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☆ U.S.-Funded Broadcaster Leaves Hong Kong, Citing Security Law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( David Pierson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The authorities in China have long accused Radio Free Asia, also known as R.F.A., of being a front for the U.S. government. In its statement, the news organization noted that officials in Hong Kong had also recently referred to R.F.A. as a “foreign force” in the context of how it covered the discussion over the new security law. Hong Kong enacted the security law on March 23, giving the city’s authorities more power to investigate such offenses as “external interference” and the theft of state secrets. The government declined a request to comment on Radio Free Asia’s departure, pointing instead to national security laws in other countries to justify legislation in Hong Kong.

Persons: Bay Fang, Chris Tang Organizations: Radio Free Asia, Radio Free, U.S . Locations: States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States, China, Radio Free Asia

☆ Xi Jinping's high-rank purges show a 'systemic rot' in China's military that could threaten its readiness for war: senior US official
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China's latest military purge shows that it's suffering from more than just graft, a senior US official said. It's likely the PLA's corruption had a material effect on its war capabilities, said Ely Ratner. But, according to Ratner, Xi's latest military purge indicated a more serious problem. Xi's anti-corruption sweep last year extended as high as China's defense minister, Li Shangfu, who was replaced in October. Several top commanders were also fired from China's Rocket Force, a branch that Xi has emphasized as key to Beijing's strength.

Persons: It's, Ely Ratner, Ratner, —, Ryan Evans, Xi Jinping, ", Xi's, Li Shangfu, Xi, hotpot Organizations: Service, Pacific Security Affairs, People's Liberation Army, Communist Party, China's, Force, Bloomberg, PLA, Radio Free, Defense, China Task Force, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Beijing, China, Switzerland

☆ The 'crown jewel' of the Chinese military appears to have a serious corruption problem, but the US can't afford to bet on its missiles all being defective
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Recent reports point to corruption and readiness problems in the Chinese military, the rocket force in particular. In the aftermath of the report, an ex-PLA official told Radio Free Asia problems like this have long been rampant in the Chinese military. The rocket force shakeups suggest that there are questions over who can be trusted. Xinhua/Cha Chunming via Getty ImagesConcerns about corruption and readiness stand in contrast with the modernization and strengthening of the Chinese military. Is the PLA, particularly the rocket force, the increasingly formidable force the Pentagon described in a military power report last October?

Persons: It's, —, Tom Shugart, Xi Jinping, that's, hotpot, hadn't, bigwig, Xi, Liu Dawei, Shugart, weren't, Lintao Zhang, Li Shangfu, Li Gang, ISW, there's, Andy Wong Organizations: Service, People's Liberation Army, US, Center, New, New American Security, Liberation Army, Getty Images, Bloomberg, PLA, Rocket Force, Radio Free, 14th China International Aviation, Aerospace Exhibition, Getty, Liberation Army Rocket, Business, United, Naval, Army, Air Force, Communist, of, Defense, Chinese Communist Party, Liberation Army's Army Infantry College, Li, Pentagon, U.S . Nimitz, US Army Locations: New American, Taiwan, Hefei, Anhui province, Radio Free Asia, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, Xinhua, United States, Beijing, China, PLA, Gutian, Jiangxi Province, U.S, Tiananmen, Pamir, Kashgar, China's Xinjiang, Pacific

South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States’ spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea. The North Korean satellite launch sparked immediate, strong condemnations from the U.S., South Korea and others. North Korea responded angrily, saying it has sovereign rights to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls increasing U.S. hostilities. Since 2022, North Korea has conducted about 100 ballistic missile tests — part of efforts to modernize its arsenal of weapons targeting South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers last week that Russia’s technological assistance likely enabled North Korea to place its spy satellite into orbit.

