China Shuts Down N Korean Enterprises

2nd Update added on September 30, 2017.



中国下令关闭朝鲜在华企业

China ordered the closure of North Korean enterprises in China.

中国政府称，为执行联合国针对朝鲜的第2375号决议，朝鲜实体或个人在中国设立的企业应在该决议通过之日（9月12日）起120天内关闭。中国企业在境外与朝鲜实体或个人设立的合资合作企业也应按照上述决议应予以关闭。

The Chinese Government says it is going to implement the United Nations's resolution no. 2375 directed against North Korea. North Korean entities of enterprise established in China as well as individually founded businesses must be closed down within 120 days starting from September 11, the day when the resolution passed.

Chinese enterprises acting abroad together with North Korean entities or as individually founded joint venture businesses should be closed down as well in accordance with the above-mentioned resolution.

中国占朝鲜对外贸易的比例超过80%。从贸易公司到餐馆，中国很多城市都可见朝鲜公司，特别是在中朝边境附近。

China accounts for a proportion of more than 80% of North Korea's foreign trade. From trading firms to restaurants, North Korean companies can be seen in many Chinese towns, especially in the vicinity of the Chinese-North Korean border.

[Source: Wall Street Journal 华尔街日报 on September 29, 2017]




An assessment of North Korea's military power (published on July 19, 2017).


朝鲜军民比升至1:3，神经异常敏感半岛出路在哪？

The ratio between North Korean troops and civilians
has risen to 1:3. - Nerves react unusually sensitive
when it comes to ask for a way out for the peninsula.

汇通网讯——9月28日，朝鲜方面宣布，已经有大约470万名学生和工人志愿申请或者重新应召加入朝鲜人民军。但如果相关报道属实，朝军已新征了近20%的人口入役，加上现有逾100万的兵力，朝鲜军队人数将找到总人口约25%。

Message compiled from the web on September 28: North Korea declared, about 4.700.000 students and workers are already willing to apply for entering or are summoned again to enter the North Korean People's Army. But if interrelated reports are true and North Korea already levied new troops near to 20% of the population to enter into service, this will add to the existing military force and which is exceeding one million (1.000.000). The number of North Korea's military units will then reach out for 25% of the overall population.

[Editor: The overall population of North Korea is considered to be about 25.000.000 朝鲜总人口约2500万]

此外，韩联社援引朝鲜喉舌《劳动新闻》报道称，志愿加入朝军新兵中有大约120万人为女性。

Moreover, the South Korean [news agency] quoted North Korea's mouthpiece, the "Workers Party News", in a report that said: Among those willing to enter the North Korean army as new soldiers are about 1.200.000 women.

[Source: Financial World 金融界 China based JRJ.COM, September 29, 2017]







What Chinese think of North Korea (published on May 14, 2017).


朝鲜来信：搞核试验时，我们过着这样的生活

A letter from the DPRK: As to the nuclear testing, that's the life we lead.

今年9月，《华尔街日报》记者前往平壤，在严密控制下进行了一系列参观采访。从讲着英文的外交官、摆弄玩具枪炮的孩子到随处可见的原子图案，平壤反复强调着这样一个讯息：朝鲜绝不会放弃核武。

This year in September, the Wall Street Journal reporter to Pyongyang carried out a series of visits and interviews under tight control.

From the perspective of an English diplomat and from children tinkering with toy guns up to the atomic [war] pattern everywhere to be seen, Pyongyang repeatedly stresses this kind of message: The DPRK will never give up its nuclear weapons.




[Source: Wall Street Journal 华尔街日报 on September 30, 2017]

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German Federal Elections 2017

Donald Trump - Still Calling Names

Today the Voice of America, Chinese edition, is referring to Donald Trump's bad habit of publicly calling names on people he doesn't like. Here are some examples:

Chuck Todd - "Sleepy Eyes"
Mr. Todd is an American television journalist, moderator and the political director for NBC News. His new nickname might be related to Trump's hate of free media journalists who produce what Trump calls "the fake news".

