Morning Brief: Fire Erupts on USS New Orleans Near Okinawa, North Korea Advances Nuclear-Armed Destroyer Trials

· Guy D. McCardle

North Korea's Choe Hyon Guided-Missile Destroyer test-fires a missile at sea. (KCNA)

Good morning — here’s your Thursday, August 21, 2025 SOFREP Morning Brief. Overnight, a fire aboard the USS New Orleans near Okinawa injured two sailors but was contained with allied help. At Microsoft HQ, 18 protesters were arrested over claims the company enabled Israeli military surveillance. A California man was sentenced to eight years for smuggling weapons to North Korea, while a US Navy Super Hornet crashed off Virginia, the pilot safely rescued. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed massive strikes on Ukraine as Zelenskyy pressed for NATO-style guarantees, and North Korea advanced trials of its nuclear-capable destroyer.

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Fire Erupts on USS New Orleans Near Okinawa, Two Sailors Injured

A fire broke out late Wednesday aboard the USS New Orleans (LPD-18)off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, injuring two sailors who sustained minor injuries.

The blaze lasted nearly 12 hours and was extinguished with assistance from the USS San Diego (LPD-22), the Japanese Coast Guard, and local military forces, according to a statement from the US Navy’s 7th Fleet.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The 684-foot amphibious transport dock ship was near White Beach Naval Facility when the incident occurred.

The Navy confirmed the crew remains aboard, and the ship is secure.

Commissioned in 2007, the New Orleans can carry up to 800 personnel.

The incident follows the 2020 fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) in San Diego, which burned for five days and led to the ship’s decommissioning after extensive damage. That fire was attributed to widespread failures in command and crew readiness.

 

18 Arrested at Microsoft HQ During Worker-Led Protests Over Israeli Military Tech Use

Police arrested 18 protesters at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington on Wednesday following demonstrations demanding the company sever ties with the Israeli military.

The arrests came after demonstrators splattered red paint resembling blood on the Microsoft sign and refused to leave when ordered. Charges include trespassing, resisting arrest, and malicious mischief.

The protests, organized by the employee-led “No Azure for Apartheid” group, followed reports that Israel’s military used Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to process surveillance data in Gaza and the West Bank. Protesters accuse Microsoft of enabling mass surveillance and violence against Palestinians.

Microsoft said it is conducting an “urgent” review into the Israeli military’s alleged use of its technology, hiring the law firm Covington & Burling to investigate. The company claims its terms of service prohibit such use and previously said an internal review found no evidence of Azure being used to harm civilians—though it did not release that report.

Demonstrations began Tuesday but escalated Wednesday when protesters resisted removal.

Microsoft reiterated its commitment to human rights while condemning unlawful actions that damage property or threaten safety.

The protests follow Microsoft’s termination of several employees earlier this year for interrupting corporate events in opposition to its contracts with Israel.

Protesters this week called for a “worker intifada,” referencing Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation.

 

US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet Crashes Off Virginia Coast, Pilot Rescued

A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, the “Rampagers,” crashed off the Virginia coast during a routine training flight Wednesday morning.

The pilot safely ejected around 9:53 a.m. local time and was rescued approximately 90 minutes later. He was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

The aircraft remains in the water, and the Navy has launched an investigation into the cause of the mishap.

Multiple search and rescue assets responded, though specific units were not disclosed.

The “Rampagers,” part of Carrier Air Wing Three and previously attached to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, returned to NAS Oceana in July 2024 following a nine-month deployment.

During that mission, they supported Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from Houthi threats.

 

US Airman Killed by Accidental AK-47 Discharge in Wyoming; Second Involuntary Manslaughter Case at F.E. Warren This Summer

Senior Airman Joshua Aragon, 23, assigned to the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, died early Saturday after being shot by an AK-47 round fired through a wall at an off-base apartment in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Airman 1st Class Jadan Orr, 20, also with the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter by the Laramie County District Attorney.

According to police, several friends were drinking when Orr entered a bedroom and began handling an AK-47. He allegedly charged and fired the weapon, sending a round through a wall that struck Aragon in the torso. Emergency responders could not save him.

This marks the second fatal firearms incident involving Security Forces airmen at F.E. Warren this summer.

On July 20, Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, died from a discharge involving a Sig Sauer M18 pistol, prompting Air Force Global Strike Command to pause the handgun’s use and launch a service-wide investigation.

A suspect was later arrested in connection with Lovan’s death, facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice.

The incidents have intensified scrutiny of firearm safety and handling within the Air Force. Investigations into both deaths remain ongoing.

Col. Terry Holmes, commander of the 90th Missile Wing, expressed condolences, calling Aragon a valued member of the defender team.

 

US Space Force Issues First Official Dress and Appearance Guidelines for Guardians

The US Space Force has released its first official dress and appearance regulations, ending reliance on Air Force guidance nearly six years after its establishment.

The 114-page policy provides Guardians with detailed rules on uniforms, grooming standards, and authorized insignia.

Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Personnel Katharine Kelley said the new standards reinforce professionalism and support the Space Force’s warfighting mission.

The guidelines largely mirror Air Force regulations but include a few distinct differences, such as omitting the restriction that hair must not touch the ears.

Guardians are now authorized to wear “first sergeant” duty identifier patches and select “mission area” patches, including those for orbital warfare and satellite communications. The instructions clarify patch placement and allow one mission tab at a time, worn only while assigned to the corresponding role.

The new policy still references the Air Force’s dress blues uniform but includes guidance on placing Space Force-specific name tags and insignia.

The service remains on track to debut its own dress uniform and other clothing items by the end of 2025.

As with the Air Force, beards remain prohibited unless authorized for medical or religious reasons.

