[ROK MND News Catch up] [May 9-13] Korea and U.S. marines discuss joint operations /

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Recent News (May 9 to 13) of the Ministry of National Defense, ROK
http://www.mnd.go.kr/mndEng_2009/WhatsNew/RecentNews/index.jsp
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NO. 766
Korea and U.S. marines discuss joint operations
May 13, 2011


South Korean and the United States marines showed strong will to counteract against North Korean provocations during tactics discussion held in Baengnyeong Island near the inter-Korean maritime border on Yellow Sea.

Marine officers from South Korea and the U.S. discuss on May 12 military matters regarding joint drills aimed at defending western islands on Yellow Sea during tactics discussion session held on Baengnyeong Island.

Marine officers from South Korea and U.S. held tactics discussion for two days since May 11 and exchanged views toward major matters related to joint military drills and the wartime operational control transfer.

On the Korean side, senior officers, including operations planning officer under the Marine Corps, and on the U.S. side Col. Thomas Ward and Lt. Col. Turner Larry under the U.S. Pacific Marine Corps Command joined the discussion.

Two countries discussed about schedule plan for joint drill on western islands and reviewed overall conditions of soldiers' lodging facilities and terrain at training field that U.S. marines are going to use.

Two agreed to regularly hold tour sessions for U.S. marines coming to South Korea for drills.

In addition, two sides discussed preparations and measures for strengthening joint exercises in the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a joint command and control simulation exercise between South Korea and U.S.

"Western islands are strategic locations where North Korea and provoke any time," said a South Korean marine officer who took part in the discussion. "South Korean and U.S. marines will become a role model of defending any military attacks immediately on site with strong joint operations."

Col Ward said that, "It is the first time South Korean and U.S. marines jointly hold tactics discussion on western islands since the end of the [1950-53] Korean War. South Korea and U.S. will cooperate closely so that the North would never make provocations like the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island."
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No. 765
Mungyeong will host Military World Games in 2015
2011-05-16 17:24

May 13, 2011

The location for the 6th Military World Games, a multi-sport event for military athletes that is held every four years, has been decided to be held in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang, in 2015.

The International Military Sports Council (CISM), the event's organizer, held its 66th general meeting at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel on May 12 and made decision to open the event at Mungyeong in 2015. After the decision is made, Col. Kalkaba, the head of CISM, and Kim Il-saeng, the head of the Office of Personnel and Welfare at the South Korea's Defense Ministry, signed a written agreement.

South Korea had submitted it bid to hold the event exclusively at CISM's board meeting in Algeria on March this year. The organizer of the event gave the final approval in Seoul for Mungyeong to be the next venue for the event.

The Defense Ministry received its approval for a bid effort to hold the event from the Finance Ministry on August last year. The Defense Ministry had planned to select six cities, including Mungyeong, in North Gyeongsang, for the event.

The Military World Games, in which only active-duty military personnel can participate, is designed to boost friendship through sports and contribute in building world peace.
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No. 764
KATUSA's medical record to be transferred to Korean Army
2011-05-16 17:17

May 12, 2011

The Korean Army is going to take over medical records of Korean soldiers under the United States Army, a.k.a Korean Augmentation Troops to the U.S. Army (KATUSA), in Korea from the U.S. Army. From next month, KATUSA reserves will be able to check their medical records easily.

Korean Army's Records Center said that the center and U.S. 65th Medical Brigade signed a written agreement on May 6 agreeing to transfer KATUSA's medical records saved in U.S. Army to Korean Army.

The agreement was made as two sides shared common grounds to exchange medical information quickly in case people need those records as references in civil complaints.

Even though KATUSA is clearly a Korean troops, medical records of KATUSAs have been managed by U.S. Army hospital so far and they are kept in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) after KATUSAs are discharged from the service.

KATUSA reserves have to go through complex process before being authorized to see their own medical records, such as apply for the records online on NARA web site and receive records via mail after long days. Korean and U.S. Army agreed to ease such inconvenience.

Under the agreement, Korean Army's Records Center is scheduled to take over medical records of KATUSA reserves who were discharged after January 2008 beginning next month. Also active-duty KATUSA troops can receive their own records within a month from Republic of Korean Army Support Group after being discharged. Reserves can only call Korean Army's Records Center to see their records and receive them right away.

"Through this agreement, we were able to settle civil complaints related to medical records of KATUSA reserves," said Col. Yun Yong-ki, head of Korean Records Center of the Army. "We will keep on discovering civil matters that should be improved."
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No. 763
Overseas dispatch train center being built

May 11, 2011

International Peace Support Force under the Korea's Army Special Warfare Command has completed on May 4 building a center to train troops ahead of being dispatched overseas.

The commander of the Speical Warfare Command, officers from the Capital Defense Command and officials from the Defense Ministry took part in the completion ceremony. The third contingent of Ashena Unit, organized to safeguard about 300 Provincial Reconstruction Team helping Afghanistan civilians, will first take advantage of the center next month before being deployed to the war-torn country.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the three-floor center took place in September 2009. The cost of construction was about 10.5 billion won.

The first floor will play a role of commanding post with a command control room and a seminar room. The second and the third floor has a rest room and other amenities from trainees.
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No. 762
Destroyer Yi Sun-shin takes over anti-piracy mission
2011-05-16 17:16
May 9, 2011

The Navy destroyer Yi Sun-shin, the 7th contingent of anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit in Somali waters, began its mission on May 6 after destroyer Choi Young handed over the baton, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Korea said.

Destroyer Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin, right, and destroyer Choi Young anchors at Salalah port in Oman to shift mission.


Destroyer Yi Sun-shin left Busan naval base on April 5. It had stopped by ports in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates to hold anti-piracy operations intelligence exchange meetings. The destroyer also implemented supplies transportation mission for Akh Unit, Korean special forces unit deployed to UAE to train local forces. Yi Sun-shin arrived at Salalah port in Oman on May 4 to prepare for mission shift from Choi Young.

Some 300 crew members, including UDT/SEAL troops and marines, are on aboard of Yi Sun-shin. Also one anti-submarine Lynx helicopter aimed at searching pirates boats from long distance is on board.

With a support from the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime affairs, in particular, Yi Sun-shin has installed a monitoring system to trace the location of Korean commercial ships around the clock and set up bullet-proof glass around Rigid Inflatable Boats.

In order to strengthen medical service capabilities, medical staffs specializing in surgeries and anesthesia are also added on board.

The 4,400-ton destroyer Yi Sun-shin, which is being deployed for anti-piracy mission in Somali waters for the second time since 2009, has brother sailors Senior Chief Petty Officer Park Chang-uk and Chief Petty Officer Sung-hun on board and 72 sailors are on their second mission in Somali waters, JCS said.

"The 7th contingent of Cheonghae Unit has been trained for all possible emergency situation in order to fulfill the mission successfully," said Capt. Han Dong-jin of Yi Sun-shin. "We will protect Korean ships and the people to take a leading role in revealing greatness of Korea and the Navy throughout the world."

In the meantime, the 6th contingent Choi Young is expected to return Korea at the end of this month.

Text Fwd: To stabilize N.Korea

* Image source: same as the below link

Hankyoreh
To stabilize N.Korea
Posted on : Sep.10,2010 14:19 KST

Commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Gen. Walter Sharp said Thursday that South Korea and the U.S. conducted drills aimed at “stabilizing” North Korea in the event of N. Korean regime collapse.

In a press conference at the U.S. garrison in Yongsan, Seoul, Sharp said that South Korean and U.S. forces practiced a stabilization drill in reply to whether a stabilization drill was part of an annual drill “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” (UFG) last month.

“We are really trying to make sure that we are able to not only defend, not only able to kill and attack, but also able to provide humanitarian assistance and security and stability for the people [in North Korea] because all of those tasks will have to be done via soldiers in future conflict,” Sharp said.

The computer-simulated operation was designed to ensure stability in North Korea in case of war, and is based on lessons the U.S. has learned from its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said. “One of the lessons is that you can be fighting and attacking one area, and in another area the main mission is to stabilize and protect the population.”

Sharp’s remarks could possibly mean that South Korea and the U.S. converted Operation Plan in Concept Format 5029 (CONPLAN 5029) into Operations Plan (OPLAN 5029) in case of the collapse of the North Korean regime and practiced drills with that in mind. Unless CONPLAN 5029 includes the specific process of military forces distribution, it could not become a complete OPLAN 5029.

No USFK commander so far has openly mentioned such drills, which experts speculate were included as part of a new contingency operation plan the two allies are working out.

In late October 2008 the United States reportedly proposed developing a detailed Operations Plan, OPLAN, in the event of the collapse of the North Korean regime.

(Photo Pool)
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See also Korea Times
S. Korea, US develop N. Korea stabilization operations
09-09-2010
____________________________________________________
Stop NATO
Pentagon: Nuclear Supercarrier To Join Drills In Yellow Sea
Sept. 10, 2010

Text Fwd: Joint naval exercises may be relocated

'U.S. Naval Aegis destroyers conduct a U.S. Navy exercise with South Korean Navy vessels in the East Sea, March 23.'

Hankyoreh
Joint naval exercises may be relocated
:The Ministry of National Defense appears to have bowed to pressure from China, which expressed opposition the exercises taking place in the West Sea
Posted on : Jul.14,2010 12:18 KST
Kwon Hyeok-cheol

The Ministry of National Defense announced Tuesday that it would take at least a week to finalize a decision over the South Korean-U.S. joint naval exercises planned in response to the Cheonan sinking, and that the location of the training would be considered in a flexible way without restricting it to the West Sea.

“Up until last week, there had been talk between South Korea and the U.S. that the plan for the exercises would be decided around Monday or Tuesday of this week, but it seems that it will take at least a week,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae during a briefing Tuesday. “The timeline, scale, and methods of the exercises have not yet been decided.”

Won also said, “Since there are various national defense, foreign affairs, and national security-related matters scheduled for July, these will be taken into account in pursuing the exercises.”

One military official said there was a strong chance the joint South Korea-U.S. naval exercises would begin after the South Korea-U.S. foreign and defense ministers’ meeting scheduled to take place in Seoul on July 21.

The official said, “Holding the joint naval exercises within July is justifiable, since an August schedule would overlap with the joint South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise.”

Won Tae-jae also issued statements in regards to the site of the exercises.

“We do not think it is important that the exercises be carried out in specific waters, since their primary goal is to demonstrate South Korea and the U.S.’s defense preparedness in the wake of the Cheonan incident,” said Won. “Since a number of factors must be taken into account in deciding the time, scale, and place, including the national security environment of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea-U.S. dialogue, and military effects, we need to be flexibly accommodating in regards to the training site.”

In other words, the ministry will not insist on holding the exercises in the West Sea, which has been a sensitive issue for China.

On May 24, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it would be carrying out joint South Korea-U.S. exercises in the West Sea, the site of the Cheonan’s sinking, as a show of force directed at North Korea.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

________________________________________________________________

* Related articles

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July 14, 2010
UN Command-NK meeting rescheduled for today


Korea Times
US aircraft carrier may join exercise in East Sea
July 13, 2010

Text Fwd: Seoul Suspects 100 Sites Over NK Nuke Program

Korea Times
10-05-2009 15:45
Seoul Suspects 100 Sites Over NK Nuke Program

South Korea has identified about 100 North Korean sites linked to the communist state's nuclear program and has the capacity to strike them if necessary, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said Monday.

"There are about 100 sites related to the nuclear" program in North Korea, Minister Kim was quoted as telling lawmakers during a parliamentary audit.

"We have a complete list of them," he said, expressing confidence his forces could strike any of them "if it is absolutely clear a North Korean offensive is imminent."

The comment came after Kim said at a parliamentary hearing last month that he knew of sites where the North could be hiding its stockpile of nuclear arms if the communist state had one.

"We have sufficient information as to the locations where items related to the nuclear program are stored and the delivery means are placed," the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.

North Korea has conducted two known atomic tests in the past three years _ one in October 2006 and the other in May this year.


* Related Korean article

Tongil News
[The South Korea Army] says, "We Made the 2nd Version of the 1st Draft of the New Operational Plan."
Chief of the Ministry of the Defense Department, "Version-Up from the Part of the UFG Training Application."
Oct. 6, 2009, Tues. by Jung, Myung-Jin, mjjung@tongilnews.com

Text Fwd: [Exclusive]Korea, US Devise Broader Air Operations Command

Image Source: Wikipedia

Image Source: same as above

Korea Times
9-27-2009 17:13
[Exclusive] Korea, US Devise Broader Air Operations Command
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

A broader joint air operations command of South Korean and U.S. Air Forces is being set up here in tandem with the planned transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) in 2012, a military source said Sunday.

The Hardened Theater of Air Control Center (HTACC), the Korea-U.S. combined air operations command led by a three-star American general at Osan Air Base, has been working to expand its roles and missions after being renamed the Korea Air and Space Operations Center (KAOC), the source said on condition of anonymity.

The Master Control and Reporting Center (MCRC), a computer system to monitor and track aircraft on a real-time basis, at the KAOC is also receiving upgrades, he said.

"KAOC will be developed further to serve as an integrated joint air force command of the two allies on the peninsula by 2012, effectively orchestrating all operations of the two air forces in the case of an emergency," the source said.

The U.S.-led Combined Forces Command (CFC) is to hand over almost all operations authority on the peninsula to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in 2012 before being deactivated.

But the U.S. military will still lead air operations after the transformation to take advantage of its dominant aerial assets against North Korea in time of war.

Both air forces successfully tested KAOC during the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise in August, according to the source.

The command will manage and direct operations conducted both by South Korean forward and rear area air operations headquarters, he said.

Under the Defense Reform 2020 plan, the Air Force, which currently operates a rear area air combat command in Daegu, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, plans to launch a forward area air combat command in Osan next year.

"Work to build facilities of the new forward area command is underway in Osan," an Air Force official said. "In a bid to help boost interoperability, a liaison office from the rear area command may also be opened at the Osan base."

A U.S. military source expressed confidence in joint air operations by both commands, saying, "Each U.S. officer in KAOC has a Korean counterpart and all communications and briefings are delivered in both English and Korean. This close partnership is vital to the security of Korea."

How to map out a new command structure of the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces on the peninsula has been a key topic of the 2012 command rearrangement procedures, as the U.S. military pledged to shift its roles and missions to air- and naval-centric ones while reducing the number of ground troops.

In February, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Walter Sharp, who also serves as chief of the CFC, unveiled a plan to launch a U.S.-led combined theater air operations command in Osan by 2012.

