South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo recently quoted a source as saying that the United Nations discussed vaccine assistance with North Korea in 2021 and expressed its willingness to provide North Korea with 60 million doses. North Korea, which once rejected China's Sinovac vaccine, has a positive attitude towards the U.S. vaccine this time, and actively asked whether it was Pfizer or Moderna.
According to the report, United Nations officials contacted North Korea through channels in New York in October and November last year, and expressed their willingness to provide 60 million doses of vaccines, worth about $120 million, which would allow North Korean residents other than infants and young children to receive three doses each.
The report said that after the UN official in Pyongyang communicated with North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations Kim Sung, Kim Sung said that he would “report to Pyongyang” and asked, “Is the type of vaccine Pfizer or Moderna?” but the source said that the United Nations has not yet decided what brand to provide. North Korea's attitude towards the donation of vaccines to the United Nations this time is diametrically opposed to the past. The report said that North Korea has shown indifference to the British AstraZeneca vaccine and China's Sinovac vaccine that the United Nations can provide in the past.
It is reported that the WHO's COVID-19 Vaccine Equitable Distribution Program (COVAX) distributed more than 8.11 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine to North Korea last year but North Korea did not officially respond and showed a negative attitude towards receiving it.
COVAX distributed 2.97 million doses of China's Sinovac vaccine to North Korea in August 2021 but North Korea lacked interest and responded coldly, "They can be distributed to countries with severe epidemics." South Korean analysis believes that North Korea seems to be more interested in vaccines produced in the United States.
Reuters had previously quoted a report from the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), a South Korean spy agency, saying that Pyongyang was less interested in China's vaccine due to concerns about its effectiveness.
The "Central Daily News" mentioned that Park Ji-won, director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, said last month that if the United States actively supports North Korea with American vaccines, "it will become the driving force for exchanges with North Korea." However, North Korea has tested missiles four times since the beginning of the year, the provocation has escalated, and the contradiction between the two sides has intensified. Therefore, it is still unknown whether the United States can achieve vaccine support for the DPRK.
The largest volcanic eruption in 30 years! Multiple flight suspensions announced
Volcanic eruptions and even tsunamis in the waters off Tonga, an island country in the South Pacific, continue to arouse concern.
On 17 January 2022, the China Meteorological Administration announced that the violent eruption of the volcano on the 15th may be the largest volcanic eruption in 30 years.
China's Fengyun meteorological satellite monitoring shows that the volcanic ash has begun to spread westward, and it is necessary to be alert to extreme weather such as convective development and secondary rainstorms related to the affected area.
Image : A satellite photo taken on 15 January shows Tonga's underwater volcanic eruption. Xinhua News Agency / Midland, 17 January 2022
In addition, volcanic eruptions cause a large amount of volcanic ash, gas and water vapour to enter the high altitude, which also has a certain impact on aviation flight. Southern Metropolis Daily reporters noticed that Tonga Capital Airport updated the latest weather report on the afternoon of 15 January indicating thunderstorms and volcanic ash. The tsunami caused by the eruption of the volcano has also affected many flights in Japan.
On 17 January, Chen Jianguo, a senior domestic captain, told the Southern Metropolis reporter that the volcanic ash particles are large, which will affect flight safety after entering the engine. In severe cases, the engine will stop. Usually, the airlines will combine ground and satellite warnings to decide whether to suspend or remind flights to fly around.
Image : This January 15th collage shows a satellite image of Tonga's undersea volcano erupting. Xinhua News Agency / Midland, 17 January 2022
Image : This January 15th satellite image captures an undersea volcanic eruption in Tonga. Xinhua/Midland 17 January 2022
News (14)
Undersea volcano eruption in Tonga triggers transoceanic tsunami
The westward spread of volcanic ash may cause extreme weather
Southern Metropolis Daily previously reported that at 12.27 pm on 15 January, Beijing time, the submarine volcano of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Island erupted again, once again "big eruption" and triggered a large-scale tsunami.
The volcanic eruption triggered a transoceanic tsunami that affected the entire Pacific coast, the Ministry of Natural Resources' Tsunami Warning Center said.
According to New Zealand news reports, New Zealand and Tonga are more than 2,000 kilometers apart, and the eruption can even be heard in New Zealand. This volcanic eruption is more powerful than any nuclear bomb that human beings have, the power is comparable to 1,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs, and it directly cut off all ties to Tonga.
On 17 January, a reporter from Southern Metropolis learned from the China Meteorological Administration that this may be the largest volcanic eruption in 30 years, and my country's Fengyun meteorological satellite has continuously followed up and monitored it.
Image : Colour composite image of multi-channel air mass of FY-4B Tongahong Aha Apay Island volcanic eruption (15 January 2022, 20:30 Tonga time)
The 1,000-meter-resolution multi-channel true-color composite map monitoring using the data from the Fengyun-4B star on January 15 shows that the volcanic ash cloud erupted at the moment of the eruption of the Tongahong Aha Apay Island broke through the tropopause, forming a diameter of nearly 500 kilometers of umbrella-shaped cloud clusters, huge shock waves around the umbrella-shaped cloud clusters are clearly visible;
The colour composite map of the multi-channel air mass produced using the data of the Fengyun-4B star at 20:30 shows that after two hours of development, the volcanic ash cloud expanded into a cloud cluster with a diameter of nearly 800 kilometers, and continued to expand in the southwest direction.
In addition, the monitoring images of Fengyun-3 D star show that the eruption site of Tonga volcano is located on the south side of the key monitoring sea area for El Niño-La Niña phenomenon.
News (15)
FY-3D weather satellite monitoring images: Current eruption may last for months
The China Meteorological Administration pointed out that the volcanic ash has begun to spread westward, and it is necessary to be alert to extreme weather such as convective development and secondary rainstorms related to the affected area.
Southern Metropolis Daily previously reported that the volcano is part of the Tonga-Kermadec Islands volcanic arc and has erupted several times in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021. The current eruption may last for weeks or months, according to an analysis by the Tsunami Warning Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
At night of 16 January the official Weibo account of the Consular Protection Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that after preliminary verification by the CCP Embassy in Tonga, there was no report of casualties of Chinese
citizens.
News (16)
Undersea volcano eruption in Tonga affects aviation industry:
Local airport announcements have been suspended
Japan's many flights grounded due to tsunami warning
Volcanic eruptions cause a large amount of volcanic ash, gas and water vapor to enter the high altitude. What are the effects on aviation flight?
Tonga volcano eruption according to the official account of the National Satellite Meteorological Center
According to public information, Tonga belongs to Oceania and is located near the equator in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 650 kilometers away from Fiji in the west and 1770 kilometers away from New Zealand in the southwest. It has a land area of 747 square kilometers and consists of 173 islands. Its capital, Nuku'alofa, is located in the largest Tonga. Tabu Island, Tonga has seven airports.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Kula, chief geologist of the Tonga Geological Department, said that the energy released by the volcanic eruption on 14 January was seven times that of the eruption on 20 December 2021, and the eruption in the afternoon of 15 January was also powerful. A large amount of volcanic ash quickly rose into the sky with a huge roar, and the whole of Tonga was quickly covered by volcanic ash, etc. It was dark earlier at 5 pm that day, and the visibility was very low.
After the volcanic eruption, Fiji, Samoa and even New Zealand issued a tsunami warning in the neighboring countries of Tonga, and Japan, which is 10,000 kilometers away, also issued a tsunami warning.
In the morning of 17 January, Beijing time, in Fiji, about 700 kilometers away from Tonga, Chinese blogger Xiaowen posted a video saying that he was wearing a gas mask and saw a lot of volcanic ash in the clouds above the sea, and the sun was blocked.
