Eastern Asia

On September 27, 2016, the North Korean Embassy in the Russian Federation circulated a series of articles stating that North Korea had “basically completed” development of nuclear weapons, which are now fully ready for practical application.

As right-wing conservatives in the United States have pointed out for decades, Hollywood is a very political place. However, a new and growing source of political influence may be changing how the global entertainment industry, US film studios included, portrays events on the silver screen. China, led by the 90-million members of its Communist Party, could gradually be pushing back the blatant pro-western, neoliberal tone that has been so prevalent in modern cinema.

In late August-early September 2016, the north-eastern regions of North Korea suffered from floods caused by typhoon Lion Rock and heavy rains. From August 29 to September 2, the level of precipitation in the North Hamgyong Province ranged from 290 to 320 mm, which then caused the Tumen River to burst its banks. This flood is said to be the worst in the territory of the DPRK in the last 70 years.

With North Korea’s recent nuclear weapon test, it appears the East Asian state is transitioning from possessing a demonstration capability toward hosting a functional nuclear arsenal. While analysts believe North Korea has yet to miniaturise its nuclear weapons to fit in rocket-launched warheads, the frequency and size of the nation’s nuclear tests indicate expanding capabilities in both research and development as well as in fabrication and deployment.

I recently returned from a fascinating two week speaking tour in China. The occasion was the international premier of my newest book, One Belt, One Road–China and the New Eurasian Century. In the course of my visit I was invited by China’s Northwest University in Xi’an to give a lecture and seminar on the present global political and economic situation in the context of China’s New Economic Silk Road as the One Belt, One Road project is often called.

On August 30, 2016, The Chosun Ilbo, a news agency well known for publishing privately concocted “fakeries”, citing its anonymous sources as per its usual ritual, reported on North Korea’s recent public execution that involved the use of heavy machinery.

One of the most prominent trends observed in the modern hydrocarbons market is that countries involved attempt to reduce their environmental risk while maintaining their energy consumption. This means that priority will be given to more “environmentally friendly” energy sources in the future.

Rumours of Hillary Clinton’s serious illness have created a new wave of rumours that Donald Trump’s presidency would significantly change the situation on the Korean peninsula. This is because with him being the President, the US may adhere to isolationism, choosing to less interfere into the internal affairs of its neighbours and refraining from undertaking costly and risky operations aimed at bringing democracy anywhere at tips of missiles.

Some aspects of two recent forums (the Second Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held in Vladivostok and the G20 Summit hosted by Hangzhou) created fertile ground for a discussion concerning a range of problems inherent in the “Sino-Russo-Japanese” tripartite relations.

After North Korea’s fifth nuclear test, the South Korean military announced a new plan that they dubbed KMPR: Korea Massive Punishment & Retaliation, which was presented on September 9, 2016 to South Korean Parliament.