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Quotes of the Day:
“Truth is not what you want to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power, or live a lie.”
- Miyamoto Musashi
"As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live."
- Pope John Paul II
"We grow tyrannical fighting tyranny. The most alarming spectacle today is not the spectacle of the atomic bomb in an unfederated world, it is the spectacle of the Americans beginning to accept the device of loyalty oaths and witchhunts, beginning to call anybody they don't like a Communist."
- E. B. White
1. Former ROK 3-star general and AUSA fellow discusses U.S.-Korea relations at CSU
2. I broke out of North Korea TWICE only to become a slave in China before finally escaping to the West: Brave defector who now lives in Britain shares her incredible life story
3. S. Korea, U.S. defense chiefs discuss deterrence against N.K. threats in phone talks
4. U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea charged with desertion
5. N. Korea warns U.S. strategic assets will be '1st targets of destruction'
6. U.S. to take 'whatever steps' it can to address arms transfers between N. Korea, Russia: State Department
7. 19 S. Koreans leave Israel aboard Japanese air tanker: report
8. S. Korea to provide US$2 million worth of humanitarian aid to civilian victims in Israel-Hamas war
9. Russian ship in South Africa arms row appears to aid North Korea weapons trade
10. Kim Jong Un vows to bolster Russian ties, testing Biden’s strategy
11. Thousands of remote IT workers sent wages to North Korea to help fund weapons program, FBI says
12. Don’t forget the pain of the separated families
13. Yoon names former Capital Defense commander as vice defense minister
14. Half of South Koreans think sudden North Korean invasion is possible: poll
15. Russia's appeal for security talks with N. Korea to counter Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation 'misleading': S. Korea
16. Russia could help N. Korea's possible effort to build 'nuclear triad': expert
1. Former ROK 3-star general and AUSA fellow discusses U.S.-Korea relations at CSU
Former ROK 3-star general and AUSA fellow discusses U.S.-Korea relations at CSU
wrbl.com · by Olivia Yepez · October 19, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — What do U.S.-Korea relations look like from the Korean perspective? In the second of a three-part forum series about U.S.-Korea relations hosted by Columbus State University (CSU), retired Lt. Gen. Chun In-Bum former commander of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Special Warfare Command presented to a room of CSU officials, locals and other interested attendees.
In the presentation called “Challenge From Northeast Asia: It Isn’t Just China,” Chun, also the only international senior fellow with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), addressed Korea’s relationship with the United States and offered his impressions of what the future between the countries may hold.
“This will be invigorating, might be a little contentious,” said retired Gen. Pat Donahoe as he introduced Chun. The former Fort Moore commander continued, “There might be some things thrown out that we don’t all agree with, but he’s gonna try to make you believe. It’s gonna be fantastic.”
Retired Army general, experts discuss U.S.-Korea relations at CSU panel
In a nearly 60-minute presentation, Chun offered his insights on a range of topics, often peppered with quips.
On the possibility that missiles used by Iran and Syria came from North Korea: “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a North Korean duck.”
On the public availability of bathrooms in South Korea compared to the United States: “Restrooms in Korea. You can take a piss, every subway station is clean, it’s safe. … I have learned that in your country, it’s very difficult to take a piss.”
On tunnels created by Hamas which lie under Gaza: “We’re talking about Hamas, of their 500 kilometers (of) underground tunnels – that ain’t nothing. Where do you think the Hamas guys learned about underground tunnels? The North Koreans.”
On Kim Jong Un’s sister: “She is really scary looking; I would not want to be her husband.”
- From left to right: retired Gen. Pat Donahoe, retired (Republic of Korea) Lt. Gen. Chun In-Bum, and David Kieran of CSU History, Geography and Philosophy Department. (Olivia Yepez)
- Former Republic of Korea Special Warfare Commander Lt. Gen. Chun In-Bum addresses attendees. (Olivia Yepez)
Delving into a discussion of Kim, Chun told audience members North Korea’s supreme leader is not someone to discount. As an example of Kim’s influence over his people, Chun referred to Russian director Vitaly Mansky’s 2015 documentary “Under the Sun,” which follows a young North Korean girl who will soon join the Korean Children’s Union.
At one point in the movie, the girl named Zin-mi is upset, so the director asks her what would make her happy. The girl began reciting the oath of the Red Color Youth, Chun recalled. In another scene, the director asks North Korean citizens if they are happy, to which they reply “yes.”
Chun pointed out the citizens in the documentary have eyes which say they really are happy. But it’s confusing, he said, calling the moment evidence of brainwashing.
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“This guy [Kim] is no joke. Look at him, does it look like he’s stupid?” said Chun. “He is knowledgeable, he is able to tell his leadership what to do.”
The former military commander continued, “He might be making bad decisions, but he’s making decisions.”
According to Chun, the North Korean military is “potent,” a formidable foe not just because of its missiles but also because of other weapons. He showed the audience pictures of rockets disguised as firetrucks, soldiers holding MANPADS capable of shooting down helicopters and more.
In a Q&A session, one attendee asked why Chun felt North Korea’s self-defense ideology was wrong? Chun responded with a comparison to drug dealers feeling the need to protect themselves from law enforcement: if they weren’t selling drugs, they wouldn’t have to be worried in the first place. He added the entity’s goal is ultimately to gain control of South Korea, then Japan and the United States.
“They say it’s for their self-defense and it might be understood as such,” said Chun. “Only a fool would really think that … I think you need to be ready, vigilant, to be able to counter this idea.”
He also said Americans should be wary of the return of U.S. soldier Travis King, who crossed into North Korea in July of this year. According to Chun, King was just being a “stupid kid,” and while his return may me a show of goodwill by North Korea, it is more likely Kim is playing a longer game.
“I think he’s being patient and that’s really scary,” said Chun.
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On the topic of South Korea’s confidence in the United States’ willingness to defend them in the event of a nuclear attack, Chun estimated seven out of 10 South Koreans would say the country needs nuclear weapons. This is not because of a distrust of the U.S., according to Chun. He said the push is primarily due to three factors: uneasy relations with China, national pride and U.S. hesitance to use nuclear weapons.
“The doubt that we have about the U.S. alliance is not your nuclear capability, but that Americans are not cruel enough,” said Chun. “You know, you guys feel bad because you dropped two bombs on Japan in 1945 … if you had not dropped that bomb millions of people would be dead.”
He continued with a discussion of 9/11, saying there is a double standard. Americans, he said, we’re upset when planes hit the Twin Towers in New York City, however when allies are attacked, they tell them to “be rational, keep your cool.”
“The American have the capabilities, we’re just not sure that you are going to execute your capabilities,” said Chun.
Chun’s discussion ended with affirmation of friendship between the U.S. and South Korea and a quote from Spider-Man: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
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According to Pastoral Institute CEO Thomas Waynick, who was in attendance at the event, Chun’s remarks about American cruelty brought up questions of moral injury because “War, by its nature always involves cruelty” and causes soldiers to face realities which challenge them at their core existence. Due to this, and the sheer number of lives lost in warfare, Waynick said war should always be the last resort.
