The Sue Mi Terry case is bizarre

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 07/27/2024 - 4:17pm

Particularly in the context of think tank, foreign lobbies, and other foreign influence peddling that is a constant in DC. Terry did not consistently push the South Korean government line. She was anti-Moon Jae-in, pro-US policy, pro-Japan etc. Whatever the blob view was on the situation or policy in Korea, that's what she advocated. It was very similar to the VOA Korea line and that of other conservative American "experts" on Korean affairs.

This is unusual as well, NK News, which does KCNA watch and writes a lot of analysis on Korean affairs particularly with respect to North Korea, for "professionals" is a cash business as I understand it. If you don't pay, you don't get access to their "expert analysis." I have not seen them publish a lengthy "roundtable" like this in video format before on youtube. I listen to their free podcasts occasionally. The youtube below is just a video of the podcast they did on this subject. Why are they promoting the story on youtube? The analysis provides an overview of the Terry case, and a look into the influence peddling machine in DC. It's long 48 min.

One of the analysts on the roundtable said something like "I don't usually check the financial sources," for ngo's, seminars, events, etc. I always try to see who funds these things. As far as the think tanks go, what I find is that when it comes to the more US influential think tanks, Japan's funding is approximately twice that of South Korea. That's about what I would expect considering their larger size and economy.

The odd thing to me, and I could be wrong, is that while I'm familiar with some X accounts critical of the US-Japan relationship, and Japan in particular, and one web site of this nature, I don't really know the name of any Japanese American promoters of Japan as public media figures, the way I knew of Victor Cha, and Sue Mi-Terry as US Korea policy promoters. The latter are well known public figures. I don't know any Japanese-Americans in this category. I did a cursory search for VOA Japan and really couldn't find a dedicated channel as there is for South Korea. Years back, there was the Sasakawa foundation founder, Ryoichi Sasakawa, the billionaire associated with the LDP political machine, but that was about it. He was close to Nobusuke Kishi and Yushio Kodama, CIA supported founders of the LDP (former war criminals released by the US). In his later incarnation, Ryoichi Sasakawa was a philanthropist who put a pretty face on the old fascist elites running the LDP. The point is in recent times, Japan appears to keep a much lower profile in terms of influence peddling but the money is definitely there.

Publicizing the Sue Mi Terry indictment has prompted another purge of the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) for alleged "unprofessionalism" in the field. The whole episode is being blamed on the prior Moon Jae-in administration. This accusation is laughable as the course of conduct alleged in the Terry indictment went on for ten years, which includes the Park Geun-hye administration, conservative, and the Yoon administration, also conservative. I don't believe that Sue Mi Terry (a former CIA analyst) ever did anything but offer unfavorable views of the Moon Jae-in government with respect to its North Korean policy and "anti-Japan" actions.

[Exclusive] National Intelligence Service to Replace More Than 100 Executives… Personnel Changes Around August and September

First large-scale
personnel reshuffle since Director Cho Tae-yong took office, considering the Soomi Terry scandal

Interesting that Cho Tae-yong the former diplomat and ambassador to the US and Australia, six party talks envoy, who has had several professional dealings with Blinken in the past, and quite a bit of other US related experience, was first installed as National Security Advisor in Yoon's office after US eavesdropping on the presidential office was discovered. The previous NSA to Yoon is believed to have been dismissed over reservations he had with the 155mm artillery shell deal with the US (ultimately intended to replace US inventory shipped to Ukraine). Now that Cho is installed as NIS director in South Korea, another purge is being conducted there supposedly to "make it more professional" after an earlier Yoon purge. There is also a rationale to cure regionalism in the NIS and to end the factional rift between the professional cadre and less experienced political appointees. The Terri indictment may provide a pretext for further wholesale personnel changes at the agency. Although he has an extensive diplomatic and political resume, background on Cho's personal life and family heritage is virtually non-existent in Wikipedia, which is unusual for such a high profile player. He really gets around.

Decent peace rally outside Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. This is the largest US military base overseas. Nice pics.

평택 캠프험프리스 옆에서 <7.27평택미군기지 국제평화행동>에 참가했습니다.

궂은 비에도 불구하고 이 땅에서 전쟁의 불안을 멈추고 항구적 평화가 자리잡기를 바라는 간절한 마음으로 모였습니다.

전쟁광 대통령을 끌어내린 바로 그 민중의 힘, 평화를 사랑하는 민중의 힘을 키워, pic.twitter.com/pSp3X9KLWv

— 진보당 (@thejinboparty_) July 27, 2024

We (progressive party) participated in the next to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek.
Despite the heavy rain, we gathered with a fervent wish that the anxiety of war would stop and permanent peace would be established in this land.
Let's strengthen the power of the people to bring down the war-mongering president, the power of the people who love peace.

The usual candlelight demonstration assembling in fairly heavy rain near Namdaemun to support opposition to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. The signs call for special investigations of Yoon and his wife, impeachment for Yoon, and jail for his wife. This is the 100th Candlelight procession.

(edit- one mistranslated word, two usage changes)

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Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 07/28/2024 - 6:31am

Former CIA John Kiriakou

...has an article out...that you might find interesting - I did.
The South Korean ‘Spy’ Affair

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by soryang on Sun, 07/28/2024 - 4:42pm

Thanks Lookout

@Lookout

Good article. Kiriakou's impression was similar to my first impression, that this is a technical violation of FARA, albeit over an extended period as alleged. It's odd that there are only two counts, there were a lot of overt acts alleged in the indictment. It's very interesting and very cloak and dagger like as portrayed in the indictment. They do make it sound like like a spy thriller but she isn't charged with espionage-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/235b1cb6-82bc-4a5e-a820-b12721d...

One other theory that is being evaluated, is that the pro-Yoon train began to part ways with the US administration when it began promoting the nuclear consultative group as a "nuclear sharing agreement." It looks like Terry was on board with promoting this from the indictment allegations. Although the technical violations of FARA as alleged in the indictment went on from 2014, the advocacy of the NCG looks very problematic to me. From here on, (allegedly) she's basically trying to influence matters related to strategic policy. TThe NCG arrangement was actually consummated in 2023 I believe. I had seen some bragging in South Korean media, that the Yoon government "originated" the concept of the NCG. The significance of the "agreement" was interpreted quite differently by US and South Korean officials.

After the NCG came out, then the South Korean government appeared to be still promoting the idea of developing its own nuclear weapons. I saw a statement, in a South Korean analysis, attributed to Tae Yong-hyo, (he's the principal deputy national security advisor) saying something to this effect last April, and then President Yoon picking up on this theme "4 days before the Sue Mi Terry indictment was filed," (July 15). I knew the Yoon administration was trending in this direction from watching the news there, and that the NCG and the reintroduction of US "strategic assets" was meant to satisfy South Korean concerns about nuclear deterrence of North Korea. They call it US "extended deterrence."

The media analysis I listened to this am alleged that this followed her attendance at the Jeju Conference for Peace and Prosperity at the end of May this year, and a similar conference at sponsored by Chosun Ilbo, one of the conservative mainstream media powers in South Korea. These conferences are attended by think tankers, former government officials, academics, and media.

Supposedly there Sue Mi Terry said something like if Trump gets elected South Korea will have a better chance to get its own nuclear weapons. So this indictment could be some kind of preliminary warning to South Korea to back off. The Yoon administration crossed the line and it's alleged by this South Korean National Assembly member that Terry was there with them on this issue. These are all just allegations but it makes some sense in terms of explaining events. They coincide with additional major personnel changes at the South Korea National Intelligence Service. The assembly member suggested that the rift in the NIS involves the nuclear issue. I have no idea. I could guess that Yoon appointees would be pro nuclear weapons and the old school against. I recall in both countries much was made of poll in South Korea that most South Koreans were supposedly in favor of having nuclear weapons by a wide margin. However, among the professional class of people who know something about nuclear issues, a majority are against acquiring nuclear weapons.

It's hard for me to grasp the designer bag thing, the sushi restaurants, dealing with known agents of a foreign country, etc.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 07/28/2024 - 5:02pm

deep state operations

@soryang

Are hard to unravel. I'll leave it to others. Former CIA and VIPS are as trusted as I can find.
VETERAN INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS FOR SANITY (VIPs)

Bogdan Dzakovic, former Team Leader of Federal Air Marshals and Red Team, FAA Security, (ret.) (associate VIPS)
Graham E. Fuller, Vice-Chair, National Intelligence Council (ret.)
Philip Giraldi, C.I.A., Operations Officer (ret.)
Matthew Hoh, former Capt., USMC, Iraq and Foreign Service Officer, Afghanistan (associate VIPS)
Larry C. Johnson, former C.I.A. and State Department Counter Terrorism officer
John Kiriakou, former C.I.A. Counterterrorism Officer and former senior investigator, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Karen Kwiatkowski, former Lt. Col., U.S. Air Force (ret.), at Office of Secretary of Defense watching the manufacture of lies on Iraq, 2001-2003
Linda Lewis, WMD preparedness policy analyst, USDA (ret.)
Ray McGovern, former U.S. Army infantry/intelligence officer & C.I.A. analyst; C.I.A. Presidential briefer (ret.)
Elizabeth Murray, former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East, National Intelligence Council & C.I.A. political analyst (ret.)
Todd E. Pierce, MAJ, US Army Judge Advocate (ret.)
Pedro Israel Orta, former C.I.A. and Intelligence Community (Inspector General) officer
Scott Ritter, former MAJ, USMC; former U.N. Weapons Inspector, Iraq
Coleen Rowley, FBI Special Agent and former Minneapolis Division Legal Counsel (ret.)
Lawrence Wilkerson, Colonel (USA, ret.), Distinguished Visiting Professor, College of William and Mary (associate VIPS)
Sarah G. Wilton, CDR, USNR, (ret.); Defense Intelligence Agency (ret.)
Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army reserve colonel and former U.S. diplomat who resigned in 2003 in opposition to the Iraq War

#1 Good article. Kiriakou's impression was similar to my first impression, that this is a technical violation of FARA, albeit over an extended period as alleged. It's odd that there are only two counts, there were a lot of overt acts alleged in the indictment. It's very interesting and very cloak and dagger like as portrayed in the indictment. They do make it sound like like a spy thriller but she isn't charged with espionage- https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/235b1cb6-82bc-4a5e-a820-b12721d... One other theory that is being evaluated, is that the pro-Yoon train began to part ways with the US administration when it began promoting the nuclear consultative group as a "nuclear sharing agreement." It looks like Terry was on board with promoting this from the indictment allegations. Although the technical violations of FARA as alleged in the indictment went on from 2014, the advocacy of the NCG looks very problematic to me. From here on, (allegedly) she's basically trying to influence matters related to strategic policy. TThe NCG arrangement was actually consummated in 2023 I believe. I had seen some bragging in South Korean media, that the Yoon government "originated" the concept of the NCG. The significance of the "agreement" was interpreted quite differently by US and South Korean officials. After the NCG came out, then the South Korean government appeared to be still promoting the idea of developing its own nuclear weapons. I saw a statement, in a South Korean analysis, attributed to Tae Yong-hyo, (he's the principal deputy national security advisor) saying something to this effect last April, and then President Yoon picking up on this theme "4 days before the Sue Mi Terry indictment was filed," (July 15). I knew the Yoon administration was trending in this direction from watching the news there, and that the NCG and the reintroduction of US "strategic assets" was meant to satisfy South Korean concerns about nuclear deterrence of North Korea. They call it US "extended deterrence." The media analysis I listened to this am alleged that this followed her attendance at the Jeju Conference for Peace and Prosperity at the end of May this year, and a similar conference at sponsored by Chosun Ilbo, one of the conservative mainstream media powers in South Korea. These conferences are attended by think tankers, former government officials, academics, and media. Supposedly there Sue Mi Terry said something like if Trump gets elected South Korea will have a better chance to get its own nuclear weapons. So this indictment could be some kind of preliminary warning to South Korea to back off. The Yoon administration crossed the line and it's alleged by this South Korean National Assembly member that Terry was there with them on this issue. These are all just allegations but it makes some sense in terms of explaining events. They coincide with additional major personnel changes at the South Korea National Intelligence Service. The assembly member suggested that the rift in the NIS involves the nuclear issue. I have no idea. I could guess that Yoon appointees would be pro nuclear weapons and the old school against. I recall in both countries much was made of poll in South Korea that most South Koreans were supposedly in favor of having nuclear weapons by a wide margin. However, among the professional class of people who know something about nuclear issues, a majority are against acquiring nuclear weapons. It's hard for me to grasp the designer bag thing, the sushi restaurants, dealing with known agents of a foreign country, etc.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by soryang on Wed, 07/31/2024 - 1:03am

Sue Mi Terry's statements on nuclear weapons

@soryang @soryang

America's Sue Mi Terry: “Kim Jong-un uses nuclear weapons to leverage negotiations...Trump may tolerate South Korea’s nuclear armament”

The article is in Korean, Seoul Shinmun, dated 29 May 24, just over six weeks before her indictment.

This is the source of the theory I describe in my comment above-

Kim Joon-hyung is a South Korean professor of international relations at Handong Global University served as the Chancellor of Korea National Diplomatic Academy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs under President Moon Jae-in from 2019 to 2021. Wikipedia

He is also a current member of the National Assembly. He was interviewed by Kim Eo-jun, a well known pundit and radio show host on July 26. His interview starts at 31:42. Even though the google translate (auto translate function into English) isn't that good, I'm putting the link here to the video, for the skeptical or others who may be interested because this analysis is completely different from mainstream media reports, but has a sounder basis in the factual circumstances as to why the DOJ is jumping on her after doing nothing for a decade. Interview ends at 48:10.

