Korea - Opposing Naval Forces

日本防卫相称提升美军在东亚存在感能威慑朝鲜

Japan's defence minister says promotion of U.S. troops in East Asia is sensed capable to deter North Korea.

On the occasion of U.S. aircraft carrier Nimitz reaching the coast of South Korea for joint U.S. - South Korean naval exercises, the Japanese minister of defence made his declaration in favor of U.S. troops in East Asia.

In the frame of these exercises, the U.S. aircraft carrier battle group will be using a seaborne aviation wing (CVW) and a seaborne combat group (CSG). [Flagship USS Nimitz] is accompanied by USS Princeton [CLV-23, a light aircraft carrier] and other ship(s) equipped with the AEGIS combat system [a sophisticated early-warning system] while the South Korean side has deployed its 7.600 ton AEGIS-equipped destroyer "Sejongdaewang" together with another 5.500 ton destroyer. Both, U.S. and South Korean AEGIS ships will be primarily engaged in missile survey and anti-submarine exercises.

参与本次演习的美国航母战斗群还有航母航空联队(CVW)、航母打击群(CSG)、宙斯盾舰、“普林斯顿号”导弹巡洋舰等。韩国方面动员了“世宗大王号”宙斯盾驱逐舰(7600吨级)和忠武公李舜臣级驱逐舰(5500吨级)等。韩美宙斯盾舰主要进行导弹探测和反潜艇作战方面的演习。

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on May 12, 2013]

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Here now a graphic presentation of all kinds of North Korean navy units and that should be complete according to a Canadian source. Unfortunately, their own website is practically impossible to load while using a slow internet connection. This is due to incredibly huge graphic files which I "melted down" to some 100-200 kb GIF files in order to facilitate their distribution:

Kim Jong Un Reached His Limit

Last UPDATE: May 10



更新版-东北亚情势：
中国银行关闭朝鲜外贸银行账户

Renewed page: North East Asian situation:
Bank of China closed North Korea's foreign trade accounts.

The above message has just been published by Reuters Press Agency on its Chinese news site. Obviously they had to change their main headline perhaps because of a fresh news trend. The original information seems to have come from the Chinese edition of Wallstreet Journal (picture below) published some hours earlier. That website was infected with a virus and could not be downloaded immediately. If severe loading problems of the Reuters site were related to a virus attack as well could not be verified. Regarding the message itself, it must be pointed out that the Bank of China finally took action as had already been demanded by the U.S. and their allies.

[Source: Reuters Press Agency, Chinese news site, on May 8, 2013]



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Missile Test Cancelled


综合外国媒体5月7日报道，韩国和美国情报机构称朝鲜已从发射场撤走“舞水端”导弹，这或许意味着朝方解除了此前的“一号作战执勤状态”。

A comprehensive foreign media report from May 7 informs: South Korean and U.S. intelligence organizations are saying that North Korea already withdrew a Musudan [brand] guided missile from its launchpad. This might signify that the North abandoned an earlier "state of attending military operations".

Kim Jong Un - Now Caring for More Earthly Problems


Above: The picture under today's headline (regarding the withdrawal of a Musudan missile from its launchpad) is showing Kim Jong Un while visiting a national research institute for biological engineering on May 6, 2013.

[Source: New China Network 新华网 on May 8, 2013]

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朴槿惠会美防长 重申共同努力遏制朝鲜导弹威胁

Park (*) meeting with U.S. defence secretary - Reaffirming joint efforts to keep threats from North Korea's guided missiles within limits.
(*) = South Korea's president Mrs. Park 朴槿惠

In the first place the Chinese article gives a summary of recent military preparations and manoeuvres held by the U.S. - South Korean alliance, then describes the North Korean reaction. I suggest you should read that text carefully:

面对美韩系列军演，朝鲜多次进行强烈批评，朝鲜国防委员会更表示，如果美韩停止军演，美国放弃制裁并向朝鲜道歉，朝鲜可以同美韩对话，否则如果韩国一直躲在美国核保护伞下，那么将“必死无疑”。

Facing a U.S. - South Korean series of manoeuvres, North Korea many times advanced vehement criticism. The North Korean National Defense Council even more expressed [their view] that if the U.S. and South Korea stopped their manoeuvres [and] U.S. national defence abandoned sanctions while simultaneously apologizing to North Korea, North Korea could enter into talks with the U.S. and South Korea. Otherwise, if South Korea is all along hiding under America's "umbrella of nuclear protection", there will be "death without any doubt".

