Kim Kyok Sik Inspected Coastal Artillery Units on Yongmae

KPA Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (R) greeting the head of a Myanmarese delegation during a November 2008 visit. At the time Gen. Kim was Chief of the KPA General Staff

Yongmae (Ryo'ngmae) Island (Photo: Google image)

KPA Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (Kim Kyo’k-sik) reportedly inspected coastal artillery units on Yongmae Island in early August.  During the afternoon and evening on 10 August 2011 DPRK and ROK forces exchanged fire, after the DPRK launched rounds of artillery shells several of which landed near or across the NLL.  The DPRK denied that it fired artillery shells and ascribed the sounds to an ongoing land reclamation project on Yongmae.  The exchange of fire between ROK and the DPRK occurred six (6) days prior to the commencement of the US-ROK Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercises.  This caused Chinese commentators to observe that the DPRK may have fired artillery shells as a way to alleviate frustration (“a kid venting anger”) within KPA units deployed near the NLL.  Dong-a Ilbo reports:

Seoul intelligence learned that the North Korean officer inspected the combat preparedness of a coast artillery base on a Yellow Sea island on Aug. 10.

“It was an unprecedented move for a high-ranking North Korean military officer to visit Yongmae Island base, which is close to the Northern Limit Line,” the source said. “(South Korean) military intelligence focused on identifying the senior officer and finding out about his whereabouts.”

The officer who visited Yongmae was likely Kim Kyuk Sik, commander of the 4th Corps of the (North) Korean People’s Army. After being appointed to his post in early 2009, Kim led a naval skirmish with the South Korean Navy in November the same year.

He is also believed to have been deeply involved in the North’s torpedo attack on the South Korean naval corvette Cheonan and shelling of the frontline island of Yeonpyeong.

In addition, either Ri Yong Ho, chief of the Korean People`s Army General Staff, or Kim Yong Chol, director of the reconnaissance general bureau of the North`s People’s Armed Forces Ministry, are known to have inspected the unit.

Former KJI bodyguard and current head of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, Kim Yong Chol (Kim Yo'ng-ch'o'l) (L)

Ri Yong Ho (Ri Yo'ng-ho), current chief of the KPA General Staff

Photo of DPRK radar jamming factory from a November 2008 visit to the country by a Myanmarese military delegation

Prior to being appointed to his current command in February 2009, Kim Kyok Sik met and signed agreements with a Myanmarese military delegation.  The Myanmarese delegation visited a number of KPA and military industrial sites in November 2008, including a factory that produces radar jamming equipment.  Interestingly,  Arirang News (via Chosun Ilbo) reports on the DPRK’s development of a GPS jammer:

North Korea is developing a GPS jamming device that is capable of disrupting signals more than 100 km away, according to a Defense Ministry report to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee.

The report says North Korea has some 20 different kinds of communications and radar jamming equipment from the former Soviet Union and is currently developing new equipment which includes the GPS jamming device.

The North is said to have scores of military bases specializing in electronic warfare operations in various positions including some in the capital Pyongyang.

Vehicles and radar jamming equipment at a DPRK factory shown in a photo taken by a Myanmarese military delegation during their November 2008 visit to the DPRK

Robert Lee writes in Korea Herald:

The report by the Ministry of National Defense said the North imported some 20 different kinds of communication and radar jamming instruments from the then Soviet Union.

Submitted to the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, the report said the North is now believed to be developing new electronic warfare devices capable of jamming GPS signals within a radius of more than 100 km.

It is speculated that the North currently has deployed vehicles mounted with Russian-made GPS jammers with a range of 50 km to 100 km in two or three areas near the Military Demarcation Line.

The ministry has confirmed that the North has electronic warfare units in key locations throughout the country, including in a regiment in Pyongyang and in each of the frontline corps.

The ministry was unclear as to whether the North has developed electromagnetic pulse bombs, which can disrupt electronic devices through surges of electromagnetic radiation.

