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Quotes of the Day:
"The soldier has to steer between the danger of repeating the errors of the past because he is ignorant and remaining bound by theories deduced from past history although changes in conditions have rendered these theories obsolete."
– Sir Michael Howard
"Preparation for war is an expensive, burdensome business, yet there is one important part of it that costs little--study. However changed and strange the new conditions of war maybe, not only generals, but politicians and ordinary citizens may find there is much to be learned from the past that can be applied to the future."
– Field Marshal Slim, Defeat into Victory
"The oldest, shortest words— "yes" and "no"— are those which require the most thought."
– Pythagoras
1. Ex-North Korean diplomat appointed a vice minister in South Korea, the highest post for any defector
2. Exclusive: "North Korea must either open up transparently or collapse"
3. Japan’s top general lauds closer South Korea military ties as mutual concerns grow over China, North Korea
4. Top U.S. Korean policy official resigns: Is the Sue Mi Terry incident to blame?
5. 10 Years of Tracking: Inside the FBI's surveillance of NIS agents
6. Demographic crisis looms: UN warns S. Korea's population to halve by 2089
7. N. Korea resumes sending trash-carrying balloons into S. Korea: JCS
8. "Leaf Mines" from North Korea pose new threat in the DMZ
9. Top generals of S. Korea, U.S., Japan agree to expand trilateral Freedom Edge exercise
10. Russia’s ‘New’ Artillery Piece Is A 70-Year-Old Behemoth Firing North Korean Shells
11. Unification minister to meet Campbell during next week's visit to U.S.
12. FAO chief discusses food security, nutrition in rare visit to N. Korea
13. S. Korea slaps sanctions on Hong Kong shipping firm, N. Korean cargo ship
14. South Korea Must Grow Up and Defend Itself
15. Shame on the amateurish spy agents
1. Ex-North Korean diplomat appointed a vice minister in South Korea, the highest post for any defector
I guess this is why next week's planned events with him (his new book tour) were cancelled.
Excerpts:
President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Tae secretary general the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, which gives the president policy advice on peaceful Korean unification.
The appointment made Tae the first North Korean defector appointed to a vice-ministerial job in South Korea, among about 34,000 North Koreans who have resettled in South Korea, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry.
We should keep in mind that South Korea has the moral high ground since it seeks peaceful unification while Kim Jong Un has stated he will no longer seek peaceful unification. While most interpret Kim's statement as an expression of two separate Koreas, the objective that he has not given up on is domination of the entire peninsula under his rule. We need to understand his intent.
Ex-North Korean diplomat appointed a vice minister in South Korea, the highest post for any defector
AP · by HYUNG-JIN KIM · July 18, 2024
FILE - Tae Yongho, a former minister of the North Korean Embassy in London who fled to South Korea in 2016, speaks to the media in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
AP · by HYUNG-JIN KIM · July 18, 2024
2. Exclusive: "North Korea must either open up transparently or collapse"
This is the north Korean paradox. north Korea must open up to survive but opening up would likely cause the regime to collapse.
As an aside, there are some interesting comments about Cuba as well as Korean food in South Korea.
Exclusive: "North Korea must either open up transparently or collapse"
Defected diplomat advises North Korea to learn from South Korea-Cuba relations
https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2024/07/18/33PSUVBBS5EO5BQQ2527AYU5CY/
By Kim Min-seo,
Kim Jin-myung,
Kim Seo-young,
Kim Mi-geon
Published 2024.07.18. 16:54
Former North Korean counselor and defector, Ri Il-gyu /Kim Ji-ho
Ri Il-gyu, a former political counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba who defected last year, said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo on July 14, “Kim Jong-un must have felt a great shock and betrayal about the diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba (earlier this year),” adding, “Kim Jong-un particularly valued Cuba because of its symbolic status as a country that had not established diplomatic relations with South Korea.” Ri also said, “I would like to take this opportunity to make a suggestion to Kim Jong-un, as well as to the senior policymakers and leadership of North Korea.” He suggested, “Instead of maintaining the regime by clinging to nuclear missiles and temporarily aligning with China one day and Russia another, it would be better to follow Cuba’s path of maintaining socialism while being transparent and open about everything.”
Many defectors cite “children” as a reason for their defection.
“Children of diplomats do participate in collective activities (mutual and self-criticism) and ideological education abroad. However, they mostly live like local children. They don’t have to be cautious about their speech or attire, nor do they have to worry about being mobilized for events or unpaid labor (as they would in North Korea), so they grow up quickly. Watching this, one can’t help but wonder if making them live in North Korea again is the right thing to do as a parent.”
What do you mean by “they grow up quickly?”
“I mean physically. When children who lived abroad return to Pyongyang and start school, there’s a noticeable difference. They are about 5-10 cm taller and have a healthier complexion compared to their peers who only lived in North Korea. It’s not just because they had more nutritious food like meat and milk abroad. I think it’s because they lived a life enjoying freedom.”
How did your family react when you decided to defect?
“The most difficult part was persuading my wife. When I began planning the defection, I subtly asked my wife, ‘How about living somewhere else instead of going back to North Korea?’ She was shocked and said, ‘What if something goes wrong?’ She watched my actions anxiously for days and even had a heart attack, leading to a hospital stay. So I reassured her by saying, ‘I was just joking, don’t worry about it,’ and then I made the defection plans on my own.”
How did you learn about South Korea’s reality in Cuba?
“Many North Koreans learn about South Korea’s reality through South Korean media. The Hallyu wave reached Cuba too, and many people sold copies of Korean variety shows and dramas. If you went far from the embassy and just told them the title of the show, they would contact you in the afternoon saying, ‘I have it ready.’ That’s how I watched them.”
Which show did you enjoy the most?
“‘Running Man’ was the most enjoyable. My favorite celebrities are Yoo Jae-suk and Ji Suk-jin. Initially, I watched a lot of American movies, but after starting to watch Korean dramas and movies, I rarely watched American movies.”
