Posted on 03/25/2003 7:23:42 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo
("Freepranslation") for Free Republic
I find it interesting that some new developments are occuring with respect to NORTH KOREA of which we should take note. These Japanese/Korean news reports are coming in today (25 March 2003) after a relatively quiet and mysterious lull in activities with respect to North Korea for nearly one week now.
I caution that these in-and-of themselves are not particularly serious, but are sensitive, noteworthy and should be followed very, very closely by the United States.
N. KOREA NOW STARTING TO RAMP UP "INVASION" VITRIOL AGAIN--Several web reports I have seen have quoted dispatches from Pyongyang saying the communist North Korean Labor Party newspaper has pointed to the Iraq War as evidence that the US Forces will invade the DPRK next, and that defensive measures should be taken. The North Korean association of residents in Japan has said the mood in Pyongyang is of war footing and vigilence, and that North Korea feels it will be the next victim of the US, so it will move forward with unspecified moves.
USA 'INTERESTS' ARE NOW GOING AHEAD WITH A PLAN TO INFILTRATE NEARLY 20 MILLION SMALL RADIOS TUNED TO USA 'VOICE OF AMERICA' INTO NORTH KOREA FOR CITIZENS--This was Kyodo News news story today carried in the S. Korean "Joongang Ilbo". They will launch from somewhere near the Korean Peninsula, probably from maritime facilities. They will use balloons, etc. to send the small, light, crank-powered radios to North Korea so the people can get outside news, as their isolation continues the regime of Kim Jong il. This will make North Korea EXTREMELY angry, if the report is true. Watch this one closely!
NORTH KOREAN TROOP ACTIVITY (MISSILE RELATED) SPOTTED--Japanese intelligence reports increased activity on the ground with respect to Japan's missile program. They note an increase in activity in early March, all pointing to some kind of North Korean reaction to Japan's anticipated launch of its first espionage satellite this week. It is expected North Korea may then test-launch something, sometime on/around this weekend.
JAPAN TO LAUNCH FIRST ESPIONAGE SATELLITE--Japan is moving forward to a launch, 28 March Japan time, of its first independent spy satellite for surveillance of North Korea. Until now, they have relied solely on US KH11/KH12 or commercial satellites. (The missile activity spotted was based on commercial satellite information). This satellite launch by Japan has highly irritated North Korea and they call it a provocation. That is why Japanese intelligence, using commerical satellites, have detected this increased North Korean movement with respect to their missile launch facilities.
NATIONALIST SHINTARO ISHIHARA MAKING MORE NATIONALIST COMMENTS--Noted anti-communist, pro-Imperial Japan, Japanese author and Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara ("The Japan That Can Say 'No'") has come out strongly for Japanese rearmament to the point of being able to soundly repel North Korea. His comments have angered Pyongyang, but are gaining resonance with the Japanese People.
ASTOUNDING JAPANESE YOMIURI POLL: 76% IN FAVOR OF U.S. IN IRAQ--Over 90% in the poll reflected a fear or concern over North Korea; accordingly, their support is beginning to harden behind their only known defender in Northeast Asia, the United States.
NORTH KOREAN FISHING TRAWLERS IN S. KOREAN WATERS--Occurred yesterday. Fishing boats from North Korea went across the NLL demarcation line into South Korean waters.
From: PHOTOS - Operation FREE IRAQ.
GainesvilleSunForums
Community Forums
"A U.S. Marine helps an injured POW moments after securing the port of Um Qusar in southern Iraq, Sunday, March 23, 2003."
The contrasting photos can probably be found elsewhere here; I do not want to see them, really.
UJ in ME
So Mrs. R. with all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Cause Franklin knows
Anything Goes
--Cole Porter
The H2 can launch 10 metric tonnes into LEO or 3500kg into geosyncronous orbit. The H2 is a liquid fueled booster and not exactly the best fit for an ICBM but is more than suitable for launching monitoring satellites.
The Japanese gained substantial experience from the N1 and N2 boosters that were smaller and probably more adaptable for the SRBM role. These payloads ranged from 82kg to 740kg and were used from 1975 to 1987. When you combine the multiple insertion technologies used on the H2, the Japanese could be ready for anything coming their way.
There is only one publically acknowledged launching location, the Tanegashima Space Center, in Japan.
The Japanese need a bit of redundancy unless they want whatever "deterance" they've accumulated blasted to bits in a surprise attack.
If my assessment is correct...then they will really have their kimonos in a bunch when Operation Iraqi Freedom is won.
The Al Samoud 2 is a scaled-down Scud similar to the Ababil-100, a missile Iraq was developing to meet UN Security Council resolutions. However, the Al Samoud 2 is powered by liquids not solids, and the propulsion system is based on a reverse-engineered version of the SA-2 (surface-to-air) missile engine.What's at stake is the size and the range of the missile.
Under the Security Council resolutions, Iraq is allowed to have missiles with a range of less than 150 km. Blix said in December 2002 that the Al Samoud's diameter of 760 mm exceeds the 500-mm restriction. He also said Iraq confirmed that it had imported 380 SA-2 engines to integrate with the Al Samouds. These elements increase the range of the Al Samoud by about 30 km.
Its payload is thought to be around 300 km and weapons inspectors believe that the Al Samoud may be able to carry chemical and biological warheads.
Al Samoud closely resembles the geometry of a Scud-B missile, but with a somewhat greater length-to-diameter ratio. Consistent with the SA-2 missile design, the diameter is 0.5m. The length is app. 7.7m, thus the lift-to-drag (l/d) ratio is roughly 15.4.
7.7m = 25.2 ft.
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