5月7日朝鲜人民军又称，如果美韩军队对朝鲜进行挑衅性炮击，朝鲜军队将马上还击，如果遭到回击，所有部署在西南前线地区的朝鲜人民军火箭部队将即刻行动，把韩国的邻近岛屿变成“火海”。

On May 7, the North Korean People's Army [added]: If U.S. - South Korean troops begin a provocative shelling, the North Korean army will immediately strike as well. If suffering from a counterattack, everything available to the rocket unit(s) of North Korea's People's Army in the south-western front regions will be deployed in an immediate operation, such turning South Korea's neighbouring islands into a "sea of flames".

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on May 8, 2013]

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Update on May 10:

朝鲜首次谴责朴槿惠访美 称是韩方“战争前奏曲”

For the first time North Korea condemns Park's U.S. visit
and says this would be South Korea's "prelude to war".



[Source: CRI online 国际在线 on May 10, 2013]

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A splendid mixture of localized visitors to "blueprint news"
searching my archives on a weekend:

Korea - A Rather Slow Countdown

UPDATE added on May 4/5/6

美国首发朝鲜军力报告 称朝鲜构成最严峻威胁

Headline: For the first time, the U.S. issued a report on North Korea's military strength, saying that North Korea is posing a most severe threat.

中新社华盛顿5月2日电 (记者 德永健)五角大楼2日首次发布朝鲜军力报告，称朝鲜意图攻击韩国，寻求发展核武和远程弹道导弹，并无视联合国安理会决议进行武器扩散，目前依然对美国国家安全构成最严峻威胁。

Cable from New China Agency by De Yong Jian, Washington, on May 2:
For the first time, the Pentagon issued a report on North Korea's military strength, saying that it is North Korea's intention to attack the South. Seeking to develop nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles while ignoring resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and [even] conducting the proliferation of weaponry, [North Korea] is still posing a most severe threat to America's national safety by now.


Above: Public presentation of a short-range earth-air guided missile system by North Korea's Central TV on April 6, 2013.

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on May 3, 2013]

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North Korea's missile program - State of the art

All of the rockets on this picture have already been tested. The two-stage missile that should reach targets some 6.700 km away was reported to present some difficulties to the North Korean technicians. However, a three-stage modification of that missile is known to be under development and might once reach targets 8.000-12.000 km away, such threatening U.S. mainland.

[Source: New China Network 新华网 on May 3, 2013]

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Update for May 4, 2013:

美国发布朝鲜军力报告：正寻求核打击美国本土

A U.S. published report on N Korea's military strength:
Just striving for a nuclear attack on U.S. mainland.



Complete arsenal of already existing N Korean rockets (above).
S Korean personnel leaving the Kaesong industrial zone (below).

[Source: SOHU News 搜狐新闻 on May 4, 2013]




3月15日，美国国防部长查克·哈格尔宣布，他已下令军方在美国西海岸新增14个陆基导弹拦截装置，以应对来自朝鲜的导弹威胁。

On March 15, U.S. defense secretary Chuck Hagel declared that he already ordered another 14 land based missile interception devices for the U.S. west coast to respond to any missile threat from North Korea.

[Source: New China Network 新华网 on May 4, 2013]

Editor's Note:
To get the full picture of a slowly but steadily heating conflict, my visitors are advised to refer to my series of subsequent blogspots on the Korean subject beginning in April 2013.

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Update for May 5, 2013:

The following article, published today, May 5, by New China Network has a presentation of the North Korean missile arsenal and analyzes their development of range and capacity during the last decade. Even though that article is based on a Pentagon report already quoted some days before, this has become a fascinating subject for Chinese readers who now want to learn more. All this should be seen in the frame of North Korea's questionable behaviour making any of its further steps quite unpredictable. Therefore, the Korean subject has somehow "muzzeled" all those reports continuously published before by Chinese media on the notorious island dispute between China and Japan, another severe problem in the Far East.

解读朝鲜导弹“飞毛腿”“舞水端”“大浦洞”真正实力

Explaining to the reader North Korea's guided missiles: Scud, Musudan, Taepodong and their true strength.


Above: Discussion of the Musudan rocket [Chin.: Wu Shui Duan 舞水端 "Dancing to the End of the Water"] which is expected to have a range of fire between 3.000 and 4.000 km corresponding to its maximum ballistic height of 3.000 km.


Above: Discussing the Taepodong 2 rocket [Chin.: Da Pu Dong 大浦洞 "Great Rivermouth Penetration"]

The two-stage guided missile should have a range of 6.700 km while a three-stage modification could have a range of up to 12.000 km. The long-range modification, now under development, might therefore reach Hawaii and U.S. mainland (Alaska, California).

The Chinese article discusses earlier missile tests between 1998 and 2012. When North Korea announced the launch of a satellite in August 1998 this was seen by the U.S. as a test for multi-stage rockets. At this time the Taepodong 1 missile was first mentioned and its tests began to terrorize Japanese citizens.


PATRIOT-3 missile defense system deployed in Tokyo
and awaiting another North Korean "missile test".

