Tracking N Korea's missile intent

BBC ^ | 07/04/06 | By Rob Watson

[garbageseeker]

most things about North Korea, little is known for certain about the Taepodong 2 missile.

But there is no doubt North Korea does have a very long standing and pretty sophisticated missile programme.

North Korea's intentions are under the global spotlight

In 1998, before it began observing a moratorium on tests, North Korea launched a Taepodong 1 missile which passed over northern Japan and surprised Western intelligence agencies by the use of three stages in the missile's propulsion system.

What is striking about the Taepodong 2 is that it could well be North Korea's first genuine intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) - a missile with a range of more than 5,500km (3,400 miles).

Just how far it might be able to travel and with what weight and type of warhead and level of accuracy is uncertain.

But it has been suggested it could have a range up to 15,000km.

That would put Alaska or Hawaii within its reach and even the continental US if a lighter warhead were used.

Proliferation fears

In a sense though, what is more important here than the missile's precise specifications is what it says about North Korea's strategic intentions.

It indicates Pyongyang's apparent desire to have weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them at great distance.

North Korea's thinking appears to be that if it has nuclear weapons, which it claims to have, and the means to deliver them it should be safe from an attack by the US - a line of reasoning no doubt strengthened by the fate suffered by Iraq.

Just as worrying as North Korea's strategic goals are the dangers of proliferation should Pyongyang master a workable ICBM.

In the past, the North Koreans have shared their technology with Pakistan and Iran and other nations and may well do so again.

Bluffing hopes

So what can the US do militarily about any missile test by Pyongyang?

The US has already moved a couple of naval ships off the coast of North Korea to detect and track the launch of any missile.

It is also likely that the US has activated its still unproven and limited anti-missile defence system.

The system, which is based on linking radar and satellite information to nine interceptor missiles based in Alaska and California, has so far failed to intercept a single missile in recent tests.

For now though, the US appears to be relying more on the hope that North Korea is bluffing and that pressure from South Korea, Japan and China will persuade Pyongyang not to break the moratorium.

[garbageseeker]

Like to read your thoughts.

[don-o]

Great - now three threads in Breaking News

[Defender2]

I'm reading on the thread below your's that apparently a fourth missile has been launched.

[Museum Twenty]

I have thought for a while that NK's missile test was designed to impress Iran rather than frighten civilized nations.

Iran, flush with cash, appears to need a delivery system for their weapons. NK, among the world's poorest nations, would have no problem selling this technology.

[garbageseeker]

Japan news service reporting of a fourth. Uncofirmed.

[garbageseeker]

Thats the scary part. Would North Korea would sell this teachnology. The answer is probably yes.

[garbageseeker]

I think that its just a political act just to get attention.Kim Jong-Il is ver calculation when it comes to these matters.

[USA Girl]

If one didn't know better one would guess NK is celebrating America's Fourth of July today judging from all their fireworks.

The "leadership" there is insane.

[garbageseeker]

Your being too kind to Kim Jong-Il by calling him insane.

[RandyGH]

Kim Jong-Il: Cruisin' for a bruisin'.

[USA Girl]

You're right, GS.

Well, it looks like these 4 missiles aren't the biggie - so are these the warning shots across the bow for something else coming from the looney farm? Maybe spit wads?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50917

NUCLEAR WAR-FEAR
Missiles launched from North Korea
Reports indicate 4 rockets fired, land in Sea of Japan
Posted: July 4, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

North Korea launched at least two and possibly as man as four missiles from its territory today, landing harmlessly in the Sea of Japan.

U.S. officials at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirm the detection launches of land-to-air missiles, not ballistic missiles which would be a greater threat to the United States.

The missiles were launched from a site other than the one intelligence officials have watched for weeks ahead of a possible long-range weapons test, a senior State Department official told CNN.

"This is a clear escalation by a belligerent state which is progressing toward ... a delivery vehicle," said Mike Norman, a talk-show host on the BizRadio Network. "It is time we finish this. We take their missiles on the launch platform, take 'em out, send a clear unequivocal message."

President Bush has warned the communist state it would face further isolation if it violates agreements by launching a rocket capable of reaching the American continent.

"The North Koreans have made agreements with us in the past, and we expect them to keep their agreements," Bush said last month at the European Union summit.

The incident comes as America celebrated its 230th birthday with its own Independence Day launch of space shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

"What a day to rattle our cage," said Fox News host David Asman.

More to come ...

[garbageseeker]

What a day to rattle our cage

He is doing a rather good job

[markedmannerf]

A look at North Korea's missile arsenal TAEPODONG-2: Said to be North Korea's most advanced missile, with a range of up to 9,320 miles. Experts estimate it could potentially hit the mainland United States with a small payload. However, the missile is unlikely to be accurate. • TAEPODONG-1: North Korea is believed to have test-launched this long-range missile in August 1998. The second stage landed off Japan's eastern coast. The missile has an estimated range of up to 1,800 miles. • NODONG: As many as 200 Nodong missiles are in North Korea's arsenal. With a range of about 620 miles, Japan is their most likely target. The missiles can be fired from mobile launchers. • SCUD: North Korea reportedly has more than 600 Scud-type missiles that are relatively short-range and would potentially target South Korea. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060704/ap_on_re_as/nkorea_missiles_glance

[AdvisorB]

The "dear leader" is insane. He killed his father, the "great leader" according to some knowledgeable "korean hands." Now, this dirtbag wants to destroy the US. After settling the family business with Iran, we must turn our attention to this north korean nutcase.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Apparenlty the missle failed. So sorry, Kim.

[markedmannerf]

North Korea test fires at least two missiles, possibly three WASHINGTON - North Korea has test fired at least two missiles and possibly a third, a Pentagon official said Tuesday, as US media reported that one of them was a long-range Taepodong 2 capable of reaching US territory. The North Korean military first fired two Scud-type short-range missiles that landed in the Sea of Japane, said a Pentagon official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official also said that "there was a third launch", adding that "we are looking into this." "We have no immediate comment, but obviously we are aware of what's going on," said a White House official, who asked not to be named. Meanwhile CNN television, citing unnamed senior State Department sources, reported that North Korea had launched at least three missiles early Wednesday -- one of them the long-range Taepodong-2 missile. One source said it appeared the Taepodong-2 test failed in midair, the network said. http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=131918

[garbageseeker]

Bump

[garbageseeker]

NORAD has been monitioring the activity and did monitor the launch of the missile.

[FreeRep]

Kim nut is crazy and delusional and the other scary thing is that he has lot of supporters in the DemocRat party and Kos KOmmie community.

[markedmannerf]

Looks like we may have been aware that this test was going to happen.

US boosts alert status around Cheyenne Mountain WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Air Force facility protecting the nerve center of U.S. homeland defense at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, has been put on heightened alert, the military said on Tuesday, amid persistent reports that North Korea may be set to test-fire a long-range missile. ADVERTISEMENT The commander of U.S. Northern Command ordered the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, which rings the bunkered operations center, to take "necessary security precautions commensurate with its missions," said Michael Kucharek, a spokesman for the U.S. Northern Command. U.S. officials have led a global chorus of concern that North Korea may soon test a missile capable of reaching Alaska. It would be the North's first missile firing in eight years. On Monday, Pyongyang vowed to respond with an "annihilating " nuclear strike if attacked preemptively by the United States. A U.S. official familiar with the matter said the United States had been observing a second North Korean missile, possibly a shorter-range, SCUD-type.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060704/ts_nm/korea_north_usa_dc