North Korea Detains U.S. Soldier Who Crossed Border Without Authorization |
U.S. officials said they were working to respond to the detention of a U.S. soldier who willingly chose to cross into North Korea (Reuters) without permission yesterday rather than board a flight to the United States, where he was expected to face disciplinary charges. The incident occurrs during a period of renewed tensions over North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. Yesterday, a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine arrived in South Korea (Yonhap) for the first time since 1981. Hours later, North Korea test-fired (Bloomberg) two short-range ballistic missiles in what South Korea called a “grave provocation.”
The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with North Korea. Travis T. King, the soldier who was detained, had served jail time in South Korea on assault charges. North Korean state media did not immediately make any mention of the incident. |
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“The incident has sparked a diplomatic emergency at a time of already strained ties between Pyongyang and Washington,” the Washington Post’s Ellen Francis writes.
“Pyongyang often uses detained Americans—the last case was about five years ago—as political pawns and seeks maximum concessions for their release,” Bloomberg’s Jon Herskovitz writes.
For Foreign Affairs, Dartmouth College’s Jennifer Lind and Daryl G. Press discuss Seoul and Washington’s joint response to the North Korean nuclear threat.
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Thai Court Suspends Pro-Democracy Lawmaker and Prime Minister Hopeful |
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Pakistan, Taliban Delegates Hold Security Talks |
A Pakistani envoy is traveling to Afghanistan today to speak with Taliban leaders about suspected cross-border attacks by Afghan-based fugitive militants in Pakistan, Voice of America reports. The talks in Kabul are also expected to focus on cooperation on trade, economic, and security matters.
India: Twenty-six opposition parties agreed to form a coalition (The Hindu) known as the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to challenge the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in next year’s elections.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Egypt Sentences Human Rights Worker to Three Years in Prison |
Egyptian authorities convicted graduate student Patrick Zaki of disseminating fake news (NYT), a verdict that human rights group Amnesty International called “absurd.” The trial has prompted support for Zaki across Egypt and Italy, where he studied, and a U.S. State Department spokesperson called on Egypt to release him.
Saudi Arabia/Turkey: Turkish defense firm Baykar Technology and Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry signed what Baykar’s CEO called the largest defense and aviation export contract in Turkey’s history. He did not disclose the value of the deal, but it is thought to be more than $1 billion, Nikkei reported. |
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South Africa Announces Putin Will Not Attend BRICS Summit in Person |
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said a “mutual agreement” determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend (IOL) the August summit in South Africa that also includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China, a bloc of countries known as BRICS. The International Criminal Court, of which South Africa is a member, has issued an arrest warrant for Putin that would oblige Pretoria to arrest him if he entered the country.
Kenya: Schools and businesses in the capital, Nairobi, closed (Bloomberg) today ahead of three days of planned opposition-led protests against President William Ruto’s economic policies and the rising cost of living. More than twenty people have been killed and dozens injured in anti-government protests so far this month, the United Nations said.
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U.S. Economist Withdraws From Appointment to EU Antitrust Body After Backlash |
Economist and former U.S. official Fiona Scott Morton said she was withdrawing (FT) from her appointment as the European Commission’s chief competition economist after critics decried the decision to select a non-European. French President Emmanuel Macron also cited concerns related to her previous work as a consultant for big tech firms such as Apple and Amazon.
Russia/Ukraine: For the second consecutive night, Russia launched air strikes (Reuters) on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. A Ukrainian presidential advisor said the attacks were targeting grain terminals and port infrastructure. They come days after Russia withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports.
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Former Panamanian President Sentenced for Money Laundering |
Former President Ricardo Martinelli hoped to run in next year’s election but was sentenced (AP) to more than ten years in jail for money laundering. He is Panama’s first former president to be convicted of a crime.
Peru: Tens of thousands of police are being deployed in the capital, Lima, as protesters seeking political reform are expected to begin (CNN) a new round of demonstrations today. A previous round of protests between December and March, which objected to the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo Terrones, became violent and ground parts of the country to a halt.
This In Brief by CFR’s Will Freeman and Ariana Rios looks at the impact of Peru’s protests.
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Judge to Hear Argument in Case on Biden Asylum Rule |
Immigrant rights organizations have sued (AP) against a new rule finalized by the Joe Biden administration in May that would deny people from seeking asylum once they reach U.S. territory unless they apply via a government app or had previously applied for asylum elsewhere before coming to the United States. The rule allows for some exceptions. The plaintiffs in the case argue that it violates U.S. immigration law, which includes a legal right to seek asylum.
This Backgrounder by CFR’s Diana Roy explains how the U.S. asylum process works. |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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