News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1. A Letter from the Son of the Man Killed, Burnt by North Korea on September 22, 2020: Restore My Father's Honor

2.  Kim Jong-un promotes pair of advisers to North's highest military rank

3. 2020 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula

4. Ex-N.Korean Diplomat Defected to S.Korea

5.  South Korean Activists Accuse China of Using Huawei to Hack Their Election

6. A letter to Kim Jong-un

7. Fitch Affirms Korea at 'AA-'; Outlook Stable

8. Defense Ministry chides PPP lawmakers for 'inappropriate' intelligence leaks

9. Ministry reaffirms its push for end-of-war declaration despite killing of fisheries official

10. Typhoid fever strikes inmates at labor camp in N. Pyongan Province

11. What to Expect From North Korea's Military Parade

12. Former U.S. Forces Korea CO: Pausing Exercises 'No Longer Relevant' to North Korea Nuclear Negotiations

13. Eroding the Regime's Information Monopoly: Cell Phones in North Korea

14. Pyongyang Gears Up for Major Workers' Party Anniversary Events

15. South Korea struggles to choose between US and China

16. N. Korean authorities step up efforts to stop smuggling along Chinese border

17. South Korea's request for submarine nuclear fuel from US denied: report

18. N. Korea's SLBM to complicate denuclearization efforts: ex-defense official

19. Nuclear-powered submarine development is pursued hastily

20. Yomiuri: S. Korea Sought to Arrange US Visit by Kim Jong-un's Sister before Election

21. Politbureau Speed Campaigns 8th Party Congress and Pregames Party's 75th

22. US missed 'golden opportunity' by walking out of Hanoi summit with N. Korea: Hecker

 

1. A Letter from the Son of the Man Killed, Burnt by North Korea on September 22, 2020: Restore My Father's Honor

East Asia Research · October 6, 2020

Thank you to Dr. Tara O for providing this translation of a very powerful letter to President Moon from the high school of the South korean civil servant who was murdered by the north Korean People's Army.  I truly hope this moves President Moon and I hope the disrespectful treatment of this man's memory is stopped. 

 

2.  Kim Jong-un promotes pair of advisers to North's highest military rank

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com by Shim Kyu-Seok

I am resending this because of the significance of the promotion Ri Pyong-chol.  Robert Collins provided this very important follow-up information that is very much worth sharing.

Ri Pyong-chol (alt. spelling Byong-chol) is currently the Director of the Korean Workers' Party Munitions Industry Department which is in charge of all weapons production. In this position, he oversees not only missile programs, but the nuclear program as well, and all other weapons programs. Other key personnel are certainly supervising components of those programs under Ri's Party oversight. Ri also attends with Kim Jong-un the observance of "new weapon systems."  Ri is also a member of the KWP Politburo, a vice-director of the KWP Central Committee, a member of the KWP Central Military Committee, a member of the DPRK State Affairs Commission, and a delegate of the 14th DPRK Supreme People's Assembly. In addition to being a former Commander of the North Korean Air Force, he is also rumored to be the father of Kim Jong-un's wife, Ri Sol-ju. 

He is without doubt the most significant advisor Kim Jong-un has in the face of crisis due to his high-level experience in both the military and the party. No one else compares even closely.

And I suppose they receive a marshal's baton.

Interesting fact here (I am assuming it is accurate but I defer to the north Korean leadership experts).  Note that one is the head of the missile program and the other is an artilleryman who is responsible for the short range missile program.  Will they be showing off some from their programs on October 10th?

 The two figures have surged through the ranks under Kim Jong-un's patronage, with their most recent promotion making them two of only seven people - besides the Kims themselves - t o become five-star generals in the country's history.

Even in North Korea's military bureaucracy, which is plagued by rank inflation, the rank of marshal has only been bestowed upon figures closest to the Kim family who were instrumental to their rise and consolidation of power.

 

3. 2020 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula

keia.org

Some very interesting and useful information in this survey.  Some good signs for the alliance though there is always work to be done. Thanks to KEI for commissioning it.

The PDF of the 42 page report can be downloaded here: 

 

4. Ex-N.Korean Diplomat Defected to S.Korea

english.chosun.com

Did the lawmaker just put his life, and also importantly his daughter's,  in danger?  Recall his daughter was sent back to north Korea from Italy after Jo and his wife vanished.   I wonder what has happened to her?  It cannot be good.

 

5.  South Korean Activists Accuse China of Using Huawei to Hack Their Election

The Daily Beast · October 6, 2020

A colleague asked me if we should be concerned that Chinese may use Korean companies (e.g., LG) as a trojan horse to allow Huawei to back door access to the US?  I do not know the answer to that but we must be vigilant.  I just hope none of our election equipment comes from China.

 

6. A letter to Kim Jong-un

The Korea Times· by Choi Sung-jin · October 6, 2020

This is not in keeping with custom of the Trump-Kim letter writing.  But on a serious note it does provide an interesting assessment of the COVID and economic situation in the north.

 

7. Fitch Affirms Korea at 'AA-'; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings

Good economic news for South Korea.

 

8. Defense Ministry chides PPP lawmakers for 'inappropriate' intelligence leaks

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com· by Shum Kyu-Seok

Perhaps they need more than a little chinding.

 

9. Ministry reaffirms its push for end-of-war declaration despite killing of fisheries official

en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · October 7, 2020

Sigh...I guess the Moon administration has refused to re-examine its assumptions about the Kim  family regime.  This is going to come back to haunt the administration.

I really want to know what effect the ROK government thinks will be achieved by this action? I would like to hear from any advocates of the action as to what is desired to be achieved and what can actually be achieved.

Do we not understand the regime's political warfare strategies and how we play right into them?

 

10. Typhoid fever strikes inmates at labor camp in N. Pyongan Province

dailynk.com · October 6, 2020

A cover-up?

 

11.  What to Expect From North Korea's Military Parade

thediplomat.com · October 6, 2020

A former intelligence analyst doing what analysts to dest: providing an assessment.  Conclusion: "North Korea's upcoming celebrations will feature pageantry, elaborate displays of military prowess to impress and intimidate, and the potential for much more provocative and dangerous actions after the U.S. election."

 

12.  Former U.S. Forces Korea CO: Pausing Exercises 'No Longer Relevant' to North Korea Nuclear Negotiations

news.usni.org · by John Grady · October 6, 2020

I concur with General Brooks.  It is time to conclude the experiment of cancelling, suspending, and postponing major training exercises to try to influence north Korea behavior. The experiment has failed and has only resulted in declining readiness.  

Video at the link.

 

13. Eroding the Regime's Information Monopoly: Cell Phones in North Korea

nkhiddengulag.org · by Kathryn Wernke · October 6, 2020

Very important analysis from HRNK.  We should be asking why we are not exploiting the growth of smartphones in north Korea?  Anyone interested in educating the Korean people in north Korea about their human rights and conducting psychological operations (information and influence activities) to undermine the legitimacy of the regime and support maximum pressure and nurturing resistance for future action should be working to exploit all communications means in north Korea.

 

14. Pyongyang Gears Up for Major Workers' Party Anniversary Events

38north.org · by Martyn Williams · October 6, 2020

A bird's eye view of preparations.

