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]

..............................

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]

..............................



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]

..............................



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]

North Korea Will Stick To Its Nukes

News Update on August 10/11, 2017 Guam mayor warns North Korea after threats of attack An attack on Guam will be considered an attack on the United States, Guam's governor warned in response to a North Korean threat saying that North Korea would create an "enveloping fire" around the US territory using four Hwasong-12 missiles that should detonate 30-40 km off the island. The US military on Guam consists of two bases home to 7,000 troops - Andersen Air Force Base in the north and Naval Base Guam in the south. Some US expert comment is estimating that a North Korean announcement of medium-range missile tests, wrapped into the expression of "enveloping fire", might just be North Korea's way to prevent an immediate US counter-attack and therefore the beginning of a war. [Al-Jazeera, Qatar, and The Guardian, UK, on August 10, 2017] Retired US General Jack Keane on the probability of a Guam attack. .............................. 央视解读：朝鲜真要用导弹攻击美国关岛吗 China's Central TV - CCTV: Does North Korea really want to launch a missile attack against the United States at Guam? 平等对话是打开半岛症结的关键钥匙 Equality in dialogue is the opening key to the knotted crux of the [Korean] peninsula. 美朝之间，对抗多年。硬碰硬究竟效果如何，双方自然是心知肚明。 The antagonism between America and North Korea is lasting for many years. The harder they run into each other, how could it be less painstaking to reach a result. Both sides are knowing each other too well. 半岛问题的核心是安全问题，各方相向而行，通过平等对话，才能尽快找到能够解决彼此合理安全关切的根本方案，这才是打开半岛核问题症结、最终实现半岛无核化最关键的一把钥匙。 At the core of the [Korean] peninsula item is the question of security. With both sides mutually proceeding in an equal dialogue, they should be able to figure out as soon as possible what can be mutually and rationally solved in a basic plan as far as security is concerned. [Source: SINA 新浪新闻中心, China based news center on August 10, 2017] .............................. China TV - CCTV 13 on August 10, 2017 朝鲜为何将打击目标瞄准关岛？ 关岛居民如何看待朝鲜威胁？ Why is North Korea aiming at Guam for hitting targets ? How do Guam people cope with North Korean threats ? [Global Network 环球网 on August 10, 2017]

Update added on August 9, 2017.



朝鲜誓言绝不放弃核武

North Korea vows to give up by no means its nuclear weapons.

对于联合国通过的史上最严厉经济制裁，朝鲜表示，这是美国孤立和扼杀朝鲜 的阴谋，而朝鲜不会被迫就核武器进行谈判。

Facing the most severe economic sanctions from the United Nations in their history, North Korea expresses that this is a US plot to isolate and strangle North Korea. North Korea, however, is unlikely to enter into talks on nuclear weapons by force.

[FT 中文网 on August 8, 2017]


朝鲜称朝核责任在美 不会对美以外国家用核武器

North Korea says the US are to be blamed for North Korean nukes as
there is no country other than the US known to use nuclear weapons.

朝鲜代表团声明说，朝鲜半岛核问题的出现及发展到今天的状况完全是美国的责任。

A statement from North Korea's delegation says that for the appearance of a nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and its development up to the current situation America is all over to be blamed.

朝鲜代表团7日在菲律宾首都马尼拉向媒体散发了署名为朝鲜外务相李勇浩的声明。声明称，朝核问题完全是美国的责任， 朝鲜拥有核力量是为了应对美国威胁，但不会对除美国以外的任何国家使用核武器或以核武器相威胁。

On [August] 7, the North Korean delegation to the Philippine capital of Manila issued a statement to the media and which was signed by North Korea's foreign minister [Ri Yong-ho]. The statement says the North Korean nuclear issue is completely America's responsibility, and North Korea's possession of nuclear power is in order to answer America's threatening. Yet no other country except the USA is known to apply nuclear weapons or is threatening [others] with nuclear arms.

