Tuesday, October 10, 2017

N Korea - The Last Parade ?


Last Update included on October 11, 02:00 am CET

在十月八日朝鲜举行劳动党七届二中全会

October 8, N Korea summoned the 7th session of the 2nd plenary meeting of its Workers Party.

On that occasion, Kim Jong-Un's younger sister Kim Yo-Jong was promoted as a new member of the Workers Party Politburo, taking the place of an elderly aunt to the Kim family.

Today, October 10, public celebrations will be held as a reminder of the foundation of the N Korean Workers Party in 1945. At the same time, the 20th anniversary of Kim Jong-Un's late father, Kim Jong-Il, coming to power will be celebrated.

..............................




要求多国切断与朝外交 美孤立朝鲜行动开始见效

Demanding all nations to cut off diplomacy with North Korea,
America's isolation of North Korea is beginning to bear fruit.


[Source: Zaobao 早报, Singapore Morning News on October 10, 2017]

...............................




Read more from the Financial Times article published this morning !
(Sorry, you have to subscribe to get the entire news).


Some quotations from the above article:

Lee Cheol-hee, a member of the ruling Democratic party, on Tuesday said hackers had broken into a defence data centre in September last year. He said stolen documents included Operational Plan 5015 — the most recent allied blueprint for war with North Korea.

The plans reportedly includes detailed procedures for a decapitation strike against the North Korean regime — a proposal that has infuriated Kim Jong Un, the country’s supreme leader.

Citing South Korean defence officials, Mr Lee said 235 gigabytes of data had been stolen, although 80 per cent of the documents had yet to be identified. Among the files identified were contingency plans for Seoul’s special forces as well as information on key military facilities and power plants, the lawmaker said.

Editor's Note:

During the day, same news were being published by different sources including BBC. However, I am now convinced that this is not entirely breaking news, as I can remember having read about N Korean military hacking of S Korean forces already months ago in a short notice published on the web.

Furthermore it should be added that, today, South Korean forces on a "ground battle day" made an exhibition of their state-of-the-art tanks and artillery and which helped much in soothing irritated South Korean civilians [Source: Al-Jazeera TV, international channel, in their evening news].

N Korea - Likeliness of War


访朝俄罗斯官员:朝鲜即将再射导弹。
A Russian official who visited North Korea:
N Korea is going to launch another missile.


在2日至6日访问了朝鲜的俄罗斯官员9日表示,朝鲜已经为10日能够发射导弹。

On October 9, a Russian official and who had been to North Korea from October 2-6 declared that North Korea will be able to launch a missile as soon as October 10 [... and which is the date of an important N Korean Workers Party anniversary].

Editor's Note: Anton Morozov, a member of the Russian lower house of parliament’s international affairs committee, and who had visited the DPRK accompanied by two other Russian lawmakers was originally quoted by Russia's news agency RIA for the above information [Source: Reuters].

[Source: DW 多维新闻网 on October 9, 2017]


俄外长:不容许朝鲜半岛紧张局势升级
Russia's foreign minister: An escalation of the tense
situation on the Korean peninsula cannot be tolerated.


[Source: XinHua 新华网, PR China's News Agency on October 9, 2017]


Russia orders U.S. to abandon N Korea fight as major conflict looms.
俄罗斯的外交部长拉夫罗夫警告美国不要冒险使朝鲜危机升级。


Russia has issued a severe warning to Donald Trump as its foreign minister Lavrov said in a phone call with U.S. foreign secretary Tillerson the escalation over North Korea is "unacceptable".

Russia's foreign ministry, said: "Lavrov underlined the inadmissibility of any escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula, to which the USA's military preparations lead, and called for contradictions to be resolved by diplomatic means only."

Mr. Lavrov also told Mr. Tillerson Moscow is demanding the U.S. returns Russian diplomatic property seized in 2016 over suspected Russian interference in the U.S. general election.

The phone call came just hours after Donald Trump's most senior general told the U.S. Army to "stand ready" for war with North Korea.

General James 'Mad dog' Mattis warned it is impossible to tell what the future holds for the crisis, but urged U.S. troops to be prepared for a confrontation with Kim Jong-Un.

[Source: Quotations from Express, UK, on October 9, 2017. That source published as well a series of pictures showing Russian border guards amassing on the North Korean border and patrolling the top of Zaozyonara Hill, a meeting point between Russia, North Korea and China.]


