David Santoro

8/2/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/3AbNvfB 1. Readout of U.S. – ROK Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Committee Plenary Session 2. No N.K. nuclear attack scenario in upcoming major S. Korea-U.S. exercise: USFK commander 3. Pentagon official calls NCG 'best solution' to N.K. threats, cautions against S. Korea's nuclear option 4. Navy chief calls for solidarity against N. Korea's nuclear threats 5. State Dept. decries N.K. trash balloons as 'reckless,' 'destabilizing' 6. Why a second Trump presidency could be devastating for the Far East 7. High-Ranking North Korean Defectors: A Sign of Cracks in Kim Jong Un’s Regime? 8. North Korean defectors meet with US UN deputy ambassador… Suggest ways to improve human rights in North Korea 9. Young North Korean defectors said, "We need to continue the inflow of information to North Korea...It's also important to provide a variety of information" 10. ‘We need to show unity’: Germany joins UN Command to enforce Korean War armistice 11. No response from N. Korea on S. Korea's offer for flood relief: unification ministry 12. South Korea Fires Laser Weapon To Shoot Down UAV During Demo; Marks 1st Public Display Of Advanced DEW 13. S. Korea, U.S. hold first-ever table-top military exercise in Pyeongtaek 14. First US Navy promotion ceremony held aboard Korean naval ship 15. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Forced Labor Camps on Collective Farms Target Urban Job Deserters 16. State media shows North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un leading flood rescue 17. Monument set up to commemorate N. Korean defectors who died during escapes

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New arms industry data, the NewSpace industry, multilateral export controls, nuclear disarmament and more in the December issue of the #SIPRI Update newsletter ➡️ bit.ly/41F0hPn Subscribe today ➡️ bit.ly/SIPRIsubscribe

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Drawing on early statements of incoming NSA @michaelgwaltz SecState @marcorubio, discussed policy options for the @realDonaldTrump Administration to help rationalize the status quo in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Key points: ✔️Afghanistan is located in a region of immense geostrategic importance to the United States where the Trump Administration should actively pursue and support a meaningful conflict resolution process consistent with provisions of a revitalized and revised Doha Agreement (2020); Security Council Resolutions 2513 (2020), 2721 (2023), and 2681 (2023); as well as key provisions of the US-Afghanistan Security Bilateral Agreement (BSA), and US-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). ✔️Such a process should help revive the abandoned intra-Afghan dialogue, including the Taliban, to negotiate and produce a sustainable political settlement. This outcome should bring about the formation of a legitimate and inclusive government, representing all Afghan sides, all Afghan ethnic groups, all Afghan sects, and all Afghan minorities, including Jewish, Sikh, and Hindu Afghans. ✔️Unlike the first term of the Trump Administration, today, Afghanistan enjoys a more favorable regional environment for meaningful peacemaking in the country. The spillover effects -- including growing terrorist threats and mass migration across Afghan borders -- of the last three years have affected key Afghan neighbors, while alarming others. Together, they should support a United Nations-led peace process backed by robust US diplomacy, leadership, and development assistance.  ✔️When sustainable peace is achieved through formation of a legitimate and inclusive government, Afghanistan's virgin markets, including the natural resources sector, would offer major US firms, including @Tesla, significant opportunities for investment. At the same time, the United States would regain its prestige lost over premature withdrawal from Afghanistan, while earning the trust and respect of the Afghan people, who seek democratic rule, equal human rights, and freedom from terrorism, extremism, and criminality -- threats that concern the United States and Afghan neighbors alike. ✔️However, if the Taliban refused to cooperate with a meaningful peace process led by the United Nations, the US, its allies, and Afghan neighbors could collectively or individually respond by exerting adequate pressure on the Taliban to effect change in their behavior. Coercive measures could include reducing and cutting the weekly aid, which the Taliban have been receiving to maintain their oppressive regime. At the same time, targeted sanctions could be utilized where helpful, while support for the Afghan resistance could also be provided as a last resort. Full interview:  youtu.be/TMsScPIrDgc @UNAMAnews @SR_Afghanistan @antonioguterres @UN @elonmusk @ShawnRyan762

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We just wrapped up an insightful #webinar on the pressing challenges of proliferation financing today. The panel, featuring experts from K2 Integrity, the U.S. Department of State, and the former United Nations Panel of Experts on DPRK, shed light on the Russian Federation's support for weapons development in North Korea and Iran, along with its obstruction of UN sanctions. 3 key takeaways include: 🌍 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲: The discussion highlighted the Russian Federation's support for weapons of mass destruction in North Korea and Iran, including launching missiles at European cities. The implications for financial institutions and the private sector were emphasized. 💪 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: The webinar focused on the importance of capacity building programs to enhance the understanding of proliferation finance risks, build law enforcement capacity, and strengthen the private sector's ability to identify and report suspicious transactions and counterparties. 🤝 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: The importance of international collaboration, risk-based monitoring, and communication between financial institutions was stressed. Effective communication and information sharing, particularly between correspondent banks, ordering banks, and beneficiary banks, play a crucial role in tracking illicit flows. 🎥  #ICYMI watch the recording on-demand: https://lnkd.in/gAt8PRr5 Thank you to Hugh Griffiths for sharing your insights from the field with us.

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What are the implications of Russia’s war on #Ukraine for the delineation and delimitation of Russia’s continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean asks Elizabeth Riddell-Dixon. The only to find out is to read her latest piece! https://lnkd.in/g5KGE4-H

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6/8/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4aPDD7L 1. Voice of America: [Washington Talk] “Military agreement suspended, Korean military ‘shackles’ lifted… “Information warfare must be expanded across the board.” 2. North Korea—The Forgotten Human Rights Crisis 3. North Korea recalls documentary about Kim Jong Un’s mother 4. America’s Military Strategy: Can We Handle Two Wars at Once? 5. Kim Jong Un 'polite' and Trump 'practical'? Former leader's kind words cause an uproar 6. An American Company Enabled a North Korean Scam That Raised Money for WMDs 7. Dissecting Propaganda: Using AI to Cut Through North Korean TV Spin 8. It's Getting Heated—and Filthy—on the Korean Peninsula 9. Building Trust, Building Peace: Role Of Confidence-Building Measures On Korean Peninsula 10. Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned South Korea into a manufacturing hotspot 11. Deterring North Korean aggression remains primary goal, new fighter wing commander says 12. US warns North Korea against providing Putin platform for war aims 13. Surpass the Cutting Edge: Reflections on North Korea’s Failed May 27 Satellite Launch 14. N. Korea sends balloons carrying trash to S. Korea again: JCS 15. At UN, North Koreans beg China to stop sending escapees back 16. N. Korea, China, Russia expanding nuclear arsenals at ‘breakneck’ pace: White House official 17. S. Korea, U.S. to hold 3rd round of defense cost-sharing negotiations in Washington next week

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I agree with Dr. Mohamed ELDoh, and would add that countering Russia's influence in Africa, as well as China's influence in Africa, must be based on a broader premise than counter-terrorism. It was apparent in my engagements with African leaders, that they are not interested in being subjected to the trappings of political pawns. There needs to be genuine and broad investment. All elements of national power, to include commercial interest should be brought to bear. It's not lost on me, that instability and risk deter commercial interest, therefore security is a big part of the calculus. It's complex and hard....important things are seldom simple and easy. #thinkdeterrence #africa

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The CCP has wrapped up the highly anticipated Third Plenum of the 20th Party Congress. A key task of it was to consider a draft of the Decision of the CCP Central Committee on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform to Advance Chinese Modernization, which lays out the CCP’s most authoritative plans to govern the economy in the coming years. CSIS experts including Jude Blanchette, Scott Kennedy, Ilaria Mazzocco, Lily McElwee, Claire Reade, Daniel Rosen, Logan Wright weigh in on the Decision and its significance for China’s economy, politics, and foreign relations. Read their hot takes: https://lnkd.in/eTJKzEbH #CSIS #CCP #ThirdPlenum #ChinaEconomy #ChineseModernization #EconomicReforms #CSIS #ChinaPolicy

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Check out the latest analysis by Issam Khoury on the strategic Russian-Syrian military exercises at Tartus. Discover how these drills aim to bolster Syrian forces for Russian operations in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical implications. Read more on CSIORS: https://lnkd.in/eUnZBfJZ #MilitaryTraining #Geopolitics #Russia #Syria #UkraineConflict #DefenseStrategy #InternationalRelations #SyrianArmy #Tartus

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This is a critical point. The U.S. government (and the Congress) can’t adequately support innovation across disciplines (defense, energy, many other areas) without accepting that failure is an essential component of the learning process. Conversely, they can’t establish effective priorities and concentrate resources without pushing to failure as a way to find success.

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🔺#CSD continues presenting policy documents, with the given paper titled "Consolidation of Russia's Military-Industrial Complex and Advancement of Self-Sufficient Weapons Production Systems Following the 2022 Intervention in Ukraine" 🧩Author: Tato Kvamladze, MBA, PMP 🔗 To view the publication please follow the link:  https://bit.ly/3CLqvp7 📖This policy document was prepared within the framework of the CSD project "Enhancing the Capacity of the Caucasus and Central Asia to Counter CBRN Threats." #CBRN #CSD #PolicyPaper

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I'm very excited to share my new Henry L. Stimson Network report with Hunter S. and Jonathan Walker on Chinese missile threats to U.S. air bases in the Indo-Pacific. A preview of the findings:   👉 Chinese missile attacks could ground the bulk of U.S. Air Force operations in the Pacific for the critical first days or even weeks of a conflict, including in a Taiwan contingency. 👉 Runways and taxiways in Japan would remain closed to fighter jets for nearly two weeks—and aerial refueling tankers for over thirty days while runways in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Pacific Freely Associated States would be kept closed for almost a week, severely limiting the ability to deploy bombers and tankers. 👉 Even with countermeasures like dispersing to Japan Self-Defense Force bases or civilian airfields, operational limitations would continue, raising serious questions about U.S. deterrence capabilities.   You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eAEEmdiN

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8/7/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4ch0g5X 1. Philippines, US, Australia, Canada to hold first joint exercises in South China Sea 2. China launches air, sea patrols near flashpoint Scarborough Shoal 3. US to increase force projection from Australia 4. The Top 100 is here: Find out how defense companies performed in FY23 5. 5 US troops, 2 contractors injured in rocket attack at Iraq base 6. Most Americans oppose sending U.S. troops to defend Israel, poll finds 7. Poole hands command of sprawling US Army garrison in Germany to Flanagan 8. Pentagon planning huge experiment for its connect-everything concept 9. Palantir sends AI-fueled TITAN prototype to Army 10. Austin: USAF Will Increase Bomber Deployments to Australia 11. Army plans to complete new air and missile defense strategy by October ‘25 12. Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu: Back to the Future 13. Resource Wars: How Climate Change is Fueling Militarization of the Arctic 14. Warily, US companies eye co-production deals in Ukraine 15. DoD Innovation Fact Sheet 16. USAA to Pay $64.2 Million to Service Members in Settlement over Improper Bank Fees, Interest 17. NATO Missed a Chance to Transform Itself  18. Depth of magazine: Preparing the joint force for protracted conflict 19. The Taiwan Fallacy

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