North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday designed to threaten the United States, the first ICBM test in nearly a year.
The test comes less than a week before the U.S. presidential election and as North Korea sends thousands of troops to reinforce Russia’s military in the war in Ukraine. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called the test “an appropriate military action” in response to threatening moves from its adversaries.
“The test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have intentionally escalated the regional situation and posed a threat to the security of our Republic recently, of our counteraction will,” Kim was quoted in North Korea state news, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-conducts-longest-icbm-test-amid-storm-over-troop-deployment-russia-2024-10-31/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.
Officials in Japan, South Korea, and the United States identified the tested missile as an ICBM and condemned the launch for raising tensions, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-icbm-test-mainland-us-more-agile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a>.
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The ICBM stayed in flight for 86 minutes and achieved a maximum altitude of 4,350 miles, longer and higher than any other North Korean missile observed to date, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. The missile was launched from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and landed in the Sea of Japan.
The last ICBM North Korea tested, a Hwasong-18 ICBM, was fired in December. The last major weapons test conducted by North Korea took place in September when the North Korean military test-fired a Hwasong-11 short-range ballistic missile, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/30/world/asia/north-korea-missile-launch.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
The weapons test comes as North Korea has deployed as many as 12,000 troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, according to American and South Korean officials. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin <a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-north-korea-russia-ukraine-war-faeabb0b2c2ea162bbc6c4691df4d6c8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Wednesday that North Korean troops in Russian uniforms and using Russian equipment are moving toward Ukraine.
Last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/north-korean-troops-who-join-russia-in-ukraine-war-are-fair-targets-u-s-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the North Korean troops “fair game” if they enter the war against Ukraine.
“They’re fair targets and the Ukrainian military will defend themselves against North Korean soldiers the same way they’re defending themselves against Russian soldiers,” Kirby said. “There could be dead and wounded North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine.”

Kim Jong Un

North Korea Tests Long-Range Missile After Deploying Troops To Russia

North Korea Tests ICBM After Deploying Troops To Russia

ballistic missiles

Global Politics

North Korea

Russia

United States

World

Elton John made it clear during a recent interview that he was not offended in the least when former President Donald Trump sampled one of his songs in devising a nickname for North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un — in fact, he said that he found it &#8220;hilarious.&#8221;
The musician told Variety that while he was certainly not in agreement with many of Trump&#8217;s policies, he knew that the former president was a big fan of his music and had always been friendly with him.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Elton John on his reaction to Donald Trump calling Kim Jong Un “Little Rocket Man”: “I laughed, I thought that was brilliant&#8230; I’ve always been friendly toward him, and I thank him for his support. When he did that, I just thought it was hilarious.” <a href="https://t.co/QXV9VqAtuT">https://t.co/QXV9VqAtuT</a> <a href="https://t.co/MNhsNzFwlR">pic.twitter.com/MNhsNzFwlR</a>
— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1832508568798371871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
During an interview with Variety at the Toronto Film Festival, John was asked what he thought of the fact that Trump had borrowed from his song when he referred to the North Korean dictator as &#8220;Little Rocket Man.&#8221;
&#8220;I laughed, I thought that was brilliant,&#8221; John said with a smile. &#8220;I just thought, &#8216;Good on you, Donald.'&#8221;
&#8220;Donald&#8217;s always been a fan of mine, and he&#8217;s been to my concerts many, many times,&#8221; the singer continued. &#8220;So I’ve always been friendly toward him, and I thank him for his support. When he did that, I just thought it was hilarious.&#8221;
John had another laugh upon being informed that the North Korean dictator had not understood the moniker at first, prompting Trump to send him an autographed CD.
&#8220;Of course he hasn’t heard of me, Kim Jong Un. I’d be very surprised if he had. I’ve never toured North Korea, and I have no intention of doing so,&#8221; John added. &#8220;But, I thought it was a light moment, and it was fun.&#8221;

