Agence France-Presse & Zero Hedge & Donga.com & First Post.com – 2016-08-09 02:06:52
https://www.yahoo.com/news/n-korea-accuses-us-seeking-pre-emptive-nuclear-191332933.html
N. Korea Accuses US of Seeking ‘Pre-emptive Nuclear Strike’
Agence France-Presse
SEOUL (August 6, 2016) — North Korea has accused Washington of planning a pre-emptive nuclear strike, after the US announced it would deploy its B-1 bomber in the Pacific for the first time in a decade.
The strategic aircraft were to be deployed on Saturday on the US island of Guam, the US military said last month, describing the operation as a routine rotation with the B-52 bomber.
Tensions have been running high since North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a barrage of missile launches that this month reached Japanese waters directly for the first time.
Pyongyang accused Washington of “becoming all the more pronounced in their moves to topple down the DPRK by mobilizing all nuclear war hardware,” using North Korea’s official title.
“The enemies are bluffing that they can mount a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the DPRK by letting fly B-1B over the Korean peninsula within two-three hours in contingency,” said an English-language statement on state media.
“Such moves for bolstering nuclear force exposes again that the US imperialists are making a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the DPRK a fait accompli.”
North Korea has threatened “physical action” over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, known as THAAD.
Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month.
On July 29, the US Air Force said it would upgrade its hardware on Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific, by sending the B-1 for the first time since April 2006.
“The B-1 will provide US Pacific Command and its regional allies and partners with a credible, strategic power projection platform,” it said in a statement.
Pyongyang has repeatedly warned it may carry out pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, domestic and abroad. Ultimately, the North wants to be able to strike on the continental US.
The secretive state, led by supreme leader Kim Jong-un, warned Saturday it would respond to any aggression by reducing the US to a “sea of flames”.
“The ever-mounting moves of the US imperialists to ignite a nuclear war are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula into the uncontrollable and catastrophic phase,” said the KCNA statement.
Japan Orders Military To ‘State Of Alert’
As North Korea Accuses US Of Seeking ‘Preemptive Nuclear Strike’
Tyler Durden / Zero Hedge
(August 8, 2016) — Just days after North Korea has accused Washington of planning a preemptive nuclear strike — following the US announcement that it would deploy its B-1 bomber in the Pacific for the first time in a decade — Japan’s increasingly militarist tone just ratcheted up to ’11’ as defense ministry officials have ordered its military to be ready at any time to shoot down any North Korean missiles that threaten to strike Japan, putting its forces on a state of alert for at least three months.
Tensions have been running high since North Korea — officially named the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (DPRK) -carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a barrage of missile launches that this month reached Japanese waters directly for the first time (via Military.com)…
Pyongyang accused Washington of “becoming all the more pronounced in their moves to topple down the DPRK by mobilizing all nuclear war hardware,” using North Korea’s official title.
“The enemies are bluffing that they can mount a preemptive nuclear strike on the DPRK by letting fly B-1B over the Korean peninsula within two-three hours in contingency,” said an English-language statement on state media.
“Such moves for bolstering nuclear force exposes again that the US imperialists are making a preemptive nuclear strike on the DPRK a fait accompli.”
On July 29, the US Air Force said it would upgrade its hardware on Guam by sending the B-1 for the first time since April 2006.
“The B-1 will provide US Pacific Command and its regional allies and partners with a credible, strategic power projection platform,” it said in a statement.
Pyongyang has repeatedly warned it may carry out preemptive nuclear strikes against South Korean and US targets. The secretive state, led by supreme leader Kim Jong-un, warned Saturday it would respond to any aggression by reducing the US to a “sea of flames”.
“The ever-mounting moves of the US imperialists to ignite a nuclear war are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula into the uncontrollable and catastrophic phase,” said the North Korean statement.
And so, following this outburst, as Reuters reports, Abe has stepped up his military’s preparedness to respond . . . .
Japan ordered its military on Monday to be ready at any time to shoot down any North Korean missiles that threaten to strike Japan, putting its forces on a state of alert for at least three months, a defense ministry official and media said.
Up to now, Japan has issued temporary orders when it had indications of an imminent North Korean missile launch that it has canceled after a projectile had been launched.
However, because some test firings are hard to detect, it has decided to put its military on standby for a longer period. The order will be reviewed after three months, state broadcaster NHK said.
In other words, the next time Kim Jong-un launches, it may start the next war.
* * *
An increasingly militaristic Japan is something we’ve been warning about for a while. As Liberty Blitzkrieg’s Mike Krieger previously detailed…
In case you aren’t up to speed on your Japanese history, the nation’s post WWII Constitution prohibits military action unless it’s in self-defense. Clearly a sensible approach, which is why the current Japanese government, led by the demonstrably insane and incompetent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, wants to get rid of it.
This story is very important. Not only will this action increase the likelihood of World War III in the Far East, but it’s another important example of a government acting against the will of the people.
Polling has indicated the Japanese public is against a pivot toward militarization and war, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing forward nonetheless. In fact, the current legislation to allow overseas military intervention has already passed the lower house of government. This prompted many Japanese to emerge from their decades long political apathy and get out into the streets. It’s estimated these protests were the largest in recent memory . . . .
China, N. Korea Prompt Japanese Minister’s
Remarks on Nuclear Armament
Donga.com
(August 8, 2016) — Japan’s new Defense Minister Tomomi Inada created a stir in Japan and other Northeast Asian countries by noting in a press interview on Friday that there is no principle that stops Japan from possessing nuclear weapons.
