Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

– Marie Curie

“We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.”

– Stephen Hawking

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool.”

– Richard Feynman

I am traveling overseas for the next week so my daily traffic will be more irregular due to the time zone.

1. At the World’s Largest Shipyard, U.S. Courts an Ally to Face Up to China

2. Did Kim Jong Un make a statement threatening Israel?

3. A Closer Look at North Korea’s Enrichment Capabilities and What It Means

4. North Korea blames US for waging a ‘new Cold War’ in Asia with military alliances

5. russia Pushed Out of Defense Market: Korea Sells KM-SAM II Air Defense System to Iraq for $2.8 Billion

6. Korean political circles criticize former officials' 'two-nation theory' every day

7. “Kim Jong-un justifies nuclear development by putting forward Kim Ju-ae”

8. North Korean workers dispatched to China demand wage increase due to 'loyalty fund pressure'

9. S. Korean military vows 'stern' measures should N. Korea cross the line with balloon campaign

10. Nat'l security adviser does not rule out N.K. nuclear test around U.S. election

11. Army to mobilize tanks, howitzers for joint drills in Qatar next month

12. Korea's autonomous ship sails to Southeast Asia for test

13. Nature's bounty or state property? N. Korea's war on unauthorized foraging

1. At the World’s Largest Shipyard, U.S. Courts an Ally to Face Up to China

Another aspect of strategic competition.

And another example of South Korea as a global pivotal state and a partner in the arsenal of democracy.

At the World’s Largest Shipyard, U.S. Courts an Ally to Face Up to China

South Korea offers shipbuilding capacity, know-how and talent that rivals China, whose maritime dominance is growing

By Timothy W. MartinFollow | Photographs by Tina Hsu for WSJ

Updated Sept. 23, 2024 12:02 am ET

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/us-south-korea-shipyard-china-30aa2b11?mod=latest_headlines

ULSAN, South Korea—Just a few months ago, U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro admired a new South Korean warship built in this port city at the world’s largest shipyard. Del Toro was on a trip hoping to sell top officials at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and others on a simple pitch.

“Invest in America,” Del Toro told them.

Having fallen far behind China in shipbuilding, the U.S. is turning to allies in South Korea and Japan for the turnaround strategy. Key to that effort is attracting companies such as Hyundai that go head-to-head with the Chinese and can do everything America lacks: making ships quickly at low costs with modern techniques.

China’s naval battle-force ship fleet now outnumbers the U.S.’s, having ramped up production at state-subsidized shipyards that build all types of vessels. A majority of the world’s ship output last year came from China. Coming in at No. 2 was South Korea, with roughly a quarter of global deliveries.

The U.S. barely registers on the global rankings. The few American shipyards left build American ships—and pretty much nothing else, since the labor costs are higher and the turnaround times longer. That is where South Korea’s shipbuilding giants like Hyundai can step in to help.

Construction of a commercial ship at the Ulsan yard.

No single global shipyard matches the production capacity of Hyundai’s facility in Ulsan, where hulking orange “Goliath” cranes tower into the skies. Workers ride motorcycles to whiz between the site’s 10 dry docks. Bright blue, yellow and red ship parts lie strewn on the ground like mega-sized toy blocks.

On a recent morning, thousands of Hyundai employees worked on 20 different ocean ships under construction for the Korean navy, the Philippines military and global freight companies—or a sum roughly quadruple the U.S. output all last year. Lee Sang-bong, a Hyundai executive, stood aboard the same South Korean warship that he and other colleagues showed Del Toro in February.

Named Jeongjo the Great after an 18th-century Korean king, the vessel is an Aegis destroyer with lots of American technology and parts, explained Lee, who heads the company’s military-vessel design. Lockheed Martin developed the combat system, RTX’s Raytheon supplied the missiles and GE manufactured the gas turbine. “This is basically a U.S. warship,” he said.

Jeong Woo-maan heads planning for the naval business unit at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Except for the cost and time. Making Jeongjo in the U.S. would more than double the price tag, and construction would take roughly one-third longer, industry officials say.

But making a U.S. destroyer in Ulsan—where Hyundai makes 40 to 50 ships a year—isn’t an option for now: American ships, by law, must be built at home.

The U.S. law, however, doesn’t block partnerships with foreign shipbuilders for tasks such as maintenance, training or technical tips—and Washington is increasingly turning to Korea and Japan for such work. Building American military ships overseas is only possible through a presidential exemption on national-security grounds or a legislative change.

The World’s Largest Shipyard Is Helping the U.S. Catch Up to China's Navy

The gap with China

Naval dominance is a chief Washington concern for a potential clash with Beijing around Taiwan. The U.S., as it stands now, is unprepared to quickly rev up production of warships or merchant vessels critical to maintaining trade during any conflict around the South China Sea.

President Biden has said the U.S. would defend Taiwan if it is attacked by China, which has stepped up military exercises around the self-ruled island seen as training for a possible blockade. Meanwhile, the Chinese military has become more aggressive around the South China Sea, sparking concerns over other regional skirmishes.

The Ulsan yard’s enormous scale means it’s often best to get around the facility on two wheels.

A Goliath crane towers over the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard.

In April, a U.S. congressional guidance report titled “Reversing the Decline of America’s Maritime Power” highlighted expanding relationships with treaty allies as one major recommendation. China, with a shipbuilding workforce roughly four times the size of that of the U.S., had around 7,000 oceangoing vessels, according to the report. America has about 200. China received about 1,700 ship orders in 2023, while the U.S. had five.

“The gap in shipbuilding and shipbuilding capacity with China is probably too large at this point to close,” said Bryan Clark, a retired U.S. Navy official, who served in strategic and developmental roles.

The priority should be strengthening U.S. shipbuilding, with allied help, so that Beijing can’t use its maritime advantage as a coercive tool, said Clark, who is now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a research organization based in Washington, D.C. China, which has the world’s largest shipping fleet, could disrupt U.S. supply chains by threatening to slow or halt goods transports to and from the U.S., using firms owned or controlled by China, he added.

Employees work in one of the Ulsan site's 10 dry docks and head home on a bus.

Global spending on military vessels, including maintenance, is expected to hit $95 billion in 2024, according to Janes, which tracks spending from 60 different countries. That will rise to more than $112 billion by 2030, the defense-intelligence company says.

