|
Quotes of the Day:
"War is a game played by maniacs who kill each other. Locate the man who profits by war and strip him of his profits – war will end."
- Woody Guthrie
American singer–songwriter, social critic and anti-fascist, 1912 - 1967
“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
– Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918–1956
"I have heard of patriotism in the United States, and it is a virtue which may be found among the people, but never among the leaders of the people."
– Alexis de Tocqueville
1. U.S. nuclear forces on permanent mission to Korean Peninsula
2. New Ladders in Douche Place (north Korea propaganda)
3. Tunnel Tactics (north Korea)
4. Brisk High-Speed Tunneling Shock Brigade Movement at Komdok Mining Complex
5. Trump ally says 'strong' U.S. president will help South Korea
6. Yoon wraps up NATO summitry focusing on cooperation against N. Korea-Russia alignment
7. S. Korea, U.S. wrap up 5th round of talks on defense cost sharing
8. No senior N. Korean officials attend banquet hosted by Chinese envoy in Pyongyang
9. N. Korea threatens 'unimaginably harsh price' following Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact
10. National security adviser: Trump camp says not to worry about alliance
11. Ruling party hails Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact as 'strong deterrent'
12. N. Korea decries NATO summit declaration, warns of strong 'strategic counteraction'
13. Kim Seong-tae fined for $8 million payment to N. Korea
14. First lady condemns NK human rights abuses in meeting with defectors in US
15. South Korea aims laser arms at North Korea’s drones
1. U.S. nuclear forces on permanent mission to Korean Peninsula
I think the Donga Ilbo may be misinterpreting (or "overinterpreting") the statement. (see statement at this link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/07/11/joint-statement-by-president-joseph-r-biden-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-president-yoon-suk-yeol-of-the-republic-of-korea-on-u-s-rok-guidelines-for-nuclear-deterrence-and-nuclear-operations-o/
I do not interpret the statement in the same way. I wonder if there is a translation issue.
U.S. nuclear forces on permanent mission to Korean Peninsula
donga.com
Posted July. 13, 2024 08:00,
Updated July. 13, 2024 08:00
U.S. nuclear forces on permanent mission to Korean Peninsula. July. 13, 2024 08:00. by Joo-Young Jeon aimhigh@donga.com.
The U.S. nuclear forces will be assigned to missions on the Korean Peninsula not only in wartime but also in peacetime to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear threats. The U.S. and South Korea have agreed to discuss the deployment of U.S. strategic assets, such as strategic bombers and strategic nuclear submarines (SSBN), 24/7 and to deploy them on the Korean Peninsula at a level comparable to permanent deployment. This is the first time such details have been formalized in a document. On Thursday, during a summit meeting held at the NATO Summit, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted a joint statement of the Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula.
The joint statement reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the two presidents to respond decisively to any nuclear attack by North Korea against the ROK. This commitment, as reiterated by President Biden, is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear. President Yoon also emphasized that the ROK’s full range of capabilities will significantly bolster the Alliance’s combined defense posture. ROK's First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo stressed in the briefing after the summit meeting that this is a special commitment provided by the U.S. to the ROK as its ally, underscoring the strength of the alliance.
The ROK Ministry of National Defense clarified that the joint guidelines are primarily aimed at increasing the frequency and intensity of the deployment of U.S. strategic assets. This strategic move is designed to deter North Korea's nuclear threats and ensure an immediate nuclear retaliation posture (nuclear umbrella) in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack, thereby enhancing the security of the region.
Meanwhile, President Biden criticized North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran together in a press conference following the NATO summit, stating that they are currently seeking ways to influence the international order together.
한국어
donga.com
2. New Ladders in Douche Place (north Korea propaganda)
I hear the regime's Propaganda and Agitation Department is looking for new English translators. (or at least a new Korea-English dictionary/thesaurus)
And note the brilliant on the spot guidance given by the Great, Dear, Supreme leader.
KCNA KCNA.kp (En)
New Ladders in Douche Place
Date: 08/07/2024 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source
https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1720427841-185730487/new-ladders-in-douche-place/
The respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un visited the Rungna Water Park under construction in June Juche 101 (2012).
Going round various places of the construction site, he learned about the construction. When he reached a douche place, he stopped walking.
The builders were proud of it as it was well suited to the environment.
After looking into the water tank of the douche place for a while, the General Secretary told officials that it would be advisable to install ladders or stairs on the wall of the tank so that people could enter or come out of it without any trouble.
The officials looked at the water tank again.
Then they felt that younger men could rise up with their arms stretched out, but it would be difficult for the aged, women and young children to come out.
After a while, Kim Jong Un instructed the officials to install four ladders or stairs on the wall of the tank.
This was how the ladders were created in the water tank of the douche place. -0-
www.kcna.kp (Juche113.7.8.)
3. Tunnel Tactics (north Korea)
This is why the north is so focused on tunnelling. It is key to defending against allied firepower (air, missile, rocket, and artillery).
Tunnel Tactics
Date: 11/07/2024 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source
https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1720688827-608960708/tunnel-tactics/
Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- The tunnel tactics is one of the unique warfare tactics created and applied by President Kim Il Sung during the Fatherland Liberation War (June 1950-July 1953).
The tactics based on tunnel positions was a powerful one that made it possible to preserve the personnel and weapons and combat equipment of our army to the maximum from enemy attacks, defend the occupied defence line and destroy more of the enemies.
