Politico: Defense Secretary James Mattis said Thursday that there will be “strong military consequences” for North Korea should it take military action against the U.S. or its allies, a direct rebuttal to White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who said in an interview earlier this week that “there’s no military solution” to deal with North… read more
Canada Free Press: Kim Jong Un has decided to walk back his recent threats to bomb the island of Guam, and for now, the world can breathe a collective sigh of relief. But how many times over the last few weeks have we all gone to bed wondering if tomorrow will be the day Kim… read more
The New York Times: BEIJING – Conflicting messages from the Trump administration on Thursday deepened more than a week of uncertainty over how it will confront North Korea’s nuclear program, with blunt remarks by a top White House adviser, Stephen K. Bannon, undercutting the United States’ top military official as he sought to persuade China… read more
Reuters: BEIJING (Reuters) – There is a growing urgency for China to increase pressure on North Korea and the United States has the resolve to use the full range of military capabilities to defend itself and its allies, the United States’ top general said on a China visit. North Korea’s weapons programs threaten the entire… read more
Japan Times: WASHINGTON – A recently declassified U.S. document confirms that Japan gave the United States its official consent to bring nuclear weapons to Okinawa shortly before the 1969 bilateral accord that led to the occupied island’s 1972 reversion to Japanese rule. The finding is significant because it shows Japan’s leaders officially agreed during the… read more
The New York Times: North Korea’s success in testing an intercontinental ballistic missile that appears able to reach the United States was made possible by black-market purchases of powerful rocket engines probably from a Ukrainian factory with historical ties to Russia’s missile program, according to an expert analysis being published Monday and classified assessments by… read more
Yonhap News Agency: SEONGJU, South Korea, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) — Local residents and activists campaigning against the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system said Sunday they will not accept the outcome of a government survey that ruled out the possibility of its serious environmental damage. On Saturday, the government announced the result of… read more
The Weekly Standard: The Trump administration is conducting a comprehensive review of U.S. policy toward Iran. There is no doubt top national security officials view the Islamic Republic as a major threat, both in terms of regional instability and proliferation. This recognition represents the principal difference from the previous administration and a welcome step forward.… read more
Pacific Daily News: Guam Homeland Security issued a new fact sheet Friday, which the agency says will help residents prepare for an imminent missile threat. The information was released following this week’s threat by North Korea to launch a missile attack against Guam. The advice includes tips such as: “Do not look at the flash… read more
The Washington Post: BEIJING — China won’t come to North Korea’s help if it launches missiles threatening U.S. soil and there is retaliation, a state-owned newspaper warned on Friday, but it would intervene if Washington strikes first. The Global Times newspaper is not an official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, but in this case its editorial… read more