful unification based on a liberal democratic order. The Yoon administration emphasizes freedom, peace, and prosperity as core values guiding national governance.
2. Structure: The doctrine is structured around three unification visions, three strategies, and seven action plans, forming a "3-3-7" framework.
3. Three Visions:
o Individual: A nation where citizens' freedom and safety are guaranteed.
o National: A strong and prosperous country driven by creativity and innovation.
o Global: A country that leads international harmony and contributes to world peace and prosperity.
4. Three Strategies:
o Domestic: Cultivating values and capabilities within South Korea to drive unification.
o North Korea: Fostering a desire among North Koreans for unification.
o International: Securing international support for unification based on universal values of freedom and human rights.
5. Seven Action Plans:
o Activation of Unification Programs: Focusing on educating and inspiring future generations about unification.
o Improving North Korean Human Rights: Taking multidimensional efforts to address human rights issues in North Korea.
o Humanitarian Support for North Korean Survival: Providing humanitarian aid regardless of political or military situations.
o Expanding Information Access for North Koreans: Ensuring North Koreans have access to external information.
o Incorporating the Role of North Korean Defectors: Leveraging the experiences of defectors in the unification process.
o Proposal for a Dialogue Framework between South and North Korean Authorities: Suggesting a dialogue mechanism to discuss wide-ranging issues.
o Establishment of the International Korean Peninsula Forum: Creating an international forum to garner global support for unification.
Gagan Hitkari
South Korea’s unification plan ignores domestic and regional realities
- Divisions in South Korea and wariness among both its allies and adversaries don’t bode well for Yoon Suk-yeol’s vision for the peninsula
Listen to this article
Gagan Hitkari
+ FOLLOWPublished: 5:30am, 27 Aug 2024
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3275580/south-koreas-unification-plan-ignores-domestic-and-regional-realities
A Korean People’s Army band stands ready for a march for peace at the Arch of Reunification on the outskirts of Pyongyang, on September 11, 2018. Photo: AFP
Opinion
Gagan Hitkari
South Korea’s unification plan ignores domestic and regional realities
- Divisions in South Korea and wariness among both its allies and adversaries don’t bode well for Yoon Suk-yeol’s vision for the peninsula
Listen to this article
Gagan Hitkari
+ FOLLOWPublished: 5:30am, 27 Aug 2024
Why you can trust SCMP
Addressing the nation on the 79th National Liberation Day, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol unveiled a new unification plan to establish “a unified, free and democratic nation … across the entire Korean peninsula”. Arguing for “complete liberation” through unification, Yoon called for extending freedom and democracy to the “frozen kingdom” of North Korea.
In line with his “audacious” initiative, Yoon said Seoul would begin political and economic cooperation immediately if Pyongyang showed signs of moving towards denuclearisation. However, the unification plan is set to face numerous constraints both domestically and internationally, making the blueprint all the more difficult to implement.
South Koreans hold a central position in the proposed plan. Yoon said the people must possess the values and capabilities needed to pursue freedom-based unification. He also talked about possible people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
However, such a policy would require bipartisan support and a domestic consensus. On the political front, however, South Korea represents more of a “house divided” than united. This political divide between the ruling People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea (which leads the opposition) was most clearly visible in the two separate ceremonies held on National Liberation Day.
While Yoon has denounced his political rivals, calling them “pseudo-intellectuals” and “anti-unification forces” who attack the values of freedom, the opposition has expressed anger at the government’s attempts to “distort history” and criticised the influx of the “new right” into key positions.
Democratic Party of Korea members and those from other opposition parties hold placards and shout slogans against the Yoon administration, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, on August 14, the eve of the country’s National Liberation Day. Photo: EPA-EFE
Any model which seeks to further the idea of a unified Korea must have strong political consensus across the board, something which seems to be missing for the Yoon administration.
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Moreover, public support for a unified peninsula is undergoing a steady decline. According to a Korea Institute for National Unification survey, 52.9 per cent of respondents said they believed unification was necessary, the lowest figure since 2020.
A larger cause for concern for the Yoon administration may well be the indifference of millennials towards the unification cause, with only 46.5 per cent of survey respondents viewing it as a necessity. Although Yoon has attempted to clarify his intentions about instilling values that are conducive to unification, the road ahead appears long and arduous.
However, while the administration faces a number of domestic hurdles, the international challenges to unification appear much more formidable. The biggest is, of course, the attitude of North Korea under Kim Jong-un, strengthened in his resolve thanks to improved relations with Russia and China.
Putin, Kim sign ‘strongest ever’ defence treaty amid growing tensions with the West
The unification plan seems to take a two-pronged approach of both coercion and reconciliation. While Yoon has argued for a peninsula led by South Korea, showing a clear disregard for North Korea’s views, he has also included the establishment of an inter-Korean working group in his plan, to address issues ranging from diplomacy and economic cooperation to disaster relief.
However, the refusal by the North Korean leadership to accept humanitarian aid following severe flooding last month has dampened hopes for diplomatic breakthroughs. Moreover, Kim had already said unification with the South is no longer possible, and that the constitution should be changed to designate it the “principal enemy”, making any progress all the more difficult.
Kim may well perceive the proposed plan as a hostile arrangement aimed at overthrowing his regime, which could lead Pyongyang to further harden its stance.
South Korea’s unification plan has a provision for creating an International Korean Peninsula Forum, which would consist of “like-minded countries” to build a consensus. While there has been closer cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan recently, a consensus on unification would appear hard to come by.
