Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

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1. Next U.S. president needs radical reset on North Korea policy

2. US help isn’t enough: South Korea wants its own nuclear weapons

3. North Korea Explained: What Americans Need to Know

4. Hezbollah relies on 'sophisticated' tunnel system backed by Iran, North Korea in fight against Israel

5. Kim Jong Un Might Have To Change North Korea's Strategy Amid Trump And Harris' Election Race After Biden Dropped Out — Leader's Sister To Speak Out?

6. Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) Ms. Cara Abercrombie Travels to the Republic of Korea

7. Swedish diplomats set for imminent return to North Korea: Sources

8. Experts: North Korea's 12-axis ICBM launcher photo is just for show

9. International Watch Group: “North Korea Has Been Producing Cluster Bombs, Inhumane Weapons of Destruction, for 15 Years”

10. N. Korean military distributes assessment criteria before summer drills conclude

11. Pentagon stresses security cooperation with allies after N.K. unveils new mobile launcher

12. Japan warns of ‘new era of crisis,’ asks for record defense budget

13. N. Korea's leader vows push for exponential increase in nuclear weapons

14. U.S. diplomat hints at exploring more scenarios of N. Korean nuclear threats at EDSCG sessions

15. Military says timer devices on N. Korean trash balloons could lead to fires

16. Joint Statement of the 15th Republic of Korea-United States-Japan Defense Trilateral Talks

17. The importance of tangible realization (Korean military experience)

18. North Korean weapons extending Russian stockpiles, German general says

1. Next U.S. president needs radical reset on North Korea policy

My latest essay on north Korea. I think I am one of the very few who is recommending making support to the ROK 8.15 Unification Doctrine a key part of US policy toward north Korea (along with a human rights upfront approach and a sophisticated information campaign).

Voices Sept. 9, 2024 / 12:16 PM

Next U.S. president needs radical reset on North Korea policy

By David Maxwell

upi.com

Messages of peace written by vistors 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

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The next U.S. president must adopt a radical new North Korea policy centered on a human rights up front approach and the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. This shift would not only address the chronic failure of past policies to denuclearize North Korea but also align with U.S. national security interests, support the Korean people, and advance human rights globally. The Republic of Korea's new 8.15 Unification Doctrine provides an opportunity for the ROK-U.S. alliance to seek an acceptable, durable political arrangement that will sustain, protect, and advance mutual national security interests, leading ultimately to a United Republic of Korea (UROK).

The failure of current North Korea policy

For four decades, U.S. policy toward North Korea has oscillated between minor pressure, engagement, and broken agreements, all while North Korea has continued to advance its nuclear and missile programs. Despite repeated attempts at diplomatic engagement, the Kim regime has shown no willingness to relinquish its nuclear weapons. Scholars and policymakers largely agree that denuclearization will not occur under Kim Jong-un's leadership, as his regime views nuclear capability as essential to its survival.

The missing element in all previous North Korea policies has been a genuine emphasis on human rights. While military deterrence and sanctions have been the cornerstone of U.S. strategy, the human rights crisis in North Korea has been largely overlooked. The Kim family regime's systematic abuse of its people not only sustains its rule but also underpins its military ambitions. Thus, a focus on human rights, alongside a strategic pursuit of Korean unification, could provide the leverage needed to alter the regime's behavior and promote long-term peace on the peninsula.

A human rights up front approach

The next U.S. president must prioritize a human rights-centered policy toward North Korea. Kim Jong-un's regime maintains power through brutal repression, denying North Koreans their fundamental rights and freedoms. This repression is not merely a moral issue but a key component of North Korea's ability to maintain control, diverting resources from its people to its nuclear and military programs. Addressing the human rights crisis in North Korea is critical to any strategy aimed at regime transformation. The United States must support the Korean people in the North by helping them understand and demand their universal rights, including the right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

The United States can achieve this through a public diplomacy and information campaign that disseminates information about human rights abuses and offers a vision for a better future for the North Korean people. This would involve cooperation with North Korean escapees, as well as citizens and elites within North Korea, to provide up-to-date information on the realities of life under the Kim regime and to foster resistance from within. By empowering North Koreans with knowledge and hope, the United States can sow the seeds of internal change that could lead to the eventual transformation of the regime.

Why unification is key

North Korea's human rights abuses and its nuclear ambitions are two sides of the same coin. A regime that respects its people's rights is less likely to pose a threat to its neighbors or the international community. The path to denuclearization is intertwined with the path to unification. A unified Korea, free from the tyrannical rule of the Kim regime, would be a peaceful, democratic state aligned with international norms, significantly reducing the threat to U.S. and regional security.

President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea has already laid the groundwork for such a future with his 8.15 Unification Doctrine, which emphasizes freedom, democracy, peace, and human rights. However, U.S. support for this vision has been tepid at best, with past administrations paying lip service to the idea of unification without taking concrete steps to make it a reality. The next U.S. president must change this by actively supporting South Korea's and the Korean people's unification efforts, not just for the sake of the Korean people, but for the broader goal of regional stability and security.

Strategic benefits for the United States

Supporting a free and unified Korea would serve U.S. national security interests in three critical ways. First, it would create internal pressure on Kim Jong-un's regime, forcing him to choose between meaningful concessions or facing potential regime collapse. Second, it would incentivize the North Korean people to push for regime change, thereby creating a more favorable environment for negotiations on denuclearization. Third, it would position the U.S.-ROK alliance to better handle potential contingencies, such as war or regime collapse, by fostering goodwill among the North Korean population and reducing the risk of insurgencies in a post-Kim North Korea.

A unified Korea would also drastically alter the security landscape in Northeast Asia. A Korea united under democratic principles would be a stabilizing force in the region, reducing the likelihood of conflict and curbing China's influence. Additionally, it would eliminate the North Korean nuclear threat, which has long been a source of instability and tension between the United States, China, and other regional powers.

The moral imperative

Beyond strategic and security considerations, supporting a free and unified Korea is a moral imperative. The North Korean people have suffered under one of the most oppressive regimes in modern history, subjected to mass starvation, forced labor, and state-sponsored violence. The United States, as a leader in promoting democracy and human rights globally, has a responsibility to stand with the Korean people in their struggle for freedom.

The politicization of North Korean human rights in recent years, with some lobbying groups advocating for a lessened focus on human rights in exchange for diplomatic engagement, is deeply concerning. The next U.S. president must resist these pressures and reaffirm the bipartisan commitment to addressing North Korea's human rights abuses. This approach aligns with the best traditions of U.S. foreign policy and reflects the nation's values.

Conclusion

The next U.S. president has a historic opportunity to reshape U.S. policy toward North Korea by prioritizing human rights and supporting the pursuit of a free and unified Korea. This new approach would not only address the failure of past policies but also offer a pathway to lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia. By standing with the Korean people and supporting their right to self-determination, the United States can help bring about a transition that looks beyond the Kim regime and creates the conditions for a unified Korea that is free, democratic, and at peace with its neighbors. This would be a United Republic of Korea (UROK).

David Maxwell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in Asia and specializes in Northeast Asian Security. He is Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace. He is on the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights In North Korea and the OSS Society and is a contributing editor to Small Wars Journal. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

upi.com

2. US help isn’t enough: South Korea wants its own nuclear weapons

This is a critical issue that we have to work through effectively. As I note in my comments to Gordan Chang, this debate, with the potential to split the ROKUS alliance, supports Kim Jong Un's political warfare strategy

US help isn’t enough: South Korea wants its own nuclear weapons

by Gordon G. Chang, opinion contributor - 09/09/24 10:30 AM ET

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4866273-south-korea-nuclear-weapons/?utm

On Sept. 2, South Korea’s Kim Yong-hyun, at his confirmation hearing for defense minister, said he would be “open” to his country developing nuclear weapons.

“That is included among all possible options,” Kim announced.

Kim’s comment is nothing less than a public vote of no confidence in the U.S., the South’s protector for over seven decades.

The South Korean public certainly agrees with Kim. A Gallup Korea poll released in February shows that 72.8 percent of the population favored the possession of nukes.

Such a position is understandable. North Korea, separated from the South by the narrow strip of the Demilitarized Zone, today has, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, up to 50 nuclear weapons. Some believe the North has enough fissile material for 60 more.

