North Korea (Superthread)

[tomahawk6]

A USAF C17 picked up 55 remains of soldiers who were killed during the Korean War and they have landed at Osan AFB and eventually they will de flown to Hawaii for forensic evaluation and Hopefully they can be identified.

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/n-korea-hands-over-55-cases-of-remains-thought-to-be-us-war-dead-1.539731

 

[Remius]

A USAF C17 picked up 55 remains of soldiers who were killed during the Korean War and they have landed at Osan AFB and eventually they will de flown to Hawaii for forensic evaluation and Hopefully they can be identified.

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/n-korea-hands-over-55-cases-of-remains-thought-to-be-us-war-dead-1.539731

A symbolic gesture that I hope leads to more tangible results.

Mostly though, I hope it brings some closure to at least some surviving families.

 

[tomahawk6]

IF the remains are legit then the next step is to identify them,with 7700 soldiers MIA I hope there can be some closure.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mattis-us-must-make-sure-korea-war-remains-are-real/ar-BBL9r9Y?ocid=spartanntp

 

[tomahawk6]

After a quick analysis in the ROK the remains are now in Hawaii,where they will try to be identified.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pence-hails-tangible-progress-with-north-korea-as-remains-of-presumed-korean-war-dead-arrive-in-hawaii/ar-BBLnH31?ocid=spartanntp

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Article Link

New Zealand, Australia sending aircraft to help implement UN North Korea sanctions

September 7th, 2018

New Zealand joined Australia on Friday in announcing the deployment of maritime patrol aircraft to help implement United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark put out a statement saying New Zealand was sending a P-3K2 Orion to patrol international waters in North Asia.

"New Zealand is firmly committed to an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.  We welcome the recent dialogue North Korea has had with the United States and South Korea.  However, until such time as North Korea abides by its international obligations, full implementation of the United Nations Security Council Sanctions resolutions will be essential," Peters said in his statement.

"New Zealand will coordinate efforts with partners to counter North Korea's maritime activities that contravene UNSC resolutions, in particular its use of ship-to-ship transfers," said Mark.

Australia's Defence Minister Christopher Pyne also put out a statement. His said Australia was sending two AP-3C Orions. Earlier this year the Australians sent a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the area on sanctions duty.

The aircraft will be based out of Kadena Air Base, on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.

Pyne said in his statement that Australia's deployment supported Australia's ongoing economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. "Australia continues to work with partners to enforce sanctions to pressure North Korea to take concrete and verifiable steps to denuclearise."

Sanctions resolutions against North Korea were unanimously adopted and supported by permanent United Nations Security Council members.

Australia adds two AP-3C Orion patrol planes while New Zealand deploys P-3K2 aircraft to carry out patrols of international waters in North Asia

 

[tomahawk6]

The NORKs are expanding a long range missile base near China.

https://www.stripes.com/news/north-korea-reportedly-expands-key-long-range-missile-base-1.559464

 

[The Bread Guy]

Again ...

North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast early Thursday, South Korea’s military said, a move apparently aimed at increasing Pyongyang’s leverage in nuclear talks with the United States.

The missiles were launched from around North Korea’s eastern city of Wonsan and headed eastward before splashing into the sea, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff. The first missile traveled an estimated 430 kilometers and the second traveled 690 kilometers, it said.

South Korea’s military says the second missile may be a new design, but that further analysis was needed. If the distances are confirmed, the second missile flew further than a May North Korean missile launch, which had an estimated range of 450 kilometers.

North Korea in May launched what appeared to be its version of the Russian-made ISKANDER quasi-ballistic missile, which, though short-range, is able to be maneuvered in-flight and is apparently designed to evade South Korean and U.S. missile defenses ...

... and a "new"(?) sub:

A new North Korean ballistic-missile submarine unveiled Tuesday looks like a remodeled old Soviet Golf-class sub.

Judging from photos and video clips released by state media, they have similar bridges and bows.

The Soviet Union deployed the Golf from the late 1950s until the early 90s. It was 98.9 m long with a submerged displacement of 3,500 tons and was capable of carrying three ballistic missiles.

In the mid-1990s the North imported one Golf from Russia that hardly more than scrap but did not dismantle it. At the time, the fire control system was missing but the missile launch tube was intact.

The Golf had a range of 17,600 km, long enough for the new North Korean sub to sail out and launch Pukguksong-1 missiles with a range of 1,500 to 2,000 km close enough to the U.S. mainland.

