Text Fwd: Environmentalists show no confidence in nuclear waste site’s safety

Image Source/ Description: same as below

‘Cho Seung-soo, a　lawmaker with the New Progressive Party, and members of the Environmental Movement in Gyeongju City announce the results of a study on the nuclear waste disposal facility currently under construction in the Gyeongju area at the National Assembly, July 28.’

Hankyoreh
Environmentalists show no confidence in nuclear waste site’s safety: Lawmaker Cho and environmental researchers disclose prior site assessment reports on Gyeongju waste facility site that reveal base rock instability
Posted on : Jul.29,2009 12:27 KST Modified on : Jul.29,2009 12:29 KST

YangLee Won-young, the head of KFEM’s Future Planning Department said, “The government selected the site only four months after the site’s assessment had been conducted, and despite indications of several safety problems, including the instability of the base rock.”

They shared the findings of three-related site reports including, “An assessment report on the nuclear waste disposal facility site” by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., LTD in April 2005.

Cho criticized the government by saying, “The government endorsed the construction while evidence of the site’s instability was obvious.” He added, “Additional research is needed to inform the construction process.”

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy responded with a press release that says, “We conducted a fact finding investigation into the 30-month delay of the facility’s construction, however, we believe there are no problems related to the site’s safety and find the site’s assessment study to be appropriate.”

They government had conducted a four month long investigation into the proposed facility site in Gyeongju city located in South Gyeongsang Province, and the city was selected to host the construction of a facility that would be capable of storing low and intermediate level radioactive waste materials through a local referendum that took place in November 2005. The Geological Society of Korea conducted the study into causes of the construction delay at the ministry’s request in June.

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

© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company.

Text Fwd: S. Korea to Sell Multiple Rocket Launchers to Jordan

Korea times
07-29-2009 21:56
S. Korea to Sell Multiple Rocket Launchers to Jordan
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

South Korea's Hanhwa Corporation will export about 20 lightweight 70mm multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to Jordan, according to officials at the company and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Wednesday.

A contract will be signed in August, they said.

Under the proposed contract, Hanwha will help Jordan develop two prototypes of the mid-sized rocket launcher with technology transfer and begin production after two years of trials.

``Hanwha will transfer key MLRS technologies regarding a launch pad, fire-and-control system and navigation equipment to Jordan under the deal," said a DAPA official, who declined to comment on the exact scale of the deal.

Hanwha is also negotiating with Libya on the export of the 70mm MLRS, he added.

Designed for firepower support for infantry regiments, it has a range of 8 kilometers and can fire up to 40 rockets within 10 minutes.

The company developed the system in 2000. It has already undergone trials with the South Korean Army, but has yet to be deployed in the field.

Hanwha has already produced and deployed 130mm (36-round) MLRS with the Army since the early 1980s.

In April, DAPA approved a plan to develop an indigenous 65-kilometer-range 230mm MLRS by 2013 to replace the 130mm MLRS fleet with a range of 36 kilometers and improve the Army's counter-artillery capability against North Korea.

Hanwha will take charge of system integration and build guided and non-guided rockets, while Doosan DST will build the launch pad and vehicle, the agency said.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: August 22 protest ICBM launch Vandenberg AFB

* Image source: What is the Space and Missile System Center El Segundo?
* Informed by MacGregor Eddy on July 28, 2009

August 22 TWO protests ICBM launch
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 by Macgregor Eddy

"Vandenberg Space Command will fire a test ICBM Minuteman to Kwajalein on August 23 in the early hours of the morning midnight or 3 am (see the AFB website) and there will be protests in many locations.
Space and Missile Systems center 483 N Aviation El Segundo CA 1 pm August 22, a Saturday.
call 831 206 5043 for details tell your Los Angeles friends.

then at 11:55 pm August 22 at the front gate of Vandenberg AFB six miles north of Lompoc on Hwy One Santa Barbara county CA. see www.vandenbergwitness.org
For directions to the front gate of Vandenberg (there is no street address) using computer mapquest or its ilk, use the address of Vandenberg Middle School in Lompoc which is right across Highway One from the front gate.

