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2023 07 17

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 2:

  1. The Collegium system
  2. Issue of succession faced by the regional political parties in India
  3. Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusivity – Women still minority

GS Paper 3:

  1. Efforts to reform the statistical system in India
  2. Lightening: Natural Disaster

GS Paper 4:

  1. J Robert Oppenheimer

Content for Mains Enrichment

  1. “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

  1. Endogamy and harmful genetic variants in India
  2. CPTPP
  3. Export Preparedness Index (EPI) Report, 2022
  4. Agri Infra Fund
  5. Evolution of synthetic Genomes
  6. China event raises concern over India’s only ape 

Mapping

  1. North Korea

The Collegium system

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Judiciary

Source: TH

Context: The SC Collegium under CJI DY Chandrachud has quietly and transparently streamlined the appointment process of judges to the constitutional courts.

The Collegium system:

  • About:
    • The collegium system, which has evolved through judgments of the SC, is the way by which judges of the SC and HCs are appointed and transferred.
    • It is a five-member body, headed by the incumbent CJI and comprises the four other senior most judges of the SC at that time.
  • Evolution – Three Judges Cases:
    • P. Gupta & Others v. Union of India (1981), Advocate on Record Association v. UoI (1993) and re Presidential Reference case (1998).
    • It was established that the recommendation made by the CJI without following the consultation process for the appointment of SC and HC Judges is not binding on the government.
  • Criticism:
    • The system is non-transparent since it is seen as a closed-door affair with no prescribed norms regarding eligibility criteria, or selection procedure.
    • The system is opaque and not accountable. Judges do not appoint judges all over the world, but in India, they do.
    • Limited role of the government, may object to and seek clarification on the collegium’s choices, but if the collegium reiterates the same names, the government is bound to appoint them.
  • Efforts to reform the collegium system: NJAC, Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), etc.

How has the appointment process been streamlined recently?

  • Adding a balanced mix of merit and seniority through a selection procedure which involves meaningful discussion on and assessment of candidates’ judicial acumen.
  • Recommendations of the Collegium are now notified within days by the government.
  • The requirements for candidates’ consideration have been made public by the Collegium’s resolutions.

Points under the Collegium’s consideration:

  • Quality of judgments of the candidates: A Judgment Evaluation Committee goes through the judicial work of the candidates.
    • Justice Dipankar Dutta’s name was the first to be cleared for SC appointment by the Collegium in this manner.
  • The seniority of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges in their respective parent HCs as well as overall seniority of the HC Judges.
  • The merit, performance and integrity of the judges are under consideration.
  • The need to ensure diversity and inclusion in the SC. Diversity and inclusion means –
    • Representation of HC not/inadequately represented;
    • Appointment of persons from marginalised and backward segments of society;
    • Gender diversity (Justice Sunita Agarwal appointed as the CJ of the Gujarat HC); and
    • Representation of minorities.
  • The need to ensure the better administration of justice: As a result, the Collegium did not bow to the request made by three HC judges against their out-of-State transfers.

Insta Links:

The impasse over the appointment of judges

Prelims Links: UPSC 2019

Consider the following statements:

  1. The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review
  2. Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of the judiciary

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: 2

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, 17 July CA, Collegium System, GS 2, NJAC, Today's Article, Today’s article

Issue of succession faced by the regional political parties in India

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Pressure Groups & Formal/informal Associations & Their Role in Polity

Source: TH

Context: 24 years after its formation, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split over the question of succession.

Similar cases:

  • The Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party (SP) have gone through this churn.
  • The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seems poised to undergo this churn.

The rise of regional parties in India:

  • It coincided with the decline of Congress in the 1990s.
  • They were basically caste-based alignments, with the Mandal movement providing the necessary prompt.

Characteristics of regional parties in India:

  • Have a regional agenda (concentrates on regional or local matters) and recognise a distinct religious, ethnic, cultural or linguistic group.
  • The electoral ground is restricted to a specific state or region.

Reasons for succession battles in several regional parties in India today:

  • Have become ‘Hindu undivided families’: Consisting of all those who have directly descended from a common ancestor as well as their wives and unmarried daughters.
  • Have given up their larger purpose:
    • Many of these parties began with the goals of promoting sub-nationalism, protecting their own caste or ethnicity and larger federal interests (DMK).
    • But over a period of time, they have all become parties strangled in family feuds.
  • Have a centralised party structure, low intra-party democracy, and are often controlled by a single family.
  • Have not evolved with time: There is splintering within castes and caste identity itself has gone through a lot of change.
    • The ideological divide is thinning, forcing everybody to go beyond family, caste, or ethnic loyalty to create a larger purpose.