[SINA 新浪新闻中心 on August 8, 2017]


朝鲜谴责韩国在西海水域进行实弹演习

North Korea condemns South Korea for carrying out
naval drills with live ammunition in the Western Sea.

The Chinese article mentions as well that US "nuclear blow drills 核打击演习" could take place at any time and names three US units that would be involved in the proceedings.

[XinHua 新华网 on August 8, 2017]






Talks were held between Kim Yong Nam, president of the DPRK Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly on a visit to Iran, and Hassan Rouhani, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on Sunday.

..........
Hassan Rouhani said the Iran-DPRK relations have developed on a very high stage, expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries which have jointly struggled against the U.S. will boost in broad fields in the future, too.

Earlier, Kim Yong Nam respectively met Speaker of Majlis (i.e. Parliamentary President) Ali Larijani and First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri of Iran.

[Rodong Sinmun, North Korea, on August 9, 2017]

..............................



Reminder of World War II

China Gets Tough on North Korea

Update added on August 7, 2017

东北亚情势：中国敦促朝鲜通过对话解决问题，称制裁并非唯一途径

The situation of Northeast Asia: China urges North Korea to solve problems through dialog,
saying that sanctions are not the only way to.

路透马尼拉8月6日 - 中国外交部长王毅周日表示，联合国安理会针对朝鲜(北韩)出台的新制裁决议是对朝鲜进行一系列导弹试射的正确回应，但在目前的“关键时刻”，对话对于解决这一复杂而敏感的问题至关重要。

Reuters from Manila on August 6 - On Sunday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that a new resolution of sanctions declared by the United Nations Security Council against the DPRK (North Korea) regarding North Korea's series of missile trial launches are a proper response.

However, at the current "crucial moment" the dialog for finding a solution to this complex and sensitive matter is of vital importance.

[Reuters 中文 on August 6, 2017]

China's Foreign Minister is quoted from a speech he held at the ASEAN summit in Manila where high-ranking politicians from Northeast Asian nations have just assembled. Among those who blame North Korea at this meeting is the president of the Philippines, Duterte.

On Saturday, August 5, the United Nations Security Council unanimously decided on the country new sanctions that might make their annual 30 billion US dollars of export revenues plunged one third.


中国外长王毅：希望朝鲜与韩国尽快进行接触

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi: We expect North Korea and the
South to establish contact between each other as soon as possible.

[FX168 财经网, a HongKong based network for finance and economics on August 7, 2017]


韩国朝鲜外长会面 朝鲜批评对话提议缺诚意

On a meeting of South and North Korean foreign ministers:
The North criticizes the proposal of talks as lacking sincerity.

[Sing Tao World Wide Web 星岛环球网, a Canada based Chinese newspaper, on August 7, 2017]

Trump Blames China for N Korean Missile Danger

Latest News on August 5, 2018: UN slaps North Korea with new sanctions in effort to punish country's export sector.

Updates added on July 31 / 1st August, 2017



N Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
"Mars 14" during its test launch on July 29, 2017.


综述：朝鲜称最新试射导弹射程涵盖全美国 特朗普斥中国毫无作为

Summary: N Korea says the range of fire of recently tested
guided missiles is including a coverage of the whole U.S.

Trump scolds China for having accomplished nothing at all.

[Source: Reuters 中文 on July 30, 2017]





At about the same time a U.S. military video appeared that is showing the successful destruction of a flying target missile with the help of America's new anti-missile system THAAD which has already been deployed to South Korea:

Test of THAAD anti-missile system





两架美军轰炸机过朝鲜半岛 回应朝试射导弹

Two U.S. [B-1B] bombers passing over the Korean
peninsula as a response to N Korea's missile test.

[Source: SINA 新浪新闻中心 on July 30, 2017]


中国黄海军演意在敲打朝鲜 警告美国

Chinese navy drills in the Yellow Sea intend
to tap North Korea and to warn the U.S.A.



