Quotes of the Day:

"To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble."

- Mark Twain

"Ask yourself at every moment. Is this necessary?"

- Marcus Aurelius

"Man lives consciously for himself, but is an unconscious instrument in the attainment of the historic, universal aims of humanity."

- Leo Tolstoy

1. Rights watchdog urges main opposition party to designate board members for launch of N. Korean Human Rights Foundation

2. Rights groups warn of forced repatriation of N.K. defectors from China to N. Korea

3. Fed Rate Moves Squeeze a Key U.S. Ally

4. Seoul eyes big special ops helicopters; poised to order three tactical transports

5. S. Korea vows to bolster defense system against N. Korean missile threat

6.  N. Korea blames U.S. for instigating Israel-Hamas conflict

7. Naturalized Korean doctor Yohan Ihn appointed as PPP innovation committee chief

8. IMF: ‘S. Korea could be the biggest victim of US-China de-risking’

9. N Korea calls for condemnation of US over Israel conflict

10. Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. discuss supply chains, energy

11. Defense chief reiterates call to suspend 2018 inter-Korean military agreement

12. [INTERVIEW] Ban Ki-moon still devoted to building better future for all

13. [INTERVIEW] Taiwan calls on Korea and like-minded nations to help fight off China's threats

14. S. Korea, Saudi Arabia ‘in final stages’ of agreeing large-scale defense cooperation

1. Rights watchdog urges main opposition party to designate board members for launch of N. Korean Human Rights Foundation

The South Korean opposition party is an obstacle to a humane rights upfront approach.

Rights watchdog urges main opposition party to designate board members for launch of N. Korean Human Rights Foundation | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Hyun-soo · October 23, 2023

By Kim Hyun-soo

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's human rights watchdog called Monday for the speedy designation of board members from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) to facilitate the launch of a foundation aimed at conducting research to enhance North Korean human rights.

The North Korean Human Rights Act, which came into force in 2016, stipulates the establishment of the foundation for the protection of human rights in North Korea.

Under the law, the foundation's board of directors will consist of two members recommended by the Ministry of Unification, and five each from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the DP.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea put forward the opinion, saying the DP has yet to recommend five board members despite continued requests by the unification ministry since 2016. The PPP recommended five officials last year.

"Without the formation of the foundation, the North Korean Human Rights Act, designed to protect and promote the human rights of North Korean citizens, becomes nullified and nominal," the watchdog said in a statement.

It also said state institutions carry the obligation to act so as to ensure the implementation of legislation, saying their cooperation is required in order to launch the foundation.

The DP has said it is "internally discussing" the matter, according to the rights watchdog.

In Monday's decision, the commission urged the floor leader of the DP to make the recommendations as soon as possible, and urged the national assembly speaker to facilitate the process by continuously pressing the party to do so.

North Korea's human rights record has drawn greater international attention since the U.N. Commission of Inquiry issued a report in 2014 after a year-long probe, saying that North Korean leaders are responsible for "widespread, systematic and gross" violations of human rights.

North Korea has long been accused of grave human rights abuses, ranging from holding political prisoners in concentration camps to committing torture and carrying out public executions.

Still, many liberal South Koreans have shied away from the issue of North Korea's human rights out of fear that it could strain inter-Korean relations.

A photo of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Yonhap)

sookim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Hyun-soo · October 23, 2023

2. Rights groups warn of forced repatriation of N.K. defectors from China to N. Korea

Excerpts:

The group said the repatriation would likely involve hundreds of defectors given that at least 170 remain detained in a single facility after 180 were sent back to the North earlier this month. A group of around 350 defectors had initially been detained there, it said.

The organization said the remaining defectors are expected to be repatriated soon given that all food and medical supplies to the facility have been halted.

Concerns have grown that North Korean defectors could undergo human rights abuses and face harsh punishment if they are sent back to North Korea after it reopened its border in August following more than three years of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Rights groups warn of forced repatriation of N.K. defectors from China to N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · October 23, 2023

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- Human rights advocacy groups in South Korea warned Monday against Beijing's possible repatriation of North Korean defectors against their will after hundreds of defectors were reportedly sent back to their repressive home country earlier this month.

The warning comes after human rights advocacy groups claimed China forcibly sent back around 600 North Korean defectors, detained in the provinces of Jilin and Liaoning. On Oct. 13, Seoul's unification ministry confirmed that a "large number" of North Korean residents were repatriated, without specifying the figures.

In a press conference, the rights groups, including Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, claimed Beijing is once again preparing to send back hundreds of North Korean defectors against their will.

"China appears to be preparing for an additional repatriation to North Korea, while its size remains unknown," Kim Tae-hoon, the honorary chairman of Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea said, emphasizing it is a situation that calls for "considerable vigilance."

The group said the repatriation would likely involve hundreds of defectors given that at least 170 remain detained in a single facility after 180 were sent back to the North earlier this month. A group of around 350 defectors had initially been detained there, it said.

The organization said the remaining defectors are expected to be repatriated soon given that all food and medical supplies to the facility have been halted.

Concerns have grown that North Korean defectors could undergo human rights abuses and face harsh punishment if they are sent back to North Korea after it reopened its border in August following more than three years of COVID-19 lockdowns.

This illustration depicts North Korean defectors alongside a map showing North Korea and China. (Yonhap)

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · October 23, 2023

3. Fed Rate Moves Squeeze a Key U.S. Ally

Fed Rate Moves Squeeze a Key U.S. Ally

Korea’s economy is shaky, but its central bank will find it tough to help

South Korea’s alliance with the U.S. has strengthened during the Biden presidency. But the country’s economy has fallen victim to the rapid rise in U.S. interest rates.

