"Russian Defense Minister Officially Proposes
North Korea-China-Russia Joint Exercises to Kim Jong Un"
On the 4th, the National Intelligence Service reported that North Korea is issuing orders to domestic anti-government forces and underground networks to "carry out activities opposing the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan." Additionally, it was reported that North Korea appears to be considering a swift, short-term war if it goes to war.
Yoo Sang-beom, a member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee from the People Power Party, revealed that National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyu-hyun reported this during a closed meeting of the Intelligence Committee on the same day.
Yoo said, "In response to a question from Kim Eui-gyeom of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking whether North Korea's reaction to the Fukushima contaminated water discharge is relatively weaker compared to China, the National Intelligence Service answered that North Korea is continuously issuing orders to domestic sympathizers and underground networks to carry out opposition activities."
Regarding the 'domestic sympathizers,' Yoo explained, "They refer to anti-government forces in the Republic of Korea, South Korea."
Furthermore, during the meeting, the National Intelligence Service stated concerning recent North Korean missile launch experiments and related trends, "It is clear that North Korea is considering a short-term war combining conventional and tactical nuclear weapons if it goes to war," Yoo conveyed.
Regarding recent actions such as North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un pointing to the area near Gyeryongdae in Chungnam, South Korea, and issuing operational orders, Yoo said, "Externally, it seems to be a response to the (South Korea-U.S. joint exercise) 'UFS training,' but considering Kim's movements and North Korea's military capabilities, it strongly appears that North Korea intends to wage a swift, decisive short-term war, as a long-term war is impossible."
The National Intelligence Service also revealed during the meeting that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who visited North Korea in July, officially proposed a North Korea-China-Russia (Buk-Chung-Ro) joint military exercise during his meeting with Kim Jong-un.
In the briefing, Yoo said, "The National Intelligence Service responded that it currently understands that Defense Minister Shoigu made an official proposal for the Buk-Chung-Ro joint exercise during his meeting with Kim Jong-un."
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