ALERT The Winds of War Blow in Korea and The Far East

jward

passin' thru
Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng
@jenniferzeng97

The situation on the Korean Peninsula does not seem to have attracted much attention from Western media. This is South Korean armed helicopters gathering towards the 38th parallel. Meanwhile, recently, North Korea has amended its constitution, defining South Korea as a "hostile" nation, while also abandoning its pledge to unify with South Korea as a national goal.

Previously, according to the North-South Korea agreement reached in 1991, the relationship between the North and South was defined as a "special relationship," part of the process towards eventual unification, rather than a relationship between two nations.

According to the amended North Korean constitution, North Korea and South Korea are now two hostile nations.

Additionally, North Korea has already blown up the roads and railways connecting North and South Korea that were highly symbolic. Before this, the Pyongyang military had vowed to "permanently" seal off the border with South Korea.

rt 30s
View: https://twitter.com/jenniferzeng97/status/1847282965782347962
 

jward

passin' thru
thought I'd read since that China had hit Myanmar a few times, but details escape me and I'm not seeing it again, so
:: shrug ::



China Consulate In Myanmar Hit With Explosive Device: Local Media

By AFP - Agence France Presse
October 19, 2024


China's consulate in Myanmar's city of Mandalay was attacked with an explosive device, local media said Saturday, adding that no deaths or injuries were reported.

The blast occurred at the consulate office in central Mandalay, south of the sprawling Royal Palace, around 7 pm Friday (1230 GMT Friday), local media said.

China is a major ally and arms supplier to Myanmar's junta, but it also maintains ties with ethnic groups fighting the military in Myanmar's northern Shan state, according to analysts.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military deposed the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in 2021.

A statement from the junta on Saturday night blamed "terrorists" for the incident, which it said it was investigating in cooperation with consulate officials.

It said security had found "a blast" had occurred and that it was "raising the necessary security measures".

"About two feet of clay tiles of the roof of the two-storey building were damaged," the statement said.

A Myanmar official in Mandalay confirmed to AFP there had been "an incident at the Chinese consulate office compound in Mandalay late evening yesterday".

"There was no one injured," the official said, without specifying the nature of the incident.

The Irrawaddy outlet reported a grenade had been thrown at the compound, which is usually guarded by members of Myanmar's security forces.

The Voice of Myanmar newspaper reported the consulate had been hit by an unidentified "explosion" without giving details.

China's embassy in Yangon did not respond to AFP's queries.

bur-rma/srg/lb
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info
Xi Jinping called for enhancing the capabilities of China’s missile forces

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated the need to improve the actual combat capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), according to China Central Television.

During a visit to the PLA Rocket Force, the elite unit overseeing China’s nuclear and conventional missiles, Xi gave a commanding speech demanding they “enhance their strategic deterrent and ensure combat readiness at all times.”

'It is necessary to enhance real combat capabilities and strategic deterrence capabilities, and to resolutely fulfill various tasks set by the party and the people,' the television channel quoted the Chinese leader.

The PLA Rocket Force controls nukes and long-range missile capabilities crucial for any conflict, including a potential invasion of Taiwan.

Xi Jinping also emphasized the need for a comprehensive strengthening of combat training, boosting combat readiness, ensuring effective protection of national strategic security and core interests, and adapting to changes in the modern forms and methods of warfare.

Xi’s visit comes just days after Beijing deployed over 100 jets, drones, and warships around Taiwan, signaling an escalation in the ongoing standoff.

China has repeatedly stated it won’t rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control.
 

jward

passin' thru
Visegrád 24
@visegrad24
China’s automated cruise missile factory can produce over 1,000 missile components per day, working in three shifts.

This vast industrial capability could sustain a prolonged war effort, giving China a significant advantage.

While the reported production focuses on components rather than complete missiles, it remains unclear where potential bottlenecks in production may occur.

With multiple factories potentially involved, China’s capacity to mass-produce low-cost, low-reliability missiles could overwhelm adversaries in the 1st island chain, saturating missile defense systems and targeting critical infrastructure.

Given China’s ability to value-engineer and produce on a massive scale, these missiles could be manufactured at a fraction of the cost of U.S. equivalents.

This strategy would allow China to quickly build up missile stockpiles without revealing their true scale, potentially outpacing missile defense capabilities in the region.

The war in Ukraine has shown that being able to produce technologically advanced weapons isn't everything. Quantity is also paramount.

This realization is partly behind the drive to embrace Industrial Policy, both in North America and in Europe.

The West simply needs more factories and assembly lines. rt 2m22
View: https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1848646674773586110
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info
India's Fourth Nuclear-Missile Submarine (SSBN) With 75% Indigenous Content Launched—Here's All About It.

India has prioritized nuclear submarines over the Indian Navy’s third aircraft carrier.

India quietly launched its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) this week at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, enhancing its nuclear deterrence capabilities.

This launch follows the commissioning of the second SSBN, INS Arighat, by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 29 August 2024. The third SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is slated for commissioning next year.

On 9 October, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the construction of two more nuclear-powered attack submarines to bolster India’s presence in the Indo-Pacific.

Although the Modi government has been discreet about its nuclear deterrence strategy, the fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, was launched on 16 October, just a day after Defence Minister Singh inaugurated a Very Low Frequency Naval Station in Vikarabad, Telangana, designed for communication with the Indian Navy’s strategic assets.