수미테리 미국의 경고

#1 Good article. Kiriakou's impression was similar to my first impression, that this is a technical violation of FARA, albeit over an extended period as alleged. It's odd that there are only two counts, there were a lot of overt acts alleged in the indictment. It's very interesting and very cloak and dagger like as portrayed in the indictment. They do make it sound like like a spy thriller but she isn't charged with espionage- https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/235b1cb6-82bc-4a5e-a820-b12721d... One other theory that is being evaluated, is that the pro-Yoon train began to part ways with the US administration when it began promoting the nuclear consultative group as a "nuclear sharing agreement." It looks like Terry was on board with promoting this from the indictment allegations. Although the technical violations of FARA as alleged in the indictment went on from 2014, the advocacy of the NCG looks very problematic to me. From here on, (allegedly) she's basically trying to influence matters related to strategic policy. TThe NCG arrangement was actually consummated in 2023 I believe. I had seen some bragging in South Korean media, that the Yoon government "originated" the concept of the NCG. The significance of the "agreement" was interpreted quite differently by US and South Korean officials. After the NCG came out, then the South Korean government appeared to be still promoting the idea of developing its own nuclear weapons. I saw a statement, in a South Korean analysis, attributed to Tae Yong-hyo, (he's the principal deputy national security advisor) saying something to this effect last April, and then President Yoon picking up on this theme "4 days before the Sue Mi Terry indictment was filed," (July 15). I knew the Yoon administration was trending in this direction from watching the news there, and that the NCG and the reintroduction of US "strategic assets" was meant to satisfy South Korean concerns about nuclear deterrence of North Korea. They call it US "extended deterrence." The media analysis I listened to this am alleged that this followed her attendance at the Jeju Conference for Peace and Prosperity at the end of May this year, and a similar conference at sponsored by Chosun Ilbo, one of the conservative mainstream media powers in South Korea. These conferences are attended by think tankers, former government officials, academics, and media. Supposedly there Sue Mi Terry said something like if Trump gets elected South Korea will have a better chance to get its own nuclear weapons. So this indictment could be some kind of preliminary warning to South Korea to back off. The Yoon administration crossed the line and it's alleged by this South Korean National Assembly member that Terry was there with them on this issue. These are all just allegations but it makes some sense in terms of explaining events. They coincide with additional major personnel changes at the South Korea National Intelligence Service. The assembly member suggested that the rift in the NIS involves the nuclear issue. I have no idea. I could guess that Yoon appointees would be pro nuclear weapons and the old school against. I recall in both countries much was made of poll in South Korea that most South Koreans were supposedly in favor of having nuclear weapons by a wide margin. However, among the professional class of people who know something about nuclear issues, a majority are against acquiring nuclear weapons. It's hard for me to grasp the designer bag thing, the sushi restaurants, dealing with known agents of a foreign country, etc.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by soryang on Thu, 08/29/2024 - 6:57pm

I wrote about this a month ago

...concerning the Sue Mi-terry FARA case. I don't think I've ever agreed with any opinion she's expressed over the years, but this case mischaracterizes her behavior, or at minimum represents selective prosecution. Name one "think tank" that promotes policy positions, seminars, broadcasts etc., concerning the far east that doesn't take money from South Korea and/or Japan. Are they or the responsible executives registered as foreign agents?

A prominent figure in South Korean academia has taken note of her situation.

[Column] In defense of Sue Mi Terry

The indictment against Terry also states that during the presidency of Moon Jae-in, she was working as an illegal agent for the Korean government in exchange for fancy meals and name-brand handbags that she received from a Korean diplomat-cum-secret agent acting as her handler.

That doesn’t make much sense to me either. While I was serving as special presidential adviser for foreign affairs and national security, I recall Terry as being the Washington pundit who was most critical of the Moon administration’s policy toward North Korea and Japan.

When the Moon administration declared it would postpone the automatic renewal of its GSOMIA information-sharing agreement with Japan, for example, Terry was one of the most vociferous critics of that decision. That was hardly the only thing she took issue with — she also opposed Moon’s push for an end-of-war declaration, his advocacy of the Korean Peninsula peace process, and basically his whole policy toward the ROK-US alliance.

....

Ultimately, there seem to be two possible scenarios here. The first is that Korean government officials failed in their attempt to win Terry over. The other is that she was simply acting on her own convictions, with no connection to the Korean government. In either case, she was hardly acting as an “illegal agent” for Seoul.

The author, Chung-in Moon, is James Laney Distinguished Professor at Yonsei University. As he points out in the article, his opinions have differed from Terry's in the past. Chung is a prominent expert in international relations, and North Korea.

(sorry had to fix the subject line)

—

語必忠信行必正直