10-26-2017, 09:54 PM
*** 27-Oct-17 World View -- US sends three aircraft carrier strike groups to waters around North Korea
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** North Korea renews threat of massive hydrogen bomb test over Pacific
****
![[Image: g171026b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g171026b.jpg)
Farm workers in North Korea (Michael Havis)
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Ri Yong-Pil, a senior diplomat
in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that previous threats of a
large hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific should be taken seriously.
The original threat came from North Korea's foreign minister Ri
Yong-ho in September, who said that North Korea was planning to test
"an unprecedented scale hydrogen bomb," just before giving a speech to
the United Nations:
<QUOTE>"It could be the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb
in the Pacific. We have no idea about what actions could be taken
as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong-un."<END QUOTE>
At the time, President Donald Trump tweeted a response: "Kim Jong Un
of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn’t mind starving or
killing his people, will be tested like never before!"
So on Wednesday, Ri Yong-Pil renewed the threat:
<QUOTE>"The foreign minister is very well aware of the
intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his
words literally."<END QUOTE>
Up until now, North Korea's nuclear tests have taken place underground
on North Korean soil. A hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific would be
an enormous escalation. The hydrogen explosion would threaten
shipping and planes flying overhead, and would release a great deal of
radiation and cause environmental damage.
The North Korean threat has been particularly alarming to the Japanese
people, since the missile carrying the hydrogen bomb would have to fly
over Japanese airspace. The Japanese are obviously concerned that a
failure in the propulsion system could bring the missile down on a
Japanese city.
It's quite likely that this threat was a factor in the landslide victory of Shinzo Abe's party
in last week's parliamentary elections. The prime minister, who is
leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) took a highly
nationalistic stance against North Korea during the campaign, and
said:
<QUOTE>"We can no longer let ourselves be fooled by North
Korea. We cannot succumb to its threats. By taking advantage of
our strong diplomacy, we have to make sure the North will have no
other option but change its policy and return to the negotiating
table."<END QUOTE>
Now with Wednesday's renewed threat by Ri Yong-Pil, nationalism is
likely to surge even higher. Abe has vowed to change Japan's
constitution, and bring an end to Japan's pacifism, and North Korea's
renewed threat should make that easier. Guardian (London, 22-Sep) and CNN and Reuters and Daily Star (London)
Related Articles
****
**** US sends three aircraft carrier strike groups to waters around North Korea
****
The Pentagon on Tuesday announced that the USS Theodore Roosevelt
aircraft carrier and strike group would enter the US 7th Fleet area of
operations in the western Pacific. The flagship will be joined by
several guided-missile cruisers and destroyers.
It joins the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group already in the region,
where it has been taking part in joint exercises with the South Korean
navy. The Ronald Reagan is permanently stationed with the 7th Fleet.
According to commanding officer Capt. Carlos Sardiello:
<QUOTE>"USS Theodore Roosevelt is prepared to carry out the
full spectrum of possible missions, from humanitarian relief to
combat operations. When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have
to be ready for anything."<END QUOTE>
Then on Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that USS Nimitz aircraft
carrier and strike group would also enter the US 7th Fleet area of
operations in the western Pacific.
The Nimitz had previously been deployed with the 5th Fleet in the
Mideast in Operation Inherent Resolve, the name of the US military
operation against the so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or
Daesh) in Iraq and Syria. Eventually, the Theodore Roosevelt is
expected to take the place of the Nimitz in the 5th Fleet area of
operations, covering the Middle East.
Having three aircraft carrier strike groups in the region is extremely
rare, and represents a huge show of force in response to North Korean
threats, in advance of President Trump's scheduled visit to Seoul and
Beijing next month.
However, Pentagon officials claim that the deployment of three Navy
aircraft carrier groups has been planned for some time. According to
spokesman Dana White:
<QUOTE>"This was a unique opportunity to show that the
U.S. is the only power in the world that can demonstrate that kind
of presence and a unique opportunity for them to be together.
It’s not directed towards any particular threat. But it is a
demonstration that we can do something that no one else in the
world can."<END QUOTE>
This is the first time since 2007 that three carrier groups have
deployed together to the same location. Navy.mil
and Military.com and The Hill and Navy.mil
and Russia Today
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, North Korea, Ri Yong-Pil, Ri Yong-ho,
Japan, Shinzo Abe, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP,
Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Carlos Sardiello, Nimitz,
Dana White, 7th Fleet, 5th Fleet, Operation Inherent Resolve,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- North Korea renews threat of massive hydrogen bomb test over Pacific
- US sends three aircraft carrier strike groups to waters around North Korea
****
**** North Korea renews threat of massive hydrogen bomb test over Pacific
****
Farm workers in North Korea (Michael Havis)
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Ri Yong-Pil, a senior diplomat
in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that previous threats of a
large hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific should be taken seriously.
