DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus US navy strike group heads toward Korean peninsula

North Korea threatens to strike US aircraft carrier to show 'military's force'

North Korea threatened Sunday to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military prowess as two Japanese Navy ships joined a U.S. strike group for exercises in the Philippine Sea.

“Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink a U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a single strike," according to North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party’s newspaper, the Rodong Sinmum.

The paper also likened the USS Carl Vinson to a “gross animal” and said a strike on the carrier would be “an actual example to show our military’s force.”

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/23/...arys-force.html

Gas stations in North Korea's main city restrict services, speculation that China is reducing supply

Drivers in Pyongyang are scrambling to fill up their tanks as gas stations begin limiting services or even closing amid concerns of a spreading shortage.

A sign outside one station in the North Korean capital said Friday that sales were being restricted to diplomats or vehicles used by international organizations, while others were closed or turning away local residents. Lines at other stations were much longer than usual and prices appeared to be rising significantly.

The cause of the restrictions or how long they might last were not immediately known.

North Korea relies heavily on China for its fuel supply and Beijing has reportedly been tightening its enforcement of international sanctions aimed at getting Pyongyang to abandon its development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/22/...ing-supply.html

This would most certainly take China out of their corner and Trump would have his war. We would destroy them for this.

Trump discusses North Korea tensions with Asian leaders

President Trump talked to leaders of both China and Japan on Monday as tensions on the Korean Peninsula have boiled over and North Korea appears ready for an ICBM launch.

Trump spoke by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Xi told Trump that China strongly opposed North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and hoped “all parties will exercise restraint and avoid aggravating the situation,” according to Chinese broadcaster CCTV. Trump hopes China could increase pressure on its isolated ally instead of using military options or trying to overthrow Kim Jong Un’s regime.

Trump and Abe agreed to urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions.

"The North Korean nuclear and missile problem is an extremely serious security threat to not only the international community but also our country," Abe told reporters after the phone call with Trump.

Meanwhile, U.S. commercial satellite images indicated increased activity around North Korea’s nuclear test site, while Kim has said that the country’s preparation for an ICBM launch is in its “final stage.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/...an-leaders.html

China is sending the US a new message about North Korea

Beijing appears to be sending fresh signals about its view on North Korea, in order to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to take less aggressive action against the rogue nuclear state, several political analysts say.

"One thing we're seeing is a tactical adjustment on Beijing's part to Trump," said John Delury, associate professor of Chinese studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. "There's a kind of game here where Beijing is playing along to a certain extent, almost to call Trump's bluff, and to get the Americans to recognize they have the key in their hand to unlock the problem."

"The key is not military. When you start to look carefully at the military options, they are horrific, just given the economic vulnerabilities of everyone in this neighborhood," he said. "The key the U.S. has is diplomacy."

At least two-thirds of North Korea's trade is with China, giving Beijing tremendous leverage over the state. Recent reports indicate that Chinese authorities are beginning to test that power.

After a North Korean missile test in February, Chinese authorities suspended coal imports from the state for the rest of the year. Media reports citing Chinese academics and opinion pieces in the Beijing-backed Global Times have raised the prospect of cutting oil exports to North Korea. Such action would severely hurt the small, North Korean economy and indicate China's seriousness on curbing the pariah state, analysts said.

"Clearly the Chinese regime is losing patience with North Korea," said Michael Hirson, Asia director at consulting firm Eurasia Group. "We're seeing some incremental steps that the Chinese may be in favor of doing more."

"I think China is signaling to both sides, to the U.S. that China is doing more, that China is acting in good faith to head off a crisis in North Korea," Hirson said. "Primarily they're telling the U.S. that ultimately China feels the only solution in North Korea is one that involves diplomacy and getting North Korea to the table."

As a candidate, Trump said he would be prepared to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and talk things out "over a hamburger."

But Trump has changed his tone since winning the election, and the chance of negotiations appears slimmer. Trump has repeatedly pressured China to act on trade, and offered better deals with the U.S. in return.

Vice President Mike Pence said during a visit to South Korea this month that "the era of strategic patience is over" with North Korea. The U.S. ordered the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group to sail toward the Korean peninsula — after some confusion within the administration about when, exactly, that was happening. Pyongyang responded by saying it was ready to sink the carrier. Meanwhile, two Japanese destroyers have joined the U.S. carrier group.

