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Quotes of the Day:
"I would rather quit public life at seventy, and quit it forever, than to retain public life at a sacrifice to my own self-respect. I will not vote for any law which will make fair for me and foul for another. The blacklist is the most cruel form of oppression ever devised by man for the infliction of suffering upon his weaker fellows."
- Joseph Gurney Cannon
"Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments."
- John Steinbeck
"Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody."
- Franklin P. Adams
1. N. Korea's Kim calls for 'drastic boost' of missile production capacity: state media
2. Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Major Munitions Factories
3. N. Korea's Kim slams officials as 'irresponsible' over typhoon damage
4. Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow shift ties 70 years after Korean War
5. How South Korea’s Jamboree debacle fuels concerns about its national security
6. Biden to broker crisis hotline with Japan, South Korea
7. Korea, U.S. to begin Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise next week
8. Top general visits border units to check readiness ahead of major joint drills with U.S.
9. Camp David summit could lead to breakthrough in trilateral ties in East Asia
10. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ “People are stealing unripe corn from the fields” Farms already see a rash of thefts of grains…Security guards given live rounds and even soldiers are deployed
11. 1919 vs 1948: Controversy rekindled over Korea's founding year
12. S. Korea, US to stage ‘realistic, tough’ military exercise against NK threats
13. S. Korea to honor 100 independence fighters on Liberation Day
14. S. Korean Embassy in Tokyo gets bomb threat via email
15. Park to meet US, Japan top diplomats virtually
1. N. Korea's Kim calls for 'drastic boost' of missile production capacity: state media
The Korean people in the north cannot eat missiles (or nuclear weapons).
(2nd LD) N. Korea's Kim calls for 'drastic boost' of missile production capacity: state media | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · August 14, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS details on visit, upcoming S. Korea-U.S. drills, photos)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a "drastic boost" of the country's missile production capacity, the North's state media said Monday, ahead of a key joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States next week.
Kim made the remarks during a two-day visit to major factories that produce tactical missiles and rocket launchers Friday and Saturday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 14, 2023, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un driving a military vehicle during a visit to an arms factory last week. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The visit came less than a week after the North Korean leader conducted a three-day "field guidance" of major munitions factories as South Korea and the United States plan to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which Pyongyang has denounced as a rehearsal for an invasion of the North.
This year's combined military exercise, scheduled for Aug. 21-31, will feature various contingency drills, such as the computer simulation-based command post exercise, concurrent field training and Ulchi civil defense drills.
It also came just days after Kim presided over an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, calling for preparing for a possible war in an "offensive" manner by modernizing munitions factories and mass-producing weapons.
This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 14, 2023, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) visiting an arms factory last week. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
"He set forth an important goal to drastically boost the existing missile production capacity... so as to mass-produce missiles as required by the system of the expanded and strengthened frontline units and missile units and by the operational plans," the KCNA said.
Kim was also quoted as saying that the North's Korean People's Army (KPA) should be equipped with an "overwhelming military force" for "coping with any war at any moment so as to prevent the enemies from daring use their armed forces, and surely annihilate them if they launch an attack."
Such a "qualitative level of war preparations" hinges on the development of the munitions industry, Kim said, again highlighting the role of the arms factories in "speeding up the war preparations" of the KPA, according to the KCNA.
During his visit to a factory producing tactical missile transporter erector launchers (TELs), Kim called for the production of "more modern and highly efficient TELs substantially conducive to the army's perfect war preparations," it said.
This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 14, 2023, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) visiting an arms factory last week. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Photos released by state media show Kim driving what the North called a "newly-developed utility combat armored vehicle" during his visit to one of the factories.
Another photo showed Kim speaking to officials in front of a propaganda banner reading, "Let's sweep away the South Korean puppets," in an apparent message of provocation targeting the South.
North Korea has been ratcheting up tensions on the Korean Peninsula while bolstering its military cooperation with Russia and China in the face of growing trilateral security cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
The reclusive state's invitation of a Russian military delegation last month to mark the 70th armistice anniversary of the Korean War, which included a tour of an arms exhibition, further stoked speculation that the North may seek to export arms to Russia for use in Moscow's war with Kyiv.
In response to Kim's first inspection of munitions factories earlier this month, South Korea's unification ministry said the visit appears to have had "multiple" purposes -- flaunting its military achievements, responding to the South Korea-U.S. military drills and seeking arms exports.
This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 14, 2023, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from L) visiting an arms factory last week. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Kim Jong-un's "drastic" call for missiles as tension escalates
Youtube
https://youtu.be/zXt-c9FxCc8
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · August 14, 2023
2. Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Major Munitions Factories
Excerpts:
Stressing the significance of the rapid development and production of TELs for major weapons to be effectively used in battlefields in accordance with the military strategic plan of the Party Central Committee, he underlined the need to go all out for producing Korean-style TELs with superb quality, under the situation that the demand of units for equipment and the plan for its use were confirmed, and thus unconditionally fulfill the planned production target set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Party.
Saying that to realize the utility in the TEL production presents itself as the primary problem in view of the development of the national defence science and of efficiency under an operational situation, he called for producing more modern and highly efficient TELs substantially conducive to the army's perfect war preparations by steadily updating the design of TEL and focusing efforts on the modernization of production processes.
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Major Munitions Factories
https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1691966204-429621979/respected-comrade-kim-jong-un-inspects-major-munitions-factories/
Date: 14/08/2023 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source
Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, gave field guidance to major munitions factories, including a factory producing tactical missiles, on August 11 and 12 to learn about the munitions production.
He was accompanied by Jo Chun Ryong and Kim Jong Sik.
Inspecting the factory producing tactical missiles, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un acquainted himself in detail with the missile production and the project for reinforcing the production capacity and upgrading the factory.
He expressed satisfaction over the fact that in recent years, the factory has perfected the scientific and technological issues arising in production, put the production processes on an automated and self-supporting basis and pushed ahead with the modernization of equipment while steadily expanding its production capacity, true to the WPK Central Military Commission's instructions on concentrating efforts on the production of tactical missiles, and thus carried out the immediate goal for munitions production as planned without fail.
He highly appreciated the factory for taking timely steps to rapidly establish the production processes of newly developed tactical missiles while turning out tactical missiles under serial production in a mobile way and for steadily pushing ahead with the modernization of the factory.
He set forth an important goal to drastically boost the existing missile production capacity on the basis of the successes already achieved by the factory so as to mass-produce missiles as required by the system of the expanded and strengthened frontline units and missile units and by the operational plans.
The qualitative level of war preparations depends on the development of the munitions industry and the factory bears a very important responsibility in speeding up the war preparations of the Korean People's Army, he said, appealing the factory to bring about a surge in production for war preparations by giving full play to patriotic enthusiasm of the working class.
Kim Jong Un inspected the factory producing tactical missile transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) to learn in detail about the development and production of various TELs.
