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Quotes of the Day:
“In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousand fold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations.”
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
“What's the best way to control people? Divide them into different ideological groups and they'll soon start fighting against each other. This way they will forget who their true enemy is.”
- Sofo Archon
“I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that's what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it.”
- Joan Didion
1. N. Korea steps up criticism against military cooperation among S. Korea. U.S., Japan
2. Unification ministry plans to hold talks with U.N. Command to resume Panmunjom tour
3. N. Korea diversifying cybercrimes amid drop in value of cryptocurrency: report
4. N. Korea designates holiday for test-launch of ICBM
5. S. Korea to participate in new round of IPEF talks in San Francisco
6. Charted: The Number of North Korean Defectors (1998-2023)
7. South Korea’s Quest to Become a Global Pivotal State
8. Korea steps up efforts to get US Congress to pass Kimchi Day
9. Russia and North Korea relations in transition
10. Two Koreas race to launch first homegrown military spy satellites
1. N. Korea steps up criticism against military cooperation among S. Korea. U.S., Japan
Actually we need to assess this as indication of the regime's recognition of its failing strategy. I have not talked about this in awhile. One of the major conditions the regime needs to dominate the Korean peninsula is to split the alliance and drive US forces off the peninsula. However, its actions continue to backfire and with each provocation the ROK/uS alliance only grows stronger and now trilateral cooperation, particular military cooperation is at the highest level since the Korean War (during the Korean War was both a logistics hub to support the war effort and a training base for ROK soldiers).
That said this improved cooperation stil does provide some benefit to the regime as it can point toit and call it a threat and the Propaganda and Agitation department can use that for its domestic propaganda to justify the suffering and sacrifice of the Korean people in the north. However, the deterrent effects of a strong ROK/US alliance and effective trilateral cooperation is worth it to prevent conflict. But our information activities should be highlighting the regime's strategic failures on a routine sustained basis.
N. Korea steps up criticism against military cooperation among S. Korea. U.S., Japan | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · November 5, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Sunday said military cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan has entered a "very dangerous stage" that could drive the Korean Peninsula into the brink of a nuclear war.
No one can ensure the military campaign between the three is not leading to "a nuclear war and the third world war," the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said on Sunday.
"We have established the strongest response strategy by arming ourselves with nuclear weapons to protect our sovereignty and the wellbeing of our people from the war of aggression by the U.S. and its followers," the paper said.
The paper called its military activities "self-defensive" to "thoroughly safeguard ourselves against the enemy's warmongering" and "to protect peace and stability of the region."
"The move for tightening the U.S.-Japan-puppet south Korea triangular military alliance ... is a potential factor which can put the situation on the Korean peninsula into an uncontrollable phase," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Saturday.
Early last month, the three nations staged a trilateral maritime interdiction exercise in waters south of the Korean Peninsula, for the first time in seven years, to strengthen security coordination against North Korean threats.
The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan enters a naval base in Busan on Oct. 12, 2023, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, in this photo provided by Yonhap News TV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Woo Jae-yeon · November 5, 2023
2. Unification ministry plans to hold talks with U.N. Command to resume Panmunjom tour
It is important for the public to be able to visit this historic and important location to be reminded of the very threat that exists from the north.
Unification ministry plans to hold talks with U.N. Command to resume Panmunjom tour | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · November 5, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's unification ministry plans to hold talks with the U.N. Command to resume a tour program for the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, according to a ministry official on Sunday.
The tour program for ordinary citizens has been suspended since mid-July, when an American soldier crossed the inter-Korean border into North Korea during a tour to the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a rare unauthorized trip that led to his detention in the North.
The soldier, Pvt. Travis King, was expelled from North Korea later September and returned to the U.S.
Ministry officials conducted an on-site inspection of Panmunjom late last month to resume the tour program for ordinary citizens, the official said.
The ministry "plans to soon discuss a resumption schedule with the U.N. Command," the official said.
The U.N. Command oversees activities in the DMZ as an enforcer of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.
Soldiers stand guard in the Joint Security Area of the truce village of Panmunjom between South and North Korea inside the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, on Nov. 29, 2022. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · November 5, 2023
3. N. Korea diversifying cybercrimes amid drop in value of cryptocurrency: report
Perhaps an indirect approach to reducing north Korea funds may be to drive the value of cryptocurrency down (if that is possible). But we must remain vigilant as this indicates that the regime and its all purpose sword will adapt to survive.
