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☆ Why North Korea’s Latest Nuclear Claims Are Raising Alarms
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Pablo Robles | Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +17 min

North Korea has a track record of showing mockups of weapons still under development for the sake of propaganda. So far, North Korea has released photos of three nuclear devices, and the latest one — dubbed Hwasan-31, or “Volcano-31” — is by far the smallest. CHINA NORTH KOREA Pyongyang SOUTH KOREA Seoul CHINA NORTH KOREA YELLOW SEA Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Launched from vehicles NORTH KOREA Pyongyang SOUTH KOREA Seoul CHINA Launched from vehicles NORTH KOREA YELLOW SEA Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Launched from vehicles NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Launched from vehicles NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Launched from train cars NORTH KOREA Pyongyang SOUTH KOREA Seoul CHINA Launched from train cars NORTH KOREA YELLOW SEA Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Launched from train cars NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Launched from train cars NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Underwater launch NORTH KOREA Pyongyang SOUTH KOREA Seoul CHINA Underwater launch NORTH KOREA YELLOW SEA Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Underwater launch NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA Underwater launch NORTH KOREA Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA Possible underground launch Pyongyang SOUTH KOREA Seoul CHINA NORTH KOREA Possible underground launch Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA Possible underground launch Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA Possible underground launch Pyongyang YELLOW SEA Seoul SOUTH KOREASince 2019, North Korea has launched missiles from locations scattered across the country. Satellites can help North Korea collect data from such long-range missile tests to improve its ICBM technology. If North Korea conducts another nuclear test, its seventh, it may be to show that its new and smaller Hwasan-31 nuclear warhead works.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, Kim’s, Donald J, Trump, Hwasan, James Martin, Dr, Markus Schiller, Lee Jong, ” Mr, Lee Organizations: Korean Central News Agency, Agence France, Presse Korean Central News Agency, Presse, North Korean, Washington, European Pressphoto Agency, Associated Press, European Pressphoto Agency Korean Central News Agency, Associated Press Korean Central News Agency, James Martin Center, Nonproliferation Studies, Institute for Science, International Security, Japan Ministry of Defense, Seoul SOUTH KOREA, U.S, SOUTH KOREA JAPAN Major U.S, Seoul SOUTH KOREA JAPAN Major U.S, CHINA RUSSIA NORTH, US Department of Defense, ST Analytics, South Korean Defense Ministry, CHINA NORTH, Seoul CHINA NORTH, Pyongyang, Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA, Seoul, KOREA, NORTH, KOREA CHINA NORTH, Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH, Seoul SOUTH, Reuters, North, South Korean, ”, South Locations: North, North Korea, Korea, Japan, Washington, Seoul, United States, Northeast Asia, U.S, South Korea, RUSSIA CHINA, Seoul SOUTH KOREA JAPAN, CHINA RUSSIA, CHINA RUSSIA NORTH KOREA, Kaesong, Presse, CHINA, CHINA NORTH KOREA Pyongyang, Seoul CHINA, Seoul CHINA NORTH KOREA, Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH, Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA, KOREA Pyongyang, KOREA CHINA, Pyongyang, NORTH KOREA Pyongyang, KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA, Pyongyang Seoul SOUTH KOREA CHINA NORTH KOREA, Seoul SOUTH KOREA, Presse North Korea, North Korean

☆ New North Korean space rocket features engine from ICBMs, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Josh Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] A still photograph shows what appears to be North Korea's new Chollima-1 rocket being launched in Cholsan County, North Korea, May 31, 2023 in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency and taken from video. "It appears to make use of an engine that appeared in an earlier North Korean intercontinental-range ballistic missile." The Chollima-1 appears to be a medium-lift space launch vehicle intended for delivering small satellites to low earth orbit. "In this case we do have a fairly large payload fairing compared to the earlier North Korean space launch vehicles," Panda said. South Korea said it was working to recover parts of the North Korean rocket, releasing photos that showed what analysts said appeared to be a section designed to join two stages, and a liquid propellant tank inside.

