7:20 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday Nite
By ticker, with specific news to follow. Ticker: "USA Warns of Possible Nodong Missile Test Launch by North Korea" ("Kita chosen no missairu no nodong shisha wo keikai, bei seifu")
It is unclear who was warned but most certainly must be Japan and South Korea. It does not say when the Nodong test launch may occur. Other interpretations of the operational verb are: "on guard against, worried, warning, keeping an eye on."
Just appeared briefly and is still up on the Japanese Kyodo website (link above). More details should come in soon. It might point to an expected launch of a Nodong, rather than a Taepodong, from the DPRK in a short period of time from now.
Defense spokesman for Japan Ishiba and others stated yesterday that the DPRK Nodong missile is capable of being retrofitted with a nuclear warhead.
Question, guys. If Nk fires a missle can our ships intercept and shoot it down into the ocean and then send them a replacement?
LOL... thanks for that
You've got people reading your threads without a frivolous attitude, I'm sure.
So we can only retaliate? I thought the frigates (ms?) were able to bring them down. Isn't that why they go with carriers? To protect them?
Yes, you've VEY SERIESLY misunderestimated the number of fools out there! The number is HUGH!
Well see, this is a new picture for me. I thought we were there to defend. If what you are saying is true (and I'm not doubting you) then we have military all over the place unprotected, not to mention our allies. Is there any warning period that they are preparing to fire so we can take um out before they lift off?
We should shoot the damn thing down and send a REAL message
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We have NOTHING that CAN shoot it down. Send your "Thank You" notes to the Democrats who foiled the development and deployment of our ballistic missile system.
The Patriot PAC-3 can only shoot down short range Scuds.
Here are excerpts from a 1998 Rusfeld report about N. Korea Ballistic Missile threat:
http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/missile/rumsfeld/toc.htm
a. North Korea
There is evidence that North Korea is working hard on the Taepo Dong 2
(TD-2) ballistic missile. The status of the system's development cannot be
determined precisely. Nevertheless, the ballistic missile test
infrastructure in North Korea is well developed. Once the system is
assessed to be ready, a test flight could be conducted within six months of
a decision to do so. If North Korea judged the test to be a success, the
TD-2 could be deployed rapidly. It is unlikely the U.S. would know of such
a decision much before the missile was launched. This missile could reach
major cities and military bases in Alaska and the smaller, westernmost
islands in the Hawaiian chain. Light-weight variations of the TD-2 could
fly as far as 10,000 km, placing at risk western U.S. territory in an arc
extending northwest from Phoenix, Arizona, to Madison, Wisconsin. These
variants of the TD-2 would require additional time to develop and would
likely require an additional flight test.
North Korea has developed and deployed the No Dong, a medium-range
ballistic missile 3 (MRBM) using a scaled-up Scud engine, which is capable
of flying 1,300 km. With this missile, North Korea can threaten Japan,
South Korea and U.S. bases in the vicinity of North Korea. North Korea has
reportedly tested the No Dong only once, in 1993. The Commission judges
that the No Dong was operationally deployed long before the U.S. Government
recognized that fact. There is ample evidence that North Korea has created
a sizable missile production infrastructure, and therefore it is highly
likely that considerable numbers of No Dongs have been produced.
In light of the considerable difficulties the Intelligence Community
encountered in assessing the pace and scope of the No Dong missile program,
the U.S. may have very little warning prior to the deployment of the Taepo
Dong 2.
North Korea maintains an active WMD program, including a nuclear weapon
program. It is known that North Korea diverted material in the late 1980s
for at least one or possibly two weapons. North Korea's ongoing nuclear
program activity raises the possibility that it could produce additional
nuclear weapons. North Korea also possesses biological weapons production
and dispensing technology, including the capability to deploy chemical or
biological warheads on missiles.
North Korea also poses a major threat to American interests, and
potentially to the United States itself, because it is a major proliferator
of the ballistic missile capabilities it possesses--missiles, technology,
technicians, transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) and underground facility
expertise--to other countries of missile proliferation concern. These
countries include Iran, Pakistan and others.
Any thoughts on North Korea's increase in provoctive actions and impending action in Iraq?
"Showdown is here ..." I cant help but wonder what Ron Brown was planning to say before his plane so tragically slammed into that mountain.
Please let me know what they're smoking in Seoul, and whether it's legal stateside.