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Quotes of the Day:
"Political warfare includes all measures short of war... for hostile intent through discrete, subversive, or overt means short of open combat... Whereas gray zone tells us where along a spectrum between war and peace activities take place, political warfare tells us why."
- Matt Armstrong
“Treat all men alike.... give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. You might as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who is born a free man should be contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases. We only ask an even chance to live as other men live. We ask to be recognized as men. Let me be a free man...free to travel... free to stop...free to work...free to choose my own teachers...free to follow the religion of my Fathers...free to think and talk and act for myself.”
- Dee Brown, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
"I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed many men and loved only one woman with a passion a flea like you could never begin to
understand. That's who I am. Now, go home boy!"
- actor Robert Duvall in the film “Second Hand Lions”
1. Ulchi Freedom Shield drill faces backlash from North Korea
2. Korea forms THAAD environmental impact assessment panel
3. Defense ministry to host annual international security forum next week
4. S. Korea, Mongolia agree to seek closer ties on rare earth supply
5. Yoon says presidential office must be dedicated, competent to serve people
6. Korea to challenge US over validity of Inflation Reduction Act
7. Ukraine War Gives North Korea Reasons to Draw Closer to Russia
8. Won and stocks plunge as Korea struggles with rates and inflation
9. Delegation heads to U.S. to express concerns about EV act
10. Yoon to begin commuting from new residence this week
11. S. Korea’s expert committee advises ending testing regulations for inbound travelers
12. N. Korea set for nuke test, but no sign of action yet: S. Korean defense chief
13. N. Korea plans nationwide update of mobile phone operating systems by December
14. Russia sends wheat to North Korea in return for diplomatic support
15. HRNK Wishes Former Intern Mathew Ha a Speedy Recovery
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1. Ulchi Freedom Shield drill faces backlash from North Korea
Kim is not afraid of the exercises. He sees the exercise as an opportunity to try to drive a wedge in the alliance. He wants the alliance to give up exercises to weaken readiness and ultimately drive US forces off the peninsula. The idea that he wants an end to the exercises as a "security guarantee" is a red herring. For Kim, the only security guarantee he will accept is an end of the ROK/US alliance, removal of US troops, and end to extended deterrence and the nuclear umbrella over the ROK and Japan. But the demand for these actions is not about security guarantees, it is to set the conditions to allow Kim to use force to dominate the peninsula if the subversion line of effort of his political warfare strategy does not accomplish the collapse of the ROK and instead only weakens it (another key condition that will support the successful use of force).
But we should see the opportunity in Kim's words and actions. First, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that Kim Jong Un's political warfare, blackmail diplomacy, and warfighting strategies cannot be successful.
Second, we have the opportunity to recognize Kim's strategy, understand it, expose it, and attack it (with information and influence activities).
Specific actions can include these:
The key question that is asked with every North Korean action is how should the ROK/U.S. alliance respond?
Policymakers should keep in mind that the Kim family regime’s political warfare strategy relies heavily on its blackmail diplomacy – the use of increased tension, threats, and provocations to gain political and economic concessions. Part of an information and influence strategy should be to counter the criticism that a North Korean provocation is a US and South Korean policy failure.
The ROK and U.S. should make sure the press, pundits, and public understand that this is a fundamental part of North Korean strategy and that it conducts provocations for specific objectives. It does not represent a policy failure; it represents a deliberate policy decision by Kim Jong-un to continue to execute his political warfare strategy. The following is a response framework for consideration:
First, do not overreact. But do not succumb to the criticism of those who recommend ending exercises. Always call out Kim Jong-un’s strategy As Sun Tzu would advise- “ …what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy; … next best is to disrupt his alliances.” Make sure the international community, the press, and the public in the ROK and the U.S. and the elite and the Korean people living in the north know what Kim is doing.
Second, never ever back down in the face of North Korean increased tension, threats, and provocations.
Third, coordinate an alliance response. There may be times when a good cop-bad cop approach is appropriate. Try to mitigate the internal domestic political criticisms that will inevitably occur in Seoul and DC. Do not let those criticisms negatively influence policy and actions.
Fourth, exploit weakness in North Korea – create internal pressure on Kim and the regime from his elite and military. Always work to drive a wedge among the party, elite, and military (which is a challenge since they are all intertwined and inextricably linked).
Fifth, demonstrate strength and resolve. Do not be afraid to show military strength. Never misunderstand the north’s propaganda – do not give in to demands to reduce exercises or take other measures based on North Korean demands that would in any way reduce the readiness of the combined military forces. The north does not want an end to the exercises because they are a threat, they want to weaken the alliance and force U.S. troops from the peninsula which will be the logical result if they are unable to effectively train.
Sixth, depending on the nature of the provocation, be prepared to initiate a decisive response using the most appropriate tools, e.g., diplomatic, military, economic, information and influence activities, cyber, etc., or a combination.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/01/north-koreas-ballistic-missile-test-a-6-step-strategy-to-respond/
Ulchi Freedom Shield drill faces backlash from North Korea
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
A K-9 self-propelled howitzer fires an artillery shell during a live-fire exercise in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, as South Korean and U.S. troops conduct the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. Yonhap
Pyongyang denounces exercise as rehearsal for invasion
By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea and the United States began the second session of their biggest combined military exercises in five years, Monday, amid strong protests from North Korea.
The second part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), scheduled to run through Thursday, focuses on counterattack operations to secure the safety of Seoul and its surrounding area. Last week's first segment involved drills to repel North Korean attacks and defend the greater capital region.
"The UFS is an exercise of a defensive nature and counterattack operations of its second part are about securing safety in response to the enemy's attacks," a military officer said.
