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Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
As China, Russia escalate cognitive warfare, experts say Seoul needs counterstrategy
As China and Russia ramp up sophisticated cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula, experts at a Seoul forum urged the South Korean government to craft a counterstrategy grounded in objective, professional assessments of both countries' capabilities. The Korean Association of Area Studies co-hosted the seminar themed, 'Security Threats of Cognitive Warfare and Trump's Second-term Strategy on China,' on Friday with the Institute for National Security Strategy and the Sejong Institute at the ROKAUS Hotel in Seoul. The seminar featured two sessions: Session 1, 'Cognitive Warfare Security Threats and Complex Crisis on the Korean Peninsula,' and Session 2, 'Trump's Second-term China Strategy and Regional Hybrid Threats," according to the three co-host organizations. Lee Ho-ryoung, president of the Korean Association of Area Studies, said in her opening remarks, 'North Korea is intensifying its 'invisible cognitive warfare,' such as cyber influence operations and GPS jamming.' 'Therefore, a comprehensive, all-encompassing response is needed to counter the cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula by revisionist powers, including China and Russia," Lee said. Han Suk-hee, president of the Institute for National Security Strategy, assessed that 'China favors hybrid warfare, such as ppsychological division and information operations shaping public opinion, over direct military conflict" in his congratulatory address. "China is pursuing a strategy to sow division between the United States and its allies by intervening in issues like historical disputes between Korea and Japan and controversies over weapons system acquisitions.' Experts at the seminar shared the view that cognitive warfare threats from China and Russia targeting the Korean Peninsula are evolving and emphasized the need for proportional responses by the South Korean government, according to the press statement by the three co-hosting organizations. The experts specifically recommended that the Korean government encourage diverse research on cognitive warfare and conduct objective, professional assessments of Chinese and Russian cognitive warfare strategies. In addition, the experts stressed that the new South Korean administration, which will take office after the June 3 early presidential election, should incorporate cognitive warfare threats and response measures into the national security strategy to lay the groundwork for building a government-wide cognitive warfare response system. The experts also emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the characteristics of cognitive warfare identified in recent conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war in the process of developing the strategy.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
As China, Russia escalate cognitive warfare, experts say Seoul needs counterstrategy
As China and Russia ramp up sophisticated cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula, experts at a Seoul forum urged the South Korean government to craft a counterstrategy grounded in objective, professional assessments of both countries' capabilities. The Korean Association of Area Studies co-hosted the seminar themed, 'Security Threats of Cognitive Warfare and Trump's Second-term Strategy on China,' on Friday with the Institute for National Security Strategy and the Sejong Institute at the ROKAUS Hotel in Seoul. The seminar featured two sessions: Session 1, 'Cognitive Warfare Security Threats and Complex Crisis on the Korean Peninsula,' and Session 2, 'Trump's Second-term China Strategy and Regional Hybrid Threats," according to the three co-host organizations. Lee Ho-ryoung, president of the Korean Association of Area Studies, said in her opening remarks, 'North Korea is intensifying its 'invisible cognitive warfare,' such as cyber influence operations and GPS jamming.' 'Therefore, a comprehensive, all-encompassing response is needed to counter the cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula by revisionist powers, including China and Russia," Lee said. Han Suk-hee, president of the Institute for National Security Strategy, assessed that 'China favors hybrid warfare, such as ppsychological division and information operations shaping public opinion, over direct military conflict" in his congratulatory address. "China is pursuing a strategy to sow division between the United States and its allies by intervening in issues like historical disputes between Korea and Japan and controversies over weapons system acquisitions.' Experts at the seminar shared the view that cognitive warfare threats from China and Russia targeting the Korean Peninsula are evolving and emphasized the need for proportional responses by the South Korean government, according to the press statement by the three co-hosting organizations. The experts specifically recommended that the Korean government encourage diverse research on cognitive warfare and conduct objective, professional assessments of Chinese and Russian cognitive warfare strategies. In addition, the experts stressed that the new South Korean administration, which will take office after the June 3 early presidential election, should incorporate cognitive warfare threats and response measures into the national security strategy to lay the groundwork for building a government-wide cognitive warfare response system. The experts also emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the characteristics of cognitive warfare identified in recent conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war in the process of developing the strategy.
