N. Korea expected to test-fire at least 5 more Musudan missiles: report

2016/10/21 11:35

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is expected to make at least five additional attempts to test-fire its intermediate-range Musudan missiles down the road, a media report said Friday.

Citing Markus Schiller, an aerospace engineer at Munich-based ST Analytics, U.S.-based media Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported the North's launch the previous day of a Musudan missile following last week's failed launch appears to be an attempt to upgrade its engine.

Schiller, quoted by RFA, said the North was fortunate enough to have made a successful launch of a ballistic missile to date in a process of test-firing many missiles that it produced at a time. "But North Korea will likely face many failed launches and make at least five to 10 additional attempts to test-fire ballistic missiles," he said.

The Musudan, which can be launched from a mobile launcher, is estimated to have a range of over 3,000 kilometers, or 1,800 miles, and is theoretically capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam.

The latest launch is the eighth Musudan missile fired off this year by the reclusive country. Of the eight, a missile launched on June 22 flew 400 km and reached an altitude of over 1,400 km. Others blew up immediately after being launched, which may indicate that Pyongyang has not fully mastered related missile technology.

According to Schiller, the North is likely to go through a process similar to the Soviet Union in the past in which it produced 10, 20 or 30 units simultaneously, attempted a raft of missile launches and upgraded them before deploying them.

namsh@yna.co.kr 

U.S. deploys armored brigade to South Korea

U.S. deploys armored brigade to South Korea

Rotational deployment of 3500 troops comes amid growing tensions over nuke tests, THAAD

Leo Byrne 

October 21st, 2016

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The U.S. Army will deploy an armored brigade division to South Korea in the coming months as part of a nine-month rotation, according to a recent press release.

The deployment of 3,500 soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will replace a brigade from the 1st Cavalry Division currently on the peninsula.

The move comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, with the DPRK pushing a seemingly fast-tracked weapons testing schedule and South Korea agreeing to deploy an advanced U.S.-made THAAD missile system.

“The U.S. armored brigade includes powerful tanks and helicopters, and its fighting power is considered to be equivalent to – or possibly more – than the ROK armored division,” Kim Min-seok, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum told NK News.

Taskandpurpose.com reports that many of the 1st Armored Brigade’s soldiers have already arrived in South Korea. They will mostly be deployed at Camp Casey, a short distance from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

“Most of the maneuver units, i.e. tanks and infantry, are already located (at Camp Casey),” NK NewsIntelligence Director John Grisafi said.

The troops will join existing mechanized forces in South Korea and take part in military exercises alongside South Korean troops.

“The ROK and the U.S. already have a couple of mechanized divisions in Korea. The armored division will only be meaningful during the times of full-scale war, and has almost no relations to the North’s nuclear weapons, which is currently the biggest security concern,” Kim added.

The deployment follows two North Korean tests of intermediate long range missiles. U.S. Strategic Command detected two failed launches of the midrange Musudan system over the last week.

The Tuesday test was North Korea’s eighth test of the Musudan, though only one has been considered a success.

The first launch was condemned quickly by the UN Security Council, who described it as a “grave violation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s international obligations under UNSC resolutions.”

Featured Image: Challenger 2 Tank Live Firing During Exercise by Defence Images on 2013-05-16 18:58:08

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Leo Byrne

Leo Byrne is the Data and Analytic Director at NK News and is based in Seoul, South Korea. Follow him on twitter @LeoPByrne

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Russian Embassy in N.Korea officials visits flood-struck regions

Russian Embassy in N.Korea officials visits flood-struck regions

Embassy says trip is aimed at "defining" what aid will be sent from Moscow

JH Ahn 

October 21st, 2016

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Top officials from the Russian Embassy in North Korea, including the Ambassador, have visited the country’s flood-stricken regions in the north, the embassy reported on its official website.

The trip to Musan County and Hoeryong City lasted from October 18 to 21, the embassy said, and was intended to lay out the future aid that is to arrive from Moscow.

“As a result (of the flood), 15,722 households are partially or completely damaged, approximately 40,000 citizens are left homeless, and 450 people are dead or missing,” the embassy said on Friday. “We sincerely wish our Korean friends a speedy recovery from the devastating aftermath of the 2016 flooding.”

The Ambassador and Consul General of Russia were greeted by the vice-chairman of the People’s Committee in Musan, it said, adding that dozens of North Korean public buildings, including schools and kindergartens, were destroyed and some 30,000 hectares of crops had been lost.

“We overlooked intermountain areas and river valleys disfigured by water currents and covered up with stones and ooze,” it said. “We peeped into impoverished barracks and dugouts and met its dwellers. Though they have lost everything and have barely managed to stay alive, they appear optimistic.”

Scenes inside the temporary flood shelters in North Korea. | Image: Russian Embassy to the DPRK

The embassy uploaded over 20 photos taken in the flood-struck regions, some showing temporary shelters made with a layer of plastic on the outside and held up by wooden pillars and frames from the inside.

Compared to the housing, most of the items inside look brand new, including giant pots to steam rice or to boil soup, plastic buckets, stainless pots and rechargeable batteries, all provided by the North Korean government, the embassy said.

“200,000 volunteers, hundreds of vehicles, a whole amount of cement and steel produced by DPRK plants, sets of clothes, utensils and food packed by each and every Korean family across the country – everything is tailored to the needs of North Hamgyong,” it said.

Construction site of new housing for the flood victims. | Image: Russian Embassy to the DPRK

The embassy briefly mentioned the foreign help being provided, too, saying it is “impossible to ignore international aid.”

“A number of UN organizations render substantial assistance. Certain countries have expressed their willingness to offer help as well.”

The embassy also forecasted the aid that will be arriving in the region from Moscow.

“Our trip was also aimed at defining the list of Russian humanitarian aid items and the ways to deliver them,” it said.

Edited by: Oliver Hotham

Featured Image: Russian Embassy in North Korea

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JH Ahn

JH Ahn is an NK News correspondent based in Seoul. He previously worked as an interpreter for United States Forces Korea.

Hillary Clinton, America's first email President

17 US government and private security agencies assert that Russia is behind the hacking of the US election. 35 US government and private security agencies swore under oath that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

Congratulations to Julian Assange, that Australian boy from Townsville, for bringing some objective truth to the sordid world. No, he is not Russian.

There was a time when the United States of America was a decent country and a decent society, and I remember that time, 1958, but that was a long, long time ago. People change. It is best to frame a nation and a people in terms of what they are currently doing. With the uSA, they are bombing 6 nations without declaring war because delaying war would mean they have some responsibility for their actions. Their actions are horrid.