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Quotes of the Day:
"All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting."
- George Orwell
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."
- Oscar Wilde
“Divided leadership is dangerous because people in groups often think and act in ways that are illogical and ineffective—call it Groupthink. People in groups are political:
they say and do things that they think will help their image within the group. They aim to please others, to promote themselves, rather than to see things dispassionately.
Where an individual can be bold and creative, a group is often afraid of risk. The need to find a compromise among all the different egos kills creativity.
The group has a mind of its own, and that mind is cautious, slow to decide, unimaginative, and sometimes downright irrational.”
- Robert Greene, The 33 Strategies of War
1. N. Korean nuclear test inevitable, China unwilling and unable to help: Victor Cha
2. N. Korea to hold key parliamentary meeting this week
3. S. Korea seeks formal consultations with US, EU on NK human rights
4. South Korea, US in talks on how to modernize UN Command: ministry
5. Yoon Suk Yeol takes economic diplomacy to Davos Forum
6. Yoon says he expects 'big achievements' from UAE visit
7. UAE announces decision to invest US$30 bln in S. Korea
8. Yoon meets with S. Korean troops of Akh unit in UAE
9. N. Korea slams U.N. secretary-general's comment on its 'unlawful' nuclear weapons program
10. S. Korean population falls for 3rd consecutive year in 2022
11. Koreans' per capita spending on luxury goods highest in world
12. Does the American Dream still exist? ( A Korean view)
13. Japanese prime minister vows to resolve any issues with Korea
14. Undeterred giant – China slammed for 'emotional' retaliation (Against South Korea)
15. [Column] How not to keep fighting yesterday’s war (South Korea)
1. N. Korean nuclear test inevitable, China unwilling and unable to help: Victor Cha
I concur. It is only a matter of time until Kim Jong Un assesses whether conditions are optimal for achieving his political goals or that his strategies have so utterly failed that he has no other choice. He has no other plays in his paybook.
N. Korean nuclear test inevitable, China unwilling and unable to help: Victor Cha | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · January 15, 2023
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean nuclear test might be inevitable while China, despite its perceived influence in Pyongyang, may be unwilling to help prevent such a test from taking place, former U.S. nuclear negotiator Victor Cha said.
Cha also insisted that Beijing may not have the means to prevent North Korea from conducting a nuclear test even if it wanted to in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency.
"I think it's inevitable. I think it's seventh nuclear test is inevitable and I think another Hwasong-17 (intercontinental ballistic missile) test using a solid fuel propeller, I think that's inevitable because in the New Year speech, they said that," said Cha, currently a senior vice president and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.
Victor Cha, senior vice president and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the Washington-based think tank on Jan. 12, 2023. (Yonhap)
North Korea test-fired its largest Hwasong-17 ICBM in November, as part of its record 69 ballistic missile launches in 2022 alone. Its previous annual record of ballistic missile launches was 25.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country will work to secure an "exponential" growth of its nuclear arsenal this year.
"North Korea is a very opaque country, but they seem to be very transparent about their intentions with regard to nuclear weapons because they state them in every new year speech and they have basically done everything they talked about in the new year speeches," said Cha.
Seoul and Washington have traditionally looked to Beijing to use its widely believed leverage over North Korea to stop Pyongyang from taking any provocative actions.
The former U.S. negotiator in the six-party talks, which included China, Russia, Japan and both Koreas, argued Beijing may not have as much influence in Pyongyang as it wants others to believe, adding that North Korea's three-year voluntary lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that.
"But I think the COVID lockdown has shown that China ... can't really do much because even if you sanction them, it doesn't really do anything. They (North Korea) have basically had trade cut off with them (China) for three years and it hasn't made them more willing to come to the negotiating table," Cha said.
"The whole idea was they may use carrots to get them to the table, but threaten the removal of those carrots to try to get them to agree to denuclearization. But what COVID has shown is threatening the removal of these things may not have an impact because North Korea had everything taken from them during COVID and they still haven't changed," he added.
Cha also raised questions about China's willingness to help denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
"I think China doesn't want a nuclear test. At the same time, though, China does not share the U.S.' interest in a nuclear free Korean Peninsula. They are not threatened by it. They don't really seem to care about it. Otherwise, they will be working with the United States," he said.
With regard to North Korea's increased provocations, the U.S. expert said Pyongyang may be in the phase of practicing its newly acquired capabilities, instead of trying to get the U.S.' attention as had often been the case in the past.
"They are not trying to get attention, and I don't think they are even testing. They are rehearsing. They are exercising. Some of this is testing for development purposes, but some of it is actually rehearsing war plans with all of these new capabilities," said Cha.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · January 15, 2023
2. N. Korea to hold key parliamentary meeting this week
And what new news will this meeting bring for us to discuss?
N. Korea to hold key parliamentary meeting this week
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaking at a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea held in late December last year, Jan 1. Yonhap
North Korea is slated to convene a key parliamentary meeting this week amid keen attention to whether its leader Kim Jong-un will issue another message related to the country's development of nuclear and other major weapons.
The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) will hold the meeting Tuesday to discuss policy tasks, state budget issues and organizational matters for 2023, the North's state media said last month.
The SPA is the highest organ of state power under the North's constitution, but it actually only rubber-stamps decisions by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).
Observers said at the upcoming meeting, the SPA is expected to approve key decisions made at the WPK's longest-ever, six-day plenary meeting held in late December last year.
During the party meeting, the North's leader called for an "exponential" increase of the country's nuclear arsenal, while labeling South Korea as his country's "undoubted enemy."
He also raised the need to mass-produce tactical nuclear weapons and develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) equipped with "quick nuclear counterstrike" capabilities.
Experts said one of the major focal points for this week's SPA meeting would be whether Kim would deliver a message targeting the South or the United States in regard to his country's nuclear ambitions.
During an SPA session in September 2022, the North's leader publicly announced the legalization of nuclear weapons, as its parliament approved a new law that allows for a preemptive nuclear strike.
The North also fired around 70 ballistic missiles last year, the most in a single year, including the Nov. 18 firing of a Hwasong-17 ICBM, amid speculation it may conduct a nuclear test in the near future.
Some observers said Kim may not attend the SPA meeting, given the country will likely rather focus on preparing events to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army on Feb. 8. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
3. S. Korea seeks formal consultations with US, EU on NK human rights
Excellent. The ROK appears to be moving toward a human rights up front approach. However, it would be useful if the US had an Ambassador for north Korean human rights as required by Congress. We have not had one since Ambassador Robert King left the position in 2017.
This has to be part of the three pronged alliance political warfare strategy: human rights up front approach, a sophisticated and holistic information and influence activities campaign and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.
S. Korea seeks formal consultations with US, EU on NK human rights
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
This undated photo shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting a rice paddy. YonhapSouth Korea is pushing for the resumption of bilateral consultations with the United States on the North Korean human rights problem following a six-year hiatus, multiple diplomatic sources said Sunday.
The allies had two rounds of working-level discussions in 2016 on ways to promote human rights in the reclusive nation. Since the 2017 launch of the Moon Jae-in administration, which proactively sought dialogue with Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington had no such formal diplomatic discussions.
In a report to President Yoon Suk Yeol on its key policy tasks for 2023 last week, Seoul's foreign ministry said it will seek bilateral consultations on the matter with the U.S. and the European Union in line with the government's campaign to play a leading role on it in the international community.
In December, Chun Young-hee, who leads the ministry's Korean Peninsula Peace Regime Bureau, talked about the North Korean human right issue with Scott Busby, deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor. But the department's position of special envoy for the matter is still vacant.
The Yoon administration is also considering holding relevant discussions with the EU, which has often drafted U.N. resolutions against the human rights abuses in the North, a source said. (Yonhap)
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
4. South Korea, US in talks on how to modernize UN Command: ministry
I missed this article when it came out a few days ago. There is a lot packed into this from the UN Command issues in the title to the upcoming table top exercise to emerging South Korean satellites.
Regarding the UN Command, the tone of this article subtly articulates the South Korean suspicions about the command. But I am happy to see that there is acknowledgement of its importance, particularly for providing reinforcements to Korea from the sending states. But the assumption that the procedures are not correct (by saying they hope to develop correct procedures for the UN Command) is really an illustration of the bad light in which some South Koreans hold the UN Command.
But since the ROK Government is willing to discuss this I am hopeful that there will be better understanding of the importance of the UNC and that improvements will enhance the defense of South korea. I am glad to see there was no incorrect allegation that UN Command was seeking to reprise its role from 1950-1978 as the overall command for the defense of the ROK especially in light of OPCON transition. But that is the suspicions of some in the South (and could not be more wrong).
Those who do not follow the complex Korean-US-UNC command relationships may find this article confusing because as I said the relationships are complex. Even among military personnel it is confusing and complex for those who have not served in the various commands in Korea.
South Korea, US in talks on how to modernize UN Command: ministry
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · January 11, 2023
The United Nations flag waves at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 10, 2014. Yokota AB is one of the U.N. Command bases under the UNC-Japan Status of Forces Agreement decrees. (Photo - US Air Force)
South Korea and the United States have been in discussion over how to modernize the US-led United Nations Command, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday, adding that it aimed to complete the discussion and publicly announce the outcome this year.
Seoul took the 70th anniversary of the US-South Korea alliance as an opportunity to propose comprehensive talks on the issue, senior Defense Ministry officials confirmed during a closed-door briefing on condition of anonymity. They added that the US had agreed.
The plans were among the Defense Ministry’s major policy tasks for 2023 that were briefed to President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday.
“South Korea and the US shared the view on the need to update the operational system of the UN Command that was initially established 70 years ago,” one senior official told reporters.
Both sides have been in talks to seek the “best form of the UN Command to fulfill the two key missions” agreed by Seoul and Washington, the official said, requesting anonymity. The UNC’s main missions are to enforce the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement that ended fighting on the peninsula and to provide military support and reinforcements in the event of war.
South Korea has set the goal of completing discussions with the US and issuing a public statement based on the outcomes within this year, officials said.
Seoul and Washington will also push ahead with a defense ministers meeting between South Korea and UNC “sending states” for the first time to discuss the modernization of the UNC's operations and structure in Seoul. The multilateral meeting will be held in the latter half of the year on the occasion of the South Korea-US annual Security Consultative Meeting and Seoul Defense Dialogue.
South Korea defines the sending states as 16 nations, beyond South Korea and the US, which provided support in the Korean War and committed to providing military and other forms of support in case of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula in Washington on July 27, 1953. The 16 states are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
But neither the UN Command nor the US Defense Department had responded to The Korea Herald's requests for comment on the bilateral discussion as of press time Wednesday.
The Yoon government also aims to enhance cooperation with the US and strengthen the role of South Korea in operating the UNC and revising and updating its operational procedures and structure, an official with knowledge of the matter said during a phone call with The Korea Herald.
One main goal of the talks with the US is to settle conflicts between the South Korean government and the UNC in enforcing the Korean Armistice Agreement, the unnamed official said. For instance, the UNC rejected requested visits by government and military officials to the Demilitarized Zone during the previous Moon Jae-in government, citing the armistice agreement.
The current Yoon government seeks to find appropriate ways to enforce the armistice agreement in light of the changes since 1953, the official said, pointing out that a lack of talks between the South Korean and US military authorities had widened the differences on the matter.
The UNC was first established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 82, 83 and 84 in July 1950, following the UN’s recognition of North Korean aggression against South Korea. The resolutions designated the US as the leader of the UNC.
The UNC, therefore, operates under the direction of the US Secretary of Defense and chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and does not fall under the command and control of the UN headquarters. In that sense, North Korea has repeatedly called for dismantling the US-led UN Command at meetings of the UN General Assembly, claiming it only serves US political and military interests.
By holding multilateral talks, Seoul also aims to reaffirm the intention of the 16 sending states that committed to returning to South Korea should the agreement fail in 1953.
“Since 1953, we have not reconfirmed if the UN Command sending states have still intention to abide by their commitment to reparticipating in the war,” the senior official told The Korea Herald.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry additionally plans to take the initiative in launching “substantial” multilateral discussions on procedures on how the UNC sending states can dispatch their forces to the Korean Peninsula in an emergency.
“Our goal is to establish a system to make the UN Command operate properly if the occasion arises,” the official said.
The official said previous South Korean governments had not put any efforts to interact with the UNC sending states although the UNC has held talks with ambassadors of the sending states in Seoul.
“Previous governments had either sought to ignore it or did not realize its significance. Either way, it wasn’t the right direction,” the official told The Korea Herald. “As our national power has considerably grown, we need to establish cooperation mechanisms on the UN Command where South Korea can raise its opinion in its operations.”
51st Fighter Wing’s F-16’s joined with Indo-Pacific Command B-1B bombers and Republic of Korea F-35A’s in a combined training flight over the Korean Peninsula as part of Vigilant Storm 23, Nov. 5, 2022. Vigilant Storm is a recurring, re-planned training exercise that demonstrates the bilateral nations` interoperability and showcases deterrent capabilities. (Photo -US Air Force)
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry also shared the plans to enhance the South Korea-US alliance’s readiness and deterrence against escalating North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry and the US Defense Department are set to stage a tabletop exercise, or TTX, in February in the US, the first of its kind since September 2021, to come up with optimal policy response in simulated contingency scenarios, including North Korean nuclear threats and the use of nuclear weapons.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and a corresponding US military organization will also separately stage a TTX for the first time in May to discuss specific military responses in real-life scenarios.
The outcome of the forthcoming TTX will be reflected in the Tailored Deterrence Strategy, which will be updated and revised by the end of this year in light of the evolving nature of North Korea’s missile and nuclear capabilities, according to the Defense Ministry.
South Korea and the US also agreed to hold springtime combined field training exercises, dubbed Freedom Shield, for 11 days without any break, to conduct more realistic training exercises compared to the past. The drills will be the longest held yet.
Speaking at the briefing, Yoon told the defense minister that the South Korean military “must be fully prepared to exercise the powerful right of self-defense against provocations that threaten freedom and peace” of the country. To that end, Yoon underscored the importance of conducting “effective training exercises to prepare for war.”
Seoul also set the goal of launching its first military reconnaissance satellite capable of monitoring North Korean activities this year to “drastically enhance” South Korea’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, Lee told reporters during a press conference following the briefing.
Despite escalating North Korean missile and nuclear threats, the South Korean military has largely relied on US assets for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The South Korean military plans to put a total of five spy satellites into orbit by 2025 to shorten the interval between observations of the same location.
The military will also launch the first microsatellite using a solid-fuel space rocket this year. A constellation of microsatellites will be launched later for military surveillance and reconnaissance.
By Ji Da-gyum (dagyumji@heraldcorp.com)
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · January 11, 2023
5. Yoon Suk Yeol takes economic diplomacy to Davos Forum
Excerpts:
In his first address at the World Economic Forum Thursday, Yoon is expected to focus on a message of global solidarity to overcome economic challenges.
"Through his speech, President Yoon will present a path for international cooperation and global solidarity for strengthening supply chains, transitioning to clean energy and realizing a digital order, and emphasize Korea's intention to play a leading role in the international community," said National Security Adviser Kim.
...
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be conspicuously absent. The United States will be represented by John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate Avril Haines and director of national intelligence and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
Sunday
January 15, 2023
dictionary + A - A
Yoon Suk Yeol takes economic diplomacy to Davos Forum
Visit will be the first for a Korean leader in nine years
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/01/15/national/politics/Korea-Korean-President-Yoon-Sukyeol/20230115172106814.html
World Economic Forum (WEF) President Borge Brende, second from right, delivers a speech during a virtual press briefing in Cologny, Switzerland, on Jan. 10, ahead of the Davos Forum which kicks off this week. [EPA/YONHAP]
President Yoon Suk Yeol will make his debut at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss resort town of Davos this week, joining over 50 other foreign leaders and some 600 CEOs to discuss challenges facing the world.
Since Saturday, Yoon has been on a two-country, eight-day trip: first, a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the to Switzerland to attend the so-called Davos Forum. The trip is heavy on economic diplomacy to help Korean businesses expand overseas.
This year's forum, the WEF's 53rd in Davos, is expected to address the geo-economic fragmentation, financial sector vulnerabilities and a climate crisis and find solutions through public-private cooperation. It comes amid the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, stalled economic growth in the world's largest economies and soaring food and energy prices.
Yoon will join political leaders, business executives, opinion leaders and international organization chiefs. This year's theme is "Cooperation in a Fragmented World."
There will be more than 2,700 participants from 130 countries, including 52 heads of states, 600 CEOs, and representatives from 700 organizations, in what organizers say will be a record turnout for the forum which runs from Monday to Friday.
"There is no doubt that our 53rd annual meeting in Davos will happen against the most complex geopolitical and economic backdrop in decades," said forum President Borge Brende in a press conference last Tuesday.
The last in-person Davos Forum was in early 2020, just before the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a global health emergency. The 2021 and 2022 events were held virtually.
This is the first time in nine years that a Korean president has attended the Davos Forum.
In a whirlwind schedule in Switzerland starting Tuesday, Yoon is expected to meet with Korean residents in Zurich, then head to the ski resort of Davos to meet with major Korean and global company CEOs. He will give his first address to the Davos Forum Thursday.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon-hee, waves before departing on Air Force One from Seoul Air Base in Gyeonggi, Saturday, kicking off an eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. [NEWS1]
Economic diplomacy
Yoon's weeklong trip to the UAE and Switzerland is his fourth overseas trip.
Since he took office last May, he has attended a series of multilateral meetings including a NATO Summit, the UN General Assembly and Asean-related forums, and on their sidelines taken part in bilateral summits.
For the first time, Yoon was accompanied by a large business delegation in his visit to the UAE starting Saturday, comprised of representatives of 100 companies. They included executives of some of Korea's top conglomerates, but nearly 70 percent of participating companies were small and medium-sized companies, according to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).
The delegation included LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-yeol, chairman of KITA, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, Korea Federation of Small, Medium Enterprises Chairman Kim Ki-moon, and executives of Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, Doosan Enerbility, HD Hyundai and GS Energy.
In the UAE, Yoon sought cooperation in fields including energy, infrastructure and construction. The two countries are also expected to expand economic cooperation in ICT, game contents, tourism, consumer goods and high-tech fields, according to KITA. It was also an opportunity for Korean companies, including SMEs, interested in entering the Middle East market.
The two countries were set to sign some 30 memoranda of understanding (MOU) and discuss defense exports contracts.
The Yoon administration is hoping for a "second Middle East boom," following a summit with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Seoul last November. Those talks were an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in energy, defense and infrastructure and in megaprojects such as NEOM, Saudi Arabia's futuristic smart city plan.
"The government is focused on companies' exports, attracting investment, economic revitalization, and supporting business activities, and for the president, summit diplomacy is the most important factor in such efforts," said a senior presidential official.
For the second leg of the trip, Yoon heads to Switzerland on Tuesday, where he is expected to continue his economic diplomacy by engaging with global business and political leaders.
Yoon will start off his Swiss activities meeting with Korean residents in Zurich on Tuesday. He will travel to Davos the next day to take part in the World Economic Forum.
"President Yoon will promote Korea's favorable investment environment and technological competitiveness to global opinion leaders attending the Davos Forum," said National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han in a press briefing on the trip last week.
On Wednesday, Yoon will hold a luncheon with chiefs of Korea's six major conglomerates and CEOS of major global companies to discuss economic policies and investment.
The meeting is expected to discuss "solidarity and cooperation between the government and the private sector for overcoming complex crises and attaining sustainable growth, introduce the direction of economic policies centered on the private market and cooperation for Korean investment," said Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, in a press briefing on the trip last week.
The luncheon is expected to be attended by Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, according to Yoon's presidential office. Some of the executives were a part of Yoon's business delegation to the UAE.
It will also be attended by executives of global companies such as Intel, IBM, Qualcomm, JP Morgan and Sony.
"It will be an opportunity to discuss the difficulties Korean businesses face, address what role our government will play in cooperation between Korean and global companies and present what vision the president holds on behalf of our corporations in a dialogue with global CEOs," said the presidential official.
Later Wednesday, Yoon will attend a Korea Night event as part of diplomatic efforts to drum up support for Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo.
The event will be an opportunity to "promote the Busan Initiative, a customized international cooperation program, and Korean culture to influential people gathered in Davos," said Choi.
