ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

The inter-Korean summit took place between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un on the South Korean side of the Joint Security Area on April 27. This meeting was an important step towards a peace in the region and a significant event for the entire eastern part of t Eurasia. Following the summit,  the sides signed a joint declaration  that affirms bringing peace and unification of the Korean Peninsula. It aims at “achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization” and establishing “a joint liaison office with resident representatives of both sides in the Gaesong region in order to facilitate close consultation between the authorities as well as smooth exchanges and cooperation between the peoples”. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs  released a statement  of spokesperson Lu Kang’ saying Beijing “welcomed” positive outcomes of the summit. Kang stressed that “China stands ready to continue to pla...

GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb The Syrian pro-government blog “ Encyclopedia of Syrian military ” has noted an interesting fact in the photos appearing from  the site of the last night Israeli strike on Syria. According to the report, the photos may show the wreckage of the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). The GBU-39 SBD is a (110 kg) precision-guided glide bomb designed by the US to provide aircraft with the ability to carry a higher number of more accurate bombs. The GBU-39 SBD can be used against stationary targets such as ammo depots, bunkers, etc. The GBU-53 SDB II is upgrated for gaining an ability of striking mobile targets. However, the problem is that the GBU-39 SBD’s max operational range is 110 km and even a bit more. This can be done by an aircraft flying on a high speed and altitude. Such an aircraft will be an easy target for the Syrian Air Defense Forces’ long range air-defense systems, such as S-200 air defense systems. So, the Israeli ...

IMAGE SOURCE: TASS A new photo of the Russian tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Korsar has sparked rumors of its combat usage in the Syrian conflict. Two Korsar tactical UAVs were shown during the trial run of the May 9 military parade in Moscow on April 26. The May 9 (known as Victory Day in Russia) military parade at Red Square will mark the 73th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The Korsar is developed by the Russian research and development company Lutch, part of JSC Vega Radio Engineering Corporation. According to the Russian media: the UCAV has a combat radius of 200 km and a weight of 200 kg. The UAV can conduct both reconnaissance and strike missions. It can carry various guided and ungided missiles, including Ataka anti-tank guided missiles, as well as multi-purpose rocket-propelled grenades . The Ataka missile can be used against armoured and unarmoured targets as well as buildi...

FILE IMAGE 1,871 militants and their supporters have settled their legal status in Syria’s Eastern Qalamoun region over the past few days. “During the past day, as many as 1,871 people settled their statuses under the control of the Russian reconciliation center and Russian military police units,” chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria Yuri Yevtushenko said on April 27. According to the center’s chief, local authorities in Eastern Qalamoun are working to raise awareness of members of militant groups who are willing to surrender arms and settle their legal status. He added that units of the Russian Military Police are patrolling the settlements of Ruheiba, Jeiroud and Nasiriyah in order to prevent provocations and provide security in these areas. “To prevent provocations, ensure security for civilians and maintain law and order, units of the Russian military police have organized patrolling in the settlements of Ruheiba, Jeiro...

The House Intelligence Committee’s just-released report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election reveals in a footnote that an  ongoing,  private investigation  into Trump-Russia claims is being funded with  $50 million  supplied by a group of 7-10 wealthy donors from California and New York. This effort was originally revealed in February and reported on by  The Federalist ,  after a series of  leaked text messages  between Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and lobbyist Adam Waldman   suggested that Daniel J. Jones – an ex-FBI investigator and former Feinstein staffer, was  “ intimately involved with ongoing efforts to retroactively validate a series of salacious and unverified memos published by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence agent, and Fusion GPS. “ In short, Jones is working with Fusion GPS and Christopher Steele  to continue their investigation into Donal...