US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield meets South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul, on April 15. Photo: YNA/dpa
Although the US has been broadly supportive of a unified Korea under South Korean leadership, it is unlikely to see it as a pressing concern. Similarly, Tokyo may be apprehensive as a unified Korea could threaten its position in the region.
Yoon’s vision also fails to address the role of China and Russia in such a scenario. With the signing of a recent military pact, Moscow and Pyongyang have bolstered relations, and Russian President Vladimir Putin would not welcome attempts to undermine Kim’s regime.
China, meanwhile, may well be concerned about the potential for such an initiative to alter the region’s geopolitical landscape. Given its close ties with Pyongyang, it is highly unlikely that Beijing would accept such a doctrine.
Yoon’s unification plan thus presents a contradictory situation. While he has argued for greater cooperation, the emphasis on unification through absorption makes any agreement from North Korea next to impossible.
An inter-Korean working group would help promote dialogue in times of heightened tensions and must be regarded as a step in the right direction. However, coupling it with initiatives that may be perceived as hostile leaves little room for progress.
The unification plan is undoubtedly a stern test of Seoul’s diplomatic acumen and ability to build a domestic consensus. If Yoon tries to implement the initiative in the way it has been presented, a unified Korean peninsula will remain no more than empty rhetoric.
Gagan Hitkari is a PhD candidate at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi, India. He is also a non-resident James A. Kelly Korea fellow at Pacific Forum, Hawaii, US
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Gagan Hitkari
Gagan Hitkari is a PhD candidate at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi, India. He is also a non-resident James A. Kelly Korea fellow at Pacific Forum, Hawaii, US.
8. Unification Minister: “South Korea, US, and Japan Cooperation to be Maintained Regardless of Leadership Change”
This is a Google translation of an RFA report with direct comments from MInister Yoon, US Ambassador Goldberg, and keynote Speaker Ralph Cossa.
Unification Minister: “South Korea, US, and Japan Cooperation to be Maintained Regardless of Leadership Change”
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/us_sk_jp-08282024085124.html
Seoul-Hong Seung-wook hongs@rfa.org
2024.08.28
A discussion on 'Camp David 1 Year and August 15 Unification Doctrine' co-hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the Economic and Social Research Council in Seoul on the 28th.
/ RFA PHOTO
00:00 / 03:56
Anchor : South Korea's Unification Minister Kim Young-ho predicted that cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan will continue regardless of changes in leadership in each country . Hong Seung-wook reports from Seoul .
A discussion on ' Camp David Year 1 and August 15 Unification Doctrine ' co-hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the Economic and Social Research Council in Seoul on the 28th .
South Korea’s Unification Minister Kim Young-ho expressed his firm trust in the agreement, saying in his welcoming speech that “ the complete denuclearization of North Korea is a solid agreement among South Korea, the United States , and Japan . ”
Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification of the Republic of Korea : The complete denuclearization of North Korea is a solid agreement among the three countries of South Korea, the United States, and Japan . I believe that cooperation among the three countries for the denuclearization of North Korea will remain unchanged regardless of changes in political leadership .
Minister Kim predicted that cooperation for the denuclearization of North Korea would continue regardless of the possibility of a change in the leadership of the three countries due to the U.S. presidential election later this year .
This is an expression of their position on the claim that the Democratic and Republican parties' platforms announced ahead of the presidential election did not include North Korea's denuclearization.
In relation to this, Minister Kim also expressed his expectations at a press conference for foreign media on the 22nd, saying, “ Regardless of which party takes power, we will reexamine our initial North Korea policy, ” and “ In the process, our position on North Korea’s complete denuclearization will be reconfirmed . ”
Minister Kim said, “ There will be many challenges in the future that will affect the common interests and security of Korea, the United States, and Japan, ” and “ The three countries will move forward together with unwavering will to achieve the common goal of advancing global security and prosperity . ”
Regarding the 'August 15 Unification Doctrine ' announced by South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 15th, he evaluated it as " the two major charters for unification of the Korean Peninsula, along with the Camp David Summit Declaration . "
He said , “ I am confident that the strong solidarity among Korea, the United States, and Japan demonstrated in the Camp David Declaration will serve as the most solid foundation for implementing the August 15 Unification Doctrine . ”
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg also emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation among the three countries at the same event .
Ambassador Philip Goldberg : We must inherit a new era of cooperation among our three countries, institutionalize cooperation , and seek every opportunity to advance our interests at all levels .
Jang Ho-jin, Special Advisor to the President for Foreign Affairs and Security, said on the same day, “ The Camp David Summit established an institutional foundation for trilateral cooperation based on the universal and just values, interests, and goals common to South Korea, the United States, and Japan, ” and “ It has special significance in that the trilateral cooperation system , which had been through ups and downs, secured clear independence and sustainability . ”
Korea, US, Japan: “ Trilateral Cooperation Essential for Peace and Stability in the Indo - Pacific Region ”
Korea, US, Japan sign ' Security Cooperation Framework ' ... Regularization of training and high-level talks
At the discussion that day, experts presented measures for continuing cooperation between Korea, the US, and Japan.
In his keynote speech, Ralph A. Cossa, chairman emeritus of the Pacific Forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), argued that cooperation among the three countries could be affected by the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and that there is a need to institutionalize cooperation efforts .
Chairman Emeritus Kosa emphasized that efforts beyond trilateral cooperation are needed to counter the security threat posed by North Korea, and that “ efforts should be made to dissuade China from supporting North Korea or repatriating North Korean defectors to North Korea . ”
Professor Kim Jae-cheon of Sogang University agreed on the need for institutionalization to continue cooperation between Korea, the US and Japan, but suggested that public support should be secured to further solidify this .
