South Korea: North Korea May Launch ICBM in November

A US soldier looks on at an AH-64E Apache helicopter of the South Korean army firing missiles during a combined live fire drill between South Korea and US army at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, in Pocheon South Korea, October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
A US soldier looks on at an AH-64E Apache helicopter of the South Korean army firing missiles during a combined live fire drill between South Korea and US army at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, in Pocheon South Korea, October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
TT

South Korea: North Korea May Launch ICBM in November

A US soldier looks on at an AH-64E Apache helicopter of the South Korean army firing missiles during a combined live fire drill between South Korea and US army at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, in Pocheon South Korea, October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
A US soldier looks on at an AH-64E Apache helicopter of the South Korean army firing missiles during a combined live fire drill between South Korea and US army at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, in Pocheon South Korea, October 30, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

North Korea has moved a launcher in place after completing preparations to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile and may go ahead with the launch in November, South Korean members of parliament said on Wednesday citing the country's military intelligence.
South Korean MP Lee Seong-kweun said a mobile launcher has been deployed at a location for a possible test of the ICBM and its atmospheric re-entry of a missile warhead, potentially around the time of the US presidential election Nov. 5.
Lee was briefing reporters after a closed-door parliamentary hearing with Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officials, Reuters reported.
Another MP Park Sun-won said the DIA did not believe a missile was yet loaded on the launcher.
South Korean officials have said the North may attempt to launch a long-range missile or conduct its seventh nuclear test around the November US election to highlight its strategic weapons development.



Lavrov: Russia's 'Comprehensive' Treaty with Iran will Include Defense

FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia October 28, 2024. Alexander Nemenov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia October 28, 2024. Alexander Nemenov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
TT

Lavrov: Russia's 'Comprehensive' Treaty with Iran will Include Defense

FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia October 28, 2024. Alexander Nemenov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia October 28, 2024. Alexander Nemenov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

A treaty that Russia and Iran intend to sign shortly will include closer defense cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
Military ties between the two countries are a source of deep concern to the West as Russia wages war in Ukraine while Iran and Israel have exchanged missile and air strikes in the Middle East.
"The treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Iran that is being prepared will become a serious factor in strengthening Russian-Iranian relations," Lavrov told state television.
According to Reuters, he said that the agreement was being prepared for signing "in the near future". Russia has said it expects Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian to visit Moscow before the end of the year.
"It will confirm the parties' desire for closer cooperation in the field of defense and interaction in the interests of peace and security at the regional and global levels," Lavrov said. He did not specify what form the defense ties would take.
Russia has deepened its ties with Iran and North Korea, which are both strongly antagonistic towards the United States, since the start of its war with Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a similarly titled "comprehensive" treaty in June, including a mutual defense clause, and the US and NATO say Pyongyang has sent some 10,000 soldiers to Russia for possible deployment in the war.
Russia has not denied their presence, and says it will implement the treaty as it sees fit.
The United States accused Tehran in September of delivering close-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine, and imposed sanctions on ships and companies it said were involved in delivering Iranian weapons.
Tehran denies providing Moscow with the missiles or with thousands of drones that Kyiv and Western officials have said Russia uses against military targets and to destroy civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s electrical grid.
The Kremlin declined to confirm its receipt of Iranian missiles but acknowledged that its cooperation with Iran included "the most sensitive areas".