N. Korea diversifying cybercrimes amid drop in value of cryptocurrency: report | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · November 4, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to be diversifying its cybercrimes to offset the declining value of cryptocurrencies it steals to fund its nuclear and missile programs, a report said Saturday.
According to the report by Kim Bomi, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, North Korea stole some US$340 million worth of cryptocurrencies in the first three quarters of the year, which amounts to 29.6 percent of the total damage reported in the world, but is still less than the unprecedented volume it stole last year.
Kim attributed the decline to the sharp drop in the value of cryptocurrencies amid U.S. interest rate hikes and the bankruptcy of cryptocurrency exchange operator FTX.
Kim also cited countries' strengthened monitoring and sanctions in the wake of last year's hacking of Axie Infinity, a token-based online video game, by North Korean state-sponsored hacking group Lazarus, which led to the theft of $620 million worth of cryptocurrencies.
"North Korea is renewing its interest in attacking the financial sector," Kim wrote. "Starting last year, ransomware attacks are also on the rise."
Kim also said North Korea appears to be relying on Russian exchanges to cash its cryptocurrencies.
This graphic image provided by Yonhap News TV depicts North Korea's cryptocurrency theft through hacking. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · November 4, 2023
4. N. Korea designates holiday for test-launch of ICBM
I do not recommend reacting to north Korean provocations and I think the "new normal" of sustained high level exercises and training regardless of provocations is very important. However, given the designation of the holiday on November 18th, I might consider some event to mark. I would ask the planners to devise a unique event to highlight our strategic assets. We should "honor" the anniversary in our own special way with a message of "No fear."
N. Korea designates holiday for test-launch of ICBM | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · November 5, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has designated a holiday to mark a test-firing of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in 2022, the North's state media reported Sunday.
North Korea test-fired the ICBM on Nov. 18, 2022, with leader Kim Jong-un declaring that the missile reaffirmed his regime's acquisition of a powerful and reliable capability to counter any nuclear threats.
Nov. 18 was designated as the Day of Missile Industry at a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The KCNA said North Korea "displayed dignity of the strongest intercontinental ballistic missile in the world" with the test-firing.
At that time, North Korea's state media said the missile flew 999.2 kilometers for 4,135 seconds at an apogee of 6,040.9 km and landed in the international waters of the East Sea.
Last week, South Korea's spy agency said North Korea is believed to be in the final stage of preparations to carry out what would be its third satellite launch after two failed attempts earlier this year.
After its second attempt failed in August, North Korea had said it would try again in October. But no such launch has happened, and the North has given no word as to why the launch has been postponed and when it will take place.
North Korea fires an intercontinental ballistic missile in this photo released by its state media on Nov. 19, 2022. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · November 5, 2023
5. S. Korea to participate in new round of IPEF talks in San Francisco
I still wish we had not made the strategic mistake of withdrawing from TPP.
S. Korea to participate in new round of IPEF talks in San Francisco | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · November 5, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is set to take part in a new round of negotiations on the United States-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to be held in San Francisco this week, according to Seoul officials Sunday.
The seventh round of IPEF talks, which will take place less than two weeks after the sixth round was held in Kuala Lumpur, is expected to be the last official negotiations this year.
The platform was launched by U.S. President Joe Biden in 2022 in a move to counter China's growing influence in the region. It involves a total of 14 member nations, including South Korea, the U.S., Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The initiative has four pillars -- trade, supply chain resilience, a clean economy and a fair economy -- and they reached an agreement on the supply chain resilience pillar during a meeting in May.
Roh Keon-ki, a senior official at South Korea's trade ministry and Seoul's chief negotiator for the talks, said his delegation will make utmost efforts to produce "maximum achievements."
The IPEF members represent around 40 percent of global gross domestic product and 28 percent of global goods and services trade, according to government data.
This file photo, provided by South Korea's industry ministry, shows ministers and representatives of member nations of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework posing for a photo after a ministerial meeting in Detroit on May 27, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Deok-Hyun Kim · November 5, 2023
6. Charted: The Number of North Korean Defectors (1998-2023)
Maps and graphics are at this link: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/north-korean-defectors-escape-routes/?utm
Charted: The Number of North Korean Defectors (1998-2023)
visualcapitalist.com · by Mark Belan · November 3, 2023
Why Are the Number of North Korean Defectors Decreasing?
