USS Lake Champlain Operating in Korean Peninsula Waters

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 3, 2017) The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), center, leads the Republic of Korea destroyers Sejong the Great (DDG 991), left, and Yang Manchun (DDH 973) while transiting the western Pacific. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Z.A. Landers/Released)

US Sending B-1 / B-52 Bombers to South Korea

President Donald Trump is sending nuclear bombers to the Korean peninsula as tensions in the region reach breaking point according to The Sun newspaper. US military chiefs are reportedly planning to fly in B-1 and B-52 bombers – built to carry nuclear bombs – to show America has had enough.

Story online at
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3049573/donald-trump-sends-b-52-nuclear-bombers-to-south-korea-after-north-fires-missiles-at-japan-and-us-warns-of-overwhelming-response/

Army Spy Plane Flying Missions on the Korean DMZ

US Army EO-5C Aircraft courtesy of The Aviationist (US Army Photo)

Mode-S ADS-B tracking and sharing is a really cool aspect of government/military aircraft monitoring. Again this morning it showed its worth when one of my twitter mil friends posted an intercept regarding N59AG flying up on the Korean DMZ. This isn't the first rodeo for that aircraft up there. In fact, they are regular visitors to that garden spot in the world. Disguised with a US civilian aircraft registration, the aircraft is a US Army EO-5C spy plane, one of three in the region.

Read more about these aircraft and their mission in Korea on The Aviationist website at
U.S. Army spyplane pops-up on Flightradar24 during mission south of the Korean DMZ

US Sending Two Warships to Japan to Counter North Korea

According to AP Press Reports, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered a two-pronged warning to Asia Pacific nations Sunday, announcing that the U.S. will send two additional ballistic missile destroyers to Japan to counter the North Korean threat, and saying China must better respect its neighbors.

In unusually forceful remarks about China, Hagel drew a direct line between Russia's takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region and the ongoing territorial disputes between China, Japan and others over remote islands in the East China Sea.

The announcement of the deployments of additional destroyers to Japan came as tensions with North Korea spiked again, with Pyongyang continuing to threaten additional missile and nuclear tests.

In recent weeks the North has conducted a series of rocket and ballistic missile launches that are considered acts of protest against annual ongoing springtime military exercises by Seoul and Washington. North Korea says the exercises are rehearsals for invasion.

North and South Korea also fired hundreds of artillery shells into each other's waters in late March in the most recent flare-up.

The two additional ships would bring the total to seven U.S. ballistic missile defense warships in Japan, and it continues U.S. efforts to increase its focus on the Asia Pacific.

The ships serve as both defensive and offensive weapons. They carry sophisticated systems that can track missile launches, and their SM-3 missiles can zero in on and take out short- to medium-range missiles that might be fired at U.S. or allied nations. They can also carry Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can be launched from sea and hit high-value targets or enemy weapons systems from afar, without risking pilots or aircraft.

China holds war games near Korean border

Bill Gertz is reporting on the The Washington Free Beacon that
China’s military is holding large-scale military maneuvers near the North Korean border amid new signs of political instability in Pyongyang.

U.S. military intelligence assets in Asia—including satellites, aircraft and ships—are monitoring the war games by the 39th Army Group that are part of the Shenyang military region.

A defense official said the war games are routine winter training and do not appear related to the ouster of No. 2 North Korean leader Jang Song Thaek, confirmed by the Pyongyang regime Sunday night.

You can read the rest of this story by clicking here.

China mobilizing troops, jets near Korea - the McCain enters Korean waters

Arleigh Burke Destroyer the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) has been ordered into Korean Waters

Bill Gertz is reporting on the Washington Free Beacon website that "China has placed military forces on heightened alert in the northeastern part of the country as tensions mount on the Korean peninsula following recent threats by Pyongyang to attack, U.S. officials said."

"Reports from the region reveal the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently increased its military posture in response to the heightened tensions, specifically North Korea’s declaration of a “state of war” and threats to conduct missile attacks against the United States and South Korea."

"According to the officials, the PLA has stepped up military mobilization in the border region with North Korea since mid-March, including troop movements and warplane activity."

"China’s navy also conducted live-firing naval drills by warships in the Yellow Sea that were set to end Monday near the Korean peninsula, in apparent support of North Korea, which was angered by ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills that are set to continue throughout April."

"North Korea, meanwhile, is mobilizing missile forces, including road-mobile short- and medium-range missiles, according to officials familiar with satellite imagery of missile bases."