Did you watch it with your colleagues?
“Since it’s a life-and-death matter, we didn’t do that. But abroad, we always sought out Hallyu culture.”
What do you enjoy watching these days?
“Since coming to South Korea, I find the programs where defectors share their stories the most interesting. Having lived a privileged life in North Korea, I was unaware of the harsh realities of people in the provinces. Watching these vivid testimonies in South Korea, I often feel remorseful about the privileges I previously enjoyed.”
How is Cuba different from North Korea?
“Cuba is not a dictatorship like North Korea. It is no exaggeration to describe Cuba as a model of international relations, upholding both the UN Charter and international law. The days when people in Cuba were punished for dissenting opinions or criticizing the government are long gone. It is no coincidence that Cuba has been elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for several consecutive years.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un escorts Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in a car parade during his visit to North Korea in Nov. 2018./Korean Central News Agency·Yonhap News
What do you think about the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba?
“Cuba has immense potential, boasting abundant natural resources and a well-developed tourism industry. Establishing diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba offers substantial political and economic benefits. However, I have come across articles suggesting that these relations signify ‘isolating North Korea’ or ‘winning a system competition against North Korea,’ which is a misinterpretation. The concept of ‘competition’ between South Korea and North Korea is not applicable.”
Was the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba a significant shock to North Korea?
“While it wasn’t as impactful as establishing the relations with China or the Soviet Union (Russia), it was still a considerable shock. Kim Jong-un particularly valued the symbolic significance of Cuba as one of the few countries that had not established diplomatic relations with South Korea. Last year, when then-Foreign Minister Park Jin met with Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister in Guatemala, South Korean media reported this. The North Korean embassy in Cuba overlooked this, prompting a telegram from Pyongyang questioning, ‘How is it that South Korea is discussing diplomatic relations with Cuba, and our mission knows nothing about it?’”
Did you have any expectations about South Korea establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba?
“In 2022, I had already informed the Party that ‘Cuba, facing economic difficulties, might follow Vietnam’s example of unexpectedly establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea, so we should continuously monitor the situation.’ While senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believed it was only a matter of time and were mentally prepared, the Party officials were not.”
What led to the recall of North Korea’s ambassador to Cuba?
“In February this year, North Korea recalled Ma Chol-su, the ambassador to Cuba. I believe this was a tactic by the WPK International Affairs Department and senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to place all the blame on the local ambassador. In 2023, Ma’s grandson, who was living in Cuba with his grandparents, attempted to go to the U.S. but was forcibly returned to North Korea. This recall seems part of an effort to hold Ma responsible, along with my defection.”
Do you like Korean food?
“While serving as a North Korean diplomat in Mexico, I once visited a Korean restaurant and was disappointed by the food, which left me with an unfavorable impression. However, after arriving in South Korea, I discovered that the cuisine here is entirely different and absolutely delicious. I now enjoy noodles almost every day. In North Korea, noodles tend to be bland and tasteless, but here they are incredibly flavorful. I often buy and savor the instant Pyeongyang-style cold noodles available in supermarkets.”
You had the option to go to the U.S. or another third country. Why South Korea?
“From the moment I decided to leave North Korea, South Korea was my only destination in mind. The choice was straightforward: South Korea is a place where people speak the same language and share the same cultural heritage, making it feel like a natural extension of home. This conviction was reinforced when I met the South Korean ambassador who assisted me after I arrived in a third country from Cuba. Hearing the words ‘Welcome’ and ‘We are glad you’re here’ might seem simple, but they deeply touched my heart and confirmed that I had made the right decision.”
Is there anything you would like to say to your colleagues (or friends) still in North Korea or abroad?
“After arriving in South Korea, I sincerely realized that the great risk of defection was completely worth it. I feel a deep sense of sorrow and miss my colleagues. North Korea has no future. I hope they find the courage to leave that land of darkness and step into the light.”
North Korea
defector
Ri Il-gyu
Kim Jong-un
Cuba
Ma Chol-su
3. Japan’s top general lauds closer South Korea military ties as mutual concerns grow over China, North Korea
When the political concerns can be set aside the two professional militaries can get along just fine.
Japan’s top general lauds closer South Korea military ties as mutual concerns grow over China, North Korea | CNN
CNN · by Oren Liebermann, Brad Lendon · July 18, 2024
Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff, holds a news conference at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on April 20, 2023.
Kyodo News/Getty Images
Tokyo CNN —
America’s two most powerful allies in the Pacific are taking their defense ties to new heights amid increasing concerns over China’s assertiveness in the region and North Korean threats, Japan’s top general said Thursday.
Before a trilateral meeting with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. CQ Brown and South Korean Adm. Kim Myung-soo, Japanese Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida said China was trying to “change the status quo by force” in the East China and South China seas, while North Korea was carrying out “repeated ballistic missile launches and continuous arms transfers” to Russia.
Yoshida called on Japan, South Korea and the United States to “demonstrate our strong unity domestically and globally to ensure regional peace and stability.”
South Korea, US and Japan conducting trilateral exercise in the waters and airs south of the Jeju island between January 15 and 17, 2024.
South Korea's Defence Ministry
Related article North Korea claims to test underwater nuclear-capable drone after US, South Korea and Japan show off naval might
But bilateral cooperation between Japan and South Korea is the most noteworthy result of this week’s meeting in Tokyo.
On Wednesday, Yoshida met South Korea’s Kim for the first such meeting between the East Asian defense chiefs in six years - a moment a US defense official stressed was significant.
Kim said he and Yoshida “share a lot of the same thoughts,” an acknowledgment of the mutual perspective on the regional threat posed by China and North Korea.
“We developed strong trust between us,” said Yoshida, adding the meeting sets the stage for the Japan-South Korea bilateral “defense cooperation to achieve a new height.”
Regional analyst James Brown said the Japan-South Korea meeting showed just how far the bilateral relationship has come under South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who succeeded Moon Jae-in in 2022.
