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U.S. reducing rhetoric that feeds North Korean belligerence
CNN ^ | 4 Apr 2013 | Barbara Starr and Tom Cohen, CNN

Posted on 04/04/2013 6:38:56 PM PDT by SkyPilot

Washington (CNN) -- Recent announcements of American military deployments in response to belligerent statements by North Korea may have contributed to escalating tensions between the two countries, Pentagon officials told CNN on Thursday in explaining an effort to reduce U.S. rhetoric about the reclusive state.

"We accused the North Koreans of amping things up, now we are worried we did the same thing," one Defense Department official said.

They spoke on the same day a U.S. official first told CNN that communications intercepts indicated North Korea may be planning to launch a mobile ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks.

Classified images and communications intercepts show that North Korea has moved up to two mobile missiles, launchers and fuel tanks to its East coast, another American official with knowledge of the matter told CNN. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary committee in Seoul that the activity signaled an imminent test firing or military drill, according to the semi-official South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Amid Pyongyang bluster, missile launch feared

One U.S. official said it is believed any launch this time would be a test.

The activity is consistent with a Musudan missile, the official said.

The Musudan is based on a Soviet-era system and has a 2,500-mile (4,000-kilometer) range that can threaten South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, but not U.S. forces based on Guam.

As a vital ally to South Korea since the Korean war in the 1950s, the United States has pledged military backing to Seoul in the event of an attack by North Korea.

In addition, North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons technology, raising concerns of rapid proliferation in the region and even a possible nuclear strike by Pyongyang.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: braking; budget; korea; northkorea; oldnews; pentagon; sequester; waronterror
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To: Shadowstrike

I am glad I am not one of our approximate 40K troops in Skor. This ass would give them up and apologize for it. I am so sick of him and his ideas, the worm. It is time the military leaders if we had any with gonads did the right thing and took him out of leadership.


41 posted on 04/05/2013 3:41:03 AM PDT by Mouton (108th MI Group.....68-71)
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To: Old Sarge
pretty much...
42 posted on 04/05/2013 4:11:03 AM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: SkyPilot

Amen


43 posted on 04/05/2013 4:41:13 AM PDT by left that other site (Worry is the darkroom that developes negatives.)
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To: Pinkbell

It is nothing short of sickening. Now CNN is starting in on the “Blame America First” game. Disgusting. For all the reasons you stated Pinkbell.


44 posted on 04/05/2013 6:18:06 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (All statist/dictatorial/commie leaders worldwide should be hunted down, beaten, & hung by the masses)
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To: SkyPilot

Have you noticed in every photo the generals surrounding Kim Jong-un are 65 y.o. plus. They date from his father’s era and they are dying off. Kim Jong-un needs to test the loyalty of the next crop against heighten military tension...read bluster.. Then he’ll pick the cream of the most devoted and golag or simply execute the rest. It’s a purge, Stalin did it all the time. This is page three in the leftist dictator’s handbook.


45 posted on 04/05/2013 12:26:49 PM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
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To: Pinkbell

Exactly, just as The pentagon spokesman said on CNn.

“”The North Koreans — even before those exercises started — had undertaken provocative steps, and they’ve conducted underground nuclear tests, they’ve conducted missile tests outside their international obligations. So they have a track record now over the past few months of provocative behavior,” he said.”


46 posted on 04/05/2013 8:09:16 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: okie01

Think they are trying that now, only it’s way too late. What does a community Organizer/union protester know about real war. He is thinks everything is psychological & manipulative. Now he’s like...whoops!


47 posted on 04/05/2013 8:14:11 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: HollyB
“What does a community Organizer/union protester know about real war?”

Nothing. Being able to whip up the emotions of single welfare moms in South Chicago is not “leadership”. It is class warfare and class envy rhetoric.

God help us. Obama is an boy idiot.

48 posted on 04/08/2013 9:51:34 AM PDT by Gabrial (The nightmare will continue as long as the nightmare is in the Whitehouse)
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