N. Korea Crisis - Updated as News come to hand

Taiwan jets practise landing on motorway

The Taiwanese air force used a closed-off motorway as a runway on Tuesday in a rare drill simulating a Chinese surprise attack that had wiped out its major airbases.

The scenario for the exercise, which involved more than 1,300 soldiers, was a conflict with China in which aerial bombardment had paralysed major military airports, the air force said.

Good drill.

Kim Jong-il's Son 'Effectively Control Security Forces'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un was appointed director of the State Security Department, the regime's chief spy agency, in late 2009.

"Signals intelligence we've obtained suggests Kim Jong-un is being called 'director' of the security department," a South Korean government official said. "It seems he has already gained control of the security agency."

The department's main duties are to ferret out dissidents and put residents under surveillance. It has about 50,000 agents.

Chief of the thugs then.

Chief Nuclear Negotiators from Both Koreas 'May Meet'

South Korea is likely to accept a proposal from China for a three-stage process to revive the stalled six-party talks that would start with an inter-Korean meeting between chief nuclear negotiators as a lead up to North Korea-U.S. talks and the resumption of six-party talks. A government official on Tuesday said Seoul is "always open to dialogue."

Hopefully that means that NKorea is not thinking about making another provocation.


American detained in North Korea since November?

Details are extremely sketchy right now but that is what CNN is reporting today. In fact, “extremely sketchy” is an understatement — seemingly nothing is publicly known about this other than what my headline here says. Speculate away.

S. Korea's military conducts nuclear emergency drill

South Korea's military staged Wednesday a comprehensive nuclear emergency drill with anti-terror police and government officials amid the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan, military officials said.

The one-day drill at the Gori plant, which has two nuclear reactors, tested the coordinated ability of the military, police, government and private sector to cope with a nuclear accident following a natural disaster, the JCS said.

In particular, the drill also included a contingency plan in case North Korea carries out a provocative act against a nuclear plant in South Korea, a JCS official said.

IMO that's one of the big reasons why there has been no war against NKorea... because NKorea could easily take out a few SKorean nuclear power plant and it would be a big disaster.

reply to post by Vitchilo

American detained in North Korea since November?

I would love to know who this American might be.
Someone important - who's missing?

Originally posted by crazydaisy
reply to post by Vitchilo

 

American detained in North Korea since November?

I would love to know who this American might be.
Someone important - who's missing?

Maybe some kind of hippie who thought he could talk Kim Jong Il into making peace and disarming?

Or a tourist. Or a special op guy caught... who knows.

S.Korea, US Hold Talks on Missile Defense System

South Korea and the United States have launched discussion on the establishment of a missile defense system to respond to North Korea’s ballistic missiles.

Clinton Visiting Seoul Sat. to Discuss NK

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in South Korea Saturday evening for a two-day visit for talks on North Korea.

They will discuss a range of issues, including ways to resume the six-party nuclear talks, how to address the North's uranium enrichment, whether to provide food aid to North Korea, and the ratification of the free trade agreement with the United States.

US: NK Provided Consular Access to Detainee

The department only says it is contacting the detainee Jun Young-su through the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which serves as a U.S. protecting power since the U.S. and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations.

NKorea celebrates birthday of ‘eternal president’

So revered is North Korean founder Kim Il Sung that he remains the nation’s “eternal president” 17 years after his death, his beaming face on billboards, portraits and the small pins every North Korean wears affixed to their shirts and jackets.

After walking through a series of rooms as “The Song of Gen. Kim Il Sung” plays in the background, visitors ascend by elevator to the darkened vestibule where he lies on a bed of black marble, his body draped in red and his eyes closed as though he were simply taking a nap.

Visitors bow in unison at three points around his body — at his feet, on his left, and on his right — beneath the glow of a red light that illuminates his embalmed body.

One North Korean recalled the first time she visited the palace as a university student some three years after his death when it had been transformed into a memorial. She said seeing his body after having grown up watching him on TV every day sent her into a state of shock.

Until then, she had thought of him as a god, she said. Immortal.

It seems next year will be the 100th year from Kim Il Sung birth...