Meanwhile, other press reports indicate that the U.S. Navy is shifting a guided-missile destroyer in the Pacific to waters off the Korean peninsula in the wake of ongoing rhetoric from North Korea, U.S. defense officials said.

The USS McCain is capable of intercepting and destroying a missile, should North Korea decide to fire one off, the officials said.

If you are a shortwave broadcast enthusiast, Gayle has just posted the latest A13 schedule for the Voice of Korea from Pyongyang, KCBS and PBS on her Shortwave Central blog (http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/).

You can also follow our late breaking real time news items on twitter via @MilcomMP and @QSLrptMT.

Who will blink first?

Reuters is reporting that the United States has sent F-22 stealth fighter jets to South Korea on Sunday to join military drills aimed at underscoring the U.S. commitment to defend Seoul in the face of an intensifying campaign of threats from North Korea.

The advanced, radar-evading F-22 Raptors were deployed to Osan Air Base, the main U.S. Air Force base in South Korea, from Japan to support ongoing bilateral exercises, the U.S. military command in South Korea said in a statement that urged North Korea to restrain itself.

For shortwave broadcast enthusiasts, Gayle Van Horn, the MT Frequency Manager has just posted the latest shortwave broadcast schedule in an exclusive on her Shortwave Central blog at http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2013/04/north-korea-a13-summer-schedules.html.

For my East Asia overseas readers, below is a listing of local ATC aero freqs for some of the bases and airports in South Korea.

Osan AB (K-55) RKSO
If you have internet access you can monitor Osan AB via the LiveATC website at http://www.liveatc.net/search/?icao=rkso

Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
Approach Control 127.900 306.300
ATIS 132.125 272.700
Clearance Delivery 127.300 343.000
Consolidated Command Post 276.200 277.200 227.525 (Have Quick) Callsign Roundup
Departure Control 127.900 234.300
Ground Control 132.450 253.700
Pilot-to-Dispatcher (PTD)  120.700 232.900
PMSV Metro 346.500
Rescue Coordination Center 282.800 381.000
Tower 122.100 308.800

Seoul AB (K-16) RKSM
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
Approach/Departure Control 123.800 363.800
ATIS 126.475 225.775
Ground Control 121.850 275.800
PMSV and Dragon Ops 62.450
PMSV Metro Backup Camp Humphreys FM 37.300 or UHF 346.500
Tower 126.200 236.600 292.850

Daegu AB (K-2) (RKTN)
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
Approach Control 135.900 346.300
ATIS 127.650 240.600 Digital ATIS svc avbl
Clearance Delivery/Ground Control 118.200 275.800
Departure Control 120.250 135.900 230.300
Kunsan Metro 346.500
Tower 126.200 236.600 365.000

Desiderio AAF (A-511) RKSG
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
ATIS 108.200
Desiderio Ops 37.950 294.100
GCA 127.000 226.800 255.800
Ground Control 119.500 229.700
Osan Approach/Departure Control 127.900 306.300
PMSV Metro 37.300 118.425 346.500
Tower 34.950 122.500 257.800

Jungwon AB (K-75) RKTI
Approach Control 132.550 306.700
ATIS 135.600 234.950
Departure Control 132.550 363.700
Ground Control/Clearance Delivery 275.800
Tower 126.200 230.150 236.600

Kunsan AB (K-8) RKJK
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
Approach Control 124.100 292.650
ATIS 120.225 304.800
Clearance Delivery 133.750 287.700
Command Post 245.1 Callsign Wolf Pack
Departure Control 124.100 293.525
Ground Control 123.500 273.525
PMSV Metro 346.500
PTD 132.250 247.100
Tower 126.500 292.300

Seosan AB (K-76) RKTP/RK6U
ATIS 130.300 318.100
Clearance Delivery 275.800
Departure Control 124.600 276.500
Ground Control 275.800
Haemi Approach Control 124.600 229.250 253.950
Haemi Tower 126.200 136.775 236.600 258.300

Cheongju International (RKTU)
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
ATIS 128.850 305.500
Ground Control 121.875 275.800
Jungwon Approach/Departure Control 134.000 134.100 134.400 265.750 292.900
Tower 118.700 126.200 236.600 249.600
Gangneung (K-18) RKNN
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
ATIS 132.050 226.175
Approach/Departure Control 124.600 304.000 253.400 310.700
Tower 126.200 236.600 238.000
Ground Control/Clearance Delivery 275.800

