US and North Korea showdown

[Followers4christ]

(CNN)Washington will not seek UN Security Council action following North Korea's latest missile test, according to US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, who says that the "the time for talk is over."

North Korea's test of a long-range missile Friday that could potentially hit major US cities drew condemnation from the US, China, Japan and South Korea, and calls for a rethinking in tactics toward Pyongyang, given the dramatic escalation in its capabilities.

North Korea "is already subject to numerous Security Council resolutions that they violate with impunity," Haley said Sunday.

North Korea: US grapples for new approach - CNN.com

The United States and its allies flew supersonic bombers and fighter jets over the Korea Peninsula on Sunday in a 10-hour show of force against North Korea following the country's latest ICBM launch.

The U.S. B-1 bombers first flew over Japanese airspace, where they were joined by two Japanese F-2 fighter jets, before flying over the Korean Peninsula with four South Korean F-15 fighter jets, U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement.

U.S., allies fly bombers, fighter jets in display of force against North Korea

(CNN)The US military has detected "highly unusual and unprecedented levels" of North Korean submarine activity and evidence of an "ejection test" in the days following Pyongyang's second intercontinental ballistic missile launch this month, a defense official told CNN on Monday.

An ejection test examines a missile's "cold-launch system," which uses high pressure steam to propel a missile out of the launch canister into the air before its engines ignite. That helps prevent flames and heat from the engine from damaging either the submarine, submersible barge or any nearby equipment used to launch the missile.

US detects 'highly unusual' North Korean submarine activity - CNNPolitics.com

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday that the USS Michigan, a submarine that sometimes moves special forces like US Navy SEALs, would join the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group off of North Korea's coast.

Sure enough, on Tuesday, the Michigan, a guided-missile, nuclear-powered submarine, appeared in Busan, South Korea, Fox News reported.

A submarine that carries US Navy SEALs just arrived off the coast of North Korea

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military successfully test-launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from California early Wednesday, according to an Air Force spokesman — just days after North Korea’s second test of an ICBM.

The unarmed Minuteman III missile was launched at 2:10 a.m. PT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

U.S. test-launches ICBM amid North Korea tensions

Kim said the reclusive state would develop more powerful weapons in multiple phases in accordance with its timetable to defend North Korea against the United States.

"He expressed the conviction that it would make a greater leap forward in this spirit to send a bigger 'gift package' to the Yankees" in retaliation for American military provocation, KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

North Korea warns of 'bigger gift package' for U.S. after latest test

(CNN)The Trump administration has said it's ready to unleash American military might to back its diplomacy when it comes to preventing North Korea from developing a nuclear missile capable of hitting the United States.

But there is no easy military solution to the crisis and several of the options potentially under consideration could risk thousands of lives.

US officials told CNN last month that revised military options for North Korea have been prepared and were ready to be presented to President Donald Trump.

US military options against North Korea come at a price - CNNPolitics.com

There will be war between the United States and North Korea over the rogue nation's missile program if it continues to aim intercontinental ballistic missiles at America, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said President Donald Trump has told him.

Graham said that Trump won't allow the regime of Kim Jong Un to have an ICBM with a nuclear weapon capability to "hit America."

"If there’s going to be a war to stop [Kim Jong Un], it will be over there. If thousands die, they’re going to die over there. They’re not going to die here. And He has told me that to my face," Graham said.

"And that may be provocative, but not really. When you're president of the United States, where does your allegiance lie? To the people of the United States," the senator said.

Sen. Graham: Trump says war with North Korea an option

 

[Korean-American Christian]

(CNN)Washington will not seek UN Security Council action following North Korea's latest missile test, according to US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, who says that the "the time for talk is over."

North Korea's test of a long-range missile Friday that could potentially hit major US cities drew condemnation from the US, China, Japan and South Korea, and calls for a rethinking in tactics toward Pyongyang, given the dramatic escalation in its capabilities.

North Korea "is already subject to numerous Security Council resolutions that they violate with impunity," Haley said Sunday.

North Korea: US grapples for new approach - CNN.com

The United States and its allies flew supersonic bombers and fighter jets over the Korea Peninsula on Sunday in a 10-hour show of force against North Korea following the country's latest ICBM launch.

The U.S. B-1 bombers first flew over Japanese airspace, where they were joined by two Japanese F-2 fighter jets, before flying over the Korean Peninsula with four South Korean F-15 fighter jets, U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement.

