Dave Patterson: Scary ‘Nuclear Challenges’ Faced by United States

The Defense Intelligence Agency just released a new assessment, and it’s chilling.

If you aren’t worried about America’s nuclear deterrence, you should be. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) just released its latest assessment of the nuclear capabilities of America’s most dangerous enemies: Nuclear Challenges: The Growing Capabilities of Strategic Competitors and Regional Rivals. Replace the word “challenges” with “threats,” and you get a better picture of the dire situation. China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran continue to grow larger on America’s nuclear threat windscreen.

Dave Patterson: North Korea Joins Russia Against Ukraine – A Growing Global Conflict

There is an expanding alliance of enemies moving on Ukraine, and the US is in denial.

It appears North Korea is itching for a fight, any fight. For some time, we’ve heard numerous reports on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) providing artillery ammunition and other assistance to Russia to support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Now, we are learning that Pyongyang is preparing ground troops to join Russia in the war against its neighbor to the West.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 6/9/24

While Luxon was observing the flight of a North Korean trash balloon, his ministers were … well, but for Seymour, it’s hard to say

The dearth of media statements from the Beehive today prompted Point of Order’s ministerial monitors to engage in a quick check.

Yep. There are 30 potential sources of statements, speeches and what-have-you, when we count Chris Luxon’s executive team. Twenty are ministers, eight are ministers outside of cabinet, and two are Parliamentary under-secretaries.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 19/6/24

More money flows through the infrastructure pipeline – and Public Works Act changes aim to hasten the flow

Infrastructure is big deal in the Beehive news agenda today.

The government is making it easier to build infrastructure by modernising the Public Works Act.

And it is braying about the billions of dollars being pumped through something called the National Infrastructure Pipeline, which provides a national “view” of current or planned infrastructure projects, from roads, to water infrastructure, to schools

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 14/5/24

Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament gazumps the ruling

It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to Parliament legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act.

Barend Vlaardingerbroek: Dealing with North Korea – getting Beijing on board

My sense of relief when the North Korean missile test of 15 April failed was short-lived.

Had that test missile worked, it would have headed towards the Sea of Japan and my expectation was that the US Navy Carl Vinson Strike Group, which we had been told had been despatched to the waters off the Korean peninsula, would have shot it down. Then what? Emperor Kim III had ranted and raved about nuking the US should “a single bullet be fired”. Would that have qualified?

Barend Vlaardingerbroek: How long until someone does something about North Korea?

As the year draws to a close, I can’t but wonder how many more years will pass before we see the demise of the last bastion of Stalinism – the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea a.k.a. North Korea. I suspect it won’t be all that many, for things are coming to a head.

Korea was referred to as the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ by 19^th-century Western adventurers owing to its seclusion.

Ron Smith: DPRK: Would they actually do it

For a number of years around the turn of this century, I was a member of an international group that brought together academic and official persons to discuss nuclear security problems in the Asia-Pacific region.  It was part of a wider project to reduce tension and build confidence, which worked in parallel with formal diplomatic meetings.  Apart from technical persons, it also included diplomats, but because of its relative informality, it tended to be referred to as ‘Track Two’.