Persons: Joseph Dempsey, Panda, Korea's, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, REUTERS, Carnegie Endowment, International, North Korean, International Institute for Strategic Studies, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Cholsan County, North Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, U.S, Korea's, Soviet, United States, Korea, South Korea, South

☆ North Korea says its first spy satellite launch ends in failure, crashes into sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A man watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul on May 31, 2023. North Korea's first attempt at launching a military spy satellite resulted in failure on Wednesday, with South Korea's military picking up wreckage after the carrier rocket crashed into its western waters. North Korea's state media agency, the Korean Central News Agency, said that an "accident" occurred during the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite. North Korea's state media added that the failed launch was due to "low reliability and stability of the new-type engine system applied" to the carrier rocket and the "unstable character of the fuel used." South Korean officials added that they are in the process of recovering "what could be the wreckages from the purported 'space launch vehicle' fired by North Korea."

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Korea's Organizations: Seoul Railway, Korean Central News Agency Locations: Seoul, South, North, Korea, North Korea

☆ North Korea launches rocket likely connected to military spy satellite, South Korea says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

North Korea launched a purported rocket Wednesday, a day after the country announced a plan to put its first military spy satellite into orbit, South Korea's military said. It wasn't immediately clear whether a North Korean spy satellite would significantly bolster its defenses. Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests, many of them involving nuclear-capable weapons targeting the U.S. mainland, South Korea and Japan. North Korea says its testing activities are self-defense measures meant to respond to expanded military drills between Washington and Seoul that it views as invasion rehearsals. U.S. and South Korean officials say their drills are defensive and they've bolstered them to cope with growing nuclear threats by North Korea.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju, Kim Il, Ri, Lee Choon Geun, Kim Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, Chiefs, Staff, North Korean, South Korea's Science, Technology Policy, U.S Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, South Korea's, Seoul, Korea, United States, Korean, South Korea, Washington, Japan

☆ North Korea says it will launch its first-ever military spy satellite to monitor U.S. drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 09: People watch a television show North Korea's 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces day military parade released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-jun | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesNorth Korea announced its plans to launch its first-ever military spy satellite – giving a lift for some South Korean and Japanese defense stocks. North Korean military official Ri Pyong Chol said in a Monday statement that Pyongyang plans to launch a satellite with the aim to track "dangerous" actions by the U.S., pointing to its recent joint military drills taking with South Korea. North Korea claimed the event "fully proves how the enemy is making preparations for the military act of aggression on the DPRK," referring to its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Defense stocks riseShares of South Korean defense companies Firstec and Victek rose 3.8% and 3.3% respectively Tuesday afternoon, returning from a market holiday Monday.

Seoul, South Korea CNN —North Korea’s attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite failed Wednesday when the second stage of the rocket failed, state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, adding that Pyongyang planned to carry out a second launch as soon as possible. North Korea’s National Space Development Agency said it would investigate the failure “urgently” and carry out another launch after new testing, KCNA reported. Earlier, South Korea’s military said Pyongyang fired a “space projectile,” triggering emergency alerts in Seoul and Japan, weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered officials to prepare to launch the country’s first military reconnaissance satellite. Wednesday’s launch triggered alarms in Japan, where alerts issued for the Okinawa prefecture were later recalled after authorities there determined there was no threat to Japanese territory. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectile was launched from Tongchang-ri, Pyongan province towards the south, and was detected flying over the west of Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea.

Persons: ” KCNA, KCNA, Kim Jong Un, “ Organizations: South Korea CNN, Korean Central News Agency, Space Development Agency, South Korean, Staff, North, Korea’s, Chiefs, Japan’s Defense, Korean, South Korea’s, South Korea’s Ministry of Interior Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Pyongyang, Korea, Eocheong, Japan, Okinawa, South, Pyongan, Baengnyeong, West

☆ Kim Jong Un inspected North Korea's first military spy satellite, says its launch is an 'urgent requirement' for the defense of his country
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kim Jong Un inspected North Korea's first finished military spy satellite on Tuesday, per reports. Photos show Kim and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, inspecting what appears to be components of the military spy satellite. Beforehand, Kim met with the non-permanent satellite-launching preparatory committee, a group tasked with launching the satellite, Reuters reported, citing North Korean media. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae meet with members of the non-permanent satellite-launching preparatory committee on May 16, 2023. KCNA via REUTERSTensions between North Korea and its southern neighbor, as well as with the US, continue to be frought.

