Let me be very clear - Kim Jong-Un is a despot who runs a totalitarian regime which is accused of committing crimes against humanity on a scale without parallel in the contemporary world.
This is not a fan note.
He is also not an idiot.
There has been a tendency to portray Kim Jong-Un as a cartoon villain - a caricature of a petty madman, with a bad haircut.
But what if he knows exactly what he is doing - and his logic is perfectly sound?
Look at this from his perspective, and just go with me on this.
Let's assume that Kim Jong-Un is not pursuing nuclear weapons because he wants to take over the world - this is not Team America World Police.
He wants a viable nuclear warhead, capable of hitting the US mainland, to ensure that a) no-one attacks him, and b) the major powers have to negotiate with him on an equal basis, as a fellow member of the nuclear club.
He has seen what happens to dictators without nuclear weapons - Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein - and he doesn't want to end his days in a drainage ditch, or in a noose.
The number one goal of the Kim regime is the survival of the Kim regime.
It's already working on a smaller scale with his existing arsenal.
The reason he, and frankly most people here in Seoul where I am writing this, don't believe the United States will launch a military attack on Pyongyang, is because of the likelihood of retaliation.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Erdogan tells opponents 'it's too late now' after Turkey referendum win
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned opponents not to "belittle" his narrow victory in a referendum that will grant him sweeping new powers.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, he said results showed a winning margin of 1.3 million votes in what he described as a "historic decision".
Striking a conciliatory tone following the bitter contest, Mr Erdogan called on foreign powers to respect the outcome - which will mean 18 constitutional changes - as he thanked the Turkish people.
He said: "April 16 is the victory of all who said yes or no, of the whole 80 million, of the whole of Turkey of 780,000 square kilometres.
"We would like other countries and institutions to show respect to the decision of the nation."
But as he addressed thousands of flag-waving supporters in Istanbul a short time later, he was more defiant.
"There are those who are belittling the result. They shouldn't try, it will be in vain," he said.
"It's too late now."
The head of the country's electoral board confirmed the win shortly after Mr Erdogan spoke and said the final results would be known in 11-12 days.
The "yes" vote means Turkey's parliamentary system of government will be replaced with a presidential one and could see Mr Erdogan remain in office until 2029.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, he said results showed a winning margin of 1.3 million votes in what he described as a "historic decision".
Striking a conciliatory tone following the bitter contest, Mr Erdogan called on foreign powers to respect the outcome - which will mean 18 constitutional changes - as he thanked the Turkish people.
He said: "April 16 is the victory of all who said yes or no, of the whole 80 million, of the whole of Turkey of 780,000 square kilometres.
"We would like other countries and institutions to show respect to the decision of the nation."
But as he addressed thousands of flag-waving supporters in Istanbul a short time later, he was more defiant.
"There are those who are belittling the result. They shouldn't try, it will be in vain," he said.
"It's too late now."
The head of the country's electoral board confirmed the win shortly after Mr Erdogan spoke and said the final results would be known in 11-12 days.
The "yes" vote means Turkey's parliamentary system of government will be replaced with a presidential one and could see Mr Erdogan remain in office until 2029.
Twelve burned by 'noxious substance' at east London bar
Twelve people have suffered burns caused by a suspected noxious substance in a bar at a late night event in east London.
Emergency services, including a hazardous response team, were called to Mangle E8 in Dalston at around 1.10am on Monday.
There were about 600 people who had attended the event and about 400 were still in the building - believed to be between Sidworth Street and Warburton Road - at the time.
All were evacuated and London Ambulance Service said nine were treated for minor burns at the scene before being taken to hospital.
A further two people later attended hospital with similar symptoms.
A Met Police statement said: "Police were called to a licensed premises in Sidworth Street, Dalston, at approximately 1.10hrs on 17 April, after members of the public complained of a noxious substance.
"London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were called to the scene.
"Ten people have been treated for minor burns at the scene and taken to east London hospitals by LAS.
"Another two people presented themselves at an east London hospital with similar injuries. All injuries to victims are non-life threatening.
US: North Korea's 'provocative' actions 'can't continue'
The US and UK have hit out at North Korea following its failed missile launch, calling the regime's behaviour "provocative" and "belligerent".
The medium-range missile "blew up almost immediately" following the launch early on Sunday, according to US military.
