North Korea: Two Missiles Test Fired, A Third Failed

[Michele 1]

Breaking news: at least four missiles were test fired in the Sea of Japan; short range "scud" types, and possibly a fifth test missile (the long range Tapo Dong) was attempted, but failed. More as it comes.

Links are scarce atm, but here:
One
CNN

AP/Reuters, Fox, CNN all confirm, but have different numbers of missiles reported. Latest numbers are 4 short range, one long range failure.

NORAD is confirming the fires, that they were not ICBMs. No confirmation on the failure of the long range, or attempt to fire. Still very early - less than an hour ago, as far as I can find.

~~~~~

Edit: No confirmation of 5 total tests. Rather, it's looking a lot more like 3 short range "scud" type missiles, landing in the Sea of Japan, and a 4th (apparently and reported to be the TaepoDong 2 long range ICBM) failed moments after launch.

~~~~~

Edit: As the dust settles, it seems that it was only 2 "scuds" and the failed firing (35 seconds into launch) of the TaepoDong2. I've corrected the title to reflect the confirmed news (NORAD, CNN, White House reporters).

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[pop 0]

What are these people thinking? I smell a little more trouble in this world.

7 ounce wonders, music and dogs that are not into beer

[kelpdiver 2]

4th of july testing? Cute.

[Gravitymaster 0]

I think the failure of the Taepodong2 is a huge embarrassment to N. Korea. The message they wanted to send is that they are a force in this region to be reckoned with. What they have shown is that they cannot carry off a successful launch even in light of all the saber rattling the past few weeks. For now, they are the laughing stock of the region.

[slug 1]

Quote

What are these people thinking? I smell a little more trouble in this world.

"The mouse that roared" (peter sellers movie)

I hope

R.I.P.

[billvon 3,006]

>The message they wanted to send is that they are a force in this region
>to be reckoned with. What they have shown is that they cannot carry off a
>successful launch even in light of all the saber rattling the past few weeks.

Do you recall the beginning of the US manned spaceflight program? For a while the rule was "our rockets always crash." But we learned from our mistakes. Others may learn from theirs as well.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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>The message they wanted to send is that they are a force in this region
>to be reckoned with. What they have shown is that they cannot carry off a
>successful launch even in light of all the saber rattling the past few weeks.

Do you recall the beginning of the US manned spaceflight program? For a while the rule was "our rockets always crash." But we learned from our mistakes. Others may learn from theirs as well.

Interesting you left out the last sentence.

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For now, they are the laughing stock of the region.

Obviously, I realize they may improve on the technology.

[misaltas 0]

Just one more event in NK's recent "Oooh oooh look at me" pattern of foreign relations.



.

Ohne Liebe sind wir nichts

[Michele 1]

Current reports are that 6 were launched - 5 scud type and the long range (which failed at 35 seconds into things).

I realize it failed...and that it is somewhat embarrassing to Kim Jong Il. However, embarrassment will not make him stand down; rather, it will infuriate him, and make him even more determined to create a missile that will do what he wants. And that bodes no good for anyone.

Yes, it is a "look at me" foreign relations ploy - but it's a dangerous ploy...and in the coming days, we will see what the fall out will be...and that will be telling, don't you think?

And not sure about the veracity of the reports, but some say that there already exists a nuclear weapon. And all they're trying to do is figure out how to load it onto an already existing missile, and they will be blackmailing the world. As I said in another post, NK is a dying country; and they will not go peacefully into that dark night...

Worrisome all the way around.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[StreetScooby 5]

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As I said in another post, NK is a dying country; and they will not go peacefully into that dark night...

Agreed. They believe Kim Jong Il is a living god, and revere him as such. Pretty scary stuff. No mention of the launchings yet on the NK news site.

We are all engines of karma

[miked10270 0]

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Agreed. They believe Kim Jong Il is a living god, and revere him as such. Pretty scary stuff. No mention of the launchings yet on the NK news site.

Ah yes... The dynastic perversion of "Communism". 1984 brought to life.

I suspect that the only NK news announcement on the firings will be along the lines of: "Former rocket scientists move into agriculture as Rice Farm Labourers & Fertiliser... Record High crops predicted thanks to Dear Leader's genius!"

Mike.

Edited to add:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5149512.stm#here

In the meantime, Japan has wisely banned a NK-Japan ferry service. It's the only delivery vehicle they had that was able to consistently reach Japan!

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[bch7773 0]

the NK website will probably say something like
"Imperialist USA shoots down north korean peace missle that was dropping free food to happy citizens of our great country"

MB 3528, RB 1182

[billvon 3,006]

I find it curious that the White House considers that North Korea is not an immediate threat to the US. They have nuclear weapons and partially working ICBM's; keep in mind the missile made it 40 seconds into its very first test flight.

Contrast that to Iraq, which was billed as a grave and gathering threat - the next warning we got "could come in the form of a mushroom cloud." Iraq had no working ICBM's or nuclear weapons, and no programs to produce such. I hope we take the North Korean issue at least as seriously as we took the Iraq non-issue.

[Amazon 7]

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I hope we take the North Korean issue at least as seriously as we took the Iraq non-issue.

