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Quotes of the Day:
"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd."
- Bertrand Russell
"How paramount the future is to the present when one is surrounded by children."
- Charles Darwin
"But hen you think you're safe is precisely when you're most vulnerable."
- Seven Samurai
1. Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official
2. Allies vow stern measures against Russia-N. Korea arms deal
3. N. Korea returns to int'l sporting stage after 5-yr absence amid chilled geopolitical relations
4. PM willing to meet N. Korean delegation during Asian Games in event of encounter: senior official
5. Yoon returns home from trip to New York
6. Dancing with the Devil: Why The Ghost Of Stalin Watches Over Kim-Putin Bromance
7. 'Very concerning': Russia, North Korea likely spoke 'in detail about weapons transfers,' DIA says
8. Analysis-South Korea's Yoon Rails Against Critics as ‘Communists’
9. Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses
10. Kim Jong Un's pursuit of military goals in the face of food shortages
1. Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official
South Korea can play this well. But we need to understand China's possible intentions - to counter JAROKUS (Japan-ROK-US), to split the ROK/US alliance, to create political friction within the ROK, to try to stem to impact of Korean "re-risking" and flight of business from China, But South Korea is being presented with an opportunity to practice a superior form of political warfare as long as it recognizes, understands, exposes, and attacks the Chinese strategy.
(4th LD) Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · September 23, 2023
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead, dateline; UPDATES with more info throughout; ADDS byline, photo)
By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL/HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday he will seriously consider a visit to South Korea when he met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the sidelines of the Asian Games, an official said.
Xi brought up the issue first during the meeting with Han in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the official said.
"This means that President Xi knows it is his turn to visit South Korea," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that Xi's visit has "long been delayed."
Xi last visited South Korea in 2014. President Yoon Suk Yeol extended an invitation to Xi when they met on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022.
During the meeting with Han, Xi also expressed support for inter-Korean reconciliation and pledged continued efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula after Han asked China to play a constructive role, according to First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin.
Han made the request while briefing Xi on President Yoon Suk Yeol's "Audacious Initiative" policy designed to offer massive economic assistance to North Korea in exchange for its denuclearization steps, according to Chang.
This image, provided by the Prime Minister's Office on Sept. 23, 2023, shows Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Xi also said China appreciates Seoul's efforts to resume the long-suspended annual three-way summit between South Korea, China and Japan, and that Beijing welcomes the holding of a trilateral summit at an appropriate time, Chang said.
The trilateral summit, which began in 2008, was last held in 2019.
Han asked Xi for China's support for Seoul's efforts to host the 2030 World Expo in the city of Busan, and Xi said in response that China will "seriously consider" the request.
South Korea has also been making efforts to improve relations with China, which critics say have recently cooled due to what they describe as Yoon's attempts to bring South Korea closer to the United States and Japan, a departure from the previous Moon Jae-in administration's greater emphasis on China.
Saturday's meeting took place against the backdrop of recent rapprochement between Pyongyang and Moscow, following a rare summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Han explained our side's bold ideas and recent developments related to the Korean Peninsula situation, and urged China to continue playing a constructive role," Chang said.
This marks the first meeting between Han and Xi, Chang said. It is also the first visit by a South Korean Prime Minister to China in 4 1/2 years.
"I hope to cultivate a healthy and mature relationship between South Korea and China, grounded in mutual respect, mutual benefit and common interests," Han was quoted by the Prime Minister's Office as saying.
In light of the ongoing threats posed by North Korea, Han further emphasized that the high-level talks between Seoul and Beijing demonstrate both countries' commitment to elevating their relations to the next level.
"Both countries are not only grappling with heightened regional tensions due to North Korea's persistent provocations but also facing global challenges, such as economic uncertainty and disruptions in supply chains," Han said.
Han also conveyed President Yoon's special regards and hoped for the successful hosting of the Asian Games, the office said.
