North Korea Prepares to Launch Long-Range Missile Over Japan in April; Japanese Prepare to Shoot It Down

by Damozel | North Korea doesn't yet have the capability to load a nuclear warhead onto the missile.  But the US believes that a so-called "communications satellite" which it says it plans to launch over Northern Japan is really a long-range Taepodong-2 missile that could reach North America. (ToL)

Our response?   ABC News reports:

"I would say we're not prepared to do anything about it," said [Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."..."I don't know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not believe this technology is intended to mask the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile," he said.....

Gates called the launch of the missile "very troubling" and a sign that the series of meetings between the U.S., China, South Korea, Russia, Japan and North Korea known as six-party talks have not made any headway in getting North Korea to curb its nuclear program.

"If this is [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-il's welcoming present to a new president - launching a missile like this and threatening to have a nuclear test - I think it says a lot about the imperviousness of this regime in North Korea to any kind of diplomatic overtures."(ABC News)

At The Murdoch Times, Jeremy Clarkson says that Iranian missile experts are in attendance to assist with the launch.

 Japan, he further reports, is taking steps to protect itself.

"Japan's Air Self-Defense Force began deploying units capable of shooting down a rocket to the northern prefectures of Akita and Iwate.

Early today, units carrying Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles left a base in central Japan and will arrive at the northern prefectures on Monday, according to Japan's national broadcaster NHK.

On Friday Tokyo gave its military the green light to shoot down any incoming North Korean rockets.

In fact, the peaceful Japanese courteously made it clear that they aren't going to put up with having missiles flying over their land.  The prospect "displeases" them. 

"We will do our best to handle any flying object from North Korea in order to assure the Japanese people's safety and security," said (Defense Minister) Mr Hamada.

"A satellite or a missile - we are displeased with anything that is going to fly over our land, and such an action must be stopped."

It is the first time that constitutionally pacifist Japan has deployed the shield. The country's military is also expected to deploy warships off its coast .(BBC News)

Oh, by the way:

North Korea has said it would regard any rocket intercept as an act of war. (BBC News; emphasis added)

The Russians have expressed concern. 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin told journalists that the launch had led to increased tensions in the region, "and this is why it would be better if our partners in North Korea abstained from this". (BBC News) .

In re: North Korea's current leader, I can only refer you to former Secretary of State Madeline Albright's remarks a couple of weeks back on Real Time with Bill Maher.

 

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Comments

[Ron Russell]

If the missle is going to over-fly Japanese air space they should shoot it down. Regardless of the outcome. Probably no warhead on this missle, but next time, or the time after--who knows.