North Korea: Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong promoted in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s influential sister Kim Yo Jong has become even more powerful — after being promoted to the Hermit Kingdom’s top decision-making body.

The 34-year-old woman — who served as a deputy director in the ruling party — was named Thursday to the State Affairs Commission, the country’s top government body headed by her older brother, CNN reported, citing the state-run KCNA.

Read more at: Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong promoted in North Korea

North Korea says it successfully tested a new long-range cruise missile

North Korea says it successfully test fired what it described as newly developed long-range cruise missiles over the weekend, its first known testing activity in months that underscored how it continues to expand its military capabilities amid a stalemate in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

The Korean Central News Agency said Monday the cruise missiles, which had been under development for two years, successfully hit targets 1,500 kilometres away during its flight tests on Saturday and Sunday.

Read more at: North Korea says it successfully tested a new long-range cruise missile | CBC News

North Korea Covid-19: outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has sacked several senior party officials over a “grave” coronavirus incident that had threatened public safety, fuelling speculation that the coronavirus has breached the country’s defences.

“In neglecting important decisions by the party that called for organisational, material and science and technological measures to support prolonged anti-epidemic work in face of a global health crisis, the officials in charge have caused a grave incident that created a huge crisis for the safety of the country and its people,” the state-run KCNA news agency quoted Kim as telling a meeting of the ruling party’s politburo.

Read more at: North Korea Covid-19 outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’ | North Korea | The Guardian

North Korea Covid-19: outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has sacked several senior party officials over a “grave” coronavirus incident that had threatened public safety, fuelling speculation that the coronavirus has breached the country’s defences.

“In neglecting important decisions by the party that called for organisational, material and science and technological measures to support prolonged anti-epidemic work in face of a global health crisis, the officials in charge have caused a grave incident that created a huge crisis for the safety of the country and its people,” the state-run KCNA news agency quoted Kim as telling a meeting of the ruling party’s politburo.

Read more at: North Korea Covid-19 outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’ | North Korea | The Guardian

Kim Jong Un says North Korea is ′especially prepared for confrontation′ with US

Kim Jong Un said North Korea should be prepared for "confrontation" with the United States, state media reported on Friday.

At a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with the White House, bearing in mind the "policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Read more at: Kim Jong Un says North Korea is ′especially prepared for confrontation′ with US | News | DW | 17.06.2021

N.Korea: Intercontinental Missile: North Korea′s massive new intercontinental missile

 A grand military parade in North Korea has left analysts concerned about the nuclear threat posed by the hermit nation. The cause of their worry is the showcasing of a new missile that might be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and targeting American cities.

Read more at: 
North Korea′s massive new intercontinental missile | DW News - latest news and breaking stories | DW | 12.10.2020

North Korea; Kim Jong Un makes ′first public appearance in weeks′

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ended weeks of speculation over his health by appearing in public, according to state news agency KCNA. Kim reportedly attended the completion of a fertilizer plant near Pyongyang.

Read more at :
https://www.dw.com/en/kim-jong-un-makes-first-public-appearance-in-weeks/a-53307940

Nuclear Proliferation: The Road to a Nuclear Breakout: Comparing Iran and North Korea

 Even though North Korea and Iran differ like the proverbial chalk and cheese, there are enough fundamental similarities pertaining to their nuclear ambitions to derive worrying predictive value from Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons development. Correspondingly, Tehran’s recent threat to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should not be taken lightly.

Read more at: The Road to a Nuclear Breakout: Comparing Iran and North Korea – The Diplomat

North Korea abandons nuclear freeze pledge, blames 'brutal' U.S. sanctions - Reuters

North Korea said on Tuesday it was no longer bound by commitments to halt nuclear and missile testing, blaming the United States’ failure to meet a year-end deadline for nuclear talks and “brutal and inhumane” U.S. sanctions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un set an end-December deadline for denuclearization talks with the United States and White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said at the time the United States had opened channels of communication.

O’Brien said then he hoped Kim would follow through on denuclearization commitments he made at summits with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Read more at: North Korea abandons nuclear freeze pledge, blames 'brutal' U.S. sanctions - Reuters

North Korea US relations: North Korea to develop new ′strategic′ weapon: says Kim

Kim Jong Un has declared that "the world will witness a new strategic weapon" in the near future. The North Korean leader has said that Pyongyang will no longer abide by its earlier nuclear promises.

Read more at:
https://www.dw.com/en/north-korea-to-develop-new-strategic-weapon-kim/a-51847713

USA - Defense Spending: U.S. lawmakers reach deal on massive defense bill, eye Russia, Turkey, China

U.S. lawmakers announced an agreement on Monday on a $738-billion bill setting policy for the Department of Defense, including new measures for competing with Russia and China, family leave for federal workers and the creation of President Donald Trump’s long-desired Space Force.

It also calls for sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of a Russian missile defense system, and a tough response to North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Armed Services Committees agreed on a compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, after months of negotiations. It is expected to pass before Congress leaves Washington later this month for the year-end holiday break.

Read more at: U.S. lawmakers reach deal on massive defense bill, eye Russia, Turkey, China - Reuters

N.Korea-US relations: North Korea says no interest in Trump summit until 'hostile policy' removed

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its “hostile policy” towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters after meeting Russian officials in Moscow it would be “impossible” to hold another summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if he maintains his current stance towards the North.

“To negotiate with the United States going forward, we would be able to discuss nuclear issues again when it withdraws all of its hostile policy against us,” Choe said, according to Yonhap.

