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Quotes of the Day:
The quintessential skill of an officer is to bring order out of chaos … To do that, and to be successful senior officers, you need to read, think, and write … I would argue you must write.
– Adm. James G. Stavridis
“Who knows why we were taught to fear the witches, and not those who burned them alive.”
–Affinity Soul
People are the thing I need more of – not just people, but the right people. We need problem solvers; we need thinkers."
– Lt. Gen. MIke Conley, AFSOC Commander
1. Kim Jong Un Will Have His October Surprise
2. Kim Jong Un Offers Tepid Praise to China as He Cozies Up to Russia
3. N. Korea's Kim vows to develop friendly ties with China
4. Yoon returns home from Czech trip focused on nuclear energy cooperation
5. Yoon recommends watching Netflix's 'Officer Black Belt'
6. Editorial: Commander-in-chief should lead with caution on North Korea's nuclear threat
7. South Korea expands Middle East defense exports with $2.63B Iraq deal
8. Quad denounces North Korea's nuclear pursuit in Wilmington Declaration
9. Quad leaders decry N.K. missile launches, reaffirm 'complete' Korean Peninsula denuclearization goal
10. Video shows enormous explosion at Russian ammunition depot that Ukraine says housed munitions from North Korea
11. N. Korea's top diplomat says will not overlook any hostile acts
12. The iconic democracy fighter’s last words
1. Kim Jong Un Will Have His October Surprise
Again, what does Kim think he could accomplish with an "October surprise?"
And who really thinks Kim has "decided" on war (other than Robert Carlin)? I think we have some way to go until he decides on that course action, especially when his political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies are working. We must understand the nature, objectives, and strategy of Kim Jong Un and his regime.
Excerpt:
Then again, if he’s already decided that war is inevitable, Kim doesn’t even need to wait that long. As he watches Americans spew vitriol at one another in the coming months, he could also decide that Washington is distracted, and set his peninsula on fire. And then, at last, the whole world would talk about little else but him.
Kim Jong Un Will Have His October Surprise
The North Korean dictator has a message for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and for the world. It may already be in the mail.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-09-19/kim-jong-un-will-have-his-october-surprise?srnd=undefined&sref=hhjZtX76
September 19, 2024 at 5:30 AM EDT
By Andreas Kluth
Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering US diplomacy, national security and geopolitics. Previously, he was editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist.
Dark lord wants limelight.Photographer: Gavriil Grigorov/AFP via Getty Images
Say you’re a ruthless narcissist and a natural-born dictator, and you’re reviewing footage of this month’s presidential debate in Philadelphia. It’s obvious that you got far too little time during the sparring, and inspired not nearly as much fear and awe as are your due. So you decide to spring your “October surprise.”
I’m not talking about former and perhaps future US president Donald Trump, but about North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. All sorts of topics are hogging the news cycles in this election season — the Middle East, for example, where war is now being waged with exploding pagers. But Kim isn’t one of them, even though he’s one of the biggest threats to the United States and world peace. He may feel that a reminder is in order. What could that look like?
This month North Korea released the first-ever photographs of Kim walking past rows and rows of the spinning centrifuges that enrich the uranium which goes into the DPRK’s nuclear warheads. Defying decades’ worth of United Nations resolutions, he has already expanded his arsenal to about 80 or 90 nukes, according to South Korean estimates, and keeps adding as fast as he can.
Play
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Don't Forget: Kim Jong Un Has Nukes
One possible October surprise could be another nuclear test. It would be North Korea’s seventh since 2006, and the first since 2017, when Kim detonated a warhead yielding roughly ten times the payload of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
He could also fire more missiles over Japan and into the Pacific, or even into the waters close to Guam or other American territories, which he can now reach. He might show off new submarines that could nuke South Korea, Japan or the US; or the space satellites he’s building with the help of his new buddy, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kim’s surprise doesn’t even need to involve hardware. Robert Carlin at the Stimson Center, a veteran observer of the Pyongyang regime, thinks the provocation could be a declaration by Kim’s rubber-stamp parliament, in a session already scheduled for Oct. 7. It would in effect annul the armistice that ended the Korean War by defining the DPRK as a separate nation within its present boundaries.