Waynick, who previously served 35 years as an Army chaplain, said he has often reflected on the necessity of war. He concluded it is sometimes necessary, but not without cost. “We should never believe it doesn’t change us,” Waynick said.
He added Americans across generations have had to respond to cruelty within the world, sometimes with cruelty itself. Waynick said, “It is a tragic irony, but I am thankful for those who have made that sacrifice for the peace I cherish here in this great nation.”
David Kieran of CSU’s Department of History, Geography and Philosophyreported the school was grateful to have an expert of Chun’s caliber weigh in on such major national security issues and American allies globally. Donahoe was equally supportive of the dialogue.
“The ROK-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of our security arrangement with Northeast Asia,” said Donahoe. He continued, “Anytime we can talk about the criticality of this alliance not only to America but to our world, it’s a time well-spent.”
A final forum discussion about U.S.-Korea relations will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2.
wrbl.com · by Olivia Yepez · October 19, 2023
2. I broke out of North Korea TWICE only to become a slave in China before finally escaping to the West: Brave defector who now lives in Britain shares her incredible life story
I strongly recommend Ms. Park's book. She is an incredible woman and an inspiration.
I broke out of North Korea TWICE only to become a slave in China before finally escaping to the West: Brave defector who now lives in Britain shares her incredible life story
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To watch the full episode of MailOnline's new series 'My Story', click here
PUBLISHED: 12:00 EDT, 19 October 2023 | UPDATED: 14:04 EDT, 19 October 2023
Daily Mail · by Nishan Chilkuri · October 19, 2023
A North Korean defector has revealed how she bravely broke out of her country twice only to become a slave in China before finally escaping to the West.
Jihyun Park, who was born in North Korea in 1968, shared how she fled the country when her uncle died of starvation in front of her and her father became ill. She told MailOnline how her father's final wish was for her to save her younger brother and 'leave this country'.
Ms Park followed her father's wish and set off on her first attempt to flee North Korea with her brother in the freezing cold on February 18, 1998. Halfway through their journey, they came under attack from North Korean soldiers who opened fire.
After making it over the border into China, Ms Park revealed how she was forced to marry a Chinese man. She was then deported back to North Korea - sent to a labour camp - and then ultimately escaped and made her way to the UK.
Ms Park - who stood as a Conservative candidate in the Bury local elections in 2021 but did not win - now lives in Britain with her husband, another North Korean defector she met while crossing borders, and three children.
Now, she has appeared in the latest episode of MailOnline's new YouTube human interest series called 'My Story', which features people with extraordinary life stories.
To watch the full episode click here.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Jihyun Park (pictured) bravely shared: 'My name is Jihyun Park. I was born in North Korea in 1968. I escaped North Korea twice. I went to China, was human trafficked, and then repatriated to North Korea, stayed in prison. I am free.'
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Ms Park bravely shared: 'My name is Jihyun Park. I was born in North Korea in 1968. I escaped North Korea twice. I went to China, was human trafficked, and then repatriated to North Korea, stayed in prison. I am free.'
Ms Park told of how when she was a child, it was only pictures of Kim Il-Sung - the founder of North Korea - on the wall. He ruled the country from 1948 until his death in 1994.
'North Korea told us that Kim Il-Sung is our father and the Workers Korea Party is our mother,' she said. 'We never say to them, I love my mother, my father. Thank you my mother, my father. We never said that. We always said 'Thank you Kim Il-Sung'.'
Detailing her first escape out of North Korea, Ms Park recalled: 'So in 1996, my uncle died of starvation in front of me and my father also fell ill. Also my younger brother had joined the military, but he didn't pay loyalty money to the Government.
'So my younger brother ran away and came home. After that, the military also came to my house. They searched all of the village to find my younger brother. My ill father's last wish was "Save your younger brother". "Leave this country".'
She said that she did not believe her father had said what he had because he was a Workers Party member and respected the Kim family highly.
She continued: 'It was February 1998. I left home on the 18th, but I met my younger brother on the 22nd in the Chinese border area and then, in the midnight, we left North Korea.
'It was winter. The river was frozen. So midnight at 2am, we crossed the border with my younger brother, but when we crossed half way North Korean soldiers shouted behind us and then there was gunfire.
Ms Park (pictured) shared how she broke out of her country twice only to become a slave in China before finally escaping to the West
Jihyun Park (pictured) stood as a Conservative candidate in the Bury local elections in 2021 but did not win
Ms Park told of how when she was a child, it was only pictures of Kim Il-Sung (pictured in 1984) - the founder of North Korea - on the wall
'So my legs just were just freezing and I stopped. I couldn't walk. I was really scared this time. But my younger brother was holding my hand, "Sister, sister, wake up, wake up!". So he just bring me. Then we crossed the border.'
Once they crossed into China, they found a house with a light on where they were warmly welcomed with white rice, eggs and pork - a meal only usually served on Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il's birthdays in North Korea.
Ms Park explained how when they finished the meal, they were warned Chinese police would come and search the area because of the gunfire and the fact North Koreans had escaped.
'But we had just arrived in China only a few hours ago and we didn't know where we would go,' she added.
'So he said that "My friend lives in the Tumen area, I'll contact him". So then an hour later, his friend came to us and we moved to Tumen. But his friend was a human trafficker. He told me "You have to marry a Chinese man". He told me "If you don't marry the Chinese man, I'll just contact the Chinese police and then you both will be sent back to North Korea". I just agreed with him.
'But when the Chinese man came to me, he did not accept my younger brother. He said that "I bought only you, I didn't buy your younger brother". But my younger brother told me that "Sister, you have to go. You have to survive". That is my last communication with my younger brother.
'My life was the same as slavery, because in North Korea we are kind of machines and parrots. The North Korean Government destroyed all our emotions.'
Ms Park fled the North Hamgyong province of North Korea with her younger brother, but fell into the hands of human traffickers on arrival in China
She said that it felt the same in China because the village would keep an eye on her in case she tried to run away. When she arrived at her new husband's house, his mother did not welcome her and told her she had to borrow a lot of money to buy her son a wife. She told Ms Park that she had to pay the money back by working.
Ms Park continued: 'I wanted to give up this life because I already lost my father and lost my younger brother. But one day I found out that I was pregnant.'
Then in 2001, China made a campaign that people had to search for North Korean defectors and contact police if the were successful. The Government would then financially reward them so people who didn't want to work would help because the money was better than their salaries.
Ms Park explained: 'So they did the same to me, the villagers contacted the Chinese police. They arrested me and they sent me back to North Korea.'
She was first kept in a Chinese prison where only North Korean defectors were kept. She was strip searched by a male guard during her week at the prison.
She recalled: 'I stayed for seven days in the Chinese prison, but everyday, any time, they would come to us in the female rooms and they would search again.