 

15. South Korea struggles to choose between US and China

DW · by Deutsche Welle · October 6, 2020

My South Korean friends assure me there is no choice to be made, it was made in 1953.  But they are worried about the backlash of Chinese economic and political warfare that will be on a scale far surpassing the THAAD deployment debacle.  They rightly ask will the US come to its defense against Chinese political and economic warfare because it did not in the previous "conflict" which was not ended until Moon allegedly agreed to the "three no's" (according to China): no additional THAAD deployment, no integrated missile defense, and no trilateral alliance.   Chinese economic warfare forced the South to comply with Chinese political objectives (according to the Chinese).

 

16. N. Korean authorities step up efforts to stop smuggling along Chinese border

dailynk.com · by Jang Seul Gi · October 6, 2020

The safety valve for the function for the 400+ markets and the survival of the Korean people in the north continues to be shut off by the regime.  There will likely be long term consequences and the people.

 

17.  South Korea's request for submarine nuclear fuel from US denied: report

SCMP · by Park Chan-kyong · October 6, 2020

• A Donga Ilbo report said the request was made through Kim Hyun-chong, the deputy chief of the National Security Office, who visited Washington last month
• But the US says it has made it clear it will not transfer fuel for nuclear-powered submarines to any country, allies or not

 

18. N. Korea's SLBM to complicate denuclearization efforts: ex-defense official

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · October 7, 2020

Because this is one more indication that the north has no intention of denuclearizing the north.

 

19. Nuclear-powered submarine development is pursued hastily

donga.com

Frankly, I think it is wasteful for South Korea to build a nuclear powered submarine.  Do not build major weapons systems based on emotion.

 

20. Yomiuri: S. Korea Sought to Arrange US Visit by Kim Jong-un's Sister before Election

world.kbs.co.kr

Sensational reporting by the Korean press of a Japanese press story.  I would take this with a big grain of salt.  I cannot imagine the US attempting to do this.  What effect do they think would be achieved by this? Restart "stalled" nuclear talks? Really?  Yes we have allowed a sanctioned official into the US and even into the White House (Kim Yong-chol) but I cannot imagine us wanting to bring the sanctioned Kim Yo-jong into the US.

 

21. Politburu Speed Campaigns 8th Party Congress and Pregames Party's 75th

nkleadershipwatch.org

Again, I am including Robert Collins' comments about Ri's promotion.  He is that important:

“Ri Pyong-chol (alt. spelling Byong-chol) is currently the Director of the Korean Workers' Party Munitions Industry Department which is in charge of all weapons production. In this position, he oversees not only missile programs, but the nuclear program as well, and all other weapons programs. Other key personnel are certainly supervising components of those programs under Ri's Party oversight. Ri also attends with Kim Jong-un the observance of "new weapon systems."  Ri is also a member of the KWP Politburo, a vice-director of the KWP Central Committee, a member of the KWP Central Military Committee, a member of the DPRK State Affairs Commission, and a delegate of the 14th DPRK Supreme People's Assembly. In addition to being a former Commander of the North Korean Air Force, he is also rumored to be the father of Kim Jong-un's wife, Ri Sol-ju.” 

 

22. US missed 'golden opportunity' by walking out of Hanoi summit with N. Korea: Hecker

koreaherald.com · by The Korea Herald · October 7, 2020

I am sorry Dr. Hecker but Kim Jong-un has missed every opportunity due to his inability to allow substantive negotiations to take place in good faith.

--------

 

"It was indicative of the U.S. Army's basic misunderstanding of what Special Forces really are, that the official lineage of Special Forces is traced back to the 1st Special Service Force.  The OSS was a much more legitimate ancestor of today's Green Berets, but the problem with the U.S. Army recognition of that fact is a syndrome that has wider implications.  OSS was a hybrid with strong political and intelligence flavors.

- LTG (USA-RET) William P. Yarborough

Southern Pines, NC

December 1982

 

"An opinion can be argued with; a conviction best shot." 

- T.E. Lawrence

 

"There is an immutable law of the SOF bureaucracy which states that an operation becomes more feasible the farther aware one is from the physical risks involved in that operation."

 - CPT William H. Burgess III, April  1986

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1. Worth Preserving: U.S. Military Posture in Germany

2. FDD | Plan to Reposition U.S. Forces in Europe Needs More Work

3. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Charts Japan’s Next Course

4. Why is the United States losing the information war?

5.  The World That War Has Made

6.  US troop withdrawal from Germany still worries Congress and Baltic allies

7. ISIS terrorists the 'Beatles' likely to be brought to U.S. this month

8. Longer Navy Deployments, Fewer Port Calls To Manage COVID

9. Flawed Assumptions and the Need for a Radical Shift in the Next National Security Strategy

10. Top China Critic Becomes Its Defender

11. US human rights bill risks pushing Duterte closer to China

12. It’s Time for the Pentagon to Take Data Principles More Seriously

13. The great uncoupling: one supply chain for China, one for everywhere else

14. New US drone tactics in the Pacific put China on alert

15. Duterte suspected extrajudicial killings in drug crackdown

16. 'Asian NATO' faces hurdles as Pompeo meets with 'Quad' allies on countering China

17. U.S. sees threat to Western Hemisphere security in Chinese fishing push

18. The Defense Department Just Published a Summary of the National Defense Strategy’s Irregular Warfare Annex. Here’s Why It’s so Significant.

19. What Happens When China Leads the World

20. Quad is built on wobbly foundations

21. Some people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories. Here's how to know if you're one of them.

22. Fascism re-examined

23. Green Beret Leads Crisis Innovation for Team Rubicon

24. Blazing a trail: How a Black Navy SEAL boosted his success through online learning

 

1. Worth Preserving: U.S. Military Posture in Germany

defenseone.com · by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges and Bradley Bowan · October 5, 2020

How do we posture our forces to provide the best possible support to the NDS and NSS given resource and political constraints?  Where do we accept risk?  How much risk are we willing to accept?

 

2. FDD | Plan to Reposition U.S. Forces in Europe Needs More Work

fdd.org · by Maj Scott D. Adamson · October 5, 2020

A bold statement from a Major sending the plan back to the Pentagon for more work! (note attempt at humor  but I agree with him).

 

3. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Charts Japan’s Next Course

The National Interest · by Patrick M. Cronin · October 4, 2020

And will Japan be able to contribute to that counterweight?

 

4. Why is the United States losing the information war?

c4isrnet.com · by Mark Pomerleau · October 5, 2020

Because we are afraid of information and influence.  We are afraid to engage in political warfare.

As I have written and said many times:  Nowhere is this more evident than in what some PSYOP officers lamented to me when I was last at Fort Leavenworth.  It is easier to get permission to put a hellfire missile on the forehead of a terrorist than it is to get permission to put an idea between his ears.  U.S. adversaries have no qualms about maximizing their ability to operate in the human and information domains.   For our adversaries politics is war by other means.  Our adversaries "lead with influence."  We do not.

 

6. US troop withdrawal from Germany still worries Congress and Baltic allies

Washington Examiner · by Abraham Mahshie · October 5, 2020

You think they are worried? Wait until we shift focus to removing troops from Korea.

 

7. ISIS terrorists the 'Beatles' likely to be brought to U.S. this month

NBC News · by Anna SchecterAnna Schecter · October 6, 2020

 

8. Longer Navy Deployments, Fewer Port Calls To Manage COVID

breakingdefense.com · by Paul McLeary

I imagine there will be a long term impact on our sailors and the recruitment of future sailors as well as the maintenance of ships and weapons systems.

