[ROK MND News Cathch Up] South Korea's military ambition has been expanded

ROK MND News No 714
'Korean troops participate in 'Cobra Gold 2011'
Feb. 14, 2011 (Uploaded on Feb. 21, 2011)

An estimated 10,000 troops from Korea, the United States and Thailand participated in a joint landing exercise in Hat Yao on Feb. 10 as part of the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise.
[..]
On this day, Korean marines and sailors implemented joint landing operation along with U.S. and Thailand servicemembers by using assault amphibious vehicles under the U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan. The unit known as the first unit to be deployed to Korea in case of emergencies.
[..]
Cobra Gold, which began in 1982, is one of the world's largest multinational military exercises taking place in the Pacific region. Service members from Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia joined hosts of Thailand and the U.S.

Korea had participated in the drill as an observer until 2009 but dispatched regular military unit of 332 marines and sailors last year to join joint combat exercise.

Cobra Gold includes joint non-military convoy operation, live-fire demonstrations, field strategic exercise and community service projects. The joint drill ended on Feb. 18.
________________________________________


ROK MND News NO 714
Korea and Indonesia deepen military ties
Feb. 14, 2011 (uploaded on Feb. 21, 2011)


EXCERPT
Korean Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin received Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro on Feb. 15 and discussed ways to boost military exchanges, including arms industry cooperation.

[..]

Yusgiantoro, as a leader of special envoy team for defense exchange, visited Korea on Feb. 14 to discuss strategic measures to deepen arms cooperation with Kim.


On Feb. 14, the head of Defense Acquisition Program Administration of Korea and Defense Vice Minister of Indonesia held talks for measures to reinforce long-term and comprehensive arms trade.

Korea and Indonesia have been working hard to deepen military ties by holding minister-level talks such as during the Shangri-La dialogue held in Singapore in June last year, former Minister Kim Tae-young's official visit to Indonesia in August last year and the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting Plus in Vietnam in October last year.
____________________________________________________

Korea MND Recent News NO 713
KF-16 jets to be fitted with precision-guided missiles
Feb. 10, 2011 (uploaded on 2011-02-14)

EXCERPT

Korea's Air Force mainstay KF-16 fighter jets will have their performance enhanced by installing and dropping GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided missiles.

[..]

According to the Air Force, JDAM is a precision-guided bomb guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Positioning System that can disable North Korea's long range artilleries and other strategic targets at the same time. So far, the state-of-the-art missile system has been operated on F-15K fighter jets. In order to operate JDAM on KF-16, producer has to either purchase proper software or develop it in Korea.

__________________________________________
Korea MND News NO 712
Feb. 10, 2011 (uploaded on 2011-02-14)
Defense minister visits Afghanistan and UAE

EXCERPT

The Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin was on a five-day trip to Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, which embarked on Feb. 7 with an aim to encourage Korean troops and provincial reconstruction team (PRT) who are stationed there for peacekeeping activities, according to the Defense Ministry on Feb. 9.

[..]

The ministry said that Kim inspected bases where "Ashena Unit" and PRT are stationed in the morning on Feb. 8 and examined security and safety conditions. Followed by the inspection, Kim encouraged Korean troops. Some 340 troops are operating to protect PRT to help rebuild the war-torn country.

Ashena means "friend" in the country's local language.

In the afternoon, Kim had talks with U.S. Gen. David Howell Petraeus, the commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, and Abdul Rahim Wardak, Defense Minister of Afghanistan to discuss current situation in the local region and direction of mission performance.

During talks with Wardak, Kim asked for Afghanistan's support and cooperation for Ashena Unit.

As construction of unit's base ended on Jan. 24, Korean troops have moved from U.S. Bagram base to Charika base and it is preparing for its full-scale mission.

On Feb. 9, Kim headed for the UAE to meet some 130 Korean troops there.

In the UAE, Kim paid a courtesy visit to HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supremem Commander of the United Emirates Armed Forces, and Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. They discussed measures to boost bilateral military exchanges and enhance cooperaton in the defense industry.

In addition, Kim expressed his gratitude for the support of military operation to capture pirates and save sailors of hijacked Korean commercial ship last month.

Kim visited Korean contingent named "Akh Unit," which was dispatched to the UAE last month for a two-year mission to help train the UAE special forces, and inspect the base as well as encourage troops.

"Kim's oversea trips will be an good opportunity to not only boost morale of Korean troops stationed overseas but also expand military exchanges with the UAE and Afghanistan," said a defense official in Seoul.

