Quotes of the Day:

“The strongest warriors are armed with something to believe in.” 

- Dokeshi no michi

“It takes two years to learn to speak and sixty to learn to keep quiet.” 

- Ernest Hemingway

“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society/“ 

- Theodore Roosvelt

1. Suspension of inter-Korean military pact may prompt more NK provocations: experts

2. South Korean Admiral Claims that Nuclear-Powered Submarines are Necessary

3. Crash Landing On You: When North Korean Defectors Reacted To Son Ye-Jin-Hyun Bin Starrer & Revealed What They Found It Relatable Saying “There Are Real People Living…”

4. S. Korea-China relations remain uneasy after APEC

5. IMF urges Korea to drastically reform national pension scheme

6. Biden-Xi summit and Korean Peninsula

7. New in North Korea: Hair loss products

8. South Korea’s digital reputation dented by government network outage

9. S. Korea secures U.S. investment commitments worth 1.5 tln won during Yoon's APEC trip

10. Korea and Japan to construct next-generation energy supply network

11. N. Korea may launch spy satellite 'within a week or so': defense minister

12. China’s 38 Fake News Sites Disseminating Pro-China, Anti-US, Anti-Japan Content in South Korea

13. South Korea's advanced tech industries endorsed by international alliances

1. Suspension of inter-Korean military pact may prompt more NK provocations: experts

Perhaps. But do not totally suspended it. Only call attention to north Korean failure to comply and then suspend those areas that impact on the readiness o ROK and US forces and the ISR ability to anticipate north Korean offensive action.

Suspension of inter-Korean military pact may prompt more NK provocations: experts

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

Soldiers stand guard in the Joint Security Area of the truce village of Panmunjeom inside the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, Oct. 4, 2022. Joint Press Corps

S. Korea advised to abandon certain provisions rather than scrapping entire pact

By Lee Hyo-jin

On Sept. 19, 2018, the defense ministers of South and North Korea signed a Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), aimed at halting all hostile activities between them. This agreement included the prohibition of military drills in border areas and the establishment of no-fly zones near the boundary.

However, the effectiveness of this pact, also known as the Sept. 19 military agreement, has been called into question in recent months as North Korea has intensified military provocations since last year.

According to the 2022 Defense White Paper issued by the Ministry of National Defense, North Korea violated the military agreement at least 17 times between November 2019 and December 2022. The most recent incident occurred in December last year when five North Korean drones infiltrated South Korean airspace and flew over Seoul.

Given this background, officials from the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration are calling for the suspension of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, in particular, argues that the agreement significantly restricts Seoul's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities near the border area. He warned that without better border surveillance, South Korea may not be able to properly defend itself from a North Korean invasion similar to the recent surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

However, experts cautioned against the idea of suspending the CMA, stressing that the benefits of maintaining the military pact outweigh the drawbacks of scrapping it.

"The agreement establishes guardrails that could prevent incidents from escalating into crises, however imperfect they may be. There is some utility in having buffer zones," said Naoko Aoki, an associate political scientist at the RAND Corporation who specializes in East Asian security issues.

The CMA has instituted buffer zones between the two Koreas by prohibiting hostility on land, sea and air near the border. Specifically, the two sides are restricted from conducting live-fire artillery drills within five kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Plus, no-fly zones have been implemented along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), along with a ban on the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and other aircraft within 40 kilometers of the MDL.

"Given the current tensions (between the two Koreas), it is unlikely that another agreement like this can be drawn up in the foreseeable future, so that should be taken into consideration," she added.

South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo, front row left and North Korean Minister of the People's Armed Forces No Kwang-chol, front row right, shake hands after signing an inter-Korean military agreement during the inter-Korean summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in, back row left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, Sept. 19, 2018. Joint Press Corps

Terence Roehrig, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Though North Korea has violated the agreement on several occasions and is not adhering to the spirit of the CMA, South Korea is better off with the agreement in place than walking away from it."

Roehrig added that security concerns regarding North Korea’s non-compliance with the CMA are relatively minor compared to the security and political costs of ending the agreement, which would undercut the broader goal of promoting long-term stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The absence of the military agreement would lead to increased belligerence from North Korea, analysts believe.

"Pyongyang would craft a narrative portraying Seoul as the aggressor, using South Korea’s suspension of the military agreement to justify its military provocations," Roehrig said.

In that sense, Aoki suggested that South Korea should further use the idea of suspending the CMA as political leverage against North Korea, instead of actually taking actions to scrap it, saying, "North Korea’s violation of the agreement makes it a problematic actor, so South Korea has the moral high ground."

But the fact that the military accord limits South Korea’s reconnaissance capabilities on the North cannot be ignored, according to Bruce Bennett, a defense researcher at the RAND Corporation.

"Over the years I have heard comments from both South Korean and U.S. colleagues that the inability to fly reconnaissance aircraft near the DMZ denies our countries' key reconnaissance information. Thus I would also think that those provisions should be abandoned," said the American researcher.

A North Korean guard post is seen from Imjingak Park on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, July 20. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Bennett also raised some humanitarian issues linked to the agreement.

According to him, some U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea expressed concerns that, for instance, if a U.S. soldier serving at Panmunjeom got appendicitis, they could not fly a helicopter up to Panmunjeom – due to the provisions in the agreement – and provide a timely evacuation for the patient.

As such, Bennett commented that the South Korean government can consider canceling its observance of certain elements of the agreement, rather than abandoning the entire pact.

Discussions about scrapping the military pact seem to be picking up pace among officials in Seoul.

The Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean relations, said Tuesday that related discussions are underway with other government bodies.

"In the current situation, I would say that the ball is in North Korea's court regarding the suspension of the Sep.19 agreement," a senior defense official told reporters in a closed-door briefing, also on Tuesday.

