ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - April 13, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - April 13, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Tighter EU Immigration Reforms Narrowly Passes
• Portuguese Citizen Convicted Under New Article 23 Law
• Opposition Gains Ground in South Korea During General Elections

Tighter EU Immigration Reforms Narrowly Passes

On April 10, the EU parliament narrowly passed the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which tightens rules on asylum and overall migration into the EU. There are five major areas of reform, including processes that speed up the asylum process and quicken the return of irregular migrants to their home countries. It will also require EU member states to share responsibility for migrants and accept thousands every year or pay other EU states to accept them. Most migrants first enter the southern EU states of Italy, Greece, or Spain, and other EU states will either need to pay them or agree to accept migrants.

Portuguese Citizen Convicted Under New Article 23 Law

On April 12, a Portuguese dual-national became the first European to be convicted under Hong Kong's new national security law known as Article 23. Joseph John was visiting family in Hong Kong and was arrested for posting anti-China content in 2022. John pleaded guilty in February 2024 on charges of "secession," which is illegal under Article 23, which only came into force on March 23.

Opposition Gains Ground in South Korea During General Elections

On April 10, South Korea held its 22nd general election. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) widened its majority in the 300-seat National Assembly, with 175 seats compared to the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) 108 seats. The mid-term elections are traditionally considered a referendum on the incumbent president, and this vote indicated a low level of approval for President Yoon Suk Yeol of the PPP.