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/fed-rate-moves-squeeze-a-key-u-s-ally-3ff7e315?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1

By Frances Yoon

Follow

Oct. 23, 2023 12:02 am ET

Currency traders at KEB Hana Bank’s headquarters in Seoul. PHOTO: AHN YOUNG-JOON/ASSOCIATED PRESS

South Korea’s alliance with the U.S. has strengthened during the Biden presidency. But the country’s economy has fallen victim to the rapid rise in U.S. interest rates, showing how Federal Reserve decisions—and the uncertainty around them—can send ripples around the world.

The Fed has embarked on a historic spree of interest-rate rises since early 2022, an attempt to rein in inflation that peaked at 9.1% in the middle of last year. Central banks across the globe have followed these moves, partly out of a desire to protect their currencies, which can suffer as rising Treasury yields encourage international investors to dump overseas assets and buy U.S. bonds.

In less than a year and a half, the Bank of Korea has increased interest rates 10 times, pushing them to 3.5% by January. U.S. interest rate rises weren’t the only factor. Korea had its own inflation problem to deal with, and needed to cool a housing market that risked becoming a bubble two years ago. 

But Korea’s economy is looking increasingly shaky, and uncertainty about U.S. interest rates is making life difficult for the country’s central bank, which wants to protect its currency at the same time as boosting the economy. Most economists think the Fed is close to the end of its hiking cycle, but there is a big question mark over how long it will take for the Fed to start reducing rates, and how low they could go.

“The Fed has tied the hands of the Bank of Korea,” said Frederic Neumann, a senior economist at HSBC. “The risk here is if the Fed isn’t in a position to cut for a long time, the Korean economy could weaken if they leave rates high for too long, and that could be an extra drag on growth.”

Korea has long been an important U.S. ally, but the two countries have moved closer after the elections of President Biden and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol. The U.S., Japan and South Korea signed a three-way pact to guard against threats from North Korea and China earlier this year. There are around 28,500 U.S. military personnel in Korea, according to January estimates from the Department of Defense.

A postpandemic consumption boom in Korea has stalled, house prices are in a prolonged slump and economic growth is slowing. The International Monetary Fund predicts Korea’s economy will grow just 1.4% this year.

The Korean won has lost around 7% of its value against the U.S. dollar since the beginning of the year, when the central bank finally brought a halt to rate increases. The Fed has raised rates four times this year, increasing the gap between interest rates in Korea and the U.S. to around 2 percentage points. 

“The Bank of Korea wants to preserve stability in its currency, and will try to play catch-up with higher U.S. rates,” said Ken Cheung, chief Asian FX strategist at Mizuho. The central bank will do that not by raising rates, but by waiting for U.S. rates to come down before it starts cutting, he said.

A rise in oil prices as a result of the Israel-Hamas war has added another complicating factor for the central bank. Consumer price inflation hit 3.7% in September after several months of easing, well above the central bank’s inflation target of 2%. 

Last week, the Bank of Korea held interest rates steady. 

Customers in a shoe store in South Korea, where the economy is looking shaky. PHOTO: WOOHAE CHO/BLOOMBERG NEWS

South Korean policy makers have painful memories of currency depreciation. During the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, which was fueled by massive capital flight from international investors, the Korean won lost around half of its value against the U.S. dollar. The crisis led to scenes of Korean citizens handing over gold jewelry to help the country pay back its debts to the IMF, and is deeply ingrained in the national memory.

One major problem for Korea is the spiraling debt burden of the country’s households and companies. Debt held by the two rose to almost 229% of gross domestic product in the second quarter, its highest level in three decades, according to estimates by 

Nomura. Interest payments are close to multidecade highs, and indebted households are now using around 40% of their income to make payments on their debt, the bank said.

The financial stress of heavy debt payments means the Bank of Korea may decide to start cutting rates before the Fed, according to Jeong Woo Park, an economist at Nomura. But he expects the central bank to hold back until next April, predicting the Bank of Korea will cut interest rates to 2.5% by the end of next year.

South Korea’s household debt is around 105% of GDP, one of the highest debt levels in the world, IMF data shows. According to the Federation of Korean Industries, a business group, the figure rises to around 157% when including “jeonse,” large deposits given by renters to landlords to secure apartments at no or lower-cost rents—a common system in Korea.

The Bank of Korea isn’t the only global central bank being squeezed by uncertainty over U.S. interest rates. Earlier this year, Malaysia’s central bank said more clarity on Fed policy would give support to its currency. The ringgit has weakened almost 8% against the U.S. dollar this year, making it one of the worst-performing currencies in Asia.

Write to Frances Yoon at frances.yoon@wsj.com

4. Seoul eyes big special ops helicopters; poised to order three tactical transports

Good news. Along with advanced fixed wing infiltration aircraft we have been pushing this since the 1990s.

Seoul eyes big special ops helicopters; poised to order three tactical transports

flightglobal.com · by Greg Waldron

Helicopters

By 2023-10-19T08:19:00+01:00

Seoul has plans for significant upgrades to its tactical transport capabilities, with plans to buy 18 Special Operations Heavy Helicopters (SOHHs), and three fixed-wing transports under its Large Transport Aircraft II (LTA II) requirement.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced the SOHH requirement in April, stating that 18 large helicopters will be needed to infiltrate army special forces and improve the air force’s search and rescue capabilities.

Source: Boeing

A special forces-roled MH-47G Block II

The SOHH programme is distinct from DAPA’s announcement in March that it will obtain Boeing CH-47Fs to replace elderly CH-47Ds.

