Russia warns North Korea over threats of nuclear strike

One of Pyongyang’s few remaining allies says country is in danger of creating legal grounds for international military intervention. NK News reports

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered nuclear weapons to be readied.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered nuclear weapons to be readied. Photograph: Rodong Sinmun/EPA

Chad O’Carroll for NK News, part of the North Korea network

Russia has warned North Korea that threats to deliver “preventive nuclear strikes” could create a legal basis for the use of military force against the country, suggesting that even Pyongyang’s few remaining friends are growing concerned about its increasingly confrontational stance.

The Russian foreign ministry statement, which follows a North Korean threat to “annihilate” the US and South Korea, also criticises Washington and Seoul for launching the largest joint military drills yet to be held on the peninsula.

North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to ‘flames and ash’

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“We consider it to be absolutely impermissible to make public statements containing threats to deliver some ‘preventive nuclear strikes’ against opponents,” the Russian foreign ministry said in response to North Korea’s threats.

“Pyongyang should be aware of the fact that in this way the DPRK will become fully opposed to the international community and will create international legal grounds for using military force against itself in accordance with the right of a state to self-defense enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” continued the statement, translated by Itar Tass news agency.

Washington and Seoul launched their annual joint military exercises on the peninsula on Monday, stepping up the manoeuvres in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January and rocket launch in February.

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But while the statement said Moscow was opposed to the tone of North Korea’s response, it also said the scale of the American-South Korean joint exercise put “unprecedented … military and political pressure on Pyongyang”.

“Naturally, as a state, which is directly named as an object of this kind of military activities, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) cannot but feel reasonably concerned for its security,” the statement said.

Pyongyang had said the drills, which are set to run to the end of April, are rehearsals for invading.

Russia has historically had close relations with North Korea, making its warning that the country may be laying itself open to military action particularly notable.

But one observer said Moscow’s response could be expected, given the tone of North Korea’s recent public statements.

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“Pyongyang should be learning that the types of threats they continue to make will have consequences,” said Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based North Korea researcher at Troy University.

“The security dilemma dynamics that the behaviour and rhetoric set in motion are making Son’gun Korea less secure, not more secure,” he said. “This is the flaw in their national security strategy, and it will continue to be exposed in the future.”

Another North Korea watcher said the statement might be better viewed as a warning to Pyongyang of what others might do, rather than Russian actions in particular.

“Russia is pointing out to North Korea that its inflammatory rhetoric risks giving its opponents – primarily South Korea and the US – just cause to pursue military action against it,” said regional expert Christopher Green.

Inter-Korean relations have worsened significantly in recent weeks, with Pyongyang showing particular sensitivity to the UN sanctions agreed last week.

A version of this article first appeared on NK News – North Korean news


Russia warns North Korea over threats of nuclear strike

http://isthattrue.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2048.jpg

Russia warns North Korea over threats of nuclear strike

One of Pyongyang’s few remaining allies says country is in danger of creating legal grounds for international military intervention. NK News reports

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered nuclear weapons to be readied.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered nuclear weapons to be readied. Photograph: Rodong Sinmun/EPA

Chad O’Carroll for NK News, part of the North Korea network

Russia has warned North Korea that threats to deliver “preventive nuclear strikes” could create a legal basis for the use of military force against the country, suggesting that even Pyongyang’s few remaining friends are growing concerned about its increasingly confrontational stance.

The Russian foreign ministry statement, which follows a North Korean threat to “annihilate” the US and South Korea, also criticises Washington and Seoul for launching the largest joint military drills yet to be held on the peninsula.

North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to ‘flames and ash’

Read more

“We consider it to be absolutely impermissible to make public statements containing threats to deliver some ‘preventive nuclear strikes’ against opponents,” the Russian foreign ministry said in response to North Korea’s threats.

“Pyongyang should be aware of the fact that in this way the DPRK will become fully opposed to the international community and will create international legal grounds for using military force against itself in accordance with the right of a state to self-defense enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” continued the statement, translated by Itar Tass news agency.

Washington and Seoul launched their annual joint military exercises on the peninsula on Monday, stepping up the manoeuvres in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January and rocket launch in February.

