Kim Myungsung

SAND's Secretary

General Editor for the SAND Newsletter

⦁ North Korea Issues Threats to South Korea Over Court's Ruling on 'Anti-leaflet Distribution Law'

⦁ Over 80 Major North Korean Military Factories in Full Operation Following Russian Defense Minister's Visit ㅡ North Korea Gaining Benefits from Russia-Ukraine War

⦁ North Korea Warns Officials: "Greed Leads to Treachery and Betrayal"

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North Korea Issues Threats to South Korea Over Court's Ruling on 'Anti-leaflet Distribution Law'

As North Korean defector groups resumed leaflet distribution to North Korea, and the Supreme Court of Korea declared the 'Anti-leaflet Distribution Law' unconstitutional, North Korea responded with military threats.

 

Members of North Korean defector groups flying balloon propaganda. (Photo by Fighters for a Free North Korea)

On the 8th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "Our enemy, South Korea's supreme court, has declared the 'Anti-leaflet Distribution Law' unconstitutional, and the process of repealing related guidelines is underway. We cannot ignore this leaflet distribution, and we feel a significant need to retaliate against our South Korean adversaries."

The news agency warned, "In the current situation, even a small spark can lead to an immediate crisis. There is no guarantee that a military conflict, similar to the two ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East, will not occur on the Korean Peninsula when hostile psychological warfare, aimed at maliciously undermining the existence and development of our country, is taking place. We will not tolerate it."

It further stated, "Psychological warfare, including leaflet distribution against the republic, will soon act as a catalyst for the end of the 'Republic of Korea.' North Korea previously used the pretext of leaflet distribution to destroy the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office in June 2020."

Earlier, the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled the so-called "Balloon Propaganda Prohibition Law" unconstitutional in September, citing Article 24, Paragraph 1, Clause 3 of the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act. North Korean defector groups resumed balloon propaganda distribution in October, sending plastic bottles containing rice, medicine, flash drives with South Korean content, and other items to North Korea from Incheon.

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Over 80 Major North Korean Military Factories in Full Operation Following Russian Defense Minister's Visit ㅡ North Korea Gaining Benefits from Russia-Ukraine War

The South Korean government has discovered that North Korea has recently established military factories near Jagang Province. The government is currently conducting an investigation to verify the accuracy of this information. This development is seen as an effort to boost production in response to a significant increase in the supply of Russian export ammunition and other weapons.

 

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un visited military factories for two days from August 11th to 12th. (Photo by Korean Central Television)

According to sources in North Korea, the authorities there have ramped up the operational capacities of military factories in South and North Phyongan Province and Jagang Province since August. This escalation follows the visit of Russian Minister of National Defense, Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, to North Korea in July.

Notably, reports indicate that between 60 to 80 military factories located in Jagang Province and South and North Phyongan Province in North Korea have gone into full operation after Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia in September. According to the "2022 Defense White Paper" published by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense this year, North Korea boasts over 300 military factories, including civilian facilities. However, due to power and raw material supply challenges, it is estimated that only about 100 of these factories can operate effectively.

 

It is believed that North Korea is using a majority of its operational military factories to manufacture weapons for export to Russia during the ongoing conflict.

Earlier, on the 1st, the National Intelligence Service revealed during the National Assembly's audit of state affairs that "it appears North Korea has supplied more than one million rounds of ammunition to Russia." North Korean sources affirmed that "North Korea is indeed benefitting from the ongoing war situation."

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North Korea Warns Officials: "Greed Leads to Treachery and Betrayal"

North Korea has issued a stern warning to its officials, cautioning them against embracing greed, which could ultimately result in moral corruption and treacherous behavior within North Korean society. The regime attributes this growing issue to the rise of rampant individualism.

North Korean citizens engaging in livelihood activities at a market.

In an article titled "The Ultimate Destination of Greed is Treachery and Betrayal," published in NK's official newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, on the 5th of last month, it emphasized that "as greed flourishes, it paves the way for treachery, and its inevitable endpoint is betrayal," specifically referring to officials.

The Rodong Sinmun went on to elaborate that "at its core, greed represents a self-serving desire, rooted in individualism, which is the breeding ground for moral decay." It added, "unbeknownst to those consumed by greed, it inevitably leads them towards treacherous actions."

Furthermore, the warning stated, "Individuals driven by greed and treachery may appear to serve the party and the nation during favorable times, but when circumstances take a downturn, their true colors are revealed." It stressed, "Anyone nurturing greed and treachery ultimately becomes a deceitful individual."

As North Korea grapples with economic hardships and political uncertainties, both residents and party members are increasingly prioritizing personal interests over unwavering loyalty, marking a departure from the past. This shift indicates a weakening of totalitarian and collectivist values in North Korea, with individualism gaining prominence.