Official: NKorea Developing New Missile [Russian Sales]

Associated Press ^ | 9/11/03 | George Gedda

[TastyManatees]

Official: NKorea Developing New Missile

By GEORGE GEDDA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Officials in the Bush administration have evidence that North Korea has been using Russian technology to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching targets in the continental United States, an administration official said Thursday.

The official, asking not to be publicly identified, estimated the potential range at 9,400 miles. The distance from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang to San Francisco is about 5,500 miles.

In theory at least, the new missile could strike any target on U.S. soil, the official said.

There had been some indications that North Korea planned to exhibit the missile - as well as models from the country's existing system - during its National Day festivities on Tuesday, but it did not do so, the official said.

American officials have raised the issue with Russian government officials, who indicated surprise and disapproval of the activity, the Bush administration official said.

According to the official, the missile is based on Russia's SSN6, a Soviet-era, submarine-launched ballistic missile.

Two weeks ago, officials from North Korea and the United States, along with, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, met in Beijing to discuss ways of surmounting an impasse over the North's nuclear weapons system.

The Bush administration has not made clear the extent to which North Korea's missile program will be a part of that six-nation process. A new meeting is expected to be held next month.

North Korea has maintained a moratorium on missile tests since 1998. But Iran is believed to have been testing missiles based on technology imported from North Korea, the official said.

[TastyManatees]

The Russians are selling the North Koreans the ability to destroy any American city they want. The North Koreans are then turning around and selling this technology to the highest bidder, including Iran. The Russians are helping Iran develop a nuclear weapons program. Why is it whenever a totalitarian state needs the ability to defend the status quo, Russia is always there for them?

[TastyManatees]

Ping.

Tasty Manatees

[ffusco]

Why is it whenever a totalitarian state needs the ability to defend the status quo, Russia is always there for them?

Because Russia has almost always been morally bankrupt, underhanded and miserable.It was the biggest con in this century that the USSR was defeated.

[DoughtyOne]

Do NOT discount China's complicity here.

[judicial meanz]

The sad thing is that our elcted officials seem to want to play ostrich and ignore these advances. Ignore them enough and they may go away. The crazy thing is, they knew this well before it became an issue with the public, and did nothing. Unclassified CIA reports from the 1990s reference the threat of proliferation and the dangers it posed if the countries became nuclear powers. Now its about to happen and we ignore it.

Anything North Korea gets will automatically be transferred to Iran and Pakistan, as well as others. In the long run, American soil will be under constant threat from a number of countries. Its about 4500 miles or so from Iran to Washington.

Now we have a two coast threat looming in our very near future that will direct effect national survival. Its time we challenge both parties to fix the problem, or we replace them with people who will. I am sick of imperial politicians who risk the ruin of our country for political gain while we slowly come under a very serious nuclear umbrella based in very hostile nations we once thought couldnt do this.

[quant5]

Russia is there for them because:

1) They make money to prop up their lousy goverment.

2) They make money by facilitating other countries to be a threat with us.

Answer in one word: money