Podcasts about Pyongyang

Russia has been trying to tackle a significant labour shortage by recruiting North Koreans; the BBC has been speaking to some of them. Also in the programme: the American surgeon recycling surgical pins and plates in Gaza; and how studying cat dementia can help humans.Photograph: President Putin and Kim Jung Un meeting in Pyongyang in 2024. Credit: Reuters.

NK News Executive Director Jeongmin Kim joins the podcast to discuss the story of a North Korean defector in her 70s who is under investigation for allegedly leaking the locations of fellow escapees to Pyongyang's secret police, as well as the daring maritime defection of a North Korean who swam across the Han River estuary. She also talks about the recent decision by South Korea and the U.S. to postpone half of their summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield drills and the latest on the dismantling of propaganda loudspeaker arrays along the inter-Korean border. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Beijing detains one of its top diplomats, a man once seen as a future foreign minister. Is this just another anti-corruption campaign—or evidence of growing paranoia from Xi Jinping? Lebanon signs on to a U.S.-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah—but days later, six Lebanese soldiers are killed in a blast while seizing the group's weapons. Ukraine accuses Russia of helping North Korea upgrade its nuclear weapons delivery systems. Is Moscow trading tech for troops in its war against Ukraine? And in today's Back of the Brief—an update from Haiti, where the government has declared a three-month state of emergency in the central region as gangs tighten their grip and violence surges. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on goldJacked Up Fitness: Get the all-new Shake Weight by Jacked Up Fitness at https://JackedUpShakeWeight.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, our hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dave Bittner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe Carrigan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (also host of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T-Minus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Space Daily show) are back sharing the latest in social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines. We start with some follow-up on an Arizona woman sentenced to over eight years in prison for running a “laptop farm” that helped North Korean IT workers pose as U.S. employees at hundreds of American companies, funneling over $17 million to Pyongyang through stolen identities and remote access. We also share an update on Joe's Profile picture. We start with Dave's story on a Facebook scam falsely claiming insider access to a secret Yeti cooler deal from Dick's Sporting Goods, using a fake emotional backstory to lure users into clicking a malicious link under the guise of an employee-only loophole. Maria's story is on escalating violence at the Thailand-Cambodia border, where a long-standing territorial dispute has reignited after a leaked phone call between leaders fractured a decades-old political friendship, sparking deadly clashes, diplomatic fallout, and rising tensions fueled by personal betrayal, political instability, and mutual economic pressures. Joe's story follows the indictment of a former Tri-Cities pastor who allegedly used his position and a fake cryptocurrency scheme called “Solano Fi” to defraud his congregation and others out of millions, promising risk-free returns while siphoning the funds for himself and his co-conspirators. Our catch of the day comes from Joe who shares an interesting email from "Xfinity." Complete our annual ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠audience survey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ before August 31. Resources and links to stories: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona woman sentenced over $17 million North Korea worker fraud scheme⁠ Facebook: Ava Davis  Facebook Facebook Facebook The fractured friendship behind the fight at the Thailand-Cambodia border Lethal Cambodia-Thailand border clash linked to cyber-scam slave camps Beneath the Border: Scam Centers and the Thailand–Cambodia Conflict Grand Jury Charges Pastor, Wife in Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Cryptocurrency Scam Former Tri-Cities Pastor Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar Cryptocurrency Scam ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a Catch of the Day you'd like to share? Email it to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hackinghumans@n2k.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

1. Scrutiny of the "Tea" Dating AppThe women-focused dating app "Tea" faces backlash after two data breaches exposed 72,000 sensitive images and 1.1 million private messages. Though security upgrades were promised, past data remained exposed, and the app lacks end-to-end encryption. Additionally, anonymous features enabling posts about men have sparked defamation lawsuits. Critics argue Tea prioritized rapid growth over user safety, exemplifying the danger of neglecting cybersecurity in pursuit of scale.2. North Korean Remote Work InfiltrationCrowdStrike has flagged a 220% surge in North Korean IT operatives posing as remote workers—over 320 cases in the past year. These operatives use stolen/fake identities, aided by generative AI to craft résumés, deepfake interviews, and juggle multiple jobs. Their earnings fund Pyongyang's weapons programs. The tactic reveals the limits of traditional vetting and the need for advanced hiring security.3. Airportr's Data ExposureUK luggage service Airportr suffered a major security lapse exposing passport photos, boarding passes, and flight details—including those of diplomats. CyberX9 found it possible to reset accounts with just an email and no limits on login attempts. Attackers could gain admin access, reroute luggage, or cancel flights. Although patched, the incident underscores risks of convenience services with poor security hygiene.4. Risks of AI-Generated CodeVeracode's "2025 GenAI Code Security Report" found that nearly 45% of AI-generated code across 80 tasks had security flaws—many severe. This highlights the need for human oversight and thorough reviews. While AI speeds development, it also increases vulnerability if unchecked, making secure coding a human responsibility.5. Microsoft's SharePoint Hack ControversyChinese state hackers exploited flaws in SharePoint, breaching hundreds of U.S. entities. A key concern: China-based Microsoft engineers maintained the hacked software, potentially enabling earlier access. Microsoft also shared vulnerability data with Chinese firms through its MAPP program, while Chinese law requires such data be reported to the state. This raises alarms about outsourcing sensitive software to geopolitical rivals.6. Russian Embassy Surveillance AttackRussia's "Secret Blizzard" hackers used ISP-level surveillance to deliver fake Kaspersky updates to embassies. These updates installed malware and rogue certificates enabling adversary-in-the-middle attacks—allowing full decryption of traffic. The attack shows the threat of state-level manipulation of software updates and underscores the need for update authenticity verification.7. Signal's Threat to Exit AustraliaSignal may pull out of Australia if forced to weaken encryption. ASIO's push for access contradicts Signal's end-to-end encryption model, which can't accommodate backdoors without global compromise. This standoff underscores a broader debate: encryption must be secure for all or none. Signal's resistance reflects the rising tension between privacy advocates and governments demanding access.8. Los Alamos Turns to AILos Alamos National Laboratory has launched a National Security AI Office, signaling a pivot from nuclear to AI capabilities. With massive GPU infrastructure and university partnerships, the lab sees AI as the next frontier in scientific and national defense. This reflects a shift in global security dynamics—where large language models may be as strategically vital as missiles.

On this week's episode, NK News Data Analyst Anton Sokolin unpacks major construction updates on the Russia–DPRK car bridge project near the Tumen River.  He also breaks down the ambitious trilateral initiative to launch historical boat tours connecting China, Russia and North Korea along the same river as well as new direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang and a Russian military aircraft's mysterious trip to the DPRK. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, orders the removal of loudspeakers to reduce tension with Pyongyang. Plus: Witkoff in Moscow, luxury earnings takeaways and a musical round-up with Matt Wolf. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Korea Selatan membongkar pengeras suara propaganda di perbatasan sebagai langkah untuk meredakan ketegangan dengan Korea Utara. Belum ada tanggapan resmi dari Pyongyang terkait kebijakan ini.

In this message, Tim Lucas explores the topic of repentance—not as a word of guilt or shame, but as a practical step toward renewal. He explains how repentance is more than feeling sorry; it's about turning away from distractions and turning back to Jesus.Using stories from Scripture, personal experience, and historical examples like the Welsh and Pyongyang revivals, Tim shows how repentance leads to real change, deeper faith, and spiritual growth. Whether you're new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, this message is a reminder that repentance isn't a one-time event—it's a daily choice.2 Chronicles 7:14“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”----Gateway Baptist Church meets across six locations in South-East Queensland and online.For over 90 years, we've been committed to guiding people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.Learn more about us at ⁠https://gatewaybaptist.com.au⁠ or join us on Sundays at ⁠gtwy.au/live#Healing #freedom #Gospel #Salvation #Jesus #Faith #Christian #Church #Churchonline #GatewayOnline #AwakenSeries #JasonElsmore #WakeUpChurch #SpiritualAwakening #PrayerLife #RevivalAustralia #TimLucas #repentance #repent

In this message, Tim Lucas explores the topic of repentance—not as a word of guilt or shame, but as a practical step toward renewal. He explains how repentance is more than feeling sorry; it's about turning away from distractions and turning back to Jesus.Using stories from Scripture, personal experience, and historical examples like the Welsh and Pyongyang revivals, Tim shows how repentance leads to real change, deeper faith, and spiritual growth. Whether you're new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, this message is a reminder that repentance isn't a one-time event—it's a daily choice.2 Chronicles 7:14“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”----Gateway Baptist Church meets across six locations in South-East Queensland and online.For over 90 years, we've been committed to guiding people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.Learn more about us at ⁠https://gatewaybaptist.com.au⁠ or join us on Sundays at ⁠gtwy.au/live#Healing #freedom #Gospel #Salvation #Jesus #Faith #Christian #Church #Churchonline #GatewayOnline #AwakenSeries #JasonElsmore #WakeUpChurch #SpiritualAwakening #PrayerLife #RevivalAustralia #TimLucas #repentance #repent