North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a totalitarian dictatorship with extremely limited freedoms and rights reported for its citizens.
Due to the country’s tight controls on borders and information, people that want to leave the country often have to physically escape and are known as defectors.
These visuals use data from the South Korea’s Ministry of Reunification to track the number of North Korean defectors who make it to South Korea each year, as well as international reporting to explain the dwindling numbers.
North Korean Defectors from 1998–2023
The table below shows the amount of successful North Korean defectors that arrived in South Korea from 1998 through to June of 2023. Note that there was no data available for 1999 and 2000.
YearNorth Korean
Defectors 1998947 1999N/A 2000N/A 20011,043 20021,142 20031,285 20041,898 20051,384 20062,028 20072,554 20082,803 20092,914 20102,402 20112,706 20121,502 20131,514 20141,397 20151,275 20161,418 20171,127 20181,137 20191,047 2020229 202163 202267 2023 (as of June)99From the 1990s to 2010, we can see the amount of North Korean defectors steadily climbing to a peak of 2,914 people in 2009 alone.
More residents looked to escape the country after suffering through the North Korean Famine of 1994 to 1998—with death estimates ranging from 240,000 to 3,500,000—as well as the country’s increasingly bleak economic conditions following the collapse of the neighboring Soviet Union.
We can also see the immediate impact of Kim Jung Un’s rise to power since 2012, with successful defections immediately dropping by 1,204 year-over-year and declining consistently over the next decade. Stronger border controls were one factor, as were improved relations with China and agreements with Russia on sending escapees back to North Korea.
And North Korea has seen defections drop further, from thousands to low hundreds, since 2020. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the country shut down all borders, created new barriers, and significantly limited internal travel.
Mapping Escape Routes from North Korea
Click here to see a larger version of the graphic above.
Since they can’t cross the heavily surveilled and militarized border to South Korea, the Korean Demilitarized Zone, North Korean defectors have to travel through Russia or China to get to friendly countries in order to seek asylum.
For most defectors, these include reaching Mongolia to the north or Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to the south, which all work with the South Korean government on reunification.
There are also defectors that try to stay in Russia or China. In 2009, a global refugee survey found there were 11,000 North Korean refugees hiding in China close to the North Korea border alone, not accounting for the rest of the country.
Others are able to seek refuge in other countries and eventually attain citizenship. In 2022, the UNHCR registered 260 refugees and 127 asylees from North Korea, with Germany hosting the most at 96 and the U.S. second at 70.
Mapped: The Top Middle East Exports by Country
It’s more than just oil. This map of Middle East exports shows the top global product of each country by value.
Published
14 hours ago
on
November 3, 2023
Mapped: The Top Middle East Exports by Country
The Middle East is widely recognized for its significant role in the global energy market. However, countries in the region also foster other substantial industries, including metals, chemicals, and agriculture.
The graphic above uses 2021 exports data from The Observatory of Economic Complexity to help explain the economy of the Middle East.
Though Afghanistan is not part of the traditionally defined Middle East, we’ve included it due to multiple organizations counting it as part of the region.
Top Exports by Middle-Eastern Countries in 2021
In 2021, the Middle East’s exports reached a total value of $1.27 trillion. While the region lags behind Asia, Europe, and North America in global exports, it outpaces Africa and South America.
Despite many countries undertaking efforts to diversify their economies and reduce their oil dependence, most of the exports still come from fossil fuels.
CountryTop Export (2021)Top Export ValueTotal Exports Value UAECrude petroleum$58.5B$296.0B Saudi ArabiaCrude petroleum$138.0B$256.0B TurkeyCars$10.0B$234.0B QatarPetroleum gas$57.2B$94.7B IraqCrude petroleum$72.0B$81.1B IsraelDiamonds$9.1B$64.1B KuwaitCrude petroleum$40.1B$58.2B OmanCrude petroleum$24.2B$56.9B EgyptRefined petroleum$4.8B$44.5B BahrainRefined petroleum$4.3B$15.0B IranEthylene polymers$3.2B$14.0B JordanPotassic fertilizers$1.2B$12.0B LebanonGold$0.4B$4.8B YemenCrude petroleum$1.1B$2.0B AfghanistanGrapes$0.4B$1.9B PalestineBuilding stone$0.2B$1.5B SyriaPure olive oil$0.1B$1.0B
The Middle East accounts for one-third of global oil production, producing over 30 million barrels per day. Five of the world’s top 10 oil producers are located in the region.