Korea Herald
03-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Tariffs on Korea 'opening salvo,' not endgame: Trump's ex-aide
President Donald Trump's newly announced reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports are an 'opening bid' for broader trade negotiations — not an outcome or a policy set in stone, former Trump national security aide Fred Fleitz said Thursday. 'I will tell you that I think this is the opening salvo in negotiations, and that this is something that will be negotiated and altered over time,' Fred Fleitz, former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council under Trump's first term said during the 'Trump 2.0 and Security in East Asia' forum hosted by the Sejong Institute in Seoul. 'But it does reflect Trump's position that trade can't just be free — it has to be fair. And he does think America has been taken advantage of by many nations. He's trying to settle a score.' Fleitz reiterated that 'Trump thinks tariffs are a useful tool to make trade fair. That's his position.' Fleitz's comments came after Trump announced Wednesday plans to impose a 26 percent 'reciprocal' tariff on South Korean imports, along with a minimum 'baseline' tariff on all goods entering the US. The 10 percent baseline tariff and the higher reciprocal rate are set to take effect on April 5 and April 9, respectively. 'Now I don't think this is a precarious situation — I think it's an unprecedented situation.' Fleitz, who currently serves as vice chair of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, predicted that 'South Korea will do very well in those negotiations,' expressing a positive outlook for trade talks between the two allies. 'There will be such a fight with Europe that it will leave an opening for South Korea to strike some very important deals for your economy, for your security, and for global security,' Fleitz said. 'I hope your (the Korean) government will see it that way. I know you don't welcome these tariffs, but I still think they can be negotiated — and that there are other opportunities that can be pursued.' Fleitz called for South Korea to take the initiative, calling on Seoul to pursue strategic agreements that could provide both countries' security and mutual economic benefits in the course of trade negotiations. 'Trump's a dealmaker. He wants you to make him a deal. That's what I would say to that.' Fleitz specifically cited Korea-US cooperation in shipbuilding and energy as strategic opportunities. With China's naval expansion accelerating, the US is in urgent need of South Korea's assistance to build naval vessels, he said. Fleitz also pointed to the significance of the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline — a Trump-backed investment proposal for the production and export of Alaskan natural gas — that could reduce delivery time to South Korea and enable it to reduce its reliance on imports of energy from Russia and the unstable Persian Gulf. Trump has wanted Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to join the undertaking, while Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy wraps up an Asia trip between March 19 and 30, looking for investors and final buyers. 'Build this pipeline. Build this energy relationship with the United States. It will score a lot of points with President Trump, but frankly, it's the right thing to do for South Korea,' Fleitz said. 'This is a win-win proposal.' Addressing the forum, South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Chung Byung-won, also addressed the issue of US reciprocal tariffs, saying, 'We will do everything we can going forward to develop a win-win formula — one that minimizes the negative impact on us while offering areas where we can contribute to the US.'
