Channel A News Top Ten presented a broad view of the situation in the North November 9. They talked about the suspension of the planned second US- North Korea summit negotiations and the reaction in the North Korean state run media to that, the US-ROK working group (mentioned in a previous Oct. 31 write up here), and the joint US-ROK marine exercises near Pohang. They discussed the serious deficiencies in crop yields in North Korea, after the drought, compounded by the effects of one of the typhoons which flooded farmlands and towns in Gangwon Do, North Korea. So this serious food supply problem in North Korea is reflected in renewed calls for self reliance and renewed efforts by the people in the official North Korean press. The Channel A analysts were speculating that between the bad harvest and the sanctions that there would be political unrest perhaps provoked by the forced state collection of cooperative farm output. It sounded like the levy was coming early in the harvest season to avoid pilfering and grey market activity. They mentioned that the jang ma dang, the informal private entrepreneurs would be adversely affected. All this could potentially result in political discontent in the population at large.
The North Korean press views expressed were along the lines that the joint marine exercises were not in the spirit of negotiations reflected in the Singapore summit, and that the people would have to be self sufficient and rely on their own resources to survive the international campaign against their government. ( a reference to the UN sanctions). As for Beigun's working negotiations group with the ROK it said that reflected US bad faith and a lack of regard for the South Korean sentiments. This is conservative coverage by a broadcaster in South Korea, Channel A reporting on North Korean perspectives reflected in official North Korean media. The Top Ten commentary was that the marine exercises were relatively small scale and the criticism seemed disproportionate. This may be so, but in an earlier broadcast Top Ten emphasized the presence of the most advanced US marine combat aircraft in the exercise.
The instant broadcast had video clips of US UN Ambassador Haley saying that the US had offered enough carrots and wouldn't give up the stick. One of the alleged statements in the Workers Daily, was "don't expect help from South Korea."
This graphic says North Korea aims simultaneous bundle of criticism at the US and South Korea. The top North Korean publication referred to is Our People- "The ROK US working group, is an act of US arrogance." The second one is a publication apparently called Echo, which says "anachronistic military movements." The program analysts suggested that the suspension of joint military exercises and the withdrawal of strategic assets from the Korean area represented the carrots given by the US. Naturally, the limited joint marine exercises in the Pohang area, in conjunction with Secretary Mattis' recent statement about a determination concerning joint US-ROK military exercises for 2019 by December 1 imply that these "carrots" may be withdrawn very soon.
The entire thrust of the Top Ten presentation was to present an image of crisis in North Korea brought about the sanctions, the food shortages, and the US negotiating position. Joel Wit, a knowledgeable and experienced expert on North Korean negotiations was cited in a Washington Post article Nov. 7, saying, "...Washington is sticking to the 'old playbook,' one that has failed repeatedly, particularly in its insistence North Korea take the first steps such as denuclearization before the United States does anything." This broadcast suggests that the old regime change formulation is making a comeback.
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