[ANALYSIS] Why is N. Korea not allowed to launch spy satellites?

Quotes of the Day:

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." 

- Mahatma Gandhi

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." 

- William Shakespeare

"Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty." 

- Louis D. Brandeis

1. S. Korea indirectly supplied more 155-mm shells for Ukraine than all European countries combined: WP

2. North Korean Smugglers Disguised Under Pacific Island Flags

3. No more ‘fighting’ texts allowed in North Korea

4. U.S. says S. Korea not subject of U.N. sanctions after N. Korea's 'double standard' claim

5. China, Japan, and South Korea Announce Joint AI Cooperation at Foreign Ministers' Meeting

6. Military engineers of S. Korea, Cambodia hold 1st joint exercise

7. Security advisers of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to discuss strategy on geopolitical risks, N.K. threat

8. Veterans minister nominee says independence fighter Hong Beom-do should be honored

9. N.K. hacking group Andariel steals key defense technologies from S. Korean firms

10. N. Korean leader calls for mothers' role in propping up regime

11. Electric bicycles popular among monied N. Koreans

12. Hanwha Aerospace signs second K9 export contract with Poland

13. S. Korea, U.S., Japan's trilateral ties 'sustainable' after elections: U.S. envoy

14.  N. Korea pulls out of Senegal, Guinea in series of embassy closures: official

15. JCS chairman calls for robust defense posture in Seoul metropolitan area

16. S. Korea 'strongly condemns' deadly attack at university in Philippines

17. [ANALYSIS] Why is N. Korea not allowed to launch spy satellites?

1. S. Korea indirectly supplied more 155-mm shells for Ukraine than all European countries combined: WP

Let me amend my previous comments. The ROK has become a MAJOR partner in the Arsenal of Democracy.

S. Korea indirectly supplied more 155-mm shells for Ukraine than all European countries combined: WP | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · December 5, 2023

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's "indirect" provision of 155-mm artillery shells for Ukraine this year has made it a larger supplier of ammunition for the war-ravaged country than all European countries combined, The Washington Post (WP) reported Monday.

In an article on Russia's protracted war against Ukraine, the U.S. daily explained Washington's effort to secure munitions from South Korea when the U.S.' production of shells was barely more than a tenth of some 90,000 shells that Ukraine needed per month.

South Korean law prohibits providing weapons to war zones, but U.S. officials sought to persuade Seoul to provide munitions, estimating that about 330,000 155-mm shells could be transferred by air and sea within 41 days from Korea, according to the WP.

"Senior administration officials had been speaking with counterparts in Seoul, who were receptive as long as the provision was indirect," the WP reported. "The shells began to flow at the beginning of the year, eventually making South Korea a larger supplier of artillery ammunition for Ukraine than all European nations combined."

It did not specify the exact amount of shells that South Korea provided.

Also unclear is whether Korea supplied weapons to help the U.S. refill its stockpiles depleted after the U.S.' supply of munitions to Ukraine or whether South Korea's munitions were delivered directly for battle operations in Ukraine.

Seoul has maintained that its policy against directly providing lethal weapons to Ukraine remains unchanged.

This AFP photo, taken on Nov. 11, 2023, shows Ukrainian servicemen preparing artillery ammunition during an anti-drone drill in Chernigiv region. (Yonhap)

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · December 5, 2023

2. North Korean Smugglers Disguised Under Pacific Island Flags

We need a strategic strangulation campaign to stop all north Korea's illicit activities around the world.

We need to use the PSI. We need to deny the areas at sea for ship-to-ship transfers.

C4ADS can show us all the locations where the regime is conducting its malign activities.

https://www.barrons.com/news/north-korean-smugglers-disguised-under-pacific-island-flags-2a03a423

North Korean Smugglers Disguised Under Pacific Island Flags

By Steven TRASK

December 4, 2023

Text size

North Korean "smuggling networks" are registering ships in Pacific nations to disguise themselves while trafficking oil, according to former United Nations sanctions experts and documents obtained by AFP.

With strict sanctions limiting Pyongyang's ability to import fuel, North Korean smugglers have adopted increasingly creative methods to deceive authorities and dodge scrutiny.

These efforts, security analysts said, could be directly linked to the North's military ambitions.

"Almost none of the Pacific Islands have escaped North Korean attempts to hide their vessels," said Neil Watts, a former member of the UN Security Council's expert panel on North Korea.

The Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies has been monitoring the bustling shipping lanes of the Taiwan Strait and Korean Peninsula.

An internal sanctions database compiled by the think tank, and seen by AFP, identifies 17 vessels registered in the Pacific nations of Palau, Niue, Cook Islands or Tuvalu.

By tracking these ships, the centre's researchers have identified patterns of "high risk behaviour" that they believe are linked to "illicit" North Korean oil supply chains.

A further 11 vessels flagged to Niue or Palau have been named in separate UN Security Council reports published since 2020, accused of carrying fuel shipments bound for North Korea.

Watts, a former captain in the South African navy, said smugglers were looking to create "layers of obfuscation".

This made it difficult for investigators to determine if a vessel was sailing on legitimate business, or if it was stuffed with contraband cargo.

In August 2020, a 6,000-tonne tanker was acquired by new owners after more than a decade hauling freight for a Vietnam-based logistics company.

Shipping records show it was swiftly christened with a fresh name, the Sky Venus, and registered to sail under a new flag -- the blue and yellow banner of Palau.

Although the Sky Venus easily blended in among the shipping fleets of Asia, UN investigators began to notice a series of suspicious movements.

It would dock at oil terminals to pump its tanks full of petroleum, UN sanctions reports allege, before meeting smaller vessels on the open sea to siphon off its cargo.

By mid-2021, the reports allege, the tanker was being run as a smuggling "mothership".

Through these chains of "ship-to-ship" transfers, investigators allege the fuel was ultimately hauled back to North Korea.

What flag a ship flies has little to do with where it was built, where its crew are based or the nationality of its owners.

Owners can pick which flag they sail under by paying a fee -- sometimes just thousands of dollars -- to join a country's shipping registry.

Sanctions expert Hugh Griffiths, who led the UN Security Council's North Korea panel from 2014 to 2019, said some Pacific registries were deliberately targeted by smugglers.

"Put simply, North Korean smuggling networks know that these registries are not monitoring the vessels which sail under their flag," Griffiths told AFP.

"Smugglers in general have 'flag hopped'. The Cook Islands used to be more popular, then it was Kiribati, then Palau, then Niue."

A UN sanctions report singled out Niue in March this year, saying its registry failed to conduct "convincing due diligence" when registering two suspect ships in 2022.

Those vessels -- the Anni and the An Hai 6 -- declared they were sailing to Japan under Niue's flag.

But they unexpectedly veered off course and docked at North Korea's main port of Nampo instead.

Both ships are now registered in North Korea, according to records from the International Maritime Organization.

Joe Byrne, a research fellow with the Royal United Services Institute in London, said Pyongyang was constantly plotting new ways to conceal "illicit operations".

While shipments of coal or oil might seem relatively harmless, Byrne said these helped fuel the country's military ambitions and weapons programmes.

"Whether it's revenue generation from exports of coal, or keeping its missile launchers on the road with imported oil, North Korea's sanctions evasion is directly linked to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program," Byrne told AFP.

In rare cases, investigators can unwind smuggling networks by tracking ships as they sail into North Korea.

But more commonly they are forced to untangle convoluted financial webs expertly designed to hide who is pulling the strings.

"You can close down a shipping company and it's gone. But it doesn't take much to open up a new one, and you'll find the same people involved," said economist Bill Newcomb, the finance specialist on the UN Security Council's North Korea panel between 2011 and 2014.

A spokesperson for Palau shipping confirmed that five vessels -- linked to sanctions evasion between 2017 and 2022 -- had been struck off the country's registry.

Two additional ships had been deregistered before they were accused of smuggling, she said.

"While we acknowledge the global concern over deceptive shipping practices in sanction evasion, our role as a ship registry is to ensure vessels pass clear compliance checks based on available sources and information," the spokesperson added.

Niue shipping officials said the country's registry had been "abused" by smugglers in the past.

"It was unfortunate that the Niue Ship Registry was abused in the case of the An Hai 6 and Anni, where there were no signs of the vessels being linked to North Korea during the registration process."

Cook Islands confirmed three vessels had been stripped of the country's flag between January 2020 and April 2021.

"The Cook Islands abide by UN sanctions and any vessels found to be involved in sanctions evasions are removed from the Cook Islands flag," registry chief executive Moeroa Mamanu-Matheson told AFP.

Tuvalu said North Korean smugglers used "elaborate tactics" and that "sanctions evasion activities plague all flags".

sft/djw/tym/sco

The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above. This article was produced by AFP. For more information go to AFP.com.

© Agence France-Presse

3. No more ‘fighting’ texts allowed in North Korea

Information, language, and words (and ideas counter to Juche) are a threat to the Kim family regime. This is another anecdote that should make us ask, why aren't we doing more to get information into the north?

No more ‘fighting’ texts allowed in North Korea

Police target a loanword from English and South Korean dramas that’s slang for ‘hang in there.’

By Son Hyemin for RFA Korean

2023.12.04

rfa.org

“Hey bro, I can’t make it out tonight. There’s a big test tomorrow that I gotta study for.”

“Fighting!”

Using that English loanword in a text to offer encouragement could now get North Koreans in trouble.

Police in the country are randomly stopping people on the street to check their text messages for the offending expression, “Fighting!” – picked up from South Korean dramas smuggled into the country – and punishing them with up to six months in a disciplinary labor center, residents told Radio Free Asia.

It’s the latest attempt by North Korean authorities to eradicate influence from the capitalist South, derided as a “puppet” of the United States.

Three years ago, North Korea enacted the Rejection of Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, which lays out punishments for various cultural offenses, like watching or distributing South Korean media, not wearing the correct traditional attire during weddings, and even dancing like a capitalist.

One of the milder offenses is for speaking or writing like a South Korean, and North Korea has been punishing people caught using South Korean vocabulary, spelling, slang, or even singing South Korean-style songs.

‘Konglish’

The term “fighting” is an example of Konglish – English words that are used in Korean – but in a way that might not be readily intelligible to a native English speaker.