The UFS was previously known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian from 2008 to 2018 and as Combined Command Post Training from 2019 to 2021. The former leaders of the two countries ― Moon Jae-in and Donald Trump ― suspended or scaled back the drills in order to diplomatically engage Pyongyang.
After President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May, Seoul and Washington agreed to normalize and even expand the drills.
As a result, South Korean and U.S. troops have been participating in 13 outdoor drills as well as a computer-simulated command post exercise (CPX).
The Kim Jong-un regime denounced the joint military drills as preparations for an invasion.
"The plan of the UFS' second part to advance into Pyongyang by way of Gaeseong appears to be a fait accompli that the warmongers seek to invade North Korea through the combined military exercise rather than it remaining defensive in nature," Uriminzokkiri, the North's propaganda site, said on Monday.
South Korean and U.S. soldiers participate in an anti-terrorism drill at a stadium in Busan, Monday, as part of the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield drill. Yonhap
"This is an unacceptable, severe political and military provocation as the warmongers try to invade and capture Pyongyang, the center of politics, economy and culture of the republic, and where the supreme leadership of our country is located."
DPRK Today, another propaganda outlet, said the joint exercises had turned out to be aggressive in nature as the U.S. and South Korea were seeking to advance as far as the southern edge of Pyongyang.
Arirang Meari, another North Korean mouthpiece, said, "The South Korean and U.S. rhetoric that the joint military exercise is annual and does not threaten the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula is nothing more than a fragile lie and deceit that easily falls apart even with such basic common sense, insight and logic."
Amid the scathing rebuke of the combined training, South Korean military authorities are keeping close watch for any possible military provocations from the Stalinist state.
"As North Korea is advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities and has completed preparations for what would be its seventh nuclear test, the grave security situation continues," Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said, Monday, during a meeting of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee.
"Based on the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance, our military is maintaining a sturdy defense posture to respond proactively to such security threats," he added.
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
2. Korea forms THAAD environmental impact assessment panel
This was supposed to have taken place years ago.
Korea forms THAAD environmental impact assessment panel
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup speaks during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Aug. 29. Yonhap
Korea has formed a government-civilian body tasked with the long-delayed environmental impact assessment of a U.S. THAAD missile defense unit here, Seoul's defense chief said Monday, clearing a key hurdle to Seoul's push for the unit's "normalization."
During a parliamentary session, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said the consultative body was launched on Aug. 19 to carry out the assessment on the THAAD battery in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul.
To help counter North Korea's evolving missile threats, the conservative Yoon Suk-yeol administration has been pushing for the normalization of the battery currently in a status of "temporary installation" pending the assessment.
The body consists of officials from provincial governments and the environment and defense ministries as well as representatives of local residents and experts in relevant private sectors.
It is to deliberate on the scope and methods of the assessment, draft assessment documents, solicit public opinions through open hearings and carry out other required procedures, according to defense ministry officials.
Lee pointed out "difficulties" related to China's continued opposition to the emplacement of the THAAD system. Beijing argues the THAAD would undermine its strategic security interests.
"The fundamental reason for the THAAD installation is that there are North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," he said. "I believe that there is no need for THAAD to be placed here should (the threats) disappear."
An environmental assessment usually takes one year. But Seoul is largely expected to accelerate related legal procedures to ensure the battery's full-capacity operations.
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
3. Defense ministry to host annual international security forum next week
Excerpts:
The forum includes three key plenary sessions on cooperation in promoting North Korea's denuclearization and rebuilding trust within the Indo-Pacific region, and the role of the military in hybrid warfare involving both conventional and unconventional war instruments.
In addition, four special sessions have been arranged to discuss international peacekeeping operations, the fight against disinformation, defense technologies for military modernization and defense acquisition efforts.
Defense ministry to host annual international security forum next week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · August 29, 2022
SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will host an annual international security forum next week to discuss global cooperation for peace amid growing instability from the ongoing war in Ukraine, cyberthreats and other challenges, the defense ministry said Monday.
The three-day Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2022 is set to kick off at Lotte Hotel in central Seoul on Sept. 6 under the theme of "How to Address Complex Security Challenges: Fostering International Solidarity."
It would mark the first in-person SDD forum since 2019. The forum took place virtually in 2020 due to COVID-19 and in a hybrid format -- both online and offline -- last year.
"In order to overcome such diversified threats and build sustainable peace, it is vital to bring solidarity and cooperation to the international community," Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul said of the forum's purpose.
During this year's edition, the SDD Space Security Working Group will be launched to discuss global cooperation in promoting security in the strategically crucial domain, according to the ministry. The forum's existing Cyber Working Group will also resume this year after a three-year hiatus.
The forum includes three key plenary sessions on cooperation in promoting North Korea's denuclearization and rebuilding trust within the Indo-Pacific region, and the role of the military in hybrid warfare involving both conventional and unconventional war instruments.
In addition, four special sessions have been arranged to discuss international peacekeeping operations, the fight against disinformation, defense technologies for military modernization and defense acquisition efforts.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · August 29, 2022
4. S. Korea, Mongolia agree to seek closer ties on rare earth supply
And there are a lot of rare earth metals in north Korea too.
S. Korea, Mongolia agree to seek closer ties on rare earth supply | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 김은정 · August 29, 2022
ULAANBAATAR, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Mongolia agreed Monday to boost cooperation on global supply chains, especially in relation to rare earth elements, during talks here between their top diplomats.
The two sides plan to push for the establishment of a joint center for partnerships on rare earth metals as part of efforts to boost mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic security field and enhance partnerships based on shared values, including democracy and human rights.
