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Quotes of the Day:
“Nothing is so weak and unstable as a reputation for power which is not based on one’s own strength.”
– Tacitus
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all."
– Emily Dickinson
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
–Theodore Roosevelt
1. Voice of America:[Washington Talk] Fading 'North Korea Denuclearization'... South Korea Should Keep Nuclear Storage Facilities and Tactical Nuclear Weapons
2. Activists join US, NYC officials in effort to name street outside North Korea's UN office after Otto Warmbier
3. U.S. stresses push for 'timely, accurate, unbiased' reporting on N.K.-related UNSC resolutions noncompliance
4. S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level talks on N. Korea deterrence next week
5. Male-dominated gov't-funded forum rushes to add female speakers over UK ambassador's boycott
6. Rust Belt senators call on U.S. gov't to reduce import quota for S. Korean oil country tubular goods
7. 'Defector Literature' Showing the Inside of North Korea
8. Westinghouse’s behavior (nuclear power competition between the ROK and US)
9. S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level talks on N. Korea deterrence next week
10. Trump says getting along with Kim Jong-un is 'good thing' |
11. Hyesan buzzes with anticipation as N. Korea revives state-sanctioned smuggling
12. North Korean woman punished for spying after talking to Chinese husband in China
13. State Department: “Supports approval of South Korean government’s civilian group’s flood relief assistance to North Korea”
14. Dispute over border telecom plan further strains China-North Korea ties
1. Voice of America:[Washington Talk] Fading 'North Korea Denuclearization'... South Korea Should Keep Nuclear Storage Facilities and Tactical Nuclear Weapons
VOA journalist Eunjung Cho hosts Bob Peters and me to discuss a number of Koreans security issues for broadcast into Pyongyang (and around the world to include the ROK).
This is in English with Korean subtitles.
I think Eunjung Cho captures the essence of my remarks in her tweet here.
Eunjung Cho 조은정
@EunjungCh0
·
12h"It's time to flip the conventional wisdom and start thinking about achieving unification as a path to denuclearization. The next U.S. administration should fully support the '8.15 Unification Doctrine'," @DavidMaxwell161
[Washington Talk] Fading 'North Korea Denuclearization'... South Korea Should Keep Nuclear Storage Facilities and Tactical Nuclear Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75pOvW3yDFc
976 views Premiered 89 minutes ago #WashingtonTalk #VOA #denuclearization
U.S. military experts pointed out that few policymakers now see the denuclearization of North Korea as a realistic goal, and that the focus of policy will inevitably shift to 'limiting North Korea's nuclear capabilities.' They also explained that due to North Korea's evolving nuclear capabilities and China's rapidly increasing nuclear arsenal, the demand for the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula has become a major topic of discussion in Washington's political circles. Host: Eun-Jeong Cho / Interview: Robert Peters (Heritage Foundation Research Fellow), David Maxwell (Asia-Pacific Strategy Center Vice President)
2. Activists join US, NYC officials in effort to name street outside North Korea's UN office after Otto Warmbier
Symbolic yes, but symbolism is important to help remind people of the suffering of the Warmbier family and the 25 million Koreans in the north under the most despotic regime in the world, the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State that denies human rights to remain in power.
Excerpts:
"By designating "Otto Warmbier Way" in the heart of New York City, we would send a strong message to North Korea and other repressive countries that the international community continues to pay attention to what they have done and are doing," says Lee.
"We need to remind people of Otto and tell the stories of victims like him."
Activists join US, NYC officials in effort to name street outside North Korea's UN office after Otto Warmbier | Fox News
Kim Jong Un opponents set to address hearing to highlight regime's human rights violations
Published August 31, 2024 8:31am EDT
foxnews.com · by Eric Shawn Fox News
FIRST ON FOX — Otto Warmbier would have been a 29-year-old New Yorker by now, living in Manhattan and working as a financial analyst, perhaps a resident of the Turtle Bay apartment building where he was last photographed waiting for a friend.
But instead, the then University of Virginia college student was arrested because he was an American, falsely accused of stealing a political poster, put on a show-trial in the unforgiving dictatorship of Kim Jong Un and ultimately tortured to be sent home to die in 2017 at the age of 22. In death, Otto has become an enduring symbol of human rights and now there is another push to honor him and remind the North Koreans, and the international community, of the brutality of the Kim regime.
"As a mother whose son is imprisoned in a political prison camp by the Kim Jong Un regime, and even do not know his whereabouts, I share a deep pain over the death of Otto Warmbier," says Soyeon Lee, a human rights activist and North Korean defector with the New Korean Women's Union, a group composed of hundreds of North Korean defectors fighting for freedom or the North Korean people.
Lee is the latest supporter of "Otto Warmbier Way," the proposal to name the corner of Second Avenue and 43rd Street in Manhattan in front of the office building that houses the North Korean Mission to the United Nations. The street sign with such a designation, in front of 820 Second Avenue, would be seen as a defiant, moral message to Kim's diplomats and a compelling reminder of the regime's harsh realities to the U.N. community and the world.
NORTH KOREA SANCTIONED BY U.S. COURT IN DEATH OF AMERICAN STUDENT OTTO WARMBIER
Otto Warmbier died from injuries sustained while being held hostage by the North Korean government. (Warmbier family)
"If ‘Otto Warmbier Way’ is established in New York City, where the North Korean Mission to the UN is based, it would demonstrate that New York City is a proactive city protecting human rights and advocating for international justice," says Lee.
On Wednesday she will speak by Zoom before the Transportation Committee of the local Community Board Six supporting the honorary re-naming, a step toward the New York City Council eventually considering the plan.
The petition is seeking the signatures of locals to support the effort.
"Otto Warmbier Way" has garnered an impressive list of supporters through the years, including two New York City Mayors, two Manhattan Borough Presidents, several Congressional, New York State Assembly and City Council Members, multiple former U.S. Secretaries of State and U.S. Ambassadors to the United Nations, as well as U.S. Senators and human rights activists.
The Warmbier family is honored by the proposal.
Otto Warmbier is seen sitting at the Churchill apartment building in Manhattan, at 40th Street and Second Avenue, just three blocks from what could be "Otto Warmbier Way" on 43rd Street and Second Avenue in front of the North Korean Mission to the UN. (Warmbier Family)
"We support her efforts and love how the North Korean defectors support us," Cindy Warmbier, Otto's mother, told Fox News.
But the plan has not yet moved in the Council, because it needs to be introduced by the Council Member who represents the district, Keith Powers, who has indicated support for the plan in the past. Powers is now term-limited and has announced that he is running for the office of Manhattan Borough President.
