https://xcancel.com/pathofexile/status/2092334226846949851#m

https://pathofexile2.com/register

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYNNQJO-AE

"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a video shared by Huckabee Sanders on social media. "And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building."

"So that leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership," Aplin said. "From the very top at the governor's office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor (and) the representatives."

video https://nitter.net/SarahHuckabee/status/2089694866934501410#m

(cw video has Islamophobia)

https://nitter.net/AbdulElSayed/status/2091160636008849863#m

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117135773042405247

People's Laughter Resounds through Resorts in DPRK

Pyongyang, August 18 (KCNA) -- Many working people, youth and students in the DPRK are enjoying themselves at all the holiday and tourist resorts, including the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area.

Myongsasimni, the east coastal scenic spot of the DPRK, is full of people enjoying the socialist civilization.

Many people are visiting the city of Samjiyon to enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Samjiyon area and spa bath.

An endless stream of people is flowing into Munsu, Mangyongdae and Rungna water parks in the capital city of Pyongyang.

Schoolchildren, youth and old persons are enjoying themselves at the bathing beaches of the east and west coasts.

The people's laughter and songs of happiness resound at the Onpho Working People's Holiday Camp, a monumental edifice symbolic of the spa culture of the country.

Working people, youth and students are enjoying themselves at bases for cultural and leisure activities in other scenic spots. -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/9af9cd33a5df4c0342b9b113f1293279

https://archive.is/XTlSh

I'll post most photos from the article in a comment. the article has 10 photos.

Press Statement of Kim Yo Jong, Department Director of C.C., WPK

Pyongyang, August 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, released the following press statement "Poor plight of Seoul unable to play a war game it liked very much" on August 20:

Ulji Freedom Shield, a large-scale rehearsal for an aggressive war being conducted by the U.S. and the ROK in the ROK, was given a frosty reception right after its kick-off.

Trump issued a sudden order to reduce the scale of the drill. This has placed Seoul in a poor plight of discontinuing the "war game" it liked very much.

It will be something like the first "trouble" to the ROK, unprecedented in the history of U.S.-ROK joint military exercises, in the context that it has never seen the scale of a war game reduced to become coreless right after its kick-off with no prior discussion.

The ROK cannot let out a single word of protest at the GIs leaving without any mutual coordination at the U.S. chief executive's unilateral order. This is the inevitable fate of the puppet army, whose right to command has been left in the hands of the U.S., and the true situation of the ROK, whose security has been placed at stake due to a reduction of the joint military drill and who brags about its "enough capability for self-defence" despite its defence and security being under the care of outsiders.

The plight of the ROK, which is compelled to stop the "war game" it liked very much, is showing the structure of the relation between master and servant called the "U.S.-ROK blood alliance" of which it has boasted.

As recognized generally, this unforeseen consequence is an evident disaster brought by the unrealistic and anachronistic security outlook pursued by the ROK authorities who have ceaselessly repeated unnecessary attempts to reverse the regional mechanical structure controlled by a nuclear-armed nation, blinded by their firm belief in the U.S. master.

The ROK has reaped what it sowed.

The ROK authorities are hyping it as an "occasion for new phase and good opportunity for a change in relations" to cover up their poor plight, which is nothing but a lame excuse.

Lee Jae Myung curried favor with the U.S. in public by uttering shameful words that he pays "respects" for Trump's "decisive rollback decision" and it was a "decision from deep consideration" and then talked about "independent national defence" and "independent buildup of military capabilities" to prepare for the "worst scenario". Such double-dealing behaviour vividly proves uneasiness and impatience of the ROK.

The world witnesses that the U.S. security aids are no longer free of charge.

The whole territory of the ROK would be insufficient to curry favour with the cruel master.

What about deeply considering its position of complete subordination and finding a way of existence on this occasion?

Seoul should be aware of the unavoidable fate of the "puppet". -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/c95033ab45276e25a696bbe1d21b1ba2

https://archive.is/hQKqW

The horses were packed into echoing metal trailers and trucked 1,800 miles east to the pens of a hard-luck livestock trader in Ohio named Brandon Jones, who bought them for $25 each.

A day later, two double-decker cattle trucks pulled up at midnight, loaded the mustangs and quickly drove off into the night.

From there the mustangs disappeared. They never appeared at a public auction. The trader won’t say where they went. Wild horse advocates suspect the horses were shipped to slaughter.

Kim Yo Jong, Department Director of C.C., WPK, Clarifies Her Stand on Major International Affairs

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Wednesday expressed the following stand as regards the major international issues escalating the global security crisis:

The trend of the present unpredictable and complicated international situation is a source of the escalation of the geopolitical crisis in different parts of the world and serious concern of the international community aspiring after peace and stability.

As the evil cycle of confrontation persists in the Middle East, the epitome of conflict and chaos in the world, distrust and discord among regional countries further deepen, bloodshed lasts without cease and the unprecedented political and economic instability gets worse on a worldwide scale.

And the phase of prolonged armed conflict has entered a more serious stage in Europe owing to the reckless confrontational intention of the Western group to impose a strategic defeat on Russia by using Ukraine as an agent of a proxy war.

Even in the Korean peninsula, the biggest hotspot in the world for centuries, the regional security environment is facing constant challenges due to the U.S. and its vassal forces' attempt at geopolitical expansion and their greedy arms buildup.

The present situation of the world, where the vicious cycle of tension persists in not only the Middle East and Europe but also the Asia-Pacific region including the Korean peninsula due to the high-handed practice and the abuse of power by the hegemonic forces, calls upon all the countries to make their principled stand clearer in pursuing justice and equity and defending their national security and interests.

The DPRK remains unchanged in its view and stand that the U.S. and the West's threat to the security of Russia that has been systematically getting serious since the end of the Cold War is the main factor that triggered the present Ukrainian crisis.

The better future of Europe can not be realized apart from the core interests and will of the Russian Federation.

We think that uprooting the cause of the conflict is the main solution to putting an end to the Ukrainian crisis and ensuring sustainable and durable peace in the region. And we fully support the righteous action of the Russian government and people to defend the national sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity.

Availing of this opportunity, I make clear that the theory of the "dispatch of additional troops" of our army, which the Zelenskiy group invented and propagates, is an ungrounded farce of Kiev and that the U.S. and the West are entirely responsible for the start of the Ukrainian crisis and its prolongation.

The overall cooperation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation is strictly in accordance with the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides which is in conformity with the purpose and principle of the UN Charter and is a legal domain of exercise of sovereign right.

The DPRK constantly maintains concentration on its duty as a contracting party of the inter-state treaty between the DPRK and Russia in conformity with its allied nature and remains boundlessly faithful to it.

The DPRK is seriously following the reckless attempt of Japan for military expansion, a dangerous factor of causing imbalance of strength in the Asia-Pacific region including the Korean peninsula and consider it a potential and prospective threat.

The DPRK regards Japan's reweaponization as a serious threat. This means that the DPRK pays more attention to Japan and gets strong perception that it regards the latter as a military target. It also hints that Japan's security is in more dangerous state.

Our military leadership already started to regard it as part of its military strategy to deter and contain the threat of Japan, which is evolving into a serious security challenge, or do something more beyond it.

In other words, this means that if Japan tries to make a wrong choice, it will face immediate annihilating blow impossible to survive.

Japan's military development is a suicidal act of taking oil to extinguish the fire.

We will constantly maintain a fundamental way of approach for removing danger and ensuring genuine peace and stability from the standpoint of strong power and on the basis of the stark reality that the greatest threat to the security interests of our state and the regional security environment is coming from the U.S.

As for the reduction of the U.S.-ROK joint military drill abruptly announced by the U.S. president a few days ago, we regard it as the one unworthy of comment and have no interest in it at all.

The reduction of the scale and duration of the drill does not mean the change of the nature of the military drill with a provocative and offensive feature.

This year alone, the U.S. and the ROK have conducted joint military exercises in different spaces and spheres without space-time gap, including the bilateral air drills Buddy Squadron in February, the combined small unit drill and large-scale joint military exercises Freedom Shield in March, the U.S.-ROK Navy combined salvage exercise, combined mine warfare exercise and the combined large-scale air drills Freedom Flag in April, combined air training Hercules Guardians in May and the combined logistics support drill and bilateral air drills Buddy Squadron in July.

This suggests that the drill which was recently said to be reduced is fully substituted for such drills.

This being a hard fact, the ROK claimed that the ongoing war drill is military one of a defensive nature simulating someone's attack and talked about the strengthening of the "firm ROK-U.S. alliance" and acceleration of introduction of a nuclear submarine, fully exposing its hostile nature.

