WWIII: Russia Working To Strengthen North Korean Power Grid In Exchange For ‘Rare Earth Metals’
Two troubled nations with a disdain for the United States have become partners in a plan to give strength to one nation’s infrastructure while supplying the other with the resources needed to potentially increase chemical-weapons programs. Russia has pushed ahead with a project aimed at repairing North Korea’s failing power grid system. In exchange, North Korea is offering Russia access to “rare earth metals” that could be used to boost chemical-weapons capabilities.
According to ChoSun Media, Russia and North Korea have been boosting economic relations as of late and have finally decided on a plan to repair and improve North Korea’s “notoriously paltry power grid and build a transmission network.”
“The North and Russia are discussing a plan whereby Russia will get rare earth metals from the North in exchange for assistance in improving the dilapidated power grid.”
The talks also discuss ways that North Korea could utilize excess power created in Russia. The project will attempt to find an effective way to siphon excess Russian power into North Korea.
So what are these “rare earth metals” that North Korea will be providing war-stricken Russia with in exchange for their help with the power grid? ChoSun Media reports, “Russia apparently hopes to use the steel and copper stockpiles to modernize the North’s railway lines and power grid.” However, NKNEWS notes that there are other reserves Russia has an eye on in North Korea.
“The Russian company [Basic Element owned by Russian billionaire and aluminum mogul] will also assess data concerning DPRK copper and anthracite reserves, with a view to sending a team of specialists in 2014.”
Though anthracite is not a “rare earth metal,” it is a non-renewable hard, compact form of mineral coal. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest calorific content of all types of coal, which also include bituminous coal and lignite. North Korea has significant anthracite deposits, and according to NTI, those deposits have the capability of improving chemical weapons.
“[North Korean defense expert Joseph Bermudez] points specifically to the construction of an anthracite coal gasification facility as being likely to benefit North Korea’s chemical-weapons program. Anthracite coal — of which North Korea has significant deposits — is an ingredient used to make carbide. That substance, in turn, is needed in the production of mustard agent, according to a 2003 analysis by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Anthracite gasification is also used to produce fertilizer.”
With Russia beckoning North Korea closer in an attempt to skirt US “Weaponization Of Finance” plans, the world is left in the dark about exactly what the intent of the improvements in Russia and North Korea could mean to potential WWIII concerns. Instead of using physical force, the United States has opted to weaponize its financial system in order to bring dissenting nations such as North Korea and Russia to heel. Yahoo Finance points out that the sanctions are part of a strategic plan to weaken both country’s economies to the point they must have access to US capital markets.
“The US-imposed sanctions are part of Washington’s larger strategic geopolitical plan called “the weaponization of finance,” which Ian Bremmer defined as the “system use of carrots (access to capital markets) and sticks (varied types of sanctions) as tools of coercive diplomacy.”
The Inquisitr previously reported on another concern regarding North Korea and Russian relations. It was reported that North Korea was buying Russian jets for a secret World War III plan. With the jets, it was determined an attack could conquer the South in a week.
Now the question remains, are the countries teaming up to make a stand against the West or are the countries simply trying to make ends meet by utilizing the only means of finances available to them with strict sanctions in place?
[Image Credit: Aljazeera]