C'est à la Une de la presse américaine et européenne. Le New York Times l'annonce ainsi : « Donald Trump a ordonné le repositionnement de deux sous-marins nucléaires après les menaces d'un ancien dirigeant russe ». Il s'agit en l'occurrence de Dmitri Medvedev, ancien président et ancien Premier ministre russe, qui s'exprimait « au sujet de l'ultimatum posé par Trump pour mettre fin à la guerre en Ukraine », explique le journal allemand die Welt. Dmitri Medvedev a qualifié cet ultimatum de « pas vers la guerre », non « pas entre l'Ukraine et la Russie », a-t-il dit, « mais avec son propre pays », comprendre les États-Unis. L'échange entre les deux hommes ne s'est pas arrêté là, puisqu'après la réponse de Trump, ironisant sur « Medvedev l'ancien président russe raté », explique le quotidien italien la Repubblica, Medvedev a glissé une allusion sur les capacités nucléaires de Moscou. En Russie, le Moskovski Komsomolets ironise, de son côté, sur le président américain, « qui se contente de vendre des armes à l'Europe pour l'Ukraine, tout en assurant qu'il ne participe pas à la guerre ». « Bien sûr, il est malhonnête, comme d'habitude, assène le quotidien russe. Sans Starlink, les renseignements américains, le guidage des drones et des missiles, l'Ukraine se serait très probablement effondrée ». À lire aussiTrump ordonne le déploiement de deux sous-marins nucléaires après des déclarations russes «provocatrices» Le mot « génocide » fait débat dans la Repubblica C'est dans les colonnes du quotidien italien que le célèbre écrivain israélien David Grossman se désolait, vendredi 1er août, de la situation à Gaza, et parlait de « génocide » : « Je m'exprime », disait-il, « en tant que personne qui a tout fait pour éviter de qualifier Israël d'État génocidaire. Et aujourd'hui, c'est avec une immense douleur et le cœur brisé que je vois cela se produire sous mes yeux ». Ce samedi, la Repubblica publie la réponse de la sénatrice à vie Liliana Segre, italienne rescapée de la Shoah. « Lorsqu'on affame une population », estime-t-elle, « le risque d'atteindre l'indicible existe. Et il est vraiment déchirant pour moi de voir Israël plongé dans une telle abomination. Mais l'utilisation du mot génocide relève de la complaisance. L'imposer à tous, et en premier lieu aux Juifs, est morbide (…) et découle de sentiments antisémites, peut-être inconscients ». David Grossman, lui, a franchi le pas. « Pendant des années, j'ai refusé d'utiliser ce mot, a-t-il expliqué à la Repubblica. Mais après ce que j'ai vu et entendu des personnes qui sont sur place, je ne peux m'empêcher de l'utiliser. » À lire aussiGaza: deux ONG israéliennes dénoncent un «génocide» dans l'enclave palestinienne Le nouveau complexe balnéaire de Kim Jong-un Un article dans le Wall Street Journal sur le nouveau complexe balnéaire de Kim Jong-un, qui dirige l'un des pays les plus fermés au monde : la Corée du Nord. Fermé au point que l'article du quotidien américain repose visiblement sur des interviews à distance et des publications sur les réseaux sociaux. Il n'en contient pas moins de nombreux détails. « Les premiers visiteurs ont été accueillis avec des promenades en jet-ski gratuites et une abondance de nourriture ». « Bienvenue au complexe côtier de Wonsan Kalma, un immense complexe touristique construit par le régime pour présenter le pays comme prospère et moderne, poursuit le Wall Street Journal. Il ouvre ses portes aux étrangers pour la première fois ». Mais, précise le journal, « les vacanciers étrangers sont exclusivement russes ». Il est vrai que la Corée du Nord entretient avec la Russie des liens d'amitié. C'est ainsi qu'Anastasia Samsonova, « une moscovite de 35 ans, qui cherchait une expérience insolite pour ses vacances d'été (…) a opté pour un voyage en groupe qui passerait plusieurs jours à Pyongyang avant d'arriver à Wonsan ». Et elle en garde un bon souvenir. « Toute la plage était déserte », raconte-t-elle, avec douze autres russes, « nous semblions être les seuls clients de tout le complexe ». « Le service était excellent. Quand nous avons demandé du porridge et des brioches, le personnel les a aussitôt préparés ». Des vacances de rêve, et des images que les Nord-coréens, plus habitués aux pénuries alimentaires qu'aux petits déjeuners copieux, ne verront sans doute pas. À lire aussiEn Corée du Nord, une station balnéaire touristique ouvre ses portes à Kalma

The flurry of summitry in 2018-19 between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in inspired hopes for a breakthrough on resolving a decades-old conflict, only for talks to collapse without any progress on the DPRK nuclear issue. This week, historian John Delury returns to the podcast to revisit that heady time on the Korean Peninsula and explore what Seoul's new President Lee Jae-myung might do to revive Trump-Kim diplomacy. He explains why Russia-DPRK ties ensure that another round of engagement won't look like the last and examines how China's ties with the South impact its approach to the North. He also talks about Kim Jong Un's desire to be a “developmental dictator,” the potential impact of the U.S. bombing of Iran on efforts to entice Pyongyang to negotiations and why there is no military solution to the North Korea problem. John Delury is a historian of modern China and an expert on U.S.-China relations and Korean Peninsula affairs. The author of “Agents of Subversion,” he previously served as a professor of Chinese studies at Yonsei University in Seoul and most recently taught at the American Academy in Rome, Luiss University and John Cabot University. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

Michael speaks with Syd Seiler, former U.S. National Intelligence Officer for North Korea and one of the U.S. government's most experienced Korea hands. Seiler unpacks the long arc of Kim Jong Un's strategy, the roots of North Korea's provocations, and why the regime sees nuclear weapons as essential to its survival. He also discusses the limits of diplomacy, the myth of a quick breakthrough, and how U.S. policy should adapt for the long game.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In today's episode, we cover Democrats Admit Trump's Tariffs Worked Even liberal voices like Bill Maher now acknowledge that Trump's tariffs didn't tank the economy, despite widespread predictions of disaster. Meanwhile, Europe is reeling from the new U.S.-EU trade deal, calling it a humiliation and bracing for economic pain. Democrats Hit Lowest Approval in 35 Years A new Wall Street Journal poll shows the Democratic Party at its lowest favorability since 1990. Senator Mark Kelly blames messaging, but Bryan highlights six stunning stories, from migrant crime to teacher union extremism, that point to deeply unpopular policies. Nuclear Warning to Putin President Trump authorizes the transfer of U.S. nuclear weapons to a base in the UK and gives Vladimir Putin a 10–12 day deadline to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. New tariffs, and possibly more, are on the table if Moscow fails to comply. Russia Restarts Flights to North Korea A direct air route opens between Moscow and Pyongyang for the first time in 30 years. While publicized as tourism, analysts warn it may serve as a covert weapons pipeline, just as Trump escalates nuclear posturing in Europe. Zelensky Retreats on Anti-Corruption Rollback After global backlash and pressure from the White House, Ukraine's president backpedals on a controversial move to weaken anti-corruption agencies. Still, the episode deepens Western mistrust of Kyiv's leadership. China Bans Gender Humor in Stand-Up Chinese officials warn comedians not to joke about men and women, citing concerns over “gender antagonism.” Bryan unpacks why this crackdown is part of a broader pattern of civil rights suppression that the world needs to confront. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

North Korea broke its relative silence about the new South Korean administration of Lee Jae-myung on Monday, with the DPRK leader's sister Kim Yo Jong dismissing the president's peace overtures and attacking Seoul's alliance with the U.S. NK News Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy joins the podcast to discuss why North Korea's proverbial “bad cop” suddenly weighed in on inter-Korean ties and what Pyongyang actually wants from Seoul. He also talks about new U.S. sanctions against a DPRK company and three North Koreans for their role in remote IT worker schemes, as well as a surprise visit to Pyongyang by a global baseball chief. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

Yossi Mekelberg and Patricia Cohen look at the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Europe’s reaction to the trade deal with the US, Moscow’s launch of direct flights to Pyongyang and “Ghosts of Iron Mountain”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 112-points this morning from Friday's close, at 23,477 on turnover of 7.3-billion N-T. The market closed marginally lower on Friday ahead of strong technical resistance near the 23,500-point intraday-high mark and renewed concerns over U-S tariff policies. Work and School Cancellations Due to Rain School and work have been cancelled in parts of central Taiwan due to heavy rain and flooding. The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration says all of Chiayi County, as well as Shui-lin Township in Yunlin County will suspend work and classes, as both areas see precipitation through last night. Local officials are reporting flooding along several roadways and homes, up to 30 centimeters high, and hundreds of water pumps (抽水機) have been deployed. Forecasters say more thunderstorms are expected this afternoon, and they are advising the public to be on the lookout for more flooding as well as landslides. (NS) MAC bemoans China's recall comments The Mainland Affairs Council is slamming China's Taiwan Affairs Office for accusing the D-P-P of "political manipulation" and of saying it has lost public support following this past weekend's failed recall votes targeting 24 K-M-T lawmakers. According to the council, Beijing's "lack of democratic experience" means it has no right to comment on, or misinterpret (曲解), Taiwan's democratic system. The council is describing the recall vote as an example of Taiwan's democratic constitutional system and a major democratic achievement by civil society groups. The comments come after China's Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement saying the D-P-P "has lost popular support and its policies run counter to the true mainstream public opinion in Taiwan." NKorea Rebuffs SKorea Efforts at Ties The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rebuffed (回絕) outreach by South Korea's new liberal government, saying that North Korea has no interests in talks with South Korea for whatever proposal its rival offers. It's North Korea's first official statement on the government of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, which took office in early June. In an effort to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea, Lee's government has halted anti-Pyongyang frontline loudspeaker broadcasts, taken steps to ban activists from flying balloons with propaganda leaflets across the border and repatriated North Koreans who were drifted (漂流) south in wooden boats months earlier. Kim Yo Jong called such steps “sincere efforts” but she said the Lee government won't be much different from its predecessors, citing what it calls “their blind trust” to the military alliance with the U.S. and attempt to “stand in confrontation” with North Korea. US Terrorism Assault Charges for Walmart Attacker Authorities seek to file terrorism and assault (攻擊) charges against suspect in Walmart knife attack AP correspondent Julie Walker reports That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託行動銀行APP 全新推出「交易中安全提示」防詐騙功能 開啟後，轉帳的同時也在通話，會自動跳出貼心提醒，力挺你的金融安全 防護再進化，交易好安心！ 馬上下載「中國信託行動銀行APP」 https://sofm.pse.is/7xtwsg -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Coluna em áudio de Rodrigo da Silva conta como Pyongyang desenvolveu uma série de empreendimentos ilícitos para conseguir dólares, sustentar o regime e driblar as sanções dos EUA. ASSINE O ESTADÃO: Seja assinante por R$1,90/mês e tenha acesso ilimitado ao nosso conteúdo. Acesse: http://bit.ly/estadao-oferta-ytSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As appalling scenes of starvation and destruction out of Gaza continue, Christiane speaks exclusively with the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister. The two discuss the hunger crisis in the enclave, who governs the day after the Gaza war ends, and hopes for Palestinian statehood. Then, Oscar-winning filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov joins Christiane to discuss his new documentary "2000 Meters to Andriivka," bringing the brutality of war alive on-screen and connecting viewers to the everyday men fighting on the front lines. Also, from Downton Abbey to Hollywood's golden age, actress Elizabeth McGovern talks to Christiane about her new play about Ava Gardner, and the men who loved her.  Plus, CNN's Isobel Yeung travels to Afghanistan reporting on the devastating impacts and distressing reality on the ground after USAID cuts. And, from her archives, 72 years after the armistice agreement ended fighting in the Korean War,  Christiane's report from Pyongyang about how the legacy of that war is still fueling North Korean hatred towards the United States decades later.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Korea's National Assembly questioned the Lee administration's nominees for key positions last week, including the ministers of unification, defense, foreign affairs and labor, and North Korea issues ended up playing a prominent role at all of the hearings. NK News Correspondent Joon Ha Park joins the podcast this week to discuss the main takeaways from the hearing, and to explain why the question of whether Pyongyang is the South's main enemy repeatedly came up. He also talks about unification minister nominee's claims about North Korea's semiconductor plants and AI ambitions, the labor minister nominee's grilling over a request to attend Kim Jong Il's funeral and the defense minister's plan to carry out OPCON transfer from the U.S. to South Korea. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