Implications of these succession battles: With the decline of regional parties, the challenges to a dominant party system will reduce.

Challenges for regional parties:

  • The paradox about regional parties is that the family is central to their survival, but the family is also a liability.
  • Absence of charismatic leaders: For example, for the BJD, who will be the leader after Naveen Patnaik is a worrying question.

Way ahead:

  • The regional parties have to come up with an internal decision-making process for anointing the next leader.
  • These regional parties can have a think tank (like RSS for BJP) that sits as the arbitrator to look for an alternative when required.

Insta Links:

Political parties in India

Mains Links:

“The Indian party system is passing through a phase of transition which looks to be full of contradictions and paradoxes.” Discuss. (UPSC 2016)

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, 17 July CA, GS 2, Regional political parties in India, Today's Article, Today’s article

Efforts to reform the statistical system in India

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors

Source: TH

Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has constituted a Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) to reform the statistical system in India.
India’s statistical machinery
MoSPI It came into existence as an Independent Ministry in 1999 after the merger of the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation.
It has two wings – Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The Statistics Wing Called the National Statistical Office (NSO), it consists of the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the Computer Center and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
Besides these two wings, there is the National Statistical Commission (NSC) and one autonomous Institute of National importance – the Indian Statistical Institute.
Mandate of NSO NSO is the nodal agency for the planned development of the statistical system in the country.
It coordinates the statistical work in respect of the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India and maintains liaison with international statistical organisations (UNSD, ESCAP, etc).
It prepares national accounts as well as publishes annual estimates of national products and provides statistical information to assess and evaluate the changes in the growth, composition and structure of the organised manufacturing sector.
It compiles and releases the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), Conducts the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), all-India Economic Censuses and follow-up enterprise survey.
Criticism Bibek Debroy – the chairperson of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to the PM, had suggested an overhaul of the system and contended that the Indian Statistical Service has “little expertise in survey design”.

About the SCoS:

  • It will replace: The Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES), which was constituted in 2019 to examine economic indicators only.
  • Chairman: India’s first chief statistician and the former chairman of the NSC – Pronab Sen, has been named the chair of the new committee.
  • Mandate:
    • To provide a new internal oversight mechanism for official data, and
    • To review the framework and results of all surveys conducted under the aegis of the NSO.
    • While the panel will help finalise survey results, the NSC will have the ultimate authority to approve the publication of those results.
  • Terms of reference:
    • To ensure more coverage, the panel –
      • Has 10 official members and 4 non-official members who are eminent academics.
      • Will look beyond economic data and advise the Ministry on technical aspects (sampling, design, methodology) for all surveys.
    • To identify data gaps to be filled by official statistics, along with an appropriate strategy to plug those gaps.
    • To explore the use of administrative statistics to improve data outcomes.
Concerns Related to the Indian Statistical System
Institutional and Structural Issues Not released timely: The government have a timetable for the release of national accounts, the Index of Industrial Production and inflation. But there are no specific timelines for the release of labour force statistics and consumption expenditure surveys
Apprehensions regarding NSSO: Under MoSPI, it has become part of the general bureaucracy and ceases to exist as an autonomous body. Moreover, the fear is that in the absence of the oversight of independent bodies like the CSI and NSC, the statistical system may become amenable to political interference.
Methodology Use of small surveys for estimations
Challenges in price adjustment for GDP calculations
The faulty approach in data collection and collation
The incoherence of GDP data
Nature of Data Unreliable data on the unorganised sector
Shortcomings in MCA21 data used for GDP calculations

Insta Links: A short history of data

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Reforming statistical system in India, Standing Committee on Statistics, Today's Article

Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusivity – Women still minority

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Social Justice

Source: TH

Context: Preeti Aghalyam, the first woman to become the Director of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), highlighted the underrepresentation of women on IIT campuses.

  • Her appointment coincides with a broader effort by various IITs to address the gender imbalance on their campuses.

The enrolment ratio of men to women in engineering colleges in India has improved over the years. However, the proportion of women in IITs remains low, with some institutes having as little as 5% to 12% female representation in 2014.

