Shown in the picture released on Oct. 3, 2015, is a comparsion of satellite photos of the North Korean town of Rason along the border with China and Russia, taken on September 2013 (top) and 2015. (Google/Yonhap)
UPDATE:
https://twitter.com/CurtisMelvin/status/650825007451533312
The Chinese have indicated that they will attend the 70th Anniversary of the Workers’ Party celebration in North Korea which leads me to believe the the Chinese government must have convinced the Kim regime to not begin another provocation cycle:
North Korea is likely to go for an ostentatious military parade for the celebration of the ruling party’s founding anniversary later this month, instead of a much-trumpeted launch of long-range missile, according to officials on Friday.
North Korea is expected to celebrate the landmark 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Oct. 10 with unusual events to show off its military might as the country has often done on major occasions.
Launch of a long-range missile has been the most speculated event, but officials said North Korea has so far not shown any signs of preparations for the launch before the anniversary date.
Instead, the country is putting together a military parade at an airfield in Pyongyang, which may involve new types of weapons.
“Various equipment and troops like combat jets, artillery equipment and missiles have been deployed to the Mirim Airport in Pyongyang. The North is preparing a parade event in commemoration of the party foundation,” a government official said. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link.
https://twitter.com/freekorea_us/status/649907352817266689
Analysis: International service unlikely to N. Korea’s new Wonsan Int’l Airport – https://t.co/qurUTOHqTk
— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) October 1, 2015
Your eyes have not been deceiving you, Kim Jong-un has been growing fatter every year according to this report:
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gained around 30 kg over the last five years and now weighs apparently close to 130 kg.
A government official said Friday, “By analyzing Kim Jong-un’s body shape and gait, we estimated he weighed less than 100 kg when he first appeared in public in September of 2010 but then rapidly put on weight.”
He said the clearest signs are his belly and double chin. “When he’s standing while holding his hands behind his back, you can see his abdomen protruding, and his chin folds when he is spotted giving orders.” [Chosun Ilbo]
You can read the rest at the link, but at this rate Kim Jong-un will not need to worry about a palace coup to replace him because he will eat himself to death before then.
Yonhap: U.S. imposes sanctions on 2 N. Korea firms for missile technology proliferation: WASHINGTON… http://t.co/QNRBrex3wX #KoreaNews
— Korea News Summary (@ROKreport) September 30, 2015
Kim Jong Un tours new luxury river cruiser in Pyongyang http://t.co/xRyG2Mjcop
— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) September 28, 2015
I have stated repeatedly that after a North Korean regime collapse that the ROK military should be the ones to secure North Korea not the US military. Documents like this that advocate for 150,000 US troops in North Korea is why the Chinese government keeps the Kim regime in power. Does anyone think the Chinese want 150,000 US troops that may potentially be there long term on their northeastern border? What would people in the US think if 150,000 Chinese just parked themselves in Tijuana?
An additional 150,000 U.S. troops would be necessary to cope with the aftermath in the event of North Korea’s collapse, such as securing the communist nation’s nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, a U.S. think tank said Tuesday.
“North Korea might suddenly collapse — either as a result of war or the failure of its economy and government. After such a collapse, a key U.S. concern would be to find, seize, secure, and remove its WMD, in particular its nuclear weapons,” RAND Corp. said in a report, titled “Building the Army We Will Need.”
“In such an event, the greatest burden would likely fall on U.S. forces to eliminate these weapons … We estimate that a North Korean collapse would require an additional 150,000 U.S. troops over and above the forces already stationed and presumed to be available in the Asia-Pacific region,” it said. [Yonhap]
You can read the rest at the link.
And SecState Kerry keeps talking about tougher sanctions…and talking…and no action on NK human rights, etc. https://t.co/ii1dDE2c2Y
— Bruce Klingner (@BruceKlingner) September 26, 2015
I would be surprised if North Korea does not notify the IMO and ICAO of their expected rocket launch because of how they have been wanting to normalize their space program and not link it to their ICBM development program. This could be a sign that they are not 100% confident that the rocket launch will be ready by October 10th. I guess we will see what happens:
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said North Korea has not given them any notice regarding a long-range rocket launch.
The Voice of American said on Saturday that the two international bodies confirmed via email that Pyongyang has not given any notice.
North Korea had notified both organizations of its plan prior to its long-range rocket launch in December 2012, informing them of when the launch will take place and where the rocket will fall.
North Korea has suggested the possibility of launching a space rocket around October 10th, the anniversary of the founding of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party. North’s Korean Central News Agency carried an interview earlier this month with a key scientist, who discussed the possibility of such a plan. [KBS World Radio]
