North Korea fires 2 unidentified ‘projectiles’ resembling short-range missiles A U.S. defense official said that upon an initial assessment, at least one unidentified “projectile” was fired, but noted that the launch is similar to North Korea’s launch of two short-range missiles in May. On May 9, North Korea launched two short-range missiles from the Sino-ri missile base located in Kusong approximately 130 miles north of the South Korea border, with the first missile traveling 260 miles and the second 170 miles. Less than a week prior, North Korea had launched a short-range missile, also from Wonsan, which flew toward the East Sea. https://americanmilitarynews.com/20...-projectiles-resembling-short-range-missiles/
Like no president since the foundation of North Korea, Trump got played horribly. Worse than any of them before. The sad thing is that he doesn't even know it, and is so fragile that he is unable to look at the evidence that would show him, he's being played. Of course, his supporters don't really care either.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-fires-barrage-missiles-ground-air-n1183201 North Korea fires barrage of missiles from ground and air The launches came a day before the 108th birthday of North Korea’s late founder, and ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections. A barrage of North Korean missiles fired from both the ground and fighter jets splashed down on the waters off the country's east coast on Tuesday, South Korea’s military said, a major show of force on the eve of a key state anniversary and parliamentary elections in rival South Korea. The back-to-back launches were the most high-profile among a series of weapons tests that North Korea has conducted recently amid stalled nuclear talks and outside worries about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country. North Korean troops based in the eastern coastal city of Munchon first launched several projectiles — presumed to be cruise missiles — on Tuesday morning, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The weapons flew more than 93 miles off the North’s east coast, a South Korean defense official said. If confirmed, it would be the North’s first cruise missile launch since June 2017, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules. Later Tuesday, North Korea launched several Sukhoi-class fighter jets that fired an unspecified number of air-to-surface missiles toward the North’s eastern waters, the defense official said. The official said North Korea has recently appeared to be resuming its military drills that it had scaled back due to concerns about the cornovirus pandemic. He said other North Korean fighter jets also flew on patrol near the border with China on Tuesday. In recent weeks, North Korea has test-launched a variety of missiles and other weapons amid deadlocked nuclear negotiations with the United States. Tuesday’s launches came a day before North Korea marks the 108th birthday of North Korea’s late founder, Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. They also came a day ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections. It's unusual for North Korea to launch cruise missiles. Most of the weapons it had tested recently were ballistic missiles or long-range artillery shells. Some experts say North Korean cruise missiles target U.S. naval assets that would be be reinforced in the event of an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. All the recently tested missiles were short-range and didn’t pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland. A test of a missile capable of reaching the U.S. homeland would end North Korea’s self-imposed moratorium on major weapons tests and likely completely derail nuclear diplomacy with the United States.
Well, it’s a good thing that Trump went and met with Kim and fixed all the problems with North Korea. Glad we have nothing to worry about now... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-...increasing-illicit-trade-new-u-n-report-says/ North Korea is advancing its nuclear program and increasing illicit trade, new UN report says North Korea is advancing its nuclear program and increasing illicit trade in new and more opaque ways, according to a 267-page U.N. report that provides surveillance photos and new evidence. The annual report, produced by sanctions monitors called the "Panel of Experts," is a product of the U.N. Security Council. The purpose of the report is to offer recommendations on how to hold North Korea accountable for skirting restrictions imposed by U.N. sanctions since 2006, that are designed to curtail the nation's nuclear weapons program. CBS News reported on the contents of the U.N. report in February — but the final report, which CBS News has now obtained, is set to be published next week. Nuclear program and ballistic missiles The report claims North Korea has not halted "its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which it continued to enhance, in violation of Security Council resolutions," and that "it continued to develop infrastructure and capacity for its missile program." Two missile engine tests on December 7 and 13, 2019, may have been "aimed at qualifying new intercontinental ballistic missile engines (liquid propellant) or checking existing engine batches (possibly solid propellant)," according to the report. But either way, the report concludes, they "point to a new phase in the ballistic missile program." Although North Korea has dodged sanctions for many years, the report says, the government of Kim Jong Un has "continued to flout Security Council resolutions through illicit maritime exports of commodities, notably coal and sand," in order to "provide a revenue stream that has historically contributed to the country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs." For the components of and technology for its missile program, North Korea uses "illicit external procurement," some of which is documented by U.S.-provided imagery, data and calculations, the report adds. More at the link
Man, Trump really smoothed over relations in Korea... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-military-action-south-korea-delayed-kim-jong-un/ North Korea's military action against South likely "postponed, not canceled," analysts warn North Korea said Wednesday leader Kim Jong Un suspended a planned military retaliation against South Korea, in an apparent slowing of the pressure campaign it has waged against its rival amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration. Last week, the North had declared relations with the South as fully ruptured, destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory and threatened unspecified military action to censure Seoul for a lack of progress in bilateral cooperation and for activists floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. Analysts say North Korea, after weeks deliberately raising tensions, may be pulling away just enough to make room for South Korean concessions. If Kim does eventually opt for military action, he may resume artillery drills and other exercises in frontline areas or have vessels deliberately cross the disputed western maritime border between the Koreas, which has been the scene of bloody skirmishes in past years. However, any action is likely to be measured to prevent full-scale retaliation from South Korean and U.S. militaries. More at the link above
