WAR North Korea Main Thread - All things Korea April 27th - May 4th
minkykat
Komplainy Kat
I tell you right now all and every available bbq cart, noodle vendor and soju drinking tent owner needs to report to the border and start cooking up a storm with fans behind them to push the scent over the DMZ.
It's time for the NK to breathe and eat free!
Possible Impact
TB Fanatic
^ Lilbitsnana, it showed up just fine for me. 
Steve Herman Verified account @W7VOA 9m
Two more nominations sent to Senate by @WhiteHouse.
^^^ Who knew we have an Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
at the Department of the Treasury?
Steve Herman Verified account @W7VOA 9m
Two more nominations sent to Senate by @WhiteHouse.
^^^ Who knew we have an Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
at the Department of the Treasury?
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
^ Lilbitsnana, it showed up just fine for me.
Steve Herman Verified account @W7VOA 9m
Two more nominations sent to Senate by @WhiteHouse.
^^^ Who knew we have an Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
at the Department of the Treasury?
It's how they hunt the financing down. Friend of mine was the team leader of the Jamaican Drug Task Force team that traced finances around the world and believe me it was around the WHOLE WORLD
minkykat
Komplainy Kat
If I were a disgruntled and newly awakened General in the NK, now, with friends nearby, (US), would be the time to go coup city on puddintate's fat ass.
I would love to see a contingent of them dragging Fatboy's lifeless flab to the border and toss it over along with request to meet and agree to a united country.
I would love to see a contingent of them dragging Fatboy's lifeless flab to the border and toss it over along with request to meet and agree to a united country.
Lilbitsnana
On TB every waking moment
^ Lilbitsnana, it showed up just fine for me.
Steve Herman Verified account @W7VOA 9m
Two more nominations sent to Senate by @WhiteHouse.
^^^ Who knew we have an Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
at the Department of the Treasury?
Thanks, PI.
Even though I posted it, I can't see it, so I wasn't sure.
ETA: apparently, your post has a pic in it too, but I can't see it.
I did however copy the link when I saw it as I was typing my reply and put it into another tab so that I could see it.
The links from posted images only show visible to me in the reply with quote window when I go to reply, otherwise, the link itself is not visible unless posted separately as a standalone link.
Lilbitsnana
On TB every waking moment
Interesting
Steve HermanVerified account @W7VOA 5m5 minutes ago
There was another 30-minute @POTUS-@AbeShinzo phone call Monday but no readouts and neither country acknowledging.
Steve HermanVerified account @W7VOA 5m5 minutes ago
There was another 30-minute @POTUS-@AbeShinzo phone call Monday but no readouts and neither country acknowledging.
Lilbitsnana
On TB every waking moment
38 North @38NorthNK 2h2 hours ago
Beyond missile tests and military parades, #DPRK's missile infrastructure gives clues as to where the programs are headed.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-2J8OBXgAED6E1.jpg
Beyond missile tests and military parades, #DPRK's missile infrastructure gives clues as to where the programs are headed.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-2J8OBXgAED6E1.jpg
Attachments
Zoner
Veteran Member
Jim Rickards: "China moving Korean interpreters to border in preparation for exodus of North Koreans. This war is coming fast."
http://bit.ly/2p2BhN3
https://twitter.com/JamesGRickards?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
http://bit.ly/2p2BhN3
https://twitter.com/JamesGRickards?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
auxman
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit...
PSYOPS meant to discombobulate the collective...
Midlander2
Senior Member
Steve Herman @W7VOA (11 minutes ago)
Unclear "if this activity indicates that a nuclear test has been cancelled, the facility is in stand-by mode or that a test is imminent."
Steve Herman @W7VOA
Apparent resumption of activity (e.g., the pumping out of water) at North Portal where #DPRK seems to have been preparing for #nuclear test.
Unclear "if this activity indicates that a nuclear test has been cancelled, the facility is in stand-by mode or that a test is imminent."
Steve Herman @W7VOA
Apparent resumption of activity (e.g., the pumping out of water) at North Portal where #DPRK seems to have been preparing for #nuclear test.
Warm Wisconsin
Easy as 3.141592653589..
I believe this is the second time they pumped water from the tunnel, since they buried the nuke. Could just be maintenance
TidesofTruth
Veteran Member
deleted
Warm Wisconsin
Easy as 3.141592653589..
House proposes toughest sanctions ever on North Korea nuclear weapons
WASHINGTON — Congress took the first steps Tuesday to impose the toughest sanctions yet on North Korea and companies from any country, including China, that facilitate its nuclear weapons and missile program.
