|
Quotes of the Day:
“There will come a time when the rich will own all the media, and it will be impossible for the public to make an informed opinion.”
- Albert Einstein (about 1949)
“We are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is Day who pull the wires which control the public mind.”
- Edward Bernays.
“The ordaining of laws, in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, it's certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to an hour to enjoy”
- Benjamin Franklin
1. N. Korea will pay a price if it provides weapons to Russia: NSA Sullivan
2. Yoon urges immediate halt to attempts to seek military cooperation with N. Korea
3. Putin is developing a sinister new plan for victory (and the relationship with north Korea)
4. Putin’s North Korean Rendezvous (WSJ Editorial)
5. Kim Jong Un-Putin meeting imminent
6. Major arms deal between Kim and Putin 'very likely,' experts say
7. Ex-N. Korean diplomat named special adviser to Seoul's unification minister
8. Yoon sharpens anti-communist rhetoric to appeal to conservatives
9. Air Koryo flights appear halted after brief resumption
10. Yoon calls for unified action against NK threats at summit with Chinese presence
11. Under one flag, UN Command's mission to defend S. Korea continues
12. S. Korean defense firms to take center stage at armaments exhibition in Poland
13. Yoon calls for int'l unity for N. Korea's denuclearization
1. N. Korea will pay a price if it provides weapons to Russia: NSA Sullivan
What price will they pay? Is anyone willing to begin the dialogue to determine how to remove a P5 member of the UN Security Council for violating UN sanctions and being a malign actor acting in the most blatant contravention to the UN Charter?
(3rd LD) N. Korea will pay a price if it provides weapons to Russia: NSA Sullivan | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Duk-Kun Byun · September 6, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from state, defense department officials in last 6 paras)
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (Yonhap) -- The top U.S. national security adviser urged North Korea not to provide any lethal weapons to Russia on Tuesday, saying it will pay a price if it decides to do so.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there were no indications that the North has provided large amounts of weapons to Russia but that negotiations toward that end between the two countries are "actively advancing."
"Providing weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield to attack grain silos and the heating infrastructure of major cities as we head into winter, to try to conquer territory that belongs to another sovereign nation is not going to reflect well on North Korea and they will pay a price for this in the international community," Sullivan told a press briefing at the White House.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is seen speaking during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on Sept. 5, 2023 in this captured image. (Yonhap)
Earlier news reports stated that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be considering taking a trip to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss a possible arms deal between the two countries.
Sullivan partly confirmed the report, saying the reclusive North Korean leader has expectations for high-level, including leader-level, engagement with Russia.
"Most recently, we saw the defense minister of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, to make a trip to Pyongyang in essence to ask for weapons. And we also have information as we have indicated publicly that North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has some expectation that those discussions will continue as we go forward, including leader-level discussions, perhaps even in person, leader-level discussions," he told the press briefing.
The Russian defense minister traveled to the North Korean capital in late July to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, celebrated in North Korea as Victory Day.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a military parade at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang on the night of July 27, 2023, to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War, in this photo released the next day by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Shoigu said earlier that he has proposed holding a tripartite joint military exercise with North Korea and China during his trip to North Korea.
Sullivan said the U.S. has yet to see large amounts of munitions or other military capacity being supplied to Russia by North Korea, but that negotiations to that end are actively advancing.
"I can only say that the discussions have been actively advancing and the Russians have imbued them with an increased intensity, as reflected in the fact that their defense minister, their number one guy in their defense establishment, actually got on a plane and flew to Pyongyang to try to push this forward," said Sullivan.
He underscored the fact that Pyongyang has publicly committed not to provide any weapons to Russia.
"We will continue to call it out and we will continue to call on North Korea to abide by its public commitments not to supply weapons to Russia that will end up killing Ukrainians," the national security advisor said.
"We will continue to look for opportunities to dissuade the North Koreans from taking the step," he added.
A state department spokesperson reaffirmed that the U.S. will take action against any country that supports Russia's war in Ukraine.
"We have been incredibly clear about the potential consequences of any country taking action to support Russia further its illegal and unjust war of aggression in Ukraine and you have seen us take action in a number of these instances," Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the state department, told a daily press briefing.
"I am not going to preview actions from up here but, of course, we will calibrate appropriately with our allies and partners, including those in the region, and take appropriate steps as necessary," he added.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stressed that an arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow would violate a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
"Such a sale would violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and it would prolong the unnecessary suffering of Ukrainian civilians who are impacted by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine," he told a daily press briefing at the defense department.
"So again, from a U.S. government standpoint, we would call on North Korea to refrain from selling ammunition and arms to Russia, which would unnecessarily prolong this conflict," added Ryder.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Duk-Kun Byun · September 6, 2023
2. Yoon urges immediate halt to attempts to seek military cooperation with N. Korea
Excerpts:
Yoon urged ASEAN to actively participate in efforts to block North Korea's key sources of funding for its nuclear and missile development, such as cryptocurrency stealing and labor exports, and stressed the need for all United Nations member states to abide by U.N. Security Council sanctions on the North, including a ban on illegal arms trade, his office said.
Yoon "emphasized the need for a firm and united response from the international community in order to achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization in light of the severity of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," the office said.
He also "stressed that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region, and a direct challenge to the international nonproliferation regime."
North Korea has been suspected of providing weapons to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, South Korea's National Intelligence Service was quoted as saying earlier that Russia's defense minister proposed holding trilateral naval exercises with the North and China during a visit to Pyongyang in July.
(2nd LD) Yoon urges immediate halt to attempts to seek military cooperation with N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 6, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more details; ADDS photo)
By Lee Haye-ah
JAKARTA, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday urged an immediate halt to any attempts to seek military cooperation with North Korea, amid reports Russia and the North are eyeing arms and defense technology trade.
Yoon made the remark during a summit with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, after The New York Times reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may travel to Vladivostok in Russia next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss a possible arms deal.
"Attempts at military cooperation with North Korea, which damage peace in the international community, should be stopped immediately," the presidential office quoted Yoon as saying.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (front) speaks during a South Korea-ASEAN summit at the Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Center in the Indonesian capital on Sept. 6, 2023. (Yonhap)
Yoon urged ASEAN to actively participate in efforts to block North Korea's key sources of funding for its nuclear and missile development, such as cryptocurrency stealing and labor exports, and stressed the need for all United Nations member states to abide by U.N. Security Council sanctions on the North, including a ban on illegal arms trade, his office said.
