|
Quotes of the Day:
“This whole tendency to see ourselves as the center of political enlightenment and as teachers to a great part of the rest of the world strikes me as unthought-through, vainglorious and undesirable.”
- George F. Kennan (of ‘Long Telegraph’ fame)
“I believe that reading and writing are the most nourishing forms of meditation anyone has so far found. By reading the writings of the most interesting minds in history, we meditate with our own minds and theirs as well. This to me is a miracle.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought.
To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears.
To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool.
To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen.
To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies period to be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery.
- Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Talents
1. Readout of President Joe Biden’s Participation in the East Asia Summit
2. Phnom Penh Statement on Trilateral Partnership for the Indo-Pacific
3. Yoon, first lady reunite with Biden at gala dinner in Cambodia
4. Yoon says N.K. denuclearization is precondition for peaceful Indo-Pacific
5. Yoon, Biden, Kishida agree to strengthen deterrence against N. Korea
6. Yoon, Japan's Kishida condemn N.K. missile launches, agree to continue talks on disputes
7. Yoon, Biden vow to respond with overwhelming force if N.K. uses nuclear weapons
8. How a team of Australians go into the world’s most dangerous strip of land to recover the remains of dead soldiers
9. Improve cyberwarfare capabilities
10.The Defense Department Finally Asks the Barker Brothers For Help Correcting the Korean War Memorial
11. Biden to tell Xi to help rein in N. Korea or face more drills in region
12. How Ukraine Could Win the 'Artillery War' Against Russia (Thanks to South Korea)
13. Fast Take: North Korea, Ukraine and ‘upping the ante’ for global conflict
14. Yoon signals end to Korea's strategic ambiguity in US-China rivalry
1. Readout of President Joe Biden’s Participation in the East Asia Summit
Key point:
President Biden also commented on U.S.-PRC relations, underscoring that the United States will compete vigorously with the PRC and speak out regarding the PRC’s human rights abuses, while keeping lines of communication open and ensuring competition does not veer into conflict. He reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Readout of President Joe Biden’s Participation in the East Asia Summit | The White House
whitehouse.gov · by The White House · November 13, 2022
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today attended the annual East Asia Summit (EAS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. President Biden reaffirmed the enduring U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific, with ASEAN at its center. The President reviewed efforts to deliver on his vision for an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure. President Biden underscored his commitment to working with allies and partners to strengthen health systems, promote food security, address climate change, and accelerate the clean energy transition. He reviewed progress in developing an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework that provides concrete benefits to all of its fourteen members and drives enduring and broad-based economic growth throughout the Indo-Pacific. He also highlighted progress in implementing the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, through which the United States, Australia, Japan, and India are helping ASEAN nations and other Indo-Pacific partners to undertake marine conservation, counter illegal fishing, and respond to humanitarian disasters.
President Biden also addressed pressing regional and global challenges. He underscored that freedom of navigation and overflight must be respected in the East China Sea and South China Sea, and that all disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law. He reaffirmed U.S. support for the 2016 UN arbitral tribunal ruling and noted this ruling is final and legally binding. President Biden also raised concerns regarding the threats posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and he condemned Russia’s brutal and unjust war against Ukraine in the strongest terms. He raised concern regarding the deteriorating crisis in Burma, and highlighted the importance of taking further action to increase pressure on the Burmese military regime to implement the Five Point Consensus, release political prisoners, and provide for a return to the path of democracy.
President Biden also commented on U.S.-PRC relations, underscoring that the United States will compete vigorously with the PRC and speak out regarding the PRC’s human rights abuses, while keeping lines of communication open and ensuring competition does not veer into conflict. He reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
###
whitehouse.gov · by The White House · November 13, 2022
2. Phnom Penh Statement on Trilateral Partnership for the Indo-Pacific
At some time in the future if we really want to have an impact on strategic competition we would announce a trilateral alliance. They would change the security and economic situation in Asia because a trilateral alliance would be the most powerful alliance in the entire Asia Pacific region. But unfortunately we are a long way from that due to the historical issues between the ROK and Japan.
Key topics:
I. SECURE THE INDO-PACIFIC AND BEYOND
II. GROWING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
III. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP, AND TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
Prime Minister Kishida, President Yoon and President Biden affirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and express their confidence that their trilateral partnership will continue to benefit all its people. The leaders welcome their respective approaches to the Indo-Pacific, and agreed to be in solidarity in pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, resilient and secure. The leaders agreed to closely cooperate in implementing their various Indo-Pacific Strategies.
Phnom Penh Statement on Trilateral Partnership for the Indo-Pacific | The White House
whitehouse.gov · by The White House · November 13, 2022
Today in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the East Asia Summit, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, President Yoon SukYeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States reaffirmed our trilateralpartnership guided by shared values, driven by innovation, and committed to shared prosperity and security. The Leaders commended the unprecedented level of trilateral coordination. Together, in their second trilateral meeting this year, the Leaders resolved to forge still-closer trilateral links, in the security realm and beyond.
The Leaders recognize that challenges of the 21st century require closer cooperation among Japan, the ROK and the United States. The United States’ ironclad alliance commitments to the ROK and Japan and our close, enduring friendships are critical to the security and prosperity of our citizens, the region, and the world.Also, the Leaders concurred to work in a trilateral format at all levels of government to implement our approaches to the Indo-Pacific, a region of vital importance to global peace, security, and prosperity. The leaders will align our collective efforts in pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is inclusive, resilient, and secure.
***
I. SECURE THE INDO-PACIFIC AND BEYOND
The Leaders strongly condemn DPRK’s unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches this year, including multiple ICBM launches, as well as a flurry of conventional military action that pose a grave threat to the peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. They reaffirm their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC)resolutions. The Leaders urge the DPRK to abide by its obligations under these resolutions as well as its previous commitments and agreements and call on all UN Member States to fully implement all UNSC resolutions. They reaffirm that a DPRK nuclear test would be met with a strong and resolute response from the international community. Japan, the ROK,and the United States will coordinate sanctions and work together to close gaps in the international sanctions regime to ensure all relevant sanctions are fully enforced. The path to dialogue remains open toward peaceful and diplomatic resolution with the DPRK, and the Leaders call on the DPRK to return to negotiations. To this end, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida express support for the goal of the ROK’s “Audacious Initiative.” The leaders reaffirm a shared commitment to the immediate resolution of the abductions issue. Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden also express their support for the immediate release of the ROK citizens detained in the DPRK.
At the same time, the three countries will work together to strengthen deterrence. President Biden reiterated that the U.S. commitment to defend Japan and the ROK is ironclad and backed by the full range of capabilities, including nuclear. As the regional security environment grows more challenging,President Biden reaffirms that the U.S. commitment to reinforce extended deterrence to Japan and the ROK will only strengthen. Our recent joint exercises demonstrate our resolve to maintain peace and stability and defend the rules-based international order. The Leaders intend to share DPRK missile warning data in real time to improve each country’s ability to detect and assess the threat posed by incoming missiles, a major step for deterrence, peace and stability.
The Leaders affirm their commitment to stand with Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine that has shaken the foundation of the international order. They recognize that the Indo-Pacific cannot be stable and secure while aggression rages anywhere; threats to territorial integrity and sovereignty undermine the fabric of the entire international order. They share condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Russia’s indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and call for the immediate restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. They condemn Russia’s nuclear threats to coerce and intimidate and state unequivocally that any use of a nuclear weapon by Russia would be an act of hostility against humanityand Russia shall never use it under any circumstances. They share determination to ensure that no such acts are ever perpetrated anywhere including in the Indo-Pacific. In this regard, leaders also reject Russia’s false claims that Ukraine is preparing a radiological “dirty bomb.”
The Leaders strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in waters of the Indo-Pacific, including through unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and coercive activities. The Leaders reiterated their firm commitment to the rule of law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight, consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Prime Minister Kishida, President Yoon, and President Biden emphasize that their basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged, and reiterate the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community.
II. GROWING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
The Leaders wholeheartedly reaffirm ASEAN centrality and unity and their support for the ASEAN-led regional architecture, including the East Asia Summit. They pledge to work closely with ASEAN partners to support robust implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, as well as to continue to align their own regional strategies with it. They condemn the coup in Myanmar and the Myanmar military’s brutal attacks on civilians, and commit to continue to support ASEAN’s efforts and to take action to press for implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus, the immediate cessation of violence, the release of all those who are wrongfully detained, unfettered countrywide humanitarian access, and a swift return to democracy.
The Leaders emphasized their joint commitment to the prosperity, security, sustainability, and resilience of the Mekong sub-region and support for collaboration and coordination as development partners and members of the Friends of the Mekong group. Japan, the ROK and the United States, are working to support the Mekong sub-region’s economic and sustainable energy development, as well as promoting a water-secure and climate resilient Mekong River Basin. The Leaders reaffirm support for the sub-regional cooperation frameworks, including the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) to ensure sustainable development and promote coordination among Mekong sub-region member countries and development partners.
The Leaders reaffirm their commitment to the Pacific Islandcountries, and the importance of working in genuine partnership with the Pacific in a transparent and effective manner, guided by the Pacific Island Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. They commit to addressing key issues of concern for the Pacific Islands, including climate change; illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; and economic development.They will look for opportunities to do so individually and together, including through the Partners in the Blue Pacific, and President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida welcome President Yoon’s intent to join the partnership.
III. ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP, AND TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
The Leaders emphasize the importance of trilateral cooperation to strengthen the rules-based economic order to enhance economic security and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific and the world. Prime Minister Kishida, President Yoon and President Biden are pleased to launch a dialogue among the three governments on economic security. Our countries will stand together to promote and protect our technology leadership, for the benefit of the region and the world. They will continue toensure secure and resilient supply chains, promote Data Free Flow with Trust, enhance trilateral, regional and like-minded cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, protect critical infrastructure and strengthen resilient and diverse supply chains of critical minerals to elevate environmental, social, and governance standards in the sector. The three countries will cooperate to advance innovation and deployment of emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, quantum information science and technology, biotechnology, and advanced communications, including use of open-RAN technology. They will coordinate implementation of their respective initiatives on semiconductor supply chain diversification, research and development, and workforce development. The three countries will stand as one against economic coercion and in favor of sustainable and transparent lending practices.
The Leaders commit to cooperate closely through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), based on the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness. They concur inworking together to develop a comprehensive IPEF that will deepen economic engagement on priority issues, including the digital economy, resilient supply chains, clean energy, and other priorities geared toward promoting sustainable and inclusiveeconomic growth. Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon look forward to President Biden’s hosting of APEC next year. To spur economic growth, the Leaders will take measures to empower women with equal opportunity and access to good jobs. The strength of our democracies and our economies depends on the full participation of women.
The three countries will also continue to help the Indo-Pacific region recover from COVID-19, and strengthen health security to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. By aligning each of their efforts towards pandemic preparedness, they will work to ensure that the entire Indo-Pacific is better-equipped to confront future health threats.
The Leaders underscore the urgency of tackling the climate crisis, highlighted at the recent 27th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). The three countries will work domestically and with partners to enhance global ambition to accelerate growth of the clean energy economy, avert the most catastrophic impacts of climate change, and help lower- and middle- income countries build resilience to climate impacts. All three countries joined the Net Zero Government Initiative at COP27, committing to achieving net-zero emissions from national government operations by no later than 2050. The leaders also highlight the importance of innovation and deployment of clean energy, such as nuclear power, next generation batteries, clean hydrogen and ammonia,and carbon capture and storage as essential to lowering emissions.
***
Prime Minister Kishida, President Yoon and President Biden affirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and express their confidence that their trilateral partnership will continue to benefit all its people. The leaders welcome their respective approaches to the Indo-Pacific, and agreed to be in solidarity in pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, resilient and secure. The leaders agreed to closely cooperate in implementing their various Indo-Pacific Strategies.
###
whitehouse.gov · by The White House · November 13, 2022
3. Yoon, first lady reunite with Biden at gala dinner in Cambodia
Photos at the link: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221113001300315?section=national/diplomacy
Yoon, first lady reunite with Biden at gala dinner in Cambodia | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
By Lee Haye-ah
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee briefly reunited with U.S. President Joe Biden at a gala dinner for world leaders in Phnom Penh the previous day, the presidential office said Sunday.
Yoon and Kim "met with U.S. President Joe Biden who entered the venue shortly after they arrived and happily exchanged greetings," deputy presidential spokesperson Lee Jae-myoung said in a written briefing. "President Yoon and President Biden caught up with each other and fondly posed for photos."
The couple also happily exchanged greetings with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko, Lee said.
The leaders are in Cambodia to attend regional summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. On Sunday, Yoon, Biden and Kishida are scheduled to hold bilateral and trilateral summits on the event's sidelines.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
4. Yoon says N.K. denuclearization is precondition for peaceful Indo-Pacific
And the precondition for denuclearization is unification.
Yoon says N.K. denuclearization is precondition for peaceful Indo-Pacific | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
By Lee Haye-ah
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol said Sunday that North Korea's denuclearization is a precondition for peace in the Indo-Pacific region and that South Korea remains prepared to provide unsparing assistance should the North decide to denuclearize.
Yoon made the remarks during an East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, which brought together the leaders of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and eight dialogue partners, including South Korea, the United States, Japan and China.
