China Opposes US Indictment Of Firm Tied To North Korea Nukes

China Opposes US Indictment Of Firm Tied To North Korea Nukes. (NDtv)

China said Tuesday it opposes a US decision to bring criminal charges against a Chinese firm and executives for their alleged role in supporting North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

"We would like to stress we oppose any country carrying out so-called 'long-arm jurisdiction' over a Chinese entity or individual in accordance with its own domestic laws," said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

Beijing has expressed its position directly to the US in recent communications, he added during a regular briefing.

On Monday the US Justice Department announced criminal charges against the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development company and four Chinese nationals for conspiring to evade US sanctions on North Korea, violating US regulations against support for "weapons of mass destruction proliferators", and money-laundering.

In parallel the Treasury added the company and the four individuals to a sanctions blacklist, making them ineligible to do business with American individuals or companies, particularly financial firms.

The move follows an earlier announcement by Chinese authorities that they were investigating the company, located in the city of Dandong on the border with North Korea.

Geng said Beijing would "seriously punish any illegal activities by companies or individuals, once discovered".

He added that China was willing to cooperate with other countries, if needed, on the basis of "mutual respect and equal treatment." He also stressed that China opposes Pyongyang's nuclear programme and has been "faithfully observing" its commitment to UN sanctions.

However, customs data released Monday showed China's imports of North Korean coal have surged 60 percent since the latest sanctions went into effect in April, reaching nearly 2.5 million tonnes valued at $113 million.

Dandong Hongxiang logged more than $530 million in two-way trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015, according to a recent report by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul and C4ADS in Washington.

That could have been enough to fund North Korea's uranium enrichment facilities, and to design, make, and test its nuclear weapons, the report said.

The North carried out its fifth and most powerful atomic weapons test this month, sparking moves to impose even tougher sanctions. Hmmm......As i said earlier Big Brother China will 'protect' North Korea, as they are their 'wild card' in the south China sea disputes.

North Korea Party To Give Kim Jong Un New Title.

North Korea Party To Give Kim Jong Un New Title.(NDtv).

North Korea's ruling party is preparing to bestow a new title on leader Kim Jong Un, another clear sign that the third heir to North Korea's dynasty of Kims is firmly in control despite his country's deepening international isolation over one of his key ambitions, to keep developing more and better nuclear weapons.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency today said the agenda for the congress included reviewing the works of the party's Central Committee and Central Audit Commission, revising party rules, electing Kim to the top party post and electing a new central leadership for the party.

The new title would likely elevate Kim to a level equivalent to his late father and grandfather, who held the title of general secretary of the Workers' Party - a mostly symbolic move to demonstrate the young leader is in full control and ready to begin a new era of his own. Kim is already head of the party, but with the title of first secretary.

Kim opened the lavish congress with a brief speech on Friday that singled out North Korea's advances in developing nuclear weapons and rockets capable of putting satellites into orbit, as examples of the country's progress in the face of international criticism and tough sanctions that threaten to further stifle its struggling economy.

All of the previous six congresses were convened by Kim's grandfather, national founder Kim Il Sung. The previous one was used as the stage to formally announce Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, as the second heir to power.

"Eternal president" Kim Il Sung died in 1994, and "eternal general-secretary" Kim Jong Il - who rarely spoke in public - never called for the convening of a congress, though they were on paper supposed to be held every five years.

This one is clearly designed to put the spotlight on Kim Jong Un, who has yet to travel abroad or meet any world leaders. With that in mind, the North has invited over 100 foreign journalists in to cover the event, though none have been let inside the convention hall.

Instead, they have been kept busy touring showcase factories, hospitals and historic sites. Hmmm.......'Little fatso? Read the full story here.

North Korea fires long-range rocket posing as a Satellite launch.

North Korea fires long-range rocket posing as a Satellite launch.(RT).

A state TV announcer said that North Korea had successfully placed a satellite in orbit.

The launch was condemned by Japan, South Korea and the US, who have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council later on Sunday.

South Korea says it is to begin discussing with the US the deployment of a missile defence system.
Senior defence official Ryu Je-Seung said if the THAAD missile system - considered one of the most advanced in the world - were deployed it would be only to counter the threat from the North.

