North Korea fired a missile on the same day that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea, where he warned that Pyongyang was collaborating with Russia on advanced space technology. Meanwhile, in South Korea, investigators were attempting to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had been impeached for his failed attempt to impose martial law last month.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/07/world/asia-oceania/blinken-nkorea-working-with-russia-on-space-tech/2031611US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concerns about North Korea's recent missile tests, stating that they pose a threat to regional stability and global security. In a phone call with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Blinken emphasized the need for close coordination between the two countries on defense issues, including their response to North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The conversation comes as tensions remain high following a series of missile tests by North Korea in recent weeks.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/06/asia-pacific/politics/blinken-south-korea-yoon/North Korea has launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile, its first this year, which is designed to threaten the US. This move comes after a November test of what it claimed was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel ICBM, following accusations that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent soldiers to aid Russia in its fight against Ukraine. In response, South Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea as a show of force. The launch has added to tensions between the two countries, which have been heightened by recent events, including an attempt by investigators in South Korea to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol, who had declared martial law on December 3.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/north-korea-launches-ballistic-missile-toward-east-sea-s-korea-military/article69066864.eceNorth Korea fired a suspected mid-range ballistic missile into its eastern seas on Monday from an area near Pyongyang. The launch comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's return to the White House and amid heightened tensions in the region, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowing to implement a "toughest" anti-US policy. The South Korean military is strengthening its surveillance and defense posture in preparation for possible additional launches and sharing information on the missile with the US and Japan. This development comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Seoul for talks with South Korean allies over the North Korean nuclear threat, amidst political turmoil in South Korea following President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment by parliament last month.
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-ballistic-missile-kim-jong-un-tensions-3750925b34e1700e231b762ffef67183Russian officials may offer North Korea advanced military technology in exchange for its support in the conflict with Ukraine. The proposed deal would involve transferring technology for producing missiles and submarines from Russia to North Korea, according to Ukrinform.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3945536-russia-set-to-share-space-tech-with-north-korea-blinken.htmlThe US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public input by March 4 on a proposed rule aimed at addressing security risks associated with China and Russia in the information and communication technology and services (ICTS) sector, which are integral to the supply chain for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones. The US government is concerned about the potential risks of relying on Chinese and Russian ICTS due to their sensitive nature and the potential for them to be used as a tool in modern warfare, where they can inflict significant damage despite being relatively inexpensive.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/u-s-and-china-decoupling-trade/US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin's consideration of nuclear options, stating that even a small increase in probability made it a serious issue. He noted that China had been urged to dissuade Russia from pursuing this path, and that the US had also cautioned China about Putin's plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Blinken emphasized that NATO was stronger than ever and that its member countries, including the US, had provided $150 billion in aid to Ukraine, with allies contributing an additional $100 billion. He dismissed criticism of the Biden administration's pace of delivering military aid, citing concerns about Ukraine's ability to operate and maintain the systems.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/939386-washington-s-top-diplomat-we-take-vladimir-putin-s-nuclear-threat-very-seriouslyThe Japanese Self-Defense Forces are incorporating drones into their units to gain an edge in future conflicts due to a changing security environment and declining troop numbers. The SDF is learning from the Ukraine war, where drones have been used effectively as force multipliers while minimizing human losses. According to Naoko Aoki, a Japan expert at the Rand Corp., the unprecedented scale of drone deployments in Ukraine has driven interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Japan.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/05/japan/japan-sdf-drones-focus/The Russian defence forces have reportedly downed eight US-made ATACMS missiles and 72 drones in a recent incident. This development comes as part of an ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, where the outgoing US President Joe Biden's administration has supplied long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. The ATACMS missiles are capable of penetrating inside Russia, prompting a response from Moscow which has deployed its new hypersonic missile system.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/world/russia-says-downed-8-us-supplied-atacms-missiles