 

9. Flawed Assumptions and the Need for a Radical Shift in the Next National Security Strategy

thestrategybridge.org · by Michael N. Gonzales · October 6, 2020

Strategy is all about the assumptions (and risk and priorities and ends, ways, and means)

But this is quite a critical conclusion of the NSS:  The major assumptions in the 2017 National Security Strategy lead back to one main and flawed idea: that the U.S. can buy power and that, once bought, its value is permanent. Unfortunately, this is not true. Rather, the U.S. must continuously cultivate and responsibly maintain its power. This requires revamping the National Security Strategy and adjusting to today’s threats. To do so, America must understand that militant engagement with the world does more to increase insecurity. The next National Security Strategy must provide guidance on how to maintain peace and prosperity and, if necessary, win the wars of tomorrow. A more effective National Security Strategy reflects long-term plans to maximize the efficiency of our defense dollars, invests in our allies and partners to maintain influence overseas, and confronts our adversaries on our terms, not theirs.

 

10. Top China Critic Becomes Its Defender

The New York Times · by Ana Swanson · October 6, 2020

An interesting analysis and perspective: "Robert E. Lighthizer, President Trump’s trade negotiator, has cautioned against actions that could anger Beijing in an attempt to preserve the U.S.-China trade deal."

 

11. US human rights bill risks pushing Duterte closer to China

asia.nikkei.com · October 4, 2020

For the long term we need to focus on human rights (and because it is the right thing to do.  We cannot sacrifice them for short term conditions. Duterte will not be president indefinitely.

 

12. It’s Time for the Pentagon to Take Data Principles More Seriously

warontherocks.com · by Robert Work and Tara Murphy Dougherty · October 6, 2020

As I have heard, whoever controls the data, wins.

 

13. The great uncoupling: one supply chain for China, one for everywhere else

Financial Times · by Kathrin Hille · October 6, 2020

Can uncoupling or decoupling be done?  

 

14. New US drone tactics in the Pacific put China on alert

Business Insider · by Minnie Chan

 

15. Duterte suspected extrajudicial killings in drug crackdown

The Washington Post · by Jim Gomez · October 6, 2020

And there are those who think we should overlook this?  We have long known this.  Extrajudicial killings were taking place when he was the mayor of Davao City.

 

16. 'Asian NATO' faces hurdles as Pompeo meets with 'Quad' allies on countering China

washingtontimes.com · by Guy Taylor

It will be very interesting to see how the Quad and Quad Plus plays out.

 

17. U.S. sees threat to Western Hemisphere security in Chinese fishing push

washingtontimes.com · by Mike Glenn

Revive the Monroe Doctrine (sarcasm). But China will counter with their claim of their own form of "Monroe Doctrine in Asia."

 

18. The Defense Department Just Published a Summary of the National Defense Strategy’s Irregular Warfare Annex. Here’s Why It’s so Significant.

mwi.usma.edu · by Kevin Bilms · October 2, 2020

I would say that this is what the classified summary of the  IW Annex meant to say.  This should be an appendix to the annex that would say this is what we meant when we wrote the annex.  This is a very

 

19. What Happens When China Leads the World

The Atlantic · by Michael Schuman · October 5, 2020

It won't be pretty.

 

20. Quad is built on wobbly foundations

asiatimes.com · by Gregory Clark · October 5, 2020

It is difficult to develop a security architecture if there is not a common understanding of an agreement about the potential threats. 

 

21. Some people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories. Here's how to know if you're one of them.

Mashable · by Rebecca Ruiz · October 3, 2020

Time for all of use to conduct some self-reflection.

 

22. Fascism re-examined

jns.org · Juliana Geran Pilon

 

23. Green Beret Leads Crisis Innovation for Team Rubicon

coffeeordie.com · by Jessica Manfre · October 4, 2020

Another great American who continues to serve.

 

24. Blazing a trail: How a Black Navy SEAL boosted his success through online learning

militarytimes.com · by Ty Smith · October 5, 2020

And another great American who leads and shows the way.

 

-------------------------

 

"The only thing new in the world today is the history you don't know."

- Harry Truman

 

"I approve of this request [for Special Forces assignment] only because I want to support my officer's career objectives, no matter how ill-advised they may be. However, I believe that the Army leadership must stop the erosion of  of its top junior officer talent in Special Forces Branch which is a t best a current fad, and in the long term, a pitiful sideshow from the  mainstream Army."

XXXXXXXXX

Lieutenant Colonel, Armor

Commanding

26 April 1988

 

"When I took a decision, or adopted an alternative, it was after studying every relevant - and many an irrelevant - factor. Geography, tribal structure, religion, social customs, language, appetites, standards - all  were at my finger-ends. The enemy I knew almost like my own side.  I risked myself among them a hundred times, to learn."

T.E. Lawrence

Letter to Sir basil Liddell Hart

26 June 1933

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1. USFK Chief Complains About Lack of Combined Training

2. Son of Official Murdered by N.Korea Rages at President

3. Sinpo South Shipyard Update: Days Before October 10 Celebration

4. Would killing of S. Korean civilian remain unresolved?

5. Kim Jong-un promotes pair of advisers to North's highest military rank

6. Free Cash for All Boosts Rising South Korea Star to Top of Polls

7. Family calls for UN probe into North Korea's killing of South Korean official

8. USFK has not used 68 bln won of Korea's defense contributions since 2014: data

9. Chinese FM Cancels Korea Visit

10. N. Korea touts economic progress as party anniversary nears

11. North Korea Continues Uranium Enrichment

12. FDD | Did China help rig the South Korean election?

13. China Leads UN Call For US To End 'Coercive' Sanctions

14. N.K. leader oversees politburo meeting to launch 80-day campaign for economic development

15. South Korean Firms Reluctant to Bring Production Back From China - Caixin Global

16. N. Korea likely to be last to reopen borders due to COVID-19: experts

 

1. USFK Chief Complains About Lack of Combined Training

english.chosun.com· October 6, 2020

This is not a "complaint."  This is a realistic assessment by a military commander who leads a combined military force.  

But it is not the USFK Chief who is making this assessment.  It is the Commander of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command which is co-equally "owned" by the ROK and US.  If the ROKG wants to conduct OPCON transition and have a change of command in which a ROK general Officer will take command of the ROK/US CFC it had better start focusing on the readiness of the command and the combined forces.  The ROK government cannot afford to be a spotlight Ranger and just have the trappings surrounding OPCON transition and (incorrectly and erroneously) claim a return of sovereignty. (which is complete BS) without taking full and complete responsibility for the combined trained and combined readiness of the command and all apportioned forces to the command.

Note that this is in part a function of the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) and the loss of live fire training areas for air and ground operations in the vicinity of the DMZ.  The CMA has not resulted in any reciprocal tension reduction or confidence building measures from the north.  It has only resulted in a decline of combined readiness.

2. Son of Official Murdered by N.Korea Rages at President

english.chosun.com· October 6, 2020

When I get a translation of the letter I will forward it. I wonder about the effect this will have on the Korean public and will it continue to an understanding of how poorly the government has handled the situation for the murder of a civil servant doing his job for the nation.

