Kim Jong-Il refused to fly, IIRC. Didn't go anywhere his trains (he had a few) couldn't. Kim Il-Sung also travelled by train, but I'm not sure if he refused to fly. He toured Eastern Europe by train once. Kim Jong-Un's been to Hanoi by train. Supposedly, the Kims travel with three trains. Leading one to ensure the track's safe, middle one luxury (& armoured) accommodation for the divine Kim, & 3rd one for supplies, guards & servants.
Japan, Koreas, China and Taiwan regional issues
- Thread starter Chino
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Sandhi Yudha
Well-Known Member
Traveling by train is more comfortable, safer, more environmental friendly and so stylish...Kim is planning to visit Putin in Russia via his armoured train. I believe Putin also has a special train. I guess both of these wackos have good reasons to avoid air travel.
Even the royal family of the Netherlands has an own train.
Koninklijke trein (Nederland) / Koninklijke rijtuigen / Rijtuigsoorten | Treinen Nederland Terug naar Toen
treinen-nederland-terug-naar-toen.jouwweb.nl
But yes, it seems that the Great Supreme Leader plans to go to Russia for talks about weapon exports.
Ukraine war: Kim Jong Un 'to visit Putin for weapons talks'
North Korea's leader will discuss supplying weapons for Russia to use in Ukraine, US media report.
www.bbc.com
Ananda
The Bunker Group
Putin have good plane in his inventories, say what you want on IL-96, economically it is not as par with latest Airbus and Boeing. However it is have good reliability track record. While if we see what Kim has on the airliners inventory, Air Koryo is not having state of the art reliable airliner in the inventories.
So media can speculate on his personal aversion on traveling. I do suspect because he also doesn't control a reliable airliner. He definitely do not want to buy something that come from West. So perhaps after he go to Moscow, he also want to procure brand new MC-21.
So media can speculate on his personal aversion on traveling. I do suspect because he also doesn't control a reliable airliner. He definitely do not want to buy something that come from West. So perhaps after he go to Moscow, he also want to procure brand new MC-21.
Ananda
The Bunker Group
It could be that, but I do suspect because he knows most likely if he wants to buy good business jets it will come from West. He can buy it from 3rd parties, but his paranoia on West perhaps stop him to do that.
It is all speculation, from his fear on flying, or his paranoia not want to acquainted plane from West.
It is all speculation, from his fear on flying, or his paranoia not want to acquainted plane from West.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Both realize they are much more vulnerable in a jet than a train. I suspect this is Kim’s major concern but he may have an actual fear of flying as well. Vlad likely knows VIP jets don’t work well with incoming missiles or surprise packages.
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
[Taiwan] Defense ministry eyes 1,440 missiles
The Taiwanese Army is to receive 1,240 TOW-2B and 200 Javelin missiles in 2024. The former completes an order of 1,700 from a previous deal, and the latter a shipment of 400 (minor caveat next year's shipment needs to be approved by the legislative, but that's probably not an issue).
Also, the 11 HIMARS ordered previously are set to be delivered next year. The further order of 18 units to replace US howitzers is still on course.
The Taiwanese Army is to receive 1,240 TOW-2B and 200 Javelin missiles in 2024. The former completes an order of 1,700 from a previous deal, and the latter a shipment of 400 (minor caveat next year's shipment needs to be approved by the legislative, but that's probably not an issue).
Also, the 11 HIMARS ordered previously are set to be delivered next year. The further order of 18 units to replace US howitzers is still on course.
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
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Taiwan moves closer to acquiring 160 Turkish-made Jackal drones
The Jackal has the potential to conduct airstrikes, provide air support, attack helicopters in flight and more.
www.defensenews.com
Taiwan is continuing to invest in drones. In addition to orders for domestic UAVs and loitering munitions, an order has been agreed to buy 160 JACKAL drones, which can fire the Martlet lightweight missile.
Japan is speeding up Tomahawk purchase. The original schedule had Japan purchasing 400 Block V missiles in January 2026 and 2027, but the new plan will see up to 200 Block IV missiles purchased by January 2025; the remaining missiles will be Block V delivered from 2026. This accelerated schedule is "in light of the increasingly challenging Asian security environment" according to the Japanese Defense minister. This was announced during a meeting with the US Defense Secretary, where they highlighted China’s growing military assertiveness, as well as its bolstered cooperation with Russia.
The Japanese are becoming increasingly concerned by the development in the region, that's for sure.
Japan expedites purchase of Tomahawks as security concerns grow - The Japan Times
The Japanese are becoming increasingly concerned by the development in the region, that's for sure.
Japan expedites purchase of Tomahawks as security concerns grow - The Japan Times
Musashi_kenshin
Well-Known Member
Twelve new missile sites planned - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
An interesting report, as it has sometimes been said in the past that much of Taiwan's air defences were outdated.
12 MIM-23 Hawk and TK-II missile sites are to be upgraded and turned into sites for TK-III missiles by the end of 2026. The report submitted to the Taiwanese legislative does not appear to say how many TK-III sites there are at the moment.
Sandhi Yudha
Well-Known Member
That looks like a quite serious earthquake. Well, 7,3 on the scale of Richter is quite serious.
