President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook raise their hands in hurrah after a march in front of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul on March 1, 2018. The day marked the 99th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement Day when people started nationwide rallies to demand Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule. The Seodaemun Prison is where many independence fighters were jailed and martyred. (Yonhap)
Via a reader tip comes this news that presidential advisor Moon Jung-in has been speculating recently that if President Moon Jae-in asks US forces to leave Korea, they should leave:
Moon Jung-in, special adviser to President Moon Jae-in, speaks during a recent seminar hosted by the National Committee on North Korea in Washington, D.C. / Yonhap
Moon Jung-in, mentor to President Moon Jae-in on foreign and North Korea affairs, often previews Seoul’s policy.
Now under question is his remark in a seminar in Washington, D.C., to the effect that U.S. forces should leave Korea, if its president shows the door. The comment was made in the context of explaining the structure under which the U.S. has wartime control of ROK forces.
The U.S. is said to be resistant to changing the structure, which would make the U.S. general subordinate to the Korean general.
Some experts say the U.S. would rather leave Korea than have its troops under ROK command. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but I would be surprised if the Pentagon signs on to any plan that allows a ROK general to command US forces. ROK generals do not have the experience to command the hi-tech weapons, logistics, communications, and command & control systems that the US military brings to a fight.
This is why in the past it has been reported that if an OPCON change happens the US command will be downgraded to a three-star general in charge of an military organization called KORCOM. ROK generals would take back control of all their forces during wartime, but would have no command authority over KORCOM. Instead KORCOM would support the ROK military as needed.
If President Moon wants US forces out of Korea without explicitly demanding it; requesting that KORCOM fall under the command of ROK general would be the way to do it.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) and Ivanka Trump, the U.S. president’s daughter and senior advisor, walk out of a dinner reception at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Feb. 23, 2018. Ivanka Trump arrived in South Korea earlier in the day for a four-day stay to lead a U.S. delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which is scheduled for Feb. 25. (Yonhap)
Is it just me or Kim Yo-jong has a smug face at just about every event she has attended?:
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) talks with Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, just before the start of a performance by a North Korean art troupe, in Seoul, on Feb. 11, 2018. (Yonhap)
President Moon Jae-in attended a North Korean art troupe’s concert in Seoul on Sunday, expressing hopes that the reconciliatory mood for inter-Korean dialogue would be maintained going forward.
President Moon and the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un both attended the performance in the evening, marking the fourth time Moon and Kim Yo-jong have met since they greeted each other during the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Friday.
Other members of the North’s high-level delegation were present for the concert, including the North’s ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam.
During talks made just before the performance began, President Moon said the meeting with Yo-jong and the North’s delegation was very important, saying, “the two Koreas should cooperate to make this reconciliatory meeting’s charcoal become a torch.”
The North’s ceremonial head of state, Kim, said in response, “It is very happy and impressive to share such precious times. I would go back with a new note of hope of getting together again, because we created an opportunity to meet frequently.” [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but as far as the performance goes it was choreographed to push the narrative of unification:
Hyon Song-wol, leader of North Korea’s Samjiyon Orchestra, performs during a concert by the North Korean art troupe, at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, on Feb. 11, 2018. (Yonhap)
The grand finale of the concert was North Korean song, “Let’s Meet Again,” and a common Korean song titled, “Our Wish Is Unification,” both sung together by Seohyun, a member of South Korean pop group Girls’ Generation, and a North Korean female octet.
Seohyun, wearing a short, white minidress and high-heeled shoes, and the North’s octet ended the concert, performing in perfect harmony the song with a theme reflecting the two Koreas’ desire for reunification.
The performers hugged as the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Another highlight of the concert was the surprise appearance of Hyon Song-wol, head of the Samjiyon Orchestra, on the stage.
“I came here to the South by crossing the border twice. In the process I felt saddened by the reality that Pyongyang and Seoul are located so close but feel so far away from each other,” she said. “I’m in a bad condition because I have a sore throat from Gangneung, but please applaud me a little bit more loudly than other singers so I can save face as the director,” Hyon said, resulting in thunderous applause.
She then sang a North Korean song titled “Paektu and Halla Are My Fatherland.” Her solo performance was later joined by the North’s orchestra and female singers. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but the narrative of unification is likely being used to justify holding a near term Inter-Korean Summit, make agreements to reopen Kaesong and the Kumgang Resort Tours, which will ultimately make ineffective the sanctions on North Korea.
