Opinion: DPRK-Uganda have been trading partners for years…

“The relationship between Uganda and North Korea is more than an ordinary diplomatic relationship. It is a special friendship built over the years by the relationship between the Presidents of the two states” (Parliament.go.ug, 31.10.2014).

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) or North Korea have been dealing with the Government of Uganda for decades. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) have been closely dealing with the North Korean counterparts. This has been done since the bush-war.

The North Koreans have both having businesses in Uganda, but also traded weapons to the Ugandan army. This have been older systems of ammunitions and weapons. Still, it has been an enterprise that have given the Pyongyang the needed foreign exchange and profits. While the Ugandans could get excessive weaponry to conflicts across their borders. It has been a win-win for both parties.

Which, when the Danish documentary series “the mole” exposed this. It has been known for ages. The UN has filed it in its reports for years. The knowledge of this trading and collaboration have been known. The DPRK and Uganda have been partners in crime. These low-cost parts and ammunition sold to Uganda have been good business for them both. Cheap imports and accessible to use in proxy wars.

There is knowledge and reports that contrary to UN Sanctions, the North Koreans has both manual workers and medical professionals working in Uganda. This is a way of earning money on the labour made by these citizens. Who are facilitated by state corporations working on projects and as part of state tenders in Uganda. Therefore, “the Mole” idea with building an arms factory in Uganda and using that as means for exporting illegal weapons. Wouldn’t be far-fetched because of the relationship between the states. It would be a win-win for both Republics and Presidents.

Just recently, Kim Jong-Un sent this message to Uganda on its independence day:

“Our people sincerely hope that under your leadership, the friendly people of Uganda will achieve great successes in their efforts for consolidating the national unity and attaining the socio-economic development of the country. I take this opportunity to express my conviction that the friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries would continuously strengthen and develop by inheriting their history and tradition.” (Mfa.gov.kp, 2020).

If that isn’t a message, than nothing is. It really says it all. As well, with the knowledge of how long they been trading. Using illegal means to profit of each other. As the one benefits from the other. Both parties knows that. The DPRK wouldn’t be involved and has this sort of deals, unless it earned on it. Neither, would the Ugandan have it either. Since, they are getting a bargain and getting things cheaply, but also weapons, which it can use for questionable enterprises elsewhere.

President Museveni have had this sort of relationship, because it has been beneficial to him and his allies. He wouldn’t have done this, if it wasn’t anything in it for him. Pyongyang and Kampala been friendly, because its good business. They are both getting what they need.

“The Mole” is maybe opening the eyes of a few new faces. However, many of us knew. Peace.

Reference:

Parliament.go.ug – ‘Korea-Uganda Parliaments agree to sign friendship pact’ (31.10.2014) Link: http://www.parliament.go.ug/new/index.php/about-parliament/parliamentary-news/472-korea-uganda-parliaments-agree-to-sign-friendship-pact

Mfa.gov.kp – ‘Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Sends Congratulatory Message to President of Uganda’ 09.10.2020 link: http://www.mfa.gov.kp/en/congratulatory-message-to-president-of-uganda/

North Korea (DPRK): Clear Is Our Message to US (12.06.2020)

Opinion: North Korea warns the US again!

This is not the first time the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or the North Korea fires some salvoes the way of the United States of America Administration. Especially the Trump Administration and their diplomats.

Just last year, the DPRK said this about the US: “The U.S. is fatally mistaken if it went to the extent of regarding that the DPRK would be compelled to accept, out of its patience, the demands reflecting its gangster-like mindset. A shorter way to denuclearization on the Korean peninsula is to remove deep-rooted mistrust and build up trust between the DPRK and the U.S” (KCNA: Foreign Ministry Spokesman on DPRK-U.S. High-level Talks, 07.07.2018).

So the North Koreans are tired of the gangsters in Washington DC. It is again another salvo from Pyongyang, This is not new, but this shows that the diplomatic relations are strained. What is happening is not reassuring. As the meetings, the supposed grand-deal or anything else haven’t changed anything. Only paid Kim Jong-Un for a few international trips and hotel service on the outside of North Korea.

