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Global Issues & Cooperation

North Korea amends constitution on nuclear policy, cites US provocations.

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State media announced on Thursday that North Korea has accepted a constitutional amendment to codify its use of nuclear weapons, as the country’s leader promised to quicken nuclear weapon manufacturing to ward off what he called American provocations.

After a two-day meeting of the North’s rubber-stamp parliament ended on Wednesday, the Supreme People’s Assembly unanimously approved the modification that reads that North Korea “develops highly nuclear weapons to ensure” its “rights to existence” and to “deter war.”

Speaking before the parliament, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared, “The DPRK’s nuclear force-building policy has been made permanent as the basic law of the state, which no one is allowed to flout with anything.” The North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is abbreviated as DPRK.

The necessity to “push ahead with the work for exponentially increasing nuclear weapon production and diversifying the nuclear strike means and deploying them in different services,” Kim continued, was emphasized.

He also said that American military exercises and the placement of strategic assets in the area amounted to grave provocations.

According to South Korea’s unification ministry, the rewritten constitution demonstrates Pyongyang’s “strong will” to continue its nuclear development.

It issued a statement warning that North Korea’s dictatorship would be overthrown if nuclear weapons were used.

Hirokazu Matsuno, chief cabinet secretary of Japan, declared: “North Korea’s nuclear and missile development poses threats to peace and safety of our country and the international community, and can never be tolerated.”

The change was made a year after North Korea formally codified its right to defend itself with preemptive nuclear attacks, a step Kim had said would render its nuclear status “irreversible.”

Denouncing trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea, and Japan as the “Asian version of NATO,” Kim encouraged authorities to foster further unity with the countries opposing the US.

He did not use frightening rhetoric or an artificial danger, but he declared that this was the worst possible threat.

Last week, Kim returned from a trip to Russia, where he and President Vladimir Putin decided to expand their economic and military ties.

Officials from the United States and South Korea have voiced concern that Pyongyang could seek technological assistance for its nuclear and missile programs. Meanwhile, Moscow is attempting to buy ammunition from the North to augment its depleting supplies for the war in Ukraine.

According to analysts, the inclusion of the nuclear strategy in the constitution is only a symbolic declaration by the North of its determination to maintain a permanent nuclear force over which it would not engage in negotiations.

“The new Cold War in the Northeast Asia region and military tensions on the Korean peninsula will intensify,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

On Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea warned Pyongyang that using nuclear weapons would result in an “overwhelming response” as Seoul staged the first significant military parade in a decade as a show of might.

On Wednesday, the North Korean state media reported that Pyongyang has chosen to remove Private Travis King, the American soldier who broke into North Korea in July. This news was followed by a statement by parliament on Thursday. He has been sent back to the United States and is currently in American custody, according to the United States.

In his address, Kim declared that overseeing a significant overhaul of the nation’s economy was “the most pressing task for the government.” He asked the agriculture industry to strive more to advance the populace’s well-being.

International experts have cautioned that border controls during the COVID-19 epidemic aggravated food security issues. The North has had severe food shortages in previous decades, including famine in the 1990s.

Global Issues & Cooperation

UK’s King Charles urges compassion and care for the environment in conflict.

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UK’s King Charles urges compassion and care for the environment in conflict. Utilizing his Christmas Day address to emphasize the significance of kindness, compassion, and care for the environment, King Charles of the United Kingdom issued a call to action on Monday, urging everyone to assist those less fortunate amid economic struggle and worldwide strife.

During his second Christmas speech since becoming king, Charles also paid respect to those who worked for charitable organizations, volunteers, and those who spent the holidays doing duties that included caring for others.

“This is all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to support others less fortunate than ourselves,” the queen of 75 years commented.

In a first for the history of royal seasonal greetings, which dates back to a radio address given by his great-grandfather George V in 1932, Charles gave his message next to a living Christmas tree that Buckingham Palace stated would be replanted. This was a first for the practice.

Pine cones and paper were among the natural and eco-friendly decorations affixed to the tree as a further tribute to Charles’s decades of work on environmental concerns.

According to Charles, who spoke from the Center Room of the palace, which opens onto the famed balcony where the royal family makes public appearances on significant occasions, “We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children,” he added.

Charles, who succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as king in September 2022, made the statement. “During my lifetime, I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home that we all share,” said Charles.

Charles said, “At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do everything in our power to protect each other.” The eleven-week-long war in Gaza was a partial allusion to him.

Charles, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, who carries the title of “Defender of the Faith,” stated that the Christian doctrine of doing good to others reflected universal principles and seemed more critical now than ever.

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Geopolitics & Foreign Policy

According to the finance ministry, Ukraine received $1.34 billion under the World Bank project.

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Ukraine received $1.34 billion under the World Bank project in the finance ministry. Under the World Bank’s public expenditures for administrative capacity endurance in Ukraine, Ukraine was awarded $1.34 billion, according to the Ukrainian finance ministry, which announced this on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry explained that the financing comprised a loan from the World Bank for $1.086 billion, a grant from Norway for $190 million, a grant from the United States for $50 million, and a grant from Switzerland for $20 million.

The ministry said the money would partially compensate for Ukrainian state budget expenditures unrelated to security and defense. These expenses include payments to state emergency service personnel and members of the elderly social security system.

In a statement, Ukraine’s Minister of Finance, Serhiy Marchenko, stated, “International financial assistance is a significant contribution to maintaining Ukraine’s financial and economic stability and allows us to provide priority social expenditures during the war.”

