Posted on 08/06/2006 1:37:28 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
DPRK Scud, Rodong tests 'successful'
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Six of seven missiles that North Korea test-fired on July 5 fell inside a sea zone that was put off-limits for ships in advance by Pyongyang, government sources said Saturday, adding that the missiles' accuracy indicates the tests were successful.
Soon after the launches, the government announced the six missiles, which were Rodong and Scud missiles and exclude the launch of a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile, were estimated to have hit points 400 to 500 kilometers out to sea.
But the government later learned the six missiles likely slashed down in an area about 50 kilometers in radius, as North Korea had calculated.
A government official said, "The targeting accuracy of the Rodong and Scud missiles was high to a certain degree, and it proved the missiles are operational."
North Korea set the restricted area--a triangle about 160 kilometers long on each side--in the Sea of Japan off the North Korean coast between July 4 and 11.
Pyongyang had notified concerned persons in North Korea of the restricted zone.
According to Japanese and U.S. analyses based on data from radar of Aegis-equipped warships and other intelligence, the Rodong and Scud missiles traveled about 300 to 400 kilometers northeast from a missile base in Kitaeryong in the southeastern part of the country.
All the landing points were inside the designated zone and the government believes they were within an area with a radius of about 50 kilometers.
A senior Defense Agency official said it was unknown whether the missiles accurately hit targeted points. "As we don't know the target points that North Korea set, it's difficult to make that judgment," the official said.
Based on initial data from infrared monitoring by U.S. military early warning satellites, the Defense Agency released a map of the landing points on July 5.
On the map, the landing points of the six missiles were about 300 to 800 kilometers away from the launch site and most of them were outside the sea zone. As a result, some in the agency doubted the targeting accuracy of the Rodong and Scud missiles.
But it has been discovered the missiles actually fell inside the sea zone North Korea likely targeted beforehand and the senior agency official concluded the launches were relatively successful.
"Though the Taepodong-2, which came down just after the launch, was an obvious failure, the test-firing of the others, including Rodong missiles capable of hitting parts of Japan, seemed to be successful to a certain degree," the official said.
Military experts believe North Korea has 200 Rodong missiles stored in underground military facilities and other sites.
As Rodong missiles can be fired from mobile launch pads on large trucks, it is difficult to detect signs of a launch in advance.
Though the agency planned to release the result of its analysis, including the reason for the Taepodong-2 failure, early this month, the announcement will be delayed because talks with the United States will take more time, the government sources said.
(Aug. 6, 2006)
Ping!
Yes, real successful, nearly landed on the launchpad
good post.
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.