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Quotes of the Day:
"A false conclusion once arrived at and widely accepted is not easily dislodged; and the less it is understood, the more tenaciously it is held."
- Georg Cantor, German mathematician (1845-1918)
"The only time my education was interrupted was when I was in school."
- George Bernard Shaw
"A mistake is valuable when you do four things with it: Recognize it. Admit it. Learn from it. Forget it."
- John Wooden, basketball coach and player
1. S. Korea stages drills on peacetime, wartime troop transport
2. Yoon meets with Ukraine's first lady Zelenska
3. S. Korea kicks off radiation tests on N. Korean defectors this week
4. U.S. will hold to account any country violating U.N. sanctions on N. Korea: State Dept.
5. N. Korea's denial of religious freedom remains 'absolute' in 2022: State Dept.
6. Kim Jong Un gains a new title among youth: ‘Respected Father’
7. North still executes, tortures people for religious activities, report says
8. Why Won’t Japan Apologize in a Way That Satisfies South Korea?
9. KF-21 passes provisional combat suitability evaluation
10. Top US general in S. Korea stresses UN Command's role for peace in Northeast Asia
11. North Korean policy for reunification and future of the regime
12. Watch The Unauthorized History of the Korean War | Fox Nation
1. S. Korea stages drills on peacetime, wartime troop transport
Not very sexy training but perhaps one of the most critical for the defense of South Korea. Mobilization of reserve and transportation of troops and equipment are keys to the defense. And the challenges will be vast with clogged transportation networks and despite civilian stay put orders civilians fleeing the frontline careas moving to the South. The huge increase in the ROK population as well as urbanization will make the road networks in 1950 look like superhighways when compared to the overloaded ones of the 21st Century during hostilities. And add in the additional burden of evacuating non combatants - a couple of hundred thousand Americans and third country nationals as well as 1 million Chinese citizens (what will China do for their civilians in South Korea if the north attacks?)
Read Gian Gentile's work at RAND here: Four Problems on the Korean Peninsula North Korea's Expanding Nuclear Capabilities Drive a Complex Set of Problems https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TL271.html. (Problem number 3 is most germane to this article).
S. Korea stages drills on peacetime, wartime troop transport | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · May 16, 2023
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military, police and other agencies conducted drills Tuesday to hone their skills to safely transport reservist troops during both peacetime and wartime, as part of contingency preparations, the military recruitment agency said.
Some 400 reservist troops and 14 transport vehicles were mobilized for the drills that took place in Seoul, Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and Ansan, just south of the capital, according to the Military Manpower Administration (MMA).
The participants used a government disaster communication channel to ensure interagency communication over wartime and peacetime transport missions, the MMA said.
Police officers was tasked with controlling traffic near troop mobilization areas and maintaining order in the areas, while the military took the job of escorting and transporting troops to units they are assigned to.
MMA Commissioner Lee Ki-sik attended the drills in Busan to encourage troops.
"We will do our best to ensure safety in the transportation of mobilization forces," he was quoted as saying.
Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Lee Ki-sik (C) visits a site of drills on the peacetime and wartime transportation of reservist troops in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on May 16, 2023, in this photo released by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · May 16, 2023
2. Yoon meets with Ukraine's first lady Zelenska
Excerpts:
Zelenska talked about her efforts to preserve Ukraine's cultural assets and protect animals and the environment, while asking for South Korea's active participation in her country's reconstruction.
She made no request for lethal weapons, and expressed her understanding of South Korea's difficulty in providing such aid, a presidential official told reporters.
The official also said she did not invite Yoon and Kim to Ukraine during the meetings, though the government plans to respond appropriately if she later informally made such a request.
Zelenska had expressed her intention to invite Yoon and Kim to Ukraine in a recent written interview with Yonhap News Agency.
(2nd LD) Yoon meets with Ukraine's first lady Zelenska | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · May 16, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks by Yoon, Zelenska, first lady Kim Keon Hee; ADDS photos)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska at the presidential office Tuesday, saying South Korea will provide active assistance to her country in close coordination with the international community, his spokesperson said.
Zelenska is in Seoul as a special envoy of her husband, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) poses for a photo with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska, who is visiting as a special presidential envoy, at the presidential office in Seoul on May 16, 2023, in this photo provided by Yoon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"The president conveyed the support and solidarity of the South Korean government and people for Ukraine and expressed his condolences to the families of victims and the Ukrainian people," presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said during a press briefing.
"The president also spoke highly of first lady Zelenska's efforts to share the horrors of the war in Ukraine with the international community and her efforts to secure aid," he added.
Zelenska thanked South Korea for the support and solidarity, and humanitarian assistance it has sent so far to Ukraine and asked that it increase aid in areas where it is able.