Korea Herald
04-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Experts call for deeper engagement with India, Global South
Experts and diplomats urged South Korea to deepen engagements with India and the Global South for a strategic shift in Seoul's foreign policy approach on Feb. 27. The "Global South" refers to countries often characterized as "developing," "less developed" or "underdeveloped." While not exclusive to the Southern Hemisphere, many of these nations are located there, predominantly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The discussion was held at a conference co-organized by the Indian Embassy in Seoul and the Sejong Institute. 'India is a key diplomatic partner that South Korea should prioritize,' stressed Yoon Young-kwan, who was minister of foreign affairs and trade in 2003, citing India's projected rise as a top global economy. Experts urged South Korea to expand diplomacy beyond major powers amid US-China tensions and warned that weak political leadership hinders progress. Yoon highlighted South Korea's historically US-centric policy as a barrier to deeper engagement with India and the Global South, emphasizing, 'South Korea must strengthen its diplomacy with the Global South.' However, he noted a lack of political commitment from both sides to bridge this gap. 'When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea in May 2015, the two nations upgraded their relationship to a 'special strategic partnership.' But it remains questionable whether the partnership has truly reached that level in practice,' Yoon pointed out. In his keynote speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hee-sang referred to geopolitical uncertainties, the US-China rivalry and rising protectionism. "We will continue strengthening our strategic economic and security partnership, ensuring that Korea and India collaborate as special strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, Kim affirmed. Underlining the special strategic partnership in the context of geopolitical shifts, growing bilateral ties and emerging developments, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar explained India's contributions to Indo-Pacific maritime security, particularly in connecting regional security centers and training naval forces. The ambassador urged South Korea to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Launched by India in 2019, the IPOI promotes a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, complementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and enhancing regional security. IORA, with 23 member nations, focuses on regional cooperation and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean. Experts urged stronger South Korea-India ties for supply chain resilience and global stability, employing the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and Indian Ocean. They advocated a multilateral framework with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan for stability and highlighted the India-Australia-Japan SCRI pact as a model linking security and economic strategy, noting South Korea's potential role. Saon Ray, a visiting professor at the Indian Council of Research on International Economic Relations, suggested reshoring, "friend-shoring" ― moving production in one's supply chain to allied countries ― and de-risking in supply chain cooperation. Ray noted Korean investment in India amounted to $7 billion in 2023, with Indian investment in Korea at $3 billion, as well as bilateral trade of approximately $28 billion in 2022-23. But she stressed the need to upgrade the free trade agreement that has been effective since 2010, to attract Korean investment to high-tech and green sectors and to expand ties in electric vehicles, semiconductors and critical minerals. 'South Korea can play a critical role in India's need for lithium and cobalt," Ray underlined, citing Korea's expertise and Samsung's India plant. However, Kim Jong-chul, director general of international trade relations at the Ministry of Trade and Energy, said India has perceived the trade deficit under the trade deal to have more than tripled over the past decade, making India-Korea negotiations challenging. Bilateral talks have been ongoing to finalize proposals for many years. "One key area of disagreement is the reduction of tariffs in manufacturing, where Korea has a competitive edge. But Korea remains cautious about some of India's demands," Kim said without elaborating. Kim noted that Korea seeks better market access, while India prioritizes domestic industry protection and trade balance. South Korea has proposed an "Industrial Cooperation Committee," which India is considering. 'While coordination among India's various ministries may take some time, we will do our best to advance both supply chain and industrial cooperation simultaneously,' said Kim, in response to a question. According to Song Kyung-jin, director of the Asia Foundation, India's technological capabilities in aerospace highlight the potential for collaboration in shipbuilding, port operations and small modular reactors, where South Korea excels. Song, who also moderated a session at the conference, pointed out that nearly 40 percent of global trade and 80 percent of oil shipments pass through the Indian Ocean, and as a leading trading nation, Korea must pursue concrete maritime security cooperation with India to safeguard its national economy and security. Song believes that South Korea should efficiently utilize its increased development cooperation budget for its development initiatives and the Global South. South Korea allocated 6.5 trillion won ($4.45 billion) for official development assistance in 2025 to support the economic growth of developing countries. Meanwhile, Choi Yoon-jung, director of the Center for Indo-Pacific Studies at the Sejong Institute, suggested adopting selective and flexible strategic cooperation over traditional alliances. 'India follows a multialignment strategy, collaborating with multiple partners,' she said. "Korea must align its diplomatic approach accordingly." Choi said that amid US shifts from its traditional role of counterbalancing specific countries, Korea and India need reliable partners to navigate this changing landscape through cooperation. Sponsored by the Asia Foundation, the conference hosted over 65 attendees, including university students, embassy officials, think tank representatives and media personnel.