Gimhae Intrnational (K-1) RKPK
Approach Control 125.500 225.100 VFR 230.100 250.400
Arrival 119.200 134.400 230.100 253.800
ATIS 126.600 235.100
Clearance Deliivery 121.800 229.525
Cowboy Ops 133.825 250.250
Departure Control 125.500 363.800
Ground Control 121.900 275.800
Ramp 121.650 317.450 121.725
Tower 118.100 118.450 233.300 236.600

Gimpo International (K-14) RKSS
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
ATIS 126.400 317.800
Clearance Delivery 125.850
Ground Control 121.900 121.950
Seoul Approach Control 119.750 119.100 119.900 120.800 121.350 121.400 123.250 123.800 124.200 293.300 305.700 363.800
Seoul Departure 119.050 121.400 124.800 125.150 353.200
Tower 118.100 118.050 240.900
Gwangju (K57) RKJJ
Approach Control 130.000 228.900 319.200
Arrival 132.250 132.500 268.000 331.400 379.800 366.500
ATIS 128.875 234.700
Departure Control 124.000 347.200
Ground Control 121.800 275.800
Tower 118.050 236.600 254.600

Jeju International (K-40) RKPC
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
Approach Control 121.200 124.050 119.000 279.800 317.700
ATIS 126.800 239.500
Clearance Delivery 126.200
Departure Control 119.225 317.700
Ground Control 121.650
Tower 118.100 118.125 236.600

Jeongseok RKPD
ATIS 128.250
Ground Control 121.950
Jeju Approach Control 119.000 121.200 124.050 279.800 317.700
Jeju Departure 119.225 317.700
Tower 124.350 239.100

Seongmu (K-60) RKTE
Ground Control 134.550
Tower 131.300 126.200 236.600 363.900
Suwon (K-13) RKSW
25th TFS 229.000 266.100
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
ATIS 126.425 225.675
Ground Control 275.800
Osan Approach/Departure Control 127.900 234.300 306.300 Inbound VFR aircraft call 232.400
PMSV Metro 346.500
Tower 126.200 236.600 244.400
USAF Suwon Command Post 229.000 266.100 (Monitors 123.45)
Wonju (K-46) RKNW
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
Approach Control 141.200 130.200 292.600 255.000
ATIS 128.600 225.575
Departure Control 130.200 134.100 268.500
Ground Control 275.800
Tower 126.200 118.325 236.600 265.500

Yecheon (K-59) RKTY
Air Mobility Control Center (AMCC) 120.000 349.400 Callsign Brickwall
ATIS 136.800 226.075
Approach Control 134.500 229.350
Departure Control 134.500 266.350
Ground Control 275.800
Tower 126.200 236.600 269.500
While you won' hear fighter communications activity on HF frequencies (VHF/UHF only), you will hear transport, logistics and other long haul military aircraft coming into and out of the Korean theater on the Major MWARA frequencies listed below. Mode is USB. * indicates station active on frequency indicated.

CENTRAL WEST PACIFIC (CWP)

Family Freqs: 2998* 3455* 4666* 5652* 5661 6532* 6562 8903* 10081 (HFDL) 11384* 13300* 17904*

BEIJING (East Asia MWARA) 3016 6571 8897
DAEGU (125.700) 6425 6665 6675
HONG KONG (127.100) 6532 8903 13300
MANILA (124.900) 2998* 6532 6562 8903* 13300* 17904
NAHA (126.900) 2998 3455 4666 6532 8903 11384 13300 17904
PORT MORESBY (RDARA) (120.900) 3419 3425 5565 6622 8837 8861 11393
SAN FRANCISCO (ARINC) (131.950) 2998 3455* 4666* 5652* 6532* 8903* 11384* 13300 17904* 21985
SEOUL (127.100) 3004 6532 8903* 13300 13303 17904
SHANGHAI  (East Asia MWARA)  3016 6571 8897
TAIPEI (127.300) 6532 8903 13300
TOKYO (127.300/127.400) 2998 3455 4666* 5652* 6532 8903* 11384* 13300* 17904

NORTH PACIFIC (NP)

Family Freqs: 2932 5628* 6655* 6661 10048* 11330 13300* 17904*

BEIJING (East Asia MWARA) 3016 6571 8897
SAN FRANCISCO (ARINC) (131.950) 2932 5628* 5667 6655* 8915 8951 10048* 11330 13273 13339 17946 21925
SHANGHAI  (East Asia MWARA) 3016 6571 8897
TOKYO (126.700) 2932 5628* 6655 8951 10048 11330 13273 17904

More information as it becomes available. Field reports are certainly appreciated and can be sent to the email address in the masthead.

North Korea Rockets 'Ready To Hit US Bases'

The US uses B-2 bombers as a 'deterrence' measure in the region. (Photo courtesy of USAF)

Report from the UK SkyNews

 

Kim Jong-Un reportedly tells generals to prepare for an attack on US bases after a show of force by American bombers.
The country's KCNA news agency said Kim Jong-Un had signed off on the order to train sights on American bases in South Korea and the Pacific after a midnight meeting with top generals.
The move was followed by reports of increased activity at North Korea's mid to long-range missile sites, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

It comes after two American B-2 stealth bombers flew over South Korea in a show of force to Pyongyang, following an escalation of rhetoric from the North's young leader. Both China and Russia have appealed for calm.

The two nuclear-capable B-2 planes flew a 13,000-mile round trip from an air base in Missouri, dropping a dummy bomb on a target range in the South.

The planes were taking part in a joint South Korea-US military exercise that has inflamed tensions with Pyongyang, which earlier this month threatened to unleash an "all-out war" backed by nuclear weapons.

"This .... demonstrates the United States' ability to conduct long range, precision strikes quickly and at will," the US military said in a statement.

"The B-2 bomber is an important element of America's enduring and robust extended deterrence capability in the Asia-Pacific region."
]
KCNA reported that Mr Kim had "judged the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists in view of the prevailing situation".

The agency said: "He finally signed the plan on technical preparations of strategic rockets of the KPA, ordering them to be on standby for fire so that they may strike any time the US mainland, its military bases in the operational theatres in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea."

Following their leader's call to arms, thousands of North Koreans turned out for a mass rally in the main square in the capital.

Chanting "Death to the US imperialists" and "Sweep away the US aggressors," soldiers and students marched through Kim Il-Sung Square during the 90-minute rally.

The US has denied its military exercise was provocative but said it was "committed to a pathway to peace" and "prepared to deal with any eventuality" in the region.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the B-2 bombers were a message intended more for allies than Pyongyang.

U.S. Troops to Observe South Korean Live-fire Drills

By Karen Parrish, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - U.S. trainers and observers will be present for South Korean live-fire artillery drills planned to start tomorrow and to continue until Dec. 21, Defense Department officials said today.

A Pentagon spokesman told reporters the drills will occur as scheduled, and are intended to ensure that South Korean forces are prepared to respond to any threat to their security and stability.

Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the drills during a question-and-answer session following a briefing to Pentagon reporters yesterday.

"The area [where] they're going to conduct these live-fire drills is an established and well-used range," Cartwright said. "It's not a new activity, and it's not one that the North Koreans haven't seen on a routine basis."

Because the live-fire drills are set for Yeonpyeong Island, site of a Nov. 23 North Korean artillery attack that killed four people, South Korea has taken pains to ensure its intent is clear, Cartwright said, noting that artillery positions on another nearby island will be included in the drill.

"The impact area is out in the water, not pointed towards the land," the vice chairman said. South Korean officials earlier this week laid out exactly what they were going to be doing and when they were going to be doing it, "so that we would take any ambiguity out that was at all possible," he added.

Cartwright said South Korea's government also has published information on the planned drills extensively on the Web "to ensure that anybody in that area knows what's going to go on and when it's going to go on, including a notice to mariners."

A total of 21 U.S. military trainers and observers on the two islands will be present for the drills, along with a contingent of United Nations troops, Cartwright said.

According to news reports in South Korea, the government has announced that island residents will be evacuated or, if they prefer, housed in shelters while the live-fire drills take place.

"If North Korea were to react to that in a negative way and fire back ... at those firing positions on the islands, that would start potentially a chain reaction of firing and counter-firing," he said. "What you don't want to have happen out of that is ... for us to lose control of the escalation. That's the concern."

General: Exercises Vital to U.S., South Korea

By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - Exercises such as the Invincible Spirit series are helping the U.S.-South Korean alliance transform for the future while sending an unmistakable message to North Korea that its provocations won't be tolerated, the top U.S. general in South Korea said yesterday.

Army Gen. Walter L. "Skip" Sharp, commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, condemned North Korea's spate of destabilizing activities during a speech to the East Asia Institute and Center for a New American Security in Seoul.

The most recent attack, on South Korea's northwest islands, "crossed a significant threshold and represents a worrying trend toward more frequent and more violent provocations," Sharp said. "Our task ... is to find ways to change North Korea's strategic calculus and end the cycle of provocations."

The United States and South Korea's message to North Korea is clear, he said. "We will not tolerate attacks against the civilian population and all provocations will be met with the utmost response that the combined [South Korea]-U.S. instruments of national power can bring to bear and that the laws of land warfare permit."