Implications of Underrepresentation of Women in Higher Education in India:
Implications Examples
Limited Access to Opportunities Women miss out on educational and career opportunities, limiting their potential for growth and advancement.
Gender-Based Stereotyping and Bias Stereotypes reinforce gender roles, limiting women’s choices in pursuing certain fields of study or careers.
Unequal Workforce Representation Fewer women in higher education result in a limited pool of qualified female professionals in various sectors, leading to gender imbalance in the workforce.
Economic Disparities Women’s lower participation in higher education can contribute to the gender pay gap and economic disparities between men and women.
Lack of Diverse Perspectives The absence of women’s voices and perspectives in academia limits the development of inclusive knowledge and hinders innovation.
Reinforcement of Social Norms The underrepresentation of women in higher education perpetuates traditional societal norms and expectations, hindering progress towards gender equality.
Missed Contributions to Research and Innovation Society misses out on the unique talents, perspectives, and contributions that women can bring to research and innovation in various fields.

Government Schemes for Women:
Description
Digital Gender Atlas Ministry of Human Resource Development has prepared a digital gender atlas for advancing girls’ education in India.
National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE) The objective of the scheme is to establish an enabling environment to reduce dropouts and to promote the enrolment of girl children in secondary schools.
Nai Manzil An integrated education and skilling scheme in partnership with the World Bank, aimed at minority youth without a formal school leaving certificate, providing formal education and skills for better employment and livelihoods. 30% target allocation for women beneficiaries.
Naya Savera A scheme providing financial support to students from minority communities to prepare for competitive examinations. 30% allocation for women beneficiaries.

Conclusion:

Efforts for gender parity continue as women remain a minority at IITs. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in improving the gender ratio at these institutions.

Insta Links:

Problems Faced by minority women in India

Mains Link:

What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (Mains 2019)

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Equality, GS2, social justice, society, Today's Article, women

Lightening: Natural Disaster

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Disaster Management

Source: TH

Context: The Indian Union government is reluctant to declare lightning a natural disaster, as it believes that deaths caused by lightning can be prevented through awareness of safety measures.

  • India currently has an early warning system for lightning, providing forecasts from five days to up to three hours in advance.

Some states like Bihar and West Bengal have been urging the government to classify lightning deaths as natural disasters. If declared, victims would be eligible for compensation from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), with the central government contributing 75% to the fund.

Status of death due to lightning: According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), lightning strikes caused 2,880 deaths in 2021, accounting for 40% of all accidental deaths caused by natural forces.

What is a Disaster?

A disaster is a result of natural or man-made causes that leads to sudden disruption of normal life, causing severe damage to life and property to an extent that available social and economic protection mechanisms are inadequate to cope.

In India, the criteria for declaring a disaster as a natural disaster are typically based on the guidelines provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Criteria for Declaring a Natural Disaster in India:
Description
Non-Anthropogenic The disaster should not be primarily caused by human activities or interventions and should result from natural phenomena beyond human control.
Impact The disaster should cause significant damage, loss of life, or disruption to the environment, infrastructure, or socio-economic activities, requiring specialized response and recovery measures.
Verification The occurrence and impact of the disaster should be verified and confirmed by relevant government authorities, scientific institutions, or disaster management agencies.
Recognition The disaster should be recognized as a natural disaster by the concerned state or central government authorities responsible for disaster management.

About Lightening:

  • It is a very rapid and massive discharge of electricity into the atmosphere.It is the process of occurrence of a natural ‘electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud’, accompanied by a bright flash and sound, and sometimes thunderstorms.
Impacts of Lightning Description
Human Casualties Between 1972 and 2019, around 90,632 people were killed due to lightning strikes.

Lightning is the biggest contributor to accidental deaths due to natural causes.
Agriculture Sector Frequent lightning strikes adversely impact small and marginal farmers. Around 77 per cent of farmers are killed due to lightning as they work in agricultural fields during the Kharif cropping season in the monsoon period.
Rural Areas Mainly, rural and forest areas are the most vulnerable due to lightning because of the presence of water bodies and tall trees, with almost 96 per cent of deaths occurring in rural areas compared to urban areas. Regarding deaths due to lightning, the population in rural areas is more vulnerable than in urban areas.
Tribal Population The Annual Lightning Report 2020-2021 confirms that 60-70 per cent of deaths occurred in tribal populations due to lightning in Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and other states.
Other Sectors Lightning also adversely impacts the aviation, power, and communication sectors.

Insta Links:

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Disaster Management, GS3, Lightening, Natural Disaster, Today's Article

J Robert Oppenheimer

GS Paper 4

Syllabus: Ethics of War/nuclear weapon

Source: IE

  1. Robert Oppenheimer was the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, the USA’s World War II program to develop the first nuclear weapons. He is known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb”.

However, after witnessing the destructive power of nuclear weapons, Oppenheimer became a vocal advocate against their proliferation. He found solace and philosophical guidance in the Bhagavad Gita, quoting the famous line “I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Oppenheimer actively opposed nuclear weapons and worked to curtail their spread. Unfortunately, he faced political persecution during the Cold War era and lost his security clearance. Today, Oppenheimer’s story serves as a cautionary tale and highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by scientists involved in creating powerful weapons.

