08/10/2020 News & Commentary – Korea

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin

 

1. Flying leaflets into NK was against basic rule of democracy: senior official

2. Cheong Wa Dae should overhaul all senior officials in charge

3. The future of the US-South Korea and US-Japan alliances

4.  Letter to President Moon Jae-in: Suppression of fundamental freedoms, Oppression of human rights activists and North Korean defectors in South Korea

5. 3 new mutated COVID-19 strains detected in S. Korea: KCDC

6. Defense aspirations include aircraft carrier, nuclear sub

7. Submarine: A closed ecosystem

8. How has Kim Jong Un changed his country's prison camps?

9. Seoul no longer off-limits starting Monday thanks to low coronavirus numbers, USFK says

10. Guard Command soldier's death shrouded in mystery, even to next of kin

11. S. Korea tipped to rank 9th in 2020 global GDP rankings

12. Red Cross trains thousands of North Koreans to help cope with coronavirus, floods

13. This year's monsoon to be longest on record

14. Trump wants troops home but not out of South Korea - Yet

15. Moon names three new senior secretaries

 

1. Flying leaflets into NK was against basic rule of democracy: senior official

m.koreaherald.com · by Kim So-hyun · August 9, 2020

As human beings we have a moral responsibility to help our fellow human beings who are oppressed. Access to information is a basic principle of freedom and the Korea people in the North do not have access to information because their human rights are denied by the Kim family regime to keep Kim Jong-un in power. I find Ms.Lee's argument to not only be wrong but also morally reprehensible.

2. Cheong Wa Dae should overhaul all senior officials in charge

donga.com · August 10, 2020

A strong critique of the Moon administration.

3. The future of the US-South Korea and US-Japan alliances

The Korea Times · August 9, 2020

This is an essay on the alliances that is really a cover for an anti-Trump screed.

It covers a lot of ground to basically say our traditional alliance structure is an anachronism; however, it does not offer any recommendations for the future despite the title.

4. Letter to President Moon Jae-in: Suppression of fundamental freedoms, Oppression of human rights activists and North Korean defectors in South Korea

eastasiaresearch.org · by Tara O· August 5, 2020

Five key recommendations:

1) End your suppression of freedom of expression for South Korean journalists and authors

2) Stop threatening religious freedom and the rule of law

3) Cease your oppression and intimidation of North Korean defectors and North Korea human rights organizations

4) End your repatriation of North Korean defectors

5) Be the voice for the freedom and human rights of ALL Koreans as you are constitutionally and morally obligated to do.

5. 3 new mutated COVID-19 strains detected in S. Korea: KCDC

en.yna.co.kr · by 김한주 · August 10, 2020

Obviously not a good sign and this could certainly complicate development of a vaccine.

6. Defense aspirations include aircraft carrier, nuclear sub

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com · by Shim Kyu-Seok 

Some very interesting defense projects. I wonder if any of our NATO allies are investing in this broad array of military capabilities? (of course this is the aspirational wish list) But why a nuclear powered submarine? Why waste the resources building that? What real advantage will it provide given the cost and the infrastructure necessary to maintain and operate. This has always seemed like. a vanity project as I have heard the proposals over the years. Purely a "status symbol." And given President Moon's move away from nuclear energy I wonder if he would even approve something like this (of course it is probably decades away from completion if it were ever approved). But nuclear powered does not equal nuclear armed.

7. Submarine: A closed ecosystem

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com 

I could not resist sharing this OpEd about the new movie in Korea. What a plot. And then the author links it to COVID 19 in the comparison to a closed ecosystem!

8. How has Kim Jong Un changed his country's prison camps?

dailynk.com · by Lee Ho Jin · August 10, 2020

Some key points. Note the two different kinds of camps. Note the increasing numbers. And note what are the expected orders if war breaks out.

I would urge anyone interested in learning about this camps to go through the publications section of the HRNK web site where there is large amount of research on the gulag system in North Korea. 

9. Seoul no longer off-limits starting Monday thanks to low coronavirus numbers, USFK says

Stars and Stripes · August 7, 2020

The last time we were in Seoul in January of this year we heard anecdotal evidence that few people from Camp Humphreys travel to Seoul for R&R/shopping, etc. Most seem to remain at Camp Humphreys.

10. Guard Command soldier's death shrouded in mystery, even to next of kin

dailynk.com · by Kim Yoo Jin · August 10, 2020

Another anecdote that could be an indicator. But described as "Killed in action?"

We should also not forget the Koreans in the North are human beings too. This could be a mother in any country anywhere in the world.

11. S. Korea tipped to rank 9th in 2020 global GDP rankings

en.yna.co.kr · by 곽영섭 · August 10, 2020

Will have to change my lecture notes. But obviously this is only because the ROK did not do as badly as others economically. But it could be a testament to how well it has handled the coronavirus.

12. Red Cross trains thousands of North Koreans to help cope with coronavirus, floods

The Globe and Mail · by Hyonhee Shin · August 10, 2020

13. This year's monsoon to be longest on record

english.chosun.com · August 10, 2020

14. Trump wants troops home but not out of South Korea – Yet

The American Conservative · by Harry J. Kazianis

Well I am glad Harry Kazianis is able to confirm this for us with the caveat, "yet."

I think he is right here. We continually assess our force posture around the world to determine if it adequately supports our national defense strategy: e.g., "broader re-examination of how to reposition and potentially reduce military deployments world-wide"

My guess is POTUS asked the Pentagon to give him options for bringing back troops from around the world (probably as many and as soon as possible). DOD probably conducted analysis of how best to forward station forces in support of the NDS and came back with options to bring home a relatively small number while repositioning a larger number (perhaps to both try and satisfy POTUS and better support the NDS).

Note the comments from the South Korean progressives and their misguided understanding of OPCON transition. But I do agree that we should be conducting a combined force posture review of both ROK and US forces in preparation for OPCON transition. The ROK military is evolving due to changing demographics so both ROK and US force structure and posture needs to be examined and we should do it in a combined manner to strengthen the alliance.

15. Moon names three new senior secretaries

n.yna.co.kr · by 이치동 · August 10, 2020

 

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"Again, unfortunately, we are dealing with jargon, which, as usual, bears only a faint resemblance to well defined, specific concepts."  

- Clausewitz

"The American defense community is especially prone to capture by the latest catchphrase, the new-sounding spin on an ancient idea which as jargon separates those who are truly expert from the lesser breeds without the jargon."  

- Colin Gray

"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely, once they have exhausted all other alternatives."

- Abba Eban