Photo Fwd: Investigate the truth on the contract on the export of nuclear power plant to the UAE

Image and article informed at the site of Peace Network평화 넷워크
[공동성명]UAE 핵발전소 수주를 둘러싼 의혹을 명백히 밝히기 위한 국정조사 실시를 촉구한다(클릭)

At 11am on Feb. 8, 2011, 16 organizations including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Peace Network, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and environmental organizations etc. held a press interview to demand the execution on the investigation on the truth regarding Lee Myung Bak government’s order-received contract on the nuclear power plant from the United Arab Emirates, in front of the government complex.

Text Fwd: KBS, MBC and SBS unions unanimously oppose ‘Dialogue with the President’

* Text Fwd from Steve Zeltzer on Feb. 4, 2011

Korean KBS, MBC and SBS media unions unanimously oppose ‘Dialogue with the President’ : The program has drawn fire for being entirely planned by the Cheong Wa Dae
Kim Jeong-pil
Posted on : Jan.31,2011 11:36 KST　
　　

The unions of the three terrestrial broadcast companies are unanimously demanding the cancellation of President Lee Myung-bak’s televised discussion with the nation, scheduled for Tuesday. Their decision to show unanimous opposition has strengthened protest against the televised program, “Dialogue with the President.”

With the union chairs and leaders in attendance, the unions of KBS, MBC and SBS decided to hold a press conference and demonstration in front of the Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) on Monday afternoon.

“If the broadcast companies simply broadcast live content featuring and planned by Cheong Wa Dae, the broadcast companies will becoming loudspeakers for those in power,” said New KBS Union Chairman Eom Gyeong-cheol on Sunday. “This is a direct instance that illustrates the extent to which the Cheong Wa Dae’s view of the media has become distorted.”

“The Cheong Wa Dae has violated the sole authority of the broadcast companies, and by accepting this, the broadcast companies have placed their own independence in serious danger,” said SungKongHoe University Professor Kim Seo-jung. “The decision by all three stations to simultaneously broadcast the president’s address on the morning before an extended holiday has violated the public’s right to decide what to watch.”

Semyung University Professor Jeong Yeon-woo said, “Communication between the president and the public remains severed with the president focused only on conveying and promoting his own declarations, like in this closed televised address.”

The criticism of the president’s coming address is the accumulated result of Cheong Wa Dae’s consistent decision to remain silent about matters disadvantageous to its leaders while giving a live broadcast with the president on any matter, foreign or domestic, that promotes his public relations. During his addresses during his first year in 2008 - an April 13 address on his visits to the United States and Japan and a June 19 address on the beef imports issue - he also discussed inter-Korean relations, cabinet reshuffles and other issues.


His four press conferences after that (excluding conferences after bilateral summits) were all promotional. Three of these were about the G-20 summit (Sept. 30, 2009, Nov. 3, 2010 and Nov. 12, 2010), and one was a press conference from Abu Dhabi about South Korea’s successful bid to build nuclear reactors in the UAE. Immediately after the successful rescue of the crew of the Samho Jewelry on Jan. 21, Lee stood in front of the camera to break the news.

On the other hand, Lee has remained quiet about contentious issues. During his September 2009 press conference on drawing the G-20 to Seoul, he excluded speaking on all other issues, and did not mention the revisions to the Sejong City Development Plan, the major pending issue of the day. In the November press conference on the G-20, there was just one question about the illegal surveillance issue, but Lee avoided answering it.

In response to criticism about the unilateralism of the coming Feb. 1 broadcast, Cheong Wa Dae officials said Sunday, “President Lee wants to take any questions the panelists, Hallym Institute of Advanced International Studies professor Jeong Gwan-yong and SBS anchor Han Su-jin, wish to ask.” They asked that people watch the actual broadcast and decide if it was all planned out in advance.

[ROK NMD News] Korean combat troops leave for mission in UAE

* Image source: same as the link

'South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, center in the front row, and combat troops of the Akh Unit cheer for the unit's successful mission in UAE during a farewell ceremony for the unit at the training camp for special warfare in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, on Jan. 10. By Kim Tae-hyeong '

* Recent News NO. 701, Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea
Korean combat troops leave for mission in UAE
2011-01-17 10:16

Jan. 11, 2011

The main contingent of South Korean Akh Special Forces Unit to the United Arab Emirates left for UAE on via chartered plane Jan. 11. The Akh Unit's primary mission is to help train the UAE's Special Forces, conduct joint military drills and protect Korean nationals there in case of emergencies.

The South Korean Army held a farewell ceremony on Jan. 10 for Akh troops at a military training camp for special warfare in Gwangju, Gyeonggi. Some 600 military leaders and troop families, including Kim Kwan-jin, the Minister of National Defense; Gen. Han Min-koo, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Gen. Kim Sang-ki, Army chief of staff.