As for criticism that a U.S. commander will still be in charge of joint air operations even after the 2012 transition, Gen. Lee Sang-eui, nomine for JCS chairman, said the authority to command and control joint air operations will, in fact, be in the hands of South Korea, given the JCS chief will eventually have the highest decision-making power for all wartime operations.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr


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Text fwd: N. Korean nuclear bases pose greatest threat: S. Korean commander
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2009/09/24 14:00 KST
By Sam Kim

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Text Fwd: 10,000 to practice S. Korea evacuation
By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition,

[국문 번역]Text Fwd: JUSTICE 1st

Bruce Gagnon blog
JUSTICE 1st
Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Another busy day in Seoul began with the visit to Eun-A Choi of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR) at the detention center. Sung-Hee and I took a cab and about halfway there we heard an air raid siren come over the car radio. That familiar frantic voice warning of danger, even though in Korean, was distinguishable to me. Sung-Hee began to translate that it was an instruction for all life in the city to halt for the next five minutes. Traffic came to a grinding halt and the radio voice explained that this was "like a sports team that must practice defensive exercises" together. The voice went on to say that this test, linked to the US-South Korea war games that began yesterday, were being done as part of globalization to protect us from terrorist attack. "Stay at home and save water," the voice instructed.

I was completely flummoxed and asked Sung-Hee to question the driver about his feelings about this incredible happening. It reminded me of the "crawl-under-the-desk" nuclear war drills we did in the 4th grade at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

The cab driver told us that he supported these exercises and that they are done each month. We have to be prepared in case of a North Korean attack, he claimed. The public is losing their intensity about the exercises though as they are not so afraid of war because they know North Korea is weak and the US will protect South Korea, the driver said.

I asked Sung-Hee to tell the driver that I thought this was a brainwashing of the whole country all at once, psychological operations (psy-ops) in action. Make the people fearful and they will agree to be in a constant state of war with North Korea for sure.

As we neared the prison I told Sung-Hee to tell the driver that I was an American and that I thought these exercises were intended to keep South Korea buying military hardware from the US weapons industry. Weapons are the #1 industrial export product of the US, I said.

Amazingly the cabbie then replied that I was right. He said the public understands this and not everyone likes the Americans these days. The public knows that the weapons industry is getting rich from all of this. But, he insisted, we must be prepared anyway.

Sung-Hee summed it up well as we got out of the car: the public understands more than we think they do but the people are still confused.

Once in the prison we had to wait for about 45 minutes before three of us (one PKAR staff member was with us) were allowed into the visiting room. It was a small room with three chairs on our side of the glass and a microphone on each side of the window. Eun-A came in and a woman jail attendant sat behind her at a little table and began taking notes of the conversation. Eun-A looked good, seemed positive considering she has been behind bars since May 7, and was wearing a short-sleeved green cotton jail uniform that had her #221 right above the front pocket.

Eun-A said she very much appreciated the international solidarity that we helped build for the six who had been arrested for trying to bring reunification to the country. She said that she had read the paper this morning and seen that I had spoken at the news conference yesterday. She explained that she was now preparing for the tr[ial] and was happy to see the growing support in her country for reconciliation.

Sung-Hee asked about the size of her jail cell. It is about the same size as the interior of most cars. She is allowed outside for one hour each day to exercise. She is allowed to subscribe to newspapers.

Before we knew it our 10 minutes was up and we had to say good-bye. On the way out of the building, just above the front door of the prison were the words "Justice 1st" in Korean and English. Yeah, I thought, she is facing up to 3-5 years for wanting to reunite her nation. That is real justice.

Yesterday we heard that Amnesty International is considering taking on the case of the PKAR six. If they deem it worthy it would surely be a boost to efforts to build international support to free these peace workers from the inside of a South Korean jail. Isn't it amazing how much publicity the two women journalists got when North Korea locked them up and Bill Clinton went and busted them out? But no international media is interested in the PKAR six. Why not?

As we were leaving I told Eun-A that since Bill Clinton was interested in getting women released from Korean jails maybe I should see if he'd help get her out. After she laughed at the joke she shook her head NO and waved her hand as if to say, thanks but no thanks.

Eun-A, and the other five now in prison, will have to do it without the support of the fat cats.

Their release will only come when the people of the world demand real justice - justice 1st, justice last, and justice always.

* Related article

AfterDowning Street
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/45279


*정의가 첫번째이다.
2009년 8월 18일

서울의 또 다른 바쁜 날은 서울 구치소 범민련 최은아 님을 방문하는 것으로 시작했읍니다. 성희와 저는 택시를 탔는데 도중에 택시 라디오에서 흘러나오는 공습 사이렌 소리를 들었읍니다. 한국어지만 위험을 경고하는 그 낯익은 광란에 찬 목소리는 저에게도 뚜렷이 구별되었읍니다. 성희는 그것이 도시의 모든 사람들이 다음 5분 동안 동작을 멈출 것을 훈도하는 것이라 통역하기 시작했읍니다. 교통은 지루하게 멈춰졌고 라디오 목소리는 말하길, 이것은 함께 “방어 연습을 해야하는 스포츠 팀”과 같은 것이라 했읍니다. 그 목소리는 계속 말하길, 어제의 한-미 한국 전쟁 연습에 연결된 이 실험은 테러리스트 공격으로부터 우리를 보호하기 위한 세계화의 일환으로 행해진다 말했읍니다. “집안에 머무르고 물을 모아두십시오” 그 목소리는 안내했읍니다.

저는 완전히 당황했으며 성희에게 부탁하길 운전수에게 이 믿을 수 없는 일에 대해 어떻게 느끼는지 물어 달라 했읍니다. 이는 저에게 사우스 다코타 주 엘스워스 공군 기지의 4학년 도중 핵전쟁 연습인 “책상 밑 숨기”를 연상케 했읍니다. (* 역주: 개그논의 아버지는 한 때 미 공군에 재직했으며 그의 가족은 그의 성장기 시 기지안에서 생활 했음)

택시 운전수는 그 자신 이 연습들을 지지하고 이 것들은 매달 행해진다 말했읍니다. 우리는 북한의 가능한 침략에 대해 준비하여야 한다 말했읍니다. 그 운전수는 그렇지만 북한이 약하고 미국이 남한을 보호할 것이기 때문에 사람들이 연습에 긴장감을 잃어가고 있다 말했읍니다.

저는 성희에게 부탁하길, 그 운전수에게 이 연습은 나라 전체를 세뇌시키는 것이자 동시에 심리 작전을 행하는 것이라 생각한다 말해달라고 했읍니다.
사람들이 두려움에 떨게 해서 북한과의 끊임없는 전쟁 상태에 있는 것을 동의하게 하는 것이 확실하죠.

감옥에 가까이 옴에 따라 저는 성희에게 부탁하길, 운전수에게 제가 미국인이며 이 연습은 한국으로 하여금 미국 무기 산업의 군사용 하드웨어를 게속 구매하게 하는 것을 목적으로 한다고 말해달라 말했읍니다. 저는 무기가 미국의 첫번째 산업 수출품이라 말했읍니다.

놀랍게도 그 운전수는 제가 옳다고 대답했읍니다.
그는 대중은 이를 이해하며 요즘은 모든 사람들이 미국인들을 좋아하는 것이 아니라 말했읍니다. 대중은 이 모든 것이 무기 산업을 부유하게 하고 있다는 것을 알고 있읍니다. 그러나 그는 우리는 어쨋든 준비해야 한다고 고집했읍니다.

