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China-Japan-Koreas
Clapper Warns of N. Korean Missiles
2011-02-18
North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles pose a serious threat to the United States, the U.S.' top spy said Wednesday.

"North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs also pose a serious threat, both regionally and beyond," National Intelligence Director James Clapper told a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing. "Although both Taepodong-2 launches ended in failure, the 2009 flight demonstrated a more complete performance than the July 2006 launch."
He also referred to them as 'secular' missiles...
Huh? Since when do missiles have a religion? I can see them having a god -- that would be the guy who pushed the button, and the maintenance techs are clearly the choir angelic, but surely things haven't progressed as far as the separation of church and state in the missile silos!
Sorry, I'll include the 'sarcasm' tag next time :-)
Were it turned into an international continental ballistic missile, the Taepodong-2 could reach at least part of U.S. territory, and there is a risk that the rocket or related technologies are exported, Clapper said.
Posted by:Steve White

#4  Vassal state DPRK = NOKOR will not have unless strategic LRBMS unless overlord China allows it [read, MOSTLY OR WHOLLY PLA-CONTROLLED/
DOMINATED].

That being said, WORST-CASE FOR US > DPRK STRATEGIC LRBMS = future IRANIAN LRBMS aimed at CONUS from HUGO-LAND = VENEZUELA, as based on MSM-Net Reports of Iran trying to set up SCUD Bases wid Venezuela.

Again, the DPRK does wish to wish to seen as being "too successful", i.e. INDEPENDENT = AMBITIOUS, in China'e eyes as per the former's indigenous mil projects, etc. IOW, NORTH KOREA HAS AN VESTED INTEREST IN MAKING SURE ITS ADVANCED PROJECTS "APPEAR" TO "FAIL", NOT "SUCCEED" REGARDLESS OF THE MERITS.

DPRK WANTS TO STOP STARVING + MODERNIZE, BUT IMB I DOUBT CHINA WILL TOLERATE/ACCEPT ANYTHING MORE THAN "LIMITED" BILATERAL COOPER + INTEGRATION, LET ALONE FULL RE-UNIFICATION, BETWEEN THE TWO KOREAS UNLESS IT GETS ITS DESIRED SOLE BASE RIGHTS ALA "FIRST ISLAND CHAIN" [present or near future].

"LIMITED" IS NOT ENUFF FOR NORTH KOREA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-02-18 19:48  

#3  Clapper is so short-sighted and clueless! The real danger isn't even really on the Korean peninsula but that this desperate despot will share that technology with those eager to use it (Iran + reach to Israel and all bases) and with capabilities closer to our mainland. Hezbollah is throughout South America and the Caribbean, AQ cells as well, plus the drug pipeline through West Africa via such places as Venezuela and Guyana. Both French Guyana and Brazil have launch pads, with a Russian load to the ISS taking off just last week. Bottom line is the lefties just don't get the Islamist threat-- whether secular and godless or religious fanatics--they won't stop until we stop them.
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091   2011-02-18 11:01  

#2  Clapper is trying to reestablish his tarnished credibility, after looking like a fool over Tunisia and Egypt. It was less that he didn't have a clue, than in testifying, it sounded like he didn't have a clue.

The first mistake is an institutional problem, the second is a personal problem.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2011-02-18 09:13  

#1  Yes, why would Clapper come down on a God-fearing democratic Christian country like N. Korea?
Posted by: Jack Salami   2011-02-18 01:07  

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