South Korea-US Training Shrinks, Spies Are on the Run, Our Security Crisis

It was decided that the South Korea-U.S. joint training, which is being ridiculed for being reduced to a “computer keyboard game” by focusing on computer simulation, will eventually be carried out.

There is bound to be growing concern that the Moon Jae-in administration’s final South Korea-U.S. drills in the second half of the year will be only one exercise. In particular, following the controversy over Kim Yo Jong’s dismissive approach, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, joined the efforts to press for the suspension of the training, and the training was downsized.

Wang, who attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum on Aug. 6, said, “It is not constructive to push for South Korea-U.S. military drills,” adding, “Any action that can raise tension should be avoided.” It was a rude remark, an obvious interference in internal affairs.

Nevertheless, following Kim’s lead, the government has not expressed any objections to Wang’s presumptuous interference, so the humiliation caused by this rests completely on the people.

As the government is stumped by and grovels to North Korea and China, 74 lawmakers of the ruling party may not fear public sentiment and will not hesitate to sign the South Korea-U.S. training postponement agreement. Preoccupied with dialogue with North Korea, the government has also been silent on anti-U.S. pro-North Korean demonstrators disguised as civic activists.

The demonstrators’ attitude spread, and the internal security posture was gradually weakened. The contents of the charges of espionage by the four members of the “Chungbuk-dong Branch,” who fought against the introduction of stealth aircraft under North Korean orders, surprised the people. Not only did they receive money, but they also made a pledge of loyalty in blood to “live as a loyal warrior of the enemy.”

While attempting to recruit more than 60 politicians and civic groups, they also conducted all-out activities, such as aligning with the People’s Democratic Party of South Korea, which advocates for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea. It is for this reason that the National Intelligence Service applied the charge of espionage under Article 4 of the National Security Act, which carries a substantial punishment.

Despite this, it is not right for the Blue House* to wave its hands saying, “It is not worth mentioning.” It was also revealed that they were members of the special task force of Moon’s election campaign during the 2017 presidential election. We need to thoroughly investigate how they entered the special task force, what kind of activities they engaged in, and whether there are any links that remain.

*Editor’s note: The Blue House is a name for Cheongwadae, the executive office and official residence of the president of South Korea.