I'm currently reading Albert Camus' The Outsider' alongside Sarah Earnshaw's 'Letter from Kempinskys' and will provide a review of both as time goes by.
Beautiful writing.
Beautiful writing.
Friday, 4 September 2015
North and South Korea at Chinese V Day Parade
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Top Stories Today
NK's Choe Ryong-hae sits at end during Chinese military parade (Korea Times)
A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seated at the end of a row of leaders watching the Chinese military parade marking the end of World War II on Thursday.
A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seated at the end of a row of leaders watching the Chinese military parade marking the end of World War II on Thursday.
Seoul-Beijing summit highlights N.K. isolation (The Korea Herald)
President Park Geun-hye’s trip to China this week further underscored Pyongyang’s deepening isolation and estrangement from Beijing.
President Park Geun-hye’s trip to China this week further underscored Pyongyang’s deepening isolation and estrangement from Beijing.
Economic revival appears to be behind push for dialogue with S. Korea (Yonhap News)
North Korea is believed to have used the latest military standoff with South Korea to get inter-Korean talks started so as to win economic cooperation and investment.
North Korea is believed to have used the latest military standoff with South Korea to get inter-Korean talks started so as to win economic cooperation and investment.
North Korean choir gives military-inspired concert in Russia (Washington Post)
The North Korean National Choir has performed for the first time in the Russian capital, putting on a military-inspired concert.
The North Korean National Choir has performed for the first time in the Russian capital, putting on a military-inspired concert.
UN Rapporteur for N.Korea Rights to Visit Seoul (Chosun Ilbo)
A senior human rights investigator at the UN will visit South Korea on Sunday to look into the human rights situation in North Korea.
A senior human rights investigator at the UN will visit South Korea on Sunday to look into the human rights situation in North Korea.
The USA's Pivot To Asia
Does the USA's Pivot to Asia mean that Asia will become more like the current USA Military Intelligence Focus: Iraq, Libya, Syria?
Very disturbing.
"Military Intelligence"...indeed...
Very disturbing.
"Military Intelligence"...indeed...
Thursday, 3 September 2015
North Asia Update
Foreign Media Monitor # 2: Weds September 2
CHINA
NEWS: Zhangzhou port accepts first shipment of North Korean anthracite
Note: China has quarantined or refused other North Korean shipments of anthracite earlier this year.
Zhangzhou's Zhaoyin Dock received a North Korean freighter carrying anthracite coal from North Korea valued at $300,000. This is the first time Zhangzhou has imported anthracite from North Korea. The coal was reportedly imported by Xiamen Dippon Trade Co., Ltd., and is to be sent to a cement plant near the city of Zhangping, in Fujian Province. North Korea is one of China's major sources for anthracite because it is abundant, cheap and of good quality. Zhangzhou relies primarily on coal for electricity generation, and its main sources for coal include Australia, Indonesia and Russia. After the ship docked, Zhangzhou Inspection and Quarantine carefully examined the coal before it was unloaded. – China Quality News Network, August 25, 2015
NEWS: China pressured North Korea behind the scenes, promoted peace agreement
The Hong Kong media outlet Oriental Daily has reported that China pressured North Korea behind the scenes during its recent negotiations with South Korea. Additionally, China scored a diplomatic victory by securing participation from both North and South Korea in its upcoming World War II victory anniversary celebration after negotiations concluded. For this role, the Oriental Daily referred to China as a “bomb-defusing expert.” Analysts speculated from clues in China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying's speeches about the Korean Peninsula situation that China was pressuring North Korea. In her speech on August 21, Hua expressed China's desire for “(the) relevant sides to keep calm, exercise restraint ... and to stop any action that could lead to an escalation of tensions” on the Peninsula. However, on former occasions, the Chinese government often used the phrasing “(the) relevant parties,” which has more of a nationalist context, in reference to situations on the Korean Peninsula. In these cases, China placed more equal weight on restraint from North and South Korea. South Korean government sources believe this change to be a clear indicator of Chinese pressure on North Korea. –China News, August 26, 2015
NEWS: North Korea seeks foreign investment to build brewery
