North Korea has their missile on the launch pad

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
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Just saw this on MSNBC. They said the North Korean Missile that everyone has been talking about is now on the launch pad and preparing for fueling. Looks like they were not just bluffing after all.

Couple quotes from different sites from yesterday and today :

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29875242/
WASHINGTON - North Korea has positioned a Taepodong-2 missile on the launchpad at its facility in Musudan in the east of the country, U.S. officials told NBC News on Wednesday.

Pyongyang has said it intends to use the missile to launch a satellite into space. The North Koreans issued an international notice that the launch may occur sometime between April 4 through the 8th.


According to the U.S. officials, while two stages of the missile can be seen, the top is covered with a shroud supported by a crane.

But now that the missile is on the pad, the launch itself could come within a matter of days, a likelihood that has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity as the event would be in violation of a U.N. ban prohibiting the country from ballistic activity. Some fear the launch is a cover for the test-fire of long-range missile technology.

North Korea has described the pending launch a "peaceful space launch," but U.S. officials and experts say it would employ the very same technology used to launch ballistic missiles, and if successful it would be the first proof that North Korea would have the ability to launch a ballistic missile against at least Alaska or Hawaii.

Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair testified before Congress that a successful test of a three-stage rocket would demonstrate North Korea's ability to reach the continental United States with a ballistic missile.

The Commander of U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Timothy Keating warned recently that the U.S. has the ability to shoot down the missile should it threaten either the United States or its allies, but Pentagon and military officials believe that scenario is highly unlikely.

Japan, on the other hand, has said it is prepared to shoot down the missile with its Patriot anti-missile defense systems acquired from the United States.

The last such test of a Taepodong-2 in 2006 was a spectacular failure when the missile started to cartwheel almost immediately after liftoff and was either destroyed by ground controllers or simply flew apart from the centrifugal force.





SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday any attempt by the U.N. Security Council to punish it for trying to put a satellite in space would mean the collapse of international disarmament talks aimed at ending its nuclear programme.

North Korea has said it would launch a satellite between April 4 and 8. Regional powers see the launch as a disguised test of its longest-range missile and a violation of U.N. sanctions forbidding the reclusive state from firing ballistic missiles.

"It is perversity to say satellite launch technology cannot be distinguished from a long-range missile technology and so must be dealt with by the U.N. Security Council, which is like saying a kitchen knife is no different from a bayonet," state media quoted a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying.

The unidentified spokesman said "such an act of hostility" would be in defiance of the Sept. 19 joint statement, a disarmament-for-aid deal the impoverished North reached with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.






"Two Americans were detained on March 17 while illegally intruding into the territory" of North Korea by crossing its border with China, said a report Saturday in the official state news agency. "A competent organ is now investigating the case."

No matter what charges are made against the journalists, North Korea will probably use them -- and the timing of their release -- as leverage in negotiations with the United States and other countries over aid, nuclear weapons and, most urgently, the planned test launch in early April of a long-range missile, several analysts said.

"They do become bargaining chips," said Andrei Lankov, a professor of North Korean studies at Kookmin University in Seoul. The two journalists interviewed Lankov shortly before they traveled to the North Korean border.

"North Korea will send them home, but it will not happen quickly," Lankov said. "The North Koreans want to show the world that illegally crossing their border will not be tolerated and they want to squeeze political and financial concessions from the United States."

In recent weeks, North Korea has alarmed its neighbors by announcing plans to launch, sometime between April 4 and 8, what it calls a "communications satellite." Japan, South Korea and the United States have all protested the launch, calling it "provocative" and describing it as a pretext for testing a new long-range ballistic missile that might be able to hit Alaska.

The announced flight plan of the launch would send it high over northern Japan, where the government has warned that it might try to shoot down any missile that threatens to hit its territory. U.S. military officials have said they would also be ready to shoot down the missile, if it appeared to present a threat.

North Korea, meanwhile, has warned that it would go to war if the missile that it says is part of a peaceful research project was destroyed by hostile fire. If the United States seeks United Nations sanctions against North Korea after the missile launch, Pyongyang threatened this week, North Korea would unilaterally cancel a 2005 agreement to abandon nuclear weapons in return for aid and security guarantees.
 