At the same time, they also proposed a plan to have Japan participate in the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to strengthen deterrence against North Korea , and to expand the bilateral nuclear energy agreements concluded between Korea, the U.S., and the U.S. and Japan into a trilateral format .
Editor Mok Yong-jae, Web Editor Kim Sang-il
9. China arrests 15 North Korean escapees near Laos
It is getting harder and much more dangerous for the Korean people in the north to escape. And China is complicit in north Korean human rights abuses. Rather than grant them refugee status in accordance with international norms (the rules based international order) Chna arrests them and forces their repatriation to north Korea to face certain brutal punishment and in some cases, death.
But they are still trying. They long for freedom.
China arrests 15 North Korean escapees near Laos
They were hoping to take a speedboat out of China to Southeast Asia, then onward to South Korea
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-testfire-rocket-launcher-08272024231227.html
By Jung Young for RFA Korean
2024.08.27
Adobe Stock illustration
Under cover of darkness, the 15 North Koreans – 13 women and two children – approached the river, where they expected to catch a speedboat out of China to Laos, bringing them one step closer to freedom.
They had traveled more than 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) across China to get to that point, hoping eventually to fly from Southeast Asia to Seoul.
Suddenly, Chinese police appeared and arrested all of them.
Instead, they will likely be repatriated – a fate that awaits nearly all North Korean escapees in Chinese police custody – and will likely be punished for fleeing.
The incident occurred on the night of Aug. 21, according to a South Korean human rights group, Korea Unification Solidarity, that had been helping the escapees.
The Chinese guide leading the group had sent a video clip to update their status to some of their family members who had already made the journey to South Korea. They were arrested moments later.
According to Korea Unification Solidarity, the escapees were on their way to South Korea – in a roundabout route.
After first fleeing North Korea to China, they were divided into two groups to avoid detection. Each group took a different route across China to the southern city of Kunming, and once reunited they planned to cross the border to a Southeast Asian country.
“The two groups arrived safely in Kunming and merged, but when they sent a video of their arrival at the riverside, the police raid started,” Jang Se-yul, a representative of Korea Unification Solidarity, told RFA Korean. “When I asked another guide, he said that they were all caught at the riverside.”
An escapee living in Seoul identified by the pseudonym Lee for safety reasons told Jang that his younger sister was among the group of 15 arrested escapees.
“Ten days ago, my younger sister and her group of 15 people left Yanji, Jilin Province, to go to Kunming and they were arrested by the Chinese police.” Lee said, according to Jang. “Their whereabouts became unknown after the video clip was sent by the Chinese guide.”
The three-second-long video clip provided to RFA by Lee via Jang shows several women, presumed to be among the 15 escapees, moving toward a river in pitch darkness to board a boat.
RFA has not been able to independently confirm which river is shown in the video or any of Jang’s statements about the incident.
According to Jang, the group consists of 13 North Korean women and two children who had lived temporarily in the northeastern Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin.
Illegal migrants?
Although many in the international community are critical of China for forcibly repatriating North Korean escapees, Beijing maintains that they are not refugees, but illegal economic migrants, and that it must repatriate them because it is bound by two diplomatic agreements with Pyongyang.
The arrests come about a month after South Korea celebrated its first-ever North Korean Defectors’ Day, a new holiday that will henceforth fall on July 14 and celebrate the stories and struggles of North Koreans who have resettled in South Korea.
During the holiday events, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol pledged to make “every diplomatic effort to prevent our compatriots who escaped North Korea and are living overseas from being forcibly repatriated.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, repatriations temporarily halted as the border between China and North Korea were closed down, but now that the border is open again, repatriations have resumed.
When RFA contacted South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment on the arrests, the ministry’s spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said that there was nothing that could be confirmed.
But he said that South Korea maintains that North Koreans residing overseas should not be forcibly repatriated under any circumstances.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification told RFA that it reiterated that position and that it is currently verifying the facts.
Translated by Jay Park. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
10. North Korea test-fires multiple rocket launcher with new guidance system
And the development of advanced warfighting capabilities to support political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies as well as prepare for the eventual use of force to dominate the peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State to ensure regime survival.
North Korea test-fires multiple rocket launcher with new guidance system
The test came after reports the North sent over 13,000 containers suspected of carrying arms to Russia.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-testfire-rocket-launcher-08272024231227.html
By Taejun Kang for RFA
2024.08.27
Taipei, Taiwan
A target explodes during a performance test of an upgraded 240mm rocket launcher system overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong, in North Korea, in this photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, Aug. 28, 2024.
KCNA via Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of a 240mm multiple rocket launcher with a new guidance system, a weapon capable of striking the South Korean capital with what the North’s state media said was new destructive power.
Separately, a South Korean security agency estimates that the North has shipped more than 13,000 containers of weapons to Russia since mid-2022, which could mean 6 million North Korean artillery shells for Russian forces in Ukraine, a South Korean politician said.
Kim attended Tuesday’s test of the multiple rocket launch system, or MRLS, that is produced at defense industrial enterprises under the Second Economic Commission, the Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, reported.
“The MRLS, technically updated in its maneuverability and concentrated firing capability, was proved to be advantageous in all indices, including newly applied guiding system, controllability and destructive power,” KCNA said.
The weapon could put the South Korean capital Seoul and surrounding areas in range.