Seoul's foreign minister, Park Jin, pointed out Mongolia, rich in natural resources, is a "core partner country" to contribute to the resilience of supply chains.
"(We) will push actively for measures to cooperate (with each other) to gain synergies from the combination of South Korea's infrastructure and such minerals and resources, abundant in Mongolia, as rare earths for high-tech semiconductors and displays, and rare metals for batteries," he said during a joint press conference with his counterpart, Batmunkh Battsetseg, following their meeting in Ulaanbaatar.
Battsetseg also said she had discussions with Park on ways for synergies between Mongolia's natural resources and South Korea's advanced technologies.
To that effect, the two sides will seek to launch an institute at an early date on enhancing cooperation on rare earth metals with the idea that Mongolia offers land and South Korea uses its official development assistance funds.
The move comes amid growing concerns that China may weaponize its natural resources.
During the talks, Park briefed her on the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's policy approach toward North Korea, and Battsetseg expressed support for its denuclearization bid.
"Mongolia is a country that shares such universal values as democracy and human rights, and the two nations will work together to promote regional freedom, peace and prosperity," Park said.
The two nations also initialized a bilateral agreement on cooperation in response to climate change, as South Korea agreed to contribute proactively to Mongolia' afforestation projects, according to Park.
Park paid a courtesy call on Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and delivered President Yoon's handwritten letter that expresses wishes for the development of bilateral relations, according to his office.
Park became South Korea's first foreign minister to make an official visit to Mongolia since 2014. He is to return home Tuesday after a three-day trip to the country.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 김은정 · August 29, 2022
5. Yoon says presidential office must be dedicated, competent to serve people
(LEAD) Yoon says presidential office must be dedicated, competent to serve people | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 김덕현 · August 29, 2022
(ATTN: ADDS presidential official's remarks, details in last 4 paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday that the presidential office must be dedicated and competent to better serve people amid speculation he may carry out a reshuffle of aides at his office to regain people's trust.
"The presidential office should be the most dedicated and competent group to properly serve the people," Yoon replied when asked about a possible reshuffle of his office as he arrived for work.
Yoon also said the presidential office's "commitment to the nation and the capacity to work must always be maintained at its highest level."
Yoon's remarks came a day after a senior presidential official said the president could replace as many as 10 secretaries before the Chuseok fall harvest holiday that begins on Sept. 9.
The senior official at the presidential office told Yonhap News Agency that about 10 secretaries "will be replaced before the Chuseok holiday next month."
The potential reshuffle is expected to affect offices of civil and social agenda and political affairs, according to the official.
The presidential office has conducted an inspection into secretaries ahead of the potential reshuffle.
Yoon has faced calls to overhaul his staff amid falling approval ratings blamed largely on his poor personnel choices in the presidential office and the government.
On Aug. 21, Yoon appointed Kim Eun-hye, a former lawmaker and his transition team spokesperson, as new senior secretary for press affairs in a reshuffle of the presidential office.
Asked about a leadership feud at the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Yoon said he would "respect" a decision by the PPP and its members.
The PPP has decided to form a new emergency leadership committee following a court ruling that suspended interim leader Joo Ho-young from duty.
The decision was made during a meeting last Saturday, a day after the Seoul Southern District Court granted an injunction requested by ousted PPP leader Lee Jun-seok.
Another senior presidential official told reporters that senior presidential secretaries could be replaced in the potential reshuffle.
Asked whether senior secretaries are also subject to the reshuffle, the official replied: "Senior secretary is no exception. There can be no exception, regardless of rank."
The official confirmed two secretaries for political affairs have tendered their resignations, amid the leadership turmoil at the PPP.
A personnel reshuffle at the presidential office will continue "if there is anything lacking from the perspective of the people," the official said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 김덕현 · August 29, 2022
6. Korea to challenge US over validity of Inflation Reduction Act
Excerpts:
The minister believes that the IRA is likely to violate the Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Korea and the regulations of the World Trade Organization.
"The government cannot officially say it is a violation, but it will proceed with the WTO filing process if necessary," the minister told lawmakers at the National Assembly, Monday. "The Korea-U.S. FTA regulations require us to choose between the Korea-U.S. FTA or WTO procedures. We have to compare the two, but if we choose to go through the WTO procedures, we may cooperate with Japan and EU countries."
Foreign Minister Park Jin also met with Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, at the U.S. Department of State on Aug. 26 and delivered the country's concerns about the IRA.
Korea to challenge US over validity of Inflation Reduction Act
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
An Sung-il, right, head of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Office of International Trade and Legal Affairs, arrives at the departures section of Incheon International Airport, Monday as he heads to Washington D.C. to deliver the concerns of Korean businesses.
Industry minister Lee says IRA may violate KORUS FTA, WTO rules
By Baek Byung-yeul
The government dispatched to Washington D.C., Monday, a delegation comprised of officials from the industry, finance and foreign affairs ministries to convey the concerns of Korean businesses regarding the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which could have a severe and negative impact on certain local industries.
"The government delegation will visit Washington D.C. to meet with officials from the U.S. administration and Congress to discuss the IRA, signed by President Joe Biden on Aug. 16," the industry ministry said.
Among Korean business leaders, there are concerns over the IRA, as the U.S. denies tax credits to buyers of electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured outside of North America.
Due to the law, Hyundai Motor Group's EVs, such as the Ioniq 5 and the EV6, were excluded from tax credits since they are produced in Korea. If there is no progress in talks between the two countries over the issue, the Korean automobile industry will be severely hit in the U.S. market, which is the world's second largest for vehicles.
An industry official said he expects that the government's efforts to deliver the concerns of domestic industries will lead to favorable decisions for Korean businesses.
