{"id":"1793383702987-news-segment","slug":"swiss-minister-reopens-pyongyang-office","title":"Swiss minister reopens Pyongyang office","summary":"Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited North Korea Oct. 29–30 and formally reopened Switzerland's diplomatic office in Pyongyang, which has been operational since Oct. 19 under the Swiss Embassy in Beijing. He met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Workers' Party secretary Jo Yong Won. Cassis said the talks covered regularizing political relations, reestablishing political dialogue, Korean Peninsula security, and broader Eurasian security. He then traveled to South Korea and briefed Seoul officials.\n\nSwitzerland is one of the few Western countries maintaining a dialogue with Pyongyang. The office had closed in March 2020 during COVID-19; Bern says reopening it strengthens direct contact with North Korean authorities and supports political dialogue amid heightened regional tensions and limited communication channels.\n\nSwiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited Pyongyang and met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during the formal reopening of Switzerland's diplomatic office there; the talks covered regularizing relations, Korean Peninsula security, and broader Eurasian security.\n\nPolitico reported that grassroots groups are making a last-ditch, long-shot effort to unseat Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in New York's 11th Congressional District.\n\nThe six Peter Jackson Middle-earth films have grossed roughly $5.9 billion worldwide, and Tolkien did sell film rights to United Artists in 1969, reportedly for about £100,000 to pay a tax bill. But the “heirs received nothing” line omits that the Tolkien estate sued New Line Cinema and reached a settlement in 2009 giving the family a share.\n\nBrianna Long, a 21-year-old Valdosta State student, was killed by gunfire outside The Pier bar in Remerton, Georgia, early on Oct. 29, 2023; reports said a gunfight broke out and bullets hit her as she closed the bar. I could not independently confirm the current trial status.\n\nRecords including a 1978 rape prosecution against Cledith Arthur, contemporary","publishedAt":"2026-10-30T18:08:22.987Z","channel":{"id":"news","name":"Oncast News","language":"en"},"show":"Washington","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited Pyongyang and met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during the formal reopening of Switzerland's diplomatic office there; the talks covered regularizing relations, Korean Peninsula security, and broader Eurasian security.\nSource: [straitstimes.com](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/swiss-foreign-minister-discusses-security-issues-with-north-korea), [arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com (https://x.com/Reuters/status/2116228787176104434)\n\nTRUE: Politico reported that grassroots groups are making a last-ditch, long-shot effort to unseat Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in New York's 11th Congressional District.\nSource: Politico NAMES: Malliotakis = Nicole Malliotakis, Republican U.S. representative from New York. (https://x.com/politico/status/2116229225233440830)\n\nMISLEADING: The six Peter Jackson Middle-earth films have grossed roughly $5.9 billion worldwide, and Tolkien did sell film rights to United Artists in 1969, reportedly for about £100,000 to pay a tax bill. But the “heirs received nothing” line omits that the Tolkien estate sued New Line Cinema and reached a settlement in 2009 giving the family a share.\nSource: BBC News (settlement reporting); Box Office Mojo (box office) NAMES: United Artists = film studio that bought the LOTR rights; New Line Cinema = studio that pro (https://x.com/Benderxxx7/status/2114362901720969446)\n\nTRUE: Brianna Long, a 21-year-old Valdosta State student, was killed by gunfire outside The Pier bar in Remerton, Georgia, early on Oct. 29, 2023; reports said a gunfight broke out and bullets hit her as she closed the bar. I could not independently confirm the current trial status.\nSource: AP News / WALB NAMES: Valdosta State = Valdosta State University; Remerton = small city in Georgia near Valdosta. (https://x.com/Kentuckygirl1/status/2115973871107002723)\n\nTRUE: Records including a 1978 rape prosecution against Cledith Arthur, contemporary newspaper coverage, and public statements from Amy Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, corroborate Amy Acton's account of childhood sexual abuse.\nSource: The Columbus Dispatch / Cleveland.com NAMES: Amy Acton = former Ohio Department of Health director; Cledith Arthur = her stepfather. (https://x.com/robbi_fahey/status/2113808786540409140)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited Pyongyang and met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during the formal reopening of Switzerland's diplomatic office there; the talks covered regularizing relations, Korean Peninsula security, and broader Eurasian security.","sourceName":"[straitstimes.com](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/swiss-foreign-minister-discusses-security-issues-with-north-korea), [arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Reuters/status/2116228787176104434","claim":"Swiss foreign minister discusses security issues with North Korea https://t.co/kVFuO248Vo","author":"@Reuters"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Politico reported that grassroots groups are making a last-ditch, long-shot effort to unseat Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in New York's 11th Congressional District.","sourceName":"Politico NAMES: Malliotakis = Nicole Malliotakis, Republican U.S. representative from New York.