성희는 우리가 차에서 내려오자마자 잘 요약했읍니다: 사람들은 우리가 그들이 그러려니 생각하는 것보다 상황을 잘 이해하나 아직도 혼동되어 있다고요.

감옥에서 우리 세 사람(한 범민련 간부가 우리와 함께 있었읍니다)은 방문실로 허락받기 전가지 약 45분간을 기다려야 했읍니다. 그것은 유리 창문을 사이에 두고 우리 쪽에는 의자가 세 개 있고 양쪽에는 마이크가 있었읍니다. 은아가 들어왔고 교도관이 그녀 뒤 작은 책상에 앉아 우리의 대화를 기록하기 시작했읍니다. 은아는 5월 7일 이후 감옥에 있었던 것을 고려할 때 좋아보였으며 긍정적으로 생활하고 있는 것처럼 보였읍니다. 그녀는 짧은 소매의 면으로 만들어진 녹색 죄수복을 입고 있었는데 앞 면 주머니에 221 번이란 숫자를 달고 있었읍니다.

은아는 나라의 재통일을 가져오려다 구속된 6명을 도우기 위한 우리의 국제적 연대를 매우 감사한다 말했읍니다. 그는 오늘 아침에 제가 어제 뉴스 회담에서 연설한 기사를 보았다 말했읍니다. 그는 재판을 준비하고 있으며 그의 조국에서 [북미간, 남북간]화해에 대한 지지가 높아져 가는 것을 보는 것이 행복하다 설명했읍니다.

성희는 그가 갇혀 있는 감옥 크기를 물었읍니다. 그 것은 대부분 [소형 자가용]차의 내부 크기와 같습니다. 그는 매일 실외에서 한 시간 운동 시간을 허락받습니다. 그는 신문 구독을 허락받습니다.

대화가 더 진전되기 전 10분이 벌써 끝났고 우리는 굿바이를 해야 했읍니다. 건물 밖으로 나오자 감옥의 정문 바로 위에 “정의가 첫번째”라고 한국어와 영어로 쓰여져 있는 것을 보았읍니다. 그래. 저는 생각했읍니다. 그는 자신의 조국을 재통일하는 것을 원했기 때문에 3~5년 형에 직면해 있구나. 그 것이 진짜 정의이지.

어제 우리는 국제 앰니스티가 범민련 6명 경우를 사업으로 할 것을 고려하고 있다는 것을 들었읍니다. 그들이 그 것을 가치있다 생각한다면 남한 감옥으로부터 이 평화 운동가들을 석방하기 위한 국제적 지지를 쌓는 노력에 확실히 박차를 가할 것입니다. 북한이 두 여성 저널리스트들을 가두고 빌 클린턴이 가서 그들을 풀었을 때 그 둘이 얼마나 많은 언론의 주목을 받았는 지 놀라운 일 아닙니까? 그러나 어떠한 국제 언론도 범민련 6명에 관심이 없읍니다. 왜 그러면 안됩니까?

우리가 떠날 때 저는 은아에게 빌 클린턴은 여성들을 한국 감옥에서 석방하는 것에 관심이 있기에 아마 저는 그가 그녀를 나오게 할 건지 보아아 할 것 같다 말했읍니다. 그녀가 그 농담에 웃은 후 고개를 흔들며 아뇨라 말했고 고마우나 사양하겠읍니다라고 말하듯 손을 흔들었읍니다.

은아 그리고 현재 감옥에 있는 다른 5명은 살찐 고양이들의 지지없이 그렇게 해야 합니다.

그들의 석방은 전 세계의 사람들이 진정한 정의-정의가 첫번째, 정의가 마지막, 그리고 정의가 항상임을 요구할때만이 올 것입니다.

-이 블로그에 대한 로링 워벨(* GN 보드 중 일인)의 언급 (원문 코멘트)-

[운전수와의 대화가] 상기시키는 것은 상황이 억압적이면 사람들이 항의해 일어날 것이란 가정을 하는 어떠한 “긴장 전략”(우익에 의한 것이든, 좌익에 의한 것이든)도 실패하기 쉽다는 점이다. 사람들이 억압의 이유들을 식별할 때조차 사람들은 안전과 안보란 이름으로 자주 그 억압을 지지할 것이다. ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union; 미국 시민 자유 연합) 과 함께 일한 몇년간은 미국에서 권리 헌법이 투표에 붙여지면 블속에 사그러질 것이란 확신을 주었다. 좌절스러운 일이다.


-원문 링크-

*제목: 정의가 첫번째이다.
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/six-detained-unification-activists-have.html


-역주-

이 블로그는 미국 진보 신문 애프터다우닝 스트리트에 전면 실림
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/45279

[국문 번역][Text Fwd: Bruce Gagnon] Speech against the UFG War exercise, Seongnam, 2009

	Peace activists denounce S. Korean-U.S. military exercise August 17 2009 From: Yonhap News
http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/Basic/ArticleEnglish/ArticlePhoto/YIBW _showArticlePhotoCkPopup.aspx?contents_id=PYH20090817050700341 SEONGNAM, South Korea -- Bruce Gagnon (C, front), secretary general of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, denounces the South Korea-U.S. annual joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, at a press conference in front of an Army base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on Aug. 17. Participants at the rally, led by the Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea, demanded South Korea and the United States bring to a halt the computer simulation training, planned to take place from Aug. 17 to Aug. 27. (See also - full report of visit to Japan and South Korea)
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* Korean translation below was done by Regina Pyon Yeon-shik, Co-representative of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea(SPARK)

Gagnon Speech August 17

The US challenges and criticizes North Korea for testing nuclear weapons and missiles. I am opposed to all nuclear weapons but it is total hypocrisy for the US to lecture the DPRK while America has more nuclear weapons than any other country in the world.
Last June the US military launched a nuclear missile from Vandenberg AFB in California that landed at Kwajalien Atoll in the Pacific. And again on August 23 the US will do another similar test of its nuclear missiles. Why is it OK for the US and its allies to do such tests but wrong for the DPRK to do the same?

At the same time the US and South Korean military continue their aggressive military war games. These provocative military exercises prove to be exactly the opposite of Obama's claim that he wants to get rid of the world's nuclear weapons. How could the DPRK for one moment consider giving up its small nuclear forces when the US is practicing a first-strike attack and expanding and upgrading its "conventional" aresenal in the Asian-Pacific region?

The US is also now expanding its deployments of PAC-3, THAAD, and Navy Aegis destroyer "missile defense" systems in South Korea and Japan which will create a new arms race in the region.

So-called "missile defense" systems are not about defense. They are part of the US developing the technological ability to thrust the sword of first-strike and then have the ability of "missile defense" to serve as the shield to pick off any retaliatory strikes that might follow.
These "missile defense" systems are now being used by the US to surround Russia, China, and North Korea. If we allow full deployment of these systems we can kiss any real hopes to resolve the global nuclear crisis good-bye.

The US is moving the arms race into space saying that which ever country controls space will control the Earth. The Pentagon has created the US Space Command to "control and dominate space" and to "deny" other countries access to space. The Space Command says that all warfare on the Earth today is coordinated by space technology. When the US launched the "shock and awe" invasion of Iraq in 2003, 70% of the weapons used in the initial attacks were directed to their targets by space technology.

