Birthdays

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says his government has no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent in the face of growing North Korean nuclear threats as he urged the North to return to dialogue aimed at exchanging denuclearization steps for economic benefits. Yoon’s comments during a news conference came hours after South Korea’s military detected the North firing two cruise missiles toward its western waters. Yoon said South Korea doesn’t desire political change in North Korea that’s brought by force and called for diplomacy aimed at building sustainable peace between the rivals. Yoon’s comments came days after he proposed an “audacious” economic assistance package to North Korea if it abandons its nuclear weapons program.

Scott Morrison says giving himself extra powers when he was Australia’s prime minister was necessary during the coronavirus crisis as criticism rose the moves were deceptive and undemocratic. Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking an opinion from the solicitor-general on the legality of some of Morrison’s moves. Many of Morrison’s own colleagues were blindsided by his decision to secretly appoint himself to five ministerial roles. Some have called for him to resign from Parliament, where he is now an opposition lawmaker after losing the general election to Albanese earlier this year. Morrison said he’d rather be criticized for overstepping the mark than for not taking action.