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Quotes of the Day:
"Of every One-Hundred men, Ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are nothing but targets, Nine are real fighters...We are lucky to have them...They make the battle, Ah, but the One, One of them is a Warrior...and He will bring the others back."
– Heraclitus (circa 500 BC)
"Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience."
– Eleanor Hibbert
"As masters of the art of resistance, Army Special Operations Forces work with partners to anticipate, prepare for, and defeat threats ranging from insurgencies to occupying foreign powers. To accomplish this, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, and Special Forces conduct activities to support or defeat resistance movements. ARSOF formations conduct Foreign Internal Defense to improve partner-government capacity to defeat internal stability threats. They further conduct Security Force Assistance, enabling partner nations to resist both internal and external threats. In competition and conflict, ARSOF conduct information warfare to prepare target audiences to support friendly efforts and resist adversaries. ARSOF also conduct Civil Network Development and Engagement to understand, empower, and potentially mobilize civil networks to resist adversaries. In crisis and conflict, ARSOF and JIIM partners conduct Unconventional Warfare and Counter-Unconventional Warfare to enable resistance against governments, occupying powers, and revanchist states"
– 1st Special Forces Command (https://www.soc.mil/USASFC/Documents/1sfc-vision-2021-beyond.pdf)
1. U.S. must continue to invest in 28,500 American troops in S. Korea: USFK commander
2. Full Committee Hearing: U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region
3. Explore Pacific Forum's Insightful Indo-Pacific Analysis
4. 'Malicious' N.K. cyberactivities account for half of foreign currency income, fund WMD programs: UN report
5. S. Korea, U.S. agree to form consultative body to address N. Korea's oil smuggling
6. Are Sanctions Worsening Conditions for North Koreans?
7. North Korean citizens ordered to provide cloths for soldiers to wrap their feet
8. China may try to influence South Korea's general elections: experts
9. Son of S. Korean missionary detained in N. Korea urges int'l support for repatriation
10. Russian troupe performs 'Sleeping Beauty' in Pyongyang
11. Much fewer N. Korean soldiers will participate in live-fire drills this year
12. NK's illicit cyber activities fund 40% of WMD program: UN report
13. USFK chief says U.S. should maintain 28,500 troops in Korea amid Trump fears
14. Dior can't confirm authenticity of handbag of Kim Jong-un's sister
15. North Korean clones of US drones show Kim’s ambitions, Aquilino says
16. Battling the Numbers: South Korea’s Military Downsizes Amid Challenging Demographic Landscape
1. U.S. must continue to invest in 28,500 American troops in S. Korea: USFK commander
(3rd LD) U.S. must continue to invest in 28,500 American troops in S. Korea: USFK commander | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 21, 2024
(ATTN: ADDS more remarks in last 4 paras)
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Yonhap) -- The commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) emphasized the need Wednesday to continue to invest in 28,500 American service members in South Korea through various training programs to defend South Korea against evolving North Korean threats.
Gen. Paul LaCamera made the remarks amid lingering concerns that should former President Donald Trump return to the White House, he could consider reducing the USFK troop level, though the current level is stated in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act.
Those concerns rose this week, as Christopher Miller, who served as the acting Pentagon chief under Trump, said in a recent media interview that the time has come to talk about whether USFK still needs its current troop strength or if a change is needed.
"We must continue to build physical, mental and spiritual readiness through operations and activities designed to compete in the gray zone with the DPRK," LaCamera told a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"To defend the ROK, we must continue to invest in the 28,500 service members, including by trilateral and multilateral exercises on and off the peninsula, multi-domain training integrating live, virtual and constructive entities and continue to experiment with next-generation capabilities," he added. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera speaks during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee in Washington on March 20, 2024 in this photo captured from a livestream of the hearing from the committee's YouTube account. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In his written statement to the committee, LaCamera described USFK as a "premier joint force capable of operating in all domains with allies and partners" and a "critical" part of the U.S. approach to providing extended deterrence in Northeast Asia.
Extended deterrence refers to America's commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its regional allies.
The general also noted that China and Russia are "mindful" of USFK's presence -- in an apparent allusion to the strategic value of USFK in dealing with potential security challenges from the two countries.
"These geographic realities, combined with powerful economic interests, make the ROK the linchpin of security in Northeast Asia and a treaty ally we must defend," he wrote in the statement.
Asked to give his assessment of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's intentions behind his weapons programs, LaCamera said that his "top" priority is "regime survivability."
"And he's developing weapons of mass destruction. For that, he is looking for sanctions relief," he said, "And he's preparing to defend his nation and (that) is his top priorities."
Responding to a question about whether he anticipates any North Korean aggression against the South, he outlined ongoing North Korean military activities.
"Actions right now ... (are) gray zone activities. He's coming out of COVID just like everybody else. He's in his winter training cycle right now," he said. "And he's testing equipment and he's also having Russia test some of his equipment by providing that for the fight in Ukraine."
LaCamera, in addition, underscored that his command has been watching developments in Ukraine and the Middle East as well as recent military drills between Russia, China and Iran near the Gulf of Oman -- in an effort to learn lessons from them if any.
"We are watching the training that goes on and around the peninsula with China, Russia and DPRK, and incorporating it into our exercises, making sure that we understand the capabilities that our adversaries are developing," he said.
LaCamera leads three commands, including the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.N. Command.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 21, 2024
2. Full Committee Hearing: U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region
The hearing can be viewed on YouTube at his link. (note that the testimony begins at the 19 minute mark). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1odQ_RP_hE
The statements are at these links:
Ely Ratner: https://armedservices.house.gov/sites/republicans.armedservices.house.gov/files/20240320_Assistant%20Secretary%20Ratner%20Statement%20for%20the%20Record_HASC_FINAL.pdf
Adm Aquilino: https://armedservices.house.gov/sites/republicans.armedservices.house.gov/files/INDOPACOM%20Posture%20Testimony%20ADM%20Aquilino%20HASC.pdf
Gen LaCamera: https://armedservices.house.gov/sites/republicans.armedservices.house.gov/files/FY25%20Posture%20Statement%20USFK%20-%20HASC%20-%2020%20Mar%2024.pdf
Full Committee Hearing: U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region
armedservices.house.gov · March 20, 2024
Date:
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 11:15am
Location:
Rayburn 2118
Purpose: The purpose of the hearing is to examine Department of Defense policies, programs, and activities in the Indo-Pacific region in preparation for the committee’s consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. The hearing provides an opportunity to assess the threats to U.S. national security in the region and to evaluate the effectiveness of the department’s use of the resources provided by Congress to accomplish its objectives.
Witnesses:
The Honorable Ely Ratner
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
Department of Defense
Admiral John Aquilino
Commander
US Indo-Pacific Command
General Paul LaCamera
Commander
United Nations Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command, and US Forces Korea
The Honorable Ely Ratner Opening Statement
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
Department of Defense
Admiral John Aquilino Opening Statement
Commander
US Indo-Pacific Command
General Paul LaCamera Opening Statement
Commander
United Nations Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command, and US Forces Korea
118th Congress
armedservices.house.gov · March 20, 2024
3. Explore Pacific Forum's Insightful Indo-Pacific Analysis
While we must focus on deterrence and crisis response, are there actions the ROK can take on how to prevent conflict? Are there diplomatic activities that the ROK can take to contribute to conflict prevention? Although relations between the PRC and the ROK are currently under greater tension, for the past two decades the ROK has had a good channel of communication with the PRC. Can that be exploited to contribute to conflict prevention.