On behalf of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Kim delivered encouraging words to the troops of the Akh Unit.

"UAE is not sparing no effort on providing all support for South Korean troops' stationing in local region," Kim said. "I wish you to accomplish mission well so that UAE think their decision to select South Korea troops was right."

The name of the military unit, "Akh," means "brother" in the Arabic language. The name symbolizes friendship between the forces of the two countries.

The Akh Unit consists of 130 combat soldiers from a number of teams such as the special warfare team, the high altitude warfare team, the anti-terrorism team and back-up forces.

After the National Assembly approved a plan to dispatch South Korean Special Forces to the Middle East country on Dec. 8 last year, the combat troops completed a four-week training course in which they were informed of the local situation and practiced anti-terror special operations with commandos employing martial arts techniques.

"Under a slogan 'The world's best special forces, fulfill mission in unity,' troops' morale is on the highest ever after going through basic training course," said Lt. Col. Choi Han-o, the commander of the Akh Unit. "The unit will show excellency of South Korean special forces and elevate national status by accomplishing mission in perfect manner."

Text Fwd: [Korean Orgs statement] Stop ‘Dispatch sale’ that would thrust people in the Middle East into suffering

Informed at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. The Lee Myung-Bak government dispatched the main unit of the Special force to the UAE on Jan. 11, 2011. Many Korean organizations including Anti-War Peace Solidarity issued a joint statement against it. The title of the statement is 'Stop ‘dispatch sale’ that would thrust people in the Middle East into suffering (translation)

아랍에미리트(UAE) 특전사 파병 규탄 기자회견 중동 민중과 국민을 고통에 빠뜨릴 ‘파병 장사’ 그만두라

오늘 이명박 정부는 아랍에미리트에 특전사 본부대를 파병한다. 'UAE 군사훈련협력단(아크부대)‘는 특수전팀, 고공팀, 대테러팀, 지원부대 등 130명으로 편성됐고 한국 최정예 대테러 특수부대인 707 특임대원들도 포함돼 있다. 중무장한 군대가 또다시 중동으로 파병되는 것이다. 이미 이명박 정부는 2009년 12월 아랍에미리트와 핵발전소 수출 계약을 체결하면서 파병을 약속했다. 그리고 파병의 위헌성과 정당성을 논하는 절차도 거부한 채 한나라당은 지난해 국회에서 파병 동의안을 날치기로 통과 시켰다. 정부와 한나라당은 파병 이후 매년 반복되는 논란을 피해가기 위해 아랍에미리트 파병 기간도 2년으로 정했다. 이명박 정부와 한나라당의 만행은 중동 평화 열망에 역행하는 것으로 이번 파병은 어떤 명분으로도 정당화될 수 없음을 분명히 밝힌다.

아랍에미리트 특전사 파병은 지난 13차례 해외 파병 때와 달리 ‘국익’을 명분으로 내세운 파병이다. 무기 수출 세계 7위를 목표로 한 이명박 정부는 핵발전소를 수출하고 군대도 함께 파병하는 호전적이고 공격적인 대외 정책으로 ‘국격’을 높이자고 한다. 그러나 이명박 정부가 고수하는 파병 정책은 대재앙을 부를 것이다. 이미 아프가니스탄 재파병 이후 재건 사업에 뛰어든 한국 기업이 테러의 표적이 됐다. 특히, 아랍에미리트는 지난 10년 동안 중동지역에서 사우디아라비아와 함께 가장 군사력이 급증한 국가이며 미국·영국·호주 등의 국가에서는 ‘테러 발생 위험 국가’로 분류돼 있다. 아랍에미리트 특전사 파병 또한 이라크·아프가니스탄 파병 때와 마찬가지로 파병 군인들과 국민을 테러 위협으로 내모는 위험천만한 일이 될 것이다.

아랍에미리트가 있는 중동은 미국의 패권 정책과 각국의 이해관계가 맞물려 매우 불안정한 정세가 지속되고 있는 지역이다. 10년째 접어든 ‘테러와의 전쟁’ 때문에 중동 민중은 고통받고 있다. 중동에서 한국은 ‘테러와의 전쟁’에 파병한 국가이자 친미 국가들에 무기를 수출하는 국가로 인식돼왔다. 아랍에미리트 파병은 중동의 불안정성을 더욱 키워 중동 민중의 고통을 가중시키게 될 것이다. 그런데도 이명박 정부는 핵발전소 수출과 파병으로 아랍에미리트를 비롯한 중동 지역에 무기를 더 적극적으로 판매할 수 있게 되기를 기대한다. 우리는 중동 민중의 고통을 담보로 한 ‘국익’을 원치 않는다. 아울러 우리는 오늘 이명박 정부가 날치기로 통과된 파병 동의안으로 정당성 없는 부끄러운 파병을 강행했다는 것을 기억할 것이다. 또한 파병이 불러올 모든 재앙은 모두 이명박 정부와 한나라당에 있음을 엄중히 경고한다. 중동 민중과 국민을 고통에 빠뜨릴 ‘파병 장사’를 그만두라! 더 큰 재앙을 낳기 전에 파병 정책을 폐기하라!


2011년 1월 11일

반전평화연대(준)[경계를넘어, 국제노동자교류센터, 기독교사회선교연대회의, 남북공동선언실천연대, 노동인권회관, 농민약국, 다함께, 동성애자인권연대, 랑쩬, 민가협양심수후원회, 민주노동당, 민족자주평화통일중앙회의, 민주노동자전국회의, 민주화운동가족협의회, 민족문제연구소, 민족민주열사희생자추모(기념)단체연대회의, 보건의료단체연합, 불교평화연대, (사)민족화합운동연합, 사월혁명회, (사)전국민주화운동유가족협의회, 사회당, 사회진보연대, 우리민족연방제통일추진회의, 예수살기, 615공동선언실천청년학생연대, 21세기한국대학생연합, 2005년파병철회단식동지회, 전국농민회총연맹, 전국민족민주유가족협의회, 전국민주노동조합총연맹, 전국빈민연합, 전국여성연대, 전국학생행진, 조국통일범민족연합남측본부, 진보신당, 통일광장, 팔레스타인평화연대, 평화와통일을여는사람들, 평화의친구들, 평화재향군인회, 한국대학총학생회연합, 한국노동사회연구소, 한국진보연대, 한국카톨릭농민회], 참여연대, 나눔문화

Text Fwd: [Anti-War Peace Solidarity Statement] We denounce the passage of the bill on the agreement of dispatching special force in the snatching way

반전 평화 연대 Anti-War Peace Solidarity
[성명서]아랍에미리트 특전사 파병 동의안 날치기 통과 규탄한다
We denounce the passage of the bill on the agreement of dispatching special force in the snatching way.
12/09/2010
.................................................
* The below is the translation of only one part of the whole statement. You can see the original Korean statement by clicking the above link .

* 아래는 전문 성명서 중 오직 일부분을 번역한 것입니다. 원 국문 성명서는 위의 링크를 클릭하면 보실 수 있읍니다. .................................................

중동 지역은 강대국의 패권적인 대외 정책 때문에 전쟁이 끊이지 않았고 지금도 전쟁의 그늘에서 벗어나지 못 해 민중들이 겪어야 할 고통이 극심하다. 그런데도 중동 지역 정부들은 끊임없이 군사력을 증강하고 있으며, 복지와 일자리에 써야 할 막대한 돈을 무기 구입에 쏟아 붇고 있다. 이런 불안정한 지역에 파병과 무기 수출로 ‘국격’을 높이자는 이명박 정부의 정책은 절대 받아들여서는 안 되는 반인륜적이고 반평화적인 정책이다. 우리는 다시 한 번 날치기 통과로 아랍에미리트 특전사 파병을 강행하는 정부와 한나라당을 강력히 규탄한다. 또한, 아랍에미리트 특전사 파병 강행을 즉각 중단할 것을 강력히 요구한다.

The Middle East region has seldom been finished with wars because of the powerful countries’ domination overseas policies and the suffering that people should go through there is intense as the region has not come out from the shadow of wars yet. Despite that, the governments in the Middle East is continuously building their military power and pouring tremendous money that should be spent on welfare and jobs into purchase of weapons. The Lee Myung-Bak government policy is inhuman and anti-peaceful one that says to heighten ‘national elegance’ by dispatch and arms export in such unstable region and should never be accepted. Once more, we strongly denounce the Lee Myung-Bak government and Grand National Party that enforce the dispatch of special force to the UAE in snatching way. We also strongly demand that they immediately stop the enforcement of dispatch to the UAE.

__________________________________________

Related blog

Sunday, December 12, 2010
Text Fwd: S. Korea to dispatch troops to UAE next month
남한, 다음달 유나이티드 아랍 에미레이츠에 군대 파견

Text Fwd: S. Korea to dispatch troops to UAE next month 남한, 다음달 유나이티드 아랍 에미레이츠에 군대 파견

____________________________________
참여 연대의 아래 두 성명서를 참조하시길.

UAE 특전부대 파병안 기습 통과시킨 한나라당 의원 등 150명 명단
2010/12/10

국민여론수렴 시도도, 타당성 검토 위한 의회 절차도 모두 무시
2010/12/09
____________________________________

Yonhap News
S. Korea to dispatch troops to UAE next month

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will send special operations troops to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month to help train soldiers in the Middle Eastern nation, the defense ministry said Sunday.

