North Korea's biological and chemical weapons capabilities are ranked third in the world , and an expert analysis has been raised that North Korea will deploy biological and chemical weapons in the event of an emergency . Reporter Han Do-hyung reports from Seoul .
A report titled ' The Significance of North Korea's Asymmetric Power Increase in the East Asian Multi-Security Crisis ' by the Korea Institute for National Unification, a national research institute .
“ North Korea's biological and chemical weapons capabilities are estimated to be at most 3rd in the world , ” said Park Eun-joo, associate research fellow who is in charge of the research, in a report . There is a high possibility that they will try to seize the victory before the front line is formed by putting it into the front line . ”
Biological weapons are weapons that poison microorganisms and bacteria that cause diseases in the human body, such as cholera , anthrax , and plague . It refers to a weapon made of toxic substances mixed with substances .
The VX used by North Korea in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia in 2017 is a chemical weapon .
First, in relation to biological weapons, Associate Research Fellow Park said that North Korea currently possesses 13 types of biological agents, including anthrax , smallpox , cholera , plague , bacillus dysentery , tularemia , typhoid fever , typhoid fever , yellow fever virus , hemorrhagic fever epidemic , botulinum toxin , and yellow cow . Among them, it said that five species are believed to have been weaponized: anthrax , smallpox , plague , cholera, and botulinum .
Associate Research Fellow Park said that North Korea has the ability to disperse biological weapons using special warfare units , stationary espionage, multiplexers, field artillery, missiles , AN-2 planes, backpack sprayers, etc. I looked at the infection method as the main operation .
Next, Associate Research Fellow Park revealed that North Korea will covertly operate biological weapons in an all-out war, and it is highly likely that they will be used in the rear area, especially considering the incubation period .
This is because the characteristics of contagion and incubation period of biological weapons can cause psychological fear and social confusion .
Associate Research Fellow Park predicted that if North Korea were prepared for an all-out war, it would attempt to eliminate South Korea's ability to sustain war while causing massive damage through biological weapons .
Regarding North Korea's chemical weapons, Associate Research Fellow Park explained that North Korea's chemical weapons stockpiles are estimated to be between 2,500 and 5,000 tons, and that chemical weapons produced in eight production facilities are distributed and stored in six storage facilities .
Associate Research Fellow Park emphasized that chemical weapons are the best means for North Korea to achieve a quick-fix strategy because they instantly cause casualties .
Associate Research Fellow Park predicted that North Korea would aggressively use chemical weapons in the first two to three days of the war, utilizing various means of delivery, including shells and rockets , ballistic missiles , aircraft and drones .
The explanation is that the active use of chemical weapons at the beginning of the war could delay or minimize US aid and weaken South Korea's will to go to war .
Associate Research Fellow Park said that if North Korea attacks a densely populated area like Seoul using 2 tons of sarin, it is expected that about 250,000 casualties will follow .
Furthermore , it said that there is a considerable possibility that North Korea may attempt to intercept operations by launching nuclear or chemical warhead missiles at US military bases in Japan , Guam , Hawaii, etc. to maximize the effectiveness of the attack .
Associate Research Fellow Park diagnosed that North Korea's preoccupation with asymmetric military power augmentation, which has low entry barriers and can achieve great benefits at low cost, is an unavoidable fate, and this trend is intensifying in the Kim Jong-un era .
At the same time, Associate Research Fellow Park suggested as an alternative to form a ' North Korea Asymmetric Force Response Task Force (TF)' centered on the National Security Office and involving related ministries such as the Ministry of National Defense , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , and the Ministry of Unification .
It was expected that once the 'North Korea Asymmetric Force Countermeasure Task Force ' was formed, the National Security Office would be able to set grand principles and grand strategies for North Korea's asymmetric forces, and coordinate related ministries so that they would not collide in the process of carrying out their tasks .
