#denuclearization in North Korea

[beardedmrbean]

North Korea said a second attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit failed early Thursday, but the reclusive country vowed to launch another in the coming months.

The Malligyeong-1 reconnaissance satellite was mounted on a new type of carrier rocket called the Chollima-1 and launched from a station in North Pyongan province in the early morning hours, according to the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA). The first and second stages "all flew normally, but failed due to an error in the emergency explosion system during the flight of the third stage," KCNA said in a statement.

North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration is investigating the cause of the accident and plans to attempt a third launch in October, according to KCNA.

North Korea attempted to launch its first spy satellite on May 31, but it crashed into the West Sea after an "abnormal starting" of the second-stage engine, KCNA said at the time.

MORE: North Korea satellite launch fails, with another promised as 'soon as possible'

In 2018, North Korea claimed to have put a satellite into space but international analysts later said that wasn't true.

Thursday's second attempt coincided with joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, which North Korea has long denounced.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan all issued statements "strongly" condemning North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology for its launch, which despite its failure they said is in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The three allies also reaffirmed their commitment to work closely together to achieve "complete denuclearization" of North Korea in line with the U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"This space launch involved technologies that are directly related to the DPRK intercontinental ballistic missile program," Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, said in a statement, using the acronym for North Korea's official name. "The President’s national security team is assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners."

"The door has not closed on diplomacy but Pyongyang must immediately cease its provocative actions and instead choose engagement," Watson added. "The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and the defense of our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies."MORE: US, Japan and South Korea's leaders hold historic meeting as threats from China, North Korea loom large

The incident was assessed as not posting "an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or that of our allies," according to a statement from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which noted that it would "continue to monitor the situation."

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement the military "was prepared in advance through identifying signs of an imminent launch."

The office for Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that he held a telephone call with his South Korean and U.S. counterparts on Thursday morning to discuss North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch. The three officials agreed that the launches are happening "in an unprecedented frequency and in new manners" and that they "constitute a grave and imminent threat to the regional security and pose a clear and serious challenge to the international community," according to a statement from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Group of Seven, an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the U.S., also released a statement condemning "in the strongest terms" North Korea's launch.

[mariacallous]

Today is Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, marking 70 years of the signing of the Korean War armistice agreement and of the alliance between the United States and South Korea. That alliance has become one of the United States’ strongest, adapting over the decades to maintain our shared economic and security goals while remaining focused on shared values of freedom, democracy, and rule of law. An end-of-war declaration undermines these shared values that U.S. and Korean forces fought for 70 years ago and cedes leverage to the North Korean regime.

I know South Korea. As a Korean American who grew up in South Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War, this is personal to me and guides my work in the U.S. Congress as chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I was born in Incheon, where U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur made his famous landing to push the North Korean army north of the 38th parallel.

The South Korea I grew up in during the 1960s was very different from the South Korea we know today. It was under the rule of a dictatorship, and still recovering from the war’s devastation. This is the South Korea that vividly remains in my memories as a young girl, when I saw my first glimpse of freedom and opportunity as I looked up, wide-eyed from the side of the road, at U.S. soldiers throwing candy from their trucks.

In my lifetime, South Korea has transformed from the donor recipient country I knew as a child to the highly developed donor country I visit today. South Korea has blossomed into an industrialized “start-up nation,” boasting the world’s 10th-largest economy, leading the world in the development of innovative technologies, and transforming into a reliable partner in security and global affairs for the free world.

During his joint address to the U.S. Congress in April, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol touted how far South Korea has come: “Seoul was once reduced to ashes. Now it is one of the world’s most vibrant digital cities. Busan was once flooded with war refugees. Now it is the world’s second-largest port city in terms of transshipment volume.”

As more time passes, today’s modern and successful South Korea is the only one known by many South Koreans and Americans. As memories of devastation from the Korean War fade, many are pushing the idea that the only way to make progress on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is to make unilateral concessions to get the Kim regime back to the negotiation table. In other words, less sticks, and more carrots.

A bill was recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to codify unilateral concessions and support a formal end-of-war declaration. The Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act (H.R. 1369) directs the Department of State to review current restrictions barring U.S. nationals from traveling to North Korea for travel that qualifies as “in the national interest” of the United States, and it calls on the secretary of state to actively promote meetings “with a view to replacing the Armistice Agreement with a peace agreement and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime.” Further, it calls on the secretary to “pursue serious, urgent diplomatic engagement with North Korea and South Korea in pursuit of a binding peace agreement constituting a formal and final end to the state of war between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States.”

The big problem here is that North Korea has consistently failed to abide by previous attempts to make peace on the Korean Peninsula. In 1992, South Korea and North Korea agreed to the Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression, and Exchanges and Cooperation Between the South and North, which states that “the two sides shall endeavor together to transform the present state of armistice into a solid state of peace between the South and the North and shall abide by the present Military Armistice Agreement until such state of peace has been realized.”

In 2007, the South and North agreed to the Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace, and Prosperity, which states, “the South and the North have agreed not to antagonize each other, reduce military tension, and resolve issues in dispute through dialogue and negotiation. The South and the North have agreed to oppose war on the Korean Peninsula and to adhere strictly to their obligation to nonaggression.” Most recently, the two sides agreed to “build a permanent and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula” in the Panmunjom Declaration.