“Japan’s constitution (that states Japan should not use violence but keep whatever is necessary for self-defense) does not specifically define a minimal amount of necessary weapons,” she said while answering questions on whether Japan should have nuclear weapons in the press interview.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe quickly tried to straighten out her remark by saying, “There will never be nuclear weapons in Japan or plans to make them.” However, the defense minister’s utterance seems to partly reflect Japan’s atmosphere.
Japan can make nuclear weapons anytime if it wants since it is equipped with 47.8 tons of plutonium for electricity generation, which can make 6,000 nuclear bombs. Yet, as a victim of nuclear bombing, Japan has not spoken of making nuclear weapons for themselves.
With US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s statement claiming that Japan and Korea should now protect themselves on their own with nuclear armament, Japan’s rightist politicians are raising their voice to convince everyone else to “consider nuclear armament.”
The rightist argument is becoming stronger in Japan, while China is simply sitting by and watching North Korea developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that now can fly to Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
US Vice President Joe Biden sent a warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping in June, saying that if China steps back from the North Korean nuclear issue, that gives Japan a good reason to arm itself with nuclear weapons.
American political magazine Politico reported that among Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, Japan is the most serious about nuclear armament. Against this backdrop, Japan will more vigorously push forward with its pursuit of nuclear sovereignty two years later at the end of the 30-year-old US-Japan cooperation on Nuclear Energy.
“Let us increase our military power that equals nuclear armament,” some Korean politicians proposed in the National Assembly on Thursday right after North Korea fired the Rodong missile. South Korea is not going to tolerate China’s threats against the THAAD deployment decision while at the same time refusing to take an action against North Korea’s missile launch.
“Whether the Sino-Japanese War was an invasion is not a matter of fact but a matter of viewpoint,” Japanese Defense Minister Inada noted. “You cannot simply say that it was an invasion.” Japan claims that the war began in 1937 when Japan attacked China military for shooting at the Japanese military in Beijing, however that is false.
Inada is an extreme rightist politician who makes such comments as “‘comfort women’ were legal” without hesitation. Her denial of Japan’s invasion in the Sino-Japanese War is condemnable, but it is China’s hegemonism that is giving Japan’s far rightists opportunities to become stronger.
Pakistan Threatens Nuclear War over Kashmir
If Pak supports, there’ll be nuclear war with India over Kashmir, warns Hizbul chief Syed Salahudeen
First Post.com
(August 8, 2016) — As unrelenting tension escalates across Jammu and Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudeen on Monday threatened to wage a nuclear war against India over the Kashmir issue. Asserting that a ‘fourth war’ is imminent with India, Salahudeen, in a statement, said:
“Pak is duty, morally, politically, constitutionally bound to provide substantial support to ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir.”
Quoting the Hizbul chief in a series of tweet, ANI reported that Salahudeen said that Kashmiris are no longer willing to compromise and added that it does not matter whether Pakistan, the world or even the United Nation supports ‘it’, Kashmiris have pledged to fight till the last drop of their blood.
“Our base camp in liberated Azad Kashmir, and the Kashmiris from this side will announce the trampling of the bloody Line of Control. After that there will be no bloody line, no ceasefire line, no international rules and no consideration for the United Nations observers. Bleeding Kashmiris will come from that side, these Kashmiris will go from this side, and God willing a decision will take place on the bloody line,” said Salahudeen.
“If Pakistan provides (this) support, there is a great chance of a nuclear war between two powers (India and Pakistan). I can predict a fourth war with certainty because Kashmiris are no longer willing to compromise, come what may. Whether world or Pak supports or not; UN performs duty or not, Kashmiris have pledged to fight up to last drop of their blood,” Salahudeen said in a statement.
Kashmiris have reached this conclusion that they have no second option except armed jihad
— Sayeed Salahudeen
I can predict a 4th war with certainty because Kashmiris are no longer willing to compromise, come what may
— Sayeed Salahudeen
Whether world or Pak supports or not; UN performs duty or not, Kashmiris have pledged to fight up to last drop of their blood
— SSalahudeen
Pak is duty, morally, politically, constitutionally bound to provide substantial support to ongoing freedom struggle in Kashmir
— SSalahudeen
And if Pak provides this support, there is a great chance of a nuclear war between two powers
— Sayeed Salahudeen
I can predict a 4th war with certainty because Kashmiris are no longer willing to compromise, come what may
— Sayeed Salahudeen
Dubbing the crisis in Kashmir as a armed struggle, the Hizbul chief said that the Narendra Modi government is giving no leeway and what remains with Kashmir’s ‘suppressed’ people is a target-oriented armed struggle.
“God willing, all this is present. But there will be a new dimension now, which will prove very dangerous for India, God willing.”
Issuing an impending threat of an attack, Salahudeen said that if the international players ignore this warning or Pakistan’s efforts are not fruitful and India does not stop atrocities, “a big incident can occur.”
Meanwhile, reacting to Salahudeen’s threat, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the Hizbul chief has no authority to speak on Kashmir.
Who is he & who has given him the right to speak about Kashmir? Dhamki se kuch nahin hoga: Venkaiah Naidu on terror leader
— Sayeed Salahudeen
Earlier in August, Salahudeen had accused Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of being a “killer of Kashmiris” and had urged Islamabad to recall its envoy from India over the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Hizbul leader, who also happens to be the chief of United Jihad Council, had seconded Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed’s call for a countrywide protest in Pakistan by JuD against Rajnath’s last week visit to Islamabad. Rajnath Singh was in Pakistan on 3 August to attend the Saarc home ministerial conference.
“The rulers should give up hypocrisy and the Pakistan government should either plead the case of Kashmiris or make friends with India,” Salahudeen had said.
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