Podcasts about Korean Peninsula

//The Wire//2300Z August 17, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR IN MIDDLE EAST REMAINS STAGNANT. WHITE HOUSE SIGNALS SHIFT AWAY FROM PACOM AS PRESIDENT TRUMP ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA. TONGAN CRIP GANG SHOOTING REPORTED AT FUNERAL IN SALT LAKE CITY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: The situation remains much the same, no major changes over the weekend. Iran did not conduct any major strikes over the past few days, and the Houthis have also not engaged any Saudi oil refineries since last week. Otherwise the situation remains as before.South Korea: Over the weekend President Trump announced a significant change to the American diplomatic position regarding the Korean Peninsula. Due to South Korea not participating in hostilities during the Gulf War, President Trump has ordered the United States to reduce American participation in ROK military exercises.Analyst Comment: This is a big deal, but one that has been boiling since the Gulf War began. Pinning American diplomatic efforts to whether or not nations supported us during the war highlights the priority the White House is placing on the conflict. Supplies and missile defenses have been taken from PACOM for months now, and this halting of joint exercises with South Korea is the latest development in the de-prioritization of all operational theaters in order to support the war. Similarly, the other effect of de-prioritizing South Korea, is to improve relations with North Korea, which in turn might lead to another round of diplomatic talks soon.-HomeFront-Michigan: More details have come to light regarding a series of small arms attacks carried out a few days ago. On Friday, authorities responded to a private residence in Missaukee County, where a mass shooting had occurred. 3x deceased victims and 1x severely wounded victim were located at the residence, with the suspect having fled the scene. At the scene, the immediate investigation resulted in the discovery of another fatality located at a different residence adjacent to the initial shooting site. The suspect was identified as Chad Hickman, and a large-scale manhunt was conducted throughout the area. Some time later, Hickman's vehicle was located near Whitlock Lake, where the remains of one additional victim and the deceased suspect were discovered.Analyst Comment: So far, no motive has been disclosed for this attack, but right now this looks like a domestic incident. The suspect's sister is reportedly among the casualties, and Hickman had also recently been involved in a messy divorce.Utah: This morning a riot and subsequent mass shooting was reported at an LDS Ward in Salt Lake City. Local authorities initially responded to the 13th Ward in Kearns, after a street fight involving 80+ people broke out during a Tongan cultural event and funeral. At some point during the fray, several people were shot as a state of mutual combat broke out between suspected members of the Tongan Crip Gang, and local rivals.After the initial shooting at the funeral, the wounded suspected gang members were transported to Intermountain Medical Center, where another skirmish possibly broke out in the parking area. Several reports of shots-fired were issued, and the hospital was locked down throughout the afternoon. No details have been provided on this second incident, or the status of the reported shootings at the hospital. However, ambulances are being diverted away from Intermountain Health, and armored police vehicles are reportedly parked at the facility providing security.Analyst Comment: These shootings are directly linked to a different shooting. This was the funeral for Ofa'tangikivaha Angilau, a Tongan man who was neutralized by Good Samaritans two weeks ago. On August 7th, Angilau attempted to purchase alcohol without showing ID at the Holiday Oil gas station in Riverton. After the clerk denied his purchase, he left the store and returned with a shotgun, and attempted to murder the clerk. Before Angilau could bring the shotgun to bear, he was promptly shot dead by two different bystanders in the store. His funeral was this morning, and due to the shooting breaking out during the funeral, this retroactively indicates that Angilau was probably affiliated with the Tongan Crip Gang.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: For wider context, the Tongan community has a major foothold in Salt Lake County, and have been running operations inside LDS Wards throughout the city for some time. The LDS Church has organized several different Tongan Stakes (districts) which serve as the administrative hierarchy solely for immigrants from the Pacific island of Tonga. Around 13,000 Tongans live throughout the Salt Lake County area, which is roughly a quarter of the entire Tongan population in the United States, and as a result the LDS Church has provided substantial resources for this community, including a few dozen cultural centers and dedicated Wards just for Tongans. At these facilities, no English is spoken and even the websites are in the Tongan language. Over time, the Tongan Crip Gang has emerged as a major threat to the local area. In many cases, the Tongan Wards within Salt Lake City are not really houses of worship, but actually safehouses for the Tongan Crip Gang, as demonstrated by gang colors being placed all around these structures, only gang members attending these wards, and the frequent shootings at these facilities. Due to the gang seeking refuge within LDS churches...in the heartland of where the LDS Church was founded...this rarely gets mentioned by local mainstream media sources, which in many cases have either