For example, a cell phone might be referred to as a “handphone,” a coffee mug could be called a “mug cup,” and a buy-one-get-one-free deal is described as “one plus one.”

The expression “fighting,” which has been part of the South Korean lexicon for several decades, means something similar to “you can do it!” or “don’t give up!”

The expression has appeared in South Korean TV programs, which are smuggled into the North on flash drives and secretly – and widely – circulated, to the chagrin of authorities who want to stamp out any influence from the capitalist South.

A woman uses her cell phone at a park in front of the Pothonggang Department Store in central Pyongyang, North Korea, Oct. 11, 2015. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

To keep such usage from spreading, police are checking cell phones of people on the street, a resident of North Pyongan province, in the country’s northwest, told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for personal safety.

“The day before yesterday, a social security agent inspected the text messages on my cell phone while I was passing by Sinuiju Station Square,” he said. “The reason why social security agents are cracking down on young people’s cell phones is to censor text messages and catch people using the puppet word ‘fighting.’”

Specific search

The resident said that since the law went into effect, the authorities would often confiscate devices to see if the user was storing any South Korean TV or movie files, but this is the first time that they have inspected all of a user’s text messages for a specific word.

“I don't know how many people were arrested by the social security department throughout the day, but as I was waiting for my turn to be inspected, I saw a female worker at a textile factory who looked to be just over 20 being taken to social security department after sending a ‘fighting’ message to a coworker,” said the resident.

If punished under the Rejection of Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, users of the word “fighting” in text messages could be sent to a disciplinary labor center for up to six months.

Authorities in South Pyongan province, north of the capital Pyongyang, began inspecting cell phones of college students and young people on Nov. 27, a resident there told RFA.

“‘Fighting’ is the most commonly used word among young people these days,” he said.

Crackdowns on other South Korean-origin words have resulted in those words disappearing from the mouths and text messages of North Korean youth, the South Pyongan resident said.

These have included “oppaya,” which literally means older brother, but can be a term of endearment from women to older men in their lives, “namchin,” which is an abbreviation of “namja chingu,” which means boyfriend, and “ttaranghae,” which is a cuter way of saying “saranghae,” or I love you. Also gone from North Korean texts these days is “ㅋㅋㅋ” (pronounced keukeukeu) which represents laughter in a way similar to “lol” in English.

“No matter how much the judicial authorities crack down on cell phones, it will not be easy to completely eliminate South Korean language and speech among young people,” he said.

Many young North Koreans, he said, think these South Korean expressions are more effective at communicating feelings of love and friendship than the North Korean-style of speaking.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

rfa.org

4. U.S. says S. Korea not subject of U.N. sanctions after N. Korea's 'double standard' claim

The regime cannot deflect this or play the "whataboutism" game.

U.S. says S. Korea not subject of U.N. sanctions after N. Korea's 'double standard' claim | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · December 5, 2023

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of State said Monday that South Korea is not the subject of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, after North Korea accused the United States of having a "double standard" over space programs.

Last month, the North launched a space rocket to put a military spy satellite into orbit, drawing international criticism that it violated multiple UNSC resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology.

South Korea also launched a military reconnaissance satellite from a U.S. military base last week and conducted a test flight of a solid-fuel rocket in waters south of the country's island of Jeju on Monday (Korea time). But its launches were seen as legitimate security efforts.

"South Korea is not the subject of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions over its (North Korea's) dangerous and destabilizing activities in this area," Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, told a press briefing.

Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson, speaks during a press briefing at the department in Washington on Oct. 30, 2023. (Yonhap)

Miller also reiterated Washington's willingness to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang.

"We have made clear from the outset of this administration that we would welcome dialogue with the DPRK, we would welcome a peaceful resolution to our concerns over its destabilizing activities," he said, referring to the North by the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We have made clear that we do not seek conflict with the DPRK in any form or fashion but as of yet, those entreaties have all been rejected," he added.

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, an unnamed spokesperson at North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration claimed Monday that the U.S. has a "double standard" over South Korea's spy satellite, as it "brazenly" helped Seoul's launch, while condemning the North's "exercise of its sovereign right."

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · December 5, 2023

5. China, Japan, and South Korea Announce Joint AI Cooperation at Foreign Ministers' Meeting

China, Japan, and South Korea Announce Joint AI Cooperation at Foreign Ministers' Meeting

cryptopolitan.com · by Glory Kaburu · December 4, 2023

TLDR

• China, Japan, and South Korea unite to boost advanced tech sectors, emphasizing AI, blockchain, and big data.
• Restarting free trade agreement negotiations demonstrates a commitment to economic integration.
• Joint efforts in innovation, global challenges, and peaceful cooperation signal a path to regional and global prosperity.

In a landmark development, China, Japan, and South Korea have pledged to strengthen their cooperation in advanced technology sectors, focusing on big data, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI). The announcement came during the 10th China-Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Busan, South Korea.

A unified front in advanced technology

At the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the critical role of these three East Asian nations in fostering multilateral cooperation and regional development. He stressed the urgency of revitalizing negotiations on the China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, citing the need to accelerate regional and global economic recovery.

Regional Economic Integration and Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area

Minister Wang Yi underscored the importance of resuming free trade agreement negotiations, with the ultimate goal of achieving regional economic integration and contributing to the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area. This move aligns with the broader objective of promoting mutual benefits and win-win outcomes among China, Japan, and South Korea.

Building on a history of cooperation

In his address, Minister Wang Yi urged the three nations to remain committed to their original goals while adapting to new circumstances and challenges. This approach includes respecting each other’s unique development paths and addressing sensitive issues, laying a solid foundation for stable, long-term trilateral cooperation.

Deepening scientific and technological innovation

The meeting also emphasized the importance of deepening scientific and technological innovation and enhancing the resilience of regional production networks. Minister Wang Yi highlighted the significance of cultural exchanges and addressing global challenges such as climate change and aging populations.

Unified vision for regional and global peace

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa echoed the sentiment of strengthened cooperation. They recognized the immense potential for collaboration across various fields and acknowledged the positive impact this cooperation could have beyond Northeast Asia, contributing to regional and global peace and prosperity.

Upcoming China-Japan-South Korea leaders’ meeting

The parties agreed to facilitate the upcoming China-Japan-South Korea leaders’ meeting to exchange views on pressing international and regional issues. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening regional cooperation, maintaining peace, and addressing challenges in the Asia-Pacific region through peaceful dialogue.

Bolstering advanced technology sectors

The joint commitment to advancing technology sectors such as big data, blockchain, and artificial intelligence reflects a significant step toward regional innovation and economic growth. China, Japan, and South Korea aim to become global leaders in these critical fields by pooling their resources and expertise.

Reviving free trade agreement negotiations

The decision to restart negotiations on the China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement is pivotal in facilitating greater regional economic integration. As the world grapples with a sluggish economic recovery, this move demonstrates the determination of these East Asian nations to stimulate economic growth and trade.

Preserving trilateral cooperation

Minister Wang Yi’s call to uphold the original goals of trilateral cooperation highlights the commitment to mutual respect and understanding. By navigating sensitive issues thoughtfully, the three nations aim to establish a robust foundation for long-lasting collaboration that can withstand evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Driving scientific and technological advancements

Deepening scientific and technological innovation is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the global arena. Focusing on innovation and strengthening production networks, China, Japan, and South Korea are positioning themselves as leaders in emerging technologies, fostering economic resilience.

Contributing to global challenges

Recognizing the global nature of challenges like climate change and aging populations, the three nations are committed to tackling these issues collectively. By sharing their knowledge and resources, they can make significant strides toward addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems.

A united vision for peace and prosperity

The unanimous commitment to cooperation, as expressed by South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, bodes well for regional stability and global prosperity. Together, these nations aim to serve as a model of diplomatic collaboration, offering solutions to regional and global challenges through dialogue and peaceful means.

The joint announcement of enhanced cooperation in advanced technology sectors and the revival of free trade agreement negotiations signifies a significant milestone in the relationship between China, Japan, and South Korea. As these East Asian nations unite to drive innovation, economic growth, and regional stability, their unified vision for peace and prosperity sends a positive message to the world. With a commitment to mutual respect, dialogue, and resilience, China, Japan, and South Korea are poised to contribute substantially to regional and global development.

cryptopolitan.com · by Glory Kaburu · December 4, 2023

6. Military engineers of S. Korea, Cambodia hold 1st joint exercise

Military engineers of S. Korea, Cambodia hold 1st joint exercise | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · December 4, 2023

SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Cambodia have held their first joint exercise aimed at enhancing Cambodian peacekeepers' capacity in engineering under a United Nations partnership program, the defense ministry said Monday.

A team of 10 South Korean military engineers trained 32 Cambodian counterparts in the area of facilitating logistics support for U.N. peacekeeping missions from Nov. 6 to Dec. 1 near the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the ministry said. Japan and Australia participated in the exercise as observers.

The joint drill was held as part of the U.N. Triangular Partnership Program, which aims to enhance peacekeepers' capacity in engineering, medicine and other areas through the provision of training and operational support.

Under a bilateral agreement signed in 2022, South Korea in February handed over military equipment to Cambodia and plans to additionally provide heavy equipment, including graders, bulldozers and vibratory rollers, according to the ministry.

The ministry said it will expand the combat engineers' exercise to include other Southeast Asian nations that deploy forces to U.N. peacekeeping missions, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, from next year.

Military engineers of South Korea and Cambodia pose for a photo during joint drills held in Cambodia from Nov. 6 to Dec. 1, 2023, in this undated photo. (Yonhap)

ejkim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · December 4, 2023

7. Security advisers of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to discuss strategy on geopolitical risks, N.K. threat

We have recommendations for a strategy.  HERE

Security advisers of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to discuss strategy on geopolitical risks, N.K. threat | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · December 5, 2023

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- The national security advisers of South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet in Seoul this week to discuss joint responses to regional geopolitical risks, including North Korean threats, Seoul's top envoy in Washington said Monday.

Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong made the remarks as South Korea's National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Jake Sullivan and Takeo Akiba, respectively, are set to hold three-way talks Friday and Saturday, according to sources.

