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Tracking N Korea's missile intent
BBC ^ | 07/04/06 | By Rob Watson

Posted on 07/04/2006 2:02:15 PM PDT by garbageseeker

most things about North Korea, little is known for certain about the Taepodong 2 missile.

But there is no doubt North Korea does have a very long standing and pretty sophisticated missile programme.

North Korea's intentions are under the global spotlight

In 1998, before it began observing a moratorium on tests, North Korea launched a Taepodong 1 missile which passed over northern Japan and surprised Western intelligence agencies by the use of three stages in the missile's propulsion system.

What is striking about the Taepodong 2 is that it could well be North Korea's first genuine intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) - a missile with a range of more than 5,500km (3,400 miles).

Just how far it might be able to travel and with what weight and type of warhead and level of accuracy is uncertain.

But it has been suggested it could have a range up to 15,000km.

That would put Alaska or Hawaii within its reach and even the continental US if a lighter warhead were used.

Proliferation fears

In a sense though, what is more important here than the missile's precise specifications is what it says about North Korea's strategic intentions.

It indicates Pyongyang's apparent desire to have weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them at great distance.

North Korea's thinking appears to be that if it has nuclear weapons, which it claims to have, and the means to deliver them it should be safe from an attack by the US - a line of reasoning no doubt strengthened by the fate suffered by Iraq.

Just as worrying as North Korea's strategic goals are the dangers of proliferation should Pyongyang master a workable ICBM.

In the past, the North Koreans have shared their technology with Pakistan and Iran and other nations and may well do so again.

Bluffing hopes

So what can the US do militarily about any missile test by Pyongyang?

The US has already moved a couple of naval ships off the coast of North Korea to detect and track the launch of any missile.

It is also likely that the US has activated its still unproven and limited anti-missile defence system.

The system, which is based on linking radar and satellite information to nine interceptor missiles based in Alaska and California, has so far failed to intercept a single missile in recent tests.

For now though, the US appears to be relying more on the hope that North Korea is bluffing and that pressure from South Korea, Japan and China will persuade Pyongyang not to break the moratorium.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Technical
KEYWORDS: antimissiledefence; asia; atomic; atomicbomb; chinaproliferation; clintonlegacy; elbaradei; foreignrelations; foreigrelations; iaea; icbm; japan; kimjongil; missile; missiledefense; nationalsecurity; nk; nodong; norad; northkorea; nuclear; nuclearblackmail; nuclearproliferation; nuclearwar; proliferation; pyongyang; rodong; russia; scud; scudmissile; southkorea; taepodong; taepodong1; taepodong2; whitehouse; wwiii
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Foc News is reporting 5 missiles were fired.


41 posted on 07/04/2006 4:49:35 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: garbageseeker
That laser is designed for these type of missiles because Iran has North Korean made missiles.Maybe this was a field testing.

I wonder what other type of mischief that laser could do?

42 posted on 07/04/2006 4:58:16 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Make them go home!!)
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To: Mike Darancette

A lot of mischief.


43 posted on 07/04/2006 4:59:52 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: USA Girl
I think it can be accomplished. Even though the missile interceptors we have currently have a success rate from 50 to 70 percent its better than being wide open.
44 posted on 07/04/2006 5:10:00 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: garbageseeker

from another thread with news from the R.O.K. South Korea as many as 10 now have been launched. awaiting confirmation. 6 have now been confirmed.


45 posted on 07/04/2006 5:18:48 PM PDT by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
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To: Defender2
Kim Il Jong his really gone over the edge. It looks like that he wants to start a war with the United States.

I wonder if China received a warning from North Korea if they ready to launch missiles.
46 posted on 07/04/2006 5:21:16 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: Defender2
from another thread with news from the R.O.K. South Korea as many as 10 now have been launched. awaiting confirmation. 6 have now been confirmed.

Why is the fat little weasel scuttling his missile arsenal in the Sea of Japan? This is really weird ... people are laughing.

47 posted on 07/04/2006 5:25:24 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Make them go home!!)
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To: Mike Darancette

This is now not testing. It is Provocation or at the least Diversion. possibly setting an open stage for an attack by somebody on somebody somewhere in the world.


48 posted on 07/04/2006 5:31:37 PM PDT by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
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To: Defender2

Bump. This crazy little man is picking a fight with the United States


49 posted on 07/04/2006 5:33:50 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: garbageseeker

Or trying to divert our attention away from something else.

Both possibilities exist at this point.


50 posted on 07/04/2006 5:36:03 PM PDT by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
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To: Defender2

Its hard to determing his intentions because Kim Jong-Il is a lunatic.


51 posted on 07/04/2006 5:42:37 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: garbageseeker

Agreed.


52 posted on 07/04/2006 5:45:25 PM PDT by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
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To: Mr.Smorch

Bump


53 posted on 07/04/2006 5:48:42 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: Spktyr; garbageseeker
I suspect that if it was a malfunction, it had help, and if it wasn't a malfunction, there's an Aegis cruiser with one or more empty VLS cells that weren't empty this morning.

I still want to vote for ABL. That'd be really cool. Just a bunch of NK generals called on the carpet in front of Ronery, some aerospace NK scientists executed for their "losing face," Russian and Chinese generals wondering if we've got Star Wars in play, and the USAF flying around somewhere whistling Dixie and holding an Alfred E Neuman picture up to the cockpit window!

Meanwhile, America launches 30 yr old technology into orbit with a bunch of styrofoam falling off and millions of pounds of thrust to offset it.

Damn. Dare to dream!!! I'll drink a toast to USAF Cap'n Luke Skywalker (Jr.) just in case! Happy INDEPENDENCE DAY Kimmy! Enjoy your Terrier Filet while you can!

54 posted on 07/04/2006 6:15:37 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: garbageseeker
THEL is like a Star Wars PAC-3 for local defense. The Airborne Laser platform is what we got when Tip ONiell nixed the space-based laser platform.

If Kimmy gives us enough time to get her up in the area, then ABL may be just as fun.

Wonder if it will really be the 21st century Chrome Dome.

You do realize....based on the current website that allows surfers to fire a web-based rifle, that 22nd century Freepers will be able to control a neural based ABL through their inter-brain-communications! FrinK!

55 posted on 07/04/2006 6:27:47 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: sam_paine

I have a feeling that it was used.


56 posted on 07/04/2006 6:28:58 PM PDT by garbageseeker (It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fighHert in the dog.”Samuel Clemmens)
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To: Mr.Smorch

good lordie! What the hell does that say?


57 posted on 07/04/2006 6:29:00 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: Mr.Smorch

GODWILLA GOE TWO KOREA!

-VS-

North/South wage roar again! She on duty!


58 posted on 07/04/2006 6:37:51 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: sam_paine

Alas, the ABL isn't flyable yet. The airplane's flyable, but the laser hasn't been installed in the airframe yet.


59 posted on 07/04/2006 6:38:15 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: sam_paine

ANd THEL got canned, the victim of budget cuts. IIRC.


60 posted on 07/04/2006 6:39:20 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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