The Nuclear Peninsula

Latest Episodes:

Kim Jung-un and His Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad 2020 Sep 05, 2020

Show notes

2020 has been especially tough for Rocketman between the weather/sanctions/Covid-19, Kim Yo-jong remains elusive, danger in the Taiwan straight, South Korea's liberals unleash their inner authoritarians, Tenet proves popular in the Korean movie market.

Matt's Twitter | https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Cody's Twitter | https://twitter.com/IntraPacifica

Sources:

https://www.nknews.org/pro/why-2020-is-kim-jong-uns-most-challenging-year-yet/?t=1598869775927

https://www.nknews.org/2020/08/is-kim-jong-un-in-a-coma-again-will-kim-yo-jong-take-over-heres-what-we-know/

https://twitter.com/nknewsorg/status/1298519166903701504?s=19

https://www-thesun-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/12495624/kim-jong-un-dead-white-house-laughter-coma/amp/?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fnews%2F12495624%2Fkim-jong-un-dead-white-house-laughter-coma%2F

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/border-08312020222343.html

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/border-08262020194153.html

https://www.nknews.org/pro/north-koreas-top-seaport-eerily-quiet-after-rumors-of-a-closed-trade-route/

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-53848584

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/asia/china-us-u-2-spy-plane-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1327725/world-war-3-china-missiles-US-south-china-sea-latest-donald-trump-war

https://www-washingtonpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/mike-pompeo-is-the-worst-secretary-of-state-in-history/2020/08/30/00515750-e869-11ea-bc79-834454439a44_story.html?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&outputType=amp&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fopinions%2Fglobal-opinions%2Fmike-pompeo-is-the-worst-secretary-of-state-in-history%2F2020%2F08%2F30%2F00515750-e869-11ea-bc79-834454439a44_story.html

https://www.france24.com/en/20200901-us-warns-nkorea-still-pressing-ballistic-missile-development

https://amp.economist.com/asia/2020/08/20/south-koreas-liberal-rulers-unleash-their-inner-authoritarians?__twitter_impression=true

https://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-trumps-chief-foreign-110013633.html

https://www.nknews.org/2020/09/north-korean-statues-are-showing-up-in-africa-and-they-could-be-illegal/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-storm-southkorea-northkorea/at-least-two-people-killed-as-typhoon-maysak-hits-waterlogged-koreas-idUSKBN25U043

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/elon-musk-claims-brain-implants-22605906

https://deadline.com/2020/08/tenet-korea-previews-box-office-coronavirus-cinema-closures-1203021320/

North Korean Hackers Are Back From the Dead Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

The North's hacking group "Lazarus" is back at it again, rumors swirl around Kim's sister's role in North Korea, South Korea is still struggling with new outbreaks of COVID-19, (TRIGGER WARNING) North Korea clamps down on 'decadent' pet dogs, "Peninsula" the sequel to the South Korean blockbuster "Train to Busan" is released, China's Xi is under fire in his own party, rumor's about Japanese Prime Minister Abe's health, and BTS's latest smash hit "Dynamite" is finally here.

Matt's Twitter | https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Cody's Twitter | https://twitter.com/IntraPacifica

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/12/world/middleeast/north-korea-hackers-israel.html?referringSource=articleShare

https://nypost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/nypost.com/2020/08/20/kim-jong-un-reportedly-hands-part-of-his-power-to-sister-kim-yo-jong/amp/?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2020%2F08%2F20%2Fkim-jong-un-reportedly-hands-part-of-his-power-to-sister-kim-yo-jong%2F

https://www.nknews.org/2020/08/kim-yo-jong-still-missing-from-high-level-meetings-in-north-korea/?t=1597915537370

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN25G12T

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/world/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-church-sarang-jeil.html

https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-harasses-defectors-with-calls-texts-are-you-having-fun-these-days-11597492800?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/arFyus04SU

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN25A0QH?taid=5f368076d7d51b00018b6dbb&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-biden-and-taiwan-11597445459

https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1295332482842271750?s=19

http://english.chosun.com/m/svc/article.html?contid=2020081200634&utm_source=undefined&utm_medium=unknown&utm_campaign=english

https://io9.gizmodo.com/train-to-busan-sequel-peninsula-is-a-rip-roaring-post-1844531801

https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/08/18/2020081801005.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/18/china-xi-jinping-facing-widespread-opposition-in-his-own-party-claims-insider4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdZLi9oWNZg

https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/08/19/2020081902408.html

The Woman in the Red Dress Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

Kamala Harris is Joe Biden's pick and she's tough on North Korea, President Moon pulls a move straight out of the North's playbook, live executions and dangerous flooding in North Korea, South Korea's new defense plan, building a US military base in Taiwan, what will be China's great downfall, a red dress and blackface causes controversy in South Korea, plus how Korean businesses are still doing well during a pandemic.

Matt's Twitter | https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Cody's Twitter | https://twitter.com/IntraPacifica

Sources:

https://m.chosun.com/svc/article.html?sname=news&contid=2020081300709&Dep0=news.google.com&docRefURL=https://news.google.com/

https://youtu.be/eerX_geWY7w

https://m.chosun.com/svc/article.html?sname=news&contid=2020081300027&Dep0=t.co&docRefURL=https://t.co/Z7lA6lVwFl

https://www.nknews.org/2020/08/human-rights-groups-condemn-south-korean-governments-border-area-press-tour/

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/execution-08062020202000.html/ampRFA?__twitter_impression=true

https://www.38north.org/2020/08/yongbyon081220/

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200810000502

https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/08/13/2020081300514.html

https://twitter.com/HuXijin_GT/status/1293843726788251649?s=19

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/chinas-worst-nightmare-us-military-presence-taiwan-48672

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-usa-idUSKCN2550DI

https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-xi-speeds-up-inward-economic-shift-11597224602?mod=flipboard

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-trump/trump-says-great-bond-with-chinas-xi-changed-after-covid-19-idUSKCN2571QM?feedType=mktg&feedName=topNews&WT.mc_id=Partner-Google

https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1293948627073859590

https://www.barrons.com/news/fantasy-film-new-trump-book-to-reveal-letters-with-kim-jong-un-01597299010

https://abcnews.go.com/International/red-dress-creates-political-storm-south-korea/story?id=72209187

http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200813000545

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/08/hyundai-will-launch-three-new-electric-cars-starting-in-2021/

http://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20200809000194&ud=20200809000194&__twitter_impression=true

Moon's Men Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

South Korean President Moon has some controversial new cabinet ministers, latest developments in Balloongate, North Korea is still full speed ahead on nuclear weapons development, Xi Jinping's hardline, the Hiroshma bombing turns 75, Japan and South Korea do not get along, new Samsung phones, Kim Jung-un's personal port-a-potty, and more!

Matt's Twitter | https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Cody's Twitter | https://twitter.com/IntraPacifica

Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea/from-scandal-to-accusations-of-disloyalty-south-koreas-new-point-men-on-north-have-dramatic-past-idUSKCN24U134

https://eastasiaresearch.org/2020/08/02/unification-minister-hearing-thae-yong-ho-asks-lee-in-young-about-espousing-juche-ideology/

https://news.joins.com/article/23840154

https://m.chosun.com/news/article.amp.html?sname=news&contid=2020080600281&__twitter_impression=true

https://www.nknews.org/2020/08/north-korean-state-media-slams-south-for-deceitfully-enhancing-military-power/

https://www.nknews.org/2020/08/north-korea-continuing-intense-development-of-ballistic-missiles-nukes-un/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-sanctions-un/north-korea-has-probably-developed-nuclear-devices-to-fit-ballistic-missiles-u-n-report-says-idUSKCN24Z2PO?feedType=mktg&feedName=worldNews&WT.mc_id=Partner-Google

https://nypost.com/2020/08/01/kim-jong-un-cracks-down-on-travel-to-chinese-border/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/02/world/asia/china-hong-kong-national-security-law.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-china-53521589

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/08/04/hiroshima-bombing-turns-75-six-nuclear-arms-changes-under-trump/5533700002/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-08-04/japan-south-korea-spat-to-hit-u-s-plans-video?sref=zDA0m5Nw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaaTZkqsaxY

https://www.cnet.com/news/everything-samsung-announced-at-unpacked-galaxy-note-20-galaxy-watch-3-and-more/

https://apnews.com/fac71359e6ad8bafb16493db141305c7

https://thehill.com/policy/international/asia-pacific/510109-south-korean-prosecutors-arrest-leader-of-church-tied-to

https://www.nknews.org/2020/07/north-korean-women-suffer-gender-specific-abuses-new-un-report-says/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/kim-jong-un-travels-around-22466663?ICID=ref_fark

The Republic of Seoul Aug 01, 2020

Show notes

North Korea isn't as tough as they'd like you to believe, the plan to move the South Korean capital away from Seoul, potential for draw-down of US troops in Korea, the aftermath of Pompeo's speech last week, Korea's 3% drop in GDP looks amazing compared to the rest of the world, a green new deal in Korea, and the mustache that almost caused a diplomatic crises.

Matt's Twitter | https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Cody's Twitter | https://twitter.com/IntraPacifica

Sources:

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/north-koreas-artillery-could-kims-big-guns-destroy-seoul-101837

https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2020072414270003429?did=GO

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200724000562

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200724000524

https://m.chosun.com/svc/article.html?sname=news&contid=2020072600264&Dep0=news.google.com&docRefURL=https://news.google.com/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/28/world/asia/south-korea-satellites-rockets.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/24/pompeo-speech-will-have-the-opposite-effect-in-china-says-former-us-diplomat.html

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/24/asia/us-china-consulate-chengdu-intl-hnk/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2020-07-24T04%3A27%3A17&utm_source=twcnnbrk

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/opinion/china-trump.html

https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/07/30/huawei-is-now-the-biggest-smartphone-maker-in-the-world-as-samsungs-slump-worsens/