It comes as US Vice President Mike Pence arrived at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides the secretive state from South Korea.
He flew into Camp Bonifas - a UN post just a few hundred metres from the 2.5-mile wide DMZ.
He is due to meet military leaders and US troops stationed there as part of a 10-day Asian tour.
US national security adviser Lieutenant General HR McMaster said the rogue state's actions "just can't continue".
"This latest missile test just fits into a pattern of provocative, destabilising, and threatening behaviour on the part of the North Korean regime," he said.
"And I think there is international consensus now, including the Chinese, and the Chinese leadership, that this is a situation that just can't continue."
He said the US was working with the Chinese leadership to "develop a range of options".
Former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Malcom Rifkind said it was possible the weapon had either malfunctioned or was sabotaged by a US cyberattack.
The medium-range missile "blew up almost immediately" following the launch early on Sunday, according to US military.
It comes as US Vice President Mike Pence arrived at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides the secretive state from South Korea.
He flew into Camp Bonifas - a UN post just a few hundred metres from the 2.5-mile wide DMZ.
He is due to meet military leaders and US troops stationed there as part of a 10-day Asian tour.
US national security adviser Lieutenant General HR McMaster said the rogue state's actions "just can't continue".
"This latest missile test just fits into a pattern of provocative, destabilising, and threatening behaviour on the part of the North Korean regime," he said.
"And I think there is international consensus now, including the Chinese, and the Chinese leadership, that this is a situation that just can't continue."
He said the US was working with the Chinese leadership to "develop a range of options".
Former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Malcom Rifkind said it was possible the weapon had either malfunctioned or was sabotaged by a US cyberattack.
Cleveland police hunt man who posted killing video on Facebook
Police are hunting an "armed and dangerous" man who appears to have shot dead a stranger in the street and uploaded it to Facebook.
The suspect, Steve Stephens, is on the run and has claimed to have committed more than a dozen other killings, according to police in Cleveland, Ohio.
The video shows a man pulling over in a car as he says "find me somebody to kill, gonna kill this guy right here. He's an old dude".
He gets out and asks the man: "Do me a favour: can you say Joy Lane?"
"Joy Lane?" he asks.
"Yeah," says the killer. "She's the reason this is about to happen to you." He then asks him how old he is.
The man goes silent for a few seconds, before saying " Look, I don't know anybody by that name" - as he tries to shield himself with a bag.
A gunshot is heard and the camera pans over the pavement to show the man lifeless on the ground with a head wound.
"That mother****** there because of you, Joy," says the killer - who then gets back in his car.
Police have named the victim as Robert Godwin Sr, 74.
The victim's son, Robert Godwin Jr, told Cleveland.com that he father was probably collecting cans when he was killed.
"I haven't watched the video. I haven't even looked at my cellphone or the news," he said. "I don't really want to see it."
The public is being warned not to approach Steve Stephens - who officials say works for a behavioral health agency that supports families and children.
He is described as a black male, 6ft 1ins and 244lbs with a full beard. He is believed to be driving a white Ford Fusion.
Stephens claimed in Facebook posts to have killed at least 14 people, but police said they had not yet found any more victims.
In a news conference, they appealed to him not to hurt anyone else, and to turn himself in.
"There's no need for any further bloodshed," they said.
Police believe he may have left Ohio and warned residents of the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be on the lookout.
The video of the killing was up for about three hours before it was removed.
Police initially said Stephens had live streamed the killing on the social network, but Facebook later confirmed the clip had been uploaded.
The company called it a "horrific crime" and said that it worked hard to "keep a safe environment" on the site.
The suspect, Steve Stephens, is on the run and has claimed to have committed more than a dozen other killings, according to police in Cleveland, Ohio.
The video shows a man pulling over in a car as he says "find me somebody to kill, gonna kill this guy right here. He's an old dude".
He gets out and asks the man: "Do me a favour: can you say Joy Lane?"
"Joy Lane?" he asks.
"Yeah," says the killer. "She's the reason this is about to happen to you." He then asks him how old he is.
The man goes silent for a few seconds, before saying " Look, I don't know anybody by that name" - as he tries to shield himself with a bag.
A gunshot is heard and the camera pans over the pavement to show the man lifeless on the ground with a head wound.
"That mother****** there because of you, Joy," says the killer - who then gets back in his car.