Earlier in the day, Han attended a luncheon hosted by Xi for the leaders of countries competing in the Asian Games as part of this two-day trip.
Han is accompanied by Chang and Vice Culture Minister Jang Mi-ran, a former Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting.
Han earlier told reporters that Seoul is committed to maintaining an amicable relationship with Beijing, emphasizing that his upcoming trip to the Asian Games aims to demonstrate Seoul's dedication to enhancing South Korea-China relations.
South Korea has usually sent the culture minister to such events.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (2nd from R) arrives at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in the eastern Chinese city on Sept. 23, 2023, to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · September 23, 2023
2. Allies vow stern measures against Russia-N. Korea arms deal
As we look at how to deal with this Russian-nK situation, "stern measures" caught my eye and I thought of this summary of the Biden administration policy I put together in the first year of the Administration and thought it might be useful to review it.
•“Principled and practical diplomacy.” - public focus - ready to negotiate anywhere, anytime without preconditions
•Alliance based focus for deterrence, defense, and diplomacy. And trilateral cooperation - ROK, Japan, US
• "Stern deterrence." This is about revitalizing the ROK/U.S. military alliance and strengthening defense capabilities to include returning exercises to a level that will sustain readiness (and support OPCON transition)
•A human rights up front approach. Unfortunately, so far this has only been words with no significant action.
•Full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions – no sanctions relief until substantive progress
•What is missing?
–A superior political warfare strategy
–A comprehensive information and influence activities campaign
Allies vow stern measures against Russia-N. Korea arms deal | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Sang-soo · September 23, 2023
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats from South Korea, the United States and Japan have agreed to take stern measures against a potential arms deal between Russia and North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday.
According to the ministry, Seoul's Foreign Minister Park Jin met with his U.S. counterpart, Antony Blinken, and Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, in New York on Friday (local time) to discuss Russia-North Korea arms dealings.
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid growing concerns about a possible arms deal between the two nations.
Kim wants military technology cooperation from Russia to build spy satellites and other weapons, while Putin seeks more ammunition from the North for use in Ukraine.
The top diplomats expressed deep concerns over the two nations' military cooperation and warned that a potential arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow would be in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that Russia itself voted for.
They vowed to cooperate with the global community to sternly deal with any threats to regional security in violation of the UNSC resolutions, according to the ministry.
South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin (R) poses for a photo with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and his Japanese counterpart, Yoko Kamikawa, in New York on Sept. 22, 2023, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sam@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Park Sang-soo · September 23, 2023
3. N. Korea returns to int'l sporting stage after 5-yr absence amid chilled geopolitical relations
Is this the regime coming out of its shell or self imposed isolation?
(Asiad) N. Korea returns to int'l sporting stage after 5-yr absence amid chilled geopolitical relations | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Boram · September 23, 2023
By Kim Boram
HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Ending pandemic-led yearslong isolation, North Korea made its first international outing in a major multisport event in five years at the 19th Asian Games that kicked off Saturday in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
Spearheaded by two flag bearers, boxer Pang Chol-mi and shooter Pak Myong-won, the North Korean delegation entered the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, the main venue for this year's quadrennial continental sport event, seventh after Cambodia during the opening ceremony.
The North Korean delegation enters the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23, 2023. (Yonhap)
When the name of North Korea was announced in Chinese and English as the seventh nation entering the stadium, a loud cheer arose from the audience.
North Koreans, wearing white jackets and blue trousers or skirts, waved their hands and small national flags to celebrate the end of their five-year hiatus.
Pyongyang has sent 185 athletes in 17 sports to Hanghzou, the reclusive country's first appearance at an international multisport competition since the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, where it finished 10th with 12 golds, 12 silvers and 13 bronzes.
North Korea skipped the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, citing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, and was subsequently banned by the International Olympic Committee from competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The ban was lifted at the end of 2022, and North Korea became eligible for the 19th edition of the Asian Games, which was delayed for one year due to the pandemic.