Note EU-Digest: Looks like the "Great Dealmaker" failed again !

Read more: North Korea says no interest in Trump summit until 'hostile policy' removed - Reuters

USA: Trump fires hawk John Bolton from his Cabinet

Donald Trump says he has fired US national security advisor John Bolton

Read more at:
https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/10/donald-trump-says-he-has-fired-us-national-security-advisor-john-bolton

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North KOREA-RUSSIA RELATIONS: Putin meets with Kim as Kim says he will need security guarantees to give up Nukes

Putin meets with Kim, says North Korea will need security guarantees to give up nukes

Putin says he will contact Washington and discuss with his buddy Donald Trump.

Read more at:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/putin-meets-with-kim-says-north-korea-will-need-security-guarantees-to-give-up-nukes-1.5110137

North Korea: Pompeo "confident" there will be a third summit with North Korea - CBS News

Despite two failed attempts at brokering a firm agreement to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he's confident a third summit will take place between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Speaking to "CBS This Morning" on Friday, Pompeo would not provide a clear date or location for this third meeting, but expressed hope that it would take place "soon." Pompeo acknowledged that while "we didn't get as far as the world is demanding," the two leaders left Hanoi with a "deeper understanding of each other."

"The positions that the two sides had, the two leaders were able to make progress in that respect," he said. In February, President Trump told reporters in Vietnam he and Kim were unable to sign an agreement as scheduled largely because they disagreed on sanctions and nuclear facilities.

Read more at: Pompeo "confident" there will be a third summit with North Korea - CBS News

USA - Voodoo Economics: Trump budget to propose slashing domestic Spending and boosting defense - by Damien Paletta Erica Werner

President Trump on Monday will propose major spending cuts across a range of domestic government programs while seeking a large increase for the Pentagon, a budget plan that’s already encountering withering opposition from Democrats who control the House, as well as some Republicans.

The budget has little chance of becoming law because of bipartisan resistance to many of its elements, but it sets forth the White House’s vision ahead of what is expected to be a fierce battle over government spending later this year.

Even with deep spending cuts, the president’s plan would not balance the budget until the mid-2030s, two people briefed on the plan said, falling short of the 10-year time frame that Republicans have sought for years. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the plan ahead of its public release..

Read more: Trump budget to propose slashing domestic spending, boosting defense

Hanoi Summit: Trump and Kim abruptly cut short summit after failing to reach nuclear deal - by Philip Rucker, Simon Denyer, David Nakamura

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un abruptly cut short their two-day summit Thursday after they were unable to reach an agreement to dismantle Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons.

Talks collapsed unexpectedly amid a disagreement about economic sanctions, with the two leaders and their delegations departing their meeting site in Vietnam’s capital without sitting for a planned lunch or participating in a scheduled signing ceremony.

Read more: Trump and Kim abruptly cut short summit after failing to reach nuclear deal

USA - Impeachment process Donald Trump kicked off: Trump’s bid for history in Hanoi is overwhelmed by Michael Cohen spectacle in Washington - by Philip Rucker and Josh Dawsey

The Process has begun

President Trump spent Wednesday in Vietnam cozying up to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over grilled sirloin and chocolate lava cake and reaching for the legacy he wants: the great dealmaker negotiating a historic nuclear arms accord.

But halfway around the globe, an entirely different legacy for Trump was thrust to the fore by his longtime personal attorney and fixer — that of an alleged con man, liar, racist and, ultimately, criminal.

Michael Cohen’s explosive testimony to Congress was not only potentially humiliating for Trump. It also portrayed the president as an unreliable and dishonest man at the very moment he is conducting diplomacy with the world’s most erratic and untrusting dictator. And it propelled Trump’s presidency into greater legal and political peril.

On a day when two events of potentially lasting importance played out simultaneously some 8,300 miles apart, the spectacle in Washington overwhelmed the one in Hanoi.

This reality came into sharp relief as Trump sat down with Kim for a one-on-one chat before dinner here on Wednesday evening. Trump had just boasted of his warm relationship with the North Korean dictator, whom he called “a great leader,” when a reporter asked for his reaction to Cohen’s testimony. Trump did not respond and simply shook his head. But shortly thereafter, that reporter and three others were banned by the White House from covering the dinner because of what Trump press secretary Sarah Sanders called “sensitivities to the shouted questions.”

Cohen’s testimony added to the investigative morass that has consumed Trump’s presidency and served as a reminder of its continual state of turmoil. Although he sat in a hearing room addressing the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, 

Cohen might as well have been talking directly to his former boss when he said:

“I have fixed things,” he said, “but I am no longer your fixer, Mr. Trump.”

Read more: Trump’s bid for history in Hanoi is overwhelmed by Michael Cohen’s spectacle in Washington - The Washington Post

USA - Venezuela - North Korea: Trumps legal reckoning coming - are his worst troubles yet to come - or will he use Venezuela and North Korea to divert attention to his problems?

Trump faces a legal reckoning – but are his worst troubles yet to come?

Read more at:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/24/trump-faces-a-legal-reckoning-this-week-but-are-his-worst-troubles-yet-to-come?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

North Korea US Realtions: - Trump Kim Jong Summit: Kim Jong Un sets off to meet Trump - amid warnings of a food crisis in North Korea and Mueller Report in US - by Saskia O'Donoghue

 The North Korean leader is set to meet the U.S. President for their second summit in Vietnam as the Asian nation say they've been forced to slash food rations

Read more: \
Kim Jong Un sets off to meet Trump - amid warnings of a food crisis