FlightGlobal understands that a request for proposals for SOHH has yet to be issued, and that DAPA is conducting studies around the requirement. Though there are no details as to what, exactly, DAPA will require, two helicopters have emerged as early contenders: the CH-47F Chinook and the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion.

Randy Rotte, who heads Asia-Pacific defence sales for Boeing, observes that a variant of the Chinook is used by the US Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

Moreover, obtaining the Chinook for the special missions role will offer commonality with South Korea’s future fleet of CH-47Fs, he says. While a CH-47 tasked with special forces operations has unique features such as an air-to-air refuelling probe, larger fuel tanks, and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, it is effectively identical to a baseline CH-47.

“On sustainment, the tooling and tests kits and all that are almost the same,” says Rotte. “The facilities are the same. There is a lot of commonality there.”

Thomas Boland, international business development senior manager at Lockheed Martin, the parent company of Sikorsky, contends that the King Stallion offers greater power and speed than the Chinook.

“For special operations you need speed, you need range, the ability carry things or people, and be safe,” says Boland. “The CH-53K is a brand new design that does all of those things.”

He acknowledges that South Korea has decades of experience with the CH-47 family, and says that the CH-53K is well positioned to complement the nation’s existing fleet of Chinooks.

Separately, FlightGlobal understands that South Korea is poised to order a trio of tactical transports for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) under the LTA II requirement. The contenders are the Lockheed C-130J and Embraer C-390.

The original LTA I requirement saw South Korea obtain four C-130Js, and the country is a long-time operator of the C-130H.

Tony Frese, vice-president, business development Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed, says that the C-130 is a proven airlifter, and that the C-130J offers extensive advances over legacy C-130 platforms, such as its glass cockpit and improved sustainment. He adds that the type’s four turboprop engines improve survivability if an engine is lost in a tactical situation.

Embraer, for its part, contends that the jet-powered C-390 offers payload, range, and speed advantages. The type can also serve in multiple missions.

“The C-390 is the most modern military tactical transport aircraft,” says Embraer. “If chosen, the C-390 will enhance ROKAF’s ability to deploy with greater efficiency, serviceability and speed. We have a robust value proposition for South Korea that involves the Korean aerospace industry. We look forward to growing our relations with the South Korean armed forces and aerospace and defence industries.”

Cirium fleets data indicates that Seoul operates eight C-130Hs, four C-130Js, and four MC-130Ks.

5. S. Korea vows to bolster defense system against N. Korean missile threat

Perhaps the Hamas attack is a wake up call for some.

(2nd LD) S. Korea vows to bolster defense system against N. Korean missile threat | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · October 23, 2023

(ATTN: UPDATES with Air Force's policy report in paras 9-10)

By Kim Eun-jung

GYERYONG, South Korea, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military will beef up its defense capabilities against North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threat and asymmetric warfare tactics, the Army said Monday.

In a policy report for a parliamentary audit, the Army outlined its plan to enhance the Three-Axis System designed to track, detect and strike North Korea's missile and artillery systems amid renewed security concerns over Seoul's defense capabilities in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"North Korea's enhanced nuclear and missile capabilities and Hamas' surprise attacks on Israel remind us that North Korea could provoke at any moment," Army Chief of Staff General Park Jeong-hwan said at an audit session held at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, about 140 kilometers south of Seoul.

"The Army is acutely aware of the severity of the security environment and is committed to fulfilling its mission of defense through leading national defense innovations," Park added.

Army Chief of Staff General Park Jeong-hwan speaks during a parliamentary audit session held at the Army headquarters in Gyeryong, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 23, 2023. (Yonhap)

South Korea's Three-Axis System includes the Kill Chain preemptive strike system, the Korea Air and Missile Defense System composed of multi-layered missile interceptors, as well as the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation campaign, which is aimed at eliminating the adversary's command-and-control by neutralizing its leadership and military facilities.

Pyongyang has staged a flurry of ballistic missile tests since last year, including launches of the Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in April and July. It also made two failed attempts to put a military spy satellite into orbit earlier this year.

The Army said it will establish a "comprehensive, multi-tier defense system" to protect key facilities and the Seoul metropolitan region, home to about half of the country's 51.5 million population, against the North's long-range artillery and missile threat.

It vowed to push for an early deployment of interceptors and an advanced defense system capable of striking incoming cruise missiles at a low altitude, while additionally securing high-precision missiles and reinforcing the operational capabilities of special forces.

In a separate policy report, the Air Force said it will prop up the Kill Chain preemptive strike system through an acquisition program to additionally buy stealth jets and develop a future air combat strategy that mixes homegrown KF-21 fighter jets and drones by 2040.

In March, the Defense Project Promotion Committee approved a 3.75 trillion-won (US$2.82 billion) plan to buy the F-35A aircraft through 2028. The South Korean Air Force currently maintains 40 F-35As manufactured by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin.

This file photo dated March 1, 2018, shows an unveiling ceremony of the busts of independent fighters held at the Korea Military Academy in northern Seoul. (Yonhap)

During the session, ruling and opposition party lawmakers bickered over the Korea Military Academy (KMA)'s move to relocate the bust of the late independence fighter Hong Beom-do (1868-1943) outside of its Seoul campus, which was erected in 2018 during the former Moon Jae-in administration.

Although Hong has been revered as a prominent independence fighter against Japan's colonial rule, he become a subject of ideological dispute after the defense ministry in August announced its controversial decision to relocate his bust at its headquarters and the KMA, citing his past record of collaborating with Soviet communist forces.

