N. Korea blasts Japan's Abe, warns of 'real ballistic missile'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

North Korea on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history".

The colourful condemnation comes two days after the isolated state tested what it called a "super-large multiple launch rocket system", with South Korea reporting that two projectiles came down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

In the wake of the launch, which was supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Abe termed the fired weapons "ballistic missiles" that violated UN resolutions.

"It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report," a foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/n-korea-blasts-japans-abe-warns-of-real-ballistic-missile/ar-BBXxMTy?li=BBnbfcL

But Trump and Kim are in love.

[sakabatou]

1. How long until Trump throws Japan under the bus?

[mr_lebowski]

2. Clue me in ... difference between 'rocket' and 'missile' is ... what, exactly?

General trajectory? Size? What is the formal distinction?

Serious question.

Also ... F*** NK, man. Talk about shithole countries.

[Igel]

5. There's a difference, or barely any, depending on who you are.

Different fields have different usages. And that's part of the problem--the military usage isn't the civilian usage isn't the scientist usage.

The relevant distinctions for the military usage seem to be a few in number, from checking out a half dozen web sites (mostly military or technical, somehow wiki didn't make the cut) because it's an interesting question.

1. Missiles are guided in flight, whether pre-program, remote-controlled, or heat-seeking. 2. Missiles can be long range. 3. Other things: propulsion type, they usually carry a separate warhead that can be armed, offensive.

2. Rockets are not guided once launched. 2. They're typically not long range. 3. Propulsion type, typically the warhead is built in.

And, of course, even in military usage it varies over time and by country, so that there's still some overlap.

Crucially for politicians, the label matters, not the reality of the thing (and for reporters the label doesn't even much matter, as long as they can lecture and emote). PRNK is barred from testing ballistic missiles by treaty. They are *not* barred from testing rockets. The PRNK might be testing rockets in the usual sense, they might be mislabeling missiles as rockets to avoid opprobrium, or perhaps they're just playing in the gray area.

[Newest Reality]

3. If Trump...

If Trump saw a baby playing with a loaded gun, he would ignore it.

He really took care of North Korea, huh? Showed 'em a thing or two like how to lay in the supine position while receiving the Great Leader's love. Great job!

[gibraltar72]

4. Good thing they denuclearized!

[keithbvadu2]

6. Not to worry. Master negotiator Trump is on the job.

Not to worry. Master negotiator Trump is on the job.