Persons: Sheryll Klinkel, Kim Jong Un, Hyung, Kim Organizations: VANDENBERG, North, California’s Vandenberg Space Force, SpaceX’s, SpaceX, South Korea’s Defense Ministry, South Korean, White, Pentagon, Korean, North Korean, United Nations, North Korea’s Defense Ministry, U.S . Space Command, U.S . Space Forces, Radio Free, Force, Associated Press Locations: South Korea, North Korea, United States, South, Korea, U.S, Radio Free Asia, North, “, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Seoul

☆ We've been calling Kim Jong Un's daughter by the wrong name, and it's all because of Dennis Rodman, Korean ex-spy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kim Jong Un's daughter has been known to the world as Kim Ju Ae since North Korea debuted her in 2022. But a former South Korean spy veteran says her name is actually Kim Eun Ju, per The Korea Times. AdvertisementA retired South Korean spy said the world has been giving the wrong name to daughter of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, The Korea Times reported. Advertisement"I heard that Kim introduced his daughter to Rodman during his visit to North Korea, saying in Korean that 'jeo-ae' is his daughter. South Korean officials and intelligence services have since referred to Kim's daughter as "Kim Ju Ae," and a year later, she continues to feature heavily in North Korean propaganda.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim Ju, Kim Eun Ju, Dennis Rodman, Kim Jong Un, —, Choe Su Yong, Choe, Rodman, Kim . Choe, Kim Organizations: Korea Times, Service, The Korea Times, South Korea's National Intelligence Service, NBA, Times, Guardian, Business Insider, South, The Times, Radio Free Asia, Korea's Unification Ministry Locations: North Korea, South Korean, Korean

☆ Fact Check-No evidence North Korea will punish suicide attempts by death
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Online users shared a screenshot of an article with the following headline: “North Korea: Kim Jong Un Bans Suicide; Will Kill Anyone Who Attempts And Fails” (here), (here), (here). Several media outlets picked up the story and said North Korea had banned suicide (here), (here), (here). None of these articles say that suicide attempts will be punished by death. It is still unclear what, if any, punishment suicide attempts carry in North Korea. There is no evidence that North Korea will kill those who attempt suicide.

Persons: Kim Jong, Pragativadi, Kim, Kim Jong Un, Read Organizations: North, Radio Free Asia, Reuters, Radio Free Locations: North Korea, Korea

☆ North Korea appears to lift COVID mask mandate, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 4 (Reuters) - North Korea appeared to have eased a strict COVID-19 mask mandate, media reports said this week, after state news agencies showed many people maskless. North Korean state television and newspapers did not make any official announcement, but showed crowds of people at theatres and other locations without masks. The report said authorities had eased the mandates because wearing used masks and strict mask control had led to the spread of skin and eye infections. Last August, North Korean state news agency KCNA said Pyongyang had dropped a face mask mandate along with other social distancing rules as leader Kim Jong Un declared victory over COVID-19. North Korea's strict coronavirus curbs have also been criticized by a United Nations report last year as worsening its human rights violations.

Persons: KCNA, Kim Jong Un, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: NK News, Free Asia, United Nations, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Korean, Seoul, U.S, North Korean, Pyongyang

☆ Kim Jong Un orders North Koreans to stop killing themselves after number of suicides skyrocketed
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kim Jong Un banned suicide, calling it an "act of treason against socialism," per Radio Free Asia. The number of suicides in North Korea is believed to be skyrocketing, it said. Kim ordered local authorities to take action to prevent people from killing themselves, per the report. Data was provided on the number of suicides, which included examples of entire families ending their lives, the official said, per Radio Free Asia. In the neighboring province of Ryanggang, another official told Radio Free Asia that suicide was impacting the community more than starvation, while mentioning a similar meeting.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim, —, Kim Jong Organizations: Free Asia, Service, Radio Free Asia, South Korean National Intelligence Service, Radio Free, North Hamgyong, Free, World Health Organization Locations: North Korea, Radio Free Asia, North Korean, North, Ryanggang

☆ Myanmar junta says military carried out deadly attack on rebel ceremony
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

At least 50 people, including children, were killed in Tuesday's air strike in the Sagaing area in northwest Myanmar, according to media reports. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told military broadcast channel Myawaddy the attack on the ceremony held by the National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow administration, for their armed People's Defence Force was aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. They are the ones opposing the government of the country, the people of the country," said Zaw Min Tun. Kyaw Zaw, a spokesman for the NUG, said it believed nearly 100 people were killed in the Tuesday attack when air force jets dropped bombs on villagers and military attack helicopters then followed up, calling it "another senseless, barbaric, brutal attack by the military". The military has ruled Myanmar for most of the past 60 years saying it is the only institution capable of holding the diverse country together.

