07/02/2020 News & Commentary – Korea
News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin.
1. Why ignoring human rights in U.S.-DPRK diplomacy is a grave mistake
2. Bolton's fault? Think again (Korea)
3. USFK commander calls for major combined drills against evolving N.K. threats
4. US commander reaffirms successful handover of wartime role
5. N. Korean broker exiled for handling defector remittances
6. Does the Sunchon phosphatic fertilizer plant produce uranium: Not likely
7. Reflections on the Legacy of the Korean War
8. Phishing emails targeting North Korea watchers grow increasingly sophisticated
9. Elite airborne troop of U.S. conducts descent training in Guam
10. N. Korea dials up recruitment drive for construction workers
11. Moon to reshuffle diplomacy, security teams
12. More clues to what's going on with Kim Jong Un's health
13. Korean War Lessons: What war 70 years ago in Korea taught America
14. N. Korea's 1st Corps faces paratyphoid fever outbreak
15. Man accused of leaking state secrets sent to political prisoner camp
16. The case for a different approach to confronting North Korea
17. FM says S. Korea, U.S. discussed concerns over 'working group' operation amid N.K. criticism
18. Korea spends most on U.S. lobbying
19. Top Moon advisor calls White House diplomacy 'a circus'
20. Kim Jong-un threatens war against South Korea after defectors drop thousands of 'dirty' pics of wife Ri Sol-ju
21. North Korean anthem played at the 70th Anniversary of Korean War commemoration in South Korea
22. China's border corps conducts anti-crime exercises near North Korea
1. Why ignoring human rights in U.S.-DPRK diplomacy is a grave mistake
HRNK · by Jeune Kim · July 1, 2020
I cannot say this enough: Human rights is a national security issue in addition to being a moral imperative. Kim Jong-un must deny the human rights of the Korean people in the north in order to remain in power.
We should remember President Reagan and the Soviet Union. Against the advice of many of his advisors, he included human rights in his negotiations with Soviet leaders.
A very nice piece from Ms. Kim.
2. Bolton's fault? Think again (Korea)
koreajoongangdaily · by Yeh Young-june
An interesting OpEd. This is not a critique of Bolton's book so much as it uses Bolton’s book to criticise Moon Jae-in. This is the key point of the OpEd is in explaining the failure of the Hanoi Summit.
3. USFK commander calls for major combined drills against evolving N.K. threats
en.yna.co.kr · by 오석민 · July 1, 2020
Good words from the Commander (CINCUNC/CFC/USFK). I concur. The priority must on readiness of the ROK/US CFC while still working toward OPCON transition. Despite all the other training that takes place among the components the Theater Headquarters lost valuable training time due to the coronavirus and cancellation of the Dongmeng expertise in February/March.
I wish the ROK press would use the title of the Commander of the ROK/Combined Forces Command rather than USFK. USFK is a sub-unified command under USINDOPACOM and a force provider to the ROK/US CFC. It is not a warfighting HQ. But most importantly the ROK/US CFC is equally "co-owed" by the ROK. In preparation for the OPCON transition and the eventual ROK commanding general of the ROK/US CFC the ROK press should be focused on this headquarters because it is the most important organization for the defense of South Korea.
Both the ROK and US governments need to implement an education initiative to inform the press, pundits, political leaders, and population about the OPCON transition so that when it takes place everyone is relatively well informed.
Note also the CINC has to play to the "wildly speculative" rumors about troop withdrawal.
4. US commander reaffirms successful handover of wartime role
koreaherald.com · by Choi Si-young · July 1, 2020
OPCON Transition is an important step in the evolution of the ROK/US Alliance and the ROK/US Combined forces Command.
It is conditions-based for the very reason we are experiencing right now. The Coronavirus interrupted training with an effect on current readiness. That must be corrected which may have to come at the expense of a desired timeline to make the transition. The transition must progress in step with sustaining readiness so there are no gaps, seams, or weaknesses in our combined capabilities and readiness as we progress forward.
5. N. Korean broker exiled for handling defector remittances
dailynk.com · by Kang Mi Jin · July 1, 2020
This is very important. Unfortunately, this woman and her family are suffering. But this illustrates the importance of cell phones and remittances. There is a lot of connectivity with the outside world. If remittances can get in, so can information and then it can be disseminated throughout the country via the 6.5 million smart phones in the North.
6. Does the Sunchon phosphatic fertilizer plant produce uranium: Not likely
38north.org · by Olli Heinonen · July 1, 2020
A chemistry class for us all. But after getting through all the chemistry the conclusion tells us that while it is possible they could be producing uranium there, there are no telltale signs of production.
7. Reflections on the Legacy of the Korean War
ncnk.org · by Keith Luse · June 26, 2020
Reflections include thoughts about the military industrial complex and of course the possibility of miscalculation on either side.
8. Phishing emails targeting North Korea watchers grow increasingly sophisticated
nknews.org · by Min Chao Choy · July 1, 2020
Public service announcement for all Korea Watchers: practice good cyber hygiene and cyber civil defense.
9. Elite airborne troop of U.S. conducts descent training in Guam
donga.com · July 2, 2020
A good force projection demonstration. Kim Jong-un, pay attention (and try to get a good night's sleep) I am reminded of that great Airborne theorist Benjamin Franklin:
And where is the Prince who can afford so to cover his Country with Troops for its Defense, as that Ten Thousand Men descending from the Clouds, might not in many Places do an infinite deal of Mischief, before a Force could be brought together to repel them?
