International

North Korea launches an intermediate-range missile, its first test in two months

North Korea launched this Monday what is believed to be an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the Sea of Japan (called the East Sea in the two Koreas), in what is its first test of this type in two months.

“Our army detected a ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area around 12:00 today (3:00 GMT),” the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported in a statement.

“The missile fell into the East Sea after flying approximately 1,100 kilometers,” the text adds.

The regime’s last weapons test occurred on November 5 when Pyongyang launched several short-range missiles.

This Monday’s launch occurred after 12:00 (3:00 GMT) and was also confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, which detected the new North Korean weapons test and pointed out that the projectile has already fallen out of its exclusive economic area (EEZ).

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The Japanese government has formed a special team to collect information and study possible damage, according to government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The first missile launched in 2025

Today’s is the first missile launched by North Korea in 2025 and the last launch after those that occurred on November 5, and which were attributed to an attempt to provoke by the regime in view of the presidential elections in the United States.

Then, the North launched several short-range ballistic missiles with a maximum height of 100 km and that covered a distance of about 400 km.

The essay also coincides with the visit of the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to Seoul, in what will be his last trip to the Asian country in office, before the arrival of Donald Trump to the US Presidency.

On October 31, Pyongyang also launched an ICBM that traveled a distance of about 1,000 kilometers from its launch point in the interior of North Korea to fall into waters north of Japan, reaching a maximum height of 7,000 kilometers, according to data collected by Tokyo and Seoul.

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The Japanese Ministry of Defense pointed out that this projectile was the one that had flown the longest before its impact (one hour and 25 minutes), while a military source from Seoul said it was the largest missile tested to date by Pyongyang.

North Korea said it was a new Hwasong-19 model projectile and described it as an “irreversible” achievement in its nuclear weapons development.

International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.