Isaac Stone Fish

Today in Asia Times, I wrote about China's advanced virtual training program, known as the "blue force," which simulates naval warfare against the U.S. The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has developed this system using AI, virtual reality, and unmanned systems to improve combat readiness. This initiative marks China's effort to bridge its lack of combat experience and challenge U.S. dominance in the Pacific. China's "blue force" emulates potential U.S. military strategies, integrating virtual simulations and electromagnetic warfare for more realistic training. The virtual metaverse provides a testing ground for new tactics, technologies, and conceptual weapons, helping PLAN better prepare for future conflicts. This training could significantly impact the balance of power in the region, especially over contentious areas like Taiwan.

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6/18/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4cpwzQv 1. With North Korea trip, sanctioned Putin copies ‘Kim family playbook’ 2. A Threat Like No Other: Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation 3. The Significance of the Putin-Kim Summit 4. Putin vows trade, security with North Korea beyond reach of West 5. U.S. Foreign Policy Wanders Aimlessly 6. Putin praises North Korea for Ukraine support ahead of visit to Pyongyang 7. Putin set to arrive in N. Korea in rare trip amid deepening concerns about military cooperation 8. U.S. calls deepening N.K.-Russia ties trend of 'great concern' ahead of Putin's Pyongyang visit 9. Putin's N.K. trip raises security uncertainties, dims N.K. dialogue prospects 10. Putin vows to develop settlement system with N. Korea not controlled by West 11. N. Korean soldiers briefly cross border for 2nd time in less than 2 weeks 12. Russia could become North Korea's next treaty ally 13. Defense minister discusses arms cooperation with Romanian presidential official 14. Supporting South Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Aspirations 15. Putin to arrive in North Korea, with new treaty in focus 16. Washington, Seoul sound alarm over Putin’s visit to Pyongyang 17. Putin, in North Korea, Seeks Arms for Ukraine War 18. North Korea Has Lost ‘Many’ Troops to Mines in DMZ, South Says

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7/30/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4d5oaTg 1. Why a Korea End-of-War Declaration Would Be a Mistake 2. “Institutionalization of US-ROK-Japan Security Cooperation Helps Suppress North Korea… Strong Signal to China and Russia” 3. US, South Korean defense chiefs ‘strongly’ urge North to cease trash balloon flights 4. N.K. leader's daughter being groomed to succeed Kim: lawmakers 5. N.K. trash balloons disrupt Incheon Int'l Airport operations on 12 occasions: lawmaker 6. Hanwha Aerospace from South Korea Offers Romania Advanced Redback IFV combat vehicles 7. North Korea increases production of 152-millimeter artillery shells 8. Indictment of North Korea expert Sue Mi Terry will not harm US-ROK alliance: NIS 9. Editorial: S. Korean parliament cripples intelligence powers, granting N. Korea's 70-year wish 10. Independence activist's legacy lives on: Huh Mi-mi secures silver in Judo 11. Australia's foreign minister says Russia-North Korea defense deal is 'risky for the world' 12. ROK court issues arrest warrant over reported leak of intel to North Korea 13. Seoul to spend $530K on overseas North Korean human rights conference series 14. Official at military's intelligence command arrested for alleged leak of 'black agents' info 15. North Korean restaurant in Mongolia still closed despite report on reopening 16. N. Korea holds simultaneous closed trials for violators of anti-reactionary thought law 17. N. Korea's political prison camps: Shrinking populations amid tightening control 18. Hoeryong harshly cracks down on Chinese cellphone users 19. Korean athletes shine with skill, determination, and class

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Balancing Act: Sato's Okinawa Visit and the Quest for Reversion Amid Cold War Tensions(1965) On 19 August 1965, then-Prime Minister Eisaku Sato made his first visit to Okinawa. At the time, Okinawa was under US rule. At Naha Airport, where he landed, he stated that ‘the post-war period of our country will not end without the return of Okinawa to the motherland’ and expressed his strong desire to see Okinawa return to Japan. However, he also stressed the significance of the US military bases in Okinawa. Allegedly, he did so partly under pressure to consider the US position. In addition to his existing interest in Okinawa's reversion, a group of advisors who formulated a comprehensive policy plan for the Sato administration, dubbed "Sato Operation," proposed taking the initiative for Okinawa's return ahead of the LDP presidential election in July 1964. Against a background of high growth and easing Cold War tensions, there was apparently a view that ‘Okinawa's importance to the US would diminish’. In the presidential election, incumbent Ikeda Hayato won the election but resigned in October due to illness, and Sato was appointed president and prime minister in November. In January 1965, Sato visited the US and met US President Johnson, where he expressed his desire to return Okinawa to Japan, but also expressed support for US military bases on the island. The background to this was the nuclear tests by China in October 1964 and the use of bases on Okinawa as the US began bombing the North during the Vietnam War in February 1965. https://lnkd.in/ga8WcJi5 #OnThisDay #onthisdayjapan #todayinhistory #okinawareturntojapan #usbaseinokinawa #satoeisaku #nobellaureate #きょうは何の日 #沖縄返還交渉 #在沖米軍基地 #佐藤栄作

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8/7/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/3SEbmLi 1. ＜Inside N. Korea＞Heavy Rain Causes Casualties in the Northeast; Officials Panic Fearing Kim Jong-un's Criticism: "The Blame Game Has Already Begun" 2. North, South Korean boxers become first to medal in their sport on same day 3. russia Used KN-23 Ballistic Missile from North Korea in Ukraine Strike, Missile Missed Target 4. Senior U.S., Swedish diplomats voice concerns over 'worrying' N.K. trends 5. Editorial: A South Korean military unit in turmoil with leaks and lawsuits 6. NK leader describes recovery work in flood-hit region as 'revolutionary construction' 7. S. Korea, U.S., Japan discuss launching mechanism to monitor UNSC sanctions against N. Korea within this year 8. PM requests Philippines' support in sending message against N.K. provocations 9. Navy set to receive MH-60R Seahawk helicopters in Dec. 10. Vice-presidential candidate Walz notes ties to Korea in campaign debut 11. Korea unveils monument honoring Korean war veterans 12. North Korea belatedly begins Olympic broadcasts after IOC agreement 13. Nationwide malaria alert issued in Korea after parasites discovered in mosquitoes 14. Kim Jong Un orders crafting of "realistic" diplomatic strategy toward US 15. North Korea seeks to mirror the South’s defense sector boom

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