And there's even a chance the United States could build some level influence over North Korea itself.

"The main leverage we have is the North Koreans want a new relationship with us because they don't want to become too dependent on China," said Leon Sigal, director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project. "They don't trust the Chinese."

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/china-is-sending-us-a-new-message-about-north-korea.html

Gas stations in North Korea's main city restrict services, speculation that China is reducing supply.

Drivers in Pyongyang are scrambling to fill up their tanks as gas stations begin limiting services or even closing amid concerns of a spreading shortage.

A sign outside one station in the North Korean capital said Friday that sales were being restricted to diplomats or vehicles used by international organizations, while others were closed or turning away local residents. Lines at other stations were much longer than usual and prices appeared to be rising significantly.

The cause of the restrictions or how long they might last were not immediately known.

North Korea relies heavily on China for its fuel supply and Beijing has reportedly been tightening its enforcement of international sanctions aimed at getting Pyongyang to abandon its development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

The issue was raised at a regular Chinese Foreign Ministry news conference in Beijing on Friday after a Chinese media outlet, Global Times, reported gas stations were restricting service and charging higher prices.

But spokesman Lu Kang gave an ambiguous response when asked if China was restricting fuel deliveries.

"As for what kind of policy China is taking, I think you should listen to the authoritative remarks or statements of the Chinese government," he said, without elaborating on what those remarks or statements are. "For the remarks made by certain people or circulated online, it is up to you if you want to take them as references."

One of China's top North Korea scholars, Kim Dong-jil, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Studies of Peking University, said he had not heard of new restrictions on fuel to pressure Pyongyang, but said they are considered to be an option.

China's Ministry of Commerce had no immediate comments.

President Trump has said that he has a “very good relationship” with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. The Journal, earlier this month, reported that Trump was scheduled to meet for 10 to 15 minutes, but ended up talking for three hours.

Gasoline was selling at $1.25 per kilogram at one station, up from the previous 70-80 cents. According to a sign outside a station where ordinary North Korean vehicles were being turned away, the restrictions took effect on Wednesday.

Gasoline is sold in North Korea by the kilogram, roughly equivalent to a liter (0.26 gallon).

When buying gas in North Korea, customers usually first purchase coupons at a cashier's booth for the amount of fuel they want. After filling up the tank, leftover coupons can be used on later visits until their expiration date. A common amount for the coupons is 15 kilograms (19.65 liters or 5.2 U.S. gallons).

Supply is controlled by the state.

The military, state ministries and priority projects have the best access. Several chains of gas stations are operated under different state-run enterprises -- for example, Air Koryo, the national flagship airline, operates gas stations as well.

Prices can vary from one station to another.

Traffic in Pyongyang has gotten heavier than in past years, when visitors were often struck by the lack of cars on the capital's broad avenues.

The greater number of cars, including swelling fleets of taxis, has been an indication of greater economic activity, as many are used for business purposes, such as transporting people or goods.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/22/...ing-supply.html

China recently rejected a shipment of coal from North Korea, just a day or two after the Chinese met with Trump. I'm betting that in normal trade relations, that coal would have been accepted in exchange for a shipment of oil/gas/fuel.

Regardless of what people want to say - it seems that Trump's diplomacy is working as far as getting China on board with us in regard to North Korea. Without China, North Korea has NOTHING and will literally crumble.

I agree with you. Now I don't know if it will be enough to reel N. Korea in or not, but it's obvious China doesn't want a war within the region and is taking measures to try and avoid one.

Hey is that armada there yet or did it decide to check out Australia first?

USS Carl Vinson trying to navigate to the coordinates Trump sent:

420 Nork 3.14 $$$

Does Little Kim only have one launch site? Would they have the ability to stop us from hitting it with drones orguided missiles or whatever ?

Please please please don't start a war, trump.


Entire U.S. Senate to go to White House for North Korea briefing

https://www.yahoo.com/news/entire-u-senate-white-house-north-korea-briefing-150459069.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Trump administration officials will hold a rare briefing on Wednesday at the White House for the entire U.S. Senate on the situation in North Korea, senior Senate aides said on Monday.

All 100 senators have been asked to the White House for the briefing by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the aides said.

While top administration officials routinely travel to Capitol Hill to address members of Congress on foreign policy and national security matters, it is unusual for the entire 100-member Senate to go to such an event at the White House, and for those four top officials to be involved.

U.S. officials have expressed mounting concern over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, and its threats to attack the United States and its Asian allies.


President Donald Trump criticized North Korea's "continued belligerence" and said its actions were destabilizing during a telephone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, the White House said.

The briefing will take place at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT).

House aides said they were working with the White House to set a similar briefing for members of the House of Representatives.

Even if dude fires a nuke at our fleet?

Grow a pair!

The fleet that isn't even there? Don't be stupid.

The nuke being shot from a missile with a .238 batting average?

It's so bad they wouldn't even try.

But of course we like starting wars unprovoked. It's the republican way.

Nuke gots a big arse strike zone dude!

OBP is even lower

UNPROVOKED???

Dude threatened to sink the USS Carl Vinson!
I got family on that ship!

If China is supporting us, I have no problem with Trump "solving" the NK problem.

Fat boy said to his citizens to "eat roots". So any dismantling of the NK govt would not only save the rest of the world from them, but also be humanitarian for the citizens.

Good point and the biggest fear that China and South Korea have is what to do with millions upon millions of starving NK refugees after the NK collapse.

Pretty sure the UN would send humanitarian aid.

yet when the same argument obama made for Assad, you were against that.

i don't get it. you conservatives cried and cried and cried about foreign operations when obama was president, but now it's all good under Trump?

what gives?

I think my favorite part of Trump sticking up to the North Koreans is when he said that South Korea used to be part of China.

It was good, but I enjoyed the mad scramble of South Korea and other nations trying to play damage control and clarify the opposite after Trump said that.

Oh yeah. Trump can't put out a fire without making another one first. Weak leadership imo.

this is entirely different than syria. Obama never not once tried to make friendly with Putin. Russia is our enemy. Totally different scenario. Nk only has china, but now it seems Trump has worked deals with China and they are supporting us now.

So apples and oranges.

Except not. Russia wasn't in play when Obama wanted to strike Syria, as they just started their nonsense in Ukraine.

It would just been Assad to deal with. Now? It's Assad AND putin, on top of Iran.

So no, it isn't apples to oranges.

Right now trumps foreign policy is looking erratic at best. I'm not sure what he's trying to accomplish, but right now it's looking like war on two different fronts.

That isn't good.

Its is apples to oranges. Assad wasnt making threats to nuke us and our allies. Assad was only having a civil war. NK isnt having a civil war.

NK wasn't making threats like that until Trump opened his mouth.

If we go to war, it's undeniable that Trump is the one who started it.

If you support that due to taking care of the NK people suffering under fat boy, then I don't think you realize that I might actually agree with you.

All I'm saying is why when the people are suffering under Assad, you were against Obama ending it, but ok with trump doing the same in an entirely different country?

Just asking for some consistency.

For one of the few times, your statement would make sense..... if there was one kernel of truth to it anyways

The US and Russia cooperated with each other in Syria in fighting ISIS. You know, the 12,000 bombs we dropped in Syria in 2016 alone.

The difference was we didnt mess up that cooperation by attacking Syria itself. Trump has now managed to do that.

Stills apples to oranges. You only go to war if someone is threatening your countrys security. [censored] region is unstable.

NK on the other hand, has been making threats against us, for a long time. And especially our allies.

I would be fine with taking out NK. It wont be difficult or long and drawn out like Iraq. It will be quick and dirty and over with.

Please stop. There's nothing quick and "over with" about combat.

There will be. Just watch and see.

Uh huh

Only setting off nukes and firing missiles over Japan since O was prez.

Yea empty test rockets.

It sucks, but is that enough to start a war?

Never mind. To republicans, breathing is enough to start a war.

NK has been working daily to develop nukes and ICBM's capable of reaching America and has said it is his dream to be able to hit us with a nuke.

Even Congress and the Senate are saying we gotta do something about him. Even little Rubio says this can't stand.

Liberals shake in their boots about facing enemies.