International
Seoul, Tokyo and Washington condemn “in the most energetic terms” the Pyongyang-Moscow pact
South Korea, Japan and the United States published a statement on Monday in which they “condemn in the most vigorous terms possible” the recent agreement between North Korea and Russia, which deepens their military cooperation and can increase the supply of weapons from Pyongyang to Moscow for use in Ukraine.
The text, published by the South Korean Foreign Ministry, places special emphasis on “the continuous transfers of weapons from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (official name of North Korea) to Russia that prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people, violate multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions and threaten stability in both Northeast Asia and Europe.”
The statement adds that the Pyongyang-Moscow rapprochement “should be a cause for serious concern for anyone who has an interest in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, defending the global non-proliferation regime and supporting the people of Ukraine in their defense of their freedom and independence against Russia’s brutal aggression.”
The so-called “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement”, which includes a clause of mutual military assistance in case of aggression against its territories, was signed last week coinciding with the visit to Pyongyang of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who signed the pact together with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.
The agreement, which both Moscow and Pyongyang say complies with international law, could also involve the shipment of Russian technology to North Korea, according to some experts.
“The United States, the Republic of Korea (official name of South Korea) and Japan reaffirm their intention to further strengthen their diplomatic and security cooperation to counter the threats posed by the DPRK to regional and global security and prevent an escalation of the situation,” adds the joint statement published today.
The announcement concludes that the US commitment to the defense of its two allies “remains firm” and that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo “reaffirm that the path of dialogue remains open and urge the DPRK to cease new provocations and return to negotiations.”
After the failure of the dialogue on denuclearization in 2019, Pyongyang has opted to turn its back on new proposals to negotiate, to modernize its armaments, to rule out peaceful reunification with the South and to strengthen its rapprochement with Putin’s Russia, especially after the invasion of Ukraine.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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