That North Korean Missile Really Worked, Say U.S. Officials

[jpak]

Source: NBC News

Two U.S. defense officials confirm that North Korea's launch of a KN-17 missile last Sunday was successful and that the missile's re-entry vehicle did successfully re-enter the atmosphere.

The re-entry was controlled and the vehicle did not burn up, the officials said. It landed in the sea near Russia.

The KN-17 is a liquid fuel single-stage missile. In boasting of the successful launch, the North Koreans called it a "medium long-range" ballistic rocket that can carry a heavy nuclear warhead.

The U.S. officials characterized Sunday's launch as an advancement for the North Korean missile program.

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Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/card/north-korean-missile-really-worked-say-u-s-officials-n762146

[MANative]

1. Oh, joy.

[nycbos]

2. This would be distressing news even if we didn't have an unstable madman at 1600 Pennsylvania...

... in charge of the launch codes.

[deurbano]

3. Great.

[7962]

4. And everyone kept saying NK was "many years" from this level. Yeah, right.

They should have never been trusted to follow any treaty they signed.
we'll see the same from Iran soon enough

[cstanleytech]

6. It helps if you have a government with experience backing your efforts which is what I suspect is

a happening.
Which government? Either China or Russia as both see potential benefits especially if it distracts the US which is easily possible to do with a President like Trump.

[7962]

9. Hopefully China will see their best interest lies in tightening control of NK

I dont see how they think letting them continue down this road will be good for THEM

[Igel]

7. Those making such statements had a desired outcome.

Once you have a Good Cause, you view everything as either in support of or a threat to that cause. You identity with the cause, and everything is a threat to you or helps you.

You're biased, and everything you say has to be assumed to be biased.

The one cause that doesn't fall into this caveat is a desire for objectivity and truth; it doesn't mean you reach it, but at least it means that you're likely to engage in a bit of critical thinking and be a bit humble.

[7962]

8. reality is what it is, regardless of someones wants or desires

Iran has already been violating the "treaty' pretty much since day one. NK has never followed ANY agreement, going back to the 90s.
A treaty or agreement only carries weight when all parties actually follow it.
Countries like NK & Iran view any type of compromise as weakness; and they exploit it to their benefit. And we are seeing it daily, like it or not.
But hey, Boeing got to sell a few billion worth of new airliners, so theres that.

[karynnj]

10. Iran is in compliance and I trust the system Monez designed

To catch any cheating. Just like the right wing, you are attacking Iran because Korea did something.

It sounds like you are closer to Trump on this issue than to Obama. That hard won deal very likely avoided a war that Netanyahu wanted.

[7962]

11. No, they've violated it already. Doubtful that the UN is a trump supporter.

According to the UN, Iran has twice violated the heavy water restrictions. And the recent missile test goes against the 2010 agreement, which was watered down in the '15 agreement. Even Pres Obama criticized Iran for violating the "spirit" of the agreement

Mentioning Iran and NK together is hardly RW, since they are connected when it comes to nuclear weapon tech. And also violating treaties.

[karynnj]

12. The UN agreed it was a minor violation

It was also caused because the US Congress did not let a planned sale happen. Iran found another buyer, but it meant they briefly had more heavy water than allowed. Note that everyone KNEW how much they had, the reason there was a problem and that it was corrected.

Care to explain if any other country has been in violation of UN judgments?

Them UN and even the US has said they are in compliance. This deal avoided a war that Netanyahu and American neo cons wanted. Who knows, under Trump you may get yours and Netanyahu's wish. I personally hope not.

[7962]

13. The point was that they had in fact violated the agreement.

And the missile test violated the "spirit" of the agreement, which was watered down from the '10 agreement that specifically banned them. And Pres Obama called them out on it as well.
As time goes by, we'll see more violations. Sure, they COULD cease developing nukes, but look who we're talking about.
I'm glad you're as optimistic as you are. And I hope you're right.

[karynnj]

14. IIf I remember correctly, you were always against it

Clearly we are better with it than before it existed

[7962]

15. Yes. Because they've never been trustworthy. But, as i said, I hope YOU are right. nt

[karynnj]

16. The agreement does not depend on trust, there is monitoring

What exactly was your alternative? Another war?

[7962]

17. Sanctions were hurting them. Leave them in place.

I believe that the people would have begun to stand up to the regime, but in bigger numbers than their last attempt. The sanctions were putting a lot of pressure on the iranian govt.
Another war? Of course i wouldnt want another war, but Its a matter of do you want a war with someone who has nukes or someone who doesnt? NK Was supposed to have been stopped from developing them years ago, now they've got them. Yes, i lump the 2 together because they're equally untrustworthy & they are connected with regard to nuclear programs.
And this Iran agreement doesnt actually stop them from making a nuke, it only delays them. We have monitors in place. I only wonder how long before their movements start to be restricted.

[karynnj]

18. I trust Kerry and Moniz, not Netanyahu

The Iran deal was absolutely different than the NK one.

As to your saying you prefer fighting an Iran without nukes, I remember Netanyahu claiming they were about 2 months from a bomb before most of their material was removed.

Was he lying then?

[7962]

19. No, i dont believe so. No one thought NK was anywhere near having one either.

Exactly 2 months? Who knows. 2, 5 whatever it may have been it wasnt going to take long. Their progress consistently surprised everyone. Yet Iran said all along they had no nuke weapons program, but they were building their "energy program" deep underground. Sure, they say they were afraid it would be attacked. Well, if they had let anyone inspect it then it would have shown if it was a simple energy program. Of course it wasnt; they were lying.
Remember, iran wouldnt care as much about a delivery system since Israel is so close. they also wouldnt have any problem problem delivering a "dirty bomb" to terrorists either.
As the next couple yrs go by, we'll see how honest they are.

[karynnj]

21. You missed my point

By Netanyahu's loudly repeated claim, Iran was a few months from getting a bomb. With everything that resulted from the deal, even if it ended tomorrow, it would take far longer for Iran to have a bomb. Notice that that assumes it fails.

The fact is what Israel and SA wanted was not so much related to nuclear weapons. They wanted Iran treated as a pyriah.

[7962]

22. Point taken!

[reggaehead]

23. Ridiculous

Talk about something u know about. Iran has every desire to enter the World economy. NK doesn't have anything anyone wants

[7962]

24. Might help if you learned a bit yourself

Any country serious about joining the "world economy" shouldn't be calling for the total destruction of another of those countries. Read up on Iran's official statements about Israel, then get back to me.

[mahina]

25. Charmed.

[forgotmylogin]

5. Ugh.

I clicked this hoping the title was dripping with .

[alarimer]

20. Right, and there were WMDs in Iraq.

Let's not forget who these "defense officials" work for. It isn't us.

[still_one]

26. what a stupid dumb jerk. Trump is in the middle of being investigated and accused of some

significant wrong doings, so this dumb sh*t, kim jong un, decides to provide a provocation, which will serve as a distraction for trump, perhaps even going so far as letting the paranoid in the WH to use military force against NK, and who knows where that will lead