Explore Pacific Forum's Insightful Indo-Pacific Analysis
Dr. Hanbyeol Sohn Associate Professor at the Korea National Defense University (KNDU)
pacforum.org · March 19, 2024
The Taiwan Strait is a region where China’s “core interests” sharply conflict with those of the United States. Previous crises in the Taiwan Strait have never been without danger, but ultimately US military power made China retreat.
The growing military power of China tells us the next Taiwan crisis will be different.
The US does not want a military conflict in Taiwan in the near future. China, having declared its goal to become a “fully developed, rich, and powerful” nation and a “superpower” by 2049, will also avoid unnecessary conflicts. However, China’s perceived “window of opportunity” may differ from our calculations. Moreover, in a heightened military posture, the crisis can escalate at any time.
US preparations: Strategy and posture
Thus, it has become crucial whether the US has achieved the posture to deter China. The geography of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, surrounded by sea and relatively distant for the US, pose a significant challenge.
As the crisis escalates, it can be divided into stages. In peacetime, military campaigning will prevent China from taking provocative actions or crossing the threshold. Especially as China attempts to freely use the gray zone, including cyber and space domains, maintaining superiority is essential for deterrence. If the Chinese military can inflict significant damage or advance to Taiwan’s mainland, benefits have to be denied and costs imposed. Finally, should the conflict escalate, a counterstrike against China will proceed. While attacks on the Chinese mainland will be restrained, combined operations capable of paralyzing Chinese command and control can be executed.
Spatially, the concept of three lines is useful. Most critical is the “median line” of the Taiwan Strait, the final line to block China’s military advance, requiring significant assets. Next is the entry route for area of operations to defend Taiwan, emphasizing strategic logistics to quickly and safely deploy large forces from bases in the Indo-Pacific region. Lastly, setting a geographical limiting line against mainland China shows clear intent to prevent unnecessary escalation. Taiwan and the US must review multiple options in advance.
Although phased in terms of time and space, additional forces are needed to execute all stages of operations. Achieving regional air and maritime superiority requires advanced real-time ISR assets, fifth-generation fighters, long-range missile bombers, carrier strike groups composed of manned and unmanned maritime forces, ground forces with amphibious capabilities and firepower, missiles of various ranges, strategic and operational logistics, and resilient supply capabilities. Most importantly, these forces must be deployed at the right time and place, requiring the US Indo-Pacific alliance network operate as a robust system.
Impact on the Korean Peninsula: Exposure of vulnerabilities
Research by the Atlantic Council has expressed concerns about crises connecting the Korean Peninsula to Taiwan and vice versa. The Ukraine war has shown that “strategic simultaneity” can occur even at a regional level. Geographical proximity is one reason, but more crucial is competition for influence between the US and China, expansion of military projection capabilities including missiles, creating favorable situations through nuclear coercion, and active use of gray zone tactics.
Let’s present a few broader implications for the security of the Korean Peninsula from a military perspective:
- Korea is not prepared, despite being forewarned. Official consultations on the Taiwan crisis have not been conducted at the government level, leaving almost no discussion on what role Korea should or could play in a contingency.
- China and North Korea are connected by alliance treaty and possess nuclear weapons, while Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan can provide limited military support to the US and are not institutionally bonded. Dependence on the US for deterrence or response is inevitable.
-
Operation of three US commands in a crisis could bring confusion. The US Strategic Command responsible for deterring and responding to nuclear-armed countries, the Indo-Pacific Command in charge of defending Taiwan, and US Forces Korea have clear distinctions in authority and responsibility. However, separating the Korean Theater of Operations from other regions is impossible, and how to connect and integrate the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, which leads military operations in peacetime, with the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, controlling operations in wartime, is unexplored.
-
Combined military posture will be clearly affected, especially concerning redeployment of USFK Air Force under the concept of “strategic flexibility.” An academic study analyzed that Korea and the US would need approximately 500 fighters each in an all-out war pre-Air Tasking Order. If any of the 90 USFK fighters currently stationed in Korea are redeployed, it will be challenging to respond adequately to North Korea’s surprise attacks. While Korea cannot refuse the strategic flexibility of USFK, efforts are needed to jointly block North Korea from misjudging or exploiting vulnerabilities.
- Most critical is potential dispersion of the US’ Asian allies and partners network’s capabilities, which should operate organically. US military power remains overwhelming, but geographical distance could delay decision-making and execution in a crisis. Japan’s military power cannot be immediately projected without the US, and South Korea’s military must fill the gap left by any redeployed USFK while deterring North Korea.
Recommendations for ROK-US alliance
If a Taiwan crisis occurs, South Korea must protect approximately 6,000 expatriates in Taiwan, minimize the negative impact on the national economy by protecting sea lanes of communication, and make diplomatic efforts to prevent unnecessary escalation. However, Korea’s security cannot be separated from regional security. Delaying the discussion on what role Korea will play during the Taiwan crisis is not an option. It should not be limited to supporting US military operations. Close dialogue within the alliance is essential.
-
Focus should be on understanding what problems could arise under what situations and conditions. It is more important to accurately recognize the complex situation than to decide who should do what. Although a new crisis is a concern, the US and Korea must escape from being stuck in the pressure to act immediately and share problem-recognition as allies. First, accurately understand the intentions of China and North Korea, and align perceptions among allies and partners.
-
Options should be expanded and numerous scenarios developed. Fixing the maximum and minimum responses and converging to a middle ground, “the Goldilocks choice,” traps us, leaving us unable to achieve asymmetric superiority. Creative options must be available in all spaces of time, place, and situation, including gray zones used by the opponent. From the perspective of “integrated deterrence,” the capabilities and means of allies and partners are even more diverse. Considering Korea’s sensitive relationship with China, more options may be derived through track 1.5/2 tabletop exercises.
-
The most important goal of the ROK-US alliance is to block simultaneity. If adversaries’ goal is to weaken the US alliance network regionally, we must disrupt their simultaneity. Prevent their misjudgment and miscalculation and end the situation at an early stage and low level so a single crisis does not expand. Through psychological and cognitive warfare, plus other dimensions, separate the opponent to eliminate the risk factors caused by integration. The argument for “Integrated Deterrence 2.0,” further deepening and combining the existing network centered on the US in the Indo-Pacific region, is persuasive.
-
Korea’s self-strengthening efforts should ultimately focus on taking responsibility for security on the Korean Peninsula. This is not about exceptionalism but playing a role in building a strong defense line connected to the US Indo-Pacific alliance network and integrated deterrence. This means Korea takes full responsibility for one of the simultaneous threats from North Korea and China, and strengthens the capabilities of each country within ROK-US-Japan trilateral cooperation. If North Korea misjudges due to the nuclear imbalance on the Korean Peninsula, despite Korea’s self-strengthening efforts, deploying US tactical nuclear weapons could be the simplest and most effective response.
Photo: United States and Republic of Korea Navy vessels participate in a photo exercise during Exercise Foal Eagle, Mar. 22, 2017.
