North Korea nuclear threat, U.S. Navy in South China Sea, Forward Party

Top headlines for July 28, 2022:

North Korea nuclear threat against U.S. – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced he is ready to use nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea. His made the remarks in a speech to Korean War veterans marking the anniversary of the end of the Korean War. While Kim Jong Un has escalated his threats against his enemies, observers say it is unlikely he would use nukes first against the U.S. or its allies.

Kim Jong Un accused the United States of “demonizing” North Korea to justify its hostile policies. Kim said regular U.S.-South Korea military drills that he claimed target the North highlight U.S. “double standards” and “gangster-like” aspects because it brands North Korea’s routine military activities, an apparent reference to its missile tests, as provocations or threats.

U.S. Navy stations in South China Sea – U.S. Navy officials have confirmed an aircraft carrier and its strike group have returned to the South China Sea after a port call in Singapore. Officials did not say whether the return is related to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) reported trip to Taiwan which has heightened tensions between the U.S. and China.

“USS Ronald Reagan and her strike group are underway, operating in the South China Sea following a successful port visit to Singapore,” Commander Hayley Sims said in a statement to Reuters. Sims added that the Reagan is continuing normal, scheduled operations as part of her routine patrol in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The news comes as President Biden is set to speak with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping today.

New third party “Forward” emerges – Another attempt at breaking the two-party system in the U.S. was announced on Wednesday. Dozens of former Republican and Democratic officials announced the Forward Party.

The party will be co-chaired by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ). Party leaders will hold a series of events in two dozen cities this fall with the official launch set for Sept. 24.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this article.