“The political mood has improved significantly, and now we’re having the defense side of things aligning with that,” said Brown, an associate professor of political science at Temple University in Tokyo.
“The Japanese government’s feeling about this is that this is the relationship they’ve always wanted.”
Japan felt the previous administration in Seoul was “fixated on historical issues” as it “demonized Japan” and tried to improve relations with North Korea, Brown said.
A US Air Force AC-130J taxis at Osan Air Base, South Korea, during an exercise in early June 2024
Yoonjung Seo/CNN
Related article Flying aboard the Ghostrider, a deadly aircraft carrying America’s biggest gun in the sky
Last month, Japan and South Korea joined the US in the inaugural Freedom Edge in the Pacific, a military exercise that focused on ballistic missile and air defense, anti-submarine warfare and more. The goal of the exercise, which is set to expand in future years, was to allow the militaries to better work together against a common adversary.
For years, historical acrimony between the two East Asian countries prevented high-level meetings and cooperation, with decades of deep mistrust dating back to Japan’s colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula a century ago. But as the countries faced an increasingly assertive China and threats from North Korea, efforts to cooperate quickly supplanted past animosity, driven in large part by the efforts of US President Joe Biden’s administration.
In March 2023, the two countries promised to resume ties at a fence-mending summit in Tokyo. Four months later, Biden hosted the leaders of Japan and South Korea at Camp David, where they pledged to “inaugurate a new era of trilateral partnership.”
President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right), listen as South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a news conference at Camp David on August 18, 2023.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Then last month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on the sidelines of a security conference in Singapore, where they announced joint military exercises - nearly unthinkable just a few years ago.
The trilateral meeting of the chiefs of defense at the Japanese Defense Ministry on Thursday, held for the first time in Tokyo, underscored the rapidly developing cooperation.
“I expect that the three of us sitting here in Tokyo today will send a message to the regional threats but also more globally on the strength of our relationship, our alliances, and the work that we need to continue to do,” said Gen. Brown, sitting alongside his counterparts at the beginning of the meeting.
An F-18 fighter aircraft sits in the hanger of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, anchored in Busan Naval Base in Busan on June 22, 2024. (Photo by SONG Kyung-Seok / POOL / AFP)
Song Kyung-Seok/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Related article US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as Russia-North Korea defense pact deepens regional fears
The meeting comes on the heels of the NATO summit held last week in Washington, on the 75th anniversary of the alliance. The NATO communique specifically mentioned the importance of the Indo-Pacific, “given that developments in that region directly affect Euro-Atlantic security.”
In their opening remarks Thursday, the Japanese and South Korean defense chiefs both mentioned their concern over Russia’s expanding relations with North Korea. Earlier this week, Brown told CNN: “What I’ve seen is NATO nations increasing interest in what happens in the Indo-Pacific, and Indo-Pacific nations having an interest in what goes on in Europe as well.”
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said there was some sense of urgency behind the rapidly developing cooperation. The East Asian nations, he said, want to triangulate a coordinated response to common adversaries before potential changes in Seoul or Washington could put the relationship in jeopardy.
“Domestic politics remain complicated in Seoul and Tokyo, but policymakers and military professionals want to lock in coordinated responses to North Korea, Russia, and China before any major political changes occur in Washington,” Easley said.
CNN · by Oren Liebermann, Brad Lendon · July 18, 2024
4. Top U.S. Korean policy official resigns: Is the Sue Mi Terry incident to blame?
Conspiracy theory from the Chosen Ilbo?
North Korea
Top U.S. Korean policy official resigns: Is the Sue Mi Terry incident to blame?
https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2024/07/18/PEUVHXL55FAWPO6CQU66HY46A4/
By Lee Min-seok=Milwaukee,
Kim Eun-joong=Washington,
Lee Jung-soo
Published 2024.07.18. 16:18
The recent indictment and arrest of Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, for allegedly working for the South Korean government without reporting to the U.S. government, has sparked significant controversy and speculation about potential implications within the State Department. /News1
Amid the indictment and arrest of Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and an expert on Korean affairs, by federal prosecutors for working for the South Korean government without reporting to the U.S. government, there are speculations about its implications.
Some believe that the recent resignation of Jung Pak, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State who oversees Korean Peninsula policy at the State Department, may be related to this investigation.
Terry is accused of providing confidential U.S. information to the South Korean government in exchange for expensive bags, clothing, and large sums of cash over approximately 10 years. If these allegations are true, the investigation could lead to significant repercussions and controversy due to the resulting vacuum in the U.S. government’s North Korea policy control tower.
Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jung Pak. /Yonhap News
The federal prosecutor’s indictment states that on Apr. 16, 2021, Terry had dinner with a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent in Washington, D.C., during which they discussed her close relationship with a high-ranking State Department official responsible for Korean affairs. Terry allegedly described the official’s previous roles in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Intelligence Council (NIC).
While the indictment does not explicitly name former Deputy Assistant Secretary Jung Pak, the described background of the high-ranking official closely matches Jung Pak’s profile.
Jung Pak previously served as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Korea at the NIC under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and as the Head of the CIA’s East Asia and Pacific Mission Center.
In January 2021, she was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, overseeing matters related to Korea.
However, she abruptly resigned on Jul. 5. Although neither he nor the State Department explained the reason for her resignation, there were speculations within diplomatic circles that it was unusual for her to resign suddenly without any specific reason. Some have suggested that Jung Pak might have resigned to take responsibility for the unofficial remarks of the State Department head being leaked.
5. 10 Years of Tracking: Inside the FBI's surveillance of NIS agents
Are we expending the same effort to surveill north Korean intelligence operatives in the US? Pak Chol was operating out of the north Korean UN mission in New York for years.
