Today in the DPRK:
Recent commercial satellite imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station (Tongchang-ri) shows no changes to the launch pad or engine…
www.38north.org
New satellite imagery out shows that there is no more construction work being done at the Sohae Satellite Launch Facility. Construction is complete.
SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense ministry on Wednesday said that the...
en.yna.co.kr
RoK government confirms "physical restoration" of the launch site.
But don't worry says the ruling party of South Korea: "North Korea repaired the Punggye-ri site before an inspection team visited it to see its demolition (in May last year). We've guessed that the Dongchang-ri restoration this time had the same purpose," -Democrat controlled defense ministry.
The thing about the Punggye-ri site was that it was an active site that basically needed the grass cut before outsiders showed up. So North Korea putting so much effort into
Rebuilding a disassembled test site is unlikely as all hell.
Nathan J Hunt is an expert on DPRK missile testing, and has a modicum of common fucking sense.
Punggye-ri was ballistic missile testing site that they had no use for anymore. As any straight-up ballistic missile tests from here on out will be using TELs (Transporter Erector Launchers, i.e. mobile launchers). Sohae is a dual use facility, North Korea needs it to launch satellites, and give ballistic missile test a least a paper thin disguise.
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OwO, what is this? An RC-135U in the Western Pacific?
Mission The RC-135U Combat Sent provides strategic electronic reconnaissance information to the president, secretary of defense, Department of Defense leaders, and theater commanders. Locating and
www.af.mil
Mission: Aerial Electronic Surveillance
www.military.com
The RC-135U Combat Sent is the premier class electronic surveillance aircraft in the inventory of the United States. We only have two of these birds and they spend most of their time in their hangers.
I wonder what is happening to get one of these birds moving over there. Could it be an imminent missile launch?
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The three maritime forces have trained together in multilateral exercises such as Rim of the Pacific, but this is only the second time for this kind of trilateral exercise in the region.
www.stripes.com
The US, Japan, and Britain are going to be conducting a moderately large joint submarine hunting exercise.
make of that what you will.
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Sanctions work when... when we can enforce them. - the UN.
North Korea is covertly developing and testing nuclear arms and ballistic missiles at civilian facilities in a bid to prevent a military strike.
freebeacon.com
North Korea is flagrantly violating sanctions, and is "covertly" building missiles at "civilian" facilities.
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The U.N. Panel of Experts has released its latest report, and for the first time since it began publishing them in 2009, it is now investigating South Korea for violating the sanctions. One area the Panel is looking into is its imports of North Korean coal for ten months, in violation of UNSCR...
freekorea.us
"The U.N. Panel of Experts has released its latest
report, and for the first time since it began publishing them in 2009, it is now investigating
South Korea for violating the sanctions. One area the Panel is looking into is its imports of North Korean coal for ten months, in violation of UNSCR 2371, while its Coast Guard dragged out an “investigation” of those imports, allowed the smuggling ships to come and go freely without seizing them, and later charged a few small-time scapegoats. " - Joshua Stanton, A man "thrice cursed by North Korea."
Looks like South Korea is being investigated for sanctions violations. About fucking time. The article is worth the read.
Gee, I wonder what else the South Koreans have been lying about:
North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex remains active and the key 5-megawatt plutonium reactor has been in operation since December 2015, according to a report authored by a UN panel of experts published Tuesday. The analysis contradicts South Korea’
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
oh...
Looks like North Korea has been operating, that 5-Megawatt Plutonium Enrichment Reactor at Yongbyon, continuously since December 2015.
This directly contradicts South Korea's Intelligence Chief (political appointee) who said the facility had been shut down since last year.
See the intel chiefs statements from just a few posts ago.
The US endorses the UNs view on these matters.
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In happier news:
US intelligence agency denies involvement in robbery at North Korean embassy
www.theguardian.com
Spanish intelligence officials have implicated the CIA in the break-in at the North Korean Embassy in Madrid last month where diplomatic staff was bound and held hostage, reports claim.
www.foxnews.com
It was the CIA who broke into the North Korean Embassy in Madrid last month. We stole a lot of valuable stuff. Including computers and files.
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Looks like that is all for tonight folks.