"President Yoon said North Korea's denuclearization must come first for a peaceful Indo-Pacific, and that should North Korea launch another intercontinental ballistic missile or stage a nuclear test despite the repeated concerns and warnings of the international community, the international community should respond firmly," his office said in a press release.
"At the same time, he said the door to dialogue with North Korea is always open and reaffirmed that should North Korea take steps to denuclearize, we will provide unsparing assistance in line with our 'audacious plan,'" it said, referring to Yoon's initiative to provide massive assistance to the North in exchange for a denuclearization commitment.
Yoon also called for refraining from actions that raise tensions in the South China Sea, saying the body of water should become "a sea of peace and prosperity that defends the rules-based maritime order" where the freedom of navigation and overflight are guaranteed, his office said.
On the war in Ukraine, Yoon said Russia's invasion of the country was a violation of international law, and a threat to the lives and human rights of the Ukrainian people.
He said Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence should be respected, and that South Korea will further increase humanitarian assistance to the war-torn nation.
Yoon also expressed deep concern over the decline of democracy in Myanmar, and expressed hope for a return of freedom and democracy to the nation.
He pledged South Korea's increased humanitarian assistance to the Myanmarese people in close cooperation with the international community.
Yoon again stressed South Korea's commitment to freedom, human rights and the rule of law as outlined in its new Indo-Pacific strategy.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
5. Yoon, Biden, Kishida agree to strengthen deterrence against N. Korea
Think how much more powerful this statement would be if it was a trilateral alliance making it.
(LEAD) Yoon, Biden, Kishida agree to strengthen deterrence against N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details of trilateral summit)
By Lee Haye-ah
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday reaffirmed Washington's commitment to bolster its "extended deterrence" protection of South Korea and Japan during a trilateral summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The three leaders met in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of annual regional gatherings amid heightened tensions in the wake of a series of North Korean missile launches and persistent concern that Pyongyang could carry out its seventh nuclear test at any time.
"The Leaders strongly condemn DPRK's unprecedented number of ballistic missile launches this year, including multiple ICBM launches, as well as a flurry of conventional military action that pose a grave threat to the peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond," the leaders said in a joint statement. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
They also urged the North to abide by its obligations and commitments to denuclearize while reaffirming yet another nuclear test by the North would be met with "a strong and resolute response from the international community."
"At the same time, the three countries will work together to strengthen deterrence. President Biden reiterated that the U.S. commitment to defend Japan and the ROK is ironclad and backed by the full range of capabilities, including nuclear," the statement said. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, Republic of Korea.
"As the regional security environment grows more challenging, President Biden reaffirms that the U.S. commitment to reinforce extended deterrence to Japan and the ROK will only strengthen," it said.
The leaders said their countries' recent joint military exercises demonstrated their resolve to maintain peace and stability, and defend the rules-based international order.
"The leaders intend to share DPRK missile warning data in real time to improve each country's ability to detect and assess the threat posed by incoming missiles, a major step for deterrence, peace and stability," the statement said.
The presidential office said it was the first time the three countries adopted a joint statement of a "comprehensive nature," covering major economic and political points, including their agreement to establish a new trilateral economic security dialogue and jointly respond to "economic coercion."
During the summit, Yoon presented South Korea's new Indo-Pacific strategy for a free, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, and Biden and Kishida welcomed the initiative, saying they look forward to close trilateral cooperation in the process of its implementation.
The leaders also discussed cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Mekong region, their commitment to stand with Ukraine against Russia's "unprovoked and brutal war of aggression," their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in waters of the Indo-Pacific, and the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the statement said.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
6. Yoon, Japan's Kishida condemn N.K. missile launches, agree to continue talks on disputes
Progress. Some hope for improved relations in the future.
Yoon, Japan's Kishida condemn N.K. missile launches, agree to continue talks on disputes | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
By Lee Haye-ah
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly condemned North Korea's recent missile launches Sunday and agreed to continue discussions for a quick resolution of pending issues between the two countries, Yoon's office said.
The two held a summit on the sidelines of regional gatherings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, their second meeting in less than two months.
"The two leaders strongly condemned North Korea's recent successive ballistic missile launches as serious and grave provocative acts threatening peace and safety not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and the international community," Yoon's office said in a press release.
They also agreed to work together to strengthen trilateral security cooperation with the United States, and for a U.N. Security Council response to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
On "pending issues" between the two countries, a reference to disputes related to Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, Yoon and Kishida assessed the active communication under way between their diplomats and "agreed to continue discussions for a swift resolution," the presidential office said.
The neighbors have been locked in a prolonged row over Japanese firms' payment of compensation to Korean forced labor victims, with Japan insisting all matters of compensation were resolved under a 1965 bilateral treaty.
"The two leaders welcomed the recent swift recovery of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and expressed their hope for an expansion of exchanges between the peoples of the two nations," the presidential office said.
Yoon and Kishida also discussed their respective Indo-Pacific strategies, and agreed to work together for an inclusive, resilient, safe, free and open Indo-Pacific region.
At the summit's opening, Kishida extended his condolences to the bereaved families and the South Korean people over the Itaewon crowd crush, and Yoon responded by expressing his condolences over the deaths of two Japanese nationals in the tragedy.
The two agreed to continue communication at the leader level.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
7. Yoon, Biden vow to respond with overwhelming force if N.K. uses nuclear weapons
Nearly echoing the statements of thetheir Secretary and Minister of Defense (who said the regime would cease to exist).
Excerpts:
"The two leaders shared their serious concern over North Korea's recent unprecedented and aggressive provocations, and agreed to maintain and strengthen the seamless coordination and firm combined defense posture between South Korea and the U.S," Yoon's office said in a press release.
"Also, they reaffirmed that should North Korea use nuclear weapons in any form, South Korea and the United States will respond with overwhelming force using all available means," it said.
(LEAD) Yoon, Biden vow to respond with overwhelming force if N.K. uses nuclear weapons | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
(ATTN: UPDATES with results of summit; CHANGES headline; ADDS photo)
By Lee Haye-ah
PHNOM PENH, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden warned Sunday the two countries will respond with "overwhelming force using all available means" should North Korea use nuclear weapons.
The leaders reached the agreement during a one-on-one summit held in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of regional gatherings amid heightened tensions in the wake of North Korea's unprecedented provocations and concerns the regime could conduct its seventh nuclear test.
"The two leaders shared their serious concern over North Korea's recent unprecedented and aggressive provocations, and agreed to maintain and strengthen the seamless coordination and firm combined defense posture between South Korea and the U.S," Yoon's office said in a press release.
"Also, they reaffirmed that should North Korea use nuclear weapons in any form, South Korea and the United States will respond with overwhelming force using all available means," it said.
The summit came amid heightened tensions following North Korea's barrage of weapons tests, including a failed test of an intercontinental ballistic missile and its first launch of a ballistic missile over Japan in five years.
Last month, the North also carried out military drills involving units operating "tactical nukes," including simulating nuclear missile strikes on South Korean airports and firing a nuclear-capable missile from under a reservoir.
The North is also widely expected to conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test soon.
Yoon stressed the need to demonstrate to the North it has nothing to gain from its nuclear and missile programs, and the need to strengthen the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea in a practical and bold way in step with North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities.
"President Yoon asked President Biden to continue to take an interest so that a stronger and more effective extended deterrence regime can be established," the presidential office said. "President Biden reaffirmed the United States' ironclad defense and extended deterrence commitment to South Korea, and called for continuing close consultations on ways to strengthen extended deterrence."
The two leaders also addressed South Korea's concerns about the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which gives tax credits only to electric vehicles assembled in North America, raising concerns it could act as a trade barrier for South Korean auto companies.
"President Biden said South Korean businesses contribute greatly to the U.S. economy in areas including autos and electric batteries, and that the IRA's implementation should be discussed in consideration of that," the presidential office said.
The summit lasted 50 minutes, which was 20 minutes longer than scheduled, and also covered the allies' cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Yoon explained South Korea's new Indo-Pacific strategy, saying it has decided to formally participate in the Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative launched by the U.S. and other countries.
The two leaders agreed to meet again in Washington next year to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the alliance. Yoon also congratulated Biden on the upcoming wedding of his granddaughter, and the U.S. president expressed his special thanks.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · November 13, 2022
8. How a team of Australians go into the world’s most dangerous strip of land to recover the remains of dead soldiers
I was unaware of this Australian mission.
How a team of Australians go into the world’s most dangerous strip of land to recover the remains of dead soldiers
ABC.net.au · November 12, 2022
When North Korea's communist forces crossed the border and rampaged through the south, Joonhee Wang's grandparents fled fearing for their lives.
Born in the north, her family spent each night listening to the sounds of gunfire, as the two sides battled for victory in the early 1950s.
It was only when the north reached the port city of Busan, where South Korean forces and its allies made a final stand, did the tide of the war finally turn.
The fighting ended in 1953, but in Korea the conflict is frozen in time.
The two opposing sides, still technically at war, are separated by a heavily fortified area called the Demilitarised Zone, which divides the Korean peninsula.
It is considered the world's most dangerous strip of land.
Laced with landmines and watched closely by both North and South Korea, the Demilitarised Zone is considered the most dangerous place on Earth. (ABC News: James Oaten)
But a specialist team of Australians, including Joonhee, are risking their lives to travel into the zone and recover the bodies of those lost to history.
The risky process of recovering bodies in a danger zone
For decades, Joonhee Wang's grandparents never spoke about the horrors of that bloody period of history.
Joonhee moved from South Korea to Australia as a teenager, as her parents wanted to expand her world view.
She joined the Royal Australian Air Force after training as a pharmacist and became a flight lieutenant.
Then in July, the 30-year-old returned to her birthplace as part of a special overseas mission, called Operation Linesman.
It was while standing in Korea's Demilitarised Zone that she finally had the chance to ask her grandparents about their experiences.
It is estimated there are about 1 million landmines buried in the DMZ. (ABC News: James Oaten )
"It was just unspoken of," Joonhee said.
"None of my parents heard any of these war stories, it was just unspoken of because they didn't want to share their sorrowful history."
Now Joonhee is playing a major role in helping recover some of that past.
Working alongside two other Australian defence personnel — leading aircraftsman Ben Whitfield from the Royal Australian Air Force and petty officer Jason Wilson from the Royal Australian Navy – the trio are charged with upholding the delicate armistice, signed at the end of the Korean War, and enforced by United Nations Command.
Leading aircraftsman Ben Whitfield from the Royal Australian Air Force (left), Joonhee Wang, and petty officer Jason Wilson from the Royal Australian Navy (right).(ABC News: James Oaten)
Their work allows South Korean troops to enter the Demilitarised Zone to retrieve the bodies of fallen soldiers. But it's incredibly risky.
Landmines and other unexploded ordnances litter the ground and need to be carefully removed to allow the work to continue.
"We primarily make sure everyone operating within the demilitarised zone, operates safely, in a manner where they can go home afterwards," Whitfield explained.
"There are rules you have to follow. These rules cover everything from wearing the proper identification, to the way you can operate.
"[The armistice] also limits what types of things you can bring into the demilitarised zone, such as weapons."
A deal was struck to recover lost soldiers
After the defeat of Imperial Japan in World War II, the Korean peninsula was split into two camps: the north, overseen by the Soviet Union, and the south, supported by the United States.
After a heavy build-up of troops, the North Korean People's Army launched a massive surprise attack against South Korea, storming across the 38th parallel, which divided the two sides.
The United States and its allies, including Australia, sent in troops to help a beleaguered south, while China sent its soldiers to fight for the north.
The conflict's momentum changed many times, but the two forces ended up back on their respective side of the 38th parallel.
Australia nominated to create Operation Linesman after the two Koreas struck a deal in 2018 that would allow troops to go into the Demilitarised Zone for remains recovery and repatriation.
All three Australian defence personnel are rotated after about five months.
"I do know the history, from lessons and classes," Joonhee said.
"But to stand on the ground, where all it happened, I can contribute to the soldiers getting back home, is very meaningful and valuable to me."
Joonhee Wang returned to her homeland as part of a special overseas mission, called Operation Linesman.(ABC News: James Oaten)
In the few years of remains recovery, at least 475 bodies have been recovered.
Many South Korean and allied soldiers who perished are still wearing dog tags, making identification relatively easy. The south and its allies also had decent records of those who fought.
But sometimes specialist detective work is required.
During the final battles, South Korean and allied soldiers were dug into trenches, as they repelled final attacks from the north and China.
This means where the body is found, above ground or in a trench, may indicate which side the soldier fought for.
Often, DNA tests are required to identify the soldier and link them to a family.
"We need to ensure we remember that their sacrifice and their service has not been forgotten," Joonhee said.
"People came from all over the globe to fight for peace.
"They have to go back to their home."
Why are recovery efforts so important to families?
One of the most recent recoveries is Kim Young-hwan's eldest brother, Kim Il-soo.
He was only five when Kim Il-soo was marched off to war.
Young-hwan said his brother was too young to be enlisted, but local officials sent him anyway.
Kim Young-hwan spent years not knowing if his brother had died in the war.(ABC News: James Oaten)
Sometime later, the family received a notice saying his brother was missing in action.
"Whenever my mum went up and down the field, she cried calling my brother's name," he said.
Young-hwan's parents died never knowing where their little boy perished.
But this year, Young-hwan was given the news he never expected. His brother had been found.
Officials had matched his DNA he provided some three years earlier with the remains uncovered.
A few precious possessions were also retrieved, including a metal spoon and belt.
Now, the cremated remains of Kim Il-soo are on display at the National Cemetery Charnel in Seoul.
Kim Young-hwan, sitting on the lawn of National Cemetery Charnel, in front of the box that contains his brother's belongings.(ABC News: James Oaten)
"I can come here once a year and say hello to my brother until I die," Young-hwan said.
Despite getting closure, Young-hwan said his heart is heavy knowing many others remain unaccounted-for.
"Those who can't find them will be heartbroken," he said.
A long road to reuniting bodies with loved ones
With some 10,000 bodies strewn across the Demilitarised Zone, finding all those lost in the Korean War will be impossible.
The South Korean remains recovery team is focused on battle sites where the greatest number of remains can be found within a confined area.
Currently, they are at the site of the Battle of White Horse, where South Korean, French, and American troops fought against Chinese soldiers.
Despite the fact Australia wasn't part of this specific battle, petty officer Jason Wilson still feels a personal connection.
"They were our friends, our allies," he said.
"I feel somewhat connected here due to the fact we still have 42 Australians remaining on the Korean peninsula MIA.
"Even though we may not be able to recover them, being part of this project is somewhat fulfilling."
The Australian connection is something that Kim Young-hwan appreciates.
"Koreans had no choice but to join the battle," he said.
"But I am very grateful for soldiers who came to Korea from abroad. It's so sad and heartbreaking that they died here.
"I want to say thank you to Australia for saving our country during the Korean war."
The cremated remains of Kim Il-soo are on display at the National Cemetery Charnel in Seoul.(ABC News: James Oaten)
ABC.net.au · November 12, 2022
9. Improve cyberwarfare capabilities
Concur. The alliance must step up its cyber warfare against the regime in the north.
Excerpt:
The Yoon Suk-yeol administration must augment cyberwarfare capabilities. The transition committee chose it as an agenda items for the new government. But it must speed it up. The U.S. demonstrated powerful cyberwar capabilities enough to retaliate for North Korea’s hacking of Sony Pictures in 2014. We must find effective ways to neutralize the North’s nuclear threats by strengthening cyberwar capability. If that is possible, we can ease our security concerns.
Sunday
November 13, 2022
dictionary + A - A
Improve cyberwarfare capabilities
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/11/13/opinion/columns/North-Korea-nuclear-tactical/20221113200209701.html
Yoon Young-kwan
The author is an emeritus professor at Seoul National University and a former foreign minister.
North Korea fired a barrage of missiles into the East Sea over the past two months, citing the threats from the resumed “South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises.” But on South Korea’s part, the joint drills were necessary as it became clear that the North spent the four-year period from 2018 advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities after the peace-loving Moon Jae-in administration suspended the joint drills. For instance, it is difficult for radar to detect and intercept a KN-23 short-range ballistic missile due to its fast speed and low-altitude flying. Such tactical weapons are aimed at overwhelming the enemy in the initial stage of war. An SLBM also can strike at the rear of our missile defense systems.
To effectively cope with missile provocations, you must reinforce deterrence, defense and combat readiness. North Korea’s strong opposition to such drills represents its quixotic demand “You stay put while I’ll prepare for the attack!”
The North’s strong response to the joint exercise seems to have two reasons. First, it is an external strategy. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will certainly return to the negotiating table at some point. On his part, strengthening military power is essential to consolidating his power base, but the economy is crucial too. At the moment, no one knows how many years the North Korean economy could withstand international sanctions.
If dialogue is to resume, North Korea would trade nuclear arms reduction — not denuclearization — for lifting sanctions or U.S. nuclear weapons reduction. To have the upper hand in such negotiations, Kim must escalate the level of his nuclear missile capability, raise tension to appropriate levels, and pressure his counterparts. In other words, Kim took action with future talks in his mind.
Second, the North’s strong response could be designed for domestic propaganda to instill a sense of pride among his people that the North Korean military has grown strong enough to fight against the South-U.S. Combined Forces.
If the tension continues, how should we respond? The key lies in a cool-headed response instead of panic. Security experts and government officials started talking about our countermeasures, including nuclear armaments, redeployment of tactical nukes, and nuclear sharing with the U.S. But whatever choice we make, we must push it in close cooperation with the U.S. so as not to burn down the barn to kill the rats.
The options mentioned above will likely do more harm than good. With regard to the development of nuclear weapons on our own, we need to look back at the vehement U.S. opposition to the idea pushed by president Park Chung Hee in the mid-1970s. The U.S. still opposes a South Korean government’s attempt to develop nuclear weapons. Decision makers in the U.S. would want to tell their South Korean counterparts that America successfully deterred the nuclear threats from the Soviets possessing even more nukes than North Korea’s. U.S. officials would say, “In addition, 28,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea. What a stronger security assurance is there than that? Do you really want to develop nuclear weapons because you don’t trust us?”
If South Korea wants to develop nuclear weapons, it must closely coordinate with America and build its potential nuclear capabilities. It can refer to the case of Japan, which has been accumulating its nuclear capabilities through close consultation with the U.S. to produce it quickly when the need arises. If that model is to work for South Korea, Seoul must build strong trust with Washington.
The redeployment of tactical nukes or nuclear sharing has a problem. If nuclear weapons are brought in, they should be stored somewhere. But that place can be a primary target for enemy attacks. More effective than that is to deter the North’s nuclear threats by U.S. submarines or strategic bombers both carrying nuclear warheads, U.S. security experts advise. Moreover, if tactical nuclear weapons are deployed in South Korea, China and Russia, not to mention local residents, will oppose it vehemently. In the case of nuclear sharing, the ultimate decision maker is a U.S. president and that authority has never been shared with any other country.
The most reasonable choice is to reinforce the extended deterrence. U.S. Defense Department officials use the novel concept of “integrated deterrence” aimed at deterring enemy aggressions by combining all areas of military operations — including nuclear, conventional, cyber, space and information — with defense capabilities of allies. South Korea and the U.S. need to discuss ways to link the traditional deterrence to the new concept to deter the North’s nuclear threats.
The Yoon Suk-yeol administration must augment cyberwarfare capabilities. The transition committee chose it as an agenda items for the new government. But it must speed it up. The U.S. demonstrated powerful cyberwar capabilities enough to retaliate for North Korea’s hacking of Sony Pictures in 2014. We must find effective ways to neutralize the North’s nuclear threats by strengthening cyberwar capability. If that is possible, we can ease our security concerns.
Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
10. The Defense Department Finally Asks the Barker Brothers For Help Correcting the Korean War Memorial
The Defense Department Finally Asks the Barker Brothers For Help Correcting the Korean War Memorial
East Dallas brothers Ted and Hal Barker have documented the soldiers who died in the Korean War for decades as a labor of love. The Defense Department is now asking for their help correcting its mistakes, and it may be too late.
By Bethany Erickson
| November 11, 2022|12:21 pm
dmagazine.com · by Bethany Erickson · November 11, 2022
Brothers Hal and Ted Barker have worked for decades to memorialize the soldiers that died in the Korean War. Much of that time has been spent painstakingly working to make sure that soldiers are accurately remembered. In two weeks, the brothers’ database and website chronicling those who died during Korean War could be gone for good, because labors of love cost both time and money.
The original Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated 27 years ago on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The new Memorial Wall of Remembrance added more than 43,000 names. Construction on the $22 million project began in March 2021 and was paid for mostly by donations. It was unveiled in a rededication ceremony in July.
But if you talk to Hal Barker, he’ll tell you that the memorial does a disservice to a great deal of them.
For almost as long as the Barkers have been maintaining and researching their database, the two have been pulling at the shirttails of the foundation tasked with the physical memorial and with the Department of Defense. The brothers want the two entities to correct hundreds of misspellings and inaccuracies. The response as recently as this summer was that the Barkers’ database and research wasn’t enough to convince the federal government of its errors.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel James Fisher, the executive director of the foundation overseeing the memorial, said as much to Texas Monthly. The Barkers “have to follow the law,” he told the magazine, which means adhering to the official DOD list. “They’re going to have to prove their case,” he said. “‘This guy should be on the wall.’ Okay, where’s your proof? If you have someone shot down in the sea, a family member has to petition it, not the Barker brothers.”
Hal says there are more than a thousand names that are misspelled or rendered inaccurately, and 500 more missing from the monument altogether.
But last month, Hal got an unexpected phone call. “On October 21, I’m sitting here, and the phone rings, and it’s the Department of Defense saying, ‘Hey Hal, would you be willing to help us fix the database?’”
Barker said the DOD wanted the names in his database as well as the names they were missing.
“I said, ‘Well, you know, I’m going to need to have this formalized. I’m going to need to have a flag rank officer sign off on this and about what kind of credit we get and why this is happening,’” Hal said of the call. “He said, ‘Done deal, we’ll do that for you, but we need to have you help us fix this problem.’”
Hal shared a follow-up email from his contact at the Defense Department, which reiterated that he would “appreciate any information that you can provide that would assist the Department in updating and correcting the Korean War Casualty list.”
The Korean War began in 1950 and lasted three years. Often called “The Forgotten War,” at least 36,000 Americans died in that three-year period. For comparison, 58,000 died in the decade-long Vietnam War. Thousands are still missing in action to this day.
The most nascent effort to commemorate those who fought in the Korean War began in Dallas in 1984, when Hal Barker donated $10 to the American Battle Monuments Commission to seed the work that would become a Korean War memorial trust fund. Eventually, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to create the memorial, which was paid for with private donations sent to the trust fund that Hal had started with that sawbuck.
But nearly from the start, the casualty list was a bone of contention that has resulted, Hal said, in a monument that is riddled with inaccuracies. The brothers’ assistance comes too late to fix the misspelled and misrendered names on the memorial. ”Those get to stay there forever,” he said.
“For example, with Ignatius Spotted Bear, he is on the wall as Bear, I Spotted,” Hal said, adding that the names of Spotted Bear and other Native American soldiers were often misrendered on the memorial.
Some soldiers who died in Korea are listed under the wrong home countries, which will make it more difficult for their loved ones to find them if they ever visit the memorial. More than 200 names will likely be removed because those soldiers didn’t die in Korea but in completely different countries. Barker gave the example of a Navy squadron plane that crashed in Japan, just south of Hiroshima.
“There were nine men killed on this crash in Japan outside the area of criteria,” he said. “The Navy has, I think, five of them rated as killed in North Korea, so they are on the wall. The rest of the crew are not eligible to be on the wall because they were listed as killed in Japan. But they were on the same plane, and there’s no explanation other than they’re complete idiots. It was just absolute gross negligence.”
The worst thing about the mistakes, Barker said, is that he is “100 percent” sure they’ll never be fixed, because there is no money for it. The Barkers ultimately published a list of names on their own, with underwriting from Los Angeles philanthropist Mary Urquhart. The 4-pound, 525-page book had an initial printing of 500 copies and is an accounting of “everyone known to have died in the war, along with birthdays, hometowns, units in which they served, places and dates of death, and official status.”
Hal said that they have 100 books left, and how quickly those 100 books sell may make the difference in whether the two brothers can continue their labor of love.
“If we can’t sell those, we shut down in about two weeks. We’re gone,” he said. “Ted’s looking at working in at Walmart and I’m looking at working at a pet shop. So our website will be gone. Our data will be gone, and we’ll be gone basically.”
Hal said that doesn’t mean they’re done caring, however. They’re pushing for the Senate Armed Services Committee to investigate the whole mess at the Memorial, and they’re hoping others will, too. Hal says he’ll take a day off from the pet store if it means he can testify to the shoddy treatment of the soldiers who were killed in action more than half a century ago.
“Somebody’s head’s going to have to roll in Washington and I’m waiting to be the one handling the guillotine,” he said.
Get the D Brief Newsletter
Dallas’ most important news stories of the week, delivered to your inbox each Sunday.
Author
Bethany Erickson
View Profile
Bethany Erickson is the senior digital editor for D Magazine. She's written about real estate, education policy, the stock market, and crime throughout her career, and sometimes all at the same time. She hates lima beans and 5 a.m. and takes SAT practice tests for fun.
dmagazine.com · by Bethany Erickson · November 11, 2022
11. Biden to tell Xi to help rein in N. Korea or face more drills in region
I think this is the right message. But we will have to back this up because Xi is unlikely to cooperate and help us solve our security issues.
"Expanded military presence" could mean more than "drills." What if we established a Northeast Asia Combatant Command? It is time to reprise that proposal.
Biden to tell Xi to help rein in N. Korea or face more drills in region
Stars and Stripes · by Justin Sink and Josh Wingrove · November 12, 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an event in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. He arrived in Cambodia Saturday for more summit meetings this weekend. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)
(Tribune News Service) — President Joe Biden will warn Chinese leader Xi Jinping of an expanded U.S. military presence in the region if Beijing doesn't help rein in North Korean military provocations, according to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Saturday morning shortly before Biden arrived in Cambodia, Sullivan said North Korea is a threat to the U.S., Japan, South Korea and to "peace and stability across the entire region."
Biden won't make any demand of Xi but will share his perspective, Sullivan said.