"First lady Zelenska said she hopes for aid in non-lethal military equipment, such as mine detection and removal equipment, and ambulances," Lee said.
The first lady also requested the participation of South Korean businesses in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction effort, including in Kherson, where many ethnic Koreans reside.
"President Yoon replied that we will actively support the Ukrainian people in close coordination with NATO member states and the international community," Lee said.
Zelenska met separately with first lady Kim Keon Hee.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (R, C) holds talks with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska (L, C), who is visiting as a special presidential envoy, at the presidential office in Seoul on May 16, 2023, in this photo provided by Yoon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Kim praised Zelenska for her courage and dedication in helping with children's education, caring for war orphans and the rehabilitation of war veterans, saying South Korea deeply empathizes with Ukraine as a nation that rose from the ashes of war, according to Lee.
Kim also promised to provide continued humanitarian assistance to help the Ukrainian people overcome their hardship and have hope.
Zelenska talked about her efforts to preserve Ukraine's cultural assets and protect animals and the environment, while asking for South Korea's active participation in her country's reconstruction.
She made no request for lethal weapons, and expressed her understanding of South Korea's difficulty in providing such aid, a presidential official told reporters.
The official also said she did not invite Yoon and Kim to Ukraine during the meetings, though the government plans to respond appropriately if she later informally made such a request.
Zelenska had expressed her intention to invite Yoon and Kim to Ukraine in a recent written interview with Yonhap News Agency.
This undated photo, provided by Ukraine's presidential office, shows first lady Olena Zelenska. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · May 16, 2023
3. S. Korea kicks off radiation tests on N. Korean defectors this week
In addition to those in the vicinity of nuclear tests, anyone who escapes from areas around Yongbyon and other nuclear facilities are likely suffering from the effects of radiation exposure. This includes all the nuclear scientists, technicians, and support personnel and their families. This is one significant issue that will have to be addressed following war, regime collapse, and ultimately the unification process. The United Republic of Korea is going to have to deal with a large number of people who have suffered from long term radiation exposure. The regime hides the amount of children born with birth defects around Yongbyn even as they forcibly import women for the scientists and technicians to marry because no one wants to live in the area. We might think all those who are supporting the development of nuclear weapons would be well treated but they and their families are suffering a death sentence, albeit a long, slow, and painful one.
S. Korea kicks off radiation tests on N. Korean defectors this week | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 김수연 · May 16, 2023
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea kicked off radiation exposure tests this week on North Korean defectors who hailed from areas near the North's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, an official at Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.
The radiation testing, which started Monday, is expected to be completed by November, with its outcome likely to be made public in late December, according to the official.
The test will be conducted on 89 North Korean defectors who had lived in Kilju County and its nearby areas, and escaped the North after the country's first nuclear test in 2006.
The North conducted all of its six nuclear tests at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, located in Kilju County in the country's northeastern province.
The South Korean government previously held such similar tests on 40 North Korean defectors in 2017 and 2018.
Among the 89 defectors to undergo the testing, nine will be those who were suspected of having been exposed to radiation during the government's previous tests.
In a report released in February, the Transitional Justice Working Group, an advocacy group for the North's human rights, said hundreds of thousands of residents living in the area near the Punggye-ri site are at risk of exposure to radioactive materials being spread by underground water.
This undated image, captured from footage of Yonhap News TV, shows North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site on its northeastern province. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 김수연 · May 16, 2023
4. U.S. will hold to account any country violating U.N. sanctions on N. Korea: State Dept.
I am sure this will draw a response from all my Korea watcher friends who focus on sanctions and lament the lack of sanctions enforcement as well as the support to sanctions evasion activities by China and Russia.
U.S. will hold to account any country violating U.N. sanctions on N. Korea: State Dept. | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 16, 2023
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- The United States possesses various means to hold to account any country that violates United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on North Korea, a state department spokesperson said Monday, amid reports that trade between North Korea and China may have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the state department, declined to provide a direct comment on potential violations of UNSC resolutions by China but insisted every U.N. member country has the obligation to uphold sanctions against North Korea.
Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the Department of State, is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the state department in Washington on May 15, 2023 in this captured image. (Yonhap)
"There, of course, are sanctions in place with the DPRK through the U.N. Security Council," the spokesperson told a daily press briefing, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"I am not going to get into specifics here whether such an action is a deviation of a sanction or not, but broadly. both in holding the DPRK accountable and holding accountable countries that attempt to subvert sanctions or bolster the DPRK's destabilizing efforts, the U.S. will continue to have a number of tools at its disposal to hold them accountable," he added.
China's customs office said last month that the country's bilateral trade with North Korea jumped 161 percent from a year earlier to over US$158.4 million in March.