Kim “set forth an important policy to be pursued in producing new artillery pieces and equipping army units with them,” the news agency added, without elaborating.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the test of an upgraded 240 mm rocket launcher system, in North Korea, in this photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, Aug. 28, 2024. (KCNA via Reuters)
In February, the North said it had newly developed “controllable” 240mm rocket launcher ammunition with improvements in range and precision.
North Korea said in May, it would deploy the weapon system to army units over the next two years.
The test-firing came after reports that North Korea has sent more than 13,000 shipping containers suspected of carrying arms to Russia since mid-2022.
The North delivered the shipments that could carry more than 6 million 152-millimeter artillery shells through its eastern port of Najin over the period, according to a South Korea Defense Intelligence Agency report submitted to a lawmaker.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the South Korean military has been tracking North Korean transfers of arms to Russia. The most recent figure represents a twofold increase from February’s estimate.
The South’s military suspected North Korea could have supplied Russia with 122-mm artillery rounds, mobile anti-air missiles and anti-tank missiles, among other weapons.
In return, Russia is suspected of providing technological assistance to North Korea’s missile and spy satellite programs, the South Korean agency said, citing Kim’s visit to a Russian space port in September where he held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“To prepare for a prolonged war in Ukraine, Russia has moved to formalize North Korea as a supply base for weapons and ammunition,” the agency said.
This month, Kim hailed deepening relations with Russia in a message to Putin, telling the Russian leader victory was assured in his “sacred war.”
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North Korean leader hails deepening ties with Russia
North Korea increases production of 152-millimeter artillery shells
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“I express the firm belief that the strong and brave Russian people will firmly defend the sovereign right and security interests of the state and surely win victory in the sacred war for regional peace and international justice under your energetic leadership,” Kim told Putin in the message, though he did not mention Ukraine.
Russia has been seeking closer relations with North Korea since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
The United States says North Korea has supplied Russia with large amounts of weapons for the war, in particular artillery rounds and ballistic missiles, although both Russia and North Korea deny that.
Edited by Mike Firn.
11. Chinese movies and dramas are now also impure recordings
north Korean xenophobia on steroids. There is no love of China. And the quest to control the ideological purity of all the Korean people in the north requires the elimination of all pleasure and distractions that are not granted or allowed by the regime.
Chinese movies and dramas are now also impure recordings
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/china_movie-08282024092013.html
Seoul-Ahn Chang-gyu xallsl@rfa.org
2024.08.28
Movie DVDs and VCD discs are displayed in a store in Pyongyang.
/AP
00:00/04:03
Anchor : It has been confirmed that North Korean authorities have recently added Chinese movies and dramas to the list of impure recordings. They have also issued instructions not to listen to internal lecture recordings related to China's view of history . Reporter Ahn Chang-gyu reports from inside North Korea .
It has been reported that the list of impure recordings designated by North Korean authorities recently included not only South Korean songs, movies , and dramas, but also Chinese movies and dramas .
A resident source in South Hamgyong Province ( who requested anonymity for safety reasons ) told Radio Free Asia on the 26th , “ A list of impure recordings that should not be watched was given in late May to early June, including South Korean actress Kim Yeon-ja ’s ( Kim Yeon-ja ) performance songs from our country ( North Korea ) , as well as South Korean songs and movies. It included dozens of Chinese television dramas and movies, along with videos from India and Russia . ” He added , “ This is the first time I’ve seen a list of banned Chinese recordings . ”
In fact, North Korean authorities have not cracked down on Chinese movies and dramas as much as they have on South Korean recordings .
The Chinese videos that were recently added to the banned viewing list include ' Yangsanbaek and Zhu Yingtai ', ' The Charm of a Man ', ' A Man Who Came to Shanghai ', ' Martial Arts Story ', and ' Detective Police ' , all of which are movies and dramas produced in Hong Kong or China . These are works that have been popular among the people of North Korea for a long time, to the point that it would be difficult to find someone who has not seen them .
The source said, “ I was surprised that Chinese movies and TV dramas, which I thought were okay to watch unlike Korean movies, were designated as adulterated recordings, ” and “ It’s absurd that they’re being called adulterated recordings now . ” They also speculated, “ It’s been a long time since the coronavirus pandemic ended, but considering that the ( Chinese ) border customs haven’t fully opened yet, isn’t it because our relationship with China isn’t good ? ”
In particular, the source said, “We have recently learned that a central directive was issued to party organizations and judicial organs at all levels to prevent residents from listening to or distributing recordings of lectures related to ‘ China’s view of history ,’ ” and “ We understand that it is an order personally approved by Kim Jong-un . ”
There are two types of lecture recordings: recordings of the lecturer's remarks at the lecture and recordings of lectures specially edited by the authorities, but it has not been confirmed which ' lecture recording ' the source is referring to .
However, the source explained, " The gist of the directive was to point out that internal recordings that only executives had access to were circulating in society, and to take measures to prevent the general public from listening to the recordings and to prevent them from being distributed further."