If you want to see more insightful analysis and impactful events in the Indo-Pacific, support us by donating. Your contribution fuels our mission for a secure and cooperative future: Donate Here
pacforum.org · March 19, 2024
4. 'Malicious' N.K. cyberactivities account for half of foreign currency income, fund WMD programs: UN report
The regime's all purpose sword continues to strike.
'Malicious' N.K. cyberactivities account for half of foreign currency income, fund WMD programs: UN report | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 21, 2024
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has engaged in "malicious" cyberactivities to generate about half of its foreign currency revenue and bankroll its weapons programs, a report by a U.N. panel of experts showed Wednesday.
Pyongyang also funds 40 percent of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs through "illicit cybermeans," the report said, noting it is investigating 58 suspected cyberattacks by the North on crypto-related firms from 2017-23, which are valued at roughly US$3 billion.
The panel under the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions committee on the North released a final report on its research from July 2023 through January based on open-source materials, information from U.N. member countries and other sources.
It stressed that during its reporting period, North Korean cyberthreat actors continued targeting the virtual asset industry in an effort to evade U.N. sanctions and generate revenue.
"The malicious cyberactivities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) generate approximately 50 percent of its foreign currency income and are used to fund its weapons programs," the panel said, citing information from "one member state." DPRK is short for the North's official name.
"A second member state reported that 40 percent of the weapons of mass destruction programs of the DPRK are funded by illicit cybermeans," it added.
The panel is investigating 17 cryptocurrency heists last year, for which the North may be responsible, valued at more than $750 million, the report said. It is further looking into a total of 58 suspected cyberattacks on crypto-linked firms between 2017 and 2023 that are valued at approximately $3 billion.
"One cybercompany branded the DPRK the world's most prolific cyber-thief," the report said.
Moreover, the panel underlined that while flouting UNSC sanctions, the North has been tripling down on its nuclear and missile programs.
"It further developed nuclear weapons and produced nuclear fissile materials, although its last known nuclear test took place in 2017," the panel said. "The light water reactor appeared to be operational at the Yongbyon site, and activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site continued."
In particular, the panel called attention to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi's remarks indicating activities under way that could lead to the production of more fissile materials used for nuclear bombs.
"The director general of the IAEA stated on 22 November that 'since mid-October 2023, a strong water outflow has been observed from the (light water reactor) cooling system. These observations are consistent with the commissioning of the 'light water reactor,'" the report said.
It went on to say, "The director general of IAEA also stated that the light water reactor, 'like any nuclear reactor, can produce plutonium in its irradiated fuel.'"
The panel also highlighted that the North continued to breach UNSC resolutions through its efforts to advance ballistic missile capabilities, such as launching missiles and satellite launchers, and commissioning a purported ballistic missile submarine.
Based on its observations and information from member states, the panel assessed that the North has advanced its missile program in various areas, including reliability, maneuverability, precision, air bursts and mobile launcher manufacturing.
This undated file photo, released by AFP, shows a U.N. Security Council session under way at the U.N. headquarters in New York. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 21, 2024
5. S. Korea, U.S. agree to form consultative body to address N. Korea's oil smuggling
I wonder why we haven't done this sooner.
S. Korea, U.S. agree to form consultative body to address N. Korea's oil smuggling | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · March 21, 2024
SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States agreed to launch a working-level consultative body to tackle North Korea's illegal smuggling of refined oil, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
Lee Jun-il, South Korea's deputy nuclear envoy, and U.S. Senior Official for North Korea Jung Pak agreed to step up the allies' bilateral cooperation with the launch of the body during their phone talks earlier in the day, according to the ministry.
"Noting that North Korea continues to smuggle refined oil in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the two sides agreed to bolster their cooperation a step further to block such efforts through the launch of the South Korea-U.S. consultative body," the ministry said.
The two sides also expressed deep concerns over the North's continued military provocations and its "hostile policy and aggressive rhetoric" toward South Korea.
Under UNSC sanctions, the North is banned from importing more than 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum products per year.
In a report released early Thursday, the panel under the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee on the North estimated North Korean-flagged tankers would have delivered 1,523,381 barrels between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15 last year.
Lee is currently serving as South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator after its top nuclear envoy, Kim Gunn, recently resigned to join the ruling People Power Party ahead of the April general elections.
In this file photo, Jung Pak (R), U.S. senior official for North Korea, speaks during a meeting with Kim Gunn, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and Hiroyuki Namazu, director general for Asian and Oceanian affairs at Japan's foreign ministry, at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Jan. 18, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · March 21, 2024
6. Are Sanctions Worsening Conditions for North Koreans?
We have been through this for years. It is not sanctions that are causing the problems. It is certainly not about "overcompliance" with sanctions.
Excerpt:
The report, "A Sense of Terror Stronger than a Bullet," said the U.S. should "take active steps to counteract sanctions 'overcompliance' by financial institutions and other actors, [which are] blocking legitimate and non-sanctioned transactions and humanitarian operations."
The Korean people in the north are suffering because of the deliberate policy decisions by Kim Jong un, specifically to prioritize the development of nuclear weapons and missiles over the welfare of the people.
The referenced report from Human Rights Watch can be accessed here. https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/03/07/a-sense-of-terror/stronger-than-a-bullet-the-closing-of-north-korea-2018%E2%80%932023
Here is a recommendations from the report:
The People’s Republic of China should:
Tailor border control measures with North Korea to mitigate the negative humanitarian impacts of UN sanctions enforcement by making it easier for traders to engage in non-sanctioned cross-border trade of essential goods and food.
Why don' t they call out the forced repatriation of refugees in China?
This report seems to be designed not to upset north Korea or China. (I guess doing so would be "overcompliance" with trying to help the people of the north).
In reading this report it makes me wonder if Human RIghts Watch has somehow been compromised by nK and the PRC?
Are Sanctions Worsening Conditions for North Koreans?
March 19, 2024 9:12 PM
voanews.com · March 19, 2024
washington —
International sanctions have contributed to the worsening of human rights in North Korea, according to the nongovernmental group Human Rights Watch, while the U.S. State Department, which supports the sanctions, said the regime is mainly to blame.
The rights organization said United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016 and 2017 have "disrupted general cross-border trade" with China and reduced the ability of people to conduct informal market activities to sustain their livelihoods. The government-approved, quasi-private markets have been operating in North Korea since the late 1990s.
SEE ALSO:
UN: North Korea Increasing Repression as People Are Reportedly Starving
The country's draconian COVID-19 restrictions instituted in early 2020 aggravated conditions, said Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a report published on March 7.
The report, "A Sense of Terror Stronger than a Bullet," said the U.S. should "take active steps to counteract sanctions 'overcompliance' by financial institutions and other actors, [which are] blocking legitimate and non-sanctioned transactions and humanitarian operations."
In response, a spokesperson for the State Department said, "The government of the DPRK bears ultimate responsibility for the suffering of its people, as it is choosing to divert scarce resources from humanitarian and economic needs towards its unlawful WMD [weapons of mass destruction] and ballistic missile program." The spokesperson used the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The spokesperson added in an email to VOA's Korean Service on March 13: "We continue to support international efforts to provide critical humanitarian aid to the DPRK. We hope that the DPRK will soon open its borders to international humanitarian workers, whose aid efforts have been hindered by the DPRK's border closures."
VOA contacted the North Korea mission at the United Nations for responses to the HRW report and the State Department comment but did not receive a reply.