☆ At least 30 killed as Myanmar military attacks rebel group event -media
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 11 (Reuters) - At least 30 people were killed in a central area of Myanmar on Tuesday, after the army launched an attack on an event being held by opponents of military rule, media outlets reported. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and a spokesperson for the ruling military did not answer a phone call seeking comment. We cannot retrieve the bodies yet," said the PDF member, who declined to be identified. Myanmar's military, which ousted an elected government in 2021, has drawn global condemnation for its lethal attacks on pro-democracy opponents and civilians. Last month, at least eight civilians including children were killed in an air strike on a village in northwest Myanmar, according to a human rights group, ethnic minority rebels and media.

☆ Myanmar army helicopters fire on school, killing 13, residents say
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

At least 13 people, including seven children, were killed when army helicopters shot at a school in Myanmar, media reports and residents said, as the military said it opened fire because rebels were using the building to attack its forces. Myanmar has been gripped by violence since the army overthrew an elected government early last year. Opposition movements, some of them armed, have since emerged across the country, which the military has countered with lethal force. According to reports by the Radio Free Asia, Mizzima and Irrawaddy news portals, army helicopters opened fire on the school housed in a Buddhist monastery in the village. Some people were killed on the spot by the shooting, while others died after troops entered the village, the reports said.

☆ Рыбака из КНДР казнили за то, что слушал радио
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-23 | by ( Mld Media Srl | ) noi.md time to read: +2 min

Капитан рыболовецкого судна из Северной Кореи прослушивал радиостанцию США, но вряд ли подозревал, чем это для него закончится. Житель Северной Кореи по фамилии Чой — капитан рыболовецкого судна, пишет New York Post. Однако это не спасло рыбака от сурового наказания за прослушивание радиостанции Radio Free Asia (радио «Свободная Азия»), которая вещает на территории США. Моряки узнали, что капитан настроил радиоприёмник на запрещённую частоту, и сообщили в военную комендатуру. Скилл понадобился, чтобы ловко перепрыгнуть через забор и оказаться не территории Южной Кореи.

Persons: Чой, Ким Чен Ына, Чоя Organizations: Radio Free Asia, Свободная Азия, Трудовая партия Locations: — , New York, Северная Корея, США, Корея, КНДР, Южная Корея

☆ Şeful agenţiei naţionale de presă din SUA a primit interdicţie de a interveni în conţinutul editorial
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-22 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +3 min

Procesul a fost deschis luna trecută la Curtea de Justiţie a Districtului Columbia de cinci directori care au fost concediaţi sau suspendaţi din funcţii. Ulterior, Pack a anunţat că a revocat regula de securitate elaborată de Broadcasting Board of Governors. În luna iulie, Pack a ordonat efectuarea unei investigaţii cu privire la publicarea unui pachet video cu Joe Biden, acum preşedinte ales al SUA, pe site-ul VOA. El a spus că segmentul era „pro-Biden” şi că echipa lui are în vedere acţiuni disciplinare împotriva celor responsabili. VOA a fost fondată în timpul celui de-Al Doilea Război Mondial, iar prin statutul dat de Congres trebuie să prezinte publicului internaţional ştiri şi informaţii independente.

Persons: Michael Pack, U.S ., Trump, Steve Bannon, El, Ulterior, Pack, Judecătoarea Beryl Howell, Joe Biden, Lee, VOA Organizations: U.S, Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Open Technology, Broadcasting Locations: Middle East, America, Congres, de Justiţie, Columbia, SUA

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