10 Years of Tracking: Inside the FBI's surveillance of NIS agents
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/07/18/EA2IAAOJSZDJRCZPJYYINOLBUU/
By Kim Jin-myung,
Lee Jung-soo
Published 2024.07.18. 15:46
In Aug. 2020, researcher Sue Mi Terry (left) is seen dining with two senior officials from the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) at a high-end restaurant in Manhattan, New York. 'NIS' stands for 'National Intelligence Service,' and 'handler' means 'person in charge.' / U.S. Federal Prosecutors' Indictment.
Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, has been indicted by U.S. federal prosecutors on charges related to her interactions with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), highlighting concerns about the oversight and conduct of intelligence activities between the two countries.
Regarding the indictment of Terry, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), by U.S. federal prosecutors on charges of interacting with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) agents, the NIS stated on Jul. 17 that “the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are in close communication.”
It is unclear how much the NIS knew about Terry’s indictment before it was made public by the media. Since the indictment was made by federal prosecutors under the Department of Justice rather than the CIA, which is the direct counterpart to the NIS, it might have been challenging for the NIS to explain their position or request reconsideration from the U.S. in advance.‘
According to the indictment, the FBI tracked interactions between Terry and NIS agents over a decade, from 2013 to June of last year.
The “luxury shopping” involving Sue Mi Terry and NIS agents primarily took place during the Moon Jae-in administration from 2019 to 2021.
An intelligence community source indicated that during this period, many experienced field agents were either assigned to less important roles or left the service. As a result, analysts with less field experience were sent abroad, impacting intelligence operations. This situation persists, with skilled field agents still in less significant positions due to their previous administration ties.
Earlier this year, the NIS faced difficulties in the U.S. during an operation, suggesting that their field intelligence capabilities might still be lacking.
An NIS agent is seen purchasing a handbag at a Louis Vuitton store in Apr. 2021. / U.S. Federal Prosecutors
Criticism has arisen over the fact that NIS agents accompanied Terry on her luxury shopping trips, paid for purchases using diplomatic exemptions for tax-free benefits, and traveled in vehicles with diplomatic license plates, indicating a breach of basic protocols for intelligence officers.
A former senior official commented, “It’s common knowledge that whether diplomats or intelligence agents are dispatched abroad, they are under 24-hour surveillance by local intelligence and law enforcement agencies, but the actions of Sue Mi Terry and the NIS agents were too lax.”
The federal prosecution’s decision to charge Terry with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) rather than the Espionage Act appears to be because she did not directly provide confidential U.S. documents to the NIS. The indictment details activities such as having meals with Terry and requesting her to arrange meetings with hard-to-reach U.S. contacts, which are routine activities for NIS officers dispatched abroad in a diplomatic capacity.
The $37,000 allegedly provided to Terry by the NIS was not handed over in cash but donated to the think tank where Terry worked under the name of the Korean Embassy in the U.S. Considering that Terry, who was the director of Korean affairs at the think tank at the time, also received funds from other government departments to run Korean programs and organize Korea-related academic events, this could be viewed as part of “diplomatic activities.”
An NIS employee is seen leaving the store with Sue Mi Terry, carrying a shopping bag containing the purchased items. / U.S. Federal Prosecutors
6. Demographic crisis looms: UN warns S. Korea's population to halve by 2089
Is that before or after unification? (I am being sarcastic - the analysis does not take into account unification).
Demographic crisis looms: UN warns S. Korea's population to halve by 2089
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/07/18/GC5BSQQ3OJD55GGVHHKUIE2YOU/
By Kim Jung-hoon,
Lee Jae-eun
Published 2024.07.18. 14:56
Illustration by Kim Young-jae
The United Nations predicts South Korea’s population will shrink drastically to 25.85 million in 2089, roughly half its current 51.71 million.
According to the UN’s latest population report released on July 17, South Korea’s population, currently at 51.71 million, will decline to 21.85 million by 2100, which is 42% of its present level.
The UN forecasts that South Korea’s population will drop to the 40 million range by 2037, the 30 million range by 2060, and the 20 million range by 2080. The UN’s outlook is more pessimistic than that of Statistics Korea, which predicted that the population would fall to the 40 million range by 2041 and slide to the 30 million range by 2065.
Korea’s elderly population, aged 65 and over, accounts for 19.3% of the total population. A society is classified as an “aging society” when people aged 65 and over exceed 7% of the total population. When this cohort constitutes 14% or more of the population, the society is defined as an “aged society” and “super-aged” when this proportion surpasses 20%.
Korea is set to become a super-aged society next year, with 20.3% of its population aged 65 and older. The country became an aged society in 2017, 17 years after transitioning to an aging society in 2000, and will transition to a super-aged society in just eight years. By 2083, nearly half of the population (48.8%) is expected to be aged 65 and older, according to the UN.
In 2045, around 36.9% of Korea’s population will be 65 and older, surpassing Japan’s 36.8% elderly population for that year. Although Japan currently has a higher proportion of elderly citizens, with a 10 percentage point gap, Korea is expected to overtake Japan in the near future.
South Korea’s total dependency ratio is 42.5. The dependency ratio measures the number of dependents aged zero to 14 and over 65, supported by the working-age population aged 15 to 64. The UN estimates that this ratio will exceed 100 by 2058, meaning one working-age person will need to support one non-working-age person. According to the UN’s projections, the total dependency ratio will surpass 133 by 2083.
population
aging
low birthrate
demographic crisis
7. N. Korea resumes sending trash-carrying balloons into S. Korea: JCS
north Korea continues to humiliate itself. It cannot compete with South Korea and escapees.
N. Korea resumes sending trash-carrying balloons into S. Korea: JCS | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 18, 2024
SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has again launched balloons presumed to be carrying trash toward South Korea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday.
The JCS said the balloons appeared to be travelling toward the northern part of Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul.
It advised the public to not touch fallen balloons and report them to the military or police.
North Korea is estimated to have launched more than 2,000 trash-carrying balloons since late May in a tit-for-tat move against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by North Korean defectors and activists in the South.
On Tuesday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned that South Korea will face "gruesome and dear" consequences if it lets North Korean defectors continue to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North.