Yoon "emphasized the need for a firm and united response from the international community in order to achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization in light of the severity of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," the office said.
He also "stressed that North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region, and a direct challenge to the international nonproliferation regime."
North Korea has been suspected of providing weapons to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, South Korea's National Intelligence Service was quoted as saying earlier that Russia's defense minister proposed holding trilateral naval exercises with the North and China during a visit to Pyongyang in July.
Yoon arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday to attend a series of annual summits involving ASEAN, which comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Of the 10 nations, Myanmar did not participate in the South Korea-ASEAN summit, but East Timor was in attendance as an observer.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (5th from L) joins a group photo session during a summit with the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta on Sept. 6, 2023. (Yonhap)
During the summit, Yoon shared his administration's plans to flesh out the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, a vision he unveiled during last year's ASEAN-related summits in Cambodia to enhance practical and strategic partnerships with the region.
In the security realm, Yoon said South Korea will increase arms cooperation and defense consultations with ASEAN states while strengthening cooperation in cyber security, transnational crimes and maritime security.
In particular, he emphasized that peace and stability in the South China Sea are critical for the prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and vowed to support ASEAN states' maritime law enforcement capabilities while expanding cooperation for joint exercises with ASEAN, his office said.
Yoon also outlined plans to enhance the digital capabilities of ASEAN youths, contribute to the sustainable development of four countries along the Mekong River -- Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam -- and help ASEAN respond to climate change and infectious diseases.
He referred to new cooperation mechanisms established during his trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Camp David presidential retreat near Washington last month.
"South Korea, the U.S. and Japan agreed to coordinate our respective Indo-Pacific strategies and develop new areas of cooperation based on our full support for the ASEAN-led regional architecture," he said. "For this, we launched an annual South Korea-U.S.-Japan Indo-Pacific dialogue and newly established a trilateral maritime security cooperation framework to support the maritime security capacities of ASEAN and Pacific Island countries."
Yoon asked for ASEAN's support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern port city of Busan, noting its special ties with ASEAN as host of two ASEAN-South Korea commemorative summits in 2014 and 2019.
"The Republic of Korea plans to share our development experience with many maritime countries and many neighboring nations, including ASEAN, through the 2030 Busan World Expo," he said, referring to South Korea by its formal name. "We also plan to provide a platform to explore solutions to challenges faced by humanity."
Yoon proposed elevating the South Korea-ASEAN relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership next year to mark the 35th anniversary since the two sides established a dialogue partnership, and the ASEAN leaders welcomed the proposal, according to his office.
He congratulated East Timor on gaining observer status ahead of its full-fledged membership of ASEAN and promised the South Korean government's support for its efforts to gain membership.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 6, 2023
3. Putin is developing a sinister new plan for victory (and the relationship with north Korea)
Excerpts:
A more concerning aspect of Russia’s burgeoning relationship is the potential to supply both hard currency and technology for North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, especially the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. As with its ability to provide other commodities, Russia has enormous capabilities in this field, including its own nuclear weapons know-how. This could be a game-changer in Pyongyang’s pursuit of an effective nuclear delivery programme.
Some analysts have suggested that the US exposure of Kim’s planned visit might be enough for him to cancel it. That will make no difference. The deeply embedded links between the two countries are sufficient for this deadly cooperation to continue and develop without a meeting between the two leaders.
The question that must therefore be asked is: why was there a need to plan for such a meeting in the first place? For Kim, virtually confined to the borders of his own country, it would be an opportunity to posture as a world statesman before his fellow anti-Western regimes. Putin, too, has a need to show his people that he is not isolated. But there may be something else behind it. Putin might well have in mind a bargaining chip to encourage an already wobbling US administration to pressure Kyiv into a ceasefire.
Putin is developing a sinister new plan for victory
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/05/putin-is-developing-a-sinister-new-plan-for-victory/
Story by Colonel Richard Kemp •
September 5, 2023
The newest Russian tank T-14 Armata fires during a dynamic display of military equipment at the International Military-Technical Forum 'Army-2023' held at the Alabino military training grounds outside Moscow
© Provided by The Telegraph
N
orth Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s planned meeting with Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, as revealed by US intelligence, gives us a new insight into Russia’s strategy in Ukraine as well as a warning of wider dangers for the world.
As Kyiv’s offensive wears on into its fourth month, with only limited success and a few Russian counter attacks, it is becoming clear that Moscow’s plan may be to allow Ukraine to exhaust its men, tanks, shells and missiles against the Surovikin Line’s hardest edge. The thinking could be that, once Ukraine’s Western equipped and trained manoeuvre forces have been ground down, Russia will then be able to launch its own major offensive, perhaps as early as January.
After almost two years of fighting that has been compared more to the First World War than the Second, this plan is reminiscent of the Germans’ Kaiserschlacht, the spring offensive which began in March 1918 and drove the allies back, seizing more territory than had been taken by either side in the preceding four years of war. This was achieved by the Germans bleeding the enemy dry while building massive reserves of men and munitions behind the lines, ready to unleash a devastating assault not unlike what the British aimed for, but failed to achieve,
during the Battle of the Somme in 1916
.
The problem for Putin is that, as he seeks to grind down Ukrainian forces, he is expending vast quantities of ammunition, especially artillery shells and ballistic missiles, and very large numbers of tanks. While Russia has a greater volume of military industrial production than much of the West, and continues to mobilise tens of thousands of men each quarter on a rolling basis, its core supplies remain inadequate for the level of expenditure required for a major new offensive.
That is where Pyongyang could come in. North Korea has been sending large quantities of shells, rockets and missiles to Russia for at least a year, with many of the shipments organised by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner group. In July, Putin’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu was in Pyongyang, presumably negotiating further supplies. There he will have found an Aladdin’s Cave of hardware – North Korea maintains immense stocks of heavy weaponry and artillery munitions. Many are old and unreliable, but that won’t matter if Russia resorts to its old tactic for victory: utilising its sheer force of numbers, steamrollering the enemy as the Germans sought to do in 1918.
The new Moscow-Pyongyang axis is a reversal of roles from the Cold War era, when the Soviet Union and China were the top arms supplier to North Korea from its inception. Supply continued even after the Soviet collapse, only ending with the advent of UN sanctions. Supporting Russia today benefits Kim as a means of hitting back against the US, with the undoubted approval of Beijing.
But North Korea’s backing will not come without a hefty price tag. Crippled by Western sanctions, Pyongyang is in dire need of the oil, food, fertiliser and raw materials that Russia has in abundance.
