U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile

**Snugglebunny** · 4th July 2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile

From Elise Labott and Justine Redman
CNN
Tuesday, July 4, 2006; Posted: 4:51 p.m. EDT (20:51 GMT)

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.

North Korea also tested at least two smaller missiles, U.S. sources told CNN.

Both missiles were launched from a site other than the one intelligence officials have watched for weeks ahead of the long-range missile test, a senior State Department official said.

The United States, Japan and other countries have warned North Korea against a long-range missile test, saying such a move would be considered a provocation.

Washington and North Korea's Asian neighbors -- South Korea, China, Russia and Japan -- have been trying to persuade North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program since 2002, but those talks have stalled in recent months.

President Bush warned last week that the isolated Stalinist state would face even further isolation if it launched the Taepodong-2, which U.S. analysts fear is capable of reaching the western United States. (Full story)

"The North Koreans have made agreements with us in the past, and we expect them to keep their agreements," Bush said last month at the end of a European Union summit.

"It should make people nervous when nontransparent regimes, that have announced that they've got nuclear warheads, fire missiles," Bush said. "This is not the way you conduct business in the world. This is not the way that peaceful nations conduct their affairs."

The senior State Department official said the launches were timed to coincide with the launch of the space shuttle Discovery from Florida, calling it "a provocative act designed to get attention."

The North Koreans fired a Taepodong-1 missile over Japan in 1998, but declared a moratorium on future tests in 1999.

Two senior State Department officials said Tuesday that fuel trucks had departed the site where the Taepodong-2 sat on a launch paid, indicating that a test may have been near.

On Monday, Pyongyang's state-run media carried a report accusing the United States of harassing North Korea and vowing to respond to any pre-emptive attack "with a relentless annihilating strike and a nuclear war with a mighty nuclear deterrent." (Watch why North Korea is talking about annihilating the U.S. -- 2:04)

The White House has dismissed that threat as "hypothetical." (Full story)

Meanwhile, the Pentagon took steps to be ready for a possible military response to a North Korean missile launch.

The U.S. Northern Command recently increased security measures at its Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a military official confirmed.

In other planning measures instituted in the past several days, Northern Command, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, has put standby commercial flight restrictions into place over Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Fort Greely, Alaska, where the U.S. interceptor missiles are based.

Terrance · 4th July 2006, 04:42 PM

And typical of our government, nothing will actually be done about it.

I'm hoping Japan or someone else over there takes the initiative and deals with North Korea.

**Dra'ki Areese** · 4th July 2006, 04:52 PM

you know.. im sure a lot of people thought that when WMD were suspected in iraq.. and now its probably the same people complaining that we are still there.

this is not our problem. as Russia, China, and Japan have much more vested interests in stopping this. besides that neither of those three countries want us going to war in their back yard. from an international realtions stand point it is just better to back up Russia, China, and Japan and let them handle it. playing the lone cowboy will only piss them all off. and at the moment the US could use all the friends it can get.

Terrance · 4th July 2006, 06:22 PM

Yeah but when North Korea is telling us "we might attack you" and is testing the weapons to do it, it's no longer confined to that "back yard".

The only acceptable alternative to countries like that wanting to just be a part of the rest of the world, is to take the initiative.

Bo · 5th July 2006, 12:53 PM

Back in July 1998, while in northern Japan, North Korea decided to launch a missle over Japan. Let me tell you what, there were about 15000 puckered behinds on that base, as it flew right over the top of us. We were in the middle of a readiness exercise, and it ENDEXed (military for stopping a training exercise) ASAP. We had F-16s who were geared up for training exercises, instantly switching their weaponry out. It was a very scary time, so yes I do believe the US has a very strong interest in such a thing. We have THOUSANDS of troops near the very border that may be crossed by MILLIONS of NK troops. Anyone that says this isnt our problem, needs to talk to a troop stationed in the PAC rim. They will tell you otherwise. NK is a threat to the entire globe. Imagine a country that is soo desparate to feed its people that it decides to develop nuclear technology, and sell it to terrorist factions so it can support its own...