The bipartisan bill, which seeks to close loopholes in existing sanctions and create new barriers to North Korea’s ability to generate income for its weapons programs, could alienate China, which President Trump is depending on to diffuse the situation.
Some key targets of the proposed sanctions:
• Increase pressure on financial institutions still doing business with North Korea, including shutting off the hermit nation from the U.S. financial system.
• Prohibit goods produced by North Korean forced labor, and sanction foreign employers who use forced labor from the North in places like Russia, Qatar and Kuwait that contribute billions of dollars to the regime of Kim Jong Un.
The bill is expected to go to a House vote by the end of the week, reflecting a new sense of urgency expressed by President Trump, who has urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to rein in its close ally. Trade with China comprises 90% of North Korea’s commerce.
North Korea has tested two nuclear weapons and launched a record 26 ballistic missiles in 2016 — including one from a submarine, said Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-sponsor of the bill.
In April, North Korea had two failed ballistic missile tests.
“The quick speed with which North Korea’s program is advancing is a “game changer” for our national security,” Royce said.
China: U.S., N. Korea should establish contact, defuse crisis
Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a co-sponsor of the bill, said it would close loopholes in existing sanctions and increase the pressure on the North Korean ruler.
Kim is “exceedingly crafty. His regime has become increasingly effective at evading international sanctions,” Engel said. “When we make sanctions tougher, they come up with new ways to get around them: phony bank account, fake companies overseas, shipments under foreign flags.”
The proposed legislation would dial up sanctions on those who do business with Kim’s murderous regime, Engel said.
“If you buy certain materials, like metals or minerals, from North Korea; if you sell fuel that the North Korean military can use; if you have a role in maintaining overseas bank accounts or insuring the ships Pyongyang uses to evade the law, then you’re going to get caught up in these new sanctions,” he said.
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/101216222/
WASHINGTON — Congress took the first steps Tuesday to impose the toughest sanctions yet on North Korea and companies from any country, including China, that facilitate its nuclear weapons and missile program.
The bipartisan bill, which seeks to close loopholes in existing sanctions and create new barriers to North Korea’s ability to generate income for its weapons programs, could alienate China, which President Trump is depending on to diffuse the situation.
Some key targets of the proposed sanctions:
• Increase pressure on financial institutions still doing business with North Korea, including shutting off the hermit nation from the U.S. financial system.
• Prohibit goods produced by North Korean forced labor, and sanction foreign employers who use forced labor from the North in places like Russia, Qatar and Kuwait that contribute billions of dollars to the regime of Kim Jong Un.
The bill is expected to go to a House vote by the end of the week, reflecting a new sense of urgency expressed by President Trump, who has urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to rein in its close ally. Trade with China comprises 90% of North Korea’s commerce.
North Korea has tested two nuclear weapons and launched a record 26 ballistic missiles in 2016 — including one from a submarine, said Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-sponsor of the bill.
In April, North Korea had two failed ballistic missile tests.
“The quick speed with which North Korea’s program is advancing is a “game changer” for our national security,” Royce said.
China: U.S., N. Korea should establish contact, defuse crisis
Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a co-sponsor of the bill, said it would close loopholes in existing sanctions and increase the pressure on the North Korean ruler.
Kim is “exceedingly crafty. His regime has become increasingly effective at evading international sanctions,” Engel said. “When we make sanctions tougher, they come up with new ways to get around them: phony bank account, fake companies overseas, shipments under foreign flags.”
The proposed legislation would dial up sanctions on those who do business with Kim’s murderous regime, Engel said.
“If you buy certain materials, like metals or minerals, from North Korea; if you sell fuel that the North Korean military can use; if you have a role in maintaining overseas bank accounts or insuring the ships Pyongyang uses to evade the law, then you’re going to get caught up in these new sanctions,” he said.
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/101216222/
The problem is Kim has an internal security service that the DDR's Stasi would be envious of...
For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/exporting-north-koreas-nukes/
Exporting North Korea’s nukes
2 May 2017|Chris Douglas
The United States has announced that it’s reserving the option of military force to prevent North Korea acquiring the means to deliver a nuclear warhead using a long range ballistic missile. It’s time to check our thinking about what North Korea’s counterattack response might be. Not all of the DPRK’s potential responses, nor their potential impacts, are being discussed.
Current assessments of North Korea’s ability to attack the US are based on the assumption that delivery of a nuclear weapon is dependent on missile technology. But North Korea already has a system capable of delivering nuclear weapons anywhere—it’s just not rocket powered.