Stressing the significance of the rapid development and production of TELs for major weapons to be effectively used in battlefields in accordance with the military strategic plan of the Party Central Committee, he underlined the need to go all out for producing Korean-style TELs with superb quality, under the situation that the demand of units for equipment and the plan for its use were confirmed, and thus unconditionally fulfill the planned production target set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Party.
Saying that to realize the utility in the TEL production presents itself as the primary problem in view of the development of the national defence science and of efficiency under an operational situation, he called for producing more modern and highly efficient TELs substantially conducive to the army's perfect war preparations by steadily updating the design of TEL and focusing efforts on the modernization of production processes.
Kim Jong Un inspected the factory producing combat armored vehicles to learn about the development of utility combat armored vehicles, set forth at the Eighth Congress of the WPK.
He highly appreciated the achievements made by the factory in the work to expand and modernize the production capacity of armored vehicles in line with the far-reaching plan and strategic design of the Party Central Committee for bringing about the second revolution of armored forces.
He personally drove a newly-developed utility combat armored vehicle to learn about its militant performance and mobility and advanced the tactical and technical specifications to be reached in the development of Korean-style utility combat armored vehicle and the militant tasks facing the factory.
He also inspected the factory producing large-caliber control multiple rocket launcher shells to learn about the attainment of an important goal set forth by the Party Central Committee, the modernization of production processes and the normalization of multiple rocket launcher shell production.
Noting that the national defence scientific research field has made a great success through dynamic struggle after setting it as the most important work to realize the ballistic precise control of multiple rocket launcher shells, he said that the realization of the control of 122mm and 240mm multiple rocket launcher shells is a great revolution in the field of using multiple rocket launchers as it is a crucial change in the preparations for modern warfare and it can ensure the maximum defeating efficiency. Since a new technology was introduced into the KPA, it is important at present to turn out as one in the shell production so as to further raise the combat capability of the KPA artillery force, he added.
He also noted with appreciation that the factory, deeply aware of its position and importance in bolstering up the artillery force of the KPA, has made great progress in modernizing the production processes and dynamically accelerated the normalization of production by giving full play to the mental power of scientists, technicians and employees and bringing about a revolution in technology and increased production.
Saying that it is very urgent for bolstering up the artillery force of the frontline units to increase the production of control multiple rocket launcher shells at an exponential rate, he stressed the need to ensure boost in the production of shells in keeping with the army's increased operational demand and thus deploy more shells to the frontline units in depth.
He said that the KPA should have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war at any moment so as to prevent the enemies from daring use their armed forces, and surely annihilate them if they launch an attack.
He stressed once again that the munitions factories have a very important role to play in implementing the idea of the 7th Enlarged Meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the WPK on making the KPA more thoroughly gird for a war.
Upon receiving his great trust and important instructions, officials, workers and technicians of major munitions factories made a firm pledge to remain absolutely faithful to the Party's cause with countless achievements in increasing the production of powerful means of war deterrence, deeply cherishing once again their heavy mission to reliably guarantee the completion of war preparations of the KPA for national reunification and defence of the country with the weaponry production. -0-
www.kcna.kp (Juche112.8.14.)
3. N. Korea's Kim slams officials as 'irresponsible' over typhoon damage
Kim will never accept responsibility for the suffering of the Korean people in the north. And all he can do is blame others - even for unrealistic and impossible expectations - as if anyone can prevent typhoon damage.
N. Korea's Kim slams officials as 'irresponsible' over typhoon damage | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · August 14, 2023
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has berated local officials as being "irresponsible" and "insensitive" over their failure to prevent damage from Typhoon Khanun that recently swept through the Korean Peninsula, state media said Monday.
Kim made the remarks during a visit to Anbyon County, Kangwon Province, in the North, where river banks were toppled and some 200 hectares of farmland were flooded due to heavy rains brought by last week's typhoon, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Khanun plowed through South Korea for 16 hours Thursday and dissipated after reaching the vicinity of Pyongyang around 6 a.m. Friday, according to Seoul's weather agency.
This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 14, 2023, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) visiting Anbyon County, Kangwon Province, which suffered damage from Typhoon Khanun. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
"He pointed out that 200-odd hectares of farmlands in Ogye-ri of Anbyon County were flooded, entirely due to extremely chronic and irresponsible work attitude of agricultural guidance organs and Party organizations in the region," the KCNA said.
Kim said the region suffered more serious damage than other typhoon-hit areas as provincial officials were "insensitive" to state measures, and he instructed the officials to bolster the government's response to natural disasters.
Before Khanun hit the country, the North had called for all-out efforts to minimize the potential damage, saying the country's economy could be dealt a blow should it lack preparation.
In a rare move, the North's official Korean Central TV aired news alerts late into the night in an overnight broadcast Thursday. It also ran a nighttime weather program when Typhoon Bavi hit the country in 2020.
North Korea is seen as vulnerable to natural disasters due to its lack of infrastructure. In the past, heavy rains left thousands of people displaced in the impoverished country.
This photo, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 14, 2023, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from L) visiting Anbyon County, Kangwon Province, which suffered damage from Typhoon Khanun. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · August 14, 2023
4. Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow shift ties 70 years after Korean War
Conclusion:
"There is no rapport or trust between General Secretary Kim Jong Un and Russian President Putin," a researcher at a state-affiliated body in South Korea said. "The feelings there are not any different from how Xi feels about Kim."
Pyongyang, Beijing and Moscow shift ties 70 years after Korean War
Photos from armistice parade hint at differing attitudes on North Korea
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/Pyongyang-Beijing-and-Moscow-shift-ties-70-years-after-Korean-War?utm
HIROSHI MINEGISHI, Nikkei senior staff writer
August 12, 2023 02:44 JST
TOKYO -- How the North and South Korean leaders spent the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice highlighted the diverging paths of the two countries on the last remaining front of the Cold War.
At a memorial event in the city of Busan on July 27, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol presented a medal to a late Australian soldier's daughter and to a retired American soldier, both of whom had fought with the United Nations armed forces in the Korean War.
Yoon also visited the U.N. Memorial Cemetery, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to pay tribute to fallen U.N. troops there.
Meanwhile, in North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un attended a large military parade showcasing its new weaponry. At his side were Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Li Hongzhong, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo.
North Korean media published numerous photos and videos of the three men together, potentially to stress the unity between their authoritarian governments against the U.S. and other democracies. Still, a closer look reveals a difference in the level of importance that China and Russia seem to place on North Korea.
Russia never fought in the Korean War, and it is unusual for its envoys to attend a North Korean military parade. It did not send any senior officials to the parade for the armistice's 60th anniversary a decade ago.
This year, Russia sent its top defense official -- a decision that has grabbed international attention, especially amid the Ukraine war.
North Korea has become increasingly valuable to Russia as the fighting in Ukraine drags on. "It's a sign of how far Russia has fallen," a senior Japanese official said. But the U.S. believes that Shoigu's trip was meant to help facilitate Russian imports of weapons and ammunition from North Korea.
Kim earlier this month visited several important arms factories, including one for multiple rocket launchers. The tour is also seen as connected to North Korea's arms exports.
China has taken the opposite tack. While Li is said to have gained clout in Beijing by encouraging praise for Chinese President Xi Jinping, he still appears to be a downgrade from then-Vice President Li Yuanchao, who attended the parade a decade ago.
In contrast, Xi sent close ally and then-Vice President Wang Qishan to Yoon's inauguration in May 2022.
North Korea holds an extremely negative view of Yoon. And with the value Korean culture places on hierarchy and status, Kim's feelings on the issue are not hard to imagine.
North Korea shows off its weaponry at a military parade in Pyongyang on July 27. © KCNA
Kim extended a particularly warm welcome to Russian envoys during events tied to the armistice this year, while North Korean media included Shoigu before Li Hongzhong in many reports -- moves that almost appear driven by spite toward China.
Yet North Korea's path to curbing its dependence on China remains elusive. North Korea's real gross domestic product shrank a third straight year in 2022, and faster than in 2021, show estimates published July 28 by the South Korean central bank.
North Korea is now suffering its most severe food shortage under Kim, with deaths from starvation tripling from previous years, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said this past spring. The country's suicide rate is reportedly surging as well.
Kim chose not to give a speech at the July parade. It would have made sense for him to deliver passionate remarks in front of senior Chinese and Russian officials, who had not visited Pyongyang in a while. Kim may have proactively decided to avoid souring ties with key partners over North Korea's nuclear weapons program -- a sensitive topic for China.
North Korea's ties with China have suffered under Kim. In 2013, he executed uncle Jang Song Thaek, who was a close aide to his father, Kim Jong Il, and an important liaison with Beijing. Xi went to South Korea the following year, breaking with Chinese leaders' usual practice of making the North their first trip among the two Koreas. Kim Jong Un did not visit China until 2018.
China opposes North Korea's nuclear weapons tests. This is due not only to the potential environmental impact in its border region or fears of pushing Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to obtain their own arms in a so-called nuclear domino effect. China also does not want North Korea to become its equal as a nuclear power, according to a source familiar with the countries' bilateral ties.
The "blood alliance" between North Korea and China, forged with their many casualties during the Korean War, has been drastically transformed in the last 70 years. A looming distrust of China stemming from centuries of prior history has pushed North Korea to instead court Russia, which like China is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
In the Cold War, Kim's grandfather and North Korea founder Kim Il Sung exploited tensions between Moscow and Beijing to secure food and military assistance from both. But now there is a clear gap in strength between China and Russia. Russia cannot replace China as an economic and military backer of North Korea.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, poses with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a March 2023 meeting in Moscow. Neither has a strong rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, one expert says. © Xinhua/Kyodo
North Korea adamantly denies providing arms to Russia. "Supplying weapons is essentially like joining the war, and North Korea does not want to draw American and European backlash," a source familiar with North Korea's inner workings said.
Reuters recently reported on North Korea's 2021-22 breach of computer networks at a Russian missile developer. North Korea will target even partners like Russia in order to obtain valuable technology, an expert said.
"Today we have nothing but our own strength to rely on. No one is willing to help us," Kim said in his report to the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's congress in May 2016, which this reporter covered from Pyongyang.
According to the NIS, North Korea has been purchasing the zolpidem sleeping drug -- sold under the brand name Ambien and others -- allegedly to treat a high-ranking figure. Kim himself is speculated to possibly have a sleep disorder.
"There is no rapport or trust between General Secretary Kim Jong Un and Russian President Putin," a researcher at a state-affiliated body in South Korea said. "The feelings there are not any different from how Xi feels about Kim."
5. How South Korea’s Jamboree debacle fuels concerns about its national security
A harsh critique from LTG Chun.
Here is the tie in to national security:
The Jamboree debacle underscores a confluence of issues: irresponsibility, alleged corruption, risk aversion and a startling lack of common sense. This prompts reflection: Was this incident a singular oversight, or does it hint at more profound systemic issues within South Korean society? Beyond pinpointing blame, the essential goal should be to ensure that such missteps don’t occur again.
A cornerstone of South Korean society is its commitment to security. The persistent threat from North Korea — manifested through its subversive activities, advancing nuclear programs, enhanced delivery systems, augmented conventional forces, and multi-domain threats like invasion tunnels — remains ever-present. Moreover, North Korea’s evolving relationships with Russia, China and Iran only amplify the need for vigilance.
South Korea has collaborated commendably with the U.S. in confronting the DPRK’s nuclear threat. Moreover, the burgeoning security partnership with Japan further widens the strategic options to counteract the threat. Yet despite these collaborative efforts, North Korea continues to make concerning advances. The challenges facing the alliance are formidable.
Another critical dimension is North Korea’s use of cognitive warfare. This strategy, designed to exploit the freedoms and openness of South Korean society, poses a unique threat. By twisting facts and leveraging vulnerabilities inherent in a democratic setup, North Korea seeks to craft a misleading narrative, turning the strengths of South Korean society into potential weaknesses.
How South Korea’s Jamboree debacle fuels concerns about its national security
Were issues such as seeming irresponsibility and corruption an isolated event or indicative of larger societal issues?
https://koreapro.org/2023/08/how-south-koreas-jamboree-debacle-fuels-concerns-about-its-nationa-security/
Chun In-bumAugust 14, 2023
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Tents at the Jamboree site in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province | Image: Korea Pro
The mishandling of the highly-anticipated 25th World Scout Jamboree has not only dampened South Korea’s otherwise sterling reputation for hosting large-scale international events but has also brought to the fore deeper issues plaguing South Korean society. The fiasco points to a worrying blend of irresponsibility, corruption, risk aversion, and a startling lack of common sense.
Was this event an isolated incident or a symptom of systemic challenges? As South Korea navigates both internal and external security concerns, it is imperative to reflect on the lessons from this event and ensure that such blunders do not recur.
The recent Jamboree event in Korea was anticipated with much enthusiasm, yet it ended with a collective sigh of disappointment and even embarrassment among the South Korean people. While a captivating K-pop performance undoubtedly charmed the some 40,000 visiting Scouts, the broader execution of the World Scout Jamboree, unfortunately, detracted from the ROK’s otherwise excellent reputation.
Mother Nature did no favors. The country grappled with a severe heatwave swiftly followed by a typhoon. While these could be seen as convenient scapegoats, the core of the issue lies elsewhere. The Jamboree’s handling was below par. Numerous South Korean citizens felt compelled to personally apologize to the Scouts, filling in a void that they felt the ROK government should have addressed.
The stakes were high from the outset. With 43,000 Scouts from 158 nations descending upon the Jamboree, scheduled from Aug. 1 to 12, 2023, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.
