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 …
Read More »US would talk to N. Korea if missile, nuclear tests stop
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington’s envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang. “We are willing to talk, but not …
Read More »