"If North Korea goes down this road, it will simply mean further enhanced American military and security presence in the region," Sullivan said. "And so the PRC has an interest in playing a constructive role in restraining North Korea's worst tendencies; whether they choose to do so or not is of course up to them."
Biden arrived in Cambodia on Saturday for a series of summits hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He plans to meet Sunday with the leaders of Japan and South Korea and ask them what they want him to tell Xi, Sullivan said, before meeting the Chinese leader on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Bali the following day.
Biden and Xi have discussed North Korea many times, Sullivan said, but the nation's increased military activity has raised the stakes. North Korea has launched more than 60 ballistic missiles so far in 2022, more than double the number of any year during Kim Jong Un's decade in power.
"The operational situation is more acute in the current moment because of the pace of these missile tests, and because of the looming threat of a potential nuclear test, seventh nuclear test," he said. "But the president sees this as quite familiar ground that he will be treading with President Xi when they meet in Bali."
The Biden-Xi meeting was long in the planning, Sullivan said. It's the first time the two will meet in person since Biden won the presidency.
"The president views this as not the end of the line but rather the start of a series of engagements that will also include further leader-to-leader meetings down the road," Sullivan said.
China will play "a constructive role" for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the nation's Premier Li Keqiang said at a meeting with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol Saturday, Yonhap News reported.
The two leaders briefly spoke to each other on the sidelines of the Asean Plus Three summit in Cambodia, Yonhap said, citing an unidentified official at Korea's presidential office. Li's remark came after Yoon expressed his concerns over the recent actions by North Korea, the report said.
With assistance from Jennifer Jacobs and Heejin Kim.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Visit bloomberg.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Stars and Stripes · by Justin Sink and Josh Wingrove · November 12, 2022
12. How Ukraine Could Win the 'Artillery War' Against Russia (Thanks to South Korea)
How Ukraine Could Win the 'Artillery War' Against Russia (Thanks to South Korea)
19fortyfive.com · by Peter Suciu · November 12, 2022
It is approximately 4,700 miles from the Korean peninsula to Ukraine. Yet, it now appears that both North and South Korea are playing a not-so-insignificant role in the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
It was reported in September that Russia had resorted to purchasing millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea to support its war effort. Now, it appears South Korean ordnance will be aiding Ukraine.
U.S. officials announced on Thursday that the United States would buy 100,000 rounds of 155mm howitzer artillery shells from South Korean manufacturers, which would then be sent to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported. The deal comes as Ukrainian leaders have pleaded for additional weapons and aid to press their advantage on the battlefield. Kyiv’s counteroffensive is successfully pushing back Russian forces from some areas that have been occupied since Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion in late February.
The deal between Washington and Seoul is also reported to be welcome news to U.S. military leaders – notably those in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps – who had expressed concerns that the persistent transfer of howitzer ammunition to Ukraine had depleted the Pentagon’s stockpiles. Large quantities of 155mm howitzer shells from the U.S. military have already been supplied, and the U.S. has recently shifted to sending older 105mm ordnance.
Over the summer, the fighting in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas transitioned to an artillery slug match between the two sides. Ukraine has been firing upwards of 7,000 rounds daily, while Russia has been rumored to be using as much as three times as many rounds a day.
Russian Stockpiles Depleted
Given the massive amounts of shells fired by both sides, it isn’t surprising that Russia turned to North Korea to acquire the ordnance to continue its war effort. North Korea has relied on weapons systems based on Soviet designs, and thus its shells are compatible with those employed by the Russian military.
Yet, by contrast, nearly all of the former Communist Bloc nations in Europe – which also have utilized Cold War-era military hardware – have instead provided aid instead to Ukraine.
How much Pyongyang can actually provide is still unknown. The Hermit Kingdom has endured United Nations sanctions, which were imposed in response to its recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Any arms sales to Russia by North Korea would therefore be a violation of those UN resolutions banning Pyongyang from exporting to or importing weapons from, other countries.
Though both Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the transfer of artillery shells and rockets, North Korea has still aligned with Russia over the war in Ukraine while also blaming the United States for the crisis, insisting that the West’s “hegemonic policy” has forced Russia to take military action to protect its security interests.
A Shift in South Korean Policy
It also isn’t clear if North Korea’s support for Russia has changed minds in South Korea, but until recently, Seoul had only committed to sending non-lethal equipment and supplies to aid Kyiv.
Both North and South Korea maintain massive stockpiles of ammunition due to the decades-long tensions along the heavily fortified and militarized border. Whether North Korea will be able to replenish its own supplies of artillery shells also isn’t clear, but according to reports, the ordnance sent by South Korea won’t come from its own military stockpiles.
It does seem that the conflict in Ukraine is becoming a proxy war between the two Koreas.
A Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
19fortyfive.com · by Peter Suciu · November 12, 2022
13. Fast Take: North Korea, Ukraine and ‘upping the ante’ for global conflict
Fast Take: North Korea, Ukraine and ‘upping the ante’ for global conflict
Stars and Stripes · by Brian McElhiney · November 10, 2022
(Stars and Stripes)
Buy Photo
As North Korea continues to ratchet up tensions in the Pacific, and with the war in Ukraine grinding on into its ninth month, the world seems to be growing more dangerous by the day.
In this Fast Take episode, the Military Matters team looks back at the two-part interview with retired Army Special Forces Col. David Maxwell. Co-hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy started out by talking about the relationship between North Korea and the U.S. and why South Koreans might feel caught in the middle.
“Now we have generations of young people in South Korea who have no firsthand memory of a united Korea — it's always been like this,” Murphy said. “So it is not to say that it doesn't matter to them, but it's probably not as pressing an issue as it was for their grandparents.”
Rodriguez called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February a “curve ball” that few experts predicted. “It feels like the world is upping the ante a little bit,” he said.
In light of that, could the situation on the Korean peninsula become even more unpredictable?
“When you look at North Korea, when you look at Taiwan, when you look at, you know, tensions heating up between Saudi Arabia and Iran, I mean, what does this mean?” Murphy said. “Does this signal something new? Does this conflict in Ukraine send a message about other conflicts around the world?”
You can find Military Matters on Twitter @stripesmmpod.
Follow Jack Murphy on Twitter @jackmurphyrgr and Rod Rodriguez @rodpodrod.
A transcript of the episode can be found here.
Go to www.stripes.com, use promo code PODCAST and save 50% on your digital subscription.
Stars and Stripes · by Brian McElhiney · November 10, 2022
14. Yoon signals end to Korea's strategic ambiguity in US-China rivalry
This is a significant development if this analysis is accurate.
Excerpts:
"It is not a matter of a complete scrapping of the previous policy or not, but we will inherit the good part and complement the insufficient part," Kim said.
Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's former ambassador to Russia, said President Yoon's unveiling of the nation's Indo-Pacific strategy signaled South Korea's leaning toward the United States amid the deepening U.S.-China rivalry.
For this reason, he said the strategy will certainly generate diplomatic gains and losses for Seoul's diplomacy afterwards.
Wi said the Indo-Pacific strategy signals South Korea's de facto departure from its longstanding diplomatic posture of strategic ambiguity in the U.S.-China rivalry. In the past, he said, South Korea had no principled policy toward the U.S.-China rivalry and its stance was based on strategic ambiguity. So South Korea did not act consistently, he said. According to him, President Yoon's Indo-Pacific strategy means that South Korea will end that practice of strategic ambiguity.
"My impression is that what the government said in its Indo-Pacific strategy is a little bit too much," he told The Korea Times. "It's apparent that South Korea is not a hegemonic state in the region. When I looked at the statement, I felt that what was said is a little too big, bigger than how South Korea is viewed and perceived by other nations."
Yoon signals end to Korea's strategic ambiguity in US-China rivalry
The Korea Times · by 2022-11-13 13:13 | Politics · November 13, 2022
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a Korea-ASEAN summit at Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday. Yoon unveiled Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy, highlighting Korea's pursuit of a free, peaceful and prosperous region based on a rules-based order. Yonhap
Yoon unveils South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy
By Kwon Mee-yoo
President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday reiterated that "changing the status quo by force" is not acceptable, a stance he emphasized in an earlier speech, in his summit with ASEAN leaders while unveiling South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy.
By singling out countries like Russia and Myanmar, the South Korean president said during his speech at the East Asia Summit in Cambodia's capital that Russia's invasion of Ukraine violates international law and voiced worries about what he called the retreat of democracy in Myanmar after a military coup last year.
He didn't spare criticism for China, either, albeit indirectly. He said the South China Sea should be a sea of peace and prosperity and stressed that freedom of navigation should be guaranteed, adding any actions that could escalate tensions there should be refrained.
He made the remarks which are in line with the U.S. government's longstanding position on the sea, amid a territorial dispute between China and Southeast Asian countries.
Yoon unveiled his Indo-Pacific strategy last Friday, highlighting the country's pursuit of freedom, peace and prosperity in the region based on a rules-based order under the three principles of inclusivity, trust and reciprocity.
With Yoon's diplomatic initiative to join the U.S.-led effort to contain China, some experts say South Korea will bid farewell to its longstanding diplomatic position on the U.S.-China rivalry, which has been described as strategic ambiguity.
During the Korea-ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the president said Korea's new Indo-Pacific strategy promotes peaceful resolution through dialogue, as peace and stability in the region are related directly to the country's survival and prosperity.
"We live in an era of the Indo-Pacific region. The region accounts for 65 percent of the world population and 60 percent of the GDP," he said.
Yoon stated that South Korea will try to strengthen the rules-based international order, which is also based on universal values.
"Any unilateral change in the status quo by force should never be tolerated," he added.
His remarks came amid escalating tensions in cross-strait relations following the confirmation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's third term and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
South Korea's plan to draw up its Indo-Pacific strategy was made public in May during President Yoon's summit with U.S. President Joe Biden. In a joint statement released after the summit, Biden shared his support for Yoon's initiative to formulate South Korea's own Indo-Pacific strategy framework. "The two presidents commit to cooperate closely through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, based on the principles of openness, transparency and inclusiveness," it read.
Middle part, from left, India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend the ASEAN - East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday. AP-Yonhap
The presidential office said a specific roadmap to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region will be unveiled later, as related Cabinet ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are currently working on it.
Yoon, first lady reunite with Biden at gala dinner in Cambodia
National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han explained that Yoon's Indo-Pacific strategy is South Korea's first-ever comprehensive regional strategy, broadening the country's diplomatic perspective, during a press briefing, Saturday.
Kim said the Yoon administration is the first Korean government to affirm that the key elements of Korea's foreign policy are upholding universal values such as freedom, human rights and the rule of law.
However, he also noted that does not mean that Korea excludes or condemns countries that do not share these values.
"We will cooperate for common interests with an open mind, but we will react resolutely against attempts to harm the universal values," Kim explained.
Kim's remarks came after speculations that Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy is aligned with the United States' efforts to keep China in check.
A high-ranking official at the presidential office said that the remarks on the status quo do not target a certain country but should be interpreted in generalities.
"Whether it is the U.S. or China, Korea needs to spread risks and the strategy could be interpreted as not putting all its eggs in one basket," the official said.
The official added that it is time to view the ASEAN region from a broader perspective incorporating politics, diplomacy, development and economy, as ASEAN has become a field of competition between the U.S. and China.
The previous Moon Jae-in administration's New Southern Policy centered on economic cooperation, but the new strategy diversifies Korea's approach to the region.
"It is not a matter of a complete scrapping of the previous policy or not, but we will inherit the good part and complement the insufficient part," Kim said.
Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's former ambassador to Russia, said President Yoon's unveiling of the nation's Indo-Pacific strategy signaled South Korea's leaning toward the United States amid the deepening U.S.-China rivalry.
For this reason, he said the strategy will certainly generate diplomatic gains and losses for Seoul's diplomacy afterwards.
Wi said the Indo-Pacific strategy signals South Korea's de facto departure from its longstanding diplomatic posture of strategic ambiguity in the U.S.-China rivalry. In the past, he said, South Korea had no principled policy toward the U.S.-China rivalry and its stance was based on strategic ambiguity. So South Korea did not act consistently, he said. According to him, President Yoon's Indo-Pacific strategy means that South Korea will end that practice of strategic ambiguity.
"My impression is that what the government said in its Indo-Pacific strategy is a little bit too much," he told The Korea Times. "It's apparent that South Korea is not a hegemonic state in the region. When I looked at the statement, I felt that what was said is a little too big, bigger than how South Korea is viewed and perceived by other nations."
When asked if there would be any differences in South Korea's diplomatic foothold in the region before and after the Indo-Pacific strategy, Wi responded negatively. "Among the ASEAN nations, China and Japan are influential states. Compared to them, South Korea's influence in the region is limited," he said.
He went on to say that drawing support from the ASEAN nations over North Korea is also challenging. "It's true that ASEAN forms a unity, but internally it's difficult to draw a consensus because each nation has very different stances on certain issues. For example, countries like Cambodia and Myanmar are close to North Korea," he said.
Yoon stepped up bilateral diplomacy with other nations on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Cambodia.
On Sunday, Yoon held bilateral summits with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and a U.S.-Japan-Korea trilateral summit with an emphasis on cooperation on North Korea issues.
The Korea Times · by 2022-11-13 13:13 | Politics · November 13, 2022
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
| 
