North Korea's

Kim stresses self-sufficient economy as tensions with South Korea rise

3 MIN READ

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un focused on domestic economic issues at a meeting of the politburo of the country’s ruling Workers Party, state media said on Monday, as the North ramped up pressure on South Korea over defector activities.

The two-day politburo meeting comes at a time of economic uncertainty amid the global COVID-19 pandemic that is putting additional pressure on the North’s economy, already battered by international sanctions aimed at stopping its nuclear program.

The meeting discussed “crucial issues arising in further developing the self-sufficient economy of the country and improving the standard of people’s living,” state news agency KCNA said.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-politics-kim/north-koreas-kim-stresses-self-sufficient-economy-as-tensions-with-south-korea-rise-idUSKBN23E0VM?il=0

Australia says China unresponsive to its pleas to ease tensions

2 MIN READ

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia said on Monday China remains unresponsive to its weeks-long pleas to ease tensions between the two trading partners that escalated after Canberra called for an international enquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

Australia has insisted the call for an independent investigation into the pandemic, which it says most likely originated in a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, was not politically targeted at Beijing.

China accused Australia of playing “petty tricks” and the Chinese ambassador to Australia warned Chinese consumers could boycott Australian products if Australia pursued the inquiry.

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https://www.yahoo.com/news/australia-says-china-unresponsive-pleas-020546211.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia/australia-says-china-unresponsive-to-its-pleas-to-ease-tensions-idUSKBN23F06X?il=0