A more concerning aspect of Russia’s burgeoning relationship is the potential to supply both hard currency and technology for North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, especially the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. As with its ability to provide other commodities, Russia has enormous capabilities in this field, including its own nuclear weapons know-how. This could be a game-changer in Pyongyang’s pursuit of an effective nuclear delivery programme.
Some analysts have suggested that the US exposure of Kim’s planned visit might be enough for him to cancel it. That will make no difference. The deeply embedded links between the two countries are sufficient for this deadly cooperation to continue and develop without a meeting between the two leaders.
The question that must therefore be asked is: why was there a need to plan for such a meeting in the first place? For Kim, virtually confined to the borders of his own country, it would be an opportunity to posture as a world statesman before his fellow anti-Western regimes. Putin, too, has a need to show his people that he is not isolated. But there may be something else behind it. Putin might well have in mind a bargaining chip to encourage an already wobbling US administration to pressure Kyiv into a ceasefire.
Whatever the diplomatic double-dealing, the West should now be helping Ukraine prepare in case their current offensive fails, allowing Putin to unleash his Kaiserschlacht.
The German offensive in 1918 petered out from exhaustion and lack of supplies. We cannot count on a similar fate overcoming Putin’s next move: it is questionable whether Ukraine will have the resources to hold the Russians back, let alone launch their own version of the Hundred Days Offensive which allowed the Allies, with newly arrived American forces, to drive the Germans back into their homeland.
If this apocalyptic 1918 scenario becomes reality, a monumental effort will be required from the West as well as from Ukraine – greater than has already been delivered. It will be extremely costly for everyone, with the potential consequences too terrifying to contemplate.
Colonel Richard Kemp is a former British Army officer
4. Putin’s North Korean Rendezvous (WSJ Editorial)
Or what happens when Russia is defeated or at least stalemate and unable to achieve his objectives in Ukraine?
Seom related questions I was asked (and the answers I provided):
Q: What seems to have motivated Russia to propose conducting joint naval drills with North Korea and China while fighting Ukraine?
I think there are likely a few different factors. The first could be a direct response to "JAROKUS" - the new Japan- ROK- US security arrangement which is arguably the most important security arrangement in Northeast Asia in the 21st century and probably in the last seven decades. The response could be for a couple of reasons: one is to try to present a direct threat to counter it. But the other is more along the lines of imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The axis of authoritarians Cina, Russia, north Korea, and Iran) is having a hard time competing with the like minded democracies in terms of security cooperation. When you consider AUKUS, the QUAD, NATO+AP4, "JAROPUS" (Japan, the Republic of the Philippines, US) and now JAROKUS, the axis of authoritarians is in a weak position from a security perspective. The security relationships through the Asia Pacific appear to favor the like minded democracies.
We have seen Russia and the PRC conduct aviation activities in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula between Korea and Japan. Whilethere have never been trilateral naval exercises it is not difficult to see the possibility that all three countries would see the utility of doing so from both a military perspective as well as a diplomatic and information/influence perspective. They would like to demonstrate their relative military strength to counter the US and its allies.
Q: Do you think Kim and Xi Jinping would agree to hold joint drills? If so, how should Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo react?
I am not sure the Xi will agree to hold them. I think he is wary of RUssia and its sustained military failure in Ukraine and it may not want to hitch its future to failing military power. On the other hand it may very well agree to them in order to generate a response from the US and its allies, to create a dilemma for the allies, and attempt to undercut the legitimacy of the new security arranges and make the publics in the ROK, Japan, and US lose confidence in those new arrangements.
The response should be aggressive in the diplomatic and information domains. There should be coordinated messages outlining how their actions are an indication of their admitted weakness and their fear (and fear of their own weaknesses in the face of JAROKUS). Messages should include that they are merely copying JAROKUS because they recognize the value and strength of these security relationships. The ROK, Japan, and the US should continue to plan and conduct combined exercises as scheduled and demonstrate a new normal to maintain a high level of readiness and interoperability. But there is no need to conduct specific exercises in direct response to PRC, Russian, and north Korean combined exercises. In fact one of the messages should be that there is no need to conduct exercises in direct response web because we have a robust year around exercise schedule to maintain the highest level of readiness.
Q: How does Beijing benefit from North Korea's arms support to Russia in countering Washington? What could Pyongyang get in return for continued arms deals with Moscow? Could it prompt Seoul to begin supporting Ukraine with lethal weapons?
Beijing benefits because this creates dilemmas for the US, NATO, and the ROK and the more help north Korea can provide to Russia the less the PRC has to. While Beijing wants Russia to succeed in Ukraine, it also does not want to be seen as backing a loser on the one hand or be subject to major criticism at the UN and from the international community for being complicit in Russian malign activities and war. north Korea will likely benefit from hard currency, oil, advanced technology, and weapons. It will be able to rotate its ammunition war stocks and use RUssian money to pay for the resources to manufacture replacement ammunition. South Korea should never enter into a tit-for tat contest with north Korea. Just because north Korea does something South Korea should not simply try to match it. South Korea is now a strong partner in the "arsenal of democracy." It is providing valuable advanced weapons to NATO countries a s well as backfilling 155mm artillery ammunition to the US as US stocks are being sent ot Ukraine. The decision to provide lethal aid to Ukraine is one that Seoul must make based on its legal domestic considerations, political considerations, and whether the provision of such aid will make a strategic difference to the outcome in Ukraine.
Q: Has North Korea become a catalyst in Chinese-Russian efforts to counter the U.S. and its allies in Europe and Asia? How threatening could active military cooperation by the three nuclear weapons possessing countries pose to global security?
I do not think north Korea has become the catalyst. It is more like a tool that China and Russia can exploit to create dilemmas for the US and its allies. That said, we should expect Kim Jong Un to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and play Beijing and Moswow off against each other. In the end Kim is going to act on its own and not as a puppet of either China or Russia This is the inherent weakness in the axis of authoritarians. None of the three countries can make real substantive alliance commitments and therefore their security arrangement will always be built on a rocky foundation and could be a house of cards. That said the relationship does pose very real threats to the international community because any of them (and most likely north Korea) could act out on their own when they see an advantage to doing so. Conversely, any of the three could miscalculate which could be very dangerous to international security.
Putin’s North Korean Rendezvous
The authoritarian axis will get stronger if Russia defeats Ukraine.