The newly launched S4* submarine boasts nearly 75 per cent indigenous content and is equipped with K-4 ballistic missiles, which have a range of 3,500 km and are fired through vertical launching systems.

While the first SSBN, INS Arihant, carries K-15 nuclear missiles with a range of 750 km, the successors, including S4*, are equipped exclusively with K-4 missiles.

These submarines have virtually unlimited range and endurance, with operational limits being defined only by food supplies, crew fatigue, and maintenance needs.

INS Arihant and INS Arighat are already on deep-sea patrols, and India is set to receive a Russian Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine on lease by 2028. In parallel, the sixth diesel-electric Kalvari-class submarine, INS Vagsheer, is expected to be commissioned in December this year.

India’s SSBNs are critical to its strategy against adversaries like China, as aircraft carriers are increasingly vulnerable to Chinese long-range missiles such as the Dong Feng-21 and Dong Feng-26.

Consequently, the government has prioritised nuclear submarines over the Indian Navy’s third aircraft carrier.

Additionally, plans are underway for the construction of three advanced diesel attack submarines in collaboration with the French Naval Group, aiming to strengthen India’s defense in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as PLA warships patrol the area with increasing frequency.

 

jward

passin' thru

jward

passin' thru
might be worth watching all o' the actors in this sphere, things are popping there too :eek:
- unfortunately I can't spare the time at the moment...


Shubham Kumar
@shubhamViral

BREAKING: A fire has erupted at a U.S. military base located in Busan, South Korea. Emergency crews are on the scene to control the blaze and assess any potential damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and there are no immediate reports of injuries. This incident raises concerns regarding safety protocols and the readiness of military facilities.

7:16 AM · Oct 24, 2024
2,226
Views
 

mecoastie

Veteran Member
This is reporting that the building was empty and under renovation


A fire Thursday night consumed a warehouse at the U.S. Army’s Busan Storage Center in Beomil-dong, a section of Busan city in southeastern South Korea, according to local news reports and U.S. Army Garrison Daegu

.The fire of unknown origin was reported at 6:35 p.m. at a warehouse in the center, according to email Thursday night from Daegu garrison spokesman Phil Molter. The garrison called on mutual aid agreements with the Busan Fire Department to fight the blaze, he said.

By 8 p.m. authorities had mobilized as many as 11 fire stations to respond, according to YTN broadcast news. No injuries were reported as of 10 p.m.

The empty warehouse was under renovation and unoccupied when the fire broke out, Molter said.


The U.S. Army established the site as a supply depot at the start of the Korean War in 1950.

Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, is roughly 200 miles southeast of Seoul. The coastal city includes South Korea’s largest port.
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info
Japan Expands Carrier Capabilities With F-35B & Drones

Japan will have two amphibious assault ships modified as fixed-wing fighter carriers, and uncrewed shipborne aircraft may be the next step.

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter has for the first time operated aboard Japan’s biggest in-service warship, the Izumo class ‘multifunctional destroyer’ Kaga.

We have previously reported on the significant modifications made to this ship to ensure it can operate the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jets, which Japan is also acquiring.

At the same time, there are signs that Japan may also be looking to expand the fixed-wing capabilities of this class of vessel, including drones and potentially other crewed platforms.

A Marine Corps F-35B flown by a test pilot from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23) landed aboard Kaga for the first time on October 20, off the southern coast of California.

The vessel is currently embarking an integrated test team as part of the developmental test effort to certify the modified vessel for operating F-35Bs.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, “Data that testers gather during these sea trials will be analyzed and eventually inform decisions to enhance the capabilities of the [Japan] Maritime Self-Defense Force as well as contribute to improved interoperability between Japan and the U.S.”

Modifications included reconfiguring the shape of the vessel’s bow section, making the bow significantly wider, and applying a heat-resistant coating to its deck.

The Phalanx 20mm close-in weapon system (CIWS) previously mounted on the front of the warship was also removed. Subsequently, further modifications involved re-balancing and structurally reinforcing Kaga’s hull.

Japan has previously tested the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B from the deck of a modified Izumo class warship, when the name ship of the class undertook trials in October 2021, as you can read about here. This was the time that Japan had operated fixed-wing aircraft from ships since the end of World War II. A video showing those trials is embedded below.

Izumo was commissioned in 2015 and completed its first phase of modifications in 2021. However, the second phase of modifications, including the Kaga-style squared-off flight deck, are not scheduled to begin until March next year.

Tokyo took the decision to modify its two Izumo class vessels for STOVL operations back in 2018, although there had previously been rumors that a return to fixed-wing carrier aviation was always likely, despite official statements to the contrary.

While officially described as ‘multifunctional destroyers,’ the Izumo class warships were primarily helicopter carriers, prior to the STOVL modifications.

As the tests with U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs suggest, the modifications to the vessels also pave the way to interoperability with American F-35Bs. While this would help maximize the utility of these vessels, especially bearing in mind the JASDF’s relatively small F-35B fleet, there remain questions about the feasibility of longer-term Marine Corps deployments aboard Japan’s carriers.

This is something that also applies to the United Kingdom, which has raised the possibility of embarking Marine Corps F-35Bs more regularly to help boost its carrier strike potential.