综合媒体7月28日报道，中国军方7月27日至29日在黄海举行实弹海上军事演习。演习地点在北海舰队总部所在地青岛附近海域大约四万平方公里 的区域进行，对面就是朝鲜半岛西海岸。

On July 28 united media reported China's military would launch military drills with live ammunition in the Yellow Sea from July 27 to 29. A region of 40.000 square km not far from the BeiHai naval headquarters in Qingdao should host the drills. The western coast of the Korean peninsula would then be just in front.

[Source: DW 多维新闻 on July 27/28, 2017]




British daily "The Telegraph" on Monday 31 July 2017


"New York Times": US to Bar Travel to North Korea Amid Rising Tensions on 31 July 2017




朝鲜续挑衅……试射ICBM后又射潜射弹道

North Korea continues provocation. - After ICBM
trial launch another launch of submarine missile.

After N Korea's launch of an intercontinental missile ICBM
on July 28, the U.S. Pentagon declared that U.S. forces
detected unusual activity regarding N Korea's submarines.
There is even evidence of adjustment tests for "submarine
launched ballistic missiles" SLBM. The picture is showing
N Korea's SLBM launch in August last year (2016).

美国防部一名官员周一（7月31日）告诉CNN新闻记者，朝鲜7月30日在其新浦海军造船厂（Sinpo Naval Shipyard）进行潜射弹道导弹的弹射， 这是7月的第三次试射，也是今年的第四次。主要目的是测试导弹的“冷启动系统”（cold-launch system），这是发展潜射导弹能力的关键部件。

On July 31 and referring to an official from the U.S. defence department, a CNN news reporter told that North Korea had carried out a missile test of its submarine launched ballistic missiles at the Sinpo Naval Shipyard. This should have been the 3rd trial launch in July and the 4th launch for that year. Main object was an adjustment of the "cold launch system" which is a central part in the development of submarine launched missile capacity.

[Source: Epoch Times 大纪元 anti-communist daily on 1st August, 2017]


新华社莫斯科７月３１日电（记者王晨笛）俄罗斯外交部网站７月３１日发布公告说，美国和一些国家将朝鲜近期试射弹道导弹的责任归咎于俄罗斯和中国，这种指责是毫无根据的。

According to a XinHua news report from Moscow on July 31 (reported by ...), Russia's foreign ministry published the following declaration on its website the same day: While the U.S. and some other countries put the blame on Russia and China for North Korea's test firing of a ballistic missile, such criticism is completely unfounded.

[Source: XinHua 新华社, China's news agency on 1st August, 2017]




An art performance was jointly given by Moranbong Band and State Merited Chorus at
Pyongyang's People’s Theater on Sunday, 30 July, to celebrate the successful second
test-fire of intercontinental ballistic rocket Mars-14 (Hwasong).

..............................



Visitor to "blueprint news" from the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

China Navy News - 中国海军新闻

中国四万吨级075型两栖攻击舰呼之欲出！某些人要不愿意了！

China's 40.000 tons amphibious assault ship of the 075 class ready to show soon !
Certain people might not be ready for it !

继我国第一艘国产航母下水引起的轩然大波后，另一则关于中国海军的消息又成为了中外媒体关注的焦点。 据外媒报道，中国第一艘两栖攻击舰075型将在2020年完工，其吨级与美国最大的“黄蜂”级两栖攻击舰相当， 这将有助于中国在直升机使用方面比肩美国。

Following the mighty uproar caused by China's first homebuilt aircraft carrier being launched, another news item regarding China's navy became the focus of interest of foreign media. According to foreign media reports, China's first amphibious assault ship of the 075 class should be completed in 2020. Its tonnage corresponds to that of the "Wasp", America's biggest amphibious assault ship. This would help China to apply helicopters, such matching with the U.S.

[Source: SOHU 搜狐 on May 29, 2017]




Model of 075 Class Amphibious Assault Ship
[Chinese source published on June 3, 2017].




Visitor to "blueprint news" coming from the Chinese seaport of Dalian where
China's first completely homebuilt aircraft carrier was recently launched.

US Reacting on North Korean Threat

美国今日将针对朝鲜进行洲际弹道导弹拦截试验

Today, the USA will conduct interception tests directed
against North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles.

[Chinanews 中国新闻网 on May 30, 2017, at 13:45 local time]


At about the same time, the English website of AL-Jazeera reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has promised bigger "gift packages" following Pyongyang's latest missile test, which is a statement that ratchets up already high tensions.

Kim supervised a new ballistic missile test on Monday, controlled by a precision guidance system, and ordered the development of more powerful strategic weapons to defend the country against the US, state media reported.

Kim said the reclusive state would develop more powerful weapons in multiple phases.

"He expressed the conviction that it would make a greater leap forward in this spirit to send a bigger 'gift package' to the Yankees" in retaliation for American military provocation, KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

The missile launched was equipped with an advanced automated pre-launch sequence compared with previous versions of the "Hwasong" rockets, North Korea's name for its Scud-class missiles, KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

That indicated the North had launched a modified Scud-class missile, as South Korea's military has said.




Al-Jazeera, English headline on May 30, 2017.


Even U.S. defense secretary ("Mad Dog") Mattis is warning:



[Newsweek on May 28, 2017]

North Korea - The Weekly Missile Test

This morning, North Korea carried out its "weekly missile test".



【快讯】朝鲜再次试射 或是飞毛腿导弹

Express Message: North Korea carried out another
test launch of what seems to be a Scud missile.

It's another test launch after the May 22 test and which is shown on the above photo taken by a South Korean photographer.

[Source: Epoch Times 大纪元 on May 29, 2017]


After North Korea's recent series of ballistic missile test, dictator Kim Jong-un is often photographed with the same three men:



The Trio behind North Korea's Missile Program.

Above: Kim Jong-un inspects the intermediate-range Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile at a launch test with Kim Jong Sik (2nd L), Ri Pyong Chol (3rd L) and Jang Chang Ha (R). Ri Pyong Chol is a former top air force general and now acting as a deputy director of the Workers' Party Munitions Industry Department. Born in 1948, Ri was partly educated in Russia and promoted when Kim Jong Un started to rise through the ranks in the late 2000s. He seems to be "the party's guy" in North Korea's missile program. - Kim Jong Sik is a veteran rocket scientist and Jang Chang Ha is the head of a weapons development and procurement center.

[quoted from different western sources .....]

US - Trump Sacking FBI Director

Here are the latest news on another breathtaking chapter of Trump's presidential rule.


USA Today Headline:
Trump's contacts with FBI Director James Comey break longstanding precedent.

[Read the complete article: "USA Today" on May 15, 2017
and/or listen to their Podcast: Trump fires Comey; chaos ensues. Now what?]


Express (UK) Headline:
White House will NOT reveal if secret FBI Comey tapes exist after Donald Trump's tweet.

The Trump administration has refused to reveal if secret recordings of conversations between the President and former FBI director James Comey exist after US lawmakers threatened to force their release.

[Read the complete article: "Express (UK)" on May 16, 2017]


A visit to "blueprint news" from FBI Criminal Justice Information Systems was detected on
September 10, 2013. It came from Clarksburg, West Virginia, where the FBI is using an
extended area for the installation of its state-of-the-art high-tech information system:



Under the spreading chestnut tree
I sold you and you sold me
There lie they, and here lie we
Under the spreading chestnut tree


Mysterious tune related to a scene from George Orwell's "1984",
a dark perception of some totalitarian state exerting total control
over its citizens, its adage being: "Big Brother is watching you!"


By the way, the location of Chestnut Street where all the trators should be lying is a reminder of an old blogspot of mine that is dealing with U.S. spying on its allies. Some visitor to "blueprint news" and who came from Toledo, Spain, brought it to my attention again.

...............................

North Korea - New Missile Launch

最新消息：朝鲜再度进行导弹试验！

Latest News: North Korea again carried out a missile test !

According to official South Korean sources, North Korea should have launched a ballistic missile this morning at 05:27 local time from its North Pyongan Province 평안북도 / 平安北道龟城. The missile should have followed a 700 km trajectory.

S Korean president Moon Jae immediately summoned officials from the relevant departments for a meeting of the National Security Council.

[搜狐, China, on May 14, 2017, 02:26 local time]




韩联参警告朝鲜若再挑衅将遭韩美强力应对

South Korea's Joint Staffs are warning the North from provoking a disastrous
and forceful reply by South Korea and the U.S. in case it provokes again.

[Yonhap, Chinese language site of the S Korean
news agency on May 14, 2017, 11:31 local time]




战争近在眼前？ 美情报机构称朝鲜年内试射洲际导弹

War soon under our eyes ? U.S. intelligence community says that
North Korea will test an intercontinental missile within a year.

[Anti-Communist NTD TV quoting the New York Times on May 12, 2017]

Syria - US Arming Kurdish Units

Only some hours ago, the Trump administration declared its intention to arm Kurdish units in their efforts to reconquer the Syrian town of ar-Raqqa from ISIL (Daesh) which is their most important stronghold after the Iraqi army earlier regained essential parts of Mosul.

This is going to provoke a harsh Turkish reaction as Turkey's president Erdogan already warned the U.S. to support Kurdish fighters. It should be noted that ar-Raqqa is located far away from traditional Kurdish territory.




أميركا تسلح "الوحدات الكردية" بسوريا لاستعادة الرقة

The U.S. are arming "Kurdish units" in Syria to reconquer ar-Raqqa.

قالت وزارة الدفاع الأميركية (البنتاغون)، اليوم الثلاثاء، إن الرئيس دونالد ترمب أجاز تسليح المقاتلين الأكراد في سوريا "كإجراء ضروري لضمان تحقيق نصر واضح"، في هجوم مقرر لاستعادة مدينة الرقة من تنظيم داعش.ـ

On Tuesday [May 09] the U.S. department of defense (Pentagon) said that president Donald Trump authorized the arming of Kurdish fighters in Syria "as a measure necessary to ensure a clear victory" in the attack intended to reconquer the town of ar-Raqqa from ISIL organization.

[Al-Arabiya العربية on May 09, 2017. Same news are available from Al-Hayat الحياة.]




أردوغان: على أميركا وقف دعم "حماية الشعب الكردية"ـ

Erdogan to America: Stop supporting the "garde of the Kurdish people".

[Al-Arabiya on April 30, 2017]

N Korean Threats - Chinese Fears

From the regular press conference
summoned by China's ministry of
foreign affairs on 2nd May 2017:



朝鲜部署新潜射弹道导弹基地

North Korea installs new base for submarines able to launch ballistic missiles.

[Editor's Note: This is referring to a location at the N Korean coastline of the Yellow
or Western Sea 西海 which stretches between the Korean peninsula and China]

问：美方今天宣称在韩国部署的“萨德”反导系统已经可以启用了，中方对此有何回应？

Question: Today the U.S. declared the antimissile system THAAD which is deployed in South Korea as being already fully operational. What is China's answer to that ?

答：在“萨德”反导系统问题上，中方的立场是非常明确的，也是坚定的。我们反对美国在韩国部署“萨德”反导系统，敦促有关方面立即停止部署进程。 同时，我们将坚决采取必要措施，捍卫自身利益。

Answer: As to the question of the THAAD antimissile system, China's position is unusually clear-cut and firm. We are opposing the U.S. deployment of a THAAD antimissile system in South Korea, and we urge the concerned sides to immediately stop the deploying process. At the same time we firmly take the necessary steps to defend our interests.

[Source: SINA 新浪 on 2nd May 2017]




Editor's Note:

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is a United States Army anti-ballistic missile system designed to shoot down short, medium, and intermediate range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill approach. The missile carries no warhead, but relies on the kinetic energy of impact to destroy the incoming missile. A kinetic energy hit minimizes the risk of exploding conventional warhead ballistic missiles, and nuclear tipped ballistic missiles will not detonate upon a kinetic energy hit.

The Chinese reaction comes shortly after western sources reported the missile-defense system had gone into operation in South Korea last week as a protection against North Korean short and long range missiles. More on NY Times: U.S. Antimissile System Goes Live in South Korea.

Among all that stuff that has been written on North Korea, here's an interesting article on North Korea's economy and its manifold links with China to open your eyes:

How we’ll know when China really is working with the US on North Korea

Hot Spot North Korea

Important Update added on 2nd May 2017



特朗普：朝鲜若再核试我会不开心 不排除军事反应

Trump: If North Korea resumes its nuclear tests, I cannot
be pleased and cannot rule out a military response.

[Source: Global Network 环球网 on April 30, 2017]


North Korea claims the buildup of US troops in Darwin, Australia, is proof America is getting ready for nuclear war.

Its main newspaper is accusing the US of trying to optimise its nuclear readiness in the region, noting it's the largest US military presence in Australia since World War II.

The leader of the Darwin based air-strike force says it's in a strategic location and the US 'stands ready to fight'.

The US deployment to Darwin has been conducted since 2012 and at around 1250 Marines and naval personnel is half the 2500 originally proposed under an agreement between the US and Australia.

Former US Ambassador to Australia John Berry said the situation in North Korea would likely head discussions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull next week.



[Source: Skynews Australia on April 26, 2017]




The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on Saturday, April 29, kicked off a joint drill with the South Korean navy, officials said, as tensions rose over North Korea's latest test-fire of a ballistic missile.

"Immediately after the aircraft carrier arrived in the Sea of Japan, South Korea and the US strike forces launched a drill from 6:00 pm (0900 GMT) Saturday", a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.

The drill came hours after the North launched a ballistic missile in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions.

[Source: SBS News, Australia, on April 30, 2017]


Late Evening News on April 30:



[Source: Al-Jazeera - Photo provided by U.S. Navy via AP]

Don't miss Al-Jazeera's related English website
N Korea warns of 'catastrophic consequences'
that is providing further background information.




朝鲜:我们军队不可战胜 美航母和潜艇将变废铁

North Korea: Our troops cannot be defeated. - America's aircraft
carrier and submarines will be turned into scrap iron.

[Chinese Source SINA on 1st May 2017]


Late Evening News on 1st May:



朝鲜称半岛目前局势为50年来最严重

North Korea says the peninsula's current situation
is getting the most critical one in 50 years.

[Source: Global Network / Xinhua 环球网 / 新华社 on 1st May 2017
are quoting a spokesman for the North Korean ministry of foreign affairs:
…… 朝鲜外务省发言人当天发表谈话，
称目前的半岛局势是50年来最严重的]




特朗普：若条件合适 将会晤金正恩

Trump: If the conditions are suitable, I will meet with Kim Jong-Un.

[Source: SINA 新浪网 on 2nd May 2017 local date]


Other Regional News:



On Sunday, April 30, three Chinese Navy vessels arrived on a three-days surprise visit in Davao / Mindanao, hometown of the Philippines' President Duterte who then boarded China's missile destroyer Chang Chun. Earlier tensions about territorial disputes in the South China Sea are seemingly forgotten, while Duterte recently concentrated on North Korea which he said was willing to "end the world".







日本军港内军舰鳞次栉比

Inside Japan's naval base - Row upon row of warships

佐世保军港是日本海上自卫队最重要的军港之一，该军港内驻扎了第5、第6、第8、第13护卫队，拥有15艘各型主力军舰。

Sasebo naval base is among the most important military seaports for Japan's maritime self-defence. Inside that naval base are stationed the 5th, 6th, 8th and 13th guard units. It hosts 15 main force warships of different types.

Editor's Note:
"U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo" is a United States Navy base in Sasebo, Japan, on the island of Kyūshū. It makes part of the Japanese Sasebo naval base in Nagasaki Prefecture. The U.S. base provides facilities for the logistic support of forward-deployed units and visiting operating forces of the United States Pacific Fleet and designated tenant activities.