Sharp said North Korea's actions bolstered the U.S.-South Korean alliance, which is observing its 60th anniversary this year. "Alliance resolve has never been stronger, and we will strengthen the alliance further still, both in terms of capability and commitment," he said.

The new Strategic Alliance 2015 plan lays out a framework for that effort. It includes improvements in the military exercise and training program, transfer of wartime operational control to South Korean forces by 2015 and the consolidation of U.S. forces to hubs around Pyeongtaek and Daegu.

Sharp called a realistic and adaptable exercise and training program critical to the plan, particularly in light of recent events on the peninsula.

"We will seek to further adapt our exercises to address limited, as well as full-scale, North Korean attacks," he said. "All our exercises are designed to improve our interoperability and demonstrate unwavering alliance resolve to maintain peace and stability in the region."

Sharp cited the success of the recent Invincible Spirit naval and air readiness exercises, the most recently that included the Carrier Strike Group George Washington. Together with the biannual theater-level exercises, Key Resolve and Ulchi Freedom Guardian, and future bilateral and multilateral exercises, these are improving alliance capabilities and readiness to respond to the full range of provocations and attacks, he said.

He emphasized, however, that the U.S.-South Korean alliance isn't focused solely on North Korea. "The [South Korean]-U.S. alliance is a vital element in providing security, stability and prosperity on the peninsula and in the region," he said. "Based on our shared values, our countries are primed to cooperate and act on a global basis to contribute to international security."

Naval Exercise Wraps Up In South Korea

By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - As the United States and South Korean militaries wrapped up four days of joint naval exercises, the task force commander said he's "exceptionally satisfied" with capabilities demonstrated during operations that sent a strong deterrent message to North Korea.

"It certainly sends a message of collective and unified deterrence –- that we are prepared, we are ready, collectively, as allies," Navy Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, commander of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group 5, said last night during a Pentagon Channel interview. "We certainly hope our activities here send a message that we are capable and we are ready to respond together to any potential contingency."

The exercise was the third in the "Invincible Spirit" series Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and then-South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young agreed to over the summer after North Korea sank the South Korean navy ship Cheonan in March, killing 47 South Korean sailors.

The latest exercise, Cloyd said, was conducted to reinforce U.S. commitment to its alliance with South Korea, to reassure other allies in the region of that commitment and to demonstrate freedom of movement in international waters throughout the Western Pacific.

About 6,000 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5, the cruiser USS Cowpens and destroyers USS Lassen, USS Stethem and USS Fitgerald participated, along with South Korean navy ships and their crews. In addition, both countries' air forces participated.

Operating off South Korea's western coast, they conducted sustainability, readiness and interoperability training covering a broad spectrum of operations, from surface and anti-submarine warfare to air defense, Cloyd reported.

"By training and practicing these varies types of capabilities and skills together, it allows us to be more prepared to operate and execute these kinds of missions should it be necessary to do so anywhere in the Western Pacific region," he said.

Cloyd said he's "extremely confident in our collective capabilities to be able to execute any number of missions we may be asked to do," from "higher-end" operations such as those practiced during the exercise to humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

The first Invincible Spirit exercise, conducted in July, focused on naval and air readiness. The second, in October, involved five days of anti-submarine warfare exercises.

The third exercise initially was slated for late October, but it was postponed due to scheduling issues. It began days after North Korea launched an artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong that left four dead, including two South Korean marines.

Navy Pic of the Day - F/A-18 Hornet Launch on GW

An F/A-18 Hornet prepares to launch from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington is in the waters west of the Korean peninsula preparing for a training exercise with the Republic of Korea Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marcus D. Mince/Released)

Monitoring North Korea on HF

Most authorities who monitor North Korea will tell you that they are a closed society with very little information about them getting out to the rest of the world. Consequently, we do not have a lot of opportunities to monitor any HF communications from the communist north.

In recent years, digital monitors have identified ARQ/FEC burst signals that are associated with the North Korean HF Diplomatic Network. Known as DPRK-ARQ and DPRK-FEC, this is a two-tone system with a 600 Hz shift.

You can see a sonagram of this signal at
http://sferix.sg1010.myweb.hinet.net/hfasia/files/DPRK_600Hz-600Bd.html.

You can hear an audio sample at http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/sound/10133dprk.wav

Past frequencies used by this network (freq in kHz): 6747.0 6748.5 8151.5 8737.5 9179.5 10258.5 10718.5 11438.5 12108.5 12202.5 12204.0 12205.0 12220.5* 12373.5 12534.5 12847.0 13248.5* 13378.5 13447.0 13457.0 13533.5 14018.5 14038.5 14247.0 14318.5 14327.0 14373.5 14442.5 14746.5 14778.5 14878.0 15017.0 15857.0 15858.0 15888.5 15999.5 16006.5 16058.5 16088.5 16118.5 16119.5 16128.0 16128.5 16131.5 16136.5 16211.5 16216.0 16218.5 16235.5 16238.5 16246.5 16314.5 16318.5 16348.5 16418.5 16448.5 16497.0 16858.0 18523.5 19241.5

* indicates a 1200 baud/1.2 kHz shift.

Some of the frequencies above may be transmitting from KRE embassies and not Pyongyang. For years KRE diplo comms were monitored in the 20 meter ham bands. I did a quick check of the IARUMS-1 October bulletin and it only shows the Voice of Korea intruding on the 80/40 meter ham bands and no diplo comms.

From the IARUMS-1 October 2010 bulletin:

Voice of Korea 3560.0 kHz at 1932 utc and 7200.0 kHz from 1100-1300 utc.

The latest report of KRE diplo activity comes from our friend down under Eddy Waters. He reported this morning monitoring MFA Pyongyang on 14778.5 and 18523.5 kHz around 0100 utc using DPRK-ARQ.

For the spook crowd there is an interesting article on http://www.abiweb.jp/ransu/ransu-e3.htm about "numbers stations" transmitting from the Korean Peninsula. If you follow this sort of traffic keep an ear out for Enigma designators V15, M40 and M82.

The M82 numbers stations are believed to be transmitted from the "BML" North Korean Army.

Sample format “vvv jvg jvg jvg de bml bml qsa qtc 587” R2 Or “abv qtc nr xxx xx xx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx =“ Known to send “r” as separator each 10 gps.

I do not have any recent reports on M82 traffic and the last frequency I saw reported was 8050.0 kHz.

Finally, Token in the Mohave on the spooks list posted the following yesterday:

"South Korean V24 and M94 traffic has had a very slight change in habits recently.

"The average message length has increased in the last week, not beyond the maximum that has been seen in the past but still longer on average.

"V24 has added a couple of new time slots and rearranged a couple of the old ones. For example in the last week or so there have been more 1630 slots than normal, but this could just be caused by errors in early slots. I can not prove but do believe that the 1630 slot is sometimes used to "catch up" or to correct for earlier errors in addition to hosting its regularly scheduled traffic.

"Other than this I have seen no changes to Korean or Chinese numbers traffic."

In response to a recent V24 report Token wrote this:

"A badly out of date web page that describes the station is found here http://token_radio.home.mchsi.com/numbers_station_v24.htm Sorry, I really need to update that page but have not had time.

"Since you heard the end you may have heard the Windows shutdown sound after the audio stopped. That does not always happen, but you can normally catch it (the shutdown sound) a couple times a month after the last V24 transmission of the day.

"V24 appears to use four frequencies at this time, 5715, 6215, 6330, and 6730 kHz. The schedule uses specific time/freq/day slots two days in a row. The one you heard today happens to be the first of that specific 2 day cycle, so if you listen tomorrow at 1530 you will hear a repeat of the same transmission. Other M24 transmissions that probably will happen tomorrow are 6730 kHz at 1200z, 6730 kHz at 1530z, and 6330 kHz at 1600z.

"There is an MCW (Morse code) sister station to V24, called M94. It appears at this time to use 5715 and 6330 kHz. Tomorrow there should be an M94 TX at 1400 on 5715 kHz."

As always reports, updates and additions are always appreciated. Email address in the masthead. Jefe.

George Washington Strike Group Begins Exercise with Republic of Korea

USS George Washington (CVN 73)Commanding Officer, Capt. David Lausman watches the Military Sealift Command's Fleet Replenishment Oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) as it transfers fuel to USS Cowpens (CG 63) and George Washington during a replenishment at sea. George Washington is currently helping to ensure security and stability in the waters west of the Korean peninsula. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)

By By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cheryl Callahan

Waters West of Korean Peninsula (NNS) -- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) entered the waters west of the Korean peninsula to participate in a combined military exercise with the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Nov. 28.

The exercise is part of the series announced at the 2 + 2 meetings in July and is scheduled to run until Dec. 1.

"While this exercise, which is defensive in nature, has been planned for some time, it underscores the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance and our collective commitment to regional security and stability," said Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, Commander, Task Force 70.

The purpose of the four-day exercise is to enhance the readiness and interoperability of ROK and U.S. forces during routine operations in international waters and airspace. Both militaries have conducted similar exercises together in recent months on both sides of the peninsula.

The exercise will include more than 7,000 personnel, 11 ships and a variety of aircraft to include F-18 Super Hornets, F-16C Fighting Falcons, A-10C Thunderbolt II, F-15Ks and KF-16s.

The ships involved include: the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), with embarked Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5); the guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63); the guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Stethem (DDG 63), and USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62); and several ships and aircraft from the ROK.

The two nations will conduct air defense and surface warfare readiness training, communications and data link drills and subject matter expert exchanges during the course of the four-day exercise.

N. Korea deploys SA-2 surface-to-air missiles near Yellow Sea border

The Yonhap News Agency is reporting that North Korea has deployed SA-2 surface-to-air missiles to its west coast near Yellow Sea border with South Korea.

"(The missiles) appear to be targeting our fighter jets that fly near the Northern Limit Line (NLL)," the source said on customary condition of anonymity, referring to the Yellow Sea border.

The Soviet-designed SA-2 missile has a range of between 13 and 30 kilometers. Other missiles on the North's west coast, such as the Samlet and Silkworm with ranges of up to 95km, have also been put onto launch pads, the source said.

"The military is preparing for the possibility of further provocations as the North Korean military has deployed firepower near the NLL and is preparing to fire," the source said.

Mullen: North Korea's Unpredictability Endangers Region

By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - The only thing predictable about the North Korean regime is its unpredictability, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a television broadcast today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told CNN today that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il is trying to assure the transition of leadership to his son, Kim Jong-un. He implied that the sinking of the South Korean navy ship Cheonan in March and the artillery strikes on Yeongpyeong Island on Nov. 23 are part of that process.

Mullen called the North Korean leader belligerent and dangerous.

"He is consistently destabilizing and is only predictable in his unpredictability," the admiral said. "He galvanizes everyone around with the potential that they could go to war with South Korea."

North Korea is on a path to develop nuclear weapons, and the artillery strikes on Yeongpyeong Island are latest sign of his continued belligerence, he said.

Kim Jong-il reportedly cited South Korea's recent military exercises with the United States as a reason for the artillery strike.

However, the Hoguk series of exercises that began earlier this month in South Korea and include 70,000 South Korean troops, have been long planned, Mullen said. Exercises built around the USS George Washington carrier battle group in the Yellow Sea began today. Both sets of exercises are built around deterrence, in response to the sinking of the Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors.

"It focuses on security in the Yellow Sea particularly in respect to submarine warfare," he said. "It is meant to send a very strong signal of deterrence and also to work with close allies in South Korea.

"I don't think this will be the last exercise," he added. "This is a part of the world that we've exercised in for decades and we will continue."

South Korea and the United States are focused on restraint and not letting the situation get out of control, the admiral said. "The South Koreans, so far, have responded that way," he said. "Nobody wants this thing to turn into a conflict."

China is also urging restraint and Chinese leaders probably are the only people who can exert influence on North Korea, Mullen said.

"The Chinese certainly were involved with the response at the United Nations after the sinking of the Cheonan," he said. "The North Koreans were taken aback by the strength of that response from China. We think it is important for the international community to lead, but in particular, China.

"It's a very dangerous area when [Kim] does this. It destabilizes the region, and China has as much to lose as anybody."

Exercises in Korea Long-planned, Sharp Says

By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - Movements of troops in South Korea and ships in the Yellow Sea are part of long-planned exercises and shouldn't be seen as a response to North Korea's Nov. 23 attack on Yeonpyeong Island, the commander of United Nations Command said today.

"Media rhetoric from North Korea, along with images of [South Korean] forces moving on the peninsula may give you a misperception of efforts on the peninsula," Army Gen. Walter "Skip" Sharp said in a community message aimed at Americans living and serving in Korea.

South Korean forces are participating in the previously planned annual Hoguk exercise. The exercises, announced Nov. 16, feature movements of some 70,000 South Korean soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

"The USS George Washington will also participate in a previously planned, combined, training exercise," Sharp said in his message. Neither Hoguk nor the George Washington carrier battle group exercise is in response to Tuesday's attack that killed four people on the island.

South Korean and U.S. forces hold exercises year-round to improve readiness and to ensure a peaceful and safe environment on the peninsula, he said.

Sharp visited Yeongpyeong Island yesterday to assess the damage the unprovoked artillery barrage caused. Analysts are calling the attack one of the most serious since the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. The attack killed two South Korean marines and two civilians.

