Pyongyang’s many missiles: If the United States ever seriously considered a pre-emptive strike against North Korea’s missile bases, it would have plenty of targets to choose from. Todd Crowell writes that Pyongyang now has at least a dozen nuclear or ballistic missile bases.
Trump’s spiritual tour: On his first presidential overseas trip Donald Trump will visit Riyadh, the Vatican and Jerusalem. Sami Moubayed reports that this tour, to some of the holiest places on earth, is a highly orchestrated message intended to show that under his leadership these religions can find ways to work together.
Myanmar’s drug problem: The western border conflict in Myanmar risks morphing into a volatile mix of armed resistance and criminal activity, reports David Scott Mathieson . Methamphetamine seizures in the area have mounted in recent years and it’s a situation that will further jeopardize the persecuted ethnic Rohingya minority.
iPhones from India: Apple is about to roll out its iconic iPhone with a “Made in India” tag after its original equipment manufacturer, Wistron Corp, confirmed it is making the iPhone SE from a plant in the southern city of Bangalore. Asia Times reports that Taiwan-based Wistron recently conducted a trial run at the factory and the phones manufactured during the process are expected to be in stores in a few weeks.
Blacklist to blockbuster: Only a few months ago South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was on a government blacklist, writes Jung Ha-won. Now his big-budget movie “Okja” is being talked up as a contender for the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.