Corea del Norte, un país donde las reglas del juego se escriben según los caprichos del poder. En este episodio conocerás una de las historias más insólitas del deporte moderno. Un relato donde las reglas del basquetbol cambian y la ficción se disfraza de victoria. Lo que pasó en las canchas de Pyongyang, la capital, no es una broma, pero si es una demostración los caprichos de un dictador. Encapríchate con ese ron porque estamos por comenzar. 

South Korea and China have a complex relationship characterized by economic interdependence, strategic competition, and regional security concerns. Navigating this delicate balance has been a defining challenge for every South Korean president. Newly elected President Lee Jae Myung has assumed power at a time of increasing US-China strategic competition as well as uncertain global supply chains and growing threat from North Korea. Could this new administration mark a shift in Seoul's approach to Beijing? Or will President Lee maintain strategies similar to that of President Yoon?To discuss ROK-China relations, and President Lee's approach to this intricate issue, we are joined on the podcast today by Dr. Ramon Pacheco-Pardo. He is a professor of international relations at King's College London and the KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Center for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy in the Brussels School of Governance. He is also an adjunct fellow with the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the author of several books on the domestic affairs and foreign policy of South and North Korea.  Timestamps[00:00] Start[01:44] “[P]ragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests”[05:06] State of Play for Sino-South Korean Relations[09:56] Balancing Between the United States and China[14:47] China Taking Advantage of US-ROK Frictions [19:03] Economic Interdependence as a Leverage[25:39] Xi Jinping Attending APEC South Korea 2025[31:11] American Pressure on Allies to Protect Taiwan

WORLD: Pyongyang: Japan seeks to be a ‘military giant' | July 19, 2025Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcherTune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein #TheManilaTimes#KeepUpWithTheTimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

C dans l'air du 14 juillet 2025 : Face à Poutine: la France se réarmePRÉSENTATION : Lorrain SÉNÉCHALDes avions, des blindés et des soldats en rangs serrés sur les Champs-Élysées : le défilé du 14-Juillet, qui a mis à l'honneur cette année des militaires prêts à partir en opération, avait des airs de démonstration de force. Avec en toile de fond, un climat géopolitique tendu, une Europe sous pression, et des discours qui sonnent comme des mises en garde. Emmanuel Macron, dans son allocution traditionnelle aux armées dimanche, n'a pas mâché ses mots. "Nous vivons un moment de bascule", a-t-il déclaré, évoquant un monde devenu "plus brutal". Selon lui, jamais la liberté n'a été aussi menacée depuis 1945. Et "jamais, à ce point, la paix sur notre continent n'a dépendu de nos décisions présentes".À la veille de la Fête nationale, le président a annoncé une augmentation inédite du budget de la Défense : 3,5 milliards d'euros supplémentaires en 2026, puis 3 milliards l'année suivante. L'effort financier vise à atteindre, d'ici 2027, un budget de près de 64 milliards d'euros, soit presque le double de celui d'il y a dix ans. Un tournant stratégique assumé dans un contexte où les certitudes d'hier s'effritent, y compris au sein des alliances occidentales. L'Europe est "mise en danger au moment où la guerre a été portée sur notre sol avec l'invasion de l'Ukraine, et que les États-Unis de Donald Trump ont ajouté une forme d'incertitude" quant à la pérennité de leur soutien, a ainsi affirmé Emmanuel Macron. "Face à un monde plus brutal, la Nation doit être plus forte", car "pour être libres dans ce monde, il faut être craints ; pour être craints, il faut être puissants", a insisté le président de la République. Quelques jours plus tôt, le général Thierry Burkhard, chef d'état-major des armées, avait brossé un sombre tableau des menaces, tant internes qu'externes, qui pèsent sur la France, et pointé "une nécessité de prise de conscience" : "La guerre en Europe est déjà là".Pendant ce temps, en Ukraine, les combats se poursuivent sans relâche. Moscou intensifie ses frappes, battant chaque semaine des records en nombre de missiles et de drones tirés. Face à cette escalade, Volodymyr Zelensky avait appelé ses alliés à envoyer « davantage que des signaux » pour stopper la Russie. Dimanche matin, Donald Trump annonçait finalement l'envoi de systèmes antiaériens Patriot, cruciaux pour la défense de Kiev. "Je suis déçu par la Russie. Je ferai une déclaration majeure lundi", lançait-il, sans en dire plus.Sur le terrain, l'armée ukrainienne tente de renforcer ses rangs. Nos journalistes ont suivi la formation des jeunes volontaires ukrainiens qui ont décidé de s'engager avant l'âge de la mobilisation obligatoire. Un programme pour les 18-24 ans lancé par l'armée ukrainienne pour tenter de pallier son manque récurrent de fantassins.De l'autre côté du front, la Russie continue de s'appuyer sur ses alliés, et notamment la Corée du Nord. Depuis la signature d'un pacte de défense mutuelle en octobre dernier, Pyongyang aurait fait parvenir à Moscou des millions d'obus, selon les services de renseignement sud-coréens. 13 000 soldats auraient également été envoyés sur le front pour aider l'armée russe à reconquérir la région de Koursk.LES EXPERTS : - Général Patrick DUTARTRE - Général de l'armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, ancien pilote de chasse- Élie TENENBAUM - Directeur du Centre des études de sécurité de l'Institut français des relations internationales- Isabelle LASSERRE - Correspondante diplomatique - Le Figaro, spécialiste des questions de stratégie et de géopolitique- Laura KAYALI - Journaliste Défense – POLITICO

For review:1. Doha Hostage & Ceasefire Talks Stalled.2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “confident” he will be able to reach a deal to free hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in an interview with US media aired late Saturday.3. Russian President Putin Supports Zero Enrichment for Iran.4. A Syrian official and an Israeli official are expected to meet in Baku later Saturday on the sidelines of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's current visit to Azerbaijan,.5. Ukrainian security agents have killed a group of Russian spies near Kyiv in another escalation of the secret war between the two countries.It follows the assassination of a top Ukrainian intelligence officer days earlier.6. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered Moscow his full support for their war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Pyongyang state media said Sunday.7. Japan Protests to Chinese Ambassador Concerning Unsafe Aircraft Incident over E. China Sea.8. A Philippine Coast Guard cutter intercepted a Chinese Navy spy ship within Manila's western exclusive economic zone over the weekend.

U.S. imposes 30% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico, E.U. to go into effect August 1. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Mark Carney erred in imposing deadline on US trade talks. A preliminary report says fuel switches cut off before June Air India crash that killed 260. Russian, North Korean foreign ministers meet as Pyongyang backs Ukraine war. The family of an Afghan man detained in a U-S immigration detention centre is calling on Ottawa to act.

On June 13th, Israel launched attacks on several military and nuclear facilities in Iran, marking the beginning of a 12-day war between the two countries. The United States followed with targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power and posing a threat to regional and global stability. China's involvement in the conflict was limited to condemning the Israeli and US use of military force and calling for de-escalation. Beijing offered only rhetorical support for Tehran. To discuss what the Israel-Iran war reveals about China's relationship with Iran, its evolving strategy in the Middle East, and the broader implications for US-China competition, we are joined by Yun Sun on the podcast today. Yun is a Senior Fellow, co-Director of the East Asia Program and Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. Her recent piece in The Wire China entitled “How China Sees Iran's Future” offers provides a nuanced take on Beijing's calculus during and after the war. Timestamps[00:00] Start[01:34] China's Diplomatic Strategy Toward the Middle East[05:00] A Limited Chinese Response and China's Regional Role[08:19] Chinese Perceptions of Iran's External Strategic Blunders[15:00] Trickling Chinese Investment into Iran[20:10] Chinese Concerns About a Nuclearized Iran[25:09] Implications of the Israel-Iran War for China's Energy Security[32:04] Trump's Response Shaping Chinese Views of the United States 

Professor Mitsuhito Mimura, a leading Japanese expert on the North Korean economy, joins this week's podcast for an in-depth discussion on the DPRK's economic resilience, shifting trade patterns and deepening ties with China and Russia. With over 35 trips to North Korea under his belt, Mimura shares rare insights into how Pyongyang sustains infrastructure growth under heavy sanctions, how unofficial coal exports to China support both formal and informal sectors and how military and economic cooperation with Moscow could shape the North's trajectory. He also weighs in on Japan's view of the emerging China-Russia-DPRK axis and what it could mean for Tokyo's future engagement with Pyongyang. Mitsuhiro Mimura is a leading Japanese expert on the North Korean economy and regional integration in Northeast Asia. Currently a professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute for Northeast Asia, University of Niigata Prefecture, he previously served as a senior research fellow at the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia.  About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

Hamas potrebbe fornire una risposta alla nuova proposta di cessate il fuoco nella Striscia di Gaza. Ne parliamo con Valentina Furlanetto, inviata di Radio24. Mentre il Presidente Vladimir Putin si prepara a chiamare l'omologo statunitense, Pyongyang invia 30 mila nuovi soldati nordcoreani sul fronte russo. Ne parliamo con Francesco Rosazza, ricercatore dell'Osservatorio di Geoeconomia di ISPI e con Alessandro Marrone, responsabile del programma Difesa, sicurezza e spazio di IAI.