 

3. Sinpo South Shipyard Update: Days Before October 10 Celebration

CSIS · by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Victor Cha · October 4, 2020

The key finding of the key findings: "With the upcoming Korean Workers' Party Foundation Day celebration on October 10, a SLBM test should not be ruled out as a possibility for Kim Jong-un's self-proclaimed "October surprise." Such a test would be consistent with Beyond Parallel historical data that shows heightened provocations around U.S. presidential election years."  I just want to know how they are going to get this Sinpo class submarine to march in the October 10th parade in Pyongyang (note sarcasm).

 

4. Would killing of S. Korean civilian remain unresolved?

donga.com· October 6, 2020

The question is will the killing result in a change of policy and strategy by the ROKG and a recognition that the Moon administration's fundamental assumption about the Kim family regime has been erroneous?

Based on this conclusion I fear it will not: "It remains unknown what discussions are taking place under the table between the two Koreas. However, it is doubtful that South Korea will be able to insist on a joint investigation given its carefulness to not provoke the North with search operation, which deserves all-out efforts. The Ministry of Unification's Monday message to North Korea simply said it wishes for the North's quick response. Given the circumstances, it seems possible that the recent killing of the South Korean civilian may become another permanently unresolved incident between the Two Koreas."

 

5. Kim Jong-un promotes pair of advisers to North's highest military rank

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com· by Shim Kyu-Seok

And I suppose they receive a marshal's baton.

Interesting fact here (I am assuming it is accurate but I defer to the north Korean leadership experts).  Note that one is the head of the missile program and the other is an artilleryman who is responsible for the short range missile program.  Will they be showing off some from their programs on October 10th?

 

6. Free Cash for All Boosts Rising South Korea Star to Top of Polls

Bloomberg · by Jeong-Ho Lee · October 5, 2020

Here is the buried lede.  The opposition conservative party is also embracing the universal basic income.

Still, the call for a universal income isn't limited to Lee or other progressives in Moon's camp. The idea is also gaining support in the top opposition conservative group.The newly named People Power Party recently introduced a pledge to seek a basic income. Its interim party leader Kim Chong-in is trying to build support by embracing some of the popular economic policies of the left with a tough stand on security that has been a bedrock position of the right.

I am reminded of these two quotes about people voting themselves free money:

 

"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."

- Benjamin Franklin

 

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.
A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship"
- Alexander Tytler 1787

 

Korean people beware. 

 

7. Family calls for UN probe into North Korea's killing of South Korean official

The Korea Times · October 6, 2020

I doubt the UN will act on this. 

Excerpts:

“The 18-year-old son, who is living with his mother and an eight-year-old sister, said his father had no reason to defect to the North and the government failed to protect one of its citizens.”

"I'd like to ask why my father had to go that far, what efforts the state was making to save my father and why it could not save him," he wrote. "He was a public servant of the Republic of Korea and a citizen who should be protected. He suffered in the cold waters for a long time and was killed and burned ... I want to ask who is responsible for this situation where we can't even find his body, and what the state was doing when my father was killed brutally."

“Regarding the letter, President Moon said he sympathizes with the teenager who lost his father and would like to send a message of comfort, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok.”

"The President said we need to wait for the results of the investigation and search operations by the Coast Guard," Kang said. "President Moon is also planning to write back to him."

“Family calls for UN probe into North Korea's killing of South Korean official.”

 

8. USFK has not used 68 bln won of Korea's defense contributions since 2014: data

en.yna.co.kr · by 유청모 · October 5, 2020

I recall this from the past. This is not something new and it is one of the issues that have long upset Koreans -the perceived lack of accountability and lack of a full accounting of Korean funds provided to the US.   But this surely undercuts US demands in negotiations.  Of course this money was provide for support of US forces in Korea.  What our demands for funding seem to be is simply a fee for service and a transfer of Korean funds to the US treasury for which I do not think there is a precedent and I believe no legal method in the ROK to be able to do so.

 

9. Chinese FM Cancels Korea Visit

english.chosun.com

Hmm.. I wonder if the Chinese FM and US SECSTATE have coordinated their cancelations (note sarcasm). 

Seriously is this a message signalling displeasure with the possibility that the ROK could join the Quad Plus?

Excerpts:

“Instead, China is sending warnings from afar. Xin Qiang of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University said in an op-ed for the state-run Global Times, "[Korea's] decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense in 2016 triggered strong resistance from China. Seoul would be afraid that its participation in Quad will irritate China again."

“He was referring to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an informal anti-Chinese alliance between the U.S., Japan, Australia and India, which the U.S. is trying to expand to include Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand.”

 

10. N. Korea touts economic progress as party anniversary nears

m.koreaherald.com · by Choi Si Young · October 5, 2020

Shameless lying propaganda.  It is amazing to think a leader could get away with such lies.  But when you have a Propaganda and Agitation Department working 24/7 to perpetuate lies to enhance the young marshal's reputation I guess you can say and do what you want.

 

11. North Korea Continues Uranium Enrichment

armscontrol.org · by Julie Masterson

Again, this should not be a surprise to anyone.

 

12. FDD | Did China help rig the South Korean election?

fdd.org · by Cleo Paskal Non-Resident Senior Fellow · October 4, 2020

Was China using Korea as a testing ground? 

Here is a link to Grant Newsham's report. 

 

13. China Leads UN Call for US To End 'Coercive' Sanctions

Barron's · by AFP - Agence France Presse

Of course we could lift sanctions if these countries conducted themselves as responsible members of the international community and did not violate the norms of the community of nations.  Simply change your behavior and you can have sanctions lifted.

But that is not something we can expect from these countries:

 

14. N.K. leader oversees politburo meeting to launch 80-day campaign for economic development

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · October 6, 2020

Another speed march at "Chollima speed."

 

15. South Korean Firms Reluctant to Bring Production Back From China

caixinglobal.com· October 6, 2020

It is hard to decouple.  But what if free nations around the world did try to decouple?

 

16. N. Korea likely to be last to reopen borders due to COVID-19: experts

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · October 6, 2020

No surprise here.  This is likely for two reasons.  The obvious one is the regime is deathly afraid of a coronavirus outbreak. The second one is the regime is exploiting the coronavirus in order to implement the harsh and draconian population and resources control measures that it wants to be able to oppress the Kor4ean people in the north so that the regime can remain in power.

 

------------------------

 

The only thing new in the world today is the history you don't know." 

- Harry Truman

 

"I approve of this request [for Special Forces assignment] only because I want to support my officer's career objectives, no matter how ill-advised they may be. However, I believe that the Army leadership must stop the erosion of  of its top junior officer talent in Special Forces Branch which is a t best a current fad, and in the long term, a pitiful sideshow from the  mainstream Army."

XXXXXXXXX

Lieutenant Colonel, Armor

Commanding

26 April 1988

 

"When I took a decision, or adopted an alternative, it was after studying every relevant - and many an irrelevant - factor. Geography, tribal structure, religion, social customs, language, appetites, standards - all  were at my finger-ends. The enemy I knew almost like my own side.  I risked myself among them a hundred times, to learn." 

T.E. Lawrence

Letter to Sir basil Liddell Hart

26 June 1933

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.