North Korea has not allowed international aid workers into the country since they left more than three years ago when the regime rolled out pandemic measures. But earlier this year, Pyongyang permitted some foreign countries to reestablish their diplomatic presence in the country.
History of abuse
North Korea has a long record of systemically violating the human rights of its people including the use of torture, execution without fair trials and arbitrary detention, in addition to the denial of freedom of speech, religion, press and assembly, according to the United Nations.
Residents obtain their necessities, including food, from informal markets called jangmadang. These emerged after the former Soviet Union fell and no longer provided aid to the country. North Korea's socialist regime then cut off rations, its economy collapsed, and it entered a great famine.
Most of the goods sold and bought at the markets are brought in from China, the largest trading partner of North Korea. The HRW report said the sanctions the U.N. Security Council passed in 2016 and 2017 reduced people's ability to buy "already-limited food, medicines, and necessities" from these markets.
Beijing enforced the sanctions at the time and instituted "new border restrictions" that impeded trade, according to the report.
Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, said Friday in an email to VOA, "North Korean sanctions do not target the people of North Korea."
He said U.N. sanctions were passed to prevent North Korea from developing and proliferating its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and to punish the North Korean elite in charge of those activities by ending their ability to make hard currency from abroad by exporting items the sanctions banned.
The sweeping sanctions that were passed in 2016 and 2017 banned North Korean exports of seafood, textiles, agricultural products and minerals such as coal and iron.
The restrictions were put in place in response to North Korea's fifth and sixth nuclear tests and the launch of ballistic missiles, including Hwasong-14 and -15 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
Scarlatoiu said there could be "unintended negative side effects of sanctions possibly affecting the human security of North Koreans," but it is "impossible" to make that determination without conducting a "fact-finding mission inside the country."
Report based on interviews, images
The HRW report says its findings are based on interviews with former North Korean traders, defectors with relatives still in the country, former North Korean government officials, journalists and activists with contacts inside the country and in China.
The report says it also bases its assessments on satellite images of North Korea's northern border, heavily fortified since early 2020.
Marcus Noland, executive vice president and director of studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told VOA on Friday via email that sanctions are not the primary problem with North Korea's economy.
"The government's self-isolation in response to the pandemic greatly reinforced the underlying problems," he said.
At the same time, sanctions adversely affected North Korean people's economic livelihood as some financial institutions are "uninterested" in making relatively small transactions that could expose them to legal risks, added Noland, who has written extensively on the North Korean economy.
voanews.com · March 19, 2024
7. North Korean citizens ordered to provide cloths for soldiers to wrap their feet
While I have no reasons to doubt the veracity of these reports, we must not be misled that the nKPA is still a force that can inflict serious damage on the South.
Some people will read this and say that they cannot even provide socks to the troops and ask how can they even fight. That may be so, but they continue to produce nuclear weapons and missiles up to ICBMs and a lot of other weapons that will reign down on the ROK and Japan.
Excerpts:
Though most modern militaries supply their soldiers with socks, North Korean soldiers have never officially been issued socks. Instead, they have wrapped their feet in 30x30-centimeter squares (about 1-square-foot) of cloth, a technique that had been used by the Soviet Army, which the Russian Army did not phase out completely until 2013.
North Korean propaganda lionizes the military, calling it an “all-out, all-powerful, invincible revolutionary force,” but the cash-strapped government is apparently not able to provide enough cloth for the wraps.
“We can clearly see the reality of the ‘invincible’ army,” a resident of the central northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
North Korean citizens ordered to provide cloths for soldiers to wrap their feet
Residents laugh that the ‘invincible’ Korean People’s Army cannot afford cloth scraps for foot wraps.
By Kim Jieun for RFA Korean
2024.03.20
rfa.org
North Koreans have been ordered to donate strips of cloth so that soldiers can wrap them around their feet to keep them warm, suggesting the government is not adequately supplying the “invincible” Korean People’s Army, residents told Radio Free Asia.
Though most modern militaries supply their soldiers with socks, North Korean soldiers have never officially been issued socks. Instead, they have wrapped their feet in 30x30-centimeter squares (about 1-square-foot) of cloth, a technique that had been used by the Soviet Army, which the Russian Army did not phase out completely until 2013.
North Korean propaganda lionizes the military, calling it an “all-out, all-powerful, invincible revolutionary force,” but the cash-strapped government is apparently not able to provide enough cloth for the wraps.
“We can clearly see the reality of the ‘invincible’ army,” a resident of the central northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Asking the people to donate supplies to the military is nothing new.
In previous years, the people have been asked to donate food, underwear, winter boots and gloves. Last year they even asked people to make rifle straps by hand. But asking for foot wraps was a first, the resident said.
“The support item we need to raise this time is, absurdly, the foot wraps worn by the troops.”
Each neighborhood watch unit issued instructions from the Ministry of Defense for each home to offer a single piece of white cotton cloth measuring 30 square centimeters.
“Some residents are protesting, saying, ‘There are no scrap cloths to cover the torn clothes for us, where will we get the foot wrap for the military?” she said.
It is common to see emaciated soldiers on the streets of her town, with their thin necks and bulging bellies, she said, adding that it is a stark contrast to the scenes of mighty soldiers training for war that are shown on state TV every day.
Some of the residents are worried that they don’t have any cloth to donate, so they will have to tear down their bedsheets and pillowcases, a resident of the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, told RFA on condition of anonymity for personal safety.
“Fortunately, they are not asking for new cloth,” he said. “At the same time, even if the foot coverings were defined as white cotton cloth, the cloth offered by each household would be various colors.”
The idea of soldiers wearing foot wraps of different colors made some of the residents laugh, he said.
Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
rfa.org
8. China may try to influence South Korea's general elections: experts
Expect this.
China may try to influence South Korea's general elections: experts
The Korea Times · March 21, 2024
Wang Haijun, a Chinese national who operates the Chinese restaurant Dongpangmyeongju, which is suspected of being a front for a "secret Chinese police station," speaks during a press conference held at the restaurant in Seoul. Dec. 31, 2022 file photo. Yonhap
By Kwak Yeon-soo
In the lead-up to the April 10 general elections, concerns over possible interference by China are growing, spurred by a report by the U.S. conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.
The report warns that China may utilize cyber operations to influence the outcome of the April 10 general elections, hoping to seat more Beijing-friendly politicians in the National Assembly.
"Beijing would see great benefit to covertly influencing South Korean public opinion in the run-up to the April 2024 National Assembly and 2027 presidential elections in favor of progressive candidates whose policies more closely align with Chinese objectives," Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the foundation, said in his report titled "South Korea Must Counter Chinese Influence Operations—and the U.S. Should Provide Support."
Klingner's report is not overblown, according to experts who say South Korea should be aware of China's potential attempts to interfere in the upcoming elections, given that Beijing has a history of using several methods to influence Korea's public opinion through disinformation campaigns and covert Chinese police stations.
In 2022, a Chinese restaurant in Seoul was suspected of having functioned as a secret Chinese police station. In November last year, the National Intelligence Service identified 38 fake Korean-language news websites that allegedly tried to influence public opinion by distributing pro-China and anti-U.S. content. They were suspected of being operated by Chinese companies.