Kim Il-sung’s birthday “celebrated” with anti-Kim propaganda

Kim Il-sung’s birthday is today, and to mark the occasion more than 20 North Korean refugee and defector groups went to Paju in the early morning hours to launch balloons filled with leaflets criticizing the Kim regime. As you can see, the leaflets are meant to inform North Koreans of the uprisings that have taken place against Arab dictatorships. US dollars and South Korean won were also included.

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Japan, China, S. Korea to hold Tokyo summit in May

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan will meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak to discuss issues including atomic safety and North Korea's nuclear ambitions, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

"US to Decide on Food Aid to NK in 1 to 2 Weeks"

The U.S. government is planning to decide by the end of this month whether to resume its provision of food aid to North Korea.

It shall be interesting to see what Kim will do if the US says no.

Me thinks this is THE biggest reason why Kim didn't do anything... yet. He hopes to get that aid. Also heavy Chinese investment in the country helped him stay calm.

Anyway, I'm happy to be wrong about another NKorean provocation. Hopefully I stay wrong.

South Korea :

S.Korea, US to conduct military drill: media

South Korean and US troops will carry out an anti-invasion drill on a frontline island next month in response to North Korea's construction of a hovercraft base, news reports said Saturday.

A US military spokesman said he had no information but, if confirmed, it would be the first time the two allies have conducted a joint exercise on Baengnyeong island, near the disputed sea border in the Yellow Sea.

SBS TV and Chosun daily said special troops from the two allies will conduct the drill around the middle of next month.

An unidentified military source was quoted by Chosun as saying a hovercraft base at Goampo on the North's southwestern coast was expected to be completed in June.

Goampo is some 50 kilometres (31.25 miles) north of Baengnyeong island and it would take only 30-40 minutes for a North Korean hovercraft with about 40 troops on board to reach the island, the source said.

US Apache attack helicopters may take part, the daily said.

Baengnyeong island is where the Chenoan warship sunk last year.

Since the drill will be happening after the US decision on food aid to NKorea... if the US says NO... me thinks NKorea will do threats like before, hopefully nothing comes out of it. And if the US says YES, NKorea is gonna keep quiet.

Screwed Sailors In South Korea

After the South Korean corvette Cheonan was sunk by a North Korean submarine in March, 2010, the media published a lot of information about these Pohang class warships. The most embarrassing revelation was that, although the Pohangs were built for anti-submarine warfare, they were only effective against the 20 or so Cold War era ocean going subs the North Koreans had. These are all elderly, noisy boats, which rarely go to sea. Most of North Korea's 90 subs are much smaller than the ocean going ones, and operate along the coast. The shallow coastal waters have more currents and a lot more underwater noise. Turns out that the Pohang's sonar, while adequate on the high seas against noisy older boats, is very inadequate close to the shore. Plans were made to install a more powerful sonar, but none could be found that would fit. And even if a new sonar did fit, it would weigh so much more that it would unbalance the ship.

A 2,300 ton frigate is replacing the Pohangs, but these new ships won't start entering service for another two years, and will only be built at the rate of about one a year. So for the next decade or so, the Pohangs will still be out there, providing targets for North Korean torpedoes. An attempt has been made to avoid that, by installing devices that can detect the sound of incoming torpedoes, along with acoustic (noise making) decoys that can divert the aim of some types of torpedoes. But, for the moment, the Pohangs are as vulnerable as they were a year ago.

The Acceptable Risk Over North Korea

The South Korean Air Force was recently embarrassed when a government audit of their airborne anti-missile systems found that flares, which are released when an aircraft detects an oncoming heat seeking missile, have not been updated to deal with newer missiles (the shoulder fired SA-18 and air-to-air AA-11) that have sensors capable of telling the difference between existing South Korean flares and jet exhaust.

The air force had noted this problem two years ago, and planned to have a new flare in service by 2016. Given the increased aggressiveness by North Korea in the last year, the air force plan was speeded up, and the new flare will now be ready by 2014. The air force considers this an acceptable risk, for now.