Elizabeth Warren - "Pocahontas"
A member of the Democratic Party, she is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts. Warren was formerly a professor of law, and taught at the University of Texas School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and most recently at Harvard Law School. A prominent scholar specializing in bankruptcy law, Warren was among the most cited law professors in the field of commercial law before starting her political career.

By the way, Donald Trump must have some experience with bankruptcy law himself as is being indicated by his own proceedings as a business man.

Hillary Clinton - "Crooked Hillary" - "Nasty Woman" is sufficiently known as Trump's competitor for U.S. presidency and as a former Secretary of State and chief of the State Department.

Not to forget two prominent leaders of the opposing Democratic Party, Chuck Schumer - "Clown" and Nancy Pelosi - "Loser".

And now it's Kim Jong-un - "Rocket Man on a suicide mission for himself".

Even though tough words might be suitable for the North Korean leader who seemingly doesn't understand another language, Trump's inaugural speech before the United Nations General Assembly should have been of another quality. Especially when it comes to the verbal attack on Iran putting the Islamic Republic near to North Korea while serious western sources are pointing out that Iran is still keeping to the conditions of an earlier reached nuclear deal. Maybe a recent meeting between North Korea's envoy and Iran's president Rouhani has triggered off Trump's latest outbreak of adversion against Iran.

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N Korea - Electromagnetic Mass Destruction

North Korea threat: EMP attack can destroy
a nation’s entire infrastructure in a flash.

KIM Jong-un needs only one hydrogen bomb to
bring America to its knees. And he knows it.

This is the nation-wide effect
it can have in nanoseconds.

These are today's headlines of news.com.au, an Australian online news service. You should read the complete article on the consequences of an Electromagnetic Pulse EMP that is created by a powerfull nuclear explosion at high altitude and that can knock out, both, electric and electronic infrastructure of a targeted country without the need to precisely hit and destroy a specific target. It only needs what Kim Jong-un still has in his hands.

The Australian article comes at a time when North Korean media praise the EMP as a weapon to bring down the U.S. after Kim Jong-un obviously succeeded in creating enough nuclear fire power to get in reach of such possibility. However, things are not so easy for the North Koreans:

" The nuclear arsenals of the United States are hardened against any EMP pulse. It’s also one of the reasons so much effort and money is invested on near-invisible and widely dispersed ballistic missile submarines.

The instant a North Korean ICBM was detected to be on a trajectory capable of delivering such a high-altitude blow, a retaliatory firestorm of nuclear warheads would almost certainly be unleashed on North Korea itself.

Such is the grim nature of Mutually Assured Destruction — the Cold War philosophy that compelled cool minds to avert the catastrophe which could have resulted from the likes of the 1960s Cuban missile crisis. "



The Apprentice Wizard

Let's now sum up the facts to get a realistic view on the matter:

The U.S. and North Korea could easily annihilate
each other in a showdown of nuclear power that
is lasting no longer than one single hour.

Thereby not to mention the huge "collateral damage"
left to neighbouring countries and the major global
consequences in the fields of economy and finance.

N Korea - Test of Hydrogen Bomb

Last Update: September 4



朝鲜称成功完成氢弹试验 时间压力转到美国

North Korea declares having successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.
Now pressure is turning against America.

据中国地震网测定，9月3日11时30分01秒在朝鲜（北纬41.35度，东经129.11度）发生6.3级地震，震源深度0千米。

According to measured data from China's Seismological Network, an earthquake of 6.3 [Richter] magnitude should have happened today, September 3 at 11:30:01 [Beijing Time], in North Korea at a latitude of 41.35 degrees north and a longitude of 129.11 degrees east. The epicenter should have been near to the surface.