The U.S. are considering in their report about North Korea's military strength: "North Korea's development of vehicles for spaceflight [is matching with] a development of range for reaching the significance of U.S. long-range guided missiles, such making it possible to cover part of U.S. territory. However, as a result of North Korea not having [learnt to launch] enough carrier rockets that can return to the atmosphere, the Taepodong 2 still doesn't possess the attacking capacity of lifting and carrying a warhead."

[Source: New China Network 新华网 on May 5, 2013]

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Update for May 6, 2013:


Above: Kim Jong Un on May 5, 2013, while visiting a research institute for biological engineering, announces the need to turn North Korea into a people's paradise.

[Source: China Radio International CRI 国际在线 on May 6, 2013]

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Remarkable visitors to "blueprint news" coming from Russia and the U.S.A.:

Korea - The War of Nerves Continues

Last UPDATE: 1st May

韩媒：朝鲜拟在西海岸大规模演习 或将发射导弹

South Korean media: North Korea planning large-scale [military] exercises on its Western sea coast.

According to the South Korean press agency, North Korean plannings comprise joint manoeuvres of the air force and artillery troops on the Yellow Sea coastline in Nampo 南浦 region which is south of Pyongyang 平壤. The extent of that military drill is expected to be rather great.

中新网4月28日电 据韩联社报道，韩国政府一位消息人士28日透露称，有迹象表明朝鲜正在西海岸南浦附近地区准备进行空中战力和炮兵战力联合演习，演习规模可能比较大。

[China News Network 中国新闻网2013年04月28日]

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The day before, April 27, Global Network among other Chinese sources quoted an earlier report from Associated Press:

美联社全面评估朝鲜炮兵战机导弹核武等家底

Headline:
Associated Press [AP] made an overall evaluation of North Korea's [military] resources like artillery, air force, guided missiles and nuclear weapons.

Artillery: The AP evaluation is quoting a South Korean source as saying that North Korea owns 13.000 pieces of artillery. Long range artillery can reach the South Korean capital Seoul which is only about 50 km away from the border. However, according to the South Korean defense minister, five days after war had been started by the North, 70% of artillery deployed by the North to the border region would be "out of function".
韩国方面说，朝鲜拥有1.3万门火炮，其远程火炮射程可覆盖韩国首都首尔（距朝韩边界只有约50公里）。…
…但韩国国防部长估计，如果朝韩开战，那么5天后朝鲜部署在边境地区的火炮中有70%就会“不起作用了”。

Naval forces: According to the South Korean defense ministry, North Korea should possess 70 submarines while South Korea is owning 10.
韩国国防部称，朝鲜拥有70艘潜艇，而韩国仅10艘。

Air force: 820 fighter jets owned by North Korea are being considered by the South as oldfashioned and outdated.
朝鲜拥有820架战斗机，…。韩国认为，朝鲜的大多数飞机都已老旧过时。

Guided missiles and nuclear weapons: According to a U.S. expert, North Korea is most probably unable to target U.S. territory but Pyongyang "could probably" apply short-range nuclear missiles.
美国专家说： … 朝鲜不太可能拥有能打开美国的核导弹，但他说，平壤“有可能”拥有短程核导弹。

Biological and chemical weapons: Pyongyang owns more than 5.000 tons of chemical weapons, the real amount being "subject to guesswork" [source: a foreign institute for strategic research]. However, North Korea has probably made real plannings for its biological and chemical weapons.
… 平壤有多达5000吨化学武器。… 国际战略研究所说，尽管这个数字“在很大程度上是猜测性的”，但朝鲜可能确实拥有生化武器计划。

Editor's Note:
The Chinese headline above is using an interesting expression (家底). What can be simply translated as "resources" has an original meaning of "family property accumulated over a long time". Such we could speak of the "military inventory of the Kim family" !

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朝鲜半岛不确定因素仍存 一盘下不完的棋

An undefined element on the Korean peninsula still exists [like] an undecided game of chess.

That semi-official article refers to the obviously unexpected U.S. - South Korean landing manoeuvre on the Eastern coast of South Korea near Pandong. It is showing the photo of a U.S. main combat tank M1A1.

[New China Network quoting the overseas edition of People's Daily, Beijing, on April 27, 2013 - 新华网/人民日报 - For further information refer as well to an earlier blogspot of mine published the day before.]

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UPDATE for 1st May, 2013.

韩媒：朝鲜早在上世纪70年代就开始为核战争做准备

South Korean media: North Korea has [already] begun nuclear war preparations in the early 1970s.

A diplomatic document from Hungary, registered on February 16, 1976, is showing that North Korea began its nuclear war preparations in the early 1970s. This is one of 125 declassified documents from Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. That center has to track down for research such diplomatic records related to North Korea that came from its former communist allies, the Soviet Union, Romania and Hungary.