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/politico/status/2116229225233440830","claim":"‘A long shot:’ Grassroots groups make a last-ditch effort to unseat Malliotakis https://t.co/FdDs7zJMLh","author":"@politico"},{"verdict":"MISLEADING","summary":"The six Peter Jackson Middle-earth films have grossed roughly $5.9 billion worldwide, and Tolkien did sell film rights to United Artists in 1969, reportedly for about £100,000 to pay a tax bill. But the “heirs received nothing” line omits that the Tolkien estate sued New Line Cinema and reached a settlement in 2009 giving the family a share.","sourceName":"BBC News (settlement reporting); Box Office Mojo (box office) NAMES: United Artists = film studio that bought the LOTR rights; New Line Cinema = studio that pro","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Benderxxx7/status/2114362901720969446","claim":"The Lord of the Rings films made nearly $6 billion. According to Tolkien’s heirs, they received nothing. In 1969, J.R.R. Tolkien sold the film rights to his books to United Artists. He was 77, and he reportedly needed money for a tax bill. His deal included a share of the films’ ","author":"Bender (@Benderxxx7)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Brianna Long, a 21-year-old Valdosta State student, was killed by gunfire outside The Pier bar in Remerton, Georgia, early on Oct. 29, 2023; reports said a gunfight broke out and bullets hit her as she closed the bar. I could not independently confirm the current trial status.","sourceName":"AP News / WALB NAMES: Valdosta State = Valdosta State University; Remerton = small city in Georgia near Valdosta.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/Kentuckygirl1/status/2115973871107002723","claim":"3 years ago today. Still no trial? Brianna Long, 21, was a senior studying dental hygiene at Valdosta State. 2:30am, Oct. 29, 2023, she was closing The Pier bar in Remerton, GA. A gunfight broke out outside. Bullets tore through the bar and killed her. A co-worker was also https:","author":"Kentucky Girl (@Kentuckygirl1)"},{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Records including a 1978 rape prosecution against Cledith Arthur, contemporary newspaper coverage, and public statements from Amy Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, corroborate Amy Acton's account of childhood sexual abuse.","sourceName":"The Columbus Dispatch / Cleveland.com NAMES: Amy Acton = former Ohio Department of Health director; Cledith Arthur = her stepfather.","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/robbi_fahey/status/2113808786540409140","claim":"What records show about Amy Acton’s account of childhood sexual abuse Amy Acton’s account is supported by a documented 1978 rape prosecution against her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, contemporary newspaper coverage, and public statements from her brother, Philip Stearns. Arthur","author":"Robbi F (@robbi_fahey)"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/Reuters/status/2116228787176104434","name":"[straitstimes.com](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/swiss-foreign-minister-discusses-security-issues-with-north-korea), [arabnews.com](https://www.arabnews.com","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"@Reuters"},{"url":"https://x.com/politico/status/2116229225233440830","name":"Politico NAMES: Malliotakis = Nicole Malliotakis, Republican U.S. representative from New York.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"@politico"},{"url":"https://x.com/Benderxxx7/status/2114362901720969446","name":"BBC News (settlement reporting); Box Office Mojo (box office) NAMES: United Artists = film studio that bought the LOTR rights; New Line Cinema = studio that pro","kind":"x","verdict":"MISLEADING","author":"Bender (@Benderxxx7)"},{"url":"https://x.com/Kentuckygirl1/status/2115973871107002723","name":"AP News / WALB NAMES: Valdosta State = Valdosta State University; Remerton = small city in Georgia near Valdosta.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Kentucky Girl (@Kentuckygirl1)"},{"url":"https://x.com/robbi_fahey/status/2113808786540409140","name":"The Columbus Dispatch / Cleveland.com NAMES: Amy Acton = former Ohio Department of Health director; Cledith Arthur = her stepfather.","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Robbi F (@robbi_fahey)"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793383702987-news-segment-swiss-minister-reopens-pyongyang-office","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/news","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793383702987-news-segment-swiss-minister-reopens-pyongyang-office","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1793383702987-news-segment-swiss-minister-reopens-pyongyang-office and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Bella","text":"Switzerland just reopened its diplomatic office in Pyongyang, and its foreign minister is there right now."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Great. The chocolate and watches people are cozying up to Kim Jong Un."},{"host":"Bella","text":"It's not cozying up. Ignazio Cassis met North Korea's foreign minister to talk security."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Security. That's what they call it when you sit down with a dictator who has nukes."},{"host":"Bella","text":"You can't denuclearize a country you refuse to talk to. Engagement isn't endorsement."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Tell that to the people in the prison camps. Dialogue hasn't changed a thing there."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And isolation has changed even less. The office closed in 2020 over COVID. Now it's back."},{"host":"Brian","text":"So now Pyongyang gets a European stamp of approval. That's a propaganda win."},{"host":"Bella","text":"A stamp of approval? They're opening a communication channel. Cassis also met a Workers' Party secretary."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Oh, come on. The Workers' Party runs the camps. You're shaking hands with the jailers."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And how do you expect to ever get anyone out of those camps if no one will talk to the people in charge?"},{"host":"Brian","text":"You don't get them out by giving the regime a photo op in Geneva!"},{"host":"Bella","text":"This isn't a photo op. It's Switzerland doing what it does best: staying neutral and keeping lines open."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Okay, but at least they briefed Seoul after. That's something."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Yes, they did. South Korea's security director said he appreciated Switzerland keeping contact with Pyongyang."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I still think it's naive. But maybe a little naivety is better than another war."},{"host":"Bella","text":"That's the most backhanded compliment I've heard all day."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I'm full of them. So we agree to disagree on the Swiss approach."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Fine. But one more thing: Cassis is now in South Korea. That's the balancing act."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Right. Talk to both sides. Maybe that's the way."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Meanwhile, in New York, a different kind of fight."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Politico reports grassroots groups are making a last-ditch effort to unseat Nicole Malliotakis in New York's eleventh district."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Malliotakis? She's been pretty safe. That's a long shot if I ever heard one."},{"host":"Brian","text":"That's literally what Politico calls it: a long shot. But these groups are spending real money and time."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Money that could go to swing districts where a few thousand votes actually matter. Why throw it at Staten Island?"},{"host":"Brian","text":"Because you never know. Turnout shifts, a bad debate, a scandal. Long shots hit sometimes."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Name one long shot that hit in a district like that recently."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Okay, not recently, but it happens. And these groups are mostly volunteers, not big donors. They care."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Caring doesn't flip a district that voted for Trump by double digits."},{"host":"Brian","text":"But the district also has a lot of working-class Democrats. It's not impossible."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Working-class Democrats who voted for Malliotakis because they liked her law-and-order message. Not exactly a revolution waiting."},{"host":"Brian","text":"So you think they should just give up and let her have the seat forever?"},{"host":"Bella","text":"I think they should pick winnable fights. Save the energy for a race that can actually change the balance."},{"host":"Brian","text":"There's no such thing as a sure thing. The only way to find out is to run."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And lose, by twenty points, and then complain about money in politics."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I'll send you a fruit basket if they come within five points."},{"host":"Bella","text":"I'll hold you to that. For now, we'll watch and see."},{"host":"Bella","text":"And a reminder that the courts can be brutal: a post marking three years since Brianna Long was killed in Georgia. No trial yet."},{"host":"Brian","text":"I saw that. The post describes a 21-year-old student closing a bar when bullets from a gunfight outside came through the wall."},{"host":"Bella","text":"The post asks why no trial. We couldn't confirm the status, but the case itself is real and tragic."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Court backlogs are real. Witnesses, evidence, motions. It's not always simple."},{"host":"Bella","text":"Three years is a long time for a family to wait for justice. Not simple, but still hard."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Absolutely. But we don't know the details. Could be a complex case with multiple shooters."},{"host":"Bella","text":"True. But it's worth remembering the people behind the docket numbers."},{"host":"Brian","text":"Yeah. Brianna Long. Twenty-one. That's the story."}]}