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North Korea Responds to US Travel Ban

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Just days after the United States banned travel for Americans to North Korea, with the ban due to take effect on 1 September 2017, North Korea has criticized Washington’s decision, with state media describing the move on Friday 4 August as a “sordid” attempt to limit human exchanges.

Citing an unidentified spokesman for the foreign ministry, the North’s KCNA news agency reported that there was no reason for foreigners to feel threatened while in North Korea and that citizens from around the world were encouraged to visit. The spokesman stated “our doors are always open for all Americans who visit our country out of good will and wish to see our reality.”

Earlier this month, the US State Department announced that the ban would take effect on 1 September, noting however that some, including journalists and humanitarian workers, would be able to apply for exceptions. The ban will effectively make reclusive North Korea the only country to which US citizens are banned from travelling. The move follows the death in June of US student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced last year in North Korea to fifteen years’ hard labour for trying to steal an item bearing a propaganda sign from his hotel. Mr Warmbier was in a coma when he was released by the North on humanitarian grounds. The circumstances of his death remain unclear.

In Friday’s report, while KCNA did not specifically name Mr Warmbier, it stated that the North had delivered “just punishment” to some US citizens who had carried out acts against the regime. According to the spokesman, “there is no country in the world that would let foreigners who commit this sort of crime be,” adding “ruling criminals by the law is exercising our confident right as a sovereign state.” The report further disclosed that the ban reflects Washington’s view of Pyongyang as an enemy and reiterated that US President Donald Trump’s administration should abandon its hostile policies towards the North.

Republican US Representative Joe Wilson, who introduced the bill to ban Americans from travelling to North Korea this year, has stated that hundreds of Americans are amongst the roughly 4,000 to 5,000 Western tourists who visit the North each year. North Korea is currently hold two Korean-American academics and a missionary in addition to a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work.

US Travel Ban for North Korea from 1 September

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The United States State Department announced this month that a ban by US passport holders to North Korea will take effect on 1 September 2017, adding that Americans in the country should leave before that date. North Korea will effectively become the only country to which Americans are banned from travelling.

The US State Department issues a notice in the Federal Registrar on Wednesday 3 August declaring US passports invalid for travel to, in or through North Korea. The restriction takes effect in thirty days and applies for one year unless it is extended or revoked by the secretary of state. In a public notice, the department disclosed that “persons currently in North Korea on a US passport should depart North Korea before the travel restriction enters into effect on Friday, September 1, 2017.” The department has noted that journalists and humanitarian workers may apply for exceptions to the ban. According to the statement, professional reporters or journalists, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or the American Red Cross travelling on official missions, those travelling to North Korea for “compelling humanitarian considerations” and those whose requests are “in the national interest” may ask for a special validation of their passports in order to travel to the country.

The official announcement comes after the US government last month stated that it would bar Americans from travelling to North Korea due to the risk of “long-term detention” there. The ban comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and North Korea, which has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US. It also comes after American student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced last year to 15 years’ hard labour in North Korea, returned to the US in a coma on 13 June after being released on humanitarian grounds. He died on 19 June, and the circumstances surrounding his death are not clear, including why he fell into a coma. North Korea has stated through its state media the Mr Warmbier’s death was “a mystery.” It has also dismissed accusations that he had died as a result of torture and beating in captivity.

North Korea is currently holding two Korean-American academics and a missionary, a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work. Japan has also stated that North Korea has detained at least several dozen of its nationals.

North Korean Leader Delays Guam Missile Plan

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North Korea’s state media reported on Tuesday 15 August that the country’s leader Kim Jong Un has delayed a decision on firing missiles towards Guam while he waits to see what the United States does next. The news comes as South Korea’s president disclosed hat Seoul would seek to prevent war by all means.

Last week, Pyongyang’s plans to fire missiles near the US Pacific territory of Guam prompted a surge in tensions, with US President Donald Trump stating that the US military was “locked and loaded” if North Korea acted unwisely. While this week signs of an easing in tensions appear to have calmed the international community, the United States and South Korea have continued to prepare for more joint military drills, with experts warning that North Korea could still go ahead with its provocative plan.

In a report, the official KCNA disclosed that on Monday 14 August, in what was his first public appearance in about two weeks, Kim Jong Un inspected the command of the North’s army, examining a plan to fire four missiles to land near the US Pacific territory of Guam. The report went on to say “he said that if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, testing th self-restraint of the DPRK (North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). In photo’s released along with the KCNA report, Kim was seen holding a baton and pointing at a map showing a flight path for the missiles appearing to start from North Korea’s east coast, flying over Japan towards Guam. North Korea has often threatened to attack the US and its bases and released similar photos in the past but never followed through.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stated that there would be no military action without Seoul’s consent, adding that his government would prevent war by all means. In a speech to commemorate the anniversary of the country’s liberation from Japanese military rule in 1945, President Moon stated, “military action on the Korean peninsula can only be decided by South Korea and no one else can decide to take military action without the consent of South Korea,” adding “the government, putting everything on the line, will block war by all means.” Japan will also be seeking further reassurance from Washington during meetings between Japan’s defense chief and foreign minister and their US counterparts on Thursday. In a briefing in Tokyo, a Japanese foreign ministry official disclosed that “the strategic environment is becoming harsher and we need to discuss how we will respond to that,” adding “we will look for the US to reaffirm its defense commitment, including the nuclear deterrent.