By The Editorial Board
Follow
Sept. 5, 2023 6:33 pm ET
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, toasts with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia on April 25, 2019. PHOTO: ?????/KCNA VIA KNS/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vladimir Putin is digging around for more artillery shells to sustain his assault on Ukraine, and U.S. officials say the Russian dictator may soon visit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. A global axis of authoritarians is consolidating against the West, and what happens in Ukraine will reverberate far beyond Europe.
Mr. Putin may meet Mr. Kim in Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast as soon as this month, according to press reports. The Russian is looking for more weapons, and the North Korean dictator would apparently like nuclear submarine technology. Mr. Putin has also been hitting up Iran for drones, and Russia may conduct joint naval drills with North Korea and China.
The meeting underscores the global nature of the threat to U.S. interests. One reason the Japanese prime minister visited Kyiv this spring is because America’s allies in Asia understand that Ukraine isn’t a distant squabble. Russia has its own Pacific ambitions, including militarizing the Kuril Islands, some of which Japan also claims. A Russia that prevails in Ukraine will provoke elsewhere. Mr. Putin is also the junior partner to the neighborhood’s No. 1 threat: The Chinese Communist Party.
The conventional wisdom is that Mr. Putin is weak for needing help from North Korea, a pariah state that starves its own people. But the Russian still thinks he can squeak out enough ammo to win in Ukraine, especially if political support for Kyiv crumbles. Mr. Putin understands what some American politicians don’t— that this would be an enormous victory for the new axis, making American support in the Pacific less credible.
The Ukrainians are making slow gains against Russian defensive lines, despite limited training and without much air power. But the risk of the war seeping into a larger and more volatile fight will increase the longer the conflict continues.
The U.S. diplomatic and military interest is to expose Mr. Putin’s gambit as a loser. Yet more than 18 months into the war, the Biden Administration hasn’t provided long-range missiles to Ukraine, despite bipartisan support in Congress. The Army tactical missile system would put Russia’s supply and logistics haven in Crimea at risk.
The Biden Administration first worried that these missiles would be too escalatory. How would Mr. Putin or our nervous allies react? That concern has been overrun by reality. The U.K. didn’t wait for U.S. leadership, donating longer-range Storm Shadow missiles. Russia didn’t respond by attacking NATO.
But the Ukrainians need deeper magazines, and the Army tactical missile system (ATACMS) can strike even farther into Russian positions. It travels faster than Storm Shadow and plugs into the U.S. Himars system so it doesn’t have to be launched from the air. The Biden crowd is telling the press it can’t spare ATACMS because U.S. stocks are too low. If that’s true, it’s an American emergency, not a compelling argument for withholding support.
A vogue view on the right and left is that the U.S. drove Russia and China together. But the Russia-North Korea summit is a reminder that these are partnerships of ideology and opportunity. The first step to breaking up the party is rendering Mr. Putin’s Ukraine play a miserable failure.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
0:57
Paused
0:03
/
5:53
TAP FOR SOUND
Journal Editorial Report: Paul Gigot interviews General Jack Keane. Images: AP Composite: Mark Kelly
Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Appeared in the September 6, 2023, print edition as 'Putin’s North Korean Rendezvous'.
5. Kim Jong Un-Putin meeting imminent
Conclusion:
Although the North Korea-China-Russia adhesion stemming from the intensified New Cold War trend was somewhat expected, its rapid acceleration will provide an unsettling factor that further shakes the geopolitical landscape. The solidarity between Putin, who has already violently trampled on the sovereignty of neighboring countries, and Kim Jong Un, who is frantic about developing illegal weapons, is triggering red flags around the world. Moreover, Kim may again reveal under his sleeve the flamboyant diplomatic moves he showed against the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. five years ago. This time, Kim may claim himself as an enforcer in the New Cold War confrontation, using Russia as a lever to incite China. Under these circumstances, the Korean government needs to keep a close eye on developments, conduct close cooperation between the ROK, the U.S., and Japan, and devise countermeasures with the international community.
Kim Jong Un-Putin meeting imminent
donga.com
Posted September. 06, 2023 08:07,
Updated September. 06, 2023 08:07
Kim Jong Un-Putin meeting imminent. September. 06, 2023 08:07. .
The New York Times reported on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may visit Russia as early as next week to meet President Vladimir Putin. The meeting between the two is expected to be on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum to be held in Vladivostok from Sunday to Wednesday. If the North Korea-Russia summit takes place, it will be the first in four and a half years since 2019, and Kim Jong Un's first overseas visit since then as well. The U.S. White House also said, “We have intelligence that Kim is expecting arms negotiations involving summit-level diplomacy in Russia.”
The purpose of the meeting between Kim and Putin is read as an intention to openly show off close relations between the two leaders and formalize the exchange between North Korea's conventional weapons and Russia's cutting-edge technology, both internally and externally, beyond engaging in deals behind closed doors. The rapid progress of the discussion since the visit by the Russian defense minister to the military parade in North Korea at the end of July proves that the two countries are in an urgent situation. Right now, Russia is struggling due to the depletion of ammunition and munitions to be used in the war in Ukraine, and North Korea is facing technical limitations in developing nuclear and missile weapons. The fact that Russia's newly built Vostochny Cosmodrome and Pier 33, the anchorage for the Pacific Fleet, are selected as visiting spots for Kim Jong Un indicates North Korea's core interest.
As such, the North Korea-Russia talks signal a “dangerous deal.” Although Russia is now in decline, it is still a military power with the largest number of nuclear weapons. Military technologies such as surface-to-air missiles, fighter engines, and submarines are at a level that even China wouldn't mind laying hands on. North Korea wants to acquire military reconnaissance satellites, nuclear-powered submarines, and even intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) reentry technology in return for providing conventional weapons, including ammunition. Russian technologies can provide an opportunity for a high level of advancement that North Korea's increasingly sophisticated nuclear weapons and missiles desperately need. It is evident that this will make North Korea, which is in the habit of ratcheting up provocations and intimidations, become more arrogant outlaws.
Although the North Korea-China-Russia adhesion stemming from the intensified New Cold War trend was somewhat expected, its rapid acceleration will provide an unsettling factor that further shakes the geopolitical landscape. The solidarity between Putin, who has already violently trampled on the sovereignty of neighboring countries, and Kim Jong Un, who is frantic about developing illegal weapons, is triggering red flags around the world. Moreover, Kim may again reveal under his sleeve the flamboyant diplomatic moves he showed against the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. five years ago. This time, Kim may claim himself as an enforcer in the New Cold War confrontation, using Russia as a lever to incite China. Under these circumstances, the Korean government needs to keep a close eye on developments, conduct close cooperation between the ROK, the U.S., and Japan, and devise countermeasures with the international community.