Part of that declaration, Carlin told me, could be an ultimatum for South Korea to hand over five islands in the Yellow Sea near the ambiguous and disputed maritime demarcation (drawn by the United Nations in 1953). Seoul and Washington would demonstratively ignore such a challenge. The question then becomes what Kim does next, how President Joe Biden would respond, and what Trump and his opponent, Kamala Harris, would have to say.
The overall deterioration on the peninsula goes far beyond business-as-usual, says Carlin. Kim, like his father and grandfather, has always assumed that any American president, regardless of party, wants to wipe out his regime. During Trump’s first term, though, the two strongman types carried on a strange bromance for a time — during which Kim paused his missile tests — culminating in an exchange of “love letters” and three meetings.
During a summit in 2019, however, Trump walked away from a deal and Kim felt humiliated. North Korea resumed launching missiles and threatening the South, and broke off all negotiations with the United States, even after Biden replaced Trump.
Kim these days feels stronger vis-a-vis the US, after sealing an alliance with Putin this summer. North Korea now sends ammo and missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, and Moscow in turn gives Pyongyang the kit and knowhow to arm against the West. The Kremlin also vetoes steps by the UN Security Council to enforce controls on Kim’s nuclear program. (How times have changed: As recently as 2017, Russia and China still joined the US in passing those sanctions.)
That is the mess and danger that either Trump or Harris is about to inherit. And it’s not clear that either of them, or anybody else, can clean it up.
Harris would probably continue the Biden policy of reassuring America’s allies, South Korea and Japan (the three now form one of several US-led trilateral pacts). That might involve more joint exercises, or even a return of some American nukes to South Korea. The idea would be to acknowledge that “denuclearization” on the peninsula is no longer feasible, and instead to deter Kim from escalation. Harris might also herd America’s many other partners to help monitor and enforce the sanctions.
Trump would venture more, in hopes of a breakthrough but at risk of chaos or war. He still thinks he has a personal rapport with Kim, fancies himself a genius dealmaker, and doesn’t exactly treat alliances as sacrosanct. So he could offer Kim to stop joint exercises between the US and the South or to withdraw some American troops, and to ease sanctions or even send money to the North. In return, Trump would expect Kim to freeze his nuclear buildup.
Harris’ approach would take a bad situation and in effect calcify it, making it still bad but (one hopes) stable. Trump’s would shake it up, making it fluid but unstable. South Korea, fearing abandonment by the US, might rush to churn out its own nukes (causing the global nonproliferation regime to unravel as a byproduct). Kim would see that as a threat, and consider preempting it by declaring war.
Then again, if he’s already decided that war is inevitable, Kim doesn’t even need to wait that long. As he watches Americans spew vitriol at one another in the coming months, he could also decide that Washington is distracted, and set his peninsula on fire. And then, at last, the whole world would talk about little else but him.
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Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering US diplomacy, national security and geopolitics. Previously, he was editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist.
2. Kim Jong Un Offers Tepid Praise to China as He Cozies Up to Russia
Trouble in the Dark Quad paradise? I think we should be skeptical. It is not so much that the nK-Russia relationship is stronger than the nK-PRC relationships right now. The real truth is it is Kim Jong Un who will play Putin and Xi off each other just like Grand Dad Kim played Mao and Stalin. That is what we should be observing for.
8 minute video at the link.
Kim Jong Un Offers Tepid Praise to China as He Cozies Up to Russia
This photo provided by the North Korean government shows Kim Jong Un with Russia's Security Council secretary, Sergei Shoigu, in North Korea on Sept. 13.Photographer: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP Photo
By Jon Herskovitz
September 22, 2024 at 2:30 AM EDT
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent Chinese President Xi Jinping greetings with what appeared to be restrained rhetoric that comes as Pyongyang moves closer to Russia and depends less on its long-time Asian ally.
Kim wished “the Chinese people greater success in building a modern socialist country,” in a reply message to Xi for his congratulations on North Korea’s birthday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.
The 190-word dispatch had little of the florid language that had been a staple of their correspondence, which has declined significantly this year, according to an analysis by Seoul-based specialist service NK Pro. It noted three references of back-and-forth exchanges mentioned in state media this year between Xi and Kim, compared to 10 in 2023.
