Quotes of the Day:

Alas! In order to rectify past grievances, free ourselves from present hardships, eliminate future threats, stimulate and enhance the weakened conscience of our people, eradicate the shame that befell our nation, ensure proper development of human dignity, avoid leaving humiliating legacies to our children, and usher in lasting and complete happiness for our posterity, the most urgent task is to firmly establish national independence. Today when human nature and conscience are placing the forces of justice and humanity on our side, if every one of our twenty million people arms himself for battle, whom could we not defeat and what could we not accomplish?

We do not intend to accuse Japan of infidelity for its violation of various solemn treaty obligations since the Treaty of Amity of 1876. Japan’s scholars and officials, indulging in a conqueror’s exuberance, have denigrated the accomplishments of our ancestors and treated our civilized people like barbarians. Despite their disregard for the ancient origins of our society and the brilliant spirit of our people, we shall not blame Japan; we must first blame ourselves before finding fault with others. Because of the urgent need for remedies for the problems of today, we cannot afford the time for recriminations over past wrongs.

- Korean Declaration of Independence, 1919

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/korea/march_first_declaration.pdf

“Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority, but to their inhumanity.” 

- James Baldwin, African, American, novelist, poet, playwright, intellectual, and social critic, 1924 to 1987.

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in chichi hardly anyone now anything about science and technology.” 

- Carl Sagan

1. N. Korea appears to ramp up threats to overcome 'unfavorable' situation: ministry

2. N. Korea confirms test-firing of Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM

3. N. Korea's Kim vows 'stronger' offensive with successful launch of solid-fuel ICBM

4. U.S. condemns N. Korea's ICBM test, calls on Pyongyang to engage in dialogue

5. Campbell gives emergency security briefing to PPP delegation after N.K. missile launch

6. Another Significant Great Event Recorded in Developing Strategic Force of DPRK Test-fire of New-type ICBM Conducted Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Guides Test-fire of ICBM Hwasongpho-18

7. Yoon says S. Korea to open embassy in Lithuania

8. Nuke envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan strongly denounce N. Korea's ICBM test

9. South Korea’s GDP ranking falls to 13th

10.  S. Korea's economy drops out of global top 10

11. Floods to Worsen N.Korea's Dire Food Shortage

12. Seoul must brace for Pyongyang’s growing hostility

13. North Korea's newest smartphone 'Samtaesong 8' mirrors Samsung Galaxy phones

14. Kim Jong-un may be using Samsung Galaxy foldable, photo shows

15. [ANALYSIS] Is North Korea perfecting solid-fuel ICBM technology?

16. Facing expanded war (comparing wars in Ukraine and Korea)

17. North Korea seeing South Korea as separate nation ‘worrying’: defector-lawmaker

18. Rep. Young Kim Talks US-ROK Alliance with ROK Ambassador Cho, Senator Hagerty at the Heritage Foundation

19. North Korea’s new missile tests exposes Kim’s limited options

1. N. Korea appears to ramp up threats to overcome 'unfavorable' situation: ministry

​The "unfavorable conditions''​ are two fold: the internal problems due to the failed economy, effects of COVID and most importantly the effects of Kim Jong Un's deliberate policy decisions to crack down on potential resistance through the use of COVID defense measures (draconian population and resources control measures). Kim must therefore externalize his problems and that requires an external threat which he continues to create through his provocation The unfavorable condition is the failed strategy of the regime - the regime's inability to coerce concessions from the ROK and US and the international community The failure to subvert the ROK government. The failure to subvert the ROK/US alliance and of course the growing strength of all alliances as well as trilateral ROK/Japan/US cooperation and the growing support of international organizations from NATO to the Quad to ASEAN.

The response needs to shift from condemnation to exposure of the failed strategy for all the world and the Korean people in the north to know. The response must be to call out human rights abuse and the horrendous suffering due solely to Kim Jong Un's policies and strategy. The regime must be attacked with the weapon that is most dangerous to the regime: information. Let's stop talking about the nuclear threats and instead exposure regime failures and human rights abuses.

N. Korea appears to ramp up threats to overcome 'unfavorable' situation: ministry | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 13, 2023

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to be intensifying provocations against South Korea and the United States in efforts to break through "unfavorable" circumstances, Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday.

The assessment came a day after North Korea test-fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile under the guidance of leader Kim Jong-un who vowed to take "stronger" military action to deter the allies.

Earlier this week, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, issued acerbic statements claiming that U.S. military spy aircraft "intruded" into the area over the North's exclusive economic zone, claiming a "shocking" incident could occur should the actions continue.

In a written report submitted to a parliamentary committee session, the ministry noted how the North Korean leader had refrained from making any public appearances since the botched launch of a space rocket carrying its first military spy satellite in late May.

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North's firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

The ministry also highlighted how a key party meeting in June took place later than expected and concluded without Kim's speech.

Following the meeting, the ministry had assessed that it is "very rare" for the North's leader to skip his speech at a party plenary meeting, and that the country appears to lack confidence in carrying out a five-year economic plan.

The latest assessment also touched on how North Korea appears to be preparing for a large-scale military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War on July 27, celebrated as Victory Day in North Korea, as a means to overcome the current situation.

On Pyongyang's food situation, the ministry said North Korea's crop output seems to have improved from the previous year while it continues to stay vigilant against possible damage from the annual monsoon season.

The North seems to be carefully gauging when to reopen its border, the ministry said, citing signs of growing trade with China, its biggest economic benefactor and ally.

North Korea's trade with China recovered to 85 percent of its pre-pandemic level in the first five months of the year, it said.

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 13, 2023

2. N. Korea confirms test-firing of Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM

Just another target for our ground based interceptors should Kim launch one toward the US.

(2nd LD) N. Korea confirms test-firing of Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · July 13, 2023

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photos; ADDS byline)

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Thursday it test-fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day, with its leader Kim Jong-un vowing to take "stronger" military offensive until the United States abandons its hostile policy against Pyongyang.

Guided by its leader Kim, the North launched a new type of the Hwasong-18 missile in a test aimed at reconfirming the technical creditability and operational reliability of the country's core weapon system, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

It marked the North's second solid-propellant ICBM launch following its first test-firing on April 13.

"The test-fire is an essential process aimed at further developing the strategic nuclear force of the Republic and, at the same time, serves as a strong practical warning to clearly show the adversaries of the DPRK," the KCNA said, using the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North's firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

The missile test came as North Korea issued sharp-tongued statements earlier this week condemning U.S. surveillance flights over its "economic water zone," threatening to shoot down American spy planes in case of a "repeated illegal intrusion."

The North said the Hwasong-18 flew 1,001.2 kilometers for 4,491 seconds at a maximum altitude of 6,648.4 km, before accurately landing on a pre-set area in the East Sea.

Its flight time was the longest ever for a North Korean ICBM, and if fired on a standard trajectory, the missile could have flown more than 15,000 km, a capability that would put the whole of the U.S. mainland within range, according to experts.

The South Korean military said Wednesday that a long-range ballistic missile, fired at a lofted angle from Pyongyang areas, traveled around 1,000 km before splashing into the water.

The North's leader Kim said the latest missile launch is part of the regime's efforts to bolster self-defense against the "disaster of a nuclear war" and reckless military moves by the U.S. and South Korea.

He reaffirmed "a series of stronger military offensive will be launched until the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors admit their shameful defeat of their useless hostile policy toward the DPRK in despair and give up their policy," the KCNA said.

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un conducting a field guidance for a test-firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the high-tech weapon systems that the recalcitrant regime has vowed to develop, along with a military spy satellite and a nuclear-powered submarine.

Solid-fuel missiles are known to be harder to detect ahead of launch than liquid-propellant ones, which require more prelaunch preparations, such as the injection of fuel.

The secretive regime has been striving to develop a solid-fuel ICBM as part of efforts to strengthen its nuclear delivery capabilities, as Seoul and Washington seek to improve the credibility of America's "extended deterrence."

Extended deterrence refers to Washington's readiness to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.