What aircraft might join them is somewhat more intriguing.

Last week, at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition in Tokyo, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) presented a rendering showing its carrier-capable Gambit 5 drone — which is based around a common modular core ‘chassis’ concept — operating from an Izumo class warship.

Regarding the Gambit 5 on the Izumo class, C. Mark Brinkley, a General Atomics spokesman, explained to TWZ: “It’s meant to open the discussion with attendees on sea-based options for autonomous collaborative platforms because we see that as a very real opportunity for many nations.”

As to the drone itself, while the Gambit 5 is now also being suggested for short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations from land bases, it was originally developed for shipboard use.

Putting advanced drones on carriers is a growing area of interest right now, with China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States all exploring options of how best to integrate uncrewed platforms, of different sizes, on these warships.

In particular, the potential for smaller aviation-capable vessels to operate drones is being explored, with Turkey notably even seeking to field a carrier that’s specifically tailored to support drones.

Although there is no confirmation at this stage that Japan plans something similar for its smaller Izumo class ships, it would make them able to operate fixed-wing drones, and potentially even other fixed-wing crewed aircraft.

Image
Image
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info

1) #Vietnam builds its 2nd airstrip in disputed #SouthChinaSea Spratly Islands

Maps from Chinese sources show the first segment (415 meters long) of an airstrip as part of land reclamation in Barque Canada Reef, one of the Spratly Islands features occupied by Vietnam.

The size of the land reclamation is large enough for an airstrip possibly long enough for the operation of fighter jets, like 3 Km or so, similar to the Chinese airstrips in the Spratlys.
 

jward

passin' thru
Post
Conversation
Mario Nawfal
@MarioNawfal

UK SENDS BATTLESHIPS TO CHINA’S BACKYARD | "JUST THE BEGINNING"

The Royal Navy’s stepping up in the Indo-Pacific, all eyes on Xi's massive military buildup as he flexes China’s muscles like it’s a game of Risk.

PM Starmer made it clear: the UK’s presence is here to stay, calling this “just the beginning” of a commitment to defend key trade routes and Pacific allies.

With HMS Spey and HMS Tamar on 24/7 patrol and a whole Carrier Strike Group headed for Singapore, the message is blunt: Beijing’s aggression won’t go unchecked.

Meanwhile, Europe’s juggling Ukraine and Xi’s £175 billion military isn’t helping anyone sleep easier.

Source: The Sun
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info

Indonesia again expels China coast guard ship from Natuna Sea

The Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla) once again expelled Chinese coast guard ship CCG-5402 that tried to enter the North Natuna Sea.

Bakamla spokesperson, Captain Yuhanes Antara, informed that the incident occurred on Friday (October 25, 2024).

He said that this was not the first time the CCG-5402 tried to enter Indonesian waters. It has made several such attempts in October 2024, he added.

On Friday, the Chinese vessel not only entered the jurisdiction of Indonesian waters, but also disrupted the Arwana 3D Seismic survey and data processing activities being carried out in the North Natuna Sea by PT Pertamina East Natuna using the MV Geo Coral ship.

"The State Ship (KN) Pulau Dana-323 approached and shadowed the China Coast Guard-5402 ship (CCG-5402), which entered the Indonesian jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea on Friday," Antara informed.

He said that when KN Pulau Dana-323 communicated with CCG-5402 via radio, the Chinese ship said it was patrolling in Chinese jurisdiction and asked the Indonesian vessel to not get too close to maintain safety during shipping.

"However, it was ignored by KN Pulau Dana-323, which worked together with the Indonesian Navy patrol ship KRI Sutedi Senaputra-378 and KRI Bontang-907," he said.

According to the rules, the action taken by KN Pulau Dana-323 was appropriate because the location where the incident took place was not under Chinese jurisdiction.

"Based on UNCLOS 1982, Indonesia's jurisdiction, especially the Indonesian continental shelf in the North Natuna Sea, has received international recognition, where Indonesia has sovereign rights to exploit and explore natural resources in that area without being disturbed by any country," Antara said.

Bakamla will continue to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining security and enforcing the law in Indonesian waters and jurisdiction, in accordance with the instructions of the head of Bakamla, Vice Admiral TNI Dr. Irvansyah.

"Bakamla RI is ready to secure the Indonesian sea for the future of the nation," he said.

Image
 

jward

passin' thru
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
20m

South Korea's Defense Intelligence Agency: North Korea completes preparations to launch ICBM.
 

jward

passin' thru
Yonhap News Agency
@YonhapNews
·
1h
(URGENT) N. Korea finishes unspecified preparations inside Punggyeri nuclear test site: military
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info

Seismic Strife: China and Indonesia clash over Natuna Survey | Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative

The China Coast Guard (CCG) is in its 12th day facing off against Indonesian law enforcement and naval vessels over oil and gas resources in the northern portion of the latter’s continental shelf in the South China Sea.

While the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) has reported multiple times that it succeeded in expelling the CCG, satellite imagery and automatic identification system (AIS) data show that the CCG has returned each time and remains on site.

The tensions center on a seismic survey being conducted by Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina in Natuna D-Alpha, a gas field northeast of the Natuna islands and within the southern edges of China’s nine-dash line.

