MOSCOW (Sputnik) — North Korea sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the situation on the Korean peninsula amid the joint US-South Korean military drills, the North Korean Embassy in Russia said in a statement obtained by Sputnik. “Permanent representative of North Korea to the United Nations [Ja Song Nam] sent a letter to the UN secretary-general on March 22 due to a tense situation on the Korean peninsula caused by the largest… Read more »
Nepal’s prime minister is set to throw his support behind Beijing’s initiative to build a modern-day Silk Road across Asia during a six day trip to China starting on Thursday, in a move that could upset traditional regional powerhouse India. Beijing is jostling to increase its influence in Nepal, which serves as a natural buffer between China and India. China,… Read more »
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — U.S. and Afghan officials report that they have made a strategic retreat from a district headquarters that has been under heavy assault by Taliban forces, however, the governor of the embattled province says local forces remain in control of the area. Sangin district in southern Helmand province has been one of the most contested parts of Afghanistan… Read more »
North Korea has a criticism of US President Donald Trump he probably wasn’t expecting: He’s too much like Barack Obama. North Korea’s state media, which regularly vilified Obama in the strongest terms, had been slow to do the same with the Trump administration, possibly so that officials in Pyongyang could figure out what direction Trump will likely take and what… Read more »
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to the New York Times newspaper, the four other Samsung executives, allegedly involved in embezzlement, also denied the charges. The second preliminary hearing is set for March 23, while the date of the verdict’s announcement has not been announced so far. A political scandal around Park broke out in late October 2016, when media reported that Park had allowed her friend Choi… Read more »
BEIJING/YANGON — More than 20,000 people from Myanmar have flooded into border camps in neighboring China, seeking refuge from bitter fighting between ethnic groups and security forces in the country’s north, China said on Thursday. Thousands of people have crossed China’s border in recent months to escape the conflict, which threatens Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s top goal of… Read more »
Indonesia has started a probe into a major corruption case involving current and former ministers as well as other high-ranking politicians. In an indictment released on Thursday, the special anti-corruption court in Jakarta implicated high-profile figures, including Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly, former interior minister Gamawan Fauzi, Parliamentary Speaker Setya Novanto and other prominent lawmakers. The officials and politicians are accused… Read more »
South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye on Friday, removing her from office over a graft scandal involving big business that has gripped the country for months. Park becomes South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office. A presidential election will be held in 60 days, according to the constitution. (Reporting by Joyce… Read more »
This week has been a relatively good news week for east Asia, and while thats not usually a good thing regarding global politics, it does provide for some interesting discussion and analysis. so get ready. This first, and most eye catching topic I found, is one that I’ve already speculated on weeks ago. Just recently Lee Jae-yong, the heir to… Read more »
SEOUL, South Korea — The de facto leader of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, was arrested Friday on bribery charges, a dramatic turn in South Korea’s decades-old struggle to end collusive ties between the government and powerful family-controlled conglomerates. Mr. Lee, Samsung’s vice chairman, was taken to a jail outside Seoul, the capital, soon after a judge at the Seoul Central District… Read more »