This file photo, provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shows balloons carrying garbage, presumably sent by North Korea, found in South Chungcheong Province on May 29, 2024. Some 90 such balloons have been discovered so far, according to military and police sources, adding that they contained trash and other waste. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 18, 2024
8. "Leaf Mines" from North Korea pose new threat in the DMZ
"Leaf Mines" from North Korea pose new threat in the DMZ
https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2024/07/18/DCXNGPTC6FAB7HNBKLSRWRVRH4/
By Jeong Jae-hwon,
Lee Jung-soo
Published 2024.07.18. 11:26
Recent explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) involving North Korean military mine-laying activities have highlighted the dangers posed by 'leaf mines,' which are hard to detect and pose a significant risk of drifting into South Korea during heavy rains. /Joint Chiefs of Staff
The North Korean military recently experienced multiple explosions, resulting in numerous casualties, while laying mines in the northern part of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Notably, North Korea has been laying mines that look like a leaf, which are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Military authorities are preparing measures to prevent these mines from drifting into the South or being deliberately scattered by North Korea during heavy rainfall.
North Korean leaf mines. / The Ministry of National Defense
An official from the Ministry of National Defense stated, “Some areas where the North Korean military has laid mines are connected to shared rivers such as the Imjin River, Yeokgok Stream, Hwa River, and Inbuk Stream. During heavy rains, there is a risk that these mines could be swept into our territory.”
The ministry urged people near these shared rivers to be cautious of North Korean mines. They advised that if anyone finds an unidentified object suspected to be a mine, they should not touch it and should report it immediately to the nearest military unit or police station.
Additionally, North Korea is using the aforementioned type of mine, known as ‘leaf mines,’ which are designed to resemble leaves and are difficult to detect with the naked eye. These mines contain approximately 40 grams of explosive, giving them a blast power between that of typical anti-personnel mines (about 20 grams) and wooden-box mines (about 70 grams).
Model of a North Korean leaf mine. / The Ministry of National Defense
9. Top generals of S. Korea, U.S., Japan agree to expand trilateral Freedom Edge exercise
This is a key element for trilateral mutual security. We must sustain this trilateral cooperation.
Top generals of S. Korea, U.S., Japan agree to expand trilateral Freedom Edge exercise | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 18, 2024
SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- The top generals of South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Thursday to expand their trilateral multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise as they discussed North Korea's evolving threats and deepening military alignment with Russia, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo, and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, respectively, reached the agreement during their regular talks in Tokyo earlier in the day, according to the JCS.
"The Tri-CHOD leaders affirmed their commitment to expanding the Freedom Edge exercise and discussed additional ways to institutionalize trilateral cooperation in support of a shared regional vision for peace, stability, and deterrence," the JCS said in an English-language statement.
'Freedom Edge' military drill
Shown in this photo, provided by the U.S. Navy, is a Super Hornet fighter jet taking part in the first multidomain exercise of Freedom Edge held by South Korea, the United States and Japan in international waters, south of South Korea's southern island of Jeju, on June 28, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The three countries conducted the trilateral exercise for the first time in late June, mobilizing various warships and aircraft from the three sides, including the U.S. Navy's USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, the South's ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong destroyer and Japan's JS Ise helicopter destroyer.
In the meeting, the top generals condemned North Korea's continued nuclear and missile developments and its growing military cooperation with Russia as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, according to the JCS.
Brown also reaffirmed his country's "ironclad" commitment to defending South Korea and Japan, and the three concurred their trilateral security cooperation is crucial not only for peace and security of the Indo-Pacific but also for shared global interests, it added.
Thursday's meeting came amid concerns over Pyongyang and Moscow's increasing military cooperation, underscored by a "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement inked during their summit in Pyongyang last month.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 18, 2024
10. Russia’s ‘New’ Artillery Piece Is A 70-Year-Old Behemoth Firing North Korean Shells
Russia’s ‘New’ Artillery Piece Is A 70-Year-Old Behemoth Firing North Korean Shells
To make good losses in Ukraine, the Kremlin is pulling hundreds of old M-46 howitzers out of long-term storage.
Forbes · by David Axe · July 17, 2024
David Axe
Forbes Staff
David Axe writes about ships, planes, tanks, drones and missiles.
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Jul 17, 2024,11:18am EDT
A Soviet M-46 in 1964.
Thomas Taylor Hammond photo
Russian ground forces went to war in Ukraine in February 2022 with around 5,000 artillery pieces and rocket launchers. Twenty-eight months later, they’ve lost no fewer than 1,400 of the guns and launchers to Ukrainian action.
But combat losses aren’t the only drag on Russia’s artillery corps. More than two years of hard fighting have worn out the barrels on many howitzers—and also depleted Russia’s pre-war ammunition stocks.
Increasingly desperate for heavy firepower and struggling to manufacture new artillery and shells, the Kremlin has opened up storage yards from the early Cold War and guns that were obsolete decades ago. And to arm them, the Russia has turned to a new ally: North Korea.
The 1950s-vintage M-46 howitzer is indicative of this new dynamic. The 8.5-ton, eight-person gun fires a 130-millimeter shell as far as 17 miles at a rate of five shells a minute. It’s a powerful weapon—but heavy, hard to transport and manpower-intensive. Which is why, in the 1970s, the Soviet army replaced the M-46s with more efficient 152-millimeter howitzers.
Steep losses of those newer guns—and the depletion of Russia’s pre-war stocks of artillery barrels and shells—drove the Kremlin back in time. A year or so into the wider war in Ukraine, the M-46s’ drawbacks were no longer disqualifying. At that point, the alternative to old artillery was no artillery.
As of 2022 there were 665 M-46s in reserve in Russia, according to @highmarsed, an analyst who scrutinizes satellite imagery of Russian storage yards. By February 2024, around 65 had been removed. And now the pace of the reactivation is increasing.
