NK NEWS BRIEF | September 4, 2013

Analysts believe that Kim Kyok-sik (inset) has been replaced as Kim Jong-un attempts to stamp his own influence on the military | Photo: Reuters

NK INTERNAL

• Kim Kyok-sik, the man believed to be behind the Cheonan corvette and Yeonpyeong Island attacks, has not been seen at recent public events, and may have been replaced by Ri Yong-gil. Pinkston: “[KJU] is gradually phasing out the people who potentially pose the greatest threat to his hold on power, and that would include professional military officers.”

• Chosun Ilbo reported unconfirmed reports that Hyon Song-wol–rumored to be a former lover of KJU–and 11 other performers were executed by machine gun, for selling homemade porn and being secret Christians.

• Kim Young-hwan: KJU’s update on KIS/KJI’s “Equal Emphasis Policy for Nuclear and Economic Development” (known as the “Byungjin Line”) suggests a change from KJI’s military first mantra to an approach more focused on economic development. “If the sanctions ultimately prove useless, and bilateral (Sino-NK) economic cooperation actually improves, North Korea’s dual strategy may even succeed.”

• In response to floods in July, the IFRC allocated 299,744 CHF (320,000 USD) to deliver immediate assistance to 5,000 families in the provinces most devastated by the floods. Severe floods and landslides affected six provinces and resulted in 33 deaths, 18 missing and two injured. A total of 4,000 families lost their homes and approximately 50,000 people are displaced. The three most affected provinces are North Hwanghae, South Pyongan and North Pyongan.

• Chosun Ilbo: Chinese correspondent in PY astonished by the wealth of privileged NKoreans living in the capital.

ECONOMY & FOOD SECURITY

• Despite early optimism, NK/SK were unable to reach an agreement on when to reopen the KIC. The two sides will meet again and try to reach an agreement next Tuesday.

• NYT: SK has promised 8.4 million USD in aid to NK. 6.3 million USD will be used to help finance the WHO’s efforts to improve medical services to children in NK.

• ORNK: PY is ordering every household to donate 5 USD to the “nation” in a government effort to raise foreign currency.

• UN Resident Coordinator for NK, Ghulam Isaczai, is concerned that “without sustained humanitarian support, the gains made in the past 10 years to improve food security and the overall health and nutrition of the most vulnerable – children, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly – could be quickly reversed.” The UN is currently 98 million USD short of its original target of 150 million USD for the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

HUMAN RIGHTS

• Daily NK: NK/SK exchanged lists of family reunion candidates last Thursday. The 100 people selected for the reunions are expected to be decided on September 16th.

• PY canceled its invitation to Amb. King who had been seeking the release of Kenneth Bae, blaming an alleged US provocation of infiltrating NK airspace with B-52H strategic bombers during recent US-ROK drills.

• In its efforts to shift the media’s focus on NK from nuclear weapons to its human rights crisis, European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea (EAHRNK) put on its inaugural forum in London.

• At last week’s hearings in Tokyo, the UN COI heard from Japanese citizens who have had family members abducted by the NKorean regime. One mother, whose daughter was taken 20 years ago, called for “subjecting North Korea to compulsory investigations” regarding the abductions.

REFUGEES

• In a Seoul National University survey of 133 North Korean refugees, 61.7% believed that KJU has the support of at least 50% of NKoreans. A similar study in 2011 showed that only 55.7% of defectors said KJI had the support of at least 50% of NKoreans.

• Illegal drug use is the leading cause of imprisonment among resettled NKorean refugees in SK. Out of approximately 25,000 defectors, 297 have been incarcerated since 2009, with 22% accused of drug use.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS & SECURITY

• PY is not happy with the ROKG’s attempts to delay talks on the resumption of Mount Geumgang resort tours.

• Information from the USG’s “black budget” confirms how little the country knows about the inner-workings of NK. The report reveals that U.S. intelligence has five “critical gaps” on NK–the most for any country in possession of or in pursuit of nuclear weapons–and “analysts know virtually nothing about the intentions of KJU.”

• Recent images show major construction underway at several rocket test sites in NK.

• NYT: Dennis Rodman returned to NK for “another basketball diplomacy tour” and not “to discuss freeing Kenneth Bae.” This, Rodman’s second visit to NK, comes only days after PY withdrew its invitation to Amb. King, who was planning to request Bae’s release from prison. Rodman reportedly plans on staying in NK for five days.

• According to SK’s defense ministry, NK’s nuclear weapons program “has developed into a real threat in 2013 that can actually be weaponized and used at any time.”

• BBC: The cargo on the Chong Chon Gang was an “undoubted violation” of the UN’s arms embargo on PY.

• In light of events in Syria, Haggard and Noland take a look at chemical weapons from the North Korean angle.

• Joel Wit: “I think it’s a serious mistake to give up on that [denuclearization] goal and indeed as I said, based on what North Korea has said recently, they are willing to have denuclearization as part of our negotiation, and we should seriously pursue that.”

MISC

• Daily NK: Lee Seok Ki, a lawmaker for the UPP, is under investigation by the NIS for “conspiracy to commit a rebellion” because of his supposed links with NK entities. Recent evidence from the Revolutionary Organization shows that the organization’s members have visited NK. Other items obtained during searches include “voice recordings, a lecture plan emphasizing ‘organizational life’ in keeping with North Korea’s plan to revolutionize South Korea, ten items including copies of the Rodong Sinmun, ten audio tapes, seventeen CD-DVDS, and seven floppy disks.” Some NKs living in SK have voiced their surprise regarding Lee’s case.

• The art of political photoshopping in NK.

• PY has hinted that the Masikryong ski resort, currently being built in the North’s Gangwon province, could be utilized for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in SK. The Pyeongchang games organizing committee dismissed it as unfeasible.

NK News Brief acronyms.

Sign up to receive the NK News Brief by email here.

Donate

Your generous donation will rescue and support North Korean refugees.

Donate

100% funds programs.