But some countries like Türkiye show off more diverse economies. The country’s exports range from minerals to machinery and textiles, with cars as its top export. The country is actually one of the world’s top automotive exporters.
Israel is another of the Middle East’s most diverse economies. The country’s major exports encompass electronics, software, and refined petroleum, but cut diamonds rank as the country’s largest single export by value.
Iran has tapped into its ample reserves of oil and natural gas in a different way, becoming a significant producer of plastics. Presently, plastics and rubbers constitute one-quarter of Iran’s exports.
How the Middle East Impacts the Global Economy
Given that the oil sector is one of the most significant in the global economy in terms of both volume and transaction value, many Middle Eastern countries are substantial players in international politics.
Nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have direct impact on the oil market and play a pivotal role in determining the price of the commodity.
Due to the region’s massive exports (and imports of goods), and the importance of oil and gas in goods manufacturing worldwide, regional conflicts by Middle Eastern countries also impact global markets directly.
Continue Reading
visualcapitalist.com · by Mark Belan · November 3, 2023
7. South Korea’s Quest to Become a Global Pivotal State
Excerpts:
Therefore, given the fluctuating regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, three countries need to institutionalize the trilateral. While upcoming events like the U.S. presidential election and South Korea’s general election could potentially lead to changes in the current dynamics of South Korea-U.S. relations and South Korea-Japan relations, if there is a change in ruling parties, looking at the broader international landscape, trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan can serve as a constant in a strategic environment filled with uncertainty.
Furthermore, through networking with countries that share South Korea’s strategic interests and ideological similarities, Seoul can create a strategic space where it can thrive and maintain stability. The same can be said for the United States and Japan. Considering the role of ensuring balance in the frontlines of great power competition in Northeast Asia, the trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan can potentially overcome domestic political constraints and institutionalize this collaboration.
Institutionalization does not imply the formation of an “Asian NATO.” Rather, it means making regular efforts in various areas to maintain readiness through greater integration and coordination and contribute cooperatively to the broader stability of Northeast Asia by pooling capabilities. Doing so will not only counter the efforts of the authoritarian axis to drive a wedge between the United States, South Korea, and Japan but will also enhance the resilience of regional countries to respond to their coercion.
South Korea’s Quest to Become a Global Pivotal State
Restoring relationships, especially with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, is a crucial element in achieving Yoon’s vision of a global pivotal state.
thediplomat.com · by Kuyoun Chung · November 4, 2023
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A year has passed since South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy was made public. Since then, the Yoon Suk-yeol government has attempted to restore relations with several other countries. The first was the United States, followed by Japan, Australia, India, the European Union and ASEAN partners, and the Pacific Island states. Subsequently, Seoul has actively participated in various minilateral and multilateral cooperation initiatives, such as the trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan; the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the Asia-Pacific 4, and Partners in the Blue Pacific, which were formed and activated after the Biden administration came into power in the U.S.
What is the purpose and meaning of the sequence of these actions? To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the Yoon government’s foreign policy vision: South Korea as a global pivotal state. Restoring relationships, especially with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, is a crucial element in achieving that vision.
The Idea of a Global Pivotal State
The idea of a global pivotal state presented by the Yoon government includes expanding networks and cooperation with like-minded nations that share South Korea’s identity, values, and strategic interests. The goal is for South Korea to serve as a hub in sustaining the regional security architecture of the Indo-Pacific. In this context, a “hub” refers to South Korea’s position in the Indo-Pacific, where multilayered networks exist in various areas such as security, economics, technology, norms, and values.
Network theory suggests that these connections among countries can both constrain a nation’s actions and help them achieve their objectives. Networks among countries that share values and interests are useful in collectively achieving common goals. Network theory further states that countries positioned at the center of a network often play a crucial role in facilitating transactions that might not have occurred without their participation. This central position within the network, known as network centrality, where a country is highly interconnected with all other countries, can be a source of influence and power.
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Seoul’s attempts at expanding its networks reflect the internationalist nature of the government’s foreign policy. The concept of a global pivotal state signifies South Korea’s intention to pivot toward the international community, in contrast to the previous Moon Jae-in administration.
Of course, even before Yoon’s inauguration, South Korea had been actively involved in the international arena as a middle power. However, the Moon government not only prioritized the resolution of the North Korean issue in its foreign policy but also conducted diplomacy based on the assumption that reconciliation in inter-Korean relations would lead to progress in North Korea-U.S. dialogue and ultimately denuclearization. As a result, South Korea had to maintain an accommodating attitude toward China in order to sustain momentum in dialogues with North Korea, which resulted in assessments that South Korea was hedging in the context of China-U.S. strategic competition.
Despite South Korea being a U.S. treaty ally, the Moon government did not exhibit immediate support for the Quad. South Korea also joined the process of attempting to restore multilateralism and reshape the regional architecture with a delay following U.S. President Joe Biden’s inauguration. In this aspect, Yoon’s government’s vision of becoming a global pivotal state demonstrates a greater commitment to engaging with regional partners and contributing to the stability of international order compared to the past.
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This does not mean relegating the North Korean issue to a lower priority or abandoning dialogue with North Korea. But it does imply a change in its approach to North Korea. The shift in focus to being a global pivotal state means establishing a favorable power balance to push for North Korean denuclearization, centered on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and actively participating in the establishment of regional security and economic architecture with like-minded countries.
In this context, South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which was announced last year, can be seen as a roadmap for South Korea’s evolution into a global pivotal state. It represents a foreign policy vision that aims to contribute to maintaining the Indo-Pacific as a free, stable, and prosperous space through solidarity among like-minded countries, emphasizing multilateralism over unilateralism, and internationalism over isolationism. The Yoon administration is aware of the emergence of unilateralist nationalism and extreme populism observed in the international community’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Yoon administration shares the perception that these trends further weaken the liberal order that has been sustained for over half a century.
The administration further recognizes that the competition between the United States and China is not just a bilateral rivalry, but a threat to the prosperity and stability of democratic countries due to the rise of authoritarian states and their associated networks. Seoul also understands that it is not immune to these developments. In this regard, South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy aims to enhance the resilience of the regional order in the Indo-Pacific in various areas where attempts by authoritarian countries to revise the status quo are anticipated. These areas include the establishment of a rule-based Indo-Pacific regional order, the promotion of the rule of law, non-proliferation, economic security, cooperation in advanced science and technology, addressing digital disparities, climate change, and development cooperation, among others. South Korea seeks to achieve this by cooperating with like-minded countries in the region.
The Role of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Trilateral
In this context, improving bilateral relations with the United States and Japan, as well as restoring trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan, is of great significance. Indeed, the scope of this cooperation extends beyond deterring North Korea and indicates a willingness to stabilize Northeast Asia. This trilateral cooperation projects a geopolitical impact on the East Asian security landscape, where three authoritarian regimes – China, Russia, and North Korea – are becoming more aligned.
The inclusion of language in the Joint Statement at the Camp David summit in August 2023 emphasizes the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue and the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on disputes in the South China Sea, which signifies South Korea’s clear stance on great power competition and strategic interest in regional affairs that goes beyond the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, closer alignment of Japan, South Korea, and the United States suggests that China’s coercion toward regional countries may not work as effectively as it did in the past, forcing Beijing to change its way of calculating the cost and benefit of conducting coercion.
South Korea’s collaboration with the United States and Japan within this trilateral platform will facilitate entry into the Indo-Pacific as well. South Korea’s nascent attempt to engage the region will be supplemented by the existing network in the region, and combined efforts with the U.S. and Japan.
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Therefore, given the fluctuating regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, three countries need to institutionalize the trilateral. While upcoming events like the U.S. presidential election and South Korea’s general election could potentially lead to changes in the current dynamics of South Korea-U.S. relations and South Korea-Japan relations, if there is a change in ruling parties, looking at the broader international landscape, trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan can serve as a constant in a strategic environment filled with uncertainty.
Furthermore, through networking with countries that share South Korea’s strategic interests and ideological similarities, Seoul can create a strategic space where it can thrive and maintain stability. The same can be said for the United States and Japan. Considering the role of ensuring balance in the frontlines of great power competition in Northeast Asia, the trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan can potentially overcome domestic political constraints and institutionalize this collaboration.
Institutionalization does not imply the formation of an “Asian NATO.” Rather, it means making regular efforts in various areas to maintain readiness through greater integration and coordination and contribute cooperatively to the broader stability of Northeast Asia by pooling capabilities. Doing so will not only counter the efforts of the authoritarian axis to drive a wedge between the United States, South Korea, and Japan but will also enhance the resilience of regional countries to respond to their coercion.
GUEST AUTHOR
Kuyoun Chung
Kuyoun Chung is an associate professor in the department of political science, College of Social Sciences, at Kangwon National University.
thediplomat.com · by Kuyoun Chung · November 4, 2023
8. Korea steps up efforts to get US Congress to pass Kimchi Day
Korea steps up efforts to get US Congress to pass Kimchi Day
The Korea Times · November 5, 2023
National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, left, shakes hands with Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. CEO Kim Chun-jin at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday, after agreeing to cooperate to promote kimchi and pass Kimchi Day at the U.S. House of Representatives next month. Courtesy of Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp.
By Ko Dong-hwan
Kimchi / gettyimagesbank
Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. (aT) and the National Assembly Speaker have agreed to jointly ramp up efforts to get the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress to pass Kimchi Day, according to the state-run company. Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish consisting of salted and fermented vegetables.
Kim Chun-jin, CEO of aT, met the country's parliamentary speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday, and discussed ways to have Kimchi Day earn enough votes from legislators in the House of Representatives. The idea was introduced as a new resolution to the House last April by Republican representative for California's 40th congressional district Rep. Kim Young. She sponsored the resolution with 14 co-sponsors – nine Democrats and five Republicans.
The aT CEO and U.S. representative said the enactment of Kimchi Day is not just about promoting the Korean traditional side dish. The campaign aims to highlight sustainable dietary lifestyles by reducing meat consumption and contributing to global carbon neutralization. Over 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food production, consumption and waste, according to aT.
The CEO of aT requested the parliamentary speaker join the company's initiative to recognize Kimchi Day, to promote low-carbon dietary lifestyles throughout the world and develop it into a global campaign. He also thanked the speaker for having suggested the idea to Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives whose final term ran from 2019 to last January, when she paid a state visit to Seoul in August 2022.
Last April, Rep. Kim introduced a resolution called "H.Res. 280: Expressing support for the designation of November 22, 2023, as 'Kimchi Day'." It said kimchi is a "probiotic food that serves as an excellent source of beta-carotene, calcium, potassium, dietary fiber and vitamins A, B, C and K" that "can lower rates of heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes."
Kimchi has been gaining popularity in the U.S. as evidenced by an increase in available kimchi-related food products, restaurant menu items, and interest from non-Korean consumers, the resolution added.
Passage of the resolution will be determined in a plenary meeting of the House on Dec. 6.
The resolution was previously introduced by House Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York in July 2022 but the 117th Congress session, then, ended without mulling on it.
Kimchi Day has been aT's campaign since 2021 when it was supported by 34 local authorities in Korea and received further support from 550 authorities in 30 countries, according to aT. Twelve states and cities of America including Washington D.C., California, New York and Virginia as well as Brazil's Sao Paulo, Argentina and Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames in London, the U.K., have publicly introduced Kimchi Day so far.
The Korea Times · November 5, 2023
9. Russia and North Korea relations in transition
Excerpt:
North Korea backs Russia militarily and Russia gives North Korea a cutting-edge hardware weapon. North Korea has previously received military equipment, training and technology assistance from Russia. Japan and the United States responded negatively to the agreement between North Korea and Russia. Russia might start an arms race and destabilize the Korean Peninsula if it buys weapons from North Korea.
Russia and North Korea relations in transition
The Korea Times · November 5, 2023
By Simon Hutagalung
The bilateral ties between Russia and North Korea are known as North Korea-Russia relations. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, relations between the two nations persisted. The election of Vladimir Putin as Russia’s president restored significance to the relationship. Russia backed a resolution on the imposition of further sanctions against North Korea by the United Nations Security Council. In response to Kim Jong-un’s orders to the military to deploy nuclear warheads so they can be fired at “any moment” and be ready to launch pre-emptive attacks against its enemies, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated, “The Kremlin is concerned over North Korea’s statements about its readiness to use nuclear forces and urges all states to display restraint.”
Russia supplies North Korea with a new, high-tech hardware weapon, and North Korea provides military support to Russia. Russia has already given North Korea military hardware, instruction, and technological support. This covers the provision of armaments, including military vehicles, artillery and guns. There have also been rumors of military forces from North Korea training in Russia. The Soviet Armed Forces assisted the Korean People’s Army during the conflict. As a founding member of the Communist bloc, North Korea benefited greatly from Soviet political and military backing. Stalinism had a strong effect on the massive personality cult that surrounded North Korea’s ruling family. During the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s, North Korea attempted to retain positive ties with both China and the Soviet Union while competing for control within the country.
President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un of North Korea seem prepared to reach a decisive and pressing agreement for their respective countries as they arrive in Russia for their meeting. North Korea requires Russian experience in developing new weapons, while Russia urgently needs military equipment and ammunition supplied as quickly as feasible. In conventional warfare, North Korea possesses an ample supply of anti-tank missiles and self-propelled artillery. By land, delivery may be completed quickly because of the Najin-Hasan Railway that links the two nations. Russia and North Korea both possess armaments that are comparable enough to be used immediately. The military systems of the former Soviet Union have served as the basis for North Korea’s weaponry development. For instance, since both nations utilize shells of the same size, supplies might reach the front lines immediately. Regarding Kim’s North Korea, there are many wishes. It contains fertilizer, food and energy ― all of which are among Russia’s top exports.
Securing those shipments as part of a deal would be advantageous for North Korea, which is now experiencing a food crisis. Since United Nations sanctions forced tens of thousands of workers overseas to come home, North Korea also wants to deploy laborers to Russia. For Pyongyang, the money from these laborers working overseas was a significant source of funding. North Korea’s alleged supply of ammunition and military hardware to Russia is substantially increasing the death toll from Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to the United States and Japan. The senior diplomats from the United States and Japan released a joint statement a few days after the foreign minister of Russia mocked a recent American assertion that his nation got weapons from North Korea, claiming that Washington had not provided sufficient evidence to support the claim. “We will persist in collaborating with the global community to reveal Russia’s endeavors to procure military hardware from (North Korea),” stated the joint declaration issued by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Spy satellites are allegedly among the military armaments North Korea hopes to produce with Russian help. North Korea promised to launch a third spy satellite in October after its previous two attempts to do so were unsuccessful due to technical issues. However, the primary launch complex of North Korea appears to be empty, according to a statement released by South Korea’s Unification Ministry. The United States and South Korea have been increasing their regular military drills and reintroducing some trilateral training including Japan in response to North Korea’s increasing nuclear capabilities. The South Korean, American and Japanese armed forces carried out their first-ever trilateral flying drill this week close to the Korean Peninsula. The navy of South Korea reported that, as part of larger yearly military preparation, it has been conducting a major maritime exercise off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula this week. According to a naval statement, patrol planes and U.S. military helicopters participated in this year’s live-fire maritime training. North Korea refrained from commenting on the military exercises right away. However, it has repeatedly denounced U.S.-South Korean drills as practice for an invasion and retaliated with missile launches.
Russia’s possible acquisition of weaponry from North Korea may have an impact on the security and stability of the area, especially the Korean Peninsula. Arms races, which result in higher tensions and instability, happen when nations compete with one another to acquire military might. Russia may start an arms race in the area if it were to buy weapons from North Korea since its neighbors might feel pressured to bolster their armed forces in retaliation. This can lead to an increase in hostilities and possibly cause instability on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea backs Russia militarily and Russia gives North Korea a cutting-edge hardware weapon. North Korea has previously received military equipment, training and technology assistance from Russia. Japan and the United States responded negatively to the agreement between North Korea and Russia. Russia might start an arms race and destabilize the Korean Peninsula if it buys weapons from North Korea.
Simon Hutagalung is a retired diplomat from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. The opinions expressed in this article are his own.
