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Quotes of the Day:
"Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being's suffering. Nothing. Not career, not wealth, not intelligence, certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we are going to survive with dignity."
- Audrey Hepburn
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others."
- Robert Louis Stevenson
"Every strike brings me closer to the next home run."
- Babe Ruth
1. The rationality of North Korea
2. Kim Jong Un hosts Chinese and Russian guests at a parade celebrating North Korea's 75th anniversary
3. N. Korea's Kim touts patriotism on key anniversary
4. No word on N. Korean leader's possible visit as Russia kicks off economic forum
5. Yoon, Japan's Kishida agree to work toward S. Korea-Japan-China summit
6. Harris: N. Korea would 'pay a price' for supplying Russia with weapons
7. North Korea Debuts Rocket Launchers That Appear As Civilian Trucks
8. North Korea's New Missile Submarine It Not 'Capable of Normal Operation'
9. Kim Jong Un and his daughter celebrate North Korea's 75th anniversary. Xi and Putin send their regards
10. Yoon pledges $2.3 billion to Ukraine for war recovery at G20
11. Korea, India to boost economic ties by improving free trade agreement
12. The Japan-ROK-U.S. Summit: Destructive Trilateral Military Alliance. “Expressway to the East-West War”
1. The rationality of North Korea
I absolutely agree that we must understand the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime. And I agree that the regime's actions can be assessed as rational when considered in accordance with its nature, objectives and strategy.
However, I fear the authors almost want to use the idea that the regime's actions are rational as a criticism of ROK/US alliance actions and that because of the "rational explanation" of the pursuit of "collective freedom that the regime should get a pass and be allowed to live the way the regime chooses.
The problem with this is that the idea or "collective freedom" is not a "national freedom" it is simply another description of the regime doing everything it can to remain in power including at the expense of the people. It allows neither individual freedom - which is a universal human right nor does it provide for the welfare of the Korean people in the north. We must not be duped by this essay and believe that all we need to do is end exercises, end extended deterrence, and just allow the regime to live as it chooses without external interference. The problem with the authors' argument is that they do not recognize the regime's hostile policy toward the South nor recognize and understand the regime's political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies. Most egregious is that they fail to recognize or acknowledge that the regime's objective remains to unify the Korean peninsula under the domination of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State of the mafia-like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime. And it is prepared to use force if its political warfare campaign of subversion does not cause the collapse of South Korea.
Lastly, it is a moral outrage to think that we would agree that in pursuit of "collective freedom" that the regime should be allowed to deny the individual freedoms of the 25 million Korean people in the north.
The rationality of North Korea
BY ANDREW LATHAM & HANNAH H. KIM, OPINION CONTRIBUTORS - 09/09/23 1:00 PM ET
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4194263-the-rationality-of-north-korea/
Kim Jong Un’s Workers’ Party of Korea is celebrating today the 75th anniversary of the founding of what is formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which we know as North Korea. September 9th is the Day of the Foundation of the Republic, one of the country’s most important national holidays. Doubtless there will be many celebrations in and beyond the capital of Pyongyang. Previous jubilee celebrations included military parades on Kim Il Sung Square and artistic performances throughout the country.
But for many outsiders, a question will naturally arise: What, exactly, is there to celebrate? The country seems bent on self-destruction, pursuing irrational internal and external policies. The nation’s currency reform in 2009 attempted to curb growing private markets by introducing a new North Korean won and limiting the exchange amount. The result was to wipe out citizens’ savings, breeding massive resentment. There’s also tight informational control — in this globalized age, citizens caught in possession of South Korean cultural products (such as the wildly popular K-drama TV shows) face severe punishment.
In terms of its foreign and defense policies, there is North Korea’s seemingly irrational pursuit of nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles to deliver them as far away as the United States — policies that run counter to well-established global norms and that have resulted in significant international sanctions being imposed on the country.
Given the dire economic straits the country finds itself in, this would seem to be the height of irrationality. Wouldn’t it be far more rational to devote many of the resources that currently flow to the military, and the nuclear and missile programs in particular, to feeding the North Korean people and otherwise elevating their standard of living? Put slightly differently, wouldn’t it ultimately be far more rational to take the road China took in the 1990s and simply join the international community, accepting its political, economic and security norms? After all, it worked for communist China, transforming it from an economic wreck into one of the most affluent nations on the planet. And look how prosperous South Korea has grown since adopting such an approach in the 1980s.
And all that is true, as far as it goes.
But there is a kind of rationality at play in the collective mind of North Korea’s leadership — and we in the West would do well to understand it.
To be rational, of course, is to know what one’s goal is, and to know and implement the steps that are conducive to attaining the goal. North Korea is rational in this sense. Its state ideology, Juche, is usually translated as “self-reliance,” and North Korea acts in a manner that it thinks will secure that self-reliance.
Self-reliance is important to the North Korean regime because of the way it understands Korean history: Korea would not have been subject to the historical tributary arrangement with China, Japanese colonialism, or U.S. imperialism if it were self-reliant enough to stand up to more powerful foreign powers. The 20th century brought humiliation and suffering to the peninsula, and Juche was born out of the people’s desire to fight class and national subjugation. It’s important to North Koreans that they’re strong enough — both militarily and culturally — to withstand foreign pressure.
In a way, they’re after freedom, too. But it’s collective freedom that matters to them. The United States was founded on individuals’ right to live without external limitations. North Korea was founded on a nation’s, or a people’s, right to live without external limitations.
The rationale for much of what the North Korean regime does, then, is to break the cycle of political and social oppression at the collective level. Its nuclear developments, sensitivity to U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, and even the development of its own “Korean-style socialism” aim to maintain national sovereignty and avoid repeating history. The pursuit of collective freedom also explains why individual freedom is deprioritized.
Refusing to see the logic behind North Korean actions blinds America and others to how it might be contributing to North Korea’s (seemingly) aggressive responses. For example, joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises do little to alleviate the regime’s worry that it continues to face imperialistic threats. As long as North Korea sees South Korea to be “under U.S. control,” South Korea’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons risks triggering an arms race, or worse.
Policymakers should be sensitive to North Korea’s goals and understand how American decisions can be understood in light of their worldview.
There’s been more military action on the peninsula than usual over the past few months. North Korea’s response to U.S.-South Korea joint exercises might seem dramatic, but we should still consider it rational.
Andrew Latham is a professor of international relations at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, and a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities in Washington, D.C. Follow him @aalatham. Hannah H. Kim is an assistant professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona and an associate editor for the “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.” Follow her @thisishannahkim.
TAGS DPRK HISTORY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS JUCHE KIM JONG UN NORTH KOREA NORTH KOREA–SOUTH KOREA RELATIONS NUCLEAR WEAPONS SOUTH KOREA
2. Kim Jong Un hosts Chinese and Russian guests at a parade celebrating North Korea's 75th anniversary
The axis of authoritarians or the threesome of convenience will never be a match for JAROKUS - (Japan - ROK-US).
Kim Jong Un hosts Chinese and Russian guests at a parade celebrating North Korea's 75th anniversary
AP · September 9, 2023
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea invited visiting Chinese delegates and Russian artists to a paramilitary parade featuring rocket launchers pulled by trucks and tractors, state media said Saturday, in leader Kim Jong Un’s latest effort to display his ties with Moscow and Beijing in the face of deepening confrontations with Washington.
The event in the capital, Pyongyang, which began Friday night to celebrate North Korea’s 75th founding anniversary that fell on Saturday, came amid expectations that Kim will travel to Russia soon for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that could focus on North Korean arm sales to refill reserves drained by the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine.
While China has sent a delegation led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong to the North Korea’s anniversary celebrations, Russia sent a military song and dance group.
South Korean media speculated that the lack of Russian government officials at the festivities in Pyongyang could be related to preparations for a summit between Kim and Putin, which Washington expects within the month. According to some U.S. reports, it could happen as early as next week.
