‘What if’ questions: Nov. 22, 1963, Sept. 11, 2001 and right now

‘What if’ questions: Nov. 22, 1963, Sept. 11, 2001 and right now

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Millions remember exactly what they were doing when first hearing about awful events. The day John F. Kennedy was shot, November 22, 1963, I’d been sleeping after an overnight shift for a newspaper in New York. For some reason, I had to call about paying a parking ticket. The […]

After Afghanistan, a nightmare scenario for South Korea

After Afghanistan, a nightmare scenario for South Korea

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk This nightmare scenario comes to mind: the Chinese have invaded South Korea in the name of the North Koreans, who are sort of an auxiliary force, and the wobbly, weak-kneed American president decides the South Koreans can fight on their own with no American troops, no U.S. air or […]

Japan finally set to break sacrosanct 1% GDP cap on defense spending

Japan finally set to break sacrosanct 1% GDP cap on defense spending

by WorldTribune Staff, May 21, 2021 Following Japan’s surrender in World War II and its occupation, headed by the “blue-eyed shogun: Gen. Douglas MacArthur, it adopted a “Peace Constitution” and has strictly limited defense spending since to less than 1 percent of its GDP. That’s about to change. Citing China’s increased capabilities in new areas […]

North Korea watch: Who’s in charge, little sister or her really big brother?

North Korea watch: Who’s in charge, little sister or her really big brother?

by WorldTribune Staff, January 5, 2021 Kim Yo-Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, is reportedly poised to become the first woman dictator in modern history. Some who watch the secretive nation even believe she may have already ascended to that position. “The star of the younger sister of North Korea’s leader […]

South Korea strikes a blow against freedom of information

South Korea strikes a blow against freedom of information

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk South Korean leadership, by banning defectors from launching balloons wafting leaflets over North Korea, has struck a devastating blow against free speech and freedom of information in both Koreas. The anti-leaflet legislation is inspiring an adverse reaction not only in Seoul but also at the United Nations and in […]

A new army of experts wait their turn but none know the hell North Koreans endure

A new army of experts wait their turn but none know the hell North Koreans endure

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk The North Korean economy is in such dire straits that none of the experts know quite what to do about it other than beg Kim Jong-Un, please, sir, reform the economy and do away with your nuclear program in return for sanctions relief and a lot of aid. If […]

Back in the USA: All the violence amid ‘peaceful protests’ makes a strong election-year case for ‘law and order’

Back in the USA: All the violence amid ‘peaceful protests’ makes a strong election-year case for ‘law and order’

Special to WorldTribune.com [Editor’s Note: Far East Correspondent Donald Kirk is back in the United States on leave.] By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON — The outbreak of protests in cities and even small communities across the U.S. reveals not only the extremes but also the confusion in American life. While the liberal media focuses on the […]

China tangles once again with India but has major distractions

China tangles once again with India but has major distractions

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk China looms like an enormous bullying giant above its borders with India stretching more than 4,000 kilometers from the high Himalayas to the west to more mountains and lower level frontiers to the east. In between is Nepal, over which China wields increasing influence, and Bhutan, which is tied […]

Unlikely Free Press champions: Defectors send balloons and leaflets North, rattling a nuclear power

Unlikely Free Press champions: Defectors send balloons and leaflets North, rattling a nuclear power

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk SEOUL — The insistence of a pair of brothers on scattering hundreds of thousands of leaflets from balloons fired over North Korea confronts the South with tough questions. Is it worth upsetting North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and his sister, Kim Yo-Jong, knowing the negative effects the leaflets are […]

Seoul’s wannabe socialist government targets Samsung, a major player in 5G tech revolution

Seoul’s wannabe socialist government targets Samsung, a major player in 5G tech revolution

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk The Samsung empire’s de facto leader, Jay Y. Lee, is a free man despite the best efforts of Korean government prosecutors to lock him up while he faces yet another trial to keep him from taking over the group as the only son of Lee Kun-Hee, still hospitalized and […]