Explosion hit North Korea missile test site: report

spacedaily.com ^ | 21 Apr 03 | staff

[RightWhale]

Explosion hit North Korea missile test site: report

SEOUL (AFP) Apr 21, 2003 A US spy satellite monitored a strong explosion that rocked North Korea's test site for ballistic missiles in November last year, South Korean reports said Monday. Washington has passed information concerning the explosion to South Korean military authorities, according to Yonhap news agency.

The blast occurred during a missile engine test and crippled operations and facilities at North Korea's missile launch site at Musudan-ri, Hwadae county, northeast of Pyongyang, Seoul's Chosun Ilbo newspaper said. The launch site in North Hamgyong province has been closely monitored by US spy satellites since Pyongyang sent shockwaves around the world by test-firing a Taepodong long-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan and into the Pacific in 1998.

The explosion caused extensive damage and has been delaying the development and test launch of North Korea's Taepodong missiles, Chosun said, adding fragments and debris flew several hundred meters (yards) across the launch site.

South Korean military officials declined to confirm the reports. "We neither confirm nor deny the reports," a defense ministry official told

According to South Korean defence ministry data, North Korea is currently testing Taepodong-1 missiles with a range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and is also developing a longer-range Taepodong-2. Taepodong-2 could be capable of reaching parts of the continental United States. North Korea launched at least two short-range land-to-ship missiles off its coasts earlier in February and March, sparking speculation that it would test-fire another ballistic missile.

North Korea, locked in a nuclear standoff with the United States, has indicated that Japan's recent spy satellite launch would free it from its commitment to a testing moratorium. At a summit between the leaders of Japan and North Korea in September last year, North Korea pledged to extend its moratorium on ballistic missiles beyond 2003. North Korea has vowed to boost its military strength, insisting it would be the next target of a pre-emptive US military attack to snuff out its suspected nuclear arms ambitions.

[RightWhale]

It's current news, although the event itself was a few months ago. Could this have been one of the tests that was supposed to put fear into their enemy, but instead of the impressive ballistic missile, they were forced to launch an anti-ship cruise missile?

[Tree of Liberty]

*cough*specops*cough*

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Maybe somebody's Special Forces arranged a little accident. Just a thought...

[Paul Ross]

FYI Bump.

[Consort]

Pre-emptive?

[Grampa Dave]

This has been on another thread from another article. We can't have too many of these threads showing the reality of the NK's.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/897260/posts

N. Korean Tae-Po-Dong Missile Test Site Crippled (Major Accident Last Year)
SBS (S. Korean TV) ^ | 04/21/03 | Kim Woo-Shik


Posted on 04/21/2003 6:38 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster


Accident at the N. Korean Tae-Po-Dong missile test site

Last year, there was a major explosion accident at the Tae-Po-Dong missile test site at Hwa-Dae, N. Hamkyung Province, N. Korea.

According to sources from Defense Ministry and USFK, there was a big explosion at the (rocket) engine test area of the site last November, which was observed by an American spy satellite. This information was relayed to S. Korean military authorities.

According to our sources, extensive damages were done to its facility and equipments. It would take a long period of time for N. Koreans to repair them. This would cause substantial delay of the N. Korean development of their long range missiles such as Tae-Po-Dong II.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/897260/posts

[RetiredArmy]

Kim: What is that noise?

Choi: Huh?

Boooooommmmmm!

Woops.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Dol!!!


Safety first.

[Illbay]

That couldn't be, could it?

I mean, we'd have heard about the focus group results, whether we should do that or not, wouldn't we?

Oh, wait, this was GWB, not Bill.

Never mind.

[Illbay]

That couldn't be, could it?

I mean, we'd have heard about the focus group results, whether we should do that or not, wouldn't we?

Oh, wait, this was GWB, not Bill.

Never mind.

[evansj42]

*Cough*you're right*Cough*

[smith288]

Spy satellite? Spying is attempting to gain intelligent based on hostile intent.

Reconnaissance, more like it: An inspection or exploration of an area, especially one made to gather military information.

[Semper Paratus]

I recall a similar explosion at a Syrian missle site last year.

[Paleo Conservative]

Could this have been one of the tests that was supposed to put fear into their enemy, but instead of the impressive ballistic missile, they were forced to launch an anti-ship cruise missile?

Yeah, like I'm really afraid of their No Dong missles.

[yonif]

the wonders of communism.

[George W. Bush]

North Korea, locked in a nuclear standoff with the United States, has indicated that Japan's recent spy satellite launch would free it from its commitment to a testing moratorium.

Apparently, any verification of the moratorium leads to North Korea breaking the moratorium.

---

In unrelated news, the Pentagon again denied the deployment of directed-energy weapons on satellite platforms over Asia and the Middle East.

[yonif]

Maybe we dropped one of those electric-circut busters during the test, and therefore it crippled its launch.

[RightWhale]

Spying is attempting to gain intelligent based on hostile intent

As you know, English words have many levels of meaning. The only hostility in the region is that of N Kor toward its neighbors and the UN allies. Spying during war is abviously a hostile act. Spying during peace is merely keeping watch.

[knarf]

*Cough*you're right*Cough*

I say again ... SIR! Mission Accomplished .. SIR!

Copy?