In the first quarter of the year, China-North Korea trade came to about $485.8 million, spiking 147 percent from the same period a year earlier and accounting for nearly 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels, according to data released by the Chinese customs office.
Earlier reports also suggested that North Korea may be preparing to lift its border closure with China.
Patel insisted that "countries who have influence and engagements with the DPRK have a role to play when it comes to curtailing their destabilizing activities that we see so frequently in the Indo-Pacific region."
"Of course, one of those countries is the PRC," he added, referring to China by its formal name, the People's Republic of China.
North Korea fired nearly 100 missiles since the start of last year, including 69 ballistic missiles in 2022 that marked a new record of ballistic missiles launched in a single year.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 16, 2023
5. N. Korea's denial of religious freedom remains 'absolute' in 2022: State Dept.
But Kim Jong Un would argue that all Koreans are absolutely free to worship the mafia-like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime.
(LEAD) N. Korea's denial of religious freedom remains 'absolute' in 2022: State Dept. | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 16, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from State Secretary Blinken, other department official in paras 8-10, 17-18; ADDS photo)
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea continued to execute, torture and physically abuse its own people for their religious activities in 2022, the U.S. State Department said in an annual report on international religious freedom, citing an earlier report by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that said the country's denial of religious freedom remains "absolute."
The report also noted the country especially persecuted Christians and followers of shamanism.
"The government reportedly continued to execute, torture, arrest, and physically abuse individuals for their religious activities," the report said of North Korea.
"Officials principally targeted Christians and followers of Shamanism," it added. "NGOs and defectors said the government often arrested or otherwise punished family members of Christians."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is seen speaking during a press conference at the state department in Washington on May 15, 2023 on the release of 2022 International Religious Freedom Report in this captured image. (Yonhap)
North Korea was designated a state violator of religious freedom for the 21st consecutive year in 2021, along with 10 other states that were designated "countries of particular concern."
A senior state department official said the secretary of state will make countries of particular concern determinations later in the year based on the report released on the day.
"So for now, the report is focused on really laying out the religious freedom landscape in each country, in the world, and then we will get to the designation a few months from now," the official said in a telephonic press briefing, while speaking on condition of anonymity.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will continue to advocate for religious freedom at home and abroad.
"We will keep advocating for religious freedom in countries where the rights are under attack, both publicly and directly in our engagement with government officials. We will keep working to defend and promote religious freedom here at home," he told a press conference.
"We defend the right to believe or to not believe, not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because of the extraordinary good the people of faith can do in our societies and around the world to promote peace, to care for the sick, to protect our planet, to expand opportunity for underserved communities and so much more," added Blinken.
The report noted there existed a small number of officially registered religious institutions, including churches, in North Korea.
They, however, operated "under tight state control and functioned largely as showpieces for foreigners," it said.
"There were reports of private Christian religious activity, although the existence of underground churches and the scope of underground religious networks remained difficult to quantify," it added.
The report said COVID-19 restrictions on travel to and from the country made details on cases of abuse "difficult to verify," adding the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has drastically fallen from 1,047 in 2019 to 67 last year.
"Along with the closure of many foreign diplomatic missions during the pandemic and the government's continued lack of engagement internationally on human rights issues, it remained difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of conditions within the country and to verify the details of individual cases," said the report.
Still, the report insisted that Pyongyang made it "nearly impossible" to exercise freedom of religion in the country, citing a 2021 report by the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, which also noted that "Christians are categorized as a 'hostile class'."
Rashad Hussain, ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, is seen speaking during a press conference at the state department in Washington on May 15, 2023 in this captured image. (Yonhap)
Rashad Hussain, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said the U.S. report on religious freedom has served as an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to understand and address religious freedom conditions in any country over the past 25 years.
"We vow to redouble our efforts to ensure greater respect for freedom of religion or belief for everyone everywhere. We will continue to stand in solidarity everyday with all those who are seeking to exercise their beliefs," he told the press conference.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 16, 2023
6. Kim Jong Un gains a new title among youth: ‘Respected Father’
Ideology is all the regime has. However, you cannot eat ideology. How long will it be before the youth begin to rebel?
They need informaiton so they know they have options and will be supported.
Kim Jong Un gains a new title among youth: ‘Respected Father’
Move generates resentment among young people who see it as inappropriate and clueless
By Jieun Kim for RFA Korean
2023.05.15
rfa.org
North Korean young people are now required to refer to the country’s 38-year-old supreme leader Kim Jong Un as “Respected Father” – generating resentment among youth who consider him to be similar in age and undeserving of such an honorific, residents in the country say.
