INTERVIEW — CLIFF MAY – President of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

TOPICS: Latest on North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and thoughts on Gen. Kelly coming into White House

– China is hitting back at President Trump’s repeated scoldings over their handling of North Korea. China hit back Monday at a Twitter rant from President Trump over trade and the North Korea crisis, saying the two issues should not be linked and the U.S. is to blame for Pyongyang’s military buildup. “We think the North Korea nuclear issue and China-U.S. trade … are in two completely different domains,” Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming said at a news conference in Beijing. “They aren’t related. They should not be discussed together.” Qian added trade between China and the U.S. has been beneficial to both nations despite a U.S. trade deficit with China that reached almost $350 billion last year.
– Nikki Haley says US will not seek UN Security Council emergency session: “There is no point in having an emergency session if it produces nothing of consequence”
– Nikki Haley‏ @nikkihaley: Done talking about NKorea.China is aware they must act.Japan & SKorea must inc pressure.Not only a US problem.It will req an intl solution.
– North Korea can hit most of United States: U.S. officials. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea’s latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has shown that Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental United States, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday. The assessment, which the officials discussed on condition of anonymity, underscored the growing threat posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, and could add pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration to respond. North Korea said on Saturday it had conducted another successful test of an ICBM that proved its ability to strike America’s mainland. The secretive North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, supervised the midnight launch of the missile on Friday night and called it a “stern warning” to the United States that it would not be safe from destruction if it tried to attack, the official KCNA news agency said. However, two U.S. intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday Kim wants to develop a nuclear-capable ICBM to deter any attack on his country and gain international legitimacy, not to launch an attack on the United States or its allies that he knows would be suicidal. The Pentagon declined to comment on the U.S. assessment of the missile launch, even as it acknowledged that the latest test represented the longest test flight of any North Korean missile. “The specifics of our assessment are classified for reasons I hope you understand,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis told a news briefing, acknowledging only that the missile could fly at least 5,500 km (3,420 miles), the minimum range for what the Pentagon classifies as an ICBM. Two separate U.S. officials who discussed the latest test, which lasted about 45 minutes, said it showed greater range than the July 4 ICBM launch, which North Korea said lasted 39 minutes.
– Russia defends slashing US diplomats as hope fades of better ties… Moscow (AFP) – Moscow on Monday sought to justify its decision to purge US diplomatic personnel in the country, as the Kremlin appeared to give up on hopes of improving ties anytime soon under Donald Trump. President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that Washington will have to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia by 755 employees, as Moscow struck back against new sanctions passed by the US Congress. The move represents one of the biggest single reductions of US personnel by Moscow, with Putin warning he could retaliate further. “We have waited long enough, hoping that the situation would perhaps change for the better,” the Kremlin strongman said. “But it seems that even if the situation is changing, it’s not for any time soon.” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday insisted that any hopes of mending Russia-US ties rest on “curing the worsening political schizophrenia” in Washington, but admitted the two sides appeared “far away” from any improvement.
– U.S. Treasury sanctions the President of Venezuela a day after elections were held to rewrite constitution. The Treasury Department slapped sanctions on Nicolas Maduro on Monday, alleging that Venezuela’s president has attempted to undermine democracy and the rule of law in his country. On Sunday, Venezuela held a controversial election to create the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), a constitutional assembly that would grant Maduro’s party sweeping power. But many countries said they would not recognize that vote. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said those who participate in the illegitimate assembly could face “future U.S. sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela.” The ANC, which many expect to be stacked with Maduro supporters, would be able to rewrite the country’s constitution. In a statement, Mnuchin continued: “Yesterday’s illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people. By sanctioning Maduro, the United States makes clear our opposition to the policies of his regime and our support for the people of Venezuela who seek to return their country to a full and prosperous democracy.”