North Korea threatens to hit back over US-led sanctions



EOUL • North Korea has warned it will retaliate if the global community ramps up sanctions over its latest round of weapons tests.

The warning comes as President Donald Trump threatened that the United States was prepared to go it alone in bringing Pyongyang to heel if China did not step in.

The isolated state has quickened its missile programme in recent months, with a volley of tests it says are putting it closer to acquiring the ability to hit the US mainland with a nuclear weapon.

US-based analysts have said North Korea appears to be preparing a new atomic test. It has staged five nuclear tests so far, two last year.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry on Monday assailed Washington for its tough talk and for an ongoing joint military exercise with South Korea and Japan which Pyongyang sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

The "reckless actions" are driving the tense situation on the Korean peninsula "to the brink of a war", a spokesman was quoted as saying by the official KCNA news agency.

The idea that the US could deprive Pyongyang of its "nuclear deterrent" through sanctions is "the wildest dream".



"Now that the US fails to face up to the trend of the times but incites confrontation to strangle the DPRK (North Korea), the DPRK is left with no option but to take necessary counteraction against it. The world will soon witness what eventful steps the DPRK will take to frustrate the hideous and reckless sanctions racket," the spokesman said without elaborating.

North Korea frequently makes unspecific threats in its state media.

The statement comes ahead of the first face-to-face meeting between Mr Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The comment by the North's Foreign Ministry spokesman also came hours before the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a Bill relisting the North as a state sponsor of terror, along with a resolution denouncing the North's nuclear and missile development.



The US Treasury hit 11 North Korean business representatives and an industrial firm with sanctions last week, seeking to further isolate the country's economy.

Professor Yang Moo Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul said the North is likely to hold off any provocative acts until after the Trump-Xi meeting.

"It is most likely to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the birth of its army on April 25 with either a sixth nuclear test or the launch of a satellite or an ICBM test," he said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

C-130 flying low last nite over PJ, Kota Damansara, Subang, Shah Alam areas, precursor to any exercise being planned by MAF?

KL's detention of Filipino terror suspect tests bilateral ties



Malaysia's continued detention of a Philippine terrorist suspect, believed to be involved in the deadly bombing in the southern Mindanao city of Davao last September, is testing bilateral relations and presenting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with new challenges in his bid to bring peace to the region.

Malaysian police arrested Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema in late November last year after the Philippines declared him a suspect in the Davao bombing on Sept 2 that left 15 people dead and wounded 69 others, according to diplomats and regional intelligence officials.



But Manila's demand for his repatriation has yet to be approved by Kuala Lumpur. It is unclear why the Malaysian authorities have delayed handing over the suspected militant, although regional intelligence officials say it is common for local security agencies to carry out their own interrogation of suspects before deporting them. Malaysian police have declined requests for comment.


Mohammad Abduljabbar, 26, is no ordinary terrorist suspect. His parents, Mr Muslimin Sema and Ms Bai Sandra Sema, are powerful political warlords in the southern province of Mindanao, and are key players in the ongoing peace talks between Mr Duterte's government and the Muslim Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Diplomats and regional intelligence officials said Mr Muslimin, the chairman of the largest faction in the MNLF, and his wife have been actively lobbying Mr Duterte to pardon their son for his alleged involvement in the bombing.

It is an option Mr Duterte is considering as part of a strategy to get the faltering Mindanao peace talks back on track, and it is against this backdrop that the Philippines want Mohammad Abduljabbar deported, say human rights executives involved in the peace talks.

The delay in deportation has led to some behind-the-scenes tension between KL and Manila.

"The Philippine government is upset (with Malaysia) because Duterte wants a peace deal as quickly as possible," said a senior executive of a conflict resolution agency who is tracking the Mindanao peace talks.

Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesman Charles Jose declined to discuss Mohammad Abduljabbar's detention in Malaysia, noting that it was a "matter for the Philippines' intelligence and security agencies".



Senior superintendent Dionardo Carlos, spokesman for the Philippine National Police, told The Straits Times that the issue over Mohammad Abduljabbar's detention was being coordinated by the police attache at the embassy in KL. Embassy officials have declined to comment.

Mohammad Abduljabbar fled the Philippines immediately after the September bombing, which investigators believed was carried out by a radical fringe cell known as the Maute group. The Philippine National Police have so far detained seven of the 12 suspects.