The survey was contracted to the Geo Coral, a survey vessel owned by Norwegian firm Shearwater GeoServices. The Geo Coral began its survey operations on October 5, but it wasn’t until October 16 that the CCG 5302 entered Indonesia’s continental shelf and began shadowing the survey.

Before it entered Indonesia’s continental shelf, the CCG 5302 had spent four weeks patrolling near Malaysian and Vietnamese oil and gas projects, passing near active drilling at Malaysia’s Silungun-1 field off Sarawak and making multiple tours through Vietnamese oil and gas projects in blocks 06-01, 12W, and 05-03 near Vanguard Bank, where it was shadowed by Vietnamese fisheries surveillance ships.

The CCG 5302 shadowed the Geo Coral for three days before it was relieved by the CCG 5402 on October 19. Bakamla’s KN Tanjung Datu 301 arrived on October 21 and spent the next 24 hours ushering the CCG 5302 across the northern edge of Indonesia’s continental shelf, with the two law enforcement ships at one point coming within 500 meters of each other.

But almost as soon as the 5402 left, it crossed back into Indonesia’s continental shelf and headed back toward the survey area.

The KN Tanjung Datu 301 then headed back to the Riau Islands and was replaced on October 23 by the KN Pulau Dana 323. On October 24, the Indonesian Navy got involved, sending tanker ship KRI Bontang and corvette KRI Sutedi Senoputra, though the latter was not visible on AIS.

The KRI Bontang was seen on AIS operating from a distance as the KN Pulau Dana 323 shadowed the CCG 5402 and managed to again get it to leave Indonesia’s continental shelf—for a total of 8 hours. The CCG 5402 has remained at the survey location since October 25, continually shadowed by the KN Pulau Dana 323.

This is not the first time Beijing has sent its coast guard to challenge Indonesian oil and gas activity, nor has it been unusual for Indonesia to deploy its navy and maritime law enforcement in defense of those operations more readily than other claimants.

But the rapid public release of photos and video of both the CCG’s activities and the Indonesian response is novel, and would seem likely to be at least partially inspired by the Philippines’ transparency strategy.

With new Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto having only assumed office on October 20, it is unclear whether this is an indication of a bolder approach to South China Sea issues under his administration or just an evolution in tactics on the part of Indonesian maritime agencies.

But given Beijing’s response to Manila’s efforts to publicize maritime frictions, it will be worth watching whether Jakarta’s new tactics attract a more concerted Chinese effort to display dominance at the southernmost reaches of the nine-dash line.

View: https://twitter.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1851651660470452226
 

jward

passin' thru
Lara Seligman
@laraseligman

In a briefing with @SecDef today, South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun says there's a "high chance" North Korea will ask Russia for tech transfers related to tactical nuclear weapons, ICBMs, reconnaissance satellites and SSBNs in exchange for sending troops to fight Ukraine.

"I believe this can result in the escalation of the security threats on the Korean peninsula."

12:58 PM · Oct 30, 2024
11.7K
Views
 

jward

passin' thru
OSINTdefender
@sentdefender
9h

South Korean and Japanese Defense Officials state that the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched tonight by North Korea, may be able to reach well beyond the East Coast of the United States.


OSINTdefender
@sentdefender

The Japanese Defense Ministry has stated that the Flight Time for tonight’s North Korean Intercontinental Ballistic Missile was roughly 1 Hour and 26 Minutes; the Longest Flight ever for a Ballistic Missile launched from North Korea, suggesting that this may be a New Variant of ICBM. The Missile was launched at a Lofted-Trajectory towards the Sea of Japan, where it is believed to have landed West of Hokkaido's Okushiri Island.

8:05 PM · Oct 30, 2024
170.4K
Views



OSINTdefender
@sentdefender
6h

The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol has called for a “Strong Response” to last night’a launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile By North Korea into the Sea of Japan, with him directing the National Security Council to prepare for further Surprise Provocations.

 
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jward

passin' thru
GMI
@Global_Mil_Info

Recent developments over the past few days underscore an intensifying escalation in tensions between North Korea and South Korea. Here are a few significant occurrences:


- South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has detected activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, and preparations for both a space launch and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch. Shortly after this intelligence was released, North Korea conducted a high-angle ICBM test, reaching an altitude exceeding 7,000 kilometers and recording the longest flight duration to date at 1 hour and 26 minutes. This suggests a potential new variant of ICBM. In response, the United States announced plans to deploy strategic assets to the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula and initiate immediate joint training exercises with South Korea.

- Russia may supply North Korea with advanced technology for ICBMs, tactical nuclear weaponry, nuclear-powered submarines, and reconnaissance satellites due to North Korea’s support in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

- Security measures around North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been heightened in response to potential assassination threats.

- A coalition representing the families of those abducted by North Korea plans to distribute leaflets to Pyongyang this week.

- North Korea has claimed that data from a South Korean drone that reportedly crashed in Pyongyang earlier this month, was launched from South Korea’s Baengnyeong Island. North Korea has warned it will retaliate against the launch site if similar incidents recur.

- North Korean troops are anticipated to engage in combat operations for Russia in Ukraine soon. Deployments are ongoing.

- South Korea has condemned North Korea’s continued release of “garbage balloons ” across the border, viewing it as a serious provocation. South Korean authorities are formulating countermeasures to address this issue.