Such idolization also comes across as clueless, given the widespread hunger that many face, they say.
Kim Jong Un seems to be attempting to perpetuate the personality cult of his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung, who were both referred to by that title, but at a later age.
People bow to the statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill to mark the 11th death anniversary of Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, Dec. 17, 2022. Credit: Cha Song Ho/AP
The decision was evident in new educational materials distributed to youth organizations that citizens 35 and younger must attend, residents told Radio Free Asia.
“Until now, the authorities have been saying [in the media] that the hearts of the people admire and obey the general secretary … like they follow and obey their own fathers,” a resident of the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFA’s Korean service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
“According to this month’s educational lecture, young people between the ages of 14 and 35 now have to call the general secretary their father, even though he is estimated to be 38 years old,” he said. “Even though Kim Jong Un is of a similar age to some of them, they have to call him father, and it takes on a political meaning.”
‘Resentment rising’
Many people still consider him young and inexperienced compared to the previous two leaders, so the new title seems inappropriate and even as idolization, the source said.
North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung began using the title In 1967, when he was 55 years old. In 1992, the youngest North Koreans began calling him “Grandfather.”
After his death, his son Kim Jong Il, took on the title “Respected Father” at age 53, which was used until his death in 2011.
Portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung, left, and Kim Jong Il hang inside the convention hall of the April 25 House of Culture as leader Kim Jong Un chairs the party congress in Pyongyang, North Korea. Credit: Wong Maye-E/AP
The move also rankled people because it seemed like a tactless step amid widespread starvation across the country, a resident in the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.
“The media praises him as an outstanding and sophisticated leader, ‘a fearless patriot who spreads the dignity and power of [our country] to the world,’ and now we are to call him Father,” she said. “Resentment among young people is rising.”
Kim’s new title may be a part of a broader propaganda effort that has included more public visibility of the ruler and his family, the source said.
Since October, Kim has been making public appearances with his daughter Kim Ju Ae in what some experts believe is an attempt to soften his image and perhaps prepare the populace for a future female leader to be the fourth generation of the Kim dynasty.
“It seems that … it was preparatory work to make himself the father of the people,” the resident said.
Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
rfa.org
7. North still executes, tortures people for religious activities, report says
The headline is a better reminder of the brutality of the regime. Consider this with the report of Kim Jong Un's new title as "respected father."
Tuesday
May 16, 2023
dictionary + A - A
North still executes, tortures people for religious activities, report says
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/05/16/national/northKorea/North-Korea-religious-rights-freedom-of-religion/20230516134245247.html
[KIM JEE-YUN]
North Korea continued to execute and torture its people for engaging in religious activities in 2022, the U.S. State Department said in an annual report on international religious freedom.
"[North Korea] reportedly continued to execute, torture, arrest, and physically abuse individuals for their religious activities," the report said.
The report noted that the main targets of abuse were Christians and followers of shamanism, adding, "NGOs and defectors said the government often arrested or otherwise punished family members of Christians."
North Korea was designated a state violator of religious freedom for the 21st consecutive year in 2021, along with 10 other states designated "countries of particular concern."
A senior state department official said the secretary of state will make countries of particular concern determinations later in the year based on the report released on the day.
"So for now, the report is focused on really laying out the religious freedom landscape in each country, in the world, and then we will get to the designation a few months from now," the official said in a telephonic press briefing while speaking on condition of anonymity.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will continue to advocate for religious freedom at home and abroad.
"We will keep advocating for religious freedom in countries where the rights are under attack, both publicly and directly in our engagement with government officials. We will keep working to defend and promote religious freedom," he said in a press conference.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference on the release of 2022 International Religious Freedom Report held at the State Department in Washington on Monday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]
"We defend the right to believe or to not believe, not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because of the extraordinary good the people of faith can do in our societies and around the world to promote peace, to care for the sick, to protect our planet, to expand opportunity for underserved communities and so much more," Blinken added.
The report noted there existed a small number of officially registered religious institutions, including churches, in North Korea.
They, however, operated "under tight state control and functioned largely as showpieces for foreigners," it said.
"There were reports of private Christian religious activity, although the existence of underground churches and the scope of underground religious networks remained difficult to quantify," it added.
The report said Covid-19 restrictions on travel to and from the country made details on cases of abuse "difficult to verify," adding the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has drastically fallen from 1,047 in 2019 to 67 last year.
"Along with the closure of many foreign diplomatic missions during the pandemic and the government's continued lack of engagement internationally on human rights issues, it remained difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of conditions within the country and to verify the details of individual cases," the report said.
The report noted that Pyongyang made it "nearly impossible" to exercise freedom of religion in the country, citing a 2021 report by the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, which also noted that "Christians are categorized as a 'hostile class.'"
