North Korea missile seen consistent with satellite

[G_j]

Source: Reuters

North Korea missile seen consistent with satellite


A missile North Korea could launch as soon as this weekend appears to have a bulb-shaped tip that gives credence to Pyongyang's claim it plans to put a satellite in space, U.S. defence officials said on Tuesday.

Washington and others have voiced concern the launch will be a test of a long-range missile that could carry a warhead as far as U.S. territory. Pyongyang's plans have alarmed the region and intensified pressure on the North not to launch its Taepodong-2. A Taepodong-2 test in 2006 failed.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the launch, which North Korea says will occur between April 4 and 8, would deal a blow to six-party talks to end Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

Further stoking tensions, North Korea said on Tuesday it would put on trial two U.S. journalists arrested this month on its border with China.

The reclusive state accused the two female reporters, Laura Ling and Euna Lee from the U.S.-based media outlet Current TV, of unspecified "hostile acts."

Read more: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090401/tpl-uk-korea-north-81f3b62.html

[tekisui]

1. I wonder if this will cause Japan to not interfere with it.

Although, if it gets near them, I would expect them to take action, regardless.

[DJ13]

2. Our MSM insisted on calling it a missle

..even though the N.Koreans kept saying it was a satellite.

Probably an example of raw propaganda.

[hack89]

8. You can launch satellites with ICBMs

it is the rocket that is the concern, not the particular payload. Once the technology is tested, they swap the satellite for a nuclear warhead.

[lurky]

3. Once you can put something into orbit,

you can make it land anywhere in the world. A satellite can easily be replaced with a nuclear warhead. That's why the U.S. freaked out when the Soviets put Sputnik into orbit: It meant they could just as easily put a nuke into space and make it drop over NYC, DC, etc. If they pull this off, it will be a big problem.

[Frank Booth]

4. Ooohhh, I hope this means we'll be able to get NKTV.

More mass games and military parades!

[patrick t. cakes]

5. we're in no position to say its

anything other than a satellite.

[heliarc]

6. Hehe...

They said "bulb-shaped tip"

That's hot.

[psychopomp]

7. Current TV's reporters

work for the outfit started by Al Gore; I am surprised this has not garnered more media attention.

[Fido Dido]

9. Gates' rhetoric has been scarier than this

Gates has issued some pretty alarmist statements so far on this launch.