Lee says the Community Board can act and send a meaningful message about human rights across the globe.
PUSH FOR 'OTTO WARMBIER WAY' OUTSIDE NORTH KOREA’S UN MISSION PICKS UP STEAM
In this May 3, 2018, file photo, Fred Warmbier, right, listens as his wife, Cindy Warmbier, speaks of their son, Otto Warmbier, during a meeting at the United Nations headquarters. A federal judge ruled that Otto's parents should receive about $240,000 seized from a North Korean bank account. The amount would be a partial payment toward the more than $501 million the couple were awarded in 2018 by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
"This will be an opportunity to raise awareness about human rights issues among New York City residents, visitors to New York, and people around the world. New York City always has various human rights related streets, and this would help to internationally promote and continually focus attention on North Korean human rights issues. Many international human rights movements have started with symbolic actions that lead to tangible change, and I believe that "Otto Warmbier Way" could play such a role,"she says.
Most street renamings require evidence of a local community connection, but the city's general guidelines state that "exceptions may be made however for individuals who die under infamous circumstances of crime, accident, disease, social circumstance, military service or the like, or if the death leads itself to a greater awareness with society of the cause of death and concerted effort to address that problem."
The policy of Community Board Six, which Lee will be addressing, includes naming streets for a candidate who "made a permanent, continuing and significant positive contribution to the great good of the community" or "has made an extraordinary contribution in the service of humanity."
A campaign is underway to change the street name outside of the North Korean UN mission to Otto Warmbier Way. (Fox News)
Supporters say Otto is such an individual, whose killing prompted world-wide condemnation and outrage, making him a poignant and potent symbol of the struggle for human rights.
Mayor Eric Adams will sign Otto's street naming into law, Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy has told Fox News, if the Council passes it.
"Mayor Adams wholeheartedly condemns the human rights abuses committed by North Korea and has nothing but sympathy for the loss the Warmbier family suffered when Otto was taken from them," Levy told Fox News.
OTTO WARMBIER'S BIRTHDAY, HIS LEGACY LIVES ON
The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill named after Otto Warmbier. The bill provides $10 million annually to counter North Korea's surveillance state and censorship. (Warmbier Family)
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio also supported "Otto Warmbier Way."
"We are a symbol of human rights for the whole world, and we have confronted in this city dictators and tyrants, historically. This is a place that has really led the international effort against oppression and there is no government more oppressive than the North Korean government, and the fact that an American lost his life there is something we need to honor and remember," said de Blasio.
"In this city we stand up for human rights and dignity... there is literally not a worse regime on earth than North Korea, so I am very comfortable that we need this to end up against them as well."
Other supporters have included a bipartisan list of officials, including: former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Mike Pompeo, former U.N. Ambassadors Bill Richardson and John Bolton, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen, members of the U.S. Senate subcommittee on Human Rights, current and former Manhattan Borough Presidents Mark Levine and Gale Brewer, a current Council member, as well as her colleague Council Member Joe Borelli, New York State Assmebly Member Harvey Epstein, among others.
Otto Warmbier was set ready to move to New York City (The Warmbier Family)
In recent years, the New York City Council has renamed streets for figures as diverse as entertainers, sports stars, historical figures and various political causes.
Fan Noli, the cleric and writer who served as the Prime Minister of Albania in 1924, is honored with a street in the Bronx where "Ibrahim al-Hamdi Way" is named for the former president of Yemen who was assassinated in 1977. "Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard" in Brooklyn was named after the Haitian revolutionary who led his nation against France in 1804 that led to the massacre of up to 10,000 French residents.
Recent honorary re-namings also include a Nepalese Mountain Sherpa, U.S. Navy victims of Pearl Harbor and 177 people and groups added by the City Council this year.
OTTO WARMBIER'S PARENTS RECOGNIZED AT STATE OF THE UNION IN EMOTIONAL MOMENT
The 2024 list includes "Tony Bennett Place," for the legendary Astoria, Queens born singer; "Giovanni da Verrazano Way" for the 15th century explorer who was the first European to land in New York; "The Graffiti Hall of Fame Way," for an historic Manhattan playground wall adored with graffitti; "Mothers on the Move/MOM Way," for a Bronx activist group focused on human rights and "St. Pat's For All Way" to honor a local Queens parade established to include the LGBTQIA community and as a symbol of human rights.
Council Member Brewer told Fox News "Manhattanites — and all New Yorkers — have always cared about the larger world because so many of us came from elsewhere. So it's personal for us to always seek justice on the global stage -and co-naming Second Avenue from 43rd to 44th streets is one small way we can keep Otto's memory alive."
Mayor Eric Adams supports the street honoring Otto Warmbier, saying he had "nothing but sympathy for the loss the Warmbier family suffered when Otto was taken from them." (YouTube/ New York City)
"New York City should still use this opportunity to rename the street and thumb our nose at the North Korean dictatorship. Otto's life could matter even more as a strong sign against totalitarianism," City Council Member Joe Borelli also said.
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"By designating "Otto Warmbier Way" in the heart of New York City, we would send a strong message to North Korea and other repressive countries that the international community continues to pay attention to what they have done and are doing," says Lee.
"We need to remind people of Otto and tell the stories of victims like him."
foxnews.com · by Eric Shawn Fox News
3. U.S. stresses push for 'timely, accurate, unbiased' reporting on N.K.-related UNSC resolutions noncompliance
U.S. stresses push for 'timely, accurate, unbiased' reporting on N.K.-related UNSC resolutions noncompliance | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Friday underscored its commitment to finding the "best" way to secure "timely, accurate and unbiased" reporting on noncompliance with North Korea-related U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions as a key sanctions monitoring panel was disbanded four months ago.
A State Department spokesperson made the remarks amid ongoing efforts among the U.S., South Korea, Japan and other countries to find an alternative to the U.N. expert panel whose mandate expired on April 30 due to Russia's veto of a resolution on its renewal.
"Russia's veto of the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts -- with China's tacit support through its abstention -- left a significant gap in reporting," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.
"That is why the United States is actively working with all stakeholders to identify the best way forward to ensure timely, accurate, and unbiased reporting on noncompliance with DPRK-related U.N. Security Council resolutions is provided to the international community," the official added.
DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The spokesperson's remarks came as concerns have grown that Pyongyang and Moscow have been deepening their cooperation in military, economic and other realms in the absence of a mechanism to thoroughly monitor any activities that might violate UNSC resolutions.
