North Koreans given prison sentences for spying in Ukraine...

Two North Koreans were reportedly arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison in Ukraine by intelligence authorities after they attempted to steal classified intelligence regarding missile technology. Ukrainian media report that Ryu Song-chul and Lee Tae-kil, both employees at a North Korean trade office in Belarus, traveled to Dnepropetrovsk in 2011 and were arrested after attempting to steal information from Yuzhnoye Design Bureau, which designs satellites and rockets. The North Koreans were said to be searching for intelligence regarding missile launch technology and increasing the range of its missiles with liquid fuel-fired engines. The North Koreans apparently received their sentence in late May on allegations of spying after Yuzhnoye employees informed authorities of their suspicious behavior.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-06-09)

Two South Koreans arrested for espionage for North...

South Korean police have arrested 2 men in connection with the recent jamming of global positioning systems that affected much of the country's air and maritime traffic. The 2 South Korean businessmen have been charged with violating the country's national security law. Police say North Korean spies met the two men in the Chinese city of Dandong last July and instructed them to collect intelligence information. They say the suspects had made contact with people in the South Korean military industry in the hope of collecting data on jamming devices and military technology. One of the suspects, in his 70s, was on parole after having been sentenced to life in prison 30 years ago in connection with another espionage case.
Hundreds of commercial jets and ships in South Korea experienced GPS disruptions for more than 2 weeks earlier this month. The South Korean government says the North was responsible but North Korea denies any involvement.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-05-31)

La radiodiffusion internationale brouillée par la Corée du Nord...

On vient d’apprendre que la Corée du Nord brouillait les émissions étrangères pendant près de 18 heures par jour, afin d'empêcher ses habitants de les écouter. Cette nouvelle provient de Radio Free Asia, qui se réfère à un responsable d’un site lié à l’information et à la communication du pays communiste. D’après cette radio américaine, si le régime de Pyongyang, en proie à la pénurie d’électricité, en consomme autant pour bloquer les émissions des stations étrangères, c’est parce qu’il prend au sérieux l’influence de ces émissions internationales.
(Radio Corée international, le 11-05-2012)

Suspected North Korean jamming disrupts South's GPS...

South Korea says North Korea may be to blame for disruptions to its satellite-based global positioning system that have affected air travel and shipping. South Korea's Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs says the disruptions began last Saturday and have affected 412 aircraft leaving and arriving at Incheon and Gimpo airports. The maritime police in Incheon says ships travelling in the Yellow Sea have also been affected. A total of 122 vessels, including 8 patrol boats, have reported problems with their navigation systems. There have been no reports of safety problems stemming from the apparent jamming, because GPS plays only an assisting role in navigation. But the government is calling for caution as many small fishing boats rely solely on GPS for their navigation. A South Korean government official tells NHK that the disrupting signals apparently originate from around the North Korean city of Kaesong, near the military border between the 2 Koreas. South Korea is working to locate the source of the signals before filing a protest with the North through international organizations.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-05-05)

North Korea has ability to produce at least 10 nuclear weapons...

A South Korean nuclear expert says North Korea is estimated to have enough plutonium and highly enriched uranium to produce at least ten nuclear weapons. The expert, who requested anonymity, said Wednesday that the North is assessed to have more than 40 kilograms of plutonium. He said the plutonium has been acquired through at least three reprocessing efforts since 2003. Given that it takes around six kilograms of plutonium to produce one nuclear weapon, the North currently has the ability to produce six to seven nuclear arms. The expert also said the North is regarded to have 60 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which is enough to produce three to four nuclear weapons.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-05-03)

North Korea affects South Korean flights with jamming signals...

The government says North Korea has been emitting electronic jamming signals and disrupting the GPS systems of private South Korean airplanes. The Transport Ministry says the North's attack began Saturday and has affected 252 aircraft, eleven of which are foreign-flagged airliners. The jamming mainly occurred between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. The ministry says none of the flights were endangered, and the planes have continued to operate as usual. The ministry is also looking out for maritime damage as the jamming could have affected Navy or Coast Guard vessels, cargo ships and fishing boats operating in the Yellow Sea.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-05-02)

En Corée du Nord, de faux missiles auraient été présentés lors d'un défilé militaire...

Selon un expert allemand, l'armée nord-coréenne aurait exposé de faux missiles intercontinentaux lors du défilé organisé ce mois-ci à P'yongyang. L'ingénieur allemand Robert Schmucker, qui faisait partie de l'équipe onusienne d'inspecteurs dépêchée en Irak dans les années 1990, a accordé samedi un entretien à la NHK. Le 15 avril dernier, la Corée du Nord a exposé des missiles lors du défilé qui marquait le centième anniversaire de Kim Il-sung, le fondateur de la république populaire. Ayant analysé les photos du matériel présenté à cette occasion, M. Schmucker en est venu à la conclusion qu'il s'agissait de maquettes, pour diverses raisons. Les clichés révélant notamment des ondulations à la surface d'une ogive, l'ingénieur allemand estime que celle-ci n'a pas la résistance requise pour endurer un retour dans l'atmosphère. M. Schmucker a par ailleurs observé que les engins étaient dotés d'équipements pour le ravitaillement en combustibles solide et liquide, ce qui lui paraît invraisemblable. Il a enfin estimé que la Corée du Nord n'avait pas vraiment progressé en matière de développement de missiles balistiques intercontinentaux.
(Radio Japon International, 29-04-2012)

Chinese firm sold North Korea 8 military vehicles...

A Chinese firm reportedly sold North Korea transport vehicles that could be used as launch pads for long-range ballistic missiles.

The web version of Canadian news agency Kanwa Information Center reported on Wednesday that the firm provided 8 transport vehicles last year.

The agency, which specializes in China's military activities, said that Hubei Sanjiang Space Wanshan Special Vehicle Company accepted the order in 2008.

The company is a subsidiary of a major state-run enterprise and manufactures customized military vehicles.

An intercontinental ballistic missile shown off during a Pyongyang military parade in mid-April was mounted on a similar vehicle.

The editor in chief of the news agency says the vehicles were sold for commercial purposes, but suggests the firm may have known they were intended for military use.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-04-26)

Experts say North Korean missiles were mock-ups...

Foreign experts say the six missiles North Korea unveiled during its military parade on April 15th were clearly mock-ups, and the North was merely putting on a show.

A German expert on North Korean missiles and other experts stated in a report that the missiles are undoubtedly life-size replicas that have somewhat improved from the model of the North's Musudan missile showcased in 2010.

The experts argue that at a glance, the models appear to be long-range missiles with a range of ten-thousand kilometers. However, they say a closer look reveals that all of the missiles are mock-ups. The report concludes there is no proof that North Korea owns a proper intercontinental ballistic missile.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-04-24)

Report: North Korea ready for nuclear test...

A Japanese television broadcaster said North Korea has completed preparations for another nuclear test.

Japan’s Fuji Television cited a Japanese government official as saying all external preparations were seen to be completed for North Korea to conduct a third nuclear test, and that it would not be unusual for Pyongyang to conduct such a test at any time.

The broadcaster said the move prompted Japan and the U.S. to step up alert for possible nuclear detonation by the North.

Earlier this month, a South Korean intelligence source said an additional shaft had been discovered aside from the two tunnels dug for previous nuclear tests the North conducted in Punggye-ri, and that construction there was observed to be coming to an end.

North Korea has already conducted two nuclear tests, one in October 2006 and the other in May 2009.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-04-23)

Un nouveau chef pour les forces armées nord-coréennes...

On connaît maintenant le nouveau chef des forces armées du peuple nord-coréen. Il s’agit de Kim Jong-gak, un des proches du nouveau dirigeant Kim Jong-un. C’est l’agence centrale de presse nord-coréenne, la KCNA, qui a révélé hier cette nouvelle, un jour avant la conférence du Parti des travailleurs, le parti unique du pays. Âgé de 71 ans, Kim a été promu le 15 février dernier vice-maréchal des forces armées du peuple nord-coréen. Des experts estiment que d’autres proches de Kim Jong-un auraient connu une promotion. Parmi eux se trouvent le secrétaire chargé du secteur de l’emploi au sein du Parti des travailleurs et le directeur adjoint du département politique de l’armée populaire nord-coréenne. Le chef des forces armées populaires de la Corée du Nord correspond au poste de ministre de la Défense. En vertu de la constitution nord-coréenne, il est sous la tutelle de la fameuse commission nationale de la Défense.
(KBS World radio, le 11-04-2012)

La Corée du Nord a nommé mercredi un nouveau ministre des Forces armées alors que le pays prépare le lancement d'une fusée condamné par la communauté internationale qui dénonce un tir déguisé de missile balistique, ont annoncé les médias officiels nord-coréens. Le quotidien officiel du Parti du Travail de Corée, le Rodong Sinmun, a rapporté un discours de Kim Jong-gak chargé jusqu'à présent de l'organisation et de l'administration des armées, en le qualifiant de ministre des Forces armées du peuple. Il remplace Kim Yong-chun, 75 ans, qui servait depuis 1956.
(La voix de la République islamique d'Iran, le 11-04-2012)

Plusieurs sous-marins nord-coréens disparaissent après avoir quitté leur base...

La Corée du Sud est à la recherche de 3 à 4 sous-marins nord-coréens qui ont disparu après avoir quitté 2 bases sur la côte est, indique jeudi une source militaire sud-coréenne.

La source indique que les sous-marins appartiendraient à la classe de 370 tonnes. L’armée sud-coréenne a été incapable de les localiser depuis qu’ils ont quitté 2 bases sous-marines de la côte est.

Une autre source explique que « la Corée du Nord semble mener activement des exercices d’infiltration par sous-marin, à la suite d’une météo plus clémente. » La source ajoute que « l’armée sud-coréenne étudie de près la situation sans écarter la possibilité d’une provocation déguisée en exercice. »


Lire la suite...

North Korea suspected of preparing nuclear test...

South Korea says North Korea is preparing for its third nuclear test. South Korean intelligence authorities analyzed an image taken on April 1st by a US commercial satellite. The image shows a new tunnel at a nuclear test site in Poongkye-ri, North Hamkyong Province, in the northeast of the country. The South Koreans said that the North is digging the ditch for another nuclear test. The tunnel is south of the ones used in nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Since last month dirt has been accumulating at the entrance of the new pit. A South Korean expert says the North usually fills the tunnels with dirt when it conducts nuclear tests to measure the effect of the explosion and to keep nuclear substances inside. North Korea conducted its past two nuclear tests within three months of its long-range ballistic missile launches. The country says it will launch a rocket carrying a satellite between April 12th and 16th. The South Korean government says the North is highly likely to carry out a nuclear test, as a reaction to international criticism, following the planned launch.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-04-09)

North Korea test-fires 2 short-range missiles...

North Korea has reportedly test-fired 2 short-range surface-to-ship missiles into the Yellow Sea, west of the Korean Peninsula. South Korean government sources say the North launched the missiles from a base in the northwestern part of the country on Thursday morning. The sources say the KN-01 anti-ship cruise missiles are believed to have a range of about 120 kilometers. The sources say Thursday's tests have no apparent relation to the launch of what North Korea says is a satellite-carrying rocket in April. South Korea believes the North plans to test long-range ballistic missile technology. The sources say the latest tests are likely aimed at extending the range of the anti-ship missile. Observers say the North's action is also seen as a warning to South Korea and the United States over their joint amphibious landing exercise on Thursday. About 9,000 troops took part in the drill in South Korea.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-03-30)

Vehicles confirmed near North Korea launch pad...

A new satellite photo of North Korea's rocket launch pad suggests the country is preparing to launch what it calls a satellite next month, as it has announced. The US satellite imagery firm DigitalGlobe took the photo of the facility at Tongchang-ri in the northwestern part of North Korea, on Wednesday. A photo taken on March 20th captured only the launch pad. But the new photo shows 2 vehicles nearby. The firm also points out that a crane arm at the top of the central tower has been swung in a different direction. Japan, the United States and some other countries consider North Korea's planned rocket launch no different from a long-distance ballistic missile launch. A senior US Defense Department official has warned that debris from the rocket could fall on Japan or South Korea. The official also said that the US is suspending an agreement made with North Korea to send food aid to the country.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-03-29)

The site where North Korea plans to launch a long-range rocket has been revealed in images taken by DigitalGlobe, a U.S. commercial vendor of space imagery and geospatial content. The images, which depict the launch site, were disclosed on Wednesday to coincide with a hearing of the House Committee on Armed Services. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Peter Lavoy said at the hearing that the rocket launch could result in casualties in various countries. Lavoy said North Korea's plan reflects its lack of desire to follow through on international commitments, forcing the U.S. to suspend its activities to provide nutritional assistance to the North. North Korea claims it plans to launch the rocket to put a satellite into space, but many nations contend the launch could be used to further its ballistic missile technology.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-03-29)

North Korea transports rocket's main body to launch site...

North Korea is thought to have brought to its new launch site what is believed to be the main body of a missile. The South Korean government, after analyzing photos from a US surveillance satellite, says an object that appears to be the main body of a missile was recently brought by train to the launch site. The site is in Tongchang-ri, Cholsan County, in the northwest of the country. The launch site was completed last year, and is about 3 times the size of the one in Musudan-ri in the northeast, the scene of previous ballistic missile tests. The gantry at the new launch pad measures about 50 meters, about 20 meters taller than the one in Musudan-ri. The pad is believed to be capable of launching long-range ballistic missiles. North Korea is thought to be assembling the missile inside a facility at the launch site and preparing to fire it as announced, despite opposition from Japan, the United States and South Korea.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-03-26)

North Korea has reportedly made considerable progress in its preparations to launch a long-range rocket. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Sunday said that militaries of South Korea and the United States confirmed that the North moved the main part of the rocket to a launch facility. A JCS official said that the North seems to have made significant progress in the launch preparations, adding the South Korean and American militaries are cooperating to find out the specific schedule for the take-off. Earlier on Sunday, Japan’s Fuji Television reported that the North moved an object that appears to be the main body of the rocket to the launch facility in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyeongan Province.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-03-26)

North Korea may have provided arms to Iran in 1980s...

Declassified South Korean documents have revealed that North Korea began providing arms to Iran after the Iran-Iraq war broke out in 1980. That was one of the findings in about 180,000 pages of secret documents the South Korean government made public on Sunday. Among the papers are the minutes of talks between South Korean Foreign Minister Roh Shin-yeong and US Ambassador in Seoul William Gleysteen in October 1980. At the meeting, Gleysteen said the US believes the North has been providing Tehran with ammunitions in about 2 dozen round-trips between Pyongyang and Iran. Roh said his government has confirmed that North Korea sent anti-aircraft artillery and anti-tank rockets to Iran. A report from the South Korean Embassy in Iran said that machine guns, armored vehicles and other kinds of military equipment were unloaded in Iran from 16 North Korean ships. These documents suggest that the 2 nations started bilateral arms trade more than 30 years ago. The papers also indicate that Pyongyang sent 6,000 military personnel to 31 nations in Asia, Africa and South America from 1960s through August 1981. North Korea was apparently working to forge military ties not just with Iran, but with many other countries.
(KBS World radio, 2012-03-19)

North Korea to launch satellite in April...

North Korea says it will launch a satellite to mark the centenary of the birth of the country's founder Kim Il Sung. State-run North Korean media on Friday reported an announcement by the Korean Committee for Space Technology. The announcement said North Korea will launch a working satellite, Kwangmyongsong 3, from a launch site in Pyongan-pukdo between April 12th and 16th. It said a safe launch trajectory has been set to prevent rocket debris from affecting neighboring nations. It also said the launch will strongly inspire the country's citizens and troops who are striving to create a strong and prosperous nation. The launch will apparently use the same technology for long-range ballistic missiles that North Korea has tested in the past. The announcement could draw international criticism, as North Korea promised to freeze long-range missile testing in talks with the United States last month.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2012-03-16)

North Korea says it will launch its Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite in time for the centennial birthday of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung on April 15th. The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency cited a statement made by the spokesman of the communist nation's Korean Committee for Space Technology. The committee says Kwangmyongsong-3 is an earth observation satellite that travels along the polar orbit. It says the Unha-3 rocket carrying the satellite will blast off from a satellite launching station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province some time between April 12th and the 16th. The spokesman said a safe flight orbit has been chosen by determined a route that to prevent any rocket debris from affecting neighboring countries. The committee says it will abide by international regulations and practices concerning the launch of satellites being used for scientific and peaceful purposes and that it will also ensure maximum transparency for the entire process.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-03-16)

Official news agency KCNA says the event will take place mid-April, to mark the centenary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il-Sung. Foreign officials have said the past launches are disguised long-range missile tests. If it goes ahead, the launch would breach a United Nations resolution passed after a previous launch in 2009. North Korea says it has already launched two experimental satellites. It says the launch will occur southwards.
(Radio Australia, 2012-03-16)

40 North Korean soldiers killed, wounded during Yeonpyeong counterattack...

Radio Free Asia says roughly 40 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded during South Korea's counterattack following the North's shelling of a South Korean island in late 2010.

The U.S. broadcaster released the report Friday citing a North Korean source in the North's South Hwanghae Province. The source apparently heard from a North Korean battalion commander that about ten North Korean soldiers were killed and 30 others wounded during the exchange of fire prompted by the North's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.

The source said the commander saw a military vehicle transporting the dead bodies and the wounded to a military hospital known as "Hospital No. 11" in Pyongyang run by the North's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Radio Free Asia says this source shares close ties with officials of the Fourth Army Corps, which is known to have perpetrated the Yeonpyeong shelling.

The source, who recently traveled to China and revealed the story, says the North Korean military is apparently frightened by South Korea's cutting-edge weapons and has been reluctant to fight the South since the Yeonpyeong shelling.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-03-02)

North Korea's Kim Jong-un visits front line troops to pressure South Korea, U.S....

North Korea’s state media reported its leader Kim Jong-un had visited front line troops that were responsible for the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010. KCNA said Kim had ordered the troops to retaliate in the case South Korea shells North Korean waters ahead of the joint Key Resolve training South Korea and U.S. troops have scheduled in the western coast of the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean report said Kim Jong-un inspected the fourth battalions and received plans for retaliation during a visit to a watchhouse for coast-battery and even guided soldiers through battery training. The training was attended by soldiers who had taken part in the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, the report said. North Korea said on Saturday through a spokesperson’s statement that it would launch a “sacred war” against the Key Resolve training.
(KBS World Radio, 2012-02-26)