North Korea fuels missile, readies launch, U.S. officials say

cnn ^ | June 18, 2006 | cnn

[Flavius]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- North Korea is believed to have completed fueling a long-range ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States, raising the likelihood that it will soon conduct a test launch, U.S. officials said on Sunday.

The United States plans to join Japan in a sharp response if the test goes forward. Washington warned Pyongyang against the test in a message passed on Friday through North Korean diplomats at the United Nations, but there w

[TMSuchman]

I can not think of a better "real world" test of the anti-missle 747 air craft! Let's hope that they can shoot straight!

[Dark Skies]

Very thin ice...walk out on it and see what happens.

Nuclear weapons and ICBM's require a response...death is no great shame, but life that seeks to destroy others is indeed a shame. And it will be ended soon.

[LibWhacker]

What do Freepers think the "harsh" American response will be if N. Korea launches it? Hard for me to believe we'd be restricted to whining to the UN about it. OTOH, anything less than a military strike on one or more of their missile (or nuclear) sites doesn't seem to me to qualify as being particularly harsh.

[garbageseeker]

This is an extremely provocative act against the United States. This the more reason why we should develop an ABM screen.

[garbageseeker]

Ping

[Thombo2]

Kim keeps pushing the envelope.I think this is more for his ego than anything else.What's he hope to accomplish?

[ANGGAPO]

I hope that we are to going to hold still for intimidation by Kim. However if it's not pointed in our direction it would appear that he would be in safe territory. We did it and aimed off of the coast of of South Africa, in mid Atlantic. Shooting over Japan is another bucket of fish however. Perhaps we should take it to the UN. ;-)

[Flavius]

he just wants money for food

[AdvisorB]

If only we would have had a Jacksonian in the White House instead of Lyndon Baines Johnson when the North Korean "great leader" seized the US Intelligence ship the Pueblo in the Sea of Japan beyond nk's 12 mile limit. Let's face it, we're in the current state of affairs because we didn't have the temerity to face these lunatics. And now we have lunatics with nukes. Let's hope we don't make the same mistake with the little totalitarians in teheran.

[Reaganesque]

Why don't we schedule a simultaneous test of our Aegis based anti-ballistic missile defense system and shoot it down? The Airborne Laser System is supposed to be ready for testing, why not use a live target? It would send a loud message to N. Korea and many other countries trying to develop ballistic missile tech.

[Flavius]

pretty sure the NK is seeing the deals Iran is getting

this posturing is a way to get a better deal for rice or whatever else they are getting

[finnman69]

Big question, is if they fire it which way does it go? It's going over someones land.

[don-o]

I am pretty sure we can shoot it down. And go ahead and destroy the launch pad,

Get Some

[ARealMothersSonForever]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1651263/posts

CNN is just now hearing about this? Seems like they might be a willing propaganda tool....

[ANGGAPO]

I suspect that you have called the shot.

[sonsofliberty2000]

Stern response? Hoping for more than finger wagging and toungue lashing.

[Flavius]

i belive the news was that the rockets are fueled other reports are talking about them getting fuel there

was not sure if everyone is reporting the same story, thought cnn story is conclusion of fuel up, where rocket is lock and loaded

[dawn53]

Yeah, fun thread, but I don't care what Kim Jong Il says, I'm going to sleep tonight and not waiting up for him to make his announcement or launch the missle, LOL.

[rottndog]

The story just lead off the ABC news on the radio. I'm not staying up 'til midnight tonight.