9:08 PM · Oct 30, 2024
39.6K
Views
 

onetimer

Veteran Member
Would they start a war to quell their citizens ??
https://x.com/AIYeyENGDdJkjTr
Heo TaeJin

@AIYeyENGDdJkjTr

Nov. 1, 2024 #North Korea #Serious internal unrest #War atmosphere heightens North Korea ICBM launch, unusual disclosure 5 hours later

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported that a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense announced the ICBM launch along with a message from Kim Jong-un on the morning of October 31.

The spokesman's statement said, "We conducted a very important test," and that it was "an appropriate military activity expressing our will to respond to an enemy who is intentionally escalating the regional situation."

The spokesman said that the Missile General Bureau conducted this ICBM launch under the order of the head of state. He said that this launch "renewed the latest record of strategic missile capabilities" and "demonstrated the modernity and reliability of North Korea's strategic deterrence, which is the most powerful force in the world."

It is said that there is currently anxiety within North Korea that a war with South Korea could break out nationwide and that an order to prepare for war has actually been issued.

I think the North Korean regime is trying to control the unrest among the people due to the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia.
The news of the current Russian deployment is rapidly spreading internally through smartphones, the North-China border, and Korean broadcasts within the MDL. These actions that threaten the regime are heightening military tensions, such as ICBM launches, and controlling the agitation of the people.

But this time, it is unclear whether they are really trying to light a fire (war) or are pretending to blow smoke.

Thread x.com
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Posted for fair use.......

World News

North Korea boasts of its new long-range missile targeting the US​

By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Updated 5:26 PM PDT, October 31, 2024

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Friday bragged of its recently tested new intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it “the world’s strongest,” a claim viewed by outside experts as propaganda though the test showed an advancement in the North’s quest to build a more reliable weapons arsenal.

A missile launched by North Korea on Thursday flew higher and stayed in the air for a longer duration than any other weapon the country had so far fired. It signaled that the North has achieved progress in acquiring a nuclear-armed ICBM that can hit the U.S. mainland. But foreign experts assess that the country has still a few remaining technological issues to master before acquiring such a functioning ICBM.

On Friday, the North’s Korean Central News Agency identified the missile as “Hwasong-19” ICBM and called it “the world’s strongest strategic missile” and “the perfected weapon system.”

KCNA said leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch, describing it as “an appropriate military action” to express North Korea’s resolve to respond to its enemies’ moves that escalated tensions and threats to North Korea’s national security. It said Kim thanked weapons scientists for demonstrating North Korea’s “matchless strategic nuclear attack capability.”

South Korea’s military earlier said that North Korea could have tested a solid-fueled missile but Friday’s KCNA dispatch didn’t say what propellant the Hwasong-19 ICBM uses. Observers say the color of exhaust flames seen in North Korean media photos on the launch still suggest the new ICBM uses solid fuels.

Before Thursday’s test, North Korea’s most advanced ICBM was known as the “Hwasong-18” missile which uses solid fuels. Pre-loaded solid propellants make it easier to move missiles and require much less launch preparation times than liquid propellants that must be fueled before liftoffs. So it’s more difficult for opponents to detect launches by solid-fuel missiles.

In recent years, North Korea has reported steady advancement in its efforts to obtain nuclear-tipped missiles. Many foreign experts believe North Korea likely has missiles that can deliver nuclear strikes on all of South Korea, but it has yet to possess nuclear missiles that can travel to the mainland U.S.

There are questions on whether North Korea has acquired the technology to shield warheads from the high-temperature, high-stress environment of atmospheric reentry. Many foreign analysts say North Korea also must have improved altitude control and guidance systems for missiles. They say North Korea needs an ability to place multiple warheads on a single missile to defeat its rivals’ missile defenses.

All of North Korea’s known ICBM tests, including Thursday’s, have been performed on steep angles to avoid neighboring countries. South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said Thursday that a high-angel trajectory launch cannot verify a missile’s re-entry vehicle technology, though North Korea has previously claimed to have acquired that technology.

Observers say that Thursday’s launch, the North’s first ICBM test in almost a year, was largely meant to grab American attention days before the U.S. presidential election and respond to international condemnation over North Korea’s reported dispatch of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

North Korea’s reported troop dispatch highlights the expanding military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. South Korea. the U.S. and others worry North Korea might seek high-tech, sensitive Russian technology to perfect its nuclear and missile programs in return for joining the Russian-Ukraine war.

__​

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.

90


90

 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Posted for fair use......

N. Korea boasts about new long-range missile, calls it 'world's strongest'​

October 31, 2024 9:55 PM
SEOUL, South Korea —
North Korea on Friday bragged about its recently tested new intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it "the world's strongest." Outside experts saw the claim as propaganda, though the test did show advancement in the North's quest to build a more reliable weapons arsenal.

A missile that North Korea launched Thursday flew higher and stayed in the air longer than any other weapon the country has so far fired. It signaled that the North has achieved progress in acquiring a nuclear-armed ICBM that can hit the U.S. mainland. But foreign experts said the country has still a few technological issues to master.

On Friday, the North's Korean Central News Agency identified the missile as the "Hwasong-19" ICBM and called it "the world's strongest strategic missile" and "the perfected weapon system."

