IGNITION
South Korea’s president heads to the White House this week asking for more nuclear protection from the U.S. while desperately avoiding pressure to step up against Putin.
Donald Kirk is a journalist and the author of several books about Asian affairs, including Korea Betrayed: Kim Dae Jung and Sunshine (2009); Okinawa and Jeju: Bases of Discontent (2013); Kim Dae Jung and the Quest for the Nobel (with Kim Kisam, 2016)
Send him a tip: tips@thedailybeast.com. You can also use our anonymous document submission system, SecureDrop. Click here to find out how.
BLOOD RIVALRY
North Korea’s aggressive publicity campaign for Kim Jong Un’s 10-year-old daughter could be bad news for the dictator’s notorious sister.
Next Big Thing
After watching Vladimir Putin’s threats to use tactical nuclear missile strikes in Ukraine, Kim Jong Un has switched focus and could have his own ready to test within days.
DON’T LOOK UP
North Korea’s “spy satellite” debut came with a veiled threat—and a whole lot of bragging.
SUCCESSION
Kim Jong Un’s little sister has been considered a frontrunner to become the next supreme ruler, but there’s a new challenger on the scene: Kim’s preteen daughter.
BRINK OF DISASTER
An unprecedented barrage of missiles from North Korea has some experts fearing the worst is yet to come.
HALLOWEEN HELL
Thousands went to U.S. district, Itaewon, to celebrate Halloween. More than 150, including two Americans, were crushed to death.
WEAPON OF CHOICE
The real danger isn’t North Korea’s nuclear weapons.
TIT-FOR-TAT
America is promising a “resolute response” to the most brazen North Korean escalation in years.
DEADLY ARSENAL
New details have emerged about a menacing weapons of mass destruction arsenal in a country not exactly known for friendly relations with the U.S.