Yeah...acceptable to the politicians, but not those in the cockpits.
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India :
India and China to resume defense contacts

ndia and China will resume defense exchanges halted in August after China refused a visa to an Indian general in Kashmir.

The exchanges are part of a wider general agreement between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Chinese city of Sanya, China's southernmost city in Hainan province and a popular tourist destination.

The two leaders agreed to ease border tensions in the disputed Kashmir region and also to improve trading relations.

Good news.
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China :
China calls for deepening cooperation with Taiwan

President Hu Jintao on Friday called on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to continue increasing mutual trust and deepening cooperation to create more favorable conditions for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Good news. But while they are saying that, they are still increasing the numbers of missiles aimed at Taiwan...

Chinese PLA Navy Less Assertive: U.S. Admiral

A top U.S. officer said April 12 that the People's Liberation Army's Navy has adopted a less aggressive stance in the Pacific in recent months after protests from Washington and other nations in the region.

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Russia :
Russia Agrees To Dump Conscription

President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia has admitted that conscription in Russia will have to go. Sometime in the 2020s, the last Russian conscript will enter service. That may happen sooner, because conscription is very unpopular with Russians of all ages, and all attempts to change this attitude in the last decade have failed. For the last two years, not enough conscripts have been willing to answer their draft notice. Dodging the draft is no longer seen as unpatriotic, but simply a rational response to an inhumane situation.

This is a big move by Russia. And unless Russia changes their cultural view of soldiers and officers, the Russian army is gonna be weak and will have a hard time finding soldiers.

NKorea :
N.Korea's Nuclear Facilities 'a Disaster in the Making'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is using nuclear weapons development to maintain his firm grip on power, but a compilation of North Korean state media reports the Unification Ministry has gathered since June 2000, the reclusive leader has never visited the main Yongbyon nuclear complex.

Experts say this is unusual given that Kim has undertaken more than 100 of his so-called on-the-spot guidance tours this year alone, to anything from shoe factories to military units. One theory is that the site is simply too dangerous. Yongbyon "is such a 'sensitive' location that he may have made secret visits, but there is a good chance that he avoided visiting the site due to fears of radiation," an intelligence official said.

One intelligence official said, "A bigger problem is the light-water reactor slated for completion in 2012. We don't think North Korea is capable of building it, but if the North compromises safety by hastily finishing it, we might witness a nuclear disaster."

Yep...and if it were to melt... Spreading nuclear radiation all over... NKorea would never allow foreigners to come and help the situation... IMO the only ones allowed in would be China...

China Showers Kim Jong-un with Invitations

Senior Chinese officials on four occasions invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un to China during recent visits to Pyongyang, the National Intelligence Service says. The NIS officials were quoted by members of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee as briefing them on Monday.

What's interesting about it is this :
'China Tells Kim Jong-un to Take a Plane, Not a Train'

Beijing has apparently asked North Korean heir apparent Kim Jong-un to fly on his next visit to China instead of using a train like his father. Diplomatic sources on Wednesday said China feels a rail trip would make it very difficult to protect him.

Lots of politicians have died in ``plane accidents``... Would China want this? Killing Kim Jong Un would sure destroy what's left of the Kim dynasty... would be conveniant for everyone...

N.Korea 'Uses Overseas Missions to Trade in Nuclear Materials'

North Korea uses its overseas missions and shell companies as fronts for the illicit trade of weapons and materials related to nuclear and missile development, Kyodo News on Monday quoted a UN panel report as saying.

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China :
Chinese Carrier Defenses Installed

The new Chinese aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang (formerly Varyag) has had its first weapons installed. These were easily identified as FL-3000N anti-missile systems. These are similar to the American RAM anti-missile missile system, except that they come in a 24 missile launcher and are less accurate.

The 323 meter (thousand foot) long ship normally carries a dozen navalized Su-27s (called Su-33s), 14 Ka-27PL anti-submarine helicopters, two electronic warfare helicopters and two search and rescue helicopters.

China accuses PH of ‘invasion’

China has accused the Philippines of “invading” the South China Sea which it claims as wholly its own, the first time it has ever done so.

“Since 1970s, the Republic of the Philippines started to invade and occupy some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands and made relevant territorial claims, to which China objects strongly,” China said in a note verbale submitted April 14 to the United Nations in reply to the protest lodged by the Philippines on April 5.

“The Republic of the Philippines’ occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha islands as well as other related acts constitutes infringement upon China’s territorial sovereignty,” according to the note verbale.

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Russia :
Generals Ordered To March Or Die

The political and military leadership have announced that conscription will be phased out as quickly as possible (a decade or so) and the armed forces (especially the army) will change to a smaller, more professional, all-volunteer force.

The generals admitted that this smaller force means abandoning the use of massive number of troops and tanks to win battles, as was done during World War II. Many generals disagree with the new program, but they have been ordered to shut up and make the new program work (or lose their jobs).

The first new RS-24 ballistic missiles entered service.

This month the Russian Army will begin receiving new and improved Tornado-G multiple rocket launchers, to replace the Grad line of launchers developed in the 1960s (to replace the original World War II models)

France has agreed to equip all three of the Mistral amphibious ships, that Russia is buying, with the same modern communications and command systems found in Mistrals France uses.

The government announced that air-defense units would, in the next decade, be reequipped with new S-400 and Pantsir-S systems. These provide defense against ballistic and cruise missiles, the kinds of attacks likely to come from North Korea, China or Iran.

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Taiwan :
After 11-year hiatus, ROC marines to return to South China Sea: CGA

Taipei, April 18 (CNA) Taiwan will soon replace army soldiers stationed on remote islands in the South China Sea with marines as regional tensions simmer over the area's disputed territories, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Monday.

Taiwan controls the Pratas Islands and Taiping Island, the largest islet in the Spratly chain. It withdrew its marines from the islets in 2000 and replaced them with army personnel led by the Coast Guard Administration in an attempt to reduce tensions in the region.

Beginning April 27, however, the CGA forces posted on Dongsha Island and Taiping Island will be composed of marines instead of army men, the CGA said.

Taiwan to build new 'stealth' warship

Taiwan plans to build a new 'stealth' warship armed with guided-missiles next year in response to China's naval build-up, a top military officer and a lawmaker said Monday.

Construction of the prototype of the 500-tonne corvette is due to start in 2012 for completion in 2014, deputy defence minister Lin Yu-pao said in answer to a question by Kuomintang party legislator Lin Yu-fang at parliament.

The warship, which the navy says is harder to detect on radar, is expected to emerge after China puts into service its first battle carrier group, the legislator said.

Russia :
Russia to double ballistic missiles production from 2013 - Putin
Putin is M.A.D.?

Russia Builds An Arctic Brigade

With the growing oil and natural gas discoveries along Russia's northern border, the government has ordered the formation of a special brigade of arctic troops to patrol the vast region, and be ready to deal with any problems that might require military force up there. The 8,000 troops in the Arctic Brigade will be stationed in the Kola Peninsula, near the borders with Finland and Norway. The Kola Peninsula has long contained key air, naval and army bases. The new brigade will be ready for duty by the end of the year.

Putin says Air Force upgrade a priority for armed forces

Upgrading the Air Force and air defense systems will be a priority in the development of the Russian armed forces in the near future, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in his annual address to parliament on Wednesday.

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Taiwan :
Taiwan to boost combat training in disputed waters

Taiwanese coast guards stationed in the South China Sea will undergo rigorous combat training, an official said Tuesday, in response to China's more assertive stance in disputed waters.

China won't like that.
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NKorea :
N. Korea ready for atomic test any time: S. Korea

North Korea is ready to conduct another nuclear test if its current approaches for dialogue fail although there are no current signs of preparations, South Korea's spy chief said Tuesday.

NO KIDDING. That's what I've been saying for months now.

N.Korea’s Economy and Control Over Public Weakening

North Korea’s economic woes and failed 2009 currency reform have reportedly exacerbated North Koreans’ dependence on the U.S. dollar and weakened the government’s control system over the public.

Good news.