"Beijing has intervened in elections in Canada and Australia, so it's possible for them to meddle in the April 10 general elections. They may use internet trolls or AI chatbots to stir public sentiment or inflate public support for a pro-China party or candidate," said Kang Jun-young, professor of Chinese Studies at the Graduate School of International Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
"The Chinese government may also try to mobilize the participation of ethnically Chinese people to support pro-China candidates," Kang added.
Fake news websites suspected of being operated by Chinese companies / Courtesy of National Intelligence Service
Kang said that the growing strength of the South Korean-U.S. alliance is negatively impacting China, which wants to play a bigger role in the Indo-Pacific region.
"The former Moon Jae-in government took a softer line with China compared to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. It pushed for talks with North Korea and had relatively high expectations about China's role in the region," he said.
Lim Jong-in, professor of cyber security at Korea University and special cyber secretary to Yoon, agreed that Seoul-Beijing relations have been frozen for some time.
However, he said that not only China but also North Korea and other hostile forces may seek to influence Korea's political landscape.
"The hostile forces can use deepfake technology, chatGPT and similar AI programs to interfere in elections. They are hard to detect because they use multiple [virtual private network] servers. Deleting disinformation posts on social media platforms can be a time-consuming process," he said.
Lim added, "President Yoon asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg to cooperate in countering AI-related and cybersecurity threats during their recent meeting in Seoul."
"He also urged tech leaders to combat deceptive use of AI at the Munich Security Conference."
Yoon called fake news and disinformation based on AI and digital technology serious threats to democracy at the third Summit for Democracy on Wednesday.
"Fake news manipulates citizens into making wrong judgments based on false information, thereby threatening elections, which constitute the very foundation of democracy," Yoon said. "It is a clear provocation against democracy."
Experts said there is a need to stay laser-focused and work together with allies to counter such threats that fuel political and social tensions.
"We are now able to detect cyber threats employed by North Korea because we have grown familiar with their patterns. But we are still unable to track down threats by China or Russia. We should work together with international partners as well as private sector and key government agencies to reduce risks," Lim said.
Kang called for stronger enforcement and legislative measures against those who engage in disinformation campaigns, saying, "Our voting and ballot counting systems are vulnerable to hacking. The National Assembly has to adopt legislative measures to prevent foreign manipulation and enforce laws against electoral interference. We should expand the current espionage law beyond threats from North Korea."
The Korea Times · March 21, 2024
9. Son of S. Korean missionary detained in N. Korea urges int'l support for repatriation
Excerpts:
Choi Jin-young, the son of Choi Chun-gil, made the call as he visited Geneva this week to muster international support on the issue of abductees in North Korea on the occasion of an ongoing session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said.
Choi is one of six South Koreans currently detained in the North for years, including two other missionaries — Kim Jung-wook and Kim Kook-kie — with their whereabouts or fates unknown.
During a session organized by the South Korean permanent mission in Geneva on Tuesday, the younger Choi urged the international community to work together to prevent families from being forcefully separated, mentioning cases including that of Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student who died in 2017 shortly after being released from a yearlong detention in the North.
He then met with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights, to share the suffering of the families of detainees and handed her letters from himself and the wife of detained missionary Kim Kook-kie, the ministry said.
Son of S. Korean missionary detained in N. Korea urges int'l support for repatriation
The Korea Times · March 21, 2024
Choi Jin-young, right, son of Choi Chun-gil, a South Korean missionary detained in North Korea, and Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights, meet in Geneva, March 19, in this photo provided by the unification ministry. Yonhap
A son of a South Korean missionary detained in North Korea has urged the international community to press the North to repatriate his father and other detainees, saying families should no longer fall victim to such an inhumane act, the unification ministry said Thursday.
Choi Jin-young, the son of Choi Chun-gil, made the call as he visited Geneva this week to muster international support on the issue of abductees in North Korea on the occasion of an ongoing session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said.
Choi is one of six South Koreans currently detained in the North for years, including two other missionaries — Kim Jung-wook and Kim Kook-kie — with their whereabouts or fates unknown.
During a session organized by the South Korean permanent mission in Geneva on Tuesday, the younger Choi urged the international community to work together to prevent families from being forcefully separated, mentioning cases including that of Otto Warmbier, a U.S. college student who died in 2017 shortly after being released from a yearlong detention in the North.
He then met with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights, to share the suffering of the families of detainees and handed her letters from himself and the wife of detained missionary Kim Kook-kie, the ministry said.
Accompanied by Lee Shin-wha, South Korea's ambassador-at-large for international cooperation on North Korean human rights, Choi met with her U.S. counterpart, Julie Turner, to highlight the importance of cooperation with the U.S. and Japan on the abductee issue, it added.
Choi also met with officials from the human rights organizations Global Rights Compliance and Christian Solidarity Worldwide to discuss means to ensure the minimum level of rights for detainees.
The ministry earlier said the government plans to seek international cooperation with the United States, Japan and Canada to help resolve the abductee issue, as those nations saw some of their nationals fall victim to Pyongyang's inhumane act.
The conservative government of Yoon Suk Yeol views the issue of South Korean abductees and detainees as a pressing humanitarian matter, saying it is a violation of human rights against South Korean nationals. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · March 21, 2024
10. Russian troupe performs 'Sleeping Beauty' in Pyongyang
Does soft power work for Russia and north Korea? It certainly will not put food on the table of the Korean people.
Russian troupe performs 'Sleeping Beauty' in Pyongyang
The Korea Times · March 21, 2024
A troupe for the Primorsky branch of the Mariinsky Theatre in Vladivostok performs the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" at the Mansudae Art Theater in Pyongyang in this photo carried by the Korean Central News Agency, March 20. Yonhap
A Russian troupe has performed the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" in Pyongyang, North Korea's state media reported Thursday, the latest in a series of growing exchanges between Pyongyang and Moscow following a rare summit of their leaders in September.
The troupe for the Primorsky branch of the Mariinsky Theatre in Vladivostok put on the performance at the Mansudae Art Theater in Pyongyang the previous day, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The troupe is part of a cultural delegation led by Russia's Vice Culture Minister Andrei Maluishev that arrived in Pyongyang on Monday.
The KCNA quoted Russian officials, including Maluishev and Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the far eastern region of Primorsky Krai that borders North Korea, as saying that the performance was possible thanks to their leaders.
North Korea and Russia have been deepening cooperation in a wide range of areas following the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.
Earlier this week, Kim sent a congratulatory message to Putin on his reelection, claiming the summit brought a "historic" turning point in bilateral relations, and vowed to strengthen their ties. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · March 21, 2024
11. Much fewer N. Korean soldiers will participate in live-fire drills this year
Much fewer N. Korean soldiers will participate in live-fire drills this year
The vast number of soldiers mobilized to construction projects for the 20x10 regional development policy has left only skeleton crews in each military unit, a source told Daily NK
By Jeong Tae Joo - March 21, 2024
https://www.dailynk.com/english/much-fewer-north-korean-soldiers-participate-live-fire-drills-this-year/
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observing Storm Corps training in 2013. (Rodong Sinmun)
The North Korean military recently distributed a rubric for assessing the winter exercises, which will be concluding at the end of this month. But the orders have unexpectedly instructed units to only have 10% of members take part in live-fire drills.
A source in the North Korean military told Daily NK on Monday that the General Staff Department of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) has begun reviewing unit performance for the winter exercises during a scheduled two-week assessment period.