Putin is expected to attend an international forum that runs from Sunday to Wednesday in the eastern city of Vladivostok, which was also the site of his first summit with Kim in 2019 and is now seen as a possible venue for their next meeting. South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Thursday that North Korea and Russia could also be arranging an unexpected “surprise” route for Kim’s visit to avoid potential venues reported by the media.
North Korea has not confirmed any plans for Kim to visit Russia.
“Whether or not a Putin-Kim summit soon follows, the United States is attempting to deter serious violations of international law by preemptively releasing intelligence,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
The growing cooperation between China, Russia and North Korea, and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision to skip the Group of 20 Summit in India, give the appearance of a widening fissure in Asia’s geopolitical landscape, he said.
Still, a major Russia-North Korea arms deal, which would breach numerous international sanctions, should worry Beijing because “association with an emerging pariah state bloc could have negative repercussions for China’s globalized but struggling economy,” Easley said.
KCNA said Kim received letters from Putin and Xi on the anniversary, where both leaders said that their countries’ strengthening ties with North Korea would contribute to the region’s peace and stability.
Saturday’s parade was centered around paramilitary organizations and public security forces protecting Pyongyang, rather than the military units that handle his nuclear-capable weapons systems, which have been the focus of other parades this year.
Millions of North Koreans between the ages of 17 and 60 are listed as Worker-Peasant Red Guards, a national civil defense organization that could be loosely compared to military reserve forces of other countries. Saturday’s marches of the Red Guards included huge columns of motorcycles, anti-tank rockets towed by tractors and civilian-style trucks equipped with multiple rocket launchers, according to KCNA’s text reports and photos.
Photos showed Kim smiling and talking with his young daughter, believed to be named Ju Ae, as they watched the parade from leather chairs set up at Kim’s balcony in Kim Il Sung Square named after his state-founding grandfather.
Since November, Kim Jong Un has been bringing his daughter — believed to be around 10 years old — to major public events involving the country’s military. Analysts say Kim’s showcasing of his daughter is meant to send a statement to the world that he has no intention of voluntarily surrendering the nuclear weapons and missiles he sees as the strongest guarantee of his survival and the extension of his family’s dynastic rule.
State media did not mention whether Kim made a speech during the parade, indicating that he likely didn’t.
KCNA said Kim met with Liu and other Chinese delegates ahead of the parade, where they exchanged views on “further intensifying the multi-faceted coordination and cooperation” between the countries.
Tensions in the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years, as the pace of both North Korea’s missile tests and the United States’ combined military exercises with South Korea and Japan have intensified in tit-for-tat.
To counter the deepening security cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, Kim has been trying to boost the visibility of his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing as he seeks to break out of diplomatic isolation and have North Korea be a part of a united front against the United States.
In July, Kim invited delegations led by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong to a huge military parade in Pyongyang, where he rolled out his most powerful weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the U.S. mainland.
A day before the parade, Kim took Shoigu on a tour of a domestic arms exhibition, which demonstrated North Korea’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and added to suspicions the North was willing to supply arms to Russia.
In exchange for providing Russia with artillery shells and other ammunition, North Korea could seek badly needed energy and food aid and advanced weapons technologies, analysts say. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Kim’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the United States and its Asian allies.
AP · September 9, 2023
3. N. Korea's Kim touts patriotism on key anniversary
"Parades are us."
One of Murphy's Laws says to the effect that no parade/inspection ready unit is combat ready and no combat ready unit is parade/inspection ready.
Excerpts:
The paramilitary event marked the third military parade North Korea has staged this year alone, with the latest one taking place in July on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice.
The parade came amid speculation that Kim may soon travel to Vladivostok to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible arms deal.
N. Korea's Kim touts patriotism on key anniversary | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · September 10, 2023
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called patriotic people the "best assets" of the state as he marked the country's founding anniversary with a paramilitary parade, the North's state media reported Sunday.
Kim made the remarks at a photo session Saturday with people who took part in the celebrations of the country's 75th founding day, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"The patriotic people, including the persons of merits and labor innovators who have dedicated themselves to creating valuable assets for the prosperity of the country by placing the state affairs above their family affairs in good or bad days, are the best assets representing the very might of the country," Kim said, according to the report by the KCNA.
The KCNA also described the anniversary as "a great revolutionary event with high national pride and patriotic enthusiasm."
The photo session took place at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of the national founder Kim Il-sung and the current leader's late father, Kim Jong-il, lie in state, according to the KCNA.
The paramilitary event marked the third military parade North Korea has staged this year alone, with the latest one taking place in July on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice.
The parade came amid speculation that Kim may soon travel to Vladivostok to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible arms deal.
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 9, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un (R) and his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, attending a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · September 10, 2023
4. No word on N. Korean leader's possible visit as Russia kicks off economic forum
Remember that they do not need a meeting to conclude their arms agreements.
Excerpts:
Sources, however, said unusual signs of Kim's possible trip had not been detected in railway stations in Vladivostok and the border city of Khasan, where his train would likely pass through, as of Sunday morning.
"There have not been any signs of people being deployed to control the railway connecting Khasan and Vladivostok," a source said.
Putin is expected to arrive in Vladivostok on Monday and attend the plenary meeting of the economic forum the following day.
The report on their possible meeting came as Pyongyang has been seeking to bolster military ties with Moscow in the wake of growing security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan following a trilateral summit in Camp David last month.
No word on N. Korean leader's possible visit as Russia kicks off economic forum | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · September 10, 2023
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- Russia kicked off an economic forum in Vladivostok on Sunday, but there was no word from both Moscow and Pyongyang on a possible visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the forum.
The New York Times earlier reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok on his armored train to meet with Putin on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum, which will run through Wednesday at the Far Eastern Federal University.
The report on the possible summit, which would mark their first meeting in four years, came amid speculation North Korea may supply arms for Russia's use in its war in Ukraine in return for food, energy and advanced technology for weapons development.
Sources, however, said unusual signs of Kim's possible trip had not been detected in railway stations in Vladivostok and the border city of Khasan, where his train would likely pass through, as of Sunday morning.
"There have not been any signs of people being deployed to control the railway connecting Khasan and Vladivostok," a source said.
Putin is expected to arrive in Vladivostok on Monday and attend the plenary meeting of the economic forum the following day.
The report on their possible meeting came as Pyongyang has been seeking to bolster military ties with Moscow in the wake of growing security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan following a trilateral summit in Camp David last month.
Seoul's spy agency earlier said Russia had proposed conducting three-way naval exercises with North Korea and China in late July.
This April 26, 2019, file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) toasting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a post-summit dinner at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia, the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · September 10, 2023
5. Yoon, Japan's Kishida agree to work toward S. Korea-Japan-China summit
Yoon, Japan's Kishida agree to work toward S. Korea-Japan-China summit | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 10, 2023
By Lee Haye-ah
NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed Sunday to work toward realizing a trilateral summit with China, the presidential office said.
The two held talks on the margins of a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, expressing their pleasure at meeting a total of six times since March, when Yoon traveled to Tokyo to mend bilateral relations badly frayed over historical disputes.
"The president said the two countries should continue active meetings in the second half of the year and smoothly implement the process to hold a South Korea-Japan-China summit," the presidential office said in a press release. "Prime Minister Kishida said he would actively respond."
As the current chair of the trilateral summit, South Korea has been pushing to host the next meeting before the end of the year.
The summit has not been held since 2019 due to historical disputes between Seoul and Tokyo, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yoon and Kishida discussed recent developments in South Korea-Japan relations, and agreed to jointly and responsibly cooperate and contribute, regarding global issues.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida talk during a visit to the Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi on Sept. 10, 2023. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 10, 2023
6. Harris: N. Korea would 'pay a price' for supplying Russia with weapons
Harris: N. Korea would 'pay a price' for supplying Russia with weapons
donga.com
Posted September. 09, 2023 08:16,
Updated September. 09, 2023 08:16
Harris: N. Korea would 'pay a price' for supplying Russia with weapons. September. 09, 2023 08:16. asap@donga.com.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the potential arms deal between North Korea and Russia, saying, “It is a huge mistake and will exacerbate the isolation of the two countries in the international community.”
