Budaechigae II

New north Korean Propaganda Posters

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:23:45 +0900

What a way to usher in the New Year...new Propaganda Posters from the KNS Stock Photos website. Hat Tip to Hanmaum, a blogger over at the Open Source Center.

China Hacks Into the Korean Military

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:36:25 +0900

Strategy Page says the Chinese are probing the South Korean Military's personal computers for any work related info:

January 7, 2008: South Korea is complaining openly of a Cyber War campaign, coming out of China, that seeks to gain access to PCs belonging to members of the South Korean armed forces. This is a targeted attack, using lists of email addresses harvested from military web sites and other sources. The intention appears to be to discover what military personnel have on their PCs, and take anything of interest. Japanese and Taiwanese military personnel have gotten into trouble recently for having unauthorized data (usually classified) on their PCs (usually in the form of taking work home). Apparently someone in China noticed this, and decided to test a new Cyber War tactic on the South Koreans.

Leave those USB Drives at work SGT Kim!

ROK Military fields replacemnt for GCCS-K

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:16:46 +0900

Korea takes its first step to be weaned from USFK's intelligance dependency by fielding its own solution to GCCS-K:

Korea's military has a new high-tech command system that uses real-time multimedia reports to keep top brass informed and in control of what's going on in the field as it happens.
Called the Korea Joint Command Control System, or KJCCS, the system lets military leaders command battlefield units as they watch up-to-the-minute reports on a large-screen monitor in the Joint Chiefs of Staff situation room.

KJCCS was launched on Jan. 1 after three years and tens of billions of won in development (US$1=W939).

The system connects the JCS with the operations commands of Korea's Army, Navy and Air Force. It allows top military leaders a thorough understanding of the deployment of all weapons and troops of all three military branches at the same time.

The onl　y problem comes with information exchange. With an air/naval centric USFK in the works after Wartime Operational Control transfer, expeditious information exchange is going to be critical, especially for tactical air support and naval gunfire support.

OPLAN 5029 - the Chinese Version

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 03:32:06 +0900

China has their own version of OPLAN 5029:

The contingency plans outline three missions in North Korea should the regime become unstable: humanitarian efforts to help refugees, peacekeeping activities such as serving as police, and the securing of nuclear weapons and fissile material as well as cleaning up any nuclear contamination.

"If deemed necessary, PLA troops would be dispatched into North Korea," said the report, referring to China's military, the People's Liberation Army.

"China's strong preference is to receive formal authorization and coordinate closely with the U.N. in such an endeavor. However, if the international community did not react in a timely manner as the internal order in North Korea deteriorated rapidly, China would seek to take the initiative in restoring stability," it said.

The report, titled "Keeping an Eye on an Unruly Neighbor," was commissioned by the U.S. Institute of Peace and written jointly by authors from the institute and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It is based on discussions with Chinese specialists on North Korea in June last year and was posted last week on the Web sites of authors' organizations.

I don't think China consulted South Korea about this...I know, I know, China and South Korea are not bound by a multilateral security agreement, whereas China and north Korea have the north Korea-China friendship treaty. And if i remember right it does mention something to the effect of allowing China to intervene in case Pyongyang was to fall. So why is this news? Well, it's the nukes, of course (from the same Yonhap Story):

Some Chinese experts are concerned the U.S. and North Korea may strike a compromise deal in which Pyongyang is allowed to keep its nuclear weapons, it said, isolating Beijing in its insistence that North Korea give up its atomic arsenal and severely impairing China-North Korea ties.

"Chinese analysts vividly recall that Washington pressed Beijing to impose great pressure on India after its nuclear test in 1998, but then reversed its position and condoned India's nuclear program, leaving China hanging out to dry," the report said.

"China subsequently devoted two years to mending its ties with India."

I'll have to read the full paper (link opens pdf version in separate browser) to comment any further.

Korea to Man 1000 Soldier Strong PKO Force

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:52:49 +0900

As Korea reduces the Zaytun Deployment, the Defense Ministry plans to increase the Blue Beret commitments abroad:

The ministry plans to maintain standing Peace Keeping Operation (PKO) forces of 1,000 and revise relevant regulations in order to respond promptly to international needs, they said.

The ministry is also deliberating a U.N. request for the dispatch of heavy equipment and transportation, including helicopters, vessels and planes to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide, the officials said.

U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon [Pan Ki-mun] is reported to have made a request to South Korea's president-elect Yi Myo'ng-pak [Lee Myung-bak] and his power transition team to comply with the troop calls, saying that South Korea should be more involved in international issues, such as the Darfur crisis in Sudan.

Peacekeeping has its own set of issues, and one　 of the main areas of interest is the safety of PKO troops. The UN probably will not be as accommodating as MNF-I when it comes to stationing troops for PKO. Korean troops could end up back in such places as Somolia, (Korea had 250 Military Engineers deployed in support of UNOSOM II), Angolia (Engineering unit of 198 personnel supported UNAVEM III), and Liberia (2 Military Observers for UNMIL); albeit in much larger numbers, and probably in charge of a Battalion(+) or Brigade sized area of operations. There is an inherent risk that needs to be addressed and accepted prior to any troop commitment.

New Year's Eve Police Shooting Death

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 09:34:17 +0900

The Angry Asian Man is looking for answers regarding the New Year's Eve shooting of Mike Cho. The US version of the Korea Times has surveillance footage that doesn't match the official story:

There are some photos from surveillance video of the altercation in this Korean news story here, but it doesn't look like Mike is attacking anybody. Something is seriously sketchy here. A few more details were made public by police at a community meeting today, but there are still a lot of questions about what really went down: La Habra police chief says shooting victim moved as if to attack an officer. People want answers.