Some collaboration between the U.S. and South Korea is already under way. Both Hyundai and Hanwha recently received approval for the first time to do maintenance, repair and operations work for certain U.S. Navy vessels. On Sept. 2, the first such ship, the USNS Wally Schirra, a dry-cargo and ammunition vessel, arrived at Hanwha’s shipyard for a three-month overhaul. Hyundai expects to field repair projects in the coming months.

Hanwha, along with a sister company, said in June it plans to buy Philly Shipyard—a Philadelphia-based yard that supplies about half of the largest U.S. commercial vessels—for $100 million. The South Korean company said it expects the deal to close around November.

In a speech last month, Del Toro said Hanwha intends to double the size of Philly’s workforce and quadruple output of both commercial and naval shipbuilding. “I am hopeful that Hanwha will be just the first of many world-class shipbuilders to come to America,” Del Toro said.

‘We can build ships cheaper and faster than anyone else in the world,’ said Jeong Woo-maan.

Ulsan is known as the ‘Kingdom of Hyundai.’

The efforts extend to exchange programs, including one struck between Seoul National University and the University of Michigan—one of just a handful of naval architecture and marine engineering programs in the U.S. South Korea, meanwhile, has nearly two dozen such schools, said Rhee Shin Hyung, an SNU professor involved in the project. The visiting students will spend time at Hyundai’s Ulsan shipyard.

“In the U.S., there’s no place for engineers to get trained on real-world things,” said Rhee, who also serves as an external director at Hanwha Ocean.

Washington and Tokyo officials in June discussed issues and potential improvements to U.S. warship maintenance, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry, which declined to elaborate further.

Kingdom of Hyundai

It didn’t used to be this way. The U.S. ended World War II as the world’s maritime power: a fleet of more than 5,000 ships, two-fifths of global shipping capability and hundreds of shipyards. Today, just a few dozen shipyards remain. The U.S. Navy has shrunk to less than half the size of its 1980s peak of roughly 600 vessels.

But shipbuilding is a punishing business, requiring lots of infrastructure investment and manpower. Profit margins are thin. China had been a minor global player until the turn of the century, when Beijing started pumping more than $100 billion to subsidize growth of the nation’s shipyards.

As U.S. shipbuilding retrenched decades ago, South Korea jumped in. It came as the U.S. withdrew troops from the Korean Peninsula in the early 1970s, pushing Seoul to establish more defense self-sufficiency.

Hyundai Heavy Industries—once a sister affiliate of the automaking giant but now separate—was one of the primary creations. It got its start in 1972 building its first vessels alongside the shipyard itself. Even now, one of the mottos from company founder, Chung Ju-yung, remains emblazoned on Hyundai buildings: “When we succeed, so does the country,” it reads, “and when the country does well, so do we.”

Ilsan Beach lies a short distance along the coast from the shipyard.

Ulsan had been a quiet town known for whaling. Now, it is a city of more than 1.1 million people that is often called the “Kingdom of Hyundai.” Clustered around the shipyard are a department store, a hotel, schools, apartments, a park and an art museum, all bearing the Hyundai name.

Hyundai employs more than 14,000 workers and 18,000 subcontractor employees at the Ulsan site. There, the company makes dozens of vessels a year, including three or four naval ships. Hyundai has landed deals to make naval ships for New Zealand, the Philippines and Peru.

Unlike most U.S. or European firms, Hyundai has the ability to make both military and commercial vessels at its shipyard—and swap certain workers across the different projects as needed. That helps buffer against downturns in either business line and provides manpower flexibility when demand rises.

With more than 2,000 engineers on staff, Hyundai’s round-the-clock production means it has found ways to reduce the number of steps to build a ship faster. It has crafted pre-assembly methods for big ships that halve the work needed on the docks. It uses proprietary software and cameras to track a ship’s construction in real time, minimize redundancies and redistribute workers as necessary.

Jeongjo the Great, a South Korean Aegis destroyer made in Ulsan, contains U.S. parts and technology.

Hyundai Heavy’s shares are up more than 50% this year. It estimates revenue will grow by about 11% in 2024 from the prior year, hitting about 13.3 trillion won, or roughly $10 billion. The naval business is expected to represent about 8% of overall sales this year.

By the end of the decade, the company wants to triple revenue earned from the construction and maintenance of naval vessels—including for the U.S.

“We can build ships cheaper and faster than anyone else in the world,” said Jeong Woo-maan, who heads planning for Hyundai’s naval business unit.

Chieko Tsuneoka and Soobin Kim contributed to this article.

Write to Timothy W. Martin at Timothy.Martin@wsj.com

2. Did Kim Jong Un make a statement threatening Israel?

Good fact checking by RFA. I saw this on social media.

Did Kim Jong Un make a statement threatening Israel?

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/afcl/afcl-north-korea-isreal-iran-09232024040626.html/ampRFA

Verdict: False

By Dukin Han for RFA Korean
2024-09-23

Illustration by AFCL

A claim has been repeatedly shared in social media posts that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a statement threatening Israel in support of Iran.

But the claim is false. Keyword searches found no official statements or credible reports that back the claim. Experts dismissed the claim, saying there is little to gain for Kim in making such a statement.

The claim was shared in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Aug. 3, 2024, by a user called “SprinterFamily” who has previously spread false information about North Korea.

The post cited Kim as saying: “We will always stand by Iran and will respond decisively to any threat to our ally. We warn the mercenary of global imperialism, namely Israel, not to make mistakes.”

A screenshot of the false X post.

The claim began to circulate amid growing fears of a regional war in the Middle East.

The nearly 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has led to regular low-level hostilities between Israel and Iran and Hezbollah, as well as other groups in the region that are aligned with Tehran.

But after the killing of the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah in July, Iran and Hezbollah pledged to retaliate, with media reports saying they may attack Israel.

North Korea has been a strategic partner of long standing for Iran, based on their subjection to extensive U.S. economic sanctions and other U.S. policies designed to counter the threats they pose to key U.S. partners.

There have been media reports that North Korean-made weapons have been supplied to Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas through Iran.

Some believe North Korea is indirectly involved in the conflicts in the Middle East, although it has never officially acknowledged or commented on any military support.

But the claim about the North Korean leader’s threat against Israel is false.

A review of North Korea’s state-run media outlets, which often carry statements from Kim, found no such statement or report.

‘Little to gain for Kim’

Harry Kazianis, senior director at the Center for the National Interest think tank, believes that if the statement was not recorded by North Korea’s official news agency, it should be assumed that the claim is false.

Kazianis said North Korea had “other ways” to cause trouble for Israel, including sales of missile technology to Iran that could be used against Israel, citing U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies.

Makino Yoshihiro, a visiting professor at Hiroshima University and diplomatic correspondent for Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, said there would be little to gain for Kim in making such a statement.

“Iran is currently trying not to overly provoke the United States, and North Korea’s involvement would create confusion,” said Yoshihiro.

Bruce Bennett, a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation, believes the claim about Kim’s statement on Israel may have originated from China or Russia, citing Russia’s attempts to build an anti-Western coalition.

“Given that there was an attack in Iran that killed a major Hamas leader, and Kim Jong Un did nothing, it suggests that if he was really threatening to confront Israel, something would have already happened,” Bennett said, adding that Kim’s threats are primarily for propaganda purposes and are unlikely to be carried out in practice.

Translated by Dukin Han. Edited by Taejun Kang.

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in today’s complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers’ understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

3. A Closer Look at North Korea’s Enrichment Capabilities and What It Means

If only we had continued with the Agreed Framework. (note sarcasm)

A Closer Look at North Korea’s Enrichment Capabilities and What It Means

By: Siegfried S. Hecker and Robert L. Carlin
September 18, 2024

https://www.38north.org/2024/09/a-closer-look-at-north-koreas-enrichment-capabilities-and-what-it-means/

Last Friday, nearly 14 years after the North Koreans surprised our Stanford group by unveiling an ultra-modern centrifuge facility in the Yongbyon nuclear complex, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported a visit by Kim Jong Un to a centrifuge plant, including photos. During our November 2010 visit, we were not allowed to take photos. That makes direct comparisons between what we saw and what KCNA published difficult. But the questions are clear—what did Kim Jong Un want to show, why now, and what difference does it make?

What and Where Is This Centrifuge Facility?

The centrifuge hall shown in the KCNA photos was not the same one we saw in November 2010. The overall building layout looked nearly identical, but the centrifuges and piping were different. The centrifuges appeared to be about the same diameter but possibly somewhat shorter. Their exterior housing (likely a high-strength aluminum alloy) has a gray/white patina, whereas the ones we saw were shiny aluminum. The most significant difference is the current photos show many more small-diameter pipes leading to and from the centrifuges.

The additional piping provides a hint about the new centrifuges. We concur with Heinonen et al. that these likely are cooling coils that lead inside the centrifuge housing to cool the rapidly spinning rotors. In 2010, we were told the centrifuges had maraging steel rotors, which is consistent with the performance characteristics they claimed for their centrifuges.[1] The new centrifuges may be spinning faster because North Korea may have switched to composite material rotors. Separation capacity also depends on rotor length, but the new centrifuges are of similar length. We believe the new centrifuges provide only a modest increased capacity because they are of similar length, and it has been reported that Iran has had great difficulty increasing centrifuge performance with composite rotors.

North Korea could, of course, increase enrichment capacity just by building more centrifuge plants. They apparently did so by 2013 when they added an annex of identical size to the building we visited, likely doubling the original 2,000 centrifuge capacity of 8,000 kg-SWU/year.[2] Based on our visit, we concluded that they had additional centrifuge facilities outside Yongbyon because they could not have built the one we saw without first demonstrating that their centrifuges performed satisfactorily linked in cascades.

The facility we visited in 2010 could have produced either low enriched uranium (LEU) to fuel the new experimental light water reactor (ELWR) under construction or highly enriched uranium (HEU) for bombs. We were told the facility was producing LEU, which was likely correct for that centrifuge hall as well as for the second one at Yongbyon.[3] Some of the LEU was used to make reactor fuel, but some was likely sent to an undeclared facility to stepwise boost the enrichment from approximately four percent Uranium-235 to weapons grade at 90 percent.

In the intervening years North Korea may also have built additional facilities outside Yongbyon dedicated primarily to HEU production. We do not know the location of the facility Kim visited, although it is almost certainly outside Yongbyon. Reports that it is near Pyongyang at Kangson, which may have housed centrifuge facilities in the past, remain in dispute.[4] However, the actual location of the facility is not crucial to the arguments we make here.

All estimates of the North’s enrichment capacity are highly uncertain. We have no independent confirmation of the centrifuge designs or rotor materials. All estimates use our assessment that their original centrifuges used maraging steel rotors with a 4.0 kg SWU/yr separation capacity. If we were wrong and North was not able to produce or acquire maraging steel, but rather had to use aluminum alloys as did Iran at the time, the estimates would be too high by a factor of four. That is one of the reasons we tried to convince successive American administrations that there is great benefit to a deal that allows access to Yongbyon, but to no avail.

Another reason for the high uncertainty is that we do not know how many centrifuge facilities North Korea has (nor where they all are). We have assumed North Korea has similar enrichment capacity outside Yongbyon in undeclared facilities to what is inside the complex. For reference, the total estimated capacity in Yongbyon is approximately 16,000 kg-SWU/yr, which, if dedicated to HEU, could produce about 80 kg/yr. However, some of the enrichment capacity is used for LEU fuel for the experimental light water reactor (ELWR), which appeared to be operational by the end of 2023 (over a decade after construction began). Therefore, we do not know how much of the enrichment capacity was dedicated to HEU for bombs. Moreover, we do not know how North Korea partitions its HEU inventory between tactical nuclear weapons and components of their hydrogen bombs. Given these uncertainties, we believe North Korea already has sufficient HEU for 50 or so tactical nuclear weapons. It could have considerably more, as some analysts have estimated, but it also could be a lot less if our assumptions are incorrect.

Do These Pictures Reveal Anything That Changes the Military Threat?

It does not fundamentally change the threat but is a stark reminder of just how menacing the North’s nuclear arsenal is. In his remarks at the facility, Kim stressed the need to increase the production of “nuclear materials necessary for the manufacture of tactical nuclear weapons.” This facility may increase the production of HEU by around 25 percent, but not exponentially as Kim Jong Un has previously called for.

Producing more HEU bomb fuel is important to bolster the North’s regional deterrent of tactical nuclear weapons, which can reach all of South Korea and much of Japan. However, it does not improve the sophistication or versatility of the North’s nuclear arsenal. We believe that North Korea has dedicated only two of its six nuclear tests (February 2013 and September 2016) to developing tactical nuclear weapons.[5] Without additional nuclear tests, it will be difficult to improve the performance of the warheads and mate them to the apparently great variety of short and medium-range missiles that North Korea has tested that are believed to be nuclear capable. Yet, Kim has previously shown off a room full of small tactical nuclear weapons (mockups, presumably) that are claimed to fit into eight different delivery platforms.[6]

More HEU also does little to enhance the North’s strategic nuclear arsenal, which we believe is based on plutonium and tritium. North Korea has produced rather modest amounts of plutonium and tritium in its 5 MWe Gas-graphite Reactor in Yongbyon over the years.[7] Production of plutonium and tritium may now be augmented by the operation of the ELWR. Enhancing the strategic nuclear arsenal will require more plutonium, more tritium, more missile testing (especially to gather reentry data), and more nuclear testing. All pose technical and political risks. One concern we have is that the new partnership with Russia may offer North Korea shortcuts in one or all of these.

What Does This All Mean?

The importance of the report on Kim’s appearance at the enrichment facility comes from the context in which it occurred. Since the end of August, Pyongyang has been ramping up attention to its defense sector and especially to Kim Jong Un’s focus on nuclear weapons. This has been a two-pronged effort, aimed at preparing the population for an uptick in tensions while signaling to Washington that Kim’s nuclear capacity, already strong, is getting stronger. Kim’s visit to the enrichment plant appears to be part of that effort.

With all of this as the overture, Kim has signaled a significant move to be made at the upcoming October 7 Supreme People’s Assembly meeting to declare new national borders. That will almost certainly increase tensions on the peninsula, especially in the West Sea.

Kim has several times in the past emphasized the ability to launch an overwhelming attack, including the use of tactical nuclear weapons, on key military and civilian infrastructure in the South. By showing the enrichment facility, he has signaled an increased ability to produce uranium warheads for use on the peninsula and, to a lesser extent, against Japan. With plutonium and tritium production for strategic weapons still limited, it’s unlikely he intends to use nuclear weapons against the continental United States from the start. But he may want to have enough capacity regionally with tactical nuclear weapons—and wants the US to think he has more than enough—to keep the US out of the fight, something he no doubt knows his grandfather failed to do in June 1950.

By drawing the attention of the domestic audience to military issues and by underlining his involvement in them, Kim appears to be moving into a dangerous new phase, signaling to the population that despite the regime’s focus on economic policy in recent months, there is a need to continue preparing for potential confrontation.

Robert L. Carlin is a nonresident scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a former chief of the Northeast Asia Division in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department, where he took part in US-North Korean negotiations.

Siegfried S. Hecker is a professor of practice at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, a professor of practice at Texas A&M University, and a former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and professor emeritus of Stanford University.

[1]
Performance of centrifuges is measured in kilogram-separative work units per year (kg-SWU/year). High-strength aluminum rotors such as those used in first-generation Iranian centrifuges are typically 1.0 or less. The North Korean engineer claimed four kg-SWU/year, much more capable than what Iran had at that time.
[2]
We estimated at the time that this capacity could produce up to two tonnes of LEU (low enriched uranium for reactor fuel comprising half a reactor load) or up to 40 kg highly enriched uranium (HEU), enough for nearly two nuclear weapons.
[3]
At the time, it was still possible that North Korea would allow inspectors back into Yongbyon. It would have been to their advantage to be able to demonstrate that the facility was dedicated to peaceful nuclear energy.
[4]
Ankit Panda claimed Kangson housed a centrifuge facility. David Albright was not convinced. Jeffrey Lewis claims that the new facility is at Kangson. Peter Makowsky et al. say it is not.
[5]
Siegfried S. Hecker with Elliot A. Serbin, Hinge Points: An Inside Look at North Korea’s Nuclear Program, (California: Stanford University Press, January 10, 2022).
[6]
Figure 1 in Hans M. Kristensen, Matt Korda, Eliana Johns and Mackenzie Knight, “North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 15, 2024, https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-07/north-korean-nuclear-weapons-2024/.
[7]
We have tracked plutonium production over the years and estimated tritium production as reported in Hinge Points: An Inside Look at North Korea’s Nuclear Program. We estimate the current inventory of plutonium at approximately 60 kg with sufficient tritium for only a few hydrogen bombs.

4. North Korea blames US for waging a ‘new Cold War’ in Asia with military alliances

Since the division of the peninsula in 1945 it is the north that has sustained a hostile policy toward the South and the US.

north Korea as part of the "Dark Quad" has tried to improve relationships as have all four members, due to fear, weakness, desperation, and envy. They fear the silk web of alliances, partnerships, and security and economic arrangements through Asia and around the world. They are weak due to the internet contradictions of their political systems and they are vulnerable to their own people. They are desperate for support in the face of the alliances of the free world. And at the same time they envy all those alliances because they will never be able to benefit from such relationships due to the nature of their regimes.

I would have liked to have seen the regime's reaction if our Quad (the Good Quad) had recognized and stated that the path to denuclearization is through unification and the establishment of a free and unified Korea.

North Korea blames US for waging a ‘new Cold War’ in Asia with military alliances

The comment came after Quad leaders reaffirmed a goal of the ‘complete’ denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-us-quad-09222024231316.html

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2024.09.22

Taipei, Taiwan

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees a test-fire for a new 600mm multiple rocket launcher at an undisclosed location in North Korea, in this photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, Sept. 13, 2024.

KCNA via Reuters

The United States is “fuelling confrontation” in Asia by regularizing its military behavior with South Korea, Japan, Australia, and others to create a giant military alliance, North Korea’s state media said on Monday.

Citing the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad, and the AUKUS security pact between Australia the United Kingdom and U.S., the Rodong Sinmun newspaper said that the “aggressive Indo-Pacific strategy” of the U.S. had led to tensions in the region and grave threats to peace and security.

“Although the U.S. wraps its Indo-Pacific strategy in the guise of ‘building a free and open Indo-Pacific region’ and ‘promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the world,’ it is actually trying to force its own side and mobilize its followers to surround and subdue Russia, China, and other countries to secure its hegemony,” the newspaper said.

“The U.S. military hegemony has led to the realization of a new Cold War in the Asia-Pacific region, and the atmosphere of war is hovering,” it added.

North Korea’s comments came after 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.

U.S. President Joe Biden (second from right), Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right), Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (second from left) take part in a Quad leaders summit family photo in Claymont, Delaware, U.S., Sept. 21, 2024. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a joint statement after the four countries’ fourth in-person Quad summit in Wilmington, Delaware.