been financially motivated (or even outright ordered) to ignore this major gang threat. Most outsiders are rather shocked to learn that a violent gang can not just occupy houses of worship, but be invited in to use the facilities to continue their criminal enterprises. But that's what's been happening in Salt Lake City for a long time, and as unpleasant as it is, this must be acknowledged as the body count keeps rising.The Tongan Crip problem has become so bad that local police pre-stage at Tongan funerals, because they assess with a high degree of certainty that there is going to be a shootout at some point. This morning's shooting is the second shooting this year involving a funeral for a Tongan Crip Gang member; back in January, nearly the exact same event took place. Tongan Crips were having a funeral for one of their leaders, and a rival gang showed up to conduct a shooting in the parking lot. This morning's shooting occurred under nearly identical circumstances. Also during both shootings, upwards of a dozen officers were already staged at these Wards with rifles, prepared for the active shooting, knowing that a small arms engagement would be occurring at some point.Nevertheless, nobody wants to ruffle any feathers when a faith-based organization is involved, even if that organization is knowingly and deliberately allowing a gang to operate within their facilities, so these shootings (but especially the Tongan Crip angle) will continue to be ignored by local media, politicians, and Church leadership alike. However, both today's shooting, and the prior one in January took place in close proximity to schools, where children could have been wounded or killed by the gunfights in the parking lots, so this is not merely an internal Church problem. Further investigation will be needed to truly determine how widespread the problem is, but this is probably more significant than most people realize, and pretending everything is fine is resulting in clear and present dangers being allowed to threaten innocent citizens.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Today on America in the MorningTrump's Iran & Oman Threats The 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran that President Trump signed in France has now expired, and the President has come up with two new threats against Iran and one of the top US allies in the Persian Gulf.  Details from correspondent Rich Johnson.  Primary Day Several states are holding primary elections today as we inch closer to the midterms.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports there's confusion in Alaska where the Senate race has incumbent Dan Sullivan challenging another Republican candidate with the same name.   Hero Lifeguard Honored At The White House A teenage lifeguard who bravely jumped into dangerous surf to rescue a 10-year-old who was being pulled out into the Pacific Ocean was honored at the White House Monday, sitting down with President Trump.  Correspondent Julie Walker reports also in attendance, the 10-year-old boy that lifeguard saved.   Damage Worsens From Lala At least one person has died, thousands remain without power, and some towns are cut off after roads were washed away from Tropical Storm Lala that damaged several of the Hawaiian Islands.  Correspondent Donna Warder reports.   SCOTUS Says No To Trump The nation's highest court has again rebuffed President Trump's latest attempt to overturn a jury verdict against him.  Correspondent Marcela Sanchez reports.   Vandals Blamed On More DC Damage President Trump is again pointing the finger of blame at vandals for damaged grass on the National Mall near the White House.   Correspondent Mike Hempen reports.   Trump Responds To USS Alabama Today marks 61 days since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that called for a wider peace deal to be negotiated within that timeframe, and that time has now come and gone.  Another issue of the war has been the long deployment of US troops aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.  Correspondent Julie Walker reports that the president is calling news of food shortages and morale problems on the aircraft carrier “fake news.”   South Korea Reacts To Scaled Back Maneuvers South Korea hopes for the resumption of diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea to help ease animosities on the Korean Peninsula.  Correspondent Luke Garatt reports this comes after President Trump ordered a scaling back of annual U.S. military exercises with South Korea.   Trump-Ossoff War Of Words President Trump and Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff are trading increasingly personal attacks, as the political battle over Georgia's Senate seat heats up.  Joan Jones reports on the back-and-forth between the Democrat Senator and the White House.   Congressman's New Trouble The House Ethics Committee is investigating a current Democrat lawmaker over allegations of sexual misconduct.  Mangione's State Trial Postponed The man accused of shooting healthcare CEO Brian Thompson to death in New York City will not go to trial in state court next month as previously scheduled.  Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.   Finally   Actress Hayden Panettiere passed away on Sunday, and questions abound as to how she died at the age of 36.  Entertainment reporter Kevin Carr has the latest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Korea hopes for the resumption of diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea to ease animosities on the Korean Peninsula. AP correspondent Luke Garatt reports this comes after President Trump posted on social media about U.S. military exercises with South Korea.