My condolences to the Cho family.

The issues at hand are excessive use of deadly force and whether or not Mr. Cho was a threat to the officers at the scene. The surveillance tape, I think is key to determining what really happened there. Also in question is the weapon that Mr. Cho is supposed to have had in his posession at the time of the shooting. A few of the commentors at the OC Register claim the surveillance tape shows that Mr. Cho had no weapon at the time of the shooting.

A Few ROK Army Related Items

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:49:25 +0900

The Korea Herald says that the first volunteer to extend his service commitment for a monthly salary is from the ROKA 17th ID:

Beginning this year, the ministry is to allow conscripts to remain in the military for an additional 6-18 months after their two-year mandatory service, to offset an anticipated reduction in overall manpower in the military. The voluntary soldiers will be paid 22-33 million won ($23,000-$35,000) for their entire service term.

Sgt. Kim Soo-cheon, 24, of the 17th Infantry Division was the first draftee in the new conscription program, the Army said. He was yesterday promoted to staff sergeant.

A wise move for the Ministry of Defense and also a good solution for Soldiers who might need to either save money or gain more experience. The onl　y drawback is that most Korean men are already considered "behind" because the military service usually comes between the sophomore and junior year of college. Normally if a Soldier wants to stay in the Military, he must enlist and usually stays in the military as a career Soldier, retiring as a Master sergeant or Sergeant Major with anywhere from 20-30 years of service. The life is hard and the hours long. This new option will allow the much needed mid-level NCO corps to grow.

In a related piece The Donga Ilbo says since conscription time is going down, leave time for conscripts is also going down:

The Defense Ministry will no longer allow new soldiers to take leave on the 100th day of their conscription, and will also cut regular leave as the length of service will be cut by 2014.

A ministry official said, “From February last year, recruits who finish boot camp are eligible for an overnight stay out and one　 day’s leave. So there is no need for rookie leave any more.”

It'll be a sad day across the camps in Korea this February. The conscripts will get a pass, but no more leave. I guess you have to give to get. I just hope that the AWOL and desertion rate dosent go up.

1CD Commander to 8th Army

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:54:40 +0900

MG Joseph F. Fil, Jr. is on his way to command 8th Army, according to a USFK spokesperson. The Korea Times filed a report:

Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr., commander of the Multinational Division Baghdad and 1st Armored Division, will replace Lt. Gen. David P. Valcourt as chief of the Eighth U.S. Army (EUSA) in Korea, a U.S. Forces Korea spokesman said Wednesday.

A change-of-command ceremony will take place on Feb. 14 at the Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul, the spokesman said.

Valcourt, who took over as the EUSA commander in April 2006, will become deputy commanding general and chief of staff for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, he said.

MG Fil also was nominated for appointment to the rank of LTG to coincide as Commanding General, Eighth United States Army/Chief of Staff, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea. He was also misidentified as the 1st AD Commander, when in fact he is serving as the Commander of the 1st Cavalry out of FT Hood, Texas.

Buying from northKorea.inc

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:43:32 +0900

Want to buy products from north Korea? According to Yonhap the comrades up north have set up a website to promote commerce in the Worker's Paradise:

The site introduces dozens of North Korea-based companies, many of them in heavy and light industries, complete with contacts and pictures of their facilities. The site insists North Korea has invested heavily in construction and heavy utilities despite its failure to properly feed its 23 million people.

In a section that apparently allows visitors to use credit cards, the site exhibits products ranging from kimchi, cosmetics and movies to a four-wheel drive vehicle, a speedboat and even a high-tech medical device capable of detecting heart and brain abnormalities.

These products -- for just about everything one　 needs to lead a normal, if not plush, lifestyle -- can be purchased in U.S. dollars, the site said, despite the fact most of the written information is in Korean.

As of today there is an English Language Mirror Site. I've yet to try and buy from the site, and really don't think I will too soon....If anyone takes the plunge, let me know.

희망찬 새해 즐거운 일들로만 가득 하시고 행복하소서

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:37:25 +0900



 
  ♣행복을 찾는 방법♣ 
 
 
 부드러운 미소 
 
 웃는 얼굴을 간직하세요.
 미소는 모두를 
 고무시키는 힘이 있습니다.
 
 칭찬하는 대화
 
 매일 두번이상 칭찬해 보세요.
 덕담은 좋은 관계를 만드는 
 밧줄이 됩니다.
 
 명랑한 언어
 
 명랑한 언어를 습관화 해 보세요.
 명랑한 언어는 상대를 
 기쁘게 해 줍니다.
 
 즐거운 노래
 
 조용히 흥겹게 마음으로 
 노래해 보세요.
 마음의 노래는 사랑을 깨닫게 합니다.
 
 감사하는 마음 
 
 불평대신 감사를 말해 보세요.
 비로소 당신은 
 행복한 사람임을 알 것 입니다.
 
 
 - 좋은생각중에서
 
 
 지난 한해동안 희망천사에게 
 변함없는 마음으로 사랑을 베풀어 주신
 아름다운 벗님께 깊은 감사드립니다 
 
 무자년 새해가 밝아 왔습니다 
 찬란하게 떠 오르는 저 태양처럼
 희망과 행운이 함께하여 
 항상 좋은일들로만 가득 채워져 
 웃음꽃 활짝 피어나는 한해가 되시고
 소망하신 모든일들 소원성취 하시고 
 건강하시길 희망천사 두손 모아 기원 하나이다 
 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (꾸~~벅)새배 올립니다