News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin
1. Moon's new diplomatic lineup raises concerns over alliance with U.S.
2. Gov't fully activates task force on Sino-U.S. row
3. Ending the Korean War won't be easy as long as North Korea exists
4. US News falsely reports that North Korea threatened to nuke US
5. North Korea boasts of new surf resort in bizarre bid to get tourists over
6. North Korea shock: Chilling discovery made in Kim's secret underground tunnel revealed
7. In defense of Park Sang Hak and balloon launches to North Korea
8. Investigation launched into South Korea Bible balloon launching
9. Kim Jong Un blew up liaison office over alleged malicious content on wife, family: Report
10. N.Korea celebrates anniversary of missile launch
11. Hundreds of drones light up Seoul sky with virus messages
12. North Korean hackers linked to web skimming (Magecart) attacks, report says
13. The North Korean refugees supplying PPE to care homes
14. South Korea denies U.S. request to extradite operator of child pornography site
15. Washington's N.Korea point man to visit Seoul
16. Dialogue with N.K. must continue under any circumstances: unification minister nominee
17. Adelaide taekwondo instructor recounts fleeing North Korea 70 years ago
1. Moon's new diplomatic lineup raises concerns over alliance with U.S.
The Korea Times · by Do Je-hae · July 5, 2020
Yes we should be concerned. The perfect storm is coming for our alliance - the SMA stalemate, the revelation in Bolton's book, and the new South Korean national security team.
2. Gov't fully activates task force on Sino-U.S. row
en.yna.co.kr · by 김승연 · July 5, 2020
And yes this is another aspect of the coming perfect storm for our ROK/US alliance.
3. Ending the Korean War won't be easy as long as North Korea exists
The National Interest · by Chung Min Lee · July 5, 2020
Dr. Chung Min Lee is exactly right. Nothing will change as long as the Kim family regime remains in power.
The root of all problems in Korea is the existence of the mafia- like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime that has the objective of dominating the Korean Peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.
4. US News falsely reports that North Korea threatened to nuke US
FAIR · by Joshua Cho · July 5, 2020
Young Mr. Cho continues his defense of the Kim family regime. He accuses US News and World Report of a "ridiculous interpretation" but I think he must really be mirror imaging. He provides us with his "nuanced analysis" of North Korean statements that of course blame the US and defend the Kim family regime.
5. North Korea boasts of new surf resort in bizarre bid to get tourists over
dailystar.co.uk · by Berny Torre · July 5, 2020
I guess the regime needs some more hostages for its blackmail diplomacy. They probably think surfers are bold enough to do this and will also get a lot wild and give them the pretext for "arresting" one more to hold them hostage in support of its blackmail diplomacy.
What we should keep in mind is the resources for this new "resort" could be used to take care of the Korean people who are suffering in the North. These are the type of bankrupt policy decisions that illustrate Kim has no intention of being a responsible leader and continues to deny the basic human right. So the Korean people so that he can remain in power.
6. North Korea shock: Chilling discovery made in Kim's secret underground tunnel revealed
Express · by Joel Day · July 4, 2020
I am confused about the reporting in this article. This is a real clickbait headline. Yes we believe there are some 5000 underground facilities. But tunneling under the DMZ? We have found four. An engineer who escaped said there were 21 or 22 planned for under the DMZ from north to South. I am pretty sure all four tunnels are sealed off on the southern side of the Military Demarcation Line. I am not sure how anyone could inadvertently walk to the north Korean side. The four tunnels were discovered in 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1990. As far as I know there has not been one discovered since then.
7. In defense of Park Sang Hak and balloon launches to North Korea
Chosun, https://news.naver.com/ · by Suzanne Scholte, Seoul Peace Prize Laureate
The links are to the Korean language article. Suzanne Scholte, the author, and a friend and fellow board member of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) provided the English translation below. She has probably done more to help Korean escapees get information into the North than any other American.
Her message is clear and important. We must stand up for the rights of escapees (defectors) from the north who are living in the South. They should be protected, and their work should be supported by the ROK government. And most importantly, no one should ever back down in the face of threats from North Korea.
And if you are interested in learning more about her work and supporting it please go to the Defense Forum Foundation at this link; https://www.defenseforumfoundation.org/
8. Investigation launched into South Korea Bible balloon launching
chvnradio.com · by Libby Giesbrecht · July 5, 2020
Another troubling report. The South Korean government should be ashamed of itself. Whether the information sent to North Korea is political or religious it should be supported by the government. The people in the North need all information that can be sent.
9. Kim Jong Un blew up liaison office over alleged malicious content on wife, family: Report
republicworld.com · by Kunal Gaurav · July 6, 2020
Again this is likely part of a North Korea (or Russian) disinformation campaign. The escapees in the South did not do this. They are more sophisticated and would not use cheap photoshopped pictures. They would not photoshop in such as "low-grade way" as described by the Russian ambassador to North Korea said. But we have not seen any of these images (of course the North's convenient excuse is they do not want to expose them to further this insult to Kim and his wife). This is a perfectly manufactured excuse to take action against the South. And South Korea and specifically the Ministry of Unification fell right into their trap by blaming the escapees and their balloon launches.
10. N.Korea celebrates anniversary of missile launch
english.chosun.com · July 6, 2020
Yes this is an obvious message. Lift sanctions or we may launch again. This is part of the slow boiling of the frog we are going to see possibly leading up to a provocation as an "October surprise." Of course if we keep exposing the possible surprises Kim may not be able to surprise us with anything.
11. Hundreds of drones light up Seoul sky with virus messages
news.abs-cbn.com · by Agence France-Presse · July 6, 2020
Recall the fantastic light show at the 2018 Olympics (though there was some controversy about pre-recorded aspects of it). This could be an important capability. I wonder if the South can exploit this for military and/or psychological operations purposes.
12. North Korean hackers linked to web skimming (Magecart) attacks, report says
ZDNet · by Catalin Cimpanu
More on the regime's "all purpose sword." This is one of the most important capabilities of North Korea. Watch our Amazon. Everyone around the world needs to be aware of North Korean capabilities, activities, and intent.
13. The North Korean refugees supplying PPE to care homes
BBC · by Tom Brada · July 6, 2020
North Korean escapees giving back to their new country.
14. South Korea denies U.S. request to extradite operator of child pornography site
The New York Times · by Choe Sang-Hun · July 6, 2020
15. Washington's N.Korea point man to visit Seoul
It will be a busy week. I guess South Korea will waive the 14 day quarantine requirement.
I suspect these meetings might be coming at an inflection point for the ROK/US alliance. This is potentially a very important trip.
16. Dialogue with N.K. must continue under any circumstances: unification minister nominee
en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · July 6, 2020
When you want peace at any cost the cost could be very high in terms of blood and treasure and it could bring an existential crisis to your country.
17. Adelaide taekwondo instructor recounts fleeing North Korea 70 years ago
ABC.net.au · July 4, 2020
A Korean War perspective. We will soon be running out of first person stories from the war.
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"Human dignity and freedom are our constant necessities. So, let us keep them with us, or let us die with dignity."
- Marcus Tullius Cicero
"This is the diviine law of life: that only virtue stands firm. All the rest is nothing."
- Pythagoras
"Good people will do what they find honorable to do, even if it requires hard work; they'll do it even if causes them injury; they'll do it even if it will bring danger. Again, they won't do what they find base., even if it brings great wealth, pleasure, or power. Nothing will deter them from what is honorable, and nothing will lure them into what is base."
- Seneca, Moral Letters