We are paying more attention to the fact that the joint military drills between the U.S. and the ROK have been steadily staged and are still under way, not to the reduction or shortening of individual drills, and we are correctly seeing through the fact that this is an obvious expression of open hostility toward the DPRK.

If the U.S. calculates that it can propagate its recent measure as the one of so-called good faith, they will not get desired answer.

As for the news from Washington that shortly ago, there was a communication between the leaders of the DPRK and the U.S., I am not aware of it at all, and perhaps it may be the only thing I do not know as regards the foreign policy of our supreme leadership.

I had already clarified several times that our head of state has good memories and feelings about Trump personally.

The relationship between the two leaders is still excellent.

It is well known to the world and not a matter to be surprised, I think.

However, the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK has remained unchanged and the U.S. and its followers are now violently conducting hostile military activities against the DPRK even this moment.

Likewise, I would like to stress that the exercise of the sovereign rights of the DPRK intended to contain the forces threatening its security is very reasonable, appropriate and essential and it has nothing to do with the excellent relations between the leaders of the two countries.

History and reality prove that it is possible to maintain balanced and stable security structure of the region when the DPRK has stronger deterrent. -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/c61ef414434738a04b1d253cf775507b

https://archive.is/3gb2V

DPRK Increases Capacity for Generating Natural Energy

Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- According to Rodong Sinmun, the DPRK is increasing the capacity for generating natural energy.

Shortly ago, a large-capacity solar power plant was built in Haeju City, South Hwanghae Province. It has capacity of producing tens of thousands of kilowatts per day.

Phabal-ri, Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province and other areas are also creating new generating capacity.

The Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm created capacity of generating thousands of kilowatts by installing solar panels in various places in accordance with its geographical features.

Meanwhile, the Samgwang Livestock Farm built a solar power plant with a capacity of hundreds of kilowatts on a mountain slope.

And Jagang Province is establishing an energy-saving cooling and heating system by using water from lakes, rivers and pumping stations.

Several schools and welfare service facilities in Pyongyang Municipality installed solar panels and Jangyon, Songhwa and Chongdan counties are making efforts to create the capacity for generating natural energy this year. -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/abca4b0afb86dc69a9bd83f75ea5d7c6

https://archive.is/LtskK

We Will Exercise Our Right to Self-defence for Neutralizing Military Threat from Hostile Forces through More Transparent Action: KCNA Commentary

Pyongyang, August 19 (KCNA) -- The large-scale U.S.- ROK joint military exercises, Ulji Freedom Shield, began in every part of the ROK on August 17. The drill poses the most immediate and open threat to the DPRK and the regional security.

The exercises will last for over 10 days, involving U.S. troops in the ROK and the ROK army as the mainstay of the exercises as well as extra-regional U.S. reinforcements and forces of member states of the "UN Command". And these frantic exercises cover all spheres of carrying out wartime operations including the ground, sea, air, space, cyber and psychological information. This is pushing again the tensions on the Korean peninsula to the threshold of a war.

In particular, all the major units under the U.S. 8th Army, including the 2nd Infantry Division, the 19th Sustainment Command, the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade, and the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, are taking part in the drill. And various actual maneuvers of the drill features includes a combined arms live-firing exercise aimed at verifying the capability for joint precision strike and mobility, a combined wet gap crossing exercise and a joint logistic support maneuver for providing war supplies in contingency.

Nevertheless, before starting the exercises, the military warmongers of the U.S. and the ROK described the drills as "annual" and "defensive" ones in public with the aim of hiding the aggressive and provocative nature of the largest-ever exercises.

Such drill, which has been staged for decades despite the changes of regimes in the ROK, cannot be regarded only as a bad habitual military practice of the enemy states. And we can never get used to it.

As everybody knows, the enemies' war drill differs in its mission, form, scale and training methods every time.

All the elements of the war drill have been developing into extremely dangerous ones, quite different from the past ones. And it is being desperately oriented towards improving the actual fighting capacity in the war exercises against the DPRK and gaining the decisive ascendancy in the security structure in the Korean peninsula and the rest of the region.

The main point of the drill is to perform "practical training reflecting the changing security environment" and to "improve effectiveness". And its scenarios are being tailored to adapt to new modern war manuals and ways analyzed in recent wars.

The U.S.-ROK command post training under the simulated conditions of contingency in the Korean peninsula, the field training exercise which was waged more than ten times and even the "all-government combined exercise" which the ROK is staging independently by enlisting more than 4 000 agencies and over 580 000 personnel across the country feature supplemented elements of ultra-modern operations such as AI, drone and cyber.

