Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 21, 2017

RFE: US and South Korean Troops Have Started Annual Joint Military Drills Amid a Tense North Korea Standoff

U.S. and South Korean troops have begun their annual military exercises amid continued angry words from North Korea.

The joint maneuvers, called Ulchi Freedom Guardian, started early on August 21 and will run through August 31. The drills will involve computer simulations designed to prepare for war with nuclear-capable North Korea.

The official North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun on August 20 assailed the exercises, calling them an "expression of enmity" and saying they could trigger the "uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war."

Some 17,500 U.S. service members and 50,000 South Korean soldiers are participating in the exercises, along with 3,000 troops from Australia, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

Officials said there will be no field training, such as live-fire exercises or tank maneuvers.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 21, 2017

US and S. Korean troops start drills amid N. Korea standoff -- AP

U.S., South Korea begin computer-simulated drills amid North Korea tension -- Reuters

US-South joint drills begin amid North Korea tensions -- AFP

South Korean President Moon reaffirms commitment to military reform, reinforcement -- Yonhap

China urges halt to US-S.Korea military drills -- AFP

F-35 fighter jets to surround North Korea -- UPI

James Mattis: Reduction in U.S. troops not North Korea related -- UPI

Japan faces obstacles to deploying new missile defenses -- Nikkei Asian Rview

Trump to present vision for U.S. strategy in Afghanistan war -- Reuters

President Trump to present new Afghanistan, Asia strategy Monday night -- Defense News

US military leaders await Trump decision on Afghan mission -- Military Times/AP

Marine commander in Afghanistan: 'We cannot allow the Taliban to win' -- Marine Times

US Centcom chief stresses sustained ties with Pakistan -- DAWN

Russia's Next Gen Subs Too Stealthy for Enemy's Radars -- Sputnik

How a humanitarian naval mission is boosting China’s global ambitions -- SCMP

Did China Hack the Seventh Fleet? -- RCD

Sweden increases military spending and reintroduces conscription as Russia tensions mount -- The Independent

Europe cannot rely on US support to defend itself – EU Commission chief -- RT

ANALYSIS: Canada's DND uncertain how best to defend satellites -- CBC

Royal Canadian Navy awards Thales support contract for up to 35 years -- UPI

Predator crashes in Turkey; investigation underway -- Air Force Times

Asian Pivot: US Military To Bolster Future Base in Guam -- Sputnik

Trump elevates Cyber Command; split with NSA still an option -- Defense News

Escape From Berthing 2: The Navy’s Dramatic Timeline Of The USS Fitzgerald’s Fatal Collision -- Task & Purpose

Navy Extends, Upgrades Sub-Launched Nuclear Weapons to 2080 -- Scout Warrior

The Navy Is Getting A ‘Game-Ghanging’ Upgrade That Could Turn The Tables On China And Russia -- Task & Purpose/Business Insider

New Navy Rule Will Allow Commanders To Reverse E-4 Demotions -- Task & Purpose

Top Pentagon posts 74 percent vacant as Congress returns -- Defense News

Mattis: Continuing resolution ‘about as unwise as can be’ -- Defense News

Elon Musk, world tech leaders, call for ban on killer robots -- UPI

General Atomics: Export restrictions help China grow its drone tech -- Defense News

Raytheon marks milestone for its Tomahawk, looks to the future -- Defense News

Navy anticipates housing crunch in San Diego region -- Navy Times/AP

A family's anguish: How did Raheel Siddiqui lose his life at Marines boot camp? -- USA Today

Poll results: 79 percent of Army Times readers support Confederate post names -- Army Times