U.S., allies fly bombers, fighter jets in display of force against North Korea

(CNN)The US military has detected "highly unusual and unprecedented levels" of North Korean submarine activity and evidence of an "ejection test" in the days following Pyongyang's second intercontinental ballistic missile launch this month, a defense official told CNN on Monday.

An ejection test examines a missile's "cold-launch system," which uses high pressure steam to propel a missile out of the launch canister into the air before its engines ignite. That helps prevent flames and heat from the engine from damaging either the submarine, submersible barge or any nearby equipment used to launch the missile.

US detects 'highly unusual' North Korean submarine activity - CNNPolitics.com

it appears North Korea's continued missile tests will pave the way for deployment of a reliable, nuclear-capable ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. mainland within one to two years.
North Korea Lacks Technology to Strike US Mainland, Analysts Say

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[Followers4christ]

it appears North Korea's continued missile tests will pave the way for deployment of a reliable, nuclear-capable ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. mainland within one to two years.
North Korea Lacks Technology to Strike US Mainland, Analysts Say

(Reuters) - North Korea's latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has shown that Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental United States, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday.

The assessment, which the officials discussed on condition of anonymity, underscored the growing threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, and could add pressure on President Donald Trump's administration to respond.

North Korea can hit most of United States: U.S. officials

Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Saturday that the latest missile launch was a Hwasong-14, the same missile tested earlier this month.

Friday's test was designed to show the Hwasong-14's maximum range with a "large-sized heavy nuclear warhead," it said, adding that Washington should regard the launch as a "grave warning."

Kim was quoted as saying "the whole US mainland" is now within North Korea's reach. He called Pyongyang's weapons program "a precious asset" that cannot be reversed or replaced, according to the agency.

North Korea missile test puts major US cities in range, experts say - CNN.com

 

[Followers4christ]

The United States has proposed wide new United Nations sanctions on North Korea that would ban exports of coal and other commodities, a U.N. Security Council diplomat said Friday.

The new penalties are likely to be adopted quickly by the Security Council in response to two North Korean intercontinental ballistic-missile launches last month, the diplomat said. A vote could come as soon as Saturday.

The bans on coal, lead, iron and seafood exports could deny North Korea $1 billion in annual revenue, out of total exports of $3 billion, according to the diplomat, who insisted on being identified only as a Security Council diplomat in a briefing for reporters.

U.N. Security Council to consider tougher sanctions that could cost N. Korea $1 billion

Amid new U.S. sanctions, North Korea's "No. 2" official began a 10-day visit to Iranon Thursday that could result in the two sides expanding their ties.

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Kim Yong Nam, chairman of the Supreme Assembly of North Korea, arrived Thursday for the weekend inauguration ceremony for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

But given the head of North Korea's parliament is expected to stay for 10 days in Iran, the trip is being seen as a front for other purposes, including expanding military cooperation. At the same time, Pyongyang is looking for ways to counter sanctions and to boost the hard currency for Kim Jong Un's regime.

"Both the North Koreans and Iranians feel a serious threat from the United States and the West and sort of see each other as very different countries but facing a somewhat similar situation," said Matthew Bunn, a nuclear proliferation expert and professor of practice at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.


North Korea's 'No. 2' official on a 10-day visit to Iran that may signal wider military ties

 

[Followers4christ]

(CNN)A day after an incendiary rebuke of North Korea, President Donald Trump touted US nuclear capabilities on Twitter, potentially escalating further the growing standoff with Pyongyang.

"My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before," Trump wrote just before 8 a.m. ET from his golf resort here. "Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!"

"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," Trump said from the clubhouse of his resort. "They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. He has been very threatening beyond a normal state and as I said they will be met with fire and fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before."

Trump touts US nuclear arsenal amid standoff with North Korea - CNNPolitics

(CNN)North Korea is "seriously examining a plan" to launch a missile strike targeting an area near the US territory of Guam in response to US President Donald Trump's warning to Pyongyang that any additional threats will be met with "fire and fury," according to a new statement from Gen. Kim Rak Gyom published by state-run media KCNA Thursday.

The North Korean Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is "seriously examining the plan for an enveloping strike at Guam through simultaneous fire of four Hwasong-12 intermediate-range strategic ballistic rockets in order to interdict the enemy forces on major military bases on Guam and to signal a crucial warning to the US," the statement said.

North Korea 'seriously examining' a strike directed near Guam - CNNPolitics

North Korea called Trump's threat of responding with "fire and fury" a "load of nonsense," adding that "only absolute force" can work on the president.

Comments from the general said the action against Guam would be "an effective remedy for restraining the frantic moves of the U.S. in the southern part of the Korean peninsula and its vicinity."

North Korea responds to US threats with Guam attack plan: 'Only absolute force' can work on Trump

(CNN)US Defense Secretary James Mattis issued a dramatic ultimatum to North Korea on Wednesday to "cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and destruction of its people" -- strong words that come just one day after President Donald Trump warned that the US could unleash "fire and fury" on Pyongyang.

"The DPRK must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons," Mattis said in a written statement, adding that the "regime's actions will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates."

Mattis to North Korea: Cease actions that would lead to end of regime - CNNPolitics

The State Department on Wednesday insisted President Trump and his Cabinet secretaries are in agreement about how to deal with North Korea a day after the president warned it could face “fire” and “fury” from the United States.

“The United States is on the same page,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said during Wednesday’s briefing with reporters. “Whether it’s the White House, the State Department, the Department of Defense, we are speaking with one voice. And the world is in fact speaking with one voice.”

Trump and his administration are ‘speaking with one voice’ on North Korea, State Department says

 

[Followers4christ]

(CNN)North Korea launched a barrage of missiles Saturday, less than one week after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised the country for showing 'restraint' in its weapons program.

Pyongyang fired three short-range ballistic missiles from the Kangwon province, the US Pacific Command said. The launches occurred in the midst of the US and South Korea's annual military exercises.

North Korea launches trio of missiles amidst US-South Korea military drills - CNN

North Korea has warned Australia it has committed a “suicidal act” by committing its troops to help the US in any conflict over Pyongyang’s nuclear program and by joining military exercises with US and South Korean forces.

The official KCNA news agency noted that the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, had recently vowed his country’s military would fight alongside the US if the latter was attacked by North Korea.

North Korea warns Australia that supporting Trump is a 'suicidal act'

North Korea has warned the UK that it faces “a miserable end” if it takes part in military exercises alongside troops from South Korea and the US.

North Korea: UK faces 'miserable end' if it joins US-led military drills

North Korea had more harsh words for the US on Wednesday, strongly condemning US-South Korean joint military exercises and criticizing President Donald Trump's "weird" and "ego-driven" social media posts just hours after Trump claimed the rogue nation's leader is "starting to respect us."

The KCNA article also said that South Korea's defense minister is a US puppet and "a running dog of the US" who is "pinning hope on that mad guy," referring to Trump.

Trump has also "spouted rubbish that if a war breaks out, it would be on the Korean peninsula, and if thousands of people die, they would be only Koreans and Americans may sleep a sound sleep," the KCNA publication said.

North Korea mocks Trump's Twitter, condemns US military drills - CNNPolitics

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday the firing of three ballistic missiles by North Korea this week was a provocative act but that the United States will continue to seek a peaceful resolution.

"We do view it as a provocative act against the United States and our allies," Tillerson said in an interview on Fox News Sunday. "We're going to continue our peaceful pressure campaign as I have described it, working with allies, working with China as well to see if we can bring the regime in Pyongyang to the negotiating table."

Tillerson says U.S. will keep up 'peaceful pressure' on North Korea

 

[Followers4christ]

(CNN)North Korea has launched a missile that flew over Japan, the Pentagon confirmed Monday.

"The missile launched by North Korea flew over Japan," Pentagon spokesman US Army Col. Rob Manning said. "We are still in the process of assessing this launch."

The launch occurred at 5:57am local time.

"We have to say that this morning's launch by the North is the most serious and grave threat ever to us, as the missile seems to have passed through our airspace," Suga told reporters at a news conference, according to Japan's NHK public broadcaster. "It could endanger peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also very dangerous and problematic in terms of the traffic safety of planes and ships. The launch is an obvious violation of UN resolutions. We cannot tolerate these repeated provocations by the North. We condemn this in the strongest possible way."

Pentagon: North Korea launched missile that flew over Japan - CNNPolitics

South Korea's air force effectively fired back at North Korea's missile launch over Japan by conducting a live-fire drill involving powerful bombs, officials said early Tuesday.

