[정치][정면승부]PD Kim Young-mi “Iran’s capture of Korean ships appears to be political smuggling intent amid economic pressure”

[YTN 라디오 이동형의 뉴스 정면승부]

■ Broadcast: FM 94.5 (18:00~19:30)
■ Broadcast date: January 5, 2021 (Tuesday)
■ Interview: Young-mi Kim, professional PD in the international conflict area
* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

[정면승부]PD Kim Young-mi “Iran’s capture of Korean ships appears to be political smuggling intent amid economic pressure”
-The Strait of Hormuz, where about a third of the world’s crude oil is transported, is a place with high military tension

-The arrest of Korean ships and environmental pollution under the authority of the Iranian government are common excuses

-The capture of our ships seems to be political smuggling intent, not directly aimed at the US.

-Iranian economy worsened by sanctions, will try to get any chance from this arrest

◇ Kim Woo-sung PD (hereinafter, Kim Woo-sung)> Yes. It was yesterday evening in our time. Breaking news was reported that a Korean ship sailing through the Strait of Hormuz was captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Our government is also responding immediately. We also decided to dispatch our warships nearby. It is not just kidnapping, but because it happened at the government level, it is in a very difficult international political situation. There are many people who see it like this. There is Teheran-ro in Seoul. There is Seoullo in Tehran. What happened to Iran kidnapping our ship? Let’s talk with an expert in this field. This is Kim Young-mi, a professional PD for international disputes. Youngmi Kim, How are you?

◆ Young-mi Kim, PD specializing in international disputes (hereinafter, Young-mi Kim)> Yes. Hello? This is Kim Young-mi PD.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. The name that always appeared whenever there was an unrest in the Middle East. Even those who don’t know well know the name of the Strait of Hormuz. What kind of place is this attracting attention this time?

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. The Strait of Hormuz is known to pass through this side of the world’s crude oil transport volume. The strait is very narrow. So, the length of both straits is less than 40KM. Because it is very narrow. On the other hand, the boat is very big. Also, for crude oil transport ships, the size of a football field. Two sizes. Because it’s that big. When a ship like this passes. Passing through this narrow strait. It’s very close to see. So this is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Iran keeps standing. Also, because there are US military traps in it. It is a place where military tension is very high even in normal times.

◇ Kim Woo-seong> It is a place where military tension is very high. In other words, Korean ships that had a military alliance with the United States were captured. It is said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards captured it. Should it be considered the Iranian government army?

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. If the revolutionary garrison hit us. It seems to be a bit similar to the concept of native reserve forces. So, being a civilian and performing military duties. It is such an army. So, as a fisherman, he also has the concept of a navy. When the Iranian government has an advantage, they are said to be civilians. When it comes to disadvantage, it suits your taste. Sometimes it is called the government army. Because it is such an army. It’s not really an army that can be viewed as 100% government army.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. But because Iran’s national broadcaster reported. Anyway, our ship was captured by the will of the Iranian government. Can you conclude this?

◆ Kim Young-mi> I went to Iran. And if the Iranian Revolutionary Guard took it away. It is believed that the Iranian government has become the subject of seizure.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. It can be said that it was captured by the Iranian government. You defined it like this. Captured because of environmental pollution. I announced this way. I don’t understand this well. How do you see it?

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. Speaking of being captured due to environmental pollution. I have to tell you specific evidence. I don’t talk about the evidence. Those things are simply environmental pollution without talking. It’s kind of like an excuse to say. Even before that, I made such an excuse while seizing an Indian ship. So, this is just seen as a common excuse for seizure. It seems that there is a different purpose for the capture. Still, I’m a little relieved, like Somali pirates or Nigerian pirates, or not. It is difficult to negotiate if the target of the negotiation is unclear. Still, having to deal with the Iranian government, which has diplomatic relations with which the country has a trust, is a much better deal to negotiate.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. Although there is an issue of spilling things like ballast tank ballast water. This is usually an excuse. Environmental pollution is an excuse to seize. There is a different intention. However, since it is an official government, it will be easy to deal with. As I saw today, our government called the Iranian ambassador. Our government is already grasping the intentions of the Iranian government. Can you guess this way? How do you judge? PD.

◆ Kim Young-mi> First of all, the Korean government is fighting against diplomatic issues. Because we currently have an Iranian embassy in Korea. We have taken a strong diplomatic step called Chochi. In addition, it seems that our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will dispatch a representative to the Iranian government in the future to make active diplomatic efforts with the Iranian government. If you say that you continue to pollute the environment. Actually, it’s a fine for that. Actually, even if there is evidence, it can be. Capturing sailors seems to be very inhumane. Because these parts may recur. It seems that the Korean government has no choice but to take active measures.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. Diplomatically, we have no choice but to take active measures. This is because the fact that our ship was captured in the strait itself is becoming a diplomatic event. I think I need to look at the background. Actually, the US and Iran are very. Isn’t it intensified during the term of President Trump? They are very opposed to each other. Could this be picked as a background? How do you see it?

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. This Strait of Hormuz is an outpost of the conflict between the United States and Iran. That’s why the conflict began to intensify, when President Trump unilaterally broke the Iranian nuclear agreement in 2018. After that, Iran began to face international economic sanctions. So, so to speak, the economic pressure was very severe. Meanwhile, Biden’s current government was about to be launched. Also, in the new year, Iran preoccupied politically. It seems you need to do this. At that time, it wasn’t just our Korean ships that passed by when our ship was captured. Several ships were passing by. The reason for capturing a vessel of Korean nationality is not American nationality. It is not aimed directly at the United States. By seizing a Korean ship that had more room for negotiation. Isn’t that the intention of political smuggling through this? It looks like that.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. First of all, the goal of increasing tension is to succeed. I should see it like this. then.

◆ Kim Young-mi> The same goes for international politics. Showing off your presence is the most important. So even in the new year. Before the launch of the Biden government, Iran showed off its presence. But how can Iran preempt its international presence with nuclear weapons? It seems that it is an event-related seizure. On the other hand, it is very regrettable for Korea that it was done in an inhumane way.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. So, in fact, the core of the conflict between the United States and Iran is the nucleus. However, the US side unilaterally destroyed it in 2018. As I see now, the concentration of uranium is concentrated. There are reports like this. If this is the beginning of the conflict now getting worse. Doesn’t the problem prolong? Do you think some people are worried about this?

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. Not only Korean ships were captured by civilian ships in this Strait of Hormuz. There were also Indian ships before that. There were also ships from other countries. If it was short, it was released in a day or two. I have been there for up to two months. But, considering the diplomatic relations between Korea and Iran, it doesn’t seem to be that long. But the problem was when Iran’s military tension was highest. It also works to increase the concentration of uranium enrichment to 20%. There is such a news about the same day. The current situation in Iran’s increasing tensions seems to be a variable. This kind of incident happened when the international sentiment surrounding Iran was at its peak. So, in fact, when Iran news appeared so many times in international news, the fact that our ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz should have been a little more nervous. I think.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. It is a situation in which you have to be nervous enough not to give a pretext. He pointed out once more. As some of you may remember, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were attacked by US drones. This is where our ship was captured. Commander Soleimani is dead. This is just a year now. How do you see this point and relevance?

◆ Kim Young-mi> This was also one of the reasons Iran’s recent high tensions. The Korean ship captured this time was a ship departing from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the endemic to the Islamic Sunni. Iran is the suspicion of Shiites. The former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander, Soleimani, was also one of the symbolic figures of the Islamic Shiite. So in the case of a one-cycle event now. It was a major event between Iraqi Shiites and Iranian Shiites. Anti-American protests were taking place in the capital Baghdad for a long time. That is why these international situations in Iran are linked to the time when Korean ships are captured. In a way, this political situation in Iran. Even these things weren’t something we had to look into in detail. So, when you are in such a state of tension, there is a warning to the Strait of Hormuz. In the case of civilians on our ships by making some of these things. It could be dark in this international situation, right? I hope to broaden the breadth of sharing information on these things.

◇ Kim Woo-seong> P.D. actually visited the disputed area. I’ve seen it reported in many media outlets. Such a system that predicts these things in advance and makes them careful. In the case of infectious diseases, certain diseases are prevalent in countries around the world. I have something like this. Isn’t there such a system? To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

◆ Kim Young-mi> In Korea, many workers all over the world go to work. Especially in the case of sailors, they operate with many ships internationally. In fact, I didn’t pay much attention to international news. So, it is a situation that we have not yet recognized that it affects the sea. I hope I can share a lot more with the crew in terms of information. The fact that such an inhumane incident has occurred may not be understood by the Korean government and the people. Isn’t there any excuse for Iran to do nothing like this? These things are actually international conflicts. It seems that a lot of information is needed to be able to cope with the international conflict more wisely.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. On the other hand, I have a bad relationship with Iran. A ship departing from Saudi Arabia, close to Korea, was captured. I think you should look very sensitive. What many people worry about is our people and ships detained. Can I come out safely? It’s like that, but as you said earlier, the bottom of the sea is a little different. You said negotiations would be easy. Do you think there are some areas to be careful about? In the negotiation process? Please point out,

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. Most importantly, the corona crisis in Iran is very severe right now. So, of course, you could only stay inside the ship. The safety issue of our crew is not a military safety issue, but about the coronavirus or something like that. In the case of ships, once a virus penetrates, it can be a very difficult situation. So, the extreme coronavirus is also in crisis. So, I ask the Iranian government to come up with ways to get more protection for our Korean sailors. And since it’s happening between nations and nations anyway, I think the two nations need to solve the trust relationship. From the perspective of our allies in the future relations between Iran and the United States. How can I survive in diplomatic relations? It also has the power of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the cutting board. I think so. I think that it is a good opportunity to receive trust from the people by handling this case well. I think the important thing is that our sailors are returning safely.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. You should come back safely. The most worrisome is the severe Iranian corona situation. He said. I’ll connect and ask one last short thing. As Iran faces economic sanctions, South Korea also has frozen assets, and it is trying to buy a vaccine. This is also known. It’s actually a little connected right now. Should I see it? For example, Iran also uses this as a vaccine. Could it be a kind of momentum to find multiple paths? How do you see it?

◆ Kim Young-mi> The Iranian government has a very bad economic situation. So no matter what, through this work. Whether you buy a vaccine with money or whatever. If there is a chance to do it, I will try to hang on to anything. And the vaccine is because of spending money on a humanitarian level. In a way, if the Iranian government could buy a vaccine with frozen assets in Korea now. With that alone, they will probably do it themselves that they have achieved all the results they will get from this capture. Even so, I think the Korean government must warn against this about doing it in an inhumane way.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Yes. I will try to get what I can get. The safety of our people is the situation where the Corona 19 situation is the biggest concern. Those who travel around the world for diplomatic things should look carefully. He gave me this kind of help. Thank you for speaking today, PD.

◆ Kim Young-mi> Yes. Thank you.

◇ Kim Woo-sung> Kim Young-mi was a professional PD in conflict areas.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]