The other three cities competing to host the Expo are Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Italy's Rome and Ukraine's Odesa. The host city will be decided by a secret ballot vote by 171 member countries at the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris at the end of next November.
A police security guard on the roof of a hotel in Davos, Switzerland last week ahead of the World Economic Forum. [AP/YONHAP]
Yoon's message
In his first address at the World Economic Forum Thursday, Yoon is expected to focus on a message of global solidarity to overcome economic challenges.
"Through his speech, President Yoon will present a path for international cooperation and global solidarity for strengthening supply chains, transitioning to clean energy and realizing a digital order, and emphasize Korea's intention to play a leading role in the international community," said National Security Adviser Kim.
Former President Park Geun-hye was the last Korean leader to attend the Davos Forum in January 2014. She said that Korea's drive for a "creative economy" could offer the international community "entrepreneurship-driven strategy for shaping a new future."
In a virtual address to the forum in 2021, then President Moon Jae-in focused on Korea's measures designed to promote "inclusive growth" in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. He explained the Korean New Deal initiative, meant to expand employment and social safety nets.
Yoon plans to discuss "solidarity and cooperation between the government and the private sector for overcoming the complex crisis and sustainable growth, introducing the direction of economic policies centered on the private market, and investments in Korea," said presidential secretary Choi.
This comes as the agenda for the forum will include discussions on public-private cooperation on issues like energy, climate, investment, trade, future technologies, jobs, health and social mobility.
"We see the manifold political, economic and social forces creating increased fragmentation on a global and national level," said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, in a statement. "To address the root causes of this erosion of trust, we need to reinforce cooperation between the government and business sectors, creating the conditions for a strong and durable recovery. At the same time there must be the recognition that economic development needs to be made more resilient, more sustainable and nobody should be left behind."
Along with foreign leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, this year's forum will be attended by nearly 40 heads of international agencies including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be conspicuously absent. The United States will be represented by John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate Avril Haines and director of national intelligence and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
A high-ranking presidential official said that the WEF, unlike other multilateral forums, isn't the ideal place for bilateral summits but that there will be opportunities for Yoon to have encounters with foreign leaders and business executives.
"The atmosphere of the Davos Forum itself is like a bustling market and not conducive for bilateral or multilateral summits," said the official. "Heads of state can come and go, and can naturally meet and chat with CEOs of global company. I expect that such meetings will take place in such a free atmosphere."
The logo of the World Economic Forum is seen at the congress center in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland in 2022. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
From geopolitical risk to quantum technology
Yoon could also highlight his administration's policy about Pyongyang's denuclearization amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Davos is a significant location for Koreans, as North and South Korea held their first ministerial-level meeting in the city in 1989.
Seoul's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se will accompany Yoon to Davos and is expected to explain to officials and heads of international organizations Yoon's so-called "audacious initiative," a plan to offer economic help to North Korea in stages if the regime stops the development of its nuclear weapons.
This includes a large-scale food program, assistance for power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, projects to modernize North Korea's ports and airports for international trade and support for international investment and financial initiatives.
He is also expected to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea regardless of the political and military situation, according to the Unification Ministry Thursday.
Kwon will be the first unification minister in 18 years to attend the WEF.
On the sidelines of the forum, Kwon will meet with leaders of international organizations including Catherine Russell, executive director of the UN Children's Fund (Unicef), and David Beasley, head of the World Food Program.
Last year, North Korea conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests, including launching intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time since 2017, escalating tensions on the peninsula. In late December, North Korea violated the South's airspace by flying drones across the inter-Korean border for the first time in five years.
At the beginning of the new year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered an "exponential" expansion of his nuclear arsenal and the development of an even more powerful ICBM.
"We've seen a miscalculation leading to serious wars many times in history," said Yoon in an interview with the Associated Press last Tuesday ahead of his trip, noting that the North's advancing nuclear arsenal poses a direct threat to the U.S. mainland as well as South Korea and Japan.
He said such "unlawful North Korean provocations" will result in the strengthening of South Korea's security response capabilities and its cooperation with United States and Japan.
Yoon, however, is not too concerned about geopolitical factors, such as North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, deterring foreign investors from the Korean market.
"Investors in Korea usually worry about geopolitical risk, one of the biggest risk factors in our country," said the senior presidential official.
"There isn't much concern in the international market," he said, referring to various global evaluations of such geopolitical risks. "Nevertheless, it is in our best interest for the Korean president to meet with global CEOs and explain various situations in Korea. I believe it will help to maintain international credibility."
Wrapping up his visit to Switzerland, Yoon is also expected to pay a visit to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and meet with scholars of quantum technology to discuss global solidarity in building a future based on science and technology.
Quantum technology, which can dramatically increase computation speed compared to supercomputers, "is a game changer that will revolutionize the security of all industries," said Choi, adding that competition to secure such technology is fierce against the United States, the European Union, Japan and China.
"Through this visit, we will exchange opinions on the success factors that enabled Switzerland to become a quantum technology powerhouse and strategies that latecomer Korea should take, and build a network between scientists from the two countries," Choi said.
He added that the trip is an extension of ideas in the president's New Year's address, in which Yoon expressed his "determination to overcome complex crises and bolster exports through economy-oriented summit diplomacy."
Yoon will return to Seoul Saturday.
BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
6. Yoon says he expects 'big achievements' from UAE visit
Yoon says he expects 'big achievements' from UAE visit | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · January 15, 2023
By Lee Haye-ah
ABU DHABI, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said Saturday he expects to see "big achievements" from his state visit to the United Arab Emirates as he arrived with a business delegation representing some 100 firms.
Yoon made the remark while meeting with top UAE officials at Abu Dhabi International Airport immediately after his arrival, according to senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye.
Yoon is the first South Korean leader to pay a state visit to the UAE since the two sides established diplomatic ties in 1980.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee disembark the presidential jet after arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 14, 2023. (Yonhap)
"President Yoon said he is sincerely thankful for the warm welcome by the three gentlemen who are like symbols of the South Korea-UAE relationship," Kim told reporters, referring to UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazroui and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi.
"He also said he is accompanied by various ministers and officials from over 100 businesses and that he looks forward to seeing big achievements from the visit," she said.
The two countries are expected to sign some 30 memorandums of understanding in the energy, arms and investment sectors.
UAE Air Force fighter planes escort the presidential jet carrying President Yoon Suk Yeol on Jan. 14, 2023. (Yonhap)
During the meeting with Yoon, Foreign Minister Abdullah said he is honored to meet with the president and first lady Kim Keon Hee, who is accompanying him on the trip, and that he has looked forward to meeting them for a long time, according to Kim.
The minister also said it is especially significant that Yoon is the first leader to pay a state visit to the UAE since the May inauguration of President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Yoon is scheduled to hold a summit with his UAE counterpart and discuss ways to upgrade the two countries' special strategic partnership.
As a special courtesy, four fighter planes of the UAE Air Force escorted the presidential jet carrying Yoon as it entered the UAE's air defense identification zone, Kim said.
Senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye briefs reporters at a press center set up at a hotel in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 14, 2023. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · January 15, 2023
7. UAE announces decision to invest US$30 bln in S. Korea
(3rd LD) UAE announces decision to invest US$30 bln in S. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · January 15, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES with Yoon's response; ADDS photos)
By Lee Haye-ah
ABU DHABI, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- The United Arab Emirates decided Sunday to invest US$30 billion in South Korea in the nuclear power, arms and energy sectors during a summit between the two countries' leaders in Abu Dhabi, the presidential office said.
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the decision while meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol, saying, "We decided to make the investment with confidence in the Republic of Korea that keeps its promises under all circumstances," the office said.
The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.
The investment will be made evenly across the areas of strategic cooperation between the two countries, including in nuclear power, arms, hydrogen and solar power, senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye said.
"I was deeply impressed by South Korean businesses that execute their contracts regardless of the difficulty, including COVID-19," Mohamed was quoted as saying. "President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit will be an historic occasion for bilateral relations."
Yoon promised in response to "closely take care of" the investment so that it not only makes returns but also plays a large role for the UAE's sustainable and mid- to long-term development, Kim said.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) holds a summit with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 15, 2023. (Yonhap)
The summit took place at the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace on the second day of Yoon's four-day state visit to the UAE, the first such visit by a South Korean leader since the two sides established diplomatic ties in 1980.
The focus of the trip has been expansion of bilateral cooperation in areas such as nuclear power, energy, arms and investment as Yoon seeks to revive South Korea's economy through increased exports.
The president is accompanied on the trip by a business delegation representing some 100 South Korean firms.
"President Yoon and President Mohamed held an expanded meeting followed by a one-on-one meeting, and agreed to develop the special strategic partnership between South Korea and the UAE to the highest level," the presidential office said in a press release.
Yoon voiced hope that the summit will be an important starting point for the elevation of the strategic partnership, with the two countries strengthening strategic cooperation not only in the four key areas of nuclear power, energy, investment and arms, but also in new industries, health, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) walks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) to their summit venue at the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 15, 2023. (Yonhap)
Mohamed expressed his strong agreement, saying he was very pleased to have Yoon as his first state guest since his inauguration last May and that he strongly hopes to further develop the strategic partnership with South Korea.
In particular, Mohamed cited the peaceful use of nuclear power, new and renewable energy, hydrogen, defense technology, climate change and space among areas where the UAE is ready to drastically increase cooperation with South Korea.
Yoon invited his UAE counterpart to visit South Korea at a convenient time this year, and Mohamed replied that would do so at an early date as he considers South Korea to be his second home.
Following the expanded meeting, officials from the two countries signed 13 memorandums of understanding in the presence of the two leaders.
The MOUs called for increased cooperation in nuclear power, energy, investment, arms and climate change.
Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee attended an official welcome ceremony at the presidential palace ahead of the summit, which included the inspection of an honor guard and a 21-gun salute.
Overhead, seven fighter jets of the UAE Air Force flew in formation while releasing a red and blue vapor trail, the colors of the South Korean flag.
Following the summit, Yoon attended a state luncheon hosted by Mohamed. He was served a variety of dishes, including camel meat, which is usually reserved for special guests, according to the presidential office.
Top South Korean business executives in attendance included Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) inspects an honor guard during an official welcome ceremony at the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 15, 2023. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · January 15, 2023
8. Yoon meets with S. Korean troops of Akh unit in UAE
I would bet most Americans do not have any idea of the overseas Korean military presence in places like the Middle East (or the Horn of Africa and other places)
It is one of the things that we should expect from a "global pivotal state."
Yoon meets with S. Korean troops of Akh unit in UAE | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · January 15, 2023
By Lee Haye-ah
ABU DHABI, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol visited with South Korean troops of a military contingent in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, his office said.
The Akh unit has been carrying out various missions in the UAE since its establishment in 2011, including training UAE troops and protecting Korean nationals in the region in case of emergencies. Akh means brother in Arabic.
The unit has become a symbol of military cooperation between South Korea and the UAE, a presidential official said. It is expected to play a large role in increasing military cooperation and exchanges between the countries.
Yoon is currently on a four-day state visit to the UAE.
President Yoon Suk Yeol meets with South Korean troops of the Akh unit in the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 15, 2023. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · January 15, 2023
9. N. Korea slams U.N. secretary-general's comment on its 'unlawful' nuclear weapons program
But it is "unlawful." At least it is in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
N. Korea slams U.N. secretary-general's comment on its 'unlawful' nuclear weapons program | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 김보람 · January 14, 2023
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Tuesday denounced United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who has said Pyongyang's "unlawful" nuclear weapons program is a "clear and present" danger to the world.
"U.N. Secretary-General Guterres made the very improper remarks that the DPRK is a 'clear and existing danger,' terming the latter's legitimate and reasonable policy of strengthening nuclear forces an 'illegal one,'" Jo Chol-su, director general of the Department of International Organizations of the Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
"No matter how desperately the U.S. and its vassal forces may try, the international position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, true to its name, will remain an eternally inerasable, stark reality."
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
The comments came after Guterres called on North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and return to talks during a Security Council meeting on Thursday.
"The unlawful nuclear weapons program being pursued by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a clear and present danger, driving risks and geopolitical tensions to new heights," he said. "The onus is on the DPRK to comply with its international obligations and return to the negotiating table."
North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Recently, North Korea has been beefing up its missile and military capabilities, conducting a record number of ballistic missile tests last year. Many analysts predicted Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear test this year.
In this Reuters photo taken on Jan. 12, 2023, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) speaking during a ministerial meeting of the U.N. Security Council at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by 김보람 · January 14, 2023
10. S. Korean population falls for 3rd consecutive year in 2022
A major national security issue for South Korea (and thus the alliance as well - and we have our challenges in the US). Declining military age manpower will have long term effects and it is a fantasy to believe that it will be overcome by technology and advanced weapons systems.
S. Korean population falls for 3rd consecutive year in 2022 | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 우재연 · January 15, 2023
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's population shrank last year, continuing its downward trend for three years in a row, with the number of single-person households close to 10 million, government data showed Sunday.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety said the country's registered population stood at 51,439,038 as of Dec. 31 of last year, down 0.39 percent from a year earlier.
Single-person households continued to rise to 9,724,256, accounting for 41 percent of the total 23,705,814 households.
Combined with two-person households, the two groups took up 65.2 percent of the total.
The number of people per household hit a record low of 2.17.
The undated file photo shows senior citizens at a park. (Yonhap)
By gender, the male population had shrunk for the fourth consecutive year to come in at 25,636,951 while the female population had fallen for two years in a row at 25,802,087.
By age, people in their 50s took up the biggest portion with 16.7 percent and people aged 65 and over took up 18 percent of the population.
South Korea is expected to become a super-aged society in 2025, in which the proportion of those aged 65 and older will hit 20 percent of the total population. The country became an aged society in 2017, as the proportion of such people exceeded 14 percent.
Of South Korea's 17 cities and provinces, only five reported an increase in population last year -- Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sejong, Jeju Island and South Chungcheong Province, the data showed.
In 2021, the country reported its first year-over-year decline in total population.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 우재연 · January 15, 2023
11. Koreans' per capita spending on luxury goods highest in world
Think about this. I wonder how this compares with the regime elite in Pyongyang? It would be hard to obtain the data for comparison since most of the luxury goods in north Korea are the result of elicit activity.
Koreans' per capita spending on luxury goods highest in world
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
By Kim Jae-heun
Koreans were found to have spent the most per capita on high-priced bags and other luxury goods, according to a report by Morgan Stanley.
The global investment bank said it estimated that Koreans' total spending on luxury items grew 24 percent to $16.8 billion (208.6 trillion won) in 2022 from a year ago, which is about $325 per person. The per capita figure is far more than the $280 and $55 spent by Americans and Chinese, respectively.
Morgan Stanley analyzed that the high demand for luxury goods among Koreans comes from their increased purchasing power over the years and desire to flaunt their social standing by wealth.
"Appearance and financial success can resonate more with consumers in South Korea than in most other countries," a Morgan Stanley analyst wrote in the report.
A global consulting firm McKinsey's survey also showed only 22 percent of Korean respondents thought it was in bad taste to make displays of wealth, which is comparatively lower than 45 percent of Japanese respondents and 38 percent of Chinese respondents who do.
"Koreans do not like falling behind fashion trends. So when there is a popular brand or hot item, everyone goes after it. Also, they do not like being left out and not wearing what everyone else is wearing. I think this social trend is forcing even those who are not interested in luxury goods to purchase them," a local fashion firm official said.
Luxury firms advertising their products by hiring Korean celebrities as their ambassadors have played a role too.
"Nearly all of the major Korean celebrities are brand ambassadors of the leading luxury houses," Morgan Stanley's report said. K-pop star Jennie of BLACKPINK and rapper G-Dragon are global ambassadors of French luxury brand Chanel and so is actor Lee Min-ho for Italian luxury fashion house Fendi. BLACKPINK member Rose was the face of Dior's HardWear collection, which the fashion house said doubled its sales for the line.
Most global luxury brands have been strengthening their sales networks in Korea. Cartier owner Richmont Group said that Korea has been a leading market, with double-digit sales growth in 2022, year-on-year.
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
12. Does the American Dream still exist? ( A Korean view)
A view from Korea. A unique view. A good reminder for us about how others view America.
Most of us do not think about religious orders from other countries that would send missionaries to the US.
Excerpts:
Throughout its long journey, the United States has achieved remarkable economic growth, individual wealth and a spirit of independence through diligent and hard work, perseverance and challenges.
Now the American Dream is moving in another dimension of well-being such as sustainable development, quality of life, interdependence and leisure activities.
Lots of people still keep moving to the United States despite the climate crisis and various natural disasters. The American Dream has become the national ethos of the United States.
The American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that "all men are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Such lofty ideals as democracy, human rights, liberty, opportunity, freedom and equality created and built up the idea of the American Dream, and this inspiring identity has given multicultural people the opportunity for prosperity and success.
James Truslow Adams coined the term, "American Dream," in 1931. He said that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of one's social class or circumstances of birth.
Does the American Dream still exist?
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
By Kim Ae-ran
As I go to the United States, I ask myself: "Does the American Dream still exist?"
Just before entering the religious congregation, I had a dream to continue my studies in the United States. But I abandoned my plan to belong to the congregation of the Daughters of Saint Paul.
After 30 years of living in the congregation, I am being sent to the United States as a missionary. I am now going there not to study but to witness the Good News of Jesus. Looking back, I realize that God never forgets each seed of our dreams.
In 1607, people from England began to go abroad. George Washington proclaimed independence from Britain in 1776. The United States consisted of 31 States in 1848. At present, there are 50 States.
Throughout its long journey, the United States has achieved remarkable economic growth, individual wealth and a spirit of independence through diligent and hard work, perseverance and challenges.
Now the American Dream is moving in another dimension of well-being such as sustainable development, quality of life, interdependence and leisure activities.
Lots of people still keep moving to the United States despite the climate crisis and various natural disasters. The American Dream has become the national ethos of the United States.
The American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that "all men are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Such lofty ideals as democracy, human rights, liberty, opportunity, freedom and equality created and built up the idea of the American Dream, and this inspiring identity has given multicultural people the opportunity for prosperity and success.
James Truslow Adams coined the term, "American Dream," in 1931. He said that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of one's social class or circumstances of birth.
During the mid-to-late 19th and early 20th century in the United States, the Statue of Liberty was the inspiring sculpture of the country that many immigrants first saw when they arrived. It signified new opportunities in life and thus the Statue of Liberty has become an iconic symbol of the American Dream.
People went to the United States in search of success and happiness. Pursuing the American Dream, lots of people in the world went to cultivate a better future. Many people still flood to better countries. Fleeing hardships, the borders of European countries are overcrowded with migrants as well.
Naturally, hard work and perseverance have become core beliefs. Truly, the American people established economic development, individual wealth and an independent life with the help of the challenging frontier life, the dream of the Puritans and upward mobility.
Benjamin Franklin, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (Mark Twain), "The Great Gatsby" (F. Scott Fitzgerald), and "Death of a Salesman" (Arthur Miller) reveal the spirit of those times.
Besides the marvelous developments, another challenging task would be to realize sustainable development, quality of life and mutual interdependence.
It is said that 1.4 million startups were founded in 2020. It is very much the same until now. "The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!" (Numbers 6:24-26).
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. When available, please feel free to visit her blog, "A piece of sunshine," at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.
The Korea Times · January 15, 2023
13. Japanese prime minister vows to resolve any issues with Korea
Maybe we can be hopeful.
Sunday
January 15, 2023
dictionary + A - A
Japanese prime minister vows to resolve any issues with Korea
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/01/15/national/diplomacy/korea-japan-forced-labor/20230115155406006.html
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference in Washington D.C., on Saturday [AP/YONHAP]
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida said he will resolve any issues with Korea during his visit to Washington D.C. on Friday.
“You may be worried about the relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea, but I intend to resolve the bilateral issues of concern as quickly as possible, to restore sound Japan-ROK relations and then to further promote them,” he said while addressing an audience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, referring to Korea by the acronym of its full name, the Republic of Korea.
Kishida’s visit to Washington was the final leg of his week-long tour to North America and Europe. He visited France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States.
He and President Joe Biden in their meeting on Friday stressed the importance of Japan-U.S.-Korea cooperation for regional security.
Korea and Japan’s ties have soured in recent years over diplomatic spats on compensating Korean victims forced to work or subjected to military wartime sexual slavery, during the 1910-45 Japanese annexation of Korea.
“I would like to continue to communicate closely with the South Korean government to restore and further develop Japan-ROK relations,” Kishida said during a press conference in Washington on Saturday when questioned about his thoughts on a recent proposal by the Korean Foreign Ministry on resolving the forced labor issue, reported Yomiuri Shimbun, a local paper in Japan.
The Korean Foreign Ministry has been acting as a mediator between the forced labor victims and the Japanese government since last year to try to reach a diplomatic solution before the Supreme Court rules on a case regarding the liquidation of Japanese corporate assets to compensate the Korean victims of forced labor.
In its meeting with some victims and experts on Thursday, the ministry proposed having Korean corporations compensate the victims instead of waiting for the court sentencing that may demand the Japanese corporate assets be liquidated to compensate the victims. The proposal has been protested by some victims’ groups.
Foreign Minister Park Jin spoke over the phone with Yoshimasa Hayashi, foreign minister of Japan, on Friday to share the latest on the forced labor issue. They also discussed regional security issues such as nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.
“During the phone call, the two ministers agreed to continue close communication between diplomatic authorities at various levels to develop Korea-Japan relations and resolve various pending issues,” said the Foreign Ministry in Seoul in a statement on Friday.
Kishida was reportedly considering inviting Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the G7 summit set to be held in Hiroshima in May, according to local media outlets including the Yomiuri.
The two last met for about 45 minutes on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Cambodia last November.
Kishida’s tour in North America and Europe focused on Japan’s security ties with some of its fellow G7 countries, especially in light of its reformed security measures announced in December.
The revised national security strategy, the first revision in nine years, includes provisions that would enable the country to have capabilities to directly carry out counterattacks on enemy missile-firing bases. This could potentially allow for Japan to launch direct strikes against missile bases in North Korea or China.
The reforms also concern doubling Japan’s military spending for the next five years, including bolstering its defenses on its islands located close to Taiwan. These measures have been welcomed by the Biden administration.
“President Biden commended Japan’s bold leadership in fundamentally reinforcing its defense capabilities and strengthening diplomatic efforts, as illustrated in the new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program,” reads the joint statement issued by Biden and Kishida after their meeting on Friday.
The same security reforms by Japan were not as welcomed in Korea, whose government saw possible security compromises should Japan have capabilities to directly carry out counterattacks against North Korea.
South Korea constitutionally regards North Korean territory as part of its own.
BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
14. Undeterred giant – China slammed for 'emotional' retaliation (Against South Korea)
Excerpts:
The friction between Korea and China over the COVID-19 fight is but one aspect of their unbalanced relationship. Beijing has yet to lift its ban fully on Korean imports, including cultural items, citing Seoul's deployment of a U.S. defense system against North Korean missiles, saying it is aimed at China. China's government historians have long attempted to erase the history of Goguryeo, an ancient Korean kingdom that once threatened the Tang Dynasty. Some Chinese YouTubers claim everything Korean ― even kimchi ― as theirs.
According to a survey by Pew Research, a U.S. pollster, the proportion of Koreans who dislike China has surpassed 80 percent. Even among those China-averse countries, Korea stands out because people in their 20s and 30s, the so-called MZ generation, dislike China more than their older counterparts. These young Koreans even hate China more than Japan, indicating a significant change in the relationship between the three Northeast Asian countries a few decades later.
Some replied they "hate" China because the giant neighbor treats Korea in heavy-handed ways, while they believe the world's most-populous country creates pollution and diseases that spread to Korea.
Part of the reasons lay with Korean leaders, too.
Undeterred giant
The Korea Times · January 12, 2023
China slammed for 'emotional' retaliation
China is putting the whole world on edge for the second time in three years.
Faced with Beijing's abrupt end to its zero-COVID policy and the reopening of its borders, many countries are tightening quarantine rules on Chinese arrivals.
According to experts, the pandemic's peak in China, when most people get infected or vaccinated and have immunity, has yet to come. If so, taking every possible step to prevent its spread is good for the rest of the world ― and China.
But Beijing seems miffed at other countries' self-protective measures, calling them "unscientific discrimination." One can't help but ask what's unscientific about requesting pre-flight certification of a negative PCR test within 48 hours or a negative RAT test within 24 hours for entrants from a country with hundreds of millions of confirmed cases.
Korea added weeklong mandatory quarantines for confirmed arrivals and the suspension of short-term visa service for private-purpose entrants. Beijing is responding with tit-for-tat steps, refusing to issue even transit visas for Korean and Japanese travelers. Such reactions amount to emotional and "unscientific" retaliation, as Korea and Japan have long passed the pandemic's peak.
China provided few scientific grounds three years ago when it closed its borders. However, the previous Moon Jae-in government kept open Korea's doors even longer than China did and came under fire for the subsequent spread of the pandemic. Korea can ill afford to repeat such a fatal blunder. Experts do not rule out the possibility of a new variant of the virus appearing. Beijing must share correct information with its neighbors first in order to avoid another crisis.
The friction between Korea and China over the COVID-19 fight is but one aspect of their unbalanced relationship. Beijing has yet to lift its ban fully on Korean imports, including cultural items, citing Seoul's deployment of a U.S. defense system against North Korean missiles, saying it is aimed at China. China's government historians have long attempted to erase the history of Goguryeo, an ancient Korean kingdom that once threatened the Tang Dynasty. Some Chinese YouTubers claim everything Korean ― even kimchi ― as theirs.
According to a survey by Pew Research, a U.S. pollster, the proportion of Koreans who dislike China has surpassed 80 percent. Even among those China-averse countries, Korea stands out because people in their 20s and 30s, the so-called MZ generation, dislike China more than their older counterparts. These young Koreans even hate China more than Japan, indicating a significant change in the relationship between the three Northeast Asian countries a few decades later.
Some replied they "hate" China because the giant neighbor treats Korea in heavy-handed ways, while they believe the world's most-populous country creates pollution and diseases that spread to Korea.
Part of the reasons lay with Korean leaders, too.
In September 2015, President Park Geun-hye stood on top of Tiananmen gate side by side with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, inspecting a military parade. Soon, she decided on the U.S. missile shield deployment. It would have been good if the seemingly abrupt about-face, which surprised both Washington and Beijing, was a highly calculated diplomatic move. Her successor, Moon Jae-in, was unnecessarily low-key in dealing with China, inviting political attacks from conservatives for being "subservient" to Beijing. Aside from ideological bias, Moon's stance was not desirable even if it aimed to improve inter-Korean ties.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has made it clear over the past seven months that he would move far closer to the U.S. in the three-nation relationship. However, Yoon has yet to unveil his concrete ideas for dealing with China. Seoul was right not to exclude Beijing, unlike Washington and Tokyo, in its "Indo-Pacific" strategy announced recently. China has grown too big to shun or ignore.