Come on Bill you know they little or no resources in NK.....now if they had OIL.. we would have 500,000 troops there in a heartbeat after pumelling them with shock and awe for a few months first.

[mnealtx 0]

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Quote

I hope we take the North Korean issue at least as seriously as we took the Iraq non-issue.

Come on Bill you know they little or no resources in NK.....now if they had OIL.. we would have 500,000 troops there in a heartbeat after pumelling them with shock and awe for a few months first.

Um, yeah... how's that "It's all about the oil" working for you at the local gas pumps, anyway?

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[Amazon 7]

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Um, yeah... how's that "It's all about the oil" working for you at the local gas pumps, anyway?

Gee your company ...... and all the Bush
Buddies out there are certainly doing QUITE well.....

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

I hope we take the North Korean issue at least as seriously as we took the Iraq non-issue.

Come on Bill you know they little or no resources in NK.....now if they had OIL.. we would have 500,000 troops there in a heartbeat after pumelling them with shock and awe for a few months first.

Um, yeah... how's that "It's all about the oil" working for you at the local gas pumps, anyway?

Didn't you know this is a conspiracy by Bush's oil buddies?

Didn't you know that American Oil Co. are the ones who determine the world-wide price of oil?

[mnealtx 0]

My company??

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[billvon 3,006]

>how's that "It's all about the oil" working for you at the local gas pumps, anyway?

About as well as the "it has nothing to do with oil!" line that conservatives like to use. The latest strategy paper to come out of the US military:

------------------------
"The President must address the issue of energy security by educating the American public about the importance oil with regard to the economy and explaining that we must prepare to use military force to guarantee access to oil."

http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA448259&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
-----------------------

[idrankwhat 0]

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I think the failure of the Taepodong2 is a huge embarrassment to N. Korea. The message they wanted to send is that they are a force in this region to be reckoned with. What they have shown is that they cannot carry off a successful launch even in light of all the saber rattling the past few weeks. For now, they are the laughing stock of the region.

It's called a "test". You know, kinda like that thing we do with our expensive missile defenseless system.
In case you didn't notice, no one's laughing.

[akarunway 1]

"Chavez to travel to North Korea. He is going to sign an oil for missiles deal" > The soup is getting thicker

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[SpeedRacer 1]

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>how's that "It's all about the oil" working for you at the local gas pumps, anyway?

About as well as the "it has nothing to do with oil!" line that conservatives like to use. The latest strategy paper to come out of the US military:

------------------------
"The President must address the issue of energy security by educating the American public about the importance oil with regard to the economy and explaining that we must prepare to use military force to guarantee access to oil."

http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA448259&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
-----------------------

Thankfully, this is actually just a student research paper.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[billvon 3,006]

>Thankfully, this is actually just a student research paper.

Yep. Let's hope it does not become the next PNAC position paper.

[Michele 1]

Latest reports coming now are that NK has readied other missiles for tests...although, they (the reports) indicate that it is not the long range Taepo Dong. Apparently, these new ones are medium and short range.

While these tests pose no danger to the US, it certainly poses great danger to the Japanese, who rightly are rather concerned.

The UN Security Council met today, and while no action was decided, there will be continuing talks to determine the proper response.

From Euronews
"US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, said :

"By the tenure of the statements of all the Council members, I think there is support for sending a clear signal to Pyongyang and we will proceed to see if we can get that done in the next few days." "


And this:
http://voanews.com/english/2006-07-05-voa81.cfm

Permanent Security Council members France, Britain and the United States back the Japanese resolution. Washington's U.N. Ambassador John Bolton says he sees strong support for sending a clear signal to Pyongyang. "This is obviously a very serious matter, because of the North Korean provocation, but this is precisely what the Security Council is designed to handle and we hope the council will rise to the occasion," he said.

But two other veto-wielding Council members, Russia and China, oppose any resolution on North Korea, much less one that includes penalties. "

Talks at the UN will continue over the next few days, and it should be very interesting what comes out of it. We seem to be at an impasse, at the moment...

So. What happens, do you all think, if one of those missiles conveniently "misses" and hits Japan? Would that be an act of war, or would that be an accident? How would we know, and what steps would be taken to determine that, does anyone know?

I hope they don't test the ones they're apparently ready to test...it's already going to be tough on the population of NK, what with the embargos (unofficial or official), and they are already a strife-ridden community. They don't even know (as far as I can tell) that their government tested missiles yesterday...

Man. This is getting to be a very interesting (in the most clinical sense of the word) time. I do hope that the populace of NK can withstand whatever happens...

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Quote

I think the failure of the Taepodong2 is a huge embarrassment to N. Korea. The message they wanted to send is that they are a force in this region to be reckoned with. What they have shown is that they cannot carry off a successful launch even in light of all the saber rattling the past few weeks. For now, they are the laughing stock of the region.

It's called a "test". You know, kinda like that thing we do with our expensive missile defenseless system.
In case you didn't notice, no one's laughing.

It was much more than a simple test. N.K. has been hyping this up for over a week. It was meant to send a message. plain and simple and it failed miserably in that regard.

For the culturally challenged, Laughing stock is an expression. I'm guessing if I'd said people were laughing their ass off, you'd claim their asses were still attached to their bodies.