“ I learned about this a few days ago through conversations between military party committee leaders, ” he said , adding, “ This is the first time I’ve heard that China has distorted Korean history . ”
North Korean authorities encourage residents to wear 'Korean clothes'
Background and response to the controversy over China's distortion of Korean culture
In relation to this, a resident source in Naseon City (requesting anonymity for personal safety reasons) also revealed on the 27th , “ Kim Jong-un gave instructions to ensure that recorded lectures related to China’s view of history are not distributed to ordinary citizens . ”
The source, an administrative executive at a small enterprise, said, “ I don’t remember hearing the recording or lecture in question, ” and assumed that it was a lecture aimed at higher-ups than himself, that is, “ executives from the party committee , people’s committee , prosecutor’s office , public security department, or other high-ranking organizations at the county level or higher . ”
He added , “ I understand that a few years ago and recently, there was a lecture held to expose China’s view of history and raise awareness for executives above the military level. ”
It has been reported that the Chinese view of history explained by North Korean authorities at the lecture includes “claiming that Goguryeo was a country founded by a Chinese minority, insisting that our culture, such as Korean clothing and kimchi, originated in China, and especially trying to minimize the history of Kim Il-sung’s anti-Japanese guerrilla struggle . ”
The source explained, “ With the issuance of this directive, not only general factory and enterprise managers but also many residents have come to perceive that China is distorting the history of Joseon ( the Korean Peninsula ) , even if they do not know the exact details . ”
“ Since Goguryeo is treated as much more important than Baekje or Silla in history, even ordinary citizens know that the three provinces in northeastern China were once Goguryeo territories, ” the source said . “ This directive could spread negative perceptions of China . ”
Editor Lee Hyun-joo , Web Editor Kim Sang-il
12. Ex-North Korea diplomat says Kim has caused regime's "downfall"
Again former nK Ambassador Ri is getting a lot of press. Maybe too much. I must remain suspect because he seems to be confirming all my beliefs about north Korea and the regime. Is he telling me only what I want to hear? Is he providing objective views of the regime? I certainly would like to believe some of his commentary. Is his "analysis" too good to be true?
Ex-North Korea diplomat says Kim has caused regime's "downfall"
Newsweek · by Micah McCartney · August 27, 2024
ByChina News Reporter
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North Korea's highest-profile defector in years has criticized the ruling Kim dynasty for the country's diplomatic decline, claiming Kim Jong Un has only accelerated the downfall of the regime.
Ri Il-gyu, a high-ranking former political attaché at the country's embassy in Cuba, gave a scathing tell-all interview last month to South Korean news outlet The Chosun Daily about the "bleak future" of the North Korean system.
"North Korea's diplomacy is all about serving the Kim family system and preserving its existence," Ri said at a forum hosted by the South Korean parliament on Monday, according to local media.
This focus on regime preservation has isolated the country, a trend that has only intensified since Kim took control in 2011, Ri said.
This photo released on August 26 by North Korean state media shows Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the construction site for a factory. Former North Korea diplomat Ri Il Kyu said at a parliamentary... This photo released on August 26 by North Korean state media shows Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the construction site for a factory. Former North Korea diplomat Ri Il Kyu said at a parliamentary forum in Seoul that day that Kim was accelerating the regime's downfall. Korean Central News Agency
Under Kim, Pyongyang has pursued a foreign policy prioritizing ties with a handful of countries such as China, Russia, Vietnam, Cuba, Iran, and Syria, "strengthening solidarity with countries that oppose U.S. hegemony," the diplomat added.
Kim has also favored a "high-pressure" brand of diplomatic brinkmanship, Ri said, noting that four of the six nuclear weapons tests North Korea is known to have carried out occurred under the 40-year-old leader's watch.
"Kim Jong Un is obsessed with nuclear and missile programs and is still using the 'cliffhanger tactics' he learned from Kim Jong Il, completely ignoring any negotiations or international cooperation," Ri said.
"Even countries with strong pro-North Korean tendencies don't want to be lumped in with North Korea," he added. "Even Cuba does not express any support for North Korea's nuclear tests."
Washington, D.C.-based Carnegie Endowment for Peace said earlier this year that "regime collapse is not necessarily around the corner" for Kim, pointing out many North Korea analysts predicted this outcome when his father and predecessor Kim Jong Il died 13 years ago.
The think tank called the prospect of a military coup "slim" but said the country is "still hollowing out and the Kim dynasty is in decline."
The North Korean embassy in China did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
The former diplomat's remarks come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the North's recent months-long spate of ballistic missile tests, the suspension of a military pact meant to lower tensions along the Demilitarized Zone between the neighbors, tit-for-tat balloon exchanges, and Seoul's deployment of loudspeakers blasting propaganda across the border.
Ri and his family fled to the South in November. In his July interview, he cited mounting disenchantment with life in the North and a lack of appreciation for his work by the country's diplomatic corps. He said the last straw was being denied permission to travel to Mexico to treat nerve damage related to a spine injury.
North Korean authorities mete out harsh punishment to citizens caught trying to leave the country, with penalties ranging from prison camps to public execution.
Despite the end of open hostilities in 1953, the two Koreas have never signed a peace treaty and thus technically remain at war.
About the writer
Micah McCartney
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian security issues, and cross-strait ties between China and Taiwan.
You can get in touch with Micah by emailing m.mccartney@newsweek.com.
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ...
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Newsweek · by Micah McCartney · August 27, 2024
13. Japan joins exercises as power dynamics shift in Asia (with ROK and US)
Japan joins exercises as power dynamics shift in Asia
Stars and Stripes · by Arthur I. Cyr · August 27, 2024
Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 17, 2023. Kishida and South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, attended a first-of-its-kind trilateral meeting hosted by President Joe Biden at Camp David, Md., Aug. 18, 2023. (Gianluca Ciccopiedi/U.S. Air Force)
South Korea and the United States on Aug. 19 began regular annual military exercises, including operations geared toward North Korea, but this year there is a difference. Japan is a more visible defense partner in the Pacific and beyond.
This follows directly from a Camp David summit last year hosted by President Joe Biden that included the prime ministers of both Japan and South Korea. The resulting agreement greatly changes the dynamics of the balance of power in Northeast Asia, and more generally in the vast continent of Asia.
Traditionally, Japan and Korea were enemies. The powerful military culture of historically unified Korea generally maintained independence against China and Japan. This changed in 1905, when Japan invaded and occupied Korea.
That occupation continued until Japan’s defeat in 1945. Soviet forces occupied Korea north of the 38th Parallel, U.S. forces controlled the southern region. As with Germany, the occupation zones were conceived as a temporary expedient among the victorious Allies, but the onset of the Cold War made them permanent. Germany is now united, but Korea remains divided.
So far, both China and North Korea have been relatively muted in publicly complaining about these exercises. That may reflect an intimidation factor given Japan’s increasing prominence in defense..
Additionally, both communist nations along with Russia are beleaguered. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has moved to strengthen military ties with Pyongyang, but that reflects the unanticipated great costs resulting from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
China’s economy is in growing difficulty. Beijing strives to attract private investment while simultaneously maintaining a brutal police state. In effect, the regime is trying to ride two horses going in opposite directions.
Beijing’s military assertiveness, especially at sea, is one important incentive for the expanding military role of Japan. In 2016, a panel of five judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled unanimously against China and in favor of the Philippines regarding territorial disputes. Philippine-U.S. military cooperation is expanding, while China tensions continue.
There are several important regional initiatives underway in addition to the reinforced Japan-South Korea-United States partnership. Among others, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (known as the Quad) involves Australia, India, Japan and the U.S.
Erratic North Korea behavior is now routine. In 2013, the regime announced a “state of war” with South Korea and threatened nuclear attack. Pyongyang abruptly abrogated the 1953 armistice agreement ending the Korean War, and cut the military “hot line” communications link with the south.
In March 2010, a North Korean torpedo sank the South Korean ship Cheonan. In the same vicinity in November of that year, North Korean artillery bombarded South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island.
North Korea has conducted rudimentary nuclear weapons tests along with missile tests. Progress has been uneven, but there has been slow expansion of missile ranges. There is now evidence of capacity to strike the continental U.S., and the ominous effort seriously threatens Japan as well as South Korea.
In 2017, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2271 in response to North Korea intercontinental ballistic missile tests. This motion involving severe economic sanctions passed unanimously, but since then both China and Russia have moved to support North Korea..
In 2016, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-ballistic missile system given Pyongyang’s missile program. This is a defensive system, therefore stabilizing.
This introduces the most fundamental point. For all the tensions and strains along the 38th Parallel, and occasional violent incidents, the 1953 armistice has held. Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower deserve credit for deciding to defend South Korea and then ending the war.
Arthur I. Cyr is author of “After the Cold War — American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia.”
Stars and Stripes · by Arthur I. Cyr · August 27, 2024
14. North Korea has sent over 13K containers of weapons to Russia, Seoul says
Two members of the Dark Quad are afraid, weak, desperate and envious.
They are at once both afraid and envious of our alliances.
The are weak due to their inherent internal contradictions.
They are desperate for support.
We need to call them out.
North Korea has sent over 13K containers of weapons to Russia, Seoul says
Estimate is up from 7K containers in March and means DPRK may have sent 6M artillery shells for use against Ukraine
https://www.nknews.org/2024/08/north-korea-has-sent-over-13k-containers-of-weapons-to-russia-seoul-says/
Jeongmin Kim August 28, 2024
Russian state television footage featuring a soldier with what appears to be a North Korean 152mm shell | Image: Vesti. Luhansk (Dec. 25, 2023)
North Korea has shipped over 13,000 containers to Russia through the northeastern port of Rason, according to South Korean military estimates, pointing to a major spike in recent shipments of DPRK arms for use against Ukraine.
The figure marks an increase from Seoul’s estimate of 7,000 containers in March and means North Korea may have shipped artillery shells to Russia in support of its invasion, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment provided to People Power Party lawmaker Kang Dae-sik.
“North Korea has shipped out more than about 13,000 containers to Russia through Rajin port to date, and assuming the container load is a single type of ammunition, it is estimated to be about 6 million 152mm high-explosive shells,” the DIA said, according to the assessment document provided to NK News by Kang’s office.
The U.S. first revealed evidence of North Korea-Russia arms trade last October, alleging that Russian cargo ships picked up containers in Rason (Rajin) before delivering them to Far East ports for transportation to the frontlines of the Ukraine war by rail.
NK Pro has since found that at least four Russia-flagged vessels are involved in the suspected weapons trade operation, with one of the ships returning to North Korea in June after undergoing repairs in China.
Ban Kil-joo, a professor at Korea University’s Ilmin International Relations Institute, told NK News that the DPRK has been continuously sending 152mm high-explosive shells to Russia and that they have been verified on the peninsula, with many defective.
“However, they are meaningful weapons for area strikes due to their high explosive power when fired in large quantities, even if they lack precision,” he said.
Ban noted that premature explosions could harm Russian troops, suggesting recent transfers might include improved versions.
He said Russia likely imports large quantities to ensure good performance despite defects, stating that Moscow remains dependent on DPRK shells despite support from Iran and Belarus.
Russian forces have also fired North Korean ballistic missiles at targets in Ukraine, according to analysis of missile debris. The DIA said it, too, has assessed that such debris had “characteristics” of North Korean missiles.
