Posted on 02/14/2013 7:45:49 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
2013/02/15 10:53 KST
Increased activity at Musudan-ri indicates N. Korea preparing for another rocket launch
SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Recent progress in the construction of new facilities and a general increase in activity at North Korea's Musudan-ri launch site may be an indication that the belligerent nation might launch another rocket following the detonation of its third nuclear device, a Web site specializing in North Korean affairs said Friday.
"Construction of new facilities at the Tonghae Satellite launching ground, previously disrupted by typhoons that ravaged the east coast last summer, has made important progress since late Oct. 2012," U.S. Web site "38 North" said in a posting, referring to the launch pad.
Satellite imagery of the location confirmed that measures are underway to "possibly modify it in preparation for an upcoming test of a liquid-fueled rocket," the posting said.
For the upcoming test, the country may launch a KN-08 long-range missile or another version of the Unha rocket, which the country launched in December last year, the Web site said, citing media speculations.
38 North also said that "imagery of the new launch pad and support buildings indicate that Pyongyang will be able to test rockets perhaps three to four times the size of the Unha when construction is completed, possibly in 2016."
Pyongyang's rocket program may be receiving assistance from Iran, 38 North claimed, citing a new flame trench covering to protect large rockets from gas exhaust at the North launch pad, which the Web site said is similar to the covering used at a new launch pad at the Semnan Launch Complex in Iran.
The Tonghae launch ground is one of the North's two major launching locations. It was used when the country launched the Taepodong-1 missile in 1998 and the Unha rockets in 2006 and 2009.
The country used its west coast launch ground, also known as Tongchang-ri, for the launch of two rockets last year.
Meanwhile, after receiving heavy flak for the Feb. 12 test of a nuclear bomb, the North said it plans to take further actions, which could include the launch of more rockets or another nuclear test.
What does NK get in return? Reduce supply of oil from China for about a couple of weeks. Scrapping a joint business venture which is doomed anyway. Then go back to business usual.
U.S. ? U.S. and China agree to 100% blockade of the Fat Boy's cognac and smartphone supply. Suspending one or two bank accounts NK uses. NK will find another one on assumed name. There are many who are happy to loan their account in exchange for a little cut. Finally, issue another warning that U.S. will do something really really bad if NK crosses another red line, which NK knows it can cross with impunity except another loud rhetoric from U.S. (and China.)
I don't expect anything anymore unless both decide to go for broke on this issue.
P!
/johnny
Bump
Susan Rice will do the “usual drill”. That oughtta shake Kim3 up.
not
If we had an American in the White House, I wouldn’t worry so much about this. Surprise EMP or city attack? Then “we can’t retaliate, that’d hurt innocent people, blah, blah, blah...”
All they need is about a 10kt nuke lobbed about 50km above Wichita, KS or so, and it’s LIGHTS OUT in the US. Forever.
Unlikely. There were megaton devices set off at altitude over the Pacific in the 1950’s. (That’s how we discovered EMP in the first place.). Last I checked, Hawaii hadn’t reverted to the stone age.
They haven’t even made a 10kt charge yet, and I think their “nukes” are just large charges of urea/nitrate fertilizer they get for free from South Korea (they’ve received 1,000,000 tons free in the last 10 years) to simulate a nuke. The real nuke will come not from the plutonium bombin’ NK but from the weaponized uranium Iran.
North Korea knows that any missile with a nuclear signature will be shot down by 4-20 Aegis ships before it even gets CLOSE to the atmosphere.
I don’t know why the DPRK thinks they are so hot. Imagine if the Japs put all their time into making cool weapons instead of cool toys. You think that’s a pokemon? Guess again. The South Koreans are no push overs either.
There’s an immense amount of ill-informed EMP hype out there.
There won't be an Aegis BMD missile with even the slightest capability of intercepting an ICBM till 2020 at the earliest.
Are you kidding? Aegis can shoot satellites out of orbit.
Response to existential threat requires drastic action which, in turn, requires sacrifices.
Everybody is busy to rationalize it away into a problem of marginal danger.
N. Korea and China seem to enjoy playing this came. Their action leads to the situation where so many are dead to the point that death becomes mere statistic.
They are just embarrassing Obama and the USA. Problem is that too many Americans are busy at the mall, playing with their smart phones or chatting on Facebook. Sooner or later we will all pay the price.
Yet another triumph for “smart power.”
I hope you don’t die for their mistake. A patriot does not have to die to save idiots so that they can continue their stupidity. It is they who have to die. Wrong people paying a price for the mess others created. Now that’s injustice.
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