Regional intelligence officials said Mohammad Abduljabbar fled some time after the attack, making his way first to Cambodia and then trying to travel to Bangkok in November. After being denied entry by Thai immigration, he took a flight to Malaysia.

Philippine intelligence agencies tracking his movements tipped off the Malaysian police and he was arrested at the budget terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Regional intelligence officials said Mohammad Abduljabbar has become a person of particular interest for the top-secret Research Division in the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office.

Officials from the division have played key mediating roles in dealing with separatist movements in the restive southern regions of Thailand and the Philippines.

• Additional reporting by Raul Dancel

Flyovers don't mean gonna do major exercises. In Klang valley very usual to have military planes go round and round.

Last weekend my area got at least 2 Nuri helicopters flying around at low altitude for about 2 hours. Nobody cared also.

i think its normal.... Mas Selamat was held by malaysian authority for almost 1 and half year before extradited to singapore...

Possible Coup: Jakarta police reveal plot to occupy Parliament.



JAKARTA • Five men arrested for treason ahead of last Friday's protests in Jakarta had plotted to have a truck ram into the back gate of Parliament and then letting their supporters take over the complex, police say.

The suspects - including Muhammad Al Khaththath, secretary-general of hardline group Forum of Muslims - had also mapped out a network of underground sewers that led into Parliament to see how best to gain entry, said police spokesman Argo Yuwono.

Police on Monday named Al Khaththath and four other senior members of various Muslim organisations as the suspects. They were identified as Diko Nugraha, Andre, Irwansyah and Zainuddin Arsyad.

The men were nabbed in raids starting last Thursday night, just hours before the protests went ahead peacefully without them.

Jakarta police told reporters their preliminary findings showed that Al Khaththath and Irwansyah had strategised "primarily to topple the legitimate government" of President Joko Widodo in two meetings in Kalibata and Menteng, both in Jakarta. The police did not disclose the dates of the meetings.



In Kalibata, "they made detailed plans to occupy the Parliament building, and to enter it using a number of routes. A way to do it was to ram a vehicle like a truck into the back gate", according to Colonel Argo.

"Once the masses have got into the building, it will be difficult to drive them out," he said.

The men also discussed funding during the meeting, including money to carry out Friday's protest, such as for the rental of buses and other logistics, Col Argo added.

They estimated they would need three billion rupiah (S$315,000) to carry out their scheme to overthrow the government, he said.

Police are looking into possible financiers and how the money was to be distributed.

[US$225,000]All five men have been charged with treason, which carries a maximum life sentence under Indonesia's Criminal Code. They have denied the allegations and refused to sign the police dossiers, Col Argo said. Their supporters have called for their release.



During the raids, police seized several smartphones and laptops, a banner that read "Muslim governor for Jakarta", several posters and two books that allegedly recorded the suspects' spending for the foiled treason attempt, reported The Jakarta Post.

Col Argo maintained that the latest case is not linked to another group arrested before a Dec 2 rally last year over a similar charge to destabilise the government.

Last Friday's rally in Jakarta organised by Al Khaththath was the latest in a string of protests against Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, for alleged blasphemy over comments about verses from the Quran.



The turnout was far smaller than seen in previous rallies. Basuki, a Christian Chinese, is competing against former education and culture minister Anies Baswedan in a run-off election on April 19. Basuki is a close ally of Mr Joko.

Vice-President Jusuf Kalla called on the protesters to respect the legal process and said they would not be allowed to dictate the agenda.

while thats true... it is also important to maintain proper communications with other stakeholders... in this case peenoise bising

nuri fly above tak takut....

India Minat Beli Pesawat MIG-29 Dari Malaysia
Daripada D. Arul Rajoo

NEW DELHI, 5 April (Bernama) -- India telah menyatakan minat untuk membeli jet pejuang MiG-29 daripada Malaysia dengan menaik taraf pesawat itu untuk kegunaan tentera udara negara itu.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata cadangan tersebut adalah antara aspek kerjasama ketenteraan yang dipersetujui antara Malaysia dan India.

Dalam hal ini, Kementerian pertahanan (Mindef) dan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) akan melihat bentuk kerjasama, termasuk pengendalian pesawat tempur Sukhoi dan peralatan ganti pesawat berkenaan, katanya.

"Ada juga kemungkinan mereka akan beli pesawat MiG-29 kita, untuk mereka pasang pulih. Sebagai timbal balas, kita menerima peralatan ganti untuk program pesawat Sukhoi kita," katanya pada sidang media di akhir lawatan enam hari beliau ke India yang bermula 30 Mac di Chennai.

Menurut majalah penerbangan ketenteraan, 'AirForces Monthly', TUDM pada 1995 telah memperoleh 18 buah jet pejuang MiG-29N dari Russia dan pada ketika ini terdapat 10 buah MiG-29N dan dua pesawat latihan MiG-29NU dalam asetnya.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/bm/ge/ne....php?id=1344654

since my school days i've had nuris flying over my school. anyone who lives in gotham city knows this. never feared that nuris would crash land into our school. hahaha

cawa-2 & erawa-2 same stuff or different want?

no fear

Thailand army recruit killed for waking up late



The mother of a conscript who was beaten to death at Vibhavadi Rangsit Military Camp in Surat Thani has said her son was punished because he woke up late, while the military is insisting that it will ensure justice in the case. Heartbroken after her son's death, Renu Mhodrakee said yesterday her family was waiting for justice for her son Private Yuthinan Boonniam, who had been punished severely leading to his death for a trivial offence.

"I have been told that my son was punished just because he woke up late and failed to attend the morning line-up. I have heard that he had a conflict with another soldier, but he was never in any trouble during his time in the service until now," Renu said.

"My son was imprisoned on March 27, and then I met him again in the hospital on March 31 [Friday]. I really don't know what happened and I can't imagine what they did to my son during that time. I want justice for my son and I will not cremate his body until the case is concluded."



She said she had previously met Yuthinan on March 16 when he appeared healthy and happy. He was due to complete his service in October and return home to Surat Thani's Wiang Sa district.

Fourth Army Region commander Lt-General Piyawat Nakwanich said the Army had already set up a committee to investigate the case, adding that Yuthinan's family would be properly compensated.

"Right now we are preparing the proper funeral for Private Yuthinan to satisfy his family and then we will investigate the offence in this case to determine the culpability of all suspects. I promise they will be punished properly based on criminal and military law," Piyawat said.

Suspects already investigated He said all suspects in the case were being held by authorities, with police already having investigated them. Pol Maj-General Apichart Bunsrirote, commander of Surat Thani provincial police, said the Army had brought some conscripts who had been detained at the military prison to be questioned, adding that more than 10 witnesses had already been interrogated. Apichart added that police were also investigating a conflict between Surat Thani teenagers and Yuthinan, adding that surveillance cameras at the prison would be examined.



"Right now we cannot disclose all details about the case, but we promise that we are investigating the evidence and witnesses to ensure justice for all sides," he said. Maj-General Wichai Thassan-amontian, commander of the Military Circle 45, said some of the suspects in the case had already been punished and there was a committee to investigate violations of military rules. Wichai said the Army would properly compensate the family according to official regulations. He added that life insurance and welfare compensation might not amount to a large sum of money because Yuthinan was not killed in action. "This incident grieves some of his fellow draftees, but I am sure that their morale is still strong, and I would like to insist that military training in Vibhavadi Rangsit Millitary Camp is not violent," he said. Piyawat also said violent punishment at the military base was hard to control, likening it to the brawling of students, which was unpredictable. "I emphasis that this incident is not linked to the military conscription and the Army commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisa-ard also has a clear policy to stop such violence. The Army promises that we take good care of every draftee," he said. - See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/thailand...h.BEgKZByc.dpuf

http://www.janes.com/article/69265/airbus-...-a400m-contract

also in port klang


also in lumut


This post has been edited by DDG_Ross: Apr 5 2017, 12:37 PM

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand...a-idUSKBN1760T0

Composite Armor vs Explosive Reactive Armor. I tot ERAWA is a upgrade compare to CAWA.

hidup lg budak damian ni

beliau baik orangnya. i learn a lot about tank from him

why the stuff is in a video game forum tho?

Its in the sub-forum Armor In Real Life.

https://aw.my.com/en/forum/forumdisplay.php...or-in-Real-Life