[Source: Global Network 环球网 on 2nd May 2017]

China's Navy - 2nd Aircraft Carrier Launched

我国第二艘航空母舰下水仪式26日上午在
中国船舶重工集团公司大连造船厂举行。

Yesterday, April 26, at 9 am local time and on the 68th birthday of China's navy PLAN, China's 2nd aircraft carrier of the Liaoning-class has been floated off its dry dock at Dalian. The ceremony was attended by members of the Central Committee of China's Communist Party and many high-ranking military leaders.

While the first carrier "Liaoning" was based on the semi-finished Soviet-era vessel "Varyag" which belonged to the Kuznetsov-class, China's second carrier has been completely home-built. Its name is still unknown, but rumours are saying it might probably be named "Shandong" on a later occasion.

A Chinese language news portal quoted by western sources had previously reported that the ship will have an aircraft capacity of 28-36 aircraft split between Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighters and helicopters, which is the same as that of the Liaoning. According to the new vessel's outward apperance, the most significant change from the "Liaoning" seems to be a reconfiguration of the phased array radar panels, with those on the new ship facing diagonally outward on both sides of bridge fore and aft.

“瓦良格”号原先在舰艏部的甲板下装有12枚巨大的SS-N-19重型反舰导弹，虽然在改装为辽宁舰时拆除了，但受制于原始设计，无法扩成机库。[金融界]

The new 50.000 tons aircraft carrier like the fully-operational "Liaoning" might still be able to use heavy SS-N-19 anti-ship guided missiles but which has never been confirmed. 12 SS-N-19 missiles of Soviet-era origin once belonged to the armament of a Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier and might present a serious danger to western ship units if still available, especially when used with a nuclear warhead.

[Source: People's Network and other Chinese and western military sources on April 26/27, 2017]




Related Military News:

On today's press conference, summoned by China's Ministry of Defence, navy officer Zhang Zheng was specially praised for his outstanding abilities. Zhang Zheng served as the commander of China's first aircraft carrier "Liaoning" from September 2012 until May 2016 and was later promoted to the position of a Deputy Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy PLAN. [People's Network on April 27, 2017]


美国若军事打击朝鲜 中国会介入吗？

In case of a U.S. military attack on North Korea,
will China know how to interfere ?

中国官方的《环球时报》日前发表社评说：“如果朝鲜继续开展严重的核导活动，美国对其相关设施开展外科手术式打击，北京应予以外交抵制，但不必军事介入。”

A few days ago, China's official paper "Global Times" said in its editorial: " If North Korea continues its activity of developing serious nuclear missiles, the U.S. will carry out an attack against its related facilities in some kind of a surgical operation. Beijing would then react with diplomatic resistance, however not feel obliged to interfere. "




[Quotation of Chinese source by DW 多维新闻 on April 26, 2017]


Crocodile Camp



特朗普：将和习近平有非常良好关系

Trump: Enjoying unusual fine relations with Xi JinPing.

Xi JinPing's U.S. visit on April 6 / 7, 2017
[Singapore Morning Post 新加坡早报]

N Korea - Culmination of Tensions Preparing US Strike ?

The following text is a summary from Australian and other western sources on a recent culmination of tensions between North Korea and the U.S. administration of Donald Trump:

North Korea threatens ‘merciless military strikes’ against US, as U.S. vice president Mike Pence visits the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.

The isolated nation has trotted out three of its most senior officials to amp up its war rhetoric against the US.

North Korea’s deputy foreign minister, Sin Hong-chol, has told Al Jazeera that its army is on “maximum alert” after US Vice President Mike Pence visited the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas on Monday.

“The time of dictating orders by brandishing the US military might has gone,” Mr Sin told the Arabic broadcaster. The official made a passing swipe at Mr Trump and his administration, referring to him not as the President but as a “businessman”.

“If those businessmen in power in the US thought of intimidating us by any military or sanction threats — as the [Barack] Obama administration used to do and failed — they will soon find out such threats are useless,” Mr Sin said.