BY SOHN DONG-JOO, YONHAP [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]
8. Why Won’t Japan Apologize in a Way That Satisfies South Korea?
As I understand it from my Korean friends, it is not an apology that is desired and demanded. It is an admission of the fact that Japan illegally annexed and occupied Korea and conducted gross human rights violations of the Korean people. Anything less than this is not acceptable.
I have wondered about this and the Japanese culture of honor and shame. An admission of illegal conduct by Japan would require that someone be held accountable. Who would accept responsibility for these historical actions? The Emperor? The Prime Minister. And then consider what actions would have to be taken to restore Japanese honor? How would Japanese honor be restored after such an admission?
The author correctly notes that it is President Yoon that is expending political capital to try to improve relations.
Excerpts:
While Kishida has been considerate of his domestic audience, Yoon has been defying his own regarding historical recognition. Yoon boldly stated during an interview with the Washington Post that he “can’t accept the notion that because of what happened 100 years ago,” Japan “must kneel” for forgiveness. On another occasion, he vowed that Japan does not have to apologize to South Korea anymore since they had already done so “several dozen times.”
The remarks that Yoon made went against the popular sentiment in his country, where a poll published on May 9 showed that 55.4 percent of South Koreans believe that Japan’s formal apology must precede further cooperation. The fact that he defied public opinion on the issue indicates his desire to strengthen South Korea’s relationship with Japan in order to counter the threat of China, which South Koreans are becoming increasingly concerned about.
So far, Yoon has been the one consuming his own political capital to advance bilateral ties, while Kishida seems reluctant to do the same on the delicate issue of historical recognition that has mired bilateral relations from their inception. If Kishida wants to thaw Japan-South Korean relations and adapt to the increasingly tense regional environment, he too must be willing to defy public opinion. To accomplish these things, he ought to show courage by eliminating euphemisms from his apologies, in order to gain the trust of the South Korean public, which will be essential for the bilateral relations to enter a new era.
Why Won’t Japan Apologize in a Way That Satisfies South Korea?
Again and again, Japanese prime ministers have hesitated to go against the powerful conservative faction to offer a direct apology for Japan’s colonial period.
thediplomat.com · by Jio Kamata · May 15, 2023
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During his recent visit to South Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio showed sympathy for the painful past of the Korean people but did not dare to elaborate on what and who inflicted that pain upon them – Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. At a joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, while acknowledging his counterpart’s decision to play a leading role in thawing the bilateral relationship, Kishida expressed gratitude to the Korean public for backing those initiatives “even though they have not forgotten the painful memories of the past.”
Also, speaking in the first person – and not speaking on behalf of his country – Kishida stated that his “heart ached deeply for the pain and sadness that so many people suffered under the harsh circumstances of those days.” Kishida’s expression of sympathy, which lacked any concrete details about the “past” and the “harsh circumstances” under which the Korean population suffered, is a demonstration of how domestic politics constrained his overture to South Korea.
The absence of a clear and straightforward admission that Japanese colonialism was a historical wrong, one that deprived the Korean people of self-determination and dignity, did not land well with the Korean press. The Hankyoreh newspaper published an editorial titled “Korea-Japan summit underscores future without apology for past,” criticizing Kishida’s apology as a “minimum expression of good faith” that failed to directly address Korean concerns. In analyzing the tone of editorials across the South Korean media outlets, Japan’s Sankei Shimbun also reported that the frustration aimed at Ksihida’s seemingly half-hearted admission of guilt was widespread, regardless of the partisan inclinations of the publications.
For Kishida, one of the most significant forces thwarting his diplomatic overture to South Korea is domestic politics. Within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which Kishida is a part of and which constitutes the major part of Japan’s governing coalition, conservative influence is strong. In order to become prime minister, Kishida was required to appeal to the most conservative faction of the LDP – the largest grouping of the party, led by the late Abe Shinzo – by standing for the socially conservative policies and hawkish defense initiatives that this faction relished. Therefore, since Kishida was basically brought into power by the conservatives and the center of gravity of the LDP tilts toward them, the ideas that they hold have significant sway over the handling of Kishida’s foreign policy – especially those involving South Korea, a country toward which Japanese conservatives hold animosity.
Japanese conservatives typically harbor negative feelings toward South Korea due to their perception that the complaints and accusations made by Koreans are baseless. This way of thinking is partially derived from their fundamental misunderstanding of the reality of Japan’s colonial rule. Conservatives tend to believe that the Koreans are better off as a result of Japanese colonization, a proposition that most Koreans do not accept for obvious reasons.
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An example of this paternalistic belief is best exemplified by best-selling author turned conservative pundit Hyakuta Naoki’s book, “Now is the Time to Apologize to Korea.” Contrary to the title, the book details the extent to which the Japanese occupation supposedly contributed to the well-being of the Korean population, at the same time ridiculing the Koreans that do not acknowledge those feats. Given these views, from the vantage point of the conservatives, apologizing to the South Koreans is not only unnecessary but is a distortion of reality, which could make an official apology by the Japanese prime minister a betrayal in a sense.
This sort of paternalistic attitude has long roots. In 1953, during a negotiation between Japanese and South Korean diplomats, Kubota Kanichiro, one of the representatives of Japan, argued that as a result of Japanese colonial rule, “bald mountains were replaced by green mountains, railroads were built, ports were constructed, rice paddies increased greatly” on the Korean Peninsula. The statement touched the ire of South Korean officials and ultimately delayed the diplomatic recognition between both countries for over 10 years.
However, conservatives are not the only force hindering a formal apology from Kishida that would satisfy the South Koreans. The Japanese population, in general, is also partly to blame. As pointed out by multiple experts, Japanese people are feeling “apology fatigue,” a reference to the widespread exhaustion among the Japanese people who feel that they are continuously being demanded to apologize to their neighbors for their country’s past wrongdoings. The existence of this sentiment may well have been a constraining factor in Kishida’s statements in South Korea, in addition to the political opposition of the conservatives.
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This gets at the crux of the historical issue: South Koreans feel Japan has never truly apologized for past wrongs, while Japanese feel their country has apologized again and again, to no avail. The key difference is what actually constitutes an apology.
For the past several decades, Japanese officials – like Kishida – have been using euphemisms in apologies for their imperialistic past toward the Koreans and other neighboring countries, in a way that satisfies their own people but leaves the feeling that they are not sincere. Japanese officials should understand that their excessive consideration of domestic public opinion when making an apology casts Japan’s attitude as insincere, which leads the South Koreans to continue demanding apologies.
While Kishida has been considerate of his domestic audience, Yoon has been defying his own regarding historical recognition. Yoon boldly stated during an interview with the Washington Post that he “can’t accept the notion that because of what happened 100 years ago,” Japan “must kneel” for forgiveness. On another occasion, he vowed that Japan does not have to apologize to South Korea anymore since they had already done so “several dozen times.”
The remarks that Yoon made went against the popular sentiment in his country, where a poll published on May 9 showed that 55.4 percent of South Koreans believe that Japan’s formal apology must precede further cooperation. The fact that he defied public opinion on the issue indicates his desire to strengthen South Korea’s relationship with Japan in order to counter the threat of China, which South Koreans are becoming increasingly concerned about.
So far, Yoon has been the one consuming his own political capital to advance bilateral ties, while Kishida seems reluctant to do the same on the delicate issue of historical recognition that has mired bilateral relations from their inception. If Kishida wants to thaw Japan-South Korean relations and adapt to the increasingly tense regional environment, he too must be willing to defy public opinion. To accomplish these things, he ought to show courage by eliminating euphemisms from his apologies, in order to gain the trust of the South Korean public, which will be essential for the bilateral relations to enter a new era.
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Jio Kamata
Jio Kamata is a freelance writer and regular contributor to the Japanese opinion website Agora. His articles have also been published in The Japan Times and Japan Forward.
thediplomat.com · by Jio Kamata · May 15, 2023
9. KF-21 passes provisional combat suitability evaluation
Another eventual contribution to the Arsenal of Democracy.
Tuesday
May 16, 2023
dictionary + A - A
KF-21 passes provisional combat suitability evaluation
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/05/16/national/defense/Korea-fighter-jets-KF21/20230516170558532.html
A prototype KF-21 fighter jet takes part in a test flight at the Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang, on March 28. [DAPA]
Korea's domestically developed KF-21 fighter jet passed a provisional combat suitability evaluation earlier this week, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Tuesday.
This marks a major milestone over 20 years into development, clearing a key procedural step ahead of entering mass production next year.
The DAPA said the evaluation in cooperation with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Defense Ministry and Air Force was based on numerous flight and ground tests over the past two years evaluating 260 items including flight speed and combat operational range.
The provisional combat suitability evaluation procedure enables weapons developers to secure mass-production budgets, taking into consideration the long time it takes from the research and development process to initial production.
The DAPA said that the evaluation lays the grounds for the KF-21s to enter the initial mass-production process in 2024.
Initially, only a small number of jets will be produced.
This comes some 23 years after then-President Kim Dae-jung first proposed at a graduation ceremony of the Korean Air Force Academy in August 2001 to develop state-of-the-art indigenous combat aircraft by 2015.