A note on consuming information and the news…

1.  The U.N. turns 75, and the Chinese Communist Party gaslights the world

2. US preps for ‘irregular warfare’ with China, Russia

3. How the US-Sino trade war is impacting global companies

4. Political aides investigate VOA White House reporter for anti-Trump bias

5. For veterans, bonds forged in battle are tested by 2020’s rancor

6. High-end warfare in the Indo-Pacific theater will require distributed sensing

7. Russians ‘have committed’ to not interfering in elections, Trump aide insists

8. The incapacitation of a President and the twenty-fifth amendment: a reader’s guide

9. H.R. McMaster and the fight to defend the free world

10. Is the United States in the midst of an insurgency?

11. Democracy under lockdown: the impact of COVID-19 on the global struggle for freedom

12. Ban on Chinese apps has a currency war angle

13. Towards an epistemology of grand strategy

14. Why leaders need to learn the skill of writing

 

A note on consuming information and the news…

Ad Fontes Media

I hope people will find this chart useful. I provide some additional information on my methodology and sources below.

H/T Chris Taylor. This seems pretty accurate to me. 

The website above studies media bias and produces the “Media Bias Chart.” Here is a 4-minute video from the founder, Vanessa Otero, who explains the origins of the chart. The video is very much worth the time.

Concerning my personal info/news consumption habits…

I have subscriptions to The Economist, Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and The Daily Beast. Note: not on the list are Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy, to which I also subscribe. Also, not on the list are The National Interest and The National Review.

I regularly watch, read, and listen to ABC (I still like the 30 minute nightly broadcast, which I have been watching since I was a kid as that is what we watched growing up), NPR (I am a contributing member of WAMU and have listened to NPR since All Things Considered began in the 1970s when I was in college), CNN, CBS (primarily for 60 Minutes) Fox, The Hill, VOX, Guardian, Financial Times, and Axios as well as The Washington Examiner, Epoch Times (anti-China) and the NY Post.

I do read the fringe elements when they pop up in the news feeds (e.g. American Thinker, Slate, PJ Media, Salon, etc.).

And not covered on this are all the Korea news sites I use (e.g. Yonhap [semi-official news], Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo, Korea Times, Korea Herald, Asia Times, The Diplomat, East Asia Research Center, and The Daily NK. And, of course, the two most important sources are the Korean services of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

Also not included on the above are all the think tanks (my own, FDD, as well as CSIS, CNAS, Brookings, AEI, Carnegie, Heritage, and ICKS & ICAS [I belong to both of these as well]). Then there are all the web sites on national security. Grounded Curiosity from Australia provides the best resource for national security and military related news sources. Here is the link to an excellent resource on the best Professional MIlitary Education Websites around the world.

I am a practitioner of what Thomas Friedman called "information arbitrage" in his book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree. Here is one summary description.

 

1. The U.N. Turns 75, and the Chinese Communist Party Gaslights the World

National Review · Jimmy Quinn · October 4, 2020

We should understand China's strategy and how it seeks to undermine international institutions and remake them to support its interests. The dilemma for us is whether we want to cede influence and let China have its way with these organizations or whether we want to protect these institutions and ensure they function for the global good. Of course, all so-called anti-globalists simply say good riddance.

 

2. US preps for ‘irregular warfare’ with China, Russia

Asia Times · Dave Makichuk · October 4, 2020

I am pleased with the new unclassified summary of the unclassified irregular warfare annex, but the plane on which we need to compete with Russia and China is that of political warfare.

 

3. How the US-Sino trade war is impacting global companies

Yahoo! Finance · Suban Abdulla · October 4, 2020

 

4. Political aides investigate VOA White House reporter for anti-Trump bias

NPR · David Folkenflik · October 4, 2020

You either support the freedom of the press one hundred percent or you do not (which means you do not support and defend the Constitution of the United States).  And you should especially support the freedom of the press for Voice of America. Steve Herman is a good man and a good journalist. These so-called political aides? Not so much. These attacks on the press, and especially on VOA, are getting tiresome and, of course, they are a danger to our Republic.

 

5. For veterans, bonds forged in battle are tested by 2020's rancor

New York Times · Dave Philipps · October 4, 2020

I see this every day on social media, including within the various veteran's groups. There is only one criterion for veterans (and all citizens of course): do you support and defend the Constitution? If so, you must be able to tolerate political differences and political conflict, because our Constitution is set up to take it into account. If you fail to tolerate those differences, you are not living up to the ideals of the Constitution and the political philosophy of the United States as designed by our Founding Fathers and outlined in the Federalist Papers.

 

6. High-end warfare in the Indo-Pacific theater will require distributed sensing

Real Clear Defense · Dan Gouré · October 3, 2020

Necessary, yes. But, if we effectively compete in the political warfare realm, we can deter high-end warfare. Ceding the political warfare space to China (and Russia, Iran, and North Korea) makes us more vulnerable.

 

7. Russians 'have committed' to not interfering in elections, Trump aide insists

New York Times · David E. Sanger · October 4, 2020

Ceding the political warfare space?

 

8. The incapacitation of a President and the twenty-fifth amendment: a reader's guide

Just Security · Harold Hongju Koh, et al. · October 4, 2020

This is a reprint and an academic treatment of the issue without a discussion of current events.

Before the 25th should be invoked, a President can make the decision to temporarily transfer power while he or she is being treated. The President can use his or her own judgment to determine that authority should be passed temporarily to the Vice President to ensure continuity of and confidence in our government as well as the national security of the US. To me, this is what leadership is all about, making these kinds of tough decisions and doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

 

9. H.R. McMaster and the fight to defend the free world

FDD · Clifford D. May · October 2, 2020

An excellent podcast episode.

 

10. Is the United States in the midst of an insurgency?

American Thinker · Matt Rowe · October 4, 2020

What is never addressed in these types of essays is that, when an "insurgency" is the latent or incipient phase, the best way to counter it is through effective politics, which include appropriate political accommodation. What political accommodations is the government making to solve political grievances, thereby employing the most effective tool to undermine the legitimacy of the "insurgent" leadership? Instead, we turn political opposition into enemies and, thus, make it a zero sum game. This is shown when the government's sole focus becomes law and order, which simply breaths energy into the insurgency.  It is necessary to conduct appropriate security and law enforces operations. But without a political component, security and law enforcement operations alone will not solve the problem.

I do not believe Black Lives Matters and ANTIFA are insurgencies. Yes, there are some charismatic leaders who may be employing insurgent techniques and they may have the desire to create chaos. But I do not believe either are coherent organizations (yet). If effective and proper political action is taken to alleviate real grievances, the air will be sucked out of these movements. Vilifying those who are protesting and only focusing on law and order only makes things worse.

I have a key excerpt from a point paper on insurgency below, which I wrote for my fellow CGSC (and later SAMS) students in 1995 since there was little-to-no focus on insurgency in the 1990s.

5. Some additional notes on insurgency for consideration.

                        a.  Consider that there are generally four "elements" that may be involved in the insurgency:

(1) The insurgent

(2) The population

(3) The counter-insurgent (the existing government or occupying power)

(4) The peace enforcer or peacekeeper (external nation or forces)

b.  Key to understanding insurgency is that it is a political problem first and foremost which has implications for the military.  However, an insurgency will ultimately be successful if the underlying political and socio-economic causes are not addressed,

                        c.  The insurgent, the counter-insurgent, and the peacekeeper/enforcer have only two fundamental tools to work with to accomplish their goals:

(1) The enhancement of popular perceptions of legitimacy.

(2) The credible capability to coerce

                        d.  Success or failure is determined by each side’s understanding, application, and the mixture of these tools (which is determined by the political leadership NOT the military leadership)

e.  Remember that no armed political disturbances begin without significant lead times.

f.  When is the US military committed to counterinsurgency?  Usually during the guerilla warfare or, at worst, the war of movement phase.  Guess what?  The war is already lost especially if a thorough Phase I has been conducted.  It is generally too late for the established government to initiate the political reforms necessary to defeat the insurgency.  Therefore, the US military ends up conducting a military operation to counter a political problem which just adds strength to the perceived legitimacy of the insurgency.  The signs of a latent insurgency are too often overlooked and unrecognized.

g.  Some fundamental considerations needed for the mindset of dealing with insurgencies.

(1) Encourage improvisation by subordinates (can lead to valuable tactics and techniques; i.e., SF CIDG program in Vietnam or the USMC Combined or Civic Action Platoons (CAP in Vietnam).

(2) Orient on the "human terrain".  Think in terms of cultural historical, and psychological terms.

(3) The killing (military operation) is clearly subordinate to the psychological and political.

(4) Replace "shoot, move, and communicate” with "presence, patience, and persistence."  Someday, if you are successful, the mission will disappear, like a river flowing into a swamp.

 

11. Democracy under lockdown: the impact of COVID-19 on the global struggle for freedom

 

Freedom House · Sara Repucci & Amy Slipowitz · October 4, 2020

 

12. Ban on Chinese apps has a currency war angle

Sunday Guardian Live · James Lee · October 3, 2020

 

13. Towards an epistemology of grand strategy

Real Clear Defense · Maurizio Recordati · October 5, 2020

Can the US conduct grand strategy? I think we can and must. I think this article presents an interesting discussion of the stereotype and the ideal type.

 

14. Why leaders need to learn the skill of writing

From the Green Notebook · Joe Byerly · October 3, 2020

I am reminded of Truman's quote: "not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." Not all writers are leaders, but all leaders are writers (or, at least, have good writing skills).

 

"The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world."

- Alexander von Humboldt

"If you define leadership as having a vision for an organization, and the ability to attract, motivate, and guide followers to fulfill that vision, you have Bill Donovan in spades."

- Fisher Howe, special assistant to Gen. William Donovan

“... insurgency and counterinsurgency... have enjoyed a level of military, academic, and journalistic notice unseen since the mid-1960s. Scholars and practitioners have recently reexamined 19th- and 20th-century counterinsurgency campaigns waged by the United States and the European colonial powers, much as their predecessors during the Kennedy administration mined the past relentlessly in the hope of uncovering the secrets of revolutionary guerrilla warfare. The professional military literature is awash with articles on how the armed services should prepare for what the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) refers to as “irregular warfare,” and scholars, after a long hiatus, have sought to deepen our understanding of the roles that insurgency, terrorism, and related forms of political violence play in the international security environment.”

--William Rosenau, “Subversion and Terrorism: Understanding and Countering the Threat” (2006)

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.

1. Pompeo asks for S. Korea's understanding over postponed trip to Seoul

2. Trump's virus infection - Pompeo cancels visit to South Korea

3. Defense minister, US ambassador vow to strengthen alliance

4. N.K. paper lauds leader Kim's care for people ahead of party founding anniv.

5. N. Korea ignores demands for joint investigation of official's death

6. Saying sorry goes a long way

7. North Korea's cyber warfare capabilities are just getting started

8. How fast can you build 1,000 houses in North Korea?

9. University students seen practicing for mass parade in Hyesan

10. South Korea minimized the damage from Covid-19. North Korea maximized it.

11. 36 service members at Army unit test positive for new coronavirus (South Korea)

12. N. Korean paper carries article on Iran's new weapons

13. How much North Korean aggression is South Korea willing to tolerate?

14. Moon vows S. Korea to play role in global fight against infectious diseases

15. Japan to restart business travel with Korea: Nikkei

16. Suga refuses to visit Korea until asset seizure order lifted

17. Reports about North Korea shooting a South Korean official may have exposed intelligence gathering techniques

18. Stop-and-frisk and bus walls remind us of dictatorship

 

1. Pompeo asks for S. Korea's understanding over postponed trip to Seoul

Yonhap News Agency · sshluck@yna.co.kr · October 5, 2020

Intellectually and professionally South Korea understands. Emotionally not so much. Some will interpret this as a snub especially because he is still going to Japan.

 

2. Trump's virus infection - Pompeo cancels visit to South Korea

Korea Times · Editorial · October 4, 2020

South Korea is concerned. Excellent recommendation here.

 

3. Defense minister, US ambassador vow to strengthen alliance

Korea Herald · Yonhap · October 5, 2020

Necessary now more than ever.

 

4. N.K. paper lauds leader Kim's care for people ahead of party founding anniv.

Yonhap News Agency · kokobj@yna.co.kr · October 5, 2020

The great benevolent one. Propaganda is spinning up in preparation for October 10th. But I just can't figure out the message the propagandists are trying to send with the photo below. Why the single file march? Are they marching through a former minefield and they have to stick to the cleared path?

 

5. N. Korea ignores demands for joint investigation of official's death

Chosun Ilbo · Kim Eun-Joong · October 5, 2020

It is right for South Korea to press for this sort of thing, but no one should be under any illusion the North would agree to a joint investigation. First, the regime is in the wrong and any investigation would show it. Second, it would reveal capabilities, vulnerabilities, and weaknesses of the military and regime.  Third, this investigation would expose the regime as the human rights abuser that it is. And finally, because they were in the wrong, it would be an unbearable embarrassment for the regime. So, the regime has many incentives to not participate in a joint investigation.

 

6. Saying sorry goes a long way

Business Day · Christian Science Monitor · October 4, 2020

I recall from a famous novel and film that "love means never having to say you are sorry." But, I am sorry, Christian Science Monitor: North Korea did not say it is sorry. It was a non-apology apology. Perhaps that means it really loves the South, but I think not.

 

7. North Korea's cyber warfare capabilities are just getting started

National Interest · Michael Raska · October 4, 2020

They have been getting started for longer than most people think: since the 1990s, as the author notes.  The "all-purpose sword" is more practical than its "treasured sword" and it provides many capabilities and benefits for the regime. We ignore it at our peril.

 

8. How fast can you build 1,000 houses in North Korea?

North Korea Economy Watch · Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein · October 4, 2020

Fast, good, cheap. You can only pick two. North Korea chose fast and cheap, as it always does. Of course, another option is this is just propaganda and they have not completed 88% of the houses.

 

9. University students seen practicing for mass parade in Hyesan

Daily NK · Jeong Tae Joo · October 5, 2020

This is the priority for the regime's best and brightest (though the real best and the brightest are the students at a couple of universities in Pyongyang).

 

10. South Korea minimized the damage from Covid-19. North Korea maximized it.

CSIS · Sue Mi Terry · October 5, 2020

 

11. 36 service members at Army unit test positive for new coronavirus (South Korea)

Yonhap News Agency · graceoh@yna.co.kr · October 5, 2020

 

12. N. Korean paper carries article on Iran's new weapons

Yonhap News Agency · kokobj@yna.co.kr · October 5, 2020

I will leave this to North Korea proliferation experts like Dr. Bruce Becthol to assess. Does this telegraph a new strategic weapon on October 10th? I am skeptical.