Editor's Note: For a better understanding the original Chinese text has been rearranged.

一份标注日期为1976年2月16日的匈牙利外交文件显示，朝鲜早在上世纪70年代就开始为核战争做准备。…
… 在华盛顿的伍德罗•威尔逊中心披露了125份解密文件，这是其中之一。该中心一直在追踪研究苏联、罗马尼亚和匈牙利等朝鲜前共产党盟友有关朝鲜的外交档案。

[New China Network 新华网 2013年05月01日]

Further news received on 1st May are dealing with the declaration of an "economic reform" by North Korea's prime minister [Wuhan Evening News] and a recent report from a South Korean research organization saying that the North is increasing its import of chemical fertilizer for the development of agriculture [Global Network].

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朝鲜战场上中国空军靠什么拿手绝技战胜美军

On the Korean battlefield, China's air force was near to become good at defeating U.S. troops with [its] unique skill.

[New China Network 新华网 2013年04月28日]

In the frame of increasing tensions between North and South Korea, there seems to be an increasing interest among Chinese internet users in historical proceedings of the Korean War. A brandnew article, published today, April 28, by New China Network, is now dealing with one special subject of the Korean War: The so-called MIG Corridor which has been marked on the below map. That was a region where Chinese MIG-15 fighter jets got engaged with U.S. F-86 warplanes.



Editor's Note:
China's military, acting in North Korea under the label of a "Chinese volunteers' army", had to buy those MIG-15 fighters from the Soviet Union where Stalin had granted permission to Korea's communist leader Kim Il Song for an attack on the pro-Western state of South Korea. Such permission, however, should be relying on China's approval. The People's Republic of China then became North Korea's most reliable ally.

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North Korean Society News:

On a banquet for the hungry generals and which was celebrated in commemoration of the People's Army foundation on April 25, some unknown Korean flower had been detected (photo below). Press circles assume she might be the little sister of Kim Jong Un.



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A visitor to "blueprint news" coming from the Vietnamese border to China at Lao Cai:



If he could as he liked, this might be Kim Jong Un's favorite target:



From the World to Your Phone: A visitor from Lagos, Nigeria, was searching for "blue print news headline" on his rather small cellphone display.


Google search result is even indicating
the actual blogspot of "blueprint news".

Korea - Proceedings at the Japanese Sea

美韩举行大规模军演 朝鲜或择机偷袭对手

U.S.A. and South Korea staged a large-scale military drill [as]
" North Korea is probably choosing an opportunity for some
surprise attack on its opponents ".

4月26日，在韩国港口城市浦项，美国和韩国海军陆战队员参加美韩联合训练。

On April 26, U.S. and South Korean marines joined the U.S. - South Korean combined exercises at the South Korean seaport of Pohang.


South Korean seaport of Pohang 浦项 situated by the Japanese Sea.

[Source: Global Network 环球网—国际新闻 on April 27, 2013]


The North Korean seaport Dancheon has been specially marked as well in the above map because it was recently mentioned by two independent Chinese sources:

- Some Chinese blog from November 2012 is saying that China would like to use Dancheon together with further seaports on the Japanese sea which are already in use at the north-eastern coastline of North Korea. There's a special administrative area including an important seaport at 罗津 (Chin.: Luo Jin) which is north of Chongjin 清津 and near the Russian border. [=> refer to below map].



- Another brandnew article, published yesterday, April 26, by China Radio CRI, is dealing with the same seaport project. Dancheon (Chin.: Duan Chuan) 端川 is considered to become an international seaport for North Korea. With abundant mineral deposits of magnesite and zinc in its neighbourhood, that seaport's construction project was officially completed in May 2012. According to a South Korean business analyst, quoted by CRI, the construction of that port is fitting a unique scheme of North Korea's economic and nuclear development. The port should be used for the export of mineral products that seem to be the main income source of hard currency (or needed goods) for North Korea. Other reports recently mentioned the bridge passage to China at Dandong as an important export hub for North Korean mineral products.


View on Dancheon 端川 seaport.

朝鲜为吸引外资拟将端川港建设为国际贸易港口

North Korea is attracting foreign capital for the construction of Dancheon 端川 seaport that is to become a port for international trade.

[Source: China Radio International CRI 国际在线 on April 26, 2013]

North Korean Contradictions

In the middle of a severe famine that has been unveiled by, both, Chinese and South Korean sources, Pyongyang has just opened a restaurant ship. Its inauguration took place on the foundation day of N Korea's People's Army on April 25 and culminated in a speech held by the N Korean prime minister. The ship should serve 300 dining guests on two levels and is most probably targeting foreign tourists as N Korea is badly in need of hard currency.