"We understand that the government is working on conveying the concerns of domestic industries over the IRA issue. We hope that our voices might be conveyed to the U.S. when the officials meet their U.S. counterparts," the official said, asking for anonymity.
The delegation's visit can also be interpreted as a prerequisite for meetings between high-ranking officials of the two countries.
The industry ministry said Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will visit the U.S. next week as he is scheduled to participate in a ministerial meeting of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
"In the wake of the trade minister's visit to the U.S., the government plans to upgrade talks between the two countries to a higher level," the trade ministry said.
Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang is also expected to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Phillip Goldberg on Wednesday to discuss the IRA.
The minister believes that the IRA is likely to violate the Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Korea and the regulations of the World Trade Organization.
"The government cannot officially say it is a violation, but it will proceed with the WTO filing process if necessary," the minister told lawmakers at the National Assembly, Monday. "The Korea-U.S. FTA regulations require us to choose between the Korea-U.S. FTA or WTO procedures. We have to compare the two, but if we choose to go through the WTO procedures, we may cooperate with Japan and EU countries."
Foreign Minister Park Jin also met with Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, at the U.S. Department of State on Aug. 26 and delivered the country's concerns about the IRA.
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
7. Ukraine War Gives North Korea Reasons to Draw Closer to Russia
Excerpts:
More recently, a new tactical guided weapon that North Korea revealed in 2019 closely resembled a Russian design. As North Korea pursues new weapons technology and seeks to advance its hypersonic and submarine-launched missiles, Russia could illicitly provide key components or advanced engine technology, security experts say.
“Pyongyang and Moscow see clear parallels in their respective situations and share a common cause in opposing sanctions and the U.S.-led ‘Western Order,’” said Patricia M. Kim, a fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution. “The growing solidarity will exacerbate great power competition in the region.”
Ukraine War Gives North Korea Reasons to Draw Closer to Russia
Pyongyang plans to send laborers to eastern Ukraine, opening up a new pipeline for much-needed revenue for the Kim regime
By Dasl YoonFollow
Aug. 28, 2022 10:00 am ET
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-war-gives-north-korea-reasons-to-draw-closer-to-russia-11661695201?mod=article_inline
SEOUL—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created an opportunity for North Korea, which has strengthened its ties with Moscow and become one of its most outspoken backers.
Pyongyang wants to dispatch laborers to the Russia-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine—Donetsk and Luhansk—providing the Kim regime with a much-needed source of overseas income. Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to provide allies with advanced weapons and military equipment, just as North Korea is pursuing new assets like hypersonic missiles. Moscow can also boost its cross-border trade of food and aid and use its seat on the United Nations Security Council to block any tighter sanctions on North Korea.
North Korea was one of just five countries in March to vote against a U.N. resolution demanding that Russia end its invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang blaming the “hegemonic policy” of the U.S. and its allies as the root cause. In July, North Korea became one of the first countries to officially recognize Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics, a move that prompted Kyiv to cut diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.
“For North Korea, supporting Putin opens the door to more significant sanctions evasions and sensitive technology cooperation,” said Patrick Cronin, the Asia-Pacific security chair at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington.
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The U.N. banned North Korean laborers from working abroad past a 2019 deadline, cutting off a key source of overseas income for the Kim regime. With roughly 30,000 foreign workers from North Korea, Russia was one of the largest hosts of such people before the clampdown. North Korean workers were appealing because their wages were advertised by Russian companies as being 30% to 50% lower than other migrants in the region, who typically came from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Russia is likely to maintain that Donetsk and Luhansk are independent regions not subject to international sanctions violations as nonmembers of the U.N. North Korea’s ambassador to Russia, in a meeting earlier this month with an envoy from Donetsk, revealed plans to send laborers to the region once the Kim regime’s Covid-19 border restrictions were lifted.
The newly opened representative office of the Donetsk People's Republic in Moscow in July.
PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
North Korean workers could help restore facilities in Donetsk that were damaged by fighting in the Ukraine conflict, said Alexander Matsegora, Russia’s Ambassador to North Korea, in an interview last month with the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
North Koreans are also interested in purchasing spare parts manufactured in the region and reconstructing their production facilities, Mr. Matsegora said, without being more specific. The potential transactions foreshadow other efforts that could constitute U.N. sanctions violations.
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“Pyongyang has nothing to lose by siding with Moscow, and it has nothing to lose by angering Washington as talks are stalled anyway,” said Artyom Lukin, an international relations professor at Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University.
The Biden administration has offered to meet with North Korea at any time, though Pyongyang has given Washington the cold shoulder. The two countries haven't held formal nuclear talks in nearly three years.
The Soviets helped build a reactor at Yongbyon, which has become North Korea’s main nuclear facility.
PHOTO: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/VIA REUTERS
The tightening Moscow-Pyongyang alliance extends to the highest levels. Earlier this month, the leaders of Russia and North Korea exchanged letters, according to state media in Pyongyang. Mr. Putin expressed a desire to expand relations, while Kim Jong Un noted that bilateral ties had hit a new high “in the common front for frustrating the hostile forces’ military threat and provocation”—an often-used descriptor for the U.S. and its allies.
The Kim regime became one of the first countries to seal off its borders in early 2020 as Covid-19 was detected in neighboring China. Early this year, North Korea resumed some cross-border trade activity, before an outbreak prompted the impoverished country to lock down again.
But this month, Mr. Kim declared a public-health victory and promised to relax measures from maximum levels. Once cross-border trade resumes, Russia could illicitly provide North Korea with coal or export prohibited luxury goods, said Anthony Rinna, a specialist on Russia-North Korea relations at the Sino-NK research group, a website focused on China and North Korea.