That’s a lot of words promising peace—and almost no actual follow-up from Pyongyang’s side. Can anyone honestly assess that North Korea has met its obligations to “not antagonize” South Korea and “reduce military tension” as it launches intercontinental ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan and gears up to conduct another nuclear test? The precedents show that the Kim regime, even if it agreed to a permanent peace, would not abide by the terms of such an agreement.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is not a reliable negotiator, engages in illegal activity to circumvent sanctions on the country’s nuclear weapons program, and has declared the armistice agreement as invalid. Time and time again, he has shown that he cannot be trusted and has no interest in formally pursing an end to the Korean War. In 2021, Kim Jong Un’s vice foreign minister shot down former South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s call for peace, characterizing it as premature. There is no reason for us to think otherwise.

There would also be immediate security consequences for South Korea and the region if a peace declaration, like previous agreements and declarations, were determined by North Korea to be invalid or premature.

A likely predicate for a peace treaty would be the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea The United States currently has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, which is the third-largest U.S. military presence in a foreign country. Since the signing of the 1953 armistice, these troops have served as a deterrent to another North Korean invasion or nuclear attack.

Yoon also made clear as a presidential candidate last year that he opposes an end-of-war agreement, saying that “you cannot protect national security and peace with paper and ink.” Most of the South Korean public agrees with this stance. These U.S. forces also give the United States the capability to conduct routine joint military exercises in response to North Korean, Chinese, and Russian provocations in the Indo-Pacific. Removing forces from South Korea before the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea would have disastrous consequences and put tens of millions of Korean, American, and Japanese lives at risk.

Peace on the Korean Peninsula cannot be achieved through words alone—it requires action. Binding guarantees can only be ensured through strength, and giving concessions to authoritarians who have no real interest in peace only prompts further aggression. History has given us no reason to think otherwise. In 1938, the U.K. and France conceded the annexation of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany, believing that the concession would stop Germany’s expansion. By 1945, most of Europe was in ruins. In 2014, the free world timidly responded to Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula but failed to take concrete action. Today, in 2023, Ukraine is fighting for its existence.

The United States and South Korea should pursue a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula only when certain conditions are met by North Korea, and they should remain firm on those conditions. They should include the irreversible destruction and dismantling of all nuclear facilities and weapons, a complete cessation of all illicit activities to evade sanctions, and improvements on human rights.

The memories of the destruction of the Korean War are fading—which shows how far we have come. Today, as we reflect on the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice agreement, we must commit to never let the plight of the North Korean people become a peripheral concern and remember that the success of the U.S.-South Korea alliance stems from strength and resilience, not concessions to authoritarians.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 17, 2023 (Thursday)

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

Philip Stephens of Financial Times today pointed out how much global politics has changed since 2016. That was the year of Brexit and Trump, when those calling for national sovereignty and iron-bound borders seemed to have the upper hand, and it seemed we were entering a new era in which nations would hunker down and international cooperation was a thing of the past.

But now, just seven years later, international cooperation is evident everywhere. Stephens pointed out that a series of crises have shown that nations cannot work alone. Migrants fleeing the war in Syria in 2015 made it clear that countries must cooperate to manage national borders. Then Covid showed that we must manage health across political boundaries, and then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proved that European nations—and other countries on other continents—must stand together militarily in their common defense. 

That embrace of cooperation is in no small part thanks to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who have focused on bringing together international coalitions.

The new global stance is on display in the U.S. right now as President Biden hosts the first-ever trilateral summit with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea. This is not an easy meeting—Japan and South Korea have a long history of conflict—but they are working to mend fences* to stand firm against North Korea, including its missile tests, and to present a united front in the face of Chinese power. 

Secretary Blinken noted for reporters on Tuesday that the world is currently being tested by geopolitical competition, climate change, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and nuclear aggressions. “Our heightened engagement is part of our broader efforts to revitalize, to strengthen, to knit together our alliances and partnerships—and in this case, to help realize a shared vision of an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, prosperous, secure, resilient, and connected,” he said. “And what we mean by that is a region where countries are free to chart their own path and to find their own partners, where problems are dealt with openly, where rules are reached transparently and applied fairly, and where goods, ideas, and people can flow lawfully and freely.”

Cooperation between Japan and South Korea “helps us promote peace and stability and furthers our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. It advances our shared values and helps uphold principles of the UN Charter like sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity. It allows us to even more expand opportunity and prosperity.”

Blinken addressed Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion, backed by an international coalition, and reiterated that Ukrainians are upholding “the basic principles—sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence—that are vital to maintaining international peace and security.”

In squeezing Russia, international cooperation has again been vital. The Swiss corporation Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiqes (SITA), which is responsible for booking, flight messaging, baggage tracking, and other airline applications, announced in May that it will leave Russia this autumn. Russian carriers are scrambling. 

Blinken also confirmed that the Biden administration last week achieved a deal with Iran over U.S. prisoners. Iran moved four dual citizens from the infamous Evin Prison to house arrest, and the U.S. is working to get them, along with one more who was already under house arrest, home. In exchange, the U.S. will release several Iranian prisoners along with $6 billion of Iranian oil revenue currently held in South Korea.

Several Republicans have opposed that deal. The senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, James E. Risch of Idaho, said that the “unfreezing” of funds “incentivizes hostage taking & provides a windfall for regime aggression,” and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) called the money “ransom” and said it was a “craven act of appeasement.” 