Associate Research Fellow Park also suggested that North Korea reexamine whether the role of the South Korean military and the direction of military power increase based on the traditional concept of war are appropriate at this point, saying that it has been a long time since North Korea moved away from conventional weapons-oriented forces and started to expand its military power centered on asymmetric forces. .
Associate Research Fellow Park went on to say that related research and information collection should be expanded to evaluate the size and ripple effect of North Korea's current asymmetric power .
In addition, if we also seek ways to equip ourselves with preemptive response capabilities within the scope allowed by international norms, we will be able to additionally obtain the effect of reducing the power asymmetry between the two Koreas .
Mount Merapi 106 times launched lava avalanches during the weak
Yogyakarta - Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta launched 106 lava flows during the week according to the observations of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) from 5 to 11 May 2023. "This week, 106 lava flows were observed
To the southwest (upstream of Kali Bebeng) with a maximum sliding distance of 1,800 meters," said BPPTKG Head Agus Budi Santoso as quoted in a written statement received in Yogyakarta City, Saturday.
Agus also said that during this week the sound of avalanches was heard 12 times with low to moderate intensity from the Babadan Post.
In addition, he explained, the results of data analysis from the Deles5, Tunggularum, Babadan 2, and Ngepos camera stations showed a change in the morphology of the southwestern dome of Merapi, which was triggered by lava avalanches.
"For the central dome there is no significant change," he said.
Based on aerial photos on March 13, 2023, according to him, the volume of the southwest dome measured 1,686,200 cubic meters and the volume of the central dome was 2,312,100 cubic meters.
He said that in the last week the intensity of Merapi's seismicity was lower compared to the previous week.
During this week, Mount Merapi experienced four shallow volcanic earthquakes, 16 multiphase earthquakes, 117 avalanche earthquakes, and 12 tectonic earthquakes.
BPPTKG is still maintaining Mount Merapi's status at Level III or Standby, which was established in November 2020.
The potential hazard from lava avalanches and hot avalanches can impact Kali Woro up to three kilometers from the peak and Kali Gendol up to five kilometers from the summit.
In addition, lava avalanches and hot clouds can impact Boyong River up to five kilometers from the summit and Bedog, Krasak and Bebeng Rivers up to seven kilometers from the summit.
If an explosive eruption occurs, the ejection of volcanic material from Mount Merapi can reach an area within a three-kilometer radius from the top of the mountain.
Minister of Investment Bahlil invites Muslim countries to take part in downstreaming : Indonesia
we talk about how cohesive Muslim countries are, but on the other hand as the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia is actually flooded with investments not from Islamic countries
Jakarta - Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia invited Muslim countries to be able to take part in downstreaming in Indonesia following the great potential it has in the country.
As a keynote speaker at the Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) at the session of The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) Outlook on Food Security, Green Economy, Tourism and FDIs in Member Countries in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia , Friday (12/5), Bahlil said of the large number of investments coming into Indonesia, the average investment coming from Islamic countries over the last five years was only 5.5 percent of the total Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) entering Indonesia.
"There are facts that are counter-productive ladies and gentlemen. On the one hand, we are talking about the cohesiveness of Muslim countries, but on the other hand, as the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia has been flooded with investments not from Islamic countries," he said in a statement in Jakarta, Saturday.
According to Bahlil, as a country with enormous potential, Indonesia is building an electric car battery ecosystem that will become the vehicles of the future. Moreover, Indonesia has twenty-five percent of the world's reserves of nickel, which is the main raw material for electric vehicle batteries.
"Therefore, I offer all ladies and gentlemen to take part and up to 2040 towards golden Indonesia, the master planan investment management design that leads to downstreaming of eight leading commodity sectors with a potential value of up to US$545.3 billion," he said.
Bahlil explained that the direction of Indonesia's investment policy under the leadership of President Joko Widodo focused on downstream oriented green energy and green industry.