KCNA said leader Kim Jong Un observed the launch, describing it as "an appropriate military action" to express North Korea's resolve to respond to its enemies' moves that escalated tensions and threats to North Korea's national security. It said Kim thanked weapons scientists for demonstrating North Korea's "matchless strategic nuclear attack capability."

South Korea's military earlier said that North Korea could have tested a solid-fuel missile, but Friday's KCNA dispatch didn't say what propellant the Hwasong-19 ICBM uses. Observers said the color of exhaust flames seen in North Korean media photos of the launch suggested the new ICBM uses solid fuels.

Before Thursday's test, North Korea's most advanced ICBM was known as the Hwasong-18 missile, which uses solid fuels.

Pre-loaded solid propellants make it easier to move missiles and require much less launch preparation times than liquid propellants that must be fueled before liftoffs. So it's more difficult for opponents to detect launches by solid-fuel missiles.

In recent years, North Korea has reported steady advancement in its efforts to obtain nuclear-tipped missiles. Many foreign experts believe North Korea likely has missiles that can deliver nuclear strikes on all of South Korea, but it has yet to possess nuclear missiles that can travel to the mainland U.S.

There are questions about whether North Korea has acquired the technology to shield warheads from the high-temperature, high-stress environment of atmospheric reentry. Many foreign analysts say North Korea also must improve altitude control and guidance systems for missiles. They say North Korea needs the ability to place multiple warheads on a single missile to defeat its rivals' missile defenses.

All of North Korea's known ICBM tests, including Thursday's, have been performed at steep angles to avoid neighboring countries. South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said Thursday that a high-angle trajectory launch cannot verify a missile's re-entry vehicle technology, though North Korea has previously claimed to have acquired that technology.

Observers say that Thursday's launch, the North's first ICBM test in almost a year, was largely meant to grab American attention days before the U.S. presidential election and respond to international condemnation of North Korea's reported dispatch of troops to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine.

North Korea's reported troop dispatch highlights the expanding military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. South Korea. the U.S. and others worry North Korea might seek high-tech, sensitive Russian technology to perfect its nuclear and missile programs in return for joining the Russia-Ukraine war.
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Posted for fair use......

World Brief

North Korea’s ICBM Test Records Longest Flight Time Yet​

Leader Kim Jong Un painted the launch as a warning to Pyongyang’s enemies.​

By Alexandra Sharp, the World Brief writer at Foreign Policy.
October 31, 2024, 7:00 PM

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at North Korea’s ballistic missile might, a slew of truce proposals for the Middle East, and Typhoon Kong-rey hitting Taiwan.

A Show of Strength

North Korea’s latest long-range missile test has the country’s Indo-Pacific neighbors and Western adversaries angry—and nervous. Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, surpassing its previous flight time record to reach 87 minutes. Launched from near the country’s capital, the weapon traveled roughly 620 miles before splashing down just 125 miles west of Japan’s Okushiri Island.

According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, the missile launched at a “very high” angle, reaching an altitude of roughly 4,350 miles. This means that, in theory, the weapon could have flown much farther. North Korea’s last ICBM test in December 2023 flew for 73 minutes, translating to a potential range of around 9,320 miles on a normal trajectory and putting anywhere in the mainland United States within range of attack.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un painted Thursday’s launch as a warning to Pyongyang’s enemies. However, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said the test “did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies.” Savett did, though, condemn the action as a “flagrant violation” of several United Nations Security Council resolutions. “It only demonstrates that [North Korea] continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people,” he said in a statement.

Analysts viewed Pyongyang’s launch as a means of showing strength ahead of the U.S. presidential election next Tuesday. Japan and South Korea also condemned the test, with Seoul announcing new export controls on materials that North Korea needs to produce solid-fuel missiles. North Korea is estimated to have around 50 “stored” nuclear warheads, meaning they are not actively deployed.

South Korea has repeatedly warned against its neighbor’s growing military capabilities. It has specifically cited the more than 10,000 North Korean troops currently stationed in Russia as evidence that Pyongyang is helping Moscow to fight Ukraine in exchange for valuable combat experience and technology transfers—such as tactical nuclear weapons, ICBMs, ballistic missile submarines, and military reconnaissance satellites—that could threaten the Korean Peninsula.

The timing of Thursday’s launch also coincided with 2+2 meetings in Washington, where U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with their South Korean counterparts, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, to discuss Pyongyang’s emerging role in the Russia-Ukraine war.

What We’re Following

Truce options. Senior Biden administration officials traveled to the Middle East on Thursday to discuss ongoing cease-fire negotiations for Gaza and Lebanon. Brett McGurk, the U.S. National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East, and Amos Hochstein, a U.S. special envoy focused on Lebanon, flew to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, embarked for the Middle East to discuss regional defense and CIA Director William Burns arrived in Cairo.

According to leaked documents published by Israel’s public broadcaster on Wednesday, Washington has proposed a 60-day cease-fire that would see Israeli forces agree to a phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon within the first week and the Lebanese army dismantle and confiscate all nonstate military infrastructure in southern Lebanon during the 60-day period. The hope is that a two-month window would allow all sides the time needed to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict.

It is unclear if Israel or Hezbollah will agree to the draft proposal. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday that he hoped a truce with Israel would be announced within days.

