Category South Korea

Apr 8 2024

Russia Deems South Korea an Unfriendly Nation


Posted Apr 8, 2024 by Martin Armstrong

World War III

Russia’s ties to North Korea have strained its relationship with South Korea. South Korea has placed sanctions on Russian entities and individuals, with Russia responding by deeming South Korea an “unfriendly nation,” or in other words, an enemy.

“This is an unfriendly move by Seoul and is deeply regrettable. The imposition of – I emphasize – illegitimate sanctions will have a negative impact on relations with Russia,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated. South Korea has said that Russia violated the Security Council resolutions by engaging in arms trade and military cooperation with its northern neighbor in a move that “threatens peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but around the world,” per an official statement. South Korea has demanded that Russia immediately cease all military cooperation with North Korea, but Russia is keeping its strategic alliance.

The Security Council measure in question was implemented in 2017, banning trade on weapons with North Korea and limiting trade on fuel. Moscow insists it is keeping its commitment but then stated that the sanctions simply failed. “It is clearly seen that endless sanctions are completely useless for achieving the designated goals. They lead to a financial and economic blockade of an entire state with all the ensuing consequences for the population,” Zakharova said.

Russia has not confirmed if it is supplying oil to North Korea in exchange for military support, nor is it responding to rumors it has helped to provide the hermit kingdom with previously blocked $9 million in frozen funds. There is no evidence that Russia helped North Korea unblock these funds aside from the New York Times’ anonymous source who allegedly works for the CIA. This is quite a small sum of money in the scheme of things as well but they are looking for anything they can use against Russia.

Kim Jong un Rocket

Even world leaders are under the invisible hand where they are only looking out for their self-interest. It would not be in the self-interest of Russia to allow North Korea to run amuck in the Korean Peninsula or attempt to wage World War III by attacking its southern neighbor. North Korea has long been in survival mode and only exists because other nations are afraid that Kim-Jung Un will launch nukes into the abyss if cornered. This seems more to be a strategic trade partnership for these shunned nations.

“South Korea apparently lacks the immunity to protect itself from Washington’s external influence,” Zakharova added to her earlier comments, as South Korea followed the US in implementing sanctions. What do all these nations have to gain by involving themselves in the dispute between Ukraine and Russia? All of this is being done at the request of NATO and the West, who are demanding all their allies fall in line and blindly support this endless war despite the clear economic consequences.

Jan 2 2024

South Korean Opposition Leader Lee Jae-myung Brutally Stabbed in the neck


Posted originally on the CTH on January 1, 2024 | Sundance

59-year-old South Korea opposition leader Lee Jae-myung had just finished touring a construction site of a new airport on Gadeok Island when he was attacked and stabbed in neck while talking with reporters.

Numerous media outlets captured the horrific attack.

As a presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung was in favor of normalizing relations with North Korea.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LKCO8K0j4NU%3Ffeature%3Doembed

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VIA BBC – Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost the presidential elections in 2022, was stabbed on the left side of his neck on Tuesday morning.

The male attacker was arrested at the scene.  Lee was transferred to a hospital about 20 minutes after the attack. He was conscious at the time, Yonhap said.

Mr Lee is not currently a member of South Korea’s legislature but is widely expected to run for a seat in the next general election, which will take place in April 2024.

He lost the 2022 presidential elections with a 0.73% difference in votes to current President Yoon Suk-yeol, making it the closest presidential race in South Korean history. (read more)

Dec 14 2023

Why South Korea’s Youth Cannot Begin Families


Posted originally on Dec 14, 2023 By Martin Armstrong 

Family

South Korea hosts one of the lowest birth rates in the modern world. The nation’s population began decreasing significantly in 2021. Statistics Korea reported that only 249,000 babies were born in 2022, marking a 4.4% decline from 2021. The birth rate needs to stay at 2.1 to maintain the current population of 52 million, however, the current birth rate is only 0.78. A look into the finances of South Korea’s youth makes it quite obvious why couples are not reproducing.

The 2022 Seoul Young Adult Panel Study found that 55.6% of the youth were in asset poverty, meaning they did not have the liquidity to cover their basic needs for three months. This figure spikes to 62.7% when accounting for those living alone. Young adults aged 19 to 24 have a personal income poverty rate of 73.4%, which accounts for an income beneath 50% of the average median. Of the 5,083 people under the age of 35 polled, 47.5% still live at home with their parents and 41.2% rely on parental financial support.

Birthing Person

The same situation can be seen throughout the modern world. The youth cannot afford to support themselves let alone families. South Korea’s government has attempted to entice couples by offering prolonged maternity leave. President Yoon Suk-yeol is also offering 700,000 won per month ($540) to couples with children under one.

Unemployment among Korean youth is also a serious problem. Statistics Korea reported that nearly half (45.5%) of people aged 15 to 29 were unemployed for over a year. These teens and young adults went to school and worked for a successful future only for 44.3% of graduates to find themselves unemployed after university ended. It is no wonder that the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Institute reported that 34.7% of Seoul’s youth are suffering from depression. Young couples cannot afford to have families and the population crisis will continue throughout the modern world as the global economy turns down.

Sep 15 2023

South Korea to Pay Families of COVID Vax Victims


Armstrong Economics Blog/Disease Re-Posted Sep 15, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Various governments are quietly acknowledging the dangers of the COVID-19 experimental mRNA vaccines. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that families are entitled to compensation if their relative dies within 90 days of receiving the vaccine. The max one can receive is 30 million won or $22,500 – a strange price to put on a person’s life.