The U.N. panel's mandate had been extended annually since it was launched in 2009 in line with UNSC Resolution 1874 adopted in response to the North's second nuclear test in May of the same year.
The panel had served as an important institutional platform to oversee sanctions against the North. It had published two reports each year -- an interim report and a final report -- on instances of sanctions violations based on information from U.N. member states and other open-source materials.
The State Department in Washington. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
4. S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level talks on N. Korea deterrence next week
(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level talks on N. Korea deterrence next week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
(ATTN: RECASTS dateline; ADDS State Department's comment in 6th para)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will hold vice-ministerial talks in Washington next week on deterrence efforts against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.
The fifth meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) will take place Wednesday (local time), with a focus on assessing the progress on the allies' efforts to deter North Korea's military threats, the ministry said in a release.
The talks will also address ways to bolster coordination between the two countries to enhance the "extended deterrence" against the North in light of the current security landscape, the ministry said.
Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to mobilizing all of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.
The talks will be led by First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun; Cho Chang-rae, deputy defense minister for policy; Bonnie Jenkins, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security; and Cara Abercrombie, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.
In a media note, the U.S. State Department portrayed EDSCG as an "important alliance forum for comprehensive discussions on extended deterrence policy issues affecting the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific."
The EDSCG dialogue was resumed in September 2022, more than four years after it was suspended under the previous Moon Jae-in government amid the former liberal president's rapprochement efforts with Pyongyang.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to reactivate the talks during their May summit in 2022 as part of joint efforts to address the North's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
South Korean and U.S. officials hold a joint news conference at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Sept. 15, 2023, right after their fourth Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group meeting to deter North Korean provocations. From left are acting Under Secretary for Policy Sasha Baker and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins of the United States, and Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin and Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul of South Korea. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
5. Male-dominated gov't-funded forum rushes to add female speakers over UK ambassador's boycott
The solution is for the UK to send a female ambassador to the ROK. There are too many old white men as Ambassadors. Instead of boycotting he should just resign and make way for a woman. He should take a principled stand.
Male-dominated gov't-funded forum rushes to add female speakers over UK ambassador's boycott
The Korea Times · by 2024-08-28 15:14 | Multicultural Community · August 30, 2024
The official website of for Global Korea Forum 2024 / Screenshot from Global Korea Forum website
By Anna J. Park
This year's Global Korea Foum (GKF), an annual international conference hosted by the Ministry of Unification, has added more female panelists after being criticized for its lack of diversity.
According to the website of the GKF 2024, Friday, the panel speakers for next Tuesday's forum are comprised of 20 men and seven women, significantly increasing the female presence from its previous 4.7 percent — 20 men and one women — to over 25 percent.
The addition came after British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks decided not to participate in the event, citing concerns over the lack of gender diversity among the invited speakers, as reported by The Korea Times on Wednesday.
d the ambassador's withdrawal from the event, stating: "The ambassador is unable to take part in the Global Korea Forum (scheduled for Sept. 3). The British Embassy is committed to gender equality. We believe that events are enriched by the diversity of perspectives of those participating."
British ambassador to Korea withdraws from gov't forum due to women's underrepresentation
An official from the unification ministry said the ministry had accepted the criticism that the forum should be conducted in line with the values of gender equality.
The newly added female panelists include Korea Institite for Defense Analyses (KIDA) research fellow Kwon Bo-ram, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses head of security strategy Lee Ho-ryoung, Kangwan National University professor Chung Ku-youn, Renmin University of China professor Ahn Yin-hay, National Institute for Unification Education professor Jeong Eun-chan and Korea Peninsula Future Women's Institute Director Hyun In-ae.
British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks, left, stands next to Korean students at the British Embassy in Seoul, July 23. Courtesy of British Council Seoul
The Korea Times · by 2024-08-28 15:14 | Multicultural Community · August 30, 2024
6. Rust Belt senators call on U.S. gov't to reduce import quota for S. Korean oil country tubular goods
Rust Belt senators call on U.S. gov't to reduce import quota for S. Korean oil country tubular goods | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- Three senators from Rust Belt states have called on the U.S. government to reduce the import quota for South Korean metal products used in the production of oil and gas, saying the reduced demand and high levels of Korean imports are affecting American companies and workers.
Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Thursday, taking issue with the quota for South Korean oil country tubular goods (OCTG). OCTG refers to rolled metal products, such as drill pipes and structural pipes.
"This quota was originally established in 2018 but is now outdated and ineffective due to lower demand for OCTG," they said in the letter, referring to the South Korean imports.
"We respectfully encourage you to reduce this quota to reflect the lower demand and to level the playing field for the domestic OCTG industry," they added.
This file photo, released by AFP, shows a metal product factory in Ohio. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In 2018, the U.S. announced tariffs at rates of 25 percent and 10 percent on certain steel and aluminum imports, including OCTG, covering most U.S. trading partners, but with certain exemptions for U.S. allies like South Korea.
An annual quota of 508,020 short tons was implemented for South Korean OCTG imports. This quota has remained constant since its inception, except for a 40 percent quota reduction for one year in 2020 in response to a significant decrease in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the senators.
"The reduced demand coupled with high levels of South Korean imports is hurting American OCTG companies and has resulted in over 220 layoffs and/or reductions in workforce at plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Texas," they said in the letter.
"This is unacceptable. We know American workers are the best in the world and can compete with anyone if they have a level playing field. We urge the administration to take action to ensure that the industry does not continue to suffer additional job losses because of this outdated quota."
They also pointed out the importance of the domestic OCTG industry in securing America's "energy independence."
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
7. 'Defector Literature' Showing the Inside of North Korea
This is why we need voices from north Korean escapees as part of a public diplomacy information campaign directed at the regime elite, the second tier leadership, and the Korean people living in the north.
This is a Google translation of an RFA article.
Excerpts:
MC : How would you explain the direction that North Korean literature should take ?
Do Myeong-hak : North Korean literature reflects the reality of North Korea , the status of North Korean defectors overseas , and the perspectives of North Korean defectors on the conditions of the countries they have settled in, including South Korea . For this reason, it has a very high possibility of becoming world-class literature . Just as we say that Korea is the world’s only divided country, we are experiencing problems that the world has not experienced . These include ideological differences , separated families , war , ongoing conflicts between the two sides , and North Korean defectors’ migration to South Korea and overseas . The universal human values that literature pursues are likely to react to these phenomena and produce moving literature . In that sense, I think the direction that North Korean literature should take is to play the role of accusatory literature that conveys the reality of North Korea suffering under dictatorship, and ultimately become true literature of unification .
