The Intelligence from The Economist The Intelligence: Kim Jong Un’s fighting talk
Mar 11, 2024
Andrew Knox, The Economist’s careers correspondent, unpacks the escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea grows cosier with Russia. He discusses the alarming rise in North Korea's nuclear capabilities and aggressive rhetoric under Kim Jong-un. The conversation also highlights the ecological crisis stemming from the Ukraine conflict, revealing its toll on wildlife, such as declining dolphin populations. Knox stresses the urgent need to address the complex interplay between human conflicts and environmental consequences.
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Ecological Impact of the War
- The war in Ukraine has caused significant ecological damage, impacting wildlife.
- The destruction includes burned forests, contaminated water, and the presence of sunken ships in the Black Sea.
Dolphin Deaths
- Up to 50,000 dolphins, a fifth of the Black Sea population, likely died in 2022 due to Russian naval sonars.
- The sonar disrupts dolphins' hunting and makes them vulnerable to infections.
Fox Population Boom
- Fox populations have exploded in Ukraine due to a hunting ban during the war.
- The ban was implemented to prevent armed civilians from being mistaken for soldiers.