“The DPRK-U.S. relations that could have been derailed and fallen apart several times due to such hostile acts and wrong habitual practices on the part of the U.S. are still maintained. It goes to the credit of the close personal relations between Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un and President Trump. But there is a limit to everything. The close personal relations can never be kept aloof from the public mindset and they are never a guarantee for preventing the DPRK-U.S. relations from getting aggravated or for making up for. The U.S. trumpets the crucial measures taken by the DPRK for confidence-building as its own “diplomatic gains” but no substantial progress has been made in the DPRK-U.S. relations and belligerent relations still persists that there can be the exchange of fire any moment. The U.S. is seriously mistaken if it is of the idea of passing off in peace the end of this year, by exploiting the close personal relations between its president and the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK for the delaying tactics” (Kim Yong Chol – ‘Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, (KAPPC) made public a statement on Oct. 27’, 27.10.2019).

If the Trump Administration want to be serious. There need to be more love-letters and maybe not the tough-guy letter to Erdogan. That is a bad look and not showing class. Neither the tact between two parties. There is time for Washington to get in the ones whose not gangsters and whose diplomats to actually act diplomatic. That is if they are serious about making the Korean Peninsula a peaceful and non-nuclear.

However, the non-action and the threats are not the thing to sustain this one. The fragile relationship seems like it needs some reassuring messages. Needs some love and care, just like flowers needs water and sun to stay alive. This is why the Trump Administration needs to do something. That is if they they care about their allies in South Korea and Japan. Since, they all need a peaceful DPRK. They don’t need missiles hitting vessels in South Korea or closer to Japan. That is not helping anyone.

Except getting the DPRK again in the headlines, just like missile testing and showing the brilliance of the industrial actions of the weapons program. Instead of finding a middle ground and some sort of arrangement that the DPRK and the US combined seems to win with. That is not happening right now. Just more hawkish activity or non-action. Both not making anything positive.

This got to change. That is if the US administration or the DPRK want this to work. Peace.

USA: Rep. Engel and Rep. Smith letter to President Trump on North Korea (21.02.2019)

Statement by H.E. Ri Yong Ho, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the General Debate of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (29.09.2018)

Trump Administration acts gangster-like towards the DPRK [and it is not working]

“DON CORLEONE: Remember my new Consigliere, a lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns” (The Godfather, 1972).

In June 2018, President Trump and President Jong-Un signed a new agreement, which wasn’t particular special. There was no promise or change from the 1994 agreement. Therefore, the sudden rush of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to arrive in Pyongyang is showing, how misunderstood the Trump Administration has off it all. They have misunderstood the agreement and the diplomatic measures. Not that Trump has the wits to understand the trick the North Koreans has pulled-off. But they signed an agreement without technicalities and without measures securing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Because on the 12^th June 2018, they signed to: “ the DPRK commits to work toward” and that is not stating when or how. That is a vague statement, that could mean starting tomorrow or next century. Therefore, the Trump Administration haven’t gotten anywhere closer, than they were in 1994. Even if the Administration and the President itself thinks so.

What is why Secretary Pompeo suddenly continued on the “progress” as he thought he could ambush the Party and the dictatorship. They have already a clear statement and also shown the world, they are not ready to played by Washington D.C. leadership at this point. That Pompeo thought he could play this one easily out, than the previous administrations would have done the same. However, that has not worked.

DPRK have answered to Pompeo:

“The U.S. is fatally mistaken if it went to the extent of regarding that the DPRK would be compelled to accept, out of its patience, the demands reflecting its gangster-like mindset. A shorter way to denuclearization on the Korean peninsula is to remove deep-rooted mistrust and build up trust between the DPRK and the U.S. For this, both sides should be bold enough to be free from old ways which had only recorded failures and resolve the problem in a fresh manner which is never bound by the existing ways. A shortcut to it is also to take a step-by-step approach and follow the principle of simultaneous actions in resolving what is feasible one by one while giving priority to creating trust. But, if the U.S., being captivated in a fidget, tries to force upon us the old ways claimed by the previous administrations, this will get us nowhere” (KCNA: Foreign Ministry Spokesman on DPRK-U.S. High-level Talks, 07.07.2018).