"The national security advisers from our three countries will gather in Seoul to strategize how to respond to the geopolitical risks in the region, particularly the threat emanating from North Korea," Cho said during the Trans-Pacific Dialogue, a forum hosted by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies.

Cho mentioned the security advisers' meeting as part of the three countries' efforts to advance cooperation following the Camp David summit in August.

The summit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida, produced a series of landmark agreements, including their "commitment to consult" each other in case of a common threat.

"We all face growing threats from North Korea -- rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs and its aggressive nuclear posture and belligerent rhetoric," he said. "So, it's only natural that we adopt a collective response to better deter Pyongyang and keep our region safe and secure."

The ambassador pointed out that North Korea's recent launch of a spy satellite and its claim of success in the launch underscored the urgency for security cooperation among the three countries.

"It's also worth noting that after failing to launch a satellite in both May and August, the launch was only successful after the Putin-Kim summit," Cho said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-profile summit at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport, in September, raising concerns about growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

This file photo, taken Aug. 25, 2023, shows South Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong speaking in a meeting with reporters at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · December 5, 2023

8. Veterans minister nominee says independence fighter Hong Beom-do should be honored

Veterans minister nominee says independence fighter Hong Beom-do should be honored | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · December 5, 2023

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- The nominee for South Korea's new veterans minister said Tuesday late independence fighter Hong Beom-do should be honored for his role against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea amid an ongoing ideological dispute over his ties to Soviet communist forces.

Kang Jung-ai made the remarks a day after being nominated to the post as the defense ministry has pushed to relocate the revered independence fighter's bust from the Korea Military Academy due to his past record of collaborating with Soviet forces.

"I personally think General Hong Beom-do had truly made efforts for the country's independence and as an independence fighter he should be honored," she said.

Kang, however, stopped short of offering her thoughts on the relocation of the bust, noting that discussions are under way between relevant authorities.

Veterans Minister nominee Kang Jung-ai (C) speaks to reporters outside her office in central Seoul on Dec. 5, 2023. (Yonhap)

In August, the Korea Military Academy announced it will remove Hong's bust from its grounds, days after the defense ministry said it was considering the move.

The announcement has sparked fierce debate over its legitimacy, with the opposition Democratic Party and advocates for independence fighters strongly protesting against the relocation.

Hong is known for leading Korean independence forces and spearheading major victories against Japanese troops in 1920. He moved to the Soviet Union the following year to seek refuge from Japanese forces.

He was forced to relocate to current-day Kazakhstan in 1937 under then Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's policy, along with many other ethnic Koreans. He died in the Kazakh region of Kyzylorda in 1943, two years before Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

In 2021, his remains were repatriated to South Korea.

Kang is required to undergo a parliamentary confirmation process, though the consent of the National Assembly is not necessary for appointment.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · December 5, 2023

9. N.K. hacking group Andariel steals key defense technologies from S. Korean firms

​The all purpose sword strikes again. We (the ROK/US alliance) must go after the regime's cyber capabilities.

N.K. hacking group Andariel steals key defense technologies from S. Korean firms | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · December 4, 2023

SEOUL, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- Andariel, a North Korean hacking organization, has stolen digital data containing key technologies from South Korean defense firms and repatriated part of the money they acquired via ransomware attacks on other firms, police said Monday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency made the findings in collaboration with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, and an investigation is currently under way into the case, police officials said.

Andariel is known to be controlled by the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's primary intelligence bureau.

Andariel used a loosely monitored South Korean server lender to access the websites of South Korean firms and institutions 83 times from Pyongyang's Ryugyong-dong district from December last year to March.

The hacking group eventually infiltrated websites belonging to dozens of South Korean firms and organizations, including an IT service affiliate of a South Korean conglomerate, as well as research centers, universities, defense firms and financial institutions dealing with high-level science and technologies.

As a result of the attacks, digital data containing key defense technologies, such as information on laser-based air defense weapons, as well as the personal information of website users were leaked, the police officials said.

The leaked data amounts to 1.2 terabytes in volume, the officials said.

Andariel is also assumed to have pocketed 470 million won (US$360,236) worth of digital coins via ransomware attacks on three South Korean firms, with some of the ransoms believed to have been sent back to North Korea.

According to police findings from local and overseas virtual asset exchanges, about 110 million won was transferred to a Chinese bank using the financial account of a female foreigner, and the funds were then withdrawn at a bank outlet located in an area along the China-North Korea border.

Police suspect the funds were eventually funneled to North Korea, and are currently looking into the foreign woman's financial and mobile communication records to confirm whether she served as a channel for money laundering.

pbr@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · December 4, 2023

10. N. Korean leader calls for mothers' role in propping up regime

We must observe for the indicators of internal instability.

Excerpts:

The North's leader said mothers have the "primary revolutionary task" of preparing the younger generation well with family education in a bid to help them become the main force of society.

"Unless a mother becomes a communist, it is impossible for her to bring up her sons and daughters as communists and transform the members of her family into revolutionaries," he was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

Experts said North Korea appears to have held the meeting in a bid to tighten social disciplines and help address the country's low birth rate.

In his opening speech at the meeting Sunday, Kim stressed the role of mothers in resolving "non-social" problems and preventing a fall in the country's birth rate.

