🌐👺🔫🇷🇴 NATO’s Office for the Detection and Deterrence of Nuclear Contraband has donated 2 million USD worth of radiological equipment to Romania, capable to detect traces of radioactive material after the Ukrainian president, Vladimir Zelensky, threatened to craft nuclear bombs if he doesn’t get accepted into NATO.

@Wallachian_Gazette

🇹🇷 🇹🇷 — Noteworthy that the PKK attack on Turkey happens after Turkish intelligence kidnapped a Kurdish nationalist in Russia and forcefully extracted him out of there over PKK ties

https://news.1rj.ru/str/thermopylaenews/3092

🇨🇳 China has developed its first submarine capable to launch cruise missiles

The new Type 093B, the first close photos of which circulated online in early October, might be a cruise missile submarine. So far, only the United States and the Russian Federation have developed this type of submarine, that is capable to launch cruise missiles from under the ocean.

This summer, naval expert Thomas Shugart was the first civilian observer to notice the appearance of a new sub type in satellite imagery depicting a pier in Wuhan, China. That imagery, dated late April, depicts what appears to be the first example of a Type 039 diesel-electric attack submarine fitted with a small auxiliary nuclear powerplant – an innovation that could extend the type’s underwater endurance.

Later photos seem to indicate the hybrid Type 039 sank at its pier back in July. If confirmed, the sinking would be a setback for the Chinese navy and would, at the very least, delay the commissioning of the first of the hybrid subs – potentially by years.

Given the circumstances, the other new Chinese sub type to appear this year is very likely to precede the hybrid type in front-line service. The recent photos of this new type, apparently shot near Bohai, depict a new version of the Type 093, the Chinese navy’s only nuclear-powered attack submarine. Six Type 093s are in service.

The new Type 093B is slightly bulkier than the older Type 093, which measures around 350 feet in length and displaces around 6,700 tons of water. The basic Type 093 is roughly analogous to the US Navy’s older Virginia-class nuclear attack subs.

The Type 093B is more akin to the newest Block V Virginias, which are 460 feet long – 83 feet longer than previous blocks – and displace 10,200 tons. All that extra bulk comes from the Block V’s so-called “Virginia Payload Module,” which includes vertical launchers for 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles, boosting the armament of a new Virginia to 40 total missiles.

🔗 https://archive.ph/gDj20

🇺🇸🇷🇺🇰🇵 At least 3,000 North Korean soldiers now inside Russia, US says

At least 3,000 North Korean soldiers arrived in eastern Russia this month, the White House said Wednesday, and while it remains unclear what exactly they will do, it is a “highly concerning probability” that they will join the fight against Ukraine.

“We assess that between early- to mid-October, North Korea moved at least 3,000 soldiers into eastern Russia,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “We assess that these soldiers traveled by ship from the Wonsan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia. … We do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat alongside the Russian military, but this is certainly a highly concerning probability. After completing training, these soldiers could travel to western Russia and then engage in combat against the Ukrainian military.”

“We are seeing evidence that that there are North Korean troops that have gone to Russia,” Austin told reporters traveling with him in Rome on Wednesday. “What, exactly, they’re doing is left to be seen.”

“If they’re a co-belligerent, their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf, that is a very, very serious issue, and it will have impacts not only on in Europe — It will also impact things in the Indo Pacific as well,” Austin said.

In Rome, Austin said Putin “may be even in more trouble than most people realize.” Kirby added that turning to North Korea for manpower “would be a sign of weakness, not strength, on the part of the Kremlin.” Kirby also said the move is a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

🔗 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/23/politics/lloyd-austin-north-korea-troops-russia/index.html

Vice President Harris on Donald Trump: "He does not want a military that is loyal to the United States Constitution, he wants a military that is loyal to him."

📎 CSPAN

White House Press Secretary on Donald Trump: "To be praising Adolf Hitler, it's dangerous and it's also disgusting."

📎 CSPAN