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N.
Korea may get terrorism designation, White House briefs Senate
RT,
27
Apri, 2017
US
President Donald Trump's strategy on North Korea aims to pressure
Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programs by
tightening sanctions, and Washington is open to negotiations, the
Trump administration said Wednesday.
The
US stance, which appeared to signal a willingness to exhaust
non-military options, was put forward in a statement following an
unusual White House-hosted briefing for the entire Senate.
"The
United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearization of
the Korean peninsula. We remain open to negotiations towards that
goal," a
joint statement from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense
Secretary Jim Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats
said.
The
joint statement described North Korea as "an
urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority."
Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joe Dunford also attended the
meeting, the statement says.
The
statement also stresses a US alliance with Japan and South Korea in
its strategy for North Korea.
Among
the options was placing North Korea on a list of state sponsors of
terrorism, according to reports.
Although
the statement emphasized diplomacy, Democratic Senator Christopher
Coons told reporters after the White House briefing that military
options were discussed.
"It
was a sobering briefing in which it was clear just how much thought
and planning was going into preparing military options, if called
for, and a diplomatic strategy that strikes me as clear-eyed and well
proportioned," Coons
said.
The
classified meeting lasted around 14 minutes, according to reports.
A
White House official said putting North Korea on a list of state
sponsors of terrorism was "one
of the things" being
considered, Bloomberg News reported.
Commenting
on the recent North Korean military parade, a White House official
said at the briefing, "Even
the tires are not made in North Korea," according
to Bloomberg.
"We
were not presented with any specific military options and I wouldn't
talk about them if we were," Sen.
Coons told White House reporters, according to Bloomberg.
Senator
Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) told CNN the meeting covered many
topics already reported in the media.
Senator
Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) told CNN there was "no
revelation" in
the briefing, and that it was more of a"chance
to convey they're serious."
Earlier
Wednesday, US Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harristold the
House Armed Services Committee that the Terminal High Altitude Area
Defense, or THAAD, missile defense system to defend South Korea from
a North Korean threat would be"operational
in the coming days."
THAAD
is believed to be capable of intercepting intermediate-range
ballistic missiles. Its placement on a South Korean golf course
Tuesday led to clashes between locals and police, a reflection of the
issue's divisiveness in South Korea. China has adamantly opposed the
use of THAAD, regarding it as a threat to its own defense.
On
Monday, Trump castigated the
UN Security Council during a meeting with UNSC ambassadors at the
White House. He called on the international body to “impose
additional and stronger sanctions” on
North Korea.
Chinese
President Xi Jinping told Trump during
a call on Monday that
resolving the nuclear issue in North Korea can only be done quickly
if all relevant countries act together. Tensions had risen between
the US and North Korea, as the latter warned of "catastrophic
consquences" over
the deployment of the USS Carl Vinson, the US Navy's aircraft
supercarrier, to the Korean Peninsula.
Senators Told North Korea "Urgent National Security Threat", US Military Prepared To Act
US,
S. Korea stage powerful military drills amid rising tensions with
Pyongyang
RT,
26
April, 2017
The
US and South Korean militaries have taken part in a combined firing
drill as part of joint exercises amid increased tensions with
Pyongyang. It comes just one day after the North launched its own
artillery drill.
More
than 2,000 South Korean and American troops were involved in the
Wednesday drills in Pocheon, South Korea, according to Yonhap news
agency.
The
war games took place at Seungjin Fire Training Field, some 30km south
of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas.
The
exercises, which lasted 45 minutes, included some 100 artillery
pieces, 90 armored vehicles and 50 aircraft, according to South
Korea's Ministry of Defense.
Footage
from the scene shows trails of color streaked across the sky as
fighter jets showcase their force, as well as firing tanks, huge
clouds of smoke, and soldiers dropping out of helicopters.
The
exercises also included two AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters
from the South Korean Army, which fired aerial rockets and
ammunitions from chain guns at mock targets, according to Yonhap.
Four
M1A2 Bradley fighting vehicles from the US military also fired
artillery rounds while speeding down mountain road.
Around
90 battle tanks and armored vehicles were involved, according to
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense.
The
drills were followed by firing the US M270 Multiple Launch Rocket
System (MLRS).
The
Wednesday event was one of the largest integrated live-fire drills
between the two allies in recent years.
It
came just one day after North Korea staged its own military drill in
Wonsan, to mark the founding of the country's army. The exercise
consisted of between 300 and 400 long-range artillery pieces,
Yonhap reported,
citing a government source.
A
military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of
the Korean People's Army (KPA) April 26, 2017. KCNA/
North
Korea called the drills the largest ever to be hosted by the country,
while state media reported that leader Kim Jong-un personally
observed the exercises.
The
drills reportedly included submarine torpedo-attacks on mock enemy
warships.
“There
is no limit to the strike power of the People's Army armed with our
style of cutting-edge military equipment, including various precision
and miniaturized nuclear weapons and submarine-launched ballistic
missiles,” the
official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a front-page editorial.
A
military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of
the Korean People's Army (KPA) April 26, 2017. KCNA / Reuters
Meanwhile,
tensions continue to escalate between Pyongyang and Washington, with
US President Donald Trump continuing to take a hardline stance
against North Korea and sending an aircraft carrier strike group to
the Korean Peninsula.
North
Korean state media has responded to Washington's moves
by stating that
Pyongyang is ready to sink the carrier, claiming its deployment was
a “foolish
military provocative act.”
Meanwhile,
the Chinese government has called on all sides to show restraint and
maintain stability and security in the region.
"The
most urgent task at the moment is the resumption of negotiations and
all sides in the conflict must take part in this,"Reuters
reported Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as saying from Berlin.
"Security
and stability is quite fragile and there is a great danger that a new
conflict, or incidents could happen at any time. Therefore we call
all sides to be restrained and to avoid actions or words that could
lead to new provocations.”
In Warning To North Korea, US Releases Video Of Overnight Minuteman III ICBM Launch
26
April, 2017
As
reported on Tuesday evening, overnight the US Air Force conducted a
test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vanderberg Air
Force base near Lompoc in California, in what was a clear signal of
nuclear deterrence aimed squarely at North Korea.
Col
John Moss, 30th Space Wing commander, who oversaw the launch of the
long range missile, said that "Team V is once again ready to
work with Air Force Global Strike Command to successfully launch
another Minuteman III missile.
These Minuteman launches are essential to verify the status of our national nuclear force and to demonstrate our national nuclear capabilities. We are proud of our long history in partnering with the men and women of the 576th Flight Test Squadron to execute these missions for the nation."
These Minuteman launches are essential to verify the status of our national nuclear force and to demonstrate our national nuclear capabilities. We are proud of our long history in partnering with the men and women of the 576th Flight Test Squadron to execute these missions for the nation."
As Vanderberg confirmed overnight, the missile launch was conducted as planned, and was successful, with the ICBM travelling approximately four thousand two hundred miles to a test range near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
his
is the statement
Vanderberg released shortly
after the launch:
On April 26 airmen from F.E. Warren, Offutt And Vandenberg Air Force Bases conducted an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman Three missile. Today’s test launch used an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile pulled randomly from a silo on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, which was then transported and reassembled at Vandenberg, and launched by crew members of the 625Th strategic operations squadron aboard the U.S. Strategic Command Airborne Command Post Navy E6B Aircraft.
The ICBM was equipped with a test reentry vehicle, and traveled approximately four thousand two hundred miles to a test range near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
These ICBM test launches verify the accuracy and reliability of the weapon system, providing valuable data to ensure a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent.
It also
released the following video of
the ICBM launch, which we are confident will be closely watched by
everyone in the Kim Jong-Un administration.
Was Trump briefing to Senate on N. Korea a cynical power play?
US presidents are supposed to notify Congress when intending to use force against a foreign country. Is that why President Trump’s White House briefed the entire US Senate on Wednesday? Retired Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson worries it is and joins ‘News With Ed’ to discuss
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