(LEAD) N. Korean leader calls for mothers' role in propping up regime | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · December 5, 2023

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout)

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stressed the role of mothers in strengthening the internal solidarity of the regime at the first national meeting of mothers in 11 years, state media reported Tuesday.

Kim made the remark during his closing speech Monday at the Fifth National Congress of Mothers, which opened its two-day session Sunday in Pyongyang, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 5, 2023, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un delivering a closing speech at the Fifth National Congress of Mothers in Pyongyang the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

The North's leader said mothers have the "primary revolutionary task" of preparing the younger generation well with family education in a bid to help them become the main force of society.

"Unless a mother becomes a communist, it is impossible for her to bring up her sons and daughters as communists and transform the members of her family into revolutionaries," he was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

Experts said North Korea appears to have held the meeting in a bid to tighten social disciplines and help address the country's low birth rate.

In his opening speech at the meeting Sunday, Kim stressed the role of mothers in resolving "non-social" problems and preventing a fall in the country's birth rate.

North Korea's total fertility rate -- the number of children that are expected to be born to a women over her lifetime -- came to 1.8 in 2023, according to data posted on the website of the U.N. Population Fund.

South Korea's unification ministry said Kim publicly mentioned a decline in the birth rate for the first time, an indication that the nation is grappling with the issue.

"Adding to the existing policy of encouraging childbirths, Kim highlighted a struggle against non-social problems," a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

"The congress appeared to be aimed at preventing an ideological deviation by the younger generation and propping up the regime by stressing the importance of family education," the official said.

North Korea last held a national congress of mothers in 2012. The inaugural gathering took place in November 1961.

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 5, 2023, shows participants at the Fifth National Congress of Mothers, which closed its two-day session the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · December 5, 2023

11. Electric bicycles popular among monied N. Koreans

Electric bicycles popular among monied N. Koreans

People typically draw power from nearby military bases and factories to power their bikes, a source told Daily NK

By Choi Han-bin - 2023.12.04 9:54am

dailynk.com

Electric bicycles popular among monied N. Koreans | Daily NK English

North Koreans riding bicycles near the Yalu River in North Pyongan Province. (© Daily NK)

Electric bicycles are popular among some North Koreans despite their prohibitive cost, Daily NK has learned. 

“You can find plenty of electric bikes in marketplaces nowadays,” a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I’ve heard you can’t smuggle in [the bikes], but with so many people asking for them, plenty of people sell them after bringing them in by boat.” 

Electric bikes currently go for RMB 3,500 (around USD 494) in North Korean markets, a price in excess of KPW 4 million in North Korean currency. With a kilogram of rice selling for KPW 5,000 in North Korean markets, one could buy about 800 kilograms of rice for the price of an electric bike.

“That price puts [electric bikes] beyond the imagination of people who are living day-to-day, but families with money can’t live without them,” the source said.

People buy electric bikes despite the price tag because they are faster than conventional bikes, and riders can climb hills with very little pedal power.

Mobility equals competitiveness for most people making a living from commercial activities, so demand for electric bicycles — just as mobile as scooters — remains high.

Asked if recharging the bikes was difficult due to power shortages, the source said people draw power from nearby military bases and factories. 

“You can do anything in this world with money, but people without money struggle just to put food on the table day-to-day.

“With more people riding electric bikes, thefts are also out of control. Thieves call electric bikes a bonanza, and they’re really good at nicking them.”

Thieves target electric bikes because they can make money by taking them apart and selling their batteries, tires, seats, and other parts.

“As always, even if you go to work, they don’t pay you or provide you with rations, so many people just keep their jobs on paper and make a living selling things or stealing,” the source said. “Be it electric bikes or regular bikes, people steal them all, repainting them and selling their parts in markets, so if you get your bike stolen, there’s no real way to get it back.”

Some well-off people raise hunting dogs and build their fences high to prevent thefts, but thieves — figuring this means those homes have items worth stealing — just hide nearby and wait, sneaking inside when the owners leave.

Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler. 

Daily NK works with a network of sources who live inside North Korea, China and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.  

Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com

12. Hanwha Aerospace signs second K9 export contract with Poland

Hanwha Aerospace signs second K9 export contract with Poland

donga.com

Posted December. 05, 2023 07:55,

Updated December. 05, 2023 07:55

Hanwha Aerospace signs second K9 export contract with Poland. December. 05, 2023 07:55. bjk@donga.com.

Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems, the defense subsidiaries of Hanwha Group, signed an export contract worth about 3.7 trillion won.

Hanwha Aerospace announced on Monday that it signed a second execution contract worth 3.447 trillion won to export K9 self-propelled howitzer to the Polish Armed Forces. The South Korean company signed a basic contract to export 627 units of K9 and 288 units of K239 Chunmoo, a multiple-launch rocket system, to the Polish Armed Forces in July last year.

Since then, the company signed a first contract to export 212 units of K9 in August last year and 218 units of Chunmoo in November last year. The most recent contract is to supply part of the remaining K9 contract volume – 152 out of 460 units – by 2027. With the contract, Hanwha Aerospace will supply K9 self-propelled howitzer, 155mm ammunition for the self-propelled howitzer, and an integrated logistics support package for K9’s maintenance and repair. The company will also cooperate for the local production of parts needed for K9’s maintenance.