한국어
donga.com
6. Major arms deal between Kim and Putin 'very likely,' experts say
Major arms deal between Kim and Putin 'very likely,' experts say
The Korea Times · by 2023-09-06 09:17 | North Korea · September 5, 2023
This April 25, 2019 file photo shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other during their meeting at the Far East Federal University on Russky Island in Vladivostok, Russia. Experts said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine has brought the countries closer and the two leaders could reach a major arms deal at the expected summit in Vladivostok next week. EPA-Yonhap
Russia's help would 'advance and expedite' development of North Korean weapons
By Jung Min-ho
After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, experts on North Korea warned that the conflict could lead to a dangerous partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
A protracted war could force the Kremlin to seek support from North Korea, which would be delighted to provide ammunition in return for Russian weapons technology, they said.
That grim scenario may be set to unfold when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok sometime next week, as the New York Times reported citing U.S. sources.
Speaking to The Korea Times on Tuesday, analysts said it is "very likely" that the two leaders would sign a big deal including ammunition-for-tech exchanges and joint military drills. This, they added, would likely be the beginning of a stronger North Korea-Russia partnership that will probably outlast the war in Ukraine.
"If Russia runs out of ammunition stockpiles, its front lines will collapse. North Korea, which has plenty of ammunition, can help the desperate Russians. In exchange, it will try to obtain food, fertilizer, energy and technology for advanced weapons such as nuclear-powered submarines and ICBMs," said Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank.
N. Korea will pay a price if it provides weapons to Russia: NSA Sullivan
"Russia would not give them all to North Korea. But in the long run, North Korea is expected to receive Russian support in many of the areas of its interest, given that Moscow is desperate as long as the war continues and Pyongyang has the upper hand in negotiations," Cho added. "Such a deal used to be unthinkable because there was little Pyongyang could offer. But the war changed everything."
A Ukrainian self-propelled artillery system fires at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sept. 1. AP-Yonhap
There are palpable signs that Russia is running low on ammunition, with some analysts predicting that it can happen in the months ahead. A shortage of shells was what Yevgeny Prigozhin, former leader of the Wagner private mercenary group, complained about before his ill-fated mutiny in June.
Driven into a corner diplomatically, Moscow hopes to strengthen a Russia-China-North Korea military partnership, experts said. However, as Beijing remains cautious apparently because of the risk to its more globally-connected economic and diplomatic systems, China appears to have focused on reinforcing its ties to Pyongyang, said Hyun Seung-soo, another expert on Russia at the think tank.
"At the expected summit, North Korea and Russia would make a big announcement as part of their joint attempt to undermine Western unity. But whether the deal would actually materialize bears further watching as well as how far the partnership would develop," Hyun said. "I think it largely depends on how the war goes."
An official at the Ministry of Unification told reporters that many signs indicate the growing possibility of an arms deal between North Korea and Russia, saying that Pyongyang appears to have sought to improve relations in recent years.
"Any form of cooperation between North Korea and its neighboring countries should be conducted in a way that does not damage international norms and peace," the official said.
Lim Soo-suk, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also raised concern over a possible arms deal between North Korea and Russia, urging all U.N. member states to respect the Security Council's resolutions banning weapons trade with the North.
Speaking at the National Assembly the previous day, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyou-hyun said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed conducting three-way naval exercises with North Korea and China during his meeting with Kim in late July.
Experts said North Korea has no reason to reject the offer, but they remain skeptical of the effectiveness of the drills, given the poor condition of the North's navy.
North Korea has expressed support for the Kremlin throughout the war in Ukraine, but it has so far denied allegations that it provided arms to Russia.
The Korea Times · by 2023-09-06 09:17 | North Korea · September 5, 2023
7. Ex-N. Korean diplomat named special adviser to Seoul's unification minister
No one should have any doubts. South Korea, led by the Yoon administration, is serious about the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.
Ex-N. Korean diplomat named special adviser to Seoul's unification minister
The Korea Times · September 6, 2023
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, right, shakes hands with Ko Young-hwan, a former North Korean diplomat-turned-defector, at his office in Seoul, Sept. 6, after appointing him as a special adviser. Yonhap
Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Wednesday appointed a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea as his special adviser, citing his expertise in information analysis on the North.
Ko Young-hwan, who defected to South Korea in 1991, was named as an adviser to Kim on inter-Korean affairs and will play a role in helping people better understand the North's situation, according to Seoul's unification ministry.
"The unification ministry is planning to strengthen its ability to analyze North Korean intelligence and effectively push for the policy on North Korean defectors. In that sense, his appointment will help bolster the ministry's capabilities," Kim said.
Ko, who hails from Pyongyang, served as a French interpreter for late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung and is the first North Korean diplomat ever to defect to South Korea.
He served as the vice chief of the state-run Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul and is currently working as a member of an advisory committee on unification policy vision.
"I will do my best to make the Yoon Suk Yeol government's policy on the North and unification a success and build inter-Korean relations into a mutually beneficial and equal one," Ko said.
President Yoon has taken a hard-line stance against the North's provocative acts and has stressed the need to make the international community aware of the dismal human rights situation in the North. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · September 6, 2023
8. Yoon sharpens anti-communist rhetoric to appeal to conservatives
Is it rhetoric or is he saying what has long been needed to be said?
Yoon sharpens anti-communist rhetoric to appeal to conservatives
The Korea Times · September 6, 2023
President Yoon Suk Yeol gives a speech at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, Sept. 1. Joint Press Corps
President's far-right stance likely to alienate moderate voters ahead of April election: analysts
By Lee Hyo-jin
After expressing a staunch anti-communist stance in his National Liberation Day speech on Aug. 15, President Yoon Suk Yeol has been explicitly underscoring that sentiment in recent weeks.
During the Aug. 15 speech ― in which he used the term "communist" eight times ― Yoon lashed out at "anti-state forces" that "blindly follow communist totalitarianism" and urged the public not to be deceived by such groups.
When he met with new leaders of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council on Aug. 29, Yoon stressed their role in defending liberal democracy from "communist totalitarian forces that are engaging in psychological warfare to disturb the free society."
The president reaffirmed his assertive stance in another speech on Sept. 1 during a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
Saying that the nation's freedom is under constant threat from "communist totalitarian forces and their opportunist followers," he criticized that such groups are triggering anti-Japanese sentiment and undermining the strengthened trilateral partnership between Korea, the United States and Japan.
While liberal lawmakers criticized Yoon's remarks, likening them to former President Park Chung-hee, a former military general and staunch anti-communist, political analysts viewed that the president appears to be rallying conservative voters ahead of next year's parliamentary elections.
Yoon, who is still struggling to broaden his political support base, seems to have opted to veer further right in order to consolidate the backing of conservative forces ― his primary support base ― ahead of the general election slated for next April, according to Park Chang-hwan, a professor at Jangan University.
However, Park said, "Such a strategy, which reminds many Koreans of the outdated tactics in domestic politics of labeling their opponents as communists, will alienate moderates and the younger generation."
According to the latest poll conducted by Realmeter released on Monday, Yoon's approval rating stood at 35.4 percent, down 2.2 percentage points from a week earlier. The largest decline in his approval rating came from respondents in their 20s, down by 9.8 percentage points.
The drop in the positive assessment was attributable to a recent controversy over the government's decision to move a bust of independence fighter Hong Beom-do outside of its current location at the Korea Military Academy, according to analysts at Realmeter.
Despite strong public backlash, the Yoon administration decided to move the bust, citing the independence fighter's involvement with the Soviet Communist Party.
Park said that lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) are cautious about expressing support for the president's far-right messages.
"The PPP has to appeal to the large share of moderate voters in order to win the (general) election, so it is refraining from adopting extreme positions," he said.
Hahm Sung-deuk, an expert in presidential politics and a professor at Kyonggi University Graduate School of Political Studies, was also critical of Yoon's strategy.
"The president seems to have his own philosophy about state affairs and is apparently trying to solidify it within his support base, but he should always keep in mind that the other blocs do not share the same opinion," he said.
Hahm also commented that Yoon's "overly candid" style of speech may be perceived by the public as lacking the ability to embrace diverse perspectives. He advised the prosecutor-turned-president to adopt a "mellower tone" when addressing the public.
"Considering that the president's repeated remarks (about communist totalitarianism) are becoming bolder, these reflect his personal beliefs and philosophy, rather than those of his aides or advisers," political commentator Rhee Jong-hoon said.
"I'm beginning to think that the president shares the same views with the New Right," he added, referring to the group of far-right-wing conservative scholars.
The Korea Times · September 6, 2023
9. Air Koryo flights appear halted after brief resumption
Slow opening of north Korea? Fits and starts?
dictionary + A - A
Published: 06 Sep. 2023, 18:49
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-09-06/national/northKorea/Air-Koryo-flights-appear-halted-after-brief-resumption/1863579
An Air Koryo flight at the international airport in Vladivostok, Russia, on Aug. 25. It was the first between Vladivostok and Pyongyang since North shuttered its borders with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. [YONHAP]
Air Koryo flights between Pyongyang, Beijing and Vladivostok appear to have stalled again after resuming last month for the first time since the pandemic.
The latest recorded flight from Pyongyang to Beijing on Air Koryo, the state-run airline of North Korea, was on Aug. 29, according to a VOA report Wednesday.
Related Article
It was the fourth one between the two cities since Aug. 22, when North Korea began to resume flights to Beijing and Vladivostok for the first time since it had shuttered its borders from February 2020 citing Covid-19 concerns.
Air Koryo flights to Vladivostok also stopped after the last one on Aug. 28.
Local media said the flights may not have been signs of resumption of flights between the three cities, but that the North Korean regime may have used them to repatriate workers from China and Russia to prevent them from defecting.
The VOA reported that the four flights to and from Beijing and the other two to and from Vladivostok could have carried altogether up to 900 passengers.
The resumption of flights was largely interpreted as a sign that the three countries were working to strengthen their strategic relationship.
Russian and Chinese officials were seen standing side-by-side with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a military parade in July showcasing the North’s missiles and drones.
The parade was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, which began with the North Korean invasion of South Korea. China sent hundreds of thousands of its troops to aid the North during the war.
Air Koryo flights used to fly to a dozen cities including those in Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan and Kuwait, in addition to cities in China and Russia, until 2017.
Following United Nations sanctions on the North for its nuclear weapons test, the airline was banned except in China and Russia.
BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
10. Yoon calls for unified action against NK threats at summit with Chinese presence
Good.
Yoon calls for unified action against NK threats at summit with Chinese presence
koreaherald.com · by Shin Ji-hye · September 6, 2023
By Shin Ji-hye
Published : Sept. 6, 2023 - 19:09
President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang after taking a photo at the ASEAN+3 summit held at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia on Wedneday. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is in the middle, and Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is on the right. (Yonhap)
At a summit attended by Association of Southeast Asian member nations, Japan and China, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called on the international community to unite and decisively respond to North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile development efforts.
Speaking at the ASEAN+3 summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday afternoon, Yoon noted an “unprecedented frequency” in North Korean provocations. He urged leaders to firmly address these provocations by supporting sanctions against the North Korean regime. Measures include halting the dispatch of overseas workers and curbing illegal cyber activities, according to the presidential office.
Present at the summit were leaders from the ASEAN member states, along with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. In a break from tradition, Yoon referred to the trilateral grouping as "South Korea, Japan and China," a gesture highlighting the country’s repaired relations with Japan by mentioning it before China.
During the summit, Yoon emphasized the necessity of cooperation among the attending nations, stating, "ASEAN+3 has been fostering the vision of an East Asian community. It is imperative that ASEAN+3 spearheads a new era of collaboration."
He pledged South Korea's active involvement as the chair of the forthcoming ninth South Korea-Japan-China summit, and as the coordinating country representing the trio in the ASEAN+3 group.
To reboot the cooperation mechanism among the three nations, Yoon affirmed, "We will maintain close communication with the governments of Japan and China."
koreaherald.com · by Shin Ji-hye · September 6, 2023
11. Under one flag, UN Command's mission to defend S. Korea continues
Coincidentally I was having a chat with some Kora watchers and Korean officials on the importance of the UNC yesterday. I think we all agree that the roles and missions of the UNC are misunderstood. It is good to see some press that tries to explain this.
Most importantly during wartime, it will be a built-in coalition support element to the warfighting HQ of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command. And I am heartened to hear President Yoon's recent comments about the importance of the UNC to include UNC rear in Japan.