Indonesia has currently halted exports in several raw material commodities such as nickel, then this year it will again be carried out for tin and bauxite. The cessation of exports of raw materials is a manifestation of the Indonesian government's commitment to realizing downstream industry.
"We are now more focused on downstreaming our natural resource commodities. Before the stoppage of nickel exports, our revenue was only US$3.3 billion. But as soon as nickel exports are stopped and downstream is carried out, our revenue from nickel will reach US$30 billion," he explained.
The IsDB Group Private Sector Forum is one of the main pillars in the series of activities of the IsDB Group Annual Meeting which is held to provide a unique network platform for leading partners and stakeholders, especially in the private sector.
In addition, IsDB is also a forum for promoting investment and trade opportunities offered by its member countries.
The Ministry of Investment/BKPM noted that Saudi Arabia's investment realization in the period 2018 to the first quarter of 2023 reached US$26.5 million, excluding investment in the financial sector and upstream oil and gas.
The tertiary sector dominates with a total value of US$24.78 million or 94 percent with the highest achievement by the housing, industrial estate and office sector worth US$16.93 million or as much as 64 percent of the total investment value of Saudi Arabia in Indonesia.
The Military Council promulgates a weapons law that will allow the death penalty for armed resistance in Burma
On May 11, the Military Council promulgated the Weapons Law, which includes articles of law that can impose the death penalty.
This law is national security, rule of law Armed activities that will affect peace, carrying illegal weapons; produce sell The military council said it was to prevent stockpiles and to control those who were allowed to carry weapons.
A lawyer in Yangon said that this is intended to take action against armed resistance fighters and that the punishments have also been increased.
"Recently, many people have armed themselves to resist them, so if they are caught with a weapon, it has been put up to the highest section, which can be punished with death. Among them, they will be sentenced to death for breaking their eyes. In the past, weapons cases were less punishable, and ended in three, four, or five years."
Section 27 of the Arms Law of the Military Council states that stealing a state-owned weapon or the ammunition of a person entitled to bear arms; sell, Handing over If you commit looting and destruction, you can be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison to life in prison.
In Section 26, possession of weapons with intent to commit treason; The military council plans to impose a minimum sentence of 5 years to 10 years in prison for those who hold it.
In addition to the articles that can lead to long-term imprisonment, encouraging the violation of any article prescribed in the Arms Law, cooperation, It is also mentioned that punishment can be imposed according to the law for efforts, but what kind of punishment is not mentioned separately.
This law has nine chapters and up to 10 criminal penalties that can be taken.
Normally, legislation is enacted through the Hluttaw with jurists, but during the time of the military council, they are issuing laws for them, the advocate criticized.
The Arms Act of 1878, which was used in the military council's post-coup actions, provides for a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Guerrilla members in the city, The military council accused some activists and journalists of possessing weapons and ammunition and sentenced them to three years in prison or a fine. Section 19 (f) of the Weapons Act, which can impose both penalties, is currently taking action.
All trips to Rakhine state have been suspended due to the Mokha storm in Myanmar (Burma)
Representatives of local travel agencies said that all trips to Rakhine state have been suspended since May 13 due to Cyclone Mokha.
He said that in addition to sea and air travel, land travel has been suspended.
A resident of Sittwe told RFA that all trips to Rakhine state from other regions have been suspended, but people still have to travel within Rakhine state until today, May 13.
"Today they are still on the move. All of them. The entire city of Sittwe is moving now. Cars going from Sittwe to other townships in Sittwe Township are not closed yet."
A ticket agency told RFA that Yangon-Sittwe flights were closed for four days due to the storm.
In addition, a passenger bus line told RFA that Yangon - Sittwe passenger bus services have been suspended indefinitely due to the unknown status of the storm.
Locals said that all sea trips in Rakhine state have been suspended due to the storm.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Directorate of the Military Council announced today that Cyclone Mokha has crossed the Rakhine coast from near Sittwe City at a very high level and has been set at a red level.
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