NK Report

Only at MHI-NK News: More activity underway at Kaesong Industrial Complex, satellite imagery suggests, By Chad O’Carroll Possible agricultural activity observed in several areas of shuttered KIC Satellite imagery seen by NK Pro indicates activity taking place within several parts of the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), suggesting North Korean authorities may be allowing citizens to use parts of the facility. A plot of land in the southwest of the facility adjacent to two factories vacated after South Korea unilaterally closed the complex in 2016 shows signs of notable activity in Planet Labs satellite imagery between August 01 and October 24. Changes in the surface of the land – which high-resolution Airbus satellite imagery from January 2017 showed to be covered in dirt, grass and some trees – are clearly visible in the imagery, suggesting that the land there is being altered in some way.* ————————————————————————————————————————- South Korean unification minister calls on North Korea to allow KIC visit, By Dagyum Ji DPRK state media has claimed that Seoul has “no right” to visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex* ————————————————————————————————————————- Russia “hurting” U.S. efforts against North Korea: Trump, By Oliver Hotham President says poor relations between Moscow and Washington hampering DPRK policy.* ————————————————————————————————————————- Kim Jong Un congratulates Xi Jinping on re-election, By Oliver Hotham As CPC’s 19th Congress winds down, DPRK leader wishes Chinese President “great success”.* ————————————————————————————————————————- Chinese imports of N. Korean coal, iron, lead continue in September, By Leo Byrne Coal shipments could be in violation of Beijing’s own domestic ruling issued in February China continued to import North Korean coal in September, the country’s customs trade figures show, despite a new UN resolution banning all trade in several DPRK metals and minerals and Beijing’s own domestic ruling. According to the figures compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Chinese imports of DPRK anthracite totaled nearly USD$44 million.* ————————————————————————————————————————- Let’s be clear: a surgical strike on North Korea is too risky to consider, By Dennis P. Halpin Trump must be aware that not all options can be on the table.*

Top MHI-NK Stories from around the web: New images show North Korea’s extensive network of ‘re-education’ camps (Washington Post) The brutal treatment meted out to North Korea’s political prisoners has been well-documented, but a new report coming out Thursday, based on satellite images, portrays the extensive network of “re-education” camps for less severe violations of Pyongyang’s penal code. These camps are situated throughout the country…* ———————————————————————————————————————— Ahead of President Donald Trump’s Asia trip, what’s the right message on North Korea? (Channel News Asia) Washington’s handling of the North Korea situation and its relationship with Seoul could be better. “The consequences of the Trump administration’s policy confusion are nothing to laugh at given the spectre of mass casualties if a conflict breaks out on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has taken note of President Trump’s treatment of South Korea…”* ———————————————————————————————————————– Getting to Asia (CSIS) Does the Trump administration have a broad Asia strategy? How will the president interact with Asian leaders and ordinary citizens? “The State Department’s senior official for APEC, Matt Matthews, said the United States will work with the other economies to “advance an Asia-Pacific architecture that opens markets, promotes high standards, reduces trade barriers, and promotes free and fair trade”…* ———————————————————————————————————————— Questions loom as Mattis visits South Korea: Can diplomacy work? (Asahi Shimbun) U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is visiting the Korean Peninsula at a momentous juncture in the faltering effort to persuade Pyongyang to halt and dismantle its nuclear weapons program. Ominous questions hang in the air. Is diplomacy failing? Is war approaching?… ————————————————————————————————————————- U.S. military strike won’t destroy all N. Korean nuclear capabilities: U.S. expert(Yonhap News) A preventive military strike by the United States would not remove all of North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, a renowned American expert on the North Korean issue has said, while proposing economic sanctions as the most viable tool to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons program…*