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”.
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.”
Donald Trump left Washington and then stunned the political world.
Just hours after a smooth meeting with President Biden, Trump announced that Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is his pick for attorney general.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill were reportedly shocked, with some openly questioning if Gaetz could win Senate confirmation.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said he needs time to think it over, while Senator Susan Collins admitted she was “shocked.”
Gaetz has faced a House ethics investigation but denies any wrongdoing, and some Republican colleagues have shown reluctance due to his role in ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In a bold move, Trump is even considering recess appointments to bypass Senate approval, sparking fresh concerns among lawmakers.
The incoming administration plans to slash $2 trillion in spending, with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency.
President-elect Donald Trump has announced a bold initiative to streamline the federal government’s operations and budget, enlisting two high-profile figures to spearhead the effort.
The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency will be led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, known for revolutionizing multiple industries, and biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy.
Their ambitious plan aims to cut at least $2 trillion in federal expenditures through rigorous review and restructuring.
Musk’s reputation as an innovator and disruptor positions him uniquely to challenge entrenched bureaucratic inefficiencies.
The initiative reflects Trump’s broader vision of reshaping government operations to prioritize fiscal responsibility, tapping into the private sector’s ingenuity.
Ramaswamy, noted for his entrepreneurial approach and advocacy for economic modernization, is expected to bolster the department’s strategic framework.
The Department of Government Efficiency’s creation signals a significant pivot towards aggressive budgetary reform and oversight.
While critics express concerns about potential impacts on public services and employment, supporters argue that the move is long overdue to ensure taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively.
As plans unfold, the department’s success will likely depend on navigating political challenges and maintaining public trust in its mission to overhaul federal spending.