DefenceTalkHundreds of Tokyo residents scrambled for cover Monday (Jan 22) in the Japanese capital’s first evacuation drill for a military attack since World War II, amid ongoing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programme. A loudspeaker blared out a terrifying warning at the drill, held in a Tokyo amusement park: “We have information that a missile […]https://www.defencetalk.com/tokyo-simulates-first-military-attack-since-wwii-amid-north-korea-threat-71110/

DefenceTalkJapan said Thursday (Jan 11) it was tracking a Chinese frigate in waters surrounding islands in the East China Sea, the first such incursion in more than a year near the flashpoint isles claimed by both countries. Japanese navy ships spotted the 4,000-tonne Jiangkai II class frigate around 11am (0200 GMT) in waters surrounding the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-tracks-chinese-frigate-near-disputed-isles-71046/

DefenceTalkA top Republican lawmaker warned Sunday that the United States moves closer to preemptive war with North Korea every time Pyongyang carries out a missile or nuclear test. North Korea’s test launch this week of an intercontinental ballistic missile has sent tensions soaring once again on the Korean peninsula, after a two month lull. “If […]https://www.defencetalk.com/likelihood-of-preemptive-war-with-north-korea-grows-warns-us-lawmaker-70945/

DefenceTalkThe US and South Korea on Monday kicked off their largest ever joint air exercise, an operation North Korea has labeled an “all-out provocation”, days after Pyongyang fired its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile. The five-day Vigilant Ace drill — involving 230 aircraft, including F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters, and tens of thousands of troops […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-south-korea-begin-largest-ever-joint-air-drill-70939/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Department detected and tracked a single North Korea missile launch today at about 1:17 p.m. EST, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Robert Manning said in a statement today. The initial assessment indicates that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile, he said. This is North Korea’s third ICBM test this year, following two in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-launches-icbm-70880/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea said Wednesday it had achieved its goal of becoming a nuclear state after successfully testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile that put the “whole mainland of the US” within its range. After watching the launch of the Hwasong-15, the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un “declared with pride that now we have finally realised the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-says-it-is-nuclear-state-with-us-in-missile-strike-range-70877/

DefenceTalkUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday strongly condemned North Korea’s latest missile test and urged Pyongyang to “desist taking any further destabilising steps”. “This is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and shows complete disregard for the united view of the international community,” Guterres said in a statement. North Korea earlier fired an intercontinental […]https://www.defencetalk.com/un-chief-strongly-condemns-north-korea-missile-launch-70870/

DefenceTalkMISAWA AIR BASE, Japan: A Defense Contract Management Agency government flight representative landed the first Japanese-made F-35B on Misawa AB’s runway, Nov. 2. Maj. Elijah Supper piloted the brand-new aircraft from the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Komaki South F-35 Final Assembly and Check Out facility. “This F-35 is one of the most clean and well-built aircraft […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-japanese-built-f-35b-lands-at-misawa-ab-70817/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea warned at the United Nations Monday, November 13, that the deployment of 3 US aircraft carriers in joint navy drills with South Korea was fueling tensions that could lead to nuclear war. North Korea’s Ambassador Ja Song Nam said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that this was “the worst ever […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-at-un-warns-u-s-aircraft-carriers-are-fueling-tensions-70786/

DefenceTalkThree US aircraft carriers will stage joint drills in the western Pacific for the first time in a decade, the US Navy said Thursday, as tensions in the region over North Korea reach fever pitch. The USS Ronald Reagan, USS Nimitz and USS Theodore Roosevelt will conduct “coordinated operations in international waters”, the navy said, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-aircraft-carriers-in-rare-pacific-operation-amid-north-korea-tensions-70765/