A U.S. missile shield in South Korea is now operational and able to intercept North Korean missiles, according to a U.S. military spokesman in Seoul. The system, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), is not expected to be fully operational for several months (New York Times)
North Korea Holds Firing Drills
A missile-armed U.S. submarine is joining a group of U.S. warships led by an aircraft carrier off South Korea after North Korea carried out live fire drills to celebrate the eighty-fifth anniversary of its military (Associated Press)
China’s President Calls Trump Over North Korea
Chinese state media reported that President Xi Jinping called President Donald J. Trump to urge restraint regarding North Korea. Xi also told Trump that China opposes the country’s nuclear weapons program (Al Jazeera)
U.S. Aircraft Carrier Was Not Heading Toward North Korea
A U.S. flotilla was sailing not toward North Korea but in the opposite direction when President Donald J. Trump said last week that the United States was “sending an armada” in reference to North Korean threats. A Pentagon spokeswoman said that the aircraft carrier is now moving north toward the Korean peninsula (New York Times)
North Korea Promises Military Strikes Against Any U.S. Aggression
The deputy foreign minister said North Korea will launch military strikes against U.S. aggressors if the country sees any signs of “assault on our sovereignty” (Al Jazeera)
United States Says Strategic Patience for North Korea ‘Over’
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, citing recent strikes in Syria and Afghanistan authorized by President Trump, said North Korea “would do well not to test his resolve” (Reuters)
North Korea Threatens Nuclear Test When ‘Necessary’
North Korea’s vice foreign minister said the country will carry out its next nuclear test when it decides the move is “necessary,” adding, “we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a U.S. preemptive strike” (Associated Press)
Trump Offers China Better Trade for North Korea Action
President Trump said in an interview that he offered Chinese President Xi Jinping more favorable trade policies in exchange for Xi’s solving “the problem in North Korea” Trump also said that he will not label China a currency manipulator in an upcoming report, despite promises on the campaign trail to do so (Wall Street Journal)
China’s Xi Calls for ‘Peaceful’ North Korea Resolution
Chinese President Xi Jinping phoned his U.S. counterpart, Donald J. Trump, to call for a peaceful resolution to tensions on the Korean peninsula after the United States dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group toward the region. Xi told Trump that China is “committed to the target of denuclearization on the peninsula” (BBC)
North Korea Threatens Defense Through “Powerful Force of Arms”
North Korea’s foreign ministry said the country would defend itself “by powerful force of arms” in response to the U.S. deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Korean peninsula (BBC)
United States Sends Navy Strike Group to Korea
The United States dispatched a naval strike group, including a carrier air wing and two guided-missile destroyers, to the Korean Peninsula to “maintain readiness” in the Western Pacific (WaPo)
North Korea Fires Missile Ahead of U.S.-China Summit
North Korea fired a ballistic missile, which flew thirty-seven miles off its east coast before falling into the sea, according to South Korea. The launch came a day before U.S. President Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate (New York Times)
United States Opposes UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Over North Korea Concerns
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley led a boycott of UN talks on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, questioning whether North Korea would comply with a ban (NYT)
North Korean Missile Test Fails
North Korea attempted to launch a ballistic missile, but it exploded within seconds after the launch (Korea Times)
U.S. Says ‘All Options’ on Table Regarding North Korea
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said during a visit to Seoul that “all options are on the table” to deter a weapons threat from North Korea. Also in South Korea, presidential candidate Moon Jae-in said he would review the deployment of a U.S. missile shield and consult China ahead of a May election (Washington Post)
UN: North Korea Attempted to Sell Nuclear Material
UN investigators said that North Korea attempted to sell a form of lithium used to make miniature nuclear weapons to unidentified buyers last year. According to the UN report, the attempted sale was made online through a front company run by the state-owned Green Pine Associated Corp., which is subject to international sanctions (Wall Street Journal)
China Calls on North Korea to Halt Missile Tests
China’s foreign minister called on North Korea to halt its missile tests and development of nuclear technology and on the United States and South Korea to halt their joint military drills (BBC)
North Korean Missiles Land in Japanese Waters
Four North Korean missiles landed in waters about 620 miles off its coast, with three of them falling within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (Guardian)
U.S., South Korea Begin Annual Military Drill
The annual Foal Eagle joint military exercise between U.S. and South Korean troops began amid rising tensions with North Korea (Reuters)
North Korean Missile Prompts Emergency UN Meeting
The UN Security Council is expected to convene an emergency meeting at the request of the United States, Japan, and South Korea to address a missile test by North Korea on February 12, 2017 (VOA)
North Korea Breaches South Korea’s Cyber Military Command
North Korea hacked the South’s military cyber command and leaked military information, a South Korean military spokesman said (CNN)
UN Security Council Imposes New Sanctions on North Korea
The UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea that aim to cut the Asian country’s annual export revenue by more than a quarter. The fifteen-member council unanimously adopted a resolution to slash North Korea’s biggest export, coal, by about 60 percent (Reuters)
North Korea Test-Fires Eighth Missile in Seven Months
North Korea test-fired a missile that failed almost immediately after launch, U.S. and South Korean military officials said. The test occurred hours after the United States and South Korea agreed to increase military and diplomatic efforts to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats (Reuters)
Satellite Images Show Activity at North Korea Nuclear Test Site
An increase in activity at North Korea’s nuclear test site indicated by satellite images could signal preparations for a new test or a collection of data from its last one. The 38 North group said there was activity at all three tunnel complexes at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site involving a large vehicle and personnel (Reuters)
New Zealand Aircraft in North Korea Prompts Probe
New Zealand’s foreign affairs ministry said it is investigating how an aircraft from the country ended up in a government airshow in North Korea despite sanctions on exports (New Zealand Herald)
The aircraft, which has U.S. parts, was sold to a Chinese company and continues to be registered there (Washington Post)