A handout released by the embassy of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in July showed the breakaway region’s ambassador to Russia, Olga Makeyeva, with Sin Hong Chol, a representative of North Korea.
PHOTO: HANDOUT/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
“If North Korea can present itself as a strategic asset for Moscow in its strategic rivalry with Washington, in a manner not unlike how China has increasingly come to view them, North Korea can potentially help undermine U.S. influence on Russia’s periphery,” Mr. Rinna said.
Mr. Putin met Mr. Kim once in person in 2019, just a few months after the North Korean leader failed to broker a nuclear deal with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam. Though he didn’t mention North Korea by name, Mr. Putin, at a recent security conference, vowed to “consistently strengthen the national armed forces and other security structures” by providing its allies with advanced weapons and military equipment.
The Soviets helped build a reactor at Yongbyon, which has become North Korea’s main nuclear facility. In the 1990s, Russian scientists supplied North Korea with fuel technologies, which helped Pyongyang’s missile development program. The liquid-propellant engine used during launches of intermediate and intercontinental range missiles is based on technology developed by the Soviet Union, according to a 2017 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank.
People at a train station in Seoul watched a television broadcast that showed a file image of a North Korean missile launch in June.
PHOTO: CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGES
More recently, a new tactical guided weapon that North Korea revealed in 2019 closely resembled a Russian design. As North Korea pursues new weapons technology and seeks to advance its hypersonic and submarine-launched missiles, Russia could illicitly provide key components or advanced engine technology, security experts say.
“Pyongyang and Moscow see clear parallels in their respective situations and share a common cause in opposing sanctions and the U.S.-led ‘Western Order,’” said Patricia M. Kim, a fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution. “The growing solidarity will exacerbate great power competition in the region.”
Write to Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com
8. Won and stocks plunge as Korea struggles with rates and inflation
Monday
August 29, 2022
dictionary + A - A
Won and stocks plunge as Korea struggles with rates and inflation
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/08/29/business/finance/korea-wondollar-currency-exchange-rate/20220829155813812.html
An electronic display board in central Seoul shows the won breaking 1,350 to the dollar Monday.[YONHAP]
The won renewed decade-plus lows after central bankers reaffirmed their hawkishness in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, over the weekend.
Korea's currency touched 1,350.80 won per dollar on Monday, its weakest level in 13 years and 4 months. It is down more than 1 percent from Friday.
The precipitous drop comes as inflation rages in Korea and as the government and central bank struggle to regain control.
Bang Ki-sun, vice minister of economy and finance, once again warned investors not to take advantage of the situation, adding that the authorities were ready to act.
"The government will step up policy efforts to stabilize the market to brace for excessive herd behavior in the market," he said on Monday.
On Friday, Bang said the government would respond to speculative behavior. He said the ministry will "take action to stabilize the market on signs of speculative movements."
The Kospi tumbled more than 2 percent on Monday as foreign investors and domestic institutions net sold shares. Samsung Electronics fell 2.33 percent, and SK hynix 2.73 percent.
The government has said that it will intervene directly in the bond market if necessary, and on Monday, Yonhap reported that the Financial Supervisory Service has started to investigate Morgan Stanley for illegal short selling.
Korea did not think it was time to discuss a swap agreement with the United States when President Joe Biden visited in May, saying at the time that the "fundamentals are strong." When Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen came to Seoul in July, the two countries agreed to cooperate in stabilizing the currency market.
The market decline followed hawkish remarks made at the three-day Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, which wrapped up on Aug. 27. Central bankers, finance ministers and academics attend the annual event to discuss economic policy.
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said on Friday that the Federal Reserve will "use our tools forcefully" to control inflation that is running near 40-year highs. Powell said that this is "no place to stop or pause" in terms of rate increases.
"While higher interest rates, slower growth and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses," he said, according to a transcript from the Federal Reserve. "These are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation. But a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain."
The Fed's policy direction is important as it affects the policies of other central banks, including Korea's.
The Bank of Korea cannot halt monetary tightening before the Fed, central banker Rhee Chang-yong said in an interview with Reuters Saturday.
The Bank of Korea upped the base interest rate by another quarter point last week to 2.50 percent, and signaled further rate increases to reduce inflation projected to reach 24-year highs.
The Bank of Korea forecast Korea's annual inflation to hit 5.2 percent this year.
"We are now independent from government, but we are not independent from the Fed," Rhee said. "So if the Fed continues to increase the interest rate, it will have a depreciation pressure for our currency."
In an interview with Bloomberg, Rhee cited global oil and gas prices, China's Covid policy and economic slowdowns in China and the United States as factors that are affecting Korea's outlook.
He forecast Korea's inflation to drop below three percent by the end of next year.
Korea started upping the rate last August, earlier than other major central banks, but it won't be able to end the rate increase earlier, according to Rhee.
"Whether we can end earlier — I don't think so," Rhee told Reuters.
BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]
9. Delegation heads to U.S. to express concerns about EV act
Monday
August 29, 2022
dictionary + A - A
Delegation heads to U.S. to express concerns about EV act
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/08/29/business/economy/IRA-WTO-US/20220829175904758.html
Korean government delegation including Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry’s Deputy Minister for International Trade and Legal Affairs Ahn Sung-il leaving for U.S. at Incheon International Airport on Monday. [YONHAP]
A government delegation on Monday traveled to Washington to protest the recently-passed U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which grants subsidies to domestically-manufactured electric vehicles (EV).
The delegation will be visiting the U.S. Trade Representative, the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department and Congress during its three-day visit, according to a joint statement from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy and Finance released Monday.