The event found its home in North Jeolla Province, located in the Honam region of the southwest Korean Peninsula.
With a robust population of 1.7 million, North Jeolla ranks as the seventh-largest of South Korea’s eight provinces. It’s worth noting that back in 2012, North Jeolla had strongly campaigned for the privilege to host the event, a dream that became reality when they clinched the nomination in 2017.
A CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE
The decision to host the Jamboree at Saemangeum, an estuarine tidal flat along the coast of the Yellow Sea, stands out as a questionable one. Once dammed by the Saemangeum Seawall Project, which concluded in 2006, this area awaited a transformation for either agricultural or industrial applications.
Regrettably, the local government and politicians bypassed other suitable locations for the Jamboree in favor of revitalizing Saemangeum. Their pursuit of additional funding for land reclamation introduced a complex sequence of legislative adjustments and environmental assessments. This exhaustive procedure stretched on until 2020, marking three years of administrative hurdles.
Fast forward to 2022: the need for a pre-Jamboree event emerged. Yet when funding became an obstacle, authorities resorted to redefining the land’s purpose from tourism to agriculture.
This move unlocked the Farmland Management Funds. However, this solution introduced a new challenge: agricultural areas couldn’t accommodate trees, as interspersing trees with rice fields was a non-starter.
Further, this redesignation meant that the area was exempted from the standard environmental impact assessment typically required for tourism and leisure zones. So, while the move saw the area able to access the funds it needed, it also allowed Saemangeum to avoid other regulations that the site required for tens of thousands of Jamboree attendees, who were, for all intents and purposes, tourists.
The COVID-19 pandemic provided a convenient pretext to delay pre-Jamboree events. But as the main event’s date loomed, alarms were raised about potential heatwaves, sanitation issues and boggy terrains awaiting the attendees. While these reservations reached the government, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family remained steadfast in its assurance about the event’s readiness.
Seeing the signs of a looming disaster, the Ministry of Public Administration and Safety teamed up with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the governor of Jeolla Province and the Prime Minister. However, their intervention came too late.
The South Korean Navy and Marine Corps conduct a joint military exercise, Oct. 26, 2022 | Image: ROK Ministry of National Defense via Facebook
BROADER CHALLENGES
The Jamboree debacle underscores a confluence of issues: irresponsibility, alleged corruption, risk aversion and a startling lack of common sense. This prompts reflection: Was this incident a singular oversight, or does it hint at more profound systemic issues within South Korean society? Beyond pinpointing blame, the essential goal should be to ensure that such missteps don’t occur again.
A cornerstone of South Korean society is its commitment to security. The persistent threat from North Korea — manifested through its subversive activities, advancing nuclear programs, enhanced delivery systems, augmented conventional forces, and multi-domain threats like invasion tunnels — remains ever-present. Moreover, North Korea’s evolving relationships with Russia, China and Iran only amplify the need for vigilance.
South Korea has collaborated commendably with the U.S. in confronting the DPRK’s nuclear threat. Moreover, the burgeoning security partnership with Japan further widens the strategic options to counteract the threat. Yet despite these collaborative efforts, North Korea continues to make concerning advances. The challenges facing the alliance are formidable.
Another critical dimension is North Korea’s use of cognitive warfare. This strategy, designed to exploit the freedoms and openness of South Korean society, poses a unique threat. By twisting facts and leveraging vulnerabilities inherent in a democratic setup, North Korea seeks to craft a misleading narrative, turning the strengths of South Korean society into potential weaknesses.
SECURITY CHALLENGES
South Korea’s perceived inability to counteract North Korea’s multi-domain threats independently raises concerns. This problem must be directly addressed by the ROK, as external allies do not equate to intrinsic resilience. Recognizing this, South Korean allies must fully comprehend the significant challenges South Korea faces and tailor their support to fit the local context.
The recent transfer of all U.S. military commands from Seoul to Pyeongtaek underscores an essential issue requiring prompt attention. Historically, there’s been a disconnect between U.S. servicemen stationed in South Korea and their understanding of the nation. This gulf extends reciprocally to South Koreans’ perceptions of U.S. bases and their vital role in national security.
Post-relocation to Pyeongtaek, the drive for U.S. personnel to explore and genuinely understand South Korea has dwindled. While military-civilian communication demands effort, the relocation and the COVID-19 pandemic have drastically curtailed opportunities for genuine interaction, deepening the chasm of understanding. This divide is ripe for exploitation, potentially sowing seeds of mistrust and misunderstanding among the South Korean public.
The Jamboree’s mishandling is emblematic of broader challenges South Korea grapples with: risk aversion, seemingly pervasive corruption and a lack of accountability. These hazardous patterns cannot be allowed to calcify into long-term trends. Acknowledging underlying causes and actively seeking the counsel of allies marks the beginning of the solution.
It’s paramount for South Korea’s allies to deeply understand and empathize with the intricacies of the country’s challenges. After all, a fortified South Korea isn’t just a regional asset but a beacon of stability in a global context.
In our tightly-knit global community, the strength of each member nation is vital; and a fortified and resilient South Korea not only serves its citizens but the broader international community.
6. Biden to broker crisis hotline with Japan, South Korea
Biden to broker crisis hotline with Japan, South Korea
https://www.axios.com/2023/08/14/biden-summit-camp-david-japan-south-korea-alliance?utm
President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol participate in a news conference at the White House in April. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden will host Japan's prime minister and South Korea's president this week for his first-ever leaders summit at Camp David, with plans to announce joint military exercises — and a possible new crisis hotline between the three allies.
Why it matters: Friday's summit is designed to send a loud and clear message to China and North Korea that the allies are fortifying their military and economic ties, according to people familiar with the matter.
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The summit also will allow Biden to play the role of international statesman on a domestic stage, as he runs a Rose Garden re-election campaign that uses the trappings of the presidency to emphasize his leadership.
Driving the news: The summit is the result of months of U.S. diplomacy, as officials have tried to persuade Japan and South Korea to look beyond their complicated past and toward a united future.
- Biden, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol are preparing to announce the "Camp David Principles," a new set of protocols to govern their relationship.
- "The symbolism of meeting at Camp David cannot be overstated," a senior administration official told Axios.
- "There is no question because of their rapprochement, we are able to do way more," the official said.
- Along with closer military cooperation, they will discuss ways to coordinate more closely on political matters, with the possible announcement of a new three-way hotline — and the duty to consult with each other in a crisis.
Zoom out: From the beginning of his presidency, Biden has worked to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific — and around the globe — as a way to counter China's ambitions.
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One of his first virtual summits was with the so-called Quad, where the leaders of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India gathered to discuss their collective security interests.
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In September 2021, the U.S. and the U.K. announced a plan to help Australia deploy nuclear-power submarines to challenge China's territorial claims in the region.
