North Korea preparing for ballistic missile launch: media (Alaska, ready for possible incoming)

Reuters ^ | 02/03/09 | Jon Herskovitz

[TigerLikesRooster]

North Korea preparing for ballistic missile launch: media

By Jon Herskovitz 48 mins ago

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea appears to be preparing to test-launch its longest range ballistic missile, media reports said on Tuesday, stoking tensions just days after the reclusive state warned that the Korean peninsula was on the brink of war.

North Korea, which typically carries out missile tests in times of political friction, last week said it was scrapping all agreements with South Korea in a move analysts said was aimed at pressuring Seoul and grabbing the attention of new U.S. President Barack Obama.

The North, which tested a nuclear device in 2006, is seen as one of the greatest threats to regional security. But experts say they do not believe Pyongyang has developed the technology to miniaturize an atomic weapon so it can be mounted on a missile as a warhead.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency and Japan's Sankei Shimbun cited unnamed government sources as saying the North had been moving equipment used in the launch of its Taepodong-2 missile, which the test-fired in July 2006 only to see it fizzle and destruct a few seconds after leaving the launch pad.

A train carrying a large object had left a factory and was headed to the site of a newly constructed launch pad on the North's west coast, Yonhap quoted an unnamed South Korean government source as saying.

"The object is suspected as being a Taepodong-2," he said.

It will take North Korea at least a month or two to actually launch a Taepodong-2, the Sankei cited an unnamed Japanese government source as saying.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Illustration:

Taepodong-2 long range ballistic missile

dotted circle: the range of two-stage missile (6,000 km)

solid line circle: the range of three-stage missile (10,000 km)

Specification (lower right)

length: 32 meter

payload capacity: up to one metric ton

range: 5,000~6,000 km (estimated)

launcher/fuel: fixed launcher/liquid fuel

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[screaminsunshine]

Time for the Raptors to show what they can do.

[tanuki]

Looks like Obama is about to get his first test.

[tomkat]

Hey Ø, watcha gonna do then, ya f’n sissy, ??

[TigerLikesRooster]

p>Translation of comments on the top:

Range and Specification of N. Korea's Taepodong-2 Missile

intelligence agencies of S. Korea and U.S. have detected (possible) preparations to launch Taepodong-2 missile at a (new) missile base at Dong-chang-ri, Chol-san-gun, North Pyongan Province, and are monitoring it closely.

[Tamar1973]

Looks like Crazy Kim’s throwing another temper tantrum. He kind of reminds me of the younger kid who rebels and acts like an a$$ to get the parent attention because the older kid already gets attention for being the smart/athletic/cute kid.

[Nathan Zachary]

"It will take North Korea at least a month or two to actually launch a Taepodong-2,"

Not exactly a rapid deployment system, is it.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Looks like Crazy Kim’s throwing another temper tantrum. He kind of reminds me of the younger kid who rebels and acts like an a$$ to get the parent attention because the older kid already gets attention for being the smart/athletic/cute kid.
______________________________________________________-

That would be liberals.

[river rat]

In a sane world, this bastard would have been worm excrement - years ago.

Those of his country who objected, should have joined him.

[mylife]

I hope Sarah Palin orders the thing to be shot down with the missile shield.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I hope Sarah Palin orders the thing to be shot down with the missile shield.
______________________________________

Doesn’t the ‘zero’ have total jurisdiction in that matter? Scary.

[soroptimist]

I don’t want to sound brash, but the US has had equivalent missile technology for fifty years. North Korea has a perfect right to develop her own.

[mylife]

I really dont know.

[Thrownatbirth]

This will save the Navy $$$ in SM-3 missile training.

[kittycatonline.com]

Looks like Obama is about to get his first test.

Obama doesn't live in Alaska. I do, though, along with a whole lotta other folks, even some who for whatever reason voted 0. Funny thing about missiles, or plain ol' terrorists; they don't ask for your voting record first.

[BobL]

“I don’t want to sound brash, but the US has had equivalent missile technology for fifty years. North Korea has a perfect right to develop her own.”

I guess it depends on whether you side with America or Europe.

[Shermy]

“Looks like Crazy Kim’s throwing another temper tantrum”

Somebody didn’t pay the “humanitarian aid” I guess.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Damn straight. No, they DON’T.

[WellyP]

Why show anyone what we can do unless we have to? Unless the thing is going to hit some U.S. soil we will collect data and let it fall in the ocean.