Foreign Media Monitor #14: Weds November 25
CHINA: NEWS
Those drinking China's Nongfu Spring water in North Korea considered rich – Shenzhen News, November 20
http://www.sznews.com/ent/content/2015-11/20/content_12500744.htm?v=pc
As markets play a larger role in the lives of North Koreans, demand for luxury and foreign goods is increasing. In fact, a bottle of Nongfu Spring Water, imported from China, is considered a symbol of prosperity. Markets where foreigners shop only accept euros, but the U.S. dollar is currently the most popular currency in North Korea. The Renminbi is also widely used. The market price of a television is roughly 1,000 RMB ($155). The direction of North Korea's economy can be most clearly seen in Pyongyang, where observers have noted increases in traffic and construction even within the past few months. The government is also investing in its scientists by granting them extra land for planting turnips and cabbage, in addition to their allotted housing. This is very popular, and if the vegetables are cultivated correctly, their yields sometimes surpass those of rural farms. The recent renovation of Pyongyang's airport and lengthening of its runway shows that the world's most closed country is preparing for more air traffic. The city of Pyongyang clearly shows that North Korea is moving toward a viable economic system.
North Korea mobile phone usership growing by 'leaps and bounds' – CN Beta, November 21
http://digi.163.com/15/1121/08/B8UCK7GJ00162OUT.html
Most believe North Korea to be a closed country, and even most in neighboring China know little about North Korea. Despite this, North Korea does not want to imagine itself as "decoupled" from the world. The most recent figures show that 3 million, or one in eight, North Koreans are now using cellphones, up from 2 million in May 2013. These statistics come from the Egyptian mobile communications company Orascom, which introduced cellphones into the North Korean market. Additionally, North Korea has established its own state-owned telecommunications company, which is engaged in cooperative discussions to merge with Orascom.
Spring Airlines applies to begin 4 weekly flights from Shanghai to Pyongyang – East Online, November 23
http://www.gywb.cn/content/2015-11/23/content_4191780.htm
Soon, Shanghaiers will no longer need to charter direct flights to visit North Korea, as a new route from Pudong Airport to Pyongyang, operated by Spring Airlines, is pending approval. According to the application submitted by Spring Airlines to the China Civil Aviation Administration, the airline hopes to begin direct service between Shanghai and Pyongyang in February. The airline plans to offer four round-trip flights weekly, served by Airbus A-320 aircraft. Reporters learned from industry insiders that flights to North Korea from China are currently only permitted from Beijing. Air Koryo also offers a small number of chartered flights each year, but these are limited to summer months, and travelers have little choice as to when to fly. However, if this route is approved, it will be the first from Shanghai to North Korea, and passengers will no longer need to transit through Beijing.
CHINA: OPINION & ANALYSIS
Is North Korea looking toward reunification with Global Times article? – Lei Xiying, Xue Bohan and Dong Fa, China Youth Online, November 19
http://news.163.com/15/1119/09/B8PARPOK00014AED.html
Kim Ye Jin, a researcher for the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace, published an article in China's Global Times stating that a federated, "one country, two systems" approach was the most peaceful and equitable to unify the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has made similar statements before, beginning with Kim Il Sung in 1980. However, the background has changed considerably since then, when the political and economic situations were similar on both sides. In addition, the idea is still likely to go nowhere because the two sides cannot even agree to discuss such a federated system. So why is North Korea voicing this idea now? First, it is a continuation of Kim Jong Un's efforts to promote re-unification; despite problems, one must give Kim some credit for attempting to improve ties. Second, as this year is the 70th anniversary of independence from Japanese rule, there is greater desire on both sides to achieve their long-cherished wish. Third, North Korea is trying to re-capture the attention of the world – which is shifting to the Middle East – and, by appearing proactive, elicit a response from the South. However, the authors fear this is another of North Korea's tricks to obtain more financial aid.
North Korea's Rason SEZ: ‘One country, two systems?’ – Editorial, Sina, November 20
http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2015-11-20/doc-ifxkwaxv2538829.shtml
North Korea may yet use China's "one country, two systems" model in developing the Rason SEZ, and show the world its fledgling "experimental opening." The question is, will it work? North Korea has had difficulties acquiring hard currency as a result of the UN sanctions in place, and the SEZ may represent a work-around for North Korean companies, according to a South Korean scholar. Analysts believe that the move is an attempt to shore up more foreign currency to spur economic development, and achieve some success in that regard ahead of the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress. A new economic policy line may be announced at the congress. However, according to Liu Ming, deputy director of the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, the change is more symbolic, and Rason is unlikely to attain the accomplishments of Hong Kong or Macau. North Korea has had SEZs for decades, but they have seen little development, and few companies will want to invest in North Korea before its nuclear issues are solved.
