[h=2]'They've taken us by surprise': Australia needs to build a missile defence system to protect the mainland from North Korea's nuclear threat, expert says[/h][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]27/04/17 03:23
Australia needs to 'get much more serious' about building a missile defence system to guard against North Korea's missile development, defence specialist Andrew Shearer has claimed. He said Kim Jong-un's regime has rapidly developed its missile technology so fast it has taken western analysts by surprise. A missile defence system would cost billions of dollars. The warning comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) told Australia its allegiance with the U.S. was 'suicidal' and demonstrated its force in its 'largest ever' live-fire artillery drills (inset) on Wednesday. (Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is pictured right).
Australia needs to 'get much more serious' about building a missile defence system to guard against North Korea's missile development, defence specialist Andrew Shearer has claimed. He said Kim Jong-un's regime has rapidly developed its missile technology so fast it has taken western analysts by surprise. A missile defence system would cost billions of dollars. The warning comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) told Australia its allegiance with the U.S. was 'suicidal' and demonstrated its force in its 'largest ever' live-fire artillery drills (inset) on Wednesday. (Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is pictured right).
[h=1]Top US commander warns Hawaii may need a stronger missile system to combat the threat from North Korea[/h]
The United States may need to strengthen its missile defenses, particularly in Hawaii, given the advancing threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs, the top US commander in the Pacific told Congress on Wednesday.
Just hours before the entire US Senate was due to receive a top-level briefing on North Korea at the White House, Admiral Harry Harris testified that he believed Pyongyang's threats against the United States needed to be taken seriously.
Harris said the defenses of Hawaii were sufficient for now but could one day be overwhelmed, and suggested studying stationing new radar there as well as interceptors to knock out any incoming North Korean missiles.
'I don't share your confidence that North Korea is not going to attack either South Korea, or Japan, or the United States ... once they have the capability,' Harris told a lawmaker at one point.
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Just hours before the entire US Senate was due to receive a top-level briefing on North Korea at the White House, Admiral Harry Harris (above) testified that he believed Pyongyang's threats against the United States needed to be taken seriously
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An aerial view of ships moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii is seen in the above file photo. Harris said the defenses of Hawaii were sufficient for now but could one day be overwhelmed, and suggested studying stationing new radar there as well as interceptors
Asked about defenses of the continental United States, Harris deferred to other commanders but said: 'I do believe that the numbers could be improved. In other words, we need more interceptors.'
The testimony was the latest sobering reminder of growing US alarm about North Korean capabilities.
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- Top US commander in the Pacific warned Congress of North Korean threat
- Admiral Harry Harris testified in favor of beefing up US missile defenses
- Harris said Hawaii defenses were sufficient 'for now' but need to be upgraded
- North Korea on Tuesday held large-scale live-fire military exercise
The United States may need to strengthen its missile defenses, particularly in Hawaii, given the advancing threat from North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs, the top US commander in the Pacific told Congress on Wednesday.
Just hours before the entire US Senate was due to receive a top-level briefing on North Korea at the White House, Admiral Harry Harris testified that he believed Pyongyang's threats against the United States needed to be taken seriously.
Harris said the defenses of Hawaii were sufficient for now but could one day be overwhelmed, and suggested studying stationing new radar there as well as interceptors to knock out any incoming North Korean missiles.
'I don't share your confidence that North Korea is not going to attack either South Korea, or Japan, or the United States ... once they have the capability,' Harris told a lawmaker at one point.
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Just hours before the entire US Senate was due to receive a top-level briefing on North Korea at the White House, Admiral Harry Harris (above) testified that he believed Pyongyang's threats against the United States needed to be taken seriously
+6
An aerial view of ships moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii is seen in the above file photo. Harris said the defenses of Hawaii were sufficient for now but could one day be overwhelmed, and suggested studying stationing new radar there as well as interceptors
Asked about defenses of the continental United States, Harris deferred to other commanders but said: 'I do believe that the numbers could be improved. In other words, we need more interceptors.'
The testimony was the latest sobering reminder of growing US alarm about North Korean capabilities.
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Taken by photographer Eric Lafforgue during what would prove to be his final visit to the rogue state, the images reveal the shocking extent of the deprivation suffered by the people who live there.
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Multi-purpose: 'The North Korean army is said to be one of the most important in the world. But if you travel there, you’ll often see soldiers doing menial tasks'
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Unamused: 'The officials hate it when you take this kind of picture. Even when I explained that poverty exists everywhere, they still forbade me from taking them'
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Child labour: 'When times are hard (as they usually are here), children can be found working for the farming collectives,' explains Lafforgue
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Shocking: 'North Korean officials forbid you to photograph anyone suffering from malnutrition like this man or this little boy'
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Not allowed: It is forbidden to take pictures of North Korean people if they are not well dressed. For my guide this man was not well dressed enough to be photographed'
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Scraps: 'I spotted these kids collecting maize grains in the streets near Begaebong,' explains Lafforgue of this surreptitious shot
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Multi-purpose: 'The North Korean army is said to be one of the most important in the world. But if you travel there, you’ll often see soldiers doing menial tasks'
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Unamused: 'The officials hate it when you take this kind of picture. Even when I explained that poverty exists everywhere, they still forbade me from taking them'
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Child labour: 'When times are hard (as they usually are here), children can be found working for the farming collectives,' explains Lafforgue
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Shocking: 'North Korean officials forbid you to photograph anyone suffering from malnutrition like this man or this little boy'
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Not allowed: It is forbidden to take pictures of North Korean people if they are not well dressed. For my guide this man was not well dressed enough to be photographed'
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Scraps: 'I spotted these kids collecting maize grains in the streets near Begaebong,' explains Lafforgue of this surreptitious shot
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Unique: 'A woman standing in the middle of a crowd of soldiers. This picture was not supposed to be taken as officials do not allow pictures of the army'
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Break-down: North Korea is touchy about images showing the military. 'You see this all the time in North Korea, but aren't allowed to take pictures,' says Lafforgue
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No photos! 'Taking pictures in the demilitarised zone (between North and South Korea) is easy, but if you come too close to the soldiers, they stop you'
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Not allowed: Taking photos of soldiers relaxing, such as this photograph of two men enjoying a sneaky cigarette, is not allowed in North Korea
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Bizarre: 'When visiting the dolphinarium in Pyongyang, you are allowed to photograph the animals, but not the soldiers who make up 99 per cent of the crowd!'
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Enraged: The North Korean regime hates photos that show soldiers resting. 'This picture really contributed to me getting banned from the country,' says Lafforgue
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Cold shower: A man bathes in the river in the countryside outside Pyongyang. 'Once you get into rural areas, this sort of thing is very common,' says Lafforgue
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Fishing: 'This man was using an old tyre for a boat. In the countryside, people often fish in small lakes - it's a way to get fresh food in remote areas where it's rare'
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Hunger: 'My camera was confiscated for the duration of the bus trip to Chongjin which suffered in the famine. Once I saw the people in the street, I understood why'
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Snooze: 'This man was taking a rest by the sea in Chilbo. My guide asked me to delete this for fear that Western media would say this man was dead. He was alive'
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Poverty: 'In Kaesong near the demilitarised zone, you are locked in an hotel complex made of old houses. The guides say it's the same outside the hotel. No, it’s not.'
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Not impressed: 'This kind of picture is widespread in the West. The caption often points out that North Koreans have to eat grass. The guides get furious if you take it'
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Duty: 'People go to the country to do public projects. The regime used to see shots like these as positive but now they know that we interpret this as forced labour'
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No flash: 'As we passed by these old buildings, the guides asked me not to shoot with flash. The official reason was “to avoid scaring people”'
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Paranoia: 'North Koreans are very paranoid. I was asked to delete the picture since the guides were certain I would have said those people were homeless - they were just resting'
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Forbidden: The regime considers pictures showing smiles under portraits of the leadership to be disrespectful. 'Never take a picture where you can see people doing silly things in front of the Kim portraits,' says Lafforgue
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Rare: 'Although cars are becoming widespread in Pyongyang, peasants aren't used to seeing them. Kids play in the middle of the road just like when they didn't exist'
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Luxury: 'You can find all kinds of food and drink in Pyongyang’s two supermarkets. They even have Evian water but only the elite can shop there'
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Blackout: 'We were in Pyongyang art gallery when we experienced a power outage. When it happens, they tell you it’s because of the American embargo'
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Irritating: 'Perhaps the most ridiculous prohibition of all. When I took the picture, everyone yelled at me. Since the painting was unfinished, I couldn’t take the picture'
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Scared: 'You are supposed to see fun at the Songdowon Children's Camp but some come from the country and are scared of escalators which they’ve never seen before'
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Odd: 'Officials took issue with this photo for two reasons: The teen is wearing his cap in a strange way (according to my guide), and there are soldiers in the background'
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Multipurpose: 'Pyongyang’s subway system is the deepest in the world as it doubles as a bomb shelter. I was told to delete this photo because it includes the tunnel'
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Smarten up! 'The way you dress is very important in North Korea. When I asked to take a picture of these students, the girl insisted that the man straighten his shirt'
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Ridiculous: 'When you visit families, the guides love it if you take photos to show that kids have computers. But when they see there's no power, they ask you to delete!'
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Exhausted: 'You see a lot of tired people on the roadside, since many have to ride their bikes for hours to get to work. Taking pictures of them is forbidden.'
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Eking a living: Although the regime has cracked down on the black market, the 'grey market', to which officials turn a blind eye, allow some to scratch a living
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Reparation: 'North Korea says foreign aid is a war debt, but taking photos of the WFP sign through the window of a house in a village is forbidden'
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Tough: 'A rare example of an undisciplined kid in North Korea. The bus was driving in the small roads of Samijyon in the north, when this boy stood in the road'
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Patient: 'Queuing is a national sport for North Koreans,' says Lafforgue. This photo shows people waiting for a chance to catch the bus to work
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Capital living: 'Pyongyang is the showcase of North Korea, so building exteriors are carefully maintained. When you look inside, the truth becomes apparent'
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Martin Von Den Driesch A German photographer has released a series of images offering a unique glimpse inside the shadowy state of North Korea.
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This image shows a guarded swimming session taking place at a beach in the Kumgangsan region, in Kangwon, North Korea
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In this image North Koreans are enjoying watching a film at a 3D-cinema in the country's capital, Pyongyang
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Here a waitress wearing a traditional is pictured sitting by the sea during her lunch break in the port city of Wonsan
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Two KPA soldiers standing guard inside a Joint Security Area (JSA) conference room, in front of the door leading to the South Korean side of the JSA
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This pictue shows a group of soldiers in uniform, marching through to North Korean countryside and playing music
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This image shows a guarded swimming session taking place at a beach in the Kumgangsan region, in Kangwon, North Korea
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In this image North Koreans are enjoying watching a film at a 3D-cinema in the country's capital, Pyongyang
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Here a waitress wearing a traditional is pictured sitting by the sea during her lunch break in the port city of Wonsan
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Two KPA soldiers standing guard inside a Joint Security Area (JSA) conference room, in front of the door leading to the South Korean side of the JSA
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This pictue shows a group of soldiers in uniform, marching through to North Korean countryside and playing music
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This student, at Showcase school in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, is concentrating hard on her embroidery work
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As Martin and the group of tourists arrived in the DPRK this woman in a small kiosk offered them snake vodka for sale
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This image shows a secret village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The picture was deleted when crossing the DMZ, but could be restored afterwards
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One the tour group's cars broke down in North Korea and had to be fixed in the next repair shop. This picture shows the group giving the vehicle a push
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This landscape picture shows one of lesser-known sides of North Korea - the country has beautiful mountains and beaches
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This beach on North Korea's east coast has soft golden sands but is empty of swimmers, although the sun umbrellas show that sunbathers do visit from time-to-time
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This image shows a soldier in uniform stand on North Korea's holy mountain Paektusan. The huge crater lake called Chon - or 'Lake of Heaven' lies at the summit, surrounded by bare rocky crags
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A policeman is pictured here standing in the North Korean countryside in his almost-impossibly crisp and clean white uniform
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German photographer Martin Von Den Driesch pictured with his wife Julia Kim on a beach in North Korea
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In this picture, a saleswoman stands in a kiosk where North Korean products are offered for sale
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During the guided trip the group visited an exhibition about North Korea's typical wildlife, where this picture of a pair of stuffed deer was taken
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Students practice their keyboard skills during a lesson at Showcase school in North Korea's capital Pyongyang
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This picture was taken during a barbecue with the group's government minders. As Martin was not allowed to photograph regular North Korean people, he started to take photos of his minders
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This picture was taken inside North Korea's Parliament building in Pyongyang, where the Supreme People's Assembly meets. It consists of one deputy from each of 687 constituencies, elected to serve five-year terms
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This image shows female soldiers in uniform on the holy mountain Paektusan. North Koreans consider the mountain to be the place of their ancestral origin
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This picture shows an empty waterpark near Pyongyang. The state-run attraction was designed to improve the country's negative public image
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This photograph offers a unique glimpse inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea
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This image was taken in rural North Korea, and shows the simple life people lead in the countryside, grazing cattle and travelling around by bicycle
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In this image taken with a slow shutter speed and provided by the U.S. Air Force, an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test early Wednesday, April 26, 201, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The target of the test was in the Pacific Ocean. An Air Force statement said the mission was part of a program to test the effectiveness, readiness, and accuracy of the weapon system. (Senior Airman Ian Dudley/U.S. Air Force via AP)
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24mAnkit Panda
@nktpnd
[h=1]This is a bargain: South Korea gives anti-submarine warship to Philippines, for $100 [/h]
South Korea gives anti-submarine warship to Philippines, for $100reuters.com
@nktpnd
[h=1]This is a bargain: South Korea gives anti-submarine warship to Philippines, for $100 [/h]
South Korea gives anti-submarine warship to Philippines, for $100reuters.com
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China's Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said that the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile in South Korea system threatens to damage 'strategic balance and stability' in the region
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The country's two-seat FC-1 Xiaolong took off on Thursday as Beijing showed its new fighter jet
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The jet's sub-assembly ceremony (pictured) took place on April 26, 2016. The aircraft is jointly developed by China and Pakistan. It's known as JF-17 in Pakistan