The KF-21, also known as the Boramae, is a 4.5th-generation fighter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the country's sole aircraft maker, with funding from Korea and Indonesia. The 8.8 trillion-won project ($6.8 billion) to build Korea's first domestically developed advanced fighter jet began in 2015, with DAPA signing a contract with the KAI, to replace the country's aging F-4 and F-5 jets.
The first KF-21 prototype was revealed in April 2021 and made its maiden test flight in July 2022.
So far, more than 200 test flights have been made to verify the fighter's capabilities, including supersonic speeds, night flight and an advanced active electronically scanned array radar system.
The homegrown fighter jets are expected to be delivered to the Air Force after completing more than 2,000 test flights and undergoing a final combat suitability evaluation by 2026. Some 120 KF-21s are expected to be deployed by 2032.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
10. Top US general in S. Korea stresses UN Command's role for peace in Northeast Asia
This is in response to the founding of the new Korea-UNC Friendship Association. It is a positive development which will help to inform the public about the importance of the UNC for supporting the defense of Korea and hopefully show how the UNC is not a threat to South Korean sovereignty.
More importantly I have heard the ROK military will be contributing an increased number of UNC staff members and also assign a ROK general officer to the command. All very good news.
Top US general in S. Korea stresses UN Command's role for peace in Northeast Asia
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · May 16, 2023
By Yonhap
Published : May 16, 2023 - 20:30 Updated : May 16, 2023 - 20:30
UN Command Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera speaks during a ceremony celebrating the founding of the Korea-UNC Friendship Association in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)
UN Command (UNC) Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera on Tuesday highlighted the US-led institution's role in crisis management on the Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia, saying it "cannot be replicated by any other organization."
LaCamera made the remarks as the command maintains its relevance as an enforcer of the armistice that effectively halted the 1950-53 Korean War, amid lingering questions over the need to update the long-standing entity.
"The work of the UN Command remains vital for maintaining the armistice agreement, providing tools for crisis management, and is essential to maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia," he said at a ceremony marking the founding of the Korea-UNC Friendship Association, a body promoting the importance of the command.
"This is the type of work that the UNC performs daily, and it cannot be replicated by any other organization," he added.
The UNC was launched in 1950 under a UN mandate to "restore peace" during the war. Following the establishment of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command (CFC) in 1978, the UNC has served primarily as an enforcer of the armistice.
Seoul officials have said that talks have been under way between South Korea and the UNC to update or modernize the command in line with changes that have occurred over the last decades. Details on the process remain unknown.
LaCamera also leads the CFC and the US Forces Korea. (Yonhap)
11. North Korean policy for reunification and future of the regime
"North Korean unification". I think we want "Korean Unification" that results in a free and unified Korea. Korean unification policy does not call for a free and unified Korea, only one that is dominated by the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State of north Korea or the DPRK.
North Korean policy for reunification and future of the regime
The Korea Times · May 16, 2023
By Simon Hutagalung
The reunification of North and South Korea is a longstanding issue that has been the subject of international debate and negotiation. This essay will analyze North Korea's policy for reunification and the potential implications for the future of the governments of both countries. It will examine the official policy of North Korea for reunification, the role of Russia and China in North Korea's reunification policy, and the potential consequences of reunification for the regime in both North and South Korea. Finally, the essay will discuss potential solutions to the issue of North Korean reunification.
North Korea's doctrine for reunification is guided by its political ideology, history, and national identity. The regime sees itself as the rightful leader of the Korean Peninsula and believes that the reunification of the two countries should occur under its leadership. The principles that guide North Korea's approach to reunification include the establishment of a socialist state, the preservation of its political system, and the reunification of families separated by the division of the peninsula.
The official policy of North Korea for reunification is the Byungjin Line, which emphasizes the simultaneous development of the economy and nuclear weapons. It aims to develop nuclear capabilities while also strengthening the economy, ultimately leading to the reunification of the peninsula under North Korean leadership. But it is important to note that North Korea's official policies and rhetoric regarding reunification may not necessarily reflect its actual intentions and actions.
The role of Russia and China in North Korea's reunification policy cannot be ignored. North Korea has historically relied on support from these countries, both politically and economically. China, in particular, is North Korea's main ally and trading partner, and its support is critical to the regime's survival. Russia also has economic and geopolitical interests in the Korean Peninsula and has shown interest in improving relations with North Korea.
As such, North Korea may need a green light from these countries to pursue reunification, and their interests and priorities may impact North Korea's policy. For example, China has emphasized the need for stability on the Korean Peninsula and may be hesitant to support reunification if it leads to instability. Russia, on the other hand, has shown interest in using the issue of reunification as a means of gaining influence in the region.