MC : Can you compare North Korean literature with other literature , such as literature on unification , division , separation , and anti-communism ?
Do Myeong-hak : In terms of its nature, North Korean literature encompasses unification literature, division literature, diaspora literature, and anti-communist literature . All of its content ultimately delivers the message that unification is the answer , reflects the division situation , and is a story about North Korean defectors who are new displaced persons and separated families , and anti-communist consciousness as victims of communism is inevitable in North Korean literature . However, in fact, unification literature , division literature , diaspora literature , and anti-communist literature all have something in common, so there is no big difference . If I had to emphasize a characteristic of North Korean literature, it would be that the message the writer wants to convey is conveyed through defectors .
'Defector Literature' Showing the Inside of North Korea
https://www.rfa.org/korean/weekly_program/b3c4ba85d559c758-b0a8bd81bb38d559ae30d589/literaturesnk-08282024105748.html
WASHINGTON-Hong Albot honga@rfa.org
2024.08.31
North Korean anti-regime novel 'Accusation'
/Yonhap News
00:00/15:04
MC : Hello, listeners . It's time for , where we talk about South and North Korean literature with Do Myung-hak, a defector novelist from Seoul . I'm Hong Al-beot from Washington, D.C. Today , we'll continue from last time and look at a literary genre that was born from the situation of the divided Korean Peninsula . Hello, teacher .
Do Myeong-hak : Yes , hello .
MC : Teacher , what kind of literature shall we talk about today ?
Do Myeong-hak : Yes , I don’t know if you’ve heard of the term “North Korean literature,” but today I’d like to talk about a new concept that has been in use in Korea since around the early 2000s : North Korean literature .
MC : First , I’m curious about how many North Koreans have defected . How many defectors have settled in South Korea ?
Do Myeong-hak : Yes , as of July 2024 , the number of people settled in South Korea has exceeded 34,000 . It was said that the 10,000 mark opened around January 2007 , but the number grew to between 1,000 and 2,000 per year . After Kim Jong-il's death and the arrival of Kim Jong-un, crackdowns and control were greatly strengthened, and the number gradually began to decrease. In particular, due to the COVID -19 situation , it decreased to 100 per year , and after the COVID-19 situation was alleviated, it began to increase again, but it seems that it will take some time for the number to grow again to the size before 2019 .
MC : If you include North Korean defectors living abroad, the scale seems to be very large . Then, how many of the North Korean defectors are engaged in literary activities , that is, literary creation activities ?
Do Myung-hak : We don’t know the exact number of North Korean defectors living in Korea and overseas , but it is estimated that there are between 100,000 and as many as 300,000 . Naturally, the largest number is in China, but it is difficult to get an accurate estimate because they live in complete hiding of their identities . Excluding China, there are less than a thousand North Korean defectors settled in the UK , and several hundred in Canada . In addition, there are small numbers scattered throughout Europe , including Japan , Germany , and the Netherlands . On the other hand, if you include those who settled in Korea and then went abroad for various reasons such as immigration , overseas employment , study , and business, it would not be an exaggeration to say that there are defectors all over the world . Most of these defectors who engage in literary activities are in Korea . There are some defectors living in the US , UK, etc., but they are not many, and although a few books have been published in the form of memoirs or testimonies, there are no known cases of them engaging in full-scale literary activities overseas . Even in Korea, there are not many defectors who are actively creating literature . As far as I know, there are about 10 people who are active and about 30 others . Of these, there are about 6 people , including me, who were active as writers in North Korea, and several who came to South Korea and debuted as poets and novelists, and the rest have yet to debut .
Related materials are being released at a press conference commemorating the publication of the North Korean anti-regime novel 'Accusation' held at Dasan Cafe in Mapo-gu, Seoul in 2017. 2017.2.14 / Yonhap News
MC : Among the poets, novels , and essays, which genre do most defectors write ?
Do Myung-hak : There are about a hundred books published by defectors . In addition, there are many short stories that they have co-written or published in various media such as magazines , newspapers , and the Internet . Most of them are memoirs that confess their experiences as they are, and there are not many works that fall under the category of full-fledged literature such as poetry or novels . Poetry is the most common genre of full-fledged literature, but there are many poems that contain stories that could have been written as memoirs . Although it takes a lot of study and training to write high-quality poetry, the content is something that cannot be written without actual experience, so it is worth reading for readers who do not know much about North Korea . The reason why defectors' writings are mostly memoirs or autobiographies that convey their experiences in North Korea and third countries is not because they majored in literature, but because they have wounds and stories that they cannot bear without speaking to the world and denouncing . Truly, each and every North Korean defector has a story that is unimaginable .
MC : I heard that there are organizations formed by North Korean defectors or are members of such organizations . Please tell us about them and what activities they do .
Do Myeong-hak : There were one or two literary groups created by North Korean defectors before 2012 , but they didn’t have much of a presence . There were too few defectors capable of writing quality pieces, and even fewer who could write proper literary genres like poetry or novels. Even those who did not had much motivation and could not devote themselves to writing due to their work . North Korean defector writers began to make their presence felt in earnest after the International PEN Center for North Korean Writers in Exile was organized in 2012. I think I need to introduce the International PEN Club a bit. The International PEN Club is an international literary organization that was founded in London, England in 1921. Its founding purpose was to promote friendship and mutual understanding among writers from all over the world, and to work to defend freedom of expression. Under these goals, it has taken the lead in protecting and supporting writers who have been persecuted or imprisoned by state power . The headquarters of the PEN Club are in London, where it was first established, and the International PEN Club building is in Paris, France . There are PEN centers established in various countries around the world. The Korean branch of International PEN joined in 1954 , and at the 79th International PEN Convention held in South Korea in September 2012 , the North Korean PEN Center in Exile, comprised of defector writers, was unanimously granted the status of the 144th member country on behalf of North Korea, officially launching . Although the North Korean authorities harshly criticized the news of the establishment of the North Korean PEN Center, the defector writers who were inspired by the establishment of the center were rather motivated and began to produce creative results that were incomparable to the past, and on the other hand, as they conveyed in detail the reality of the suppression of freedom of expression in North Korea to the international community, the North Korean PEN Center in Exile always became the highlight of the International PEN Convention held in a different host country every year . I am proud and honored to have personally led the establishment of the North Korean PEN Center in Exile . It has been 12 years since the Exile North Korean Writers Center was established , and currently, there is a separate organization called the Free Unification Culture Solidarity, which I established for the purpose of creating synergy effects by utilizing literary works in films , performances , videos , broadcasts, etc., and a group called “ Happy Journey Literature ,” which is centered around North Korean defector female poets .
