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'The sword stands ready': Pence warns North Korea Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the U.S. military, promising it would make an "overwhelming and effective" response to any use of conventional or nuclear weapons. Pence, who was aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, said that President Trump's administration would continue to "work diligently" with allies like Japan, China and other global powers to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang. But he told the sailors, "as all of you know, readiness is the key." "The United States of America will always seek...

Is North Korea Working Toward a 'Carrier-Killer' Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile? Say hello to the KN-17. By Ankit Panda April 18, 2017 When I discussed North Korea’s latest show-stopper of a military parade over the weekend, I didn’t have too much to say about one of the new missiles that Pyongyang decided to show off. The missile in question appeared to be a Scud/Nodong variant and — like the Pukkuksong-2 that we saw tested for the first time in February — was on a tracked transporter erector launcher (TEL). Notably, the missile had fins on its nose cone, suggesting that it...

This is an interesting development and not a good one. It seems North Korea will not accept China’s offer of a meeting. It sounds like Lil’ Kim is isolating his Country from his closest friend and supporter. China is becoming very troubled over this. I am very troubled over this, as it insinuates a turn for the worse in Kim’s mood and trust in his ally. North Korea turned its nose up at Chinese diplomats this month as things became heated on the Korean Peninsula, according to people familiar with the situation, raising questions about the influence Beijing’s leaders have...

China defends trade practices with North Korea after Chinese-made vehicles seen towing ballistic missiles By Matthew Brown BEIJING – China defended its trade practices on Tuesday after Chinese-made vehicles were seen towing ballistic missiles during a North Korea military parade despite international sanctions against selling military hardware to Pyongyang. Saturday’s parade honouring North Korea’s country’s founder, Kim Il Sung, came amid heightened tensions over the country’s nuclear ambitions. It featured a senior official, Choe Ryong Hae, warning of “all-out war” if North Korea is attacked.

China's Korea policy 'in tatters,' as both North and South defy sanctions More than half a century ago, hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers died in the Korean War, fighting on the side of their Communist allies against the American-backed South. Yet today, China finds itself in the uncomfortable position of falling out with both the Communist North and capitalist South of this troublesome peninsula, imposing sanctions on both countries but getting no satisfaction from either. Yesterday, South Korea announced it would press ahead with the "swift deployment" of an American missile defense system despite relentless and vociferous Chinese opposition....

Russia warns US against ‘Syria-style’ actions in N. Korea Mike Pence’s statement on the US running out of “strategic patience” towards Pyongyang does not contribute to resolving the crisis, Sergey Lavrov said, voicing hopes there will be no repeat of the US strike on Syria in North Korea. “I hope that there won’t be any unilateral actions like we recently saw in Syria and that the US will follow the policies Trump repeatedly declared during his election campaign,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, regarding the statement made by US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday during his visit to...

***************************************************President Trump and members of his administration have recently struck a very friendly tone toward China, particularly with respect to that country’s apparent support for the effort to “denuclearize” the North Korean regime of Kim Jong-un. But a senior Republican member of Congress on Sunday suggested that, behind the scenes, the administration is working on a different option that would be much more confrontational.In an appearance on CNN, House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) said that despite indications that Beijing is concerned about nuclear proliferation in North Korea, the Chinese government is still supporting the Korean economy and...

Three US Aircraft Carriers Directed Toward South Korean Shores Amid mounting tensions in the East Asia, the Pentagon has directed three US aircraft carriers toward the Korean Peninsula, South Korean media reported quoting governmental sources. TOKYO (Sputnik) — Three US aircraft carriers, USS Carl Vinson, USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz, will enter the Sea of Japan next week, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a South Korean government source. Washington and Seoul are discussing joint drills, which will include the three aircraft carriers, with USS Carl Vinson expected to enter the Sea of Japan by April 25 and other ships...

Ballistic rockets were on display at Saturday's military parade at Pyongyang to mark the 105th birthday of the state's late founder Kim Il Sung. Almost 60 long-range and submarine-based missiles were on show as tensions mounted overJong-un's nuclear ambitions. The display initially caused international fears North Korea's nuke program was more advanced than previously thought. A senior analyst at the Korea Defence Network told AFP: “I suspect they all might be mock-ups aimed to impress the outside world.” The nose cone of one of the devastating rockets “wobbled quite noticeably” according to Chad O’Carroll, managing director of specialist service NK...

Pence stresses 'era of strategic patience' over as he visits Korean DMZ By Roberta Rampton and Lucia Mutikani | DEMILITARISED ZONE, SOUTH KOREA U.S. Vice President Mike Pence looked across the demilitarized border between North and South Korea on Monday, a day after North Korea's failed missile launch, reiterating that the U.S. "era of strategic patience" with Pyongyang was over. Pence is on the first stop of a four-nation Asia tour intended to show America's allies - and remind its adversaries - that the Trump administration is not turning its back on the increasingly volatile region. The demilitarized zone (DMZ)...

