N Korea missile capable of striking continental US
Apr 3, 2012 19:05:00 GMT -5
Post by shann0 on Apr 3, 2012 19:05:00 GMT -5
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9182604/North-Korea-preparing-to-unveil-missile-capable-of-striking-continental-US.html
North Korea 'preparing to unveil missile capable of striking continental US'
North Korea is preparing to unveil a new long-range missile that is capable of striking targets in the continental US.
North Korea 'preparing to unveil missile capable of striking continental US'
Image 1 of 2
South Korean activists hang an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on a mock North Korean missile during a rally denouncing the North's announcement of a planned satellite launch, in Seoul Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
9:27AM BST 03 Apr 2012
Comments175 Comments
Reconnaissance satellites have identified the huge missile at a government research and development facility in Pyongyang, South Korean government sources told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
Analysts estimate the weapon to be around 130 feet long and, equipped with a more powerful booster unit, capable of delivering a warhead more than 6,200 miles.
Unveiling the missile will raise new fears in neighbouring countries, already alarmed by Pyongyang's insistence that it will go ahead with the launch in mid-April of a rocket to put a satellite into orbit.
Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believe the launch is a covert test launch of a missile.
Analysis of the rocket, which is being prepared for launch at the new Tongchang-ri aerospace facility in the far north-west of the country, indicates that at 105 feet long it is identical in length to the Taepodong-2 missile that was fired in April 2009 and, with a range of 4,163 miles, is the most potent missile in the North Korean armoury at present.
Related Articles
Kim Jong-un's poor marks exposed
02 Apr 2012
North Korea test build-up at rocket launch site
02 Apr 2012
New satellite images of North Korea rocket preparations emerge
02 Apr 2012
North Korea begins rocket preparations
30 Mar 2012
South Korean and US officials said they believe Pyongyang wants to show the new missile off at the military parade scheduled for April 15 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the founder of the nation, Kim Il-sung, or on April 25th, which marks the founding of the North Korean army.
The government sources said they were unable to determine whether the weapon is functional or "a life-size mock-up" at present.
Tokyo is taking the threat posed by the planned launch of the North Korean rocket, announced for between April 12 and 16, seriously and is sending 450 troops to the southern island of Ishigaki to man Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles.
The Japanese government has stated that it will shoot down the rocket if it threatens Japanese territory.
Tokyo is also deploying state-of-the-art Aegis warships in the East China Sea to monitor the launch. The vessels will be protected by F-15 fighters.
North Korea 'preparing to unveil missile capable of striking continental US'
North Korea is preparing to unveil a new long-range missile that is capable of striking targets in the continental US.
North Korea 'preparing to unveil missile capable of striking continental US'
Image 1 of 2
South Korean activists hang an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on a mock North Korean missile during a rally denouncing the North's announcement of a planned satellite launch, in Seoul Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
9:27AM BST 03 Apr 2012
Comments175 Comments
Reconnaissance satellites have identified the huge missile at a government research and development facility in Pyongyang, South Korean government sources told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
Analysts estimate the weapon to be around 130 feet long and, equipped with a more powerful booster unit, capable of delivering a warhead more than 6,200 miles.
Unveiling the missile will raise new fears in neighbouring countries, already alarmed by Pyongyang's insistence that it will go ahead with the launch in mid-April of a rocket to put a satellite into orbit.
Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believe the launch is a covert test launch of a missile.
Analysis of the rocket, which is being prepared for launch at the new Tongchang-ri aerospace facility in the far north-west of the country, indicates that at 105 feet long it is identical in length to the Taepodong-2 missile that was fired in April 2009 and, with a range of 4,163 miles, is the most potent missile in the North Korean armoury at present.
Related Articles
Kim Jong-un's poor marks exposed
02 Apr 2012
North Korea test build-up at rocket launch site
02 Apr 2012
New satellite images of North Korea rocket preparations emerge
02 Apr 2012
North Korea begins rocket preparations
30 Mar 2012
South Korean and US officials said they believe Pyongyang wants to show the new missile off at the military parade scheduled for April 15 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the founder of the nation, Kim Il-sung, or on April 25th, which marks the founding of the North Korean army.
The government sources said they were unable to determine whether the weapon is functional or "a life-size mock-up" at present.
Tokyo is taking the threat posed by the planned launch of the North Korean rocket, announced for between April 12 and 16, seriously and is sending 450 troops to the southern island of Ishigaki to man Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles.
The Japanese government has stated that it will shoot down the rocket if it threatens Japanese territory.
Tokyo is also deploying state-of-the-art Aegis warships in the East China Sea to monitor the launch. The vessels will be protected by F-15 fighters.