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Quotes of the Day:
"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill."
– Barbara Tuchman
"I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together."
– Queen Elizabeth II
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction."
- E. F. Schumacher
1. S. Korea kicks off process to draw up new vision for inter-Korean unification
2. U.S. general voices concerns over 'increasingly advanced' long-range N.K. missiles
3. Time for a New Approach to the North Korea Problem. How About Canada?
4. U.S. commandos train for the unexpected in North Korea's shadow
5. Bloomberg reports Biden to award Samsung $6 billion in chip incentives
6. N. Korea’s recent firings of officials are excessive
7. NK reduces tensions as major diplomatic engagements with China, Russia loom
8. UN Command member states to meet this year to regularize gathering
9. Yoon to open leaders' plenary at 3rd Summit for Democracy
10. Uproar as ex-spy chief, accused of negligence in North Korea killing, is named to run as lawmaker
11. S. Korea says it does not recognize N. Korea as nuclear state
12. M2020: North Korea's Claims to Have One of World's Most Powerful Tanks
1. S. Korea kicks off process to draw up new vision for inter-Korean unification
Our good friend Lee Jung Hoon is the chairman of the committee.
Are we, as an ally, and are we, as members of civil society, prepared to support Korea and the Korean people as they seek to build a new country, a free and unified Korea - a United Republic of Korea (UROK)?
As we think about how to support Korea we should consider these five questions:
- What do we want to achieve in Korea?
- What is the acceptable durable political arrangement that will protect, serve, and advance US and ROK/US Alliance interests on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia?
- Who does Kim fear more: The US or the Korean people in the north? (Note it is the Korean people armed with information knowledge of life in South Korea)
- Do we believe that Kim Jong-un has abandoned the seven decades old strategy of subversion, coercion-extortion (blackmail diplomacy), and use of force to achieve unification dominated by the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State in order to ensure the survival of the mafia like crime family cult known as Kim family regime?
- In support of that strategy do we believe that Kim Jong-un has abandoned the objective to split the ROK/US Alliance and get US forces off the peninsula? Has KJU given up his divide to conquer strategy - divide the alliance to conquer the ROK?
The answers to these questions should guide us to the strategy to solve the "Korea question" (para 60 of the Armistice) and lead to the only acceptable durable political arrangement: A secure, stable, economically vibrant, non-nuclear Korean peninsula unified under a liberal constitutional form of government with respect for individual liberty, the rule of law, and human rights, determined by the Korean people. A free and unified Korea or, in short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK).
S. Korea kicks off process to draw up new vision for inter-Korean unification | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · March 15, 2024
SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry said Friday it has started discussions to draw up a new vision for unification between South and North Korea as it pushes to unveil the blueprint this year that espouses the principle of freedom.
The Unification Future Planning Committee, an advisory committee launched last year designed to provide policy suggestions on unification, held its first meeting of the year earlier in the day, according to the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs.
"I hope the committee will play a pivotal role in collecting various opinions and fleshing out details of the new unification vision," Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said at the start of the meeting.
This photo, provided by the Ministry of Unification on March 15, 2024, shows Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho (R) and Lee Jung-hoon, chair of the Unification Future Planning Committee, posing for a photo before the committee held its first meeting this year. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In a 2024 policy briefing to President Yoon Suk Yeol, the ministry said there is a need to take into account changes in the security situation and muster global support for Seoul's unification policy in drawing up a new unification vision.
The government plans to revise the National Community Unification Formula, South Korea's unification vision unveiled in August 1994 under the administration of late President Kim Young-sam.
The move comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has defined inter-Korean ties as relations between "two states hostile to each other," and vowed not to seek unification and reconciliation with South Korea.
In a speech marking the 105th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, Yoon said unification is precisely "what is needed to expand the universal values of freedom and human rights."
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · March 15, 2024
2. U.S. general voices concerns over 'increasingly advanced' long-range N.K. missiles
(LEAD) U.S. general voices concerns over 'increasingly advanced' long-range N.K. missiles | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 15, 2024
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS more info in 4th para)
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, March 14 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. general took note of military threats from "increasingly advanced" long-range North Korean missiles on Thursday, while highlighting evolving security challenges from China, Russia and Iran.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), attended a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee to testify about the posture of his commands and discuss security risks facing the United States.
"North Korea continues its bellicose rhetoric while test-launching increasingly advanced long-range missiles and expanding its ties with China and Russia," Guillot said.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command speaks during a session of the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington on March 14, 2024 in this photo captured from a livestream of the session from the committee's website. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In the absence of dialogue with Seoul and Washington, Pyongyang has been doubling down on projects to develop various formidable weapons, including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that observers worry could enable the regime to make a surprise missile launch.
With the North Korean threats and other risks "firmly in mind," the Air Force general said his commands are trying to improve "domain awareness" in order to "detect, track and defeat" threats ranging from long-range ballistic missiles to small unmanned aerial systems.
"The defense of North America is an active endeavor that requires NORAD and NORTHCOM to campaign against threats in all domains along all approaches," he said.