The statement noted that the visit is a preliminary meeting ahead of Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun's visit to the United States next month for the Indo-Pacific Framework (IPEF) meeting.
"We plan to raise the issue of negotiation regarding the IRA to a higher level with Trade Minister Ahn's visit," the statement noted.
No possibile solutions to the impasse were mentioned in the statement, and Korean leaders have noted that an adjustments to the law could be difficult given the political climate in the United States.
The Yoon Suk-yeol government is facing intense public criticism over its failure to act swiftly to protect Korean companies from the IRA, which U.S. President Joe Biden signed on Aug. 16.
Korea carmakers and battery makers argue that the act will make it more difficult to compete in the U.S. market.
Under the terms of the act, automobiles will be eligible for the full $7,500 EV tax credit if the vehicle is assembled in the U.S. and if the batteries are made with a certain percentage of components and materials from the United States or from countries with which the United States has a free trade agreement (FTA).
The rule on assembly is effective from Aug. 16, and the rule on batteries is effective Jan. 1, 2023.
The content requirements for batteries will phase in over a number of years. In 2023, 40 percent of critical mineral value will have to come from the United States or FTA countries. That number increases 10 percentage points a year to 80 percent in 2027.
In 2023, 50 percent of battery component value will have to come from the United States. That number will increase 10 percentage points a year to 100 percent by 2029.
To qualify for the subsidy, a vehicle can have no battery components at all from China to qualify from 2024. In 2025, a vehicle can have no critical minerals from China.
In the first seven months of 2022, Hyundai Motor and Kia sold a combined 39,000 units in the United States, and together they have a 9 percent share.
By 2030, the goal for their combined share in the United States is 25 percent.
Tesla's Model 3 retails for $46,990, whereas Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5 retails $39,950. These prices are after subsidy.
Without the $7,500 subsidy, the Ioniq 5 costs $47,450, making it more expensive than its competition.
While Hyundai Motor is planning to build an EV factory in Georgia, with the capacity to manufacture 300,000 cars a year, it won't be completed until 2025. Kia has no plans to build an EV production plant in the U.S.
In meeting with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb on Friday, Yoon expressed concerns about the IRA.
According to the president's office on Friday, during the meeting, Yoon asked for the governor's support so that Korean companies will enjoy the same benefits without discrimination.
Samsung SDI is currently building an EV battery production plant in Indiana, which is scheduled to go into production in the first quarter of 2025.
Foreign Minister Park Jin made the same request to Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who was visiting Seoul on Friday.
The Foreign Minister emphasized the massive investments in the United States and Korea's participation in Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Euisun Chung, executive chair of Hyundai Motor, last week traveled to the United States with Hyundai Motor CEO Gong Young-woon.
"There are those who point out that the IRA legislation is tax discrimination against Korean EV and battery industries by the United States," said Yoon Kwon-suk, Democratic Party lawmaker and chair of the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee. "This goes against the economic and national security alliance, WTO trade subsidies, the FTA between the two countries and the IPEF."
The Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang during a meeting with officials from the automobile and battery companies last week downplayed the possibility of the Korean government bringing the issue to the WTO.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang on Monday said the IRA might violate the FTA and WTO rules.
“The possibility of violation is high, and if needed, we will take the case to the WTO if needed,” Lee said when asked by the Democratic Party lawmaker at the National Assembly.
“Under the KorUS FTA, we could choose between FTA or WTO process,” Lee said. “While we would have to compare the two, there is the possibility of working with other countries, such as Japan and EU member states, who are in the same position if we take the issue to WTO.”
Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, at the National Assembly on Monday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]
10. Yoon to begin commuting from new residence this week
I imagine they will drive through Itaewon, between Hannam and Yongsan? I bet traffic will be a pain when he travels. It is a good thing the U.S. military has moved from Yongsan Army garrison.
Yoon to begin commuting from new residence this week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · August 29, 2022
SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol will begin commuting from the new presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on the first day of September, a ruling party source said Monday.
The new residence has been under renovation for months, as it was previously used as the foreign minister's official residence.
The source said Yoon will move into the new residence later this week and begin commuting from there Thursday.
Yoon relocated the presidential office and residence from the Cheong Wa Dae compound as soon as he took office in May to keep a campaign promise.
Until now, he has been commuting from his private residence in southern Seoul.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · August 29, 2022
11. S. Korea’s expert committee advises ending testing regulations for inbound travelers
I hope they make the decision soon before I travel there again on September 18th. But someone is making a lot of money with 80,000 won per test for every arriving passenger.
S. Korea’s expert committee advises ending testing regulations for inbound travelers
koreaherald.com · by Shim Woo-hyun · August 29, 2022
By Shim Woo-hyun
Published : Aug 29, 2022 - 16:28 Updated : Aug 29, 2022 - 16:28
People wait in line at a COVID-19 testing center at Incheon International Airport. (Yonhap)
South Korea’s advisory committee on infectious diseases, under the office of the prime minister, on Monday advised the government to lift COVID-19 testing regulations for inbound travelers.
The committee’s announcement is fanning speculations that the government will lift the predeparture COVID-19 testing rule. The government’s decision is expected to be made this week.
At present, all travelers to South Korea must submit the results of a polymerase chain reaction test taken two days prior to traveling to the country or a rapid test taken one day before. They also should receive a PCR test within one day after arrival in the country.
“Ultimately, it is right to scrap COVID-19 tests that people have to take before traveling to the country,” said Jung Ki-suck, head of the advisory committee and a professor at Hallym University Medical School. Jung added the COVID-19 tests that travelers are required to take before entering South Korea need to be substituted with tests that they take after arrival.
