10 April 2013 (14:35 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
The ROK bank, NongHyup Bank, reporting that its internet banking service is paralyzed. They do not know why. Technicians are working at their operating system location in Anseong, they hope to have it solved before tomorrow.
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.
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
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.
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.
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).
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.
09 April 2013 (18:40 UTC-07 Tango 06 08 April 2013)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
Member of Republic of Korea’s National Assembly, Chung Mong-joon, is in Washington DC, telling President Barack Obama that South Korea must be allowed to have nuclear weapons, for use against China!
Chung says China has forgotten about its renegade ally, North Korea. He thinks allowing South Korea to have nukes would force the Chinese to realize how serious the situation is.
In another development, South Korea’s Ministry of Security and Public Administration, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), say there are not enough shelters for an expected flood of refugees caused by a Second Korean War.
08 April 2013 (01:00 UTC-07 Tango 06)/27 Jumada l-Ula 1434/19 Farvardin 1391/28 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
“Given economic conditions, it’s hard to reopen the Kaesong Industrial Park once it is closed down. Closure of the Kaesong park will inevitably lead to economic damage to South Korea….”-Hwang Woo-yea, of South Korea’s ruling political party Saenuri
Republic of Korea’s Unification Minister, Ryoo Kihl-jae, believes the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is about to conduct a forth nuclear weapons test. He refused to explain to South Korean media why he thinks that.
ROK Ministry of Defense downplayed the claim by Ryoo, saying their intelligence shows no movement in the area where the last nuke test took place.
However, a South Korean media source said there was increased activity at a test site in the northeast part of North Korea.
A ROK medic team based at the Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR) has left the area. The DPRK continues its blockade of the KIR, several South Korean capitalist companies have ceased operations as a result.
A representative of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), Kim Yang-gon, visited KIR and told communist workers to prepare for all possibilities.
08 April 2013 (19:55 UTC-07 Tango 06 April 2013)/27 Jumada l-Ula 1434/19 Farvardin 1391/28 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
“….He has asked the Senate Armed Services Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee-Defense to excuse his absence until he can testify at a later date….”-USFK statement
U.S. Army General James Thurman, canceled his trip to testify before Congress, citing the fact that his U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) have been put on high alert.
Republic of Korea (ROK) Army General Jung Seung-jo, also canceled his trip to Washington DC, for similar reasons.
The Chinese President Xi Jinping, warned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea not “…to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos…”
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that China “…does not allow any troublemaking on China’s doorstep.”