Tag: military

Kim sends missile ‘warning’ to S.Korea, US as tensions rise

by Claire LEE Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) —  North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un says the country’s latest missile launches were a warning to Washington and Seoul over their joint war games, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday, as tensions rise on the Korean peninsula. The latest launch by the nuclear-armed North came after the South Korean and US militaries began mainly computer-simulated joint exercises on Monday to test Seoul’s ability […]

N. Korea threatens more launches after fourth test in 12 days

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea threatened Tuesday to carry out more weapons tests after it fired its fourth set of projectiles in less than two weeks following the start of joint exercises between the US and the South. The rising temperature on the peninsula threatens to derail putative negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington, with the North saying the combined drills were a “flagrant violation” of the process. Pyongyang has always been infuriated by […]

US, S.Korea lack ‘political will’ on peace talks: KCNA

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a “flagrant violation” of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of “political will” to improve relations. The comments by an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two “unidentified projectiles” off its eastern coast, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. There were no further […]

US-S. Korea military exercises still on despite North’s warnings

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea will go ahead, a Pentagon official said on Wednesday, after missile tests and calls for the drills’ cancellation by North Korea. The affirmation of the annual, joint exercises came amid a series of missile launches by North Korea, one of which it called a “solemn warning to the South Korean warmongers” over the planned military drills. But despite Pyongyang’s warning […]

US hopes N.Korea talks go ahead despite Pyongyang threat

    by Kang Jin-kyu WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Tuesday it hoped to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, despite a warning from Pyongyang that US-South Korean military exercises could affect their planned resumption. The North had earlier Tuesday hinted that it could even reconsider its moratorium on nuclear testing over next month’s drills, which have been held for years but were scaled down to facilitate dialogue with Pyongyang. It […]

Paris clashes tarnish Macron’s military parade

by Daphné BENOIT and Stuart WILLIAMS PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday showcased European military cooperation in a Bastille Day parade but the aftermath of the glittering event was tarnished by violent clashes between police and protesters. Key EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, joined Macron in Paris to watch the annual parade that included representatives of nine other European armies in a show […]

President Duterte vows to complete critical military modernization phase within his term

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to make sure that the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be continued even after his term, as he recognized the “selfless service to the nation” of the country’s military personnel. During the 7nd anniversary of the Philippine Air Force, Duterte said that he would finish the projects for the Air Force under the “Horizon Projects” including enhancing the military’s capability against terrorism, […]

Sudan army ruler seeks to resume talks with protest leaders

by Tony GAMAL-GABRIEL and Abdelmoneim ABU IDRIS ALI KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — Sudan’s army ruler Wednesday called on protest leaders to resume talks on the transfer of power without any conditions, as the tension between the two sides persists after the bloody dispersal of demonstrators. Dozens of protesters were killed and hundreds wounded on June 3 when a weeks-long protest camp was violently dispersed by gunmen in military fatigues, who stormed the site shooting and […]

More than 30 dead as Sudan military rulers break up sit-in

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — Sudan’s military forcefully broke up a weeks-long sit-in outside Khartoum’s army headquarters on Monday, leaving more than 30 dead and hundreds wounded in a crackdown met with sharp international condemnation. Heavily armed members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces were deployed around the capital, guarding entrances to the bridges that cross the Nile, and moved in convoys around the city. The United States called it a “brutal” crackdown on protesters, who […]

Chinese warships cause surprise in Sydney Harbour

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australians enjoying a sunny winter morning were shocked by the sight of three Chinese warships steaming into Sydney Harbour Monday, forcing the prime minister to reassure jittery residents. Amid heightened concern about Beijing’s growing clout and military muscle-flexing, the appearance of a Chinese flagged task group and around 700 sailors came as a surprise. It also came as Prime Minister Scott Morrison was away on a visit to the Solomon […]

Chinese warships cause surprise in Sydney Harbour

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australians enjoying a sunny winter morning were surprised by the sight of three Chinese warships steaming into to Sydney Harbour Monday, forcing the prime minister to reassure jittery residents. Amid heightened concern about Beijing’s growing clout and military muscle flexing, the appearance of a Chinese flagged task group and around 700 sailors came as a surprise. “It may have been a surprise to others, but it certainly wasn’t a surprise to […]

Australia pilots hit by lasers during South China Sea flights

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s military has confirmed that Navy pilots were targeted with lasers during flights in the hotly contested South China Sea, with informal Chinese militia vessels believed to be behind the attacks. Beijing has become more assertive in the area, stoking tensions with rival claimants in Southeast Asia as well as Canberra and Washington — traditionally the dominant naval and air power in the Asia-Pacific region. The Australian Defence Force said “assets […]