To Hell With Sanctions and Warning -- N Korea Ready for Further Nuclear Tests This Year

Pyongyang, North Korea (Fri, Feb 15) – They’re not gonna stop even after the worldwide condemnation and threats following third nuclear test, after nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, that was conducted by isolated nation – North Korea, earlier this week on Tuesday (Feb 12).

To Hell With Sanctions and Warning -- N Korea Ready for Further Nuclear Tests This Year

"North Korea is moving to become an existential threat to the U.S.," said by former senior US official on Pyongyang's nuclear test this week. It was the most powerful of North Korea's three nuclear tests so far, providing a bomb of perhaps half the strength of that which devastated Hiroshima in World War II.

North Korea has reportedly been preparing for their fourth and fifth nuclear test very soon even after warnings from Washington and others that more sanctions would be imposed on the isolated state.

According to Reuters citing an anonymous source related to the issue; in effort to force U.S. into diplomatic talks with Pyongyang, North Korea reportedly tells their key ally China about their preparations for the one or possibly two nuclear test in this year.

"It's all ready. A fourth and fifth nuclear test and a rocket launch could be conducted soon, possibly this year," the source said, adding that the fourth nuclear test would be much larger than the third at an equivalent of 10 kilotons of TNT.

Further nuclear tests will be carried out, the source said, except Washington holds talks with North Korea and dumps its policy of what Pyongyang assumes as an attempt of regime change in the country.

The North is banned under United Nations sanctions from developing missile or nuclear technology after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests. The U.N. Security Council has only just tightened sanctions on Pyongyang after it launched a long-range rocket in December.

Washington already took Tuesday’s nuclear test very seriously and issued warnings that more sanctions would be imposed on North Korea. It will be interesting to see how U.S. will react to the latest development in the region?

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North Korea, North Korean Nuclear Test, North Korea Threat, North Korea Sanctions, North Korea Further Nuclear Tests, Nuclear Tests, Pyongyang,

Military Tension to Mount after North Korean Soldier Defected to South after Killing Two Officers

SEOUL, South Korea (Sat, Oct. 06) - Reported by madn3wz

A North Korean defected soldier reaches in South Korea after killing his two immediate officers and crossing  the countries’ heavily armed border on Saturday afternoon, reported by Associated Press (AP). 

Military Tension to Mount after North Korean Soldier Defected to South

According to further details emerged through South Korean defense ministry; the soldier shot his platoon and company commanders before crossing the western side of the Demilitarized Zone. He used a loudspeaker to let South Korean border forces know his intention, ministry statement said further.

The soldier has been under investigation in South Korea, as they motive of the defection is still unclear, but the South Korean officials didn't disclose the identity of the defected soldier.

Until the latest information; there's no extraordinary military movement was noticed on the North Korean side of the border after this incident. However, South Korea immediately instructed its border security forces to heighten their patrolling on the border, a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said on the condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate response heard from communist North Korea's state-run media.

Report Tags:

North Korea, South Korea, North Korean Soldier Defected, Border between South and North Korea, Military, Associated Press, State-run Media 

Threats of 'Sacred War' by North Korea over Joint Military Exercises by the US and South Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea (Sat, Feb. 25) – North Korea authorities have already shown their reservations over the joint South Korea-United States annual military exercises in the region scheduled to be kicked off next week. 

Threats of 'Sacred War' by North Korea over Joint Military Exercises by the US and South Korea

According to Agence France Press; North Korean has denounced the joint military exercises as ‘ silent declaration of war’ and in response threatened to stage a "sacred war". 

The exercise described as "unpardonable war hysteria" by the National Defense Commission of North Korea on Saturday. “Our army and people would foil the US and South Korean moves with a sacred war of our own style,” NDC said in an official statement.

 Live-fire military exercises were conducted on 20^th February by the US and S Korea near the disputed North Korean naval border and will resume on Monday (February 27).

 After the first phase of exercises last week; Pyongyang vowed "merciless retaliatory strikes" if any shells landed in waters near the disputed Yellow Sea border.

Rally in Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square (Video/Photos) -- North Koreans Show Their Support to Kim Jong Un

PYONGYANG, North Korea (Jan. 03) – A large number of North Koreans participated in a huge rally in the capital, Pyongyang, Today (Tuesday, Jan 03) to show support for their country's policies and new leader Kim Jong-un.

North Koreans Show Their Support to Kim Jong Un

According to organizers; Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square was packed with more than 100,000 people pumping their fists, chanting, beating drums and carried placards and large national flags as they rallied across heart of the city.

North Koreans Show Their Support to Kim Jong Un

Reportedly, North Korean officials called on people to show their support for Kim Jong-un and protect him as “human shields,” while striving to resolve the prevailing issues like food shortages by continuation of the policies of late leader Kim Jong-il.

North Koreans Show Their Support to Kim Jong Un

Although it was not clear that young Kim Jong-un was present in the rally;but North Korean state media aired a footage showing party leaders on a balcony overlooking the massive crowd of supporters gathered on the square.

Senior party official Mun Gyong Dok hailed the party's achievements.


Watch video of the rally:

Videos and Photos: Funeral of Deceased North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang

Pyongyang, North Korea (Dec. 28) - North Korea's military have staged a huge funeral procession in the snowy streets of the capital Pyongyang for its deceased "dear leader".

Funeral of Deceased North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang 

Kim Jong-il, readying a transition to his son, Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's next leader is leading a funeral procession for his father Kim Jong-il through Pyongyang's snow-covered streets. Footage broadcast Wednesday on North Korea's state television showed Kim Jong-un walking at the side of a sedan.

See below more photos/pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's funeral:

Funeral of Deceased North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang

Funeral of Deceased North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang

Funeral of Deceased North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang

Funeral of Deceased North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang

Watch below the videos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's funeral:

Exclusive Video -- Kim Jong-Un paid last respect to deceased N Korean leader Kim Jong-Il

PYONGYANG, North Korea (Dec. 20) – Kim Jong-Un, the son and likely successor of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, has visited the memorial palace on Tuesday to pay his last respect to country’s long-time ruler. He was reportedly accompanied by top military and Workers' Party officials.

Body of Kim Jong-Il lies in state for last respect

According to state media the body of deceased leader was laid out in a memorial palace for the weeping North Korean public to pay their last tributes to their leader passed away this weekend. The ceremony was called as “Solemn Ceremony”.

Kim Jong-Un, in his 20s, entered the room to see his father’s body as somber music played, state media said. He observed a moment of silence, and then bowed his head, followed by other officials accompanied him

.

Kim Jong Il died of a massive heart attack on Saturday caused by overwork and stress, according to the North's media. He was 69.

North Korean state media have given clear indications that Kim Jong-Un will succeed his father.

Watch video below as Kim Jong-Un pays his last respect to his father and long-time ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong-Il.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-II Dies at 69 -- North and South Korea at the Brink of War?

SEOUL, South Korea (Dec. 19) – South Korean military is kept on alert after the revelation of death news of North Korean leader Kim Jong-II on Monday. Although the South Korean President Myung-Bak Lee has advised the nation to stay calm while the country’s military has increased the air surveillance of borders.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-II Dies at 69

President Lee had a 2-hour long phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama after Kim's death was announced by the North Korea's state media at noon (03:00 GMT).

"The two leaders agreed to closely co-operate and monitor the situation together," a presidential spokesperson said.

According to Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson; Seoul also wanted its U.S. ally, which places 28,500 troops in the South, to enhance surveillance by planes and satellites.

A defence ministry spokesperson ahs also confirmed the situation telling that their military was keeping an eye over the North Korea’s military movements and the monitoring and defense on the borders has been strengthened.

"All commanders are on alert and the South and U.S. are beefing up the sharing of military intelligence. There have been no particular moves by the North's military yet," spokesperson said further.

All government officials have been put on emergency response status, according to President Lee, which means that they can’t take leave and restricted from traveling.

The North Korea's state media reported earlier on Monday that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart attack on Saturday while on board a train during one of his field trips.

Lee called a National Security Council meeting at the presidential Blue House and an emergency cabinet meeting was to begin at 15:00 (06:00 GMT). "All Blue House officials are in emergency mode," his spokesperson said.

North and South Korea have remained technically at war since their three-year Korean conflict ended only in an armistice in 1953.

Relations have been especially tense since the South accused the North of sinking a warship in March 2010 with the loss of 46 lives.

The North denied involvement in the sinking but shelled a South Korean island in November 2010, killing four people.

Many units in the North's 1.1 million-strong armed forces are stationed close to the heavily fortified border, along with thousands of missiles.

US troops have been based in the South since 1953 to bolster the South's military, which currently numbers 650 000.