Annual literary journal published by the Exile Pen Center. /Exile North Korea Pen Center
MC : Then what do you mean by North Korean defector literature ?
Do Myeong-hak : Literature on defectors from North Korea can literally be said to be literary works centered on defectors and the event of defection from North Korea .
MC : How would you explain the direction that North Korean literature should take ?
Do Myeong-hak : North Korean literature reflects the reality of North Korea , the status of North Korean defectors overseas , and the perspectives of North Korean defectors on the conditions of the countries they have settled in, including South Korea . For this reason, it has a very high possibility of becoming world-class literature . Just as we say that Korea is the world’s only divided country, we are experiencing problems that the world has not experienced . These include ideological differences , separated families , war , ongoing conflicts between the two sides , and North Korean defectors’ migration to South Korea and overseas . The universal human values that literature pursues are likely to react to these phenomena and produce moving literature . In that sense, I think the direction that North Korean literature should take is to play the role of accusatory literature that conveys the reality of North Korea suffering under dictatorship, and ultimately become true literature of unification .
MC : Can you compare North Korean literature with other literature , such as literature on unification , division , separation , and anti-communism ?
Do Myeong-hak : In terms of its nature, North Korean literature encompasses unification literature, division literature, diaspora literature, and anti-communist literature . All of its content ultimately delivers the message that unification is the answer , reflects the division situation , and is a story about North Korean defectors who are new displaced persons and separated families , and anti-communist consciousness as victims of communism is inevitable in North Korean literature . However, in fact, unification literature , division literature , diaspora literature , and anti-communist literature all have something in common, so there is no big difference . If I had to emphasize a characteristic of North Korean literature, it would be that the message the writer wants to convey is conveyed through defectors .
MC : Lastly , what do you think readers can gain from North Korean literature ?
Do Myeong-hak : Through literature written by defectors from North Korea, South Korean readers will be able to see into the inner workings of North Korea, where information is extremely limited, and will learn how dictatorship destroys humanity , why democracy is precious , why liberal democracy is valuable , and how grateful they are for not being born in North Korea, as well as the necessity of unification .
MC : Yes , so far , over the past five weeks, we have been learning about a number of relatively new literary genres that have taken root in the divided Korean Peninsula . Could you give us a word of summary ?
Do Myeong-hak : Yes , I think we’ve talked a lot over the five- part series . However, these may be my own subjective opinions, so I can’t say they’re the right answer right away, but I think they’ll be helpful at least . What’s desirable is that the Korean Peninsula is unified as soon as possible, so that division literature , unification literature , diaspora literature , anti -communist literature , and North Korean defector literature all become mere pages of literary history rather than ongoing works . Of course, after unification, another literary phenomenon may emerge as an extension of that and take its place for a while . I’m confident that the literature of a unified Korea will reveal itself to the world as a new Korean literature , or New Korea literature .
MC : Yes , teacher , thank you for your hard work today .
Do Myeong-hak : Yes , thank you for your hard work .
MC : Thank you, listeners, for joining us . Goodbye .
Editor: Lee Jin-seo, Web Editor: Han Deok-in
8. Westinghouse’s behavior (nuclear power competition between the ROK and US)
Why aren't we building more nuclear power plants in the US?
Westinghouse’s behavior
The Korea Times · August 29, 2024
US firm should cease political maneuvering
U.S. nuclear energy firm Westinghouse Electric Company is facing criticism for challenging the Czech Republic's decision to select a Korean company as the preferred bidder for a nuclear plant project. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) dismissed Westinghouse's appeal, describing it as merely a repetition of its earlier position. In a statement, KHNP noted, "Westinghouse's latest claim pertains to ongoing international arbitration and U.S. litigation."
Westinghouse, wary of losing the competition to KHNP, actively sought support from the U.S. government. The move by the American firm is seen as improper, potentially reflecting protectionism that undermines free market principles. It suggests an attempt to use government intervention to preserve an American company's competitive edge in the global nuclear power plant market.
In its appeal to the Czech Anti-Monopoly Office regarding the selection of KHNP, Westinghouse alleged that the Korean firm had infringed upon its intellectual property rights by using technology licensed from Westinghouse in its APR1000 and APR1400 reactor. However, this position could be harmful to fostering fair competition and may obstruct international cooperation, including technology transfers.
Westinghouse should recognize that market entry should be secured through fair competition, not by legal maneuvers. The Czech Republic rejected Westinghouse's claim, stating that participants cannot lodge complaints after failing in the competition.
Experts believe that Westinghouse is pressuring KHNP in an attempt to maintain an advantage in potential disputes. The U.S. has argued that adopting KHNP's technology could lead to significant job losses in both the U.S. and the Czech Republic. Westinghouse has further claimed that such a substantial decline in jobs could adversely affect its headquarters in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania, a key swing state in U.S. elections, significantly influences the selection of the next American president. As a result, Westinghouse's actions are seen as an effort to garner support from U.S. political parties. It is considered inappropriate for the company to use aggressive tactics to advance its interests before the election. Major presidential candidates might feel compelled to respond to Westinghouse's claims as the election approaches.
In October 2022, Westinghouse filed a lawsuit against KHNP in a U.S. federal court, accusing the Korean firm of infringing on its intellectual property rights. Although the court rejected the suit, Westinghouse appealed the decision, persistently obstructing KHNP's progress. Westinghouse has faced challenges due to its limited experience in nuclear power plant construction and has been criticized for its failure to complete the Vogtle nuclear reactors in Georgia, receiving significant criticism for its inefficiencies in construction.
Brookfield Renewable Partners, a Canadian private equity fund, and uranium enterprise Cameco own 51 percent and 49 percent of Westinghouse's shares, respectively. Given that equity funds typically prioritize short-term profits, the U.S. firm has appeared increasingly eager to escalate conflicts to the maximum extent.
Westinghouse's actions warrant strong criticism for exacerbating protectionism, prioritizing legal maneuvers over fair market competition and undermining international relations. It is important that this recent move does not adversely affect the relationship between Korea and the U.S.
These actions could undermine the principles of free market competition and international cooperation. KHNP's success in securing the nuclear power plant project from the Czech Republic should be recognized as a notable achievement in overcoming the challenges posed by Westinghouse. We urge Westinghouse to stop its persistent legal actions and focus instead on innovation. Relying on legal measures rather than advancing technology will only damage its reputation in the global nuclear power market. Both KHNP and Westinghouse should engage in genuine dialogue to resolve the ongoing dispute amicably.
The Korea Times · August 29, 2024
9. S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level talks on N. Korea deterrence next week
(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. to hold high-level talks on N. Korea deterrence next week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
(ATTN: RECASTS dateline; ADDS State Department's comment in 6th para)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will hold vice-ministerial talks in Washington next week on deterrence efforts against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.
The fifth meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) will take place Wednesday (local time), with a focus on assessing the progress on the allies' efforts to deter North Korea's military threats, the ministry said in a release.
The talks will also address ways to bolster coordination between the two countries to enhance the "extended deterrence" against the North in light of the current security landscape, the ministry said.
Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to mobilizing all of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.
The talks will be led by First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun; Cho Chang-rae, deputy defense minister for policy; Bonnie Jenkins, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security; and Cara Abercrombie, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.
In a media note, the U.S. State Department portrayed EDSCG as an "important alliance forum for comprehensive discussions on extended deterrence policy issues affecting the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific."
The EDSCG dialogue was resumed in September 2022, more than four years after it was suspended under the previous Moon Jae-in government amid the former liberal president's rapprochement efforts with Pyongyang.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to reactivate the talks during their May summit in 2022 as part of joint efforts to address the North's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
South Korean and U.S. officials hold a joint news conference at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Sept. 15, 2023, right after their fourth Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group meeting to deter North Korean provocations. From left are acting Under Secretary for Policy Sasha Baker and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins of the United States, and Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin and Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul of South Korea. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
10. Trump says getting along with Kim Jong-un is 'good thing'
I do not mean this as a partisan attack at all. But I hope someone can explain the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime to former President Trump and to Vice President Harris as well. Who is advising both candidates on north Korea? (unfortunately I think the answer is likely no one).
Trump says getting along with Kim Jong-un is 'good thing' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Friday that "getting along" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a "good thing," after his Democratic rival Kamala Harris vowed not to "cozy up to" dictators like Kim.
During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state, former President Trump again boasted about his personal ties with the North Korean leader, as he and the vice president are in a tight race with the presidential election just a little over two months away.
"I got along with Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Remember I walked over ... the first person to ever walk over from this country," he said, apparently referring to his visit to the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019, where he briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line into the North.
"We also looked at his nuclear capability. It's very substantial ... You know, getting along is a good thing. It's not a bad thing," he added.
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall meeting in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Aug. 29, 2024 in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap)
In her nomination acceptance speech in Chicago last Thursday, Harris took aim at Trump who has long touted his personal relations with Kim, saying that she will not "cozy up to tyrants and dictators like Kim Jong-un who are rooting for Trump."
She claimed that dictators know Trump is "easy to manipulate with flattery and favors."
The two candidates' remarks suggested their different visions for diplomacy toward North Korea.
Trump's boast of ties with Kim has raised the likelihood that he, if reelected, could revive his personal diplomacy toward Pyongyang to address the North Korean nuclear quandary.
Harris is seen as favoring an approach focusing on cooperation with allies and partners to address evolving North Korean threats.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · August 31, 2024
11. Hyesan buzzes with anticipation as N. Korea revives state-sanctioned smuggling
An economy dependent on smuggling.
What is "State-led smuggling?" ( A rhetorical question.) But do economists factor in a category of "state led smuggling" in their economic models?
Hyesan buzzes with anticipation as N. Korea revives state-sanctioned smuggling - Daily NK English
Even the general public in Hyesan has heard about the resumption of government smuggling, and everyone welcomes the development
By Lee Chae Eun - August 30, 2024
dailynk.com · by Lee Chae Eun · August 30, 2024
FILE PHOTO: Hyesan, Ryanggang province, in August 2013. (Daily NK)
North Korea has restarted state-sanctioned smuggling along the Hyesan border, with regime-backed trading firms scrambling to capitalize on the Aug. 25 green light for covert cross-border commerce.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in Ryanggang province said that trading companies in Hyesan “were chafing because they couldn’t move the products they bought quickly as the suspension of state smuggling lasted longer than expected. However, with the resumption of state smuggling from Aug. 25, they are taking a breather.”
State smuggling at the Hyesan border was suspended with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Samjiyon last month. Its resumption has been continually delayed as the Yalu River’s water level has risen due to monsoon rains.
Trading companies suffered because they could not export goods stored in North Korea to China or import goods stored in China to North Korea. Instead, they were simply counting the days until the state-sanctioned smuggling resumed.
The Trade Administration Office of the Ryanggang Province People’s Committee recently received an order from the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations instructing it to “resume state-led smuggling from Aug. 25.” The order was relayed to trading companies through the trade-related departments of the Hyesan People’s Committee.
Welcoming the order, the trading companies immediately began to prepare for the resumption of state-sanctioned smuggling. Some trading companies scrambled to borrow money to buy additional export goods.
Companies scurry to obtain items for export
Since prices are likely to rise as demand for export items increases, trading companies must act quickly.
“Some trading companies moved quickly to secure items for export, such as pine nuts, as soon as they received the order that opened up smuggling,” the source said. “Some companies mobilize various methods, including using their contacts to buy items first.”
A trading company in Hyesan took out a one-week loan to buy up export goods at a slightly higher price than other trading companies. In this way, companies are competing with each other to secure export items, knowing that they can make a profit if they can get their hands on the goods.
Meanwhile, even the general public in Hyesan has heard about the resumption of government-sanctioned smuggling, and everyone welcomes the development.
“When the price of export items goes up, the people who deal in those items can make more money, so they’re happy,” the source said. “In particular, everyone welcomes and looks forward to the resumption of state-led smuggling, because if it takes off, market traders can make a little more money with more imports in circulation.”
“Local livelihoods take a massive hit when state smuggling stops,” the source said. “Whenever something happens in this country, the authorities always restrict or stop state-led smuggling, which is tied to people’s livelihoods. So people’s lives will inevitably become more difficult as time goes on.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
Read in Korean
12. North Korean woman punished for spying after talking to Chinese husband in China
north Korea is a rule BY law dictatorship.
This is a Google translation of an RFA report.
North Korean woman punished for spying after talking to Chinese husband in China
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/human_rights_defector/north-korea-reeducation-prison-camp-08302024102057.html
Seoul-Son Hye-min xallsl@rfa.org
2024.08.30
Satellite photo of Labor Reeducation Camp No. 3 in Baekto-ri, Tosong-ri, North Pyongan Province, North Korea.
