Only 27 seconds between life and death, Korean war pilot recalls
In the early hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel to invade the Republic of Korea. As North Korean forces streamed towards Seoul, 22 countries joined the United Nations multinational military intervention to defend South Korea, and Australia was among the first countries involved. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
North Korea opens tourist zone on coast
North Korea has completed construction of a massive tourist zone on its east coast according to state media, a key project driven by leader Kim Jong Un for years to promote tourism. With "great satisfaction", Kim attended an inaugural ceremony for the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area that could accommodate about 20,000 visitors and said the country would build more large-scale tourist zones swiftly, KCNA news agency reported. Kim has been rebuilding the seaside city of Wonsan, a vacation destination for locals, to turn it into a billion-dollar tourist hotspot. Development plans for Wonsan have mushroomed since they were first announced in 2014. However, while tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea not targeted by United Nations sanctions, the reclusive state did not have a major foreign partner for the Wonsan project against the backdrop of sanctions over its weapons programs. The tourist zone will open for domestic guests from July 1, KCNA said, without mentioning foreign tourists. North Korea sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country but its capital and other parts of the country remain closed to regular tourism, though in April it held a marathon event hosting foreign runners. Moscow and Pyongyang, both economically and politically isolated, have drawn closer as North Korea has deployed thousands of troops and supplied ammunition, artillery and missiles for Russia's Ukraine war. The Russian ambassador to North Korea and embassy staff were invited as special guests for the Wonsan ceremony, according to KCNA. The two countries have agreed to expand cooperation on tourism, restarting a direct passenger train service between their capitals for the first time since 2020. "Kim Jong Un expressed belief that the wave of the happiness to be raised in the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area would enhance its attractive name as a world-level tourist cultural resort", KCNA said. North Korea has completed construction of a massive tourist zone on its east coast according to state media, a key project driven by leader Kim Jong Un for years to promote tourism. With "great satisfaction", Kim attended an inaugural ceremony for the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area that could accommodate about 20,000 visitors and said the country would build more large-scale tourist zones swiftly, KCNA news agency reported. Kim has been rebuilding the seaside city of Wonsan, a vacation destination for locals, to turn it into a billion-dollar tourist hotspot. Development plans for Wonsan have mushroomed since they were first announced in 2014. However, while tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea not targeted by United Nations sanctions, the reclusive state did not have a major foreign partner for the Wonsan project against the backdrop of sanctions over its weapons programs. The tourist zone will open for domestic guests from July 1, KCNA said, without mentioning foreign tourists. North Korea sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country but its capital and other parts of the country remain closed to regular tourism, though in April it held a marathon event hosting foreign runners. Moscow and Pyongyang, both economically and politically isolated, have drawn closer as North Korea has deployed thousands of troops and supplied ammunition, artillery and missiles for Russia's Ukraine war. The Russian ambassador to North Korea and embassy staff were invited as special guests for the Wonsan ceremony, according to KCNA. The two countries have agreed to expand cooperation on tourism, restarting a direct passenger train service between their capitals for the first time since 2020. "Kim Jong Un expressed belief that the wave of the happiness to be raised in the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area would enhance its attractive name as a world-level tourist cultural resort", KCNA said. North Korea has completed construction of a massive tourist zone on its east coast according to state media, a key project driven by leader Kim Jong Un for years to promote tourism. With "great satisfaction", Kim attended an inaugural ceremony for the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area that could accommodate about 20,000 visitors and said the country would build more large-scale tourist zones swiftly, KCNA news agency reported. Kim has been rebuilding the seaside city of Wonsan, a vacation destination for locals, to turn it into a billion-dollar tourist hotspot. Development plans for Wonsan have mushroomed since they were first announced in 2014. However, while tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea not targeted by United Nations sanctions, the reclusive state did not have a major foreign partner for the Wonsan project against the backdrop of sanctions over its weapons programs. The tourist zone will open for domestic guests from July 1, KCNA said, without mentioning foreign tourists. North Korea sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country but its capital and other parts of the country remain closed to regular tourism, though in April it held a marathon event hosting foreign runners. Moscow and Pyongyang, both economically and politically isolated, have drawn closer as North Korea has deployed thousands of troops and supplied ammunition, artillery and missiles for Russia's Ukraine war. The Russian ambassador to North Korea and embassy staff were invited as special guests for the Wonsan ceremony, according to KCNA. The two countries have agreed to expand cooperation on tourism, restarting a direct passenger train service between their capitals for the first time since 2020. "Kim Jong Un expressed belief that the wave of the happiness to be raised in the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area would enhance its attractive name as a world-level tourist cultural resort", KCNA said. North Korea has completed construction of a massive tourist zone on its east coast according to state media, a key project driven by leader Kim Jong Un for years to promote tourism. With "great satisfaction", Kim attended an inaugural ceremony for the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area that could accommodate about 20,000 visitors and said the country would build more large-scale tourist zones swiftly, KCNA news agency reported. Kim has been rebuilding the seaside city of Wonsan, a vacation destination for locals, to turn it into a billion-dollar tourist hotspot. Development plans for Wonsan have mushroomed since they were first announced in 2014. However, while tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea not targeted by United Nations sanctions, the reclusive state did not have a major foreign partner for the Wonsan project against the backdrop of sanctions over its weapons programs. The tourist zone will open for domestic guests from July 1, KCNA said, without mentioning foreign tourists. North Korea sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023. It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country but its capital and other parts of the country remain closed to regular tourism, though in April it held a marathon event hosting foreign runners. Moscow and Pyongyang, both economically and politically isolated, have drawn closer as North Korea has deployed thousands of troops and supplied ammunition, artillery and missiles for Russia's Ukraine war. The Russian ambassador to North Korea and embassy staff were invited as special guests for the Wonsan ceremony, according to KCNA. The two countries have agreed to expand cooperation on tourism, restarting a direct passenger train service between their capitals for the first time since 2020. "Kim Jong Un expressed belief that the wave of the happiness to be raised in the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area would enhance its attractive name as a world-level tourist cultural resort", KCNA said.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Labor's Left backed Trump's strikes on Iran. It's not the only issue they've shifted on
The first Australian minister to endorse US President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend wasn't the prime minister or foreign minister. It was Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, who happened to have the 6.45am breakfast TV slot on Monday. 'We do support the strikes and I know the foreign minister [Penny Wong] is going to be on your program later this morning to go into more detail,' Plibersek said dutifully. The prominent member of Labor's Left was then joined by two of her factional colleagues, Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese, who reinforced the government's decision. It was a far cry from two decades ago, when all three MPs signed a letter to George W. Bush, protesting against the war in Iraq. 'The ALP firmly believes that international conflict should, wherever possible, be dealt with peacefully and through international co-operation under the auspices of the United Nations,' reads the letter, which Plibersek delivered personally to Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, during the president's visit to Australia in 2004. 'When all attempts for a peaceful resolution have been exhausted, United Nations sanction is vital if force is to be used. 'What is to prevent other countries from following the example of our attack on Iraq, and arguing the right to preventive self-defence? Why shouldn't North and South Korea attack each other using the template we developed in Iraq? Or India and Pakistan? 'The precedent we have set is a very dangerous one, and there is every indication that the world will become less safe, not more, because of our actions.' Yet when Albanese endorsed Trump's strike on Iran, without ever saying that the country was on the cusp of producing a nuclear weapon, no one in his parliamentary party publicly complained. Some Left faction MPs contacted by this masthead even refused to grouse privately.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Labor's Left backed Trump's strikes on Iran. It's not the only issue they've shifted on
The first Australian minister to endorse US President Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend wasn't the prime minister or foreign minister. It was Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, who happened to have the 6.45am breakfast TV slot on Monday. 'We do support the strikes and I know the foreign minister [Penny Wong] is going to be on your program later this morning to go into more detail,' Plibersek said dutifully. The prominent member of Labor's Left was then joined by two of her factional colleagues, Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese, who reinforced the government's decision. It was a far cry from two decades ago, when all three MPs signed a letter to George W. Bush, protesting against the war in Iraq. 'The ALP firmly believes that international conflict should, wherever possible, be dealt with peacefully and through international co-operation under the auspices of the United Nations,' reads the letter, which Plibersek delivered personally to Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, during the president's visit to Australia in 2004. 'When all attempts for a peaceful resolution have been exhausted, United Nations sanction is vital if force is to be used. 'What is to prevent other countries from following the example of our attack on Iraq, and arguing the right to preventive self-defence? Why shouldn't North and South Korea attack each other using the template we developed in Iraq? Or India and Pakistan? 'The precedent we have set is a very dangerous one, and there is every indication that the world will become less safe, not more, because of our actions.' Yet when Albanese endorsed Trump's strike on Iran, without ever saying that the country was on the cusp of producing a nuclear weapon, no one in his parliamentary party publicly complained. Some Left faction MPs contacted by this masthead even refused to grouse privately.