The General Staff Department’s combat training bureau distributed the assessment rubric to the entire army on Mar. 12.
One unusual aspect of this year’s assessment is that only 10% of unit members are supposed to take part in daytime and nighttime live-fire drills for the marksmanship section of the assessment, instead of the 100% participation ordered in previous years.
As a result, the source said, KPA units stationed in Pyongyang and units attached to the III Corps command in Nampo have picked out their finest marksmen to take part in the live-fire drills.
The source added that unit armories were ordered to determine the exact number of soldiers who would be taking part in the live-fire drills and to issue three bullets for each participant.
“This is the first time they’ve ever sent us an assessment rubric for the winter exercises in which only 10% of soldiers in each unit go out for live-fire drills. So many soldiers have been mobilized for construction projects in line with the ‘20×10 regional development policy’ that only a skeleton crew of combat soldiers are left with the units,” the source said.
Construction work pulls most soldiers out of drills
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unveiled the 20×10 regional development policy in a policy speech at the 10th Plenary Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly on Jan. 15. The policy’s goal is to build modern factories in 20 counties every year so as to bring the public’s standard of living to the next level over the next 10 years.
During the 19th Extended Meeting of the Eighth Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) from Jan. 23-24, Kim Jong Un detailed how the regional development policy would be implemented. In addition, the North Korean leader personally delivered to the chief of the General Staff an order, signed in his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, to mobilize KPA units for the struggle to implement the decision of the expanded meeting to carry out an “industrial revolution in the provinces.”
As a result, the KPA has been fully mobilized to build factories in the provinces, leaving only a small number of selected unit members to participate in the live-fire skill-assessment exercises in this year’s winter drills, the source explained.
These developments tend to be seen in a positive light within the military, the source said.
“A competition between the best marksmen in each unit will allow the army to gauge top shooting ability rather than average shooting ability, which some people are praising as a new approach to training sharpshooters who are adept at real warfare and making the drills more efficient,” the source said.
According to the source, the General Staff Department explained that reducing execution time in accordance with the combat training orders in various training areas—including not only live-fire but also upland marching, river fording, maneuvers, tactics, wired and wireless communication, status log keeping, and chemical warfare countermeasures—will be an important factor in the assessment, the source said.
Translated by David Carruth. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons. For more information about Daily NK’s network of reporting partners and information-gathering activities, please visit our FAQ page here.
Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
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12. NK's illicit cyber activities fund 40% of WMD program: UN report
NK's illicit cyber activities fund 40% of WMD program: UN report
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · March 21, 2024
IT workers earn $15,000-$60,000 monthly, but majority of income goes to NK agencies
By Ji Da-gyum
Published : March 21, 2024 - 15:41
(123rf)
North Korea is suspected of pocketing $750 million in cryptocurrency just last year, with profits from illicit cyber activities purportedly accounting for 40 percent of financing for the country's prohibited weapons of mass destruction programs, according to a report by the UN Panel of Experts.
The final annual report released Wednesday stated that during the reporting period from July 2023 to January of this year, North Korea's cyber threat actors continued to target the virtual asset industry as a means to circumvent UN sanctions and generate revenue.
The UN Panel of Experts monitors the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and issues biannual reports, including a final report and a midterm report in the first and second halves of the year, respectively.
"The malicious cyber activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea generate approximately 50 percent of its foreign currency income and are used to fund its weapons programs," the report read, referring to North Korea by its official name.
The report also added, "40 percent of the weapons of mass destruction programs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are funded by illicit cyber means."
The panel is presently probing 17 cryptocurrency heists that occurred in 2023, suspected to be associated with North Korea, totaling more than $750 million in value.
The panel is additionally investigating a total of 58 suspected cyberattacks attributed to North Korea, targeting cryptocurrency-related companies between 2017 and 2023. These attacks are estimated to have a combined value of approximately $3 billion.
"The high volume of cyberattacks by hacking groups subordinate to the Reconnaissance General Bureau reportedly continued. Trends include targeting defense companies and supply chains and, increasingly, sharing infrastructure and tools," the report read.
The RGB is North Korea’s primary intelligence agency responsible for overseas operations.
The report also pointed out that North Korean information technology workers continue to work abroad, "resulting in significant financial gains for the country."
Overseas IT workers earn between $15,000 to $60,000 monthly, according to the report. However, they are permitted to retain "only a small percentage of their earnings," with the majority being seized by their dispatching agency and often utilized to procure goods for North Korea.
North Korea sustains its operation of restaurants in at least five countries, including China, Laos and Russia, as a means of illicitly generating earnings through the deployment of workers.
"These restaurants reportedly generate $700 million in revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea annually, hire that country’s workers, launder money for the country and are often operated by RGB (KPe.028) agents," the report read.
The report said the panel is investigating potential instances of North Korean workers being employed by 81 joint ventures between North Korea and Russia, as well as 42 North Korean companies registered in Russia.
The report further disclosed that 55 UN member states, including South Korea and the US, highlighted North Korea's breach of the UN-mandated annual import cap of 500,000 barrels on refined petroleum products. The member states urged action in a collective letter addressed to the 1718 Sanctions Committee in November last year.
In the letter, the 55 members noted that North Korea-registered tankers conducted 87 deliveries of refined oil products to ports including Nampo, Hungnam, Chonjin, and Songnim between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15, 2023. If fully loaded at 90 percent of their deadweight tonnage, the vessels would have delivered 1,523,381 barrels of refined petroleum products. Alternatively, at 60 percent capacity, they would have delivered 1,015,588 barrels.
However, China and Russia "disagreed with the proposal that the Committee take action on the grounds of a lack of solid evidence for the conclusions" that the annual limit of refined petroleum has been exceeded, according to the UN report.
South Korea's deputy nuclear envoy Lee Joon-il and US Senior Official for North Korea Jung Pak agreed to launch a new working-level consultation body to address North Korea's oil smuggling during their Thursday phone call, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul.
North Korea's undisclosed oil imports from January 1 to September 15, 2023, were revealed by 55 UN member states in their joint letter to the 1718 Committee last November. (Graph sourced from the final report of the UN Panel of Experts)
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · March 21, 2024
13. USFK chief says U.S. should maintain 28,500 troops in Korea amid Trump fears
The ROK press will never recognize the Commander of the ROK/US combined Forces Command. They always use "USFK."
Thursday
March 21, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 21 Mar. 2024, 17:15
USFK chief says U.S. should maintain 28,500 troops in Korea amid Trump fears
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-03-21/national/defense/USFK-chief-says-US-should-maintain-28500-troops-in-Korea-amid-Trump-fears/2007906
Commander of the U.S. Forces in Korea Gen. Paul LaCamera speaks during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee in Washington on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]
The commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) called for maintaining the American troop presence in South Korea at its current size as concerns grow that former President Donald Trump could slash the deployment if reelected.
“To defend the ROK, we must continue to invest in the 28,500 service members, including by trilateral and multilateral exercises on and off the peninsula, multi-domain training integrating live, virtual and constructive entities and continue to experiment with next-generation capabilities,” Gen. Paul LaCamera said during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee in Washington.
The ROK is the acronym for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.
LaCamera's remarks come amid worries that if Trump returns to the White House, he could reduce USFK troop numbers.
