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North Korea Places Long-Range Missile on Launch Pad – Test Firing Within Weeks
North Korea is continuing its tests of long-range missiles which potentially might target the United States.North Korea has positioned its most sophisticated long-range ballistic missile at a launch site for a test firing that could come within weeks, a newspaper here reported Monday.
Pyongyang, which last month raised tensions worldwide by conducting a nuclear test, could even fire its missile when South Korean President Lee Myung-bak meets President Obama in Washington on June 16, according to the report.
The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper in Seoul reported that the newest missile set for launch from the Dongchang-ni launch site on North Korea’s west coast may be a version of the Taepodong-2 rocket that Pyongyang fired in April.
The report, citing unnamed sources, said the missile has a range of up to 4,000 miles and could reach Alaska. Both South Korea and Japan acknowledged today that a new North Korean long-range missile test could come within weeks.
What is the United States response?
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates who has submitted a budget that cuts national missile defense programs said, “at this point, it’s not clear what they’re going to do.”
And, then downplays the entire affair.
Gates spoke in Manila before boarding a U.S. military jet for Alaska, where he was scheduled to view a key part of the missile defense system, the ground based interceptor silos.
In the 2010 budget, Gates proposed cutting more than a billion dollars from missile defense, halting the planned expansion of the interceptors from 30 to 44. In the wake of the North Korea test some experts, including former Defense Secretary William Cohen, have suggested rethinking those cuts.
But in an earlier roundtable with reporters, Gates said his budget will robustly fund missile defense, cutting only parts of the program, like the airborne laser, that had little chance of success. Gates said the interceptor program will get $750 million to continue its development and $200 million to sustain the existing 30 missiles.
“The 30 interceptors we have are adequate for years to come to deal with the North Korean threat as we see it developing,” Gates said.
Gates said North Korea will not be able to deploy a significant number of long range missiles in a short period of time. If they were to expand their capabilities, the U.S. would have “ample time” to build additional interceptors.
Yet, Bill Clinton’s former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen advises Gates to NOT cut the missile defense budget.
With the increasing billigerence of North Korea and Iran, why would the Obama Administration considering placing the United States at risk while it is wasting $ Billions in bailing out failed automobile companies.
Mr President, how about some priorities here.
By the way, do you think Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will give Secretary Gates an earful today about Alaska job losses as a result of Obama cuts in missile defense?
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Robert Gates, Missile Defense, Barack Obama
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Day By Day by Chris Muir May 28, 2009 – Cackle Cackle
While President Obama is raising campaign cash for Dingy Harry Reid at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and then runs out to Hollywood for a cool $4 Million, Hillary Clinton is left to North Korea.Under President Bush, Flap thought North Korea had negotiated away its nuclear weapons program and agreed to stop missile tests.Now, with an apparent disengaged Obama who has cut funds for national missile defense, North Korea pushes up the military alert for South Korea’s military as the North renounces a 50 year old plus armistice.
Obama is in denial.
North Korea is an imminent threat and Hillary’s cackles have NOT been effective.
Mr.President, you will not be able to deal with Kim Jong-Il via teleprompter and popularity in the polls.
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Technorati Tags: Day By Day, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, North Korea, Kim Jong-Il
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Another Distraction for Obama: North Korea Fires Another Missile
NIce spin away for Obama to nominate his Supreme Court nominee today after North Korea test fires missiles and conducts a nuclear explosion in violation of United Nation’s Resolutions and American diplomacy over the long Memorial Day weekend.But, North Korea is not cooperating.
North Korea launched an additional short-range missile from its east coast Tuesday night, an official at the South Korean presidential office said Wednesday.
“The North appears to have launched a ground-to-ship missile into the East Sea shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday,” the official said, asking not to be identified. Pyongyang had launched two short-range missiles from its east coast earlier Tuesday, following its supposed nuclear test the day before.
Officials here believe the missile launches are partly aimed at preventing South Korean and U.S. reconnaissance planes from nearing the communist state to verify its claimed nuclear test.
In the meantime, President Obama is on his way to Las Vegas where he is to raise money for Democrat Senate Majority Leader Dingy Harry Reid’s 2010 re-election race.
It is a dangerous world out there, Mr. President.
Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, North Korea
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Shocking: Russia Opposes United Nations Sanctions Against North Korea
Anti-North Korea protesters chant slogans at a demonstration to denounce the North’s rocket launch and to demand U.N.’s sanctions against North Korea near the National Assembly in Seoul April 7, 2009. Japan called for a strong response on Tuesday from the U.N. Security Council to North Korea’s rocket launch, which analysts say was a test of a long-range ballistic missile, but Tokyo acknowledged that divisions remained. The yellow banners read, “Support U.N.’s sanctions against North Korea”
No, it is not shocking.Moscow is concerned by Pyongyang’s recent rocket launch, but believes that imposing sanctions against North Korea would be counterproductive, the Russian foreign minister said on Wednesday.
North Korea launched a multistage rocket that it said was carrying a communications satellite on Sunday morning, defying pressure from the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries, which suspect the launch was a cover for a test of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile.
“We are definitely concerned by the recent rocket launch and believe it does not offer grounds for stabilizing the situation in the region,” Sergei Lavrov said, adding that “we also believe that any threat of sanctions would be counterproductive.”
The 15-member Security Council convened for an emergency meeting late on Sunday at Japan’s request, to discuss sanctions against Pyongyang following the launch, but strong opposition from Russia and China prevented the adoption of even a preliminary statement of condemnation.
The top Russian diplomat said Moscow will not change its stance concerning proposed sanctions against Pyongyang.
“We will not change our stance and our position is reflected in all those consensus decisions, which have been made in recent years concerning ways of resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula,” Lavrov said.
Welcome to the REAL WORLD, President Obama. The Russians may have glad handed you at the recent G-20 economic summit meeting but stab you in the back once they are out of face range.
So, back to where the United States was with North Korea, except now Kim Jong-Il’s missile program has a successful test of an ICBM with all of those Iranian missile negineers observing and collaborating.
Obama’s response = FAIL.
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Barack Obama, Russia, Kim Jong-Il
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North Korea Warns United Nations Security Council – Will Take “Strong Steps”
North Korea Film footage of launch of Taepodong-2 ICBM, April 4, 2009The United Nations Security Council did nothing after last Saturday’s/Sunday’s launch of their Taepodong-2 ICBM missile. But, just in case, North Korea has fired back a warning.
North Korea warned the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that it would take “strong steps” if the 15-nation body took any action in response to Pyongyang’s launch of a long-range rocket.
“If the Security Council, they take any kind of steps whatever, we’ll consider this is (an) encroachment on our sovereignty and the next option will be ours,” Deputy Ambassador Pak Tok Hun told reporters. “Necessary and strong steps will … follow that.”
Washington, Tokyo and Seoul say North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on Sunday in violation of a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution banning the firing of such missiles by Pyongyang. The resolution was passed after a nuclear test by North Korea.
Although the United Nations met Monday for three hours, there was NO consensus. When the UNSC meets again on the issue it is believed that two permanent members, China and Russia, will side with North Korea and block by veto, if necessary, any condemning resolution.
Or, the UNSC could simply agree on some sort of “WATERED DOWN” resolution.
As permanent council members, China and Russia have veto powers and have made clear they would be prepared to use them to stop new sanctions on Pyongyang. The United States and Japan would like a resolution that expands existing financial sanctions against North Korea.
But U.N. diplomats say the United States and Japan might have to accept a non-binding warning statement from the council instead of a legally binding resolution.
A Western diplomat said China had proposed a weak statement, “a completely watered down text which is unacceptable to us (and) … not even worth discussing.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the council “must avoid any hasty conclusions” on North Korea, which says the rocket placed a satellite into orbit.
And, of course, North KJorea maintains the missile launch was simply for launching a communications satellite for “peaceful purposes.”
Don’t look for any substantiative relief from the United Nations now or EVER.
Technorati Tags: North Korea, United Nations
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Video: Can’t Negotiate With North Korea
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Neal Cavuto’s Show yesterdaySo Says Rudy Giuiani.
Watch the above video and listen as Rudy runs through the “WEAK” approach of Obama’s response to North Korea’s launch of their Taepodong-2 ICBM.
