Musings From Abroad

North Korea defies world leaders security meeting, fires ICBM into Japan waters

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2022

North Korea Thursday, confirmed that it successfully fired a new, advanced International Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that has the capability of placing the entire Unites States within its range.

The announcement of the high powered ICBM launching coincided with a security summit in Brussels, Belgium, with world leaders includingUS President Joe Biden, in attendance.

This is the first time North Korea will be firing a missile since 2017, and was personally supervised by President Kim Jong-un.

The long range missile, flying at an altitude of 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) and had a distance of 1,080 kilometers (671 miles), with a flight time of 71 minutes, landed in the Sea of Japan.

North Korea has had a long history with testing of missiles, having carried out a total of 147 tests of strategic missiles since its first such test in 1984.

Under the regime of Kim il-sung, the country carried out 15 tests while 16 were undertaken under Kim Jong-il, the father of current leader, Kim Jong-un, whose regime has seen 119 tests undertaken.

The last of the nuclear testing by North Korea was in November 2017, which was a 53 minutes ICBM, covering a distance of 590 miles and an altitude of about 2,780 miles.

In response to the ICBM test, South Korea’s military also launched several warning missiles for the first time since 2017, with the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) anniuncing its reprisal attacks on its powerful neighbours.

Related Topics:Japan Kim Jong Un Missiles North Korea

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Musings From Abroad

China supports South Africa on BRICS summit— Report

Published

16 hours ago

June 9, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Local media in China are reporting that the Asian giant will support South Africa to host the BRICS summit later this year.

South Africa has come under diplomatic pleasure following its continued relations with Russia, with the United States alleging recently that it aided Russia with ammunition in the ongoing Ukraine war.

South Africa is under the spotlight as it decides if it would arrest Russian President, Vladimir Putin during his expected visit for the BRICS Summit in August after the International Criminal Court placed a warrant on the European leader.

But with China now backing South Africa’s stance in the international space, particularly in hosting the BRICS summit and in relations with Putin’s expected visit, it may find some courage to rebuff the West.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping is reported to have had a phone conversation with South Africa’s Ramaphosa with assurances communicated.

Musings From Abroad

Italy, Netherlands, EU set to announce aid package for Tunisia

Published

17 hours ago

June 9, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni has said that a fresh aid package to Tunisia would be announced by the European Union alongside her country and the Netherlands on Sunday.

Meloni, who recently ended a visit to Tunisia, will visit again on Sunday with her Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte and the EU Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen with high hopes.

“It seems to me that important steps forward are being taken,” Meloni said.

There are concerns that the delay with the loan could deepen Tunisia’s financial crisis and escalate migrants’ crisis across the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe.

Creditors, which are largely European, want President Kais Saied to accept the terms of financial reforms by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its loan which will unlock extra funds in bilateral aid for the country.

Creditors are also refusing to provide Tunisia with long-term budget support unless the IMF agrees to a deal that assures them of repayment of its debts. They have, however, given Tunisia smaller sums to help it purchase food and fuel.

President Saied announced last week that additional taxes would be implemented as a stopgap measure before an expected IMF loan.

Tunisia is in debt to the tune of roughly 80% of its GDP, and the IMF agreed in principle last year to a new loan of nearly $2 billion to help it overcome its severe financial crisis.