North Korea is seeking $39 million in foreign capital to construct a brewery valued at $52 million in the Wonsan tourism promotion area. The brewery's estimated construction period is 20 months, and upon completion its planned annual capacity is expected to amount to 500,000 100-liter units of beer. The area, located near North Korea's eastern coast, will cater mostly to Chinese tourists, but it could also be used to promote North Korean beer exports. The Mount Paektu Cultural Exchange Association, founded by Michael Spavor, is promoting the investment opportunity. Because foreign investors will enter into joint ventures with North Korean companies, any exported beer will be sold under a domestic brand. Spavor is leading a group of interested investors on a trip to North Korea from September 18-25, during which time they will visit North Korea's most famous brewery, the Pyongyang Taedonggang Co. Ltd. Due to a shortage of breweries and bottling facilities, beer is in short supply in North Korea. The brewery is expected to balance the needs of the Wonsan area, which is also to include hotels, restaurants and bus stops, as well as provide an attractive foreign investment destination. – China Food and Technology Online, August 24, 2015
ANALYSIS/OPINION: China concerned over Korean Peninsula, but will not be 'kidnapped' by it
It was a confusing weekend on the Korean Peninsula; on one hand, the two Koreas reached an agreement at Panmunjom, but at the same time, it did not provide any remission from military confrontation. North Korea also verbally opposed the “restraint” called for by China, which remained unnamed in its statement. Many analysts believe that the recent tension on the Korean Peninsula is directly related to the upcoming World War II victory anniversary celebration in China. (North Korea) wants so badly for Park Geun-hye not to attend the celebration that it will cause the deterioration of the situation on the Peninsula. China is deeply concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and it does not respond passively to the situation there, but there are many other factors at play. China hopes that its celebration will not face interference, which would be of no benefit. China has good relations with both Koreas, wants peace and stability on the Peninsula, and is opposed to any party deliberately creating tension. China will use its stature and position to promote peninsular peace for the good of the region; however, as a great nation, China will not be kidnapped by any forces. – Editorial, Global Times, August 23, 2015
ANALYSIS/OPINION: Why is Kim Jong Un deliberately countering China?
On the evening of August 21, amid tension on the Korean Peninsula and following calls by China for restraint, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that it “would not hesitate to go to full-scale war” and claimed that “for decades, we have maintained restraint. Now, the ... ‘restraint' (advocated by) others will once again be of no help to the situation.” This was considered an allusion to China. North Korea created a dangerous atmosphere of war, in protest of China, with the objective of forcing dialogue with South Korea and the US. North Korea never intended to go to war. Kim Jong Un's willingness to launch provocations so soon before China's World War II anniversary victory celebration betrays North Korea's disregard for this event. Kim dared to do so for three reasons: First, the North possesses nuclear weapons, military advantages and enjoys diplomatic support from Russia. Second, North Korea has no substantial desire to improve relations with China, which has lost confidence in North Korea since its leadership transition and Kim's purges of pro-China officials. Third, China's support has accordingly tilted more in favor of South Korea. Faced with the situation on the Korean Peninsula, China needs a complete re-assessment of its peninsular policy. – Ding Dong, Business Insight, August 25, 2015
JAPAN
NEWS: Japanese wife who lived in N. Korea urges for talks
Hiroko Saito, 72, is a Japanese citizen who married a North Korean living in Japan and in 1961 they moved with their family to North Korea. After the famine in the ’90s that killed most of her family, Ms. Saito decided to flee from North Korea through China. "Making the sanctions more rigorous leads to nothing. We need a way to rescue all Japanese," Ms. Saito said of the negotiations between Japan and North Korea over abductions, which to date have produced no results. According to her daughter, who still lives in North Korea, most of the Japanese wives have either died or are very old. The investigation shouldn't only focus on those who were abducted, but also on those Japanese who are still living in North Korea. – Oita Press, August 25, 2015
NEWS: Japan-U.S. cooperation over NK issues confirmed
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/
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Sunday, 30 August 2015
North Asia News
Foreign Media Monitor: Weds August 26
JAPAN
Is refusal to finance North Korean schools in Japan hate speech?
Supporters of the movement to bring back financial aid to North Korean schools linked to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, have been more active recently. However, Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is against restoring funding for the Korean schools, which is granted to other private schools in Japan, because of the unresolved abduction issue and Chongryon's close ties to the North Korean government. This was decided in 2012 when North Korean schools were crossed off the list of schools receiving government funding. Supporters of Chongryon have raised this issue in the Japanese parliament, claiming that this policy shows hatred for the Korean people and is a form of hate speech. – Sankei Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2015
Japanese families visit graves of relatives in North Korea
At the end of World War II around 35,000 Japanese died in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula in Soviet camps from cold, malnutrition and disease. The remains of almost 20,000 were never taken back to Japan. North Koreans have gathered the remains and placed them in around 70 locations, not all of which are presently known. The Japanese government faces difficulties in bringing the remains back to Japan, as there are no official diplomatic relations between the countries. On August 16, a group of six Japanese visited some of the graves in the suburbs of Pyongyang to pray for their relatives. This was the first visit of this year. Eleven months have passed since the last visit in September 2014. Families have brought gravestones and rice from their hometowns in Japan, which were placed on the graves. – NHK, Aug. 20, 2015
Antonio Inoki invited to N. Korea for 70th anniversary of WPK
Politician and former pro wrestler Antonio Inoki has been invited to North Korea for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Worker's Party of Korea and is willing to go, he said during a press conference. Inoki maintains close relations with the North Korean government and has been to North Korea many times. “I don't know how much the Japanese government really knows, but the only way to find a solution (to the abduction issue) is for both sides to compromise,” he said. – Sports Hochi, Aug. 21, 2015
North Korean official says investigation of abduction issue is ‘over'
The civic group Kyoto Network for Japanese-North Korean Friendship has been told by a North Korean official during their stay in North Korea that the investigation into Japanese abductees is over. “The investigation of the abduction issue is over and the results were given to the Japanese government,” the group was reportedly told during its August 13-18 visit. However, as the North Korean official pointed out, the Japanese government had refused to receive the document. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said during a press conference that “no such thing has happened.” – The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2015
CHINA
Opinion: With Iran's nuclear issue resolved, is North Korea next?
There are similarities between Iran's nuclear situation and that of North Korea. Both viewed the U.S. as the catalyst for developing nuclear weapons, and both have been targeted by U.S. economic sanctions as a result. However, the dissimilarities between these two cases are larger. Firstly, in the U.S. view, there is a large difference in the geostrategic value of Iran and North Korea. Improvement in U.S.-Iran relations might control the threat posed by ISIS more effectively. Conversely, U.S. strategy in Asia primarily relies on Japan and South Korea, so North Korea's nuclear issues are less important to the U.S. There is also a large gap in the reliability and breakout time required for North Korea's nuclear technology compared to Iran's. Additionally, Iran exhibits some traits of Western-style democracy, holding presidential elections every four years, while North Korea resembles a medieval dynastic state, making it more difficult to approach North Korea's nuclear issue. –The Observer, July 22, 2015
Opinion: No question China-DPRK ties are sound
After Kim Jong Un recently paid visits to memorials for Chinese soldiers in the Korean War, international media outlets proclaimed a breakthrough in strained China-North Korea relations. However, since its origin, China's relationship with North Korea has always had a firm foundation. The friendship between China and North Korea is written in lives and blood, and its foundation is unbreakable. However, in recent years, both foreign and domestic media have raised questions about China-North Korea relations. In particular, recent criminal activity along China's border with North Korea, and the effect of North Korea's provocations on U.S. and Japanese militarization in Asia, have been brought into focus. When combining all of the factors contributing to the formation of US and Japanese military developments in Asia, North Korea forms but a small component.– China Youth Daily, August 5, 2015
North Korea: Kim Jong Un’s participation in 9/3 parade still unclear
(Note: North Korea has since confirmed that Kim Jong Un will not participate in the upcoming 9/3 parade. Vice Marshal and Secretariat of the Workers’ Party of Korea Choe Ryong Hae will attend in his stead.)
In a press conference at the ASEAN Regional Forum on August 6, the deputy director of North Korea’s International Agencies Bureau and former vice representative of North Korea to the UN, Lee Dong Il, took questions on a range of topics. In particular, Lee elaborated on North Korea’s opinion regarding nuclear development, and responded to questions about North Korea’s participation in China’s parade to celebrate the anniversary of the conclusion of World War II on September 3. According to Lee, the United States is fully responsible for the deterioration of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and that if the trend continued, North Korea would not rule out the possibility of further nuclear testing. Lee also urged the U.S. to change its policy toward North Korea. When a Global Times reporter asked if Kim Jong Un would attend China’s upcoming 70th anniversary WWII victory parade, Lee replied that it was still unclear whom North Korea would send. –China Daily, Aug. 8, 2015
Opinion: A diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea must begin with China
As the issue of North Korean nuclearization, quiet for some time, heats up again, especially with Kim Jong Un's recent overtures to China, is North Korean nuclearization entering a new key phase? The success of the recent Iran nuclear framework agreement also changes the situation of this issue. North Korea's warming to China represents an attempt to take the offensive ahead of mounting international pressure on the regime. Kim Jong Un has continued building North Korea's deterrence capabilities, as shown by its nuclear and submarine-launched missile tests, but this contradicts the de-nuclearization positions held by all other parties to the issue, including China. Over the past year, North Korea has tried to improve relations with South Korea, Russia and Japan, with little success. Now, it understands that a diplomatic breakthrough must begin with China. –Lianhe Post (Singapore), August 10, 2015
SOUTH KOREA
N. Korea starts up propaganda speakers to counter S. Korea’s
Following by the South Korean military’s use of propaganda speakers for the first time in 11 years, North Korea has decided to operate its own speakers to counter the South Korean ones. One source in the ROK military told the media that North Korea’s use of loudspeakers to counter South’s was one of the expected reactions from North. The contents from North Korea mostly consisted of propaganda materials praising the North Korean system or mix of buzzing noises to disrupt the sounds coming from the South Korean speakers. – Voice of America, Aug. 18, 2015
ROK-U.S. commemorates the anniversary of axe-murder incident at DMZ
Forces from the ROK and the U.S. participated in an event commemorating the anniversary of axe-murder incident in 1976. On August 18, 1976, two U.S. officers from the 2nd Infantry Division of the U.S Army, along with a number of South Korean workers, were cutting down a tree at the Joint Security Area that was obstructing the view. A group of North Korean soldiers appeared and brutally murdered two U.S. officers using axes and spades they had brought. – Yonhap, Aug. 18, 2015
Opinion: From laying mines in the South to artillery fire, the North admits nothing
It is fortunate that the situation did not become any more inflamed, as both Koreas declined to directly aim and fire at each other. Still, North Korea’s provocation is an unforgivable provocation that could’ve taken many South Korean civilians’ lives. North Korea’s shells fell near a South Korean mountain, and the impact area was very close to a crop field that South Korean farmers were working on. It makes no sense for the North to intentionally raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula, just around the time of the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence, which is kind of event that both Koreas can commemorate together. – The Kyunghyang Shinmun, Aug. 20, 2015
Opinion: No peace without retaliation
For the last 60 years, whenever North Korea has provoked South Korea, there has not been much we could do to strike them back and teach them the proper lesson. Why has it been like this? First, South Korea’s national defense heavily depends on the ROK-U.S. alliance and this does not provide enough flexibility to completely prevent North Korea’s irregular provocations against South Koreans. Second, South Korea’s wartime operational control of its armed forces belongs to the U.S., and due to this, South Korean leaders have held back by the U.S. whenever they wanted to take revenge on North Korea with harsh force. Third, many Korean leaders have been too afraid of being politically pressured by those blindly short-sighted pacifists who would shake their own leaders for being harsh against North Korea. – The Chosun Ilbo, Aug. 22, 2015
RUSSIA
North Korea threatens attack on U.S. with ‘previously unknown weapon’
The joint U.S.-South Korea military trainings have disturbed the government of the DPRK, as seen in the North Korean National Defense Commission’s statement that the country has a previously unknown weapon, which can produce an attack of incredible strength. “The army and people of DPRK, once forced to take arms against the nuclear power of the U.S., no longer have to … North Korea is an unbeatable force, and now owns the latest in defensive and offensive weaponry, currently unknown to the world,” said the NDC in a statement. In fact, Pyongyang has threatened an attack on Washington in its own territory, CNN reports. “If the U.S. wants to preserve its territory and security, the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises must be stopped,” stated a North Korean news announcer. – Komsomolskaya Pravda, Aug. 16
Analyst: North Korean ‘superweapon’ just rhetoric
Yevgeniy Kim, research associate at the Center for Korean Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences Far East Institute, said it is hard to believe that a weapon such as the one North Korea claims to have could have been created. The statement from the DPRK in regards to its possession of a unique weapon is political rhetoric, said Kim, lead researcher at the Center for Korean Studies, in an interview with Latvian radio station Baltkom. “It is difficult for me right now to suppose what could have created such a weapon, something that would allow for the destruction of the United States of America from North Korea. Firstly, there is no delivery mechanism for such a weapon. Secondly, we have tracked the development of science in Korea, but so far I have not seen anything there that has not been created in other countries. It’s rhetoric,” said Kim. – RIA Novosti, Aug. 17, 2015
Opinion: How North Korea threatens the U.S.
North Korea has threatened the United States of America with a “never-before-seen destructive weapon.” I don’t know about you all, but I believe it. I can even somewhat imagine what it will be like. It will be like this. An old political freezer, to the north of the 38th parallel, will die – from the overheating of its prehistoric motor; its contents will bulge and burst with a weird smell and blood … The rusted door will fall off, and 20-odd-million unhappy, dying-from-hunger North Koreans, long gnawing at the wings of their legendary horse Juche, rush for salvation to the South. There will be – just imagine – more of them than the sum of people who fled from Rwanda and Bosnia Herzegovina … South Korea, of course, will ask for help from the global community. ... And the most necessary “humanitarian” aid to North Korea will cost many millions of dollars if not trillions. This is not like the misfortune of the Greeks with pensions seven times that of Russians – this is for real. – Glavkom News, August 18
Chelyabinsk region deports almost 200 illegals – including North Korean
In the course of 2015, workers of the Federal Bailiff Service have already expelled 188 foreigners, living illegally in the Chelyabinsk region, from Russia. Among them are 10 children. This is reported by the Offices of Press Services. Just in the last week, the Federal Bailiff Service sent six citizens from the People’s Republic of China, five from Uzbekistan and two from Tajikistan back to their homelands. Most of the individuals were found through the operational work of the Federal Bailiff Service on the territory of Chelyabinsk. Illegals from China were found in greenhouses in the Yetkulsk region. Another 88 people are being held in special institutions for the detention of illegal migrants await their fate. Among them is the first offender from North Korea. All of them are being held administratively responsible for violations of the rules of entry and living standards in Russia. The report mentions that offenders are subject to monetary penalties as well as deportation from the country. – ChelTV.ru, Aug. 19
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