Posted on 06/19/2006 10:39:00 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Defense Department warned that a North Korean launch of a long-range missile would be a "provocative act." ADVERTISEMENT
"There are reports they may be preparing for a long-range missile launch," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.
"The United States government as a whole has been consulting with allies in the region and has made clear than a North Korean missile launch would be a provocative act," he said.
Whitman noted that the United States has limited missile defenses but would not say whether it intends to use them against a North Korean missile launch.
However, he pointedly used the term "launch" rather than "test" to describe the North Korean preparations and said Pyongyang's intentions were not clear.
"A test would imply that you would know the intentions," he said. "We don't know the intentions."
North Korea last tested a long range missile in 1998 when it fired a two-stage Taepodong missile over Japan, causing an international furore.
It declared a moratorium on flight tests of long range missiles in 1999 but said in 2005 that it would no longer keep to it.
As early as 2004, US intelligence reported that North Korea may have a Taepodong-2 missile capable of reaching the United States with a nuclear-weapon sized payload ready for flight testing.
US military intelligence believes a two-stage Taepodong-2 missile could reach the United States, while a three-stage Taepodong-2 could range the entire continental United States.
This is scarey!
Would we tell them if we did?
Are there not US warships with the Seventh Fleet capable of shooting down one of these North Korean missiles?
Didn't the US do just that a month or so ago...for the first time? Knock down a target missile with that system depolyed on certain US ships?
It would be hard to deny it ...
I just hope we tag it as it's over Pyongyang and not the slave camps the commies have set up.
Well, a rocket which needs several days [at least] of launch preparation, fueling, etc. has somewhat limited military value - the time frame allows for watching, warning, and the preparation of countermeasures. Or does NK have silos for them?
It would be huge slap in the face to the Kim Jong Mentally Ill...We would be in essense telling him "Neeenner, neener, neener!!!"
Popcorn, anyone?
Attempting an intercept and failing could be very, very embarassing.
Scary? How so?
I see we went into Iraq - settled that problem.
I just hope that our defense isn't PC, politcally correct, in the event of a historically devastation attack on the USA.
Ann Coulter has made a suggestion concerning our defense, hope they are listening in D.C.
No- Murtha is so far-sighted he's already called for our troops to be re-deployed from Iraq to Okinawa.
However, his idea was for them to be stationed there as a (don't spill on keyboard) "quick-reaction force" for Iraq if necessary.
Look at a map, Jack.
If NK launches a missile and it gets shot down, does the US have the right to launch one of their missiles?
This would be sooooooooooooo kewl to see one of those Airborne Laser thingies at work.
Pick up the phone to china and tell them their red headed step child has one week to live unless they step in.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.