On the same day, Yonhap News reported, citing an unnamed government official, that the government is mulling the possibility of taking action to partially suspend the agreement as a precautionary measure against North Korean provocations.

If Pyongyang launches a spy satellite, Seoul may normalize its reconnaissance activities in the East and West Sea regions, the official was quoted as saying.

After two botched attempts to launch a reconnaissance satellite in May and August, the Kim Jong-un regime promised to make a third attempt in October. But it missed its own deadline.

South Korean defense officials view that the North may make a third attempt in late November, after receiving technical support from Russia.

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

2. South Korean Admiral Claims that Nuclear-Powered Submarines are Necessary

I still think a nuclear powered submarine would be a waste of ROK resources that could be better invested elsewhere for defense.

Here is the long pole in the tent:

It still remains a question for South Korea to find a long-term nuclear fuel supplier for its potential K-SSN fleet, but even with those challenges faced, South Korea should pursue its long-held dream of acquiring SSN fleet as there is no better way of monitoring and deterring North Korea’s suspicious submarine activities than deploying Korea’s own nuclear submarines.

South Korean Admiral Claims that Nuclear-Powered Submarines are Necessary - Naval News

navalnews.com · by Jamie Chang · November 16, 2023

During today’s national assembly confirmation hearing for Joint Chief of Staffs, a question was asked by Sung Il-Jong, a member of the ruling party PPP (People Power Party) regarding the usefulness of nuclear submarines.

“While those capabilities are needed, there are clear limitations as to what South Korea can do due to current ROK-US nuclear agreement restricts the use of nuclear materials in military use.”

Admiral Kim Myung-soo, the Nominee for the ROK Joint Chief of Staffs

While South Korea’s move to obtain SSN capabilities is nothing new, it is notable for a top-tier admiral to officially discuss the possibility of acquiring SSN as the North’s threat is getting more intense both in quantitative and qualitative ways. Earlier this year, North Korea has revealed a heavily modified Sinpo-class submarine ‘Hero Kim Kun Ok’ (hull number 841) which can launch up to four Pukguksong SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) via VLS (Vertical Launching System) installed on the ship.

Admiral Kim Myung-soo

Since the implication of this comment is huge, Naval News has reached out to multiple defense experts on this particular matter and four have replied as following:

Yulgok Kim, the secretary general of the ROK Forum for Nuclear Strategy has commented that “Admirals and government officials from the ROK Navy tend to favor Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarines due to its strategic efficiency. Top level’s such awareness would give momentum to future K-SSN project, making the public opinion strongly urge for the revision of the ROK-US nuclear agreement. From a strategic perspective, South Korean nuclear submarines will be a plus that serves good interests to both South Korean and the US, and K-SSN would be a useful asset to counter China and North Korea.”

Professor Jeeyong Kim at the South Korean Naval Academy has argued that the strategic importance of K-SSN is second to none, saying that K-SSN can serve as a deterrent towards China, Russia and North Korea. He stressed that the North would no longer be able to threaten the South in the East Sea once ROK Navy gets a sizable fleet of SSN.

Former Captain Moon Keun-sik, who serves as an adjunct professor at Hanyang University claimed that “North Korea’s ever-expanding nuclear capabilities are posing a direct threat to both South Korea and the United States. Recent polls have shown that the majority of South Korean population now considers having SSN capabilities as vital than optional. Allowing South Korea to develop K-SSN will ultimately benefit the security of the United States.” He also added that “Revision of ROK-US nuclear agreement is needed in order for South Korea to ensure the stable securing of nuclear materials to be used in K-SSN project.”

“K-SSN will allow ROK Navy to track and trace North Korea’s submarine activities for an extended period, without having to resurface to charge batteries.” Former Navy Captain Park Beom-Jin said. He also added that “Technologies and experiences acquired in building K-SSN will function as a cornerstone when ROK decides to build SSBN or SSGN.”

South Korea’s prolonged wish to acquire SSN seems like a long journey ahead. However, multiple admirals and even the minister of defense himself have expressed the need of K-SSN during the previous administration. While some trade-offs might be needed, nuclear submarine’s strategic benefits are incomparable to that of conventional diesel-electric ones.

“It is also worth mentioning that once South Korea starts developing its own SSN, France will be its natural partner as the United States refuses to give South Korea any sort of nuclear capabilities as written in the ROK-US Nuclear Agreement. Even after the revision of this agreement, the US is unlikely to allow selling nuclear fuels to South Korea as it views South Korea having nuclear capabilities as a breakdown of geopolitical balance in the Northeast Asia region.”

France is already assisting Brazil with its own submarine programs including its SSN program.

It still remains a question for South Korea to find a long-term nuclear fuel supplier for its potential K-SSN fleet, but even with those challenges faced, South Korea should pursue its long-held dream of acquiring SSN fleet as there is no better way of monitoring and deterring North Korea’s suspicious submarine activities than deploying Korea’s own nuclear submarines.

navalnews.com · by Jamie Chang · November 16, 2023

3. Crash Landing On You: When North Korean Defectors Reacted To Son Ye-Jin-Hyun Bin Starrer & Revealed What They Found It Relatable Saying “There Are Real People Living…”

As I have mentioned, a few years ago I participated ion a meeting with seven former soldiers from north Korea and asked them about this K-dara. They said the drama makes soldiers want to come to the South even more than they already did. But most perceptively one of the soldiers was very positively influenced by this K-drama. He said he interpreted this as Korea demonstrating its strength and confidence because the drama portrayed the soldiers and people in the north as human beings and not as monsters and the nemy. He said for the Korean government to allow the entertainment industry to not create propaganda about the north means that Korea has a lot of self confidence and again must be strong. This is counter to their experience in the north with the Propaganda and Agitation department always portraying the people in the South as less than human and puppets of the US. They are never portrayed in a human or humane way.

