5. KOREAN PENINSULA SITUATION TIGHTENED FOR DPRK'S NUCLEAR MISSILE TEST

Defying international opposition, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sept 3 conducted its sixth nuclear test. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2375 on Sept 11 to impose new sanctions on DPRK, calling for a peaceful settlement of the issue diplomatically and politically.

This year, the DPRK has repeatedly violated UN Security Council resolutions with launch activities using ballistic missile technology. South Korea and the United States have conducted a series of joint military exercises on the pretext of "coping with North Korea threats."

The United States has also re-listed the DPRK as a "state sponsor of terrorism" and imposed unilateral sanctions on the country. The strong positions and actions of both sides have increased tension on the peninsula, causing concern among regional countries and the international community.

6. POPULISM HITS POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF EUROPE

The conservative union led by German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sept 24 defended its commanding role in the Bundestag (German parliament), yet with a plummeting vote compared with the election four years ago.

Meanwhile, the far-right party Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) unexpectedly emerged as the third strongest party in parliament, becoming the first rightwing populist party to enter the Bundestag after World War II.

In the context of the refugee crisis and economic weakness, intensified social division and political polarization are becoming more and more obvious. People have been losing faith in the main traditional party.

The Netherlands, France, Austria and other major countries have chosen to call on the "anti-EU, anti-migrant" populist parties to make a breakthrough during their 2017 general election, which severely impacted the traditional political landscape in Europe.