North Korea ICBM had range to hit US mainland - Japan

bbc ^ | Jean Mackenzie

[BenLurkin]

The latest suspected ICBM was fired at 10:15 local time (02:15 GMT) from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang, military chiefs in Seoul said.

It reached an altitude of 6,100km on a lofted trajectory and travelled 1,000km (621 miles), reaching a speed of Mach 22, South Korea's military said.

A lofted trajectory means the missile flies much higher into space but across a shorter distance than it would if fired on a normal trajectory.

But Japan's defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile had sufficient range to reach the US.

"Based on calculations taking the trajectory into account, the ballistic missile this time around could have had a range capability of 15,000 km, depending on the weight of its warhead, and if that's the case, it means the US mainland was within its range," he said.

"We have told (Pyongyang) that we absolutely cannot tolerate such actions," Mr Kishida told reporters in Thailand.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

It hit an apogee of over 3,600 miles? That’s deep into outer space and could take out a lot of satellites. Too bad we don’t have a space-based defense system for such vehicles.

[G Larry]

No evidence yet that these things even have a guidance system worthy of the name.

[BenLurkin]

It might be a bad day for a SoCal exurb if the North tries to hit DTLA.

[jonascord]

Let's see. the DPRK nukes SF, and vaporizes a few million democrats. In turn, the DPRK vanishes, and the ROK becomes an island.

Will try to generate the appropriate empathy.

[JustaTech]

It hit an apogee of over 3,600 miles? That’s deep into outer space and could take out a lot of satellites. Too bad we don’t have a space-based defense system for such vehicles.

Not really. Space is really big and satellites are really small, widely scattered and moving fast. ASAT is a whole 'nother critter compared to ballistic trajectory.

And we do have effective space defense. I've seen it, touched it, know how it works.

[Nextrush]

15,000 kilometers or 9,321-mile range that means it could go anywhere in the USA even down to Miami or up to Maine.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Ecuador is within range.

[The Duke]

"No evidence yet that these things even have a guidance system worthy of the name."

FWIW,last time I looked all the whitepapers on the use of fiber optic gyros were written in Chinese. Probably courtesy of Bill and Hillary.

[Campion]

Yes, Pyongyang to Miami on the great circle is only 7,655 mi.

[G Larry]

Xi has no interest in providing Kim access.....yet.....