There is a number of very good books on this list, but one I was surprised was not included was the The Cleanest Race by B.R. Myers. This book I believe is a must read for anyone trying to get a deeper understanding of North Korea. You can read my review of this book at this link.
When I have time I will have to put my own North Korea book list together, but in the meantime do any ROK Heads have recommendations not on this list as well that they would like to make?
Kim Jong-un is continuing his charm offensive in the lead up to his summit with Present Moon Jae-in later this month:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) talks with South Korea’s culture minister Do Jong-whan during a performance by a South Korean art troupe in Pyongyang in this photo captured from a pool video on April 1, 2018. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife attended a historic performance in Pyongyang by a South Korean art troupe on Sunday, the South Korean culture ministry said.
The couple was present for the concert by the 160-member South Korean art troupe at East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, a pool report said. The group included 11 Korean pop musicians such as Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, Choi Jin-hee, Red Velvet and Seohyun of Girls’ Generation.
Kim became the first North Korean leader to attend a performance by a South Korean artistic group.
His appearance was somewhat expected as South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended the Seoul performance by a North Korean art troupe called “Samjiyon Orchestra” in February in celebration of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the South.
A pool report said the North Korean leader’s sister Kim Yo-jong and the country’s nominal head of state Kim Yong-nam attended the performance as well.
The North Korean leader also insisted that the two Koreas should hold cultural performances more often, suggesting that there should be another event in Seoul around fall. [Yonhap]
This photo capture from North Korea’s Central TV on March 29, 2018, shows a set of gifts that Chinese President Xi Jinping gave to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Kim traveled to Beijing, his first trip outside his country since taking power in late 2011, from March 25-28 and held talks with Xi. The talks between the two close allies preceded Kim’s planned summits with the leaders of South Korea and the United States. (Yonhap)
Via a reader tip comes this update on the status of the THAAD site in Seongju:
Tractors block the road to the site of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery
The setup of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. in southwestern Korea has been on hold since September last year as locals and activists block access to the site.
“There’s been no progress in the construction of THAAD facilities, as well as the quarters for U.S. troops,” who are to operate the battery, a military spokesman told reporters Monday.
Seoul and Washington agreed in September 2016 to deploy THAAD interceptor launchers at a former golf course in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The U.S. Forces Korea brought two launchers last April and four more last September.
A USFK source claimed the South Korean government appears to be neglecting the deployment, which has been widely unpopular.
A steel barricade set up by activist groups and locals last April still blocks the road near the THAAD deployment site.
According to police, about 10 locals check passing vehicles in tag teams of two around the clock to block any USFK vehicles or trucks carrying equipment.
Although this is highly illegal, police seem to have done nothing .
“We’ll resolutely clamp down on illegal demonstrations,” a police spokesman said. “But it’s our principle not to stoke upheavals.”
Police have drastically reduced their presence at the site. About 300 troops from four police companies were deployed last September, but now only some 80 are on standby some 4 km away.
The USFK is reduced to running the THAAD battery as if in a field maneuver, on generators fueled by diesel flown in by helicopter. [Chosun Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but resupplying the site by helicopter seems to me to be riskier than by a ground approach. If a helicopter was to crash I wonder if that will change the situation on the ground any?
Via a reader tip comes this conviction against reporters who disclosed the affair of a USFK civilian worker:
South Korea’s top court on Tuesday confirmed the conviction of three weekly magazine reporters who were accused of publishing an extramarital affair story involving a Korean civilian worker at United States Forces Korea (USFK).
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling, fining them 3 million won ($2,800) each for defaming the worker.
The court rejected the reporters’ claim that their reporting was justifiable in light of people’s right to know and the freedom of press.
It said the disputed story dealt with a “sheer private affair” whose publication did nothing for public interest. The court said the story was published with personal details edited out, but not enough. [Korea Times]
Can you imagine if the US had South Korea’s defamation laws? The journalists in America would all be broke from lawsuits.