The original threat came from North Korea's foreign minister Ri
Yong-ho in September, who said that North Korea was planning to test
"an unprecedented scale hydrogen bomb," just before giving a speech to
the United Nations:
<QUOTE>"It could be the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb
in the Pacific. We have no idea about what actions could be taken
as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong-un."<END QUOTE>
At the time, President Donald Trump tweeted a response: "Kim Jong Un
of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn’t mind starving or
killing his people, will be tested like never before!"
So on Wednesday, Ri Yong-Pil renewed the threat:
<QUOTE>"The foreign minister is very well aware of the
intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his
words literally."<END QUOTE>
Up until now, North Korea's nuclear tests have taken place underground
on North Korean soil. A hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific would be
an enormous escalation. The hydrogen explosion would threaten
shipping and planes flying overhead, and would release a great deal of
radiation and cause environmental damage.
The North Korean threat has been particularly alarming to the Japanese
people, since the missile carrying the hydrogen bomb would have to fly
over Japanese airspace. The Japanese are obviously concerned that a
failure in the propulsion system could bring the missile down on a
Japanese city.
It's quite likely that this threat was a factor in the landslide victory of Shinzo Abe's party
in last week's parliamentary elections. The prime minister, who is
leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) took a highly
nationalistic stance against North Korea during the campaign, and
said:
<QUOTE>"We can no longer let ourselves be fooled by North
Korea. We cannot succumb to its threats. By taking advantage of
our strong diplomacy, we have to make sure the North will have no
other option but change its policy and return to the negotiating
table."<END QUOTE>
Now with Wednesday's renewed threat by Ri Yong-Pil, nationalism is
likely to surge even higher. Abe has vowed to change Japan's
constitution, and bring an end to Japan's pacifism, and North Korea's
renewed threat should make that easier. Guardian (London, 22-Sep) and CNN and Reuters and Daily Star (London)
Related Articles
- North Korea crisis: Would the United States sacrifice Los Angeles for Seoul? (18-Oct-2017)
- Big election win for Japan's Shinzo Abe may mean end of pacifism (23-Oct-2017)
- Japan will shoot down N. Korean missiles via 'collective self-defense' (13-Aug-2017)
- North Korean missile strikes sea close to Japan, threatening radar base (04-Aug-2016)
****
**** US sends three aircraft carrier strike groups to waters around North Korea
****
The Pentagon on Tuesday announced that the USS Theodore Roosevelt
aircraft carrier and strike group would enter the US 7th Fleet area of
operations in the western Pacific. The flagship will be joined by
several guided-missile cruisers and destroyers.
It joins the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group already in the region,
where it has been taking part in joint exercises with the South Korean
navy. The Ronald Reagan is permanently stationed with the 7th Fleet.
According to commanding officer Capt. Carlos Sardiello:
<QUOTE>"USS Theodore Roosevelt is prepared to carry out the
full spectrum of possible missions, from humanitarian relief to
combat operations. When a carrier leaves on deployment, we have
to be ready for anything."<END QUOTE>
Then on Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that USS Nimitz aircraft
carrier and strike group would also enter the US 7th Fleet area of
operations in the western Pacific.
The Nimitz had previously been deployed with the 5th Fleet in the
Mideast in Operation Inherent Resolve, the name of the US military
operation against the so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or
Daesh) in Iraq and Syria. Eventually, the Theodore Roosevelt is
expected to take the place of the Nimitz in the 5th Fleet area of
operations, covering the Middle East.
Having three aircraft carrier strike groups in the region is extremely
rare, and represents a huge show of force in response to North Korean
threats, in advance of President Trump's scheduled visit to Seoul and
Beijing next month.
However, Pentagon officials claim that the deployment of three Navy
aircraft carrier groups has been planned for some time. According to
spokesman Dana White:
<QUOTE>"This was a unique opportunity to show that the
U.S. is the only power in the world that can demonstrate that kind
of presence and a unique opportunity for them to be together.
It’s not directed towards any particular threat. But it is a
demonstration that we can do something that no one else in the
world can."<END QUOTE>
This is the first time since 2007 that three carrier groups have
deployed together to the same location. Navy.mil
and Military.com and The Hill and Navy.mil
and Russia Today
Related Articles
- Trump's North Korea sanctions stop short of military blockade (22-Sep-2017)
- North Korea and Russia continue to incite a new Korean War (06-Sep-2017)
- America's UN ambassador Nikki Haley says North Korea is 'begging for war' (05-Sep-2017)
- Tensions grow on Korean peninsula over THAAD and N. Norea-Malaysia relations (08-Mar-2017)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, North Korea, Ri Yong-Pil, Ri Yong-ho,
Japan, Shinzo Abe, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP,
Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Carlos Sardiello, Nimitz,
Dana White, 7th Fleet, 5th Fleet, Operation Inherent Resolve,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
