Tag Archives: japan

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: North Korea playing mind games with missiles? Travel agencies cancel trips!

11 April 2013 (22:26 UTC-07 Tango 10 April 2013)/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

“Because of the situation in North Korea, all tours are canceled from now. We will announce when tours begin again as soon as we get official information from North Korea.”-China based travel agency Explore North Korea statement

“We are in constant contact with our partners in North Korea, and they have told us that the North remains open to tourists and have encouraged us to run our scheduled tours.”-U.S. based travel agency Uri Tours statement

ROK and USFK upped security status to Watchcon 2, the second highest level.  However, some analysts in South Korea think the DPRK is playing mind games with their ICBMs: “…the North has been repeatedly moving its missiles in and out of a shed….”

It now appears that North Korea is purposely moving mobile ICBM systems all along their east coast.  One ROK analyst says the DPRK is trying to “fatigue” intelligence gatherers for South Korea and United States.

International

Rubella outbreak update from Japan!

10 April 2013 (02:38 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases says 375 new cases of rubella were reported at the end of March.  Between January and March 2905 cases reported, 25 times more than the same time last year!

Health officials say 90% of the cases involve adults, most have never been vaccinated.  Pregnant women who catch the airborne rubella have babies with severe birth defects.

Recently it was reported that rubella was making a come back, and that the vaccine might be only temporary.

 

 

 

 

 

International

H7N9 update: Chinese and Japanese have evidence of rapid mutations, almost AIDS like! Resistance is futile?

10 April 2013 (02:29 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Chinese and Japanese researchers have made independent reports, indicating the new H7N9 is rapidly mutating.  This could explain the difficulty in detecting it.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo said H7N9 samples from four Chinese victims showed noticeable differences in gene sequences, from person to person. The Researchers think the infections were from multiple sources.

In China, researchers at South University of Science and Technology said they noticed rapid mutation in nine of H7N9’s 560 amino acids. They estimate the new virus is mutating eight times faster than ‘normal’ flu viruses: “It happened in just one or two weeks. The speed may not have caught up with the HIV, but it’s quite unusual for a flu.”-He Jiankui, South University of Science and Technology

The rapid mutation will make it almost impossible to develop vaccines or anti-virals for the new ‘bird’ flu.

 

Fukushima

Corporate Incompetence: Leaking inground ponds at Fukushima Daiichi versus above ground sealed tanks

10 April 2013 (02:13 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1392/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

Tokyo Electric Power Company has been ordered to stop using in-ground waste water ponds to store radiative water.  Three ponds are now leaking (several hundreds of tons so far) and some of the contamination includes strontium.

TEPCo said they used the in-ground ponds because they are not enough above ground steel tanks available to hold the massive amount of contaminated water coming from the damaged GE designed reactors.

TEPCo hopes to have new steel tanks delivered in the next few days.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: China closes border! Multiple Missiles ready for launch!

10 April 2013 (00:29 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711

China has closed a border crossing with North Korea: “Travel agencies are not allowed to take tourist groups to go there, since the North Korean government is now asking foreign people to leave.”-unnamed official with the Dandong Border Office

South Korean media reporting that military satellite imagery shows multiple ICBMs ready for launch in North Korea.  The missiles include short range Scud, medium range Nodong as well as the BM25 Musudan: “There are clear signs that the North could simultaneously fire off Musudan, Scud and Nodong missiles.”-unnamed ROK spokesman

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: South Korea accuses North of psyops! U.S. will not shoot down missile!

09 April 2013 (14:35 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“We believe that foreigners in South Korea as well as our nationals will be unfazed as they have great confidence and trust in our military and the Republic of Korea.”–Kim Haing, ROK presidential spokeswoman

Officials in Republic of Korea say the DPRK’s warning that foreigners should leave South Korea is nothing more than psychological warfare.

And in front of the U.S. Congress, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, said that U.S. forces would shoot down a DPRK missile if it was targeting the United States or an ally.  But, he “would not recommend” shooting it down if it is truly a test launch that does not target anyone.

Fukushima

Corporate Incompetence: For the third time in four days, another radiation leak at Fukushima Daiichi!

09 April 2013 (02:26 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1392/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Tokyo Electric Power Company has just discovered another contaminated water leak in a third waste water pond. This is the pond they’ve been transferring radioactive water (including strontium) into, from two other ponds that are leaking.

TEPCo had also testified before government officials as to why the ponds/in-ground open air tanks were leaking, before they discovered the third leak.  TEPCo officials told the Japanese government they were creating an emergency task force to investigate the growing number of accidents and incidents.  They don’t know why the massive in-ground tanks are leaking.

Between all the leaks more than 120 tons of contaminated water has spilled out.  The third pond was only 55% full when it started leaking.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: North Korea warns all foreigners in South Korea to leave! South Korea asks banks to suspend collection of debts from capitalist KIR companies!

09 April 2013 (02:11 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is warning all foreigners in South Korea to prepare to evacuate: “The committee informs all foreign institutions and enterprises and foreigners including tourists in Seoul and all other parts of South Korea that they are requested to take measures for shelter and evacuation in advance for their safety.”-DPRK Asia-Pacific Peace Committee statement

In the Republic of Korea, the Finance Supervisory Service (FSS) has asked South Korean banks to hold off on collecting debts from the capitalist companies working in the now closed Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR).

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: NATO threatens North Korea! South Korea issuing survival manuals for people living along the border! North Korea to conduct nuclear test on Wednesday!

09 April 2013 (23:29 UTC-07 Tango 06 08 April 2013)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“North Korea’s rhetoric, attitude and actions are provocative. North Korea’s actions pose a threat to regional and international security. They’re irresponsible; they are in defiance of the international community. So I have a very clear message to North Korea. Stop what you are saying. Stop what you are doing.”-Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General

South Korea is not a member of NATO, but is an associate, having sent troops to Afghanistan as part of the U.S. led ISAF/NATO occupation.

The warning from NATO came as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced a ballistic missile test for 10 April 2013.  Analysts think it is one of North Korea’s new untested medium rang ballistic missiles (BM25 Musudan).

“Any future nuclear test or missile launch would be in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and would lead to further pressure and isolation.”–Patrick Ventrell, U.S. State Department spokesman

The Republic of Korea is also issuing survival manuals to South Korean residents living along the 38th parallel.

In the city of Goyang, 50000 manuals with instructions and maps showing air raid shelters were distributed.  More manuals were posted at bus stops.

The survival manuals also contain instructions on what do to in the event of nuclear, biological or chemical (NBC) attacks.

 

Business/Economics, International

World War 3, East Asian Front: DPRK officially withdraws communist workers from KIR!

08 April 2013 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango 06)/27 Jumada l-Ula 1434/19 Farvardin 1391/28 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

After nine years of operation Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is officially pulling out 53000 communist workers from the Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR).

Because the cheap North Korean workers are the overwhelming majority of workers at the KIR, the move effectively shuts down operations for capitalist South Korean companies.

Republic of Korean officials are holding North Korea responsible for effectively destroying South Korean companies, and said they “…will look into areas as compensations for businesses affected.”