A video that appeared on social media early this month depicts M-46s on a train apparently bound for the front line. “They have probably taken about half of the stored 130-millimter M-46[s] from storage,” @highmarsed concluded last week.
That’s 330 or so powerful—but old and heavy—replacement howitzers for the firepower-starved Russian force in Ukraine. Russian factories no longer produce 130-millimeter rounds, but North Korean factories do—so it should come as no surprise that videos have appeared online depicting Russian M-46s firing North Korean shells.
The howitzer ammo is the fruit of Moscow’s closer military ties to Pyongyang—ties that have alarmed Kyiv and Seoul and prompted the latter to boost its financial support for the former.
With its powerful shell and decent range, the M-46 is particularly useful as a “counterbattery” weapon—that is, a howitzer for destroying other howitzers. That the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s conclusion when it scrutinized North and South Korean artillery holdings in 2009. The CIA called the M-46 the “most effective counterbattery weapon in Korea.”
But the Russians may struggle to transport and support the big guns along the 700-mile front line in Ukraine. The Russian military has lost so many vehicles in Ukraine—not just tanks and armored personnel carriers but also trucks and artillery tractors—that it’s begun equipping front-line regiments and brigades with civilian-style all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes.
It should go without saying that a 1.5-ton ATV can’t tow an 8.5-ton M-46.
The other problem for the Russian gunners who are about to receive 70-year-old M-46s is that they’re going to depend on foreign largess for their ammunition. North Korea and Iran are the only major manufacturers of 130-millimeter shells.
To keep its new old howitzers in action, Moscow will have to maintain good relations with Pyongyang and Tehran.
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Sources:
1. @highmarsed: https://x.com/HighMarsed/status/1753578879367713117; https://x.com/HighMarsed/status/1811887643363291142
2. Oryx: https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html
3. Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP84S00553R000100070002-0.pdf
11. Unification minister to meet Campbell during next week's visit to U.S.
I think Dr Campbell is one of the very few people in the US government who takes Korean unification seriously.
Unification minister to meet Campbell during next week's visit to U.S. | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · July 18, 2024
SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho will meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell during his trip to the United States next week, his office said Thursday.
Kim plans to have talks with Campbell in Washington, D.C., on Monday (local time), as he will visit the U.S. from Sunday through July 26, according to the unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs.
He will also meet with Korean American Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) on Wednesday and experts on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, including former Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.
During the visit, Kim will exchange views about the security situation on the peninsula, North Korea's human rights and the government's unification policy, the ministry said.
Kim is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech Monday at the 2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights, a forum designed to raise the international community's awareness about the North's rights abuses.
The forum that runs through Tuesday will also be attended by Julie Turner, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, and the U.N. special rapporteur Elizabeth Salmon.
It marks the first time that the ministry has hosted such a forum abroad.
This image, provided by the Ministry of Unification, shows a poster of the 2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights to be held in Washington, D.C., on July 22-23. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · July 18, 2024
12. FAO chief discusses food security, nutrition in rare visit to N. Korea
Excerpt:
"The visit aimed to reactivate and strengthen the partnership between FAO and DPRK in addressing food security and nutrition challenges in the wake of the post COVID-19 pandemic, as well as enhancing the resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems in the country," it said, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
FAO chief discusses food security, nutrition in rare visit to N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 18, 2024
SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- The head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has visited North Korea for talks on food security and nutrition, the U.N. agency said, marking the first visit by a ranking U.N. official to the North since its COVID-19-related border closure in 2020.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu made a four-day visit to North Korea from Saturday to Tuesday, becoming the first U.N. specialized agency principal to enter the country since the outbreak of the pandemic, FAO said in a release uploaded on its website on Wednesday.
"The visit aimed to reactivate and strengthen the partnership between FAO and DPRK in addressing food security and nutrition challenges in the wake of the post COVID-19 pandemic, as well as enhancing the resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems in the country," it said, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
During his visit, Qu underscored FAO's readiness to provide more expertise and support for food and agriculture issues and visited the Kangdong Greenhouse Complex and the FAO-sponsored Pyongchon Fish Farm, according to FAO.
This photo, released by the Food and Agriculture Administration (FAO) on its website, shows FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu (R) visiting a greenhouse in North Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The U.N. agency called Qu's visit a "milestone" in its ties with the North and said it "demonstrated the mutual trust and respect between the two sides, and opened new avenues for engagement, cooperation and dialogue in the future."
Qu's latest trip garners attention over whether North Korea will further allow U.N. officials to return to the secretive regime for humanitarian projects.
U.N. personnel stationed in North Korea pulled out of the country with the North's border closure imposed in January 2020 over COVID-19. North Korea began resuming exchanges with China and Russia in a limited manner after partially opening its border in August last year.
Pyongyang's state media have yet to report on Qu's visit.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · July 18, 2024
13. S. Korea slaps sanctions on Hong Kong shipping firm, N. Korean cargo ship
(LEAD) S. Korea slaps sanctions on Hong Kong shipping firm, N. Korean cargo ship | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · July 18, 2024
(ATTN: REWRITES lead to clarify; UPDATES with more info in paras 4-6)
By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has imposed independent sanctions on a Hong Kong shipping company and a North Korean cargo ship for engaging in an illegal transfer of North Korean coal in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.
The government sanctioned Hong Kong-based HK Yilin Shipping Co., the owner of the stateless vessel DE YI, and Tok Song, a North Korean cargo ship engaged in ship-to-ship coal transfer, the ministry said. The move will be effective from Friday.
South Korean authorities seized DE YI in waters off Yeosu, along the southern coast, in March while it was heading to Vladivostok, Russia.
The government has concluded that the 3,000-ton cargo ship was carrying around 4,500 tons of North Korean coal after transshipment from Tok Song in waters off the North's western port city of Nampo, the ministry said.
Authorities believe that before DE YI received the North Korean coal, it transferred electronic equipment and other machinery to another North Korean vessel in waters near North Korea. The electronic equipment is prohibited for transfer to North Korea under UNSC resolutions.
