Month: April 2023

President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the White House on Wednesday, announcing that he would have nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years.  According to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Yoon’s visit comes “at a critical moment as North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities.”

Biden and Yoon spoke in the Rose Garden, where Biden pledged to uphold the country’s nuclear defense treaty with South Korea in the face of threats from North Korea.  Said Biden: “Our nuclear defense treaty is ironclad. They are particularly important in the face of DPRK’s increased threats and blatant violations of U.S. sanctions. At the same time we are continuing to seek diplomatic breakthroughs with the DPRK.”

Yoon arrived in Washington on Monday along with South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee for the six-day visit, which also included a state dinner Wednesday night at the White House, and a Thursday address before Congress, where he will speak on the continued threat posed by North Korea. North Korean President Kim Jung Un has ordered nuclear rocket tests at an unprecedented pace over the past year and recently launched the country’s first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which analysts say could severely challenge missile-defense systems.

In recent months, Yoon’s administration has sought greater input from the U.S. while anticipating the need for a strong nuclear response to North Korea. Yoon’s visit was timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance that emerged in the wake of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Editorial credit: Belish / Shutterstock.com

The Walt Disney Co. sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging unconstitutional political retaliation against the entertainment giant after it disagreed with Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. In its lawsuit, Disney said it had no choice but to sue after exhausting other efforts at a resolution, aiming to protect Disney World’s employees, guests and developers “from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”

The Disney suit said: “A targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every level by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future, and violates its constitutional rights” The suit added that DeSantis has made it clear that he won’t stop and plans to escalate punitive actions against Disney for expressing political free speech.

Disney’s lawsuit also points out how DeSantis recently declared that he also planned to look at things such as taxes on hotels, tolls on the roads, and developing some of the property Disney owns with more amusements parks. The lawsuit alleges that a newly formed DeSantis-appointed tourist board violated the company’s contract rights, and did so without just compensation or due process. The company is asking the court to declare Florida’s legislative action unlawful.

DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in the Florida, had been operating with unfair advantages for decades. DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said Wednesday on Twitter:  “We are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges.”

Editorial credit: rafapress / Shutterstock.com