[Source: SINA 新浪新闻中心 on 3rd September 2017]




Earthquakes in North Korea due to nuclear tests [BBC Chinese]



Spokesman for South Korea's National Earthquake and Volcano Center
showing the epicenter of the Sept. 3 earthquake and which is situated in
North Korea's nuclear test region. [Epoch Times 大纪元 on Sept. 4]



North Korean propaganda photo showing "Kim Jong-un
getting informed about missile-fitting hydrogen bomb".




Latest News: South Korea holds Live-Fire Missile Drill

South Korea's military said on Monday (September 4) that the simulated target for its missile test was "set in consideration of" Punggye-ri, the site where North Korea carried out its test.

"The training demonstrates the South Korean military's resolve to destroy not only the origin of provocation but also the enemy's leadership and supporting forces if they threaten the security of our people," Army Col. Roh Jae-cheon, the army spokesman is quoted by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

[Source: BBC World Service on September 4, 2017]

Russia's Putin on Korea Conflict

普京表示朝鲜半岛问题应通过对话解决

Putin is convinced that any solution for the ‬problem of
the Korean peninsula could only be found by dialogue.

据塔斯社１日援引普京的话报道，事实证明，靠向朝鲜政府施压以使其暂停核导活动是错误的， 只有通过有关各方开展直接对话才能解决朝鲜半岛问题，而且这一对话应建立在不设前提条件、 不相互挑衅、不相互施压、不相互用武力威胁、不相互打“口水仗”的基础上。

Based on a TASS [Russia's news agency] report from 1st September Putin should have said that reality proves it would be a mistake to rely on putting pressure on North Korea to make it stop its nuclear missile activity for the short term.

Only by proceeding through a direct dialogue, both sides are interested to develop, a solution for the problem of the Korean peninsula could be reached.

Furthermore, that dialogue should be established on the basis of no preconditions, no mutual provocation, no mutual application of pressure, no mutual military threats and, as well, no mutual "spitting battles".

[Source: XinHua - New China 新华社 on 1st September, 2017]




"Spitting Battle":

North Korean fisherboat chased away from Japanese fishing grounds near Yamato Bank by Japanese Coastguard with the help of their water cannon. Since July 2017, North Korean boats had already ignored more than 820 coastguard warnings.

[Source: FT中文 on 1st September 2017]

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Visitor from South Korea.

South Korea - More Action Less Talks

After North Korea targeted Japanese air space with a ballistic missile last night, Japan and South Korea now tend to revise their strategy in the conflict.

Seoul’s presidential spokesman Park Su-hyun said four F-15 fighters dropped eight MK-84 bombs - each with the explosive yield of a ton - that accurately hit targets at a military field in Taebaek, near the border to North Korea on the eastern coast of the peninsula.

The South Korean defence ministry is reportedly drafting a new plan to thwart a full-fledged North Korean military offensive and occupy Pyongyang within weeks without waiting for US troop reinforcements. The gist of the plan is “the mobilisation of airborne troops and Marines to infiltrate Pyongyang to quickly bring down the North Korean regime.”

Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk said: “In the event of an invasion from the North, we will engage in an aggressive, deep-offensive operation” inside North Korea.

It also includes pre-emptive strikes against North Korean nuclear weapons and missile bases as well as operations to assassinate high-ranking North Korean officials.

[Source: The Australian on August 29, 2017, at 15:43 local time]


North Korea neighbours DROP BOMBS near border as nations 'ready for war'.

[Source: Daily Star, UK, on August 29, 2017]




朝鲜再射导弹　半岛对峙加剧

With North Korea launching further missiles,
confrontation on the peninsula will increase.

分析人士认为，朝鲜短时间内密集试射导弹，朝鲜半岛局势再次陷入轮番升级的恶性循环。

Analysts consider: With North Korea massing its missile launches within a short period of time, the situation on the Korean peninsula will be further driving into a circulus vitiosus of increased escalation.

