{"id":1658200,"date":"2022-09-26T09:08:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T13:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1658200"},"modified":"2022-09-26T09:10:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T13:10:51","slug":"north-koreas-missile-tests-are-part-of-a-political-warfare-and-blackmail-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-koreas-missile-tests-are-part-of-a-political-warfare-and-blackmail-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea\u2019s Missile Tests Are Part of a Political Warfare and Blackmail Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnorth-koreas-missile-tests-are-part-of-a-political-warfare-and-blackmail-strategy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1658200&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Korea has done it again, which is no surprise. While the ROK\/U.S. alliance and the international community has been waiting for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2022\/09\/113_336641.html\">seventh nuclear test<\/a> or a possible <a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20220924001352315?section=search\">test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile<\/a> in preparation for the visit by Vice President Harris\u2019 visit or in response to the port call of the USS Ronald Reagan, Kim decided to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20220925000355325?section=news\">test another suspected ballistic missile<\/a>, launching it into the East Sea on September 25.\n<\/p>\n<p>The heart of North Korea\u2019s strategy is this. It is executing a combination of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0030438720300107\">political warfare<\/a> to subvert the South and the alliance and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/think\/opinion\/north-korea-blows-strategic-building-try-blackmail-u-s-south-ncna1231220\">blackmail diplomacy<\/a> to extort concessions from the South the U.S., and the international community through the use of increased tensions, threats, and provocations. This while continuing to develop advanced warfighting capabilities to achieve the regime\u2019s single strategic aim \u2013 domination of the peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State to ensure the regime\u2019s survival. These three lines of effort, political warfare, blackmail diplomacy, and advanced warfighting capabilities are mutually supporting and reinforcing.\n<\/p>\n<p>The issue usually top of mind among national leaders and the media is the continued employment of provocations to support the regime\u2019s blackmail diplomacy to gain political and economic concessions. Thus, the alliance must have a comprehensive plan for addressing them.\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>The alliance should view provocations as an opportunity rather than a threat. They provide the alliance with the opportunity to demonstrate that Kim Jong Un\u2019s political warfare and military strategy will fail. This is done first and foremost by not making any concessions.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The ROK and U.S. should ensure the press, pundits, and public understand that this is a fundamental part of North Korean strategy and that it conducts provocations for specific objectives. It does not represent a policy failure; it represents a deliberate policy decision by Kim Jong-un to continue to execute his political warfare strategy. The following is a reprise of a \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2022\/01\/north-koreas-ballistic-missile-test-a-6-step-strategy-to-respond\/\">response framework<\/a> previously:\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>First, do not overreact.<\/strong> But do not succumb to the criticism of those who recommend ending exercises. Always call out Kim Jong-un\u2019s strategy. As <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/stream\/in.ernet.dli.2015.535968\/2015.535968.art-of_djvu.txt\">Sun Tzu<\/a> would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2022\/09\/ukraines-big-counteroffensive-seems-inspired-by-sun-tzu\/\">advise<\/a>: \u201d \u2026what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy\u2019s strategy; \u2026 next best is to disrupt his alliances.\u201d Ensure the international community, the press, the public in the ROK and the U.S., the elite, and the Korean people living in the north know what Kim is doing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Second, never ever back down in the face of North Korean increased tension, threats, and provocations.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Third, coordinate\u00a0an alliance\u00a0response.<\/strong> There may be times when a good cop-bad cop approach is appropriate. Try to mitigate the internal domestic political criticisms that will inevitably occur in Seoul and D.C. Do not let those criticisms negatively influence policy and actions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fourth, exploit the weakness in North Korea \u2013 create internal pressure on Kim and the regime from his elite and military.<\/strong>\u00a0Always work to drive a wedge\u00a0among the party, elite, and military (which is a challenge since they are all intertwined and inextricably\u00a0linked).\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fifth, demonstrate strength and resolve.<\/strong> Do not be afraid to show military strength. Never misunderstand the north\u2019s propaganda \u2013 do not give in to demands to reduce exercises or take other measures based on North Korean demands that would in any way reduce the readiness of the combined military forces. The north does not want an end to the exercises because they are a threat; they want to weaken the alliance and force U.S. troops from the peninsula, which will be the logical result if they cannot effectively train.\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sixth, depending on the nature of the provocation, be prepared\u00a0to initiate a decisive\u00a0response using\u00a0the most appropriate\u00a0tools<\/strong>, e.g., diplomatic, military, economic, information and influence activities, cyber, or a combination.\n<\/p>\n<p>One of the vital elements of superior political warfare is attacking the enemy\u2019s strategy. This requires recognizing, understanding, exposing, and attacking it with information.\n<\/p>\n<p>Without recognizing and understanding the North Korean strategy, it cannot be adequately explained to the policymakers, the press, and the population. Again, the alliance appears to align regarding the regime\u2019s nature, objectives, and strategy. This provides the lens through which provocations must be understood so that provocations can be explained and exposed. Exposing the strategy is critical for developing public support for alliance actions and countering calls from pundits to make concessions. This provides the \u201cwhy\u201d for alliance actions.\n<\/p>\n<p>Attacking the regime\u2019s strategy requires an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdd.org\/analysis\/2019\/12\/3\/maximum-pressure-2\/\">information and influence activities<\/a> campaign. The alliance should employ a <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/0B513_sp6wSItQldmdVZ4cWFudWM\/view?usp=sharing&amp;resourcekey=0-KR5LR-AJfuIC8qPAHnPNGw\">strategy working group<\/a> that focuses on developing and employing appropriate influence activities. It must not simply be reactive but ongoing between provocations to continue emphasizing the failure of the regime\u2019s strategy.\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17945\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\">\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-17945\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image: KCNA\/North Korean State Media.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>One key element of an information and activities campaign must be responding to North Korea\u2019s nuclear weapons program. When the alliance publicly discusses the north\u2019s nuclear weapons, it reinforces Kim Jong Un\u2019s legitimacy. His <a href=\"https:\/\/nkleadershipwatch.files.wordpress.com\/2009\/11\/kwppropagandaandagitationdepartment.pdf\">Propaganda and Agitation Department<\/a> can shape the message that the alliance and the world fear the north\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/asia\/report\/north-koreas-nuclear-doctrine-trusted-shield-and-treasured-sword\">\u201ctrusted shield and treasured sword\u201d<\/a> of nuclear weapons. It can use this as justification for the sacrifices and suffering of the Korean people in the north by telling them that their efforts to support nuclear weapons development are successfully protecting them from external attack. While nuclear weapons legitimize Kim and the regime, human rights undermine legitimacy. When the alliance adopts a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/2022\/09\/a-three-part-plan-to-enhance-president-yoons-north-korea-strategy-toward-a-free-and-unified-korea\/\">\u201chuman rights upfront approach\u201d<\/a> every time there is a nuclear issue, the alliance can raise human rights. The fundamental message is that Kim must deny human rights to remain in power and that the Korean people suffer because of Kim\u2019s deliberate decision to prioritize the nation\u2019s resources for nuclear weapons and missile development and support to the regime elite and military over the welfare of the Korean people. The alliance must continuously emphasize this theme and message.\n<\/p>\n<p>Responding to provocations with a superior political warfare strategy through information and influence activities will have a cumulative effect on the regime elite, military leadership, and Korean people by showing that Kim\u2019s strategy is not in their best interests. This will exert pressure on Kim that he may not be able to withstand over time. Above all, no concessions must be provided to him. Once concessions are made, he will judge his strategy as a success and continue to double down on its execution.\n<\/p>\n<p>There are two other critical aspects of a superior political warfare strategy. First, the ROK must strengthen its political institutions vulnerable to North Korean subversion. The actions of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dia.mil\/Portals\/110\/Documents\/News\/North_Korea_Military_Power.pdf\">United Front Department and the 225<sup>th<\/sup> Bureau<\/a> are focused on undermining the legitimacy of the ROK government by creating political opposition.\n<\/p>\n<p>The second is simply maintaining the strength of the alliance. Since the regime seeks to divide the alliance with the ultimate objective of removing U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula, it is imperative that ROK and U.S. political and military leaders continuously reinforce the strength of the alliance. Despite distractions throughout the INDOPACIFIC and worldwide, the new Yoon and Biden administrations have conducted consistent high-level diplomatic and military engagement. This must be sustained.\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13612\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13612\" class=\"wp-image-13612\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/North-Korea-Army.jpg\" alt=\"North Korea Army\" width=\"800\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/North-Korea-Army.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.19fortyfive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/North-Korea-Army-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/North-Korea-Army-768x507-1.jpg 768w\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-13612\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image: Creative Commons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The ROK\/U.S. alliance should take the opportunity presented by every North Korean provocation to show that Kim Jong Un\u2019s political warfare, blackmail diplomacy, and warfighting strategies will fail.\u00a0 Demonstrating strength and resolve and never giving in to North Korea\u2019s demands are the basic tenets of a provocation response but the alliance should also include a human rights upfront approach as part of a political warfare and information and influence response.\n<\/p>\n<p>Kim Jong Un must recognize that any action he takes will undermine regime legitimacy.\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdd.org\/team\/david-maxwell\/\"><em>David Maxwell<\/em><\/a><em>, a 1945 Contributing Editor, is a retired US Army Special Forces Colonel who has spent more than 30 years in Asia and specializes in North Korea and East Asia Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Small Wars Journal. He is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation (where he focuses on a free and unified Korea), and a Senior Advisor to the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Korea has done it again, which is no surprise. While the ROK\/U.S. alliance and the international community has been waiting for a seventh nuclear test or a possible test<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1658202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1658200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1658200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1658200"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1658200\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1658202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1658200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1658200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1658200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}