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Quotes of the Day:
"Nothing so sharpens the thought process as writing down one’s arguments. Weaknesses overlooked in oral discussion become painfully obvious on the written page.”
– Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them."
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
“What we don’t know about North Korea is so vast that it makes the Kremlin of the 1950’s look like an open book. The communist northern tier of the peninsula once known as the Hermit Kingdom has lived up to that name with a vengeance, enveloping its 22 million people in a bell jar of propaganda, thought control and mythology glorifying the Kims, often in public pageants that would dwarf a Cecil B. DeMille production.”
– Arnold Kantor, Former U.S. Undersecretary of State
1. Yoon unveils vision for ‘freedom-based unification,’ proposes dialogue with N. Korea
2. Unification: historical ideal and moral obligation
3. Time is ripe for a new approach: Human rights up front in support of a free and unified Korea
4. We found North Korean engineers in our application pile. Here’s what our ex-CIA co founders did about it.
5. U.S. secretary of state congratulates S. Korea on Liberation Day
6. Republic of Korea National Day (US Department of State)
7. Independence activist groups, opposition parties to boycott gov't-organized Liberation Day ceremony
8. 'Foundation Day' controversy resurfaces
9. Can South Korea, Japan move beyond historical disputes?
10. North Korean defector becomes governor of home province
11. President Yoon: “Liberation is incomplete as long as division persists”
12. Former Pres. Park commemorates 50th anniversary of her mother’s death
13. Int'l tourism to N. Korea's Samjiyon to resume in Dec.: tour agency
14. South Korea’s Yoon Offers Rare Olive Branch to Kim Jong Un
15. Yoon's new unification vision pushes for change within N. Korea: experts
16. Full text of Yoon's Liberation Day speech
17. US expresses frustration that North Korea is blocking efforts to recover remains of American casualties from Korean War
1. Yoon unveils vision for ‘freedom-based unification,’ proposes dialogue with N. Korea
This is in line with what many of us have been advocating and working on for a long time: A human rights upfront approach, a sophisticated public diplomacy/information campaign, and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea.
He is also acknowledging that the ROK must defend itself from the regime's political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies that seek to subvert the ROK and coerce concessions from it, the US, and the international community.
I think I will adopt the "frozen Kingdom of the north."
But the bottom line is this. Kim has the opportunity to change and President Yoon is reaching out to allow him to change. And if he chooses not change then it will be up to the Korean people in the north to create change.
I know all the naysayers will come out of the woodwork when I say this:
The only way we are going to see an end to the nuclear program and military threats as well as the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity being committed against the Korean people living in the north by the mafia-like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime is through achievement of unification and the establishment of a free and unified Korea that is secure and stable, non-nuclear, economically vibrant, and unified under a liberal constitutional form of government based on individual liberty, rule of law, and human rights as determined by the Korean people. A free and unified Korea or in short, a United Republic of Corea (U-ROC). (You Rock)
There are so many who make light of unification (because they are infected with the unique American disease of US unification dismissiveness).
Excerpts:
“The freedom we enjoy must be extended to the frozen kingdom of the North, where people are deprived of freedom and suffer from poverty and starvation,” Yoon said. “Only when a unified free and democratic nation rightfully owned by the people is established across the entire Korean Peninsula will we finally have complete liberation.”
Yoon laid out three key tasks for unification: defending freedom in South Korea from fake news and other destabilizing elements, bringing about changes in North Korea through human rights improvements and outside information, and strengthening cooperation with the international community.
Yoon unveils vision for ‘freedom-based unification,’ proposes dialogue with N. Korea
en.yna.co.kr
Yoon unveils vision for ‘freedom-based unification,’ proposes dialogue with N. Korea | Yonhap News Agency
Kim Eun-jung
North Korea 11:07 August 15, 2024
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) — President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a vision for unification with North Korea on Thursday, pledging to expand outside information in the reclusive nation and proposing an official dialogue channel that can “take up any issue.”
Yoon made the remark in an address marking Liberation Day, which celebrates the 1945 end of Japan’s colonial rule, saying, “Complete liberation remains an unfinished task” as the Korean Peninsula still remains divided.
“The freedom we enjoy must be extended to the frozen kingdom of the North, where people are deprived of freedom and suffer from poverty and starvation,” Yoon said. “Only when a unified free and democratic nation rightfully owned by the people is established across the entire Korean Peninsula will we finally have complete liberation.”
Yoon laid out three key tasks for unification: defending freedom in South Korea from fake news and other destabilizing elements, bringing about changes in North Korea through human rights improvements and outside information, and strengthening cooperation with the international community.
Yoon also proposed an official dialogue with Pyongyang.
“Today, I propose that authorities from both Koreas establish the ‘Inter-Korean Working Group,’” Yoon said. “This body could take up any issue, ranging from relieving tensions to economic cooperation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and disaster and climate-change responses.”
Yoon urged the North to respond to the proposal, saying dialogue and cooperation can bring about substantive progress in inter-Korean relations.
Yoon reiterated his commitment to the “audacious initiative” unveiled two years ago, which calls for offering massive assistance to help the impoverished North rebuild its economy in return for denuclearization steps.
“We will begin political and economic cooperation the moment North Korea takes just one step toward denuclearization,” he said.
Yoon also outlined plans to expand North Koreans’ “right of access to information.”
“It is also important to help awaken the people of North Korea to the value of freedom. Testimonials from numerous North Korean defectors show that our radio and TV broadcasts helped make them aware of the false propaganda and instigations emanating from the North Korean regime,” Yoon said.
“If more North Koreans come to recognize that unification through freedom is the only way to improve their lives and are convinced that a unified Republic of Korea will embrace them, they will become strong, friendly forces for a freedom-based unification,” he said.
Yoon said the South will establish a North Korea Freedom and Human Rights Fund to actively support nongovernmental activities that promote freedom and human rights in the country while continuing to try to provide humanitarian aid to the North.
“We offered relief supplies for flood victims in North Korea, making clear that our government has no intention of turning a blind eye to the North Korean people’s suffering,” he said. “Even though the North Korean regime rejected our offer yet again, we will never stop making offers of humanitarian aid.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol (2nd from L) and first lady Kim Keon Hee (3rd from L) salute the national flag during a ceremony commemorating the 79th Liberation Day held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on Aug. 15, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Keywords
#Liberation Day #NK
HOME North Korea
en.yna.co.kr
2. Unification: historical ideal and moral obligation
We often hear people say Koreans are not interested in unification. Every Korean from the north I know wants unification and so many people in Korea want reunification (and are willing to work for it as Seo In-taek is).
I will attend the rally Imjingak in the shadow of our old military installation, Camp Greaves on September 28th I will report back on the numbers that attend.
Unification: historical ideal and moral obligation
The Korea Times · August 12, 2024
By Seo In-taek
Seo In-taek
Let's make the 80th anniversary of liberation a "Year of the Second March 1st Movement for Unification." Although we currently live divided into North and South, we are one people who have walked together through a long history of half a millennium. Despite the numerous invasions and hardships, we have maintained our identity as one people because we share a deep-rooted consciousness that we are all descendants of Dangun. Our founding ancestor, Dangun, instilled in our nation the ideal of Hongik Ingan, meaning to broadly benefit humanity. Achieving a country where this spirit is realized is what we call the historical ideal and aspiration of our people, the "Korean Dream."
Based on this great spirit, our ancestors developed a unique language and culture, distinguished from other ethnicities, and traditions based on high moral principles throughout a long history. Consequently, the Korean people have lived with a community spirit that is unparalleled in world history. This consciousness of viewing our special people as a united community of destiny has been the driving force for national integration, overcoming countless adversities and trials.
This great ideal of the Korean people led to the rise of our nation with the will to establish an independent country during the Japanese colonial era in the 20th century. This was the March 1st Independence Movement of 1919, where the entire nation rose up. The March 1st Movement, the first non-violent resistance movement in world history, was a movement to realize an autonomous state where the ideal of Hongik Ingan was fulfilled. As the Declaration of Independence proclaimed, the independent state our people aspired to was not just for the survival of our nation but to contribute to world peace and human equality. Through the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, it was clearly stated that the new independent state would be a modern democratic republic based on the founding spirit of Hongik Ingan, not a return to a feudal monarchy. The Korean Dream was the foundation of our ancestors' noble independence movement.
The desire for independence of our ancestors was to be realized with the liberation on August 15th. However, the emergence of communism divided the independence movement. We faced liberation in a divided state. The onset of the international Cold War drew a dividing line on the Korean Peninsula, and the extreme ideological confrontation within the nation eventually led to the tragic result of the Korean War. Along with the indelible scars of war, the division became entrenched.
The Republic of Korea, which chose liberal democracy, achieved astonishing economic growth known as the Miracle on the Han River and democratization. If true liberation had been achieved instead of division, such accomplishments would have been realized across the entire Korean Peninsula. Sadly, 80 years after liberation, our compatriots in the North still cannot escape a slave-like life under the most vicious dictatorship on Earth, suffering severe economic hardships. We can no longer close our eyes and remain silent to the cries and sufferings of our Northern compatriots. Therefore, unification is a moral obligation of our time and a mandate of history.
However, before discussing unification, we must first clearly establish and gain nationwide consensus on the vision of unification. What kind of unified country do we aim to achieve? The unification movement starts by clarifying the ideal of a unified country based on the long-standing aspirations of our half-millennium history and the ideals of the independence movement. A strong vision is the driving force that overcomes reality and brings about change.
So, what kind of country is the new one where the Korean Dream is realized through unification? In short, it is a country where the ideal of Hongik Ingan is realized, guaranteeing inherent freedom and human rights to all citizens of both South and North Korea without exception. It is also a country that provides opportunities for economic prosperity and success, where everyone can freely pursue their dreams. This nation will combine the strengths of Eastern and Western civilizations, based on the identity of the Korean people, creating new innovations and serving as a moral example to the world, contributing to world peace and prosperity, and realizing our destiny of broadly benefiting humanity.
The historical opportunity to realize the dream of a free and peaceful unified Korea has come before us. The longing for freedom among North Korean residents and the desire for unification have never been higher. However, the prison door cannot be opened from within.
Thus, on the 80th anniversary of Liberation, we propose to start a broad citizen unification movement that transcends political factions, ideologies, religions, and regions, marking a new turning point in the unification movement. All great changes in history have started from grassroots movements. We plan to launch a large-scale event from the South, to the overseas Korean communities, and finally to our compatriots in the North, declaring that division cannot be accepted as the fate of our people. We call this the 80th Anniversary Korean Dream Ten Million Campaign and are preparing it in solidarity with various civil society organizations. We will hold an event at Imjingak in Paju on September 28th this year to prepare for next year's Ten Million Campaign.
We hope to meet all of you at the Korean Dream Unification Practice March to be held at Imjingak on September 28th this year. We hope to show the world that unification is not just the dream of a few but the dream of everyone.
Mr. Seo In-taek has been actively involved as the standing chairman of Action for Korea United since 2014, which was formed to promote a citizen-led unification movement. In 2015, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Liberation Day, he successfully organized the "New Era Unification Song Campaign," featuring numerous KPOP stars, including BTS. The song "One Dream One Korea," created at that time, is the most beloved unification song among youths. Currently, he serves as the organizing chairman for the Korean Dream Ten Million Campaign, preparing for a widespread citizen-led unification movement akin to the historic March 1st Movement, in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day.
The Korea Times · August 12, 2024
3. Time is ripe for a new approach: Human rights up front in support of a free and unified Korea
Voices Aug. 14, 2024 / 12:25 PM
Time is ripe for a new approach: Human rights up front in support of a free and unified Korea - UPI.com
By David Maxwell
upi.com
Messages of peace written by visitors hang from a tree in the exhibition center of Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, in February. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 14 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is facing immense pressure and in 2023 and 2024 has implemented major policy changes due to his failed promises to the Korean people in the North. His nuclear weapons have not brought peace and prosperity, so he has declared the Republic of Korea (ROK) its enemy and has excised peaceful unification as the regime's strategic objective. However, Kim still seeks to dominate the peninsula under his rule to ensure survival of the regime. He continues to use political warfare and blackmail diplomacy strategies while preparing for the possible use of force to achieve his objectives.
The standout, but too often overlooked, success of the past seven decades has been deterrence. The ROK/U.S. alliance has prevented the resumption of war on the Korean peninsula, and it must continue to do so as the number one priority. However, nearly three decades of a denuclearization policy have failed despite several agreements that among normal states would have resulted in significant diplomatic breakthroughs. The failure is not due to the U.S. and ROK efforts. It is due solely to the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.
Given the changes evident in North Korea, it is the proverbial inflection point that requires examination of new policy options and strategy that can drive change or transformation on the Korean peninsula. Kim has the option to change his behavior and policies. If Kim does not change, the Korean people in the North need the opportunity to transform their situation and seek an end to the human rights abuses by achieving a free and unified Korea. Now is the time to begin to truly help them. The world can no longer simply admire this problem and hope that a catastrophic event never takes place.
The ROK is standing on the moral high ground by seeking peaceful unification. Since Kim has removed the hope of better lives for the Korean people by ending his policy of peaceful unification, it is up to the ROK, with the support of the United States and the international community, to help the Korean people, all the Korean people in the North and South, to achieve a free and unified Korea or in short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK).
The way ahead must consist of an aggressive public diplomacy campaign to engage the Korean people in the north. Yes, Kim continues to go to great lengths to deny outside information to the people. This has been identified as a major human rights abuse in the 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry. Kim sends a filth balloon barrage to the South to coerce the ROK into preventing Korean escapees who are ROK citizens from sending information to the North. There is no moral equivalent here.
While the Korean escapees should be encouraged and supported in their efforts, a broader public diplomacy campaign must be executed by the United States in support of the ROK and the Korean people in the North. The ROK and United States should together establish a Korean Escapee and Defector Information Institute to help the ROK, the United States, and the international community craft the appropriate themes and messages that will make a difference in the North.
The Korean people in the North need vast quantities of information, from news to entertainment, and especially stories about their future and unification. They need practical information: everything from how to improve agriculture and market activity to how to conduct collective action to create the conditions for transformation. The Korean people must receive facts about the outside world so they can gradually learn the truth. They must be given information to help them understand their universal human rights. Lastly, they need to hear the voices of escapees from the North.
The basis of a free and unified Korea comes from two sources: The 1953 Armistice Agreement and the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human rights. In Paragraph 60 of the Armistice, the military leaders called on the nations to provide a political solution to the Korea question, which is the unnatural division of the Korean peninsula. They recognized there is no military solution. In Article 21 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right of self-determination of government by the people is a universal human right for all people.
The way forward is to exert pressure on Kim Jong Un through sanctions, military readiness, cyber defense, public diplomacy, and a focus on human rights and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. Kim Jong Un can be given the chance to change his behavior, while the Korean people can seek transformation inside North Korea that will lead to peaceful unification.
Why should the ROK/U.S. alliance and the international community support the people seeking unification? An escapee from North Korea, Kim Gumhyok of the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly recently gave an impassioned plea at the Hudson Institute making three important points:
Change is coming.
Make human rights a number priority.
Do not be disappointed or frustrated because change has not happened yet.
Change is coming to the North. The question is whether the Korean people in the South and the international community will help the people in the North to transform the regime and seek peaceful unification.
In the end, the international community must recognize that the only way to end the human rights abuses and the nuclear and military threats is through the establishment of a free and unified Korea. That is a Korea that is secure, stable, economically vibrant, and non-nuclear. It must be unified under a liberal constitutional form of government based on freedom and individual liberty, rule of law, and human rights as determined by the Korean people. In short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK).
David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel and has spent more than 30 years in Asia as a practitioner and specializes in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation (where he focuses on a free and unified Korea). He is a member of the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and he is the editor of Small Wars Journal.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
upi.com
4. We found North Korean engineers in our application pile. Here’s what our ex-CIA co founders did about it.
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others."
Although it does not directly apply in this case since it seems the people in this article were already wise, Declan Cumminigs and Cinder are giving us all a chance to be wise in the face of the Kim family regime's all purpose sword.
And with some help from my good friend and colleague Hyun Seung Lee.
(note I have no affiliation with this company so I cannot recommend them. But I think some of their practical advice from the article is worth sharing).
Excerpts:
North Koreans have been working undercover as software freelancers for part time contract jobs for years. And recently, they have started to apply to American tech companies that offer remote, full time work. This may be exacerbated by the rise of remote work after the COVID pandemic and the fact that working at US tech companies can be so lucrative. Hyun-Seung Lee, a former North Korean businessman and former chair of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League branch in Dalian, China, told us that the earnings quota for a North Korean IT worker based in China is typically $6,000 per month. This quota is more than covered by many US tech salaries.
...
What Cinder is doing now
We continue to receive dozens of suspected North Korean applicants to Cinder. We take steps to share relevant information with security teams at networking and job listing sites that we work with. If your company is also affected by this growing threat, I encourage you to get in touch with me at declan@cndr.io and I’d be happy to share more tips and prevention strategies.
We found North Korean engineers in our application pile. Here’s what our ex-CIA co founders did about it.
Declan Cummings
,
Head of Engineering
cinder.co
We found North Korean engineers in our application pile. Here's what our ex-CIA co founders did about it.
Cinder is part of a growing list of US-based tech companies that encounter engineering applicants who are actually suspected North Korean nationals. These North Koreans almost certainly work on behalf of the North Korean government to funnel money back to their government while working remotely via third countries like China. Since at least early 2023, many have applied to US-based remote-first tech companies like Cinder. If you’ve been running into this issue, here are some tips for how you can handle this at your own company.
It’s important to note that funding the North Korean government could constitute a crime given the sanctions the regime is under. And nobody wants that kind of paperwork headache!
Cinder is unique in our ability to interface with this issue given our co-founders’ backgrounds as ex-CIA operatives, as well as an expert on North Korea. Our prior experience spurred our interest in building internet safety software to begin with, and inspires a particular vigilance to maintain it to the best of our abilities.
I first learned of North Korea’s practice of sending workers abroad in 2014: I joined the board of a leadership development program for North Korean escapees and learned of North Korea’s government and its use of technology from those who experienced it firsthand. Later, I volunteered for a nonprofit developing information access technology for clandestine use inside closed countries like North Korea. I have spoken with North Korean escapees who have recent knowledge of the latest North Korean tech worker trends. But I never expected I would one day experience them as applicants attempting to join my company.
North Koreans are applying to US tech companies?
The North Korean government has a long history of sending workers abroad to earn money for the regime. The workers are sent to countries like China where they must earn a salary quota, most of which will be taken by the government for its own needs. These workers are under close supervision by North Korean officials while abroad. They are often required to leave family members behind as collateral to prevent them from defecting while outside their home country.
North Koreans have been working undercover as software freelancers for part time contract jobs for years. And recently, they have started to apply to American tech companies that offer remote, full time work. This may be exacerbated by the rise of remote work after the COVID pandemic and the fact that working at US tech companies can be so lucrative. Hyun-Seung Lee, a former North Korean businessman and former chair of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League branch in Dalian, China, told us that the earnings quota for a North Korean IT worker based in China is typically $6,000 per month. This quota is more than covered by many US tech salaries.
