DPRK 'may launch missile toward Hawaii' / Govt. studying interception over Aomori

Yomiuri Shimbun ^ | Jun. 18, 2009

[maquiladora]

A long-range ballistic missile North Korea is believed to have been preparing to launch from its Tongchang-ri facility in the country's northwest highly likely will be launched toward Hawaii, which would take it over Aomori Prefecture, according to analysis by the Defense Ministry.

Sources said the ministry also believes such a launch will be made as soon as early next month.

Based on the analysis and intelligence gathered by U.S. reconnaissance satellites, the ministry has moved into top gear its study on optimally deploying Aegis-equipped destroyers equipped with Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor missiles and ground-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missiles.

(snip)

The ministry said it believes North Korea is likely to launch a missile sometime between July 4 and 8, because the 1996 launch of the Taepodong-2 missile took place on the July 4 U.S. Independence Day (July 5 Japan time) and July 8 falls on the anniversary of the 1994 death of former North Korean leader Kim Il Sung.

At the missile launch base in Kitteryong on the country's eastern coast, preparations are under way to launch a Rodong missile, which can target all of Japan, as well as a new medium-range missile, according to sources.

Therefore, the ministry is considering starting preparations to intercept missiles based on the possibility North Korea launches missiles from all three bases simultaneously.

[maquiladora]

ping

[FTJM]

NK is desperate for money, hence the saber rattling. If Kim Jong-il knew what was good for him, he'd convert to Islam.

I saw David Gergen the other day on CNN talking in serious tones about how the Clinton and Bush admins followed the same strategy and it didn't work. In more serious tones, he said Obama's strategy was new and different and had a chance of working. Wow, he worked for the Clintons and Hillary is the Sec. of State and they appeased NK. It never ceases to amaze me.

[LeoWindhorse]

Governor Linda Lingle , a Republican , should officially activate the Hawaii National Guard , in response to this potential threat from North Korea .
This would send a message to the entire country ,and the world , and she would not need Washington’s OK in order to do this .
Gov. Palin in Alaska too.
These two Republican Governors could do A LOT to raise the national consciousness far beyond the helpless attitude now being projected by Washington .
IF ...they would only show some grit , and leadership

[mylife]

Look to July 4th for this clown to pop off a rocket.

What will Obama do?

[mylife]

Meanwhile Obama is cutting 1.2 billion from our NMD program.

[olezip]

A long-range ballistic missile North Korea is believed to have been preparing to launch from its Tongchang-ri facility in the country's northwest highly likely will be launched toward Hawaii,,,

Would this not be an act of war? According to the communists in North Korea, shooting it down would be an act of war.

[kalee]

“as soon as early next month”

Happy 4th of July

[17th Miss Regt]

The counter to that would be for Zero to federalize them as soon as the governors activated them and then release them from active duty immediately. He has a couple of other tricks to ensure a calculated display of weakness goes off as he plans.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

It's odd how every time the world focuses on one "regime", another regime begins its saber rattling. The demonstrators in Iran are getting too much attention. Solution, have North Korea fire an intimidating new missile to make everyone focus on them. One has to wonder if they are in cahoots.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[hershey]

At some point NK will nuke Hawaii and O will wring his hands and say he’s shocked, shocked, and we all must come together. The UN will snigger behind their third world thuggish hands, and that will be O’s foreign policy legacy. Unless he’s impeached. But with Dems controlling everything, this is unlikely. More likely, Bush will be blamed. The lunatics are running the asylum.

[maquiladora]

Only being fired in the direction of Hawaii, it will land short by over a thousand miles at least. Doesn’t have the range.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

bttt
see post 10

[Timeout]

One has to wonder if they are in cahoots.

Yeah. Almost like they're an "Axis of Evil", or something.

[kempster]

Only being fired in the direction of Hawaii, it will land short by over a thousand miles at least. Doesn’t have the range.

I feel so much better knowing this.

[Never on my watch]

“Doesn’t have the range.”

I would add “yet” to that statement. But...

This is not about an imminent nuclear strike on Hawaii, it is about a loon pointing and firing a gun at us. It needs to be confronted not minimized.

[ballplayer]

I guess it depends on what he means by ,This new strategy may work. It is new in the sense Obama is calling their bluff. Lim Jong Ill blusters from time to time and we pay him to shut up and he does for awhile and then ,well here we are again,so Obama is trying to just ignore him and call his bluff . Time will tell and if old Kim starts firing Missles toward American territory it could get Interesting because I believe China is encouraging this behaviour to see how far they can go with the Pussy in chief.

[Diogenesis]

They are only ready to kill and nuke those Americans
that the US Congress and the White House want dead.

[momincombatboots]

After Hawaii passed an Islam day.. they can have it. Not worth saving, IMHO. We have plenty of pacific island defenses.I have scrapped it from my spring vacation plans. Palau and Bermuda are out due to gitmo releases. So.. any secluded.. I mean NO CROWDS, NO SHOPPING MALLS, ideas for the pacific. I was planning on one of those secluded Hawaii trips to a godforsaken part. How are the Polynesian Islands?
How on earth do you get on Midway Island???