[Source: XinHua - New China 新华社, China's news agency, on August 29 at 21:38 Beijing time]




Midnight news on August 29, 2017.




朝鲜将进行更多向太平洋试射导弹训练

North Korea will carry out more launching drills
of guided missiles targeting the Pacific Ocean.

The article is referring to information launched by North Korea's "Korean Central News Agency 朝鮮中央通讯社. The North Korean report confirms the preferential use of Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missiles on special order by leader Kim Jong-un.

[Source: Singapore Morning News 新加坡的联合早报 on August 31, 2017]

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Missile Alert - Japan Warning Citizens

Missile Warning for North-Eastern Japan at 06:06 Japanese Time
North Korean Ballistic Missile Passing over Japanese Territory
NHK TV Calling Citizens for Taking Shelter in Solid Buildings or
Underground Structures.

Update for Tuesday, August 29, at 03:30 CET:
The North Korean missile reportedly passed over Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido before it fell into the Pacific Ocean broken into three pieces. The Japanese government immediately assembled for an emergency meeting. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called the test a clear violation of United Nations resolutions.

A South Korean military official told NBC News that the missile was fired around 5:57 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The official said that the missile flew for about 2,700 kilometers (1,678 miles), reaching a maximum altitude of 550 kilometers (342 miles). U.S. Pacific Command projected that the missile splashed down at 6:29 a.m. local time.

North Korea confirmed that the missile launched into the direction of north-eastern Japan was a Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missile, the same type North Korea is planning to use for the "encircling fire" of Guam.

On Tuesday morning, August 29, the Dow Jones industrial average futures opened more than 100 points lower following the missile news, while the dollar fell 0.5 percent against the Japanese yen. There had already been nervousness in Asian markets on Monday, August 28, related to the latest tensions caused by North Korea's missile tests.

North Korea - War of Video Games

Today, August 28, Chinese networks (i.e. SINA and Global Network) report on a new video game launched by North Korea.



朝鲜公司发布3D射击游戏 美国士兵成“猎杀”对象

North Korean company informed about 3D shooting game.
U.S. soldiers become targets for "hunting and killing".

"Chase and Kill the U.S. Guys" “猎杀美国佬” is the title of that video game. The player will be able to interfere "by using a sniper's gun to kill and thus hit back at [local] U.S. troops after a potential invasion by the enemy" “潜入敌后用狙击枪射杀击倒美国士兵”.

[Source: SINA 新浪新闻中心 on August 28, 2017]


On the opposite side, there is another video game related to life in North Korea and which I found in some Chinese network. It seems to be of western origin and intended as propaganda, even though it can be downloaded from different regional Chinese servers as the description page is suggesting. Technical requirements are rather basic (Windows XP upwards, 500 MB).

The company behind that game says it is creating "offensive visual novels".

The plot of that game is being told in English and is dealing with a U.S visitor to Pyongyang who is expecting to meet there with his two North Korean penpals. It turns out that both are female soldiers, one working for North Korea's Intelligence and the other serving in the Military Police. The game is now about his chances to survive that visit. Therefore the game has been named:

Stay ! Stay ! Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

My first (and only) Trip to North Korea.

N Korea - Multiple Missile Launch

North Korea fires multiple unidentified projectiles
off its east coast, report says.

Summary from different sources:
A first evaluation of the missile launch made western military analysts assume that "two of three short-range missiles failed in flight". At that time it could not be excluded that one single long-range ballistic missile might be accompanied by several short-range missiles launched in short sequence from North Korea's eastern Kangwon province.

The latest military evaluation made by South Korean forces, however, lead to the assumption the North tested its new 300-millimeter multiple-tube rocket-launcher that is able to launch up to eight "artillery missiles" which can create their own thrust and are guided during delivery. Such missiles are difficult to distinguish from single-launched short-range ballistic missiles and can reach many U.S. military bases located in S Korea as their range of delivery is about 180 km.



