Current Events in Asia-Pacific

China Security Report 2012 (pdf, National Institute of Defense Studies, Japan)

NIDS China Security Report 2016 (National Institute for Defense Studies (Tokyo), pdf)

First Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Fails (Defense Update)

North Korea threatens US bases in the Pacific

From Janes Defence Weekly Former DoD official pours cold water on Taiwan's submarine deal with US By Gavin Phipps 01 May 2008 Taiwan's long-delayed purchase of eight diesel-electric attack submarines from the United States is unlikely to go ahead, according to a former US Department of Defense official. The US-based source - an expert on Taiwanese affairs who asked to remain anonymous - told Jane's on 28 April that elements within the US Navy (USN) and Taiwan's own legislature were looking to forestall the USD11.7 billion deal indefinitely. This comes almost four months after Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence submitted a formal letter of request to t…

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/06/re...e-of-junk/all/1 'Cause Shi Lang is a navalized version of "Potyomkin villages? Points in article: - Chinese have no experience whatsoever in conducting naval air ops - It is just a one carrier against entire Pacific Fleet, augmented by its allies - Chinese have only J-15 naval fighter (possibly with limited antisurface capabilities) and some helicopters for ASW and (possibly) AEW role, but nothing more. No EW planes, no AEW planes, no carrier cargo planes - Chinese fleet have insufficent number of modern warships and submarines, comparable to Tico's, Burke's, improved Los Angeles, Seawolves and Virginias. So chinese f…

NORAD Chief: North Korea Has Ability to Reach U.S. With Nuclear Warhead on Mobile ICBM (USNI News)

From Jane's North Korea - going ballistic again? 04 July 07 Several recent reports emanating from East Asia have suggested that North Korea is preparing for a ballistic missile test exercise. These reports further speculate that the upcoming test may occur on 4 July, the anniversary of its wide-ranging July 2006 missile test. However, these reports have not been confirmed by sources within Japan, South Korea or the US. The most significant ballistic missile development since the 1998 launch of the Paektusan space launch vehicle has been the July 2006 test. On 5 July (4 July and Independence Day in the US), North Korea conducted its largest and most comprehens…

NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR THREAT / North Korea 'had plan to attack Japan' The Yomiuri Shimbun An agreement adopted at the latest round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program stipulates two-phase measures toward Pyongyang's denuclearization in return for energy support. This second series of articles on the threats posed by North Korea's nuclear program, following the first series carried last month, takes a close look at the background to the agreement reached at the six-party talks. This is the fifth and last installment of the series. What appears to be a simple maritime accident can have very different implications in the eyes of military e…

North Korea’s Latest Missile Test: Advancing towards an ICBM While Avoiding US Military Action (38 North)

From DefenseNews Posted 12/07/06 11:37 North Korea Says U.S. Has Nuclear Bomb in South: Tass By REUTERS, MOSCOW North Korea believes Washington has atomic weapons deployed in South Korea and it will not halt its nuclear program as long as this threat persists, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a North Korean source as saying on Dec. 7. "(North Korea) has practically no doubts that there are U.S. nuclear weapons in the south of the Korean Peninsula," the source told Tass. "North Korea is forced, in the interests of self-defense, to enhance its nuclear capability." "Without eliminating the threat from the United States and without relevant guarantees being offered, P…

Planning for the Future: Conditions of Combined ROK-U.S. Military Intervention in Potential DPRK Contingencies (PDF) (DefenseNews' Intercepts blog)

From Defense Aerospace North Korea Conducts Missile Tests (Source: Voice of America news; issued July 5, 2006) WHITE HOUSE --- U.S. officials say North Korea has test fired at least six missiles, including a long-range missile that failed shortly after launch. High level consultations are underway. White House officials call the series of launches a provocation, but add there is no immediate threat to the United States. All the tests occurred early Wednesday morning local time within the span of hours. Most involved short to medium range missiles that landed in the Sea of Japan. But one, the failed missile, was a Taepodong 2, the intercontinental missile th…

Reporting name "Musudan", looks like a SS-N-6 conversion.

North Korea fires missile over Japan in aggressive test (DefenseNews)

From Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists [excerpt]

US institute: NKorea launch site upgrade complete (AP)

North Korea Missile Test Database (NTI)

From Defence Talk North Korea Launches Wartime Alert AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Wed, 19 Jul 2006, 00:15 Seoul: North Korea has launched a wartime alert, putting its armed forces and nationals in a state of a war mobilization, an unconfirmed news report said here Wednesday. Kim Jong-Il, head of the communist country, issued an order to that effect hours before the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea's missile tests last week, said the Joongang daily, quoting an unnamed government source. Government officials were unable to be reached for confirmation early Wednesday. North Korean soldiers on leave were told to return to their b…

North Korea Preparing Missile Launch: Japanese Media (DefenseNews)