North Korea Begins Fueling Taepodong-2 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
This DigitalGlobe’s QuickBird satellite image taken on March 29, 2009 shows the North Korea rocket launch facility in Musudan Ri, North Korea
North Korea has begun fueling its long-range rocket, according to a senior U.S. military official.
The fueling signals that the country could be in the final stages of what North Korea has said will be the launch of a satellite into space as early as this weekend, the senior U.S. military official said Wednesday.
Other U.S. military officials said the top portion of the rocket was put on very recently, but satellite imagery shows a shroud over the stage preventing a direct view of what it looks like.
The officials said the payload appears to have a “bulbous” cover, which could indicate that there is a satellite loaded on it. Such a cover protects a satellite from damage in flight.
Although the sources did not know for sure what the payload is, they said there is no reason to doubt that it is a satellite, as indicated by North Korea.
Pyongyang has said it will launch the rocket between April 4 and April 8. A launch would violate a 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution banning the reclusive state from launching ballistic missiles.
Pentagon officials worry less about the payload and more about the launch itself, saying that any kind of launch will give the North Koreans valuable information about improving their ballistic missile program.
And, the United States has been silent after the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, said that there is nothing America can or will do about the launch.
Hillary Clinton continues to maintain should North Korea launch that there will be “consequences.”
Whatever that means.
More toasts with Kim Jong-Il like, Madeleine Albright, one of Hillary’s predecessors who was appointed by President Bill Clinton below?
- Will the United States Do Anything About North Korea Missile Launch? Secretary of Defense Gates – “NOPEâ€
- Shocking: United States Has NO PLANS to Intercept North Korea Missile – Hillary Clinton
- United States Deploys USS McCain and USS Chafee With Aegis Anti-Missile Technology Off North Korea
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Warns North Korea Over Taepodong-2 Missile Launch
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Hillary Clinton, Kim Jong-Il, Taepodong-2
7 Comments
Macbook Dreamer
So what am I supposed to get? Scared? I always get confused when it comes to north korea. It’s just a sat, not a missile, but I guess it could be used as missile too……….. :-s
Robert K.
OMG!!! The North Koreans are ahead of us in the “bulbous” cover race! “Consequences”? What consequences, Shrillary? Please, just sit down and shut up! Let this play out and see if the Taepodong-2 lasts longer than 42 seconds.
Samuel
What does she mean when she said “There will be consequence  It sounds like a threat for North Korea if they will launch the rocket.
Neale
Note to the President: Sir this is a problem you might want to say something about North Korea fueling its long-range rocket. Or you can just Look away we don’t want the flash from the rockets engines to hurt your eyes. The little MAN is calling your bluff. Your turn it’s time to man up and stop the campaigning it time to be a leader. We’ll be watching
John
It doesnt matter what the payload is they will learn info for future missions that threat our security.The fact that their previous launches failed but that practice makes perfect. And the last country that violated u.n resolutions after warnings were later invaded
nate
I concur , it should be shot down. What a waste of money. North Koreans are starving in their country. Why do they need to launch a rocket that will go into the sea.
Jenny Alonzo
I understand the relevance of the information that was given and it is certainly useful and helpful for the majority.