Posted on 03/13/2003 2:06:38 PM PST by vannrox
North Korea 'preparing for new missile launch'
New US intelligence has indicated that North Korea may be preparing for a ballistic missile test, capable of reaching the Japanese archipelago. The Japanese Government has reportedly dispatched the Myoko, a destroyer equipped with the state-of-the-art Aegis defence system, to the Sea of Japan, while the US has deployed the missile-tracking ship USS Invincible. The US has also reportedly dispatched a RC-135S aircraft designed for gathering information on missiles to an airbase in Okinawa, in southern Japan. The new missile threat, reported by the Yomiuri and Mainichi newspapers, was conveyed to Japanese authorities by US military headquarters in Japan last Friday. Japan and US Government sources were quoted as saying that North Korean military vehicles had been gathering around missile launch sites in North Korea, including those in the country's north-east, which would be used for a launch towards Japan. The Mainichi reported that drums for liquid fuel for the Nodongs had also been moved out of a storage facility, although there was no sign of missiles being fuelled. The Washington Times also quoted US intelligence officials saying North Korea was preparing to test a missile. The test firing of a missile towards Japan would be the most provocative act so far by North Korea in its standoff over its nuclear arms program. It has already fired two short-range missiles, intruded into South Korean airspace, and tried to capture a US spy plane. Japanese Government spokesman tried to play down the reports yesterday, claiming that Tokyo had not received any information about an imminent missile test. In 1998, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan, which landed in the Pacific. Should North Korea fire a missile towards Japan, the response of Japan and the US will probably depend where the missile lands. If it lands in the sea, it may be ignored as an act of brinkmanship but a hit on the Japanese mainland, especially if casualties are involved, would make a military response more likely. While Japan's Aegis destroyer in the Sea of Japan would track the missile, it could not shoot it down. Japan and the US have been researching a missile defence shield, but have not yet developed it. It was also reported yesterday that North Korea was preparing to restart its nuclear fuel processing plant at Yongbyon to make plutonium for nuclear weapons. The Kyodo news agency quoted an unnamed US Government official as saying that North Korea had purchased the chemicals for reprocessing, although the official did not specify where or how they had been bought.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/13/1047431148829.html
By Shane Green Tokyo
March 14 2003
Then they will call forth Godzilla to rise from the sea and battle the evil chia head dictator.
lol, no that wouldn't be prudent. That would probably earn a response like:
"My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw North Korea forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."
Duh.
Ya think so?
Upping the tension at a time when tension will already be high would fit his M.O. His basic premise, that we will give in if we get sufficiently intimidated, is wrong, but he'll continue to try.
Japan is moving rapidly to an official position that if a DPRK Nodong missile is launched toward Japan or at Japan or over Japan, they will position missiles and shoot it down with PAC-2s, all in the realm of national self defense.
Further, the Prime Minister Koizumi tonight is reported to be moving quickly toward Japanese Constitutional revisions that will allow missile defense and a policy of shooting down any North Korea missile destined toward Japan or regions, including the recently threatened NK tests.
They have had enough. So have I. Good for them. (Breaking in Japanese on Yahoo Japanese News. Top story, 8 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday)
Koizumi gave up on economy. Instead, he decided to be a samurai.
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