US Semi-Covert Actions Against North Korea

[Gladiator]

"WASHINGTON — Three years ago, President Barack Obama ordered Pentagon officials to step up their cyber and electronic strikes against North Korea’s missile program in hopes of sabotaging test launches in their opening seconds.
Soon a large number of the North’s military rockets began to explode, veer off course, disintegrate in midair and plunge into the sea. Advocates of such efforts say they believe that targeted attacks have given American antimissile defenses a new edge and delayed by several years the day when North Korea will be able to threaten American cities with nuclear weapons launched atop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

But other experts have grown increasingly skeptical of the new approach, arguing that manufacturing errors, disgruntled insiders and sheer incompetence can also send missiles awry. Over the past eight months, they note, the North has managed to successfully launch three medium-range rockets. And Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, now claims his country is in “the final stage in preparations” for the inaugural test ..."


https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/04/world/asia/north-korea-missile-program-sabotage.html


Recent Breaking News thread on North Korea

https://www.debatepolitics.com/brea...t-seeking-further-north-korean-sanctions.html

 

[Gladiator]

"North Korea has accused US and South Korean agents of plotting to kill its Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un.

A North Korean referred to only as "Kim" was paid to carry out an attack with biochemical substances, the ministry of state security said.

The plot was foiled, it said, but gave no details on the fate of "Kim". The CIA declined to comment and South Korea has issued no statement so far.

The North's claim comes amid continued high tension on the Korean peninsula.

US President Donald Trump has promised to "solve" North Korea and stop it developing nuclear weapons."


"March and April 2017: "Kim" meets a South Korean agent in the city of Dandong in China and is given a new transmitter and more cash. Further communications take place in April. The last date that appears in the North Korean statement is "early May", when "Kim" is supposed to receive "necessary equipment" via a "liaison centre" he has set up with his funding. No details are given on "Kim's" apprehension or fateSource: Ministry of state security statement via KCNA"


North Korea claims CIA plotted to kill Kim Jong-un - BBC News


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[Gladiator]

"Apr 14 2017, 6:17 am ET

TOKYO — Japan's National Security Council has discussed how to evacuate its nearly 60,000 citizens from South Korea in the event of a crisis, a government official said Friday amid rising concern over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
North Korea denounced the U.S. on Friday for bringing "huge nuclear strategic assets" to the Korean peninsula as a U.S. aircraft carrier group headed for the region ahead of a feared sixth nuclear missile test.

Besides commercial ships and planes, Japan would want to send military aircraft and ships to assist in the evacuation if the South Korean government agreed, the official, familiar with the discussion, said. He declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the topic."


Japan Weighs Plans for S. Korea Evacuation over Nuclear Crisis: Report - NBC News



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[Gladiator]

"Updated 10:18 AM ET, Thu May 11, 2017


"CNN) — The CIA has established a Korea Mission Center to address "the nuclear and ballistic missile threat posed by" North Korea and its unpredictable leader, the US intelligence agency announced Wednesday.

The creation of the center focusing on specific threats from the Korean peninsula will allow the CIA to "harness the full resources, capabilities, and authorities of the Agency" to deal with North Korea, according to the agency's statement.

The center, which is located in CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, will put the forces of CIA analysts and officers side-by-side in one location to tackle the threat from Pyongyang.

"The new Mission Center draws on experienced officers from across the Agency and integrates them in one entity to bring their expertise and creativity to bear against the North Korea target," the statement reads."


It's not an easy regime to collect information on, but we're not getting the information out of there that we should. It's a sign that, 'OK folks, we're going to get serious about this,'" he said. "(This center will) show the administration that this (issue) is going to be front and center.

"One thing that's interesting about Trump is that he's getting briefed up about North Korea. He's absorbing this stuff. It's another sign that North Korea is the top of the list."

He added that the CIA is looking to "beef up" its Seoul station, including the appointment of a new, high-profile station chief in Seoul.

"They're going to look for somebody with serious gravitas, who has connections and knows the players," he said. "


CIA creates mission center to deal with North Korea - CNNPolitics.com

CIA creates 'Mission Center' on North Korea threat | USA News | Al Jazeera


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