US forces launched bomb and missile strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, followed soon by an Iran-Israel ceasefire and the beginning of what could be a diplomatic realignment across the Middle East. The GoodFellows regulars and Hoover Senior Fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and former White House National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster discuss the collateral impact of the Trump administration's move against the Iranian regime. The fallout includes: a possible expansion of Abraham Accords participants (as the Gulf States help Iran pursue a more peaceful nuclear program); NATO members willing to invest more in military readiness; the media's second-guessing the effectiveness and wisdom of the B2 sorties; plus what message Trump's use of military might—as opposed to revolving-door diplomacy—sends to the world's various mischief-making capitals (Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang). Recorded on June 27, 2025. 

Send us a text Seventy-five years after the Korean War began, North Korea still defines its identity by the conflict. NK News Podcast host Jacco Zwetsloot explains how Pyongyang marks the anniversary, what myths it perpetuates about victory over the U.S., and which historical flashpoints—from land reforms to the nuclear program—have shaped Kim Il Sung's successor states. We'll also hear Jacco's takes on everyday life under sanctions, the regime's strategic pivots today, and where DPRK might head next. https://patreon.com/darksideofseoulTop Tier PatronsAngel EarlJoel BonominiDevon HiphnerGabi PalominoSteve MarshEva SikoraRon ChangMitchy BrewerHunter WinterCecilia Löfgren DumasAshley WrightGeorge IrionKwang Ja MoonEdward BradfordBoram YoonChad Struhs Korea's #1 ghost and dark history walking tour. Book at DarkSideOfSeoul.com Get your comic at DarkSideOfSeoul.comSupport the showJoin our Patreon to get more stuff https://patreon.com/darksideofseoul Book a tour of The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk at https://darksideofseoul.com Pitch your idea here. https://www.darksideofseoul.com/expats-of-the-wild-east/ Credits Produced by Joe McPherson and Shawn Morrissey Music by Soraksan Top tier Patrons Angel EarlJoel BonominiDevon HiphnerGabi PalominoSteve MarshEva SikoraRon ChangMackenzie MooreHunter WinterCecilia Löfgren DumasJosephine RydbergDevin BuchananAshley WrightGeorge Irion Facebook Page | Instagram

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has announced nominations for several key positions handling North Korean issues, continuing to select pro-engagement officials for inter-Korean roles. NK News Correspondent Joon Ha Park talks about the latest appointments, as well as South Korea's live-fire artillery exercises near the inter-Korean border and North Korea's launch of about 10 artillery rockets from near Pyongyang.  He also discusses his interview with retired Vice Adm. Suh Young-gil, who led South Korean naval forces at the First Battle of Yeonpyeong, to mark the 26th anniversary of the pivotal inter-Korean clash. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