JAPAN: NEWS
Open letter to Chongryon says cut ties to North Korea – Sankei, November 24
http://www.sankei.com/world/news/151124/wor1511240010-n1.html
An unusual petition has been drafted by a former Chongryon activist. 70-year-old Ko Chun-yi has prepared a petition to the leaders of Chongryon in which he presented five conditions for restoring the reputation of the organization in Japan. First of all, the portraits of North Korean leaders should be removed from all Chongryon institutions. Secondly, Chongryon should use its connections to release all the Japanese that have been abducted. Thirdly, Chongryon should oppose North Korea’s possession of atomic weapons. Furthermore, the organization should admit all financial fraud and explain its actions. Lastly, members of Chongryon should revoke their memberships in the Workers' Party of Korea. The author of the petition was seen distributing his demands during a Chongryon event in October. For his actions he has already been stricken from the rolls of the organization. However, his petition has been picked up by the Korean media in Japan and some say that it has sparked an uproar in Chongryon. Chongryon representatives could not be reached for a statement.
Number of defectors among North Korean embassy employees rises – Daily NK, November 21
http://dailynk.jp/archives/56451
Radio Free Asia has recently reported a sudden increase in defections among elite members of the North Korea’s ruling party at foreign embassies. According to sources in China, the families of employees at North Korea’s German and Beijing embassies have disappeared into thin air. This has resulted in greater vigilance among the North Korean security staff at all North Korean embassies. It's still not clear if it those who ran away include the families of embassy employees or businessman working abroad. There is also no information as to whether they escaped to South Korea or a third country. In the past North Koreans were defecting because of food shortages, but now even party members who are doing quite well have decided to leave the country. Especially just before the 70th anniversary of the party foundation many officials defected, as they couldn't meet the required hard currency-earning quotas from abroad.
JAPAN: OPINION & ANALYSIS
Foreign policy of Shinzo Abe falls into North Korean trap – Youngki Koh, Daily NK November 22
http://dailynk.jp/archives/56414
When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G20 Summit in Turkey last week, he wasn't able to make any progress on the Kuril Islands dispute between Russia and Japan. Because of this, he will want to succeed in resolving the abduction issue. North Korea anticipates this and is already preparing to put itself in an advantageous position in negotiations. Recently the North Korean Association for Victims of Japanese Slave Labor has been especially active. The reason is Japan’s efforts to resolve the comfort women issue with South Korea. Suddenly, the North Koreans have been trying to remind that there are also comfort women victims in their country. In this situation, whenever Japan raises its demands to resolve the abduction issue, North Korea will ask about how Japan means to first resolve historical issues in North Korea and other Asian countries. Naturally, Japan cannot pay everyone, so it seems that the more Shinzo Abe works on resolving the abduction issue, the more problems he will get.
North Korea has already passed the first phase of economic development – Kim Kyoichi, Hankyoreh Japan, November 18
http://japan.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/22538.html
North Korean society has already changed and has reached the level of China at the beginning of its transformation. Market economy is slowly beginning to have effect on people's lives and change it. The only way to influence North Korean society is through economic cooperation. The Sunshine Policy of the late president Kim Dae-jung happened too early, while the "Arduous March" was still affecting North Korean society. Today the situation is different and we should push the Koreans to influence changes in government policy. But North Korean society has already changed and Kim Jong Un’s policy is actively adjusting according to this reality. There is hope for change in that.
SOUTH KOREA: NEWS
Seven N. Korean defectors arrested in Thailand, wish to be sent to S. Korea – Newsis, November 19
http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html?ar_id=NISX20151119_0010424935&cID=10301&pID=10300
Seven North Korean defectors were arrested near the Mekong River, the border region between Thailand and Laos. “Police spotted a mysterious boat on the Mekong River and arrested the seven who were on the boat,” said Thai media on November 19. None of them had passports at the time of arrest. Those arrested stated that they are from North Korea and wish to be sent to South Korea. “The group was composed of both males and females aged 20 to 70,” said Voice of America. “They have passed through North Korea, China and Laos and arrived in Thailand.”
Syria and N. Korea to expand cultural exchanges – Daily NK, November 20
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=107361
North Korea and Syria have agreed to expand the cultural exchanges between the two countries. The two agreed to expand their interactions in the fields of film, theater, music and many others. Jang Myung-ho, the North Korean ambassador to Damascus and Syria’s minister of culture attended to sign the agreement, which would begin expanding cultural exchanges starting this year through 2017. During the press conference and after the signing of the program, the Syrian minister of culture was quoted as saying that “the signing of this joint program is part of our efforts to improve the relationship between North Korea and Syria, the country which has endured numerous challenges by those who tried to take Syria’s sovereignty.”
39 fallen U.S. Korean War troops identified this year – VOA, November 23
http://www.voakorea.com/content/article/3062212.html
The U.S. Department of Defense has identified 39 fallen U.S. Korean War troops in the fiscal year 2015. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) told Voice of America that the K208 team has distinguished 29 bodies while another DPAA recovery and identification team, referred to as “Punchbowl,” did the same for the remaining 10. Korean-American anthropologist Jenny Jin said that the identification of the 29 bodies means a lot to the K208 team, as the number shows that the team is skilled enough to identify nearly 30 bodies in one fiscal year. In the fiscal year 2012, K208 identified and returned 20 U.S. Korean War soldiers, with 18 revealed in fiscal year 2013 and 23 in the last fiscal year.
SOUTH KOREA: OPINION & ANALYSIS
S.Korean, N.Korean envoys’ meeting should be free of formality, agendas – Editorial, Kyunghyang, November 20
http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201511202044565&code=990101
It seems South Korea and North Korea will be holding working-level talks for the preparation of high-level ones. North Korea, which on three occasions did not respond to South Korea’s calls for the talks, finally did on November 26. South Korea immediately responded with open arms. The situation is very favorable as the windows between South Korea and North Korea had been shutting bit by bit since the last meetings between separated families. The working-level talks between the two focus on discussing the details of the upcoming high-level talks. But some are already worrying that the result of the high-level talks would not be so fruitful. People say that South Korea would push to solve the issues related to meetings between separated families, while the North would urge the resumption of Mount Kumgang tourism and request the lifting of the May 24 Measures. But if the two sides are already starting to confront each other over the agenda, wishing for the improvement in inter-Korean relations would be foolish. Recent news says that U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon is also feeling the need to talk to North Korean government. South Korea should not miss this chance.
N.Korea will gain from us if they change – Editorial, Chosun Ilbo, November 21
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/11/20/2015112003972.html
From economy to diplomacy to national defense, North Korea has shown numerous signs of changes in the country. Since meeting with Liu Yunshan from China, North Korea has been focusing on improving its relationship with China. The nuclear and missile tests have been postponed for the moment and provocations against South Korea have definitively diminished. U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Pyongyang is under discussion and the expansion of the jangmadang and foreign trade, including the construction industry, have all bloomed. This gives the impression that North Korea is trying to change from “provocations and threats” to “talks and moderation.” Next year would be the 5th year of Kim Jong Un’s reign, and North Korea is holding its Workers' Party Congress after a 36-year hiatus. The country is in position to show some diplomatic and economic achievements to the rest of the world. These circumstances will play favorably to inter-Korean relations. And should South Korea and North Korea decide to hold summit talks regularly, the regular talks would be a great chance to lessen tensions and expand exchanges between two. But we have to be mindful of North Korea’s changes. The regime is maintaining the position of parallel economic and nuclear weapons development. The South Korean delegation should be very careful in responding to North Korea’s requests during talks. We must have clear principles to set the boundaries between humanitarian aid and meetings between separated families, and North Korea’s nuclear weapons and economic cooperation.
RUSSIA: NEWS
North Korea returns to plans for ‘second Hong Kong’ on Russian border – Realty.newsru.com, November 18
North Korea has introduced a new comprehensive plan for the development of the special economic zone Rason (Rajin-Sonbong) in the northeast of the country, in which it is expected to invest about $15.5 billion, reports RIA Novosti, quoting the South Korean Yonhap News Agency. According to the agency, the development of the manufacturing sector is expected to attract investment of $9.2 billion, primarily in the construction of the industrial park "Pekhak," an area of 22 square km in the district of Sonbon. The industrial park will house many enterprises, including those producing equipment for light industry, construction materials plants and steel mills. Investment in the industrial park "is planned in the amount of approximately $4.5 billion," the report says. They plan to create nine industrial parks. One of them – the Unsanskaya Development Zone, an area of 4.37 square km – will house woodworking factories, including those in the production of building materials and furniture. This will require an investment of about $1.77 billion.
Russia, North Korea reach criminal extradition agreement – AIF.ru, November 18
http://www.aif.ru/politics/world/rossiya_i_kndr_dogovorilis_o_vzaimovydache_prestupnikov
A treaty on the mutual extradition of criminals was signed between Russia and North Korea, Interfax reported, citing the press service of the Russian Ministry of Justice. The document was signed during a visit from Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov to North Korea. "On November 17 in North Korea, Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov held a meeting with the first deputy chairman of the DPRK Supreme Court," the ministry said. Also, the two countries have agreed on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. This summer, the Russian government decided to waive the agreement with Georgia on the mutual extradition of criminals. The Ministry of Justice explained that Russia has refused the agreement with Georgia on the extradition of criminals, as the issue is regulated by the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, to which both countries are members. In March, the refusal of extradition was adopted with respect to Estonia, as the issue of transfer of sentenced persons between the two countries is also regulated within the Convention.
RUSSIA: OPINION & ANALYSIS
A new, unique, political supply chain: Russia, North Korea and South Korea – Editorial, PublicSea.ru, November 18 http://bit.ly/1lKWhp7
The third and last phase of the pilot shipment of Russian coal through the North Korean port of Rajin for final sea delivery to the South Korean port of Busan has begun. As a result, the South Korean side will make a final, formal decision on participation in the supply chain. The entire project was launched seven years ago, after the relevant tripartite agreements at the highest level. On the South Korean side, leading companies have taken part in the endeavor, including steelmaker POSCO, Hyundai Merchant Marine and the national rail operator KORAIL. A representative of the South Korean team of 20 professionals had to take the last train to get from Vladivostok to Rajin with the task of inspecting ships involved in the project and assessing the mooring conditions, as well as checking the status of the North Korean railways and roads. One concern was that the damage that might have been caused by previous floods could impact the development of this project and further cooperation. Experts remain in Rajin until November 20, before the departure of ships laden with coal to South Korea in Busan. This project – the pilot phase of the Trans-Korean Railway recovery – is the only one to date. This is no small feat, as it undertakes practical initiatives including the development of trilateral economic cooperation between Russia, North Korea and South Korea. It opens up possibilities for economic integration on the Eurasian continent and stability in Northeast Asia.
Ruining documentary, N.Korea reveals differences with USSR – Oleg Baturin, LB.ru, November 19
http://blogs.lb.ua/oleg_baturin/321336_severnaya_koreya_budushchee.html
The international premiere of Vitaliy Manskiy’s In the Sun opened the main competition program at the Tallinn Film Festival. Rooms were filled and tickets sold out long before all of the sessions. The new picture by Vitaliy Manskiy, the well-known documentary filmmaker and director of the documentary film festival "Artdokfest," was shot in North Korea. The international premiere of the film, anticipated by many, was held in the main part of the competition program. The idea of creating a picture of life in one of the most closed countries in the world came to the director a few years ago. After lengthy negotiations, they were able to finally reach an agreement with the North Korean side and begin filming. However, the film turned out not the way it was conceived by the authors: The representatives of the DPRK reshaped the picture every second, interfering with virtually every frame of it. “I am very interested in the opportunity to film in the country, which, as it seemed to me, reminds me of our distant past. And my idea was to try to understand our history,” said Vitaliy Mansky. According to Natalia Manskiy, the producer of the film, the start of filming in North Korea was preceded by scrupulous work. The agreement with the North Korean side was prescribed in detail. But in the end it was she who broke the contract and decided to not allow the film crew to travel to the country for the last expedition, which was to last for 45 days. "So they did not provide us 50 percent of the shooting period," says Manskiy. “North Korea prescribes all the details, down to the script, despite the fact that we had our own scenario. During our stay in the DPRK it seemed to me that the similarity of the country with the Soviet Union of the 1930s is purely of an external nature. The deep differences between the two systems are more fundamental. The Soviet Union, with all the horrors of Stalin's regime, was given the great cinema, theater, literature, science, great names – Eisenstein, Rodchenko, Akhmatova and many others. North Korea is nothing like this.”
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