That does not necessarily mean Seoul should accept Beijing's whims and whines. Korea should take the hand of any country for its national interests. Likewise, it should be able to confront any if they hurt or ignore its interests or dignity, however large and powerful such counterparts may be.
Korea ought to remain attentive lest China's "great power diplomacy" degenerate into superpower chauvinism for its neighbors.
The Korea Times · January 12, 2023
15. [Column] How not to keep fighting yesterday’s war (South Korea)
Sunday
January 15, 2023
dictionary + A - A
[Column] How not to keep fighting yesterday’s war
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/01/15/opinion/columns/North-Korea-drone-infiltration/20230115195329089.html
Kim Min-seok
The author is an editorial writer and senior researcher at the Institute for Military and Security Affairs at the JoongAng Ilbo.
The buzzwords at the Ministry of National Defense last month were “Defense Innovation 4.0” aimed at transforming our military into an AI-based, cutting-edge armed force. The ministry completed the “Basic Plans for Defense Innovation 4.0” — a roadmap to achieve the ambitious goal — in December by holding a number of meetings and seminars with military experts and civilian brains on science and technology.
The army, navy, air force and marines are all busy drawing up their basic strategies and plans to keep pace with the defense ministry’s outline for defense reform. The presidential office will set up a national defense innovation committee chaired by President Yoon Suk Yeol to help spur the bold makeover of the military.
Keywords of defense innovation 4.0 are AI, big data, machine learning (ML), robots, drones, autonomous systems, lasers, cyber and electromagnetic waves. Such core technologies of the fourth industrial revolution are already widely used in the civilian world, as seen in self-driving cars, robot vacuum cleaners and delivery drones.
But these areas are still unfamiliar to the military due to their steadfast adherence to conventional weapons, like tanks, field artillery and fighter jets. If defense innovation accelerates, military strategies, operations, types of troops, personnel structures and logistics support systems built over the past decades must change dramatically. But accommodating such unfamiliar systems poses many challenges to the armed forces.
The infiltration of North Korean drones into our airspace over Gyeonggi on Dec. 26 shows well the weaknesses of our “muscular” military power. North Korea has flown its unmanned aerial vehicles across the border on 12 occasions since 2014. But our military’s preparedness and responses have not changed much.
On December 26, our military tried to intercept the five North Korean drones with even-faster fighter jets. But the jets could hardly shoot down small drones with machine guns. The army’s M61 Vulcan cannon mounted on our attack helicopters fired 100 rounds at the drones, but failed to bring them down. The Vulcan’s effective shooting range is only 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles). Moreover, the attack choppers had to be careful not harm civilians on the ground. As a result, our military could not shoot down any of the five drones that entered our airspace in the final week of 2022.
If you want to catch a fly, you need a flyswatter, not a sword. In November, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced a plan to develop the “K-jammer,” our own anti-drone jamming system, by 2026 after wasting eight years. Why does it take four years to develop the jammer even when the private sector already has such technology?
The defense ministry vowed to exponentially strengthen our military’s capability to cope with North Korea’s nuclear and missile attacks, advance our military strategy, improve operation concepts, acquire AI-based high-tech forces, reform our military structure and innovate military education and training in three stages by the 2040s through the defense innovation.
But our military leadership is confused over where to start the innovation. Even a retired general who served as head of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) pointed to difficulties given “our current technology and reality.” It could take longer unless the country has all the technologies needed for the reform. In fact, it took up to nine years for the U.S. to draw up basic plans for the dramatic transformation of its military into a future-oriented force.
But AI and unmanned systems already invade our daily lives. Our military cannot shun them, either. Worse, our current military system cannot be maintained if the number of our soldiers shrinks to less than 400,000 from the current 600,000 by 2035 due to the demographic cliff. Rebuilding our combat capabilities based on AI and unmanned systems is unavoidable. The longer the delay in innovation, the weaker our military capabilities and the more budget we need.
The most important technology for defense innovation is AI. AI-based image sensing, speech interpretation, autonomous driving and game play will all be applied to combat, operations, information and logistics support. But none of them are perfected yet. The RAND Corporation says that computers are better than humans in image sensing, but still make mistakes. That poses a serious problem in combat as they cannot tell friend from foe. That’s why the military wants to start with a combined system of manned and unmanned technologies.
AI’s speech interpretation ability is key to communication between humans and unmanned systems. The ability has developed to the level of summarizing or understanding emotional expression thanks to the help from deep neural network (DNN). But it takes long for the DNN to decipher the meaning of new data or expressions. Self-driving and game play by AI are being perfected, but questions still remain over safety.
That’s not all. Construction of intelligent manned-and-unmanned combat system requires supercomputers capable of large-volume calculations because of a number of parameters involved so that AI can study big data and think just like humans. But management of big data is impossible under our current military security system. The military simply destroys huge data collected from large military drills citing security.
In the meantime, the United States, China, Russia and the UK are all mobilizing their national resources to innovate their military. As most of the technologies are held by universities, institution and IT companies, those governments are cementing their networks with the civilian sector.
For instance, the U.S. Army placed the A-AIFT, a unit in charge of AI, at Carnegie Melon University, a leader in the AI field. The U.S. Army decided to apply Google Cloud to its computer networks. The Army Future Command made contracts with 4,500 firms to venture new technology businesses. But in Korea, due to draconian security regulations and strange defense procurement systems, questions arise over whether our military really can take advantage of the technological strides the private sector made.
The biggest obstacle to the Defense Innovation 4.0 is the Defense Business Act focused on preventing corruption. No matter how epochal new ideas and technologies the civilian sector has, it takes more than 10 years to develop new weapons due to complicated approval system. As a result, new weapons become old ones once they are produced.
Some may point to the recent popularity of so-called K-defense industry. But it could be a result of the composure of the European defense industry after a long peace in the continent, except for the Ukraine war. Whether K-defense will continue to succeed remains to be seen.
The rapid procurement system the DAPA introduced to aggressively take advantage of the cutting-edge technologies needed to innovate our military is going in the wrong direction. After benchmarking the U.S. system, the DAPA seeks to shorten the usual 10 to 15 years for new weapons development to 5 to-6 years.
After being introduced in 2020, the “fast-track” system implemented 30 projects — including the development of a hand-held anti-drone gun and kamikaze drones — with a 67.4-billion-won ($54.1-million) budget, but none has been successful yet due to the red tape in bureaucracy. When DAPA introduced the rapid acquisition system, it told companies that it will select one through a bidding process, determine the quantity after a pilot test, and strike a contract with the company through a “private contract.”
But the DAPA did not sign a contract with the company which already passed a pilot test. Instead, the agency invited a group of new companies for another bidding competition for fear of the possible audit and investigation by the government in case it signed a private contract with a bidder. That only helps prolong the bidding process and cost more money for bidders.
Many stumbling blocks are scattered here and there in the journey to the defense innovation. The government must remove them first. Otherwise, our military will have to shoot down North Korean drones with fighter jets over and over.
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Senior Advisor, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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