The South, in contrast, is still a party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which prohibits it from developing and possessing nuclear weapons.

North Korea, with its arsenal, threatens South Korea. On Aug. 4, Kim Jong Un, the North’s bellicose leader, announced the deployment of “250 new-type tactical ballistic missile launchers” to positions near the DMZ. The launchers can carry four tactical nuclear weapons each, so Kim was not exaggerating when he boasted they have “great military significance.”

The U.S. led a United Nations coalition that defended South Korea in the Korean War. Washington and Seoul inked a mutual defense treaty in 1953, the year the armistice was signed. Today, about 24,200 active-duty American military personnel remain in the South to enforce the U.S.-South Korean mutual defense treaty.

The alliance “forged in blood” has kept the peace. The pact is still needed because no peace treaty formally ended the Korean War, and in any event, the South did not sign the armistice.

To keep the peace, the U.S. has pledged to use nuclear weapons to defend its South Korean ally. On July 11, President Joe Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a joint statement, the “U.S.-Republic of Korea Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula.”

The two leaders emphasized that “any nuclear attack by [North Korea] against [South Korea] will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response.” To drive home the point, Biden added that the “U.S. commitment to extended deterrence to [South Korea] is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear.”

The explicit guarantee apparently is not good enough for a majority of South Koreans. It is not entirely clear, however, that they understand the implications of their nuclear ambitions. Some even think that nuclear weapons would make South Korea less safe.

How so? The South, by either withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty or openly violating its obligations, might effectively end its alliance with the U.S. Kim Yong-hyun is not worried about what he calls “activating a Plan B” and developing the bomb. He thinks the U.S. would remain an ally.

Is Kim right? The U.S. remains allies with Britain and France, nuclear weapon states. More to the point, Washington fully supports Israel, widely believed to have first built nukes in the late 1960s.

David Maxwell, who served five tours of duty with the U.S. Army in Korea, raises a problem for Seoul.

“Those who advocate for the development of indigenous nuclear weapons by South Korea are providing direct support to Kim Jong Un’s political warfare strategy to subvert the [South Korean] government and society and drive a wedge in the alliance,” he told me.

“Kim welcomes the call for South Korean nuclear weapons because he likely does not fear them and will not be deterred by them. More importantly, South Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons demonstrates a lack of trust in the U.S. nuclear umbrella and extended deterrence.”

So what should Seoul do?

“A better alliance course of action is to continue to develop the Nuclear Consultative Group,” says Maxwell, who is also vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Asia Pacific Strategy.

The Nuclear Consultative Group was established by the U.S. and South Korea to implement the April 2023 Washington Declaration, a joint statement between Biden and Yoon affirming the alliance between the two countries. In the Declaration, issued to mark the 70th anniversary of the mutual defense treaty, Yoon reaffirmed the South’s commitment to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.

Maxwell suggests that the U.S., to enhance trust, could “examine the redeployment of U.S. theater nuclear weapons to Korea and the region.” President George H. W. Bush removed them from the Korean peninsula and elsewhere in 1991 in the hope that such a move would, among other things, entice North Korea to stop building its own arsenal.

The enticement did not work. Kim Il Sung, the founder of the North Korean state and its leader at the time, was interested in possessing his own deterrent, even though he was then protected by the largest arsenal of the time, the store of Soviet nukes. Now, the other Korean state is also thinking of going its own way.

South Korea, under pressure from Washington, abandoned its nuclear weapons program in the 1970s. Now, the U.S. will have to work hard to stop its Korean ally from resuming that effort.

If South Korea loses confidence in America and builds its own deterrent, Japan, Taiwan and others could decide to build nuclear weapons too. South Korea, thanks to Kim Yong-hyun, is now a test for Washington — and the world’s nonproliferation regime.

Gordon G. Chang is the author of “The Coming Collapse of China” and the upcoming “Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America.” Follow him on X @GordonGChang.

3. North Korea Explained: What Americans Need to Know

Q&A with Bruce Bennet and Benjamin Young who provide two very different views.

Excerpt:

Is there any hope for a peaceful reconciliation between North and South Korea? What can the United States do?

Bennett At the end of 2023, Kim Jong-un repudiated peaceful unification as even a possibility. In response, South Korean President Yoon recently announced a program to achieve “freedom-based unification,” which will require many changes in North Korea over time to achieve success. The United States can support South Korea by participating in Yoon's planned information campaign, in part by using it to coerce the North Korean regime, as suggested above. Simultaneously, the ROK needs to prepare itself with the policies and laws and provisions that would support peaceful unification, and the United States should contribute to such efforts where it can.

Young In 2024, the North Korean government stated for the first time ever that the ROK is a separate national entity and that South Korea is now a foreign hostile enemy. That is a considerable shift in DPRK official rhetoric and inter-Korean policy. So, the United States should recognize the DPRK as a nuclear state. That is the reality and a fact. Pretending that is not the case is not beneficial or helpful for the future of peace on the peninsula. Moreover, this designation could propel Washington and Pyongyang to re-engage in high level talks and the United States should strive for a reduction of nuclear-grade weapon materials in the North. This nuclear designation could then open a multitude of pathways to re-engage with the North.

North Korea Explained: What Americans Need to Know

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/09/north-korea-explained-what-americans-need-to-know.html?utm

q&a

Sep 9, 2024

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits O Jin U Artillery Academy in North Korea, September 6, 2024

Photo by KCNA via Reuters

The Korean Peninsula, with its intricate web of historical tensions, nuclear threats, and geopolitical dynamics, will demand a nuanced and strategic approach from the incoming administration. In the Q&A below, a pair of RAND experts discuss the foremost foreign policy challenges, the realistic goals for denuclearization, and the steps needed to bolster the U.S.–South Korea alliance. They also explore the cybersecurity threats posed by North Korea, the efficacy of economic sanctions, and ongoing human rights abuses in the region.

Bruce W. Bennett is an adjunct senior international/defense researcher at RAND whose research and writings have focused on North Korean issues, the Kim regime, military and nuclear threats, and the crisis on the Korean Peninsula in general. Benjamin R. Young is a Stanton Foundation Nuclear Security Fellow at RAND and author of the book Guns, Guerillas, and the Great Leader: North Korea and the Third World.

What are the most important foreign policy challenges facing the United States regarding Korea?

Bruce Bennett My Korean colleagues are worried about the future of the U.S./ROK alliance under the new U.S. president, especially since the candidates have not explicitly addressed Korean security. Most Koreans wish to continue the alliance and U.S. extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, but they also want to be treated as more equal partners. They worry that the United States is preoccupied with other international challenges, like Ukraine, China, Taiwan, and Iran, and will not pay adequate attention to Korean security. Both the Republican and Democratic platforms deleted North Korean denuclearization as a goal and did not replace it with an alternative, confirming this Korean concern.

There are multiple challenges facing the United States when it comes to the Korean Peninsula. First and foremost, it is the North Korean nuclear threat.

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Benjamin Young I think there are multiple challenges facing the United States when it comes to the Korean Peninsula. First and foremost, it is the North Korean nuclear threat. A North Korean nuclear attack on South Korean territory, whether large scale or small scale, would send the entire Indo-Pacific region into a tailspin and endanger the lives of many South Koreans. The unpredictability and outlaw-like character of the Kim family regime makes the DPRK a threat to global stability. Secondly, a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan would likely involve South Korea in some way. With 28,000 U.S. troops based in South Korea and potential North Korean military opportunism, the Korean peninsula could potentially become ensnared in a Taiwan Straits crisis. Thirdly, there is a disconcerting lack of trust in the U.S. nuclear umbrella among some South Koreans. There is growing public demand in South Korea for the indigenous development of nuclear weapons. That is concerning and raises the possibility that other regional powers, namely Japan, would develop their own nukes.

What can the United States do to douse North Korea's nuclear ambitions and promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula?

Bennett In public opinion polls in Korea, perhaps 90 percent of the population believe that North Korea will not be denuclearizing, at least any time soon. So the issue isn't denuclearization; it is reining in the North Korean nuclear weapon build-up. But it is hard for the United States to shift objectives because if it does, it is admitting past failure. The United States needs to focus on various incremental changes—such as stopping nuclear weapon production at a specific facility—and use information operations threats against the North as leverage. The United States should also commit some of its nuclear weapons for supporting the ROK like the United States does with NATO. It needs to create a regional nuclear balance.

Young Well, to be frank, the denuclearization of the DPRK is a pipedream at this point and it is not consistent with reality on the Korean peninsula. The United States still officially abides by the utopian pretense of seeking the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Arms control and limiting North Korea's already growing nuclear arsenal should be the goal. That is more realistic and actionable. Getting North Korea back to dialogue is critical but that does not mean the United States should go soft on the North. There is a reason why Kim Jong-un asked President Trump in 2018 to release all sanctions on the DPRK. Sanctions hurt the political elite of the DPRK. Sanctions are a useful tool in the U.S. toolbox when dealing with Pyongyang but should not be the only option. The United States should seek escalation dominance on the peninsula and should not cede that territory to the Kim family regime in Pyongyang.

What should the United States be doing to maintain and strengthen its military and economic alliance with South Korea?

Bennett Last year President Biden concluded the Washington Declaration with ROK President Yoon Suk Yeol, seeking to counter Korean concerns about U.S. extended deterrence and its nuclear umbrella in particular. The new administration needs to review the commitments that were made and more publicly explain how they are being fulfilled. For example, President Biden committed to giving Seoul a central role for the first time in strategic planning for the use of nuclear weapons in any conflict with North Korea. The new administration needs to explain how this is being done and what the U.S. goals are in this area over time. The details can reasonably remain classified, but the nature of the changes needs to be publicly explained.

Young First and foremost, reassuring South Korea that the U.S. nuclear umbrella is solid and credible. That is critical. Economically, the United States should consider allowing tax credits to be applied to electric vehicles manufactured overseas by South Korean companies. That was a major source of economic tension between Washington and Seoul. It would be a sign of goodwill toward U.S. allies and assure them that the U.S. commitment is ironclad. Moreover, it boosts U.S. climate objectives.

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How should the United States address the cybersecurity threats posed by North Korea?

Bennett The United States is suffering regular cyber-attacks from North Korea, China, Russia, and other adversaries. Thus the United States must increasingly “harden” its cyber systems for defensive purposes. It also needs to establish deterrence against cyber-attacks by being able to respond in kind against North Korea and other adversaries. This will require demonstrating the consequences of cyber-attacks to these adversaries to convince them that the United States has the capabilities and the will to hurt them.

Young North Korea's cyber capabilities are robust and growing. They are used for revenue generation as well as intelligence-gathering purposes. Given North Korea's minimal online footprint, it is hard to counter-attack Pyongyang's hackers. However, there should be more diplomatic pressure on South and Southeast Asian nations that host North Korean IT workers and cyber agents. Sometimes, North Koreans pretend to be foreign exchange students but then spend most of their time using the resources of the host country to launch cyber-attacks on foreign adversaries. That should be cracked down on by responsible members of the international community.

Are the economic sanctions working, should they be expanded or otherwise modified?

Bennett The U.N. and U.S. economic sanctions have some effect, but Chinese and Russian violations of those sanctions significantly reduce this effect. China and Russia refuse to expand the existing sanctions, and thus new U.N. sanctions are not feasible. But the United States can take unilateral actions and can encourage its allies to act similarly. This might include secondary sanctions against Chinese firms that support trade with North Korea. The United States should also be far more proactive on publicizing the Chinese and Russian violations.

Young During the summit in Singapore, Kim Jong-un would not have asked President Trump in 2018 to release the sanctions if they had no effect. With that being said, the pandemic highlighted the degree to which North Korea will self-isolate to protect its own internal stability. Within the DPRK system, economic development is secondary, or even tertiary, to the larger goal of regime preservation and ideological cohesion. That is what has allowed the Kim family regime to outlive the Soviet Union and many other communist regimes.

How can the United States better address the human rights abuses in North Korea?

Bennett North Korean human rights violations need to be publicized more often and with U.S. government support. Many individuals who have escaped North Korea have told their stories in books and articles, but without U.S. government support. The United States and the ROK should also identify individuals being sent to North Korean gulags and the conditions in those facilities. They should regularly broadcast such stories into the North—something that the North Korean elites likely know about, but the frequency of such abuses will likely concern them.

Young The United States should seek to penetrate the information blockade that the Kim family regime has imposed on its own people. The use of radio broadcasting, balloons filled with leaflets and DVDs, and loudspeakers are threatening to the Kim family regime as it disturbs their iron grip over the information space. This information-centric approach could then be coupled with sanctions as a pressure campaign on the North.

Is there any hope for a peaceful reconciliation between North and South Korea? What can the United States do?

Bennett At the end of 2023, Kim Jong-un repudiated peaceful unification as even a possibility. In response, South Korean President Yoon recently announced a program to achieve “freedom-based unification,” which will require many changes in North Korea over time to achieve success. The United States can support South Korea by participating in Yoon's planned information campaign, in part by using it to coerce the North Korean regime, as suggested above. Simultaneously, the ROK needs to prepare itself with the policies and laws and provisions that would support peaceful unification, and the United States should contribute to such efforts where it can.

Young In 2024, the North Korean government stated for the first time ever that the ROK is a separate national entity and that South Korea is now a foreign hostile enemy. That is a considerable shift in DPRK official rhetoric and inter-Korean policy. So, the United States should recognize the DPRK as a nuclear state. That is the reality and a fact. Pretending that is not the case is not beneficial or helpful for the future of peace on the peninsula. Moreover, this designation could propel Washington and Pyongyang to re-engage in high level talks and the United States should strive for a reduction of nuclear-grade weapon materials in the North. This nuclear designation could then open a multitude of pathways to re-engage with the North.

Are there any novel solutions out there that could make a difference for U.S. interests in the region?

Bennett The United States and the ROK need to develop approaches to deter North Korean provocations and to rein-in North Korean threat development, especially of nuclear weapons. Using information campaigns could be one key way of doing so. For example, we know from high-ranking individuals who have escaped from North Korea that Kim Jong-un is paranoid about the Reaper drone aircraft because they have been used for leadership targeting in the Middle East. They could threaten Kim Jong-un that every time he does a missile test launch, the United States will fly a Reaper aircraft up to the southern part of the ROK and simulate a leadership strike. If he does a nuclear weapon test, they could threaten to flood Pyongyang with USB drives containing K-pop and other things that Kim hates.

The United States and the ROK need to develop approaches to deter North Korean provocations and to rein-in North Korean threat development, especially of nuclear weapons.

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Young Pushing for the recognition of the DPRK as a nuclear state and the establishment of a U.S. embassy in Pyongyang would be a radical break from decades of failed U.S. policy towards the North. However, if the North rejects these overtures, a full-frontal pressure campaign should commence and be continued for multiple U.S. presidential administrations. There should be clarity that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the North Korean leadership. If they reject these overtures, the United States should set up a government in exile filled with North Korean defectors and sustain a long-term maximum pressure campaign on the DPRK aimed at regime change.

4. Hezbollah relies on 'sophisticated' tunnel system backed by Iran, North Korea in fight against Israel

It is good to see we are finally recognizing north Korean support.

Excerpts:

Hezbollah is believed to have begun mining its tunnels after the Second Lebanon War in 2006 in close coordination between Iran and North Korea after Tehran reportedly derived "inspiration" from Pyongyang and the tunnels that it developed in the aftermath of the Korean War.

Iran deemed North Korea a "professional authority on the subject of tunneling" due to its experience in digging tunnels for military use when it attempted to drill tunnels across the Korean Demilitarized Zone in an attempt to militarily invade areas just north of Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

While the tunnels and their intended use were never realized by the authoritarian nation, two of the four neutralized tunnels uncovered were reportedly capable of accommodating up to 30,000 troops per hour along with armaments like armored personnel carriers, tanks and field artillery – an operational blueprint Hezbollah has turned to in its fight against Israel.

The report found that Hezbollah under the advisership of North Korea – a relationship that may have begun as far back as the 1980s – built two types of tunnels across southern Lebanon, "offensive tunnels and infrastructure tunnels."

Hezbollah relies on 'sophisticated' tunnel system backed by Iran, North Korea in fight against Israel

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Despite Israel’s nearly one-year-long war with Hamas in Gaza after the Oct. 7 attacks, security experts continue to sound the alarm that Jerusalem’s greatest threat actually lies to the north in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has developed a sophisticated tunnel system.

Hezbollah, an Islamic terrorist organization that has long had the backing of Iran, has over the last two decades developed a network of tunnels that stretch more than 100 miles in cumulative length throughout southern Lebanon.

Though the existence of the tunnels has been known for decades, the significant role they play in arming Hezbollah has once again come to light during the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, where terrorists have not only relied on tunnels for operational rearmament and maneuvering capabilities but also to house hostages taken by Hamas nearly a year ago.

While it is estimated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have eradicated roughly 80% of Hamas’ tunnels, Hezbollah’s tunnels, which have largely remained untouched since the war in Gaza began, are believed to be far more sophisticated and "significantly larger," according to a report by the Alma Research and Education Center, a nonprofit organization that researches Israeli security challenges along its northern border.

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A guided tour by the Israeli army on June 3, 2019, shows the interior of a tunnel under the Lebanese-Israeli border. (JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Hezbollah is believed to have begun mining its tunnels after the Second Lebanon War in 2006 in close coordination between Iran and North Korea after Tehran reportedly derived "inspiration" from Pyongyang and the tunnels that it developed in the aftermath of the Korean War.

Iran deemed North Korea a "professional authority on the subject of tunneling" due to its experience in digging tunnels for military use when it attempted to drill tunnels across the Korean Demilitarized Zone in an attempt to militarily invade areas just north of Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

While the tunnels and their intended use were never realized by the authoritarian nation, two of the four neutralized tunnels uncovered were reportedly capable of accommodating up to 30,000 troops per hour along with armaments like armored personnel carriers, tanks and field artillery – an operational blueprint Hezbollah has turned to in its fight against Israel.

The report found that Hezbollah under the advisership of North Korea – a relationship that may have begun as far back as the 1980s – built two types of tunnels across southern Lebanon, "offensive tunnels and infrastructure tunnels."

This image provided on Friday shows the comparison between tunnels dug by North Korea and Hezbollah. (Alma Research and Education Center)

The offensive tunnels were intended for similar operational use as North Korea’s, and at least six tunnels were discovered by IDF forces that led into Israeli territory during Operation Northern Shield, which began in December 2018.

Alma's research found that some of Hezbollah’s tunnels are also capable of transporting ATVs, motorcycles and other "small vehicles," though it did not specify the number of terrorists that they could accommodate.

The tunnels are equipped with "underground command and control rooms, weapons and supply depots, field clinics and specified designated shafts used to fire missiles of all types," the report said, noting that arms like rockets, surface-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft missiles can be fired from "shafts" in the tunnels. "These shafts are hidden and camouflaged and cannot be detected above ground."

DOJ CHARGES HAMAS LEADERS OVER 'TERRORIST ATROCITIES' IN OCT 7 ISRAEL ATTACK

The tunnels are believed to connect the capital of Beirut, where Hezbollah’s central headquarters is located and its logistical base in the Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border, to southern Lebanon.

This image provided on Friday lays out the areas where Hezbollah has infiltrated in Lebanon. (Alma Research and Education Center)

"We call this inter-regional tunnel network ‘Hezbollah's Land of the Tunnels,’" the Alma report first released in 2021 detailed, noting the tunnel system is more akin to a "metro" of tunnels rather than one long tunnel.

The second series of tunnels Hezbollah mined, known as the infrastructure tunnels, form an underground network in and near southern Lebanese villages that establishes the first and second "lines of defense" against an Israeli invasion – a project of "enormous magnitude," according to the Alma report.

One such tunnel is estimated to be nearly 28 miles long, prompting the question as to how the terrorist organization was able to get away with building such a sophisticated system without opposition from the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah terrorists take part in a training exercise in Aaramta village in southern Lebanon in May 2023. (AP/Hassan Ammar)

"Hezbollah does try to keep the locations, routes, internal structure, etc., of these tunnels a secret. [It] does this by expropriating territories, by preventing civilians from entering into certain areas and by taking advantage of [its] presence and influence in the government," Boaz Shapira, a researcher with Alma, told Fox News Digital.

Shapira said Hezbollah not only has the support of roughly 40%-50% of the Lebanese population, it is "much better funded, organized, trained and armed" than the Lebanese government, army, police or even the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which has a force of some 10,500 peacekeeping troops in Lebanon and that were put in place after the 2006 war.

Spanish U.N. peacekeepers stand on a hill overlooking the Lebanese border with Israel on Jan. 10, 2024.

Hezbollah’s cooperation with authoritarian nations like Iran and North Korea has long made it a major threat to Israel.

But its growing power within Lebanon has moved it to the top of the list when it comes to Israeli security threats, according to not only Shapira but also former IDF Major Gen. Yaakov Amidror.

"Lebanon’s government is too weak to counter Hezbollah," Amidror told Fox News Digital. "Everything important is decided by Hezbollah, not by the government."

HEZBOLLAH OPERATIVES KILLED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AS TERROR GROUP FIRES 100 ROCKETS AT JEWISH STATE

Hezbollah is believed to have as many as 50,000 terrorists and, according to Shapira, its sphere of influence has extended to nearly every branch of Lebanon’s security apparatus.

"Taking action against Hezbollah would be perceived as cooperation with Israel and basically as treason in Lebanon, and in the past year also against the Palestinians," he said. "That means that no one in the army has any incentive for challenging Hezbollah."

Hezbollah terror forces train in southern Lebanon close to the Israeli border. (AP/Hassan Ammar/File)

Shapira said demographics inside the once predominately Christian nation have shifted over the last several decades, and it now has a majority Muslim population – though the U.S. State Department analyzes the breakdown in Muslim populations in Lebanon as nearly equally divided between Shiite and Sunni groups.

"This trend is happening in the army as well. That means that almost every Shiite soldier in the army has a brother, cousin, friend that is a Hezbollah terrorist," Shapira said.

Amidror, a distinguished fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America after serving as Israel's former national security adviser to the prime minister and a 36-year veteran of the IDF, told Fox News Digital he believes Israel needs to take a proactive approach when it comes to countering Hezbollah.

Hezbollah fighters form a human barrier during the funeral procession for top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut's southern suburbs on Aug. 1, 2024. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"We should initiate the war against Hezbollah," he said, noting that the timing of its operation is the main variable that needs to be determined.

"It will not be an easy job. It will be a very, very devastating war for us and for Lebanon," the retired major general said. "Remember that at least 50% of their missiles had been hidden within populated areas.

"The casualties will be huge, [a] devastating war for us and for them," Amidror continued. "This is why it is so problematic to fight these organizations, because they are fighting from within their own population, [and their] targets are the Israeli population.

"When you fight from within civilians and your targets are civilians, it's very complicated to fight it," he added.

foxnews.com · by Caitlin McFall Fox News

5. Kim Jong Un Might Have To Change North Korea's Strategy Amid Trump And Harris' Election Race After Biden Dropped Out — Leader's Sister To Speak Out?

A follow-up to Anthny Holmes' article in Nikkei from yesterday.

Kim Jong Un Might Have To Change North Korea's Strategy Amid Trump And Harris' Election Race After Biden Dropped Out — Leader's Sister To Speak Out?

benzinga.com · by Benzinga Neuro

North Korea is adjusting its strategy in anticipation of a contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

What Happened: Anthony Holmes outlined North Korea’s approach to the upcoming U.S. presidential election in an opinion piece for Nikkei Asia published on Monday.

According to Holmes, North Korea anticipated a contest between President Joe Biden and former President Trump. However, Biden’s decision not to run and the nomination of Vice President Harris as the Democratic candidate has altered Pyongyang’s calculations.

Holmes, who served as a special adviser for North Korea at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, explained that North Korea will need to refine its strategy before November. Pyongyang’s tactics include publicly dismissing negotiations with the U.S. while hinting at openness if certain conditions are met, such as the relaxation of sanctions.

Holmes also noted that North Korea might conduct a significant event, like a nuclear test, to demonstrate its capabilities and readiness for conflict. This would be accompanied by statements from senior officials, likely including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un‘s sister Kim Yo Jung, emphasizing North Korea’s stance.

Holmes concluded that North Korea’s ultimate goal is to develop advanced weapons systems to undermine U.S. security guarantees on the Korean Peninsula, aiming to coerce South Korea into a favorable reunification.

“North Korea would probably be more comfortable negotiating with Trump because it thinks it knows how to handle him: i.e., flattery over his negotiating skills, his willingness to take big risks, his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un,” Holmes wrote.

Why It Matters: The evolving political landscape in the U.S. has significant implications for North Korea’s strategy. The shift from a Biden-Trump contest to a Harris-Trump contest means Pyongyang must reassess its diplomatic and military tactics.

North Korea’s leader, Kim, has faced internal challenges, including public discontent over flood damage, which he has attempted to deflect onto provincial officials. Additionally, the defection of a North Korean soldier to South Korea highlights internal unrest.

In another development, U.S. Army Private Travis King, who fled to North Korea, has agreed to plead guilty to multiple charges, including desertion.

Former President Trump has previously referred to Kim as “Little Rocket Man,” a nickname that even Elton John found amusing.

In July, North Korea shrugged off former President Trump‘s remarks about his amicable relationship with leader Kim, asserting that they "do not care" about his words and cautioning that their nuclear arsenal remains prepared for any U.S. leader.

Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) Ms. Cara Abercrombie Travels to the Republic of Korea

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3900266/acting-deputy-under-secretary-of-defense-policy-ms-cara-abercrombie-travels-to/

Sept. 9, 2024 |

Attributable to Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn, USMC:

Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Ms. Cara Abercrombie, will travel to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to co-chair the Defense Trilateral Talks with Japan and the ROK, as well as lead the U.S. delegation to the Republic of Korea - United Nations Command Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting. She will also conduct bilateral engagements with senior ROK officials, and provide remarks at the Seoul Defense Dialogue.

During her trip, Ms. Abercrombie will take steps to deepen trilateral cooperation between the United States, the ROK, and Japan; take actions to develop a positive future vision for the United Nations Command in collaboration with current member states; and highlight the importance of expanding defense industrial cooperation while also protecting critical technologies.

Additional information will be posted to "releases" when it becomes available.

Cara Abercrombie

Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/3801992/cara-abercrombie/

Full image

Ms. Cara Abercrombie is the Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. In this role, she serves as the primary assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy in formulating, coordinating, and integrating national security policy and plans within the Department of Defense. She was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition in 2024, advising Department leadership on matters relating to the Defense Acquisition System, acquisition program management, and the acquisition workforce. From 2021-2023, Ms. Abercrombie served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Defense Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council.

Ms. Abercrombie was a career member of the Senior Executive Service with two decades of experience working in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Her previous positions in the Department have included Acting Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency while serving as the first President of the Defense Security Cooperation University; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia; Principal Director for East Asia Policy, and Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. She joined the Department as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2003. Prior to entering government, Ms. Abercrombie was a Program Officer for Eurasia with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Ms. Abercrombie received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and Master in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University. She is a 2022 recipient of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, numerous Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, and the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.

7. Swedish diplomats set for imminent return to North Korea: Sources

Swedish diplomats set for imminent return to North Korea: Sources

DPRK has reportedly signaled Poland and UK could also return soon, years after Western diplomats left due to COVID

https://www.nknews.org/2024/09/swedish-diplomats-set-for-imminent-return-to-north-korea-sources/?utm

Chad O'Carroll September 9, 2024

The Tower of the Juche Idea in Pyongyang, Oct. 2016 | Image: NK News

Sweden is preparing to send diplomats back to Pyongyang soon to work at its embassy, multiple informed sources told NK News on condition of anonymity, marking a notable step toward the return of Western diplomats to North Korea since they left during the pandemic.

A majority of embassies ceased operations in the DPRK in 2020 due to the harsh rules imposed on diplomats during the early days of COVID-19, leaving just a skeleton presence of foreigners mainly from countries closely aligned with the North.

Sweden never officially closed its embassy, opting to continue limited operations with local staff but without Swedish diplomats in Pyongyang.

But now diplomatic sources from multiple countries say diplomats from Stockholm will soon travel to the capital by land from China to resume work at the embassy.

“Our diplomatic staff stands ready to return to Pyongyang permanently, as soon as circumstances allow,” the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs told NK News on Sept. 4. The ministry had not responded to follow-up questions sent on Monday about the imminent return of diplomats at the time of publication.

Meanwhile, North Korea has also sent positive signals to Poland and the United Kingdom about the possibility of their diplomats returning to Pyongyang soon, according to multiple sources, following an absence of staff since 2020.

It remains unclear where they would live or work if they return in the near future as the building in which they were previously stationed is owned by Germany, whose diplomats are unlikely to return any time soon, senior diplomatic sources told NK News.

Hotel rooms or another temporary accommodation could be one alternative, the sources said.

Earlier this year, several European countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, the U.K., Switzerland and Poland, had planned to send delegations to North Korea to discuss reopening their embassies and aid operations.

However, these trips were unexpectedly canceled by the DPRK shortly before they were scheduled to take place, according to informed diplomatic and NGO sources, despite a successful February trip by a German technical and diplomatic delegation to inspect the condition of the country’s embassy.

In contrast, diplomats from countries with friendlier relations with North Korea, such as Brazil, Nicaragua, and Mongolia, have been returning to Pyongyang since Dec. 2023.

The German Embassy building in Pyongyang, which also houses the U.K. and Swedish embassies and the French Cooperation Office | Image: Colin Crooks via X (Dec. 20, 2018)

The apparent discrepancy in the treatment of diplomatic missions suggests that North Korea may be applying a two-tiered scheme, prioritizing the reopening of embassies from countries with which it maintains amicable relations over those from Western nations.

Christopher Green, senior Korean Peninsula consultant at International Crisis Group, told NK News he never doubted that Kim Jong Un would conclude that reopening was in North Korea’s overarching interest.

“I understand the argument that some European embassies were becoming too much of a threat by virtue of the information they leaked into North Korean society and the information that leaked out as a result of their presence,” he said.

“But I would say the net benefit of having them in the city for the North Korean government outweighs those threats even toward the end of the period before the pandemic.”

The expert explained this is because the DPRK would risk having its own overseas diplomats expelled from countries that it didn’t allow to return to Pyongyang.

Such closures could “have downstream effects on North Korea’s ability to conduct its diplomatic activities abroad, some of which — such as at the U.N. — are intrinsically linked to that country’s national security,” he said.

Former U.K. Ambassador to North Korea John Everard said news about the possible return of foreign diplomats is encouraging, but he warned that North Korea’s behavior throughout this process has suggested that there is a tussle between the foreign ministry and security organs.

“So whether these encouraging reports translate into the actual return of Western staff to Pyongyang embassies will depend on whether the DPRK foreign ministry can retain control of the process,” he told NK News.

“I think we should keep the champagne on ice until Western ambassadors actually return and are able to present credentials.”

Edited by Alannah Hill

8. Experts: North Korea's 12-axis ICBM launcher photo is just for show

Just add one more axle and it will be the greatest weapon of all time (note sarcasm).

This is a Google translation. See graphic and photo at the link.

Experts: North Korea's 12-axis ICBM launcher photo is just for show

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/nk_nuclear_talks/north-korea-12-axles-icbm-launcher-tel-09092024161027.html

WASHINGTON-Lee Sang-min lees@rfa.org

2024.09.09

General Secretary Kim Jong-un visited a defense industry enterprise under the Second Economic Committee and summarized the production status of military equipment, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 8th.

/Yonhap News

00:00 /04:03

Anchor : Experts have pointed out that the photos of the new 12-axle mobile launcher (TEL) revealed by North Korea are nothing more than a “show” to convey a strong image both internally and externally. Reporter Lee Sang-min reports. Dr.

Markus Schiller, a missile expert at Germany’s ST Analytics, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 9th that he has no idea why North Korea would produce a new 12-axle, 24-wheel mobile launcher.

He made this point after looking at a photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency the previous day showing General Secretary Kim Jong-un placing his hand on the wheels of the new 12-axle mobile launcher while inspecting a North Korean defense industry enterprise. The

12-axle mobile launcher is the one with the most wheels among the mobile launchers revealed by North Korea. The 11-axle mobile launcher that North Korea has revealed so far had the most wheels among the mobile launchers that carried the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), while the Hwasong-18 used a 9-axle mobile launcher.

Dr. Schiller said that the production of a 12-axis mobile launcher means that they want to load larger and heavier missiles than existing ICBMs, and he does not see the reason for doing so.

Dr. Schiller : Then they would have to modify the existing missiles. That costs money and resources. There is no need to do that.

Dr. Schiller assessed that North Korea's ICBM capabilities are sufficient with the Hwasong-17 or 18 that they have already developed.

Dr. Robert Schmucker, a prominent German missile expert, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 9th that North Korea has demonstrated more than 20 new types of missiles in less than 10 years since 2015. He said that this means that they have presented one to three new systems every year, which is incomparable to any other country in the world.

Dr. Schmucker provided a diagram showing this (below). According to this diagram, North Korea developed and first tested the Hwasong-10 intermediate-range ballistic missile in 2015, the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, and the Hwasong-14, 15, 17, and 18 intercontinental ballistic missiles by the end of 2023.

During the same period, it developed and first tested the KN-23, 24, and 25 short-range ballistic missiles, and launched the intermediate-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 and the submarine-launched ballistic missile Pukguksong-3. It also launched the North Korean reconnaissance satellite Manrigyong-1 aboard the new rocket Chollima.

Dr. Schmucker said that it would have been in this context that North Korea developed the 12-axis mobile launcher, but he wondered why North Korea, despite showing off so many new systems, did not sufficiently test at least one missile and put it into mass production. Dr.

Schmucker : This is not a typical development pattern. They develop a missile with some sources, test-fire it, and then immediately develop another missile and test-fire it. In the end, this is just a show for show.

“Biden to approve new nuclear operation guidelines in March to prepare for North Korea-China-Russia nuclear cooperation”

US Department of Defense Continues Development of New ICBMs, “Strengthening Extended Deterrence Against North Korea”

Bruce Bennett, a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 9th that North Korea’s release of the 12-axis mobile launcher photo was intended to maximize coercion against South Korea and show South Koreans that the Yoon Seok-yeol South Korean government is irresponsible and that North Korea is superior. He

also analyzed that it was intended to show the North Korean people the image of a strong leader.

However, he pointed out that the photo did not show any missiles, and it is not clear whether the mobile launcher is real or a model until it is actually moving or carrying missiles.

At a press conference held at the Pentagon on the 9th, US Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder said that he had nothing to comment on as it was an intelligence matter when asked for comment on the 12-axis mobile launcher that North Korea released through its state-run news agency.

However, Ryder pointed out that it is common for North Korea to use media reports or images to convey messages to the world.

He added, “From the US perspective, our focus is on maintaining regional security and stability and working with regional allies and partners, including South Korea and Japan, to deter potential attacks.”

Editor Park Jeong-woo, Web Editor Han Deok-in

9. International Watch Group: “North Korea Has Been Producing Cluster Bombs, Inhumane Weapons of Destruction, for 15 Years”

I am not at all surprised but it is good to see this reported.

International Watch Group: “North Korea Has Been Producing Cluster Bombs, Inhumane Weapons of Destruction, for 15 Years”

https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/food_international_org/cmc-09092024140608.html

WASHINGTON-Cho Jin-woo choj@rfa.org

2024.09.09

On the 9th, the international monitoring group 'Coalition to Ban Cluster Munitions (CMC)' released the '2024 Cluster Munitions Ban Status Report', which investigated the production and status of cluster munitions around the world.

CMC

00:00 /02:49

Anchor : An international monitoring group has released a report stating that North Korea continues to produce cluster bombs, a representative inhumane weapon of mass destruction. Reporter Jo Jin-woo reports.

The Coalition to Ban Cluster Munitions (CMC), an international monitoring group campaigning to ban cluster munitions worldwide, released the Cluster Munition Monitor 2024, an annual report that investigates the production and use of cluster munitions in countries around the world, on the 9th .

The report names North Korea as one of 17 countries that produce cluster bombs and have not committed to stopping production in the future .

Following last year, North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia, etc. were included in the list , and Myanmar was added .

North Korea has been named as a producer of cluster bombs for 15 consecutive years since the report was first published in 2010 .

Cluster bombs are bombs that contain hundreds of small bombs in a single bomb. They are usually dropped from the air by rocket launchers or aircraft, and are weapons that can cause mass casualties due to their wide killing range .

The report noted that “ North Korea is not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and has not shown any interest in or taken any steps to join the convention . ”

It also said, “ North Korea has not attended a single meeting of the convention , and has not participated in the vote on the resolution to promote North Korea’s accession to the convention at the UN General Assembly in December 2023. ”

He then pointed out that “ despite this indifferent attitude, North Korea criticized the US decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine in July 2023. ”

The report said North Korea produces and stockpiles cluster bombs, but is not known to have used or exported them .

The report cited Jane's Information Group, a British private military intelligence agency , as saying, " North Korea produces and possesses submunition warheads for 122mm, 170mm, and 240mm rockets and has exported these systems , but it is not known whether they use cluster bombs . "

It also reported that “ it is known that they are stockpiling RBK-500 cluster bombs , including KMGU dispensers that can be deployed on submarines , and cluster bombs for destroying irregularly shaped armored vehicles and runways . ”

International NGO: “North Korea Continues to Produce Cluster Bombs, Inhumane Weapons of Destruction”

“North Korea produces and stockpiles ‘cluster bombs’, weapons of mass destruction”

At a press conference to announce the report held by the United Nations Disarmament Research Institute (UNIDIR) at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on the 9th , Mary Wareham, policy team leader at CMC , said , “ North Korea will be included on the list until it promises not to produce cluster bombs . ”

Wareham, Policy Director : They're on the list because there's evidence that North Korea and South Korea have produced cluster bombs . They'll be on the list until they commit to not producing cluster bombs or join the convention banning cluster bombs .

This annual report will also be submitted to the 12th Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 10th to the 13th .

Editor Park Jeong-woo, Web Editor Han Deok-in

10. N. Korean military distributes assessment criteria before summer drills conclude

An obvious indicator that the nKPA intends to use chemical weapons and that it will have to fight through areas they contaminate.

Why is there so little reporting on the nKPA summer training cycle? Why does the training get a pass while pundits argue we should stop our defensive training as a concession?

N. Korean military distributes assessment criteria before summer drills conclude - Daily NK English

The assessment will place greater emphasis on anti-chemical warfare drills compared to previous exercises

By Jeong Tae Joo - September 10, 2024

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · September 10, 2024

North Korean soldiers. / Image: Sogwang

The Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Staff Department has distributed an assessment rubric to each corps ahead of the summer military exercises concluding on Sept. 30.

According to a North Korean military source, the KPA plans to conduct assessments for the summer exercises from Sept. 18 to 25. The assessment rubric was distributed to each corps on Aug. 25.

The evaluation aims to assess the KPA’s overall performance in the regular summer exercises, which began on July 1, and conduct an in-depth review of each unit’s combat organization and mission capability.

The assessment will begin with a thorough review of each unit’s accomplishments during the summer exercises. It will include checking updated combat organization charts and missions, as well as evaluating units’ ability to respond to unexpected circumstances through day and night specialist training assessments.

This year’s review introduces a new selective assessment method alongside the previous group assessment approach. Training assessment officers will randomly select squads and companies for evaluation, allowing for a more comprehensive review of both larger and smaller units.

The assessment will place greater emphasis on anti-chemical warfare drills compared to previous exercises. The General Staff Department has stressed that these drills will be evaluated more rigorously than during the last winter exercises (Dec. 1, 2023, to March 30, 2024). The results of the anti-chemical warfare drills will significantly impact each unit’s overall score for the summer exercises.

These drills are designed to assess soldiers’ readiness for chemical warfare and their overall response capabilities, including protecting troops, weapons, combat technology, equipment, and materials from nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

The increased focus on anti-chemical warfare drills may be an effort to elevate the military’s overall combat ability by applying stricter standards. In response, corps’ operations and training departments are intensifying their preparation efforts for each unit.

The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

Please send any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.

Read in Korean

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · September 10, 2024

11. Pentagon stresses security cooperation with allies after N.K. unveils new mobile launcher

Pentagon stresses security cooperation with allies after N.K. unveils new mobile launcher | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · September 10, 2024

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- A Pentagon spokesperson on Monday reiterated the United States' commitment to close cooperation with its allies to ensure regional security, after North Korea unveiled a new mobile missile launcher this week.

On Sunday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency released a photo showing a new 12-axled transporter erector launcher (TEL), raising speculation that the North could use the vehicle to launch a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

"It's not unusual for North Korea to use media reports and imagery to try to telegraph, you know, to the world," Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told a press briefing.

"From a U.S. standpoint, again, our focus is on working with our regional allies and partners to include the ROK and Japan on preserving regional security and stability and deterring a potential attack," he added, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

This photo, released by the Associated Press, shows Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder speaking during a press briefing at the Pentagon near Washington on Aug. 13, 2024.

It is the first time that Pyongyang has showcased a 12-axled TEL. Prior to the photo release, the longest mobile launcher that Pyongyang had revealed was an 11-axled missile vehicle with 22 wheels.

Some observers said that the North might be seeking to have a larger mobile launcher as part of efforts to produce a longer-range ICBM or other missile platform capable of carrying a more powerful warhead.

sshluck@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Song Sang-ho · September 10, 2024

12. Japan warns of ‘new era of crisis,’ asks for record defense budget

The 572 page defense white paper can be downloaded here: https://www.mod.go.jp/en/publ/w_paper/wp2024/DOJ2024_EN_Full.pdf

Japan warns of ‘new era of crisis,’ asks for record defense budget

Annual defense white paper identifies China, North Korea and Russia as main threats to Japan’s security.

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/japan-defense-north-korea-china-russia-09042024025738.html

By RFA Staff

2024.09.04

Japanese troops take position during a joint military drill and demonstration at Camp Narashino in the city of Funabashi, Chiba prefecture on Jan. 7, 2024.

Richard A. Brooks/AFP

Japan’s defense ministry has released its annual white paper for 2024, warning that the Asia-Pacific region is facing “the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II.”

Days before, the ministry requested a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen (US$59 billion) for the next year to boost deterrence.

The English version of the 572-page white paper, which sets out Tokyo’s defense plan, was made public on Tuesday.

In the report “Defense of Japan 2024,” Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara wrote that the international community had entered “a new era of crisis” and was facing “the greatest trial” since World War II.

Kihara singled out China, which has been building up military strength while intensifying activities in the East China Sea and the Pacific, as one of the greatest strategic challenges to Japan, alongside North Korea and Russia.

The ministry assessed that China had been “intensifying changes to the status quo by force” in the entire region around Japan, including in the East China and South China Sea.

(LEAD) N. Korea's leader vows push for exponential increase in nuclear weapons | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · September 10, 2024

(ATTN: REWRITES headline; UPDATES with more details throughout)

By Kim Soo-yeon

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster the country's nuclear capabilities to deter any threats by enemies, saying it is steadily carrying out a policy to increase the number of nuclear weapons exponentially, state media said Tuesday.

Kim made the vow during a speech in a meeting with senior party and government officials on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the regime, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The North's leader delivered a speech for the first time on Sept. 9, since he assumed power in 2011, according to South Korea's unification ministry.

Kim used the speech to reiterated his pledge to bolster the county's nuclear force, saying the U.S.-led move to expand a military bloc in the region has posed a grave security threat.

"The obvious conclusion is that the nuclear force of the DPRK and the posture capable of properly using it for ensuring the state's right to security in any time should be more thoroughly perfected," Kim said, using the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 10, 2024, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un giving a speech in a meeting with senior party and government officials on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the regime. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

He said North Korea's military power will develop in an "accelerated and continued" manner, and he will not set a limit on attaining the goal.

"The DPRK will steadily strengthen its nuclear force capable of fully coping with any threatening acts imposed by its nuclear-armed rival states and redouble its measures and efforts to make all the armed forces of the state, including the nuclear force, fully ready for combat," Kim said.

At a year-end party meeting in 2022, the North's leader called for boosting the number of its nuclear arsenal exponentially and mass-producing tactical nuclear weapons. In September 2023, the country stipulated the policy of strengthening its nuclear force in the constitution.

Experts said North Korea may conduct major provocations in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election in November in an attempt to increase its bargaining power for future negotiations.

Touching on the economy, Kim expressed his satisfaction about economic performances in the first half while calling for further efforts to attain the country's key economic goals this year.

"The overall crops have so far been well and it is possible to expect fair good harvests," Kim said.

He called for "unconditional and perfect implementation" of his signature policy of developing backward regions, a project to build modernized factories in 20 counties over the next decade.

In regard to the recovery from flood damage, the North's leader said the North has drawn up "prospective and irreversible" measures to prevent natural disasters in the future.

Heavy rains in late July flooded border areas along the Amnok River in the North Phyongan, Jagang and Ryanggang provinces. North Korea has not disclosed casualties, but South Korean media outlets estimated the number of those who died or went missing to be more than 1,000.

"We must finish the recovery from flood damage in a qualitative way within the fixed period and thus ensure a normal and stable life of the people in the flood-hit areas and put the damaged sectors of the national economy on their track so as to successfully complete the struggle with nature," he said.

The unification ministry said Kim's speech seems to be aimed at solacing public sentiments, aggravated by the flood damage, and pressing officials to produce major achievements before the end of the year.

"Kim called for recovery from the damage in a qualitative way in a fixed period of time, apparently to project an image of a leader overcoming the disaster," a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

North Korea appears to be skittish about the possibility that the flood damage could undermine the country's efforts to attain its key goals this year, according to Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 10, 2024, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un (C) giving a speech in a meeting with senior party and government officials to mark the 76th anniversary of the state founding. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · September 10, 2024

14. U.S. diplomat hints at exploring more scenarios of N. Korean nuclear threats at EDSCG sessions

(Yonhap Interview) U.S. diplomat hints at exploring more scenarios of N. Korean nuclear threats at EDSCG sessions | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · September 10, 2024

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- A senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday that Seoul and Washington would consider exploring additional scenarios of North Korean nuclear threats in future sessions of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG), the allies' key deterrence dialogue body.

Last week in Washington, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins participated in the latest EDSCG session, where participants had their first discussions based on North Korean nuclear threat scenarios to explore effective diplomatic and defense measures to counter such threats.

Jenkins, who is in Seoul to attend an international forum on the responsible military use of artificial intelligence (AI), noted that both sides appreciated the scenario-based discussions.

"I can't go into the details of the actual scenarios, but what I can say is that both the U.S. and the ROK recognize the value of these exercises. We may consider doing more in the future," she said on the sidelines of the second summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM), held at a hotel in Seoul.

ROK stands for the official name of South Korea.

Jenkins emphasized the U.S. "ironclad" security commitment to Seoul, responding to questions about the possibility of another North Korean nuclear test.

"I think the important thing is that we continue to make it very clear that our commitment to the ROK remains ironclad," she said.

At last week's EDSCG meeting, South Korea and the U.S. said they are not ruling out the possibility of North Korea conducting major provocations, like a nuclear test and an intercontinental ballistic missile launch, near the U.S. presidential election in November.

At the inaugural REAIM summit in The Hague in February of last year, 55 states endorsed a final declaration outlining nine specific principles for the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI in armed forces.

Jenkins highlighted the increasing global interest in military AI, noting that the number of participants endorsing the declaration "is an indication of the international community's real interest in AI and the military."

"AI has many positive applications, such as assisting with decision-making and reducing casualties," she said.

The second summit is expected to conclude with a new declaration titled "Blueprint for Action," to be released later in the day.

Jenkins further expressed hope that more stakeholders, including additional countries, would participate in ongoing efforts by the U.S. to operationalize these principle at the working level.

"What we're doing now is not only having working groups start implementing actions on these three topics, but we're also continuing to engage with countries to bring more participants on board," she said, referring to the three topics -- accountability, oversight and assurance.

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins speaks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on the sidelines of the second summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain in Seoul on Sept. 10, 2024. (Yonhap)

khj@yna.co.kr

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en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Han-joo · September 10, 2024

15. Military says timer devices on N. Korean trash balloons could lead to fires

Military says timer devices on N. Korean trash balloons could lead to fires | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · September 10, 2024

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- Timer devices on some North Korean trash-carrying balloons could cause fires, South Korea's military said Tuesday, amid a series of fires in the country suspected to be caused by the balloons.

On Monday, firefighters put out a blaze that began on the rooftop of a warehouse in Paju, 27 kilometers northwest of Seoul, after a North Korean trash balloon landed there, renewing concerns whether the balloons or the substances they drop could be a fire hazard.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson said some North Korean balloons have dropped bundles of trash using devices that heat up and disconnect the garbage after a certain period of time, noting they could lead to fires if they land on surfaces without properly separating.

"We believe there is a possibility of a fire when the thermal wires are activated to separate the balloons from their load," Lt. Col. Lee Chang-hyun told a regular briefing. "The exact cause of such fires is being investigated by relevant authorities."

Lee still reaffirmed the military's policy against shooting down the balloons, citing potential risks of more damage caused by debris from intercepted balloons.

The defense ministry's spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou said the military is working with the police to come up with preventative measures to minimize damage from the balloons.

Since late May, North Korea has launched thousands of trash-carrying balloons toward the South in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea.

This file photo, provided by the fire services of northern Gyeonggi Province on July 25, 2024, shows a suspected fire being put out after a North Korean trash-carrying balloon landed on a rooftop of a residential building in Goyang, just north of Seoul, the previous day. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

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en.yna.co.kr · by Chae Yun-hwan · September 10, 2024

16. Joint Statement of the 15th Republic of Korea-United States-Japan Defense Trilateral Talks

Trilateral security cooperation is becoming institutionalized. And we should see another Freedom Edge in the near term.

Release

Immediate Release

Joint Statement of the 15th Republic of Korea-United States-Japan Defense Trilateral Talks

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3900255/joint-statement-of-the-15th-republic-of-korea-united-states-japan-defense-trila/

Sept. 9, 2024 |

Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Cho Chang-rae, U.S. Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie, and Japan Director General for Defense Policy YAMATO Taro convened the 15th Defense Trilateral Talks in Seoul on September 10, 2024. They discussed shared regional security concerns and renewed their commitment to strengthening trilateral security cooperation following the Japan-ROK-U.S. Summits at Phnom Penh and Camp David and Trilateral Ministerial Meetings in Singapore and Tokyo this year.

The three defense officials acknowledged the progress made by the national defense authorities of the three countries over the past year since the historic Camp David Summit, and pledged to continue working closely together to strengthen trilateral security cooperation.

The three sides shared their views that the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF), signed by the Ministers and the Secretary of the three countries in July, institutionalizes progress made in the relationship thus far and will serve as a foundation to pursue trilateral security cooperation in a systematic and stable manner.

The three defense officials highlighted the successful efforts of their three countries in systematically conducting trilateral exercises in accordance with the multi-year trilateral exercise plan approved last year. They pledged to continue seeking various opportunities for future trilateral exercises and committed to updating the multi-year trilateral exercise plan by the end of this year.

The officials acknowledged that the first execution of the multi-domain trilateral exercise FREEDOM EDGE in June contributed to enhancing interoperability among the three countries and safeguarding freedom, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula. They also concurred to conduct the second FREEDOM EDGE exercise in the near term.

The three sides reaffirmed their enduring commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond, including by deterring the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) advancing nuclear and missile threats.

They expressed grave concern over the increasing military cooperation commitment between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, as highlighted by the signing of the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," which is contrary to multiple UN Security Council resolutions and is a concerning development for many countries in the region. The three defense officials pledged to strengthen cooperation with the international community to fulfill the implementation of the related UN Security Council resolutions.

In addition, they condemned the DPRK's recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles, and other related activities, and urged the DPRK to immediately cease all actions that destabilize security of the Korean Peninsula and the region.

The United States reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the defense of the ROK and Japan, emphasizing that this commitment is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear capabilities.

All three sides reaffirmed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the region.

The three defense officials shared assessments on recent maritime and air military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea. They also recalled their respective positions regarding the dangerous and aggressive behavior by the People's Republic of China (PRC) supporting unlawful maritime claims in the area. Furthermore, they shared concerns about actions that are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and stressed the importance of fully respecting freedom of navigation and overflight.

The three sides recognized that there is no change in their basic positions on Taiwan and emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. They called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

The three officials welcomed holding the 16th Defense Trilateral Talks in the first half of next year in Japan.

17. The importance of tangible realization (Korean military experience)

I am still scratching my head trying to understand this essay. It does not have a byline but it seems the author is a historian.

I guess he is responding to criticism that historians do not experience the military that they write about.

But it seems the real point is that he is saying that it is better to have real experience rather than abstract knowledge.

Excerpt:

Knowledge wrapped in abstractions and vagueness is the reason our society suffers from dichotomies, extreme accusations, demagoguery, and double standards.

The importance of tangible realization

https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20240910/5162461/1

Posted September. 10, 2024 07:54,

Updated September. 10, 2024 07:54

The Korea Combat Training Center conducts simulated combat training using the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, or MILES. They also hold an annual contest for civilian clubs using this training device. I was invited to this event by chance and had the opportunity to participate. I was surprised twice: I initially thought most participants would be young reservists and people from special forces, but there were many older men and students. I was especially surprised to see middle school students, who had never been in the military, participating for the first time and fighting with more determination and calmness than the adults in the reserves.

I was worried that some participants might protest or complain because they were using real guns with blank ammunition, even though it was just a game. However, there were no such issues, and I found the participants to be very good at following orders and more peaceful than active-duty soldiers. I participated because I wanted to experience the real-world atmosphere and lessons that you can't get from a book. After two days of smelling ammunition and running around the battlefield, I realized two things.

The first is to confirm‎ what I already know. Questions such as, “Did you live through that time?” “Have you been to war?” and “Did you do that yourself?” are some of the most common sarcastic comments historians receive. There's a lot to be said for this kind of criticism, but book knowledge is not all fantasy and disconnected from reality. I was able to see this unity again and again.

The second is a new realization about the atmosphere of the battlefield and the psychology of the soldier. A new realization is not necessarily about knowing something you didn’t know before. It’s about discovering the abstract concept of 'a giant' as something tangible: two meters tall and 140 kilograms in weight. Genuine knowledge should be tangible. Knowledge wrapped in abstractions and vagueness is the reason our society suffers from dichotomies, extreme accusations, demagoguery, and double standards.

18. North Korean weapons extending Russian stockpiles, German general says

North Korean weapons extending Russian stockpiles, German general says

https://www.reuters.com/world/north-korean-weapons-extending-russian-stockpiles-german-general-says-2024-09-09/

By Josh Smith

September 9, 20247:20 AM EDTUpdated a day ago

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attend a state reception in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024. Sputnik/Vladimir Smirnov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SEOUL, Sept 9 (Reuters) - North Korea's provision of weapons has strengthened Russia's hand in Ukraine by allowing it to keep its arsenals stocked at home, Germany's top military official said during a visit to South Korea on Monday.

Chief of Defence General Carsten Breuer said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have reached out to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for weapons if they were not useful.

"It's about increasing the production of weapons for Russia's aggression in Ukraine, it's also strengthening Russia by making it possible for them to keep their stocks like they are," Breuer told reporters in the South Korean capital Seoul.

Ukraine and the United States, among other countries and independent analysts, say that Kim is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine by supplying rockets and missiles in return for economic and other military assistance from Moscow.

North Korea has shipped at least 16,500 containers of munitions and related materiel to Russia since September last year, and Russia had launched more than 65 of those missiles at targets in Ukraine, Robert Koepcke, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, said in a speech last week.

Moscow and Pyongyang have denied direct arms transfers, which would violate United Nations embargoes.

When asked whether he had pressed South Korea to directly provide weapons to Ukraine, Breuer said he shared Ukraine's view that anti-aircraft devices, infantry fighting vehicles and other weapons would be useful in the fight and that every country should do all they can.

South Korea has provided non-lethal equipment and aid but has said it does not plan to send weapons unless Russia's cooperation with North Korea crosses unspecified red lines.

"We have told North Korea that their security cooperation with Russia has direct implications for our security situation," German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt said.

During his visit to South Korea, Breuer toured two German warships that had docked there before crossing the South China Sea on their way to a stop in Manila.

The general declined to confirm if the ships would transit the disputed Taiwan Strait, which would be the first such voyage by German warships in more than 20 years.

China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, and says it has jurisdiction over the nearly 180-km (110 miles) wide waterway.

Taiwan objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.

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

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

If you do not read anything else in the 2017 National Security Strategy read this on page 14:

"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."

Access NSS HERE

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