In Brief... World News Review: The Next Trouble Spot?
According to analysts it could be the Korean peninsula.
Iraq and Yugoslavia have been occupied by American and allied troops for the past several months. Where might the next flash point be which would require U.S. troops and firepower? According to analysts it could be the Korean peninsula. Last August North Korea launched a rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead as far as the western United States. The obvious danger to any Asian country, especially South Korea, is obvious. The Korean War is far from settled.
Less than three years ago North Korea failed in an attempt to land a squad of commandos on the South Korean coast. A submarine carried 26 North Korean commandos and sailors whose mission was to infiltrate and reconnoiter military installations along South Korea's east coast. When the sub's engines failed, the commandos escaped ashore near the port of Kangnung. This probing operation was part of North Korea's plan to launch a surprise blitzkrieg against South Korea.
Reunification with, or "liberating" the south has been a long held goal of the bizarre and fanatical communist north. From time to time massive numbers of troops have been deployed near the border between the two countries.
And now, according to a recent analysis by the Stratfor Agency, the United States and South Korea are poised to sign a formal agreement lifting restrictions on South Korean commercial rocket development and raising the current range restrictions on domestically produced military missiles. This announcement comes only weeks after South Korea tested a rocket that was deemed illegal under the previous agreement, suggesting the United States may have been forced into accepting a fait accompli.
Fear of North Korean missile advancements coupled with a desire to project power and influence in Northeast Asia has prompted South Korea's urgent desire to develop and deploy long range missile technology. The new agreement could mark a change in long term relations between the United States and South Korea. The United States must keep troops stationed on South Korean soil to protect the fragile peace in this corner of Asia.
With under manned and under equipped American troops deployed in the Persian Gulf and Yugoslavian campaigns, the country can little afford another battle ground at this time. ( Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun; and Stratfor Global Analysis.)
An Article from:
World News and Prophecy: April - May 1999
Course Content
Darris McNeely
Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren.
David Palmer
Born in Saskatchewan Canada, David Palmer was first introduced to the radio broadcast of the World Tomorrow during his career in broadcasting, when the program was aired during his on air shift. In 1965 his radio career took him to Vancouver British Columbia, where he was eventually baptized, and began attending Sabbath services. He was ordained to the ministry in 1983. Now retired from broadcasting David currently pastors congregations in Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. He is also a member of the UCG-Canada National Council, and serves on the Canadian Ministerial Services Team, as well as the Canadian Media Team
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
