Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 22, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the launch of a Hwasong-12 missile in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 16, 2017. KCNA via REUTERS

Hyonhee Shin & Linda Sieg, Reuters: A North Korea nuclear test over the Pacific? Logical, terrifying

SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - Detonating a nuclear-tipped missile over the Pacific Ocean would be a logical final step by North Korea to prove the success of its weapons program but would be extremely provocative and carry huge risks, arms control experts said on Friday.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho suggested leader Kim Jong Un was considering testing “an unprecedented scale hydrogen bomb” over the Pacific in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat at the United Nations to “totally destroy” the country.

“It may mean North Korea will fire a warhead-tipped (intermediate range) Hwasong-12 or Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile and blow it up a few hundred kilometers above the Pacific Ocean,” said Yang Uk, a senior researcher at the Korea Defence and Security Forum in Seoul.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 22, 2017

North Korea's Thermonuclear Threat -- Morris Jones, Lowy Institute

If North Korea uses H-bomb, 'ultimately' Trump's decision on any military action: Tillerson -- ABC News

What military options are open to the US in tackling North Korea? -- SCMP

Fake evacuation orders sent to US military personnel in South Korea -- FOX News

U.S. Navy carrier drills with Japanese navy amid North Korean tension -- Reuters

Putin assesses Zapad-2017 military drills -- TASS

Russia just successfully tested one of its newest ICBMs — Here's what it can do -- Daniel Brown, Business Insider

Russian aircraft scrambled 14 times in a week to intercept foreign jets along borders -- TASS

The French Turn to Armed Drones -- Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer, War on the Rocks

Iran defies Trump with promise to strengthen its military -- CNBC

Battle for Marawi Deepens Philippines' Military Budget Challenge -- The Diplomat

US Considers Limiting Military Ties to Myanmar Over Rohingya Crisis -- TIME

Pentagon Discloses Meeting With Russian Military To Prevent Accidental Clashes In Syria -- RFE

Qatar Withdraw May Endanger U.S. Forces in Djibouti -- Joseph Hammond, RCD

The U.S. Air Force’s Vital Role in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Rathna K. Muralidharan, RCD

Navy $5 Billion Deal Builds New Nuclear-Armed Columbia-Class Sub -- Scout Warrior

US stealth fighter jets adding more firepower -- CNN

Light ISR: The Air Force’s next experiment? -- Defense News

The Air Force is scrambling to train more pilots as new aircraft languish on the runway -- Business Insider

US Army May Be Abandoning Its 7.62mm Rifle Program -- Task & Purpose

The Army Kills its Plan to Replace the M4 Carbine Rifle -- Popular Mechanics

Robotic delivery: Drones could deliver you and your gear to the fight -- Defense News

For the first time, the Marine Corps plans to have a female infantry officer among its ranks -- Washington Post

Should all infantry squad leaders be staff sergeants? -- Marine Times

Air Force Reserve grooming space warriors -- Space News

Exclusive: Trump administration prepares to ease export rules for U.S. guns -- Reuters

When hurricanes destroy phone lines, the Guard enables communication -- Military Times

Here's why Donald Trump wants his nukes to be smaller -- Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Policy

Back to the Future With Mini-Nukes? -- Malcolm Davis, The Strategist

Why Green Berets are the smartest, most lethal fighters in the world -- Paul Szoldra, Business Insider

The origin of Mattis’ call sign, ‘Chaos’ -- Military Times