Received by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 12: 08' 31 PM 218.0018 Donald Trump' focus on human rights hits Kim Jong- un where it hurts- Washingtonl Times Shedding lighten the. brutality ofNorth Korea ?narration on highlighting the plight ofNorrh Korea: people byAiexander Hunter/The Washington Times more By Donald Man_2ullo- Monday. Peon/0015,2018 . . . Last week, J'i Seong-ho stood proLId in the chamber of the US. House of Representatives, raising his crutches in triumph, a symbol of his hard-earned freedom and victory over the tyrannical regime that had oppressed, starved and tortured him. The image of Mr. ji standing in the gallery in front ?of America, and the long, bipartisan standing ovation that he received?, has become the lasting image of President Trump'SI first State of the Union Address ?Seong-ho?s story is a testament to the year wing of every human soul to five in freedom,? the president said highlighting once again the brutality of the North Korean regime but remembering that there is still hope for those who suffer tinder Kim Jong-un. Mr Trumps decision to focus the North Korea section of his speech not on ?re and fury but on the suffering of people like Mr. Ji and the parents of American student Otto Warmbier, who were also in attendance, was not Only heartwarming to WatCh, but IS a smart strategy for dealing With the belligerent North Korean regime. Insulting North Korea or its leader, Kim jong-un, only serves to bolster his domestic support, giving the North Koreans proof that the Americans are indeed, out to get them. These insults may seem harmless, but they actually play right into Kim' 5 hands giving him prbpaganda fodder for weeks afterward. In contrast, nothing has riled up North Korean leadership more than when the United Nations or other international groups have pointed out their horri?c treatment of their own people, and the regime's inability to provide even basic services in the poverty-stricken coontry. - This" IS not the first time Mr. Trump has centered remarks about North Korea on human rights. At his speech to the South Korean National Assembly last year, the president spent a great deal of his time describing In detail the crimes the North Korean regime has committed both against its own people and against others, like Otto, from around the world. Despite some offhand re arks. Mr. Tru?m'p and his advisers understand the. difference between the North Korean regime and the people who suffer under. It This distinction will be key as rumors of plans fer a so-called ?bloody nose" strike against North Korean nuclear facilities continue to circulate in Washington. North Korea?s leader will not take a strike from the United States Sitting down. my preventative strike by the United States will immediately endanger tens of millions of South Koreans, Japanese, as well asthe American civilian nd liwvmmashinmontimes, com/newsi2018lfeb/5/dona-Id - 112 Received by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 12:08: 31 PM ReceiVed by Registration Unit 02/08/2018 12: 08:31 PM 2/8/2018 Donald Trumps focus on human rights hits Kirn Jong?un where it hurts- -Washingtonr Times military personnel living on the peninsula in the direct line of f? re from a North Korean retaliation-.- . We have faced the terrii?ying prospect of American enemies developing nuclear weapons before. In 1949, when the Soviet Union ?rstbegan testing nuclear devices, and in 1964, when China joined the nuclear club, those in leadership in theWhite House the . Capitol, and the Fie'ntag?on had serious conversations about how to protect the American people and our allies. But no one in leaderShip seriously advocated a preventative strike against these nuclearizing powers mainly because the potentiallcost; of a retaliation were too horri?c to even consider: Instead, Mr. Trump needs to continue with the strategy he employed both in Seoul and in the State of'the Union shedding light on the brutality of'the North Korean regime, and providing support and funding for those, like Mr. it who work to get information about these abuses back into North Korea. helping ordinary people there understand that despite all they have Suffered, th are is hope - . To be sure, economic sanctions need to be enforced and strengthened where necessary, but alwaysvvith an extended hand in support of a peaceful solution for a denuclearized Korean peninsula Until that day comes, the United States must adopt a containment strategy and strong deterrent posture against North Korea similar to the Cold War which will eventually produce the same result as when the Berlin Wall fell. As Mr. Trumpsai'd himself, speaking of the work continues to do to help his fellow North Koreans, ?Today he lives in Seoul, where he rescues other defectors, and broadcasts into North Korea what the regime fears the most the truth." I hope the president takes these words to heart, and focuses on hitting Kimjong-un not with missiles, but with the most American of values truth and freedom. - Donald Manzuilo, a former Republican representative from Minors, is president and CEO of the Korea Economic institute of America. . 2/2 Received by ARA Registration Unit 02/08/2018 12:08: 31 PM I 2l8i'2018 South Korea ls Trump?s One Bright ot_on Trade'l The lomaf THE IIDIP (Ef?e. By Registratlo rut 02/ 8/201? 12:26:00 PM Read Diplomat Know ??19 133425] . Blockchain's Huge Power "sax asident Donald]. Trump and President Moonjae-in :he Republic of Korea at the United Nations General ;e_mbly. - ge Credit: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead South KOrea Is Trump's One Bright Spot on Trade Despite fuming over the KORUS trade with South Korea is a bright spot in trade . so far under Trump. - By Troy Stangarone February 09; 2018 When it comes to international trade there have been few bright spots for U.S. President Donald Trump. After his ?rst year in of?ce the U.S. trade de?cit has continued to expand and talks to renegotiate ?bad trade deals? such as NAPT A and bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States have largely stalled. In c0ntrast, despite the rhetoric from Trump that the Korea free trade agreement (the KORUS PTA) is a ?horrible? deal, U.S. trade with South Korda is one of the few bright spots for Trump after a year in of?ce. During Trump?s ?rst year in of?ce, the U.S. de?cit in goods and services rose 12.1 percent to $566 contrast, the United States? merchandise trade de?cit with South Korea declined 17.3 percent to $22.9 billion as U.S. goods exports to South Korea reached an all-time high if $48.3 billion. The total U.S. trade de?cit with South Korea should decline even further when full year country services trade data becomes available, since through the ?rst three quarters of l2017 the overall U.S. trade de?cit with South Korea was down 41 percent on strong services exp rts. Received ARA Registration-Unit 02/8/2018 12:26:00 PM -is-trumps-one~biight-spot- 21812018 - In context, theRfecling m?%D%l??Fa 06 the United States? ten largest goods trade de?cits, only those with South Korea, Germa Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full acceSs. Just $5 a month. merchandise exports and the decline in the goods trade de?cit with South Korea 2? S. exports. All told, U. exports to South Korea suppOrt more than 360, 000 jobs 1n . trade agenda a successfully amended PTA and a declining trade de?cit. South Korea ls Trump 3 One ifotBn'ght on Trade The Di "iomatz Oaiggu Otl'lz 01323.6 IS OSlgIll Malaysia declined in 2017 and only the de?cits with South Korea and India fell by mor billion - The news on the jobs front is positive as well. Despite criticisms that the KORUS FTA U.S. jobs, including suggestions by Trump that it has cost 200,000 jobs, the growth in trade with South Korea created U.S. jobs in 2017. The debate over jobs and the KORUS PT A has long centered'on the changes in the U.S. cant. Among ny, India, and than $1 1as destroyed U.S. neans that I trade de?cit. At the height of the U.S. trade de?cit with South Korea in 2015, estimates by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) suggested that the KORUS. PTA may have cost the United States more eitports and foreign direct. investment (FDI) by South Korean ?rms. Since the implemr: KORUS PTA, South Korean FDI has nearly doubled, creating more than 18,500 jobs. I U.S. exports toSouth Korea growing and the trade de?cit declining, the United States han 95,000 jobs. These estimates were always incomplete as they did not account for jobs created by U.S. service. :ntation of the Iowever, with most likely, added more than 25,000 jobs in 2017, using metric and the latest data on jobs supported by . States. the United All of this makes the tense relationship over trade between the United States and South Korea more perplexing. After their ?rst summit meeting, Trump announced that the United States and South Korea would be renegotiating the KORUS FTA, to the su?rprise of South Korean President Moon Jae- in. That was followed up by abortive attempt over the U.S. Labor Day weekend to begin the process of Withdrawing the United States from the KORUS PT A. All of this came despite the fa trade de?cit was declining even then. ct that the The United States and South Korea have since agreed to amend the KORUS FTA and have had tWo initial rounds of discussions. The hope is to keep the talks short and focused on addressing U.S. concerns in the manufacturing sector, especially in automobiles where the United Stat es faces a large structural de?cit. If they are able to achieVe that goal Trump will have two successes for his Troy Stangarone is the Senior Director for CongreSsi'onalA?airs and Trade at the Korea Economic Institute ofAmerica. The views expressed here are the author?s alone. ceived Registration Unit 02/ 8/2018 12: 26: 00 PM Re -is- trumps- one-bright-spm- 2:2 21?81'2018 - I ngy'ang Oiympic. Gambit- CHINA US Fo ocus ReceiVed By A Registration Unit 02/8/2018 12:26:00 PM Pyongyang?s Olympic Gambit . 1, Troy Stangarone Senior Director, Korea Economic Institute of America (AFP/Getty Images) For much of 201 7, the prospects of North Korea taking part in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, south Koreaseemed dim. Despite two North Korean ?gure skaters Qualifying for the Games, Pyongyan failed to register with the International Olympic Committee by the October deadline. lnstead North Korea maintained its focus on advancing its nuclear weapons and missile programs, only to reverse course when Kim to attend the P-yeongChang Games in his New Year's address. North Korea?s offer to attend the Olympicswhile unexpected, was a relief for South Korea. With and concerns about the safety of the Games by some, Seoul had encouraged North Korean part ensure that the Olympic Games were peaceful. Additionally, there was hope that dialogue over i (W. chinausfocus. .comlculture?histo lpyongyangs-o Received Unit 02/ 8/2018 12:26:00 PM J'ong-un'offered ticket sales low cipation to help Jorth Korean- 113 2/8/2018 ongyang?s OlympicoGambit - CHINA US Focus Received BPc/i Rc?gis'tr'atlgn Unit 02/8/20 8 12:26:00 participation in the Games cou into a family reunions, and other issues. grow more roa ,ialogue over Nort Korea's weapon: N'ottaking part in the may neverhave been a real option for North Kore 5 programs, a. If North Korea boycotted the Games it would have found itself isolated during a major international event just across the border. While North Korea may have had an incentive to create a sense ofarix-iety around the Games, provocations during the Olympics werenever truly in its interests. With tensionshigh on the Kor 'and increasing talk of military action by the United States, provocations during the Olympics WOL risk of hardening international views that the regime in Pyongyang-could not be allov?ved to have weapons. Attendance was always likely preferable to the'regime than iSolation. ean Peninsula ild have run the nuclear Pyongyang also has strong in'centiv'esto-take part in the Games. While there'has been focus on North Korean efforts to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea with its Offer to attend the Games, Pyongyang also has domestic and economic reasons for attending the Olympics. With international?pressure building over its nuclear and missile programs, the regime needs to down or reverse the pressure campaign that is being led by the United States. For most of 201 7, exports to China had only moderately declined despite increasing sanctions banning many Nortl Through November, North Korean exports to China were only doWn $573 million, or 26.7 percer 201.6.However, early reports indicate that North Korean exports to China dropped over 80 perce million in December compared to December 2016. With China making up the vast majority of N: trade, the December numbers could indicate that sanctions are ?nally beginning to bite. The decline in North Korean'exports to China was not the only significant setback North Korea fa December. At least since the WannaCry cyberattack, North Korea hasbegun to utilize the find Ways to slow North Korean 1 Korean exports. t, compared to ant to just $54 :rth Korea's Iced in currency Bitcoin. In addition to providing Pyongyang an additional means to move currency, it may also have served as an investment vehicle for the regime. Hewever, after shooting up to nearly $20,000 by the middle of December it then began to significantly decrease. taking away one means North Korea may have been able to use to supplement its losses from sanctions. 8y calming tensions during the Games, North Korea likely space to convince China, South Korea, and others to loOsen Sanctions enforcement. With ecc?momic difficulties ahead, attending the PyeongChang Olympics provides North Korea wi hopes to create th domestic advantages as well. North Korea is pushing for its participation in the Games to be covered by others, allowing the regime to reward over 400 hundred loyalists With all-expense paid Vacations to a major international event and demonstrate domestically that North Korea is accepted by the international community des the United States. At a time when Kim jong-un has acknowledged economic difficulties lie. ahead the Games also allows the regime to distract, the populace from growing economic hardships. If North Korea was hoping that its gambit of attending the Games might drive a wedge between pite the ef?brts of; I taking part in the United States and South Korea by offering the. hope of fUrther inter?Korean engagement, it maybe ?nding somethingdifferent. .: South Korean identity is shifting and the are no longer pulled by the idea of national uni?cation as they once were. While a majority of South Koreans support North Korea's participation in the Games, there has been a pushback against the decision to compete under a unified flag and to field ajoint women's hockey team. Received Registration Unit 02/8/2018 12:26:00 PM 2/3 2/8/2018 I ongyang's - QHINA US Focus I Regelyed . K44 ger?lst?atlon 02/8/20 8' 2:26:00 PM . - While North Korea ecnsion take part In 3 es as reduce tensions ort moment. It may only be a temporary reprieve. What will matter is what North Korea does once the Paralympic Games have ended and the U5. and South Korea beg-in military exercises that were postponed until after the Games conclude. lf North Korea continues to engage with South Korea and expresses an openness to talk with the United States, the current dynamic on theKorean Peninsula may change. However, if North Korea conducts further tests, the Olympics may turn out to be a respite from the current tensions rather than the turning point many hOpe that it can be. Olympics i North Korea 5 South Korea - Received ARA Registration UlIit 02/8/2018 12:26:00 PM lpyongyangs?olympic?gam 3/3