- China and North Korea have been increasing their military pressure on their neighbors, with China using training exercises to probe Taiwan's territorial boundaries and North Korea conducting missile tests.
Zoom in: Bringing South Korea and Japan closer together has been central to Biden's regional approach to China.
-
Besides scheduling training exercises, the three parties are aiming to establish a regular summit between their national security advisers and improve their early warning data-sharing on North Korean missile launches.
Go deeper: In the first two-and-a-half years of his presidency, Biden has adopted a hawkish posture toward Beijing, extending all of former President Trump's China tariffs and announcing new restrictions himself.
-
Last week, Biden announced new limits on U.S. investment in China's technology industry, another indication that his administration is guarding against potential threats from Beijing.
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But he also downplayed China's economic prowess and told donors in Utah that its economy is a "ticking time bomb" while suggesting that Communist Party leaders were "bad folks."
7. Korea, U.S. to begin Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise next week
Like clockwork. What do you do in the last two weeks of August?
Monday
August 14, 2023
dictionary + A - A
Published: 14 Aug. 2023, 18:01
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-08-14/national/defense/Korea-US-to-begin-Ulchi-Freedom-Shield-exercise-next-week/1846319
Col. Lee Sung-jun, left, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joins hands with Col. Isaac Taylor, public affairs director for the U.S. Forces Korea, on Monday at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, central Seoul, during a joint press briefing announcing the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. [YONHAP]
South Korea and the United States will soon conduct one of their biggest military exercises of the year to improve their ability to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) training will start next Monday and run for 11 days through Aug. 31 based on scenarios that reflect evolving security situations, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Monday.
For the first time ever, the U.S. Space Force, a branch within the U.S. military responsible for global space operations, will participate in the UFS.
Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the JCS, said in a joint press briefing with U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Monday at the Ministry of National Defense in central Seoul that the total number of participating personnel will be greater than the previous UFS and Freedom Shield (FS) exercise.
During this year’s UFS, some 30 combined field training events will take place, more than the 13 held in last year’s UFS and the 25 during the latest FS exercise last spring.
In a press release, USFK explained that all United Nations Command member countries are scheduled to participate, with 10 members providing additional exercise augmentees: Australia, Canada, France, Britain, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States.
The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, comprising Sweden and Switzerland, will observe and monitor the exercise, fulfilling duties prescribed by the Armistice Agreement, said the USFK.
The UFS exercise comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for a “drastic boost” of the regime’s missile production capacity, according to Pyongyang’s state media on Monday.
In an English-language report, the Korean Central News Agency said that Kim visited “major munitions factories” on Friday and Saturday, stressing the need to “mass-produce missiles as required by the system of the expanded and strengthened frontline units and missile units and by the operational plans.”
During the visit, Kim was quoted as saying that the North Korean military “should have an overwhelming military force and get fully prepared for coping with any war at any moment so as to prevent the enemies from daring use their armed forces, and surely annihilate them if they launch an attack.”
North Korea has often responded strongly to combined military exercises between Seoul and Washington, labeling them a front to practice invasion and preemptive attack.
Pyongyang has frequently used the occasion to test ballistic missiles, fueling speculation that another test might occur later this month.
BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]
8. Top general visits border units to check readiness ahead of major joint drills with U.S.
Top general visits border units to check readiness ahead of major joint drills with U.S. | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 14, 2023
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top general visited western border units Monday to check their readiness against North Korean military threats, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, ahead of a major combined exercise with the United States next week.
JCS Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum inspected a guard post of the 1st Infantry Division inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) amid concerns of provocative acts by the North Korean military in protest against the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise that starts next Monday.
During the visit to the western front-line unit, Kim said North Korea is likely to conduct provocations ahead of the drills and called on troops to "immediately punish" the enemy if they were to take place inside the DMZ, the JCS said.
Kim also inspected an air defense unit near the western border and instructed troops to shoot down all enemy drones in case of such provocations, it added.
The annual UFS, based on an all-out war scenario, will feature various contingency drills, such as the computer simulation-based command post exercise, concurrent field training and Ulchi civil defense drills.
The North has long accused the allies' military drills of being rehearsals for an invasion against it.
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum (2nd from R) inspects a western front-line guard post of the 1st Infantry Division on Aug. 14, 2023, in this photo provided by the JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 14, 2023
9. Camp David summit could lead to breakthrough in trilateral ties in East Asia
I think all three countries are trying to manage expectations on the outcome but there is a lot of speculation as to what can be tangible outcomes. The South Korean public probably has the strongest demand for something substantive iss likely the high.
A commitment to Integrated missile defense?
Announcement of Increased and sustained trilateral military exercises?
As mentioned in another article - a trilateral "hot line?"
Increased number of exchange and liaison officers between the various commands in all three countries?
Some new security arrangement with a new name that stops short of a trilateral alliance - A "Northeast Asia Security Pact?"
Some kind of trilateral trade initiative?
Cyber coordination?
Strong joint statements regarding north Korea?
Strong joint statements in support of the rules based international order? (indirect focus on China?)
And of course my recommendation: the "Camp David Consensus" on trilateral support for Korean unification.
Camp David summit could lead to breakthrough in trilateral ties in East Asia
The Korea Times · August 14, 2023
Former President Lee Myung-bak, right, and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush, wave as they drive a golf cart at Camp David in Maryland, April 18, 2008. Korea Times photo by Son Yong-seok
Leaders from S. Korea, US, Japan expected to come up with tangible outcomes at historic retreat
By Nam Hyun-woo
A trilateral summit between South Korea, the United States and Japan will take place this weekend for the first time at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat in Maryland, which many diplomats and experts believe may lead to a breakthrough in addressing tricky issues in East Asia.
This gives an extra significance to the summit, as the retreat has served as the site for paramount diplomatic events in critical junctures of history.
President Yoon Suk Yeol will depart for Camp David on Thursday to attend the trilateral summit slated for Friday (local time). So far, the three countries have held three-way meetings on 12 occasions, three of which were between Yoon, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, on the sidelines of multilateral diplomatic events. This will be the first instance of a trilateral meeting becoming a standalone event.
"Holding a summit at Camp David is completely different from having one in Washington, D.C.," a senior official at the presidential office said.
"It will be more casual and the leaders will be able to have discussions while strolling, dining and doing other events in a comfortable atmosphere. Various issues will be discussed while the leaders are feeling less political pressure."
First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo also said the upcoming summit will be the Biden administration's first visit by foreign leaders to Camp David, which shows "the importance that President Biden is placing on the cooperation of the three countries."
The Camp David summit has a distinctive significance as a diplomatic platform, because it provides an environment for heads of state to engage in candid and in-depth conversations on a certain matter in a very comfortable atmosphere.
President Yoon Suk Yeol watches U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shaking hands during their meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21. AP-Yonhap
During the previous trilateral meeting between Yoon, Biden and Kishida in Hiroshima, Japan, on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in May, the leaders met but could not have lengthy conversations on pending matters due to time constraints. At that time, Biden invited Yoon and Kishida to Washington for extensive talks, which resulted in the summit at Camp David.
"The venue will serve as a place for more concentrated and in-depth talks between the leaders," another official at the presidential office said. "And the outcome could also be greater in terms of depth."
The Camp David summit is also expected to be a chance to showcase the importance of stronger ties between the three countries, because the presidential retreat has been the venue of high-stakes talks at critical junctures of history.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton meets with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at Camp David in this July 16, 2000 photo. AP-Yonhap
Camp David was built as a presidential retreat in 1942 by former President Franklin Roosevelt, who called it "Shangri-La." It was renamed Camp David by former President Dwight Eisenhower in honor of his grandson, David Eisenhower.
In 1943, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited the retreat as the first foreign leader, and had discussions on how to end World War II. This landmark event set a precedent for the retreat's role in hosting vital diplomatic discussions.
In 1959, then-Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Eisenhower met at Camp David to hold two days of talks about the Cold War.
Another prominent event in the retreat's history were the Camp David Accords in 1978, brokered by President Jimmy Carter and involving Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. After 13 days of talks, the leaders of Egypt and Israel agreed on issues including the return of the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and the establishment of autonomous Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In 2000, former U.S. President Bill Clinton hosted then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at the retreat in search of a conflict-ending accord, but failed to reach an agreement.
Among Korean leaders, former President Lee Myung-bak visited the presidential retreat for a summit with then-President George W. Bush in 2008 and discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral alliance and free trade agreement between the two countries.
The Korea Times · August 14, 2023
10. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ “People are stealing unripe corn from the fields” Farms already see a rash of thefts of grains…Security guards given live rounds and even soldiers are deployed
Indicators for those observing for possible internal instability.
＜Inside N. Korea＞ “People are stealing unripe corn from the fields” Farms already see a rash of thefts of grains…Security guards given live rounds and even soldiers are deployed
asiapress.org
(FILE PHOTO) A civilian mobilized to conduct security activities in a farm village. He appears to be a Worker and Peasant Red Guard and has a gun strapped on his shoulder. Taken by PAK Yong-min on the Chinese side of the border facing North Pyongan Province in September 2017 (ASIAPRESS)
People continue to steal corn and other unripe crops ahead of the harvest from collective farms in the northern part of North Korea, which as led to a spike in tensions. The authorities have mobilized soldiers currently involved in farm preparation activities to take part in security duties and have even supplied weapons and live rounds to farmers to prevent the theft of crops. (KANG Ji-won / HAN Ha-yu)
◆ The harvest is still some ways off, but farm villages ramp up security
The harvest of corn – North Korea’s main staple crop – typically takes place from late August to September of each year, and it is during this period that security at collective farms tighten considerably. Farm villages intensify security to prevent crops from being stolen from storage facilities and the fields. This year, however, the villages have already tightened security from early August, a long time before the start of the harvest.
In late July, a collective farm in Musan County, North Hamgyung Province, saw a theft of unripe corn from its fields. A reporting partner in Musan County provided details about the incident.
Around 100 pyong-worth of crops were stolen, and other farms on the outskirts of Musan County also saw their crops stolen. On August 3, a survey of the damage was conducted at each farm. Investigators believe that soldiers deployed to help with farm work, miners or urban dwellers perpetrated the crimes, but are also considering the possibility that farmers were the culprits.
“The discovery of the crime came late because the crops were stolen from right at the center of the field. The corn wasn’t edible because it wasn’t even ripe yet, but because the incident happened so early in the farming process, farms have doubled down on security more quickly than in past years. The authorities are confirming who comes and goes from the farms and have even setup a surveillance sentry point on the road next to the field and staffed it with security guards.”
The perpetrators likely stole crops from the middle of the field to prevent their crime from being discovered.
◆ Live rounds handed out to protect crops
The reporting partner provided an explanation about how exactly the farm security guards conduct their work.
“Weapons and live rounds were handed down to all collective farms in Musan County. Security teams made up of soldiers stationed at farms and farmers who served in the military in the past have been created. The teams are made up of both soldiers and civilians to ensure they can monitor each other.”
◆ Urban poverty is at the heart of the matter
The rash of incidents involving the stealing of unripe corn shows that many urban dwellers are facing economic difficulties.
“A farmer told me that people are suffering so much that they are forced to eat unripe corn. He suggested that (the government) should hand out food before moving to intensify security,” the reporting partner told ASIAPRESS.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
asiapress.org
11. 1919 vs 1948: Controversy rekindled over Korea's founding year
The question is when there is a free and unified Korea, what will be the founding year?
1919 vs 1948: Controversy rekindled over Korea's founding year
The Korea Times · by 2023-08-14 17:05 | Society · August 14, 2023
People walk past Seodaemun Prison History Hall in western Seoul, Monday, a day before National Liberation Day which falls on Aug. 15. NewsisBy Lee Hyo-jin
As Korea commemorates the 78th National Liberation Day, Tuesday, debates have reignited over which year should be viewed as the founding year of the nation, a topic that has long been a source of ideologically driven disputes.
Liberal politicians and scholars regard 1919, when the government-in-exile was set up in Shanghai, China, as the year the country was founded. They view that the interim government undertook administrative, diplomatic and military activities to gain independence from Japan's colonial rule in 1945, and thus serves as the basis for today's Korea.
On the other hand, conservatives support the notion that the founding year is 1948, when the internationally recognized government under inaugural President Syngman Rhee was established. This stance has been upheld by the New Right, a group of right-wing conservative historians.
The controversy over the country's founding year was first triggered in 2006 by then Seoul National University economics professor Rhee Young-hoon, who wrote a column in the local daily DongA Ilbo. He claimed that Korea needs to designate a "Foundation Day," saying that the "true light" came to the Korean people on Aug. 15, 1948, with the formation of the inaugural government.
The years-long debate was brought up again after Lee Jong-chan, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence, a state-funded association of independence fighters, asserted that 1919 is the "inaugural year" of Korea.
Lee Jong-chan, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence, delivers a speech during a ceremony dubbed "Korean identity proclamation ceremony," in Seoul, Aug. 3. Newsis"The Heritage of Korean Independence should rectify the nation's identity. 1919 is the inaugural year of the Republic of Korea," he said in his inaugural speech on June 22. "Through the spirit of independence, Korea was able to successfully transform into a donor country from a recipient nation of international aid. We should be proud of it."
Seoul to host concert to celebrate Liberation Day
His remarks drew a backlash from conservative historians. Lee In-ho, a professor emeritus at Seoul National University, called this a "serious distortion of history."
"The claim that the establishment of the provisional government in Shanghai in April 1919 marked the establishment of our Republic of Korea ― not Aug. 15, 1948 ― is a clear distortion of history," he wrote in a June 30 column in conservative online media New Daily.
"The provisional government is, by all means, just an interim government. It was not a formally recognized state with the authority to protect its citizens both domestically and internationally," the professor added.
In another speech given on Aug. 3, Lee of the Heritage of Korean Independence reiterated his stance, saying that "the narrative that 1948 is the founding year is Japan's claim."
Liberal historians criticize that recognizing 1948 as the year of foundation could be seen as legitimizing collaborators from the Japanese occupation era by framing them as the founding members of the government.
Successive governments have shown different views about the nation's founding year.
In 2008, the conservative President Lee Myung-bak administration (2008 to 2013) designated the Liberation Day commemoration event as the "celebration of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Korea and the 63rd anniversary of Liberation," reflecting its view that 1948 is the country's founding year.
Similarly, former President Park Geun-hye, from 2013 to 2017, referred to the 2016 Liberation Day as the "68th anniversary of the foundation of the nation and the 71st anniversary of liberation."
But former liberal President Moon Jae-in, from 2017 to 2022, said that "2019 is the centennial of the nation's foundation and the establishment of the government-in-exile," sparking debates among politicians and scholars.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has not shown support for either view. In his Liberation Day speech in 2022, he honored those who fought for the country's independence, emphasizing their efforts to protect the values of freedom and human rights.
Amid ongoing debates, Yoon is expected to try to put an end to the controversy through his Liberation Day speech which will be delivered on Tuesday.
The Korea Times · by 2023-08-14 17:05 | Society · August 14, 2023
12. S. Korea, US to stage ‘realistic, tough’ military exercise against NK threats
The new normal. No more cancellations, postponements, and scaling back.
S. Korea, US to stage ‘realistic, tough’ military exercise against NK threats
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · August 14, 2023
By Ji Da-gyum
Published : 2023-08-14 15:35:23
A Stryker vehicle, driven by Soldiers assigned to the US 2nd Infantry Division/South Korea-US Combined Division, crosses a temporary floating bridge during "wet gap" training on the Imjin River, South Korea on March 13, 2023. (Photo - Combined Forces Command)
South Korea and the United States are set to conduct "tough" yet defense-oriented military exercises simulating real-life scenarios, with the goal to strengthen the alliance's defense posture and ability to respond to the escalating missile and nuclear threats posed by North Korea.
The 11-day computer-simulated "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercise is planned for Aug. 21-31, including a weekend pause on Aug. 26 and 27, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and US Forces Korea jointly announced Monday.
"Ulchi Freedom Shield 23 is designed to be a tough and realistic exercise to strengthen the combined defense posture and Alliance response capabilities based on scenarios that reflect diverse threats within the security environment and lessons learned from recent wars and conflicts," an English-language joint statement read.
The upcoming UFS exercise, for instance, will incorporate military training scenarios in light of North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities as well as its intentions regarding nuclear buildup and missile development.
The South Korean and US forces are set to stage around 30 field training exercises, or FTXs, associated with UFS 23, representing an uptick from the 25 outdoor maneuvers held during this year's springtime Freedom Shield/Warrior Shield combined military exercises. In the previous year's autumn UFS exercise, Seoul and Washington organized a total of 13 FTXs.
The upcoming FTXs, ranging from the platoon to brigade levels, are designed to "strengthen combined operational abilities" of South Korean and US forces, JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a televised news briefing in Seoul.
"The combined military training and exercises are vital to maintaining a robust combined defense posture for the security of the Republic of Korea in case of contingencies in response to mounting military threat posed by North Korea," Col. Lee said, adding that South Korea will mobilize its Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps for the FTXs. Republic of Korea is the formal name for South Korea.
But the US did not disclose details regarding the potential deployment of US strategic assets linked to UFS 23.
USFK spokesperson Col. Isaac Taylor instead emphasized that the combined exercises will replicate feasible real-life scenarios that could unfold on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting insights gained from recent global conflicts and wars, including the protracted war in Ukraine.
"Those situations are things that we draw upon to not just make a scripted exercise where everyone already knows the answer to it, but really make a tough exercise," Col. Taylor said.
"What are the things that we're going to have to accommodate or work around to be able to return peace back to the Korean Peninsula if the armistice was to fail? What would ensure our ability to have success?"
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun (left) and U.S. Forces Korea spokesperson, Col. Isaac Taylor, address a joint press conference at the defense ministry in Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)
Col. Taylor also emphasized a crucial aspect of the upcoming UFS exercise, highlighting the significance of guiding commanders to effectively execute multi-domain integration. This process aims to ensure that diverse components across space, land, air, sea, cyber and cognitive domains can seamlessly work together in the event of contingencies.
"If a situation was to arise here on the Korean Peninsula, how do you take all of those resources that commanders have at their fingertips and be able to utilize those effectively?" he said.
In this context of multi-domain integration, the significance of the involvement of the US Space Forces Korea, formally launched in December of last year, in the UFS exercise has been emphasized.
US Space Forces Korea primarily handles the operation of space-based assets, as well as the detection and tracking of missile launches. It also participated in the springtime Freedom Shield/Warrior Shield exercises held in March, marking the first instance.
Col. Taylor further elaborated that another goal of the UFS is to practice the seamless integration of all potential elements, including those from the forces of the UN Sending States, which could come into play on the Korean Peninsula when contingencies emerge.
The term "UN Sending States" refers to those nations that fought alongside South Korea under the US-led UN Command during the Korean War and have remained part of the UN Command since 1953.
But it's notable that Monday's joint statement explicitly includes UN Sending States in UFS 23, a significant first despite their previous participation in combined military drills.
"United Nations Members States are also scheduled to participate. Additionally, the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will observe and monitor the exercise fulfilling duties prescribed by the Armistice Agreement," according to the English statement.
In a separate standalone statement, the USFK also stated that "all United Nations Command Member States are scheduled to participate in different capacities, with 10 members providing additional exercise augmentees."
The 10 countries consist of Australia, Canada, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and the US.
The joint announcement on the regular fall military exercises was made a day prior to the commencement of the four-day preliminary exercise, known as a Crisis Management Exercise, scheduled to start on Tuesday. The CMX is designed to train headquarters elements of South Korea's JCS, Combined Forces Command, USFK and UN Command become proficient in managing crisis situations, along with responding to significant threats to national security.
The announcement also coincided with ongoing bellicose rhetoric from North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un conducted a series of visits to the country's key munitions factories last week, where he highlighted the "highly significant role" of munitions factories in "further refining war readiness," state media reported Monday.
Kim's visits included factories responsible for manufacturing tactical missiles, tactical missile launch platforms, armored vehicles and large-caliber control multiple rocket launcher shells on Friday and Saturday. The recent tours occurred just six days after his rare three-day visits to other arms factories that extended until Aug. 5.
