N. Korean Missile Test

[fitzov]

A thread on the latest developments in the N.Korea missile "crisis".

As it's happened:

(06/23 0130): China, Russia "deeply concerned"; US tests ICBM intercept off Hawaii, success; US plays down preemptive strike tactic.

(06/23 1200): US-Japan extend missile-defense plan. US reiterates diplomatic approach.

(06/25 0950): Japan threatens oil and food sanctions if test run.

(06/26 1730): US interceptor missiles (Patriot) being set-up on US bases in Japan.

(07/03 1200): N.Korea threatens nuclear retaliation if preemptive option used.

(07/04 1400): NORAD issues medium-level security alert.

(07/04 1700): N.Korea tests a short-range missile, which lands in Sea of Japan.

(07/04 2030): N.Korea has tested several missiles, including long-range missiles.

(07/05 1900): US, G.Britain, Japan request UN sanctions against N.Korea. These are rejected by China and Russia.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Shoot it down? Seriously, we can't.

We attempt to do so will expose how inept our multi-million dollar Missle Defense System really is.

We could barely hit pre-arranged staged flights to test the development of the phases of milestones in process.
No real need to expose a weakness, let them stay guessing - can they or can't they.

 

[kage69]

As Kirk has already expounded, it's less a matter of 'should,' and more a matter of 'can.'

In a word, N-O.

 

[Todd33]

Do they shoot down our missle tests?

 

[Nyati13]

If NK does launch that test missile, I seriously doubt that it would be aimed towards the US. It would likely be angled SouthWest into the middle of the Pacific. That trajectory would take it so far away from the Anti-Missile system we have in Alaska and California, that we couldn't shoot it down even if the ABM system did work.

Which it doesn't so that's a moot point anyway.

 

[Nyati13]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
We attempt to do so will expose how inept our multi-million dollar Missle Defense System really is.

that would be multi-billion dollar ABM system.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

I have no idea whether we even could or not...but if we can, then HELL YES we should! That would be fvcking excellent if that little lunatic bouffant Elvis impersonator thought he was going to scare us by testing this missile, only to have us shoot down in front of the entire world! Its worth doing just for the laughs...And if we can't, then maybe we should send a couple jets in to take it out just as it launches. Again, fvck politics, that would be some hilarious sh*t.

"Daddy said NO, little boy!"

 

[CanOWorms]

The US doesn't have the capability yet to shoot down the missile as it's still in development. I don't think that the US should attempt to shoot it down unless it's directed towards the US or another country.

 

[Zorba]

I think is we are going to do anything I think we should knock it out while it is still on the pad. Never let them know if the thing will even get off the ground.

 

[Jaskalas]

We should shoot it down if not for any other reason than to prove the Dems wrong.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: Zorba
I think is we are going to do anything I think we should knock it out while it is still on the pad. Never let them know if the thing will even get off the ground.

Absolutely agree. Never let them believe can get away with it. It's called keeping things in check. The problem is, what we feel like doing differs from what we should do. Us firing on it will be taken as an act of aggression, which will open up a can of worms.

 

[theeedude]

We should definitely shoot it down if we can. We need to see results of the billions spent on ABM or we need to stop wasting our money.

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong
I have no idea whether we even could or not...but if we can, then HELL YES we should! That would be fvcking excellent if that little lunatic bouffant Elvis impersonator thought he was going to scare us by testing this missile, only to have us shoot down in front of the entire world! Its worth doing just for the laughs...And if we can't, then maybe we should send a couple jets in to take it out just as it launches. Again, fvck politics, that would be some hilarious sh*t.

"Daddy said NO, little boy!"

Except for that whole "2nd Korean war" thing that could be sparked by us bombing their soil

 

[Aimster]

attacking any sites in NK is going to lead to something far more serious.

It is never going to happen. We can know of NK nuclear weapons building plants. We wont hit them. We will just watch them build their nuclear weapons.

 

[CaptnKirk]

The only way we could prevent the launch would be for us to replace the Nuke warhead on an ICBM with a conventional HE type,
and drop that warhead on the launch pad. (other than a cruise missle strike or surgical air srtikes)
Do-able but risky and consequentially dangerous.