**Adam** · 5th July 2006, 02:11 PM

It's a global problem imo, it needs to be dealt with by all parties, and by that, I don't mean the UN sending North Korea a letter saying "You've been naughty, if you don't stop, we'll send you another angry letter"
:grin:

HMS Redneck Battle Trout · 5th July 2006, 08:05 PM

On yahoo front page it sounds like they got more ready to fire off not sure if they are actual missles or just "test" missles... no matter they shouldn't be messing with those

-RMS Carpathia-

**Adam** · 6th July 2006, 05:15 AM

Yea, update from the BBC website

N Korea vows more missile tests

N Korea threatens to continue launching test missiles and warns of "stronger actions" if pressured to stop.

N Korea vows more missile tests

The Taepodong-2 test-flight failed shortly after take-off

North Korea has confirmed that it has test-fired a series of missiles and said it would continue launching them.

It also warned of "stronger physical actions" if the international community tried to put pressure on Pyongyang.
The North launched seven missiles, one of which was a failed test of a long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be capable of hitting Alaska.

The UN Security Council is due to reconvene later to discuss a draft resolution in response to the launches.
The document, co-sponsored by the US, UK and Japan, calls for sanctions against North Korea, but differences in approach are already emerging among key powers.

Insoluble problem?
US is not rattled

China and Russia - sympathetic to the North - oppose any punitive measures.

Japan is reportedly pushing for economic sanctions while South Korea is anxious to continue engaging with the North.

US envoy Christopher Hill is travelling to the region to discuss the next steps.

China said it would send its chief nuclear negotiator, Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, to Pyongyang next week to try to restart stalled negotiations on North Korea's nuclear programme.

'Our legal right'

In a statement reported by South Korean media, the North made its first public acknowledgement on Thursday that it had recently test-fired missiles.

It described the tests as successful - despite the fact that the flight of the long-range Taepodong-2 failed shortly after take-off. The missiles all landed in the Sea of Japan.

See the possible range of North Korea's missiles

The launches were part of "regular military drills to strengthen self-defence," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future," it added, insisting such action was "our legal right".
South Korean media reported on Thursday that there were three or four more missiles waiting on North Korean launch pads, and intelligence sources reported activity in the area around the test sites.

But these missiles are not thought to be long-range. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said an imminent launch of another Taeopodong-2 was unlikely.

International divide

US President George W Bush has been spearheading efforts to push for joint action against North Korea.

NORTH KOREAN MISSILE MOVES
1998: Tests long-range Taepodong-1 over Japan
1999: Agrees to moratorium on long-range tests
2003: Six-nation talks begin on N Korea's nuclear programme
2005: Six-nation talks stall
July 2006: N Korea launches seven missiles, including long-range Taepodong-2, which fails

N Korea's missile programme

He has already spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean Preisdent Roh Moo-hyun in an effort to reach a consensus on the way forward.

But there are obvious differences between the parties involved.

Tokyo - one of North Korea's harshest critics, and in easy reach of its missiles - has led regional condemnation of the launches.

Japanese officials said Tokyo and Washington had together agreed to push for sanctions against Pyongyang, and Japan has already said it will ban the entry of North Korean officials, chartered flights and a ferry.

But South Korean officials have only agreed to co-operate in diplomacy, with no mention of punitive measures.

Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok called for "patient dialogue" rather than sanctions.

North Korea's closest allies China and Russia will also have an important part to play in deciding any international action, and are extremely unlikely to back sanctions.

Speaking after a UN Security Council emergency session on Wednesday, China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya said that while Beijing was concerned about the launches, a response should be "constructive to maintaining peace in that part of the world".

The last time North Korea tested a long-range missile was in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan.

HMS Redneck Battle Trout · 6th July 2006, 07:05 AM

They will keep going if pressured to stop?

What? We are just going to let them keep at it and what? the are still going to do it? Yes of course they will, what idiots. *sigh* Some of these people who like to hurt others... really need help... I mean serious help. What they trying to do, show them that they are rough and tough? Yeah... Killing others with a GIANT missle... we so got shields to repeal that... we got laser guns in our back pocket to defend ourselves... mmyep sure do <--- insert tons of sarcasum

Unless there is a totaly POINT to why they want to aim missles at us? Even then... it has happened in the past, talk it out of course some people just are to lazy to do this and rather use missles to send messages...

I predict a some stupid people going extint soon, UN is not going to stand for this they will go in thier and kick arse and wars usually get EVERYONE involved so... they are just asking for a good ole extintsion after they get everyone mad enough... I feel bad for the people the surrounds that country. I am sure they will not put up with it neither.