During the tour, Kim outlined an "important objective to significantly augment the existing missile production capacity," the state media said, adding the goal is to facilitate the mass production of missiles as necessitated by the expanded and fortified front-line and missile units, as well as operational plans.
Kim also underscored the need for the North Korean military to "maintain an overwhelmingly powerful military force and be fully ready to counter any potential war at any moment," ensuring annihilation in the event of an attack by enemies.
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · August 14, 2023
13. S. Korea to honor 100 independence fighters on Liberation Day
S. Korea to honor 100 independence fighters on Liberation Day
While north Korea focuses on the guerrilla fights of the anti-Japanese partisan warfare movement (a myth), the ROK focuses on real fighters for an independent and free and unified Korea.
I think it is useful to periodically review the words of the Korean declaration of Independence. These words from 1919 may be very prescient and apply even more so today. I think the second paragraph below would be a fine tribute to include in a trilateral statement coming from the summit this week.It would be useful in a Camp David Consensus on Korean unification.
Peace in the East cannot be brought about by coercively suppressing the deep-rooted frustration and resentment of twenty million Koreans. It will only breed even greater fear and hatred of four hundred million Chinese toward Japan. If this were the case, this will eventually lead to a tragic end of the Eastern world as the Chinese stand at the center of the the regional security. The independence of the Korean nation will make it possible for its people to flourish as they should and allow Japan to renounce its wrongheaded path and take responsibility for its role in the East. It will free China from the anxiety and fear that
it may lose its land to Japan and secure a footing for peace in the region, which plays an essential role in world peace and the happiness of all humankind. How can the independence of our nation be dismissed as an emotional and trifling matter?
A new world is opening up before our eyes. The age of oppression by force is giving way to an era where principles reign. Our humane spirit, honed over thousands of years, now signals the dawn of a new civilization in the history of humankind. A new spring is enveloping our whole world, breathing new life into everything under the sun. The times of stifled breath in freezing blizzards are giving way to an age of balmy breezes, glowing light, and new life.
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-losangeles-en/brd/m_4394/view.do?seq=761378
S. Korea to honor 100 independence fighters on Liberation Day
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · August 14, 2023
By Yonhap
Published : 2023-08-14 10:43:08
Two South Korean national flags are hoisted outside a building affiliated with the veterans ministry on Sunday. The flag on the right displays the autographs of independence fighters. (Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs)
South Korea will confer state medals and awards on 100 late independence fighters to honor their sacrifices in the resistance movement against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, the veterans ministry said Monday.
The independence fighters will be awarded with decorations posthumously Tuesday when the country commemorates the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day, according to the ministry.
Those to be awarded include Frank Earl Cranston Williams, an American missionary who supported Korean Liberation Army soldiers deployed in joint operations with British troops in India in 1943 during World War II.
Williams, who was fluent in Korean, taught English to the Koreans taking part in psychological warfare against Japanese forces in India. He previously lived in Korea for over three decades before being banished by Japan's Government-General in 1940.
He had arrived in Korea in 1908 and established a school in Gongju, 119 kilometers south of Seoul, attended by numerous independence fighters, including renowned activist Yu Gwan-sun.
Williams will be awarded with the National Foundation Medal for his efforts to support the independence movement.
Other activists to be honored include Ham Bok-ryeon, who was arrested by Japanese military police for leading an independence rally in Tongyeong, 326 km southeast of Seoul, in April 1919.
Born in 1902, Ham was a female entertainer, or gisaeng, when she participated in the independence movement with six of her colleagues.
"We will not only promote the patriots' noble lives and spirits so that they are carried on to our future generations, but also do our best to find more independence activists," Veterans Minister Park Min-shik was quoted as saying. (Yonhap)
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · August 14, 2023
14. S. Korean Embassy in Tokyo gets bomb threat via email
S. Korean Embassy in Tokyo gets bomb threat via email | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · August 14, 2023
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Embassy in Tokyo said Monday it has received an email threatening to blow up the embassy building ahead of this week's anniversary celebrating Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.
The embassy said the Japanese police have decided to step up security around the area after it notified the authorities of the bomb threat letter sent in the name of "Soma Wataru" last week.
The message, written in Korean using automatic translation, is said to have read: "I am Japanese. I warn you about the explosion in advance."
However, the sender did not specify the exact date or time of the explosion.
The embassy is looking into the possibility of the letter being a false threat, but said it has requested the Japanese police provide strengthened security for around a month.
Meanwhile, police authorities in Seoul are also investigating a spate of bomb threat emails sent from Japan in recent weeks.
On Aug. 7, some Seoul city government officials received an email threatening to detonate an explosive in downtown Seoul if Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was not killed. Two days later, another email threatening to blow up the National Museum of Korea, the Japanese Embassy, the N Seoul Tower and a Japanese school was reported to the police.
On Sunday, an email saying high-powered bombs have been planted in Seoul City Hall was sent from a Japanese account to local media outlets.
South Korea commemorates the 78th anniversary of Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
This undated file photo shows the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo. (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · August 14, 2023
15. Park to meet US, Japan top diplomats virtually
Park to meet US, Japan top diplomats virtually
koreaherald.com · by Choi Si-young · August 14, 2023
By Choi Si-young
Published : 2023-08-14 16:01:24
Clockwise from top left: The US, Japanese and South Korean flags. (123rf)
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that it was in talks with the US and Japan to hold a virtual meeting of foreign ministers ahead of their first three-way summit at the US presidential retreat Camp David in Maryland on Friday.
A day earlier, the US State Department said the three top diplomats would hold talks on Tuesday, Korean time, which was a misunderstanding according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
“The date had been floated as one possibility but it was never confirmed,” the source said. “The three countries are currently looking into options and it’s possible the meeting could not take place at all if they don’t find the time.”
The virtual meeting is expected to reaffirm steps to curb North Korea’s aggression and China’s influence. They are also priorities the Camp David summit will discuss as US President Joe Biden looks to rally American allies against an anti-US coalition later this week.
The trilateral summit comes at a time when South Korea seeks a tighter three-way coalition working on disarming the North.
According to the Wall Street Journal on Sunday, the coalition is expected to make official their annual joint military exercises meant to check on Pyongyang, especially its ballistic missile capability. Institutionalizing a permanent three-way consultation is another possibility, the report said.
A senior Yoon administration official in Seoul said the joint military drills are still being debated, stressing that holding them does not necessarily mean taking a step closer to being part of the US missile defense network. The South installed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, a US-made missile shield, in April 2017.
Closer three-way ties are largely prompted by the Yoon administration’s decision in March to put behind historical disputes that had plunged Seoul-Tokyo relations to a record low for joint work on disarmament. The two countries’ leaders in May resumed regular visits to each other’s countries after a 12-year hiatus.
Some floated the possibility that the anti-North Korea coalition could discuss a trilateral security arrangement, something close to collective defense, but Yoon’s national security adviser has dismissed the possibility.
koreaherald.com · by Choi Si-young · August 14, 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
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