“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. These launches pose a grave threat to international peace and stability,” the leaders said in a statement they called “the Wilmington Declaration.”

russia Pushed Out of Defense Market: Korea Sells KM-SAM II Air Defense System to Iraq for $2.8 Billion | Defense Express

en.defence-ua.com

The Korean company LIG Nex1 received a new foreign order for the medium-range KM-SAM II air defense missile system (also known as Cheongung-II) with anti-missile defense capabilities. Iraq became the new customer, signing a firm contract worth $2.78 billion on September 20.

With this funding, Baghdad will receive 8 batteries, making the cost of each battery $347.5 million. However, the timelines for contract execution and the configuration of the batteries have not been disclosed. Changes to the missile system itself may be indicated by the fact that it will be supplied under a separate index, IQ-MSAM.

It is worth noting that the battery consists of one command post, one radar system, referred to only as AESA MFR (Active Electronically Scanned Array Multifunction Radar), and 4-6 launchers, each carrying 8 missiles. The capabilities of the KM-SAM II allow it to intercept aerial targets at ranges of up to 50 km and ballistic missiles through kinetic interception (hit-to-kill technology) without revealing its range.

It is important to note that Iraq considered purchasing russian S-400 systems in 2019-2020. In 2014, Iraq ordered 48 Pantsir air defense systems for $2.3 billion, of which russia had delivered about half by 2022, while using other export models to fill gaps in its air defense capabilities.

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the KM-SAM was developed with russian involvement. The development of this Korean air defense system, which took place from 2001 to 2011, included contributions from Almaz-Antey and Fakel, which created the first version of the missile based on the 9M96 for the S-400. However, the Koreans replaced this missile and are now exporting the system to other countries that russia previously considered primary customers.

Considering the preferences of many Arab countries to diversify their arms suppliers, Korean weapons present a very interesting alternative to russian systems. Moreover, for any foreign customer, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust the analogues of russian air defense systems with each new strategic facility destroyed in russia, such as the GRAU arsenal.

en.defence-ua.com

6. Korean political circles criticize former officials' 'two-nation theory' every day

Any Korean who does not support a free and unified Korea is supporting Kim Jong Un's political warfare strategy either directly as a sympathizer or indirectly as a useful idiot.

And any non-Korean who would stand in the way of a free and unified Korea is not supporting peace and stability in Northeast Asia despite the belief that making concessions and providing security guarantees to the mafia like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime that seeks to dominate the Korean peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State would bring peace.

Korean political circles criticize former officials' 'two-nation theory' every day

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/two_countries-09232024091626.html

Seoul-Hando hando@rfa.org

2024.09.23

Lim Jong-seok, chairman of the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit Preparatory Committee, speaks at the '9/19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration 6th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony' held at the multipurpose hall of the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju on the 19th.

/Yonhap News

00:00 / 03:08

Anchor : The Korean political world has been criticizing former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok's proposal for a " two-state relationship between the South and the North . " Reporter Han Do-hyung reports from Seoul .

Lim Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President under the Moon Jae-in administration, said in a keynote speech at the 6th Anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration held in Gwangju on the 19th, “ Let’s put down the obsession that the South and the North must unify and accept the two countries . ”

Last December , North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong- un defined inter-Korean relations as a " two-state hostile relationship " for the first time , and the proposal for a " two-state " relationship between the South and the North has also been made by a former South Korean government official .

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party , the ruling party in South Korea , pointed out at a Supreme Council meeting on the 23rd that “ former Chief of Staff Lim’s remarks are the same as what North Korean General Secretary Kim Jong-un suggested ,” and emphasized that “ unification is not an emotional slogan, but a necessity and a goal . ”

Han Dong-hoon , People Power Party representative : When North Korea collapses , please ask the people if they can hand over the North Korean territory to China and Russia . Protecting our territory and constitution is not a slogan, but a duty, a reality, and a command from the people .

Kim Min-seok, the supreme member of the Democratic Party of Korea, the main opposition party in Korea, also criticized on his social network service (SNS) on the 22nd , “ There is no reason to provocatively change the historical consensus of leaving the unification issue to future generations after long-term peaceful coexistence and jump to the ‘ two-state theory . ’ ”

Tae Young-ho, secretary-general of the Advisory Council for Democratic and Peaceful Unification and a former North Korean minister to the UK, said in a commentary on the 22nd that “the ‘ two-state theory ’ argument has poured cold water on the dreams of our compatriots in North Korea who believe that unification will occur someday, and has also dashed the hopes of the 34,000 North Korean defectors who have not given up on returning to their hometown when unification is achieved . ”

Along with this, Ahn Cheol- soo , a member of the People Power Party , criticized former Chief of Staff Lim's remarks on the 22nd through his social network service, saying, " It is calling for us to submit to North Korea, an abnormal state, under the pretext of peace ," and " The person who would welcome such a claim the most is North Korea's General Secretary Kim Jong- un . "

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Chung Dong-young, who served as Minister of Unification under the Roh Moo- hyun administration, pointed out in a debate on the 20th at the 6th Anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration that the “ two-nation theory ” between the South and the North is a violation of Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution .

Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea stipulates that the territory of the Republic of Korea consists of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands, and Article 4 states that the Republic of Korea seeks unification . These are the words of Representative Chung Dong - young of the Democratic Party of Korea .

Rep. Jeong Dong - young of the Democratic Party of Korea ( former Minister of Unification ): This is a violation of the Constitution . It is a violation of the spirit of the Constitution that stipulates the mission of peaceful unification of the country, and I would like to first say that there is no reason to change this .

“ 78% of Koreans Say ‘ Unification Is Necessary ’ ... Highest Since 2018 ”

Yoon Young-kwan : “ Korea must strengthen its internal capacity to accept unification ”

[ Lankov ] What impact did North Korea's ' two-state theory ' have on Korean society?

In addition, an official from the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea also met with reporters on the 19th (local time in the Czech Republic) and pointed out that “ pursuing unification based on liberal democracy is a command and duty of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea , and if there is no such will, it is an unconstitutional idea . ”

Meanwhile, on the 16th, North Korea's state-run media, Korean Central News Agency, announced that the Supreme People's Assembly will be held in Pyongyang on the 7th of next month to discuss amendments to the Socialist Constitution .

