International News
North Korea: Kim Jong Un Orders Military To Prepare For Possible War
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has escalated tensions with fresh threats of a potential nuclear strike on Seoul and a directive for a significant buildup of the country’s military.
In a lengthy speech concluding five days of crucial year-end party meetings shaping North Korea’s policy decisions for 2024, Kim Jong Un directed scathing remarks toward the United States.
These meetings revealed a blueprint for extensive military development in the upcoming year, as outlined by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Plans include launching three new spy satellites, advancing unmanned drone technology, enhancing electronic warfare capabilities, and fortifying the nation’s nuclear and missile forces.
Following the meeting, Kim Jong Un accused the United States of presenting “various types of military threat.
He directed North Korea’s armed forces to uphold an “overwhelming war response capability,” emphasizing readiness in the face of perceived threats from the United States.
Kim said “It is a “fait accompli that a war can break out at any time on the Korean peninsula due to reckless moves by the enemies to invade us.”
In an attempt to dissuade Pyongyang, Washington recently deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan and engaged in joint drills with Seoul and Tokyo, involving long-range bombers.
The North has previously condemned the deployment of Washington’s strategic weapons, like B-52 bombers, in joint exercises on the Korean peninsula, labeling them as “intentional nuclear war provocative moves.”
Kim said “We must respond quickly to a possible nuclear crisis and continue to accelerate preparations to pacify the entire territory of South Korea by mobilising all physical means and forces, including nuclear force, in case of emergency.”
During the meeting, Kim Jong Un declared a shift in strategy, stating that North Korea would no longer pursue reconciliation or reunification with South Korea.
He attributed the ongoing “persisting uncontrollable crisis situation” to actions taken by Seoul and Washington.
Inter-Korean relations have reached a nadir this year, aggravated by Pyongyang’s spy satellite launch, leading Seoul to partially suspend a 2018 military agreement designed to ease tensions between the two nations.
“I believe that it is a mistake that we should no longer make to consider the people who declare us as the ‘main enemy’… as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification,” KCNA cited Kim as saying.
Kim Jong Un has directed the formulation of plans to restructure departments handling cross-border affairs, aiming to “fundamentally shift the direction.”
Leif Easley, an international relations professor at Ewha University in Seoul, suggested that North Korea’s emphasis on its “significant military capabilities” might be a strategic move to divert attention from its poor economic performance this year.
Easley highlighted that much of the content published by state-controlled media constitutes recycled propaganda.
He remarked that Pyongyang’s aggressive rhetoric likely serves purposes beyond deterrence, potentially involving domestic politics and international influence.
Having declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power last year, Pyongyang has consistently reiterated its refusal to abandon its nuclear program, considering it vital for the regime’s survival.
Since its initial nuclear test in 2006, the United Nations Security Council has issued numerous resolutions urging North Korea to cease its nuclear and ballistic missile programs
In a controversial move, Republican Representative Andy Ogles has introduced a resolution aimed at amending the U.S. Constitution to permit former and current President Donald Trump to run for a third term in office.
The proposal, announced on Thursday, seeks to revise the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms.
Ogles argued that Trump is uniquely equipped to address the nation’s challenges and lead a turnaround for the United States.
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“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times,” Ogles said in his statement. “He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness. He must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal.”
The congressman also underscored the importance of giving Trump the tools needed to address what he described as damage caused by the Biden administration.
“We must provide Trump with every resource necessary to correct the disastrous course set by the Biden administration,” he added.
“He is dedicated to restoring the republic and saving our country, and we, as legislators and as states, must do everything in our power to support him.”
The resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to modify the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified in 1951 following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four-term presidency from 1933 to 1945.
Roosevelt’s extended time in office spurred fears of presidential overreach, leading to the adoption of term limits.
Trump, who won the 2024 presidential election and returned to office, has previously downplayed the idea of seeking a third term.
However, during a conversation with Republican lawmakers, he humorously alluded to the possibility.
“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you do something,” Trump said. “Unless you say, ‘he’s so good, we have to just figure it out.’”
Ogles lauded Trump’s actions during his second term, citing executive orders aimed at securing the southern border, restricting gender identities to male and female, boosting energy production, and withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
These measures, according to Ogles, demonstrate Trump’s ability to restore America’s standing and address critical issues.
The 22nd Amendment, proposed in 1947 and ratified four years later, was designed to uphold the principle of limited presidential terms first established by George Washington, the nation’s first president.
Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms, warning against any president serving so long as to resemble a monarch or dictator.
Republicans currently hold a slim three-seat majority in the House of Representatives, but amending the Constitution is a daunting task.
The proposed amendment would require approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, as well as ratification by three-fourths of the states—a high bar in today’s deeply divided political climate.
While Ogles’ proposal is unlikely to succeed, it reflects the enduring loyalty Trump commands among his supporters and within the Republican Party.
The resolution has already drawn criticism from opponents who argue it undermines democratic principles, while supporters insist it is necessary to allow Trump to complete what they view as his mission to “restore America’s greatness.”
Bangkok authorities closed more than 350 schools on Friday due to hazardous air pollution, marking the largest mass closure since 2020.
This comes as the Thai capital was ranked the world’s seventh-most polluted major city, according to air quality monitor IQAir.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced that 352 schools across 31 districts were shut down to protect students from the worsening air quality.
By Friday morning, PM2.5 pollutant levels — fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream — reached 108 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 15 micrograms for daily exposure.
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Air pollution in Southeast Asia typically spikes during the colder months, as stagnant air combines with smoke from crop burning and vehicle emissions.
Authorities reported that this week’s pollution levels were among the highest in years, prompting measures not seen since the pandemic.
On Thursday, more than 250 schools in Bangkok were already closed, and city officials urged residents to work from home while restricting heavy vehicles from entering the capital.
The Interior Ministry has also banned the agricultural practice of stubble burning, threatening legal action against offenders.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, speaking from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, called for urgent measures to combat the crisis, including limiting construction projects and cooperating with neighboring countries.
Both Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh also ranked among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on Friday, with their governments facing mounting pressure to address air quality concerns.
Despite international attention, Cambodian authorities downplayed the issue, stating that their air quality remained within acceptable levels.
“Other countries have their own standards. Cambodia has our own standard to determine the air quality,” said Environment Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya.
In a historic move, Turkey’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, has resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after a 13-year suspension.
The first flight, carrying 349 passengers, departed from Istanbul International Airport on Thursday morning, according to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.
The resumption of flights marks the end of a pause dating back to April 2012, when the airline suspended operations due to the onset of the Syrian civil war.
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The decision comes as relations between the two nations improve and reflects a growing trend of Syrians returning to their homeland after years of displacement.
Turkey, which hosts approximately 3 million Syrian refugees—the highest number worldwide—has witnessed many Syrians preparing to return home.
Anadolu reported that several passengers on Thursday’s flight were traveling to Syria for the first time in over a decade.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” said Ahmet Kiraz, a passenger who had lived in Turkey since 2012. Kiraz expressed his disbelief at finally being able to return home, a moment he had thought might never come.
Images from the scene showed travelers boarding the plane with the Syrian flag draped across their shoulders, a symbol of both pride and a longing for their homeland.
Turkish Airlines announced plans to operate three flights per week to Damascus, with further details expected to be disclosed later in the day.
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