Police have named the victim as Robert Godwin Sr, 74.
The victim's son, Robert Godwin Jr, told Cleveland.com that he father was probably collecting cans when he was killed.
"I haven't watched the video. I haven't even looked at my cellphone or the news," he said. "I don't really want to see it."
The public is being warned not to approach Steve Stephens - who officials say works for a behavioral health agency that supports families and children.
He is described as a black male, 6ft 1ins and 244lbs with a full beard. He is believed to be driving a white Ford Fusion.
Stephens claimed in Facebook posts to have killed at least 14 people, but police said they had not yet found any more victims.
In a news conference, they appealed to him not to hurt anyone else, and to turn himself in.
"There's no need for any further bloodshed," they said.
Police believe he may have left Ohio and warned residents of the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Michigan to be on the lookout.
The video of the killing was up for about three hours before it was removed.
Police initially said Stephens had live streamed the killing on the social network, but Facebook later confirmed the clip had been uploaded.
The company called it a "horrific crime" and said that it worked hard to "keep a safe environment" on the site.
Prince Harry 'spoke to shrink' over Diana's death after 'chaos' years
Prince Harry has admitted he had counselling after going off the rails in his 20s, years after the death of his mother.
He said he endured two years of "total chaos" almost 20 years after he "shut down" his emotions following the road accident that killed Princess Diana.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said he had only tackled his grief when he was 28 and faced with the feeling that he was "on the verge of punching someone".
As a result, he spoke to a "shrink... more than a couple of times".
He said he was inspired to speak out because of his involvement with mental health charity Heads Together.
The royal told the newspaper: "I sort of buried my head in the sand for many years.
"Losing my mum at the age of 12 and shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years has had a quite serious effect on, not only my personal life, but on my work as well.
"It was only three years ago... from the support around and my brother and other people saying 'you really need to deal with this - it's not normal to think that nothing has affected you'.
"My way of dealing with it was sticking your head in the sand - refusing to think about my mum because why would that help? I was like 'don't ever let your emotions be part of anything'.
"I was a typical 28-year-old going 'life is fine', and then I started to have a few conversations and then all of this grief that I never processed came to the forefront.
He continued: "It was only two years and I can count myself very lucky - two years of not thinking about it and two years of total chaos.
He said he endured two years of "total chaos" almost 20 years after he "shut down" his emotions following the road accident that killed Princess Diana.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said he had only tackled his grief when he was 28 and faced with the feeling that he was "on the verge of punching someone".
As a result, he spoke to a "shrink... more than a couple of times".
He said he was inspired to speak out because of his involvement with mental health charity Heads Together.
The royal told the newspaper: "I sort of buried my head in the sand for many years.
"Losing my mum at the age of 12 and shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years has had a quite serious effect on, not only my personal life, but on my work as well.
"It was only three years ago... from the support around and my brother and other people saying 'you really need to deal with this - it's not normal to think that nothing has affected you'.
"My way of dealing with it was sticking your head in the sand - refusing to think about my mum because why would that help? I was like 'don't ever let your emotions be part of anything'.
"I was a typical 28-year-old going 'life is fine', and then I started to have a few conversations and then all of this grief that I never processed came to the forefront.
He continued: "It was only two years and I can count myself very lucky - two years of not thinking about it and two years of total chaos.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Remains of five archbishops of Canterbury found in church next to Lambeth Palace
The remains of five archbishops of Canterbury have been found buried next to Lambeth PalaThe coffins were discovered during building work at the deconsecrated church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, which stands on the banks of the River Thames.
Builders are currently renovating the church, the current home of the Garden Museum, which stands opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Site manager Karl Pattern, who was part of the team which made the discovery, said: "It was a very interesting day.
"We were exposing the ground as part of the job and lifting the slabs... when we uncovered the entry of what looked like a tomb.
"We got a camera on the end of stick and discovered numerous coffins and one of them had a gold crown on it."
Builders are currently renovating the church, the current home of the Garden Museum, which stands opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Site manager Karl Pattern, who was part of the team which made the discovery, said: "It was a very interesting day.
"We were exposing the ground as part of the job and lifting the slabs... when we uncovered the entry of what looked like a tomb.
"We got a camera on the end of stick and discovered numerous coffins and one of them had a gold crown on it."
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