2024 Toronto International Film Festival – “Elton John: Never Too Late” Premiere

‘I Thought That Was Brilliant’: Elton John Is Fine With Trump’s ‘Rocket Man’ Comments

'I Thought That Was Brilliant': Elton John Is Fine With Trump's 'Rocket Man' Comments

Donald Trump

Elton John

Media

Politics

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, where, on Wednesday, the two dictators signed a mutual defense agreement.
Putin&#8217;s North Korea trip marks his first visit to the Hermit Kingdom in 24 years, and the Russian president was greeted with fanfare and crowds of North Koreans chanting his name, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-meets-kim-north-korea-rcna157665" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Following his meeting with Kim, Putin said the leaders signed &#8220;a truly breakthrough document&#8221; that boosts security, trade, and humanitarian agreements. Kim <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vladimir-putin-kim-jong-un-russia-north-korea-summit-ukraine-a6b8d2c12de7ee2ab6716d4747c9850e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the agreement the &#8220;strongest ever treaty&#8221; between the two countries.
The Russian president said U.S. allies Japan and South Korea were &#8220;hostile to North Korea&#8221; and labeled U.S. policy toward Kim as &#8220;confrontational,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/19/asia/north-korea-russia-putin-visit-thursday-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>. Biden administration officials have expressed concern that increased ties between Russia and North Korea will help boost Kim&#8217;s nuclear capabilities and help supply Putin&#8217;s forces with ammunition as it continues its assault on Ukraine.
Putin thanked Kim for continuing to support Russia in its “fight against the imperialist hegemonistic policies of the U.S. and its satellites against the Russian Federation.” Kim <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kim-jong-un-expected-to-meet-with-putin-for-weapons-talks-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visited</a> Putin in the Russian port city of Vladivostok last September to discuss weapons shipments to Russia.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vladimir-putin-kim-jong-un-russia-north-korea-summit-ukraine-a6b8d2c12de7ee2ab6716d4747c9850e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Tuesday that Putin&#8217;s visit to North Korea shows the Russian leader is trying &#8220;in desperation, to develop and to strengthen relations with countries that can provide it with what it needs to continue the war of aggression that it started against Ukraine.”
Six senior U.S. officials told NBC News that the Biden administration believes Russia is sending North Korea ballistic missile technology in exchange for munitions the country is supplying to Russian troops. The U.S. <a href="https://www.state.gov/imposing-measures-in-response-to-navalnys-death-and-two-years-of-russias-full-scale-war-against-ukraine/#:~:text=Since%20September%202023%2C%20the%20DPRK,conflict%20since%20early%20October%202023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in February that North Korea has sent &#8220;10,000 containers of munitions or munitions-related materials to Russia&#8221; since the Kim-Putin meeting in September of 2023.
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While details of the new agreement are still not fully known, the Russia-North Korea security treaty appears to be the strongest between the two countries since 1961, when the former Soviet Union promised to aid North Korea if it was attacked, the Associated Press reported. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and North Korea agreed to a weaker security deal in 2000.

Vladimir Putin/Kim Jong Un

Putin Signs ‘Breakthrough’ Mutual Defense Agreement With Kim Jong Un

Putin Signs 'Breakthrough' Mutual Defense Agreement With Kim Jong Un

Biden Administration

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

South Dakota Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kristi-noem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a> is reportedly going back and correcting things that she wrote in her new book after some of the claims have received scrutiny.
Noem said in her new book, &#8220;No Going Back,&#8221; that she met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un while she was in Congress on the House Armed Services Committee.
&#8220;Through my tenure on the House Armed Services Committee, I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/03/kristi-noem-book-excerpt-nikki-haley-dog-00155925" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in the book set to be released this week. &#8220;I remember when I met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I’m sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I’d been a children’s pastor, after all).&#8221;
Syd Seiler, a former U.S. intelligence officer who spent his career working on America&#8217;s relationship with North Korea, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/south-dakota-gov-noem-erroneously-describes-meeting-north-109911302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Nothing like this happened.&#8221;
The Associated Press reported that Noem&#8217;s team indicated that her claim was made in error and that corrections would be made to future copies that are published.
Another example that Noem mentioned in the book that has drawn scrutiny was her statement that she was going to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, but decided to cancel on him.
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Macron&#8217;s office told the AP that no &#8220;direct invitation&#8221; was ever made for Noem to meet Macron, although they apparently said she could have been invited to an event at which he was scheduled to also be.
A spokesperson for Noem said that she was &#8220;invited to sit in President Macron’s box for the Armistice Day Parade at Arc de Triomphe. Following his anti-Israel comments, she chose to cancel.&#8221;
Noem also made remarks about former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley that a spokesperson for Haley strongly disputed.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kristi-noem-defends-decision-to-shoot-her-puppy-had-shown-aggressive-behavior" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem Defends Decision To Shoot Her Puppy: ‘Had Shown Aggressive Behavior’</a>

Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem To Correct Errors Made In New Book

General

South Dakota

The White House issued a rare threat on Saturday in an effort to enhance deterrence, promising an overwhelming military response to any attack by North Korea.
The announcement came in a joint statement at the conclusion of the second U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting in Washington D.C. on December 15, 2023.
&#8220;The United States reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to provide extended deterrence to the ROK, backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities including nuclear,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime, and the U.S. side reiterated that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the ROK will be met with a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response.&#8221;
The U.S. and South Korea said that the NCG has &#8220;deepened&#8221; the ties between the two countries as they seek to deter an increasingly belligerent North Korea.
&#8220;NCG Principals reviewed the enhanced visibility of strategic assets to bolster extended deterrence, including the ballistic missile submarine the USS KENTUCKY port visit to Busan in July, B-52 strategic bomber flyover and landing on the Korean Peninsula in October, and joint observation of an ICBM test launch in November, as well as discussing future plans to demonstrate a strengthening of deterrence,&#8221; the statement added.
The statement comes after North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has had his country in recent months <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/08/31/north-korea-says-it-simulated-nuclear-attacks-on-south-korea-and-rehearsed-occupation-of-its-rival/">conduct</a> simulated &#8220;scorched earth&#8221; nuclear missile strikes against South Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin receives North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok

Biden Admin Issues Rare Threat To Enhance Deterrence Against Hostile Foreign Power

Foreign Policy

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Korea</a> launched what it claimed was a spy satellite into orbit on Tuesday, an operation that drew a rebuke from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a> and alarm from U.S. allies in the region.
State-run media reported a Chollima-1 rocket launched from North Korea&#8217;s west coast and it &#8220;accurately&#8221; placed the Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellite into orbit, per South Korea&#8217;s <a href="https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231122000600315" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yonhap News Agency</a>.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un himself reportedly observed the launch, which followed two failed attempts earlier this year. Pyongyang cast the latest operation as being part of its &#8220;legitimate&#8221; right to strengthen &#8220;self defense&#8221; and vowed more satellites would follow in &#8220;a short period of time.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a> issued a statement saying the United States &#8220;strongly condemns&#8221; North Korea&#8217;s use of ballistic missile technology in &#8220;brazen violation&#8221; of multiple United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson added that the launch &#8220;raises tensions&#8221; and &#8220;risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond.&#8221;
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South Korea&#8217;s military said it detected the launch from the Tongchang-ri area in the evening local time and that the rocket flew over waters west of the border island of Baengyeong, <a href="https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231121010052315?section=nk/nk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which according to Yonhap</a>, came hours before a 10-day launch window North Korea gave to Japan as a safety warning.
South Korean officials believe North Korea was able to make progress with the help of Russia after the technical issues mired the prior two launches this year, as reported by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/world/asia/north-korea-russia-rocket-launch-spy-satellite.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
North Korea has fired what it claims is a military spy satellite, the South&#39;s armed forces said on Tuesday, hours after Japan confirmed that Pyongyang had warned it of an imminent launch ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/D5pSChSekv">https://t.co/D5pSChSekv</a> <a href="https://t.co/5ztZVX3NYA">pic.twitter.com/5ztZVX3NYA</a>
&mdash; AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1726998518467101054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Japan as well as South Korea had <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-20/japan-warns-north-korea-after-getting-notice-of-satellite-launch?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=business&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressed</a> North Korea to halt the launch. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned North Korea against the use of ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. resolutions and said it would pose a &#8220;serious threat that affects the safety of our people.&#8221;
Indeed, following the launch on Tuesday, the Japanese government issued a J-Alert missile warning urging residents in Okinawa to take shelter for a short time, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-spy-satellite-japan-5e16266707e0e4034eca022fde44ffa7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted the Associated Press</a>.
Bloomberg News <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-20/japan-warns-north-korea-after-getting-notice-of-satellite-launch?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=business&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that officials in South Korea&#8217;s capital of Seoul believe North Korea&#8217;s satellite would be relatively primitive, but the report said it could help foster &#8220;target lists&#8221; as North Korean continues development of missiles meant to carry nuclear warheads.  Meanwhile, South Korea is <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-11-06/south-korea-plans-to-launch-its-1st-military-spy-satellite-on-nov-30" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planning to launch</a> its first home-built satellite to assist with surveillance efforts at the end of November using one of SpaceX&#8217;s Falcon 9 rockets, with more to follow.
President Joe Biden and his national security team are &#8220;assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners,&#8221; Watson said in her statement on Tuesday.
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The U.S. urges &#8220;all countries to condemn this launch and call on [North Korea] to come to the table for serious negotiations,&#8221; she continued. The door has not closed on diplomacy but Pyongyang must immediately cease its provocative actions and instead choose engagement. 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.&#8221;