North Korea said the regional security situation has reached the phase of a "nuclear crisis beyond the Cold War," denouncing the allies' summit declaration adopted in April.

The U.S. had pledged to send a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to the peninsula in a joint declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit in April as part of efforts to deter Pyongyang's military threats.

The North's latest saber-rattling followed its botched launch of a space rocket carrying its first military reconnaissance satellite in late May. The rocket crashed into the Yellow Sea after an "abnormal starting" of the second-stage engine, according to the North's state media.

Why North Korea's latest missile test is even more threatening to the U.S.

Youtube

https://youtu.be/yIHKzvnO5p8

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · July 13, 2023

3. N. Korea's Kim vows 'stronger' offensive with successful launch of solid-fuel ICBM

Yes this is an advanced system and Kim is clearly trying to develop advanced warfighting capabilities. But their first purpose is to support political warfare to subvert the ROK and drive a wedge in the ROK/US alliance and to support blackmail diplomacy (the use of increased tensions, threats, and provocations to gain political and economic concessions). We should heed the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on north Korea which emphasizes that the priority for nuclear weapons use is coercion. We need to understand that and reply with a superior political warfare strategy that relies on information as the foundation. Recognize, understand, expose, and attack the regime's strategy. Then use information to inform the isolated Korean people in the north which Kim fears more than the combined ROK and US military. provide massive amounts of information from news to entertainment, practical information on how to take collective action and create conditions for change, the truth about north Korea, the regime, and the outside world, and understanding of the unalienable and universal human rights all human beings, including the Korean people in the north, have and that the regime is denying in order to remain in power. We need an agressive, sustained, sophisticated, coordinated and synchronized information program to counter the regime's political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies as well as to inform and educate the ROK US publics and the international community and inoculate everyone against the north Korean propaganda and influence operations. We have paid a lot of lip service to all of this over the years. Now we need to adopt a nike approach: "just do it."

(4th LD) N. Korea's Kim vows 'stronger' offensive with successful launch of solid-fuel ICBM | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · July 13, 2023

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photo)

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Thursday it test-fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day, with its leader Kim Jong-un threatening to take "stronger" military offensive to deter the United States and South Korea.

Guided by the North's leader, the country launched a new Hwasong-18 ICBM in a test designed to confirm the technical credibility and operational reliability of the "core weapon system," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

It marked North Korea's second solid-propellant ICBM launch following its first test-firing on April 13.

"The test-fire is an essential process aimed at further developing the strategic nuclear force of the Republic and, at the same time, serves as a strong practical warning to clearly show the adversaries of the DPRK," the KCNA said, using the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North's firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

The latest test showed a marked improvement in North Korea's ICBM technology, as the missile's flight time of 74 minutes and 51 seconds was the longest ever for a North Korean long-range missile.

The KCNA said the Hwasong-18, fired at a lofted angle, flew 1,001.2 kilometers for 4,491 seconds at a maximum altitude of 6,648.4 km, before accurately landing in a pre-set area in the East Sea.

If launched on a standard trajectory, the missile could have flown more than 15,000 km, demonstrating a capability that would put the whole of the U.S. mainland within range, according to experts.

The North's leader Kim said the latest missile launch is part of the regime's efforts to bolster self-defense against "reckless" military moves by the U.S. and South Korea.

"A series of stronger military offensive will be launched until the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors admit their shameful defeat of their useless hostile policy toward the DPRK in despair and give up their policy," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

In a regular press briefing, Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson of Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored that the South Korean military, in coordination with the U.S., is maintaining a "firm" readiness posture based on "overwhelming" response capabilities.

"(The allies) reaffirmed they will further solidify their combined defense posture against any North Korean threats and provocations," Lee said. "We will work to realize peace through strength based on the alliance's overwhelming military forces."

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un conducting field guidance for a test-firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

The provocation came as Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, issued sharp-tongued statements earlier this week claiming U.S. military spy aircraft "intruded" into the area over the North's exclusive economic zone.

She warned the North will take "clear and resolute" actions against U.S. surveillance flights within the North's "economic water zone," claiming a "shocking" incident could occur.

A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the high-tech weapon systems that the recalcitrant regime has vowed to develop, along with a military spy satellite and a nuclear-powered submarine.

Solid-fuel missiles are known to be harder to detect ahead of launch than liquid-propellant ones, which require more prelaunch preparations, such as the injection of fuel.

The secretive regime has been striving to develop a solid-fuel ICBM as part of efforts to strengthen its nuclear delivery capabilities, as Seoul and Washington seek to improve the credibility of America's "extended deterrence."

Extended deterrence refers to Washington's readiness to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.

Pyongyang denounced the allies' summit declaration on extended deterrence adopted in April, saying the regional security situation has reached the phase of a "nuclear crisis beyond the Cold War."

The U.S. had pledged to send a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to the peninsula in the Washington Declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit in April as part of efforts to deter Pyongyang's military threats.

The current security situation requires North Korea to "put spurs to bolster the capability of self-defense and strengthen nuclear war deterrence" against the hostile forces, the KCNA said.

The North's latest saber-rattling also followed its botched launch of a space rocket carrying its first military reconnaissance satellite in late May. The rocket crashed into the Yellow Sea after an "abnormal starting" of the second-stage engine, according to the North's state media.

In a report to the National Assembly, Seoul's unification ministry said Pyongyang apparently intensified its provocative acts to break through the "unfavorable" political situations.

Observers said the latest ICBM launch might be intended to bolster internal unity following the failed satellite launch and ahead of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War on July 27, celebrated as Victory Day in North Korea.

Why North Korea's latest missile test is even more threatening to the U.S.

Youtube

https://youtu.be/yIHKzvnO5p8

This photo, carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023, shows the North firing of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · July 13, 2023

4. U.S. condemns N. Korea's ICBM test, calls on Pyongyang to engage in dialogue

As Christopher Walken said on SNL, need more cowbell (information)

(LEAD) U.S. condemns N. Korea's ICBM test, calls on Pyongyang to engage in dialogue | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Duk-Kun Byun · July 13, 2023

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from a state department spokesperson, additional information from 11th para; ADDS photo)

By Byun Duk-kun

WASHINGTON, July 12 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Wednesday condemned North Korea's latest long-range ballistic missile test as a brazen violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, while calling on Pyongyang to engage in serious dialogue.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NSC) said the U.S. also calls on other countries to condemn North Korea's latest provocation.

"The United States strongly condemns the DPRK for its test of a long-range ballistic missile," NSC spokesperson Adam Hodge said in a released statement, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"This launch is a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region," he added.

People watch a TV report on North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the East Sea at Seoul Station on July 12, 2023. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch from an area in or around Pyongyang at about 10 a.m., and the missile, fired at a lofted angle, flew around 1,000 kilometers before splashing into the water. (Yonhap)

The South Korean military earlier said the North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea at around 10 a.m. on Wednesday (Korea time), its first ICBM test in about three months.

"This action demonstrates that the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people,' said Hodge.

North Korea has fired nearly 100 ballistic missiles since last year, including an unprecedented 69 ballistic missiles in 2022, which marked a new record of ballistic missiles launched in a year.

The NSC spokesperson called on North Korea to cease its provocations while reaffirming U.S. commitment to the defense of its allies.

"We urge all countries to condemn these violations and call on the DPRK to come to the table for serious negotiations," said the released statement.

"The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement. The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies," it added.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington on July 12, 2023 in this captured image. (Yonhap)

State Department Press Secretary Matthew Miller reiterated the need to hold North Korea accountable for its ICBM test.

"I would say that the United States strongly condemns the DPRK for its test of an intercontinental ballistic missile," he said when asked about the North's latest missile test during a daily press briefing, calling it a "brazen violation" of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

He added the U.S. is working closely with its allies and partners to assess the situation in the region.

Meanwhile, the head of South Korea's People Power Party, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, and other members of the ruling party were briefed on the North's latest missile provocation by NSC Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell earlier in the day, according to a party official.