Four F-15 fighters dropped eight MK-84 bombs that accurately hit targets at a military field near South Korea's eastern coast, Seoul's presidential spokesman Park Su-hyun said. Each bomb has an explosive yield of a ton, according to the country's air force.

Park also said South Korean national security director Chung Eui-yong called President Donald Trump's national security adviser H.R. McMaster to discuss the North's launch.

South Korea tests bombs in response to North Korea missile launch

The top U.S. and South Korean military officers agreed to make a strong response to North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch on Tuesday, including possible unspecified military measures, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

The chairmen of both countries' Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed on a phone call "to take response measures at the earliest possible time that can demonstrate the alliance's strong will including military measures," Yonhap reported, quoting the South Korean military.

US, South Korean militaries pledge response, including possible military measures, to North Korea

 

[Followers4christ]

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test early Sunday in an extraordinary show of defiance against President Trump, who responded by declaring the country “hostile and dangerous to the United States” and criticizing an American ally, South Korea, for “talk of appeasement.”

The underground blast, which caused tremors that were felt in both South Korea and China, was the first by the North to clearly surpass the destructive power of the bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

North Korea Says It Tested a Hydrogen Bomb Meant for Missiles

(CNN)US Defense Secretary James Mattis vowed "a massive military response" to any threat from North Korea against the United States or its allies in a statement outside the White House after a meeting with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and top national security advisers Sunday.

Mattis warns of 'massive military response' to NK nuclear threat - CNNPolitics

After North Korea announced on Sunday that it successfully conducted a test of an extraordinarily powerful hydrogen bomb meant to be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), President Donald Trump said "we'll see" in regards to a possible attack on the country.

Trump says ‘we’ll see’ about attacking North Korea after announcement of h-bomb test

(CNNMoney)Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he's drafting new sanctions to put economic pressure on North Korea.

His words came after the isolated Asian nation carried out what is believed to be its most powerful nuclear test yet.

"I am going to draft a sanctions package to send to the president for his strong consideration that anybody that wants to do trade or business with them would be prevented from doing trade or business with us," Mnuchin said on Fox News Sunday. "People need to cut off North Korea economically. This is unacceptable behavior."

US official: 'People need to isolate North Korea'

The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting after North Koreaconducted its most powerful nuclear test to date, the Associated Press reports:

The U.S., Japan, France, Britain and South Korea requested Monday’s meeting after North Korea detonated what it called a hydrogen bomb.

North Korea threat to US will be met with 'massive military response', says defense secretary Mattis

 

[hedrick]

The situation is pretty simple, although not anything we'd like:

• NK's weapons are buried too deep for us to take them out other than taking and holding the country for an extended period.
• They can cause huge numbers of deaths in SK quickly, and we can't practically stop it.
• They seem to want the weapons primarily to prevent the US from intervening in their country. So far they don't seem to be trying nuclear blackmail for other goals.

As long as all 3 continue to be true, we won't intervene militarily. So for the moment the best thing is to avoid provocation.

Clearly the situation could change so we have to intervene, but there would be a huge number of deaths.

If we just cared about the US, we'd intervene now, before they have the ability reach the US mainland, but I doubt we'll do that.

 

[Targaryen]

The situation is pretty simple, although not anything we'd like:

• NK's weapons are buried too deep for us to take them out other than taking and holding the country for an extended period.
• They can cause huge numbers of deaths in SK quickly, and we can't practically stop it.
• They seem to want the weapons primarily to prevent the US from intervening in their country. So far they don't seem to be trying nuclear blackmail for other goals.

As long as all 3 continue to be true, we won't intervene militarily. So for the moment the best thing is to avoid provocation.

Clearly the situation could change so we have to intervene, but there would be a huge number of deaths.

Trump's already done a bit to provoke Kim Jong-Un as it is Hedrick though. So I can't see this escalation from NK being responded to any differently. China is too tied to NK to really play the diplomat/peacemaker role that well. so we're left with sanctions again, that haven't really worked. So now what?

 

[hedrick]

Trump's already done a bit to provoke Kim Jong-Un as it is Hedrick though. So I can't see this escalation from NK being responded to any differently. China is too tied to NK to really play the diplomat/peacemaker role that well. so we're left with sanctions again, that haven't really worked. So now what?

Depends upon what Intelligence thinks. If they think that my assessment is right, i.e. that NK isn't going to do something like demand the SK merge into them, then we huff and puff, but don't do anything. If they think NK will end up doing something that's worth a bunch of lives to stop, we intervene militarily now, because the longer we wait the worse it gets.

In the meantime we make lots of noise and do lots of sanctions, but those are just PR gimicks, because we know they'll have no effect.

My bet is the latter: we huff and puff but do nothing real, because there's nothing real to do that doesn't have unacceptable costs.

Of course there could be military or special forces alternatives that haven't appeared in the press. If so, now's the time to use them. But I doubt it.

The US has a history of intervening when we shouldn't, so I could be wrong in my predictions, but the costs are so high and obvious that I don't see us doing anything.

 

[Yonny Costopoulis]

"My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before," Trump wrote just before 8 a.m. ET from his golf resort here.

What an idiot statement. Trump has little over six months as president. In that six months we expected to believe Trump "renovated and modernized" USA Nuclear arsenal? This type idiot comment undermine anything the USA try to accomplish with NK. Nobody take a man like that serious.

 

[Targaryen]

What an idiot statement. Trump has little over six months as president. In that six months we expected to believe Trump "renovated and modernized" USA Nuclear arsenal? This type idiot comment undermine anything the USA try to accomplish with NK. Nobody take a man like that serious.

I'm more afraid a man like Trump even HAS the codes for nuclear launch. Never mind this fiction of him revamping US' stockpiles in eight months.

 

[Douger]

I have a feeling that Trump and a lot of the general staff would really like a war with N. Korea, and as for Nikki Haley, she never believes it's "the time for talk".
The US needs to back off and focus on prosecuting and locking up the crazy people who keep pushing the nation into self destructive wars.

 

[mark kennedy]

First of all thanks Followers4christ for the collection of articles. It's always nice to not have to google everything for hours tacking down events I've neglected to follow. That said:

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones". Albert Einstein​

They are saying the North Korean and Iranian nuclear are twinned. North Korea depends on outside sources for it's nuclear program, Iran doesn't, it has everything it needs. Kerry worked out a deal by which sanctions were lifted and a plane load of money was returned, now it looks like the Iranian nuclear program is back in business. For decades they fought a proxy war in Palestine, a freighter loaded with weapons and munitions were interdicted by Israel. Rather then denying it, Iran complained they wanted their ship back.

About those sanctions, people say it's just a token, meant to give people a warm fuzzy feeling. What they don't realize is that our sanctions against Japan was probably the provocation they considered sufficient to attack Pearl Harbor. The ultimate weapon of mass terror, the dream of terrorist cells and rouge states is nuclear weapons. Trump is not exactly famous for his diplomatic skills and his administration likes to play western stakes. Russia now aligned with Syria makes the situation inextricably linked to the Middle East.

My concern is simply this, the only scenario loses in it's war games only when they have what is called the cascade effect. Basically that's when people keep jumping into the conflict and help but effectively escalates the crisis. With a single nuclear strike the situation gets unwinnable, it will just be too unstable when nuclear powers start to feel threatened. If Iran even looks at Israel funny they will strike first, don't believe for a second they won't.

I'm not an alarmist believe me, I was raised during the Cold War and always thought the Soviet Union was really just a boggy man. This situation is different. What we could expect is not only a gross escalation in military spending that will dwarf the Iraq/Afghanistan war but the ensuing trade war with China would have a devastating effect of our economy.

The situation has got me worried, this could get real bad real quick.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[Targaryen]

I don't think we'd be talking about this Mark if we all weren't really worried.

 

[mark kennedy]

I don't think we'd be talking about this Mark if we all weren't really worried.

I might be, the subject matter is interesting, up until recently I was just giving it a passing glance here and there. I've been tracking the situation with the Trump administration, that now seems trite in comparison. That last H-Bomb test in North Korea triggered an earthquake. This sounds remarkably similar to nuclear war:

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. (Rev. 6:13-15)
​

I'm not making any predictions here but for the first time in a long time, I can see this happening.

 

[Followers4christ]

(CNN)South Korea's military conducted a live-fire exercise early Monday in response to North Korea's latest nuclear test.

The combined drill, carried out by the South Korean army and air force and intended to simulate a strike on North Korea's nuclear test site, involved surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and F-15K fighter jets hitting targets off the east coast of South Korea, according to a statement form the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

North Korea tests most powerful nuclear bomb yet - CNN

 

[Targaryen]

A Prayer for the Anglican Book of Alternative Services,Canada for Peace:

O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.