Donald Kirk

1 week ago | nysun.com | Donald Kirk

As Iran is pummeled by Israeli air strikes, Tehran is counting on one final line of defense against the destruction of its nuclear program: the tunnels and bunkers in which it is hiding its resources. The Israelis may destroy Iran’s above-ground sites, but North Korea masterminded construction of the underground complexes Tehran will need if it is to stave off defeat. In the end, American bunker-busting bombs will be needed to obliterate them.

1 week ago | nysun.com | Donald Kirk

Add North Korea as another of Israel’s foe in its war to snuff out Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Most of the missiles the Iranians have been firing at Israel were either made in North Korea or fabricated with North Korean parts and technology. North Korean engineers and technicians also are frequent visitors to Tehran.

2 weeks ago | thehill.com | Donald Kirk

South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, has an almost impossible agenda. He wants to be all things to all sides, domestically and internationally. Lee’s admirers portray his rise to power as a triumph of liberal democracy over an evil attempt to return South Korea to old-style dictatorship. Lee’s background is so divisive, so mired in scandal, however, that it’s difficult to portray him in heroic proportions.

2 weeks ago | aol.com | Donald Kirk

South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, has an almost impossible agenda. He wants to be all things to all sides, domestically and internationally. Lee’s admirers portray his rise to power as a triumph of liberal democracy over an evil attempt to return South Korea to old-style dictatorship. Lee’s background is so divisive, so mired in scandal, however, that it’s difficult to portray him in heroic proportions.

2 weeks ago | nysun.com | Donald Kirk

SEOUL — South Korea is stopping the shouting into North Korea even as Pyongyang builds a new plant for a nuclear reactor. In hopes of launching talks with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s new president ordered a halt to the South’s broadcasts into the North via mega-loudspeakers just below the demilitarized zone dividing the countries.