Descriptions of the bilateral relationship “are less exuberant,” NK Pro founder Chad O’Carroll wrote in the analysis. The cooler and more restrained language in letters this year compared to 2023 “indicates a palpable distance in the once-warm personal relationship between the two leaders.”
North Korea has often used the analogy of its ties to China being as close as “lips and teeth.” Its official media has frequently spoken of the “deep trust in and friendly feelings toward the fraternal people of China.”
Kim, meanwhile, has increased his exchanges with Russia over the past year. The US and its partners said this has led to increased arms transfers, with Pyongyang sending millions of rounds of artillery and ballistic missiles to Russia to help President Vladimir Putin in his war on Ukraine.
In exchange, Russia sent aid that has supported North Korea’s economy and helped Kim advance his weapons programs, according to Seoul and Washington. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the accusations despite evidence showing the arms transfers taking place.y
The artillery alone is likely worth several billion dollars and the aid from Russia could represent the biggest boost to North Korea’s economy since Kim took power about a dozen years ago.
Read more: Kim Jong Un’s Russia Lifeline Gives Big Reason to Avoid War
China has been North Korea’s biggest benefactor for large parts of the period after the end of the Cold War, providing an economic lifeline for Pyongyang.
This month, Russia dispatched Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang for talks with Kim. North Korea later sent Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui to Russia for a rare trip abroad that included talks with her counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
North Korea's Economy Grows for First Time Since 2019
Mining, manufacturing and construction performed well last year
Source: Bank of Korea
Note: Based on South Korean currency
Kim hosted Putin in June for the Russian leader’s first visit to Pyongyang in more than 20 years, where the two countries reached a deal to come to the other’s aid if attacked. The North Korean leader also pledged to “unconditionally support” Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
Read more: North Korean Weapons Sales to Russia Called Ukraine’s Biggest Worry
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has said supplies of North Korean ammunition to Moscow have been causing major headaches for his country’s defense, as Russia’s full-scale invasion grinds through its third year.
— With assistance from Sam Kim
3. N. Korea's Kim vows to develop friendly ties with China
Kim is playing both sides. Like grandfather, like grandson.
N. Korea's Kim vows to develop friendly ties with China | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · September 22, 2024
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed his intention to develop friendly relations with Beijing in his reply letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the North's state media said Sunday.
Kim sent the letter on Sept. 15, six days after Xi congratulated North Korea on the 76th anniversary of its foundation, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
"It is the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to steadily consolidate and develop the DPRK-China friendship with a long historical tradition," Kim wrote in the letter.
DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
In the message, Kim wished for the success of the Chinese people in their efforts to build "a modern socialist country" under Xi's leadership as this year marks the 75th founding anniversary of China.
The exchange of letters comes at a time when relations between North Korea and China, its longtime ally, have become relatively estranged, in contrast to Pyongyang's growing military and economic cooperation with Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on June 21, 2019, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) in Pyongyang. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · September 22, 2024
4. Yoon returns home from Czech trip focused on nuclear energy cooperation
Yoon returns home from Czech trip focused on nuclear energy cooperation | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · September 22, 2024
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home Sunday from his trip to the Czech Republic that sought to boost South Korea's bid to win a nuclear deal and economic ties with the European nation.
Yoon held summit talks with Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Thursday and Friday to make a sales pitch for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to build two nuclear power plants in Dukovany after it was chosen as a preferred bidder in July.
His visit came at a time when the project faces a legal challenge as U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric filed an appeal with Czech authorities last month, claiming that KHNP's reactor designs are based on its technology.
Yoon assured Czech leaders that the legal issue will be resolved amicably through consultations between Seoul and Washington and pledged support for a mutually beneficial partnership in the nuclear energy project.
During his trip, the two countries signed several agreements covering the entire nuclear energy cycle, including construction, operation, maintenance, nuclear fuel management and waste disposal.
If finalized, the deal -- estimated at around 24 trillion won (US$17.3 billion) -- will mark South Korea's second nuclear power plant export, following a deal with the United Arab Emirates.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrive at the Seoul Airport in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on Sept. 22, 2024, returning from their trip to the Czech Republic. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · September 22, 2024
5. Yoon recommends watching Netflix's 'Officer Black Belt'
President Yoon as an influencer. Now he needs a TikTok account to make his NEtflix recommendations.
