Morning Wide: Today's Major News

1. North Korea's Kim Yo-jong Mocks South Korea Over Scaled-Down US-South Korea Drills, Calling It "Pitiable"

North Korea's Workers' Party Department Director Kim Yo-jong issued a statement last night (August 20) mocking South Korea as being in a pathetic and pitiable situation for scaling down the joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises. She directly quoted President Lee Jae-myung's social media message, criticizing it as duplicitous words and behavior.

2. Cheong Wa Dae Leaning Toward Rejecting Chief Justice's Written Recommendation for Son Bong-ki

Regarding Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's written recommendation for the appointment of Supreme Court justices, Cheong Wa Dae is reportedly leaning toward rejecting the recommendation for Senior Judge Son Bong-ki. The appointment procedures are expected to proceed for Senior Judge Kim Sung-soo.

3. Four Incumbent Lawmakers Face Heavy Penalties of Suspended Party Membership; Joo Kyung-tae Given Two Years and Six Months

The People Power Party's ethics committee has decided on heavy disciplinary actions, suspending the party membership of non-leadership lawmakers Joo Kyung-tae, Jin Jong-o, Kwon Young-jin, and Seo Bum-soo. With the party membership of these lawmakers suspended until around the next general election, their nominations have become uncertain, and factional conflicts are expected to intensify significantly.

4. U.S. Pressures Allies to Join Effort to Isolate Iran's Economy

The United States has strongly pressured its allies to join in launching massive economic pressure against Iran. Iran strongly pushed back, denouncing the move as "economic terrorism" and an "inhumane crime."

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