[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on April 26, 2013]

News on a food shortage that is even affecting units of the People's Army can be found in recent blogspots of mine. Related subjects are: North Korean soldier shot his superior when being caught while eating stolen food. Earlier delivery of cereals on behalf of the United Nations included American wheat for U.S. army purpose. Mongolia, alarmed by the actual North Korean food shortage, is planning a delivery of cereals.

Kim Jong Un - Turning Down the Heat

李炜：美国发生爆炸 朝鲜为避嫌暂停挑衅

Li Wei: [After] explosions took place in the U.S.A., North Korea suspends provocations to avoid arousing suspicion.

另外现在朝鲜的挑衅活动虽然减弱了，突然减弱我觉得有两个原因，第一个原因就是因为前一段的波士顿的恐怖袭击，如果在那个时候，朝鲜继续要摆出一副强硬姿态的话，让人想到好像这个恐怖袭击跟朝鲜有什么关系，所以朝鲜尽量摆脱跟恐怖袭击的相互关系，事实证明确实它也没有关系，但在这个时候它就比较低调一些。

Li Wei (TV screenshot above, left portrait), an expert who had been questioned in a talk show program of Ifeng TV, considers one [main] reason for North Korea suspending its provocations for the time being. It is the most recent bombing in Boston because, at times when tough language is being spoken by North Korea, people might come to think that provocation must be related to a terrorist attack in the enemy's country. This, however, has been rejected by North Korea.

[Source: news.ifeng 凤凰网 on April 25, 2013]

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布热津斯基：朝鲜突然安静下来了 可能中国已施压

Brzeziński: North Korea unexpectedly became peaceful, probably because China already exerted pressure.

Zbigniew Brzeziński (*1928) is a former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States (1977-81) and who enjoyed much influence on global policy making.

[Source: news.ifeng 凤凰网 on April 25, 2013]

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A visitor to "blueprint news" who came from the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator on April 25. As to Mongolian food delivery to help easing the actual North Korean famine, please, refer to yesterday's blogspot of mine.

Korea - Semi-Official Chinese Statement

Important UPDATE inserted on April 24.


Above picture: Japan's maritime self-defence [i.e. coast guard].

张召忠：日本从朝鲜半岛危局获利最大 韩国倒霉

Zhang ZhaoZhong: Japan makes greatest profit from a dangerous situation on the Korean peninsula. South Korea's bad luck.

人民网北京电：朝鲜半岛的危机持续很长一段时间，此时半岛危机演化到一个关键节点，各方表态都有些微妙。 军事专家张召忠在中央电视台《防务新观察》节目中表示，日本通过炒作“朝鲜威胁论”得到很多武器装备，获利最大，而韩国 “最倒霉”。

Cable from People's Network, Beijing: The crisis of the Korean peninsula is going on for a very long time. During that time the peninsula crisis has evolved into a critical item. Every party having made clear their position, all positions being [some kind of] delicate. In a program [broadcast] by China's Central TV station and which is named "New Defence Survey", military expert Zhang ZhaoZhong declared: Japan has undertaken heating up the "debate on a North Korean threat" to exceedingly profit from huge arms equipment while South Korea is [in a position of] "extreme bad luck".

[Source: mil.sohu 搜狐军事 quoting People's Network 人民网, Beijing, on April 23, 2013]




解放军总参谋长：朝鲜有可能进行第四次核试验

The chief of the general staff of [China's] Liberation Army [PLA]:
North Korea is probably going to start [its] fourth nuclear test.

[Source: news.ifeng 凤凰网 on April 23, 2013]

As to the realization of an already announced North Korean missile test, some military experts are pointing at two possible dates: April 25, the day of foundation of the North Korean People's Army, and any day around April 30, the final day of a joint U.S. - South Korean manoeuvre which is named "baldhead vulture". [South Korean source on April 23, 2013]

军事专家们认为，朝鲜为了加大发射导弹的效果在25日的朝鲜人民军建军日或者韩美结束秃鹫训练的30日左右发射导弹。


北约就朝鲜半岛局势发声明 吁朝鲜就去核化谈判

NATO makes a statement regarding the situation of the Korean peninsula, appealing to North Korea to proceed to nuclear [disarmament] talks right away.

The article is referring to a meeting of foreign ministers from 28 NATO member states in the Belgian capital of Brussels yesterday, April 23.

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on April 24, 2013]

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North Korean Famine 朝鲜的饥荒

要求蒙古粮食援助 显示朝鲜正经历饥荒

Asking Mongolia for help with cereals. Indications of a serious historic famine in North Korea.

The article is quoting a Global Post 全球邮报 report from April 22 saying that the Mongolian ambassador to North Korea, in an official call on the Mongolian president earlier this week, asked for helping North Korea with a delivery of cereals.

据《全球邮报》（Global Post）4月22日（周一）报道，朝鲜驻蒙古大使上周在拜会蒙古总统时要求蒙古对朝鲜予以粮食援助。

[Source: 阿波罗新闻网 on April 23, 2013]





朝鲜大饥荒真相：美国援助幼儿粮食被优先供应军队

The truth about North Korea's great famine: America helping children with cereals from top priority army supply.

It's about United Nations' food delivery to North Korea between 1995 and 2002, using cereals that came from the U.S., from China, South Korea and Japan.

[Source: history.ifeng 凤凰网 on April 23, 2013]

North Korean Underground Activities - UPDATE

separate update of yesterday's blogspot

韩国害怕朝鲜打“地道战” 前后发现过四条

South Korea is afraid of the North starting a "tunnel warfare". On both front and back side four [tunnels] have been discovered.



香港《亚洲周刊》4月21日（提前出版）一期报道 题：朝鲜半岛神经战 韩国严防地下坑道突袭

Hong Kong's "Asia Weekly" magazine in a beforehand edition on April 21 reported on the following subjects: War of nerves on the Korean peninsula. South Korea taking strict precautions against a surprise attack from underground tunnels.

朝韩决战，一触即发。驻中国的一位韩国外交官对《亚洲周刊》说：“其实，朝鲜从空中、地面发起的进攻，我们都有办法对付，最担心的还是地下。那些被我们称为‘南侵隧道’的地下坑道，我们前后发现过四条，但究竟有多少，几十年来谁也说不清楚。他们的军队或许已经在我们脚下，不按常理出牌的北方，一举一动，神神秘秘，这太恐怖了。”

North Korea's decisive battle may be triggered at any moment. A South Korean diplomat residing in China told "Asia Weekly" magazine: " Actually, North Korea is launching an offensive from air and earth. We have means to deal with that. Most to worry is the underground [attack]. As to the underground tunnels that we call 'Southern invasion tunnels', we have discovered four of them on, both, front and back side. But, after all, how many [exist] ? During many decades nobody could be precise about that. Their troops possibly already under our feet, [uneasiness about Northern brand appearing at any mile], easily at one stroke, mysteriously, this is utmost terrifying. "

[Source: mil.sohu 搜狐军事 quoting New China Network 新华网 on April 22, 2013]


美出动“尼米兹”号航母前往西太平洋监视朝鲜

America dispatches aircraft carrier Nimitz to proceed to the West Pacific for keeping watch on North Korea.


[Source: People's Network 人民网 quoting Global Network 环球网 on April 22, 2013. The report is mentioning a Japanese source of information.]

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A visitor to "blueprint news" coming from San Diego, the home of USS Nimitz:

North Korean Underground Activities

Line of Descendants - North Korea - Descending Line

Kim Il Sung - Kim Jong Il / Kim Jong Il - Kim Jong Un
金日成、金正日、金正恩等朝鲜的领袖

朝鲜三八线挖百米深坑道 韩国密切监控地下动静

At the 38th [degree of latitude] North Korea is digging a tunnel at 100 m depth. South Korea is carefully controlling such underground activities.


2013年1月27日在朝鲜半岛三八
线非军事分界线韩国一方拍摄。

Snapshot of the demilitarized border line at 38th [degr. of latitude] on the
Korean peninsula, taken from the South Korean side on January 27, 2013.

[Source: news.ifeng 凤凰网 on April 21, 2013]

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Here now a quotation from that U.S. article mentioned on yesterday's blogspot of mine: "There's No North Korea Crisis".

Americans like to think that all problems have solutions. But the deep levels of distrust on both sides and an anachronistic regime trapped in its own myths leave little to seriously talk about. Pyongyang should recall that the Soviet Union had thirty thousand nuclear warheads, yet that didn’t save it from collapsing from its own contradictions.

[Source: The National Interest, U.S.A., on April 12, 2013]

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However, there's a real crisis in more than one country of the Middle East and Central Asia as reminds us a visitor to "blueprint news" who recently came from the Caucasian republic of Georgia:

The Korean Crisis - A Farce ?

美刊：朝鲜半岛危机只是一场政治秀

U.S. publication: The Korean peninsular crisis is a "blooming of politics".

The Chinese source is quoting the U.S. bimonthly magazine "The National Interest" 国家利益, a prominent conservative publication dealing with political trends that U.S. congress and government are dealing with. The original title of the quoted article is "There's No North Korean Crisis". That article had been published as early as April 12 by Robert A. Manning, a former high-ranking official in some policy planning staff of the U.S. government. His article has been considered important enough to make its way into different Chinese networks.

An evaluation by "New China Network" is using the U.S. author's original expression of a political farce 闹剧 in the main text instead of blooming of politics 政治秀 in the headline.