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/economy-suffers-titanic-329-plunge-in-2nd-quarter-gdp-shows-and-points-to-drawn-out-recovery-2020-07-30

https://electrek.co/2020/07/15/egeb-south-koreas-95b-new-deal-is-anchored-in-ev-investment/

http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200720000868

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/world/asia/south-korea-ambassador-mustache-harry-harris.html

https://www.soompi.com/article/1413918wpp/mnet-announces-launch-of-show-me-the-money-9

Welcome to Cold War II Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo makes a landmark speech on China, the US is closing the Houston Chinese Consulate, China says US officials have "lost their minds", Taiwan warns the threat of military clash with China is on the rise, North Korea is back at trade with China, South Korea slumps into a recession, Trump says the Koreans are 'terrible people', South Korea launches a military satellite, Kim Jung-un fires officials in charge of building Pyeongyang's new general hospital, and our guesses about who Joe Biden's pick for vice-president will be.

Matt's Twitter | https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Cody's Twitter | https://twitter.com/IntraPacifica

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMAQC9MNY4U

https://www.state.gov/communist-china-and-the-free-worlds-future/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-consulate/us-tells-china-to-shut-houston-consulate-in-move-china-calls-unprecedented-escalation-idUSKCN24N0UW

http://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20200717000668&ud=20200717000668&__twitter_impression=true

https://www.thehour.com/news/article/Taiwan-says-threat-of-military-clash-with-China-15425487.php

https://www.news18.com/news/world/china-succeeding-in-doing-what-hitler-failed-to-do-with-jews-historian-lifts-lid-off-atrocities-on-uighur-muslims-2720259.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/world/asia/north-korea-squid-sanctions-china.html

https://www.nknews.org/pro/north-korean-coal-smuggling-route-to-china-rebounds-to-pre-covid-activity-levels/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-korea-slumps-into-recession-11595460878?mod=flipboard

http://m.monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?ctcd=H&nNewsNumb=202008100010

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200721000064&fbclid=IwAR2J9OgdBcrv48fHaNbXHXtpIozdEvtqCzOt5h442NaWMNUoTAfNsIc9hWI

https://mnews.joins.com/article/23829448#home

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200720000800325

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/seoulmal-07212020213256.html

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/coronavirus-07162020220021.html

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/south-korea-faces-criticism-crackdown-leaflet-launchers?amp&__twitter_impression=true

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/07/joe-bidens-vice-president-powerful-history/614161/?utm_source=feed

Balloongate and the Death of the Mayor of Seoul Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

Park Wonsun the mayor of Seoul dead in an apparent suicide, more tit for tat sanctions drama, the coolest parents in the world, the good cop bad cop routine, North Korean soldiers to breed more bunnies, and BALLOONGATE.

https://twitter.com/mrmatthewcking

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53386165

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/world/china-world-coordinate-response-intl/index.html

https://nypost.com/2020/07/11/north-korea-slams-britain-for-sanctions-aimed-at-prison-camps/

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-07-13/china-to-sanction-u-s-senators-rubio-cruz-over-xinjiang-moves?__twitter_impression=true

https://www.voanews.com/usa/otto-warmbiers-parents-chase-north-korean-assets-eastern-europe?amp&__twitter_impression=true

https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korean-leaders-sister-casts-doubt-on-future-of-nuclear-talks-11594368189?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/sKAEdcASzQ

https://nypost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/nypost.com/2020/07/10/north-korean-soldiers-ordered-to-start-breeding-more-bunnies/amp/?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2020%2F07%2F10%2Fnorth-korean-soldiers-ordered-to-start-breeding-more-bunnies%2F

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/food-06232020164802.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/13/we-send-food-information-into-north-korea-why-is-seoul-trying-stop-us/#click=https://t.co/KZmSXimgCT

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-07-09/north-korea-military-conflict-fears-grow-on-south-korea-island?sref=zDA0m5Nw

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200713000579

The Case of the Disappearing Rice Rations Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

Not enough rice for government officials in Pyongyang, North Korea's beautiful beaches, a virus worse than the worst sanctions, China's cute statements, the end of Hong Kong, is North Korea going to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile, what the next US President is going to do about North Korea, and the Tesla Model 3's record sales in South Korea.

https://www.instagram.com/uriminzok2017/

A real actual North Korean official Instagram account. Please follow and leave snarky remarks.

Loud and Clear Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

Loudspeakers around the DMZ, Kim Jung-un is in hiding, what Xi Jinping thinks about before he falls asleep at night, North Korean economic meltdown, North Korea's bridge to nowhere, 3 year anniversary of Otto Warmbier's death, 70 years since the start of the Korean war, President Moon is mad bro, and more.

"Salute to the Heroes" Address by President Moon Jae-in on 70th Anniversary of Korean War(문 대통령 연설)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgaP0oJbSE0

Boom Goes the Panmunjom Declaration Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

The bombing of the North-South Liason Office, Kim Yo-jong, Russia's reaction, China and Trump, and John Bolton's new book.

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