 

13. How much North Korean aggression is South Korea willing to tolerate?

Peninsula Report · Gabriela Bernal · September 29, 2020

A great question from the author. When is enough, enough? As I have mentioned many times, the Moon administration needs to re-examine its strategic assumptions, the most important being the assumption that Kim Jong-Un shares Moon's vision for peace, prosperity, and co-existence on the Korean peninsula.  Kim has not given up his objective to dominate the peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State. The Moon administration needs to recognize this and adjust its policies and strategy accordingly.

 

14. Moon vows S. Korea to play role in global fight against infectious diseases

Korea Herald · Yonhap · October 5, 2020

 

15. Japan to restart business travel with Korea: Nikkei

Korea Times · October 5, 2020

Some good news.

 

16. Suga refuses to visit Korea until asset seizure order lifted

Chosun Ilbo · Lee Ha-Won · October 5, 2020

And some not so good news. But it should not be unexpected.

 

17. Reports about North Korea shooting a South Korean official may have exposed intelligence gathering techniques

CNN · Yoonjung Seo & James Griffiths · October 5, 2020

 

18. Stop-and-frisk and bus walls remind us of dictatorship

Dong-A Ilbo · Editions · October 5, 2020

The Moon administration has a civil liberties problem.

 

"The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world."

- Alexander von Humboldt

"If you define leadership as having a vision for an organization, and the ability to attract, motivate, and guide followers to fulfill that vision, you have Bill Donovan in spades."

- Fisher Howe, special assistant to Gen. William Donovan

“... insurgency and counterinsurgency... have enjoyed a level of military, academic, and journalistic notice unseen since the mid-1960s. Scholars and practitioners have recently reexamined 19th- and 20th-century counterinsurgency campaigns waged by the United States and the European colonial powers, much as their predecessors during the Kennedy administration mined the past relentlessly in the hope of uncovering the secrets of revolutionary guerrilla warfare. The professional military literature is awash with articles on how the armed services should prepare for what the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) refers to as “irregular warfare,” and scholars, after a long hiatus, have sought to deepen our understanding of the roles that insurgency, terrorism, and related forms of political violence play in the international security environment.”

--William Rosenau, “Subversion and Terrorism: Understanding and Countering the Threat” (2006)

News and Commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and Published by Riley Murray.

 

1. Pompeo cancels visit to S. Korea after Trump's virus diagnosis

2. Speculations mount that North may reveal new weapon during parade

3. Bracing for all possibilities (Korean OpEd on Trump with COVID)

4. N. Korea seen moving intercontinental ballistic missile: report

5. Trump's COVID-19 infection casts shadow over Moon's peace efforts

6. North Korea Arms State-Run Farms and Businesses to Prevent Theft

7. North Korea is likely to start acting up again during the US presidential election  - but this year might be different

8. These deepfake videos of Putin and Kim have gone viral

9. S. Korea to maintain toughened virus curbs this week

10. New infection cases under 100 for 4th day; post-Chuseok virus fight in focus

11. North Korean human rights organization of the United States that advocates'Jeon Kwang-hoon' ... How are they connected

12. The Defector Crisis: Made in America

 

1. Pompeo cancels visit to S. Korea after Trump's virus diagnosis

en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · October 4, 2020

It appears the Quad is the priority. 

 

2. Speculations mount that North may reveal new weapon during parade

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

We will be hearing this for the next 6 days.  I wonder if the oddsmakers in Vegas are following this. What are the odds we will see a new weapons system?

 

3. Bracing for all possibilities (Korean OpEd on Trump with COVID)

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

The whole world is speculating on the President's health.  A lot in this short OpEd.  The conclusion notes probably what is the worst case for South Korea - being forced to take sides in the China -US dispute.  I know from my Korean friends that Korea made this choice in 1953 with the Mutual Defense Treaty and there is no question as to the choice.  But given the economic relationships and geography they need to be able to trade with China walk a tightrope and they ask that we respect their position.  But the bottom line there is no question which side Korea is on.  Unfortunately there are voices in the South that do not necessarily agree with that reality and sometimes those voices are loud.

 

4. N. Korea seen moving intercontinental ballistic missile: report

koreaherald.com · by The Korea Herald · October 4, 2020

This is a very curious statement.  "Seoul maintains a missile defense network in which the Patriot is used to intercept missiles flying at low altitudes and the THAAD takes down ones at high altitudes. The THAAD has much longer-range radars than the Patriot."  It seems like Seoul is participating in an integrated missile defense system.  It sounds like THAAD belongs to Seoul.  If Seoul is claiming responsibility for THAAD I hope it will solve the basing problem for it and allow it to be resupplied and supported logistically without interference from the protestors the government has allowed to blow support operations.

 

5. Trump's COVID-19 infection casts shadow over Moon's peace efforts

The Korea Times · October 4, 2020

I fear an overreaction by Seoul. Yes, we all have to be concerned with the health of the President.  However, if he had not contracted COVID I do not see that President Moon's peace efforts would have had any more chance of moving forward.  I seriously doubt there was any serious chance of a 4th Kim-Trump meeting before the election.  The problem with the peace efforts is not Moon or trump.  It is Kim Jong-un.  Now of course the real problem could be that if Kim Jong-un senses an opportunity for mischief to support blackmail diplomacy, he could conduct a provocation and this could lead to a miscalculation. 

 

6. North Korea Arms State-Run Farms and Businesses to Prevent Theft

rfa.org – 2 October 2020

The Korean people in the north are becoming desperate.  Unless the regime reopens the border and allows the 400+ markets to operate things will only get worse.

 

7. North Korea is likely to start acting up again during the US presidential election - but this year might be different

Business Insider · by David Choi

An article based on recent work by CSIS.  There is no doubt north Korea studies and follows our politics. And the regime knows US politics affects the regime.

 

8. These deepfake videos of Putin and Kim have gone viral

https://fortune.com/2020/10/02/deepfakes-putin-kim-jong-un-democracy-disinformation/ - by Jeremy Kahn – 2 October 2020

You have to admit regardless of your partisan view these videos are very well done.

The Putin video he here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbFHhpYU15w

The Kim video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQlaJ_czHU. The voice is how I would imagine Kim speaking English 

 

9. S. Korea to maintain toughened virus curbs this week

en.yna.co.kr · by 강윤승 · October 4, 2020

 

10. New infection cases under 100 for 4th day; post-Chuseok virus fight in focus

en.yna.co.kr · by 강윤승 · October 4, 2020

But we will not know the effects of Chuseok for a couple of weeks.

 

11. North Korean human rights organization of the United States that advocates 'Jeon Kwang-hoon'... How are they connected

https://newstapa.org/article/J6w6K – by Tim Shorrock – 29 September 2020

What a hit job by Tim Shorrock.  The problem with him is that supposedly the Moon administration admires and listens to him.  This is a machine translation so it is not perfect, but you get the gist of the insulting work by Shorrock.  He is attacking many of my personal friends and colleagues who are doing great work on behalf of freedom and human rights and the Korean people in the north and South.