Kim arrived here Monday on a weeklong trip that will also take him to New York and Los Angeles.

bdk@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Duk-Kun Byun · July 13, 2023

5. Campbell gives emergency security briefing to PPP delegation after N.K. missile launch

Good agility by our national security staff. And Kim Jong Un has provided the "opening remarks" for the new Nuclear Consultative Group that will meet on 18 July.

Campbell gives emergency security briefing to PPP delegation after N.K. missile launch | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · July 13, 2023

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell gave an emergency security briefing to a delegation of South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP) in Washington after North Korea's latest long-range missile launch, lawmakers said.

On Wednesday, Pyongyang fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea, the first launch in about three months, demonstrating significant progress in its pursuit of long-range nuclear missiles capable of reaching the United States.

The firing came as the PPP delegation, led by leader Kim Gi-hyeon, was in Washington to discuss ways to strengthen the alliance between the two countries. Campbell invited the lawmakers to the White House for a surprise briefing Wednesday (local time).

During the 40-minute meeting, Campbell stressed that South Korea and the U.S. should further strengthen the alliance between the two countries, as well as trilateral security cooperation with Japan, to cope with growing threats from North Korea, according to Rep. Kang Min-kuk.

Campbell was also quoted as expressing support for President Yoon Suk Yeol's call for a strong collective security posture with Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Yoon made the remark while meeting with his counterparts from the AP4 -- South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand -- on the sidelines of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit.

The previously unscheduled briefing lasted approximately 40 minutes, following a luncheon meeting held the previous day. Reps. Kim, Kang and Lee Chul-gyu were in attendance.

Kim is leading a delegation of party members on the seven-day trip, which also includes stops in New York and Los Angeles for meetings with U.S. government officials and congressional leaders. The delegation has departed for New York.

This photo, provided by the ruling People Power Party, shows its leader, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon (R), shaking hands with White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell in Washington on July 11, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

khj@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · July 13, 2023

6. Another Significant Great Event Recorded in Developing Strategic Force of DPRK Test-fire of New-type ICBM Conducted Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Guides Test-fire of ICBM Hwasongpho-18

Just so we have an understanding of north Korean propaganda about the test launch.

We have to study and interpret this language. I am sure the scientists are breathing a sigh of relief with an apparent successful launch.

Excerpts:

Expressing great satisfaction over the results of the test-fire, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said with pleasure that this eventual success which fully demonstrated the might of the DPRK fully equipped with the firm nuclear war deterrence for self-defence and the overwhelming offensive power serves as another important stride in developing the strategic force of the DPRK.

Noting that the present unstable situation in which the security environment on the Korean peninsula is being seriously threatened by the hostile forces every moment requires more intense efforts to implement the line of bolstering nuclear war deterrent set forth by the Eighth Congress of the WPK, he clarified again that there will be no change and vacillation in the strategic line and policy of the WPK and the DPRK government to steadily accelerate the development of more developed, effective and reliable weapon system.

Saying that as the reality shows, it is a recognized law that only more surprising events will be ceaselessly recorded in the DPRK's advance for bolstering the national defence capability as the hostile forces' military threat and challenges get ever more escalated, he reaffirmed that a series of stronger military offensive will be launched until the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors admit their shameful defeat of their useless hostile policy toward the DPRK in despair and give up their policy.

He set forth the strategic tasks for the sector of the national defence science in dynamically promoting the bolstering of the nuclear strategic force of the DPRK.

He extended warm congratulations and thanks to all the scientists and technicians in the national defence scientific research field who made a history of eternal victory for the times and future through the great success in the test of new strategic weapon system ahead of the 70th anniversary of the significant war victory day won by the great Korean people, totally shattering the myth of the "mightiness" of the U.S. imperialists.

All the national defence scientists made a firm pledge to fulfill their important mission and duty they assumed before the Party, revolution, country and people. -0-

Another Significant Great Event Recorded in Developing Strategic Force of DPRK Test-fire of New-type ICBM Conducted Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Guides Test-fire of ICBM Hwasongpho-18

https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1689201276-630876855/another-significant-great-event-recorded-in-developing-strategic-force-of-dprk-test-fire-of-new-type-icbm-conducted-respected-comrade-kim-jong-un-guides-test-fire-of-icbm-hwasongpho-18/

Date: 13/07/2023 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source

Pyongyang, July 13 (KCNA) -- As a part of the efforts to bolster the just right to self-defence to reliably defend the security of our state and regional peace from disaster of a nuclear war and thoroughly deter the dangerous military moves of the hostile forces, the General Missile Bureau conducted the test-fire of new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-18, the core weapon system of the strategic force of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on July 12.

The test-fire was conducted according to the strategic judgment and crucial decision of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) at a grave period when the military security situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region has reached the phase of nuclear crisis beyond the Cold War era as the U.S. and its vassal forces' unprecedented military provocations against the DPRK have been intensified.

The U.S. cooked up the "Washington Declaration", a programme for nuclear confrontation with the DPRK, in April. It is openly planning to discuss the use of nuclear weapons against our state through a meeting of the U.S.-south Korea "Nuclear Consultative Group" which will be the parent body of the U.S.-Japan-south Korea "tripartite nuclear alliance". It is driving the regional situation to the brink of an unprecedented nuclear war, while dispatching nuclear-powered submarine and nuclear strategic bomber to the Korean peninsula and its vicinity anytime under the pretext of increasing the "visibility" of the U.S. strategic assets.

What matters more serious attention is that the U.S. clinging to extremely provocative aerial espionage acts even while encroaching upon the sovereign territory of the DPRK is planning to reintroduce nuclear weapons into the Korean peninsula by sending a U.S. nuclear submarine carrying strategic nukes to south Korea for the first time in 40 years.

Such military reckless moves of the U.S. are the provocative act of aggressiveness pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula to the actual situation of armed conflict from A to Z, far beyond the constant military readiness posture targeting its belligerent party, and have irreversible negative influence on the regional military and political situation and security structure.

The present situation, in which the U.S. and south Korea's frantic confrontation attempts that will bring a new chain of nuclear crises to the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia are nearing an intolerable critical point, requires the DPRK to put spurs to bolster the capability for self-defence and strengthening the nuclear war deterrence for self-defence in order to deter the reckless political and military provocations of the hostile forces by physical force and to impregnably defend itself.

The test-fire is an essential process aimed at further developing the strategic nuclear force of the Republic and, at the same time, serves as a strong practical warning to clearly show the adversaries of the DPRK, that make clearer the policy of nuclear threat to the DPRK, the unwavering will to overwhelmingly counter them and the entity of physical strength, and to clearly make the enemies realize the danger and recklessness of their anti-DPRK military option once again.

Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, personally guided the test-fire of a new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-18 on the spot.

The test-fire was aimed at re-confirming the technical creditability and operational reliability of the new-type ICBM weapon system.

In consideration of the security of the neighboring countries and the safety of domestic in-flight multi-stage separation, the test-fire was conducted in the way of setting the first stage as a standard ballistic flight mode and the second and third stages as high-angle flight mode and of confirming the technical characteristics of every component of the weapon system in the maximum range system.

When the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un mounted the central command observation post to approve the test-fire of a new-type strategic weapon, General Kim Jong Sik issued a launch order to the Second Red Flag Company under the General Missile Bureau in charge of the test-fire mission.

The moment, a grand explosion heralding the entity of the strategic weapon fully loaded with our strength and technology blasted while shaking the whole planet, and a huge body soared into the sky, blowing off a shower of fire.

The test-fire had no negative effect on the security of the neighboring countries.

The missile traveled up to a maximum altitude of 6 648.4 km and flew a distance of 1 001.2 km for 4 491s before accurately landing on the preset area in the open waters off the East Sea of Korea.

All the new records confirmed through the test-fire proved the capability, reliability and military utility of the new-type strategic weapon system and undoubtedly verified the dependability of the nuclear strategic force of the DPRK.