North Korea's two flag bearers, boxer Pang Chol-mi (R, in white jacket) and shooter Pak Myong-won (L, in white jacket), lead the delegation during a parade of nations in the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23, 2023. (Yonhap)
But another international restriction on North Korea is still in effect. Flying the North Korean flag at the Asian Games is banned due to sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2021. The North was declared noncompliant with the World Anti-Doping Code for failing to implement an effective testing program.
Despite the WADA sanctions, North Korean flags were flown at the main stadium along with those of other participating countries, as well as at the athletes' village and other competition venues.
Moreover, the recent political situation on the Korean Peninsula, caused by North Korea's series of rocket and missile launches, apparently continued at the sporting scene.
North Koreans did not join hands with their South Korean counterparts for an eye-catching joint march at Hangzhou, as they had done in some international sporting events since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
At Asian Games, such occasions were held at 2002, 2006 and 2018 editions. Athletes from the two neighboring countries even assembled several joint teams at the previous event in Indonesia.
The two Koreas will be competing as separate entities this year, with multiple all-Korean showdowns on the horizon for the next 2 1/2 weeks.
The Hangzhou Asiad, the third Asian Games hosted by China after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010, set sail for its 16-day run until Oct. 8, featuring 11,970 athletes from 45 nations, with 481 gold medals in 40 sports up for grabs.
The North Korean delegation enters the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23, 2023. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Boram · September 23, 2023
4. PM willing to meet N. Korean delegation during Asian Games in event of encounter: senior official
It will be interesting to see what north Korea does. If they avoid engagement how can we interpret that? Just normal regime behavior? It is not ready to engage? It fears engagement? It can find no advantage to a simple meeting regardless of how superficial it might be?
Regardless, the ROK should test the waters. We need to keep probing the regime at various levels. At the very least it continues to help us gain understanding. And certain north Korean actions can be used to support an information campaign and political warfare.
PM willing to meet N. Korean delegation during Asian Games in event of encounter: senior official | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · September 23, 2023
HANGZHOU/SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is willing to meet the North Korean delegation visiting the Chinese city of Hangzhou for the Asian Games in the event of an encounter, a senior government official said Saturday.
Han arrived in China earlier in the day to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games and also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.
Pyongyang has sent a delegation of sports officials, led by Sports Minister Kim Il-guk, and its team of athletes.
"There is no plan in particular. We didn't consider the possibility," a senior foreign ministry official accompanying Han told reporters when asked about the chance of making any contact with the North's delegation.
"If we encounter them, we are very willing to meet," the official said.
It remains unclear whether the North has sent any additional high-level delegation.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (3rd from L) talks during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, hours before the opening of the 19th Asian Games on Sept. 23, 2023, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · September 23, 2023
5. Yoon returns home from trip to New York
It must be frustrating for the President as he seems more successful overseas and with international relations than he is with domestic issues. I do hope future Korean leaders will study his foreign affairs work (Foreign affairs with South Korean characteristics -e.g., global pivotal state)
Yoon returns home from trip to New York | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · September 23, 2023
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home Saturday after a six-day visit to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, his office said.
Yoon delivered a keynote address to the U.N. gathering on Wednesday (local time), sending a stark warning that any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would be considered a direct provocation against South Korea.
His remarks came in the wake of last week's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Far East, which raised concerns over a potential exchange of the North's ammunition for Russian weapons technology.
Since his arrival in New York on Monday, Yoon used the U.N. session to have a whirlwind of summits with world leaders on the sidelines to make the last pitch for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southern city of Busan.
The back-to-back meetings took place with leaders of countries in Africa, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and others.
