Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 21, 2017

A North Korean soldier takes photographs as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (not pictured) arrives at the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korea, on Sunday. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Reuters: South Korea on heightened alert as North readies for army celebration

South Korea said on Friday it was on heightened alert ahead of another important anniversary in North Korea, with a large concentration of military hardware amassed on both sides of the border amid concerns about a new nuclear test by Pyongyang.

U.S. officials said there was a higher-than-usual level of activity by Chinese bombers, signaling a possible heightened state of readiness by Beijing, reclusive North Korea's sole major ally, although the officials played down concern and left open a range of possible reasons.

In Russia, a Kremlin spokesman declined to comment on media reports that Russia was moving military hardware and troops toward the border with North Korea, the RIA news agency quoted him as saying.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 21, 2017

South Korea grants land for THAAD deployment to U.S. military -- UPI

North Korea warns of 'super-mighty preemptive strike' as U.S. plans next move -- Reuters

Kim Jong Un's political strategy boosts North Korea weapons program -- UPI

North Korean Submarine Missile Program Making Rapid Progress, UN Warns -- Sputnik

After sex video, S. Korea accused of targeting gay soldiers -- AP

China deploys fighter jets in drills near North Korea -- UPI

Russia denies it is moving troops close to North Korea -- Washington Post/AP

Kremlin comments on Russian troops reinforcement near border with North Korea -- TASS

Field trials underway for Russia's next-generation battle tank -- UPI

Russian submariners perfecting under-ice navigation skills in Arctic -- TASS

Russia's frigate Admiral Gorshkov proceeds with sea trials -- UPI

Warships similar to Admiral Gorshkov frigate to be mainstay of Russian Navy -- TASS

China May Be Preparing Military Aircraft for Potential Conflict With North Korea -- Sputnik

China's Embattled Military Modernization -- Stratfor

What's Behind China's Big New Drone Deal? -- Ian Armstrong, The Diplomat

India to block Australia from naval exercise amid concerns it could inflame diplomatic tensions with China -- ABC News Online

Singapore's air force upgrading Apache warfare systems -- UPI

Boeing pulls out of 'unfair' Belgian fighter replacement bid -- UPI

Romania plans to buy Patriot missiles from US: report -- The Hill

Haiti aims to revive military as end of UN mission looms -- AP

U.S. State Department approves arms sale for Peshmerga forces -- UPI

US, Russia Militaries Keep Senior-Level Communications on Limited Set of Issues -- Sputnik

Mattis: Syria Still Has Chemical Weapons -- AP

Citing Vietnam, Mattis Won’t Do ISIS Body Counts -- DoD Buzz

Mattis won't reveal death toll from 'mother of all bombs' -- The Hill

Mattis in Israel insists Iran nuke deal 'still stands' -- Defense News

2 More F-35s to Join Fleet in Europe After Fuel Valve Glitch -- DoD Buzz

The Army's Rapid Equipping Office is Fast-Tracking Weapons for Underground Warfare -- Scout Warrior

B-52 Weapons Upgrade to Add More Payload, Range of Weapons -- Scout Warrior

Sources: Mattis tells Hill Trump budget won't fully rebuild military -- CNN

Mattis tells lawmakers Trump budget won't fully rebuild military: report -- The Hill

Sailor Who Apologized to Iran Will Stay in Navy, Board Rules -- Military.com

Laser Vision: Special Operations Command Prepares to Test Airborne Directed Energy Weapon -- National Defense

Secretive X-37B military space plane marks 700 days in orbit -- Space.com

Trump and National Security Critics Need to Reconcile -- Joseph Bosco, RCD

Pentagon experiences communications breakdown -- The Hill