Related Article
Although the current level is stated in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, Christopher Miller, who briefly served as the Pentagon's acting chief under Trump, said in a recent media interview that the government should discuss whether "a change is needed" regarding the U.S. presence in South Korea.
“We must continue to build physical, mental and spiritual readiness through operations and activities designed to compete in the gray zone with the DPRK,” said LaCamera during the hearing.
The DPRK is the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“The ROK sits at the heart of Northeast Asia, a region of significant security and economic interest for the United States,” LaCamera said. “The presence of U.S. forces in the ROK and Japan demonstrates our ironclad commitment to the people of Korea and protects our strategic interests in Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.”
LaCamera said both China and Russia are “mindful that there is a premier Joint Force of 28,500 plus American service members forward deployed to the ROK” and that “these geographic realities, combined with powerful economic interests, make the ROK the linchpin of security in Northeast Asia and a treaty ally we must defend.”
He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s top priority is “regime survivability,” adding that Kim is “developing weapons of mass destruction, and for that, he is looking for sanctions relief.”
LaCamera also mentioned North Korea's continuous military aggression and stressed the North’s connection to Russia, saying that Kim is “having Russia test some of his equipment by providing that for the fight in Ukraine.”
The top general also expressed concern about USFK’s “ability to compete in the information environment in Northeast Asia” in light of China, Russia and North Korea’s “aggressive investments in information warfare technology and operational practices.”
“As the largest U.S. force on the Asian continent, USFK is uniquely positioned to counter many of the disinformation, misinformation, and mal-information efforts of our competitors and adversaries and defeat enemies during conflict,” said LaCamera.
“It is imperative for us to remember that the Korean War has not ended,” LaCamera said. “The Korean Peninsula is in an armistice, and the DPRK continues to develop capabilities that threaten not only the region but nations around the world. We must maintain our ironclad commitment to the alliance which has endured since the Korean War and never take it for granted.”
.
BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
14. Dior can't confirm authenticity of handbag of Kim Jong-un's sister
Well, the north is good at counterfeiting all kinds of things.
Thursday
March 21, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 21 Mar. 2024, 18:34
Updated: 21 Mar. 2024, 20:15
Dior can't confirm authenticity of handbag of Kim Jong-un's sister
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-03-21/national/northKorea/Dior-says-cant-confirm-authenticity-of-handbag-of-Kim-Jonguns-sister/2008033
In this photo released by Pyongyang's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sept. 16, 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong, far right, is seen holding what appears to be quilted black Lady Dior bag during her brother's visit the day before to the Yuri Gargarin aircraft factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia. [YONHAP]
French luxury brand Christian Dior told a United Nations panel of experts that it cannot confirm whether a bag photographed on the arm of regime leader Kim Jong-un's sister is a genuine Lady Dior bag.
According to a report released on Thursday by the panel of experts under the UN Security Council Committee on North Korea, representatives of the luxury label said that the bag sported by Kim Yo-jong bears a “strong” resemblance to the brand’s large-sized model of the Sac Lady Dior in quilted matte black calfskin, which is priced at 6,200 euros ($6,670) on Dior's official website.
Exports of luxury goods to North Korea have been banned since the Security Council passed Resolution 1718 in 2006.
In its report, which examines North Korean sanctions violations from July 2023 to January, the panel of experts said it reached out to Dior on Oct. 16 last year, around a month after photos released by Pyongyang’s state-controlled media showed Kim carrying the bag during her brother’s visit to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
While Dior acknowledged in its communications that the bag could very well be a genuine product manufactured by the brand, it also told the panel that it was “difficult” to confirm this through only photos.
Dior also noted that the quilted black iteration of the Lady Dior bag has been part of the brand’s permanent collection since it launched in February 2019 and is available for purchase worldwide.
The brand said that while it complies with sanctions banning the sale of luxury goods to Pyongyang, it has no knowledge of how the North Korean leader’s sister obtained her bag, adding that it cannot control the resale of its products.
Related Article
Kim’s bag is one of several apparent luxury goods appearing in photographs of the North Korean regime’s leadership.
In January, North Korean state media aired footage of Kim Jong-un riding a previously unseen Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 600 sport utility vehicle, which was first released by the German automaker in 2019.
His daughter Kim Ju-ae, whom South Korean intelligence officials believe is 11 years old, has been photographed wearing a variety of luxury jackets in state media appearances, including a Dior hooded down jacket worth $1,900 at a missile launch in March last year.
Pyongyang’s foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, was photographed carrying a $10,000 ostrich-leather handbag by Italian luxury brand Gucci during the North Korean leader’s visit to Russia.
According to the report by the UN’s panel of experts, the North’s malicious cyberactivities “generate approximately 50 percent of its foreign currency income,” and that 40 percent of its financing for weapons of mass destruction is obtained by “illicit cybermeans.”
The panel’s report said it is investigating the North’s potential involvement in 17 cryptocurrency heists last year in which a total of $750 million was stolen, as well as the regime’s suspected role in 58 attacks on cryptocurrency-related companies from 2017 and 2023 that resulted in losses totaling $3 billion.
The panel, which currently reports twice a year on North Korean sanctions violations, is subject to a Security Council vote on the extension of its mandate on Friday in New York.
It remains to be seen if the panel’s work will be able to continue given heightened tensions and disagreements among the council’s five permanent veto-wielding members.
BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]
15. North Korean clones of US drones show Kim’s ambitions, Aquilino says
North Korean clones of US drones show Kim’s ambitions, Aquilino says
Defense News · by Colin Demarest · March 20, 2024
North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles that closely resemble sophisticated American drones are a sign the despotic regime is seeking to modernize its military beyond attention-grabbing missiles, according to a U.S. military leader.
Pyongyang last year unveiled combat and intelligence-gathering UAVs that appear strikingly similar to a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and a larger Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk. Images of them surfaced following an arms exhibit in the capital city attended by the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, and visiting Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu.
Navy Adm. John Aquilino, leader of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, on March 20 told Congress that North Korea is focused on developing “technology and weapons” that advance its nuclear and nonnuclear capabilities. The admiral’s remit at Indo-Pacific Command includes North Korea and nearby China — two premier national-security hazards.
“Over the past three years, the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] has primarily focused its military modernization efforts on strategic capabilities,” Aquilino said in written testimony submitted to the House Armed Services Committee. “Modernization of the DPRK’s vast conventional force has been slower in comparison but progressing nonetheless. Ballistic missile submarines, associated SLBMs, and unmanned aerial vehicles closely resembling U.S. systems highlight recent developments.”
North Korean drones striking similar to the MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk are seen during a weapons exhibit publicized by state media. (Photo provided/KCTV/Screenshot)
Militaries and militant groups the world over are increasingly deploying drones and other uncrewed technologies to collect intelligence, assist targeting and attack from greater distances. Their battlefield flexibility has been underscored by the Russia-Ukraine war and Houthi harassment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The quality and efficacy of North Korea’s lookalike drones is unclear.
At the time of their unveiling, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate for defense and military analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the platforms “are very unlikely to deliver similar levels of flight performance to the U.S. systems, particularly in terms of endurance.”
North Korean drones have in the past crossed into South Korea, prompting a military response.