Touching on China, Guillot noted that the Chinese military "modernizes and grows at a rapid pace."
"The PRC is expanding nuclear capability and capacity alongside its development of modern submarines, missiles, hypersonic weapons. All present significant challenges for homeland defense," he said, referring to China by its official name, the People's Republic of China.
The general called Russia an "immediate nation-state concern."
"Russia retains the world's largest stockpile of strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons along with significant capacity to strike inside North America with air- and sea-launched precision conventional weapons," he said.
"Despite heavy losses to its ground forces in Ukraine, Russia has invested heavily in systems that can threaten the U.S., such as advanced guided missile submarines, hypersonic glide vehicles, ICBMs as well as significant cyber and undersea capabilities."
Regarding Iran, the commander said that while the Islamic Republic lacks the capability to strike North America with long-range missiles, it is investing in that capability.
"Iran also supports violent militant groups in the Middle East and maintains a worldwide network of operational circuits," he said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · March 15, 2024
3. Time for a New Approach to the North Korea Problem. How About Canada?
Based on understanding the nature of the Kim family regime I doubt this will pan out.
Conclusion:
Considering all factors above, taking initiative in North Korea is a wise option for Canada that not only aligns with Canadian values but also offers geopolitical, geoeconomic, and security benefits. In a time when the world needs alternative methods to resolve the North Korean problem, Canada is uniquely positioned as a non-threatening actor to Pyongyang with a strong reputation as an honest broker and continued record of engagement with North Korea.
Time for a New Approach to the North Korea Problem. How About Canada?
thediplomat.com
Canada, with its diplomatic experience as an honest broker and history of track two engagement with North Korea, is well-positioned to try its hand at mediation.
By Chan Mo Ku
March 14, 2024
In the 30 years since North Korea announced its intention to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the United States has implemented a variety of strategies to curb Pyongyang’s behavior. These efforts, which range from the Clinton-era Agreed Framework to the Trump administration’s bilateral summits, have failed to dissuade the Kim regime from testing its missile and weapon of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities. With crises emerging around the world in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere, an exhausted Washington finds itself increasingly stretched thin with a North Korea problem that is yet to be resolved.
Perhaps it is time to consider an alternate approach. What if countries outside of the Six-Party Talks – and with less conflicted interests in the region – take the lead in engaging with North Korea?
Canada, with its diplomatic experience as an honest broker and history of track two engagement with North Korea, can be a suitable candidate. Leadership on the North Korea problem would be a timely maneuver as Ottawa pushes to increase its involvement in the Indo-Pacific. Taking initiative on one of the region’s largest problems would boost Canada’s profile as a Pacific power, with potentially positive spillover effects.
Canada’s Position: Honest Broker from Outside
The fact that Canada is situated geographically and politically distant from the Korean Peninsula allows the country to serve as an honest outside broker. Compared to the members of the Six-Party Talks (2003-2009), all of whom are deeply interlinked with critical geopolitical interests in East Asia, Canada’s relatively neutral status in the region enables it to take a third party approach.
Andrei Lankov noted that North Korea perceives Canada as a “non-threatening” country. Lankov pointed to Pyongyang’s willingness to send its students there as proof of the Kim regime’s relative openness to Canada compared to its adversarial position toward the United States and regional U.S. allies. This reputation opens avenues for dialogue, exchange programs, and potential cooperation in various fields, allowing Canada to play a unique role on the Korean Peninsula.
Former Canadian aid worker Erich Weingartner also suggested that Canada can act as a “psychologist” on the North Korean issue. He argued that steps such as re-appointing an ambassador and looking for other ways to exchange people and ideas, be it through sports, arts, or academics, might encourage North Korea to communicate better with the outside world, which may result in constructive adjustments to the repressive system.
Canada’s case is further strengthened by its record as an international broker, peacekeeper, and contributor to international organizations, as demonstrated through its involvement in Egypt and Mali. Canadian leadership also contributed to the construction of the United Nations and other institutions of multilateralism, and the country still plays a major role in promoting human rights in the international arena. These experiences have honed Canada’s diplomatic capabilities, strengthening relationships that can facilitate dialogue.
Canada Is Not a Stranger to North Korean People or Policy
Canada’s approach to addressing the North Korean issue has been multifaceted, focusing on two key dimensions. First, Ottawa uses a “people-first” approach, which emphasizes human rights concerns in North Korea and involves providing humanitarian aid. This aspect reflects Canada’s commitment to addressing the welfare and rights of North Korean citizens. Second, Canada addresses the security dimension, particularly concerning Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program. This is primarily managed through the imposition of sanctions and strict enforcement measures, aimed at reducing North Korea’s WMD ambitions and ensuring regional stability.
Given Canada’s history of dual-policy implementation in relation to North Korea, the country is significantly involved in both humanitarian and security aspects of the issue. This involvement demonstrates Canada’s leverage on the North Korean problem, its affluent diplomatic knowledge in both dimensions, and its capability to gain trust from different stakeholders and perspectives.
For security reasons, the Canadian government has also been at the forefront of international efforts to curb the Kim regime’s belligerent posturing. Canada was proactive in joining economic sanctions against North Korea following the United Nations Act in 2006 and Special Economic Measures Act in 2011. Since 2018, Canada has periodically dispatched troops and CP-140 Aurora aircraft to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities as part Operation NEON. Canadian Armed Force members are currently serving in the Korean Peninsula as the country participates as a member of the United Nations Command. In fact, in 2018, then-Lieutenant General Wayne Eyre, now the chief of the Defense Staff of Canada, became the first non-U.S. deputy commander of the United Nations Command. These activities demonstrate Canada’s keen interest in North Korea and desire to discourage the malign behaviors of its leadership.
On the other hand, Canada has remained connected with the Korean Peninsula through continuous efforts to engage with Pyongyang, too. For instance, there have been efforts across Canada to raise awareness about the humanitarian aspects of the North Korean problem. Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Han Voice and First Steps have initiated campaigns to address famine in North Korea and raise awareness of human rights violations by the Kim regime. Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights wrote a 2016 report that highlights what Canada can do to assist North Korean refugees. Humanitarian assistance has been a major policy tool in this regard, with Ottawa providing around CA$40 million of assistance to North Korea through international organizations such as U.N. World Food Program or UNICEF since 2005.
Similarly, Canadian academia has also demonstrated continued dedication to work with North Korean scholars, enhance mutual understanding, and facilitate human capacity building. For example, the Canada-DPRK Knowledge Partnership Program (KPP) established by the University of British Columbia invites North Korean scholars to Canada with the goal of developing track two exchanges and sharing knowledge to improve the living conditions of North Korean people. There was also another engagement in 2018 where North Korean farmers visited Manitoba to share agricultural knowledge and build relationships.
Although there are concerns over whether Canada has the means to play mediator in the Korean Peninsula, given that bilateral relations reportedly deteriorated under the Harper government, recent documents indicate that the Trudeau government has been restoring engagement with Pyongyang. A 2020 article by the Globe and Mail revealed that senior Canadian officials held discreet meetings with their counterparts from North Korea in 2018, which led to a strategic plan in 2019 for diplomatic re-engagement, including the possibility of re-opening an embassy in Pyongyang.
Canada’s Benefits: Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Security
Active engagement on the North Korean problem will offer several benefits for Canada, too.
In the era of competition between the United States and China, Canada has frequently been excluded from geopolitical coalitions or partnerships. Australia, which is also a U.S. ally in the Pacific, was invited to join the Quad and the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) security pact, both of which Canada was overlooked for. As a result of these snubs, Canada has attempted to re-engage with its neighbors in the region, as shown through its Indo-Pacific Strategy and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s suggestion of a four-way security framework in the Northern Pacific. Engagement on the Korean Peninsula could create a path for further cooperation with regional partners and strengthen Ottawa’s geopolitical presence.
Similarly, leadership on North Korea issues may also bring geoeconomic benefits. Whereas Canada has traditionally focused on ties with historic partners in North America and Europe, Asia presents a significant economic opportunity to diversify Canadian supply chain access and expand global trade networks. Canada’s new Indo-Pacific strategy states that “[t]he Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century,” and highlights North Korean provocation as one of the strategic challenges in the region. Resolving the North Korean nuclear issue can not only strengthen stability of the Asian markets but also enhance Canada’s geoeconomic relations with its regional counterparts.
Lastly, there is a persistent security risk for Canada as long as Pyongyang maintains its nuclear missile capability. North Korea’s development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) is sophisticated and its new ICBM reportedly has a range of over 15,000 kilometers, which includes territory in Canada. By actively engaging, Canada can mitigate potential risks to its national, regional, and global security.
Considering all factors above, taking initiative in North Korea is a wise option for Canada that not only aligns with Canadian values but also offers geopolitical, geoeconomic, and security benefits. In a time when the world needs alternative methods to resolve the North Korean problem, Canada is uniquely positioned as a non-threatening actor to Pyongyang with a strong reputation as an honest broker and continued record of engagement with North Korea.
Authors
Guest Author
Chan Mo Ku
Chan Mo Ku is former military officer at the Republic of Korea – United States Combined Forces Command and a Master of Arts candidate at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He also worked at the Wilson Center as a Joint Intern between the Canada and Korea teams.
thediplomat.com
4. U.S. commandos train for the unexpected in North Korea's shadow
U.S. commandos train for the unexpected in North Korea's shadow
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-commandos-train-unexpected-north-koreas-shadow-2024-03-15/?utm
By Josh Smith
March 15, 20242:26 AM EDTUpdated 2 hours ago
Item 1 of 5 Members of U.S. Special Operations Command sit on MC-130 airplane during their military exercise with South Korea's Army Special Warfare Command which is a part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military training between South Korea and the United States at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, South Korea, March 14, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
[1/5]Members of U.S. Special Operations Command sit on MC-130 airplane during their military exercise with South Korea's Army Special Warfare Command which is a part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military training between South Korea and the United States at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, South... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read more
GWANGJU, South Korea, March 15 (Reuters) - U.S. special operations troops in South Korea are training and preparing for unexpected threats at a time when global crises are more interconnected than ever, their commander said during an exercise this week.