Under one flag, UN Command's mission to defend S. Korea continues
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · September 5, 2023
Young augmentees in Ulchi Freedom Shield offer insight into UN Command's Korean Peninsula operations
By Ji Da-gyum
Published : Sept. 5, 2023 - 15:24
Five augmentees and one staff member from the five member states of the United Nations Command pose for a group photo during an interview on Aug. 30 at the headquarters of the UNC located within Camp Humphreys, the US base in the city of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. (Korea Herald/ Pool Photo)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Gyeonggi Province — Despite seven decades having passed since the armistice, the countries that once valiantly deployed their combat forces in defense of South Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War still provide steadfast support for the security of the Korean Peninsula.
The United Nations Command was founded in July 1950, one month after North Korea's surprise illegal invasion of South Korea, under UN Security Council Resolutions 82, 83 and 84. The situation marked the first-ever attempt at collective security within the UN system.
The role of the UN Command stationed in South Korea, a country technically still at war with North Korea, continues to be crucial, especially in the face of North Korea's persistent nuclear saber-rattling and the intricate security dynamics of Northeast Asia, which are further compounded by the tightening alignment among North Korea, China and Russia.
Despite its critical importance, the specific efforts made by the UN Command to fulfill its primary missions, which include enforcing the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement that enabled a cease-fire on the peninsula and providing military support and reinforcements in the event of war, have remained largely undisclosed to the public.
Member states of the UN Command have consistently participated in defense-oriented exercises with South Korea and the United States, such as Ulchi Freedom Shield, in different capacities while embracing the command's motto of unity "under one flag."
"It's really important that we are out here to represent the UK," British Royal Air Force Cpl. Sion Owen, who volunteered as an augmentee for UFS, said during an interview on Aug. 30 at the UN Command headquarters in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
"Obviously, we are one of the member states. So, we all need to get involved and ensure that we're working collectively so that if real-life scenarios came into play, we would all know what we're doing," Owen said.
Ulchi Freedom Shield, an 11-day computer-simulated command post exercise staged by South Korea and the US, concluded on Thursday. UFS is primarily designed to enhance the combined defense posture and readiness of the allies by simulating real-life scenarios that reflect the increasing missile and nuclear threats posed by North Korea and other diverse threats within the security environment.
During the Korean War, there were 16 Sending States — countries that fought alongside the US-led UN Command and shed blood with South Korea — and six other countries that provided vital medical assistance, including medical personnel and essential medications. Among them, 17 countries have remained as UN Command member states.
Among the member states, 10 countries — Australia, Canada, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and the US — dispatched augmentees from their respective countries to participate in UFS. Augmentees are military personnel dispatched from home and assigned to a unit to participate in UFS.
The 10 member states — each of which deployed soldiers during the Korean War — sent individuals from diverse backgrounds and experts representing various fields, including law and gender equality. They were all united by the common mission of contributing to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
British Royal Air Force Cpl. Sion Owen (left), New Zealand Royal Air Force Flt Lt. Natacha Baugen (center) and Australian Army Maj. Lyndsay Freeman speak during an interview on Aug. 30 at the headquarters of the UN Command located within Camp Humphreys, the US base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. (Korea Herald/ Pool Photo)
New Zealand Royal Air Force Flt. Lt. Natacha Baugen served as a legal adviser at the UN Command headquarters during UFS, offering counsel on the legal aspects of any issues commanders faced. Her role encompassed assessing what is legally permissible, defining boundaries and elucidating both the potential and limitations of UN Command actions.
For instance, Baugen concentrated on devising strategies for transferring various materials between countries in specific scenarios. This task entailed evaluating potential domestic and international constraints related to logistics operations and the transfer of materials that UN Command member states could utilize to support South Korea in case of contingencies.
"It's been a really interesting experience because of a variety of different nations supporting the exercise," she said. "Learning about their backgrounds and learning about their -- for me -- their legal considerations have been really fascinating."
Australian Army Maj. Lyndsay Freeman also made significant contributions as an operational gender adviser, pioneering this vital role first introduced during UFS.
Freeman's primary focus was to ensure that military actions underwent a meticulous assessment to prevent any unintended adverse effects on women and the broader civilian population on the ground -- a perspective that might not always be immediately apparent to military leadership during the formulation of strategies and operational plans.
"So my job is to unpack the second-and third-order effects on the entire population."
Freeman also underscored the invaluable nature of collaborating with various countries during UFS, emphasizing the significance of sharing information to bolster the readiness of the multinational command in response to escalating North Korean threats.
"We share information and we can really start to better adapt to probability to make sure that if any threat deploys throughout the Korean Peninsula, all the different UN Command member states can work together to ensure the safety and security of the peninsula."
Canadian Army Maj. Simon Johnson (left), Lt. Nicolo Imbriani, from the Infantry Brigade of the Italian Navy Marina Militare (center) and Royal Canadian Navy Lt. Cdr. Kang Hyung-wook speak during an interview on Aug. 30 at the headquarters of the UN Command located within Camp Humphreys, the US base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. (Korea Herald/ Pool Photo)
Other augmentees mentioned that UN Command member states had the opportunity to learn from each other, particularly when it came to the diverse military operating procedures and languages used by each country's military. The opportunity allowed them to bridge differences and enhance interoperability.
"I'd say at every multinational headquarters, there's a friction point," said Canadian Army Maj. Simon Johnson, who worked in the operations cell to maintain the situational awareness of all ongoing UNC operations.
"But the benefit of us being here now is that we're able to smooth out those frictions and any kind of discrepancies and get a better common operating understanding."
For example, Canadians have their specific reporting procedures, while Americans have their own. Therefore, it's crucial to establish a shared doctrine and mutual understanding of how the two militaries communicate and report any issues or similar matters when working together.
Lt. Nicolo Imbriani, from the Infantry Brigade of the Italian Navy, shared a similar perspective. However, he frequently encountered an initial challenge related to language barriers, sometimes taking a minute to fully grasp the communicated information.
Moreover, comprehending the procedures and methods employed by other nations around the world can be quite intricate, often requiring a day or more of discussions to truly understand their perspectives and operational approaches.
Nonetheless, UFS serves as an ongoing learning experience, with each interaction offering valuable lessons.
“Every occasion is very, very good to learn something,” said Imbriani, who worked at the UN Command's Department Operations Center. “It's been the biggest opportunity ever.”
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs hosted a ceremony to honor the sacrifices of South Korea, the United States, and United Nations Member States' veterans who fought for South Korean security during the Korean War. The event took place to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War at Jangchung Arena, Seoul on June 25, 2023. (Photo - United Nations Command)
Royal Canadian Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kang Hyung-wook, a communications strategist at the UN Command, highlighted the advantages of a multinational command structure. UN Command member states have consistently grown by leveraging their unique strengths.
Most significantly, UN Command member states have continually improved their preparedness for potential contingencies on the Korean Peninsula while growing together.
Young augmentees and staff highlighted that the UFS exercise provided an opportunity for UN Command member states to collaborate, united by their overarching objective of supporting South Korea.
"In order to ensure the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula at the current juncture, it is essential to foster close cooperation among the Combined Forces Command, UN Command and the South Korean military, moving towards collective development," said Kang, whose grandfather died in battle during the Korean War. "Therefore, exercises like UFS offer an excellent opportunity to intensify training and facilitate further development."
Generations have passed since the 1953 Korean War, during which over 1.95 million mostly young individuals from 22 countries were deployed. Tragically, about 41,000 UN forces lost their lives on the battlefield, and an additional 110,000 suffered injuries or became prisoners of war, bearing the weight of these profound sacrifices.
Despite the passage of time, the resolute determination of young augmentees, many of whom volunteered to participate in UFS, to support South Korea in potential contingencies remains unwavering.
"The biggest lesson I've learned so far is how important it is to continue to do exercises like this because it enables us to really understand how each other operates," Johnson said.
"If things were to escalate on the peninsula, we already have a team of people who have a common understanding of what needs to be done, what the ground looks like, and how the headquarters operates. So I think that the most important thing out of this exercise is the common understanding that everyone develops."
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · September 5, 2023
12. S. Korean defense firms to take center stage at armaments exhibition in Poland
A partner in the arsenal of democracy.
S. Korean defense firms to take center stage at armaments exhibition in Poland
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · September 5, 2023
By Yonhap
Published : Sept. 5, 2023 - 10:17
Military weapons displayed at the International Defense Industry Exhibition, Tuesday (Yonhap)
South Korean defense companies were set to showcase advanced weapons systems at an annual major arms exhibition in Poland this week, Seoul's arms procurement agency said Tuesday, as the two countries seek to step up security cooperation.
The International Defense Industry Exhibition, or MSPO, will kick off later in the day for a four-day run at Kielce, joined by 30 South Korean companies, including the country's sole aircraft maker, Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., as well as Hanwha Aerospace Co., according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
For this year's event, South Korea has been chosen as the lead nation after its companies clinched major deals last year to supply K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers to Warsaw.
As the lead nation, South Korea will host a conference on bilateral defense industry cooperation Wednesday to discuss the direction of their cooperation and new defense agendas being explored, including submarine development, according to DAPA.
DAPA said it expects the exhibition to serve as an opportunity to make efforts to find new areas of defense cooperation with Poland, such as ammunition and military vehicles.
"We will further strengthen defense industry cooperation with Poland, which shares universal human values, such as freedom, human rights and peace," DAPA Minister Eom Dong-hwan was quoted as saying.
The event comes after President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, agreed to make efforts for bilateral arms industry cooperation to be carried out in a mutually beneficial way during their summit in Warsaw in July.
MSPO is the third-largest defense exhibition in Europe. This year's event is expected to be attended by some 25,000 defense officials from 39 countries, including the United States, Britain, France and Turkey, according to DAPA. (Yonhap)
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · September 5, 2023
13. Yoon calls for int'l unity for N. Korea's denuclearization
Although denuclearization of the north remains a worthy goal, it must be viewed as aspirational as long as the Kim family regime remains in power. The conventional wisdom has always been that denuclearization must come first and then unification will follow and that there should be no discussion of human rights out of fear that it would prevent Kim Jong Un from making a denuclearization agreement. Today even a blind man can read the tea leaves and know that Kim Jong Un will not denuclearize despite the fact that his policies have been an abject failure. His political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies completely failed in 2022 because Presidents Yoon and Biden, like their predecessors, refused to make the political and economic concessions he demanded just to come to the negotiating table: namely to remove sanctions. It is time for the U.S and the ROK/U.S. alliance to execute a political warfare strategy that flips the conventional wisdom and seeks unification first and then denuclearization. Everyone must come to the understanding that the only way to end the nuclear program and the human rights abuses is through unification of the Korean peninsula. The ROK and U.S. must continue to maintain the highest state of military readiness to deter war and then adopt a human rights upfront approach, a comprehensive and sophisticated information and influence activities campaign, and focus all efforts on the pursuit of a free and unified Korea- ultimately a United Republic of Korea (UROK).
Yoon calls for int'l unity for N. Korea's denuclearization | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 6, 2023
By Lee Haye-ah
JAKARTA, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged the international community Wednesday to respond firmly to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats in order to achieve its complete denuclearization, his office said.
Yoon issued the call during a South Korea-ASEAN summit in Jakarta, which brought together leaders from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The president "emphasized the need for a firm and united response from the international community in order to achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization in light of the severity of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," his office said in a press release.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (front) speaks during a South Korea-ASEAN summit at the Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Center in the Indonesian capital on Sept. 6, 2023. (Yonhap)
ASEAN comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Yoon shared his administration's plans to flesh out the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, a vision he unveiled during last year's ASEAN-related summits in Cambodia to enhance practical and strategic partnerships with the region.
In the security realm, Yoon said South Korea will increase arms cooperation and defense consultations with ASEAN states while strengthening cooperation in cyber security, transnational crimes and maritime security.
He also outlined plans to enhance the digital capabilities of ASEAN youths, contribute to the sustainable development of four countries along the Mekong River -- Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam -- and help ASEAN respond to climate change and infectious diseases.
Yoon referred to new cooperation mechanisms established during his trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Camp David presidential retreat near Washington last month.
"South Korea, the U.S. and Japan agreed to coordinate our respective Indo-Pacific strategies and develop new areas of cooperation based on our full support for the ASEAN-led regional architecture," he said. "For this, we launched an annual South Korea-U.S.-Japan Indo-Pacific dialogue and newly established a trilateral maritime security cooperation framework to support the maritime security capacities of ASEAN and Pacific Island countries."
Yoon asked for ASEAN's support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern port city of Busan, noting its special ties with ASEAN as host of two ASEAN-South Korea commemorative summits in 2014 and 2019.
"The Republic of Korea plans to share our development experience with many maritime countries and many neighboring nations, including ASEAN, through the 2030 Busan World Expo," he said, referring to South Korea by its formal name. "We also plan to provide a platform to explore solutions to challenges faced by humanity."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · September 6, 2023
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
| 