Yay for stupid people <--- more sarcasum

-RMS Carpathia-

Bo · 6th July 2006, 07:09 AM

[quote The last time North Korea tested a long-range missile was in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan. quote]

This is the one I was talking about. It went right over my base, Misawa AB in Aomori Prefecture. Some scary stuff there..

4th July 2006, 04:42 PM	#2
Terrance Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Shard: Napa Valley Posts: 514 Gold: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile And typical of our government, nothing will actually be done about it. I'm hoping Japan or someone else over there takes the initiative and deals with North Korea.

4th July 2006, 04:52 PM	#3
Dra'ki Areese Slave to emptiness Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 343 Gold: 72 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile you know.. im sure a lot of people thought that when WMD were suspected in iraq.. and now its probably the same people complaining that we are still there. this is not our problem. as Russia, China, and Japan have much more vested interests in stopping this. besides that neither of those three countries want us going to war in their back yard. from an international realtions stand point it is just better to back up Russia, China, and Japan and let them handle it. playing the lone cowboy will only piss them all off. and at the moment the US could use all the friends it can get. I've never figured out how to be gracefully humble without appearing weak. Nor have I figured out how to be gracefully passionate without appearing arrogant. In the end, I always seem to be arrogant and weak instead of humbly passionate.

4th July 2006, 06:22 PM	#4
Terrance Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Shard: Napa Valley Posts: 514 Gold: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile Yeah but when North Korea is telling us "we might attack you" and is testing the weapons to do it, it's no longer confined to that "back yard". The only acceptable alternative to countries like that wanting to just be a part of the rest of the world, is to take the initiative.

5th July 2006, 12:53 PM	#5
Bo byebye sandland! less than 24hrs to go! Join Date: Sep 2005 Shard: Baja Posts: 2,527 Gold: 610 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile Back in July 1998, while in northern Japan, North Korea decided to launch a missle over Japan. Let me tell you what, there were about 15000 puckered behinds on that base, as it flew right over the top of us. We were in the middle of a readiness exercise, and it ENDEXed (military for stopping a training exercise) ASAP. We had F-16s who were geared up for training exercises, instantly switching their weaponry out. It was a very scary time, so yes I do believe the US has a very strong interest in such a thing. We have THOUSANDS of troops near the very border that may be crossed by MILLIONS of NK troops. Anyone that says this isnt our problem, needs to talk to a troop stationed in the PAC rim. They will tell you otherwise. NK is a threat to the entire globe. Imagine a country that is soo desparate to feed its people that it decides to develop nuclear technology, and sell it to terrorist factions so it can support its own...

5th July 2006, 02:11 PM	#6
Adam Lead Administrator Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 6,265 Gold: 105,905 My Mood: Thanks: 54 Thanked 721 Times in 226 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile It's a global problem imo, it needs to be dealt with by all parties, and by that, I don't mean the UN sending North Korea a letter saying "You've been naughty, if you don't stop, we'll send you another angry letter" :grin: Get your own personal forum Like these ones - Personal forum listing Bored @ work? Play in our arcade! Useful Tips on how to use UOForums Open your own blog

5th July 2006, 08:05 PM	#7
HMS Redneck Battle Trout Madien of the Great Blue Join Date: Jun 2006 Shard: Absolutely playing no games Posts: 1,979 Gold: 3,568 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile On yahoo front page it sounds like they got more ready to fire off not sure if they are actual missles or just "test" missles... no matter they shouldn't be messing with those -RMS Carpathia-