[Source: New China Network 新华网 on April 20, 2013]


朝鲜与美韩互相试探对方底线 双方博弈会更激烈

North Korea and the U.S.-South Korean side are mutually exploring the other side's basic lines. Both sides while playing chess can get even more fierce.

朝鲜官方18日就半岛问题展开对话的前提阐述朝方原则立场，这是拒绝美韩伸出的橄榄枝后，朝鲜方面开出的谈话条件。虽然其开出的条件让美日韩不能接受，但这都在意料之中。

On [April] 18, North Korea officially [began] expounding North Korea's principle position as a prerequisite to launching a dialogue that is dealing with the peninsula subject. This came after rejecting an olive branch stretched out by the U.S. and South Korea [and offering] the North Korean side to lay open its conditions for talks. Though, the conditions [exposed] cannot be accepted by the U.S., Japan and South Korea, everything is within the frame of what is being expected.

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on April 20, 2013]


在中朝边境感受朝鲜另一面

Experiencing another side of North Korea at the Chinese - North Korean border.

That article is reporting about peace at the Chinese - North Korean border near the river passage of Dandong where a new bridge between both countries is under construction.



[Source: World Network 环球网 on April 19, 2013]

Korea - U.S. War Strategy

Last UPDATE: April 18

美军加快战略转移 朝鲜半岛成美先进武器展示场

U.S. Army speeding up a change of war strategy. - The Korean peninsula becoming a place for showing off advanced U.S. weaponry.

总之，美军这次明目张胆地把系列先进武器部署到韩国周边，既是想重新检验其在处理朝鲜半岛发生“意外”时的应对能力，也是向盟国展示美国的军事力量和美国永远是他们坚强、可靠的盟友，强化美国在亚太地区的影响力，其最终目的是实现美国的亚太战略意图。

In short: Currently, U.S. troops are brazenly deploying a whole set of advanced weapons at the periphery of South Korea. Now that [America] is considering once again to test its response capacity while dealing with the Korean peninsula at the time of an "accident" [or: something unforeseen], it's as well about showing off U.S. military strength to [their] allies and [about showing] that America is their strong and reliable friend forever. Such strengthening U.S. influence in the Asia - Pacific region, America's ultimate aim is to realize its strategic intentions for [that region].

[Source: China Radio International CRI online 国际在线 on April 16, 2013]


韩购36架阿帕奇直升机“应对朝鲜”

South Korea buys 36 Apache helicopters for "responding to North Korea".

韩国政府将投入1.8万亿韩元(约合人民币99.46亿元)的预算，在2016-2018年期间购买36架“AH-64E”阿帕奇直升机。

The South Korean government provides a budget of 1.800 billion South Korean Won (which is about 9,946 billion Chinese Yuan / Renminbi = 1,6 billion U.S.$) for the purchase of 36 Apache helicopters AH-64E between 2016 and 2018.

Apache helicopters are as well used by U.S. combat units. They are manufactured by Boeing, U.S.A..
[Source: New China Network 新华网 on April 18, 2013]


一棵白杨树险引发“第二次朝鲜战争”

One white poplar is in danger to initiate the "Second Korean War".

近来，朝鲜半岛火药味越来越浓，“第二次朝鲜战争”似乎一触即发。回顾历史，近半个世纪以来，曾经有过三次面临“第二次朝鲜战争”的危急时刻。

Recently, the smell of gunpowder is growing stronger and stronger on the Korean peninsula. A "Second Korean War", it seems, is on the verge of breaking out. Looking back in history for nearly half a century, [we remember having experienced] three dangerous moments of facing a "Second Korean War".

The term "white poplar" is most probably referring to Kim Jong Un as becomes clear in the following text. What follows are three further chapters dealing with historic proceedings, each of them introduced by a headline:


酒疯子总统喜怒无常

韩“逞英雄”师长蓄意挑起

白杨树被挖局势失控

A president mad from alcohol and with changing moods
[literally: happyness and rage are changing].

The South Korean schoolmaster "posing as a hero"
and deliberately provoking.

Digging out the white poplar [will
turn] the situation out of control.

[Source: People's Network 人民网, comment published on April 17, 2013]


News Update:

韩国否认秘密接触朝鲜

South Korea denies secret contacts with the North.