Korea Herald
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Born in Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un's praise song played at 8 years old, say relatives
New book reveals Kim Jong-un's birthplace for first time, based on interviews with aunt and uncle Born in 1984 in northern Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was secretly anointed as the future heir to his father, Kim Jong-il, at the age of 8, according to the statements of Kim's aunt and her husband, as detailed in a newly published book. The book also discloses that the initiation of his hereditary succession was outwardly marked by the airing of a glorification song dedicated to him in 1992. Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, has published a book "Kim Jong-un We Don't Know" to shed light on the untold story of North Korea's elusive leader. Cheong specifically discloses Kim Jong-un's birthplace for the first time, along with his year of birth and when he was secretly chosen as the successor to Kim Jong-il — critical information that has for so long has remained unclear. During a book launch event at the Sejong Institute in Seoul on Thursday, Cheong explained that the disclosures came from multiple interviews with Kim Jong-un's maternal aunt, Ko Yong-suk, and his uncle, Ri Kang, in Washington in March 2021. Ko and Ri were closely connected to Kim Jong-il and a young Kim Jong-un before they decided to flee North Korea in 1998. Their own son was born in the same year as Kim Jong-un. 'Kim Jong-un was born at Special Residence No. 2, located in the Samsok district, in the northeastern part of Pyongyang, on the north bank of the Taedong River. The guesthouse had a medical clinic and a delivery room,' the book details, based on testimonies from Ko and Ri. Ko and Ri say Kim was born in 1984 and lived in the home of his birth until around 1986, when he moved to Special Residence No. 1 in central Pyongyang. It was only after Kim Jong-un turned 3 or 4 years old that his mother, Ko Yong-hui, told her father, Ko Kyong-taek, that she was living with Kim Jong-il. Speaking at the event, Cheong explained that Kim Jong-un's move to central Pyongyang was closely tied to the power shift between his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, marking 1986 as a crucial turning point. 'By around 1985, Kim Jong-il's influence had begun to surpass Kim Il-sung's, effectively shifting the regime into a dual leadership structure. By 1986, Kim Jong-il's power has surpassed that of Kim Il-sung, which means no longer needing to defer to his father,' Cheong said. 'It was around this time that he moved to central Pyongyang with Ko Yong-hui, the woman he cherished most. From that point on, Ko Yong-hui effectively took on the role of his de facto first lady. Until now, the exact moment when Ko Yong-hui secured her status as Kim Jong-il's official partner had remained unclear." The book adds, 'Kim Jong-un was designated as Kim Jong-il's successor much earlier than widely assumed by the outside world.' According to testimonies from Ri and Ko, 'Kim Jong-un's praise song 'Footsteps' was performed in front of Kim Jong-il's key confidants at his drinking gathering on Kim Jong-un's eighth birthday,' the book read. 'At the time, Ri Kang directly heard Kim Jong-il say, 'From now on, my successor will be my Jong-un.' He also heard the same remark multiple times afterward,' the book read. 'When Kim Jong-un's uncle questioned whether it was too early to establish him as the successor, Kim Jong-il responded, 'Because he takes after me.' Kim Jong-il repeatedly emphasized Kim Jong-un's boldness while stating that Kim Jong-chol was too gentle to be a successor.' Cheong also claims Kim Jong-un had already secured a superior position over other power elites and was exercising sole leadership before Kim Jong-il's death in December 2011, based on high-level intelligence and posthumously released footage of Kim Jong-il from the North's Korean Central Television. In the book, Cheong asserts that Kim Jong-un does not have a son and that Kim Ju-ae is his firstborn, based on several individuals who have interacted with Kim Jong-un — among them Joseph Terwilliger, an American professor who has taught in Pyongyang and who cradled Kim Ju-ae in his arms when she was a baby.