N. Korea owes S. Korea almost US$1b

North Korea owes South Korea almost one billion dollars but chances of repayment are slim given its crumbling economy and cross-border tensions, officials said Wednesday.

South Korea over the past decade shipped food, fuel oil, fertiliser and raw materials to its impoverished communist neighbour in the form of loans worth a total 1.02 trillion won ($942 million).

The overall debt is bigger because of overdue interest payments, the South's unification ministry said without giving further figures.

I thought that ``aid`` was a gift?

USFK monitoring military movements in N. Korea 'very closely': commander

The U.S. military in South Korea is "very closely" watching military movements in North Korea amid concerns over additional attacks and provocations, a U.S. commander here said Wednesday, a day after Seoul's spy chief warned of another nuclear test by the North.

‘New US Executive Order Would Not Affect Food Aid to NK’

The United States says that a recent U.S. directive will not affect whether it offers food aid to North Korea.

An executive order signed by President Barack Obama went into effect Tuesday. The order bans the direct or indirect imports of goods, service and technologies from North Korea.

No decision yet on the food aid.

N. Korea imported truckloads of gifts for elite: report

A long convoy of lorries believed to be carrying gifts for North Korea's elite was seen entering the communist state on the eve of a major holiday, according to a South Korean Internet newspaper.

The Daily NK, staffed by anti-Pyongyang activists, said Tuesday it had received video footage of more than 200 trucks crossing the Yalu River nose-to-tail from China on April 14.

The North celebrates the anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-Sung on April 15.

While the population is starving... sick.

S. Korea calls for stronger global response to NK nuke

The international community should step up efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons programs as they pose a serious risk to both global security and nuclear safety, an issue highlighted by the recent nuclear crisis in Japan, a ranking South Korean official said.

N. Korea detains two Japanese men: report

North Korea detained three Japanese men on apparent drug smuggling charges in its special economic zone last month, but it later released one man, a news report said Wednesday.

The three Japanese employees of a machine maintenance firm in Tokyo visited the city of Rason, near North Korea's border with Russia, in March to check machines at a food manufacturing factory, Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper said, citing unidentified sources.

They were detained on charges that they hid drugs in canned goods to be exported to China, though the North later allowed one of them to return to Japan, the newspaper said.

New outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurs in N. Korea: report

A new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred in four counties in North Korea last month and infected nearly 300 pigs and cows, a news report said Wednesday.

WSJ: NK Developing Airbase in Mountain Valley on East Coast

The Wall Street Journal reports that North Korea is allegedly expanding on a military airbase near the east coast city of Wonsan.

The report quoted Curtis Melvin of North Korea Economy Watch as saying that the latest sweep of Google Earth’s satellites show that a full-fledged runway in open view has been built north of another runway that was built nearly a decade ago. The report notes that the older runway appears to go through a mountain.

US cracks down on N. Korean bank, cites Iran ties

The United States slapped sanctions on a North Korean bank on Tuesday, accusing it of having ties to the arms trade and Iran, the Treasury Department said.

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SKorea :
S. Korea to double personnel at cyber warfare unit against N. Korea

The military plans to double the number of personnel at its cyber warfare unit to beef up its readiness against hacking threats from North Korea, a defense ministry official said Tuesday.

The plan to increase the number to 1,000 will be announced later this week along with a decision to run the Cyber Warfare Command directly under the defense ministry, the official said.

S.Korea to Deploy New Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft

Military and intelligence authorities have plans to enhance their monitoring of the North Korean military from the sky.

Authorities have indicated that they will deploy two more unmanned surveillance planes to the region near the Yellow Sea border.

Maybe that's just me, but it seems that something is brewing. Hopefully it calms down after the US ships aid to NKorea... which they probably will do unless SKorea says no.

Things are indeed picking up...

Diplomacy is failing :
S. Korea rejects N. Korea's repeated proposal for talks on defectors

South Korea on Friday rejected North Korea's latest proposal for Red Cross talks to discuss the fate of four North Korean defectors whose fishing boat drifted across the tense western sea border to the South earlier this year.

Top Seoul diplomat warns against too much optimism over inter-Korean nuclear talks. "Things may seem more optimistic than they really are."

