Nuclear-Armed North Korea Issues Warning to US Ally
North Korea has issued a warning to Japan over its upcoming test-fire of a prototype railgun.
The futuristic weapon signals Japan is mulling a preemptive attack on the nuclear-armed country, state media said, adding that this would be a "suicidal act."
Newsweek reached out to the Korean embassy in China and Japan's defense ministry via email for comment.
Railguns can inflict significant damage without relying on explosives. They use electromagnetic force to fire metal slugs at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The weapons offer a relatively low-cost, effective means of countering threats such as hypersonic missiles, including those fielded.
Official development began in 2016, and the United States ally conducted the first known shipboard test of a railgun in 2023. Another test is planned aboard an experimental warship, this time mounted on a naval turret to simulate real-world combat conditions.
An article released Saturday by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) characterized Japan's ongoing military buildup as part of a plan to establish another "great Japanese empire."
Development of new weapon platforms such as the railgun is "aimed at enhancing and expanding the utility of preemptive attack directly targeting the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and the neighboring countries and thus realizing at any cost the old ambition of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," KCNA quoted international security analyst Kim Ryo Won as saying, using North Korea's official name.
Framed as a pan-Asian bloc led by Tokyo, the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" was a concept used by the Empire of Japan to justify its expansion during World War II.
"The reckless military buildup of Japan, a war criminal state, to make a preemptive attack on nuclear weapons states while turning the archipelago into a huge powder magazine will be a suicidal act of dashing toward the second defeat," Kim said.
Japan has been steadily strengthening security ties with the U.S. and South Korea, focusing on the North Korean threat and China's increasing assertiveness.
North Korea claims to have successfully tested an intermediate-range hypersonic missile in January, though South Korean officials have expressed skepticism about its stated capabilities.
Pyongyang has carried out frequent missile tests in violation of United Nations Security Council sanctions and continues to build out its nuclear weapons program. The Kim Jong Un regime insists both are necessary for self-defense, citing "provocations" by the U.S. and its allies.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, in an April press release: "The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies."
It remains unclear when Japan plans to field its railgun.
China has also been developing a railgun and reportedly conducted a shipboard test last year, though it was said to have failed after the projectile veered off course.
The U.S. Navy abandoned its railgun program in 2021, shifting its focus to other advanced weapons, including hypersonic missiles.
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Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
ICE Highlights Arrest of Accused Murderer Amid Los Angeles Protests
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President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that he had authorized the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after reported violence against law enforcement, specifically, ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city. While the raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, protests have amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles." The raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, followed similar action in locations through other parts of the city on Friday, during which police arrested at least 44 people. Some protesters have thrown rocks at officers, with one allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail, and burning items in the streets. Police responded with tear gas. The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority. What To Know DHS released information about 11 individuals, including their country of origin and alleged crimes, some of which they have been charged with. All of the individuals are male and listed as illegal aliens who have committed crimes in California. These are just 11 of the hundreds arrested by ICE as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. They include: A 49-year-old man from Vietnam with a criminal history including a conviction for second-degree murder, originally sentenced to 15 years to life. 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A 44-year-old from Mexico with a criminal history including sexual battery with a sentence of 135 days in jail and five years of probation, receiving known or stolen property with a sentence of 90 days in jail and three years of probation, and petty theft with a sentence of 365 days in jail and four years of probation. A 38-year-old from Mexico with a criminal history that includes arrests for grand theft larceny and possession of a prohibited weapon. A 42-year-old from Ecuador with a criminal history that includes conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more cocaine while on board a vessel in Tampa, Florida, with a sentence of 135 months in prison. 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California Governor Gavin Newsom on X following Trump's National Guard announcement: "The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions. LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need." He added: "The Guard has been admirably serving LA throughout recovery. This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust." What Happens Next? Protests have continued into Sunday after the National Guard arrived in Los Angeles and deployed to federal buildings around the city, including the Civic Center area, the LAPD's Central Division said.
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Carmen Pola, history-making Latina activist and civic leader, dies at 86
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'We feel very strongly that any human being who has a knowledge of more than one language has a better understanding of people and can be of great service,' she told The Boston Globe in 1982. Two years earlier, Mrs. Pola had launched a historic primary election campaign to try to unseat Kevin Fitzgerald, the incumbent state representative in the Suffolk 17th District. Telling the Globe that she didn't like being 'put in the Spanish box,' she brought together a coalition of Latino, Black, Asian, and white campaign volunteers. Advertisement In a September 1980 editorial, the Globe endorsed her candidacy. 'A community activist who has worked especially hard on public housing and school issues, Pola has a solid grasp of the challenges confronting the Legislature and of the particular responsibilities she would bear as the first Hispanic representative from Boston,' the editorial said. She lost by a close margin, but her campaign set the stage for Latino candidates who followed. In the 1983 Boston mayoral election, she coordinated Flynn's campaign in the Hispanic community and introduced him in Spanish at events. Soon after Flynn was elected, he appointed Mrs. Pola to run the new mayor's office of constituent services. Her office was just steps away from Flynn's own in City Hall. As the administration began in 1984, the Globe called her 'the most influential' Latina official in Flynn's administration.' In Mrs. Pola's constituent services office, signs in English and Spanish welcomed visitors to 'la oficina del alcalde de servicios a los constituyentes.' In January 1985, Flynn named Mrs. Pola as his senior adviser on human needs. She was responsible for dealing with many of the city's major crises, such as fires, the homeless, and the hungry. She stayed in that job until leaving the administration in October 1986. Mrs. Pola accomplished her rise from Mission Hill community activist to the heights of City Hall with a background unlike most of her colleagues. 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'We lived in shacks, we cooked outside, and we had one shower for everyone in the field to share.' Within a couple of years, she was in Oakland, studying at a college and becoming a community activist. In 1961, she married Juan Pola, who was a truck driver before working in maintenance for Sylvania Electric Products after moving to Boston. He died in 2012. Mrs. Pola told the Globe that her activism was possible because she and Juan were 'equal partners. Whoever gets home first gets the household chores done.' 'She was always trying to make sure everybody was doing what they were supposed to be doing, and if there were any issues, she would resolve them,' said their daughter Rose of Baltimore, who added that subsequent generations turned to Mrs. Pola for guidance as well. In addition to Rose, Mrs. Pola leaves a son, Juan Pola Jr. of Cambridge; two other daughters, Mary Pola and Jacqueline Williams, both of Pawtucket, R.I.; a stepdaughter, Lynette Pola of California; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Advertisement A celebration of Mrs. Pola's life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the Boston Teachers Union in Dorchester. Mrs. Pola's honors included being the state recipient of After leaving her City Hall job, she helped found community organizations and nonprofits, and she continued to advise elected officials on issues of importance to Latinos. In all her advocacy, she stressed the need for people from different backgrounds, races, and neighborhoods to pursue their common goals. 'If we work together a little bit more, we will have a better world,' 'Nothing works when you do it by yourself,' she said, 'so you have to create a coalition.' Bryan Marquard can be reached at
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
House Speaker Says Deploying Marines in Los Angeles Not 'Heavy-Handed'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's call to place active-duty U.S. Marines near Los Angeles on "high alert" amid ongoing protests, saying during a Sunday interview appearance on ABC News that the move is not "heavy-handed." Newsweek has reached out to Johnson for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters Federal immigration enforcement operations sparked protests across California for a second day in a row on Saturday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, following similar actions at several locations throughout other parts of the city on Friday. The Trump administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous ICE raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation. Earlier this week, protests erupted over claims that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building—allegations ICE has denied. A spokesperson previously told Newsweek that the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles." Some protestors have thrown rocks at law enforcement, with one allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail, as well as burning items in the street. Agents have used tear gas on the crowds. The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard to quell the protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move, saying local law enforcement was already mobilized and the presence of the National Guard was "purposefully inflammatory," would "escalate tensions" and "erode public trust." Los Angeles Police Department officers move to disperse a protest after federal immigration authorities conducted an operation on June 6 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers move to disperse a protest after federal immigration authorities conducted an operation on June 6 in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong What To Know Hegseth said in a Saturday evening post on X, formerly Twitter, that in addition to mobilizing guards, nearby Marines may also be called upon, writing, "And, if violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert." The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK. Under President... — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) June 8, 2025 Camp Pendleton, located north of San Diego, has more than 42,000 active-duty Marines and sailors. On Sunday morning, ABC News' This Week journalist Jonathan Karl asked Johnson about Hegseth's warning and if Americans would "really see active-duty Marines on the streets of Los Angeles?" The House speaker responded: "One of our core principles is maintaining peace through strength. We do that on foreign affairs and domestic affairs as well, I don't think that's heavy-handed. I think that's an important signal." The phrase "peace through strength" has become a core slogan and guiding principle of the second Trump administration. Karl followed up, asking, "You don't think sending Marines into the streets of an American city is heavy-handed?" "We have to be prepared to do what is necessary, and I think the notice that that might happen might have the deterring effect," Johnson said. Newsom, who has been criticized by the Trump administration for not doing enough to stop the protests, called Hegseth's statement about preparing Marines "deranged behavior." Karl also asked Johnson about the president's deployment of the National Guard, which was announced last night but not in the streets. "I think the president did exactly what he needed to do. These are federal laws. We have to maintain the rule of law, and that is not what is happening. Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or anunwillingness to do what is necessary there, so the president stepped in," Johnson said, adding that the move shows "real leadership, and he has the authority and responsibility to do it." In a late Saturday night post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest. We have an incompetent Governor (Newscum) and Mayor (Bass) who were, as usual (just look at how they handled the fires, and now their VERY SLOW PERMITTING disaster. Federal permitting is complete!), unable to to handle the task..." Newsom reshared the post on his X account, writing: "For those keeping track, Donald Trump's National Guard had not been deployed on the ground when he posted this." Troops arrived in the early hours of Sunday. What People Are Saying Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday: "Every governor is going to make their own decisions based on the situation. In this case, Governor Newsom has made clear that he wants local law enforcement protecting the citizens, and he's asked the president not to inflame the don't want to inflame things by threatening to bring in the Marines or deporting people by mistake." Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a Saturday X post: "A message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down.@ICEgov will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in an X wrote on Saturday: "This is a difficult time for our city. As we recover from an unprecedented natural disaster, many in our community are feeling fear following recent federal immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles County. Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount, are deeply concerning. We've been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C., and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but let me be clear: violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday night: "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" What Happens Next The National Guard has arrived in Los Angeles and a third day of protests are expected.