North Korea and Russia forge ‘year of friendship’ pariah alliance

Read more

But while the statement said Moscow was opposed to the tone of North Korea’s response, it also said the scale of the American-South Korean joint exercise put “unprecedented … military and political pressure on Pyongyang”.

“Naturally, as a state, which is directly named as an object of this kind of military activities, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) cannot but feel reasonably concerned for its security,” the statement said.

Pyongyang had said the drills, which are set to run to the end of April, are rehearsals for invading.

Russia has historically had close relations with North Korea, making its warning that the country may be laying itself open to military action particularly notable.

But one observer said Moscow’s response could be expected, given the tone of North Korea’s recent public statements.

Advertisement

“Pyongyang should be learning that the types of threats they continue to make will have consequences,” said Daniel Pinkston, a Seoul-based North Korea researcher at Troy University.

“The security dilemma dynamics that the behaviour and rhetoric set in motion are making Son’gun Korea less secure, not more secure,” he said. “This is the flaw in their national security strategy, and it will continue to be exposed in the future.”

Another North Korea watcher said the statement might be better viewed as a warning to Pyongyang of what others might do, rather than Russian actions in particular.

“Russia is pointing out to North Korea that its inflammatory rhetoric risks giving its opponents – primarily South Korea and the US – just cause to pursue military action against it,” said regional expert Christopher Green.

Inter-Korean relations have worsened significantly in recent weeks, with Pyongyang showing particular sensitivity to the UN sanctions agreed last week.

A version of this article first appeared on NK News – North Korean news




#Europe, #North Korea, #Nuclear, #Russia, #Russia warns North Korea over threats of nuclear strike, #South Korea #Asia Pacific, #weapons

Team Canada’s sweet 16 named for World Cup

An injury has kept Carey Price sidelined since November.

But Team Canada’s management team had no doubt the Montreal Canadiens star goaltender should be named to the initial 16-man roster for the World Cup of Hockey.

Price, 28, Chicago’s Corey Crawford, 31, and Washington’s Braden Holtby, 26, were named Wednesday as Canada’s three goalies when the eight nations named their preliminary list of 16 World Cup players.

The 23-man roster will be filled out in early June for the best-on-best tournament that kicks off in Toronto Sept. 17.

Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong said he talked to Price at the beginning of February about whether he wanted to be named; Price said yes.

“When healthy, he’s the No. 1 goalie on the planet,” Armstrong said. “We wanted to make sure he was comfortable with the decision.”

Armstrong added Price’s condition will be evaluated as the NHL season goes on.

“I don’t want to get the cart in front of the horse,” Armstrong said. “There is a lot of time left in the season.”

The goaltending is strong, with Crawford having won two Stanley Cups and Holtby closing in on 50 wins this season.

Heading Canada’s roster are two superstars who have struggled at various points this season: Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews. The pair nonetheless were locks because of their proven track record of international success.

The rest of the names were no-brainers, too.

The selection of Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos had the element of redemption after an injury resulted in him being left off the 2014 gold-medal winning Olympic team in Sochi.

And the defence has the look of that Sochi lineup, and that was by design.

“We looked at that Sochi group and that might have best defensive group for an international competition,” Team Canada’s GM said. “They played as a group.”

No Subban? Reaction on Twitter

When picking the initial 16 players, Armstrong knew what Canada head coach Mike Babcock likes when it comes to short international competitions.

“Mike likes predictability,” Armstrong said. “He wants it so he can play a player in any situation. You can’t hide anyone and there are no good matchups when you are playing the Russians.”

Crosby had a slow start to his season but he’s caught fire lately. “I never really had a question that he would find his game,” Armstrong said.

He added that former Montreal star Bob Gainey, who had a long career, once told him every player, regardless of who it is, will have bad stretches.

“Don’t let one small portion overlook the rest,” Armstrong said. “Sidney is a great player. He’s not only going to be on the team, he’s going to be a huge part of the team.”

The experienced backline consists of San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 28, Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty, 26, Chicago’s Duncan Keith, 32, and Nashville’s Shea Weber, 30.

Team Canada went for balance on the back end with two right-handed shots in Doughty and Weber; the others all are left-handed shots.