If the Trump Administration thought this would be a straight forward easy game, than they are wrong. As the United States isn’t the most interesting partner for North Korea, that is China and South Korea. They are more cordial with diplomatic missions, but that is not the way of this United States. The erratic and unstable administration, who works on any whim of the President, instead of trying to figure the world out. They are blasting into the dry-wall and hoping nothing hits back.

The DPRK are not to be fooled and have calculated the efforts, all their efforts and thanks for the Singapore Summit in June, the President has gotten more respect is less lonesome in Pyongyang. He has more respect and more places to go than Beijing and Seoul. The North Korean leadership has more leverage and United States has given away theirs for a signature drive in Asia. What a waste of skin and possibility.

That is why “walking towards” can means a lot, but with no time-lines, not mechanisms or anything considering monitoring any level of progress, the North Koreans could do whatever, as the symbolic agreements is as worthless as the pen used by the Presidents.

Pompeo should have known this, but his attitude and arrogance, combined with the lack of tact, is the reason for the gangster-like ways. They are trying to ambush and change the ways of the DPRK without offering anything. That will not work, but than again, the US has lost their leverage and given way for the conference in June.

They just haven’t understood it yet. Because the Trump Administrations isn’t that educated or wise.

“Ted: Say what you will, but it’s a law of nature.

Marshall: Lawyered!… of nature” (How I Met Your Mother – The Playbook – Season 5, Episode 8, 2009).

Trump and his administration have been lawyered! Peace.

Trump goes back into the future with the North Koreans: 1994 Versus 2018!

Today, Donald J. Trump might thinks in his mind, that he with this signature has done a masterstroke. Just like William Clinton thought in October 1994. That he was the master chief and the key statesman who gotten peace on the Korean Peninsula. However, there aren’t much difference in today’s agreement from 12^th June 2018 and the 21^st October 1994. Especially not the ball-park. Dennis Rodman might be new feature in diplomatic circles, but the agreement is like rehashing old ideas and putting some paint on it.

First the key part of the 21^st October 1994:

“Both sides will work together for peace and security on a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

1. The U.S. will provide formal assurances to the DPRK, against the threat or use of nuclear weapons by the U.S.

2. The DPRK will consistently take steps to implement the North-South Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

3. The DPRK will engage in North-South dialogue, as this Agreed Framework will help create an atmosphere that promotes such dialogue” (US-DPRK AGREED FRAMEWORK / SIX-PARTY TALKS, 21.10.1994).

Second the key part of the 12^th June 2018:

“Convinced that the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and recognizing that mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un state the following:

1. The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.

2. The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

3. Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

4. The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified” (Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit, 12.06.2018).

You either get taken by hook or the crook. But I am not eating it. This is like Kim Jong-Ill walked in the flesh and became more tolerable, the same has Kim Jong-Un now done. Both of them got the bargain for committing to do something, while not really doing it. The same can happen now. The regime in Pyonyang can do as they please anyway. Trump got a photo-op and actually a token of peace, without really co-signing anything. If he will commit to it, time will tell, because he has torn every other deal apart. But genius in deal-making he is not, than he has to give credit to Clinton. Who practically did the same in 1990s and I doubt Trump will share credit.

Because to to me, “take steps towards” and “commits to work toward” is really mediocre in language sense. There is no timeline, there is no scheduled affairs and nothing that would stop the DPRK from not continuing. This is like writing a letter of intent, but not ratifying it into law. So they don’t have to do it, they might consider to do it, I suppose, but nothing other than with intent.

There more hold in the NDA Micheal Cohen have crafted to Stormy Daniels to silence her, than what they agreed upon to stop the North Koreans from continuing their path to nuclear warheads. That says something. Peace.

President Donald J. Trump letter to Chairman Kim Jong Un cancelling American-Korean Summit in June (24.05.2018)

Trump underestimated the North Koreans!

Well, let’s be honest, Mr. Trump, the American President isn’t a good negotiator, neither a deal-maker, he is a fraud and fake. That is why he is not succeeding here; he hasn’t staffed the Department of State properly, neither worked for the long-con, when conserving diplomacy. Usually he back-offs of deals and doesn’t create them. The ones he has put his names on, are questionable at best and just ask the manufacturing companies he signed off on during the campaigning. Wonder how well they are doing now, well, they are sacking employees after the state offered cash-up-front and now they are moving over-seas. Such a grand old dealer, more like snake-oil salesmen, the world can see from a mile away.

