Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, has leveled new threats against the United States and South Korea. During a meeting with commanding officers on Sunday, Kim told his military to “thoroughly annihilate” enemy forces if provoked by mobilizing “the toughest means and potentialities without moment’s hesitation.” He also said it is necessary...
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Category: Asia
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Dutch Suspends Chipmaking Equipment Shipments to China; Beijing Decries US Influence
Semiconductor company ASML has announced its compliance with the Dutch government’s suspension of its lithography systems shipments to China. The ecport license suspension of the lithography systems, which are critical to semiconductor manufacturing, stemmed from U.S. government rules released in October restricting exports of some mid-critical system configurations for advanced production facilities. Veldhoven-based ASML said...
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Korea Seals Agreement to Acquire More F-35As From Lockheed
South Korea has finalized a contract with Lockheed Martin to purchase 20 more F-35A fighters, adding to the 40 aircraft it acquired between 2019 and 2022. The Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration greenlit the acquisition three months after obtaining clearance from the U.S. Department of State in September, paving the way for the Asian country...
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DOD Looks Back on Decisive Year for Advancing US Defense Strategy in Indo-Pacific
The Department of Defense is wrapping up 2023 with billions of dollars in investments in capability building and stronger partnerships with international allies to maintain peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. On Wednesday, the Pentagon published a fact sheet that enumerates steps the department has taken to advance the U.S. Indo-Pacific defense strategy and deter adversarial...
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Japan Patriot Missile Sale to US Boosts Indo-Pacific Stability, Envoy Says
Japan’s efforts to boost its military capability and ease military equipment sales will enhance Indo-Pacific stability, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Wednesday. According to Military.com, Emanuel lauded Tokyo’s recent approval of the shipments of Japanese-manufactured Patriot missiles to the United States to replenish...
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US, Japan Sign New Agreement to Develop AI/ML Capabilities for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The United States is collaborating with Japan to advance unmanned air vehicles by integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a project arrangement to work on research and development efforts on Overwhelming Response through Collaborative Autonomy. The project is part of a joint...
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L3Harris Team Bats for South Korea’s New AEW&C Missile-Tracking Aircraft
L3Harris Technologies has teamed with Korean Air and Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta Systems to design and deliver the Republic of Korea Air Force’s next-generation airborne early warning and control aircraft. According to the Janes website, South Korea plans to acquire four AEW&C aircraft to counter North Korea’s rising ballistic missile activity. The L3Harris team’s proposed...
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Japan Announces Plans to Ship Patriot Interceptor Missiles to US
Japan has announced plans to send Patriot air defense missiles to the United States following the government’s decision to revise its arms export policy, according to a Reuters report. In a statement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the imminent weapons shipment will bolter Japan’s security and improve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region....
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Formidable-Class Warships Set for Mid-Life Upgrade From ST Engineering
The Singapore Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to ST Engineering Marine for the mid-life upgrade of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Formidable-class warships. The contractor’s parent ST Engineering firm said the upgrade covers the frigates’ marine and electrical setups, including ship management and power generation systems. ST Engineering Marine will work progressively on...
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Treasury Sanctions Entities for Export of US-Made UAV Components to Iran
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is imposing sanctions on companies and individuals based in the Middle East and East Asia for the export of American and foreign-made components to support Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production. In a notice published Tuesday, OFAC named Iran-based Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Mehdi Dehghani Mohammadabadi...