This episode we are covering the end of the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou.  We cover the events in the Chronicles, including the death of Nakatomi no Kamatari, the creation of the Fujiwara family, the destruction of Goguryeo, and the continued development of the Baekje refugees. For more, check out the podcast blog at: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-128 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 128: Immigrants, Princes, and High Officials. There was a pall over the house, despite the visiting royal retinue creating something of a stir,.  While craftspeople were still hard at work repairing damage from the lightning strike only a few months earlier, that wasn't the reason for the low spirits.  Rather, the house was worried for their patriarch, the Naidaijin, Nakatomi no Kamatari.  He had fallen ill, and despite all the pleas to the kami and the Buddhas , it seemed the end might be near. And so even the sovereign himself had come.  Kamatari was not just a loyal official, but  a close friend of the sovereign, someone who had been there since the beginning.  And so we can imagine how Naka no Oe felt.  He may have been the sovereign of Yamato, but he was still a human being, visiting his friend of some 30 or so years, knowing that for all of the power that he held, there was nothing he could do against the ravages of time and disease.     The year is 668—Naka no Oe has moved the capital to Ohotsu, on the banks of Lake Biwa, and has formally assumed the throne. This episode we are going to cover the last several years of Naka no Oe's reign.  In contrast to last week's dive into Yamato science, this week is going to be a bit of a grab bag, looking at what was going on in Yamato and talking about what was recorded in the Chronicles. And for the most part, the entries for the rest of the year 668 are fairly normal, and yet there are some oddities… For instance, in the fourth month we are told that Baekje sent Mitosapu and others to offer tribute.  And any other time that would be just a normal thing.  Except that at this point in history, Baekje was about as going a concern as a parrot in a Monty Python sketch.  So if the Kingdom of Baekje was no longer a thing, who was it that was sending the tribute? Most likely it was the Baekje communities in exile living in the archipelago.  Remember how many of them had settled around Biwa and in 666, two thousand Baekje people were settled somewhere in the East.  These immigrants  were still being supported by the Yamato government, who were basically subsidizing their settlement for the first three years, during which time they would be expected to make it into a permanent settlement. Based on the way the Chronicles talk about it, these early Baekje communities sound like they were maintaining a kind of kingdom in exile.  With many immigrants from Baekje living together in proximity, they were likely keeping their own groups, with their own language and traditions, at least for now.  It would be interesting to know if there were specific Baekje settlements that have been identified through the archaeological record.   That said, we definitely see Baekje's mark on the archipelago: Physically, there are the Baekje style castles, and various temples following Baekje style layouts.  Of course there were also continental building styles, but some of that was shared across multiple cultures at this point, and one should consider how much Baekje influence might have been found in things that we later see as Japanese. Additionally, Baekje nobles were involved in the court, often given court rank based in part on their rank in Baekje, though it wasn't quite equivalent.  Still,  in time, some of the nobles would trace their lineages back to Baekje nobles and princes. Speaking of princes and Baekje, on the fifth day of the fifth month of 668 —a day that would come to be known as Ayame no hi, or Tango no Sekku, one of the major days of court ceremony—Naka no Oe went out hunting on the moor of Kamafu, known today as Gamou district, near Kanzaki, where 400 Baekje people had been settled.  He was out there with the Crown Prince, his younger brother, aka Prince Ohoama, and all the other princes and ministers.  A grand outing. A month later, however, tragedy struck.  One “Prince Ise” and his younger brother died on consecutive days.  While this was undoubtedly a blow to the court, the interesting thing for our purposes – which also highlights the challenge of interpreting the Chronicles is that we aren't exactly sure who this is referring to.  It's not the first time we've seen this title: we first see a “Prince Ise” show up around 650, during the presentation of the white pheasant that ushered in the Hakuho era, but we later see that that individual had passed away in 661.  We also see the name show up less than 20 years later in the Chronicles for another prince, so this can't be the same.  So this is clearly a position or title for a prince, but it isn't clear if it was passed down or inherited.   One possibility is that “Prince Ise” or “Prince of Ise” was a title for one of the royal sons. IAt this point in the narrative, Naka no Oe had three sons.  Prince Takeru had passed away at the age of 8, but he also had Prince Kawajima, Prince Shiki, and Prince Iga, aka Prince Ohotomo, all sons of “palace women”.  We know, though, that these princes show up later, so I don't think the so-called Prince Ise was one of them.  Perhaps another line?   The term “Prince” might also refer to something other than a royal son.  You see, English translators have often been somewhat cavalier with the way we tend to render titles.  The English term “Prince” has  been used for “Hiko”, “Miko”, or “Ou” (which was probably pronounced “Miko” in many of these cases).  And in English, we often think of “Prince” as the son of a king, but “Prince” can also be an independent ruler of a principality, or may just refer to a person with power in a monarchic state.  Even the term “king” is not unambiguous—early European accounts of Japan during the Warring States period often refer to the various daimyou as “kings”, given the often absolute dominion with which they apparently ruled their particular domains. At this time, the term “Miko”  (also pronounced “ouji”, or “koushi”, or even “sume-miko”) seems rather unambiguously to refer to a “royal prince”, from the lineage of the sovereign.  The term “Ou”, which also seems to be read as “Miko” in some cases, is also the term for “King” and probably more broadly fits the concept of a “prince” as a ruler.  However, in this case, it seems to be equal to the term “Miko”, and may have been used almost interchangeably for a time, though later it would be used to refer to members of princely rank who were not directly related to a reigning sovereign—the grandchildren and so forth of royal princes who did not go on to inherit. In this case, I think the best we can say for certain is that Prince Ise—or the Prince of Ise—was someone important enough to be included in the chronicles – but who he was, exactly, will remain a mystery for now. The following month, the 7th month, was chock full of activities.  First of all, Goguryeo sent envoys by way of Koshi—meaning they landed on the Japan Sea side, probably around Tsuruga.  While this may just have been closer, I suspect it meant they avoided any Tang entanglements traveling through the Bohai sea.  They did run into a spot of trouble, however, as the winds and waves prevented their return. Koshi also shows up as presenting some strange gifts to the court:  burning earth and burning water.  There is some thought that maybe this is something like coal or natural oil deposits. We are also told that in this month, Prince Kurikuma was appointed the governor of Tsukushi.  Kurikuma no Ou appears to have been the grandson—or possibly great-grandson—of the sovereign, Nunakura, aka Bidatsu Tennou.  The position Kurikuma was given was important, of course, overseeing the Dazai, which meant overseeing anyone traveling to the archipelago from the continent. This would be a relatively short-lived appointment—this time.  He would be re-appointed about three years later, which would prove important, as he would be governor there during some particularly momentous events.    Stories appear to have continued about him in the Nagasaki region, and various families traced their lineage back to him. Also in that month, we are told that Afumi, home of the new capital, practiced military exercises—likely in preparation in case of a future Tang or Silla invasion.  Recall we discussed in Episode 126 how the choice of Afumi as a capital site might have been related to its defensibility in the event of such an invasion. At the same time, the court entertained Emishi envoys, and the toneri, by royal command, held banquets in various places. There is also mention of a shore-pavillion, presumably at Lake Biwa, where fish of various kinds came, covering the water.  Interestingly enough, there is another story of a “shore pavilion”, likely the same one, in the Fujiwara Family Record, the Toushi Kaden.  We are told that Prince Ohoama – Naka no Oe's younger brother spiked a large spear through a plank of wood in some kind of feat of strength.  This apparently shocked Naka no Oe, who saw it aa  kind of threat—perhaps seeing that his five-years younger brother was still hale and healthy.  Granted, Naka no Oe was only in his 40s, but his brother Ohoama was in his later 30s.  We are also told that at this time, in 668, Naka no Oe was apparently not doing so well, with people wondering if he would be with them much longer. The Toshi Kaden account seems rather surprising in that it claims Naka no Oe was so shocked by this proof of his brother's vitality that he wanted to have him put to death, suggesting to me that he felt that Ohoama might be a threat to him and his rule.  Ultimately, though, he was talked out of this by his old friend, Nakatomi no Kamatari – the one whom he had plotted with to overthrow the Soga, and whose relationship was initiated by an interaction on the kemari field, as we discussed in Episode 106. Speaking of whom: Nakatomi no Kamatari was still Naijin, the Inner or Interior Minister, and so  quite prominent in the administration. In the 9th month, as a Silla envoy was visiting the court, Kamatari sent Buddhist priests Hoben and Shinpitsu to present a ship to the Prime Minister of Silla, which was given to the Silla envoy and his companions, and three days later, Fuse no Omi no Mimimaro was sent with a ship meant for the King of Silla as well. This incident is also recounted in the Toshi Kaden.  In this case it says that the people, hearing about the gifts to Silla, were quite upset.  After all, it stands to reason:  Yamato was still smarting from their defeat at the hands of Tang and Silla forces, and building up defenses in case of an attack.  They'd also taken in a number of Baekje nobles and families, who may have also had some influence on the court.  We are told that Kamatari himself excused all of this by stating that “All under heaven must be the sovereign's land.  The guests within its borders must be the sovereign's servants.”  In this case, all under heaven, or “Tenka”, is a common phrase used to describe a monarch's sovereignty over everything in the land.  And so, while Silla envoys were in Yamato as guests, they also fell under similar rules, and as such were considered, at least by Yamato, as the sovereign's servants and thus worthy of gifts. The Silla envoys stayed for over a month.  They finally departed by the 11th month of 668, carrying even more gifts, including silk and leather for the King and various private gifts for the ambassadors themselves.  The court even sent Chimori no Omi no Maro and Kishi no Woshibi back with the envoy as Yamato envoys to the Silla court. This all tells us that just as the Tang were working to woo Yamato, Silla was likely doing so as well.  And while Yamato might still begrudge the destruction of Baekje, they also had to face the political reality that Baekje was probably not going to be reinstated again—especially not while the Tang government was occupying the peninsula. So making nice with both Tang and Silla was prudent. Furthermore, though they had been visited by Goguryeo envoys earlier that year, Yamato may have had some inkling that Goguryeo was not in the most powerful position.  Ever since the death of Yeon Gaesomun, the Goguryeo court had been involved in infighting—as well as fighting their external enemies.  One of Gaesomun's sons had been exiled and had gone over to the Tang, no doubt providing intelligence as well as some amount of legitimacy.  What they may not have known was that as Yamato was hosting the Silla envoys, a new assault by the Tang-Silla alliance was advancing on Pyongyang and setting siege to the city.  The Nihon Shoki records that in the 10th month of 668 Duke Ying, the Tang commander-in-chief, destroyed Goguryeo. This would dramatically change the international political landscape.  Tang and Silla had been triumphant—Yamato's allies on the peninsula had been defeated, and what we know as the “Three Kingdoms” period of the Korean peninsula was over.  However, the situation was still fluid.  The peninsula was not unified by any sense of the imagination.  The Tang empire had their strategic positions from which they controlled parts of the peninsula and from which they had been supplying the war effort against Goguryeo.  They also likely had to occupy areas to ensure that nobody rose up and tried to reconstitute the defeated kingdoms.  In fact, there would be continued attempts to revive Goguryeo, as might be indicated in the name we use: by the 5th century, the country was actually using the name “Goryeo”, a shortened form of “Goguryeo”, but we continue to refer to it as “Goguryeo” to distinguish it from the country of the same name that would be established in 918, laying claim to that ancient Goguryeo identity. A bit of spoilers, but “Goryeo” is where we would eventually get the name that we know the region by, today:  “Korea”.  In the Nihon Shoki it is referred to as “Gaori”. But none of that could have been known at the time.  Instead, there was no doubt some exuberance on the side of both Silla and Tang, but that would settle into something of unease.  With Baekje and Goguryeo destroyed, Silla may have thought that Tang would leave, allowing them to solidify their hold and manage those territories as an ally.  If this is what they thought, though, I'm not sure they had run it by the Tang empire just yet. In the Yamato court, there appear to have been separate factions: a pro-Tang faction, and also a pro-Silla faction.  We have to assume, based on the actions in the record at this time, that this was a ongoing debate. The last thing I'll note for the year 668 is attempted theft.  The Buddhist priest Dougyou stole Kusanagi, the famous sword forming part of the imperial regalia, and escaped with it.  Kusanagi, you may recall, was the royal sword.  It was named “Kusanagi” or “grass cutter” because it is said that when Prince Yamato Takeru was subduing the eastern lands, he was surrounded in a field that had been set on fire, and he used Kusanagi to create a firebreak by cutting down all of the grass around him.  The sword was given to him by Yamato Hime, the Ise Princess at the time, and it was thought to have been first found by the god Susanowo inside of the legendary Yamata no Orochi.  We talked about this in Episodes 16, 34, and 35.  Yamato Takeru left the sword in Owari, and it would eventually live there, at Atsuta Jingu, Atsuta Shrine, its traditional home. It isn't clear if Dougyou obtained the sword from Owari or if it was being kept in the capital at the time.  It would have likely been brought out for Naka no Oe's coronation, but then it would probably have been returned to the shrine that was holding it. Dougyou tried to head to Silla with his illicit goods, but wind and rain forced him to turn back around.  This is a fascinating story and there's a lot to dive into here. So first off, let's point out that this is supposed to be a Buddhist priest.  What the heck was going on that he was going to try to run a heist on what are essentially the Crown Jewels of the Yamato crown?  While the sword, mirror, and jewel were still somewhat questionable as the sole three regalia, they were clearly important.  We aren't given Dougyou's motives.  We don't know enough about him.  Was he anti-Yamato or anti-Naka no Oe?  Was he actually a Buddhist priest of his own accord, or was he a priest because he was one of those who had been essentially conscripted into religious orders on behalf of some powerful noble?  Was he a Buddhist who wanted to attack the hold of the kami? Was he pro-Silla, or perhaps even a Silla descendant, trying to help Silla? Or was he just a thief who saw the sword, Kusanagi, as a valuable artifact that could be pawned outside of Yamato? That last possibility feels off.  While we aren't exactly sure what Kusanagi looked like, based on everything we know, the sword itself wasn't necessarily blinged out in a way that would make it particularly notable on the continent.    And if Dougyou and whoever his co-conspirators were just wanted to attack the Yamato government, why didn't he just dump Kusanagi in the see somewhere?  He could have destroyed it or otherwise gotten rid of it in a way that would have embarrassed the government. It seems mostly likely that this theft had something to do with pro-Silla sentiment, as if Silla suddenly showed up with the sword, I imagine that would have been some diplomatic leverage on the Yamato court, as they could have held it hostage.  In any case, the plan ultimately failed, though the Chronicles claim it was only because the winds were against him—which was likely seen as the kami themselves defending Yamato. On to a new year.  At the start of 669, Prince Kurikuma (who we mentioned above) was recalled to the capital and Soga no Akaye was appointed governor of Tsukushi. We mentioned Akaye a couple of episodes back.  He was involved in the broken arm-rest incident, where Prince Arima was plotting against Takara Hime, aka Saimei Tennou, and Akaye's daughter Hitachi no Iratsume, was one of the formal wives of Naka no Oe, who would give birth to the princess Yamabe. Now Akaye was given the position of governor of Tsukushi. This position is an interesting one throughout Japanese history.  In many ways it is a viceroy—the governor of Tsukushi has to effectively speak with the voice of the sovereign as the person responsible for overseeing any traffic to and from the continent.  This also was likely a highly lucrative position, only handed out to trusted individuals. However, it also meant that you were outside of the politics of the court.  Early on that was probably less of a concern.  At this time, court nobles were likely still concerned with their traditional lands, which created their economic base, meaning that the court may have been the political center, but there was still plenty of ways to gain power in the archipelago and it wasn't solely through the court.  Over time, as more and more power accrued to the central court government, that would change.  Going out to manage a government outpost on the far end of the archipelago—let alone just going back to manage one's own estates—would be tantamount to exile.  But for now, without a permanent city built up around the palace, I suspect that being away from the action in the capital wasn't quite as detrimental compared to the lucrative nature of a powerful position.  Later, we will see how that flips on its head, especially with the construction of capitals on the model of those like Chang'an. For now, new governor Soga no Akaye was likely making the most of his position.  On that note, in the third month of 669, Tamna sent their prince Kumaki with envoys and tribute.  They would have come through Tsukushi, and Soga no Akaye likely enjoyed some benefits as they were entertained while waiting for permission to travel the rest of the way down to the Yamato capital.  The Tamna embassy did not exactly linger at the court.  They arrived on the 11th of the 3rd month, and left one week—seven days—later, on the 18th.  Still, they left with a gift of seed-grain made to the King of Tamna. On their way out, they likely would have again stopped in at Tsukushi for provisions and to ensure that all of their business was truly concluded before departing. A couple of months later, on the 5th day of the 5th month, we see another hunting party by Naka no Oe.  This seems to have been part of the court ritual of the time for this ceremonial day.  This time it was on the plain of Yamashina.  It was attended by his younger brother, Crown Prince Ohoama, as well as someone called “Fujiwara no Naidaijin” and all of the ministers. “Fujiwara no Naidaijin” is no doubt Nakatomi no Kamatari.  This is an interesting slip by the Chroniclers, and I wonder if it gives us some insight into the source this record came from.  Kamatari was still known as Nakatomi at the time, and was still the Naidaijin, so it is clear they were talking about him.  But historically his greatest reputation is as the father of the Fujiwara family, something we will get to in time.  That said, a lot of the records in this period refer to him as “Fujiwara”.  We've seen this previously—because the records were being written later they were often using a more common name for an individual, rather than the name—including title—that the individual actually would have borne at the time of the record.  This really isn't that different from the way we often talk about the sovereigns using their posthumous names.   Naka no Oe would not have been known as “Tenji Tennou” during his reign.  That wouldn't be used until much later.  And yet, many history books will, understandably, just use the name “Tenji” because it makes it clear who is being talked about. This hunting trip is not the only time we see the name “Fujiwara” creep into the Chronicles a little earlier than accurate: we are told that only a little later, the house of “Fujiwara” no Kamatari was struck by lightning.  But that wasn't the only tragedy waiting in the wings.  Apparently, Kamatari was not doing so well, and on the 10th day of the 10th month, his friend and sovereign, Naka no Oe, showed up to pay his respects and see how he was doing. Ever since that fateful game of kemari—Japanese kickball—the two had been fast friends.  Together they envisioned a new state.  They overthrew the Soga, and changed the way that Japan even conceived of the state, basing their new vision off continental ideas of statehood, governance, and sovereignty.  Now, Kamatari was gravely ill. What happens next is likely of questionable veracity Sinceit is unlikely that someone was there writing down the exact words that were exchanged, but the Chronicles record a conversation between the sovereign and his ill friend.  And the words that the Chroniclers put in their mouths were more about the image that they wanted to project.  According to them, Naka no Oe praised his friend, and asked if there was anything that he could do. Kamatari supposedly eschewed anything special for burial arrangements.  He supposedly said “While alive I did no service for my country at war; why, then, should I impose a heavy burden on it when I am dead?”  Hard to know if he actually felt like that or not, or if thr Chroniclers were likening him to  Feng Yi of the Han dynasty, the General of the Great Tree.  He was so-called because he would often find a tree to take time to himself.  He likewise was renowned for his dislike of ostentation, much like Kamatari foregoing a fancy burial mound. Five days later, Naka no Oe sent Crown Prince Ohoama to Kamatari's house to confer on him the cap of Dai-shiki, and the rank of Oho-omi.  They also conferred on him and his family a new surname:  Fujiwara, and so he became Fujiwara no Daijin, the Fujiwara Great Minister.  The next day he died.  One source known as the Nihon Seiki, said that he was 50 years old, but according to the Chronicles there was an inscription on his tomb that stated he died at age 55. Three days later, we are told that Naka no Oe went to the house of the now late Fujiwara no Naidaijin, and gave orders to Soga no Akaye no Omi, declaring to him his gracious will and bestowing on him a golden incense-burner.  This is somewhat odd, because as we were just talking about, Soga no Akaye had been appointed governor of Tsukushi, though the Toshi Kaden claims that it was actually Soga no Toneri who was in Tsukushi—but these could also mean the same people.  Why this happened right after Kamatari's death suggests to me that Soga no Akaye may have had something to do with the arrangements for Kamatari's funeral or something similar. Let's talk about this whole incident.  There are many that think the Nihon Shoki has things a bit out of order, and on purpose.  Specifically, it is quite likely that the name “Fujiwara” was actually granted after Kamatari's death, and not on the day of, as it has here.  He may even have been posthumously elevated.  But since the Fujiwara family would go on to be quite powerful, the order of events and how they were recorded would have been very important in the 8th century. By naming Kamatari's line the Fujiwara, the court were effectively severing it from the rest of the Nakatomi.  The Nakatomi family would continue to serve as court ritualists, but the Fujiwara family would go on to much bigger and better things.  This change also likely meant that any inheritance of Kamatari's would go to his direct descendants, and that a brother or cousin couldn't necessarily just take over as the head of the household.  So it's very possible that this “setting apart” of the Fujiwara family immediately upon Kamatari's death is a later fiction, encouraged by the rising Fujiwara themselves, in an attempt to keep others from hanging on to their coat tails, as it were. Also a quick note about the idea that there was an inscription on Kamatari's tomb.  This is remarkable because so far, we have not actually found any such markers or tombstones on burials prior to this period.  We assume that they would have been stone or wood markers that were put up by a mound to let you know something about the person who was buried there.  Over time, most of these likely wore away.  But it is interesting to think that the practice may have had older roots. The death of Kamatari wasn't the only tragedy that year.  We are also told that in the 12th month there was a fire in the Treasury, and that the temple of Ikaruga—known to us as Houryuuji, the temple built by Shotoku Taishi—also was burnt.  It isn't said how bad, but only three months later, in 670, another fire struck during a thunderstorm, and we are told that everything burned down—nothing was left. That said, it seems that they may have been able to reuse some of the materials.  I say this because an analysis of the main pillar of the pagoda in the western compound suggests that the tree it came from was felled in 594. The rest of 699 included some less dramatic events. For instance, in the 8th month, Naka no Oe climbed to the top of Takayasu, where he took advice as to how to repair the castle there.  The castle had been built only a couple of years earlier, but already needed repairs.  However, the initial repair project had been abandoned because the labor costs were too much.  The repairs were still needed, though, and they carried out the work four months later in the 12th month, and again in the 2nd month of the following year, and that stores of grain and salt were collected, presumably to stock the castle in case they had to withstand a siege. I suspect that the “cost” of repairing the castle was mostly that it was the 8th month, and the laborers for the work would have to be taken away from the fields.  By the 12th month, I can only assume that those same laborers would be free from their other duties. Speaking of costs, sometimes the Chronicles really make you wonder what was going through the mind of the writers, because they noted that the Land-tax of the Home Provinces was collected.  Maybe this was the first time it had actually been instituted?  I don't know.  It just seems an odd thing to call out. There was also 700 more men from Baekje removed and settled in Kamafu—Gamou District—in Afumi.  And then there was a Silla embassy in the 9th month, and at some point in the year Kawachi no Atahe no Kujira and others were sent to the Tang court.  In response, an embassy from the Tang to Yamato brought 2000 people with them, headed by Guo Wucong, who I really hope was getting some kind of premiere cruiser status for all of his trips. The following year, 700, started out with a great archery meeting, arranged within the palace gate.  I presume this to mean that they had a contest.  Archery at this time—and even for years to come—was prized more highly than even swordplay.  After all, archery was used both in war and on the hunt.  It is something that even the sage Confucius suggested that people should practice.  It is also helpful that they could always shoot at targets as a form of competition and entertainment. Later, on the 14th day of the 1st month, Naka no Oe promulgated new Court ceremonial regulations, and new laws about people giving way on the roads.  This rule was that those of lower status should get out of the way of those of higher status.  Funnily enough, in the description of Queen Himiko's “Yamateg”, back in the 3rd century, this was also called out as a feature of the country.  It is possible that he was codifying a local tradition, or that the tradition actually goes back to the continent, and that the Wei Chroniclers were projecting such a rule onto the archipelago.  I'm honestly not sure which is which.  Or perhaps they expanded the rules and traditions already in place.  There were also new laws about prohibiting “heedless slanders and foul falsehoods”, which sounds great, but doesn't give you a lot to go on. The law and order theme continues in the following month.  A census was taken and robbers and vagabonds were suppressed.  Naka no Oe also visited Kamafu, where he had settled a large number of the Baekje people, and inspected a site for a possible future palace.  He also had castles built in Nagato in Tsukushi, along the route of any possible invasion from the Korean peninsula. In the third month, we have evidence of the continued importance of kami worship, when they laid out places of worship close to Miwi mountain and distributed offerings of cloth.  Nakatomi no Kane no Muraji pronounced the litany.  Note that it is Nakatomi no Muraji—as we mentioned, the Nakatomi would continue to be responsible for ceremonial litany while the Imibe, or Imbe, family would be responsible for laying out the various offerings. Miwi would seem to be the same location as Miidera, aka Onjou-ji, but Miidera wouldn't be founded for another couple of years. In the 9th month of 670, Adzumi no Tsuratari, an accomplished ambassador by this point, travelled to Silla. Tsuratari had been going on missions during the reign of Takara Hime, both to Baekje and to the lands across the “Western Seas”.  While we don't exactly know what transpired, details like this can help us try to piece together something of the relative importance of the mission. In the last entry for 670, we are told that water-mills were made to smelt iron.  If you are wondering how that works, it may have been that the waterwheel powered trip hammers—it would cause the hammer to raise up until it reached a point where it would fall.  Not quite the equivalent of a modern power hammer, it still meant that fewer people were needed for the process, and they didn't have to stop just because their arms got tired. The following year, 671, got off to a grand start, with a lot of momentous events mentioned in just the first month of the year. First off, on the 2nd day of the first month, Soga no Akaye – now back from his stint as governor of Tsukushi - and Kose no Hito advanced in front of the palace and offered their congratulations on the new year.  Three days later, on the 5th day, Nakatomi no Kane, who had provided the litany at Miwi, made an announcement on kami matters.    Then the court made official appointments.  Soga no Akaye was made the Sadaijin, or Prime Minister of the Left, and Nakatomi no Kane was made Prime Minister of the Right.  Soga no Hatayasu, Kose no Hito, and Ki no Ushi were all made daibu, or high ministers.  On top of this, Naka no Ohoe's son, Prince Ohotomo, was appointed as Dajodaijin. “Dajodaijin” is a new position that we haven't seen yet, and it is one of those positions that would only show up on occasion.  It is effectively a *Prime* Prime Minister.  They were considered superior to both the ministers of the left and the right, but didn't exactly have a particular portfolio.  The Ministers of the Left and the Right each had ministries under them that they were responsible for managing.  Those ministries made up the Daijo-kan, or the Council of State.  The Dajodaijin, or Daijodaijin, was basically the pre-eminent position overseeing the Council of State.  I suspect that the Dajodaijin seems to have been the evolution of the Naidaijin, but on steroids.  Nakatomi no Kamatari had administered things as Naidaijin from within the royal household, but the Dajodaijin was explicitly at the head of the State.  Of course, Prince Ohotomo was the son of Naka no Oe himself, and the fact that he was only 23 years old and now put in a place of prominence over other ministers who were quite likely his senior, is remarkable.  I wonder how much he actually was expected to do, and how much it was largely a ceremonial position, but it nonetheless placed Ohotomo just below his uncle, Crown Prince Ohoama, in the overall power structure of the court. Speaking of which, following the new appointments, on the 6th day of the year, Crown Prince Ohoama promulgated regulations on the behalf of his brother, Naka no Oe.  There was also a general amnesty declared, and the ceremonial and names of the cap-ranks were described in what the Chronicles calls the Shin-ritsu-ryo, the New Laws. Towards the end of the first month, there were two embassies, both from now-defunct kingdoms.  The first was from Goguryeo, who reportedly sent someone named Karu and others with Tribute on the 9th day, and 4 days later, Liu Jenyuan, the Tang general for Baekje sent Li Shouchen and others to present a memorial.  I'm not sure if the Goguryeo envoys were from a government in exile or from a subjugated kingdom under Tang and Silla domination.  The Tang general in Baekje was a little more transparent.  That said, that same month we are told that more than 50 Baekje nobles were given Yamato court rank, perhaps indicating that they were being incorporated more into the Yamato court and, eventually, society as a whole.  That said, the remains of the Baekje court sent Degu Yongsyeon and others with tribute the following month. This is also the year that Naka no Oe is said to have placed the clepsydra or water clock in a new pavilion.  We talked about this significance of this last episode.  We are also told that on the third day of the third month, Kibumi no Honjitsu presented a “water level”, a Mizu-hakari.  This would seem to be what it sounds like:  A way of making sure that a surface is level using water.  There is also mention of the province of Hitachi presenting as “tribute” Nakatomibe no Wakako.  He was only 16 years old, and yet we are told he was only one and a half feet in height—one shaku six sun, more appropriately.  Assuming modern conversions, that would have put him approximately the same height as Chandra Dangi of Nepal, who passed away in 2015 but who held the Guiness World Record for the world's shortest person at 21.5”—or 54 centimeters.  So it isn't impossible. The fact that he is called “Nakatomibe” suggests that he was part of the family, or -Be group, that served the Nakatomi court ritualists.  Unfortunately, he was probably seen more as an oddity than anything else at the time.  Still, how many people from that time are not remembered at all, in any extant record?  And yet we have his name, which is more than most. In the following month, we are also told that Tsukushi reported a deer that had been born with eight legs.  Unfortunately, the poor thing died immediately, which is unfortunately too often the case. And then the fifth day of the fifth month rolled around again. This year there was no hunting, but instead Naka no Oe occupied the “Little Western Palace” and the Crown Prince and all of the ministers attended him.  We are told that two “rustic” dances were performed—presumably meaning dances of some local culture, rather than those conforming to the art standards passed down from the continent.  As noted earlier, this day would be one of the primary ceremony days of the later court. The following month, we are told that there was an announcement in regards to military measures requested by the messengers from the three departments of Baekje, and later the Baekje nobles sent Ye Chincha and others to bring tribute.  Once again, what exactly this means isn't clear, but it is interesting to note that there were three “departments” of Baekje.  It is unclear if this was considered part of the court, or if this was Baekje court in exile managing their own affairs as a guest in Yamato. It is also interesting that they seem to have been traveling to the Yamato court while Li Shouchen was still there, sent by the Tang general overseeing Baekje.  That must have been a bit of an awkward meeting.  We are told that they all took their departure together on the 11th day of the 7th month.  Does that mean they left with the Tang envoy?  Was the Tang inviting some of them to come back?  Or just that they all left the court at the same time. The same month, Prince Kurikuma was once more made Governor of Tsukushi—or possibly made governor the first time, depending on whether or not you think the Chronicles are accurate or that they pulled the same event twice from different sources.  We are also told that Silla sent envoys with gifts that included a water buffalo and a copper pheasant for the sovereign. The 8th month of the year, we hear that Karu of Goguryeo and his people took their leave after a seven month long visit.  The court also entertained the Emishi.  Two months later, Silla sent Kim Manmol and others with more tribute, but this envoy likely found a different feeling at court. And that is because on the 18th day of the 8th month, the sovereign of Yamato, Naka no Oe, took to his bed, ill.  There was a ceremony to open the eyes of 100 Buddhas in the interior of the palace, and Naka no Oe sent messengers to offer to the giant Buddha of Houkouji a kesa, a golden begging-bowl, an ivory tusk, aloeswood, sandalwood, and various objects of value, but despite any spiritual merit that may have accrued, it didn't seem to work.  Naka no Oe's illness continued to grow more serious.  He would continue to struggle for another two months, until, on the 3rd day of the twelfth month, Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou, sovereign of Yamato, passed away. For all that we should be careful to avoid the “Great Man” theory of history, it is nonetheless hard to deny that Naka no Oe had an incredible impact on the country in his days.  From start to finish, while one could argue that many of the reforms were simply a matter of time as the archipelago absorbed more and more ideas from across the straits, Naka no Oe found himself in the middle of those reforms.  The Yamato State would never be the same, and he oversaw the birth of the Ritsuryo state, a new state nominally based on laws and rules, rather than just tradition.  It may not be entirely clear, but he also helped inculcate a new sense of the power of the sovereign and of the state, introducing new cultural imaginaries.  Yamato's reach wasn't just vague boasting, but by instituting the bureaucratic state they were able to actually expand the reach of the court farther than any time before. And through those changes, Naka no Oe had, in one way or another, been standing at the tiller.  Now, he was gone, as were many of his co-conspirators in this national project.  Which leaves us wondering:  What comes next? Well, we'll get to that, but not right now.  For now, let us close this episode with Naka no Oe's own end.   Next episode, we can get into the power struggles that followed, culuminating in an incident known as the Jinshin no Ran:  The Jinshin war. Until then, thank you once again for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