The DIA said it’s also possible that Pyongyang has sent 122mm multiple rocket launcher shells, T-series tank shells, portable anti-aircraft missiles and anti-tank missiles to Russia.
Footage showing what appear to be DPRK-made 122mm Grad rockets being used by Russian forces in Ukraine | Image: Russian defense ministry Telegram (Dec. 5, 2023)
DEPLETED STOCKPILES?
Kang is a member of the National Assembly’s defense committee, and his inquiry to the DIA sought to verify claims by Kim Tae-hyo, deputy director of the National Security Office, that “North Korea does not have sufficient physical capacity to provoke or threaten militarily because it has given Russia a lot of ammunition and artillery.”
Ban told NK News that the new estimate of containers suggests North Korea is providing close to the maximum number of shells and missiles that it can.
This is inconsistent with the DPRK’s claim that “it is preparing for a hypothetical full-scale war with South Korea,” the expert said.
“Stockpiling for war sustainability should be part of war preparations. Giving these materials to Russia suggests an implicit deal for emergency support, as well as indirectly showing a reluctance to wage immediate war.”
Ban suggested that the mass arms shipments may signal Kim Jong Un’s intent to use tactical nuclear weapons rather than conventional weapons against South Korea, as it continues to develop and deploy new tactical capabilities.
“Most weapons North Korea provides to Russia are old communist bloc systems, mostly interoperable,” Ban told NK News.
“These weapons are 50-60 years old, with high defect potential. However, given Russia’s current shortages in manpower and weapons, there’s no reason for Russia not to accept them.”
North Korea’s continued arms shipments to Russia come as leaders Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin signed a new “comprehensive” treaty in June that outlined mutual defense obligations and called for cooperation in a range of areas.
The DIA assessed that the treaty has brought the two countries’ ties “close to the level of a military alliance.”
“Russia has laid the groundwork for officially making North Korea a rear base for supplying weapons and ammunition in preparation for the prolonged war in Ukraine, while North Korea has created conditions for neutralizing sanctions, alleviating economic difficulties and accelerating nuclear and missile advancement,” it said.
The intelligence agency also said Russia is likely providing North Korea with reconnaissance satellite and missile-related technologies in return, citing Kim Jong Un’s spaceport visit during his Russia trip in Sept. 2023 and a space technology development document spotted during foreign minister Choe Son Hui’s January visit to Russia.
Joon Ha Park contributed reporting to this article. Edited by Bryan Betts
15.. [INTERVIEW] North Korea's Millennials, Gen Zers could challenge regime: Tae Yong-ho
We need to give them the knowledge and the tools. The most common response I get from escapees to the question of why don't you resist and fight back against the most tyrannical regime in the world. After saying that the regime's oppressive measures are the worst in the world they admit that they had little knowledge of how to resist and how to take collective action.
We need to help them develop the necessary resistance potential so they can create change on their own.
[INTERVIEW] North Korea's Millennials, Gen Zers could challenge regime: Tae Yong-ho
The Korea Times · August 27, 2024
Tae Yong-ho, former North Korean diplomat and incumbent secretary general of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
High-profile defector hopes his career trajectory will influence NK elite
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Tae Yong-ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to Britain who defected to South Korea in 2016, recently took office as the secretary general of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, a presidential advisory body responsible for developing a vision for peaceful unification based on national consensus.
His appointment was notably surprising, as it marks the first time a North Korean defector has been given a vice-ministerial position in South Korea. Tae, who also served as a lawmaker for the ruling People Power Party from 2020 to 2024, expressed hope that his career trajectory will make a significant impact on North Korea's elite.
“North Korea's elite cannot help but become agitated by how well defectors, like me, are treated in the South. They will wonder if there is a place and future for them here as well. That is what North Korean leader Kim Jong-un fears the most,” Tae said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.
In recent years, a growing number of North Korea's elite, including high-level diplomats stationed abroad, have defected to the South. According to the Ministry of Unification, the number of North Korea's elite who defected under Kim Jong-un has more than doubled compared to those who fled under former leader Kim Jong-il. Between 2012 and June 2024, about 134 North Koreans identified as members of the elite defected to South Korea, while only 54 did so between July 1997 and December 2011.
Tae stressed that the reasons behind the so-called “elite” defections have shifted.
“In the past, when I defected to the South, it was the parents who made the decision to flee the country for the sake of their children. But nowadays, children who were raised overseas and learn about South Korean culture through their friends, become disillusioned with the regime and ask their parents to escape,” Tae said.
He explained that North Korean Millennials and Gen Z are driving these changes as they become increasingly exposed to the outside world.
“North Korean Millennials and Gen Z believe there is no future back home. Adults born in the 1990s and 2000s are the generations that can shake up the North Korean regime,” Tae said, adding that a North Korean resident and soldier who defected to the South in August were both in their 20s.
“People born in the ’60s and ’70s have warm memories of a stable regime. They have nostalgia, so even if they watch smuggled copies of South Korean dramas and films, they just feel conflicted. But those born after the ’90s have never actually experienced the good times. In addition, more young adults are becoming tech-savvy and gaining glimpses of the outside world,” Tae said.
Tae explained how President Yoon Suk Yeol’s 8.15 Unification Doctrine charts a new path toward achieving unification compared to previous administrations by emphasizing “change from below.”
“Yoon’s strategy is to communicate directly with North Korean residents and change their perception of the regime. This can pressure the North Korean government and create a new condition for unification.” Tae said.
“One way to stir up the minds of North Koreans is to share success stories of defectors who are earning more than the national average and living their dreams of a bright life in South Korea.”
