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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Report: N. Korea May Have Fired Missile into Sea Of Japan |
| 2005-05-01 |
| EFL - News. HT to Drudge The U.S. military informed Japan that North Korea may have fired a short-range missile toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday morning, Kyodo News service and national broadcaster NHK reported. The reports quoted unidentified government sources as saying that the U.S. military informed Japan's Defense Agency of the possible missile launch. The government was attempting to confirm the information, the reports said. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S. military both refused to comment, and an official at the Japanese Defense Agency said he could not confirm the report. The South Korean defense ministry also said it could not confirm the account. NHK said the missile was believed to have been fired from the reclusive nation's east coast and to have traveled 65 miles into the Sea of Japan. Word of the possible test came just days after a top U.S. military intelligence official told a U.S. Senate committee that North Korea has the ability to arm a missile with a nuclear weapon, a potentially significant advance for the communist state. Vice Adm. Lowell Jacoby, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, in testimony on Thursday, did not specify whether he was talking about a short-range missile or a long-range one that could reach the United States. Two defense officials later said that U.S. intelligence analysts believe North Korea is several years away from being able to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile that could reach the United States from the Korean Peninsula. North Korea's missile development program has spurred Japan to join the United States in putting together a joint missile-defense system. North Korea startled Tokyo in 1998 by launching a long-range ballistic missile over the Japanese archipelago and into the Pacific Ocean. Pyongyang has played upon the threat by intermittently test-firing short-range missiles since then. The Japanese Cabinet in February approved legislation that would allow the defense chief to order the military to shoot down incoming missiles. makes sense |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #14 Kim can keep on provoking the rottweiler and the pit bull next door, and sooner or later he'll pay. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-05-01 10:29:04 PM |
| #13 Just another ratchet that will get Japan to start spending real money on their military. Lets see the Norks outspend the second largest economy in the world in defence spending - the grass harvest will have to be *really* good to do that. Dumbasses - this will only help the Japanese economy. Win-win situation for them, they get an economic boost and the Norks (and Chicoms) realise that they've pissed off a rather potent opponent (who happens to have a *very* powerful ally). |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2005-05-01 9:22:11 PM |
| #12 70Km is about the maximum extent of one of the old Soviet-era FROG-7 types, and the Norks have been tinkering with adding boost to their rockets. IIRC, the Soviets/Russians replaced it long ago and shipped the remainder off to NKorea, Cuba and China. Basically a battlefield oriented missle and not much reach as such. Designed to be fired from division/corps rear area against opposing division/corps rear area. Accuracy is not much better than a CEP of 1/2 to 1 Km from what I remember. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-05-01 8:24:56 PM |
| #11 Maybe they are fishing with "dynamite".... oh, never mind, probably just tweaking the sea o' fire thingy. |
| Posted by: Gleaper Cleregum9549 2005-05-01 7:52:40 PM |
| #10 Could be a ballistic Dave, even MLRS has a low range (approx 45km for basic variants) and its a ballistic type missile. However its a tactical range weapon. For a test launch however, unless this was to check missile guidance and telemetry (or somehow some new rocket motors) it pretty much isn't earthshaking. |
| Posted by: Valentine 2005-05-01 3:04:09 PM |
| #9 Was it even a ballistic missile? 65 miles is a pitiful short range. Perhaps it was a surface launched cruise missile test for a missile like a C-803. (even though the C-803 is thought to be an aircraft launched system.) That might account for the shorter range. 65 miles? I can %$^ further than that. LOL |
| Posted by: Dave 2005-05-01 2:54:03 PM |
| #8 not far enough out in the drink...65 mile from shore is close..... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-01 2:33:13 PM |
| #7 No Aegis shootdown? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-05-01 2:31:28 PM |
| #6 Using cryptic language is not helpful. You don't state it outright unless you are willing to take action in response. And you don't unnecessarily expose means and capabilities of intel collection. |
| Posted by: too true 2005-05-01 1:31:39 PM |
| #5 Good move Kimmy! This will hasten an end to that tyranical regime in charge of North Korea. Next time they come begging for a bowl or rice remind them that they have $$$ for missiles and missile launches. Maybe Dimmy Carter and Madeline Halfbright have comments about this? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-05-01 12:57:38 PM |
| #4 We aren't guessing if a missle was launched. Either one was or was not. Using cryptic language is not helpful. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-01 12:39:25 PM |
| #3 SteveS - much better to grill the bark and grass; bringing out the aromatic qualities of the bark for the savory flavour. |
| Posted by: Iron Chef Sakai 2005-05-01 12:22:59 PM |
| #2 China says to Li'l Kim: Be a good boy and go rattle the Japs cages while we're in a food fight with them |
| Posted by: sea cruise 2005-05-01 12:10:14 PM |
| #1 traveled 65 miles Hmmm. An anti-ship missile? Short-range tactical? Or maybe aborted ballistic test? North Korea - a mystery inside an enigma, wrapped in bark and grass and boiled for dinner. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-05-01 12:08:04 PM |