South Korea’s test of its anticipated space launch vehicle was a success:
South Korea successfully tested its locally developed rocket engine on Wednesday, officials said, taking a step closer to the full-fledged development of the country’s first space launch vehicle.
The test of the 75-ton thrust engine was conducted using a single-stage rocket that was launched from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, at 4:00 p.m.
The rocket engine, designed and developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), will be used on the three-stage Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 (KSLV-2) currently under development.
The 75-ton thrust engine is considered a core technology behind the KSLV-2, which would make South Korea the seventh country in the world to build a space launch vehicle with homegrown technology.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and KARI said the critical rocket motor combustion time was maintained for 151 seconds, surpassing an initial goal of 140 seconds.
KARI said evaluating the performance of a liquid propellant rocket engine is determined by the length of the total combustion time.
The rocket flew for about 10 minutes after reaching a maximum suborbital altitude of 209 kilometers and hit the ocean 429 kilometers southeast of the country’s southern resort island of Jeju. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but what I am wondering is if the North Koreans will begin making demands to allow them to advance a so called peaceful space program like the South Koreans? Much of the technology used for space launches can be used to perfect ICBM’s as well.
The biggest question would be is if the North Koreans make this demand would the Moon administration support them?
It is pretty clear that China does not recognize South Korea’s ADIZ:
A Chinese spy plane entered Korea’s air defense identification zone (Kadiz) without notice three times on Monday, but Beijing didn’t respond to Seoul’s requests for an explanation over their military hotline.
The Chinese military plane first entered the Kadiz northwest of Jeju Island at around 11 a.m., according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The plane initially flew out of the Kadiz about 40 minutes later toward Ieodo, an underwater reef controlled by Korea in waters that both Seoul and Beijing claim, and briefly entered Japan’s air defense identification zone (Jadiz).
The Chinese military plane appeared to be a Shaanxi Y-9JB electronic warfare and surveillance aircraft. (……)
Chinese military planes entered the Kadiz without notice 110 times between January and September of this year, according to data submitted by the Air Force to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee on Tuesday. This includes both cases of prolonged flight time within the Kadiz and brief entries. The number of entries increased 11 times over last year, when Chinese aircraft entered the Kadiz without notice 10 times. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but if Seoul wants to send Beijing a strong message about their displeasure over this, then they should join the US in freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea against Beijing claims to the entire body of water.
However, Seoul will likely not be sending any strong messages to China because taking on Beijing has consequences, so strongly worded protests that Beijing will just shrug at appears to be all that will done. Besides South Korea would rather spend its diplomatic energy finding another way to bash the Japanese which has no consequences.
Considering this poll was done by the Blue House I would not give it much creditability until an outside agency does polling on this issue:
A majority of South Koreans think it is necessary to ease sanctions on North Korea to accelerate denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a survey showed Tuesday.
According to the survey of 1,000 adults here by the National Unification Advisory Council, a presidential consultative body mainly on long-term inter-Korean ties, 64 percent expressed support for easing sanctions on the North as denuclearization talks are underway.
Of the total, 20.4 percent said that they do not support sanctions relief much, while 11.6 percent said they do not support such a move at all, the survey showed. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but how would respondents have answered if asked if they support dropping sanctions for little to nothing in return from the Kim regime? That is essentially what is going on right now.
Here is the latest diplomatic spat between Japan and the Moon administration:
South Korea voiced strong regret Tuesday about the Japanese foreign minister’s reported comments on soured bilateral relations in another sign of a deepening rift over history issues.
South Korea’s top diplomat, Kang Kyung-wha, earlier said she’s considering a visit to Japan, although no schedule has been set, in a bid to mend fences.
Her counterpart, Taro Kono, however, said in a meeting with Japanese lawmakers that Kang does not need to come to Japan without a “proper” response to his government’s demands, according to NHK.
Late last month, South Korea’s Supreme Court ordered a Japanese steelmaker to compensate four Korean men for their wartime forced labor.
Seoul also announced a decision to disband a Tokyo-funded foundation on Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops during World War II. (……)
A senior South Korean official expressed concern about Kono’s reported remark on Kang’s possible trip there.
“If it’s true, I think it’s undiplomatic and inappropriate as a foreign minister in charge of diplomatic relations,” the official told reporters, saying his statement reflects Seoul’s formal view on the matter.
He added the government is very concerned that Japan’s leaders continue provocative rhetoric with regard to the Seoul court’s ruling in ignorance of the fundamental problem. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link.
NK's military went across the border to SK waters to kidnap SK citizens. Isn't it more appropriate for the Defense Min/prez to say/do something, rather than the Unification Min? And also something a tad bit stronger than "regret?" How about stop breaking down SK's defenses? https://t.co/k4bGVS4oH0
— Tara O (@DrTaraO) November 24, 2018
I don’t think anyone will be surprised to find out that former President Jimmy Carter tried to hold a peace conference with the North Koreans back in 1979:
The United States pushed for high-level talks with South and North Korea on reducing military tensions in the late 1970s amid a controversy over a troop pullout or reduction plan, declassified diplomatic documents showed Sunday.
The rift between the presidents of the allies at that time — Park Chung-hee and Jimmy Carter — about the size of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) was highlighted in a transcript of their talks in Seoul on June 30, 1979.
“I can’t promise that we will freeze forces levels,” Carter told Park, according to a White House document on their hourlong conversation.
Carter questioned South Korea’s commitment to a hike in defense budgets to counter North Korea’s rapid military buildup.
Park stressed his military was making efforts to beef up combat power but needed more time.
Cater asked, “My understanding is that you are particularly concerned about the presence of the Second (Infantry) Division and the Combined Forces Command. Do you also want the U.S. to maintain its protective nuclear umbrella as well?”
Park said yes. And Carter asked again, “If we decide to modify or reduce other force levels, you would like adequate notification and consultations?”
Park also said yes.
In the summit, Carter confirmed South Korea’s clear opposition to either the withdrawal of the USFK or a scale-down, with the North’s military threats growing. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Carter soon accelerated a drive for dialogue with North Korea on easing tensions. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but Carter tried to hold a summit with the ROK and North Korea in Jakarta, Indonesia. It never happened because the Kim Il-sung regime blew him off.
Another UN sanctions exemption for little to nothing in return from North Korea:
The United Nations Security Council has granted a sanctions exemption that will allow North and South Korea to move forward with a joint railway project, according to a report.
Seoul had requested an exemption for the delivery of fuel and other material needed to conduct a survey in North Korea focused on reconnecting cross-border railways.
The request was approved Friday by the security council’s North Korea sanctions committee, a foreign ministry official said according to the Yonhap News Agency.
The decision comes days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the South that it should not improve ties with the North without marked progress in nuclear talks. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read more at the link.