She was sold to a man whose family used her as a slave, falling pregnant with a son who she raised for five years until she was captured by Chinese authorities and sent back to North Korea alone. Pictured: Ms Park campaigning for the local elections in 2021
'We had to take off all our clothes and we would just have to stand around, all of us females, and they would just keep looking at us. It was a kind of sexual assault, a violation, they would just smile, standing in front of us. I don't think many people can even imagine how it was. Then we were sent back to North Korea.'
Ms Park was then sent to a camp where there were three rooms, one toilet, one door and no windows. She shared the space with men, other women and children who all used the same toilet.
They were forced to work on a farm with stones and animal waste everywhere wearing no shoes to stop them running away.
Ms Park explained: 'Life was like an animal...not animal...I don't know how I can describe this life in North Korea. In North Korea, people are all modern slaves even in the 21st century.'
One day she woke up with a swollen leg which she thinks may have been some bacteria which became infected in her feet. She was given no medicine despite not being able to fell the lower half of her body.
'They told me that "You could die, so you can't die inside the camp, die outside anywhere!". So then they just released me,' she told MailOnline.
'So I just left that camp. But, you know, I had no family. So then I went to my village's police office, and they sent me to an orphans' house. When I stayed in the orphans' house, many children were in there, there were just children in there, adult, only me.
Ms Park said she joined the Conservative Party due to their emphasis on family values and individual freedom
'Everyday they would look to see if I would just run away. Every week, the police officers would check my condition. So if my condition had improved, then they would bring me again to the labour camp.
'The first time I escaped North Korea, me and my younger brother, it was without a broker. But the second time, in North Korea they had many, many brokers in North Korea areas and they would try to find women and girls to sell in China.
'So I found a broker and the second time, you know, I had myself human trafficked to China, because my son was waiting for me in China. My son was the last family I had left.'
When she crossed the Tumen River - in a taxi with the broker, another trafficked woman and an old man - her clothes were filthy and her hair was yellow, which sparked questions from the taxi driver.
Ms Park - the only one who could speak Chinese - told the driver they were a family and made up she was with her fake husband, father and younger sister who could not speak the language for a variety of reasons.
She did not contact her son on the first stay because she had promised the broker she would be human trafficked in China.
Ms Park continued: 'But next morning I woke up, the young lady was already gone because they already sold her, and the old man found his relative's house and he is gone.
'And then North Korean broker told me that you can contact your son, but only once, you know, I quickly dialled his grandmother's house and I contacted them and my son was on the phone. But he didn't to say any word. He just put the phone down.
I called again, he put the phone down. On the third time I said, "Son, it's mom, it's mom!". Then my son said only one word, "Mom?" and then he cried. The room was very silent and everyone heard my son cry. And then I also cried, and then my son, just put the phone down.
The North Korean broker then thanked her for saving his life for speaking Chinese to the taxi driver by not selling her and letting her find her son.
They then went to Beijing but their journey failed as they could not get into the South Korean embassy as the Chinese police were checking passports outside.
They met nine North Korean defectors in front of the embassy who had also failed to get into South Korea. Instead, they were told to go to Mongolia to find another South Korean embassy.
Ms Park continued: 'In China, they made a really strong fence in between China and the Mongolian border. So it's two metres high and really strong. So we cut off that fence and you know everyone just ran out.
'But me and my son continued to walk because my leg had problems and my son did not understand why we had to cross this border. But as we walked, a few minutes later, I saw someone come towards us. So I was really shocked. I thought that it was Chinese police.
'But one man came to us and he carried my son and held my hand. Then we just run, run, run. And after that we crossed the second Chinese fence and then run again. And after that, we arrived in Mongolia.
'The Mongolian fence was only about 50 centimetres. So we just jumped After arriving in Mongolia, I saw this man. So this man was also North Korean. We met in China. He saved me and my son's life.
'So, you know, for the first time, I fell in love. This man is now is my husband. We lived together in the UK. We have now two more children, so three children here.'
They stayed in the Mongolian desert for three days but could not find anyone there. They then crossed the border again from Mongolia to China and stayed in Beijing for two years.
It was here that they met an American Korean pastor who helped them go to the United Nations and reach the UK.
Daily Mail · by Nishan Chilkuri · October 19, 2023
3. S. Korea, U.S. defense chiefs discuss deterrence against N.K. threats in phone talks
Deterrence is being questioned around the world.
S. Korea, U.S. defense chiefs discuss deterrence against N.K. threats in phone talks | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · October 20, 2023
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new defense minister held phone talks with his U.S. counterpart for the first time Friday to discuss the allies' efforts to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's defense ministry said.
The talks between Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin came as the two sides are set to meet in Seoul next month for the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM).
It marked Shin's first phone talks with Austin since he took office earlier this month.
"The two sides emphasized the need to maintain a strong combined defense posture to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," the ministry said.
To that end, they noted the need to continue to expand security cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan based on their leaders' Camp David agreement in August, it added.
During the Camp David summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to hold annual, multi-domain trilateral exercises on a regular basis in a move to enhance cooperation.
Austin also reaffirmed the "ironclad" U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea, and the two sides agreed to communicate frequently on key security issues, according to a release from the Pentagon.
Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities to defend its ally.
The two defense chiefs also agreed to continue talks in person in Seoul next month at the SCM and a defense ministerial meeting of U.N. Command member states hosted by South Korea, Shin's office said.
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik holds phone talks with his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, at his office in central Seoul on Oct. 20, 2023, in this photo provided by his ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · October 20, 2023
4. U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea charged with desertion
U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea charged with desertion
By Kyle Rempfer and Dan Lamothe
October 19, 2023 at 10:42 p.m. EDT
The Washington Post · by Kyle Rempfer · October 20, 2023
The Army has charged the U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea in July with desertion, among other alleged offenses, and placed him in pretrial confinement at Fort Bliss, Tex., according to new charging documents.
Pvt. Travis King was expelled by Pyongyang in September after state media said he had admitted he illegally entered the country from its border with South Korea. Within hours, King was placed in U.S. custody, and a senior U.S. administration official said he “was very happy to be on his way home.”
King, a 23-year-old cavalry scout, was charged Thursday with violating the U.S. military’s legal code governing desertion, assault and disobeying superiors. He was also charged with insubordinate conduct, making false statements and attempting to solicit sexual photographs of a minor over social media. King’s brigade commander, Col. Kirby R. Dennis, signed the charge sheets obtained by The Washington Post.
King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said she was worried about her son’s mental health and stressed that he is presumed innocent.
“The man I raised, the man I dropped off at boot camp, the man who spent the holidays with me before deploying did not drink,” Gates wrote in a statement. “A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed. The Army promised to investigate what happened at Camp Humphries, and I await the results.”
In August, North Korea claimed King told investigators he was disillusioned by American inequality and fled his post in South Korea because of his “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination.” The U.S. Defense Department said it could not verify North Korea’s comments on King.
The charging documents accused King of leaving his barracks without permission in the fall of 2022 and consuming alcohol against regulation. The documents also allege he kicked a staff sergeant in the head during an incident in October 2022 and solicited lewd photos of a minor over Snapchat.
King, who joined the Army in January 2021, had not deployed before arriving in South Korea. A U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitive nature, told The Post in July that King had just completed a 50-day hard-labor sentence in South Korea for assault and other offenses before he crossed into North Korea.
U.S. authorities previously said King was supposed to return to the United States after his punishment. Instead, he skipped his scheduled flight, joined a tour at the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea, and July 18, appeared to dart across the border.
After King crossed into North Korea, the U.S. government began contacting Pyongyang through “multiple channels,” including via Sweden, which often serves as an interlocutor for the United States, a senior administration official said previously.
The Biden administration has denied that any concessions were given to North Korea to secure King’s release. “There were none,” a senior official told reporters last month. “Full stop.” With Sweden’s help, King was transferred from North Korea to China, where U.S. officials received him, the official added.
After his release, King was given a health assessment at Joint Base San Antonio before being transferred Thursday to Fort Bliss, where his unit, the 1st Armored Division, is based, said Lt. Col. Kimbia Rey, a spokeswoman for the unit. Upon return, a commander directed King into pretrial confinement, Rey added.
The 1st Armored Division “continues to ensure Private King has access to any medical and behavioral healthcare he may require,” Rey said in a statement.
King will remain in pretrial confinement until a hearing is held in the coming days to determine whether that confinement is warranted, according to his civilian attorneys, Franklin D. Rosenblatt and Joshua Grubaugh. Both declined to comment further.
“I am grateful for the extraordinary legal team representing my son, and I look forward to my son having his day in court,” King’s mother said.
The Washington Post · by Kyle Rempfer · October 20, 2023
5. N. Korea warns U.S. strategic assets will be '1st targets of destruction'
As expected from the Propaganda and Agitation Department.
Excerpts:
"The U.S. would be well aware that the Korean Peninsula is in a state of war by law and its strategic assets deploying in the puppet region are the first targets of destruction," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English-language statement.
Claiming that provocations of a nuclear war against the North are progressing into a "more dangerous stage," Pyongyang pledged to take a "corresponding option."
"The U.S. had better understand at an early date that the more frequently the misjudgment is repeated, the more desperately the critical moment of the American continent will be approached," the KCNA said, stating its nuclear policy.
N. Korea warns U.S. strategic assets will be '1st targets of destruction' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · October 20, 2023
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday condemned the arrival of a U.S. B-52 bomber in South Korea, threatening that U.S. strategic assets deployed on the Korean Peninsula will become the "first targets of destruction."
Pyongyang's criticism came in response to the landing of the nuclear-capable bomber, a key U.S. strategic asset, at an air base in South Korea on Tuesday in its first known arrival in the South in a show of force against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
"The U.S. would be well aware that the Korean Peninsula is in a state of war by law and its strategic assets deploying in the puppet region are the first targets of destruction," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English-language statement.
Claiming that provocations of a nuclear war against the North are progressing into a "more dangerous stage," Pyongyang pledged to take a "corresponding option."
"The U.S. had better understand at an early date that the more frequently the misjudgment is repeated, the more desperately the critical moment of the American continent will be approached," the KCNA said, stating its nuclear policy.
In September, the North amended the constitution to enshrine a nuclear force-building policy, a year after it enacted a new nuclear law authorizing the preemptive use of nuclear arms, calling its status as a nuclear state "irreversible."
The deployment of the B-52 bomber is part of efforts to bolster America's extended deterrence commitment to mobilizing the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.
In April, Washington pledged to enhance the "regular visibility" of strategic assets on the peninsula as part of efforts to deter Pyongyang's military threats in a joint declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit.
This photo, provided by South Korea's defense ministry, shows a B-52H strategic bomber, which is parked at a South Korean Air Force base at Cheongju Airport, 112 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Oct. 19, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · October 20, 2023
6. U.S. to take 'whatever steps' it can to address arms transfers between N. Korea, Russia: State Department
(LEAD) U.S. to take 'whatever steps' it can to address arms transfers between N. Korea, Russia: State Department | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · October 20, 2023
(ATTN: RECASTS lead, 2nd para)
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- The United States will take "whatever steps" it can to hold to account those involved in arms transfers between North Korean and Russia, the State Department said Thursday, stressing it will "closely" monitor related developments.
Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, made the remarks after the U.S. government revealed last Friday that the North shipped 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine.
"We have released information to show that military assistance is already moving from DPRK into Russia," Miller told a press briefing, using the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"We will closely monitor that and we will take whatever steps we can to hold the parties to account as we have in the past," he added.
The spokesperson stressed that a reason why Russia has "had to go around the world looking for arms" is because of sanctions and export controls imposed by the U.S.
"One of those states is the DPRK," he said.
Seoul and Washington have said that any arms trade with North Korea would be in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that Moscow itself voted to adopt.
Matthew Miller. the spokesperson of the State Department, is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the state department in Washington on Sept. 12, 2023 in this captured image. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · October 20, 2023
7. 19 S. Koreans leave Israel aboard Japanese air tanker: report
Good to see this mutual/reciprocal Japan-Korea cooperation.
19 S. Koreans leave Israel aboard Japanese air tanker: report | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · October 20, 2023
TOKYO, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A Japanese air tanker has departed from Israel carrying dozens of its own nationals and 19 South Koreans, a Japanese media company reported Friday, in a move seen as reciprocation for Seoul's help in bringing back Japanese people on its plane last week.
The Air Self-Defense Force aircraft left for Jordan to bring home 83 people, including the South Koreans, from the war-torn Middle East state, Kyodo News reported, quoting the Japanese government.
The plane is expected to arrive at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo early Saturday.
Japan had sent refueling and transport aircraft to Jordan to evacuate its citizens from Israel as the war with Palestine has been intensifying.
Japan made the offer earlier this week to provide some 20 seats for South Koreans for free. The proposal was seen as returning the favor to Seoul after a South Korean military aircraft brought back 51 Japanese people, along with 163 South Koreans, Saturday.
The mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries came amid a significant warming of bilateral ties that had been badly frayed by a dispute over compensating Korean victims of wartime forced labor in 1910-45, when Korea was Japan's colony.
In March, South Korea said it will not seek compensation from Japanese companies but make up for their suffering on its own.
People disembark a South Korean Air Force KC-330 transport aircraft at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, on Oct. 14, 2023. The aircraft, carrying 163 South Koreans and 57 other nationals, arrived from Israel amid the armed conflict there with the Palestinian Hamas militant group. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · October 20, 2023
8. S. Korea to provide US$2 million worth of humanitarian aid to civilian victims in Israel-Hamas war
The Global Pivotal State steps up.
S. Korea to provide US$2 million worth of humanitarian aid to civilian victims in Israel-Hamas war | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · October 19, 2023
SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide US$2 million worth of humanitarian aid to help civilian victims in the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
The provision will be made through international organizations, and the government will make sure the resources are transparently used for humanitarian purposes, the ministry said.