So today the US-ROK military exercies directed at North Korea will be coordinated and directed by using satellite technology. It is a rehearsal for more space directed warfare.
The US wants the ROK to follow them into spending more of your national budget on developing space technology for fighting wars. It is big business for the weapons corporations and it will help tie together the growing global military alliance of the world's corporate oligarchy.

My organization is working internationally to build a movement to prevent this new arms race in and from space. We today have 150 afilliated peace groups around the world now working to help inform the public how space technology is being used to control the Earth for the right-wing corporate interests.

In recent days I have been reading that President Lee Myung-bak is moving toward "centrist pragmatism." We heard the same thing about Obama when he was elected. It is a public relations gimmic.

George W. Bush was a bad cowboy. Obama is a good cowboy, but still a cowboy and he fully supports the US military industrial complex.

We must abolish the South Korea-US-Japan nuclear military alliance.
We must end the colonial occupation of Korea by the US military empire.
We must convert the global war machine so that we have the funds to deal with our true global crisis – which is climate change. Instead of preparing for endless wars we must demand that our resources all over the world be used to immediately change our societies so that the future generations have a chance to live on our Mother Earth.

Thank you.

Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
www.space4peace.org


* Related blog
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/text-fwd-news-conference-protest-today.html
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
[국문 번역]Text Fwd: NEWS CONFERENCE & PROTEST TODAY



* 이하는 브루스 개그논이 8월 17일 을지 프리덤 전쟁 연습 반대 집회에서 한 연설로 평화와 통일을 여는 사람들 변연식 공동 대표님께서 번역하시고 집회 당일 통역하신 것입니다.

Gagnon Speech, August 17

미국은 북한이 핵무기와 미사일을 실험한다며 윽박지르고 힐난합니다. 저는 모든 핵무기에 대해 반대하지만, 지구상에서 가장 많은 핵무기를 보유하고 있는 미국이 북한에 대해 핵무장 시도를 중단하라고 훈계하는 것은 완전한 위선이라 생각합니다.

지난 6월 미군은 반덴버그 공군기지에서 핵미사일을 태평양의 아름다운 크와잘리엔 환초를 향하여 시험 발사하였습니다. 또한 8월 23일에 유사한 핵미사일 시험발사를 앞두고 있습니다. 미국과 그 우방이라는 나라들이 핵미사일 실험을 하면 문제가 되지 않고 북한이 하는 것은 잘못이라 하는 것입니까.

동시에 미군과 한국군은 공격적인 군사훈련을 계속하고 있습니다. 이러한 호전적인 훈련은 오바마 대통령이 천명한 “전 세계에서 핵무기를 없애고 싶다”는 선언을 정면으로 거부하는 행위임을 증명해주고 있습니다. 미국이 선제공격 훈련을 계속하고 아시아 태평양 지역에서 재래식 무기를 계속 하여 증강하고 차원을 높이며 개발하고 있는데, 어떻게 북한이 한 순간이라도 자신의 아주 작은 핵무기마저 포기하겠다는 생각을 할 수 있겠습니까.

또한 미국은 한국과 일본에 PAC-3의 배치를 확대하고 아시아 지역의 새로운 군비경쟁을 가져올 전구고고도지역방어체제(전구 미사일 방어체제)와 해군 이지즈 구축함 “미사일 방어체제”를 가속화하고 있습니다.

이른바 MD(미사일 방어체제)는 방어를 위한 것이 아닙니다. 그것은 미국이 무엇보다 선제공격을 위한 칼로서 밀어붙일 수 있는 기술력을 개발하기 위한 작업의 일환일 뿐입니다. 그다음이 있을 수 있는 어떠한 반격이라도 막아낼 수 있는 방패로서 “미사일 방어” 능력을 갖도록 하기 위한 것입니다.

이러한 “미사일 방어 체제”는 지금 미국이 러시아, 중국, 그리고 북한을 포위하는데 사용되고 있습니다. 만일 우리가 이 MD시스템의 완전한 배치를 허용한다면, 이것은 전세계의 핵위기를 풀 수 있는 진정한 희망에 대해 작별의 키스를 하는 셈이 되는 것입니다.

미국은 지금 우주를 지배하는 나라가 지구를 지배할 것이라 말하며 우주에서의 무기경쟁을 자극하고 있습니다. 펜타곤은 “우주를 제어하고 지배하며” 다른 나라가 우주에 접근하는 것은 “막기” 위하여 미국우주사령부를 만들었습니다. 우주사령부는 오늘날 지구상의 모든 전쟁행위는 우주기술에 의해 좌우된다고 말합니다. 2003년 미국이 이라크를 침공한 이른바 “충격과 공포” 전쟁에서 개전초기 공격 무기의 70%가 우주기술에 의해 목표로 유도되었습니다.

그러므로 오늘 북한을 겨냥한 한미군사훈련은 인공위성 기술이 조정하고 유도할 것입니다. 이는 우주를 이용한 더 많은 전쟁행위를 위한 리허설입니다.

미국은 한국이 더 많은 국가 예산을 전쟁을 위한 우주기술 개발에 사용하기를 요구하고 있습니다. 이는 군수산업에게는 엄청난 사업이며, 커져가는 강대국의 전지구적 군사동맹(미국 중심의 군사동맹)을 굳건히 하는데 기여할 것입니다.

내가 일하고 있는 단체는 이러한 지구상과 우주를 이용한 새로운 무기경쟁을 막기 위한 국제적 운동을 하고 있습니다. 지금 평화운동을 하는 우리의 전세계 150개 회원단체는 우주기술이 어떻게 극우산업의 이익을 위하여 어떻게 사용되고 있는가를 대중들에게 알리는 작업을 하고 있습니다.

최근 저는 이명박 대통령이 “중도 실용주의”를 표방한다는 것을 들었습니다. 우리는 같은 이야기를 오바마가 당선되었을 때도 들었습니다. 이는 국민을 속이는 말장난일 뿐입니다.

조지 부시는 못된 카우보이였습니다. 오바마는 좋은 카우보이일 수 있지만 아직은 미국 군산복합체를 적극적으로 지원하는 카우보이입니다.

우리는 한-미-일 핵 군사동맹을 무너뜨려야 합니다.

우리는 미 군사제국에 의한 한국의 식민지배를 끝내야 합니다.

우리는 전지구적 전쟁기계를 바꾸어 진정한 지구적 위기인 기후변화에 대응할 기금을 마련해야 합니다. 끝없는 전쟁을 준비하는 대신, 세계의 모든 자원이 우리 사회를 변화시키는데 바로 사용될 수 있도록 요구하고 우리의 다음 세대, 우리의 아이들이 어머니 지구에서 살아갈 수 있는 길을 마련해야 할 것입니다.

감사합니다.


* 관련 블로그:
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/text-fwd-news-conference-protest-today.html
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
[국문 번역]Text Fwd: NEWS CONFERENCE & PROTEST TODAY

[국문 번역]Text Fwd: NEWS CONFERENCE & PROTEST TODAY

Speaking at the news conference today

At the office of PKAR with photos of the six who were arrested behind me

Bruce Gagnon blog
Monday, August 17, 2009
NEWS CONFERENCE & PROTEST TODAY

I began the day by joining a news conference and protest at the headquarters that is in charge of the joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States that began today. The exercise, called 2009 Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG), is the world's largest computerized command and control war game which mainly focuses on a US-South Korea attack and occupation of North Korea. The exercise was initiated in 1976 and is conducted annually in late summer.