This week, Balazs Szalontai returns to the podcast to explore the overlooked history of North Korea's relationship with countries across the Middle East and North Africa. The expert discusses how Pyongyang navigated ideological contradictions, opportunistic diplomacy and shifting global alliances throughout the Cold War, touching on the DPRK's ties with Iran, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq and more. He also explains how North Korea often prioritized strategic survival and a symbolic presence in the region over ideological consistency.  Dr. Balazs Szalontai is a historian and professor at Korea University in the Division of Public Sociology and Korean Unification. He previously appeared on episode 106 of the podcast. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a hospital construction site in Kusong on Monday, where he criticized the skills of the military conscripts he frequently mobilizes for major state construction projects. NK News Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko joins the podcast to talk about Kim's comments, as well the voyage by North Korea's damaged destroyer to a shipyard in the northeast for repairs and Pyongyang's brief coverage of South Korea's election of Lee Jae-myung as president. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

On today's episode, we confront the brutal realities of two of the world's most controversial flashpoints.First, our man on the ground, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin, joins Israeli troops in Gaza for a rare and eye-opening embed. He takes us inside the tunnel where Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was allegedly hiding before an Israeli airstrike on May 13th — one that struck the entrance of the European Hospital, sparking outrage and headlines around the world. We cut through the noise and get straight to what really happened.Then, we turn to the pariah state of North Korea. Despite suffocating sanctions, Pyongyang is now in its strongest strategic position in decades, doubling its nuclear arsenal and quietly amassing the world's fourth largest military. How did that happen — and why isn't the West doing more about it? Our new Asia correspondent Allegra Mendelson explains all.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/08/inside-khan-younis-tunnel-gaza-european-hospital-sinwar/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/08/hamas-last-man-standing-faces-fight-keep-control-gaza/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/07/west-tried-make-north-korea-pariah-but-now-never-stronger/https://linktr.ee/BattleLinesContact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malgrado le differenze tra il presidente francese Emmanuel Macron e la premier italiana Giorgia Meloni, il vertice tra i due leader non si limita a rilanciare i legami tra Francia e Italia, ma si propone di rafforzare la coesione dell'Unione Europea. Ne parliamo con Veronica Gennari, corrispondente freelance da Parigi, e con Antonio Villafranca, Vicepresidente per la ricerca di ISPI.Il nuovo presidente sudcoreano Lee Jae-myung ha annunciato di voler riallacciare i rapporti con Pyongyang dove, proprio oggi, si è recato il segretario del Consiglio di Sicurezza russo, Sergej Shoigu. Shoigu ha incontrato il leader nordcoreano Kim Jong-un per discutere della cooperazione tra i due paesi e della guerra in Ucraina. Ne parliamo con Antonio Fiori, Professore di Relazioni Internazionali dell'Asia Orientale all'Università di Bologna, esperto di penisola coreana, e con Alessandro Marrone, responsabile del Programma “Difesa, sicurezza e spazio” dello IAI, Istituto Affari Internazionali.

