Morning Brief: US Navy Removes Top Leaders, Kim Jong-un Honors North Korean Troops Killed in Russia-Ukraine War

· Guy D. McCardle

Kim Jong Un pays tribute to troops killed in Ukraine. (KCNA)

Good morning—it’s Saturday, August 23, 2025. A shake-up rattles the US Navy as two top leaders are abruptly removed. In Europe, Dutch politics are in turmoil after the foreign minister resigned over failed Israel sanctions, while Ukraine warns Belarus ahead of joint drills with Russia. Estonia signals readiness to send troops for a Ukraine peacekeeping mission, and North Korea honors its soldiers killed fighting in Russia’s war. Meanwhile, South Korea’s president meets Japan’s prime minister to strengthen ties before his Washington summit. Here’s your Morning Brief.

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US Navy Removes Top Leaders of Reserve and Special Warfare Commands

The US Navy removed Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore and Rear Adm. Milton ‘Jamie’ Sands III from their leadership roles on Friday.

Lacore, who assumed command of the Navy Reserve on August 23, 2024, is no longer serving as its chief. Sands, who took over Naval Special Warfare Command on August 2, 2024, also lost his position.

A Navy official confirmed to USNI News their removal but did not provide a reason.

The action follows the dismissal of Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse from his role at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) earlier the same day, and reports of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin retiring early this week.

Lacore is a career helicopter pilot and a 1990 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross. Sands, a 1992 US Naval Academy graduate, began his career as a surface warfare officer before joining the SEALs.

 

Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Over Failed Sanctions Push Against Israel

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned Friday after failing to secure coalition support for new sanctions against Israel amid its ongoing war in Gaza.

Veldkamp had proposed banning imports from Israeli settlements in response to Israel’s planned offensive in Gaza City and other densely populated areas but faced internal opposition.

Stating he could not implement the policy course he deemed necessary, the 61-year-old former ambassador to Israel stepped down. His resignation triggered the exit of remaining Cabinet members from the New Social Contract party, deepening the government crisis.

Party leader Eddy Van Hijum said they were “done with it,” criticizing Israel’s actions as violations of international treaties. Prime Minister Dick Schoof was expected to address Parliament Friday evening.

The Dutch government had already collapsed in June after far-right leader Geert Wilders withdrew over immigration disputes. A caretaker government has remained in place pending October elections.

The resignation follows rising political pressure, as famine grips Gaza’s largest city. Opposition lawmakers accused the government of inaction.

Parliament had delayed debating sanctions, while Veldkamp faced a potential no-confidence vote for his handling of the crisis.

 

Ukraine Warns Belarus Against Provocations Ahead of Zapad-2025 Drills

Ukraine’s foreign ministry issued a warning Friday to Belarus, urging it to avoid provocations during the upcoming joint Belarus-Russia “Zapad-2025” military exercises scheduled for September.

Citing the 2021-2022 Russian troop build-up under the cover of similar drills, Kyiv called on Minsk to stay away from Ukraine’s borders and not provoke its armed forces.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed concerns as “complete nonsense,” denying that the exercises would be used to launch attacks on neighboring countries. However, Ukraine highlighted that the military cooperation between Moscow and Minsk poses a direct threat not only to Ukraine but also to Poland, the Baltic states, and broader European security.

Kyiv also said the drills complicate US President Donald Trump’s efforts to negotiate peace in the region.

Belarus’ defense ministry confirmed the exercises will involve nuclear weapons scenarios and testing of Russia’s intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik missile, further raising alarms among neighboring NATO members.

Ukraine urged European partners to remain vigilant.

 

Estonia Signals Readiness to Join Peacekeeping Mission in Ukraine

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced Friday that Estonia is prepared to contribute up to one company to a future peacekeeping operation in Ukraine.

The Estonian Prime Minister did not specify the number of troops but confirmed Estonia’s readiness during a press conference in Tallinn with the Finnish prime minister.

The statement aligns with growing support among European leaders for post-war security measures in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized ongoing coordination among NATO allies and Ukraine to establish security guarantees strong enough to deter future Russian aggression.

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both endorsed troop deployments as part of Ukraine’s “coalition of the willing.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also shown willingness to support such efforts.

European and US involvement remains central to shaping the proposed post-war security framework.

 

Kim Jong-un Honors North Korean Troops Killed in Russia-Ukraine War

North Korean state media released images Friday showing Kim Jong-un honoring soldiers killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine.

At a ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim knelt before portraits of the fallen, placed medals beside their images, and embraced returning survivors. He praised the troops as “heroes” who had endured the “life-and-death war in the foreign country.”

The ceremony followed North Korea’s official acknowledgment in April that it had deployed troops to support Russia.

According to South Korean and Western intelligence, over 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent in 2024, mainly to the Kursk region, along with artillery, rockets, and missiles. Seoul estimates at least 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands wounded.

Kim awarded the title of “DPRK Hero” to commanders involved in overseas combat and met with families of the deceased to express condolences.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also praised the North Korean troops in a letter, while US officials say Moscow is now expanding technological support to Pyongyang in return, including assistance with advanced satellite and missile programs.

The development comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts, as US President Donald Trump continues talks with Russian and Ukrainian leaders without notable progress. Analysts warn that deepening North Korea-Russia ties could further accelerate Pyongyang’s missile and satellite capabilities.

 

North Korea Condemns South’s Warning Shots, Labels Border Incident a Provocation

North Korea accused South Korea of a “serious provocation” Saturday after South Korean troops fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the military demarcation line during construction work on Tuesday.

North Korea’s Ko Jong Chol claimed the incident, which coincided with US-South Korea joint military drills, was a deliberate move to escalate tensions.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed it fired warning shots and issued audio warnings as North Korean troops entered the central border region.

The North Korean soldiers retreated without incident, and no return fire was reported.

Ko stated the soldiers were building barriers as part of a project to permanently separate North and South Korea. He claimed Pyongyang had informed US forces in South Korea of the construction plans in June and July to prevent miscommunication. He demanded an immediate halt to what he called South Korea’s “dangerous provocation.”

The border activity comes amid rising hostilities. Kim Jong Un has dismissed dialogue with South Korea, aligned more closely with Russia, and declared an end to peaceful unification efforts.

Seoul’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, has called for a revival of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement to reduce tensions, urging Pyongyang to respond in kind.

 

South Korean President Meets Japanese PM Ahead of US Summit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday for their first full summit, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties ahead of Lee’s upcoming visit to Washington.

The meeting highlights both leaders’ intent to reinforce regional cooperation as they face shared challenges involving trade, defense, North Korea, and China.

Lee’s decision to visit Japan before the United States breaks traditional diplomatic order but signals a strategic move to improve trilateral coordination. Japanese officials welcomed the gesture, viewing it as a sign Lee prioritizes Japan-South Korea relations, which have often been strained by historical disputes.

The summit, largely symbolic, coincides with the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. Expected outcomes include streamlined entry visas and working holiday programs for South Korean travelers.

The leaders also discussed North Korea’s weapons programs and China’s regional assertiveness.

Ishiba, under pressure from his party after a July election loss, aims to bolster his domestic support through successful diplomacy. He previously met President Trump and secured a tariff deal, placing Japan ahead of South Korea in trade talks with Washington.

Both leaders recently struck conciliatory tones. Lee acknowledged unresolved issues but emphasized future-oriented relations. Ishiba expressed “remorse” over Japan’s wartime actions, restoring wartime acknowledgment language dropped by previous administrations.

 

Sources: News Agencies