Taiwan rocked by strong earthquake, collapsing buildings and shaking bridges (youtube.com)
Taiwan rocked by strong earthquake, collapsing buildings and shaking bridges (youtube.com)
Ben Dhyani
New Member
Taiwan Scrambles Jets and Puts Missile, Naval and Land Units on Alert over China's Military Drills | Military.com
Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.
China’s military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence. Beijing claims the island is part of China’s national territory and the People’s Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.
China’s “irrational provocation has jeopardized regional peace and stability," the island's Defense Ministry said. It said Taiwan will seek no conflicts but “will not shy away from one." “This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart," the ministry's statement said.
In his inauguration address on Monday, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to “neither yield nor provoke” the mainland Communist Party leadership.
Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.
China’s military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence. Beijing claims the island is part of China’s national territory and the People’s Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.
China’s “irrational provocation has jeopardized regional peace and stability," the island's Defense Ministry said. It said Taiwan will seek no conflicts but “will not shy away from one." “This pretext for conducting military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, but also shows its hegemonic nature at heart," the ministry's statement said.
In his inauguration address on Monday, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to “neither yield nor provoke” the mainland Communist Party leadership.
Ananda
The Bunker Group
Nuclear statement issued by China, Japan, and South Korea
North Korea hit back by condemning the South's "mockery" and "trickery."
www.newsweek.com
DPRK not happy with join declaration from its neigbours, China, ROK and Japan. I suspect they are more concern as China also sign on declaration which includes call for Denuclearisation of Korean peninsula.
Although China and Russia increasingly shielding DPRK on any more stringent call and embargoes in UN, but China possition on not happy with Kim's nuclear development is not something new. Still China also nows that the problem in it's economy need further cooperation with its two neighbors, Japan and ROK.
China urges South Korea, Japan to uphold free trade at three-way summit
Chinese Premier Li Qiang says three countries should view each other as ‘partners and opportunities for development’.
With increasing trade protectionism from US and EU, China increasingly want to bolster intra Asian trade. China trade and investment push to Southeast Asia already shown that, however China also need ROK and Japan to complete their Asian Economic cooperation. SEA provide market and industrial chain, while ROK and Japan provide Investment and Tech cooperation.
Japan, ROK and China have also one thing in common. Increasing aging population and faltering demographic growth. However they also have advance industrial supply chains. Taiwan and DPRK are the issues that make three of them, more precise ROK and Japan concern. Thus I suspect China feels the call for Denuclearisation of peninsula is something that they can afford at this moment on part of Trilateral join declaration.
Intra Asian Economic development especially among East Asia and South East Asia is always what China wants, and basically also most what it's neighbors wants. Economically East Asia and SEA are much more dependent to each other. The dynamics now increasingly involved South Asia eventough not yet as integrated as the othet two Asian region yet.
This is the difference between what US and EU see on China against what ROK and Japan and also ASEAN see. US and EU want to curtail China, while the rest of Asia need to integrate their economies more to each other to not only develop but also survive. China doesn't want to soften it's stance on Taiwan yet, thus DPRK seems become the card on the bargain between China to ROK and Japan. Something that DPRK doesn't like, as it is also see Nuclear and Balistic Missiles are the two bargain card left that DPRK can play.
The way that the declaration being sign is in my opinion also one of bargain China offer to DPRK yet. ROK and Japan bring their 'first' leader to the summit, and yet China only bring their 'second' leader to the summit. When China bring Xi on next Trilateral summit, then it is basically China final commitment. Rumours in market talk speculation that China only bring Li and not Xi as want to see how ROK and Japan commitment against US pressures for the need on curtailment of PRC. If they see ROK and Japan really serious on increasing deal for FTA, then Xi will then come out.
Add:
At least at this moment ROK and Japan concern toward latest DPRK satellite launch, bit lessen. As the launch basically fail.
North Korea says rocket carrying satellite exploded mid-flight
Pyongyang says its attempt to put another spy satellite into orbit ends in failure, according to state news agency KCNA.
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Sandhi Yudha
Well-Known Member
North-Korea has sent 200 balloons with trash (including plastic bottles and batteries) and feces attached to them, to South-Korea.
nos.nl
This is not the first time, in 2016 North-Korea did the same thing.
www.bbc.com
Maybe Kim Jong Un thinks he is creative and funny, but this is actually disgusting and pathetic. By the way, Kim Ki-nam, the retired head of propaganda died earlier this month.
nos.nl
Noord-Korea stuurt honderden ballonnen met afval naar Zuid-Korea
De ballonnen, vol met plastic flessen, batterijen en uitwerpselen, zijn over een groot deel van Zuid-Korea neergekomen.
nos.nl
This is not the first time, in 2016 North-Korea did the same thing.
North Korea drops balloons carrying trash in South
The balloons, which were found across South Korea, carried toilet paper, batteries and suspected poo.
www.bbc.com
Maybe Kim Jong Un thinks he is creative and funny, but this is actually disgusting and pathetic. By the way, Kim Ki-nam, the retired head of propaganda died earlier this month.
Brein achter Noord-Koreaanse propaganda op 94-jarige leeftijd overleden
Kim Ki-nam was een vertrouweling van de Kim-dynastie en had decennialang invloed op media en kunst in het dictatoriaal geleide land.
nos.nl
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Well…..disgusting, but better than $hit that goes bang.
Sandhi Yudha
Well-Known Member
Hopefully the North-Koreans will not read your post.....it can bring them new ideas.