Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 23, 2014

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un uses binoculars to inspect a live-fire drill using self-propelled drones at an undisclosed location in North Korea, March 20, 2013. Press TV

North Korea: 1.2 Million Troops, Nukes -- And A 3,000-Strong Cyber-Elite -- Bloomberg

North Korea’s alleged ability to hack into Sony Pictures Entertainment is extending Kim Jong Un’sreach far beyond the range of his missiles.

While North Korea has kept Western defense officials guessing for years about a nuclear program that it may or may not ever use, the regime’s ability to wage cyber war adds a new dimension to its standing abroad.

“There is this image that North Korea never carries through on its threats,” said Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow on Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation in Washington and former deputy division chief for Korea at the Central Intelligence Agency. “But it sometimes does carry through. You can’t always dismiss North Korea threats as simply being words.”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 23, 2014

Expert: Sony Hack Used Black Market Malware -- Defense Tech

Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel -- Michael Daly, Daily Beast

South Korea's Presidential jet to be fitted with anti-missile defense systems -- Arirang

China's leader is telling the People's Liberation Army to prepare for war -- Kyle Mizokami, The Week

China’s Building Stealth Fighters Faster and Faster -- War Is Boring

Russian stealth jet technology surpassed by China: Global Times -- Want China Times

Russia Upgrades Supersonic Bombers, ‘Blackjack’ Bomber Could Beat Out U.S. B1 ‘Lancer’ in Skies -- Inquisitr

Russia plans more aircraft, helicopters at airbase in Belarus — defense minister -- ITAR-TASS

Reasons Why Russia’s Emerging Borei-Class Submarine Fleet is a Fearsome Nuclear Weapon at Vladimir Putin’s Disposal -- IBTimes

Russian nuclear forces to get more than 50 new missiles in 2015 — Putin -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Navy Still Strong Without Mistrals, C'est la Vie -- Sputnik

Putin notes growth in foreign intelligence activity in Russia -- ITAR-TASS

Syrian state media unveils IDF drone allegedly 'shot down' -- Jerusalem Post

The Israeli General With an Asterisk -- New York Times

Airbus Helicopters delivers aircraft to Spanish military -- UPI

Agency Backs More Abrams for Iraq in ISIS Fight -- DoD Buzz

Task force denies reports US engaged in ground combat with Islamic State -- Stars and Stripes/Tampa (Fla.) Tribune

Billion-dollar ISIS fight gets U.S. inspector general -- The Hill

USS Zumwalt nearing completion -- Visalia Times-Delta

Boeing, U.S. Navy in talks about stretching EA-18G jet production -- Reuters

Navy Pays Texas Ship Breaker a Penny to Dismantle Carrier Ranger -- USNI News

US Navy 2015: Congressional Clashes Over LCS, UCLASS & Carriers -- Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

Army, Guard Set On Collision Course For 2015 -- Breaking Defense

Joint Chiefs warn: 'We can't do more with less' -- The Hill

Army general sent report on Bergdahl's disappearance -- Stars and Stripes

DoD Releases 2015 Military Pay and Compensation Rates -- US Department of Defense

Obama Gives Military 1 Percent Pay Raise -- Washington Free Beacon

Military gives Obama low approval marks -- USA Today

Rights Groups Want Special Prosecutor to Investigate CIA Torture -- VOA

More Than 500 Vets Died at VA Hospitals Due to Mistakes Since 2010 -- Washington Free Beacon

Military Hospital Care Is Questioned; Next, Reprisals -- NYT

Two military suicide bills, different results: The Jacob Sexton and Clay Hunt acts -- Dan Lamonthe, Washington Post

Maine entrepreneur builds sleek ship, but will military buy it? -- FOX News/AP

A Brief History of the CIA's Unpunished Spying on the Senate -- Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic

Hostage killings have given new impetus to even risky rescue attempts -- David S. Cloud and Zaid Ali, Stars and Stripes/Tribune Washington Bureau (TNS)