The application process
In our experience, North Koreans applying to US tech companies under false pretenses will often use a standard process: they will create profiles on multiple professional networking and job posting sites using a name that is not Korean and sometimes with an AI-edited profile image.
Once they go through the interview process and have received a job offer, they may ask their new company-provided laptop be sent to a US-based partner. According to a Department of Justice indictment, the US-based partner may install remote desktop software so that the North Korean engineer can appear to be working from a US location, with a laptop physically located in the US, while remotely controlling the laptop from abroad.
By demonstrating sufficient technical capability and minimal English language skills, North Korean applicants can meet minimum thresholds for junior software engineer roles. Fast-growing start-ups eager to ship more products might overlook gaps in resume, unreliable or missing education records, or poor command of written or spoken English for an engineer with sufficient skill who is ready to start working soon.
We suspect if the worker is employed even for just a few months before being terminated, this can still be quite profitable for the regime.
Cinder’s approach
We have a unique perspective on this problem for a few reasons: our company is in the internet safety industry, two of our co-founders came from the CIA, and I have twelve years of experience working on cybersecurity and human rights issues related to North Korea. So when North Korean IT workers applied to Cinder, they had a different experience than they might have expected.
Pyongyang has a long history of exploiting its people to further the regime’s ambitions and this activity is no exception. Two of Cinder’s founders bring years of CIA experience, so we’re no strangers to creating and running virtual operations, nor detecting and countering those of hostile nation states.
- Phil Brennan, Cinder co-founder and 10-year CIA veteran
What tipped us off
Fifteen months prior to any FBI indictments, our COO first noticed a few unusual trends in our applicant pool. Upon further inspection he discovered these candidates either didn't seem to exist on the internet, or were mapped to people who weren't them, who did have an internet presence. Over time, we realized many applicants that had the following characteristics:
- No online presence outside of professional networking websites; and professional networking profiles were recently created, typically with profile pictures that obscured the individual’s image (in ski goggles, sunglasses), were too zoomed out to be helpful, were AI-generated, or were simply blank.
- Completely fabricated job history including office locations that don’t actually exist.
- Unable to find these applicants online outside of the standard professional networking sites (e.g. no presence on GitHub, social media etc).
- Inability to answer basic questions about the cities in which they allegedly worked (‘What was your Metro stop in Paris?’) or technology on which they worked (‘What org were you in at Uber?’).
- Background noise during their interview that indicated other people speaking in an interview-like setting, implying a crowded room of people on separate professional video calls.
- Highly scripted answers with explicit preference for remote work, and little ability to deviate from the script.
- A mismatch between the name displayed on the resume or networking site, and the candidate’s command of English (e.g. Chris Smith with a B.A. from a large US research university who can barely speak interview-level English is surprising).
We also noticed vague cover letter language:
Hi, team!
I hope you're fine and safe.
I am really excited about this potential opportunity with the ambitious project.
As a Senior Frontend Developer with 8+ years of experience, I have great experience in working with React.js/Redux, RTK, React Query, Vue, Next.js, Vercel, TypeScript, GraphQL, etc. Please have a look at my previous works.
Another example:
Hi,
I love what you are doing in your company. With my eight-plus years of development, I'd love to be one of you. As an FE-heavy developer, I have a track record of building successful products. And I am familiar with startup environment. I'd love to use my strong debugging and problem-solving abilities to be a powerful force in the workplace. I can wear multiple hats and adapt to a fast-paced team. I look forward to meeting you to learn more about this role and share my relevant skills. Best,
Taken together, to me these details suggested fake identities. And while I knew North Korea had a history of sending workers abroad to freelance, I didn’t expect that they would apply to full time roles at US-based companies.
What we did
First, because we come from the Trust and Safety industry, I was able to reach out to our partners at various security companies and confirm these patterns were consistent with North Koreans attempting to pass themselves off as Americans. I also learned a lot from published investigations like the one Nisos published last year.
With more knowledge, we were able to go digging. And we had a lot of material: For applicants from some job sites, roughly 80% of inbound applicants with experience matching our stack were suspected North Koreans.
We started filtering out suspected North Korean applicants by doing quick internet searches and closer examinations of job history, profile imagery, and a social media screening. However, our process wasn’t perfect, and we still ended up on occasional Zoom calls screening applicants who we would quickly discover, mid-call, had fabricated their career history and only recently created their online presence.
When we first started receiving North Korean applications, some of our interviewers noted applicants’ strong resistance to travel in their post-interview write ups:
One clarifying question that I neglected to ask about is that on his Linkedin profile he says he is looking for “100% Remote job only without travel”. I did not notice the “without travel” part until after the interview. We should make sure he would be willing to travel sometimes for team offsites as this is an important part of Cinder’s culture.
I started informing candidates that Cinder’s customer base includes companies investigating nation-state espionage and insider threat issues. I added that this is a natural fit for us, because our co-founders came from the US intelligence community including the CIA.
Upon hearing this, one suspected North Korean applicant immediately dropped from the Zoom call and never contacted us again.
What Cinder is doing now
We continue to receive dozens of suspected North Korean applicants to Cinder. We take steps to share relevant information with security teams at networking and job listing sites that we work with. If your company is also affected by this growing threat, I encourage you to get in touch with me at declan@cndr.io and I’d be happy to share more tips and prevention strategies.
cinder.co
5. U.S. secretary of state congratulates S. Korea on Liberation Day
U.S. secretary of state congratulates S. Korea on Liberation Day
en.yna.co.kr
U.S. secretary of state congratulates S. Korea on Liberation Day | Yonhap News Agency
All News 09:44 August 15, 2024
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday congratulated South Korea on marking the Korean Peninsula’s liberation from Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule, reaffirming the two nations’ “ironclad” alliance.
In a statement, Blinken said, “On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend a heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of Korea on this joyous and celebratory National Day,” referring to South Korea by its official name.
“We commemorate our two great countries’ enduring friendship and the founding of your republic, which has grown into a beacon of democracy and enabled prosperity for millions of people,” Blinken said.
“Seventy-one years later, the United States remains firmly committed to our ironclad Alliance with the Republic of Korea. Together, we will continue to work side-by-side, upholding our shared values of international peace and stability, human rights, and individual liberties.”
(END)
Keywords
#Liberation Day
HOME All News
en.yna.co.kr
6. Republic of Korea National Day (US Department of State)
Liberation Day.
Republic of Korea National Day
Press Statement
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
August 14, 2024
https://www.state.gov/republic-of-korea-national-day-3/
On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend a heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of Korea on this joyous and celebratory National Day.
We commemorate our two great countries’ enduring friendship and the founding of your republic, which has grown into a beacon of democracy and enabled prosperity for millions of people. Seventy-one years later, the United States remains firmly committed to our ironclad Alliance with the Republic of Korea. Together, we will continue to work side-by-side, upholding our shared values of international peace and stability, human rights, and individual liberties.
Best wishes to the people of the Republic of Korea on this National Day.
7. Independence activist groups, opposition parties to boycott gov't-organized Liberation Day ceremony
It is unfortunate that the partisan politics in the South and historical issues between Japan and Korea impact one of the most important days in modern Korean history.
Independence activist groups, opposition parties to boycott gov't-organized Liberation Day ceremony | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 15, 2024
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- Independence activist groups and opposition parties were set to boycott the government's ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day on Thursday in protest over the appointment of a new president of the Independence Hall of Korea.
The Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI), a state-funded association of independence fighters and their descendants, has vowed to skip the ceremony and organize its own at Hyochang Park in central Seoul in protest of the appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk, accused of holding pro-Japanese views.
Kim's past remarks that South Korea came into being when its government was established in 1948 led to suspicions his appointment was a precursor to designating Aug. 15, 1948, as national foundation day, despite the government's repeated denials.
Korea achieved independence from Japanese colonial rule on Aug. 15, 1945, following Japan's surrender in World War II.
The main opposition Democratic Party and other minor parties have also decided to boycott the ceremony and will hold a separate ceremony at the same park.
HKI said the boycott is meant to protest the government's "pro-Japanese" policies.
It marks the first time that HKI will hold a separate Liberation Day ceremony from the government-organized one.
Meanwhile, the ruling People Power Party said the calls for Kim's resignation and ceremony boycotts were political maneuvers that weaken the meaning of Liberation Day, calling for active participation in the government-led event.
"If we truly consider the meaning of liberation, we must not split the national memorial day in two," a PPP spokesperson said in a commentary.
Members of the Heritage of Korean Independence call for the withdrawal of the appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk as the president of the Independence Hall of Korea outside the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul on Aug. 14, 2024. (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 15, 2024
8. 'Foundation Day' controversy resurfaces
Excerpts:
Kim's appointment has sparked a rumor in the political sphere that the Yoon administration's move was a step towards replacing the existing Liberation Day with a "National Foundation Day" on the same date.
The "Foundation Day" controversy has repeatedly emerged over the years, especially when politically conservative presidents took power. While supporters of the ideology behind "Foundation Day" have existed for decades, the argument became more mainstream after the Lee Myung-bak administration, in 2008, launched a committee presided by the prime minister dedicated to honoring "60 years of Korea's foundation" at the time, referring to the establishment of the Rhee administration, the first government to be formed under South Korea's constitution.
President Yoon has recently expressed frustration over the resurfaced controversy, according to an official at the presidential office.
"What good is this to the people who are struggling to make ends meet?" Yoon was quoted as recently telling his aides regarding the matter, an official at the presidential office who requested anonymity told reporters on Tuesday.