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani, North Korea
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Poll Watch: 57 Per Cent Want Military Response to North Korea Taepodong-2 Missile Launch
Graphic showing an estimated trajectory of North Korea’s rocket launch, according to information provided by Japan’s Crisis Management Centre. US President Barack Obama led global condemnation of North Korea’s rocket launch Sunday, calling it “a provocative act” for which Pyongyang must be punished
Flap does NOT think President Obama is even considering ANY type of military response to North Korea’s launch yesterday of a Taepodong-2 ICNM missile. But, Americans overwhelmingly favor one.Fifty-seven percent (57%) of U.S. voters nationwide favor a military response to eliminate North Korea’s missile launching capability. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 15% of voters oppose a military response while 28% are not sure.
North Korea defied international pressure and launched a missile last night. Officials from that country claim a satellite was placed in orbit. U.S. defense officials confirm that a missile was launched but that no object was placed in orbit.
“With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations,†President Obama said.
The telephone survey was conducted Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, the two days immediately prior to North Korea’s launch. The question asked about a military response if North Korea actually did launch a long-range missile.
Support for a military response comes from 66% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 54% of those not affiliated with either major political party. There is no gender gap on the issue as a military response is favored by 57% of men and 57% of women.
And, in the latest North Korea news, the United Nations Security Council in a shocking surprise did NOTHING this afternoon in response to Japan’s calling an emergency session to address the missile launch which violates UN resolutions.
An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council concluded Sunday without an official reaction to North Korea ignoring repeated international warnings and launching a long-range rocket, the council president told reporters.
“Consultations will go on among members to see what is the appropriate position that the council will take,” said Claude Heller, the current Security Council president, and Mexico’s U.N. ambassador. When the council would reconvene wasn’t clear, but Heller said it would be “as soon as possible.”
“I think that there is a very strong call for dialogue, to reconvene, and I think there is consensus in saying that the Security Council regretted the government of [North Korea] disregarded the call by [the] international community to suspend the launching,” he said.
The ball has been punted back to President Obama by the United Nations. Now, Obama will have to make a decision.
He can either look “WEAK” or confront North Korea.
Stay tuned…….
Technorati Tags: North Korea, Barack Obama
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North Korea Prepares Taepodong-2 Missile Launch – Launch Window Announced
North Korea has announced a launch window for their Taepodong-2 missile test.North Korea has announced a launch window of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (0200 to 0700 GMT) sometime from Saturday to Wednesday.
This is from 7 PM to 12 Midnight Friday through Wednesday Pacific Time.
Technorati Tags: North Korea
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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
Apparently, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s warnings to Kim Jong-Il have landed on deaf ears as North Korea proceeds to fuel their Taepodong-2 ICBM space launch vehicle.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?
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- 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
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Will the United States Do Anything About North Korea Missile Launch? Secretary of Defense Gates – “NOPE”
Secreatry of Defense Robert Gates on Fox News Sunday yesterdayThe Secretary of Defense has made the Obama Administration’s position on the looming North Korea Taepodong-2 missile test later this week quite clear. They plan to watch and do nothing.
The United States can do nothing to stop North Korea from breaking international law in the next 10 days by firing a missile that is unlikely to be shot down by the U.S. or its allies, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday.
Appearing on “FOX News Sunday,” Gates said North Korea “probably will” fire the missile, prompting host Chris Wallace to ask: “And there’s nothing we can do about it?”
“No,” Gates answered, adding, “I would say we’re not prepared to do anything about it.”
Last week, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, said the U.S. is “fully prepared” to shoot down the missile. But Gates said such a response is unlikely.
“I think if we had an aberrant missile, one that was headed for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or something like that, we might consider it,” Gates said. “But I don’t think we have any plans to do anything like that at this point.”
North Korea has moved a missile onto a launch pad and says it will be fired by April 8. Pyonyang insists the missile is designed for carrying a communications satellite, not a nuclear warhead that the secretive nation appears bent on developing.
Gates said while he doesn’t think North Korea has the capability yet to shoot off a long-range nuclear-tipped missile, “I don’t know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not believe this technology is intended as a mask for the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile.”
Flap looks forward to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip to see Kim Jong-Il to bring him some autographed basketballs like her husband’s Secretary of State did. Maybe Kim will stop his ICBM nuclear weapons program to put them in his trophy case.
How unbelievably WEAK is this crazy Obama policy toward North Korea. The Iranians who are in North Korea taking notes must be laughing their asses off.
Watch the Fox News Sunday panel discuss North Korea’s long range missile capabilities here.
Technorati Tags: Robert Gates, North Korea, Kim Jong-Il