An advanced team of about 10 people will head out on Dec. 27, the ministry said. The main unit will be launched on Jan. 10 and sent off the following day, led by Lt. Col. Choi Han-oh, an experienced expert in special warfare.

The 130-member contingent will be stationed in the UAE's eastern region of Al Ain until December 2012 with rotations every four to six months, ministry officials said. They will help train the UAE's special forces, conduct joint training and protect Korean nationals in case of contingencies.

The ruling party-controlled parliament last week passed the bill approving the dispatch amid strong objection by the opposition bloc, who charged that the dispatch is linked to South Korea winning the US$20 billion deal to build nuclear reactors in the UAE.

The government has said the dispatch was requested by the UAE and that it would help boost military and other ties between the two countries.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
____________________________________

The below is the translated part of the PSPD (People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy) statement on Dec. 9, 2010. The whole original Korean statement can be seen here.
[The Grand National Party] ignoring attempt to collect public opinion and National Assembly procedure to review its validity :

'To assert, the behavior of the Grand National Party who has debased South Korean people and trampled on assembly democracy would meet people’s vehement fury. The Grand National Party should be clearly responsible for not to mention that the dispatch this time would ultimately obstruct the peace in the Middle East but that Korean people’s safety would be more threatened in the region also. Along with it, we announce that we will closely ask the Grand National Party responsibility, noticing that the Grand National Party has opened the way for reckless dispatch without principal any time by enforcing dispatch to the UAE, which has serious flaws both in content and procedure.'
____________________________________

See the writing by Taeho Lee, PSPD
[Int'l workshop for Peace&Disarmament]
Military and security strategy of South Korea and Civil Society Priorities
Nov. 24, 2010
____________________________________

* Related blogs 관련 블로그들

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Text Fwd: [Translation] Korean organizations' press interview on Nov. 9: We denounce the [government’s] decision to dispatch special force to the UAE!
[번역] 한국 단체들의 11월 9일 기자 회견문: 우리는 남한 정부의 유나이티드 아랍 에미레이트에 특수 부대를 파견하는 결정에 반대한다!

Saturday, December 11, 2010
Text Fwd: [One step further for multilateral alliance] S. Korea, Malaysia seek bilateral FTA, closer ties on energy, defense
남한, 말레이시아와 경제, 국방 동맹

Friday, December 10, 2010
Text Fwd: How Can This Be "Politics"?
어떻게 이것이 정치일 수 있는가?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Text Fwd: Lawmakers clash over 2011 budget
한국 국회 의원들, 20111년 예산으로 충돌

Monday, December 6, 2010
Text Fwd: United Arab Emirates: U.S. Extends Global Missile Shield To Gulf
[유나이티드 아랍 에미레이츠] 미국, 세계 미사일 방패를 중동에 확산

Text Fwd: [One step further for multilateral alliance] S. Korea, Malaysia seek bilateral FTA, closer ties on energy, defense 남한, 말레이시아와 경제, 국방 동맹

* Image source: click HERE

* The banner reads

Press interview to denounce the talk between the ROK-US Joint Chiefs of Staff
Stop the talk on the abuse of illegal self-defense right,
which heightens the danger of an extended war in the Korea peninsula!
1pm, Dec. 8, 2010/ front gate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff building/ Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea

____________________________________________

Right after Hillary Clinton made her steps with the personnel of Japan and S. Korea on Dec. 6, 2010:

(See

U. S. Dept of State: Trilateral Statement Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States
Dec. 6, 2010 U.S. Depart. of State: Remarks with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan Dec. 6, 2010)
Text Fwd: S.Korea, U.S. and Japan convene tripartite talks

Mullen, the joint Chief of Staffs, implemented Clinton's step by visiting to Seoul and Tokyo during Dec. 8 to 9.

( http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62022)

In the above article, we see how Mullen sees the significance of the multilateral alliance:

'Noting the 42 nations contributing troops in Afghanistan, Mullen called multilateral cooperation “the way of the future.”

And it is very today, Dec. 10 that we see the below article. The reactionary Lee Myung-Bak government is drawing its people to more humiliating and aggressive condition of the U.S.-ROK alliance( FTA in economic matter, multilateral military alliance in the military matter). And South Korea is now being more integrated into the strategy of the U.S. and NATO (as Rick Rozoff has constantly worked on it) as we can glance in the below article.

