The Briefing Room
General Category => World News => Topic started by: TomSea on March 09, 2019, 10:34:16 am
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North Korea 'preparing rocket launch'
Satellite images of a facility near Pyongyang suggest that North Korea may be preparing to launch a missile or a satellite.
The increase in activity is around a site known as Sanumdong, where North Korea assembled most of its ballistic missiles and rockets.
It comes after reports earlier this week that North Korea's main rocket launch site at Sohae had been rebuilt.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47504723 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47504723)
I may well sticky this in a few hours as it represents a major point in the continuation of the crisis... we will see.
Washington Post:
Satellite images suggest North Korea planned space launch even before Hanoi
rs that new activity was detected at the center. (AP)
By Simon Denyer
March 9 at 1:40 AM
TOKYO - Satellite images suggest North Korea was preparing to launch a space rocket even before the breakdown of the Hanoi summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, experts say.
There is no way of knowing if Pyongyang will follow through with the plans, which would undoubtedly be seen very negatively in Washington and could derail an already shaky negotiation process. Meanwhile signs of a hardening of attitudes within the Trump administration has left several experts increasingly pessimistic.
The plans may reflect a feeling that talks had already hit an impasse even before the summit, as well as North Korea frustration with a lack of sanctions relief, expert say. North Korean leader Kim had already warned in a New Year’s Day speech that he might be forced to follow a “new path†if the United States demanded unilateral concessions and failed to lift sanctions.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/03/09/satellite-images-suggest-north-korea-planned-space-launch-even-before-hanoi/?utm_term=.3bb99d14d85b (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/03/09/satellite-images-suggest-north-korea-planned-space-launch-even-before-hanoi/?utm_term=.3bb99d14d85b)
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National security adviser John Bolton on Sunday said he won’t speculate on commercial satellite images that appear to show North Korea rebuilding a nuclear launch site but signaled that Kim Jong Un knows where President Trump stands on missile tests.
“I’d rather not get into the specifics on that,†Bolton said on ABC’s “This Week.†“The United States government – I’ll just put it this way – spends a lot of resources and efforts so we don’t have to rely on commercial satellite imagery. We’ve seen a lot in North Korea. We watch it constantly.â€
https://nypost.com/2019/03/10/bolton-says-he-wont-speculate-on-north-korean-nuclear-site/
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Trump saying he takes Jim Jong at his word may come back to bite him. That vs. Reagan’s Trust but verify.
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Compare that, to the electorate that elected Reagan and how much it changed since.
Trump merely was talking about the death of an American prisoner under Chairman Kim, not nuclear weapons. We haven't left the pedal off the floor with sanctions.
I wouldn't be equating the old Soviet Union with the rogue state of North Korea. And to be fair, maybe the USSR was more dangerous. They were certainly more powerful.
I do think now, would be an opportune time to at least mention human rights in North Korea. See what the chairman says to that.
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Compare that, to the electorate that elected Reagan and how much it changed since.
Trump merely was talking about the death of an American prisoner under Chairman Kim, not nuclear weapons. We haven't left the pedal off the floor with sanctions.
I wouldn't be equating the old Soviet Union with the rogue state of North Korea. And to be fair, maybe the USSR was more dangerous. They were certainly more powerful.
I do think now, would be an opportune time to at least mention human rights in North Korea. See what the chairman says to that.
The way to deal with the Norks is to pinch their benefactor's nuts. A great many Chinese are suddenly becoming aware of their economic vulnerability vs the west - time to squeeze harder.
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Kim Jong Un Seen Losing More Than Gaining If He Tests Missile
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is showing signs he might fire his first rocket in 15 months. Long-time observers suspect he is bluffing.
[snip]
A separate report showed increased activity just before the February summit at a rocket-production facility called Sanumdong in the Pyongyang area, where long-range missiles and space launch vehicles are constructed.
[snip]
“The technology for making sure you put the satellite into the right orbit is the same technology for making sure the missile is on the right course,†Lewis said, noting that previous North Korean launches used older technology. “There is also the possibility that they will take one of these new missiles, paint it white and put a space logo on it.â€
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-03-11/kim-jong-un-seen-having-more-to-lose-than-gain-with-missile-test (https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-03-11/kim-jong-un-seen-having-more-to-lose-than-gain-with-missile-test)
This is why providing satellite launching technology to the Chinese in the Clinton era Loral Space deal was such a problem.
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So much for "peace in our time" part 2.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-may-suspend-nuclear-talks-u-s-diplomat-warns-n983586 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-may-suspend-nuclear-talks-u-s-diplomat-warns-n983586)
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No wonder, Trump apparently wanted to hold back his words per that question on Warmbier. He's being honest.
Anyone griping, see what they find about North Koreans and the last 3 presidents.
At least, something somewhat constructive has been occurring and it may well turn out well still.
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North Korea may suspend talks with 'gangster-like' U.S., rethink nuclear test freeze
March 14, 2019 / 10:25 PM / Updated 40 minutes ago
Joyce Lee, David Brunnstrom
SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea is considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests unless Washington makes concessions, a senior diplomat said on Friday, according to news reports from the North’s capital.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States wished to continue talks with North Korea and had “every expectation†that its leader, Kim Jong Un, would stick to pledges not to resume nuclear and missile testing.
Pompeo gave no sign of U.S. willingness to soften its stance in demanding that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui blamed top U.S. officials for the breakdown of last month’s summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Russia’s TASS news agency and the Associated Press reported.
<..snip..>
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-korea-may-suspend-talks-with-gangster-like-u-s-rethink-nuclear-test-freeze-idUSKCN1QW0C9 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-korea-may-suspend-talks-with-gangster-like-u-s-rethink-nuclear-test-freeze-idUSKCN1QW0C9)
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My favorite part of the @corbe posted article.
However, she added: “Personal relations between the two supreme leaders are still good and the chemistry is mysteriously wonderful.â€
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Making "non-sticky" unless anything else happens. Any feedback welcomed.
The story is two weeks old so it could be misleading.... to have it up on top.
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North Korea may suspend talks with 'gangster-like' U.S., rethink nuclear test freeze
March 14, 2019 / 10:25 PM / Updated 40 minutes ago
Joyce Lee, David Brunnstrom
SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea is considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests unless Washington makes concessions, a senior diplomat said on Friday, according to news reports from the North’s capital.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States wished to continue talks with North Korea and had “every expectation†that its leader, Kim Jong Un, would stick to pledges not to resume nuclear and missile testing.
Pompeo gave no sign of U.S. willingness to soften its stance in demanding that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui blamed top U.S. officials for the breakdown of last month’s summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Russia’s TASS news agency and the Associated Press reported.
<..snip..>
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-korea-may-suspend-talks-with-gangster-like-u-s-rethink-nuclear-test-freeze-idUSKCN1QW0C9 (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-korea-may-suspend-talks-with-gangster-like-u-s-rethink-nuclear-test-freeze-idUSKCN1QW0C9)
Of course they're gonna break off the talks. Un got what he wanted. We've stopped any and all large scale war games on the peninsula.
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Of course they're gonna break off the talks. Un got what he wanted. We've stopped any and all large scale war games on the peninsula.
Plus, the president rolled back the additional sanctions implemented last week, because he ‘likes Kim.’
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Plus, the president rolled back the additional sanctions implemented last week, because he ‘likes Kim.’
And this is exactly why we were telling people earlier this year to not start the celebrations just yet.
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Looks like Dan Crenshaw called it, March 1st:
Dan Crenshaw
â€Verified account @DanCrenshawTX
Trump’s critics are desperately trying to frame the North Korea summit as a Trump failure. This is reactionary, disingenuous, and predictable.
Denuclearization will take time, more talks, and incremental steps. I’m grateful that we have a leader willing to do that.
https://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1101453692350484481
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Looks like Dan Crenshaw called it, March 1st:
"Called it" 24 days ago without knowing what we know now. No new wargames...and the President personally rolling back sanctions.
I like Crenshaw...but he didn't "call it"...he wiffed.
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"Called it" 24 days ago without knowing what we know now. No new wargames...and the President personally rolling back sanctions.
I like Crenshaw...but he didn't "call it"...he wiffed.
Crenshaw is also taking a beating from the MAGA crowd, because he told Trump to lay off McCain.
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Crenshaw is also taking a beating from the MAGA crowd, because he told Trump to lay off McCain.
Attacking McCain 3 years ago was a losing strategy for Trump...it isn't any better three years later now that McCain has assumed room temp.
Crenshaw was right to say stop.