Since the Hamas group launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the deadly clashes have so far claimed more than 4,800 deaths -- about 1,400 from Israel and 3,400 from Palestine.
This Reuters photo shows the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the aftermath of a massive explosion in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, on Oct. 18, 2023. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · October 19, 2023
9. Russian ship in South Africa arms row appears to aid North Korea weapons trade
Russian ship in South Africa arms row appears to aid North Korea weapons trade
https://www.nknews.org/pro/russian-ship-in-south-africa-arms-row-appears-to-aid-north-korea-weapons-trade/?utm
Imagery suggests sanctioned Lady R docked at Rason, after US alleged port facilitated arms deal between DPRK and Russia
Anton Sokolin | Colin ZwirkoOctober 19, 2023
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The Lady R cargo vessel at Simons Town Naval Base in South Africa on Dec. 9, 2022 (inset) compared to a ship matching its profile in a satellite image of North Korea's Rason Port on Oct. 19, 2023 | Images: Limewrite per Wikimedia Commons (Dec. 9, 2022); edited by NK Pro
A sanctioned Russian cargo ship recently accused of transporting weapons from South Africa appeared to visit a North Korean port at the center of alleged arms trade between Russia and the DPRK twice this month, including on Thursday, according to NK Pro analysis.
The Lady R is one of at least three large cargo ships that appear to have participated in the alleged arms deal between Russia and the DPRK, and its identification by NK Pro suggests Russia has been leaning on its own vessels and common sanctions evasion tactics to facilitate the operation.
The White House named another Russian-flagged vessel, the Angara, in a bombshell presentation last week detailing what it said was an operation to send containers full of North Korean “military equipment and munitions” by ship to the Russian Far East and then by train to the frontlines of the country’s war on Ukraine.
British think tank RUSI said a cargo ship named the Maria also made multiple trips ferrying containers between the northeastern North Korean port of Rason (Rajin) and the secluded Russian military port of Dunay (Dunai).
The operation appeared to begin in August, according to NK Pro analysis.
RECENT SHIP ACTIVITY
A cargo vessel seen loading and unloading containers at Rason Port on Thursday and earlier in October was likely the Russian-flagged Lady R (IMO 9161003), according to NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs and Google Earth satellite imagery, as well as photos posted to ship-tracking websites.
According to ship-tracking website Fleetmon, the Lady R stopped broadcasting its location via its automatic identification system (AIS) on Oct. 2 after visiting Vostochny Port in Russia’s Nakhodka.
A ship with identical dimensions and features then appeared in Planet Labs high-resolution satellite imagery of Rason Port unloading containers at the northern pier (Pier 1) on Oct. 6 and picking up containers at the middle pier (Pier 2) on Oct. 7 and 8.
The Lady R stopped broadcasting its location via AIS after Oct. 2 | Image: Fleetmon; edited by NK Pro
A ship that appears to be the Russian-flagged Lady R at the outgoing container pier at Rason Port on Oct. 19 | Image: Planet Labs; edited by NK Pro
A ship that appears to be the Russian-flagged Lady R at the container dropoff pier at Rason Port on Oct. 6 | Image: Planet Labs; edited by NK Pro
A ship that appears to be the Russian-flagged Lady R at the outgoing container pier at Rason Port on Oct. 7 | Image: Planet Labs; edited by NK Pro
A ship that appears to be the Russian-flagged Lady R at the outgoing container pier at Rason Port on Oct. 8 | Image: Planet Labs; edited by NK Pro
A ground-level image reportedly taken on Oct. 9 by a user of the vessel tracking website MarineTraffic subsequently showed the Lady R in waters off Vladivostok, carrying hundreds of containers that it appeared to pick up in North Korea the previous day.
The same user posted another photo reportedly taken from Vladivostok on Oct. 17 of the Lady R carrying hundreds of containers with logos of Russian shipping companies Fesco and TransContainer.
A ship matching the Lady R’s profile then appeared again at Pier 2 of Rason Port on Oct. 19. The Lady R was still not broadcasting its location via AIS as of Thursday.
It’s unclear whether the Lady R recently sailed to the navy port at Dunay, where the U.S. says other vessels offloaded North Korean military equipment for use in the war in Ukraine. No ships matching the appearance of the Lady R showed up in Planet Labs images of Dunay in October, though it could have also stopped at the port outside the times when images were taken, including when initially sailing from Vostochny Port to Rason.
However, its apparent stopovers at Rason and appearance near Vladivostok with cargo containers raises the possibility that the Lady R is engaged in the alleged weapons trade between North Korea and the Russian Far East.
Washington has alleged North Korea seeks Russian “surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles” and “ballistic missile production equipment” as part of the exchange.
The Lady R confirmed at a port in Douala, Cameroon (right) and a ship that appeared at Rason this month (left) are both around 122 meters long and 19 meters wide, while the distance between the stern and the base of the first red colored crane is around 23 meters and distance between the two crane bases is around 53 meters for both. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping lists the Lady R officially as 121.66 meters long and 18.7 meters wide. | Images: Planet Labs (left, Oct. 6, 2023); Google Earth (right, Nov. 22, 2022); edited by NK ProThis comparison demonstrates shared visible features of the Lady R (bottom) as seen from ground level in South Africa and the ship that appeared at Rason this month (top), such as a large blue funnel (chimney) and red hull, hold covers and cranes | Images: Planet Labs (Oct. 19, 2023); Limewrite per Wikimedia Commons (Dec. 9, 2022); edited by NK Pro
The Lady R is similar in appearance to the slightly larger Angara, the cargo vessel the U.S. named in its presentation on the alleged arms trade operation last week.
The Angara also appeared to be carrying similar containers with the logos of TransContainer and South Korean companies Hyundai and Heung-A in ground-level photographs posted on MarineTraffic and taken near Vladivostok on Sept. 23 and Oct. 14.
RUSI appears to have mislabeled the ship that appears to be the Lady R as the Angara in its report on the DPRK-Russia trade operation released on Monday.
HISTORY OF WEAPONS TRADE
The Lady R’s apparent resurfacing in North Korea comes months after the U.S. accused the ship of carrying weapons from South Africa to Russia.
The South African government rejected the claims, launching an official investigation into the contents of the Lady R’s holds during the Dec. 2022 delivery and concluding that no weapons transfers took place. Pretoria declined to release the full details of the investigation, leaving some observers less than convinced of its claim.
According to the summary report published in September by the South African presidential office, the Lady R delivered “equipment” for the country’s defense forces, which it had ordered in 2018 but was unable to receive due to the pandemic.
The Lady R belongs to MG-Flot, formerly known as TransMorFlot, an entity sanctioned by the U.S. government as part of sectoral restrictions imposed on Russia’s maritime industry after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. Pretoria rejected the U.S. sanctions as “not binding” on South Africa since they have not been adopted by the U.N.