____________________________________________________

Yonhap News

S. Korea, Malaysia seek bilateral FTA, closer ties on energy, defense

2010/12/10 16:16 KST

By Lee Chi-dong
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Malaysia agreed Friday to push for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and step up cooperation on energy and defense.

The summit deal reached at a meeting between South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Putrajaya came as the two sides mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

[..]

In their talks held at the prime minister's office in Putrajaya, an administrative city just south of Kuala Lumpur, Lee and Najib also agreed to further enhance defense cooperation between their countries, according to the joint statement. South Korea views Malaysia, along with Indonesia, as a major regional partner for weaponry development and trade.

The leaders agreed to promote both government- and civilian-level collaboration on oil and gas exploration, and production and the development of green technology, bio-technology and information and communications technology.

South Korea, the world's No. 2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyer after Japan, imported 25.8 million tons of LNG last year, 23 percent of which came from Malaysia, government data showed.

South Korea-Malaysia partnerships, traditionally boosted by cooperation on natural resources, are now expanding to renewable energy development, such as solar power and electric car battery production, as well as education and culture.

In addition, the leaders agreed to "further cooperate on peaceful uses of nuclear energy" as stated in a 2009 pact between their related government agencies.

Malaysia is a potential market for South Korea's nuclear power technology exports, which were spurred by its US$20 billion contract with the United Arab Emirates a year ago to construct nuclear reactors there.

See also

Stop NATO (* Text sent from Rick Rozoff on Dec. 10, 2010)
Malaysia, Indonesia To Boost Military Ties With South Korea

Yonhap News
President Lee seeks support for S. Korea-Malaysia ties on nuclear energy
2010/12/10 19:23 KST
______________________________________________________________

Otherwise, please check the below


Download the PDF File(source: End the Korean War)
Factsheet: WEST SEA CRISIS IN KOREA (informed at the SPARK site)

	factsheet2--west_sea_crisis_in_korea--2010-12-011.pdf 823K View Download

[End the Korean War] Peace Bulletin PDF (* informed on Nov. 9, 2010)
Location: http://endthekoreanwar.org/phplist/dl.php?id=6

[Korea MND News] Troops to UAE must be deployed by January [국방부 뉴스] 1월까지 UAE에 파병되어야

Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea
Recent News, NO. 676
Troops to UAE must be deployed by January
Nov. 19, 2010 (Upload date: Nov. 22, 2010)

The Ministry of National Defense said on Nov. 17 that Korean combat troops organized to train military and practice joint drills in the United Arab Emirates have to be dispatched to the country by January next year so that training program could run smoothly.

The ministry added that such schedule is aligned with local training cycle, insisting regular training for specialities as well as from team-oriented drills to tactical training can be implemented systematically.

The ministry explained its position for each 22 question related to sending troops to UAE.

"Deployment [to the UAE] is different from other such things in the past," said the ministry. "Since there are no additional costs for organizing training programs and military facilities are fully established in the local region, we have no reason to delay the dispatch."

In response to a question whether the deployment is equivalent to a modern version of mercenary, it said that the dispatch plan has been set up in exchange for winning nuclear energy contract with UAE.

"The deployment is one of military exchange programs with UAE," the ministry said. "That the plan is same as mercenary is definitely wrong since we bear the cost and our service members, who will be under the Joint Chiefs of Staff's command, has nothing to do with combat mission."

In regards to possible terror threats toward Korean units and local Korean firms, the ministry replied that no terrorist group has been showing negative reaction since winning the nuclear contract.

In particular, not a single terror attack has been reported toward other countries' troops stationed in UAE so far, it said.

Photos Fwd: Some voices of the G20 protest, Seoul, Korea, Nov. 11/ 11월 11일 G20 반대 시위의 목소리들

__________________________________________________________
* Summary of the contents and details of program, anti G20 protest, Nov. 11, 2010
* Yonhap News article after the rally, Nov. 11, 2010
__________________________________________________________
* Related blogs

[In Update] People’s Response Action against G-20
[엎데이트중] G20대응민중행동

Photos Fwd:[Benjamin Hiller] G20 Seoul, Nov. 11: 10.000 rally against G20 Summit. Only minor scuffles.
[사진: 벤자민 힐러] 2010년 11월11일 서울 G20 시위: G20 정상들에 반대해 1만여명 집회. 작은 난투뿐.

Photos Fwd:[Jeffrey Bright] G20 Protests Seoul, Nov. 11, 2010
[사진: 제프리 브라이트] 서울, 2010년 11월11일, G20 시위
__________________________________________________________

Click the images for larger views
이미지들을 클릭하시면 확대됩니다.