Duh.

But another attempt will be made...
China envoy to visit Seoul to discuss N. Korea

China's chief envoy to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament will visit South Korea next week for talks, the foreign ministry said Friday.

More ``please please give them everything they want even if they are not serious for peace`` BS?

And this happened :

SKorean says it mistakenly fired toward NKorea on birthday of NKorea founder; NKorea renews threat today to shoot at SKorea over propaganda

So this happened :
N. Korea threatens to launch 'merciless' fire over propaganda leaflets

North Korea on Friday threatened to launch "unpredictable and merciless" fire against South Korea over its anti-Pyongyang leaflets, the latest warning amid a flurry of diplomatic efforts to ease tensions on the divided Korean Peninsula and revive stalled talks on the North's nuclear programs.

And then this :
S.Korean Military on Alert on NK Threat

The South Korean military is on high alert after North Korea threatened to launch indiscriminate fire against the sites where anti-North Korea leaflets from the South are sent.

The Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said on Friday that Pyongyang sent Seoul a notice in the morning, threatening to fire at the sites.

The next flashpoint could be :

The next leaflet launch towards #DPRK I'm aware of is from Imjingak, #ROK planned for Apr. 30. #Korea

Shall be interesting.


It could all turn for the worst if the US says no to the food aid.

It appears that within a day or two of nothiing
things can heat up again very quickly. Idle threats,
maybe not. Do you think the US will say no to food aid?

Originally posted by crazydaisy
It appears that within a day or two of nothiing
things can heat up again very quickly. Idle threats,
maybe not. Do you think the US will say no to food aid?

I think the US wants to say YES to food aid, but apparently SKorea has to agree first. And SKorea doesn't want to give food aid to NKorea unless NKorea starts real steps to dismantle their nuclear program, which they won't ever do.

So there's probably heavy diplomacy behind the scenes from the US and China to force the hand of SKorea to agree to the food aid.

Thing is, elections are coming up in SKorea... so the party in power cannot appear to be weak... even if the guy in power right now will leave no matter what.

So my guess for now is NO... the US will not give food aid to NKorea.

What could change things is the new Chinese leader coming in next year too, from what I've read on him, he's much more ``agressive`` than the current leader...

Japan :
Japan seeks stronger military ties with US: report

Japan's defence minister said his country needs stronger military ties with the US and South Korea to balance China's growing might, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

He said Japan was particularly concerned about China's increasing naval capabilities.

"Our priority is to make our bilateral relationship with the US rock solid," he told the paper.

"In order to maintain the right balance in our relationship with China, we need to also solidify the ties between Japan, the US and South Korea," said Kitazawa, of the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan.

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NKorea :
NKoreans accuse South of kidnapping, beatings

Weeping and shaking their fists, North Koreans released last month after being held by South Korea for 50 days claimed Thursday they were beaten, imprisoned and pressured to defect after the South's coast guard raided and seized their fishing boat.

Speaking publicly for the first time since their return, 10 North Koreans accused the South Korean coast guard of kidnapping their group of 31 men and women. They also said the four North Koreans who stayed in the South were being held against their will.

Sure NKorea.. sure. SKorea would torture those people so they stay? Ridiculous.

Pyongyang blames Seoul for shunning inter-Korean dialogue

North Korea accused South Korea Saturday of deliberately shunning dialogue for rapprochement and warned of "serious consequences."

Inter-Korean relations have never been smooth since President Lee Myung-bak's conservative government took office in Seoul three years ago. Their ties further deteriorated after North Korea unleashed deadly military attacks last year, killing a total of 50 people, mostly soldiers.

South Korea doesn't want to talk to you because you're a bunch of lying bastards. Every single time NKorea say they gonna do peace, they do another provocation after they get what they want, screw them.

NK: War Can Break out Anytime on Peninsula

A North Korean defense chief says the Korean Peninsula is currently in a crisis situation where war may break out.

At a national meeting in Pyongyang on the eve of the 79th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army, the North's Defense Chief Kim Yong-chun blamed last year’s of Yeonpyeong Island on South Koera. He said the North Korean army was justified in responding with fire against its warmongering enemy on the Yellow Sea.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has plans to visit the North on Tuesday. Carter and members of The Elders, a group of former politicians who will accompany him to the North, are expected to issue a statement on Monday vowing efforts to ease tension and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

China's nuclear envoy Wu Dawei will be visiting Seoul on Tuesday.

S. Korea deploys extra rocket artillery to Yellow Sea islands

South Korea's military has deployed more rocket artillery to two islands near the Yellow Sea border to guard against a possible attack by North Korea, a government source said Monday, amid high tensions following the North's deadly shelling of one of the islands.

An unspecified number of the homegrown 130-millimeter "Kuryong" multiple rocket launchers were recently installed on Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands, the source said on the condition of anonymity.

With 36 launch tubes and a shooting range of 23-36km, a Kuryong is believed to be superior to the North's 120-mm rocket artillery.

NKorea will see this as a provocation probably.

Carter to fly to Seoul after trip to N. Korea: official

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter plans to visit Seoul immediately after his trip to North Korea next week, an official said, confirming media reports.

Hopefully it helps... But I don't think it'll change anything. NKorea might make more empty promises, but that's it.


If this Carter talk fails to bring any results and the US says no to the food aid, a NKorean provocation within two weeks after that happened are very high.

Since the US has said they will give their answer before May, they should give their response this week...

IMO we'll see this scenario play out :

- Carter goes to NKorea, NKorea makes promises
- Carter goes to SKorea, SKorea listen but says they need concrete steps
- US says no food aid due to lack of seriousness of NKorea
- NKorea stages nuclear test
- UN condemn NKorea, China abstain from voting
- Tensions remain high
- Back to stalemate...

reply to post by Vitchilo


Thanks for the lastest info - tensions rise
and I will be keeping close eye to the thread
for further developments. Most likely that will
be after the announcment regarding food
aid.

Originally posted by crazydaisy
reply to post by Vitchilo

 

Thanks for the lastest info - tensions rise
and I will be keeping close eye to the thread
for further developments. Most likely that will
be after the announcment regarding food
aid.

Well thanks... And let's not forget April 30, another balloon launch which could lead to more trouble.

N.Korea issues threat on eve of anniversary

North Korea has again threatened to destroy the United States and South Korea. The communist North issued its latest war rhetoric on the eve of its army’s anniversary.

The official Korean Central News Agency says that People’s Armed Forces Minster Kim Yong Chun issued the warning Sunday in a Pyongyang national meeting ahead of the army’s founding anniversary.

KCNA cites Kim as saying the North’s military knows no mercy and will “wipe out” the allies if they ignite a war.

Carter hopes for meeting with N. Korean leaders

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Monday he and other former heads of state traveling to North Korea this week hope to meet with "leaders" in Pyongyang to help break a nuclear deadlock and ease a chronic food crisis in the communist state.

Well... last time, Carter didn't even see Kim... so he probably won't see him either now since there's big celebrations going on and he's gonna be quite busy.

NKorea :
Carter in N. Korea peace bid but S. Korea sceptical

Former US president Jimmy Carter on Tuesday began a visit to North Korea aimed at easing tensions on the divided peninsula, but South Korea reacted sceptically to the mission.

Yep. Carter is unlikely to accomplish anything real.

S. Korea says N. Korea deceptive on dialogue

South Korea accused North Korea Monday of "deceptive" appeals for dialogue and said Pyongyang was determined to keep its nuclear weapons despite international efforts to revive disarmament talks.

Well duh.

North Korean Tunnels Turned Into Tombs

Over the last decade, there has been a pronounced slowdown in North Korean work on underground air bases. Part of this may be the result of growing energy shortages up north, and the frequent blackouts.

Apparently the North Koreans have figured out that the Americans have now developed weapons that could quickly shut down these underground facilities, and keep them inoperable.

North Korea, for example, has twenty airfields with underground hangars for the aircraft.

Since North Korea doesn't have that many operational warplanes, it's believed that some of these "airfields" actually have long range rockets and ballistic missiles, mounted on trailers equipped to erect the missile into launch position and fire it off, in the underground hangars.

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SKorea :
South Korea Builds A Wall Of Missiles

South Korea is spending over $2 billion to improve its anti-missile defenses. This will include expansion of existing Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile missile and Aegis systems on warships. One new system with be the U.S. THAAD (Theater High Altitude Air Defense). This will stop longer range North Korean ballistic missiles. THAAD went into production only four years ago.

So with that they could stop NKorea missiles... but still they don't have anything to stop the ``real`` threat... NKorean artillery. NKorea can also pack chemical weapons on artillery...But at least artillery has a limited range.
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China :
China to launch carrier in 2011: Taiwan spy chief

Taiwan's spy chief on Monday said China could bring its first aircraft carrier into service before the end of the year, kindling fears in Taipei over Beijing's continued naval build-up.

Yeah but before it's all operational as a carrier strike group, it'll take at least another two years.

Australians see China as military threat: poll

Almost half of Australians believe China will become a military threat in the next 20 years and a majority believe Canberra is allowing too much Chinese investment, according to a poll released Monday.

Well they might be right, we'll see when the next leader comes in next year.
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Japan :

Kyodo: 60 ruling DPJ lawmakers attended meeting aimed at launching fresh campaign to oust Prime Min. Kan. #Japan

That would be nice for the nuclear situation... and maybe finally have a leader with balls that kicks out the US from Okinawa.

SKorea :

egalite_twitted Sam Kim 김혜성
What happens in by-elections today in traditionally conservative SKorean town may have far-reaching political, economic implications

NKorea :
Carter, Elders Members Meet NK Foreign Minister

A group of former global leaders led by ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter has met with North Korea’s Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun.

The group of former leaders arrived in Pyongyang on a private plane on Tuesday. They were greeted by Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho.

So they likely won't meet Kim...

Aussie PM tough on restarting Korean talks

Australia's prime minister said North Korea must be ready to compromise on military issues, including its nuclear program, or there's no point in restarting stalled talks.

Yep.

N.Korea boat retreats after warning shots fired-South

SEOUL, April 27 (Reuters) - A North Korean patrol boat briefly crossed a tense maritime border with rival South Korea late on Tuesday before retreating when the South's navy fired warning shots, the military said on Wednesday.

Ruling party roiled by crushing defeat in by-elections

South Korea's ruling party suffered a humiliating defeat in Wednesday's by-elections, heralding a political upheaval ahead of next year's general and presidential polls.¸

Taiwan :
Taiwan missile can reach Beijing: report

Taiwan has developed a missile capable of reaching Beijing and tested it successfully three years ago, a report said Wednesday, citing a former defence minister.

The Chinese military was prepared to go to war should the Beijing-friendly candidate Ma Ying-jeou lose the 2008 president election, Tsai wrote, citing Taiwan and US intelligence.

Taiwan has another election in January 2012. The pro-China candidate is likely to win.

Originally posted by Vitchilo


Taiwan :
Taiwan missile can reach Beijing: report

Taiwan has developed a missile capable of reaching Beijing and tested it successfully three years ago, a report said Wednesday, citing a former defence minister.

The Chinese military was prepared to go to war should the Beijing-friendly candidate Ma Ying-jeou lose the 2008 president election, Tsai wrote, citing Taiwan and US intelligence.

Taiwan has another election in January 2012. The pro-China candidate is likely to win.

Thanks for keeping on-top of this regions developments. I found this last one rather interesting. China was ready to go to war if the "Beijing Friendly Candidate" lost?

Hmmm Dictating to their neighbors who should or shouldn't be elected?

Hmmmm

Interesting.

reply to post by SLAYER69

Thanks for keeping on-top of this regions developments. I found this last one rather interesting. China was ready to go to war if the "Beijing Friendly Candidate" lost?

Hmmm Dictating to their neighbors who should or shouldn't be elected?

Yep that is very interesting... now if it's true... if it is, it's quite crazy.

Because China attacking Taiwan out of the blue like that would mean the US is forced to help Taiwan... And then it would probably be WW3.