Yoon recommends watching Netflix's 'Officer Black Belt' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 22, 2024
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol watched Netflix's Korean original action movie "Officer Black Belt" over the Chuseok holiday and recommended watching it to his aides, a presidential official said Sunday.
The movie revolves around a temporary martial arts officer, played by Kim Woo-bin, and a probation officer, played by Kim Sung-kyun, who pair up to prevent crimes and protect citizens.
Yoon said the movie "clearly shows" how the pair dedicate themselves to protecting citizens by monitoring electronic anklet-wearing criminals around the clock, according to the official.
"It's a movie that reminds us of the public consciousness of the MZ generation and their dedication to the public interest," Yoon was quoted as saying, referring to millennials and Gen Z. "I hope the young generations will watch such movies, which portray how people pursue the public interest and dedicate themselves."
A captured screen from the Netflix chart on Sept. 19, 2024, is shown in this image. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 22, 2024
6. Editorial: Commander-in-chief should lead with caution on North Korea's nuclear threat
Options:
Extended Deterrence with US nuclear umbrella.
Develop South Korean nuclear weapons
Develop "latent nuclear capabilities" akin to Japan
Regardless of the option chosen, the ROK/US alliance should adopt a strategy based on human rights upfront, a public diplomacy and information campaign to help the Korean people in the north, and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.
The ROK/US alliance must accept that the path to denuclearization only goes through unification.
Excerpts:
A deeper, more fundamental issue is the differing interests between South Korea and the U.S. when it comes to the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear dilemma. For the U.S., the top priority is nuclear non-proliferation, while South Korea’s main concern is the safety and security of its people. Although the U.S. claims these interests are aligned, history suggests otherwise—if non-proliferation alone guaranteed security, countries like the U.K., France, China, India, Pakistan, and Israel would not have developed their own nuclear arsenals.
Meanwhile, North Korea has recently revealed a facility capable of producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), signaling its intent to negotiate arms reduction between nuclear-armed states rather than engaging in denuclearization talks after the U.S. election. If such negotiations were to take place, South Korea’s security would likely be compromised. To complicate matters further, North Korea has restored a military alliance with Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
Given these circumstances, South Korea, as a sovereign nation, has a legitimate right to consider nuclear armament as a response to such direct nuclear threats. However, domestic political disagreements and international pressures make this a difficult path to pursue. This is why some national research institutions have recommended exploring other options, such as redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons or pursuing “latent nuclear capabilities” akin to Japan’s nuclear fuel reprocessing rights.
As the commander-in-chief, the president is the ultimate guardian of the South Korean people’s safety. When it comes to addressing North Korea’s nuclear threat—a matter that directly impacts the lives of citizens—it is essential to exercise caution rather than make guarantees. The North Korean nuclear situation may not unfold as we wish.
Opinion
Editorial: Commander-in-chief should lead with caution on North Korea's nuclear threat
https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2024/09/22/45Z4SX3XQRE3LPKII7AKMSD7WE/
By The Chosunilbo
Published 2024.09.22. 09:00
In an interview with Czech media published on September 20, President Yoon Suk-yeol asserted that South Korea has established a system capable of effectively deterring and responding to North Korea’s nuclear threat, without the need for its own nuclear armament. When asked whether South Korea is seriously considering developing nuclear weapons, President Yoon responded, “Our best strategy for countering North Korea’s nuclear threat is to strengthen our national defense and enhance the execution of the U.S. extended deterrence.”
The Czech economic newspaper Hospodářské Noviny published a written interview with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sept. 20, 2024, under the headline, "If South Korea Fails in the Czech Republic, It Cannot Build Nuclear Power Plants Anywhere Else in the World."/South Korea's Presidential Office
Since the Yoon administration took office, South Korea has worked to bolster security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan to reinforce deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. Last year, President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Washington Declaration. In July, they took another significant step by endorsing the U.S.-ROK Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula. This document formally designates a “Korean Peninsula mission” for U.S. nuclear operations, translating the previously abstract concept of the U.S. nuclear umbrella into a concrete commitment. Moreover, trilateral security cooperation was further institutionalized through the Camp David Statement between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. These advancements were made possible, in part, by the Biden administration’s strong emphasis on alliances.
However, this progress faces uncertainty with the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Should Donald Trump, who has shown a tendency to disregard alliances, win the presidency, the promises made by the Biden administration could be undone, much like many other agreements during his previous term.
A deeper, more fundamental issue is the differing interests between South Korea and the U.S. when it comes to the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear dilemma. For the U.S., the top priority is nuclear non-proliferation, while South Korea’s main concern is the safety and security of its people. Although the U.S. claims these interests are aligned, history suggests otherwise—if non-proliferation alone guaranteed security, countries like the U.K., France, China, India, Pakistan, and Israel would not have developed their own nuclear arsenals.
Meanwhile, North Korea has recently revealed a facility capable of producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), signaling its intent to negotiate arms reduction between nuclear-armed states rather than engaging in denuclearization talks after the U.S. election. If such negotiations were to take place, South Korea’s security would likely be compromised. To complicate matters further, North Korea has restored a military alliance with Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
Given these circumstances, South Korea, as a sovereign nation, has a legitimate right to consider nuclear armament as a response to such direct nuclear threats. However, domestic political disagreements and international pressures make this a difficult path to pursue. This is why some national research institutions have recommended exploring other options, such as redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons or pursuing “latent nuclear capabilities” akin to Japan’s nuclear fuel reprocessing rights.
As the commander-in-chief, the president is the ultimate guardian of the South Korean people’s safety. When it comes to addressing North Korea’s nuclear threat—a matter that directly impacts the lives of citizens—it is essential to exercise caution rather than make guarantees. The North Korean nuclear situation may not unfold as we wish.
7. South Korea expands Middle East defense exports with $2.63B Iraq deal
South Korea expands Middle East defense exports with $2.63B Iraq deal
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2024/09/22/MBAEBGEJ6ZA5PDJ24XNRRIUDSQ/
By Park Soon-chan,
Park Su-hyeon
Published 2024.09.22. 14:20
Cheongung-II (M-SAM II)./LIG Nex1
South Korea’s domestically developed air defense missile system, the Cheongung-II (M-SAM II), will be exported to Iraq in a deal worth 3.7 trillion won (approximately $2.63 billion). This marks a significant expansion of South Korea’s defense exports in the Middle East, following earlier contracts with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
LIG Nex1 announced on Sept. 20 that it had signed an agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Defense in Baghdad on Sept. 19 to supply the M-SAM II. The system, a medium-range, medium-altitude surface-to-air interceptor, is designed to counter both ballistic missiles and aerial threats. Developed with South Korean technology under the oversight of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, it has been in production since 2018 and boasts a 100% success rate in various interception tests.
The M-SAM II incorporates advanced technology, including systems for engaging aircraft and ballistic missiles, multifunction radar tracking, precision seekers for simultaneous multi-target engagement, and rapid-response design and control features. A South Korean defense industry official noted, “The market for exporting advanced guided weapons is dominated by a few nations, making it difficult for newcomers. Beyond performance, establishing a strong trust relationship with the buyer is crucial, as these systems directly impact national security.”
With this contract, the Cheongung-II will be deployed in Iraq, adding to previous exports to the UAE (4.6 trillion won) and Saudi Arabia (4.3 trillion won). South Korean defense officials also believe this deal increases the likelihood of future exports of long-range, high-altitude interceptor systems to the region.
8. Quad denounces North Korea's nuclear pursuit in Wilmington Declaration
Will the "Wilmington Declaration" catch on?
Excerpts:
“We express deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime,” the declaration continued, targeting Russia, which has stepped up military cooperation with North Korea recently.
The declaration also called on “all UN Member States to abide by the relevant UNSCRs including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel.”
“We express our grave concern over North Korea’s use of proliferation networks, malicious cyber activity and workers abroad to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” the declaration also said. “We stress the need to prevent any proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea in the region and beyond.”
Sunday
September 22, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Quad denounces North Korea's nuclear pursuit in Wilmington Declaration
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-09-22/national/northKorea/Quad-denounces-North-Koreas-nuclear-pursuit-in-Wilmington-Declaration/2138841
Published: 22 Sep. 2024, 14:39
- LIM JEONG-WON
- lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr
From left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanense Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand for a group photo before speaking during the Quad leaders summit at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware, on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]
The leaders of the four Quad countries condemned North Korea’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and its repeated ballistic missile launches on Saturday, and reaffirmed their commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
The Quad, or the quadrilateral security dialogue, is a consultative body composed of the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
The Quad leaders — U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida — announced the Wilmington Declaration after a summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which stated that Pyongyang’s ballistic missile launches and other actions constitute violations of UN Security Council resolutions.
“We urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs, refrain from further provocations and engage in substantive dialogue,” the Wilmington Declaration emphasized.
Related Article
“We express deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime,” the declaration continued, targeting Russia, which has stepped up military cooperation with North Korea recently.
The declaration also called on “all UN Member States to abide by the relevant UNSCRs including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel.”
“We express our grave concern over North Korea’s use of proliferation networks, malicious cyber activity and workers abroad to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” the declaration also said. “We stress the need to prevent any proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea in the region and beyond.”
This is interpreted as a reference to the possibility that Moscow will provide Pyongyang with advanced military technology in return for a massive supply of ammunition and missiles, as well as the proliferation of North Korea’s nuclear and missile technologies to other countries.
The declaration also pointed out that the term of the UN Security Council’s panel of experts tasked with monitoring violations of sanctions related to North Korea has not been extended, stating that “we reiterate our commitment to continued implementation of the relevant UNSCRs which remain in full force.”
Regarding China, the declaration avoided directly mentioning the country and said “we strongly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” expressing “serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain.”
“We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas,” the declaration continued. “We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea.”
The Wilmington Declaration also mentioned the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which strives to secure awareness of all situations occurring at sea in terms of security, economy and environment.
The leaders announced that “the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, and continuing with further missions in future years across the Indo-Pacific.”
The Quad leaders also included public and private sector investment in building a clean energy supply chain, strengthening cybersecurity cooperation and providing Earth observation data and space-related applications for climate change management to Indo-Pacific countries in the declaration.
Regarding a reformation of the UN Security Council, the Quad leaders recognized “the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council” and argued such an expansion of permanent seats should include representation for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Wilmington Declaration additionally addressed pressing international conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza, calling for involved sides to comply with international law.
The Quad, launched in 2004 to check China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, was upgraded from its initial ministerial-level status to a summit-level meeting by Biden in 2021.
The Quad Summit has been held six times so far, including two virtual summits during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is expected to be the last summit for Biden, who will leave office on Jan. 20 next year.
This is the first time that Biden has invited foreign leaders to Wilmington, his political home and the location of his private residence, for a summit.
BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
9. Quad leaders decry N.K. missile launches, reaffirm 'complete' Korean Peninsula denuclearization goal
The path to denuclearization goes through unification.
(LEAD) Quad leaders decry N.K. missile launches, reaffirm 'complete' Korean Peninsula denuclearization goal | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · September 22, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 4, 12-21; ADDS photos)
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- The leaders of the United States, India, Japan and Australia on Saturday denounced North Korea's "destabilizing" missile launches and its nuclear program, and reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a joint statement after the four countries' fourth in-person Quad summit held in Wilmington, Delaware.
The summit came as Pyongyang has recently ratcheted up tensions on the peninsula with its rare disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility, continued weapons tests and launches of trash-filled balloons into South Korea, not to mention tough rhetoric.
"We condemn North Korea's destabilizing ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). These launches pose a grave threat to international peace and stability," the leaders said in the statement, named "the Wilmington Declaration."
"We urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs, refrain from further provocations and engage in substantive dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UNSCRs and call on all countries to fully implement these UNSCRs," they added.
U.S. President Joe Biden (2nd from R), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd from L) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose for a photo at the Archmere Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, on Sept. 21, 2024, as they gather for a Quad summit in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap)
They stressed the need to prevent any proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea.
"We express our grave concern over North Korea's use of proliferation networks, malicious cyber activity and workers abroad to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," they said.
"In that context, we urge all UN Member States to abide by the relevant UNSCRs including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel."
Moreover, they expressed "deep" concerns about countries that are deepening military cooperation with the North, saying that it undermines the global nonproliferation regime.
The leaders also underscored the importance of sanctions enforcement against Pyongyang, noting that a U.N. expert panel monitoring sanctions violations has been disbanded.
"We reiterate our commitment to continued implementation of the relevant UNSCRs which remain in full force," they said.
President Joe Biden attends a Quad summit at Archmere Academy in Delaware on Sept. 21, 2024, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, Biden and Kishida held a separate bilateral meeting, where Biden recognized improvement in relations between Seoul and Tokyo, long strained over historical feuds.
"He (Biden) also commended the Prime Minister's courage and conviction in strengthening ties with the Republic of Korea, which enabled the launch of a momentous new era of U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation at the historic Camp David Summit in August 2023," the White House said in a readout.
ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
The Camp David summit is the first standalone trilateral meeting among the three countries' leaders. It produced a series of landmark cooperation agreements, including the "Commitment to Consult" each other in the event of a shared threat.
U.S. President Joe Biden (R) greets Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as he arrives for a Quad summit at the Archmere Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, on Sept. 21, 2024, in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap)
In their joint statement, Quad leaders also expressed their serious concern over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.
"We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea," they said. "We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers."
For three-way maritime security efforts, the leaders said that the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety in the Indo-Pacific.
They also announced the launch of a "Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network" pilot project to pursue shared airlift capacity among their countries and leverage collective logistics strengths in order to support civilian response to natural disasters "more rapidly and efficiently" across the Indo-Pacific.
The next Quad Summit will be hosted by India.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · September 22, 2024
10. Video shows enormous explosion at Russian ammunition depot that Ukraine says housed munitions from North Korea
Video shows enormous explosion at Russian ammunition depot that Ukraine says housed munitions from North Korea
Business Insider · by Rebecca Rommen
Military & Defense
Rebecca Rommen
2024-09-22T13:10:58Z
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A Russian regional governor said 1,200 people were evacuated following the attack. Screenshot/X/Anton Gerashchenko
- Ukraine struck a major ammunition depot in Russia's Krasnodar Krai region.
- A video of the strike circulating on social media showed a huge explosion at the site.
- The Russian regional governor confirmed the attack and said 1,200 people were evacuated.
Ukrainian forces struck a major Russian ammunition depot this weekend, causing a massive explosion that was caught on camera.
The strike hit a depot near Tikhoretsk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai region. The Ukrainian military said that 2,000 tons of munitions, including some from North Korea, had arrived at the depot before the strike.
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BREAKING: Several large Russian weapons depots destroyed in Ukrainian drone swarm strikes a few hours ago.This video shows the weapons depot storing North Korean artillery shells exploding in Tikhoretsk, in the Krasnodar region nearly 500 km from the frontlines. pic.twitter.com/Kzsdsua7iT
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 21, 2024
The Russian regional governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, confirmed that two drones had attacked the site before being engaged by local air defenses, adding that the fire erupted after debris fell from one of the drones.
Kondratyev said that 1,200 locals had been evacuated and that there were no known casualties among the area's residents.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a Facebook post that the site is "in the top three largest ammunition storage bases for the occupiers and is one of the key ones in the Russian military's logistics system."
The Security Service of Ukraine also hit a munition depot in Oktyabrsky in the western region of Tver, it added.
On Saturday morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russian forces had intercepted 101 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 18 over Krasnodar Krai and three over Tver.
Ukraine has been increasingly targeting munitions facilities in Russia in recent weeks.
Its forces struck an ammo facility near Toropets, which is also in Tver, on September 18.
Following that strike, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said that similar strikes against such sites "may force a similar decision point on the Russian military command to reorganize and disperse support and logistics systems within Russia to mitigate the impact of such strikes. "
Ukraine Russia Ukraine War
Business Insider · by Rebecca Rommen
11. N. Korea's top diplomat says will not overlook any hostile acts
Who has the hostile policy? South or north? The answer is it is the Kim family regime that has the announced hostile policy toward the South. The South has the moral high ground and seeks peaceful unification.