The potential consequences of reunification for the regime in both North and South Korea are complex and multifaceted. If reunification occurs, it means the end of the regime in both countries. The political, economic and social factors that would shape the future of the two countries in the event of reunification are numerous and interdependent.
The reunification of the Korean Peninsula would require significant political, economic and social restructuring, and it is not clear what kind of state would emerge. A new regime may emerge that is acceptable to the major powers in the region, such as the United States, Russia, Japan and China, but this is not guaranteed. Also, reunification leads to significant economic and social costs, as the two countries have vastly different systems and levels of development.
Finally, a solution to the issue of North Korean reunification must involve cooperation between North and South Korea, as well as the major powers in the region. The best way to approach this complex issue is through a step-by-step process that prioritizes stability, economic development and humanitarian concerns.
One potential solution involves the establishment of a joint commission for reunification that would involve representatives from both North and South Korea, as well as major powers in the region. The commission would work towards establishing confidence-building measures, such as the exchange of humanitarian aid, people-to-people exchanges and joint economic projects. These measures would help build trust and understanding between the two countries and pave the way for more substantial negotiations on reunification.
Also, to build trust and confidence, it is important to address the economic and social factors that would shape the reunification process. The economic gap between North and South Korea is vast, with South Korea's economy being significantly more developed than that of North Korea. This would lead to challenges in integrating the two economies and result in economic shockwaves for both countries. It is therefore important to establish a framework for economic cooperation that considers the different economic systems and levels of development between the two countries.
Social factors such as language, culture and education also need to be addressed in the reunification process. There are significant differences between the two countries in terms of language, customs, and education systems. Efforts need to be made to bridge these gaps and promote greater understanding and tolerance between the two countries.
Another important consideration is the role of the international community in the reunification process. The major powers in the region, such as the United States, China, Japan and Russia, all have important interests in the Korean Peninsula. Any solution to the issue of reunification will need to take these interests into account and involve these countries in the process.
To sum up, the reunification of North and South Korea is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive and thoughtful approach. North Korea's policy for reunification is guided by its political ideology, history and national identity, and it is important to understand these factors to analyze its approach to the issue. The role of Russia and China in North Korea's reunification policy cannot be ignored, and the potential implications of reunification for the governments of both countries are complex and multifaceted.
A solution to the issue of North Korean reunification must involve cooperation between North and South Korea, as well as the major powers in the region. A step-by-step process that prioritizes stability, economic development and humanitarian concerns is the best way to approach this complex issue.
Simon Hutagalung is a graduate of the City University of New York and received his master's degree in political science and comparative politics. The opinion expressed here is his own.
The Korea Times · May 16, 2023
12. Watch The Unauthorized History of the Korean War | Fox Nation
The entire five episodes are available on Fox Nation at the link below. Unfortunately it requires a subscription. (you can get a free 7 day subscription to watch it and then cancel it!)
It is actually a pretty good tutorial on the Korean War and it's relevant to today.
However there will be a one-hour version of the series on Sunday, May 28th at 10 PM on Fox News for Memorial Day.
Nick Eberstadt, Katherine Weathersby, Jean Lee and I I (and two others with whom I am not familiar but one is a MacArthur expert) contributed hours of interviews to this project.
Watch The Unauthorized History of the Korean War | Fox Nation
https://nation.foxnews.com/watch/8661ec117c0de8107d0405a24230a205/
Watch all episodes now on Fox Nation
Bret Baier investigates the misunderstood history of the Korean War, how the brutal fighting tested US resolve in the fight against communism,
The Unauthorized History of the Korean War Episodes (5)
Episode Five: Kim's Dynasty
The war technically never ends as the combatants agree to an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korean leader Kim Jung Il-Sung's grandson continues the family's iron rule over an impoverished nation that now threatens the world with nuclear weapons.
Episode Four: Stalin's Stalemate
Truman sacks MacArthur to pursue a peace deal, but Soviet leader Joseph Stalin maneuvers to keep the U.S. mired in bloody trench warfare, stalling negotiations.
Episode Three: Mao's Counterattack
America and its allies seem poised for victory as U.S. airpower punishes North Korea's industrial base. But Chinese leader Mao Zedong throws his army into the war, unleashing a massive counterattack from the north that forces an American retreat.
Episode Two: Macarthur's Gambit
General Douglas MacArthur boldly decides to land U.S. troops at the port of Inchon on Korea's West Coast. In a daring and dangerous operation, MacArthur turns the tide of the war, driving North Korean forces to the Chinese border.
Episode One: Truman's Test
Backed by the Soviet Union and China, North Korea launches a surprise attack on the south. The invasion forces President Truman to make a high-stakes choice: will he defend South Korea or sacrifice an ally to the rising tide of global communism?
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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