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

１５日、ソウルで演説する韓国の李在明大統領【ソウル時事】韓国の李在明大統領は１５日、日本による植民地支配からの解放８１周年を記念する「光復節」の式典で演説した。 South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed his intention to develop a future-oriented relationship with Japan in his speech at a ceremony in Seoul on Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

This episode features Mr. Andy Lim, Deputy Director and Fellow with the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Mr. Lim's research focuses on North Korea, the U.S.-South Korea alliance, inter-Korean relations, and the weaponization of economic interdependence. A graduate of American University, Mr. Lim has been published in Comparative Connections, Foreign Policy, and The Washington Quarterly, and he is the co-author of the new book China's Weaponization of Trade with Victor Cha and Ellen Kim. Mr. Lim speaks to the US-Asia Institute's Program Assistant Olivia Van Hoey about the 2026 Suwon inter-Korean women's soccer match and how sports can be used to create connections between North and South Korea. Support the show

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports a record heat wave in Northeast Asia has gripped South Korea, North Korea and Japan.

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) The US and Iran held off attacks on one another for a third straight night, helping lift global stock and bond markets and push down oil prices. President Trump is giving diplomacy “some space,” according to Mike Waltz, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, after Trump threatened to step up attacks in Iran. Iran’s army says it has halted its retaliation against US bases and troops in the region as a result of Trump’s decision to hold off on strikes, but tensions between the warring sides remain high. 2) Three people were killed and at least five others injured in a shooting at a food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle landmark on Sunday. Seattle police are investigating and advised people to avoid the area, with one suspect taken into custody and another suspect remaining at large. The shooting happened during the Bite of Seattle festival, with police believing that two people were shooting at each other and asking witnesses to come forward with information. 3) Nvidia will invest $1 billion in Naver Corp. to help finance an AI data center under construction in South Korea. Nvidia is teaming up with SK Group to build more than 2 gigawatts of AI data centers on the Korean Peninsula. It comes amid a Wall Street Journal report that the company is in talks to provide a roughly $250 billion backstop for OpenAI as part of a massive data center project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Security Hour with Al Johnson (LTC Sangari) – South Korea stands at the center of an intensifying struggle over trade, technology, and regional security. As China, North Korea, and Russia expand pressure, Washington faces growing risks to alliances, semiconductor supply chains, military deterrence, and the broader balance of power across Asia and the Pacific in the years ahead...

Nvidia President & CEO Jensen Huang says “this is the golden ages for Korea" after teaming up with SK Group to build more than 2 gigawatts of AI data centers on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking to Bloomberg Television's Ed Ludlow in an exclusive interview in San Francisco, Huang adds, “Their semiconductor business is booming. Their industrial business is booming. You know, this is a country that has the ability to help the world build out the AI infrastructure.” Huang speaks to Ludlow after the CEO's appearance at a Korean AI Summit and meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The National Security Hour with Al Johnson (LTC Sangari) – South Korea stands at the center of an intensifying struggle over trade, technology, and regional security. As China, North Korea, and Russia expand pressure, Washington faces growing risks to alliances, semiconductor supply chains, military deterrence, and the broader balance of power across Asia and the Pacific in the years ahead...

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Head to superpower.com and use code WARTIMESTORIES at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod Sign up for your $1-per-month trial today at shopify.com/wartimestories #sponsored More than seventy years after the fighting stopped, the Korean Peninsula remains divided and technically at war. For the American servicemembers stationed there, the mission means long nights in remote training areas, isolated outposts, and along one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world. Drawn from firsthand accounts shared by Marines, soldiers, and airmen, these stories describe strange encounters across South Korea — from shadowy figures and unexplained voices to terrifying experiences along the Demilitarized Zone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices