http://meta.cdn.yahoo-streaming.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo/news.asx?cid=20060617-00000014-nnn-soci-movie-000&media=wm300k
Posted on 06/17/2006 1:05:02 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
New Taepodong on launch pad
06/17/2006
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
The government Friday played down U.S. intelligence reports suggesting North Korea may be gearing up to launch a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile.
Japanese officials said they had received reports that a Taepodong 2 missile capable of hitting the U.S. West Coast had been set up on a launch pad in Musudanri in Hamgyongbuk-do, a province in the northern part of North Korea.
Some senior officials said it was possible the missile could be launched as early as Sunday. However, others saw the development as another example of North Korea's brinkmanship.
Even so, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe warned that the move was in violation of the 2002 Pyongyang Declaration in which North Korean leader Kim Jong Il agreed to extend a missile freeze.
Officials said there was no sign that the missile, which was brought to the launch pad this week, had been fueled.
"If a ballistic missile is launched, it would directly affect the security of our nation and would be against the Pyongyang Joint Declaration signed between Japan and North Korea," Abe said Friday.
A senior government official noted that Abe's words constituted "an open warning" to Pyongyang.
North Korea lobbed a Taepodong over Japan in August 1998 that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
Some government officials suggested Pyongyang was adopting a hostile posture in a bid to break the impasse in negotiations with Washington.
Pyongyang has already said it wants to invite Christopher Hill, chief delegate to the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions, to Pyongyang.
"It could very well be Pyongyang's strategy to raise tension so that it can bring Washington to a forum of dialogue," said a government source.
Still, officials are monitoring the situation closely. They calculate it would take about 24 hours to fuel the missile, making it ready for launch.(IHT/Asahi: June 17,2006)
What if they're only 'testing', and the missile lands in downtown Tokyo? C'est la vie?
C'est la vie?
It is. Life includes catastrophe and monumental retribution, too. Ask Japanese. They were nuked twice.
This time N. Korea would be on the receiving end if it ever lands on Tokyo.
OPINION: Sounds good to me.
Lets put an Aegis in the Sea and shoot it down!!!
That'll make em sweat.
One step, Taepodong to Nodong.
http://meta.cdn.yahoo-streaming.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo/news.asx?cid=20060617-00000014-nnn-soci-movie-000&media=wm300k
U.S. Navy surveillance ship is also out of Sasebo, Japan.
Maybe it's all a show?
Are they stupid enough to really do this? (Rhetorical question) I guess my question is...what are the odds they WILL do this?
Is what you're referring to- all the preparing- SOP? It seems from what I'm reading that everyone is taking this fairly seriously..
IMHO, there is less than 50% chance that it is a show.
I sure wouldn't want to a crewman on an RC-135 these days.
Better to be a squid in a boomer near N. Korea.
Let the region and the world know that we can do it.
Get the attention of all those who think they can play on the world stage.
Great to hear we're on the ball.
I strongly doubt the U.S. will attempt to intercept this launch unless the payload or spent rocket motors threaten to land on one of the fifty states. A "harmless" launch into the Pacific would be an "intelligence" event. The Japanese have Patriot batteries and are probably adopting an analogous position.
Ok
By the time, they find out that it will threaten U.S. mainland, wouldn't it be too late?
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