But in an op-ed on the national security website Defense One, Ryan Costello, the policy director for the National Iranian American Council, called the deal a win-win. The Iranian money will be released to Qatar, which will release it for purchases of food and medicine, which are not sanctioned. Medicine is desperately needed in Iran, and as Biden said in 2020: “Whatever our profound differences with the Iranian government, we should support the Iranian people.”

In his remarks to reporters on Tuesday, Blinken defended the administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan almost exactly two years ago, saying the decision to withdraw was “incredibly difficult” but correct. “We ended America’s longest war,” he said. “For the first time in 20 years, we don’t have another generation of young Americans going to fight and die in Afghanistan. And in turn, that has enabled us to even more effectively meet the many challenges of our time, from great power competition to the many transnational issues that we’re dealing with that are affecting the lives of our people and people around the world.”

He noted that the U.S. continues to be the leading donor of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, contributing about $1.9 billion since 2021, and that the U.S. continues to work to hold the Taliban accountable for the rights of women and girls. 

In Niger, a key U.S. ally in Africa against terrorism, military forces took power from the democratically elected president on July 26, and now the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional union of fifteen countries, has said it will intervene militarily if diplomatic efforts to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power fail. Army chiefs met today in Ghana to discuss creating a standby force. Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, told the meeting: “The focus of our gathering is not simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that results in peace and promote[s] stability." 

Blinken said Tuesday that the U.S. strongly supports the efforts of ECOWAS to restore Niger’s constitutional order, but the African Union apparently opposes intervention out of concern that such intervention might trigger a civil war.

Meanwhile, in Sudan, where the Biden administration hoped working with two rival generals would pressure them to restore civilian democracy, the country has been torn apart as those two generals now vie for power. Days ago, the U.S. government warned of corruption and human rights violations in South Sudan, with one of the rival military forces, the Rapid Support Forces, apparently engaging in widespread targeted killing and sexual violence in the western Sudan region of Darfur.

Yesterday, the State Department called for the two factions to stop fighting. “Every day this senseless conflict continues, more innocent civilians are killed, wounded, and left without homes, food, or livelihoods. The parties must end the bloodshed. There is no acceptable military solution to this conflict,” it said. 

—

*The expression “mending fences” appears to come from U.S. Senator John Sherman (R-OH), who in 1879 told reporters he had to go home to take care of his farm (including mending his fences) when everyone had a pretty shrewd idea he was trying to repair political relationships to shore up support, hoping for a presidential nomination. (It didn’t work: his chief manager was Representative James A. Garfield (R-OH), who ended up getting the nomination himself.)

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[darkmaga-retard]

There seems to be no interest in diplomacy of any kind with Pyongyang now.

Daniel Larison

Aug 20, 2024

Matthew Petti comments on the Democratic Party platform’s bizarre attacks on Trump’s foreign policy for not being hawkish enough:

The Democrats' 2024 platform attacks the very idea of talks with North Korea. Trump's approach, the platform says, was "embarrassing the United States on the world stage including by flattering and legitimizing Kim Jong Un, exchanging 'love letters' with the North Korean dictator."

As Petti notes, attacking Trump for negotiating with North Korea is not new for the Democrats, but it is notable that the previous platform did not condemn engagement with Kim as sharply as it did this time. There seems to be no interest in diplomacy of any kind with Pyongyang now. If we look back at the 2020 platform, there was at least some lip service about dplomacy even if it did have denuclearization as the goal. Then again, the Biden administration never made that diplomacy a priority and spent the last three and a half years letting the problem get worse.

[xnewsinfo]

North Korea has vowed to "completely destroy" its enemies within the occasion of struggle when chief Kim Jong Un offers an order, state media KCNA reported Sunday.Senior navy officers, together with Military Col. Ri Un Ryong and Navy Lt. Commander Yu Kyong Track, made the remarks "due to rising hatred" towards america and South Korea at a gathering on Saturday attended by Kim to have a good time the 71st anniversary of the Korean Warfare armistice, in line with KCNA.North Korea and america don't have any diplomatic ties and talks on decreasing tensions and denuclearizing North Korea have been stalled since 2019. North Korean state media lately mentioned it doesn't anticipate that to vary irrespective of who's elected subsequent within the White Home.Whereas accusing america and South Korea of ​​"being bent on upsetting a nuclear struggle," the navy officers vowed to strengthen struggle effectivity to mount an "overwhelming assault on the enemy at any time immediately and completely destroy them as soon as revered Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un offers an order."On July 27, 1953, North Korea signed an armistice settlement with america and China, ending hostilities in a three-year struggle. American generals signed the settlement on behalf of the United Nations forces supporting South Korea.North Korea calls July 27 "Victory Day," whereas South Korea doesn't have a good time the day with any main occasions.The hostilities ended with a truce, not a treaty, which means that technically either side are nonetheless at struggle.Printed in: July 28, 2024

[animeraider]

Project 2025 will kill you. Yes, you. Sections 6-10 (of 30)

So I've been reading Project 2025 so you don't have to, and I'm going to report on everything I find that is alarming, which is a lot. Part One can be found here.

Section 6 - State Department

First of all they want from day one to have all political appointments start their jobs before they are confirmed. The confirmation process exists for a reason.- to investigate and vett the people filling the positions. Vetting would be bypassed. Only if rejected by the Senate would anyone not get the job. Also, they would place political appointees in positions that do not require Senate confirmation. No one in a leadership position on the morning of January 20 would hold that position at the end of the day.This means zero transition/training. 