They are not even requiring an autopsy if that is any indication of how dangerous these vaccines have been. They are also providing additional government aid for families who had a relative die within THREE days of the untested experimental jab. “Korea had a higher inoculation rate than the rest of the world because people trusted the state and got vaccinated,” People Power Party Rep. Park Dae-chul stated at a National Assembly meeting between the party and the administration. “In this regard, the state must address the blind spot in helping those harmed by the vaccination policy.”

Yes, the state should be held responsible for coercing people into a lethal medical decision. This was not the government’s first choice, as the Seoul Administrative Court demanded that the KDCA compensate families. There are also 11 different medical side effects, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and anaphylaxis that the government admits are a result of the vaccine. Over 480 million won has been distributed so far. The government recognizes 15 additional ailments caused by the vaccine, such as Bell’s Palsy, but will not compensate individuals for those side effects.

South Korea has begun paying burial fees for those who died from the COVID vaccine. The government forced 45 million men, women, and children into receiving these vaccines. So why in the world would South Korea continue to provide COVID vaccines at all? Rest assured Big Pharma is not making any payouts for deaths or irreparable harm.

Aug 30 2023

South Korea Handles Illegal Migrant Problem


Armstrong Economics Blog/International News Re-Posted Aug 30, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Imagine living in a country where the leaders were concerned about national security? South Korea slammed the breaks on illegal immigration in and forced around 11,000 undocumented illegal immigrants to leave the country. President Yoon Suk Yeol has said that his administration will continue taking “strict measures” to ensure national security.

The 11,000 expulsions happened between June 12 and July 31 amid a 50-day crackdown collaboration between the Korean Coast Guard, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Justice. Of the 11,000, 5,282 people were deported, while another 5,476 voluntarily left to avoid further repercussions. The illegal migrants that were forcibly deported may face entry bans and fines depending on how long they remained in South Korea illegally. Additionally, 1,290 employers were fined for illegally hiring undocumented migrants.

“Moving forward as well, we will strive to create a safe society by taking strict measures not only against foreigners who stay here illegally, but also foreigners who threaten Korean citizens’ safety, such as with drugs, or who promote residing here illegally, by helping others find illegal employment,” Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said in a statement.

Around 37,000 illegal migrants were expelled from South Korea within the first half of 2023. Justice Minister Han implemented a five-year strategy to cut down the illegal population from around 410,000 to 200,000. The Justice Ministry believes 411,000 migrants snuck into the country in 2022 alone and they are taking the issue extremely seriously.

There are methods to legally enter a country, and those methods were respected and understood by everyone up until a few years ago. Now, people feel as if they can enter any country and claim asylum for a free meal ticket. Nations like the USA that have deliberately erased the borders have created a serious national security issue and cities are now attempting to handle the economic ramifications of the migrant crisis. There are solutions if those in power see large-scale invasions as a problem to solve.

Aug 17 2022

South Korea Offers Olive Branch to the North


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Aug 17, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Russia recently claimed that it had been a close friend of North Korea since World War II, when Japanese forces were expelled from the peninsula. In a celebratory speech, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol mentioned how the end of Japan’s colonization was a win for both Koreas, albeit leading to their nasty divorce. Yoon said he would like to strengthen relations with Japan, as well as North Korea.

South Korea is requesting the same demand – denuclearization.  “We will implement a large-scale program to provide food, providing assistance for establishing infrastructure for the production, transmission and distribution of electrical power, and carry out projects to modernize ports and airports to facilitate trade,” Yoon said. Furthermore, Yoon said that they would modernize North Korea’s hospitals and infrastructure, and “carry out initiatives to allow for international investment and financial support.”

North Korea will never abandon its nuclear program for fear of retaliation. Without nuclear power, the small, impoverished country would be completely vulnerable. I warned in March 2018:

“The entire world is going to go nuts 2031/2032. There will not be a country that is spared from political and economic events. The risk a serious famine in North Korea which could result in the people rising up will arrive in 2023. That pressure will begin here this year 2018.70 – which will be September 13th, 2018. This appears to the turning point that is not just concerning North Korea. It is appearing around the world in many markets. The risk for political change in North Korea comes into play as soon as 2019/2020.”

We saw political destabilization in North Korea in 2020 when Kim Jong-Un went missing from the public eye. Many thought he was dead, and reports circulated that his sister, Kim Yo-Jong, had become the Supreme Leader. It has now come to light that Jong-Un was “seriously ill” during the pandemic. “Even though he was seriously ill with a high fever, he could not lie down for a moment thinking about the people he had to take care of until the end, in the face of the anti-epidemic war,” his sister recently revealed.

Kim Jong-Un declared complete victory over the coronavirus. “For a country that has yet to administer a single vaccine shot, our success in overcoming the spread of the illness in such a short period of time and recovering safety in public health and making our nation a clean virus-free zone again is an amazing miracle that would be recorded in the world’s history of public health,” KCNA quoted him as saying. However, he blames South Korea for contaminating his country with the virus.

North Korea will never abandon its nuclear power, nor will it make amends with South Korea. The hatred runs too deep. Although the nation needs financial assistance, it is turning to its new ally, Russia, with the help of China. Our models state that there could be civil unrest in the hermit kingdom next month. Civil unrest will not be tolerated and cannot occur without a full-scale uprising. Could involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war be the final straw?