_____________________________________________
1. Stop the war and dispatch_Anti-War Peace Solidarity

Stop the plan to dispatch special warfare force to the UAE!
Not war and arms cost but jobs and welfare!
Stop the occupation of Afghanistan!/ South Korean troops, withdraw from Afghanistan!

Veterans for Peace and All Together members distribute the fliers on no-dispatch troops to the UAE and withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Flier front
Not war and arms cost but jobs and welfare!(* title translation)
Anti-War Peace Solidarity

Flier back
G20 summit meeting is the festival by the nations
cooperating in occupation and and massacre! (*title translation)
All the occupation forces and ROK troops should withdraw from Afghanistan!

_____________________________________________

2. International voices: No G20!

A representative from the international association of the wood workers speaks

A representative from Canada who went through G20 last time talks on solidarity

A representative from France who will go through G20 next time opposes G20

_____________________________________________

3. Some voices that have to be told as well

Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea members
No ROK-US alliance! No US troops in Korea! No FTA!

No Four River Project!

Street vendors are angry!
'Stop the crackdown on the street vendors with the pretext of G20!'

Valeo Korea, withdraw from fake closing-business and lay-off of all the workers!

KEC, metal union workers in Koomee will make victory over oppression

Hanjin Heavy Industry workers are angry at their company managers who, ignoring the agreement between them and company, attempt to make them pay for company crisis.

Go away, G20!

Do not make people pay for their crisis!
No G20!

False G for those G20, True G for all the people on the globe.

Confiscate and nationalize all the banks, financial institutes and monopoly capital!
The spirit of Jeon Tae-Il still lives all these 40years!

Text Fwd: [Translation] Korean organizations' press interview on Nov. 9: We denounce the [government’s] decision to dispatch special force to the UAE!

_________________________________________________
* Representing image source: click HERE
Some voices of the G20 protest, Seoul, Korea, Nov. 11, 2010
2010년, 11월 11일 G20 반대 시위의 목소리들
_________________________________________________
* 아래 번역의 국문 원문 글, '[기자 회견] 아랍 에미레이트 (UAE) 특전사 파병 결정 규탄 한다!'는 여기 또는 여기를 클릭.
_________________________________________________
* Related blogs

Monday, November 8, 2010
Text Fwd: [Translation] Koreans' response on the Lee Myung Bak government's plan to dispatch troops to the UAE
[번역] 정부의 유나이티드 아랍 에미레이츠 파병 계획에 대한 한국 반응

Thursday, November 4, 2010
Text Fwd: Seoul to dispatch troops to UAE
서울, 유나이티드 아랍 에미레이츠에 군대 파견 계획
_________________________________________________

An unjust war business,
No dispatch to the UAE!
(University Students, Sharing Culture)

[Press interview] We denounce the [Lee Myung Bak government's] decision
to dispatch special force to the United Arab Emirates(UAE)!

* Image sources: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea, Nov. 9, 2010

_________________________________________________

* Text informed at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and Anti-War Peace Solidarity

* Below is an arbitrary translation.

_________________________________________________

[Press Interview] We denounce the [Lee Myung Bak government’s]
decision to dispatch special force to the UAE!

The Lee Myung-Bak government is driving dispatch again. Today (Nov. 9), the government reviewed and made a resolution on the agreement bill on the dispatch of the special warfare force to the UAE. We strongly denounce the decision of the meeting by its cabinet that declared that it would enforce the ‘don’t ask’ dispatch.

There have been raised lots of suspicions on the military cooperation including contract size and dispatch since the Lee Myung-Bak government received the contract on nuclear power plant from the UAE. Nevertheless the government has never made public any information on it. The Lee government who has constantly denied the suspicion of whether it has promised dispatch on condition of export of nuclear power plant, has in fact driven the dispatch [plan] long time ago. We cannot but strongly denounce the Lee Myung Bak government who comes out for dispatch to export nuclear power plant and show off its military power, after it has enforced redeployment to Afghanistan and sent troops to the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, the region of ‘the 2nd war on terror.’

The Ministry of National Defense is packing [the plan] of dispatching special warfare force to the UAE, saying it is the “troop-dispatch by a new concept” for the troop deployment to the region of ‘non combat danger but safe.’ Different from the saying of the Ministry of National Defense, the UAE is an unstable region where the threats of terrors still remain. According to the safety travel information by the Ministry of Foreign Trade Department, the nations such as the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia is classifying the UAE as the nation of danger with high-level terror possibilities. Moreover, the dispatched special warfare force can be wrapped in armed conflicts because it could have battles in case of emergencies.