6th July 2006, 05:15 AM	#8
Adam Lead Administrator Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 6,265 Gold: 105,905 My Mood: Thanks: 54 Thanked 721 Times in 226 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile Yea, update from the BBC website N Korea vows more missile tests N Korea threatens to continue launching test missiles and warns of "stronger actions" if pressured to stop. N Korea vows more missile tests The Taepodong-2 test-flight failed shortly after take-off North Korea has confirmed that it has test-fired a series of missiles and said it would continue launching them. It also warned of "stronger physical actions" if the international community tried to put pressure on Pyongyang. The North launched seven missiles, one of which was a failed test of a long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be capable of hitting Alaska. The UN Security Council is due to reconvene later to discuss a draft resolution in response to the launches. The document, co-sponsored by the US, UK and Japan, calls for sanctions against North Korea, but differences in approach are already emerging among key powers. Insoluble problem? US is not rattled China and Russia - sympathetic to the North - oppose any punitive measures. Japan is reportedly pushing for economic sanctions while South Korea is anxious to continue engaging with the North. US envoy Christopher Hill is travelling to the region to discuss the next steps. China said it would send its chief nuclear negotiator, Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, to Pyongyang next week to try to restart stalled negotiations on North Korea's nuclear programme. 'Our legal right' In a statement reported by South Korean media, the North made its first public acknowledgement on Thursday that it had recently test-fired missiles. It described the tests as successful - despite the fact that the flight of the long-range Taepodong-2 failed shortly after take-off. The missiles all landed in the Sea of Japan. See the possible range of North Korea's missiles The launches were part of "regular military drills to strengthen self-defence," the North's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. "Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future," it added, insisting such action was "our legal right". South Korean media reported on Thursday that there were three or four more missiles waiting on North Korean launch pads, and intelligence sources reported activity in the area around the test sites. But these missiles are not thought to be long-range. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said an imminent launch of another Taeopodong-2 was unlikely. International divide US President George W Bush has been spearheading efforts to push for joint action against North Korea. NORTH KOREAN MISSILE MOVES 1998: Tests long-range Taepodong-1 over Japan 1999: Agrees to moratorium on long-range tests 2003: Six-nation talks begin on N Korea's nuclear programme 2005: Six-nation talks stall July 2006: N Korea launches seven missiles, including long-range Taepodong-2, which fails N Korea's missile programme He has already spoken to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean Preisdent Roh Moo-hyun in an effort to reach a consensus on the way forward. But there are obvious differences between the parties involved. Tokyo - one of North Korea's harshest critics, and in easy reach of its missiles - has led regional condemnation of the launches. Japanese officials said Tokyo and Washington had together agreed to push for sanctions against Pyongyang, and Japan has already said it will ban the entry of North Korean officials, chartered flights and a ferry. But South Korean officials have only agreed to co-operate in diplomacy, with no mention of punitive measures. Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok called for "patient dialogue" rather than sanctions. North Korea's closest allies China and Russia will also have an important part to play in deciding any international action, and are extremely unlikely to back sanctions. Speaking after a UN Security Council emergency session on Wednesday, China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya said that while Beijing was concerned about the launches, a response should be "constructive to maintaining peace in that part of the world". The last time North Korea tested a long-range missile was in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan. Get your own personal forum Like these ones - Personal forum listing Bored @ work? Play in our arcade! Useful Tips on how to use UOForums Open your own blog

6th July 2006, 07:05 AM	#9
HMS Redneck Battle Trout Madien of the Great Blue Join Date: Jun 2006 Shard: Absolutely playing no games Posts: 1,979 Gold: 3,568 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile They will keep going if pressured to stop? What? We are just going to let them keep at it and what? the are still going to do it? Yes of course they will, what idiots. sigh Some of these people who like to hurt others... really need help... I mean serious help. What they trying to do, show them that they are rough and tough? Yeah... Killing others with a GIANT missle... we so got shields to repeal that... we got laser guns in our back pocket to defend ourselves... mmyep sure do <--- insert tons of sarcasum Unless there is a totaly POINT to why they want to aim missles at us? Even then... it has happened in the past, talk it out of course some people just are to lazy to do this and rather use missles to send messages... I predict a some stupid people going extint soon, UN is not going to stand for this they will go in thier and kick arse and wars usually get EVERYONE involved so... they are just asking for a good ole extintsion after they get everyone mad enough... I feel bad for the people the surrounds that country. I am sure they will not put up with it neither. Yay for stupid people <--- more sarcasum -RMS Carpathia-

6th July 2006, 07:09 AM	#10
Bo byebye sandland! less than 24hrs to go! Join Date: Sep 2005 Shard: Baja Posts: 2,527 Gold: 610 My Mood: Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Re: U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile [quote The last time North Korea tested a long-range missile was in 1998, when it launched a Taepodong-1 over northern Japan. quote] This is the one I was talking about. It went right over my base, Misawa AB in Aomori Prefecture. Some scary stuff there..

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