Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 18, 2018

Daily Mail: CIA director Mike Pompeo secretly traveled to Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong-un over Easter as Trump confirms 'extremely high level' conversation took place between US and North Korea

* Trump welcomed Japan's prime minister to his Palm Beach property for an afternoon of meetings that preceded a dinner with their wives
* Confirmed during the summit that he's still planning to meet with Kim Jong-un
* He said direct talks had taken place with North Korea at the highest levels
* President hinted later that he was referring to a conversation with Kim
* His comments came before reports detailed CIA Director Mike Pompeo's clandestine trip to Pyongyang
* Trump is hosting Shinzo Abe for the second time this week at his private club

CIA director Mike Pompeo met Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week, Donald Trump has confirmed in a tweet.

The President's announcement came after he said the United States has engaged in 'extremely high level' talks with North Korea and hinted they go all the way up to reclusive dictator Kim Jong-un.

His comments at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night came just half an hour before reports emerged that Pompeo had secretly visited Pyongyang to meet with Kim.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 18, 2018

CIA Director Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea -- NBC

CIA Director Mike Pompeo secretly met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un -- CNN

Trump asking Arab nations to replace US military in Syria after defeat of ISIS: report -- The Hill

Bolton dealing to build an Arab military force in Syria -- CNN

US Lawmakers fret over Syria strategy following strikes -- The Hill

Pentagon reports number of contractors employed in Syria for first time -- Military Times

Strikes raise threat to US troops in Syria -- Jack Detsch, Al-Monitor

Mattis Wanted Congressional Approval Before Striking Syria. He Was Overruled. -- New York Times

Israeli PM Netanyahu Reportedly Coordinated Strike on Syrian T-4 Airbase With US -- Sputnik

Israel Conferred With U.S. on Strike in Syria to Target Iranian War Gear -- WSJ

Chinese troops ordered to shape up after new regulations set out ways to project a ‘first-class image’ -- SCMP

China is winning the high stakes race to dominate 5G -- Asia Times

China Showcases New ‘Guam Killer’ Missile Brigade -- Sputnik

China bolsters undersea warfare power through stolen US technology, admiral says -- Stars and Stripes

China to start live-fire military drills off Taiwan amid rising tensions over relationship with US -- ABC News Online

What Happens If Taiwan Doesn't Get the F-35? -- National Interest/Asia Times

Philippines verifying photos of China military aircraft on reef -- Reuters

Russia Can Launch Strategic Weapons 'From Distances Not Previously Seen' - NORAD -- Sputnik

STRATCOM head: Don’t doubt Russia’s drive to develop ‘invincible’ hypersonic missile -- Defense News

35,000 Soldiers Participate In Norway's Biggest War Drill Since The Cold War -- Zero Hedge

Lockheed teams up with more German firms on military helicopter bid -- Reuters

The 101st Airborne Division is back in Afghanistan -- Army Times

The Navy's F-35 Has a New Weapon (To Strike Deep Into Enemy Territory) -- National Interest

HII tapped for services on Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers -- UPI

What birds cause the most damage to U.S. Air Force assets? -- Air Force Times

Lockheed Martin to upgrade special operations C-130 aircraft -- UPI

Air Force moves to expand international military space coalition -- Space News

Air Force Teams With NRO For Secret SSA Bird -- Breaking Defense

NSA: Hackers Weaponize Known Vulnerabilities Within 24 Hours -- PC Mag

Nation state hackers attempted to use Equifax vulnerability against DoD, NSA official says -- Cyber Scoop

Major bill aims to slash Pentagon bureaucracy -- Defense News

House chairman wants to cut more than $25B from Pentagon agencies -- The Hill

Trump’s new drone, defense export rules expected this week -- Defense News

Trump's CIA pick faces growing Hill scrutiny over destruction of interrogation tapes -- CNN

When can a president use military force? The answer is complicated -- PBS News Hour

60 Countries Around the World Go to War with This Gun For 1 Reason -- National Interest