 

California Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Smuggling Weapons to North Korea for Planned Attack on South Korea

US authorities recently reported that a California man, Wen, 42, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to ship weapons and ammunition to North Korea for a planned surprise attack on South Korea.

Wen, a Chinese national who overstayed a student visa since 2012, admitted to acting as an illegal agent for the North Korean government.

According to the Justice Department, Wen met with North Korean officials at an embassy in China before entering the US and received instructions to procure military goods.

In 2023, Wen shipped two containers of weapons and other materials from Long Beach, California, to North Korea via Hong Kong, after receiving around $2 million in wiring transfers. He also tried to buy military uniforms to disguise North Korean soldiers, prosecutors said.

To facilitate the operation, Wen purchased a federally licensed firearms dealership in Texas under an associate’s name and used others to buy weapons. He disguised shipments as refrigerator and camera parts.

Authorities seized 50,000 rounds of ammunition, a chemical threat ID device, and a transmission detection device from Wen’s home in Ontario, California. He admitted those items were intended for North Korea’s military. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the seizure in September 2023.

The operation violated US sanctions and international arms bans against North Korea, which remains under strict UN resolutions prohibiting weapons trade.

 

Trump Administration Sanctions ICC Judges and Prosecutors Over War Crimes Investigations Into U.S. and Israeli Officials

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions Wednesday on four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials for pursuing war crimes investigations against US and Israeli nationals.

The penalties target two judges, Kimberly Prost (Canada) and Nicolas Guillou (France), and two prosecutors, Nazhat Shameem Khan (Fiji) and Mame Mandiaye Niang (Senegal). The sanctions freeze any assets the individuals hold in US jurisdictions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctioned officials “directly engaged” in ICC efforts to investigate or prosecute Americans and Israelis without either nation’s consent. He called the court’s actions “illegitimate and baseless,” adding that the US will take all necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and allies.

The ICC condemned the sanctions as “a flagrant attack” on its independence and judicial integrity, while the United Nations expressed deep concern and reaffirmed its support for the court’s mandate.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the ICC a “key pillar of international criminal justice.”

The US cited specific rulings by the targeted officials, including authorization of investigations into US personnel in Afghanistan and the ICC’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over Israel’s war in Gaza.

The penalized prosecutors are continuing the Gaza investigation launched by former ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who was also previously sanctioned.

 

Macron Slams Netanyahu’s Accusation Linking Palestinian State Recognition to Antisemitism Surge

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that France’s planned recognition of a Palestinian state has fueled antisemitism, calling the remarks “abject” and “erroneous.”

The statement from Macron’s office Tuesday night rejected Netanyahu’s suggestion that the upcoming recognition, expected at the UN General Assembly in September, is responsible for rising antisemitic violence in France.

“The current period calls for seriousness and responsibility, not generalization and manipulation,” the statement said.

Macron’s response follows similar backlash from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who dismissed Netanyahu’s accusation of political weakness after Australia also pledged recognition of a Palestinian state.

The UK and Canada have made similar moves, all of which Israel has strongly opposed.

France, home to Western Europe’s largest Jewish population, has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, especially following the October 7 Hamas attacks and the Gaza war.

Macron reiterated his government’s commitment to combating antisemitism and said violence against Jewish communities will not be tolerated.

Recent acts of antisemitic vandalism in France included the defacing of Israeli airline El Al’s Paris office and the destruction of a memorial tree planted for a Jewish murder victim.

Macron vowed full prosecution of those responsible.

 

Russia Launches Massive Airstrikes as Ukraine Pushes for Security Guarantees and Peace Talks

Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks this year on Ukraine overnight, firing 574 drones and 40 missiles, primarily targeting western regions far from the front lines.

Ukrainian officials confirmed one death and at least 15 injuries.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes hit a major American electronics manufacturer, criticizing Russia for wasting cruise missiles on a civilian target.

The assault came as the US and European allies intensified efforts to revive peace negotiations. Zelenskyy condemned the attack and called for tougher international pressure on Moscow, including sanctions and tariffs.

He also confirmed Ukraine is in the final phase of talks with allies to establish NATO-style security guarantees.

Zelenskyy said he is prepared to hold direct or trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump once the framework for those guarantees is defined.

The meeting could take place in Switzerland, Austria, or Turkey.

Trump reportedly supports an Article 5-like structure for Ukraine, spurring renewed involvement from over 30 countries.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected any negotiations excluding Moscow and warned that Russia would firmly defend its interests. Turkey has also voiced readiness to help secure the Black Sea region.

Zelenskyy recapped his Oval Office meeting with Trump, where he explained the strategic importance of eastern Ukraine and disputed US maps that overstated Russian control. He warned that losing ground in the east would open the door to further Russian advances toward Kharkiv and central Ukraine.

The attack and ongoing talks highlight the widening gap between battlefield developments and diplomatic efforts, as Kyiv pushes for guarantees while Moscow shows no sign of compromise.

 

North Korea Advances Nuclear-Armed Destroyer Trials

North Korea’s nuclear-armed destroyer Choe Hyon (51) remains on schedule for operational trials, with performance assessments set for October, according to leader Kim Jong Un.

State media reported Tuesday that Kim visited the destroyer, the largest warship ever built by the country, and received briefings on its systems and crew training.

Kim expressed satisfaction with the ongoing modernization and nuclear armament process, which includes integration of cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles. He also reviewed progress on the third Choe Hyon-class destroyer under construction at Nampho Shipyard and held discussions with naval officers and shipbuilding experts.

North Korea has vowed to commission two Choe Hyon-class or larger warships annually.

Kim framed the naval expansion as a necessary response to an increasingly hostile security environment, denouncing US-South Korea military cooperation and accusing the allies of escalating tensions in the region.

 

Sources: News Agencies