As North Korea counts down, Japan talks tough

[Coventina]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Tokyo and Seoul -- Nervous Japanese officials know that the first moments after North Korea launches a rocket will be critical: Barely seven minutes after liftoff, it is likely to be hurtling over Japan's northern coast.

In 1998, Japan was caught unaware when the second stage of a North Korean test rocket sailed over its main island before dropping into the ocean.

This time, North Korea says it plans to put a satellite into orbit. The U.S. and its allies say they fear the launch will actually serve as a test for a ballistic missile.

Either way, nominally pacifist Japan does not intend to be surprised. North Korea said today that its preparations were complete and the launch was imminent.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-japan-rising4-2009apr04,0,4255440.story

[ohio2007]

1. launch postponed on account of wind

but they can still blow it out their asses

[Hyper_Eye]

2. I hope we shoot it down

They are threatening to retaliate if it gets shot down but they won't. They are all talk. Even if the payload is a satellite we should shoot it down. You don't get to fire missiles with any kind of payload when you treat the rest of the world the way North Korea does. We need to send a clear message... we will shoot your missile down!

[quaker bill]

3. I do not

a claim to ownership of space is rather aggressive. If we "send a message" perhaps they will choose to send one too. We have a fair number of assets within conventional weapons range and they have a very large number of conventional weapons, reportedly a quarter million pieces of artillery, for instance.

[christx30]

4. not to mention

the hundreds of thousands of South Koreans within the range of their weapons, plus South Korean's infrastructure, ect. I'm not saying to walk on eggshells, but I do think a little caution is warranted.

That said, I would love to see the rocket explode on the launch pad.

[AndyTiedye]

5. NK's Rockets Have Not Been of the Highest Quality So Far

When they shoot that thing up, it's anybody's guess where it will go.