Globalisation’s been driven in part by the development of technology. One of the most significant developments was the invention of shipping containers. Designed for peaceful and lawful purposes, they’ve been used—and continue to be used—as instruments of crime, to move narcotics, weapons, stolen property, and humans around the world. They could also be used to deliver nuclear weapons. They’re the perfect intercontinental mobile ballistic ‘missile’ system. A nuclear weapon placed inside a container could be delivered to any country and to any city, including those far from sea ports, using trains or trucks. And they cannot be destroyed by anti-ballistic missile systems being deployed by the US.
Many military strategists assume that North Korea’s hidden its nuclear weapons deep underground to protect them from an attack by the US. Hiding the weapons deep underground would make sense if the North Korean strategy were to protect them from destruction, and if the American objective was merely to destroy them and North Korea’s capacity to produce more. But if the US intended to remove the regime, then hiding nuclear weapons would make no sense from the perspective of the North Korean leadership. Its senior leaders, especially the paranoid President, will assume that any attack by the US will have removal of the government as one of its objectives. Even if regime change wasn’t the US objective, the leadership would still feel threatened. With nothing to lose, it makes sound strategic sense for the North Koreans to respond to any attack in a way that not only cripples the US but the world economy as well.
Nuclear weapons could be smuggled out of North Korea via China, or by fishing vessel or diesel electric submarine, and then be placed into containers on a cargo ship for transport to a port anywhere in the world. Concealing the weapons would be easy with 3,000 free trade zones around the world, many in countries with high levels of corruption, where goods can be rebadged and re-invoiced, with little or no scrutiny from a competent authority. North Korea’s knowledge of world trade systems, with help from countries friendly to it, has enabled it to evade the full impact of sanctions for years, allowing it to develop missile systems and for the regime to remain in power.
If the Pong Su, a North Korean freighter could drop a large quantity of narcotics off the Australian coast near a major city, a fanatical regime facing extinction at the hands of a deeply hated enemy wouldn’t think twice about sending a container bearing a nuclear device into the US or an allied country and detonating it. Alternatively, similar to the use of Japanese midget submarines to attack Sydney harbour during World War 2, North Korea could sail a nuclear bomb laden diesel electric submarine into an American or Australian port and explode the weapon.
North Korea understands that the US and the world economy would be crippled by a nuclear counterattack. And it further appreciates that just the threat of shipping containers bearing nuclear weapons sitting in locations around the world awaiting detonation by its agents would cause the US to think twice about attacking it. Such an action would result in the US and its allies diverting resources to search for and find the weapons, or taking pains to confirm their non-existence.
With over 17 million shipping containers in circulation, weaponised containers would be hard to detect. The large number means that thousands could be deployed as decoys, increasing the chances that the few carrying nuclear weapons are successfully delivered and exploded.
It’s imperative that the US treads carefully and does not plan any attack on North Korea on the assumption that it’s going to respond like a text book enemy. The North Korean leadership has shown that, while it appears irrational, it’s smart and ruthless. And it’ll respond accordingly when attacked. A failure in imagination in any assessment of North Korea’s options to respond to a US attack could have a devastating impact not only on the United States of America but the entire world, involving a significant loss of life and global economic ruin.
AUTHOR
Chris Douglas owns Malkara Consulting, which specialises in training and advice on financial crime including money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption and bribery and financial investigations. He served with the Australian Army and later with the Australian Federal Police for over 31 years. Image courtesy of Pixabay user janmarcust.
Posted for fair use.....
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/exporting-north-koreas-nukes/
Exporting North Korea’s nukes
2 May 2017|Chris Douglas
The United States has announced that it’s reserving the option of military force to prevent North Korea acquiring the means to deliver a nuclear warhead using a long range ballistic missile. It’s time to check our thinking about what North Korea’s counterattack response might be. Not all of the DPRK’s potential responses, nor their potential impacts, are being discussed.
Current assessments of North Korea’s ability to attack the US are based on the assumption that delivery of a nuclear weapon is dependent on missile technology. But North Korea already has a system capable of delivering nuclear weapons anywhere—it’s just not rocket powered.
Globalisation’s been driven in part by the development of technology. One of the most significant developments was the invention of shipping containers. Designed for peaceful and lawful purposes, they’ve been used—and continue to be used—as instruments of crime, to move narcotics, weapons, stolen property, and humans around the world. They could also be used to deliver nuclear weapons. They’re the perfect intercontinental mobile ballistic ‘missile’ system. A nuclear weapon placed inside a container could be delivered to any country and to any city, including those far from sea ports, using trains or trucks. And they cannot be destroyed by anti-ballistic missile systems being deployed by the US.
