Report: N. Korea Missile Arrives at Launch Site (weeks before launch possible)

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has moved its most advanced long-range missile to a new launch site and has banned ships from the waters off its west coast through the end of July, news reports said Monday, moves that threaten to exacerbate tensions on the peninsula.

The missile, which has arrived at the Dongchang-ni launch site on the northwest coast, is believed to be a version of the Taepodong-2 rocket that the North fired on April 5 saying it was a satellite launch, the South Korean Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported.

The North could fire the missile as early as June 16 when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and President Barack Obama hold a summit in Washington, the paper said, citing unidentified officials in Washington and Seoul.

"TAEPODONG-2: Three-stage rocket with potential range of more than 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometers), putting Alaska within striking distance. First two stages are liquid-fueled, while the third is believed to be solid-fueled. "

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Both of the Tonchang-ri launch pads are on a peninsula, and are within easy reach of the ocean:

Google Maps Satellite image: Both western DPRK launch sites accessible from the ocean...

It would seem possible to infiltrate a SEAL sniper team to within range of both launch pads. One .50 cal HEI round from a Barrett into one of the first two stages -- fired immediately after launch ignition -- should be masked by rocket engine noise. That should produce a satisfyingly dramatic "catastrophic failure on launch"... ;-)

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262664/posts

N. Korea (Recently) Made 3~4 ICBM’s (1 used; 1 ready; 1~2 in storage)
Chosun Ilbo ^ | 06/02/09 | Yoo Yong-won
Posted on June 1, 2009 9:07:22 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

/begin my excerpts

N. Korea (Recently) Made 3~4 ICBM’s.

Ammunition supply to its navy and shore artilleries in West Sea(Yellow Sea) doubled.. practicing blitz amphibious landing.

N. Korea had produced 3~4 ICBM-class missiles(or rockets) by the end of last year. This implies that N. Korea could have one or two more long-range missiles in addition to the rocket launched last April, and the one now moved to the new Dongchang-ri test launch site. In a related development, N. Korea is said to have recently instructed its navy in West Sea(Yellow Sea) to more than double its ammunition supply, and its military is practicing blitz amphibious landing, and other activities, indicating that they are gearing up for (military) provocation.

/end my excerpts

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/dprk/2009/dprk-090601-rianovosti01.htm

“N.Korea prepares ballistic test, boosts military on west coast”
RIA Novosti

SNIPPET: “12:0601/06/2009 MOSCOW, June 1 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea has transported an intercontinental ballistic missile to a new launch site, and has ordered troops on its west coast to double ammunition stocks, South Korea’s Yonhap agency said on Monday.

The agency cited an anonymous South Korean intelligence official as saying vehicle activity to and from military bases along the west coast has increased.

The report follows last week’s sighting of an intercontinental ballistic missile on a cargo train in the reclusive communist state.

The official said North Korea’s military is believed to have moved a missile to its new launch site in Dongchang-ri, in the North Pyongan Province, and could launch it later this month.

“We believe the North could launch the missile at any time after one or two weeks,” he said.

Other South Korean media reports said the rocket is a version of the Taepodong-2 missile fired on April 5, when the North claimed to be launching a satellite.”

Thanks to American in Tokyo for the translation.

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262715/posts

N.Korea Readying for(NEW)Intermediate Range Missile Launch (These Are New Missiles/New Threat)
Jiji Tsushin via Yahoo Japan (in Japanese) ^ | 2 June 2009 | Jiji Tsushin Press (Translation)
Posted on June 1, 2009 11:17:32 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo

Breaking on Yahoo News in Japan (link).

Begin my translation:

Yonhap News reporting out of South Korea on Tuesday afternoon local, North Korea is preparing for a possible intermediate range misssile (or missiles) launch from its southern central Gangwon Province from the Kittaeryung area.... The South Korean military command has revealed this to Korean parlimentarians today. These intermediate range missile has the potential to any part of the territory of Japan. (Rodong Missiles) ....They previously had a range of 1300 kilometers, but since have be revised to have a range of 3000 kilometers. ....North Korean fired six missiles toward Japan (Sea of Japan) from this Kittaeryung range, one after the other, in July 2006.

TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Japan; News/Current Events; Click to Add Topic

KEYWORDS: brinksmanship; dprk; kittaeryung; nkorea; nodong; northkorea; obamatest; rodong; Click to Add Keyword
Rebellion is Brewing!

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Folks, this is NEW (this afternoon our time).
This is completely separate from the other new provocations they are starting, with another potential long range ICBM launch from the complex at Dongchangri on the West Coast that they are said to be preparing (of course on heels of their long range ICBM test on 5 April from Musudanri (Northeast Coast), then their underground nuke test last week, and finally a number of barrages of intermediate missiles in the aftermath of their underground test at Kilchu (Northeast Coast area, not far from Musudanri).

1 posted on June 1, 2009 11:17:32 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo

NEW THREAD:

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2262729/posts

Reports: NKorea readying several missile tests
AP ^
Posted on June 2, 2009 1:07:30 AM PDT by maquiladora

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is preparing to launch three or four medium-range missiles, along with an intercontinental ballistic missile, amid moves by Kim Jong Il to anoint his third son as heir to the world’s first communist dynasty, reports and experts said Tuesday.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the North is preparing to fire three to four medium-range missiles from Anbyon on its east coast.

“Many vehicles mounted with mobile launchers are being spotted” at Anbyon, Yonhap quoted an unnamed government official saying. “It looks like at least three missiles will be launched.”

The North has also transported what is believed to be its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile to a base near China in the west, officials confirmed.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...

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