About Colin Demarest
Colin Demarest is a reporter at C4ISRNET, where he covers military networks, cyber and IT. Colin previously covered the Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration — namely Cold War cleanup and nuclear weapons development — for a daily newspaper in South Carolina. Colin is also an award-winning photographer.
16. Battling the Numbers: South Korea’s Military Downsizes Amid Challenging Demographic Landscape
Excerpt:
As the United States grapples with recruitment challenges and a shrinking military of its own, it can extract valuable lessons from South Korea’s adaptive strategies. South Korea’s approach highlights the evolving paradigm of global defense, where collaboration, joint training, and agility are increasingly central in upholding peace and stability. By actively engaging in defense partnerships and collaborations, South Korea not only strengthens its own stance but also offers a blueprint for other nations confronting the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century.
Battling the Numbers: South Korea’s Military Downsizes Amid Challenging Demographic Landscape
thediplomat.com
South Korea’s approach highlights the evolving paradigm of global defense, where collaboration, joint training, and agility are increasingly central in upholding peace and stability.
By Henry C. Brown
March 20, 2024
Republic of Korea Marine Corps 1st Lt. Rukhan Lee, an interpreter with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, center, facilitates a conversation between U.S. Marine Corps Col. Andrew Gourgoumis, current operations officer with III Marine Expeditionary Force, right, and ROK Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jaemyoung Lee, an exercise planning officer with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, left, in the Landing Force Operations Center aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in support of Ulchi Freedom Shield 23, August 25, 2023.
As society navigates an era of rapid change and uncertainty, the Republic of Korea (ROK), also known as South Korea, faces a demographic crisis that could impact its national security.
The root of this crisis can be traced back to previous policy decisions. In the late 20th century, faced with a rapidly growing population that put pressure on resources and infrastructure, the South Korean government introduced a two-child policy. While successful in its original goal of population control, the two-child policy also set the stage for the current demographic crisis. The policy, coupled with societal changes such as urbanization, increased cost of living, and women’s growing participation in the workforce, led to a significant decline in birth rates over time.
Today the fertility rate continues to decline sharply, leaving South Korea to grapple with an aging population and shrinking workforce. Notably, this demographic shift has led to a reduction in the number of young men available for military service, posing significant challenges to the nation’s defense capabilities.
South Korea’s struggle with decreasing population – an alarming trend for many developed nations – has been particularly pronounced. South Korea hit its lowest fertility rate, 0.72 births per woman, at the end of 2023; projections suggest that figure will fall further to 0.68 in 2024. In comparison, the United States has a fertility rate of 1.6, while Japan’s rate is 1.3. The dwindling population, compounded by the unpopularity of mandatory military service among younger generations, has inevitably led to a reduction in military personnel. This reality adds another layer of complexity to the country’s security landscape, emphasizing the urgent need for effective solutions to the demographic crisis.
Despite having one of the world’s most advanced and robust militaries, South Korea is grappling with a significant downsizing due to the impact of these demographic shifts. This is highlighted by a considerable drawdown of active-duty military personnel from 620,000 in 2017 to 500,000 in 2022. While necessary, this reduction carries with it profound implications for the country’s ability to defend itself and maintain stability in a region marked by persistent tension.
Even with these challenges, the South Korean military remains a formidable force. It exhibits strengths in training, reserve mobilization, industrial capability, technology, and alliances, particularly with the United States. However, the shrinking pool of military personnel, coupled with heavy reliance on imports for advanced equipment and energy, presents clear weaknesses. It’s a delicate balance to maintain, as opportunities for improvement collide with threats, such as persistent tensions with North Korea, regional disputes, cybersecurity challenges, and economic dependency on China.
To navigate these challenges, South Korea has embarked on a transformative journey, focusing on three key areas: enhancing the ROK 3K Defense System capabilities, introducing Defense Innovation 4.0, and improving the service environment for personnel. The country is turning to cutting-edge technology, AI, and space initiatives, aiming to transition from a personnel-focused defense system to an AI-based combined unmanned and manned combat system. By transforming the military into an “AI and scientific technology” powerhouse, South Korea hopes to compensate for the reduced force size and maintain a potent military presence in the region.
The strategy is ambitious and forward-thinking. It aligns with global trends, where militaries are increasingly leveraging technology to enhance capabilities. However, the path to successful implementation is fraught with challenges and demands strategic measures to mitigate potential risks.
As South Korea faces significant demographic challenges that shift its defense landscape, it becomes clear that a reshaping of its defense strategy is essential. To adeptly navigate these challenges, South Korea needs a blend of innovative strategies and global insights. Three main areas of focus emerge: revisiting force structure, amplifying international training and collaborations, and fortifying and evolving alliances. Each of these areas, while distinct, synergistically contributes to crafting a robust framework tailored to South Korea’s unique defense requirements. This strategic foundation sets the stage for specific recommendations that can guide the future direction of South Korea’s defense.
A pivotal aspect of navigating defense challenges is the adaptation of the South Korean force structure. Drawing inspiration from the U.S. military model, South Korea can establish a reserve component where a segment of current reserve personnel transition into a ready reserve status. Such a system promises rapid mobilization in critical scenarios. Furthermore, emphasizing gender inclusivity, especially by enhancing women’s roles in the military, will infuse the defense force with a richer diversity of skills and perspectives, fostering innovative problem-solving.
When it comes to international training and collaboration, South Korea stands to gain substantially from broadened operational exposure. Undertaking more international training initiatives, such as partnerships with the U.S. National Training Center, is a key step in this direction. South Korea can also harness the strategic advantage of bolstering the presence of United Nations allies on its soil. Hosting units from allied countries can augment the South Korean military’s capabilities. Implementing routine rotations of these U.N. units within South Korea further solidifies an integrated multinational defense force.
Lastly, the bedrock of South Korea’s defense posture lies in its alliances. Renewing and deepening the partnership with Japan emerges as a pivotal move, as both nations confront common regional adversaries. Bypassing historical discord and anchoring the relationship in joint military endeavors will heighten regional security. The enduring alliance with the United States remains a vital aspect of this equation. Sustaining and amplifying this partnership, especially through expanded joint exercises, solidifies South Korea’s position alongside one of its most steadfast allies.
In conclusion, South Korea’s military downsizing, propelled by demographic challenges, creates opportunities for the nation to innovate, adapt, and redefine its defense strategies. This evolving landscape demands strategic foresight, embracing new technologies, and a pronounced focus on international collaboration. South Korea’s proactive involvement in joint exercises, such as the Exercise Talisman Saber with countries like New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan, exemplifies its commitment to bolstering defense readiness and adaptability. The re-initiation of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with the U.S. in 2022, emphasizing the return to large-scale field training, further underscores their dedication to solidifying military relationships and shared defense objectives.
As the United States grapples with recruitment challenges and a shrinking military of its own, it can extract valuable lessons from South Korea’s adaptive strategies. South Korea’s approach highlights the evolving paradigm of global defense, where collaboration, joint training, and agility are increasingly central in upholding peace and stability. By actively engaging in defense partnerships and collaborations, South Korea not only strengthens its own stance but also offers a blueprint for other nations confronting the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century.
Authors
Guest Author
Henry C. Brown
Col. Henry C. Brown, U.S. Army, is a National Security Affairs Fellow for the Academic year 2022-2023 at the Hoover Institution.
The view expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Defense, of the U.S. government.
thediplomat.com
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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