There is a whole section entitled "Reboot Ambassadors Worldwide". Again, this would mean no transition period and no people holding offices as placeholders. That happened during the last Trump administration and it was a disaster.

Order an immediate freeze on all efforts to implement unratified treaties and international agreements. Realign the entirety of the State Department to implement the administration policies, not review them. Defer (the exact phrase is "radio silent") to the White House when it wants to take the lead on specific issues. You should really see the part of the last couple of episodes of The West Wing when Santos offers the Secretary of State job to Vinick. The arguments against this approach are striking and well thought out.

Put The State Department on WAR FOOTING when it comes to China. Strictly enforce the doctrine of reciprocity when issuing visas to all foreign nationals - they want to travel here? We have to be allowed to travel there on the same terms. Or we adjust to the terms you use. Suspend the issuance of visas to individuals from any country that does not take back persons expelled from the U.S. Reimplementation of the Remain in Mexico policy. 

Realign the student visa program to align with specific national security interests.

China, along with Iran and Venezuela, are to be considered enemies. Ukraine is to be considered a corrupt regime and only defensive military support should be given. It does acknowledge that Russia's invasion is unlawful, which is the only bright spot in the whole document.

Denuclearize North Korea with direct engagement. Negotiations in person.

Project 2025 declares Mexico as run by Drug Cartels and not any form of Mexican Government, and that a new government must be propped up/established. In the previous posting of this series I talked about the military plan to invade Mexico. I see that supported here.

Exert our influence over South America.

As for the Middle East, despite how it reads Project 2025 is pretty much the same policies that the last 15 Administrations have had: Protect Israel and allow them to protect themselves, deter Iran by any mean necessary, build up friendships with countries that have oil. The document states that this is not what Biden is doing, but in fact it is. He's not quite a blatant about bowing to the Princes and Kings as Trump is, but it still winds up being the same policies.

Leave funding in Africa to the free market. Accept the split of Somalia into two countries (I admit my personal knowledge is weak in this area). Eliminate Boko Haram and similar groups. Stay out of the way when African countries implement laws against the LGBTQAI+ community (this involves a lot of killing) and do not tie aid to policies regarding them or abortion policies. 

Intensify trade with EU countries, but at the same time implement policies that prevent the UK for re-entering the EU.

Greater cooperation with India and accept that Pakistan has issues (Taliban related) that are impossible to overcome. 

Here's a big one: Make the United States' continued participation in NATO reliant upon NATO recognizing that the Arctic Circle is part of the area it must defend. Insist upon open a free-trade routes through the Arctic region, defend from Chinese and Russian Aggression, and run the mission from the Embassy in Nuuk, Greenland. 

Another big set: Withdraw from, or terminated funding for, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and the WHO. Doing only a small amount of that last one under Trump the first time around is what led to COVID. Eliminate Human Rights as a litmus test for what international organizations we fund. Make certain that any funds do not go to groups that fund abortion or any non-"family oriented" goals. 

Come up with a Cyber-space version of "Voice of America". That one's kinda vague, but it's there.

Section 7 - Intelligence Community

I've read this entire section and the most that I can tell you about it is that it's the same horseshit as all the previous secgtions. Make certain posts not require Senate Confirmation, Stop all intelligence missions by the previous administration within 60 days, and reign in a ton of stuff that isn't actually happening but did happen under the previous Trump Administration.

The President directs who gets the daily briefings, and how narrow their focus must be. If he says ignore a situation, it must be ignored. It also demands the immediate use of etechnologies that don't yet exist, like 6G and Quantum cryptography.

And oh yes, more spy satellites. Lots more.

Section 8 - Media Agencies

Turn Voice of America into Fox News or worse. Reinforce the Office of Cuba Propoganda. Turn the MIddle East Broadcast Network into Fox News. Same for Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. Shut down the Open Technology Fund.

Put up a censorship "firewall":on all stories generated through the United States Agency for Global Media. In other words, turn it into a political mouthpiece. Cut it's budget by nearly 20%. Restrict access visas for foriegn journalists. Reinvestment in short-wave radio. You know, the ham radios militias use.

Take away the journalistic independence of all agencies and put them under the perview of the NSA and the State Department.

One more thing. Eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Reduce its budget to zero.

Section 9 - Agency for International Development

This is the part of government that oversees international aid. When we send money to help disaster victims anywhere in the world, this is where it comes from. FEMA is for the US, but the AID (also known as the DFA - Directorate of Foriegn Aid) is for the rest of the world. It is meant to be non-partisan and to help those who need it on an as-needed basis.This is also where the country invests in business all over the world.

Changes here would eliminate all consideration of climate change when investing in other countries. Africa runs on 80% coal and it should stay that way. Any diversity issues are to be ignored. Any civil rights issues should be ignored. Re-emphasis on families at the expense of other agendas, especially those founded on specific religious principles that many people in this country would consider racist, sexist, misogynist, and anti-LGBTQA+.

No funding is to go to any agency that in any way whatsoever supports a pro-abortion agenda, even if they don't offer the service themselves. The Helms amendment is to be expanded to cover all foriegn aid. Specifically promote their own specific religious agenda. 

