Russian and Chinese officials stood shoulder to shoulder with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they reviewed the country’s latest nuclear-capable missiles and new attack drones during a grand military parade in Pyongyang.
The parade held on July 27 commemorated the 70th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953 – which North Korea celebrates as “Victory Day.” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu graced the event, the first by Moscow’s top defense official since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Li Hongzhong, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo, represented Beijing – the first time a Chinese official visited since the onset of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Both Russia and China openly embraced North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development program. North Korea showcased its latest Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles. These missiles are believed to have the range to reach targets anywhere in the United States.
The parade also featured a flyover by North Korea’s new attack and spy drones. Ankit Panda of the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted that the surveillance drones could enhance the strategic situational awareness North Korea could offer to external customers.
During the parade, Kim was seen engaging in amiable interactions with Shoigu and Li. The North Korean leader hosted a reception and luncheon for the Russian defense minister, reaffirming solidarity with the Russian people and military. Shoigu, in turn, praised the North Korean military as the world’s strongest and held discussions with Kim on strategic security and defense cooperation.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published on July 28 a letter sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin to his North Korean counterpart. Putin conveyed his support toward Kim and praised Pyongyang’s firm backing of Moscow during the Russia-Ukraine war. The letter was meant to conceal Putin’s absence from the event, according to Newsweek.
Washington accuses Pyongyang of arming Moscow
North Korea has been a vocal supporter of Russia during the conflict, with the distinction of being one of the few countries to officially recognize the independence of the pro-Russian Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
The luncheon for Shoigu was held at a hall adorned with portraits of the Russian leader. The display of Putin’s portraits in an official North Korean building underscores the deepening relationship between the two countries and raises questions about the future implications of their growing alliance.
Shoigu’s visit to Pyongyang has further intensified the Russo-North Korean military ties. Ahead of his arrival, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) stated that the trip would strengthen the relationship between the two nations in the military sphere.
Meanwhile, the U.S. accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for its fight against Ukraine back in 2022. The allegations stemmed from remarks made by Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, during a briefing.
According to Patel, the MoD was purchasing missiles and artillery shells from North Korea for use in Ukraine. He continued that the acquisition indicates Russian military forces grappling with severe supply shortages, partly due to export controls and sanctions.
White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby later walked back Patel’s assertion. He stated that it was a “potential purchase” and that there was no concrete evidence that the transaction had taken place.
Both Pyongyang and Moscow denied the allegations put forward by Patel, with a senior North Korean official warning Washington to “stop making reckless remarks” and “keep its mouth shut.”
Visit WWIII.news for more stories about North Korea and its alliance with Russia and China. Watch this video that discusses Kim Jong Un flaunting North Korea’s newest weapons. This video is from the SavingHealthMinistries channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- North Korea threatens to shoot down U.S. aircraft entering its airspace.
- North Korea’s launch of multiple ballistic missiles threatens South Korea.
- North Korea could be capable of launching nuclear attack on U.S. homeland, general warns.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