In January , North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un ordered that any expression related to unification be deleted from the Socialist Constitution and that South Korea be designated as the " number one hostile state . " It is expected that this will be reflected in the Socialist Constitution at the Supreme People's Assembly next month .

This is Han Do-hyung from RFA Free Asia Broadcasting in Seoul .

Editor Yang Seong-won, Web Editor Kim Sang-il

7. “Kim Jong-un justifies nuclear development by putting forward Kim Ju-ae”

It is hard to interpret KJU's rationale here. But this indicates the severe internal problems Kim likely faces because of his failed promises. And I doubt the focus on Kim Ju Ae is going to bring relief to those problems.

We must be watching for the indicators of internal instability.

Excerpts:

Kim Byung-yeon, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University : It seems that he wanted to say the following by bringing in Kim Ju-ae : ' The reason I developed nuclear weapons after going through all kinds of hardships was to protect our sons and daughters . I couldn't keep my promise not to tighten our belts any more , but I completed nuclear weapons, which no one else has been able to do .'

The explanation is that the reason Kim Ju-ae was put at the forefront is because “ General Secretary Kim himself was in an urgent situation , ” and the so-called “ Kim Ju-ae successor theory ” would be next in line .

“Kim Jong-un justifies nuclear development by putting forward Kim Ju-ae”

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/nuclear_development-09232024091233.html

Seoul-Hong Seung-wook hongs@rfa.org

2024.09.23

Professor Kim Byeong-yeon of Seoul National University (center) speaking at a policy discussion held by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and the Foreign Correspondents' Club on the 23rd.

/RFA PHOTO

00:00 /03:10

Anchor : With the North Korean economy taking a hit due to sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic , there is analysis in South Korea that General Secretary Kim Jong-un is trying to justify this by highlighting his nuclear development achievements . The explanation is that putting Kim Ju-ae at the forefront is part of that effort . Reporter Hong Seung-wook reports from Seoul .

A policy discussion meeting held by the Korea National Diplomatic Academy for foreign press in Seoul on the 23rd .

Kim Byeong-yeon, a professor emeritus at Seoul National University, diagnosed at the event that despite sanctions on North Korea, North Korea is continuing to develop nuclear weapons, but that the international community's sanctions have actually had a major impact on the North Korean economy .

The explanation is that if there were no sanctions against North Korea, it would have been difficult for the international community to find other peaceful means to stop or slow down North Korea's nuclear development.

Kim Byung-yeon, Professor Emeritus, Seoul National University : The Singapore and Hanoi summits may not have taken place . Even if they had, North Korea would have had the upper hand in negotiations . If there had been no sanctions against North Korea, the so-called “ bloody nose operation ” might have been carried out in 2017 .

Professor Kim analyzed that the tangible and intangible costs of nuclear development are increasing as the North Korean economy is being shocked by the COVID-19 situation combined with sanctions against the North.

Meanwhile, it diagnosed that General Secretary Kim is trying to maintain power through stronger control, but is losing support from North Korean citizens and officials.

If we try to restore the socialist economy in a situation where the distribution system has collapsed and the North Korean economy is effectively dependent on the market, not only the residents but also mid-level officials and those in power may join in the resistance .

There is also analysis that General Secretary Kim, aware of the growing internal discontent due to economic difficulties, is trying to justify his own achievements, such as nuclear development, by putting forward his daughter Kim Ju-ae.

Kim Byung-yeon, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University : It seems that he wanted to say the following by bringing in Kim Ju-ae : ' The reason I developed nuclear weapons after going through all kinds of hardships was to protect our sons and daughters . I couldn't keep my promise not to tighten our belts any more , but I completed nuclear weapons, which no one else has been able to do .'

The explanation is that the reason Kim Ju-ae was put at the forefront is because “ General Secretary Kim himself was in an urgent situation , ” and the so-called “ Kim Ju-ae successor theory ” would be next in line .

Earlier, the South Korean National Intelligence Service said in the National Assembly in July that North Korea was “ hinting at Kim Ju-ae as a strong successor and conducting related classes ,” and cited the use of the expression “ guidance ,” which is only used for successors or leaders, as one of the reasons for its claim .

National Intelligence Service : “ Kim Jong- un is 140kg , extremely obese ... Kim Joo-ae is giving lessons to her successor ”

North Korean diplomat defects to South Korea from Cuba last year ... “ North Korean people want unification ”

Professor Kim diagnosed that North Korea is expecting a so-called ' geopolitical opportunity ' by becoming close to Russia and obtaining economic, diplomatic , and military support .

He continued, “ Right now, the wind is blowing in North Korea, but the problem is when the wind changes direction , ” and predicted that this would lead to internal chaos and ultimately make it difficult for Kim Ju-ae to succeed to the throne .

He added, “ The next three to five years will be a period of volatility on the Korean Peninsula, ” and suggested , “ The Korean government must make efforts to reduce volatility while also making efforts to prepare for it . ”

This is Hong Seung-wook of RFA's Radio Free Asia in Seoul .

Editor Yang Seong-won, Web Editor Kim Sang-il

8. North Korean workers dispatched to China demand wage increase due to 'loyalty fund pressure'

It must be hard to get blood from a stone. But no one works harder at that than Kim Jong Un.

North Korean workers dispatched to China demand wage increase due to 'loyalty fund pressure'

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/food_international_org/salary_raise-09232024085623.html

Seoul-Son Hye-min xallsl@rfa.org

2024.09.23

North Korean workers make soccer shoes in a makeshift factory in a rural village on the outskirts of Dandong.

/REUTERS

00:00 /02:54

Anchor : It has been reported that North Korean authorities have recently demanded a pay raise for their workers working at Chinese companies . Reporter Son Hye-min reports .

In the Liaoning Province, including Dandong and Donggang, China, there are workers dispatched from North Korea working for Chinese companies. Most of them earn a monthly salary of 2,000 to 3,000 yuan (US$283 to 425 ) , but North Korea recently requested that China raise the salary to 3,000 to 4,000 yuan (US$ 425 to 567 ) .

A Chinese source on North Korea ( who requested anonymity for personal safety reasons ) told Radio Free Asia on the 22nd , “The monthly wages of North Korean workers at the Dandong Umbrella Factory have been raised to 4,000 won . ”

The source said , "Starting this month, if ( North Korean workers' ) wages are not increased, ( North Korea ) notified that they would move them to other factories, which caused friction, but ( China ) agreed to a wage increase a few days ago . "

The Chinese-run Dandong Umbrella Factory employs around 200 North Korean workers , including around 100 young women who were dispatched this month and young women and men who were dispatched before the coronavirus outbreak .

He added , “The umbrella factory’s products are exported to Eastern Europe,” and “The owner has raised the wages of North Korean workers to meet the export delivery deadline . ”

“Are We Working Machines?” North Korean Workers in China Protest

First 'North Korean Workers' Dispatched to China Since Corona

In relation to this, a source stationed in Dongjiang, China (who requested anonymity for personal safety reasons ) also revealed, “Since last month, North Korean companies dispatched to China have been asking Chinese employers to raise the wages of their workers as the loyalty fund plan has been increased .”

The exact amount of loyalty funds raised by North Korean companies in China has not been confirmed.

“There are dozens of seafood processing companies in the Donggang area where North Korean women work,” he said. “Their monthly wages used to be 2,300 to 2,500 yuan ( US $325 to $354 ), but they are asking for it to be raised to 3,500 yuan ( US $ 496 ) starting this month . ”

North Korean workers at a garment factory in Hunchun, China, return to their accommodation after shopping in the city. /AP

“Chinese bosses are at odds with North Korean officials over this , saying they can give each worker a raise of 200 yuan ( US $ 28 ) , but not a 1,000 yuan raise all at once,” the source said .

“Some companies said that hiring Chinese workers is more expensive than North Korean labor and they are quitting the company often, so it is better to hire North Korean women . They decided to raise the wage to 3,500 yuan per person starting next month,” he explained .

The Chinese-run seafood processing companies employ about 50 to 200 North Korean women , depending on their size . Their salaries are usually paid in a lump sum by the Chinese company president to the account of the executive in charge of North Korea's efforts . The North Korean executive then pays the individual worker a monthly salary ( about 1/4 of the Chinese salary ), excluding loyalty funds for the authorities and the worker's living expenses .

The source added , “The reason North Korean authorities are demanding a raise in wages for their own workers is because there are many Chinese companies that want to hire North Korean workers, but there is a shortage of local workers . ”

Meanwhile, North Korea's foreign currency earners who were dispatched to China in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2397 on sanctions against North Korea began returning to North Korea in late December 2019 , but the return was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation . Starting early this year, the return began again, and new workers are being dispatched .

Sources reported that there are currently about 30,000 North Korean workers residing in China's Liaoning Province, including Dandong .

According to a report by the UN North Korea Sanctions Expert Group published early this year, approximately 100,000 North Korean workers are still being mobilized to earn foreign currency in about 40 countries, including China and Russia .

This is Son Hye-min of RFA's Free Asia Broadcasting in Seoul .

Editor Yang Seong-won, Web Editor Kim Sang-il

9. S. Korean military vows 'stern' measures should N. Korea cross the line with balloon campaign

I hope the "stern measures" include implementation of an aggressive sophisticated information campaign targeting the elite, the second tier leadership, the military, and the people. Let's put pressure on Kim where it really hurts: information.

(LEAD) S. Korean military vows 'stern' measures should N. Korea cross the line with balloon campaign | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · September 23, 2024

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 7-8, 11, photo)

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military on Monday vowed to take "stern" military measures should North Korea "cross the line" with its ongoing trash balloon campaign or inflict serious damage to the South Korean people.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) made the remark in a statement in response to the North's repeated launch of trash-carrying balloons across the border, including those attached with timer devices that could potentially cause fires.

Since late May, the North has launched some 5,500 balloons carrying trash on over 22 occasions in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea.

The North floated some 120 balloons from Sunday evening to Monday morning in its latest launch. No additional balloons were spotted midair, the JCS said in a notice sent to reporters at 9:14 a.m.

"While there may be inconveniences and difficulties caused by North Korea's trash balloons, our fundamental measure to eradicate them is to show that 'there is nothing to gain for the enemy,'" the JCS said in the statement.

"Still, if serious danger is caused to the safety of our citizens or if the North is assessed to have crossed the line, our military will take stern military measures," it added.

Trash balloons floated by North Korea are spotted in skies above Seoul on Sept. 23, 2024. (Yonhap)

JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun declined to elaborate when asked what such a threshold would be.

"It is a message issued given that North Korea's gray zone provocations are extending into the long term, and causing inconvenience and anxiety among the public," Lee told a regular press briefing, adding "corresponding measures" could be taken should North Korea's trash balloons cause damage.

The military, which has refrained from directly shooting down the balloons, ruled out views calling for such action, saying that they could lead to bigger issues for the public's safety.

The JCS condemned the North's balloon campaign as not only a "globally embarrassing" act but as a "vulgar" action aimed at stirring up conflict within the South.

A JCS official also noted how the North is spending its scarce resources on the campaign rather than feeding its people, saying the balloon campaign has likely cost 550 million won (US$411,500) so far, which is enough to buy around 970 tons of rice.

In response to the balloon launches, the South's military has been blasting daily anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers on the border since July 21.

Military personnel inspect a trash-carrying balloon floated by North Korea that landed in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Sept. 23, 2024. (Yonhap)

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · September 23, 2024

10. Nat'l security adviser does not rule out N.K. nuclear test around U.S. election

And the "so what" is...? How would such a test influence the US election?

(LEAD) Nat'l security adviser does not rule out N.K. nuclear test around U.S. election | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 23, 2024

(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks by Shin)

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik said Monday that North Korea remains ready to carry out its seventh nuclear test at any time and that includes around the U.S. presidential election in November.

Shin made the remark during an interview with Yonhap News TV when asked about the possibility of a seventh nuclear test by the North.

"The question of when will be decided according to North Korea's strategic advantages and disadvantages, and I assess that time includes before and after the U.S. presidential election," he said.

National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik (L) and Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo walk toward the presidential plane at Seoul Air Base, just south of Seoul, on Sept. 19, 2024. (Yonhap)

Shin said South Korea and the United States are closely monitoring the possibility of a North Korean nuclear test and have made the issue a top priority.

He also said North Korea's first public disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility earlier this month appears aimed at "attracting domestic and foreign attention by highlighting North Korea's nuclear threat ahead of the U.S. presidential election."

Meanwhile, the national security adviser expressed disagreement with a recent suggestion by former presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok that South Korea and North Korea "live as they are" without pursuing reunification.

"I think it's extremely regrettable and dangerous that certain political figures are abruptly sympathizing with North Korea's claims and making anti-constitutional claims," Shin said.

hague@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 23, 2024

11. Army to mobilize tanks, howitzers for joint drills in Qatar next month

Army to mobilize tanks, howitzers for joint drills in Qatar next month | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · September 23, 2024

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will mobilize K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers to take part in combined drills in Qatar next month, marking the Army's first overseas exercise of its kind, officials said Monday.

A contingent of some 100 soldiers, four K2 Black Panther tanks and four K9A1 Thunder howitzers will participate in the two-week drills set to begin on Oct. 14 at the Al Qalayel training center, according to the Army.

The two countries plan to stage live-fire and maneuver drills, and train on sustainment procedures, such as equipment maintenance, taking into account Qatar's dry and high-temperature environment, the Army said.

The troops and equipment will travel to Qatar aboard the ROKS Nojeokbong landing ship, which is also set to hold combined drills with the Qatari military in waters near Doha for the first time.

The Army said it plans to promote South Korean military equipment during the exercise period by demonstrating the capabilities of the K2 and the K9A1.

The exercise will take place after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the defense sector when former Defense Minister Shin Won-sik visited Qatar in February.

This file photo, taken Aug. 20, 2024, shows South Korean K9A1 self-propelled howitzers firing live rounds during drills in Cheorwon County, 75 kilometers northeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · September 23, 2024

12. Korea's autonomous ship sails to Southeast Asia for test

Korea's autonomous ship sails to Southeast Asia for test

The Korea Times · September 23, 2024

PAN Ocean's POS Singapore sails in this undated handout photo. The vessel, equipped with maritime autonomous navigation system, started testing in the waters of Korea and Southeast Asia, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

By Ko Dong-hwan

The Korean government began testing of an autonomous ship in the waters of Korea and Southeast Asia, kicking off its bid to nurture the autonomous ship industry as a new economic driver.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, it held a sail-away ceremony for the POS Singapore at Busan Port on Monday.

The vessel is part of the Korea Autonomous Surface Ship (KASS) project, a 160 billion won ($120 million) endeavor initiated by the transport industry and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to develop an autonomous sailing system.

The 1,800 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) POS Singapore will operate on the Korea-Southeast Asia route for one year, testing its key functions such as intelligent navigation, engine automation and cybersecurity.

The POS Singapore was provided by Korean shipping firm PAN Ocean. The transport ministry said the company has been part of the project since designing the blueprint for the autonomous system for KASS.

The government plans to use the data and results from the test in securing Korea's leadership in the International Maritime Organization's discussions for a standard for maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) code.

"Autonomous ships will be developed in a way that maximizes safety and minimizes carbon emissions," Lee Seung-yeol, chief of the transport ministry's industrial policy office, said during the ceremony. "It will create significant opportunities for the shipbuilding and marine equipment industries, and the government will continue its cooperation to support the development and demonstration of cutting-edge technologies."

Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Myeong-dal also noted that "the government hopes KASS to prove its safety and feasibility to the world and serve a pivotal role in leading the future maritime mobility market."

The Korea Times · September 23, 2024

13.Nature's bounty or state property? N. Korea's war on unauthorized foraging

So much to consider here. But most importantly we must understand that the situation inside north KOrea could be very duire for the people and the regime. Perhaps much more dire than we are seeing.

Nature's bounty or state property? N. Korea's war on unauthorized foraging - Daily NK English

"The Ministry of Social Security considers these illegal acts to be contrary to the state's policy of turning all the country's mountains into rich havens of national resources," a source told The Daily NK

By Jeong Tae Joo - September 23, 2024

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · September 23, 2024

FILE PHOTO: A woman in Wonsan, Kangwon province, rides her bike past propaganda signs promoting the protection of forests. (The Daily NK)

North Korea has recently seen an increase in illegal hunting and foraging, as well as smuggling game and herbs out of the country or selling them on the black market. This has prompted North Korean authorities to warn that such activities will be strictly monitored and prosecuted.

“On Sept. 6, the Ministry of Social Security sent orders to all provincial police bureaus to crack down on illegal hunting and foraging and the illegal export and sale of wildlife and herbs. These orders were then distributed to North Koreans through various organizations, businesses, local government offices and neighborhood watch units throughout the province,” a source in North Korea’s Kangwon province told The Daily NK on Sept. 14.

The Ministry of Social Security informed the Central Committee about a sharp rise in incidents of illegal hunting and foraging and the illegal export and sale of wildlife and herbs this fall based on reports from provincial police bureaus, and received the Central Committee’s approval to issue the orders to crack down on the practices, the source said.

“While illegal hunting and foraging always increase in the fall, this year there has been a marked increase in people looking for herbs and fruits to smuggle into China. Employees of companies tasked with earning foreign exchange for government construction projects, as well as private citizens whose livelihoods have been destroyed by severe flooding, have taken to the forests,” the source said.

According to the source, the Ministry of Social Security made it clear in the orders that it will crack down on illegal hunting of wild animals and foraging for wild berries, herbs and seeds, and will severely punish anyone caught doing such things.

“The Ministry of Social Security considers these illegal acts to be contrary to the state’s policy of turning all the country’s mountains into rich havens of national resources. The ministry intends to protect the state’s resources by severely punishing those who make illegal use of forest resources and will continue to monitor and punish such violations in the future,” the source said.

To underscore the importance of these orders, Kangwon province’s police bureau told a story about employees of a store in Wonsan who were under investigation after being caught setting traps for wild animals. The shopkeepers, who had obtained a permit from the Land Management Bureau of the province’s people’s committee to collect a plant called Epidemium koreanum, had also been unsuccessfully searching for other herbs, berries and seeds not covered by the permit.

The provincial police bureau is trying to intimidate citizens by warning that the Ministry of Social Security intends to severely punish illegal hunting and foraging, as well as the illegal export and sale of items gathered from the forest, and will severely punish any individuals or organizations that condone or collude in such efforts.

“Considering that local party committees and government organizations are openly using state resources to earn foreign exchange, it’s obvious that punishment is reserved for those who sneak into the mountains because they are struggling to make a living. Once again, only the underprivileged are being made to suffer,” the source said bitterly.

The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · September 23, 2024

14.

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

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

If you do not read anything else in the 2017 National Security Strategy read this on page 14:

"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."

Access NSS HERE

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