The reception of $1.34 billion under the World Bank project signifies a significant stride for Ukraine’s economic landscape. This substantial funding infusion, channeled strategically by the Finance Ministry, is poised to catalyze transformative changes across various sectors. The focus on infrastructure, socio-economic reforms, and sustainable growth initiatives underscores Ukraine’s commitment to fostering progress and resilience in the face of economic challenges.

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Global Issues & Cooperation

Putin press conference: Ukraine, the West and the Russian economy

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The following are some of the most essential points that were discussed during the annual news conference and phone-in that Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted in Moscow on Thursday:

REGARDING THE UKRAINE COUNCIL
There will be serenity as soon as we accomplish what we set out to do. Again, let’s return to these objectives; they have not been altered. I’ll bring to your attention the topics we discussed back then: the denazification of Ukraine, the demilitarization of Ukraine, and Ukraine’s neutral position.

In terms of demilitarization, if they do not wish to reach a consensus, then we are compelled to take additional steps, which may include military ones. Or, we will reach a consensus on a set of terminology. During our discussions in Istanbul, we agreed on these. These accords, however, were eventually abandoned. However, we agreed with this. Further options are available, such as agreeing or resolving the issue through coercion. We are going to work hard to achieve this goal.

It would be an understatement to say that our military forces are slowly but surely strengthening their position over the entirety of the front line. The majority of people are now engaged in some form of action. In every respect, the situation of our troops is getting better.

ON THE OPPORTUNITY OF A SECOND DRAWING FOR THE MILITARY
We are not seeing a decrease in the number of guys who are prepared to protect our motherland with their guns in hand. In addition to the volunteers, there ought to be around half a million people. At this point, there is no requirement for mobilization.

“The unbridled desire to creep towards our borders, taking Ukraine into NATO—all of these things led to this tragedy,” said the speaker about relations with the West. The catastrophe that we are currently witnessing is the result of all of these factors, including the violent events that took place in Donbas over the past eight years. They compelled us to carry out these activities.

Regarding what the United States of America dreamed of and arranged, Europe either stood and observed in silence or played and sang together with them there. The question is, “How can we improve our relations with them?”

“The fundamental conditions will be in place to restore fully-fledged relations.” “When internal changes occur (in the United States), when they begin to respect other people and other countries, when they begin to look for compromise rather than trying to resolve their issues through sanctions and military intervention, then the fundamental conditions will be in place to restore fully-fledged relations.” Even though such conditions have not yet been established, we are prepared for them.

“About the so-called “rules-based order,” it is true that there are no such rules. Politics and the short-term interests of those who discuss (such an order) are subject to change daily.

VIDEO OF EVAN GERSHKOVICH, AN AMERICAN REPORTER WHO IS DETAINED
“About the possibility of extraditing these nationals, Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, to their country of origin… You express the question: Why don’t they go back to their country of origin? If this is the case, does it not make sense for them to commit crimes within the borders of the Russian Federation? However, this is nothing but empty bluster. The reason for this is not that we would not accept their return. We didn’t say no to it. Our goal is to agree, and for this to happen, the agreements must be mutually acceptable and suitable for all sides. We have been communicating with our American partners and will continue to have conversations about this topic. I won’t get into the specifics right now because it is difficult. May we be able to find a solution? But I will repeat it: the American side needs to listen to us and make an acceptable and suitable decision for the Russian side.

REGARDING THE OLYMPICS
“Everything that the international bureaucrats are doing to Russian sports goes against Pierre de Coubertin’s idea, ‘O Sport, you are Peace!'”

CONCERNING THE CONTROL OF CAPITAL

“Neither the government nor the central bank knows what is taking place with the sums of money our exporters generate from their exports. “We… have a legitimate desire to glimpse how roubles are accumulated, how they are moved around, where they go, and in what quantities they are found.”

Regarding the Russian Hospital in Gaza

During my trip to the United Arab Emirates, I learned they have established a field hospital close to the Rafah checkpoint in Gaza. During our conversation, we also discussed the possibility of Russia establishing a hospital in the exact location, at a stadium. However, it is essential to note that this would require approval from both Egypt and Israel. I have talked with the President of Egypt, and he favors this concept. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and I have discussed this matter. They have discussed it with several agencies, and the Israeli side does not support this move. Although they think that establishing a Russian hospital in Gaza would be risky, this does not imply that we would stop making efforts in this direction.

REGARDING THE INTERESTS OF CHINA
“We know and I will simply repeat this, I must repeat this, the level of our ties with China is at an all-time high.”

REGARDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMMANUEL MACRON, the President of France
In terms of our professional relationship, we were pretty lovely and friendly… At some point, the president of France severed all contact with us, even though we were prepared to continue our interactions with France.

Although I did not stop, he did. Please let us know if there is any interest; we are prepared. If there is no interest, we will make do with what we have. We do not shy away from these relationships; nevertheless, if European nations, and the president of France in particular, do not wish to speak with us, that puts an end to the matter. We have work to do.

WORTH OF THE ECONOMY
“The most significant indication is the degree of economic expansion. It is anticipated that the GDP growth rate will be 3.5% by the end of the year. This is a positive signal, as it indicates that we have recovered from the previous year’s decline. and that we have made a very significant stride ahead.

“Unfortunately, there has been a rise in inflation. It is anticipated that it will reach 7.5% by the end of the year, with the possibility of a slight increase to 8%; nevertheless, the government and the central bank are taking the necessary measures.

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