The Korea Times · November 5, 2023
10. Two Koreas race to launch first homegrown military spy satellites
Two Koreas race to launch first homegrown military spy satellites
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · November 5, 2023
South, North Korea seek satellite launch success with support from US, Russia
By Ji Da-gyum
Published : Nov. 5, 2023 - 15:22
South Korean (left) and North Korean flags. (123rf)
In a high-stakes race, South and North Korea are vying for success in launching their first homegrown military spy satellites, backed respectively by the United States and Russia, as a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing their military capabilities.
The South Korean military is set to launch its domestically-developed reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 30 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, South Korea’s new Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said Friday during his meeting with reporters.
California-headquartered US aerospace giant SpaceX's Falcon 9 will carry South Korea's first spy satellite.
The upcoming launch is part of South Korea's "425 Project," which aims to "secure the military's own reconnaissance satellites through research and development to monitor North Korea’s key strategic targets and respond" to potential threats, the Defense Ministry explained in a separate statement issued Friday.
In pursuit of this goal, the Defense Ministry has laid out plans to launch a total of five high-resolution military satellites by the year 2025 in light of the growing importance of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance -- or ISR -- assets for early detection of advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
The ministry emphasized that military spy satellites will be the core of ISR assets, which serve as the cornerstone for South Korea's three-axis defense system.
Spy satellites are poised to significantly reinforce the first axis of the three-pronged defense system, dubbed the "Kill Chain" preemptive strike mechanism, by bolstering ISR capabilities across deep areas and strategic targets in North Korea.
If South Korea successfully put a spy satellite into orbit, the Defense Ministry said it would provide an opportunity to "showcase the military's superior scientific and technological capabilities when compared to North Korea's satellite launch failures in May and August."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang on Oct. 19, 2023, in this photo captured from Pyongyang's official Korean Central Television the following day. (Yonhap)
North Korea has also sought to put "a large number of reconnaissance satellites" for military purposes by 2025 as ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in March 2022. At that time, the North Korean media said the goal was to "thoroughly monitor and identify anti-DPRK and hostile military actions by the aggression troops of the US imperialism and its vassal forces on the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding area."
Shin pointed out that North Korea might conduct a third attempt at launching what it asserts to be a "military reconnaissance satellite" in late November. This follows a failed second launch in August, after which North Korea swiftly declared its intention to proceed with another satellite launch in October, attributing the previous failure to a third-stage rocket explosion.
"Judging from the signs we've identified, it doesn't appear feasible within the next one of two weeks," Shin told reporters, declining to elaborate on indications.
"However, our assessment suggests that a launch could potentially occur toward the end of November, though we need to remain cautious and monitor the situation as it unfolds."
Shin explained the "delay in North Korea's launch may be attributed to the necessity for additional time to improve the third-stage engine" of a carrier rocket. The defense chief added the South Korean military puts more weight on the likelihood that the third satellite launch delay is due to "specific technological guidance from Russia."
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly stated that he and the North Korean leader intentionally met at Russia's primary spaceport, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, to assist North Korea in satellite development.
"The competition between South and North Korea in launching reconnaissance satellites is essentially a technology race between the United States and Russia," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
"South Korea's goal is to bolster its capabilities for the Kill Chain, with support from the United States. Conversely, North Korea, with Russian technological aid, is primarily oriented towards collecting intelligence on the military activities of South Korea and the United States," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (second left in front) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un (second right in front) examine a rocket assembly hangar during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about 200 kilometers from the city of Blagoveshchensk in the far eastern Amur region, Russia on Sept. 13, 2023. (File Photo - AP)
But any launch conducted by North Korea that involves ballistic missile technology, including the use of space launch vehicles to place satellites into orbit, constitutes a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
Amidst the postponement of the preannounced satellite launch, North Korean state media on Sunday reported that the country has designated November 18 as "Missile Industry Day" to commemorate the first test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17 last Nov. 18.
The anniversary was designated at a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the state media said, without elaborating on the date of the meeting.
Yang suggested that North Korea might choose to conduct the third satellite launch on Missile Industry Day.
But the timing of South Korea's upcoming satellite launch will be a crucial factor in determining North Korea's launch date.
"The outcome will be of utmost importance if both South and North Korea proceed with their satellite launches in November. Should South Korea achieve success while North Korea faces another setback, it would cause political damage (to Pyongyang)," Yang said.
"North Korea will evaluate whether it's more advantageous to launch our satellite before or after November 30, which is the date set for our satellite launch."
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · November 5, 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
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