Korean Peninsula On The Brink Of War

[Ryan Ruck]

Any word on this?

Nothing of importance last I saw. Some lib Senators walked out of it claiming it was hype.

[Ryan Ruck]

China Urges Citizens In North Korea To Return Home

May 2, 2017

The Chinese Embassy in North Korea has advised Korean-Chinese residents to return home amid concern that the North's military provocations may trigger a U.S. attack on the North, according to a source.

The embassy began sending the message on Apr. 20, five days before the North celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Korean People's Army with a show of military power, Radio Free Asia said Tuesday.

The U.S.-based station specializes in North Korea.

The station cited a Korean-Chinese living in the North's capital, who said he left for China late last month after the embassy contacted him.

He said he has been visiting China every two to three months but, after being told he should "stay in China for a while," left North Korea a month early.

"The embassy has never given such a warning. I was worried and left the country in a hurry," said the man, whose name was withheld.

But he said that most Korean-Chinese residents in Pyongyang were ignoring the message.

The city's "peaceful" atmosphere, despite the global crisis due to the state's threats involving missiles and nuclear tests, might have kept them unaware of the situation, he added.

The embassy's warning indicates that China is worried that the saber-rattling North and U.S. moves to destabilize the Kim Jong-un regime might affect Chinese citizens abroad.

The North was expected to conduct its sixth nuclear test around the 105th anniversary of the state's founder Kim Il-sung's birth on Apr. 15 and/or on the national military anniversary on Apr. 25.

The test did not happen on either day, except a fizzled missile test on Apr. 29.

[Ryan Ruck]

US Commandos Set to Counter North Korean Nuclear Sites

Neutralizing Pyongyang's nuclear, chemical arms warfighting priority, SOCOM commander says

May 3, 2017
By Bill Gertz

U.S. special operations forces are set to conduct operations against North Korean nuclear, missile, and other weapons of mass destruction sites in any future conflict, the commander of Special Operations Command told Congress Tuesday.

Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas stated in testimony to a House subcommittee that Army, Navy, and Air Force commandos are based both permanently and in rotations on the Korean peninsula in case conflict breaks out.

The special operations training and preparation is a warfighting priority, Thomas said in prepared testimony. There are currently around 8,000 special operations troops deployed in more than 80 countries.

"We are actively pursuing a training path to ensure readiness for the entire range of contingency operations in which [special operations forces], to include our exquisite [countering weapons of mass destruction] capabilities, may play a critical role," he told the subcommittee on emerging threats.

"We are looking comprehensively at our force structure and capabilities on the peninsula and across the region to maximize our support to U.S. [Pacific Command] and [U.S. Forces Korea]. This is my warfighting priority for planning and support."

Disclosure of the commander's comments comes as tensions remain high on the peninsula. President Trump has vowed to deal harshly with North Korea should another underground nuclear test be carried out. Test preparations have been identified in recent weeks, U.S. officials have said.

Trump said on Sunday that China appears to be pressuring North Korea but that he would be upset if North Korea carries out another nuclear test.

"If he does a nuclear test, I will not be happy," he said on CBS Face the Nation. Asked if his unhappiness would translate into a U.S. military response, Trump said: "I don't know. I mean, we'll see."

Gen. Thomas' testimony did not include details of what missions the commandos would carry out.

A spokesman for the Special Operations Command referred questions about potential operations in Korea to the Pacific Command.

Special forces troops would be responsible for locating and destroying North Korean nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems, such as mobile missiles. They also would seek to prevent the movement of the weapons out of the country during a conflict.

Additionally, special operations commandos could be used for operations to kill North Korean leaders, such as supreme leader Kim Jong Un and other senior regime figures.

Special operations missions are said by military experts to include intelligence gathering on the location of nuclear and chemical weapons sites for targeting by bombers. They also are likely to include direct action assaults on facilities to sabotage the weapons, or to prevent the weapons from being stolen, or set off at the sites by the North Koreans.

A defense official said U.S. commandos in the past have trained for covert operations against several types of nuclear facilities, including reactors and research centers. Scale models of some North Korean weapons facilities have been built in the United States for practice operations by commandos.

The most secret direct action operations would be carried out by special units, such as the Navy's Seal Team Six or the Army's Delta Force.

