Foreign News
N. Korea Accuses UN of ‘Double Standards’ Over Missile Launches
North Korea said on Monday that the UN Security Council’s position (UNSC) on missile launches by Pyongyang amounted to double standards that violated the country’s sovereignty and right to self-defence.
North Korea has conducted two missile tests recently, with two cruise missiles launched toward the Yellow Sea on March 21 and two ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on March 25.
Though Pyongyang described the tests as a right of a sovereign state to self-defence, the launches sparked concerns among a number of states that requested closed consultations on the matter in the UNSC.
“It constitutes a denial of the sovereign state and an apparent double standard that UNSC takes issue, on the basis of the UN ‘resolutions’ – direct products of the U.
S. hostile policy toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).“The normal activities fall within the right of our state to self-defense,” Jo Chol Su, the Director-General of the Department of International Organizations of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The diplomat recalled that the UN body remained silent when the United States launched an airstrike in eastern Syria in late February.
He said neither did the council respond to the United Kingdom’s recent announcement that it would make a drastic increase in its nuclear warheads.
Same for France’s test of a new-generation, multi-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile, he added.
“The United Nations Security Council does not have a single record of having questioned or discussed such acts.
“It is indeed preposterous that such countries spearheading the moves to undermine global peace and stability are picking on our self-defensive measure,” the statement read.
According to Jo, if the UN continues to use a double standard policy, it will only contribute to the aggravation of the situation and confrontation, not dialogue, on the Korean peninsula. (ANI/NAN)
Foreign News
Earthquake Shakes Western Greece
A strong earthquake has shaken western Greece on Friday morning, but no casualties reported.
The Greek Geodynamic Institute in Athens, said the 5.8 magnitude quake occurred at 9:12 am (0812 GMT) local time.
The epicentre of the quake was about 20 kilometres below the seabed off the west coast of the Peloponnese peninsula near the islet of Stamfani, also known as Strofades.
It was preceded by a smaller quake with a magnitude of 4.
1.Greece’s Civil Defence organisation did not initially say whether there were any casualties or damage to buildings.
A tsunami warning was not issued.
“We felt the tremors very strongly,” a resident of the nearby Olympia region said, adding that
“everyone here is on the streets.
”Local media reported that many schools had been evacuated as the quake was felt throughout western Greece, and on the tourist island of Zakynthos and as far away as Athens, about 300 kilometres away.
The deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea is located between western Greece and Sicily in Italy, with a depth of over 5,000 metres.
The African and European tectonic plates meet in this region, which make it prone to strong earthquakes. (dpa/NAN)
Foreign News
Russian Army Fires Ballistic Missiles at Kiev from Crimean Peninsula
The Russian Army has hit the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, with ballistic missiles, injuring four people and damaging an uninhabited three-storey building, according to officials.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that two of the injured people were in a central neighbourhood and had been taken to hospital.
Rocket debris also fell in two other neighbourhoods.
According to the Ukrainian air force, two ballistic missiles were fired at the city of millions, from the Russian-controlled Crimea Peninsula.
Both were shot down.Half a dozen explosions from anti-aircraft missiles had previously been heard in the city centre.
The air raid warning was only triggered a few seconds beforehand, it said.
Ukraine has been facing Russian invasion for over two years.
Since then, the Ukrainian air defence system has been massively reinforced with Western systems. (dpa/NAN)
Foreign News
Cambodia Arrests 2 Foreigners for Smuggling 2.27 kg Narcotics
Cambodian customs police at the Phnom Penh International Airport said they have arrested two South Korean nationals for an attempt to smuggle 2.27 kg narcotics to South Korea.
The duo, a man and woman, were caught Sunday night while they checked in for a ZA215 flight bound for Seoul.
The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia said in a news release on Monday.
In their body searches, our customs officials found many packs of drugs wrapped around their waists, the news release said.
“As a result, some 1.29 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 0.98 kg of ketamine were seized from the two suspects’ possession.’’
The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker.
Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grammes of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.
According to the country’s Anti-Drug Department (ADP), Cambodia nabbed 3,899 drug-related suspects, including 106 foreigners, in 1,659 cases from Jan. 1 to March 3, 2024.
According to the report they confiscated a total of 2.79 tonnes of narcotics.
Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. (Xinhua/NAN)