North Korea sends troops abroad and builds walls at home

October 10, 2024

Attendees gather near tactical ballistic missile launchers during a ceremonial event to mark the delivery of new tactical ballistic missiles to North Korean troops at an undisclosed location in North Korea, August 4, 2024 in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

KCNA via REUTERS

It was barely 24 hours ago when we asked whether North Korea was really sending troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine. The answer appears to be yes, according to South Korean and Ukrainian sources.

They say there are several dozen North Koreans already in Ukraine, helping to operate the launchers for North Korean ballistic missile systems that Pyongyang has supplied to Moscow.

Western governments have long accused North Korea of supplying artillery and other munitions to Russia, but the presence of troops in the theater of combat would mark a substantial deepening of the Moscow-Pyongyang partnership. North Korea and Russia have denied any of this is happening.

Meanwhile, closer to home, North Korea has for the first time acknowledged that it is building a border wall that will completely sever road and rail ties with the South. The project, which had previously been spotted by satellite images, comes as relations between the two Koreas have been steadily deteriorating.

Earlier this year, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un for the first time openly rejected the goal of an eventual reconciliation or reunification between the two countries. Now he is backing up words with actual walls.

Taiwan’s president flexes independence in National Day speech

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech at the Presidential Palace during the Taiwan National Day (Double Ten) celebration at the Presidential Palace in Taipei on October 10, 2024.

Jameson Wu/EYEPRESS via Reuters

Taiwanese President William Lai on Thursday took a shot at mainland China’s claims of sovereignty over self-governing Taiwan, saying, “The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan.”

US disaster politics surge in wake of two big hurricanes

Jess Frampton

Fewer than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the southeastern United States, killing at least 230 people and causing billions of dollars in damage, Hurricane Milton hit Florida late Wednesday, causing multiple deaths, destroying homes, and bringing with it tornadoes, waves approaching 30 feet, and a thousand-year flood in the St. Petersburg area. Over 3 million in the state are without power. Before Milton made landfall, experts estimated the storm could cause between $50 and $175 billion in damage, with insurers on the hook for up to $100 billion.

US election campaigns head into the homestretch

Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 9, 2024.

REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

The US presidential election is just over three weeks away – and it’s a close race. According to the 538 election model, Harris is currently projected to win 53 out of 100 times in its simulations compared to Trump’s 47 victories – and in a tiny fraction of the simulations, there is no electoral college winner, the ultimate chaos scenario.

Could space make Canada more vital than ever?

MDA Space

The battle for Arctic supremacy, so vital for mineral resources and military advantage, is heating up. One key component of this mounting geopolitical competitionis surveillance by Earth observation satellites. Without such space-based technology, it would be impossible to track the changes — and potential problems and opportunities — emerging in this vast and strategically important region. New satellite technology is upending our understanding of remote places and stands at the forefront of one of the most dramatic transformations of security, technology, exploration, and innovation. What is happening in space is having a revolutionary impact on Earth. And one country has the potential to lead the way: Canada. “The absolute one place that Canada can be and should be in charge of is the Arctic,” says Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space, the leading Canadian space technology company that built the country’s RADARSAT Constellation Mission satellites that are central to Arctic maritime surveillance. Learn moreabout how space technology could redefine Canada’s global role in this interactive article from MDA Space and GZERO Media.

North Korea sends troops abroad and builds walls at home

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North Korea sends troops abroad and builds walls at home

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Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

Taiwanese President William Lai on Thursday took a shot at mainland China’s claims of sovereignty over self-governing Taiwan, saying, “The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan.”

Whether it's baseball brawls or political polarization, social media gives us all a warped picture of the world. Why is that, and what can we do about it, asks Senior Writer Alex Kliment.

Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

The real victims of the deadly hurricanes Helene and Milton are the citizens of Florida, North Carolina, and four other states.

The US presidential election is just over three weeks away – and it’s a close race, which means the parties are throwing everything they have into the final weeks of the campaign.

US presidential elections may overshadow Congressional contests, but which party controls the House and Senate is critical in determining what a president can and can’t do during their time in office.