What is all the more serious is that the U.S.-led "UN Command" which played an auxiliary role in the Ulji Freedom Shield exercises only a few years ago is kick-starting in real earnest to revive its combat function and expand its role, talking about "contribution in new spheres such as intelligence, cyber and space" with the exercises as an occasion.

Prior to the drill, the deputy commander of the "UN Command" said that it would be the strongest deterrence when the countries sharing the same intention counter together and the strong combination of posture when the ROK-U.S. alliance and UN Command are added, making it a fait accompli to hurl into an actual war the largest-ever multinational aggression forces which abused the cap of the "UN forces" in case of contingency on the Korean peninsula as it did in the 1950s of the last century.

This is a development that can not be overlooked. It visually shows that the ROK bordering the DPRK is turning into not only the training ground of the U.S.-ROK military alliance but also a gathering place of multinational aggression forces and a test ground of modern warfare for occupying the security sphere of the DPRK and the independent countries in the region.

The dangerous escalation of the war drills staged by the U.S. and its vassal forces is posing a more serious threat to the security rights of the DPRK and this will lead to the further deterioration of the situation of the Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region.

The present situation makes us keenly realize what we should do.

The DPRK's exercise of its right to self-defence will continue to completely neutralize the enemies' military threat until the enemy states give up their reckless dream of overwhelming someone by force and completely abandon their attempt to break the balance of strength in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region beyond the Korean peninsula.

All the war drills for aggression staged by the enemy states in the Korean peninsula and the region will never produce the results desired by them. -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/15f79e4a495c8d8bc65be14f92ad8699

https://archive.is/hcQ5o

Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, “No thanks!” Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117107215379637520

https://nitter.net/RapidResponse47/status/2089099940328796395#m

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-instructs-pentagon-reduce-military-exercises-with-south-korea-2026-08-16/

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Enjoys Circus of National Acrobatic Troupe Celebrating 81st Anniversary of National Liberation

Pyongyang, August 17 (KCNA) -- A circus of the National Acrobatic Troupe celebrating the 81st anniversary of national liberation was given at the Pyongyang Circus Theatre on August 16, amid joy and excitement of the people in the DPRK greeting the significant day when their great motherland newly emerged with pride.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, enjoyed the performance.

When Comrade Kim Jong Un appeared in the auditorium amid the playing of welcome music, the participants raised stormy cheers of "Hurrah!"

On the occasion of the 81st anniversary of national liberation, Comrade Kim Jong Un extended warm congratulations to all the people and the servicepersons who are creating a new era of comprehensive development with boundless love for their precious and sacred country and confidence and optimism about their cause.

Among the audience were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and other senior Party and government officials, children of anti-Japanese revolutionary martyrs and anti-Japanese patriotic martyrs, teaching staff and students of revolutionary schools, officials of ministries and national agencies and armed forces organs, and officials and labor innovators of industrial establishments and youth and students in Pyongyang.

The national anthem of the DPRK was played.

Put on the stage were colorful numbers including physical acrobatics "Wire-rope Walking" and "Fly Higher" which won top prizes at international circus festivals.

The elegant folk acrobatic works and refined numbers of high technique, full of deep emotion and vibrant vitality, showed well the appearance of the DPRK's acrobatic art blooming and developing day by day.

The peculiar pieces given by a juggler familiar with the people made the audience imbued with the world of mysterious jugglery.

The performance was acclaimed by the audience as it drew out excitement, admiration and cheerful laughter.

Expressing great satisfaction over the acrobats' successful performance, Comrade Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated them.

He met creative workers, artistes and officials of the National Acrobatic Troupe who added to joy and optimism on the National Liberation Day through their excellent performance.

Saying that the troupe is an authoritative art organization as it has glorified the honor and prestige of the country while being loved by the people through creation of world-famous acrobatic works and active performance activities for over 70 years, he highly appreciated the merits of the creative workers and artistes of the troupe who have contributed to the development of socialist culture with influence peculiar to the acrobatic art.

Expressing belief and expectation that the creative workers and artistes of the troupe would create and perform more excellent acrobatic pieces, welcomed by the times and the people, by giving full play to their extraordinary creative talents, high skill and patriotic enthusiasm and thus usher in a new heyday of development of the acrobatic art, he had a photo taken with them. -0-

http://kcna.kp/en/article/detail/b49d81959591f3ff511d538224427505

https://archive.is/oHI6M