 

[MadRat]

Front page story in the local paper today called for the U.S. to bomb the missile on the launcher.

Wouldn't be the first unprovoked act of war coming from the U.S. in this decade. NK has the inalienable right to starve its people in search of national security. China set the precedence.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: Frackal
Except for that whole "2nd Korean war" thing that could be sparked by us bombing their soil

Originally posted by: Aimster
attacking any sites in NK is going to lead to something far more serious.

It is never going to happen. We can know of NK nuclear weapons building plants. We wont hit them. We will just watch them build their nuclear weapons.

I'm sure you're both correct, so our only real option is to let them launch and then shoot it down, which is probably not possible. Out of curiosity, have you read the remarks made by some Pentagon official to the effect that there would certainly be a cost to North Korea if they test this missile? What, in your opinion, will that "cost" be?

 

[wazzledoozle]

Originally posted by: Buck Armstrong

Originally posted by: Frackal
Except for that whole "2nd Korean war" thing that could be sparked by us bombing their soil

Originally posted by: Aimster
attacking any sites in NK is going to lead to something far more serious.

It is never going to happen. We can know of NK nuclear weapons building plants. We wont hit them. We will just watch them build their nuclear weapons.

I'm sure you're both correct, so our only real option is to let them launch and then shoot it down, which is probably not possible. Out of curiosity, have you read the remarks made by some Pentagon official to the effect that there would certainly be a cost to North Korea if they test this missile? What, in your opinion, will that "cost" be?

Complete isolation, meaning we stop sending the food aid they rely on to feed their army (that should be going to the people).

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
The only way we could prevent the launch would be for us to replace the Nuke warhead on an ICBM with a conventional HE type,
and drop that warhead on the launch pad. (other than a cruise missle strike or surgical air srtikes)
Do-able but risky and consequentially dangerous.

would you be willing to take it out with phazers kirk?

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: kage69
As Kirk has already expounded, it's less a matter of 'should,' and more a matter of 'can.'

In a word, N-O.

 

[EXman]

Ever watched the movie "CRIMSON TIDE?"

sounds almost the same...

Send the isrealies to do it!

 

[alchemize]

So I assume they pulled this off the launch pad??

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: daniel49

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
The only way we could prevent the launch would be for us to replace the Nuke warhead on an ICBM with a conventional HE type,
and drop that warhead on the launch pad. (other than a cruise missle strike or surgical air srtikes)
Do-able but risky and consequentially dangerous.

would you be willing to take it out with phazers kirk?

Man the Photon Torpedos, All Shields Up, Uhuru - get over here and wrap your lips around my communicator.

"But Captain. I think she's a gonna blow!"


"I certainly hope so . . . "

 

[MadRat]

So, kirk, could SM-3 take one down?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: MadRat
So, kirk, could SM-3 take one down?

Raytheon SM-3

This is a generational improvement on the Patriots from over a decade ago.

Today the answer is NO, but MAYBE someday in the future it MIGHT be capable.

The most likely candidate for a functional Missle Defense was Brilliant Pebbles
before it was killed off.

Example: our MX Missle can place a warhead on the ground & one simultaneously in the air above the targetat an altitude of 1 mile.
Both warheads will be at target within a CEP of 100 yards within a timeframe of 25 minutes mamimum.
You have to be able to take them out when they are either in the launch phase, within the first 90 seconds of boost
and at over 17,000 MPH during re-entry, the window of opportunity is only a few seconds.
The interception has to be in the upper atmosphere, before the warhead has impinged into the 15 mile thick atmospheric zone close to the earth. From 100 miles above to that
15 mile cushion (85 mile window of opportunity)
will be crossed by a warhead traveling approximately 5 miles per second, and takes 15 seconds or less to travel.
Our RV warheads are shaped like an ice-cream cone, 5 feet long & 18 inches in diameter.
Most are accompanied by a field of chaffe - 10 or more dummies that are traveling with it to confuse radar tracker-seekers.
You have 1 chance to pick the right one, and intercept it within that 15 second time frame before it gets too close.
Your defense is that of causing a collision to break it up and deflect it of it's INTENDED target before it strikes.

You've got about the same chance as that of derailing a locomotive with a ball-peen hammer.