This has been confirmed today, April 17, by a senior official
from the South Korean ministry of reunification.
[Source: New China Network 新华网 on April 17, 2013]

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Reminding the Korean War

爱新觉罗·溥仪 — 我的前半生

Here is an excerpt from the autobiography of Pu Yi, last emperor of China and emperor of Manchuguo, the Japanese puppet state during World War II. In the early 1950s Pu Yi was imprisoned as a war criminal in the South-Manchurian detention camp of Fushun where he learnt about the Korean War that took place almost in his neighbourhood. I provided some of his memories from that time in the English translation:

一直到我相信了中朝人民军队确实连获胜利之前，我总认为自己不死于中国人之手， 就得死在美国飞机的轰炸中。总之，我那时只想到中国必败、我必死，除此以外，别无其他结果。

" All the time before I came to believe, the Chinese - Korean people's army could really achieve a joint victory, my main concern was that I wouldn't die from the hands of Chinamen but rather during an air raid of the Americans. To put it in short: At that time, I only thought of China having to lose that war and me having to die. Moreover, I couldn't imagine any other result. "

…中朝人民军队把美国军队赶到三八线附近，我们还抱有很大的怀疑。…

" The Chinese - Korean people's army driving the U.S. away from the 38th degree of latitude was something on what we habored much doubt as well. "

As the year passed, Pu Yi experienced one night when he awoke due to some noise and heard many persons running at the outside:

我认为这必是美国军队逼近了哈尔滨，共产党终于对我们下手了，不由地浑身战要起来。

" I considered this could only mean that U.S. troops were pressing towards Harbin, [and I expected] the Communist Party to finally put their hands on us when total war was inevitably coming closer. "

The author Pu Yi was still undergoing re-education at that time and was not yet the personality that later became some kind of a "model citizen" and reputable member of China's Political Consultative Conference where he was engaged in historic research. In those later years he even enjoyed the personal protection of China's former prime minister and chief diplomat Zhou Enlai.



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A recent visitor to "blueprint news" interested in subatomic particle physics:

North Korea - Keeping the People under Control

Last UPDATE from April 15 further down !

前朝鲜女特工：金正恩以战争控制人民

A former North Korean female secret agent:
Kim Jong Un uses war to control the people.

12号，前朝鲜特工金贤姬说，朝鲜叫嚣发动热核战争并不是胡乱作为。朝鲜领导人金正恩正在利用其核计划来控制朝鲜人民，且迫使韩国和美国让步。

On [April] 12, former North Korean secret agent Kim [...] said that North Korea's clamour of launching a hot nuclear war is not at all casually made. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is using his nuclear plannings to control the people of North Korea and, for the time being, to force South Korea and the U.S.A. to make concessions.


前朝鲜女特工金贤姬1987年接受金正日的命令，用炸弹袭击韩国航班造成115人死亡。

In 1987, former North Korean secret agent Kim [...] learnt of Kim Jong Il's order to use bombs when making a surprise attack on a regular South Korean [passenger] flight which caused the death of 115.

[Source: New Tang Dynasty TV 新唐人电视台 on April 13, 2013]

Editor's Note:
New Tang Dynasty TV is a Falun Gong near Chinese broadcaster based in New York and providing uncensored news via satellite to mainland China and Chinese communities abroad.
Korean Air flight 858 was a scheduled international passenger flight between Baghdad, Iraq, and Seoul, South Korea. On 29 November 1987, the aircraft flying that route exploded in mid-air upon the detonation of a bomb planted inside an overhead storage bin in the airplane's passenger cabin by North Korean agents.
It must be added that Kim Jong Il always feared boarding a plane. That's why he travelled in his special train even on rare occasions of foreign state visits to Russia and China. It was in August 2011 that he met with Russia's president Medvedyev in Ulan Ude, the capital of Buryatia and which is a remote region of Russia dominated by its Mongolian minority. Kim Jong Il's trip to Ulan Ude required four days for both directions where he travelled some 7.800 km altogether.



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韩国在首都附近布导弹应对朝鲜

South Korea deploying guided missiles in the neighbourhood of its capital to react on North Korea.



[Source: news.sohu 搜狐新闻 on April 13, 2013]


Update on April 15:

中新网4月15日电 今日是朝鲜已故领导人金日成诞辰101周年纪念日，朝鲜也把这一天定为“太阳节”，连日来举行了各种活动迎接节日到来。但与此同时，有关朝鲜会否发射导弹的猜测仍在继续，朝鲜也以“没有诚意”回应了韩国的对话建议。舆论认为，半岛局势迎来关键敏感节点，依旧扑朔迷离。

Telegram by China News Network on April 15: Today is anniversary day of deceased North Korean leader Kim Il Sung's 101st birthday. North Korea also fixed that day for the "Sun Festival". For the last few days, all kinds of activities have been [staged] to welcome the day of festival to come. At the same time, however, guessing still continues whether North Korea can launch a guided missile or not. Furthermore, North Korea replied to South Korea's proposal of dialogue as being "not sincere". According to public opinion the peninsula's situation is facing the crux of a sensitive and vital juncture [or: a sensitive point of the festival], thus leaving [the situation] as complicated and confusing as before.

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on April 15, 2013]