US Recalls Top Colombia Diplomat as Once-Warm Relations Sour
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Chargé d'Affaires John McNamara back to Washington for urgent consultations, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Thursday. She cited 'baseless and reprehensible statements' from the highest levels of the Colombian government, without elaborating on what these were.
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UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
South Korea must rethink its one-sided courtship of North Korea
One of President Lee Jae Myung's earliest moves since taking office was to halt loudspeaker broadcasts at the DMZ. File photo by Jin-hee Park/EPA July 25 (UPI) -- Earlier this month, South Korea's National Intelligence Service quietly and abruptly suspended its decades-long radio and television broadcasts targeting North Korea. The decision -- made just 10 days after the inauguration of NIS Director Lee Jong-seok --marks a significant and sudden break from a 50-year tradition of information outreach to the North. When questioned by the press, the agency simply responded, "We cannot confirm." Though the suspension is being presented as a gesture of goodwill aimed at reviving inter-Korean dialogue, the Lee Jae Myung administration's increasingly unilateral and unquestioning approach to North Korea deserves serious scrutiny. NIS broadcasting to the North dates to 1973, when it formally took over operations from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The radio programs -- such as Voice of the People and Echo of Hope -- have long served as a vital source of uncensored information for North Korean listeners. In the 1980s, the South also began television transmissions, adapted to North Korea's PAL system. Many defectors have testified that these broadcasts were their first exposure to the realities of life in the South. It is no surprise, then, that 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea monitoring outlet, described the suspension as a "major victory" for Pyongyang in its battle against outside information. These broadcasts continued for decades across all administrations -- liberal and conservative alike -- regardless of the state of inter-Korean relations. Even the progressive governments of Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in never halted them. Like the West German broadcasts that relentlessly reached across the Berlin Wall during the Cold War, South Korea's airwaves played a quiet, but strategic, role in informing and inspiring hope in the North. That this effort was shut down without a single explanation or public discussion is as shocking as it is unprecedented. "Unconditional," even "blind," affection for North Korea is not an unfair characterization. President Lee Jae Myung did pledge to pursue inter-Korean reconciliation during his campaign. Since taking office, he has acted swiftly to make good on that promise. One of his earliest moves was to halt loudspeaker broadcasts at the DMZ. In response, Pyongyang immediately turned off its own propaganda speakers the following day. Though the move was unilateral, North Korea's mirrored response sparked cautious optimism. On July 8, South Korean civic groups -- most notably the Korean War Abductees' Family Union -- also announced a voluntary suspension of leaflet launches across the border, which North Korea has long condemned. This, too, was not a spontaneous civilian decision. It was facilitated through active persuasion by the Unification Minister nominee, vice ministers and several lawmakers. The initiative was undertaken without prior consultation with the North, yet it succeeded in calming a volatile issue. North Korea had previously retaliated by sending balloons filled with garbage and equipped with GPS trackers into the South. Many residents of border towns welcomed the decision as a measure to ease their suffering. But recent steps have raised the stakes. On July 9 -- just one day after the leaflet suspension -- South Korean authorities repatriated six North Korean fishermen rescued from coastal waters in the East and West Seas. After repairing one of the wooden boats in which they had arrived, the navy and coast guard escorted the men to the Northern Limit Line, where a North Korean patrol vessel and a presumed tugboat were waiting. Earlier, South Korean military and maritime authorities rescued four North Korean individuals aboard a drifting vessel in the East Sea on May 27, and two more from a separate boat in the West Sea on March 7. The wooden boat used in the July 9 repatriation was the same vessel rescued from the East Sea. The boat from the West Sea, however, was deemed beyond repair and ultimately abandoned. Demonstrating an unusual level of dedication, the Lee Jae Myung government undertook repairs of the damaged North Korean vessel to ensure the safe return of its passengers. The July 9 repatriation marked 43 days since the East Sea group was rescued and 124 days since the West Sea group's rescue. The government stated that all six expressed a clear desire to return home, and that Pyongyang's persistent silence had delayed the process. Eventually, Seoul issued a final notification via the United Nations Command, complete with coordinates for the handover point. Still, this was a highly sensitive move. North Korean defector repatriations carry heavy political and ethical risks, especially when the individual's intent is unclear. The 2019 case of two North Korean sailors -- who were forcibly returned via Panmunjom despite reportedly expressing a desire to defect -- ignited international outcry and legal consequences. It took until February 2025 for a South Korean court to issue suspended sentences against officials involved in the incident, which became a national controversy over human rights. In this latest case, the government has emphasized that the fishermen's return was voluntary. But the lack of North Korean cooperation and the unilateral nature of the move mean that the possibility of another human rights controversy cannot be ruled out. Despite that risk, the administration went forward -- using even the United Nations Command as a channel -- without receiving any reciprocal response or goodwill gesture from Pyongyang. All of this raises a difficult, but essential, question: Is South Korea pursuing reconciliation or merely indulging in an unrequited romance? With the simultaneous suspension of long-standing radio and TV broadcasts, public skepticism about the administration's true intentions is growing. This does not mean the public opposes peace. On the contrary, most South Koreans understand the need for engagement. But many are now asking whether the government is moving too fast, offering too much and asking too little in return. A policy of "watching and waiting" for Pyongyang's response before taking the next step may be wiser than a flurry of unilateral gestures. Peace on the Korean Peninsula must be built on mutual trust and reciprocity -- not on blind, one-sided affection. It's time to reexamine this approach before goodwill turns into strategic naïveté.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Marco Rubio Responds to France Recognizing Palestinian State
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's move to recognize a Palestinian state. Rubio described the decision, which was announced on Thursday, as a "slap in the face" to victims of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Newsweek contacted the offices of Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a response to the statement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10, 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10, 2025. Getty Images The Context The war in Gaza began when the Palestinian Hamas movement launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. Macron's decision comes amid a wave of nations moving to recognize Palestinian statehood, bringing the number closer to the number of nations recognizing Israel. Of the 193 U.N. member states, approximately 147 currently recognize the State of Palestine, which was granted non-member observer status at the U.N. in 2012. Israel, which is a full member of the U.N., is currently recognized by around 165 U.N. member states. What To Know In a statement published on X, Rubio said that the White House would reject Macron's decision. "The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly," Rubio said. "This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th." In Macron's statement announcing the decision, the French president said that "There is no alternative" to finding peace in the Middle East, and that it was the responsibility of other international leaders to follow suit. "We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. We must also ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, secure and rebuild Gaza," Macron said. "And finally, we must build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region." In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement on Thursday, said: "We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. "A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel." What People Are Saying In a statement shared with Newsweek, Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations said: "Neither international conferences disconnected from reality nor unilateral statements at the U.N. will lead to peace. "Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state after the massacre of October 7 and precisely at a time when Hamas is still holding hostages is a disgraceful reward for terrorism." What Happens Next As a major European power and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, France's shift has the potential to spur further recognition of Palestinian statehood across Europe and beyond.
The Hill
8 hours ago
- The Hill
Rubio slams Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state
Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Emmanuel Macron after the French president said on Thursday that France would recognize Palestinian statehood, arguing it will only assist Hamas and downgrade prospects of reaching a peace deal between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. 'The United States strongly rejects @EmmanuelMacron's plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the @UN general assembly,' Rubio said in a Thursday evening statement on X. 'This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.' Macron said the decision is part of a commitment to a 'just and lasting peace' in the Middle East and that he will make the announcement before the United Nations General Assembly in September. 'The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is our responsibility — as French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners — to prove that peace is possible,' Macron said. So far, 146 countries have recognized the Palestinian state. France became the first member of the Group of Seven (G7) to do so. Macron's announcement came the same day as the discussion between Israel and Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, about forging a ceasefire and releasing the hostages fell apart. Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Middle East envoy, hammered Hamas, saying the group lacks the 'desire' to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,' Witkoff said in a statement. 'It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza.' On Thursday, as part of the announcement, Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn enclave, for all of the hostages held by Hamas to be freed and for the aid flowing into Gaza to increase. Israel has pushed against the international recognition of the Palestinian state, especially at the UN. Marcon, who said he got unnamed commitments from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that made the announcement possible, was also criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,' Netanyahu said Thursday on X. 'A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.'
