Missile Defense,  North Korea

Japan Threatens to Shoot Down North Korean Missile

japan-vs-nkorea

Japan today threatened to shoot down a North Korean missile or “SATELLITE LAUNCHER.”

Tokyo’s warning that it would deploy its multibillion-dollar missile defence system raised tensions in the region after North Korea said that it had identified a potential “danger area” near Japanese territory along the rocket’s flight path.

The regime told the International Maritime Organisation that the missile would be launched during daylight between 4 and 8 April, and that its boosters would fall into the Sea of Japan – about 75 miles (120km) from Japan’s north-west coast – and the Pacific Ocean.

Officials in Tokyo said they reserved the right to destroy any threatening object in mid-flight, despite North Korean warnings that it would consider such a move an act of war.

“Under our law, we can intercept any object if it is falling towards Japan, including any attacks on Japan, for our security,” Takeo Kawamura, the chief cabinet secretary, told reporters.

This North Korean satellite launcher is widely suspected to be a test of a Taepodong-2 ballistic missile with a range that threatens Alaska and Hawaii.

The Taepodong-2 long-range missile is estimated to have a range of between 5,000 and 6,000 km, putting Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the west coast of the US within range.

But the first launch of the missile, in July 2006, appeared to be a failure after it crashed within seconds of launch – according to US sources.

If the missile was successfully launched, it is not thought to be particularly accurate or to be able to carry a large warhead.

Like the Taepodong-1, it requires a fixed launch site.

The Taepodong-2 test took place from the Musudan-ri complex on the East coast of the Korean peninsula. Analysis of satellite images of the area appear to show a range of missile fabrication, fuelling, testing and control facilities.

north korea missiles

Japan’s threat is not surprising but the United States has their missile defense Aegis fleet in position and they have been conducting joint-training exercises.

In a move to strengthen its missile defense against North Korean missile threats, the U.S. Navy has deployed more warships equipped with the Aegis Combat System for this year’s Key Resolve/Foal Eagle joint military exercises with South Korean forces than it did before, according to a news report.

According to the report, the U.S. Navy dispatched seven of its Aegis warships to the eastern coast of Korea to conduct exercises with South Korea’s 7,600-ton Sejong the Great Aegis destroyer during the annual combined command-post/joint field training exercises March 9-20.

Officials of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) declined to comment on the report, citing the issue’s sensitivity.

The Aegis warships, used in intercepting high-flying ballistic missiles with advanced SM-2 or SM-3 ship-to-air missiles, are part of the U.S. multi-layered missile defense shield. The Aegis system built by Lockheed Martin is the world’s premier surface-to-air/fire-control system, capable of simultaneous operations against aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles, ships and submarines.

Should North Korea proceed with the test either Japan or the United States WILL attempt to shoot down the missile.

North Korea’s last test failed or so it is reported. Flap always suspected espionage or successful deployment of a stealth missile defense as the reason for failure.

Exit question: Will North Korea which has certainly received the attention of the new American President push the envelope?


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