Military Buildup
Is this the calm before the storm? America’s Navy has sent three carrier groups close to the Korean Peninsula leaving North Korea on edge. The USS Nimitz and its strike group entered the Western Pacific region after operating in the Middle East, according to a Navy press release, joining the USS Ronald Regan and the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
“The three ships represent 30 percent of the U.S. Navy's carrier force, a remarkable number given the Navy's global responsibilities and the fact that several carriers are typically down for maintenance at any given time.” – Popular Mechanics
“Together, the three carriers carry six squadrons of F/A-18C Hornets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, or approximately 70 strike fighters. Each of the three carriers is typically escorted by a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, at least one and typically two Arleigh Burkeclass guided missile destroyers, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine. The escorts provide not only anti-air defenses but also Tomahawk cruise missiles for precision ground strikes.” – Popular Mechanics
The ambassador for North Korea called on the “North Korea's ambassador called on the UN Security Council on Thursday to urgently discuss the recent US joint naval exercise near the Korean peninsula, calling it preparation for a pre-emptive strike and nuclear war against his country.”
South Korea’s Maritime Counter Special Operations (MCSOF) unit has just added nearly 50 AH-64D Apache choppers to counter a possible attack by Kim Jong-un's regime from the sea. North Korea’s special forces have been seen near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which is a disputed maritime border between the North and South.
Incidences along the NLL:
• January 19, 1967: the ROKS Dangpo (PCEC-56) (formerly the USS Marfa (PCE-842)), is sunk by North Korean coastal artillery north of the NLL,[12] 39 sailors of the crew of 79 are killed.
• November 10, 2009: Naval vessels from the two Koreas exchanged fire in the area of the NLL, reportedly causing serious damage to a North Korean patrol ship.[27][28] For more details of this incident, see Battle of Daecheong.
Battle of Daechong
“The Battle of Daecheong was a skirmish between the South Korean and North Korean navies near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) on 10 November 2009 off Daecheong Island. A patrol boat from the northern Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was seriously damaged while the navy of the southern Republic of Korea (ROK) sustained no casualties.[2]”
“READY: Warships carrying tanks have been seen on the Korean Peninsula” – Dailystar.co.uk
Trumps Travel Plans to Asia
Trump is scheduled to leave on an 11-day swing through the continent on Nov. 3, with the center of his travels to be his participation in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam. He is slated to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Nov. 5) one-on-one and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (Nov. 7). The most controversial part of the trip will be his planned one-on-one meetings with President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines during a stop there. That meeting will come on the final day of the president’s trip, Nov. 14.”
As reported on October 25th, 2017, “In just a few weeks the US will move 12 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Japan for the first time, along with 300 airmen, for six months, just a day after Trump having left Asia and being back in Washington D.C.
1979 China-DPRK alliance commitment
“A recent editorial in China’s Global Times reiterated the terms of the 1979 China-DPRK alliance commitment: if the United States were to strike North Korea first, China should defend it; but if North Korea strikes against Guam or otherwise precipitates a conflict, China should remain neutral. In other words, if North Korea starts a war, they’re on their own.”
Is the Economic Collapse of the North Korean Regime Coming Soon?
“The North Korea government has ordered security forces to keep a close watch on monuments and paintings of the Kim dynasty, as they fear "hostile elements" within the country may vandalize them, according to South Korea's Daily NK .
Daily NK, a Seoul-based news website that claims to have a large network of informants within North Korea, reported that US-led sanctions have affected the economy in North Korea and now its citizens may turn on the Kim government.”
High Alert: 3 US Carrier Strike Groups Enter Asia-Pacific Ahead of Trump Visit
For live updates visit: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/north-korea-live-donald-trump-pyongyang-naval-exercise-2418247.html
Sources
North Korea LIVE: Pyongyang wants UNSC to discuss US' 'threatening' naval exercise
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/north-korea-live-donald-trump-pyongyang-naval-exercise-2418247.html
North Korea warns their threat of atmospheric nuclear test above Pacific Ocean should be taken 'literally'
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-warns-threat-atmospheric-11408422
WAR GAMES: US, Japanese and S. Korean ships practice shooting down North Korean missiles
World War 3: American attack helicopters MOBILISED in Seoul as North Korea tensions soar
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/868662/north-korea-latest-world-war-3-us-apaches-join-south-korea-forces
List of border incidents involving North Korea
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_border_incidents_involving_North_Korea
Battle of Daecheong
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Daecheong
Trump Asia Itinerary Filled With Potential Headaches
https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/trump-huddle-philippines-duterte-asia-trip
How China Sees North Korea
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/08/china-military-strength-north-korea-crisis/538344/
Three Carrier Strike Groups Are Now Operating in the Pacific—Within Reach of North Korea