Hanwha Systems will supply a weapon fire control system for 180 K2 battle tanks, for which the company signed an export contract with Poland in August last year. The contract volume amounts to about 257.4 billion won. A weapon fire control system is referred to as the brain of the battle tank. It controls the gun, turret, and sight and performs automatic tracking to control a firepower system and improves the survivability of battle tanks by responding to missile attacks.

한국어

donga.com

13. S. Korea, U.S., Japan's trilateral ties 'sustainable' after elections: U.S. envoy

​Excerpts:

"I also think it is sustainable regardless of the outcome of the election, because all three countries have shared interests. In the end of the day, the shared interests have a pretty gravitational pull," he added.

Pundits have been expressing concerns over the sustainability of the trilateral partnership, as there have been some ups and downs in the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan depending on administrations.

The upcoming U.S. presidential election in November 2024 adds further uncertainty to the political landscape.

"The three leaders made it happen, but it is not dependent on the three leaders," he said, noting "security interests" will carry the partnership forward.

S. Korea, U.S., Japan's trilateral ties 'sustainable' after elections: U.S. envoy | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kang Yoon-seung · December 5, 2023

By Kang Yoon-seung

TOKYO, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. ambassador to Japan said Tuesday that the shared common economic and security interests among Seoul, Washington and Japan would sustain the trilateral cooperation forged at the August summit beyond the upcoming elections in each country.

The remark came after the three countries have been making efforts to enhance trilateral ties in a wide array of areas following the landmark summit at Camp David in Maryland in August.

Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. envoy to Japan, noted that the accomplishment through the summit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida, respectively, was made possible as the three leaders were willing to "take political risks."

Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, speaks to South Korean and Japanese reporters in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2023. (Yonhap)

"I also think it is sustainable regardless of the outcome of the election, because all three countries have shared interests. In the end of the day, the shared interests have a pretty gravitational pull," he added.

Pundits have been expressing concerns over the sustainability of the trilateral partnership, as there have been some ups and downs in the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan depending on administrations.

The upcoming U.S. presidential election in November 2024 adds further uncertainty to the political landscape.

"The three leaders made it happen, but it is not dependent on the three leaders," he said, noting "security interests" will carry the partnership forward.

Emanuel added the trilateral relationship among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan is stronger than the ties that North Korea would have with China and Russia.

"They don't share strategic interests in the same collaborative, cooperative way than we do," the envoy said, adding that he is not sure Beijing would consider the recent military ties between North Korea and Russia as a positive move.

Emanuel further noted that the trilateral cooperation will also allow the three countries to seek "great coordination" in dealing with North Korea and other global issues.

"Not only has Russia violated the United Nations charter by invading Ukraine, they have now violated and upended the sanctions which they are part to as it relates to North Korea," Emanuel said.

"I think it's an example that either the United Nations begins to stand up as an organization that has credibility or again gets diminished," he added, hinting the cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will be enhanced when Seoul joins the U.N. Security Council next year.

South Korea was elected as a nonpermanent member of the council for a two-year term in June, expanding its foothold in the U.N. body to better address the North Korean issue and other global security challenges.

Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, speaks to South Korean and Japanese reporters in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2023. (Yonhap)

colin@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kang Yoon-seung · December 5, 2023

14. N. Korea pulls out of Senegal, Guinea in series of embassy closures: official

Is the regime closing embassies because they are not productive enough in bringing in hard currency? Is the "all purpose sword" of cyber a better way to make money?

N. Korea pulls out of Senegal, Guinea in series of embassy closures: official | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · December 5, 2023

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has shut down its missions in Senegal and Guinea in an apparent move to reduce spending amid economic difficulties, a South Korean foreign ministry official said Tuesday.

The latest shutdowns came after the sanctions-hit country closed its embassies in Angola, Nepal, Bangladesh, Spain and Uganda in recent months. The total number of North Korean diplomatic missions had dropped from 53 to 46 as of Tuesday, according to the official.

North Korea established diplomatic ties with Senegal and Guinea in 1972 and 1969, respectively.

The official pointed to economic difficulties from prolonged global sanctions as the biggest factor in the recent shutdowns.

The official said Hong Kong had not been added to the list yet as the withdrawal was not updated on the website of the city government. Foreign media outlets earlier reported Pyongyang has shut down its mission in Hong Kong.

Last month, North Korea said it is closing and opening new diplomatic missions "in accordance with the changed global environment and national diplomatic policy," without elaborating.

Rather than receiving funds from Pyongyang, North Korea's diplomatic missions are known to secure funds for operations through illicit trade and commercial activities, and send remittances to their home country, according to former North Korean diplomats who have defected to South Korea.

South Korea's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, assessed the recent shutdowns as an apparent sign of North Korea's faltering economy, worsened by global sanctions over its nuclear tests and its long-range rocket launches.

North Korea has been under tightened U.N. sanctions, which call for, among other things, a ban on the country's exports of coal and other mineral resources to cut off North Korea's access to hard currency.