State media showed blurred or pixelated images of the back of the bridge where the ballistic missiles could be loaded ...

PRK info-machine photos attached.

 

[tomahawk6]

Pretty good article about recent North Korea weapons tests as being a threat since short range weapons would be hard to detect and destroy. Alot of work has been conducted to provide short defense against artillery and missiles.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/korea-watch/north-koreas-recent-missile-and-projectile-tests-need-your-attention-74906

 

[The Bread Guy]

MOAR missiles fly just before talks ...

• " DPRK Academy of Defence Science Succeeds in Test-firing of New-type SLBM " (PRK info-machine via fellow traveller blog - text also attached if you don't want to hit the link)
• "North Korea tests submarine-capable missile fired from sea" (BBC)
• "North Korea Hails Sub-Based Missile That Raises Security Stakes" (Bloomberg)
• "Exclusive: Here’s the nuclear proposal the US plans to offer North Korea this weekend" (Vox.com)

And in related developments ...

The Unification Ministry has found evidence of severe radiation exposure in 10 North Koreans who defected from the vicinity of North Korea's defunct nuclear test site in Punggye-ri.

The ministry tested them and found radioactivity levels in their bodies exceeding 250 mSv, which is enough to trigger chromosomal abnormalities.

One 48-year-old woman showed 1,386 mSv of radiation, which drastically raises the chances of cancer. Nuclear industry workers can only be allowed to be exposed to around 50 mSv of radiation a year.

The ministry tested the defectors in September of last year but has still not officially announced the results a year later. Bareun Mirae Party lawmaker Choung Byoung-gug had to obtain them under a freedom-of-information request.

The tests also showed between seven and 59 chromosomal mutations in five of the defectors, with radiation levels of 279-1386 mSv. The 48-year-old woman with the highest contamination lived just 23 km away from Punggye-ri, where the North conducted three nuclear tests from 2006 to 2013 ...

 

[dapaterson]

CNN is reporting that Kim Jong Un "is in grave danger" following surgery.  Speculation began when he missed celebrations of his grandfather's birthday five days ago.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/kim-jong-un-north-korea/index.html

 

[MilEME09]

From NBC

"North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is brain dead, according to two US officials. He recently had cardiac surgery and slipped into a coma, according to one US current and one former US official. @NBCNews confirms and adds to CNN scoop from me, @ckubeNBC @carolelee"

 

[CBH99]

Unpredictable times...  didn't see that coming

 

[dapaterson]

So, 2020 so far: pandemic, oil crash into negative prices, massive destabilization of the Korean Peninsula.

And we're not even through the first third of the year.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Oh my.....and I doubt his ego would have allowed for a succession plan.

 

[PuckChaser]

From NBC

"North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is brain dead, according to two US officials. He recently had cardiac surgery and slipped into a coma, according to one US current and one former US official. @NBCNews confirms and adds to CNN scoop from me, @ckubeNBC @carolelee"

Was he not brain dead before, for at least a few years?

I hope if it is true, someone has the testicular fortitude to take over and create a democracy to bring freedom and prosperity to the North Koreans, perhaps even a unified Korea. One can dream I guess.

 

[Brad Sallows]

"@ckubeNBC @carolelee"

Well..wait for it.  Katy Tur apparently deleted her tweet "out of an abundance of caution. Waiting on more info. Apologies:"

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Those sort of regimes, they like to leak rumours of the death of the leader to see who does what and then have the leader reappear and execute the disloyal ones.

 

[Weinie]

Those sort of regimes, they like to leak rumours of the death of the leader to see who does what and then have the leader reappear and execute the disloyal ones.

And even if it is true (wonder how many bodyguards were overseeing the surgeons and medical staff so there would not be an unfortunate accident during the surgery  ) his sister has solidified her standing within the oligarchy. Far too much to lose for a favoured few, and I am sure that consolidation of control has already taken place, in the event that the Pillsbury Doughboy dies. 

 

[tomahawk6]

Be more concerned about who takes over after Kim Jong Un. Kim has played this game before only to emerge to deal with those that have shown themselves to be less than loyal.

 

[dimsum]

Be more concerned about who takes over after Kim Jong Un. Kim has played this game before only to emerge to deal with those that have shown themselves to be less than loyal.

Apparently he has young children.  A few other forums have speculated that his sister may become regent to his oldest until he can take over. 

Or she can go GoT style and kill them to consolidate her power. 

:dunno: