North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed the latest hypersonic missile system tested on Monday (6/1) will help ward off his country’s enemies in the Pacific region. The test was conducted as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea.
“The hypersonic missile system can be relied upon to deter enemies in the Pacific region that could affect the security of our country,” said Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the launch, as quoted by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and reported by AFP, Tuesday (7/1/2025).
In addition to this, here is a roundup of international news that has captured readers’ attention today, Tuesday (7/1/2025):
Investigators Re-Seek Arrest Warrant for South Korean President
South Korean anti-corruption investigators are awaiting a new arrest warrant from a court for President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains inactive after being impeached by parliament over a brief period of martial law last month.
The new arrest warrant became necessary after investigators failed to arrest Yoon last week, and the previous warrant expired at midnight on Monday (January 6).
Yoon, a former South Korean prosecutor general, has missed three summonses for questioning related to the declaration of martial law in early December, which plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
Heartbreaking: Nearly 100 People Died in Massive Earthquake in Tibet
Nearly 100 people have lost their lives in a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck China’s Tibet region at the foot of the Himalayas. More than 100 others were injured.
Chinese authorities, in a report delivered by state television and cited by Reuters, Tuesday (7/1/2025), confirmed at least 95 deaths and 130 injuries in the Tibet region.
The China Earthquake Networks Center reported that the epicenter was in Tingri County, a rural area in China known as the northern gateway to the Everest area. The quake, which struck on Tuesday (7/1) at around 09:05 local time, had a depth of 10 kilometers.
Air New Zealand Plane Aborts Takeoff After Being Hit by Bird
An Air New Zealand flight to Australia was forced to cancel takeoff just seconds before departure due to a bird strike affecting the engine.
The flight, NZ207, as reported by news.com.au, Tuesday (7/1/2025), was scheduled to depart from Christchurch Airport, New Zealand, on Monday (6/1) morning local time. However, the bird strike on the runway caused the takeoff to be aborted.
The flight was initially planned to depart for Brisbane, Australia, at around 6:10 a.m. local time.
France Urges Citizens Not to Travel to Iran: What’s Going On?
French authorities have advised their citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, citing the detention of several French nationals in the country.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, as reported by AFP, Tuesday (7/1/2025), urged French citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran until the detained French nationals are released. Barrot referred to the detained individuals as “hostages.”
“The situation of our compatriots held hostage in Iran is unacceptable. They have been held unjustly for years, in substandard conditions,” Barrot stated.
North Korea Tests Hypersonic Missile Capable of Deterring Enemies in the Pacific
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed the latest hypersonic missile system tested on Monday (6/1) will help protect the country from threats in the Pacific region. The test coincided with the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to South Korea.
“The hypersonic missile system can be relied upon to deter enemies in the Pacific region that could affect the security of our country,” said Kim Jong Un, as quoted by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and reported by AFP, Tuesday (7/1/2025).
This missile test was conducted while Blinken was visiting South Korea, a strategic U.S. ally and North Korea’s key adversary. The two nations remain technically at war.
