North Korea: 2012-2016

[AdamG]

North Korea will execute 200 supporters of Jang Song Thaek, executed uncle of Kim Jong Un: report

The government made a list of about 200 high-ranking supporters and their family members, who have been declared followers of Jang Song Thaek, who was executed in Dec. 2013. The families will likely be sent to concentration camps, according to reports.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...#ixzz2xyDuA0J4

[carl]

200 executions at a shooting range with an audience! And here I thought the only open gate to hell was in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

[JMA]

200 executions at a shooting range with an audience! And here I thought the only open gate to hell was in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

How has this sub-human regime been allowed to remain in existence?

First Truman was not up to the confrontation with China over Korea then Chinese support has allowed the regime to survive up to today.

I suggest that when the regime eventually implodes that China and the US pony up $1trillion each to rebuild a destroyed nation.

[Bill Moore]

China Warns North Korean Nuclear Threat Is Rising

http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-wa...ing-1429745706

Pyongyang could double nuclear-weapons arsenal by next year, according to latest Beijing estimates

The Chinese estimates reflect growing concern in Beijing over North Korea’s weapons program and what they see as U.S. inaction while President Barack Obama focuses on a nuclear deal with Iran.

A well-armed North Korea may prompt the U.S. to adopt countermeasures, especially in missile defense. Adm. William Gortney, head of U.S. Northern Command, said this month that defense officials believe North Korea can now mount a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile called the KN-08. U.S. officials don’t believe the missile has been tested, but experts estimate it has a range of about 5,600 miles—within reach of the western edge of the continental U.S., including California.

I have to admit I'm surprised Beijing would reflect publically that they're concerned about U.S. inaction regarding North Korea. There could be a number of strategic reasons why they would make that comment, but putting conspiracy theories and sophisticated strategizing aside, could it be for plain ole economic reasons they want to the region remain stable?

[davidbfpo]

Citing Bill M. in part:

I have to admit I'm surprised Beijing would reflect publically that they're concerned about U.S. inaction regarding North Korea. There could be a number of strategic reasons why they would make that comment, but putting conspiracy theories and sophisticated strategizing aside, could it be for plain ole economic reasons they want to the region remain stable?

China certainly has a great stake in regional and international stability, even more so as their economy becomes more dependent on exports. Stability has to include the rather quixotic regime next door in North Korea, which it appears they too do not understand enough.

If the USA has been focussing on Iranian nuclear matters to the detriment of shared Sino-American concerns over DPRK, then a public statement is a good way of reminding the USA other issues exist.

[AdamG]

Temporary Autonomous thread for maximum impact.

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's intelligence agency said Wednesday that Kim Jong Un's defense chief had been "removed" from his position in neighboring North Korea.

It was unclear whether Hyon Yong Chol had been executed or merely ousted by the regime.

A spokesman for the NIS intelligence agency told NBC News he could not confirm news agency reports that Hyon was shot to pieces with an anti-aircraft gun in front of hundreds of spectators.

Last month, the U.S.-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) said satellite images had uncovered evidence that several people had been executed by anti-aircraft guns at Kanggon in October.

The satellite images recorded some "very unusual activity" at a 100-yard firing range typically used for pistols and light machine guns, HRNK said, when a battery of six ZPU-4 anti-aircraft guns — which have a range of 8,000 yards — were deployed there.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/no...eports-n358176

No figures in yet, but popcorn and hot dog stand concession sales were said to be respectable.

[davidbfpo]

AdamG,

The brutality of the regime appears to gather pace. A BBC report today pointed out that:

Of the seven pallbearers at former leader Kim Jong-il's 2011 funeral, apart from Kim Jong-un, all have either been executed, have lost their jobs or have not been seen in some time

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32716749

A reader reminded me that Leeds University here in the UK has for odd reasons become the main watcher of North Korea and commends the blogs run by Adam Cathcart:http://sinonk.com/ and http://adamcathcart.com/

[davidbfpo]

I have merged two smaller threads into the renamed main thread on North Korea:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ad.php?t=17846

It has had 476 posts and 87.5k views since 2006.

[AdamG]

OSINT photo analysis.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...pm_world_pop_b

According to Greg Scarlatoiu and Joseph Bermudez Jr., the authors of HRNK's report, the the antiaircraft guns in the picture appear to be six ZPU-4s, Soviet-made heavy weaponry first used during the Korean war. They are positioned about 100 feet from the standing figures. A few feet behind the antiaircraft guns, there appear to be a line of troops and/or equipment, the report notes, with buses and trucks at the site suggesting that people had been bused in to watch whatever was happening.

Shout-out for Joe Bermudez. Good job.
http://www.kpajournal.com/about/

[davidbfpo]

Adam Cathcart comments on the leadership's problem:

But given what we know about how Kim operates and how he wishes to be perceived, it is more than possible that Hyon’s basic lack of interest in the personality cult is what led to his downfall.

Link:http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ong-un-rumour?

[SWJ Blog]

North Korea: Don’t Pick A Fight We Can’t Win

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[SWJ Blog]

South Korea: U.S., Seoul Discussing Options to Deploy 'Strategic Assets'

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[SWJ Blog]

Missing the Big Picture, US Policy on North Korea Could Bring Disaster

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[SWJ Blog]

U.S. Military Readiness Questioned Amid Korea Tensions

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[SWJ Blog]

The Americans Who Chose To Live in North Korea, Defected to North Korea Documentary

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