The Hwasongpho-18 weapon system, equipped and operated by the strategic force of the DPRK under the long-term plan for building the state nuclear force, will perform its mission and duty as the most powerful, core main force means for thoroughly deterring and overwhelmingly responding to diverse threat of a nuclear war and provocative acts of aggression against the DPRK and reliably defending the security of the DPRK.

Expressing great satisfaction over the results of the test-fire, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said with pleasure that this eventual success which fully demonstrated the might of the DPRK fully equipped with the firm nuclear war deterrence for self-defence and the overwhelming offensive power serves as another important stride in developing the strategic force of the DPRK.

Noting that the present unstable situation in which the security environment on the Korean peninsula is being seriously threatened by the hostile forces every moment requires more intense efforts to implement the line of bolstering nuclear war deterrent set forth by the Eighth Congress of the WPK, he clarified again that there will be no change and vacillation in the strategic line and policy of the WPK and the DPRK government to steadily accelerate the development of more developed, effective and reliable weapon system.

Saying that as the reality shows, it is a recognized law that only more surprising events will be ceaselessly recorded in the DPRK's advance for bolstering the national defence capability as the hostile forces' military threat and challenges get ever more escalated, he reaffirmed that a series of stronger military offensive will be launched until the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors admit their shameful defeat of their useless hostile policy toward the DPRK in despair and give up their policy.

He set forth the strategic tasks for the sector of the national defence science in dynamically promoting the bolstering of the nuclear strategic force of the DPRK.

He extended warm congratulations and thanks to all the scientists and technicians in the national defence scientific research field who made a history of eternal victory for the times and future through the great success in the test of new strategic weapon system ahead of the 70th anniversary of the significant war victory day won by the great Korean people, totally shattering the myth of the "mightiness" of the U.S. imperialists.

All the national defence scientists made a firm pledge to fulfill their important mission and duty they assumed before the Party, revolution, country and people. -0-

www.kcna.kp (Juche112.7.13.)

7. Yoon says S. Korea to open embassy in Lithuania

The Global Pivotal State. And more job opportunities for MOFA diplomats.

Yoon says S. Korea to open embassy in Lithuania | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · July 13, 2023

By Lee Haye-ah

WARSAW, July 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Wednesday and formally informed him of Seoul's decision to open an embassy in Vilnius, his office said.

The two held a summit in Vilnius on the sidelines of a gathering of leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which South Korea was invited to as a partner nation.

Yoon called for expanding cooperation with Lithuania -- a leading nation in laser technology -- in bio and other cutting-edge industries, and Nauseda expressed his agreement, saying he hopes to increase cooperation with South Korea's leading semiconductor and display businesses.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) shakes hands with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda during their talks in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023, on the sidelines of a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Nauseda especially expressed interest in South Korean self-propelled artillery and other weapons systems.

Yoon formally informed Nauseda of Seoul's decision to open an embassy in Vilnius for the development of bilateral relations, and the Lithuanian president thanked him for the decision, saying he hopes the two countries will further increase mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation through their permanent missions to the other country.

Lithuania opened its embassy in Seoul in 2021.

Yoon also met separately with the leaders of Estonia, Slovakia and Finland.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) holds talks with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023, on the sidelines of a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Yoon and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas agreed their two countries' cooperation in the digital and cyber security sectors has been meaningful, while noting the increasing cooperation in arms.

The two discussed recent issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Ukraine and committed to working closely together to quickly restore peace in Ukraine.

In his meeting with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, Yoon asked for her attention and support for the smooth operation of South Korean businesses in her country.

Caputova said she hopes South Korean companies will invest more in Slovakia, especially in the electric vehicle battery sector, and promised to provide support for their stable operations.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) shakes hands with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova during their talks in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023, on the sidelines of a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Yoon and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto agreed to strengthen cooperation not only in science and technology and arms, but also in supporting startups, handling radioactive waste and jointly researching 6G networks.

Yoon congratulated Finland on its accession to NATO in April, and the two leaders reaffirmed the solidarity of the international community in assisting Ukraine while agreeing to cooperate closely to swiftly restore peace in the war-torn nation.

In all four meetings, Yoon requested support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern city of Busan, according to his office.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) shakes hands with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto during their talks in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023, on the sidelines of a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

hague@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · July 13, 2023

8. Nuke envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan strongly denounce N. Korea's ICBM test

Another indication of Kim's failure. The strength of ROK/Japan/US cooperation and international support for the ROK grows with each provocation by the regime.

(LEAD) Nuke envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan strongly denounce N. Korea's ICBM test | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · July 12, 2023

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 3 paras)

SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan "strongly" condemned North Korea's latest launch of a long-range missile during their phone talks on Wednesday, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Earlier in the day, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea, according to the South's military, in its latest provocation after the recalcitrant regime warned of military action over U.S. spy aircraft operations earlier this week.

In their phone consultations, Seoul's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Gunn, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi, respectively, denounced the missile launch as a "grave violation" of U.N. Security Council resolutions that "cannot be justified in any way."

The three sides agreed to respond sternly to the North's provocations based on a robust combined defense posture between Washington and Seoul, and security cooperation among the South, U.S. and Japan, the ministry said in a press release.

The envoys also agreed to continue close cooperation to carry out a unified international response against Pyongyang's illicit nuclear and missile development.

South Korean chief nuclear negotiator Kim Gunn (C) poses for a photo with his U.S. counterpart, Sung Kim (R), and Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, prior to talks on North Korea's denuclearization at the foreign ministry in Seoul on April 7, 2023. (Yonhap)

South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are also said to be mulling holding a foreign ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Jakarta this week, during which they will likely discuss joint responses to the North's missile launch.

It remains uncertain whether North Korea will send its foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, to the security forum, but it appears more likely that An Kwang-il, the North's ambassador to Indonesia, or a North Korean official at a lower level than Choe will attend this year's forum.

The ARF is a rare international gathering that North Korean officials have regularly attended, and it brings together top diplomats from 27 countries, including the United States, China, Japan and the European Union.

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · July 12, 2023

9. South Korea’s GDP ranking falls to 13th

Oops. The pendulum will continue to swing.

South Korea’s GDP ranking falls to 13th

donga.com

Posted July. 13, 2023 07:54,

Updated July. 13, 2023 07:54

South Korea’s GDP ranking falls to 13th. July. 13, 2023 07:54. abro@donga.com,facthee@donga.com.

The Bank of Korea released a report stating that South Korea’s GDP ranking, which held the 10th position for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021, dropped out of the top 10 within three years. This decline can be attributed to several factors, including the rise in the exchange rate, which resulted in a decrease in the dollar-denominated price. Additionally, there has been a decline in key export items, particularly semiconductors.

According to the Bank of Korea’s report released on Wednesday, South Korea’s nominal GDP last year is estimated to be 1.6733 trillion dollars, marking a 7.9 percent year-on-year decrease. However, in terms of Korean won, the nominal GDP increased by 3.9 percent, reaching 2161.8 trillion won. This discrepancy is primarily due to the 12.9 percent average rise in the won-dollar exchange rate, resulting in a decrease in nominal GDP when measured in dollars. Nominal GDP is a crucial indicator of a country’s economic size, representing the total value of all goods and services produced within a given year. South Korea’s nominal GDP ranking has experienced fluctuations in recent years. It ranked 10th in 2018, dropped to 12th in 2019, and returned to the 10th position in both 2020 and 2021 for two consecutive years.

한국어

donga.com

10. S. Korea's economy drops out of global top 10

Additional useful information and perspective  about Korea's GDP ranking.

S. Korea's economy drops out of global top 10

donga.com

Posted July. 13, 2023 07:53,

Updated July. 13, 2023 07:53

S. Korea's economy drops out of global top 10. July. 13, 2023 07:53. .

South Korea's economy was provisionally ranked as the 13th largest in the world last year. The economy’s ranking, which stood at the 10th largest for two years in a row, has fallen out of the top 10, dropping three spots. This is because the country allowed natural resource-rich countries Russia, Brazil, and Australia to overtake it. This is largely due to the exchange rate effect of the weakening Korean won. However, due to the deteriorating internal and external environment surrounding the Korean economy, it is not easy to predict when the country will be able to rejoin the league of the 10 largest economies.

South Korea's nominal gross domestic product, calculated by the Bank of Korea at market exchange rates, was 1.67 trillion U.S. dollars last year, down 7.9 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, Russia, Australia, and Brazil, which ranked 11th through 13th in 2021, surpassed South Korea by increasing their GDP in dollars last year. South Korea, which first ranked 10th in 2005, has been on and off the list since then, standing at 10th place for two years from 2000.

The drop in ranking is directly attributed to the "King Dollar" phenomenon and the depreciation of the won. While South Korea's won-denominated GDP increased, its dollar-denominated GDP decreased by 7.9 percent due to the 12.9 percent drop in the won’s value. In contrast, the countries that overtook South Korea enjoyed a gain stemming from international price hikes of natural resources such as oil, natural gas, and iron ore that are abundant in those countries.

The problem is that a return to the top 10 is not highly likely anytime soon. The International Monetary Fund's growth forecast for South Korea this year is 1.5 percent, about half of the 2.8 percent growth forecast for the global economy. A dramatic recovery in South Korean exports in this year’s second half is also unlikely, as China's economy continues to slump amid warnings of a deflationary spiral. Moreover, Spain and Mexico, ranked 14th and 15th, respectively, are racing to catch up, with growth forecasts in the 2 percent range, which is higher than South Korea's.

The medium- to long-term outlook is even bleaker. South Korea's potential growth rate is expected to turn negative from 2047 onward as the country's working-age population shrinks due to low birthrates and an aging population. Maintaining the size of the economy with a shrinking population will require significant efficiency gains, but South Korea's labor productivity is just over half that of advanced economies. Labor reforms to address these issues have been stymied by the opposition groups’ framing of flexible working hours as a ‘69-hour workweek.’

The value of a country's currency is a barometer of its current and future economic performance. This is why we should not blame the exchange rate for our declining ranking. The global economy's transition into economic blocs threatens the very foundation of our economy, one of the biggest beneficiaries of free trade. We need to build more and faster the best technologies and companies that will withstand internal and external challenges more and faster. We cannot afford to pause a moment or retreat an inch.

한국어

donga.com

11. Floods to Worsen N.Korea's Dire Food Shortage

More suffering for the Korean people in the north.

Is there a tipping point? With Kim's crackdown on market activity the people are losing their safety mechanism and relief valves.

Kim needs to create the myth of external threats to justify their sacrifice and suffering.

Floods to Worsen N.Korea's Dire Food Shortage

english.chosun.com

July 13, 2023 13:11

Heavy rains will pelt North Korea Thursday and Friday, with up to 300 mm of rain predicted for the Hwanghae provinces, the impoverished country's bread basket.

The Korea Meteorological Administration here said the North will see heavy downpours in the Hwahghae, Hamgyong and Pyongan regions, affected by a strong low-pressure front developing over Tianjin, China.

The resulting floods are likely to aggravate the North's already dire food shortage caused by drought early this year.

According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute here, the North suffered from drought from January to March as a mere 35 mm of rain fell.

Reports say North Koreans are already starving to death as the regime squanders its meager resources on arms development, while imports have declined as a result of international sanctions and the border lockdown in the pandemic.

Kim Jong-un Unbuttons to Oversee Flood Recovery

Pyongyang Elite 'Volunteer' for Flood Recovery Efforts

Kim Jong-un Inspects Typhoon Damage

N.Korean State TV in Rare Live Coverage of Typhoon

Kim Jong-un Releases Special Reserves for Flood Victims

22 Dead, 4 Missing in N.Korea Floods

N.Korea Suffers Devastating Floods

• Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com

english.chosun.com

12. Seoul must brace for Pyongyang’s growing hostility

Too many people are deceived by the regime's use of "Republic of Korea." The regime knows what some people want to hear.

Excerpt:

If the North's use of the term "Republic of Korea" stems from a respectful attitude towards its counterpart, it would be a positive development. However, the intentions behind it are likely the opposite. In the past, North Korea always emphasized "between our people." However, since the breakdown of U.S.-North Korea negotiations in 2019, North Korea has erased the concept of "one people." The secretary position for inter-Korean affairs has disappeared from the party's Secretariat, and the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland is nowhere to be seen. Now, North Korea regards the Republic of Korea as an "enemy foreign country," and their actions and conspiracies against it remain unpredictable. It would be crucial for Seoul to remain vigilant and further strengthen preparedness against Pyongyang.

Seoul must brace for Pyongyang’s growing hostility

donga.com

Posted July. 12, 2023 07:58,

Updated July. 12, 2023 07:58

Seoul must brace for Pyongyang’s growing hostility. July. 12, 2023 07:58. .

North Korea is escalating tensions by threatening a retaliatory response against the "unauthorized intrusion" of U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft. The spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said on Monday morning that U.S. reconnaissance aircraft had violated North Korean airspace for eight consecutive days and mentioned the possibility of "shooting them down," and later that night, Kim Yo Jong, the deputy director of the North Korean Workers' Party, stepped up and stated that the US reconnaissance aircraft had once again violated the "economic zone airspace," prompting a response from fighter jets, and threatened that "a shocking incident will likely occur." On Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong directed a message toward the "military authorities of South Korea," warning them not to meddle in issues between the U.S. and North Korean military.

North Korea's threats against U.S. military aircraft indicate a high possibility of seeking a pretext for new provocations, following the embarrassment caused by recent failed military satellite launches. It may also be a survival strategy to counter the constant appearance of U.S. strategic assets, which has become a headache for the communist regime. However, unlike territorial airspace, North Korea's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) recognizes the freedom of flight, and the U.S. reconnaissance aircraft's flight path was reportedly within the usual range. There may be other motives behind the sudden assertion, accompanied by references to past shoot-down incidents and threats. Moreover, North Korea, which brazenly fired missiles into Japan's EEZ in the past, is by no means in a position to make such claims.

Rather than North Korea's repetitive threatening tactics, what stands out is its attempt to redefine inter-Korean relations. North Korea now refers to South Korea as the "Republic of Korea" instead of the previous term, "South Korea," clearly indicating its intention to view the relationship between the two countries as nation-to-nation and even hostile. On Monday, Kim Yo Jong mixed terms like "traitorous military authorities of South Korea," "Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea," and "a lowly bunch of the Republic of Korea," and the next day, she only used the term "Republic of Korea" without mentioning "South Korea." Recently, when the news of Hyundai Group Chairman's plan to visit North Korea came out, North Korea rejected the proposal through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather instead of organizations dedicated to South Korean affairs like the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

If the North's use of the term "Republic of Korea" stems from a respectful attitude towards its counterpart, it would be a positive development. However, the intentions behind it are likely the opposite. In the past, North Korea always emphasized "between our people." However, since the breakdown of U.S.-North Korea negotiations in 2019, North Korea has erased the concept of "one people." The secretary position for inter-Korean affairs has disappeared from the party's Secretariat, and the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland is nowhere to be seen. Now, North Korea regards the Republic of Korea as an "enemy foreign country," and their actions and conspiracies against it remain unpredictable. It would be crucial for Seoul to remain vigilant and further strengthen preparedness against Pyongyang.

한국어

donga.com

13. North Korea's newest smartphone 'Samtaesong 8' mirrors Samsung Galaxy phones

Can the ROK/US alliance exploit this for information purposes?

North Korea's newest smartphone 'Samtaesong 8' mirrors Samsung Galaxy phones

koreaherald.com · by Park Soong-joo · July 13, 2023

Newest North Korean smartphone Samtaesong 8 featured on the North's state-run television. (KCTV)

A new North Korean smartphone bearing a resemblance to Samsung smartphones called the Samtaesong 8 was recently featured on the North's state-run Korean Central Television.

The phone made its first appearance in a program that promoted the proper and safe usage of smartphones.