Police officers control traffic after a trash-carrying balloon sent by North Korea landed in the middle of a road near Chung-Ang University Hospital in Dongjak District, Seoul, July 24. Yonhap
He said North Korea sending trash balloons indicates that the North’s ruling class have begun to understand that the power lies with the people in South Korea.
“At first, North Korea warned the South Korean government to stop rights groups from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets. But the government refused to do so, saying that a law banning the sending of such leaflets into North Korea is unconstitutional. Now, they’ve come to understand that the power lies with the people, not the leader or the administration. So they changed their tactic to sending trash balloons with an aim of disrupting the daily lives and safety of our citizens,” Tae said.
Tae argued that Kim Jong-un would want former U.S. President Donald Trump to return to the White House. Trump has boasted about his personal ties with Kim, while Vice President Kamala Harris declared she won’t “cozy up to dictators like Kim Jong-un.”
“The only way to be recognized as a nuclear-armed state and get rid of sanctions is for Trump to be re-elected as the next president of the U.S.,” Tae said.
He predicted that the recent upswing in North Korea-Russia relations will expire after the war in Ukraine ends.
“North Korea is benefitting from an arms deal with Russia, but I think that will continue for three to five more years. If Russia no longer needs artillery from North Korea after the war, it won’t cozy up to North Korea like it does today,” Tae said. “That will leave Kim no other choice but to seek closer ties with China again.”
The Korea Times · August 27, 2024
16. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Public Trial in Hoeryong - 10-Year Sentence for 'Using Chinese Mobile Phone' Witnessed by 250 People - 'Heighten Vigilance Against Subversive Elements'
Kim Jong Un knows his legitimacy is threatened. He recognizes the nascent resistance. He knows that information is the lifeblood of the resistance and a cancer to the regime.
Do we have the will to exploit this and help the Korean people in the north?
＜Inside N. Korea＞Public Trial in Hoeryong - 10-Year Sentence for 'Using Chinese Mobile Phone' Witnessed by 250 People - 'Heighten Vigilance Against Subversive Elements'
asiapress.org
A drawing recreating a public execution witnessed firsthand by defector Jang Han-gil. Created around 2000 in China after his escape.
North Korean authorities are reportedly intensifying crackdowns on Chinese mobile phones, which serve as a means of communication with foreign countries. According to a reporting partner living in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, a public trial was held in early August. A resident who connected family members in South Korea and within North Korea using a Chinese mobile phone was sentenced to 10 years of correctional labor (imprisonment). The Kim Jong-un regime, which strongly opposes its citizens communicating with foreign countries, is imposing heavy sentences as an example to eradicate the use of Chinese mobile phones. (HONG Mari / KANG Jiwon)
◆ Daughter as Main Culprit, Parents Given Correctional Labor to Set An Example
The border between North Korea and China stretches about 1400 kilometers. Chinese communication signals can be received in the border areas. For about 20 years, there has been a surge in people using smuggled Chinese mobile phones to communicate with foreign countries such as South Korea and Japan. This is illegal in North Korea. The reporting partner who provided this information also uses a Chinese smartphone. The following is a Q&A with the reporting partner:
Q: Please talk about what happened at the public trial.
A: It was held on August 7 at the Namun-dong stadium in Hoeryong. Initially, we were told to participate because there would be a public execution. About 250-300 people were mobilized from various organizations, and I was also required to attend. In reality, no execution was carried out. Instead, a family of three - parents and a daughter - were sentenced to 8, 9, and 10 years of correctional labor respectively.
Q: What was the crime?
A: They were accused of colluding with hostile forces and receiving money by using a Chinese mobile phone. They allegedly connected defectors living in South Korea with families of defectors in the Kilju and Hamhung areas via Chinese mobile phone more than twice and received payment for it.
The daughter owned the Chinese mobile phone, and the parents were implicated as accomplices to set an example. The daughter's husband apparently avoided correctional labor as he had never actually touched the phone and said he would divorce her.
◆ 'Report Acts That Undermine Socialism'
Q: What explanation did the authorities give at the trial?
A: At the public trial, an official from the City Security Department (police) said, "Subversive elements are still active within our society. Everyone should increase their vigilance and promptly report acts that undermine socialism from within. Those using Chinese mobile phones should turn themselves in now." Since I use one too, I was scared, feeling like everyone was looking at me.
They also publicly declared that if anyone leaks internal information or cooperates with the enemy's schemes using Chinese mobile phones, they will face severe judgment and even the possibility of execution.
Hoeryong, where the public trial was held on August 7. Photographed from the Chinese side of the border in August 2012 (ASIAPRESS)
◆ Eradicate Chinese Mobile Phones
Q: What do you think about these crackdowns?
A: It's terrifying that they're giving 10 years of correctional labor just for contacting family and receiving money, even though it's not a state security case (political crime). It shows they're determined to root out Chinese mobile phones and won't tolerate their use. I heard that even the Chinese Korean who cooperated was expelled. After this public trial, many remittance brokers are saying they'll quit.
◆ 5 Years of Correctional Labor in Musan, Too
Additionally, a reporting partner living in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province, conveyed that the crackdown on Chinese mobile phones is intensifying there as well:
"If caught possessing a Chinese mobile phone, it's now a minimum of 5 years of correctional labor. They're also conducting house searches on people with expenditures that don't match their income, investigating how they're living (why they're living well). People even have to be careful about what they eat at home."
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
Map of North Korea (ASIAPRESS)
asiapress.org
17.
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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