Many military strategists assume that North Korea’s hidden its nuclear weapons deep underground to protect them from an attack by the US. Hiding the weapons deep underground would make sense if the North Korean strategy were to protect them from destruction, and if the American objective was merely to destroy them and North Korea’s capacity to produce more. But if the US intended to remove the regime, then hiding nuclear weapons would make no sense from the perspective of the North Korean leadership. Its senior leaders, especially the paranoid President, will assume that any attack by the US will have removal of the government as one of its objectives. Even if regime change wasn’t the US objective, the leadership would still feel threatened. With nothing to lose, it makes sound strategic sense for the North Koreans to respond to any attack in a way that not only cripples the US but the world economy as well.
Nuclear weapons could be smuggled out of North Korea via China, or by fishing vessel or diesel electric submarine, and then be placed into containers on a cargo ship for transport to a port anywhere in the world. Concealing the weapons would be easy with 3,000 free trade zones around the world, many in countries with high levels of corruption, where goods can be rebadged and re-invoiced, with little or no scrutiny from a competent authority. North Korea’s knowledge of world trade systems, with help from countries friendly to it, has enabled it to evade the full impact of sanctions for years, allowing it to develop missile systems and for the regime to remain in power.
If the Pong Su, a North Korean freighter could drop a large quantity of narcotics off the Australian coast near a major city, a fanatical regime facing extinction at the hands of a deeply hated enemy wouldn’t think twice about sending a container bearing a nuclear device into the US or an allied country and detonating it. Alternatively, similar to the use of Japanese midget submarines to attack Sydney harbour during World War 2, North Korea could sail a nuclear bomb laden diesel electric submarine into an American or Australian port and explode the weapon.
North Korea understands that the US and the world economy would be crippled by a nuclear counterattack. And it further appreciates that just the threat of shipping containers bearing nuclear weapons sitting in locations around the world awaiting detonation by its agents would cause the US to think twice about attacking it. Such an action would result in the US and its allies diverting resources to search for and find the weapons, or taking pains to confirm their non-existence.
With over 17 million shipping containers in circulation, weaponised containers would be hard to detect. The large number means that thousands could be deployed as decoys, increasing the chances that the few carrying nuclear weapons are successfully delivered and exploded.
It’s imperative that the US treads carefully and does not plan any attack on North Korea on the assumption that it’s going to respond like a text book enemy. The North Korean leadership has shown that, while it appears irrational, it’s smart and ruthless. And it’ll respond accordingly when attacked. A failure in imagination in any assessment of North Korea’s options to respond to a US attack could have a devastating impact not only on the United States of America but the entire world, involving a significant loss of life and global economic ruin.
AUTHOR
Chris Douglas owns Malkara Consulting, which specialises in training and advice on financial crime including money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption and bribery and financial investigations. He served with the Australian Army and later with the Australian Federal Police for over 31 years. Image courtesy of Pixabay user janmarcust.
Lilbitsnana
On TB every waking moment
PI, you know the drill. There are lots of images with this link, so if not visible to anyone, if someone could post them to where they are, I would appreciate it. 
38 North @38NorthNK 2h2 hours ago
Activity continues throughout North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: http://bit.ly/2ptTVjy
posted for fair use
http://38north.org/2017/05/punggye050217/
North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Activity Continues Throughout the Site
|
| |
By 38 North
02 May 2017
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Jack Liu.
Commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility from April 25 indicates an apparent resumption of activity (e.g., the pumping out of water) at the North Portal—the tunnel that North Korea seems to have been preparing for a nuclear test over the past few weeks—to maintain an optimal environment for instrumentation and stemming. Several probable mining carts appear to be present, although there does not seem to have been any significant dumping of new material on the spoil pile. The netting canopy previously sighted over probable equipment near the North Portal’s support building remains in place, but no vehicles or personnel are readily visible in the area.
Figure 1. Some activity still seen around the North Portal.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.
Figure 2. Probable mining carts seen on the North Portal’s spoil pile, though no signs of recent dumping.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.
Numerous personnel are present in both the northern and southern courtyards of the Main Administrative Area. In the northern courtyard, the personnel are possibly engaged in a volleyball game. In the southern courtyard, what appears to be a small tarp-covered stack of supplies or equipment, sighted in previous imagery, is present. At the South Portal, personnel are visible outside the secondary portal.
Figure 3. Large groups of personnel seen in the main administrative area.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.
Figure 4. Personnel seen outside the second tunnel entrance of the South Portal.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.
Further to the south, groups of individuals are seen in the courtyard of the Command Center Area and at the Guard Barracks, also possibly engaged in volleyball games. There are personnel also on the road between the two locations; however, no vehicles are readily visible on the main access road of the facility.
Figure 5. Personnel seen at the Command Center Area.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.
Figure 6. Personnel seen in front of the Guard Barracks.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.
