N. Korea prepping for nuclear test: intelligence official

Yonhap News ^ | 04/08/12

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[LukeL]

Don’t you need a powergrid before a satellite is of any real use?

[U-238]

I will not be surprised if there are officials from Pakistan and Iran attending the launch.

[U-238]

I really do not think that its going to fly. But maybe wrong. I hope that either the Taiwanese Air Force or the Japanese shoot it down if its likely the rocket it performing well.

[U-238]

Im sorry for my mistake I thought it was the upcoming launch. I still will not be suprised if Pakistan and Iranian officials attend the nuke test.

[Mister Da]

Shoot down the missile early & the NK nuke program is effectively neutered.

[U-238]

You can detect an underground nuclear explosion. There are seismic stations all around the world to find “abnormal” seismic activity. There are something around 300 seismic stations around the world looking for cheaters.There are detectable concentrations of the rare gases argon-37 and xenon-133 at 50 and 80 days, respectively, after the detonation.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Since they are apparantlyletting in Western journalists by the boatload to watch this fiasco (the southward ICBM launch I mean) it should be no difficult matter for a resourceful “reporter” operating under deep cover, to ascertain the presence of Pakistani or Irani technical personnel in the North. Most visiting or posted foreigners in the People’s Hell on Earth are usually housed in similiar areas, and by chance their paths could indeed cross. I particularly do not think the DPRK folks are THAT smart or THAT conscientious in covering their tracks.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It think the idea would be to intercept and destroy shortly after liftoff from the pad because of the elevation and speed factors, mabye two or three minutes into flight if possible, but still a) might be well out of range of such action, and b) a ROK or US Aegis in the Yellow Sea doing such a thing successfully would be subject to a torpedo attack by DPRK subs which are now out and about as we speak.

[SpaceBar]

Michael Savage has been saying for years that they should just take the whole thing out right on the launch pad while all the dignitaries are there picking their noses.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It could be done. I would think that they could outsource it to the crack Israeli commandoes to go in and destroy it on on the pad at night with high explosives, as their own practice for future actions on Iran. In fact this might be more of an Iranian missile test launch outsourced to DPRK than anything else. Israel and Mossad should be very, very interested in these developments and results.

[SpaceBar]

commandos...at night with high explosives...

Not necessary. A cruise missile would do the trick.

[U-238]

I am sure that the “guests” of the North Koreans would be carefully chosen and vetted before entering the base. They have a list of people who they have invited.

[U-238]

Our government carefully looks into the background of the people they let in to our most sensitive places.They also limit any movement within sensitive bases.

[AmericanInTokyo]

That is not the only place they could come across the Iranians (if there).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes, but that creates other problems, although it is the most effacacious, logistically speaking.

[Mister Da]

Those NK subs are coastal subs. The Aegis will be hundreds of miles from the coast, in deep water, & well protected. Subs are easier to detect in deep water.

Certainly, the North Koreans will try something. Artillery attacks on SK islands, sub attacks along the coast, but nothing that would start an outright war with SK & the USA.

I believe that NK would lose such a war badly, & NK knows it. Their military is decrepit, starving & demoralized just like the general population. The leadership is spoiled, fat, lazy, corrupt, old, & militarily inept. The last thing they want is to see their palaces shattered & their lifestyles destroyed. In any protracted conflict, which I doubt, all of NK would simply starve to death.

Given this, CHINA will not allow NK to start a war that ends with a reunited, democratic Korea.

Frankly, I don't believe Obama will try to shoot the missile down. He hates the military & would avoid any opportunity for them to shine. He has a lot of purging left to do in the military before they become HIS military.

Too, he likes to keep the people's stress level high. Stress causes mistakes, like in the polling booth. A NK missile headed toward Hawaii is a great public distraction from his many failures. Shooting down the NK missile would be Politically Incorrect. Endless talk in the face of repeated provocation is the PC way.

[Former Proud Canadian]

So, you don’t think USN or ROK ASW is up to the task of neutralizing Nork subs?

[Chode]

according to the Korean Herald

Several North Korean submarines have disappeared after departing from bases on the eastern coast. According to reports, three or four North Korean submarines recently departed from bases on the east coast and have since remained outside South Korean surveillance.

The submarines are thought to be 370-ton shark-class vessels. The North Korean submarine used in the attack on the Cheonan in March 2010 was a 130-ton salmon-class vessel. North Korea has between 70 and 80 submarines ranging from 1,500-ton vessels to 130-ton vessels. Of the total, 80 percent are said to be based in the East Sea, where the waters are deeper than the West Sea, providing better conditions for submarine operations.