ZzZGuy

Golden Member
Nov 15, 2006
1,855
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From what I read the rocket us.es liquid fuel and takes two days to fuel up.
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,947
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modelworks we need you for operation:frontline. We will parachute you into N. Korea with only a knife and a pack of cigarette. From there you will have to defeat a boss known as "solid snake". We only know his general location. i know you are up for the task. Make haste with our warmest regards.
 

manowar821

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2007
6,063
0
0
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
US needs to fire an anti-ballistic missle 'into space' at the same time. whoops.

Yeah, let's be cock-suckers like we've always been! That's not like, the reason why people hate our government, or anything.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,227
36
91
Originally posted by: manowar821
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
US needs to fire an anti-ballistic missle 'into space' at the same time. whoops.

Yeah, let's be cock-suckers like we've always been! That's not like, the reason why people hate our government, or anything.

:roll:


This will be a good test of our anti-ballistic missle capabilites. Hopefully we take the opportunity.
 

manowar821

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2007
6,063
0
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Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: manowar821
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
US needs to fire an anti-ballistic missle 'into space' at the same time. whoops.

Yeah, let's be cock-suckers like we've always been! That's not like, the reason why people hate our government, or anything.

:roll:


This will be a good test of our anti-ballistic missle capabilites. Hopefully we take the opportunity.

"AHHHH!! For the Homeland!"
 

Robor

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
16,979
0
76
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: manowar821
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
US needs to fire an anti-ballistic missle 'into space' at the same time. whoops.

Yeah, let's be cock-suckers like we've always been! That's not like, the reason why people hate our government, or anything.

:roll:


This will be a good test of our anti-ballistic missle capabilites. Hopefully we take the opportunity.

The truth hurts? :confused:
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,227
36
91
Originally posted by: manowar821
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: manowar821
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
US needs to fire an anti-ballistic missle 'into space' at the same time. whoops.

Yeah, let's be cock-suckers like we've always been! That's not like, the reason why people hate our government, or anything.

:roll:


This will be a good test of our anti-ballistic missle capabilites. Hopefully we take the opportunity.

"AHHHH!! For the Homeland!"

Actually the UN outlawed the tests. And if you had any idea how hard it is to get a resolution passed at the UN, you would see that countries considered "Red" by US standards had to be involved.

If we dont do it, Japan might.


Only on the internet do you find the e-libs that are willing to defend a brutal regime that starves and summarily executes its people.
 

JSt0rm

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
27,399
3,947
126
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
The fallacy that is, OCguy.

Thank you for your addition to this discussion :thumbsup:

OCguy. you are the only real person here. We are all just highly evolved irc bots "e-lib v5.02"
 

manowar821

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2007
6,063
0
0
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
...willing to defend a brutal regime that starves and summarily executes its people.

Yes because that was EXACTLY what I was talking about, wasn't it? You people wonder why some of us are so fucking disrespectful toward you on this board? What a joke. :laugh:

Cool story, brah.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,227
36
91
Originally posted by: JSt0rm01

OCguy. you are the only real person here. We are all just highly evolved irc bots "e-lib v5.02"

I knew it!


Originally posted by: manowar821

Yes because that was EXACTLY what I was talking about, wasn't it? You people wonder why some of us are so fucking disrespectful toward you on this board? What a joke. :laugh:

Cool story, brah.

Do you ever add facts to a discussion, or are you just full of one-liners and personal jabs?

Do you actually know anything about this topic?
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,396
136
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: manowar821
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
US needs to fire an anti-ballistic missle 'into space' at the same time. whoops.

Yeah, let's be cock-suckers like we've always been! That's not like, the reason why people hate our government, or anything.

:roll:


This will be a good test of our anti-ballistic missle capabilites. Hopefully we take the opportunity.

We wouldn't gain much of anything from such a test, and we would create an international incident for doing it. That would be incredibly irresponsible on the part of our government.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
We wouldn't gain much of anything from such a test, and we would create an international incident for doing it. That would be incredibly irresponsible on the part of our government.
If the US gov really tried and succeeded in taking this out, it would be a big win for the anti-missile defense.

I think given NK lied last time, the onus on them should be to prove this is a satellite. Have a third party observer there. If they don't agree, it's open season on anything they launch.

I have doubts a warship can really take this thing out in the first place, though, but it would be fun to try.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
8
0
This would be a good field test for those laser equipped 747s we are building.

