U.S. official: North Korea might be making missile preparations (telemetry being assembled)

CNN ^ | 02/10/09 | Barbara Starr

[TigerLikesRooster]

U.S. official: North Korea might be making missile preparations

From Barbara Starr

CNN Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. spy satellite snapped an image within the last several days of preparations at a North Korean missile site previously used for Taepodong-2 missile launch operations, a senior U.S. official told CNN Tuesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, in an undated photo that the state news agency released Saturday.

The photograph shows North Korea assembling telemetry equipment at the site -- equipment that would be needed for a launch to take place, the official said, adding that so far, there is no direct evidence of a missile being moved to the launch pad.

Telemetry equipment involves sophisticated electronics used to monitor missile launches. The official said if North Korea moves a missile to the area, it would be a cause for concern and could place the U.S. missile defense site in Alaska on alert.

"It would get folks spun up," the official said.

The last time equipment was assembled at the location, it resulted in the launch of a Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile in 2006.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[diamond6]

Oh, where is Ronald Reagan when you need him.

Sigh!

[ChetNavVet]

What an insane peron, I mean really, who could even lanch a disatorous nuke at Hawaii, or Anchorage, or Cali, could even think they could survive the counter attack.

Note to secret worldwide orginizations: Eliminate this fool before something dumb happens, and then focus your attention on AkmedenaNutJob.

[Secret Agent Man]

I will respond the way a liberal under Bush:

It’s probably fake. Doctored. The threat is overblown. There is no rocket. It’s a fake picture. It’s really a water tower. They have no rockets.

[TigerLikesRooster]

You passed the preliminary screening for ACORN membership. Now onto an in-depth psychological profiling.:-)

[This_far]

I find it ironic that ‘searching’ Secretary of State brings up results for everything BUT Clinton (unless US is added). I thought it might bring up some news of her involvement/concern?

I’d search NK missile prep but I don’t care where O’s gonna go this weekend.

(belated thank you for your posts)

[bruinbirdman]

And what does Mrs. Bill Clinton have to say about the commies saber rattling last week. Thought they were on the verge of war?

"I know of the continuing concern on the part of the other members of the six-party talks with respect to North Korea's attitude in the last weeks, and I'll be talking with our counterparts to determine the most effective way forward," Clinton said."

yitbos

[bruinbirdman]

Here's a new take on the subject:

Ship movements hint at N.Korea missile test

Chinese fishing vessels have moved out of waters near a disputed sea border between the two Koreas, a South Korean military official said on Wednesday, which could signal a North Korean missile test is imminent.

North Korea usually orders its vessels to stay out of Yellow Sea waters off its west coast when it conducts short-range missile tests. China is the closest thing the North can claim as a major ally and is the impoverished state’s biggest benefactor.

yitbos

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I heard Kim’s birthday is in a few days. This could be related.

[SevenofNine]

I think Chia Pet might do the missile test probably on his birthday or founding of North Korea