Author: Julian Ryall

Trump’s $10 Billion Demand from South Korea Raises Alarm Former President Donald Trump has sparked concern in South Korea by claiming that Seoul would be paying over €9 billion a year for US forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula if he were still in office. Trump’s assertion of a $10 billion annual payment from South Korea for the US deployment has raised eyebrows, as Seoul currently pays around $1.02 billion per year for approximately 28,500 US personnel stationed in the country. Election Uncertainty With the upcoming election on a knife-edge, Trump’s statements have added pressure on South Korean leaders. Concerns…

Trump’s $10 Billion Demand Raises Alarms in Seoul Former President Donald Trump’s recent claim that South Korea would be paying $10 billion a year for US forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula if he were still in office has caused concern in Seoul. Trump’s statement has triggered worries as he aims to return to the White House, with Seoul currently paying around $1.02 billion per year for some 28,500 US personnel. In the latest agreement, Seoul agreed to increase its expenditure to about $1.09 billion per year from 2026. Election Tensions with Trump and Harris Trump’s comments come amid tension…

North Korea’s Involvement in War with Ukraine During a meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that North Korea is not just supplying weapons to Moscow but is also sending troops to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed concern about Pyongyang deploying up to 10,000 soldiers to support Russia in the conflict. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had also raised similar fears earlier. Despite doubts raised by the US Department of Defense, Ukrainian sources reported the arrival of a North Korean contingent in the occupied regions of Ukraine in 2023. The military personnel from North Korea have been…

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s public approval ratings are at an all-time low, posing a threat to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as they head into the upcoming general election on October 27. A poor showing in the election could lead to a swift leadership challenge against Ishiba, making him a lame duck leader. Recent polls show that support for Ishiba’s government has dropped to 28%, the lowest since 2000. While this is slightly better than his predecessor Fumio Kishida, Ishiba still falls below the critical 30% threshold considered dangerous for leaders. Experts warn that the LDP may lose its…

Japan is closely monitoring Malaysia and Thailand’s bids to join the Brics group of emerging economies, positioning themselves as rivals to established trading powerhouses like Europe, the US, and Japan. Analysts fear that these Southeast Asian nations may be shifting away from balanced diplomacy towards an alliance influenced by China and Russia. Professor Go Ito from Meiji University expressed concerns about Thailand’s strong ties with China and the proliferation of Confucius Institutes in the country, suggesting a move towards Chinese influence. These government-operated institutes have faced criticism for potentially promoting state propaganda. Brics leaders at a summit in Johannesburg last…

Living in Fear: The Story of “D” – Exiled in Japan When “D”‘s father passed away, her primary emotion was relief. Living in Japan, “D” had been communicating with her parents via web cameras out of fear of arrest if she returned to China. Described only as a letter due to fear of Chinese authorities, “D” shared her father’s struggles as a dissident author against the Chinese state. Despite the desire for normalcy, “D” couldn’t return home, with her father warning her to stay away for her safety. Chinese tactics of pressure and harassment against dissidents extended to those living…

Rising Tensions between Japan and China Ken Kato, a Tokyo-based funerary business owner, has expressed concerns about traveling to China due to safety risks for Japanese individuals. Recent incidents, including the detention of a Japanese employee in Beijing and violent attacks on Japanese citizens, have escalated tensions between the two countries. Incidents Fueling Tensions A series of alarming events, such as the attack on a Japanese woman and her son in Suzhou, have stirred outrage in Japan. The Japanese government has urged China to investigate the motives behind these attacks and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals. Perceived Anti-Japanese Sentiments…

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Japanese Anti-Nuclear Group An organization advocating for survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, known as Nihon Hidankyo, has been declared the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for their work towards achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. The group, founded in 1956, has been dedicated to providing healthcare for survivors and campaigning for a ban on nuclear weapons development and use. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the group for their efforts in raising awareness about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons, leading to the establishment of a…

Japan Moves to Safeguard Pharmaceutical Supply Chain from China Japan is taking proactive steps to protect its pharmaceutical supply chain for the future amidst concerns that China could potentially use exports as leverage in bilateral relations. Analysts point to past instances, such as China limiting rare earth mineral shipments to Japan in 2010, as a precedent for such actions. Japanese authorities are urging local pharmaceutical companies to ramp up investments in manufacturing essential medicine ingredients to reduce reliance on Chinese imports. Kazuhiro Tateda, president of the Japan Association of Infectious Diseases, noted that the government is gearing up for potential…

The Two Koreas: Escalating Tensions and Nuclear Threats The recent surge in cross-border rhetoric between North and South Korea has raised concerns about the possibility of an armed clash. Tensions have heightened since the new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office, replacing the previous administration’s policy of outreach to Pyongyang. President Yoon’s warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of “the end of his regime” if nuclear weapons were used was met with fury from the North. Kim Yo-jong, Kim’s influential sister, also vowed to expand their nuclear deterrent capabilities against perceived threats, including US military presence…