Sources: North Korea test-fires missile

[Otto-matic]

North Korea tested a short-range missile early Wednesday, U.S. sources told CNN. But it has not fired the long-range Taepodong-2 rocket which Western observers suspect has been readied for launch. The United States, Japan and other countries are concerned about North Korea's reported preparations for a long-range missile test

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapc...ile/index.html

[Otto-matic]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- North Korea launched a long-range Taepodong-2 missile early Wednesday in an apparently unsuccessful test that failed in flight, a senior State Department official said.

Lets hope they wont lanuch anymore

[Clarkey]

Maybe they're just celebrating July 4?

[Nehkara]

North Korea test launched six missiles on Tuesday, including a long-range intercontinental Taepodong-2 that has roused international controversy.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...a-missile.html

Things could get very dicey in a big hurry.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Security council to meet tomorrow morning to discuss next steps.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=111208

Sanctions? Military action? Could be hard for Japan to convince the security council to do anything with China there which holds veto power. Should be an interesting day tomorrow.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Security council to meet tomorrow morning to discuss next steps.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=111208

Sanctions? Military action? Could be hard for Japan to convince the security council to do anything with China there which holds veto power. Should be an interesting day tomorrow.

I'm sure China isn't thrilled that North Korea is testing ballistic missiles.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by peter12

I'm sure China isn't thrilled that North Korea is testing ballistic missiles.

Yeah, I agree... was more thinking outloud that the relationship between the two are quite sour, and could slow talks down during the meetings.

[Jayems]

Little scary that idiot kim jung ill or whatever the hell his name is... has said that he will respond to any pre-emptive strike with all out nuclear war.

Little scary... how has he not been assassinated yet?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Little scary that idiot kim jung ill or whatever the hell his name is... has said that he will respond to any pre-emptive strike with all out nuclear war.

Little scary... how has he not been assassinated yet?

Even scarier than Kim Jong himself, are the countless people who treat Kim Jong Il like he is a god.

He and his now dead father have successfully created an extremely strong cult of personality.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Little scary that idiot kim jung ill or whatever the hell his name is... has said that he will respond to any pre-emptive strike with all out nuclear war.

Little scary... how has he not been assassinated yet?

What I want to know is how are they going to respond with all out nuclear war when they only have 1 inter-continental missle?

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

What I want to know is how are they going to respond with all out nuclear war when they only have 1 inter-continental missle?

Japan would take the brunt of it unfortunately.

Hmmm, that came out wrong. Wasn't suggesting it would be any less fortunate if other countries wee hit or if the damage was spread around, just that Japan is kind of being held hostage in many of the hypotheticals.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Japan would take the brunt of it unfortunately.

I agree but no point in threatening USA if you can't deliver.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I agree but no point in threatening USA if you can't deliver.

Well they're threatening a close ally. And it does appear they hope to have at least a couple missiles that could hit the west coast very soon.

And threatening does make sense sometimes in international politics. Not saying it's right, but it's how nations get attention and sometimes deals. Look at what is happening with Iran right now.

Though I believe Kim is just a megolmaniac and believes he is a little more powerful than he truly is. However, if push comes to shove, that still spells huge problems for Japan. N Korea knows the world knows this. Threatening Japan is in a way threatening the western world.

[Red Mile Style]

Hold on.

N.Korea's number of arms pales in significance to that of a lot of countries around the world. Regardless of how bad weapons of mass destruction are, and I am in no way supporting the proliferation of them, many believe things like the arms race prevent major all out war. It is strategically the smartest thing N.Korea can do right now. Otherwise, dictatorship or not, Il faces the threat of becoming an occupied territory.

(I'm not even a realist here...)

It is the perfect time for Jong Il, Chavez or any leader to start investing in weapons as the superpower is busy with other matters - Iraq/Afghanistan. Again, smart on behalf of Il.

The same argument that countries like that of the U.S. use for reasons of possessing these weapons should be applied therefor to all other states. Jong Il is one crazy *******. I agree. But so is Dubya. If the U.S. wants to play the weapon game of whoever holds the weapons holds the power, the west better start coming to the realization that other countries are going to want to play too.

The decision to test weapons is disappointing, but not shocking.

[Daradon]

That is true, weapons are used as bargaining power and as a deterrent from military action. Obviously they have only been used once in history.

And it's a bit of hypocracy to say, well we can hold these weapons but these countries cannot. I mean in reality, the U.S. is the only country to actually use them aggressively.

And as 'crazy' as Kim might be, N Korea WAS attacked this century, so there are some issues there for the people. The fact that they may have precipitated is probably a fact that they don't care about. They just care about the possibility if being occupied again.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Red Mile Style

Hold on.

N.Korea's number of arms pales in significance to that of a lot of countries around the world. Regardless of how bad weapons of mass destruction are, and I am in no way supporting the proliferation of them, many believe things like the arms race prevent major all out war. It is strategically the smartest thing N.Korea can do right now. Otherwise, dictatorship or not, Il faces the threat of becoming an occupied territory.

(I'm not even a realist here...)

It is the perfect time for Jong Il, Chavez or any leader to start investing in weapons as the superpower is busy with other matters - Iraq/Afghanistan. Again, smart on behalf of Il.

The same argument that countries like that of the U.S. use for reasons of possessing these weapons should be applied therefor to all other states. Jong Il is one crazy *******. I agree. But so is Dubya. If the U.S. wants to play the weapon game of whoever holds the weapons holds the power, the west better start coming to the realization that other countries are going to want to play too.

The decision to test weapons is disappointing, but not shocking.

I'm sorry but is it smart? You are going to push the country with the largest nuclear arsenal to the brink of an all out atom bomb fist fight... and you have 2 intercontinental missiles. Sorry, that's just dumb.

As for the weapons game... who do you trust more ... George Bush or Kim Jong Il?

[Wookie]

One thing I'm curious about, who would be allies against an aggressive N.Korea?

Japan? China? S.Korea? India? USA? Great Britain?

Does N.Korea stand a chance with all those people having a major concern?

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by peter12

I'm sorry but is it smart? You are going to push the country with the largest nuclear arsenal to the brink of an all out atom bomb fist fight... and you have 2 intercontinental missiles. Sorry, that's just dumb.

As for the weapons game... who do you trust more ... George Bush or Kim Jong Il?

This is a complex issue. Who has more to lose?

North Korea is poor and its people are not valued by Kim Jong Il.

Their intercontinental missiles can hit the entire west coast... do you risk losing California, if you are the US? That's 35 million people. A blow like that to the US could cripple not only them, but it could destabilize the world economy very severely.

... and who do I trust more? Neither. GWB has lied constantly throughout his presidency and is a complete numbskull. Kim Jong Il is crazy. It's a toss up.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Wookie

One thing I'm curious about, who would be allies against an aggressive N.Korea?

Japan? China? S.Korea? India? USA? Great Britain?

Does N.Korea stand a chance with all those people having a major concern?

You can add in Canada. Canada would attack an aggressive N. Korea.

That being said... North Korea has a huge military for it's relative small size and destitution. In 2001 they reportedly had: 700,000 troops, 8,000 artillery systems, and 2,000 tanks ready for deployment with some other figures being:

100,000 strong special forces
1 million total active soliders
6 million man reserve force
12000 total artillery pieces
1700 planes
800 ships (with the largest submarine fleet in the world)

Kim Jong Il isn't playing... if he wants a war... he has the goods to fight one. I hope it doesn't happen, it will make Iraq look like a day at Disneyland.

http://www.rense.com/general37/nkorr.htm (Pretty scary paper... if this paper is correct, North Korea is much better prepared than most people realize. Also says in this article that North Korea had 100 nuclear missles in the year 2000.)

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

This is a complex issue. Who has more to lose?

North Korea is poor and its people are not valued by Kim Jong Il.

Their intercontinental missiles can hit the entire west coast... do you risk losing California, if you are the US? That's 35 million people. A blow like that to the US could cripple not only them, but it could destabilize the world economy very severely.

... and who do I trust more? Neither. GWB has lied constantly throughout his presidency and is a complete numbskull. Kim Jong Il is crazy. It's a toss up.

No. Playing brinkmanship with the Superpowers... I think all of them in this case... over nuclear weapons is dumb. If there is anything that the USA will go balls to the wall over it's nukes. Would GWB launch first strike? Of course, to protect 35 million people he would.