Vice President Harris, while visiting Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, emphasized this in an interview with CBS News on Thursday (local time). “The idea that they would be supplying ammunition to that end, it would be a huge mistake," she said. "I also believe very strongly that for both Russia and North Korea, this will further isolate them.”
Vice President Harris assessed that Russia, which has been suffering from the prolonged war in Ukraine and a lack of supplies, is currently in a desperate situation. She pointed out that “they have already experienced a strategic failure.” During the invasion of Ukraine in February of last year, the Russian side was confident that they could “occupy the entire Ukraine in just a few days.” However, it turned out to be a complete misjudgment, and they are still engaged in the conflict.
On the same day, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) North Korea official Sidney Seiler expressed concern that if Russia helps North Korea advance its conventional forces, North Korea’s nuclear threats could also escalate. Some noted that tensions across Northeast Asia are increasing, with the United States and its allies also likely to push for an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) due to the close relationship between North Korea and Russia.
한국어
donga.com
7. North Korea Debuts Rocket Launchers That Appear As Civilian Trucks
Another indication that the Kim regime's strategy includes the use of force to unify the peninsula.
Photos at the link: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/north-korea-debuts-rocket-launchers-that-appear-as-civilian-trucks?utm
Excerpts:
Disguised launchers create a deadly shell game for any opponent. Which trucks, train cars, or lakes have launchers in them? Missing even one can have costly results. From the North Korean perspective, this ties-up additional ISTAR resources from the enemy that would otherwise be used elsewhere.
For that matter, if North Korea has invested in this technology for its paramilitary force’s rocket launchers, what’s to stop them from similarly adopting it for long-range fires like nuclear-armed cruise missiles? It will be interesting to see how North Korea and other nations develop similar these systems in the coming years as concealment and guile become more necessary than ever to fight and win on the modern, ultra-surveilled battlefield.
North Korea Debuts Rocket Launchers That Appear As Civilian Trucks
Rocket launchers masquerading as civilian trucks are the latest sign of the times as concealment becomes more critical on the battlefield.
BY
STETSON PAYNE, TYLER ROGOWAY
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PUBLISHED SEP 9, 2023 7:49 PM EDT
thedrive.com · by Stetson Payne, Tyler Rogoway · September 9, 2023
North Korea’s latest weapon system puts a new spin on the age-old concept of camouflage.
In its latest parade through Pyongyang’s Kim Il-Sung Square marking the 75th Anniversary of North Korea’s founding, the Worker-Peasant Red Guards paramilitary force unveiled a fleet of multiple rocket launchers disguised as civilian trucks. The box trucks and dump trucks had 12 tubes each of what appeared to be 122mm artillery rockets deployed via their pop-up and slide door roofs. The dump truck crews even sported yellow hardhats with their rifles.
Fake dump trucks that can have rocket artillery concealed inside. KCNA
The parade heavily featured the paramilitary force, with a fleet of tractors pulling rocket-launchers and anti-tank guided missiles on trailers. North Korea displayed similar systems towing guided missile launchers in the same parade two years ago. The tractors are a clear representation of a very real North Korean operational tactic — using these civilian instruments for all-out war should a conflict kick off. This heavy weaponry also underlines how North Korea’s “civil defense” possesses significant firepower.
Civilian tractors were seen pulling trailers with anti-tank missiles, rocket artillery, and anti-aircraft guns attached. (KCNA)
Worker-Peasant Red Guard rocket launchers disguised as dump trucks during a parade in Pyongyang on September 9. KCNA.
Worker-Peasant Red Guard rocket launchers concealed within container trucks during a parade in Pyongyang on September 9. KCNA.
The trucks also are indicative of a growing rebirth of old deception tactics to further conceal military equipment on the battlefield. The U.S. is viewing similar tactics as critical to a fight in the Pacific. But, above all useless, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has clearly demonstrated the the changing nature of how and what constitutes an intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) asset and how those assets detect enemy units and directing fires on them. ISTAR capabilities have largely been democratized via the proliferation of relatively cheap unmanned systems.
Beyond just intelligence gathering, first-person view and other kamikaze drones and drone-dropped bomblets have drastically increased the risk to forces even behind the front lines. Air-to-ground precision guided weapons, once limited to only wealthier powers, especially in large numbers, can now be had for the cost of a hobby drone and some creativity. And a single drone can be both the hunter and the killer.
In terms of North Korea, they are up against a far more expansive surveillance capability. The U.S. and South Korea are constantly monitoring activity and posture across the DMZ, down to patterns of movement of fighting vehicles and artillery and their locations. You can read about how a part of this is done from the air here. During war, this surveillance would be ratcheted-up to a level never seen before in modern warfare. So playing on the U.S. and South Korea's weaknesses — the lack of being able distinguish civilian from military vehicles that appear the same — is clearly the goal here. As is vastly increasing the targeting sets that would need to be addressed during a conflict. If any truck can be an artillery rocket launcher, the numbers of targets that need to be struck grows rapidly, and it's already a gigantic list in that theater.
Whether in Ukraine or South Korea, if it is near the front and can be seen and identified, it can be killed. This puts immense pressure to keep equipment out of sight as much as possible, or at least confuse the enemy as to what they are seeing. As part of its strategy for defending against a potential Chinese invasion, Taiwan has previously concealed its armored vehicles as construction equipment during exercises.
In some applications, though, the solution may be hiding in plain sight. The U.S., Israel, and Russia have all developed missile launchers disguised to look like shipping containers, able to blend in among deck cargo or within industrial areas from which to launch attacks. The U.S. Air Force’s stealthy XQ-58A Valkyrie drones also have the potential to be deployed via a containerized system.
Two Navy Mk 70 launchers, or variants or derivatives thereof, on trailers in a ground-based capacity during a test in Europe in 2022. USN
This is far from North Korea’s first foray into extreme methods of concealment to enhance survivability. Deterrence constitutes a significant portion of the nuclear-armed state’s strategy, designed to make it difficult if not impossible for any preemptive strike to take out all of North Korea’s nuclear warheads and delivery systems.
We wrote two years ago about Pyongyang testing short-range ballistic missiles fired from aboard modified railcars, as well as last year’s test launch from within a lake.
KCNA
Disguised launchers create a deadly shell game for any opponent. Which trucks, train cars, or lakes have launchers in them? Missing even one can have costly results. From the North Korean perspective, this ties-up additional ISTAR resources from the enemy that would otherwise be used elsewhere.
For that matter, if North Korea has invested in this technology for its paramilitary force’s rocket launchers, what’s to stop them from similarly adopting it for long-range fires like nuclear-armed cruise missiles? It will be interesting to see how North Korea and other nations develop similar these systems in the coming years as concealment and guile become more necessary than ever to fight and win on the modern, ultra-surveilled battlefield.
Contact the author: stetson.payne@thewarzone.com
thedrive.com · by Stetson Payne, Tyler Rogoway · September 9, 2023
8. North Korea's New Missile Submarine It Not 'Capable of Normal Operation'
North Korea's New Missile Submarine It Not 'Capable of Normal Operation'
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the launch ceremony of his nation’s new “Korean-style” tactical nuclear attack submarine and proclaimed that it will be one of the main “underwater offensive means of the naval force” of the country. It will reportedly be assigned to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
19fortyfive.com · by Peter Suciu · September 9, 2023
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the launch ceremony of his nation’s new “Korean-style” tactical nuclear attack submarine and proclaimed that it will be one of the main “underwater offensive means of the naval force” of the country. It will reportedly be assigned to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
Submarine No. 841 – named for Hero Kim Kun Ok, a North Korean historical figure – was launched to much fanfare on Wednesday. Capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, the boat is capable of “preemptive and retaliatory strikes against hostile countries,” Kim claimed.