'Foundation Day' controversy resurfaces
koreaherald.com · by Jung Min-kyung · August 14, 2024
By Jung Min-kyung
Published : Aug. 14, 2024 - 15:23
Liberal municipal councilors of Gwangju call for President Yoon Suk Yeol to retract his appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk, the new director of the Independence Hall of Korea, in front of the Gwangju City Hall on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
The controversy over Korea's national day has resurfaced in the past week, after the Yoon Suk Yeol administration appointed a conservative professor accused of supporting a political movement that wants the country’s founding to be recognized as happening in 1948, instead of liberation in 1945.
Kim Hyoung-suk, who took office as the new director of the Independence Hall of Korea earlier this month, has been accused by the liberal bloc and some descendants of Korean independence fighters during Japan's colonial rule (1910-1945), of being a supporter of the New Right political movement.
The Heritage of Korean Independence has called for Kim to step down, citing a video that surfaced online showing the Independence Hall director saying those who believe that Gwangbokjeol is “Aug. 15, 1945, do not clearly know history,” during a private lecture with a conservative group last year.
Gwangbokjeol -- literally "the day light was restored" -- is traditionally considered to mark Korea's independence from Japan and officially translated as Liberation Day.
Many New Right supporters claim that Korea’s true restoration began on Aug. 15, 1948, when South Korea's first President Syngman Rhee was inaugurated as the nation's first president. Critics claim this view undermines the independence fighters' work.
Kim's appointment has sparked a rumor in the political sphere that the Yoon administration's move was a step towards replacing the existing Liberation Day with a "National Foundation Day" on the same date.
The "Foundation Day" controversy has repeatedly emerged over the years, especially when politically conservative presidents took power. While supporters of the ideology behind "Foundation Day" have existed for decades, the argument became more mainstream after the Lee Myung-bak administration, in 2008, launched a committee presided by the prime minister dedicated to honoring "60 years of Korea's foundation" at the time, referring to the establishment of the Rhee administration, the first government to be formed under South Korea's constitution.
President Yoon has recently expressed frustration over the resurfaced controversy, according to an official at the presidential office.
"What good is this to the people who are struggling to make ends meet?" Yoon was quoted as recently telling his aides regarding the matter, an official at the presidential office who requested anonymity told reporters on Tuesday.
The main opposition Democratic Party and the HKI, a state-funded association of independence fighters and their descendants, have announced a boycott of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day ceremony hosted by the government unless Yoon retracts his appointment of Kim.
The ruling People Power Party is divided over the matter, with some treading cautiously while others have accused the main opposition of fueling the controversy behind "Foundation Day."
"The Democratic Party has summoned the old debate surrounding foundation day and is attempting to further divide the public," PPP Rep. Kang Seung-kyoo said.
koreaherald.com · by Jung Min-kyung · August 14, 2024
9. Can South Korea, Japan move beyond historical disputes?
The President and Prime Minister have put national security and national prosperity first while trying to manage the historical issues. Can the people and political party opposition in both countries follow their lead?
Can South Korea, Japan move beyond historical disputes?
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · August 14, 2024
Children run with pinwheels displaying the national flag, known as Taegeukgi, at Seodaemun Prison History Hall in western Seoul on Wednesday, a day before the 79th National Liberation Day. (Yonhap)
Seventy-nine years after Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule (1910-1945), the lingering scars of that turbulent history continue to cast a shadow over bilateral relations, complicating efforts to build future-oriented ties.
Although historical disputes between South Korea and Japan remain unresolved, recent efforts by the Yoon Suk Yeol and Fumio Kishida administrations aim to move beyond the past and work towards the future, despite ongoing public debate over these initiatives.
Opinions on Yoon's policies toward Japan are sharply divided in Korea. Some view them as part of a pragmatic and adaptable strategy in response to the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, while others argue they represent a unilateral concession that fails to tackle the underlying historical issues.
As Seoul and Tokyo approach the 60th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations next year, however, a crucial question remains: How can Korea address entrenched historical disputes in a way that sustainably resolves the issues but also lays the foundation for a better and shared future?
The Korea Herald, on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day, asked experts, historians and former diplomats in Seoul to explore the dynamics of South Korea-Japan relations and examined whether reconciling historical grievances could enable cooperation between the two countries in an era of economic uncertainty and security challenges, especially for Koreans still deeply affected by the scars of the dark past.
Addressing this challenge requires a thorough examination of the Yoon government's Japan policies, which prioritize improving relations through rational solutions that align mutual interests.
The disputes stem from Tokyo's steadfast position that all wartime issues were conclusively settled under the 1965 treaty that normalized bilateral relations, a stance rejected by South Korean courts, which have upheld the right of Korean victims to seek compensation for forced labor claims.
The Yoon administration has taken significant steps to mend strained relations with Japan, most notably by implementing a third-party reimbursement scheme in March 2023. The initiative compensates victims of Japan’s wartime forced labor using donations from Korean companies that had benefited from the funds provided by Japan under the 1965 treaty.
President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands during their meeting in Washington, D.C., on July 10, 2024, on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit. (Pool Photo via Newsis)
Pros
Experts who support Yoon's Japan policies cite external factors driving closer Korea-Japan cooperation, including escalating North Korean threats, supply chain disruptions exacerbated by COVID-19, the intensifying US-China rivalry and deteriorating Korea-China relations following the US THAAD deployment in Korea.
The Biden administration's focus on trilateral cooperation within its Indo-Pacific strategy has further emphasized Seoul's need to strengthen ties with Tokyo.
"Decisions on historical issues that may not achieve full consensus are pragmatic and highly calibrated choices in the current context," said Jo Yang-hyeon, head of the Center for Japanese Studies at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security.
Jo explained that the Yoon administration's focus on trilateral cooperation over historical issues is a strategic response to pressing international challenges, aimed at ensuring South Korea remains a central player in shaping the Indo-Pacific region's rules.
The approach seeks to change the foreign policy strategy of the previous Moon Jae-in administration, which was cautious about joining key regional initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue amid the years-long strained relations with Japan, among other reasons.
"Why was this sequence of priorities chosen? Does it mean that historical issues are less important? No, It’s largely a question of timing," Jo explained. "In today's rapidly shifting global landscape, missing this opportunity could once again sideline South Korea in crucial Indo-Pacific developments, as occurred during the previous administration."
Participants chant slogans at the weekly anti-Japan protest near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul’s Jongno District, marking International Memorial Day for Comfort Women on August 14. This date honors the 1991 testimony of the late Kim Hak-sun, the first former comfort woman to publicly reveal Japan's wartime military brothel system. (Yonhap)
Cons
Yang Kee-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University, criticized the Yoon government for entrenching the pattern of South Korea making concessions on historical disputes without securing public consensus.
Meanwhile, Japan continues to uphold a regressive historical narrative established during Shinzo Abe's second term as prime minister, which began in 2012 and has yet to fulfill its previous commitments to acknowledging historical truths.
"The historical and territorial disputes between South Korea and Japan are central to the principles of the South Korean Constitution, making it impossible for us to either abandon or compromise on these matters," Yang said.
Yang explained that the March First Independence Movement -- which began on March 1, 1919 -- against Imperial Japan, is more than a historical event; it is a cornerstone for South Korea, with its spirit enshrined in the Constitution and its legacy upheld by the Provisional Government it inspired.
"If we fail to stand firm on the principles of our Japan policy, rooted in the fundamental spirit of our Constitution, we risk repeatedly making significant concessions to Japan," Yang said.
"While acknowledging the reality that resolving the Korea-Japan historical conflicts in the short term is unlikely ... it is crucial to continue negotiations while upholding our core principles. To achieve this, we must develop plans that secure domestic consensus, ensuring a stable and sustainable process moving forward."
The National Assembly in Seoul hosts the “National Assembly-Civil Society 1000-Person Declaration” event on Wednesday, one day before the 79th Anniversary of Liberation. Participants, including Democratic Party Acting Chair and Floor Leader Rep. Park Chan-dae and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, chant slogans in solidarity. (Yonhap)
National consensus
Choi Eun-mi, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, commended the Yoon administration's efforts to "break the vicious cycle" in Korea-Japan relations, where historical disputes have long overshadowed other critical issues.
However, Choi noted, "The government could have done more to foster broader public consensus" in addressing historical disputes with Japan, particularly concerning the third-party reimbursement for victims of forced labor, given the high public interest in issues between Seoul and Tokyo.
Choi observed, "While the approach was undoubtedly pragmatic, opting for a feasible solution over an idealistic one, this practicality, though necessary, significantly neglected the emotional aspects of Korea-Japan relations, which are equally vital."
The Yoon government’s direct engagement with forced labor victims differed from previous administrations, resulting in 11 out of 15 victims receiving compensation through third-party reimbursement following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling. However, these efforts were not effectively communicated to the public, according to Choi.
While then-Foreign Minister Park Jin announced the reimbursement, a direct statement from Yoon would have reinforced the message.
In a March 2023 Gallup Korea poll, only 35 percent of Korean citizens expressed support for Yoon's proposal for third-party compensation, with around 60 percent opposed to it.
Flowers are laid upon the busts of the late victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II at the House of Sharing, a facility dedicated to such women, euphemistically called "comfort women," in Gwangju, 32 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday, one day ahead of the International Memorial Day for Comfort Women. (Yonhap)
Root causes
Observers underscored the importance of Seoul addressing the root causes of its historical disputes with Tokyo, rather than getting bogged down by the ongoing and inevitable disagreements over unresolved issues.
"The Korea-Japan relationship, which has broken free from a decade of stagnation, is now regarded as being on the road to recovery. Nevertheless, numerous unstable factors persist," said Shin Kak-soo, former Korean ambassador to Japan, who has also served as both first and second vice foreign minister in the then-Lee Myung-bak administration.