  • Moral Responsibility: Scientists must consider the potential destruction and harm caused by their weapons.
  • Dual-Use Technology: The technologies they create can be misused or have unintended consequences, raising ethical concerns.
  • Impact on Innocent Lives: Scientists question the effects on civilians, as powerful weapons often cause collateral damage.
  • Contributing to Conflict: Scientists grapple with the ethical dilemma of their work potentially exacerbating conflicts and violence.
  • Long-Term Consequences: Scientists must weigh the lasting effects, including proliferation and the risk of an arms race.
  • Personal Accountability: Scientists may face moral conflicts and be held accountable for the ethical implications of their inventions.

There are three principles for conduct in war:

  • Discrimination (distinguishing between enemy combatants and non-combatants)
  • Proportionality (the harms must be proportional to the gains)
  • Actions must be militarily necessary

Insta Mains: 

Can a war ever be justified on moral grounds? Support your answer with suitable arguments. (10M)

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Ethical dilemma faced by scientists, J Robert Oppenheimer, Today's Article

“I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”

Content for Mains Enrichment

Source: IE

Context: J Robert Oppenheimer used this quote to display regrets about his invention of nuclear weapons.

The quote “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” is not directly from the Bhagavad Gita but rather a paraphrase of a verse in the Gita.

Translated into English, this verse means:

“The Supreme Lord said: Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people.”

The verse is part of a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Krishna reveals his universal form, a divine manifestation displaying his supreme power and cosmic nature. Arjuna is awe-struck and becomes aware of the immense destructive power that Krishna wields as the God of Time. 

Oppenheimer, who was familiar with the Bhagavad Gita, invoked this quote to express the profound impact and consequences of the atomic bomb, which, like Krishna, brought immense destructive power and the potential to annihilate entire worlds.

Refer to the CME article on J Robert Oppenheimer for the ethical dimension of it.

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Bhagavad Gita, J Robert Oppenheimer, Today's Article

Endogamy and harmful genetic variants in India

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: A study by researchers at the Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, focused on genetic differences among South Asian populations, particularly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

  • The researchers found distinct genetic patterns among different regions, including smaller geographies within India, attributed to endogamous practices like caste-based and region-based marriages.

About Endogamy:

  • Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific social, cultural, or ethnic group, often with the aim of preserving traditions, customs, and identity within that group.

Key Findings:

  • The study also revealed a worrying trend of higher frequency of homozygous genotypes in the South Asian cohort, which can increase the risk of genetic disorders.
  • The research highlighted the need for a detailed map of the Indian genome to understand the country’s incredible diversity and address major hereditary disorders.

Conducting such studies within the country would also protect vulnerable communities from exploitation. Harnessing the power of genetic studies could lead to interventions for major health concerns in India.

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Endogamy, GS1, society, Today's Article

CPTPP

Source: IE

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, CPTPP, Today's Article

Export Preparedness Index (EPI) Report, 2022

Source: PIB

Context: NITI Aayog is releasing the third edition of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) for States/UTs of India for the year 2022

The report discusses India’s export performance, followed by an overview of the country’s sector-specific export performance. The report further highlights the need to develop our districts as export hubs in the country and undertakes a district-level analysis of merchandise exports in the country.

About the Report:
EPI is a comprehensive tool that measures the export preparedness of the States and UTs in India.
Aim To undertake a comprehensive analysis of States and UTs across export-related parameters in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
To highlight the achievements of states/UTs and encourage peer learning among the states/UTs to uphold the spirit of competitive federalism.
Pillars Policy Pillar: Evaluates state’s and UTs’ performance based on its adoption of the export-related policy ecosystem at a state and district level, as well as the institutional framework surrounding the ecosystem.
Business Ecosystem: Assesses the prevailing business environment in a state/UT, along with the extent of business-supportive infrastructure and a state/UT’s transport connectivity.
Export Ecosystem: Focuses on the export-related infrastructure in a state/UT, trade support provided to exporters, and the prevalence of Research and Development in the state/UT to foster innovation.
Export Performance: An output-based indicator that gauges the growth of a state’s export over the previous year and analyzes its export concentration and footprint on the global markets.

Related News

India’s exports decline by 22% in June

Source: TOI

In June, India’s exports experienced a significant decline of 22% to about $33 billion compared to $42.28 billion in the previous year. This is the steepest monthly decline in exports in 3 years.

