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Presented by Lockheed Martin: From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy. | | | | | |  | | By Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey | Presented by Lockheed Martin | | 
President Joe Biden listens as South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a joint news conference in May 2021. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo | Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Quint PROGRAMMING NOTE: NatSec Daily will be off for Thanksgiving this Thursday and Friday but back in your inboxes — still confused by the composition of canned cranberry sauce — on Monday, Nov. 29. The U.S. and South Korea are finalizing an end of war declaration document, but both sides remain at an impasse over how to include language about “denuclearization,” two people familiar with the talks told NatSec Daily. The administration of South Korean President MOON JAE-IN aims to improve relations with North Korea and considers an end of war declaration — which would formally bring the Korean War of the 1950s to a close — a good first step. President JOE BIDEN’s team is working on the document in an effort to coordinate with allies ahead of still-elusive talks with North Korean officials. The document is nearly done, the people familiar told us, supporting recent comments by South Korean Foreign Minister CHUNG EUI-YONG that discussions are “in the final stage,” adding “the format and content of the end-of-war declaration” are nearly settled. The remaining issue is how to insert a clause about denuclearization. “It’s not so much a sticking point. Both sides agree. It’s just how to phrase it to get the DPRK to bite or at least not dismiss,” one of the people said, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. But agreeing on text is the easy part. The hard part is actually getting all four parties to the war — the two Koreas, the U.S. and China — to sign on. As of now, Pyongyang has shown no desire to accede. "If [South] Korea ... restores sincerity in its words and actions and abandons its hostility, we would then be willing to resume close communication and engage in constructive discussions," KIM YO JONG , North Korean leader KIM JONG UN’s powerful sister, said in a September message. Further complicating matters is that Moon’s term ends in May 2022, and it remains unclear if the next administration would push as hard for a declaration. Analysts remain split on the wisdom of formally ending a war that hasn’t raged for decades. Some argue it’s an unnecessary concession to North Korea, while others insist it’s a trust-building measure that could lower tensions on the peninsula. Before getting there, though, the U.S. simply wants North Korea to reply to its entreaties — which it hasn’t done all year. A senior administration official wouldn’t comment on the negotiations, but offered that “the United States remains committed to achieving lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy with the DPRK. That is why we remain prepared to engage in diplomacy with [the] DPRK.”
| | | U.S. TROOPS STATIONED NEAR ETHIOPIA: The U.S. has placed special operations forces in Djibouti and three warships are on standby in the region should the situation in Ethiopia worsen, CNN reported. Lt. Cdr. TIMOTHY PIETRACK , a spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command, wouldn’t confirm the movements to NatSec Daily but did say the military is ready “to support a range of contingencies all over the world, including those related to the safety of our diplomats where the security environment has deteriorated.” For days, the State Department has repeatedly warned the U.S. won’t launch an Afghanistan-style, military-led evacuation from the African nation. Instead, the administration urges American citizens to catch commercial flights out of Ethiopia while they’re still available. But should some fail to leave, the military now has Army rangers from 1/75 Battalion and amphibious warships like USS Essex at the ready. The U.S. may say it’s not preparing for a noncombatant evacuation operation, or NEO, but it sure is acting like it is. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Prime Minister ABIY AHMED — a Nobel Peace Prize winner — vowed Monday to lead his troops from the frontline against anti-government rebels. TALIBAN SEND HUNDREDS TO FIGHT ISIS: The Taliban have sent more than 1,300 fighters to counter ISIS-K in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, the Washington Post’s SUSANNAH GEORGE reported. “Taliban night raids against suspected Islamic State-Khorasan members are on the rise, and many of the hundreds arrested have disappeared or turned up dead, according to Jalalabad residents and Taliban fighters,” she reported. “The Taliban crackdown has sent shock waves through the province and is emerging in Islamic State recruitment propaganda calling on Nangarhar residents to rise up and resist. It is unclear how many new fighters have joined the Islamic State’s ranks, but since the Taliban takeover the group has strengthened, become more active and expanded its presence to nearly every Afghan province, according to United Nations assessments.” The move underscores the growing fight between the terrorist group and the militants now running Afghanistan, which will only make it harder for the Taliban to govern. COMMERCE SEC: SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES WORSEN: Commerce Secretary GINA RAIMONDO told POLITICO’s STEVEN OVERLY that supply chain issues affecting semiconductors and other industries are worse than initially predicted. To alleviate the woes, she’s established a “war room” — led by chief economist RONNIE CHATTERJI — charged with solving the problem. “There is no one thing [that will fix supply chains], that has become crystal clear to me,” Raimondo said. “So we have to do everything and all of the things we do, marginally, will improve the problem.” The bottleneck in semiconductor production and distribution is the biggest concern. “Semiconductors are like the water of the new economy, you can't do anything without them. And there are huge vulnerabilities in the supply chain,” the former Rhode Island governor added. “So, in my view, we can't spend enough time on it as a matter of national security and a matter of economic security.” Samsung, the South Korean telecom giant, plans to build a $17 billion chip-making plant in Taylor, Texas, per the Wall Street Journal’s JIYOUNG SOHN. “The Taylor facility, located in central Texas, plans to create around 1,800 jobs, though chip production isn’t expected to start until the end of 2024, according to documents Samsung had previously filed with Texas authorities,” Sohn reported. “To woo Samsung, Taylor had offered incentives that include the equivalent of property-tax breaks of up to 92.5% for the first 10 years, with the write-offs gradually declining over the next several decades.” RUSSIA DENIES PLANNING UKRAINE ATTACK: Despite amassing nearly 100,000 troops at various locations on Ukraine’s border, Russia denies it has any intention to launch yet another invasion of its neighbor, the Wall Street Journal’s ANN M. SIMMONS and LAURENCE NORMAN report. DMITRY PESKOV, Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN’s spokesperson, said all those forces and their equipment don’t “pose a threat to anyone and should not cause concern to anyone.” “We see that a targeted information campaign is underway,” he countered, referring to the West’s consternation. “This is building up tension.” That’s not how the U.S. or Ukraine see it. The Biden administration has shared intelligence with European allies over recent weeks indicating Moscow is potentially planning an attack. And Ukraine’s defense intelligence chief said this week that Russia will likely invade Ukraine by early February. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN spoke of the Russian aggression during his recent trip to Senegal. “We don’t know what President Putin’s intentions are, but we do know what’s happened in the past,” he said. “We do know the playbook of trying to cite some illusory provocation from Ukraine or any other country and then using that as an excuse to do what Russia is planning to do all along.” IT’S TUESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily. This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at award@politico.com and qforgey@politico.com, and follow us on Twitter at @alexbward and @QuintForgey. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi, @woodruffbets, @politicoryan, @PhelimKine, @BryanDBender, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmccleary, @leehudson, and @AndrewDesiderio. | | A message from Lockheed Martin: Unrivaled.
The F-35 delivers the unrivaled advantage for our pilots, nation, and partners. A decisive differentiator in near-peer warfare, the F-35 is the most advanced node in 21st century warfare network-centric architecture. Learn more | | | | | | HONG KONG ACTIVIST SENTENCED UNDER NATIONAL SECURITY LAW: TONY CHUNG, the 20-year-old former leader of Hong Kong pro-independence group Studentlocalism, was sentenced to 43 months in prison today, per Reuters’ JESSIE PANG . Chung previously was charged with secession under the semi-autonomous Chinese city’s sweeping national security law — as well as with money laundering — in October 2020. Back in July, 24-year-old protester TONG YING-KIT became the first person to be convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law, which went into effect in June 2020. Tong was sentenced to nine years in prison. Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security in August to defer for 18 months the removal of certain Hong Kong residents in the United States, citing Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters following the law’s imposition.
| | | CISA AND FBI ISSUE HOLIDAY RANSOMWARE WARNING: Retailers were already scared of possible ransomware attacks ahead of the holiday shopping season, but a new warning from two U.S. government agencies underscored the extent of the threat. “The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a cybersecurity reminder for public and private sector organizations to remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions to reduce their risk to ransomware and other cyberattacks leading up to and during the holiday season,” they wrote in a joint statement . “This advisory is based on observations on the timing of high impact ransomware attacks that have occurred previously rather than a reaction to specific threat reporting. Specifically, malicious cyber actors have often taken advantage of holidays and weekends to disrupt critical networks and systems belonging to organizations, businesses, and critical infrastructure.” Among their suggestions to reinforce their organization’s cybersecurity: — Identify IT security employees for weekends and holidays who would be available to surge during these times in the event of an incident or ransomware attack. — Implement multi-factor authentication for remote access and administrative accounts. — Mandate strong passwords and ensure they are not reused across multiple accounts. — If you use remote desktop protocol (RDP) or any other potentially risky service, ensure it is secure and monitored. — Remind employees not to click on suspicious links, and conduct exercises to raise awareness. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | | LOCKHEED-MADE HELO NOT READY FOR BIDEN: A new helicopter built by Lockheed Martin isn’t “operationally suitable” for Biden to ride in case of emergency, Bloomberg News’ ANTHONY CAPACCIO and JENNIFER JACOBS report. The VH-92 helicopter, which is the planned replacement for Marine One, “is ‘failing to meet the reliability, availability or maintainability threshold requirements’ set for it, according to an internal summary prepared for senior defense officials by the Pentagon testing office,” they wrote. “The previously unpublished testing report, dated Sept. 28, said the aircraft is ‘operationally effective’ for routine ‘administrative’ missions like a run to Camp David or delivering the president to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington for a preplanned trip on Air Force One,” they continued. “But it wasn’t effective ‘for the contingency operation mission,’ a reference to emergency flights. The ‘Mission Communication System (MCS) often delayed critical communications at the beginning of contingency missions and did not adequately support timely, continuous and secure communications,’ the test office found.”
| | | NDAA WATCH 2021: Our friends at Morning Defense (for Pros!) don’t want you to panic — at least not yet — about the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. When the Senate returns next week, it will move to pass its version of the NDAA. But time isn't on Congress’ side to iron out and pass a final Defense policy bill. The narrow window leaves HASC and SASC leaders with little margin for error in conference negotiations. Just a few contentious hang-ups could be costly in getting the fiscal 2022 NDAA across the finish line. But if the history of the last six decades is any guide, lawmakers will find a way to get the legislation done before 2022. While they’re up against an unforgiving schedule, they’re also pulling out all the stops to find a way to ensure that a bill gets to the president’s desk by the end of the year. Final procedural votes will begin Monday that could lead to passage, or Democrats and Republicans may still strike a deal to vote on individual amendments. But it's also unclear whether lawmakers will have enough time to convene a formal conference committee, so HASC and SASC staff have already begun negotiations on a final bill. | | | | DON’T MISS CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO’s new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE. | | | | | | | | SASSE DOESN’T WANT CHINESE OFFICIAL ON INTERPOL BODY: Sen. BEN SASSE (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees, is imploring Biden administration leaders to speak out against a Chinese official joining Interpol’s executive committee. China put forth HU BINCHEN, a senior official in the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Public Security, as one of three nominees for two spots as Asia delegates on the 13-seat body. His naming has led to international outcries, including from many U.S. lawmakers, and now Sasse is getting in on the action. “The election of a PRC security official to Interpol’s Executive Committee would present a grave threat to the organization’s integrity and threaten to turn legitimate inter-governmental law enforcement cooperation into another tool of CCP transnational repression,” he said in a Monday letter, released publicly today, to Blinken and Attorney General MERRICK GARLAND. “As one of Interpol’s largest contributors, is the U.S. government considering withholding or reducing U.S. voluntary contributions to ensure that U.S. taxpayers are not inadvertently funding transnational repression and to more effectively communicate that the United States will not accept Interpol’s endorsement and facilitation of CCP harassment and surveillance of dissidents in the U.S. and across the globe? If not, why not?” he continued. Interpol, the international police network with 194 members, controls numerous databases with fingerprints, DNA data and more identifying information. Many fear that China’s high-level representation in the body could lead to the country gaining access to sensitive information that could lead to further repression at home and abroad.
| | | — DAVE CAVELL has started as a senior adviser to JOHN KERRY, the special presidential climate change envoy. Cavell is a former speechwriter for MICHELLE OBAMA. | | | |   | | | | | | — ALAN SUDERMAN, The Associated Press: “World Cup host Qatar used ex-CIA officer to spy on FIFA” — KADRI LIIK, The New York Times: “ Opinion: No, Putin Isn’t Trying to Bring Down the West” — EMMA BATHA and SHADI KHAN SAIF, Thomson Reuters Foundation: “Afghans ‘marry off’ baby girls for dowries as starvation looms”
| | | — The Lowy Institute, 1 a.m.: “2021 Owen Harries Lecture: The Hon. MATHIAS CORMANN — with MICHAEL FULLILOVE” — Chatham House 8 a.m.: “Policy for Recovery in Africa: Regional Integration and Trade Facilitation — with JUDITH AMESO, BOB DEWAR, NATASHA KIMANI, JEAN DESIRE KOUASSI, WAMKELE MENE, NOMATEMBA TAMBO and KOMI TSOWOU” — The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 9 a.m.: “China-U.S. Competition in AI: Destabilising and Intensifying — with GREG AUSTIN, JAMES JOHNSON and MEIA NOUWENS” — The European Council on Foreign Relations, 10:30 a.m.: “Digital Challenges in the Great Powers Competition: What Geopolitical Role for the EU? — with JEREMY SHAPIRO and JOSE IGNACIO TORREBLANCA” — Chatham House, 1 p.m.: “Independence Movements in Europe — with VICTÒRIA ALSINA, RUSSELL FOSTER, ALYN SMITH and MARC WELLER” Have a natsec-centric event coming up? Transitioning to a new defense-adjacent or foreign policy-focused gig? Shoot us an email at award@politico.com or qforgey@politico.com to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter. | | A message from Lockheed Martin: Unrivaled.
Information is the battlespace advantage. F-35 sensor fusion provides vast amounts of information to accelerate critical decisions and win the fight. Learn More | | | And thanks to our editor, Ben Pauker, who finalizes text with us on a daily basis. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
