North Korea's threats to U.S.-South Korean military

North Korea continues to remain as the top news priority this week. The isolated country issued a warning by phone to a top U.S. commander stationed in South Korea. They promised that the commander’s forces would “meet a miserable destruction” if they continued training with the South Korean forces. This training is an annually-held series of defensive military exercises for the South Korean troops. In recent months, due to the growing tensions with the U.N., United States, China and South Korea, the North Korean government sees these military exercises as “rehearsals for invasion”. Seeing as North Korea hasn’t been very co-operative with the U.N. nor its Chinese ally, I don’t think North Korea is in any position to give any demands to the United States government.

The effect of North Korea's third nuclear test on Chinese citizens

The tensions between North Korea and China have escalated over the past week. Citizens in China have begun to put pressure on the Chinese government to rethink their relationship with North Korea. This week, after warnings from the U.N. and China not to launch a third nuclear test, North Korea announced that it had conducted its third test, roughly 100 miles from a Chinese town near the border. Chinese citizens felt a tremor on the morning of the test, which was measured by Chinese scientists to be at a 5.1 magnitude. It is unclear whether the test was in fact a nuclear test or an explosion designed to mimic a nuclear blast. Citizens in Yanji City feared that the Chinese government was lying to them about the radiation levels being normal. They feared that radiation might spread to their towns eventually. Citizens are asking the Chinese government to limit oil and food shipments to North Korea. I believe that the citizens are right because the North Korean government isn’t considering negotiations with any country or even the U.N. This could be dangerous to its neighbor countries and it might be beneficial for China to stop supplying them.

China's deteriorating relationship with North Korea

In recent events, China is extremely concerned about North Korean actions and rhetoric over the past few weeks. North Korea has threatened to launch a third nuclear test, which China has opposed. China fears that the once strong allied relationship between them and North Korea is becoming more and more strained. “China is the North's sole remaining major diplomatic and economic benefactor but has been showing signs of exasperation with its isolated neighbor”. A tabloid Chinese newspaper known as the Global Times suggests that the Chinese government be strong against North Korea. "If North Korea insists on a third nuclear test despite attempts to dissuade it, it must pay a heavy price”. The threat of the third nuclear test arose after the United Nations disapproved publicly of the December long-range missile launch. I believe North Korea should be heavily monitored as they might pose an actual threat to their neighbors. For years, it has been a very isolated, mysterious country and no one really knows what the North Koreans are capable of yet.

Reform plan on Immigration Policy

This week, President Obama has been discussing a new immigration reform policy. Obama hopes to provide a ‘path to citizenship’ for more than 11 million undocumented immigrants. Obama is trying to carry out a plan, crafted by the Senate, which requires undocumented immigrants to educate themselves, provide background checks and pay a penalty. The plan will also strengthen border control and security. The American Latino populations are not sure what to think of this plan. Obama had promised to focus on immigration policy as a first priority in his 2008 campaign, but it was never carried out. Now he hopes to get his policy implemented immediately in order to amend the legal immigration system. I believe that this is a good move for Obama because it helps both his approval ratings and the country’s future legal immigration system.