Its efficiency was clearly proved in the battle on Height 153.7 in the east front in July Juche 41 (1952). In order to seize this small height defended by a company of our army, the enemy pounded the height with flying corps and thousands of shells to turn it into a sea of flames and dispatched a specially-trained regiment. The company defended the height after killing more than 900 enemy troops, without any human loss in the 14-hour ceaseless battle against the enemies which outnumbered our force.
The victory in the well-known battle on Height 1211 was a brilliant fruition of the tunnel tactics advanced by the President.
On September 23, 1951, he personally came to Height 1211 in the east front and indicated the orientation and ways for smashing the U.S. imperialists' frantic "autumn offensive" and took measures to make tunnel-based defence positions.
In order to occupy Height 1211, a military strategic vantage, the enemies showered 4 160 bombs and 527 260 shells on every square kilometer of the height in 1952 alone.
But the brave soldiers of the Korean People's Army by relying on the tunnel positions dealt a telling blow to the U.S. imperialist aggressors who were running wild, believing in their military muscle.
Ridgway, the chieftain of the U.S. imperialists' war, cried out in distress that the tunnel-based defence line of the People's Army would be the most powerful one known to the world.
The tunnel tactics provided a model of modern defence warfare in defeating the enemies, superior in numerical strength and military technique, with less personnel and conventional weapons, not yielding even an inch of land of the country. -0-
www.kcna.kp (Juche113.7.11.)
4. Brisk High-Speed Tunneling Shock Brigade Movement at Komdok Mining Complex
Another aspect of the regime's tunnel capabilities.
Everything is a battle in north Korea (according to a village women in the K-Drama "Crash Landing on You."she said even Kimchi making is a battle)
Brisk High-Speed Tunneling Shock Brigade Movement at Komdok Mining Complex
Date: 10/07/2024 | Source: KCNA.kp (En) | Read original version at source
https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1720602441-834563420/brisk-high-speed-tunneling-shock-brigade-movement-at-komdok-mining-complex/
Pyongyang, July 10 (KCNA) -- Members of the high-speed tunneling shock brigade of trade unions from across the country dispatched to the Komdok Mining Complex made a great contribution to producing millions of tons of minerals by tunneling more than 12 600 meters through collective innovations over the past three years.
True to the intention of the Workers' Party of Korea to dynamically conduct the high-speed tunneling movement at the complex, the shock brigade members overfulfilled their yearly tunneling plans every year by displaying the undaunted spirit despite the difficulties caused by global health crisis and natural disasters.
During the high-speed tunneling movement they have grown to be the patriots who are dedicating themselves to the prosperity of the country and the personifiers of the collective spirit who are devoting themselves to difficult and toilsome work while helping and leading each other forward. This is another precious success made by the vitality of the revolutionary mass movement. -0-
www.kcna.kp (Juche113.7.10.)
5. Trump ally says 'strong' U.S. president will help South Korea
I hope Mr. Fleitz is not out ahead of his ski tips here. A possible future President Trump might not appreciate being spoken for.
Saturday
July 13, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 13 Jul. 2024, 08:00
Trump ally says 'strong' U.S. president will help South Korea
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-07-13/national/diplomacy/Trump-ally-says-strong-US-president-will-help-South-Korea/2087863
Fred Fleitz, deputy director of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speaks during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at Westin Josun Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, on July 8. [JEON MIN-KYU]
North Korea and Russia will cease to have a reason to trade weapons once the war in Ukraine ends, and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House could bring about that change, said Fred Fleitz, deputy director of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), during a recent interview.
“With a strong American president, I think he can move North Korea away from this relationship and move Russia in another direction too because Trump also wants to end the war in Ukraine,” said Fleitz, who served as chief of staff for the National Security Council under the Trump administration, during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, on Monday.
Calling the current close relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow a “marriage of convenience” that only “exists for now,” Fleitz evaluated Seoul’s move to review providing lethal weapons to Kyiv as an “appropriate response.”
Fleitz, considered one of Trump’s closest associates, is a former member of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and has served in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the State Department, and the House Intelligence Committee. He was visiting Seoul for four days from Sunday to Thursday, meeting with government officials, including First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun, and visiting the headquarters of Hyundai Motor Group.
Fleitz was accompanied by Steve Yates, a leading China expert at the AFPI, who also sat for the interview with the JoongAng Ilbo. Prior to the interview, the two experts clarified that they were not speaking for Trump or the former president’s current reelection campaign and that the AFPI, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit, nonpolitical and independent think tank.
Trump, the Republican candidate, will face incumbent President Joe Biden in the November U.S. presidential election.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Fred Fleitz, deputy director of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), left, and Steve Yates, senior fellow at the AFPI, speak during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at Westin Josun Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, on July 8. [JEON MIN-KYU]
Q: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made a de facto military alliance treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and if he negotiates with the United States again, he might ask for more than he did at the Hanoi summit. How would you respond to that?
Fleitz: I think this relationship with Putin is very dangerous, and it is moving North Korea in the wrong direction. North Korea was moving in the direction of normalizing relations with the United States, South Korea and Japan when Trump was in office. We know that the talks that Trump began with Kim weren’t successful, but I think Trump is going to try to restart them. And this relationship [between North Korea and Russia] is a marriage of convenience. Russia’s desperate for weapons and it’s getting artillery shells that are probably in very bad condition from North Korea for the war in Ukraine. But in the long term, Russia needs a relationship with South Korea – an economic relationship. South Korea can give Russia much more than North Korea can. So I don’t think [the Pyongyang-Moscow relationship] is going to be a permanent one.