The Liberation Day holiday, which is celebrated by both North and South, will be followed next week by joint US-South Korean military dills, which are sure to further anger Pyongyang. North Korea has persisted with its nuclear and missile programmes, to ward off perceived US hostility, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions. China, which is North Korea’s main ally and trading partner, has repeatedly urged Pyongyang to halt its weapons programme and at the same time has urged South Korea and the US to stop military drills in a bid to lower tensions. On Tuesday, it urged all sides in the standoff to help “put out the fire” and not add to the flames. China’s state-run Global Times also stated that Seoul should play a buffer between the US and North Korea to prevent a head-on confrontation. The paper said in an editorial that “the drill will definitely provoke Pyongyang more, and Pyongyang is expected to make a more radical response,” adding “if South Korea really wants no war on the Korean peninsula, it should try to stop this military exercise.”

South African Leader Survives No-Confidence Vote

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Last week, South African President Jacob Zuma survived his latest vote of no-confidence, despite the ballot being held in secret.

While opposition parties had hoped that the secret ballot would mean that some MPs from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party might side with them against the president, the motion, which was called amidst repeated allegations of corruption, was defeated by 198 votes to 177. The news was greeted with cheers and singing by ANC MP’s, with the country’s currency, the rand, taking a dive shortly after the announcement was made.

Speaking shortly after the results of the vote were released, President Zuma stated that he had come to thank his supporters and “those in parliament who had voted correctly.”   He told the assembled crowd,” they believe they could use technicalities in parliament to take over the majority from the ANC,” adding “it is impossible: they cannot. We represent the majority.”

Since taking office in 2009, President Zuma has found himself embroiled in a number of scandals. They include using taxpayer month for upgrades on his private home and more recently becoming too close to the wealth Gupta family, who have been accused of trying to influence politician decisions. Both the president and the Gupta have denied any wrongdoing. Criticism of President Zuma further increased back in March when he dismissed Pravin Gordhan, a widely-respected finance minister.

The ANC parliamentary party however did not address these criticisms in a statement that was released after the vote, which it called a “soft coup.” The statement also accused the opposition of attempting “to collapse government, deter service delivery and sow seeds of chaos in society to ultimately grab power.”

While the vote appears to have again saved President Zuma, it was not a rousing success for the governing party as the result effectively means that at least 26 ANC MP’s rebels, while another nine MPs abstained from voting. South Africa’s TimesLive website has reported that the ANC’s chief whip Jackson Mthembu has stated that the party was planning to look into disciplining those who had voted against the president. The rebels however were praised by opposition leaders, who have repeatedly called for votes against the president.

In order for the no-confidence motion to pass, at least 50 out of the ANC’s 249 MPs would have had to vote against the president.

President Zuma is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, ahead of the 2019 general election. He has endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as his successor. Also vying for the leadership is Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and one of the country’s wealthiest politicians.

President Zuma’s Legal Woes:

  • 2005 – Charged with corruption over multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal. The charges were dropped shortly before he becomes president in 2009;
  • 2016 – Court orders that he should be charged with 786 counts of corruption over the deal. He has appealed;
  • 2005 – Charged with raping family friend. He is acquitted in 2006;
  • 2016 – Court rules that he breached his oath of office by using government money to upgrade private home in Nkandla. He has since repaid the money;
  • 2017 – Public protector has stated that he should appoint judge-led inquiry into allegations he profiteered from relationship with wealth Gupta family; he denies the allegations, as have the Guptas; no inquiry has been appointed.

Rwanda Election: Kagame Wins Third Term in Office

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Final results released on Saturday 5 August indicated that incumbent leader Paul Kagame swept to a landslide victory in Rwanda’s presidential election, securing a third term in office and extending his seventeen years in power.

On Saturday, the National Electoral Commission announced that Kagame had secured 98.63 percent of Friday’s vote.   The board further disclosed that turnout topped 96.42 percent in the country of twelve million, in an election that fielded only a single opposition candidate, Frank Habineza, and an independent.

Addressing his supporters early on Saturday, President Kagame stated that he would work to sustain economic growth. In a speech broadcast live on television, he stated “this is another seven years to take care of issues that affect Rwandans and ensure that we become real Rwandans who are (economically) developing.” He went on to say, “what I saw during campaigns is that the decision to continue to lead you drew criticism mainly by foreigners but this proves that the referendum was for real purpose.” President Kagame won the last election in 2010 with 93 percent of the vote and had said during this campaign for a further seven-year term that he again expected an outright victory. Habienza, who won 0.47 percent of the vote, had promised to set up a tribunal to retry dissidents whose convictions by Rwandan courts have been criticized as politically motivate. After the vote, he stated that some of his party’s observers were obstructed in carrying out their work. Habineza’s accusations however did not amount to foul play.

Hours after the election results were announced, the United States disclosed that it was “disturbed by irregularities obsrved during voting” in the election. A US State Department statement reiterated “long-standing concerns over the integrity of the vote-tabulation process.” The US statement further disclosed that it remains “concerned by the lack of transparency in determining the eligibility of prospective candidates,” and it commended Rwanda’s media for reporting on complaints of harassment of some opposition candidates.

While President Kagame has won international praise for presiding over a peaceful and rapid economic recovery in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide, when an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed, he has also faced mounting criticism for what human rights groups say are widespread abuses, a muzzling of independent media, and suppression of political opposition. Under his rule, some dissidents were killed after fleeing abroad, in cases that remain unsolved, with the government denying any involvement.

A constitutional amendment in 2015 effectively allows President Kagame to remain in power until 2034 if he pursues it. The US, which is a key Rwanda ally, opposed the change to the constitution.