Yoon was accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Back home, Yoon is expected to focus on dealing with domestic issues, including the opposition party-led passage of the dismissal motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Yoon is also expected to hold a session where he will explain the outcome of his U.S. visit to the public.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) arrives at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, with first lady Kim Keon Hee after a six-day trip to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, on Sept. 23, 2023. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · September 23, 2023
6. Dancing with the Devil: Why The Ghost Of Stalin Watches Over Kim-Putin Bromance
Read the entire article at the link as it will not cut and paste: https://www.timesnownews.com/world/dancing-with-the-devil-why-ghost-of-stalin-watches-over-kim-jong-un-putin-bromance-article-103886814
Dancing with the Devil: Why The Ghost Of Stalin Watches Over Kim-Putin Bromance
timesnownews.com · by Times Now Digital · September 23, 2023
Kim Jong Un's train trip to Russia featured covert negotiations to whimsical wildlife encounters. Was it diplomacy or a grand scheme? What did Putin and Kim plot? And how Russia and North Korea have always shared a secret friendship - all your questions answered.
Updated Sep 23, 2023 | 02:47 PM IST
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un during the North Korean leader's Russia visit
Photo : AP
The world watched, a little in surprise, a little in horror and a little bit in wry humour befitting cynics when Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, set out on an armoured train to visit Russia. The trip was pegged as secretive, unplanned, but the brouhaha over the Supreme Leader leaving home after four long years invited the global media's attention.
Continued at the link: https://www.timesnownews.com/world/dancing-with-the-devil-why-ghost-of-stalin-watches-over-kim-jong-un-putin-bromance-article-103886814
7. 'Very concerning': Russia, North Korea likely spoke 'in detail about weapons transfers,' DIA says
'Very concerning': Russia, North Korea likely spoke 'in detail about weapons transfers,' DIA says - Breaking Defense
The Defense Intelligence Agency previously took the lead on reporting Russia's use of Iranian weapon systems in Ukraine.
breakingdefense.com · by Lee Ferran · September 22, 2023
In this pool photo distributed by Sputnik agency, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (centre L) and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (centre R) visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region on September 13, 2023. (Photo by MIKHAIL METZEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — Following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a top Defense Intelligence Agency official said it “wouldn’t surprise us” if the two nations had spoken “in detail about weapons transfers.”
“It’s very concerning, no question about it,” DIA Deputy Director Suzanne White told the audience at the Potomac Officers Club Intel Summit on Thursday in response to a question about the Putin-Kim meeting from Breaking Defense. “We are watching, trying to glean as much as we can out of those interactions, out of those conversations.”
The White House weeks ago accused Russia of seeking weapons from Pyongyang for use in Ukraine, and recently National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that “before the visit and after the visit… talks about the provision of weapons by North Korea to Russia to kill Ukrainians have been advancing and continue to advance.” Though both nations have denied arms talks, Putin publicly said during the meeting that Russia could aid North Korea with its satellite program. (At the United Nations, South Korea warned Moscow against helping its northern adversary with its nuclear program.)
No deals were publicly announced during the Russia-North Korea meeting, but afterwards, Kim ordered his government to take unspecified steps to strengthen its relationship with Russia to “a new high level at the practical stage.”
“Really, Russia is reaching a level of desperation, looking for additional suppliers out there” as sanctions take their toll, White said.
She declined to say whether the military intelligence agency had seen evidence that any such weapons transfers had actually taken place, but told the audience, “We will continue to observe that and watch that, to see what comes of that.”
“Please, just know that’s something the IC [Intelligence Community], DIA is watching,” she said.
Prior to the meeting between Putin and Kim, DIA had taken a lead role in the IC in exposing what the US says is Russia’s extensive use of Iranian weaponry, namely suicide drones. Last month the agency updated an unclassified report on those transfers. Tehran has denied supplying the weaponry.
“The original unclassified report […] confirmed Russia’s use of various lethal Iranian UAVs against Ukraine,” the DIA said in late August. “These UAVs have become a critical part of Russia’s war in Ukraine and are being used to attack critical infrastructure. The update features additional findings and declassified images to disprove Iran’s continued claims that Russia is not using its UAVs in Ukraine.”
What Keeps You Up At Night? ‘Money.’