Combined Forces Command Deputy Commander Gen. Jung Seung-Jo, members of the Swiss and Swedish Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, and members of the UNC Military Armistice Commission accompanied Sharp to the island.

During the visit, the general called on North Korea to refrain from additional attacks and provocative actions, and meet with United Nations Command officials immediately in the truce village of Panmunjom for general officer talks to discuss the incident.

NKorea warns region is on brink of war

According to the copyrighted AP story below by By LEE JIN-MAN and FOSTER KLUG, tension continue to rise on the Korean peninsular.

YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea (AP) - North Korea warned Friday that U.S.-South Korean plans for military maneuvers put the peninsula on the brink of war, and appeared to launch its own artillery drills within sight of an island it showered with a deadly barrage this week.

Read the complete story at http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101126/D9JNPTIO2.html

Read more about the George Washington CSG Yellow Sea exercise at
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2010/11/naval-readiness-exercise-announced.html

Four Dead in N. Korean Attack, U.S. Carrier Group Deploys

By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - South Korean officials announced that two of the four dead in the unprovoked attack by North Korea yesterday were civilians.

President Barack Obama told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Korea.

Obama strongly condemned the North Korean attack on the island of Yeonpyeoung. He said North Korea must stop its provocative actions, which will only lead to further isolation, and fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement and its obligations under international law.

The two presidents agreed to hold combined military exercises and enhanced training in the days ahead to continue the close security cooperation between our two countries, and to underscore the strength of the alliance and the commitment to peace and security in the region.

The USS George Washington carrier strike group will join South Korean naval forces in the Yellow Sea west of the peninsula from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 to conduct the next exercise in the series announced at the 2-plus-2 meetings in July.

This exercise is defensive in nature, said United Nations Command officials in Seoul. "The intent of the series of exercises is to enhance our interoperability with the Republic of Korea, but also as a deterrent to North Korea," Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said today during a press availability.

The USS George Washington with an embarked carrier air wing, the cruiser USS Cowpens, and the destroyers USS Lassen, USS Stethem and the USS Fitzgerald will participate in the exercise along with South Korean ships. The United States has notified China, Japan and other nations in the region of the exercise in international waters. The USS George Washington last exercised in the area in October 2009.

Officials planned the exercises well in advance of yesterday's North Korean artillery attack, Lapan said.

"Past exercises, sanctions, international condemnation -– there have been any number of things that have been intended to curb the North's aggression, but for whatever reason they have chosen to disregard," he said.

The North Korean attack is a violation of the Armistice Agreement signed in 1953. It follows the North Korean sinking of the South Korean ship Cheonan in March -– an attack that killed 46 South Korean sailors.

There have been many North Korean breaches of the armistice over the years, but it is one of the first to target civilians. The attack has had a chilling effect on the people of South Korea.

"Just the act of aggression itself –- regardless of who was killed –- is what's of concern to us, but certainly attacking civilians takes this to a different level than we've seen in the past," Lapan said.

Obama said the United States will work with the international community to strongly condemn this outrageous action by North Korea, and to advance peace and security in the region.

Naval Readiness Exercise Announced

Blog Ed Note: I'm sure that some of my US readers have seen that Dodge car company commercial on TV where George Washington, flying a US flag and driving a Dodge Challenger, comes out of the woods charging a company of red coats and puts them on the run. That's when the announcer says there are two things America got right -- the car and freedom. Hey Dear Leader there is another GW headed your way and that sound you hear off your coastline is the sound of freedom. Would you like some, come get some. The Chief

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The USS George Washington carrier strike group will join Republic of Korea (ROK) naval forces in the waters west of the Korean peninsula from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 to conduct the next exercise in the series announced at the 2+2 meetings in July.

This exercise is defensive in nature. While planned well before yesterday's unprovoked artillery attack, it demonstrates the strength of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and our commitment to regional stability through deterrence. It is also designed to improve our military interoperability.

U.S. Navy ships scheduled to participate include the USS George Washington (CVN 73) with an embarked carrier air wing (CVW 5), USS Cowpens (CG 62), USS Lassen (DDG 89), USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62).

U.S. and allied operations are built on an already strong foundation of cooperation and this exercise is intended to further enhance interoperability. The U.S. and ROK forces will conduct air defense and surface warfare readiness training.

The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the waters off the Korean peninsula and has conducted numerous operations and exercises in this area. In October 2009 the George Washington strike group conducted similar operations in the international waters west of the Korean peninsula. U.S. aircraft carriers frequently visit the Korean peninsula and conduct port visits in Busan; such as USS George Washington in 2010, USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)in March 2009, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS George Washington in 2008.