According to the North's Korean dictionary, "samtaesong" refers to the "three bright stars" - North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, his wife Kim Jong-suk and his son Kim Jong-il - of their alleged armed resistance against Japanese occupation.

The Samtaesong8 features an exterior design similar to smartphones manufactured by South Korea's Samsung Electronics or China's Huawei. It has dual cameras on the back and one on the front.

While other North Korean smartphone models such as the Pyongyang Touch and Arirang have been reported by the media, the Samtaesong 8 is a new addition.

It has not been confirmed whether the Samtaesong 8 is manufactured in North Korea or imported from China.

Smartphones in North Korea do not have internet access other than the North Korean intranet which can be accessed through a SIM card.

The KCTV advised North Korean viewers to wait 1 to 2 seconds before answering a phone call to avoid electromagnetic waves, adjust the brightness for the eyes, and limit children's screen time.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un seen with a foldable phone that resembles Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip on Wednesday. (KCNA)

Meanwhile, in a photo released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was spotted using what appears to be a foldable phone resembling one from Samsung Galaxy or Huawei.

About 6.5 million to 7 million North Koreans are estimated to have access to cellular networks, according to a 2022 report by the nonprofit think tank Stimson Center.

North Korea is believed to have begun introducing mobile networks in 2002, but they didn't take off until 2008 Koryolink - a joint venture between an Egyptian telecommunications company and the North Korea Post and Telecommunications Corp. -- was launched.

Newest North Korean smartphone Samtaesong 8 featured on the North's state-run television. (KCTV)

Smartphones began rapidly spreading in Pyongyang and other major cities in 2013, and most phones were imported from China until the first locally manufactured smartphone Arirang was introduced to the public in August 2013. According to CNN reports, Arirang phones were sold for $350 in Pyongyang in 2017.

North Korean smartphones are reported to sport high-tech features including artificial intelligence and biometric identification features such as voice and facial recognition.

The number of smartphone users is projected to have increased exponentially, as they have become "essential" for North Koreans, according to the KCTV report.

By Park Soong-joo (soongjoopark@heraldcorp.com)

koreaherald.com · by Park Soong-joo · July 13, 2023

​14. Kim Jong-un may be using Samsung Galaxy foldable, photo shows

 Do as I say, not as I. do. He can use South Korean products but the Korean people cannot.

Thursday

July 13, 2023

 dictionary + A - A 

Kim Jong-un may be using Samsung Galaxy foldable, photo shows

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/07/13/national/northKorea/Kim-Jongun-Galaxy-Flip-Samsung-Electronics/20230713122401410.html

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watches the launching of an intercontinental ballistic missiles fired on Tuesday. The photo, which was released by the Korean Central News Agency, shows a foldable smartphone placed on the corner of the desk. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

Could North Korean leader Kim Jong-un be using a Samsung Galaxy foldable smartphone? 

North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday released a photo of Kim watching the launching of an intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day.

On the corner of a desk in front of Kim is a smartphone, between a pack of cigarettes and an ashtray.

Other personal items on the desk included a can of soda and a box of matches.

The smartphone's brand and model are unclear as the device is wrapped in a dark-colored cover.

However, the image clearly shows that the smartphone is a foldable, which takes the shape of either a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip or Huawei P50.

Samsung has a dominant hold on the global foldable smartphone market, with 62 percent last year, according to Counterpoint Research. Huawei trails behind with 16 percent and Oppo at 3 percent.

The smartphone could have been smuggled through China.

Kim Jong-un at an artiliery drill in March. The picture shows a flat smartphone placed on th desk. [KOREAN NEWS AGENCY]

Kim until March was spotted owning an ordinary flat smartphone, which appeared in a photo released by KCNA when watching an artillery drill with his daughter Ju-ae in March.

Under the United Nations Security Council Resolution adopted in 2017, all electronic devices are banned from being exported to North Korea.

It is well known that Kim is keenly interested in the latest electronic devices.

In a picture that showed Kim overseeing the testing of large-size multiple rocket launchers in August 2019 was a tablet placed on a stand along with matches, a pack of cigarettes and a binocular.

The device had the logo of Apple on it.

However, the back of the tablet, presumed to be an iPad, didn't show where it was built or the serial number.

Kim Jong-un’s iPad on a desk where he was overseeing the testing of large-size multiple rocket launchers in August 2019. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

In 2015 when South Korean reporters visited North Korea for a youth football tournament, they reported on electronic devices that were on display at the International Friendship Exhibition, which is a museum complex in Mount Myohyang, North Pyongan Province.

The museum displays gifts that Kim's grandfather and his father Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-il received from foreign leaders.

The section that displayed the items that Kim Jong-un received included a Lenovo laptop Thinkpad T410 and what appears to be an early iPad model.

BY IM SOUNG-BIN, LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]

15. [ANALYSIS] Is North Korea perfecting solid-fuel ICBM technology?

Certainly it is trying to. It is necessary to present a targeting dilemma for the alliance.

I listened to a nuclear expert yesterday. He explained the north will never develop a viable and assured second strike capability that will really support the highest level of deterrence in the same way we have an assured second strike capability. It is unlikely to develop an effective submarine launch capability with the requisite long duration undersea capabilities necessary for an assured second strike. Obviously they will never have a practical air dropped capability.  BUt he described that if they develop a sufficient number of launch systems and warheads given the regime's excellent denial and deception capabilities as well as some 5000 underground facilities, they could create a situation where there is not the capability by the US to destroy its nuclear capability on a first strike. They may never develop a triad but they could achieve relative assurance of a second strike. Understanding this could create a real deterrence capability for them. I think I sufficiently described what he was explaining to us but I know I could not do his explanation justice.

[ANALYSIS] Is North Korea perfecting solid-fuel ICBM technology?

The Korea Times · July 13, 2023

This photo released Thursday shows North Korea's new Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile being test-launched the previous day. Yonhap

Pyongyang takes one more step toward acquiring harder-to-detect missiles: experts

By Jung Min-ho

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to develop more efficient and reliable weapons as he supervised the second "successful" test of his regime's solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed to strike the U.S., according to state media on Thursday.

The Hwasong-18, fired on a lofted trajectory the previous day, flew 1,001.2 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 6,648 kilometers for 74 minutes before falling into a "targeted area" in waters off its east coast, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The flight time was the longest ever for any North Korean missile. If launched on a standard angle, it could fly more than 15,000 kilometers ― enough to reach the U.S. homeland.

Analysts told The Korea Times that Pyongyang appears to be making progress in developing missiles with built-in solid fuels, which would offer greater mobility and shorter preparation time than liquid ones. Once widely adopted by the North Korean military, the missiles would clearly pose a greater threat to Seoul, they said; but they differed in their opinions over how dangerous they would be for Washington.

Given the large size of telemetry antennas attached near the tip of the missile for collecting data, North Korea appeared to test its full capacity after succeeding the first solid-propellant ICBM test in April, according to Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank.

"North Korea would need more things to prove that it can threaten the U.S. mainland with the missile, such as its atmospheric reentry technology. But what's more clear is that it took another meaningful step toward developing ― and eventually deploying ― solid-fuel missiles. Once the development is finished, North Korea would replace most of its liquid-fuel missiles with them to make a dangerous mix (to South Korea)," he said.

This photo released Thursday shows North Korea's new Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile being test-launched the previous day. Yonhap

Liquid propellants provide greater propulsive thrust and power. But militarily, solid ones are more effective as they do not need to be fueled before launch at the risk of detection; they can remain in storage for a longer period without degrading ― a significant risk to the South Korea- U.S. missile defense system that relies on detection capabilities.

Cha Du-hyeogn, a senior researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, a think tank, also believes North Korea will eventually acquire solid-fuel missiles. But he remains skeptical that it will be able to develop all the advanced technologies required for them to reach the U.S. mainland any time soon.

"The latest test is no game changer," he said. "I think the test was chiefly aimed at turning the attention from North Korea's humiliating failure in the recent satellite rocket launch."

In fact, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters the same day that intelligence officials were assessing the possibility that the missile was fired without carrying any warhead in order to ensure the mission would be a success the regime needed for political reasons.

This photo, released Thursday, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, smiling after the test launch of a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day. Yonhap

Some experts, however, think that North Korea's nuclear threat to the U.S. ― and, therefore, to its alliance with South Korea ― should not be underestimated. To a certain extent, North Korea proved that its long-range missiles, launched on a lofted trajectory, can reenter the atmosphere and that the missiles could possibly reach America. They may not be precise; however, "with nuclear warheads, they don't have to be precise to pose a significant threat to the U.S.," said a military analyst, who refused to be named.

At the test site, North Korea's Kim blamed Seoul and Washington for rising tensions, saying his "aggressive military policy" will continue until the two change their hostile stance toward the North.

"The policy direction and strategy of developing efficient and reliable weapons systems will never change," he was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

The Korea Times · July 13, 2023

16. Facing expanded war (comparing wars in Ukraine and Korea)

Facing expanded war

The Korea Times · July 13, 2023

By Donald Kirk

LONDON ― The world descends into war by stages that might appear almost imperceptible to billions obsessed with fast-rising prices and the quest for daily survival.

For most of us, the proxy war in Ukraine remains a distant contest in which Ukrainian forces fight with foreign weapons, mostly American and British. Their Russian enemy is cumbersome, awkward, demoralized and badly led but not about to compromise or go home as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power.

On a personal level, we do not have to worry too much since no American lives, or the lives of the citizens of any of America's 30 NATO partners, are on the line. The Ukrainians are fighting for themselves.

Against this background, escalation happens one step at a time. The Americans are now training Ukrainian pilots on F16s, the "fighting falcons" deemed capable of combating Russian MiG and Sukhoi fighters.

Then just last week, President Joe Biden said, fine, we'll provide cluster bombs needed to wipe out Russian units much more efficiently than artillery shells, which might take out individual targets while those nearby dive for cover. The fact that cluster bombs were responsible for far more civilian than military casualties in both the Vietnam and Iraq wars does not seem to have impressed the American president.

Stopping off in London on the way to this week's NATO summit in Lithuania, Biden briefed Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on all that he was doing, most recently the decision for deploying cluster bombs.

Never mind how many thousands of Vietnamese were killed by unexploded bomblets sprayed around in clusters. We're still getting reports of killings by cluster bombs long after the last U.S. forces withdrew from "South" Vietnam more than half a century ago.

Escalation of the weaponry in Ukraine begs the question: will NATO, led by the United States, slip from weaponizing and financing Ukrainian forces to joining the war as a participant? Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for the U.S. Air Force to enforce a "no-fly zone" that would call for zapping Russian planes over Ukraine ― a step that would draw the U.S. inexorably into open conflict with the Russians.

Also, Zelenskyy wants NATO to accept Ukraine as a member. Were that to happen, NATO countries would have to send their own troops into Ukraine. That's because the basis of the alliance is that any attack on a single NATO nation is an attack on all of them, to which they are treaty-bound to respond.

That is the same as the response to any attack on South Korea. U.S. and South Korean troops, under the U.S.-Korea alliance, both respond to North Korean threats, and both would go to war in the event of armed aggression by North Korea and/or the North's powerful friends, China and Russia.

We have grown quite complacent about the chances of a North Korean attack on the South. Korean and American bases might make tempting targets, but somehow we do not think Kim Jong-un will make good on his persistent threats. Rhetoric from Pyongyang by Kim Jong-un and his younger sister Yo-jong is largely ignored other than as fodder for another round of headlines.

Ukraine, though, is rather different. The war has not stabilized into well-defined lines of control resembling that across the Korean Peninsula where the shooting stopped 70 years ago this month. The sense is that the lines in Ukraine are fluid and shifting. From afar, it is not clear which side is winning despite reports of offensives by either side.

Every escalatory move, however, adds to the fear that the next move will bring NATO full force into war with Russia. That's a war that no one wants, but you might not know it from the vows among NATO leaders meeting in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius to keep the fight going with more and better weapons.

It's appropriate that Vilnius should have been the setting for the latest NATO confab on elevating Ukraine's defense in a war that could go on for years.

The irony is that, while NATO leaders talked about pouring more and better arms into Ukraine, Lithuania, the host country, is less than secure. It's often said that Lithuania and the two other Baltic countries, Latvia and Estonia, might be the next targets in Russia's expansionist drive after Putin is done with Ukraine.

Putin, however, cannot let his instincts get too much the better of him while bogged down in Ukraine. It's even possible that more sensible, sober-minded figures in Moscow will rise to repress his expansionist drive. We can only pray for such a denouement rather than endless escalation of another war without end.

Donald Kirk (www.donaldkirk.com), visiting London, writes from Washington and Seoul.

The Korea Times · July 13, 2023

17. North Korea seeing South Korea as separate nation ‘worrying’: defector-lawmaker

North Korea seeing South Korea as separate nation ‘worrying’: defector-lawmaker

koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · July 13, 2023

North Korea may be beginning to officially re-define its relations with South Korea as two separate nations, according to Rep. Tae Yong-ho of the ruling People Power Party on Thursday.

Tae said that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, referring to South Korea by its official name, Republic of Korea, in recent statements may be an attempt to recognize it as an independent nation.

Speaking at a plenary session of the National Assembly’s unification committee, Tae said the use of South Korea's official name signals a “worrying shift” in North Korea’s view of the South.

Tae, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to Seoul in 2016, said the move to consider South Korea as a separate nation began in September 2022, with the new North Korean law outlining parameters for nuclear arms use.

He said that the law states that North Korea would use preemptive nuclear strikes even against non-nuclear states in case of a perceived imminent attack against its leadership.

“By regarding South Korea as a separate nation, North Korea is abandoning its ‘special status’ as a divided country pursuing re-unification and closing the legal loophole. South Korea may just well be one of the non-nuclear nations specified by the law,” he said.

“The Unification Ministry ought to question or correct North Korea’s use of our official name.”

Rep. Kwon Young-se, who is due to end his term as Minister of Unification, said in response that while it was unclear what Kim Yo-jong intended by her use of the official name, referring to the Koreas as two separate nations was “unacceptable.”

“Under our Constitution, North Korea is part of our land and North Korean people are our people too. Any departure from that interpretation is unacceptable,” he said.

By Kim Arin (arin@heraldcorp.com)

koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · July 13, 2023

18. Rep. Young Kim Talks US-ROK Alliance with ROK Ambassador Cho, Senator Hagerty at the Heritage Foundation

Rep. Young Kim Talks US-ROK Alliance with ROK Ambassador Cho, Senator Hagerty at the Heritage Foundation

youngkim.house.gov · July 12, 2023

Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), who serves as Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, joined U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States Hyundong Cho for the Heritage Foundation’s The 2023 B.C. Lee Lecture: The Future of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance in the Indo-Pacific.

Watch the full conversation HERE and read highlights from Rep. Kim’s remarks below.

On How United States and Republic of Korea can Enhance Deterrence

“I think we need to assure that the United States and its allies work more closely so that we can build the security assurance and counter the aggression that we see from both China and North Korea collectively. We also […] need to engage more in the multi-nation exercises like RIMPAC. We've seen that. We need to also do more trilateral exercises between us, Japan, and South Korea. During my trip to Japan in April, we were with the Seventh Fleet and saw the exercises and how multiple nations come together to plan and operate together. The message was very clear that they are all doing this with one common threat in mind and that's China. So we need to be doing more there. I think that really ensures the greater interoperability and sends a very, very strong message that we are presenting a unified front against the aggression from China in North Korea at the same time.”

On Inviting South Korean President Yoon Sok Yeol to Address Congress

“I was very glad to be able to welcome President Yoon to Washington and also serve on the escort committee to bring him to the House floor to listen to his address, to the joint sessions. That visit was very, very timely. It couldn't have come at a better time because as Ambassador Cho mentioned, we are now celebrating the 70th year alliance of our US ROK alliance. This is very, very meaningful. When I was named the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee [Chairwoman] early this year and I learned that President Yoon is planning a trip to United States, I immediately went to Chairman McCaul and said, ‘We need to make sure President Yoon can speak at Joint Session, and he encouraged both of us to contact the Speaker to extend the official invitation for president.’… I'm so glad that on our recent CODEL to South Korea, to Asia, including Japan and South Korea, when we landed there, we got the notice that the Speaker has allowed us to officially extend the invitation to President Yoon. […] This is a very, very important time because, again, US-ROK alliance was based on shared values as well as talked about on human rights, democracy, freedom, rule of law, which President Yoon reiterated during his speech and also during all of the meetings, even at the White House with President Biden. So that was very significant.”

On the Korean War, How She Felt During President Yoon’s Speech

“[President Yoon and I] talked about the miracle of Han River. Every time I go back to Korea and I get to travel and pass through [the] Han River, I talk about the ‘before and after’ the Korean War. During the either 60th or previous [anniversary] of US ROK alliance, the South Korean government has commissioned to produce a historical pictorial book, ‘Korea Before and After.’ So you see all the photos before Korean War are black and white. All the photos after the Korean War are obviously in color to signify the development and how far Korea has come. I use that to whenever I meet with the veterans of the Korean War. Throughout my work in the district, I always present them with a book, and they are in tears. This is what I was thinking about when I was listening to President Yoon’s speech […] who would have thought 50 some years later, this young girl who immigrated from South Korea will be in the same room welcoming South Korean president to the House floor and be able to serve with you like this as a chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific. […] This was very, very emotional to me personally.”

On Humanitarian Aid to North Korean People

“With regard to providing food and medicine and other type of humanitarian support to North Korea, I would welcome that.

[…] I have to remind you that the United States has offered humanitarian assistance many times. And I know South Korea also offered to provide COVID 19 vaccines, but it was Kim Jong un who refuse to accept those to the perils of its own people. So even if Pyongyang loosens its COVID 19 restrictions, I'm not sure if Kim Jong Un is ready to accept our offers – very generous offer from United States, South Korea and other allies in the in the area.”

On the Biden Administration’s Approach to North Korea

“[President Biden] came into the office emphasizing his commitment to promote human rights around the globe. But there has been a lot of talk and less action, or should I say action that hasn't come fast enough. I can point to three areas, like it was just December of last year when we finally saw a new wave of U.S. sanctions on individuals or groups that are involved in the human rights violation in North Korea.This was the first time since President Biden came into office and it was more than a year, almost a year, when we saw a nominee for the U.S. ambassador ship to South Korea. That was in a way overdue. And lastly, it was only recently when President Biden's nominated a Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights. […] These positions that have been left unfilled have really undermined our efforts to address the human rights abroad and globally. And so that's why I am really serious about making sure that human rights, not just on North Korea issues, but how China is treating its own people and especially in the weaker region. We saw what happened with Taiwan, Hong Kong. We have to speak out, and now we have to work closely, bring a unified voice to let those authoritarian dictators know that we're not going to tolerate this anymore.”

youngkim.house.gov · July 12, 2023

19. North Korea’s new missile tests exposes Kim’s limited options

"Sometimes a cucumber is just a cucumber." A test is just a test.

North Korea’s new missile tests exposes Kim’s limited options

washingtontimes.com · by Andrew Salmon

By - The Washington Times - Wednesday, July 12, 2023

SEOUL — North Korea test-fired a long-range ballistic missile on Wednesday, its first since the launch of a reconnaissance satellite that failed to reach orbit and splashed into the Yellow Sea on May 31.

South Korean military officials detected the launch mid-morning local time. The missile, hefted at a lofted angle from a site near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, flew around 620 miles before splashing into the Sea of Japan.

North Korean state media have not yet confirmed the test. Analysts in Seoul were divided over whether the intercontinental ballistic missile was a liquid-fuel Hwasong-17 or a more advanced, solid-fuel Hwasong-18 the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hoped to deploy. Solid fuel missiles can be prepared for firing more quickly, frustrating a possible preemptive strike.

Wednesday’s launch follows public warnings in North Korean state media this week by Kim Yo-jong, Mr. Kim’s high-profile sister, against U.S. reconnaissance flights. Ms. Kim alleged that U.S. spy planes have been buzzing North Korean airspace off the isolated country’s eastern coast.

The latest launch was quickly condemned by Seoul and Tokyo, citing U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from obtaining ballistic missile technologies. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who along with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in Lithuania this week as part of an Indo-Pacific delegation of leaders to the NATO summit, convened his National Security Council via video conference and vowed to make North Korea pay for its action.

As has been the case since Russia invaded Ukraine, neither Russia nor China condemned the North Korean test Wednesday, despite their status as permanent members of the Security Council.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters in Tokyo that the missile flew for 74 minutes — the longest flight time recorded by any weapon launched by North Korea, the Associated Press reported. The previous record of 71 minutes was registered during the test flight of the liquid-fuel Hwasong-17 ICBM last year.

But despite the hostile action, some in South Korea said the North’s reliance on continued tests of long-displayed technologies exposes the narrowness of Mr. Kim’s options when it comes to confronting the U.S. and its allies in the region.

Cucumbers and tests

One more test of a weapon already known to the enemy doesn’t send much of a message, according to Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Seoul‘s Kookmin University.

“Sometimes a cucumber is just a cucumber,” he said. “They want to develop a reliable force of ICBMs capable of hitting the U.S. and in order to do so, they have to do a great deal of testing.”

The wide range of ballistic missiles North Korea fields — from elusive short-range sub-atmospheric models to ICBMs able to hit the U.S. mainland, a capability first showcased in 2017 — require extensive proof of capabilities to have credible deterrent value.

Alternatively, bruised national pride and past test failures may have figured in today’s test. Wednesday’s apparently successful launch could reassure Mr. Kim’s public, laboring under COVID-closed borders and difficult living conditions, that Pyongyang remains capable of holding off the country’s perceived enemies.

“Due to the failure of the satellite launch, they hurt their reputation, so they were bound to fire another test missile,” said Kim Jeong-ro, vice president of Seoul’s Council for Diplomacy on Korean Reunification. “I don’t see anything special about this missile.”

Components of the failed May satellite and its launch vehicle were recovered by South Korea’s navy and were judged to have minimal realistic utility.

If true, that would be a blow to Pyongyang. Reconnaissance satellites and data-networked artillery and missiles have proven critical in combat in Ukraine.

Since early 2022, the Biden administration, South Korea and the region have been bracing for what would be the North’s seventh test of a nuclear bomb, perhaps a less powerful tactical nuclear weapon to complement Pyongyang’s existing nuclear arsenal.

But the Kim regime has not tested a nuclear device of any kind since 2017, and the delay is starting to raise larger questions.

“I don’t think they are short of fissile materials,” Mr. Lankov said. “Most likely, they have technical issues — tactical nukes are difficult to make.”

More cautious

Analysts say Mr. Kim, unlike his father and grandfather who ran the country in the decades after World War II, has proven more risk-averse directly confronting South Korea and the U.S.

Save for a land-mine ambush in the Demilitarized Zone in 2015, North Korea under Mr. Kim, who took power in 2011, has not directly injured or killed a single South Korean.

While most — though not all — of North Korea‘s deadliest attacks took place during right-leaning administrations in Seoul, the new generation of South Korean conservatives is less tolerant and more hawkish, said one expert.

“I think, Kim realized, at a very early stage, that the South Korean conservatives have a tendency to be unafraid of the consequences of war,” said Chun In-bum, a retired South Korean general. “…He is not going to risk overly challenging South Korean conservatives.”

Still, the wider world cannot assume North Korea has abandoned its hostile policies, said the Council for Diplomacy on Korean Reunification’s Mr. Kim, especially with much of the world’s attention focused elsewhere.

“In the middle of the war in Ukraine, everyone is paying attention to that region, so it is a green light for the North Koreans to test,” he said.

• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.

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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