Elsewhere in her talk, White took the opportunity to stress the need for more funding at her agency. When asked by an audience member the age-old security question, “What keeps you up at night?” White immediately said, “Money.”
“We don’t have enough to do what we need to do,” she said, specifically saying that another $500 million in the budget would solve a lot of problems.
Earlier, White had said the “biggest challenge” for the agency was balancing “requirements coming our way from customers” versus the “resources we have available.”
“There is absolutely no question that DIA capabilities, as is the case with the entire IC, are in high demand right now,” she said. “And rightly so. Whether it’s the China threat, the continued Russia threat…”
White said funding has not increased in line with the demand for intelligence products, presenting a “significant challenge” and forcing the agency to triage. Every day leadership has to decide “what’s going to come first, what are we not going to do?”
“Is it only going to get worse? Probably,” she said.
8. Analysis-South Korea's Yoon Rails Against Critics as ‘Communists’
Yes this is political and politics. But we cannot allow this to overshadow the very real subversion campaign being conducted by the Kim family regime against the South and the ROK/US alliance.
•The undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution.
–As in: "the ruthless subversion of democracy"
•Ideological War – a choice between:
–Shared ROK/US Values
•Freedom and individual liberty, liberal democracy, rule of law, free market economy, and human rights
–Kim family regime (KFR) “values”
•Juche/Kimilsungism, Socialist Workers Paradise, Songun, Songbun, Byungjin, rule BY law, and denial of human rights to sustain KFR power
•nK engages in active subversion of the ROK as well as the ROK/US Alliance
Analysis-South Korea's Yoon Rails Against Critics as ‘Communists’
U.S. News & World Report3 min
September 22, 2023
View Original
By Hyunsu Yim
SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's branding of critics as "communist totalitarian and anti-state forces" may rally his conservative base and distract from unease about some of his policies but risk fuelling division and alienating some voters.
In South Korea, the label of communist carries higher stakes than in many Western democracies with the ongoing threat from ostensibly communist North Korea and Cold War-era laws that effectively ban activities deemed related to communism.
Yoon's remarks and the renewed public debate over communism come with his approval ratings slipping and political tensions rising ahead of a general election in April.
They also come at a time of a noticeable shift in Seoul's foreign policy as Yoon pushes for trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan despite lingering public unease with Tokyo over historical issues, said Kevin Gray, a professor at University of Sussex.
“There is a legitimacy problem for Yoon in the sense that the gap between popular opinion in South Korea and what is being pursued internationally is increasing," Gray said.
"He has decided to take an approach not of trying to convince people but to label the opposition as being somehow an anti-state, communist totalitarian force."
In a speech earlier this month, Yoon said South Korea's freedom is "under constant threat" from "communist totalitarian and anti-state forces" who are critical of South Korea's deepening ties with the U.S. and Japan.
"The forces of communist totalitarianism have disguised themselves as democracy activists, human rights advocates and progressive activists," Yoon said in another speech for Liberation Day last month.
Yoon's office told Reuters that the president had never branded domestic critics as "communist totalitarian" or "anti-state forces" but rather he was expressing concern about forces attempting to undermine freedom, democracy, and the constitutional values of South Korea.
The liberal opposition party, which controls the National Assembly but is in disarray amid corruption charges against its leader, has criticised Yoon as wasting his term on an “ideological war” that deepens political divides and does nothing to address real problems.
"The president keeps emphasizing the threat from communist forces which don't exist," a spokesperson for the Democratic Party said at a briefing last week.
SINKING APPROVAL RATINGS
Yoon's disapproval ratings stood at 59%, according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, up from 37% when elected last year. Foreign policy, the government's economic management and stance on Japan's Fukushima wastewater release were the leading issues.
Given his low approval ratings, analysts say labelling his opponents as communists may still be useful for Yoon to hold onto his party's conservative base.
Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the legacy of the Korean War and North Korean infiltration into the South means "red-baiting" is still effective in demonising opponents.