“[The] launching ceremony will shoulder no less burden for our enemies than building a nuclear-powered submarine,” the Korean Central News Agency quoted the DPRK leader. “The fact that the nuclear attack submarine, considered a symbol of invasion against our republic for decades, now symbolizes our power that terrifies the shameless enemies and that it is a new attack submarine of our own style unseen by the world, is truly something welcomed by all our people.”
South Korea Condemns the North’s Actions
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which continues to condemn the development of armaments by the North, offered its reaction to the news of the submarine’s launch.
“It is deplorable that North Korea is adhering to a futile development of weapons and squandering its lacking resources while not paying attention to difficult livelihood affairs,” said Kim In-ae, the ministry’s deputy spokesperson.
Not Capable of Normal Operation
Even as Kim has hyped the capabilities of the submarine, analysts have downplayed its significance. A source at South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff even expressed doubt that the new submarine is operational.
“An analysis of the external features of the North Korean submarine so far shows that parts of it have been enlarged to carry a missile,” the source told the Yonhap news service. “But it is assessed that (the submarine) is not in the form of being capable of normal operation.”
Western analysts said the new submarine is a modified Soviet-era Romeo-class diesel submarine, which Pyongyang acquired from China in the 1970s and began producing domestically. This new version may be capable of launching ballistic missiles, but won’t likely add any value to North Korea’s land-based nuclear forces as the aging submarines are relatively noisy, slow, and have limited range.
The Hermit Kingdom’s Submarine Fleet
According to the non-profit Nuclear Threat Initiative, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) maintains one of the world’s largest submarine fleets, with estimates for the total fleet ranging from about 64 to 86 submarines – including coastal submarines (SSCs), conventional submarines (SS), and mini-submarines (SSMs).
While Pyongyang’s submarine fleet is largely comprised of small coastal submarines suitable for coastal defense, infiltration, and espionage missions, and its larger submarines are based on decades-old Soviet designs, North Korea has attempted to enhance its submarine capabilities.
Even the smaller diesel submarines that operate close to shore and hold a crew of fewer than 30 or 40 sailors have been seen to pose a serious threat to South Korea – both to its military and civilian vessels. In September 1996, North Korea inserted three special operations soldiers via submarine near the city of Gangneung.
Anti-submarine warfare has been a major capability gap in the South’s Republic of Korea Navy. It would appear that North Korea may have one more submarine that the South will have to contend with.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
19fortyfive.com · by Peter Suciu · September 9, 2023
9. Kim Jong Un and his daughter celebrate North Korea's 75th anniversary. Xi and Putin send their regards
The axis of authoritarians or the threesome of convenience.
Kim Jong Un and his daughter celebrate North Korea's 75th anniversary. Xi and Putin send their regards | CNN
CNN · by Gawon Bae · September 9, 2023
Seoul, South Korea CNN —
Kim Jong Un attended a “paramilitary parade” with his daughter to mark the 75th anniversary of North Korea’s founding on Saturday, the country’s state media have reported.
Paramilitary forces and industrial workers marched down Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang as part of the parade, the Korean Central News Agency reported.
Kim attended the parade with his daughter, who is believed to be called Kim Ju Ae, and received congratulatory letters from China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, according to KCNA.
A Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, and visiting members of the Russian Army Academic Ensemble Alexandrov were in attendance, KCNA said, adding that diplomatic envoys stationed in Pyongyang had also been invited.
Kim Jong Un attends the parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Korea on September 9, 2023.
KCNA/X02538/via REUTERS
In Putin’s letter, according to KCNA, the Russian leader wrote that relations between the two countries have “invariably developed on the principle of friendship, good neighborliness and mutual respect,” adding that he believes they will “expand the bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts.”
“This fully conforms with the interests of the peoples of our two countries and will contribute to ensuring security and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia,” Putin wrote, according to KCNA.
In Xi’s letter, according to KCNA, the Chinese leader said his country was “ready to strengthen the strategic communication, deepen the working-level cooperation and promote the China-DPRK relations” with Pyongyang.
CNN · by Gawon Bae · September 9, 2023
10. Yoon pledges $2.3 billion to Ukraine for war recovery at G20
The Global Pivotal State steps up.
Sunday
September 10, 2023
dictionary + A - A
Published: 10 Sep. 2023, 18:45
Updated: 10 Sep. 2023, 21:24
Yoon pledges $2.3 billion to Ukraine for war recovery at G20
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-09-10/national/diplomacy/Yoon-pledges-23-billion-to-Ukraine-for-war-recovery-at-G20/1866081
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center right, pays respects at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, alongside leaders of the world’s 20 major economies. From left: U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Yoon, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged $300 million in short-term aid for Ukraine next year and another $2 billion in mid- to long-term support for its war recovery efforts during the Group of 20, or G20, summit in New Delhi on Sunday.
"Korea will work in solidarity with the international community to implement a comprehensive support program covering the fields of security, humanitarianism and reconstruction for Ukraine going forward," Yoon said in the third session of the G20 summit, addressing leaders of the world's 20 major economies. He recalled his visit to Kiev in July, during which he announced a comprehensive initiative to support Ukraine's recovery efforts amid the war with Russia.
The Korean government will provide short-term aid to Ukraine in 2024 in the form of grants, humanitarian aid and support through international financial institutions included the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), according to the presidential office.
The $2 billion support package for rebuilding Ukraine will be provided in the form of long-term, low-interest concessional loans through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) beginning in 2025.
The EDCF was established in 1987 to provide loans to developing countries.
"Since World War II, the international community has established the prohibition of the use of force as a solid legal principle," Yoon said in his address, calling for an "end to the war and a restoration of peace in Ukraine as soon as possible" in keeping with such principles.
During the "One Future" session, Yoon emphasized the need to expand the role of multilateral development banks to better tackle global challenges including the climate crisis, food security and sustainable development.
He also said Korea will help lead the establishment of a digital norm order and actively lead discussions on restructuring debt for low-income countries.
The theme of this year's G20 summit chaired by India was "One Earth, One Family, One Future," as world leaders focused on issues including sustainable development, climate financing, trade and investments, a digital transition and safeguarding international peace.
Yoon's presidential office said that the amount promised to Ukraine is unprecedent, twice the amount compared to the usual assistance ranging from $500 million to $1 billion.
"This is to demonstrate our responsible role as a global pivotal state in taking the lead in the restoration of peace in Ukraine and laying the foundation for full-fledged participation in its future reconstruction," a senior presidential office said in a press briefing in New Delhi, regarding the plans to support Ukraine's recovery.
In July, Yoon made a surprise visit to Kyiv for a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced the "Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative," Korea's comprehensive package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction aid.
Related Article
In the first session on "One Earth" Saturday, Yoon pledged an additional $300 million to the Incheon-headquartered Green Climate Fund as part of Korea's efforts to help developing countries respond to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Korea contributed $100 million in 2013 and another $200 million between 2020 and this year to the climate fund.
The G20 leaders on Sunday issued a joint declaration which contained softer language on Russia than anticipated. The leaders pledged to unite in endeavors "to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine."
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden during a gala dinner of the G20 summit at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition-Convention Centre in New Delhi on Saturday evening. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]
On the sidelines of the G20 summit in India, Yoon had several encounters with U.S. President Joe Biden after their last meeting at the trilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Camp David last month.
Yoon and Biden had a brief reunion in the leaders' lounge area at the Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition-Convention Centre in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Yoon recalled that there have been "various opportunities discussing how the trilateral cooperation between Korea, the United States and Japan will contribute to freedom, peace and prosperity around the world," Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for press affairs, said in a statement.
Yoon also thanked Biden for his hospitality at Camp David on Aug. 18, calling it a "personally unforgettable moment" and called to "continue to create more history together."
Biden in turn jokingly invited Yoon to return back home with him since they already had spent time together at the presidential vacation spot.
