News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Riley Murray.
1. The Korean War: The origin of Pyongyang's state lies
2. Nightmare scenarios: How Korean War 2 could ignite
3. North Korea "failed to adhere to its commitments" in arms control: U.S. report
4. Top Pyongyang official chides Seoul, but affirms halt to hostility
5. What is Kim Jong-un Planning?
6. Rethinking South Korea’s Unification Policy: Deregulate People-to-People Exchanges
7. How North Korea's Propaganda Prevents Inter-Korean Peace
8. Do We Remember the Lessons of the Korean War?
9. N. Korean soldiers on inter-Korean border still on high state of alert
10. The Pyongyang General Hospital project's dark side
11. Opinion | Why Did Kim Jong-un’s Sister Become the Face of North Korea?
12. Timeline: Threats and stalemate one year after Trump last met North Korea's Kim
13. House defense bill targets potential troop drawdowns in Africa, South Korea
14. Kim Jong-un dead rumours resurface as Japan has 'suspicions' about North Korean leader
15. State Department accuses 10 countries, including China and North Korea, of government-sponsored human trafficking
16. N.K. propaganda outlet resumes anti-Seoul criticism over 'subservient' attitude to U.S.
17. U.S. names N. Korea worst human trafficking nation for 18th year
18. CNN’s Portrayal of North Korea as Lawless Aggressor Reverses Reality
1. The Korean War: The origin of Pyongyang's state lies
The Hill · by Sung-Yoon Lee, opinion contributor · June 25, 2020
A must read from Professor Lee. These are important insights about the history and nature of the Kim family regime.
2. Nightmare scenarios: How Korean War 2 could ignite
asiatimes.com · by Andrew Salmon · June 25, 2020
Excellent interview with our good friend Lt Gen Chun In Bum.
3. North Korea "failed to adhere to its commitments" in arms control: U.S. report
nknews.org · by Min Chao Choy · June 26, 2020
The State Department report can be downloaded here: https://www.state.gov/adherence-to-and-compliance-with-arms-control-nonproliferation-and-disarmament-agreements-and-commitments-compliance-report/
4. Top Pyongyang official chides Seoul, but affirms halt to hostility
Kim Yong Chol is not looking good. Perhaps he has recently return from a re-education course. This article makes it appear there may be some friction between the party and the military. I think it would be a mistake to think that. I think the party remains in control of the military and Kim Jong-un is fully in charge and is continuing to execute his long con.
5. What is Kim Jong-un Planning?
The National Interest · by Daniel R. DePetris · June 25, 2020
Another pundit who continually wants to blame the US and maximum pressure. He is also telling us we have much to learn about north Korea.
6. Rethinking South Korea’s Unification Policy: Deregulate People-to-People Exchanges
38north.org · by Bernhard Seliger · June 25, 2020
I am all for people to people contact between the Koreans in the north and South. If I were advising the ROKG I would strongly recommend they push for people to people engagement on a large scale (but start small and build). It will be one of the best ways to prepare the populations on both sides of the of DMZ.
However, the regime will never go for it. The South can propose all kinds fo people to people engagement programs, but the north will never agree.
Why? We must remember the question Dr. Jung Pak always asks. Who does Kim Jong-un fear more: the US or the Korean people living in the north? He fears the Korean people more. And if the people engage with Koreans from the South, they will become an ever-bigger threat to the regime. Kim Jong-un therefore cannot allow such engagement to occur.
7. How North Korea's Propaganda Prevents Inter-Korean Peace
The National Interest · by Jihyun Park · June 24, 2020
A very succinct overview of the indoctrination of the Korean people in the north.
8. Do We Remember the Lessons of the Korean War?
There is a scathing critique in the penultimate and concluding paragraphs. I think the editorial board could have used the Sun Tzi quote - "Never assume the enemy will not attack. Make yourself invincible."
9. N. Korean soldiers on inter-Korean border still on high state of alert
dailynk.com – Jeong Tae Joo - June 25, 2020
Of course, they are especially since the ROK Army reinforced the forward areas to include deploying armor. Are the ROK forces still in the forward areas?
10. The Pyongyang General Hospital project's dark side
dailynk.com – Jong So Yong - June 26, 2020
The hospital must be built at "Chollima speed." This is a helluva way to treat soldiers (or any human being). The regime does not value or have respect for human life. Every one of the 25 million Koreans who live in the north exists for one reason: to serve the regime and Kim Jong-un.
11. Opinion | Why Did Kim Jong-un’s Sister Become the Face of North Korea?
The New York Times · by Sung-Yoon Lee · June 26, 2020
Another excellent article from Professor Lee with important insights on Kim Yo-Jong, the Kim family regime, and the Paektu bloodline.
12. Timeline: Threats and stalemate one year after Trump last met North Korea's Kim
Reuters · June 26, 2020
A short timeline of the past two years of unconventional, experimental top-down, pen-pal diplomacy. Just a recommendation to Reuters: it would have been more useful to include the summits and meetings with Moon Jae-in, Xi Jinping, and Putin and the 21+ missile and rocket launches. That would have provided more context and a better perspective.
13. House defense bill targets potential troop drawdowns in Africa, South Korea
The Hill · by Rebecca Kheel · June 25, 2020
Some good news. I did not see this in the Senate mark-up but I was only focused on Special Operations and the establishment of a Secretariat of Special Operations under the ASD SO/LIC. But I imagine the Korea provision will be in the final bill.
The Korea section is repeating and reinforcing the same provision in the 2020 NDAA - no funds will be authorized for withdrawal of troops unless the SECDEF certifies that there is no impact on US or South Korean security.
14. Kim Jong-un dead rumours resurface as Japan has 'suspicions' about North Korean leader
Mirror · by Talia Shadwell · June 26, 2020
The "Mark Twain" rumors persist (reports of my death are greatly exaggerated). But the Japanese press is notorious for these types of rumors. We should note that it was only 16 days between his last appearch and his Zoom Meeting with his officials this week.
15. State Department accuses 10 countries, including China and North Korea, of government-sponsored human trafficking
The Washington Post – by Carol Morello – June 25, 2020
According to Yonhap, north Korea was named number one for the 18th straight year. This article goes well beyond north Korea.
We must continue to press north Korean on human rights issues. It is a moral imperative and a national security issue. Kim must deny human rights to remain in power. Our focus on nuclear weapons strengthens his legitimacy. Our focus on human rights undermines his legitimacy and is a threat to the regime. And it is the right thing to do.
16. N.K. propaganda outlet resumes anti-Seoul criticism over 'subservient' attitude to U.S.
en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · June 26, 2020
The scorpion and the frog. The Kim family regime just cannot help itself. Anti-South propaganda is in its nature. And of course, "Divide to conquer" - divide the ROK/US alliance to conquer the ROK is also in its nature. It just cannot help itself.
17. U.S. names N. Korea worst human trafficking nation for 18th year
en.yna.co.kr · by 이해아 · June 26, 2020
We cannot be afraid to focus on human rights. State is not.
18. CNN’s Portrayal of North Korea as Lawless Aggressor Reverses Reality
fair.org · by Joshua Cho · June 25, 2020
I have to provide this disinformation. This is an unbelievable piece of "analysis". It has been awhile since I have read something pro-north Korea. It is pretty amazing spin. I hope my PSYOP professional friends enjoy analyzing this. I am going to have to pay better attention at DC Korea conferences and look for this Mr. Cho since he apparently resides in north Korea. I wonder if he has registered as a foreign agent. He is surely doing the bidding of the Kim family regime. I wonder if he has a contract with the Propaganda and Agitation Department. His propaganda is actually brilliant because this might be embraced by those with an anti-CNN bias so by their attacking CNN they will be supporting north Korea. :-)