Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 13, 2017

The Guardian: North Korea preparing for nuclear test, satellite images suggest

North’s Punggye-ri site appears to be ready for what would be the country’s sixth nuclear test since 2006

North Korea appears to be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in a show of defiance towards Donald Trump, who has not ruled out military action to pressure the regime into abandoning its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

The US-based monitoring group 38 North said on Thursday that the satellite images from the North’s Punggye-ri site showed it was “primed and ready” for what would be the country’s sixth nuclear test since 2006.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 13, 2017

North Korea 'Primed and Ready' for Nuclear Test, Images Show -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

Japanese warships to join US fleet near North Korea as tensions rise -- The Guardian

‘Riskier than striking Syria’: Beijing warns US against attacking North Korea -- RT

No easy way for US to back military threats to Pyongyang -- AFP

U.S. intelligence spots activity at missile-damaged Syrian airbase -- CBS

US coalition scales back anti-ISIS operations after Syria strike -- RT

After Cruise Missile Strike, F-22s Still Safe to Patrol Syrian Skies -- Defense Tech

The US has troops in Syria, and here's what they're doing -- ABC News

More US troops may be needed to fight ISIS in Syria, commander says -- CNN

Russia to develop first prototype of next-generation strategic bomber by early 2020s -- TASS

Russia to modernize weaponry for Crimea, Arctic forces -- UPI

Sea trials of Russia’s large amphibious assault ship to start in June -- TASS

'Game Changer': Russia Developing Next Generation Sniper Rifle -- Sputnik

Procurement: China Moves Production To The War Zone -- Strategy Page

Special Operations: Chinese special forces -- Strategy Page

Japan Scrambles Jet Fighters at Record Pace as Chinese Military Activity Rises -- Reuters

NATO members form center to combat hybrid threats -- UPI

US Marines teach Iraqis to call artillery strikes against ISIS -- Marine Times

Amid calls for more boots on the ground, Trump will send top adviser to Afghanistan -- Military Times

U.S. Air Force to extend service life for F-16 fleet -- UPI

US Air Force to Stretch F-16’s Service Life, Keeping it Flying for 30 More Years -- Sputnik

Air Force Opts to Keep F-16s Flying for Decades Longer -- DoD Buzz

WATCH: Lockheed’s Sikorsky Touts Coaxial Attack Helo Concept -- Defense Tech

US Air Force chief ambivalent on F-15 Eagle retirement -- Defense News

Air Force Won't Use Stop-Loss to Keep Pilots, Top General Says -- Military.com

3-star: Air Force may need even bigger pilot retention bonuses -- Air Force Times

BAE Systems to develop U.S. space, missile defense tech -- UPI

Donald Trump says Nato is no longer obsolete as he threatens to claw back money from alliance members who have 'underpaid' -- The Independent

Coast Guard Vital to Anti-Drug Ops in Latin America: Navy Admiral -- DoD Buzz

US Military Considers New Super-Weapon to Counter Russia's Nuclear Weapons -- Newsweek

Marines United Nude Photos Are for Sale on the Dark Web -- Daily Beast

How Trump Can Build a 350-Ship Navy -- Jerry Hendrix and Robert C. O'Brien, Politico