7 'hot' events of the world in the past 24 hours

(Baonghean.vn) - A Russian Defense Ministry delegation unexpectedly visited North Korea; South Korean President paid his first state visit to China; Japan and the US continued to coordinate on the North Korea issue;... are outstanding international news in the past 24 hours.

1. Russian Defense Ministry delegation unexpectedly visits North Korea

A North Korean missile launch. Photo: AP

A delegation from the Russian Defense Ministry led by Deputy Director of the Russian National Defense Command Center Victor Kalganov is visiting North Korea on December 13.

The visit comes amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula following a series of North Korean missile and nuclear tests, as well as joint military exercises by the US, Japan and South Korea.

Two weeks earlier, a delegation of Russian lawmakers had also visited North Korea. Russia, along with China, has maintained its stance that the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved through dialogue. Russia has called on all parties to consider the consequences of their actions. Hostile policies and mutual threats only lead to bad outcomes.

2. South Korean President's first state visit to China

South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Photo: Yonhap/VNA

On December 13, South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Beijing. This is President Moon Jae-in's first state visit to China since he took office last May.

President Moon Jae-in is expected to have a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on December 14, with the main contents being to discuss measures to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries and directions for peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

During his stay in Beijing, Moon Jae-in will meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang.

3.Yemen: Arab coalition airstrikes kill 92 prisoners

A treatment area in Khamer. Source: msf.org

Sputnik quoted Saba news agency on December 13 as saying that the Saudi-led Arab coalition had airstrikes on a prison in the old city of Sanaa (Yemen), killing and injuring at least 92 prisoners.

Saba cited police and medical sources as confirming that the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Unit, located in the densely populated Shaoub area, had been hit by airstrikes more than seven times.

Meanwhile, some Yemeni officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the Arab coalition also carried out airstrikes on a rebel camp on the night of December 12 and the morning of December 13, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 30. The series of airstrikes destroyed many buildings and trapped dozens of people under the rubble./.

4. Japan and the US continue to coordinate on the North Korea issue

US F-16 fighter jets at an air base in Miyazaki, Japan, prepare to participate in a joint US-Japan military exercise. Source: Kyodo/VNA

On December 13, Japan and the United States confirmed that they will continue to increase pressure to force North Korea to change its nuclear and missile policies, and cooperate more closely in sending strong messages on the North Korean issue at the high-level session of the United Nations Security Council scheduled to be held this week.

During talks between Kenji Kanasugi, director general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and Joseph Yun, US Special Representative for North Korea, in Tokyo, the two sides discussed North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile test on November 29.

5. Mr. Kim Jong-un wants to turn North Korea into the world's number 1 nuclear power.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on December 13 that at the closing ceremony of a weapons industry conference held the day before, leader Kim Jong-un told scientists and workers that the country's latest missile test showed its manufacturing prowess.

"North Korea will advance and leap forward successfully as the world's strongest nuclear and military power," he declared.

Also at the conference, leader Kim Jong-un directed scientists and workers in the missile field to continue developing and producing more advanced and diverse weapons to boost nuclear forces in both quality and quantity.

6. Israel airstrikes Gaza, 3 Palestinians injured

Israeli F-16 fighter jet. Photo: Times of Israel.

On December 13, the Israeli Air Force attacked the Gaza Strip, injuring three people, in response to Hamas launching rockets into the south of the country.

"In response to projectiles launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel earlier, the Israeli air force targeted a Hamas military facility in the southern Gaza Strip," AFP quoted information from the Israeli army on December 13.

The Israeli military said an unidentified “projectile,” possibly a rocket, was launched from Gaza into southern Israel on the evening of December 12. It is not yet clear where it landed.

Gaza security officials said Israeli aircraft struck a Hamas naval base west of Khan Yunis and a nearby clearing. Three Palestinians were lightly injured, Gaza’s health ministry said. There were no Israeli casualties.

7. Türkiye calls for recognition of East Jerusalem as capital of Palestine

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks at a meeting in Ankara on November 16. Source: AFP/VNA

On December 13, at the opening ceremony of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, Türkiye called on the world to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.

This is also seen as an appeal to the 50 OIC member states invited by Türkiye to attend the conference to give a common response to the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Earlier, speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers of OIC member countries convened ahead of the summit, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed: "First of all, the State of Palestine must be recognized by all other countries. We must fight for this together. We must encourage other countries to recognize the State of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

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