"Nothing in the history of the United States should give us any faith and confidence that we know where the next threat is coming from," Brigadier General Derek Lipson of Special Operations Command - Korea said in an interview on the sidelines of joint drills.
Nuclear-armed North Korea in recent years has made unprecedented strides in its weapons programs, including massive new ballistic missiles that can reach the United States and speedy new tactical missiles designed to defeat missile defence systems.
For the first time, North Korean missiles have been fired in combat, with Russia wielding them this year against targets in Ukraine, according to U.S. officials and independent experts.
And in Asia, Korea joins the South China Sea and Taiwan as flashpoints with the potential to involve the region and the world.
Because of that uncertainty, Lipson is trying to inject more flexibility and decision making into his troops' training - not just how to shoot a rifle, as he puts it, but deciding when and where.
North Korea has condemned the stepped-up joint drills as provocative rehearsals for invasion and proof of hostile intent by Washington and its allies.
Adding to thi unpredictability are the upcoming U.S. elections, which are being closely watched around the world.
Lipson said that although politics play a role in military matters, his job is to ensure his troops are ready regardless of who the president is.
"I think (North Korea) would like nothing more than senior military leaders, junior military leaders, service members, (South Korea) and the U.S. to be worried about the election more than they're worried about their readiness," he said. "It's important to make sure that we understand our role is to be ready, not to be part of the argument."
JOINT TRAINING
During drills on Thursday, a U.S. special operations MC-130 aircraft practiced airdrops with a brigade of South Korean commandos.
As the grey turboprop aircraft circled over the Republic of Korea Special Warfare School Training Range near Gwangju, South Korean troops and a handful of Americans toppled from its doors, jerking and swinging as their parachutes opened.
One U.S. special operations liaison soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity because his identity is operationally sensitive, said it demonstrated that the allies can work together in a conflict.
Since 2016, U.S. special operations forces have been tasked with countering weapons of mass destruction (WMD), a role with particular relevance given North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal. U.S. intelligence services say Pyongyang also operates biological and chemical weapons programs.
Lipson said advances in North Korea's capabilities would change how a mission might be executed.
"I'm not going to talk plans, but the ability to execute those where we're asked and when we're asked, that's readiness," he said. "And that's what we're prepared to do."
During a visit to Army Special Warfare Command on Wednesday, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik called on special operations troops to hone their ability to "swiftly eliminate" North Korean leadership during a war.
U.S. Forces Korea did not immediately comment when asked whether U.S. troops would play a role in such missions.
The U.S. special operations presence in Korea has grown from about 50 active-duty personnel 25 years ago to a Theater Special Operations Command with some 250 personnel, said David Maxwell, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel who served multiple tours in South Korea.
In a war, their role could involve countering WMD, combat and reconnaissance missions, supporting guerrilla forces in the North, psychological operations, and post-conflict counterinsurgency, Maxwell said.
GLOBAL IMPACT
The 10-day Freedom Shield exercises that wrapped up on Thursday saw participation from an unprecedented number of member states from the U.S.-led United Nations Command, which has operated as part of the armistice since the 1950-1953 Korean War.
As a legacy of that war, which was never officially ended, the United States keeps about 28,500 troops in South Korea, and operates a combined command with the South Korean military.
The two sides named envoys this month to launch a new round of talks for a defence cost-sharing deal to take effect in 2026. South Korean media said the aim was for an agreement before the U.S. election in November. Former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican nominee, during his presidency accused Seoul of "free-riding" on U.S. military might.
Lipson said a key part of special operations in South Korea was to work with other partners around the region.
"When we talk about free and open INDOPACOM, that only comes from those relationships, whether they're bilateral, trilateral... just an understanding that no one is going to do any of it alone," Lipson said, referring to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which stretches from India and Mongolia to New Zealand across the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
SOCKOR troops said they had recently conducted separate drills with Thailand and the Philippines.
"Nothing happens in this theatre, greater INDOPACOM area or even globally at this point, that doesn't have an impact somewhere else," Lipson said.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.
Reporting by Josh Smith. Editing by Gerry Doyle
5. Bloomberg reports Biden to award Samsung $6 billion in chip incentives
Bloomberg reports Biden to award Samsung $6 billion in chip incentives
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2024/03/15/QPVX6P74IRFL5OYTZSBTC3QRAM/
By Kim Hyo-sun,
Yeom Hyun-a
Published 2024.03.15. 17:21
The Biden administration in the United States reportedly plans to grant Samsung Electronics subsidies exceeding $6 billion (7.96 trillion won), according to Bloomberg on Mar. 15, citing several sources.