North Korea launch

North Korea Claims It Launched Spy Satellite Into Orbit

North Korea Claims To Launch Spy Satellite Into Orbit

Air and Space

Japan

National Security

South Korea

Space

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Korea</a> accused the U.S. of an “an undisguised military provocation” on Friday as an American aircraft carrier battle group arrived in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/south-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Korea</a>.
The USS Ronald Reagan sailed to the southeastern port of Busan on Thursday after participating in naval exercises with Japan and South Korea in international waters, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-us-aircraft-carrier-be56e91daba9eeeaf2edefdccf3c9133" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press.
South Korean officials said the Reagan was there as a means of deterrence while North Koreans claimed it was going to be part of a U.S. attack on North Korea.
“The [North Korean] doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons already opened to public allows the execution of necessary action procedures in case a nuclear attack is launched against it or it is judged that the use of nuclear weapons against it is imminent,” the government&#8217;s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Friday.
The KCNA added that North Korea’s “most powerful and rapid first strike will be given to the ‘extended deterrence’ means, used by the U.S. to hallucinate its followers, and the bases of evil in the Korean peninsula and its vicinity.”
North Korea also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-denies-its-weapons-used-by-hamas-against-israel-2023-10-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> reports that its weapons had been used by Hamas terrorists during their brutal attack against Israel that began last Saturday. The communist country claimed that the reports were an attempt at U.S. propaganda.
&#8220;It is nothing but a bid to shift the blame for the Middle East crisis caused by wrong hegemonic policy onto a third country and thus evade the international criticism focused on the empire of evil,&#8221; KCNA said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has said that he has not been able to confirm the reports of North Korean weapons being used in the terror attacks.
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Relations between the the U.S. and North Korea have been sour in recent months, especially after North Korea’s Kim Jong Un <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kim-jong-un-putin-discuss-military-cooperation-space-tech-and-ukraine-war-at-russian-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met with</a> Russian President Vladimir Putin last month to discuss the war in Ukraine, space technology, and the potential for military cooperation between the two countries.
According to the White House, North Korea <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/north-korea-sent-over-1000-containers-of-ammo-to-russia-white-house-5509709?ea_src=frontpage&amp;ea_med=top-news-world-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has been</a> supplying Russia with arms and ammunition, sending 1,000 weapons shipments to a Russian munitions depot.
“We now have information that North Korea has delivered arms to Russia for use in Ukraine,” Kirby said this week. “Our information indicates that in recent weeks North Korea has provided Russia with more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions.”

