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China-Japan-Koreas
N. Korea said readying ICBM test
2006-06-13
North Korea is making plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States and the launch could come soon, U.S. officials said on Monday. One official told Reuters there was some debate over whether Pyongyang would follow through on the preparations with an actual test but a second official said a launch could happen within weeks.

Japanese media have reported there have been signs of North Korea making preparations to test a multiple-stage Taepodong 2 missile since early May. It would be Pyongyang's first test of a long-range missile since it stunned the world in August 1998 by firing a Taepodong over Japan that landed in the Pacific Ocean.

Washington is discussing how it would respond to a test, and the United States and Japan have moved "assets" into position to monitor and collect data on any launch, U.S. officials said. "We do not discuss specific mission or future operation details; however as stated in March 2004, the U.S. Navy will deploy in the Sea of Japan, on a virtually continuous basis, a guided missile ship to serve as a long-range surveillance and tracking platform," a Pentagon official said.
Posted by:Anonymoose

#19  I would hit it while still on the launch pad, preferably with a laser in daylight so it either can't be seen, or could be missed.
Just another spectacular "Launch Failure" by those bumbling Norkies, who me, I didn do nuthin (Hehehe)
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2006-06-13 21:18  

#18  Yup. Because it's their totalitarian regime who are all those things. A lot of ordinary people in north Korea are just trying to hang on ... they hear an outrageous set of lies (and that's all they hear) but it doesn't make them evil.

The regime, OTOH, .....
Posted by: lotp   2006-06-13 19:14  

#17  The NORKS are dangerous, unpredictable, overarmed, ruled by dictat, yet we feed them because they cannot feed themselves.


Posted by: pihkalbadger   2006-06-13 19:10  

#16  How about if we just tell them now that any long-range missile that leaves North Korean territory in the direction of the U.S. (including Alaska), South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan will result in a memorable retaliatory strike on the launching area before it lands, armed or not.
Posted by: Darrell   2006-06-13 14:13  

#15  We could try the laser on it and just not say anything if it misses (or hits, hehe).

It's not like an ABM missile that would be seen by radar.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats   2006-06-13 12:53  

#14  It's also undesireable to advertise the capabilities and/or shortcomings of our ABM unless the threat is real. One of those tradeoffs that are always a part of these sorts of things.
Posted by: lotp   2006-06-13 11:53  

#13  Let them fly it, if they can. We need to know range capability, etc. This is like anuclear device, you aren't really certain what you have for yield ubtil you actually detonate one.

Ummmm ... no. It makes ZERO sense to allow North Korea any knowledge of whether they can actually deliver their putative nuclear weapons in an effective manner. The longer they are uncertain of this the more leverage we have at the bargaining table. This is much akin to letting Iran successfully test a nuclear package right now. The least success by either of these vile entities only amplifies the negative regional effects they have.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-06-13 11:32  

#12  I suspect that the original was ahead of schedule when there was that breakthrough in solid-state lasers. I gather this means that the new airborne lasers will need far less cooling, and may be able to deliver a far more powerful shot, and more shots per flight.

This is one program we should be pumping money into with an IV.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-06-13 11:26  

#11  Let them fly it, if they can. We need to know range capability, etc. This is like anuclear device, you aren't really certain what you have for yield ubtil you actually detonate one. everything is hot air until the deed is done.
Posted by: SOP35/Rat   2006-06-13 11:21  

#10  Odd, range and CEP are equal.

6r forgottum to factor fallem fallium
Posted by: RD   2006-06-13 11:21  

#9  "High Energy Airborne Laser Plane"

It would be hard to use since it isn't even operational yet.

-M
Posted by: Manolo   2006-06-13 10:46  

#8  A blogger named formerspook had some informed speculation about this move by the Norks. His concern is that they may be fueling the missile to attract US recon aircraft for an intercept or worse, perhaps like the 2001 EP-3 incident near Hainan. Apparantly they surprised an RC-135 last time they did this in 2003. Fool me once...
Posted by: JAB   2006-06-13 08:55  

#7  Aegis cruisers with upgraded radar and SM-3 missiles are already deplyed in the Sea of Japan, if need be, to intercept any long range NK missiles. Newer SM-2s can be used against short range missiles.
Posted by: ed   2006-06-13 08:01  

#6  Odd, range and CEP are equal.
Posted by: 6   2006-06-13 07:23  

#5  I agree with you Sock Puppet, intercept this bird in the first stage and blow it out the sky (ie, use that High Energy Airborne Laser Plane)! My guess is the Norks will either vector the tragectory toward Alaska again, or put another 'failed satellite' in orbit via Japan's air space!
Posted by: smn   2006-06-13 07:08  

#4  Nail it in it's boost phase over the Nork's territory. That will put a pucker in Kimmi's nether regionas and a big twist in Iran's turbans.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-06-13 05:43  

#3  Hmm, lemme have a taste of that...

Needs more Juche!
Posted by: Oldspook   2006-06-13 03:42  

#2  Maybe we can test our new ABM technology at the same time? Anybody know if this feasible for the Aegis based system?
Posted by: JAB   2006-06-13 01:06  

#1  Pyongyang would have the resources and political will ... threaten the entire United States" > NORTH KOREA > controlled by CHINA > CHINA = has already PC declared 1/2-plus of CONUS-NORAM as future Chinese territory, to include the pre-planned elimination from life of 200Milyuuuhn of Clintonian Fascist = HalfCommunist, America = Amerikkka's 300+ Milyuuhn population, I.E. NOT EVEN THE US LEFT WILL BE SPARED!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-06-13 00:47  

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