QuoteWASHINGTON - 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.
and Japan readies to shoot it down:
QuoteTOKYO (AFP) — The Japanese government's powerful security council will meet this week to prepare for the shooting down of a North Korean rocket if it threatens to hit the country, the premier said on Wednesday.
The isolated Pyongyang regime has said it will launch a communications satellite over Japanese territory in early April, but the United States and its Asian allies suspect the launch is a ballistic missile test.
Tokyo, which has developed a missile defence system with the United States in recent years, has warned it will attempt to shoot down any missile or debris that threatens to hit its territory.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i6FNzvoiaT0ma6H91CBmNPEgTVmA
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29875242/
Fun.
Pathetic. How much damage can they do with a Tampon?
What an odd thing for th Japanese government to say.
Quote from: Razgovory on March 25, 2009, 02:43:03 PM
What an odd thing for th Japanese government to say.
What do you mean?
It's probably a nuke, and it's probably gonna hit that double A bomb survivor, so stay away from him.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 25, 2009, 02:50:32 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 25, 2009, 02:43:03 PM
What an odd thing for th Japanese government to say.
What do you mean?
Well it's unlikely that NK will fire a rocket into Japan. Trying to intercept a rocket (or worse just a piece of debris) is dangerous. What you shootup will also come down. Firing four rockets up to hit a tailfin that fell off a rickety NK missile is foolhardy. Even if the NK missile was going to hit Japan firing anti-ballistic missiles at it would likely only exacerbate the problem. Now you have the debris of several rockets coming down on you.
Quote from: Razgovory on March 25, 2009, 02:58:17 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 25, 2009, 02:50:32 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on March 25, 2009, 02:43:03 PM
What an odd thing for th Japanese government to say.
What do you mean?
Well it's unlikely that NK will fire a rocket into Japan. Trying to intercept a rocket (or worse just a piece of debris) is dangerous. What you shootup will also come down. Firing four rockets up to hit a tailfin that fell off a rickety NK missile is foolhardy. Even if the NK missile was going to hit Japan firing anti-ballistic missiles at it would likely only exacerbate the problem. Now you have the debris of several rockets coming down on you.
:unsure:
Quote from: Razgovory on March 25, 2009, 02:58:17 PM
Well it's unlikely that NK will fire a rocket into Japan. Trying to intercept a rocket (or worse just a piece of debris) is dangerous. What you shootup will also come down. Firing four rockets up to hit a tailfin that fell off a rickety NK missile is foolhardy. Even if the NK missile was going to hit Japan firing anti-ballistic missiles at it would likely only exacerbate the problem. Now you have the debris of several rockets coming down on you.
What an odd thing for Raz to say.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on March 25, 2009, 02:54:25 PM
It's probably a nuke, and it's probably gonna hit that double A bomb survivor, so stay away from him.
To be honest, I like his odds.
Oi. Have we confirmed that it's a Taepodong-2?
The Japanese should shoot it down in principle. Regardless of destination. :bowler:
Quote from: DontSayBanana on March 25, 2009, 08:34:23 PM
Oi. Have we confirmed that it's a Taepodong-2?
I believe so, US satellites monitored it's delivery to the launchpad after all.
Didn't President Clinton make a deal with North Korea? Then the Bush administration? I think deals were usually made as NK would begin testing, again, and again. So isn't this a new try for a deal by NK with the Obama admin? Time to "make a deal", again? And how can I not expect the same behavioral pattern by NK, as they do what ever it is they do to cajole, weasel and reneg their way to get what they want?
Still waiting for the day the NK people to see the world as it really is, emerge into the light outside of their barbed wire cocoon, and realize how badly they've been served by their labor camp government! Man, will the fur fly then....
If we can use the most close precedent, Ceaucescu's Romania, when the end comes it will be quick, nasty and bloody...
Quote from: Alatriste on March 26, 2009, 08:26:12 AM
If we can use the most close precedent, Ceaucescu's Romania, when the end comes it will be quick, nasty and bloody...
I would tend to think so, as I do say, but in reality I kind of think the NK people will be more docile than that, not have a revolutionary fervor against their former masters/govt. So I'm not sure what I'd expect. But it just seems that there will be some real awakening among the NK people, one day when they can finally see the real world away from the propaganda, outside the confines of what the govt allows. They lead such a tough life it seems, always food shortages, no rights, govt controlling so much and so repressive.
Quote from: Alatriste on March 26, 2009, 08:26:12 AM
If we can use the most close precedent, Ceaucescu's Romania, when the end comes it will be quick, nasty and bloody...
Well the other Stalinist states thawed in the 60s. The North Koreans just really love Stalinism, I do not see them giving it up voluntarily.
What I wonder is what the Pyongyang subway looks like.
Looks like there's a good chance of seeing some Aegis destroyers in action.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-28-voa5.cfm
QuoteJapan Deploys Ships Ahead of North Korean Rocket Launch
By VOA News
28 March 2009
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships drop anchors at pier at base in Yokosuka, Japan, 28 Mar 2009
Japan deployed three guided missile destroyers Saturday with orders to shoot down any debris from a North Korean rocket that might stray into Japanese airspace.
Meanwhile, the United States, Japan and South Korea have agreed that any launch would be immediately brought up in the United Nations Security Council.
The three countries have all said North Korea is using the planned launch to test its ballistic missile capability in violation of U.N. resolutions. North Korea says it intends to launch a communications satellite between April 4 and April 8.
Japan deployed two warships to the Sea of Japan, which separates Japan from North Korea. The ships have radar and weapons systems designed to shoot down enemy missiles, the Aegis system.
A third Japanese destroyer was deployed to the Pacific Ocean where the North Korean rocket is expected to return to earth.
Japan also began deploying land based anti-missile defenses Friday while news reports said the U.S. Navy was moving ships with anti-missile capabilities - the Aegis system - to waters around Japan.
Japan's defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada, said his government has ordered its military to shoot down dangerous debris that might fall on Japanese territory during the launch.
Officials also say Japan is moving several (PAC-3) Patriot land-to-air missiles to its northern coast.
An international intelligence publication, Jane's Defense Weekly, said Friday that satellite imagery shows North Korea is nearing the final phases of preparing for its rocket launch. It said recent activity at the launch site suggests the mission is on or even ahead of schedule.
OUR WORDS ARE BACKED WITH NUCLEAR DONGS!
Shut up about Dr. New Jersey already.
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 26, 2009, 09:51:34 AM
What I wonder is what the Pyongyang subway looks like.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kshs.org%2Fpublicat%2Fkhq%2F1971%2Fgraphics%2F71_4_osage_co_coal_mining.jpg&hash=a8fd5e9b55fc600ad312e324b4bd5bb2ae774116)
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 26, 2009, 09:51:34 AM
What I wonder is what the Pyongyang subway looks like.
No one really knows. Foreigners are only allowed at two stations, and with a guide. There is speculation that the only time the train runs is for tourists, and that all the passengers are actors.
The Japanese should take back the entire Korean peninsula.
Quote from: Neil on March 28, 2009, 03:33:05 PM
The Japanese should take back the entire Korean peninsula.
Why? The South Koreans seem okay.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 28, 2009, 03:39:11 PM
Quote from: Neil on March 28, 2009, 03:33:05 PM
The Japanese should take back the entire Korean peninsula.
Why? The South Koreans seem okay.
I don't trust them. Too soft on their Northern cousins.
Quote from: Neil on March 28, 2009, 03:43:48 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 28, 2009, 03:39:11 PM
Quote from: Neil on March 28, 2009, 03:33:05 PM
The Japanese should take back the entire Korean peninsula.
Why? The South Koreans seem okay.
I don't trust them. Too soft on their Northern cousins.
:mmm:
Quote from: Neil on March 28, 2009, 03:33:05 PM
The Japanese should take back the entire Korean peninsula.
I agree.
Quote from: Siege on March 28, 2009, 11:05:00 PM
Quote from: Neil on March 28, 2009, 03:33:05 PM
The Japanese should take back the entire Korean peninsula.
I agree.
Yeah, and the northern mountain provinces with river borders are quite easy to defend, too... :)
Which is why China immediately attacks any non-NK army that gets near the area, I suppose... <_<