Jung questioned the reliability of COVID-19 tests that travelers take overseas. Jung also noted inconvenience that Korean nationals go through when they try to reenter the country.
Jung said the predeparture testing rule is causing Korean nationals to spend substantial amounts of money overseas. “There are around 20,000 Korean nationals returning home on a daily basis. If they spend 100,000 won ($74) for COVID-19 tests on average, it’s 2 billion won in total per day. The money that they spend for tests in foreign countries adds up to 60 billion won in a month,” Jung said.
South Korea is currently one of few countries to requires predeparture COVID-19 tests for travelers. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries, South Korea and Japan are the only countries that still ask for predeparture tests for fully vaccinated travelers.
But, as Japan has already decided to lift the measure from Sept. 7, South Korea could soon be the only OECD country maintaining the requirement.
The KDCA too previously hinted at a possible easing of the predeparture COVID-19 testing rule, with the backdrop of mounting calls from the tourism industry, as well as people who experience difficulties in obtaining COVID-19 tests overseas.
However, some experts have cautioned that the government’s lifting of the pre-entry testing requirement could be too early, as the number of COVID-19 infections is still high.
“It is complacent to ease the border control measures since the country’s daily confirmed COVID-19 cases still remain high,” said professor Kim Woo-joo of the infectious disease department at Korea University Guro Hospital. “(The government) should recall the spike in COVID-19 infections that followed the government’s relaxation of border control measures in June.”
Meanwhile, the number of daily COVID-19 cases from overseas on Sunday reached 360. Including the cases from overseas, the country reported 43,142 new COVID-19 infections.
The country reported 49 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 26,618. The fatality rate stood at 0.12 percent.
The number of critically ill patients on Sunday reached 597, up from the previous day’s 581. It marked the highest level since late April.
(ws@heraldcorp.com)
12. N. Korea set for nuke test, but no sign of action yet: S. Korean defense chief
Will he test? Probably. When? Hard to say. I am sure it will be when Kim assesses he can achieve the desired effects. What are the effects he desires?
N. Korea set for nuke test, but no sign of action yet: S. Korean defense chief
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
This photo shows Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup speaking during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Aug. 1. Yonhap
North Korea remains ready to carry out a nuclear experiment, but no "particular" signs have emerged yet that the test is imminent, South Korea's defense minister said Monday.
In a parliamentary briefing, Lee Jong-sup also said that the reclusive regime appears to be continuing preparations for a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launch.
Lee's remarks came amid concerns that Pyongyang could engage in provocative acts on the pretext of responding to the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) military exercise between Seoul and Washington, which it has decried as a war rehearsal.
"As North Korea is advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities and has completed preparations for what would be its seventh nuclear test, the grave security situation continues," Lee said during the session of the National Assembly's national defense committee.
"Based on the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance, our military is maintaining a sturdy defense posture to respond proactively to such security threats," he added.
The minister said that the North is capable of conducting an underground nuclear experiment at Tunnel 3 of the Punggye-ri testing site, but there have been no unusual signs indicating any impending test.
Tunnel 3 is among the four known tunnels at the testing site. The North carried out its first nuclear test at Tunnel 1 in 2006, while Tunnel 2 was used for the North's next five underground nuclear experiments.
The minister also said the North Korean military has been focusing on restoring security facilities damaged by recent torrential rains and engaging in civil support activities, like antivirus efforts, while strengthening vigilance in response to the UFS exercise.
Commenting on the outcomes of the USF, Lee pointed to the ongoing efforts to enhance South Korea's capabilities to handle all-out war scenarios and bolster the allies' combined operational capabilities and set the conditions for a "systematic and stable" transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul.
During the session, Lee also explained the outcome of a military probe into last month's communications failure involving the Navy's 4,400-ton Choi Young destroyer, attributing it to an apparent lack of discipline among Navy personnel.
On July 5, the destroyer went out of contact for nearly three hours while it was navigating in a maritime zone assigned to avoid a typhoon ― an area that happened to be prone to satellite communications disruptions.
The military investigation has found that Navy personnel failed to promptly take due steps to restore communication links, such as shifting course for communication signals or using replacement communication channels. It also noted that the incident was not immediately reported to the higher-ups.
"We take this very seriously," a Navy official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The Navy plans to take measures to prevent a recurrence by establishing to-do lists for such a case and conducting related training sessions, according to the official. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · August 29, 2022
13. N. Korea plans nationwide update of mobile phone operating systems by December
Can we exploit the north Korean cell phone system?
N. Korea plans nationwide update of mobile phone operating systems by December
The authorities plan to confiscate phones that have not been updated to the latest operating system with no grace period whatsoever
dailynk.com
FILE PHOTO: A North Korean businessperson using a cell phone at a local market. (Daily NK)
North Korea plans to carry out a nationwide update of its mobile phone operating system at the end of the year, Daily NK has learned.
North Korea is promoting the update by claiming it will improve mobile phone performance, but a source in the country told Daily NK that the real goal is to prevent the spread of “anti-socialist and non-socialist phenomena.”
A Daily NK source in North Korea said Wednesday that the authorities plan to carry out the operating system update in December.
“This is to achieve the direction of this year’s general plan for security-related activities and decisions from February’s review of activities aimed at countering anti-socialist and non-socialist phenomena,” he said.
Based on his account, the authorities claim that if people update their phones to the new state-developed operating system, their phones will experience improved speed and performance.
“However, the authorities have not explained exactly how this will happen,” he added.
Basically, the authorities are encouraging people to actively take part in the nationwide update, pointing to how updating their phone’s operating system will boost performance.
North Korea is particularly concerned about getting users of older phone models to update their systems.