Earlier this year, four former officials at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the biggest umbrella union in the country, were charged over links to North Korean spies and violating the National Security Act.
"Unfortunately, such tactics only deepen political divides, contributing to nationalist polarisation," Yeo said.
Benjamin Engel, a research professor at Seoul National University, said Yoon's approach risks alienating some more moderate voters.
"During his campaign, Yoon often used the phrase 'uniting the people.' But his recent policies, rhetoric, and appointments suggest he is moving away from uniting the people. The result will be some people who may have voted for him last year now feel alienated," Engel said.
THE 'NEW RIGHT' MOVEMENT
Yoon has aligned himself with the 'New Right' movement which offers a more "charitable" view of the country's authoritarian past and its link to the Japanese colonial period, Yeo said.
Rhee Jong-hoon, a Seoul-based political commentator, sees Yoon's more right wing approach as being influenced in part by his late father who studied in Japan and once took part in a signature campaign linked to the New Right movement.
"Yoon has perhaps always warmed to and sympathised with the figures who his father had hung out with and are associated with the New Right movement," Rhee said.
The president's office said any assumptions about his father's politics are "baseless", but Rhee argued that Yoon's comments are likely more than just a political tactic.
"It would be difficult to imagine (Yoon's moves) being driven without his own deeply rooted conviction," Rhee said.
(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Josh Smith and Lincoln Feast)
Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.
Tags: South Korea, United States, Japan
9. Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses
Excellent. Soldiers must understand the human rights abuses in the north. I hope they will provide this to the US military as well
When they eventually liberate the prison camps they are likely to encounter sights similar to the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in WWII.
But human rights are more than a moral imperative. They are a national security issue because Kim Jong Un must deny the human rights of all Korean people in order to remain in power. The military will be on the front lines engaging with the Korean people and the north and they must understand how they have been abused and be prepared for a wide range of reactions to liberation.
Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses
The Korea Times · September 23, 2023
This photo shows North Korean athletes with badges bearing the images of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, former North Korean leaders, at Hangzhou, China, Friday, a day before the opening of the Asian Games. A special exhibition highlighting the human rights violations in North Korea is being held for service members, the Ministry of Unification said Friday. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
A special exhibition highlighting the human rights violations in North Korea is being held for service members, the Ministry of Unification said, Friday.
In collaboration with the military and human rights organizations, the ministry launched the project last week, which will continue until April in 2024.
The exhibition, which displays photos and testimonies of victims among other content, aims to raise awareness among South Korean troops of the dire human rights situation in the North, the ministry said, adding that all active-duty soldiers would get to see the materials.
This is part of the ministry’s renewed effort to promote the issue in South Korea and abroad under Minister Kim Yung-ho, who seeks to strengthen international cooperation to increase pressure on the regime.
In a statement released for the opening of the 20th North Korea Freedom Week on Sept. 17, Kim said speaking the truth about North Korea’s rights abuses would eventually lead to the actual improvement as such voices have the power its leaders cannot ignore.
With this belief, Kim said the ministry will take a more active role in developing programs, possibly in collaboration with like-minded governments and private organizations.
The Korea Times · September 23, 2023
10. Kim Jong Un's pursuit of military goals in the face of food shortages
Kim prioritizes nuclear weapons and missile development and support to the elite over the welfare of the Korean people in the north. According to a JoongAng Ilbo report the regime spent $560 million on missile launches in 2022 when the country needed $417 million to feed the people. This must be called out in an information campaign. The Korean people suffer and sacrifice because of KJU's deliberate policy decisions,
As an aside I had a long conversation with an escapee from north Korea last evening. He only made it to South Korea 6 months ago after escaping through Russia where he was a translator. He studied English and Russian to make himself "marketable" for overseas service to the regime. He shared a lot of information with me the most important is that he thinks the majority of Koreans hate the regime and the turning point was th 2009 currency devaluation when Kim Jong Il took the money of the dongju class. Information from the South makes all Koreans ask why they are so poor when Koreans in the South are so well off.
