North Korea Watch 2017

originally posted by: D8Tee

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: auroraaus

You make a good point.

Japan says: Japanese officials said the missile flew for about 30 minutes, traveling about 500 miles and reaching an unusually high altitude of 1,240 miles. It splashed down just 60 miles south of the Russia coast.

Kim Jong could hit the International Space Station.

Glorious Leader could fly up to the International Space Station himself and hijack it himself if he wanted.

That's another season. Kim Jong Iss

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
Earlier I had mentioned the USB memory sticks containing as much info as they could pack being dropped into North Korea to help the citizens understand that it the regime keeping them down. Here is a great write up on how it works and seems to actually be working. This is a great alternative to war; it is change coming from within.

FastCompany.com, May 8, 2017 - The Dangerous Mission to Undermine North Korea With Flash Drives.

Highlights:

It is punishable by death to possess, sell, or distribute the drives

Called, Flash Drives For Freedom, South Koreans have been sneaking them in since 2015

In 2016, they delivered 10,000 drives. This year, they already have a donation of 100,000 drives.

The founding members and leaders have been targeted by NK assassins and now have South Korean body guards

(same source)

These types of actions are what's known as "smart power" and it's something we don't do enough of anymore. They are part of the broad spectrum of actions between diplomacy and war, the false dichotomy we're often presented with by politicians (such as the false premise that the awful deal they came up with was the only alternative to war with Iran). We used such methods to great effect in Europe during the Cold War (obviously not with USB drives). There's a great book I'd encourage anyone interested in foreign policy to read. It also details some of the inner workings and ineptitude of the State Department. It's fairly non-partisan. He blasts some of the foreign policy failures of the Clinton, Bush, and Obama admins.

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: dianajune

That reminds me of a movie I saw as a kid. This guy rode a missile to the enemy, like it was a horse.

Dr Strangelove amigo!

Yeeehaw!

An interesting tidbit reported by Voice of America that trade between North Korea and Russia jumped by 85% despite sanctions. Coal, Lignite and Oil top three commodities imported from Russia to NK, whereas NK's exports to Russia fell 88%.

Thought this was interesting given the political clime as of late.


NK-Russia trade soars in first quarter despite sanctions

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- Trade between North Korea and Russia soared more than 85 percent in the first quarter of the year on-year owing largely to Russia's export increase despite the U.N. trade ban against the North's nuclear and missile provocations, a U.S. broadcaster said Tuesday.

a reply to: auroraaus

Fantastic movie! Terrific Cold War satire. One of James Earl Jones's early roles too.

a reply to: face23785

An absolute classic all round really

originally posted by: auroraaus

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: dianajune

That reminds me of a movie I saw as a kid. This guy rode a missile to the enemy, like it was a horse.

Dr Strangelove amigo!

Yeeehaw!

Thanks for that tip. Just watched the YouTube clip of Slim Pickens riding the bomb.
www.youtube.com...

Thanks again!

a reply to: carewemust

You have to admit, it would certainly be a way to go out when all else fails!

As much as I hate to denigrate someone based on their size: Fat Boy riding an ol Fat Boy bomb/Missile would be a sight indeed! +1 for ridding the world of himself but -infinity for other deaths/environmental destruction.

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

There will be no North Korea in a few months. No one even remotely connected to the God King Cult will be allowed anywhere near the levers of power in what remains, regardless of how the regime is taken down. Most likely a negotiated government that reunifies both Koreas will take its place. To pacify Beijing, US troops will likely remain in the southern part of the country all the while directing the humanitarian effort to restore stability in the north. South Korea will assure China that no missle defense systems will appear on their border and in return, the former North Korean population will be gently brought into the fold. Food, public works, electricity and so forth will be the gift from South Korea that establishes trust and the mutual goal of one Korea. Trade will be established with China that mutually benefits both countries and a US led financial coalition will front the money to make it happen. The former regime will be left to the will of the millions of people starved and brutalized - it won't be pretty. But that's the end game. How we end up there is any one of a number of options, but that's how it's going to play out. No nukes, certainly not by NK, as they don't have the ability to miniaturize their low yield bombs and so can't deliver them on anything except a mule-drawn oxcart.

a reply to: stirrednotshaken

An interesting fact... The "founding documents" of N. Korea dont spell out dynastic rule.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: stirrednotshaken

An interesting fact... The "founding documents" of N. Korea dont spell out dynastic rule.

This would be a good thing to include in those USB drives. The more the people know about how corrupt their government is the more likely they will do something about it. There's been rumors for years the military, at least the top echelon of the military, hates working for these thugs.

What a twist! Now North Korea are returning fire with their own propaganda drops!

About 5000 leaflets glorifying NK and bagging on ex President Park Geun-hye were found in Gangneung as well as CDs and USB drives.