We might be able to take the missile out without them even knowing we did it.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,396
136
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This would be a good field test for those laser equipped 747s we are building.

We might be able to take the missile out without them even knowing we did it.

That's HIGHLY unlikely. It amazes me how cavalier everyone here is about creating a major international incident. Yay, so we get to test our weapons and rattle our saber at North Korea. I haven't the slightest clue how that is worth it.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
8
0
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This would be a good field test for those laser equipped 747s we are building.

We might be able to take the missile out without them even knowing we did it.

That's HIGHLY unlikely. It amazes me how cavalier everyone here is about creating a major international incident. Yay, so we get to test our weapons and rattle our saber at North Korea. I haven't the slightest clue how that is worth it.
IF we can take the missile out without leaving any evidence would you suggest we do so??
The airborne laser would fire a Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser, or COIL, invented at Phillips Lab in 1977. The laser's fuel consists of the same chemicals found in hair bleach and Drano - hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide - which are then combined with chlorine gas and water. The laser operates at an infrared wavelength of 1.315 microns, which is invisible to the eye.
youtube link
I am not sure if the system is operational though.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,396
136
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This would be a good field test for those laser equipped 747s we are building.

We might be able to take the missile out without them even knowing we did it.

That's HIGHLY unlikely. It amazes me how cavalier everyone here is about creating a major international incident. Yay, so we get to test our weapons and rattle our saber at North Korea. I haven't the slightest clue how that is worth it.
IF we can take the missile out without leaving any evidence would you suggest we do so??
The airborne laser would fire a Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser, or COIL, invented at Phillips Lab in 1977. The laser's fuel consists of the same chemicals found in hair bleach and Drano - hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide - which are then combined with chlorine gas and water. The laser operates at an infrared wavelength of 1.315 microns, which is invisible to the eye.
youtube link
I am not sure if the system is operational though.

Seriously Pro-Jo, you don't think the reason the North Koreans could detect the fact that we shot down their missile with a laser is because they would see a big red Superman style eye beam shooting at it do you? They will be EXTENSIVELY monitoring this launch, and watching their missile be heated into oblivion by some mysterious force (with a US 747 just happening to be flying around near their airspace), you don't think they would figure it out?
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,227
36
91
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This would be a good field test for those laser equipped 747s we are building.

We might be able to take the missile out without them even knowing we did it.

That's HIGHLY unlikely. It amazes me how cavalier everyone here is about creating a major international incident. Yay, so we get to test our weapons and rattle our saber at North Korea. I haven't the slightest clue how that is worth it.

Actually it is NK who is creating the international incident by launching a ballistic missle that may even have boosters hit Japan, in violation of international law. Any response by us is just that, a response.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
8
0
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Seriously Pro-Jo, you don't think the reason the North Koreans could detect the fact that we shot down their missile with a laser is because they would see a big red Superman style eye beam shooting at it do you? They will be EXTENSIVELY monitoring this launch, and watching their missile be heated into oblivion by some mysterious force (with a US 747 just happening to be flying around near their airspace), you don't think they would figure it out?
Did you watch the video??

The laser has a range of several hundred miles. The 747 could fly in normal commercial air traffic routes and get the job done.

But I don't think this will happen since the system does not seem to be ready.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
83,716
47,396
136
Originally posted by: Ocguy31
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
This would be a good field test for those laser equipped 747s we are building.

We might be able to take the missile out without them even knowing we did it.

That's HIGHLY unlikely. It amazes me how cavalier everyone here is about creating a major international incident. Yay, so we get to test our weapons and rattle our saber at North Korea. I haven't the slightest clue how that is worth it.

Actually it is NK who is creating the international incident by launching a ballistic missle that may even have boosters hit Japan, in violation of international law. Any response by us is just that, a response.

It's violating a Security Council resolution. Countries do that all the time.

Sure North Korea is causing an incident by launching this missile, maybe it would have been better to say we would be ESCALATING an international incident without gaining much for ourselves and causing all sorts of problems. 'Any response' is most certainly NOT just a 'response', by the way. So if we bombed Pyongyang, we would just be 'responding'? Of course not.

This stuff isn't a game, guys. If we attacked other countries and went to war half as often as ATPN wanted to, the world would be a barren wasteland.