Australians fear North Korea standoff will lead to war.
(The Guardian Essential poll)


Australians are concerned that the current standoff between the United States and North Korea will lead to all-out military confrontation, with 55% fearing that outcome, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll and which included 1,846 voters:

16% war very likely
39% war somewhat likely
24% war somewhat unlikely
12% war very unlikely

Women were more pessimistic about the brinkmanship leading to war than men – 61% compared with 49%. People over 55 were less likely than younger people to believe war likely.

[Source: Quotations from The Guardian, UK, on October 9, 2017]




Monday, October 09, 2017

Geldwäsche an Nordkoreas Botschaften


Geldwäsche an den Botschaften Nordkoreas
Money Laundering at N Korean Embassies


在国际社会对朝鲜制裁越来越严格之后,朝鲜通过驻外使馆拼命敛财,赚外汇方式堪称“百态”。

Nachdem die Völkergemeinschaft zunehmend strengere Sanktionen über Nord Korea verhängt hat, verschafft sich das Land verzweifelt Geldmittel [d.h. auf illegalem Wege] mit Hilfe seiner ausländischen Botschaften. Die Art Profit nach einem Devisenumtausch- Modell zu machen, kann dabei [d.h. nach chinesischem Sprachgebrauch] als die "Methode der hundert Konditionen" bezeichnet werden.

After the foreign community imposed increasingly stringent sanctions on North Korea, the country is desperately raising funds [i.e. by illegal means] with the help of its foreign embassies. Making profit by a foreign exchange pattern can be called "the one hundred conditions".

美国《纽约时报》7日报道称,朝鲜将其在全球40多个国家的大使馆用于各种赚取外汇的生意。将外交公馆用于赚钱,在国际法上是非法的。

Nach einem Bericht der New York Times vom 7. [Oktober] praktiziert Nord Korea jede Art von einträglichen Geschäften mit dem Devisenumtausch an seinen Botschaften in weltweit mehr als 40 Ländern. Die Nutzung von ausländischen Residenzen mit dem Ziel Profite zu machen ist dabei nach internationalem Recht unzulässig.

在朝鲜驻波兰华沙的大使馆里,有40多家朝鲜企业和团体落户于此并开展活动,从制药公司到广告公司、赛艇俱乐部,各种名目不一而足。

In der Botschaft Nordkoreas im polnischen Warschau gibt es mehr als 40 nordkoreanische Unternehmen und Niederlassungen von Organisationen, die hier ihre Aktivitäten entfalten, angefangen von Firmen zur Herstellung von Heilmitteln bis hin zu Werbeagenturen.


[Quelle: Auszüge aus einem Artikel der DW 多维新闻 vom 9. Oktober 2017]

Thursday, October 05, 2017

Nordkorea - Devisen aus Deutschland ?


Nordkoreas Devisen aus Deutschland
oder
" Der Teufel ist ein Eichhörnchen "


Die deutsche Redensart vom Teufel düfte am ehesten umschreiben wie es Nordkorea gelingt, trotz internationaler Sanktionen noch immer Devisen aus westlichen Ländern abzuziehen.

Der im folgenden zitierte U.S. Beitrag, der eigentlich für amerikanische Leser geschrieben wurde, zeigt, wie das Regime in Pyongyang jeweils Zehntausende seiner Arbeitskräfte nach China und in andere Länder exportiert um sie dort unter Bewachung und ständiger Indoktrination arbeiten zu lassen. Die der Landessprache unkundigen Nordkoreaner unterzeichnen Verträge, die dem jeweiligen Arbeitgeber günstig erscheinen müssen, die aber im allgemeinen von den lokalen Rechtsnormen nicht wesentlich abweichen dürften. Nordkoreanische Bewacher zwingen dann ihre Landsleute in einer Art geschlossenen Gesellschaft mit Gemeinschaftsunterkünften zu leben. Bis zu 70% ihres Lohnes wird ihnen abgenommen und auf nordkoreanische Regierungskonten überwiesen. Bei Monatslöhnen, die in China eine Größenordnung von geschätzten 300 $ für solche "modernen Sklaven" erreichen, könnte man leicht ausrechnen, in welcher Größenordnung die nordkoreanischen Deviseneinnahmen bei, sagen wir, 30.000 [Russland] bis 50.000 heimlichen Zwangsarbeitern pro Land liegen könnten.

" At a time when North Korea faces sanctions on many exports, the government is sending tens of thousands of workers worldwide, bringing in revenue estimated at anywhere from $200 million to $500 million a year. That could account for a sizable portion of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs, which South Korea says have cost more than $1 billion. [=> d.h. 1 Milliarde $ im U.S. Sprachgebrauch]

While the presence of North Korean workers overseas has been documented, the AP investigation reveals for the first time that some products they make go to the United States, which is now a federal crime. AP also tracked the products made by North Korean workers to Canada, Germany and elsewhere in the European Union."


Da viele dieser Nordkoreaner in der Lebensmittelbranche arbeiten, vor allem bei der Verarbeitung von Meeresfrüchten im chinesischen Hunchun an der Grenze zu Nordkorea, bleibt es nicht aus, dass die von ihnen erzeugten Produkte ihren Weg auch in deutsche Supermärkte finden könnten. Der amerikanische Bericht erwähnt hier ausdrücklich die Lebensmittelketten Aldi, Penny und Rewe, wobei allerdings nicht ganz klar wird, ob hier eher die U.S.-Filialen der deutschen Vertriebsgesellschaften gemeint sind.

Möglicherweise wird der rechtliche Rahmen bei solchen Handelsgeschäften mit ausländischen Vertriebspartnern eingehalten. Das Phänomen der unterbezahlten Zwangsarbeit wäre dann nur im Herkunftsland der Waren, also vor allem in China zu ahnden.

" Some U.S. brands and companies had indirect ties to the North Korean laborers in Hunchun, including Chicken of the Sea, owned by Thai Union. Trade records show shipments came from a sister company of the Hunchun factory in another part of China, where Thai Union spokeswoman Whitney Small says labor standards are being met and the employees are all Chinese. Small said the sister companies should not be penalized.

Shipments also went to two Canadian importers, Morgan Foods and Alliance Seafood, which did not respond to requests for comment.

Boxes at the factories had markings from several major German supermarket chains and brands - All-Fish distributors, REWE and Penny grocers and Icewind brand. REWE Group, which also owns the Penny chain, said that they used to do business with Hunchun Dongyang but the contract has expired. All the companies that responded said their suppliers were forbidden to use forced labor.

..........

This means Americans buying salmon for dinner at Walmart or ALDI may inadvertently have subsidized the North Korean government as it builds its nuclear weapons program, an AP investigation has found. Their purchases may also have supported what the United States calls "modern day slavery" - even if the jobs are highly coveted by North Koreans. "


Da der Import von Produkten aus Nordkorea in die U.S.A. neuerdings ein Bundesvergehen darstellt und die chinesische Regierung auf der Grundlage kürzlicher UN-Sanktionen die Beendigung aller Geschäftsbeziehungen zu Nordkorea bis Januar 2018 angeordnet hat, dürften Nordkorea's Devisenquellen weiterhin schrumpfen ohne jedoch vollständig zu versiegen. Es ist also im Zweifelsfall die Eigeninitiative der westlichen Konsumenten angesagt, um das Regime des nordkoreanischen Kriegstreibers Kim Jong-Un weiterhin wirtschaftlich zu schwächen. Schließlich besteht doch immer die Möglichkeit, dass der Verbraucher "intensiv und öffentlich nachfragt" um dieses Ärgernis mittelfristig einzudämmen.

[Hauptquelle: Click2Houston zitiert am 4. Oktober 2017 einen investigativen Bericht amerikanischer Journalisten der Associated Press International AP. Zitate aus der von mir verwendeten U.S. Quelle Click2Houston sind farbig markiert und enthalten weitere Informationen.]

..............................


Der nachfolgende Beitrag zeigt, dass der offizielle Außenhandel zwischen Deutschland und Nordkorea dagegen eher unbedeutend ist. Was aber nicht bedeuten soll, dass nicht auch bereits geringe Millionenbeträge zur Grundversorgung der Familie Kim und zur Erhaltung ihres Privatstaates beitragen können.

Der chinesische Originaltext wurde einem Internet-Portal für Exilchinesen in Kanada entnommen. Er beschäftigt sich in seinem Hauptteil mit dem Handelsvolumen zwischen der VR China und Nordkorea, das wesentlich größere Ausmaße erreicht als das zwischen Deutschland und Pyongyang.




Abbildung: Nordkoreas Botschaft in Deutschland


什么?德国同朝鲜也作生意?

Wie bitte ? Auch Deutschland treibt Handel mit Nordkorea ?


