Warships set sail ahead of N. Korean rocket launch

AP via Yahoo News ^ | March 30, 2009 | By HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press Writer

[ETL]

SEOUL, South Korea – Japanese, South Korean and U.S. missile-destroying ships set sail to monitor North Korea's imminent rocket launch, as Pyongyang stoked tensions Monday by detaining a South Korean worker for allegedly denouncing the North's political system. North Korea says it will send a communications satellite into orbit between April 4 and 8.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan suspect the regime is using the launch to test long-range missile technology, and warn it would face U.N. sanctions under a Security Council resolution banning the country from any ballistic activity.

North Korea has threatened to quit international talks on its nuclear disarmament if punished with sanctions. The communist regime's main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reiterated that warning Sunday, saying the talks will "completely collapse" if taken to the Security Council. ..."

[ETL]

A graphic of North Korea's Taepodong-2 long-range missile. North Korea warned
Tuesday that any United Nations sanctions imposed to punish it for an upcoming
rocket launch would cause the breakdown of six-party nuclear disarmament talks.
(AFP/Graphic)
______________________________________________

Graphic showing Japanese and US missile defence systems that could be
deployed in the event of a rocket or missile launch from North Korea. North Korea
has said that any United Nations discussion of its upcoming rocket launch would
be seen as a "hostile act" and would cause the breakdown of international nuclear
disarmament talks. (AFP/Graphic)
______________________________________________

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/North-Korea-Taepodong-2-North-Korea/ss/events/wl/121202northkorea/im:/090324/photos_wl_pc_afp/3e1ede50eb46b6e2e3f83633bf98300f/

[randog]

Gosh, NK and Iran sure have stepped up their military activities. They’re acting like we elected a wimp for CIC.

[Dick Bachert]

This is one of the U.S. warships deployed near North Korea.

Armed with a single MA-2 .50 caliber Browning, this much feared naval vessel carries over 30 rounds of armor piercing ammunition. It is the first in an entirely new naval architecture being pushed on the Pentagon by the defense minded Obama Administration as a cost-saving measure. If you look closely, you can see the heavy-duty seat restraint which prevents the pilot/gunner – Kamakazi Kowalski – from leaping from the vessel prior to engaging the enemy. The 12 V trolling motor – which lacks a reverse function -- propels this sophisticated craft forward at a top speed of 4 knots. Reverse travel – at approximately 35 knots -- is achieved by firing the Browning.

[Commander X]

LFMAO....this is so funny.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

Does that thing shoot spit balls?

[stevie_d_64]

Again, thanks to the media, we are again inundated and reminded that ships are being moved into position to take care of this issue, or not take care of it...Who knows...

Loose lips sink ships...

Sure they can all work together to form a good team to defend themselves, and I am sure that is in the plan...One or two will be the shooters, and the other shhips will be secondary to that mission (if that is the mission) and screen (cover) the other s who are consentrating on this task...

I am of the convention that would prefer to be surprised again of another NK rocket test “failure”...And wonder if we had ships or aircraft (laser) in the area when the rocket was fired...

I like to be surprised...Rather than know if we had assets in the area...If I were the bad guys, I would sortie every sub I had (even with the half-arse hope) that they might get a shot off at one of these ships...

Somebody needs to really put the screws to the ALL the media that it is not cool to put crews at increased risk just to seem like they are on top of the story, and more informed than the next network...

...asshats, every single one of them...

[ETL]

I seriously doubt, in this day and age, something like this could be kept ‘secret’. If NK didn’t have the tools to detect the movement, certainly Russia and the ChiComs do. Anyway, they may have wanted them to know they were going to be there to shoot it down.

[Broker]

WSJ news headline; Iran will purchase these missles. The NK launch and likely Japanese intercept is a most noteworthy marketing demonstration.

Best case: It blows on the pad. Worse case: It splashes 1,500 miles out in the Pacific Ocean.