Reasons for the decline: Global slowdown (e.g., the US and Europe); Inflationary pressure; Tightening of Monetary policies by developed countries; India’s poor manufacturing sector’s performance; Companies looking at a China+1 policy are moving to India’s competitor countries like Vietnam

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Export decline, Export Preparedness Index (EPI) Report 2022, Niti Aayog., Today's Article

Agri Infra Fund

Source: PIB

Context: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has launched a new campaign titled BHARAT (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation) under the Agri Infra Fund (AIF).

  • The one-month-long campaign aims to raise Rs 7200 crore and will run from July 15, 2023, to August 15, 2023.

About the AIF:

AIF is a financing facility launched in July 2020 to provide all-around financial support to farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, FPOs, PACS, Cooperatives, SHGs etc, to create post-harvest management infrastructure and build community farming assets throughout the country.

Features:

  • Under it, 1 Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans with interest subvention of 3% per annum.
  • It also provides credit guarantee support through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loans of up to Rs 2 crore
  • The fund will be managed and monitored through an online Management Information System (MIS) platform.
  • It will enable all the qualified entities to apply for loans under the Fund.
  • Duration: FY2020 to FY2029 (10 years)
  • The National, State and District level monitoring committees will be set up to ensure real-time monitoring and effective feedback.

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Agri Infra Fund, BHARAT campaign, Today's Article

Evolution of synthetic Genomes

Source: TH

Context: Recent research demonstrates that synthetic life forms with minimal genomes can evolve and out-compete non-evolved versions.

What is evolution?

Evolution is the process of gradual change and development in living organisms over time. It involves the passing on of traits from one generation to the next, leading to the diversity and adaptation of species to their environment.

What is Synthetic Genome?

A synthetic genome is an artificially created or modified genetic material that can be inserted into a living organism. It involves designing and constructing DNA sequences in a laboratory setting, allowing scientists to engineer or manipulate the genetic makeup of an organism.

  • For example, scientists have synthesized genomes for bacteria like Mycoplasma mycoides, creating synthetic life forms capable of replication.

Significance of Evolution of Synthetic Genome:
Significance Examples
Enhanced understanding of life processes Synthesis of JCVI-syn1.0, the first synthetic life form, helped unravel molecular mechanisms of life
Industrial Applications and Biotechnology Synthetic genomes can be engineered for the production of chemicals and biologicals at an industrial scale
Advancements in medicine and healthcare Synthetic genomes enable the development of new therapies, gene therapies, and personalized medicine
Study of natural evolutionary processes The evolution of synthetic life forms provides insights into the natural adaptation and evolution of organisms
Understanding antimicrobial resistance Synthetic genome research contributes to studying how pathogens evolve and develop resistance to drugs
Environmental applications Synthetic genomes can be used to engineer organisms that can remediate pollution or degrade waste products

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, evolution, Synthetic Genomes, Today's Article

China event raises concern over India’s only ape

Source: TH

Context: The conservation status of the hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape species, has become a matter of concern at a global event on gibbons held in China.

About Gibbons:

It is the smallest and fastest ape and is found in tropical and subtropical forests in Southeast Asia. The hoolock gibbon, unique to India’s northeast, is one of the 20 gibbon species on Earth, with an estimated population of 12,000.

  • All 20 gibbon species, including the hoolock gibbon, are at a high risk of extinction due to dramatic declines in their distribution and populations since 1900, leaving only small populations in tropical rainforests.
  • Threats: The primary threat to the hoolock gibbon in India is the felling of trees for infrastructure projects.
  • Initiatives: The Global Gibbon Network (GGN) aims to protect and conserve gibbons and their habitats by promoting participatory conservation policies and actions.
    • Aaranyak, a non-profit conservation organization based in Assam, India, is one of the founding organizations of the GGN from seven countries.

Controversy regarding conservation status:

Initially believed to be two separate species, a genetic analysis by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad in 2021 revealed that there is only one species of ape in India, the hoolock gibbon.

However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List classifies the western hoolock gibbon as endangered and the eastern hoolock gibbon as vulnerable, which adds complexity to their conservation status.

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Hoolock Gibbon, Today's Article

North Korea

Mapping

Source: TH

North Korea conducted a test of its new Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) using solid propellants. The test has drawn reactions from neighbouring countries, with Japan, South Korea, and the United States expressing concerns about regional stability and emphasizing the need for closer cooperation and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu and Tumen rivers, and South Korea to the south at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The war between North Korea and South Korea began in 1950 and both governments claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all of Korea, and neither accepted the border as permanent.

July 17, 2023 /17 July 2023, Today's Article