The Army chief said Hong's bust at the KMA does not fit its founding principle due to his connection to communism and its relocation is part of efforts to instill cadets with "the proper perspective of the adversary."

"The achievements of independence fighters, including Hong, are great and should be respected, but Hong's bust at the Korea Military Academy is not appropriate," Park said.

ejkim@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · October 23, 2023

6.  N. Korea blames U.S. for instigating Israel-Hamas conflict

north Korea is not the only one that thinks so. Pundits like Stepehen Walt have similar views (https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/10/18/america-root-cause-war-israel-gaza-palestine/?utm)

(LEAD) N. Korea blames U.S. for instigating Israel-Hamas conflict | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · October 23, 2023

(ATTN: ADDS Seoul official's remarks, details in paras 6-7, 9)

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Monday accused the United States of being behind the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, saying Washington is "entirely" responsible for the tragedy.

Pyongyang raised the accusation following U.S. President Joe Biden's recent trip to Israel where he reiterated his backing of Israel and condemned a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza by what he called a terrorist group.

"The U.S. is the ringleader in the Middle East situation," the North's official Korean Central News Agency. "A massive battle of slaughter is intensifying in the Middle East due to the biased and intentional instigation of the U.S."

The North took issue with how Washington vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for humanitarian aid access to Gaza last week. The U.S. opposed the action, noting how the draft failed to mention Israel's right to self-defense.

Pyongyang lashed out at both the U.S. and the European Union over the vote, saying Washington has "altogether annihilated a small chance to prevent the worsening of the situation in the Middle East," while the EU backed the stance with the "absence of its independent thinking and principle."

Seoul's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said the North appears to be bent on fostering an anti-U.S. sentiment.

"It is regrettable that North Korea is not taking account of the direct cause of the Israel-Hamas conflict and is only obsessed with anti-U.S. incitement," Koo Byoung-sam, the ministry's spokesperson, said in a regular press briefing.

Earlier this month, the North denounced Israel over the conflict, saying it is the "consequence of Israel's ceaseless criminal actions" against the people of Palestine.

It also denied that the Hamas militant group used North Korean weapons for its surprise attack on Israel as "groundless," accusing Washington of cooking up false accusations.

Residents of the southern city of Rafa in the Gaza Strip inspect a building that has been destroyed, in this AFP photo on Oct. 22, 2023. (Yonhap)

mlee@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · October 23, 2023

7. Naturalized Korean doctor Yohan Ihn appointed as PPP innovation committee chief

(2nd LD) Naturalized Korean doctor Yohan Ihn appointed as PPP innovation committee chief | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kang Jae-eun · October 23, 2023

(ATTN: ADDS comments from professor Yohan Ihn in paras 4-6; CHANGES photo)

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Monday approved Yohan Ihn, South Korea's first special naturalized citizen, as the chairman of the party's innovation committee tasked with regaining voters' trust after its crushing defeat in a by-election in Seoul.

The decision to appoint Ihn, also known by his American name John Linton, was approved in the PPP's leadership meeting earlier in the day.

"Ihn has the discerning eye and knowledge needed to resolve regionalism and attain national integration," said Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the PPP's leader. "As he deeply understands the need for political reform and has great determination, we expect professor Ihn to provide us with the optimal diagnosis to reinvent the PPP into a party trusted by the people."

Professor Yohan Ihn of the Yonsei University College of Medicine answers reporters' questions at the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 23, 2023, after he was appointed the chairman of the People Power Party's innovation committee. (Yonhap)

Speaking to reporters, Ihn vowed to push for "unity" and a complete change within the PPP.

"I'd like to push for unity. Although people could have different opinions, we shouldn't send hate. A lot has to change. Many people in the PPP must step down, then listen, change and be willing to sacrifice," he said.

When asked if he was considering running in the general elections, the professor said he has "let go" of that thought and plans to focus on his role as the committee chief for the time being.

A great-grandson of the American missionary Eugene Bell (1968-1925), Ihn was born and raised in South Jeolla Province, 290 kilometers south of Seoul, a traditional stronghold of the progressive bloc.

He became a special naturalized citizen in 2012 in recognition of his humanitarian aid for North Koreans and contributions to the country's medical system. He is currently a professor at the Yonsei University College of Medicine.

Ihn took part in the transition team launched by former President Park Geun-hye and has recently been mentioned as a potential recruit of the PPP.

fairydust@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kang Jae-eun · October 23, 2023

8. IMF: ‘S. Korea could be the biggest victim of US-China de-risking’

IMF: ‘S. Korea could be the biggest victim of US-China de-risking’

donga.com

Posted October. 23, 2023 08:13,

Updated October. 23, 2023 08:13

IMF: ‘S. Korea could be the biggest victim of US-China de-risking’. October. 23, 2023 08:13. asap@donga.com.

South Korea's economy, which is closely intertwined with China's, could be particularly hard hit if the U.S.-led de-risking of dependence on China in global supply chains, investment, and other sectors of the economy takes hold, according to a new report. Estimates of GDP losses due to de-risking suggest that South Korea's GDP could shrink by nearly 4 percent, more than double the world’s and OECD’s GDP losses of around 1 – 2 percent.

The International Monetary Fund released the observation in its Asia-Pacific Regional Economic Outlook report on Thursday, noting that de-risking could result in significant losses to Asian countries' GDP and the global economy as a whole. To estimate the amount of GDP lost to de-risking, the IMF assumed supply chain disconnection through non-tariff barriers.

According to the report, if China and the 38 members of the OECD split into two global blocs and erected non-tariff barriers, such as ‘friendshoring,’ against each other, China's GDP would fall by 6.8 percent. Also, the global GDP is estimated to shrink by 1.8 percent and the GDP of the 38 OECD members by 1.5 percent, while South Korea's GDP could decline by nearly 4 percent. Japan and the European Union are projected to lose around 1 percent, and the U.S. less than 1 percent.

When reshoring is intensified without splitting global blocs, the GDP losses are projected to be 6.9 percent for China, 4.5 percent for the world, and around 5 - 6 percent for the OECD. In comparison, South Korea would lose as much as 10.2 percent, the most significant loss among the OECD members.

한국어

donga.com

9. N Korea calls for condemnation of US over Israel conflict

Yes, the axis of authoritarians is lining up.

N Korea calls for condemnation of US over Israel conflict

Pyongyang’s appeal coincides with Moscow reaching out to form an ‘united front’ against Washington.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA

2023.10.22

Seoul, South Korea

rfa.org

North Korea blamed the Israel-Palestine conflict on the United States, increasing its efforts to solidify an anti-American “united front.”

The Middle East conflict was a “tragedy created entirely by the United States,” North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Monday, adding that the U.S. has only sided with Israel in the conflict.

“The U.S. has turned a blind eye to Israel, its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, continuous armed assaults, civilian casualties, and the expansion of Jewish settlements,” the state media said.

KCNA, however, did not mention the Hamas attack that triggered the conflict, nor Washington’s mediation efforts to deter Israel from deploying ground forces in Gaza.

U.S. President Joe Biden visited Israel, shortly after the conflict began last week. It was unusual for the U.S. President to openly visit a country at war, as such visits were often kept secret until arrival due to security concerns.

But this time the Biden administration publicly disclosed the detailed itinerary in advance, and the visit was televised – a rare approach widely perceived as Washington’s attempt to deter Israel from deploying ground troops into Gaza.

Overlooking the Biden administration’s initiatives, North Korea Monday urged international condemnation against the U.S.

“Global sentiment suggests that the planet’s stability and security are jeopardized by the U.S.’s self-righteous and dual-standard foreign policy,” KCNA said. “The international community must closely watch the U.S.’s madness and resolutely denounce and oppose such hazardous and misguided endeavors.”

Pyongyang’s appeal to the international community coincides with Moscow reaching out to form an “united front” against Washington. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met at the symbol of Russian space prowess in Russia’s Far East last month, where they vowed to form an “anti-imperialist united front.”

Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Pyongyang last week that Moscow was seeking stronger cooperation with North Korea and China to counter the U.S. and its regional allies, as reported by Russian news organization Tass.

Tighter cooperation among the authoritarian regimes may amplify their leverage against the U.S. and its regional partners. The move is widely seen as aimed at enhancing their collective bargaining power and operational capabilities against the West.

North Korea’s effort to use the Israel-Palestine conflict to form a united front against the U.S. underscores its ambition to bring together the nations that are wary of U.S. influence, presenting the Biden administration with a complex geopolitical challenge.

The Middle East conflict, coupled with the ongoing Ukraine War and the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea, poses a multifaceted challenge for Washington, complicating the U.S. strategy of reallocating resources to Asia in response to China’s rising influence.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

rfa.org

10. Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. discuss supply chains, energy

Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. discuss supply chains, energy | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · October 23, 2023

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States met Monday and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation on economic security and energy, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

During their talks, Kang Jae-kwon, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, and his U.S. counterpart, Emily Blanchard, agreed on the need to maintain close communication at a time when the "global economic environment is becoming unprecedentedly complicated" and the line between diplomacy and economic policy increasingly ambiguous, it added.

The two sides also discussed a wide range of issues, including supply chains, energy, economic cooperation with third countries and cooperation on the multilateral stage, according to the ministry.

Kang called for the U.S. government's continued "interest and consideration" to ensure a predictable environment for South Korean firms, as the U.S. has implemented policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.

Blanchard stressed predictability and transparency are critical factors for businesses and voiced expectation that such policies will work to boost the economic capacity of both sides, according to the ministry.

Kang Jae-kwon (R), deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, shakes hands with Emily Blanchard, chief economist at the U.S. State Department, prior to their meeting in Seoul on Oct. 23, 2023, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

julesyi@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · October 23, 2023

11. Defense chief reiterates call to suspend 2018 inter-Korean military agreement

Three points to keep in mind:

1. The CMA impacts the readiness of the ROK/US forces (ISR and combat training in the vicinity of the DMZ).

2. The South (and the ROK/US alliance) fully implemented the agreement in good faith.

3. The north has not fully implemented the agreement (save for minor changes at JSA and the removal of a handful of guard posts). 

Defense chief reiterates call to suspend 2018 inter-Korean military agreement | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · October 23, 2023

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Shin Won-sik on Monday reiterated his call to suspend the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement as he inspected a Marine Corps unit on a border island, his office said.

Shin made the call during his visit to the unit on the northwestern island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea, citing the agreement's impact on limiting military drills in the area, according to the ministry.

The Comprehensive Military Agreement, signed under the previous liberal President Moon Jae-in who sought inter-Korean reconciliation, includes setting up maritime buffer zones that ban artillery firing and naval drills.

"I understand that there are considerable difficulties in maintaining a combat readiness posture as firing drills of major weapons have been halted in the northwestern islands," he was quoted as saying. "(We) will correct this through the suspension of the flawed Sept. 19 agreement."

Shin, who took office on Oct. 7, has repeatedly made calls to suspend the agreement.

During the visit, the minister also instructed troops to punish the enemy "immediately, strongly, and until the end" in the case of a provocation, the ministry said.