I will be spending Chuseok with him and other escapees who have no family in the South. He works at Free North Korea Radio and I will be visiting their offices on Chuseok as they continue to broadcast information into the north.
Kim Jong Un's pursuit of military goals in the face of food shortages
donga.com
Posted September. 23, 2023 08:04,
Updated September. 23, 2023 08:04
Kim Jong Un's pursuit of military goals in the face of food shortages. September. 23, 2023 08:04. .
The eventful trip of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia has concluded. He embarked on a 2,700km journey aboard his private train to reach the Russian border, and within Russia itself, he covered an impressive 4,200km. When factoring in the return journey to Pyongyang, this arduous voyage spanned more than 10,000km, lasting for 10 days and 9 nights. A government representative remarked, "It appears that Kim Jong-un successfully executed his planned itinerary, even managing to rest on the train," and added “It seems urgent to reevaluate Kim Jong-un’s health, which is said to be suffering from adult-onset medical conditions.”
Immediately preceding this Russia visit, South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies were closely monitoring the potential for military collaboration between North Korea and Russia. Given North Korea's need for Russia's advanced technology, such as nuclear submarines and satellites, and Russia's urgent requirement for support in conventional weaponry, including artillery shells available in North Korea, there were apprehensions that this could mark the commencement of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Seemingly reveling in these concerns, Kim Jong Un deliberately selected destinations that conspicuously evoked military cooperation themes. Right after the summit held at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, he proceeded to the industrial city of Komsomolsk-Naamure, where he toured a fighter jet factory. Additionally, he conducted inspections at the Knevich Military Airfield and the Vladivostok Pacific Fleet. In contrast to his first visit to Russia in 2019, when he was accompanied by a significant contingent of economic and diplomatic figures, on this occasion, Kim Jong-un was joined by a series of high-ranking military officials, a development publicly disclosed by North Korean media. Going a step further, North Korea's state-controlled media even broadcasted a documentary detailing Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia.
The details of this summit between North Korea and Russia were held under tight wraps. Nevertheless, it appears that North Korea's provision of weaponry had been ongoing prior to this visit. Several months ago, a significant quantity of arms from North Korea made its way into Russia, and there have been indications that the two nations recently formalized an agreement and engaged in earnest exchanges of weaponry.
North Korea's provision of arms is causing a ripple effect in the political landscape of Ukraine and may trigger a robust international response, potentially involving the United States, against both North Korea and Russia. However, from our vantage point, the prospect of North Korea receiving support from Russia is even more disconcerting. Even a minor assistance from Russia could empower North Korea to swiftly deploy reconnaissance satellites, which have previously encountered setbacks this year alone. This support could enable North Korea to secure critical technologies for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), including re-entry systems and multiple warheads, and markedly expedite the development timeline for nuclear-powered submarines.
The precise details surrounding Russia's transmission of weapons manuals to North Korea have not been disclosed at this time. Some interpretations suggest that Putin's overt invitation to Kim was a gesture of gratitude for the artillery shells supplied by North Korea. However, an official familiar with the Russian situation offered a cautious perspective, stating, "While it's possible that the exchange involved technology related to reconnaissance satellites, it's unlikely that Russia would readily share sensitive technology with North Korea." This underscores the complex and sensitive nature of military and technological exchanges between the two nations.
Effective management of our government's relationship with Russia has now become more crucial than ever. While we must collaborate with the international community, including the United States, to exert pressure on Russia, we also need to carefully time our own diplomatic efforts, which may involve activating high-level channels. A prominent government official emphasized, "The critical task at hand is striking the right balance between applying pressure and diplomatic engagement." This is imperative because neglecting Putin's actions could lead to the unsettling scenario of him handing the metaphorical golden key to Kim Jong Un without restraint.
한국어
donga.com
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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