Manh Hung

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Ukraine war: Satellite images show how hundreds of North Korean troops were likely transported to a secluded Russian port

A.

 

CNN —  Hundreds of North Korean troops were likely transported by sea to Russia to fight in its war against Ukraine, satellite images have revealed, according to a new analysis from a US-based think tank shared exclusively with CNN.

B.

At least two Russian naval ships are believed to have moved North Korean soldiers to a Russian military port in Dunai, in the far east, in October and November, according to researchers at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, in California.

The ship transfers were first identified by the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS), which said in a press release last year that some soldiers were transported via the North Korean port areas of Chongjin, Hamhung and Musudan. But the South Korean agency only offered a grainy radar image at the time.

C.

“I don’t think that the Russians or the North Koreans want these transfers caught on camera,” Sam Lair, a research associate at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told CNN. “The secrecy element is quite remarkable.”

Now, researchers have verified that during the same time period of the troop transfers reported by South Korea intelligence, the Russian vessels identified by the spy agency docked at Dunai port in a remote, eastern part of Russia.

D.

In North Korea, soldiers likely boarded these ships at night, making it difficult to capture evidence of the transfers, researchers said. But satellite images have revealed activities at Dunai, “where it appears the Russians have been less careful.”

For example, in one satellite image from Planet Labs, a crane can be seen extending to one of Russia’s naval landing ships, which researchers believe is the Nikolay Vilkov, at the port on October 17, and a covered cargo truck is on the dock next to it. By October 20, the crane is retracted, and it appears a transfer of soldiers is complete.

E.

Researchers could identify the Russian “Ropucha-class” and “Alligator-class” ships in the satellite images because they match with photos captured by the Japanese Defense Ministry in March 2022, when the vessels passed through Japanese waters.

Each landing ship is believed to have capacity to hold several hundred soldiers, possibly as many as 400, according to the researchers.

F.

Lair explained that Dunai is a secure military facility, making it much more conducive to under-the-radar transfers than the large, nearby port of Vladivostok, which is in an area where civilians live.

“This is an isolated place where they can do these exchanges, where people aren’t going to notice… (where) their own citizens, and folks in the intelligence community might not notice,” Lair said.

G.

An estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, according to Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence reports in January, which say around 4,000 of those troops have been killed or injured. Kyiv says it has captured at least two North Korean soldiers. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have confirmed the existence of North Korean troops on the front lines.

CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.

H.

“The Russians seem to have been very careful to limit the exposure of the North Korean soldiers, moving them directly to military training facilities. The motive behind all the secrecy surrounding the North Koreans is uncertain, but moving some of them through Dunai would aid in that effort,” Lair wrote in his analysis.

Dunai port has previously been used to transport cargo between Russia and the North Korea since Pyongyang started aiding the invasion of Ukraine in 2023, according to the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

Five Amazing National Parks in the USA

Reading - ESL

Read the article carefully about five amazing U.S. national parks. Then, complete the exercises below to check your understanding. There are True/False questions, multiple choice, and gap-fill tasks. 

 

Five Amazing National Parks in the USA

 

The United States has many national parks. These are special places that protect nature, animals, and history. Each park has different landscapes, climates, and wildlife. Let’s explore five famous parks: Acadia, Everglades, Yosemite, Glacier, and Badlands.

 

1.🌊 Acadia National Park (Maine)

 

Acadia is in Maine, on the northeast coast of the USA. It has forests, mountains, and beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. The weather is cold in winter and cool in summer. In autumn, the trees turn red and orange. Acadia was created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. It was the first national park east of the Mississippi River. A man named George B. Dorr, called the “Father of Acadia,” helped protect the land. Wildlife includes deer, foxes, and birds like loons and peregrine falcons. You can also see sea animals in tidal pools. A special place in Acadia is Cadillac Mountain, where you can see the first sunrise in the U.S. during winter.

 

2.🐊 Everglades National Park (Florida)

 

The Everglades is in southern Florida. It is a large wetland with rivers, trees, and grass. The weather is hot and wet in summer, and dry in winter. It is called the “River of Grass” because water moves slowly through the land. The park was created in 1947 to protect the ecosystem. It was the first park made to save nature, not just pretty views. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Animals include alligators, manatees, and the rare Florida panther. There are over 360 kinds of birds. The Everglades has the largest mangrove forest in the Western Hemisphere.

 

3.🏔️ Yosemite National Park (California)

 

Yosemite is in California, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It has waterfalls, cliffs, and giant trees. The weather is snowy in winter and warm in summer. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, making it the first land protected by the U.S. government. In 1890, it became a national park thanks to John Muir, a famous nature writer and explorer. Animals include black bears, deer, and mountain lions. Yosemite is famous for El Capitan and Half Dome, two huge rock formations. It also has giant sequoia trees, some over 2,000 years old.

 

4.❄️ Glacier National Park (Montana)

 

Glacier is in Montana, near the border with Canada. It has glaciers, lakes, and mountains. The weather is cold in winter and mild in summer. The park is called the “Crown of the Continent.”

It became a national park in 1910. The land was first home to Native American tribes like the Blackfeet and Flathead. Today, scientists study how the glaciers are melting because of climate change.

Wildlife includes grizzly bears, moose, and mountain goats. A famous road in the park is Going-to-the-Sun Road, which crosses the mountains and gives amazing views.

 

5.🏜️ Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

 

Badlands is in South Dakota. It has rocky hills, colorful cliffs, and prairies. The weather is very hot in summer and cold in winter. The land looks like another planet!

The area was home to the Lakota Sioux people. In the 1890s, they held Ghost Dances here, a ceremony to bring peace and hope. The park became official in 1978.

Animals include bison, prairie dogs, and hawks. The Badlands are famous for fossils of ancient animals like saber-toothed cats and miniature horses. Scientists still find new fossils today.

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