In November 2010, North Korea fired artillery shells at the island, killing two Marines and two civilians.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik (C) visits a Marine Corps base at the northwestern border island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea on Oct. 23, 2023, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · October 23, 2023

12. [INTERVIEW] Ban Ki-moon still devoted to building better future for all

A great Korean patriot, a global citizen and humanitarian.

Excerpts:

“More than 734 million people barely survive far below the poverty line in the world. Many of them are babies and children. They go to bed hungry as if it were normal,” he said. “Poverty is one crucial reason for conflict. Underdevelopment destroys social communities. We have to chart out concrete plans for worldwide economic stability.”

South Korea had similar experience of poverty decades ago.

“‘When their labor pain begins, women gaze at their rubber shoes wondering whether they can put them on again.’ I couldn’t understand what mom meant when she told me this as a refugee with a newborn infant on her back. At that time, unfortunate women died in childbirth as clinics were too far away and doctors were rare,” he said.

While in office, he put priority on expanding opportunities for women in and outside the U.N. He set up the U.N. entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women ― UN Women ― in the level of ministry to empower women within the organization and around the world. In appreciation of his commitment, the Asia Initiative, a private organization in New York, founded the “Ban Ki-moon Awards for Women’s Empowerment” in 2017.

He cited honesty, sincerity and resilience as some attributes that have made him who he is today, while former British Prime Minister Tony Blair pointed to his ambition, tenacity, patience and humanity as the factors that nurtured him to become a “true public servant, whose compassion shines throughout" his life. Ban says he owes 65 percent of his accomplishments to his wife and only 35 percent to himself.

[INTERVIEW] Ban Ki-moon still devoted to building better future for all

The Korea Times · October 23, 2023

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attends a press event of the Elders in Seoul in this May 31 photo. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Personal experience from war-torn country leads ex-UN chief to extend helping hand

By Kim Chang-young

The world is changing more rapidly than ever before. Brilliant technological developments are enhancing human values, whereas prosperity is deepening chronic inequality between rich and poor countries. Plagued by a pandemic, climate crisis and war, humankind is confronted with a long list of problems growing ever heavier.

Pax Americana has been a mainstay of the global order since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is being challenged by China. The newly rising sun is stepping up alliances with Russia and North Korea, while Donald Trump is rumbling into the Washington establishment again. The plutocrat may dance to the communist's tune if he can get more votes and fill his own wallet and those of his supporters.

Can U.S. President Joe Biden beat his predecessor’s bitter attack? Can the capitalist ties between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo work together against the Pyongyang-Beijing-Moscow triangle, armed with nuclear missiles, dictatorships and geographic proximity? The list of problems facing South Koreans, and perhaps Americans and other peace-loving people, is also growing.

“The old specter of armed conflicts is lingering here and there and Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine is showing no sign of armistice. No global leaders are seen who are determined to address international confrontations. No head of state has global visions, and world peace and common prosperity is at danger,” former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Oct. 6.

“All of them are national leaders at best.”

That’s why he still spends about half of a year abroad even after he retired from the No. 1 post at the world body. That’s why he established the Ban Ki-moon Center for Global Citizenship in Vienna, Austria, in 2018 and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future in Seoul the following year. This year, he established another office of Ban Ki-moon Foundation in New York, where the U.N. is headquartered.

Furthermore, he is leading several international organizations, such as the Global Green Growth Institute in Seoul, the BOAO Forum for Asia in China, the Global Center on Adaptation in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the Ethics Commission of the IOC, and the Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela, where former global leaders work for peace, security, and human rights.

“I will devote all that I have to my dreams and visions. The 10-year experience at the U.N. is a public asset I have to share with the people around the world,” he said. “Through the global service, I had mapped out milestone projects for climate crisis solutions, sustainable growth and human rights and I am confident that tangible achievements have been coming out one after another.”

He continued, “I will speak out my opinion on global issues in straightforward and bold terms. I will fly anywhere if my presence is of any significance. I will meet anyone with whom I can share hopes and courage.”

He just returned from the United States where he met his successor and other global leaders in New York and chaired the World Culture Festival in Washington, D.C. He then flew to France to support Busan’s bid to host the World Expo 2030.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon shows framed remarks of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his photo taken with junior Red Cross representatives at the Rose Garden of the White House on Aug. 29, 1962. The former president's younger brother, Senator Edward Kennedy, called on Ban in New York on Oct. 6, 2006 to present the frame as an expression of congratulations for his appointment to the "all-important new mission" as the new U.N. chief. Ban still has a vivid memory of the date and the scene in 1962 that set the path of the life he leads today. Courtesy of Kim Chang-young

Personal life aligns with Korea’s history

Ban was born in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, in 1944, one year before Korea was liberated from Japan. One year later, the U.S. motivated the formation of the U.N. with the ardent but difficult mission of maintaining peace, supporting sustainable development and protecting human rights. Some of his early memories include the sounds of bombs exploding that had been fired by North Korean invaders.

North Koreans crossed the 38th Parallel in 1950, just several days after his sixth birthday. They ravaged the South until the U.N. forces arrived on the Korean Peninsula to push them back. But the battles turned in favor of the aggressors again with the sudden intervention of an over 500,000-strong Chinese force in the winter of 1951.

“My family fled from Cheongju to seek shelter in a remote village. It was very hard to walk the 27 kilometers with a bag on my back in the freezing cold,” he said. “Much harder to endure was the labor pain of my mother who was nine months pregnant. On the way to her parents’ home, my mom entered into a house and gave birth to a daughter thanks to the totally unknown villagers there.”

He felt the warm hospitality of strangers even in the middle of war. His family returned home after the U.N. Command led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed in Incheon and drove the communist troops out of the South in the spring. It was the U.N.'s first military intervention since its inception.

Ban was a filial, bright and diligent student. He was picked as speaker at the age of 12 in a student rally to read a message sent to then-U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold to renounce Soviet repression of the Hungarian Revolution and call for the protection of children, peace and democracy.

A more dramatic chance came six years later in August 1962 when he was chosen among the four top high school students representing Korea in the Visit of International Students to America (VISTA) program under the sponsorship of the American Red Cross. The program was highlighted with the meeting of then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy at the White House.

“President Kennedy called the names of the 42 countries from which junior Red Cross representatives came. When he called out ‘South Korea,’ it rang like thunder in my ears and my heart almost exploded in excitement,” he said.

“It was clear that he held high expectations for us. Listening to his remarks, I thought that we are one human family beyond national boundaries. President Kennedy said that only one question matters: ‘Whether you are ready to extend a helping hand.’ He defined my duty and the path of my life,” Ban said, recalling the president who teamed up the Peace Corps with young American volunteers to serve the people of underdeveloped countries.

It was not only a great honor for a boy who had never met even the mayor of his small hometown but a historical moment that led to his long and tough journey to the helm of the U.N. It also gave him a wonderful chance to meet a high school girl who presented small gifts, prepared by her classmates for him to be used during his U.S. trip. The 18-year-old girl, named Yoo Soon-taek, later became his wife.

As the old Korean saying goes, mountains and rivers changed several times over the decades of the industrialization and democratization process in South Korea. But the North changed little other than its leadership which changed twice: from founder Kim Il-sung to his son Jong-il and his grandson Jong-un.

As soon as then-South Korean Foreign Minister Ban won the final election for the U.N. post on Oct. 2, 2006 in New York and the news came to be known one day later here, the North stole the show by announcing that it would test-fire a nuclear bomb. It shocked the world by putting the notice into action on the day when the U.N. Security Council members elected him unanimously one week later.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers his last speech as the head of the world organization at U.N. headquarters in New York in this Dec. 12, 2016 photo. AP-Yonhap

Helping hand

At least one more thing that has not changed despite the long lapse of time is Ban’s early determination to “extend a helping hand” to people in need around the world.

Russia and China sometimes ignored the U.N. charter and belligerent states and hostile regimes violated peace treaties from time to time, but he ran to the conflict spots, putting his life at stake. The areas he visits upon arriving at the sites are reservations for children and women even after he quit the world body.

Actually, his position at the U.N. has long been the world’s riskiest position. The acronym of secretary general has been ridiculed sometimes to stand for “scapegoat” in the diplomatic quarters since the first Secretary-General Trygve Lie from Norway resigned largely due to the vigorous protest of the Soviet Union after the Security Council passed a resolution to stop North Korean aggression.

“More than 734 million people barely survive far below the poverty line in the world. Many of them are babies and children. They go to bed hungry as if it were normal,” he said. “Poverty is one crucial reason for conflict. Underdevelopment destroys social communities. We have to chart out concrete plans for worldwide economic stability.”

South Korea had similar experience of poverty decades ago.

“‘When their labor pain begins, women gaze at their rubber shoes wondering whether they can put them on again.’ I couldn’t understand what mom meant when she told me this as a refugee with a newborn infant on her back. At that time, unfortunate women died in childbirth as clinics were too far away and doctors were rare,” he said.

While in office, he put priority on expanding opportunities for women in and outside the U.N. He set up the U.N. entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women ― UN Women ― in the level of ministry to empower women within the organization and around the world. In appreciation of his commitment, the Asia Initiative, a private organization in New York, founded the “Ban Ki-moon Awards for Women’s Empowerment” in 2017.

He cited honesty, sincerity and resilience as some attributes that have made him who he is today, while former British Prime Minister Tony Blair pointed to his ambition, tenacity, patience and humanity as the factors that nurtured him to become a “true public servant, whose compassion shines throughout" his life. Ban says he owes 65 percent of his accomplishments to his wife and only 35 percent to himself.

Kim Chang-young worked for The Korea Times for 15 years before he assumed the posts of vice spokesman and spokesman of political parties and later served as deputy minister for public relations at the Prime Minister's Office. He is an author of several Korean works and has translated books including Bob Woodward's "Bush at War" and "Plan of Attack."

The Korea Times · October 23, 2023

13. [INTERVIEW] Taiwan calls on Korea and like-minded nations to help fight off China's threats

[INTERVIEW] Taiwan calls on Korea and like-minded nations to help fight off China's threats

The Korea Times · October 23, 2023

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Jaushieh Wu / Courtesy of Taipei Mission in Korea

Taiwanese FM seeks to bolster economic ties with Korea: top diplomat

By Kim Hyun-bin

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Jaushieh Wu has urged the international community, including Korea, to pay close attention to tensions across the Taiwan Strait, highlighting that China’s ambitions should not be taken lightly.

“China’s military expansion poses a serious long-term threat to nations in the region, including the Republic of Korea. Taiwan stands on the front lines of democracy against authoritarianism,” he said in a joint written interview with The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo.

“We look for the support of our democratic partners in the collective fight against the authoritarian threat in order to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The minister stressed that China’s ever-growing military presence is ratcheting up tensions across the strait, as evidenced by Beijing’s 40-fold increase in its military budget over the past three decades.

Today, China boasts the world's largest armed forces, with its military budget ranked as the second-highest globally. Since President Xi Jinping's rise to power in 2013, China's ambitions have expanded dramatically, leading to growing tensions across the strait.