/HRNK Report
00:00/03:32
Anchor : It has been reported that a woman in her 40s who lived in Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province, was recently punished for leaking state secrets . The reason is that she communicated with her Chinese husband who was staying in China using a Chinese mobile phone and shared information about market prices . Reporter Son Hye-min reports from inside North Korea .
Baekto-ri, located between Sinuiju and Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province, is home to the No. 3 Reeducation Camp, where North Korean authorities detain domestic and foreign nationals sentenced to reeducation through labor . Established in 1968, Baekto-ri Reeducation Camp is one of the detention facilities where human rights are violated through forced labor and poor accommodations .
A source in North Pyongan Province ( requesting anonymity for safety reasons ) told Radio Free Asia on the 29th, “Earlier this month, a woman in her 40s living in Sinuiju was sentenced to three years of reeducation through labor at Baektori Reeducation Camp . ”
The source said, “This woman’s husband is a North Korean Chinese, ” and “ she was arrested in early July after being caught by the State Security Department ’s wiretapping while contacting her husband , who left for China in March and is currently residing in Shenyang . ”
The cell phone this woman was carrying was a Chinese cell phone that could access Chinese telecommunications networks. This has been severely cracked down on and punished in North Korea for years as an illegal means of communication . In 2015, the “Crime of Illegal International Communication ( Article 222 ) ” was newly established , which stipulates that “ Anyone who engages in international communication shall be punished by short-term labor for up to 1 year or reeducation through labor for up to 5 years ,” and the Act on the Rejection of Reactionary Ideology and Culture ( Article 36 ) enacted in 2020 stipulates that even keeping a cell phone from another country is punishable .
In North Korea, labor training camps are places where local governments imprison local residents for 1-6 months in units for the purpose of reforming petty crimes committed in the area and subjecting them to ideological training through forced labor, while reeducation through labor is where the State Reeducation Bureau revokes the citizen cards of residents sentenced to social crimes and reforms them through prison or life imprisonment . It is known that party members are not expelled from the party if they enter a labor training camp , but are automatically expelled if they are sentenced to reeducation through labor .
The source said, “While the Ministry of State Security was inspecting the woman’s Chinese mobile phone, they discovered that the woman had sent market price information to her husband through WeChat, a popular messaging service among Chinese people, and they were investigating her for leaking state secrets . ”
In North Korea, the State Security Department is known to patrol border villages with mobile radio detectors and conduct wiretapping. In order to avoid being wiretapped, calls must not exceed 5 minutes . At the time, it was reported that the wife of this Chinese man was caught at home by the wiretapping equipment because her conversation with her husband exceeded 5 minutes .
“ During the interrogation that lasted nearly a month, the Chinese wife protested that the prices of rice, daily necessities , and clothing in Sinuiju had risen so much that it was difficult to buy them , so she had only contacted her husband to tell him the prices and ask him to buy them ( from China ) when he returned to Korea. However, the Ministry of State Security said that ‘ market prices are also a state secret ,’ and sentenced her to reeducation through labor,” the source reported .
North Korea to allow overseas Chinese to leave the country again after coronavirus ends
Chinese Residents in China Send Remittances to North Korea Through North Korean Embassies
In relation to this, another source from North Pyongan Province ( requesting anonymity for personal safety ) also confirmed on the 30th , “A Chinese wife who lived in Sinuiju was sentenced to reeducation through labor after being found guilty of leaking state secrets for telling her husband in China about market prices while contacting him via cell phone . ”
However, the source added that he understood that " the initial sentence was 10 years for the serious crime of ' leaking state secrets, ' but the husband made efforts to reduce it to three years . "
He said, "If there was a Korean phone number in the call records of the Chinese cell phone seized by the Ministry of State Security, I would have been sent to a political prisoner camp no matter what method was used." He added, "Fortunately, I only talked to my husband in China, and in the text messages I exchanged with him, the only issue was the price of goods at the market , so it appears that my sentence was reduced . "
The source added, “After it was revealed that a Chinese wife in Sinuiju, the second largest Chinese population after Pyongyang, was jailed for contacting her husband in China, the Chinese are very dissatisfied with the Ministry of State Security’s practice of treating them as potential spies, asking if talking to their husbands is a crime of leaking state secrets . ”
Choi Cheol ( pseudonym ) , who defected from Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province, testified, “Baektori Reeducation Center is known inside North Korea as the prison where Kim Chang-bong, the Minister of National Security who was purged in December 1968 , was imprisoned during the interrogation.” He added, “It is not as large as Gaechon Reeducation Center ( No. 1 Reeducation Center ) , which holds around 3,000 inmates ( estimated to be around 1,500 to 2,000 ), but there are many prisoners there who are dying from lack of food . ”
Editor Lee Hyun-joo , Web Editor Han Deok-in
13. State Department: “Supports approval of South Korean government’s civilian group’s flood relief assistance to North Korea”
While South Korea approves and the US supports, it is unlikely that Kim Jong Un will accept any aid.
Note the list of US NGOs associated with relief in north Korea in the final paragraph.
A Google translation.
State Department: “Supports approval of South Korean government’s civilian group’s flood relief assistance to North Korea”
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/us-dos-support-rok-permission-northkorea-flood-aid-08302024145409.html
WASHINGTON-Lee Sang-min lees@rfa.org
2024.08.30
The photo shows the State Department building in Washington, D.C.
/AP
00:00/02:21
Anchor : The State Department has stated that it supports the South Korean government’s decision to allow private organizations in South Korea to contact North Korea to provide flood relief . Reporter Lee Sang-min reports .
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification announced on the 30th that it has decided to allow private organizations in South Korea to contact North Korea for the purpose of providing flood relief .
In response to a request for comment from Radio Free Asia (RFA) regarding the South Korean Ministry of Unification’s decision, a State Department spokesperson stated, “ We continue to support international efforts to provide critical humanitarian assistance to North Korea . ” He added that he hopes North Korea will promptly allow international humanitarian workers to return to North Korea . The spokesperson also made it clear that the United States views humanitarian assistance separately from denuclearization, and that the U.S. government is helping to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the North Korean people who need it most . He emphasized that this is most evident in the ongoing U.S. efforts to ensure that organizations around the world who plan to provide life-saving relief to North Korea can apply for sanctions waivers from the UN 1718 Committee and review them promptly . Meanwhile, it was introduced that the 1718 Committee has approved more than 100 requests for humanitarian exemptions to facilitate international relief efforts in North Korea . The spokesperson said that the international community should continue to insist on reliable and transparent monitoring ( monitoring ) , evaluation , access, and supervision so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered to the most vulnerable North Korean people in accordance with internationally recognized best practices . South Korea, “North Korea appears to be attempting to recover from flood damage on its own”
State Department expands multiple entries to North Korea for humanitarian aid purposes
Meanwhile, Keith Luse, executive director of the National Committee on North Korea (NCNK), which includes U.S. relief organizations for North Korea,Radio Free Asia(RFA)the 30ththat there are many U.S. nonprofit organizations that have been involved in North Korea for several years, providing development and humanitarian aid.Luse said that these organizations must comply with the rules of the U.S. government, including the State Department,the Treasury Department, andthe Department of Commerce, and that these organizations are ready to re-engage in development and humanitarian projects in accordance with the interests of North Korea.Meanwhile,Ignis Community,American Friends Service Corps(AFSC),Christian Friends of Korea,Mennonites(MCC),World Vision,, did not respond toRFA30thabout whether they are planning any activities to provide relief to North Korea’s floodvictims.Editor Park Jeong-woo,Web Editor Han Deok-in
14. Dispute over border telecom plan further strains China-North Korea ties
This Is a very important observation from Micahel Swain at the Quincy Institute. Like the bomber, information will get through. (IYNYK)
Excerpt:
North Korea is known to take tight control of information coming from the outside world, prohibiting media content that is not sanctioned by the government.
The regime cracks down harshly on people who receive outside information, especially South Korean drama and music, by sending them to prison with the penalty of months of hard labor or sometimes even death.
Michael Swaine, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said despite North Korea's attempt to control information entering the country, the complaint about the Chinese telecom stations shows that "Pyongyang does not control its broadcast space."
Dispute over border telecom plan further strains China-North Korea ties
https://www.voanews.com/a/dispute-over-border-telecom-plan-further-strains-china-north-korea-ties-/7766322.html
August 31, 2024 3:00 AM
voanews.com · August 31, 2024
washington —
A new sign of discord has emerged in the ties between North Korea and China over Beijing's plan to install telecommunication facilities near its border, which analysts say could be a way for China to exert its influence over its southern neighbor.
Pyongyang has apparently objected to China's plan to install the facilities, which could broadcast FM radio signals into North Korea.
Pyongyang sent an email complaining about the plan to the U.N. telecoms agency, the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU, saying Beijing failed to consult it about the plan in advance, which constitutes an "infringement" of an ITU guideline, Kyodo News reported this week.
The complaint was sent after the U.N. agency, which facilitates global communication connectivity, disclosed information in June about China's plan to set up 191 telecom facilities capable of broadcasting FM signals, including 17 stations near the North Korean border, according to Kyodo.
Pyongyang said those 17 stations, including the ones in the border city of Dandong, could cause "serious interference."
A spokesperson for ITU told VOA Korean that "ITU cannot confirm whether or not it received such a complaint" as "such objections may contain sensitive or confidential information not intended for the general public and may hamper bilateral consultations."
The spokesperson said China and North Korea have "no formal obligation to get agreement from each other before registering FM stations with ITU or bringing them into service.
"Therefore, operation of FM stations in these countries without prior coordination does not represent an infringement of ITU's Radio Regulations," but "such coordination is very much desirable and recommended to avoid interference."
Patricia Kim, a fellow specializing in Chinese foreign policy at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, said, "It's quite notable that Pyongyang chose to publicly lodge a complaint with an international organization rather than to resolve this dispute with Beijing privately."
"This is not how allies typically handle disputes, and the incident suggests that Beijing and Pyongyang are not on favorable or intimate terms at the moment," she said.
Lui Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told VOA on Wednesday that China and North Korea "have always maintained friendly relations" and the "relevant issue can be properly resolved through dialogue and communication."
FILE - Trucks cross the bridge connecting Dandong, China, and Sinuiju, North Korea, Sept. 4, 2017. North Korea fears that planned Chinese telecom facilities, including some near Dandong, could cause "serious interference."
Growing signs of strain
Some signs of trouble have begun to show in the relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un forged a close bond with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023 when the two met in Russia.
Putin reciprocated Kim's visit by taking a trip to Pyongyang in June when the two signed a mutual defense treaty and vowed to deepen their military cooperation.
A few days after Putin's Pyongyang visit, North Korea switched its state TV broadcast transmission from a Chinese satellite to a Russian one, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry.
In July, China demanded that North Korea take back all its workers in China after their visas expired, while Pyongyang wanted to repatriate them gradually over time, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
North Korean workers are thought to have remained in China despite U.N. sanctions that required them to be sent back by December 2019.
Analysts say China may have decided to put telecom facilities at the border to transmit information to North Koreans as a way to exert its influence in the country and to offset its strained ties with the regime.
Beijing "could have made the decision not to put anything near the North Korean border, but they didn't do that," said Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation.
"China wants to dominate East Asia," and spreading Chinese propaganda and perspectives to promote its lifestyle and get people to buy from Chinese markets is "a key part of China's plans for dominance in the region," he said.
China has been North Korea's largest trading partner. In 2023, North Korea conducted more than 98% of its foreign trade with China. But the trade between the two has been falling this year, dropping 6% in May from April, according to Chinese customs trade data released in May and reviewed by VOA Korean.
A report by the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy in Seoul forecasts that "North Korea's exports are unlikely to increase significantly" in 2024 "as North Korea-Russia military cooperation is expected to continue."
Military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has branched into economic cooperation. On Wednesday, talks were held in Pyongyang between industry and trade representatives of North Korea and Russia on "further developing the economic cooperation," according to state-run KCNA.
Fear of outside information
Even if Beijing does not intend to convey information directly to North Koreans, the regime might have objected to Chinese telecom stations because they provide an "additional path through which information will be able to reach the country from the outside," said Martyn Williams, a senior fellow for the Stimson Center's Korea Program.
"Some of the new stations will be receivable inside North Korea, and it could be for this reason that North Korea has complained," Williams said.
North Korea is known to take tight control of information coming from the outside world, prohibiting media content that is not sanctioned by the government.
The regime cracks down harshly on people who receive outside information, especially South Korean drama and music, by sending them to prison with the penalty of months of hard labor or sometimes even death.
Michael Swaine, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said despite North Korea's attempt to control information entering the country, the complaint about the Chinese telecom stations shows that "Pyongyang does not control its broadcast space."
Soyoung Ahn and Jiha Ham contributed to this report.
voanews.com · August 31, 2024
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
| 
