North Korea ecstatic as mass protests neutralize a resolute leader in Seoul

North Korea ecstatic as mass protests neutralize a resolute leader in Seoul

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Too bad President-elect Donald Trump’s phone call to President Park Geun-Hye the day after his victory may be his only chance to talk with her. Even if she’s still in the Blue House when he moves into the White House, she’ll be in no position to display her leadership […]

Trump aftershocks: He tapped the ‘democratic power of discontented voters’

Trump aftershocks: He tapped the ‘democratic power of discontented voters’

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler New York — A jarring electoral earthquake has rocked America with a stunning upset win by Donald J. Trump, the Republican insurgent candidate. The epicenter of the quake was centered in the South as expected, but reverberations and shockwaves went deep into the once industrial heartland of the […]

Make believe war games south of the DMZ, but what if the North is for real?

Make believe war games south of the DMZ, but what if the North is for real?

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk An air of unreality pervaded the atmosphere if not the skies over Osan Air Base this week as three of the niftiest warplanes on the planet zoomed off the runway for war games intended to strengthen their ability to work together to defeat a common foe. Circumspectly, officers of […]

Mideast meltdown 2009-2016: A U.S. president leaves for his successor a living hell

Mideast meltdown 2009-2016: A U.S. president leaves for his successor a living hell

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The tumultuous events which have swept the Mideast like a malevolent sandstorm have hardly abated;  crises and conflict are now nearly entrenched. Thus looking back at the results of President Barack Obama’s two-term legacy, its clear we are facing a Mideast meltdown with dangerous and […]

In late October 1956, it was Dwight vs Adlai here and a freedom fight for the ages in Hungary

In late October 1956, it was Dwight vs Adlai here and a freedom fight for the ages in Hungary

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS—Autumn brings falling temperatures, chill winds, and mournful memories which swirl like fallen leaves on the historical landscape. Darting shadows hide in the golden sunlight to reappear as the specter of the past in the late afternoons.  History needs retelling as the calendar tells us it is […]

Pax China: Manila’s capitulation sets ominous precedent for U.S. allies in Far East

Pax China: Manila’s capitulation sets ominous precedent for U.S. allies in Far East

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Rodrigo Duterte was reputed as a killer long before his election as president of the Philippines five months ago. He countenanced the slaughter of hundreds of drug addicts and dealers while mayor of Davao, the major port city on the rebel-infested southern island of Mindanao, and has applauded the […]

Post-hurricane Haiti: ‘People who had little before, now have nothing’

Post-hurricane Haiti: ‘People who had little before, now have nothing’

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — In early October, Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti. Torrential rains and high winds devastated parts of the already impoverished island, creating a humanitarian nightmare not seen since the 2010 earthquake. The storm which killed over 550 people has affected nearly two million people causing dislocation, […]

Russia’s stake in Korea: How U.S.-backed unification could work for Moscow

Russia’s stake in Korea: How U.S.-backed unification could work for Moscow

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk We hear so much about China and Japan competing on and for the Korean peninsula, now and historically, that we overlook one other great Northeast Asian power. That would be Russia, which has a 17-kilometer border with North Korea as the Tumen River flows into the sea. In the […]

Abusers seek seats on UN Human Rights Council

Abusers seek seats on UN Human Rights Council

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — In a quiet but contentious campaign, countries are competing for new openings on the UN’s Human Rights Council.   Many of the contenders for membership on the Geneva-based body include the political Who’s Who of authoritarian regimes who are noteworthy abusers of the very human rights […]

The brilliant Samantha Power’s two problems: China and her ‘monster’ comment about another powerful woman

The brilliant Samantha Power’s two problems: China and her ‘monster’ comment about another powerful woman

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is on a fast track, and that’s not just in terms of her hot-shot career. She’s up against a tight deadline. She’s got until Jan. 20 to persuade the U.N. Security Council to strengthen what she says is already the […]