For example, Korean courts have been ruling on cases involving forced labor victims, and the depletion of the third-party reimbursement fund has raised concerns that this situation could strain bilateral ties.
"The most crucial task is to cultivate historical awareness among the Japanese public that the 35 years of colonial rule were fundamentally unjust," Shin said.
"This requires rigorous historical research to establish a clear and accurate understanding of the past, which should then be integrated into the education of future generations."
Shin highlighted how this crucial effort has been largely overlooked, as both Korea and Japan have become narrowly focused, mired in contentious historical disputes.
"To truly move forward, we must prioritize historical research and education, allowing historians the space to do their work," Shin said.
"Moreover, fostering exchanges that address the deep-seated misunderstandings and mistrust between the two countries is vital. This process of historical reconciliation must be undertaken with a long-term perspective, ensuring that it is both thorough and enduring."
Shin and Jeong Hye-gyeong, a lead researcher at the Peace Study Society on Forced Mobilization of Koreans by Imperial Japan, jointly emphasized the importance of reviving the "Korea-Japan Joint History Research Committee." The committee was established by both governments in 2001, and joint research was conducted on two occasions until 2009.
Shin also proposed the development of a shared history textbook for both countries' educational systems.
"The current strategic landscape necessitates that South Korea and Japan acknowledge their mutual need as strategic partners," Shin said.
"As we strive to meet these demands, it is equally vital for both countries to confront historical issues with honesty and transform them into lessons for the future. Though challenges are inevitable, I believe this approach is within reach."
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pay silent tribute to South Korean patriotic martyrs and war dead at the National Cemetery in Seoul on May 7, 2023. (Pool Photo via Korea Herald)
Accountability
Jeong criticized past and the current Yoon governments for "treating historical issues between Korea and Japan merely as diplomatic issues."
Japan mirrors this with its own inconsistency and lack of responsibility for historical issues.
"We must approach historical issues with a deep sense of responsibility and in a consistent and sustained manner, given the position of a victim country," Jeong said. "To that end, the first step is to reopen the commission dedicated to investigating Japan's forced mobilization of Korean laborers, which had previously been shut down. This is a must as a victim country."
The Commission on Verification and Support for Victims of Forced Mobilization, launched in 2004 under the Prime Minister's Office, encountered numerous challenges and was dissolved in 2015.
"To effectively address the ongoing historical disputes with Japan, it is imperative to establish an investigative body dedicated to systematically gathering and consolidating factual evidence and documentation. We can present Japan with truths, compelling them to acknowledge their wrongdoings and ultimately, accept responsibility," Jeong said.
Jeong explained that there are around 8,800 relics from Japanese wartime sites evidencing colonial rule, including the Japanese Army Arsenal in Bupyeong. These should be preserved for public benefit, possibly by inscribing them as a World Heritage site.
South Korea must also cultivate experts in Japanese colonial history, a field where Korean expertise is currently almost nonexistent.
"As historian Kang Deok-sang pointed out, the people of both Korea and Japan must bear the weight of this historical truth. Ignoring it will never allow us to address the historical issues between our countries, nor will it enable us to maintain a healthy relationship with Japan," Jeong said.
The statue of independence activist and poet Han Yong-un is cleaned at Manhae's Walking Park in Seongbuk-gu district, Seoul, on Wednesday. Han, also known by his pen name Manhae, was a revered poet, Buddhist monk, and independence activist who played a pivotal role in Korea's fight for liberation from Japanese colonial rule. (Yonhap)
Path to future
Yuji Hosaka, a professor of political science at Sejong University, reiterated: "I don't believe we can build a future-oriented relationship by completely covering up and distorting historical issues. Doing so would be a distortion, not a genuine path toward a future-oriented relationship."
Survey results from around 1,000 South Korean Koreans and Japanese, conducted from August to September last year by Seoul-based East Asia Institute and Japan's Genron NPO, revealed a nuanced picture.
Positive assessments of bilateral relations among Koreans increased from 4.9 percent in 2022 to 12.7 percent in 2023. In Japan, positive evaluations rose from 13.7 percent to 29 percent.
Despite these improvements, historical issues continue to weigh heavily on relations. Both Korean and Japanese respondents identified resolving historical disputes, addressing the Dokdo islets issue and improving historical perceptions and education as the top three conditions for strengthening ties.
Moreover, 22 percent of Koreans believe a reflection and apology from Japan for its colonial rule should be a top priority in any new joint declaration with Japan.
"As the 60th anniversary approaches, both countries are eager to mark this milestone with significant achievement. However, realizing the goal will remain elusive unless historical issues are addressed ... despite the inherent challenges," Choi said.
Choi elucidated that for the relationship between the two countries to be truly sustainable, it must be accompanied by a consistent and ongoing shift in action, particularly regarding historical issues, both from Seoul and Tokyo.
"This cannot be a one-time initiative," Choi asserted. "It demands a continuous and cumulative approach."
Choi underscored that a consistent stance on Japan policies is essential, regardless of whether the Democratic Party or the People Power Party is in power, and the same applies to Japan.
Lee Yong-soo, a 96-year-old survivor of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, lays flowers at the Statue of Peace at Daegu Girls' Commercial High School in Daegu on Wednesday to mark International Memorial Day for Comfort Women that falls on August 14. Some 200,000 Asian women, mostly Koreans, were forcibly sent to front-line brothels to work as sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women," for Japanese troops during World War II. (Yonhap)
Experts shared the view that sustainability in the trajectory of improving relations requires consistent policies from both sides.
Lee Ki-tae, director of the Global Strategy Research Division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated, "Political circles must make a concerted effort to avoid using Korea-Japan relations as a tool for domestic politics."
"It is also crucial to establish a consistent policy toward Japan that transcends political divisions between conservatives and progressives. This requires setting fundamental principles to guide our approach to Japan," Lee said.
The key principles for Korea-Japan relations could include mutual recognition of historical disputes alongside a commitment to future-oriented cooperation; reciprocity to guarantee mutual benefit and collaboration; inclusivity by respecting differing perspectives and values; and joint action to tackle shared challenges such as climate change, low birth rates, aging populations and regional security for future-oriented cooperation.
"Moreover, for the stable advancement of Korea-Japan relations, it is vital to continue establishing and institutionalizing cooperation mechanisms across multiple sectors," Lee said.
Lee underscored that just as it is vital to clearly communicate the benefits of unification to garner public consensus on unification matters, the same approach is essential for strengthening ties between Korea and Japan.
"The most critical task is to clearly articulate the tangible benefits of cooperation with Japan to the public, as building a national consensus hinges on this understanding," Lee said. "Achieving public consensus also requires upholding grand principles agreed upon by both conservative and liberal blocs, ensuring consistency in Japan policy regardless of changes in government."
koreaherald.com · by Ji Da-gyum · August 14, 2024
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10. North Korean defector becomes governor of home province
Congratulations Governor Ji.
North Korean defector becomes governor of home province
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · August 14, 2024
South Korea has governors of northern provinces, deemed its territory under Constitution
By Kim Arin
Published : Aug. 14, 2024 - 18:30
Ji Seong-ho, former South Korean lawmaker and defector from North Korea, is photographed sitting at his desk at North Hamgyong Province governor’s office in Jongno, central Seoul. (Courtesy of Ji)
North Korean defector Ji Seong-ho, who completed his term as a lawmaker with the ruling People Power Party in May, took office as the governor of his hometown North Hamgyong Province on Wednesday.
South Korea appoints heads of offices to govern areas north of the inter-Korean border. Their affairs are overseen by the Ministry of Interior and Safety’s Committee for the Five Northern Korean Provinces.
These largely symbolic roles are intended to keep in line with Article 3 of the Constitution which considers all of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands to be South Korean territory.
At the inauguration ceremony, Ji said he believes the Five Northern Korean Provinces Committee reflects the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s view of the future of the Korean Peninsula.
Citing Yoon’s remarks earlier this year, the former lawmaker said: “The president said, ‘We must now move toward a unified Korean Peninsula where all Koreans are free.’ He also said restoring the freedom and human rights of North Koreans is an ‘important foundation for achieving a unified and peaceful Korea.’”
Ji said that these remarks reaffirm the administration’s commitment to a South Korea-led reunification of the peninsula under a free democracy.
“To live up to this vision, support for North Korean escapees will be strengthened,” he said. “Government subsidies for helping North Korean defectors settle in South Korea will be expanded. Educational support will be extended to children of defectors in third countries.”
He said as governor, among his chief jobs was to prepare for the unification of the Koreas.
“Our Committee of the Five North Korean Provinces must be prepared to immediately continue and complete tasks in the event of unification taking place at any given moment,” he said.
“We are ready for a unified Korea, may the day come today or tomorrow.”
North Hamgyong Province is home to the largest number of North Korean defectors in South Korea, accounting for approximately 60 percent of them, according to Ji.
“About 30 years ago, I was among the poorest children in North Korea,” the governor said. “Today South Korea made me the governor of North Hamgyong Province, where my family lived in abject poverty for three generations.”
Ji defected to South Korea in July 2006, about a decade after he fell off a freight train trying to steal a lump of coal to trade for food and had his arm and leg amputated as a result of the injury from the accident.
He was elected a member of the National Assembly in 2020 through the proportional representation system.
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · August 14, 2024
11. President Yoon: “Liberation is incomplete as long as division persists”
Unfortunately the Kim family regime (and the north Korean constitution and the Workers Party of Korea charter argues that the Korean revolution is not complete until all of Korea is liberated from foreign influence.
Liberation versus revolution.
Thisisi a Google translation of an RFA report.
President Yoon: “Liberation is incomplete as long as division persists”
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/081524hw1-08142024215408.html
Seoul - Hong Seung-wook hongs@rfa.org
2024.08.14
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife Kim Kun-hee watch a performance at the 79th Liberation Day celebration held at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th.