If re-elected, Trump has said that he wants to end the war in Ukraine before he takes office next January. How can this be achieved?
Fleitz: I am speaking for myself but I think [Trump’s] priority is to end what has become an endless war of attrition with the belief that we are faced with a lot of bad options here, and we have to pick the best of several bad options. The best of those options probably is to find a ceasefire. Trump has said that he’d like to solve this in 24 hours. We don’t know what his plan is, but I’ll tell you that a presidential candidate who says that is obviously committed to ending a conflict and I think it shows his seriousness. A big flaw with the Joe Biden administration is that there’s no interest in ending the conflict.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate hosted by CNN with President Joe Biden in Atlanta on June 27. [AP/YONHAP]
South Korea is reconsidering supporting lethal weapons for Ukraine after Russia signed a treaty with North Korea. What do you think about South Korea providing lethal weapons for Ukraine?
Fleitz: I think it was an appropriate response by the South Korean government to express its outrage that Russia is striking this relationship with North Korea that may allow it to acquire missile technology, maybe reentry vehicles that would increase its capability of firing nuclear warheads at the United States, not just at nations in the region. It was an outrageous thing to do.
To start the direct dialogue with North Korea again, Kim Jong-un would want more. He would want more than easing sanctions.
Fleitz: We don’t know what Kim will want. I hope that Kim would like to first simply open up discussions with the president of the United States like he did last time. We didn’t promise Kim any concessions and we didn’t give him any. We don’t speak for where Trump is but I don’t think it’s necessarily the case that the North would put unusual conditions on resuming talks with Trump.
Is leader Kim trying to form a trilateral cooperation between Russia, China and North Korea?
Yates: I think it’s very important that we work first and foremost with our allies in strengthening their independent capabilities and by making that a positive economic and security relationship. The contrast with what this other grouping might do will look less enticing. There is tension between Beijing and Moscow and there probably always will be. But for now, it seems like the motivation is primarily in Moscow to try to hold these pieces together. Beijing doesn’t really like anyone else dealing with Pyongyang – it likes to treat Pyongyang like is junior partner. So whether it’s the United States or South Korea or Russia dealing directly with North Korea not going through Beijing, that tends to bother Chinese leaders. So if we have any idea for how to disrupt this growing collaboration, it might be to encourage more of us to deal directly with North Korea to urge it to pursue a different path.
Fred Fleitz, deputy director of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speaks during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at Westin Josun Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, on July 8. [JEON MIN-KYU]
Trump has hinted that he might allow South Korea to develop nuclear weapons, and with North Korea and Russia forming a military alliance, public support for nuclear weapons in South Korea is growing. Will Trump really let South Korea go nuclear?
Fleitz: I understand there are some people who purport to be Trump advisors who have raised that issue, but I don’t know where Trump will come down on it. I think the principle of avoiding the proliferation of nuclear weapons is an important one, and the best way to protect South Korea from the nuclear threat from the North is to strengthen the U.S. nuclear umbrella to reassure South Korean officials that it’s strong and also to lower tensions with the North through dialogue. We are going to need, from a new administration, a fairly sophisticated foreign policy that can both be tough with our adversaries but also express a willingness to speak with them.
I have been critical of President Biden on many grounds but I think he did some good things in the Washington Declaration and the trilateral summit between the U.S., South Korea and Japan last year and the joint exercises that we've been seeing. And I think initiatives like this will continue no matter who the president is next year, and I think they'll be expanded.
Some think that if he returns as president, Trump would reverse the results of the defense cost-sharing Special Measures Agreement (SMA) that Biden sealed with South Korea. Do you think a Trump-proof defense cost deal is possible?
Fleitz: I don’t like anybody talking about “Trump-proofing.” I hear that from Europe also and I think it’s unfortunate because I believe the world was much more stable when Trump was president, and I’ve had heated discussions with people from The Economist magazine. They run Trump-proof articles all the time, and there's all this doom and gloom that they published about Trump, and they're simply wrong. Concerning the SMA, Trump has said he wants to make sure that members of alliances pay their fair share. But I think the relationship with South Korea will be very positive.
Does Trump still believe that South Korea is not paying enough?
Fleitz: I think Trump is going to press all U.S. allies only to pay their fair share. I think the focus is going to be on France and Germany. I believe that the U.S.’s relationship with South Korea will be extraordinarily strong under Trump because of the growing threat from China and this new relationship between North Korea and Russia.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Miami, Flordia on Tuesday. [AP/YONHAP]
The U.S. presidential election has significant meaning to its allies and can change our alliance. Do you think the election results might impact the South Korea-U.S. alliance or South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation?
Fleitz: What I would say is that the U.S.-South Korea relationship is a strong one and it's going to remain strong no matter who wins the election. But we believe that there will be a significant improvement in security in the Asia-Pacific if Trump wins. He's going to bring in what some people call the Trump doctrine, which will be peace through strength, an assertive and confident American president who I think will bring in a very, very talented foreign policy team who's going to reestablish deterrence to stand up to America's adversaries.
Yates: I think there’s always been questions about the alliance and bilateral relations whenever presidential elections come or potential changes of administrations [are imminent]. I expect there will be no difference. There is the record of Trump’s first term tenure that informs what expectations might be going forward.
The Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the Biden administration focus on value diplomacy, and they prioritize issues like human rights and the environment. Should this focus change if Trump returns?
Fleitz: I think one reason that the Biden administration's foreign policy has encountered so many problems is because they have their priorities wrong. Biden has said repeatedly the primary national security threat to the United States is climate change. No, it's not. The primary threat is China. A close second is nuclear war. Climate change is quite low on the list. I can tell you that if Trump wins the election, he's going to have a serious national security policy, and he's not going to be distracted by frankly frivolous issues that are not serious national security threats.
Then, should the Yoon administration also readjust its focus when it comes to foreign policies if Trump returns?
Fleitz: I think Yoon already knows what these priorities are. I believe that you will find it much more productive, much more fulfilling to deal with Trump, who will take a more serious approach to the threat from China and North Korea.
Steve Yates, senior fellow at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speaks during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, at Westin Josun Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, on July 8. [JEON MIN-KYU]
South Korea is working to improve relations with China. If Trump increases pressure on China, won't it put countries like South Korea in a difficult position?
Yates: I would frame the question a little differently in that the issue is not so much, "Would Trump put pressure back onto China?" as much as it is, "Will China continue to put pressure on its neighbors and the United States?" Because really it's China that has pushed issues of more confrontation, such as wolf warrior diplomacy. It's actually Xi Jinping's leadership that chose to increase conflict and tension. I don't think it was the Trump administration looking to go to battle. It's really China that has done some things to unsettle a lot of what's happening in the region. There is nothing in Trump’s policy that would have encouraged China to be more aggressive toward South Korea. I think that Trump’s pattern of engagement in his first term should have eliminated any questions of him being isolationist or anti-alliance.
BY PARK HYUN-JOO,LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
6. Yoon wraps up NATO summitry focusing on cooperation against N. Korea-Russia alignment
Korean issues have global implications and effects despite the desire among many policy makers and pundits to ignore them.
Yoon wraps up NATO summitry focusing on cooperation against N. Korea-Russia alignment | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · July 12, 2024
By Song Sang-ho and Kim Eun-jung
WASHINGTON, July 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded his trip to the United States Thursday, rallying support from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to counter deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and reaffirming his diplomatic credo based on universal values.
Yoon attended the NATO summit in Washington, where the leaders of the 32-member alliance and its four Indo-Pacific Partners -- South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand -- discussed cooperation in supporting Ukraine and addressing a series of shared challenges, including disinformation and cybersecurity.
His attendance at the summit came after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during their summit in Pyongyang last month, escalating concerns about the security implications of their military alignment.
On the margins of the summit, he met bilaterally with a series of world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
During a meeting on Thursday, Yoon and Biden reiterated their readiness to face down North Korean threats, warning that any North Korean nuclear attack against South Korea will be met with a "swift, overwhelming and decisive" response.
"Biden reiterated that the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence to the ROK is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear," the leader's joint statement read. "Yoon reiterated that the ROK's full range of capabilities will greatly contribute to the alliance's combined defense posture."
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks as he arrived at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington on July 11, 2024 to attend a NATO summit. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
ROK and DPRK stand for the official names of South Korea and North Korea, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, respectively.
The summit between Yoon and Biden coincided with the signing of the allies' joint nuclear deterrence guidelines in a milestone of bilateral endeavors to sharpen cooperation against evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
Also on Thursday, Yoon and the NATO secretary general met and reached an agreement on the sharing of information regarding North Korean weapons used in Russia's war in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Yoon and Kishida met bilaterally and agreed to reinforce security cooperation with the transatlantic alliance as Seoul and Tokyo have been aligning themselves closely to tackle Pyongyang's advancing threats.
During a NATO public forum on Thursday, Yoon took a swipe at burgeoning cooperation between Russia and North Korea, calling it a "collusion of convenience."
"Russia wants North Korea to actively engage in anti-American, anti-Western rhetoric while serving as its arsenal," he said. "North Korea hopes that Russia will provide it with advanced military technology and energy resources and also help them weaken the monitoring of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions."
At the forum, he also voiced concerns over "new and challenging forces" that reject an "international order based on universal values and norms."
"Autocratic regimes maintain their power by restricting freedoms of their own citizens and subjecting them to constant surveillance. The collusion of those who advocate for altering the status quo through force directly challenges the peace and prosperity established by the free world," he said.
"At this moment, the security of both Europe and Asia is a simultaneously under threat. This is why IP4 countries have attended the NATO summit for the third consecutive year."
IP4 refers to NATO's four Indo-Pacific partners -- South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
While in Washington, he also met with other foreign counterparts, including Czech President Petr Pavel.
In his meeting with Pavel, Yoon highlighted South Korea's nuclear technology, production capacity and financial packages needed to build advanced nuclear reactors, Park Chung-sup, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, told reporters in a briefing.
The talks come as South Korea's state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and France's state-owned utility EDF are competing to win the bid to build four 1,200-megawatt nuclear reactors in Czech.
Before arriving in the U.S. capital, Yoon visited U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, where he stressed the importance of combined defense capabilities between South Korea and the U.S. to counter North Korean threats.
An official welcoming reception marking the 75th founding anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in progress at the White House in Washington on July 10, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · July 12, 2024
7. S. Korea, U.S. wrap up 5th round of talks on defense cost sharing
My experience is that Koreans in the South are hard bargainers which is something a potential future president should respect.
A lot of good work is being done here. I hope it is not all for naught.
(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. wrap up 5th round of talks on defense cost sharing | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · July 12, 2024
(ATTN: ADDS comments from U.S. gov't in 6th para; TRIMS)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States ended another round of negotiations Friday on determining Seoul's share of the cost for stationing the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), an official said.
The three-day fifth round of the talks on renewing the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) took place in Seoul this week, as South Korea is seeking to strike an early deal to apparently avoid tough bargaining if former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Under Trump's presidency, Washington had demanded more than a fivefold increase in Seoul's payment to US$5 billion.
The current six-year SMA is due to expire at the end of next year.
"Based on our previous fourth round of talks, we had more focused and in-depth discussions on the main concerns of both sides," a foreign ministry official said.
"Delegations from the United States and the Republic of Korea continued to review one another's proposals as we work toward our common objective of a mutually acceptable agreement that supports our shared security," Linda Specht, U.S. chief negotiator for the SMA talks, said in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
The SMA committed South Korea to paying $1.03 billion for 2021, a 13.9 percent increase from 2019, and increasing the payment every year for the subsequent four years in line with the rise in Seoul's defense spending.
Since 1991, Seoul has partially shared the cost for Korean USFK workers; the construction of military installations, such as barracks, as well as training, educational, operational and communications facilities; and other logistical support.
In this file photo, an official of the U.S. delegation arrives at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul to hold the fourth round of negotiations on the South Korea-U.S. defense cost sharing on June 25, 2024. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · July 12, 2024
8. No senior N. Korean officials attend banquet hosted by Chinese envoy in Pyongyang
Will we read into this that there is a falling out with the Chinese and that the regime is now favoring the Russians? Again, I wouldn't jump to any conclusions.
(LEAD) No senior N. Korean officials attend banquet hosted by Chinese envoy in Pyongyang | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · July 12, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 3-4; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- The Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang has hosted a banquet to mark the 63rd anniversary of the signing of a bilateral treaty, North Korea's state media reported Friday, amid North Korea's deepening ties with Russia.
Participants in Thursday's event included China's top envoy in Pyongyang, Wang Yajun, and Kim Sung-chan, the president of Kim Il-sung University, and other officials, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a brief dispatch.
"Over the past 63 years, both sides have upheld the spirit of the treaty, supporting each other and working closely together to vigorously promote the development of their respective socialist works," Wang was quoted by the embassy as saying.
The embassy also cited Kim, who expressed hope that the two countries would work together amid complicated international circumstances.
However, no senior North Korean officials attended the banquet, compared with last year when Kang Yun-sok, vice chairman of North Korea's standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, attended an anniversary banquet hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang.
That could be seen as an indication of the North moving increasingly closer to Russia and away from China at a time when Pyongyang and Moscow have been significantly bolstering military cooperation since last month's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"While China may definitely be uncomfortable with the recent closer ties between Russia and North Korea, opinions are still divided among experts on whether they directly influenced such attendance," said Hyun Seung-soo, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Hyun said such attendance could signal somewhat different relations between Pyongyang and Beijing, while others say there is still strong bilateral trust between the two.
China is North Korea's most important trading partner, giving Beijing significant leverage over Pyongyang.
The two countries signed the treaty on July 11, 1961, under which they are obliged to provide military and other assistance to each other, a deal seen as the bedrock of their strong alliance for decades.
This image, captured from the website of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea, shows a banquet held in Pyongyang on July 11, 2024, to mark the 63rd anniversary of the signing of a bilateral treaty. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · July 12, 2024
9. N. Korea threatens 'unimaginably harsh price' following Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact
The Propaganda and Agitation department is speaking into the mirror here:
"The provocative behavior" by the allies {Axis of Authoritarians] is the "root cause of endangering the regional security," and it requires North Korea to "further improve its nuclear deterrent readiness and add important elements to the composition of the deterrent," the North Korean official noted.
N. Korea threatens 'unimaginably harsh price' following Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · July 13, 2024
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea condemned the joint nuclear deterrence guidelines signed by Seoul and Washington as a "reckless provocative act," threatening that the allies will pay "an unimaginably harsh price" if they commit further provocations.
The message was published by the official Korean Central News Agency in a press statement from a defense ministry spokesperson after South Korea and Washington adopted "Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula" in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
The document is expected to significantly expand the assignment of U.S. strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula by increasing the frequency and level of their deployment during both wartime and peacetime.
"The DPRK Ministry of National Defence strongly denounces and rejects the reckless provocative act of the U.S. and the ROK that pushes the regional military tensions to extremes through extremely incendiary and malicious rhetoric and provocative action," the spokesperson said.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea, while ROK refers to the South, the Republic of Korea.
"The provocative behavior" by the allies is the "root cause of endangering the regional security," and it requires North Korea to "further improve its nuclear deterrent readiness and add important elements to the composition of the deterrent," the North Korean official noted.
The spokesperson warned the countries "not to commit such provocative acts causing instability any more," adding that "If they ignore this warning, they will have to pay an unimaginably harsh price for it."