The company appears to be authorized to procure and contract with the Russian government, likely including the provision of military supplies, according to public records presented by Sayari, a company that aggregates corporate information.
The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control blocked 16 vessels linked to MG-Flot, including the Lady R, stating that ships managed and owned by the company were used to move weapons for the Russian government.
The Angara belongs to the Russian company M Leasing LLC headquartered in Moscow, according to International Maritime Organization (IMO) records.
The U.S. sanctioned the company and blacklisted the three ships it owns in 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Edited by Bryan Betts
10. Kim Jong Un vows to bolster Russian ties, testing Biden’s strategy
I think it is important to understand the strategy of the axis of authoritarians (or the threesome of convenience).
Excerpts:
“The two parties engaged in detailed discussions and found common ground on fortifying collaborative efforts on various regional and international matters, including the dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” the media report said.
Deepening North Korea-Russia alliance has the potential to corner Washington, already preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and Israel, into a more challenging position than it had hoped.
Lavrov also told reporters that Russia is seeking stronger cooperation with North Korea and China to counter the U.S. and its regional allies, as reported by Russian media Tass on Thursday.
“The United States, Japan and South Korea intensifying military activity here and Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, here, are of great concern to us and our North Korean friends,” he was quoted as saying, calling the allies’ trilateral cooperation as “unconstructive” and “dangerous.”
Kim Jong Un vows to bolster Russian ties, testing Biden’s strategy
The purported tighter cooperation is aimed at building leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners.
By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA
2023.10.19
Seoul, South Korea
rfa.org
Updated Oct. 20, 2023, 5:33 a.m. ET
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has signaled the “new era” of North Korea-Russia ties, hinting that his regime will leverage Moscow in addressing complex regional and international issues – a step which could complicate U.S. President Joe Biden’s global security approach amidst Washington’s involvement in the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
Kim met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang Thursday and vowed to “faithfully implement the agreements of the DPRK-Russia summit, and lay a stable foundation for the new era of the DPRK-Russia relations,” North Korea’s official media Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday, referring to the North’s formal name.
At the Party Central Committee headquarters, Kim told Lavrov that his commitment is to prioritize the “well-being of the peoples of both nations and intensively propel the crucial mission of nation-building,” according to the state media report, indicating that Pyongyang was set to bolster its cooperation with Moscow.
Kim and Lavrov shared “sincere opinions on significant matters of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance for both countries to actively navigate the intricate regional and international landscape,” the Rodong Sinmun said, adding the two nations will “collaboratively broaden bilateral relations across all sectors.”
The paper suggested that the purported tighter cooperation is aimed at building leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners. Broadening bilateral relations between North Korea and Russia, especially in strategic sectors like defense, economy, and technology, may be seen as a move aimed at enhancing their collective bargaining power and operational capabilities against the West.
It could challenge the effectiveness of the international community’s sanctions regimes on both Pyongyang and Moscow, as well as the U.S. and its allies’ influence in navigating the region’s geopolitical complexities that are compounded by China’s maneuvers.
Russia is sanctioned for its aggression against Ukraine, while North Korea for its nuclear ambitions.
The two authoritarian states’ intention has become clearer after Kim and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met at the symbol of Russian space prowess in Russia’s Far East last month, where they vowed to form an “anti-imperialist united front,” and agree to boost their comprehensive cooperation, spanning from the economy to military. North Korea frequently labels the U.S. and its allies as “imperialists” when their diplomatic overtures aren’t met favorably.
On Thursday, Lavrov also met with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son-hui, where they agreed to take concrete steps in solidifying the “united front” that their top leaders had agreed to establish in September.
The ministers explored “concrete steps and methods to elevate bilateral relations to better suit the needs of the current era and prevailing circumstances,” Rodong Sinmun said on Friday. This involved actively enhancing ways to speed up bilateral collaboration in diverse areas including “economy, culture, and cutting-edge science and technology via political and diplomatic channels.”
“The two parties engaged in detailed discussions and found common ground on fortifying collaborative efforts on various regional and international matters, including the dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” the media report said.
Deepening North Korea-Russia alliance has the potential to corner Washington, already preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and Israel, into a more challenging position than it had hoped.
Lavrov also told reporters that Russia is seeking stronger cooperation with North Korea and China to counter the U.S. and its regional allies, as reported by Russian media Tass on Thursday.
“The United States, Japan and South Korea intensifying military activity here and Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, here, are of great concern to us and our North Korean friends,” he was quoted as saying, calling the allies’ trilateral cooperation as “unconstructive” and “dangerous.”
Lavrov said he wants to see regular security discussions with North Korea and China, regarding the Korean Peninsula situation, according to the Tass report.
“The U.S. seems to be at a crossroads. It appears that the Indo-Pacific strategy seems to have reached its limits,” said Cheon Seong-whun, a former security strategy secretary for South Korea’s presidential office.
Cheon noted that the strategy, arguably, was aimed at centralizing the U.S. efforts primarily on China through reducing its commitments elsewhere and redirecting its resources in Asia.
“But the unforeseen events in Europe and the Middle East have already diverted the U.S.’s attention, and now the emergence of a North Korea-Russia alignment in Asia is further complicating matters. It has now become a structural issue.
The pundit also explained that North Korea, recognizing the what-he-call a ‘new Cold War’ era, appears to have already shifted its strategic stance, which is apparently less hopeful and reliant on dialogues with the U.S.
“It’s clear that the U.S. and its allies must recalibrate their strategies,” he added.
Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang.
Updated with Lavrov’s call for regular security talks with North Korea and China.
rfa.org
11. Thousands of remote IT workers sent wages to North Korea to help fund weapons program, FBI says
The all purpose sword makes money for the regime in myriad ways.
Thousands of remote IT workers sent wages to North Korea to help fund weapons program, FBI says
AP · by JIM SALTER · October 19, 2023
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Thousands of information technology workers contracting with U.S. companies have for years secretly sent millions of dollars of their wages to North Korea for use in its ballistic missile program, FBI and Department of Justice officials said.
The Justice Department said Wednesday that IT workers dispatched and contracted by North Korea to work remotely with companies in St. Louis and elsewhere in the U.S. have been using false identities to get the jobs. The money they earned was funneled to the North Korean weapons program, FBI leaders said at a news conference in St. Louis.
Court documents allege that North Korea’s government dispatched thousands of skilled IT workers to live primarily in China and Russia with the goal of deceiving businesses from the U.S. and elsewhere into hiring them as freelance remote employees. The workers used various techniques to make it look like they were working in the U.S., including paying Americans to use their home Wi-Fi connections, said Jay Greenberg, special agent in charge of the St. Louis FBI office.
Greenberg said any company that hired freelance IT workers “more than likely” hired someone participating in the scheme. An FBI spokeswoman said Thursday that the North Koreans contracted with companies across the U.S. and in some other countries.
“We can tell you that there are thousands of North Korea IT workers that are part of this,” spokeswoman Rebecca Wu said.