There were about 40 activists at the event from many of the key peace and reunification organizations. I was asked to speak for five minutes as part of the news conference. US military helicopters were circling overhead and US-South Korea military personnel drove in and out of the base in a steady stream.

I counted 14 different media people at the event, something that we rarely see in the US. One of the news photographers was a young man named JiHo Park who lived with Mary Beth and I in Florida for six-months around 2002 before we moved to Maine. He came as an intern to work with the Global Network and has visited us in Maine since we moved there. We last saw JiHo in April when we came to Seoul for the Global Network's annual space organizing conference. Imagine the surprised look on his face today when he saw me at the news conference.

Following the news conference I was taken to lunch with leaders of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR). This is the group that had six of their top leaders arrested in May under the National Security Law for working to reunify Korea.

One of those arrested, Choi, Eun-A, Chief of the Publicity team of the PKAR, had just the month before chaired the panel discussion that I spoke on during our Global Network conference in Seoul. PKAR was one of about a dozen South Korean groups that had co-sponsored and helped to organize our annual space conference.

There was no doubt that I felt we had to do something to support the six who had been arrested. What was their crime? All they had done was to want to see the US-created barrier taken down that divides their country.

Lee, Kyu-Jae, Chairman of the PKAR, at the beginning of their trial (that is still on-going) said, “The measure of the National Security Law has been differently applied according to the changing governments. On same cases, the Roh Moon Hyun government legally permitted us to trip back and forth to the North Korea but now the Lee Myung Bak government is arresting us. I can hardly erase the suspicion that the [government] is trying to manipulate the national security case to overcome its crisis."

So after hearing about their arrest last May I immediately wrote up a petition and sent it around to the Global Network mailing list and very quickly more than 700 people and organizations from all over the world signed the petition. I then sent the names, along with a cover letter, to the South Korean consulate in New York City. In the letter I said the following:

Enclosed please find many pages of signatures of people from throughout the world who are outraged about South Korea’s arrest of six leaders of the Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification.

It is obvious that your government has decided to crack down on those who believe in and practice the democratic right of citizenship. This is a troubling development for all of us.

We pledge that we will continue to spread the word about your government’s unjust action all over the world.

This situation is a test of South Korea’s commitment to human rights. If your country truly practices democracy and human rights then these six people will be immediately released and apologies will be given.

t should not be considered a crime to peacefully work for reunification of a fractured nation.

One cannot help but wonder if the hands of the U.S. are also in this bowl of disunity. It appears to us that the U.S. intends to keep South Korea and North Korea apart as a way to justify further militarization of the Asia-Pacific region.

It is sad to see your government fall for this dangerous and destabilizing strategy.

We look forward to your official response, which we will widely share.

I am still waiting for a reply from the South Korean consulate. I sent it to them on May 14, 2009.

After the very fine lunch today I was invited to the office of PKAR for a two-hour meeting to further discuss these issues. Sung-Hee Choi of course translated for me. At the meeting were two older men who had been jailed by the right-wing South Korean government for their efforts to fight against the former Japanese occupation collaborators who the US put in charge of Korea after the end of WW II. One of them spent 36 years in jail and the other spent 26 years in a South Korean prison. (It is vitally important to remember that the Korean War was really an attempt by the US to extend this right-wing Korean rule to the whole country. The Korean resistance movement that had been fighting against Japanese occupation then had to next fight against the US-backed elite former Japanese collaborators. Essentially the war still goes on inside of South Korea today.)

For 50 years after the country was divided by the US, on August 15, 1945, it was virtually impossible to even talk about reunification. The National Security Law, a successor the Japanese colonial occupation laws, made it illegal to even discuss reunification. PKAR was created in 1989 and many of its members were arrested for joining the organization. Today there are still 550 political prisoners in South Korea from various reunification, peace, union, and social justice movements.

During the meeting we talked about the PSI (Proliferation Security Initiative) that the US is using today to stop North Korean ships on the high seas on the pretext that they might be carrying weapons of mass destruction. The PSI violates the basic United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty that gives every country the right of free passage in international waters. The US has pulled 94 countries into this program that was created by former Vice-President Dick Cheney and right-winger John Bolton. The US, Japan, Australia, and the UK are the biggest participants in the program today.

My own take on the PSI is it is part of the US effort to expand the NATO alliance into a global military interventionary force that will be the military arm of corporate globalization. Using North Korea as an excuse, the US is pulling as many countries into this program as possible. The US does not fear the military might of North Korea. It is over-hyped. North Korea is used as an excuse to justify massive military expansion in the Asian-Pacific region that will ultimately be used to surround China.

In the meeting today with PKAR we all agreed that a successful reunification of Korea would go a long way in helping to blunt US plans to deploy "missile defense" systems as the Korean Peninsula is now host to PAC-3, THAAD, and Navy Aegis destroyer systems outfitted with interceptor missiles. I told them that the Global Network had two major priority areas for our work: getting "missile defense" out of the Asian-Pacific and stopping US plans to deploy similar systems around Russia. We see both those regions as key triggers for expanded war.

In the morning Sung-Hee will take me to the prison where I will be able to have a meeting with Choi, Eun-A from PKAR. It will be an honor to meet her there.

I feel so good about everything I have been doing on this month-long organizing trip to Japan and South Korea. I am in the middle of an intense situation and can't think of anyplace that I'd rather be than on the side of people who are giving their full lives for peace, real democracy, and reunification.


*오늘의 뉴스 회담과 시위
2009년 8월 17일

저는 오늘 한국과 미국 간 공동 군사 연습의 총 책임을 맡고 있는 본부 앞에서 *뉴스 회담과 시위로 하루를 시작했읍니다. 2009년 을지 프리덤 가디안 Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) 전쟁 연습은 전 세계에서 가장 컴퓨터화 된 명령 통제 및 전쟁 게임으로 한-미의 북한에 대한 공격과 점령에 주로 촛점을 맞추고 있읍니다. 그 연습은 1976년에 시작되었고 매년 늦은 여름에 시행됩니다.

행사장에는 핵심적인 많은 평화와 통일 조직들로부터 약 40여명의 활동가들이 있었읍니다. 저는 뉴스 회담의 한 부분으로 5 분 동안 * 연설 하도록 요청받았읍니다. 미국 군대 헬리콥터들이 우리 머리위를 순회하고 있었고 한-미 군사 인물들을 실은 차량들이 꾸준히 기지를 드나들었읍니다.

저는 행사장에서 각각의 언론사 또는 그룹에서 온 14명의 언론인들을 세었는데 그 것은 우리가 미국에서 드물게 보는 광경이었읍니다. 뉴스 회담의 한 젊은 뉴스 사진가는 박지호라는 젊은이였는데 우리가 메인주로 이사간 2002년경 전에 플로리다에서 나와 매리 베쓰와 함께 6개월간 살았읍니다. 그는 인턴으로 와 글로벌 넷트 워크와 함께 일했고 우리가 메인 주로 온 이후 우리를 방문했읍니다. 우리가 가장 최근에 지호를 본 것은 지난 4월, 글로벌 넷워크 연간 우주 회담이었읍니다. 그가 오늘 뉴스 회담에서 우리를 봤을 때 그의 놀란 얼굴을 상상해보세요. 뉴스 회담이 끝난 이후 저는 조국통일 범민족연합 (범민련) 남측 본부의 지도자분들과 함께 점심을 들게 되었읍니다. 이 단체의 수석 지도자들이 Korea를 재통일하기 위한 국가 보안법으로 5월에 체포된 바 있읍니다.

체포된 분들의 한 사람은 범민련 선전 위원장인 최은아님이었는데 몇 달전 서울에서 열린 글로벌 넷워크 회담에서 제가 연설하던 팬널의 사회를 맡기도 했읍니다. 범민련 남측 본부[가 속한 한국 진보 연대는] 연간 우주 회담을 공동 후원하고 조직화하는데 도움을 준 12 여개 단체중 하나입니다.

우리가 체포된 이 6명을 지지하기 위해 무언가를 해야 하겠다는데는 조금도 망설일 것이 없었읍니다. 그 들의 죄가 무엇입니까? 그들이 했던 것은 그들의 조국을 가르는 벽이 허물어지는 것을 보는 것을 원하는 것이 전부였읍니다.

이규재, 범민련[남측 본부] 의장은 (현재 아직 계속 진행되는) 재판의 시작에서 말하길, “국가 보안법 적용은 정부가 바뀜에 따라 다르게 적용되었읍니다. 같은 경우들에 대해 노무현 정부는 우리가 북한을 여행하는 것을 합법적으로 허락했으나 이명박 정부는 우리를 체포하고 있읍니다. 저는 이명박 정부가 자신의 위기를 타개하기 위해 국가 보안법 사건을 조작하고 있다는 의심을 지울 수 없읍니다.”

그래서 지난 5월 그들의 체포 소식을 들었을 때 저는 즉시 청원서를 썼고 글로벌 넷워크 이메일링 리스트의 사람들에게 보냈읍니다. 그리고 전 세계에서 700여개의 조직들과 사람들이 급속도로 그 청원서에 서명했읍니다. 그리고 저는 그 명단을 편지문과 함께 뉴욕의 대한민국 영사관에 보냈읍니다. 저는 그 편지에서 다음과 같이 썼읍니다.

동본된 편지에서 조국통일 범민족연합 (범민련) 의 6명의 지도자들을 체포한 사실에 분노하여 세계 전역에서 서명한 많은 용지들을 보시길 바랍니다.

당신의 정부가 시민의 민주주의 권리를 믿고 실천한 이들을 탄압하기로 결심했다는 사실이 분명합니다. 이것은 우리 모두에게 심각한 진전입니다.

우리는 대한민국의 부당한 행동을 세계 전역에 걸쳐 계속 퍼트릴 것을 다짐합니다.

이 상황은 대한 민국의 인권에 관한 사명감의 테스트이기도 합니다. 당신의 국가가 민주주의와 인권을 진정 실현한다면 이 6 명은 즉각 석방되어야 하며 사과가 주어져아 합니다.

쪼개진 나라의 평화로운 통일을 위해 평화롭게 일하는 것이 범죄가 되어서는 안됩니다.

미국의 손이 이 분리에 영향을 주었는지 의아하지 않을 수 없읍니다. 아시아 태평양의 높아져 가는 군사화를 정당화하기 위해 남한과 북한의 분단을 유지하려는 것으로 보입니다.

당신의 정부가 이 위험하고 불안정하게 만드는 전략에 말려들어가는 것을 보는 일은 슬픈 일입니다.
우리가 넓게 공유할 당신의 공식적인 대답을 고대합니다.

평화의 인사를 보냅니다.

저는 아직도 대한민국 영사관의 답변을 기다리고 있읍니다. 저는 그 편지를 그 곳에 2009년 5월 14일 보냈읍니다.

오늘 매우 훌륭한 점심 식사 후에 저는 범민련 사무실에 초대되어 그 곳에서 이 이슈에 관해 더 토론하는 2시간 가량의 모임을 가졌읍니다.

[중략] 그 모임에는 2차 대전 이 후 미국이 일본 식민지에 협력했던 친일 매국노들을 앉힌 남한 우익 정부에 의해 한 때 감옥에 갇혔던 두 노인분이 있었읍니다. 한 분은 36년간을, 또 다른 한 분은 24년간을 남한 감옥에서 보냈읍니다.
(한국 전쟁은 사실 이 우익 지배를 한반도 전역으로 가져가려 했던 미국의 시도였다는 것을 이해하는 것이 굉장히 중요합니다. 일본 식민지에 저항했던 Korea 인들의 저항 운동은 다시 미국에 의해 뒷받침된 전 친일 엘리트 협력자들에 맞서 싸워야 했읍니다. 사실, 그 전쟁은 오늘날 남한에서 아직도 진행되고 있읍니다.)

미국에 의해 나라가 1945년 8월 15일 분단된 이후 50여년 동안 통일을 말하는 것조차 거의 불가능했읍니다.

일본 식민지 법의 계승인 국가 보안법은 재통일에 대해 말하는 것조차 불가능하게 만들었읍니다. 범민련은 1989년에 만들어졌고 참여한 많은 회원들이 구속되었읍니다. 오늘날 남한에는 통일, 평화, 노조, 사회 정의 운동들로부터 온 550여명이 넘는 많은 정치 수감수들이 있읍니다.

모임 동안 우리는 대량 살상 무기 확산 방지 구상 the PSI (Proliferation Security Initiative) 에 대해 논의했는데 그 것은 오늘날 미국이 북한이 대량 살상 무기를 나를지 모른다는 구실로 바다에서 북한 선박을 막는 것입니다. PSI는 국제 수역에서 어떠한 나라도 자유로이 항해할 수 있다라는 것을 명시한 유엔 해양법의 기본을 위반합니다. 미국은 전 부통령 딕 체니 및 우익 존 볼튼에 의해 만들어진 이 프로그램에 94개국을 끌어들였읍니다. 오늘날 미국, 일본, 호주, 그리고 영국은 이 프로그램의 큰 참여자들입니다.

저의 PSI에 대한 이해는 이 것이 미국의 북대서양 조약 기구(NATO)를 기업 세계화의 군사적 팔이나 마찬가지인 전지구적 군사적 개입군대 로 확산하기 위한 노력의 일환 이라는 것입니다.
북한을 구실로 하여 미국은 가능한 많은 나라들을 이 프로그램에 끌어들이고 있읍니다. 미국은 북한의 군사적 힘을 두려워하지 않습니다. 그것은 과장된 것입니다. 북한은 아시아 태평양 지역에서 궁극적으로 중국을 포위하기 위한 거대한 군사적 확장을 정당화하기 위한 구실로 쓰여지고 있읍니다.

오늘 범민련과의 모임에서 우리는 모두 한반도가 PAC-3(패트리어트 미사일-3), THAAD (Theater High Altitude Area Defense: 전구 고고도 방공), 그리고 요격기가 장착된 해군 이지스 구축함 시스템의 한 호스트가 됨에 따라 Korea의 성공적인 재통일이야말로 “미사일 방어 시스템”을 배치하기 위한 미국의 계획을 무디게 하도록 크게 기여할 것이라는 것에 모두 동의했읍니다.

저는 그들에게 글로벌 넷워크에는 큰 두 우선 과제가 있는데 하나는 아시아 태평양 지역에서
“미사일 방어”를 추방하는 것이고 또 하나는 러시아 주변에 유사 시스템을 배치하기 위한 미국의 계획을 중단케 하는 것이라 했읍니다. 우리는 두 지역을 전쟁 확장의 핵심 방아쇠로 봅니다.

내일 아침에 성희는 제가 범민련 최은아 님을 만날 수 있도록 감옥으로 데리고 갈 것입니다. 그를 그 곳에서 만나는 곳은 영광일 것입니다.

저는 한달간 지속돼 온 이 일본과 한국 조직 여행에 대해 매우 기분이 좋습니다, 저는 긴장된 시점의 한 가운데 있고 그 들의 전 생애를 평화, 진정한 민주주의 그리고 통일에 바치는 사람들의 편에 서는 것외에 다른 것을 생각할 수 없읍니다.


-원문 이미지 캡션-

1. 한-미 전쟁 게임을 중단하라.
2. 오늘 뉴스 회담에서 연설하다.
3. 범민련 사무실, 구속된 6명의 사진이 내 뒤에 있음.


-원문 링크-

*제목: 오늘의 뉴스 회담과 시위
http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=85995

*뉴스 회담
http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=85995


-역주 링크-

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/text-fwd-bruce-gagnon-speech-against.html
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
[국문 번역][Text Fwd: Bruce Gagnon] Speech against the UFG War exercise, Seongnam, 2009

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/text-fwd-justice-1st.html
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
[국문 번역]Text Fwd: JUSTICE 1st

Koreans Memorize the 56th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement

* Image Source
1. Koh, Sung-Jin, Tongil News
2.~ 10. No Base Stories of Korea

Koreans memorize the 56th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement:
Rally Is Done Despite Police Interruption

On July 26, 2009, despite the heavy police blockade, the rally for the 56th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953 was done by the staunch activists in the center of Seoul. The activists included the Solidarity for Peaceful Reunification of Korea, Korean Alliance for Progressive Movement, Pan-Korean Alliance for Reunification, South Korea bracnch, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Long time ex-prisoners under the National Security Law and the Families of the conscience prisoners were also present there empowering the protest as they have always been too.

At the beginning, the police tried to prohibit the use of the broadcasting car and the rally near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. The activists blocked the police interruption with their own bodies and demanded the police to keep the law. The activists protested the police that if the police blocked the legally permitted rally, they would indict the police under the charge of violating law. The police finally withdrew.

As the rally was done as intended, the activists claimed, Revive June 15; Withdraw PSI; Stop the UFG War Drill; Stop the Sanction against the NK; Restore the US-NK Relationship; and the Peace Agreement. The June 15 Joint declaration between the two Koreas has been blocked under the current Lee Myung Bak (2MB) regime. There were many university students as well and a group of them celebrated the rally with their dance.

There was a heavy rain after the rally. But people still enjoyed the meal outside while their cloth totally wet.

* Related Korean articles

Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea

http://www.spark946.org/bugsboard/index.php?BBS=s_news&action=viewForm&uid=2265&page=1

http://spark946.org/bugsboard/index.php?BBS=s_conews&action=viewForm&uid=6572

Tongil News
정전협정 56돌, 곳곳서 '평화' 목소리 잇달아
시민사회, 한.미 양국에 대북 적대정책 폐기 촉구
2009년 07월 26일 (일) 20:17:27 고성진 기자
56th Korean War Armistice Agreement, Voices of “Peace” Everywhere:
Civil Society Urges the Both Authorities of the U.S. A. and the South Korea to Abandon the Hostile Policy Against the North Korea
July 26, 2009, Sunday, by Koh, Sung-Jin, kolong81@tongilnews.com

Text Fwd: The United Nations Command Informed the North Korea of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian

* Image source: Solidarity for Reunification of Korea(SPARK)
Protest against the UFG exercise in front of the TANGO( Theater, Air, Navy, Ground Operation), War Command Center, Seongnam, South of Seoul, Aug. 18, 2008

Below is the unofficial translation of the Tongil News(meaning 'Unification News') and needs proofreading.

The United Nations Command Informed the North Korea of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a Joint Military Exercise between the United States-South Korea,
next Month [August] 17 to 27:
Emphasizing It is a “Defense Exercise Not A Provocative Action”
July 24, 2009, Friday, Tongil News, Jung, Myeong-jin, mjjung@tongilnews.com

The 2009 Ulchi Freedom Guardian(UFG), a joint military training is practiced during the next month, 17 to 27.

The Combined Forces Command(Commander Walter Sharp) revealing as above on [July] 24, said that “The United Nations Command informed the North Korea of the 09 Ulchi Freedom Guardian that it is for the defense-related military readiness exercise, not the provocative actions in any aspects.”

Next, he repeatedly emphasized that “ Like any exercise, the 09 UFG is a common defensive exercise to make progress of the abilities of the US-SK alliance to protect the South Korea from the foreign invasion.”

The characteristic of the exercise this time is that the new US-SK joint operation plan is applied instead the existing ‘Operational Plan 5027’. The military has driven this with the aim of completing the US-SK joint operational plan by July, which has been renewed following the plan of the transfer of the wartime operational control right in 2012.

Since last year, the UFG has been processed with the lead by Korean Joint Forces that is the Korean combat command headquarter and with the support by the United States Forces Korea Command(KORCOM). So to speak, it is exercising the ‘Korean Forces leading-United States Forces supporting system’.

It is to intend to apply the OP 5027 to the Key Resolve/ Foal Eagle in every March, exercising the current ‘combined defense system’ and to apply the new operational plan to every August, exercising the ‘joint defense system’, preparing the transfer of the operational control right.

The Unchi Freedom Guardian, renamed from the existing Ulchi Focus Lenz(UFL), this time is the biggest exercise with 10,000 United States Forces of Korea, 56,000 Korean Forces and 400,000 people from 4,000 institutes, including the public officers from the central government and the regional autonomy groups.

The repulsion of the North Korea against the US-SK UFG exercise is expected. In last August, the North Korea has revealed its criticizing position against the exercise through the spokesperson of the Panmunjeom representative committee of the DPRK military, of the Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Father Land, DPRK, of the Department of the Foreign Affairs, DPRK, last August.

At the time, the spokesperson of the Panmunjeom representative committee has said the UFG exercise was “the new North Korea-invasion exercise, aimed to strengthen the ground operational ability, having the South Korean puppet military as cannon fodders and to increase the effects of the mid-long range precision attack and rapid maneuver attack by the U.S.A. imperialism invasion force against out strategic points.”

Otherwise, the Combined Forces Command (CFC) added that “ Because there is no field maneuver exercise in the 09 UFG, there will no reporting chance related to the exercise.” The UFG exercise is commonly composed of the CPX exercise being utilized with computer simulation.

ⓒ 통일뉴스(http://www.tongilnews.com)


* Photos of Protest against the UFG, in 2007, 2008(Source: SPARK)

Aug. 20, 2007
Aug. 18, 2008 Aug. 19, 2008 Aug. 20, 2008 Aug. 21, 2008 Aug. 22, 2008


* Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-us-forces-have-plans-for.html
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Text Fwd: U.S. Forces 'Have Plans' for N.Korea After Kim Jong-il


* Related English articles

StopNATO
US, South Korea To Hold Annual War Simulation Exercises, July 24, 2009

Yonhap News
S. Korea, U.S. notify N. Korea of joint war game plan, July 24, 2009

KBS World
S.Korea, US to Hold Joint Defense Exercise in August, 2009-07-24


* Related Korean article

http://minbyun.org/?document_srl=6160
(original site: SPARK (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea)
작전통제권 전면 환수 및 유엔사 해체 촉구 각계인사 선언
Statement from the Various Fields Regarding the Whole Returning Back of the Operational Control Right and the Dissolution of the United Nations Command
June 29, 2007