North Korea claims to have “successfully” test-fired new long-range cruise missiles, which hit their targets 1,500 km away
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency describes the missiles as a “strategic weapon of great significance”.
The tests took place over the weekend, just days after the reclusive nation celebrated the 73rd anniversary of its founding with a late night military parade.
State media says the missiles flew for 7,580 seconds along “oval and pattern-8 flight orbits” and landed in the nation’s territorial waters.
The missile tests are the first that Pyongyang has carried out since March. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un does not appear to have been in attendance for the launches.
Bruce Wolpe from the United States Studies Centre says North Korea wants to create some attention.
“When Kim engages in these acts, he’s essentially saying pay attention to me… don’t forget I’m here. And he rattles the cage,” Wolpe told Ticker News.
The Korean Central News Agency says the test provides “strategic significance of possessing another effective deterrence means for more reliably guaranteeing the security of our state and strongly containing the military manoeuvres of the hostile forces”.
“The development of the long-range cruise missiles, a strategic weapon … has been promoted according to the scientific and reliable weapon system development process over the past two years.”
north korea state media
STALLED NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS
The latest missile tests come amid a protracted standoff between North Korea and the United States.
Negotiations to get North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal have remained stalled since 2019.
Pyongyang says it won’t give up its nuclear weapons, while America pursues a “hostile” policy.
Bruce Wolpe believes U.S. President Joe Biden will see the missile tests as justification for his decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan.
“It affirms, at least in President Biden’s mind, the wisdom of the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan because there are other issues that need his attention and focus,” Bruce Wolpe says.
The U.S special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, is visiting Japan this week to meet with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan.
One of the pressing issues up for discussion is how to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula.
But as history shows, it’s no easy feat.
The Biden administration says the best way to address the nuclear threat is through diplomacy and dialogue.
The special envoy has even offered to meet his North Korean counterparts “anywhere, anytime without preconditions.”
Spotify’s 2023 Wrapped has dropped prompting listeners to review their top artists, genres, and songs of the year.
Many are taking to social media platforms to share their listening trends with family, friends, coworkers, and even other fans on the internet.
While Apple Music, a rival platform, has its own year-end campaign—it hasn’t quite ignited the same online response.
Seth Schachner, the Managing Director at StratAmericas and a former Sony Music Executive joins Veronica Dudo to discuss. #Spotify #music #Apple #AppleMusic #SpotifyWrapped #streaming #featured #IN AMERICA TODAY
Coles and Woolworths, two of Australia’s largest supermarket chains, are about to face a Senate inquiry that aims to scrutinise their market dominance and business practices.
The inquiry’s parallels with a past New Zealand investigation highlight the growing concern over the duopoly’s impact on consumers and smaller businesses.
The Senate inquiry, set to begin next month, comes as a response to mounting public pressure and allegations of anti-competitive behavior in the grocery sector.
New Zealand example
Similar concerns led New Zealand to conduct its own inquiry into the supermarket industry back in 2019, resulting in recommendations for increased regulation and transparency.
The central question here is whether Coles and Woolworths wield too much power in the Australian market, potentially stifling competition and limiting choices for consumers.
With the New Zealand example as a cautionary tale, many are wondering if this inquiry will result in meaningful changes to the Australian grocery landscape.
Elon Musk has thrown a verbal jab at former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, declaring her political campaign as “dead” on X.
The unexpected comment from the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has ignited a new wave of discussion within the political sphere, leaving many wondering about the implications for Haley’s political future.
In a tweet that garnered significant attention, Musk criticized Haley’s recent policy stance, writing, “Nikki Haley’s campaign is dead on arrival if she continues to ignore the urgency of climate change.
We need leaders who prioritize the planet’s future.” The tech mogul’s remarks come as Haley, a prominent Republican figure, has been exploring the possibility of running for president in the upcoming election cycle.
Musk’s statement has reignited the debate over climate change within the Republican Party, with many conservatives emphasizing economic interests over environmental concerns.
This raises questions about whether Musk’s endorsement or critique could influence the GOP’s stance on climate issues and potentially impact the 2024 presidential race.