McFarland 'no comment' on reports US sabotaged North Korea missile launch, calls launch a 'fizzle' Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland on Sunday declined to say whether the U.S. cyber-sabotaged North Korea’s failed missile launch, saying only that it was “a fizzle.” “You know we can’t talk about secret intelligence and things that might have been done, covert operations,” McFarland told “Fox News Sunday.” “I really have no comment.” Still, McFarland, a former Fox News contributor, said the failed non-nuclear missile test Sunday by the rogue nation was one of about 30 failed attempts and that cyberwar is now a...

Mike Pence tells Koreans: 'Our resolve has never been stronger' The US Vice President describes North Korea's failed missile launch as a "provocation" and says these are "troubled times". US Vice President Mike Pence has said America's resolve to help South Korea "has never been stronger". He was speaking in the capital Seoul, hours after North Korea's failed attempt to launch a missile, which he described as a "provocation". Mr Pence addressed American troops based on the Korean peninsula at an Easter Service. He said: "This morning's provocation from the North is just the latest reminder of the risks each...

Take a 3D tour of North Korea’s nuclear test site, thanks to open source intelligence Experts suspect North Korea’s sixth nuclear test is coming soon by Rachel Becker Apr 15, 2017, 8:30am EDT Rumors have been flying around about the possibility of a North Korean nuclear test, thanks in part to activity at North Korea’s nuclear test site. If it is, this will be the sixth known nuclear test in 11 years — and a clear sign that North Korean arms development is continuing. Now, because it’s hard to get information in or out of North Korea, it’s not clear...

I know President Trump’s work with China led to the good behavior of North Korea. Plus, the fact that Trump showed North Korea the United States would not take their threats sitting down was a huge factor in their backing off of even a missile test. I believed late last night that we would not strike NK for only a missile test, but if they harmed a hair on our back, or South Korea, or Japan, a war would be our only choice. I praise God this did not happen. I wonder if we are about to see a decrease...

Japan makes plans for rescue of 57,000 Japanese in South Korea and refugees coming from the North if crisis ensues By Neil Connor, beijing 14 APRIL 2017 • 11:57PM Japan’s National Security Council discussed on Friday what measures it would take to evacuate the country’s 57,000 citizens from South Korea in the event of a crisis. The talks were held as tensions continued to escalate in the region over a possible nuclear test by North Korea, and as a US aircraft carrier group steamed into the region. Tokyo would seek approval from Seoul to send military aircraft and warships, along...

A huge range of security exploits, said to be worth over $2m if sold on the black market, have been leaked online.The tools are said to have been created by the US National Security Agency (NSA), and accompanying documents appear to indicate a possible breach of the Swift global banking system.Such a hack could have enabled the US to covertly monitor financial transactions, researchers said.The files were released by Shadow Brokers, a hacking group that has previously leaked malware.If genuine, it represents perhaps the most significant exposure of NSA files since the Edward Snowden leaks in 2013.On Twitter, Mr Snowden...

/begin my translation [Breaking] N. Korea Reveals for the First Time What Appears to be a ‘New ICBM’ during their Parade on the ‘Day of Sun.’ 2017.04.15 N. Korea revealed what appears to be a ‘new ICBM’ for the first time during their Military Parade Commemorating the 105th Birthday of President Kim Il-sung (the Day of Sun) on Apr. 15. Military sources said, “It appears to be a new ICBM, and has a longer frame than KN-08 or KN-14.” /end my translation

Started streaming 3 hours ago Welcome to KCTV at 14:29 or 2:29 PM Pyongyang Time (+08:30 GMT) [14:30-15:00] Highly modified version of the Philips PM5544 (4:3), Philips PM5644 (16:9), Test Pattern with digital clock and multiple elements including colour bars, resolution grids and other markings (the audio is music – usually classical or patriotic – and clock ident with the "Voice of Korea jingle" as time signal) [15:00-15:10] National anthem, introduction announcement, "Song of General Kim Il-sung" (instrumental version) & "Song of General Kim Jong-il" (instrumental version), television listings 10 minutes [15:10-16:20] Special events recap [16:20-17:00] Documentary specials [17:00-17:20] Afternoon...

He knows he can't win but it would be an unimaginable humiliation for him to back down: In a deadly game of dare, Kim Jong-un will take the suicide option, says MARK ALMOND

China's national airline, Air China, suspended flights from Beijing to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, from late on Friday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said. It did not say why the flights, which operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, were being suspended. CCTV did not give a source for its news report published on its website and Air China could not immediately be reached for comment after business hours.