The Delight Shop logo displayed at Samsung Electronics' Seocho office in Seoul, March 7, 2024./Yonhap News
These subsidies, earmarked by the U.S. government for Samsung, stem from the U.S. Chips Act. This act enables the Department of Commerce to offer financial incentives for semiconductor manufacturing and research and development, encouraging firms to invest within the U.S.
It is suggested that these funds will assist Samsung in broadening its U.S. presence beyond the previously announced Texas facility. In 2021, Samsung announced plans to construct a new semiconductor factory worth $17 billion in Taylor, Texas, complementing its existing plant in Austin, Texas.
The Department of Commerce is poised to disclose subsidy arrangements for key players in the advanced semiconductor industry by the month’s end.
In a previous report, Bloomberg noted that Samsung Electronics plans to secure several billion dollars in subsidies under the U.S. Chip Act. It also mentioned that Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC might receive over $5 billion, and Intel, an American corporation, could be awarded upwards of $10 billion in subsidies.
6. N. Korea’s recent firings of officials are excessive
Indications of fear of potential instability?
State interference in the economy. Think about the implications of that. More failure by Kim Jong Un as he ruins market activity by trying to exert control. This market activity has been the source of the resilience of the Korean people in the north . It has been responsible for their survival since the Arduous MArch fo the famine of 1994-1996.
N. Korea’s recent firings of officials are excessive
State interference in the economy leads to a situation where the country's markets are inflexible and the distribution of resources is extremely unbalanced
By Jo Hyon, PhD, Kyungnam University - March 15, 2024
dailynk.com
N. Korea’s recent firings of officials are excessive - Daily NK English
Kim Jong Un at the plenary session, which was held from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1, 2023. (Rodong Sinmun-News1)
North Korea is moving forward with an excessive level of personnel changes in a push to achieve state-led projects.
On Mar. 8, a source inside North Korea told me that “in early March, the party committee of South Pyongan Province dismissed 12 officials from the regional industrial management office of the provincial and major agricultural enterprises, citing their failure to meet the targets of the 2023 development plan.”
The source explained that the individuals were punished under the pretext that “the policies of the Workers’ Party are the law of the nation and the rule of the country.”
I believe that North Korea’s recent economic trends confirm yet again that North Korea is a “command economy” run by the Workers’ Party. The party’s involvement in the economy weakens the power of markets given that resources are distributed according to the party’s policies. Therefore, the party’s intervention in the economy creates an environment in which individual economic decisions are suppressed in the name of the country’s development strategy. In sum, this means that the country’s markets are inflexible and the distribution of resources is extremely unbalanced.
Perhaps North Korea’s leadership has forgotten that it once advocated a socialist economy. Its inflexible planned economy is based on the principle of self-reliance and reflects the will of the Workers’ Party and its Supreme Leader. This same system has led to food shortages resulting in mass starvation and a dependence on China for even the most basic necessities. Not only does a rigid command economy make it impossible to predict economic trends, but history throughout the ages, from East to West, has proven that such a system destroys entire markets and leads to financial hardship.
The Workers’ Party had introduced a so-called socialist economic system that wreaked havoc on the country for 30 years between 1960 and 1990. Due to instability and negative economic growth, North Korea’s food rationing system was only implemented in times of crisis, and its eventual failure led to the starvation of millions of people.
Government must place less focus on national defense, more on the economy
At present, the party leadership is attempting to manipulate the economy by firing officials at will, but it should not overlook the fact that the economy can be made inflexible by party policies. There are also concerns that this command economy, based on the Kim Jong Un regime’s values of “self-reliance” and “strength through hardship,” could lead to another Arduous March, an unthinkable period of pain and suffering in North Korea’s history.
In the 2000s, the market economy took hold, and with it came opportunities to escape the rigidity of a socialist economic system. However, I believe that the reason North Korea is still mired in economic crisis is that the legacy of socialism is inextricably intertwined with the current economic system. In fact, the annual income of the average North Korean has fallen during the current economic crisis, a phenomenon that is another consequence of the command economy system.
Another problem is that the country’s markets are shrinking and consumption is falling as the Workers’ Party prioritizes national defense above all else. The party has complete control over both the composition of its workforce and the economy as a whole, and uses its authority to channel resources into its nuclear arsenal and the maintenance of the regime. North Korea’s leaders should remember that a nation is a complex network of people, land, and government, so when the Workers’ Party infringes on the livelihood of its people, it shakes the country to its core.
Translated by Audrey Gregg. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons. For more information about Daily NK’s network of reporting partners and information-gathering activities, please visit our FAQ page here.
Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
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7.NK reduces tensions as major diplomatic engagements with China, Russia loom
Think political warfare.
This is not unusual. But some kind of action is likely on the horizon.
NK reduces tensions as major diplomatic engagements with China, Russia loom
The Korea Times · March 15, 2024
South Korea's F-15K fighter jets launch flares during the Freedom Shield exercise in Daegu, March 6. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force
By Kim Hyun-bin
North Korea, which has strongly responded to joint military drills between South Korea and the United States through major provocations, remained relatively quiet during the latest exercise. This in consideration of key political events involving its friendly nations, including the 75th anniversary of its relations with China and the imminent possibility of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to experts, Friday.
Seoul and Washington concluded the annual computer-simulated Freedom Shield exercise on Thursday.
During the 11-day exercise, the North promoted Kim Jong-un's visit to military units, but no actual military provocations occurred. This stands in stark contrast to the events of last year, which saw the regime firing strategic cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles as well as a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Pyongyang has accused allies' joint exercises of being a rehearsal for an invasion.
Analysts pointed to several factors contributing to the North refraining from its usual provocations during the latest joint drill.
One significant consideration, of course, was China's major political events, the Two Sessions, which may have influenced the North's decision-making process. China holds two major annual political meetings, the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, usually in March.
In addition, Russia's presidential election, which began on Friday, was thought to have played a role.
"From North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's perspective, it seems that there isn't much advantage in actively escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula amid domestic and international sentiments,” Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said.
“Stirring up a crisis in the current situation wouldn't be beneficial, considering various factors such as a significant portion of military personnel being deployed for local development projects, upcoming events like the 75th anniversary of North Korea-China relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin's potential visit after the election and ongoing discussions on nuclear issues amid the U.S. presidential race. Taking all this into account, it appears that North Korea is managing the Korean Peninsula situation differently from the past.”
Yang, however, raised concerns about the potential for increased tensions in the West Sea during the upcoming crab fishing season — April through June — traditionally marked by heightened military activities.
“Currently, North Korea refuses to acknowledge the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea. Additionally, they are planning to finalize the territorial boundary including the West Sea soon," he said.
"Considering past incidents of conflicts during crab fishing season and all these factors, there might be a higher likelihood of such tensions in the West Sea. There could be a higher chance of accidental military clashes between North and South Korea.”
The Korea Times · March 15, 2024
8. UN Command member states to meet this year to regularize gathering
Note the change for Korea watchers. No longer "sending states." They are "member states."
Thursday
March 14, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 14 Mar. 2024, 16:18
UN Command member states to meet this year to regularize gathering
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-03-14/national/defense/UN-Command-member-states-to-meet-this-year-to-regularize-gathering-/2002387
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and others attend the ROK-UNC Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Nov. 14, 2023. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
Representatives of member countries of the United Nations Command (UNC) — who gathered for the first time since the 1950-53 Korean War last year — plan to meet again this year to regularize the meeting.
Observers read this as an attempt to solidify the UNC's role as an axis of deterrence against North Korea as geopolitical uncertainty grows with the U.S. presidential election in November approaching.
The Defense Ministry decided to hold the second ROK-UNC Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting in the second half of this year and has begun related work, including establishing a schedule for the event, according to multiple military sources on Wednesday.
In November last year, South Korea and the United States invited the defense ministers and ambassadors to Korea from 14 countries that sent combat personnel and three countries that provided medical support during the Korean War to the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), a meeting of the defense chiefs of the two countries, and agreed to revitalize the UNC.
Related Article
“This year’s UNC meeting is likely to be held in Seoul around autumn, separately from the SCM held in Washington in November,” a military source told the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.
Military authorities believe the UNC meeting will become regular this year. This reflects the current South Korean government’s intention to secure greater deterrence against North Korea by adding UNC cooperation to the existing axis of the ROK-U.S. alliance.
In his Liberation Day speech last year, President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized the role of the UNC as the “biggest deterrent to blocking North Korea’s invasion of the South.”
The Defense Ministry also strengthened the status of the UNC through a joint declaration at the first ROK-UNCMS Defense Ministerial Meeting last year.
At the time, the joint declaration recalled the 1953 Washington Declaration, in which the countries that sent combat personnel to Korea under the UN flag said they would “respond jointly if hostile acts or armed attacks contrary to the principles of the United Nations that threaten the security of the Republic of Korea are resumed on the Korean Peninsula.”
The Defense Ministry plans to continue promoting the participation of the South Korean military in the UNC staff, which was tentatively agreed upon at last year’s meeting.
Currently, South Korea does not hold a position in the UNC staff department, but military authorities plan to increase its share by sending several high-ranking military officers to the department.
These discussions are based on the consensus between South Korea and the U.S. that the UNC will be established as a command center with 17 member countries in the so-called UNC “right sizing” plan. The plan to expand UNC member countries is expected to be promoted in the same context.
The U.S. is said to be preparing to expand the UNC's scope by broadening the membership to include “countries that will provide military and non-military support to the UNC in the future.”
There is also the view that the decision to regularize the UNC meeting was made with the U.S. presidential election in mind.
Namely, local media has speculated that officials are considering safety measures if a re-elected Donald Trump moves to abolish or change the UNC.
If North Korea-U.S. relations advance rapidly without a guarantee from North Korea to denuclearize, Pyongyang is expected to demand the disbandment of the UNC. South Korea cannot help but be concerned about having to give up one axis of its deterrence against North Korea.