CNN —A Taiwan-based book publisher has been placed under investigation in China on suspicion of “endangering state security,” Beijing said Tuesday amid mounting concern over his disappearance. Li’s detention comes at a tense moment in cross-strait relations, and several Taiwan citizens have been detained in China on state security grounds in recent years. CNN has reached out to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Office to inquire about Li’s citizenship status. One of them, Lam Wing-kee, has said he was kidnapped by Chinese “special forces” after crossing the border into mainland China from Hong Kong. Hong Kong used to be a hub for publishing politically sensitive books that would be banned in mainland China.

Hong Kong CNN —A Taiwan political activist has been formally arrested on suspicion of “secession” in China, more than eight months after he was detained amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said they had repeatedly reached out to mainland authorities about Yang’s detention but had not received a direct response. In 2019, he became the vice chairman of the Taiwan National Party, a fringe political party advocating Taiwan independence. Handcuffed and escortedCCTV said Yang had long advocated the idea of “Taiwan independence” and founded the Taiwan National Party to push for Taiwan to become an independent, sovereign country and a member state of the United Nations. However, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council reminded Taiwan citizens to evaluate the risks before traveling to mainland China, citing the “repeated occurrence of similar cases recently,” without elaborating on the incidents.

☆ A man bought $250,000 of plane tickets for $17,000 after a Japanese airline made a mistake with currency conversions, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A passenger told Bloomberg he'd bought 25 tickets, including one with an almost 95% discount. A man bought airline tickets worth $250,000 for just $17,000 after Japanese airline All Nippon Airways made a mistake with currency conversions, Bloomberg reported. Herman Yip, who runs a travel website and lives in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg that he bought 25 tickets at heavy discounts. Yip said that he bought tickets for family and friends as well as for himself. "If you see something that's probably a 10th of the original price, just book," he told Bloomberg.

☆ North Korea's next nuke test a matter of 'when,' not 'if,' US Army general says, warning its on the way to a key nuclear capability
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A top US Army general warned that North Korea is on its way to developing a key nuclear capability. Gen. Paul LaCamera also said this week that Pyongyang's next nuclear test is only a matter of time. LaCamera also said North Korea is slated to carry out a seventh nuclear test at some point in the future. North Korea conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017, and each underground test produced explosive yields progressively larger than the one before it. Ju Ae has become a regular figure at North Korea's military-oriented events in recent months after spending years cloaked in mystery.

☆ A Japanese airline accidentally sold some $10,000 business class tickets for $300 after a mistake with currency conversions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

One of Japan's biggest airlines accidentally underpriced some first class and business class tickets. A Japanese airline accidentally underpriced some business class tickets, with a handful of travellers securing $10,000 tickets for only $300, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. Other business class tickets with prices ranging from $8,300 to $10,400 were listed for between $300 and $550. ANA unveiled new first class and business class cabins in 2019 including "The Suite" and "The Room." In 2019, Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific briefly mistakenly sold underpriced first and business class tickets.