North And South Korean Leaders Meet For Third Summit In Pyongyang

North Korea Accuses U.S. Of ‘Undisguised Military Provocation’ After Aircraft Carrier Arrives In South Korea

North Korea Accuses U.S. Of 'Undisguised Military Provocation' After Aircraft Carrier Arrives In South Korea

US Navy

The leaders of Russia and North Korea held a rare summit on Wednesday after North Korea’s Kim Jong Un traveled to a city in Russia’s Far East in his <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/inside-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-uns-armoured-train-2023-09-12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">armored</a> train.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Kim in person for the first time <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-meeting-russia-rcna104775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since</a> 2019, and the two discussed topics including Russia’s war in Ukraine, space technology, and the potential for military cooperation between the two countries. The meeting took place at Vostochny Cosmodrome, which is the most important launch center in Russia, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press.
“Russia is currently engaged in a just fight against hegemonic forces to defend its sovereign rights, security and interests,” Kim <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in an apparent reference to the Ukraine war. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has always expressed its full and unconditional support for all measures taken by the Russian government, and I take this opportunity to reaffirm that we will always stand with Russia on the anti-imperialist front and the front of independence.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: Putin greets Kim Jong Un at cosmodrome in Russia’s far east
 <a href="https://t.co/xFsIyL4MVy">pic.twitter.com/xFsIyL4MVy</a>
&mdash; Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1701816100550217770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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At one point, Kim <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-meeting-russia-rcna104775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> Russia’s war a “sacred fight” that has his “full and unconditional support.” Putin also signaled his support for North Korea, describing how the Soviet Union was the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/nkoreas-kim-meets-putin-missiles-launched-pyongyang-2023-09-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first</a> to recognize the North when it was established in 1948 and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-jong-un-putin-timeline-336b51634fab28a34ec210a78866f4d9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backed</a> the country during the Korean War.
The two discussed the potential for military cooperation, with Putin <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> that “there are certain restrictions, and Russia complies with all these restrictions,” while adding that there are possibilities for cooperation between the two in that realm. “There are things that we can of course talk about, discuss, think about it. And here too there are prospects,” Putin said.
Prior to the summit, numerous reports suggested Putin was seeking to get ammunition and weapons for the war in Ukraine. For his part, Kim was likely to request food and missile technology, according to the AP. Relatively few details were disclosed regarding military cooperation and aid agreements, and according to the Kremlin, sensitive discussions between the two will <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/nkoreas-kim-meets-putin-missiles-launched-pyongyang-2023-09-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remain</a> private. The White House has previously warned that such arms deals would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions; Russia is one of five permanent members of the Council.
Putin also appeared to say he was open to helping Kim and North Korea advance its space program. He <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the North Korean dictator has a “great interest in space, in rocketry” and that Russia would “show our new objects. We’ll talk about all the issues without haste, there is time.” The Hermit Kingdom has failed twice this year alone in launching a space satellite – once in May, and again in August – despite prioritizing space technology, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/asia/north-korea-second-satellite-launch-fails-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to CNN.
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The location of the summit – a prominent Russian spaceport – is significant, according to Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. He <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> the site location is “provocative because it suggests that Putin may offer sanctions-violating satellite launch technology in exchange for North Korean munitions that Moscow would employ in its illegal war in Ukraine.”
U.S. State Department head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination James O’Brien blasted the summit, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “Russia is now overtly engaging with a country that the U.N. has sanctioned. And that’s very problematic for Russia’s global position.”
According to former National Security Adviser John Bolton, North Korea had <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/asia/kim-jong-un-putin-meeting-russia-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">much to gain</a> from the meeting: “From North Korea’s point of view, this gets them back into really significant contact with Russia for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.&#8221; Bolton also said the meeting &#8220;goes well beyond a potential arms deal.&#8221;
Shortly before the summit, North Korea <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-kim-jong-un-5a247c5612306bfd1901f851ffba47d3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched</a> two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas – a rarity while Kim is out of the country.

TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-NKOREA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY

Kim Jong Un, Putin Discuss Military Cooperation, Space Tech, And Ukraine War At Russian Summit

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Korean</a> dictator Kim Jong Un arrived in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia</a> on Tuesday aboard a bulletproof train ahead of expected talks with Russian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vladimir-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vladimir Putin</a>.
The rare trip by Kim to Russia is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kim-jong-un-expected-to-meet-with-putin-for-weapons-talks-reports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected to center</a> on Putin obtaining more weapons for the war with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine</a>, such as artillery shells and anti-tank missiles, and Kim looking to gain access to Russian nuclear technology and food supplies. 
Kim was met by officials and a military band in Khasan, Russia, after traveling on a train known for its security, slow speed, and luxury amenities, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-russia-amid-us-warnings-not-sell-arms-2023-09-12/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=091223" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Reuters. A <a href="https://ria.ru/20230912/vstrecha-1895861006.html">video</a> posted by Russian state media shows Kim getting off a green train in the eastern Russian train station early Tuesday morning before the military band started playing. 
Putin and Kim <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/09/12/world/russia-ukraine-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will</a> have an “intensive exchange of opinions on the situation in the region,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov.
“Naturally, being neighbors, our countries cooperate in certain sensitive spheres which should not be publicly revealed or announced,” he said. 
The White House has opposed any arms sales between the two nations, threatening sanctions if they do agree to weapons sales or trades. 
“Arms discussions between Russia and [North Korea] are expected to continue during Kim Jong Un’s trip to Russia,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-674e9f1155de1c83ca1a819e7dbf96ed">said</a>. “We urge the (Democratic People&#8217;s Republic of Korea) to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.”
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that “any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions,” adding that the U.S. would implement new sanctions if weapons were transferred. 
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Russia and North Korea have aligned themselves in recent years, with Russia opposing U.S.-backed U.N. sanctions on North Korea, and North Korea recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, contested areas in eastern Ukraine that are a focal point of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Previous intelligence about possible arms transactions that made the media rounds last year led both nations to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/22/north-korea-weapons-russia-us-assessment/">issue denials</a>. Meanwhile, the U.S. has approved <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-asks-congress-for-more-than-13b-to-support-ukraine-and-12b-for-disaster-fund">more than $110 billion</a> in aid to Ukraine as its defenders keep up the fight to try and fend off Russian forces who invaded the country over a year and a half ago.
Kim has left North Korea only seven times since taking power back in 2011.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un in Russia

Kim Jong Un Enters Russia On Bulletproof Train For Expected Weapon Talks With Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may soon meet with Russian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a> for negotiations on weapons, according to multiple reports on Monday.
Senior administration officials <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/04/putin-kim-meeting-weapons-deal-russia-north-korea/">told The Washington Post</a> that Kim plans to make a rare trip out of North Korea to meet with Putin later this month.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/us/politics/putin-kim-meeting-russia-north-korea-weapons.html">The New York Times</a>, citing American and allied officials, reported that Kim would travel from North Korea&#8217;s capital of Pyongyang to the Russian port city of Vladivostok — probably by armored train. The duo <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716873097/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-and-russian-president-vladimir-putin-meet-for-su">previously met</a> in the same city, which is not far from North Korea&#8217;s border with Russia, in 2019.
With this new round of talks, Putin aims to secure more weapons for its war in Ukraine, such as artillery shells and anti-tank missiles, while Kim wants access to Russia&#8217;s advanced technology on nuclear submarines and satellites as well as food assistance for his <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-koreans-face-increasing-repression-threat-starvation-un-says-rcna100564">starving country</a> of roughly <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-suffers-one-of-its-worst-food-crises-in-decades-ee25aa86">26 million people</a>, officials told the New York Times. Kim could also make other stops, including at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch center and even Moscow.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang in July and Kim <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-jong-un-russia-north-korea-ukraine-banned-missiles-rcna96590">showed off</a> his nation&#8217;s banned ballistic missiles. That high-profile trip was reportedly followed by delegations from North Korea and Russia visiting the other country, possibly setting the stage for a new meeting between their leaders.
The White House revealed last week that the United States had intelligence showing that Kim and Putin have <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-north-korea-weapons-munitions-letter-8c48787c798a50beda774a8ac5cc91ba">exchanged letters</a>. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also told reporters that information showed negotiations were &#8220;actively advancing&#8221; as Russia seeks munitions from North Korea in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“We have information that Kim Jong-Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia,” said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, according to a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/04/politics/north-korea-kim-putin-arms-negotiations/index.html">CNN</a> report on Monday.
&#8220;We urge [North Korea] to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,&#8221; Watson <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/us/politics/putin-kim-meeting-russia-north-korea-weapons.html">also said</a>.
The Biden administration has sought to deter weapons negotiations between Russia and North Korea with <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sanctions-russian-company-over-alleged-support-for-north-korean-weapons-programs-79642dd0">volleys</a> of <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/4155289-us-issues-sanctions-targeting-north-korea-russia-arms-trade/">sanctions</a>. Previous intelligence about possible arms transactions that made the media rounds last year led both nations to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/22/north-korea-weapons-russia-us-assessment/">issue denials</a>.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has approved <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-asks-congress-for-more-than-13b-to-support-ukraine-and-12b-for-disaster-fund">more than $110 billion</a> in aid to Ukraine as its defenders keep up the fight to try and fend off Russian forces who invaded their country over a year and a half ago.

Kim Jong Un Expected To Meet With Putin For Weapons Talks: Reports

Former President Donald Trump is planning to publish a new book revealing the personal correspondence he&#8217;s received over the years from celebrities and world leaders.
Trump&#8217;s book, titled simply &#8220;Letters to Trump,&#8221; will include 150 notes from a wide range of well-known personalities ranging from popular television host Oprah Winfrey to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un — and alongside each letter, the former president will include his own commentary about the letter and the sender.
According to a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/09/trump-book-oprah-private-letters-celebrities">report</a> from Axios, the 150 letters slated to appear in the book include missives from &#8220;Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, North Korea&#8217;s Kim Jong-un, Mario Cuomo, Arnold Palmer, Jay Leno, Liza Minnelli, Regis Philbin&#8221; and a number of others. Philbin, the outlet noted, opened his letter with, &#8220;My Dear Trumpster.&#8221;
The book will feature photos of each letter — along with transcripts to go along with the ones where handwriting is difficult to read.
One letter that is certain to make the cut — written by Winfrey in 2000 — includes the television host&#8217;s lament that she and Trump are not running for office as a team.
Trump had sent the television magnate an excerpt from his 2000 book, &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/America-We-Deserve-Donald-Trump/dp/1580631312?tag=nypost-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://nypost.com/2023/03/09/donald-trump-releasing-new-book-with-private-celeb-letters/&amp;asc_source=web" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" data-ga-event="{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;affiliate ecommerce click&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;amazon&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;https://www.amazon.com/America-We-Deserve-Donald-Trump/dp/1580631312?tag=nypost-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://nypost.com/2023/03/09/donald-trump-releasing-new-book-with-private-celeb-letters/&amp;asc_source=web&quot;}" data-ml-dynamic="true" data-ml-dynamic-type="sl" data-orig-url="https://www.amazon.com/America-We-Deserve-Donald-Trump/dp/1580631312?tag=nypost-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://nypost.com/2023/03/09/donald-trump-releasing-new-book-with-private-celeb-letters/&amp;asc_source=web" data-ml-id="1" data-ml="true" data-xid="fr1678381839402ace">The America We Deserve,</a>&#8221; in which he had claimed that she would certainly be his &#8220;first choice for vice president&#8221; if he were ever to run.
&#8220;Americans respect and admire Oprah for her intelligence and caring,&#8221; Trump wrote in the book, adding that he&#8217;d look for someone with those same qualities if she refused or were unavailable.
&#8220;Too bad we&#8217;re not running for office. What a team!&#8221; Oprah replied at the time, saying that she had been brought to tears by the way he had spoken of her — but Trump noted in his new book that she had changed her tune upon learning that he intended to seek the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
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&#8220;Sadly, once I announced for President, she never spoke to me again,&#8221; he wrote, adding that he still believed Winfrey to be an &#8220;amazing&#8221; person.
The book, <a href="https://winningpublishing.com/products/letters-to-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scheduled for release</a> on April 25, 2023, has a price tag of $99. Winning Team Publishing is handling the release.

Conservatives Attend The Annual CPAC Event

‘Letters To Trump’: Former President To Publish Private Notes He Got From Oprah, Other Celebs

Former President Donald Trump To Publish Private Notes He Got From Oprah, Other Celebs

Celebrities

Oprah Winfrey

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Korea</a> dictator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kim-jong-un" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kim Jong Un</a> ordered an “exponential” expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal, state media reported on Sunday.
Kim has made repeated promises to ramp up North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and build out its stockpile to counter what he says is U.S. aggression, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-north-korea-south-895fb34033780fdafd5bf925b376a2c6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>. Experts have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/these-are-the-nuclear-weapons-north-korea-has-as-fears-mount-of-atomic-test/2022/11/03/d69177aa-5b35-11ed-bc40-b5a130f95ee7_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> North Korea has dozens of nuclear warheads, with one 2021 study putting the number as high as 116.
“They are now keen on isolating and stifling [North Korea], unprecedented in human history,” Kim said at a recent ruling party meeting, according to state media. “The prevailing situation calls for making redoubled efforts to overwhelmingly beef up the military muscle.”
Kim called for “an exponential increase of the country’s nuclear arsenal” to target South Korea with tactical nuclear weapons and announced a government mission to create a weapon capable of hitting the United States.
Tensions between North Korea and its Democratic neighbor to the south have grown increasingly strained recently as North Korea continues to ramp up missile testing. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently told his top military leaders, “our security situation is still very grave,” according to the AP.
South Korea’s military warned that any attempt by Kim’s government to use a nuclear weapon “will lead to the end of the Kim Jong Un government.”
Yoon told a South Korean newspaper that he is seeking closer cooperation with the United States to monitor and restrict North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
“While the nuclear weapons belong to the US, intel sharing, planning, and training should be done jointly,” Yoon said, according to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-02/south-korea-asks-us-for-greater-role-in-managing-nuclear-weapons?leadSource=uverify%20wall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a>. “The US’s stance is quite positive.”
North Korea ended 2022 with what was suspected to be the testing of three ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. The launches came a day after South Korea tested a rocket as part of its program to build out a space-based surveillance system to monitor North Korea.
South Korea’s top military leadership <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-korea-north-government-3e6e8aff8d6d3e932f715d431cf7d2ae" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the ballistic missile tests “a grave provocation.”
Earlier last week, North Korea flew drones across its southern border over South Korea for the first time in five years, according to South Korean authorities. South Korea responded by flying drones into North Korean airspace.
North Korea ramped up its weapons testing in 2022, testing more than 70 missiles.
Experts say that North Korea’s behavior, along with Kim’s recent comments on his country’s nuclear ambitions, shows an emboldened North Korea that may be able to support its bluster.
“Kim’s comments from the party meeting reads like an ambitious — but perhaps achievable — New Year’s resolution list,” RAND Corporation security analyst Soo Kim told the AP. “It’s ambitious in that Kim consciously chose to spell out what he hopes to accomplish as we head into 2023, but it also suggests a dose of confidence on Kim’s part.”

North Korea Announces ‘Exponential’ Expansion Of Nuclear Weapons Program To Target South Korea, U.S.

Nuclear Weapons

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