Thanks to sonofstrangelove for the ping to this thread.
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283890/posts
NKorea likely to fire short-range missiles: report
Associated Press ^ | 7/1/2009 | AP
Posted on July 1, 2009 11:15:40 PM PDT by sonofstrangelove
North Korea is “highly likely” to fire short-range missiles off its east coast after issuing a fresh warning to shipping to stay clear of some areas, according to a South Korean newspaper.
“It is highly likely that the North will launch missiles” from bases in the eastern provinces of Kangwon and South Hamkyong, the JoongAng Ilbo quoted an intelligence source as saying.
The communist state has responded defiantly to UN condemnation of its long-range rocket launch in April and of its May nuclear test, vowing to bolster its defences.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283109/posts
“N. Korean rocket could potentially hit half the U.S.: American scientists”
Yonhap ^
Posted on July 1, 2009 2:59:40 AM PDT by maquiladora
SEOUL, July 1 (Yonhap) — The long-range rocket North Korea launched in April could be converted into a ballistic missile capable of striking half of the continental U.S., two American physicists have concluded in a joint study.
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=54990
News
American Forces Press Service
North Korean Missile Launch ‘Not Unexpected,’ Official Says
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2009 – North Korea’s launch of four short-range missiles yesterday didn’t surprise Defense Department officials, a Pentagon spokesman said today.
“What’s fair to say is that North Korea, [and its] behavior, continues to be unpredictable,” Bryan Whitman said, noting the activity “was not unexpected.”
Whitman said he doesn’t know of any specific violations of a June 12 United Nations Security Council nonproliferation resolution on North Korea associated with the launch.
North Korea has been the subject of near-universal condemnation since conducting a nuclear test in April. It also has tested intercontinental and intermediate-range missile technology.
A defense official, speaking on background, said he sees the reason for the launches as two-fold. The first is increased capability due to the improvement of North Korea’s missile systems. The second is that the country is using the actions to improve its position when dealing with the international community, which by all indications, he said, is having the reverse effect.
While this hypothesis isn’t unfounded, he said, it doesn’t negate the fact that the act should be cause for concern.
“I think that North Korea is looking for attention, and this is one of the ways that they seek to get attention,” the defense official said. “I don’t want to give the sense that there isn’t concern. There’s great concern about this unpredictable and dangerous activity that’s taking place.”
In fact, the country’s development of its nuclear program, as well as its continual improvement, testing, and exercising of ballistic missile capabilities and its proliferation activities, should be cause for concern, the official said.
“It’s the combination of all of these things,” he said. “It’s the direction in which North Korea continues to head that should cause not only the United States, but [also] the international community at large, some concern.”