Later Saturday evening, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee attended a gala dinner at the convention center hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They shared a table with Biden, Modi, Kishida and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Yoon and Biden were seated next to each other at the dinner event, and the two leaders further discussed their trilateral summit with Kishida, according to his office.
"Solidifying the Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation mechanism established at Camp David will greatly contribute to the development of the Indo-Pacific region and global society," Yoon said to Biden. "Furthermore, it will create quality jobs in our three countries."
Biden in turn told Yoon that he was the "driving force" behind the trilateral cooperation at Camp David, which he said will have a "positive impact" on the lives of ordinary families of the three countries, according to Kim.
During his weeklong overseas trip that took him to Indonesia for Asean-related meetings and India for the G20 summit, Yoon held bilateral talks with the leaders of some 20 countries.
On Saturday, Yoon also took part in a separate summit of Mikta countries, a partnership of five middle-power countries: Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia.
This marked the 10th anniversary of the Mikta grouping, and the five leaders issued a joint press statement expressing "deep concerns" on the "increasingly challenging global strategic environment due to increasing division in the world" and various challenges including climate change, rising food security, elevated energy prices and the war in Ukraine.
The leaders pledged to "strengthen our joint actions on global issues where we have shared interests, and reinforce our constructive role internationally."
Yoon held bilateral talks with the leaders of countries including Argentina, Turkey, Bangladesh, Comoros and Nigeria along the sidelines of the G20 summit.
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, chats with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the lounge at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, following their bilateral meeting in Jakarta on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands ahead of a bilateral summit on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi Sunday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped out on this year's G20 summit.
However, Yoon held his first bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Jakarta on Thursday where he called on China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to "fulfill a responsible role" on the North Korea nuclear issue.
During the talks, Yoon expressed hopes that the nuclear issue "does not become an obstacle to the development of South Korea-China relations." He noted that if the North Korean nuclear issue is not resolved, it will end up only strengthening the South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation system.
He expressed expectations for further economic cooperation with China, in contrast to his stronger message for Russia during Asean-related summits, warning against any potential arms deals with North Korea ahead of a potential meeting between the two countries' leaders.
Yoon and Li had another brief encounter as G20 leaders paid respects at a memorial site dedicated to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi Sunday morning, according to the presidential office in a statement.
Li approached Yoon and "greeted him warmly," said press secretary Kim, and the Korean president expressed hopes to meet Premier Li again this year. He also sent his "special greetings to President Xi Jinping," and Li said he will relay the remarks.
Yoon also had bilateral talks with Kishida on the margins of the G20 gathering, and expressed hopes for a Korea-Japan-China summit within the year, the presidential office said. Korea is the current chair of the trilateral summit, which has not been held since 2019. Kishida agreed to the proposal.
Yoon had a lunch meeting with Korean businesses operating in India.
Later Sunday, Yoon held a bilateral summit with Indian Prime Minister Modi, their second meeting after one on the margins of the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation as key partners in the Indo-Pacific region, as Korea and India celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations this year, said the presidential office in a statement.
The two sides agreed to continue cooperating to ensure the smooth progress of the second phase of the K9 self-propelled howitzer project, a symbol of cooperation in the defense industry, according to the presidential office.
The Indian army's K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer was built based on technology transferred from Korean arms manufacturer Hanwha Defense's K9 Thunder.
On Friday, Yoon also held a bilateral summit with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, where the two sides agreed to expand strategic cooperation in diplomacy and security, the defense industry, economy and people-to-people exchanges.
The two countries also agreed to work closely together to successfully complete the KF-21 next-generation fighter development project, jointly funded by Korea and Indonesia.
Yoon's bilateral talks were also an opportunity for him to promote Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan ahead of the secret ballot scheduled for November, according to the presidential office.
Yoon and first lady Kim are set to return to Korea Monday.
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, holds a bilateral summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi on Sunday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
11. Korea, India to boost economic ties by improving free trade agreement
Korea, India to boost economic ties by improving free trade agreement
The Korea Times · by 2023-09-10 19:23 | Foreign Affairs · September 10, 2023
President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral summit held on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting at the Bharat Mandapam International Convention Center in New Delhi, India, Sunday (local time). Joint Press Corps
By Nam Hyun-woo
NEW DELHI ― President Yoon Suk Yeol and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a summit in New Delhi, Sunday, and explored ways to improve their economic partnership by improving a free trade agreement Korea and India signed, known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and lowering non-tariff barriers.
The leaders met on the occasion of Yoon's participation in the Group of 20 (G20) Summit hosted by India. The bilateral summit also marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
According to Seoul's presidential office, the leaders agreed to pursue progress in negotiations improve the CEPA and recognized the anticipated benefits of the upcoming Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) between their customs authorities.
The Korea-India CEPA took effect in 2010.
Korea, Japan share commitment to 3-way summit involving China
Experts have said CEPA needs to be improved, pointing out that its concession rate is too low compared to the Japan-India free trade agreement, while some items entail heavier duties than the World Trade Organization's most-favored nation tariffs.
To address this, Korea and India have held nine rounds of talks since 2016 to improve the free trade agreement, but failed to make tangible progress.
"There have been comments that there is significant room for improvements in the Korea-India CEPA in terms of its concession rate and investor protection," senior presidential secretary for economic affairs Choi Sang-mok said.
"India is expressing concerns over opening up its market further due to a worsening trade deficit after the CEPA took effect, but we will make efforts to find mutually beneficial points as we work towards a balanced expansion of trade," Choi added.
To address non-tariff barriers, the two countries will set up EODES, which enables the real-time exchange of origin data between their customs authorities. When launched, exporters and importers in Korea and India will not be required to submit paper certificates of origin when applying for preferential tariffs under the free trade agreement.
Yoon asked Modi to help establish a more favorable customs environment and address the issue of India's scheduled import restrictions on electronic devices to enable Korean businesses to expand their investments in India. India is set to implement import restrictions on laptops, tablets, personal computers and other electronic devices from Nov. 1.
During the summit, Yoon and Modi also agreed to continue their cooperation for the smooth progress of India's second purchase of Korean-made K-9 self-propelled howitzers, and further expand defense industry partnerships.
Both leaders shared the view that technological cooperation between countries with shared values is becoming increasingly important and agreed to improve cooperation in advanced space technologies.
They also acknowledged that Korea and India, as like-minded countries, are establishing a strong framework for cooperation based on universal values such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. They pledged to cooperate in pursuing Seoul's Indo-Pacific strategy and India's vision for the Indo-Pacific.
The Korea Times · by 2023-09-10 19:23 | Foreign Affairs · September 10, 2023
12. The Japan-ROK-U.S. Summit: Destructive Trilateral Military Alliance. “Expressway to the East-West War”
I am sure the members of the north Korean Propaganda and Agitation Department wish they could create such propaganda. I am sure they are learning a lot from this.
This is quite an interpretation of recent events.
The Japan-ROK-U.S. Summit: Destructive Trilateral Military Alliance. “Expressway to the East-West War”
https://www.globalresearch.ca/japan-rok-us-summit-yoon-initiation-party-anti-asia-pro-west-club/5831296?utm
ROK President Yoon's Initiation Party to the Anti-Asia and Pro-West Club
By Prof. Joseph H. Chung
Global Research, September 04, 2023
Region: Asia, USA
Theme: History
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***
I am writing this paper to warn the world about the destructive impact of the trilateral military alliance that will not only kill South Korean democracy, security and economy but also widens the expressway to the East-West war.
This trilateral summit was a summit of three dangerous men.
The President of U.S. Joe Biden has pathological obsession to kill Asia led by China.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida has the dangerously outdated dream of conquering again Asia starting with Korea and restoring the past years’ imperial power and glory of Japan.
The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol is idiotic and cowardly enough to sell his country for his own protection from angry South Koreas and the vengeful North Koreans.
The trilateral summit was a summit of three leaders who do not have the necessary condition for being leader, namely, the love for the people. Biden is indifferent to ordinary Americans’ suffering. Kishida despises ordinary Japanese people. Yoon hates ordinary Korean people.