The forwards include Crosby, 28, Toews, 27, Stamkos, 26, Dallas Stars’ Jamie Benn, 26, and Tyler Seguin, 24, the New York Islanders’ John Tavares, 25, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, 30, L.A.’s Jeff Carter, 31, and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf, 30.

Armstrong was questioned why Anaheim star Corey Perry was left off the preliminary list. He said this list was finalized about a week ago, just before Perry got hot again.

“We couldn’t change the fine print,” Armstrong said with a laugh.

The decision on Carter was based on his play on a nightly basis, Armstrong said.

“It was based on his skating . . . based on Sochi,” he said.

The World Cup of Hockey is different from the Olympics in two important areas: the NHL-sized rink at the Air Canada Centre is smaller than the international ice surface, and players in the World Cup will have more prep time than was permitted in the compressed schedule of the Olympics.


Team Canada’s sweet 16 named for World Cup

http://isthattrue.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/kbworldcup003jpg.jpg.size_.xxlarge.letterbox.jpg

Team Canada’s sweet 16 named for World Cup

An injury has kept Carey Price sidelined since November.

But Team Canada’s management team had no doubt the Montreal Canadiens star goaltender should be named to the initial 16-man roster for the World Cup of Hockey.

Price, 28, Chicago’s Corey Crawford, 31, and Washington’s Braden Holtby, 26, were named Wednesday as Canada’s three goalies when the eight nations named their preliminary list of 16 World Cup players.

The 23-man roster will be filled out in early June for the best-on-best tournament that kicks off in Toronto Sept. 17.

Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong said he talked to Price at the beginning of February about whether he wanted to be named; Price said yes.

“When healthy, he’s the No. 1 goalie on the planet,” Armstrong said. “We wanted to make sure he was comfortable with the decision.”

Armstrong added Price’s condition will be evaluated as the NHL season goes on.

“I don’t want to get the cart in front of the horse,” Armstrong said. “There is a lot of time left in the season.”

The goaltending is strong, with Crawford having won two Stanley Cups and Holtby closing in on 50 wins this season.

Heading Canada’s roster are two superstars who have struggled at various points this season: Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews. The pair nonetheless were locks because of their proven track record of international success.

The rest of the names were no-brainers, too.

The selection of Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos had the element of redemption after an injury resulted in him being left off the 2014 gold-medal winning Olympic team in Sochi.

And the defence has the look of that Sochi lineup, and that was by design.

“We looked at that Sochi group and that might have best defensive group for an international competition,” Team Canada’s GM said. “They played as a group.”

No Subban? Reaction on Twitter

When picking the initial 16 players, Armstrong knew what Canada head coach Mike Babcock likes when it comes to short international competitions.

“Mike likes predictability,” Armstrong said. “He wants it so he can play a player in any situation. You can’t hide anyone and there are no good matchups when you are playing the Russians.”

Crosby had a slow start to his season but he’s caught fire lately. “I never really had a question that he would find his game,” Armstrong said.

He added that former Montreal star Bob Gainey, who had a long career, once told him every player, regardless of who it is, will have bad stretches.

“Don’t let one small portion overlook the rest,” Armstrong said. “Sidney is a great player. He’s not only going to be on the team, he’s going to be a huge part of the team.”

The experienced backline consists of San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 28, Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty, 26, Chicago’s Duncan Keith, 32, and Nashville’s Shea Weber, 30.

Team Canada went for balance on the back end with two right-handed shots in Doughty and Weber; the others all are left-handed shots.

The forwards include Crosby, 28, Toews, 27, Stamkos, 26, Dallas Stars’ Jamie Benn, 26, and Tyler Seguin, 24, the New York Islanders’ John Tavares, 25, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, 30, L.A.’s Jeff Carter, 31, and Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf, 30.

Armstrong was questioned why Anaheim star Corey Perry was left off the preliminary list. He said this list was finalized about a week ago, just before Perry got hot again.

“We couldn’t change the fine print,” Armstrong said with a laugh.

The decision on Carter was based on his play on a nightly basis, Armstrong said.

“It was based on his skating . . . based on Sochi,” he said.

The World Cup of Hockey is different from the Olympics in two important areas: the NHL-sized rink at the Air Canada Centre is smaller than the international ice surface, and players in the World Cup will have more prep time than was permitted in the compressed schedule of the Olympics.




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