DE YI is currently anchored at a port in Gangwon Province and is undergoing additional investigation. Once the investigation is complete, measures will be taken according to relevant laws and precedents.
North Korea is banned from exporting coal, iron ore, and other mineral resources under Resolution 2371, passed in August 2017. U.N. sanctions call for a country to capture and investigate a vessel suspected of engaging in prohibited activities with North Korea.
Resolution 2397 adopted in December 2017 bans U.N. member countries from supplying, selling and transferring new or used vessels to North Korea. Tok Song is a used vessel that was brought into North Korea in March.
Financial and foreign exchange transactions with the sanctioned entities and individuals will require prior approval.
The ministry said such a move shows the government's strong commitment to deterring North Korea's illegal maritime activities, thus discouraging its unlawful nuclear and missile development.
"The government will continue to take strong and consistent legal measures against ships and shipping companies involved in the transportation of prohibited items and violation activities as per the U.N. Security Council sanctions," it said.
This file photo shows a cargo ship, DE YI, on March 30, 2024, in waters off Yeosu committing alleged activities in violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · July 18, 2024
14. South Korea Must Grow Up and Defend Itself
It pains me to read articles like this. Although there is some useful analysis in this about a Trump/Vance administration and its likely views, Doug Bandow does not have the same view of US national security interests as others do. It is in US interests to prevent a war on the Korean peninsula. But the removal of US troops and the end of extended deterrence will likely lead to conflict based on the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.
South Korea Must Grow Up and Defend Itself
And it isn’t the only such country.
The American Conservative · by Doug Bandow · July 18, 2024
The South Korean nation began as an American appendage 76 years ago. Washington created the new state out of a military occupation zone, defending the Republic of Korea in war, financing it in peace, and garrisoning it today.
Behind this U.S. shield, the South morphed into one of the world’s leading powers, with a top-ten economy, global trade ties, a military ranked among the world’s best, and extraordinary cultural reach. Yet South Koreans lack commensurate self-confidence.
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The Washington Times recently reported on “ripples of fear” racing across the ROK. Not from the latest military maneuver by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Not from the latest missile launch or nuclear test by the communist regime. Not from the latest blood-curdling threat from the North’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un or his sister, often deployed as the official DPRK attack dog.
Instead, South Koreans are wailing, gnashing their teeth, and rending their garments on a Biblical scale because of Elbridge Colby. Colby is a onetime Pentagon official hoping to do bigger and better things in a possible—indeed, at this point likely—second Trump administration. Regarding the ROK, he questions the continued viability of the bilateral alliance, suggesting that Washington should not “break its spear” fighting North Korea, given the threat posed by China. Explained Colby: “South Korea is going to have to take primary, essentially overwhelming responsibility for its own self-defense against North Korea because we don’t have a military that can fight North Korea and then be ready to fight China.”
These sentiments shouldn’t be controversial. The U.S. is overstretched. Last week NATO celebrated its 75th year, yet still effectively stands for North America (meaning the U.S., not Canada) and The Others, despite Europe’s vast advantages over Russia. Washington remains entangled in the Middle East, dedicated to defending a gaggle of Arab dictatorships and an increasingly illiberal Israel, the latter a nuclear state long capable of protecting itself. In Asia, Republicans and Democrats alike want to contain China up to its border. They also want to keep the Pacific an American lake.
Can the U.S. continue to defend most of the known world? And why should the U.S. do so when its allies vastly outstrip their enemies, as in the Korean peninsula? By the 1960s, the ROK began to surpass the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea economically. In 1987, the South Korean military finally yielded power, enabling free elections and the development of a vibrant democracy. With the end of the Cold War, the DPRK lost its military allies, who forged economic and political relations with Seoul.
In succeeding years, the South ascended to the top tier of nations, with extensive diplomatic ties and an economy 50-plus times as large as the North’s. David Maxwell of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy complained that Colby’s policy would “drive a dagger through the heart of the alliance and give Kim room to coerce concessions from the ROK and ultimately use force to unify the peninsula under the Gulag State.” But why? Why, seven decades after the end of the Korean War, are South Koreans unable to deter Pyongyang from attacking? By reducing the pressure on Seoul to act on its own, the “Mutual” Defense Treaty has encouraged cheap-riding on Americans. Even so, despite having skimped on military outlays in the past, the South’s armed forces are ranked fifth-most powerful on earth, compared to North Korea’s military at number 36, down from number 34 last year.
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Foreign and defense policy should change along with circumstances. In 1945, as World War II came to a merciful close, Washington was forced to consider Korea’s fate. The peninsula was never thought to be a vital interest for America, and no U.S. government would ever have gone to war over it. However, Japan’s defeat opened the peninsula’s future. Early victims of Japanese imperialism, Koreans yearned to be free, so they could not be left under Tokyo’s rule. Unfortunately, the alternative to a divided peninsula was an undivided one—initially occupied by Soviet troops with the Kim dynasty later ruling over all Koreans.
Having made the ROK’s future an American interest, it was difficult for Washington to stay out of the conflict, especially given erroneous assumptions about Joseph Stalin planning the attack as a possible prelude to a similar European onslaught. Nevertheless, as Seoul raced ahead of Pyongyang, the U.S. should have devolved defense responsibilities on the ROK, preparing the latter to deter an attack and win a war.
Today the South is well able to mount whatever conventional defense is necessary. A South Korean official once rebuffed my argument, complaining that Seoul had education and social needs. But so does America. There is no reason for Washington to force Americans, whose government is spending and borrowing wildly, to bear the ROK’s defense burden as well. Along with protecting Japan, a multitude of European states, and an assortment of Middle Eastern despots. With the increasingly lopsided Korean power balance, the peninsula would be a good place for the US to begin turning military responsibilities over to its longtime dependents. Yet so determined is the Biden administration to keep Seoul on the American defense dole that the administration began talks over burden-sharing early to foreclose an expected Trump administration from setting policy.