“If we notice any sign of assault on our sovereignty, our army will launch merciless military strikes against the US aggressors, wherever they may exist, from the remote US lands to the American military bases on the Korean Peninsula, such as those of Japan and elsewhere.”

"Mr Trump has tried to use trade incentives to pressure China into doing more to stop North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons", but Mr Sin implied this tactic would not work.

“The nuclear weapon in our possession is not illusion; it is not a commodity that may be traded for American dollars, nor is it for sale. So it cannot be put on the negotiating table with the aim to rip it off,” he said.

The country’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Kim In Ryong, has called the US a “gangster” hellbent on “disturbing peace and stability”. He accused the Trump administration of turning the Korean peninsula into “the world’s biggest hotspot” and creating “a dangerous situation in which a thermonuclear war may break out at any moment”.

“If the United States dares opt for a military action … the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the Americans,” Mr Kim told a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York. “We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs.” He said North Korea was acting in self defence and would respond to any threat of nuclear weapons or intercontinental ballistic missiles “in kind”.

North Korea’s vice foreign minister has also maintained the threatening language, telling the BBC there would be “all-out war” if the US took military action. “We’ll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis,” Han Song-Ryol said. Mr Trump’s remark that North Korea has “gotta behave” was made off the cuff on Monday when he was asked whether he had any message for North Korea or its leader, Kim Jong-un. His comment comes after a tense weekend on the Korean Peninsula where the North celebrated the 105th birthday of its founding father, Kim Il-sung, with an elaborate military parade on Saturday that showed off its growing missile arsenal. The triumphant procession, intended to show off the nation’s military might, was followed by a major embarrassment for the current leader. A ballistic missile test launched near a submarine base on the country’s east coast failed seconds after lift-off Sunday morning.

The US provoked North Korea’s ire when it sent a naval strike group, including aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and three guided-missile destroyers, to the region ahead of the anniversary, which is one of the biggest days on the country’s calendar.

US vice president Mike Pence visited the South Korean capital Seoul on Monday as part of a tour of Asia, where he warned the North not to test the resolve of the US President on military matters. “The world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan,” the US Vice President said. “North Korea would do well not to test his resolve or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in the region.” He said “all options are on the table” in response to North Korea and that the “era of strategic patience is over”. Two North Korean soldiers watched Mr Pence closely as he visited the demilitarised zone on Monday, with one taking photographs of the visiting leader.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Mr Trump would not draw “red lines” over North Korea and he would continue to play his cards “close to his vest” in terms of his military strategy. “The action that he took in Syria showed, when appropriate, this President will take decisive action,” Mr Spicer said, in reference to Mr Trump’s missile attack in April in retaliation to the Middle Eastern nation’s use of chemical weapons against its own people. Mr Spicer also praised China for its “historic” decision to take a “much more active role” against North Korea through economic actions. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the world who would not believe that North Korea’s actions are both provocative and a concern,” Mr Spicer told reporters Monday afternoon.

One security expert told The New York Times, the tension between the US and North Korea looks like “the Cuban missile crisis in slow motion".

U.S. - North Korean Diplomacy

美拒签朝高官 特朗普就任后首场美朝会谈取消

America refuses visa to North Korean high official.
After his election, Trump cancelled first talks
between U.S. and North Korea.

据《华尔街日报》报道，崔善熙原定于3月1日至2日在纽约与美国官员举行会谈。这是特朗普就任美国总统以来朝美官员首次传出接触计划，也是自2011年以来首次传出朝鲜高级特使要访问美国。

According to the Wall Street Journal, Choe Son Hui should originally start talks with a U.S. official in New York on 1st and 2nd of March [2017]. This is what Trump at first announced as a planned contact between North Korean and U.S. officials after [Trump's] election as a president of the United States. This would have been as well the first announced visit to America of a high-ranking North Korean special envoy since 2011.

[Source: Sina News 新浪新闻中心 on February 26, 2017]