Crash Landing On You: When North Korean Defectors Reacted To Son Ye-Jin-Hyun Bin Starrer & Revealed What They Found It Relatable Saying “There Are Real People Living…”

Crash Landing On You came out to be one of the most successful K-dramas. Here’s how North Korean defectors reacted to it.

By Aditi Rathi -

November 18, 2023

https://www.koimoi.com/korean/crash-landing-on-you-when-north-korean-defectors-reacted-to-son-ye-jin-hyun-bin-starrer-revealed-what-they-found-it-relatable-saying-there-are-real-people-living/

Crash Landing On You: When North Korean Defectors Reacted To The Show & Revealed What They Found Relatable (Picture Credit: IMDb)

Crash Landing On You is surely one of the most iconic K-dramas of all time. The show starred Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin and created quite a stir among the audience as it received positive reviews. The show even broke records with its viewership rating across South Korea. While many were impressed with the show, some also found that the military services were highly romanticized. Three North Korean defectors also reacted to the show. Scroll down to learn what they said about it.

The show follows the story of Ye-jin’s Se-ri, a South Korean heiress who accidentally crosses the border after getting stuck in a tornado. She lands in North Korea and meets the soft-hearted Army Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok.

Jeong-hyeok and his few military colleagues plot out a plan to help Se-ri return to her country without coming into the knowledge of the military. They succeed in doing so, but some drama follows them, and Jeong-hyeok and his military men end up visiting Se-ri in South Korea. Throughout her time in North Korea, Se-ri makes warm relations with her neighbors and realizes that even her enemy country has kind-hearted people.

Kang Ha-na, a North Korean defector who fled her country, spent a few years in China and finally found her soulmate in a South Korean military man, once reacted to the show. In an interview with The Washington Post, Kang revealed that it is possible for a North Korean man to go above and beyond for his South Korean lover as she did the same herself. She added that although her life was filled with “hardships” before she fled her country, it was not just “suffering.” She felt good to see how the show portrayed some kind-hearted people from the North. She said, “There are real people living in the country, and all kinds of things happen there. What I liked about this series is that it showed different kinds of people living in North Korea.”However, Kang added that, unlike Se-ri’s neighbors, the society is not as helpful as it was a long time ago due to their economic conditions.

Another defector, Kim Geum-hyok, who also served as an advisor for Crash Landing On You, talked about the status of people living in North Korea’s capital city, Pyongyang. Kim said that the people in Pyongyang, who can afford to send their children abroad for studies, are a bit of a show-off and try to add English words in their conversations.

Reacting to Ri Jeong-hyeok and his supportive military men in Crash Landing On You, Jung Ha-neul, another defector, recalled his time as an army guard. Jung revealed that he was happy to see how the show also featured innocent and kind-hearted people living in the North. However, Jung added that he did not have one happy memory from the time he was stationed as an army guard. One thing that he could relate to was the soldiers’ reaction when they first arrived in South Korea and he said, “When the soldiers first come to Seoul in the show, the sense of surprise and marvel they feel is real.” “The burgers I tasted for the first time in Seoul were amazing.”

Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin starrer Crash Landing On You is currently available on Netflix.

For more stories, stay tuned to Koimoi.

4. S. Korea-China relations remain uneasy after APEC

S. Korea-China relations remain uneasy after APEC

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the APEC Informal Dialogue at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Thursday (local time). Joint Press Corps

Gov't urged to restore bilateral ties ahead of envisaged Seoul-Beijing-Tokyo summit

By Lee Hyo-jin

Strained relations between South Korea and China have ground to a virtual standstill after President Yoon Suk Yeol's attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit ended without a much-anticipated bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, despite discussions to arrange one.

The two leaders had a brief exchange during the multilateral event, but an absence of common agendas made it difficult for them to hold formal talks, analysts said Sunday, calling for diplomatic efforts from the Yoon administration to stabilize relations with the nation's largest trade partner.

Yoon returned home, Saturday, after attending the APEC summit in San Francisco, which invited the leaders of the 21-member regional economic group, including the United States, China and Japan.

There was speculation that Yoon might hold a one-on-one meeting with the Chinese president during his four-day visit, but the two only had a brief conversation. They were spotted exchanging greetings before the start of the APEC Informal Dialogue at Moscone Center, but did not sit down for a one-on-one meeting.

"At the current state, the leaders of South Korea and China do not have new agendas to talk about," Park Seung-chan, a professor of Chinese Studies at Yongin University, told The Korea Times.

"Also, for China's Xi, smoothing out relations with the U.S. seemed to be his top priority at the APEC summit. So holding a summit with South Korea was not part of his plans in the first place."

On the sidelines of the APEC gathering, U.S. President Joe Biden and Xi held a rare four-hour summit on Wednesday, in a sign of cooling tensions between the two superpowers.

Park said the recent fence-mending mood between the U.S. and China creates diplomatic room for South Korea to improve relations with its Asian neighbor.

"Like the U.S-China relationship, South Korea and China should also work toward building constructive relationships based on mutual benefits in areas like the economy and people-to-people exchanges," the professor said.

Bilateral relationship between South Korea and China have strained under Yoon’s presidency as Seoul has been overtly aligning with the U.S. in its diplomacy of pursuing coalitions with countries sharing universal values, a move perceived by China as joining the U.S.' campaign to counter Beijing.

Plus, Beijing has been increasingly wary about Washington’s growing influence in the Northeast Asian region amid quickly strengthening trilateral ties between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin, left, shakes hands with China's Communist Party's foreign policy chief Wang Yi during the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug.4, 2022. Yonhap

Amid the complicated relations, an upcoming foreign ministerial meeting and an envisaged trilateral summit between Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing would be a turning point in South Korea-China relations, experts said.

The foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan and China are expected to hold talks in Busan around Nov. 26, which, if held, would pave the way for a trilateral summit of their leaders in Seoul. The three-way summit may be held in December at the earliest.