☆ Taiwan says China's no-fly zone will affect around 33 flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, April 13 (Reuters) - China's plan to set up a no-fly zone to the north of Taiwan on April 16 will affect about 33 flights, Taiwan's official Central News Agency (CNA) reported, citing the island's transport minister, Wang Kwo-tsai. The impact on flights was greatly reduced after Taiwan said it had successfully urged China to drastically narrow its plan to close air space north of the island, Wang was reported as saying. Reuters first reported that Beijing had initially notified Taipei it would impose a no-fly zone from April 16-18, but Taiwan's transport ministry said this was later reduced to a period of just 27 minutes on Sunday morning after it protested. Taiwan's transport ministry on Wednesday published a map showing what it labelled China's "aerospace activity zone" to the northeast of Taiwan and near a group of disputed islets called Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan. Reporting By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fact Check-Altered video shows North Korean military chorus singing Queen’s ‘I want to break free’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A video showing a North Korean military chorus performing Queen’s “I want to break free” to leader Kim Jong Un was created by a comedy YouTube channel. A Facebook reel with the edited footage has been played close to one million times as of this article’s writing (here). Examples of segments used in the edited video are viewable in the following timestamps: (youtu.be/jYvcdhCbzJw?t=1), (youtu.be/9sdT10f3AFM?t=26), (youtu.be/jYvcdhCbzJw?t=166), (youtu.be/9sdT10f3AFM?t=4368), (youtu.be/jYvcdhCbzJw?t=147) (youtu.be/9sdT10f3AFM?t=3490). Their outfits match those viewable in undated photographs released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb. 17, 2021, as reported by Reuters (here). This video was created by a comedy YouTube channel by combining clips from two different concerts in North Korea and by superimposing audio of a cover of Queen’s “I want to break free.”This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

☆ Taiwan president slams 'irresponsible' China military drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, April 11 (Reuters) - China's military exercises have caused instability in Taiwan and the region and are irresponsible acts for a major country, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on Facebook after Beijing ended three days of drills around the island. China began the war games on Saturday after Tsai returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. "However, China used this to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region. China simulated precision attacks and blockades of Taiwan during the drills, sending up dozens of fighter jets and bombers. "Although China's military exercises have come to an end, the nation's military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," she added.

☆ North Korea's showing off an underwater nuclear attack drone it says can cause a 'radioactive tsunami,' but the threat is likely 'exaggerated'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

North Korea has tested an underwater nuclear attack drone, similar to Russia's Poseidon torpedo. "This nuclear underwater attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation," state media boasted. "There have been signs that North Korea has been developing unmanned submarines, but we assess that they are still at an elementary level," South Korea's JCS added. "There are good reasons to maintain skepticism that North Korea will widely produce or deploy the Haeil system," he wrote in an NK Pro analysis. A screen grab shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting nuclear warheads at an undisclosed location in this undated still image used in a video.

☆ Taiwan says China's involvement in Honduras is obvious
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, March 23 (Reuters) - Taiwan sees China's involvement in Honduras' decision to seek to end relations with the island as very obvious and the situation does not look good with Honduras demanding a "high price", the island's foreign minister said on Thursday. Honduras denied on Wednesday it had demanded $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan before its announcement to seek to open relations with China, instead saying the country had repeatedly requested Taiwan buy Honduran public debt. read moreSpeaking to reporters at parliament, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said the situation with Honduras was "not very good". Honduras Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina said last week Honduras' decision was partly because the Central American country was "up to its neck" in financial challenges and debt - including $600 million it owes Taiwan. Wu, answering a lawmaker question, said Honduras did not just owe Taiwan money.

☆ Honduras demanded $2.5 bln in Taiwan aid before China announcement-source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, March 22 (Reuters) - Honduras demanded $2.5 billion in aid from Taiwan the day before Honduran President Xiomara Castro tweeted her government would seek to open relations with China, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday. Castro tweeted on March 14 she had instructed the country's foreign minister to bring about the opening of official relations with China, though her government has yet to formally end ties with Taiwan. Reina said Honduras had asked Taiwan to double its annual aid to $100 million but never received an answer. Taking lawmaker questions in parliament earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said the government will not "lightly give up" on trying to keep Honduras and was "still working hard". Normally when countries break off diplomatic ties with Taiwan the announcement is swift, with Taiwan maybe only getting an hour or so's notice, diplomatic sources told Reuters.

☆ North Korea's Kim calls for nuclear preparedness against U.S., South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches fire assault drill, at an undisclosed location in North Korea March 10, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country should be ready to conduct nuclear attacks at any time to deter war, accusing the U.S. and South Korea of expanding joint military drills involving American nuclear assets, state media KCNA said on Monday. Kim's remarks came as the isolated country conducted what KCNA called nuclear tactical exercises meant to send strong warnings against the allies. In the exercises, a ballistic missile flew 800 km (497 miles) before hitting target at the altitude of 800 m (0.5 mile) under the scenario of a tactical nuclear attack, KCNA said. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith in Seoul Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kim Jong Un's daughter was a mystery for years, but now she's showing up at North Korea's biggest missile tests
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

For years, Kim Jong Un's daughter — Kim Ju Ae — was a mystery to the world. But in late 2022 state media began showing photos of her at North Korean military events. Photographs released by state media after the launch appear to show the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, watching with a girl who has been identified by analysts and experts as his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. This photo provided on Nov. 19, 2022, by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting a missile at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with his daughter, inspects what it says is an artillery drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea, Thursday, March 9, 2023.

☆ North Korea says missile launches helped train for missions at any time
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] View shows a missile fired by the North Korean military at an undisclosed location in this picture released by North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 15, 2023. KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, March 15 (Reuters) - North Korea's latest missile launches were a military drill designed to train crews to carry out their mission at any time and "annihilate the enemy" if necessary, the country's state media KCNA said on Wednesday. North Korea fired the two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, South Korea's military said at the time, the latest of several weapons tests as the South and the United States conduct their largest joint military drills in years. South Korea's military "strongly condemned" North Korea, calling the repeated missile launches a grave provocation threatening the region's peace and security, and a U.S. State Department spokesperson criticised the launches as violation of multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Josh Smith; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen CosatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/4] A general view as North Korea fired two missiles from a submarine striking an underwater target, according to state media, at an undisclosed location in North Korea March 12, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, March 13 (Reuters) - Nuclear-armed North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine on Sunday, state news agency KCNA said on Monday just as U.S.-South Korea military drills were due to begin. DPRK stands for North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea has a large submarine fleet but the 8.24 Yongung (August 24th Hero) is its only known experimental ballistic missile submarine. North Korea has said it is building an operational ballistic missile submarine.

☆ The US, its allies, and North Korea are one wrong move away from disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Chad Kunkle | Defense Priorities | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

North Korea continues to test missiles while the US and South Korea hold high-profile exercises. This prospect should prod US policy makers to consider why they are choosing to push forward with the current approach to North Korea. US Air Force F-16s and B-1B bombers with South Korean F-35As during an exercise over the Korean Peninsula in November. Kim, his daughter, and other North Korean officials watch sports in Pyongyang in a photo released on February 17. There are already actions being taken by the Biden administration that show how maintaining a massive force in South Korea is not a top priority for the US, such as the recent decision to transfer artillery ammunition from South Korea to resupply Ukrainian stockpiles.

☆ North Korean leader Kim calls for intensified drills in case of 'real war'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A general view of fire assault drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea March 10, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile off its west coast on Thursday, South Korea's military said, adding it was analysing possibilities the North may have launched multiple missiles simultaneously from the same area. North Korea has long bristled at the allies' drills as a rehearsal for invasion. North Korean leader Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, said earlier this week any move to shoot down one of its test missiles would be considered a declaration of war and blamed the joint military exercises for growing tensions. Yang Uk, a research fellow and defence expert at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said North Korea has been increasingly claiming that its smaller missiles are nuclear-capable, in apparent threats to South Korea.

[1/2] A Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is launched at Pyongyang International Airport, in Pyongyang, North Korea February 18, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). She also hinted that the North could fire more missiles into the Pacific Ocean. The United States and its allies have never shot down North Korean ballistic missiles, which are banned by the United Nations Security Council, but the question drew new scrutiny since the North suggested it will fire more missiles over Japan. The United states deployed the B-52 bomber for a joint drill with South Korean fighter jets, in what South Korea's defence ministry said was a show of force against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Around 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty, leaving the countries technically at war.

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