Yonhap News
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol said on the 15th , “ As long as the division system continues, our liberation cannot but be incomplete . ”
President Yoon said this at the 79th Liberation Day celebration ceremony held on this day, “ Only when a free, democratic, unified nation in which the people are the masters of the entire Korean Peninsula is established will complete liberation be realized . ”
He continued, “ Since the loss of our sovereignty, the Korean people have written a truly great history, ” and emphasized, “ The fundamental value that runs through this great journey is freedom , and our liberation is the fruit of the struggle for freedom . ”
12. Former Pres. Park commemorates 50th anniversary of her mother’s death
It was on this date in 1974 that a young President Park had to assume the role of First Lady and her path to becoming President began.
Despite the controversy over her time as President and her impeachment and incarceration, people should remember that she lived her life from 1974 forward in service to the ROK. She sacrificed a family life (she never married).
And we should also remember that it was on Liberation Day in 1974 that a north Korean assassin tried to kill the President but instead killed the First Lady, Park Geun-hye's mother. This was just two years after secret north-South negotiations led to a public joint statement issued in July 1972 that announced agreement on a formula for national reunification. This is the nature of the Kim family regime - then as it is today. We should keep this in mind.
Former Pres. Park commemorates 50th anniversary of her mother’s death
donga.com
Posted August. 15, 2024 08:14,
Updated August. 15, 2024 08:14
Former Pres. Park commemorates 50th anniversary of her mother’s death. August. 15, 2024 08:14. by 조권형 기자 buzz@donga.com.
Former President Park Geun-hye visited her late mother Yuk Young-soo’s birthplace in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Wednesday, a day before the 50th anniversary of her mother’s death. This was Park’s first visit in 12 years, having last visited the site before the 2012 general elections as chairman of the Saenuri Party's emergency measure committee.
During her visit, Park was accompanied by close associates, including Rep. Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party and Park Deok-heum, whose constituency includes Okcheon. She toured the birthplace, looked at photographs, and engaged in conversation with visitors. When local residents came to greet her, Park wished them well and advised them to stay healthy in the intense summer heat.
Rep. Yoo noted in a phone call that Park visited the birthplace to mark the 50th anniversary of her mother’s death, reflecting on old memories as she looked at photos of her mother. On August 15, 2023, Park had previously visited the birthplace of her father, the late President Park Chung-hee, in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province.
On August 15 each year, the Yuk Young-soo Memorial Project holds a memorial service at the National Cemetery in Seoul, where the deceased is buried. The former First Lady was killed on August 15, 1974, by a bullet fired by North Korean agent Moon Se-kwang during a Liberation Day ceremony at the National Theatre in Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
한국어
donga.com
13. Int'l tourism to N. Korea's Samjiyon to resume in Dec.: tour agency
Int'l tourism to N. Korea's Samjiyon to resume in Dec.: tour agency | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · August 14, 2024
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- International tourism to Samjiyon and likely the rest of North Korea will resume in December after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Beijing-based tour agency said Wednesday.
Koryo Tours, which specializes in North Korea tours, said on its website it received confirmation of the plan from its "local partner."
"Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again," the agency said.
Samjiyon, a northern city near Mount Paektu, is a tourist spot that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited last month to discuss major development projects there.
North Korea partially reopened its borders last year to accept several groups of Russian tourists.
Observers have said the country appears to be developing its tourism industry in a bid to earn much-needed foreign currency amid international sanctions.
A screenshot of the website of Koryo Tours (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Haye-ah · August 14, 2024
14. South Korea’s Yoon Offers Rare Olive Branch to Kim Jong Un
It is fascinating to see how the American and international media interprets President Yoon's speech. The focus: "An olive branch and talks and cooperation with the north."
Yes, the President is offering Kim an opportunity to change. But he is also showing the way toward change in north Korea by the Korean people in the north if Kim does not change. This is overlooked or at least underemphasized.
South Korea’s Yoon Offers Rare Olive Branch to Kim Jong Un
By Soo-Hyang Choi
August 14, 2024 at 10:46 PM EDT
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offered aid, dialogue and a path to unification to North Korea, making new approaches to the neighbor that has berated him with insults and threatened to annihilate his government in Seoul.
In a speech Thursday to mark end of Japanese colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula in 1945, Yoon called unification an “unfinished task,” which he aims to pursue on a freedom-based path.
“Only by firmly defending our freedom can we become the leading force driving free and democratic unification,” Yoon said. He also pledged to raise awareness about human rights abuses in North Korea, which has bristled for years at criticism of its rights record.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un started the year with a strident tone by eliminating the concept of peaceful unification from his state’s national policy and abolishing laws for economic cooperation with South Korea, driving a wedge deeper between the neighbors.
Read more: Kim Jong Un Says He Has Lawful Right to Destroy South Korea
This has led to some speculation that Kim has turned the corner on his bellicose outbursts and is readying for battle.
But Yoon reiterated he could offer rewards for moves to roll back Kim’s atomic ambitions, saying “we will begin political and economic cooperation the moment North Korea takes just one step toward denuclearization.”
He also proposed setting up a so-called Inter-Korean Working Group that could take up issues ranging from relieving tensions to economic cooperation.
Kim this month ratcheted up friction by displaying hundreds of new mobile missile launchers to deploy at the border that can deliver conventional or nuclear strikes on South Korea and US bases in the country.
Read more: North Korea Deploys Hundreds of New Missile Launchers at Border
North Korea has shown no signs of being ready to talk. Kim has strengthened his hand by providing munitions to Russia in exchange for aid propping up his economy, the US and South Korea have said.
In this photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Vladimir Putin, left, and Kim Jong Un shake hands after a welcoming ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on June 19.Photographer: Gavriil Grigorov/AFP/Getty Images
Kim’s regime this month turned down an offer for humanitarian assistance from Seoul after North Korea was hit by heavy floods from late July, saying enemies are enemies.
“Even though the North Korean regime rejected our offer yet again, we will never stop making offers of humanitarian aid,” Yoon said.
Bringing the two Koreas together, either through the collapse of the Kim regime or a peaceful reconciliation comes with enormous costs as well as opportunities for South Korea.
Its population of 52 million, which is aging and dwindling, could get a jolt by absorbing North Korea’s 26 million people. This would allow South Korean companies to benefit from low-cost workers and open new avenues for commerce, according to analysis by Bloomberg Economics.
But, the budget office for South Korea’s parliament said in a 2015 report that Seoul would need to spend 4.8 quadrillion won ($3.45 trillion) over 50 years to boost the North’s income level to 66% of the average income of the South.
The Aug. 15 anniversary for the end of Japanese rule with its World War II surrender is one of the few days marked in North and South Korea. They have both offered criticism of prominent Japanese politicians on the day visiting Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class-A war criminals are honored alongside other war dead.
Three members of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet — Economic Security minister Sanae Takaichi, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Economic Revitalization Minister Yoshitaka Shindo — visited Yasukuni on Thursday, Kyodo News reported.
The shrine is seen by many across Asia as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism. South Korea expressed disappointment over the officials’ visit, its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
15. Yoon's new unification vision pushes for change within N. Korea: experts
Change within north Korea. Either Kim changes or the people will change him. This is the key point. Transformation. Regime transformation. New emerging leadership that will seek peaceful unification. How to do that? Some proposed actions:
• Human rights upfront – not only a moral imperative but a national security issue because Kim must deny human rights to remain in power– must be part of all negotiations.
1. Kim fears the Korean people more than the ROK/US combined military. Required for any kind of north-South or north-US engagement.
2. No normalization possible without an end to human rights abuses.
3. There must be no discussion of nK nuclear capabilities without a corresponding discussion of human rights – the Korean people must know they suffer because of the deliberate policy decision to prioritize nuclear weapons over their welfare.
• Public Diplomacy/Information campaign – focus on the three target audiences: regime elite, 2d tier leadership, and the Korean people in the north.
1. The five principles of information: (1) massive quantities of information from news to entertainment; (2) practical information from market activity to organization for collective action; (3) facts and the truth about north Korea and the outside world; (4) understanding of the universal human rights for all people; (5) voices from north Korea
2. Major theme: Kim’s strategy has failed to achieve his objectives.
3. To counter nK propaganda we must recognize the Kim family regime’s strategy(s), understand the strategy(s), EXPOSE the strategy(s) to inoculate the Korean and American publics and the international community, and attack the strategy(s) with a superior form of political warfare (led by information).
• Going forward there are seven key tasks:
1. There must be recognition of decades of failed diplomacy to achieve denuclearization and to bring peace, prosperity, and stability to the entire Korean peninsula.
2. Policymakers, strategists, and civil society activists must begin with a realistic understanding of the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.
3. Koreans themselves must solve the Korea question (Paragraph 60 of the Armistice - the unnatural division of the peninsula). No other country can lead the effort. However, the U.S. and the international community can and must support the Korean people.
4. Koreans must seek self-determination of government as the solution to the Korea question, in accordance with Article 21 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
5. Change cannot occur until there is an internal transformation in the north. Kim Jong Un must either change his behavior, or the Korean people in the North must change Kim Jong Un.
6. Internal transformation will result from a human-rights-up-front approach and a public diplomacy/information campaign to support action by North Koreans.
7. Internal transformation in the North is the only peaceful path to a free and unified Korea. A free and unified Korea will be a new Korea returning to its historical foundation with modern characteristics.
(News Focus) Yoon's new unification vision pushes for change within N. Korea: experts | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 15, 2024
By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol's newly unveiled vision for unification with North Korea highlights a push to bring about change within North Korea, experts said Thursday, amid increasingly strained ties between the two Koreas.
Yoon unveiled the initiative in his Liberation Day address in an update to the government's 1994 vision that had sought unification by reconciling and cooperating with the North and respecting the country's political system.
In the new vision, Yoon laid out three key tasks: defending freedom in South Korea, bringing about changes in North Korea through human rights improvements and outside information, and strengthening cooperation with the international community.
"If more North Koreans come to recognize that unification through freedom is the only way to improve their lives and are convinced that a unified Republic of Korea will embrace them, they will become strong, friendly forces for a freedom-based unification," he said.
He also proposed an official dialogue platform with Pyongyang that could take up any issue, from reducing tensions to economic cooperation, as part of the vision dubbed the "Aug. 15 unification doctrine."
"Instead of simply hoping for the North Korean regime's goodwill, we now need an action plan to preemptively act upon and lead," Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said in a briefing.
President Yoon Suk Yeol addresses the nation in a ceremony marking Liberation Day at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul on Aug. 15, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Yoo Seong-ok, board chairman of the Institute for National Security Strategy, described the vision as setting the target for unification as the North Korean people rather than simply the country's leadership.
"While North Korea's regime appears to reject freedom, the North Korean people want freedom," Yoo said.
Other experts, however, warned against such a push that could be seen by the North as "unification by absorption," noting that it would only encourage Pyongyang to increase hostilities against Seoul.
"The more our government emphasizes unification by absorption, the more North Korea will strengthen the 'two countries system,'" Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said.
He said such efforts would likely push the North to speed up efforts for a hereditary leadership succession system and tighten its grip over the public, worsening the lives of ordinary North Koreans.
Cross-border ties have recently fallen to one of the lowest points in years amid North Korea's continued weapons development push and increasingly hostile rhetoric against the South.
Late last December, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un defined inter-Korean ties as those between "two states hostile to each other," saying that he would no longer consider South Korea as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification.
The next month, Kim called for revising the constitution to define South Korea as its "invariable principal enemy" and to codify the commitment to "completely occupying" the South Korean territory in the event of war.
The North has also pressed ahead with weapons tests, launching 48 missiles this year alone, and has staged a trash-carrying balloon campaign since late May in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by activists in the South.
South Korea has hit back against the balloon launches, resuming broadcasts of anti-Pyongyang propaganda through its border loudspeakers in June for the first time since 2018.
Considering the strained ties, Yoon's proposal for dialogue is unlikely to be accepted by the North, experts said.
"It is difficult to expect North Korea's response, but it demonstrates a resolve to manage inter-Korean relations," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University.
Other experts, however, remained skeptical over the initiative.
"(The vision) is filled with content that rejects the North Korean regime. Why would North Korea respond for a working-level dialogue platform?" questioned former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun. "The Aug. 15 unification doctrine will not help much in improving inter-Korean ties or reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
While the two Koreas had maintained regular communication through their military and liaison office hotlines, the North has remained unresponsive to the calls since April last year.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) is seen in this undated file image captured from the North's official Korean Central TV on Dec. 29, 2023. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · August 15, 2024
16. Full text of Yoon's Liberation Day speech
So many key points from the President's speech.
Excerpts:
The March First Independence Movement confirmed our shared aspiration to build a free nation rightfully owned by the people.
With this yearning as a catalyst, we founded the Provisional Republic of Korea Government in Shanghai and carried out various independence movements at home and abroad. On the home front, we worked tirelessly to gain power through education and culture. On foreign soil, we never ceased efforts to regain our independence through diplomacy and armed resistance. Even after liberation in 1945, our struggle for freedom continued.
In 1948, we enacted a free and democratic constitution and established the government of the Republic of Korea on this land.
The constitutional spirit of freedom, democracy and a market economy which has been upheld since the enactment of the Constitution, has served as a foundation for the abundance and prosperity we now relish.
...
Lying ahead is a crucial historic challenge that must be addressed: unification.
In 1919, we, the people of Korea, began the struggle to build a free and democratic country which truly belongs to us on our Peninsula. The fall of Imperial Japan in 1945 brought us liberation, but as long as the state of division persists, our liberation will remain incomplete.
The freedom we enjoy must be extended to the frozen kingdom of the North, where people are deprived of freedom and suffer from poverty and starvation.
...
Freedom must be secured through struggle; it never comes about as a matter of course.
The government and I will do everything possible to defend the value of freedom in our society.
...
Finally, we need to stand in solidarity with the international community.
Just as our division was the result of international politics, it will be difficult to achieve unification on our own.
Our unification is a significant undertaking to spread the universal values of freedom and human rights and has a direct bearing on world peace and the prosperity of humanity.
We must make sure that the international community is convinced that a unified Republic of Korea will be a country that contributes to peace and prosperity around the world.
We must contribute to the international community responsibly and cooperate with it as we push ahead with unification policies.
Full text of Yoon's Liberation Day speech | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · August 15, 2024
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of a speech given by President Yoon Suk-yeol to mark the 79th Liberation Day on Thursday.
Address by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Korea's 79th Liberation Day
My fellow citizens, our 7 million compatriots overseas and our 26 million North Korean brethren,
Today, we mark the 79th Liberation Day.
We pay tribute to our fallen forebears and patriots who dedicated their lives to our country's independence and express our deepest gratitude to their bereaved families.
From the day our sovereignty was wrested away from us up to the present, our people have written truly great chapters in history.
And the fundamental value that runs through this great journey is freedom. The fruit of our struggle for freedom was our liberation.
Even in the bleakest of times, when our sovereignty was lost, our people did not give up.
The March First Independence Movement confirmed our shared aspiration to build a free nation rightfully owned by the people.
With this yearning as a catalyst, we founded the Provisional Republic of Korea Government in Shanghai and carried out various independence movements at home and abroad. On the home front, we worked tirelessly to gain power through education and culture. On foreign soil, we never ceased efforts to regain our independence through diplomacy and armed resistance. Even after liberation in 1945, our struggle for freedom continued.
In 1948, we enacted a free and democratic constitution and established the government of the Republic of Korea on this land.
The constitutional spirit of freedom, democracy and a market economy which has been upheld since the enactment of the Constitution, has served as a foundation for the abundance and prosperity we now relish.
When the Korean War broke out with North Korea's invasion of the South, we fought and spilled blood, alongside liberal democracies, in defense of freedom.
Our collective hard work to safeguard and advance the value of freedom resulted in our achievement of industrialization, the Miracle on the Han River and democratization.
Now, beyond having accomplished remarkable economic growth, the Republic of Korea has emerged as a global pivotal state and a global cultural powerhouse.
Nothing could stop our vigorous strides toward freedom, be it the imperialists' plundering of our sovereignty, the division of our nation, or war.
However, complete liberation remains an unfinished task for us.
Lying ahead is a crucial historic challenge that must be addressed: unification.
In 1919, we, the people of Korea, began the struggle to build a free and democratic country which truly belongs to us on our Peninsula. The fall of Imperial Japan in 1945 brought us liberation, but as long as the state of division persists, our liberation will remain incomplete.
The freedom we enjoy must be extended to the frozen kingdom of the North, where people are deprived of freedom and suffer from poverty and starvation.
Only when a unified free and democratic nation rightfully owned by the people is established across the entire Korean Peninsula will we finally have complete liberation.
Today – in line with my presidential responsibility to seek peaceful unification based on freedom and democracy as mandated in the Constitution – I declare our unification vision and strategy to our citizens, the people of North Korea and the international community.
My fellow Koreans,
The future of the unified Republic of Korea that we envision is clear.
A country full of happiness where people's freedom and safety are guaranteed; a strong and prosperous country soaring through creativity and innovation; a country that contributes to global peace and prosperity while spearheading international harmony and development – this is the future of a unified Republic of Korea.
Today, I would like to spell out our tasks for moving toward a unified Republic of Korea.
We have three key undertakings: First, we have to ensure that our people firmly possess the values and capabilities needed to pursue freedom-based unification; second, we need to change the minds of the North Korean people to make them ardently desire a freedom-based unification; and third, we have to stand in solidarity with the international community.
More than anything else, we ourselves need to believe more strongly in the value of freedom.
Only by firmly defending our freedom can we become the leading force driving free and democratic unification.
For all of us to live as free individuals and coexist in freedom, the prerequisites are a sense of responsibility, consideration for others, order and norms.
A self-indulgent and irresponsible disregard for order and norms must not be confused with freedom.
Even more importantly, we must not be swayed by false propaganda and pseudo-logic intended to undermine free societies.
False propaganda based on so-called "fake news" and pseudo-logic are terrifying lethal weapons that are being used to disrupt free societies.
Generating fake news has now become a large-scale industry.
Pseudo-intellectuals package and circulate fake news as a commodity and became vested interest groups themselves. These pseudo-intellectuals and demagogues have failed to present the proper values and vision to which we should truly aspire.
They simply cannot.
Their strategy is to destroy the values and order of a free society by deluding people; they resort to this strategy because their false propaganda would fail to work as intended if their real goals were exposed.
They are only bent on dividing people through instigation and fabrication and reaping rewards from the division they sow.
They are the anti-freedom, anti-unification forces that are blocking our march forward.
As the knowledge industry grows exponentially through advances in the digital and cyber industry, dark forces of instigation are attempting to exploit it. In order to safeguard our freedom-based value system against these forces, our people must be armed with the power of truth and fight back.
Freedom must be secured through struggle; it never comes about as a matter of course.
The government and I will do everything possible to defend the value of freedom in our society.
We will do all we can to ensure that businesses can perform at their fullest potential under private sector-led market principles and create many quality jobs – so that our people can enjoy more employment opportunities and chances to engage in economic activities.