MacGregor Eddy"

* Related blog:

MacGregor Eddy, Tuesday, July 28, 2009
What is the Space and Missile System Center El Segundo?
http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0ASmCKR2MI5MuZGZweGM1ZmZfOTNnbjc2cnJmOQ&hl=en

Text Fwd: U.S. Strategic Command, "First Annual Strategic Deterrence Symposium:

* Informed by Frank Cordaro on July 28, 2009

U.S. Strategic Command, "First Annual Strategic Deterrence Symposium:
Waging Deterrence in the 21st Century," with 27 speakers.
Qwest Center, 455 N. 10th St., Omaha, NE (closed).
http://stratcom.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Custom.aspx?cid=19&i=eb044469-46c5-4b7b-ae16-882f569b3998


Frank Cordaro
Phil Berrigan CW House
713 Indiana Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 282-4781 www.DesMoinesCatholicWorker.org

Koreans Declare the “7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River” Movement into the New Conversion Movement

* Image source*
1. Nonviolence Peaceforce Corea
2. No Base Stories of Korea
3. Original Photo by Yoo, Young-Ho, 2001, Tongil News
‘A map attached to the Korean War Armistice Agreement, July 27, 1953’ (Name of the places in English added; The author notices the DMZ line-the thick line in the middle- along with the Northern Limited Line(NLL) and Southern Limited Line(SLL) -the both lines along the DMZ- were not drawn in the sea areas during the armistice negotiation period. The arbitrary NLL in the sea areas since then has specially become the controversy and source of conflict.


Koreans Declare the “ 7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River” Movement into the New Conversion Movement
July 27, 2009 (on the 56th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement)

There was a “Public Forum on the Ways of the Peaceful Solution on the Issue of Mouth of Han River and Re-Recognition of the UN Command” at the 2nd auditorium, Christian Hall, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, on July 27, 2009.

The event was hosted by the Nonviolence Peaceforce Korea and Peace Life Christian Association. It was sponsored by the ‘Committee for the 7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River’, Incheon, Ganghwa committee, and Seoul preparatory committee. It was also sponsored by the Korea Committee for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence. There was the photo exhibition about the 7.27 Peace Ship Launch event in the last four years by the committees and Lee, Si-Woo. It also included the video of the event last year. The statement translated below was announced before the two hour forum. The opening remark for the forum was done by Rev, Park, Hyung-Kyu & Fr. Lee, Jae-Jung and the forum was moderated by Dr. Park, Sung-Yong, Executive Chairperson of the Committee for the 7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River, Secretary of the Korea Committee for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, and the representative for the Nonviolence Peaceforce Corea.

The 1 hour section was of the presentations by Seo, Bo Hyuk, Korea National Strategy Institute, on “The Korean War and the Birth, Role & Position of the UN Command”; Lee, Si-Woo, the theorist of the Mouth of Han River & peace photographer on the “ The Mouth of Han River and the Issue of the UN Command’s Jurisdiction Right”; and by Kim, Da-Sub, Attorney of Law on“the Victorious Indictment Examples in the U. S. courts around the Cases of the Crash of the Fighter Plane and Death of the Korean Pilot” .

The 2nd 30 minute section was the discussion by Cheong, Wooksik, representative of the Peace Network, Lee, Jong-Chul, Korea Peace Institute and the suggestion by Park, Jong-Ryol, representative of the Committee for the 7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River.

The final section was discussed with the audience. There were many village people & organizers from the Ganghwa Island and Kyodong Island, who actively participated for the questions and suggestions.




[Below is the temporary unofficial translation of the statement and needs check & proofreading. The original Korean site is Nonviolence Peaceforce Corea.]

http://peacewave.net/bbs/zboard.php?id=N01&no=176

Statement Urging for Peace
Toward the Governments of the South and North Korea

We Declare the “ 7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River” Movement into the New Conversion Movement:

- Han River as the River for Reconciliation and Co-Living,
Cease Fire Agreement into the Peace Agreement-

As today is the 56th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement (Cease Fire Agreement), we meditate the event of launching the ‘Peace Ship’ four times at the mouth of Han River during the last [4 years], and urge the positive will for the new conversion of the mass peace movement by the civil society and for the peaceful co-existence by the both South & North Korean authorities so that we can take a first step toward the peaceful formation of the Korean peninsula at the mouth of Han River.

The Han River has once taken the role as the breakthrough for the ups & downs and wax & wane of the national history and for the big vein of the politics/economy/culture. However, it has become the powder magazine for the showdown by the DMZ [Demilitarized Zone] after the division and by the military confrontation between the South and North Korea. Even though the atmosphere for the reconciliation exchange and the discussion for the peaceful use of the mouth of the Han River that have waxed for a wile during the last participatory government, have progressed toward the 2.13 agreement and 10.4 conference [in 2007], they have confronted with the higher tension and crisis situation because of the counter-wind of the North Korea’s nuclear weapon development and the South Korea’s joint MD system [with the United States] & PSI participation.

The ‘Committee for the 7.27 Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River’( Committee for the Peace Ship Launch), basing on the positive clause of the safe navigation upon the Korean War Armistice Agreement, has brought the imagination of the reconciliation & exchange among all the people, media, and political system for the last 4 years since it has tried the first event for the Peace Ship Launch on July 27, 2005. However, the Peace Ship could not reach into its desired seaway because of the present frozen current, reason of safety, and the UN Command’s claim of ‘Jurisdiction’ that is not listed on the armistice agreement.

The present military showdown and the confrontational phase the authorities of the South & North Korea have reached to be immediately replaced with the co-trust & negotiation toward the peaceful reunification. We confirm for the Han river that has existed as of the blocked and the killing, to be conversed into reconciliation & co-existence, there have to be co-efforts of: Building the peaceful atmosphere in the political areas of the South & North; Revealing of the truth on the Jurisdiction [claimed by the] UN Command and the readjustment of its role through the international co-operation; and the strengthening of the power of the civil society.

We, especially begin not only with the mass movement for the peaceful reconciliation & co-existence but also with the self-examination that we solve our current issue by ourselves and with the alternative-suggestion movement . For that, we intend to open the mouth of Han River, the river of the killing & war as the practical zone for peace & life, through today’s “Public Symposium for the Ways of the Peaceful Solution for the Mouth of Han River and Re-Recognition of the UN Command”. For that, we declare to do as below.

First, we will re-illuminate the responsibility area by the international law on the UN Command and strengthen the international co-operation for defining the proper position of the UN Command, through the research on the proper role of the UN Command which has blocked the free navigation of the civilian ship in the mouth of Han river.

Second, we urge the both authorities of the North & South Korea to bring into the positive solution for the safe navigation for the civilian ships in the mouth of Han river and for the multiple infra-peace buildings on the ecological heath & peaceful resource development in the area of the mouth of Han river.

Third, we suggest: To restore the seaways between the North & South to heal the suffering & pain of the home-losing migrants [during the war] , to co-exchange the civilians and materials at the areas of the mouth of Han river so that it can contribute the development of the home in the North Korea; and to drive the Kyodong island at the north tip of the Gwanghwa island into a ‘ Peace Island’. [* If you see the Gangwha map in the wikipedia, you can see how most sites do mot corectly reflect the Korea DMZ line. In fact, the DMZ line did nor exist in the original maps during the Koraen War Armistice Agreement, the researchers here have said. ]

Forth, we suggest to immediately compose the ‘Association for the Peace Policy of the Mouth of Han River’, of regional authorities, specialists and civil groups, to consistently drive toward the peace & ecological health of the mouth of Han river.

Five, we will have solidarity with all the people who love life& peace, the general value of all the human being so that the cease fire agreement can be conversed into the peace agreement, through the setting of the life & peace area. We will also try to make our efforts to dissolve the social division, confrontation & conflict through the peace campaign so that the future generations inherit the peaceful Korean peninsula.

Participating individuals and groups for the Peace Ship Launch in the Mouth of Han River


July 27, 2009


* Related blogs

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-significance-of-kaesung-as.html
Friday, July 31, 2009
Text Fwd: The Significance of Kaesung as the City of Peace


http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-s-korea-fishing-boat-taken-to.html
Friday, July 31, 2009
Text Fwd: S. Korea fishing boat taken to N. Korea port after traveling over the NLL


http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-united-nations-command.html
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Text Fwd: The United Nations Command Informed the North Korea of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/05/text-fwd-peace-network-north-koreas.html
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Text Fwd:[Peace Network] North Korea’s Stronger Repulsion against the PSI…The West Sea is Dangerous


* Related English articles

http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/korea/kwarmagr072753.html
Text of the Korean War Armistice War Agreement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Korea
Constitution of the Republic of Korea



* Related Korean articles/ photos/ Videos

http://www.worldmarch.kr/?document_srl=712#0

http://www.worldmarch.kr/?document_srl=599#0

http://peacewave.net/bbs/zboard.php?id=N01&no=175

http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=73348
[긴급 ]한강하구에 쏟아지는 섣부른 공약
이시우 사진가가 옥중에서 보내온 서신
2007년 06월 26일 (화) 18:41:56 이시우
[Express] The Awkward Promises [By the Roh Moon Hyun Governmnet] upon the Mouth of Han River : Lee, Si-Woo's Letter from the Jail, June 26, 2007

http://blog.daum.net/_blog/ArticleCateList.do?blogid=0LWxq&CATEGORYID=741877&dispkind=B2203#ajax_history_home
Series on the Mouth of Han River by Lee, Si-Woo

http://cafe.naver.com/umania.cafe?iframe_url=/ArticleRead.nhn%3Farticleid=637

http://www.tagstory.com/video/video_post.aspx?media_id=V000076971

http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=615bum&logNo=60079616240

Text fwd: S. Korea Reconsidering Stealth Fighter Plans

*Image Source/ Description: Same as below
'Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle prototype'

Korea Times
S. Korea Reconsidering Stealth Fighter Plans
Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle prototype
By Jung Sung-ki, Staff Reporter, 07-27-2009

The South Korean military is having second thoughts about introducing so-called fifth-generation stealth fighters due to technical and budgetary problems.

Last week, the Weapon Systems Concept Development and Application Research Center at Konkuk University in Seoul submitted its interim report on the feasibility of the KF-X indigenous fighter development project to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The agency commissioned a six-month final feasibility study on the KF-X program in April.

The report suggests major changes in required operational capabilities (ROCs) for the KF-X aircraft. In particular, the report says the KF-X jet should be an F-16-class fighter to be developed by foreign aircraft manufacturers.

Initiated in 2001, the KF-X program had originally been aimed at developing and producing by 2020 about 120 fifth-generation fighters stealthier than Dassault's Rafale or the Eurofighter Typhoon, though not as much as Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightening II.

``The KF-X ROCs have been readjusted to a realistic level after consultations among parties concerned, as developing a full stealth fighter has already been assessed as technically and economically nonviable,'' a procurement official said on condition of anonymity.

The official was referring to an earlier feasibility report in 2007 that concluded that the KF-X project would cost at least $10 billion but could be expected to reap only $3 billion in economic benefits.

``The (Konkuk University) center is discussing ways to develop the KF-X with potential foreign partners, and it will report the outcome of its study to the DAPA and the Ministry of National Defense by the year's end for final approval,'' the official said.

According to the interim report, the KF-X will be an F-16 Block 50 level multi-role fighter jet with an engine thrust of 50,000 pounds. The aircraft would have either one or two engines, but a twin-engine system is preferred, it says.

The indigenous aircraft will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an electronic warfare suite and infrared search-and-track system, and data link systems fit for a network-centric environment, the report states.

The report says the KF-X program now aims to develop and produce 120 aircraft after 2010 in the first phase to replace older F-4s and F-5s and manufacture 130 more after the first phase models reach initial operational capabilities.

In a related move, a chief researcher at the state-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) said the nation could delay the purchase of foreign stealth fighters under the F-X multi-phase fighter procurement program.

The F-X aims to buy 120 high-end fighter jets by 2020 in an effort to modernize the Air Force's fighter fleet. Boeing won the previous two deals in 2002 and 2008 to provide a total of 41 F-15Ks.

Seoul officials had said the third phase program, expected to begin by 2012, would focus on obtaining fifth-generation stealth fighters. The Lockheed Martin-built F-35 was referred to as a front-runner for the deal.

``At the request of the MND, a KIDA team began a comprehensive review of the Air Force's operational requirements and the effectiveness of the Air Force's current operational structure of high-, medium- and low-class aircraft,'' the researcher, who leads the feasibility study said, requesting to remain anonymous.

The researcher noted the procurement of the F-35 would be a key topic.

``South Korea, for sure, should purchase and operate stealth fighters as the radar-evading aircraft are expected to dominate the skies in the coming years. But as far as the timing is concerned, we need to think more and make a wise decision,'' he said.

Adopting early versions of the F-35 could cause operational risks, he said, so that Seoul should delay buying the aircraft by 2020 when its performances will be proved and upgraded.

He suggested introducing more ``4.5-generation'' fighters, such as Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle, before the procurement of stealth-fighters could be an option to fill the Air Force's possible operational gap.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: Korea to Spend W10 Billion on Robot Project

Korea Times
07-27-2009 18:03
Korea to Spend W10 Billion on Robot Project
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

South Korea plans to spend 10 billion won (about $8 million) next year to develop technologies for advanced medical and surveillance robots, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said Monday.

Curexo and Samsung Techwin will be on the receiving end of the government research and development (R&D) fund that is intended to help the companies gain stronger positions in the growing global market for robots and also reap the benefits of homegrown intellectual property.

Curexo will get 4 billion won and work with Samsung Medical Center to develop a medical robot that specializes in artificial joint surgery, while Samsung Techwin plans to team up with the state-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) to build a robot that can guard important facilities against intruders and protect property from damage. The surveillance robot project will get 6 billion won from state funds.

The local market for robots able to conduct human joint surgery stood at 92 billion won as of last year, up more than 50 percent from the previous year, according to the ministry. Because the country does not make such machines, all local demand is met by imports.

``Surgical and observation robotics have good market potential and the government is willing to provide additional support to facilitate follow-up investment by local companies and to help fuel exports," said Vice Knowledge Economy Minister Rim Che-min.

The global market for medical robots, which came to $2.88 billion in 2008, is expected to top $7.34 billion in 2013, the ministry said. It has grown by an average of 20 percent every year.

The worldwide market for upper-end observation robots also has considerable growth potential, with industry sources predicting that the global market will grow 38.6 percent from 2008 to $13.3 billion in 2012.

Such robots can be used to protect facilities such as oil bunkers and production systems. They cost less to maintain than hiring security guards and can be programmed to conduct security operations without rest.

As part of its efforts to meet growing demand for such robots in oil-rich countries, Samsung plans to set up an observation system at an oil bunker operated by KNOC, which can be used as a testbed to check the capabilities of surveillance robots.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr

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

A Jailed Unification Activist on the PSI

Below is the excerpt and unofficial translation from the six page writing by one of the jailed activists, the PKAR,. The writing was done before one's arrest on May 7 and there could be changes.


1. What is the PSI (Proliferation Security Initiative)?

PSI was first suggested by the President Bush on May, 2003, officialized at the first meeting in June, 2003.

: Lying on the series of so called “war on terror”, in ‘deterring the weapons of mass destruction”, the PSI brings forward the ‘interception’ as an important method, containing the aggressive military activities, when ‘the suspicion of moving is lodged’. It has the character of ‘preemptive’ to ‘intercept the dangers in advance’.


#The purpose and Role of the PSI:

“ … interdicts the trade of the illegal weapons and related missile technologies”, and for it, search the airplanes and ships suspected to load the those materials”(May 31, 2003, President Bush)

_Role of the PSI: The information exchange and training is the basic. And it does not stop at executing the interdiction of the ships, airplanes, & vehicles (June 2003, Spain, 1st meeting) . Further it prohibits the serving for the trades of the related materials by the “ facilitators of the weapons of mass destruction’, including individuals, companies and groups ( March 2004, Portugal, 5th meeting)


#Position

* PSI is neither the international treaty nor the permantive institute but the ‘Association based on the participating will’.
* The nations with the participating will’ can only sign to the activity rules agreed with at the 3rd meeting or cooperation.


#Current situation

* Currently, the participating nations are total 94. However, China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia are not participating.

In the beginning, the nations who signed at the ‘activity rules’ (U.S.A., UK, France, Germany, Australia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Philippines, Russia) and the nations of the cooperation were separated. But since August, 2005, the separation was abolished and all the nations were called as the participating nations.

* There have been 36 times of the multinational joint military training of the PSI, in which the military interception was the basic content.

[..]



6. How the PSI affect the Korean peninsula?

# The PSI is only the opinionated agreement body violating the international law and is problematic in the sense that it brings forward the serious military interception that the international law prohibits.

# Last December 29, 2005, the South Korea decided the limited participation in the PSI. At the time, it decided to participate in the five cooperation clauses among the total eight clauses the USA requested. They are: 1. Including the interception training of the WMD in the US-SK joint military training, 2. Auditing the briefings on the whole activities of the PSI, 3. Visiting and observing the regional interception trainings, 4. Visiting and observing the interception trainings beyond the regional. The three clauses of, 1. Official participation in the PSI, 2. Material support in the regional interception trainings 3. . Material support in the interception trainings beyond the regional, were decided not to participate.

# The SK’s whole participation [after the satellite launch by the NK on April 25] means it makes possible the realization of the military interception in the water area of the Korean peninsula. The Bush administration was not only considering the ways of intercepting ships in the open sea but in the very outside of the seas of the North Korea ( It is on the premise that the South Korea and Japan participate in the PSI) . This measure is, in fact, the declaration of war by the international law, and the trial of the sea blockade strictly prohibited by the Korean war armistice agreement.

# It is nothing but the provocation of the entire war that the SK does the military interception and sea blockade [of the NK ships] as the inter-Korean relationship between the NK and SK has been aggravated.

# The North Korea has already said in 2003 that ‘ in case’ of ‘ blockade of sea and air’, it “ would consider it as the armistice agreement was violated and would immediately retaliate powerfully and mercilessly upon the intrusion of its sovereignty ( NK representative speech at the Panmunjeom representative committee, July 1, 2003). The NK has also recently said of the SK’s participation in the PSI meant “ It is the very declaration of war against us, and we announce that we would immediately have the resolute counter measure against it”.


* When the United States has frozen the bank account of the North Korea , in the Banco Delta Asia(BDA), Macao, 2005, the official cause was the counterfeit money issue but it has become known that its real cause was to follow the PSI initiative in which it blocks the fund resource of the rogue states.


* The ‘Kangnam NO. 1’ , the first NK ship that was pointed out as the first ship against the PSI has proven to be an empty cargo ship.

* The US has voluntarily returned back the frozen NK fund to the NK via the Federal central bank, according to the result of the US-NK dialogue that was in full-swing after the NK nuclear test in last 2006. To speak, the US settled the issue by the government guaranteeing the fund that had been claimed as the illegal fund by herself. This shows the application and dissolution of the PSI is according to the political judgement of the USA.


* Related Korean article
http://tongil-i.net/2006/bbs/bbs/tb.php/data3/361
made by the PKAR, Kyungin Branch, April 15, 2009

Text fwd: The big lie of Afghanistan

* Informed by Agneta Noberg

Gurdian
The big lie of Afghanistan

Inquiries into the 954 deaths in police custody since 1990 have all proved fruitless-- and then this historic case comes along

Malalai Joya
The Guardian
25 July 2009

In 2005, I was the youngest person elected to the new Afghan parliament. Women like me, running for office, were held up as an example of how the war in Afghanistan had liberated women. But this democracy was a facade, and the so-called liberation a big lie.

On behalf of the long-suffering people of my country, I offer my heartfelt condolences to all in the UK who have lost their loved ones on the soil of Afghanistan. We share the grief of the mothers, fathers, wives, sons and daughters of the fallen. It is my view that these British casualties, like the many thousands of Afghan civilian dead, are victims of the unjust policies that the Nato countries have pursued under the leadership of the US government.

Almost eight years after the Taliban regime was toppled, our hopes for a truly democratic and independent Afghanistan have been betrayed by the continued domination of fundamentalists and by a brutal occupation that ultimately serves only American strategic interests in the region.

You must understand that the government headed by Hamid Karzai is full of warlords and extremists who are brothers in creed of the Taliban. Many of these men committed terrible crimes against the Afghan people during the civil war of the 1990s.

For expressing my views I have been expelled from my seat in parliament, and I have survived numerous assassination attempts. The fact that I was kicked out of office while brutal warlords enjoyed immunity from prosecution for their crimes should tell you all you need to know about the "democracy" backed by Nato troops.

In the constitution it forbids those guilty of war crimes from running for high office. Yet Karzai has named two notorious warlords, Fahim and Khalili, as his running mates for the upcoming presidential election. Under the shadow of warlordism, corruption and occupation, this vote will have no legitimacy, and once again it seems the real choice will be made behind closed doors in the White House. As we say in Afghanistan, "the same donkey with a new saddle".

So far, Obama has pursued the same policy as Bush in Afghanistan. Sending more troops and expanding the war into Pakistan will only add fuel to the fire. Like many other Afghans, I risked my life during the dark years of Taliban rule to teach at underground schools for girls. Today the situation of women is as bad as ever.

Victims of abuse and rape find no justice because the judiciary is dominated by fundamentalists. A growing number of women, seeing no way out of the suffering in their lives, have taken to suicide by self-immolation.

This week, US vice-president Joe Biden asserted that "more loss of life [is] inevitable" in Afghanistan, and that the ongoing occupation is in the "national interests" of both the US and the UK.

I have a different message to the people of Britain. I don't believe it is in your interests to see more young people sent off to war, and to have more of your taxpayers' money going to fund an occupation that keeps a gang of corrupt warlords and drug lords in power in Kabul.

What's more, I don't believe it is inevitable that this bloodshed continues forever. Some say that if foreign troops leave Afghanistan will descend into civil war. But what about the civil war and catastrophe of today? The longer this occupation continues, the worse the civil war will be.

The Afghan people want peace, and history teaches that we always reject occupation and foreign domination. We want a helping hand through international solidarity, but we know that values like human rights must be fought for and won by Afghans themselves.

I know there are millions of British people who want to see an end to this conflict as soon as possible. Together we can raise our voice for peace and justice.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/25/afghanistan-occupation-taliban-warlords

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