He pointed out that in recent years, China's approach to Taiwan encompasses a multifaceted strategy, from diplomatic isolation and economic coercion to gray-zone warfare, disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks.

He added that China has enhanced its military threat against Taiwan, routinely sending planes and ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait or into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

“It is clear that China is seeking to transform the Taiwan Strait into its internal waters and preparing for an invasion of Taiwan,” Wu said.

Korea-Taiwan ties

The minister also highlighted the strategic cooperative partnership between Korea and Taiwan.

Their bilateral economic relations are deeply intertwined, with both nations ranking as each other's fifth-largest trading partners. The two nations’ vital roles in the global semiconductor manufacturing sector highlight the high degree of complementarity in their economies.

While Korea has negotiated economic agreements with its top trading partners, Taiwan remains a missing link in these economic agreements.

“Korea has inked an economic agreement or engaged in related negotiations with all of its top 10 trading partners except Taiwan. We hope that the Taiwan-Korea Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (ADTA) will soon enter into effect,” the minister said.

The minister also expressed his will to make progress on a Taiwan-Korea bilateral investment agreement (BIA) and explore the potential of an economic cooperation agreement (ECA) and a customs mutual assistance agreement.

Beyond economic ties, Korea and Taiwan have seen immense growth in cultural exchanges and tourism.

He said that the two countries saw record numbers of two-way visitors, with both nations ranking as each other's third-largest source of visitors.

In 2019, a record was set of 2.45 million two-way visitors, or over 1.24 million Korean visitors to Taiwan and 1.20 million Taiwanese visitors to Korea. Notably, the cultural landscape has been enriched through the success of TV series, films and shared cultural elements.

“Based on our friendship and close people-to-people exchanges, I hope that the Korean government will continue to deepen bilateral cooperation in such areas as the economy, trade and security, and speak out for Taiwan on the global stage. This will further enhance bilateral relations,” Wu said.

The Korea Times · October 23, 2023

14. S. Korea, Saudi Arabia ‘in final stages’ of agreeing large-scale defense cooperation

S. Korea, Saudi Arabia ‘in final stages’ of agreeing large-scale defense cooperation

koreaherald.com · by Shin Ji-hye · October 23, 2023

Joint declaration to address security issues involving NK, Israel-Palestine conflict

By Shin Ji-hye

Published : Oct. 23, 2023 - 06:25

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, salutes the South Korean national flag with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the official welcoming ceremony held at Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Sunday. (Yonhap)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- South Korea and Saudi Arabia are "in the final stages” for large-scale defense collaboration across various fields, such as air defense, firepower and weapons, the presidential office said Monday.

Following the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of South Korea's National Security Office, told reporters that the government was discussing "a long-term, systematic defense cooperation program" rather than a one-time cooperation. Yoon's office, however, declined to comment on the details of the weapon system and the contract amount being discussed, citing the sensitivity of the matter. "All I can say is that it is at the completion stage, and the scale and amount are quite large," an official said requesting anonymity.

Saudi Arabia, which has faced attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels using ballistic missiles and drones, has a significant demand for interceptor missiles. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly expressed interest in the KM-SAM (Cheongung) system during his visit to Korea in November of the previous year.

During the summit, the two leaders exchanged opinions on international politics, economics, and the dynamics surrounding the armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, Kim said.

“They confirmed a consensus that the worsening humanitarian situation must be prevented,” he said. “President Yoon said South Korea would play the necessary role and contribute to restoring stability and peace in the region.”

Another senior official, who attended the summit, said on condition of anonymity that while it is difficult to disclose the leaders’ conversation word for word, he observed that Saudi Arabia does not appear to be unilaterally siding with a particular country in the current conflict.

Nevertheless, in terms of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel — a matter until recently facilitated by the United States — Saudi Arabia appears to be taking a long-term view, he noted.

Regarding the conflict, he reiterated South Korea’s position that this issue must be fully and clearly respected and handled from a humanitarian standpoint in accordance with international laws and regulations.

Taking the opportunity of Yoon’s state visit, Korea and Saudi Arabia decided to announce a joint statement containing the status and direction of cooperation covering economic, political and international issues. It is reported that the joint statement will address security issues on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Ukraine war, and North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

When asked about the possibility of South Korean military involvement in the Israel-Hamas war, the official stated that Seoul is not currently in a phase to directly intervene politically or militarily or to take a specific stance on the conflict.

The South Korean leader, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, is in a four-day state visit to the Middle Eastern country.

During Yoon's state visit to the kingdom, an additional $15.6 billion in contracts and memorandums of understanding were signed among Korean and Saudi Arabian companies at the investment forums held on the sidelines of the summit. A total of 51 memorandums and contracts were signed in fields such as energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and new industries.

The fresh batch of Saudi investment plans is a follow-up to the previous promise of injecting around $29 billion into Korean businesses for a wide range of development and industrial projects planned for the Middle Eastern country's future growth, specifically the "Vision 2030" plan, made during the prince's visit to Seoul in November.

Yoon's economic secretary Choi Sang-mok said ahead of the summit on Sunday that more than 60 percent of that figure has now progressed to actual projects.

"Saudi Arabia, aiming to become the world's largest hydrogen exporter, and South Korea, a leading country in hydrogen-based industries such as hydrogen vehicles and fuel cells, have significant potential for hydrogen cooperation," he said.

The two countries are discussing ways to operate working groups for various value chains -- including clean hydrogen production, distribution and utilization -- to systematically support cooperation between businesses in both countries, he said.

koreaherald.com · by Shin Ji-hye · October 23, 2023

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com