S. Korea to shoot down N. Korea rocket if it strays

Space War ^ | 3/26/2012 | Space War/AFP

[U-238]

South Korea is preparing to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it strays into the South's territory during a launch planned for next month, the defence ministry said Monday.

The South Korean and US military are closely monitoring activity at the Tongchang-ri base, a ministry spokesman said, a day after Seoul confirmed the main body of a rocket had been moved to the site in the North's northwest.

Seoul is concerned that the first stage of the rocket, scheduled to drop into the Yellow Sea between South Korea and China, may fall onto the South's territory, the spokesman said.

"We are preparing measures to track the missile's trajectory and shoot it down if it, by any chance, deviates from the planned route and falls into our territory," he said without elaborating.

Japan has said it may do likewise if the rocket strays over its territory.

The North has announced it will fire the rocket to put a satellite into orbit between April 12-16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding president Kim Il-Sung.

[AmericanInTokyo]

We might call that north/south Taepodong missile launch trajectory course the "Kim Jong Un Corridor". Sheesh. Looks like the DPRK is really going to have to run the gauntlet on this one, with threats from both South Korea and Japan to stop that bugger in its tracks. Who's next? Taiwan? Philippines? Might as well weigh in. I am sure they both have PAC-3 capability, particularly Taiwan.

[U-238]

The Phillipines do not have any missile defense as far as I can tell. It looks like they are leaving that to Japan and Taiwan for some type of protection.

[AmericanInTokyo]

That was my conclusion, too. If there were US bases there, of course, that would be a different thing.

[U-238]

Philippines unfazed by Taiwan missile plan

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/10/17/news/foreign/philippines-unfazed-by-taiwan-missile-plan/

It looks like the Philippine Islands is leaving its air defense to Taiwan.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

If they want a maximum range trajectory they would launch due east to take advantage of the earth’s rotation. (Like we do at Cape Canaveral.) The cheapest orbital trajectory would then take it over Tokyo and toward Hawaii. A shot towards the Phillipines or due south over South Korea would be far from optimal for range, or cost more energy for an obital trajectory.

Their last attempt apparently in that direction. Their previous attempt in 1998 was more northerly like a great circle trajectory to the lower 48 or Alaska.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If I am not mistaken, though they might risk debris over North Korea, they could easily switch directions and launch TaepodongIII ICBM EAST over North Korea and splash down somewhere in the North Pacific after passing over Japan. But probably bird in the sky would catch them configuring the launch gantry for a West-East March.

Personally, I hope it blow up on the plant due to a fueling mechanism failure with Kim Jong Un in attendence, losing massive face, and being put out of his misery and embarrassment by a nearby low flunkie of he KPA with a sidearm.

[NonValueAdded]

Sounds more like SK and Japan are prepping to handle falling debris rather than attack an ascending rocket. Not that it matters a hill of beans to the Norks, but are there international rules requiring range safety destruct systems? I wonder what could be learned from recovery of an intact stage.

[U-238]

The Taepodong missile does not have a very good operational history. But I would like to see the air defenses in South Korea,Taiwan and Japan swing into action.It would prove to the world that the PAC-3 missile is “battle tested” and may lead to more purchases from other countries like Israel and the Gulf States.

[U-238]

but are there international rules requiring range safety destruct systems?

On test missiles there are saftey destruct by the range saftey officer but on a strategic missile(Minuteman III or the SS-18) there is no such thing. There is no recall or self destruct.

[U-238]

CURRENT RANGE SAFETY CAPABILITIES

Published by the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range.

http://www.wsmr.army.mil/RCCsite/Documents/320-94_Current%20Range%20Safety%20Capabilities/320-94.pdf

[NonValueAdded]

I’m not worried about ours, I am wondering about the Norks

[U-238]

I do not think that they have self destruct mechanisms on their rockets.

[U-238]

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[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Patriot PAC-3 did fine in Gulf War II.

[U-238]

The Ababil-100 is an MRLS(multiple rocket artillery launch) with no guidance sytem.The Taepodong is a ICBM compared to a Ababil-100 is an unguided rocket.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iraq/ababil.htm

[U-238]

An declassified DOD report to Congress on BMD in Asia-Pacific region

http://www.dod.mil/pubs/tmd050499.pdf