U.S. Officials Review Tencent’s Stakes in Epic Games, Riot Games Over Security Concerns 
Senators Urge Better Coordination After Texas Counter-Drone Incidents Disrupt Airspace 
Trump Praises Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela Oil Exports Resume 
Spain Denies Deal With U.S. Military After Trump Threatens Trade Cutoff 
Rubio, Saudi Foreign Minister Discuss Iran Threats and U.S. Embassy Riyadh Attack 
Australia and Canada Strengthen Critical Minerals Partnership Through New G7 Alliance Agreements 
U.S. Senate Rejects War Powers Resolution Aimed at Halting Trump’s Military Campaign Against Iran 
Michael Whatley Wins North Carolina GOP Senate Primary, Setting Up High-Stakes Battle With Roy Cooper 
Iran Crisis Could Threaten AI Data Center Expansion and Global Chip Demand, South Korea Warns 
U.S. Begins Charter Evacuations as Iran Conflict Disrupts Middle East Air Travel 
U.S. Interior Department Responds to Leak of Trump Administration Plans to Revise National Park History 
Middle East Air War Triggers Massive Flight Cancellations and Global Airline Disruptions 
Trump Defends Extended U.S.-Israel Military Campaign Against Iran 
U.S. Pledges Support to Turkey After Iranian Missile Threat 
Big Tech Signs White House Pledge to Fund Power for AI Data Centers 
Brazil Senate Approves Mercosur–EU Trade Agreement After Decades of Negotiations 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this week claimed “victory” over the COVID-19 pandemic in the country following its first formal acknowledgement back in May. Kim also ordered the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
North Korean state news outlet KCNA reported Thursday that Kim was presiding over a meeting with healthcare workers and scientists, claiming “victory…in the war against the malignant pandemic disease.” Kim also ordered the restrictions his regime has imposed since the beginning of the outbreak in May to be lifted.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, also spoke at the meeting in Pyongyang. Ms. Kim blamed South Korea for the outbreak of COVID-19 in the isolated nation with the use of anti-North Korea leaflets being sent across the border by activists and defectors.
“We must counter it toughly,” said Ms. Kim. “We have already considered various counteraction plans, but our countermeasure must be a deadly retaliatory one.”
North Korea has had no new reported cases of COVID-19 since July 29.
According to Leif Eric Easley of the Ewha Women’s University in South Korea, the victory lap being taken by Pyongyang is a sign that Kim is looking to focus on other priorities, such as a nuclear test, the first such test since 2017.
Easley explained that Ms. Kim’s rhetoric on South Korea was a concern as the sister of the North Korean leader will not only try to blame South Korea for the outbreak, but Ms. Kim will also use such rhetoric to justify Pyongyang’s next military provocation.
Most analysts suspected that the outbreak in North Korea began when it briefly opened its borders with China back in January. More cases emerged during the military parade and other large-scale events back in April.
The unification ministry of South Korea, which oversees relations with North Korea, responded to the rhetoric by Pyongyang over the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We express strong regret over North Korea repeatedly making groundless claims over the route of COVID and making very disrespectful and threatening remarks,” the ministry said in a statement.
In Ms. Kim’s remarks, she also suggested that the North Korean leader was also suffering from fever symptoms, marking the first time that Kim was likely infected.
