Beijing, China | AFP | The passage of a US warship close to a disputed island in the South China Sea was a “serious political and military provocation”, Beijing said, one that could further strain relations between the superpowers The destroyer, the USS Stethem, sailed less than 12 nautical miles from …
Read More »Second N. Korean soldier defects to S. Korea in a month
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | A North Korean soldier defected to the South after crossing the heavily fortified border, a defence ministry spokesman said Saturday, the second soldier to defect this month. “A North Korean soldier defected to one of our Guard Posts at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday …
Read More »US moves to reassure Qatar with arms sale, joint exercise
Doha, Qatar | AFP | The United States agreed a $12-billion warplane sale to Qatar and began manoeuvres with its military Thursday, re-affirming support for the emirate in the throes of a diplomatic crisis with its neighbours. A deal for the “state-of-the-art” F-15 fighters was signed by Qatar in Washington, …
Read More »US carriers in Sea of Japan in show of force to North Korea
Washington, United States | AFP | Two US aircraft carriers and their escort vessels carried out naval maneuvers in the Sea of Japan this week in a show of force directed at North Korea, a US official said Friday. The USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan led the …
Read More »Landmark US missile defense test a success
US military tests anti-ICBM system in landmark trial Washington, United States | AFP | The US military successfully fired an interceptor rocket at an intercontinental ballistic missile in a first-of-its-kind test that comes amid concerns over North Korea’s weapons program. Experts launched a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, …
Read More »CHINA: There is ‘no reason’ not to talk with N. Korea
United Nations, United States | AFP | China on Tuesday took a swipe at the United States, saying there was “no reason” to refuse dialogue with North Korea despite a string of missile tests strongly condemned by the UN Security Council. The council met behind closed doors to discuss …
Read More »North Korea declares medium-range missile ready for deployment
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea on Monday declared its medium-range Pukguksong-2 missile ready for deployment after a weekend test, the latest step in its quest to defy UN sanctions and develop an intercontinental rocket capable of striking US targets. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said the …
Read More »North Korea fires ‘unidentified projectile’
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea fired off an “unidentified projectile” Sunday according to South Korean defence officials, a week after its latest missile launch. “North Korea fired an unidentified projectile at Pukchang, South Pyongan province in the afternoon today,” the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in …
Read More »Hero’s welcome in Pyongyang for North’s missile developers
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Thousands of men in their Sunday best and women in colourful traditional dress lined the streets of Pyongyang to give the scientists and workers behind North Korea’s latest missile test a hero’s welcome, state media reported Friday. “People’s enthusiastic welcome for defence science warriors,” …
Read More »US court battle gives clues to Nigerian arms scandal
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | The claims read like the plot of a best-selling thriller, with secretive arms dealers and a corruption-riddled government fighting jihadists. The weapons deal collapses in acrimony but instead of a shoot-out, the embittered parties fight it out in court. In this real life saga, Ara …
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