Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 7, 2016

Reuters: South Korea, U.S. begin exercises as North Korea threatens attack

South Korean and U.S. troops began large-scale military exercises on Monday in an annual test of their defenses against North Korea, which called the drills "nuclear war moves" and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive.

South Korea said the exercises would be the largest ever following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month that triggered a U.N. Security Council resolution and tough new sanctions.

Isolated North Korea has rejected criticism of is nuclear and rocket programs, even from old ally China, and last week leader Kim Jong Un ordered his country to be ready to use nuclear weapons in the face of what he sees as growing threats from enemies.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 7, 2016

In drills, U.S., South Korea practice striking North’s nuclear plants -- Washington Post

South Korea, US Begin Military Exercises Despite Threats Of ‘Pre-Emptive Nuclear Strike’ By North Korea -- IBTimes

China 'very concerned' about S. Korea-US military drills -- Korea Times

Private sector joins Xi’s battle to streamline China’s PLA -- FT

China prioritises military despite economic slowdown: The Yomiuri Shimbun -- Straits Times

China Raises 2016 Defense Spending by 7.6% -- AFP

Azerbaijan Air Force Flies Into Turkey For Week Long Joint Exercises -- Sputnik

Undercover teams, increased surveillance and hardened borders: Turkey cracks down on foreign fighters -- Washington Post

Confidential: NATO Report Praises Russia’s Superiority in Syria -- Sputnik

Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to head for Mediterranean in summer — source -- TASS

Russia will cut defense budget by 5 percent in 2016, RIA reports -- Reuters

France and Egypt in joint military exercise -- The Local

Israel military chief sparks debate with 'common sense' -- AFP

Polish Government Rocked by Resignations of Several Generals -- Defense news/AFP

UK Deploys 'Vital Military Assets' to Fight People Smugglers in the Aegean -- Sputnik

Canadian Participation in F-35 Program Remains Murky -- Defense News

Japanese submarine to visit Philippines: sources -- Reuters

Little of Substance in Pak-US Strategic Dialogue -- Defense News

The Pentagon starts planning to base more troops in Europe -- Military Times

Pentagon mulls more permanent troops in Europe - report -- RT

Air Force’s $7.2B Wish List Restores 5 F-35s, 8 C-130Js -- Defense News

Warplanes Top Navy, Marine Corps Wish Lists -- Military Times

As T-X Competition Looms, Air Force Expects Requirements To Hold Steady -- Defense News

White House to release drone 'playbook' -- The Hill

Time for transparency in overseas military aid and financing -- The Hill

Navy Loosens Body Fat Rules to Retain Sailors -- Military.com

Pentagon, Top Lawmakers Craft DoD Reforms -- Defense News

U.S. military spending millions to make cyborgs a reality -- CNN

Space Command general calls it a career after 35 years -- The Gazette

Military hits snag in Silicon Valley recruitment -- The Hill

How Should the Next President Use Military Force? -- Tom Z. Collina, National Interest