During the Moon Jae-in administration, the UNC was perceived as an inconvenient entity in an atmosphere of appeasement toward North Korea.
An example is when the UNC attempted to promote a plan to have Germany join as a member state and to have Denmark, a country that provided medical support during the Korean War, expand its contribution to a military provider.
The Moon administration clearly expressed opposition, citing an infringement on South Korea's sovereignty.
Regarding this, there was talk within the military that there was “discomfort with the UNC's activities due to concerns that the UNC could become an obstacle to improving relations with North Korea.”
BY LEE KEUN-PYUNG, LEE YOO-JUNG, LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]
9. Yoon to open leaders' plenary at 3rd Summit for Democracy
The ROK is a global pivotal state that chooses to be a peaceful nuclear power, is a partner in the arsenal of democracy, and supports the rules based international order.
And what better vision for the ROK to seek (and announce) as it leads the Summit:
“A stable, secure, peaceful, economically vibrant, non-nuclear peninsula, reunified under a liberal constitutional democratic form of government based on individual liberty, rule of law, and human rights as determined by the Korean people. A free and unified Korea or in short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK)."
Yoon to open leaders' plenary at 3rd Summit for Democracy | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · March 15, 2024
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol and the leaders of Denmark and Kenya will jointly open the leaders' plenary during the third Summit for Democracy to be hosted by South Korea next week, the presidential office said Friday.
The leaders' plenary is scheduled to be held virtually on Wednesday evening, the final day of the three-day summit, with Yoon, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Kenyan President William Ruto opening the meeting, the office said in a press release.
The three leaders will each host one session, and Yoon will host the second session on technology, elections and disinformation, it said.
The annual summit was launched in 2021 and has been led by the United States with the aim of strengthening democracy and confronting authoritarianism around the world.
South Korea was one of five co-hosts of last year's summit in March, along with the U.S., Costa Rica, the Netherlands and Zambia.
This year's gathering will be held under the theme "Democracy for Future Generations."
In this file photo, President Yoon Suk Yeol gives welcoming remarks at the opening of the Indo-Pacific Regional Meeting of the second Summit for Democracy in Seoul on March 30, 2023. (Pool photo) (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · March 15, 2024
10. Uproar as ex-spy chief, accused of negligence in North Korea killing, is named to run as lawmaker
ROK domestic politics will get ugly.
From an article four years ago when he became head of the NIS (New South Korean National Security Team Has Close Ties to Pyongyang https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2020/07/08/new-sk-natsec-team-has-ties-to-pyongyang/):
The new head of the NIS is legislator Park Jie-won, a surprise pick given that he is 78 years old and not a member of Moon’s ruling party. Park was instrumental as a senior official in supporting former President Kim Dae-jung’s “Sunshine Policy” and illicitly funneled $450 million to the North ahead of Kim’s 2000 summit with Kim Jong Il. Park received a three-year sentence for his actions following his conviction by a South Korean court.
Uproar as ex-spy chief, accused of negligence in North Korea killing, is named to run as lawmaker
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · March 15, 2024
By Kim Arin
Published : March 15, 2024 - 18:35
Park Jie-won, the former director of the National Intelligence Service, has been nominated by the Democratic Party of Korea to run in the general election as a lawmaker candidate. (Yonhap)
The Democratic Party of Korea’s decision to nominate the former National Intelligence Service chief Park Jie-won to run in the upcoming general election has provoked uproar from the bereaved family of the South Korean fisheries official, Lee Dae-jun, who was killed by North Korean soldiers in September 2020.
As the chief of the NIS at the time, Park is a key defendant in the ongoing trial over South Korean authorities’ alleged negligence during the time between Lee’s capture by North Korean soldiers and his shooting death at sea, as well as the subsequent cover-up efforts. Park is accused of forcing agents to delete records and documents on Lee’s case from the spy service’s internal servers and colluding with Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Council.
According to the Democratic Party, Park won the nomination to run as a candidate in a South Jeolla Province district that is one of the liberal party’s main strongholds. Polls to date suggest a comfortable win for Park, who if elected would enjoy constitutional immunity from some criminal justice procedures as a sitting lawmaker for the next four years of his term.
The brother of the late fisheries official, Lee Rae-jin, said the “main suspect in what can only be understood as the country’s crime against a public official and citizen” getting a chance to enter the National Assembly was “unacceptable.”
Speaking to The Korea Herald on Friday, he said that the Democratic Party, by deciding to hand Park the nomination, was “practically giving him a pass from taking responsibility over what happened.”
“Park, as the director of the National Intelligence Service, was in the very room with other top Moon Jae-in officials where they made the call to wrongfully blame my brother by falsely accusing him of trying to defect to North Korea, instead of taking accountability for their failures to save him over some 30 hours when he was still alive in the hands of North Korea,” he said.
According to the prosecution service and the inspection board, over a series of meetings following Lee’s death, Park and other top national security and presidential officials agreed to tell the press that the late official was an attempted defector to Pyongyang. In the immediate aftermath, they also portrayed him as still missing despite being aware that he was already killed.
The Democratic Party retracted its rules about not allowing candidates involved in criminal indictments and trials to run in elections in an intraparty vote held in May last year.
Lee also said that he “couldn’t forget the day he watched with horror” as the Moon administration released the letter from Kim Jong-un on the killing “as if it was something to be grateful about.”
Besides Park, other key Moon officials on trial in the North Korea killing case are Suh Hoon, the then-chief of the National Security Council; Seo Wook, the then-minister of National Defense; and Kim Hong-hee, the then-commissioner of the Coast Guard.
Park served as the director of the National Intelligence Service from July 2020 to May 2022 under the Moon administration.
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · March 15, 2024
11. S. Korea says it does not recognize N. Korea as nuclear state
S. Korea says it does not recognize N. Korea as nuclear state
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · March 14, 2024
By Yonhap
Published : March 14, 2024 - 19:38
North's leader Kim Jong-un guides "training matches" involving tank troops on Wednesday. (KCNA)
South Korea on Thursday renewed its stance that it does not recognize North Korea as a nuclear state.
The foreign ministry made the comments in response to Putin's remarks that the North has its "own nuclear umbrella" and has not asked for Russia's help during a recent interview with Russia's RIA state news agency and Rossiya-1 state television.
"There is no change in the government's position that it does not recognize North Korea as a nuclear state," a foreign ministry official told reporters, when asked whether Putin's remarks could be seen as recognition of the North as a de facto nuclear state.
The official said the government will seek diplomatic efforts for North Korea's denuclearization in close cooperation with the United States and other countries, as well as with the international community, amid escalating military threats from Pyongyang. (Yonhap)
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · March 14, 2024
12. M2020: North Korea's Claims to Have One of World's Most Powerful Tanks
M2020: North Korea's Claims to Have One of World's Most Powerful Tanks
During recent military exercises, North Korea showcased a new tank, which was observed by leader Kim Jong-un, Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam, and Chief of the General Staff Ri Yong-gil. Dubbed the "M2020," the new tank, first revealed in a 2020 military parade, appears ready for deployment.
The National Interest · by Peter Suciu · March 14, 2024
Summary: During recent military exercises, North Korea showcased a new tank, which was observed by leader Kim Jong-un, Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam, and Chief of the General Staff Ri Yong-gil. Dubbed the "M2020," the new tank, first revealed in a 2020 military parade, appears ready for deployment. Although specific details are scarce, it resembles the Russian T-14 Armata and Iranian Zulfiqar MBTs but shares design features with the older Soviet T-62. Equipped with composite armor and a 125mm main gun, the North Korean state media lauded the tank's combat capabilities, with Kim Jong-un proclaiming it as one of the world's most powerful tanks.
Show of Strength: North Korea's Latest Tank, the M2020, Joins Military Exercises
Much has been made about South Korea’s K2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT) in recent years, but on Thursday, North Korean state media first reported that the Hermit Kingdom also rolled out one of its new tanks during military exercises this week. The vehicle was present at an event attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam, and Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong-gil.
Kim joined troops training on the tank during the training drills—and it was the third time he had observed his forces engaged in training since the start of the ongoing eleven-day South Korean-U.S. joint exercises, which he views as rehearsals for an invasion.
The North Korean military held demonstrations involving the tanks, after which Kim was spotted sitting in the driver’s seat of one of the six tanks. The vehicles also took part in live fire exercises and a training match—which the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described as a competition.
“The competition took place in a team-to-team mode. The competition was aimed at rigorously checking the practical skills of tank crewmen and practicing ways to conduct combat operations based on various tactical missions. The competition involved distinguished tank crews from major tank formations,” KCNA reported.
The 105th Tank Division was declared the winner of the mock battle—not entirely surprising as it was the unit that occupied the South Korean capital Seoul during the Korean War.
North Korea’s “New” Tank: What Do We Know
Media reports have not identified the North Korean military’s tank by model number or other designation, but according to The Associated Press, it is the same model that was first unveiled during a military parade in 2020. Its presence during Wednesday’s drill may indicate that it’s ready to be deployed, South Korean experts suggested.
Known only by the unofficial moniker “M2020,” there are reports that nine prototypes may have been built—which tracks as six were spotted in the photos released by state media. While it has an appearance that is similar to the Russian T-14 Armata and Iranian Zulfiqar MBTs, it is believed to share some design features with the much older Soviet-designed T-62—which also is to be expected, as Pyongyang has a history of modifying the T-62.
The tank’s hull features armor plates on the sides, with slat armor on the rear of the hull protecting the engine while it is reported to be equipped with composite armor and armed with a Soviet 2A46 125mm main gun.
North Korean state media reported that Kim expressed satisfaction with the new tank and described it as having “shown outstanding combat capacity, powerful strike ability and high maneuverability.” Kim further suggested it was one “of the most powerful tanks in the world” and that was a “strong reason to be proud” of it.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
The National Interest · by Peter Suciu · March 14, 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
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