Senior captain Chen Jianguo told the Southern Metropolis reporter that the Nuku'alofa Airport in the capital of Tonga is more than 80 km away from the volcanic eruption and volcanic ash. The airport announcement has not been updated for two days since the information was released.
Southern Metropolis reporter noticed that flightradar24 dynamic shows that at about 1 pm on 17 January, there were no flight signs over Nuku'alofa Airport.
At noon on 17 January 17, a reporter from Southern Metropolis learned from the official account of the National Satellite Meteorological Center that the volcanic ash has begun to spread westward, and relevant departments are continuously monitoring its impact and the extreme weather caused by secondary rainstorms.
According to Japanese media reports, affected by the tsunami warning, 27 domestic flights taking off and landing in Kagoshima Prefecture, Amami Oshima and other places are expected to be grounded, and about 530 people will be affected.
According to foreign media reports, Air New Zealand has sent a C130 transport plane to Tonga to understand the post-disaster situation. According to Xinhua News Agency, on 17 January, the spokesperson of the China International Development Cooperation Agency said that China is willing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Tonga.
News (17)
Flight witnesses: Volcanic ash smells of sulfur
The volcanic eruption sent a large amount of volcanic ash, gas and water vapour into the sky to form a huge cloud, which erupted to a height of 20 kilometers. How much does it affect aviation?
Senior captain Chen Jianguo told Southern Metropolis reporters that most of the minerals contained in volcanic ash are silica particles and a small amount of oxides of aluminum, iron, calcium and sodium. Most of the volcanic ash is composed of sharp-edged, hard glass particles and pulverized gravel, a very hard, vitreous silicate material that is highly abrasive and poses a serious risk to aircraft contact.
"The volcanic ash particles are relatively large, and the damage to the engine, in the worst case, will cause the shutdown to fail. In addition, the airspeed tube is blocked, which will cause the aircraft's instrument indications to be inaccurate."
Chen Jianguo said that the impact also includes that the windshield will be partially blurred or opaque, the cabin air will be polluted, requiring the crew to use oxygen masks, and it may also cause corrosion of the external components of the aircraft, affecting the long-term safety of aircraft operations.
Chen Jianguo said that he encountered volcanic ash when flying to Japan. "Because of the volcanic ash cloud, the sky was suddenly dark, and the smell of sulphur could be smelled." He added that the smoke would fall on the surface of the aircraft and mist would appear outside the cabin.
He told the Southern Metropolis reporter that the training manual for flight crews contains content on dealing with volcanic ash, and usually airlines whose routes pass through active volcanic areas will pay more attention.
"In the case of flying during the day, the presence of volcanic ash clouds can be found through visual observation, and actions are taken to avoid entering the polluted airspace." Chen Jianguo told the Southern Metropolis reporter, usually relying on ground and satellite monitoring and reminders to observe the volcanic ash drifting, airlines will early warn flights.
"However, the presence of volcanic ash does not mean that it is impossible to fly at all. According to the scope, the impact on flight in different airspaces is different." Chen Jianguo said.
Southern Metropolis reporters noticed that flightradar24 showed that as of 12:40 on 17 January, there were still flights AA72 and UA842 flying over the Pacific Ocean on the southeast side of Tonga, both from Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles, United States.
News (18)
The spread of volcanic ash has repeatedly affected flights
According to expert analysis, the scale of the volcanic eruption on the 15th exceeded the two earlier eruptions on 20 December 2021 and 13 January 2022, indicating that the volcano at the site of the incident has awakened. Periods of active eruption can last for weeks or even years.
Southern Metropolis reporters noticed that according to public reports, undersea volcanic eruptions occurred in Tonga in 2009 and 2015, and the volcanic ash spread to high altitudes, causing the suspension of flights to the islands in the South Pacific. Among them, all flights to and from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand at Tonga Airport were also cancelled after the 2015 underwater volcano eruption.
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