North Korea Watch: Korea Says it “Is NOT Bound” by Missile Test Ban
Financial Times: N Korea ‘is not bound’ by missile test ban
North Korea on Tuesday declared that it was not bound by a moratorium on testing long-range missiles, and increasing fears that it would launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The North Korean threat follows days of escalating tension prompted by evidence that Pyongyang is preparing to test a long-range Taepodong-2 missile that could reach Japan and parts of the continental US.
Ri Pyong Dok, a North Korean foreign ministry official, told Japanese journalists in Pyongyang that a long-range missile test launch “is not bound by any statement such as the Pyongyang Declarationâ€, Kyodo news reported.
Mr Ri was referring to an agreement signed in 2002 between Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s leader, and Junichiro Koizumi, Japan’s prime minister, in which Pyongyang promised not to test long-range missiles.
This sounds like an excuse and a rationale to test their new multistage ICBM system. The United States has several options:
1. Preemptive destruction of the missile prior to launch with B-2 delivered Smart Bombs.
2. Missile interception by Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) or Aegis Ship-Based BMD or both.
or…..
3. Do nothing and await diplomatic resolution through the United Nations Security Council.
Each has its advantages and risks.
But, if the United States wants to preemptively prevent a North Korean launch look for action as soon as the weather clears.
Stay tuned as anxious diplomatic talks continue…..
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North Korea Watch: United States Activates Missile Defense Shield – Part 2
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