Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Warns North Korea Over Taepodong-2 Missile Launch

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Mexico City today warned North Korea that a Taepodong missile launch would have consequences.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday a potential missile launch by North Korea would be a provocative act that would have consequences for talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

Clinton’s comments came as a U.S. official said North Korea had positioned what is believed to be a long-range ballistic missile on a launch pad in what could be a preparation for a launch.

“We have made it very clear that the North Koreans pursue this pathway at a cost and with consequences to the six-party talks which we would like to see revived and moving forward as quickly as possible,” she told reporters on a visit to Mexico City.

“This provocative action … will not go unnoticed and there will be consequences,” she said.

Flap previously noted that North Korea was readying the Taepodong-2 missile for launch and that the missile threatened Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the Western continenetal United States.

Japan has threatened to shoot down the North Korean missile but the United States does have Aegis missile defense assets in the region.

As for US intercept plans, the Navy left two Aegis missile defense ships behind from the armada sent to the Sea of Japan for war games. Could the US shooter be the USS John S. McCain?

Now that Hillary has issue the warning of consequences will the United States deploy its missile defense assets and shoot down the missile or will they merely suspend the 6-party talks should they launch?

The scheduled test is due in the April 4 – 8 time frame.

Will this be President Obama’s fitst major test as President?