Israel breaks up Iranian spy ring, Ukraine "calls" for US to increase military support, Russia summons Finnish ambassador to protest asset confiscation

Russia accuses the West of destroying cyberspace, Venezuela recalls its ambassador to Brazil, North Korean troops appear in Donetsk, Iran may attack Israel before the US presidential election, Hamas rejects a short-term ceasefire in Gaza, North Korean missiles fall outside the EEZ... are some of the prominent international events in the past 24 hours.

North Korea announces record-breaking ICBM launch, US-Japan protests, South Korean President issues urgent order. (Source: KCNA)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

Asia- Pacific

*Beijing accuses the US of deliberately distorting China-Russia relations: Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang on October 31 accused Washington of deliberately distorting relations between Russia and China, aiming to deceive the international community.

This statement was made after US Air Force Major General Devin R. Pepper said in early October that the increasingly close cooperation between Russia and China led the US to believe that the two countries had created an alliance similar to NATO.

A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman also dismissed a statement by G7 defense ministers earlier this month about concerns about China-Russia cooperation on the Ukraine issue, saying it "distorted the facts." (Sputniknews)

*Japan: North Korean missile falls outside EEZ: According to NHK, on ​​the morning of October 31, the Japanese government confirmed that North Korea launched an object, most likely a ballistic missile, on a vertical trajectory towards the Sea of ​​Japan.

According to a Japanese government official, as of 7:45 a.m., the object was still in flight. The expected crash site was outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Sea of ​​Japan.

The Crisis Management Center at the Japanese Prime Minister's Office is actively gathering information on the incident. Earlier, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff also announced that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile, most likely an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (Yonhap)

*Japan warns North Korean missile is capable of reaching the US: Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on October 31 that the range of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) recently test-launched by North Korea could reach more than 15,000 km, depending on the weight of the warhead.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Hayashi emphasized: "Based on information obtained such as range and altitude, the estimated range of the intercontinental ballistic missile launched by North Korea could reach more than 15,000 km depending on the warhead weight." (Sputniknews)

*Thailand affirms its determination to protect disputed territory with Cambodia: Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on October 30 that the government will do its best to protect national sovereignty.

The message was delivered by Mr. Phumtham after the opposition Palang Pracharath (People's State Power - PPRP) party protested the Government's use of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001 to pursue the goal of jointly exploiting resources in the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr. Phumtham emphasized that the Pheu Thai Party-led government has not taken any action regarding Koh Kut Island, and affirmed that it will not lose the island to Cambodia. (Bangkok Post)

*Japan sends note of protest to North Korea over ICBM launch: On October 31, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that Japan had sent a note of protest to North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing regarding the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch earlier that day.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Mr. Hayashi condemned: "This launch contributes to escalating tensions around the world. Such launches violate UN Security Council resolutions and cause serious problems for people's security. We have delivered a strong protest note through diplomatic channels through the embassy in Beijing."

Meanwhile, KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed the launch, asserting that the move demonstrated Pyongyang's "will to counterattack" against its opponents. (Sputniknews)

Europe

*North Korean troops appear in Donetsk: Director of the Center for Countering Disinformation of Ukraine (CCD), Mr. Andriy Kovalenko said that North Korean military forces have appeared in the occupied territories of Ukraine, specifically in Donetsk.

Speaking on television, Mr. Kovalenko clarified that these soldiers have not directly participated in the battle because they belong to the engineering corps. According to Mr. Kovalenko, after the warm-up phase, they will be mobilized to other areas. He analyzed: "The deployment of 10,000-12,000 North Korean soldiers in one direction will help Russia withdraw its troops from there to mobilize to the East, especially the Kharkiv region."

Earlier, according to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers will be ready to fight alongside Russia in November after training at training grounds in Russia. (Ukrinform)

*Russia prosecutes US mercenaries for invading Kursk province: The Russian Military Investigation Agency has just opened criminal proceedings against US citizen Robert Wertman, accusing him of murder, attempted murder, acts of terrorism and other crimes under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Investigators believe that Wertman was directly involved in the armed conflict as a mercenary on Russian territory when he entered Kursk province from Ukraine in early September 2024. Earlier, it was reported that a mercenary from the US 75th Ranger Regiment, which specializes in sabotage and destruction of military infrastructure, was killed in Russia's Bryansk province. (AFP)

*Ukrainian general asks US to increase military support: On October 31, Ukrainian Army Commander Alexander Syrsky had a phone call with General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of US Army in Europe, to brief him on the situation on the front line.

Mr. Syrsky confirmed that the main topic of the phone call was the current situation on the front, with fierce fighting taking place along the entire front line. He also asked General Cavoli to increase defense support for the Ukrainian army, pointing out the superiority of Russian forces and equipment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 30 that the Ukrainian army needed to retreat in a situation where it was outnumbered by only one-eighth of its opponents. Earlier, on October 29, the head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Stanislav Kravchenko, pointed to a significant increase in the number of deserters and described the situation as alarming. (Reuters)

*Russia accuses the West of sabotaging cyberspace: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on October 31 that Western countries continue to make malicious attempts to interfere in Russia's cyberspace to sabotage the country's critical infrastructure.

Speaking via video at the International Relations conference at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Lavrov said that modern technology, while opening up more opportunities, "also creates significant risks." "The main source of these challenges is the West, which aims to maintain its unlimited freedom in the international information space," Lavrov stressed. (TASS)

*Russia summons Finnish ambassador to protest asset seizure: The Finnish Foreign Ministry said Moscow reacted strongly to Helsinki's seizure of Russian assets last week by summoning the Finnish ambassador to Russia on October 30 and sending a diplomatic note of protest.

Finland’s national law enforcement agency seized several Russian-owned properties in the country last week. In a note, the Russian Foreign Ministry asked Finland to reconsider the decision and warned that “if necessary, the Russian side will take retaliatory measures.”

Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported on October 29 that 44 Russian properties across the country with a total value of more than 35 million euros were confiscated by Finnish authorities on October 24. (AFP)

Middle East-Africa

*Israel breaks up Iranian spy ring: Israel's Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) said on October 31 that it had broken up a ring carrying out espionage activities for Iran inside the country.

The Shin Bet said it arrested an Israeli couple in the town of Lod, near Tel Aviv, for gathering intelligence on national infrastructure and security sites, including the Mossad headquarters, as well as for spying on a female academic. The Shin Bet alleged the ring was part of an Iranian effort to recruit people of Caucasus origin.

In early October, Shin Bet also announced the dismantling of two separate spy rings, which were believed to be serving Iran in Jerusalem and northern Israel. (Al Jazeera)

*Hamas rejects short-term ceasefire in Gaza: A senior official of the Hamas Islamist movement said on October 31 that the group rejected all proposals for a temporary ceasefire and would only accept a long-term ceasefire.

"The idea of ​​a pause in the war is only to continue the escalation later. This is what we have expressed. Hamas is in favor of a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one," senior Hamas leader Taher al-Nunu explained.

On October 28, Israel and Qatar discussed a short-term ceasefire in exchange for some hostages. However, Hamas said it had not received any proposal on the matter. (Arab News)

*Russia ready to help establish peace between Lebanon and Israel: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov affirmed on October 31 that Moscow is ready to help establish peace between Lebanon and Israel and is making efforts to do so, including by promoting bilateral relations.

“We are in contact with all parties regarding Lebanon. I have not heard such proposals,” Bogdanov said at a press conference.

Earlier, the Ynet news portal cited senior Israeli officials as saying that the country, with the participation of the United States, is actively negotiating a solution with Lebanon, and wants Russia to play a special role in ensuring compliance with the agreement in the future. (Sputnik)

*Iran could attack Israel before the US presidential election: CNN quoted a senior official as saying that Iran could respond to an Israeli attack on the country before the US presidential election, scheduled to take place on November 5.

“Iran’s response to (Israeli) aggression will be… painful. It could come before the US presidential election,” the source said.

Last weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was carrying out strikes on military targets in Iran as part of its response to the October 1 attack on the Jewish state. (CNN/TASS)

America - Latin America

*The US may allow Ukraine to use weapons against North Korean soldiers: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on October 30 that the Ukrainian military will be able to use US weapons against North Korean soldiers. According to Mr. Austin, Ukraine will be able to use US weapons as a means of self-defense and the US can respond to North Korea sending troops to Russia. However, Mr. Austin did not give details.

“If North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian soldiers in this conflict … Ukrainian soldiers have the right to defend themselves and they will do so with the weapons that we and others have provided. That is expected,” Austin said in a statement. Earlier, US President Joe Biden also said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU) should attack North Korean soldiers if they entered Ukrainian territory. When asked if the Ukrainians should “strike back,” Biden told reporters: “If they enter Ukrainian territory, yes.” (AP)

*UN passes resolution demanding US end embargo on Cuba: With 187 votes in favor, 2 votes against and 1 abstention, the United Nations General Assembly (UN) on October 30 passed a resolution on the need to end the economic, trade and financial blockade imposed by the US on Cuba.

Since 1992, the UN's highest deliberative body has annually called on the US to lift the embargo on Cuba. In 2023, the resolution calling for an end to this US policy won overwhelming support with 187 votes in favour, 2 against (US and Israel) and 1 abstention (Ukraine).

According to statistics from the Cuban Government, from March 2023 to February 2024, the US embargo policy caused an estimated material damage of over 5 billion USD to the country, bringing the total damage to hundreds of billions of USD over the past 6 decades. (TTXVN)

*Venezuela recalls Ambassador to Brazil: On October 30, the Venezuelan government recalled its Ambassador to Brazil, Manuel Vedell, for consultations, while rejecting the neighboring country's "interventionist and rude" statements toward Caracas.

A statement from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said that, following the instructions of President Nicolas Maduro, Ambassador Manuel Vadell to Brazil was recalled “immediately” for consultations on statements made by representatives of the Brazilian government, in particular Mr. Celso Amorim, senior advisor on foreign affairs to Brazilian President Lula da Silva. (AFP)

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