Page 6 - aruba-today-20231009

A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 9 october 2023
A surge in rail traffic on North Korea-Russia border suggests arms

supply to Russia, think tank says

By Hyunjin Kim yond Parallel, a website run shows about 20 railcars at
Associated Press by the Washington-based this facility at most.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Center for Strategic and U.S. and South Korean of-
— Recent satellite photos International Studies think ficials have warned that
show a sharp increase in tank, said in a report Friday. North Korea and Russia
rail traffic along the North “However, the extensive would face consequences
Korea-Russia border, indi- use of tarps to cover the if they went ahead with the
cating the North is supply- shipping crates/containers reported weapons transfer
ing munitions to Russia, ac- and equipment makes it deal in violation with U.N.
cording to a U.S. think tank. impossible to conclusively Security Council resolutions
Speculation about a pos- identify what is seen at the that ban all weapons trade
sible North Korean plan to Tumangang Rail Facility” involving North Korea.
refill Russia’s munition stores Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea’s on the border, it said. Since last year, the U.S.
drained in its protracted leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting at the The report said satellite im- has accused North Korea
war with Ukraine flared last Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about ages as of Oct. 5 captured of providing ammunition,
month, when North Korean 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the city of Blagoveshchensk in “a dramatic and unprece- artillery shells and rockets
leader Kim Jong Un trav- the far eastern Amur region, Russia, on Sept. 13, 2023. (Vladimir dented level of freight rail- to Russia, likely much of
Smirnov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)
eled to Russia to meet Presi- car traffic” at the Tuman- them copies of Soviet-era
dent Vladimir Putin and visit return for the munition to at their recent summit, the gang Rail Facility. It said im- munitions. South Korean
key military sites. Foreign boost his nuclear program. dramatic increase in rail ages show approximately officials said North Korean
officials suspect Kim is seek- “Given that Kim and Putin traffic likely indicates North 73 railcars while a review weapons provided to Rus-
ing sophisticated Russian discussed some military ex- Korea’s supply of arms and of previous satellite imag- sia had already been used
weapons technologies in changes and cooperation munitions to Russia,” Be- es over the past five years in Ukraine.q

Israel declares war and approves ‘significant’ steps to retaliate for

surprise attack by Hamas

By Tia Goldenberg and captives are known to The Israeli military said the
Wafaa Shurafa include women, children, situation since was calm
Associated Press and the elderly. after the exchange.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The As many as 1,000 Hamas Iranian-backed Hezbollah
Israeli government formally fighters were involved in is estimated to have tens
declared war Sunday and the assault, U.S. Secretary of thousands of rockets
gave the green light for of State Andrew Blinken at its disposal. Since its
“significant military steps” said on ABC’s “This brutal 2006 war with Israel,
to retaliate against Hamas Week” – a high figure that Hezbollah has stayed on
for its surprise attack from underscored the extent the sidelines amid previous
the Gaza Strip, portending of planning by the militant outbreaks of Israeli-Hamas
greater fighting ahead as group ruling Gaza. The fighting. But if destruction in
the toll from the conflict gunmen rampaged for Gaza escalates, it may feel
passed 900 dead and hours, firing on civilians in pressure to intervene.
thousands wounded on towns, along highways and A major question was
both sides. at a techno music festival whether Israel will launch a
More than 24 hours after being held in the desert A Palestinian child walks with a bicycle by the rubble of a ground assault into Gaza,
Hamas launched its near Gaza. building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, a move that in the past
unprecedented incursion Civilians on both sides were Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) has brought intensified
out of Gaza, Israeli forces already paying a high casualties.
were still trying to crush price. strikes flattened a number security forces have killed The declaration of war
the last groups of militant A line of Israelis snaked of residential buildings. 400 militants and captured announced by Israel’s
fighters holed up in several outside a central Israel More than 20,000 people dozens more. Security Cabinet was
towns of southern Israel. police station to supply who fled their homes An exchange of fire in largely symbolic, said
At least 600 people have DNA samples and other crowded into schools northern Israel with the Yohanan Plesner, the head
reportedly been killed in means that could help run by the U.N. agency Lebanese militant group of the Israel Democracy
Israel — a staggering toll on identify missing family for Palestinian refugees, Hezbollah raised fears of Institute, a local think tank.
a scale the country has not members. Israeli TV news UNWRA, the agency said. a spread of the conflict. But it “demonstrates that
experienced in decades — aired a stream of accounts Several Israeli media Hezbollah fired dozens of the government thinks
and more than 300 have from relatives of captive or outlets, citing rescue rockets and shells Sunday we are entering a more
been killed in Gaza as missing Israelis who wept service officials, said at at three Israeli positions lengthy, intense and
Israeli airstrikes pound the and begged for assistance least 600 people have been in a disputed area along significant period of war.”
territory. and information. killed in Israel, including 44 the border, and the Israeli Israel has carried out major
Authorities were still trying In Gaza, the tiny enclave soldiers. The Gaza Health military fired back using military campaigns over
to determine how many of 2.3 million people sealed Ministry said 313 people, armed drones. Two children the past four decades
civilians and soldiers were off by an Israeli-Egyptian including 20 children, were lightly wounded in Lebanon and Gaza
seized by Hamas fighters blockade for 16 years were killed in the territory. by broken glass on the that it portrayed as wars,
during the mayhem and since the Hamas takeover, Some 2,000 people have Lebanese side, according but without a formal
taken back to Gaza. From residents feared an been wounded on each to the nearby Marjayoun declaration.q
videos and witnesses, the intensified onslaught. Israeli side. An Israeli official said Hospital.