N. Korea's top diplomat says will not overlook any hostile acts | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · September 22, 2024
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foreign minister has warned that Pyongyang will not overlook any hostile acts on the Korean Peninsula, claiming that the peninsula's security situation is heading for a "more dangerous threshold," the North's state media reported Sunday.
"Recently, the security situation has been an even more dangerous threshold," the North's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said in her address to the fourth Eurasian Women's Forum held in St. Petersburg, according to the Rodong Sinmun, Pyongyang's main newspaper.
Choe argued that an "alliance-seeking policy" of the United States and some countries that follow the U.S. has caused a "vicious cycle of escalating tensions and confrontation."
On Sept. 13, North Korea publicly disclosed its uranium enrichment facility for the first time, displaying images of leader Kim Jong-un calling for boosting the state's nuclear weapons.
The U.S. has strengthened security cooperation with South Korea and Japan, its major Asian allies, to counter North Korea's missile and nuclear threats.
On Saturday, the leaders of the U.S, India, Japan and Australia denounced North Korea's missile launches and its nuclear program and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
This image, captured from the website of Russia's foreign ministry on Sept. 17, 2024, shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) and his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, in Moscow. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · September 22, 2024
12. The iconic democracy fighter’s last words
Excerpt:
Chang was devoted to scrapping legislators’ excessive benefits. “About four million won in monthly salary is enough for them,” he said — instead of their annual pay exceeding 150 million won on top of 186 kinds of privileges, including a free business class flight for overseas trips, a free seat at the VIP train at KTX and their uninterrupted pay even after being arrested. Chang believed that if such a legislature is left unattended, it can’t rescue a country stricken with the lowest fertility rate and the highest suicide rate. After his death, the governing People Power Party (PPP) said, “We will embody his wish to abandon such hefty benefits for lawmakers.” PPP leader Han Dong-hoon proposed to fix legislators’ pay at the median income of the people during the April parliamentary elections.
The iconic democracy fighter’s last words
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-09-22/opinion/editorials/The-iconic-democracy-fighters-last-words/2139052
Published: 22 Sep. 2024, 20:01
Chang Ki-pyo, the legendary democracy fighter, has passed away at age 78. He remained as “an eternal outsider” throughout his life. Chang ran for a seat in the National Assembly seven times after establishing several political parties, but failed to get elected as a lawmaker in all parliamentary elections since 1989. Clearly, he was a “loser” in real politics.
But more important than the shabby trajectory is the zeitgeist he persistently championed. During the Kim Young-sam administration, he was eligible to receive more than one billion won ($748,503) as a reward for his contribution to the development of our democracy. But he didn’t apply for the compensation. “Does it really make sense to get the money in return for my democratic movement when all citizens, including farmers and factory workers, contributed to the development of the country?” he asked.
There are many active politicians who continue praising themselves for their democratic activity during the authoritarian days, getting grants for their children’s school admissions fee and even submitting a bill to give extra points to their offspring when they try to find a job. When the prosecution indicted opposition lawmakers for handing out cash before their national convention to elect a new leader, they called it a “political retaliation.” A progressive activist who embezzled the donations she collected from people “to help former wartime sex slaves” was later elected as a legislator. We hope our politicians learn from Chang who upheld the sublime values of honor and integrity.
Chang was devoted to scrapping legislators’ excessive benefits. “About four million won in monthly salary is enough for them,” he said — instead of their annual pay exceeding 150 million won on top of 186 kinds of privileges, including a free business class flight for overseas trips, a free seat at the VIP train at KTX and their uninterrupted pay even after being arrested. Chang believed that if such a legislature is left unattended, it can’t rescue a country stricken with the lowest fertility rate and the highest suicide rate. After his death, the governing People Power Party (PPP) said, “We will embody his wish to abandon such hefty benefits for lawmakers.” PPP leader Han Dong-hoon proposed to fix legislators’ pay at the median income of the people during the April parliamentary elections.
In interviews he had while being hospitalized for his gallbladder cancer, Chang underscored the importance of “rational thinking beyond the boundaries of conservative or liberal ideology.” He urged our politicians to “stop dividing the country or giving blind support to their leader.” Before closing his eyes, Chang demanded people to “be awakened always.” We hope our politicians remember his last words.
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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