South Korean singer Seo Hyun (C) sings the song, “Our Wish Is Unification,” with singers of North Korea’s Samjiyon Orchestra, during a concert by the North Korean art troupe at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on Feb. 11, 2018. The art troupe visited South Korea to celebrate the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which is under way in the northeastern alpine town of PyeongChang. (Yonhap)
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (C) and first lady Kim Jung-sook (R) pose with Kim Yong-nam, North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, during a reception for ranking foreign delegates to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the host town of PyeongChang, east of Seoul, on Feb. 9, 2018, hours before the sporting event’s opening ceremony. (Yonhap)
An Inter-Korean summit would likely be used to further weaken sanctions by agreeing to re-opening the Kaesong Industrial Park and the Mt. Kumgang Resort among other things:
Kim Yong-nam (R), North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, attends a dinner at a hotel in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Feb. 10, 2018. On the left is Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap)
South Korea’s political parties showed mixed reactions Saturday to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s proposal to hold an inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang at an early date.
The proposal was conveyed by Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, during a meeting with President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae earlier in the day. Moon responded, “Let’s make it happen by creating necessary conditions.”
The ruling Democratic Party welcomed the meeting as a historic occasion in advancing inter-Korean reconciliation.
“The meeting created an important momentum for building peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Kim Hyun, party spokeswoman, said.
Noting Moon’s positive but cautious reaction, the party called for “mutual efforts to reduce tensions on the peninsula and cooperation from relevant countries.”
Opposition parties urged the government to be wary of the North’s true intentions.
“President Moon Jae-in and his government is getting caught up deeply into North Korea’s disguised peace offensive one step after another,” Rep. Jun Hee-kyung, of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, said.
Behind the North’s peace overtures is its intention to cause a crack in international sanctions on the isolated country, she said. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but here is what the Korea Times reported:
North Korea delegates sit at a table during their meeting with President Moon./ Yonhap
Moon expressed his hope to make the visit happen by creating the necessary conditions, according to the spokesman.
The President said the North Korean delegation’s visit to the South created the opportunity to hold a peaceful Olympics, relieved tension on the Korean Peninsula and improve inter-Korean relations.
“He also asked North Korea to be more open to talks with the U.S., adding Pyongyang-Washington dialogue was also necessary to improve inter-Korean relations,” the spokesman said. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but any planned summit would also give the Kim regime more time to work on their nuclear and ICBM programs.
I wonder how many sanctions busting demands Kim Yong-nam is going to demand from President Moon?:
Kim Yong-nam
President Moon Jae-in is considering having bilateral talks with North Korea’s Kim Yong-nam who will lead a high-profile delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Monday.
The meeting, if it takes place, could speed up the thawing of inter-Korean relations which is a result of the North’s participation in the Games.Moon is also expected to try to encourage Washington-Pyongyang talks, as he will also meet with U.S.Vice President Mike Pence who is leading his country’s Olympic delegation.
Cheong Wa Dae welcomed the attendance of Kim, the president of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the nominal head of North Korea according to its Constitution.
“It is Kim’s first visit to South Korea, and he is the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to visit the South,” presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said.“His visit shows North Korea’s wishes to improve inter-Korean relations and for a successful Olympics.We recognize the North is showing a serious and sincere attitude.” [Korea Times]
The Moon administration asking to do this is a definite possibility, but I would be surprised if the US government agrees to an indefinite suspension. The joint exercises are a key part of maintaining combined readiness on the Korean peninsula. I guess we will see if Key Resolve gets cancelled because it has already been delayed, but cancelling all joint exercises indefinitely I just don’t see happening:
Sue Mi Terry
South Korea could push to indefinitely postpone joint military exercises with the United States in exchange for North Korea taking steps to denuclearize, a U.S. expert said Tuesday.
The allies earlier agreed to suspend the annual drills for the duration of the PyeongChang Winter Games. North Korea views the exercises as an invasion rehearsal and has protested with various provocations in the past.
Sue Mi Terry, senior fellow for Korea at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the liberal administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in could seek to extend the suspension and bring the U.S. and North Korea together for denuclearization negotiations.
“(The South Korean government wants) to make sure that this opening with North Korea over the Olympics leads to something and leads to perhaps U.S.-North Korea dialogue,” she told a press briefing, referring to Pyongyang’s recent agreement to participate in the Games.
“So they’re going to try very hard,” she added, “and if they cannot give concessions on the sanctions front, they have to give something, because North Korea will demand it. So I’m a little bit concerned that the Moon government might actually push for the postponement of joint military exercises.” [Yonhap]
