The Art of Denuclearization

(Source- BK News Briefing 12.12.19 ) Clearly South Korea is one of the parties suffering greatest harm from the mutual distrust between the US and North Korea.

(Source- BK News Briefing 12.12.19 ) Strange, a clever way to protect the mutual promises of the US and North Korea from ever being broken never emerged.

The US special envoy to North Korea for the negotiations, Stephen Biegun, arrived in Beijing today after visiting Seoul and Tokyo, prompting a lot of hopeful speculation in the South Korean media as to whether Choe Son-hui, the North Korean vice Minister of Foreign Affairs or some other North Korean negotiator might show up. Biegun declined to give any statements when he arrived at the airport.

This is a related development:

State Department North Korea envoy confirmed as deputy secretary of state
By Jennifer Hansler, CNN

Updated 5:56 PM ET, Thu December 19, 2019

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/19/politics/steve-biegun-deputy-secretary-of-state-confirmation/index.html

After the abortive attempt to resume working level negotiations between Biegun and Kim Myong Gil, at Stockholm, last October, Biegun complained that Kim the North Korean working level envoy, wasn't senior enough and didn't really have authority to negotiate. Envoy Kim said that the US side brought nothing new to the table and broke off those talks reciprocating the US side's earlier behavior at the Hanoi summit. Biegun had requested to meet with Choi Son Hui at one point but she had said that Biegun himself was a lower level official. So in Stockholm, Kim Myong Gil was what he got. Kim Hyuk Chol, the prior North Korean envoy, disappeared after the Hanoi debacle. Biegun's appointment to Deputy Secretary seems the latest move in the "you're not senior enough" game.

South Korea: LKP Thugs Threaten National Assembly

(Source- 닥쳐라정치, 12.16 ) Hwang Kyo-ahn, Liberty Korea Party leader, heads an unlawful demonstration of unruly right wing followers obstructing the entrance to the South Korean National Assembly Building.

(Source- JTBC News, 12.16) Hwang Kyo-ahn stands front and center of a group gathered unlawfully under LKP direction in front of the National Assembly building in Seoul, Korea.

Ambassador Harris, has signaled the US preference for the militarists on the far right in South Korea. The US flags at this unlawful Liberty Korea Party demonstration trespassing on the National Assembly grounds are their symbol of US bona fides. Their thuggish tactics at the democratic seat of government in South Korea are a political disgrace. The trespassers and bullies in front of the National Assembly building aim to shut down the National Assembly because they don't believe in democratic government. The fascist right is out of power and now an element of the opposition. They lost power when Park Geun-hye was impeached in April 2017. There was almost a military coup then imposed by martial law to derail the impeachment and trial of the now imprisoned Park Geun-hye. There appears to be the possibility of a coup now. It's safe to speculate that reactionary right wing governments in the US and Japan would have no problem with that.

Some of the fascist thugs in this crowd being encouraged to fight by the LKP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn allegedly assaulted some thirty members of the Democratic Party trying to go to work inside the assembly building. Hwang encouraged the trespassers, "we're winning. Thank you for your efforts." A former governor of Gyeonggido addressed the group telling them to not feel uncomfortable approaching the Assembly building because it was "their home" and that they should "make themselves comfortable." Demonstrating within a hundred meters of the National Assembly building is unlawful. The crowd also vandalized the reserved parking spaces for specific members of the Assembly, including the Speaker of the Assembly and the leader of the Democratic Party. The right wing supporters of the LKP and Hwang forced their way through the front gates of the grounds ostensibly protected by the police guards there. A small number of demonstrators forced themselves into the National Assembly building and became involved in another melee.

This is not a popular rebellion, it is groundwork being laid for martial law and a right wing coup d'etat. It's purpose is to create an atmosphere of intimidation and anarchy. The crowd is interfering with the functions of the National Legislature in a unlawful manner and directly threatening members of the Assembly that they don't like and have targeted for intimidation. Hwang had been criticized in the past by his base for not executing martial law in March or early April 2017 when the plans were in place while he was acting president during the Park Geun-hye impeachment and trial. Now he seems to be approaching the moment when he can be the man to trigger such an outcome, or at least create the circumstances where such an action can be entertained and rationalized.