1000s of propaganda leaflets found in eastern city

Hold the phone Nancy!

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is leaving it's port in Japan to begin a survalliance mission off the coast of the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan, joining the USS Carl Vinson in the area.

Sign of showing strength or is it another jab to make some angry 'communists' have another tantrum?


US to deploy 2nd carrier off Korea Peninsula

a reply to: auroraaus

Sounds like all the leaflets and USB drives were in a single place...next to a construction site. Aren't they supposed to scattered about?

I bet a spy gave some kid(s) money to pass them out. They took the money, then dumped everything by that site.

a reply to: auroraaus

It sounds like a ramp up to a military strike. If a strike occurs the primary targets will be the nuke facilities. Overwhelming air power will be needed to try and ensure no launch occurs as a response.

N.K. crossed a red line with the recent missile test.

Other non msm outlets were reporting that the US started pulling military units from the DMZ and re positioned them south of Seoul. A tactical move designed to buy time for reinforcements to arrive in the event of hostilities breaking out. Essentially acknowledging North Seoul will most likely be overrun while a stand is made in South Seoul.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: auroraaus

It sounds like a ramp up to a military strike. If a strike occurs the primary targets will be the nuke facilities. Overwhelming air power will be needed to try and ensure no launch occurs as a response.

N.K. crossed a red line with the recent missile test.

Other non msm outlets were reporting that the US started pulling military units from the DMZ and re positioned them south of Seoul. A tactical move designed to buy time for reinforcements to arrive in the event of hostilities breaking out. Essentially acknowledging North Seoul will most likely be overrun while a stand is made in South Seoul.

Xcathdra, are you referring to this? UPI Story

It's the only thing I could find related to U.S. troop movements in SK. There's a similar story in Stars and Stripes. I can;t find much else on it.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Meanwhile there's been upgrades at the long range rocket launch site upgrades at launch site and according to Radio Free Asia NK has been preparing for missile strikes by replacing stone strongholds with gunnysacks filled with dirt and sand Preparations for possible cruise missile strikes

So things are ramping up, albeit quietly. I hope for everyone's sake things simmer down.

a reply to: auroraaus

I wouldn't be too worried about it. Even if this did go hot, I doubt they would be able to successfully deploy a nuclear weapon right now. They haven't been able to miniaturize it for use on a missile yet, so their only option would be to drop it from a plane like we did to Japan. Their Air Force is inferior. They're using outdated equipment, on a shoestring budget, with improperly trained pilots. If they tried to launch a bomber loaded with a nuclear weapon it has very little chance of reaching its target before being shot down by SK or us.

As for their Army, we've all heard for years how they have a "million man Army" and technically this is true. However, how well trained, how well equipped? I can tell you based off how badly our military suffered under budget cuts, with the way their economy is their military must be in shambles. I doubt they can deploy their entire force. Not to mention, without an Air Force to cover them, they would be sitting ducks for our Air Force. That million men would be rapidly reduced by air strikes. And how willing are they? If we did a decapitation strike, would they even fight for their dead leader? There were all kinds of estimates of how bad the invasion of Iraq would get if the Iraqi Army put up a fight. Most of them surrendered without firing a shot. In my opinion we'd see a similar situation in a war with NK.

NK confirms latest missile test

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says the intermediate-range ballistic missile that was tested yesterday is ready for "action", according to the reclusive state's news agency.
The test was reported by South Korea yesterday, and the KCNA news agency today released a statement claiming the launch was a success. The launch verified the reliability and accuracy of the solid-fuel engine's operation and stage separation and the late-stage guidance of the nuclear warhead which was recorded by a device mounted on the warhead, KCNA said.
......
South Korea said the North appeared to have secured "meaningful data" from the test.

"South Korean and US intelligence authorities believe North Korea has secured meaningful data in enhancing the credibility of its missile technology," said Roh Jae-cheon, a spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He said further verification was needed to determine whether the North had mastered the re-entry technology for missile warheads that it has claimed.

It flew about 500kms reaching an altitude of 560kms, althought it's much shorter than the last few missiles.

According to the Daily Star (which I highlight isn't a reliable source), Kim Jong-Un requested the intermediate range missile to be mass produced and made combat ready.
Daily Star article


Meanwhile the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow/today depending where you are in the world.

This quote tells me that Kim Jong may have SOME desire not to start World War III.

""Viewing the images of the Earth being sent real-time from the camera mounted on the ballistic missile, Supreme leader Kim Jong-un said it feels grand to look at the Earth from the rocket we launched, and the entire world looks so beautiful.""

From: www.abc.net.au...

Maybe enough "humanity" is in Kim Jong to avoid certain death for everyone in his country...and possibly the world?