 

12. The Defector Crisis: Made in America

https://newstapa.org/article/J6w6K – by Tim Shorrock – 29 September 2020

Again, another hit job by Shorrock attacking personal friends and colleagues who are doing important work for human rights and freedom and escapees from the north.  I would ask all my Korean friends to not allow Shorrock to have the influence he does in Korea.  He is no friend of Korea and no friend of the US.

 

"No one knows better than I the bitter denials of life.

But I have made my limitations tools of learning and true joy.”

- Helen Keller

 

"Another flaw in the human character is that

everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.”

-  Kurt Vonnegut

 

"If we had no winter,

the spring would not be so pleasant:

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.”

- Anne Bradstreet

News and Commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and Published by Riley Murray.

 

1. America is having a code red moment. Which of its enemies is likely to strike first?

2. China Task Force Report

3. This Overlooked Variable Is the Key to the Pandemic

4. East Asia allies likely to bide time as U.S. election looms over Pompeo trip

5. Twitter banished the worst QAnon accounts. But more than 93,000 remain on the site, research shows

6. Remember Trump’s trade deal with China? So far they are buying half what was promised

7. Lawmakers introduce bill targeting foreign disinformation on social media

8. Japan to push for one-year cost-sharing deal on U.S. troops in country

9.  Geopolitical forces pushing Russia, China closer together

10. Saving Uighur Culture From Genocide

11. Veterans Feel Betrayed as U.S. Immigration System Fails Imperiled Iraqi Allies

12. Six whistleblowers allege misconduct by government media boss

13. Philippine troops rescue man seized by suspected militants

14. Opinion | Americans Increasingly Believe Violence is Justified if the Other Side Wins

15. A Theory About Conspiracy Theories

16. Harrowing tale of Green Beret’s Vietnam valor drives push for Medal of Honor

 

1. America is having a code red moment. Which of its enemies is likely to strike first?

The Guardian · by Simon Tisdall · October 4, 2020

I know this is heresy and likely an unpopular statement but given the national security implications perhaps there should be a transfer of power to ensure the stability and continuity of our government.  Confusion and uncertainty about US governance surely can give the wrong idea to our adversaries.  Can we put national security and the safety of the nation above politics (or more specifically election politics)?

 

2. China Task Force Report

You have to read the 141 page report on Scribd at this link: https://www.scribd.com/document/478104010/China-Task-Force-Report?

 

3. This Overlooked Variable Is the Key to the Pandemic

The Atlantic · by Zeynep Tufekci · September 30, 2020

For those who follow the science.  Those who believe COVID is a hoax or just a flu will want to avoid this. This is a difficult read for a layman like me but it provides some very interesting information about the spread.

 

4. East Asia allies likely to bide time as U.S. election looms over Pompeo trip

Reuters · by Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom · October 3, 2020

As noted, SECSTATE will not travel to South Korea and Mongolia and oly to Japan for the Quad meeting.

 

5. Twitter banished the worst QAnon accounts. But more than 93,000 remain on the site, research shows

The Washington Post – by Craig Timberg - October 3, 2020

I fear QAnon has reached a pandemic level.

 

6. Remember Trump’s trade deal with China? So far they are buying half what was promised

https://fortune.com/2020/10/03/trump-china-trade-deal-war-results-so-far/ - by Shawn Tully – 3 October 2020

 

7. Lawmakers introduce bill targeting foreign disinformation on social media

The Hill · by Maggie Miller · October 1, 2020

Excerpts:

Spanberger, a former CIA officer, said Thursday that “our nation is always under siege from foreign adversaries who seek to sow division and spread false information. However, social media networks remain especially vulnerable to foreign campaigns.”

“Disclaimers on social media posts are often non-existent, particularly when content is shared or linked,” Spanberger said in a statement. “This means that social media can serve as an ideal rumor mill for disinformation, as nefarious actors are able to leverage the rapid transfer of information from person to person.”

 

8. Japan to push for one-year cost-sharing deal on U.S. troops in country

japantimes.co.jp · October 3, 2020

Deja vu all over again?  Is Japan going to play hard ball like South Korea?

 

9. Geopolitical forces pushing Russia, China closer together

asiatimes.com · by MK Bhadrakumar · October 4, 2020

Looking at it from Russia and China's view point: "The answer is that what brings Russia and China closer together is the challenge posed by the alliance systems that the US is assembling on their borders to “contain” them."

So the problem is us, the US, and our alliance structure.

 

10. Saving Uighur Culture From Genocide

The Atlantic · by Yasmeen Serhan · October 4, 2020

Such a tragedy.

 

11. Veterans Feel Betrayed as U.S. Immigration System Fails Imperiled Iraqi Allies

Rolling Stone · by Shoshana Akabas · October 4, 2020

I am not a regular reader of Rolling Stone but this article caught my eye since it is such an emotional issue as well as a national security one.

 

12. Six whistleblowers allege misconduct by government media boss

Politico – 30 September 2020

More terrible news from the US Agency for Global Media.

 

13. Philippine troops rescue man seized by suspected militants

Stars and Stripes – 1 October 2020

The son of an American.

 

14.  Opinion | Americans Increasingly Believe Violence is Justified if the Other Side Wins

Politico – by LARRY DIAMOND, LEE DRUTMAN, TOD LINDBERG, NATHAN P. KALMOE and LILLIANA MASON – 1 October 2020

I would like to know from those who espouse violence on the right and left how what is your strategy?  How do you intend to use violence to "save" our country?  Explain to me your campaign plan, your objectives?

But most importantly I have two questions:  Do you still believe in our Constitution and that we must support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign, and yes, domestic.  Second, what have you done to ensure the Constitution works?  And I guess a third question, have you exhausted all the political means to ensure protection of the Constitution?

Do our partisan differences have to result in violence and what good will that violence do to protect our Constitution?  It seems to me the extremists on both sides have extreme political views of the other side: The extreme left believes the right wants to institute a fascist government while the extreme right believes the other side wants to destroy our government and institute a socialist/communist system.  What is paradoxical is that if either side had their way (the way the other side believes) it would lead to totalitarian dictatorships taking away our individual liberty and freedom which of course is fundamentally what our Constitution is designed to prevent.  

In my mind the majority of Democrats and Republicans both want our federal democratic republic to continue to flourish. Yes, they have different worldviews and political ideas, but the majority believe in our Constitutional form of government.   Yet it is the extreme right and extreme left that dominate the narratives, and this is what appears to be the catalyst for talk of the use of violence.

But again, I ask, how do you intend to use violence to protect our country.  Most simply how does the use of violence ensure the rule of law which is of paramount importance to American democracy?

 

15. A Theory About Conspiracy Theories

The New York Times · by Benedict Carey · September 28, 2020

Yep, those who believe in these outlandish conspiracy theories must have personality disorders.

 

16. Harrowing tale of Green Beret’s Vietnam valor drives push for Medal of Honor

armytimes.com · by Todd South · October 2, 2020

Another story that makes us ask where do we find such incredible Americans and soldiers?  I hope we can make this right.

 

"No one knows better than I the bitter denials of life.

But I have made my limitations tools of learning and true joy.”

- Helen Keller

 

"Another flaw in the human character is that

everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance.”

-  Kurt Vonnegut

 

"If we had no winter,

the spring would not be so pleasant:

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.”

- Anne Bradstreet