The office of the head of disbursements is to become a political appointment. Ignore grift by AIDs disbursement organizations in Africa. Focus on family-oriented aid instead of specific disease focused aid. Privatize health care aid in Africa. Take over the World Health Organization.

Tie humanitarian aid to any and all countries to the political agenda of the conservative administration. Farm out aid management to private organizations. Focus aid to countries that allow more American Businesses to establish footholds in their countries. Focus aid on undermining China's influence in southeast Asia. 

The Trump administration took the position that it "solved" the issue of Isreal and that thinking would return. The primary focus would become Iran. Use programs already established by (American) churches in the region to funnel aid through them. 

As for South America, lots of language about free markets and so on, but mostly it's all a disguise for "Fuck Venuzuela". 

The ultimate focus of all of this is to turn all international aid and investment into a political arm and an economic truncheon for the policies of the administration. Some fo that already does happen, but this would become the overriding and only guiding policy to be followed.

There is one thing I find funny in all of this section - it's a specific call out that Japan has invested $30 Billion in Africa in an effort to counter China. That's actually only kind of true. That $30 Billion is for a single project - a high speed rail in Saudi Arabia. Face it, Japan does this better than anyone.

Section 10 - Department of Agriculture

First off, eliminate any consideration of climate change issues in any and all policies within the DofA. Craft a new mission statement that focuses on the "removal of barriers" in terms of delivering food to the public. We're talking about safety regulations.

I know that regulations can be a pain to deal with. But take a look at ANY food regulation. Any of them. The reason it exists is because of a reaction to some people DYING. Policies up through thr Trump administration have all been a reaction to somethning terrible happening. After a few years people forget this happened and Republicans want that regulation gone.

The regulation always returns after people die again.

Defund any and all efforts to push sustainable agriculture (which is the reason people spend less of their income on food, by the way). Eliminate regulations that can have any impact on the cost of food. That's just about every regulation from pesticide levels to wages to working conditions to how much cockroach is allowed in your twinkee. 

The Commodity Credit Corporation is to be used only for farmers and ranchers. During COVID discretionary funds were used to stockpile various foods, which kept people from starving when various food production operations stopped. The ability to do this would be eliminated.

Repeal many of the farm subsudy programs that currently exist. Some of those are the only things that keep small farmers afloat in hard times. Reduce the amount that taxpayers pay in these programs by 20%. That burden would shift to farmers. 

Implement work requirements for Food Stamp and "Snap" aid recipients. Put in requirements for lunches and breakfasts for children in school that would eliminate about 50% of all children currently on the program. Also, move all of this to the Department of Health and Human Services and out of the DofA.

Eliminate funding for leaving land fallow for crop rotation purposes. I guess these people don't actually know farming. Hell, even I know this one and I'm a city kid. Allow farming and ranching in wetlands and federally protected lands. Eliminate Federal food inspections for foods sold accross state lines. 

Eliminatge all "checkoff" programs, which are meant to promote certain food industries and restrict monopolies by large corporations on specific commodities. This is meant to squeeze the small farmer out of business in favor of corporate farming.

Eliminate funding for trade promotion for foodstuffs to other countries. I find this one quite strange and very un-Republican. I don't understand it.

Promote an increase in Genetically Modified Foods. Repeal the federal mandate that genetically modified foods must be labelled. Promote Bioengineering of food as a policy.

Eliminate the funding of Dietary Guidelines. This includes the recommended calorie amounts per day, the food pyramid and even the "four food groups" I had as a kid. These things will no longer be taught.

The Forest Service is under the Agriture Department. Right at the top of the list for this department is increased logging anf forest harvesting to prevent forest fires. In fact that's the only thing they discuss in the document. The solution to forrest fires is to have less forrest. 

Next posting will cover the Department of Education, The Department of Energy, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

[cultml]

1994: Bill Clinton and denuclearization 2009: Failed Russian reset by Hillary Clinton. 2016: Russia Collusion Hoax 2021: Biden reverses Trump energy policies ...We live in a very dangerous time globally. American hegemony is in question. American weakness has emboldened Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea. Ukraine provides one tragic theater where this is playing out. Approximately 100,000 Ukrainians have died, with countless Ukrainian children kidnapped and exiled to Russia, in a war that could have been prevented or deterred. Putin still bears the culpability for the death and destruction in Ukraine. Yet, America in general, and its Democrat elected officials in particular, have been far from pro-Ukraine.

[militaryleak]

United States, Japan, and South Korea Launch 'Freedom Edge' Exercise Series to Bolster Trilateral Security

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Japan Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik announced the commencement of a new multi-domain exercise series named FREEDOM EDGE. This initiative was unveiled during a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on June 2, 2024. The new exercise series is a direct outcome of the discussions held at the historic Camp David Summit on August 18, 2023. The leaders reiterated their commitment to trilateral security cooperation to address shared security challenges, particularly the threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The FREEDOM EDGE exercise series represents a significant step in strengthening the military coordination among the three nations. The Secretary and Ministers reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders underscored the importance of deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and achieving its complete denuclearization as per United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They condemned North Korea’s recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems and ballistic missile tests, emphasizing the importance of a robust international response. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Japan Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik announced the commencement of a new multi-domain exercise series named FREEDOM EDGE. This initiative was unveiled during a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on June 2, 2024. The new exercise series is a direct outcome of the…

[christinamac1]

Rare spat shows China and North Korea still at odds on nuclear weapons

Japan Times, BY JOSH SMITH, SEOUL, May 29, 2024 North Korea’s rare swipe at China this week underscored how Beijing and Pyongyang do not entirely see eye-to-eye on the latter’s illicit nuclear weapons arsenal, despite warming ties in other areas, analysts and officials in South Korea said. The North condemned China, Japan and South Korea on Monday for discussing denuclearization of the…

[2minfastfacts]

Korean Conflict - Trump Vs Biden

[fifihunterbakariafrocentric]

Hitting Nerve With Kim Jong Un Regime Takes Just a Few Words - WSJ

[thxnews]

Global Unity Condemns North Korea's Actions

  G7 Speaks About Latest North Korean Rocket Launch

The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union jointly issued a resolute condemnation against North Korea's recent launch using ballistic missile technology on November 21, 2023. The ministers emphasized the severe implications of this action on regional peace and stability.  

Escalating Threats and Violations

The G7 ministers expressed deep concern over North Korea's continuous expansion of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, labeling these activities as destabilizing. They reiterated the call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, demanding that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons and programs, as well as any other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. They emphasized the urgency of this call, stressing the importance of achieving these goals in a manner that is verifiable and irreversible, complying with United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).   International Solidarity and Condemnation The G7 ministers called for a swift, united, and robust international response, particularly from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in the face of North Korea's reckless actions. The statement urged UNSC members to uphold their commitments and called on all UN Member States to fully implement relevant UNSCRs. The ministers expressed a notable concern about arms transfers from North Korea to Russia, considering it a direct violation of UNSCRs. They called on North Korea and Russia to immediately cease all such activities.  

Global Threat and Human Rights Violations

Expressing deep apprehension, the G7 ministers voiced their collective worry about the potential transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea. They emphasized the global threat posed by such transfers and urged all nations to prevent any such activities that could compromise peace and stability.   Prioritizing Weapons over Welfare The ministers deplored North Korea's prioritization of unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of its people. This, coupled with the systematic human rights violations and abuses, was strongly condemned. The ministers underscored the importance of North Korea engaging in meaningful diplomacy and accepting offers of dialogue put forward by Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea without preconditions.  

G7's Commitment to Peace and Stability

In conclusion, the G7 Foreign Ministers reiterated their commitment to actively collaborate with all relevant partners to attain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. They are committed to upholding the international order based on the rule of law. As tensions escalate, the G7 remains steadfast, actively dedicated to countering threats and actively fostering diplomatic solutions for a safer world.   Sources: THX News & US Department of State. Read the full article

[trendytexts]

North Korea says it has simulated a nuclear missile attack

North Korea said on Sunday that it had performed a mock nuclear missile attack as a stern warning to the United States, in a bold display of military superiority. This drastic development has heightened worldwide anxiety about the possibility of rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The simulated tactical nuclear strike rehearsal, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), was a success on Saturday. The drill included the firing of two long-range cruise missiles, each armed with a simulated nuclear warhead. These missiles were launched towards the Korean peninsula’s West Sea, spanning a distance of 1,500 kilometers (about 930 miles) while maintaining a fixed height of 150 meters.

North Korea’s aggressive behavior is nothing new, but the explicit simulation of a nuclear missile attack is a striking reminder of the regime’s desire to exercise its military strength. Pyongyang has always maintained a military deterrent posture toward perceived threats, particularly from the United States and South Korea.

The South Korean military, on the other hand, has questioned the amount of North Korea’s success in this recent practice. According to Seoul’s Yonhap News, a senior officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned against taking North Korea’s assertions at face value, claiming that “not all of them succeeded.”

This simulated attack’s timing is very notable. It comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea and de-escalate regional tensions. South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s recent visit to the United States, as well as the Biden administration’s commitment to a “practical, calibrated approach” to North Korea, have heightened optimism for progress in resolving one of the world’s most enduring problems.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on the other hand, is determined to send a strong statement that his regime would not buckle in the face of external pressure. Kim Jong Un also visited major industrial facilities, including the Pukjung Machine Complex, which manufactures marine engines, and a munitions factory, in addition to the simulated attack. These visits highlight his emphasis on fortifying North Korea’s naval capabilities.

Following North Korea’s provocative moves, the international community, including the United States and South Korea, must tread carefully. While maintaining diplomatic channels and exploring conversation prospects is critical, it is also critical to address the security concerns raised by North Korea’s continuous missile testing and nuclear ambitions.

The simulated nuclear missile attack serves as a harsh reminder of North Korea’s unpredictable nature. To properly comprehend the significance and potential consequences of this development, it is critical to examine it from many perspectives.

Historical Context: North Korea’s Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons

The international community has long been concerned about North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. The regime’s nuclear ambitions extend back to the early 1990s, when it initially set out to build a nuclear arsenal. Despite international efforts, including discussions and sanctions, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, escalating the problem further.

North Korea conducted a succession of nuclear tests, missile launches, and inflammatory rhetoric in the years afterwards, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and beyond. The leadership maintained that its nuclear weapons development was a necessary deterrent to perceived threats from the US and its allies.

These acts triggered a cycle of diplomatic engagement and tension buildup. The international world sought a peaceful settlement to the situation, particularly through the Six-Party Talks comprising North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States. However, progress remained elusive, and the talks eventually came to a halt.

North Korea has conducted missile tests in recent years, including the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the United States. These developments sparked global concern and prompted increased diplomatic efforts to engage North Korea.

Regional Dynamics and Diplomatic Efforts

President Donald Trump undertook considerable diplomatic attempts to engage North Korea, including unprecedented summits with Kim Jong Un in Singapore (2018) and Hanoi (2019). While these sessions drew international attention, they produced no meaningful outcomes in terms of nuclear disarmament.

The Biden administration has taken a more measured approach, emphasizing a “practical, calibrated approach” toward North Korea. This strategy seeks to build on the framework provided by past administrations while acknowledging the issue’s complexities. It aims to engage North Korea constructively while also responding to the regime’s provocative behavior.

Under President Moon Jae-in, South Korea has played a critical role in fostering communication between North Korea and the United States. Given the Korean peninsula’s long-standing divide, the inter-Korean relationship is critical to any progress in resolving the nuclear issue.

As regional powers and participants in the Six-Party Talks, China and Russia continue to strive for a peaceful resolution to North Korea’s nuclear dilemma. Their participation in diplomatic initiatives remains critical since they have the ability to exert influence on Pyongyang.

The Importance of Simulated Nuclear Missile Attacks

North Korea’s simulated nuclear missile launch has numerous key ramifications against the backdrop of diplomatic efforts and regional dynamics:

Deterrence Message: North Korea hopes to enhance its image as a great military power capable of defending itself by carrying out this mock strike. This message is meant to dissuade external interference while also strengthening the regime’s negotiation position.

Asserting Independence: The timing of the mock attack indicates that North Korea is eager to demonstrate its independence and sovereignty. It sends a message that Pyongyang will not be influenced by external pressure, even if diplomatic channels stay open.

Domestic and International Audience: The regime’s actions are meant to resonate not only with the international community but also with its domestic audience. Kim Jong Un is consolidating his leadership by demonstrating his commitment to North Korea’s military capabilities.

Testing Regional Responses: North Korea’s provocative actions also serve to gauge the responses of its neighbors and key stakeholders. It is a way of assessing the unity and resolve of countries in the region and their commitment to addressing the North Korean issue.

International Response and the Path Forward

In responding to North Korea’s provocative behavior, the international community has a tough challenge. To avert additional escalation and retain diplomatic momentum, a calm and coordinated response is required.

Dialogue and Engagement: Diplomatic channels must be kept open, and dialogue with North Korea must continue. The Biden administration’s approach to “practical, calibrated” diplomacy, which focuses on achievable goals and a step-by-step procedure, is a step in the right direction.

Sanctions and Pressure: International sanctions should be strictly imposed against North Korea. These sanctions have been successful in limiting the regime’s access to resources for its nuclear and missile programs. Efforts should also be made to avoid humanitarian consequences for the North Korean people.

Regional Cooperation: South Korea, China, Japan, and Russia should collaborate with the US to find a collective solution to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Coordination among these regional actors is critical to reaching a peaceful conclusion.

Clear Communication: Communication with North Korea must be clear and consistent. A common understanding of expectations and goals is essential for successful diplomacy.

Long-Term Vision: Diplomatic efforts must be presented within the context of a long-term vision for the Korean peninsula. This goal should encompass not just denuclearization but also the pursuit of peace, reconciliation, and eventual reunification, with all essential stakeholders involved.

The simulated nuclear missile attack by North Korea has stirred concerns, but it should not disrupt ongoing diplomatic efforts. The road to peace on the Korean peninsula remains difficult, but not insurmountable. The international community must remain dedicated to resolving one of the world’s most critical security issues peacefully.

[influencermagazineuk]

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Set for Diplomatic Talks with Putin Amidst Weapons Speculations

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, is reportedly planning a visit to Russia this month for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to a US official cited by CBS, a BBC partner. The agenda for this meeting is believed to revolve around the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weaponry to support its involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The exact location of the planned meeting remains uncertain, and as of now, there has been no official response or comment from North Korea or Russia regarding this report. Sources close to the situation have suggested that Kim Jong Un may choose to travel to Russia using an armored train. This potential diplomatic encounter comes on the heels of statements from the White House indicating that arms negotiations between North Korea and Russia have been progressing actively. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby disclosed that during a recent visit to North Korea, Russia's Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, had attempted to persuade Pyongyang to supply artillery ammunition to Russia. Notably, this visit showcased a display of weapons, including the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile, believed to be North Korea's first ICBM utilizing solid propellants. This event marked the first time Kim Jong Un had welcomed foreign dignitaries since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Kim and Putin exchanged letters reaffirming their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation. Nevertheless, the United States has expressed its concern and urged North Korea to cease its arms negotiations with Russia, reminding Pyongyang of its public commitments to refrain from providing or selling arms to Russia. Mr. Kirby warned that the US might take punitive actions, including imposing sanctions, if North Korea proceeds to supply weapons to Russia. This situation raises apprehension in both Washington and Seoul, with questions about what North Korea stands to gain in return for such an arrangement. Such a deal could potentially lead to increased military collaboration between these two Asian nations. Additionally, there are concerns that Russia might provide advanced weapons technology or knowledge to North Korea, potentially facilitating advancements in its nuclear weapons program. However, it's essential to consider that this prospective agreement could be driven more by immediate needs than long-term strategy. At present, Russia requires weaponry, while North Korea, grappling with sanctions, is in dire need of financial resources and food. Recent reports suggest that the Kim-Putin meeting may take place in Vladivostok, a port city on Russia's east coast. According to diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong of The New York Times, an advance team of North Korean officials visited Vladivostok and Moscow late last month, including security officers responsible for leadership protocol, signaling significant preparations for the potential meeting. Both Pyongyang and Moscow have previously denied North Korea's involvement in supplying arms to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict. John Everard, a former UK ambassador to North Korea, expressed skepticism about the meeting's likelihood due to heightened concerns over Kim Jong Un's personal security. Additionally, he noted that North Korea's stockpiled weapons, though potentially valuable to Russia, are in poor condition. The last meeting between the two leaders occurred in April 2019 when Kim Jong Un arrived in Vladivostok by train, receiving traditional greetings of bread and salt. This meeting coincided with discussions regarding security guarantees for Kim Jong Un in exchange for denuclearization, following the failed summit in Vietnam between Kim and then-US President Donald Trump. Read the full article

