AND IN THE REAL WORLD – AT 11:58 A.M. ET:  One of President Trump's major national-security challenges in 2018 will be North Korea.  It may be the most critical challenge, the one where we might have to take military action.  A key player is China.  Will China help or hurt us?  Or will it just grab what it can.  From Fox: 

U.S. spy satellites reportedly captured photos of Chinese ships illegally selling oil to North Korean boats some 30 times since October.

Satellite images released by the U.S. Department of Treasury appeared to show vessels from both countries illegally trading oil in the West Sea, The Chosun Ilbo reported Tuesday, citing South Korean government sources.

North Korea was barred in September by the United Nations Security Council from importing natural gas and had its crude oil imports capped in response to Kim Jong Un’s nuclear missile program.

The U.S. Treasury in November also sanctioned North Korea’s Maritime Administration and its transport ministry, in addition to six North Korean shipping and trading companies and 20 of their vessels, in an effort to block the rogue regime’s transportation networks.

COMMENT:  Not a good sign regarding the Chinese.  The Chinese see us as competitors, and targets of opportunity.  When Nixon first went to China, some experts warned that the ultimate result would be to build the Chinese economy, which China would then use against us.  Eternal vigilance, my friend.

December 28, 2017