Therefore, after the Americans and South Koreans went ahead with military practices, they knew this was bad timing, as everything are supposed to be slowly moving and gently move to the gathering of the all the stakeholders and negotiate at the summit. However, that seems likely more far-fetched. Even if Mike Pompeo continues to boost Kim Yung-Un and his brigade, he is more worried about the military exercises in South Korea, than anything else!

That is why it is foolish to believe Trump could pull this off. He is more likely starting a war, because someone mentions the size of his hands or anything else personal about his appearance. Nevertheless, that is just a sidetrack, first part of the statement from DPRK, before what Trump said a few days only!

North Korean Statement today:

“The historic Panmunjom Declaration cannot be implemented by the unilateral efforts of a single party but can result in a good fruition only when the two parties create favorable conditions and climate by pooling their efforts. We cannot but take a step of suspending the north-south high-level talks scheduled on May 16 under the prevailing seriously awful situation that a mad-cap north-targeted war and confrontation racket are being kicked up in south Korea. The south Korean authorities, lost to all senses, should be held wholly accountable for the scuttled north-south high-level talks and the difficulties and obstacles in the way of the north-south relations. The U.S. will have to think twice about the fate of the DPRK-U.S. summit now on high agenda before a provocative military racket against the DPRK in league with the south Korean authorities. We will closely watch the ensuing behavior of the U.S. and the south Korean authorities” (KCNA – ‘KCNA Blasts U.S. and S. Korea for Staging Large-scale Military Drill against DPRK’ 16.05.2018).

Well, this was Trumps statement on the 10^th May:

“This is a great honor. Hopefully everything is going to work out at the highest level. We want to thank Kim Jong-un, who really was excellent to these three incredible people. They are really three incredible people. And the fact that we were able to get them out so soon was really a tribute to a lot of things, including a certain process that’s taking place right now. And that process is very important. So we will see what happens. We have a meeting scheduled in a very short period of time. You’ll be hearing about it soon. We have the location set. And we will see if we can do something that people did not think was going to happen for many, many years, and a lot of bad things could have happened in between” (Donald J. Trump – ‘Remarks by President Trump at Arrival of Americans Detained in North Korea’ 10.05.2018).

Clearly, Trump isn’t a diplomat and never has been. That is proven, he doesn’t have the mental capacity or the understanding of a massive take this would be. Since, they didn’t think it was a bad idea to continue practicing their weapons and equipment close to a summit. It just shows, that they expected DPRK to wind down their nuclear operations, and still continue like yesterday across the border. Even if you don’t like the DPRK dictatorship or anything it stands for. It is still within reason, to expect both parties to change activity and show goodwill. Not only the DPRK. That Dictator Kim Yung-Un is far from angel is shown by his acts against the ones seemingly being his enemies. However, when your negotiating and trying to figure out a deal or an agreement, you should carefully cross the rivers, not bulldoze it.

That is what the United States with South Korea has done, instead of postponing it and even notify the opposition North of the border. They have continued like everything is cool. Without thinking about the consequences. That is why the DPRK calls it provocations. That is happening as the DPRK promise to demolish their nuclear facilities. However, who knows if they will do that now. They clearly got the upper-hand and played smart, while the US in particular has played right into the dictators hand. They have forgotten key principals, as they should walk carefully and find a positive narrative before the Summit. Instead, they have made it worse and now the DPRK might not even show-up.

Trump doesn’t know this, because he don’t study, he don’t practice and his partly never listen. That is why he suck as a diplomat and as someone who has this sort of play at stake, he should be selling chicken-wings and not peace. That is something he cannot carry. That is proven, the load is too heavy for him. Time to watch Fox & Friends and forget the summit. He will just make it worse. Peace.

The North Korean Embassy of Jakarta (DPRK) Letter to the Commonwealth of Australia – “Open Letter to Parliaments of Different Countries” (28.09.2017)