We will further accelerate the education, labor, pension and healthcare reforms needed to make our society fairer and more sound.
We will expand welfare programs that are tailored to provide intensive support to those in need and attend to their lives more compassionately, thereby protecting and expanding freedom for all of our people.
In this way, we will ensure that the value of freedom grows deeper roots within our society and that our people are protected from false instigation spread by dark forces.
Only when our people are strongly armed with the value of freedom and a sense of responsibility can we take the lead in pushing for a freedom-based unification of the Korean Peninsula.
Notably, we will provide a forward-looking "cutting-edge, on-site education program on unification" so that our young people and future generations can anticipate and dream of such a freedom-based unification.
We will make it possible for them to experience in advance the opportunities and changes to be brought about by unification – within a virtual space.
Second, we must undertake the task of bringing about changes and helping the people of North Korea with deep compassion so that they have a strong desire for unification based on freedom.
We must be more proactive when expanding the value of freedom to the North and induce substantive changes. Above all, we will take a multifaceted approach to substantially improve human rights in North Korea.
We must accurately inform our own citizens and the international community of the truth about the tragic human rights situation in North Korea.
That is why our government published an annual "Report on North Korean Human Rights" for the first time since I took office.
Going forward, we will go into greater detail and share the report more widely with the world.
In cooperation with NGOs at home and abroad, friendly countries and international organizations, we will make North Korea's human rights abuses more widely known and continue to urge relevant improvements.
We will push for an International Conference on North Korea's Human Rights and expand the discourse on North Korean human rights in all directions.
We will establish a North Korea Freedom and Human Rights Fund to actively support nongovernmental activities that promote freedom and human rights there.
We will also continue to provide humanitarian aid to help guarantee North Koreans' right to life.
On August 1, we offered relief supplies for flood victims in North Korea, making clear that our government has no intention of turning a blind eye to the North Korean people's suffering.
Even though the North Korean regime rejected our offer yet again, we will never stop making offers of humanitarian aid.
We will actively push humanitarian aid, including food and healthcare, for vulnerable segments of North Korea's population, including infants, women, the elderly and people with disabilities.
It is also important to help awaken the people of North Korea to the value of freedom.
Testimonials from numerous North Korean defectors show that our radio and TV broadcasts helped make them aware of the false propaganda and instigations emanating from the North Korean regime.
If more North Koreans come to recognize that unification through freedom is the only way to improve their lives and are convinced that a unified Republic of Korea will embrace them, they will become strong, friendly forces for a freedom-based unification. In particular, we need to instill in North Korea's future generations the dream and hope of a unification through freedom.
We will expand the "right of access to information" so that North Koreans will be able to use various channels to secure a variety of outside information.
It is also important to warmly embrace the North Korean defectors; they can be likened to "the first buds of unification."
The government held an inaugural ceremony on July 14 after designating it as North Korean Defectors' Day.
This demonstrated the government's unwavering commitment to protecting and supporting North Korean defectors.
The government will make sure that North Korean defectors are properly protected and invited to play a role in enhancing our ability to achieve unification.
North Korean defectors have experienced life in both Koreas. We will actively reflect their know-how and knowledge when establishing and implementing unification policies. We will ensure that they will serve as valuable assets in ushering in the future of a unified Republic of Korea.
In tandem with these efforts, we will keep the door to inter-Korean dialogue wide open.
Inter-Korean dialogue should not be merely a political spectacle but rather serve as a substantive opportunity to discuss, for instance, a guarantee of peace for our people and North Korea's and ways to improve their lives.
Today, I propose that authorities from both Koreas establish "Inter-Korean Working Group."
This body could take up any issue ranging from relieving tensions to economic cooperation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and disaster and climate-change responses.
We will also be able to discuss pending humanitarian issues such as separated familes and South Korean prisoners of war, abductees and detainees still kept in the North.
As clarified in the "Audacious Initiative" that I unveiled on Liberation Day two years ago, we will begin political and economic cooperation the moment North Korea takes just one step toward denuclearization.
Dialogue and cooperation can bring about substantive progress in inter-Korean relations. I urge North Korean authorities to respond to our proposal.
Finally, we need to stand in solidarity with the international community.
Just as our division was the result of international politics, it will be difficult to achieve unification on our own.
Our unification is a significant undertaking to spread the universal values of freedom and human rights and has a direct bearing on world peace and the prosperity of humanity.
We must make sure that the international community is convinced that a unified Republic of Korea will be a country that contributes to peace and prosperity around the world.
We must contribute to the international community responsibly and cooperate with it as we push ahead with unification policies.
In my keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly last year, I announced that Korea will play a leading role in and contribute to narrowing the development, climate and digital divides that exist between countries.
Since my inauguration, we have boldly increased our Official Development Assistance budget by more than twofold.
Korea has been at the forefront of discussing international norms on climate change issues, having taken the initiative in launching the Carbon-Free Alliance. We are also taking the lead in establishing new digital norms within the international community, for instance, by cohosting the AI Seoul Summit.
By building upon these contributions and roles, we will work harder to garner the international community's support for freedom-based unification. To this end, we will create the International Korean Peninsula Forum together with like-minded countries.
We will strive to build a consensus on our unification while strengthening the solidarity of freedom with our ally and friendly countries.
My fellow Koreans and North Korean brethren!
In a unified Republic of Korea, we will enjoy more freedom and a greater range of opportunities. Furthermore, achieving this will bestow a blessing upon the whole of humanity.
The government and I will make 2024 the first year of advancing toward a "free, peaceful and prosperous unified Republic of Korea."
My fellow Koreans,
The Republic of Korea's journey of taking on challenges and gaining achievements has established a shining record in modern human history and has resonated widely.
In its August 1 report "The Middle-Income Trap," the World Bank referred to the Republic of Korea as a "growth superstar" and it noted that the history of our growth is "required reading for policymakers in any middle-income country."
This report mentioned Korea as many as 100 times and introduced in detail the secrets of our success: "investment, technology infusion and innovation."
Last year, Korea's per capita income surpassed Japan's for the first time and is expected to reach US$40,000 by 2026.
In the first half of this year, the export gap between Korea and Japan hit a historic low of US$3.5 billion.
As confirmed by Korea's outstanding achievement of placing eighth in the Paris 2024 Olympics medal count, our young people are not afraid to take on challenges and are energetically moving forward toward the future.
Countries around the world are trying to follow in the footsteps of the Republic of Korea. However, we cannot afford to be content with this.
We must become stronger in order to move toward a unified Republic of Korea.
We must achieve greater historical progress by facing up to the internal and external challenges that threaten our freedom.
My fellow Koreans,
Let us continue marching onward!
Let us join hands and vigorously advance toward a greater Republic of Korea, a unified Republic of Korea!
Thank you.
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · August 15, 2024
17. US expresses frustration that North Korea is blocking efforts to recover remains of American casualties from Korean War
Returning remains was one of the north's promises in the Singapore statement in 2018. But these remains are "hostages" being held by the regime.
US expresses frustration that North Korea is blocking efforts to recover remains of American casualties from Korean War | CNN Politics
CNN · by Haley Britzky · August 14, 2024
Crew and officials from the United Nations Command and U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) secure UNC flags over transit cases of remains thought to be of U.S. soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, before returning them to the United States for further processing and identification, in Wonsan, North Korea, July 27, 2018.
US Forces Korea/Reuters/File
CNN —
The US expressed frustration Wednesday that North Korea is continuing to refuse to allow teams into the reclusive country to recover the remains of American casualties from the Korean War.
“The United States government reaches out often to North Korea on any number of issues, one of which is this particular mission. There has been no response at all, at all levels of the United States government, in their communications with North Korea … We are at the mercy of geopolitics,” the director of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Kelly McKeague, said Wednesday.
Of the estimated 7,500 US service members still missing from the Korean War, 5,300 are believed to be in North Korea, McKeague said. Roughly 37,000 Americans were killed during the war and 8,000 were missing, according to the Pentagon. The war lasted from June 1950 to July 1953, when the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
According to the DPAA’s website, there are more than 81,500 Americans total still missing from the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Cold War, World War II, and other conflicts.
McKeague spoke with reporters Wednesday ahead of annual briefings with more than 400 family members of those lost in the Korean War and Cold War, to “provide them updates on their loved ones.”
McKeague told reporters that North Korea has not responded to outreach by the US government since March 2019, roughly a year after it turned over 55 boxes of remains of US troops in July 2018. The rare move was a commitment resulting from a meeting between then-President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in Singapore. The DPAA is continuing to work through identification of remains it has received from North Korea, though McKeague acknowledged that it is far from providing answers to all the families whose loved one may still be there.
“Will the majority of the families continue to be disappointed? Absolutely, but again, until the geopolitical situation changes, or North Korea realizes that this is a tool of diplomacy and a humanitarian effort that other countries cooperate on, it remains to be seen,” he said.
McKeague added that North Korea’s refusal to cooperate stands in stark contrast to China, who since January has continued working with the US to recover remains in the country.
“It’s remarkable that we have a DPAA team in China today, despite the bilateral tensions, working to look for answers for World War II families, as well as Korean War families, whose loved ones are missing from those wars that are in China,” McKeague said.
The DPAA’s mission in January this year was the first team the agency has been allowed in China since the Covid-19 pandemic began. McKeague said that since then, DPAA has done two surveys of World War II sites in the Hunan and Guangxi provinces, which were followed “by an archival exchange that occurred in May.” Because of the success of those efforts, McKeague said a team is currently in China at an excavation site in Hunan, which will be followed up by another survey of four sites for four Air Force losses from the Korean War.
China’s cooperation, he said, will “likely provide” answers to families “that they’ve been lacking.”
CNN · by Haley Britzky · August 14, 2024
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
| 