“Phones that came out three to five years ago must upgrade to the new operating system or have their apps inspected,” said the source.
The latest phone models have already fixed the vulnerabilities of the existing operating system or apply more stringent security policies.
Accordingly, many North Koreans using older phones avoid updating them, even utilizing circumvention programs to enjoy content from the outside world deemed illegal by the authorities.
This is why many North Koreans are not especially pleased about the update order.
“People can’t put down their mobile phones because life is too inconvenient without them,” said the source. “People find it annoying and frustrating to have the state scrutinize their phones so closely.
“Some people even say that if this is socialism, it would be better to go back to feudalism,” he continued, adding, “Most people, however, are in a darned-if-you-do, darned-if-you-don’t situation.”
Many North Koreans are also unhappy that they must pay to update their phone’s operating system, although the authorities have yet to decide on a price for December’s update.
The source said since the update has yet to begin, the authorities have yet to issue instructions regarding the price.
The source also reported that North Korea is crafting plans to deploy enforcement and security personnel to busy streets in front of train stations and other similar areas to conduct random inspections of people’s mobile phones.
The authorities plan to confiscate phones that have not been updated to the latest operating system with grace period whatsoever.
Daily NK reported in July that North Korea ordered all mobile phone users and registered computer owners to update certain programs by the end of August. North Korean authorities plan to use the update to inspect whether users have installed illegally developed and distributed security circumvention programs on their phones.
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
Read in Korean
dailynk.com
14. Russia sends wheat to North Korea in return for diplomatic support
Quid pro quo. Afairly profitable letter that Kim Jong Un wrote in support of Russia. (and words from the Propaganda and Agitation Department as well)
Russia sends wheat to North Korea in return for diplomatic support
A high-ranking source in North Korea claimed that his country imported energy resources like oil and natural gas from Russia, too
dailynk.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019. (Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via Reuters)
North Korea recently imported wheat from Russia, with some in the Workers’ Party saying that the country received the aid in return for officially recognizing the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), breakaway entities established by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
According to multiple Daily NK sources in South Pyongan Province, South Hwanghae Province and elsewhere last Wednesday, grain processing facilities in some parts of the country have received Russian whole grain wheat, which they are currently grinding.
The sources said that unlike North Korean wheat, Russian wheat has big, high quality grains. One can easily tell it is imported just by looking at it, they said.
However, some North Koreans say Russia seemingly sent inferior wheat this time around, noting that the wheat appeared over a year old, not freshly harvested.
North Koreans sometimes eat dehusked corn from whole grain wheat, but grain processing facilities are reportedly grinding most of the imported wheat into flour.
If the authorities supplied the wheat in a state that would allow the public to see the actual grains, people might start speculating about the source. That is why the government is pulverizing the wheat into flour for public distribution.
The latest wheat imported from Russia may have been provided to military units or military industry-related entities, or partly sold to ordinary people though state-run food shops.
Some North Koreans also speculate that the authorities will provide the Russian wheat flour after mixing it with small amounts of North Korean wheat produced earlier this year.
In a policy speech to the 5th Meeting of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly on Sept. 29 of last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the agricultural sector to “increase the nationwide areas for cultivating paddy rice and dry-field rice, ensure more than two times increase in the areas sowing wheat and barley, raise the per-hectare yield and provide the people with polished rice and flour, and thus provide them with the condition for improving their diet in a cultured way.”
North Korea afterwards reduced corn cultivation and increased the area for sowing wheat and barley; however, the wheat harvest in the first half of the year was poor due to shortages of agricultural supplies and farming technology, as well as natural disasters such as drought and torrential rains.
Because of this, farmers on some collective farms are reportedly complaining that if they had planted corn like they used to do, “they’d have lots to harvest this autumn.” The source said rumors are even going around that the authorities imported wheat from Russia to quiet these complaints from farmers and help Kim Jong Un save face.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking source in North Korea claimed that his country imported energy resources like oil and natural gas from Russia, too. He said that the imports entered the country through the region that borders Russia, and that the oil and natural gas have already been transported to Pyongyang and distributed.
The source said inside and outside ruling party circles, some people say Russia sent aid to pay North Korea back for publicly supporting and recognizing the independence of the pro-Russian entities in eastern Ukraine.
“Cadres who listen to overseas news believe Russia provided North Korea with material aid to express gratitude for [North Korea’s] recognition of the DPR and LPR and its expressions of support for Russia,” he added.
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
Read in Korean
dailynk.com
15. HRNK Wishes Former Intern Mathew Ha a Speedy Recovery
HRNK Wishes Former Intern Mathew Ha a Speedy Recovery
Mathew is one of the new generation of Korea watcher experts. When he recovers he will again continue to make great contributions to Korean security issues.
Please keep Mathew and his mother and father in your thoughts and prayers.
For anyone who would like to provide support to Mathew's family at this difficult time please go to this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mathew-ha-recover-from-a-stroke?utm
HRNK Wishes Former Intern Mathew Ha a Speedy Recovery
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The HRNK family was shocked to find out that our colleague Mathew Ha suffered a stroke, at the very young age of 30. Mathew interned with HRNK in 2016-17, and has continued to stay in touch with our team. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Hamilton College in New York. After HRNK, Mathew joined the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD). Most recently, he was preparing to pursue his Ph.D. at George Mason University.
We are very encouraged to know that Mathew's life is now out of danger, but it will be a long and difficult recovery. Please join us in keeping Mathew in your thoughts and prayers.
Greg Scarlatoiu
Executive Director, HRNK
1801 F Street, NW, Suite 305
Washington, DC 20006
202-499-7970
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De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Senior Advisor, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
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Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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