The surprise location of North Korea’s latest missile test is making the US and China nervous

Quartz ^ | August 02, 2017 | Steve Mollman

[TigerLikesRooster]

The surprise location of North Korea’s latest missile test is making the US and China nervous

When North Korea launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last week, of immediate concern was how far the missile traveled, and where it could have reached had it been sent on a lower trajectory (most of the US, as it turns out). But the launch location mattered, too.

In a first, the missile took off from the northern Chagang province. Geolocation wizards quickly found the precise coordinates.

That location will bother both the US and China. In a straight line on the map, from there it’s only about 50 km (31 miles) to the China border—Pyongyang is actually further away.

[TigerLikesRooster]

[TigerLikesRooster]

That part of N. Korea reportedly has many underground military installations such as munitions factories and missile bases.

It is said that they were placed there by design. N. Koreans built them there because the close proximity to China will increase the chance of China getting collateral damage, which could make it difficult for U.S. to attack the sites.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re-Entry Vehicle Failed During North Korea's 2nd ICBM Test, Video Suggests

By Mike Wall, Space.com Senior Writer | August 2, 2017 06:28am ET

North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test apparently wasn't a complete success.

The ICBM's re-entry vehicle (RV) — which would protect the missile's nuclear warhead during an operational launch — likely broke apart toward the tail end of Friday's (July 28) test flight, according to missile expert Michael Elleman.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Another U.S. ICBM test:

U.S. Test-Launches ICBM Amid North Korea Tensions



An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test at 2:10 a.m. PT on Aug. 2, 2017, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Airman 1st Class Clayton Wear / U.S. Air Force

[Ray76]

China may have supplied the missile.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

No doubt this is NK’s “hook” into China. The Chinese have to have known about this for years...

[robroys woman]

Yeah. I’m questioning the application of the word, “surprise”, here.

And “nervous”.

[Ray76]

What I’m saying is, China may have trucked it in recently. Some one is supplying North Korea with these missiles.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Bombing the Chinese embassy in Kosovo-accident?

[ptsal]

Think about all of those COSCO container ships plying the coastal waters and harbors of the USA.

Put a flip top on a container and BINGO....time to pay the piper.

[Don Corleone]

What we don’t know about PRNK and their missiles would fill volumes. I fear it will take the sudden appearance of a mushroom cloud somewhere to fully awaken world governments.

[Mark17]

I fear it will take the sudden appearance of a mushroom cloud somewhere to fully awaken world governments.

Unfortunately, I think you are right. I just wonder which city will be destroyed?

[mabarker1]

In the right hands I call that:
Freedom is a beautiful sight!

[VietVet876]

Seattle or San Francisco would be good choices because the destruction of either of them would not cause universal outrage.

[null and void]

Place your bets folks:

Seattle; Microsoft, Boeing
San Fransisco; finance, culture (such as it is, fella)
San Jose/Silicon valley; electronics, technology
Los Angeles; shipping, logistics, film and TV industry
-or-
High altitude over Nebraska, EMP wipes out most of US technology.

Note that so far the warheads have looked like duds, *precisely* what a an enhanced effects weapon, where most of the energy is tuned away from blast and into a flood of gamma rays, microwaves and neutrons would look like. Bonus, no need for a re-entry vehicle, and yet another test can be made to look like a failure when the unneeded re-entry vehicle spectacularly breaks apart.

All the better to keep the Dragon, the Bear and the Eagle asleep...

[old curmudgeon]

Everyone knows China is working hard with the US to cool NKorea.

Would a friend keep this secret?

[Seruzawa]

Aholes will do anything to get hits on their blogs. This headline is a lie. All too typical these days.

[TigerLikesRooster]

This photo is from N. Korea's state media, dated June, 2013. Kim Jong-un was touring an underground weapons factory in Jagang Province where the latest missile launch occurred:

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Chinese have working ICBMs courtesy of the Loral Space kickback to the Clintons. NK’s missiles are a decade behind.

[GOPJ]

...they were placed there by design. N. Koreans built them there because the close proximity to China will increase the chance of China getting collateral damage, which could make it difficult for U.S. to attack the sites.

Do you have one of one of those "wind pushes radiation in THIS OR THAT direction" maps? It matters if the radiation would float over Japan... or Beijing...