51job

US Leads Missile Defense Drill to Tackle Pyongyang’s ‘Evolving Military Threats’ - Report_我的网站

情牵两世

一 | South Korea, Japan, and the US are due to begin a joint ballistic missile defense drill in the waters off Hawaii later on Monday as they step up security coordination against North Korea's "evolving military threats," according to Yonhap.,The South Korean news agency cited unnamed sources as saying that the Pacific Dragon exercise would take place on August 1-14 and aims to enhance cooperation among the participating countries in detecting, tracking and reporting ballistic missile targets.,The insiders added that in addition to the three countries, Australia and Canada would join the drill, which is being led by the US Pacific Fleet.,The claims come a few days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un asserted that Pyongyang is absolutely ready to mobilize its "nuclear war deterrence forces" at any moment.,“Our armed forces are thoroughly prepared to respond to any crisis, and our nation’s nuclear war deterrence is also fully ready to mobilize its absolute strength faithfully, accurately and promptly to its mission,” Kim was cited by Al Jazeera as saying last Wednesday during the celebration of the anniversary of the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War.,The North Korean leader also argued that Washington continues “dangerous, illegal hostile acts” with South Korea against his country some 70 years after the war, and seeks to justify its behavior by “demonizing” the North.,South Korea Fears North May Conduct New Nuclear Test in Coming Days - Unification Minister26 July, 17:00 GMT,He claimed any possible attempt by South Korea to make a preventive strike on the North to neutralize a part of the latter's military potential would be futile.,Additionally, Kim condemned the new South Korean administration under President Yoon Suk-yeol, saying any attempts to preemptively incapacitate his country would be met with a stern response and “annihilation”.,“I once again make it clear that North Korea is fully ready for any military confrontation with the United States,” he stressed.,This followed officials in Seoul and Washington claiming that Pyongyang had completed preparations to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.,South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin, in turn, warned that the North is likely to face stronger sanctions, including measures aimed at curbing its cyberattack capabilities if it goes ahead with the tests.,Last month, US special representative to North Korea Sung Kim asserted that Pyongyang had already tested an unprecedented number of missiles this year. In January, Pyongyang said it had tested a hypersonic missile and later launched a banned intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as well as missiles that it said could carry tactical nuclear weapons.,In 1953, Seoul and Pyongyang clinched an Armistice Agreement that ended the three-year war. However, formally, the Korean Peninsula is still at war because the conflict ended without both sides signing a peace treaty.。

二 | London, Oct 19 (UNI) One of China's most senior UK diplomats was involved in violence against protesters at the Manchester consulate on Sunday, a British MP says.
"What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest," Alicia Kearns told MPs in the House of Commons, BBC reported.
China has not commented on Zheng Xiyuan's alleged involvement.
But the Foreign Ministry in Beijing defended the actions of consulate staff.
Spokesman Wang Wenbin said people had "illegally entered" the grounds and any country's diplomats would have taken "necessary measures" to protect their premises.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned Chinese chargé d'affaires Yang Xiaoguang -- the ambassador's deputy -- on Tuesday to demand an explanation for what happened at the consulate, the BBC reported.
The UK said it was reiterated at the meeting that all diplomats and consular staff based in the UK must respect the UK's laws and regulations.
The official Chinese version of what happened is at odds with video footage and statements from police.
Officers had to drag back a protester from inside the consulate gate as he was being attacked, the report said.
Earlier, Kearns told MPs that after Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan ripped down the placards, there was "grievous bodily harm against a Hongkonger, one of whom was hospitalised for taking part in a peaceful protest.
"Some were then dragged onto consulate territory for a further beating by officials who have been recognised to be members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
"We cannot allow the CCP to import their beating of protesters, their silencing of free speech and their failure to allow time and time again protests on British soil. This is a chilling escalation."
According to a statement by the Greater Manchester Police, around 30 to 40 people had gathered outside the consulate to protest, the BBC reported.
"Shortly before 4pm a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted," the statement said.
"Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds."
The consulate is UK territory, but cannot be entered without consent.
Another MP, Labour's Afzal Khan -- who represents the constituency where the consulate is, Manchester Gorton -- told the House of Commons he was "sickened" by the scenes.
"The UK stands for freedom, the rule of law, and democracy," said the Labour MP. "The quashing of peaceful protests will never be tolerated on British soil."
Khan and other MPs called for the consul-general to be declared a "persona non grata" -- meaning a person who is unwelcome in the country.
Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith asked if the government would "be prepared to expel the consul-general and any of those that are found to have been part of that punishment beating and the vandalism?"
Some MPs called for the Foreign Office to go further, including Labour's Andrew Gwynne who said: "Had these incidents happened on the streets of Hong Kong, there would have been outrage from the British government, rightly so.
"They happened on the streets of Manchester and yet we have this situation where the minister is basically sending a memo to the Chinese embassy, an offer of a cup of tea and a chat with the ambassador."
UNI MR。