#JAPAN: PM Condemns North Korean Missile raw Test

[world politics news]

Japan warned it's citizens to take cover after North Korea fires missile over country. People in Tokyo watched the path of the missile on news reports displayed on the streets.

Japan reacted with anger after North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile high over the north of the country Tuesday morning, prompting the suspension of trains and warnings for citizens take cover.

The missile, which appeared to be an intermediate-range weapon, was beyond the earth’s atmosphere when it passed above Japan and caused no damage or disturbance to anyone on the ground. It was the first time in five years that a North Korean test has been carried out on such a course and it provoked an immediate and furious reaction throughout the region.

Japan's prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said:“This is an outrage, following the recent repeated launches of ballistic missiles and we strongly condemn it”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#NORTHKOREA: Kim Jung-Un Takes New Title At Party Congress

[world politics news] 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been  given a new title, "general secretary" of the ruling Workers' Party, formerly held by his late father and grandfather, state media reported Monday, in what appears to a symbolic move aimed at bolstering his authority amid growing economic challenges.

The party's ongoing congress, the first of its kind in five years, announced Kim's new title during its sixth-day session.

Since inheriting power upon his father's death in late 2011, Kim, 37, has gradually consolidated his grip on power through a series of high-profile executions and purges that removed potential rivals.

The Kim family has ruled North Korea with a strong personality cult that elevated key family members to a god-like status since Kim Il Sung founded the country in 1948.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NORTHKOREA: Kim Convenes Rare Party Meeting To Discuss "Crucial Issues" Poss. Related To Nuclear Talks

[world politics news]

North Korea says it will convene a key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party later this month to decide on "crucial issues," raising speculation that a major policy change could be forthcoming, possibly with regard to nuclear negotiations with the United States.

North Korea decided to "convene the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK in the latter part of December in order to discuss and decide on crucial issues in line with the needs of the development of the Korean revolution and the changed situation at home and abroad," the Korean Central News Agency said.

The meeting, the first of its kind in about eight months, is expected to be focused on a possible policy change in its nuclear disarmament talks with the US as the year-end deadline, which Pyongyang set for the United States to make a new negotiating proposal, is drawing closer.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Politicians Angered By Trump's Statement About Getting "Approval" Before Lifting Sanctions

[world politics news]

Pres. Trump’s statement that South Korea would not lift sanctions on North Korea without America’s “approval” has not gone down well in South Korea, prompting criticism from activists and politicians from across the political spectrum.

Trump’s comment came after South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha hinted that sanctions put in place on Pyongyang after the North’s torpedo attack on the country’s Cheonan warship could be lifted, a remark that she has retraced.

Trump said Wednesday, “They won’t do it without our approval. They do nothing without our approval,” a comment that has been widely branded as “condescending” and “an infringement of sovereignty.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Foreign Min. Gives Blessing To Upcoming US/N. Korea Talks

[world politics news]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says that China supports North Korea's upcoming summit meetings with Seoul and Washington and that China will continue to work for denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula. The statement comes after a rare out-of-country visit to China by North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jun-un.

Pictured: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) shakes hands with Ri Yong-ho, foreign minister for North Korea, in Beijing.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: PM Abe's Hard Line Against N. Korea Pays Off In Strong New Election Mandate

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has secured a strong mandate for his hard line against North Korea and room to push for revision of the country’s pacifist constitution after his party crushed untested opposition parties in Sunday’s general election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SOUTHKOREA: New Pres. Moon Taking "Softer" Approach To North Korean Neighbors

[world politics news]

South Korea says it wants to re-establish lines of communication with North Korea, as new President Moon Jae-in seeks a two-track policy involving sanctions and dialogue with its reclusive neighbor to rein in its nuclear and missile programs. The two countries are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North has ignored calls to curb its weapons programs, defending them as necessary to counter US hostility.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Rare Military Parade In Japan Amid N. Korea Tensions

[world politics news]

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force’s 14th Brigade rumbled through the city of Zentsuji, Kagawa Prefecture, last Sunday during a rare parade replete with combat vehicles. Over 15,000 were on hand to watch the spectacle, which included tanks, armored trucks and 450 GSDF troops marching near Zentsuji Temple.. The event was rescheduled from last year due to local earthquake aftivity, but the timing - coming amid increased tensions in the region between North Korea and it's neighbors - couldn't have been a coincidence. The 14th Brigade will replace its tanks with new eight-wheeled fighting vehicles next year.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Sanctions Against North Korea Extended By Two Years

[world politics news]

Japan's government has decided to extend sanctions on North Korea by 2 years. They were originally set to expire on April 13. At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, ministers approved extending the trade embargo and the banning of North Korean vessels from entering Japanese ports except for humanitarian purposes.

Photo: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

#SOUTHKOREA: Assembly Speaker Proposes Controversial Joint Resolution With US Congress Over End of WWII

[world politics news]

South Korea's National Assembly is proposing a "joint resolution" with the US Congress to commemorate 70 years of peace in Asia since the end of World War II, but some fear it may touch on controversial subjects like North Korea's nuclear ambitions and Japan's failure to admit to war crimes against Korean women.

Photo: Rep. Chung Ui-hwa, the Speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly

#SOUTHKOREA: Pres. Park Geun-hye Concerned Over Pro-North Korea Lectures

[world politics news]

South Korean Pres. Park Guen-hye has expressed concern about "certain people" (notably a Korean-American woman lecturing throughout the country) praising the North Korean dictatorship. It's illegal in South Korea to praise, encourage or propagandize North Korean political ideals.

#NORTHKOREA: China Unlikely to Send Delegation to Important Third Anniversary of NKorean Dictator's Death

[world politics news]

Chinese officials apparently have yet to be invited to the milestone anniversary of the death of North Korea's former dictator, and may not attend, say sources. Dec. 17 ends a 3-year mourning period after which, Kim Jung-un can begin implementing his own policies. Nuclear tests have strained relations with China.

#NORTHKOREA: Kim Jung-Un Misses Another Important Meeting, Further Stirring Coup Rumors

[world politics news]

North Korea held a national meeting Tuesday marking the 17th anniversary of late leader Kim Jong-il's ascension to power. The nation's current leader, Kim Jong-un, however, was absent from the annual event to commemorate his father, further stirring rumors that he has been overthrown. He has not been seen in public in over a month.

#NORTHKOREA

Kim Jung-Un Wins 100% Victory in Sham Election, Now A Member of Parliament [world politics news]

#NORTHKOREA

Election Held in NK, But Only the Dictator's Name Will Be On the Ballot [world politics news]

#JAPAN

Member Banned From Upper House for 30 Days For N. Korea Visit [world politics news]

#SOUTHKOREA

Gov't Moves to Ban Small, Pro-North Korean Leftist Party [world politics news]

Lee Jung-hee, chairwoman of the opposition far-left United Progressive Party

#JAPAN

Officials Irritated by UN Sec. General's Comments About Japan's Relations With Neighbors [world politics news]

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a former South Korean foreign minister

#SOUTHKOREA

Preparedness Comments by S. Korean Pres. Park Slammed by N. Korean Gov't [world politics news]

S. KOREA: Pres. Tells Military to React "Powerfully" Against Provocation from North [world politics news]