Kang Joon-young, a professor of Chinese Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, commented that the trilateral summit will serve as a momentum to warm up relations with China.

"Although it is a trilateral meeting, China's No. 2 leader Li Qiang's visit to Seoul will be highly meaningful in Seoul-Beijing bilateral relations. And given that the trilateral summit traditionally focuses on economic and cultural cooperation, there could be some outcomes that will ease tensions between the two nations," Kang said.

While South Korea is expected to demand China's constructive role regarding North Korea's nuclear threats in its upcoming meetings, Kang viewed it unlikely for China to respond with meaningful action.

"It's impossible for the two nations to draw conclusions on sensitive geopolitical issues like North Korea or the Taiwan Strait and both sides should acknowledge that," he said.

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

5. IMF urges Korea to drastically reform national pension scheme

IMF urges Korea to drastically reform national pension scheme

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

The logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is seen outside its headquarters building in Washington, D.C., in this photo taken on Sept. 14, 2018. Reuters-Yonhap

'Pension reform is needed to safeguard long-term fiscal sustainability'

By Yi Whan-woo, Lee Kyung-min

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged Korea to drastically reform its national pension system, warning of massive debt that is projected to rise 200 percent higher than gross domestic product (GDP) within 50 years.

The message comes as a wake-up call for the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, which has been hesitating to push ahead with pension reforms due to political reasons, although it is aware that the state retirement fund is expected to run dry by 2055.

“Pension reform is needed to safeguard long-term fiscal sustainability and alleviate old-age poverty,” the IMF said in its recent Article IV Consultation report on Korea.

Under Article IV of its Articles of Agreement, the Washington, D.C.-headquartered IMF is mandated to assess the economic, financial and exchange rate policies of member countries.

Based on an IMF team’s visit to Korea between Aug. 24 and Sept. 6, the report listed challenges that Asia’s fourth-largest economy faces in sustaining the pension fund as the demographic crises of plummeting birth rates, longer life spans and an aging population become ever more apparent.

Also well-recognized by the Yoon government, these challenges center on the retirement age, which is associated with the starting age of the pension; contribution rate, which decides the monthly amount of premium paid before retirement; and replacement rate, which decides the monthly pension payout

The IMF pointed to Korea’s retirement age of 62, which is below the OECD average of 64, saying that it will remain below the average even after it is gradually raised to 65 by 2023.

Concerning the country's 9 percent contribution rate, the IMF compared this with the OECD average of 18 percent, assessing it as “low in international comparisons.”

On the other hand, the IMF noted that Korea's replacement rate of 31 percent for a full career average wage earner is low compared to the OECD average of 52 percent. The rate, which is lower than the OECD average, concerns Korea’s elderly, 43.2 percent of whom are in poverty, the highest proportion among all OECD members.

Under the circumstances, Korea's old-age dependency ratio, or the number of people aged 65 and over per 100 people of working age, is projected to reach 80 in Korea by 2050, the highest in the OECD.

The IMF correspondingly warned, “The impact of aging on the public debt-to-GDP ratio is estimated to be large,” adding, “By 2075, public debt-to-GDP would be projected to go up by around 200 percent.”

To stabilize the ratio and the pension fund, the IMF suggested adjusting the retirement age and pension replacement rate collectively.

“None of these policies in isolation seem feasible from a political, economic or social point of view,” it said.

It also suggested that “a combination of smaller adjustments of multiple parameters may be better.”

Other suggestions included recalibrating the roles of the National Pension Service (NPS), which operates the pension fund, and other pension schemes.

Meanwhile, the slowdown in Korea’s economic growth has added to concerns over the pension fund.

The IMF kept its growth outlook for Korea steady at 1.4 percent for this year and 2.2 percent for next year. Inflation is forecast at 3.6 percent this year compared to 3.4 percent in 2022. Additionally, the forecast for next year has been revised upward to 2.4 percent from 2.3 percent.

The organization also forecast that Korea will post economic growth ranging between 2.1 percent and 2.3 percent until 2028.

GDP is expected to expand 2.3 percent in 2025, followed by 2.2 percent increases in both 2026 and 2027. The Washington-based lender expected a 2.1 percent GDP growth in 2028.

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

6. Biden-Xi summit and Korean Peninsula

Excerpts:

From both the U.S. and Chinese readouts, the Korean Peninsula didn’t feature heavily in the Biden-Xi summit, despite worrying new developments in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs over the past year, and recently, the growing military ties with Russia.

Yoon may be hoping that the thaw in U.S.-China relations will give him an opportunity to improve South Korea-China ties. In particular, Seoul is keen to resume the annual trilateral summit between the leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea as it is the latter's turn to host the event.

Unfortunately, the much-anticipated summit between Yoon and Xi did not take place, and instead of a trilateral summit between the U.S., Japan and South Korea, a brief photo opportunity took its place. This raises some serious questions in regard to our diplomacy which needs to be answered.

Biden-Xi summit and Korean Peninsula

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

By Kim Sang-woo

On Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, 40 kilometers south of San Francisco, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the APEC summit, overshadowing the summit itself.

President Biden emerged from four hours of talks with President Xi confident that the U.S.-China relationship was improving, announcing agreements on curbing fentanyl production and restoring military communications, while acknowledging that serious differences remain.

Biden said he and Xi had agreed to pick up the phone and talk during periods of disagreement and called the talks “some of the most constructive and productive discussions we’ve had.”

Securing Xi’s promise of Chinese cooperation in stemming the flow of fentanyl to the US, was high on Biden’s to-do list. A senior official said the agreement under which China would go after specific companies that use fentanyl precursors was made on a “trust but verify” basis.

In return, the U.S. government on Thursday removed a Chinese public security forensic institute from a Commerce Department trade sanction list over alleged abuses against Uyghurs, a long-sought diplomatic aim for China.

“This undermines the credibility of our entity list and our moral authority,” said a spokesperson for the Republican-led House of Representatives select committee on China.

The resumption of military dialogues terminated by China following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 trip to Taiwan is also considered a success.

“China fears hotlines could be used as a potential pretext for a US presence in areas it claims as its own,” said Craig Singleton, a Chinese expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

Foreign policy issues seldom win incumbent U.S. Presidents elections. But they can certainly lose them elections, or at the very least feature heavily.

And although topics discussed at the summit are critical in the U.S.-China relationship, domestic issues such as the economy, immigration, abortion rights and crime top the agenda in the election year.

Biden’s meeting with Xi will, therefore, affect his domestic support mainly in terms of how it relates to these domestic concerns. Fentanyl is an area where the two definitely overlap.

Whether Biden succeeds in reducing the flow of the drug across the Mexican border into the U.S. will significantly impact domestic perceptions of his engagement with China. If successful, it could also strengthen his position in the debate on how to manage its southern border: Republicans are attacking Biden as being weak on immigration.

At a press conference Biden held immediately after the summit, he said the talks were conducted in “the interest of the American people,” an effort to convince Americans of the necessity of such talks.

On Thursday, Biden and APEC summit leaders posed for pictures. He made time for a separate photo with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, a reflection of closer relations with the two allies.

What did the United States’ Indo-Pacific allies, namely South Korea and Japan think of the summit?

Few countries have as much directly at stake as South Korea and Japan, which are U.S. treaty allies dependent on Washington for their security, but closely linked economically with China, and both countries are located in the vicinity.

Taiwan which faces an existential threat from China, is even more invested in U.S.-China relations. Beijing considers Taiwan to be an “inalienable part of China” and reserves the right to achieve full “reunification” even by force if necessary. With China’s military maneuvers around Taiwan becoming ever more provocative, the threat of forcible annexation looms large and the question of how the United States would respond is the subject of immense debate.

South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the US have adopted the “free and open Indo-Pacific” and “rules-based international order,” meaning “let’s counter China's bad behavior.” They have embraced, at times reluctantly, U.S.-led economic measures designed to target China’s access to cutting-edge technology and “de-risk” by reconfiguring trade ties away from China wherever possible.

They have also joined the U.S. in efforts to counter China militarily. South Korea and Japan have been deepening both bilateral and trilateral military cooperation with the United States. And Taiwan's arms sales have been increased by Washington, as well as more military cooperation.

The perceptions of the U.S. allies of the Biden-Xi summit, for the most part, are positive. Almost every country in the world has deep concerns about U.S.-China tensions reaching a point of no return, and potentially sparking a great power conflict. While their alliance and quasi-alliance relationships with the U.S. mean they have already chosen sides, none of these countries wants to be forced to completely decouple from China.

South Korea’s Yoon administration has taken a noticeably hard line on China. Yoon has been particularly intent on improving relations with both the United States and Japan, and the three countries cemented their trilateral partnership with the Camp David Summit earlier this year.

From both the U.S. and Chinese readouts, the Korean Peninsula didn’t feature heavily in the Biden-Xi summit, despite worrying new developments in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs over the past year, and recently, the growing military ties with Russia.

Yoon may be hoping that the thaw in U.S.-China relations will give him an opportunity to improve South Korea-China ties. In particular, Seoul is keen to resume the annual trilateral summit between the leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea as it is the latter's turn to host the event.

Unfortunately, the much-anticipated summit between Yoon and Xi did not take place, and instead of a trilateral summit between the U.S., Japan and South Korea, a brief photo opportunity took its place. This raises some serious questions in regard to our diplomacy which needs to be answered.

Kim Sang-woo (swkim54@hotmail.com), a former lawmaker, is chairman of the East Asia Cultural Project and a member of the board of directors at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation.

The Korea Times · November 19, 2023

7. New in North Korea: Hair loss products

Hmmm... what does this mean? Men are vain regardless of their economic condition? Do they have discretionary income to spend on hair loss products? Is there resistance potential among bald Korean men (okay that is a lame attempt at humor).

New in North Korea: Hair loss products

More people seem to be losing hair from diseases, chemicals and even military caps, experts say.

By Soram Cheon for RFA Korean

2023.11.18

rfa.org

Hair loss products are now for sale in North Korea amid an apparent uptick in the number of people struggling with thinning hair or going bald, experts in South Korea with knowledge of the country told Radio Free Asia.

Examples of such products can be seen on the homepage of Foreign Trade of the DPRK, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the formal name of North Korea.

But many of the treatments are too expensive for ordinary people – and may not be very effective, the experts said.

A North Korean man waits outside a barber shop next to a poster with different types of hairstyles in Pyongyang in 2015. Credit: Wong Maye-E/AP

North Koreans appear to be suffering from hair loss for a variety of reasons, said Choi Jeong Hoon, who worked as a doctor in the North before fleeing to the South. He is now a senior researcher at the Public Policy Research Institute at Korea University in Seoul.

Some experience hair loss from the aftereffects of often life-threatening typhoid and paratyphoid fever, he said.

“After suffering from these infections, hair loss is severe,” he said.

Harsh chemical ingredients in soap and laundry detergent that North Koreans use to wash their hair also can cause hair to fall out because they can irritate the scalp, Choi said.

“It is not easy to find mild chemical products in North Korea’s current situation,” he added. “Ordinary residents cannot afford to worry about hair loss.”

Military caps

Caps worn in the military – all able-bodied men are typically required to serve 10 years in the armed forces – may also damage one’s hair, said Ahn Kyung Soo, head of DPRKHealth.org, a blog on health issues in North Korea.

Sweating while wearing the cap inhibits proper ventilation, leading to unpleasant odors and bacterial buildup that can clog pores, ultimately resulting in thinning hair, Ahn said.

“When one goes into the military in North Korea, the environment is poor,” he said. “For example, there are testimonies even in South Korea that wearing a military cap causes hair loss.”

A man undergoes a hair-restoration procedure at the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju in 2018. Credit: Ed Jones/AFP

Hair loss treatments in North Korea are divided into pharmaceuticals and functional cosmetics, creating some consternation about which to choose, the experts said.

Among the new products are Guritdae Hair Loss Tincture manufactured by Pyongchon Koryo Pharmaceutical Factory, which treats patchy and thinning hair and total hair loss that result from autoimmune disorders that attack hair follicles, causing hair to fall out.

Then, there’s Hair Growth Tonic made by the Shinuiju Cosmetics Factory whose label says it’s effective for preventing premature hair loss and for promoting hair growth.

Effectiveness questionable

Though the products may contain ingredients that are believed to be good for hair or skin, it’s difficult to verify their efficacy as medicines, Ahn said.

“North Korean medicines cannot actually be verified,” he told Radio Free Asia.

Shinuiju Cosmetics Factory’s Hair Growth Tonic. Credit: Handout from Chosun Trade

North Korean hair loss medicines are basically “oriental medicines” — topical tonics based on medicinal herbs, so their effect is likely to be minimal, said Choi.

For example, users are to dip a pine needle-like brush into a glass bottle and apply it to the scalp to stimulate areas affected by hair loss, he said.

But this might not do the trick because hair loss can be affected by male hormones and result from skin diseases, Choi said.

“So, applying medicine on the affected part will not solve the problem,” he said.

Some North Koreans associate a loss of hair, called bondae in Korean, with poverty.

A public salon in Pyongyang, North Korea, in 2017. Credit: Ed Jones/AFP

But at other times it has been viewed as a sign of wealth.

“This perception has become entrenched because the so-called ‘major bondae’ pattern of hair loss is particularly prevalent among wealthy and powerful people, such as officials or representatives of companies that earn foreign currency,” Choi said.

“It refers to the image of being greedy, having a lot of luck, and making a lot of money,” he added.

Even in South Korea, until the 1980s and early 1990s, people didn’t think baldness looked bad, said Choi. “There was a perception that having a belly and a bald head made one look manly and rich.”

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee for RFA Korean. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

rfa.org

8. South Korea’s digital reputation dented by government network outage

South Korea’s digital reputation dented by government network outage

koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · November 19, 2023

“Glitch” responsible for breakdown in networks, Interior Ministry says

By Kim Arin

Published : Nov. 19, 2023 - 18:00

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo apologizes for the failure in government online systems on Saturday. (Yonhap)

South Korea, which boasts of being a world leader in digital government strategy and services, underwent a system failure of an unprecedented scale lasting nearly two days until Saturday. The outage forced the government operate manually while civil services were paused.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety, which oversees the e-government systems, said Sunday that the operations should be able to get back to normal on Monday. The ministry added that “glitch in the network” was believed to be responsible for the malfunction.

Vice Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong told a briefing on this day at the end of the inspections held for the last two days, “all municipal government services appear to have been normalized.”

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to apologize to the people over the latest meltdown of the government’s online systems, and to remove the minister in charge -- Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min -- from his post.

“While the systems were paralyzed, the government told South Koreans to simply wait. The president must immediately apologize to the public for the incompetence of his administration and the interior minister needs to be fired immediately,” the party said in a statement.

Beginning with reforms for digitalization launched under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, South Korean government has evolved to offer paperless services to its citizens since 2017.

In the 2019 digital government index, South Korea ranked first among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member states for as a digital government, and came third for the seventh consecutive time in the United Nations’ e-government survey in 2022.

Upgrading the digitalization of government services and administration networks has been one of Yoon’s major policy agendas, with a possible plan to export the related technologies. The Democratic Party said the “fiasco” ahead of the weekend undermined the administration’s ambition to be a “top digital leader worldwide.”

Before the systems could reopen temporarily on Saturday, central and municipal government operations had to rely on pre-digitalization paperwork processes for a full day.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued an apology in an address Saturday, for the “inconvenience and confusion caused to South Korean people” as a result of the outage affecting the government’s online services.

“What we witnessed goes on to show the extent of the chaos that can arise from an imperfect digital system,” he said in the address. “Our authorities are at work to determine what caused it, and how we can prevent it from happening again.”

Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who was out of the country to meet with his US counterpart, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, cut his trip short and returned to Seoul on Saturday amid the emergency. The minister set up an emergency task force over the weekend, comprising officials from other concerned ministries, to oversee recovery efforts and coordinate responses.

Most operations began again for the most part by Saturday, with the multi-ministry task force still at work to return services fully back to normal and assessing the damage.

Government 24, a platform for assisting citizen-government interactions, has resumed service Saturday morning. Since resuming service, the platform processed 240,000 citizen complaints and requests such as issuance of resident registration certificate and other documents, according to the Interior Ministry.

Internal portals used by government workers, called the Saeol system, were operating at a “satisfactory level” by Saturday afternoon, the Interior Ministry said.

South Korean authorities have not yet been able to narrow down the exact cause of the outage.

Shortly after the system breakdown became known on Friday, the National Intelligence Service said that it was looking into “various possibilities, including cyber attacks” and deploying its experts to “identify the cause of the failure and recover the system.” No updates have been made since.

koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · November 19, 2023

9.  S. Korea secures U.S. investment commitments worth 1.5 tln won during Yoon's APEC trip

S. Korea secures U.S. investment commitments worth 1.5 tln won during Yoon's APEC trip | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chang Dong-woo · November 19, 2023

SEJONG, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has secured a total of 1.5 trillion won (US$1.16 billion) in investment commitments from four U.S. companies on the occasion of President Yoon Suk Yeol's attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the government said Sunday.

The industry ministry said that GM, DuPont, IMC and Ecolab have declared commitments to invest in South Korea on the occasion of Yoon's attendance at this year's APEC summit in San Francisco.

The ministry said it anticipates the investments by these four companies will lead to an annual export expansion and import substitution effect of over 4.5 trillion won.

The ministry said GM's investment decision was a result of the government's efforts to improve the investment environment, including regulatory reforms and institutional improvements to attract investment from global companies.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (2nd from L) talks with U.S. President Joe Biden (R) during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on Nov. 16, 2023, in this photo provided by Yoon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

On the sidelines of the APEC summit last week, Yoon met with GM Senior Vice President Shilpan Amin, who expressed his confidence in South Korean businesses' operations in light of the government's bold regulatory reforms and institutional improvements in line with global standards.

DuPont has decided to invest more than 200 billion won in South Korea to expand its semiconductor material and component production facilities, and research and development center, aiming to create over 100 new jobs.

IMC, a unit of global investment company Berkshire Hathaway, plans to invest in production facilities for tungsten oxide used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Ecolab plans to invest in production facilities for high-purity nano particles, essential for the production of CMP slurry used in semiconductor manufacturing, the ministry said.

odissy@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Chang Dong-woo · November 19, 2023

10. Korea and Japan to construct next-generation energy supply network

Korea and Japan to construct next-generation energy supply network

donga.com

Posted November. 18, 2023 08:57,

Updated November. 18, 2023 08:57

Korea and Japan to construct next-generation energy supply network. November. 18, 2023 08:57. by Kwan-Seok Jang jks@donga.com.

During their visit to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will have discussions about collaborative efforts to establish a global supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia, which are considered next-generation energy sources during a lecture at Stanford University on Friday (local time). The leaders of Korea and Japan had a separate bilateral summit on Thursday in San Francisco, marking the seventh meeting between them since the normalization of Korea-Japan relations in March. With the leaders of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan actively fostering regional economic and security cooperation through trilateral efforts, the Yoon Suk Yeol government faces the diplomatic challenge of ensuring stable management of South Korean-China relations.

According to the President’s Office, the leaders of Korea and Japan are scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion at Stanford University on Friday, focusing on ‘Korea-Japan and Korea-U.S.-Japan advanced technology cooperation.’ The Asahi Shimbun has reported that Prime Minister Kishida is anticipated to unveil a government policy, outlining an investment of more than 150 trillion yen (approximately 1,292 trillion won) over the next decade for the development of next-generation energy in alignment with the decarbonization policy. As both countries heavily rely on energy imports and earnestly pursue clean energy policies, the establishment of a collaborative supply chain for decarbonized fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia is expected to be a key outcome of their discussions.

Furthermore, on the same day, leaders of three countries including U.S. President Joe Biden, convened for approximately 10 minutes to enhance collaboration on unresolved regional issues. Biden expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thanks to President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida, I have significantly eased the challenges associated with fulfilling my responsibilities as the President of the U.S.”

한국어

donga.com

11. N. Korea may launch spy satellite 'within a week or so': defense minister

​Perhaps Thanksgiving would be a target date just to upset the US forces in Korea and the national security community in DC.

N. Korea may launch spy satellite 'within a week or so': defense minister | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · November 19, 2023

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea may launch its military spy satellite as early as "within a week or so," South Korea's defense minister said Sunday, citing intelligence of the North's preparations.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said the launch could take place before South Korea launches its first indigenous reconnaissance satellite on Falcon 9, U.S. aerospace company SpaceX's two-stage rocket, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Nov. 30.

"South Korea and the United States are monitoring North Korea's movements. North Korea's preparations are under way for a launch to take place within a week or so," Shin said in an interview aired on public broadcaster KBS earlier in the day.

"It takes about a week to move the engine from the test site to Tongchang-ri (launch site) and assemble the launch pad and inject the liquid fuel," Shin said.

Shin said that the North is believed to have "almost resolved" its engine problems "with Russia's help."

North Korea made two botched attempts to put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit in May and August, respectively.

Shin said that the North's launch of a military spy satellite has been watched closely by the allies as a successful launch would mean an advancement in the rocket technology that can be weaponized.

North Korea is banned from any use of ballistic missile technology under U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions.

"The United States is also watching closely because reconnaissance satellites have the potential to dramatically advance North Korea's surveillance capabilities and offset our upper hand," Shin added.

Shin's remarks came a day after the North missed the widely expected Nov. 18 deadline set by the allies and observers for its stated plan to put the military spy satellite into orbit.

Earlier this month, the North designated a "missile industry day" to mark the anniversary of its test-firing of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 18 last year.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik speaks during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly on Nov. 9, 2023. (Yonhap)

elly@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · November 19, 2023

12. China’s 38 Fake News Sites Disseminating Pro-China, Anti-US, Anti-Japan Content in South Korea

Obvious subversion of the ROK and the ROK/US alliance. Images of the fake news sites at the link: https://eastasiaresearch.org/2023/11/18/chinas-38-fake-news-sites-disseminating-pro-china-anti-us-anti-japan-content-in-south-korea/?amp=1&utm

China’s 38 Fake News Sites Disseminating Pro-China, Anti-US, Anti-Japan Content in South Korea

 PUBLISHED DATENOVEMBER 18, 2023

 LAST MODIFIED DATENOVEMBER 18, 2023

 AUTHOR_

2023-11-18, Tara O

Chinese organizations posing as South Korean media-related PR companies have established 38 news sites disguised as South Korean domestic media outlets, which are spreading pro-China, anti-America, and anti-Japan content, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). These efforts distort public opinion, and can be seen as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence operations / psychological operations.

Above: Chinese fake news sites disguised as Korean local news companies (Source: Korea Times)

The entities posing as South Korean PR firms are Haimai, Haixun, and World Newswire. The two “Korean” media companies, which did not even have Korean names, but Chinese names—Haimai and Haixun—were discovered to be “fake media outlets” that do not exist in Korea. World Newswire displayed articles from major domestic media in order to appear as a media company, but it stole the articles it used. It also disseminated pro-China and anti-American propaganda articles and CCP propaganda materials as press releases.

These companies, to disguise themselves as a normal domestic news organizations, were found to have created media names and domain names similar to real local news agencies, published articles (although from domestic media without permission), and pretended to be a member of the Korea Digital News Association (한국디지털뉴스협회).

Haimai asserted it can distribute press releases to Naver, a major South Korean portal, and local media outlets in South Korea. The local media companies mentioned do not actually exist as corporations, and were fake media outlets, which include “Seoul Press,” “Bucheon Tech,” “Busan Online,” “Daegu Journal,” “Korea Economic Times,” and “Chungcheong Times,” all of which were operating under the same IP address. Other sites include, “Incheon Focus,” “Gwangju Education News,” “Gyeonggi Daily,” “Gangwon Culture,” “Gyeongsang Political Economy News,” “Chungcheong Times,” and “Jeju Travel.”  Seoul, Bucheon, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, and Gwangju are names of cities and Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, and Jeju are names of provinces in Korea.

The headlines published on these fake media outlets include “Chinese Government’s Coronavirus Cooperation Achievements,” “Japan’s Nuclear Wastewater Discharge Is Likely to Affect Korea’s Food Supply Chain,” and “Unforgettable Memories.” The latter titled article claims that the South Korean government’s counterinsurgency operations against the communist insurgency conducted on the orders of the Korean Workers’ Party that began on April 3, 1948 (“4.3”) on Jeju Island was “the result of the US’s wicked suppression.” In other words, it equated counterinsurgency operations against communist guerillas as the “wicked suppression” of the US. For details regarding the Jeju “4.3” communist insurgency, see here.

In addition to creating fake media outlets to propagate false narratives, it came to light five years ago that the CCP also recruited over 10 million Chinese citizen Wumaos / 50 Cent Army members to be online sockpuppets and trolls to influence public opinion around the world.

Categories:China​Influence Operations​Psychological Operations

Tags:50 Cent ArmyCCPpropagandapublic opinionWumao

13. South Korea's advanced tech industries endorsed by international alliances

South Korea's advanced tech industries endorsed by international alliances

thethaiger.com · by Mitch Connor · November 19, 2023

Picture courtesy of Bangkok PostSouth Korea, poised to become the world’s epicentre for advanced technology industries, received a vigorous endorsement from international alliances eager to accelerate its economic growth and competitiveness. The nation also committed to bolstering cooperation with its ASEAN partners to promote trade and investment.

Specifically, South Korea showcased interest in the automobile sector within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Rayong province.

The Investment Korea Summit 2023, organised by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), saw an influx of participants from the United States, Europe, China, and Japan. As Korea’s national investment promotion agency, KOTRA aids foreign businesses in Korea while advocating for Korea’s investment environment.

The agency provides services that encompass investment notifications and business setup consultations.

In the words of Jang Young Jin, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the competition between the US and China is anticipated to dampen economic growth this year. Nevertheless, South Korea endeavours to foster an appealing investment environment through bilateral free trade agreements with 20 countries, including tax benefits and other advantages.

These efforts have catalysed a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI), predominantly in semiconductors, now valued above US$23.9 billion, said Jin.

“We have been seeking further international trade investment, exploring new markets and enhancing the supply chain.”

ASEAN investment

On the topic of ASEAN investment, Jin expressed that ASEAN still has considerable potential to attract trade and investment. This is corroborated by the swift growth in trade between Korea and ASEAN nations.

Furthermore, the escalating production costs in China and the reinforced competitiveness of Chinese companies have impelled Korea and other countries to modify their investment strategies, now seeing the ASEAN region as a hub for trade and investment, reported Bangkok Post.

Simultaneously, a representative from the ministry divulged Korea’s eagerness to invest in the automobile industry in the EEC in Rayong.

“Korea is keen on developing advanced technology and believes the EEC has the potential for automobile industry investment.”

The EEC Development Plan is a component of the Thailand 4.0 scheme that seeks to rejuvenate the Eastern Seaboard, Thailand’s industrial powerhouse for over three decades. This plan will instigate significant development and transformation of Thailand’s investment in both physical and social infrastructure.

The EEC project will initially concentrate on three eastern provinces, namely Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong.

Advanced industry investment

According to the ministry, Korea, as a global investment hub, has achieved record-high foreign direct investment (FDI). It will persist in leading innovation in high-tech industries alongside global partners. Based on 2022’s FDI figures, 2.93% of FDI was allocated to advanced industry investment, 45.2% to material components and equipment, and 51.85% to other categories.

Greenfield investments constituted US$17 billion of the total FDI, and investments in future high-tech industries attracted US$7 billion. Additionally, there were 22 instances of large-scale investment increases.

Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who chaired the meeting, pledged the government’s utmost efforts to promote investment, transforming it into a global hub for high-tech.

“We would like to create trust among investors that we will do the best to support them, including better regulations to help the investors by eliminating unnecessary red tape. We will do more to encourage a stable supply chain.

“Importantly, we have the number one digital powerhouse in the world, making it possible to be the global hub for high-tech industry.”

Four foreign companies from Japan, the US, Spain, and B.Grimm Power, a wind energy investor, have proposed investing over US$900 million in energy, future mobility, semiconductors, and ICT.

Home/News/Business News/South Korea’s advanced tech industries endorsed by international alliances

Business News

thethaiger.com · by Mitch Connor · November 19, 2023

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com