The North’s possession of nuclear weapons poses a particular challenge, but Washington’s “nuclear umbrella” is an increasingly dangerous response as Pyongyang develops a larger and more sophisticated atomic arsenal, as well as ICBMs that will eventually be capable of targeting American cities. The ROK, though a good national friend, does not warrant taking that kind of risk. What U.S. president would gamble mass incineration of his or her nation’s population to defend a distant country not vital to America’s defense? It is time for Washington policymakers to consider the utility of the ROK developing its own nuclear weapons in response—a bad option, perhaps, but still better than the alternatives, especially continued US entanglement in the peninsula’s always erratic and often threatening affairs.
Of course, the Colby boomlet may come to nothing even if Donald Trump returns to the Oval Office. Colby is an able policy salesman, but Trump has not publicly expressed any staff preferences. Although self-promotion fills Washington, ostentatious hype more often kills than advances such ambitions. Today, smart money on the next national security adviser is being wagered elsewhere.
Nevertheless, while the election is still three and a half months away, a lot of time in American politics, it increasingly looks like a Trump victory is likely, with a possible GOP congressional sweep. President Joe Biden is evidently deteriorating mentally and physically, poorly suited to being president now and almost certain to be incapable of serving until a second term would end. The assassination attempt on Trump has turned the latter into an unexpectedly sympathetic and even heroic figure, allowing him to grab the mantle of national unity. Down-ballot Democratic races will be vulnerable as party morale and fundraising deteriorate. The corruption conviction of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), long-time chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a notable embarrassment. Many leading Democrats have written off the presidential race, planning to concentrate on congressional contests.
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All of which suggests significant changes are likely in U.S. foreign policy. Trump’s actions did not match his rhetoric during his first term, but his prospective vice president, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), has taken the lead in challenging several foreign policy shibboleths. Moreover, Trump appears to have learned that personnel are policy, and thus is more likely to choose likeminded staff, whether that includes Colby or not. Finally, Biden has inadvertently exposed the bankruptcy of the uber-interventionist status quo. Who can look at the last three and a half years and want to see a replay?
Hence, it is not just South Koreans who should worry about relying on Washington. If Trump regains the presidency, he might begin reducing subsidies for Europe’s defense and Ukraine’s war. Indeed, one could imagine him handing this policy portfolio to Vance. Although Trump had a good relationship with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the former might recognize the opportunity to speed the shift of responsibility for Japan’s defense onto Tokyo. And despite Trump’s supposed affection for authoritarians and despots, the need to curb fiscal deficits, address recruiting shortfalls, and minimize military risks might cause him to reconsider commitments in the Middle East. The larger the political victory, the greater the foreign policy possibilities.
South Koreans should worry about the future of the alliance. Free-riding allies are likely to be targets of the next administration, whoever ends up as top foreign policy adviser. Such a shift is long overdue. With the federal government hurtling toward de facto bankruptcy, it is time for Americans to concentrate on saving their republic.
The American Conservative · by Doug Bandow · July 18, 2024
15. Shame on the amateurish spy agents
Excerpts:
Spy issues can evolve into a serious diplomatic standoff. Seoul and Moscow expelled intelligence officers in a tit-for-tat action in 1998, souring the bilateral relationship for some time. Seoul-Washington ties built up tension over Seoul’s alleged lobbying activities in 1976 to prevent the pullout of U.S. armed forces in South Korea. U.S. authorities went public with the latest tribulation while South-U.S. relations are the best. The government must do its utmost to prevent the affair from damaging the alliance. It must explain itself fully and apologize if necessary. Making amends is important between friends.
Thursday
July 18, 2024
dictionary + A - A
Published: 18 Jul. 2024, 19:06
Shame on the amateurish spy agents
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-07-18/opinion/editorials/Shame-on-the-amateurish-spy-agents/2093604
Sue Mi Terry — a former CIA analyst and White House adviser on North Korean affairs — was arrested on allegations of working as an unreported spy for the South Korean intelligence agency. According to the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, prosecutors charged Terry — currently a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations — for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by providing South Korean intelligence officers with access, information and advocacy.
The indictment says that she began working with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) agents, or “handlers,” posing as diplomats in South Korea’s UN Mission and Washington embassy. It claimed that Terry promoted Korean positions in her public appearances and handed over U.S. government information and contacts to the handlers in exchange for luxury handbags, gifts, expensive dinners and more than $37,000 in funding for her public policy program. Her activity amounted to one count of conspiracy violating FARA and another count of failure to register under FARA, each carrying a maximum sentence of five years. Terry denied all the charges.
Intelligence has become a pricey asset in modern society. Ingenious and innovative means are being employed, even at the risk of costing lives. Secrecy is the key to intelligence accumulation. One misstep can cost the shutdown of all routes and lead to international humiliation. The photos disclosed by prosecutors — showing “handlers” buying and carrying luxury handbags for Terry in public areas — can only paint Korean agents as amateurish.
Despite its admirable list of achievements, the NIS has made several major pratfalls. An NIS attaché working at the Russian embassy was caught in 1998 for trying to steal information related to North Korea. Robert Kim, a naturalized U.S. naval intelligence analyst, was arrested for passing classified military documents to a military attaché with the South Korean embassy. NIS agents even caused a diplomatic conundrum for breaking into a hotel room occupied by Indonesian presidential envoys in 2011 in search of the country’s secrets for a defense contract.
Spy issues can evolve into a serious diplomatic standoff. Seoul and Moscow expelled intelligence officers in a tit-for-tat action in 1998, souring the bilateral relationship for some time. Seoul-Washington ties built up tension over Seoul’s alleged lobbying activities in 1976 to prevent the pullout of U.S. armed forces in South Korea. U.S. authorities went public with the latest tribulation while South-U.S. relations are the best. The government must do its utmost to prevent the affair from damaging the alliance. It must explain itself fully and apologize if necessary. Making amends is important between friends.
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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