This image, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows North Korean workers dispatched abroad. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · December 5, 2023

15. JCS chairman calls for robust defense posture in Seoul metropolitan area

JCS chairman calls for robust defense posture in Seoul metropolitan area | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · December 5, 2023

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo called Tuesday for a strong defense posture in the Seoul metropolitan area to fend off threats posed by North Korea's provocations.

In the latest in a series of troop visits since taking office last month, Kim inspected the Capital Defense Command, which is in charge of defending the capital with a population of about 10 million, and an air defense unit.

Kim urged the command to draw up comprehensive defense operation procedures to effectively defend the capital, which is within range of the North's short-range missile and artillery attacks.

During his visit to an air defense unit, Kim ordered heightened vigilance against potential drone infiltrations from North Korea.

"I want you to carry out missions with determination for tracking and shooting down the enemy's drones without fail," Kim was quoted as saying.

In December 2022, five North Korean drones intruded across the inter-Korean border, with one of them having penetrated a no-fly zone close to the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol. In September, the South Korean military established a drone operations command to step up readiness against drone incursions.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo (R) is briefed on the security situation near the border with North Korea during his visit to an air defense unit on the western front on Dec. 3, 2023, in this photo provided by the JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

ejkim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · December 5, 2023

​16. S. Korea 'strongly condemns' deadly attack at university in Philippines

S. Korea 'strongly condemns' deadly attack at university in Philippines | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · December 5, 2023

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday "strongly" denounced a deadly explosion that ripped through a Catholic service at a university in the southern Philippines earlier this week.

"The government of the Republic of Korea strongly condemns the heinous attack targeting civilians that transpired at Mindanao State University in Marawi, the Philippines, on December 3," the ministry's spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, said in a statement.

The government reaffirms its position that violent attacks against civilians cannot be justified under any circumstances and remains committed to supporting Manila's efforts for peace and stability, he added.

The bombing occurred Sunday at a gymnasium in Marawi on the Philippine island of Mindanao, claiming the lives of at least four people and injuring 54, according to foreign media reports.

The South Korean foreign ministry building is shown in this undated file photo. (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · December 5, 2023

​17. [ANALYSIS] Why is N. Korea not allowed to launch spy satellites?

[ANALYSIS] Why is N. Korea not allowed to launch spy satellites?

The Korea Times · December 5, 2023

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a ceremony held to congratulate the regime's launch of its first spy satellite, in Pyongyang, Nov. 23, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Nov. 24. Yonhap

Pyongyang accuses Washington of double standards

By Lee Hyo-jin

North Korea is wrong to accuse the United States of having double standards when it comes to spy satellite launches, analysts said, Tuesday, as Pyongyang's action – a clear violation of international laws – contrasts with South Korea's adherence to established protocols in its satellite launch.

The South Korean military successfully launched its first indigenous spy satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, Friday (local time), around a week after North Korea placed its own military reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the first time on Nov. 21.

Unlike Seoul's satellite launch, North Korea's move drew condemnation from the U.S., which labeled it a "brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions."

In response, the reclusive regime argued that its satellite launch was the "legitimate and just right of a sovereign state," claiming that it is not different from South Korea's latest launch of its own spy satellite.

"It is a space-level tragicomedy that the U.S., going frantic with illegal denunciation and sanctions moves over the exercise of the DPRK's sovereignty, has shown behavior based on double standards by launching a spy satellite of the 'Republic of Korea' (ROK) in a shameless manner," a spokesperson for North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) said in an article released by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Monday.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) is South Korea's official name, while DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

The article added, "Ten years ago, the U.S. claimed that South Korea's satellite launch is different from that of North Korea as the former has no military intention. And now we wonder how absurdly the U.S. would justify the launch of the ROK's spy satellite which has a clear military purpose."

Experts, however, viewed that North Korea's satellite launch constitutes a clear violation of multiple international laws.

"Broadly speaking, any country has the right to pursue space exploration. But in the case of North Korea, the recent launch of its space vehicle using ballistic missile technologies is clearly prohibited under international law,” said Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying South Korea's first military spy satellite lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, on Friday (local time), in this photo provided by SpaceX. Yonhap

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which was passed shortly after Pyongyang’s October 2006 nuclear test, bans North Korea from launching ballistic missiles or carrying out further nuclear tests, he added.

Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, echoed that sentiment, highlighting the use of ballistic missile technologies in the satellite launch, as well as the speculated assistance from Russia, which violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2270 adopted in 2016, U.N. member states are banned from providing technical assistance to North Korea, along with training and services related to the production, use and maintenance of arms.

"In addition to the legitimacy issue, the North's satellite deployment was a part of the regime's plan to enhance its military power to reach the ultimate goal of communization of the whole Korean Peninsula, another reason why its action cannot avoid international criticism," Park said.

The professor also said that Pyongyang will continue propaganda efforts in order to portray the recent developments related to spy satellites as a competition in space between two soverign states.

U.S officials refuted North Korea’s claim that Washington has double standards.

"South Korea is not the subject of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions over its (North Korea's) dangerous and destabilizing activities in this area," Matthew Miller, the state department's spokesperson said during a press briefing, Monday (local time), in response to a query about the difference between the two Korea's military satellite launches.

The Korea Times · December 5, 2023

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com