N.Korea Has Eight Medium-Range Missile Pads: NIS(Taepodong-2 is also prep'ed)

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 07/12/06

[TigerLikesRooster]

N.Korea Has Eight Medium-Range Missile Pads: NIS

The secret service says it has spotted eight launch pads for medium range missiles in North Korea. National Intelligence Service Director Kim Seung-gyu told a parliamentary committee Wednesday the launch pads were believed to be for Rodong-2 or Scud missiles.

The NIS believes the missiles can be fired from the pads within three or four hours of preparation but the likelihood that they will be is small, a member of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee said.

The NIS chief was quoted as saying that a long-range Taepodong-2 missile North Korea test-fired on July 5 exploded some 40 seconds after launch, and debris was found in inland areas west of the launch site. Asked if the North is likely to test another, he said trailers carrying parts were spotted around the assembly and maintenance building at the Musudanri missile base in Taepodong, from where the first was launched, and support vehicles are constantly going in and out of the site. The NIS also says there are some 30 missile fuel storage tanks near the launch site but it cannot tell if they are new or empty. That could suggest plans for another test launch, but it is more likely that the North is trying to find out why the first missile failed, Kim was quoted as telling lawmakers.

Another Taepodong-2 launch is theoretically possible within five to seven days once the North solves the technical defects, but this could take weeks or even months, he said.

[TigerLikesRooster]

8 medium range missiles, and 1 Taepodong to go. This is pretty much the same arrangement as their first set of launches back in July 5(July 4 in U.S. time.)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Red Badger]

I assume these are "fixed" sites. Perfect! Cruise missles just love stationary targets!........

[AmericanInTokyo]

I am guessing, Mr. or Ms. TLR, that if they (DPRK)do their diagnostics quickly on the failure of the first, that they would lift off again on something like 16 July, timing it with the Space Shuttle's return over the Pacific to either KSC or Edwards AFB.

Of course, they know and we know they have zilch chance of interfering with any Shuttle re-entry activities and cannot come anywhere near the spacecraft, nevertheless the mass PR value and panic alone will reap them a bushel of attention--their ultimate goal in all of this contrivation of crises for negotiating benefit.

It will be interesting to see if the Chia Pet does some 'on the spot guidances' or military detachment visits around this time and in those launch facility areas, and then returns to Pyongyang to issue the order and launch the missiles...as he did on 5 July (local time).

[hershey]

As a NPR reporterette moaned after the last launch, 'What happens if one or part of one missile lands in Japan or hits Hawaii, accidentally, of course.' Her take on this was that Japan would be worse since the MSM can't stop Japan from retaliating.

[Blue Turtle]

Can someone please explain what is going on in this world? Israel is at war, N Korea is launching missiles, Radical Islam is blowing trains up and killing hundreds, our children are lost....this world's future is unsure and dangerous.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It does not take much to be a reporter or reporterette these days. You know, affirmative action, declining standards in J-schools, all that.

[CaptRon]

N.Korea Has Eight Medium-Range Missile Pads:

For now.

[AmericanInTokyo]

They all (that is our worldwide enemies) perceive the USA as distracted, overstretched and thinned out. Again, don't kill the messenger, I am just relaying what they perceive -- particularly Iran and DPRK. Chavez heading off to Pyongyang, too, to add more vinegar to the global mix.

[Flightdeck]

North Korea is a joke.

[hershey]

The NPR reporter was in a terrible bind. How to wave away a deliberate missile attack, especially when NK's been threatening to blow you to bits for months. It wasn't even the BBC reporter, just local talent...Boston or DC.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes in many ways, and no, in lots of other ways.

[quack]

Israel is at war(for the ninth time), N Korea is launching missiles(been crackpots over there for years), Radical Islam is blowing trains up and killing hundreds(been happening since before the Crusades), our children are lost....this world's future is unsure and dangerous.

Nah,just read up on your history and you'll see that things are going on as usual.

[hershey]

President Bush is heading off to Germany, so he's out of the country. Clearly our enemies think it's just the time to stir the pot.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Now is the time to resurrect all the liberal quotes of two-three years ago about how NORTH KOREA is the most terrible one on the global block, and that we ought to stand up to it. That will shut some of these lib reporters up.

I only wonder when the "Human Shields for North Korea" movement starts up in Western Europe and the US.

[Joe Miner]

The NIS chief was quoted as saying that a long-range Taepodong-2 missile North Korea test-fired on July 5 exploded some 40 seconds after launch, and debris was found in inland areas west of the launch site.

I thought this missle was headed for Hawaii? Forty secs after launch it should of been downrange a tad, i.e. to the east of the launch site?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Cruise missles just love stationary targets!........

So does artillery. Seoul is the mother of all stationary targets.

[markedmannerf]

history is just repeating itself

[Rushmore Rocks]

FYI

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And every soul in Seoul is a hostage to this madman.