North Korea fire missle. Lands 600km From Japan

Originally posted by xmotex
I agree, I suspect they're just talking smack because their clunky ICBM blew up midflight.

While they probably do have a few nukes, they are it's unlikely they have anything they can put on a missile yet.

On the other hand, they do have enough artillery to flatten and gas Seoul - but that would be almost as likely to get them nuked as actually using a nuke would.

As far as hitting US forces, IIRC most of our troops in SK have been moved away from the border, well out of their artillery range.

They don't really have a lot of military options - at least options that aren't essentially suicidal.

But I am wondering if Russia and China are just waiting for that military confrontation. NK may not have military options, but what if Russia and China all of a sudden say "Hey, we are joining this fight, but on NK's side".

Originally posted by lardo5150
With that though, I say leave us out of it.

I kinda think that's the position of our government as well. Not alot there for us really, other than the fact we're obligated to help SK. I think they wish that wasn't the case. It's kinda funny, we're being very careful not to threaten military action at all, but Kim keeps acting like we are going to attack tomorrow...he's delusional I guess.

Originally posted by lardo5150
But I am wondering if Russia and China are just waiting for that military confrontation. NK may not have military options, but what if Russia and China all of a sudden say "Hey, we are joining this fight, but on NK's side".

They don't have anything to gain and alot to lose by doing that, they are looking out for themselves, I doubt NK even has money to buy weapons from them. Other than the ususal politics, I doubt they would lift a military finger to help Kim....

Not sure if it was posted yet but I just read that Taiwan is ready to test a short range missle (600km range) to hit the Coast of China

one of these days the Nukes are going to be raining and the whole world wiped out

Originally posted by bih
one of these days the Nukes are going to be raining and the whole world wiped out

That would not be very cool. Let's hope it doesn't happen (although the world would probably be better off without us, I still don't want us all to die). Keith Richards probably can't wait, he will be king of all the cockroaches....

Just reported, the long range missle tested on the 4th was aimed at a hawiian island....I dont consider this just a test. Anyone want to chime in on that?

Originally posted by PittsburghMike
Just reported, the long range missle tested on the 4th was aimed at a hawiian island....I dont consider this just a test. Anyone want to chime in on that?

I'd like to see some form of trajectory data before I send up the balloon... That being said, if true, it dramatically changes the dynamics of the current dilemma. I wonder if they observe the fashion color changes over Labor Day in North Korea?

Someone needs to buy that boy named Kim a subscription to GQ/Esquire magazine.

White Shoes Monkeys, not just for summer anymore...

It was reported by a japanese news agency, trjectory of the missle and angle of the nose cone showed it was aimed at hawaii.

I dont know how they can tell that ..

It spun out of control seconds after it was launched and the North Koreans never had operational control of the missile, the official said. It failed so quickly, the official added, that the United States was never able to ascertain in what direction it was headed.

That came from CNN...

North Korea targeted waters near Hawaii when it fired a long-range missile this week, a Japanese newspaper reported Friday.

The long-range Taepodong-2 was part of a barrage of seven missiles test-fired by North Korea on Wednesday. They all fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, but South Korean officials said the long-range missile had malfunctioned, suggesting it was intended for a more remote target.

Source.

data from U.S. and Japanese Aegis radar-equipped destroyers and surveillance aircraft on the missile's angle of take-off and altitude indicated that it was heading for waters near Hawaii, the Sankei Shimbun reported, citing multiple sources in the United States and Japan.

North Korea may have targeted Hawaii to show the United States that it was capable of landing a missile there, or because it is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific fleet, the paper said.

An alternative explanation might be that a missile could accidentally hit land if fired towards Alaska, the report said.

Source.

Near Hawaii does not mean at Hawaii. More fear mongering.

[edit on 6/7/06 by Implosion]

To the person who asked about paintball colors - Paintballs come in all sorts of colors. I'm sure we could get some squirming and "ouches" out of these guys when they get popped.

Troy

Originally posted by PittsburghMike
Not sure if it was posted yet but I just read that Taiwan is ready to test a short range missle (600km range) to hit the Coast of China

People should find this more worrying than North Korea's tests.

The China-Taiwan thing could heat up...let's hope it does not hit the coast of China.

Does anyone think there might be a recovery mission underway to confirm the missiles payload?

Originally posted by Zenem
Does anyone think there might be a recovery mission underway to confirm the missiles payload?

Put it this way.

A South Korean ship was spotted in Japan's claimed water.

A confrontation ensued over the fact Japan and South Korea both claim these waters, and the South Korean ship left shortly afterwards.

Japan lodged a complaint to South Korea about this, and South Korea said they will return to these waters.

A race for intel?


It may well add up, it may well not.

Then again, if there were a good chance of the missile failing then I'm sure they wouldnt waste their precious WMDs. - Unless the Hawaii one was meant to reach its target - LoL, only feeding paranoia

How did NK scare off SK? Maybe SK backed off to prevent an altercation which would definately provoke NK into doing something drastic.

"Japan is translating its criticism against us into action," the agency quoted Song Il-ho, North Korea's ambassador in charge of diplomatic normalization talks with Japan, as telling reporters in Pyongyang.

"This may force us to take stronger physical actions," as a response, he said. Asked what the steps may be, he said, "I leave that to your imagination," Kyodo reported.

(Source wont appear propperly)

Stronger physical actions, what will that mean? Nuclear test? Rocket fired closer to the japanese islands? More Taepodong 2 missile launches? Military action? North Korea has been known to threaten against more imposed sanctions, and we know Japan/US wont listen to their "demands" and will only add fuel to the fire, how NK will react to this is what i'm interested in.

And about Hawaii, does the Taepodong 2 have enough range capability to even get there?


[edit on 7-7-2006 by Mammoth]

Well, South korea intelligence is reporting that two more ling range missles have been moved into the launch pad.

It seems North Korea is not happy with its attention and is demanding more

Originally posted by infinite
Well, South korea intelligence is reporting that two more ling range missles have been moved into the launch pad.

It seems North Korea is not happy with its attention and is demanding more

Yeah I've heard that, but CNN quoted an unamed US Defence Official as telling them "We see no indication, nothing is imminent." when asked whether North Korea are planning more tests.

Alot of conflicting media reports......

Originally posted by Mammoth


Stronger physical actions, what will that mean? Nuclear test? Rocket fired closer to the japanese islands? More Taepodong 2 missile launches? Military action? North Korea has been known to threaten against more imposed sanctions, and we know Japan/US wont listen to their "demands" and will only add fuel to the fire, how NK will react to this is what i'm interested in.

And about Hawaii, does the Taepodong 2 have enough range capability to even get there?


[edit on 7-7-2006 by Mammoth]

Saying stuff like "stronger physical actions" and "I'll leave that to your imagination" is designed to make you think of the worst if sanctions are placed on them.

Nuclear tests, etc.

But that's what it is wanted for people to think, to deter sanctions.

It can be seen as huff and puff, and that bluff can be called, although always with a little danger involved.

Hans Blix calls it the "Beware Of The Dog" scenario, you make out you have the dog with the sign, to warn people of, but have no dog.

So yes, moreover, it can be viewed as a veiled warning, but it seems to me like a "Beware Of The Dog" sign.


North Korea have said in the past, that any sanctions placed on them would be a declaration of war.

Sanctions, I think, won't help the North Korean people, and would weaken them further against the regime.