长久以来,同朝鲜的贸易对德国而言已是无足轻重,不过,它并没有完全停止。 据联邦统计局公布的数据,今年5月德国从朝鲜的进口额超过120万欧元,也是2014年9月以来的最高值。 同期,德国向朝鲜的出口额为32万欧元。

Seit langem gibt es den Handel zwischen Nordkorea und Deutschland, wenn er auch von geringer Bedeutung ist. Wie dem auch sei, er wurde nicht vollständig beendet.

Vom Bundesamt für Statistik veröffentlichte Daten belegen, dass die Importe aus Nordkorea im Mai diesen Jahres [d.h. 2017] den Betrag von 1,2 Millionen € überstiegen. Das wäre der höchste [Monats-]Betrag seit September 2014. Im selben Zeitraum hat Deutschland Exporte im Wert von 320.000 € nach Nordkorea getätigt.

去年,德国向朝鲜的出口总额为570万欧元,进口400万欧元。 从朝鲜主要进口金属原材料、金属制品以及数据处理仪器,向朝鲜出口的产品首先是药品,其次是机械。

Im letzten Jahr [d.h. 2016] erreichten die Exporte Deutschlands nach Nordkorea einen Gesamtbetrag von 5,7 Millionen €, die Importe lagen bei 4,0 Millionen €. Die wichtigsten Importe aus Nordkorea reichen von metallischen Rohstoffen und verarbeiteten Metallen [Halbzeug] über Metallwaren bis zu Geräten zur Verarbeitung von Daten.


[Quelle: 51.CA 加国华人网上家园, chinesisches Netzwerk in Kanada am 11.9.2017]

Die Aufbereitung des amerikanischen Untersuchungsberichtes, die Übersetzung der chinesischen Quelle und der Rahmenkommentar stammen vom Herausgeber der "blueprint news" - © Ulysses 2017.

..............................




Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Kim Jong-Un Erasing further Family Members ?


Update related to N Korea added below !



Kim Han-Sol

金正男之子逃亡 过境台湾惊惶30小时

In the last 30 hours: Son of Kim Jong-Nam fled panic-stricken via Taiwan.


With the help of a North Korean dissidents' group, the son of recently assassinated Kim Jong-Nam, exiled brother to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, fled his residence in Macao, China.

21-year-old Kim Han-Sol had criticised the regime in Pyongyang like his father and who was recently killed in a nerve gas attack at Kuala Lumpur airport, Malaysia, most probably by agents of the North Korean regime. Kim Jong-Nam's bloodline made him a potential threat to the Kim dynasty, same goes now for his son Kim Han-Sol who can be regarded as a nephew to Kim Jong-Un. Kim Han-Sol was accompanied by his sister and his mother.

The dissidents' group involved said it sought help from foreign governments for the rescue of Kim Han Sol. The US, China and the Netherlands allegedly provided assistance with travel, visas or other aspects of the plan, according to the group. China’s foreign ministry said it had no information on the rescue, and the Netherlands and US declined to comment.

This comes at a time when two women charged for carrying out the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam "pleaded not guilty" in court, even though video footage from Kuala Lumpur airport cameras could serve as a proof.

[Main Sources: 联合早报, Chinese Morning News from Singapore on October 3, 2017, and The Australian on October 2]


Update on October 4, 2017:

There's a U.S. report on North Koreans Working Abroad. Even though it's written for American readers, you should find it interesting as well if you were from Germany. You might be astonished to recognize the brands .....

A Reuters report is quoting Russia's president Putin: Putin says military strike against North Korea not sure to succeed.


..............................




Friday, September 29, 2017

China Shuts Down N Korean Enterprises


2nd Update added on September 30, 2017.



中国下令关闭朝鲜在华企业

China ordered the closure of North Korean enterprises in China.


中国政府称,为执行联合国针对朝鲜的第2375号决议,朝鲜实体或个人在中国设立的企业应在该决议通过之日(9月12日)起120天内关闭。中国企业在境外与朝鲜实体或个人设立的合资合作企业也应按照上述决议应予以关闭。

The Chinese Government says it is going to implement the United Nations's resolution no. 2375 directed against North Korea. North Korean entities of enterprise established in China as well as individually founded businesses must be closed down within 120 days starting from September 11, the day when the resolution passed.

Chinese enterprises acting abroad together with North Korean entities or as individually founded joint venture businesses should be closed down as well in accordance with the above-mentioned resolution.

中国占朝鲜对外贸易的比例超过80%。从贸易公司到餐馆,中国很多城市都可见朝鲜公司,特别是在中朝边境附近。

China accounts for a proportion of more than 80% of North Korea's foreign trade. From trading firms to restaurants, North Korean companies can be seen in many Chinese towns, especially in the vicinity of the Chinese-North Korean border.


[Source: Wall Street Journal 华尔街日报 on September 29, 2017]




An assessment of North Korea's military power (published on July 19, 2017).


朝鲜军民比升至1:3,神经异常敏感半岛出路在哪?

The ratio between North Korean troops and civilians
has risen to 1:3. - Nerves react unusually sensitive
when it comes to ask for a way out for the peninsula.


汇通网讯——9月28日,朝鲜方面宣布,已经有大约470万名学生和工人志愿申请或者重新应召加入朝鲜人民军。但如果相关报道属实,朝军已新征了近20%的人口入役,加上现有逾100万的兵力,朝鲜军队人数将找到总人口约25%。

Message compiled from the web on September 28: North Korea declared, about 4.700.000 students and workers are already willing to apply for entering or are summoned again to enter the North Korean People's Army. But if interrelated reports are true and North Korea already levied new troops near to 20% of the population to enter into service, this will add to the existing military force and which is exceeding one million (1.000.000). The number of North Korea's military units will then reach out for 25% of the overall population.


[Editor: The overall population of North Korea is considered to be about 25.000.000 朝鲜总人口约2500万]

此外,韩联社援引朝鲜喉舌《劳动新闻》报道称,志愿加入朝军新兵中有大约120万人为女性。

Moreover, the South Korean [news agency] quoted North Korea's mouthpiece, the "Workers Party News", in a report that said: Among those willing to enter the North Korean army as new soldiers are about 1.200.000 women.


[Source: Financial World 金融界 China based JRJ.COM, September 29, 2017]







What Chinese think of North Korea (published on May 14, 2017).



朝鲜来信:搞核试验时,我们过着这样的生活

A letter from the DPRK: As to the nuclear testing, that's the life we lead.


今年9月,《华尔街日报》记者前往平壤,在严密控制下进行了一系列参观采访。从讲着英文的外交官、摆弄玩具枪炮的孩子到随处可见的原子图案,平壤反复强调着这样一个讯息:朝鲜绝不会放弃核武。

This year in September, the Wall Street Journal reporter to Pyongyang carried out a series of visits and interviews under tight control.

From the perspective of an English diplomat and from children tinkering with toy guns up to the atomic [war] pattern everywhere to be seen, Pyongyang repeatedly stresses this kind of message: The DPRK will never give up its nuclear weapons.





[Source: Wall Street Journal 华尔街日报 on September 30, 2017]

..............................




Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Donald Trump - Still Calling Names




Today the Voice of America, Chinese edition, is referring to Donald Trump's bad habit of publicly calling names on people he doesn't like. Here are some examples:

Chuck Todd - "Sleepy Eyes"
Mr. Todd is an American television journalist, moderator and the political director for NBC News. His new nickname might be related to Trump's hate of free media journalists who produce what Trump calls "the fake news".

Elizabeth Warren - "Pocahontas"
A member of the Democratic Party, she is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts. Warren was formerly a professor of law, and taught at the University of Texas School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and most recently at Harvard Law School. A prominent scholar specializing in bankruptcy law, Warren was among the most cited law professors in the field of commercial law before starting her political career.

By the way, Donald Trump must have some experience with bankruptcy law himself as is being indicated by his own proceedings as a business man.

Hillary Clinton - "Crooked Hillary" - "Nasty Woman" is sufficiently known as Trump's competitor for U.S. presidency and as a former Secretary of State and chief of the State Department.

Not to forget two prominent leaders of the opposing Democratic Party, Chuck Schumer - "Clown" and Nancy Pelosi - "Loser".

And now it's Kim Jong-un - "Rocket Man on a suicide mission for himself".

Even though tough words might be suitable for the North Korean leader who seemingly doesn't understand another language, Trump's inaugural speech before the United Nations General Assembly should have been of another quality. Especially when it comes to the verbal attack on Iran putting the Islamic Republic near to North Korea while serious western sources are pointing out that Iran is still keeping to the conditions of an earlier reached nuclear deal. Maybe a recent meeting between North Korea's envoy and Iran's president Rouhani has triggered off Trump's latest outbreak of adversion against Iran.

..............................