By William Tucker
Shifting through North Korean news can be at once torturous and humorous. On the one hand, international concern over the upcoming rocket launch has come to dominate headlines, but this news is coming on the heels of the reported discovery of a unicorn lair and the mistaken thought that a U.S. publication had seriously spent time extolling the physical virtues of Kim Jong-un.
By William Tucker
China’s growing naval capabilities have garnered concern in U.S. defense circles – not to mention that of U.S. allies in East Asia – over the past decade and a half as Beijing has sought to expand its influence and territorial control in the waters bordering Southeast Asia. As if to accentuate the concern, China has been aggressively challenging its neighbors over disputed islands in the East and South China Seas.
By William Tucker
A Tibetan media outlet operating in exile is reporting that two teenage Tibetan monks set themselves on fire Monday morning to protest the Chinese government. The immolations occurred outside of the Kirti Monastery in Aba where many of the immolations have taken place over the past three years. This most recent immolation protest is claimed to be the 51st, but independent verification is hard to come.
By Kerry Givens
Since the end of the Cold War, the Russian and Chinese defense industries have lagged far behind in the race for the acquisitions of advanced technology in the global markets. With the acquisition of sophisticated 5th generation radar defense systems, coupled with hypersonic surface to air missile technology and 5th generation fighter aircraft technology the Russian Federation and Chinese Defense Ministries have propelled its global reach.
Edward J. Hagerty, Ph.D.
Program Director, National Security Studies at American Military University
Israel is rattling sabers and forcefully denouncing Iranian negotiations over its nuclear program as merely a stalling tactic, while Washington and its allies prepare to meet soon in further efforts to deter Iran from its nuclear goals. Could there be a settlement at hand, or will an Israeli strike lead to a wider regional conflict?
After its failure to launch rocket Unha 3 just over a month ago, a satellite image has revealed that the North Korea is already on the verge of completing a reactor containment building intended to house a light water reactor.
By William Tucker
Over the past few months the U.S. military has placed numerous assets across the Persian Gulf region. Among the deployments are the regular positioning of two aircraft carriers, a doubling of minesweeping vessels, new missile systems, and now the deployment of F-22 and F-15C fighter aircraft to the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement of the F-22 deployment set off a firestorm of speculation.
By William Tucker
“The newest addition to the North Korean asymmetric arsenal is a growing cyber warfare capability. North Korea employs sophisticated computer hackers trained to launch cyberinfiltration and cyber-attacks against the ROK and U.S. Such attacks are ideal for North Korea, providing the regime a means to attack ROK and U.S. interests without attribution, and have been increasingly employed against a variety of targets including military and government.
By William Tucker
US and South Korean governments are stating that North Korea has launched its newest long-range rocket, the UNHA-3. At this point it looks as is if it has failed. The rocket launch was successful and the first stage had separated successfully, but it was the second and third stages that failed to separate. According to early reporting, this forced the rocket to crash into the ocean.