The trilateral summit was a summit of the most unpopular global leaders. According to Global Leader Approval Rating Tractor (August 16-22, 2023). The approval rates were: Biden (40%), Kishida (23%), Yoon (22%). Yoon was just before the most unpopular Petr Fiala of Czech Republic (21%).
By the way, Biden’s approval rate after two-year presidency is the lowest in comparison with other presidents’ corresponding approval rates.
What happened at the summits is a story of how two seasoned diplomats have mercilessly exploited an idiotic and stupid man in order to promote their interests, especially, their personal political and other interests.
It is a story of a wrong man (Yoon Suk-yeol) who appeared at wrong time to do wrong things.
This paper offers the story of why and how Yoon Suk-yeol offered South Korea to powerful U.S. and cunning Japan.
This summit is a cursed summit, for two reasons:
- First, it will destroy South Korea
- Second, it will lead to the Mutual Destructive War (MDW) of the West’s crusade war against the East
This paper discusses the following issues:
- Historical context of Yoon’s anti-Korea behaviour
- Yoon’s anti-Korea diplomacy
- Impact of Yoon’s anti-Korea diplomacy
***
Historical Context of Yoon’s Anti-Korea Behaviour
To understand Yoon’s anti-Korea behaviour, we need to know more about the fatal fight between the pro-Japan conservative South Korea (PJCSK) and the liberal nationalist South Korea (LNSK).
I have published a Global Research article (Ultimate Battle Between Pro-Japan South Korea and Nationalist South Korea: Democracy at Stake, Economy in Crisis, Security at Risk, December 22, 2022) which provided more information on this intra-South Korea fight.
Yoon Suk Yeol leaving the People Power Party (PPP) headquarters shortly after joining the party on 30 July 2021 (Licensed under CC BY 4.0)
The PJCSK was formed during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945). Korea was annexed to Japan in 1910 due to the treason of pro-Japan politicians led by the traitor, Lee Wan Yong.
This group collaborated with colonial Japan in the stealing of Korea’s assets, in capturing more than 200,000 young girls to be sent to the Japanese military comfort women camp, in mobilizing about 800,000 Korean workers to work as salves in Japanese mines and factories, in forcing Koreans to give up their Korean family name and pick up a Japanese name and other treasonable activities designed to oppress and exploit Koreans.
Thus, the PJCSK were “traitors” who betrayed Korea.
You may ask me why I call the PJCSK as pro-Japan and conservative.
They identified themselves more with Japan than with Korea. Moreover, they were and are more interested in promoting Japan’s interests than protecting Korea’s interests. So, they were and are pro-Japan.
They did every illegal and immoral activity to conserve their wealth which was and is largely stolen. So they were and are conservative.
Their conservatism has little to do with the conservation of some noble values. This fact may be applied to many countries throughout the world.
The present PJCSK is composed of the traitors and their descendents. It is represented by the People Power Party (PPP) which is the linear descendent of the Republican Party created in 1963 by General Park Chung-hee with USD 66 million given by Kishi Nobuske who was the key aid of Tojo Hidekki, Japan’s prime minister during the Pacific War.
The opposing political force in South Korea is the liberal nationalist South Korea (LNSK) represented by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The leader of the DPK is Lee Jae-myung.
The PJCSK represents about 30% of the South Korean population, while non-PJCSK population represents 70% led by the LNSK group.
I may add here that, in a way, the post-WWII political history of South Korea has been the history of PJCSK-LNSK battle.
After WWII, the leaders of the PJCSK (traitors) were supposed to be punished even liquidated. In fact, the LNSK made a list of these traitors, but the list was confiscated by the pro-Japan police.
Furthermore, the American military government (1945-1948) and the rotten government of Syngman Rhee (1948-1960) appointed the traitors to key positions of the government.
There were a series of large-scale protests movements against the American military government and Rhee’s government resulting in massacre of several hundreds of thousands of civilians by the American CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps) and Rhee’s terrorist youth gangs and the police.
The traitors’ big headache was the survival and the protection of their privileges and wealth obtained illegally and immorally.
To do that, they had to keep control the South Korean people through the perpetual government. But, they knew that they could never get the power through democratic way. Only way was the dictatorship.
As a matter of fact, South Korea was oppressed and exploited by the merciless and criminal military dictatorship for 25 years from 1962 to 1987. General, Park Chung-hee ruled from 1962 to 1979, while General Chun Doo-hwan ruled from 1980 to 1987.
After 1987, General Rho Tae-woo governed South Korea from 1987 to 1993 followed by Kim Yong-sam from 1993 to 1998. During this 10-year period, the PJCSK continued to strengthen their power through well organized system of the embezzlement of tax payers’ money.
In 1998, something happened. Kim Dae-jung was elected as president of South Korea. Kim was the leader of the LNSK. Kim’s victory was the results of the LNSk’s sustained fight against the PJCSK. Kim’s victory was also the results of his remarkable plans of handling of the foreign currency crisis of 1997 caused by the corruption of the traitors.
Kim’s government (1998-2003) was succeeded by the government of Rho Moo-hyun (2003-2008). Kim and Rho, leaders of the LNSK, did two things which alarmed the PJCSK.
One was the increase allocation of tax payers’ money for the welfare of all the citizens. This meant less money to be stolen by the traitors.
The other was something which threatened the future of the PJCSK, because Kim and Rho were able to produce the North-South peace process.
They also produced North-South joint statements for peaceful unification and economic cooperation. Kim Dae-jung produced it on the 15th of June 2000; Rho Moo-hyun produced it on October 4, 2007.
It must be pointed out that the peaceful unification of Korea means, as far as the PJCSK was concerned, not only the marginalization of the PJCSK community but also harsh punishment of the traitors by North Koreans.
The peace process and the North-South economic cooperation have resulted in the weakening of the PJCSK’s political and economic position.
However, the PJCSK was not idle. It fought back. In 2008, Lee Mung-bak became president of South Korea (2008-2013). Lee was notorious for his cunning methods of killing adversaries and enriching the corruption culture community of the PJCSK.
He forced Rho Moo-hyun to kill himself through the manufactured bribe scandal of Mrs. Rho.
However, the vision and the spirit of Rho are still alive and they remain the source of the courage and the determination of LNSK to get rid of the traitors.
Lee Myung-bak would have embezzles billions of dollars through the “4-Rivers Project” and the “Natural Resources Diplomacy.”
Lee was succeeded by Park Geun-hye, daughter of General Park Chung-hee (2013-2017).She was not qualified to run a government. But she was picked to enrich the PJCSK.
However, what was a historical irony was the fact that their complicity to enrich the PJCSK with stolen money has resulted in the further loss of PJCSK’s legitimacy and credibility.
Thus, the force and the credibility of the PJCSK which began to fall due to the ten-year governing by the LNSK under Kim Dae-jung and Rho Moo-hyun has been further damaged by the corruption and the abuse of power by Lee Mung-bak and Park Geun-hye.
Then, in 2017, Moon Jae-in came along and became president after the 8-month long Candle-Light Revolution carried out by 27,000,000 South Koreans.
Moon hit hard the PJCSK through the social and economic reforms, the promotion of PMEs along with the war against the corruption culture of the PJCSK.
I may point out here that the power of the LNSK has been attributable to a series of mass protest demonstrations leading to the ruin of PJCSK presidents and the LNSK’s access to power.
Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, Panmunjom Declaration (2018)
The following is the list of massive protest demonstrations by the LNSK and the punishment of the six PJCSK presidents:
April 19, 1960: The Student Revolution forcing President Rhee Syngman to flee after being accused for corruption and abuse of power.
October 16 1979: the BUMA Protest leading to the assassination of President Park Chung-hee for corruption and abuse of power.
May 18, 1980: the Kwangju Democratic Movement leading to the imprisonment of Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Rho Tae-woo for treason (Chun), corruption and abuse of power.
June10, 1987: the Democratic Movement leading to the amendment of the Constitution leading o the formation of civil government.
2016-2017: the Candle-light Revolution resulting in the imprisonment of Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye for corruption, abuse of power and incompetence de govern (Park).
Thus, none of the six presidents of the PJCSK has ended his or her presidency in honourable way.
This shows how deeply the PJCSK has been corrupted on the one hand, and, on the other, how hard the LNSK has fought back risking the lives of its members.
This is what has made the PJCSK panicky and made it to do everything possible to take back the power.
The PJCSK was searching for the possible presidential candidate who could restore the PJCSK’s power, privileges and wealth. They picked Yoon Suk-yeol.
As I mentioned several times in my previous Global Research articles, Yoon has none of the qualities to become president.
On the other hand, he has one quality useful for the PJCSK — he has the desire and means to kill the enemies of the PJCSK which may threaten the vested interests of the corrupted PJCSK.
He has been a prosecutor all his professional life capturing, sending innocent people to prison and even destroying the entire family of those who are suspected to be against the interests of the PJCSK.
Despite the absence of presidential qualities, the PJCSK chose Yoon as their presidential candidate at the 2022 election.
Once elected, the first priority of Yoon Suk-yeol was the destruction of the LNSK on the one hand and, on the other, the survival of the PJCSK allowing the recovery of its wealth and the privilege. To do so, Yoon applied the following measures.
- The destruction of the trace of the DPK by imprisoning the all of the key former aids of the Moon Jae-in government.
- The killing of possible leaders of the LNSK trough fabricated scandals, usually sex scandals or bribes scandals.
- The mobilization of the media, the prosecutor office and the police to do politically assassinate the leader of the opposition party, Lee Jae-myung.
- The nomination of prosecutors to most of the major minister jobs and deputy minister positions in order to create the prosecutor dictatorship.
In fact, South Korea is now run by prosecutors who are absolutely ignorant about running a government.
- The imposition of extreme form of neo-liberal economic system by facilitating the PJCSK’s embezzlement of public funds, by making the Chaebols richer and more powerful and by preventing job creation through the prevention of SME expansion.
Yoon has been deploying every possible means to destroy the LNSK. But, he still feels unsecure and seeks protectors, which are Japan and the U.S.
Now, we will see below how Yoon has been trying to destroy South Korea through dangerous and criminal diplomacy in complicity with Kishida and Biden.
Yoon’s Anti-Korea Diplomacy
Diplomacy with Japan
The relation between PJCSK and Japan has always been the master-servant relations. In fact, the PJCSK has been Japan’s neo-colony, ever since 1945, in the sense that the PJCSK has been promoting the economic, political and ideological interests of Japan and those of the PJCSK at the expense of the interests of the LNSK.
What is amazing is this. The PJCSK thinks that its fate depends on the destiny of Japan, because the PJCSK was co-offender of war crimes committed during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945).
The PJCSK thinks that Korea is an extension of Japan. It may even wish for Korea’s annexation to Japan 2.0.
This may sound absurd. Is it? It happened before in 1910 because of the traitor Lee Wan Yong. Many think that Yoon Suk-yeol is the reincarnation of Lee Wan Yong.
Yoon’s diplomacy with Kishida has produced two results which are catastrophic to Korea.
One was the justification of Japanese colonialism and the other was the promotion of the Japanese interests at the expense of Korea’s interests.
Justification of Japanese colonialism
- Yoon supports the Japanese arguments that the Japanese colonialism was beneficial to Korea, that Korea was annexed, because of Korea’s incapacity to govern Korea, that the crime of the sex slavery of the 200,000 comfort women never happened, that the labour slavery of 800,000 Korean workers never took place.
- Yoon did not protest when Kishida hinted that Dokdo/Takeshima Island was Japanese territory. The issue of Dokto /Takeshima Island can provoke ROK-Japan war.
- Japan does not like to pay compensation to the Korean workers who were exploited by the Japanese firms as salves. The Supreme Court of Korea ordered the guilty Japanese firms to pay the compensation. Japanese firms refused to pay. Stupid Yoon has asked the Korean firms that have nothing to do with labour slavery to pay it.
Promotion of Japanese Interest at the expense of Korea’s interests
- South Korean GDP per capita has been catching up rapidly the Japanese GDP per capita. In 2004, Japan’s per capita GNP (nominal) was USD 38,307 as against USD 16,283 for South Korea. Thus, the ROK’s per capita GDP was mere 43% of the Japanese per capita GDP.
Now in 2023, the Japanese per capita GDP is USD 35,400 as against USD 34,967 for South Korea. Thus, in 2023, the South Korea’s per capita GDP is 96.5% of the Japanese per capita GDP.
Moreover, if we compare the two countries’ per capita GDP (PPP), Korean per capita GDP (PPP) is USD 56,693 as against USD 51,800 for Japan. Thus, South Korean per capita GDP (PPP) is 9% higher than the Japanese per capita GDP (PPP). By the way, PPP stands for purchasing power parity.
- Yoon has applied every possible measure to sow down the ROK’s GDP growth so that the Korean economy stops being competitive with the Japanese economy.
- Yoon has adopted the extreme form of neo-liberal economic policy by favouring large corporations at the expense of the welfare of the people. This policy leads to the fall of the GDP growth due to falling domestic demand resulting from skewed income distribution in favour of the PJCSK and Japan which dislikes fast growth of ROK’s GDP.
- Japan does not like the competitive South Korean small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which provide chemical products needed for the production of semi-conductors. Therefore, Yoon cut subsidies usually given to Korean SMEs and brought in Japanese SMEs to South Korea.
- Yoon does not care much about the falling Korean exports to China which is attributable to ROK’s joining the American war camp preparing the war against China. The reason is that Japan will fill the trade vacuum left by South Korea.
Yoon’s diplomacy with Biden
Yoon’s diplomacy with Biden has resulted in the de fact trilateral military alliance.
Image: Yoon with President Biden in the Oval Office, April 2023. (Licensed under the Public Domain)
The joint statement said: “If one member country is attacked, it is considered as attack to all the three countries.” [Is this not “a copy and paste” of Article 5 of the Atlantic Treaty] It means, in fact, the trilateral military alliance.
Moreover, the military alliance will be institutionalized. This means that even if the government changes in the countries, the alliance will be made to stay through every possible mean including, most likely, cyber manipulation of the election results and even covert operation to destroy government which tries to break the military alliance.
In the trilateral military alliance, the whole strategy of the alliance will be determined by Washington; Japanese army will have the task of the field command; South Korean army will do all the dirty works.
The trilateral military alliance is more than welcome by Washington.
It has been long time since Washington wanted the trilateral military alliance needed to preserve its global hegemony and to eliminate those countries which may challenge America’s hegemony such as China and Russia.
True, Washington has the AUKUS and QUAD. But, the AUKUS is not strong enough. The UK is far away from Asia, Australia a small military power. The QUAD is not reliable, because India is not a sure military ally.
Therefore, Washington’s is more than happy to have the ROK army in its war camp. Remember, the ROK army had, in 2021, 500,000 regular soldiers 3,100,000 reserves giving a powerful military might.
ROK army is now the 6th most powerful army in the world in fire power. The Japanese military is the 8th most powerful military.
The country that gained most from the three summits is surely Washington. I am sure that the American pro-war community (APWC) is very happy, because the trilateral military alliance increases the probability of shooting Sino-American war.
Therefore, the defence budget will rise substantially. It will make the APWC richer.
But, this will reduce the resources needed to solve internal problems including the infrastructure decaying, widening income gap, street violence, the jobless, the homeless.
Impact of Yoon’s Anti-Korea Diplomacy
The impacts of Yoon’s diplomacy may be grouped into two sets of impacts: economic impacts and security impacts.
Economic Impacts
The economy of South Korea has been declining ever since Yoon Suk-yeol took over the power in 2022. The rate of GDP growth has been continuously downward adjustment and the 2023 projection is not far from 1.0% even lower than the Japanese GDP growth rate (2%).
