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Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
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ShareMarch 25, 2009 5:43 PM
ABC News' Luis Martinez reports: US officials tell ABCNews that North Korea has begun placing a Taepodong 2 missile at a launch facility in preparation for what it says will be the launch of a communications satellite sometime between April 4 and 8th.
The launch has drawn concern from the United States and Asian countries because the same technology used to launch a satellite can be used to launch ballistic missiles and would amount to a test of North Korea's ability to reach the United States with a ballistic missile.
One US official says that North Korea appears to have set up two stages of a three stage Taepodong 2 missile at the Musudan Ni launch facility located on the country's northeast coast.
North Korea announced its intention to launch a communications satellite in February and since then US officials have confirmed activity has taken place at the launch site, though no missile had been spotted until now.
One US official said of the recent activity, "Yes, there is something out there and it's an additional step beyond what we've seen before. "
Another US official tells ABC News that the placement of the rocket stages on the launch pad occurred within the last 24 to 48 hours.
Once the stacking of the stages is completed, the next step would be the fueling of the launch vehicle. This official says there are no indications that the fueling process has begun.
The same official says all indications are that the North Koreans are on schedule for a launch date between April 4th and 8th, the date they identified as their target date.
The North Koreans could accelerate the fueling process to speed up a launch date, but this official says so far things "are progressing along" for the publicly stated launch date
Top US intelligence official Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence, told Congress a few weeks ago that he has no reason to doubt the North Koreans' stated intent of launching a communications satellite.
North Korea launched a Taepodong-2 from the same facility on July 4, 2006, but that missile blew up shortly after launch.
The State Department and regional partners have stated that the launch of any missile, even the launch of a satellite, is a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution that North Korea from engaging in ballistic missile activity.
Asked about the report of new activity at the launch facility Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters today, "We continue to monitor the situation closely. We are very interested in it, following it very closely. And I think that's where I want to leave it at this point. "
Admiral Timothy Keating, who heads US Pacific Command, told a congressional panel yesterday that the US military is ready for a North Korean launch.
"We are up to task, I believe," the admiral said. "We are ready to defend U.S. territory, our allies and our national interests if the President so directs."
March 25, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (51)
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I say we shoot the thing out of the air. We will see how "ole Kim likes us then.
Posted by: BikernAz12 | Mar 25, 2009 7:09:42 PM
Just take it out as soon as it clears N.Korean airspace!
Posted by: mike | Mar 25, 2009 7:20:48 PM
I though Bush is still looking for the WMD in the White house closet!! North Korea ? The teleprompter must have missed this one !!
Posted by: Swiftlearner | Mar 25, 2009 7:28:21 PM
This is pretty darned serious and the U.S. needs to use our laser plane capabilities to fry the thing before it gets over to our shores. It would send a clear message...
Posted by: Jon | Mar 25, 2009 7:46:52 PM
it looks to as this could be the beginning of world wars 3!!!!
Posted by: woodrow | Mar 25, 2009 8:02:39 PM
If we shoot it out of the sky, be prepared to witness No. K attack So. K and an all out war in that region. Perhaps that's what is needed. USAF be on stand by, because you'll be going on a bombing mission like no other. And that might be alright too.
Pray for your leaders to have wisdom and guidance.
Posted by: clyde | Mar 25, 2009 8:06:18 PM
It is easy to start a war than end it! For those who says the US needs to shoot it down, you can be sure that the N.Korea will retaliate against s.korea and Japan! And before we know it, it will be a third world war! So be very very careful for what you wish for!!
Posted by: JKama | Mar 25, 2009 8:08:16 PM
I say let the shuttle "accidently" nudge it out of its
orbit, lets say 1500 miles toward earth and let the
earths gravitational force do the rest. Hee hee
Posted by: spacerook1 | Mar 25, 2009 8:23:09 PM
Jimbo, I see you have an Apple Computer.
Posted by: spacerook1 | Mar 25, 2009 8:26:06 PM
WOW. N. Korea shoots missiles off. Oh, I am so scared. Run people run. The mighty empire of N.Korea is shooting a missile. This just may be the end of life as we know it. MOMMMMMMMMMMY
Posted by: SamTyler1973 | Mar 25, 2009 8:32:50 PM
Bring back Bush. Time for another war. The N. Korean people deserve democracy too.
Posted by: Jim Bob | Mar 25, 2009 8:39:33 PM
Has the US or any other nation offered to launch the satallite for them?
Posted by: Concerned Citizen | Mar 25, 2009 8:50:23 PM
they are only launching a satellite...north koreas best interest is not to upset the international regime. hence i dont think they will do anything. they can barely feed the country...so...
Posted by: minzi | Mar 25, 2009 9:04:12 PM
The N. Koreans just want attention and respect. That's what most of the far southeastern countries are always fighting for. I say Obama sends them a bouquet from 1800-Flowers and a "Worlds greatest country" coffee mug and I think they will be happy for a few more months. Why can't everyone just get along? Our World leaders all act like a bunch of kindergarteners on a playground. It's going to be so embarrassing when the aliens come:)
The whole world knows about our mutual destruction policy, thats the point of it existing. Everyone knows that there is nothing to gain by sending nukes our way. We have over 10,000 of them, enough to serve up brekfast, lunch and dinner to all the other nuclear armed countries. The demise of a single U.S. city would be the demise of an entire nation. These are hollow threats that are not to be taken seriously. They are simply condered up to turn the eyes of the world on a country so desperate to gain notoriety that instead of researching a cure for cancer, they threaten to design a "satelite" to scare our "perfect" way of life.
I say shoot the thing out of the sky as soon as it lifts off the pad. We need to send a clear message that the U.S. still polices the world from tyranical leaders and safeguards the needy and helpless from dictators whom threaten their freedoms.
Posted by: Kevin | Mar 25, 2009 9:14:20 PM
i am going to hawaii in that period of time, would it be too dangerous to travel?
i wouldnt be surprised if korea launched a missile.
Posted by: traveler | Mar 25, 2009 10:12:56 PM
kevin FYI we only have enough nucs to blow up the world 9 times VS russia who could blow it up 13 times.
Posted by: unknown | Mar 25, 2009 10:15:15 PM
Let them launch. It probably will fail again. Why risk N. Korea retailating over a missle lanch. The press seems to overreact. The sky is not yet falling. What drove N. Korea to break the agreement anyway? I think there's more to this story.
Posted by: dan | Mar 25, 2009 10:28:41 PM
Lets face reality. Between North Koreas nuke ballistic missles, Iran's soon to be nuclear missles, Al Qaida, Irans link to Hezbollah. The word is going to end in the next 5 years. Forget about this financial crisis for the world is over fairly soon. So lets just enjoy the shirt time we have on this planet.
Posted by: Gregg | Mar 25, 2009 10:38:56 PM
North korea is so poor that Im surpirsed they are going to send something into space. I bet wal-mart or bestbuy paid North Korea to put their logo on the side. lol
Posted by: Josh from South Carolina | Mar 25, 2009 11:09:16 PM
I am not a supporter of N. Korea by any stretch of the imagination, but who exactly are we to tell another country what they can & can't do? When we have the biggest supply of nukes and are the only country in history to actually drop more than one on innocent civilians. That blows my mind.
Posted by: Johnny Is Fed Up With The Feds | Mar 25, 2009 11:30:03 PM
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