Chaque année, des Nord-Coréens tentent d'échapper au régime de Pyongyang. Pour ceux qui parviennent à s'enfuir, au péril de leur vie, la Corée du Sud voisine représente une destination évidente. Plus de 34 000 transfuges nord-coréens sont ainsi entrés dans le pays depuis 1953. Mais ils continuent d'éprouver des difficultés à s'intégrer dans une nation si proche de la leur et en même temps si différente. Un reportage de Chloé Borgnon et William de Tamaris.

This week, veteran North Korea negotiator Joel Wit joins the podcast to revisit his decades of experience negotiating with Pyongyang, what went wrong in efforts to stop the DPRK's nuclear development and what, if anything, can still be done. He shares insights from high-level talks, including surreal moments inside the DPRK, and discusses whether dialogue is still a viable path forward after the Trump-Kim summits. Joel Wit is distinguished fellow in Asian and Security Studies at the Stimson Center. As a U.S. State Department official, he helped negotiate the 1994 U.S.-DPRK Agreed Framework and was in charge of its implementation until he left government in 2002, holding numerous talks with North Korean officials. He is also the author of the forthcoming book "Fallout: The Inside Story Of How America Failed to Disarm North Korea,” published by Yale University Press. His work can be primarily found on the website 38 North, which he founded and formerly operated.  About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

진행자: 간형우, Chelsea ProctorWhy Google Maps is still broken in South Korea: It might not be about national security anymore기사 요약: 국내 지도 정보를 쉽게 내어줄 수 없는 한국 정부와 업계의 입장과 복잡하게 맞물린 구글의 이해 관계[1] It's 2025, and if you try to get walking directions in Seoul using Google Maps, you will still run into the same dead end: the "Can't find a way there" screen.dead end: 막다른 길[2] For many tourists, it's both frustrating and baffling. Google Maps offers turn-by-turn walking directions in cities as far-flung as Pyongyang, the capital of the hermit kingdom of North Korea — yet, in Seoul, one of the most digitally advanced cities in the world, it can't guide you from your hotel to the nearest subway station?baffling: 당황스러운far-flung: 오지의hermit: 은둔자[3] For almost two decades, the issue has been blamed on national security. South Korea has strict laws that block the export of high-precision map data, supposedly to prevent misuse by hostile actors.precision: 정확함hostile: 적대적인[4] But in 2025, that argument is wearing thin, and a more fundamental tension is coming into focus: Should Google be allowed to freely commercialize taxpayer-funded public data without meeting the standards that domestic companies must follow?wear thin: 약해지다commercialize: 상업화하다기사 원문: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10487791

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed a series of military drills aimed at enhancing the country's ongoing “war preparations” last week, ahead of a gathering of thousands of military officers in Pyongyang for a rare conference on instigating a “revolution” in army training.  NK News Managing Editor Bryan Betts joins the podcast to discuss the DPRK's push to improve its air force and how the military events appear tied to the troop deployment to fight against Ukraine.  He also talks about Kim Jong Un's visit to a Pyongyang cemetery to pay tribute to late military official Hyon Chol Hae for the third consecutive year, as well as the appearance of sanctioned North Korean goods in Ukraine trade data despite the two sides' severed ties. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

After years of closure to foreigners due to the pandemic and political tensions, North Korea quietly reopened the Pyongyang Marathon in 2025 — and Alex Page was one of the few Americans to lace up and run it. Alex recounts what it was like entering one of the world's most isolated countries, the intriguing and tightly controlled experience of being a tourist there, and the surreal vibe of running through Pyongyang's streets. It's part adventure, part curiosity, and fully unforgettable.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/globetrotters-podcast--5023679/support.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met and embraced the North Korean general leading troops deployed to fight against Ukraine during a military parade in Moscow last week, but Kim Jong Un was a no show.  NK News Correspondent Jooheon Kim joins the podcast this week to discuss how the North Korean leader instead visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, where he gave a speech justifying support for Moscow to mark Victory Day. The podcast also covers the official start of campaigning for South Korea's snap presidential election and celebrations to mark the 93rd founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

This week, Dutch YouTuber Bart van Genuchten returns to the podcast to discuss his recent trip to North Korea for the 2024 Pyongyang International Marathon — the country's first major tourism-related event since before the pandemic. Van Genugten shares what it was like being among the first Westerners allowed back into Pyongyang, navigating both awkward influencer hype and deeply personal moments of connection with North Korean guides. He also discusses the ethics of content creation in authoritarian contexts and how Pyongyang seems to be subtly shifting its messaging on unification. Bart van Genugten is a Dutch YouTuber living in Seoul, releasing videos on the channel iGoBart. He first garnered fame for his videos on a trip to North Korea in 2018 About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

Israel's security cabinet has approved a new military offensive designed to “capture” Gaza and hold it indefinitely. The plan would relocate many of Gaza's 2 million residents to the south and shutter hundreds of community kitchens. Also, North Korea confirms that it sent troops to fight in Ukraine, but with tens of thousands of Russians killed in the fighting, a new report finds that Moscow is turning to Pyongyang now to reinforce its workforce. And, the International Cricket Council says it will provide funding for exiled Afghan cricketers. Plus, Microsoft shuts down Skype after more than two decades.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Kris and David are back after a week off to discuss the partial week that was April 26-30, 1995, a show requested by William Lanham, who threw down the requisite $25 on our Patreon to pick this week. Topics of discussion include:A full rundown of the two NJPW shows at Mayday Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, both inside and outside the ring, with stories about the political implications of the shows, Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff being the only WCW people involved, the real attendance numbers, North Korea's strong-arm tactics, and so much more.Brian Pillman getting dropped on his head in a TV squash.Diamond Dallas Page getting spooked by Kimberly trying on a wedding dress during a wacky WCW TV skit.Bobby Heenan wanting to know who the hell The Renegade is.Hayabusa officially becoming Atsushi Onita's opponent in Onita's "retirement" match.Perro Aguayo Jr. making his debut in a big angle at a major AAA show in Guadalajara with Dave Meltzer in attendance.Buddy Landel taking a visit to Classy Motors.Al Snow hating Ricky Morton's girlfriend Andrea.ABC's “Wide World of Sports” covering steroids and early deaths in pro wrestling.The 1-2-3 Kid's career being in jeopardy after breaking his neck.The in-ring WWF TV debut of Hunter Hearst Helmsley.This is a very entertaining show, so check it out!!!!Timestamps:0:00:00 NJPW in North Korea0:39:20 WCW1:06:17 Japan: AJPW, Heisei Ishingun, WAR, FMW, IWU, Michinoku Pro, RINGS, & AJW1:24:23 Classic Commercial Break1:28:08 Halftime: Thomas Edward Gilbert Jr. Edition2:37:03 Other North America: CWA (Toronto), AAA, CMLL, WEDAI, & WWC3:18:13 Other USA: ECW, SMW, CCW (KY), USWA, AWF, NWA Dallas, APW, Slammers CNN, Killer Kowalski on ABC, & Wide World of Sports4:15:53 WWFTo support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you're looking for the best deal on a VPN service—short for Virtual Private Network, it helps you get around regional restrictions as well as browse the internet more securely—then Private Internet Access is what you've been looking for. Not only will using our link help support Between The Sheets, but you'll get a special discount, with prices as low as $1.98/month if you go with a 40 month subscription. With numerous great features and even a TV-specific Android app to make streaming easier, there is no better choice if you're looking to subscribe to WWE Network, AEW Plus, and other region-locked services.For the best in both current and classic indie wrestling streaming, make sure to check out IndependentWrestling.tv and use coupon code BTSPOD for a free 5 day trial! (You can also go directly to TinyURL.com/IWTVsheets to sign up that way.) If you convert to a paid subscriber, we get a kickback for referring you, allowing you to support both the show and the indie scene.You can also use code BTSPOD to save 25% on your first payment — whether paying month to month or annually — when you subscribe to Ultimate Classic Wrestling Network at ClassicWrestling.net!To subscribe, you can find us on iTunes, Google Play, and just about every other podcast app's directory, or you can also paste Feeds.FeedBurner.com/BTSheets into your favorite podcast app using whatever “add feed manually” option it has.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/between-the-sheets/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

North Korea confirmed for the first time this week that it deployed troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine, two days after Moscow's military chief openly acknowledged Pyongyang's involvement. Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim joins the podcast to discuss the reasoning behind the shift in the two countries' official positions, as well as South Korean opposition lawmaker Lee Jae-myung's victory in the primary to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee and North Korea's launch of the first of its largest new warship class. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

Bruce Bennet, a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation, joins the podcast to discuss just how ironclad the U.S.-South Korea alliance really is, the growing plausibility of limited nuclear use by Pyongyang and the risks of miscalculation in a changing security environment. He also delves into what North Korea military is learning from the war in Ukraine, its chemical and biological weapons posture and his insights from years of wargaming Korean conflict scenarios. Dr. Bruce Bennett is a senior international and defense researcher at the RAND Corporation and a specialist in Northeast Asian security, military strategy and asymmetric threats — particularly weapons of mass destruction. He has conducted extensive research on deterrence, Korean Peninsula conflict scenarios and regime collapse planning for North Korea. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists. NK News subscribers can listen to this and other exclusive episodes from their preferred podcast player by accessing the private podcast feed. For more detailed instructions, please see the step-by-step guide at nknews.org/private-feed.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week for another new 10,000-home skyscraper street in Pyongyang, coinciding with the April 15 “Day of the Sun” holiday celebrating the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung. NK News Correspondent Joon Ha Park joins the podcast to discuss the significance of the project, as well as the U.N.'s aviation body's dismissal of a North Korean complaint about an alleged South Korean drone intrusion last year. He also talks about the number of North Korean refugees that arrived in South Korea in the first quarter of 2025. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

Preview: Colleague Behnam Ben Taleblu of FDD reports on the scale and variety of Iran missile and drone manufacturing for itself and clients such as Moscow and Pyongyang. More. 1950