At the same time, a slew of other truce proposals remain on the table. They include a three-day cease-fire draft for Lebanon, a short-term pause in fighting for Gaza tied to the exchange of female Israeli hostages for some Palestinian prisoners, and an Egyptian-backed 48-hour truce in Gaza that would release four Israeli captives for several Palestinian prisoners. “The agreements, the papers, the proposals, the numbers [U.N. Security Council Resolutions] 1509, 1701—all these have their place, but they are not the main thing,” Netanyahu said on Thursday, adding that Israel’s security remains paramount in its goals.

Destructive storm. Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday, bringing fierce winds reaching the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. It is the most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 30 years. Already, at least one person was killed and more than 200 injured. Local authorities urged residents to stay home, and Taipei has put 36,000 troops on standby to assist rescue efforts. More than 11,900 people across 14 cities and counties have been evacuated, according to Taiwan’s Interior Ministry.
Among top concerns, officials worked on Thursday to prevent oil from leaking out of a Chinese cargo ship after the vessel lost power in the vicious weather and beached on Taiwan’s northern coast. State-owned utility Taiwan Power has reported power outages in half a million households, authorities closed Taiwan’s financial markets and schools, and hundreds of flights were canceled due to high winds.

High taxes. British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves raised taxes on Wednesday by around $52 billion to fund public services, including around $32 billion to the National Health Service. “Today, I am restoring stability to our public finances and rebuilding our public services,” Reeves said. The tax increases are part of the Labour Party’s first budget since it took power in July, and they will raise the country’s annual GDP to a record-high 38.3 percent by the 2027-28 fiscal year.
Reeves has insisted that the majority of the tax burden will be placed on wealthy individuals and business owners, though smaller companies should not be affected as she doubled an allowance to help offset their liability. She also changed the nation’s debt rules to encourage more investments and reverse the economic “black hole” left by the previous Conservative government. “The British people have inherited their failure,” Reeves accused the former administration.
The decision sparked major selloffs in the gilt market on Thursday as the new budget prompted fears of slower interest rate cuts.

Odds and Ends

Google may need to consider a payment plan for the latest allegations against it. On Wednesday, Russia fined the company $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000—a sum worth more than the world’s entire GDP put together. The 37-digit figure, otherwise known as 2 undecillion rubles, aims to punish Google for blocking content from 17 Russian TV stations and media outlets on YouTube, which Google owns. But even the Kremlin on Thursday admitted that the fine is more of a symbolic gesture than one expected to be paid off. Phew.


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Alexandra Sharp is the World Brief writer at Foreign Policy. X: @AlexandraSSharp
 

jward

passin' thru
Indo-Pacific News - Geo-Politics & Defense
@IndoPac_Info

Pentagon slashes planned missile defense sites on Guam in part over environmental concerns

Fewer than half of original 35 sites will now be built, Missile Defense Agency says.

Plans to rapidly deploy an integrated missile and air defense system on Guamnow call for placing interceptors and sensors at just 16 sites on the strategic Pacific island instead of the initially planned 35 locations, the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency said.

The MDA and military services disclosed the reduced number of defense sites in a draft environmental impact statement published Oct. 25 for the program called the “Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense” (EIAMD) system.

The new defenses are a major priority for the Indo-Pacific Command, which has said the system is needed to defend Guam from growing threats posed by Chinese missiles.

A Defense Intelligence Agency report made public in mid-October said China is expanding its force of DF-26 intermediate-range missiles, which Beijing has dubbed a “Guam killer” for their 2,500-mile range.

Guam is located 1,800 miles from the China coast and is a major U.S. military hub for warships, submarines, bombers and stocks of weapons that would be called on in any future defense of Taiwan or the Philippines, both of which face rising aggression from Beijing.

The military describes the planned defenses as providing “360-degree” protection from missile and air strikes. The island currently is defended by a battery of Army’s Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, along with Patriot missile defenses.

The upgrades will include a new network of THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, Navy SM-6 and SM-3 Block IIA missile interceptors, the Aegis Ashore system, along with high-technology radar and sensors.

MDA spokesman Fred Hair said the original plan identified around 35 sites on Defense Department properties and one nongovernment location that would support the components for the system. A revised siting plan cut that to 21 defense sites and one private location.

“However, after further evaluation of the sites related to environmental, access issues (i.e., non-DoD site), or operational constraints, the number of candidate sites was further narrowed to a total of 16 proposed sites,” Mr. Hair said.

Tom Mancinelli, acting Navy undersecretary, visited Guam on Oct. 17 and was shown in a Navy photograph next to an MK-41 vertical launch system.

“Guam is part of the U.S. homeland. It is physically closer to Beijing than Hawaii,” Mr. Mancinelli. “If deterrence fails, we will fight from Guam, and we will fight for Guam.”

President Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget called for an initial $1.5 billion for the defense system.

The draft statement said some of the site were eliminated based on system performance issues, questions about operational effectiveness, airspace impact, limits to existing infrastructure, force protection issues and cost-effectiveness.

The draft environmental statement is more than 7,600 pages long and addresses issues including the impact of high-powered missile defense radar on local aircraft communications and wastewater and drainage issues. It is required under federal regulations and remains open for public comment for 75 days.

The statement provides new details on the program that could begin as early as next year and will be fully operational by 2035. A deployment decision is expected in early 2025.

