| N. KOREA TROOPS TRAINING IN RUSSIA 'A VERY, VERY SERIOUS ISSUE': More than a week after reports first surfaced that Pyongyang was sending troops to Russia to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, the first U.S. confirmation of North Korean troops in Russia came from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a stop in Rome. "We are seeing evidence that there are North Korean troops that have gone to … Russia," Austin told reporters traveling with him. "What exactly they're doing will have to be seen." Austin did not say how many North Korean troops were in Russia, but the White House put the number at "at least 3,000." "We'll continue to pull this thread and see what happens here," Austin said. "If they're co-belligerents, if their intention is to participate in this war on Russia's behalf, that is a very, very serious issue." Both Austin and National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby portrayed the deployment as a sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin's weakness and growing desperation after suffering months of staggering casualties on Ukraine's eastern front. "This is an indication that he may be even in more trouble than most people realize," Austin said. "He went tin-cupping early on to get additional weapons and materials from the DPRK and then from Iran. And now he’s making a move to get more people." U.S. intelligence tracked the troops as they traveled from North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia, earlier this month, and then to three military training sites in eastern Russia, where they appear to be getting basic combat training and familiarization. "We do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat alongside the Russian military," Kirby said. "But this is certainly a highly concerning probability." LLOYD AUSTIN CONFIRMS NORTH KOREAN TROOPS DEPLOYED TO RUSSIA ZELENSKY: 'FIRST STEP TO A WORLD WAR': Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the first to sound the alarm about the collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang last week. Zelensky sounded a bit rattled at a news conference in Brussels a week ago. "We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to fight against us, and this is the first step to a world war." "We don't really know what they're going to be used for, or where they're going to, if they're going to deploy, where they're going to deploy and to what purpose," Kirby cautioned at yesterday's White House briefing. "I can tell you one thing," he added. "If they do deploy to fight against Ukraine, they're fair game. They're fair targets … So, the possibility that there could be dead and wounded North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine is absolutely real if they get deployed." "If Russia is indeed forced to turn to North Korea for manpower, this would be a sign of weakness, not strength, on the part of the Kremlin. It would also demonstrate an unprecedented level of direct military cooperation between Russia and North Korea with security implications in Europe as well as the Indo-Pacific," Kirby said. In an appearance on Fox News, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) argued that it was President Joe Biden, not Putin, who appeared weak. "I think this is just another sign of how dangerous the world is under Biden-Harris. There's no deterrence. Deterrence has been lost everywhere," Graham told Fox's Martha MacCallum. "North Korea feels comfortable joining Russia trying to destroy Ukraine, says all you need to know about lack of deterrence. When Trump wins, this is going to come to an end pretty quickly." 'AT LEAST' 3,000 NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS TRAVELED TO RUSSIA THIS MONTH: WHITE HOUSE FDD: UKRAINE 'A TEST BED FOR AUTHORITARIAN ALIGNMENT': "This development is as much transformational as it is transactional," Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Daily on Defense in an email. "Whether these troops will eventually reach the Ukrainian front remains uncertain, but North Korean forces could provide value-added by supporting critical wartime logistics and battlefield preparations." "Ukraine has become a test bed for today's growing authoritarian alignment, even if such moves fall short of a formal military alliance," Singleton argued. "China provides economic aid and dual-use tech for discounted Russian oil. Iran supplies drones, in the hopes of securing advanced Russian air defense capabilities, and North Korea sends troops, using its ties to Russia to lessen its international isolation. In other words, this alignment offers something for everyone — cheap energy, military support, and geopolitical leverage." "While Washington has excelled in alliance-building, our adversaries have expanded their own partnerships with near impunity," he said. "The next administration, regardless of who wins, will inherit a complex and dangerous geopolitical landscape. A more coordinated approach is needed to address this emerging axis, creating fractures where possible and, in concert with allies, imposing costs that can shift behavior." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre's Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn't work, shoot us an email and we'll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE USING FROZEN RUSSIAN ASSETS AGAINST THEM: Ukraine is in line to get $50 billion in loans from the Group of Seven democracies, including $20 billion from the U.S., backed by frozen Russian assets. "These loans will support the people of Ukraine as they defend and rebuild their country. And our efforts make it clear: tyrants will be responsible for the damages they cause," President Joe Biden said in a statement. Because the loans will be repaid from interest earned on the Russian assets, it won't actually cost Ukraine anything. "In other words, Ukraine can receive the assistance it needs now, without burdening taxpayers." "This is unique," John Kirby said at the White House briefing. "Never before has a multilateral coalition frozen the assets of an aggressor country and then harnessed the value of those assets to fund the defense of the aggrieved party, all while respecting the rule of law and maintaining solidarity." In a post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the loan package "a significant step towards supporting Ukraine's fight for freedom and holding Russia accountable." "It's only fair that Russia pays for its aggression and the destruction it has caused in Ukraine," he said. RUSSIAN MISSILE COUNT: A new analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies documents the intensity of Russia’s relentless aerial bombardment of Ukraine, hitting Ukraine with an average of two dozen missiles a day. "From September 28, 2022, to September 1, 2024, Russia launched a total of 11,466 missiles," the analysis found, with a daily launch rate typically hovering in the mid-20s. "Notably, there were 17 days during the study period when missile launches exceeded 82 missiles in a single day." "Maintaining an average of over 23 missiles launched daily over nearly two years demonstrates a high level of sustained military capability in Moscow and logistical support from countries like Iran, North Korea, and China," the CSIS report read. "The United States and its partners need to do more to curb the ability of these regimes to replenish Russia's arsenal." "The distribution of Russian launches across multiple unique sites and involving creative combinations of different missiles reinforce the importance of authorizing long-range strikes. Ukraine needs the flexibility to hit multiple missile launch sites deep inside Russia to reduce the potency of Moscow's firepower strikes," it concluded. "Ukraine is under siege from Russian firepower strikes and needs additional Western military aid, expanded sanctions against Moscow's allies, intelligence support, and long-range strike authorization to defend its citizens." AUSTIN SAYS USING ATACMS FOR DEEP STRIKES TOO PRICEY: When asked again about the rationale for the U.S.-imposed limits on the use of long-range ATACMS to strike targets deep inside Russia, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin offered a new explanation: the American rockets are too expensive. "If they're going to be able to sustain their efforts, they gotta be able to afford it," Austin told reporters traveling with him in Rome. "The range of an ATACMS is 300 kilometers. They're striking targets that are beyond 400 kilometers with precision. So, you know, and they can do that at a fraction of the cost." "It makes sense for them to expand their [drone] capacity. It makes sense for us to invest in what they're doing. It works. It's effective, and it's precise," he said. CHINA'S GROWING NUCLEAR ARSENAL: The Defense Intelligence Agency has released an unclassified update on the current nuclear capabilities of America's foreign adversaries. The report, "Nuclear Challenges: The Growing Capabilities of Strategic Competitors and Regional Rivals," covers the nuclear programs of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, but China is the country that appears to be making the most advances. "Beijing has far surpassed earlier growth estimates assessed in 2018, and is currently exceeding 500 deliverable nuclear warheads in its stockpile," read the DIA report. "By 2030, we estimate that China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads — most of which will be fielded on systems capable of reaching the continental United States. China probably also seeks lower-yield nuclear warhead capabilities to provide proportional response options that its high-yield warheads cannot deliver." Russia still has the largest foreign nuclear stockpile in the world, the report said. "Moscow maintains about 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads on ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), as well as a force of heavy bombers which are capable of carrying long-range air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs)." It also has up to 2,000 so-called "non-strategic nuclear weapons," with shorter ranges. "North Korea has demonstrated the capability to produce plutonium and highly enriched uranium, and continues to increase the stockpile of these materials to support its nuclear weapons program. In early 2021, Kim Jong Un laid out a five-year defense plan that emphasized developing tactical nuclear weapons, and further highlighted the importance of developing 'smaller and lighter nuclear weapons,' and 'ultra-large nuclear warheads.'" Iran is judged "almost certainly" not to have nuclear weapons. Still, the report notes that while Tehran "has agreed not to seek, develop, or acquire nuclear weapons," since 2019, Iran has exceeded several of the limits set by the now defunct Iran Nuclear Agreement for "the quantity and enrichment levels of its uranium stockpile." CHINA'S NUCLEAR ARSENAL THE 'MOST RAPID EXPANSION' EVER BOEING STRIKE CONTINUES: Boeing machinists, by a 64% margin, have rejected the company’s latest contract offer, which had been sweetened with a pay raise of 35% over four years. The vote means Boeing factory workers will be back on the picket line as the nearly six-week strike continues. "It will take time to return Boeing to its former legacy, but with the right focus and culture, we can be an iconic company and aerospace leader once again," Kelly Ortberg, Boeing President and CEO, said in a statement. "Going forward, we will be focused on fundamentally changing the culture, stabilizing the business, and improving program execution, while setting the foundation for the future of Boeing." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: 'At least' 3,000 North Korean soldiers traveled to Russia this month: White House Washington Examiner: Lloyd Austin confirms North Korean troops deployed to Russia Washington Examiner: China's nuclear arsenal the 'most rapid expansion' ever Washington Examiner: Caravan of 2,000 migrants depart Mexico hoping to reach US border before election Washington Examiner: Trump bets on border security in pitch to Latino voters Washington Examiner: Family wants federal investigation after Marine veteran murdered in Mexico Washington Examiner: Vance vows to 'kick the cartel's asses' after learning of Marine veteran murdered in Mexico Washington Examiner: Harris calls Trump a 'fascist': Eight takeaways from CNN town hall Washington Examiner: RFK Jr. says Harris speech on Trump 'inspires assassins' Washington Examiner: Biden believes Trump is a 'fascist:' White House Washington Examiner: Army ordered to release records on Trump visit to Arlington National Cemetery Washington Examiner: Boeing machinists union reject new offer featuring 35% wage increase Washington Examiner: Opinion: When comparing Trump to Hitler falls on deaf ears Washington Examiner: Opinion: Peace in Ukraine requires strength in America Reuters: Iran Strike Will Show Your Force, Israel’s Defense Chief Tells Pilots AP: Turkey strikes Kurdish militant targets in Syria and Iraq for a second day New York Times: China May Chafe as North Korea Sends Soldiers to Fight Ukraine DefenseScoop: Army, Air Force Embark on Multinational Exercises to Counter Emerging Threats to NATO Breaking Defense: Germany, UK Strike 'First-of-Its-Kind' Defense Deal Prioritizing Deep Strike Weapons and Drones National Security Journal: North Korea Looks 'Ready for War' in Ukraine The Cipher Brief: A Victory Strategy for Ukraine: Disrupt Russia's Artillery Supply Chain Washington Post: CNN team detained for 48 hours while reporting in Darfur Defense One: Boeing Will Look to 'Do Less and Do Better': CEO Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Adds 6 New Satellites to Its MEO Missile Warning Constellation Aviation Week: Space Force Polar SATCOM Sats Complete On-Orbit Checkout SpaceNews: Space Force Awards Northrop Grumman $1.8 Billion Contract Extension for Missile Warning Satellites Breaking Defense: New Space Force Effort Focused on 'Closing C2 Kill Chains' Military.com: 'More Work Ahead': Air Force Chief Says Service Moving Forward on Reorganization Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Missile Cancer Study Samples for New Chemicals, Finds No Health Hazard Air & Space Forces Magazine: SDA Sets Approved Vendor Pool to Compete for Experimental Satellites National Security Journal: Think Ukraine Should Join NATO? It Could Mean a Nuclear War The Cipher Brief: Whatever Happened to Russia's Wagner Group The Cipher Brief: US Cyber Official Warns of 'Inflection Point' in Attacks from Russia and China THURSDAY | OCTOBER 24 9 a.m. 2101 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Virginia — National Defense Industrial Association U.S. and Japan Defense Industry Dialogue. https://www.ndia.org/events/2024/10/24/2024-japan-did 10:30 a.m. — R Street Institute virtual discussion: “Plundering the Pentagon: How Contractors Continue to Cheat Taxpayers,” with Julia Gledhill, research associate at the Stimson Center’s National Security Reform Program; Gordon Heddell, former inspector general at the Defense Department; and Nan Swift, fellow in governance studies at the R Street Institute https://www.rStreet.org/events/plundering-the-pentagon-how-contractors-continue-to-cheat 12 p.m. — RAND Corporation virtual discussion: “Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information Warfare,” with Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, RAND senior policy researcher; and William Marcellino, RAND senior behavioral and social scientist https://www.rand.org/events/2024/10/generative-ai 5 p.m. 7795 Arundel Mills Blvd., Hanover, Maryland — Intelligence and National Security Foundation and the National Cryptologic Foundation "Cocktails and Codebreakers event,” with National Cyber Director Harry Coker; Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security Agency and chief, Central Security Service; and retired Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Montel Williams, host of “Military Makeover: Operation Career” and former host, Montel Williams Show https://www.insaonline.org/detail-pages/event FRIDAY | OCTOBER 25 9:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: "Plotting a Course for the Future: The First U.S. Coast Guard Operational Posture,” with Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations Vice Adm. Peter Gautier https://www.csis.org/events/plotting-course-future-first | | | | "Thank you for your support against a total degenerate named John Kelly, who made up a story out of pure Trump Derangement Syndrome Hatred! This guy had two qualities, which don't work well together. He was tough and dumb. The problem is his toughness morphed into weakness, because he became JELLO with time! The story about the Soldiers was A LIE, as are numerous other stories he told." | | Former President Donald Trump, on his Truth Social platform, denying everything his former chief of staff John Kelly told the New York Times and the Atlantic about Trump's disparagement of the military and fascist proclivities. |
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