Federal authorities announced the seizure of $1.5 million and 17 domain names as part of the investigation, which is ongoing.
FBI officials said the scheme is so prevalent that companies must be extra vigilant in verifying whom they are hiring, including requiring interviewees to at least be seen via video.
“At a minimum, the FBI recommends that employers take additional proactive steps with remote IT workers to make it harder for bad actors to hide their identities,” Greenberg said in a news release.
The IT workers generated millions of dollars a year in their wages to benefit North Korea’s weapons programs. In some instances, the North Korean workers also infiltrated computer networks and stole information from the companies that hired them, the Justice Department said. They also maintained access for future hacking and extortion schemes, the agency said.
Officials didn’t name the companies that unknowingly hired North Korean workers, say when the practice began, or elaborate on how investigators became aware of it. But federal authorities have been aware of the scheme for some time.
In May 2022, the State Department, Department of the Treasury, and the FBI issued an advisory warning of attempts by North Koreans “to obtain employment while posing as non-North Korean nationals.” The advisory noted that in recent years, the regime of Kim Jong Un “has placed increased focus on education and training” in IT-related subjects.
John Hultquist, the head of threat intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, said North Korea’s use of IT freelancers to help fund the weapons program has been in play for more than a decade, but the effort got a boost from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think the post-COVID world has created a lot more opportunity for them because freelancing and remote hiring are a far more natural part of the business than they were in the past,” Hultquist said.
North Korea also uses workers in other fields to funnel money back for the weapons program, Hultquist said, but higher pay for tech workers provides a more lucrative resource.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are high as North Korea has test-fired more than 100 missiles since the start of 2022 and the U.S. has expanded its military exercises with its Asian allies, in tit-for-tat responses.
The Justice Department in recent years has sought to expose and disrupt a broad variety of criminal schemes aimed at bolstering the North Korean regime, including its nuclear weapons program.
In 2016, for instance, four Chinese nationals and a trading company were charged in the U.S. with using front companies to evade sanctions targeting North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistics initiatives.
Two years ago, the Justice Department charged three North Korean computer programmers and members of the government’s military intelligence agency in a broad range of global hacks that officials say were carried out at the behest of the regime. Law enforcement officials said at the time that the prosecution highlighted the profit-driven motive behind North Korea’s criminal hacking, a contrast from other adversarial nations like Russia, China and Iran that are generally more interested in espionage, intellectual property theft or even disrupting democracy.
In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for an exponential increase in production of nuclear weapons and for his country to play a larger role in a coalition of nations confronting the United States in a “new Cold War,” state media said.
In February, United Nations experts said that North Korean hackers working for the government stole record-breaking virtual assets last year estimated to be worth between $630 million and more than $1 billion. The panel of experts said in a report that the hackers used increasingly sophisticated techniques to gain access to digital networks involved in cyberfinance, and to steal information that could be useful in North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs from governments, individuals and companies.
—-
Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C, contributed to this report.
AP · by JIM SALTER · October 19, 2023
12. Don’t forget the pain of the separated families
There are so many human rights issues that must be addressed in north Korea: from separated families to all the types of prison camps, from the Songbun system to the 78,000 unreturned ROK Army POWs, to the abductees from Japan and Korea to the 93,000 Korean-Japanese returnees. We need all who are concerned with human rights to advocate for all these issues in order to have strength in numbers.
Thursday
October 19, 2023
dictionary + A - A
Published: 19 Oct. 2023, 20:06
Don’t forget the pain of the separated families
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-10-19/opinion/columns/Dont-forget-the-pain-of-the-separated-families/1894309
Lee Hoon
The author is the head of the Committee for Five Northern Korean Provinces.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice. Seventy years have passed, but the war on the Korean Peninsula is not over yet. Rather, the Kim Jong-un regime is openly making nuclear and missile threats and escalating tension on the peninsula with military provocations to maintain its feudal hereditary rule.
It is regrettable that the displaced people cannot visit their hometowns in North Korea even while missing their families and friends. As of the end of August, 74 percent of the applicants for family reunion — or 93,058 out of over 130,000 — have passed away. Fast aging of the separated families is a serious issue because 85 percent of the survivors are in their 80s or older.
Despite the urgent need to address the tragedy of separated families, the issue regrettably is not discussed as a result of the North’s uninterrupted nuclear tests and missile launches. The issue of the separated families is not something to handle based on ideological, factional or political logic. It is a desperate issue to resolve on a humanitarian level based on the universal value of human rights. Before it is too late, the government must aggressively seek solutions to the problem by cooperating with the international community, including the United Nations.
Past administrations tried to resolve the nuclear issue and attain peace through dialogue and pressure, but little progress was made. The situation has only worsened with time. Of course, deterring North Korea’s nuclear capabilities through strong sanctions is necessary to solve the nuclear conundrum. But deterrence is not a sufficient condition for denuclearization.
South Korean residents who came down from the five North Korean provinces demand an end to the nuclear negotiation approach that excludes human rights. The government must first recognize that denuclearization and peace on the peninsula are connected to universal human values like human rights, freedom and democratic spirit, and then pursue its North Korea policy in a wise way.
That is perfectly in line with the consistent North Korea policy the government has pursued toward the goal of achieving a peaceful reunification based on liberal democracy. Here, the two keywords are “bold initiative” and “North Korean human rights.” Unlike the previous administrations, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration insists that it will not rely on the good will of the North only. The government is poised to sternly deal with North Korea’s illegitimate and unfair actions without any compromise by exponentially strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance.
At the Korea-U.S. summit in April, President Yoon dramatically strengthened the extended deterrence on the North’s nuclear capabilities through the “Washington Declaration.” The president also sent a message to the international community that he will secure overwhelming response capabilities to any threats from the North through the trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. If we persistently try to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue based on principles and common sense, Pyongyang will eventually have no other choice but to turn to the negotiating table.
The ultimate solution to the nuclear puzzle is to induce North Koreans to become aware of the noble values of human rights and democracy so that changes can take place within the North. Our government must cooperate with the international community to provide substantial assistance to North Korea so that its people can determine what is right or wrong — and what is good or bad — and create a society where they can enjoy more freedom, democracy, human rights and welfare.
When the eyes and ears of North Koreans are opened — and when human rights are improved to move toward democratization — the door to a peaceful reunification will open. The 41st sports competition among the people from the five northern Korean provinces will be staged at Hyochang Stadium in Seoul on October 22. The event is a festival of unity and communication to comfort the pain of separation that 8.8 million residents from the five provinces in North Korea are suffering. At the same time, it is a place to inherit and continue the distinguished spirit of the first generation who left their hometowns to protect freedom and democracy.
The first generation of senior citizens from the five northern provinces are the main players who created the Miracle on the Han River with firm determination and sincerity when the country was ruined by the Korean War. We must remember that thanks to the sacrifice and dedication of the first generation, South Korea could grow into a donor country after receiving international aid for a long time. Some 8.8 million residents from the northern provinces will continue to work together to realize a peaceful unification based on the conviction that liberal democracy will surely prevail.
Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
13. Yoon names former Capital Defense commander as vice defense minister
Hmmm.. Dr. Shin Beom-chul to be a politician. My best to my friend.
Thursday
October 19, 2023
dictionary + A - A
Published: 19 Oct. 2023, 13:21
Yoon names former Capital Defense commander as vice defense minister
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-10-19/national/defense/Yoon-names-former-Capital-Defense-commander-as-vice-defense-minister/1893846
Kim Seon-ho
President Yoon Suk Yeol named Kim Seon-ho, former chief of the Capital Defense Command, as the new vice defense ministry on Thursday.
Kim, a graduate of the Korea Military Academy and retired Lt. Gen., previously served as the director of force planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commander of the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division, the deputy commander of the Korean Army's Planning and Managing Department and the assistant division commander of the 22nd Infantry Division.
Kim's predecessor in the vice-ministerial post, Shin Beom-chul, resigned reportedly to run for a seat in the National Assembly in next year's general election.
BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]
14. Half of South Koreans think sudden North Korean invasion is possible: poll
Only half the nation is complacent. An interesting but not surprising breakdown when you consider Yoon versus Moon supporters.
It all comes down to your basic assumptions about the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.
Half of South Koreans think sudden North Korean invasion is possible: poll
The Korea Times · October 20, 2023
An Israeli officer walks on the grounds of the Super Nova Festival in Re'im, Israel, Oct. 17, after a surprise attack by Hamas militants earlier this month. A recent poll showed that nearly half of South Koreans think that a sudden North Korean invasion is possible. EPA-Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Nearly half of South Koreans believe a sudden invasion by North Korea is possible, a recent poll shows.
According to data released on Thursday by Opinion Research Justice, a pollster, 48.3 percent of respondents said they think there is some or high possibility of a surprise attack from the North, while 47.4 percent said such scenario is unlikely or impossible.
The rate of those concerned about a war is higher than those from two previous polls showing 37 percent in 2017 and 42.7 percent in 2020, respectively.
The recognition of the risk is higher among women (50.2 percent) than men (46.3 percent).
By age, the rate is the highest among those who are 60 years or older as 59 percent of them believe it is a real possibility; the figure is lowest among those in their 40s, only 39.4 percent of whom agreed.
The results also show that those in support of President Yoon Suk Yeol assess the risk higher ― 73.2 percent ― than those who disapprove him.
In another survey result revealed the same day, 48.3 percent said Seoul should maintain the inter-Korean military agreement, while 37.4 percent said it should be suspended or revoked.
The agreement, signed by the previous Moon Jae-in administration on Sept. 9, 2018, amid a thaw in cross-border relations, includes setting up no-fly zones near the border as well as a system for communication to prevent accidental clashes.
After North Korea’s repeated violation of the accord, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said the South should no longer adhere to agreement, which he said significantly limits the ministry’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
The Korea Times · October 20, 2023
15. Russia's appeal for security talks with N. Korea to counter Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation 'misleading': S. Korea
The South Korean spokesman is exactly right. Unfortunately it is more sensational to report on north Korea's and Russia's words.
Excerpts:
"This is a misleading (assessment) of the cause of tensions on the Korean Peninsula ... and appears aimed at covering up the international community's attention on the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea," the official at Seoul's foreign ministry said.
Noting the "fundamental" problem lies in North Korea's nuclear and missile development, he urged Russia to immediately stop all "illegal military cooperation" with the North, which threatens regional security and violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"Our position remains unchanged that we are open to dialogue without any preconditions for North Korea's denuclearization," he said.
Russia's appeal for security talks with N. Korea to counter Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation 'misleading': S. Korea
The Korea Times · October 20, 2023
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui (R) and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, exchange agreements after talks in Pyongyang, Oct. 19, 2023, in this photo provided by the North's Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
Russia's recent call for regular security talks with North Korea and China to counter what it characterizes as "intensifying" and "dangerous" military activity between South Korea, the United States and Japan is a "misleading" assessment, a ministry official said Friday.
During his visit to the North on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country supports holding a regular negotiating process on security with Pyongyang and Beijing against the "dangerous" policies of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, apparently putting the blame on the three allies for escalating tensions in the region.
Lavrov also said the "intensifying military activity" of the three countries and "Washington working toward moving strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects," are of "great concern to us and our North Korean friends," according to Russia's state news agency, TASS.
"This is a misleading (assessment) of the cause of tensions on the Korean Peninsula ... and appears aimed at covering up the international community's attention on the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea," the official at Seoul's foreign ministry said.
Noting the "fundamental" problem lies in North Korea's nuclear and missile development, he urged Russia to immediately stop all "illegal military cooperation" with the North, which threatens regional security and violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"Our position remains unchanged that we are open to dialogue without any preconditions for North Korea's denuclearization," he said. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · October 20, 2023
16. Russia could help N. Korea's possible effort to build 'nuclear triad': expert
Russia could help N. Korea's possible effort to build 'nuclear triad': expert
The Korea Times · by 2023-10-20 09:28 | North Korea · October 20, 2023
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, right, and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, exchange agreements after talks in Pyongyang, Oct. 19, in this photo provided by the North's Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
Russia could play a role in facilitating North Korea's possible effort to establish a "nuclear triad" that consists of three key delivery platforms, a U.S. expert said Thursday.
The prediction came amid speculation that Pyongyang may seek military technology assistance from Moscow in return for its alleged delivery of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine.
The North has been pushing to deploy intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) ― the two key legs of the nuclear triad, which also includes a strategic bomber.
"It looks like they (North Koreans) are building the second arm of the nuclear triad, absolutely." Joseph Bermudez, senior fellow for imagery analysis at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said in a CSIS-hosted online forum.
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He was referring to the North's apparent pursuit of a SLBM-based "second-strike" capability that would enable the North to launch a nuclear retaliatory attack even after sustaining a "first strike" from an adversary.
Bermudez said that if North Korea can get "not-top-notch" but "more sophisticated" aircraft from Russia, it can build the third arm of the nuclear triad ― in reference to the North's potential acquisition of an air-launched platform.
He raised the possibility of Moscow providing older-generation aircraft to the North.
"It (Russia) could even give North Korea third-generation aircraft," he said. "We're at fifth ... giving North Korea aircraft that are in mothballs is no real big issue for Russia to do."
Speculation over military transfers between the North and Russia rose after the U.S. government revealed last Friday that Pyongyang shipped more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks.
Asked what the North could get in return, Bermudez gave a list of potential items, including "nuclear safety" technology, missile guidance equipment and intelligence-related assistance.
He also said that Russia could share with the North the lessons learned from its war in Ukraine, including the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and landmines, which he said would be "valuable" should it stage a war with the United States or South Korea. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · by 2023-10-20 09:28 | North Korea · October 20, 2023
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