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Hither and Yon

Unfree China using ‘sharp power’ to redefine reality at home and abroad

December 30, 2018

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

China’s overwhelming trade surpluses with just about all its trading partners, notably the U.S., are hardly the only worrisome aspect of Chinese expansionism. Along with China’s aggressive militarism, we are hearing constantly about the nation’s use of “sharp power” to advance its  Read More 
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Unfree China using ‘sharp power’ to redefine reality at home and abroad

December 30, 2018

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

China’s overwhelming trade surpluses with just about all its trading partners, notably the U.S., are hardly the only worrisome aspect of Chinese expansionism. Along with China’s aggressive militarism, we are hearing constantly about the nation’s use of “sharp power” to advance its  Read More 
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Why the South Korean president never mentions human rights in the North

December 13, 2018, Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

It’s fine to talk to the North Koreans about their nukes and missiles. Go ahead and tell them they’re a threat to the world, the human race, to civilization. No problem. The North’s stock retort is they’re needed for self-defense against the  Read More 
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All aboard for Pyongyang: Rail links from Busan to Europe would be world-changing

November 30, 2018

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

WASHINGTON: Rail travel has a special fascination for me. My home in New Jersey was near the tracks of the mighty Pennsylvania Railroad, about 45 minutes from New York.

I remember watching the trains roar by as a kid, counting the number of cars on the long  Read More 
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U.S. has far more troops in Japan than Korea; Okinawa governor rejects new Marine air base

November 15, 2018

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

WASHINGTON ― We hear so much about North Korea’s secret bases that it’s sometimes easy to forget the ruckus over U.S. bases in the region. They may not be secret, but they can be controversial.

Take, for instance, the huge U.S. air and  Read More 
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Another North Korean invasion of the South? Not so unthinkable

November 9, 2018
Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

Korean history over the past century has been so full of surprises that it’s risky to make serious predictions.

The North Korean invasion of the South in June 1950, ordered by Kim dynasty founder Kim Il-Sung, was the worst, most tragic surprise of all. So traumatic  Read More 
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Don’t forget the forgotten people when bargaining for Korean peace

Defector: Don’t forget the forgotten people when bargaining for Korean peace
By World Tribune on October 12, 2018

By Donald Kirk

WASHINGTON ― How about Pope Francis inspiring millions of the faithful in North Korea as he did in South Korea four years ago? Can we picture highly organized throngs cheering him on the way in  Read More 
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Sweltering with summit fever

Posted : 2018-08-16

By Donald Kirk

Summit fever these days is as hot as the weather. We face weeks of heated debate in the run-up to a third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's Kim Jong-un and maybe a second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim. The Moon-Kim summit is going  Read More 
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Time of transition for U.S. forces in Korea

June 28, 2018

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is going through agonizing changes. Cancellation of joint U.S.-South Korean war games is not the only sign of the shifting U.S. military role.

The USFK and the United Nations Command have just staged  Read More 
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Skeptical minds want to know: What next with North Korean denuclearization?

June 21, 2018

Special to WorldTribune.com

By Donald Kirk

The most obvious lesson of the Singapore summit is that “complete denuclearization” is mission impossible. The North Koreans since then haven’t used the “n” word ― “n” for nuclear ― while talking in generalities about the need to respect everyone’s “sovereignty” along with the statement signed  Read More 
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