Vice President Mike Pence said that there was "no daylight" between the United States, South Korea, and Japan on the issue of North Korean nuclearization, per the AP. His comments came aboard Air Force Two on his way back to the United States after a stop at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Why it matters: With the U.S. set to unveil the toughest sanctions ever against North Korea, Kim Jong-un extended an offer for South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit Pyongyang, heightening concerns that Kim might be attempting to drive a diplomatic wedge between South Korea and the U.S.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un extended an invitation to South Korean President Moon Jae-in for talks in Pyongyang, which South Korean officials said Moon "practically accepted," per Reuters. The invitation — which proposed meeting "at an early date" — came via Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, who met with Moon in Seoul as a part of North Korea's Winter Olympics delegation.
Why it matters: The meeting, which would be the first between Korean leaders since 2007, could accelerate the thaw in tensions between North and South Korea. It's also likely to be poorly received by the United States, which is set to unveil the toughest sanctions ever against the North Korean regime.
Israeli forces attacked Syrian government and Iranian targets in Syria on Saturday after one of its F-16 jets was downed by what appeared to be Syrian antiaircraft fire, per the N.Y. Times.
Why it matters: This is believed to be the first Israeli jet downed by enemy forces since the 1980s, per the Times. It also marks a direct confrontation between Israeli troops and Iranians.
The Intercept reports that the U.S. intelligence community has been "conducting a top-secret operation" to get back classified U.S. documents stolen by Russian operatives.
Why it matters: To retrieve the documents, the U.S. opened an "off-the-books communications channel" with Russia early last year. Per the Intercept, it's been "highly controversial" among the U.S. officials that knew about it, and "many involved...are said to be uncertain about what is really going on."
Rachel Brand, Associate Attorney General at the Justice Department, is stepping down after nine months on the job, the NYT reports. Brand assumed the role in May 2017 and is leaving her role for a position as general counsel in the private sector, per NYT.
Why it matters: Brand was seen as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's successor. Rosenstein is currently overseeing Robert Mueller's investigation regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election. President Trump has called the investigation a "witch hunt" and has considered firing Rosenstein. At DOJ, Brand directly reported to Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions recused himself from overseeing the on-going investigation of Russian meddling in the election after it was revealed he met with Russian ambassadors in 2016.
The decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was "a peak moment" of the presidency, President Trump told Israel Hayom during a sit-down interview at the White House Thursday.
Why it matters: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced he would cut ties with the U.S. when Trump made his Jerusalem announcement on Dec. 6. As Axios' Barak Ravid scooped, the White House is now considering presenting a Middle East peace plan even if Abbas refuses to come to the negotiating table.
Stemming from his flair for showmanship and notorious inattentiveness, President Trump has — largely as promised — blown up usual White House norms on the topic of national security, often prompting incredulous reporting and dire prognostications from geopolitical experts on cable news.
The latest: Trump doesn't read his President's Daily Brief, each morning's collection of the intelligence community's most pressing information,and instead relies on oral presentations that are "augmented with photos, videos and graphics," per WashPost.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman went on an unusual and probably unprecedented attack today against the Haaretz newspaper a day after one of its senior columnists published an op-ed criticizing his support for the Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Why it matters: It is very rare for foreign diplomats to attack the media in any democracy – especially in Israel – which is a close U.S. ally and a country with strong free press. In my 12 years as a reporter covering the diplomatic corps in Israel, I can't remember a similar case.
Vice President Mike Pence, who's in South Korea for the Olympics, has promised a new round of tough sanctions on North Korea. But while the U.S. is downplaying the Olympics as a possible starting point for a new round of negotiations with North Korea, South Korea is openly stating its plan to use the Olympics to re-start talks, according to the Washington Post.
Why it matters: Beijing wants to put stress on the U.S.-South Korea alliance and restart talks with North Korea that will reduce the near-term risks of conflict on the peninsula.