KN-09 300-mm multiple rocket launcher

[Source: Reuters - CNBC on August 26, 2017, at 01:00 CET and NY Times - CBC Canada - Chosun South Korea at 17:00 CET]




韩媒：朝鲜往日本海发射一枚疑似弹道导弹

South Korean media: One suspected ballistic missile
launched by North Korea towards the Japanese Sea.


This news is referring to the first launch of a North Korean short-range missile at 05:49 Beijing Time. It is expected to cover a range of 250 km max. and is considered as the answer to U.S.-South Korean joint military drills.

[Source: Global Network - People's Daily 环球网——人民日报, China based news on August 26, 2017, at 06:39 local time]

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商务部：禁止朝鲜实体或个人来华新设合资企业

Ministry of Commerce: DPRK entities and persons are
banned from founding new joint-ventures with China.

[Source: People's Network 人民网 on August 26, 2017]

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Brazilian visitor to "blueprint news" and who is interested in Chinese rocket technology.

N Korea - Verbal Attack on Britain and China

Shortly before prime minister Theresa May's visit to Japan ...


朝鲜公开指责中国：青蛙忘记自己当过蝌蚪

North Korea is openly criticizing China: The frog
doesn't remember having developed from a tadpole.

China's intention to seriously carry through UN sanctions imposed on the DPRK while at the same time insisting on bilateral talks between North Korea and the U.S., has led to tensions between long-standing allies North Korea and China.

朝鲜官媒齐声炮轰北京：别忘了本!

North Korean state media are unanimously "shelling" Beijing: Never forget !

[Source: DW 多维新闻网 on August 25, 2017]


社评：美朝需要能够识别、接住对方的善意

Editorial: America and North Korea need to be able to
recognize and connect with the adversary's good will.

[Source: Sina 新浪新闻中心, China based news center on August 24, 2017]

North Korea - Ukrainian Missile Plans

Some hours befored, America's TV channel CNN came about with a footage video showing the proceedings of arrest of two North Korean spies who were charged for photographing secret material concerning Ukrainian missile design. At the moment of their arrest in 2011, however, they were going to photograph fake material. Both N Koreans were sentenced to eight years in prison. According to English subtitles, Ukrainian security services released the footage of its operation in order " to counter what it says are claims that their missile designs are now being used in North Korea's latest launches ".

On August 15, 2017, blueprint news already quoted a Chinese language source that hinted at Ukrainian technology being used by N Korea.








[Source. CNN on August 24, 2017]

Reminder of N Korean and US Stupidity

In the middle of rising tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, an important Chinese news center reminds us of a similar situation during the cold-war era that might have led to a nuclear confrontation as well. The starting point of that conflict was of rather low importance: It was about U.S. troops trying to cut a tree in the neighbourhood of the Panmunjon negociation center which is accessible to both sides.

美军砍了一棵树 却差点导致朝鲜半岛发生核大战

U.S. military is cutting a tree - yet is failing to
start a big nuclear war on the Korean peninsula.

自从朝鲜战争告一段落之后，朝鲜半岛一直笼罩着战争的阴云，久久未能散去。到了1976年， 南北双方剑拔弩张的态势达到了顶点，甚至险些打起核战争！ 这次事件，竟然是由一颗在板门店朝韩共同警戒区内生长的杨树引发的。

After the chapter of the Korean War had been written, the Korean peninsula was continuously shrouded in dark clouds of war that would not disperse for a very long time.

When in 1976 the atmosphere between the North and the South became most sticky, the situation reached a culmination point and even got close to the outbreak of a nuclear war!

That situation was surprisingly originating from some spot where poplars were growing in the Panmunjon zone of high alert belonging to, both, North and South Korea.


The following photos from China's military archives should speak for themselves!



The site of Panmunjon.



U.S. and North Korean troops assembling at a tree the U.S. want to cut.



The debate gets out of control.









Getting the work done.



South Korean troops for support.



U.S. Victory !

[Source: Sina 新浪新闻中心, China, on August 18, 2017]

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Breaking News and Comments:

South China Morning Post - August 20, 2017
TRUMP’S NUCLEAR STANDOFF WITH N KOREA:
WHY THIS IS NO CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS




Sunday Express / UK - August 20, 2017
N KOREA WAR: Britain promises to send
nuclear sub to help Trump blitz Kim Jong-un

Today, August 20, 2017, the Chinese news center Sina 新浪新闻中心 came about with a cryptic message in one of its headlines:



朝鲜“白头山伟人称颂大会”是什么大会？

North Korea: "Mount Peaktu's big man is summoning the General Assembly".
What is meant with General Assembly?

8月15日，平壤人民文化宫，2017年白头山伟人称颂大会在此举行。

August 15, from the People's Palace for Culture in Pyongyang the 2017 meeting of the General Assembly was summoned to meet under the guidance of 'Mount Paektu's Big Man'.

That means the General Assembly of the People is being summoned by leader Kim Jong-un. The unusual expression 'Mount Paektu's Big Man' might possibly hint at the historic stronghold of Mount Paektu where Kim Jong-un could have decided to establish the headquarters of his nuclear forces during a military conflict to come.

Mount Paektu (Chinese: Whitehead Mountain 白头山) has become known as "the sacred mountain of the revolution". It is an active volcano on the border between North Korea and China. During the Japanese occupation and the Korean War it served as a military stronghold for Communist leader Kim Il-sung whose son Kim Jong-il was allegedly born there.

As Mount Paektu experiences a steady rise of its underground magma level and is known to explode to life every 100 years (last eruption: 1903), it would be highly risky to nuke its mountaineous neighbourhood, in case North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might install there his headquarters. In case of a natural catastrophe, China would have to suffer most from the fallout of volcano ashes and probably related climate change. That is one among other reasons why China is fearing the outbreak of war between North Korea and the U.S..

North Korea - Preliminaries of War

Last Update on August 18, 2017, added at the end of current blogspot.

No, it's not war yet, but war isn't far either. -
Apart from sabre-rattling there is a new aspect
of North Korea threatening the Western alliance:
How could N Korea reach such a level of mastery
in ballistic missile technology without any foreign
help? That question, at least, could be answered
on the brink of a probably long-standing, bloody
war. - Read more after a summary of latest news.


安倍与特朗普通话 确认携手阻止朝鲜发导弹

Abe and Trump in their telephone call: Decided to
jointly stop North Korea from launching missiles.

日本首相安倍晋三与美国总统特朗普15日上午举行电话会谈。日本政府相关人士透露了这一消息。 共同社8月15日报道，日本首相安倍晋三8月15日上午与美国总统特朗普（Donald Trump）通电话， 就朝鲜问题进行了磋商。共同社称，在朝鲜预告将向美属关岛海域发射导弹的背景下， 双方确认为携手国际社会避免朝鲜强行发射导弹。 安倍在会谈后对记者表示， “朝鲜的导弹发射预告正在史无前例地加剧地区紧张”，批评了朝鲜。

The Chinese text is referring to a telephone call U.S. president Donald Trump and Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe had had this morning. In a press conference, held later today, Abe said that "N Korea's announcement of missile launches is an act unprecedented in history of increasing regional tensions".

[Source: DW 多维新闻 on August 15, 2017]


朝鲜推迟导弹打击关岛的计划

North Korea postpones the plannings for a missile attack on Guam.

[Source: VOA 美国之音 on August 15, 2017]


Guam radio stations accidentally air emergency alert amid North Korea threat.

[Source: The Guardian, UK, on August 15, 2017]


‘Delightful Historic Moment’

Pyongyang’s state media has this morning reported President Kim Jong-un as “praising” his Strategic Force for drawing up a “careful” plan for a “power demonstration” to “envelop” Guam in fire.

“The nuclear force of the DPRK is strong in its guts and no one can guess its muscle as the flight trajectory of medium-to-long ballistic rocket Hwasong-12, firing data and the correct hitting-point are made public at home and abroad.”

Kim said he would “watch a little more” Washington’s behaviour, but he will make an “important” decision if the US continues its “extremely dangerous reckless actions”.

[Source: news.com.au, Australia, on August 15, 2017]


外媒：朝鲜推迟袭击关岛计划 警告美勿傲慢挑衅

Foreign media: North Korea postpones plannings for a surprise attack
on Guam and is warning the U.S. to refrain from arrogant provocation.

[Source: SINA 新浪新闻中心, China, on August 16 at 00:19 local time]

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朝鲜新式导弹或与乌克兰有关

North Korea's newly tested guided missiles probably related to Ukraine.

专家认为，朝鲜在弹道导弹领域的能力出现飞跃，可能是因为从乌克兰一家工厂非法获得了俄罗斯的技术和引擎。

Experts consider that North Korea's ability to bring about a [decisive] leap in the field of ballistic missiles, is probably due to Russian technology and engines illegally received from a Ukrainian manufacturer.

军事专家和西方情报机构一直试图解释平壤方面最近一连串成功试射远程导弹的原因。

Military experts and Western intelligence organizations keep on searching for an explanation why Pyongyang most recently successfully completed a series of long-range missile tests.

朝鲜上月试射的“火星14号”(Hwasong-14)导弹，与朝鲜研发的其他弹道武器都不同，据称该导弹的射程可以打到美国本土。 此前朝鲜研发舞水端(Musudan)火箭、希望使之成为可行的远程洲际弹道导弹的努力已几乎完全失败。

根据国防和安全智库国际战略研究所(International Institute for Strategic Studies)昨天发表的报告， 对于平壤方面取得的“惊人进步”，只能解释为其获得了外国技术。

The article is referring to latest North Korean declarations they could reach American homeland with their Hwasong-14 / Mars 14 missiles after their expectations seemingly failed for the long-range capacity of their Musudan missiles.

According to some report published yesterday by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Pyongyang's "surprising progress" can only be explained by acquisition of technology from some foreign country.

[Source: FT 中文 on August 15, 2017]

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惧怕中俄？俄媒点破美对朝军事打击顾虑

Fear from China and Russia ?
Russian media reveal America's fears
in the frame of an attack on N Korea.

The article is referring to Russian media dealing with the current tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. A Russian news network is specially quoted with an article titled "The confrontation between U.S. and North Korea causes headaches to Moscow 美朝对抗令莫斯科头痛" . The quotation of Russian sources is followed by an evaluation of military force provided by North Korea, the U.S., South Korea and Japan. The author finally comes to the following conclusion which has been specially marked at the end of the article:

现在的问题是：
美国能否下决心采取军事措施。如果华盛顿发动战争却没能摧毁朝鲜的进攻力量， 那将导致朝鲜半岛南部和日本彻底毁灭。或许，美国本土也不能幸免。到那时，美国将长期打消与强敌作战的想法， 除非敌人是非洲、中东和南美那些军事不发达的国家。但如果华盛顿能用武力制伏平壤， 那么未来10年内它与俄中或有一战。

The question now is:
Can America refrain from applying military measures? If Washington starts a war but is unable to destroy North Korea's offensive power, that will lead to the thoroughgoing destruction of the southern part of the Korean peninsula and of Japan. Even American homeland will possibly not remain untouched. At that time America will have to abandon for a long time any ideas of fighting mighty enemies, except if the enemy is [to be found in] Africa, the Middle East and South America, i.e. in countries where the military is less developed. But if Washington can subdue Pyongyang by military force, there will be a war with Russia and China for the coming 10 years.

[Source: DW 多维新闻网 on August 17, 2017]