WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. declaration of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism (all times local): 2 p.m. The United States has issued new sanctions on four Chinese trading companies and a Chinese national said to have conducted hundreds of millions of dollars in business with North Korea. The … Continue reading
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Two U.S. supersonic bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula for bombing exercises that are also a show of force against North Korea ahead of President Donald Trump’s first official visit to Asia. A South Korean military official said Friday the B-1B bombers based in Guam were escorted by two South … Continue reading
CLARK, Philippines (AP) — Japan’s defense minister asserted Monday that North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities have grown to an “unprecedented, critical and imminent” level, requiring “different responses” to the threat. The minister, Itsunori Odonera, said that this rising threat compels his country to endorse the U.S. view that “all options” must be considered, … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will ask U.S. allies to pressure North Korea on its nuclear program in an upcoming trip to the Asia-Pacific region. He’ll also meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Trump has praised Duterte for his deadly war on drugs that has left thousands dead, according to a leaked transcript … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump delivered a foreboding message Thursday night, telling reporters as he posed for photos with his senior military leaders that this might be “the calm before the storm.” White House reporters were summoned suddenly Thursday evening and told the president had decided he wanted the press to document a dinner … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is on track to pass a defense policy bill that pumps $700 billion into the Pentagon budget, expands U.S. missile defenses in response to North Korea’s growing hostility and refuses to allow excess military bases to be closed. The legislation is expected to be approved on Monday by a wide … Continue reading
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Cybersecurity experts are pointing to circumstantial evidence that North Korea may be behind the global “ransomware” attack: the way the hackers took hostage computers and servers across the world was similar to previous cyberattacks attributed to North Korea. Simon Choi, a director at South Korean anti-virus software company Hauri Inc. … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s decision to send an aircraft carrier to waters off the Korean Peninsula is meant as a show of force, but it also could expose American weakness. If North Korea goes ahead with a ballistic missile or nuclear test and the U.S. does nothing in response, America’s deterrence will appear … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 