Intel Report: North Korea and South China Sea

The United States has been quietly moving equipment and personal to North Korea and the surrounding South China Sea area. This March the US and South Korea will hold its largest ever Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises.

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and strike group has been deployed to the South China Sea and in addition, B-1B strategic bombers and F-22 stealth fighters were recently deployed to Guam and the U.S. Air-force base in Okinawa Japan. Also US F-35B stealth fighters were deployed to the U.S. Air-force base in Yamaguchi Japan. The Hawaiian based floating X-band radar system has been deployed at sea in the western Pacific closer to Japan.

Finally, more than 100 (MRAP) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles arrived in South Korea this month. They are for protecting troops during a breach-crossing of the heavily mined (DMZ) demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. For the first time, the exercise commanders have added to the training this year a test of their (4D) ability. This is the ability to detect, disrupt, destroy and defend against North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities.