North Korea fires four missiles

a reply to: Zaphod58

It concerns me greatly that these missiles were not removed from the sky the moment they became airborne, or at least once they were over the sea just off the coast of NK.

I KNOW the various powers currently focused on North Korea have the capacity to do this with absolute ease, so the explanation for this failure to down those missiles immediately is not immediately obvious, although it might indicate a willingness to allow some casualties to occur to lend legitimacy to a strong response. That is the most concerning possibility, in my view.

a reply to: TrueBrit

No expert by a long shot but my guess is , watch and learn . If you know how it behaves it is a lot easier to find a way to shoot it down .

I believe the US is being too lax regarding NK. I am sure they knew when they launched and could have responded, but sat still instead. NK is trying to scare Japan and SK and ultimately the US. Soon as the launch trajectory was confirmed I think launching a counter-strike would have been adequate.

Let them sweat a bit knowing imminent destruction is on its way. I am pretty sure we are able to abort if their missiles fall short like they did, but just in case they don't let them feel a swift retaliation.

a reply to: TrueBrit

You can never have enough data on something like this. As long as it's traveling towards somewhere that's uninhabited, you let it go. You can learn a lot from a test, even if it lands in the ocean.

a reply to: Grimpachi

Patriot missiles at least are on auto fire. You have to tell them no.. not tell them yes.

I Imagine these missiles were not a threat.

a reply to: Zaphod58

That is an awful lot of risk to take, just for more data.

There are few bits of data that are worth risking civilian lives to secure. What powers North Korea has at its disposal, are not included in that limited list. Their tests should always end in the burning wreckage of their missiles, never getting far enough to teach them anything about how well they are performing.

a reply to: TrueBrit

You can generally tell pretty quickly what direction they're heading. Japan has both US and Japanese Aegis BMD systems that I guarantee were on alert, plus THAAD, and Patriot. If it appeared they were going to come down on land, they were ready to bring them down.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yes.

We can bring those down.


And your reasoning earlier of why not do that is the same as mine.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: TrueBrit

You can never have enough data on something like this. As long as it's traveling towards somewhere that's uninhabited, you let it go. You can learn a lot from a test, even if it lands in the ocean.

That's the reason why I wouldn't be so eager to shoot them down with interceptor missles. Why would the U.S. or Japan want N.K. China, whomever to get any data they possibly could on defensive systems.

a reply to: HarumphHarumph

That's the reason why I wouldn't be so eager to shoot them down with interceptor missles. Why would the U.S. or Japan want N.K. China, whomever to get any data they possibly could on defensive systems.

That is my thoughts as well, but only my thoughts after listening to some guy on NPR awhile back. He was speaking on when Turkey shot down the Russian fighter. I don't recall who he was and just his 2 cents but he said something to the effect of... Russia has defensive capabilities A,B and C. We know A, a lot about B and suspect C. We tell Turkey to shoot down a Russian fighter utilizing def.A... We tell them we got your back, shoot it down in the hopes of Russia deploying defense B or C so we can learn from it.

I don't know why this A-hole is still allowed to breathe. I would think that taking out NK's government would be the one thing the US, China and Russia would be in agreement on. Honestly, what good does it do anyone on this planet that North Korea exists?

a reply to: tinner07

That's the mission that the RC-135U performs. The Combat Sent is absolutely covered in receivers and antenna. When a suspected SAM site is found, Combat Sent goes in and flies towards it, and tries to get it to bring up the radar and any other emitters it has. They grab every signal it emits, and can analyze it, and figure out what's transmitting.

a reply to: jtrenthacker

South Korea is nice, and the people are nice.

NK would shell Seoul into a ghost town..... I don't think that there is any weapon system that could get ALL the heavy weapons fired at the city in time.

So i would say that the only reason NK is still around in the fashion it is, is that they are essentially holding a whole city hostage with massive artillery and nuclear weapons

originally posted by: penroc3
a reply to: jtrenthacker

South Korea is nice, and the people are nice.

NK would shell Seoul into a ghost town..... I don't think that there is any weapon system that could get ALL the heavy weapons fired at the city in time.

So i would say that the only reason NK is still around in the fashion it is, is that they are essentially holding a whole city hostage with massive artillery and nuclear weapons

That makes sense. I still think that the combined powers of the US, China, and Russia could get it done if they wanted.

How could any-one say intercept it and shoot it down? It was in international space going into international waters, Oh yes it was headed towards Japan.
But what if NK ships lingered off the coast of America and when one of the US test missiles hit international space they shot it down, What would your answer be then?
Even if you don't like them they have a right to test what they want when they want as long as it's in international space. No country has the right to stop anything in international space. Not yet anyway.
Unless of course you have assets in the target area, ships etc..
As for range ppfftt. What's to stop NK launching off a mobile platform say within 50 miles off target. He's that nuts he may even convert a ship solely for a one off launch and that's easier than you think.

a reply to: crayzeed

I think it comes down to intent and statements made by the NK government and nuclear weapons programs that fly in the face of international law.

As far as a boat launch by NK, very unlikely. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that EVERY boat, truck etc leaving NK is tracked and something that could launch said weapons is watched closely

a reply to: penroc3
It might fly in the face of international law, but no country, no matter who, has the right to stop them. It is never open for discussion, what's international is international and woe betide ANY country that tries to usurp that law. Not even the US would be that utterly stupid.
As for launching from a ship, I was just pointing out that range need not enter the equation. Just as ships would be monitored so would launches from the NK mainland. But launched from a ship the reaction time for defense is vastly reduced.

a reply to: jtrenthacker

Oh, certainly they could. Little doubt as to that.

At what cost? Seoul would be shattered. With a population of over ten million in the metropolitan area, and more in the 'burbs...that's a lot of innocent folks in harms way with little or no chance of getting out of said way.

As long as there's any chance of maintaining the peace, let it be. Now should NoKo use one of those missiles on Japan, or South Korea, or the USA? Fairly certain that'll be revisited, as all bets would then be off. ...and a whole lot of people dead.

Hopefully the chubby one doesn't have a death wish.

a reply to: Zaphod58

What options would Japan have?

If N Korea nukes them, they'd have to invade N. Korea only to be obliterated by China.

a reply to: TonyS

If the missiles cross their airspace, or appear to be heading towards their land, they could shoot them down, and it would be considered an attack on them by North Korea.