The statement also contains details on the locations of key military bases and facilities on the island, including a munition storage site on the southern end of the island and a training base in the middle. The defense sites now will be located on military property, including Naval Base, Guam at the southern end of the island, Anderson Air Force Base on the northern tip, and six sites in between.

A comparison of the new sites with a May 2023 site map showing 20 proposed sites reveals that planned defenses were eliminated at a naval fuel farm, a former housing unit and supply facility at the naval base, a supply depot at the Air Force base, and a civilian site at the southern end of the island.

“Guam is a key strategic location for sustaining and maintaining U.S. influence, deterring adversaries, responding to crises, and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the report states. “An attack on Guam would be considered a direct attack on the U.S. and would be met with an appropriate response.”

The commander of the Indo-Pacific Command pushed for the layered air and missile defense system to counter rapidly evolving enemy missile threats, the statement says.

Around 1,000 troops and 1,300 family members are expected to be deployed with the system.

In addition to the land-based Standard Missile launchers, another central component of the EIAMD will be the land version of the Navy warship Aegis missile defense known as Aegis Ashore.

The THAAD missile defense battery and already deployed Patriot defenses, along with directed energy systems, and an Army air defense called enduring shield are expected to be part of the systems.

A new Army mid-range capability missile launcher and associated indirect fire protection capability launchers, still in the prototype phase, also could be deployed, according to Defense News.

View: https://twitter.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1853434082103107829
 

northern watch

TB Fanatic

China deploying new land-attack missile subs​

A screen shows Chinese submarines at the opening of the Western Pacific Navy Symposium in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province on Monday, April 22, 2024. Zhang Youxia, one of China's top military leaders took a harsh line on regional territorial disputes, telling an international naval gathering in northeastern China on Monday that the country would strike back with force if its interests came under threat. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A screen shows Chinese submarines at the opening of the Western Pacific Navy Symposium in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province on Monday, April 22, 2024. Zhang Youxia, one of China's top military leaders took a harsh line on regional territorial disputes, telling an international naval gathering in northeastern China on Monday that the country would strike back with force if its interests came under threat. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

By Bill Gertz - The Washington Times - Wednesday, October 30, 2024

NEWS AND ANALYSIS:

The Chinese navy has built three new cruise missile-firing nuclear submarines in what U.S. defense officials say is a significant advance in its attack submarine program
. The new Shang III attack submarines are in the water undergoing sea trials and certification, according to defense officials familiar with reports on the submarines.

Operational deployment of the Shang III submarines is expected within the next year or two, the officials said, speaking on background.

“This is especially important as these are the first cruise missile submarines in the Chinese inventory,” one official told The Washington Times.

The new Shang III SSGNs will join six other currently deployed nuclear attack submarines in the class that the Chinese military calls Type-093. They are considered China’s most potent attack submarines and likely are being used to protect nuclear missile submarines.

The officials said the Shang III represents the biggest change in China’s undersea warfare capabilities.

The Pentagon’s most recent report on Chinese military power, made public in October 2023, stated that two Shang III submarines were launched between May 2022 and January 2023 and that three submarines of the class could be operational by next year.

The third new Shang III is expected to be outlined in the latest China military power report due out next month.

“This new Shang-class variant will enhance the PLAN’s anti-surface warfare capability and could provide a clandestine land-attack option if equipped with land-attack cruise missiles (LACM),” the 2023 report said, using the abbreviation for People’s Liberation Army Navy.

The U.S. defense officials also discussed the recent mishap that occurred to another new class of submarines, a hybrid nuclear-conventional submarine called the Zhou-class. That new submarine was spotted in satellite photos partially submerged on a river near its production center in Wuhan, China.

The Zhou submarine was recovered after what the officials described as “operator error” — the result of leaving open a hatch that flooded the vessel. The submarine is equipped with a small nuclear reactor for electric power in addition to diesel engines.

“They goofed,” the official said, adding that the mistake was not the result of a systemic problem in Chinese submarine building.

Unlike China’s other major weapons systems, the number of Chinese submarines over the last 10 to 12 years have not significantly increased.

Instead, new and more lethal submarines are replacing older submarines on a “hull-for-hull basis,” the defense official said. For example, nonnuclear Song-class diesel attack submarines are being replaced with more advanced Yuan-class submarines, which use air-independent propulsion allowing for longer submerged time. The Yuan also has more weapons.

Submarine activity by the Chinese navy has so far been contained mainly to the Pacific region. No submarines have deployed to the Indian Ocean since last year, the officials said. The close operations near China are emblematic of its military overall, with submarines and warships mostly staying near coasts and not much farther out to sea.

The new Shang-class submarines were built by China Shipbuilding Industry at its Bohai Shipyard in Huludao, Liaoning province. Each submarine is 350 feet long and has a maximum speed of 30 knots. They will fire advanced wake-homing torpedoes, YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles, and possibly a naval variant of the CJ-10 land attack cruise missiles.

Tom Shugart, a former Navy submariner now with the Center for New American Security, said China’s land attack cruise missile-equipped submarines will add to the already potent strike threat facing U.S. bases and facilities in the Western Pacific.

“By having mobile platforms that can contribute to a multi-axis attack, they will complicate the task of defending places like Guam, and perhaps even out to Hawaii,” Mr. Shugart said.

• Contact Bill Gertz on X @BillGertz.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.

 
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