This crowd wasn't that big. There is a cadre of political operatives running it supported by younger athletic men who know exactly what they are doing when they make physical contact with police and assault others.

This is a militarist right wing movement with christian evangelical support that arose out of the prior dictatorships and the prior corrupt administrations of Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye. Their goal is to overthrow the constitutionally elected government by obstructing its activities with unlawful methods including force. As predicted earlier here, the tactics take on the same characteristics as the movement in Hong Kong. The occupation of the legislative grounds and building was unprecedented. If a larger better equipped and directed police force is not present in the future, we can expect normal governance to cease in South Korea.

The parties of the left, center, and center right in South Korea need to close ranks and govern with resolve or they and their democracy will be destroyed and a fascist regime will emerge.

Update 12.17

The floor leader of the Democratic Party in South Korea, Lee In-young, in a press conference today, accused Hwang Kyo-ahn of instigating unlawful activities, and called for an immediate and thorough investigation and prosecution of all crimes which took place in Assembly Building venues on Dec 16. A prosecution team of 15 people has been assembled to pursue the investigation. Also on Dec. 17, 4000 police have been mobilized and currently are protecting the National Assembly. They have constructed a wall of police buses and plexiglass panels around the perimeter of the Assembly grounds to prevent intrusion by demonstrators or violent mobs.

Maximum Pressure leading to Maximum Failure?

(Source- JTBC News, 11.9) Kim Yong Chol, "We are a people with nothing more to lose." Chyron: Warning- "We can go back to the relationship that existed before the US-North Korean dialogue."

The obstacle to progress in denuclearization negotiations with North Korea is still the fundamental confrontation over the step by step method versus the all or nothing, no concessions, no trust building approach favored by US officials, elected or otherwise. Most Korea "experts" inside the beltway echo chamber just refuse to acknowledge this fundamental shortcoming in the US diplomatic approach which is first a process issue, and then secondarily a matter of great substantial importance. Either that, or they just want regime change in North Korea and can't imagine bargaining with the communist dictatorship under any circumstances other than complete capitulation by the North, often referred to as the Libyan approach.

"Sanctions have reached a point of diminishing returns. It is unlikely, therefore, that more “maximum pressure,” without a diplomatic strategy that offers Pyongyang positive inducements to negotiate steps toward denuclearization, will deliver results." Richard Nephew

Furious Futility: Maximum Pressure in 2020
BY: RICHARD NEPHEW
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
https://www.38north.org/2019/11/rnephew111519/

Town said North Korea has previously indicated a willingness to give up parts of its nuclear program as a first-phase deal, but not to discuss complete denuclearization up front.

“The North Koreans have always preferred a step by step approach rather than negotiating everything all at once,” Town said. (Jenny Town, editor of 38North.org.)

North Korea's U.N. envoy says denuclearization off negotiating table with United States
Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom
Dec. 7, 2019
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-koreas-u-n-envoy-says-denuclearization-off-negotiating-table-with-united-states-idUSKBN1YB0FG


This is also the preference of Russia, China, and South Korea.

SEOUL - A senior adviser to South Korea's president expressed a broad range of frustrations at U.S. policy toward North Korea, saying Washington has not adequately empowered Seoul to play a mediating role with Pyongyang.

In an interview with VOA, Jeong Se-Hyun, who advises South Korean President Moon Jae-in on unification issues, also said the U.S. should offer more incentives to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

"Don't act as if you're offering a carrot while really you are using a stick," said Jeong. "North Korea must first be given carrots. Then if that doesn't work, you use a whip."

As North Korea's Deadline Approaches, South Pushes US for Progress
By William Gallo VOA News
December 01, 2019 10:04 AM
https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/north-koreas-deadline-approaches-south-pushes-us-progress

Achieving security and stability and reducing catastrophic risks on the peninsula will require intensive, expert-level negotiations and comprehensive, step-by-step implementation over many months and years. This broader effort cannot be viewed solely as a bilateral U.S.-North Korean discussion. It also must include China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia and address the security and political concerns of all the parties, including economic and humanitarian matters.