Thomas said the command in January took over the role of coordinating Pentagon efforts to counter weapons of mass destruction from the Strategic Command. The mission includes stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction and dealing with the aftermath of such weapons' use.

North Korea is believed to have around 20 nuclear devices and is developing nuclear warheads small enough to be carried on long-range missiles. It also has stockpiles of chemical weapons and biological warfare agents.

Many of North Korea's nuclear facilities are believed to be located underground in fortified locations spread around the country.

The last rotation of special operations forces to South Korea took place in February when parts of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 75th Ranger Regiment joined South Korean troops for training.

The training took place in mountainous parts of South Korea in a bid to simulate the rough terrain commandos would experience during operations in North Korea. Other training took place on the seas.

Gen. Thomas, in his testimony, identified North Korea as one of five "current and enduring" military threats outlined in a new military strategy produced by Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The four other threats are terrorism, Russia, Iran, and China.

Asked about the new strategy, a Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman said the latest national military strategy is secret. "A classified [National Military Strategy] will make it more difficult for adversaries to develop counter-strategies and also enables the chairman to give the best military advice to the president and secretary of defense," Navy Capt. Greg Hicks said.

The command "has recently focused more intently on the emerging threat that is of growing concern to us as well as most of our DoD teammates—the nuclear threat of an increasingly rogue North Korea," Thomas said.

"Although previously viewed as a regional threat, North Korea's relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, facilitated by a trans-regional network of commercial, military, and political connections, make it a threat with global implications," the four-star general added.

South Korea's special operations forces are said to be highly trained but lack the advanced equipment used by American commandos, such as stealth helicopters and aircraft as well as other high technology and advanced weaponry.

A Pentagon report on North Korea's military published in February 2016 states that North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program.

The North Koreans announced in September 2015 that the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon including a uranium enrichment plant and a reactor that were upgraded for the purpose of building nuclear forces, the report said.

Pacific Command commander Adm. Harry Harris said in congressional testimony last week that North Korea is an immediate threat to the security of the United States and the Asia Pacific region.

"With every test, Kim Jong Un moves closer to his stated goal of a preemptive nuclear strike capability against American cities, and he's not afraid to fail in public," Harris said.

[Malsua]

I can't imagine a way that our commandos could affect their nuclear bases. They are way inland and our guys are not 4'11". They'd have to insert, demo a place and exfiltrate. I just can't see it happening on a scale big enough to make any difference.

Now...they could go in and fuck up their infrastructure and destroy command and control, after all if Kim can't tell his generals to launch, they won't launch.

[Ryan Ruck]

That was my thinking too. This isn't some Pakistani backwater with no ADA we can fly stealth helos into.

These are going to be highly guarded sites on the ground and in the air.

Then again, this is Bill Gertz reporting it and he tends to be pretty well plugged in to tons of intel sources.

[American Patriot]

Actually, you'd be surprised what our guys can do these days, and how.... Think out of the box, out of choppers, and out of conventional.

[Ryan Ruck]

China Tests New Missile In Waters Near North Korea

May 10, 2017

China tested a new missile in an area close to the Korean peninsula after warning South Korea against the deployment the U.S. missile defense system THAAD.

Taiwan's Central News Agency reported Wednesday Beijing's defense ministry had announced the test of a newly developed rocket in the Bohai Sea, the interior gulf of the Yellow Sea, on the coast of northeastern China.

It was unclear from the announcement when the missile test took place, but Beijing waited until the end of South Korea's presidential election to make the launch public, Yonhap reported.

In its brief statement, the Chinese defense ministry stated the training was aimed at enhancing missile capability while preparing to effectively respond to "national security threats."

Beijing is wary of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but has also stayed strongly opposed to the deployment of THAAD in central South Korea.

In April, China's foreign ministry said THAAD undermines national security interests and warned "necessary measures" would be taken in response to the deployment.

Last week, Chinese state tabloid Global Times reported the army was responding to THAAD by deploying the Dongfeng-41 missile.

The intercontinental ballistic missile can travel a maximum distance of 8,700 miles and can reach the United States.

On Wednesday China's military did not provide details on the missile.

Seoul has said THAAD has "initial operational capabilities."

[Ryan Ruck]

North Korea Fires Missile Into Japanese Waters

A spokesman for the Japanese government said it had strongly protested the launch to Pyongyang. There were no reports of damage, he said.

May 29, 2017

North Korea has fired another missile off its east coast, South Korea’s military said,as the regime seeks to build nuclear-tipped ICBMs that can reach the US mainland.

The missile landed inside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, in the Sea of Japan. Yoshihide Suga, a spokesman for the Japanese government, said it had strongly protested the launch to Pyongyang. There were no reports of damage, he said.

“This ballistic missile launch by North Korea is highly problematic from the perspective of the safety of shipping and air traffic and is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Suga told reporters in televised remarks.

“Japan absolutely cannot tolerate North Korea’s repeated provocative actions. We have strongly protested to North Korea and condemn its actions in the strongest terms.”

A statement by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch came from around the eastern North Korean coastal town of Wonsan. The military said it was a short-range Scud missilethat flew about 450km (280 miles).

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, without citing a source, said the projectile is believed to be a ballistic missile, but the South Korean military said it was still analysing what exactly the North launched.

US President Donald Trump has been briefed about the missile test, a White House official said.

North Korea is still thought to be several years away from its goal of being able to target US mainland cities with a nuclear ICBM, but each new test puts it closer to success.

The North’s nuclear and missile programs are perhaps the biggest foreign policy challenges to the new leaders in allies Washington and Seoul.

Trump has alternated in his public statements between bellicosity and flattery. But his administration is still working to solidify a policy to deal with North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

A new liberal president in Seoul, Moon Jae-in, has signalled he will be flexible in expanding civilian exchange with North Korea. But many analysts say Moon won’t likely push for any major rapprochement projects because North Korea has gone too far on its nuclear program.

Besides its regular ballistic missile test-launches, the North carried out two nuclear tests last year — in January and September. Outside analysts believe North Korea may be able to arm some of its shorter-range missiles with nuclear warheads, though the exact state of the North’s secretive weapons program is unknown.

Moon has made tentative steps toward engaging the North by restarting stalled civilian aid and exchange programs as a way to improve strained ties.

South Korea said recently that it will allow a civic group to contact North Korea about potentially offering help in treating malaria, the first government approval on cross-border civilian exchanges since January 2016.

[Ryan Ruck]

Sources: 3rd US Naval Strike Force Deployed to Deter North Korea

May 27, 2017

The United States is sending a third aircraft carrier strike force to the western Pacific region in an apparent warning to North Korea to deter its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, two sources have told VOA.

The USS Nimitz, one of the world’s largest warships, will join two other supercarriers, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan, in the western Pacific, the sources told VOA's Steve Herman.

Significant: @USNavy deploying #CVN68 (USS Nimitz) to Western Pacific, meaning there'll soon be three carrier-led strike forces in region.

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) May 27, 2017

The U.S. military has rarely simultaneously deployed three aircraft carriers to the same region.

But North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threat is seen as a major security challenge for President Donald Trump, who has vowed to prevent the country from being able to strike the U.S. with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020.

Sitting alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump said Friday just before the start of Group of Seven (G-7) meetings in Sicily that G-7 leaders would have a “particular focus on the North Korea problem.”

A White House statement issued Friday said the two leaders have agreed to “enhance sanctions on North Korea” in an attempt to prevent the further development of North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

US Tests Missile Defense System

The U.S. military, meanwhile, will test a system to shoot down an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time next week.It is intended to simulate a North Korean ICBM aimed at the U.S.

The Missile Defense Agency said it will test an existing missile defense system on Tuesday to try to intercept an ICBM. The Pentagon has used the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system to intercept other types of missiles, but never an ICBM.

The GMD has been inconsistent, succeeding in nine of 17 attempts against missiles without intercontinental range capability since 1999.

The most recent test, in June 2014, was successful -- but three straight subsequent tests were failures.

[Ryan Ruck]

Updated the thread title since we're a little past 2015.

[American Patriot]

2016? What year is it? LOL

[Ryan Ruck]

I've given up trying to keep track.

[Ryan Ruck]

Military Option For North Korea Being Prepared For Trump, McMaster Says

June 29, 2017

The Trump administration is considering a wider range of strategies on how to deal with North Korea, including the military option, Trump's national security adviser said Wednesday.

“The threat is much more immediate now and so it’s clear that we can’t repeat the same approach – failed approach of the past,” H.R. McMaster, the adviser, said during a security conference with Homeland Security Chief John Kelly.

He said it would be insanity to continue to do the same thing the U.S. has done for years and expect a different result.

McMaster’s comments come a day before Trump is scheduled to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. South Korea’s new leader vowed to stand firmly with Trump against North Korea, downplaying his past advocacy for a softer approach toward the isolated regime.

"Together we will achieve the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program, peace on the Korean Peninsula and eventually peace in Northeast Asia," Moon said.

The talks between Moon and Trump, which begin with dinner on Thursday night and then formal talks on Friday, come amid intense wrangling over North Korea.

China is pushing the United States to start negotiations with the North. That prospect appears unlikely as Trump grows frustrated over Beijing's level of economic pressure on the North, its wayward ally.

North Korea shows no sign of wanting to restart talks on abandoning its nuclear weapons program.

Moon told The Washington Post that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is "unreasonable" and "very dangerous" and that pressure was necessary. But Moon said sanctions alone would not solve the problem, and dialogue was needed "under the right conditions."

The THAAD missile defense is also expected to be on the agenda. Seoul delayed the full deployment of the U.S. system that is intended to protect South Korea and the 28,000 U.S. forces on the peninsula.

Moon's government has ordered an environmental review before allowing additional launchers for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system. South Korean officials say that does not mean they are placating China or reversing the decision, which risks angering Washington.

The U.S. has stepped up shows of military force near the Korean Peninsula under Trump, and outrage in Washington over North Korea has only grown since the death last week of U.S. university student Otto Warmbier. He had spent 17 months in detention in the totalitarian nation for stealing a propaganda poster and returned home this month in a coma. Three other Americans and six South Koreans are still being held in the North.

[Ryan Ruck]

US And Japanese Fighters Are Reportedly Getting Missiles Ideal For Striking North Korea

June 29, 2017

US F-16s in South Korea and Japanese F-35s are both set to get long-range missiles that are ideal for striking North Korean mobile missile launchers.

The US Air Force in South Korea recently increased the range and strength of its aircraft with 10 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, that can hit Pyongyang with 2,000 pounds of explosives from almost 200 miles away, according to Yonhap News and other South Korean media reports.

The JASSM allows US F-16s to safely strike nuclear infrastructure and targets deep into North Korea from secure locations near Seoul.

The munition isn’t the only signal that the US is ramping up its response to North Korea.

A defense official told Yonhap that US military leaders were considering “making public a live-fire drill involving the JASSM in case North Korea carries out another strategic provocation, such as a sixth nuclear test.”

Lockheed Martin, the JASSM’s manufacturer, is working on an even longer-range variant of the missile that should be able to accurately strike targets over six hundred miles away.

Read the whole story from Business Insider.

[Ryan Ruck]

Will North Korea Attack Japan? Government Tells Citizens How To Survive Nuclear Missile

June 26, 2017

In the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea, Japan is warning its citizens of how, exactly, they should protect themselves. In a 30-second television broadcast issued by the government, civilians were advised to take shelter in buildings, hide behind objects, protect their heads and lie face down on the floor should North Korea launch a missile their way.

The government also advised that the nation’s public warning system would be utilized to inform citizens if an attack occurred. The broadcast was set to air on 43 television stations nationwide and a written version was issued in 70 Japanese newspapers, according to the Telegraph.

The warnings were issued on the heels of a separate set of “Actions to Protect Yourself” guidelines put forth by the government in April.

This is the Japanese government's advice for what to do if a North Korean missile is coming straight at you https://t.co/2YpgLsLmji pic.twitter.com/7dmYDHpnCl

— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 25, 2017

“Evacuate indoors during the initial phase of the attack and then evacuate appropriately following instructions given by administrative agencies,” the guide stated. “In case of evacuating indoors, evacuate to a robust building or underground shopping arcade nearby.”

In a separate portion of frequently asked questions, the guideline discussed how long it would take for a missile to get from North Korea to Japan.

“When a missile is launched from North Korea, it will not take long to reach Japan,” the answer stated. “For example, the ballistic missile launched from [North Korea] on February 7 last year took 10 minutes to fly over Okinawa.”

The government’s warnings came after repeated tests by North Korea believed to be aimed at developing intercontinental ballistic missiles. In March, three missiles launched by the North landed within Japan’s zone in the Sea of Japan between the two nations. North Korea is widely recognized to have the capabilities to reach Japan with a nuclear missile at any time.

Many civilians are taking the precautions to heart—sales of nuclear shelters and radiation-blocking air purifiers have exploded in the region, Reuters reported in April. One small company, in particular, received eight orders in a single month as compared to its usual six orders per year.

“It takes time and money to build a shelter,” Nobuko Oribe, the director of nuclear-shelter company Oribe Seiki Seisakusho, told Reuters. “But all we hear these days, in this tense atmosphere, is that they want one now. They ask us to come right away and give them an estimate.”

Following missile tests by North Korea, Japan said it would remain on high alert in response to the country’s actions.

“Under the current stringent circumstances, we will maintain a high level of alert and take all possible measures,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in April at a House of Representatives committee meeting. “Through close cooperation with the United States, South Korea, China and Russia, Japan will strongly demand North Korea refrain from provocative acts and abandon its nuclear and missile programs.”

[Ryan Ruck]

North Korea Warns US, Rest Of The World It Will Keep Building Up Nuclear Arsenal

June 29, 2017

North Korea’s U.N. ambassador warned the United States and the rest of the world Wednesday that his country will keep building up its nuclear arsenal regardless of sanctions, pressure or military attack.

Kim In Ryong told the U.N. Security Council that the more than 50-year confrontation between North Korea and the United States came closer to the brink of nuclear war than ever before when the U.S. military held what he called its largest-ever “aggressive” maneuvers with South Korea in April and May.

Since then, he said, the United States has sent B-1B nuclear bombers into South Korean airspace, deployed the THAAD anti-missile system in the country, imposed new U.S. sanctions against North Korea, and spearheaded another U.N. sanctions resolution.

Kim said the Trump administration is pursuing an outdated “hostile policy” toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is North Korea’s official name.

He said the United States is modernizing its nuclear weapons but other countries aren’t allowed “to test or launch any object which goes with the words of nuclear or ballistic.”

“This is really the height of shameless arrogance, self-righteousness and double standards,” he said.

Accusing the U.S. of trying to hold down North Korea and retain a military edge in Asia as part of “its dream of world domination,” Kim said the North Korean people have concluded that to defend their rights and sovereignty they must respond in kind.

“No matter what others say, whatever sanctions, pressure and military attack may follow, we will not flinch from the road to build up nuclear forces, which was chosen to defend the sovereignty of the country and the rights to national existence,” he said.

The North Korean ambassador was making a rare appearance in the Security Council at an open meeting on implementation of a resolution adopted in 2004 aimed at keeping terrorists, extremists and other “non-state actors” from obtaining nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. He has boycotted council meetings dealing with U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

A statement read at the council meeting by Spain’s U.N. ambassador, Roman Oyarzun Marchesi, on behalf of 51 countries that strongly oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction condemns “proliferation in all possible forms by anyone” — and vows to “make every effort to prevent it.”

“In this connection, we condemn in the strongest terms the nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development activities conducted by the DPRK in flagrant violation of the Security Council’s resolutions,” said the statement, whose signatories include the United States and countries from Asia, Africa, the Mideast, Latin America and Europe.

The U.N. disarmament chief, Izumi Nakamitsu, warned the Security Council that advancements in science and technology in an increasingly interconnected world are making it more difficult to prevent “the disastrous scenario” of terrorists using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. She said that while globalization brings new opportunities for economic growth and development it also facilitates the rapid movement of materials and the latest scientific and technological discoveries as well as people with expertise.

“Non-state actors including terrorist organizations will exploit any loophole to obtain these technologies,” she said.

“While there are still significant technical hurdles that terrorist groups need to overcome to effectively use weapons of mass destruction, a growing number of emerging technologies could make this barrier easier to cross,” Nakamitsu said.