Announcing the launch on state TV, a newsreader said it had been ordered by North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un and said the country planned to launch more satellites in the future.

South Korean MPs were told in a behind-closed-doors briefing by the country's spy agency later on Sunday that the launch should be treated as a ballistic missile test as the satellite it put into orbit would be useless.

The payload was presumed to weigh 200kg (440lbs), double the size of the one launched in 2012, but much lighter than the 800-1,500kg usual for a satellite.

They were also reportedly told North Korea has the technology for inter-continental ballistic missiles and is preparing a fifth nuclear test, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

The launch was roundly condemned by the international community. US Secretary of State John Kerry called it a "flagrant violation" of UN resolutions and warned of "significant measures to hold the DPRK [North Korea] to account."

China said it "regrets" North Korea's actions but urged "the relevant parties" to "refrain from taking actions that may further escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula".Read the full story here.

Related:

North Korea Can Miniaturize a Nuclear Weapon, and use on ICBM.

North Korea has deployed its new road-mobile KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile and is capable of mounting a miniaturized nuclear warhead on it, the U.S.’s top homeland security commander said. 

“Our assessment is that they have the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland,” Admiral William Gortney, the head of the U.S. Northern Command, told reporters Tuesday at the Pentagon. “We have not seen them do that” and “we haven’t seen them test the KN-08.” 

He said “yes sir” when asked if the U.S. thinks North Korea has succeeded in the complicated task of miniaturizing a warhead for use on such a missile. North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests since 2006. 


Video - IRAN: Nuclear cooperation between Iran regime & North Korea, NCRI reveals

Video - North Korean Ambassador to Egypt Pak Chun Il: We will Continue to Develop Nuclear Weapons

North Korea says it conducted a 'successful' miniaturized hydrogen bomb test.

North Korea says it conducted a 'successful' miniaturized hydrogen bomb test. (Yahoo).

North Korea said Wednesday it had carried out a "successful" miniaturized hydrogen bomb test -- a shock announcement that, if confirmed, would massively raise the stakes in the hermit state's bid to strengthen its nuclear arsenal.

The announcement triggered swift international condemnation but also scepticism, with experts suggesting the apparent yield was far too low for a thermonuclear device.

"The republic's first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10:00 am (0130 GMT)," North Korean state television announced.

"We have now joined the rank of advanced nuclear states," it said, adding that the test was of a miniaturised device.

Last month Kim suggested Pyongyang had already developed such a device.

The claim was questioned by international experts at the time and there was continued scepticism over Wednesday's test announcement, which took the international community by surprise.

"The seismic data that's been received indicates that the explosion is probably significantly below what one would expect from an H-bomb test," said Australian nuclear policy and arms control specialist Crispin Rovere. Hmmmm........Fact is North Korea and Iran cooperate together and that's the worrisome truth, when it comes to miniaturized war heads. Read the full story here.

'US, Israel should ensure Iran not involved in N. Korean nuclear program' https://t.co/WC7sBo7CkG #IsraelNews pic.twitter.com/VNtumVnNLw

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) January 6, 2016

North Korea's Missiles Able to Reach US Mainland according to South Korea.

North Korea's Missiles Able to Reach US Mainland according to South Korea. (SP).

The South Korean Defense Ministry has said in a white paper that North Korea is in possession of missiles that could reach the US mainland, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

"[North Korea has the] capability to threaten the US mainland," an extract from the document read, as quoted by the news agency.

This conclusion was made after North Korea completed five rounds of long-range missile testing. The assessment is also said to be based on North Korea's successful launch into orbit in December 2012 of the Unha-3 rocket with a range of some 8,000 kilometers (almost 5,000 miles).

According to Korea's defense ministry's report, the Taepodong-2 missile has an even longer range of some 10,000 kilometers. The paper also reportedly indicates that North Korea has made significant advancements in miniaturizing nuclear weapons, which has been attributed to the country's nuclear tests.

North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. Its nuclear program is a matter of great concern for the international community, leading to sanctions being imposed by UN Security Council.

Pyongyang's nuclear program has triggered demands for the country to return to talks on the reduction of its nuclear activities, from which North Korea withdrew in 2009. Hmmmm........... 'Miniaturizing nuclear weapons'....you think they shared with their Iranian buddies?