Franklin knew what little groups of paratroopers (LGOP) could do.
"After the demise of the best Airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs on the battlefield. This effect is known as the Rule of LGOPs. This is, in its purest form, small groups of 19- year old American Paratroopers. They are well-trained, armed-to-the-teeth and lack serious adult supervision. They collectively remember the Commander's intent as "March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who is not dressed like you..." ...or something like that. Happily they go about the day's work...
10. N. Korea dials up recruitment drive for construction workers
dailynk.com · by Jang Seul Gi · July 1, 2020
This is a pretty amazing anecdote or maybe a data point. 7000 turned away for being in poor health. Note the comment about the growth of hunger among families in the concluding paragraph.
11. Moon to reshuffle diplomacy, security teams
The Korea Times · July 1, 2020
Oh no! This is terrible if it comes to pass. Making Im Jong-seok the head of the National Intelligence Service will be like giving the keys to then henhouse to the fox. This will be very dangerous.
I wonder about our intelligence liaison relationship since Im is a former radical (or maybe still one) who went to prison for violation the National Security Law for his actions related to North Korea). I am sure the US intelligence community will be very reluctant to share the best intelligence with the NIS if he is at the helm.
And if Lee In-young becomes Unification Minister it is suspected he will try to disband the ROK/US strategy working group. Hopefully MOFA will block him since the working group falls under it and not under the Ministry of Unification.
But this is very troubling for the alliance if these two men are appointed to the NIS and MOU.
12. More clues to what's going on with Kim Jong Un's health
dailynk.com · by Ahn Jong Sik · July 1, 2020
I love Daily NK but recall the original health rumors began with an anonymous source reported by it. The report is what spun up CNN and others with speculation that he may have died in April.
But this is very interesting "analysis" based on interpreting the advanced welding competition at the fertilizer factory.
13. Korean War Lessons: What war 70 years ago in Korea taught America
The National Interest · by Doug Bandow · July 1, 2020
I do not agree with very much of Doug Bandow's analysis. The most egregious "lesson" in this list is to "make a decision and stick to it" (which seems to conflict with changing conditions may require changes to policy and strategy). He describes this lesson in terms of the US withdrawal of US troops and ultimately Acheson's announcement that Korea was outside the US sphere of influence (and MacArthur saying Korea was not essential for US defense). I interpret this to mean he would have been happy throwing Korea under the bus in 1950 and allowing it to be dominated by the Communists. Please think about that and how the course of history would have been so altered.
That said every one of these lessons would be very useful for debate in an academic setting. There are many lessons to be learned though I do not think all those lessons would find agreement with Bandow's interpretation.
14. N. Korea's 1st Corps faces paratyphoid fever outbreak
dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · July 1, 2020
The front line corps are laid out along the DMZ from west to east: 4 - 2 - 5 - 1. So the 1st Corps is the eastern most corps.
This is significant if they are talking about the outbreak affecting combat readiness. Note also what happens to family members of 1st Corps soldiers.
But what really concerns me is that all the frontline corps are disinfecting everything to prevent an outbreak. I wonder if this "fever" is "code" for a coronavirus outbreak. Is there a coronavirus outbreak within the military? If so it could be very destabilizing. We had better be carefully observing for indicators and dusting off the contingency plans. Recall regime collapse is defined as the regime's loss of central governing effectiveness - the inability to rule the entire territory in the north from Pyongyang, combined with the loss of coherency and support of the military. A coronavirus outbreak could lead to that loss of coherency - a breakdown of the military's multiple chains of control. Fasten your seat belts.
15. Man accused of leaking state secrets sent to political prisoner camp
dailynk.com · by Kim Yoo Jin · July 2, 2020
Perhaps this is a case of "cell phone spying." Interesting that a Chinese broker would be asking about new munitions factories being built in Chongjin.
16. The case for a different approach to confronting North Korea
Small Wars Journal · by Shawn P. Creamer
Here are my thoughts to complement Shawn Creamer's thought provoking analysis: Unification Options and Scenarios: Assisting A Resistance
17. FM says S. Korea, U.S. discussed concerns over 'working group' operation amid N.K. criticism
en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · July 2, 2020
It is too bad the ROK/US MOFA/DOS strategy working group has become a target of domestic criticism. But the criticism really emanates from the ruling party. It is Moon's own administration and party members who criticize it. They actually are using it as the lightning rod for the failure of Moon's peace strategy claiming the working group is blocking South Korean efforts. Instead of blaming the working group (or the US) they need to place the blame where it belongs, on Kim Jong-un. He is the one who is blocking implementation of Moon's vision. It is the erroneous assumptions that the Moon administration has made about Kim Jong-un and the Kim family regime that has undermined Moon's vision and strategy. The assumptions have proven false (that Kim would seek peace and reconciliation) so the policies and strategies must change.
It is also problematic because Moon's supporters are now much more open about expressing their true intent about the alliance. We are in for difficult days ahead. And the only one who benefits is Kim Jong-un.
18. Korea spends most on U.S. lobbying
That is quite a bit of money from Korea, Japan, and Israel.
19. Top Moon advisor calls White House diplomacy 'a circus'
Thank you Moon Chung-in. You continue to show that you are no friend of the ROK/US alliance. But I do fear we are heading to the perfect storm with the alliance. Dark clouds are looming and the winds of change can be felt.
20. Kim Jong-un threatens war against South Korea after defectors drop thousands of 'dirty' pics of wife Ri Sol-ju
meaww.com · by Kunal Dey · July 1, 2020