Three things we should know about N. Korea's missile tests

[bob10]

Three things to know about North Korea's missile tests | North Korea | Al Jazeera (http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/07/north-korea-missile-tests-170706081545433.html?utm_source=Al+Jazeera+English +Newsletter+%7C+Weekly&utm_campaign=a30243049c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_07_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e427298a68-a30243049c-225425297)

[bob10]

A bluff?

US orders all American passport holders out of North Korea by September 1 (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/us-orders-all-american-passport-holders-out-of-north-korea-by-september-1/ar-AApkSw4?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

September 1 is going to be an interesting day.

US to respond by Sept. 1 to Russia's expulsion of diplomats (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/us-to-respond-by-sept-1-to-russias-expulsion-of-diplomats/ar-AApAG50?li=AA4RE4&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Somebody hide those nuclear codes, please.

Trump threatens North Korea amid reports of nuclear breakthrough (http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/08/09/donald-trump-threatens-north-korea-fire-fury/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170809_TND)

[bob10]

It can only end when one of the nut cases presses the button. China must step in.

Australia within reach of North Korea's nukes, Julie Bishop warns (http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/08/09/north-korea-threatens-missile-strike-guam/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170809_News_Alert)

[bob10]

More & more like a school yard fight, between two bullies. To me, it sounds like the US thinks N K doesn't have a nuclear capability, and are calling their bluff. A very high stakes game of poker.

Trump rejects diplomacy with North Korea amid nuclear boasts (http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/08/10/donald-trump-north-korea-nuclear-boasts/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170810_TND)

[bob10]

North Korea has goals other than nukes (https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/north-korea)

[bob10]

heard of the open skies policy?

Russian surveillance plane soars over the Pentagon, Capitol and other Washington sights (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/russian-surveillance-plane-soars-over-the-pentagon-capitol-and-other-washington-sights/ar-AApNCgo?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Another twist.

Canada Confirms Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim Freed From North Korea - NBC News (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/canada-confirms-pastor-hyeon-soo-lim-freed-north-korea-n791076?cid=eml_nbn_20170810)

[bob10]

Meet Kim Jong-un, Moody Young Man With Nuclear Arms (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/meet-kim-jong-un-moody-young-man-with-nuclear-arms/ar-AApQGFx?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[DiscoMick]

Trump is giving Kim what he wants: attention.
Time to send him to the Naughty Corner and take away his toys.
If China closed its borders the North Korean regime would collapse.

[bob10]

Trump is giving Kim what he wants: attention.
Time to send him to the Naughty Corner and take away his toys.
If China closed its borders the North Korean regime would collapse.

I think Trump is looking for his J.F.K. moment, a la Cuba. Could be the only thing to save his presidency. The other clown is doing the same to save his political skin, the real drama is, if the Korean lunatic loses face , he may consider giving a nuke to Al Quaedi,. Then we have a problem .

[bob10]

Why a war with North Korea is unlikely | North Korea | Al Jazeera (http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/08/war-north-korea-170811130544750.html?utm_source=Al+Jazeera+English +Newsletter+%7C+Weekly&utm_campaign=6df9c6309d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_08_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e427298a68-6df9c6309d-225425297)

[bob10]

Just when North Korea blinks, what does Trump do? Announce an investigation into Chinese activities in the business dealings with the US. The only Nation that is likely to bring N.K. into line, and he upsets them. [ see NBC video]

U.S. Worried North Korea Will Unleash Cyberattacks - NBC News (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/u-s-worried-north-korea-will-unleash-cyberattacks-n790831?cid=eml_nbn_20170815)

[DiscoMick]

Kim has got Trump where he wants - sweating on if Kim will actually attack Guam. Kim wants to be the centre of attention to maintain power. The thing he fears most is being ignored.
I notice under the latest sanctions China is to stop oil and coal imports from NK - that will hurt.

[bob10]

The last time the World came close to nuclear confrontation was 1962, the Cuban missile crisis. Then, JF Kennedy and Nikita Krushchev were experienced politicians, with trusted advisers, to whom they listened. Then, professional politicians, and reason, prevailed.Now, we have two immature children, born into privilege, each behaving like a petulant child, who will risk self destruction to make sure he is proven right. Each mans sanity has been questioned. If Kims advisors don't toe the line, they get shot. Trump will fire any one on his staff that goes against him. So, it is safe to assume that neither man will take advice, no matter how how good. They are both like kids in a schoolyard fight, except this one could be the death of thousands, if not millions. The best we can hope for is if the Vice President, with the support of Cabinet, invokes the 25th amendment, to advise Congress that Trump is unfit for office, and takes over. The best with Kim is that the Generals realise what a liability he is, and get rid of him. Permanently.

[bob10]

And what of South Korea? Trump could push them out of the alliance. " from strategic patience, to strategic confusion ".

South Korea’s Leader Bluntly Warns U.S. Against Striking North (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/south-korea%E2%80%99s-leader-bluntly-warns-us-against-striking-north/ar-AAq9zsa?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

North Korea's dangerously rudimentary nuclear command-and-control systems (https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/north-korea-dangeously-rudimentary-nuclear-command-and-control-systems)

[bob10]

Hard to believe, but....

Meet Charles Robert Jenkins, an American detained by North Korea for 40 years (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/meet-charles-robert-jenkins-an-american-detained-by-north-korea-for-40-years/ar-AAqdqd9?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

delusional.

North Korea warns Australia over joint military exercises with the US and South Korea (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/north-korea-warns-australia-over-joint-military-exercises-with-the-us-and-south-korea/ar-AAqrZTD?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

What price a coup in North Korea?

'Too many soldiers to feed': North Koreans fear more sanctions as drought threatens famine (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/too-many-soldiers-to-feed-north-koreans-fear-more-sanctions-as-drought-threatens-famine/ar-AAqzdx0?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

So, just where did N.K. get the engines, and nuclear war heads.?

Comment: Putin’s ‘Dangerous’ Game With North Korea (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/comment-putin%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98dangerous%E2%80%99-game-with-north-korea/ar-AAqxS8X?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Just where does Syria fit in this? Besides being an ally of Russia.

North Korea shipments to Syria chemical arms agency intercepted: U.N. report (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/north-korea-shipments-to-syria-chemical-arms-agency-intercepted-un-report/ar-AAqwo7g?li=AA5249&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Ukrainian "Sting " on N.Korean spies.

Ukraine tricked North Korean spies into trying to steal fake nuke plans on camera (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/ukraine-tricked-north-korean-spies-into-trying-to-steal-fake-nuke-plans-on-camera/ar-AAqFgFV?li=AAabC8j&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

China demands U.S. immediately withdraw N. Korea sanctions, warns will hit ties (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/china-demands-us-immediately-withdraw-n-korea-sanctions-warns-will-hit-ties/ar-AAqBwf0?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

North Korea fires missile over Japan, sharply escalating tensions (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/japan-to-respond-to-north-korea-missile-threat-suga/ar-AAqRRvg?ocid=spartandhp)

[DiscoMick]

The Japanese were very restrained not trying to shoot it down. Maybe next time.

[bob10]

The Japanese were very restrained not trying to shoot it down. Maybe next time.

Don't know which is more frightening, the fact that they are prepared to take great risks on where it may land, or that they actually know exactly what they are doing. Check out the shipping in the area. Also it was reported the missile reached a height of 225 miles, doubt the Japs have anything that would reach that height.

MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic (http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:149.9/centery:50.6/zoom:4)

[DiscoMick]

Don't they have the American anti-missile batteries? I thought I saw one on TV last night.

[bob10]

Don't they have the American anti-missile batteries? I thought I saw one on TV last night.


Not sure of their range. I think they get them on the way down, at the end of the missile's flight. [not good against multiple warheads. ] Either way, the US would have control of them, not the Japanese.

[bob10]

North Korean missile test was practice run for a Guam strike (http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/08/30/north-korea-missile-practice-guam-strike/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170830_News_Alert)

[bob10]

Doesn't bear thinking about. Pine Gap would have to be a target.

What would nuclear war with North Korea look like? (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/what-would-nuclear-war-with-north-korea-look-like/ar-AAqXBzK?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

It's all mind games at the moment.

The US just gave North Korea a new threat to worry about -- F-35 stealth jets (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/the-us-just-gave-north-korea-a-new-threat-to-worry-about-f-35-stealth-jets/ar-AAr5G1y?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

You can only **** China off a limited amount of times.

China 'strongly condemns' N. Korean nuclear test: foreign ministry (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/china-strongly-condemns-n-korean-nuclear-test-foreign-ministry/ar-AAraRJU?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

This is no longer funny. For the first time I believe we may be headed for a major conflict. The difference between an atomic bomb and a hydrogen bomb is, the atomic bombs develop their explosive power solely from nuclear fission [ the splitting of heavier elements into lighter ones], the hydrogen bomb draws upon an additional source of energy, thermonuclear fusion [ the combination of light elements into heavier ones.] Fission and fusion both release neutrons essential for a chain reaction - but fusion releases a lot more. The potential yield of an atomic bomb is limited by the amount of its fissile material. The hydrogen bomb? in theory, the potential yield of a thermonuclear device is limitless. The same energy that powers the sun and the stars could be harnessed to make cities disappear.

The physicist Edward Teller spent most of his time during the Manhattan project working on the " superbomb ", as it was called. The General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission voted unanimously to oppose it. Headed by J Robert Oppenheimer, the Committee said the hydrogen bomb had no real military value and would encourage " the policy of exterminating civilian populations". Six of the Committee signed a statement warning that the bomb could become " a weapon of genocide". Two others, the physicists Enrico Fermi and Isidor Rabi, hoped the super bomb could be banned through an international agreement, arguing that such a bomb would be "a danger to humanity....an evil thing considered in any light."

This from the people that invented the A bomb. But still they built it. Why ? If the Russians built it first, the game was over. I still feel that it is doubtful that N.K. would have the expertise to build such a weapon, let alone get it small enough to fit on a missile. But, judging by the reaction of World "leaders" they have indeed.

North Korea warns US it will not escape its "greatest disaster" as war of words hot up over hydrogen bomb test (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/north-korea-warns-us-it-will-not-escape-its-greatest-disaster-as-war-of-words-hot-up-over-hydrogen-bomb-test/ar-AArb4g9?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

The most powerful nuclear blasts ever (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/the-most-powerful-nuclear-blasts-ever/ar-AAraY4N?li=AA5249&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

M 6.3 Explosion - 22km ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000aert#executive)

M 4.1 Collapse - 22km ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000aetk#executive)

[bob10]

The USAF Technical Applications Centre, monitoring nuclear explosions around the World.

Air Force Technical Applications Center > 25th Air Force > Display (http://www.25af.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/333995/air-force-technical-applications-center/)

[bob10]

North Korea 'begging for war' as Pyongyang prepares more missiles (http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/09/04/north-korea-begging-war-missiles/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170905_TND)

[bob10]

Comment: What Motivations Lie Behind North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal? (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/comment-what-motivations-lie-behind-north-korea%E2%80%99s-nuclear-arsenal/ar-AAreOrA?li=AA5249&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Could this be the USA's " Suez Crisis " moment? The moment Britain was shown to be a paper tiger in World affairs?

Trump can’t win: the North Korea crisis is a lose-lose proposition for the US (https://theconversation.com/trump-cant-win-the-north-korea-crisis-is-a-lose-lose-proposition-for-the-us-83419)

[bob10]

More on THAT bomb test. The most sobering sight is what is believed to be the earliest photo of the Nagasaki bomb, taken 15 minutes after, from the ground at Koyagi-Jima village.

North Korea: What exactly is a H-bomb, and has the reclusive country joined the thermonuclear club? - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-04/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-explained:-atomic-v-hydrogen-bomb/8870670?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=abc_science_newsletter%3a125&user_id=3baff5c40d572f5c2c9112c63314539fc96843c4ef 4090904491e4428ac0c64d&WT.tsrc=email&WT.mc_id=Email%7cabc_science_newsletter%7c125&utm_content=story_5_title&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=abc_science_newsletter%3a125&user_id=3baff5c40d572f5c2c9112c63314539fc96843c4ef 4090904491e4428ac0c64d&WT.tsrc=email&WT.mc_id=Email%7cabc_science_newsletter%7c125&utm_content=story_5_img&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=abc_science_newsletter%3a125&user_id=7311959b001f799207f3bac998b7c7cffd29affce9 b9f42739976e037abad442&WT.tsrc=email&WT.mc_id=Email%7cabc_science_newsletter%7c125&utm_content=heading_3)

[bob10]

So much for Australia influencing China.

China's military practices for "surprise attack" over sea near Korea (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/chinas-military-practices-for-surprise-attack-over-sea-near-korea/ar-AArpPiL?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

This is not such a silly idea, Dennis Rodman to the rescue!

Dennis Rodman Offers to 'Straighten Things Out' Between USA and North Korea (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/dennis-rodman-offers-to-straighten-things-out-between-usa-and-north-korea/ar-AArq4VY?li=AA5249&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Revealed: The middle-aged rocket scientist "plucked from obscurity" who became Kim Jong-un's missile programme mastermind (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/revealed-the-middle-aged-rocket-scientist-plucked-from-obscurity-who-became-kim-jong-uns-missile-programme-mastermind/ar-AArr4xt?li=AA4RE4&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Chinese government orders all North Korean firms to close in China (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/chinese-government-orders-all-north-korean-firms-to-close-in-china/ar-AAsyR5v?ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Hopefully, wiser heads are prevailing. Sounds like China has taken some control, behind the scenes.

Tillerson says the US has a 'direct line' of communication with North Korea over nuclear tests (http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/tillerson-says-the-us-has-a-direct-line-of-communication-with-north-korea-over-nuclear-tests/ar-AAsEpfq?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

One name keeps coming up about the escalation of the problem. It's all about Trump.

Five lessons from the weirdest North Korea crisis yet (https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/five-lessons-weirdest-north-korea-crisis-yet)

[bob10]

Not as silly as they say.

How a homemade tool helped North Korea's missile program (https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/how-a-homemade-tool-helped-north-koreas-missile-program/ar-AAtliKT?li=AA5249&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Hold on to your hats, this could get interesting.

China constructing North Korean border refugee camps in preparation for disaster: leaked report (https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/china-constructing-north-korean-border-refugee-camps-in-preparation-for-disaster-leaked-report/ar-BBGIDop?li=AAavLaF&ocid=spartandhp)