“No confirmation (of EMP bombs in the North), but considering the North Korean military’s tendency to develop electronic warfare devices and other countries’ efforts to develop EMP bombs, the North is likely to look to develop such bombs,” said an official.

According to military officials, when the North jammed GPS signals in Seoul and surrounding areas last March, it had some effect on the navigation systems of weapons that use common GPS signals. But the officials added that radar and inertial navigation systems were unaffected and that the military plans to replace common GPS signals with military GPS signals.

Pak Ui Chun Departs Myanmar

DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun signs a vistors' book during a visit to the Schwedagon Pagoda on 29 July 2010 (Photo: Yonhap)

DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun has departed from Myanmar (Burma) for Indonesia.  Pak met with Myanmar’s foreign minister, U Nyan Win, on Friday in Myanmar’s administrative capital city of Naypidaw on Friday (30 July).  During his 4-day sojourn to Myanmar, Pak met Myanmar’s Prime Minister, Thein Sein.  Pak also reportedly met with two of the Myanmar regime’s ruling generals, and he toured the Schwedagon Pagoda and the National Museum.

Yonhap reports:

The two sides “exchanged views on the issue of developing the friendly relations between the two countries and regional and international issues of mutual concern,” the report said, without elaborating on details.

Pak arrived in Myanmar earlier this week, a closely monitored visit that has sparked outside concerns that Myanmar’s military rulers may be seeking nuclear cooperation with North Korea, which has conducted two nuclear tests in 2006 and last year. Some reports have suggested that North Korea has delivered military equipment to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Myanmar’s junta against any atomic weapons cooperation with North Korea, saying “We continue to be concerned by the reports that Burma may be seeking assistance from North Korea with regard to a nuclear program.”

Pak’s visit to Myanmar was the first by a North Korean foreign minister in 27 years. Myanmar cut off ties with North Korea in 1983 after Pyongyang was found to have carried out a bombing attack on a South Korean presidential delegation on an official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Irawaddy reports on Pak’s trip:

The Korean Central News Agency featured a report about Pak’s meeting with Thein Sein as the top news story on its website on Sunday under the headline “Myanmar [Burma] PM Hails Development of Relations with DPRK [the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea].”

“Thein Sein noted with high appreciation that the Korean people have made big strides in strengthening of the military capability and economic construction under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il,” the North Korean media reported.

It said that Thein Sein told Pak that Burma will continuously “strive for strengthening and development of the friendly and cooperative relations” with North Korea.
On Saturday, the North Korean media also reported on Pak’s meeting with his counterpart Nyan Win in Naypyidaw, saying the two ministers exchanged views on the issue of boosting ties between the two countries as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Unlike the North Korean media, Burma’s state-run-media did not report any details during the meetings, saying only that Thein Sein received a delegation led by Pak in talks in Naypyidaw on Friday.

On Sunday, Pak left Burma for Indonesia on the final leg of a four-Asian nation tour. Although North Korea and Burma’s state media did not report it, official sources in Naypyidaw said the North Korean minister also met with top Burmese generals such as joint chief of staff Gen Shwe Mann and chief of military ordnance Lt-Gen Tin Aye.

Pak Ui Chun Arrives in Myanmar

North Korea's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun at Rangoon's landmark Shwedagon Pagoda. (The Irrawaddy)

DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun arrived in Myanmar (Burma) on Thursday (29 July), and toured the Shwedagon Pagoda.  This was the first visit by a DPRK Foreign Minister since the countries severed diplomatic relations in 1983 after the Rangoon bombing.  The countries re-established formal relations in 2007.  Irawaddy points out that former MOFA Vice Minister (and current CC KWP International Department Director) Kim Yong Il made the DPRK’s last official visit in November 2008.

AFP reports:

North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Myanmar on Thursday for talks with the junta, an official said, amid Western concerns about possible nuclear cooperation between the two autocratic nations.Pak Ui Chun landed in Yangon, where he was expected to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda before travelling to the capital Naypyidaw on Friday to meet his counterpart Nyan Win, the Myanmar official said, asking not to be named.

Full details of Pak’s schedule were not immediately available, but he was expected to stay in the military-run state until Sunday.

Irawaddy reports on Pak’s arrival and about DPRK-Myanmar interactions:

North Korea’s last official visit to Burma was in November 2008, when Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Young Il and his Burmese hosts signed a free visa agreement for diplomats and official passport holders.

Pak was scheduled to tour the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon before traveling on Friday to the ruling junta’s capital of Naypyitaw, where he will meet his Burma counterpart, Nyan Win, and other senior government officials, reported The Associated Press.

After Burma, Pak will fly to Indonesia for the Special Ministerial Meeting for the Millennium Development Goals, to be held on August 3-4 in Jakarta.

North Korea is one of Burma’s main military partners, supplying the Burmese regime with strategic weapons technology, such as missiles, rocket launchers and underground facilities. Recent revelations about a nascent nuclear weapons program in Burma have also raised concerns about possible involvement by Pyongyang.

As noted above, the DPRK and Myanmar have an ongoing relationship that includes military sales and exchanges, as well as technical and information exchanges.  Irawaddy reported on the possibility that DPRK military advice now extends to mechanized combat, light infantry and civil defense.

The junta’s objective is better mobilization of light infantry troops and other lines of strategic defense such as artillery forces, air defense forces and missile forces, a source said.

“Like the the North Korean army, the junta wants the ability to deploy its forces, including multiple launch rocket systems, canons and air defense units, quickly to the front line. Then all would be re-deployed to bases in tunnels and caves,” said the source. “That’s why the junta is upgrading its vehicle depot forces.”

Sources said the junta upgraded its Motor Vehicle Depot Battalions in October 2009 to achieve the ability to rapidly deploy troops. The upgraded vehicle battalions are reportedly based in Shwe Taung in Pegu Division, Shwe Nyaung in southern Shan State, Taung Dwin Gyi in Magwe Division, Amarpura in Mandalay Division and Mingaladon in Rangoon Division.

The recent information from military sources provides more evidence of ties between Naypyidaw and Pyongyang, adding to that already available after a report was leaked in 2009 about a 2008 memorandum of understanding between the Tatmadaw and the Korean People’s Army covering joint military exercises and North Korean assistance in military training, air defense and constructing underground facilities and arms shelters.

The Burmese junta is tapping the North Koreans for more than just advice. They are also allegedly importing nuclear technology and strategic weapons such as anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles and multiple launch rocket systems for the Tatmadaw’s Air Defense and Missile forces.

Hein Latt's biography of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has raised objections within Pyongyang's embassy in Rangoon. (The Irawaddy)

The Myanmar regime also quietly flexed its muscle on a Burmese biographer who wrote a book on Kim Jong Il.  Hein Lett and his publisher turned over “several hundred copies” of his KJI tome to the DPRK Embassy (where he conducted research):

The author of a Burmese biography of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his publisher have handed over to the North Korean embassy in Rangoon several hundred copies of his book after embassy officials complained it contained inaccuracies.

The controversial book, “Kim Jong Il: North Korea’s Dear Leader,” was written by one of Burma’s leading biographers, Hein Latt. It was launched in Burma two months ago, but has sold few copies, according to Hein Latt.

“The North Korean Embassy called me and told me some facts in the book are not correct,” Hein Latt told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.Hein Latt said the embassy had challenged “facts and structure related to the Korean People’s Army,” but had not identified the alleged inaccuracies.

Hein Latt said he had handed over his copies of the book to the North Korean Embassy to avoid any problems with the Burmese authorities.

Prior to his arrival in Myanmar, Pak Ui Chun visited Laos from 25 to 28 July.  KCNA reported:

Talks between Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister of the DPRK, and Thongloun Sisoulth, vice-prime minister of the government of Laos and foreign minister, were held in Laos on July 26.

Present there from the DPRK side were the party of the foreign minister and the DPRK ambassador to Laos and from the Lao side officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos.

At the talks both sides informed each other of the situation in their countries and exchanged views on the issue of boosting the bilateral friendly relations and matters of mutual concern.