Economic, military, and diplomatic pressure helped bring the North Koreans to the table, but reaching a successful agreement will require carrots as well as sticks. Ernst J. Moniz and Sam Nunn

Lynn Rusten and Richard Johnson with Steve Andreasen and Hayley Anne Severance, Building Security Through Cooperation: Report of the NTI Working G roup on Cooperative Threat Reduction with North Korea (Washington, DC: Nuclear Threat Initiative, 2019), 2, https://media.nti.org/documents/NTI_DPRK2019_RPT_FNL.pdf. (from the forward by Ernst J. Moniz and Sam Nunn)

The necessary operating principle taken from the September 5, 2005 Six Party Talks:

And yet, a year and a half have passed. To move forward, the two countries should agree as a baseline on the fifth clause of the fourth round of the September 2005 Six-Party Talks: “The Six Parties agreed to take coordinated steps to implement the… consensus in a phased manner in line with the principle of ‘commitment for commitment, action for action.” Wada Haruki

Overcoming the San Francisco System: One Japanese Person’s View
Wada Haruki, with an introduction by Alexis Dudden, December 1, 2019
Asia-Pacific Journal, Volume 17,| Issue 23, Number 3, Article ID 5331
https://apjjf.org/2019/23/Wada.html

Conservative LKP Executive Committee rejects Na Kyung-won as Assembly floor leader

(Source- JTBC News, 12.4) Na Kyung-won, LKP floor leader in the National Assembly. "Today at the regular session, I will not question the matter of my term extension. Floor leader Na Kyung-won's foot steps stop here."

The Executive Committee of the right wing Liberty Korea Party earlier today after an all night long conference, voted not to renew Na Kyung-won's position as the Floor Leader of the opposition party in the National Assembly. It appears the conference where the decision took place was in a tent outside the Blue House grounds where LKP leader and former Prime Minister, Hwang Kyo-Ahn, had been conducting his "hunger strike" until he gave that up last week. However after he left the hospital he returned to the scene of his demonstration where his followers and supporters waited.

At the opening of the National Assembly this morning, Na somewhat bitterly, announced she would respect the decision of the LKP Executive Committee, and not take a further step as the party floor leader. This "in order to ensure the good of the people and the unity of the party." There is a storm of indignation and criticism within the Liberty Korea Party at the step taken by the so called "pro Hwang faction" in the Executive Committee. Expressions of resistance, public, private and on line to the committee's resolution was plentiful. LKP members of the National Assembly questioned the authority of the party committee to make such a decision, and maintained it was the prerogative of sitting LKP National Assembly members. Further, some felt that the committee was without authority to make such a determination when the new session of the National Assembly was not yet convened pending elections in April.

(Source- JTBC News, 11.20) Liberty Korea Party leader, Hwang Kyo-ahn on a hunger strike in front of the Blue House grounds.

The future of the right wing opposition party is in doubt at a critical time in South Korean history as the rift between Hwang and Na breaks out into the open. One wonders what Na and Hwang discussed when she visited his tent in front of the Blue House grounds after returning from her recent US visit. That the Executive Committee's action might portend the end of the Liberty Korea Party as we know it, was a fear expressed publicly by some members. One LKP assembly member openly criticized Hwang's hunger strike affecting a pose as a party reformer, attempting to sanctify the party. His head shaving and fasting reminiscent of traditional ascetic protests, previously used by revered left leaning reformers such as Kim Dae-jung who opposed the prior military dictatorships of South Korea. The omnipresence of Christian conference leaders and their followers at Hwang's demonstration are an indication of where the base of former impeached President Park's predecessor Saenuri party lay.

Hwang's holier than thou effect, is an implied but unexpressed contrast to the alleged corruption and hypocrisy of Na Kyung-won's effort to use her political position during the Lee Myung-bak presidency to obtain her daughter's admission to college. This is the very same type of behavior that was used to drive the former democratic party justice minister from power only several weeks ago. I asked three weeks ago in a previous analysis, how long would Na last?*

*Conservative LKP Leader Na Kyung-won on the Ropes? November 14, 20019
https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2019/11/conservative-lkp-leader-na-kyung-won-on.html

The internal criticism of the Executive Committee's action by Na's supporters within the LKP suggests that Hwang has privatized the party, making it his personal domain, betraying "the interests of the people." Na had just recently declared an all out legislative confrontation with the ruling coalition in the National Assembly by carrying out a filibuster to block all pending legislation before the end of the legislative session unless the proposed fast track reform bills were set aside by the Democratic Party. Democratic Party leaders are attempting to devise a strategy in conjunction with three small minority parties to nullify the filibuster. One tactic would be to declare an end to the regular session next week followed immediately by an extraordinary sesssion of the National Assembly to pass all pending legislation. Filibusters are not allowed in extraordinary session. So the looming constitutional crisis continues. It was hoped on the right that the left would be the victim, but it appears the right may crack first under the pressure.

Selfies of the old order: US officials in South Korea

(Source- VOA Korea, Washington Talk, Nov. 30) General Robert Abrams, US Forces Korea Commander (left), taking a selfie with retired ROK Army Gen. Baik Sun-yup. On the right is Eighth Army Commander, Lt.Gen. Michael Bills.

US generals and "diplomats" should keep posing with Gen. Baik Sun-yup.

That way South Koreans know where exactly US "values" really are, in support of conservative obstruction of South Korean democracy by the far right pro-Japan faction in South Korea. Gen. Baik Sun-yup is a hundred years old. The patron of the dictator Park Chung-hee represents the passing of the old order in South Korea. US leaders posing with him represent the failure of the US to come to terms with democracy in South Korea. Admiral, er, that is Ambassador Harris, posed with Gen. Baik recently as well. He isn't partial to Japan is he? The VOA's past messaging that US policy toward the current South Korea-Japan dispute is impartial is absurd. VOA Washington Talk's picture of the day belies the program's more deceptive talking points. Soo Kim, former CIA analyst now with the Rand Corporation, stumbled somewhat trying to articulate just what the US position was between South Korea and Japan, reflecting "US values." This appears to be new messaging coming from the US broadcast platform.

It's amazing that the VOA Korea Washington Talk program could go on for twenty five minutes without mentioning the US walkout at Hanoi, the failure of the US to implement the principles of Singapore, the deleterious effects of US and UN sanctions on humanitarian aid to North Korea, or the onerous and outrageously unreasonable 5 billion dollar demand on South Korea during the military cost sharing negotiations in South Korea. The latter in spite of the fact, that one of the "expert" guests, Colonel David Maxwell has authored a detailed and appropriate criticism of such demands in the recent past.*

*U.S.-ROK Relations, An Ironclad Alliance or a Transactional House of Cards?
by David Maxwell, November 15, 2019
https://www.nbr.org/publication/u-s-rok-relations-an-ironclad-alliance-or-a-transactional-house-of-cards/

In fact, the US negotiating team dramatically walked out from those negotiations in Seoul on Novemeber 19, mimicking Trump's act in Hanoi against Kim Jong Un and his North Korean delegation. To add insult to injury the undiplomatic US Ambassador openly lobbied members of the South Korean National Assembly in a rude and demeaning manner in an attempt to interfere with the internal workings of our ally's democracy. This US diplomatic activity is widely regarded in South Korea as extortion. The litany of provocative acts by North Korea including artillery exercises that violated the 9.19 military agreement with Seoul and the long range ballistic missile artillery launches over the holiday headed up the program. The two US B-52 missions into the Sea of Japan/ East Sea October 25 and November 22 went unmentioned. The latter mission was a joint mission with Japanese F-15s.*

*https://twitter.com/AircraftSpots/status/1197960029292249088

One of the US right wing objectives appears to be returning South Korea to the status of a tribute paying vassal state. The US diplomatic and military establishment is out of their depth trying to implement President Trump's arrogant financial objectives while at the same time, attempting to push an unwanted Indo-Pacific alliance on South Korea. South Korean critics openly compare US leadership in South Korea to the Japanese Protectorate. Hint, to Admiral Harris, this is not a good thing.

(Source- Yonhap News 11.21) Korean War Hero on Birthday. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20181121124600315

Admiral Harris pays homage to the former Japanese Imperial Army officer who served in Manchukuo on behalf of Japan during WWII. General Baik later led troops against the communist armed forces in the Korean conflict. Recently, the former ROK Army four star general has been rolled out at the forefront of encouraging active duty Armed Forces personnel to oppose the Moon Jae-in administration. How far ROK Army officers might go in their opposition is an open question in light of Saenuri Party (LKP) administration martial law plans in early 2017. One recently defecting LKP Assembly representative used the term "spitting in the well," to characterize South Korean conservative leadership flirting with reactionary generals.

There was a related controversy in South Korea on November 30th, when news media reported that Ambassador Harris in a conference earlier on September 24, at the US Ambassador's official residence, with members of various parties of the National Assembly, questioned whether President Moon Jae-in had surrounded himself with pro-North Korean leftists. This report was confirmed by more than one source present at the meeting according to the conservative Donga.com. A Democratic Party member asked Harris not to speak that way. This overtly ideological approach by Harris to internal South Korean politics is unprecedented and similar to the ideological slant of retired ROK generals and other elements of the far right calling for Moon Jae-in to be removed from office. The US Embassy when questioned about the report refused to comment saying it was agreed by the parties attending the conference that discussions were confidential.*

*해리스 “文대통령, 종북좌파에 둘러싸여있다” 발언 논란
조동주 기자 , 한기재 기자입력 2019-11-30 03:00수정 2019-11-30 03:00
http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20191129/98601249/1

Update Dec. 2:

Harris' ideological framing of the issues appears to follow the language of a letter he transmitted to President Trump on behalf of LKP Assembly member Ahn Sang-soo in December 2018 disclosed by JTBC News on December 2, 2019. Ahn was present at the September meeting at Harris' official embassy residence. So Harris appears to be promoting the right wing opposition to the democratic administration of Moon Jae-in. The Korea Times has a report which includes criticism by the Democratic Party spokesperson that the former admiral was the most impolite ambassador she has ever met.*

*US envoy under fire for disparaging remarks on ally, By Do Je-hae, Park Ji-won, Dec. 3.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/12/113_279649.html

Book Burning in Japan (and South Korea)

This link below is to an academic discussion concerning how Shinzo Abe and the right wing LDP in Japan manipulate the press and the academia in their reporting and publishing concerning Japanese historical events and foreign relations, particularly in the US. The piece is quite detailed reporting on the history of Japanese interference in the use of grant and foundation monies to support academic fellowships and peer reviewed studies. Briefly discussed is the self censorship in the Japanese press. It is an obscure subject to Americans and the article is lengthy. I don’t want to steal any of the author’s thunder, nor violate the copyright concerns, so I’ll merely place the link here:

“Book Burning” in Japan
Frank Baldwin

https://apjjf.org/2019/21/Baldwin.html

I noticed the article because I had recently heard an interview in Korean media (JTBC News) by Professor Hosaka Fuji, Sejong University professor, in Seoul, describing how the Japanese government recruits outstanding Korean scholars studying in Japan to take on a pro-Japanese bias by giving them substantial financial payments on regular basis. This bias primarily involves taking on a right wing revisionist view of Japanese history which essentially denies the validity of foreign claims against Japan for war crimes or crimes against humanity, and discourages portraying Japanese policies in an unfavorable manner. My review of historical presentations on youtube suggest this practice concerning Korean scholars has been going on for some time, as there is a clique of pro-Japanese scholars in South Korea with known Japanese political and academic ties.

Upon review of Mr. Baldwin’s essay the practices in curbing academic freedom and press reporting by Japan appear similar to press practices that one expects to find and will find in prior South Korean dictatorships but also in the recent transitional regimes of right wing political leaders Lee Myung Bak and Park Geun Hye, who ostensibly were presidents of a “democratic South Korea.” These abuses were disclosed at the time of Park Geun Hye’s impeachment trial. Investigation revealed the maintenance of black lists of disfavored performers, authors, reporters, directors, and artists, took place in public broadcasting institutions and also under the Direction of the Ministry of Culture. Sports and Tourism, against individuals who didn’t express the right political views. This is from an article in the Diplomat addressing the later topic:

MBC and KBS labor unions have accused Ko and Kim of being involved in the execution of the “culture and arts blacklist” allegedly produced by the former Lee Myung-Bak administration. The blacklist has been reportedly designed to rule out certain celebrities or journalists from participating in media activities. It includes the names of stars, journalists, and announcers from various media fields including news, radio, variety shows, and drama who are known to have progressive political views. Famous figures such as comedian Kim Jae-dong and rock singer Yoon Do-hyun were said to have been included in the list.

Strife in South Korea Over Politics in Public Broadcasting Hyungmin Michael Kang Sep 17, 2017
https://thediplomat.com/2017/09/strife-in-south-korea-over-politics-in-public-broadcasting/

Here is another report from the Korea Herald in English which reveals the scope of the censorship and persecution operation:

The scandal refers to the actions of the administrations of former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak -- both currently imprisoned -- which kept a blacklist of nearly 10,000 figures in the culture and entertainment sectors, unfairly subjecting them to investigations and denying them government subsidies.

Of the 68 officials from the Culture Ministry, 10 are under criminal investigation, one was subjected to “severe disciplinary action” of unspecified nature and 33 received warnings. Of those from affiliated bodies, 21 will be subjected to disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal or suspension to pay cuts and 13 others will get warnings.*

*Culture Ministry apologizes for blacklist, gets blasted for insincerity
By Yoon Min-sik
Published : Dec 31, 2018 - 17:57
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181231000485

And:

Park ordered Kim and Cho to establish a list – that reportedly included some 10,000 names – of talent who were to be excluded from receiving state funding. They included film directors Lee Chan-dong (“Secret Sunshine”,) Park Chan-wook (“Oldboy”,) and Han Kang, novelist winner of the Booker Prize.*

*Korea’s Ex-Culture Minister Jailed for Operating Talent Blacklist
By PATRICK FRATER January 22, 2018
https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/korea-ex-culture-minister-jailed-blacklist-1202673389/

Hwang Kyo-ahn's Hunger Strike- Day 6

Hwang Kyo-ahn's hunger strike passes the six day mark. He's got a relatively small crowd of supporters, mostly religious and far right types setting up tents and making noise all day and night outside the Blue House in violation of various laws. There is a similar but smaller group outside the National Assembly. Two things could possibly happen, one, a police dispersal which could become a source of violence. The second could be the death of Hwang Kyo-ahn, the right wing leader, using the tactics of the left and occupy to attempt to thwart the fast track legislative reform legislation that will damage his party's prospects in the next election cycle. Na Kyung-won has been visiting Hwang in his tent in front of the Blue House. After the extension of the GSOMIA agreement, Hwang's hunger strike, had the appearance of some efficacy. An occupy like demonstration has emerged near the Blue House, that is reportedly in violation of different proscriptions, the first a security zone around the Blue House perimeter which Hwang's tent and the assembly nearby apparently violate. The second a violation of noise restrictions in the area. The third a violation of "anti-gypsy" proscriptions which disallow squatting or erecting quarters on public grounds for overnight occupation. The demonstrators claim there is an overriding Constitutional guarantee of political expression which protects them. Some critics dispute this. Hearing a debate on this subject, it appeared that time, place and manner restrictions are not a thing on the right for these purposes. There are similar concerns surrounding a related squatter type operation around the National Assembly grounds.

Moon Jae-in has been out of town the last few days for the ASEAN conference which Seoul is hosting in Pusan. The legal and political dilemna on the plaza and streets in front of the Blue House is apparently being handled by Blue House staff and other party leaders in his absence. Thus far, they have acted with great restraint unwilling to paint the disingenuous Hwang as a "patriotric martyr for the cause," as is portrayed on the new jackets worn by the occupiers in the streets. These squatters and their tents festooned with numerous US flags. Even if the legal grounds exist to disperse them, it would be likely to escalate into an undesirable situation. Thus far, Democratic party leaders have merely asked Hwang to have his followers leave voluntarily. Police have placed notices on the tents of their illegal status suggesting they may be removed by official action. One wonders how long this fiasco will go on.

Placards, banners and signs at demonstrators' scene, say Moon Jae-in is a communist, that he is a dictator ruining the country, that he should step down, etc. Moon's defenders point out that the incredible restraint shown by police is merely evidence of Moon's substantial resume as a defender of human rights and the principles of democracy.

See my immediately preceding post for more detailed discussion of issues related to Hwang's hunger strike.

Update, 11.30: Hwang Kyo-ahn's hunger strike was even shorter than expected. After being hospitalized Wednesday night, it was announced he had given up his hunger strike on Friday. LKP floor leader Na Kyung-won has announced a new filibuster strategy to block all legislation until the end of the regular session of the National Assembly. So the struggle against election reform and prosecution reform continues at the expense of the 200 pending legislative bills before the Assembly.