Based on satellite imagery alone, it is unclear if this activity indicates that a nuclear test has been cancelled, the facility is in stand-by mode or that a test is imminent. The presence of a large number of people dispersed throughout the facility in the latest image, however, is unusual and almost assuredly a component of an overall North Korean deception and propaganda effort and the result of international media reporting on 38 North’s sightings of volleyball courts and games in progress on April 19 and 21.
38 North @38NorthNK 2h2 hours ago
Activity continues throughout North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: http://bit.ly/2ptTVjy
posted for fair use
http://38north.org/2017/05/punggye050217/
North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Activity Continues Throughout the Site
|
| | By 38 North
02 May 2017
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Jack Liu.
Commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility from April 25 indicates an apparent resumption of activity (e.g., the pumping out of water) at the North Portal—the tunnel that North Korea seems to have been preparing for a nuclear test over the past few weeks—to maintain an optimal environment for instrumentation and stemming. Several probable mining carts appear to be present, although there does not seem to have been any significant dumping of new material on the spoil pile. The netting canopy previously sighted over probable equipment near the North Portal’s support building remains in place, but no vehicles or personnel are readily visible in the area.
Figure 1. Some activity still seen around the North Portal.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.Figure 2. Probable mining carts seen on the North Portal’s spoil pile, though no signs of recent dumping.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.Numerous personnel are present in both the northern and southern courtyards of the Main Administrative Area. In the northern courtyard, the personnel are possibly engaged in a volleyball game. In the southern courtyard, what appears to be a small tarp-covered stack of supplies or equipment, sighted in previous imagery, is present. At the South Portal, personnel are visible outside the secondary portal.
Figure 3. Large groups of personnel seen in the main administrative area.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.Figure 4. Personnel seen outside the second tunnel entrance of the South Portal.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.Further to the south, groups of individuals are seen in the courtyard of the Command Center Area and at the Guard Barracks, also possibly engaged in volleyball games. There are personnel also on the road between the two locations; however, no vehicles are readily visible on the main access road of the facility.
Figure 5. Personnel seen at the Command Center Area.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.Figure 6. Personnel seen in front of the Guard Barracks.
Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2017. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.Based on satellite imagery alone, it is unclear if this activity indicates that a nuclear test has been cancelled, the facility is in stand-by mode or that a test is imminent. The presence of a large number of people dispersed throughout the facility in the latest image, however, is unusual and almost assuredly a component of an overall North Korean deception and propaganda effort and the result of international media reporting on 38 North’s sightings of volleyball courts and games in progress on April 19 and 21.
Vegas321
Live free and survive
Again, big DOT. Don't think they are talking about Obama care.
BTW, I don't really believe the story about the Norks army revolting. I think it's dis-info ATM...
minkykat
Komplainy Kat
We can hope, can't we?
Lilbitsnana
On TB every waking moment
Neither do I, especially since as I pointed out when I had posted the same info earlier (post #335 I) that it was info based on the January article and TerryK pointed out to me later that the guy doing the tweeting is a big pro-unification guy and his info is about 90/10 rumor vs fact.
almost ready
Inactive
THose NorK photos are impressive. Sounds like Trump has spoken with Xi, Putin, and Abe all this week... and probably Duarte, too, although I lost track of exactly when they talked. Must have Kim's head spinning, wondering if he's being sold down the river.
Thanks, all, for the great reporting, and clarifications.
Thanks, all, for the great reporting, and clarifications.
who knows if this report is accurate, but worth adding to the mix. just came out.
China issued 'last warning' to N. Korea over nukes: Chinese social media
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/05/103_228717.html
By Eom Da-sol
China has sent a final warning to North Korea over its military provocations, according to unconfirmed rumors spreading widely on Chinese social media Tuesday.
Chinese news outlets have previously said Beijing could turn its back on Pyongyang if the latter conducted a sixth nuclear test. But the rumor that China has given North Korea a final warning has drawn particular interest from Weibo users.
The rumor cited the May issue of Hong Kong monthly news outlet Dong Xiang. It said a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs junior minister invited Park Myung-ho, an official of North Korea, for a meeting.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting and asked his junior to read aloud the warning to the North over the nuclear test. The memorandum mentioned that China will condemn strongly, pull back on all economic cooperation and even blockade North Korea if it conducted the test.
A Chinese netizen said: "Maybe the bond between the nations is not that strong as we thought. North Korea is completely surrounded by enemies now."
The Chinese government did not provide any explanation or correction to the rumor.
China issued 'last warning' to N. Korea over nukes: Chinese social media
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/05/103_228717.html
By Eom Da-sol
China has sent a final warning to North Korea over its military provocations, according to unconfirmed rumors spreading widely on Chinese social media Tuesday.
Chinese news outlets have previously said Beijing could turn its back on Pyongyang if the latter conducted a sixth nuclear test. But the rumor that China has given North Korea a final warning has drawn particular interest from Weibo users.
The rumor cited the May issue of Hong Kong monthly news outlet Dong Xiang. It said a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs junior minister invited Park Myung-ho, an official of North Korea, for a meeting.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting and asked his junior to read aloud the warning to the North over the nuclear test. The memorandum mentioned that China will condemn strongly, pull back on all economic cooperation and even blockade North Korea if it conducted the test.
A Chinese netizen said: "Maybe the bond between the nations is not that strong as we thought. North Korea is completely surrounded by enemies now."
The Chinese government did not provide any explanation or correction to the rumor.
Medical Maven
Deceased
Or a crude nuke to be detonated inside a "suicide" submarine. It would not even have to get very close to cause thousands of deaths from radioactivity, if the winds were right. And it could generate a tsunami or even set off the primed earthquake faults all along the west coast.
Medical Maven
Deceased
Or if the Norks wanted to try a "bank shot", worried about not being able to get close enough to the coast of the U.S. to do great damage, they could do this:
Set off a nuke adjacent to the critical area noted below in the Canary Islands.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatsunami
Set off a nuke adjacent to the critical area noted below in the Canary Islands.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatsunami
MinnesotaSmith
Membership Revoked
Miami, D.C., NYC, Baltimore, and Boston getting nailed?
Think of all the Obama and Bernie voters that would be gone and unmissed. Where do we contribute to this project?
(I know, I know...)
Think of all the Obama and Bernie voters that would be gone and unmissed. Where do we contribute to this project?
(I know, I know...)
nchomemaker
Veteran Member
US Commandos Set to Counter North Korean Nuclear Sites
Neutralizing Pyongyang's nuclear, chemical arms warfighting priority, SOCOM commander says
By Bill Gertz
May 3 2017
U.S. special operations forces are set to conduct operations against North Korean nuclear, missile, and other weapons of mass destruction sites in any future conflict, the commander of Special Operations Command told Congress Tuesday.
Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas stated in testimony to a House subcommittee that Army, Navy, and Air Force commandos are based both permanently and in rotations on the Korean peninsula in case conflict breaks out.
The special operations training and preparation is a warfighting priority, Thomas said in prepared testimony. There are currently around 8,000 special operations troops deployed in more than 80 countries.
"We are actively pursuing a training path to ensure readiness for the entire range of contingency operations in which [special operations forces], to include our exquisite [countering weapons of mass destruction] capabilities, may play a critical role," he told the subcommittee on emerging threats.
"We are looking comprehensively at our force structure and capabilities on the peninsula and across the region to maximize our support to U.S. [Pacific Command] and [U.S. Forces Korea]. This is my warfighting priority for planning and support."
Disclosure of the commander's comments comes as tensions remain high on the peninsula. President Trump has vowed to deal harshly with North Korea should another underground nuclear test be carried out. Test preparations have been identified in recent weeks, U.S. officials have said.
Trump said on Sunday that China appears to be pressuring North Korea but that he would be upset if North Korea carries out another nuclear test.
"If he does a nuclear test, I will not be happy," he said on CBS Face the Nation. Asked if his unhappiness would translate into a U.S. military response, Trump said: "I don't know. I mean, we'll see."
Gen. Thomas' testimony did not include details of what missions the commandos would carry out.
A spokesman for the Special Operations Command referred questions about potential operations in Korea to the Pacific Command.
Special forces troops would be responsible for locating and destroying North Korean nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems, such as mobile missiles. They also would seek to prevent the movement of the weapons out of the country during a conflict.
Special operations missions are said by military experts to include intelligence gathering on the location of nuclear and chemical weapons sites for targeting by bombers. They also are likely to include direct action assaults on facilities to sabotage the weapons, or to prevent the weapons from being stolen, or set off at the sites by the North Koreans.
A defense official said U.S. commandos in the past have trained for covert operations against several types of nuclear facilities, including reactors and research centers. Scale models of some North Korean weapons facilities have been built in the United States for practice operations by commandos.
The most secret direct action operations would be carried out by special units, such as the Navy's Seal Team Six or the Army's Delta Force.
Thomas said the command in January took over the role of coordinating Pentagon efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction from the Strategic Command. The mission includes stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction and dealing with the aftermath of such weapons' use.
North Korea is believed to have around 20 nuclear devices and is developing nuclear warheads small enough to be carried on long-range missiles. It also has stockpiles of chemical weapons and biological warfare agents.
Many of North Korea's nuclear facilities are believed to be located underground in fortified locations spread around the country.
The last rotation of special operations forces to South Korea took place in February when parts of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 75th Ranger Regiment joined South Korean troops for training.
The training took place in mountainous parts of South Korea in a bid to simulate the rough terrain commandos would experience during operations in North Korea. Other training took place on the seas.
Gen. Thomas, in his testimony, identified North Korea as one of five "current and enduring" military threats outlined in a new military strategy produced by Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The four other threats are terrorism, Russia, Iran, and China.
Asked about the new strategy, a Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman said the latest national military strategy is secret. "A classified [National Military Strategy] will make it more difficult for adversaries to develop counter-strategies and also enables the chairman to give the best military advice to the president and secretary of defense," Navy Capt. Greg Hicks said.
The command "has recently focused more intently on the emerging threat that is of growing concern to us as well as most of our DoD teammates—the nuclear threat of an increasingly rogue North Korea," Thomas said.
"Although previously viewed as a regional threat, North Korea's relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, facilitated by a trans-regional network of commercial, military, and political connections, make it a threat with global implications," the four-star general added.
South Korea's special operations forces are said to be highly trained but lack the advanced equipment used by American commandos, such as stealth helicopters and aircraft as well as other high technology and advanced weaponry.
A Pentagon report on North Korea's military published in February 2016 states that North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program.
The North Koreans announced in September 2015 that the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon including a uranium enrichment plant and a reactor that were upgraded for the purpose of building nuclear forces, the report said.
Pacific Command commander Adm. Harry Harris said in congressional testimony last week that North Korea is an immediate threat to the security of the United States and the Asia Pacific region.
"With every test, Kim Jong Un moves closer to his stated goal of a preemptive nuclear strike capability against American cities, and he's not afraid to fail in public," Harris said.
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/us-commandos-set-counter-north-korean-nuclear-sites/
Neutralizing Pyongyang's nuclear, chemical arms warfighting priority, SOCOM commander says
By Bill Gertz
May 3 2017
U.S. special operations forces are set to conduct operations against North Korean nuclear, missile, and other weapons of mass destruction sites in any future conflict, the commander of Special Operations Command told Congress Tuesday.
Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas stated in testimony to a House subcommittee that Army, Navy, and Air Force commandos are based both permanently and in rotations on the Korean peninsula in case conflict breaks out.
The special operations training and preparation is a warfighting priority, Thomas said in prepared testimony. There are currently around 8,000 special operations troops deployed in more than 80 countries.
"We are actively pursuing a training path to ensure readiness for the entire range of contingency operations in which [special operations forces], to include our exquisite [countering weapons of mass destruction] capabilities, may play a critical role," he told the subcommittee on emerging threats.
"We are looking comprehensively at our force structure and capabilities on the peninsula and across the region to maximize our support to U.S. [Pacific Command] and [U.S. Forces Korea]. This is my warfighting priority for planning and support."
Disclosure of the commander's comments comes as tensions remain high on the peninsula. President Trump has vowed to deal harshly with North Korea should another underground nuclear test be carried out. Test preparations have been identified in recent weeks, U.S. officials have said.
Trump said on Sunday that China appears to be pressuring North Korea but that he would be upset if North Korea carries out another nuclear test.
"If he does a nuclear test, I will not be happy," he said on CBS Face the Nation. Asked if his unhappiness would translate into a U.S. military response, Trump said: "I don't know. I mean, we'll see."
Gen. Thomas' testimony did not include details of what missions the commandos would carry out.
A spokesman for the Special Operations Command referred questions about potential operations in Korea to the Pacific Command.
Special forces troops would be responsible for locating and destroying North Korean nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems, such as mobile missiles. They also would seek to prevent the movement of the weapons out of the country during a conflict.
Special operations missions are said by military experts to include intelligence gathering on the location of nuclear and chemical weapons sites for targeting by bombers. They also are likely to include direct action assaults on facilities to sabotage the weapons, or to prevent the weapons from being stolen, or set off at the sites by the North Koreans.
A defense official said U.S. commandos in the past have trained for covert operations against several types of nuclear facilities, including reactors and research centers. Scale models of some North Korean weapons facilities have been built in the United States for practice operations by commandos.
The most secret direct action operations would be carried out by special units, such as the Navy's Seal Team Six or the Army's Delta Force.
Thomas said the command in January took over the role of coordinating Pentagon efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction from the Strategic Command. The mission includes stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction and dealing with the aftermath of such weapons' use.
North Korea is believed to have around 20 nuclear devices and is developing nuclear warheads small enough to be carried on long-range missiles. It also has stockpiles of chemical weapons and biological warfare agents.
Many of North Korea's nuclear facilities are believed to be located underground in fortified locations spread around the country.
The last rotation of special operations forces to South Korea took place in February when parts of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 75th Ranger Regiment joined South Korean troops for training.
The training took place in mountainous parts of South Korea in a bid to simulate the rough terrain commandos would experience during operations in North Korea. Other training took place on the seas.
Gen. Thomas, in his testimony, identified North Korea as one of five "current and enduring" military threats outlined in a new military strategy produced by Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The four other threats are terrorism, Russia, Iran, and China.
Asked about the new strategy, a Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman said the latest national military strategy is secret. "A classified [National Military Strategy] will make it more difficult for adversaries to develop counter-strategies and also enables the chairman to give the best military advice to the president and secretary of defense," Navy Capt. Greg Hicks said.
The command "has recently focused more intently on the emerging threat that is of growing concern to us as well as most of our DoD teammates—the nuclear threat of an increasingly rogue North Korea," Thomas said.
"Although previously viewed as a regional threat, North Korea's relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, facilitated by a trans-regional network of commercial, military, and political connections, make it a threat with global implications," the four-star general added.
South Korea's special operations forces are said to be highly trained but lack the advanced equipment used by American commandos, such as stealth helicopters and aircraft as well as other high technology and advanced weaponry.
A Pentagon report on North Korea's military published in February 2016 states that North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program.
The North Koreans announced in September 2015 that the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon including a uranium enrichment plant and a reactor that were upgraded for the purpose of building nuclear forces, the report said.
Pacific Command commander Adm. Harry Harris said in congressional testimony last week that North Korea is an immediate threat to the security of the United States and the Asia Pacific region.
"With every test, Kim Jong Un moves closer to his stated goal of a preemptive nuclear strike capability against American cities, and he's not afraid to fail in public," Harris said.
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/us-commandos-set-counter-north-korean-nuclear-sites/
Medical Maven
Deceased
Think of all the Obama and Bernie voters that would be gone and unmissed. Where do we contribute to this project?
(I know, I know...)
Might as well go for the whole enchilada. The Norks could have two suicide submarines or container ships. One for the radioactive/tsunami effect off LA or Seattle and the other for the Canary Islands, detonated simultaneously.
Medical Maven
Deceased
And such musings may be as much behind the effort to take down Kim as any "on the horizon" ICBM development by the Norks.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
MinnesotaSmith, you're a Geologist, IIRC.
What is the probability that a sub-megaton nuke could actually trigger an earthquake, if set off at the surface of the earth? How about if drilled down a couple kilometers (if we have drilling rigs that go that deep...and can be used covertly since we're talking about a damn big hole to drop a big enough bomb into)?
What is the probability that a sub-megaton nuke could actually trigger an earthquake, if set off at the surface of the earth? How about if drilled down a couple kilometers (if we have drilling rigs that go that deep...and can be used covertly since we're talking about a damn big hole to drop a big enough bomb into)?
When, not if, this goes "hot" there won't be time for air strikes or special forces raiders to do their work. That leaves only one "timely option" I'm sorry to say, one or more of the boomers are going to end up dumping all its tubes onto North Korea.
almost ready
Inactive
Where is Sun Tsu's opening for the retreat? It is critically important that the opponent have an out, a means of escape. Looks like all avenues, except coming to the table diplomatically and resolving this, are being snapped shut.
reference on opening:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-...-opponent-a-golden-bridge-to-retreat-across-”
reference on opening:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-...-opponent-a-golden-bridge-to-retreat-across-”
I would think that placement plays a huge part in this. IIRC, one of the Canary Islands is fractured to the point that a large section of the island could slide into the sea, triggering a very large tsunami that would cause significant damage to the US eastern seaboard. A small nuke might be enough to knock that domino over. On the other hand, even a sizable nuke might not be enough to trigger the San Andreas or the New Madrid, even if it were buried.
Considering the box the Kim regime has placed itself with regards to internal politics that "out" to the negotiating table is very likely a cliff for regime destruction.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Regardless of how many rat holes, canon emplacements, rocket propelled artillery caves, and armor invasion tunnels we have plotted in the southern slopes of the NK Mountains, counter battery fire just is NOT going to be enough to stop the destruction of a huge quantity of SK, and millions dead. Even if we have several destroyers and a COUPLE boomers launching all the HE they can to carpet the south faces of the mountains we aren't going to get the job done with conventional munitions.
OK. So now we're BOTH just darling rays of sunshine this morning.
danielboon
TB Fanatic
this^^^^
IOW: You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd.