Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Saturday, 10 January 2015
N. Korea pushing for missile-launching submarines
N. Korea pushing for missile-launching submarines: analysis
Capability would present serious problems for regional opponents, but successful development far from assured
Satellite imagery appears to indicate that North Korea is working at equipping submarines with missile-launching capabilities, analysis published Thursday said.
In an analysis published at 38 North, Joseph Bermudez wrote that the conning tower of a submarine first seen in July may contain vertical launch tubes for ballistic or cruise missiles. Also, the satellite imagery reveals the North to have invested a considerable amount in upgrading its Sinpo South Shipyard, indicating a major naval development program, possibly relating to submarines.
If they succeeded in equipping their submarines with missile-launching capabilities, this would significantly increase the threat to the interests of the U.S. and its regional allies, he wrote.
“Submarines carrying land-attack missiles would be challenging to locate and track, would be mobile assets able to attack from any direction, and could operate at significant distances from the Korean (P)eninsula,” Bermudez wrote.
Bermudez did include in his analysis, however, that the North did not yet have this capability, that development would be time-consuming and expensive and that there is no guarantee it will succeed even if such capability is its priority.
Still, Van Jackson of the Center for a New American Security said that sea-launched ballistic missile capability is a central objective for the North Korean Navy, even if it is not for Kim Jong Un personally.
“At a minimum, Kim Jong Un is permitting the research and development necessary for his Navy to eventually establish a sea-based leg of a nuclear triad capability, and the North Korean Navy seems to be allocating funding and manpower for it as a priority,” Jackson said. “Whether North Korea can reach an initial operating capability milestone in five years or 20 years will depend on how much and how quickly they invest in (submarine launched ballistic missile) technology and testing.”
North Korea’s objective is retaliatory nuclear strike capability, which Jackson said would “box in” South Korea and the United States, forcing them to pursue reconciliation with the nuclear-armed Pyongyang regime or “be prepared for North Korea to engage in coercive violence at will.”
“As best I can tell, everybody recognizes North Korea is on this path yet I know of no plan or strategy to disrupt them. At the same time, I have my doubts that either the U.S. or South Korea would be willing to reconcile politically with North Korea as a nuclear state,” he said.
However, one South Korea-based expert cast doubts on Bermudez’s analysis.
“There are aspects of 38 North’s coverage of the Sinpo-class submarine’s missile capabilities that stretch the truth,” said Kim Min-seok, research fellow at the Korea Defense & Security Forum.
For one, Kim said that this submarine’s size and hull length made the type of missile launch described in the 38 North analysis “almost impossible.”
Also, Kim emphasized the difficulty and expense of developing the technology for the vertical launch of missiles from submarines. For example, South Korea has already been working for 10 years on a vertical launch system to be deployed by 2023, he said.
“Although North Korea is likely researching a submarine missile launching system in Sinpo, contrary to 38 North’s claim, Sinpo-class submarine is not likely to operate this system,” he said.
Picture: KCNA
N. Korea makes more military leadership changes
N. Korea makes more military leadership changes
Two officers assume new senior leadership roles, new air force commander elevated in rank
North Korea made some recent changes in senior military positions, a Korean Central News Agency report revealed Wednesday. Among the numerous military officers who were present with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a recoilless gun drill, two were new holders of their posts and another was promoted
Saturday, 3 January 2015
world politics in general, noting the rise of Kim Yo Jong
Nothing much is happening.
The Middle East is the mess it always has been since the US and its surrogate Israel continue to seek to redefine the region in their image.... which never works, never has worked, never can work.
Meanwhile, in the real world, in the Powerhouse of North Asia, Kim Yo Jong, the little sister of Kim Jong Un, is positioning herself very securely to take over from her brother Kim Jong Un as the need arises. He is unwell and plans must be made.
To us North Korea, the DPRK, seems kind of mad, for sure; but it isn't mad. It's an evil regime, for sure, but it's not crazy, and it does make wise pragmatic decisions... and young Kim Yo Jong, at 27, is safely positioned to take the reins as necessary. If one can survive that system to run it, that person does have remarkable human political, and human survival skills.
on cars and motorbikes
On cars:
The Volvo C30S SSRI Coupe of 2009
I bought this over a year ago, trading in the 2009 Mazda B50 2WD Ute - which was a fantastic vehicle in excellent condition. I bought the Mazda Ute almost new as an experiment to see how it went over 2 years when used not as a ute at all but as a two seater car, basically. It is the only car I've ever had that basically appreciated in value in the 2 years I had it. Why? Because I had used it simply as a car. Very strong, lots of added on things like side steps and dark glass and bullbar and great spotlights etc.
It was great except I found it very difficult to park because of the one tonne tray sticking out beyond the cabin-line and there were quite a number of occasions when I reversed it into steel poles...doing no damage at all to the ute, mind you. Finally, after I reversed it into the side door of a new Mitsubishi Pajero at low speed and basically tore off the door of the Pajero, still with no damage to the Ute, I began thinking about trading the Ute in. Just poor vision reversing, and me with a sore neck.
It was comfortable. The bumpiness of the rear leaf-springs were well balanced simply by having a 20 kg bag of sand in the centre back of the tray. Thus: car-like suspension. Good diesel engine. Cheap to run, and problem free.
Anyway, the Volvo is a good coupe. Low and fast and safe. The only car I've owned where you don't have to slow down when going around corners or changing directions radically...It just does what you want. No complaints, no back-end drifting etc. The other day was a good example, I did an illegal U-turn at some lights and failed to see a fast approaching very large Toyota Sahara 4WD so I was in a bit of a pickle...so...planted foot to the floor on the accelerator...and the Volvo just ignored all its inbuilt safety-gear tuned to the particular driver's habits, and it just threw itself forward out of the way in a great pool of seething rubber and smoke. Brilliant. Fortunate.
I bought it second hand 3 year old at about the same price as a new basic Toyota Corolla (the famous and indestructible Bangkok Taxi) so, its value depreciation was about 20% per year, and continues to devalue each year faster than a Corolla would, although this is only a concern if one wants to sell it. I like it and it reminds me of Simon Templar's Volvo in The Saint, and so its resale value means nothing as I wish to keep it. Volvo engines are great - especially the C30S 5 cylinder donk...massive power in a very heavy body...and will do an easy 600,000km without effort or much that needs fixing. Fuel costs are twice that of a Corolla.
If I had to make a dispassionate objective analysis and asked myself Is the Volvo, when new, worth the money...maybe $50,000...then NO, not at all. A Daihatsu Terios or Sirion, a Hyundai Getz, or even the Toyota Corolla is a much smarter way to get around and you could buy 4 Hyundai Getz for the price of the Volvo. The Getz will last as long and maybe even be a bit more reliable...but I just like the glass boot, the 'shooting brake' configuration of the Volvo that hearkens back to the 1969 PT model of Roger Moore/ that's all. I like it. And Volvo does have the most comfortable car seats in the world.
Cars I would like to have in the future, whilst keeping the Volvo: a fifteen year old Mercedes S500 Long Wheel Base. You can pick them up for around $15,000 now, with 130,000km on the clock, which is a drop from $150,000 when new...and they are great loungerooms to drive around in. They came in V6, V8 and V12...and I would kinda like the V12. I'd also like a low km 2012 Hyundai Getz 2 door 1.4l car and do it up a treat as they are very brilliant machines. Zonking down from Rockhampton to Brisbane in the Getz, or from Rockhampton to Cairns were comfortable, fast and excellently affordable experiences.
So, favourite owned cars, in order of excellence, for me, would be:
1: Hyundai Getz
2: Volvo C30S SSRI Coupe + Holden Kingswood Station Wagon in green
3: Daihatsu Terios + 3: Mazda B50 2WD Ute
Motorbikes:
Favoured:
BMW R1100R Randy Mammola Replica 2002 in police colours of Blue and White
Moto Guzzi Tenni Le Mans 2000 in green, brown, white and red (quite an Italian pastiche)
Ducati ST4S in yellow, with design elements from Benetton and Marchesini fine mechanicals
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)