Gallery Gallery画报写真ギャラリーألبوم الصورGalería
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and U.S. President Joe Biden pose for a photo at their meeting in Washington, D.C., on July 11, 2024, on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · July 13, 2024
10. National security adviser: Trump camp says not to worry about alliance
Again, a potential future president might not appreciate this speculation.
National security adviser: Trump camp says not to worry about alliance | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Park Boram · July 13, 2024
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin said Saturday the South Korea-U.S. alliance will remain sturdy regardless of whether former American President Donald Trump regains the presidency.
"Regarding the South Korea-U.S. alliance, (we) have a solid support base across both the ruling and opposition sides in the United States," Chang said during his appearance on Yonhap News TV.
"Those from the Trump camp also tell us not to worry too much about the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and they even say that they will strengthen it further," the national security adviser noted.
The government is preparing for various variables that may arise on different issues in the event Trump regains the presidency, he said.
Chang also stressed that the future of the South Korea-Russia relationship depends on Russia's behavior.
Following the military agreement between Russia and North Korea, South Korea has announced "stern" response measures and relayed "messages" to Russia, while Russia has begun dialogue and reopened "diplomatic spaces" with Seoul following President Vladimir Putin's visit to the North, according to him.
"How Russia manages the relationship with South Korea and what actions will be taken between Russia and North Korea ... will inevitably become important factors in shaping our policies and future relationship with Russia," Chang noted.
He added that depending on Russia's behavior in its relationship with the North, South Korea may also decide to adjust its assistance to Ukraine, which has focused on humanitarian aid and non-lethal weapons.
"We will definitely reconsider (the extend of our aid to Ukraine) if Russia and North Korea engage in, for example, weapons exchanges or the transfer of military technology or strategic resources beyond a certain level," he said.
National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin (C) speaks with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (R) and South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong in Hawaii on July 9, 2024. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
11. Ruling party hails Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact as 'strong deterrent'
Please thoroughly explain this to the Korean people in the South. It would be great to have this as a non-partisan position in South Korea.
Ruling party hails Seoul-Washington nuclear deterrence pact as 'strong deterrent' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · July 13, 2024
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday lauded the joint nuclear deterrence guidelines signed by Seoul and Washington, describing them as a potent deterrent against North Korea's provocations.
"Mutual trust between South Korea and the United States, restored under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, has become a strong deterrent against the North Korean regime's reckless provocations," the PPP's spokesperson Ho Jun-seok said.
On Thursday (U.S. time) in Washington, D.C., the two allies adopted the "Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula," aimed at enhancing cooperation in countering evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
The PPP spokesperson stressed the uniqueness of the agreement, calling it "the first and only case in which a non-nuclear state directly discusses nuclear operations with the U.S."
He also said the statement "has chilled the North Korean regime" by explicitly outlining responses to North Korean nuclear threats, going beyond mere deterrence.
The ruling party pledged to collaborate with the Yoon administration to "create robust security through a trustworthy alliance with the U.S.," stressing that safeguarding the lives and property of the people remains their top priority.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) and U.S. President Joe Biden pose at their meeting in Washington on July 11, 2024, on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · July 13, 2024
12. N. Korea decries NATO summit declaration, warns of strong 'strategic counteraction'
NATO's response to Kim (echoing President George W. Bush): "bring it on."
N. Korea decries NATO summit declaration, warns of strong 'strategic counteraction' | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · July 13, 2024
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea bristled Saturday at this week's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit declaration that condemned its weapons exports to Russia, casting it as an "illegal" document and warning of strong "strategic counteraction."
A spokesperson of the North's foreign ministry issued the statement following this week's NATO summit in Washington, where the leaders of the 32-member alliance and its four Indo-Pacific partners -- South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand -- shared concerns over a deepening military alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow.
On Wednesday, NATO leaders released the declaration, in which they "strongly" condemned the North's arms exports to Russia and voiced "great concern" over the two countries' deepening partnership.
"The DPRK Foreign Ministry most strongly denounces and rejects the 'declaration,' an illegal document that violates the legitimate rights of independent sovereign states and a confrontational program that incites a new Cold War and military confrontation on a global scale," the spokesperson said in the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The spokesperson warned of strong counteraction, claiming that the prevailing situation requires a "new force and mode of counteraction to foil the U.S. attempt for (an) expanded military bloc."
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will never overlook or avoid the looming grave threat but thoroughly deter the aggression and war threat with stronger level of strategic counteraction and defend peace and security in the region and the rest of the world," the official said.
In the summit declaration, the leaders stressed that the North's exports of artillery shells and ballistic missiles to Russia are in violation of numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions.
President Joe Biden (C) smiles before making opening remarks at the NATO summit in Washington on July 10, 2024, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · July 13, 2024
13. Kim Seong-tae fined for $8 million payment to N. Korea
Excerpt:
Regarding former Chairman Kim's charge of sending money to North Korea, the court stated, "For the sake of his personal relationship with an influential politician (Lee Hwa-young, former deputy governor of peace in Gyeonggi Province), he implemented inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects without the approval of the Minister of Unification, thereby destroying the order of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects." The court added, "He recklessly paid a large amount of money to North Korea in a fraudulent manner."
Kim Seong-tae fined for $8 million payment to N. Korea
donga.com
Posted July. 13, 2024 08:01,
Updated July. 13, 2024 08:01
Kim Seong-tae fined for $8 million payment to N. Korea. July. 13, 2024 08:01. by 송유근 기자 big@donga.com.
Former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Seong-tae (pictured), indicted on charges of paying $8 million to North Korea, including costs for Lee Jae-myung's visit to North Korea when Lee was governor of Gyeonggi Province, has been sentenced to prison in the first trial.
On Friday, Suwon District Court Criminal Division 11 sentenced former chairman Kim to two years and six months in prison for violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act and giving bribes and to one year in prison and two years probation for violating the Political Fund Act.
Regarding former Chairman Kim's charge of sending money to North Korea, the court stated, "For the sake of his personal relationship with an influential politician (Lee Hwa-young, former deputy governor of peace in Gyeonggi Province), he implemented inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects without the approval of the Minister of Unification, thereby destroying the order of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation projects." The court added, "He recklessly paid a large amount of money to North Korea in a fraudulent manner." Regarding the charge of violating the Political Funds Act, the court remarked, "The legislative purpose of the Political Funds Act was also seriously damaged by the defendant’s crime." However, no court arrest was made, as the court took into account that former Chairman Kim generally acknowledged the facts and committed the crime at the request of former Deputy Governor Lee.
Former Chairman Kim was arrested and indicted in February last year on charges of paying North Korea $5 million for a North Korean smart farm support project in Gyeonggi Province in 2019 and $3 million for former party chief Lee's visit to North Korea. Kim is also accused of giving a total of 334 million won in political funds and bribes by providing corporate cards and vehicles to former Deputy Governor Lee from July 2018 to July 2022 and giving false salaries to his associates. Former Deputy Governor Lee, indicted in the same case, was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison on June 7 and is appealing.
The ruling is expected to impact the trial of former party chief Lee, who was indicted on charges of third-party bribery related to Ssangbangwool remittances to North Korea. The case of former party chief Lee is also being heard by the 11th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court, as the court acknowledged the charges against former Deputy Governor Lee and former chairman Kim. Former party chief Lee has submitted an application for a combined hearing to the Supreme Court, requesting that his remittance to North Korea case be tried at the Seoul Central District Court, which is hearing cases such as the Daejangdong suspicion. On Thursday, the prosecution submitted a written opinion stating that merging the two cases was impossible because the issues and the speed of hearing were different.
한국어
donga.com
14. First lady condemns NK human rights abuses in meeting with defectors in US
Human rights upfront.
First lady condemns NK human rights abuses in meeting with defectors in US
The Korea Times · July 12, 2024
First lady Kim Keon Hee speaks during a meeting with North Korean defectors and human rights activists at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, Thursday (local time). Joint Press Corps
By Kwak Yeon-soo
First lady Kim Keon Hee condemned the widespread human rights abuses in North Korea during a meeting with defectors and human rights activists at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Kim, who accompanied President Yoon Suk Yeol on his official trip to Washington to attend the 2024 NATO summit, met with defectors for the second consecutive year to draw attention to human rights violations in the reclusive state.
“Recent reports claim that North Korea publicly executed about 30 middle school students for watching South Korean dramas. This highlights the cruel reality of North Korea,” Kim said.
She emphasized that the Yoon administration is committed to improving the human rights situation of the North Korean people more than any previous administration.
“We will never turn a blind eye to the suffering of the North Korean people,” Kim said. “Let’s work together with non-governmental organizations and civic activists in the international community to raise awareness and amplify the voices of North Korean escapees to improve human rights situation in North Korea.”
Kim held talks with Cindy Warmbier, mother of Otto Warmbier who died in 2017 after being imprisoned in North Korea for more than a year for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster during his trip to Pyongyang.
She also met North Korean human rights activist Dr. Suzanne Scholte and several defectors including Ji Hanna, who shared her story of being sent to a political prison camp for studying the Bible, and another defector surnamed Kim, who fled by sea with his entire family last year.
After listening to defectors about their ordeals, the first lady said they are a beacon of hope to people seeking freedom and their bravery could change North Korea in the future.
Established in 1983, the NED is a non-profit organization that has been supporting North Korean defectors as part of its efforts to spread democratic values around the world.
A day prior, Kim participated in a 2024 NATO Summit Spousal Program Event. On Monday, she visited the Korean Christian Church founded in 1918 by Syngman Rhee in Honolulu and thanked overseas Koreans in Hawaii for their contribution to the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
The Korea Times · July 12, 2024
15. South Korea aims laser arms at North Korea’s drones
South Korea aims laser arms at North Korea’s drones - Asia Times
Pyongyang’s drone incursions drive Seoul to address critical gaps in the South’s counter-drone capabilities
asiatimes.com · by Gabriel Honrada · July 13, 2024
In response to escalating tensions and recent North Korean drone incursions, South Korea announced this month its plans to deploy laser weapons to counter drone infiltrations.
This month, multiple news sources reported that South Korea announced plans to deploy laser weapons to counter North Korean drones as part of a broader strategy to bolster its defense capabilities amid escalating tensions.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed the initiative, emphasizing that a high-tech laser system codenamed “Block-I,” developed by Hanwha Aerospace, will be deployed by the yearend, with more systems to be deployed in the coming years. Block-I can neutralize drones swiftly and invisibly at just USD 1.45 per shot.
The decision follows recent incursions by North Korean drones into South Korean airspace, heightening security concerns. South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup underscored the project’s urgency, noting the cost-effectiveness and precision of laser technology compared to traditional missile defenses.
This move aligns with South Korea’s ongoing efforts to enhance military readiness in the face of persistent provocations from North Korea, which has been ramping up its missile tests and reconnaissance activities.
North Korea’s December 2022 drone infiltration into South Korea caught the latter off-guard, resulting in a disorganized scrambling response.
Joseph Dempsey notes in a January 2023 article for the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) that North Korea’s December 2022 drone incursion into South Korean airspace marks a significant reminder of the challenges in countering small drones. Dempsey mentions that despite South Korea’s five-hour military operation involving combat aircraft and attack helicopters, none of the five drones were neutralized, all likely returning safely.
He says the South Korean MND has difficulties tracking small reconnaissance drones by radar, acknowledging that their air defenses are not designed for very slow, low-flying targets with small signatures. He notes that the drones, suspected to be Chinese-manufactured models Trancomm SKY-09 and UV10, highlight the dual-use nature of commercial technologies and the complexities in regulating them.
Despite limitations in transmitting data back to the ground, Dempsey says that North Korea’s use of these drones for imagery reconnaissance underscores its ambition to enhance its unmanned capabilities. This ambition is reflected in North Korea’s January 2021 Workers Party Congress report, which outlined military development goals, including improved airborne and satellite surveillance, notes Dempsey.
He says commercial satellite imagery revealed two previously unseen drone designs at Panghyon aircraft factory, indicating ongoing efforts to advance North Korea’s drone program.
Apart from small, hard-to-detect drones, North Korea has introduced more advanced drone models in line with its asymmetric military strategy against South Korea.
In a March 2024 article in the peer-reviewed Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology, Kang-Il Seo and other writers mention that North Korea has introduced new strategic drones, the Satbyol-4 and Satbyol-9, significantly enhancing its surveillance and attack capabilities.
Seo and others say that these drones, which were unveiled at a military equipment exhibition in July 2023, resemble the US RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, respectively, and are expected to perform multi-domain operations.
They note that the Satbyol-4, a high-altitude reconnaissance drone with a wingspan of approximately 35 meters, is believed to be capable of extensive surveillance despite North Korea’s lack of communication satellites limiting its long-range operations. Further, they say that the Satbyol-9, an attack drone, mimics the Reaper’s design, including its ability to carry multiple missiles, indicating North Korea’s potential for precision strikes.
Seo and others note that the development of these drones marks a significant advancement in North Korea’s military technology, reflecting its strategy to offset its inferior aerial surveillance capabilities compared to South Korea and the US. They say that the deployment of these drones poses increased peacetime and wartime threats, enhancing North Korea’s surveillance, reconnaissance, and early warning capabilities and potentially escalating regional tensions.
While South Korea has one of East Asia’s most vaunted militaries, North Korean drones present a significant challenge in air defense. South Korea’s missile defense architecture is not designed to counter such targets, laser weapons are still in development, and rapidly improving drone designs pose challenges to defensive technologies.
In February 2024, Asia Times noted that South Korea’s Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system is not well-equipped to effectively counter small drones due to its design for intercepting larger drones, aircraft, and ballistic missiles.
Laser weapons have not yet fulfilled their potential as low-cost, efficient anti-drone weapons due to development delays, technology issues, beam quality control problems, maintenance requirements, and a lack of industrial support.
Jamming might not work well on drones with inertial guidance because these systems can help them stay on course or return to a specific point even if they lose their command signals.
Further, in May 2023, The Washington Post noted that South Korea would struggle for three to five years to cover its air defense gaps against infiltrating North Korean drones. The Washington Post says that while South Korea has invested heavily in missile defense and air and naval forces, it has neglected to invest in counter-drone capabilities.
The source points out that North Korea’s December 2022 incursion revealed an anemic South Korean air defense structure, showing slow communication between ground radars and interceptor aircraft and unclear rules of engagement for South Korean commanders.
Sign up for one of our free newsletters
The Washington Post also says that North Korea may be probing South Korea’s air defenses for unsecured gaps and mentioned concern about collateral damage from drone interceptions.
Given those capability gaps, South Korea has its work cut out for it in terms of improving its air defense against North Korea’s asymmetric drone threat.
In a 2023 report for the Institute of National Security Strategy (INSS), Oh Il-Seok and Choi Yonghwan note that North Korea’s December 2022 infiltration and advancements in drone technology require South Korea to improve its drone detection technology and accelerate drone development.
Oh and Choi mention that North Korea seems to be learning many lessons from the Ukraine War, ramping up its drone program after seeing the game-changing effects drones have had on the battlefield.
They also note increased cooperation between North Korea and Russia, with the former having delivered artillery shells and ballistic missiles to the latter for use in Ukraine in exchange for possibly energy supplies, food aid, financial assistance, and high-end military technologies such as missile propulsion and drone technology.
Oh and Choi say that North Korea’s drone program could lead to a new slew of provocations against South Korea, using new drone designs to carry out new threats to the latter.
Lastly, they note that North Korea’s flaunting new drone technology shows its determination to develop conventional weapons alongside advancing its nuclear program. Such, they say, places urgency on South Korea to develop more countermeasures addressing the dual conventional and nuclear threat that North Korea poses.
Thank you for registering!
An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.
asiatimes.com · by Gabriel Honrada · July 13, 2024
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
| 