Also, the plan to dispatch special warfare force to the UAE is a joint production work from the interests of the both of the military authority that has constantly sought the overseas export of military power that has become corpulent, while it has made white paper of all the plans on the reduction of military force and of the military service term; and of the Lee Myung Bak government that understands troop dispatch as the creation of overseas market. The Lee Myung Bak government has announced that it would consider even dispatch if that is helpful for the arms export, with an aim of South Korea being the 7th arms export country. That is why we are so deeply concerned about [the prospect of] whether [South Korea] would actively dispatch troops to the nations classified as ‘non-conflict region’, by the momentum of dispatch to the UAE or not.

As known to everybody, the Middle East where the UAE is located is the region where a very unstable political situation is overlapped with the United States’ dominant policy and each nation’s interest relationship there. Currently, the United States is applying double standards onto the constructions of nuclear power plants in the Middle East region, to contain Iran. For that reason, the U.S. friendly nations in the Middle East are competitively constructing nuclear power plants under the United States’ connivance on them. In such a situation, it is like entering into a lion’s mouth to export nuclear power plant and even dispatch special warfare force, which would more increase the instability in the Middle East.

The government and Grand National Party are betraying their people, saying the dispatch of special warfare troops to the UAE is for ‘national interest.’ We cannot but ask: What the hell of which people’s interest the Lee Myung Bak government is saying under the [pretext] of ‘national interest’!” In the meantime, the South Korean governments’ dispatch policies have made insecure not only the dispatched soldiers but also their people. Because of the dispatch by the [Roh Moo Hyun] government who prioritized ‘national interest,’ Mr. Kim Sun-Il has lost his life in Iraq; sergeant Yoon Jang-Ho and Mr. Bae Hyung-Gyu, and Mr. Sim Sung-Min have lost their lives in Afghanistan. As the recent incident of the oil pipe line explosion in Yemen shows, the safety of the nuclear power plant that the South Korea has gotten contract and of the [would-be] dispatched troops can never be assured, different from the government claim.

Nonetheless, the Lee Myung-Bak government is enforcing the ‘don’t ask’ dispatch to the UAE, forcefully closing their people's eyes and ears again? The South Korean military does not exist for the price of receiving contract on nuclear power plant. It is of no basis to dispatch troops in the region of non-armed conflicts. The plan of dispatching special warfare troops without collecting people’s opinions to the UAE should be immediately withdrawn. We also strongly demand the government to made public all the information on the process of receiving contract on nuclear power plant, before it recklessly denies all the suspicions that the government must have promised troop-dispatch as the price of receiving contract [from the UAE].

Our demands

- Immediately withdraw the basis-less plan to dispatch special warfare force to the UAE!
- Make public all the contents on the process of receiving contract on nuclear power plant and military cooperation!

Nov. 9, 2010

Anti-War Peace Solidarity (Imagination for International Solidarity; International Center for Labor Solidarity; Christian Social Mission Solidarity Council; Solidarity for the Practice of the SK-NK Joint Statement*; The Association for Migrant Workers’ Human Rights; Farmers’ Pharmacy*; All Together; Solidarity for LGBT Human Rights of Korea; Rangzen; Supporting Committee for Prisoners of Conscience; Democratic Labor Party; Central Council for the Nation’s Self-Reliance, Peace, and Reunification*; Korean Democratic Workers’ Council*; Association of the Family Movements for Democracy Practice*; Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities; Korea Council for Democratic Martyr; Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights; Buddhism Peace Solidarity*; Pan Korean Association for Reconciliation(Inc.); Revolution 4.19 Committee*; Pan Korean Bereaved Families’ Association for Democracy Movement (Inc.)*; Socialist Party of Korea; People’s Solidarity for Social Progress; Council for the Drive on Our Nation’s Unification through Federation System*; Living with Jesus; June 15 Youth and Student’s Solidarity*; 21st Century Pan Korean University Students’ Association*; Hunger Strike Comrades’ Council for the Withdrawal of Troops, 2005*; Korean Peasants League; Pan Korean Bereaved Families’ Association for Nation and Democracy*; Pan Korean Public Service Workers’ Union*; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Pan Korean Poor People’s Association for Liberation*; Pan Korean Women’s Solidarity; Pan Korean Students’ March*; Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification of Korea, South Korea branch; New Progressive Party; Unification Square; Intifada Korea (Peace Solidarity with Palestine*); Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea; Friends for Peace*; Veterans for Peace, Corea; Pan Korean University Students’ Association*; Workers Institute of Social Science; Korean Alliance of Progressive Movements; Corea Catholic Farmer’s Movement), Sharing Culture, Minbyun-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (* Marked are temporary translations)