The slowing down of GDP growth is due to several factors: pro-PJCSK economic policy; pro-Japan economic policy and the weaponization of trade.
The Pro-PJCSK economic policy Yoon’s economic policy has been designed to maximize the wealth of the PJCSK at the expense of the income of the ordinary South Koreans. Yoon cut down corporate tax, increased subsidies to large corporations, cut subsidies to SMEs and cut down welfare expenditures. This has resulted in falling domestic demand inviting slower GDP growth.
The pro-Japan economic policy: The objective of Yoon’s pro-Japan economic policy consists in making the ROK economy more dependent on the Japanese economy. To do this, Yoon has begun to discourage the domestic production of major high-value added intermediate materials needed for the production of high-tech goods including semi-conductors.
The weaponization of trade and investments: Under the system of military alliance, the trade becomes highly strategic and selective determined by Washington. ROK is no longer free in selecting trade partners and the choice trade goods.
Similarly, international investments become strategic and selective determined by Washington. The ROK companies are no longer free in selecting out-going and incoming investing countries and investing fields.
The combination of the above three sets of policies can lead to the long-run stagnation of the South Korean economy.
Security Impacts
The security impact of the trilateral military alliance includes these impacts:
- Rapid increase of the number of enemies and loss of ROK’s international markets,
- The loss of credibility of South Korea’s foreign relations,
- The increasing danger of the Korean War 2.0,
- The danger of forming the trilateral military alliance among North Korea, China and Russia,
- The increasing danger of Japan’s holy war 2.0.
Increasing number of enemies and loss of ROK’s international markets: South Korea has no enemies so far. It is true that North Korea has been regarded as enemy, but most of South Koreans regard North Koreans as brother and sisters. The PJCSK and the U.S consider North Korea as enemy either for the maintenance of power or weapon sales.
ROK’s joining the trilateral military alliance has made all the American enemies and all the Japanese enemies South Korea enemies including of course China, Russia and North Korea, let alone American enemies in the Middle East, Africa and the South America.
It is just horrible to imagine the impact of these enemies on ROK’s trade. Remember this. In South Korea, the two-way trade represent as much as 100% of its GDP.
The Loss of credibility of South Korea’s foreign relations: Under President Moon Jae-in (2017-2022), South Korea’s foreign relations received credibility and respect throughout the world due to the fact that Washington’s interference was relatively weak. President Moon had the courage and the wisdom to develop more autonomous foreign relations. But under the trilateral military alliance, Seoul’s autonomous foreign relations become much more difficult.
Increasing danger of Korean war 2.0: The trilateral military alliance increases the danger of the second Korean War. Ever since Yoon took the power, he has been provoking North Korea in words and in actions. He mentioned his intention of undertaking the pre-emptive attack in addition to expanding scale of the ROK-US-Japan military exercises.
North Korea is angry and has been increasing the frequency and destructive power missile tests. Kim Yo-jong, second in command in North Korea said about Yoon Suk-yeol: “I don’t like him as human being.”
What is scaring is the possibility of Yoon’s provocation of North Korea with small scale military attack in order to increase his falling approval rate knowing well that this can lead to the Korean War 2.0.
The danger of forming the trilateral military alliance among North Korea, China and Russia (NKCR): The Japan-ROK-U.S. military alliance (JKORUS) can accelerate the formation of NKCR which can lead to the exclusion of South Korea from the Eurasian economic block.
The future of the ROK economy will be determined by its integration into the Eurasian economic bloc not the Indo-Pacific economic bloc. Hence the JKORUS can be a fatal factor of long-run stagnation of the ROK economy.
The increasing danger of the Japan’s Holy War 2.0:
There are several signs of the feasibility of Japan’s ambition to dominate Asia and restore the Great Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (GACPS)
- Yoon’s defence of the Japanese colonialism: Japanese colonialism was beneficial to Korea; the crime of comfort women never took place, the slavery of Korea workers never happened.
- The Japanese elite group is composed of the descendents of the elite group of former imperial Japan who ruled Asia. This group is represented by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by the Kishi Nobuske-Shinzo Abe line of political and business leaders whom I call as the Neo-Meiji-Reformation Group (NMRG).
- The existence of powerful pro-war think tank, the Japan Conference
- The creation of pro-war social climate: return of Shintoism and Bushido
- The persistence of Japanese complex of racial superiority of the elite group over Koreans and Chinese and the missionary conviction to enlighten Asians.
The Japanese racial superiority complex and the mission to rule Korea and China had its origin in the famous speech of Fukizawa Yukichi, founder of Keio University, “Good-by Asia” of 1885.
- The persistent campaign to amend Article 9 of the 1948 Peace Constitution
- The 2015 law allowing Japan to join the war to help ally
- The plan of doubling Japanese defence budget in five years
- The trilateral military alliance allowing Japanese to find excuse to intervene in Korean military conflict.
- The trilateral military alliance allow Japan to use ROK military in Japan’s Asia conquest.
- The possibility of the existence of the Biden-Kishida Agrement of 2023 similar to the Katsura-Taft Agreement of 1905 allowing Japan to annex Korea and letting the U.S to colonize the Philippines.
Already in South Korea, opinion makers are talking about the revival of the Japanese colonial government in Seoul.
It is now common belief that Yoon wants the revival of Japanese colonialism in Korea in order to protect himself and the PJCSK so that himself and members of the PJCSK can feel security and enjoy the wealth stolen from Koreans just like Lee wan Wong and has gang did under Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945.
Conclusion
My first conclusion is that the tragic and catastrophic destruction of a country (South Korea) has happened due to the choice of a wrong leader whose actions are only for the protection of the stolen wealth and power for the PJCSK. The wrong leader is Yoon Suk-yeol.
Yoon knows nothing about economics, politics and diplomacy. He has spent all his professional life by arresting and imprisoning those who were critical about the corrupted culture of the PJCSK.
His policy decisions are affected by Shaman. His mother-in-law is in prison for frauds, bribes, blackmailing and other crimes. His wife has committed so many crimes deserving a very long imprisonment. But she is still free because of the corrupted prosecutors.
Yoon is a psychopath and has absolute worship for the strong. Biden is the strong; Japan is the strong. That is why he worships Biden and Kishida.
Let me repeat this. Yoon is coward who is afraid of Koreans and seeks refuge in Japan-dominated Korea. In other words, he wishes for the return of Japanese colonial power to Korea in which he may feel secure and in which he can exploit Koreans to become richer, more powerful and more comfortable just like Lee Wan-yong , the traitor, did in 1910.
My second conclusion is about Kishida and Biden. These two leaders know who and what Yoon is and, nonetheless, lured him to sign the cursed trilateral military alliance.
I am just wondering how far Biden and Kishida can go in using stupid Yoon to destroy South Korea. Don’t they have any sense of guilt? One would expect a little decency and compassion, if they are really world leaders.
Besides, South Korea is an ally of Japan and the U.S. Is it ethical to treat an ally in this way?
My third conclusion is about the anti-humanity behaviour of Biden and Kishida.
Biden is obsessed by the idea of destroying Asia led by China.
Kishida is infatuated with the imperialist dream of conquering again Korea and Asia.
The sad thing is that Biden’s obsession and Kishida’s dream will lead to global East-West war in which nobody is winner.
It will speed up the end of the humanity which has already started because of human greed, perpetual wars and man’s savage and irrational handling of the God-given nature.
I hope that the leadership in South Korea will change soon so that the dangerous military alliance can be broken. The mass movement for Yoon’s impeachment is getting strength. Bonne chance to the impeachment fight!
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Dr. Joseph H. Chung is professor of economics at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and member of the Research Center on Integration and Globalization (CEIM-UQAM).
He is Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG).
Featured image is from The White House Facebook
The original source of this article is Global Research
Copyright © Prof. Joseph H. Chung, Global Research, 2023
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