She pointed to the use of drones, 3D printers and the exploitation of “dark web” as a marketplace to buy dual-use equipment and materials.

“Dual use is further complicating our efforts to address the risk posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” Nakamitsu said.

[Ryan Ruck]

Treasury Acts to Increase Economic Pressure on North Korea and Protect the U.S. Financial System

Actions target a Chinese bank and others supporting North Korean sanctions evasion

June 29, 2017

The U.S. Department of the Treasury took multiple actions today in response to North Korea’s continued evasion of international sanctions, development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the means of their delivery, and violations of United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced a finding that Bank of Dandong, a Chinese bank that acts as a conduit for illicit North Korean financial activity, is a foreign bank of primary money laundering concern, and FinCEN has proposed to sever the bank from the U.S. financial system. In addition, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two Chinese individuals and one Chinese company in response to North Korea’s ongoing WMD development and continued violations of UN Security Council resolutions.

“The Department of the Treasury is committed to protecting the U.S. financial system from North Korean abuse and maximizing pressure on the Government of North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “While we will continue to seek international cooperation on North Korea, the United States is sending an emphatic message across the globe that we will not hesitate to take action against persons, companies, and financial institutions who enable this regime.”

PROPOSED FINCEN SECTION 311 MEASURE

FinCEN is taking steps to prevent China-based Bank of Dandong from continuing to serve as a gateway for North Korea to access the U.S. and international financial systems despite U.S. and UN sanctions. As described in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, Bank of Dandong acts as a conduit for North Korea to access the U.S. and international financial systems, including by facilitating millions of dollars of transactions for companies involved in North Korea’s WMD and ballistic missile programs. Bank of Dandong also facilitates financial activity for North Korean entities designated by the United States and listed by the United Nations for proliferation of WMDs, as well as for front companies acting on their behalf.

To protect U.S. banks from this illicit North Korean activity, FinCEN is proposing to prohibit U.S. financial institutions from maintaining correspondent accounts for, or on behalf of, Bank of Dandong. Under the proposed rule, covered financial institutions would also be required to apply special due diligence to their foreign correspondent accounts that is reasonably designed to guard against their use to process transactions involving Bank of Dandong. This would help ensure that Bank of Dandong cannot continue accessing the U.S. financial system indirectly through non-U.S. banks.

The NPRM as submitted to the Federal Register, with a 60-day comment period, is currently available here.

OFAC SANCTIONS

Today’s OFAC sanctions designations were made pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets WMD proliferators and their supporters, and E.O. 13722, which targets, in part, North Korea’s transportation and financial services industries. As a result of this action, any property or interests in property of the designated persons in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within the United States must be blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from doing business with them.

OFAC designated Chinese citizen Sun Wei. Sun Wei has been closely aligned with the U.S.-designated Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) in establishing and running a cover company on behalf of FTB. FTB is North Korea’s primary foreign exchange bank, and it was designated in 2013 for facilitating transactions on behalf of North Korea’s WMD proliferation network.

OFAC also designated Li Hong Ri, a Chinese citizen who cooperates with Beijing-based, U.S.-designated Ri Song Hyok. Li Hong Ri established several front companies used by Ri Song Hyok. Ri Song Hyok is a Beijing-based official for U.S.-designated Koryo Bank and U.S.-designated Koryo Credit Development Bank and has reportedly established front companies to procure items and conduct financial transactions on behalf of North Korea.

Finally, OFAC designated Dalian Global Unity Shipping Co., Ltd. (Dalian Global Unity) pursuant to E.O. 13722 for operating in the transportation industry in the North Korean economy. Dalian Global Unity is reported to transport 700,000 tons of freight annually, including coal and steel products, between China and North Korea. According to the 2013 report by the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea, Dalian Global Unity was actively involved in eight cases of luxury goods smuggling incidents and is suspected of involvement in at least one other case. Middlemen from Dalian Global Unity gave specific instructions about how shipments and transactions could evade the UN-mandated luxury goods ban.

For identifying information on the individuals and entity designated today, click here.

[Ryan Ruck]

Revealed: US Now IN RANGE Of North Korea’s Missiles As Kim Jong-Un Prepares For War

North Korea’s latest missile launch could have hit part of the US had it been launched a narrower angle.

June 30, 2017

A rocket launched by North Korea soared to five times higher than the International Space Station.

Kim Jong-un watched the Hwasong rocket splash down just 490 miles from its launch site, but the missile soared to a height of 1,311 miles into space.

But had it been launched at a narrower angle, it could have flown nearly 3,000 miles.

Global Security Program co-director David Wright has stated this would put it just short of mainland America, but puts part of Alaska at high-risk.

As Kim Jong-un has accelerated his missile programme and developed more mobile rockets with longer ranges, he has launched them ever higher.

The Hermit Kingdom is not unusual in sending rockets to high altitudes to test their range, but does so more than other countries because it is surrounded by other states, he said.

Nonproliferation Review editor Joshua Pollack said: “To avoid firing long-range missiles into or over Japan, the North Koreans have been launching them nearly straight up instead.

“They fly much higher into space that way, but come back down relatively close to their launching points.”

The despot nation has test-fired missiles at lofted trajectories in the past, but none as high as the Hwasong-12.

North Korea has been conducting missile tests at an unprecedented pace under Kim Jong Un, who has tested about 80 rockets.

NASA has previously expressed concerns that North Korea risks disrupting the atmosphere above the Earth or even destroying an important satellite with one of their nukes.

[Ryan Ruck]

China Condemns US Sanctions Over 'North Korea Funding'

June 30, 2017

China has reacted angrily to a US decision to impose sanctions on a Chinese bank accused of laundering North Korean money.

A foreign ministry spokesman urged the US to "stop wrongful actions" to avoid harming co-operation.

The US announced the move, as well as sanctions on a Chinese shipping company and two Chinese nationals, on Thursday.

It said the blacklisting was aimed at cutting funds to North Korea's weapons programmes.

"We will follow the money and cut off the money," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a news conference.

But he said the move was not a response to Chinese inaction on North Korea, saying: "This is not directed at China, this is directed at a bank, as well as individuals and entities in China."

The UN has already imposed several rounds of sanctions on Pyongyang, but China is widely seen as the nation most able to impose economic pain on North Korea.

Washington has been pushing Beijing for tougher measures amid a series of missile tests by Pyongyang. But in a tweet earlier this month, President Donald Trump said China's actions had "not worked out".



The sanctions mean that the Bank of Dandong will be barred from doing business in the US.

The US Treasury said it had been "a conduit for illicit North Korean financial activity" and facilitated "millions of dollars of transactions for companies involved in North Korea's WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programmes".

Two Chinese nationals accused of creating front companies for North Korean entities have also been blacklisted, as has a shipping company, Dalian Global Unity Shipping, that is accused of smuggling luxury goods to North Korea.

Mr Mnuchin said that the US could impose more sanctions in the future.

The sanctions were announced as new South Korean President Moon Jae-in held talks with President Trump in Washington.

Mr Trump said "many options" were being discussed on the North Korea issue.

"The era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed, many years it has failed. Frankly, that patience is over," he said.

The US leader added that Washington was "working closely with South Korea and Japan, as well as partners around the world, on a range of diplomatic, security and economic measures to protect our allies and our own citizens from this menace known as North Korea".

Meanwhile, Mr Moon said the North Korea issue was a top priority during the talks, stressing that "only strong security can bring about genuine peace" in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a separate development, the US announced the sale of $1.42bn (£1.09bn) worth of arms to Taiwan, the first such transaction under the Trump administration.

US arms sales to Taiwan always anger Beijing because it considers the self-governing island part of its territory. In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Washington called on the US to revoke its decision, saying China had "every right to be outraged".

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday that the US actions went "against the important spirit" of the apparently friendly meeting between Mr Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the US president's Florida resort in April.

Earlier in the week, the US also placed China on its list of the worst offenders in human trafficking and forced labour - the first major move by the new administration over Beijing's human rights record.

[Volk]

The Norks launched their first ICBM;

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/north-kore...opstories.html

In range of much of Siberia, the Far East, and probably the West Coast, before too much longer.

Wall Street Journal, apparently can hit Alaska;

https://www.wsj.com/graphics/launch-pattern/?mod=e2tw