[thesecrettimes]

North Korea Hackers Continue to Target Crypto Platforms: UN Report

North Korea Still Trying to Steal Cryptocurrency, Sanctions Experts Say North Korea continued to produce nuclear fissile material and develop nuclear weapons in 2023, a new report prepared for a U.N. Security Council committee unveils. The document, which is yet to be officially published, has been seen by Reuters. Its authors, independent sanctions monitors who report to the U.N. twice a year, have also established that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continued to evade sanctions put in place to cut off funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. North Korea has been previously accused of conducing cyberattacks to source funds for these programs and 2022 was a record-breaking year in terms of the total amount of money that hackers allegedly affiliated with the regime in Pyongyang managed to steal — an estimated $1.7 billion. In their latest report, the monitors noted: DPRK hackers reportedly continued to successfully target cyber cryptocurrency and other financial exchanges globally. The hackers, believed to be working for North Korea’s main foreign intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), “continued to use increasingly sophisticated cyber techniques to steal funds and information,” the experts added. “Companies in the cryptocurrency, defense, energy and health sectors were targeted in particular,” highlights the executive summary of the report. “The DPRK continued to access the international financial system and also engaged in illicit financial operations,” the sanctions monitors concluded. Korea’s Communist North has been under U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs since 2006. While in the past, these have been unanimously strengthened, Reuters remarked that the Security Council is now deadlocked with China and Russia pushing for easing of the measures to stimulate the DPRK to return to negotiations on denuclearization. Do you think North Korean hackers will continue to hit crypto platforms? Share your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below. Read the full article

[xtruss]

North Korea 🇰🇵 Spurns Talks Offer From ‘Gangster-Like Americans'! Pyongyang Has Insisted The Country’s Nuclear ☢️ Program Cannot Be Stopped

North Korea's Kim Yo-jong arrives at a 2018 Olympics ceremony in Pyeongchang, South Korea. © Patrick Semansky — Pool/Getty Images

North Korea has dismissed a US proposal for talks as a ploy, accusing Washington of provoking conflict in the region while holding out false hope that it can persuade Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons program by temporarily easing sanctions or suspending military exercises.

Kim Yo-jong, North Korea’s foreign policy chief and sister of leader Kim Jong-un, said on Monday that the best way to ensure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is for Pyongyang to amply display its military might, “rather than solving the problem with the gangster-like Americans in a friendly manner.” She called Washington’s latest offer of negotiations a “trick” to buy time for trying to denuclearize the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Biden ‘Old Man With No Future’ — Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong Un’s Sister

“It is a daydream for the US to think that it can stop the advance of the DPRK and, furthermore, achieve irreversible disarmament” by offering such reversible incentives as sanctions relief, suspension of the Pentagon’s joint military exercises with South Korea and a halt to deployment of strategic weapons in the region, Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by state-run news agency KCNA.

Test firing of a new intercontinental ballistic missile "Hwasong-18" at an undisclosed location in North Korea 🇰🇵. © AFP/KCNA

Kim made her comments one day after US President Joe Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, told reporters that Washington was willing to negotiate with North Korea “without preconditions” concerning its nuclear weapons program. He said the Biden administration is closely monitoring the threats posed by North Korea’s missile launches and is concerned that Pyongyang will conduct its seventh nuclear warhead test.

Kim said the US should stop its “foolish” provocations toward the DPRK, which have only imperiled Washington’s own security. “We are aware that lurking behind the present US administration’s proposal for dialogue without any preconditions is a trick to prevent the thing that it fears from happening again.”

Even if the US were to go as far as removing all of its troops from South Korea in exchange for permanent denuclearization by Pyongyang, it could redeploy strategic weapons to the peninsula within 10 hours and bring back enough soldiers to resume joint exercises within 20 days, Kim said. She added that any promises made by the current administrations in Washington and Seoul could be “instantly reversed” when their successors come to power, such as when Biden replaced Donald Trump in the White House.

Similarly, Kim said the US and its allies could easily renege on diplomatic concessions. “It is as easy as pie for the US political circles to exclude the DPRK from the list of ‘sponsors of terrorism’ today but re-list it tomorrow.” She claimed that tensions in the region have escalated on Biden’s watch to the point that “the possibility of an actual armed conflict and even the outbreak of a nuclear war is debated.”

— RT, July 17, 2023